The next seminar in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series, “Electric Cars in 2050: Are We Ready?” presented by Malini Ghosal, Power Systems Research Engineer at PNNL, will take place on Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., at the Mid-Columbia Library (1620 S. Union St., Kennewick).

It is projected that by 2050, up to 75 percent of new car sales will be electric cars. But, is the nation’s electric grid ready to cope with the additional demands? Is the existing infrastructure prepared to support this future? This talk will cover what the major challenges of electrification of transportation are and how PNNL researchers are working together to solve those problems.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series was launched to help the general public better understand and explore how science transforms our world.

For more information about this seminar and upcoming seminars, call (509) 375-6871.

The City of Kennewick is pleased to announce that Chad Michael has accepted the Fire Chief position effective March 16th, 2020. A swearing-in ceremony will take place at the March 17th, Council Meeting at 6:30pm. A community reception will also be scheduled in March, date and time to be announced, for the public to come and meet our new Fire Chief!

“We are thrilled to welcome Chief Michael to our City Team,” said City Manager Marie Mosley. “We are confident that his diverse skill set and his commitment to serving the community at the highest levels are the right fit to lead the exceptional men and women in the Kennewick Fire Department and take us to the next level.”

Chief Michael believes strongly in providing exceptional customer service, working closely with partner agencies to provide a high level of public safety, providing for firefighter health and safety, professional development, and working to ensure the department is well trained and prepared for emergencies.

“I am excited to work with the men and women of the Kennewick Fire Department in order to ensure the department continues to deliver high quality service and is well prepared for the future,” said Chief Michael.

Chief Michael’s Background & Education: Chief Michael began his firefighting career in 1992 as a resident firefighter with Spokane County Fire District #8 and was hired by the same department in 1996 as a career firefighter. Over the past twenty-three years, Chief Michael has enjoyed a diverse career with a few different fire departments in various roles. For the past 11 years, Chief Michael has served at the executive level as the Deputy Chief of Training and Operations, Acting Fire Chief, Deputy Chief of Support Services, and Deputy Chief of Operations. Most recently he has served as the Deputy Chief of Operations with the Vancouver Fire Department.

Education has been important throughout his career. He earned an Associate’s degree in Fire Science from Spokane Community College, and an Associate’s degree in Fire Command from Spokane Community College. He graduated from Whitworth College with a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management, and obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington. In 2016, Chief Michael completed the Executive Fire Officer Program offered through the National Fire Academy located in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Heritage University is now offering a master’s degree which prepares teachers to help students overcome dyslexia and other reading challenges. The Master of Education in Inclusive Education: Dyslexia, ESOL and Cultural Competence from Heritage University provides students with in-depth training on the theories, practices, pedagogy and technology in the field of reading education.

Kari Terjeson, the chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Heritage University, said this M.Ed. program was developed after educators and school administrators told us there was a great need for expertise in this field. According to Terjeson, “Candidates who complete the program will know how to identify, evaluate and deliver specialized instruction to students who, for reasons of language barriers or learning disorders, are struggling to learn how to read and write.”

According to Terjeson, the M.Ed. in Reading degree program at Heritage was developed according to the Washington Educator Standards, along with the Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading from the International Dyslexia Association and the International Literacy Association. “Reading and writing are fundamental skills that all students need to build a lifetime of success, and this program will train teachers to help their students overcome their challenges and build their love of learning,” she said.

The flexibility of this master’s degree allows students to complete classes in on-campus lectures, online classes, and show competence in subject matter, which involves completing a portfolio assignment and an objective exam proving mastery. Students completing the program coursework or demonstrating proficiency and receive a passing score on the necessary Washington Educator Skills Test (WEST-E) and/or National Evaluation Series (NES) can earn endorsements in ELL/BLE and Reading, which qualifies them to teach reading across all grade levels within their area of concentration. A Reading or ELL/BLE only endorsement option is available for teachers who already hold a master’s degree. Those completing the program will be able to demonstrate several learning outcomes, which ultimately act in the best interests of struggling readers and readers with dyslexia or other reading disorders.

