Senior Times - January 2023

Restaurant returns to its river roots after fire

By Robin Wojtanik for Senior Times

Nine months after a fire forced Foodies from its downtown Kennewick space, the restaurant has been reborn in a new riverfront location where it can seat twice as many people.

“It wasn’t a sad thing,” said owner Joanna Wilson of the closure of the former Foodies on West Kennewick Avenue.

She’s leasing a space owned by the city of Kennewick at 2701 Paul Parish Drive, next to the city’s golf course in Columbia Park, west of the hydroplane pits. It has an unobstructed river view for events like Water Follies, the River of Fire and this month’s Lighted Boat Parade.

Since first launching Foodies in 2014 as a roving kitchen on a pontoon boat, the restaurant has anchored itself as a Tri-City favorite.

The night before the February 2022 blaze at the Cascade Building behind Foodies, Wilson had laid out

dry erase boards with the intention of brainstorming potential changes for the restaurant at 308 W. Kennewick Ave.

She felt the success of the Foodies expansion to 701 The Parkway in Richland had come on the back of the original Foodies, its first brick

and mortar location.

“It was one of those things where the heart wasn’t there, and we were so focused on getting Richland up and successful, that it really took a toll, at least it did in my vision,” she said.

Wilson started contemplating capital improvements, maintenance issues and future expectations for each location.

“It literally was, ‘Where are we headed?’ It was kind of one of those heartfelt moments. And then at 6 in the morning, my mom called, and my phone started blowing up, and it was, ‘Get down there,’ ” she said.

Fire damage

Wilson could only stand by and watch as extensive smoke and water from the fire destroyed Foodies’ interior, forcing its immediate closure.

A number of items were salvaged with the help of a restoration company. This included the tables and

Ag educators shine in 2023 Mid-Columbia Hall of Fame

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

As a high schooler, Carol Travis was drawn to the flowers her classmates carried around Spokane’s Ferris High School, the results of a floral class offered through the ag program.

She was drawn to the school’s charismatic ag advisor and to the thought of working plants.

So, when faced with choosing an elective, the choice was obvious: She signed up for horticulture class, which would lead to a career in the plant world and eventually to New Horizons High

School in Pasco, where she launched a thriving Future Farmers of America chapter in 2010.

Travis, together with fellow ag teacher Charlie Dansie of Connell High School, will be inducted into the MidColumbia Agriculture Hall of Fame on Jan. 19 as the 2023 Agriculture Advisor honorees.

They will share the spotlight with Harold Cox, a longtime farmer and rancher honored with the Pioneer Award, and with Maury Balcom, a third-generation farmer honored with the Stewardship Award.

Travis was a city girl back in Spo-

kane and came from a humble family. But the flowers and the ag program won her over and would help set her path. Her first job, at 15, was to care for the plants in the Ferris High greenhouse over the summer.

She knew she wanted to be part of FFA from the start.

“I’ve got to get one of those jackets,” she said.

FFA would become the stage where she would compete, adding coveted patches from her travels to local, state and even national competitions to her blue and gold jacket.

“FFA saved my life,” she said, shar-

ing how her career lifted her out of poverty, a lesson her students appreciate.

“I value my FFA jacket more than my wedding dress. You buy a wedding dress. You have to earn your blue and gold,” she said.

She dreamed of teaching even in high school, but family circumstances kept her from attending college. She worked for a nursery, then joined Yoke’s Fresh Markets in Spokane, working and thriving in the floral department.

She moved to Pasco to open the chain’s first Tri-City store, working her

What was the name of the Richland movie theater that once occupied a location at Lee Boulevard and George Washington Way?

Photo by Robin Wojtanik

Joanna Wilson, owner of Foodies, brought the original sign from the Kennewick location to the restaurant’s new home in Columbia Park.

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3RCF launches an online giving platform

3 Rivers Community Foundation has launched an online giving platform for community giving. The grant catalog makes community giving easy for everyone and welcomes all sizes of donations.

“This is the first time we have offered a ‘crowd-funding style’ of community giving. There are 26 participating area nonprofit organizations in the catalog that will benefit greatly from online giving. These are organizations we support and have vetted through an application process, evaluation and interviews,” said 3RCF’s Chief Executive Officer Abbey Cameron.

Each nonprofit listed is local and supports a wide variety of causes,

from arts to youth programs.

The website can be found at 3rcf. org/grantcatalog

This month, the foundation will distribute a total of 59 grants to area nonprofits for a total of $270,000. It hopes to attach another $100,000 through this first-time online platform.

U.S. drivers cautioned about B.C. liability rules

A new auto lability law in British Columbia means Americans who travel north of the border for business or pleasure will want to review their auto insurance.

Under the new law, drivers who are involved in vehicle accidents in the Canadian province are responsible for paying for their own injuries or damages regardless of who is at fault.

The Northwest Insurance Council advises U.S. residents who plan to drive personal, business or rental vehicles in British Columbia to consult with their insurance agents and employers before they cross the border. U.S. drivers won’t be able to make claims against another driver’s insurance, even if that driver is at fault.

The insurance council advises reviewing collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, towing coverage, rental cars and deductibles.

“We’ve already begun to see the impact of this change to B.C. liability laws, just as the US-Canadian border has fully reopened and more U.S. drivers are once again visiting places like Victoria and Vancouver,” said NW Insurance Council President Kenton Brine.

OF FAME From page 1

way up to management. She never lost touch with her educational roots, helping with FFA events.

When an opportunity rose to join the Pasco School District, she jumped. She earned her teaching credentials during her first year. At the time, New Horizons met in portables and colleagues scoffed at the idea alternative students would be interested in FFA.

he doesn’t get a call from school leaders who want to replicate the CDL program in their schools.

He is also known for Connell’s annual Drive Your Tractor to School event. Students gather at a nearby shop, then parade to school in tractors and other farm vehicles.

“It’s just a fun activity,” he said.

The other awardees are:

Pioneer Award

Senior Times, a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly. Subscriptions are $21.69 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed by guest columnists and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Senior Times staff, other guest columnists or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by Senior Times staff, other guest columnists or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

But they were, crowding into her tiny portable office. Today, 22 of the school’s 332 students are members. Through FFA, she said, the students see a future in agriculture that goes beyond field work.

More importantly, though, she’s proud that New Horizons has shed its reputation as a “dumping ground” for problem youth.

Today, its mission is to help students retrieve credits, graduate and find employment.

“We just love them and teach them and support them,” she said.

Dansie took a different route to the classroom, but like Travis was inspired by a teacher when he was growing up on a sheep ranch in Utah. He taught in Rexburg, Idaho, for 11 years, then in Warden before moving to Connell High School to join its robust ag program, where he is part of a three-person team.

He teaches beginning welding, woodshop and commercial driving. Connell launched a program to help older students earn their commercial driver’s licenses last year, inspired by an area farmer who was having trouble finding truck drivers.

It took three or four years to secure state approval, but it launched with 30 students, a waiting list and plenty of interest from other schools.

Dansie said not a week goes by that

Harold Cox, a farmer, rancher and dedicated community supporter grew up on his family’s farm in Outlook, raising potatoes, rutabagas, turnips, sugar beets, hay and livestock. The family farm provided the foundation for his own interests.

“You always, always make your goal, plan three steps ahead, figure out all the downsides, and then give it all you got! Never go halfway. Don’t ever give-up ‘til the job is done,” Cox said.

