Senior Times - February 2022 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

DELIVERING NEWS TO MID-COLUMBIA SENIORS SINCE 1982

FEBRUARY 2022

Vol. 10 | Issue 2

Hospital equipment library plans move to Richland By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

A Pasco nonprofit that lends medical gear, including wheelchairs, hospital beds, crutches and more, is preparing to turn a vacant site by a busy Richland intersection into its new hub. Knights Community Hospital Equipment Lend Program, or KC Help, intends to develop its new headquarters and a commercial self-storage facility on five acres at the corner of Van Giesen Street and the bypass highway. The $2.8 million vision includes a storage business to provide income to support KC Help’s mission to provide hospital equipment to patients who would otherwise go without. The property is owned by Knights of Columbus, which created KC Help in 1998 to fill gaps in coverage from insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. Tri-Citians who need crutches, canes, wheelchairs, bathtub stools, toilet risers, walkers and other aids but aren’t eligible to have them covered have relied on it for years. In the years leading up to the pandemic, it served about 2,500 patients

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Van Giesen Street

Courtesy KC Help KC Help, a hospital lending nonprofit, is preparing to build a new headquarters at the Knights of Columbus property in Richland, near Van Giesen Street and the bypass highway.

annually. Demand dipped in 2020 to about 2,200 but has been rising since then. Wheelchairs – both standard and electric – are its most popular offering, with 300 supplied in 2020. Bathtub stools, canes and crutches are also popular items, but its inventory also includes lift chairs, bed rails, transfer

poles and more. Customers are concentrated in the Tri-Cities, but come from as far away as Idaho, eastern Oregon, western Washington and in one case, Alaska. Jerry Rhoads, a retired electrical engineer who founded KC Help, said the 5,300-square-foot facility near Pasco City Hall that it calls homes isn’t large

enough to keep up with demand that isn’t just growing but is shifting, courtesy the Covid-19 pandemic. It will keep the Pasco center as a distribution facility and light repair shop. A Premera grant helped add internal space. Rhoads once thought – and hoped – the American Care Act would put the lending program out of business by expanding access to health care services. It’s been the opposite, he said. Medicare and Medicaid tightened the criteria to qualify for items such as wheelchairs. Private insurers followed their lead. KC Help always aimed to fill a gap. Instead of narrowing, the gap widened The Covid-19 pandemic is altering demand as well. Patients who might have been hospitalized are being treated at home. That’s led to a rise in requests for hospital beds – nearly 150 in 2021. The problem is compounded by the waves of Covid infections that sweep in. “Every time a new variant comes through, our inventory of beds goes uKC HELP Page 6

Architects put the spotlight on their best work By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Sharp-eyed travelers with time to kill at the Tri-Cities Airport have always been bombarded with information about local sites. For 2021 and now early 2022, they’ve had a chance to review something a bit more substantial – the best examples of local architecture from Walla Walla to the Columbia River Gorge, as curated by members of AIA Central Washington.

“The variety of projects showcased really speak to the impact of the work the architectural community provides,” said Brandon Wilm, of Design West Architects and president of the chapter. “We help envision, conceptualize and construct the communities that we all live in. Architecture seems to have been trivialized with the advent of many 3D software and visualization tools. However, as you can see from the exhibit, these buildings elicit emotions, memories and help create a sense of community when done right.”

Jim Dillman, a retired Richland architect emeritus, led the project. It was a welcome opportunity to highlight great architecture and architects, who often go unnoticed in the lengthy construction process. The display wrapped its yearlong run in January, but Dillman plans to take it on the road. The display has a compelling story to tell and once it escapes the secured confines of the airport terminal, he wants to exhibit it at regional libraries. During a visit to the airport to take

photos, he took measurements, and, ever the architect, sketched out drawings for the frames in a notepad and worried about finding hinges that would support the weight. Dillman, who grew up in Whitstran near Prosser, and the jury that selected which buildings to feature, included a mix of familiar landmarks and lessknown buildings. The familiar includes Franklin County’s striking courthouse and

uARCHITECTS, Page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

MONTHLY QUIZ

What year did Pasco win the Washington state basketball Prosser Memorial to break ground on $78 million hospital complex

Page 3

Eye, ear specialists team up to offer seniors one-stop care

Page 5

tournament? ANSWER, PAGE 9

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its classic dome, Richland Lutheran Church, known fondly as the “cupcake” building for its unique conical roof (designed by Funk, Murray and Johnson of Spokane) and the Reach Museum near the Richland Wye (designed by Kennewick architect Terence L. Thornhill). There are less well-known buildings too, many selected because they echo Dillman’s belief that building design should serve the desert landscape – his own projects have spare lines and gleaming surfaces. “My attitude about where we are in the community, this is the northern end of the Great American Desert. If you didn’t have all these houses built by Midwesterners, you’d have Albuquerque or LA,” he said. “That was what I wanted the community to be. To me, it’s one of the most beautiful places on the planet.” There’s the modern home he built in 1980 on the slopes of Badger Mountain. The gleaming building is visible from great distances, but it has one secret – a Chinese inscription of a horse carved into a column in honor the Horse Heaven Hills. Kennewick’s Eastgate Elementary by MMEC Architecture made the list too, celebrated for its playful exterior and the way the designers balanced the sheer volume of a school that serves hundreds of people. Educational Service District 123’s Pasco building, by Design West Architects, is another educational facility that won a callout. Great desert architecture isn’t limited to the Tri-Cities. The Maryhill Overlook near the Maryhill Museum of Art along High-

uBRIEFS Podcast tackles how to make most of the time we have left

Want to hear what famous seniors are thinking about? Check out a thoughtful podcast that features interviews with “70 remarkable people, all over the age of 70, not just about their past but their lives right now.” Max Linsky, co-founder of Pineapple Street Studios, which produces the podcast, is the host of the series. He said during the most recent episode that he hopes that “maybe these talks have changed the way you think about getting older yourself.” David Crosby, founder of the Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash; actresses Susan Lucci and Judith Light; Drs. Anthony Fauci and Joycelyn Elders; Dolores Huerta, American labor leader and civil

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Jim Dillman, Richland architect emeritus, wants to take AIA Central Washington’s exhibit of the best of the region’s architecture to area libraries once it wraps up a yearlong exhibition at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco.

way 14, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Portland’s Allied Works Architecture, uses minimal structure, spare lines and angled cutouts to draw attention to the sweeping desert view. There is a nod to celebrity architect Maya Lin, who gained national prominence for designing the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Her handiwork is on display at Sacajawea State Park in Pasco, where her Confluence Project invites visitors to contemplate the rich cultural history in a series of rings at the spot where the Snake River joins the Columbia. The tour is geographically bookended by two academic projects, one in Ellensburg and the other in Walla Walla.

In Ellensburg, Central Washington University’s psychology building is an exemplar of its time. Built in 1972, the midcentury modern design is by Grant, Copeland & Chervenas. In Walla Walla, Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College campus is the main auditorium and used for ceremonies and similar events. It was designed by Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johnson and built in 1967, thanks to a $500,000 gift from General Electric. The mix of locations and styles is deliberate, said Dillman, who retired eight years ago at age 75. “I was trying to tie things from the past. I didn’t limit it to architects from our chapter. I just focused on good architecture.”

rights activist; singer Dionne Warwick; and newsman Dan Rather are among those interviewed. Linsky talks to them about what they’ve learned, what they’re still trying to figure out and how they’re thinking about what comes next. To listen to the podcast, search for “70 over 70” on Apple Podcast or Spotify, or go to pineapple.fm/70over-70.

gible for the Earned Income Tax Credit as a refund, with returns ranging from $1,502 to $6,728. Go to irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-needto-file-a-tax-return

IRS advises filing a return, even if you don’t normally

The Internal Revenue Service advises people who don’t normally file a return to file one for 2021, citing the opportunity to claim tax credits or tax refunds. Taxpayers may be due a refund if their employer withheld income taxes in 2021, if the taxpayer made estimated tax payments or if they overpaid in 2020 and applied it to their 2021 return. Working taxpayers who earned $57,414 or less in 2021 could be eli-

Benton County adds ballot drop box in Kennewick

Voters in Benton County have a new place to drop off election ballots. The county added a box behind its new administration building, 7122 W. Okanogan Place, Building E, in Kennewick. The ballot drop box is available just in time for the Feb. 8 election. Local school districts in Benton and Franklin counties are asking voters to support property tax requests. For a complete list of ballot drop boxes, go to bentonelections.com. February ballots were mailed Jan. 19. No postage is required to return ballots by regular mail but they must be postmarked or received by election day to count.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Courtesy PMH An 88,000-square-foot Prosser Memorial Hospital and 14,000-square-foot medical office building, pictured at right of main entrance, will be built on 33 acres on North Gap Road north of Interstate 82 rest area.

