Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business - March 2016

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business

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Hispanic grocery store Supermex brings the taste of Mexico to the Tri-Cities

he Said it

Most of us hope well die in our sleep when we are 90 and never need it,

- Scott Smith,State Farm agent,

speaking of long-term care insurance

hospitalityWSU Hospitality program

grows in Tri-CitiesPages 13-17

insuranceDont overlook long-term

care insurancePages 37-41

By John Stang for TCAJOBBenton and Franklin counties could find

their bans and moratoriums on selling retail marijuana revoked in 2017.

Just before the end of the 2016 legislative session, Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, and Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, introduced a bill to require counties and cit-ies to lift their bans and moratoriums on the retail sale of marijuana.

Unless the bill finds its way into the Legislatures final budget bill by Mar. 10, it will be on the legislative docket in 2017. Hurst is chairman of the House Commerce & Gaming Committee, which handles marijua-na issues in the House. Condotta is the com-mittees ranking Republican.

Marijuana can be grown, processed and sold in many Washington cities and counties. And many cities and counties have voted to ban those activities creating a patchwork of where selling marijuana is legal and ille-gal across the state. Hursts and Condottas bill would forbid bans on retail shops, but would allow bans on processors and growers.

Benton County has a moratorium on allowing new retail pot dealers. Franklin County, Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and West Richland have outright bans on growing, processing and selling marijuana.

Two teen boys allegedly killing a third teen boy over pot in February in Federal Way which bans marijuana helped prompt Hursts and Condottas bill. They contend that a city or county banning retail marijuana does not stop pot-related crime, while simultaneously providing more of a market for illegal marijuana. Since about 65 percent of Washingtons marijuana is sold illegally, adding stores helps cut down on illegal traffic, they said.

It feels like people are closing their eyes and saying marijuana doesnt exist because we have a ban or a moratorium, said Hurst at a Mar. 2 committee hearing on the bill.

Marijuana interests supported the bill at the hearing, while the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington Association of Counties opposed it.

Supermex owner Jesus Higareda-Diaz helps bags groceries at Supermex in Pasco. He has built one of the fastest-growing Mexican grocery stores in the Tri-Cities. At Supermex in Pasco you can find everything from unique Mexican candies and tequilas, and savor tacos and fruit juices

By Elsie Puig for TCAJOBStepping into Supermex in Pasco is like

stepping into a grocery store in Mexico and that is exactly what owner Jesus Hig-areda-Diaz wants.

Colorful murals adorn the walls depict-ing traditional Hispanic foods and pro-duce, piatas line the ceiling, the smell of authentic Mexican tacos fills the air, and the friendly staff greets you in Spanish.

In fact, the motto of the store is Un ped-acito de Mxico cerca de ti, which means A small piece of Mexico near you.

For many local Hispanics, stepping into Supermex is like stepping into their home away from home although Higareda-Diaz said that his clientele is far more ethnically diverse that you might think,

including Russians, Koreans and Indians. He also draws shoppers from outside the Tri-Cities.

Higareda-Diaz and his family settled in California in the late 1980s from Mexico. He was just 13 and for nearly 15 years he worked with his parents, who owned a similar grocery store in California.

In 2002, he moved to the Tri-Cities in hopes of following in his parents footsteps and opening up his very own Mexican gro-cery store. He didnt have any family here, but had heard it was a growing area and that businesses did well.

Higareda-Diaz opened Supermex El Pueblo Market at 420 W. Lewis in down-town Pasco that same year.

Volume 15 Issue 3

March 2016

Real estate & Construction

New restaurant options emerge in Richland

Pages 19-33

By Mary CoffmanConstruction is expected to being in April

on a new Sterlings that will replace the George Washington Way restaurant. The new restaurant will be built at the east end of the current parking lot to take advantage of the view of the park and river.

The trees that bordered the parking lot have already been removed to prepare for construction, said Saber Sterling, the daugh-ter of Sterlings Famous Steak & Salad Bar founder Jim Sterling.

Saber Sterling said the new restaurant will be about the same size as the current one, which is about 6,000 sq. ft. and it will feature a large outdoor patio overlooking the river.

The current restaurant will remain open during construction of the new one, with overflow parking available in the adjacent parking lot of the former Chinese buffet restaurant.

Saber Sterling said they hope to have the new restaurant open in August.

The current restaurant was built in 1973 as a Sambos restaurant. Jim Sterling man-aged that property, then it became Bananas, a franchise that was owned by Sterling and some partners.

Sterling got out of the partnership but bought the property and started Sterlings Famous Steak & Salad Bar in 1982.

Legislators look to end municipal marijuana bans, moratoriums

uSUPERMEX, Page 35

uMARIJUANA, Page 10

uSTERLINGS, Page 22

Sterlings to start construction on new restaurant on George Washington Way

Page 37

2 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016

By Elsie Puig for TCAJOBAn excited audience watches in awe as

a magician pulls a card from a deck. The card, it turns out, is the same one the au-dience had envisioned in their minds. The power of suggestion, the magician said, coupled with sleight of hand and manipula-tion, is the science behind magic.

At the Pacific Science Center there is a science behind everything and everything is a science even, and perhaps most espe-cially the seemingly unexplainable.

The Pacific Science Center is a play-ground for the mind, debunking myths, de-lighting the young and the young at heart, and unlocking the mysteries of the universe.

The Pacific Science Center is at the heart of the Seattle Center, within walking distance of the Space Needle and offering uninterrupted views of the Chihuly Exhibit and public art. The museum has interactive exhibits and hands-on displays, unlocking the mysteries of life sciences, physical sci-ences and engineering, environmental, and earth sciences, and health and wellness.

Visitors can learn about the science be-hind sound and music, the explanations on optical illusions, interact with Puget Sound animals and learn about nanotechnology. The museum is so exhaustive in its content visitors are well advised to plan several vis-its to be able to take it all in.

A good rule of thumb is to reserve 40 minutes per gallery, but it depends on the visitor, said Dave Cuomo, Science Inter-pretation Program Supervisor at the Pacific Science Center.

The Pacific Science Center was initially

the U.S. Science Pavilion at the 1962 Se-attle Worlds Fair. Now it delivers inno-vative, interactive learning experiences to more than one million guests each year.

Were members and for our kids its a question of really giving them some in-teresting science hands-on activities, said Taylor Felt who works in Seattle for a fine art logistics company. We really like the exhibits. Theyre really well done. We re-ally like the dinosaurs. We also like some of the interactive exhibits dealing with the principles of physics there is just so much to do and see.

In addition to the interactive exhibits, there are a ton of fun immersive installa-tions, like Wild Winds, a hurricane simu-lator that allows you to experience what it feels like to be in the midst of 78 mile-per-hour winds. There are exhibits dedicated to outer space and meteorology and others dedicated solely to bugs and other critters.

Body Works encourages visitors to test muscle endurance, hand-eye coordination, flexibility and visual acuity in an interactive environment that teaches visitors about the mechanics of the human body.

The Pacific Science Center works with local researchers and scientists for its Portal to Current Research, a rotating exhibit that features new scientific research being done locally. Most of the research focuses on memory and the brain, but they may soon add new cutting-edge research.

In a couple of years well have an ex-hibit in here thatll be about astrobiology, said Cuomo. Were working on an astro-biology grant, which focuses on the search

for life beyond earth. The Pacific Science Center also boasts

the newly renovated Boeing IMAX The-ater, which features a cutting-edge sound system, 4K laser projectors, and a 60-ft.-by-80-ft. screen. The 3D theater features docu-mentary exploration films about wildlife, nature, outer space, and the human body, as well as feature films currently in theaters, like Deadpool.

Adjacent to the theater is an entire exhib-

it dedicated to the science behind 3D tech-nology. It features displays that uncover the true application behind tricks of the mind like leaping lizard, which urges visitors to cover one eye and the other to watch how a static lizard jumps from one side of the image to the other. One interactive display uses a technology that allows you to ma-nipulate a mouse to look at images of the human body.

3Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016

A family interacts with an exhibit that shows how nanotechnology works. Visitors use magnets to explore how a material called magnetite behaves differently depending upon its size.

