Senior Times - September 2023

Densow’s files for bankruptcy, still open for business

By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz

A durable medical equipment and supply company with a long history in the Tri-Cities has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But Washington Medical Supplies Inc., known as Densow’s Medical Supplies, remains open for business and in fact has tripled its revenue in recent years, its co-owner said.

“I’m hopeful for the future. I have an amazing team and we work as hard as we can every single day to ensure the success of the business,” co-owner Lisa Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to, in the next year, this being in the rear view. It will be a little blip as we move forward.”

Lewis said she and her business partner filed for bankruptcy as costs piled up dealing with billing errors made by the business’s former owners as well as ongoing litigation with those former owners.

The Covid-19 pandemic also played a role, she said.

Lewis and Paul Protzman bought

Densow’s Medical Supplies at 1019 Wright Ave. in Richland in 2018.

In making the purchase, “we brought some money to the table for the initial closing,” she said.

In a move typical with those types of deals, “we did a holdback because we knew there were going to be some invoices that should have been

paid by them that we’d have to pay on their behalf, and things like that. So then, at the one-year mark, we would work out what the difference is,” she said.

But then they discovered billing errors, including patients without prescriptions on file, Lewis said. They hired auditors and had to pay

back “tens of thousands” of dollars to Medicare, she said.

In 2019, former owners Jonathan and Joelle Reynolds sued Lewis and Protzman in Benton County Superior Court, saying they still were owed $90,160 for the business, plus a 5% late fee and interest. They eventually were awarded more than $488,000 including those costs and attorney fees.

Lewis and Protzman filed their own suit in 2022, alleging breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and fraud. That case was dismissed; Lewis said it was because of legal errors, and they plan to re-file. In that case, the Reynoldses were awarded about $39,000 in attorney fees and interest.

David B. Trujillo, the attorney for the Reynoldses handling the Superior Court cases, said he didn’t have authority to discuss the matter beyond pointing to the court record. The Reynoldses denied the claims in Lewis and Protzman’s lawsuit.

Say ‘aloha’ to the 28th annual Senior Picnic

By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz

Bust out your shades, sun hats and aloha shirts.

The 28th annual Senior Picnic has a Hawaiian theme. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Richland Community Center and Howard Amon Park in Richland.

It includes food, entertainment, vendors and more, and tickets are available now.

The idea is to have a blast and build connections, said Todd Halter-

man, founder of Active 4 Life, which coordinates the event.

“The program is designed to help people. We want them to have a lot of fun, meet a lot of people and find things in the community that can make their lives better,” he said.

The picnic has a long history in the Tri-Cities and returned in 2022 after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, about 500 people attended, and organizers are expecting even more this year.

Attendees will have a lot to do at

the event, which is sponsored by the cities of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick, along with numerous businesses in the Tri-Cities.

Title sponsors are Parkview Estates and Sun Terrace Prosser.

More than 40 vendors are scheduled to be on hand, with information on everything from retirement communities to local nonprofits that serve seniors. Live entertainment, a photo booth, guest presentations on a variety of topics, free flu shots, a photo booth and prizes also are

planned.

Lunch will be provided. Proceeds from the event will go to Mid-Columbia Meals on Wheels.

Halterman, a former firefighter who now works in finance, started Active 4 Life after helping both of his grandmothers rebuild their lives after their husbands died.

“That experience changed me. I learned that seniors need advocacy, support, resources and information,” he said, noting that aging can be iso-

TCAJOB photo

Densow’s Medical Supplies is at 1019 Wright Ave. in Richland.

uBANKRUPTCY, Page 2

uSENIOR PICNIC, Page 2

509-737-8778

Mailing address: 8524 W. Gage Blvd., #A1-300 Kennewick, WA 99336 srtimes.com

STAFF

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

Sara Schilling Reporter

509-344-1286 sara@tcjournal.biz

Tiffany Lundstrom Associate Publisher for Sales  509-344-1271 tiffany@tcjournal.biz

Chad Utecht Advertising Account Manager

509-344-1274 chad@tcjournal.biz

Vanessa Guzmán Production Manager 509-344-1278 vanessa@tcjournal.biz

Erin Landon Business Assistant 509-344-1285 erin@tcjournal.biz

Rachel Visick News Assistant / Researcher 509-344-1281 rachel@tcjournal.biz

Paul Read Group Publisher 509-344-1262 paul@tcjournal.biz

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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All prices include Kennewick sales tax. To subscribe send your name, mailing address, and a check payable to Senior Times to: 8524 W. Gage Blvd.

#A1-300 Kennewick, WA 99336

uBRIEFS

Do you live in Franklin County? You may qualify for a tax exemption

The Franklin County Assessor’s Office is offering to help seniors and disabled residents determine if they qualify for a property tax exemption and apply for the program.

To qualify, applicants must be 61 or older and bring in $61,000 or less after some costs are factored out; or be unable to work because of a disability; or be a disabled veteran.

Residents who think they may qualify should call the assessor’s office at 509-545-3506 during business hours for a pre-qualification interview. They should have their 1040 tax return from 2022 in front of them when they call. If they aren’t required to file a tax return, they should have all income documents in hand when making the call.

If qualified, the applicant will be scheduled for an in-person appointment to complete the process.

Attention, seniors: it’s time to get your flu shot

The months of September and October are the best times for seniors to get their flu shots, according to the National Council on Aging. Older adults with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, are at higher risk of serious complications from the flu.

Federal health officials say Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, Flublock Quadrivalent and Fluad Quadrivalent are the best flu vaccines for people 65 and older.

An updated Covid-19 booster that targets the XBB subvariants also is expected in late September.

And two new vaccines to protect people age 60 and older from RSV have been approved. Seniors are advised to talk with their doctors about whether they should get the vaccine.