Prosser Memorial to break ground on $78 million hospital complex By Kristina Lord

publisher@tcjournal.biz

Prosser Memorial Health plans to break ground this spring on a $78 million hospital complex on 33 acres north of Interstate 82 and to begin seeing patients there in 2024. Its aging hospital at 723 Memorial St. in Prosser will close when the new one opens and eventually will be demolished. A $57.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan (40 years at 2.2% interest) will offset much of the cost, with about 20% coming from PMH and $2 million from the hospital foundation, half of which is already raised. Hospital officials aren’t asking voters for a levy or bond. “Prosser Memorial Health has been conservative with our money and expenditures anticipating the need to make a significant investment in a new hospital facility. It is important for the community to know the hospital will not bring a levy or bond to taxpayers to fund this project. One hundred percent of our financing will come from the USDA and our own cash contribution. We are growing to meet the growing health care needs of the communities we serve with new services and providers and a new hospital is needed to meet these needs effectively,” said PMH CEO Craig Marks. The state Department of Health pointed out that PMH’s certificate of need application for the new hospital is unusual for several reasons: It’s the

only replacement facility of its size reviewed in many years; similar-sized replacement facilities were hospitals that leased the new facilities back to other entities; and it is only the second new or replacement hospital reviewed in many years that wasn’t part of or subsidized by a larger system. The state noted that PMH, or rather its parent, Prosser Public Hospital District, cannot rely on the borrowing capacity of a large health care system. It must incur debt on its own behalf. The hospital district collected $862,000 in property taxes in 2021. Anticipating the need for a new facility, PMH bought 33 acres north of I-82 for $1.7 million in 2017. It’s about 3 miles from the existing hospital. Features of the new PMH complex, to be located on North Gap Road in city limits, include: • More space. The $62.7 million Prosser Memorial Hospital will have 88,000 square feet. The existing hospital is 54,000 square feet. • State-of-the-art surgical suites and technology. • New birthing suites that can accommodate water births. • All inpatient rooms will be private. Existing rooms are double occupancy. • 16% of rooms will be equipped for ICU, providing a higher level of care for patients and closer to home. • An expanded cardiology clinic to include cardiac rehab and pulmonology, allowing patients recovering from a heart attack or pulmonary issues to stay

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in Prosser for rehabilitation. • An expanded emergency department. • The $15.7 million medical office building for specialists, including cardio/pulmonary, oncology, sleep and surgeons, will include 14,000 square feet. PMH leases a medical office building adjacent to the existing hospital from the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. PMH plans to move its patient financial services department there. Prosser Memorial Hospital will remain a 25-bed acute care hospital. Several letters of support were included in the state application, including from U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, and state Sen. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, and Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser.

Hospital history, growth

The existing hospital celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. It opened its doors in 1947 as a 19-bed facility dedicated to the memory and service of World War II veterans. Since then, the hospital has grown and expanded services. PMH employs 325 full-time staff

and pays $35.3 million in annual salaries and wages. Marks noted in a fall newsletter that 2021 saw a record number of inpatients, outpatients, ER visits and babies born at the hospital. PMH’s net profits totaled $10.2 million in 2021, up from $3 million in 2020 and 2019, according to its certificate of need application to the state. PMH expects to receive forgiveness for the $6.4 million it received from the federal Paycheck Protection Program in 2020 during the start of the pandemic, noting the influx of cash helped avoid layoffs and staffing disruptions. PMH revenues from payers are nearly evenly split between Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance, with a small percentage coming from self-pay. Hospital admissions and outpatient services have increased since 2015. Births have increased 24% since 2013. In 2021, more than 583 babies were born at PMH. PMH doctors performed 1,418 surgeries in 2019. In 2020 that number uPMH, Page 7

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEB. 6

• Mid-Columbia Symphony concert: 3:30 p.m., Art Fuller Auditorium, Kennewick High School, 500 Dayton. The symphony will be performing Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Cindy McTee’s Adagio for String Orchestra. Tickets: midcolumbiasymphony.org.

FEB. 8

• Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia class: 1-2:30 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or go to kadlec.org/KNRC. • National parks around the world: 6-7:30 p.m., Kennewick High School, Room B212. Celebrate America’s treasures, explore amazing places and discover stories. Cost is $10. Register at communityed. ksd.org or to pay by check: KSD Administration Center, 1000 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick.

FEB. 9

• Healthy Ages Virtual Wellness Program: 1-2 p.m. Call 509-9438455 or go to kadlec.org/KNRC.

FEB. 10-MARCH 20

• Northwest Winterfest: times vary, Benton County Fairgrounds, 1500 S. Oak St., Kennewick. Lantern

Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star. ✪

display and cultural celebration in an outdoor, self-guided walking tour. Hours: 6-8 p.m. Feb. 10-28; 6:308:30 p.m. March 1-12; and 7:30-9 p.m. March 13-20. Children 12 and under free. Tickets for seniors are $12.90. Tickets at northwestwinterfest.com.

B212. Hear from two avid travelers about their recent visit to the archipelago off the coast of Ecuador. Cost is $10. Register at communityed.ksd.org or to pay by check: KSD Administration Center, 1000 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick.

FEB. 10

• Lecture by Matthew Sullivan, “A Nicer Kind of Murder: The Evolution of Crime Fiction”: 7 p.m., via Zoom. Register online at cbcartscenter.com/events.

• Valentine’s sugar cookie decorating: 6-8 p.m., Kennewick High School, Room B211. Cost is $45. Ages 5+ allowed if accompanied by a registered adult. Register at communityed.ksd.org or to pay by check: KSD Administration Center, 1000 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick.

FEB. 14

• WindSong’s, “Adopt a Mylar Balloon Pet”: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., WindSong at Southridge, 4000 W. 24th Ave., Kennewick. Cost is $5 each. Proceeds benefit Mikey’s Chance.

FEB. 15

• PNNL lecture, “Biofouling, the Underwater Battle of Science and Nature”: 5 p.m., via Zoom. Details at pnnl.gov/events. • Exploring the wonders of the Galapagos lecture: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Kennewick High School, Room

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FEB. 17

FEB. 18-19

• Hearts for the Arts Gala: 6 p.m. Feb. 18 and 4 p.m. Feb. 19. Annual fundraiser for The Academy of Children’s Theatre. Buy tickets online at academyofchildrenstheatre.org/ events.

FEB. 18-21

• Red Wine and Chocolate weekend: Sip and savor Yakima Valley red wines perfectly paired with chocolates. Go to yakimavalleywinecountry.com for participating wineries. Click on “Wine Events” and then “Signature Events” for details.

FEB. 19

• Garlic basket weaving class: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Desert Fiber Arts

Studio, 101 N. Union St., #208. Cost is $55. Register at communityed. ksd.org or to pay by check: KSD Administration Center, 1000 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick.

FEB. 24

• Lecture by Bruce Bjornstad “Let’s Talk About Hanford’s Geology: Floods, Lava and More”: 5:30 p.m., via Zoom or Facebook. Tune in live at fb.me/e/2e5EhEztw.