He served on numerous boards and commissions including Paterson School Board, Franklin County Planning Commission, President of both the Washington State Cattleman’s and Washington Cattle Feeder Associations, WA Association of Wheat Growers, WA Ag Forestry Leadership Foundation, Tri-Cities Cancer Center Executive Committee and the BentonFranklin Fair and Rodeo 4H & FFA Market Stock Sale.

Stewardship Award

Maury Balcom, a third-generation farmer, was honored for his passionate involvement over five decades to preserve water resources in the Columbia Basin.

He was a founding board member for the Washington Wine Commission and served as a board member for many organizations including the Washington Wine Growers Association, Washington State Water Resources Association

Carol Travis, ag educator at New Horizons High School in Pasco, launched the thriving Future Farmers of America chapter in 2010. Travis, together with Charlie Dansie of Connell High School, will be honored with the 2023 Agriculture Advisor awards in the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame.

and the Tri-City Development Council.

He still serves on the South Columbia Irrigation District Board of Directors as president since 2002. In 2010, he was awarded the Water Resources Leadership Award from the Washington State Water Resources Association and is a pivotal influencer promoting agriculture and irrigation issues at the local, state and national levels on behalf of the agriculture industry.

Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame dinner and installation gala will be held Jan. 19 at the Pasco Red Lion.

The Agriculture Hall of Fame Gala is presented by the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Pasco.

For reservations and information, call the Pasco Chamber at 509-5479755 or drop by the office at 1110 Osprey Pointe Blvd. Suite 101, in Pasco.

Visit the chamber online at pascochamber.org.

HALL

Photo by Wendy Culverwell

The safety rules for wintertime driving

Spend all winter sitting indoors and you can work up a powerful case of cabin fever, but take to the highways on a winter’s day and you could find yourself in a whole lot of trouble.

Winter travel can be hazardous –especially for seniors.

Because winter driving poses special dangers, there is plenty of information available on traveling safely on snowy and icy roads.

Why should winter travel pose special dangers to older folks? For one thing, seniors just don’t do well physically in frigid weather. Poorer circulation and a loss of insulating body fat leave us highly susceptible to the cold.

The physical limitations that come with age also make it harder to respond to weather-related emergencies. Could you really push or dig your car out of a snowdrift? How far could you slog through a storm if you decided to abandon a broken-down or snowed-in car in search of help?

Just how dangerous is winter travel on the highways? According to statistics compiled by weather.com, 1.2 million crashes a year involve hazardous weather, or more than 20% of all traffic accidents.

“Weather-related vehicle accidents contribute to a far higher number of deaths in the United States than large-scale weather disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding,” the site reports.

Winter travel safely requires planning before you go, and caution once

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on the road.

Winter driving supply checklist

Start with the winter driving supply checklist, prepared by the Washington

State Department of Transportation, or WSDOT. Have these in your car before you head out:

• Flashlight plus extra batteries

• Blanket

• Non-perishable food or snacks

• Water

• Gloves and boots

• First aid kit

• Cellphone with charger

• Tire chains

• Ice scraper, snowbrush and a small shovel

• Jumper cables

• Flares or warning triangles

• Kitty litter or sand for traction

• Whistle to signal for help

Vehicle readiness

Make sure your car is ready for the journey before you leave home. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends checking the following:

Tires: Inspect tires at least once a month. Check the pressure when the tires are cold, meaning they haven’t been driven on in at least three hours. Check for any damage, including the spare. Look for cuts, punctures, bulg-

es, cracks or bumps. The tread on all tires should be at least 2/32 of an inch. If the tire is over six years old, consider replacing it.

Batteries: When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Have a mechanic check all systems: battery, charging system and belts for repair or replacement.

Car seats: If grandkids will be traveling with you, make sure the car or booster seat is the right size for the child. Go to nhtsa.gov for child passenger safety recommendations. Don’t let heavy winter coats prevent you from seating children safely.

Floor mats: Consider replacing mats with non-slip rubber ones or with thicker ones that sop up any slush that gets into the car. Only use mats that are the correct size for your car.

Before you leave home, check the weather where you are heading and along the way.

“Pay attention to the weather forecast at your destination,” the American Red Cross advises. “Travel and weather websites can help you avoid storms and other regional challenges that can impact your safety.”

The Red Cross further recommends letting someone know your destination and when you expect to arrive.

For the latest on road conditions in Washington, call 511. That will bring you up-to-date conditions on highways and mountain passes from WSDOT. If 511 doesn’t work for you, call 800-695-7623. If traveling

out of state, find comparable 511 services in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. For more on conditions within Washington, check the Washington State Patrol site at wsp.bit.ly/ WSPTraffic conditions.

Run the wipers before you go to make sure they will clear your windshield of snow and slush. When in doubt, buy new wipers. Never start a winter journey with less than a full tank of gas.

Make sure you have chains, and that you know how to install them. Do a few practice runs so you can put the chains on even in harsh weather.

WSDOT suggests watching a video to learn how to install the chains.

Give yourself plenty of time for the trip. The last thing you want is to have to rush to get somewhere on time. Driving in bad weather can be physically punishing so get a good night’s sleep before you go. Take breaks along the way to relax stressed muscles. Switch drivers so the load doesn’t fall on one driver.

Winter driving tips

Here’s advice from WSDOT on what to do when you are out on the highway:

• Drive for conditions: slower speeds, slower acceleration, leave extra space between vehicles, give yourself more time and space to stop.

• Do not use cruise control and keep in mind that four-wheel and allwheel vehicles do not stop or steer

Gordon Williams American Red Cross

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JAN. 10

• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s: 1-2 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JAN. 11

• End Of Life Planning: 1-3:30 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JAN. 14

• Camerata Musica – Cheng2 Duo: 7:30 p.m., Columbia Basin College, Performing Arts Theatre, 2600 N. 20th Ave., P-100, Pasco. Tickets: cbcartscenter.com.

JAN. 19

• Healthy Ages Virtual January 2023 Wellness Program: 1-2 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/ KNRC.

• The Ancient Art of Madhubani Painting online lecture: 7 p.m. Register at cbcartscenter.com/lectures.

JAN. 20-21

• Tri-City Family Expo: Beyond the Galaxy: noon-7 p.m. Jan. 20 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 21. The

Hapo Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco. Admission: adults $8, children $6. Tickets at tcfamilyexpo. com.

JAN. 20

• Harlem Globetrotters: 7-10:30 p.m., Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets at harlemglobetrotters. com.

• Richland Players present, “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland. Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 21

• Polar Plunge Winter Beach Party: 9 a.m., Riverfront Trail, Richland. Beach party with live music, beach games, hot tubs, food trucks, costume contests and prizes. Individuals and teams are encouraged to raise donations in support of Special Olympics Washington athletes. Admission: $75. Details at polarplungewa. com.

• Richland Players present, “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland. Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

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

JAN. 22

• Richland Players present, “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz: 2 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland. Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 27-28

• Richland Players present, “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz: 7:30 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland. Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 27

• Scavenger Hunt hosted by Affinity Living Communities: 2 p.m., 5207 W. Hildebrand Blvd., Kennewick. Free and open to the public.

JAN. 28

• Saint Luke Productions present, “Tolton”: 7 p.m., Christ the King Catholic School, 1122 Long Ave., Richland. Learn the story of Black historic figure Augustus Tolton who escaped slavery and defied racial prejudice to become America’s first Black priest. All shows and are suitable for ages 10+. Admission is free.

