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

DELIVERING NEWS TO MID-COLUMBIA SENIORS SINCE 1982

JUNE 2022

Vol. 10 | Issue 6

Colonoscopy or end-of-life planning? Many would pick physical exam By Kristina Lord

publisher@tcjournal.biz

Most people don’t look forward to a colonoscopy. And most would rather not have a conversation about end-of-life care. Home Instead Inc., a national company with offices in Kennewick, has launched a new program called Elderoscopy with these two ideas in mind. Elderoscopy is a critical conversation – complete with “probing” questions – between older adults and their loved ones, examining wants and needs, and setting intentions for topics such as end-of-life plans, finances, relationships and more. It is a conversation every family should have – no matter how uncomfortable, said Roy Wu, who co-owns the Tri-City-based Home Instead franchise with his wife Paula. They provide elder care services to clients in Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties. “It’s a fun name. At first people may be like, ‘What?’ but it’s a serious topic. We always encourage people to just start. Just have the conversation,” Wu

Courtesy Home Instead Lisa Seger, right, a Kennewick Home Instead lead care professional, stands with her client, Bill, a World War II veteran. Home Instead has developed Elderoscopy, an educational program with tools to help start the conversation between aging parents and loved ones about preparing for their later years.

said. “Just start somewhere and don’t be afraid to ask for help because there are resources.” Research from Home Instead and The Marist College Poll shows that 1 in 6 Americans would rather have a colonoscopy than talk to their loved

ones about end-of-life plans. Nearly one-third of Americans over the age of 70 (29%) would prefer or are undecided when having to choose between a colonoscopy and discussing end-of-life plans. The survey also showed that while

45% of Americans report that they have not talked with their loved ones about how they would like to spend their final years, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the likelihood of having these conversations. Nearly half (48%) of all adults report the pandemic has made them more likely to talk about end-of-life plans. To assist in navigating this process, Home Instead developed the Elderoscopy program, which offers tools and talking points to begin the conversation. Resources include conversation starters and guides. Home Instead care professionals also are available to facilitate uncomfortable talks.

When should we talk?

When is the best time to have this conversation with an aging parent or loved one? There’s no perfect time, but Wu pointed to Home Instead’s 40-70 rule. “If an adult child is within that range of 40ish and has an aging parent who is a generation older – now is the time to have that conversation,” he said. uELDEROSCOPY, Page 2

B Reactor tours resume with seats available through November By Senior Times staff

The U.S. Department of Energy has resumed its popular tours of the B Reactor National Historic Landmark, part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at the Hanford site. The free tours began in May and will be offered six days a week through November, subject to community Covid-19 infection rates remaining in the low/green zone as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Masks are

not required but visitors are welcome to use them. Tours are offered through Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends. Tours take about four hours and include transportation from the Manhattan Project visitor center at 2000 Logston Blvd. in Richland. Cameras, cellphones, and other recording devices are welcome on the tours as are visitors of all ages and nationalities. Visitors can register for up to six tour seats at a time. School and

group tours also may be available on a first come, first served basis and with a minimum of 20 participants. Escorted tours offer visitors the chance to stand face to face with the world’s first full scale nuclear production reactor. Built in 11 months, the B Reactor started operations in September 1944 and produced the plutonium used in the Trinity Test in July 1945 and the “Fat Man” atomic weapon dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945 to help bring an end to World War II in the Pacific.

“Touring the B Reactor is like stepping back into the WWII era,” said Colleen French, DOE program manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Hanford. “It’s certainly a marvel of science and engineering, but it represents so much more than that. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn from docents at the reactor and to spend time on their own as they ponder the questions raised by the Manhattan Project and uB REACTOR, Page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Stay safe by addressing your home’s fall risks

Page 3

MONTHLY QUIZ

All-male electorate chose Olympia over Pasco for state capital in 1889

Page 7

True or false? The Army Railroad Transport Corps was a well-known war-era job for Pasco draftees? ANSWER, PAGE 9

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a colonoscopy at age 45, which is a good reminder it’s time for the “elderoscopy” conversation, Wu said. “We can talk about it now so we can have an understanding, so when the time comes, it’s not a time of conflict; it’s a time of memory and being together. It is tough to have the conversation,” Wu said.

Tri-Cities’ aging population

The Wus have owned the Kennewick-based franchise for eight years. They serve about 105 clients monthly. Wu said his business has grown in the past eight years as the Tri-City area population ages. “Now we’ve had two generations who’ve worked out at Hanford, or three or four generations in ag out here. They’re like, ‘We’ve built this house and I’ve always lived here and I don’t know where else to go,’ ” Wu said. Some of those seeking care today Wu refers to as a vertical generation, or those who are still working and may have Hanford Fridays off, or they’ve got grandchildren or college kids and they’re juggling a busy life. Or they may live on the west side and can’t travel to the Tri-Cities as often as they’d like to be with their aging parents. Some seek out Home Instead to arrange for care visits a few times a week. (The company’s minimum plan is 12 hours a week.) A gradual start and early conversations may mean less heartache later as the elderly come to accept and appreciate occasional at-home care that can then be increased later, Wu said.

uBRIEFS Washington is tops for older adults

Washington offers the best outlook for older adults, according to

Elderoscopy: 6 questions to consider 1. Where would I live to live out my senior years? Do you see yourself in a retirement community or downsized home? Most people have an idea where they would like to age. 2. What lifestyle do I desire as I grow older? What will you be doing at 70? Rocking grandbabies or sailing the Pacific? Bucket lists are as individual as those who create them. Some older adults aspire to visit faraway places or launch second careers. Others prefer the quiet company of family and friends. Make sure your financial plan can support the lifestyle you or an older adult desires. 3. How do I plan to stay healthy as I age? Staying healthy can be hard work, but it doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Even small changes in diet and exercise can pay dividends. Consider today whether the choices you or a loved one has made is leading to better health. 4. If I find myself single, what will I do? Will you look for love on Silver Singles, or embrace your newfound alone time? Many single older

adults have happy and satisfying lives alone. Others miss the love and companionship of a spouse or significant other. Have you thought about what you would do if you became single later in life? 5. How do I see myself getting around if I can no longer drive? Nothing expresses independence more than driving. Many older adults are driving safely; some are even Uber or delivery drivers. Losing this privilege, or being asked to give it up, can be upsetting. Consider when you or a loved one would need to adjust driving habits or give up the keys altogether. 6. How do I want my final years to look for me and my family? End of life can be such a sobering issue that many people put off planning for the inevitable. It is not only important to plan for someone’s funeral but also the days, months and years leading up to it. Having these discussions earlier can help to prevent last minute decision-making during a crisis while also ensuring you or your loved one lives life to the fullest until the end. Source: Home Instead Inc.

