​Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) is thrilled to announce grant awards totaling more than a quarter of a million dollars from All In Washington the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington State Department of Health. The funds will support Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco a division of Community-Minded Enterprises. 
 
CME’s Pasco office and its team of 14 focuses exclusively on early learning. “The work they do is making such a difference in the lives of children and families, especially those who are the farthest from opportunity,” said Lee Williams, CEO of Community-Minded. “We are grateful to be one of 21 organizations in the state be to be recognized by All In Washington as part of their $2,875,000 Child Care Initiative.”
 
The $165,000 in funding from All In Washington will be used to support 27 family child care businesses in Columbia and Walla Walla Counties serving a high percentage of Latinx families and essential workers. “We are excited to partner with the community to provide monetary support to these programs.  Most are still trying to navigate or recover from the effects of the pandemic on their business,” said Suzanne Suyama, Child Care Aware Supervisor – Southeast Washington.
 
CME was also included in the Washington State Department of Commerce second round of funding under the Child Care Partnership Grant program. CME was one of 24 organizations identified for funding. The $63,470 award will support a Child Care Needs Assessment project serving the Tri-Cities area in Benton and Franklin Counties.
 
A third grant was finalized last week with the Washington State Department of Health, for $49,729 as part of the Essentials for Childhood Initiative. The grant will bring Vroom, a cell phone based early learning platform to families in Asotin, Franklin and Benton Counties, communities impacted by poverty, low kindergarten readiness, and lack of connection to resources including language barriers.

• For a complete list of All In Washington grant recipients, click here.
• For a complete list of Washington State Department of Commerce Grant, recipients click here.     

        
Community-Minded Enterprises is a 501c3 nonprofit with four offices in Spokane and one in Pasco. It was formed as a grassroots organization in the early 1990s and incorporated 1997.
 
Our mission is to transform communities in Washington State while advancing diversity and inclusion of marginalized populations, so that all people have an opportunity for equitable health, education, and safety.
For more information on CME go to: www.community-minded.org or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/communityminded/. For information about Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco check out https://www.facebook.com/CCAEWaTriCities. 

The City of Richland is looking for interested citizens to apply for an open vacancy on the Personnel Committee. 
Members of the committee monitor the administration and grading of competitive examinations and hear appeals on disciplinary actions. Meetings are scheduled on the second Thursday of every other month or as called; however, the committee generally meets no more than twice a year.
Members must be a citizen of the United States, a registered voter in Benton County, and a resident of the City of Richland for at least (3) years immediately preceding this appointment.
For further details on this position or to apply, visit www.ci.richland.wa.us/bccvacancies or call the City Clerk’s office, 942-7389. Application packets are due by February 26, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation is proud to announce that they have received the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency for 2021. This is a major accomplishment that recognizes the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation at the highest level of award and demonstrates a commitment to transparency and excellence in philanthropy.

“This achievement is shared as a source of pride between our Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Board of Directors and our staff who have played a valuable role in achieving this major recognition,” states Elizabeth McLaughlin, Foundation Executive Director.

GuideStar Platinum is a great way for an organization to share their progress and results. By reporting metrics through a GuideStar Nonprofit Profile, organizations can receive a Platinum Seal of Transparency, which is GuideStar’s newest and highest level of recognition. For more information, visit https://www.guidestar.org/.

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) is following requirements from the Emergency Order issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29, 2021, and as supported by a Security Directive from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on January 31, 2021. In effect until further notice, the Order mandates the wearing of face masks on all public transportation nationwide to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

The federal face mask mandate applies to all BFT vehicles and at all BFT transit facilities. BFT has required face coverings on all vehicles and at all facilities, including transit centers, since early in the pandemic. BFT continues to closely adhere to mandates, proclamations, and health authority guidance at the federal, state, and local levels to support the safe mobility of the community. The federal mandate further heightens and underscores the critical nature of full compliance with mask requirements aboard public transit.

Mask Requirements Under the Federal Order
Passengers and employees on BFT vehicles and at all BFT transit facilities must follow the Order’s face mask requirements.
According to the CDC, the following are attributes of masks needed to fulfill the requirements of the Order:

• Face masks should cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides without gaps.
• Face masks can be either manufactured or homemade and should be a solid piece of material without slits, exhalation valves, or punctures.
• While medical masks and N-95 respirators fulfill CDC and TSA’s requirements, face shields and/or goggles are not an acceptable substitute for the use of a mask; however, they may be used in addition to an acceptable mask.

Mask Exemption Requirements
Any passenger wishing to use BFT services without a mask due to a medical exemption must show exemption documentation each time they ride. If they cannot provide documentation, they can choose to be provided a mask by BFT to continue their trip or discontinue their trip at that time.

Face mask exemptions include:

• Travelers under the age of 2 years old.
• Those with a disability who cannot wear a mask or cannot safely wear a mask because of the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Those for whom a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.
  
  

Ongoing Commitment to Safety and Cleanliness
Early in the pandemic, BFT implemented various safety measures across all services and operations to protect their front-line employees and passengers. BFT remains committed to providing safe, excellent transportation services to the community by continuing to implement enhanced cleaning and safety measures.

These efforts include, but are not limited to, the daily sanitizing of vehicles, as well as additional sanitization of high-touch surfaces on vehicles, at transit centers, and BFT facilities. Rider capacity limits on vehicles continue to allow onboard distancing, and BFT will continue rear-door bus entry and operating fare-free until further notice. BFT’s most recent safety measure information can be found at bft.org/Safety and includes a link to a running timeline of COVID-19 response measures back to March 2020.

