Richland’s Rollarena celebrating 70 years

Rollarena Skating Center is holding a special event on Feb. 18 to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

The skating event runs from 1-9 p.m. and will double as a fundraiser for My Friends Place, which provides support to homeless youth in the Tri-Cities.

Admission is $10, including traditional skate rental. All admission and concession sales will go to My Friends Place, and Rollarena will match the funds.

People are invited to drop by throughout the day to skate and share Rollarena stories. Music from the last seven decades will play, with guest DJs Jeff Jacobs and Brandon Andersen scheduled to appear. Jacobs was Rollarena’s DJ in the 90s and Anderson hosts its adult night on Thursdays. Rollarena is at 849 Stevens Drive in Richland.

Nursery with operations in Yakima Valley to close

Skagit Horticulture, which operates greenhouses, container yards and open field production centers in Washington and California, notified the state it plans to lay off 169 workers: 115 in Mount Vernon, where its headquarters are located, and 54 who work on its 295-acre complex in Mabton.

The company is a provider of annual and perennial plants to growers and retail nurseries across the country. It told Greenhouse Grower it plans to discontinue operations April 7 after weathering many challenges, including market pressures, production and energy costs, and the high cost of doing business in the state, citing the state’s high minimum wage and overtime laws.

New airport artwork celebrates Colville Tribes

New displays at the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco celebrate the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The airport exhibits local and regional artwork each year, and the Colville Tribes’ pieces showcase historic and modern imagery, cultural touchpoints and regional vistas.

The displays also include QR codes that link to videos created by the Colville Tribes.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be able to share the stories of our people with all who pass through the Tri-Cities Airport,” said Jarred-Michael Erickson, Colville Tribes chairman, in the statement. “Through these beautiful billboards, we are able to showcase our culture – from the importance of food gathering to traditional regalia and the celebrations of the Colville people past and present.”

Buck Taft, airport director, added that, “the mix of people, the incredible landscapes and the informative videos offer several reasons to engage with the displays and learn more about the region’s indigenous communities. We hope that our passengers connect with these pieces all year long.”

8th District lawmakers to host virtual town hall Feb. 17 

Three 8th Legislative District lawmakers are hosting a virtual town hall meeting at 2 p.m. Feb. 17. 

Sen. Matt Boehnke, Rep. Stephanie Barnard, and Rep. April Connors invite the public to attend the event. 

The 2024 legislative session began on Jan. 8 and ends March 7. This year’s 60-day short session focuses on a supplemental budget, which makes adjustments and additions to the previously adopted two-year budget. 

To register for the virtual town hall event, go to: tinyurl.com/8thDistrictVTH.

Pasco invites public to community listening sessions

The Pasco City Council and staff will hold community listening sessions during the last week of February. These sessions allow Pasco residents to engage with their local government and have their voices heard.

Residents are invited to attend one of two scheduled sessions:

• 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Holiday Inn Express, 4525 Convention Place, near the HAPO Center.

• 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Leo Center, 3713 E. A St.

These facilitated forums offer residents an opportunity to share suggestions and creative ideas for enhancing their community.

Historically, community listening sessions have been instrumental in generating numerous goals for the city council. The feedback and ideas from past sessions have led to significant and positive changes.

The council encourages all segments of the community to participate. Residents, business owners and members of community organizations are welcome.

Spanish translation services will be provided at each session.

For more information, call 509-544-3060.

Foodies closes Kennewick, Richland restaurants

The popular Foodies restaurants in Richland and Kennewick have abruptly closed. 

The closure was announced Saturday, Feb. 10, on the Foodies Facebook page. 

“For the past 15 years, we have put our heart and soul into Foodies catering, Floatin Foodies, Foodies Brick and Mortar, Foodies Too, Foodies on the Go, Foodies on the River. But it’s time for me to leave the food and beverage service industry,” owner Joanna Wilson wrote in the post. 

She thanked the staff and the community, saying those bonds are “what I’ll cherish the most.” 

“We cannot express the tremendous support you have shown our staff and my family. We are truly humbled. And tears of gratitude are continuing to flow as we work through this weekend,” she wrote in the post, requesting that she and staff be given privacy to deal with the announcement. 

The Kennewick location, which opened next to the Columbia Park golf course in 2022 after a fire prompted its relocation from downtown, closed on Feb. 10. 