FEB. 24-26

• “Love/Sick” by John Cariani: 7:30 p.m., CBC Theatre, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. Collection of nine slightly twisted and hilarious short plays. Free. Attendance is limited, and attendees must wear masks.

MARCH 3

• Baby Shark Live!: 6 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Buy tickets at ticketmaster.com.

MARCH 4

• Richland Players present, “The Prude’s Progress” by Jerome K. Jerome and Eden Phillpots: 7:30 p.m. 608 The Parkway, Richland. Go to richlandplayers.org.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Eye, ear specialists team up to offer seniors one-stop care By Kristina Lord

publisher@tcjournal.biz

A Kennewick audiologist and a Pasco optometrist have teamed up to launch a new business model to make it easier for seniors to receive care. The Columbia Basin Hearing Center and Mid-Columbia Eyecare Center will host the other doctor once a week, starting in mid-February. Optometrist Nicholas Gubler will do eye exams in Kennewick. Audiologist Shannon Aiello will do hearing exams in Pasco. “I’m taking one of his rooms, and he’s taking one of mine,” Aiello said. Aiello knows Gubler through the Abundance Healthcare Alliance, a group of independent wellness practitioners focused on prevention instead of “treating individual health fires,” said Aiello, who founded the alliance in 2019. When the ear and eye specialists learned they shared many of the same senior patients, they hatched the plan. “It’s something that’s been done in other places but not in the Tri-Cities yet,” Gubler said. “We thought it would be a great to service to the elderly population.” After all, hearing and seeing loss become more common with age.

Aiello hopes the one-stop shop for eye and ear health means patients won’t skip their annual wellness exams. Hearing Shannon Aiello exams should be held annually, same as eye exams, she said. This allows audiologists to treat hearing loss early and to provide tips to prevent it. “Numerous research shows that losing your hearing and getting cut off from world around you, there’s a higher chance of developing dementia. Same thing with vision, lose one or both, and you can become cut off from outside world,” Gubler said. Consolidating their care has other benefits. Aiello said her patients frequently lament about having to travel to multiple doctors on different days, their weeks filling with doctor appointments. Senior patients also often rely on public transportation to get to appointments, which can eat up a chunk of their day, she said. Aiello said patients who care for partners who must be dressed, fed

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and then driven to appointments – a lengthy process that can take several hours – said they’d be grateful for a oneNicholas Gubler stop shop. “We’re really excited to see what this is going to offer our senior population at both of our clinics,” she said. Aiello said she’s also pleased the collaboration will give her clinic a footprint in Pasco as there aren’t any other hearing providers in the city. Mid-Columbia Eyecare Center, which has been on Court Street since the early ’80s, observes its 40th anniversary this year. Gubler has worked there for nearly 10 years. Columbia Basin Hearing Center, which opened in 1978 and has an office in Walla Walla, launched a mobile hearing clinic last year that makes house calls to patients. Aiello said the service has been well received but the center needs more providers before it can expand. Her husband, longtime audiologist Neil Aiello, plans to retire April 1 after a 30-year career. Aiello said she is

actively recruiting for an audiologist. “We’re going to have a huge year of growth and be able to help more people,” she said. She’s excited about what the future holds. New at the hearing clinic is a device called Earlens, a nonsurgical, implantable hearing device. “It’s been a game changer. It’s so much better than a hearing aid,” she said. Anticipating a successful collaboration with Mid-Columbia Eye Care, Aiello said her five-year plan includes expanding the building on their existing Kennewick property to add additional services from other providers that could benefit her patients. “This collaboration is a tip toe into it and I’m sure we’ll learn a lot of lessons as it grows. It lays the groundwork for future collaboration and a bigger model in the future,” Aiello said. search Mid-Columbia Eyecare Center: 4403 W. Court St., Pasco; 509-5479695; mceyecare.com. search Columbia Basin Hearing Center: 4015 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick; 509-736-4005; columbiabasinhearing.com.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022 KC HELP, From page 1

The property is served by city water. But sewer lines stop on the other side of down. And when it passes, it comes Van Giesen, near the Columbia Basin back up,” said Rhoads, who likes to think it is because the users recovered Racquet Club. The property relies on a septic field for its wastewater. and no longer need the beds. Rhoads said the city is supportive of It creates a storage challenge. The Pasco facility is hard pressed to handle the plans. He expects to have site plans approved around March. He will not the waxing and waning of inventory. “Expenses have gone up and space launch a capital campaign until permits are in hand, but several supporters have has gone down,” he said. Redeveloping the site was not cost already sweetened the pot with more effective, so Rhoads put on his engi- than $100,000 in donations and another $100,000 in neer’s hat and commitments. began thinking The plan about the 10 includes two acres Knights buildings toof Columbia taling 16,000 owns at 2500 square feet to Chester St. serve as corpoin Richland, rate offices and where it opother facilities erates a sofor KC Help. cial club and The selfbingo hall. storage facility The Knights will have 400 will donate the or more units, land. a storage yard It is acfor boats and cessed via Hall recreational Road and Van vehicles, and Giesen. It is Courtesy KC Help will be selfvisible from Jerry Rhoads, right, and KC Help, want managed by both Van Gieto reduce the nonprofit’s reliance on KC Help, with sen and the donations by adding a commercial a big assist bypass high- business at its proposed new quarters from technolway, across in Richland. ogy. Rhoads’ the Port of Benton-owned railroad tracks. The fra- board includes storage industry experts, ternal organization lost its direct access who note the region is underserved for to the bypass when it was widened but ministorage. The for-profit business is an innovaretained the right to develop a driveway tive approach, conceived to bring in on Van Giesen. Rhoads spoke with the city and se- money and reduce KC Help’s reliance cured financial support for the Richland on fundraising to support its mission. It project from the Home Builders Asso- spent about $101,000 in 2021, Rhoads ciation of Tri-Cities and Three Rivers said. Rhoads cites Columbia Industries as Community Foundation, who thought it made sense. The driveway will enter an inspiration. Columbia Industries, a at the far western edge of the Knights Kennewick nonprofit serving Tri-Citians with intellectual disabilities, has property. KC Help’s new facilities will front bought several for-profit businesses, inVan Giesen. The self-storage business cluding Round Table Pizza, to not only will be at the rear, sandwiched between raise money, but provide an outlet for KC Help and the bingo hall. its clients to work.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Meals on Wheels resuming home deliveries, still needs volunteers By Senior Times staff

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels expected to resume delivering hot meals to its senior customers most weekdays on Jan. 31. It missed its early goal of Jan. 10 because of a shortage of volunteer drivers. Kristi Thien, nutrition services director, said it wasn’t that drivers didn’t step up. Instead, it faced turnover as existing drivers had to step out for other reasons. But as of late January, it only needed 8-10 drivers plus kitchen assistants and a drive-thru helper. That’s enough to launch home delivery Mondays through Thursdays, with Meals on Wheels staff filling in any gaps. The home delivery program brings hot meals to seniors who can’t make it to Meals on Wheels at the Richland PMH, From page 3

declined slightly due to the Covid-19 shutdown of surgery cases. PMH performed 2,148 surgeries in 2021. From 2019-20, PMH’s digital imaging volume grew 15%, to 27,538 procedures performed. It performed 35,907 procedures in 2021. PMH performed 141,216 laboratory procedures in 2020, up 6% from 2019. It performed 171,918 procedures in 2021. The hospital recorded 13,258 emergency room visits and 1,397 inpatient admissions in 2021. “We continue to grow even in the pandemic. One of our best years ever was 2021, adding specialties and adding them in a strategic and mindful way so that it does serve a need in a community,” said Shannon Hitchcock, PMH’s spokeswoman, who also serves as executive director of the PMH Foundation. PMH wants to position itself to serve even more patients, she said. Tri-Citians and those living in Yakima County seek care at PMH because it can take a long time to get an appointment to see specialists closer to home,

Wye, where it offers a daily drive-thru as well as pick up services for frozen meals. The program is at 1834 Fowler St. Those interested in driving shifts between 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on delivery days can call 509-735-1911. Drivers receive background checks and training. The nonprofit, an initiative of Senior Life Resources Northwest, provides meals to seniors throughout the region. Prior to the pandemic, it delivered hot meals on weekdays, offered inperson dining at eight locations, and invited participants to pick up packs of frozen meals. The pandemic forced it to eliminate daily deliveries and in-person dining. But it didn’t stop its mission to provide

nutritious meals to seniors. Meals on Wheels provided its homebound customers with one hot and six frozen meals delivered once a week to their front doors and with a minimum of contact. It resumed daily hot meals in 2021, but only for those who could collect them at its drive-thru. It wrapped up 2021 with a commitment to resume daily home deliveries. To start, it will deliver meals four days a week. When it has more drivers and capacity, it will add Friday delivery too, Thien said. Meals on Wheels serves seniors 60 and over who live in Benton and Franklin counties. Meals are available on a donation basis. It serves an estimated 600 meals each weekday.

