Senior Times –– March 2019 by Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business/Senior Times

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

save the date

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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construction management specialist with One Eighty Twist, the umbrella company that oversees Leisure Care. “We go through every detail as much as possible to see where we need to update certain areas.” The most noticeable issue at Hawthorne Court was in the walkthrough common areas, especially the lobbies and dining rooms, which sees a lot of wear and tear because of heavy traffic, Trujillo said. One Eighty Twist hired Oregonbased ReKreate Hospitality Services LLC for the $1 million remodeling project, and the plan is to update the main entries and add a bistro. “We’re going to change it up with flooring transitions, and we’ll be updating the public restrooms right inside the entry. The pool area we’ll be touching up. A lot of paint, flooring and furniture in those spaces,” Trujillo said. “Our goal is to walk through the building and discuss what we would like to update. Then, we budget and allocate dollars to the areas that have the most positive impact.” The common spaces are used for activities such as costume parties, dances, fitness classes and more. They also get used a lot for general socializing. In the last five to eight years, Moya Grubbs, general manager at Hawthorne Court, said industry feedback pointed to the benefits of adding a bistro, so Hawthorne Court will add one to its main lobby. “Residents can get a sandwich and have happy hour or coffee service. There will be chairs and tables and they can read the paper or watch the news. They don’t have to stay in their

Kennewick’s Hawthorne Court plans $1 million in renovations to its common areas, such as dining rooms and lobbies, to better serve more than 100 residents. Common areas are used for eating, visiting, as well as social activities. (Courtesy Hawthorne Court)

room, they can come out and be social with their community,” Grubbs said. One Eight Twist welcomed input from residents, but the design team has the final say when it comes to color selection for the remodel, said Trujillo, adding that the company’s design team works specifically in senior housing and hospitality to better understand the needs of retirement community clients. The general contractor is receiving proposals from subcontractors and construction is set to begin—pending the weather—this spring, with a completion date expected within eight to 10 weeks after work begins. Grubbs said residents will barely feel the impact of construction because Hawthorne Court was a standalone apartment complex before being bought by Lytle Enterprises a few decades ago. The unique design means the retirement community has two dining kitchens, two dining rooms and two lobbies. In addition, independent living residents also

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have access to kitchens in their apartments if they want to avoid the remodeling project altogether. “They can go shopping, buy groceries and cook at home so they don’t have to deal with the construction,” Grubbs said. Hawthorne Court will continue to offer a variety of food options for all residents to ensure they have access to the food service they’re accustomed to, the company said. And while the common living areas are undergoing a facelift, Trujillo said apartment updates haven’t been forgotten. They’re being improved too, just at a slower rate as not to displace residents. When tenants vacate apartments, Hawthorne Court updates cabinetry, fixtures and finishes, among other features. He said this will continue for at least a couple of years until all the apartments are refreshed. About 60 apartments at Hawthorne Court are used by assisted living residents. Grubbs said the studio apartment is 384 square feet, while the one-bedroom is 524 square feet. Residents living independently can take advantage of the complex’s apartment space, Grubbs said. “Our two-bedrooms are almost 1,650 square feet, and our onebedrooms are anywhere between 700 and 900 square feet,” she said. The retirement community welcomes seniors 62 and older, and the average age of residents is about 84 years. Hawthorne Court provides three meals a day and covers residents’ utilities bills. Phone and cable are not included. Along with daily activities, each month Hawthorne Court hosts three events: entertainment, an open house and an educational seminar, which ranges from estate planning to health or aging topics. Residents can participate in water aerobics in the summer, card games, trivia and more. For information on activities, tenant availability or a tour, go to leisurecare.com/our-communities/ hawthorne-court.

Senior Times • March 2019

Retired educator, Grace Clinic president earn Kennewick high honors BY SENIOR TIMES

A retired educator with a heart for hockey and a longtime board member and proponent for Grace Clinic have been named the 2018 Kennewick Man and Woman of the Year. Receiving the honors were Jenny Olson, a teacher in the Kennewick School District for 30 years, and Mark Brault, current president of Grace Clinic, a Kennewick health care clinic providing free services to those in need in Benton and Franklin counties. The winners were announced Feb. 28 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. The panel of judges considered service as the key priority when choosing the candidates. Nominees must live or work in the city of Kennewick to receive the award. Olson was a teacher in the Kennewick School District for 30 years and Kennewick Elementary School Teacher of the Year in 2005. She holds two master’s degrees in education, according to her nomination letter. She serves as president of her Philanthropic Education Organization, or PEO, chapter. The nonprofit provides educational opportunities and scholarships for women. She also is president of the Tri-City reciprocity area of PEO that has 14 chapters. Olson belongs to the Tri-Cities Industry Kiwanis Club and is a member of DKG, a teachers’ sorority that emphasizes scholarships and children. “She is like the Energizer Bunny when it comes to her volunteerism ... She works at the local high schools’ college fairs, bowls for Junior Achievement, works with the local food banks’ drives, My Friends

Place donation drives, rings bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas, works monthly at the Juvenile Jenny Olson Justice library, is involved in Cavalcade of Authors for e l e m e n t a r y, middle school and high school students and fundraisers for PEO for scholMark Brault arships that average $1,500 per year, and she helps at the Food for Souls program through a local church. She also has served as co-advisor for the Kamiakin Key Club,” wrote BC Cunningham in her nomination letter. Cunningham was Kennewick Woman of the Year in 1997. Olson has been education advisor for the Tri-City Americans since 2013. She helps the high school players, as well as those taking college classes. She also is responsible for coordinating classes between Canada and the U.S., proctoring classes and helping players fulfill their community service requirements. According to Olson’s nomination letter, her home has served as a billet for Tri-City America players since 1995. Hockey players 16 to 20 years old live in her home from August through May. She has helped several players learn to drive and she also teaches them how to do their laundry, cook basic meals and adjust to being uHONORS, Page 6

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Tidying up craze sweeping US leaves Tri-Cities in dust BY ROBIN WOJTANIK for Senior Times

The life-changing magic of clearing personal clutter hasn’t hit the TriCities in quite the same way its effect has been felt nationally. Cities across the nation are citing overwhelming donations at thrift store and reseller sites, thanks to people inspired by the popular Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” The reality series, inspired by Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” encourages people to critically survey their clothing and personal belongings, thank them for their service, and then only retain the items which spark joy in their lives. “We have seen a slight increase in clothing and books — those two items in particular are increasing here,” said Greta Dority, store manager for Repeat Boutique at 22 W. Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick, where store proceeds benefit Chaplaincy Health Care. “Since the beginning of the year, after the holidays, there’s always kind of that ‘clean out attitude’ anyway,” Dority said. “But compared to last year, there’s been an increase. We’ve also had more ‘new with tags’ stuff.” While Dority has seen a small

uptick in donations, the region’s largest thrift stores and donation sites cannot confirm the same effect. Goodwill Industries of the Columbia operates five thrift stores in the TriCities, and collects donations at multiple sites, either at manned trailers or within its stores. The nonprofit tracks donations by counting the single donor, not the number or weight of items donated. Goodwill officials say they’ve seen a 5 percent to 7 percent increase in donations for January 2019 compared to 2018, but saw a similar increase year-over-year between January 2017 and January 2018. They said they can’t directly attribute the higher number of donations to what’s being called the “Marie Kondo effect.” “We haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary,” said Trevor Janin, logistics manager for Goodwill Industries of the Columbia. “We appreciate all of our donors, but we’re not being overwhelmed. People can keep donating.” That’s not the case in bigger metro areas. A San Francisco TV news station reported some thrift stores in the Bay Area have had to limit the volume of donations they will accept after being inundated with personal cast-offs.