Home Instead can provide a variety of services, from personal care like grooming and bathroom assistance, to transportation to appointments or activities, to companionship, as well as chronic illness care 24/7 – all based in the clients’ home. “We see these conversations between loved ones happening every day, and rarely does someone say they wish they put it off longer,” Paula Wu said. “To support local families, we have resources available to ensure a

smooth transition of care – regardless of whether it is needed now or in a few years.” Home Instead has 15 other regional offices in the state and 1,200 global offices. Go to Home Instead’s Elderoscopy website to get the conversation started: homeinstead.com/elderoscopy. Go to honorexpert.com to speak with a social worker or gerontologist for questions related to care options. The service is free.

a recent study by Seniorly. The Living Better Lives study assessed the decline in life expectancy attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as other metrics that measure physical, mental,

financial and social health over the past decade. Washington was first, followed by North Dakota and Massachusetts. Nevada, Michigan and Utah had the worst scores. Seniorly is a marketplace modernizing the search for senior living.

Water Follies has a new director

Mark Williams will succeed Kathy Powell as event director for Tri-City Water Follies. Powell intends to retire from the task of organizing the region’s biggest festival after a transition period. Williams brings an event background that includes working at NFL stadiums, concerts, conventions, festivals and political events. The 2022 TriCity Water Follies will be held July 29-31. Go to waterfollies.com.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

Stay safe by addressing your home’s fall risks The National Safety Council has proclaimed June as National Safety Month. And while the council wants to teach us how to stay safe everywhere, “from the workplace to any place,” the lesson seniors should take to heart is how to avoid injury and death from falls. Statistics gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show just how serious falls are for older folks: About 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year – resulting in more than 32,000 deaths. Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury. One of every five falls causes an injury such as broken bones or a head injury. To drive the point home, the CDC said: “Falls among adults 65 and older are the leading cause of injury death for that group.” Still, falls don’t have to be inevitable. There is plenty of educational material on how to minimize the risk of falling, and how to regain your feet safely if you do take a tumble. A logical starting point for this story is to ask why the risk of falling is so much higher for seniors. The answer comes from the National Council on Aging (NCOA). The group is a charitable organization launched in 1950 to speak on behalf of older Americans. The NCOA offers five reasons why advanced age makes us more prone to tumbles: • Balance and gait. As we age, more of us lose some coordination,

flexibility and balance, making it easier to fall. • Vision. In the aging eye, less light reaches the Gordon Williams retina, making American Red Cross obstacles GUEST COLUMN harder to see. • Medications. Some prescriptions and overthe-counter medications can cause dizziness, dehydration or interactions with each other that can lead to a fall. • Environment. Most seniors have lived in their homes for a long time and have never thought about simple modifications that might keep it safer as they age. • Chronic conditions. More than 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition like diabetes, stroke or arthritis. Often these increase the risk of falling because they result in lost function, inactivity, depression, pain or multiple medications. The catch-phrase to keep in mind here is: “forewarned is forearmed.” Just because you are at greater risk of falling does not make it inevitable you are going to fall. Once you understand all the conditions around your home that can lead to a fall, you can work toward removing the risks. The first step is to do a self-assessment of all the conditions of your life that could make you prone to falling.

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The CDC, for instance, urges you to “review all of your medications with your doctor or pharmacist and discuss side effects like feeling dizzy or sleepy. Some medications, even over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements, can increase your fall risk.” How recently have you had your eyes checked and the prescription for corrective lenses brought up to date? “Have your eyes checked annually and update your glasses as needed,” recommends the CDC. “Conditions like cataracts and glaucoma limit your vision.” Even if your eyes are in generally good condition, an outdated prescription for eyeglasses can cause blurred vision. The more that images are less than sharp, the greater the danger of not seeing something in front of you that can lead to a fall. Check out your home lighting and eliminate dark corners and poorly-lit staircases. You need your home lit well enough that you see hazards and can avoid them. Place night lights in your bedroom, bathroom and hallways. Place a light next to your bed, or keep a flashlight nearby, in case of emergencies or to light your way on midnight trips to the bathroom. Keep a phone next to the bed in case you do fall, or become ill, and must call for help. Every staircase should be well lit – and that includes outside stairs as well as those inside your house. Light all staircases so every step is clearly visible. If you get dizzy or lightheaded

Steps to take to prevent falls at home

• Remove boxes, newspapers, electric and phone cords from walkways. • Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from high-traffic areas. • Secure loose rugs with double-face tape, tacks or slip-resistant backing, or remove loose rugs altogether. • Repair loose wooden floorboards and carpeting. • Immediately clean spilled liquids, grease or food. • Put nonslip mats in your bathrobe or shower. • Use a bath seat which allows you to sit while showering. • Make liberal use of grab bars and handrails; every staircase needs handrails and every tub and shower needs grab bars. • Consider installing grab bars if you have trouble getting up from the toilet.

Source: Mayo Clinic when going from sitting to standing, you are most likely experiencing something called postural hypertenuFALL PREVENTION, Page 11

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JUNE 9

• HAPO Live @ 5 summer concert series featuring Queen’s Gate: 5 p.m., John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland. Free. • Columbia Basin College Jazz Night: 7 p.m., Columbia Basin College theater, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. Free. • Historic Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 204 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org.

