The Children’s Reading Foundation of the Mid-Columbia (CRFMC) in collaboration with HAPO Community Credit Union are pleased to announce the first annual Reading on the Run - A Socially Distanced Poker Run! June 27, 2:00pm to 5:00 PM at multiple locations across the Tri-Cities.

More information is available at 
http://read20minutes.com/event-calendar/events-2020/

Fill your car with the family and tell your friends to join us on a drive through poker run to local businesses across the Tri-Cities, trying to collect the best hand of cards.

The winner(s), with the best hand, will split the pot with CRFMC, so the more cars that enter the more money you could win. Due to social distancing, the winner will be contacted by telephone the next day and prize will be delivered.

Amazing baskets will be raffled away at the end of the event. Buy one raffle ticket for $5 or 5 tickets for $20, the more you buy, the more you save. Raffle item winners will be contacted by telephone and prizes delivered.
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Go online and buy your tickets today. All proceeds of the fundraiser go to support the purchase and distribution of books for vulnerable children across Benton and Franklin Counties to stop the Summer Slide, the slide of literacy skills that occurs each summer. 

​The next seminar in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series, “Hacking Biology to Produce Energy and Fuels” presented by Joseph Laureanti, Staff Scientist at PNNL, will take place on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom.
 
Can our daily lives run on electricity obtained completely from renewable and sustainable energy sources? Do our transportation needs require burning gas and oil? We are working on methods to increase the impact of solar and wind energy by creating simple, clean, and renewable ways to convert excess energy to electricity that we can all use. Learn how we can use biology, chemistry, and even virtual reality to help shape a cleaner future.
 
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.
 
Those who are interested can register here.
 
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For more information about this seminar and upcoming seminars, call (509) 375-6871.

The Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership held it’s first Farmers Market of the season on June 4. Like all farmers markets in Washington State, the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market has been deemed an essential service. Market organizers are committed to operating safely in full compliance with public health directives so that the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market can continue to provide a vital link between neighbors needing healthy food and WA & OR farmers and food producers.
 
“Our farmers are a crucial part of our local food system and we need to do everything in our power to support their health and safety,” said Stephanie Button, Executive Director. “Farmworkers are considered "essential workers," and they risk their health to ensure that we have access to fruits and vegetables. A customer at a farmers market might only interact with a couple of vendors during their visit, but the venders are interacting with hundreds of people. Wearing a cloth, face-covering mask is an act of compassion. We cover our faces to protect others. That is why we are  dedicated to enforcing the mask-wearing rule at our farmers market”
 
A wide variety of types and styles of face-coverings are acceptable. Nonmedical masks that cover both the nose and mouth are recommended, but scarves and bandannas are acceptable coverings. Face coverings can help prevent the spread of infection to others by blocking infectious droplets that can spread when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks, according to local public health officials.

Exceptions to the directive to wear face coverings include children, people with disabilities, deaf people who read lips, and those whose health care providers recommend against it for health reasons. “Market staff and volunteers are happy to accommodate shoppers who are unable to wear a mask,” Said Amber Maiden, Market Manager. 

The Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market occurs every Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm at Flag Plaza (204 W. Kennewick Ave) in downtown Kennewick. The 21-week market runs from June 4-Oct 22. As soon as customers enter the market there will be a volunteer to spray their hands with sanitizer and there will be handwashing stations available to shoppers. The number of people in the market at one time will be limited. All vendors are required to wear protective, face-covering masks and the public will be asked to the same. 
 
Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market staff have been coordinating with the Pasco and Richland Farmers Markets, as well as other market managers throughout Washington to learn what best practices procedures have been implemented.  “We are fortunate to have support and resources from the Washington State Farmer Market Association and to be able to learn from the farmers’ markets that have already opened.” Said Maiden, who continued, “With COVID-19 conditions evolving, we will continue to work with our county health department the closer we get to our opening date to ensure safety for everyone.”
 
Now more than ever, farmers’ markets are vital partners in bringing healthy foods into the neighborhoods throughout Washington. Likewise, communities like ours are vital to the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers and other food vendors. Times such as these highlight farmers markets' role as essential, community retail. We are proud to be a local source of fresh produce and essential materials to our public and will do our best to continue to serve them. 
 
The Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market participates in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which includes the “SNAP Market Match” program. Shoppers who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT benefits at a growing list of participating farmers’ markets can get additional dollar to dollar “match” to buy more fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and plant starts. SNAP Market Match is one of Washington’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs administered by the Washington State Department of Health. 

For the most up to date information on the Downtown Kennewick Farmers Market, visit the website, www.historickennewick.org/farmers-market or the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/kennewickfarmersmarket.

​The next seminar in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series, “Soils are Alive!” presented by Aditi Sengupta, Soil Scientist at PNNL, will take place on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom.

Soils are teeming with billions of microorganisms. Invisible to us, these microorganisms silently work to maintain soil health by breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients in our environment. Microorganisms also support soil structure and promote plant growth and respond to changing environmental conditions, and in turn impact the overall ecosystem health. The spatial scales at which these interactions occur range from small nanometer scale to large-global scale. Discover what these microorganism are, what they do, why we need microorganisms to maintain healthy soil, and how soil microbiology research is helping inform global ecosystem change.

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. 

Those who are interested can register here.

Gemini Corps founder Lynn Carlson is asking local businesses “Are you ready to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion to your workplace?” In coordination with local practitioners and industry leaders, Gemini Corps is offering the following services:

• Current/Future State Assessment
  
• DEI Strategy & Implementation
  
• Coaching and Skill Building
  
• Review of Policies and Processes
  
• Talent Management Programs
  
• Organizational Culture Change
  
• Facilitated Conversations
  
• Workshops and Learning Experiences
  
• External Partnerships

Gemini Corps, LLC is an organizational development consulting company that helps businesses address the human factors of performance and develop these capacities to improve organizational effectiveness. For further details about the Gemini Corps, visit www.geminicorps.com or call
541.595.8818.

Up to 29 grants of up to $10,000 each are available to eligible microenterprises operating in the City of Kennewick. Grants are funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as allocated to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Businesses meeting the criteria and operating within the city limits of Kennewick are eligible to apply.

Mercy Corps Northwest, on behalf of the City of Kennewick, will be administering $290,000 in grants to microenterprises (businesses with 5 or fewer employees, including the owner).

Application Period: June 9th – 9am to June 11th – 5pm
Eligibility Requirements:

• For-profit business consisting of 5 or fewer employees, including the owner.
• Business owner(s) with low-moderate household income (LMI), not to exceed 80% of median household income for Benton County.
• City of Kennewick business license for a commercial location or food-based vehicle operating within the city limits.
• Have experienced a decrease in revenue as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Have not received any other financial assistance in the form of grants, subsidized loans, insurance, or reimbursement.
• In operation for 1 year or longer.
• Valid Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number, business bank account to receive ACH funds, and business tax return and financial documentation
  
  

Information and the application (June 9th -11th) available at: https://www.go2kennewick.com/1317/Microenterprise-Emergency-Grant

For additional information, please contact Alisha Piper, Community Development Coordinator
509-585-4432 or [email protected]

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Joshua Scoville, ARNP, has joined Lourdes Health in our Rheumatology department.

Joshua will practice at Lourdes Rheumatology, located at 520 N. 4th Ave. inside Lourdes Medical Center. Joshua will practice with Sudeep Thapa, MD. 

“We are pleased to have Joshua join our team and are excited to be growing our rheumatology practice,” said Melda Velasquez, Director of Clinic Operations. “Mr. Scoville will be a wonderful addition and brings great experience to this clinic.”

Joshua comes to Lourdes from Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he was a Family Nurse Practitioner at Idaho Falls Arthritis Clinic/Institute of Arthritis Research. He also previously worked there as an Infusion Nurse/Study Coordinator and has also worked as a Cardiovascular Floor Nurse.

He earned his Master of Science in Nursing at Walden University and his undergraduate nursing degree at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He is board certified as a Nurse Practitioner. He is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Association of Rheumatology Professionals.
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The Lourdes Rheumatology clinic can be reached at 509.416.8890.

