Generous donors of food and funds make the annual Second Harvest Turkey Drive serving the Mid-Columbia and Yakima Valley possible. Lamb Weston is again the Presenting Sponsor and U-Pull-It Auto Parts is the Matching Sponsor, helping to make sure thousands of our neighbors have a healthy and hearty Thanksgiving dinner during these challenging times.
“When we talk with other food banks across the country, most are envious because we are located in some of the nation’s best bread-and-fruit baskets,” said Jason Clark, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “Especially at this time of year, we are so appreciative that the bounty produced by our region’s ag community is surpassed only by their generosity. They provide the foundation of our ability to help feed those in need.” “The holidays highlight the comfort and joy that good food brings to us all, and this program makes that accessible to more people,” said Shelby Stoolman, senior director of communication and Lamb Weston Foundation president. “Lamb Weston is proud to partner with Second Harvest in our mission to end hunger. We are thankful for the work they do in the community.” U-Pull-It Auto Parts will match the first $15,000 in donations to the Second Harvest Turkey Drive again this year. Mark Forcum spoke about their commitment to helping others. “It’s important for us to give back to the communities we serve. It’s rewarding to provide matching funds that will make a bigger impact for struggling families.” A $30 donation will provide a Thanksgiving meal for a family in need. Donate at 2-harvest.org/turkey or mail to Second Harvest, 5825 Burlington Loop, Pasco WA 99301. Second Harvest will provide 2,500 Thanksgiving meal boxes that include the ingredients for a holiday meal with all the trimmings, including a turkey, to families in need at the following distributions: Monday, Nov. 21 Sunnyside – 9-11 a.m. (or while supplies last) Sunnyview Park, 31211 Yakima Valley Hwy, Sunnyside, 98944 DRIVE-THRU distribution, up to 700 families. Free holiday meal box with a turkey and all the fixings for those in need. Distribución de comida gratis, de auto-servicio para 700 familias o hasta se acaba. Gratis distribucion – cajas de comida para los dias de festivos con pavo y adornos. Yakima – 2-4 p.m. (or while supplies last) State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Gate (15), Yakima, 98901 DRIVE-THRU distribution, up to 700 families. Free holiday meal box with a turkey and all the fixings for those in need. Distribución de comida gratis, de auto-servicio para 700 familias o hasta se acaba. Gratis distribucion – cajas de comida para los dias de festivos con pavo y adornos. Tuesday, Nov. 22 Kennewick – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or while supplies last) Benton County Fairgrounds, 1500 S. Oak St. Kennewick, 99336 DRIVE-THRU distribution, up to 1,000 families. Free holiday meal box with a turkey and all the fixings for those in need. Distribución de comida gratis, de auto-servicio para 1,000 familias o hasta se acaba. Gratis distribucion – cajas de comida para los dias de festivos con pavo y adornos. In addition, a partnership with Ben Franklin Transit has connected 100 Thanksgiving meal boxes to some other local families in need. A huge thank you to Lamb Weston and U-Pull-It Auto Parts and all the sponsors and volunteers who make this event possible.
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November is National Healthy Skin Month, and Prosser Memorial Health is proud to welcome Karmina Bowen to their Dermatology Center located at 701 Dale Avenue Suite B in Benton City. Karmina is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with previous experience in dermatology. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing degree from Maryville University in May of 2021, after which she transitioned into dermatology working in Richland, WA. Prior to her career in dermatology, Karmina worked as a Registered Nurse at Kadlec Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department. Karmina has nine years of emergency medicine experience. She is very excited to be joining Dr. Nylander at the Dermatology Center and is grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside a highly experienced dermatologist.