uTIDYING, Page 5

Senior Times • March 2019

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Bring your grandchildren and families to events with a star.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

• Emergency Preparedness by Kennewick Fire Department: 2 p.m., Affinity at Southridge, 5207 W. Hildebrand Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-978-0060. Free.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

• 5th annual Honky Tonk Hoedown, benefiting Rascal Rodeo: 5:30 – 11 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco. Tickets: rascalrodeo.org.

MARCH 8-9

• Vintage at the Ridge: noon – 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Southridge Sports & Events Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. Go to: vintageattheridge.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

• Spring Garden Day Seminar: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., WSU Tri-Cities, East Building, 2710 Crimson Way, Richland. Register: tinyurl.com/ SpringGardenDay.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12

• Alzheimer’s Education Series “Effective Communication

Strategies”: 1:30 p.m., Kadlec Neurological Resource Center, 1268 Lee Blvd., Richland. Register: 509-943-8455. Free.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

• Cold War Patriots Town Hall on EEOICPA: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 802 George Washington Way, Richland. RSVP: 888-903-8989. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

• Cold War Patriots Town Hall on EEOICPA: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Red Lion Hotel, 1101 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP: 888-903-8989. Free. FRIDAY,

MARCH 15

• Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt Open House: 12:30 – 3:30 p.m., Affinity at Southridge, 5207 W. Hildebrand Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-978-0060. Free.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

• Seniors-in-Planning seminar: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland. RSVP: 509-6272522. Free.

MARCH 16-17

• Artistry in Wood Show: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Tri-Tech Skills Center, 5929 W. Metaline Ave., Kennewick. Go to: tri-citieswoodcarvingclub. blogspot.com. Free.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

• 19th annual Cancer Crushing Breakfast, benefiting Tri-Cities Cancer Center: 7:30 a.m., Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. RSVP: 509-737-3373.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

• Park Ranger Talks “Manhattan Project at Hanford”: 6 – 7 p.m., Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Drive, Richland. Contact: 509-942-7529. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

• Understanding Grief class: noon – 2 p.m. or 6 – 8 p.m., Chaplaincy Grief Care. RSVP: 509572-0593. Free. • Estate Planning Seminar by Elder Law Group: 5:30 p.m., Affinity at Southridge, 5207 W. Hildebrand Blvd., Kennewick.

RSVP: 509-978-0060. Free. • Community Lecture Series “Fighting for Gender Equality in the Early 1900s”: 7 p.m., East Benton County Historical Museum, 205 Keewaydin Drive, Kennewick. Free.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

• Three Rivers Contra Dance: 7 p.m., Trinity Church, 1007 Wright Ave., Richland. Go to: 3rfs.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 26

• Memory Care Café: 10 a.m. – noon, Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive, Richland. Contact: 509-942-7680. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

• Safe Harbor’s annual Spring Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., Meadow Springs Country Club, 700 Country Club Road, Richland. RSVP: 509-783-5734. Free.

MARCH 29-30

• Tri-City Quilter’s Guild Quilt Show: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Three Rivers Convention Center, 7016 W. Grandridge Blvd., Kennewick. Go to: tcquilters.org.

Senior Times • March 2019 uBRIEFS Richland to mull 8 percent electric rate increase

The Richland City Council planned to consider an 8 percent electric rate increase at its March 5 meeting. If approved, the rates will be effective June 1, with the first bill customers receive in June. The proposed rate increase is due to a projected 8 percent revenue deficit primarily due to higher wholesale power costs, according to the city of Richland. Wholesale power is Richland Energy Services’ most significant operating expense making up more than 60 percent of expenses, and the Bonneville Power Administration, RES’ wholesale power provider, is implementing a wholesale power increase effective Oct. 1. The average residential customer’s bill will increase about $8.40 per month, or from $105.20 to $113.60. Commercial, industrial, and irrigation rates also will increase. A second reading on the proposal is set for March 19. For updates, go to ci.richland. wa.us/agendas.

Low-income veterans OK’d for Benton PUD discount

Benton County commissioners approved an agreement Feb. 26 with Benton PUD to allow the Benton & Franklin Counties Department of Human Services to screen lowincome veterans and active military personnel for the PUD’s discounted electrical service. On Jan. 9, Benton PUD Commissioners approved a modification to the Low-Income Discount Program to include qualified veterans and active military customers. TIDYING, From page 3 Other sites in the Tri-Cities like St. Vincent Center, Atomic City Thrift and New Beginnings say they haven’t noticed any change in the number of donations. St. Vincent Centers recently moved to 731 N. Columbia Center Blvd. in Kennewick, near Get Air Trampoline Park, and workers say some customers or donors have had a difficult time finding them. Resale bookstores like Bookworm and Adventures Underground report a slight bump in the number of people bringing in books to resell, but couldn’t directly attribute this to those using the KonMari method, the name for the process that encourages people to tidy up based on categories, not location, with books being the second priority category, after clothing. This has resulted in some outcry from book lovers who think this might discourage reading, but Kondo has emphasized only discarding items which have outlived their purpose.

Those who believe they qualify to receive the discount are required to complete an application.

List of Shopko closures includes Kennewick, Prosser

The Kennewick, Prosser and Walla Walla Shopko stores are scheduled to close May 5. The department store announced plans to close 38 stores nationwide but the local stores weren’t on the list when the news was announced last month. Shopko filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Jan. 16. The new closure list includes 11 Washington stores, up from the previously released four. Nationwide, 251 stores will be shuttered. Those scheduled for closure in Washington include: Yakima and Pullman in April; Spokane and Lacey in March; and Union Gap, Wenatchee and Quincy in May. The Prosser and Quincy stores are Shopko Hometown shops, which are smaller than the traditional big box stores, ranging from 15,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet.