Tri-City Herald announces plans to cut print edition

The Mid-Columbia’s daily newspaper is cutting back its print edition to twice a week.

The Tri-City Herald said the edi-

tions would print Wednesdays and Sundays starting Oct. 23. It will continue to be delivered by mail, with the Sunday edition arriving on Saturday.

The Herald stopped printing its Saturday edition in November 2019. The paper’s eEdition will continue to publish seven days a week.

Community Concerts announces 2023-24 season

Looking for music events?

Community Concerts of the TriCities has announced its 2023-24 line-up.

Season memberships are available. This season starts in October and features Locarno; Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company; Sara Hagen: Perk up, Pianist!; The Black Market Trust; and Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass.

Community Concerts of the TriCities was founded in Richland in 1944, bringing in internationally touring performers. The group continues to produce world-class concerts today. Go to: CommunityConcertsTC.org.

lating and events like the Senior Picnic are a way to not only connect seniors with resources and assistance but also with each other.

At past Active 4 Life events, friendships have formed and blossomed.

“Dinner groups, Bunco groups –there are a lot of follow-up activities that happen. That is the whole reason for Active 4 Life,” Halterman told the Senior Times.

Tickets to the Senior Picnic are $5 each and are available in advance at: the Richland Community Center,

500 Amon Park Drive, Richland; Pasco Parks & Recreation, 525 N. Third Ave., Pasco; and the Southridge Sports & Events Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick.

For more information, call 509392-4434 or email active4life509@ gmail.com.

Metiner G. Kimel, an attorney representing the Reynoldses’ interests in the bankruptcy proceedings, declined to comment.

Lewis and Protzman filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this past June in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Chapter 11 is often called “reorga-

nization bankruptcy” and generally involves debtors making a plan to keep the business going and pay back creditors.

Densow’s has been in Richland since 1949. It provides durable medical equipment and supplies ranging from custom manual wheelchairs to lifting and transfer devices, mobility scooters, compression garments, bathroom safety items, wheelchair

ramps and wound care, and ostomy, incontinence and urological supplies. The Medicare-accredited facility also repairs medical equipment.

Lewis said she loves that Densow’s has a long history in the TriCities, and for her and Protzman and their staff of six employees, the work is meaningful. “It’s about changing people’s lives,” she said.

SENIOR PICNIC, From page 1

BANKRUPTCY, From page 1

Red Cross preparedness training includes tools to prepare a will

In case you missed it, August was make-a-will month – a time for getting financial affairs in order and putting down on paper who will inherit your wealth when you die.

If August passed you by and you still don’t have a will – and half of all Americans over 45 don’t – you can play catch-up anytime. You can do it online or by consulting an attorney who is experienced in trust and estate law.

The internet teems with will-making advice. If you associate the American Red Cross with responding to emergencies and collecting blood, you may be surprised to learn it also offers lots of tips about making a will.

“The Red Cross teaches preparedness,” said Julie Kent, gift planning manager for the Red Cross Northwest region. “Having a will is part of your preparedness.”

With a will in place, you can be certain your financial wishes are carried out when you pass. When you die without a will, your estate is said to be intestate.

This means the laws of your state take over. Your estate is frozen while a court digs into your finances. Eventually, the estate goes wherever the court sends it. You may have wanted to reward a deserving nephew. Without a will, the nephew may not see a penny of it.

But there is another reason why the Red Cross wants to help you prepare a will – a very practical reason. The Red Cross hopes that in writing your will, you leave something to the Red Cross. But it’s not required to do so if you use the agency’s services.

Carrying out the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross costs a great deal of money. The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year. It not only sends teams to disasters throughout the U.S., but to disasters around the world. Among other incidents this year, the Red Cross has responded to earthquakes in the

Middle East and to the typhoon that ravaged Guam. Beyond that, it collects and processes 14 million units of blood each year, assists tens of thousands of members of the military, teaches first aid and water safety, and gives preparedness lessons to millions of school children. The cost of doing all that comes to $3 billion a year. The money comes from donations big and small, including bequests from people like you.

Kent said that legacies bring in $100 million a year to the Red Cross.

Even if you don’t plan to include the Red Cross in your will, you can still use Red Cross resources to create one. Kent offers this three-step process:

• Download the free Red Cross “Touching the Future” guide and workbook. Use the booklet to gather all the information you need to make a will. Go to: redcrosslegacy.org/workbook.

• When you have collected all the information you need, go to: freewill. com/RedCross. Free Will has partnered with the Red Cross to create a tool that will lead you, step-by-step, through preparing a will. The program is free and can help you direct your giving to any nonprofit.

• Print your FreeWill will and have it signed and witnessed.

That’s pretty much all you have to do if your finances are straightforward, or if there is nothing complicated in how you want your assets distributed.

If your will or your desires are more complicated, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing it all on your own, seek a lawyer trained in handling trusts and estates. Both the federal government

and many states levy taxes on estates. A trained trust and estates lawyer can offer advice on how to minimize the tax bite on your estate.

Your county or state bar association will have lists of lawyers and their specialties. Kent said that the Red Cross has a list of trusted estate-planning lawyers.

Those who name the Red Cross as a beneficiary become members of the Red Cross Legacy Society. This entitles members to receive, among other things, a newsletter with estate planning tips and invitations to special events, such as a Red Cross Heroes Breakfast, which honors people who have accomplished life-saving tasks.

Kent said the Legacy Society has about 300 members in Washington.

A key first step to drawing up a will is to review your finances for an estimate of how much wealth you will have to distribute. Here are the places to look:

• Bank or savings accounts.

• Retirement accounts (pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, etc.).

• Life insurance policies.

• Real estate, including a second or vacation home.

• Appreciated securities.

• Charitable giving from a rollover IRA.

• Giving from a donor-advised fund. Wealth from any of these sources can go into your will, or be used to make a charitable contribution now.