JUNE 10

• AARP Fraud Watch Friday: 10:30 a.m. Free. Go to the AARP Washington state page at aarp.org/ FraudWatchFriday, or on YouTube at youtube.com/aarpwashington. • Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. Call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@pocketinet.com.

JUNE 11

• Columbia Gardens Car Show: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 325 E. Columbia Gardens Way, Kennewick • Pasco Farmers Market: 8 a.m.1 p.m., 101 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco.

Call 509-528-8131 or email omartinez@downtownpasco.com.

JUNE 13

• Coyote Canyon mammoth dig lecture: 6:30-8 p.m., Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive. Free. Call Gavin Lightfoot at 509942-7680 or email glightfoot@ci.richland.wa.us.

JUNE 14

• Alzheimer’s Program: Effective Communication: 1-2:30 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC.

JUNE 16

• HAPO Live @ 5 summer concert series featuring Groove Principal: 5 p.m., John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland. Free. • Healthy Ages Virtual June Wellness Program: 1-2 p.m., virtual event. Call 509-943-8455 or register online at kadlec.org/KNRC. • Callaway Gardens Senior Resource Luncheon: 11:30 a.m., South Hills Church, 3700 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick. Lunch provided. Call 509-405-0943 to RSVP. • Historic Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 204 W.

Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star. ✪ Kennewick Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org.

JUNE 17

• City of Richland outdoor movie series featuring “The Addams Family 2”: 9 p.m., Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland. • Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. Call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@pocketinet.com.

JUNE 18

• Pasco Farmers Market: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., 101 S. Fourth Ave., Pasco. Call 509-528-8131 or email omartinez@downtownpasco.com.

JUNE 22

• Paper Weaving: 1-5 p.m. MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco, 1320 W. Hopkins St. Free. First come, first serve basis. All ages.

JUNE 23

• Cool Desert Night Cruise: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Tri-City Raceway, 8280 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland. Details at westrichland-

chamber.org. Movie night: 9-10:30 p.m. • Historic Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 204 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick. Call 509-582-7221 or email market@historickennewick.org.

JUNE 24

• Cool Desert Night Show & Shine: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Red Mountain Event Center, 8280 W. Van Giesen St, West Richland. Details at westrichlandchamber.org. • City of Richland outdoor movie series featuring “Encanto”: 9 p.m., Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland. • Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland. Call 509-539-7229 or email herbsetal@pocketinet.com.

JUNE 25

• Hogs & Dogs Show & Shine: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Tri-City Raceway, 8280 W. Van Giesen St., West Richland. Details at westrichlandchamber.org.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

Free seminars aim to help seniors stay vigilant about fraud, identity theft Would you like to learn more about protecting yourself from online scammers and criminals? Could you use answers to your questions on personal internet security? How do I keep my bank account safe? How can I recognize scam email or text? These are the types of questions we answer on AARP Washington’s Fraud Watch Fridays. To help fight back against scammers, AARP Washington hosts two online events each month. Led by volunteers from the AARP Fraud Watch Network, the sessions are held on the second and third Friday of each month, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook and YouTube (where they are also available for later viewing). The second Friday features the latest topics in the field, such as robocall scams, Amazon scams, email phishing, phony texts, romance scams, home repair scams, frauds targeting veterans and more. The program on the third Friday covers online safety and cybersecurity; it features live questions from viewers and expert answers from AARP volunteer Dave Morrow. Morrow, who lives in Bellingham, is co-lead of AARP Washington’s Fraud Watch Network of volunteers,

along with Jean Mathisen of Island County, and is the driving force behind our online and cyberfraud Bruce Carlson education AARP efforts. He’s GUEST COLUMN had a nearly 40-year career in cybersecurity and counterintelligence for the military and private sector financial institutions. He was a special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, specializing in computer crimes. After leaving his military career, he was head of cybersecurity for two multinational corporations and head of incident response for a major bank. “I’ve seen fraud’s impact on my own family members,” Morrow said. “I believe that many people who are taken advantage of by fraudsters can avoid a lot of these problems by adopting some relatively simple precautions. This is especially true when it comes to cyberfraud. I hope our tidbits of information on frauds and how to avoid them will help (Fraud Watch Friday) participants develop a ‘fraud fighter mindset’ where they

skeptically examine every email, text, phone call and interaction.” “There’s almost no question Dave can’t answer,” said co-host Anne O’Callahan of Issaquah. “And for the rare question where we don’t have a ready answer, Dave has the contacts and experience to find out. We want to do everything we can to ensure our members are safe from fraud online”. While anyone can be targeted by fraud, older Americans are often victims. In 2021, the top two types of fraud Washington state consumers reported to the Federal Trade Commission were impostor scams and identity theft. “We hope the Fraud Watch Fridays will keep our participants aware of how fraud schemes work, how to lessen their chances of being victimized, and keep them aware of new types of schemes that constantly arise,” said Morrow. “It won’t make you a cybersecurity expert, but our sessions will give you the tools to make your online life safer and more enjoyable.” To watch, go to the AARP Washington state page at aarp.org/ FraudWatchFriday, or on YouTube at youtube.com/aarpwashington. Register to participate in the next

Mark your calendar

Here’s a list of upcoming AARP Fraud Watch Friday sessions. The free seminars start at 10:30 a.m. To watch, go to the AARP Washington state page at aarp.org/FraudWatchFriday, or on YouTube at youtube. com/aarpwashington. June 10: QR codes July 8: Password manager demo

Aug. 12: Gift Card scams Sept. 9: Medicare scams Oct. 14: Holiday and charity scams

Nov. 11: Veterans scams Dec. 9: Cybersecurity

“Questions about Cyber Crime Fraud” session on June 17 by emailing aarpwa@aarp.org. Bruce Carlson is the associate state director of communications for AARP Washington.