Pacific Science Center ignites the curiosity of the young and the young at heart

uSCIENCE, Page 10

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Staff

By Mary [email protected]

The Center for Sharing has invited Linda Smith to be the keynote speaker for its 2016 International Womens Day Celebration.

The event, called A Better Tomorrow is Possible, will be from 6 8 p.m. Mar. 17 at the Inspire Events Center, 5296 Outlet Dr., Pasco.

Smith, a former congresswoman who represented Washingtons 3rd congres-sional district from 1995-1999, is a leader in the global movement to end sex trafficking.

In 1998, while serving in the U.S. Congress, Smith traveled to a notorious

brothel district in India, where the hope-less faces of the women and children who had been forced into prostitution, compelled her to start the Shared Hope International. Shared Hope International is a nonprofit organization that works to rescue and restore women and children in crisis.

Since its creation, Smith has worked around the world and within the U.S. on behalf of those victimized by sex traf-ficking. It partners with local organiza-tions to provide restorative care, shelter, education and job skills training. It also provides leadership in awareness and training, prevention strategies, restor-ative care, research and policy initia-

tives to mobilize a national network of protection for victims.

Smith also founded the War Against Trafficking Alliance in 2001, an organi-zation that coordinates regional and international efforts to combat sex traf-ficking.

Smith is the author of From Congress to the Brothel and of Renting Lacy. She is also co-author of the National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking and the Demand Report.

The Center for Sharing will present a $500 award to a woman from the Tri-Cities community who has demonstrat-ed leadership that empowers others to identify and move toward their dreams, with aspirations in service of the greater good.

Tickets to the event are complimen-tary, but donations will be accepted. Refreshments and hors doeuvres will be provided during social time. Dress is business casual.

Seats are limited and reservations are required. To RSVP, go to centerforshar-ing.org/events, email [email protected] or call 509-627-6556.

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJoB) accepts original columns from local professionals, educators and business leaders.

The goal of these pieces is to share useful business tips and knowledge with other area professionals. It is best to contact the TCAJoB office for a copy of contributor guidelines before submitting anything. Although we cannot publish every submission we receive, we will keep columns that best fit the mission and focus of the TCAJoB for possible future use.

The TCAJoB also accepts original letters to the editor and guest editorials. Submissions must include the writers full name and daytime contact information for verification.

All submissions to the TCAJoB will be edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation and questions of good taste or libel.

If there is news youd like the TCAJoB staff to report on, or if there are any topics youd like to read about, please con-tact the TCAJoB news staff via email at [email protected].

The Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business (TCAJoB), a publication of TriComp Inc., is published monthly and delivered at no charge to identifiable businesses in Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Kennewick, Prosser and Benton City, Wash. Subscriptions are $27.10 per year, prepayment required, no refunds. Contents of this publication are the sole property of TriComp Inc. and can not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers do not neces-sarily reflect the opinions of TCAJoB staff, other contributors or other advertisers, nor do they imply endorsement by TCAJoB staff, other contributors or advertisers. Every effort will be made to assure information published is correct; however, we are not liable for any errors or omissions made despite these efforts.

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Around Town................................Business Profile........................Conference Call.............................Datebook..........................................Networking....................................Public Record.................................Real Estate......................................ShopTalk...........................................

DEPaRtMENtS

Audra Distifeno...............................Jessica Hoefer..........................Dori ONeal.....................................Elsie Puig...............................John Stang........................................

4737, 45

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CONtRIBUtORS

Center of Sharing plans Womens Day Celebration

The Tri-City Construction Council has been serving your needs for more than 50 years!509-582-7424 www.tricityplancenter.com

Sponsor A HoleTri-City Construction Council

19th Annual Scholarship Golf TournamentMay 20, 2016

Sponsorship is $200

All proceeds go towards the T.C.C.C.

scholarship fund.

Moving?If your company is planning

a move, let us know in advance so you don't miss an issue!

Email Shawna at [email protected].

Alzheimers Dementia Conference

The Alzheimers Association is host-ing the Tri-Cities Alzheimers & Dementia Conference from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mar. 31 at the Bethel Church, 600 Shockley Road in Richland.

The event will feature several work-shops, including Seeking a Diagnosis, Local Resources and Support, and Legal and Financial Planning.

The cost is $20 for family caregivers and $50 for professional caregivers. Scholarships are available for family caregivers. Continuing education and CEU credits are available for profes-sional caregivers. Breakfast and lunch are included in the cost of the confer-ence.

Register online at alzwa.org or by calling 509-456-0456.

Gem & Mineral Show planned

The Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club will have its 20th Annual Gem & Mineral Show April 16-17 at the Benton County Fairgrounds.

There will be a large variety of gems, minerals and fossils on display and available for purchase.

The show will be held in Building 1 at the fairgrounds and admission is $5 for adults. Children 14 and under are free if they are accompanied by an adult.

The event includes demonstrations on how to cut spheres out of solid rock, how to crack geodes and the art of jew-elry making. There will also be a junior rock hounds corner, where children can

experience discovering precious trea-sures and win prizes.

The show offers door prizes and silent auctions throughout both days at 30-minute intervals. The show opens at 10 a.m. both days and runs until 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

For information, go to the website at lakesidegemandmineralclub.com.

Fire district offers injury prevention program

Benton County Fire District No. 4 has launched a new program to help reduce injuries from slips and falls.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one-third of adults 65 years old and older suffer falls each year. Those falls can lead to hip frac-tures, broken bones and other traumatic brain injuries. Those falls are the lead-ing cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adultsand they are mostly preventable.

Benton County Fire District No. 4

firefighters and EMTs will now visit residents homes upon request and per-form a comprehensive evaluation of the property exterior and interior. The inspections take about an hour.

Once the survey is complete, the fire-fighter/EMT will review a list of recom-mendations to reduce the risk of injuries from a fall with the homeowner.

The initiative is the first step to Fire District No. 4 launching its own medical emergency prevention program called FD Cares to reduce calls to 911 and lower health care costs.

Bingo offered on MondaysCome play bingo every Monday at

the Knights of Columbia Hall, 2600 Chester Road, Richland.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and games start at 7 p.m. There are 14 games played and ten of those are played on hard cards, which sell for 75 cents each, with a four card minimum. Payouts depend on the number of players and

range from $15 to $25. There is a brief intermission after the first seven games, when hard cards go on sale for three for $1. Snacks, coffee, soft drinks and hot dogs are available. All proceeds go to the Knights of Columbus to help with its charity work.

Proposal Development workshop planned

The Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center, or PTAC, and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce are offering a government contracting proposal development workshop Mar. 16.

The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Bechtel Board Room at the Tri-Cities Business & Visitor Center. Mary Jo Juarez and Mona Carlson, for-mer U.S. Navy contracting officers, will be the presenters. They will show attendees how to understand federal government solicitations and prepare a winning proposal. Attendees will also become more familiar with the types of contracts offered, government require-ments and how to effectively respond. Additional topics include: analyzing, interpreting and developing a compre-hensive proposal outlines and avoiding common mistakes.

The cost of the workshop is $50, which includes workshop materials and lunch. Space is limited. Register at washingtonptac.org/events. For more information, contact Ashley Coronado at 509-491-3231.


uSHOPTALK, Page 6

6 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016Motivational speaker to be keynote at 2016 Administrative Professionals EventBy Mary [email protected]

Lucy Brazier, founder of Executive Secretary Magazine, will be the speaker at the 2016 Administrative Professionals Event.

The event, which is being organized by the Administrative Professionals of Tri-Cities, will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14 at the Pasco Red Lion.

Zeny Myers, vice president of APTC, said Brazier is a highly sought after speaker and trainer.

She is one of the strongest and most influential leaders in the administrative

professional industry and dedicated to the development needs of senior and aspiring administrative professionals, said Myers.

Myers will talk about the differences between collaboration and teamwork and how to create an effective business com-munity.

Myers said more than 300 attendees are expected at the event.

The event will provide attendees with valuable information and an opportunity to network with community peers, she added.

The Administrative Professionals of

Tri-Cities, a nonprofit organization, was founded in late 2014 by three executive assistants seeking to create a networking community for administrative assistants in the Mid-Columbia.

It recognizes Administrative Professionals Week by offering the lun-cheon and training event each April.

The cost is $45 to pre-register or $50 at the door.

