Senior TImes - July 2023

Tri-City inventor builds solar-powered wheelchair

By Laura Kostad Courtesy of the East Oregonian

A Tri-City inventor has patented the first commercially sold, solar-powered wheelchair, enabling those who use them to get around in comfort while sheltered from the sun and elements.

Aptly named The Liberator, Kurt Schneider of Kennewick, owner of Solar Mobility LLC, and his team build the cutting-edge chairs in his Richland machine shop using materials primarily made in the United States.

Those with a prescription for a group 2 mobility device may qualify for 100% coverage of The Liberator through Medicare and Medicaid or their private insurance. This also goes for veterans receiving benefits from Veterans Affairs.

The chair retails for $10,500 without insurance.

There are four categories of motorized wheelchairs based on weight capacity, speed, range and terrain handling, with group 1 being the most basic.

As a Navy medical corps veteran who broke his back multiple times, Schneider saw a need for a device to better serve those who use motorized

wheelchairs.

Problem sparks invention

Schneider said the idea for the chair

struck him one day in 2009 while running a food truck he owned in Richland that served up fish and chips. A customer using an electric wheelchair made the trek to get a meal, and, upon seeing him, Schneider immediately became concerned.

The wheelchair’s batteries were nearly drained, and its operator “looked like a lobster,” bright red with a sunburn from the journey. Not long after, “a friend of mine at the time was an electrician and he had conduit, so we made the first primitive one,” Schneider recalled.

They first developed what’s called the Solar Companion, a bright yellow high-visibility framework that supports a 65-watt, 24-volt solar panel and doubles as a shelter from the elements.

The Solar Companion can be purchased independently and retrofitted to most group 2 chairs and scooters. It collapses by pulling two pins and continues to charge while collapsed and in ambient, indirect lighting conditions.

uSOLAR MOBILITY, Page 10

One-of-a-kind auction featured Richland couple’s unique treasures

By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz

Terry Maurer has been in the antique appraisal business for years, and yet he was still astounded by the wooden apothecary cabinet that recently was up for auction in Richland.

It was from Britain circa 1870, designed for compounding medicine in the field.

“When it’s closed, it looks like a wooden box. When it’s open, it looks like a miniature pharmacy. A doctor could put compounds together and make pills, weigh the ingredients, and the ingredients are in bottles.

It’s quite unusual,” said Maurer, who runs Maurer Antique Appraisals with his wife, Kathy.

The apothecary cabinet was one of hundreds of unique pieces included in the auction, along with furniture, artwork, Persian rugs, porcelain and sterling, and other special and rare finds.

The items were part of a sizeable collection belonging to Dr. Louis and Jenepher Field.

Macon Brothers Auctioneers in Walla Walla ran the auction, which closed on June 19.

Nearly all of the roughly 550 indi-

vidual items and “lots,” or groups of items, sold during the auction, Maurer said. The apothecary cabinet went to a buyer in Virginia.

The item fetching the highest price– a mid-century modern Heron chair and ottoman from a Japanese designer and manufacturer – went to a Tri-Cities couple. It sold for $1,500, plus a buyer’s premium and fees. It’s believed the Fields originally bought it in the Tri-Cities in the 1960s.

Louis Field was a well-known orthopedic surgeon in the Tri-Cities. He grew up on a farm in Kansas during the Depression and joined the Army

after high school. Using the GI Bill, he attended the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

He met his wife, Jenepher, while in New Zealand for a research fellowship.

She was born in the South Pacific nation, to English parents. Her mother and father loved antiques, and many of the items in Louis and Jenepher’s collection came from them.

Along with the apothecary cabinet, other standout items included a Welsh oak dresser from 1800; Eng-

uANTIQUE AUCTION, Page 2

Before it became Lampson Stadium, serving as a home sports venue for Kennewick and Kamiakin high schools, what was its name?

Photo by Laura Kostad

Kurt Schneider of Kennewick sits in his invention, The Liberator, a commercially sold, solar-powered wheelchair. Those with a prescription for a group 2 mobility device may qualify for 100% coverage through Medicare and Medicaid or their private insurance.

509-737-8778

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Kristina Lord Executive Editor 509-344-1261 kristina@tcjournal.biz

Sara Schilling Reporter 509-344-1286 sara@tcjournal.biz

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Senior Times, a publication of Mid-Columbia Media Inc., is published monthly. Subscriptions are $21.69 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of Mid-Columbia Media 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.

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ANTIQUE AUCTION, From page 1

lish porcelain, including Rockingham and Mintons pieces; artwork by well-known New Zealand and Japanese artists; and British sterling silver items dating to 1801.

Maurer said the quality, history and variety of the pieces made the Field collection special.

In a statement, Doug Macon of Macon Brothers Auctioneers described it as “the finest collection of 19th century British antiques we have had the pleasure of offering to the public in many, many years,” adding that, “pieces of this quality and provenance seldom appear at public auction in the Pacific Northwest.”

The Fields ended up in the TriCities in the 1960s after stints in Texas and England for Louis’ surgery training and a surgical fellowship. Louis joined Dr. Richard Petty in forming Tri-Cities Orthopedics, and for a time they were the only orthopedic surgeons in town, helping to serve all three hospitals.

Louis Field made a particular impact at what’s now Kadlec Regional Medical Center; he was among the local physicians who raised money to move the hospital from Army barracks to its current home.

Jenepher, meanwhile, went back to school as the couple’s four children were entering their teen years, earning a degree in behavioral science and going on to work as a

uBRIEFS

Is Washington a fun state for seniors?

A new study weighs in

A new study ranks the most fun states for seniors in terms of social connection, recreation and healthy aging – and Washington did not place high on the list.

The Evergreen State ranked at No. 41 out of 50 states and Washington, D.C., the Seniorly study found.

The study used federal data and analyzed lifestyle factors from weather to cost of living, the size of senior populations and overall health. Findings that led to Washington’s ranking include that its average temperature is 46.8 degrees, it has 2.6 golf courses and 214 restaurants per 100,000 residents and 15% of seniors report feeling lonely or isolated, according to a statement about the study.

The study found the 10 most fun states for seniors to be Florida, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Hawaii, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Delaware. The 10 least fun are Kentucky, Nevada, Tennessee,

counselor at the Hanford site.

In retirement, the Fields opened Sagemoor Kennels in Pasco.

They were great parents, said Henry Field, their oldest son. “We were definitely blessed as far as they were concerned,” he said, describing them as devoted to their children and to family life.

Louis Field died in September 2022, leaving behind Jenepher, children Henry, Catherine, Elizabeth and Michael and their spouses, plus grandchildren and other relatives.

Family members took items from

Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana and Texas.

Applicants sought for Pasco city boards, commissions

The Pasco City Council is calling on residents interested in serving on various city boards and commissions to apply for several open positions.

