Mid-Columbia Libraries announces Natalie McQuade, a junior at Delta High School, as the 2020 Poetry Out Loud Southeastern Washington Regional Champion. The competition was held Jan. 23 at Kennewick library.

Miss McQuade will go on to compete at the state level competition on March 7 at The Museum of Glass in Tacoma. The competition, presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The winner of this competition will advance to the national finals in Washington, DC, on April 28-29, 2020, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

​Chad Bartram, Benton PUD General Manager since January 2013, has provided notice to Benton PUD Commissioners of his intention to retire effective February 29, 2020.  

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 28, the Benton PUD Board of Commissioners plan to introduce a resolution that will lead to the appointment of Rick Dunn as the General Manager effective March 1, 2020.  The board anticipates final approval of the appointment at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 11.  

Bartram has been with the District for 19 years holding positions of Director of Finance & Business Services and General Manager.  Previously, Bartram worked at Energy Northwest for 15 years and served on active duty as a U.S. Army officer for over 5 years. 

Dunn, a native of the Tri-Cities area and graduate of Kiona-Benton High School in Benton City, is currently serving as the Senior Director of Engineering and Power Management and has been with Benton PUD since 2007.  In his current role, Dunn is responsible for system engineering, distribution design, conservation and renewable energy programs, and power contracts and analytics.  Dunn’s previous utility experience includes working at Umatilla Electric Cooperative in Oregon and Salt River Project in Arizona. A graduate of Washington State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Professional Engineer license, Dunn has more than 33 years of electrical power and utility systems engineering and operations experience in both the public and private sectors.

“The Commission is pleased with the strategic direction that has been underway for several years relative to maintaining low retail rates, improving customer service offerings, modernizing our electric system, and implementing advanced technologies” said Jeff Hall, President of the Benton PUD Commission. “We are fortunate to have Rick Dunn who is extremely well-qualified to build on these successes as well as address our next set of strategic challenges including acquisition of capacity resources to meet customer loads, securing power contracts and addressing uncertainty in west coast power markets.” 

“I am very thankful for having had the opportunity to work with such a great group of dedicated and skilled employees, and a supportive Board of Commissioners,” said Bartram.  “It is absolutely amazing what our employees have accomplished over the last several years.  Under Rick’s leadership, I see more great things ahead.”

The Academy of Children’s Theatre is performing a musical production of Disney’s “Freaky Friday” for two consecutive weekends beginning February 21. The show performs on February 21 and 29 at 7 p.m. and on February 22, 23, 29, and March 1 at 3 p.m.  All performances or at the ACT studio, located at 213 Wellsian Way in Richland. 

Based on Broadway’s Disney musical version of “Freaky Friday”, the cast features 34 youth actors and six adults.  In the lead role as Ellie is Tayler Riley, who follows in the famous footsteps of Jodie Foster and Lindsey Lohan.  Playing her mother Catherine is Ann Archer.  Director is Josh Darby.   

The warm-hearted and hilarious plot explores the adventures the mother and daughter experience when they magically swap bodies and have just one day to put things right.  Masquerading as each other, they must work together to solve the mystery of how to break the spell.  By spending a day in each other’s shoes, both learn the true power of love and the strength of the bond between a mother and daughter in this engaging musical production. 

Petersen Hastings in Kennewick, Washington is honored to announce our recertification from the Center for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) for the 12th straight year. This certification is only granted by CEFEX to firms that demonstrate adherence to fiduciary best practices. It is a hallmark accomplishment as it signifies conformity to a recognized global standard of fiduciary excellence. 

The CEFEX certificate requires that advisors undergo annual fiduciary assessments conducted by the program’s expert analysts to ensure they are upholding fiduciary standards and that practices are in place in order to achieve cultural excellence, supported by documented and structured processes. The CEFEX Fiduciary assessment, in detail, includes administrative review, analyzes structure systems and reporting – where conflicts of interest may be addressed, analyzes risk and characteristics of the portfolio, and samples client deliverables. Because of this, advisors are better able to manage client portfolios and expectations through education, reporting, and disclosure. 

“CEFEX is pleased to once again, include Petersen Hastings amongst an elite group of investment advisors who have demonstrated adherence to professional practices that define a standard of fiduciary excellence,” said CEFEX Managing Director, Carlos Panksep. “They have earned the right to use the CEFEX Mark which indicated the firm’s established practices are aligned with investors’ interests and worthy of trust and confidence.”

“Embracing the fiduciary standard has been and continues to be a pillar of the Petersen Hastings mission, and we are excited to be one of the few firms in the country that have been CEFEX certified as fiduciaries for over ten years,” said Matthew Petersen, Chief Compliance Officer. “We have been able to achieve this through our entire team’s dedication to putting the interest of our clients ahead of our own.“

Petersen Hastings is a Registered Investment Advisor located in Kennewick, WA. As a primary fiduciary, Petersen Hastings serves committed investors with complex financial needs. Our multigenerational team of experienced and credentialed professionals delivers innovative solutions through The Trusted Financial PathTM to enhance and preserve wealth.