To register or for more information, call Cherri at 509-529-4042, email [email protected] or go to the Administrative Professionals of the Tri-Cities Facebook page.

SHOPTALK, From page 5

Lourdes Foundation presents awards

The Lourdes Foundation hosted its Ninth Annual Lourdes Legacy Luncheon Feb. 10 at the Pasco Red Lion. More than 200 people attended the event, which celebrated Lourdes Foundation achievements over the past year, recognized some of the Foundations outstanding contribu-tors and raised more than $32,000 to support Lourdes Counseling Center Childrens Summer Day Program. Contributions will help provide a safe, educational and therapeutic summer program for children strug-gling with mental health issues.

The Lourdes Foundation presented the following awards during the lun-cheon: Compassionate Spirit Award, Meier Architecture Engineering, Kennewick; Outstanding Community Partner, United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties; Outstanding Employee Partner Award, Dennis Malone; Outstanding Service Award, Healed with a Kiss Committee; Outstanding Physician Partners, Dr. James Campbell MD, Dr. Jeffrey Markle MD, and Dr. Stanley Hales MD; In recognition of exemplary service, board members David Bergevin and Richard Quigley.

uSHOPTALK, Page 8


March 168 a.m. 4 p.m.Proposal Development WorkshopPTAC/Tri-City Regional ChamberTri-Cities Business & Visitor Center509-491-3231

March 177:30 a.m.16th Annual Fundraising BreakfastTri-Cities Cancer Center FoundationThree Rivers Convention Center509-737-337

March 199 a.m. 16th Annual Pooch & Pal Run & WalkPet Over Population PreventionColumbia Point Marina, Richlandwww.popptricities.org

9 a.m. 3 p.m. Free Colorectal Cancer screeningTri-Cities Cancer Center509-737-3420

1-4 p.m. & 5-8 p.m. Tri-Cities On TapBenton County FairgroundsTricitiesontap.com

7-11 p.m. St. Pattys Day DanceWillow Crest Winery

590 Merlot Dr., Prosserwillowcrestwinery.com

March 2311:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.Annual Meeting & Awards LuncheonTri-City Regional ChamberThree Rivers Convention Center509-736-0510

March 241-3 p.m.BDU: Facebook for BusinessTri-Cities Business & Visitor Center509-736-0510

March 2610 a.m. 10:30 West Richland Annual Easter Egg HuntWest Richland ChamberBombing Range Sports Complexwww.westrichlandchamber.org

March 309-10:30 a.m.PTAC Workshop: Truthful Cost or Pricing Data for Small BusinessTri-Cities Business & Visitor CenterWashingtonptac.org/events

Noon 1:30 p.m. 53rd Annual Meeting TRIDECThree Rivers Convention Center509-735-1000

March 319 a.m. 3 p.m.Tri-Cities Alzheimers &Dementia ConferenceAlzheimers AssociationBethel Church, Richland509-456-0456

April 15:30 p.m. Glow Golf in the Dark fundraiser Tri-City Union Gospel MissionColumbia Park Golf Course, Kennewick509-582-4142 Ext. 117

April 5Noon-2 p.m. Monthly Membership MeetingProsser Chamber of CommerceThe Barn, ProsserRSVP 509-786-3177

April 611:30 a.m.Monthly meeting & luncheon National Active and RetiredFederal Employees AssociationRed Lion, Columbia Centerwww.narfe1192.org

Noon 1 p.m. General Membership LuncheonWest Richland ChamberSandberg Event Center, West RichlandRSVP 509-967-0521

April 127 a.m. 8:15 a.m. Business Building BreakfastWest Richland Chamber Sandberg Event Center, West RichlandRSVP 509-967-0521

April 149-10:30 a.m.PTAC Workshop: Market Research for Government ContractingTri-Cities Business & Visitor CenterWashingtonptac.org/events

April 156 9 p.m.Una Noche de ExitosTri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of CommercePasco Red Lion509-542-0933

April 199 a.m. 3 p.m. Senior Times Spring ExpoSenior TimesPasco Red Lion509-737-8778

11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. Live United CelebrationUnited Way of Benton Franklin CountiesThree Rivers Convention CenterUnitedway-bfco.com/events

April 216 p.m.2016 Tri-Citian of the YearThree Rivers Convention Center509-572-4056

May 411:30 a.m.Monthly meeting & luncheon National Active and RetiredFederal Employees AssociationRed Lion, Columbia Centerwww.narfe1192.org

May 68 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Leadercast: Architects of TomorrowColumbia Community Church 150 Gage Blvd., Richland509-627-2055

May 13-1420th Annual Untapped Music FestivalBenton County FairgroundsUntappedmusicfestival.com

May 1410 a.m. March for BabiesMarch of DimesJohn Dam Plaza, RichlandMarchofdimes.org

5 11 p.m. 11th Annual Fur BallThe Great CatsbyPet Over Population PreventionThree Rivers Convention Center509-374-7309

Build your Business By attendingDatebook

Community EvEnts ChambEr mEEtings ClassEs sEminars Workshops

From pediatrics to

geriatrics, see Dr. Luke

Megna or Dr. Mark

Hoitink at Leslie Canyon

Family Medicine,

509-628-2331.

Rusty Walker, DDS,

Craig Ritchie, DDS, or

Brent Gill, DDS, at

Orchard Hills Pediatric

Dentistry, 509-375-5000.

For your mental health

needs see Bonnie Kendall,

LicSW, 509-627-0504.

Professionally managed by RAB Keystone, LLC.Contact Rob Bill, CPM, 509-628-9333, [email protected]

Spotlighting our prominent tenants

Orchard hillS Medical Building

509-628-9333705 Gage Blvd., Richland

8 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016SHOPTALK, From page 6

Kreidler fines RegenceInsurance Commissioner Mike

Kreidler fined Regence BlueShield of Seattle $40,000 for denying health insur-ance to Medicaid-eligible consumers. According to Kreidlers office, Regence was denying health insurance coverage to Washington consumers who indicated they were eligible for Medicaid coverage or who had previously been enrolled in Medicaid. Medicaid is called Apple Health in Washington state and is admin-istered by the state Health Care Authority. The Insurance Commissioner became aware of the issue after a consumer com-plained. The Commissioners investiga-tion revealed that 65 Washington con-sumers were denied covered in the past

two years. The affected consumers will be given the opportunity to re-apply for

health insurance from Regence.

Contaminated equipment removed from plant

Workers have finished cutting up and removing the two most highly-contami-nated pieces of processing equipment, called glove boxes, from the Plutonium Finishing Plant at Hanford.

Workers began removing the glove boxes in June. They finished removal of the first in August and completed removal of the second glove box in February. The two large glove boxes were about two stories tall and heavily contaminated with radiological hazards. These were the most contaminated of the nearly 240 pieces of

plutonium processing equipment at the plant that have been removed, or have been prepared to remove, during demoli-tion preparation, according to officials.

The two recently removed glove boxes were too large and too contaminated to remove from the building in one piece. Workers cut the boxes into pieces that have been packaged for eventual perma-nent disposal. Thirteen small glove boxes are packaged and staged for removal from the main facility immediately before and during demolition, which is expected to start later this year.

Two other hazardous tasks at the Plutonium Finishing Plant also continue preparing chemical tanks for removal and decontaminating a long, tall concrete room where plutonium was separated from plutonium-bearing waste.

Grant County businessman sentenced for sales tax theft

The owner of motorcycle shops in Moses Lake and Wenatchee was sen-tenced in early March in Grant County Superior Court for stealing more than $41,000 in sales tax.

Juan Manuel Ormaechea, owner of Desert Thunder Custom Cycles, was sen-tenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay back the $41,024 in sales tax he admitted to stealing on transactions made by his businesses. The sentence included punishment for continuing to illegally operate his Moses Lake location after the state revoked his license. Ormaechea closed his Wenatchee shop in June.

Ormaechea was charged last April with one count of first degree theft and two counts of filing false tax returns to evade reporting state taxes from his shops. The Washington State Department of Revenue discovered the falsified returns during an audit of Ormaecheas corporation, Desert Oasis Investments.