Vacancies are available on the following boards:

• The Arts & Culture Commission advises the council on public art and culture affairs and has three positions open.

• The Civic Service Commission oversees unbiased hiring, promotion and appointment processes within the police and fire departments and has one vacancy.

• The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board has one opening. It advises the council on park and recreation programs, including those for senior citizens.

• The Pasco Public Facilities District Board has a vacancy. It manages regional public facilities and oversees the funding of an aquatics facility and competition pool.

the collection that were personally meaningful to them, and it felt like the right time to find homes for the other pieces through the auction, Henry Field said.

“Our number one goal is that these pieces find homes where people enjoy them and appreciate them and use them,” Henry Field said in advance of the auction. “It’s about spreading the enjoyment and hoping that others appreciate them like my grandparents and parents and us kids have.”

Some positions may require nomination letters in addition to the application. For further details or to apply online, go to: pasco-wa. gov/135/Boards-Commissions, or call 509-544-3096 for more information.

Pasco reported 10 dog attacks on mail carriers in ’22 Pasco came in just behind Seattle and Spokane for the number of dog attacks on mail carriers.

There were 10 dog attacks on Pasco mail carriers in 2022, compared to Seattle and Spokane, which each recorded 13 attacks, according to recently released data from the U.S. Postal Service.

Washington state ranked No. 11 among the top 25 states for dog bites on mail carriers, with a total of 136 reported incidents in 2022.

There were more than 5,300 dog bites/incidents against postal employees nationwide last year.

“We ask our letter carriers, as well as our valued customers, to be vigilant and remain on high alert with regards to the potential of unsafe dog interactions,” said Donald Kravos, Washington acting district manager, in a statement.

Courtesy of Terry Maurer

A wooden apothecary cabinet was one of many unique antique items sold at auction in Richland. A buyer in Virginia was the successful bidder. The items were part of the extensive collection of Dr. Louis and Jenepher Field.

Former Kennewick city councilman dies at age 87

By Senior Times staff

A beloved former Kennewick city councilman has died.

Paul Parish, 87, was a “driving force behind making the community a better place,” said City Manager Marie Mosley in a message to the city council and city leaders.

“He truly cared about the city of Kennewick and the staff. He was the type of person who made things happen and stepped back from the

limelight, always looking out for the greater good,” Mosley said.

Parish first joined the city council in 1996, serving for 24 years until his retirement in 2019.

He was passionate about revitalizing and improving Columbia Park,

and many projects there bear his fingerprints, from the Regional Veterans Memorial to the Playground of Dreams and more. During his last council meeting in December 2019, his fellow council members passed a resolution to rename a portion of Columbia Park Trail – which runs through the park – in his honor.

Parish also was a champion of the Kennewick Police Department and its K-9 program, as well as the Kennewick Fire Department. He advo-

cated for road improvement projects such as the Steptoe extension and Bob Olson Parkway, and he worked especially hard to help seniors, children, veterans and people with special needs in the community.

He was honored as the Kennewick Man of the Year for 2009. He also received the Association of Washington Cities’ first Advocacy All-Star Award in 2015.

Parish was born in Benge, Wash-

Jehovah’s Witnesses return to Kennewick for annual convention

By Kristina Lord kristina@tcjournal.biz

A convention estimated to inject $3 million into the Tri-City economy is returning to Kennewick after a three-year pandemic hiatus.

The three-day Jehovah’s Witnesses annual convention is set for July 7-9 at the Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd. A Spanish language convention follows on July 14-16.

Seventeen other conventions are scheduled across the state. Spokane hosted one over Memorial Day weekend. Puyallup, which has a large assembly hall, offers 14 conventions.

Worldwide, about 6,000 conventions will be held as part of the 2023 convention series, including more than 700 in the United States.

Between the two Tri-City convention sessions, Witnesses “will use thousands of hotel nights,” said Erik Larson, regional spokesman. “We are targeting attendance north of 8,000.”

“It’s not a stretch to say we inject, conservatively, north of $3 million into the economy,” he said.

In years past, the Witnesses have held four to five conventions in the Tri-Cities.

“I think there is interest on our part to potentially hold more conventions in the Tri-Cities in the near future,”

A three-day Jehovah’s Witnesses convention is set for July 7-9 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. A Spanish language convention follows on July 14-16. The local conventions are among thousands being held worldwide as part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses 2023 convention series.

Larson said.

“We, as an organization, have always appreciated and valued the partnership with the Tri-Cities. They’ve been very welcoming. It’s a good relationship. They are accommodating of us,” he said.

This year’s annual conference focuses on the theme of patience.

The program is designed with the modern way of learning in mind, Larson said. It offers shorter talk segments and videos keyed toward a variety of topics, from creation to how

families can improve relationships.

Anyone can attend the conventions. Attendance and parking are free. No collection plates are passed.

Larson said Witnesses enjoy welcoming everyone and there’s no pressure, calling it a friendly, healthy environment full of a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and cultures.

“Our conventions are designed to show how the practical application of Bible principles in our daily lives can improve our quality of life, our joy, our happiness,” he said.

“They’re designed to educate, encourage, fortify. At the same time, organizationally it’s where we’re at our best,” he said.

From the moment people arrive, they’re greeted with a smile by parking attendants and then door attendants, Larson said. He said conventions are energetic and have a nice buzz.

Go to JW.org and navigate to the “About Us” tab, then click on “conventions” to learn more.

Courtesy of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Paul Parish

JULY 7

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. For more information, call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@ pocketinet.com

JULY 8

• Pasco Farmers Market: 8 a.m.1 p.m., 101 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco. For more information, call 509-5288131 or email omartinez@downtownpasco.com

• Summer Saturdays Night Market: 4-8 p.m., Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village, 325 E. Columbia Gardens Way, Kennewick.

JULY 11

• Alzheimer’s Program: Dementia Conversations: 1-2 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JULY 12

• Wednesday in West: 4:30 p.m.dusk, Flat Top Park, 4705 W. Van Giesen St. West Richland, Community market and food truck night.

JULY 13

• HAPO Live @ 5, summer concert series featuring American Honey: 5 p.m., John Dam Plaza, 815

George Washington Way, Richland. Free.

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org

JULY 14

• City of Richland outdoor movie series featuring “Surf’s Up”: dusk, John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland.

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. For more information, call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@ pocketinet.com

JULY 15

• Pasco Farmers Market: 8 a.m.1 p.m., 101 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco. For more information, call 509-5288131 or email omartinez@downtownpasco.com

JULY 16

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. For more information, call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@ pocketinet.com.

JULY 18

• AARP presents HomeFit: Learn smart ways to modify your home for

Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star.

safety and comfort: 1-2 p.m., Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate, Richland.