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Eligible seniors can receive free farmers market vouchers By Senior Times staff

Eligible seniors can enjoy more fresh veggies and fruits from area farmers markets this year when they sign up for Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels’ voucher program. Low-income seniors can apply to receive free vouchers to use at local certified farmers markets through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Thanks to increased funding support from state of Washington, each eligible senior can receive up to $80 in vouchers, double the amount provided in past years. “We are absolutely thrilled that the state was able to increase the voucher benefit this year,” said Kristi Thien, nutrition services director for Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, in a news release. “We feel that this boost shows a real commitment to the well-being of Washington’s senior community. With ever-rising grocery prices, this increase is incredibly well timed. The voucher

program helps our seniors access fresh, diverse, healthy food while supporting our important local agricultural community.” Eligibility requirements include: • Must be 60 years old or older, or a Native American 55 or older. • One-person household: Receive a monthly income of $25,142 annually, or $2,096 monthly. • Two-person household: Receive a monthly $33,874 annually, or $2,823 monthly. For larger households, add $728 for each additional person. • Be a Washington resident. To ensure equity, seniors who are unable to access the markets themselves can appoint a trusted friend or family member to act as a proxy to shop on their behalf. For a voucher application, seniors can call the Meals on Wheels office at 509-735-1911 or email admin@ seniorliferesources.org. Applications also are available online at seniorliferesources.org.

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. Tuesday, June 7: Apple pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables. Wednesday, June 8: Chicken chop salad, salad greens, chocolate cake. Thursday, June 9: Beef tacos, rice and beans, salsa and sour cream. Friday, June 10: Tuna pasta salad, pea and cheese salad, crackers. Monday, June 13: Barbecue chicken, roasted carrots, potato salad, cornbread. Tuesday, June 14: Beef stroganoff, garlic noodles, broccoli. Wednesday, June 15: Chef salad, ranch dressing, wheat roll, chilled pineapple. Thursday, June 16: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian vegetables, wheat roll, ice cream. Friday, June 17: Chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, black beans, Mexican coleslaw. Monday, June 20: Turkey tetrazzini, green peas, tossed salad, chocolate chip cookie. Tuesday, June 21: Cranberry chick-

en, confetti rice, garden vegetables. Wednesday, June 22: Sloppy joes, mixed vegetable, apple cabbage slaw. Thursday, June 23: Roast pork with gravy, mashed potatoes, dilled carrots. Friday, June 24: Chicken salad sandwich, broccoli salad. Monday, June 27: Spaghetti and meat sauce, garden vegetables, breadstick. Tuesday, June 28: Baked cod with dill sauce, herbed potatoes, squash medley. Wednesday, June 29: Teriyaki chicken, fluffy rice, Asian vegetables. Thursday, June 30: Three bean chili, chuckwagon corn, cornbread. 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.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

All-male electorate chose Olympia over Pasco for state capital in 1889 By Gale Metcalf for Senior Times

With a few thousand more votes, Pasco would now be capital of Washington state. Well, quite a few more thousand votes. Some 133 years ago, Pasco was on the ballot in what was then Washington Territory to become capital of the new state of Washington. Washington became the 42nd state admitted to the union on Nov. 11, 1889. The vote to name its capital came on Oct. 1, 1889. It was a long shot in theory and proved to be a long shot in fact when votes were counted. Pasco got 130. Olympia got 25,490. North Yakima and Ellensburg, also on the ballet, received 14,711 and 12,833 votes, respectively. Pasco was not incorporated when this so-called “grandiose scheme” originated. It incorporated on Sept. 3, 1891. Olympia had served as territorial capital since Washington Territory was created by Congress in 1853, but I.I. Muncey, then editor of the

Courtesy East Benton County History Museum Pasco was considered for capital of the state during an election in 1889.

Pasco Headlight newspaper, began promoting Pasco as an ideal state capital. Other Pasco figures joined in, including one of its most prominent citizens and historical figures, Capt. W.P. Gray. The idea found little support from newspapers around the state. One, a North Yakima publication known as the Washington Farmer even called the suggestion that Pasco be capital of Washington

state “an absurdity.” (North Yakima’s name changed to Yakima in 1918.) The Walla Walla Weekly Union editorialized support for Olympia, but was willing to let voices be heard supporting Pasco. It published one letter reading in part: “Nature has done too much for her (Pasco), and the work of nature is hard to undue,” the writer noted. “Other towns claim railroad which

they have not got, harbors on mud flats, and populations every school urchin knows to be false, but when it comes to the test the voter will advocate right, and so, vote for Pasco and Pasco only.” A decision to let voters choose the site of Washington state’s capital came out of the state Constitution Convention that convened on Independence Day, July 4, 1889, in Olympia. For years, debate, discussion, dissension and bitterness about the issue had spread from newspaper editorials and within sessions of the territorial Legislature. With “considerable attention” surfacing on the issue during the Constitutional Convention, delegates decided to let voters decide. It was placed on the ballot “along with the proposition for ratifying the state constitution.” Because of the combined number of votes received by North Yakima and Ellensburg – 27,544 – Olympia did not receive a majority, forcing a runoff election. Voters of the pending new state, however, overwhelmingly voted to adopt the new state constitution. uCAPITAL, Page 12

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SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

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

Kennewick Community Center

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

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

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

Richland Community Center

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

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

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

Prosser Senior Community Center

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

• Pool: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. MondaysFridays. Cost: free. Location: pool room, membership is required. • 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: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays. Register by calling 509-786-2915. • Bunco: Third Friday of month. 6 p.m. Cost is $2 per person. Location: dining room. • All You Can Eat Community Breakfast: Last Sunday every month, 8-11:30 a.m. Location: dining room. Cost: Suggested donation $7 per person and $3 per child, 8 and under.