Once you reach age 70 ½, you can give up to $100,000 a year from your IRA, with no tax on the withdrawal. This is called a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Your employer, if

you are still working, or the manager of your rollover IRA if you are retired, can explain the rules to you.

Either can provide the paperwork necessary to make a donation now or to include your IRA in your will. You can use appreciated assets to make a charitable contribution now. If you donate appreciated securities, you gain a tax deduction and avoid paying tax on the appreciation.

Making a will sounds like something best left to seniors. In fact, most wills are made by older folks who have acquired assets and children or grandchildren to inherit those assets. The reality is you should start your estate when you are comparatively young to allow time to make financial goals and work toward achieving them.

When should you do your first will?

“Once you have any assets or any children,” Kent said. “That could be someone as young as 20.”

You don’t make a will in your 20s and 30s and expect it to be to remain unchanged as you age. Divorce, death, or the birth of grandchildren can change your plans in a heartbeat. Review your will with an expert at least every five years, or sooner if things in your life have changed. You will pick an executor to carry out the provisions of your will. Make sure periodically that your executor is mentally and physically up to the task.

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

GUEST COLUMN

Gordon Williams American Red Cross

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SEPT. 1-3

• Tumbleweed Music Festival: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Howard Amon Park, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland. Cost: free. Contact: tumbleweedchair@gmail.com, 509-587-3060, tumbleweedfest.com.

SEPT. 2

• Pasco Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., corner of South Fourth Avenue and West Columbia Street in Pasco.

SEPT. 7

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick.

• First Thursday ArtWalk: 3-8 p.m., 27 N. Auburn St., Kennewick. Contact: David Watkins, dswatkins2@me.com, 509-396-4403.

SEPT. 8

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland.

SEPT. 8-10

• Benton City Daze: 6-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at various locations. Go to: bentoncitychamber.

org/bcdaze or contact 509-588-4984, info@bentoncitychamber.org.

SEPT. 9

• Growing with Hydroponics –Garden Education Series Class: 10-11 a.m., Waterfall Classroom at the Demonstration Garden, 1620 S. Union, Kennewick. Cost: free. Go to: extension.wsu.edu/benton-franklin/ mastergardeners.

• Pasco Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., corner of South Fourth Avenue and West Columbia Street in Pasco.

• Cruizin’ Car Show: noon to 5 p.m., Columbia Point Golf Course, 225 Columbia Point Drive, Richland. Cost: free. Contact: sgartside@ci.richland.wa.us; 509-942-7462.

SEPT. 14

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick.

SEPT. 15

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland.

SEPT. 15-16

• Sausage Fest 2023: Christ the King, 1111 Stevens Drive, Richland.

Bring

Contact: cksfchair@ckschool.net; 509-542-7650.

SEPT. 16

• Pasco Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., corner of South Fourth Avenue and West Columbia Street in Pasco.

• Power in the Park Car Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Columbia Park, Columbia Park Trail, Kennewick. Cost: free. Contact: janna.r.galbraith@gmail. com.

SEPT. 21

• Base Camp: Volunteer Opportunities in Our Community & Food Drive: 6-7 p.m., The Gesa Carousel of Dreams, 2901-F Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. Contact: pacificcrestplanning@rbc. com.

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick.

SEPT. 22

• Richland Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., roundabout at Lee Boulevard and The Parkway in Richland.

SEPT. 22-24

• Great Prosser Balloon Rally: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. each day, Night Glow at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Balloons launch from The Prosser Airport, 111 Nunn Road, Prosser. Contact: info@tourprosser.com; 509786-3177; tourprosser.com/the-greatprosser-balloon-rally.

SEPT. 23

• SOCO Creative Arts Festival: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kennewick Ave. in downtown Kennewick. Go to: historickennewick.org. Contact: 509582-7221.

• Pasco Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., corner of South Fourth Avenue and West Columbia Street in Pasco.

SEPT. 23-24

• Heritage Days: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sacajawea Park, 2503 Sacajawea Park Road, Pasco. Cost: free on Saturday, Discover Pass ($10 for one day, $30 annual) required Sunday. Go to: friendsofsacajaweastatepark.org; sacajawea@parks.wa.gov.

SEPT. 28

• Kennewick Farmers Market: 4-7 p.m., 10 E. Bruneau Ave., Kennewick.

Housing options and advice to consider for caregivers, aging family members

AARP surveys consistently find that older adults want to remain in their current homes and communities for as long as possible. Some new developments at the community level will help provide additional housing choices for older adults, and offer recommendations for how to make any home safer for us and our loved ones.

This past legislative session new housing laws were passed that will open the market to housing options that have been difficult to find in the past. Legislation to reduce barriers to building accessory dwelling units (ADUs), or “mother-in-law” spaces, gives homeowners the ability to adapt their property to meet their current and future needs.

ADUs can fill many roles, like providing a place for an aging parent to live instead of a nursing home. They also can be used as living quarters for a caregiver or a relative who requires care, or for an adult child who may need to return home after college. ADUs also can provide a steady income stream for homeowners on a fixed income.

In addition to easing the path to ADU construction, new “missing middle” legislation will allow for smaller housing units and multifam-

ily housing, like duplexes, fourplexes and cottage courts. These more modest-sized homes can be tucked into existing neighborhoods and provide more options for folks, including empty nesters and older adults who want to downsize and stay in their community. Creating more affordable housing for lowand moderate-income levels is critical to achieving the state’s housing goals. This may also help family members who would like to live closer to loved ones and benefit from having support nearby.

Most houses and apartments are not designed to meet the physical changes that occur as we age and are generally not designed for people with disabilities. But there are plenty of tips to make homes safer.