JAN. 29

• Richland Players present, “Other Desert Cities” by John Robin Baitz: 2 p.m., 608 The Parkway, Richland. Tickets: richlandplayers.org.

JAN. 30

• Saint Luke Productions present, “Tolton”: 7 p.m., St. Patrick Catholic Church: 1320 W. Henry St., Pasco. Learn the story of Black historic figure Augustus Tolton who escaped slavery and defied racial prejudice to become America’s first Black priest. All shows and are suitable for ages 10+. Admission is free.

FEB. 11

• 8th annual Three Rivers Craft Brew & Bacon Festival: 6-10 p.m., Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Microbrew tasting, live entertainment, food samples provided by area restaurants and caterers who are competing for the best bacon dish of the night. Choice wines and cider also available. Cost: $45 in advance, $50 at door. Tickets at Ticketmaster.com.

AARP lines

While many folks were wrapping up 2022, AARP Washington’s advocacy team was ramping up for the 2023 legislative session.

We met with legislators, advocacy groups and community organizations to discuss legislative priorities and get a jump on bill language.

Rising to the top of our “to-do” list are protections against utility disconnection during times of extreme weather, improvements to increase access to more affordable housing, continued efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and working with hospitals to ensure our cadre of family caregivers have the information they need to help loved ones safely recover at home from a hospital stay.

More Americans die yearly from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

Sadly, 157 people died in the 2021 heat wave, the deadliest weatherrelated event in Washington’s history.

Many states have protections against utility shutoffs during cold weather events, including Washington. However, only nine states have temperature-based shutoff restrictions when extreme heat hits. In 2023, AARP Washington will

MacCaul AARP

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priorities to help older adults

work with the Attorney General’s office to change our guidelines and expand protections, so families aren’t facing disconnections during extreme

weather events like heat waves.

Housing is an issue that impacts people of all ages and backgrounds.

For older adults who are “house rich” and live on fixed incomes, the lack of affordable housing options limits their ability to move to another home in their community or to stay in their current home and “age in place.”

We will continue to work on policies to increase the housing supply, such as reducing barriers to building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or garden cottages. With an eye toward offering incentives so cities can improve their permitting and application process, we hope to pass statewide minimum standards that all municipalities can use to streamline and jumpstart the creation of ADUs.

We will also look into anti-displacement options to protect renters and residents of mobile/manufactured home communities.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, passed by Congress, ushered in new ways to reduce prescription drug prices. This is one of the most important pocketbook issues for older Americans, and there is always more that can be done.

Here in the Evergreen state, we will be monitoring changes that expand the Washington State Health Care Authority’s ability to recommend timely and appropriate policies, which include establishing upper payment limits on what state programs will pay for medication and bulk purchasing.

As a staunch supporter of our state’s cadre of more than 860,000 unpaid family caregivers – without which our system of support and services would collapse – we will revisit legislation that passed back in 2016 but has not been fully implemented.

The Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act, or CARE Act, is legislation that recognizes family caregivers’ critical role in helping their loved ones recover safely at home.

The act could reduce costly emergency room visits by documenting the name of the family caregiver when a loved one is admitted to the hospital and ensuring that the discharging facility explains and provides live instruction for the tasks –such as medication management, injections, and wound care – that the family caregiver can perform at home.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of what we hope to tackle in the 2023 session, and we know we will need to be nimble as new bills are introduced but having our “to-do” list is an important step in preparing for the work ahead.

We know we can’t do this alone and are incredibly fortunate to have AARP members and other older adults ready to help us champion legislation throughout the session by contacting their representatives to encourage support.

If you want to lend a hand, you can sign up as a virtual advocate at AARP.org/getinvolved.



Cathy MacCaul is AARP Washington’s advocacy director.

Cathy

MEALS ON WHEELS MENU

Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels senior dining sites serve hot meals from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday (Tuesday through Friday in Connell). Meals are free for seniors age 60 and older.

Seniors must make reservations 24 business hours in advance by calling 509-735-1911.

Monday, Jan. 7: Turkey tetrazzini, squash medley, tossed salad.

Tuesday, Jan. 10: Apple pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, garden vegetables.

Wednesday, Jan. 11: Chili, mixed vegetables, cinnamon roll.

Thursday, Jan. 12: Chicken and rice casserole, glazed carrots.

Friday, Jan. 13: Tuna noodle casserole, green beans.

Monday, Jan. 16: Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, Jan. 17: Cranberry chicken, confetti rice, peas and onion.

Wednesday, Jan. 18: Pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw.

Thursday, Jan. 19: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian vegetables, wheat roll, ice cream.

Friday, Jan. 20: Chicken Parmesan casserole, cauliflower with red peppers.

Monday, Jan. 23: Lemon pepper cod, fluffy rice, green peas, cookie.

Tuesday, Jan. 24: Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, broccoli.

Wednesday, Jan. 25: BBQ chicken, roasted carrots, potato salad, cornbread.

Thursday, Jan. 26: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, beets, wheat roll.

Friday, Jan. 27: Beef stir fry, fluffy rice, Asian vegetables, tossed salad.

Monday, Jan. 30: Herbed chicken, mushroom gravy, au gratin potatoes, tossed salad, yogurt and berries.

Tuesday, Jan. 31: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables.

Dining site locations:

• Kennewick Community Center, 500 S. Auburn St.

• Pasco First Avenue Center, 505 N. First Ave.

• Pasco Ray Pfleuger Center, 253 W. Margaret St.

• Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Road North.

• Benton City Desert Rose Facility, 510 14th St.

• Prosser Senior Center, 1231 Dudley Ave.

• Connell Community Center, 211 E. Elm St.

• Meals on Wheels Café, 1834 Fowler St., Richland. No reservations required at this site.

Pasco breaks ground on animal shelter

The city of Pasco broke ground on its new Tri-Cities Animal Shelter on Nov. 30.

The long-planned facility at 1312 S. 18th Ave. replaces an aging and dank facility that serves as headquarters for Tri-Cities Animal Control.

Pasco is the host and manager of the animal facility, which provides animal control and sheltering services for the cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland. A 2016 study identified the need to replace the old facility, with the three cities sharing in the cost.

The new shelter is a pre-engineered, single-story building with 9,651 square feet, kennels for dogs and cats and a greeting area for visitors to spend time with prospective pets. It includes facilities for sick and injured animals as well as fenced play areas outside the building.

Double J Inc. of Richland submitted the winning bid of $673,000 to build the project, which was approved by the Pasco City Council in October.

Richland wants Little Badger Trail comments

The city of Richland will present a draft proposal to link Little Badger Mountain Trail to Badger Mountain at a series of public comment sessions.

The public can meet with staff between 4:30-6 p.m. Jan. 12 in the lobby of City Hall, 625 Swift Blvd., and from 9-10:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive.

A virtual meeting will be from noon-1 p.m. Jan. 19, via Zoom.

The 5.5-mile trail system was developed by staff and its consultant, Michael Terrell Landscape Architecture LLC.

Go to ci.richland.wa.us/littlebadgertrail

Delicakes by Angelica to open shop in Kennewick

A specialty cake bakery born in the Pasco Specialty Kitchen is opening up a shop in Kennewick.

Delicakes by Angelica will move into the Highlands Center, 151 N. Ely St., Suite D2, leasing a 1,085-square foot space.

Todd Sternfeld of NAI Tri-Cities represented the landlord and Corren Heeren, also of NAI TriCities, represented the tenant.