“Ben Franklin Transit has provided vital transportation services to the public and remained a safe way to travel in our community throughout the pandemic,” said BFT General Manager, Gloria Boyce. “Our team is committed to setting the example, upholding compliance with applicable orders, and keeping our community safely mobile. We appreciate the cooperation of the community in following these mandates to keep our community healthy and ensuring the BFT system remains a safe means for transportation.”

Throughout the pandemic, Ben Franklin Transit has closely coordinated COVID-19 safeguards with mandates, proclamations, and health authority guidance at the federal, state, and local levels. BFT will continue to monitor COVID-19-related developments and take appropriate actions to support safe public transportation in the community.

For more information about the CDC Order, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travelguidance.html
​
For more information about the TSA Directive, visit: https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2021/01/31/tsaimplement-
executive-order-regarding-face-masks-airport-security

The recreation departments of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick are seeking feedback regarding a potential Tri-Cities Adult Recreational Kickball League. In a continued effort to provide meaningful recreational opportunities and increase the quality of life for local residents, early planning has begun for an adult recreational kickball league. The goal of this survey is to better understand the interest from the community and preferred playing times/days. Please fill out this short survey and help us bring an exciting kickball league to the Tri-Cities. The last question of the survey allows survey takers to provide us with their name and email so they can be contacted when more information about the league becomes available. Survey will be available until February 25.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FYZWTHX
​
For more information, please contact Brandon Lange at (509) 585-4279 or [email protected].

To better serve our patients and community, Prosser Memorial Health has added nuclear medicine to its growing list of services. Nuclear medicine procedures are used in diagnosing and treating certain illnesses. Examples of diseases treated with nuclear medicine procedures are hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, lymphomas, and bone pain from some types of cancer. These procedures use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals. Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT), Amber Guthrie, (N) (ARRT), has joined the PMH team and will provide services for nuclear medicine.

Cardiac Nuclear Medicine will be one of the many imaging exams we offer. Cardiac exams include the Nuclear Stress Test (MPI), Thallium Viability, and multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan. This is an outpatient imaging test that looks at how well the bottom chambers of your heart (ventricles) are pumping blood out into your body.

​The Nuclear Medicine Department at Prosser Memorial Health will be open Monday-Friday from 7:30am – 3:30pm. To learn more about nuclear medicine services at Prosser Memorial Health, call our Radiology Department at 509.786.6650. To learn more about cardiology services, or schedule an appointment with Prosser Heart Center, call 509.786.5599.

Tri-Citians have a final opportunity to help shape the future amenities and features of Kennewick’s Historic Waterfront District beginning February 6. 

Community members can comment on the proposed plan February 6 through 15 by submitting an online survey or posting on an “ideas wall” at kennewickhistoricwaterfront.org. The port’s consultants will conduct a virtual presentation of the plan at 3 p.m. on Monday, February 8.  A recording of the presentation will be available online through February 15.

WHO:    Anyone interested in future uses/amenities in Kennewick’s Historic Waterfront District
WHAT:  Final feedback on the recommended development plan 
WHEN:  Virtual presentation of the proposed plan: Monday, February 8 at 3 p.m. 
              Review the proposed plan and comment online: February 6 through 15
WHERE:  kennewickhistoricwaterfront.org 

Port of Kennewick’s Historic Waterfront District Master Plan will prioritize the next 15 to 20 years of activities, amenities, and improvements. The district encompasses the port’s Clover Island, Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village, The Willows and Cable Greens development sites.

Public input on the proposed development plan is essential to ensure a strategic, community-driven approach to redevelopment. Responses will also help the Port of Kennewick determine potential missing elements or challenges. Two earlier rounds of public input shaped the proposed plan. 

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Community Science and Technology Seminar Series presents: Inspired by Nature: Learning from and Mimicking Nature in Materials and Chemistry.

Have you ever wanted to permanently fix a cavity in your tooth? Have you ever wished that hip or knee implants could be permanent and non-painful? Have you ever thought that it would be great if we could harness the energy of photosynthesis? Guess what—all of these things are possible! While we have not yet learned how to do these, nature has given us the models upon which to build. By understanding how to mimic nature, we have the potential to solve many materials and energy challenges to transform human health and the impact of humans on the planet. In this talk, learn about some of the major developments we have made in understanding biology and how it can be mimicked and modified to benefit all.

About the Speaker: Dr. Wendy Shaw is a Biophysical Chemist and a Division Director at PNNL. She learns from nature to understand how bones and teeth are made, and also how enzymes work, to ultimately enable improved materials and renewable energy by mimicking the superior processes found in nature.

​Register on Zoom

Prosser Memorial Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Richard Unger to Prosser General Surgery Center. Dr. Unger is a board-certified general surgeon providing general surgery services including laparoscopic, gynecological, endoscopy, tissue and breast, colon cancer, gall bladder, and hernia repair, among other surgeries for Prosser Memorial Health.

Born near Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Unger graduated from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his general surgery residency in St. Louis at Deaconess Hospital. More recently, Dr. Unger has traveled all over the United States, including here in Prosser, providing surgical services in rural, critical access hospitals.

“What made me want to come back is I just felt at home here. The team at Prosser Memorial Health were not only colleagues, they were friends. This hospital takes time and effort to invest in the newest updated technology in surgery. We have good equipment, and we are going to do what’s best for the patient.” -Dr. Richard Unger

​In his free time, Dr. Unger enjoys being outdoors, hiking, riding horses, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and spending time with his children and grandkids. For questions about surgical services at Prosser General Surgery Center, call 509.786.5599, or learn more at prosserhealth.org.