Karmina is a lower valley native who grew up in Prosser and completed her higher education locally. After working in the Tri-Cities for several years, she has come full-circle and is excited to join Prosser Memorial Health. She is happy to have this opportunity to provide dermatology services in Benton City, expanding appointment availability, and offering access to care to rural and underserved communities. When she is not working, Karmina and her husband can be found at their rural Burbank residence, with their dogs, and herd of alpacas. Karmina enjoys gardening, reading, wakesurfing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. “I am excited to have the opportunity to work at Prosser Memorial Health’s Dermatology Center where I provide both medical and cosmetic dermatology services. As a dermatology Nurse Practitioner my practice is patient centered and I aim to establish and maintain trusting relationships. I collaborate with my patients to create an individualized skin care regimen with the goal of improving skin health,” says Karmina Bowen, ARNP. Karmina is now accepting new patients and offers a variety of medical and cosmetic dermatology services including BOTOX, fillers, cosmetic laser treatments, treatment of various skin disorders, and skin cancer treatment and detection. The Dermatology Center accepts all insurances. To learn more about the Dermatology Center, services offered, or to make an appointment, call 509.588.4555 or visit prosserhealth.org. PMH will also be holding an Open House on Friday, November 18, from 2:00pm - 4:00pm, at the Dermatology Center; more information can be found online at prosserhealth.org. 3 Rivers Community Foundation (3RCF) is pleased to announce its inaugural Celebration of Philanthropy reception on December 8th, 2022, from 5:00-7:30 PM at the Red Lion Columbia Center. The highlight of the evening will be the distribution of almost $270,000 in grant award checks to nonprofits serving Benton and Franklin counties.
“We are thrilled to invite the community to celebrate with us,” says Abbey Cameron, CEO. “These grants are made possible by both legacy donors who are part of our endowment in addition to one-time donations. Our generous donors understand the powerful impact of pooling resources and their kindness is amazing.” 3RCF has a record breaking 59 grant awards to distribute. These grants are made through an application-based process open to any 501c3 serving Benton and Franklin counties. The 3RCF Board of Directors spends many hours reviewing applications, interviewing organizations, and ensuring the available funding goes as far as possible. The evening will begin with refreshments and an appetizer buffet at 5:00 PM followed by the grant award ceremony program at 5:45 PM. The evening concludes at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25 per person and are available for purchase at www.3rcf.org/philanthropy-celebration/. To learn more about philanthropy in our communities visit www.3rcf.org or contact us at [email protected] or 509-735-5559. Lourdes Health is pleased to share that Lourdes Urgent Care will now be open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The urgent care clinic will now serve patients seven days per week.
“Pre-COVID, our urgent care clinic was always open on Sundays, so this is the first time we’re opening on Sundays since the pandemic began,” said Lourdes Medical Director Kevin Taylor, MD. “We are pleased to open our doors again on Sundays to be able to serve our patients and meet their urgent needs.” Lourdes Urgent Care serves patients for allergies, colds, flu, infections, minor illnesses, sprains, wounds, burns, and more. On-site x-ray is also available. Additionally, Lourdes Urgent Care offers sports physicals year-round for junior high and high school sports for $30 (no insurance needed). Lourdes Urgent Care also offers online scheduling. Patients can select a time to be seen up to 24 hours in advance through the online scheduling link and come in at their scheduled time to be seen by a provider. Walk-in visits are still allowed, though patients who come in to be seen on a walk-in basis may encounter longer wait times. “Our online scheduling system is a fantastic tool for our patients to be able to use to conveniently schedule their needed service in their day, especially if their primary care provider is unavailable, and we encourage our patients to utilize this tool,” Dr. Taylor said. “If there are no appointment times available, we are still happy to see you on a walk-in basis.” Lourdes Urgent Care is located at 5304 N. Road 68 in Pasco. The clinic can be reached at 509.543.9300, and online scheduling is available at YourLourdes.com/Online-Scheduling. Services are now available daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Patients in need of emergent medical care should either call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The Lourdes Health emergency room is located at 520 N. 4th Avenue in Pasco. Learn more about where to go for care at YourLourdes.com/Get-Care-Now. Gesa, a community-focused credit union, today announced its High School Credit Union Program has become the first Financial Sector Career Launch endorsed program in the State of Washington through Career Connect Washington. The Career Launch program combines meaningful, high-quality, on-the-job experience with classroom learning to ensure Washington students are college and career ready.