The Richland location, in a corner spot in The Parkway, closed on Feb. 11. 

Another Tri-City restaurant also recently said goodbye. Bougie Brunch on West Kennewick Avenue announced on Facebook on Feb. 5 that it was closed indefinitely. The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business featured the business in June 2022 ahead of its opening. 

“Thank you to the community for your continued support,” the post said.

Tri-Citian of the Year nominations open

Do you know someone deserving of being named 2024 Tri-Citian of the Year? 

Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on March 9. Fill out the nomination form at tricitianoftheyear.com/online-nomination-form.

The award is given to people who demonstrate “outstanding service above self” and is meant to show appreciation for “efforts exerted in building community through service,” the program website says. 

Dozens of people have been honored since 1962, when the first award went to Owen Hurd, former managing director of the Washington Public Power Supply System and general manager for the Benton PUD. Last year, Lura Powell, the former director of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, received the honor. The year before, it went to Mark Brault, then chief executive officer of Grace Clinic. 

Other recipients have ranged from Ken Hohenberg, the former Kennewick police chief and current Port of Kennewick commissioner, to the Lampson family.

This year’s ceremony is April 25 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

The Kennewick Man and Woman of the Year were named at a ceremony on Feb. 12 at the convention center.

Ben Franklin Transit adds Dial-A-Ride provider

Ben Franklin Transit is expanding its Dial-A-Ride service.

The agency’s board of directors on Jan. 11 authorized a contract increase with Nomad Transit LLC, known as Via, to operate expansion services.

The move will allow Via to provide ADA Dial-A-Ride overflow trips, general demand services in Prosser and Benton City, and on-demand services to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco, according to a statement from the transit agency.

The idea is to increase reliability and offer more flexibility and efficiency in scheduling, the statement said.

“These shared services will ensure we’re well equipped to support our Dial-A-Ride customers in the event of an increase in ridership and will provide consistency for our cherished clientele. We want to position ourselves to offer the most dependable service to our community,” said Rachelle Glazier, general manager, in a statement. “Get used to seeing our BFT CONNECT Via vans in more locations, including Prosser and Benton City, as we strive for service excellence.”

BFT plans to start the expansion in March and is working out details with Via. The BFT Citizens Advisory Network will be consulted to ensure customer needs are the focus, the statement said.

Bill advancing tax incentives for clean energy companies gains traction

A bill aimed at accelerating clean nuclear energy development to foster economic opportunities in the Tri-Cities and surrounding counties recently was approved by the state House of Representatives. 

The bill, HB 2120, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, seeks to provide tax incentives for clean energy manufacturers. 

“With this bill, Washington state is reaffirming its dedication to expanding clean nuclear energy and seizing the economic opportunities it brings,” she said in a statement.

The bill next progresses to the state Senate for further consideration. The legislative session ends March 7.

Journal spotlights women in international nuclear security

Women from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory stepped in as guest editors, authors and designers for a special issue of the International Journal of Nuclear Security focused exclusively on gender in the international field of nuclear security.

Go to: bit.ly/PNNLwomen.

WaFd Bank’s new Kennewick branch to host grand opening

WaFd Bank’s newest branch in Kennewick is inviting the community to its grand opening celebration.

The event will be at 1 p.m. March 7, and will feature food, drinks and a DJ.

The new branch is at 5331 W. Canal Drive.

WaFd is a national bank with headquarters in Seattle and more than 200 branches in nine western states. 

The company has 73 locations in the state, including in Walla Walla, Yakima and Hermiston.

State auditors issue finding to city of Kahlotus

Auditors issued a finding for the city of Kahlotus in an 11-page report released this month. 

In audit reports, a “finding” means auditors reviewed an agency’s records and have significant concerns. 

The audit covers 2021-22.  

Auditors said the city lacked adequate controls over financial reporting to ensure compliance with timely annual report submissions. 

It noted the city didn’t submit an annual report within 150 days of fiscal year-end for 2021 and 2022. 

The city filed its 2021 report 525 days late, and the 2022 report 31 days late. This issue also was reported in the prior audit covering years 2018-20.

The city responded to the finding saying that the annual reports have been a struggle to complete for years.

“The turnover rate for the City Clerk/Treasurer position has been high over the years, the city now has a Clerk/Treasurer that has been with the city for over 2 years and has no plans of leaving said position. With every audit is a new learning experience and the city will fix any findings found during audit and improve with the intent to not make those errors again,” it told auditors.