$11.7M senior housing project opens in Prosser

Saint Anthony Terrace, Catholic Charities Housing Services’ $11.7 million senior housing community, has opened. The 60-unit affordable housing community for those 55 years and older features one- and two-bedroom apartments. Rents range from $307 to $658 per month. Section 8 vouchers are welcomed. The pet-friendly complex includes a fitness room, resource library and computer area, community room, community gardening areas, storage space and three laundry rooms. Each kitchen includes a dishwasher, Adventures Underground has had some book donations recently where the reseller declined to accept store credit, preferring to simply donate without the chance to buy something else. News stories suggesting a treasure trove of quality cast-offs at thrift stores have been widely shared online, with many hoping to benefit from those who have aggressively cleared their personal clutter. “I appreciate everything she does and we’ve been trying to figure out ways to utilize her techniques in the store,” said Dority, though she hadn’t yet found a way to put this into action. The manager of New Beginnings at 1016 Lee Blvd. in Richland said he’s recently seen an increase in new customers, but couldn’t directly attribute it to those looking to seize the potential opportunities seen from new inventory. Dority isn’t sure either. “I’ve seen an increase in younger people coming in,” she said. “I don’t know if they’re binge watching the show or what.”

microwave, stove and refrigerator. Catholic Charities Housing Services said it developed Saint Anthony Terrace using green building techniques, saving apartment tenants about 50 percent of the energy usage typical of standard construction. Water usage will likewise be reduced through the incorporation of low flow fixtures and xeriscaping. For more information, call 509781-6380.

Richland Rotary completes Howard Amon beach project

The Richland Rotary Club recently completed a yearlong project to improve a public beach area at Howard Amon Park. The new Richland Rotary Beach provides access to the water along a section of the community park shoreline. The club collaborated with the city of Richland to plan and execute the stabilization of the shoreline to prevent further erosion of the beach area. The club’s legacy project marks the 70th anniversary of Richland Rotary, which was founded in 1949. Richland Rotarians in bright neon “Rotarian At Work” T-shirts gathered with Richland City Manager Cindy Reents and Director of Parks and Public Facilities Joe Schiessl on Jan. 29 for a brief ceremony to unveil the

beach reclamation project and sign. The basalt column sign, which features sand-blasted letters, was installed near the Lee Boulevard dock to complement Richland Rotary’s Centennial Plaza gazebo project on the north end of Howard Amon Park. Rotary work crew volunteers included Roy Keck, Dick Richter, President Bob Tibbatts, Mike Sinclair, Jon Putz, Larry Lowry, Tim Lewis, Gary Scofield, Janet Griffin, Pat Hollick and Phil Lemley.

Prosser legislator back at work after heart attack

Rep. Bill Jenkin, R-Prosser, has returned to Olympia following a heart attack Jan. 25. “Having a heart attack was a lifechanging event. But let me tell you, it sure is nice to be back to work here in Olympia, proudly representing the people of the 16th District,” Jenkin said in a news release. Jenkin has resumed his leadership role as the ranking Republican on the House Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee. He also resumes service on the House Capital Budget and Commerce and Gaming committees. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn the 105-day session April 28.

Senior Times • March 2019

SENIOR TIMES EXPO April 16, 2019 • 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Southridge Sports & Events Complex 2901 Southridge Boulevard, Kennewick

Calling all Vendors Here’s an opportunity to meet and talk with hundreds of seniors from around the Mid-Columbia. As an exhibitor, this one-day event on April 16 is designed to showcase your products and services to active and retired seniors and their families.

Booth space is limited. Call 509-737-8778 for more information.

Tiffany Lundstrom tiffany@tcjournal.biz 509-947-1712

Chad Utecht chad@tcjournal.biz 509-440-3929

HONORS, From page 3 away from home. Kennewick’s Man of the Year was nominated by Art King, Kennewick Man of the Year in 2013, and Kirk Williamson, who earned the honor in 2000. Bault has served for 12 years on the board of Grace Clinic, formerly as treasurer and now as president. He had a vision to expand the free clinic and was instrumental in convincing the Benton-Franklin Health District to allow its old building to be used by Grace Clinic in exchange for inkind services, according to Brault’s nomination letter. “He had a vision to expand health care access and to allow collaboration with the Trios and Kadlec residency programs. He enlisted the help of Dr. Kevin Taylor and was instrumental in working with Trios and Kadlec to establish Grace Clinic as a site where the residents all are assigned to see patients for a month rotation, expanding availability of health care access to the uninsured, low-income residents in Benton and Franklin counties and improving the residents’ knowledge and experience in working with sometimes difficult population,” the nomination letter said. He is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable people in the region on the complexity and pitfalls of the U.S. health care system and can discuss the topic without succumbing to partisan politics, according to the nomination letter. “Mark Brault has been an invaluable source of information and perspective over much of my career at Group Health,” wrote Williamson. “He’s become even more valuable as the volunteer chair of the BentonFranklin Community Health Alliance’s Health Access Team. Mark is generous with his time as an advisor, but he’s also willing to roll up his sleeves and get things done.” He’s also generous with his knowledge of business finance and has helped set several small businesses and individuals on a path to success, his nomination letter said. Brault also is a primary backup for babysitting and carpool driving for his seven grandchildren and helps care for his aging in-laws, who live in Parkview Assisted Living, taking them to appointments and to a weekly Monday night four-generation dinner with 24 on the regular list. “Most of his family doesn’t even know all the things he’s been involved in, given that he always seems willing to help anyone who asks for it,” the nomination letter stated.

Senior Times • March 2019

Low-income apartments move ahead at Badger Mountain South BY ROBIN WOJTANIK for Senior Times

Building permits and financing are in place for the first apartments at Badger Mountain South in Richland. The complex will include 276 units for low-income tenants at 2555 Bella Coola Lane, south of the Country Mercantile on Ava Way, near Trowbridge Boulevard. The city of Richland has issued grading and building permits to Nor Am Investments, which is listed as the owner of the project. The general contractor is Inland Construction, a Spokane-based company, which also built the Badger Mountain Ranch apartments near the Westcliffe neighborhood in south Richland. The apartment complex will be called Copper Mountain and is valued at $43.7 million. It is described as a multi-family housing facility, with all 276 units for tenants with incomes up to 60 percent of the area’s median income, as published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, guidelines. HUD lists the annual median income for a family in the RichlandKennewick area at $72,800, which means families would have to earn $43,680 or less annually to qualify for housing in the new complex. Twenty percent of the units, or 55

Hundreds of apartments are planned for this large expanse in the Badger Mountain South area of Richland, a project valued at $43.7 million. The complex will include 276 units for low-income tenants at 2555 Bella Coola Lane, south of the Country Mercantile.

in all, will be set aside for people with disabilities. To qualify for a home at Copper Mountain, tenants would need their income verified in advance. “Affordable housing is extremely important to every community in this region and across the nation,” said Kerwin Jensen, community development director for the city of Richland. “The more we have, the better it is for all residents.” The project sought financing from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. After a public

hearing in September, the financing closed in November. “This new development will provide much-needed affordable apartments for working families and seniors in the Tri-Cities, which, like other areas in the state, is facing a shortage of rental housing,” said Karen Miller, chairwoman of the Housing Finance Commission. “We’re pleased to be part of the solution through this financing.” The estimated tax credit equity on the project is valued at $15.7 million,

with tax-exempt bonds of $24.5 million and taxable bonds of $7 million. The commission lists the registered owner as Copper Mountain Apartments, a limited liability corporation formed in September 2018 and registered at the same Spokane address as Inland Construction. The registered agent on the project is Scott Morris, who is Inland Construction’s general counsel. According to a notice for the public hearing held in Seattle, proceeds of the notes will support a portion of the financing for the acquisition of land and the expected $33.8 million cost of the complex. Representatives from Inland Construction declined to comment on the project or provide a timeline on construction plans. The Housing Finance Commission distributes federal housing tax credits, which allow developers to raise capital by selling the credits to investors. The commission said it has created or preserved affordable homes for more than 334,000 people across the state in the past 32 years, including providing the financing for more than 30 properties across Benton and Franklin counties. This includes 2,840 rental units that were created or preserved, and an additional 427 units through the nonprofit bond program. uAPARTMENTS, Page 16