Senior Life Resources recently dedicated its new 1,600-square-foot office building at its campus. The $1.6 million project provided room for the agency to accommodate growing demand for both meals and its separate home care services agency. In 2019, it completed a $100,000 project to build a 1,200-square-foot freezer facility to store frozen meals. The freezer provides critical storage and will allow Meals on Wheels clients to choose which meals they want from a menu. She said it tries to accommodate preferences, such as not delivering spaghetti to people who can’t stomach the acidity. But if a customer wants five spaghetti meals, she said, they will be able to get five spaghetti meals. Go to seniorliferesources.org.

Hitchcock said. PMH recently opened a digestive health center, offering upper endoscopies, colonoscopies and more, and a dermatology center in Benton City, offering a blend of medical and cosmetic services. PMH operates primary care clinics in Grandview, Prosser and Benton City, as well as a Women’s Health Center on Chardonnay Avenue in Prosser.

Hitchcock said. Additions made over the past 70 years have created inefficiencies, safety and security concerns and other problems. Merry Fuller, a registered nurse who serves as PMH’s chief nursing officer and chief operating officer, wrote in her letter of support about the challenges of working in an aging and undersized facility. “Patients and staff share corridors with the public; certain departments are undersized; we lack the space for staff to coordinate during shift changes; many areas are required to limit families because of space; and inefficiencies in staffing result because of the physical layout,” she said, noting that research supports the link between patient experience and outcome to their

physical environment. Brian Sollers, PMH’s chief medical officer who is an obstetric provider, said in his letter of support it’s nearly impossible to find space to meet privately with patients and their families. “The bottom line is that the hospital has reached the end of its useful life,” he said. Hitchcock said PMH reached out to long-term care, mental health and substance abuse providers to gauge their interest in the old hospital. “Nobody is interested in the existing building,” she said. She said PMH would hold onto it for a while, but it plans to spend a couple million dollars to knock it down, raze it and turn it back over to residential property.

Growth mindset

The existing hospital can’t expand at its current location. Built on a hillside surrounded by residential neighborhoods, the PMH campus is boxed in and has no room to grow. It lacks adequate parking. Its medical staff meetings must be held off site to accommodate all the providers. By the end of 2026, PMH plans to add 37 staff, the majority in its clinics, according to its state application. In 2021, it recorded 55,882 clinic visits. The facility is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and struggles to meet state and federal regulations for hospitals. To make improvements wouldn’t be cost effective,

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

SENIOR ACTIVITIES Pasco First Avenue Center 505 N. First Ave., Pasco 509-545-3459 pascoparksandrec.com

• Billiards: 9 a.m.-noon. Mondays; 1:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays; 9 a.m.noon, 1:30-4 p.m. Fridays. • Mexican Train Dominoes: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays. • Pinochle: 1:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays. • China Painting: 9 a.m.-noon. Wednesdays.

Kennewick Community Center

500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick 509-585-4303 go2kennewick.com

• Bunco: 1-3 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. • Bridge: 12:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Chinese Mahjong: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Dominos: 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. • Pinochle: 12:30-4 p.m. Mondays,

Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Creative Palette Art: 9 a.m.noon, Tuesdays. • Sewing: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays. • Woodcarving: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. 9 a.m.-noon Fridays. Bring supplies or borrow from the class. • Billiards: Daily. $2 per day or $20 monthly pass.

Richland Community Center

500 Amon Drive, Richland 509-942-7529 ci.richland.wa.us

• Fitness Room: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Location: Fitness room. Cost: $2 per day or $8 per month. • Billiards: Daily. $2 per day. • Greeting Card Recycling: 1-3 a.m. Tuesdays. Cost: free. • Pinochle Players: 6-8:30 p.m. Fridays. Location: game room.

Cost: $1. • Party Bridge: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Location: game room. Cost: $1. • Senior Duplicate Bridge: 12:303:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. Location: game room. • Table Tennis: 6:30-8:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:303:45 p.m. Sundays.

Prosser Senior Community Center

1231 Dudley Ave., Prosser 509-786-2915 cityofprosser.com

• Pool: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. MondaysFridays. Cost: free. Location: pool room, membership is required. • Mah Jong: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays Location: living room. Membership is required. • Daytime Bingo: 9 a.m. Wednesdays. Location: dining room Cost: 3 cards/$1. • Evening Bingo: First Friday of every month. 6 p.m. Cost: $10.

Location: dining room • Foot Care: Second Wednesday of each month: Appointments can be made by calling Melidee, 509-7901905. • Pinochle: 1 p.m. Thursdays. Location: living room, membership is required. • Crafts: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays. Register by calling 509-786-2915. • Bunco: Third Friday of month. 6 p.m. Cost is $2 per person. Location: dining room. • All You Can Eat Community Breakfast: Last Sunday every month, 8-11:30 a.m. Location: dining room. Cost: Suggested donation $7 per person and $3 per child, 8 and under.

West Richland Senior Center

616 N. 60th, West Richland 509-967-2847

• Bunco Potluck: noon, first Wednesday and third Friday of the month.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Just for Fun

Crossword

Across 1 Label for Elvis 4 Trucker’s bedroom? 7 Youngster 10 “Huffington Post” owner 11 Undergarment 12 Position of a golf ball 13 Corn eater’s leftover 14 Organizations 16 Mamie’s other half 17 Rubbed in during Lent 18 787 or MD90 21 Admitted 22 Some final resting places 26 To a certain extent 28 Utah’s --- Hatch 30 Semiformal evening jacket

Solutions on page 11

31 One is super every four years

6 Droopy-eared hound 7 Turn tail

33 Pismire

8 Outer edges

34 Bill dispenser

9 Triumphant cry

35 Ram’s dam

15 Deliberately lose

36 Fifth sign

19 Kind of poker

37 Howl

20 Person with special access

38 Steep 39 Wrongdoing

23 Mercury and others 24 Sultanate in Borneo

Down

25 Churchyard gravedigger

1 Kind of discrimination 2 A website might send you one

27 Dumbfounded

3 Queen Victoria’s consort

28 “--- sight!”

4 TV network with eye logo

31 Check

29 Cognac bottle name

5 From eastern old Iran

32 Nevertheless

Word search - Presidents McKinley

Taylor

Bush

Monroe

Trump

Carter

Nixon

Tyler

Ford

Obama

Wilson

Grant

Pierce

Harding

Polk

Hayes

Reagan

Hoover

Roosevelt

Taft STR8TS STR8TS

8 6 8

1 21 2 5 5 3 3 6 6 7 7 9 9 1 1 4 4 3 3 7 7 5 5 2 2

3 8

1972

Str8ts example

5 85 8 9 9 6 64 4 5 5 4 42 82 8 6 67 7 4 94 9 2 2 7 7 4 43 3 9 9 1 61 6 6 68 8 4 4

How to How beat to Str8ts beat–Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single 1 to 9 can repeat any row Like Sudoku, nonumber single number 1 to 9 caninrepeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. 2 1 divided by black squares into compartments. 2 4 1 5 4 Each compartment must form a straight Each compartment must form a straight - 6 4 5 6 3 4 2 5 a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be4 5 2 1 in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells 4 5 in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black4cells 3 6 2 1 5 remove that number as an option in that row 4 3 6 2 remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. 3 5 2 1 4 and column, and are not part of any straight. 3 5 2 1 Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ 2 1 3 Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed. 2 1 3 are formed.