AREVA donates to Delta

AREVA Inc. presented a $5,000 dona-tion to Delta High School to help fund scholarship for student pursuing a college education in a STEM-related field. The donation was made in early March, dur-ing National Engineers Week. Ron Land, AREVAs Richland site manager, and other AREVA engineers spoke to students about the benefits of STEM education, the importance of engineering, the demand for engineers in the workforce, and how to prepare for an engineering career.

ACT presents Diary of Anne Frank

The Academy of Childrens Theatre is staging the iconic play, The Diary of Anne Frank, Mar. 25-26 and Apr. 1-2.

The Diary of Anne Frank is based on the true story of a 13-year-old Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied Holland who goes into hiding with her family.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. nightly and matinee performances will be at 3 p.m. Mar. 26 and Apr. 2.

All shows will be at the ACT Black Box Theatre, 213 Wellsian Way, Richland.

Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $7 for those ages 12 and under.

Tickets are available by calling 509-943-6027 or online at academyofchild-renstheatre.org.

Free cancer pre-screening

The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is offer-ing free colorectal cancer pre-screening from 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Mar. 19 at the Center at 7350 W. Deschutes Ave., Kennewick.

Men and women ages 50 to 75 should consider having the pre-screening done. The pre-screening is not a physical exam or colonoscopy. A health assessment will be conducted to determine whether you should have a colonoscopy.

Appointments are required. Register at tccancer.org/screenings or call 509-737-

3420.

uSHOPTALK, Page 16


By Dori ONeal for TCAJOBIt was 1947 when Robert Dunlap and

his wife loaded all their worldly posses-sions into the rumble seat of a 1937 Ford convertible and headed to Tri-Cities from St. Paul, Minn. He was 24 years old.

He worked as a draftsman at Hanford for many years before retiring from Rockwell in 1982 to pursue a graphic design business.

Today, at age 93, Dunlap is still very much connected to his artistic nature.

I have been drawing since I was just a little kid, and eventually took up painting, too, so I guess art just came naturally to me, Dunlap said. I never really had anything in particular in mind when I created something.

But then he real-ized how much his-torical significance could be captured in art.

Since I have lived in Benton City for many years, I have many paintings and drawings about the citys history, Dunlap said.

Dunlap has shown his work at the Battelle Theater, county fairs and schools, but his first official exhibition will be this month at The Reach inter-pretive center at the west end of Columbia Park. The show includes his selection of paintings about the history of Benton City.

The show opened Feb. 26 and contin-ues through April 30. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and youth. Kids age 5 and younger are free.

This really is a fantastic collection of beautiful work, and the history Bob weaves into these paintings is fabu-lous, said Stephanie Button, curator of programs and education at The Reach.

As for Dunlap, hes honored to have been asked to show his historical work, though he still considers himself a stu-dent at his craft. But theres nothing amateur about his creations. Visitors to the show will get a glimpse of Benton Citys past, including a fabulous paint-ing of the citys old train station, which

was demolished many years ago, Dunlap said.

Its truly a shame that train station couldnt have been saved, he said. It used to be just off main street when you come into

town.There are also paintings of the towns

renowned Palm Tavern, which still stands and draws a dedicated clientele today. Other paintings include the bridge that crosses the Yakima River and other familiar scenes Benton City.

I never needed a fancy studio to work in because I can paint anywhere, Dunlap said.

Much of his inspiration comes from

the backyard of his home, which sits on a bluff overlooking several grape vine-yards and wineries. He cant really explain where his artistic mojo comes from because he was never much inter-ested in sitting outside with an easel to create his landscape paintings, he said. Instead, he prefers to photograph scenes that appeal to him then paint them onto a canvas.

I remember sketching something when I was 6 years old for a newspaper contest for kids. I cant remember what

I drew or whether I even submitted it, he said, with chuckle. At my age I tend to forget stuff like that.

Dunlaps also created several books for his kids and grandchildren. He com-missioned the kids to write a story then he drew the illustrations.

Though drawing and painting are his first love, he also spent many years doing silk screening for various busi-nesses around the Tri-Cities. Hes as much a cartoonist as he is an artist.

Robert Dunlap of Benton City doesnt have a formal studio to create his art. He prefers to work at a desk in his bedroom where he creates everything from paintings to posters.

Dunlap documents Benton City past with pens and paintbrushes

uDUNLAP, Page 36

I never needed a fancy studio to work

in because I can paint anywhere.

- Robert Dunlap

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SCIENCE, From page 3One of the must-see features at the

Pacific Science Center is the Laser Dome the largest and longest-operating domed laser theater in the world, displaying a bril-liant choreography of laser effects. An-other special feature is the Willard Smith Planetarium where visitors embark on an immersive journey through the solar sys-tem and learn about the NASA missions that have travelled through space. To visit the planetarium, youll pay an extra $3 per person.

There is also a 4,000-sq.-ft. temperature-controlled tropical butterfly greenhouse. Each week 500 butterflies are imported and released from sustainable rainforest farms in South and Central America, Africa, and Asia.

Volunteers are distributed throughout the museum where kids can work on hands-on activities and art projects related to the ex-hibits. The museum also had a maker space for children called the Tinker Tank.

They get to work on a variety of ac-tivities, today theyre talking about aerody-namics and building things to that effect, said Cuomo.

The museum also has featured exhibits that change continuously. For times, exhib-it information, IMAX show listings and for help planning your visit go to www.pacific-sciencecenter.org.

MARIJUANA, From page 1We think these bans are not creating a

significant access problem, said Candice Bock, of the Association of Washington Cities.

The year 2015 saw a major overhaul of the states recreational marijuana system combining it regulation-wise with the states medical marijuana system, plus improving on a business system that has never been tried before. Colorados and Washingtons voters approved recreational pot in 2012, and the two states have been laboratories for building regulatory and business models for the industry ever since.

Last year, we did the heavy lifting. This year, were just tweaking it, said Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center.

Rivers is a conservative Republican from a conservative southwestern

Washington district. Rivers and the major-ity of her constituents voted against legal-izing recreational pot in 2012.

For a while, liberal Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, and moderate former police officer Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, were the point people when it came to marijuana matters in the Legislature. However, Kohl-Welles retired from the Senate last year for a successful run at the King County Council.

Meanwhile, the Senate GOP caucus picked Rivers in 2014 to be its point person on marijuana issues. She had to learn the subject from scratch, and became fascinat-ed with creating new business and regula-tory systems from nothing. She became one of the architects of most of 2015s major marijuana legislation.

The Tri-Cities is the biggest metro area

in Washington where retail marijuana is not allowed.

The state recorded almost $260 million in retail marijuana sales from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, with $64.9 million of that going to the state in taxes. During that same period, Benton Countys shops recorded $5.1 million in sales with almost $1.3 mil-lion going to the state in taxes. Franklin County tallied $154,453 in sales with $38,613 going to the state in taxes. Pasco has a retailer that had a state license but no local license. It opened and closed quickly in 2015.

Meanwhile, the Legislature is fine-tun-ing how to regulate the states marijuana businesses this session.

A bill introduced by Rivers would allow marijuana growers, processors and retailers to link to each others websites and to pro-

duce brochures relating to tourism in Washington in ways similar to the liquor industry. It would also allow pot growers and processors to provide promotional items of small value to retailers in ways similar to liquor businesses. The Senate passed this bill 36-13 with Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick and Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, in the majority. The House passed the bill 72-25, with Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland and Rep. Maureen Walsh, R-Walla Walla, voting in favor of the bill.

Another bill by Rivers would make cer-tain information about marijuana retailers filed with the Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board confidential, like bank records, retirement account information, security information, and anything address-ing how the marijuana is transported.

Senate passed the bill 42-6, and it is working its way through the House. Brown and Hewitt voted in favor of the bill. It is awaiting a House vote.

A similar bill introduced by Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, passed the House 89-8. Reps. Walsh and Terry Nealey backed the bill. The Senate approved the bill, by a vote of 43-3, with the support of Brown and Hewitt.

A bill by Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, would allow licensed mari-juana producers to grow marijuana plants for sale to medical marijuana cooperatives. It would also require all plants grown by medical marijuana cooperatives to be bought either from licensed marijuana pro-ducers or cloned from plants bought from a licensed producer. Currently, patients and cooperatives have no legal way of acquir-ing plants because marijuana producers may not sell plants on the retail market.

