Senior Times - December 2022

Retired Tri-City teacher builds business dressing up dogs

By Robin Wojtanik for Senior Times

An online business based in the Tri-Cities ships all over the country to provide custom creations for people who want to dress up their dogs.

Kori Pollington of Kennewick put a new leash on retirement life by open ing an online boutique featuring cus tom dog apparel.

K9 Haberdashery offers outfits de signed to wear frequently, and not just for parties or parades.

“I think we have our pets way too little of time and we need to enjoy every single minute with them,” said Pollington, a retired Pasco teacher who launched her store in 2019.

Ranging in price from $25 to $50, the outfits can take up to two days to make, sewn by hand and custom fit to each dog’s measurements.

Pollington got her start in textiles in middle school when she took a home economics class and continued learn ing the trade with courses at Washing ton State University.

She sewed on the side just for fun, sometimes making clothes for her children. Her grandmother was a pro fessional seamstress.

“It’s just something I’ve always done,” she said.

But it was when she got her first dog, a dachshund named Rusty, that her talent and passion for dog clothes first developed and she found she could market her skill.

“I would see pet clothes in stores

and think, ‘I can make that and I’d do it better,’ ” Pollington said.

Her first outfit had a Seattle Seahawks theme.

“When I realized I had turned a hobby into a business, it was special. When I first sewed my label into fab ric, I said, ‘This is the real deal.’ It was a moment.”

Whether a dress, jacket or Hallow een costume, all of the outfits are lined to make them sturdy and comfortable for the dogs to wear, including har nesses and hats.

“Dogs will wear hats if you do it right,” she said.

Each clothing item features a metal attachment or opening for a leash to encourage ease of use, in addition to a thick piece of Velcro to hold it on snugly.

“If dressing them up helps you go to a party with them, or a parade with them, it’s just that much more spe cial,” she said.

Retired after 30 years with the

Tri-Cities’ free health clinic celebrates its 20th anniversary

By Laura Kostad for Senior Times

The majority of the patients Grace Clinic serves work hard at their jobs to make ends meet – but they don’t have health insurance.

They arrive at the Kennewick clinic seeking free medical care offered by a team of compassionate medical pro fessionals who volunteer their time.

“Most of our patients, and many of our volunteers, work at local business es … By offering free health care, we are literally strengthening the work force by helping people work and care

for their families,” said Avonte Jack son, Grace Clinic’s director.

The Tri-Cities’ only free health care clinic turned 20 this summer and re cently celebrated its 100,000th patient visit.

“What’s important to understand is it’s 100,000 times someone walked in to access a service they wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Mark Brault, Grace Clinic CEO and the 2022 Tri-Citian of the Year, one of the community’s top honors.

Filling a community need

The clinic provides medical, ur

gent dental, mental health counsel ing, telehealth, prescription assistance and food pantry access to low-income residents of Benton and Franklin counties and Burbank, which is in Walla Walla County. Patients’ annual income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or $55,500 for a family of four.

More than 32,000 Tri-Citians lack health insurance, or a little more than 10% of the population, according to Grace Clinic estimates.

Brault said 96% of Grace Clinic’s patients are working people.

“Nobody else wants them, but we

want them,” said Andrea McMakin, Grace Clinic’s communications coor dinator.

Brault said when people don’t have access to health insurance, access to health care is significantly constrained since many providers won’t see unin sured patients.

A survey of Grace Clinic’s patients revealed that between 52% and 56% would seek care at an emergency room if the clinic didn’t exist.

Federal law obligates emergency rooms to treat those seeking care, but

Camp

Photo by Wendy Culverwell

Sophie, a rescue dachshund, models a birthday outfit created by her owner, Kori Pollington, the Kennewick founder of K9 Haberdashery.

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Pasco School District, Pollington launched the business upon the en couragement of friends who saw her outfits and told her there’d be a viable market for them.

Most orders come to Pollington through her website, which was con venient during the pandemic, as she wasn’t relying on a storefront or faceto-face sales.

Customers who search for “custom dog clothes” will quickly find Polling ton is up for any challenge, whether it’s a costume to turn Samoyeds into German Shepherds, or a French Bull dog into a plate of fries.

A camouflage jacket included mili tary patches and another outfit was made out of work shirts originally in tended for humans.

She ships all over the country and also sells off the rack creations at a variety of price points during the sum mer at the Kennewick Farmers Mar ket and hits the holiday bazaar circuit.

It can take eight hours to complete one of the most complicated outfits she prices for $50 and turns around within about a week.

After acquiring a second dachs hund, a rescue named Sophie, Poll ington enjoys entering the pair in cos tume contests or making appearance

at parades.

Rusty took home the top prize twice at the Tri-City Americans Wiener Dog Dash. One of Pollington’s prized creations is a replica of the heritage jerseys worn by the Ams and signed by the en tire team during one of the seasons. Last year, the dogs donned steampunk costumes, complete with a fur-lined cape and mini metal gears, and this year the his-and-her duo went as Kermit and Miss Piggy.

While Rusty and Sophie provide inspiration, Polling ton doesn’t always have a vision when she sits down at her sewing machine. “I think, ‘What does this fabric want to be?’ ” and she lets the creativ ity start to flow.

She can add personaliza tion and embroidery to any creation. Most orders are for small dogs, often a Maltese, Chihuahua or Yorkshire terrier. The fall holidays are her busiest time, which then rolls into Valentine’s Day.

Pollington put her sewing skills to use during the start of the pandemic, selling and donating hundreds of cloth masks she designed for ease of use by children. She doesn’t have a count for

the pup pieces she has made but esti mates it to be in the hundreds.

“This isn’t serious stuff, it’s all about just having fun with your pets, and enjoying them.”

search K9 Haberdashery: k9haberdash ery.com; 509-430-5801; @specially 4dogs.

Lourdes Urgent Care restores Sunday hours

Call 509-543-9300 or go to YourLourdes.com/OnlineScheduling.

which operates both Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick and Lourdes in Pasco.

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

Lourdes Urgent Care has restored Sunday hours, which were curtailed during the Covid-19 pan demic.

The clinic is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., daily, at 5304 N. Road 68, Pasco.

The clinic, operated by Lourdes Health, serves patients with aller gies, colds, flu, infections, minor illnesses, sprains, wounds, burns and other non-life-threatening con ditions. It also offers routine sports physicals for junior and high school students at a cost of $30.

Benton County closes deal for old KGH building

Benton County closed a $1.6 million deal to purchase the former Kennewick General Hospital on Nov. 1. and is seeking a behavioral health care partner to operate it.