Once upon a time, at a library near, the Summer Reading Challenge brought kids and adults hours of cheer. From June 1 to August 14, Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) invites readers of all ages to imagine their story by reading or listening for 15 hours, or by playing book bingo, for a chance to win!

Participants can register at midcolumbialibraries.org/summer-reading-challenge, and there are two ways to participate: fill out a challenge log to complete a total of 15 hours reading or listening, or—for teens and adults—play book bingo. Logs and bingo forms in English and Spanish are available on the website to download and print. There is also a bookmark contest going on through June 5.

Everyone who completes the challenge will be entered to win a Nintendo Switch, and there are opportunities to win additional Amazon gift card prizes. Kids ages 12 and under who finish the challenge receive a free book; teens and adults get a book bag, while supplies last. All prizes are provided by Friends of Mid-Columbia Libraries.

For the health and safety of customers, staff, and guest performers, all Summer Reading Challenge programs will be online this year. There will be new activities posted each week exploring themes like dragons, fairies, Harry Potter, and more. MCL will offer virtual presentations, including concerts with fun, witty singer Eric Herman on July 8 at 11 am and Latin Grammy-winning children's group The Lucky Band on July 24 at 11 am. Details and links will be posted on Facebook.

MCL’s 12 branches and Bookmobile remain closed until further notice; however, the library’s digital branch is open 24/7. Cardholders can access to thousands of eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming video, and more anytime, anywhere at midcolumbialibraries.org. Instant digital library cards are available.

The Richland Public Library Summer Reading Program may look a little different this year, as the library facility remains closed to the public in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, patrons and program participants will still have access to a variety of digital resources, an online storytime, and fun grab and go activities. In addition, there will also be an opportunity to give back to the community. Richland library staff have been working hard to provide a variety of ways for the public to give back, have fun, and stay engaged. 

"Our staff remain committed to providing services to our citizens and are very excited to launch the Summer Reading Program and other virtual activities. Our library staff has always been considered essential in the eyes of our public," said Leslie Campbell Hime, Manager of the Richland Public Library.

“Imagine Your Story”, the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program, begins on Monday, June 1, 2020, and is open to all ages, from babies to adults. It is easy to register and track the minutes you spend reading. Participants earn virtual badges as they progress with raffle tickets given to enter for a variety of prizes. An extra incentive this year is the community challenge to read for a collective total of 100,000 minutes. AECOM Richland will donate $1,000 to the Tri-Cities Food Bank if the challenge is met.

To enroll in the Summer Reading Program, visit richland.beanstack.org, and follow the instructions. You do not need a library card or be a Richland resident to enroll. There is also a mobile app. available to download for easy updates and tracking. 

The Richland Library continues to offer temporary digital library cards and will soon provide enhanced access to Ancestry.com. There are also future plans for drive-up or curbside capabilities. Be sure to visit myrichlandlibrary.org or the Richland Library Facebook page (facebook.com/RPLibrary) for updates. 

Capital Choice is excited to announce the launch of a Free
COMPLIMENTARY Financial Educational Seminal. You’ve spent a lifetime accumulating money for your retirement. You’ve saved, invested and taken advantage of workplace retirement plans. Now you have to make important decisions about how to generate a steady income stream and outlive your funds, and these decisions could have lasting repercussions. Need extra money, want extra time with your family, friends or yourself to
provide flexibility in your schedule. Be your own boss, start your own team and start living the dream! The official launch date for our Financial Seminar will be on June 23rd from 6pm-730pm at the connect workplace lounge. Located 8350 W Grandridge Blvd Suite 200, Kennewick, WA 99336.

Capital Choice Financial Services believes in helping families and our community to build financial stability in their lives. Also creating a business opportunity for those wanting to free up time and flexibility in their lives. Create your own schedule, be your own boss, and spend more time with your loved ones. We offer affordable life insurance, help with debt reductions, and also help with retirement plans.

Jerry Ta “I got a couple $500,000 dollars in life insurance with living benefits coverage for less than $100 combined.”

Capital Choice Financial Services, Inc is a network of independent business men and women, representing various life and health insurance companies.