JULY 19

• Healthy Ages Wellness Program - Meals on Wheels: 1-2 p.m., Central United Protestant Church, 1124 Stevens Dr., Richland. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JULY 20

• HAPO Live @ 5, summer concert series featuring Fazed / Coaster: 5 p.m., John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland. Free.

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org

JULY 21

• City of Richland outdoor movie series featuring “Lightyear”: dusk, John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland.

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. For more information, call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@ pocketinet.com

• Richland Senior Association dance: 1 p.m., Riverview Room, Richland Community Center, 500

Amon Park Drive, Richland. Cost: $10. Dance to a five-piece band led by Clark Hodge.

JULY 22

• Pasco Farmers Market: 8 a.m.1 p.m., 101 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco. For more information, call 509-5288131 or email omartinez@downtownpasco.com

JULY 23

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. For more information, call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@ pocketinet.com

JULY 26

• Wednesday in West: 4:30 p.m.dusk, Flat Top Park, 4705 W. Van Giesen St. West Richland, Community market and food truck night.

JULY 27

• HAPO Live @ 5, summer concert series featuring Queen’s Gate: 5 p.m., John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland. Free.

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org.

Planning ahead is key to survival when disaster strikes

Living in Washington state as you do, the odds are overwhelming that at one time or another, you will have to live through a disaster – a quake or volcanic blast, severe weather, or maybe a fire in your home. The trick for seniors to survive disasters is to prepare for them. No matter what your age, there is a lot you can do to train your mind and your emotions to handle adversity.

The Red Cross can help. Its booklet on “Disaster and Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults” offers a practical guide to help plan, respond and recover when emergencies strike.

The way the Red Cross lays things out, disaster preparedness involves five action steps you can take without leaving home.

• Identify likely emergencies. What is your community most at risk of? Is it wildfires or quakes or mudslides? What must you prepare for? Wherever you live, a home fire is always a risk.

• Learn about your community response plans. What plans and resources does your local fire department or office of emergency management have ready to meet a natural disaster? Are there designated shelters to be used in a disaster?

• Sign up for pre-disaster alerts. You want to know of impending trouble early enough to be of use. Know what to look for in local weather forecasts that might warn of wildfire danger.

• Get trained. Take classes in CPR and first aid so you can help yourself and others in case of disaster. Red Cross classes are widely available, online or face-to-face. Find classes at redcross.org/take-a-class.

• Assess your needs. Be honest here. If disaster struck, how much could you do on your own and how much help would you need? Could you evacuate a burning house or outrun an approaching tsunami? Could you move yourself and your family to safety ahead of a raging wildfire? How much help would you need and where would

you find it? Who would you turn to if you needed help? Every senior needs a support network – friends, neighbors, caregivers, local disaster responders. Have contact information at the ready for all of these helpers. Meet with your network frequently. Make sure all understand what is expected of them before disaster strikes.

Getting prepared

Disaster won’t overwhelm you physically or emotionally if you have planned for it. The more you have planned for disaster, the more you will make wise decisions when the time comes.

What will you need to survive a disaster? Do you have backup supplies for all the medications you take? What about backup supplies of non-perishable food and water to sustain you if you had to shelter in place after a quake or survive a wildfire? Red flag alerts in your weather forecast mean the danger of wildfire is great.

How much food and water you store depends on whether you will go to a shelter or ride out the disaster at home. Store enough to sustain you at home for a week – two weeks would be better. If you opt for a shelter, bring several changes of clothing and bring all your personal care supplies.

Keep an emergency kit just in case. It should include a portable radio with backup batteries, several flashlights with batteries, a tool kit with pliers to turn off the gas line in a disaster, a spare charger for your phone, a first aid kit, a can opener, whistle, blanket, some spare cash and lots of hand sanitizer. Keep the kit handy to be grabbed in a flash when needed.

What devices do you use that would

need backup power in a disaster?

Portable oxygen, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, bedroom heater? Does your fire department know of all medical conditions to consider if you were in a disaster? Ditto for anyone you help care for.

Ask your local electric utility for its plans to supply power in a blackout. To support life-sustaining devices in a blackout look into a home generator that would take over if power failed. Even seniors without much training can manage the safety rules for a home generator.

How to respond when disaster strikes depends a great deal on your pre-disaster planning. Obviously, you have smoke alarms in every bedroom, on every floor and outside each sleeping area. When the alarm sounds you must decide whether you can escape a home fire or whether to shelter in place until firefighters arrive.

Fires double in size every 30 seconds. Practice your escape routes before a fire starts. Could you escape from bedroom to front door in under five minutes?

Practice sheltering in place. Pick a room farthest from the fire. Use wet towels to seal off interior vents and under the bedroom door. When you

report the fire, tell the dispatcher that people will need rescuing. Stand near a widow so they can see you. Make sure your house has its address lit and clearly visible from the street.

Finally, the Red Cross has tips on how to return home safely after a disaster:

• Don’t return home until a trusted source says it is safe to do so. Among such trusted sources are the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

• If your home is damaged, have a trained inspector assess the damage before you go back in.

• If there is water in the house, stay out until you are certain the power to the house is shut off.

• If power was off for an extended period, throw out food that has been above 40 degrees for at least two hours

There is no sure way to avoid disaster. Quakes, storms and wildfires are part of life in the Pacific Northwest. Home fires are a real danger. However, with the right plan in place, you are likely to come through any disaster physically and emotionally intact.

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

GUEST COLUMN

Gordon Williams American Red Cross

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.

Friday, July 7: Tuna pasta salad, broccoli salad, crackers.

Monday, July 10: Spaghetti and meat sauce, green beans, breadstick.

Tuesday, July 11: Baked cod with dill sauce, herbed potatoes, squash medley.

Wednesday, July 12: Chicken chop salad, salad greens, carrot sticks.

Thursday, July 13: Three bean chili, chuckwagon corn, cornbread.

Friday, July 14: Roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli Normandy, wheat roll.

Monday, July 17: Sweet and sour chicken, fluffy rice, Asian vegetables.

Tuesday, July 18: Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables.

Wednesday, July 19: Tuna noodle casserole, lyonnaise carrots

Thursday, July 20: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian vegetables, wheat roll, ice cream.

Friday, June 21: Chicken Caesar salad, breadstick, cottage cheese

uBRIEFS

Solstice Senior Living plans reopening party

Solstice Senior Living at Kennewick plans a grand reopening on July 14.

The carnival party event is open to the public and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A dunk tank and carnival games are planned, along with food, prizes and raffle baskets.

Solstice Senior Living is at 8264 W. Grandridge Blvd.

New taphouse planned for downtown Kennewick

A new taphouse called Blackthorne Neighbourhood Pub is planned in the former David’s Shoes store at 201 W. Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick. Building permits filed with the city of Kennewick show architectural plans for a pub featuring more than 10 tables, a bar and a sitting

and pineapple.