The seller, LifePoint, acquired it after the Kennewick Public Hospital District filed for bankrupt cy in 2017 and its assets were sold to a predecessor of LifePoint,

Within hours of securing the property, Benton County solicited proposals from behavioral health service providers to operate a recovery center serving Benton and Franklin counties. The deadline to submit proposals is Dec. 9.

The center will provide services to those experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis or both. It is meant to supple ment existing services, not replace them.

For information about the RFP, go to bit.ly/3T9XYMo.

Photo by Wendy Culverwell Kori Pollington poses with her dogs Rusty and Sophie in their Seattle Seahawks 12th Man/Woman costumes.

Why burns pose a special danger to seniors

A common theme of the columns

I write for Senior Times is that the older we get, the more susceptible we are to injury and illness. My goal is to help seniors avoid being hurt or made sick and to help them respond when misfortune does strike.

The topic this month is burns, from fire, scalding water or electri cal shock.

First, this is the season for burns. Home fires are most common source of injury during the cold winter months. They are most likely to start in the kitchen. Home heat ing devices also set off lots of fires.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), citing fig ures from the American Burn Association, says 1.1 million people receive burn injuries that are seri ous enough to require medical attention. Of those, 50,000 require hospitalization and 4,500 are fatal.

A 2016 statement from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) is as relevant today as it was then:

“Diseases associated with aging predispose the elderly to higher risks for burns. Those diseases range from tremors and seizures that can lead to dangerous spills to dementia that can blind us to risks that can lead to serious burns…The elderly have slower reflexes, result ing in an inability to react quickly in dangerous situations.”

Aging skin can be more vulnera ble to deep burns and healing can be more difficult. As we age, our skin becomes thinner, looser and more fragile. The Grossman Burn Center, a burn treatment based in Los Angeles, describes this as the “onion skin” effect.

Onion skin does not fare well when burned. Burns are five times more likely to be fatal for an 80-year-old than a teen.

The best way to survive a burn is

Gordon Williams American Red Cross

GUEST COLUMN

not to get burned at all. We have cov ered fire safe ty many times in this col umn. A few rules bear repeating.

Never leave cooking food unattended.

Stay nearby if you are frying, grill ing or broiling food. If you are bak ing, boiling or roasting, stay home while the food is cooking.

Use a timer to remind you the stove is on.

Keep towels, curtains, potholders, paper bags, packaging and other flammable items away from stoves. Never wear clothing with loose floppy sleeves while cooking, including robes.

Keep kids and pets at least three feet from the stove. Keep surfaces clean of grease and don’t use flimsy bakeware such as the aluminum foil pans sold in grocery stores.

Learn more from Grossman Burn Center’s 45-minute video, “Senior Burn Prevention Education and Safety,” available on YouTube.

Touching a hot electric circuit can also cause burns.

We all have electrical devices that have been in use for years and may have dangerous faults. Inspect for frayed wires and broken plugs, which can cause electrical burns.

Hot water is another potential threat. Because we don’t react as quickly as we once did, we may not notice that the bath water is too hot and get scalded. Set your heater to 120 degrees max.

A shower or bath with water at 100 degrees is sufficient. Test water before entering a shower or bath.

Many burns come from trying to stay warm on wintry days.

Stay safe by making sure there is

nothing near a space heater or home heating outlet that might catch fire. That includes curtains, blankets, clothing, or carpets. Turn off all heating devices before you go to bed or leave the house.

If you use a space heater, make sure it has a kill switch that auto matically turns itself off if it tips over. Limit heating pad use to 20 minutes.

But let’s say that even though you were careful, you or someone close to you is burned. How you treat the burn depends on how

severe the burn is. The CDC lists three categories of burn, and how to tell them apart:

First-degree burns involve the top layer of skin (sunburn is a firstdegree burn). Skin is red, painful to the touch and there may be some swelling.

Second-degree burns involve the first two layers of skin. Skin is a deep red, with blisters, some leak ing fluid and possibly the loss of some skin. Pain can be severe.

What does this mean for you? With a 3D scan of your current denture, we can create an exact copy in a few short days if your current denture is lost, stolen or damaged beyond repair. Call today to schedule a free consultation and denture scan.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DEC. 1-31

• Senske’s annual Holiday Light Show: 5 p.m.-midnight runs nightly in December, 400 N. Quay, Kennewick.

DEC. 2-31

• City of Richland’s Winter Wonderland: 5-9 p.m. runs nightly in December, John Dam Plaza, 815 George Washington Way, Richland. The stage, trees and park will be lit with thousands of dancing lights set to a soundtrack of holiday tunes.

DEC. 7

• WinterFest Cinema featuring, “The Star”: 6 p.m., Fairchild Cinema, 5020 Convention Drive, Pasco. Each attendee will get a free small soda and popcorn. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis at the door.

DEC. 7-8

• Visit with Santa: 2-4:30 p.m., Kennewick Irrigation District, 2015 S. Ely St., Kennewick. Bring a camera and take a photo with Santa. Donations for Toys for Tots are being accepted. Bring a new, unwrapped gift for donation. Go to kid.org for more information.

DEC. 8

• Windsong at Southridge Parade of Lights: 4:30-6:30 p.m., 4000 W. 24th Ave., Kennewick. Drive through a lighted loop decorated by residents. Visitors are encouraged to donate a canned food item to be donated to local foster families.

DEC 9-11

• Mid-Columbia Ballet, “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. Dec. 9; 4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10; 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 11, Richland High School Auditorium, 930 Long Ave., Richland. Go to mid columbiaballet. org for tickets.

DEC. 10

• Museum Christmas Open House: Noon-4 p.m., 305 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco. Free admission.

• Benton City Winterfest: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., downtown Benton City, 510 Eighth St. Holiday bazaar and family festivities, followed by lighted parade 5 p.m.; tree lighting 6 p.m. Details at bentoncitychamber.org/ winterfest.

• Pasco Winterfest Celebration and Tree Lighting Ceremony: 3-5:30 p.m., Volunteer Park, 1125 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco.

• WinterFest Cinema featuring,

“The Polar Express”: 9 a.m., Fairchild Cinema, 5020 Convention Drive, Pasco. Each attendee will get a free small soda and popcorn. Tickets are on a first-come, firstserved basis at the door.

DEC. 11

• Santa Claus at Goose Ridge: 11 a.m., 16304 N. Dallas Road, Richland.

DEC. 15

• Mannheim Steamroller Christmas: 7 p.m., Toyota Center Kennewick, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Tickets at your toyotacenter.com.

• Hanford Holidays: 6-7:30 p.m., Westgate Elementary, 2514 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick. Hear tales of those who were home at Hanford for the holidays during World War II. Cost: $25. Tickets at kennewick. coursestorm.com.