Senior Times • March 2019

Construction begins on Kennewick’s new $3.4M ice plant BY JESSICA HOEFER for Senior Times

Mother Nature recently shared her wintry mix with the Tri-Cities, but the Three Rivers campus wants to be able to create its own ice year-round. Construction of a new $3.4 million ice plant is underway at the Kennewick campus, which is home to the Toyota Center, Toyota Arena and Three Rivers Convention Center. The Toyota Center is home to the Tri-City Americans hockey team, while the arena is used by amateur hockey teams, public skating, Zamboni school and a figure skating club. The center and arena have icemaking equipment, but Corey Pearson, executive director of VenuWorks, said business is being held hostage by the 30-year-old ice system. “There was a new chiller put in about 20 years ago, but the system is outdated, so we’re replacing all that equipment,” Pearson said. “During a (Tri-City Americans) game last year, a couple of shiny lines showed up on the ice. You lose a hockey game or two (because equipment is down), and it hurts. With new equipment, we’ll be able to save that sheet of ice and operate no matter what happens.” VenuWorks is contracted by the

A $3.4 million ice plant at the Three Rivers campus in Kennewick will replace a 30-year-old system, helping improve the quality of ice. Hockey players say poor ice can make it difficult to skate or move the puck. (Courtesy Toyota Center)

city of Kennewick and the Kennewick Public Facilities District to manage the facilities on the Three Rivers campus. VenuWorks hired KDA of Yakima to design the 30-by-70-foot building. Kennewick-based O’Brien Construction Co. is the general contractor. Pearson is the project lead. Oregon-based Apcco will provide and install refrigeration equipment. Construction began in December and was ahead of schedule until the

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cold snap at the beginning of February slowed down work. “The masonry walls were three quarters up but they had to stop when it got cold,” Pearson said. “It’s scheduled to be done in June.” Once completed, the building will house a system that will create and maintain ice in the arena and center. There also will be room to add a compressor, which would cost an additional $100,000 but would allow for operation of a third rink. “So if we ever need to expand, we can take care of it right there,” Pearson said. The cost to operate the current system runs about $14,000 a month. By upgrading to more efficient equipment, he expected the bill to be significantly reduced. “We’re still waiting on the numbers to come in, but it looks like it will cut the bill in half,” he said. The project, which includes design and construction, is funded by the city of Kennewick’s capital budget. Along with lower maintenance costs, the quality of the ice will improve. Poor equipment leads to warm spots on the surface of the ice, and Pearson said those spots can be

harder to scrape and smooth down. Pockets in the ice can cause safety issues for skaters. Amateur hockey player Brian Mashburn said it also can affect the way the puck moves in a game. “During games, there can be puddles in the ice that aren’t freezing. Just like in soccer, water can cause the puck to stop or slow down. It makes for bad game play,” said Mashburn, who’s said he’s excited about the improvements. “The staff works hard to make it the best they can, and we’re thankful for them.” Before the new ice plant project, Pearson said workers replaced all of the old lighting, upgrading to a fully programmable LED light system in 2018 at a cost of about $400,000. “We can change colors and lights instantly, and dim them from zero to 100. It’s changed the atmosphere,” said Pearson, who believes these types of improvements can make a big difference in attendance. “We feel like attendance has gone up. It’s hard to tell with games, but we’ve had more games sell out or come close than we have in quite a few years,” he said. The next project on the horizon is to replace the video board at the Toyota Center. Right now, the board being used is not for video but for text, and if parts fail or break, they have to send it out to be refurbished. “That’s because they’re not making parts anymore. It’s antiquated,” he said. New video boards have better pixel pitch, which is the density of LED clusters on a display and correlates with resolution. VenuWorks has yet to ask for bids for the new video board. He expects it to cost about $750,000 to $900,000. The Kennewick City Council still will need to approve the expenditure, but Pearson hopes to have it installed this summer after the new ice plant is up and running.

uBRIEF Local eateries to be on TV

Tune in to Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” at 9 p.m. March 8 and midnight March 9 to see Tri-City restaurants on the Food Network. Though the restaurants aren’t named, the program notes say Fieri visits a Richland “joint going big with their legit barbecue.” Another Richland restaurant makes its debut on the show 9 p.m. March 29 and midnight March 30 for Fieri’s visit to Richland to check out “a funky spot serving serious strombolis and an apple-dough dessert.”

Senior Times • March 2019

Social Security Administration, Medicare fake calls are on rise BY TYLER RUSSELL for Senior Times

The Better Business Bureau is seeing an increasing number of scammers hiding behind fake phone personas to trick consumers. The BBB Scam Tracker in the United States received more than 500 reports during 2018 of callers claiming to be Medicare representatives. It is so important to make sure that your personal and Tyler Russell banking inforBetter Business mation remains Bureau secure. We have some insight for consumers and businesses as to how these scammers operate and the tactics they use. Also, we have tips to protect yourself from these very clever and persistent scammers from around the world. We also have some extra resources and information from Better Business Bureau Northwest and Pacific and the Federal Trade Commission to protect your identity and money from getting into the scammers’ hands. How does this scam work? You receive a call that appears on your caller ID as Medicare or Social Security Administration. In one version, when you pick up the phone, a Medicare impersonator offers you something for free, such as a back or knee brace, medical equipment, or new Medicare cards. All you must do is share some personal information, such as your Social Security number, to “confirm” your identity. In an alternate version of this scam, there is an attempt to intimidate you by claiming there is a problem with your Medicare or Social Security benefits. The scammers may claim there has been suspicious activity on your account and if you don’t give them the information they need right away, you are in danger of losing your benefits or worse. Frequently, scammers want you to resolve the issue quickly with high pressure tactics and fear to get someone to act immediately. Sometimes, scammers even use robocalls to tell you there is a problem and ask you to call a different number to resolve it. Regardless of the method, the scammer’s goal is to steal your personal information for their personal benefit. Last year there were 23 reports in Washington from those who have

been affected by this scam, with an average dollar amount lost of $455. Most were contacted by telephone, but scammers will be as creative as possible and do use other means, such as email, text messages or even standard mail. These scammers also prefer to use online payment methods as this a quick and easy way to get your hard-earned dollars. How best to protect yourself? Here is a list of tips: Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you receive a call from a number you haven’t saved to your contacts, or if your caller ID says “unknown,” don’t pick up the phone. Also, be aware that scammers can dupe caller ID and mask their true phone number or make it appear as though they are calling locally. When in doubt, hang up. If you do answer a call from an unsolicited caller and are greeted by a robocall or even a person who claims to be with a government agency, just hang up. Don’t press any buttons, don’t engage in conversation and don’t ask to be removed from the calling list. In some cases, scammer have been known to use the unintentional responses and button pushes gain access to personal and banking information. Know how government agencies work. Government agencies don’t call consumers unsolicited. Instead, they send letters if they need to contact you. If you receive a particularly convincing call from someone claiming to be a Social Security Administration employee, hang up and call the agency at 800-772-1213 to verify. Likewise, you can call 800-MEDICARE to verify Medicare issues. You can learn more at BBB.org/ HeathcareScam and BBB.org/ AvoidScams. If you have received a call from a government agency impersonator, help others avoid falling victim a nd report the details of the call to BBB.org/ScamTracker. If you have been the victim of identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov for more information and a personalized recovery plan. Tyler Russell is the marketplace manager for the Better Business Bureau Northwest and Pacific.