The House passed this bill 93-5, with Haler and Klippert opposing it. Walsh and Nealey supported it. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 39-8, with Hewitt and Brown in the majority.

11Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016 Tri-Cities Wood Carvers prepare for annual Artistry in Wood showBy Loretto J. [email protected]

Hand any one of the Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Associations members a sharp knife, a hunk of wood and theyll soon turn it into a thing of beauty.

For proof, visit the Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Associations 22nd annual Artistry in Wood Show Mar. 19-20 at the Tri-Tech Skills Center in Kennewick.

Some members of the Wood Carvers Association meet at the Kennewick Senior Center to work on projects for the show. Theyre all longtime carvers and enjoy sharing their expertise at twice weekly classes held at the Senior Center.

Everyone is welcome to attend the classes you dont have to be a mem-ber of the association. Though wed welcome some new members, said Vi Hiltwein of Kennewick.

The Senior Center classes are 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and the cost is 75 cents per person; and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays, when the cost is $1.

Theres no need to register or even have your own tools. Well always have some tools to lend and an extra piece of wood, said Jerry Dilley of Kennewick.

Dilley said people are always sur-prised how many wood carvers are women.

People think that wood carving is something only men do, but there are 17 women in our Wood Carvers Association and what they turn out is truly, truly beautiful, said Dilley.

Hiltweins been carving for nearly 25

years, having taken up the art at the urg-ing of her sister, Ellen Berg, also of Kennewick.

After Ellen retired from the military, she moved here and began taking wood carving classes at a craft store that used to be in Kennewick, said Hiltwein.

Soon they were both hooked. Berg roughed out the shapes on the band saw while Hiltwein did the finish carving.

However, Berg has developed respira-tory problems and cant tolerate the wood dust anymore.

But we still share ideas and opinions on how something is turning out, Hiltwein joked.

Hiltwein said over the years shes

gone through a lot of wood, but always has an eye out for a likely piece and for project ideas.

Theres always the new, biggest thing yet to come. I like doing different things. It frustrates me to duplicate something, she said.

Barbara Pendecost of Kennewick is another longtime carver who attends the sessions at the Senior Center. She spe-cializes in chip carving, creating designs by chiseling out small chunks of wood with a sharp knife.

Pendecost began carving years ago when her daughter, Barbara, gave her a weird knife. The Pendecosts were liv-ing in Everett where her husband had a

job.I discovered the senior center there

had carving classes, so I joined and found I really enjoyed it. I always have two or three projects going. Sometimes I just have to put one down and let it rest a bit, Pendecost said.

Judith Dilley likened it to writers block.

When you come back to the first one you see things differently, she said.

She and her husband havent been carving as long as Hiltwein and Pendecost, but are just as accomplished in their specialty, Northwest Native American-inspired masks. Judith Dilley was an art teacher for 20 years but had not done subtractive art, where you begin with a larger piece of material and cut away parts to reveal the form you want.

Rather I worked in clay where you add more material to create your sculp-ture, said Judith Dilley.

Unlike some carvers who work with cured woods, the Dilleys use green woods, mainly cedar and alder. To rough shape a project the couple use an adz, a small axe. Then fine tune their carving with smaller hand tools and embellish them with paint.

Hiltwein, Pendecost and the Dilleys are just four of the more than 75 wood carvers who will be exhibiting their work, demonstrating their craft and sell-ing selected carved items during the 22nd annual Artistry in Wood show.

Call it whittling or wood carving, the result is the same a sharp knife in skilled hands can turn a chunk of wood into art. Barbara Pendecost, left, Vi Hiltwein, center, and Judith Dilley, right, all members of the Tri-Cities Wood Carvers Association, work on projects.

uCARVERS, Page 21


The Tri-Citian of the Year exemplifies the highest standards of community service, leadership and the voluntary contribution of selfless acts to positively impact community development,

economic growth and the overall well-being of mankind. The foremost criteria for this nomination should showcase the candidates demonstration of public or volunteer service,

for which no monetary compensation is received.

For more information go to www.tricitianoftheyear.org

Thursday, April 21, 20166 p.m. Social 7 p.m. Dinner/Program

Three Rivers Convention CenterPlease mark your calendar for this years exciting event, where another Tri-Citian will be honored for outstanding Service Above Self and their commitment to Building

Community Through Service. Reserve your table or tickets today.

For reservations and information, please contact Ruby Ochoa at 509-572-4056, email [email protected]

or visit the Tickets and Sponsorship page at www.tricitianoftheyear.org.

Keynote SpeakerMatt Potratz

Elite Snowmobile Free-RiderOn a snowmobile, Matt Potratz was viewed as one of the elite mountain free-

riders in the world. While filming a hill-climb segment for back-country snowmobile motion pictures, Matt triggered a large avalanche that nearly took his life. After waking from a coma after a month, Matt was left with a choice: merely survive his injuries or rise up and fight through his injuries and live

each moment to the fullest. Today, Matt is a motivational speaker, author and inspiration to thousands.

Nominations being accepted thru March 27 !


hospitalityBy Elsie Puig for TCAJOB

Last spring, WSU Tri-Cities an-nounced a new degree program after the universitys faculty senate approved ex-panding the Hospitality Business Man-agement Degree to the Richland cam-pus.

The program has already attracted nearly 20 undergraduate students. One of them, Pauline Garza, will be graduate in December after completing several classes and a study-abroad in Italy.

Garza has vast experience in the res-taurant industry, even doing a job shad-ow at Table 10, one of Emeril Lagasses restaurants in Las Vegas. Garza, now head chef at 3 Eyed Fish and Wine Bar in Richland, was thrilled when she heard the program would be expanded to the Tri-Cities campus. Garza originally started her degree at the WSU Pullman campus, but due to personal reasons, de-cided to move back home and put school on hold.

I was a little bummed they werent offering the same degree here in the Tri-Cities, so I decided to work and continue my studies in business, Garza said.

When the school announced it would extend the program to the Richland campus, it fit right into Garzas plan.

Here comes my senior year and Im beyond excited that they gave me the news that the hospitality program was going to be here, she said.

Garza hopes to one day own a bistro or manage a restaurant. She hopes her story serves as an inspiration to those

studying hospitality in the Tri-Cities.Being in the industry, Ive had such

great experiences and exposure in the food business, customer services and the wine industry, she said. Everything has fallen into place. What I am learn-ing at work benefits my school work and

what I am learning at school, I can apply to my work.

WSU officials began looking at bring-ing the hospitality management degree to the Richland campus last year after a survey was released that highlighted the areas need for qualified professionals in the local hospitality, food and beverage, and food processing industry. The HBM degree would also provide ample op-portunities for collaboration with the in-creasing number of wineries throughout the Mid-Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla valleys.

One of the main reasons for bring-ing the program here is because of the growing wine industry, but also other types of businesses related to the hospi-tality industry, like food and beverage, like micro brewing, ciders, distillery, said Dr. Robert Harrington, professor of hospitality at WSU. If you look at the Tri-Cities area, this is a great location as kind of a hub of growth in all those areas. This program will help support growth in wine tourism, a lot of people globally are looking to us to see what kind of educational infrastructure is as-sociated with that.

WSU Tri-Cities Hospitality Business Management program continues to grow

Pauline Garza, head chef at 3 Eyed Fish and Wine Bar, will graduate this year from WSU Tri-Cities hospitality business management degree. Photo courtesy of WSU Tri-Cities.

uWSU, Page 16

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14 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016 HospitalityKennewick elementary students competed for culinary prizes

By Loretto J. [email protected]

Nine-year-old Ameliea Olheiser care-fully cut sample slices of her Breakfast Tostada for the judges. She was repre-senting Cascade Elementary School in the Kennewick School Districts 2016 Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge in Feb-ruary at Tri-Tech Skills Center in Ken-newick.

Olheiser beat out 14 other young chefs representing their Kennewick el-ementary schools in the annual culinary cook-off. This years theme was Healthy Breakfast Foods.

Fourth- and fifth-graders from throughout the Kennewick School Dis-trict and the Mid-Columbia Partnership, which oversees the homeschooled stu-dents, submitted more than 100 recipes. A panel of judges reviewed the recipes and one from each school was selected for the competition.

This is the fourth year the Kennewick School District has participated in the national contest. Students in the Rich-land School District will compete March 17 at Tri-Tech.