DEC. 17

• Tri-Cities Steel Band Association’s 26th annual Christmas Concert: 6:30-9 p.m., Bethel Church, 600 Shockley Road, Richland. Cost: $9. Tickets at tcsba. org.

For holiday bazaar listings, see page 14.

• 44th Lampson Cable Bridge Run: 9 a.m.-noon. 1 mile-, 5K-, or 10K-race/walk. Register at race roster.com.

DEC. 21

• Christmas at the HUB: 5-7 p.m. Summer’s HUB of Kennewick, 6481 W. Skagit Ave., Kennewick. Face painting, Polar Express bingo, pic tures with Santa, games and more. Free.

DEC. 21-22

• Wine Social Christmas Concert featuring Mid-Columbia Mastersingers: 8-10 p.m., Wine Social, 702 The Parkway, Suite B, Richland. Cost $75. Call 509-4204991 to buy tickets.

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

By Gale Metcalf for Senior Times

Seventy years ago, the soldiers of Camp Hanford built a giant Santa Claus and placed him, his sleigh and his reindeer on the main building of the post.

It was a cheerful addition to Camp Hanford in Richland, which served as headquarters for the Army’s 5th Anti-Aircraft Group, which was charged with protecting the 586-square-mile Hanford complex and its plutonium production reac tors.

In 1952, Hanford was one of the Army’s most desolate stateside posts. Santa was a welcome symbol of Christmas and fulfilled one com mander’s promise to make life better for the soldiers living amid the sage and sand of Eastern Washington.

Hanford played a critical role in the U.S. national defense mission. It produced 60% of the plutonium needed for America’s nuclear arse nal.

Eight nuclear reactors operated throughout all or part of Camp Hanford’s decade-long tenure.

In the uncertainty of the Cold War, the camp defended them against pos sible aerial attack.

In all, some 5,000 troops reported to Camp Hanford to serve with the 5th, and four attached gun battalions, the 83rd, 501st, 518th and the 519th.

The earliest arrivals lived in pup tents and laid out sandbags, quickly establishing the air defense system.

Col. Onto P. Bragen, then com manding officer of Camp Hanford, started 1952 by promising his men that he “would do everything in my power to bring them better living facilities and also to increase their recreational and entertainment sched ule.”

He soon, however, received orders for reassignment.

His replacement, Lt. Col. Lester R. Moffett, took his from Bragen and went to work fulfilling his predeces sor’s promise.

Signs of civilization soon fol lowed.

A U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Hanford opened on Feb. 7, 1952, serving the camp’s personnel and dependents, while also providing for the medical needs of those serving at the Pasco Engineering Depot, the Umatilla Ordnance Depot, and the Yakima Firing Center.

On April 2, 1952, the hospital wel comed its first baby, born to Sgt. Bobby Epperly and his wife.

Sgt. Epperly was serving with the 518th AAA Gun Battalion. By the end of 1952, nearly 160 babies fol

lowed the Epperly baby, including two sets of twins.

Next, new bachelor officers’ quar ters went up, with an officers’ club in the same building. A new post head quarters was completed on March 21, 1952. Plans followed for a new enlisted men’s Service Club.

In June, Camp Hanford participat ed in Richland’s Atomic Frontier Days.

Its servicemen chose Janice Martin, a Pasco resident and an

employee in the post’s legal office, to be their candidate for queen of Atomic Frontier Days.

The 72nd Army Band took up the cause and promoted her selection as well. They gave concerts in her honor and highlighted her candidacy in other ways.

In a close contest, Janice finished second.

In August 1952, Col. Harold Doud, yet another commander, offi ciated at opening of the Enlisted

Men’s Service Club, fulfilling the promise of his predecessors.

In late August, Camp Hanford held a retirement ceremony at the Richland Bomber Bowl, now Fran Rish Stadium, for Lt. Col. Horace M. Robbins, commanding officer of the 5th Anti-Aircraft Group. Passing in honor review were men of the 5th group and of the 6017th Army Service Unit.

The men of Camp Hanford also took up sports for recreational pur suits.

Its softball team placed first in three championship tournaments and second in three others. The camp’s baseball team placed second in the Northwest Division of the 6th Army baseball championship tournament.

Camp Hanford closed on March 31, 1961, a casualty of changing defense priorities.

Most of the structures were removed or demolished, returning to nature the sand and sage on which Camp Hanford once stood.

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.

The gold standard of care in the Tri-Cities Area.

Courtesy Hanford History Project The

based at Camp Hanford, protected

production

in the 1950s. In this

photo, the late Warren Slagle’s crew drills on Gun #2.

the ER is one of the most expensive of health care options and isn’t intended to address issues that are non-emer gent or dealing with chronic disease.

As Brault explained, hospitals pro vide some charity care, but the costs associated with uncompensated care are typically shifted to people with private insurance since it’s the only place prices can be raised when con fronted with fixed-rate Medicare and Medicaid.

“So, when we keep people out of the hospital, then there is less cost that has to be shifted,” he said, emphasiz ing that Grace Clinic doesn’t compete with hospitals, but supports them by providing the services uninsured pa tients need but can’t obtain elsewhere.

Reza Kaleel, chief executive officer at Providence of Southeast Washing ton, agreed: “Grace Clinic plays a key role in our community’s health care safety net, delivering care to underserved residents. It does so in a way that’s very much in line with Kadlec and Providence’s vision of health for a better world.”

Bridging the gap

Grace Clinic is able to accomplish its mission through donor support and the efforts of its 200 to 250 ac tive volunteers from the local medical community – most of whom are still working – who serve in the clinic be tween once a week and once a month, based on how much time they have available to give.

“They really enjoy spending time at the clinic because they really enjoy doing what they love without the has sle of billing and everything else that goes into a traditional medical prac tice,” said Brault, a volunteer himself. “They can just focus on the patient and apply their skills in a comfortable, low-pressure environment and help people they wouldn’t be able to nec essarily see at their own practices.”

The value of the labor over the last 20 years – if it had been paid – would total over $8 million and 215,000 hours, Brault said.

The value of the services provided over that period exceeds $35 million.

“For every $100 donated, patients receive more than $430 in services,” he said.

In addition, Grace Clinic provides the opportunity for nursing and medi cal students working on their resi dency at local hospitals to complete their education and also contribute to a charitable cause.

“In this community in particular, we have a real shortage of having enough clinical people, physicians, nurses and mental health counselors. We’re helping to feed the pipeline of medical professionals in the commu nity. There are no days when we don’t have someone in clinic in the middle of training. Most days there are mul tiple people,” Brault said.