Gesa’s High School Credit Union Program has provided hands-on, real-life financial industry experience for high school students since 2000. Today, the program supports 12 student-operated high school branches across the state. “Gesa is honored to receive this certification from Career Connect Washington,” said Don Miller, President and CEO of Gesa Credit Union. “Our High School Credit Union Program provides students with invaluable industry experience that helps prepare them for their career post-graduation. Now with this certification, we’re able to take that one step further and provide students in this program the opportunity to receive industry-recognized credentials that will make them a competitive candidate in today’s job market.” Student interns who complete at least one year of their internship through Gesa’s High School Credit Union Program will receive the Financial Sector Career Launch certification. This certification endorses these students as readily hirable for an entry-level position within the financial industry to further their career or assist with employment while furthering their higher education. “We are fortunate to have outstanding CTE programs and staff here in the Kennewick School District, and the endorsement of the high school credit union program as a Career Launch certified program through Career Connect Washington presents a very exciting opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Traci Pierce, Superintendent. “We are so grateful for the partnership with Gesa to make this a reality!” “One of our top priorities at Pasco School District is for each student to graduate with a High School and Beyond Plan, including a clear career path,” said Michelle Whitney, Superintendent of Pasco School District. “The Career Launch Endorsement for Gesa's High School Credit Union Internship Program is exciting because it allows our students working in the high school credit unions to gain practical work experiences through job shadows, internships, and advanced training. These experiences prepare them for career paths in the financial industry while providing Gesa with viable employees once the students graduate.” The Port of Kennewick’s 2020 financial statement audit, was clean, complete and accurate – with no findings, according to both the independent CPA firm CliftonLarsenAllen (CLA) and the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO).
The Washington State Auditor’s Office issued notice November 3, 2022, officially closing the 2020 financial statement audit which covered detailed financial statements and statistical data related to the port’s operations. The goal of such independent audits is to provide reasonable assurance that financial statements are accurate and presented in a transparent manner which includes all disclosures necessary to provide a reasonable understanding of the port’s financial affairs. The 2020 Financial Statement Audit was conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), an independent CPA firm. The CPA’s Financial Audit Report was thereafter reviewed by the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) which concurred with the CLA report. The areas examined were Accounting Policies (internal controls, basis of accounting and reporting); Accounting Estimates [assets and depreciation, pension liabilities, related expenses, other post-employment benefits (OPEB]; Financial Statement Disclosures (found no sensitive disclosures, and determined statements were neutral, consistent, and clear, with no corrected misstatements). Indeed, the audit did not identify any material inconsistencies between other port information and the audited financial statements. In all areas, the audit determined that Port of Kennewick operations complied with applicable state laws, regulations, and its own policies, and provided adequate controls over the safeguarding of public resources. According to Nick Kooiker, the port’s chief financial officer, this marks 26 years where the Port of Kennewick received an independent Financial Statement Audit with no audit findings (a finding would indicate material deficiencies within the organization). Stated Kooiker, "These audits are important because people don’t always trust government. These SAO audits and reviews assure the public that that their tax dollars are being spent properly. In fact, the Port of Kennewick prides itself on transparency, and twenty-six years of clean audits is strong proof that our port has both high standards, and tight internal controls to safeguard the public’s funds." The State Auditor’s office regularly reviews the Port of Kennewick’s financial records and procedures to ensure complete and accurate reporting; there is no misuse of public funds; and that the organization follows state, local, and federal laws, along with its own policies and procedures. In addition, the SAO will often use external contractors such as CliftonLarsonAllen, a nationally recognized public accounting firm, to ensure both timely and comprehensive financial audits. According to the SAO Report on Accountability, “Independent audits provide essential accountability and transparency for port operations. This information is valuable to management, the governing body and public stakeholders when assessing the government’s stewardship of public resources.” “Here at Port of Kennewick we recognize that we are stewards of the public’s trust and resources, and we strive to uphold the highest level of integrity in all of our operations,” stated President, Skip Novakovich, Port of Kennewick Board of Commissioners. “A clean audit is key to assuring our taxpayers that we take our fiduciary duties seriously, and that we are using taxpayers’ funds to benefit the community.” The SAO’s full report is available online at the Washington State Auditor’s Office: https://sao.wa.gov/reports-data/audit-reports/ . Tis the Season! The much-loved Yakima Holiday Lighted Parade is back and better than ever. We invite you to help fill the hearts of all ages with the spirit of the holidays. The 23rd Annual Yakima Holiday Lighted Parade is scheduled Sunday, December 4th, at 6 p.m. This year's Holiday Parade is sponsored by Santa’s elves at Yakima Federal Savings and Loan and Ron’s Coin and Collectables.