Adapting a home for aging involves making modifications and adjustments to accommodate the changing needs of elderly individuals. AARP has a program called

HomeFit, which includes a room-toroom guide with more than 100 tips and suggestions to make a home more livable for the long run. It includes several no-cost to low-cost ideas, along with projects that will require a handyman or contractor.

Here is a list of modifications that are doable regardless of housing type (single-family house, apartment, mobile home, etc.) or ownership status (owner, renter):

• Eliminate tripping hazards: Secure rugs and carpets to the floor or remove them altogether to pre-

Learn more about ADUs in the Tri-Cities. Go to page 11.

vent tripping. Keep the floor clutterfree and ensure cords are out of the way.

• Lever-style door handles: Replace doorknobs with lever-style handles, which are easier to use for individuals with limited hand strength or dexterity.

GUEST COLUMN

Christina Clem AARP

uHOUSING OPTIONS, Page 6

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, Sept. 1: Chicken Caesar salad, breadstick, cottage cheese and pineapple.

Tuesday, Sept. 5: Chicken pot pie, cauliflower and red peppers.

Wednesday, Sept. 6: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, country gravy, country vegetables, three bean salad.

Thursday, Sept. 7: Turkey and rice casserole, peas and carrots, tossed salad.

Friday, Sept. 8: Cheese and beef pasta, green beans, tossed salad, breadstick.

Monday, Sept. 11: Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, broccoli, yogurt and berries.

Tuesday, Sept. 12: Apple pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables.

Wednesday, Sept. 13: Teriyaki chick-

HOUSING OPTIONS, From page 5

• Bathroom modifications: Install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower or bathtub to prevent slips and falls. Place non-slip mats inside the bathtub or shower to prevent slipping while bathing.

• Proper lighting: Improve lighting throughout the home to reduce

en, fluffy rice, Asian vegetables.

Thursday, Sept. 14: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian vegetables, wheat roll, ice cream.

Friday, Sept. 15: Chicken salad sandwich, pea and cheese salad.

Monday, Sept. 18: Barbecue chicken, roasted carrots, potato salad, cornbread.

Tuesday, Sept. 19: Beef stroganoff, garlic noodles, green beans.

Wednesday, Sept. 20: Chef salad, ranch dressing, wheat roll, pineapple.

Thursday, Sept. 21: Pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw.

Friday, Sept. 22: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, broccoli.

Monday, Sept. 25: Turkey tetrazzini, green peas, tossed salad.

Tuesday, Sept. 26: Cranberry chicken, confetti rice, garden vegetables.

Wednesday, Sept. 27: Sloppy Joes, mixed vegetables, coleslaw.

Thursday, Sept. 28: Chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, black beans, Mexican coleslaw.

Friday, Sept. 29: Tuna pasta salad, broccoli salad, crackers, cherry oat bar.

tripping hazards. Use brighter bulbs, add task lighting and consider motion-sensor lights in key areas. Learn more about housing options for caregivers and other tips to aid in your caregiving journey at: aarp.org/caregiverswa.

Christina Clem is a communications analyst with AARP Washington.

Tri-City landmark celebrates 45th anniversary

By Gale Metcalf for Senior Times

On a pleasant, sunny late summer afternoon 45 years ago this month, Tri-City transportation history was made.

At 3:25 p.m. Sept. 16, 1978, traffic began flowing for the first time over a $30 million, four-lane cable bridge connecting Pasco and Kennewick. The architectural marvel became the area’s best-known landmark.

The same afternoon, traffic stopped passing over the old PascoKennewick green bridge, the last link in the Yellowstone Highway connecting the east coast of the United States with the west coast. It opened in 1922.

Some 1,200 people made their way onto the new span to hear Washington state Gov. Dixy Lee Ray dedicate the first major concrete cable-stayed suspension bridge ever built in the U.S.

State Rep. Mike McCormack of Richland, representing the 4th district, and Tom Foley, future speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, also were present. Foley, from Spokane, represented the 5th District,

which once included Pasco.

That September afternoon and for the next 17 years, the bridge was known as the Pasco-Kennewick Inter-City Bridge.

In April 1995, the process officially began on what many considered a long overdue name change.

The state Legislature passed a resolution as a first step that led to renaming it the Ed Hendler Bridge after the Pasco businessman whose tenacity, determination and hard work many believe made the bridge a reality. Hendler put in 8,400 volunteer hours on the project.

The Ed Hendler Bridge became official on Sept. 16, 1995, exactly 17 years to the day of its dedication.

The bridge features 42,000 cubic yards of concrete, half of it in the bridge girder; 838,000 pounds of prestressing steel; 4.9 million pounds of reinforcing and other steel; and 600 gallons of epoxy bonding agents.

Within the bridge cables themselves are 7.4 million feet of quarterinch diameter 6 mm high-length wire totaling 1,400 miles.

This was a lot of material for what initially was proposed to be a much more modest project.

Courtesy East Benton County History Museum

A marching band celebrates the opening of the cable bridge in 1978.

uCABLE BRIDGE, Page 10

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.

• Sewing: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost:

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

$1 per day.

• Woodcarving: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-noon 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 p.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.

• Senior duplicate bridge group: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

• Contract duplicate bridge: 12:303:30 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, 12:30-3:45 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: 5 p.m. first Friday of every month. 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: 5 p.m. fourth Friday of month. Location: dining room.

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

• All-you-can-eat community breakfast: 8-11:30 a.m. last Sunday every month, 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 - Backyard

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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.

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

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.

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.

Quiz answer from Page 1

Gladys Sutton Coleman, who graduated in 1924.

– Source: Franklin County Historical 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. Sept. 18, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, “Her Hidden Genius” by Marie Benedict. “The Known World” by Edward P. Jones is the Oct. 16 book. The group typically meets the third Monday of the month. Contact: Sue Spencer, sue_spencer_england@hotmail.com or 509572-4295.