Bevan Briggs, academic director at Washington State University Tri-Cit ies College of Nursing, called Grace Clinic an essential partner for WSU College of Nursing at WSU Tri-Cities.

“Students in our nurse practitioner and pre-licensure nursing programs have clinical experiences there. In an environment where clinical placement for students is extremely difficult and extremely important, they provide an excellent learning environment,” he said.

Dr. Cindie Preszler, Grace Clinic’s director of counseling, said that since 2010, 22 of its counseling interns have gone on to join local businesses or open their own practices locally.

“Not only does this expand the mental health treatment capacity in the Tri-Cities, but it also augments our community’s business economy,” she said.

Jackson, who recently received the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Com merce’s Athena Leadership Award, said the clinic is an excellent example of the relationship between the forprofit and nonprofit sectors.

Humble beginnings

Grace Clinic launched in June 2002 in the basement of the First United Methodist Church in Pasco by Drs.

Carol Endo and Cheryl Snyder, local physicians who would see patients in need free-of-charge for four hours each Saturday.

Ten years later, the clinic expanded into its current location at the for mer Benton Franklin Health District Building, 800 W. Canal Drive in Ken newick. It began operating for four days per week and offered diabetic care and mental health and diabetes services.

Five years later, in 2017, Grace Clinic was open five days per week and third-year residents were com pleting their education at Kadlec Regional Medical Center and Trios Health hospitals began serving rota tions there.

Future expansion

Brault said its dental program will be expanded in the new year. “We do mostly urgent dentals – extractions, abscesses. After the first of the year, we’re going to … be able to do more routine dentistry.”

He said Grace Clinic also is work ing on a mental health expansion that

will take place next year.

“To grow and expand what we do, we have to grow our base of support, both in terms of funding and volun teers. In a for-profit operation, you ex pand over here and it generates more revenue, but for us, when we expand, it creates more cost,” Brault said.

He said the clinic is funded pre dominately by individuals, service clubs and the broader community.

Basin Pacific Insurance and Ben efits is one such community donor.

“Grace Clinic is a testament to how we all should serve those in need in our community. ... We have support ed Grace Clinic both personally and through our business because Grace Clinic epitomizes what true commu nity service should be. If you have never visited Grace Clinic you owe it to yourself and others to do so. You will be inspired,” said Brad Toner, managing partner at Basin Pacific.

search Grace Clinic: 800 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick; 509-735-2300; gracecliniconline.org; Facebook, Ins tagram.

Courtesy Grace Clinic

Cardiologist Dr. Iyad Jamali checks Angela’s pulse at Grace Clinic during a follow-up visit. He volunteers at Grace Clinic and practices at Kadlec Clinic – Inland Cardiology in Richland. Angela’s last name was not released to protect her privacy.

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 call ing 509-735-1911.

Wednesday, Dec. 7: Cranberry chicken, confetti rice, peas and onion, chocolate pudding. Thursday., Dec. 8: Beef lasagna, Italian vegetables, Caesar salad, breadstick.

Friday, Dec. 9: Pulled pork sand wich, baked beans, coleslaw.

Monday., Dec. 12: Lemon pepper cod, fluffy rice, green peas.

Tuesday, Dec. 13: Swedish meat balls, egg noodles, broccoli.

Wednesday, Dec. 14: Barbecue chicken, roasted carrots, potato salad, cornbread.

Thursday, Dec. 15: Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, Italian veg etables, wheat roll, ice cream.

Friday, Dec. 16: Chicken pot pie, squash medley, tossed salad. Monday, Dec. 19: Smothered pork chop, mashed potatoes, garden veg etables.

Tuesday, Dec. 20: Chicken fajitas, rice and beans, flour tortilla.

Wednesday, Dec. 21: Sloppy Joes, mixed vegetables, coleslaw.

Thursday, Dec. 22: Baked ham, raisin sauce, green bean casserole, au gratin potatoes, wheat roll, gingerbread cake.

Friday, Dec. 23: Chicken parmesan casserole, cauliflower with red pep pers.

Monday, Dec. 26: Closed

Tuesday, Dec. 27: Sweet & sour pork, fluffy rice, Asian vegetables.

Wednesday, Dec. 28: Dijon chick en, sweet potato mash, seasoned beets.

Thursday, Dec. 29: Hamburger, baked beans, apple cabbage slaw, lettuce, tomato, onion.

Friday, Dec. 30: Chicken alfredo, broccoli, breadstick.

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 Facil ity, 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 reserva tions required at this site.

Stone Soup serves up soul-satisfying bowls with side of community

By Laura Kostad for Senior Times

With autumn in the air, people are craving bowls of warm, cozy comfort food.

At Richland’s Stone Soup, pots are always simmering, no matter the time of year.

A different soup is offered daily (tomato pasta, baked potato, creamy mushroom, broccoli cheese, clam chowder and southwestern corn chowder were in rotation recently), in addition to chicken enchilada soup, which is ladled out every day.

Specializing also in sandwiches, burgers and salads, Stone Soup cele brated 21 years in business in August at 703 The Parkway.

From Southwest to Northwest

It’s one of the longest running businesses in The Parkway.

Stone Soup came to Richland after founders Dave and Pam Leen brought the business from Arizona to Walla Walla in 1999. The Walla Walla res taurant is open at 105 E. Alder St.

The Leens’ Scottsdale cafe was al ready named Stone Soup when they bought it in 1995, but it could seat only 15 to 20 people.

To boost profits, they decided to offer delivery and drop-off catering, a move that paid off.

“Back then, only pizza places de livered,” said Rich Schleede.

Schleede and Dave Leen owned a landscaping and Christmas tree sell ing business in Portland. Schleede, a Pendleton native, was looking to move closer to home.

“(Dave) had bugged me for years and he wanted me to open three (Stone Soup cafes) in Tri-Cities,” Schleede said.

With the help of a third partner, Richland’s Stone Soup launched in 2001.

The team subsequently ran out of steam for additional Tri-City lo

cations and the third partner later dropped out, but Schleede gained ownership of the Richland shop and has been at the helm ever since.

Now 57, and having recently pur chased the building Stone Soup oc cupies, he’s not ready to slow down.

Schleede and his wife, Tina, both commute from Walla Walla six days a week to work alongside their fiveperson crew for eight to 12 hours per day.

Schleede said he loves the fast pace.

“We basically make it on the lunch rush,” he said.

Schleede recalled there being only three restaurants at The Parkway when he arrived at the former Huck’s Floor Coverings building, which be fore that had been an ice cream par lor.

He said he’s seen at least 20 other restaurants come and go around him over the years.