Snow puns decorate two dozen sugar cookies at Tsp Bakeshop in West Richland. (Courtesy Tsp Bakeshop)

BAKERY, From page 1 The bakery, which has a staff of four, offers a wide range of buttery and flaky pastries in the French style, as well as custom work, cakes, sugar cookies, macrons and other treats. Customers also can find Tsp Bakeshop items at Caterpillar Café and Roasters, both in Richland. Nissen has owned the shop for two years. The bakery been located at its current location for five years and in existence for 10 years. “It’s been a labor of love, but

owning a business is not for the faint of heart,” Nissen said. The snow affected small businesses across the Tri-Cities in February, Nissen’s included. “It was definitely slower than we’re used to that week, but we didn’t have keep our doors closed,” she said, explaining that they did open late a couple of days. Tsp Bakeshop’s hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The bakery is at 4850 Paradise Way, Suite 202, adjacent to Yoke’s Fresh Market.

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Senior Times • March 2019

Wait it out for passenger pickup at new airport lot Officials say cellphone lot will reduce traffic, offer safe waiting area BY SENIOR TIMES

Hello? Have you landed? Coordinate your next airport pickup from the new cellphone lot at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. Airport officials say the new lot will reduce traffic congestion along the curb and provide a safe place for those picking up passengers to wait for incoming flights. The lot allows people to wait for free on airport property until their traveler has landed, collected their bags and come to the curb. The new lot, which features 20 The Tri-Cities Airport new cellphone parking lot, which features 20 stalls, is west of the airport terminal stalls, is located west of the terminal near the employee parking lot. (Courtesy Tri-Cities Airport) near the employee parking lot. The cost to build it was less than $6,000 because the lot already exist- the airport,” said Buck Taft, director A total of 785,164 passengers ed. The amount included the fence of Tri-Cities Airport, in a news passed through the Pasco airport in and signs. release. “Drivers won’t clog the curb- 2018. That’s 38,000 more people, or a The lot is designed to reduce con- side loading area, and they won’t 5 percent increase, compared with the gestion at the curb and to keep traffic have to worry about their time expir- previous year. in front of the airport moving smooth- ing in the short term lot. All they need United Airlines’ addition of a third ly. The new lot also provides an alter- to do is wait in the cellphone lot until daily flight to Denver helped spur the native to driving around the airport their passenger calls them to be picked growth, as did Delta’s decision to property while waiting for travelers. up from the curb. It will make everyextend its second daily flight to Drivers are not permitted to wait at one’s airport experience easier.” the airport terminal curb, so the new Drivers can wait for free for up to Minneapolis-St. Paul, said airport lot will provide a place to wait until 60 minutes, and cannot leave their officials. “I’m proud of our team’s ability to they receive a call from friends or cars unattended. consistently deliver excellent customfamily that they can come to the terNo limousines or commercial vehier service while accommodating a minal curb. cles are permitted in the lot. “The new lot will be convenient for More people are traveling through record-setting number of passengers,” said Taft in a news release. “The fact people picking up passengers from the airport than ever before. MORTALITY, From page 1 The age-adjusted mortality rates from cerebrovascular diseases such as a stroke were higher in Eastern Washington in 2015, with people older than 65 years experiencing the largest gap in mortality between the two regions, according to the study. For chronic lower respiratory diseases, the rate was 37 per 100,000 in Eastern Washington, compared to 33 per 100,000 in western Washington. Chronic lower respiratory diseases encompass chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The age-adjusted mortality rates of chronic lower respiratory disease were higher in Eastern Washington than in western Washington (51 compared to 40 per 100,000 in 2015), with people over 65 years of age experiencing the largest gap in mortality between the two regions (1,229 compared to 1,004 per 100,000 over four years). Eastern Washington had higher age-

adjusted rates of diabetes mortality as compared to Western Washington and to the national average. The gap between the east and west widened as age increased. “The aim of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is to solve problems in challenging health care environments, particularly rural and urban underserved communities,” stated Ofer Amram, nutrition and exercise physiology department assistant professor and the report’s coauthor. “With so much of Eastern Washington consisting of small and isolated communities, which face a distinctly different set of health issues compared to communities on the west side of the state, this report enables us to better understand what and where the issues are.” Now that researchers know where death rates are higher in the state, they plan to publish future reports that explore the causes behind the health disparities between the two regions including poverty, rurality and access to health care.

that more people are choosing to fly out of Tri-Cities instead of taking the long drive over the mountains is a sign that convenience and customer service are increasingly important to travelers.” The passenger number could increase this year when the airport begins nonstop service to Los Angeles in March. The Pasco airport currently offers nonstop flights to seven destinations, including San Francisco, Denver and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Airlines count their passengers by tallying the number of enplanements, the number of people who board an aircraft, with the number of deplanements, the number of people arriving. In 2018, the airport saw 395,084 enplanements. United Airlines had the largest year-over-year gain with 60,547 boarding passengers, a 23 percent increase. Delta’s numbers also were up in 2018, with 168,930 boardings, a 6 percent increase. Delta carried 43 percent of the TriCity market in 2018, Alaska 32 percent, United 15 percent, and Allegiant 10 percent. The busiest month was December, which also saw a 15 percent increase in enplanements over the previous December. The Port of Pasco completed a multimillion airport remodeling project in 2017 that nearly doubled the size of the terminal and expanded the security checkpoint area.

Source: WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Senior Times • March 2019

Kennewick Community Center

500 S. Auburn St., Kennewick • 509-585-4303 All activities are at the Kennewick Community Center unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-585-4303. • Bunco: 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. • Woodcarving: 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: 75 cents per day. 9 a.m. to noon Fridays. Cost: $1

per day. Bring supplies or borrow from the class. • Dominoes: 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cost: 50 cents per day. • Party Bridge: 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: 50 cents per day. • Bridge Tournament: Second Sunday of each month, 2 to 6 p.m. Cost: $1. RSVP 509-586-3349.