Pilar “Angelica” Hernandez opened Delicakes three years ago at the Pasco Specialty Kitchen, a business incubator that focuses on food.

Kozy Kup opens in Richland library

Kozy Kup Coffee Co. has opened in the Richland Public Library.

Its hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday at 955 Northgate Drive.

Kozy Kup also operates a coffee shop at 2250 Keene Road in Richland.

The previous library coffee shop tenant, Novel Coffee + Teas, closed its library location during the pandemic and now brews coffees and other drinks at 710 George Washington Way, Suite B-B.

Special Olympics plans Polar Plunge

The Special Olympics Washington Polar Plunge hits Richland in January.

The “Winter Beach Party” fund raiser starts with 9 a.m. registration, an awards program and a noon plunge on Jan. 21 at Columbia Park Marina.

Register at bit.ly/ SOWAPolarPlunge2023.

So you think it’s cold out? Hold my beer, says winter of 1919

By Gale Metcalf for Senior Times

Tri-City roads were icy. Fuel shortages compounded the challenge of heating homes.

Ice was being hacked out of the Columbia River for summer use in ice boxes.

It almost sounds like the winter of 2022-23 in the Tri-Cities, but the setting was the winter of 1919.

That winter more than a century ago set records for winter cold, Some are still in the record books.

In Kennewick, the temperature hit 29 degrees below zero. In the nearby community of Hanford, it hit 27 degrees below zero.

The 29-degree-below-zero recording came on Dec. 13, 1919, after it reached a high for the day at minus 2 degrees. Three consecutive days and five straight nights saw subzero temperatures.

Two days before the record-setting cold of Dec. 13, frozen water pipes in six houses caused explosions. The kitchens in two homes were destroyed when ceilings collapsed. Furnishings were blown to bits.

Ice fields formed in the Yakima and Columbia rivers, the latter smaller because it was not yet damned.

The Columbia froze from shore to shore, particularly from the nowdefunct town of Hover near today’s Finley across to old Wallula, which disappeared with construction of McNary Dam in the early 1950s.

The bitter cold had one silver lining. In the days of ice houses storing blocks of ice for refrigeration in ice boxes in homes, it brought a huge supply of ice. Workers cut blocks fom the river for use in blistering summer temperatures still months away.

Decades after the 1919 winter, longtime residents remembered it –or remembered stories their folks told.

“My dad, William Foraker, talked about that winter for the rest of his life,” Phillip Foraker recalled in the 1990s.

“He told me they drove their Model T’s across the Columbia on the ice and he was really impressed that the ice held their trucks and wagons loaded with hay,” said Phillip, who died in 2007.

A coal shortage compounded the winter woes that year. Orders had been placed months earlier for the common heating fuel, but had not arrived.

A shortage of railroad cars prevented delivery. Near the end of October every coal merchant in Kennewick was out of inventory.

Kennewick schools had just a month’s supply on hand with the winter months still ahead.

A coal miner’s strike that began at midnight, Oct. 31, exacerbated the situation,

With a crisis in the making, the Kennewick City Council met on Saturday evening, Dec. 6, and appointed a fuel administrator named E.O. Keene to oversee the situation.

Homeowners and other residents down to just a week remaining in their supply could apply for a permit

to buy a half-cord of wood or a halfcord of coal.

It didn’t resolve the shortages faced by those applying. No fuel was available when the first 150 permits were issued.

Kennewick used an average of about 30 tons of coal a day at the time. The town faced severe shortages through to the end of December.

Keene enacted restrictions to slow the drain on dwindling supplies.

Store hours were limited to 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with stoves off at 3 p.m. Church services had to end by noon. Restaurants could open no earlier than 7 a.m. for breakfast, and couldn’t serve after 7:30 p.m.

Libraries could only serve patrons on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

Doctors and dentists weren’t restricted in their hours, but they could only use oil stoves for heat.

Residents were asked to close off most rooms of their homes. Schools sent students home on an early Christmas recess.

Near mid-December, 27 tons of coal finally arrived – from Canada. It was distributed to the most needy. Another 400 cords of wood arrived about the same time from the Columbia Gorge community of Lyle.

The shortage of railroad cars also was affecting shipments of boxed apples.

To keep them from ruinous freezing, some 200 oil heaters and stoves ran around the clock in area fruit packing houses.

A shipment of oil stoves arrived about the same time and with an adequate supply of kerosene, they helped protect the apples, which were as critical to the local economy then as they are now.

Some entrepreneurs used the bitter cold to advertise their wares.

“Keep your feet warm,” one local shoe store advertised. “You can’t buy coal, you can buy shoes.

“Don’t add hospital and doctor bills to your present tonsillitis by going with cold, wet feet.”

The coat strike was settled, fuel became available and the bitter cold of winter eventually dissipated.

It was later determined the soil froze to a depth of 19 inches.

Gale Metcalf of Kennewick is a lifelong Tri-Citian, retired Tri-City Herald employee and volunteer for the East Benton County History Museum. He writes the monthly history column.

Courtesy East Benton County History Museum

The Columbia River froze over around 1907. The river was narrower before the era of dam-building. It would freeze again in the recordsetting cold of 1919, when subzero records were set that stand today.

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.

Keewaydin 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.

• Mahjong: 12:30-4 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Dominoes: 12:30-2 p.m. Tues-

days and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Pinochle: 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays. 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 Park 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; 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: 12:30-3:30 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.

• Mahjong: 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 509-790-1905.

• Pinochle: 1 p.m. Thursdays. Location: living room, membership is required.

• Crafts: 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Register by calling 509-786-2915.

• Bunco: Third Friday of month. 6 p.m. Cost is $2 per person. Location: dining room.

• Tai chi quan: 6 p.m. Mondays. Contact Kraig Stephens at 509-4301304.

• 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 $4 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.

Just for Fun

Former Yankees’ shortstop Jeter

28

Solutions on page 11

Basketball whistleblower

6

Mundane

Shake awake

Guns won’t fire without it

Military refectory

Obligation

Down 1

2

3

4

Easy

7

--- we weave” (Walter Scott)

Barbecue garment

8

11

12

20

Five star General --Bradley

Winter depression

It comes from the heart

Third Reich architect

23 Impression

27

29

30

32

33

Jan. 1: Exxon Corporation, the largest oil company in the world at the time, was created by the merger of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey and Humble Oil.

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.

chairs, already in use at the new Foodies on the river, which opened in mid-October.

Wilson just needed to add a few tables and chairs to bring the restaurant to its full capacity of 100, not including covered, outdoor tables available seasonally. Some natural wood tables also mimic the feel of the Richland location.

The 15 part-time and full-time staffers at Foodies Kennewick include a few who have worked at least one of the restaurant’s locations, whether in Richland, former Kennewick site or Foodies on the Go food truck that opened in the spring.

Employees are training to prepare for extended hours and future plans to offer breakfast on weekends in Kennewick, targeted at golfers.

No one was laid off after the February fire.

Instead, everyone was offered a position at Foodies Richland, and the eatery expanded hours to stay open seven days a week.

“It allowed us to refocus and send all of our efforts to Richland, not worry about the future; not worry about anything,” Wilson said.

A riverfront home

Wilson never expected to reopen her downtown Kennewick location.

“That died in the fire,” she said.

She had been on the hunt for a new venue, but nothing fit the intended vibe, especially the slew of strip mall spaces she was pitched weekly.