• 6 p.m. Sept. 19, MidColumbia Libraries, West Pasco branch, 7525 Wrigley Drive, “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig.

• 1 p.m. Sept. 20, MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco, “The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams” by Stacy Schiff. “Save Me the Plums” by Ruth Reichl is the Oct. 18 book. The group typically meets the third Wednesday of the month. Contact Susan Koenig at 509-302-9878 or SMKoenig@ymail.com.

• 1:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, “The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street” by Susan Jane Gilman. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt is the Oct. 19 book. The Thursday Afternoon Book Group meets on the third Thursday of each month from September through May. This book club does

not meet during the summer months. The books for the coming year are selected by club members at an off-site meeting on June 20.

• 6 p.m. Sept. 26, MidColumbia Libraries, Benton City branch, 810 Horne Drive, “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro.

• 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate, Richland, Read the Rainbow Book Club. Mid-Columbia Libraries and Richland Public Library host Read the Rainbow, an LGBTQIA+ and allies book club for adults, which rotates around library branches in the Tri-Cities area. Sharing is optional and listening is welcomed.

• 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland, “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” by Jess Q. Sutanto is the Oct. 25 book. 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 509-9469893 for upcoming titles.

By the late 1960s it was clear a new bridge had to be engineered to handle increased traffic.

Maintenance costs on the old structure were mounting.

An Old Bridge Committee was formed comprised of representatives from Pasco and Kennewick, and Benton and Franklin counties. Hendler was named chairman.

Bond issues were passed by the two cities at $820,000 each. The two counties put up $410,000 each from their road departments, for a total of $2.46 million. In 1971, Hendler arranged for a $1.5 million grant from the state Highway Department.

Plans were to build the new twolane bridge adjacent to the old green bridge. The old bridge superstructure would be replaced, and traffic would flow one way into one city. Traffic would flow into the other city on the new two-lane span.

In continued public hearings, federal government representatives proposed a new four-lane bridge, suggesting federal money likely would soon be available for replacing old bridges around the U.S. Hendler jumped at it, and in the fall of 1971 switched plans to one calling for building the new fourlane structure.

Engineer Arvid Grant came up with the proposal for the design of the cable bridge, subsequently built by the construction company Peter Kiewit Sons’ Co. of Omaha, Nebraska. The cable-stayed design was prominent in Europe. City and county officials and the Federal Highway Administration liked it and approved it for the Tri-Cities.

A $14 million to $18 million bridge was proposed, but between 1972-75 construction costs were inflating between 20% and 30% a year. By 1975, bridge construction figures were at $24 million. Other costs such as engineering work, land and right-of-way purchases raised the final figure to $30 million.

Battles lay ahead. First, the U.S. Coast Guard insisted on a bridge with more clearance over the river. That would require a stretching of the approaches, further increasing costs. Hendler fought them and won. Hendler had a good working relationship with the federal highway officials, but in 1974 the state Highway Department became a disperser of federal money, and state officials insisted only a two-lane bridge was necessary for the TriCities.

Hendler again went to battle, and with the help of the Federal Highway Administration, he was able to prevail over the state.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were Aug. 22, 1975, and construction began.

The Inter-City Bridge Committee was formed that year, with Hendler as chairman. Pasco City Manager Harry Kinzer and Kennewick City Manager Art Colby were among committee members.

Money issues still threatened completion of the project, but Hendler’s tenacity found resolutions for each obstacle.

Many who initially opposed Hendler and called his dream a folly came to praise the man who saw his dream to completion.

Hendler himself, a Pasco councilman and a Pasco mayor in his time, was proud of the engineering marvel that opened to traffic 45 years ago this month.

“Everybody in his lifetime tries to accomplish something and to the day I go to my grave I know something is going to be standing there for a long, long time to come,” he said. Hendler died in August 2001.

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.

CABLE BRIDGE, From page 7

Will ADUs help with Tri-Cities housing squeeze?

By Sara Schilling sara@tcjournal.biz

It’s a scenario that’s growing increasingly common across the state:

“I’m thinking of building a guest home/mother-in-law suite in my backyard,” a woman wrote recently in a local online group, asking for advice on how to start the process and a general picture of the cost.

She signed off by saying, “(I’m) hoping our city codes let us.”

The woman lives in West Richland, but others in the Tri-Cities and across Washington are grappling with those same questions as the demand for more diversified and lower-cost housing options grows.

One of those options is an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, sometimes called a “mother-in-law apartment” or “backyard cottage.” An ADU can be attached to or detached from a main residence; it’s a small, self-contained unit on the same lot as a single-family home.

ADUs are often used for relatives of the property owner, from young adults just starting out to aging parents or grandparents. But they’re increasingly becoming an option beyond family as well, especially as communities across the country continue to feel a housing squeeze.

Interest in ADUs is exploding on the west side, particularly in Seattle, which updated its ADU rules in 2019.

It remains to be seen whether there will be similar demand in the Tri-Cities, although Pasco has seen a significant increase in ADU permit applications since it changed its ADU rules last year.

While that city is ahead of the pack locally when it comes to easing the path for ADUs, Kennewick is in the process of making its own code changes. And a new state law loosening ADU regulations means other local jurisdictions will be making adjustments to their rules in the next few years.

“I don’t know if the need is the same as in King County. It’s a different ball-

game over there,” said Steve Donovan, planning manager for the city of Kennewick. But the coming changes “are definitely going to open some doors for people who want to do an ADU. It’s going to make it easier to have them.”

New state law

The state Legislature earlier this year approved a bill that eases regulations around ADUs.

Among the changes: two ADUs are now allowed on lots that meet requirements; ADUs don’t have to be smaller than 1,000 gross square feet; local governments can’t impose setback requirements and similar restrictions on ADUs that are more severe than for the principal unit; and the property owner isn’t required to live on the lot that’s holding the ADU or ADUs.

