By Robin WojtanikThe availability of inexpensive fitness options is increasing in the Tri-Cities with the opening of COR Fit in Richland and the new Planet Fitness in Kennewick. Each gym is available to users on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term contracts required.COR stands for “city of Richland” and is...
An expanded Verizon Wireless store is under construction at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick.The cellphone store is expanding into 1,400 square feet that will encompass the former Starbucks shop inside suite 802 to create more space for suite 805.Starbucks moved to a kiosk in front of the mall’s food court...
By Paul G. NeifferFarm couples can be worth about $11 million and not owe any federal estate tax. However, farmers in Washington state are subject to a state estate tax which starts at a little more than $2 million of net worth and the tax rate reaches 20 percent at...
By Michelle DuplerBenton County and Washington state marijuana retail sales bloomed in fiscal year 2016, and the high appears to have continued into 2017, according to data from the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.[blockquote quote="We’re your grandma’s cannabis store." source="Steve Lee, owner of Green2Go" align="right" max_width="300px"]Retail sales in Benton...
By Marilou SheaThis column is exclusively about one of our universally favorite things: food. Marilou Shea,Pasco Specialty KitchenIt contributes to our economy in all kinds of ways, from agriculture, processing and manufacturers, to talented entrepreneurs, cultural heritage, restaurants, food trucks, farmers markets and farm-to-table efforts.Farm-to-table is a cool concept but...
By Beau RuffAs the center of Washington’s agricultural empire, it is important to recognize the planning opportunities afforded the Washington farmer in the Tri-Cities. This column explores the use of the family farm LLC for business succession planning. Beau Ruff,Cornerstone Wealth StrategiesThe quintessential farmer is land rich and cash poor....
By Aaron SparksIn a tight agricultural labor market, many Washington state farmers and fruit growers struggle to find workers during harvest season. In Washington, of course, much of the discussion revolves around apples, the state’s top crop, which, at $2.4 billion, accounts for nearly 25 percent of the state’s agricultural...
By Robin WojtanikThe transformation of sewing from a mother’s necessity to a high-tech hobby has kept Sandy’s Fabrics and Machines in business for 40 years.Today, most sewing projects have moved beyond garment making but Sandy’s shows no sign of slowing. The downtown Kennewick store is filled with computers that use...
By Wine News ServiceNorway doesn’t have much of a winemaking history, but that doesn’t stand in the way of Kyle Welch, owner of tiny Longship Cellars in Richland.[blockquote quote="Here I am, wine industry, I’m coming for you!" source="Kyle Welch, owner of tiny Longship Cellars" align="right" max_width="300px"]Welch grew up in Pasco,...
By Andy PerdueEvery day since I suffered a stroke on Nov. 12 has been part of my long journey back to recovery.It wasn’t a massive stoke — my doctor gave it a seven on the 1-10 scale — but it left the left side of my body all but useless.Kadlec’s...