Wilson was in Hawaii in late summer when she got a call from the city that the Columbia Park restaurant space was available. It was a bit of kismet, as she was in the same spot in Hawaii back in 2017 when she learned 701 The Parkway was available after Paper Street Brewing departed for Pasco.

She followed through with her own due diligence as a small business owner before committing to the deal, but it’s hard to turn down a rare opportunity for riverfront property.

“Where am I going to be on the river in the Tri-Cities? It’s just not going to happen,” she said.

The restaurateur is thrilled with the public-private partnership and having Kennewick as her landlord.

The city stepped in when Foodies was stalled in receiving its liquor license from the state, as Kennewick now has a vested interest in the restaurant’s success.

“It’s just been great to be able to have that support that a typical small business doesn’t have,” she said.

“(The city of Kennewick) has really just opened the doors to us and allowed us to make it ours.”

The layout of the building is the

same as with the previous tenant, which includes a small space for city staffers to serve Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex customers, ringing up sales for the par 3 golf course, disc golf or foot golf.

Foodies put its own touches on the rectangular building by warming up the interior lighting, adding slate and natural wood accents, moving in more kitchen equipment, and incorporating the former exterior marquee to hang above the fireplace.

An expanded window to the kitchen includes food warming lights, a larger counter and bar area.

“It allowed us to be able to extend the kitchen, and that’s what I wanted with the bar we created – to have somewhere you could sit and watch. It’s kind of part of the entertainment to be involved in the kitchen. We can talk to you and chat, so it isn’t just a bar,” she said.

The freestanding building along Columbia Park Trail previously housed Bite at the Landing, which opened in fall 2019 by the Simmons family of C.G. Public House and Catering. It stopped serving in midSeptember and vacated by the end of the month.

Without holding a formal grand opening, the Columbia Park reception for Foodies has been just as Wilson hoped.

“People are trickling in, and it’s been perfect. It might feel slow for my staff, but it’s been healthy,” she said.

The restaurant only takes reservations for parties of 10 or more and had received many inquiries leading up to the Lighted Boat Parade, held the first weekend in December.

The restaurant owner credits her staff for Foodies’ success.

“They take ownership. I think they see I’m passionate about what I’m doing and I care about their employment, and it’s not just a job for me, so it’s not just a job for them. When they know they have the support of the owner and I will bend over backwards to take care of them, I think there’s a different culture that our guests see and want to be a part of,” she said.

But of course, there’s also the food, including a variety of popular favorites like burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads.

The menu remains the same, but the staff is empowered to contribute to the “fresh sheet” with rotating

quarterly specials.

“I want that to be very consistent, so we’re not changing our menu every month. We’re not doing crazy, wild things. We’re just creating comfortable food that people are familiar with, but has our own twist on it,” Wilson said.

The restaurant has a “rule of three” that requires every ingredient, from spices to sauces, to be used in at least three menu items before it’s kept in the inventory. This has been an important rule with supply chain issues post-pandemic.

Foodies on the Go truck

The Foodies on the Go food truck spent the summer at a Port of Benton lot near Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, filling the location once held by Kindra’s Wok ’N Roll, and using the same truck following an update and rewrapping.

Wilson may use the truck as a mobile billboard over the winter but doesn’t intend to return to the same spot next year. Foodies on the Go will be used for catering and events exclusively.

She likes the flexibility of not being tied down to a lease with the truck, but still having that contingency plan in the event restaurants are once again limited to takeout only, with food losing its luster while being transported off-site.

“No one’s food is good to-go, right? It just isn’t. Maybe Subway,” she said. “Hot fried food just isn’t as good. That’s not what our restaurants are meant to do. Having the food truck allows me to be in that market. I’m not tied to any kind of contract. And I could go anywhere I’m licensed, so that takes me from Prosser to Othello to Walla Walla.”

Will there ever be a Foodies Pasco? Never say never, Wilson said.

“I think maybe I need to just spend some more time and go to some chamber meetings and city council meetings. I really like the downtown and I think there is some movement there.”

Foodies Kennewick is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Foodies Richland is open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Planning a move?

If you are planning to move, please let us know in advance so you don’t miss one issue.

Email information to ads@tcjournal.biz.

Inflation, staffing shortages are hurting patients

Patients have less ability to access medical care as inflation and staffing shortages strain Washington’s medical practices, according to a survey conducted in October and November 2022 by the Washington State Medical Association.

The association issued a call to action to shore up the outpatient practice community as the state recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Access to care in our state will continue to diminish over the next year, creating even more pressure on our already overwhelmed hospitals,” it said.

The study included 82 responses from medical practices that were not affiliated with hospitals.

Key findings:

• Nearly 50% reduced office hours, services and treatments because of staffing shortages.

• More than 30% reduced patient access, including reducing office hours, services and treatments, because of inflation.

• Nearly 50% limited the number of Medicaid patients they see due to the practice’s current financial statement.

• Fewer than 10% had the minimum 18 weeks’ worth of cash required for operating expenses with nearly half of practices said they had less than four weeks’ worth of avail-

DRIVING, From page 3

better on ice.

• Leave extra room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, Remember, the larger the vehicle, the longer the stopping distance. Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots.

No matter how careful you are, there is always the risk of trouble. Maybe a sudden storm blocks the roads, or you hit black ice and skid off the road. What do you do then?

Stay with your car; don’t leave the warmth and shelter it provides in search of help. Trekking through snow can be demanding.

Trying to dig or push your car out of a snowdrift could prove physically overwhelming. Call 911 and let help come to you. Set flares or emergency triangles to be visible to other cars and to emergency vehicles. Keep the ceiling dome light on.

Stranded in a blizzard

Finally, here are the four Red Cross rules on what to do if you are

able cash.

• Just over 50% expect further reductions in patient access a year.

• Increasing Medicaid reimbursements and reducing staffing strain from prior authorization requirements were the most cited solutions to easing the pressures.

The medical association called on the 2023 Legislature to raise Medicaid rates for all specialties and to reduce the administrative burden posed by insurance carriers’ requirements that patients receive prior authorization for certain treatments.

Security guards head off vandals at old

KGH

Benton County has hired a security company to guard against vandalism at the former Kennewick General Hospital in downtown Kennewick.

The county acquired the nowclosed hospital in November as part of its plan to create a two-campus recovery facility for Tri-Citians facing mental health and/or substance abuse disorder crises. The property was repeatedly targeted by vandals and metal thieves, forcing the county to act to protect the building.

PPP Solutions Inc., dba Phoenix Security, is providing nightly security patrols under a contract approved in December.

The vandalism triggered a $12,400 repair bill to address flood damage in two incidents that occurred after regular business hours, the county said.

stranded in a blizzard:

• Stay in your car and wait for help. That applies even if you are young and fit. It definitely applies if you are older and not so fit.

• Hang a bright cloth on your radio antenna. Don’t miss a trick when it comes to making your car visible to rescuers or even to any cars that are able to move.

• Run the engine for 10 minutes every hour with the heater on. That will keep the car tolerably warm while stretching out your gas supply.

• Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and slightly open a downwind window for ventilation. Running a car with windows closed and/or the exhaust blocked exposes you to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

For more winter safety tips from the Red Cross, go to redcross.org/ winter-storms.

Gordon Williams is a volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Northwest Region Communications Team.

TRI-CITY BOOK CLUBS

• 6:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, THE THING WE CANNOT SAY by Kelly Rimmer is the Feb. 27 book.

The group typically meets the third Monday of the month.

Contact: Sue Spencer, sue_ spencer_england@hotmail. com or 509-572-4295.