Turn Back the Clock...

Medium Medium

1 8 6

Sudoku - Tough

Medium Medium

6 36 3

SUDOKU SUDOKU

Str8ts - Easy

Kennedy

Adams

How to beat Str8ts: No single number, 1 to 9, can repeat in any row or column. But rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. Each compartment must form a straight, a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg: 7, 6, 8, 9. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Rules of Sudoku - To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains ever number uniquely. For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 and 3x3 1 to 9Winter such that each row, column Feb. 3: The 1972 Olympics opened in box contains every number uniquely. box contains every number uniquely.

5Sapporo, Japan. strategies, hints and tips, many strategies, hints and tips, 3For2manyFor visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku Feb. 21: Nixon became the first U.S. visitRichard www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku 2and1www.str8ts.com for Str8ts. president to visit the People’s Republic of and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts. 1 5 IfChina. you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our 4books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

books, Apps and much more on our store. Feb. 23: TheiPhone/iPad Environmental Protection Agency published its first regulations requiring unleaded gasoline to be made available at all gas stations.

ANSWER Quiz answer from Page 1

1974 — Source: Franklin County Historical Society and Museum

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Tax-Aide program offers tax prep help for seniors By Senior Times staff

Tax season returns, and, once again, the AARP Foundation TaxAide program stands ready to assist taxpayers with form preparation. Tax-Aide sites began taking appointments for free tax preparation and e-filing services in early February. The program has a special focus on assisting taxpayers over 50 or those who have low to moderate income. Tax-Aide will continue to offer the same suite of options as last year.

That includes: • Low contact models which allow taxpayers to drop off their papers or have them scanned and return to review. • Fully virtual service. • Virtual coaching services. Much of what is available will depend on local Covid-19 conditions. Local Tax-Aide sites have the discretion to run their sites in a way that keeps everyone safe, complies with state and local laws, and takes into account the number of available volunteers.

“Tax-Aide is a free service for anyone who needs help completing their tax return and filing it electronically,” said Cindy Gossett, AARP Tax-Aide Washington state coordinator. “Our dedicated and certified volunteers will provide the same high-quality service as in years past, just in a different way to accommodate Covid-19.” Tax-Aide sites are encouraged to offer more than one service model, and that information will be available at the Tax-Aide site locator website. Those interested in utilizing AARP Foundation Tax-Aide can get more information, including a comprehensive list of documents to bring to the tax site, by going to aarpfoundation.org/ taxhelp or calling 1-888-AARPNOW

uBRIEFS Benton County K9 Sable getting a Kevlar vest

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office Foundation raised more than $2,600 in donations to buy a protective vest for K9 Sable Sable, its German shepherd who accompanies officers on searches, chases and other activities. The foundation, a nonprofit formed to support K9 Sable, was motivated to buy protective gear for the pooch by the Jan. 5 death of K9 Jedi of the Seattle Police Department. The Seattle dog was stabbed by a suspect.

It’s time for an insurance checkup

The Northwest Insurance Council advises homeowners to take an annual checkup to ensure they have the right coverage for their property. Three of five homes in the U.S. are underinsured by at least 20%, it notes. The council advises a complete review of home and auto insurance policies and keeping a detailed inventory of possession, including new furniture and electronics. It suggests 10 questions to ask your insurance agent. • How does my insurance coverage work? What is covered and what is excluded? • How can I save on my monthly premiums? • Does my policy provide enough coverage to rebuild my home today? • Do I need additional coverage for valuables such as jewelry, fine art or

(1-888-227-7669). Tax-Aide is capable of processing most personal tax returns with some limited exceptions. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide operates the nation’s largest volunteer-run free tax preparation service. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code. In 2021, one million taxpayers using AARP Tax-Aide Foundation received more than $689 million in income tax refunds. They also avoided any tax preparation fees and pitches for high-interest tax credit or “refund loans.” The service is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required.

high-end sports equipment, including bicycles and golf clubs? • Am I covered if someone is injured in my home? • Do I need to change my auto insurance if I have teens who are new drivers? • How does having kids in college affect my coverage? • Will changing jobs or retiring affect my insurance needs? • Will getting married or divorced affect my insurance coverage? • What is the process for filing a claim and how long does it take to get reimbursed? Go to nwinsurance.org.

Tamástslikt debuts new mixed-media exhibit

“You Are Here” is a new mixedmedia exhibit running through May at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton. The exhibit was curated by Sheehan Gallery at Whitman College to support a college course on Indigenous aesthetics and explore themes related to place and identity. The exhibit includes painted portraits by Ric Gendron, a member of the Arrow Lakes Band of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, lithographs that merge historical photos with traditional quilt patterns by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Star, landscapes by James Lavadour of the Walla Walla Tribe and fiber art pieces constructed from wool blankets and embroidered by Marie Watt of the Seneca Nation. Masks and social distancing are required. Tamástslikt is at 47106 Wildhorse Blvd., near the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, 10 minutes east of Pendleton. Go to tamastslikt.org.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Top ag leaders named to Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame By Senior Times staff

In its 22nd year, the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame recently honored Mid-Columbia farmers, families and agribusiness leaders in Franklin County and its neighboring counties. This year’s inductees were honored at a Jan. 19 dinner and ceremony at the Red Lion Hotel & Conference Center in Pasco. The new inductees are recognized by their peers for not only their dedication, generosity and selflessness, but also their demonstrated achievements, noteworthy expertise and creative innovations that often provide a legacy of impactful results and lasting benefit to the local agricultural industry and community.

Visionary Award

John Williams and Jim Holmes planted the vineyard on what would become the Red Mountain American Viticulture Area, or AVA, in 1975. Today, the 4,000-acre wine-growing region is

of the first AVA, Yakima Valley. One of the first wineries in Washington State, Kiona Vineyards and Winery is still in operation today. Holmes sold the Williams family his share in 1994. Williams and Holmes also were the second inaugural inductees into the Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame.

Ag Advisor Award

Jean Smith served as the BentonFranklin Area Extension livestock educator from 1980 to 2009. She was active in the local, state and national organization, both as an extension educator and as a volunteer. After her retirement, she continued her Jean Smith volunteerism. Smith was recognized as a valuable resource and often was interviewed or asked for reference materials on livestock-related issues.

Pioneer Award

John Williams and Jim Holmes

championed as one of the best places in the world to grow red wine grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. They also were instrumental in the formation and early organization

saved enough money to buy his first potato truck, a gas powered 10-wheeler. He continued to work for the Baileys, driving a potato digger. His wife Angélica, drove their first potato truck, hauling potatoes to the sheds. Time

When Zenaido “Sam” Martinez finished third grade, his family left their tiny family farm called “El Rancho La Buena Fe” in Los Angeles, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and began migrating throughout the United States working on farms. In 1959, he married Angélica and began a family. Sam found work with Ray and Lucile Bailey in Mesa, where the couple’s family grew rapidly. Ray would give Sam a 25-cent raise when each new child was born. By 1965, Sam and Angelica had

Sam and Angélica Martinez

progressed and little by little, they were able to eventually buy 12 trucks. Later, they bought 250 acres at Colonial and Sheffield roads near Basin City. The transition from laborer to landowner, business owner and a respected community member takes vision, determination and hard work and the Martinez family demonstrated all of these. They valued farm life, the ag community and taught their children to work hard, dream big and be a light in the community. The Martinezes recognized the Columbia Basin farming community as the land of opportunity. They worked tirelessly to make it a better place today

and for all who those who follow them.

