March 2019
Volume 7 • Issue 2
Mortality higher in Eastern Washington than on west side BY SENIOR TIMES
Richland low-income apartments progress
Page 7
Airport adds cellphone waiting lot
Page 10
DIY photo studio opens in Richland Parkway Page 15
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Artistry in Wood Show March 16-17 Tri-Tech Skills Center 5929 W. Metaline Ave., Kennewick 509-713-0108
Eastern Washington residents are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, chronic lower respiratory diseases, strokes, diabetes, chronic liver disease and the flu than their neighbors living on the west side of the state. That’s according to a recent Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine study that shows people living in Eastern Washington suffer from higher mortality rates in nine out of 10 of the state’s leading causes of death from 2011-15. Overdose was the only cause of death that was higher in western Washington. Researchers plan to use the data comparisons from both sides of the Cascade Mountains to understand the unique health and social issues of Eastern Washington. The east side of the state also has 15 percent of its residents living in rural areas, 15 percent who are 65 years or older, nearly 18 percent living below the poverty level and 40 percent with incomes less than twice the poverty level. Researchers plan to use the data as a baseline to track and monitor the effect of WSU’s college of medicine on community health, the report said. Researchers found that 159 residents per 100,000 in Eastern Washington died from cancer, compared to 155 residents per 100,000 in western Washington. For heart disease, 146 residents per 100,000 in Eastern Washington died, compared to 134 per 100,000 residents in western Washington. For Alzheimer’s disease, the rate was 44 per 100,000 in Eastern Washington, compared to 43 per 100,000 on the west side. For strokes, the rate was 37 per 100,000 on the east side compared to 33 per 100,000 on the west side. uMORTALITY, Page 10
Tsp Bakeshop’s Jacee Jamison, head baker, left, and Melissa Nissen, owner, channeled their winter weather angst into cookies decorated with snow puns. The West Richland bakery is at 4850 Paradise Way, Suite 202, adjacent to Yoke’s Fresh Market. (Courtesy Tsp Bake Shop)
West Richland bakery pokes fun at weather BY KRISTINA LORD editor@tcjournal.biz
With snow on the ground and spring days away, a West Richland bakery has found a way to shovel out the wintertime blues. Tsp Bakeshop whipped up a couple dozen of sugar cookies featuring puns poking fun at the snow in royal icing with messages such as: “Ice ice baby,” “Black ice isn’t the only thing I’m falling for,” “Let it stop, Let it stop, Let it stop,” “I’m sorry Elsa,” and “Every day I’m shovelin.’ ” Head baker Jacee Jamison isn’t a fan of the white stuff and thought it would be a way to channel her weather angst. “I actually hate this weather
immensely. And it just keeps coming. What better way to get over it than to make fun of it,” she said. Bakeshop owner Melissa Nissen said the “punny” cookies were a good project after the creative burnout that follows Valentine’s Day. “I’m tired of looking and seeing snowflakes,” she said. The cookies cost $3.50 apiece. “We’ve had a lot of good feedback as far as customers laughing about it and finding it funny,” Jamison said. Tsp Bakeshop posted a photo of the cookies on social media and it’s resonated with the community, Jamison said. “It’s one of our biggest and most shared posts so far,” she said. uBAKERY, Page 9
$1M remodel set for Hawthorne Court
BY JESSICA HOEFER for Senior Times
As long as Mother Nature cooperates, renovations will begin in April at Hawthorne Court, a senior living facility in Kennewick. The retirement community at 524 N. Ely St. is home to more than 100 residents and consists of a mix of apartments for independent and assisted living. It’s managed by Leisure Care,
which has retirement communities across the country. About a year ago, a team of managers, designers and construction specialists assessed the need to update the Kennewick facility’s common spaces, as well as look for ways to improve operational efficiencies. “We asked, ‘Are our furniture pieces correct? Can we make our lights brighter?’ ” said Nick Trujillo,
uHAWTHORNE, Page 2
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