The Franklin County city operates under a mayor-council form of government. The city and its two employees provide water and garbage service to about 100 customers.

Penske announces layoff plans

Penske Logistics LLC recently notified the state of its plans to lay off 125 workers in Benton City, Auburn, Arlington and Spokane, effective March 31.

The company offers distribution, warehousing, transportation and supply chain management services.

Washington No. 13 best state to start a business

More Americans than ever are starting new businesses. In 2022, nearly 20% of working adults were new business owners, the highest rate in over 20 years.

A new study by Simplify LLC ranked the U.S. states and the District of Columbia from the best to worst place to start a business.

Washington ranked No. 13, with a corporate tax rate of 0% (No. 1 in the U.S.). Its new businesses grew by 8.2% (No. 27), inflation increased by 16.9% since 2021 (No. 10) and educated worker net migration was 7,792 (No. 14). New business growth, percentage of businesses which say they’re performing excellently, job creation rate, consumer spending growth, maximum corporate tax rate, regional inflation and mobility of educated adults 25 and older were all factors in the rankings.

Washington also has the second-lowest business failure rate in the U.S. after the first year, according to a report from LendingTree. 

Topping the list as the best state to start a business is Wyoming, with a strong business growth of 39.2%. Along with Washington, it has a 0% corporate tax rate, and 19.1% of businesses say they’re doing excellent. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Illinois, ranked 51. Its net migration was -53,778, a number surpassed only by New York and California. The maximum corporate tax rate is a high 9.5% and business performance is only 8.1%. 

Across the seven metrics, each of the ranked states has its own opportunities and challenges to consider when deciding where to locate a new business. 

Ultimately, the study maps the business landscape across the states and introduces the potential for new centers of entrepreneurship.

Tri-City gaming group to host April convention

Tri-City Area Gaming (TAG), a nonprofit that champions critical thinking and community building through gaming, will host its annual gaming convention, TAGCON, from April 19–21.

The convention will feature a wide array of activities including board games, tabletop role playing games, workshops and speaker sessions for educators and anyone passionate about the power of play.

The TAG event is queer-friendly, trans-affirming, welcoming to neurodivergent gamers, and actively anti-racist. The TAGCON library has many language-agnostic games, so attendees who speak other languages can participate.

The event also has blocks and other games for parents with small children to check out and play with their kids.

Event highlights include community building games, game design sessions, board game library, vendors, prizes and more.

The convention will be at the HAPO Center, 6600 Burden Blvd., Pasco.

Tickets will be available onsite and online. Go to: tagcon.org.

Subsidized event registration pricing is available for caregivers, students, educators and people experiencing financial hardship.

Admission costs range in price from $5 for kids under 12 to $40 for adults.

Cool Desert Nights returns to Richland

The Richland Chamber of Commerce and the city of Richland have announced the return of Cool Desert Nights on June 21-22.

The event returns with a Friday night cruise, a street dance concert in John Dam Plaza, and a car show-n-shine all day Saturday at the Uptown Shopping Center and Jefferson Park in Richland.

Registration open for April symposium

Registration has opened for the 17th annual Bridging Partnerships Small Business Symposium, hosted by the Hanford Small Business Council and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

The event, which will be held April 3 and 4 at the Three Rivers Convention Center, is an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to network, gain valuable contracting tips and tricks, and learn more about the mission and scope of work conducted at the Hanford site.

The symposium costs $225 to attend and includes a Hanford site bus tour, a welcome reception, breakout sessions, a keynote luncheon and a tradeshow.

For more information, go to: bridgingpartnerships.com.

Event aims to connect community with first responders

First responders hope to create connections through coffee and ice cream at a Feb. 22 event. 

The Richland Police Department, West Richland Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Richland Fire Department, Benton Fire District 1 and Benton Fire District 4 are collaborating to present, “Coffee and Ice Cream with a First Responder.”

The event aims to break down barriers and create an open forum for attendees to ask questions, voice concerns and better understand the first responders in their neighborhoods. 

Residents will have the chance to engage with the local police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel serving the area while enjoying discounted coffee and ice cream. 

Since the Badger Mountain South area falls under multiple jurisdictions, this event is unique in its inclusivity of all first responders in the area. The organizers hope to demonstrate the importance of teamwork and coordination in ensuring public safety. 