Stewardship Award

Butch and Judy Wiswall’s passion for agriculture and the community is no secret to those in Franklin County. They possess a passion about giving the next generation an opportunity in agriculture. The Wiswalls have been active in many organizations, committing their time and effort to groups such as 4-H, Benton Franklin Fair Stock Market, Star School District, Cattleman’s Association and Wheat Growers Association, just to name a few.

Butch and Judy Wiswall

Farmers, growers, ranchers and owners/employees of agribusiness firms are all eligible for nomination as either individuals and/or families. To see past inductees, go to pascochamber.org/ag-hall-of-fame-inductees.html.

Puzzle answers from page 9

Crossword 1

C O

13 16 18 21

N 27

O R

31 34 37

Y E

E M S E

O M B

T W E

E X

E W E

Str8ts

Str8ts Solution

33 36 39

Word search

Str8ts Solution A 6T C R N R 1 K R S 2L M3M O4V N B R N O K E 7P

3T 1O D 2E 4E 6O 5A L 7A 8P 9O

M 5 L 4 K R 3 T L 2 P D 6 G 7 M 8J

C4 Y 3 E 5 E O R9 Y7 R 8 A U A2

K1 I N A T B 2 N N E 8 6 V O O T7E 8T F5N 7S A6S 9R T C E 4 5 E R H R3 T 4R N I 3X

8L E9 Y7 U S H 6 7 8 D Y O 7 4 H W P R I6 G5 E L8 N4 1 O 2 S1 I 3 P O D 3 2 Y N R 5X A2 A O N5 H 4

6 3 1 1 2 2 4 3 6 4 5 7 8 7 9

5 4 1 4 3 2 5 8 3 7 2 9 5 7 6 6 8 4 7 3 8 2

Sudo

8 9 7 6 7 8 6 7 4 6 5 8 7 1 8 4 9 2 1 3 5 3 2 4 5 2 3 4 5

Sudoku

Sudoku Solution

3 4 9 7 8 1 5 2 6

8 1 6 5 2 4 7 3 9

2 5 7 6 3 9 1 4 8

7 8 4 1 6 5 2 9 3

1 3 5 4 9 2 6 8 7

6 9 2 3 7 8 4 1 5

For more strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org and www.str8ts.com.

4 7 8 2 5 3 9 6 1

9 6 1 8 4 7 3 5 2

5 2 3 9 1 6 8 7 4

3 4 9 7 8 1 5 2 6

8 1 6 5 2 4 7 3 9

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Here are the Tri-Cities’ most popular books of 2021 By Senior Times staff

Wintertime temperatures and pandemic isolation might free up more time to tuck into books this time of year. And there are plenty of titles to consider, thanks to our Tri-City libraries. They have shared their 10 most popular fiction and nonfiction titles checked out in 2021 – both print and audiobook formats. If your new year’s goal is to read more, Mid-Columbia Libraries and Richland Public Library would be happy to help you find a book. The top 10 lists feature an eclectic collection of popular New York Times bestsellers, biographies, romance, selfhelp and thrillers. There’s even a book about Lego building and other children’s titles that might be fun to share with a grandchild. Mid-Columbia Libraries has 12 branch libraries to serve residents of Benton, Franklin and parts of Adams counties. Richland Public Library serves city of Richland residents, as well students attending Columbia Basin College, Washington State University Tri-Cities and Richland School District students who live outside city limits. Nonresident library cards are available for a fee. MID-COLUMBIA LIBRARIES

TOP

Adult KS fiction BOO

1. THE FOUR WINDS, by Kristin Hannah 2. BRIDGERTON COLLECTION, VOLUME 1, by Julia Quinn 3. A TIME FOR MERCY, by John Grisham 4. DAYLIGHT: ATLEE PINE SERIES, BOOK 3, by David Baldacci 5. THE SENTINEL: A JACK REACHER NOVEL, by Lee Child and Andrew Child 6. THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY, by Matt Haig 7. THE QUIET GIRL, by S.F. Kosa 8. LOVE LETTERING: A WITTY AND HEARTFELT LOVE STORY, by Kate Clayborn

9. THE RETURN, by Nicholas Sparks

3. THE FOUR WINDS, by Kristin Hannah

9. DARE TO LEAD, by Brené Brown

10. FORTUNE AND GLORY: STEPHANIE PLUM SERIES, BOOK 27, by Janet Evanovich

4. THE VISCOUNT WHO LOVED ME: BRIDGERTON SERIES, BOOK 2, by Julia Quinn

10. THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, by Stephen Covey

Adult KS nonfiction BOO

5. COLD MOURNING: STONECHILD AND ROULEAU MYSTERY SERIES, BOOK 1, by Brenda Chapman

1. NOMADLAND: SURVIVING AMERICA IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, by Jessica Bruder

7. OUTLANDER: OUTLANDER SERIES, BOOK 1, by Diana Gabaldon

TOP

2. MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE: A THERAPIST, HER THERAPIST, AND OUR LIVES REVEALED, by Lori Gottlieb 3. EDUCATED: A MEMOIR, by Tara Westover 4. GREENLIGHTS, by Matthew McConaughey 5. A PROMISED LAND, by Barack Obama 6. UNTAMED, by Glennon Doyle 7. THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE: BRAIN, MIND, AND BODY IN THE HEALING OF TRAUMA, by Bessel van der Kolk 8. BORN A CRIME: STORIES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDHOOD, by Trevor Noah 9. THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES: THE SECRET TO LOVE THAT LASTS, by Gary Chapman 10. ATOMIC HABITS, by James Clear

TOP

OAUDI S BOOK

Adult fiction

1. THE DUKE AND I: BRIDGERTON SERIES, BOOK 1, by Julia Quinn 2. WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, by Delia Owens

6. THE SILENT PATIENT, by Alex Michaelides

8. READY PLAYER TWO: READY PLAYER ONE SERIES, BOOK 2, by Ernest Cline 9. THE GUEST LIST, by Lucy Foley 10. THE GREAT ALONE, by Kristin Hannah

TOP

OAUDI S BOOK

Adult nonfiction

1. GREENLIGHTS, by Matthew McConaughey 2. ATOMIC HABITS, by James Clear 3. THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK: A COUNTERINTUITIVE APPROACH TO LIVING A GOOD LIFE, by Mark Manson 4. UNTAMED, by Glennon Doyle 5. TALKING TO STRANGERS: WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE DON’T KNOW, by Malcolm Gladwell 6. A PROMISED LAND, by Barack Obama 7. EDUCATED: A MEMOIR, by Tara Westover 8. THE POWER OF HABIT: WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO IN LIFE AND BUSINESS, by Charles Duhigg

RICHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

TOP

Adult KS fiction BOO

1. MISSING AND ENDANGERED, by J.A. Jance 2. THE FOUR WINDS, by Kristin Hannah 3. DARK SKY: A JOE PICKETT NOVEL, by C.J. Box 4. A GAMBLING MAN, by David Baldacci 5. STARGAZER: A LEAPHORN, CHEE & MANUELITO NOVEL, by Anne Hillerman 6. THE PARIS LIBRARY, by Janet Skeslien Charles 7. THE SENTINEL, by Lee Child 8. MEXICAN GOTHIC, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 9. MOONFLOWER MURDERS, by Anthony Horowitz 10. THE EXILES, by Christina Baker Kline (tie) PROJECT HAIL, by Mary Andy Weir (tie)

TOP

Adult KS nonfiction BOO

1. CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS, by Isabel Wilkerson 2. MARTHA STEWART’S ORGANIZING, by Martha Stewart 3. KEEP SHARP: BUILD A BETTER BRAIN AT ANY AGE, by Sanjay Gupta uBOOKS, Page 13