Cities and counties don’t have to update their codes right away; that’s not required until six months after the local government’s next periodic update of its comprehensive plan.

In Seattle, ADUs are becoming more and more common.

Last year, the city issued nearly 1,000 permits for ADUs, an all-time record, according to the city’s annual ADU report. The permits were fairly evenly split between detached and attached ADUs.

What about the Tri-Cities?

In the Tri-Cities, Pasco may be a bellwether of how greater ADU flexibility will look here.

Like Seattle, that city has seen a spike in the number of ADU permit applications since it made sweeping changes to its ADU rules. Those changes, done in early 2022, were part of a slate of code updates aimed at removing barriers and creating more housing opportunities.

“Since that time, we’ve been operating on a substantially more flexible and modern zoning code,” said Jacob Gonzalez, community and economic development director. Because of the changes, the ADU rules already are largely aligned with the new state law

and are even more flexible in some areas, he said.

The city has received 41 applications for ADUs since its code update, which is a “significant” increase over the application numbers from before the changes were made, Gonzalez said.

The city also worked with the engineering and planning firm AHBL to create a guide to ADUs in English and Spanish. The guide explains the different types of ADUs and provides an overview of the process.

“It’s been flying off the shelves. Even though we simplified the code, it’s still municipal code. The guide is written in plain and simple language versus the planning and technical jargon,” Gonzalez said.

Although it’s not as far along as Pasco, the city of Kennewick already was looking at updating its ADU rules and now is folding in the requirements needed under the new state law.

“We’ll be changing our code pretty extensively,” said Donovan, the planning manager. “Currently, we have quite a few restrictions in regards mainly to detached units – in terms of size, how they’re supposed to look, who can live in them, number of bedrooms, minimum lot sizes,” he said.

He anticipates public hearings in the

fall and consideration by the city council by early next year.

Donovan said he’s not sure whether the city will see a glut of applications once the rules change.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be this huge product that everybody is moving to. I think it’s going to be helpful for family members who want to provide that accessory structure,” he said.

In Richland, the city sees a handful of ADU applications a year, said Mike Stevens, planning manager. They’re typically for property owners who want to add housing for relatives, and Stevens expects that to continue being the prevailing use as the rules change.

Richland will have to make changes to its code around ADUs to bring it in line with the state updates. West Richland – where the citizen made the ADU inquiry in an online group – also will need to make changes. Both cities are set for their next periodic comprehensive plan updates in 2026.

‘Beef up options’

Gonzalez, from Pasco, said housing is a pressing need in his city and beyond.

Pasco has a population of about 81,000 people, according to the latest

This handyman service will get small home projects checked off your list

By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

For 20 years, Jason Chambers toiled in the coating industry, working as a regional manager for Sherwin-Williams. But while he knew what he did was important for the company and his job was filled with responsibilities, he wanted a change.

He was never able to be “on vacation” with his family, as he was always looking at his phone and answering emails and texts, he said.

“I couldn’t be a dad or the husband that I needed to be,” said Chambers, who is married with two children. “But I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

The Indiana native had been transferred to Washington state from St. Louis by the company in 2019.

Time for a change

His familiarity with the construction sector led him to explore operating an Ace Handyman Services franchise.

“I knew that in the handyman industry, people didn’t know where to go for help,” Chambers said. “After doing my own research, I decided to purchase a franchise for Ace Handyman Services.”

In September 2019, Ace Hardware purchased a company called Handyman Matters based in Denver, Colorado, which was a franchiser of home repair,

maintenance and improvement services. It took the model nationwide.

“Obviously Ace rebranded it. They’re very scrutinizing with who they work with,” he said.

Chambers started looking into launching an Ace Handyman Services franchise in April last year.

There was no franchisee in the TriCities until Chambers dived in.

“I created my LLC on June 30, 2022, acquiring the rights to all of the Tri-Cities,” he said. “We went live Feb. 6.”

Despite sharing the “Ace” name, his franchise is not tied into the Griggs family’s enterprise that owns and operates the Ace Hardware stores in the TriCities. Still, Chambers reached out to Charles and Charlie Grigg to make sure they were OK with what he was doing.

With the Ace name, Chambers hopes to build on the established brand.

“A lot of credit goes to the Griggs family, and rightfully so,” said Chambers. “I want to show them that actions speak louder than words. I want to protect that Ace name and enhance it.”

The results, Chambers said, have

been great so far.

“If you look on the Google reviews, it can tell our story. It boils down to having the right employees,” he said. Customer service focus

Here’s how the service works: Customers can go to the Ace Handyman Services website at acehandymanservices.com/offices/tri-cities-washington to schedule a job or get an estimate. Or they can call 509-219-0029 and talk to someone.

“About 95% of what we do is schedule and estimate over the phone,” Chambers said. “But some people will text a photo of what they need done to our number.”

The service is for those needing to complete small projects that they don’t have time to do, or maybe can’t physically do.

Chambers employs five full-time craftsmen, whom he says have a combined 45 to 50 years of experience.

“My guys are awesome,” he said. “We had a slew of applicants for these jobs.”

Chambers holds a team meeting every two weeks to listen and talk about what’s working and what’s not.

“Our motto is to bring ethics and integrity to home improvement. It’s working,” he said.

Chambers said if a customer schedules an appointment, his people contact that client the night before to confirm.

And there’s no waiting in a six-hour window for that craftsman to show up.

“We say we’ll be there at 8, we’re there at 8,” he said. “I try to think through the lens of a customer. By the time they come to us, they really want something fixed as soon as possible.”

Smaller jobs

While his team has tackled some bigger jobs such as remodels, Chambers wants to keep things simple.

