The weather is heating up and the Kennewick Parks and Recreation Department is excited to announce the four City splash pads will open Memorial Day weekend. These zero depth water features are a great way to cool down on hot days in the park.
Splash pads are open 9am to 7pm daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Kennewick Splash Pad Locations: Columbia Park, Grange Park, Southridge Sports and Events Complex, and Underwood Park. For more information, please contact Brandon Lange at 509-750-4469 or [email protected].
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This year’s 4th of July Celebration is better than ever, as musicians from around the area will turn out for a day full of music, fun, and fireworks as they compete for more than $1,500 in cash and prizes along with spots performing at this year’s Central Washington State Fair.
This is the 5th year for AppleJam with last year’s celebration being a “best of” due to the pandemic. Starting April 25th, musicians can upload a demo video for free at YakimaAppleJam.com to compete in either the solo or the bands contest. The deadline for entry is May 25th. On May 25th, all the entries will be made available on YakimaAppleJam.com for public voting – with the performers who get the most votes winning a slot in the Yakima AppleJam Battle of the Bands 4 lineup. “The first part of the selection process will depend on bands motivating their friends, family and fans to get out and vote,” said organizer Paul Crawford, Marketing Manager of Yakima Federal Savings and Loan, sponsor of this year’s 4th of July Festival. The top vote-getters in the first round will be invited to perform live at Yakima’s 4th of July Celebration at State Fair Park. They’ll try and wow a panel of VIP judges in hopes of winning the top prize: $500 for the best band performance, $500 for the best solo performance and an additional $500 for best overall performance. The contests are open to all ages and all musical types, and there are no entry fees to compete. “We have a lot of talent here in the Yakima Valley,” said Crawford, “AppleJam celebrates these amazing artists with a fun family-friendly concert in front of a great big crowd.” The Prosser Memorial Health Foundation, along with the PMH Auxiliary Volunteer group, is excited to announce the winners of the 2022 Foundation Healthcare Scholarships. We had eleven extremely qualified and outstanding students apply this year, making the selection process difficult. Members of the Foundation Board and the Volunteer Auxiliary group review the application and score them in ten different areas. Join us in congratulating our scholarship recipients! Each recipient receives a $2,000.00 education. scholarship to pursue a career in healthcare.
Monse Diaz, a student at Prosser High School, is one of our Health Occupation students. Monse is a member of the National Honor Society, a Student-Athlete in multiple sports, the ASB Treasurer, and active in multiple clubs at school. She is plans to attend the University of Washington in the fall and pursue a degree in nursing or as an EMT. Our Grandview High School recipient is Jasmin Torres. Jasim is in the National Honor Society, on the President’s List and is graduating from high school with a 3.975. She is also graduating with her AA from Yakima Valley Community College at the same time. Jasmin is planning to attend Washington State University this fall and purse a degree in nursing. Cecilia Alvarez-Alvarado is our Kiona Benton High School recipient. Cecilia received the Perfect Attendance Award; the Citizen Award, and the Principal’s Honor Roll and she is graduating with a 3.916. Cecilia plans to attend WSU in the Tri-Cities and pursing a degree in Nursing. The Prosser Memorial Health Foundation Scholarship is open to high school seniors in our primary services areas, Prosser, Grandview, and Kiona-Benton, with one recipient chosen from each district. Applying students must be pursuing a career in healthcare to be considered for the scholarship. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, founder, president, and chief technology officer of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, received an honorary doctorate of engineering from Purdue University’s College of Engineering during the commencement ceremony held on Friday, May 13.