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

BOOKS, From page 12 4. THE LAST DAYS OF JOHN LENNON, by James Patterson 5. THE BRAVE LEARNER, by Julie Bogart 6. THE HOME EDIT LIFE, by Clea Shearer 7. THE BOMBER MAFIA, by Malcolm Gladwell 8. AWESOME LEGO CREATIONS WITH BRICKS YOU ALREADY HAVE, by Sarah Dees 9. TOKYO GHOUL, by Sui Ishida 10. KILLING THE MOB, by Bill O’Reilly

TOP

OAUDI S BOOK

Adult fiction

1. LAST DETECTIVE, by Peter Lovesey 2. CAMINO ISLAND, by John Grisham 3. A GAMBLING MAN, by David Baldacci 4. THE BOOK WOMEN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, by Kim Michele Richardson 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, by J.A. Jance 6. THE HOBBIT, OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN, by J.R.R. Tolkien 7. THE BOUNTY, by Janet Evanovich 8. MISSING AND ENDANGERED, by J.A. Jane

9. THE FOUR WINDS, by Kristin Hannah 10. FAST ICE, by Clive Cussler

TOP

OAUDI S BOOK

Adult nonfiction

1. KILLING CRAZY HORSE, by Bill O’Reilly 2. DARE TO LEAD, by Brene Brown 3. THE PIONEERS: THE HEROIC STORY OF THE SETTLERS WHO BROUGHT THE AMERICAN IDEAL WEST, by David G. McCullough 4. TALKING TO STRANGERS, by Malcolm Gladwell 5. ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA, by Edwin Barnhart 6. THE SOUL OF AMERICA: THE BATTLE FOR OUR BETTER ANGELS, by Jon Meacham 7. THE CODE BREAKER: JENNIFER DOUDNA, GENE EDITING, AND THE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE, by Walter Isaacson 8. THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, by Daniel Brown 9. HOW TO DESTROY AMERICA IN THREE EASY STEPS, by Ben Shapiro 10. SPANISH: COMPLETE EDITION, by Living Language

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BOOK CLUBS • 1:30 p.m. Feb. 17, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES, by Min Jin Lee. THE UNDERTAKER’S ASSISTANT, by Amanda Skenandore is the March 17 book. The group meets the third Thursday of month but takes summers off. Contact: Evelyn Painter, ec_painter@yahoo.com or 509-420-4811. • 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, by V.E. Schwab. CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS by Isabel Wilkerson is the March 21 book. The group meets the third Monday of the month, except this month because of the Presidents Day holiday. Contact: Sue Spencer, sue_

spencer_england@hotmail. com or 509-572-4295. • 1 p.m. Feb. 16, MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco, MEMORIAL DRIVE, by Natasha Trethewey. CASTE: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS by Isabel Wilkerson is the March 16 book. The group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. Contact Susan Koenig at 509-302-9878 or SMKoenig@ ymail.com. • 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month, Caterpillar Café at Adventures Underground, 227 Symons St., Richland. Contact Sarah at 509-9469893 for upcoming titles. To add your book club to this list, email details to info@tcjournal.biz.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Let’s review best practices for space heater, electric blanket safety Tragically, 2022 has gotten off to a heartbreaking start for many families due to home fires across the country, with as many as 166 lives lost in fires since the year began. In these first weeks of the new year, the American Red Cross has responded to more than 3,600 home fires, providing help to more than 13,000 people. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by these tragedies. This column will help you apply the fire safety lessons these tragic events present. The first is to beware of the risks inherent in heat-generating electric devices such as space heaters and electric blankets.

Space heater safety

Let’s look at space heater safety first. While people of all ages make use of space heaters, older folks tend to feel the cold more and rely more heavily on them. “My grandmother is always cold so she always has a space heater going,” said Capt. Brian Ellis, deputy fire marshal of the Kennewick Fire Department. First, make sure the space heater is in good shape. Check the plug and wiring for signs of wear and damage. Today’s space heaters don’t cost all that much.

There is a wide selection available for $50 or less. Replace any heater that isn’t in tip-top shape. Gordon Williams Make sure American Red Cross every space GUEST COLUMN heater has a safety device that kills power if the heater tips over. If you have a heater that lacks a kill switch, dump it. Know how to position the heater. Place it on a solid flat surface and keep it far away from anything that might catch fire. “Make sure there is space around the heater with no clothing or blankets close by that might ignite,” Ellis said. The same rule also applies to baseboard heating units: Keep clothing or drapes or anything else flammable away from anything that puts out heat. In its fire safety rules, the American Red Cross cautions people to shut off all heating devices when leaving home or when heading off to sleep. There is more space heater advice in a report from the Benton REA including: • Choose a thermostatically-con-

trolled heater to avoid energy waste and overheating. • Always keep children and pets away from space heaters. Benton REA warns consumers to use space heaters only when and where they must, such as when they need to heat a room or a particular space in the home. Space heaters should not be used “to compensate for inadequate insulation, drafty windows and exterior doors or an inefficient heating system.” It takes a lot of juice to power a space heater, often more current than an extension cord may be able to handle safely. Plug the heater directly into a wall outlet. If there is no outlet near where you want to operate a heater, hire an electrician to add more outlets. Or avoid space heaters altogether by finding alternative ways of keeping warm. Benton REA suggests trying “extra layers of clothing or UL-approved electric blankets.” Consider using area rugs to provide added insulation.

Electric blanket safety

Of course, thinking about using an electric blanket raises still another issue. Given that electric blankets are heatgenerating electric appliances, how safe are they? The answer, in an article posted online by the Electric Blanket Institute, is that they are quite safe if they are used and maintained properly. Most blankets come with thermostats or temperature gauges. Such blan-

kets can measure your body temperature and adjust the setting to the temperature you are most comfortable at. “The blanket won’t raise the temperature needlessly to keep you warm,” according to the institute. “Working on lower temperatures significantly decreases the chances that the blanket will overheat.” An automatic shutoff will stop the blanket from generating heat when the internal temperature of the blanket reaches a certain level. Programmable blankets will stop generating heat when they reach the temperature you have set. Electric blankets can be safely washed and dried if you follow some safety precautions. The institute says to “use cold temperatures for both washing and drying. Dry the blanket in a dryer but not for longer than 15 minutes. Before you put the blanket in the machine, inspect it for condition. If wires are poking through the blanket, stop using the blanket immediately. Don’t wash it or use it ever again. Never use an old blanket that shows signs of tears, discolorations, stains, poking wires, etc.” Finally learn how to store the blanket when not in use. The institute says the best way to store a blanket over the summer is to “put it on the shelf, fold loosely and unplug the cords and controls. Place it in a plastic bag and keep it in a dry place.” Gordon Williams is a volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Northwest Region Communications Team.

Here’s how to order free at-home Covid tests By Senior Times staff

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Washington residents can request free at-home Covid-19 tests online at sayyescovidhometest.org or sayyescovidhometest.org/casa.html for Spanish speakers. The initiative by the state Department of Health provides rapid-antigen tests to help individuals and families monitor for potential exposure to the coronavirus. People can order up to five free tests. The program expands on an existing partnership with CareEvolution and Amazon. The pilot project through the National Institutes of Health delivered 800,000 tests in parts of Eastern Washington, including the Tri-Cities. Under the new program, the test kits now are available to all state residents. The program is one of several ways to acquire free tests for home use. Order free Covid-19 tests through the federal program at COVIDtests.gov or buy them from stores and pharmacies.

