Gesa Credit Union has been named a regional Credit Union National Association (CUNA) award winner for demonstrating outstanding commitment through ongoing support of its community through events and financial services.
 
The CUNA awards are named in honor of three of the Credit Union Movement’s founding leaders who believed deeply in the credit union motto, “People Helping People.” CUNA honors those beliefs through awards that celebrate the community action taken by credit unions across the country.
 
This year, Gesa Credit Union received the Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award.
 
Gesa’s CUNA Award was celebrated at the Northwest Credit Union Association’s annual MAXX Convention in Boise, Idaho, Oct. 7. The NWCUA is the regional trade association representing credit unions in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
 
“Gesa recognizes the value of service, and their financial education programs speak to the future success of young people throughout their communities,” said Christine Ruzzi, NWCUA’s Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Engagement. “We congratulate them on this prestigious award.
 
Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award

Alphonse Desjardins founded the first credit unions in the United States and Canada, and pioneered youth savings clubs and credit union branches in schools.
 
Gesa carries on this tradition through its youth financial education programs, which have always been a cornerstone of Gesa’s community efforts. Amid the pandemic, Gesa hosted a variety of webinars, partnered with Junior Achievement, and launched a month-long Financial Literacy Challenge. The credit union also provided real-work experience to students throughout its 12 campus branches.
 
“Providing financial education is a cornerstone of who we are at Gesa and we could not be more honored to have received this award from the Credit Union National Association,” said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union. “We’re passionate about this issue, especially as it relates to younger people. Financial education is a north star for us and will continue to be.”

FISH Community Food Bank will be able to begin renovating the recently purchased Rodeo City BBQ building in Ellensburg thanks to a donation of $100,000 from Yakima Federal Savings and Loan.
 
The new facility will be used to house the Open Table program which provides meals for anyone sixty or older who is eligible for the SE Washington Aging and Long Term Care (ALTC) Senior Nutrition program and Meals on Wheels, the home delivered meal program. 
 
In addition to meals for the community, Open Table prepares and serves the Community Thanksgiving meal each November and provides meals for the Ellensburg Cold Weather Shelter during the winter shelter season. FISH also gives free lunch to anyone who is hungry and does not qualify for the ALTC programs. 
 
“Yakima Federal is pleased that we can provide funds to support Open Table meal service.” Stated Leanne Antonio, President and CEO of Yakima Federal,  “Their goal for the new site is to become a hub of nutrition related services that will benefit many Kittitas County residents. We believe in the mission and vision of FISH and are excited to be their partner.”  
 
The donation is spread out over 5 years with the first $50,000 being donated immediately and $10,000 per year through 2026.
 
“The generous support from Yakima Federal Savings and Loan will allow us to make changes to the kitchen to increase efficiency for our production-style cooking.” Said   Peggy Morache, Executive Director of FISH. “Best of all, it gives us the opportunity to redecorate the dining area to be more accessible for those who enjoy lunch with us.“
 
Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is headquartered in Yakima, WA. and has been in
business since 1905. With over 2 billion dollars in assets, the association is the 11th largest Washington-based FDIC insured financial institution.

Don’t miss the 6th annual Winter Wonderland and HAPO Festival of Lights. Join us as we countdown to the lighting of John Dam Plaza and the HAPO Community Stage. Celebrate the magic of the season with live musical performances, food vendors, and a guest appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The festivities kick off Friday, December 3, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. The official countdown will take place at 6:00 p.m. where thousands of lights will dance to holiday music every evening in December. 

Attendees will enjoy music performed by the Hanford High School Choir, The Richland High Pep Band, and Drumline. Enjoy free cocoa and KC Kettle Corn (while supplies last). Food is also available for purchase from Non-Fiction and Doggie Style Gourmet. 

Visit Santa’s House as well as the recently added replica of an “F” house located in the Richland Alphabet House Village. Say hello to Santa’s reindeer who will be visiting from the North Pole. The “Letters to the North Pole” mailbox will also be available. Children of all ages can drop their letters (along with a self-addressed envelope) in the mailbox to the North Pole (deadline is December 20, 2021) and participants will receive a response from Santa and friends.

After the lighting, stay in John Dam Plaza and enjoy the entire playlist of holiday music. Or, you can head down to Howard Amon Park and hop on the J&S Express Train at the Richland Community Center. The train will take riders on a journey through the park to enjoy the magic of over 20 inflatable light displays.

Stop by the Gallery in the Park on Lee Blvd. for more free cocoa and complimentary craft kits (while supplies last) and enjoy music performed by the Tubadours. Food vendors will also be available at Howard Amon Park.