Monday, July 24: Macaroni and cheese, sausage patty, garden vegetables, tossed salad.

Tuesday, July 25: Chicken pot pie, cauliflower and red peppers.

Wednesday, July 26: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, country gravy, country vegetables, three bean salad.

Thursday, July 27: Turkey and rice, casserole, peas and carrots, tossed salad.

Friday, July 28: Cheese and beef pasta, green beans, tossed salad, breadstick.

Monday, July 31: Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, broccoli, cookie.

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 Cafe, 1834 Fowler St., Richland. No reservations required at this site.

area facing Kennewick Avenue. Faram LLC plans $400,000 in tenant improvements. JNM Construction is the general contractor.

The company bought the building in February 2022 for $470,000 from Loren and Jamie Wikstrand, who bought it a year prior.

Blackthorne Neighborhood Pub LLC applied for a liquor license earlier this year to serve beer, cocktails and wine. Shane Dozhier and Neil Darwen are the LLC’s registered agents.

The owners say on their website that they visited ancient pubs and castles in England to create a place where customers can “enjoy flagons of ale and be merry together.”

Their goal is to honor the “rich architectural saga” of downtown Kennewick, describing the future pub as cozy and family friendly.

A soft opening is planned for this year.

Go to: blackthornepub.net.

Creating a strategy for caregiving finances is critical

Caring for a family member or close friend is one of the most important roles you’ll play. It may start with driving your loved one to get groceries or to the doctor. Later, you may take more time off from work, prepare meals or handle bills.

No matter where you are in the journey of family caregiving, having a good framework to help guide you and your loved one will make the process easier.

Nearly half of Washington caregivers age 45 and older said that being a caregiver has had a major impact on their financial situation.

At the same time, AARP research shows that family caregivers spend more than $7,200 per year caring for family members who are aging, ill or living with disabilities. While it’s hard to put a price on caring, it does come with some real out-of-pocket costs.

Here are some things to consider:

• Assess the situation: Start by assessing the caregiving needs of your family member. Understand their medical condition, the level of care required, and whether they’ll need inhome care, assisted living or nursing home care. This assessment will help you estimate the associated costs.

• Review insurance coverage:

ington, in 1936 – at home, delivered by his grandmother.

He grew up riding his horse, Pickles, over the channeled scablands of the region, and “there was a small spring by the house where he used a pitcher-pump to fill a bucket with water so cold it hurt his teeth,” his obituary said. During World War II, he’d watch as B-17 bombers zipped overhead on their way to a bombing range near Ritzville, flying so low he could wave at the tail gunner.

Occasionally, flight crews would toss down candy bars.

As a teen, Parish played eight-man football at Washtucna High School, wearing the number 13 – which

Review the insurance policies of the person being cared for.

and provide a list of referrals to available resources in your community. Washington 211 has a database of over 27,000 resources to help you find the right services.

New pickleball court

billed as state’s biggest Kennewick is celebrating the completion of what it’s billing as the largest outdoor pickleball complex in the state at Lawrence Scott Park.

The city added 12 new championship quality courts to the three existing courts at the park at 6020 W. Quinault Ave.

Christina Clem AARP

GUEST COLUMN

Health insurance, longterm care insurance or disability insurance might cover certain aspects of caregiving expenses, such as medical supplies, home health care services or assisted living costs. One thing that family caregivers often find surprising is that most health insurance, including Medicare, pays for little, if any, of the costs of care in a nursing home, assisted living residence or help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or meals.

• Locate community resources Various support services are available to people age 60 and over and their caregivers. Washington’s Area Agency on Aging (agingwashington. org) can typically help connect you to home-delivered meals, transportation, adult day services centers, care management and more. You can also go to wa211.org, or dial 211 from anywhere in Washington state to reach a referral specialist who will assess your needs

would become his lucky number –on his jersey. He went onto serve in the U.S. Army as part of the famed 82nd Airborne Division based out of North Carolina. “Paul always bragged the 82nd could respond to any crisis contingency, anywhere in the world, within 18 hours,” his obituary said.

After his time in the military, Parish pursued a varied and successful career, doing everything from working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responding to an Alaska earthquake in 1964 to serving as a superintendent for the Lampson company.

Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-

A 74-by-45-foot picnic shelter pavilion and new restroom complement the new courts.

The $1.5 million project was partially funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, but the city noted it is a true community partnership with funding coming from Toyota of Tri-Cities, Retter & Company | Sotheby’s International Realty and Club 509 Pickleball.

The city held a grand opening June 17.

• Government programs: Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave is a new benefit for workers and lets you take up to 12 weeks of paid time off when you need it most. It’s there for you when a serious health condition prevents you from working or when you need time to care for a family member. Go to paidleave.wa.gov for more info.

This year, a new resource begins for Washington workers. The WA Cares Fund began deducting 58 cents of every $100 of a worker’s earnings on July 1.

Beginning in July 2026, people who need help with personal care, medical assistance, transportation, meals and more, can tap into the benefit. More importantly, it can be used to pay family caregivers. WA Cares (wacaresfund.wa.gov) provides flexible benefits so families can choose the care setting and services that best meet their needs.

• Estate planning: Preplanning is critical to preparing for future caregiving needs. Even if your loved one is as healthy as a horse, incorporating

grandfather.

“Of all heroic pursuits large or small, we believe there may be none greater than a life well-loved, and Paul was,” his obituary said.

A celebration of life was sched-

caregiving-supportive tools into their longevity plan is a good idea. Save or earmark certain assets specifically for caregiving needs. Run the numbers through retirement and benefits calculators and work with advisers to guide you on the options available.

• Caregiver finances: Caregiving can be a long-term commitment. Your retirement accounts are protected assets; taking money from them early or unnecessarily can come with tax consequences, penalties and a reduction of your future well-being. Consider the potential impact on your retirement savings and financial goals. Think twice before tapping your retirement accounts to cover expenses.

Remember, every caregiving situation is unique, so it’s essential to tailor your financial preparations to your specific circumstances. AARP Washington is here to support caregivers – and the older loved ones who count on them.

Go to our caregiving website for information, tools and resources for caring for a loved one at aarp.org/ caregiverswa.

Christina Clem is a communications analyst with AARP Washington.

uled for 11 a.m. July 6 at C3 Church in Richland.

In lieu of flowers or cards, donate to the Kennewick Police Department Foundation in Parish’s name. Go to: kpdfoundation.org.

PARISH, From page 3

Pasco First Avenue Center

505 N. First Ave., Pasco 509-545-3459

pascoparksandrec.com

• Drop-in snooker: 9 a.m., Mondays-Fridays.

• Mexican train dominoes: 12:30 p.m. Mondays.