About 60 parents, siblings and friends watched as the fourth and fifth graders, each paired with a Tri-Tech culinary arts student, chopped, sauted and mixed their breakfast creations.

Having the youngsters mentored by a Tri-Tech student works on a number of levels, said San\m Shick, nutrition ser-vices director for the KSD.

As the Tri-Tech students work with the elementary students, they talk about whats awesome about Tri-Tech and maybe get them interested in attending when theyre older, he said.

Judges were Heather Kintzley, Ken-newick School District board member, Liyah Morris, last years Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge winner and LuAnne Wiles and Kathleen Claymore of the Tri-Tech culinary arts program.

The contestants were given 45 min-utes to complete their recipes. Samples were plated for the judges and the audi-ence was also offered tastings.

Each recipe was judged on taste, orig-inality, kid-appeal and use of healthy in-gredients.

After the awards were handed out, a beaming Olheiser clutched a laundry basket of filled with cooking gadgets, including a cookbook, oven mitt and a water garden.

Olheiser, 9, is the daughter of Milari Olexa and Chris Olheiser, both of Ken-newick.

She enjoys cooking, said Milari Olexa. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, shes in the kitchen making scrambled eggs and toast for the fam-ily.

Ameliea Olheisers winning recipe was a breakfast tostada she made by scrambling turkey sausage, eggs, onion, red and green pepper. Olheiser spoons the scrambled egg mixture onto tostada shells and garnishes the mixture with shredded cheddar cheese, avocado slices and salsa.

I just used ingredients that I liked and put them all together, she said.

Olexa said the recipes is likely going to become the familys new weekend fa-vorite.

Runners up in the KSD culinary chal-lenge were Paula Hostick, a fifth grader from Amistad Elementary School, who made a Savory Oatmeal Muffin, and Ol-ivia Campbell-Beeman, a fourth grader from Edison Elementary School, whos recipe was a Baked Apple Parfait.

Olheisers recipe, and the winner from the RSDs March competition, will be entered into the national Sodexo culi-nary competition, which will take place later this year. Those winners will be featured on posters sent out to schools across the nation.

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With help from a Tri-Tech culinary arts student, fourth-grader Ameliea Olheiser prepares samples of her Breakfast Tostada for the audience at the 2016 Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge to taste. She won this years grand prize, a basket full of kitchen gadgets and a cookbook.



The Kennewick Public Facilities District received the nod from the Kennewick City Council in February to pursue voter approval of a .2 percent sales tax to fund a $35 million theater and expansion at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

Corey Pearson, executive director of the Three Rivers Campus, has been seek-ing an expansion of the aging facility since he stepped into his position in 2009. And under his leadership, there have been significant changes and improvements made to the 28-year-old campus, which includes the Toyota Center, the Three Rivers Convention Center and the smaller Toyota Arena.

With naming rights sponsorships from Windermere, Pearson was able to make improvements to the Toyota Center to allow for Broadway productions at the facility.

And theres now a hotel attached to the Three Rivers Convention Center. Because of the new Springhill Suites, which opened in 2015, Convention Center staff was able to bid on 150 additional events this year.

These were events we werent able to bid on in the past, because we didnt have that attached hotel, Pearson said.

Pearson said Three Rivers Convention Center booked three new conventions for 2017 because of the improvements. The American Legion will have a five-day conference in July 2017. The Public

School Employee Association will have a conference in August 2017 that is expect-ed to have up to 900 attendees. And The Pacific Northwest District of Kiwanis will host a six-day convention with 500 attendees.

But there are still events, conferences and expos that are out of reach because of the facilitys limited size and scope. On top of that, there is stiff competition in the tourism industry throughout Washington state to capture events.

Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee they are all trying to capture the same events to bring more visitors to their areas. Because they all know that means more money for everyone. From the hotels, to restaurants, to gas stations tourists pump money throughout the region.

But at 38,000 square feet, space at the Three Rivers Convention Center is limit-ed.

Spokane just added 75,000 square feet, Pearson said.

And the Washington State Convention Center announced plans last fall to for a $1.4 billion expansion that adds more than 400,000 square feet.

So Pearson has rolled out a plan for The Link, a 2,300 seat Broadway-style theater, along with a 50,000 sq. ft. expan-sion of the convention center and a 30,000-sq.-ft. lobby, which would link Three Rivers Convention Center to the Toyota Center.

The plan would cost about $35 million and would be funded by a .2 percent sales tax in Kennewick. That would add 2 cents

for every $10 to purchases made within the district. The sales tax increase would also sunset, or disappear, when the bond debt is paid so it wouldnt be perma-nent.

The theater would have a stage, orches-tra pit and traditional, graduated theater seats that are removable, making the space available more flexible and avail-able for conventions and other events.

A new theater would also allow for the center to offer more than one-night runs of the popular Broadway shows, bringing down the cost because they wont have to rent as much equipment.

The new configuration would also increase the number of handicapped seats available to 10.

Right now, we only have three,

Pearson said. The expansion would allow the site to

host conventions for up to 2,000 attend-ees. Currently, the cap is 1,200, Pearson said.

In 2013, the KPFD asked voters for a sales tax increase to fund a $20 million expansion and improvement of the Three Rivers Convention Center, but voters turned it down.

Pearson is hoping this new plan and layout receives a better reception.

It gives the Convention Center what it needs and the Tri-Cities what it needs, he said.

Pearson said the KPFD board has not determined when it will place the issue on the ballot.

Kennewick Public Facilities District seeks funding for Three Rivers theater & expansion

The Kennewick Public Facilities District will be asking voters to approve a sales tax for a $35 million theater and expansion, called The Link, to the Three Rivers Convention Center. Artists rendition courtesy of Three Rivers Convention Center.

Hospitality

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When my wife and I started thinking about how to fund Copper Top Tap House we were directed to Benton Franklin Council of Governments (BFCoG). We had zero experience applying for a loan and preparing a business plan; we were just regular people who had a tap house dream. One of the first things we did was have a meeting with BFCoG. During the meeting they helped us outline what we needed to do and directed us to the people that can help us with the process. One of the more difficult things we had to conquer was outlining the wording in

our loan documents to meet the Liquor and Cannabis Control Board requirements. BFCoG assisted and guided us during this challenging time to get our liquor license. We would like to thank everyone who assisted us during the development of Copper Top Tap House. Special thanks to; Katie Fast (BFCoG), Josh Bohlke (Gesa), Bruce Davis (Washington Small Business Development Centers), Kia Phensavagnh (Kendras Wok & Roll) and friends and family for their help and support.

-Darren & Jodi MayerCopper Top Tap House

16 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016 HospitalityWSU, From page 13

He believes the program is already having positive impact in the quality of life here and abroad. Students are re-quired by the program to complete 1,000 hours of professional experience.

WSUs hospitality program is part of WSUs AACSB-accredited Carson Col-lege of Business. It was established in 1932, making it the third-oldest such program in the U.S. It consistently ranks among the nations top 10 hospitality programs.

The degree offers two majors: hos-pitality business management and wine business management. The program is the third-oldest hospitality program in the country. The program allows stu-dents to master the fundamentals of operating hotels, restaurants, manage

services venues and tourist destinations. The program trains graduates in a broad range of wine business and related areas from the management of wine pro-duction to the identification and devel-opment of demand generators.

There has been continued interest in the program and we anticipate it grow-ing continually, said Harrington.

Having the Wine Science Center so close has also made the program in the Tri-Cities particularly appealing to stu-dents, said Harrington. A wine club op-erated by the Wine Science Center stu-dents also attracts students in the wine business management program inter-ested in gaining exposure to organizing tours of wine country and hosting wine tastings.

We moved the core aspect of wine

business management here to this cam-pus because of the close proximity to the wine science center, said Harrington.

Another aspect theyre expanding in the program is by offering continuing education opportunities for local pro-fessionals. Called the Art of Hospital-ity, the seminars are designed to focus on different segments of the tourism in-dustry, like wine, retail and service, and restaurant and hotels. Harrington and faculty member Byron Marlowe lead the seminars at The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center.

Were just getting started, Har-rington said. Because of our location, were going to have a strong focus on the wine component, so were going to con-tinue growing to attract students who are currently here or want to relocate here to

take advantage of the employment op-portunities in the local wine industry.