In addition, the Richland Community Center will be hosting holiday craft projects and Bingo from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

While there, don’t miss out on the very popular lighted boat parade. This is always a crowd-pleaser sponsored by the Clover Island Yacht Club. The boats will come by Howard Amon Park at approximately 7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

But wait, there is more! New to the lineup this year is a firework display at Howard Amon Park after the boats have safely cleared the area. Fireworks will light up the sky at approximately 8:00 p.m. 

There are many more activities to enjoy at the Winter Wonderland Festival of Lights, which will continue through the month of December. View the full schedule of activities at www.ci.richland.wa.us/winterwonderland.

Kennewick Parks and Recreation and Numerica Credit Union have teamed up again for the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway. This festive holiday activity is a fantastic opportunity for the entire family to hop in the car and get in the holiday spirit while searching for hidden ornaments. Beginning December 1, recreation elves will hide one wooden Christmas ornament at a Kennewick location/landmark, each of the first 12 days of December. Families that find those ornaments will win a prize.

One set of clues will be posted each of the 12 days on the Numerica Credit Union Instagram page (@numericacu). Each ornament is numbered 1-12 and prizes will be drawn on Monday, December 13 at 8:30am live on the Kennewick Parks and Recreation Facebook page. Everyone that finds an ornament can claim their prize at the Numerica Pavilion, December 13-16. Good Luck and Happy Holidays.

List of prizes:
$500 Cash from Numerica Credit Union
$250 Cash from Numerica Credit Union
$250 Cash from Numerica Credit Union
Apple Watch Series 7
TC Black night on the town
Pacific Clinic Wilder Birthday Party Package
Senske Lawn Treatment Program
Autobahn $100 gift card and wash basket
Solstice Heating and Air HVAC start-up and $50 credit
Merry Maids 2 hours of house cleaning
Layered Cake Artistry $50 gift certificate
Scott’s Cycle and Sports $100 gift card

For more information, please contact Brandon Lange at (509) 585-4279 or [email protected].

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation partnered with Speck Family Dealerships in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Speck donated one mammogram for every vehicle sold at all four of their dealerships. In total they donated 269 mammograms this year totaling $26,900.

This is the third year Speck Family Dealerships has partnered with the Foundation. 2021 was a record year of mammograms donated at 269. In total, Speck Family Dealerships has provided over 500 free lifesaving mammograms to community members in need in Tri-Cities.

To celebrate Speck Family Dealerships great success in helping so many community members, the Foundation will be hiding 269 matchbox cars to represent the 269 mammograms they donated this year around the Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center campus for patients and visitors to find.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer, mammograms are critical to early detection and prevention.

On Nov. 17 at 6:30 pm, Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) hosts a virtual chat with award-winning young adult and children’s author Adib Khorram via Zoom. The program is the culminating event of MCL’s fall literary festival, Mid-Columbia Reads.

Khorram’s debut novel, “Darius the Great Is Not Okay,” earned the William C. Morris Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, among other accolades. The story centers on Darius Kellner, whose first-ever trip to Iran is about to change his life. The book is one of three titles being given out during the festival, which ends Nov. 17.

The sequel, “Darius the Great Deserves Better,” was published in 2020, and Khorram’s debut picture book, “Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story,” was released this year.

Also a graphic designer and a tea enthusiast, Khorram was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. When he's not writing, he enjoys Crossfit, figure skating, electric guitar, food, wine, video games, board games, and Kansas City barbecue.

This is a multilingual event; interpretation will be provided in Spanish and Arabic. Learn more at midcolumbialibraries.org.

The health of our children is important, and Prosser Memorial is proud to continue growing our Pediatrics teams to ensure their wellbeing. We are excited to welcome pediatrician Dr. Tamara (Tammi) Cooks to the Prosser Clinic. Dr. Cooks received her BA in Social Thought & Analysis with minors in Anthropology, Biology, and Spanish from Washington University St. Louis, and her doctorate from Washington University School of Medicine. She then went on to complete a pediatric residency at Wayne State University’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Dr. Cooks enjoys working with children. Her professional experience before going into pediatric medicine includes middle school teaching and being a summer camp instructor. She has dedicated her volunteer work to helping youth in Missouri communities through organizations like St. Louis Crisis Nursery, Youth Scientist Program, and Saturday Scholars, where she presented and assisted in anatomy labs for high school students. Dr. Cooks likes to make personal connections with her young patients by learning about their families, hobbies, and interests. This allows her to show the patient she is connecting with them on more than just their health, which usually makes the patient feel more comfortable. When she is not at work, Dr. Cooks enjoys spending time with her family going on walks, hikes, traveling, and getting to know the Prosser community.