• Pinochle: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

• China painting: 9 a.m. 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: 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Dominoes: 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

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

• Creative palette art: 9 a.m.-noon Tuesdays. Cost: $1 per day.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

• Sewing: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Woodcarving: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m-noon p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. 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: 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.

• Contract duplicate bridge: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 5:30-

8:30 p.m. 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: Three cards/$1.

• Evening bingo: First Friday of every month. 5 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/Game Night: Fourth Friday of month, 5 p.m. 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 $8 per person and $5 per child, 8 and under.

Bill Shane Senior Center 616 N. 60th, West Richland 509-967-2847

• Bunco potluck: 11:30 a.m., first Wednesday and third Friday of the month.

• Exercise: 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• Bingo: lunch starts at 12:30 p.m., game starts at 1 p.m., last Monday of the month.

• Sewing: 10 a.m., fourth Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of the month.

• Pinochle: noon, first and third Monday of the month.

• Painting: 1-3 p.m., every Saturday.

Just for Fun

Word search - July

Tough

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.

How to beat Str8ts –

How to beat Str8ts –

Like Sudoku, 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 straighta set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight.

Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’

Like Sudoku, 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 straighta set of numbers with no gaps but it can be in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight.

Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ are formed.

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

July 10: Bahamas declares Independence from UK and adopts constitution.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

Quiz answer from Page 1

July 20: The U.S. Senate passes the War Powers Act.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku and www.str8ts.com for Str8ts.

If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Thoreson H. Bennett Stadium, named for a longtime Kennewick High School principal.

– Source: East Benton County Historic Society and Museum

Find the words in the grid. When you are done, the unused letters in the grid will spell out a hidden message. Pick them out from left to right, top line to bottom line. Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions.

TRI-CITY BOOK CLUBS

• 6:30 p.m. July 17, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is the Aug. 21 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. July 19, Mid-Columbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco, A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia River by Blaine Harden. The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka is the Aug. 16 book.

The group typically meets the third Wednesday of the month. Contact Susan Koenig at 509302-9878 or SMKoenig@ymail. com.

Where are you going this year?

Have

• 6 p.m. July 25, Mid-Columbia Libraries, Benton City branch, 810 Horne Drive. Come for a discussion about a book you are reading or have recently read and leave with ideas for other books to read.

• 1 p.m. July 26 at Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. The Richland Seniors Association book club typically meets the fourth Wednesday of the month.

• 7 p.m. the first Friday of the month, Caterpillar Café at Adventures Underground, 227 Symons St., Richland. Contact Sarah at 509-946-9893 for upcoming titles.

To add your book club to this list, email details to info@tcjournal.biz.

Schneider said he has provided solar panels to the U.S. military and the public sector for the past 24 years to meet a variety of charging needs from golf carts to handheld device charging banks.

He said the panels on The Liberator are nickel-thin, American made and high powered. They have been tested and proven to be resilient in the face of shotgun fire, hail and other impacts. They’ve even been tested underwater in the Pacific Ocean. In a word, they’re ruggedized.

This goes for the rest of the chair, too.

Seating matters

After his time in the Navy, Schneider worked as a heavy equipment operator. As he dove into engineering The Liberator, he said he realized there were some other common issues with electric wheelchairs that he could improve on. One of those was the seat.

Many people who use wheelchairs develop ulcers and a cascade of other medical issues from sitting in an unventilated, nonergonomic chair all day. Schneider sources The Liberator’s seat from Sears Seating, which also produces seats for long-haul trucks such as Freightliner, as well as heavy equipment manufacturers such as John Deere and Caterpillar.

But even to this he made some key improvements: the Liberator’s seat reclines, lifts and adjusts from front to back and the headrest is adjustable. It’s also air conditioned, and the fabric allows for enhanced ventilation.

The Liberator features a 300-pound weight capacity while offering a low center of gravity and zero-degree turn radius with its Shark joystick, all atop a smooth air-ride suspension. There’s even a 12-volt USB port. Rearview mirrors, flashing LED lights on all four sides of the solar canopy and a footplate one can stand on without tipping the chair lend additional safety.

Many times the death of a loved one occurs while they are away from home. Families are left with the added burden of what do they do now?

The Travel Plan by Inman assists in bringing a loved one home if death occurs more than 75 miles from their legal residence.

Relieve your family of the stress and financial implications in bringing you home should death occur. Without the Travel Plan these costs may range from $1,500 - $15,000.

Provide you and your family peace of mind by planning for the unthinkable. Call for more information.

Two 55-watt-hour NF22 gel cell batteries power The Liberator, which the Federal Aviation Administration ap-

proved for travel on airlines. The chair also can be wall charged. It’s pacemaker-safe and comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Schneider said he went through multiple iterations and four years of development, consulting those who use motorized wheelchairs, before finally landing on this design, which he patented and received FDA approval on.

From ‘little ideas’ to reality

Schneider said he has always had a curious mind and “creativity that comes from outside of me.”

The Liberator isn’t his only business venture. He also runs Real NZ Water, bottled in New Zealand; has developed carbon fiber grip-less golf club shafts; a golf tee composed of compressed grass seed that’s designed to be stepped on after it’s used to help regenerate grass on tee boxes; and worked on a nextgeneration GPS system, as well as a biodiesel derived from algae.

His latest venture has been perfecting in his own kitchen a 250-plus-yearold family recipe for caramel passed on to him by a friend of his mother’s. In his spare time, he enjoys training his two 1-year-old puppies as scent hounds.

Schneider said when it comes to inventing, “a lot of people have great ideas, but the biggest thing is sticking with it and believing in yourself and seeing it through.”

He continued, “How long did it take someone to come up with sliced bread? It took thousands of years. I put things together and think, ‘Hmm, maybe it’s possible.’”

He cited a quote that has always inspired him from the quirky yet heartwarming 1995 film, “Babe,” about a little pig who wants with all his heart to become a sheepdog and the farmer who sets his sights on the same goal, takes him to competition and succeeds:

“Little ideas that tickle and nag and refuse to go away should never be ignored, for in them lie the seeds of destiny.”

search Solar Mobility: 509-851-3611; solarmobilityllc.com; kurt@solarmobilityllc.com.

Sentinel’s stint as a Hanford newspaper lasted less than 2 years

By Gale Metcalf for Senior Times

The Sage Sentinel’s stint as a Hanford newspaper wasn’t a long one at just 19 months.

Its first edition’s debut was 80 years ago this month when the topsecret Hanford project was underway to produce plutonium for an atomic bomb that helped to bring the end to World War II in 1945.

The Sage Sentinel’s first publication was July 9, 1943.

The Training and Relations Department at Hanford first suggested the idea for a newspaper and pursued its publishing.

“The purpose of the publication was not only to satisfy the natural desire for knowledge of current events, but also to disseminate correct local information instead of unfounded rumor or propaganda,” according to a brief history of the Sage Sentinel.