• Pinochle: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Cost: 50 cents per day. • Chinese Mahjong: 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Sewing: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $1 per day. • Clay Sculpting: 1 to 2 p.m., Mondays. Cost: $1 per day. Bring your own supplies. • Indoor Walking: 9 a.m. to

noon Monday through Friday. Cost: $1 per day. Location: Southridge Sports Complex, 2901 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick. • Hair Cuts and Clips: Hair cuts provided by Pam Eggers. Second and fourth Wednesday of each month, 9 to 11 a.m. by appointment only. Cost $1. Call 509-585-4303.

Richland Community Center

500 Amon Drive, Richland • 509-942-7529 All activities are at the Richland Community Center unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-942-7529. • Cribbage: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Golden Age Pinochle: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $1 per day. Location: game room. • ACBL, Duplicate and Party Bridge: Various groups. For a schedule of each group, cost and location, visit the Richland Community Center or call 509-942-7529.

• Birthday Club Social: Second Tuesday of each month, noon to 12:30 p.m. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Pie Socials: Third Tuesday of each month, noon to 12:30 p.m. Cost: free. Location: lounge. • Greeting Card Recycling: 9 to 11 a.m. Mondays. Cost: free. Location: meeting room. • RSA Dance: Third Friday of the month, 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: $7 per person. Location: Riverview room. • International Folk Dancing: 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays (location: Riverview room) and 6 to 9 p.m. the first Saturday of the month for a potluck

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and dancing (location: activity room). • Fitness Room: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Cost: $2 per day or $8 per month. Location: Fitness room. • Foot Care for Fabulous Feet:

Have a licensed registered nurse specializing in geriatrics care for your feet. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every other Monday. Cost: $30. Location: wellness room. For an appointment, call 509-942-7529.

Senior Times • March 2019

Pasco First Avenue Center 505 N. First Ave., Pasco • 509-545-3459

Most of Pasco’s senior services programs take place at the First Avenue Center, unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and location subject to change. For more information, call 509-545-3459. • Basin Wood Carvers: 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: Free. • China Painting: 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays. Bring your own project and supplies. • Cribbage: 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

• Drop-In Snooker: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost: $1 per day. • Mexican Train Dominoes: 12:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays. Cost: Free. • Pinochle: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. • Wavemakers Aqua Fit: Class for those with arthritis, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, muscle weakness, those who use a cane or a walker and anyone who loves the pool. Location: Oasis Physical Therapy, 6825 Burden

Blvd., Suite D, Pasco. This class is offered on various days/times. To register, call 509-545-3456. • Enhance Fitness (40+): Class focuses on stretching, balance, low impact aerobics and strength training. 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Call 509-545-3456 to register. Location: Pasco City Hall Activity Center, 525 N. Third Ave., Pasco. • Happy Feet program (60+): Get your feet cared for by a licensed, reg-

istered nurse. By appointment 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. Cost: Free with suggested donation of $12 to $15 per person. Call 509-545-3459. • Foot Care for Adults (18+): Get your feet cared for by a licensed, registered nurse. By appointment only, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $30. Call 509-545-3459.

Prosser Senior Community Center 1231 Dudley Ave., Prosser • 509-786-2915

All activities are at the Prosser Senior Community Center unless otherwise listed. Activities, times and locations subject to change. For more information, call 509-786-2915. • Pool: 12:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Cost: free. Location: pool room. • Tia Chia Quan: 6 p.m. Mondays. Taught by Kraig Stephens. Cost: $50 per month, 65 and older get discounted rate. Beginners start the first Monday of every month. Wednesday

and Friday open practice is at 5 p.m. which is free to club members only. Location: dining room. • Wellness Class: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Taught by Cheri Eisen of Sirius Therapeutics. Cost: $25 per month for members, $32 per month for others. Location: living room. • Mahjong 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: Free. Location: living room. • Bingo: 10 a.m. Wednesdays. Cost:

3 cards for $1. Location: dining room. • Pinochle: 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost: $1. Location: living room. Bring potluck dish to share. • Prosser Friendship Quilting: 1 to 4 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays. Cost: Free for members ($5 per year). Location: dining room. Bring sewing machine and project to work on. • Lunch and Learn Program: 1 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month. Subject changes every month. Cost: Free. Location: dining room • Monthly Potluck: Noon to 3 p.m. the third Sunday of every month. Cost: Free. Location: dining room. Bring a potluck dish to share.

• All-you-can-eat breakfast: 8 to 11:30 a.m. the last full Sunday of each month. Cost: Adults $5 per person, children 12 and under $3. Location: dining room. Includes pancakes, eggs, ham, apple juice and coffee. • Birthday Celebration: Typically the third Friday of the month. Call 509-786-1148 to verify. Provided by Meals on Wheels. Cost: suggested donation of $2.75. Location: dining room. • Meals On Wheels: 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday. Cost: Suggested donation of $2.75. Location: dining room. For reservations, call 509-786-1148.

West Richland Senior Center

616 N. 60th, West Richland 509-967-2847 All activities are at the West Richland Senior Center. For more information, call 509-967-2847. • Potluck Lunch: noon, second Tuesday of the month. Bring a dish to share. • Bingo: noon, third Monday of the month. Hot dog luncheon at noon. $3 suggested donation. • Pinochle: 1 p.m. Mondays. • Bunco Potluck: noon, first

Wednesday and third Friday of the month. • TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Fitness: 11 a.m. Thursdays. • Exercise: A co-ed, light cardio class, led by exercise video, is 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. A donation of 50 cents for members and $1 for others is requested.

Senior Times • March 2019

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For more information about Senior Life Resources Northwest visit seniorliferesources.org.

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potatoes, mixed vegetables, peaches. • Tuesday, March 26: Tuna noodle casserole, Lyonnaise carrots, dinner roll and blueberry crumble. • Wednesday, March 27: Sweet and sour pork, fluffy rice, oriental vegetables, wheat roll and fruit cocktail. • Thursday, March 28: Beef tacos, refried beans, fiesta vegetables and applesauce. • Friday, March 29: Herbed chicken with mushroom gravy, herbed potatoes, green beans and carrot cake.

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• Monday, March 18: St. Patrick’s Day. Corn beef with cabbage, herb roasted potatoes, carrots, dinner roll and frosted white cake. • Tuesday, March 19: Chicken fiesta, refried beans, Mexican slaw, bread and a cherry oat bar. • Wednesday, March 20: Beef stir fry, fluffy rice, salad with dressing, bread and pineapple. • Thursday, March 21: Chili, mixed vegetables, salad with dressing, crackers and a cinnamon roll. • Friday, March 22: Breaded fish sandwich, clam chowder, coleslaw, tartar sauce and oatmeal raisin cookies. • Monday, March 25: Chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed

Just for Fun SUDOKU SUDOKU

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Meals on Wheels is a program of Senior Life Resources Northwest and is supported by donations. For those 60 and over the suggested donation is $2.75 per meal. Meals may be purchased by those younger than 60 for $7.25. Menu substitutions may occur. For reservations, call between 9 a.m. and noon the day before your selected meal. For reservations in Richland, call 509-943-0779; Kennewick 509-585-4241; Pasco 509-543-5706; Parkside 509-5452169; Benton City 509-588-3094; Prosser 509-786-1148; and Connell 509-234-0766. The Senior Dining Café serves soups, sandwiches and salads without a reservation. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The café is at 1834 Fowler St. in Richland and can be reached by calling 509-736-0045. • Tuesday, March 5: Dijon chicken, fluffy rice, peas and onions and a cherry oat bar. • Wednesday, March 6: Hamburger, baked beans, apple cabbage slaw and cookies. • Thursday, March 7: Pork roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, glazed baby carrots, bread and a lemon bar.