Mom-and-pop vibe

His secrets to success?

“We treat people good, and we give them a good product at a fair price,” he said, adding that quality service and genuine friendliness create a “homey” atmosphere for customers.

He thinks another key factor is that “our food isn’t fancy.”

He pointed out that the restaurant’s atmosphere itself isn’t fancy either, indicating the linoleum tile floors from the Huck’s Floor Coverings days.

“This is a real dive,” he said, de scribing it as “mom and pop.”

“We have kind of a unique menu, kind of old style,” Schleede said. “I’ve had people come from New York and say it’s like what you get in a New York deli – chicken salad, egg salad, smoked turkey salad, tons of vegetarian varieties.”

Schleede makes his own veggie patty in-house and stocks a variety of plant-based meat substitutes that en able customers to make almost any menu item vegetarian.

Their bread is made in Walla Walla by Wheatland Bakery.

“We also have this little cookie we add to each plate, just a sweet touch,” he said. “It’s the nicest little cookie made out of cake mix and is a per fect ending to the meal. It’s amazing how that little touch goes so far with people.”

Loyal customers

Though the ambiance is humble,

Photo by Laura Kostad

Rich Schleede, owner of Stone Soup in Richland, has been serving up a palate-pleasing array of sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, sides and house-made desserts for more than 20 years at 703 The Parkway.

By Wendy Culverwell editor@tcjournal.biz

As nights get longer and colder, staff at the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission shelter for women face an unenviable task.

When the shelter is full, they’re forced to turn away women and chil dren seeking accommodations as they escape domestic violence, pov erty, substance abuse and the myri ad other challenges that leave them homeless and vulnerable to abuse on the streets.

With only 32 beds, it happens reg ularly.

“It’s not easy to say to them, ‘We have no room for you,’ ” said Debra Biondolillo, case management direc tor for the Union Gospel Mission.

On a recent week in October, the east Pasco shelter turned away five women and their children and three single women, Biondolillo said.

It referred them to the Housing Resource Center, which has limited hours and ability to help.

Rising demand means turn-aways are increasingly common, accord ing to Andrew Porter, the mission’s executive director. It built a new fa cility for men in 2018. Now it’s the women’s turn.

The Union Gospel Mission will build a 60-person shelter for women and children in central Kennewick, where it purchased a 3.5-acre site at 533 N. Young St. in 2021. It is fol lowing the same approach it used to replace its cramped shelter for men with a modern facility in 2018.

It created a 23,000-square-foot

concept for the women’s shelter, lo cated to take advantage of the social and commercial opportunities avail able in central Kennewick. Porter is ready to begin raising donations to construct the building, which will cost an estimated $8.5 million.

He estimates the mission has spent about $1 million to date to purchase the land and designs.

“Let people know we haven’t for gotten about the women,” he said. “We’ve spent almost a million dol lars already. That’s a lot of money to us.”

The present women’s shelter was built in 1914 as a telephone office. Volunteers fixed up a basement room as a playroom and lounge for the moms and kids who pass through.

But quarters are cramped, which makes it difficult to carry out the three Rs that drive the Union Gospel

Mission’s ministry: rescue, recovery and restoration.

Those living in its facilities must use the opportunity to gain control over their lives by attending counsel ing sessions, helping with laundry and other chores, pursuing employ ment and making plans to become independent.

Attendance at worship services is mandatory and participants earn privileges by following house rules. Breaking the rules can lead to expul sion.

Rachel, who was living at the women’s shelter in late October, said she was initially turned away. She followed up and moved in when a space opened.

Her former middle-class life had evaporated, and she had been liv ing in Walla Walla where she had no friends or family. She was pursuing sobriety, but felt alone, unsupport ed and embarrassed to find herself on the cusp of homelessness after a lifetime of hard work and access to money.

“It was nice to come here. On my first day, I felt comfortable,” she said. She would like to return to school, but she’s keeping her goals modest: Get a job, save money, find an apart ment.

Sarah, which is not her real name, had never heard of the women’s shelter when in desperation, the TriCity resident pleaded for help from a neighborhood pastor, saying she could no longer remain with the hus band she said abused her.

“I knew about the men’s shelter, but I never knew about the wom en’s,” she said.

With the pastor’s help, she moved into the women’s shelter on July 22

Courtesy Tri-City Union Gospel Mission

The Tri-City Union Gospel Mission is raising $8.5 million to build a shelter for women and children in central Kennewick. The new shelter will accommodate 60 people, nearly twice the capacity of the current shelter in east Pasco, which regularly is forced to turn away mothers and children.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

Pasco First Avenue Center

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

• Billiards: 9 a.m.-noon. Mon days; 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. Tues days.

• China painting: 9 a.m.-noon. Wednesdays.

Keewaydin Community Center

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

• Bunco: 1-3 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Bridge: 12:30-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day.

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

• Dominoes: 12:30-2 p.m. Tues

days and Fridays. Cost: $1 per day.

• Pinochle: 1-4:30 p.m. Wednes days. Cost: $1 per day.

• Creative palette art: 9 a.m.noon Tuesdays.

• Sewing: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays.

• Woodcarving: 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. 9 a.m.-noon Fridays. Bring supplies or borrow from the class.

• Billiards: Daily. $2 per day or $20 monthly pass.

Richland Community Center

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

• Fitness room: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays 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: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Location: game room.

• Table tennis: 6:30-8:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:303:45 p.m. Sundays.

Prosser Senior Community Center

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

• Pool: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. MondaysFridays. Cost: free. Location: pool room, membership is required.

• Mahjong: 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays Location: living room, membership is required.

• Daytime bingo: 9 a.m. Wednesdays. Location: dining room Cost: 3 cards/$1.

• Evening bingo: First Friday of every month. 6 p.m. Cost: $10. Location: dining room.

• Foot care: Second Wednesday of each month: Appointments can be made by calling 509-790-1905.

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

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

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

Location: dining room.

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

• All you can eat community breakfast: Last Sunday every month, 8-11:30 a.m. Location: din ing room. Cost: Suggested donation $7 per person and $4 per child, 8 and under.

West Richland Senior Center

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

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

Just for Fun

Word search - Disney characters

Very Hard

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.

Dec. 5: A United States appellate court panel set aside a regulation that would have required airbags in motor vehicles made on or after Aug. 15, 1975. Dec. 11: Humans landed on the moon for the sixth and last time, as the Apollo 17 lunar module Challenger touched down on the Taurus-Litrow crater. Dec. 26: Harry Truman, 88, the 33rd president of the United States, died.