The first edition was a trial publication, with copies limited in number being pinned to bulletin boards.

The first regular edition came one week after the trial publication, on July 16, 1943. Some 5,000 copies were distributed to mess halls and to the trailer camp. Editions followed on July 23 and July 30. Its first three editions were published under the name “Hanford Engineer Works’ Newspaper” before Hanford employees were offered the chance to come up with a name for it.

Some 50 names were suggested to the voters. In the plant-wide contest, 3,000 votes were cast. The winner, Sage Sentinel, received 1,000 votes.

The first edition under its new name was completed and scheduled for release on Aug. 6, 1943.

It didn’t leave the presses.

The War Department issued an order suspending publishing any “house-organ type publications” in war plants, effective Aug. 1, 1943. House-organ periodicals are published by companies for their customers or employees.

The second week of August saw something of a reconsideration by the War Department.

It was thought publishing post and camp newspapers could be valuable contributions to worker morale, and thus benefit the war effort.

“Reinstatement of such publications was dependent upon conformation to paper-saving limitations and topic matter in accordance with allowances, and they were required

to be financed by funds other than these from governmental sources,” the amended directive noted.

The Hanford Engineer Works’ Employees’ Association stepped in to finance and publish the newspaper.

The association contracted with the Walla Walla UnionBulletin and efforts went into reviving the newspaper by year’s end.

The first publication under its new name, Sage Sentinel, came on Dec. 31, 1943.

Management of the DuPont company, prime contractor at Hanford, and the intelligence officer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviewed content before publishing. Facts and figures considered too revealing were strictly banned. Key figures working on the project could not be mentioned.

Illustrative and copy material came from government sources like the Army and the Navy departments and the Office of War Information. Available to the Sage Sentinel were service features subscribed to by the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

“Despite the classified nature of the project, no difficulties were encountered in preparing copy in a form which was suitable for publication and interesting to readers, yet conforming fully to necessary censorship requirements,” the history of the newspaper noted.

Comprising the staff of the newspaper were employees on the Hanford project. They included an editor, photographer, two reporters – one for the Hanford area and one for Richland, two staff artists and a sports writer.

DuPont’s service superintendent consulted for management.

Time used by the staff away from their jobs was reimbursed to the company by the Hanford Engineer Works’ Employees’ Association.

Articles of interest to Hanford

employees ranged from announcements made by management to business schedules, Red Cross and War Bond activities, church servic-

es and theater showings, bus schedules and calendars.

Features highlighted employees on the project, covering everything from their hobbies to their ideas for job improvements.

In time, the Sage Sentinel was taking in paid advertising, charging 5 cents a word for classifieds and 70 cents per column inch for display advertising.

Beginning in October 1944, both the United Press and the Associated Press made their wire services available to the Sentinel.

On Feb. 9, 1945, the last edition of the Sage Sentinel was published, highlighting outstanding events at Hanford through photographs and cartoons from previous editions.

“The slogan of the Sage Sentinel was ‘Let’s all HEW to the Line,’ and exemplified the spirit in which the newspaper was published and received,” its history noted.

 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 the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford collection via the Hanford History Project

New Beginnings to forge new start in old store

By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

Chad Leinback used to travel in his home state of Texas with his family, and he’d look at buildings as they’d drive by and imagine what business he’d put in them.

Since 2012 – when he bought New Beginnings Thrift Store at age 21 –his business life has been all about selling re-used items.

“I never thought I’d do anything like this. I fell into this position,” he said.

He turned the Richland shop into a viable business and now plans to open a second New Beginnings store in the former Basin Department Store at 111 W. First Ave. in downtown Kennewick.

The new store is expected to open in August.

“The building owners who were originally here in 2007 (in Richland) – David Croskrey and his son Andrew – they saw an opportunity,” Leinback said. “They purchased the building for us to move in there. Obviously we’ll pay rent, but the timing was right. We know Croskrey is going to work with us.”

It’s the end of an era for Basin De-

partment Store, which had been in business for over 70 years.

Stuart Logg told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business in June 2022 that he wanted to sell his family store, hoping for someone to buy it for $1.95 million. That included the building, parking lot and business, as well as the inventory.

His hope was to get someone to continue on with the business.

But no buyer could be found to do

that.

Leinback said the opportunity to do something with it was too good to pass up.

The 70-year-old building gives New Beginnings a lot more floor space to sell merchandise. The Richland store at 1016 Lee Blvd. has 9,000 square feet. The Kennewick store features more than 12,500 square feet.

“We love the history of that old building,” Leinback said. “We can

undoubtedly fill it. We have backstock set aside. The question is: Can we do it in eight weeks, when we plan to open?”

He believes so. Leinback’s success has been because of the shop’s faithful customers.

He has people who come in and buy from him every day. Those same people also donate items.

“We’ll certainly have the donations,” he said.

And Leinback is certain he’s getting a good building.

“I do some real estate,” he said. “I’ve purchased this (Richland) building, and the other building (the Richland store is in two separate halves with different entrances). (The Loggs) did all of the right things. They put on a new roof, a couple new HVAC units. It’s been very well maintained.”

Leinback said that it’s always been his intention to expand in the Tri-Cities.

“But we really have no intention of going outside the Tri-Cities,” he said.

Charity work

Leinback started at New Beginnings in 2011 and took over as the

uNEW BEGINNINGS, Page 14

Photo by Jeff Morrow

New Beginnings owner Chad Leinback stands in the middle of his Richland store. He plans to open a second store later this summer in the old Basin Department Store building, 111 W. First Ave., in downtown Kennewick.

Historic downtown buildings poised to change hands

By Laura Kostad for Senior Times

A 106-year-old building in downtown Kennewick and its 84-year-old neighbor will change hands after more than two decades.

The sale will be another chapter in the buildings’ long, storied history.

For the past 23 years, the two buildings next door to Players Sports Bar & Grill have been owned and extensively renovated by Cheri Manley, a business owner and downtown Kennewick advocate.

Now 70 and “tired of being a landlord,” she’s found new owners for both.

Alexandra RoseLee, owner of White Glove Weddings, is excited to turn the brick building at 114 W. Kennewick Ave. into an event venue. She agreed to buy it for $525,000.

“I’ve always had an obsession with all things old ... that have a lot of history, and dreamed, even as a kid, of owning either a home or a business that was rich with history and looks like it,” she said.

Harvey Prickett, the president of Wave Design Group, the current tenant at 116 W. Kennewick Ave., plans to buy the space built in 1939 before the end of the year. He intends to house a new business there called Evolv Design Collective - Art, Music, Design.

Transitions

Manley said downtown Kennewick is a great place to own a business, but now, “it’s time to pass it on to the next generation.”

RoseLee is ready for the challenge.

