February 2017
Volume 5 • Issue 1
New Walla Walla veterans home to open this month BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
Virtual doctor’s visits are a call away
Page 3
Tri-Cities Food Bank opens in West Richland
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AARP Tax-Aide offers free help
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save the date
Feb. 24 - 26 Home and Garden Show TRAC 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco
PLEASE DELIVER TO CURRENT Occupant
Senior Times 8919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1 Kennewick, WA 99336
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A new Walla Walla veterans nursing home will welcome its first residents this month. The $34 million center features 80 beds and will be on the campus of the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center in Walla Walla. The center will draw residents from the nearest 10 counties, including Benton and Franklin counties, where about 50,000 veterans live. Of these, 20,000 are age 65 or older. The state Department of Veterans Affairs has been fielding a lot of questions from those interested in moving into the home, said Lonna Leno, the VA’s admissions coordinator. “It’s been overwhelming – literally. We’ve had a very positive response,” she said, indicating there’s been a lot of interest from the Tri-Cities as well as surrounding counties. The new facility will feature a logo designed by a Kennewick firm. Michael Page of Esprit Graphic Communications, owned by retired Army Lt. Col. Skip Novakovich and his wife Shannon, designed the logo. Fourteen logos were submitted as part of a design contest, which was judged by members of the state Department of Veterans Affairs’ Walla Walla Planning Committee. Page’s logo features a red, white and blue hot air balloon over a vineyard. “We are grateful for the time that Michael took to help us capture the spirit of Walla Walla in his design that is now the symbol for the Walla Walla Veterans Home,” said Lourdes “Alfie” AlvardoRamos, director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, in a statement. uVETERANS, Page 2
Pat Johnstone Jones, left, views the clay original bust of her late husband, George Jones, as artist Tom McClelland looks on. The Trios Foundation will unveil the bronze on Thursday, Feb. 16 — Jones’ 100th birthday — to honor the longtime philanthropist. (Courtesy Trios Foundation)
Trios Foundation commissions bronze bust to honor Tri-City philanthropist BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
A bronze bust of a Tri-Citian known for a lifetime of community service will be installed in the lobby of the Trios Care Center at Southridge on what would have been his 100th birthday. George Jones’ legacy will be remembered and his likeness unveiled during a ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 16. The Kennewick man’s long list of accomplishments include being named Tri-Citian of the Year in 1997,
Kennewick Man of the Year in 1978 and El Katif’s Shriner of the Year in 1998. Jones died May 4, 2016. “He’s second to none as far as his drive to make the Tri-Cities a better place, the community a better place. His service and his time and his money — well, he put his money where his mouth was. He gave to causes he asked others to give to. He led a life of service,” said Darren Szendre, president of the Trios Foundation, uJONES, Page 10
Pasco comedian gets laughs from seniors on retirement home circuit BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
When Adam Kessler’s kids want to wish him well before a performance, they tell him to “break a hip.” That’s what the 40-year-old Pasco comedian told his senior citizen audience during a recent show. The joke got laughs around the room. Kessler specializes in clean standup comedy routines with lots of age-appropriate material for the senior center and retirement community crowds. He also performs at church events and corporate and private parties, as well as trade
shows, wineries and auctions. The father of three children, ages 7, 3, and 1, has been telling jokes since he was 5 years old and hit the comedy club circuit in 2003. He quit his banking job of 12 years last year to pursue comedy full time. And he said he loves the retirement home gigs the best. “I feel like since my grandparents have passed on, this is my only interaction with this age group,” he said. A lot of his jokes and material come from his previous shows and travels around the Northwest. uCOMEDIAN, Page 14
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