Insurers will pay for up to eight at-home tests per month per individual under federal rules so save those receipts. Area residents also may get tests at pharmacies and walk-thru and drivethru locations throughout the community. Go to doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/ COVID19/TestingforCOVID19/TestingLocations. Those who test positive are encouraged to report results through WA Notify to alert those they’ve been near of potential exposures. WA Notify is a smartphone app that uses anonymized location data to track contacts and notify users when they’ve been in close contact with someone who tested positive. The app can be enabled on Apple phones in “settings” or downloaded on Android phones at the Google Play Store. It has been activated on more than 3 million phones in the state. Go to doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/WANotify.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Meet Chief ‘Dutch’ Lincoln, Kennewick’s longest-serving top cop By East Benton County Historical Society

Ken Hohenberg retires as Kennewick police chief this year after nearly 19 years serving as Kennewick’s chief lawman and 40 years with the city. He became chief in July 2003. His dedication to public service ends another positive chapter in the leadership history of the Kennewick Police Department, with officers like Hohenberg, Mark Harden and Bob Farnkoff heading the police department. And, O.C. “Dutch” Lincoln. Chief Lincoln led the Kennewick Police Department for 26 years, longer than anyone in the history of the department and longer than most community police chiefs throughout the state. Lincoln became chief in 1951 and retired in 1977. He was a Kennewick native, born in 1912 when Kennewick was barely an incorporated community, one of nine brothers and sisters growing up on a farm operated by their father, a bookkeeper by trade, and Kennewick’s postmaster from 1932-46. The siblings’ parents, Frank and Carlotta, settled in Kennewick in 1908 from Worcester, Massachusetts. Dutch always stayed pretty close to Kennewick in his lifetime, although he did go off to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. Throughout his tenure as police chief in small-town Kennewick hardly any resident could hear the name “Dutch” without knowing it was Kennewick’s police chief being referred to. In an amusing story, Lincoln recalled after his retirement how he became known as “Dutch.” The Lincoln family, like many at the time, weren’t affluent and the sisters and brothers grew into hand-medown clothes. One day after his mother outfitted him with clothes fitting a little bigger than his size, one of Lincoln’s brothers looked at him, laughed and said he looked like a “little Dutchman.” From then on, to everyone except his parents, he was no longer Omar Charles Lincoln, he was O.C. “Dutch” Lincoln. Graduating from Kennewick High School during the Great Depression,

Lincoln looked for work anywhere he could find it. “In those days I must have had 100 jobs,” he said O.C. “Dutch” during an inLincoln terview in his post-chief days. “I did anything to earn some money.” When the United States entered World War II, he joined the Navy. He was discharged in 1945 after the war ended, and he settled in San Francisco working as an accountant, work he found dissatisfying. “It wasn’t the life for me,” he said. Then a letter arrived in 1946 from Kennewick Police Chief M.H. Kershaw. Lincoln was offered a job in the department. “I grabbed it,” the future police chief said. He was salaried at $35 a week and joined a Kennewick police force of four other officers, one of which was police chief Kershaw. “We had one paddy wagon and our arsenal was one .22 revolver and one shotgun,” he recalled. Lincoln worked the night beat six days a week and was usually the only officer covering the night watch. A red lightbulb atop a downtown Kennewick business, then the Modern Business College, served as the public’s way of communicating with an officer. A caller needing an officer would call the telephone operator. If she concluded it was an emergency, she would flip a switch illuminating the red lightbulb. “There were no tall trees and you could see the light from all over,” Lincoln said. “I’d go to a phone and call her (the operator) to find out what was wrong.” Three years after joining the department, he was promoted to sergeant in 1949, and two years later “Dutch” Lincoln became Kennewick’s chief of police. He never fired his gun in the line of duty, “although I did use my gun to tap a few people on the head,” Lincoln recalled of his days as an officer and chief. Taverns in the 1950s did a booming business with Hanford employing thousands, combined with a sig-

Courtesy East Benton County History Museum O.C. “Dutch” Lincoln’s badge, ribbons from his military service in the Pacific during World War II, and other of his artifacts are on display at the East Benton County Historical Society Museum at 205 W. Keewaydin Drive in Kennewick.

nificant force of soldiers serving at Camp Hanford. Crime was usually related to alcohol, and the Kennewick Police Department was challenged to keep up with a limited staff, and limited equipment, the chief said. “We either killed people with kindness or bent them with brute strength,” he recalled of the early days. Police work and the tragedies encountered during a career as a police officer can be overwhelming, Lincoln acknowledged. “I just have to forget some of the things I’ve seen, otherwise it would drive me nuts to dwell on them,” he said. But he never once in 26 years as

Kennewick’s police chief thought about retiring. “But, there used to be a city manager who regularly threatened to fire me,” he said. “Dutch” Lincoln died on Dec. 16, 2001. He was 89 years old. His Kennewick chief’s badge, ribbons from his military service in the Pacific during World War II, and other of his artifacts are on display at the East Benton County Historical Society Museum at Keewaydin in Kennewick. search East Benton County History Museum: 205 W. Keewaydin Drive in Kennewick; 509-582-7704; ebchs. org.

SENIOR TIMES • FEBRUARY 2022

Benton REA moving admin to West Richland By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

Benton Rural Electric Association will move its administration offices to West Richland from Prosser after closing a deal for nearly 18 acres near the former Tri-City Raceway on Dec. 20, 2021. The electric co-op is the latest entity to embrace the raceway site, which was dormant before the Port of Kennewick sold it to West Richland in late 2020. The city carved out space for its nowbuilt police station, leased the raceway to the Red Mountain Events Center and launched a series of land swaps with neighbors to make better use of the parcel. That left it with the spot behind the raceway and an eager buyer in the REA, which needs added space for its growing team and wanted to be in its fastestgrowing community, West Richland. The city will invest about $1 million to build a road – Cooperative Way – and water infrastructure to the site. The state Community Economic Revitalization Board is supporting the development with a $600,000 low-interest loan and a $200,000 grant. The Benton County Rural Capital Fund, funded by sales taxes, supplied an additional $200,000. Benton REA will reimburse the city for the balance. Troy Berglund, community relations and members services manager for Benton REA, said it hasn’t engaged a designer, so it’s too early to describe what the building will look like. It will develop the site in phases to minimize the cost to ratepayers who foot the bill for the administrative costs. It is a badly needed move, he said. It had 30 employees and 3,961 customer-members when it built the Prosser quarters in 1962. It grew to 55 employees and 7,856 members in 1997, when it built a satellite office in West Richland on West Van Giesen Street. Today, it has 73 employees and

2022

11,498 members. “We have been evaluating what to do for four years. It is a lengthy process,” Berglund said. Benton REA serves a territory that extends from West Richland in Benton County, west through Yakima and to White Pass, in Lewis County. It was established in the 1930s as part of the cooperative movement to electrify rural America and had no urban areas. Today, West Richland is the only city entirely within its borders. Prosser, Benton City and Sunnyside, to name a few, expanded into its edges but are not primarily served by it. In Prosser, it serves the commercial district at the Wine Country Road interchange, including area hotels and the Love’s Truck Stop. The REA will remain an important part of the Prosser economy and isn’t leaving, Berglund said. “There are people who will report to West Richland, but a lot of trucks and lineman and operations will remain in Prosser. We operate (PowerNET Internet, Computer Repair and IT) that has a lot of business in Prosser and the lower valley,” he said. “That’s the message to Prosser. We’re not leaving. We’ll still be a part of this community.”

New West Richland Police Station

Va W.

ies

Future Benton REA administration center Ke

Graphic by Vanessa Guzmán Benton Rural Electric Association closed a deal for nearly 18 acres to build a new administration building next door to the newly-built West Richland Police Station and Tri-City Raceway.

It will not sell its offices or property in Prosser, he added. Port of Kennewick officials said they were thrilled to see West Richland develop the raceway property. Despite its name, the port serves areas of West Richland. The port held it for more than 11 years but did little with it as it focused on its Vista Field redevelopment and Columbia Gardens Urban Wine & Artisan Village, among others. West Richland asked to buy it in 2019, after its voters approved the new police station project, prompting a search for a suitable site to put it. The sale closed in 2020.

Port commissioners said they’re pleased the city has done so much to bring life back to the formerly dormant property. Don Barnes, now a former commissioner, said it was great to see the raceway developed. Commissioner Skip Novakovich toured the area with the city’s new planning director. “What they’ve done with this property to develop it is just amazing,” he said. The future REA administration building will be accessed at the Cooperative Way and Keene Road intersection, south of West Van Giesen Street.

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