• 1 p.m. Jan. 18, MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco, THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM by Marie Benedict.

The group typically meets the third Wednesday of the month.

Contact Susan Koenig at 509-302-9878 or SMKoenig@ ymail.com.

• 1:30 p.m. Jan. 19, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, JEFFERSON’S

AMERICA by Julie M. Fenster

is the Jan. 19 book. THE LAGER QUEEN OF MINNESOTA by J. Ryan Stradal is the Feb. 16 book. The group meets the third Thursday of the month but takes summers off.

Contact: Evelyn Painter, ec_ painter@yahoo.com or 509420-4811.

• 6 p.m. Jan. 24 MidColumbia Libraries, Benton City branch, 810 Horne Drive, WE BEGIN AT THE END by Chris Whitaker.

• 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.

civic leaders in 2022

By Senior Times staff

The Tri-Cities said good-bye to leaders who helped create the community we know and love this past year and in late 2021, including Dennis Poland, the builder and one time Kennewick Man of the Year; Robert L. “Bob” Ferguson, the U.S. Department of Energy’s first deputy assistant secretary of nuclear programs as well as the former head of Energy Northwest; and Mike Lawrence, the influential Hanford manager who drew back the curtain and set the stage for the massive site cleanup.

Byron Marlowe

Dec.

28, 2021

Byron Marlowe, the prominent Washington State University Tri-Cities wine professor, died unexpectedly on Dec. 28, 2021. He was 43.

WSU remembered him for his warm personality and infectious smile. He joined the WSU Tri-Cities Carson College of Business in 2015 and was named director of its wine and beverage business management program. He was awarded the Don Smith Distinguished Professorship, given to scholars who are devoted to teaching. He held several other appointments as well and traveled internationally to share his expertise in the wine and beverage industry. A scholarship was established in his memory to support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in hospitality business management.

Jocelyn “Joce” Berriochoa

Oct. 28, 1949-Dec.

31, 2021

Jocelyn Berriochoa, the educator and longtime teachers union president, died Dec. 31, 2021, of pneumonia. She was 72.

Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she spent her adult life in the TriCities. She taught art at Kennewick’s Park Middle School for three decades and represented educators as president of the Kennewick Education from 1996-97. A KEA spokesperson called her a “fiery” advocate for teachers.

Vernon “Vern” L. Mindermann

Aug. 7, 1944-April 4, 2022

Vernon Mindermann, who owned the Zip’s restaurant on Lee Boulevard in Richland, died April 4 in Richland. He was 77.

Mindermann was born in Spokane and purchased the Zip’s restaurant in 1980. Purchasing and operating the restaurant was one of his great accomplishments, along with his family, according to his obituary.

Robert “Bob” M. Kildall

Feb. 6, 1944-April 20, 2022

Robert “Bob” M. Kildall, founder of Bob’s Burgers and Brews, which has restaurants in Kennewick and Richland, died April 20. He was 78.

Kildall grew up in Lynden and served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, including at Paine Field. He spent decades in the restaurant industry before forming his own franchise in 1982, with locations scattered

around the state, including in Kennewick and Richland.

Scott Hanchette

Sept. 8, 1961-April 25, 2022

Scott Hanchette, who established Viper Aircraft Corp., at the Richland Airport in 1995, died April 25 following a short illness. He was 60 and had lived in the Tri-Cities for 42 years.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, he grew up with a love of airplanes that would inspire him to design the one-of-akind Viperjet with his brother, Dan. The small, homebuilt jet aircraft featured two seats in tandem under a bubble canopy.

Robert “Bob” Marple

March 11, 1929-May 18, 2022

Robert “Bob” Marple, accountant to the Tri-Cities, died May 18. He was 93.

Marple, a certified public accountant, practiced for nearly 70 years and boasted an unusually low number on his Washington State CPA certificate: 1,253.

He came to the Tri-Cities in 1952 after serving on active duty in the Army during the Korean War. He was one of the first partners with Niemi, Holland & Scott and opened Robert E. Marple CPA in 1973. The firm became Marple & Marple CPAs in 1973 before being sold to PorterKinney in 2019.

He was a past president of the TriCities Estate Planning Council, Central Chapter of the Washington State CPA, Kennewick Kiwanis and Kennewick Toastmasters.

Robert “Bob” Gamache Oct. 4, 1949-May 22, 2022

Robert “Bob” Gamache, the wine industry pioneer, died May 22 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland after a fall. He was 72.

Gamache, his brother, Roger, and their father started Gamache Vintners in 1982 on 180 acres in Basin City. The property was sold to Sagemoor Vineyards in 2015, but the Gamaches retained their Prosser tasting room until the pandemic forced a shut-down and it was sold to Wit Cellars.

Gamache grew up in the Yakima Valley and served in the Army.

Gail C. Mueller Riddell

Jan. 21, 1938-June 10, 2022

Gail Christine Mueller Riddell, who grew up in and later owned the family funeral business, died June 10 at her home in Kennewick. She was 84.

Mueller Riddell was a young girl when her family moved into the “big house” at the funeral home on First

Avenue in Kennewick. She graduated from Kennewick High School in 1956, attended Whitworth College in Spokane and held several jobs, including secretary at Battelle and flight attendant, before joining Mueller Family Home.

She was credited with breaking the glass ceiling in the male-dominated funeral profession and was remembered for moving gracefully between bereaved clients and dealing with vendors.

Lloyd Carnahan

May 19, 1937-June 22, 2022

Lloyd Richard Carnahan, an indefatigable supporter of Benton City, died June 22 at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. He was 85.

He was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, but moved to Benton City as a child, where he graduated from KionaBenton City High School in 1956. He followed his father into the plumbing business, working for Apollo.

In retirement, he devoted himself to family and to his community, serving on the Benton City Council and as mayor, making economic development his top priority.

Dr. Sara Zirkle

Oct. 6, 1939-June 19, 2022

Dr. Sara Zirkle, who joined her husband Lewis in creating the global nonprofit based in Richland, SIGN Fracture Care International, died June 19 in Richland. She was 82.

She was born Sara Kay Shilling in Troy, Ohio, and earned undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University, focusing on pediatrics.

The Zirkles made their life in Richland, where the couple practiced medicine. SIGN Fracture Care is a nonprofit manufacturer that provides equipment and training to third world surgeons to treat bone injuries that would be an inconvenience to Americans but potential death sentences in less developed settings.

Robert L. “Bob” Ferguson

Oct. 26, 1932-Aug. 12, 2022

Robert L. “Bob” Ferguson, the U.S. Department of Energy’s first deputy assistant secretary of nuclear programs as well as the former head of Energy Northwest, died Aug. 12. He was 89.

Ferguson was born in Dover, Idaho, and studied physics at Gonzaga University before being commissioned as an officer in the army, where he worked primarily with the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps. He would spend 60 years working in nuclear energy.

He was a longtime Richland resi-

Tri-Cities Tackle reels in customers at new Richland store

By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

It took Faith Akopov three attempts at starting her own business before she found the key ingredient to success: passion.

She discovered it in a business called Tri-Cities Tackle, located at 660 George Washington Way, Suite M, in Richland. It’s inside the Nutrex Building next door to the Richland Dugout.

“Learning your passion is loving what you do,” she said. “This is my third business I’ve opened and run. I also did a fitness studio and a life coaching business. This one, I’ve truly felt the passion behind it.”