For additional information contact Scott Sarber at 509-735-0484 or scotts@petersenhastings.com.

Trios Hospital at Southridge and Lourdes Medical Center recently acquired new technology in the field of robotic guidance and navigation for spinal surgery.  This platform technology is designed to improve safety and accuracy within the operating room.  The navigational robot provides improved visualization of patient anatomy to help optimize patient treatment. The system is designed to streamline the surgical workflow and reduce radiation exposure to surgeons and staff. This revolutionary robotic navigation platform is the world’s first technology to combine a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate trajectory alignment in spine surgery. The system’s advanced technology solution is designed to enhance safety and improve efficiency for patients, staff and surgeons in the operating room.

“At Trios Health, we this specific technology because it will help enhance safety and improve efficiency for our patients and surgical team,” explains John Solheim, Trios CEO. “It does this by promoting less invasive procedures and decreasing surgery time. For our patients, this means less time under anesthesia, improved infection control, and a shorter recovery.”

Rob Monical, Lourdes Health CEO, adds, “The streamlined workflow this new platform offers also means less radiation exposure for our surgical teams. It’s a win-win, offering benefits to both our patients and our staff.”

February is Heart Health month and on Friday, February 7th at 11:30 a.m. at Desert Wind Winery in Prosser, Prosser Memorial Health will be sponsoring a Go Red for Women Luncheon in partnership with Prosser Memorial Health Foundation and Prosser Heart Center. Heart Disease is the No. 1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. That’s approximately one woman every minute! The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. 

Speakers at the February luncheon will be Prosser Heart Center Cardiologist Dr. Karan Bhatti, Emily Haines speaking on her personal experience losing her sister to heart disease at 41, and Melissa Jeng, who at birth was given a life expectancy of just two years. Now at age 51, she will talk about her heartfelt journey of procedures, adventures, family and faith. 

“It is important to shine the spotlight on women’s heart disease and raise awareness with all of us on what the signs and symptoms to watch out for as they are different than with men. I will also talk about the role family history, diet and exercise play in the prevention and management of heart disease.”- Prosser Heart Center Cardiologist Dr. Bhatti

The event emcee will be entrepreneur and speaker Shae Frichette. Shae is a long-time advocate for the Go Red for Women movement and hosts Wine & Arts Saves Hearts at their family winery Frichette, located on Red Mountain. Tickets for the Go Red for Women Luncheon are $50 each or a table of 8 may be purchased for $375. Event proceeds benefit the Women’s Health Fund at Prosser Memorial Health Foundation. Attendance includes a gourmet lunch, wine, fashion show, and gift bag. Tickets are available for purchase online at prosserhealth.org, via Eventbrite at pmh_goredforwomenluncheon.eventbrite.com, or by calling Prosser Memorial Health Community Relations at 509.786.6601. 

Heartlinks Hospice & Palliative Care is hosting its 40th annual Hospice Gala presented by Prosser Memorial Health on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 5 pm. This year the event will be held at Puterbaugh Farms in Mabton. This event has been made possible with the sponsorship support of Prosser Memorial Health and Thrivent Financial.

This years’ Hospice Gala is a masquerade-themed event, and the event is held annually to benefit programs, supplies, and services at Heartlinks. This is one the valley's most premier charity events, hosting over 275 guests from across Eastern Washington. This is a very special event to help raise critical funds needed to care for children and adults living in Benton County and Yakima County who are facing terminal illnesses.

Guests will be treated to award-winning wine, cocktail reception, plated dinner, live auction, and silent auction. Last year, because of the generous support of the local community, $100,000 was raised to provide much needed care to over 400 people, and free grief support services to all who need it. Tickets are already sold out, but individual and business sponsorships are still available. Sponsorships range from $250 - $3,500. This year’s Gala is need of silent auction items (i.e. baskets, gift certificates, and experiences).

For the 40th anniversary of this event, there will be some very fun items to bid on. There will be a “New Orleans trips for two”, Holland America Cruise to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, or Canada/New England, and Diamond Club Mariners Tickets. Can’t make it to the event? You can still bid, just contact Shelby at 509-837-1676.

Heartlinks would like to thank our Title Sponsor: Prosser Memorial Health; Presenting Sponsor: Jay Kelley of Thrivent Financial; Gold Sponsor: Manley Crop Insurance/Basin Pacific; Silver Sponsors: Wise Hospice Options, Bellevue Healthcare, Bale Breaker Brewing Company, Coyote Canyon Winery, Treveri Cellars, Benton REA, and Conover Insurance; Bronze Sponsors: Horse Heaven Grain, Shipley & Pease, Castle Catering, Columbia Bank, and U.S. Cellular. 

Join us as we celebrate the service Heartlinks Hospice & Palliative Care has continued to provide throughout Benton and Yakima County since 1978. Be a part of one of the most important community events around the Valley to strengthen and grow Heartlinks. Learn more at heartlinkshospice.org.

