APPOINTMENTS

• Brian O’Neill, an Earth systems scientist who studies the relationship between future societal development, emissions and climate change impacts, has been named the new director of the Joint Global Change Research Institute, the institute is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland and the University of Maryland in College Park. O’Neill is a professor at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies and serves as director of research at the Korbel School’s Pardee Center for International Futures, also at the University of Denver.

AWARDS & HONORS

• The Kennewick Kiwanis Club’s first Zoom installation on Sept. 15 included the presentation of several awards: President’s Award, Rick McKinnon; Kiwanians of the Year, Megan Farrow & Maureen Bell; George F. Hixon Fellowship, President Rick McKinnon; Finley Satellite Club Volunteer of the Year, Barb Stanley; and Young Professional Satellite Club, John Raschko.
• The Association of Washington Business named Yakima Chief Hops the winner of the association’s 2020 Manufacturing Excellence Award for green manufacturing. The company was recognized for its numerous initiatives aimed at reducing waste and shrinking its environmental footprint, including the installation of more than 3,700 solar panels at its facilities.
• Joe Walker, Port of Benton’s director of airports, has earned the certified member (C.M.) credential from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). The designation is the second highest level of achievement available from the AAAE and demonstrates a commitment to the aviation industry. Walker is one of about 2,300 aviation professionals worldwide to hold an active C.M. The designation attests to his proficiency and knowledge of airport operations and management. The AAAE is the largest professional organization for airport employees.

GRANTS

• Legends Casino Hotel in Toppenish donated $378,988 in grants to assist 69 nonprofits through its Yakama Cares program. The committee for the charitable contribution fund received 336 applications to evaluate for this year’s distribution. The committee bases part of its selection on the areas of need in the community. Grants awarded range from $1,500 to $25,000 per recipient. Local groups receiving grants were: Kiona-Benton City Middle School, $3,000, for fencing in the field area; Columbia Industries, $5,000 for uniforms, shoes, training materials for cooking program for adults with barriers; Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation, $2,400 for breast cancer patients; Second Harvest, $4,000 for food assistance for two local distributions; Martha’s Cupboard, $5,000 for faith-based charitable organization to provide items food stamps, laundry soap, shampoos, etc.; Mikey’s Chance Canine Rescue, $2,000 for kennels and medical bills for foster-based dog rescue; Pet Over Population Prevention, $2,000 for surgical equipment to help spay and neuter program; Prevent Homeless Pets, $2,000 for spay and neuter program; Chaplaincy Health Care, $6,500 for care for those who cannot afford it; and Combat Veteran Motorcycle Association, $5,000 to help veterans.
• The Benton Conservation District will design a pair of cold-water rest stops for migrating salmon near the mouth of the Yakima River with a $306,000 grant from the Washington State Salmon Recovery Board.

Yakima River salmon travel thousands of miles to get home but encounter a roadblock in the warm water of the Yakima. As they wait in the Columbia River for temperatures to drop, fish age rapidly and are vulnerable to sportfishing, according to the conservation district.

The money will pay to enhance two pockets of cooler water upstream from the mouth of the Yakima to serve as “rest stops” for salmon migrating to spawning grounds.

• A $35,000 donation from the Albertsons and Safeway Foundation will be used to support Richland School District’s weekly distribution of free meals to all children in the community.

The district is receiving additional federal funding for the breakfasts and lunches it is making available for all children under the age of 18 while schools are in an online learning format. The contribution will help defray additional costs from those efforts, such as food containers, sacks and thermal packaging.

Nutrition services staff are providing weekly meal packets on Fridays to thousands of families at most RSD schools. The program started with providing a breakfast and lunch for every school day in a given week and will expand to include weekend meals on Oct. 2.

The donation specifically came from the Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief Initiative and its Help Feed Families During the Crisis fundraiser.

NEW HIRES

• Pasco City Manager Dave Zabell has named Pullman’s city administrator to be the next deputy city manager, replacing Stan Strebel, who retired last year.

Adam Lincoln also worked as assistant to the city manager for the city of Lakewood. For over a decade, Lincoln has worked at the federal, state and local levels of government.

Lincoln is active within the city management profession and belongs to several municipal management organizations. He earned his master of public administration degree from the University of Washington Evans School of Governance and Public Policy and his bachelor’s from Western Washington University. His first day on the job in Pasco is Oct. 30.

• Gesa Credit Union has hired Ron Fulop as a commercial loan officer serving the Tri-City region. He has over 25 years of experience in commercial lending and specializes in working capital, real estate, equipment, term and acquisition financing. He works at the 51 Gage Blvd., Richland, branch.
• Good Shepherd Health Care System has hired obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Christopher Bowen, doctor of osteopathic medicine, to its medical staff and Good Shepherd Women’s Center in Hermiston. Bowen was born in Kennewick and spent his childhood in Yakima. He recently completed his residency at Henry Ford Wyandotte in Wyandotte, Michigan, after graduating from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and is board eligible by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
• Trios Health has hired Dr. Michael Kolczynski as a pain specialist. He will see patients at the Trios Care Center at Southridge fourth-floor clinic in Kennewick. He treats patients for a variety of conditions, including back, neck and shoulder pain; carpal tunnel; complex regional pain syndrome; diabetic neuropathic pain; fibromyalgia; headaches; herniated discs; hip and knee pain; pelvic and abdominal pain; sacroiliac pain; sciatica; shingles (postherpetic neuralgia); spinal stenosis; and work and sports injuries. Most recently, Kolczynski was medical director at Advanced Pain Management in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin. He completed medical school at Saba University School of Medicine in Netherlands-Antilles and completed his residency in anesthesiology and fellowship in pain management at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. Kolczynski is double board-certified in pain management and anesthesiology and is a member of the American Board of Anesthesiology, American Medical Association, and Spine Intervention Society. He is originally from Vancouver, Canada, and is fluent in English, Polish and conversational German.

BOARDS

• Wishing Star Foundation has added Julia Thatcher to its board of directors. She is an anchor and reporter for KEPR/KIMA Action News in Yakima and Tri-Cities. She first became involved with Wishing Star after volunteering during the “Send-A-Friend-A-Goat” fundraiser.
• Two College of Education faculty members at Washington State University Tri-Cities have been elected to serve as Association of Science Teacher Education board members. Associate professor Judy Morrison and assistant professor Jonah Firestone both teach and research science education. ASTE focuses on research for science teaching.

Morrison’s service to the ASTE organization has included reviewing proposals, presenting and presiding at annual meetings, serving on and chairing committees, serving as a regional director for two terms and on the ASTE board of directors for three years.

Firestone became a board member after having been involved with ASTE since beginning in graduate school. During his first ASTE conference, he was able to stand-in for an advisor on a panel. Firestone was originally elected to be the director of the Northwest Region of ASTE (NWASTE). There are three positions on the ASTE board that are filled with these regional directors on a rotating basis.

• The Kennewick Kiwanis Club chose board members for 2020-21: President Vickie Bergum; President-elect Wayne Bell; Vice President Tom Moak; Secretary Maureen Bell; Treasurer Penny Gardner. Board members are: Gerry Berges, Stan Case, Patti Gunn, Jean Lewis, Any Coffman, Dave Eakin, Pat Johnstone Jones and Babe Nyberg.