BURNS

~ Bazaar Listings ~

DEC. 8

• Goose Ridge Winter Market : noon-8 p.m., 16304 N. Dallas Road, Richland.

DEC. 10

• Jingle Bell Bash: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Roscoe’s Coffee, 2003 Logston Blvd., Richland. Up to 40 local vendors, Santa Claus, photo booth, outdoor games, Ciao Wagon food truck, music and coffee roasting tours.

• Burbank Grange Holiday Bazaar : 9 a.m.-2 p.m., 44 N. Fourth Ave., Burbank.

• Family Resource Center of the Tri-Cities Christmas Bazaar at 3 Chicks Boutique: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 515 N. Neel St., Suite C-103, Kennewick.

DEC. 11

• Dear Santa Bazaar: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Gesa Carousel of Dreams, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick.

DEC. 16-17

• Christmas on Kellogg: 603 S. Kellogg St., Kennewick. 5-9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

• Family Resource Center of the Tri-Cities Christmas Bazaar at Best Western Inn: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 4001 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick.

DEC. 16-18

• Sixth annual Home for the Holidays: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, Hapo Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco. Free admission.

, From page 3

Third-degree burns go clear though the skin, permanently destroying tissue. The skin is dry and leathery and may have patches that appear white, brown, black, or charred. The burn is essentially painless and what pain there is, is from first- and second-degree burns that surround the third-degree burn.

Treat a first-degree burn by immersing it in cool water or applying wet compresses, then cover with a sterile non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth. First-degree burns usually heal without medical attention, but an over-the-counter medication may be used to reduce pain.

If the burn covers a large area or the victim is an infant or elderly, get emergency medical help and let trained responders decide on treat ment.

Second-degree burn are more complex. Call 911 and provide what assistance you can until help arrives. As with first-degree burns, immerse the burn in clean cool water or apply compresses.

Cover the burn with sterile gauze. Lay the victim flat. Protect against shock by keeping the per son warm, with feet elevated. Burns

swell immediately so try to remove belts or jewelry or anything tight around the victim.

Third-degree burns are life threatening and require trained medical help as soon as you can get it. You can try to remove or cut away burned clothing. Again, try to remove anything constricting to avoid further damage to swollen tissue.

Avoid folk remedies such as cov ering burns with toothpaste or mus tard or butter. Water is the only thing that can be safely applied. Anything else can trap heat in the body and cause deeper injuries.

Do not break blisters on burned areas. They contain blood plasma, which helps fight infection.

Even if a burn does not appear that serious, keep monitoring it, especially if the patient is elderly.

Given the nature of older skin –onion skin if you will – and the possibility the burn will trigger other medical conditions, danger ous side effects can appear.

Seek medical attention if condi tions change.

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

Christmas Celebration

TRI-CITY BOOK CLUBS

• 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK by Kim Michele Richardson.

CALLING INVISIBLE WOMEN by Jeanne Ray is the Jan. 16 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. Dec. 20, MidColumbia Libraries, Pasco branch, 1320 W. Hopkins St., Pasco. Voting for 2023 books and a Christmas party is planned.

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. Dec. 15, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, THE BEST LAID PLANS by Terry Fallis.

JEFFERSON’S AMERICA by Julie M. Fenster is the Jan. 19 book.

The group meets the third Thursday of the month but takes summers off.

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

• 6 p.m. Dec. 19, MidColumbia Libraries, West Pasco branch, 7525 Wrigley Drive, THE NICKEL BOYS by Colson Whitehead.

• 6 p.m. Dec. 20, MidColumbia Libraries, Benton City branch, 810 Horne Drive, THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah.

• 6:30 p.m. Dec. 27, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, Read the Rainbow, a LGBTQIA+ & Allies book club. Bring a book you are reading or have read recently to discuss.

• 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.

uBRIEF

Tax-Aide seeks volunteers

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide ser vice is seeking volunteers to sup port tax preparation work in 2023 as it returns to in-person service.

Tax-Aide is an all-volunteer organization whose tax counselors are trained and certified by the IRS. No previous experience is

needed to join.

Services are open to anyone but are especially for people 60 and older and those with low to moder ate incomes. Services are offered at libraries, community centers, senior centers and other local facil ities.

Email aarpwa@aarp.org, go online at aarp.org/taxaide or call 888-AARPNOW (888-227-7669).

UNION GOSPEL, From page 11

and is working to rebuild her health and strength. The support of both staff and other residents, who encir cled her with support, changed her life.

“I was really weak and run down,” she said. Her goals include finding an apartment, a job and regaining cus tody of her beloved dog. The shelter is more than a place to sleep and eat, she said, calling it family.

“I lay my head down at night and I don’t worry about anyone hurting me.”

Alexandra, who said she’s been on her own since she was 15, regularly turns to the shelter when she’s trying to get a new start. She has two years of sobriety, a job and a voucher for permanent housing, but intends to remain where she is to stay safe and to stay clean.

Born in Pasco, her life has been marked by tragedy and substance abuse. Her children are being adopt ed by their foster parents, a step she agreed to for their sakes.

She said she left school in eighth grade. The shelter helps guide her steps to becoming independent.

“We need more opportunities to sustain us,” she said. “I am hoping God can open doors for me.”

The proposed women’s shelter will have rooms for families, single women and classrooms for education and recovery programs.

Porter encouraged supporters to tour the men’s and women’s shelters, to learn about the issues that lead people to seek help.

“My job is to advocate for the women and children down there,” he said. “I believe God will provide.”

Learn more or donate at tcugm.org.

Stone Soup’s food has a loyal follow ing.

Doug and Christine Klein, who used to own a nearby dental office, were in line the first day Stone Soup opened. It fast became a severaltimes-a-week habit.

They said the friendly staff and de licious food kept them coming back.

“We strongly believe in supporting local business – it’s very important to us. This has been a very nice one to support,” Christine said. “It’s still our favorite.”

Now retired and living in Pasco, they still regularly make the drive for lunch.

“We’ve made acquaintance with a lot of people (Rich)’s had working here over the years. I think the Rich land community is small enough that you see friends here, it’s a really nice meeting place,” Doug said.

Being vegetarians, they voiced their appreciation for the veg-friend ly menu, noting that, in their experi ence, Stone Soup is among the best in Tri-Cities.

Christine loves the Summer Salad and said she could eat it every day.

Doug usually gets a sandwich and soup. He said the New Yorker or Reu ben sandwiches are his favorites.

A friend they’ve made during their frequent visits is Don Perry, another

regular who has likewise been com ing to Stone Soup for 20 years.

It started as a lunch date for him and his late wife. They used to stop in regularly when she was being treated for cancer.