The university recognized Schweitzer as a pioneer in digital power protection and for his many other career achievements, including being a recipient of the IEEE Medal in Power Engineering and 2019 induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. “Your legacy is inspiring generations of people…[and] all of us here, to turn every single one of the brilliant minds that enter our school into brilliant, effective, and outstanding engineers,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, Michael and Katherine Brick Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering, during a luncheon honoring Schweitzer. Schweitzer earned both his bachelor (1968) and master (1971) of electrical engineering degrees from Purdue and credits his alma mater with preparing him to take his interest in electric power and start his own company. Today, Schweitzer has been granted more than 250 patents and SEL products are helping protect, monitor and control electric power systems in 168 countries. “I’m grateful for the recognition, but I’m even more grateful for the work you all do at Purdue to educate and inspire young people to go out and work to make the world a better place—the same way you did for me,” said Schweitzer. Schweitzer has maintained his connections with the university through research collaborations, support for its educational initiatives and partnerships with the Purdue College of Engineering. In 2019, Schweitzer and his wife, Beatriz, contributed $3 million to endow an electrical and computer engineering professorship and to support the school’s power and energy systems research area, now named Schweitzer Power and Energy Systems. In October 2020, Dr. and Mrs. Schweitzer made a $4 million commitment to support programs and scholarships at Purdue Polytechnic High School Schweitzer Center at Englewood, one of three free, STEM-focused charter high schools founded by the university and the City of Indianapolis. SEL celebrated the grand opening of its new 100,000 sq. ft. facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, known as SEL Purdue, in 2020. The ground floor of the three-story building houses a manufacturing operation while the upper floors provide space for its Engineering Services and Research & Development divisions, which include opportunities for internships for Purdue students and research collaborations with the university’s faculty. Schweitzer earned a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Washington State University (1977) and holds honorary doctorates from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León (2005), Monterrey, Mexico, and the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi (2012), San Luis Potosi, Mexico. ![]() The Visit Tri-Cities team is excited to welcome Alane Wilkerson as the Public Relations Manager for the destination marketing organization. She is responsible for strengthening and maintaining relationships with local and regional travel media, developing compelling editorial content and social media communications, and serve as the point of contact for media. “We’re thrilled to welcome Alane to the team,” said Michael Novakovich, President & CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “She has great energy and a passion for the Tri-Cities—a great addition to the team as we continue to champion tourism and economic recovery in our community through increased visitation with conventions and meetings, sports events and, of course, leisure.” A Tri-Cities native, Alane graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Communications. Alane’s experience at PNNL coupled with her Tri-Cities knowledge and strong sense of hometown pride make Alane a great ambassador for the community. When Alane is not championing the Tri-Cities as a premier destination in the Pacific northwest, she can be found enjoying local parks with her dog, soaking up the sunshine on the Columbia River, or setting new high scores on any of the local golf courses. Connect with Alane Wilkerson at [email protected]. To learn more about Visit Tri-Cities, check out visittri-cities.com. The 92nd Washington Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention will be held May 12 – 14, 2022 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Approximately 2,000 FFA members and guests from throughout Washington State will gather in the Tri-Cities with their iconic blue corduroy jackets, generating an economic impact of $661,496.
“The Tri-Cities is beyond thrilled to welcome the FFA State Convention for the first time to our community,” said Michael Novakovich, President & CEO of Visit Tri-Cities. “The Visit Tri-Cities team is working hard to build back convention and group business. Our community securing this convention and bringing 2,000 people into the Tri-Cities is such a win. And not only are the hotels and the Three Rivers Convention Center full, but our local restaurants and eateries can expect to be busy as the attendees will be patronizing local businesses for lunch and dinner.” The State Convention had been held at Washington State University in Pullman since the convention’s inception 92 years ago. The FFA was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928 with the mission to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. During the State Convention, attendees will have the opportunity to broaden their horizons in three specific areas: leadership, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Information regarding the 92nd Washington FFA Convention can be found at WashingtonFFA.org. For more information about Visit Tri-Cities, check out VisitTri-Cities.com. ![]() Leslie Streeter joined Washington State University Tri-Cities as director of marketing and communication May 9. In that role she will oversee the campus’ advertising, marketing, public relations, social media and website with a focus on growing enrollment. Streeter comes to WSU Tri-Cities with a background in consumer and non-profit marketing strategy and brand management. In the nonprofit sector, she most recently led a rebranding initiative, digital and content marketing and social media strategy to increase awareness and revenue on behalf of a health care organization. As a research analyst and assistant project manager for an innovation consultancy, Streeter conducted consumer and market research and assisted with strategy sessions for Fortune 100 companies such as Kraft Foods and Kellogg’s. Streeter is a WSU alumna with bachelor’s degrees in communication and business administration/marketing. She is also a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities, Class XVIII, and currently serves as the organization’s board secretary. Streeter is a Tri-Cities native and lives in Richland. “I am excited and honored to join the marketing and communication team at WSU Tri-Cities. Cougs always find their way back home, and that is exactly what this feels like to me. Having the opportunity to work with talented people, at a university I love, doing what I love… It just doesn’t get much better than that,” said Streeter. Summer is just around the corner! With warmer temperatures and more sunshine coming our way, it’s time to start thinking about how we can enjoy summer safely. Prosser Memorial Health’s free Summer Safety Event is back this year with complimentary food, activities, giveaways, and safety tips for the whole family.