West Richland Senior Center

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

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

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

Just for Fun

Crossword

Across 1 National economic yardstick 4 Islamic sect 8 E.g. King Cole’s fiddlers 9 Greet the judge 10 County whose most populous city is Yonkers 13 Nose bag grain 14 CD- --15 Mischievous person 16 Intoxicated state 18 Long hard walk 19 Palindromic competition vehicle 21 First Pauline and now Jeanne Phillips 23 Discharge

Solutions on page 11

26 27 28 29 32 33 34

7 “25” album singer

Fur scarf Ill. neighbor Go right, to a horse Focus Rifle accessory Working tirelessly Campsite accommodation 35 “--- rather go naked than wear fur” (slogan)

8 “Terrible” time for tots 9 Water’s edge 11 Foam clog 12 Murder victim of 6/6/68 17 Fork over 18 “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy --- “ 20 “--- bon!” 21 “General Hospital” network

Down 1 Dandy! 2 Hullabaloo 3 Poker chips 4 Part of a wineglass 5 Owns 6 Pump

22 Encouragement 24 Stinking to high heaven 25 Stocking fillers? 27 Exuded 30 Swindle 31 Untrained

Word search - Shakespeare Aemil

Chiron

John

Owen

Aenas

Curan

Juno

Sextus

Ajax

Edmund

Lear

Tubal

Alonso

Ely

Lion

Tyre

Angus

Eros

Luce

Ursula

Arde

Hymen

Maine

Wall

Bawdy

Iras

Maria

Wye

Caius

Jamy

Moth

Yorik

1 6 86 8 2 2 3 3 1 71 7 9 19 1 9 9 9 2 2 3 3 1 5 5 4 46 6 9 39 3 5 4 5 4 1 8 8 7 7 9 49 4 24 2 1 21 2 3 3 3 3 8 58 5 7 7 3

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

Turn Back the Clock...

1972

Str8ts example

Medium Medium

Sudoku - Tough

6 76 7

Medium Medium

6 86 8 5 5 9 9 9 7 7 6 6 1 1

SUDOKU SUDOKU

1 1

Nym

Jessica STR8TS STR8TS

Str8ts - Easy

Casca

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

To complete Sudoku, the board by entering complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering June 7:ToThe U.S.fill Department of Labor issued numbers numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 and 3x3 1 to 9 such that each row, column the first regulations in America to limit box contains every number uniquely. box contains every number uniquely.

5exposure to asbestos. strategies, hints and tips, many strategies, hints and tips, 3For2manyFor visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku June 9:visit Bruce Springsteen received www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku his big 2and1www.str8ts.com for Str8ts. break as was signed for to Str8ts. a ten-record deal andhe www.str8ts.com 1 5 Ifby youColumbia like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our Records. If you like Str8ts and other puzzles, check out our 4books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

books, iPhone/iPad and much more on our store. June 19: Airline pilots Apps launched a worldwide 24-hour strike to protest hijacking, but only three U.S. carriers were grounded and one of those resumed flights at midmorning.

ANSWER Quiz answer from Page 1

True. — Source: Franklin County Historical Society and Museum

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022 B REACTOR, From page 1

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Visitors learn about the history of the Manhattan Project’s B Reactor at the Hanford site. The U.S. Department of Energy restarted free tours in May.

uBRIEF Kennewick Starbucks to get updated look

The Starbucks coffee shop at 7600 Clearwater Ave., Suite 110, in Kennewick, across from the flashcube building, will undergo a $123,450 remodel. The interior work includes a

its profound impacts.” Hanford is one of the three primary Manhattan Project locations created in complete secrecy during World War II to beat Nazi Germany in the race to develop an atomic bomb. More than 50,000 people from around the country came to Hanford to design, engineer, construct and operate a massive industrial complex to produce plutonium in nuclear reactors. The park, which also includes historic properties at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Los Alamos, New Mexico, preserves and interprets the complex story of the Manhattan Project and the dawn of the atomic age For in-person help, call 509-3761647 or stop by the visitor center. Registration is also available online at manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov. minor remodel of the back bar area, including new casework, equipment and finishes. Minimal exterior work includes shifting some existing drive-thru equipment, according to plans filed with the city. Contractors for the project include Associated Construction Inc. of Spokane and Apex Plumbing and Mechanical Piping of Yakima.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022 FALL PREVENTION, From page 3 sion, according to the CDC. That occurs when your blood pressure drops when you go from lying down to sitting or from sitting to standing. As your blood pressure drops, less blood flows to organs and muscles and the risk of fall increases. The CDC says the condition can manifest itself when standing or sitting up suddenly, during exercise, while straining on the toilet, after a large meal or alcohol or if you become anxious or panicky. You are most likely to experience it in the morning when blood pressure is lower. Symptoms of postural hypertension can include dizziness or lightheadedness, feeling that you are about to faint or fall, headaches, blurred vision, feeling weak or fatigued. But the CDC warns that “many people with postural hypertension have no symptoms.” Search “CDC and postural hypertension” online and you’ll get plenty of advice on detecting and treating the condition. But reading up on the topic is no substitute for talking it over with your doctor. By all means tell your doctor if you have had a fall or if you feel unsteady and are afraid you might fall. The more you keep fit, the less your risk of falling. Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance. Besides looking at your medical condition for factors that might put you at risk of falling, look around your home for environmental conditions that could trigger a fall and address these potential hazards. Add ill-fitting footwear to the list

of things that can lead to a fall. You may cherish the slippers you have worn for years, but if they are stretched out and the soles worn smooth, they may be putting you at risk. You want footwear that fits and provides good support. Beware of athletic shoes with deep treads that can catch on carpeting. Favor shoes with thin, non-slip soles. You can reduce the risk of falling but you can’t banish the risk altogether, so what should you do if you do take a tumble? The advice here comes from the Red Cross, in this case the Red Cross of Serbia. Like the American Red Cross, it is one of the 192 entities around the world affiliated with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. If you do fall, stay on the floor for a time to gather your strength before trying to get up. When you do get up, do it slowly. Try to get up on one knee and prop yourself up with your lower arm. Next try to get up on both knees. If possible hold onto a chair or another piece of furniture as you stand. Sit on the chair for a time until you feel calm and collected. If you feel unwell or fear you may be injured, call for help from a family member or a neighbor. If no one is available, call an ambulance. Lastly, tell your doctor about the fall even if you were not injured. Knowing why you had a fall could help prevent a more serious incident in the future. Gordon Williams is a volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Northwest Region Communications Team.