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) today announces Transit as the official mobility app for the Tri-Cities area. Transit counts millions of active users in more than 200 cities worldwide, and is now available for BFT riders to track their bus in real-time with the leading transport app in North America.

Upon launching the app, BFT riders see nearby options and departure times in big text and bright colors. Users can easily navigate the region, aided by accurate real-time bus ETAs, trip planning, step-by-step navigation, and crowdsourced real-time information with Transit’s GO feature.

BFT’s partnership with Transit offers a comprehensive, easy-to-use and widely adopted app for riders. Under this agreement, BFT will also receive anonymized usage data and customizations to better serve the public, such as the ability to send important information directly to riders via Transit’s home screen.

“People waiting at a bus stop are constantly looking down the road to check for their bus, but this new app takes away that uncertainty,” said BFT General Manager Gloria Boyce.

By endorsing Transit as its official app, BFT joins dozens of other public transit agencies across North America that have partnered with the app, including Boston’s MBTA, Baltimore’s MDOT MTA, Silicon Valley’s VTA, Metro Transit in St. Louis, and Montreal’s STM.

“Partnering with a single app that prioritizes transit makes it clear to riders where they can go for information,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer of Transit. “We’re excited to work with BFT and to see more people using Transit as part of their daily routine.”

The community is invited to stop by the BFT booth at the Family EXPO this weekend, January 24-25, hop on and tour a BFT bus, download the Transit app, and get their questions answered by BFT staff.

Transit is available to download for iPhone and Android at www.bft.org and applicable App stores.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is excited to announce that our partnership with Red Mountain Kitchen in Downtown Kennewick will continue in 2020. Starting on Thursday, February 13th, the Cancer Center in partnership with Red Mountain Kitchen will begin our 2020 cooking classes led by Chef Kyle Thornhill of Professional Food Services. The cooking classes will be fun and educational, highlighting the cancer fighting properties of common produce found at our local farmer’s markets and grocery stores. 

Education regarding cancer fighting properties of produce and ingredients will be provided by a Lourdes Health Dietician and Tri-Cities Cancer Center Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Lindsey Josephson. Participants will prepare a delicious, healthy dish to enjoy at Red Mountain Kitchen or to take home. 

Each class will be held from 5:30 – 7:30PM at Red Mountain Kitchen in Downtown Kennewick. Each cooking class will be unique, focusing on produce that is available during the specific time of the season. RSVP is required. To register or for more information, please call (509) 737-3413 or visit tccancer.org/cuisine

When: Thurs, April 16th | Wed, June 10th  | Wed, August 12th | Wed, October 14th from 5:30 – 7:30PM
Where: Red Mountain Kitchen, Downtown Kennewick, 212 West Kennewick Avenue
Cost: $50 per individual per session (includes all supplies and an apron)

Passenger numbers at Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) reached an all-time high in 2019. A total of 870,890 people traveled through the airport last year, nearly 86,000 more than in 2018. 2018 was previously the airport’s busiest year on record. 

United Airlines’ addition of a nonstop flight to Los Angeles helped drive up passenger counts, as did Allegiant Airlines’ decision to use larger Airbus planes on its routes. In total, the airport saw an 11 percent growth over 2018 numbers. 

“To beat 2018’s record by more than 10 percent is incredible,” said Buck Taft, director of the airport. “It’s also a testament to how hard our staff works to provide a travel experience that keeps passengers coming back. We’re grateful to everyone who chose to fly local last year, and hope to see them again in 2020.”  

Airlines count their passengers in terms of enplanements, or the number of people who board an aircraft at an airport. The number of people arriving are considered deplanements; the sum of both numbers is an airport’s total passenger number. In 2018, the airport saw 394,993 enplanements, which was then an all-time high for the airport. In 2019 PSC processed 438,123 enplaned passengers—an 11 percent increase over the year prior.

Despite 2018 being a record-setting year, all four airlines that serve Tri-Cities Airport saw an uptick in their passenger counts in 2019. United Airlines had the largest year-over-year gain: the carrier’s 75,445 enplaned passengers equate to a 25 percent increase. Delta’s numbers were also up in 2018, with 181,781 enplanements, or an 8 percent rise. Alaska had 138,568, which is an 8 percent increase, and Allegiant Airlines’ 42,329 enplaned passengers is a 13 percent increase over the previous year.

In total, Delta carried 41 percent of the market in 2019, Alaska had 32 percent, United 17 percent, and Allegiant 10 percent. The busiest month was March 2019, which saw an 18 percent increase of enplanements over the previous March. 

PSC is the largest airport in the Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon region, and offers nonstop flights to eight destinations, including Phoenix-Mesa, Denver, and Minneapolis-St. Paul. This coming year will provide additional opportunities for travel, as United Airlines has already announced it will add a second daily nonstop flight to San Francisco in May and the airport’s first redeye flight to Chicago O’Hare in June. 

Additional statistics can be found here on the Tri-Cities Airport’s website.