Akopov, who is in her late 30s and a mother of daughters ages 7, 6 and 2, calls herself a mompreneur.

She has entrepreneurs in her family – her grandfather, her father, and her husband Michael among them.

For the past 13 years, she has refined her business chops by helping her father run his business, Master Tech Automotive in Richland.

For Akopov, Tri-Cities Tackle is the one business closest to her heart.

“I knew I wanted to do this once I saw the need in the Tri-Cities for a Ma and Pa shop, especially in Richland,” she said. “I love fishing, and I love helping people.”

The Great Outdoors

Akopov grew up in the Denver, area, where she embraced the outdoors.

Plus, her father owned a private ranch in nearby Wyoming. A ranch with seven lakes on it.

“Since I was a little kid, my dad had us out in the great outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, shooting and kayaking. It’s been in my blood since day one,” Akopov said.

During her childhood, she played sports – basketball, soccer, golf.

“But my dad planted the seeds of

fishing while I was young,” she said.

So three years ago, she started Tri-Cities Tackle in her garage, with a small mini fridge with bait, and four pegboards to hang her tackle.

It just took off.

“We got the word out through Facebook, word of mouth, the fishing community, and going fishing with friends,” she said.

A brick-and-mortar shop

But soon, the garage space wasn’t enough. So she and her husband bought a small trailer, parking it by by LU LU Craft Bar + Kitchen (with the owners’ permission).

Or she’d set up shop at Maverik Adventure’s First Stop on Keene Road in Richland and sell from there.

“I made my own hours, and I did well being out for four hours at a time,” Akopov said. “The support from customers was great.”

Still, that may have not been

enough. While her neighborhood homeowners association forced her to move her trailer out of her driveway, it also may have been time to find a more permanent home for the growing business.

And that’s what she and her husband did two months ago, moving into the current location.

“The goal is to get an employee next year, because I’m going to need the help,” she said.

The store offers tackle and bait for walleye, sockeye, salmon, sturgeon, bass and trout. Akopov also specializes in custom airbrushing, custom rigs, Legacy Fishing Wholesale tackle, and has created her own fishing products, such as Vortex Blades and the Scent Bullet.

The Legacy products, as well as the Vortex Blades and Scent Bullets, are the result of Akopov and her husband bouncing ideas off of each other.

What to expect with CODA:

“My husband and I can work each other into a frenzy,” she said. “Every month one of us will have a new idea. We’ll bounce ideas off of each other.”

The latest one is the Scent Bullet, where you can put a gel into the middle of a two-piece set that screws together. The fish pick up the scent. It should be ready to launch in the next few weeks.

Akopov sells her Vortex Blades to other businesses wholesale, and customers – besides getting them at her store – can also buy them at local Ace Hardware stores.

Sometimes, Akopov will give some of her fishing friends her new products to use, and then she wants their feedback – good or bad.

“I just want the honesty,” said Akopov, who has talked to endless fishermen these past three years to know the local fishing scene. “It’s about knowing the seasons, and what works for the area. I don’t want (inventory) just sitting here. It took me a good couple of years to learn the seasons. Fishing is a year-round sport. There is walleye season, salmon season, sturgeon, so on. It’s endless.”

As a mother, Akopov also needs to find that work-life balance while watching her kids grow up. She and Michael share the parental duties.

“I have dinner with the family, I’ll help the girls with their homework. After the kids go to bed, I’ll get back to work, maybe working on the computer looking for inventory,” she said. “Michael also works the back end with inventory.”

A customer service focus

While a small fishing tackle business may not be able to keep pace with the bigger box store, Akopov offers something better.

“Our top priority is customer service,” she said. “If I don’t have it, I

• Ideal for those looking for an alternative experience that is less expensive than a traditional funeral home.

•

•

• Cremation/Burial turn-around time 5-7 days.

•

Photo by Jeff Morrow

Faith Akopov, owner of Tri-Cities Tackle, 660 George Washington Way, Suite M, in Richland, sells tackle and bait for walleye, sockeye, salmon, sturgeon, bass and trout. Her store specializes in custom airbrushing, custom rigs, Legacy Fishing Wholesale tackle and her own line of fishing products.

can get it for you. I spend time with my customers. I enjoy talking and giving tips and advice on how to help customers catch fish. My passion has always been to help others.”

Case in point: recently a 15-yearold teen came into her store looking at gear. He told her his old fishing rod was broken and asked what he could get for $10.

“I told him to put his money away and come back next week and I’d have something for him,” she said. She put the word out on her Face-

book page.

“Social media just blew up on that one,” she said.

Local fishermen donated 10 fishing rods to the store.

“We ended up using Rods and Reels in Need,” Akopov said. “It’s a charity based on the west side of the state to help people fish.”

When the boy returned the following week, she had a whole setup waiting for him. She said she wanted him to do two things for her: stay out of trouble and get good grades in school.

wasn’t hunting and fishing. Rocco’s has locations in Kennewick and Pasco.

“He came in yesterday to tell me his grades are up,” Akopov said.

This business, she said, is about relationships.

“Some of my customers are now my good friends,” said Akopov.

Her biggest thrill, though? Giving someone tips before they go out fishing for the first time. Then they catch that first fish and send her a photo of it.

“To me, it’s the best feeling ever,” she said.

Akopov doesn’t get out to fish nearly as much as she would like

Alexander D. Pappas

these days, but when she does go, she absolutely loves it.

“When you’re out in nature, you don’t have to worry about anything else going on. It’s about just being,” she said. “People say the tug (on the line) is the drug. It is.”

search Tri-Cities Tackle: 660 George Washington Way, Suite M, Richland. Contact: Tricitiestackle.com; 509-591-2383; Facebook. Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday to Friday; 10 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.

dent who helped establish the Washington State University Tri-Cities campus, which he would later support with a $500,000 gift to promote energy research. He was also an author and an avid supporter of a swift cleanup of the Hanford site so it could take on a clean energy mission.

Robert “Rob” Curet

May 18, 1970-Oct. 3, 2022

Robert “Rob” Curet, a serial entrepreneur who founded and owned Rocco’s Pizza, died Oct. 3 following a cancer diagnosis. He was 52.

He was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and later lived in Richland where he enjoyed creating businesses when he

Neva

Corkrum

Oct. 2, 1934-Oct. 17, 2022

Neva Corkrum, the lifelong Pasco resident and longtime elected official in Franklin County, died Oct. 17. She was 88.

The Pasco Hall of Famer graduated from Pasco High and served as the county auditor and later spent 20 years as a Franklin County Commission. It’s believed she was the first person to hold that role and the last Democrat. In her elected role, she contributed to the restoration of the historic county courthouse, including its glass dome.

Aug. 4, 1986-Nov. 6, 2022

Alexander Pappas, a licensed geologist who worked in the engineering program at Washington River Protection Solutions on the Hanford site before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific, died Nov. 6 in a car wreck on Interstate 90 between Cle Elum and Ellensburg. He was 36.

Friends remembered him as a kind and energetic soul with a passion for all things mechanical, from helicopters and planes to motorcycles, cars and boats. He was a dedicated gamer as well.

He attended Hanford High School and Hanover College.

Travis A. Jordan

Sept. 4, 1981-Nov. 16, 2022

Travis Jordan, the former Lampson crane operator who founded Kennewick’s Rockabilly Roasting in 2015, died unexpectedly Nov. 16 after feeling ill for several days. He was 41.

He was remembered as an active supporter of downtown Kennewick, where his coffee shop and roastery are on West Kennewick Avenue.