TRI-CITY BOOK CLUBS • 6:30 p.m. June 20, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, THE MOMENT OF LIFT, by Melinda Gates AN ASSEMBLY SUCH AS THIS by Pamela Aidan is the July 18 book. The group meets the third Monday of the month. Contact: Sue Spencer, sue_ spencer_england@hotmail. com or 509-572-4295.

• 1 p.m. June 15, MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, by Richard Osman. HERE, RIGHT MATTERS, by Alexander Vindman is the July 20 book. The group typically meets the third Wednesday of the month.

Contact Susan Koenig at 509-302-9878 or SMKoenig@ ymail.com. • 6 p.m. June 27, MidColumbia Libraries, West Pasco branch, 7525 Wrigley Drive, THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett. • 6 p.m. June 28, MidColumbia Libraries, Benton City branch, 810 Horne Drive, BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate. • 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.

Puzzle answers from page 9

Crossword

Str8ts

Str8ts Solution

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

7 6 5 4 9 8

9 8 6 7 1 5 3 2 4 3 2

8 7 9 5 2 6 4 3 1

3 4 7 6 5

Sudo

6 9 5 8 2 3 4 4 3

2 1 7 8 6 7

US 13x13 Wordsearch No.334 Word search Sudoku Sudoku Solution

Str8ts Solution M2J A Y 1 R L I E A 8N Y 7S O D R S 6 I A K 5A E 4C

1E S A 2O 3 N H U 4 S 9J S 8O 6I U R 7 W T 7J 8 A 6E 9 Y U 5 L

S7 U 6 G N5 A4 R9 Y8 I X B2 N3

I 9 C 8A D L I 8 7 O N O C6 T 9U H7 E 5S R1 N 2Y U5 I 6R B A Y 3 4 H M U E4 C 3O I 2 S 1W

3S 4M I 7B 6M 5D

H R 2R 1 W A

C E 9 L 8 A 2 E D 3 A 4 E Y 7 E L6

A6 A 5 J L R N4 E3 E L N8 L7

4 9 7 3 6 8 1 5 2

1 8 6 5 2 4 9 7 3

5 3 2 7 9 1 4 8 6

9 2 5 4 3 6 7 1 8

6 1 4 8 7 9 3 2 5

8 7 3 1 5 2 6 4 9

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

7 6 9 2 4 5 8 3 1

2 4 1 6 8 3 5 9 7

3 5 8 9 1 7 2 6 4

4 9 7 3 6 8 1 5 2

1 8 6 5 2 4 9 7 3

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

uBRIEFS Longtime local CPA dies at age 93

Robert E. Marple of Kennewick, a longtime local CPA, died May 18 at age 93. He practiced as a certified public accountant in the area for nearly 70 years and was still working and meeting with clients at age 93. Marple came to the Tri-Cities in 1952 after serving active duty in the Korean War. He was one of the first partners in the CPA firm Niemi, Holland & Scott. His Washington state CPA certificate was No. 1,253. The current issued CPA license number in Washington State is 52,070. He opened his sole-proprietor CPA firm, Robert E Marple CPA, in 1973 and this firm became Marple & Marple CPAs. These firms represented many Tri-Cities businesses and individuals including a few of the area’s largest businesses. Marple & Marple CPAs was sold to PorterKinney in 2019.

CDC launches new center for forecasting, outbreak analytics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak

Analytics (CFA). CFA seeks to enhance the nation’s ability to use data, models and analytics to enable timely, effective decision-making in response to public health threats for CDC and its public health partners. CFA’s goals are to improve outbreak response using infectious disease modeling and analytics and to provide support to leaders at the federal, state and local levels. CFA also will develop a program to provide insights about infectious disease events to the public to inform individual decision making – the equivalent of the National Weather Service for infectious diseases. Planning for CFA began in August 2021, with the initial funding of $200 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. So far, CDC has awarded $26 million in funding to academic institutions and federal partners to advance modeling and forecasting methodology, with an emphasis on workforce development and health equity. In December 2021, CFA worked with academic partners to assemble models anticipating the Omicron wave and generated early estimates of Omicron severity, giving leaders an opportunity to bolster the response. For more information on CFA, go to cdc.gov/CFA.

Father’s Day Car Show

For residents and families at Parkview Estates

Tuesday, June 21 11-1 p.m. Parkview is honoring fathers, Th ank you f o grandfathers and all you do r ! great-grandfathers this month.

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Visit our website for more information 7820 W. 6th Avenue • Kennewick, WA

www.Parkviewslc.com

Independent/Assisted Living and Respite Care

CAPITAL, From page 7

Walla Walla County voters opposed the new constitution, voting against it 1,422 to 996. The all-male voting populace who went to the polls at a time woman were not permitted to vote, defeated two other propositions on the ballot: • “Shall the sale of liquor be prohibited.” • “Shall women be permitted to vote.” An amendment to the Washington State Constitution in 1910 finally gave women the right to vote in the state for good. The second election of choice for the new state’s permanent capital location was held on Nov. 4, 1890. Olympia crushed its two central Washington challengers, garnering 37,413 votes to 7,722 for Ellensburg and 6,276 for North Yakima. Historian Walter Oberst, whose 42-year teaching career included becoming an instructor of history at Columbia Basin College when it opened in 1955, and later chairman of its Social Science Division, said in his definitive work on the history of Pasco, that Ellensburg and North Yakima might have brought Washington’s state capital to their area of the state if they had not been such “two bitter” central Washington rivals. Speculation came out of the first vote “that perhaps if one of them had been willing to permit the other to be the sole candidate on the ballot to represent their section of the state, the ultimate location

of the capital might have been different,” Oberst wrote in his “Railroads, Reclamation And the River, A History of Pasco.” He followed up the thought by observing the results of the second election. “They had not learned from the first election that their divided vote would almost certainly doom any hopes of locating the capital anywhere in central Washington,” wrote Obserst, who retired in 1970 from a Tri-Cities’ teaching career that began as an eighth-grade teacher in Pasco in 1928 and included teaching history at Pasco High School. Meanwhile, the then small town of Pasco took well defeat of its dream to be Washington state’s new capital. “Pasco citizens accepted their defeat at the polls philosophically,” Pasco’s noted historian said. “Though the meager results constituted an ignominious defeat, they accepted it by saying that Pasco did receive very good statewide publicity that did them no harm.” Search East Benton County History Museum: 205 W. Keewaydin Drive in Kennewick; 509-582-7704; ebchs.org. Gale Metcalf, a lifelong Tri-Citian and retired Tri-City Herald employee, as well as a volunteer for the East Benton County Historical Society, writes the monthly history column.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