“We’re really staying in the handyman home repair area,” he said. “Things like door repair, holes in drywall, a window seal that needs fixing. The smaller jobs are a niche need.”

The company’s most popular services are smaller projects that involve doors, floors, bathrooms, painting, fencing, drywall and carpentry.

The company also offers several service packages:

• A half- or full-day package, in which a customer can get items checked off a to-do list.

• A mount a TV package to have a television wall-mounted and wired up.

• A pet door package, in which a craftsman will create a door which

uHANDYMAN, Page 14

Jason Chambers

By Robin Wojtanik for Senior Times

Items that once lined the shelves of Target, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, JCPenney or the virtual shelves of Amazon are now ending up at a handful of local retailers specializing in liquidation sales.

Three stores have opened in the last year, the latest being Daily Deals in Pasco in the former Go Bowl on West Lewis Street. Another Pasco liquidator, Best Prices Ever (BPE) at 3431 W. Court St., has been open for seven years.

BPE has doubled its original footprint in the plaza it shares with Goodwill and other shops, taking over half of a former Payless store.

BPE sells items likely to have been returned or to have languished on a shelf before the original retailer packaged them up to sell as a lot to liquidators, who buy the bulk goods at a discount and then resell them individually in hopes of making a profit.

Pallet liquidation businesses typically buy sight unseen, receiving a stack of boxes without knowing their exact contents.

“We do have somewhat of an idea of what we’re getting when we buy from them, whether it’s kitchen appliances or toys or whatever,” said Jordan DeHoyos, who has worked at BPE for about a year and a half. But they don’t know exactly what the kitchen appliances or toys might be. They could get dozens of the same item, like the same obscure Funko

Pop character, or a single Lego box.

“We price everything at least 40% off the original retail price. If an item has been used or is damaged, we increase the discount from there,” said DeHoyos.

He said he typically prices about 50 to 100 individual items every shift, constantly restocking merchandise, encouraging some regulars to hit the store daily in search of unexpected treasures.

BPE is the second liquidation location for its owner; the original is Walla Walla Overstock Outlet.

The Pasco store opened seven years ago and sees a lot of customer interest in items arriving from Costco, including lighting fixtures

and bedding, but not all stores carry Costco products due to their higher upfront cost for the liquidator.

This is the case for the new Family Deals, which opened in early June at 525 N. Edison St. in Kennewick. It’s the second liquidator venture for Tino Flores, who originally opened Hot Deals on West Ainsworth in Pasco last summer with two other busi-

ness partners. Flores sold his interest in that business and decided to go out on his own with his family.

Flores joked that his daughter, Daniela, currently isn’t being paid, but she seems to serve as the store’s chief marketing officer, hosting a bilingual broadcast on Facebook live every Thursday, offering customers a preview of items up for sale the following day.

Family Deals is open each day but Thursday, when it does most of its restocking.

On a recent Friday morning, Daniela Flores said customers had lined up outside the door before the store’s 9 a.m. opening, hoping to be the first to grab an item seen on the broadcast.

She said was surprised to learn three people had come to buy a single cereal dispenser while other customers had interest in an automatic vegetable chopper, proving you can’t always predict what will be most in demand.

Family Deals usually pays about $300 to $600 per pallet for the unknown goods, then divides the items from there. It prices those of a higher value individually, which circle the

Photo by Robin Wojtanik

Daniela Flores, Tino Flores and Sandra Gomez own and operate Family Deals Liquidation, a Kennewick store at 525 N. Edison St. that sells discounted items often returned to retailers.

The 2023 apple forecast is full of good news

A larger and more diverse fresh apple crop is forecast for 2023.

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association estimated this year’s crop at just over 134 million standard 40-pound boxes of fresh apples, a 28.8% increase from 2022’s 104.3 million boxes.

The association’s forecast also shows a continued trend of varietal

state estimate, and another 50,000-or-so residents are expected to be added in the next roughly 20 years.

“In the very near future, Pasco will be home to over 100,000 residents. Our other neighboring communities of Richland, Kennewick and West Richland are also going to see significant

enables the pet to go in and out of the house.

• A kitchen fire safety package, allowing a craftsman to set up safety systems in the kitchen.

While Chambers’ craftsmen are busy fixing things for appreciative clients, he’s out in the public trying to get the word out about his company.

diversification, with Honeycrisp, Ambrosia, Envy and Cosmic Crisp representing more than a quarter of forecast production.

Cosmic Crisp, a proprietary varietal grown only in Washington state, continues to grow in its share of the total crop, making up about 6% of the forecast harvest.

“There is a lot of excitement as we are seeing a more normal harvest and excellent fruit quality this year,” said Jon DeVaney, WSTFA president, in a news release. “A moderate spring and

growth. So, if we’re under supply right now, we need to beef up those options available for folks,” Gonzalez said.

Pasco is working to do just that. Along with updating its ADU rules, the city also made code changes last year that added flexibility in housing types and lot sizes.

And it’s working on a Housing Action and Implementation Plan, among

He does that by introducing himself at service clubs, events and reaching out to real estate agencies.

“Word is getting out about us, week by week,” he said. “But there are people who have no idea we exist.”

Chambers is also diving in to help the community. His company donates $10 from each job to the Children’s Miracle Network.

It ties in to what he’s doing with his

a warm early summer created nearperfect growing conditions, so our domestic and foreign customers are going to see great size, color and overall good quality in our apples.”

Washington apples are vital to the state’s economy and its leading agricultural commodity by production value. Apples represented 21% of the state’s total agricultural value in 2021. Twenty percent of last year’s harvest was exported, down from the five-year average of 28% due to lower overall production in 2022. Apple harvest typ-

other efforts.

The city has received recognition for its work to address housing challenges, including winning a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award from the Association of Washington Cities.

In Gonzalez’s view, ADUs are a tool in the toolbox.

