The Port of Benton Commission and City of Richland City Council authorized an interlocal agreement for the 2021 Slurry Seal Project. The Slurry Seal Project is an important component of the Port’s overall Pavement Maintenance Program in extending the life of private streets owned and maintained by the Port. Realizing economies of scale in joint public projects is an important function of the State’s Interlocal Cooperation Act, providing efficiencies in projects with similar purpose and outcomes.

The Port previously announced patch and repair work, which was completed on Friday, July 9th and readies Port roads for the Slurry Seal Overlay. Road closures and detours will occur on Port maintained roads beginning Thursday, August 5, 2021 through Saturday, August 7. A detailed schedule and map of those closures are detailed on the attached map. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists should be prepared to encounter closures and detours surrounding the Richland Airport and in North Richland within the Tri-Cities Research District.

For more information on the City’s Pavement Preservation Program, please see:  https://www.ci.richland.wa.us/departments/public-works/capital-projects/pavement-preservation-program

For more information on this project scope and contract awards, please see:  https://cleargov.com/washington/benton/city/richland/projects/1256/2021-pavement-preservation-program

Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) hosts a virtual conversation with children’s author and acclaimed musician Lucky Diaz on Wednesday, July 28 at 2 pm via Zoom. He will discuss his debut children’s book, “Paletero Man,” illustrated by Micah Player. The book is a refreshing tale of determination, kindness, ice pops, and the true meaning of being part of a community. This is a bilingual event; interpretation will be provided in Spanish.

A resident of Los Angeles, Lucky Diaz is a multi–Latin Grammy Award–winning and six-time Emmy–nominated musician and songwriter. In 2020, his album “Buenos Diaz” was named an official selection of notable works for children by the American Library Association. His favorite paleta flavor is horchata.

The annual Summer Reading Challenge is going on through Aug. 13, and there are many fun and exciting programs to keep readers of all ages engaged with their library this summer. Other upcoming virtual events include Pacific Science Center’s Planetary Geology and Radical Reactions shows, a presentation by The Reptile Man, and Video Game Trivia Night. Weekly outdoor, in-person storytimes are also taking place at Basin City, Kennewick, Pasco, and Prosser branches.

More details can be found on the MCL website calendar and on Facebook. Registration and details for the Summer Reading Challenge are at midcolumbialibraries.org/reading-challenges.

Trios Health is pleased to share that the “Best Week of Summer” is here! Camp Trios, a three-day summer day camp program for children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, begins tomorrow, July 20, at the Southridge Sports and Events Complex.

Campers aged 6 to 14 years old will learn how to manage their Type 1 Diabetes through educational, age-appropriate activities led by Trios Health staff members, trained physicians and other healthcare providers. Additionally, mentors aged 15 to 18 years old, will assist the campers. Some of the mentors are previous campers.

This year, Camp Trios will run from July 20-July 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day. Activities are planned for each day, including theater games, time at the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, field trips to the SplashDown Cove Water Park, a gardening activity, barrel races, carb counting activities, bounce house and obstacle course, a country line dancing lesson, and an award ceremony, among other activities. The full 3-day schedule is attached with this press release.

Originally launched in 2012 as Camp KGH, Camp Trios began as a long-term goal to one day have a local camp for the growing number of children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

“Often we get kids in who have been newly diagnosed and they aren’t sure about what they can do,” said Christy Kuhn, Trios Health Diabetes Education & Nutrition Director. “But when they see all these other kids running, playing, eating and doing all the stuff they want to do, it makes them see that it’s possible.”

Trios Health will be following CDC and Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 protocols for the camp, including screening upon arrival with a daily symptom check and temperature check, requiring the use of masks for all inside activities, sanitizing surfaces frequently and practicing proper hand hygiene. Additionally, campers will be split into small groups and maintain those groups for the duration of the camp.

“We are extremely grateful to be able to hold Camp Trios in person this year and know that we have the proper protocols in place to keep everyone safe and healthy,” Kuhn said.

Goals of Camp Trios are to educate children regarding their diabetes, while promoting independence, self-discipline and responsibility; offer opportunities for children and families to meet others who are facing the same challenges; provide an ongoing network of resources to support children with Type 1 Diabetes and their families; empower children to recognize limitless opportunities when diabetes is properly managed, and build lifelong relationships between the children, staff, volunteers and parents/guardians.

Camp Trios is backed by generous donations from local businesses, corporations, community organizations and community members. The use of the Southridge Sports and Events complex has been donated by the City of Kennewick, and Trios Health Medical Staff and Trios staff are donating their time. Additional donors include Sight & Sound Services, Costa Vida, Tri-Cities Court Club, Subway Tri-Cities, The Pacific Clinic, Roaster’s Coffee, A&A Motorcoach, Snowies Shaved Ice of West Richland, Benton Franklin CO. Fair, Bouncin Bins Inflatables, Columbia Valley Daybreak Rotary District 5080, AXE KPR PSC, Vivid Imagination Face Painting, Gesa Carousel of Dreams, PMP/Sealaska Technical Services, LLC David Kostorowski, and Tri-Cities Community Health – Jim Davis.

To learn more about the mission, objectives, program and activities of Camp Trios, visit: http://www.trioshealth.org/camp-trios.

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Marshall Keith Brown, DO, has accepted a position as a Family Medicine provider at Lourdes Internal Medicine & Primary Care Clinic.

Dr. Brown most recently practiced at Lourdes Urgent Care on Road 68.

“I am excited that we are going to grow our primary care provider base and welcome Dr. Brown to our Family Medicine team,” said Melda Velasquez, Director of Clinic Operations. “He is a seasoned healthcare provider and will be a great asset and resource for our patients.”