Interest in flight training soars after pandemic lockdowns By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

Malin Bergstrom had never really planned on working in the family business. “I was going to be a veterinarian,” she said. But things quickly changed, said the president of Bergstrom Aircraft Inc. “Growing up, I worked summers and weekends to help out,” she said. “The summer after my senior year, I was approached to work full time. I liked being at the airport. Honestly, it’s such a great group of people — the customers and the co-workers.” That was in the 1980s, and Bergstrom has been there ever since. She fell in love with the people, and aviation too. She’s the volunteer president for the Pasco Aviation Museum, which recently reopened after being shut down for the past two years because of the pandemic.

Bergstrom’s beginnings

Her father, Karl Bergstrom, had been a mechanic for Trans Air in Sweden in the 1960s. But Karl’s wife, Elenor, convinced her husband to immigrate to the United States in 1965. “My parents wanted to chase the American dream,” she said. “If you work hard, you’ll be rewarded. Sweden is a beautiful country, but it has a lot of taxes there. This is the land of the free.” It took her dad some time to requalify as a mechanic in the U.S., but he got it done at Big Bend Community College and became the chief mechanic for Tri-City Airways at the Pasco airport in 1968. By 1971, Karl and Elenor decided to open their own aircraft maintenance shop, which eventually incorporated into Bergstrom Aircraft by 1975, according to the company’s website. The company continued to grow over the years. In 1976, it started servicing planes by fueling them. In 1981, it became a Beech Aero Center, which allowed it to give flight instruction, and started renting and selling planes. And in 1983, it added a charter flight service. Karl passed away six years ago “but I think he’d be proud of how we were doing. Honestly, this place hasn’t changed dramatically,” Malin said. “It’s still about helping the customer out.” It remains a family business. Elenor is still an owner, as are Malin and her brother Daniel, who also

Photo by Jeff Morrow Malin Bergstrom, president of Bergstrom Aircraft Inc. in Pasco, said more people are signing up for flight lessons than ever. Her company also offers maintenance services and aircraft and hangar rental. She is pictured in the Pasco Aviation Museum.

works in the maintenance shop. Daniel’s wife, Christina, is the general manager of the company. “My parents never pushed Daniel or I to get into the business,” Malin said.

Surviving the pandemic

The company seems to have survived the pandemic — even though it was touch and go for awhile. “We saw close to a 75% drop in our business,” she said. “We didn’t lose a lot of people. Thankfully, our part-time people were able to do other things. And our full-time people offered to do things such as cleaning and painting. We asked everybody to tighten their belts.” The pain, she said, lasted a good 18 months “Then as travel restarted and things lifted slowly but surely, the airlines here needed fuel for their

planes,” she said. “Some new airlines came in. Corporate customer business, which went away completely during that time period, started coming back. We just started

focusing on doing the best job possible.” The company has 32 employees. That’s an all-time high. And Bergstrom said she’s looking for more. “We’re looking for positions of flight instructors and line service jobs,” she said. “And mechanics. We’re swamped. We need more mechanics for our private planes. Our little Cessnas, our King Airs.” The mechanics are so busy that any maintenance on private planes is being booked out about 2 ½ months out. Most private planes need an inspection every 100 hours. “For many private pilots, that might be done in one year,” said Malin. For Bergstrom’s fleet, most of them get 100 hours of flight time every month. Line service workers are the employees who refuel planes, de-ice them in the winter and rent out hangar space. Bergstrom also handles hospitality and concierge services — which includes giving discounts on rental cars and hotel reservations, as well as catering. uBURGSTROM, Page 14

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022

BERGSTOM, From page 13

Flight school

But the biggest part of the Bergstrom company business is the flight training. The company has 12 airplanes and a flight simulator ready for its instructors. “We’re always getting new flight students,” Malin said. “Everybody wants to be a pilot. The number of people who want to learn to fly has probably jumped 50% over the last 10 years.” And more now than ever. “People are wanting to follow their dreams, and the last six months they’ve been seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (from the pandemic),” she said. “People are walking in all of the time. They’ve been cooped up.” Some of those customers come over from the Seattle area because the region can be too busy to handle all the pilots-in-training. It all keeps her flight instructors hopping. “We might have seven or eight of our airplanes up in the air each day, doing roughly 20 lessons a day,” Malin said. “Some of our instructors might do three or four lessons a day, but we have a limitation on how much an instructor can fly in a

24-hour period.” A pilot’s license can cost about $14,000, and the company offers a payment plan. “We compare it to the cost of a college education. You have to invest in yourself,” she said. She said many of their customers are recreational flyers, who might want to take a trip to the coast. “But a fair number of customers are career-minded,” she added. There are different avenues in becoming a commercial pilot. One is joining the military and going that avenue. Or they can take the stepping stones offered at Bergstrom: getting a pilot’s license, then a commercial pilot’s license. “It’s equivalent to getting a CDL,” she said. The idea is for someone to build up their flight hours. When they get enough, they can get their flight instructor’s license, which allows the pilot to be a teacher — and get paid to fly. The double-edged sword, though, is that some of those flight instructors will eventually move on. “We’ve been losing some of them to airlines,” Malin said. But Malin wouldn’t want to be in any other business, including veterinary work. “We’re a full-service aviation

company,” she said. “What keeps me coming every day? It’s the people. Our customers. Our longtime employees, people who have been with us the entire time. It is a big family.”

