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The City of Kennewick Planning Department is hosting a Virtual Open House on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to present an overview of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), the update process and to gather comments, suggestions and other feedback from the public. Participants can join the meeting at www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update. The open house will be recorded and posted on the website.
To review proposed changes to the SMP, the SMP checklist and other information, or to submit comments, please visit www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update or email [email protected]. Comments can also be submitted by regular mail to Attn: Anthony Muai, 210 W. 6th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336. State law currently requires agencies to periodically review and update their local SMP regulations and plans. The City of Kennewick is initiating this process in 2020 to be completed in 2021, as mandated by state law for all jurisdictions in Benton County. The Washington State Department of Ecology maintains a list of changes made by the legislature that affect the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) so that local jurisdictions can easily identify local regulations that need to be updated to be consistent with the SMA. Kennewick's SMP defines how the shoreline areas of the City and its urban growth area will be managed. Lands within 200 feet of the Columbia River, and their associated wetlands, are subject to the policies and regulations of the SMP. Other intermittent streams and water bodies, such as Zintel Creek and Elliot Lake, are regulated by the city’s critical areas ordinance only. All properties must comply with the city’s zoning and comprehensive plan, and properties subject to the SMP must comply with critical areas as well.
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Maverick Cares Celebrates First Anniversary, Holiday Season by Providing Meals for 16,000 People12/11/2020 In partnership with local community leaders, Maverick Cares, a ‘good neighbor’ program of Maverick Gaming that is managed by its team members, is providing free holiday meals for 16,000 people to local families. The pre-packaged meals will include items such as: Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Dinner Rolls, Pumpkin Pie. To learn more about previous Maverick Cares community events, you may access media coverage and details on its website. Maverick Cares was launched in Fall 2019, hosting its first event on December 23, 2019.
The care packages will be distributed on December 23 via a voucher program issued in advance for participating families and respecting all public health measures helping curb the spread of COVID-19. In accordance with public health allowances, Maverick Gaming currently operates 17 of its 19 locations outdoors. Participating families will be able pick up their holiday meal in the parking lots of designated locations listed below. Members of the media are invited to report on the effort as a part of scheduled holiday community outreach coverage. “Just over a year ago, our teammates were ready to prove that Maverick Gaming was committed to giving back where we live and work. We had no idea just how critical community partnerships would be through all the world-changing events of the past year,” said Maverick Gaming CEO and co-founder Eric Persson. “At Maverick Cares, we are humbled by the support of more than 35 local organizations across the state that elevate the ability of our team to help those most in need. This holiday season, as we all strive to keep our families safe while celebrating the holiday, we hope that these meals will help make things just a little bit easier as we together weather the public health and economic storms of 2020.” WHERE: Royal Casino (Everett), Crazy Moose Casino (Mountlake Terrace), Silver Dollar Casino (Bothell), Club Hollywood (Shoreline), Caribbean Casino (Kirkland), Roman Casino (Seattle), Great American Casino (Tukwila), Silver Dollar Casino (Renton), Silver Dollar Casino (SeaTac), Wizards Casino (Burien), Macau Casino (Lakewood), Crazy Moose Casino (Pasco), Caribbean Casino (Yakima). WHEN: For day-of coverage, the care packages will be provided to families with vouchers distributed by partner community organizations between the hours of 3 PM to 7 PM on Tuesday December 23. For stories in advance of the event, please contact Maverick Cares to assist in coordinating. WHO: Maverick Cares is the philanthropic arm of Maverick Gaming, a gaming company established recently by Hoquiam native, Eric Persson. Maverick Cares is managed by its team members and reflects the values and priorities of the communities where the Maverick team lives, works and plays. Local community partners are working with each respective Maverick Gaming location. Additional charitable efforts by Maverick Cares included an employee-driven donation to Toys for Tots during the 2019 holiday season, a July 4th Giveaway earlier in 2020 and free Thanksgiving meals in November. Learn more online. Maverick Gaming operates card rooms in Washington located from Kirkland to Tukwila to Lakewood to Kennewick as well as the Wendover Nugget, Red Garter Hotel, Red Lion Casino and Gold Country Casino in Nevada, as well as three properties in Colorado. Maverick Gaming currently employs more than 2,000 team members in Washington State and intends to invest $500 million in licensed card rooms and planned entertainment developments across the state. At the core of Maverick Gaming’s Responsible Gambling approach is its ‘self-exclusion’ policy, which gives self-identified problem gamblers opportunity to avoid risking their wallets and their well-being. Washington has passed a law requiring the State Gambling Commission to finalize a self-exclusion system by 2021, but Maverick Gaming has already implemented centralized self-exclusion statewide, restricting access to problem gamblers in all its card rooms. To learn more about Maverick Gaming, please visit its website. Benton PUD Commissioner Lori Sanders was elected president of the Benton PUD Board of Commissioners for 2021. Barry Bush was elected vice-president and Jeff Hall was elected secretary. Lori Sanders was originally elected in 2004 and is serving in her third term as commissioner. She resides in Kennewick, Washington.