Dr. Brown attended medical school at Nova-Southeastern University and then completed a residency with the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita Family Medicine. He was the Chief Resident in his final year of the program, and he also later attended Royal College of Medicine.

He is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians and National Board of Physicians & Surgeons. He has practiced as a Family Physician, Medical Director, Chief Medical Officer, Emergency Department Physician, Urgent Care Provider, and Hospitalist.

Dr. Brown practices at the Lourdes Internal Medicine & Primary Care Clinic, now located at 507 N. 5th Ave. near Lourdes Health Hospital. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 509.416.8880.

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that Debra Mains, a Registered Nurse on the PACT Team at Lourdes Counseling Center and interim Substance Use Disorder Professional, has been named as a recent recipient for The DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nurses at Lourdes.

“Debra stands out as someone who goes above and beyond her call of duty to support and address underlying life threatening medical conditions,” said Kena Chase, Lourdes Chief Nursing Officer. “She is full of compassion and advocates for her patient’s needs. We’re grateful to be able to recognize her in this way.”

Debra works with severely mentally ill patients in her role. The anonymous nomination for Debra relayed examples of how Debra has sat with patients in the ER and ICU, even on her days off, as well as how she advocates for her patients to see primary care providers and specialists for their ongoing needs.

“She is there for patients when they need it most, and she’s not afraid to step up,” Chase said. “We are very fortunate to have Debra on our team, working tirelessly for our patients.”

The DAISY Award® is an international program started in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, whose family experienced first-hand the difference his nurses made in his care through clinical excellence and compassionate care. The family created The DAISY Award® to express gratitude to nurses and to enable other patients, families, and staff to thank and honor their special nurses.

To nominate a nurse or to learn more about The DAISY Award®, visit yourlourdes.com/Daisy.

The City of Kennewick Parks and Recreation Department and Gesa Carousel of Dreams are pleased to announce Sunset at Southridge, presented by Toyota of Tri-Cities and Retter and Company Sotheby's International Realty, is kicking off the season on Friday, July 16th from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Southridge Sports and Events Complex. Join us for live music by Hoaloha Mele, Hula dancers, kids’ activities, tasty eats and cool treats, and a fireworks show! Bring your lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and get ready for a night of summer fun! Pop up tents and shade umbrellas are allowed.

The event series will be back at the Southridge Sports and Events Complex on July 30th with Eddie Manzanares performing live from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. And the series will continue the 1st and 3rd Fridays in August. The food trucks, live music and activities vary from event to event so be sure to follow Sunset at Southridge on Facebook for updates to our season’s events.

The Southridge Sports and Events Complex is located at 2901 Southridge Blvd.

The Tri-Cities Airport would like to remind all visitors to the airport that while Washington state has lifted COVID-19 mask requirements, face masks are still required while in the airport terminal and on the airplane.
 
Even if vaccinated, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires that everyone aged two and older wear a face covering while inside the airport through mid-September. Masks are also required while boarding and traveling on an airplane. However, the TSA recently revised its policy and airport visitors are no longer required to wear a mask while outdoors at airports, including in the parking lot or on the curb.
 
“The federal mask mandate is currently in place and we ask everyone who visits the Tri-Cities Airport comply with regulations by wearing a mask inside the terminal,” stated Buck Taft, Director of the Tri-Cities Airport.

On Saturday, July 31st, Bookwalter Winery will host the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation’s We’re Back (Yard) BBQing Summer Barbecue! Tickets are on sale through the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation office by calling (509) 737-3413 or by visiting https://tccancer.org/event/were-backyard-bbqing/

The barbecue will be a fun-filled night with wine, dinner, entertainment and live music. Tickets are $100. All funds raised will stay local and provide valuable non-reimbursed cancer programs and services for patients, their families, and the community.
​
The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation continues to benefit from the generosity of corporations and individuals in our region whose desire to invest in world-class cancer care has changed the availability and quality of services.

Lourdes Health is pleased to announce that its Internal Medicine & Primary Care clinic has moved to a new location, located at 507 N. 5th Ave. near Lourdes Health Hospital. The clinic was previously located on 14th Avenue.

At this new location, patients will be able to see Dr. Marshall Keith Brown, who previously practiced at Lourdes Urgent Care. He will begin seeing patients on Monday, July 12.

“We are excited to move this clinic to a more convenient location for our patients and to be able to bring in a new provider to meet their primary care needs,” said Melda Velasquez, Director of Lourdes Physician Clinics Operations.

Additionally, locum providers Dr. Ivy Barnard and Dr. Youngmoon Park will see patients at the clinic. They will also begin seeing patients at their new location on Monday, July 12.

Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 509.416.8880. To learn more about Internal Medicine, visit YourLourdes.com/Internal-Medicine. 

The 2021 City-Wide Overlay project has started with an estimated completion in late August. Project includes removal and replacement of a significant number of pedestrian ramps at street intersections.
 
The contractor will be removing and replacing the existing pavement surface on the following streets:

• W. 27th Ave – S. Ely St. to US-395
• W. 27th Ave – US-395 to Roundabout at Southridge Blvd.
• Southridge Blvd. – Roundabout at W. 27th Ave to Hildebrand Blvd.
• Hildebrand Blvd. – Southridge Blvd. to S. Dawes St.

 
Project will require multiple lane closures on weekdays between the hours of 8:00am and 4:30pm. The planing (grinding) and paving phase is scheduled for late July and will take place at night between the hours of 8:00pm and 6:00am. Access to driveways and side streets will be maintained with only temporary impacts.
 
For their safety and the safety of the project workers, we ask that drivers exercise caution and patience and that pedestrians follow the posted detours.
 
The City’s Current Projects web page will be updated weekly with relevant information during construction.
 
Project Page