Harrington also said they will work closely with surrounding community colleges to set up transfer programs to make it as smooth as possible for stu-dents who want to transfer to WSU for the hospitality business management degree after completing their associates.

In 2017, the school hopes to kick off an online wine business management certificate aimed at working profession-als.

Im so excited we get to focus on food and beverage, I really do believe the Tri-Cities is growing an appreciation for the art of food and hospitality, she added.

For more information about the pro-gram, go to tricities.wsu.edu/business.


March for MealsMid-Columbia Meals on Wheels, a

program of Senior Life Resources Northwest Inc., will participate with the national Meals on Wheels America in celebrating March for Meals. Several events are planned in the Mid-Columbia throughout March.

There will be Meals on Wheels infor-mational tables at Yokes Markets in Richland and Pasco and at Harvest Foods in Connell.

The inaugural LepreCon Pub Crawl fundraiser will be from 6 - 10 p.m. Mar. 17 in Richland. The event, hosted by the Tri-City Chivers Chapter, starts at Jokers Nightclub. For more informa-tion, find Tri-City Chivers KPR on Facebook.

Throughout March, USA Brake and Auto Repair in Kennewick will donate a portion of the proceeds for every repair to Meals on Wheels.

Meals on Wheels Blue Brigade T-shirts are available for a $10 donation and supporter magnets are being sold for $5.

In addition, the Country Gentleman Restaurant in Kennewick will accept Meals on Wheels donations at the regis-ters.

Throughout March, community mem-bers and leaders are invited to deliver meals with one of the Meals on Wheels volunteers to learn what it means to a senior to receive a warm meal and a friendly visit each day. For more infor-mation, call 509-735-1911.

Richland stage to openThe grand opening of the HAPO

Community Stage in John Dam Plaza in Richland will be April 9. The program begins with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., followed by live music by nearly 20 local performing arts groups. Food and bever-age vendors will be onsite and the event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blanks so they can sit and enjoy the live entertain-ment, which is expected to end at about 8 p.m.

Parking will be available in the Richland Parkway, as well as in the park-ing lot adjacent to the Federal Building.

uSHOPTALK, Page 18

17Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016Port of Kennewicks Columbia Drive plans slowed, not stoppedBy Loretto J. [email protected]

Plans for Columbia Gardens, an urban wine and artisan village to be built on the north side of Columbia Drive near the Cable Bridge in Kennewick will need to be amended. Bids for the project came in about $1 million higher than expected and were rejected by Port of Kennewick Commissioners in February.

Columbia Gardens is a joint project between the Port of Kennewick, which owns the land, and the City of Kennewick. The City of Kennewick is building a wine wastewater treatment facility, extending the public trail and adding streetlights and landscaping to the site.

The Port has committed to build three buildings on the 16-acre site adjacent to Duffys Pond to accommodate boutique production wineries and provide the infra-structure necessary.

The commissioners are very con-scious that every dime spent by the Port is taxpayer dollars, said Larry Peterson, director of planning and development for the Port.

Peterson said when the bids were opened, Port officials discovered they could not afford what was originally planned for that site.

It will still be built, but there will have to be some efficiencies while staying as close and true to the original plan as pos-sible, Peterson said.

Earlier this year the Port sought bids for the infrastructure and construction of the three buildings. Five general contrac-

tors two from the Tri-Cities, and one each from Pendleton, Spokane and Boise, Id. Responded. All were $1 million or more over the ports $3 million budget.

The lowest bid came in at $4.2 million and the highest was more than $5.3 mil-lion.

After the bids were rejected, Peterson spent hours talking to contractors about lowering costs, while still retaining the footprint and appearance of the buildings as designed by Terence L. Thornhill Architects of Pasco.

There was talk of changing the walls, trusses and roofing materials. Using mate-rials traditionally available and construc-tion methods more familiar to the contrac-tors, Peterson said.

Peterson said the Port had sought to use a new type of wall system, but its an unfamiliar construction method and the contractors were all worried about the time involved. Labor costs run about 50 percent of any project and with these unknown materials and building methods they were worried labor costs could explode, he added.

Itll be a challenge to cut 25 percent out of the project, but I think we can find some efficiencies by working with the local construction community to bring the design and modifications in line with the budget, he said.

The footprint of the three buildings will remain the same 10,000-sq.-ft. of heat-ed/cooled indoor area with a couple of roofs extending over crushing pads and patios. The roof will be 20 feet tall, to

allow barrels to be stacked and save floor space.

Peterson said the Port plans to move ahead and put in the underground infra-structure water, sewer and electrical lines and stub them off within five feet of the building site.

Well bid them separately and by deal-ing with the subcontractors directly, the Port can save some money and we wont lose prime building time, Peterson said. The idea is to have the utility plans on the streets by mid-March and potentially award the bid by April 12.

Peterson estimates the cost of the utility work will run anywhere from $450,000 to $500,000.

Proceeding with the utility work will allow the City of Kennewick to move forward with its part of the project.

The city has grant dollars tied to other people and with grants involved they need

to use the awarded dollars, not let them sit, Peterson said.

The bid for the Columbia Gardens buildings will likely go out in August or September giving contractors time to begin work on the structures in early October.

With the utilities already in whoevers awarded the contract can begin putting up the shell from day one and be able to have it enclosed before winter, Peterson said.

This is an architects rendering of Columbia Gardens Wine & Artisan Village, which the Port of Kennewick hopes to build on Columbia Drive near the Cable Bridge. Photo courtesy of the Port of Kennewick & Terence L. Thornhill Architects.

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18 Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business March 2016SHOPTALK, From page 16

Glow golf to benefit TCUGMLeadership Tri-Cities Class XXI will

have a Glow Golf Fundraiser to benefit the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission April 1. The unique event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbia Park Golf Course in Kennewick. The cost is $100 per golfer, which includes a dinner catered by 13 Bones Urban BBQ, glow gear and prizes. For more information or to register, go to Facebook/events/glow golf in the dark.

Celebrate Live UnitedThe United Way of Benton and

Franklin Counties will have its annual LIVE UNITED Celebration from 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. April 19 at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

The festive luncheon celebrates the faces of United Way those who help turn vision into reality. The program includes success stories, recognition, campaign results and the presentation of the Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award.

The cost is $20 per person. Register online at unitedway-bfco.com/events.

Powell named to transition team

Washington State University Regent Lura J. Powell and Bob Drewell, former chancellor at WSU North Puget Sound, will co-chair a presidential transition team as the university plans for the appoint of its next chief executive.

Interim President Daniel J. Bernardo will work closely with Powell and Drewel

to ensure a smooth transition. The interview process with candidates

is ongoing. The initial pool of about 200 prospects has been narrowed to eight, including university presidents and pro-vosts, as well as a candidate from the private sector. The candidates identities are being kept confidential. WSUs 25-member search committee will make recommendations regarding the presiden-tial selection, and the Board of Regents will make the final decision.

Foundation plans fundraiserThe Tri-Cities Cancer Center

Foundation will have its 16th Annual Fundraising Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Mar. 17 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. There is no cost for the breakfast, which is sponsored by Mission

Support Alliance, but attendees will be asked to financially support the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. RSVP by calling 509-737-

3373.

Exhibitors soughtMission Support Alliance is seeking

exhibitors for the 2016 Health & Safety Expo. The Expo will be7 a.m. 7 p.m. May 10-11 at TRAC in Pasco.

This year, the Expo will focus on STEM education, in partnership with the Washington STEM Foundation and the Mid-Columbia STEM Network.

The Expos goal is to engage the com-munity while promoting health, safety and STEM at home and in the workplace. All booths must be directly related to one of these categories. Interactive demon-strations geared to support STEM educa-tion are desired.

The Expo provides a great opportunity to share expertise and promote the impor-tance of safety and health with Hanford employees, their families and the general public. There is no cost for exhibiting at the Expo and the event is free to the pub-lic. Exhibitor space is limited and avail-able on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact Terri McEvoy at 509-376-1496 or [email protected].

Banquet helps recovering addicts

The Pacific Northwest Adult & Teen Challenge Tri-Cities Campus will have a banquet to support its addiction recovery services in the Tri-Cities. The banquet will feature a talk by a recovering addict and how his life was changed by the pro-gram.