“You can’t really pick one favor ite out of the entourage,” he said of the menu, though he added he most frequently orders an egg and pastrami sandwich. He said of all his favorite restaurants, it is tops.

“Friends and service. Good food, good atmosphere. It’s just a comfort able place to be,” Perry said.

Schleede said he has hundreds of customers who have been com ing for 15 or more years, though he added that Stone Soup is working on trying to attract a younger crowd. What’s in a name?

The community-gathering aspect of Stone Soup evokes its namesake story.

The old story goes that during the Hundred Years’ War in France, three battle-weary and hungry soldiers stopped in a village on their way home. The townspeople, their lar ders thin from wartime, said they had nothing to give.

In desperation, the soldiers set up camp in the town square, found a large cauldron and filled it with creek water, placing stones inside. Natu rally, people asked what they were

doing, to which they replied, “Mak ing stone soup, but it would be better with some seasonings…”

Soon some herbs were provided and as the pleasant aroma rose, more townspeople began making contribu tions until everyone had added some thing to the pot. With a little some thing from everyone, the stone soup transformed into the best meal all had experienced in years.

Schleede said he’d like to have a mural done in the restaurant one day depicting the soldiers and townsfolk gathered around the cauldron sharing the meal.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic,

supply chain disruptions and inflation have challenged the restaurant, he said Stone Soup is making a come back.

The cafe utilizes Chow Now for pickup orders and replaced its deliv ery drivers with Door Dash, which, despite the fees, has helped make up for the loss of business clients who used to hire more catering services prior to the pandemic.

search Stone Soup: 703 The Parkway, Richland; 509-943-4542; stonesoup cafe.net; Facebook. Hours: 8 a.m.4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Courtesy Stone Soup

An artistic rendering given to owner Rich Schleede depicts that prior to becoming Stone Soup, the midcentury Parkway suite was Huck’s Floor Coverings. Before that, it was an ice cream parlor.

Brewery to open second location with restaurant, patio, river views

By Jeff Morrow for Senior Times

It took the owners of Kennewick’s Moonshot Brewing almost a year, but they’ve found a spot for their second location.

Ryan Wattenbarger and his staff have been busy tearing up the floor and the kitchen of a former Thai restaurant overlooking Howard Amon Park in Richland.

The new location at 94 Lee Blvd. will be called Moonshot Brewing Pub at the Park.

“We’ve been looking for another place for about 10 months, and we’d kind of given up on it,” Wattenbarger said.

Baan Khun Ya Thai restaurant was the former occupant.

It took 18 months for Wattenbarger and his wife, Hilary Bird, to find the first brewery’s first location at 8804 W. Victoria Ave., Suite 140, just off Gage Boulevard.

Sometimes, though, you need a little luck.

“The guy who picks up my spent grain bought this building (in Rich land),” Wattenbarger said.

The 5,000-square-foot building off George Washington Way was built in 1950, according to Benton County property records.

Wattenbarger and Bird loved the space for its long-planned second loca tion.

“We had planned to go in with anoth er local restaurant,” Wattenbarger said.

But he found out that state law re quired different businesses to keep sep arate spaces.

“There is no way to separate the

two,” Wattenbarger said. “And we were at the point we had put down earnest money when we found that out.”

So, Moonshot will go it alone with a restaurant of its own.

As the former head brewer at Snipes Mountain Brewery and Restaurant in Sunnyside, Wattenbarger has experi ence in the restaurant business.

“Erica Vieyra is my tap room man ager (in Kennewick),” he said. “She has been working on a food truck concept (mac and cheese). Instead, she’ll man age this restaurant. We’ll have standard pub fare. We’re learning things on the fly. But I’ve got a good team.”

Wattenbarger expects the capacity for seating inside the restaurant to be 28 people, with the patio overlooking the park and Columbia River seating an other 60 people.

The chance to build a second loca tion made good business sense for Wat tenbarger and his business partners.

“For us, we can produce a lot more beer than we can sell at (the Kennewick store),” he said, explaining that selling beer by the pint helps the bottom line more than selling kegs.

The beer still will be made at the Kennewick brew pub.

“Our sales are where we thought they’d be,” he said. “But the costs of everything have gone up.”

A new location should eventually help offset those costs with more sales.

Wattenbarger expects the Richland pub to create four to five new jobs. The Kennewick pub employs four people,

in addition to the eight owners.

While the physical labor of remod eling the kitchen and putting in a new walk-in is intensive, Wattenbarger said he still keeps to his regular beer-making schedule.

“We’re holding it together,” he said. “It’s hard, though. We’re still shooting for December for an opening of this place. The earlier the better.”

Wattenbarger and Bird have had a great run of success since opening the Kennewick pub in June 2019.

In mid-October, two of Moonshot’s brews – Kolsch and Virgo – were hon ored by Sip Magazine in its Best of the Northwest annual awards.

There is no kitchen at the Kennewick pub, but customers can bring in food that they’ve purchased elsewhere. Food trucks regularly visit. Check the Moon shot website for the schedule.

The 3,240-square-foot taproom com fortably seats 100 people in Kennewick.

Wattenbarger, who grew up near Ya kima Valley hops fields, started his ca reer working in the wine industry.

But eventually he moved into beer, becoming the assistant brewer at Snipes Mountain Brewery & Restaurant in Sunnyside. Within six months, he was the head brewmaster.

In 2019, he broke away from Snipes

Photo by TCAJOB

Ryan Wattenbarger, brewer-owner of Moonshot Brewing in Kennewick, and his team are renovating a former Thai restaurant at 94 Lee Blvd. in Richland for a second location that will include a restaurant. They plan to open in December.

Facing eviction, Veterans Thrift in Kennewick contemplates new location

Veterans Warehouse Thrift moved to clear its 40,000-square-foot store on Nov. 11 in anticipation of a 72-hour eviction notice.

The Wenatchee-based nonprofit opened in the former Sports Authority, 908 N. Colorado St., next to Lowe’s Home Improvement, in early 2021.

Founder Thelbert M. “Thadd” Lawson Jr. estimated the store dis tributed $4.4 million worth of coats, pants and other items to needy local

families since it opened.

Lawson said he hopes to reopen in a new Tri-City location.

Pasco plans Gesa Stadium updates

The city of Pasco is preparing to remodel Gesa Stadium to improve facilities for both home and visiting teams.

The project will include remodel ing both clubhouses and expanding locker rooms.

The city advertised for contractors in late October.

Architect Brandon Wilm of Design West Architects is overseeing the project, which is expected to include

about 110 days of construction.

