April 2016
Volume 15 • Issue 4
Manufacturing
Apollo plays role in scientific breakthrough Pages 15-22
Real Estate & Construction
Expansion progresses at Tri-Cities Airport Pages 23-35
Information Technology
IT learning opportunities abundant in Tri-Cities pages 39-44
he Said It “Smart home technology is in its rebellious teenage stage. But I believe it will be in every home, some form of it, in the next five years.” - Justin Kasparek, owner of JMK Tech page 41
Fresh produce, tasty treats available in coming weeks at farmers markets
By Loretto J. Hulse Be sure to get up with the roosters on May 7. That’s when the first two farmer’s markets in the Mid-Columbia — Pasco’s and Prosser’s — open. Sleep in and you’ll miss the first succulent greens, radishes and other early produce of the season. “That first day we’ll have all the early greens and radishes, Petersons Honey, Rudy’s Pepper Blends, eggs, fruits from Gilmore Farms and beef from Pat-n-Tam’s out of Stanfield,” said Mike Somerville, manager for the Pasco Farmers Market. Other vendors includes Beth Ruhland of Richland, owner of The Soap Company, Tina’s Tasty Treats, all gluten-free, and Phil & Sally’s Bakery. Linda Hall, manager of the Prosser Farmers Market, expects to see similar produce and products on its opening day. “Plus we’ll have a lot of lush veggie and flower starts from Buggirl’s Garden, wines from Daven Lore and, in a few weeks, peonies from Hoefer Farms,” Hall said, adding that a new soap maker has signed up for the coming season. The Prosser market also sells hand-woven elephant grass Bolga baskets imported from Ghana and cheeses from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese in Pike Place in Seattle and Golden Glen Creamery in Bow. Sadly, there won’t be a farmers market at the Southridge Sports Complex in Kennewick this year. But the good news is the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership has bought the rights to the Southridge market and will be running the market at the Flag Plaza at Benton Street and Kennewick Avenue on Thursdays. Here is a list of the Tri-Cities area markets and contact information: • Pasco Farmers Market: May 7 and runs through Oct. 29 at the corner of West Columbia Street and South Fourth Avenue. The market will be open 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday. In June, the market will also be open 8 a.m. to noon, each Wednesday through September. For more information or to sign up, contact Mike Somerville at 509-531-7274 or at threefinger@frontier.com. Entertainers can sign up at mshea@downtownpasco.com. The website is downtownpasco.com and the market is also on Facebook.
uMARKETS, Page 48
The Tri-City Horse Racing Association is preparing for the 2016 Sun Downs horseracing meet, which will be April 23, 24 and 30 and May 1, 7 and 8. The post time is 1 p.m.
Sun Downs ready to open the gate on another horse racing season
By Jeff Morrow for TCAJOB Nancy Sorick is usually pretty busy this time of year. But this year that sense of urgency is missing. Sorick heads up the nonprofit Tri-City Horse Racing Association, which will run the 2016 horseracing meet at Sun Downs at the Benton Franklin Fairgrounds. Racing will take place April 23, 24, 30, May 1, 7 and 8. Highlights will include major stakes races and a celebration of the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 7, where fans can place wagers on the sport’s biggest race. Sorick has a little less stress running the event this year, because the TCHRA signed a three-year contract with Benton County to hold the spring horseracing meet at Sun Downs.
“The past five years, it’s been a year-toyear deal,” said Sorick. “So it’s a yearly hassle no more.” That’s good for the fans, who have always showed their loyalty by attending the races, Sorick said. And it’s great news for the horse owners and trainers. “Our supporters are there regardless,” said Sorick. “They’ve supported us for over 30 years. More importantly, the horsemen know we’ll be here. Their lives are patterned from track to track.” It’s not easy being in the horse racing business. Over the last 30 years, horse racing tracks throughout the Northwest, including those in Spokane, Yakima, Walla Walla, Dayton and Waitsburg have all had to shut down. uRACING, Page 14
PBS Engineering and Environmental acquires HDJ Design Group
By Mary Coffman PBS Engineering and Environmental Inc. has purchased the Portland-based consulting firm HDJ Design Group. PBS, which is also headquartered in Portland, has had a presence in the Tri-Cities since 1998 and the firm has a dozen employees in its Richland Office. HDJ Design Group has offices in Walla Walla and Pasco. HDJ’s Walla Walla office has 10 employees and 16 employees work in the Pasco office. While PBS specializes in geotechnical, environmental and industrial hygiene services, HDJ provides civil engineering, planning and land surveying services. Combining the two firms, which have 60 years of experience between them, allows both to expand their market share within the engineering industry.
Guy Neal, president of PBS, said the acquisition allows PBS to expand its geographic reach and provide a more extensive range of services to its clients. “Because we complement each other’s expertise and our cultures are compatible, combining our talented teams makes perfect sense,” Neal said. “We’re building upon 15 years of collaboration between our firms, most recently working together on the major Vancouver Waterfront Development.” The $1.5 million project along the Columbia River in Vancouver entailed developing a former industrial property into prime retail and recreational space for the city of Vancouver, while serving as an extension of the downtown core’s reconnection to the waterfront.”
uMERGER, Page 22
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