Dr. Cooks services include general pediatrics, sports & school physicals, wellness exams and care for newborns through age 18. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website prosserhealth.org or call us at 509.786.1576.

Visit Tri-Cities is thrilled to announce the official launch of VisitTri-Cities.com, a newly redesigned and upgraded resource for visitors and Tri-Cities residents! The new website not only showcases local restaurants, wineries, craft beverage operations, attractions, events and everything the Tri-Cities has offer, it’s more interactive, visually compelling and leverages the latest in travel planning technology.

“Our vision is to inspire wanderlust for a bold yet casual, geeky but cool, magical experience in wide-open spaces—and the new VisitTri-Cities.com does just that,” said Michael Novakovich, President and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “The website is an authentic reflection of the Tri-Cities through vibrant imagery and engaging content as it is the foundation of our overall marketing strategy to motivate potential and repeat visitors to the Tri-Cities.”

The new VisitTri-Cities.com was developed by Tempest, an award-winning digital agency that caters to destination marketing organizations throughout the world. Key new features enhance the visitor experience with an energized aesthetic, responsive design, and dynamic visuals. Visit Tri-Cities also partnered with industry leading technology innovators to incorporate interactive marketing platforms.

• SkyNav: Explore the Tri-Cities in a 360° tour with stunning aerial to ground spherical imagery, highlighting points of interest with image galleries, videos and information.
• CrowdRiff: Discover authentic Tri-Cities experiences through user generated content curated from social media channels.
• Bandwango: Enjoy local restaurants, wineries, breweries, attractions and more with mobile passes that elevate visitors’ experiences while promoting local businesses. Popular passes include Ales & Tails and the Tri-Cities Wine Passport.
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Check out VisitTri-Cities.com to experience the Tri-Cities like never before!

Arts Center Task Force (ACTF) today announced their new location at 704 Symons Street in Richland. This milestone is a major step for ACTF in its mission to build the Mid-Columbia Performing Arts Center.

The new Arts Center Task Force Headquarters is in what was formerly a Christian broadcast studio, and provides much-needed space for rehearsals, meetings, displays, volunteers, and storage for ACTF and other local arts organizations. The space is also home to the ACTF Digital Studio, which offers audio, visual, streaming, and podcast space and services for a small fee.

“Despite COVID-19, ACTF has kept going,” says Steven Wiley, Chairman of the Board. “The pandemic delays have been a blessing in disguise, by providing an opportunity to build much-needed infrastructure.”

This news comes as the result of many months of work by the organization’s leadership, and is accompanied by exciting additional changes, including:
• New branding, complete with a new logo, updated website, and marketing materials.
• The hiring of a new Executive Director, Phinney Brown.

Brown was hired in July and joins Arts Center Task Force as a nonprofit professional with a passion for the arts. She brings welcome expertise in fundraising, marketing, networking, event planning, and more.

ACTF will announce more information about the Arts Center Task Force Headquarters Grand Opening event in the coming days.

To learn more about the mission and progress of Arts Center Task Force, visit their website at www.artscentertaskforce.com.

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation is a proud 2021 recipient of a $4,000 grant from the Pink Shamrock Foundation to fund critical chemotherapy care bags through Warrior Sisterhood, a women’s group operating under the Foundation. In addition to this grant, the Foundation also ran a campaign in October to help fund these bags, raising well over $9,000 from generous community donors.

Warrior Sisterhood is a program of the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation and was founded by four local cancer survivors in 2013. This group primarily serves women that are trying to balance a job, family and busy life in addition to cancer diagnosis. They offer emotional support, nominal support, yoga scholarships and one of their most utilized resources, chemotherapy care bags. Each month they receive referrals from Kadlec Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s nurse navigation team of newly diagnosed women to support. Warrior Sisterhood’s chemotherapy bags have been a huge blessing to women undergoing chemotherapy in the community. The bags include a variety of useful items and tips to make infusions more comfortable.

Last year, Warrior Sisterhood supported 40 women with chemotherapy bags. So far this year they have been able to provide 25 bags. With fundraising being ever challenging during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic the ability to fund these highly utilized bags has been very challenging (due to cancellations of events, and other typical avenues of fundraising). The Pink Shamrock Grant and community donations will allow for nearly 140 newly diagnosed cancer patients to receive these critical chemotherapy care bags.

To learn more and to support Warrior Sisterhood please visit: https://bit.ly/3kvqTfd.