The City of Richland is pleased to announce the appointment of Carlo D’Alessandro as its new Public Works Director, effective July 22, 2024. D’Alessandro has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise during his tenure with the city, making him the ideal choice for this critical role. 

D’Alessandro initially joined the City of Richland on June 14, 2021, as a Transportation and Development Manager. His extensive background in civil engineering and project management quickly became apparent. On April 5, 2024, he was promoted to Interim Public Works Director, a position in which he continued to showcase his capabilities and commitment to the city's infrastructure needs. 

With over 16 years of engineering experience, D’Alessandro brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record to his new role. He holds a Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Applied Science with Honors in Civil Engineering from the same institution. His career includes significant roles such as Assistant Construction Engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Quality Manager at Amico Infrastructures Inc. 

D’Alessandro's career highlights include transportation and traffic safety planning, managing street maintenance and public works permitting, supervising and administering highway and bridge construction, leading teams of engineers, craftworkers and technicians, managing budgets, and overseeing various complex projects. 

In addition to his professional qualifications, D’Alessandro has valuable certifications including a professional engineering license. His comprehensive knowledge of design guidelines, federal and international standards, and engineering principles for streets and bridges further supports his ability to lead the Public Works Department effectively. 

“We are thrilled to have Carlo D’Alessandro as our new Public Works Director,” said Joe Schiessl, Deputy City Manager. “His extensive experience and dedication to public service make him a great asset to our city. We look forward to his leadership in advancing our infrastructure projects and enhancing the quality of life for Richland residents.” 

As Public Works Director, D’Alessandro will oversee several divisions within the city including streets, solid waste, water, wastewater, stormwater, engineering, and the city’s Horn Rapids Landfill. His appointment marks a new chapter for the City of Richland’s Public Works Department, and the city eagerly anticipates the continued excellence and innovation he will bring to the role. 
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More information about the City of Richland can be found at www.ci.richland.wa.us.

On Wednesday, August 7, Columbia Ability Alliance (CAA) will launch its first-ever Giving Blitz, a dynamic 48-hour fundraising initiative designed to rally the Tri-Cities community in a unique way and make a lasting difference for individuals with disabilities and barriers. 

The Giving Blitz is a high-energy, virtual fundraising campaign where every donation counts, and every social media share amplifies the Columbia Ability Alliance cause. From 12:01 AM on August 7 to 11:59 PM on August 8, the community is encouraged to come together to donate to life-enriching programs that help individuals with disabilities and barriers achieve personal success and independence. Columbia Ability Alliance is aiming to raise $50,000 in just 48-hours through the Giving Blitz. 

“The Giving Blitz empowers our community to support the areas that matter most to them,” said Libby Blashill, Director of Advancement of Columbia Ability Alliance. “Whether it’s funding our employment and job placement programs, providing support for clients who utilize our Community Center or supporting students as they gain vocational skills in Opportunity Kitchen, the community’s generosity during the Giving Blitz will be amplified and felt across all our initiatives.” 

Thousands of dollars from committed sponsors will be "unlocked" as the community collectively reaches predetermined donation milestones. These sponsor challenges are designed to multiply the impact of every gift. Additionally, community members are encouraged to participate in spreading the word through social media, create their own donation links to share with their networks and join CAA for in-person celebrations during the Giving Blitz. 

To inspire participation, all gifts made will be tracked in real-time on Columbia Ability Alliance’s Giving Blitz website: https://onecau.se/_5rmhp1. Donations can be made through the event website or by texting BLITZ to 44834. 

“The acts of kindness and generosity we hope to see during the Giving Blitz will epitomize what it means to be a part of the Columbia Ability Alliance community,” Blashill said. “Every dollar raised supports individuals with disabilities and barriers here in the Tri-Cities and gets us closer to our goal of $50,000.” 

Giving Blitz Challenge sponsors include: Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS), HAPO Community Credit Union, Marsh McLennan, Highstreet Insurance and Financial Services, Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo), 360 Automotive & Repair, Petersen Hastings, Eric and Laurie Martuscelli, and Michael and Shannon Novakovich. Each sponsor has a unique challenge with donation parameters that must be met by our community in order to fulfill their committed donation. 

The community is invited to celebrate during the Giving Blitz by attending two in-person events: 

• Wednesday, August 7: Round Table Pizza, 1769 Leslie Road in Richland, 4-8pm
  • Enjoy a family-friendly evening with dinner specials and kid-friendly activities. 20% of in-person dining sales will be donated directly to the Giving Blitz.
• Thursday, August 8: Summer’s HUB of Kennewick, 6481 W. Skagit in Kennewick, 5-8pm
  • Several food trucks will be donating proceeds of their sales directly to the Giving Blitz. CAA will be on-site to share information about their programs and celebrate with the community.

To view our donation challenges or learn more about being involved with the Giving Blitz, visit columbiaabilityalliance.com/Blitz.  

Mid‐Columbia Libraries (MCL) will celebrate 75 years of service in Kennewick on Aug. 3 from 1 pm to 3 pm. The event will take place at the Kennewick library located at 1620 S. Union St.

​This event is free and open to the public and will be preceded by the children’s band Eric Herman and the Puppy Dogs from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. The library will also have activities, a photo booth, and refreshments, while supplies last. There will also be a giveaway courtesy of Friends of Mid‐Columbia
Libraries.

“Mid‐Columbia Libraries’ has served the residents of Kennewick since our founding in 1949. Our Kennewick branch libraries are well‐used and well‐loved. The City of Kennewick is a valued partner, and we look forward to serving its residents for many more years,” said Kyle Cox, Executive Director, Mid‐Columbia Libraries.

Kennewick has two locations that serve the community with the Kennewick branch on S. Union St. and the Keewaydin Park branch at 405 S. Dayton St. MCL customers can use either location or any other Mid‐Columbia Libraries branch, including our digital collection. A library card is free for residents of Benton, Franklin, and parts of Adams County.