Dennis Poland

Aug. 23, 1949-Nov. 26, 2022

Dennis Poland, who was born in Pasco and raised in Kennewick, died at home following a lengthy illness on Nov. 26. He was 73.

Poland, whose father, Ray, established the Ray Poland and Sons, joined the National Guard following graduation from high school, moving to Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then Ellensburg, where he earned a degree at Central Washington University.

He took the helm at Ray Poland & Sons in 1978 after his father’s death and enlisted his children into the family business.

John Crawford

Nov. 9, 1941-Nov. 29, 2022

John Crawford, the retired Pasco

teacher who reportedly did not know the meaning of the word “retirement,” died Nov. 29 in Kennewick. He was 81.

Crawford was born in Cordova, Alaska, but Pasco became his home when he accepted a teaching position at Pasco High School in 1964, after graduating from Whitworth College.

He taught math and computers for 30 years and on retiring, became the district’s computer coordinator and instructor. He found time to teach math at Columbia Basin College. But he was best known for his inexhaustible interest in coaching.

He coached basketball for 13 years, track for 10, cross country for three and oversaw track meets for three decades, leveraging his computer knowledge to track statistics across a variety of tournaments and disciplines.

Mike Lawrence

Aug. 20, 1947-Dec. 3, 2022

Mike Lawrence, the U.S. Department of Energy manager of the Hanford nuclear reservation site who drew back the curtain and set the stage for the modern cleanup, died Dec. 3 of pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

The Tri-City Herald called him an “unsung hero” in a news obituary published in advance of a formal obituary, quoting retired publisher Jack Briggs.

He was Hanford’s top manager as it transitioned from producing plutonium for the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal to the environmental cleanup that generates $2.5 billion in federal spending in the local economy each year.

Lawrence signed the landmark TriParty Agreement as the Department of Energy representative. The document spells out the steps required to clean up radioactive and hazardous chemical waste left at the site.

The public was given a clearer picture of the Hanford site when Lawrence volunteered in 1985 to declassify thousands of pages of documents.

Memorial designer becomes fourth generation to serve grieving families

By Robin Wojtanik for Senior Times

Sixty-five years after her greatgrandfather developed Einan’s Funeral Home, Rory Hollick is now the fourth generation to work there – and you might say she designed her own niche position.

Hollick is Sunset Garden’s first memorial designer, working with families and the engraving company to create custom markers for those who are entombed at the Richland memorial site. “Markers” make up an allencompassing term for headstones, statues, cremation plaques and more.

She earned a degree in fine arts from Central Washington University after her first job working the grounds at Sunset Gardens, alongside her two siblings. The trio followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents who all worked the grounds at one point or another.

“I’ve always been around the cemetery, with my dad, working the grounds crew or every once in a while being brought out to kind of explore,” Hollick said. “So, I’ve always felt comfortable in a cemetery, and it actually surprises me when people get like, ‘Oh, a cemetery?’ It’s not creepy. It’s fine, so that has never been strange to me.”

While at least one person from every Einan’s generation has worked full time at the Richland site since its inception, Hollick might not have expected she would be the one from her generation to fill that role since she gravitated toward art.

“I was always doodling in the margins while growing up,” she said. “It helped me focus while listening to people. Then I started taking my art seriously in high school. That’s when I felt like the actual technical skill came alongside the creative, and I was like, ‘OK, I can do this now.’ ”

Her passions include painting and photography, but her role at Sunset Gardens calls for frequent handdrawn sketches. She serves as a go between in a couple roles. The counselors who meet with families to plan a funeral and burial now pass the final step to Hollick, who works with the clients to design a marker.

“That’s the last thing they’re going to do in the process, and it takes a little time, and some families find it’s tough making those decisions because once they’re done, they’re done, and it’s going to be there forever. So we want to get it right,” said Pat Hollick, general manager of Sunset Gardens and Rory’s father.

An artist’s eye

In the position since June, Rory has designed more than 60 mark-

ers and increased her knowledge of the mediums available, including the variety of types of granite, which is most popular, as well as bronze. She also serves as the liaison between the families and the monument company, which creates a proof to review before a mold is created or an engraving is done.

“There can be limitations on what the company can do, and so they’ll let me know if it’s not going to work because the design is too small for the stone, and I can adapt to that,” Rory said.

Pat also shared that not all types of granite work well in the Tri-Cities’ desert climate, especially when combined with irrigation, and Einan’s want to make sure the display remains as prominent and legible as possible.

Rory finds that much of her responsibility includes art direction, where she takes the vision from the family and puts it to paper. She’ll use her formal training to sketch out a design using her knowledge of the graphics available from the engraver. Seeing a sketch on paper tends to create a better result for all involved.

“I found early on, when you just try to type something out and be like, ‘They want this, this and this,’ and when it would come back, I’d think, ‘That’s not what I meant.’ So, I quickly moved into just drawing it out, so it translates a lot easier and I’ve been getting proofs from (the monument company) a lot faster with that method because it’s already laid out,” Rory said.

Rory has been especially proud of the custom designs she has created for some clients who gave her artistic license to go beyond the pre-designed graphics available for use.

This was the case with the headstone for Paul Hohenberg, the father of Ken Hohenberg, the retired longtime Kennewick police chief and current Port of Kennewick commissioner.

“We wanted something that would really not only memorialize his time in World War II as part of the Greatest Generation, but also honor him as an individual, and it really exceeded expectations. (Rory) should be proud of when she created, I don’t think anyone could have captured it any better,” Ken Hohenberg said.

Einan’s origins

Einan’s Funeral Home began in 1957 with Duaine and Bobbie Einan, Pat’s wife’s grandparents, who volunteered their services to help manage Resthaven Cemetery at 700 Williams Blvd. in Richland. Eventually a community vote formed the Richland Cemetery Association with the purpose of serving the burial and memorial needs of the region.

A volunteer board still governs the

organization, and it was the association that bought 70 acres off the Bypass Highway to develop the city’s second cemetery, Sunset Gardens. The funeral home and crematorium were moved to the same location in 1970.

“My wife’s dad and his partners actually sold the funeral home to the association so it’s part of the nonprofit,” Pat said. “The nonprofit can own the funeral home, but it just can’t run the day-to-day operations. It’s now the cemetery’s investment with separate boards and separate managers. The cemetery board has influence over its investment, of course, but they’re separated. I think we’re the area’s largest nonprofit cemetery.”

“By owning the funeral home, it’s protected from being purchased by a conglomerate that doesn’t care about this area, whereas we care about this funeral home,” said Bonnie Hollick, née Einan.

Bonnie is Einan’s office manager in the same way her mother and grandmother were. Bonnie sees her daughter as thriving in this new position that has benefited the whole team.

“Besides having a job format that she’s never done before, I’ve also noticed the families reacting very well to her. They’re very open and very comfortable with her. I don’t know if knowing that she has a background in art makes them even more relaxed.”

It’s a role Rory takes seriously.

“I think growing up with a better understanding of the importance of memorializing those who have passed, and making sure there’s something there, even if it’s something minor, like their name on a wall, is still something you can come and look at. Even if years from now none of the family members are around, someone can still come and say, ‘That person was here.’ I think that’s important,” she said.

Photo by Robin Wojtanik

Pat, from left, Rory and Bonnie Hollick continue the family atmosphere at Sunset Gardens, decades after Rory’s great-grandparents started Einan’s Funeral Home.