• Friday, March 8: Chicken fajitas, refried beans, pears and an apple oat bar. • Monday, March 11: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, broccoli, bread and Mandarin oranges. • Tuesday, March 12: Teriyaki chicken, fluffy rice, oriental vegetables, bread and pear crumble. • Wednesday, March 13: Beef lasagna, mixed vegetables, breadstick and a brownie. • Thursday, March 14: Chicken ala king, biscuit, green beans and peach fluff. • Friday, March 15: Birthday day! Roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, Italian vegetables, dinner roll and ice cream.

Meals on Wheels March menu

How to beat Str8ts – How to beat Str8ts – To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering Like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any row complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering Solutions 15 1To Like Sudoku, no single number 1 to 9 can repeat in any on row page numbers to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 or column. But... rows and columns are numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 or column. But... rows and columns are box contains every number uniquely. divided by black squares into compartments. 2 1 4 5 box contains every number uniquely. divided by black squares into compartments. 2 1 4 5 Each compartment must form a straight For many strategies, hints and tips, 6 4 5 3 2 Each compartment must straight For many strategies, hints and tips, 6 4 5 visit 3 www.sudokuwiki.org 2 a set of numbers with no gaps butform it cana be for Sudoku 4 5 2 1 a set of numbers with no gaps but it can be visit www.sudokuwiki.org for Sudoku in any order, eg [7,6,9,8]. Clues in black cells 4 5 2 www.str8ts.com 1 and for Str8ts. in any order,as egan [7,6,9,8]. in black 4 cells 3 6 2March 1 5 1: New Yorkand www.str8ts.com for Str8ts. remove that number option inClues that row Yankees’ Mickey Mantle from baseball. 4 3 6 2 If 1you5like Str8ts and other puzzles, checkretires remove number asany an straight. option in that row and column, and that are not part of out our 3 5 2 1 4 and arehow not ‘straights’ part of any straight. If you likepleads Str8ts and other puzzles, out our 3 5 2 1 4 Glance at thecolumn, solutionand to see Apps and much on ourcheck JamesiPhone/iPad Earl Ray guilty tomore murder ofstore. Martin Luther 2 1 3March 10:books, Glance at the solution to see how ‘straights’ books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store. are formed. 2 1Jr. 3 King are formed.

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.

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Turn Back the Clock...

March 17: Golda Meir becomes the first female prime minister of Israel.

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Senior Times • March 2019

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Read between the leaves: Tea is good brew for you BY MARILOU SHEA for Senior Times

Did you know that for every cup of coffee consumed daily in the world three cups of tea are consumed? Or that next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage the world over? There are more than 1,500 varieties of tea varying in color and taste. Consumers today are beginning to think of tea with the same devotion as coffee, especially here in the United States, primarily because of its vast assortment, applications and perceived health benefits. Green tea has been the darling of the industry for the last few years, going from health food co-op groupies to mainstream consumers in a nano-second, thanks to being featured on the Dr. Oz show and in brand giants like Arizona, Lipton, Gold Peak, Fuze, Nestea, Teas’ Tea, Peace Tea, and Honest Tea, just to name a few. But there’s more to the tea trends than just the green kind. One nifty one is that we may see a new neighbor joining the local coffee scene in the form of a “tea bar.” Craft tea blending, nitro tea on tap and even tea cocktails will start appearing in some of your favorite hip, urban locales. You could even consider becoming a tea-tender. As I mentioned in last month’s column, Kombucha, or fermented tea, is seeing a comeback from the 1970s the likes of which is segmenting an already wildly segmented industry. Gut-conscious consumers are driving the birth of a variety of home-grown Kombuchas at boutique/lifestyle hotels and chef-driven, trendy food spots. The goal is to consume the least-processed beverages while increasing probiotics which in turn pleases the immune system. While 18- to 34-year-olds in particular love their ready-to-drink tea, all tea segments — including traditional, ready-to-drink, food service and specialty — have grown in recent years. According to the U.S. Tea Association, the total U.S. wholesale value of the tea industry has more than quadrupled — from $1.8 billion in 1990 to $10.8 billion in 2014 and the upward trajectory continues to climb. The root of tea is steeped in folklore, economics and politics. According to scholars, the origins of the very first tea cup can be found in the Yunnan province of China in

2737 BC. As legend has it, Chinese emperor Shen Nung, also a reputable herbalist, was sitting beneath a tree while Marilou Shea his servant Food Truck boiled water Academy for him to drink. Several leaves flew from a Camellia sinensis tree into the water, the emperor liked what he tasted and voila! The Buddhist monks introduced tea to Japan. Portuguese and Dutch traders and missionaries brought it to Europe from the island of Java. Although tea is often associated with the Brits, it really wasn’t until a teaaddicted Portuguese princess married a British royal and introduced it at court in 1658 that the Brits finally began their own love affair with the beverage known at the time as “China Drink,” called by the Chinese “tcha,” by other nations “tay,” or “tee.” (hee!). The tea industry is thriving and not surprisingly many nations lay claim to it today — from Nepal to India, from Britain to Malawi and beyond. British companies continue to play a leading role in the world’s tea trade but neither China nor Britain have a monopoly on the industry as they did in the 1800s. Although it’s the biggest consumer of their own tea (ahem), China produces more than 18.5 percent of the world’s tea supply. The most common varietals — and easily accessible in your local retail outlets — are green, oolong, white, flavored and compressed teas. Mulanje, Malawi, is credited with being the tea pioneer in Africa. It was the first to commercially harvest tea in the 1880s and is responsible for tea cultivation expansion to other African countries. Tea-producing countries in Africa include Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. They produce about 30 percent of world exports amounting to some 514,742 tons of made tea. Recent scientific research indicates that tea drinking may have direct health benefits but “indicates” is the operative word. I spoke with a local food industry expert and she said that many of these trends like probiotics, antioxidants and fermented yumminess have yet to be studied by the scientific community. uTEA, Page 15

Senior Times • March 2019

Picture Yourself provides create-it-yourself studio space BY JEFF MORROW for Senior Times