The parade will begin at the Salvation Army located at the corner of 6th Ave. and Yakima Ave. and proceed down Yakima Ave to 3rd St. where it will join the annual tree lighting ceremony at Millennium Plaza. Judging will take place in the parade staging area from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The entire community is invited to join the parade. Participation is free, but participants are asked to pre-register at YakimaParades.com. Participants and spectators are encouraged to wear festive clothing, but are asked not to dress as Santa Claus as SANTA will be making his official arrival known at the end of the parade. Deadline for entry is Midnight, Friday December 2nd, 2022. Those with questions about the parade may e-mail them to: [email protected] Walk-up participants are allowed, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Lourdes Health & Trios Health Strongly Encourage Community to Get Vaccinated for Flu Season11/2/2022 To minimize the spread of influenza this fall and winter, Lourdes Health and Trios Health are encouraging all employees, medical personnel and community members to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, with any age-appropriate flu vaccine. If you are considering a nasal spray flu vaccine, it is important to know that this option is approved by the CDC for use in non-pregnant individuals, ages two through 49, and that there is a precaution against this option for those with certain underlying medical conditions.
“With the potential for flu and COVID-19 to be circulating simultaneously in the fall and winter, being up to date on your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters is as important as ever,” said Kena Chase, Chief Nursing Officer at Lourdes Health. “Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent disease and help you stay healthy this fall and winter.” Receiving a COVID-19 vaccination or booster is also encouraged. “We highly recommend that every person receive a flu vaccination – and a COVID-19 vaccination or up-to-date booster – if you have not already done so,” said Dena-Putnam Gilchrist, Chief Nursing Officer at Trios Health. “It is one of the smartest decisions you can make to prioritize your health. Being vaccinated will also help give you valuable peace of mind that you’re doing everything you can to guard against these illnesses and protect yourself, your family and your community.” The best ways to protect against the flu and COVID-19 are to:
Lourdes Health and Trios Health are committed to their mission of making communities healthier by protecting our patients, our employees and our volunteers, and limiting the spread of the flu and other respiratory illnesses in our community. For more information about the flu and effective prevention methods, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/. Visit Tri-Cities celebrated a year of tourism successes and honored Kathy Powell, Executive Director of the Tri-City Water Follies, with the 2022 Kris Watkins Tourism Champion of the Year award during Visit Tri-Cities 53rd Annual Meeting held Nov. 1 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.
The Kris Watkins Tourism Champion of the Year award is the organization’s most prestigious honor and recipients are carefully chosen based on their dedication to the tourism industry and supporting the efforts of Visit Tri-Cities to continually elevate the region as a premier tourism destination in the Pacific Northwest. “The Tri-City Water Follies is a Tri-Cities iconic event which brings thousands of visitors and millions of dollars into the community each year,” said Kim Shugart, Senior Vice President of Visit Tri-Cities. “Kathy’s abilities as a leader and community-minded partner truly embody the spirit of a Tourism Champion of the Tri-Cities.” Visit Tri-Cities also announced the 2022 Excellence in Service award during the program. Tumbleweeds Mexican Flair, owned by Keith Moon, was recognized with more than 20 nominations for providing outstanding customer service along with tasty food. Nominees were judged on the ability to serve as an example to others, provide exemplary customer service and create a memorable visitor experience. Tumbleweeds was one of 32 nominees who were recognized by the community for exceptional hospitality. For more information about Visit Tri-Cities, or for tourism businesses looking to become a member, check out VisitTri-Cities.com. ![]() Trios Health is pleased to announce that Jennifer Follwell, DO, has joined Trios as a family medicine physician. Dr. Follwell will practice at the Trios Care Center at deBit, located at 320 W. 10th Avenue in Kennewick. She will treat patients for comprehensive medical care, preventive care, annual and sports physicals, immunizations, minor procedures, and child and adult acute and chronic illnesses. “We are excited to have Dr. Follwell join our team and expand our primary care base,” said Emilia Keener, Market Director of Physician Practices. “She is an excellent physician with a broad range of experience that will serve our patients and community well.” Dr. Follwell has 20 years of clinical experience providing broad spectrum of family practice care in outpatient settings. She comes to Trios from Anderson Medical Group in Illinois. She has practiced in Illinois, Florida, and Missouri. She completed medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine – now AT Still University – in Kirksville, Missouri, and then went on to a family practice internship at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and then a general internship at Deaconess West Hospital – now Des Peres Hospital – in St. Louis. Her family practice residency was completed at Des Peres Hospital. Dr. Follwell is board certified in family medicine. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling 509.221.5910 or online at TriosHealth.org. |
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July 2024
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