It’s from 9-11 a.m. at Country Mercantile, 5015 Ave. Way, Richland.

Police and pets will be at adoption event

After a successful “Felines and Firefighters” event last year, the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter is collaborating with local law enforcement for “Fur Babies & the Fuzz.”

This animal adoption event is not only a chance to find a new four-legged family member, but it is also an opportunity for community members to meet and better understand the work of local officers. 

Attendees also can explore the animal shelter’s programs and services, as well as the new shelter in progress across the street. The animal shelter is expected to move into the new building in August.

Dogs, puppies, cats and kittens will be available for a reduced adoption fee of $50, which includes spay/neuter and vaccinations. 

Fur Babies & the Fuzz will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, February 17 at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter, 1312 S. 18th Ave., Pasco.

Washington AG sues to block grocery merger

Washington’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit to block the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger.

Bob Ferguson says the proposed merger would severely limit grocery shopping options, eliminate competition that keeps prices low, endanger jobs in the state and more.

Kroger and Albertsons are the two largest supermarket chains in Washington and the second and fourth largest supermarket operators in the country, according to Ferguson’s office. They currently have more than 700,000 employees in nearly 5,000 stores across 49 states. They have combined annual revenue in excess of $200 billion. Kroger alone has more than 21,000 workers in Washington.

Wanted: Businesses seeking to hire student workers

Businesses are invited to register for free to participate in an upcoming Student Job Fair on March 26 at Kennewick High School. The job fair is open to all students at all high schools looking for entry-level positions.

Go to: bit.ly/KSDjobfair2024.

New business report offers key economic insights for 2024

The Association of Washington Business’ new quarterly economic report includes insights on finance, energy, agriculture and more.

“The feared recession did not happen in 2023 and the economy keeps chugging along. The outlook, however, is not entirely sanguine,” said Arun Raha, former Washington state chief economist.

To read report, go to: awb.org.

State to launch Navigator Program

The Washington state Employment Security Department is using $2 million in federal funds to launch its Navigator Program.

The program will provide grants to community organizations to help potential unemployment claimants in underserved communities learn about available benefits.

SBA names new administrator for PNW region

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named Beto Yarce as the new regional administrator for Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska.

He moved to Seattle from Mexico in 2003 and has been involved in the entrepreneurial and immigrant services communities for 20 years.

Tri-City organization shares in homeless youth grants

A Tri-City organization will share in $4.8 million in grants to help prevent and address housing instability among young people.

The grants, announced by the state Office of Homeless Youth, will pay for services such as school-based interventions, crisis interventions and other support.

Communities In Schools Benton-Franklin received $200,000.

Japanese delegation tours Hanford

Leaders from Japan’s Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Company recently visited Hanford’s Low-Activity Waste Facility at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.

The delegation was looking at the lessons learned from their U.S. counterparts as they address the cleanup needs at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

Pandemic-era internet discount program may end this spring as funds run out

Washington has received around $161 million from the internet discount program to assist about 340,000 households.

The state’s 4th congressional district, which includes the Tri-Cities, enrolled more than 63,000 households and received more than $32.7 million, the most of all the congressional districts in the state, according to the Washington State Standard.

Drought advisory in effect, water supply outlook ‘below normal’

Despite recent rainy and gray-sky weather, the state’s water supply outlook is “below normal,” officials say.

The statewide drought advisory declared in June is still in effect.

“Even folks who are not in a declared drought area right now should begin preparing for a dry spring,” said Caroline Mellor, Ecology’s statewide drought lead.

Out of gas: Inslee’s oil transparency bill stalls in Legislature

Gov. Jay Inslee’s oil transparency bill was a top climate priority this legislative session but critics questioned its $15 million cost and whether the state could keep sensitive corporate data safe from hackers.

Modeled on an approach in California, the bill sought to mandate oil companies to report data on pricing, profit and transactions to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Washington State Standard reported. It also would empower a new division in the commission to oversee oil industry pricing, and investigate allegations of market manipulation and price-gouging. Potential violations would be referred to the state Attorney General’s Office.

An analysis of the bill’s projected costs found the Utilities and Transportation Commission would require $7.2 million to set up and staff the new division. Another $2.8 million would be needed by the state’s consolidated technology services agency to protect corporate data and other sensitive information, the Standard reported.