She originally thought the historic Kennewick building would become the new home for her bridal bar, but she quickly realized the open floor plan, kitchen area, bathroom and get-ready loft would be better as an intimate event space called Venue WGW.

Her business, White Glove Weddings, offers event coordination and rentals, as well as a brick-and-mortar bridal bar at 8901 W. Tucannon Ave., Suite 145, in Kennewick.

“We have a limited amount of event space in Tri-Cities, and I don’t like to drive traffic out of Tri-Cities,” she said.

She envisions gatherings of about 100 people for a range of events, from weddings to corporate functions. With her event rental connections, “we can turn it into anything,” she said.

RoseLee hopes to have the building ready to rent by the holidays and likely will start booking this fall ahead of the season.

She plans to maintain all the work Manley did to restore the brick building and to further complement its historical character, such as decorating the bathroom and upstairs to match the feel of the main space.

“I’m not a fan of painting antiques or wood; the only thing I might do is have the banisters brought back to their wood. I would like to expose as much of the natural wood that exists in there as possible,” she said.

She also would like to pursue a National Register of Historic Places listing.

A century of history

Constructed in 1917, the distinctive red brick building features an eye-catching neo-classical frieze and tall, thickly framed storefront display windows hearkening to Kennewick’s early days.

When Manley first set eyes on the pair of buildings after moving to Kennewick in 1997, they had fallen into disrepair and undergone several remodels obscuring their historical value and charm.

Both buildings had been occupied since circa 1960 by Smitty’s TV and Repair, which went out of business around 2000.

White paint covered the lower half of the older building’s storefront, the brick parapets were deteriorating, and an awning and mid-century doors and windows had replaced the originals.

Inside, the 2,250-square-foot space had been divided up into 21 rooms with an aging apartment in the center, Manley said. A 500-square-foot attic and storage loft was divided into six spaces and full of dead pigeons and their droppings.

A historical property inventory of 37 downtown buildings conducted by the city of Kennewick in 2001 stated that “with some restoration, (it) could have important historic value. Currently, though, it is not eligible to be considered for the national register.”

Manley had dreams of opening a garden store and had been looking for property.

“I had some money and I had always wanted to have a shop – what girl doesn’t – and thought it would be kind of fun,” she said.

At the time, there were five people – primarily women around her age –who had bought rundown buildings in downtown Kennewick and were in the process of fixing them up, Manley said.

“It seemed like there was a lot of potential,” she said.

Manley bought both buildings

Hidden message: Hot July brings cooling showers, Apricots, and gillyflowers.

Photo by Ryan Jackman

Alexandra RoseLee, owner of White Glove Weddings, recently bought the 106-year-old brick building at 114 W. Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick and plans to turn it into an intimate event center.

owner in 2012.

“I was working the front counter, just out of college, and had just moved from Texas,” he said. “I started out working one day a week and would end up working six days a week. The store originally opened in 2007.”

He found he enjoyed the business.

“I think you’re taking something that certain people want to donate to support charities and others,” he said. “And I get excited when you can take something that people don’t want anymore, and you make it useful. I get a kick out of creating a display of something, and it’s gone in 20 seconds.”

Charity is a key piece of his busi-

ness plan.

His Richland store supports two local charities – You Medical, a pro-life agency offering women free pregnancy testing and support; and Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties.

To date, New Beginnings has donated $400,000 to the two charities.

Half of that is cash to You Medical; and the other half is in donated goods to Domestic Violence Services, he said.

“Sometimes these women have to leave a situation in a hurry with just the clothes on their backs,” said Leinback, referring to domestic violence survivors. “We give them vouchers to

get them clothes, cooking ware, you name it.”

Leinback said that New Beginnings will support two different charities at the Kennewick store: Mirror Ministries, which battles human and sex trafficking; and a yet-to-be-named charity helping first responders.

Loyal customers

Charity is just one reason Leinback believes in the thrift store model of business.

“I see three (reasons) why people will support us,” he said. “First, because of the organizations we support. Second, we’re a pretty tight-knit group of employees. We’re a family.

And we’re providing jobs for people. And third, we’re able to provide goods that people can’t normally afford.”

The shop’s customers come from all over the Tri-Cities, as well as outside the region.

“We have people coming in from Mattawa, Hermiston all of the time,” he said. “Some people purchase our stuff and re-sell it in Hermiston.”

Leinback also said his business helps the environment.

“Obviously there is trash donated,” he said. “Even the clothing we can’t sell, we have a wholesaler who buys it to recycle. Over 600,000 pounds of textiles have been saved from the trash.”

But to him, one of the best parts is adding more employees. He currently has 15 people on staff at the Richland store.

“This time next year, I hope to have 15 people at the other location,” Leinback said.

That’s what gets him excited.

“I feel that part has changed over the years. I just loved building something that was mine,” he said. “Now that’s changed from day to day to more of management of people. I have some really good employees. I’ve been lucky about getting some good people. I feel blessed.”

Local inventor seeks to sell business focused on designing, manufacturing and engineering solutions

By Laura Kostad for Senior Times

For over 20 years, the shop at 1854 Bronco Lane near the Richland Airport has been the creative lair of local inventor Chris Smith, owner of Intellegration LLC.

The business’ name marries the words “intelligent” and “integration,” which Smith said is short for “integrating intelligent ideas.” It launched in 2003.

The name’s fitting since Smith’s career has focused on designing and manufacturing specialized tools and engineering solutions to suit unique applications and solve complex issues across multiple fields: food processing, medicine, robotics, aerospace, metal refining and the nuclear sector.

Now, the 67-year-old is ready to semi-retire and wants to sell Intellegration, along with some of his inventions key to the nuclear industry. His asking price is $400,000.

Key inventions

Smith has provided his services to many prominent local businesses.

He’s known for his contributions to U.S. Department of Energy projects, many of which have come in the form of long-reach tools featuring an assortment of attachments.

These inventions have enabled those working in proximity to radiation to maintain greater distance and enable workers to retrieve underwater radioactive slugs and to swab and sample uneven, multidimensional surfaces.

He took some of these tools to Japan in 2014 to help with the cleanup of the Fukushima reactor meltdown.

“My spiral logo came from one of the radiation protection devices I designed,” Smith said.

Smith also designed the signature intermedullary nail SIGN Fracture Care International uses to help mend broken bones. The Richland-based nonprofit gives the injured poor access to fracture surgery by donating orthopedic education and implant systems to surgeons in developing countries.

“It was really meaningful to be part of (that) legacy … Patients are up and walking the next day, the nail provides complete support for the body’s weight,” Smith said. “There are more SIGN nails used in patients than all other prosthetics put together in the world.”

He also owns a patent on a “prehensile apparatus” he built while working at Battelle – a robotic hand which, when pressure is applied to the palm, curls around an object.