Benton PUD is directed by a three-member board of commissioners elected by citizens of Benton County. Each commissioner represents a different sector of the county and serves a six-year term. The election of officers takes place annually. Beginning December 14, 2020, Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) will resume three regular bus routes which will replace one temporary route in West Pasco. This set of changes is the first step toward restoring regular bus services in Pasco after scaling back earlier in the year in response to pandemic impacts. The agency is continuously working to adjust services in alignment with maximizing connectivity for our community and responding to evolving pandemic guidance and operating conditions.
Pasco Bus Route Changes Effective Monday, December 14 The following bus route will be DISCONTINUED:
For the most up-to-date bus schedules, we recommend that riders download and use the Transit app, or go to https://www.bft.org/services/route-maps-and-schedules/. Phone support is also available Mon-Fri 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sat 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 509.735.5100. BFT will continue to provide regular service on all other bus routes at this time and will notify customers via Facebook and Twitter, on its website at www.bft.org and by other means as appropriate of any further changes in service. People For People Transportation will not be running the following Fixed Route Services on Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) or New Year’s Eve (Thursday, December 31st):
Para-Transit / Demand Response Services will not operate after 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve ******************************** People For People Transportation will be closed on Friday, December 25th & December 31st in observance of both the Christmas Day & New Year’s Day Holiday. If you have any questions, please call the People For People Scheduling Department at (509) 765-9249 ext. 555 The City of Richland and HAPO Community Credit Union partner once again to bring joy to our community this holiday season. The 2020 Winter Wonderland Festival of Lights in John Dam Plaza and on the HAPO Community Stage features thousands of dancing lights set to holiday music. In addition, seasonal displays will line the sidewalks to bring joy, excitement, and happiness to all who visit the park.
“HAPO is proud to partner with the City of Richland this holiday season and we hope these bright lights will help bring some holiday cheer,” said Crystal Contreras, Community Relations Director for HAPO Community Credit Union. Seasonal displays include:
In addition to the Winter Wonderland Festival of Lights, the Richland Parks and Recreation team will be spreading more holiday cheer by distributing holiday gift bags full of treats and Richland souvenirs. To reserve your household’s “Holiday in a Bag”, register online starting Friday, December 4th. Supplies are limited to one gift bag per household in order to spread as much joy and kindness as possible. The goal is to promote family togetherness and gratitude during this holiday season. The Richland Parks & Recreation team will be sharing additional winter and holiday-themed activities and stories on their website and through social media. Go to www.ci.richland.wa.us/winterwonderland and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/richlandparksandrec for the most up to date information Benton County, Franklin County and the Cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Prosser, Richland, and West Richland collaborated with Visit Tri-Cities to have a video message to the Governor produced. This video message is a follow-up to joint letters sent by both the cities and counties in recent weeks expressing strong disagreement with the added restrictions and closures of business announced by the Governor on November 15.
As stated in the letters, our local business community has been very successful in implementing high-level safety protocols. The information from local and state health officials, and from the Governor himself, is that the surge in infections is primarily attributed to social gatherings where individuals are not adhering to masking and social distancing protocols – not from controlled businesses environments where safety protocols are followed. Many of our local business are on the brink of closing permanently due to previous and prolonged mandates. Unlike most areas in the State, some of our businesses were only allowed to reopen or expand their activities in October, just 1 month prior to the Governor’s new restrictions. Business closures mean lost jobs. The impact on employees and their families can be devastating, both financially and on mental health during the holidays. As demonstrated in the video message, the Cities and Counties support a continued partnership with the State in promoting safety protocols in our community. The request is for the safe re-opening of our businesses at the previous Phase II level. Please visit the following websites for additional information:
In the spirit of “people helping people”, HAPO, Gesa, and Numerica credit unions came together to donate $20,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties during their “Dinner with Friends” event last Friday, December 4. Proceeds from the virtual event were dedicated to supporting the 4,400+ local youth members served annually at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties.