Richland Airport electrical project wraps

The Port of Benton has largely completed an overhaul of the electri cal system at Richland Airport under a $3.2 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The grant replaced the entire elec trical system, including runway and taxiway lights. Some equipment will be installed in the spring, but it will not affect runway operations.

The project began in July and wrapped in early November. Richland Airport is a hub for busi ness and general aviation.

New food truck joins Columbia Gardens

Frida’s Mexican Grill has joined the food truck lineup at Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village in Kennewick.

The truck is open from 10 a.m.8 p.m. weekdays, and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends.

The truck is owned by Sonia and Victor Cruz and is named for the famed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The plaza is at 325 E. Columbia Gardens Way, near the cable bridge.

Frida’s joins Boblastic Tri-Cities, Botana Culichi, Culture Shock Bistro, Swampy’s BBQ and Taste of Wok at the Port of Kennewickowned property.

Contractor digging into fabled McDougall’s

The former R.F. McDougall’s Irish Pub & Eatery is being renovated for Fable, a new restaurant offering from Bookwalter Winery.

Owner John Bookwalter con firmed in April the plans to open Fable at the closed building near the Richland Wye.

Hummel Construction and Development secured a permit to remodel the restaurant from Richland in October. The work is valued at $250,000.

When Fable opens, it will serve as a casual dining outlet, which will allow Bookwalter’s Fiction restau rant to focus on best-in-class service. Bookwalter said he wants Fiction to be worthy of being nominated for the industry’s coveted James Beard awards, issued by the James Beard Foundation in honor of the late Portland-born icon.

The property is at 1705 Columbia Park Trail, near the intersection of Columbia Center Boulevard.

Numerica says Pasco branch will move in 2023

Numerica Credit Union will move its Pasco branch to 2307 W. Court St. by summer 2023.

The credit union paid $940,000 for the former Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor in May 2021. It has already demolished the ice cream shop and has begun building a new branch to replace its Sylvester Street office.

Numerica said the larger branch will help keep up with growth. TriCity membership has grown 78% in five years, it said.

The Pasco branch will offer fullservice ATMs and staff who speak Spanish and English.

Numerica is based in Spokane Valley and operates 21 branches in Central and Eastern Washington, including six in the Tri-Cities.

CBC seeks MLK Jr. Spirit Award nominations

Columbia Basin College is accept ing nominations for its 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award.

The award honors a student, faculty, staff or community member whose contributions reflect the spirit, philoso phy and teachings of the slain civil rights leader.

The deadline is Dec. 15.

The award is given to a resident of Benton or Franklin counties and will be presented on Jan. 16, 2023.

Contact Elizabeth Burtner, eburt ner@columbiabasin.edu, for informa tion.

Your insurance agent advises winterizing now

The NW Insurance Council advises home and business owners to take steps to prevent damage from fall and winter storms.

Insurance policies typically cover sudden, major and unforeseeable loss es, but damage that is the result of neglect or failure to perform necessary general maintenance may not be, it said.

Key maintenance includes prevent ing ice dams from building up in rain gutters by clearing out leaves and debris, repairing roof leaks, trimming

trees and removing dead branches, adding extra insulation to attics, base ments and crawl spaces, insulating pipes in unfinished areas such as garages and keeping the thermostat at 65 or above in cold weather to prevent pipes from freezing.

Regularly inspect heating sources and inspect ceilings, walls, floors and windowsills for signs of water intru sion.

If your home is susceptible to flood ing, consider enrolling in the National Flood Insurance Program (fema.gov/ flood-insurance).

Call 800-664-4942 for more infor mation.

Feds consider restoring grizzlies to North Cascades

Grizzly bears could be reintroduced in the North Cascades under a plan announced Nov. 10 by the National Park Serice and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The federal agencies initiated an Environmental Impact Statement pro cess to evaluate options for restoring grizzlies to the territory where they once thrived.

U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, issued a statement opposing grizzly bears, saying “intro ducing an apex predator to the area would threaten the families, wildlife, and livestock of North Central

Washington.”

The EIS process will identify alter natives for restoring the bears to the region to support the recovery and eventual delisting of grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act.

The last confirmed grizzly bear sit ing in the U.S. portion of the North Cascades was in 1996. It is not the first time the subject has been studied. A previous EIS process was terminated in 2020 by the Department of Interior.

Go to parkplanning.nps.gov/ NCEGrizzly

Lifetime passes to federal parks free for veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families can obtain free lifetime passes to more than 2,500 federal recreation day use sites across the country.

The program covers public lands, including national parks, wildlife ref uges and forests.

Obtain passes at federal recreation sites by presenting a Department of Defense ID card, veteran health ID card, veteran ID card and/or veteran’s designation on a state issued driver’s license or ID card.

Go to nps.gov/planyourvisit/pick up-pass-locations.htm.

Gold Star Families can obtain information, self-certify that they qualify and download a voucher at

store.usgs.gov.

Big Cross Frozen Tundra Run is

Jan. 28

Registration is open for the Big Cross Frozen Tundra Run, a 2.5-mile run and walk organized by Pasco Parks and Recreation.

The event is from 11-11:45 a.m. Jan. 28 at 3700 Road 36, Pasco.

The run is open to runners of all ages and the fee is $15. The 2023 event includes the options to create teams.

Participants must register online. There will be no day-of onsite registra tion.

Go to: runsignup.com/Race/WA/ Pasco/TheBigCrossTeen25mileTrailRun

Community Foundation celebrates philanthropy

The 3 Rivers Community Foundation holds its first-ever recep tion celebrating philanthropy from 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Red Lion Columbia Center.

The program includes distributing 59 checks for grants totaling nearly $270,000, funded by local residents who channel their charitable giving through the foundation.

The program includes refreshments and an appetizer buffet. Tickets are $25 per person.

Go to 3rcf.org or call 509-735-5559.

make it again.”

to craft his own beer.

The key goal for Wattenbarger was being able to make smaller batches of beer to try. If they were successful, he could make more.

It allowed him to be creative.

Everything at Snipes Mountain was made in large batches and made it hard for him to experiment because if they weren’t good, he’d still have to sell them.

Using a 3.5-barrel Stout system at Moonshot allows him to experiment.

“It makes four to six kegs,” Wat tenbarger said. “If they work out, I can

That’s what he’s been doing since Moonshot opened.

Almost everything, he said, comes from this region.

“We use 95% Washington-grown hops,” Wattenbarger said.

Moonshot also is known as a childfriendly, dog-friendly venue.

“I think we strive to make sure ev erybody is welcome in this taproom,” he said. “That includes children and dogs.”

Dogs are welcome on leashes, and Moonshot sells dog biscuits made by Richland’s Ethos Bakery.