The event is at 6 p.m. April 22 at the Red Lion Hotel. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door. For more informa-tion, call 509-845-7711, email [email protected], or go to teenchallengepnw.com.

Leadership TC offers information

Leadership Tri-Cities is seeking lead-ers from across the Tri-Cities to apply for its 2016-2017 class. An informational session will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 19 at the Hampton Inn in Richland for those who would like to learn more about the program.

Leadership Tri-Cities is a 10-month program for professionals offering a thorough and behind-the-scenes look at issues impacting the region. The program begins with a planning and team-build-ing retreat and continues with monthly sessions featuring stimulating speakers and visits to businesses and organiza-tions throughout the state. Participants in the program will gain leadership skills, gain access to an informed network of colleagues, and have a better understand-ing of the realities and challenges of liv-ing and working in the region, as well as an opportunity to bring about positive change within it.

Applications are available online and will be accepted until May 2. To apply or learn more, go to leadershiptricities.com.

uSHOPTALK, Page 22



Its the little details that will make Dupus Boomers a big attraction when it opens in April in Richland.

From the floor up, the new restaurant will offer Richland diners a new experi-ence.

Greg and Carla Markel, owners of Washington Securities and Markel Properties, have been working on the restaurant project and the renovation of the prime commercial property in down-town Kennewick since 2012.

Greg Markels son, Shane, was the project manager on the construction project for the three buildings that replaced a parking lot and 50-year-old brick retail strip center at the corner of George Washington Way and Swift Boulevard.

In its place, the Markels built three modern, attractive buildings.

The 3,500-sq.-ft. building at the cor-ner of Jadwin Avenue and Swift Boulevard is home to a Jimmy Johns sandwich shop, which opened in late 2015, and a Taco Time, which opened in early March.

Incorporated within the Taco Time is

a Go Green Salads shop, a concept being introduced by the Markels. It offers customized salad options, from the types of greens to the toppings. Customers watch their salads being made in front of them and request their toppings.

We think people are really going to like it, said Shane Markel.

The 3,500-sq.-ft. building along Jadwin Avenue will be the new home for the Johnson & Orr Law Firm and for a Markel Properties office.

But the two-story, 7,500-sq.-ft. build-

ing at the corner of George Washington Way and Swift Boulevard is the show-case of the development. In mid-April, Dupus Boomers will open in the build-ing.

The Dupus Boomers concept is noth-ing new to the Markels, who opened the first Dupus Boomers in Pullman, where it catered to the college crowd at Washington State University. It closed in 2012.

The name may seem odd, but it actu-ally goes back to the mid-1940s, when a cartoon character emerged that embod-ied the bumbling government-issue Hanford worker. His name was Dupus Boomer and the cartoon illustrated the frustrations of living and working at the Hanford site. It became an icon of the early Hanford era and Markel owns the Dupus Boomers copyright and trade-mark.

Framed prints of those cartoons fea-tured on the walls of the new two-story restaurant, which will have an eclectic menu similar to that of the Cheesecake Factory, and the restaurant will feature a large salad bar, said Shane Markel.

Shane Markel has overseen construction of the new Dupus Boomers restaurant and the downtown Richland buildings housing Taco Time, Jimmy Johns, Johnson & Orr Law Firm and the new Markel Properties office. Jimmy Johns opened in January, and Taco Time and Go Green Salads opened in March. Dupus Boomers will open in April, although an exact date has not been set.

REal EstatERichland welcomes Dupus Boomers, Taco Time, Go Green Salads

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uMARKEL, Page 41


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By Loretto J. [email protected]

Restaurateur Cindy Goulets latest project, Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen, is just weeks away from opening.

Construction is going very well. Were down to the nitty gritty now, the interior, the appliances, tables and chairs, Goulet said. My plan is to open at the beginning of April, which I think is pretty realistic.

Goulet had her start in the restaurant business 24 years ago when she opened her first Italian res-t a u r a n t , Florentynas, in the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland. She changed loca-tions several times before settling at the Tri-City Airport 19 years ago.

Several years ago she opened the 3 Eyed Fish wine bar inside the security area at the airport and later opened the 3 Eyed Fish wine bar on Keene Road in Richland.

When the Pasco Port Commissioners voted to accept a proposal from Tailwind, a North Carolina company, to operate concessions at the airport, Goulet closed both airport locations.

The port commissioners decision, Goulet said, pushed me into looking at other options.

Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen is the

result.Lu Lu is the first restaurant Goulet

has built from the ground up. Terence L. Thornhill, Architect, Inc., of Pasco designed the building and IBK, Inc., of Kennewick, is the general contractor.

The 8,000-sq-ft., single level restau-rant overlooks the marina and Columbia River. It will seat 180 people inside with additional seating outside on the spa-cious patio.

The atmosphere and dcor will be casual, which will be reflected in the menu, as well. The menu will feature burgers, salads, steaks and, of course, some pasta, she said.

Hours will likely be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays with brunch beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and

Sunday.The decision to name her new restau-

rant Lu Lu was easy.Its my middle name. I wanted

something that would roll off peoples tongue and that sounded fun, she said.

Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen is at 580 Columbia Point Dr., Richland, and will employ 40 to 50 people.

For more information and the open-ing day details, look for Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen on Facebook.

New Columbia Point restaurant to open in a few weeks

Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen on Columbia Point in Richland is due to open in early April.

CARVERS, From page 11The show draws carvers from

Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana, said Jerry Dilley, show chairman. There will be about 200 carvings displayed, many for sale, as will carvings knives, books and several types of wood to buy.

On Sunday, at 2:30 p.m., there will be a raffle of more than 100 items, he said.

The Artistry in Wood show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mar. 19 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mar. 20 at the Tri-Tech Skills Center, 5929 W. Metaline Ave., Kennewick. Admission is $3 for those 12 and older.

For more information on the Association or the show find them on Facebook or go to Tri-Citieswoodcarvingclub.blogspot.com or call Jerry Dilley at 509-619-0811.

Construction is going very well. Were down to the nitty gritty now, the interior, the appliances,

tables and chairs.

- Cindy Goulet,Lu Lu Craft Bar & Kitchen

Tell us about your new building or remodel!

Your building could be featured in an upcoming issue.

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Sterlings hopes to start construction on this new 6,000-sq.-ft. restaurant in April. The new restaurant, which will replace the current one on George Washington Way, will be built in the parking lot and feature a deck with a sweeping view of the Columbia River. The current restaurant will remain open during construction. Architects rendering courtesy of ALD Architects.

STERLINGS, From page 1I had a background in Sambos and

Sizzler, and I always wanted to marry the concepts, Jim Sterling said in a 2011 interview.

Jim Sterling will be the general con-tractor on the project. Sterling was also the general contractor on his Queensgate restaurant, which opened in 2012.

Sterling also renovated a former Sizzlers location on Clearwater Avenue in 2008 to create the Kennewick Sterlings.

Sterlings restaurants are known for the huge menu and they specialize in homemade food. The menu features a vast array of omelets and breakfast items, an abundant salad bar that features homemade soups daily, plus steaks, sea-food and plenty of other comfort foods.


Trios Foundation announces scholarships, awards

The Trios Foundation raised more than $389,100 for patient programs, services and equipment during its 2015 fundraising campaign. The results were announced at the Trios Foundations Annual Breakfast, Feb. 17 at the Three Rivers Convention Center. About 300 people attended.

Michelle Fain, patient access manager at Trios Health was pre-sented with the 2016 Jim Mokler Outstanding Leadership Award. Six scholarships were also awarded dur-ing the event to students pursuing healthcare-related degrees. Scholarship winners were: Aryambda Esparza, Kennewick, Sally Rutherford Scholarship, $3,000; Marisa Molina, Pasco, $1,000; Hannah Templeton, Richland, $1,000; Kylie Lopez, Pasco, $1,000; Ashley Hennessey, Kennewick, $1,000; Rasheal McNabb, Kennewick, $2,000.

Tri-Citian of the Year Nominations are being accepted

for the 2016 Tri-Citian of the Year. The Tri-Citian of the Year exempli-fies the highest standards of com-munity service, leadership and the voluntary contribution of selfless acts to positively impact community development, economic

Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business - March 2016

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