At Lamb Weston, he undertook some “fun” efficiency-enhancing projects involving various potato slicing and dicing machines.

In addition to the satisfaction derived from landing on winning solutions, he said the best part of the gig was that Friday was always “Fry Day,” which meant taste-testing products.

He uses both traditional fabrication techniques and SolidWorks 3D solid modeling software to create scale models of recommended alterations to existing systems as well as fabricating parts out of a variety of materials.

Other career highlights have included a robotic conveyor system for transporting radioactive seeds for prostate cancer treatment, a remote-controlled trolley for moving large airplane wings into machining centers, a UV water disinfection system with multiple power sources, medical scroll pump for CPAP sleep apnea machine development, and a robotic high-pressure water spray cleaning system for hazardous environments.

Smith said he sees himself as a “systems thinker.” No matter what the project, his bottom line is a simple one: “It has to work, and it has to work effectively and safely.”

Outside the box

Smith’s thinking has always been a bit outside the box.

He was exposed to a variety of ma-

chines and tools while working in his dad’s electric motor shop and accompanying him on repair calls.

After graduating from Wenatchee High School in 1975, he headed off to college at Boise State University. To provide for himself, he walked into a motor shop at 19 years old and declared himself a journeyman motor winder. The crew scoffed at him, but after demonstrating his knowledge and capabilities, they took him on.

While at school, he met his wife of 44 years, Nancy, who taught English and journalism classes at Hanford High School for 25 years. They married in 1979 and he completed his mechanical engineering degree at Letourneau College in Texas in 1981.

His first post-college job was in Dallas.

“I worked in the aerospace industry creating robots to do some of the fabrication processes for making abradable air seals for engines,” he said.

“After seven years down in Dallas, Hanford was my ticket back to the Northwest,” Smith said.

He stayed only a few years working for UNC at the 100 K Area before moving to Corvallis to pursue a job at Intellidex in robotics systems. That lasted a year before the company closed down, and then he was back in Richland working for Vista Engineering Technologies, now Veolia Nuclear Solutions.

“Phil Ohl (president and CEO) was an amazing mentor and helped me get Intellegration started,” Smith recalled.

Looking back over his career, which has encompassed an era of significant technological advancement that laid the foundation for the advancements being made today, Smith said he is most interested in seeing what robotics and artificial intelligence will be able to accomplish in terms of new age manufacturing techniques.

“My prediction is that the next generation of 3D printers will be more of a robotic articulation as opposed to Cartesian,” he said. The latter uses a pattern of code to make each layer of a 3D-printed object.

“Future printers will have a full-on multi-axis processor that will use AI to build objects.”

What’s next?

Though they’ve sold their home, bought a new one in Silverton, Oregon, closer to their son and daughter-inlaw, and operations are winding down, Smith said he’s still wrapping up a couple of projects at Intellegration.

One involves another cutting-edge cancer treatment that will inject a radioactive gel inside tumors to kill the cancer from the inside out. The other is an expansion on the previous prostate cancer treatment he helped engineer the delivery mechanism for.

Though he’ll be closing the books on Intellegration, Smith said he plans to still do some consulting and take on a project or two as proposals suit him.

And he’ll still be 3D printing his trademark owl figures that have become a sort of calling card for the inventor. He’s been nicknamed “Owl Man” by friends and family.

He said he looks forward to spending more time with his family, riding with the BMW Riders of Oregon, chipping away at visiting all of the U.S. National Parks with Nancy, and volunteering. He’s been a member of Richland Rotary Club for a decade and worked on Habitat for Humanity projects.

Though Smith said he might end up packing up the bulk of the shop to take with him, he’s open to offers to buy the business and its full lineup of equipment, including lathe, mill, welders, grinders, raw metal and mechanical hardware on hand for quick prototype fabrication.

“It would be great if the legacy of Intellegration and the product line could continue beyond me,” he said.

His entreaty to prospective buyers: “If reading this story puts a spark in your mind … If you have an inkling, reach out to me at 509-539-1877.”

Photo by Laura Kostad

Chris Smith holds one of his radiation sampling tools at his 1854 Bronco Lane shop near the Richland Airport. He has been inventing and manufacturing specialized tools and providing solutions to Hanford contractors, Lamb Weston and those in the medical, aerospace and robotics sectors since 1986. He founded Intellegration LLC in 2003. Now, 20 years later, he’s ready to sell the business.

for $150,000 in 2000 and then put $450,000 into renovations.

The older building’s original spongy fir floors were replaced with easy-to-maintain concrete, the painted brick was carefully soda-blasted to remove the paint and Manley tracked down people who specialized in antique brick restoration work to mitigate the exterior deterioration.

The awning was removed, and a historically accurate front door and windows were installed, along with indoor early 20th century-style light fixtures.

The plumbing, electrical, HVAC and roof also were updated and an accessible restroom added. Manley said they filled 18 large-size dumpsters in the process.

For her efforts, the building earned a spot on the Kennewick Historic Register.

Before RoseLee bought it, the building was most recently occupied by Free Culture Clothing, which closed in late 2019; its other store is open at Columbia Center mall.

It also was home to Mr. Winks Penny Candy and Soda Fountain Shoppe.

Manley’s plan to open a garden store fizzled and she instead opened a boutique, She She’s, which spent

time in both buildings, and Zinful Panini Grill and Wine Bar, which sought to capitalize on the taverna ambience of the brick building.

Manley said it was a little before its time, but “now it would probably be really successful.”

Manley originally considered demolishing the building home to Wave Design Group, but decided it would be better to leave both buildings intact and opted to renovate it as well.

Its façade received an update, and Manley stenciled the unique-todowntown painted wood floor herself.

The building once was home to Heidi’s Mercantile, an antique and vintage shop, later called Downtown Mercantile, a shoe repair shop, originally opened by B.J. Campbell before becoming Del Bateman’s Shoe Hospital, then Huntley Shoe Repair and Saddlery Store.

According to articles published in The Kennewick Courier, the building at 114 W. Kennewick Ave. was commissioned by William Dircksen in 1917 after a catastrophic fire de-

stroyed the previous wooden building built by Dircksen in 1905.

It first housed Dircksen’s Kennewick Market meat shop on the ground floor and an opera house upstairs. The market was managed and later owned by Frank Spofford, who renamed it Kennewick Meat Market.

He died on the job in 1928. E. G. Lape subsequently bought the business and occupied the building until circa 1940, at which time Hill Distributing Company moved in. Hill was there until Smitty’s took over around 1960.

Photo by Laura Kostad

The building at 116 W. Kennewick Ave. has earned a spot on the Kennewick Historic Register, thanks to restoration efforts by Cheri Manley, who has owned 114 and 116 W. Kennewick Ave. for the past 23 years.

Cheri Manley