As part of the collaborative gift, a Seattle Seahawks-themed tree will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club to display each year, along with all gifts under the tree, which will soon brighten the holidays for the club kid who shares why they are the biggest Seahawk fan. “HAPO is proud to partner with Numerica and Gesa to support Boys & Girls Club and to make this holiday season especially bright for one lucky club member, ”said Crystal Contreras, Community Relations Director for HAPO Community Credit Union. On a typical day, the Boys & Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties serves over 4,000 children and teens at 27 different Clubs throughout our region. Throughout this pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Tri-Cities and Prosser have remained open to serve the support community. The organization continues to provide full day childcare to the children of essential workers, free study halls and academic support for children and teens, and critical resources to low-income families. “At Gesa we are always excited to partner in the credit union sprit of people helping people,” said Richard Waddle, Executive Vice President/CFO of Gesa Credit Union. “The Boys and Girls Club is an incredible organization that continues to inspire and support the youth in our community.” The “Dinner with Friends” event takes place annually and the funds raised from the event go toward strengthening youth programs at the Boys and Girls Club of Benton and Franklin County. "The holiday season is all about coming together to brighten the spirits of others," said Andy Stirling, senior vice president of Numerica Credit Union. “We are thrilled to team up and embody our ‘inner Santa Claus’ alongside two of our favorite credit union partners.” Gesa, Numerica and HAPO Community Credit Union have been an integral part of our communities for over 60 years. While the credit unions’ services have expanded, their commitment to supporting their over 586,000 collective members and the community remains strong. Students in Pasco, Kennewick, Finley, Othello, and West Richland schools now have easier access to Mid-Columbia Libraries’ eBook and eAudiobook collection using the student reading app, Sora. No library card is needed; students are automatically authenticated when logging in from their school device.
This school-library partnership provides safe access to age-appropriate titles for students’ use inside the classroom, at home, and anywhere 24/7. Through Sora, which was created by OverDrive, students can borrow from their school’s digital collection—if applicable—while also accessing thousands of Mid-Columbia Libraries’ juvenile and young adult digital titles. In addition, Sora supports teachers by offering education-specific tools like achievements, exportable notes, and reading progress that encourage individualized learning. “We’re thrilled to partner with local schools to support digital access for students, educators, and families, especially during these times of remote learning,” says Mid-Columbia Libraries (MCL) Executive Director and Chief Librarian Kyle Cox. “We know technology has become increasingly valuable in supporting new generations of lifelong learners and readers.” MCL has also been working with school districts to collect recommended titles and to add multiple copies of them to its collection to better serve students and educators. Readers can always suggest a title for purchase on the MCL website at midcolumbialibraries.org/services/suggest-a-purchase, or contact Advocacy & Development Manager Sara Schwan at [email protected] for more information. Readers can visit midcolumbialibraries.org/ebooks to search the entire MCL digital collection. What is the role of COVID-19 testing in helping businesses operate during the pandemic?
This virtual event will explore questions about the role of COVID-19 testing as one tool to help local businesses operate safely and successfully during the pandemic.
The dialogue will be moderated by Howard Frumkin, former Dean of the UW School of Public Health. Confirmed panelists include Kristin Omberg (PNNL), David Hansen (Western Washington University), Amy Person (Benton-Franklin Health District), Karl Dye (TriDEC), Eric Pearson (Community First Bank), Frank Harrill (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories), and LoAnn Ayers (United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties). Community partners that helped to inform and advertise this event include: TriDEC, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Basin Badger Club, Benton-Franklin Community Health Alliance, Coalition for a Healthy Benton City, KEY Connection, and Pasco Discovery Coalition. This event is co-hosted by the Washington State Academy of Sciences and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. |
Have News?Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Vice President. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above. Archives
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