Jim and Karen Pridemore have opened a new business at 627 The Parkway in Richland that aims to create lasting memories. Picture Yourself is a create-it-yourself studio for photography and videography in which customers can rent studio time by the hour or pay for a monthly membership. The company offers various price packages. With studio time, a customer can hire their own photographer or videographer, using the studio’s many different sets or costumes. The studio comes with 203 backdrops and an infinity wall. In addition, Picture Yourself offers classes for students of all skill levels, including cellphones. The Pridemores are relatively new to the Mid-Columbia. They owned Ashton Photography in Oviedo, Florida, a suburb of Orlando. “We’ve been in the photography business for 25 years,” Jim Pridemore said. Their original business was in publishing, advertising and printing. But Pridemore saw an opportunity with the way the digital camera market was taking off. The self-taught Pridemore changed TEA, From page 14 Those published reports are critical to consumers because they have proven data that supports health claims being made by a host of leaf-reading, cup-toting organizations. So maybe we should take the health benefit claims with a grain of sugar? To help de-mystify the health benefits of tea, there are two key terms to know and understand: antioxidants and flavonoids. In everyday living, we expose ourselves to pollution and at times too much sun. Free radicals arise naturally during the chemical process “in the air” and can be bad for our health. While I’m familiar with the term from my favorite skincare brand ambassadors wailing about free radical damage to my skin, they are also apparently the culprits in diseases like heart disease, stroke and cancers. To counteract those nasty free radicals, it’s been suggested that by consistently consuming food and beverages rich in antioxidants that soak up the free radicals helps us get back to a more healthy, natural state of being. Omm. Tea is brimming with an

direction and opened a one-hour photo studio in Florida, taking pictures of subjects and getting the results back to them in one hour. He made his first sale in 1998. But a melanoma cancer scare changed his philosophy on life. “I wanted to spend more time with our grandkids,” he said. Many of those grandkids live in the Tri-Cities and Tacoma, so a move seemed inevitable. “Karen came three years ago. I arrived one and a half years ago, and our son Tyler came last year after graduating from the University of Central Florida,” Jim said. But retiring and living a leisurely life is not Jim’s style. “I retired for four months,” said Jim, who has been an entrepreneur since he was 19 years old. Jim and Karen have been taking students’ pictures at various Tri-City preschools. Jim introduces himself to preschoolers as Mr. Stinky Feet to get them to relax and smile for their pictures. But he also started looking at the local photography market and realized there really wasn’t a place where people could come and have photos taken, whether they were to do it themselves or hire someone. “The portrait market has struggled,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of photograantioxidant called flavonoids. According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, there is about eight times the amount of “anti-oxidant power” in three cups of tea than there is in one apple. Wow. Every time you brew a cuppa two for up to one minute, you about get 140 milligrams of flavonoids. To achieve the maximum health benefits from tea, four cups of tea a day is recommended. Some would

Jim Pridemore, Tyler Pridemore and Karen Pridemore stand in front of a wall filled with children’s costumes at Picture Yourself’s studio at 627 The Parkway in Richland. The business’ create-it-yourself studio for photography and videography allows customers to rent studio time by the hour or pay for a monthly membership. Picture Yourself also offers photography classes.

phers say they can’t compete with mom with a camera. But I’m trying to lay a foundation. I think the way to handle a soccer mom is to befriend her and help her.” He and his wife taught photography classes in Florida, and they always sold out. So they’ve brought classes to their studio. The first one sold out last month. Jim said local photographers Allen Johnson and Sonja Yearsley have agreed to teach some classes too. But the Pridemores also have another mission with this studio, and that’s where their son, Tyler, comes in.

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Food Love columnist Marilou Shea is an adjunct faculty member for Columbia Basin College’s hospitality program and Food Truck Academy, as well as the creator of Food Truck Fridays.

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also say that tea also has a soothing effect which could also qualify as a health benefit, right? It tastes good, it’s supposedly good for you and you may have a tea-tending job in your future. What’s not to love?

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Tyler is on the autism spectrum and because of that, the Pridemores were long involved with the University of Central Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities program. “We realized there is a problem,” Jim said. “What is there for kids once they get out of high school? What happens to a young person? They get stereotyped in jobs like dishwasher, working on typing on a computer in a cubby.”

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Senior Times • March 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY, From page 15 Jim said those young people need jobs that offer good repetitive skills. Tyler was lucky. It took him two interview attempts, but he got a job working at Bush Car Wash. “TJ Bush realized something was going on in the first interview and called him back again and hired him,” Jim said. “We are indebted to TJ Bush and his brothers. They stepped up. But we realize there is a void out there for people Tyler’s age.” To that end, the Pridemores plan on having classes in photography, videography and graphic arts for young people on the autism spectrum.

Eventually, Jim said, they could work at the studio with customers. “Our goal is to give them a big chunk of the sales. It creates income for them,” Jim said. “We’re going to apply for a grant. Grant writing is starting next week, and we hope to have classes in position in the next 60 days.” That’s one goal the Pridemores have. The other is to help young professional photographers. “We’re working hard to define the professional photography component still,” he said. The use of the studio can help improve their skills, he said. “So we’ve added a professional membership to our plan. The pro can

come in and use everything we have; I can assist them or just stay out of their way, for $89 a month. That includes two hours of studio time a month that if they wanted to, they could break that up into four half-hour sessions.” In a region of almost 300,000 people, there should be plenty of business to go around. “The vision there is to help grow their business,” Jim said. “Giving them (studio) space helps their credibility. We’re trying to help them with their image. Now, we’re not saints. We’re not giving this away.” The business — which took Jim two years to form, with a plan and trademarked name — has been open for two

months. But the family hopes to get plenty of customers — including the group of mothers he recently had in the studio with their toddlers, all playing dress-up and taking group pictures. “Customer experience and service is No. 1,” he said. “Our policy is if you don’t like your photo, we’ll fix it or take them over again.” But the long-term goal is bigger than business. “I really want to focus spending time helping other people,” he said, referring to kids on the autism spectrum and young photographers. Picture Yourself: 627 The Parkway; 509-578-1610; Facebook. APARTMENTS, From page 7 Grading already is underway at the site in Badger Mountain South, a growing part within Richland’s boundaries, east of Dallas Road and north of Interstate 82. The city recently revised its road impact fees that are tacked onto home building permits to accommodate additional growth at Badger Mountain South. The traffic impact district, including Badger Mountain South, pays the highest fees in the city to offset the increasing population and number of homes actively under construction from multiple builders and their effect on city roads. “Building and development of residential housing is a very important part of the Tri-Cities community. It provides jobs and drives the economy,” Jensen said. Up until now, all residential properties at the site have been singlefamily homes. “Badger Mountain South is intended to be high-density, residential, with high numbers of homes and apartments,” Jensen said. “This (Copper Mountain) project complies with the vision of the developer, whether it’s market housing or affordable.” The Country Mercantile is the only commercial development currently in Badger Mountain South, but at least one sign announces future development planned for the area from Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Located on the outskirts of Richland, and near the border of West Richland, Jensen believes Badger Mountain South neighbors looking for more retail options nearby should be encouraged by the apartment project. “From a commercial and retail standpoint, the residential rooftops need to come first before anyone will invest in commercial activity. There’s a threshold that needs to be met before developing retail,” he said.