“They offer a flexible option for residents to provide housing at their own

company.

“What we do improves people’s lives. And I see that every day,” he said. “I get people telling me, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you for answering your phone.’

It’s a simple thing, but people appreciate that.

“We handle what some people can’t handle. Our team gets satisfaction. It makes a big impact on my team,” Chambers said. “I would never have

ically begins in August and continues into November, and as a result, the association noted that its forecast is subject to several months of variable weather, which can affect final harvest total.

In other apple news, Washington State University has announced its newest apple variety. The WA 64 (its brand name will come next year) is a sweet, tart and crisp hybrid of Honeycrisp and Cripps Pink, a variety that includes the Pink Lady. It’s not expected to be in stores until 2029.

discretion. If they want to have an ADU for their grandmother, or for their parents as they age in place, or for their children who are having trouble finding private market housing, (it’s an option),” he said. “It’s an opportunity to keep families and neighborhoods intact. To have the opportunity to keep your family in the same neighborhood, that’s pretty cool.”

imagined just how important it is what we do. What we do, it’s a relief for people.”

search Ace Handyman Services: 7325 W. Deschutes Ave., Suite B, Kennewick; 509-219-0029; acehandymanservices.com/offices/tri-cities-washington.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Horse-themed beadwork on display at Pendleton museum

A new exhibit, “100 Horses: An Equine History in Beadwork,” is on display through Dec. 2 at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Pendleton.

The exhibit highlights the cultural importance of both beadwork and horses among the Plateau tribes of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla. The geometric, floral and pictorial Columbia River beadwork traditions

are often assumed to have been adapted from the embroidery of travelers, so these techniques have been historically underappreciated, the institute said in a news release.

Horses also held great significance; the number of horses owned by an individual signaled their wealth and prestige, and horses also provided increased mobility for tribal members, enabling trade and contact with other cultures in the area.

The hills of the Columbia Basin were home to horses such as the Cayuse, Appaloosa, Pinto, Paint and

Mustang.

Other pieces on display include gauntlets, bags, vests and horse trappings contributed by local tribal members.

For more information, call 541-4297700 or go to: tamastslikt.org.

WSU Aging Lab seeks volunteers for memory study

The Neuropsychology and Aging Lab at Washington State University is looking for people age 50 and older who are experiencing memory difficulties that impact daily life for a remote

study.

The study aims to evaluate whether a personalized video-based training program can support older individuals in learning to use an experimental Electronic Memory and Management Aid application, called EMMA, to aid everyday memory and help manage daily activities.

Participants in the study receive a cash incentive, a cognitive report and permanent access to the EMMA app. The study is remote and no travel is required.

If interested, call 509-335-4033.

perimeter of the store that shares a plaza with Traffic Jams.

The remaining goods for sale are placed on large tables with prices dropping daily each week, starting at $10 Friday and falling to $1 by Wednesday before the closure and major restocking on Thursday.

Items that remain will continue to be discounted to whatever it takes to get them out the door, though the store restocks daily, ensuring tables never get too bare.

Customers willing to sort through the mishmash may be rewarded with a bargain. In mid-July, the store had desirable items like Starbucks tumblers, bedding and a slew of Targetbrand jeans for $10 and under.

Best Prices Ever doesn’t sell a lot of clothes, as DeHoyos described it as “more of a hassle” often due to the limited sizes they’d receive, though they had a bin of Kirkland Signature men’s dress shirts available recently.

BPE has become the initial stop for customers Elvie and Juan Gonzalez when they’re looking for something in particular. “With gas prices, and the price of everything going up, the furniture store or the mall is the last place I’d go,” Elvie Gonzalez said. “We come here first before we go anywhere or even before checking Amazon.”

They’ve been shopping the West Court Street liquidation store for about two years and recall scoring a great bargain on a nursery glider with their daughter that matched her decor “perfectly.”

On a recent weekend they had just come to browse. “It’s convenient because they have a little bit of everything,” Juan Gonzalez said. “We’ll go to a big store if we have to, but this is generally our first stop.”

The National Retail Federation reported lost sales of $761 billion due to customer returns in 2021, and a report in The New York Times said that amounted to about 16.6% of purchases that same year, up from 10.6% the year before and double the rate from 2019.

Even if some of these go back on store shelves, it still amounts to a glut of items available for liquidation.

A Midwestern TV station tested out a pallet purchase and spent $325, resulting in items typically sold for more than $1,500 in all, but also included items that were broken or unable to be resold.

The Flores family said they check all items beforehand and will not sell anything visibly broken. Right now, they buy about 24 pallets every week, which results in about 500 boxes of tightly packed goods, and estimate 80% of the items they receive are new and the rest come used or broken and are not placed for sale.

During a recent visit, Tino Flores

opened a box to find a soft-sided dog carrier, tiara headbands and a glass beverage dispenser, among other things.

Daniela Flores said they’ll scan the barcode to try to find the retail price and list it for half that. If there’s no barcode, they’ll try to research its value and price accordingly. “We want to be a place for people to get affordable things. There are great deals for every budget,” she said.

Tino Flores has even had some customers want to get in on the fun and buy a box sight unseen.

“I tell them no complaints,” he said with a laugh, since he has no idea of what’s inside either. The family moved to the Tri-Cities from the

Yakima area last fall as part of the opening of the Pasco liquidation store, feeling there were already enough similar locations open in Yakima and hoping to tap into a new market.

A Yakima Daily Deals closed last year, but the one planned for 2799 W. Lewis St. in Pasco opened Aug. 25. It has a similar structure to Family Deals and Hot Deals with flat pricing for items on tables that drop as the week progresses.

The liquidation stores can all be found on Facebook, under Pasco Best Prices Ever, Daily Deals Yakima, Family Deals Liquidation and Hot Deals Liquidation.