Pasco Aviation Museum

As if Malin doesn’t have enough to do, she’s also the volunteer president for the SaveTheOldTower group, a nonprofit working to restore the old Naval Air Station tower, located next door to the current Bergstrom Aircraft building. Back in the 1940s, the Navy built the airport to train its pilots, with the tower at the east end of the facility. But the Navy handed over the airport to the city of Pasco in the 1950s. That’s where the terminal was until the new Pasco airport — current day airport — was built in 1966. Bergstrom Aircraft moved into the old terminal and tower in 1971 and stayed through 2001, before moving into the current facility. For years after 2001, the building was empty and starting to get run down. “There were a lot of birds in here,” she said. “In 2011, there was talk of tearing the old tower down.” After the group formed, it was given the clearance to save the facility. It raised enough money to restore

the building through donations and state grants. The first two floors of the tower are completed, and work is underway on the third and fourth. When those are done, Malin says they’ll start to work on the fifth and final floor. “We still need more (money) to get the remaining floors restored,” she said. The museum, which was opened before the pandemic, was shuttered for the past two years. It reopened April 23. “Over 800 people came through the doors that day,” she said. The facility is only open on Saturdays until the group can get more volunteers. “We have a sturdy base of 20 volunteers,” she said. “But we could use some more tour guides.” Search Bergstrom Aircraft Inc.: 4102 N. Stearman Ave., Pasco; 509-5476271; bergstromaircraft.com; Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Search Pasco Aviation Museum: Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays only; enter through Bergstrom Aircraft. Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and youth. Veterans and members of the museum are admitted free.

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SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022 uBRIEFS Bundt Cake bakery to open in Richland

Construction is underway to transform a former Thai restaurant into a cake production facility in Richland. Nothing Bundt Cake plans $245,000 in tenant improvements at the former Mezzo Thai restaurant at 110 Gage Blvd., Suite 200. A June opening is planned. The new bakery is part of a Las Vegas-based franchise with more than 410 bakeries across the U.S., including eight in Washington, according to its website. The closest one to the TriCities is in Spokane. The bakery offers decorated and frosted Bundt cakes in a variety of sizes. A wide selection of cakes, including a gluten-free option and a rotating feature flavor, will be available in the bakery daily with no preorder needed. Franchise owners are Julie Dawes and Julie Zirker. The sisters-in-law are lifelong Tri-Citians.

New paint recycling tops 581,000 gallons

PaintCare, Washington’s new paint recycling program, reports it collected more than 581,000 gallons of surplus paint in its first nine months. The program operates 210 yearround drop-off sites, mostly at paint stores, and recycled 88% of the latex paint collected back into usable paint. Of the paint collected, 89% was latex and 11% was oil-based. PaintCare is a nonprofit that ensures unneeded paint is either recycled or disposed of properly. Most Washington residents live within 15 miles of a

drop-off site. The program was enabled by legislation and launched April 1, 2021. Tri-Citians can recycle paint at local Rodda Paint, Sherwin-Williams and other locations. Go to paintcare.org for more information, including a list of items that are and are not accepted. Users should contact drop-off sites prior to visiting to confirm hours and availability.

Tri-Cities Airport lands $7.5M in FAA grants

The Tri-Cities Airport, operated by the Port of Pasco, secured grants totaling $7.5 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. The grants are part of a $608 million series of grants under the Airport Improvement Program. The airport secured $7.4 million to build the final phase of its 3,500-foot taxiway project, which provides access to hangars. It also received $70,000 to fund a pavement management study.

Physicians to transform former bank into clinic

A group of physicians at Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates, operating as 8200 Gage LLC, plan to remodel the old Banner Bank building at 8200 W. Gage Blvd. in Kennewick, across from Olive Garden, and turn it into a medical office. The work includes the demolition of interior walls, drywall and ceilings for a new medical office to include exam rooms, waiting rooms, X-ray room and restrooms – a $585,000 project, according to plans filed with the city. The LLC bought the 5,380-squarefoot building from First Federal Savings & Loan Association in

December 2021 for $1.5 million. The Banner Bank branch closed in December 2020. Contractors for the project are W McKay Construction LLC, Bruce Mechanical Inc. and REV1 Mechanical LLP. Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates has offices at 711 S. Auburn St. and 3730 Plaza Way, both in Kennewick, and at 9915 Sandifur Parkway in Pasco.

Experts recommend steps to stop spread of avian flu

Several cases of the avian influenza virus in birds have been confirmed in Washington state, including in the TriCities, and animal disease experts at Washington State University are asking the public to take measures to avoid its spread. The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) has identified several cases in state backyard poultry operations and is cautioning the public to keep wild birds away from backyard flocks. According to the Department of Agriculture, 37.7 million domestic and wild birds have died in the U.S. The risk of the virus spreading to people is very low, officials said. To reduce the spread of the avian flu, WADDL officials say to keep domestic birds away from wild birds.

Avian influenza is characterized by ruffled feathers, tremors, respiratory issues, nasal discharge, diarrhea, struggling to walk or waddling, neurological problems (such has lack of fear of humans, head shaking, etc.), coughing, sneezing, and sudden death. Those concerned about their flock should contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Sick Bird Hotline at 1-800-606-3056.

China Café to reopen at Marineland Village

China Café, a Kennewick dining fixture until it closed in November 2021, will reopen at Marineland Village, 201 S. Edison St., in suites 236 and 239. NAI Tri-Cities, which represented both landlord and tenant in the lease negotiations, announced that Ming Tam, who took over the business in 1984, intends to reopen. “We are pleased to announce that China Café owners are relocating to Marineland Village. Customers will be thrilled to know that the restaurant should open within the next six months,” it said. China Café operated for about 40 years in a former Pizza Hut on North Ely Street, perched on Highway 395. The restaurant closed and the building sold to the owners of Graze – A Place to Eat who are turning it into their newest location.

SENIOR TIMES • JUNE 2022