The Master of Education in Reading program is open to current educators who hold a Bachelor of Arts in Education or a Bachelor of Education. For more information, contact Shari Foster at (509) 865-8623 or [email protected], or Kari Terjeson at [email protected].

"We wanted to inform you of the results of the fundraiser for My Friends’ Place at Rollarena  Jan. 2. Total proceeds were $3,200. With Rollarena’s additional funds, we will be donating a total of $5,000 to this organization this year. The total donated for the last seven years is now over $33,000. The Tri-City community has been very supportive.

This event would not have been possible without the support of the local media and other organizations. Each year, especially during the Christmas season, the local media does a great job of informing the public of the needs of nonprofit organizations and the needs and circumstances of the people they serve. This year was no exception. Thank you.  

We started this event for our 60th anniversary seven years ago, and we plan on continuing this event each Christmas season." - Alan & Judy Bacon, Owners, Rollarena Skating Center

The Tri-Party Agreement agencies (U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and Washington State Department of Ecology) are seeking applicants for both primary and alternate public-at-large positions for the Hanford Advisory Board.

What is the Hanford Advisory Board (HAB)?
The primary mission of the board is to provide informed recommendations and advice to the Tri-Party agencies on major policy issues related to the cleanup of the Hanford site.

What does it mean to be a HAB member?
Board members will be expected to spend a significant amount of time and effort on board activities. The board is scheduled to meet for two full days, five or six times each year. In addition, the board’s two technical standing committees meet approximately once each month for a half to full day. Although optional, members are encouraged to participate in committee work. The majority of meetings will be held in the Tri-Cities area during weekday business hours. The balance of the meetings will be held in other parts of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Review of written materials, conference calls, orientation sessions, and tours may add to this commitment.

For members who live outside of the Tri-Cities area, travel, meal and lodging expenses are reimbursed by the Department of Energy. Lost work time and other expenses are not covered. Documented manager approval is required.

What is the public-at-large seat?
This advertisement is to fill primary and alternate positions. Public-at-large members must express a general interest in Hanford cleanup issues, contribute to board diversity, work with divergent viewpoints, and have the ability to attend various daytime meetings. Candidates who are not currently represented by a HAB stakeholder organization and are not currently employed by DOE or a DOE contractor will be considered.

How do I apply?
Email resumes to JoLynn Garcia at [email protected] and request an application. Your resume and application must be received no later than February 6, 2020.

We are honored to have Dawn Seagren join our C21 team as our Sales Manager! Dawn has come to us from Arizona, after deciding to re-locate to Tri-Cities to be closer to her daughter, son- in-law and grandchildren. Her list of achievement speaks for itself when we say having Dawn will be a key asset to our branch!

Dawn received her real estate license in 1978, and since then has used her experience to solidify her position as a successful Broker and Owner of several real estate offices. She was recognized as being a Top Producing Agent in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area as well as Realtor of the Year in Scottsdale.

To top everything off, Dawn is a certified Real Estate Instructor! Her passion has transitioned into mentoring both new agents and experienced producers in order to ensure they see advancement within their real estate careers. We are thrilled to see Dawn’s track record with success continue with Century 21 Tri-Cities!

Domestic Violence Services Benton & Franklin Counties, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. Youth advocates will be at Barnes & Noble this Saturday, February 8th from 11AM to 4PM to share what a healthy relationship looks like, what can be warning signs and answer questions. Information will be provided along with craft projects. Prevention works.

Domestic Violence Services provides advocacy and support for the survivors of domestic violence and their children in Benton & Franklin Counties offering wrap-around services to our clients at no charge to them. They offer prevention, housing, legal, and crisis advocacy as well as providing emergency shelter for those impacted by intimate partner violence. Their 24/7 crisis line is 800-648-1277.