The summer season calls for more time spent outdoors. An afternoon in the water might be the perfect way to keep cool, but it’s important to remember the risks of water activities. May is water safety month, and the risk of drowning increases anytime you enter a body of water. This is even more true for children. With drowning being one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in children, it is essential to know how we can keep our littles safe in the water. Adults should also make sure to protect themselves. Boating is a fun and popular way to spend a day on the water but being prepared and using proper equipment will ensure that it is also safe. Free life jackets for children will be provided during the Summer Safety event, while supplies last. Prosser Memorial Health has partnered with local Fire Departments to help properly size and fit the life jackets for children during the event. Please join us Wednesday, May 18th from 4-7pm at each of our Prosser Memorial Health Primary Care Clinics in Prosser, Benton City, and Grandview for the Summer Safety Event. This is a free family-friendly event. For Clinic locations and to learn more, visit our website at prosserhealth.org. For questions about Prosser Memorial Health’s Summer Safety event, call Prosser Memorial Health Communications Officer Shannon Hitchcock at 509.786.6601. Michael Novakovich, President & CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, has announced his resignation to become the CEO of Columbia Industries (Kennewick, WA). Novakovich will remain in his role with Visit Tri-Cities through July 1st. The Visit Tri-Cities Board of Directors has begun the process to search for Novakovich’s replacement.
“The Visit Tri-Cities Board of Directors has the greatest appreciation for Michael and the outstanding leadership he has provided the organization,” stated Corey Pearson, Visit Tri-Cities Board Chair. “Under his leadership, the organization has grown its innovation and outcomes, market reach, community and business impact, team development, program offerings, brand awareness and revenues.” “We have an exceptional team that will continue advancing and enhancing our tourism industry as we undergo a search for a new CEO,” Pearson said. “We wish Michael great success leading Columbia Industries.” The Visit Tri-Cities Board of Directors will conduct a nationwide search, with a hiring announcement expected sometime this summer. In Michael’s time leading Visit Tri-Cities, the organization achieved DMAP Accreditation with “Distinction” from Destinations International; earned national recognition with a Best Idea Program Outstanding Achievement Award for innovation; and the organization was recognized as a “Trailblazer” through MMGY NextFactor’s destination assessment. Michael also led the team to nearly a full recovery of annual economic impact, $489.3 million in visitor spending in 2021, following two years of successfully navigating the pandemic in arguably the most adversely impacted industry. Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is pleased to announce a contribution of $80,000 to The Memorial Foundation to help fund the expansion of Children’s Village. Children's Village is a regional integrated center for children with special needs and their families, with multiple service providers all under one roof. At Children's Village, children with chronic health conditions get all of their needs met in one special place.
The donation is part of a $15 million campaign to raise funds to expand Memorials Children’s Health & Medical Program (CHAMP). Currently, Children’s Village serves over 9,500 children each year and had over 43,000 visits in 2021. In addition to clinic visits, 300 children are seen in their home by Children’s Village providers each week. Over 1,400 children are waiting their turn to be treated at Children’s Village. “We are committed to supporting families in Central Washington.” Said Leanne Antonio, President and CEO of Yakima Federal Savings and Loan. “Children’s Village meets critical needs for area families and we are pleased our contribution will allow further expansion of the services they provide.” The expansion will upgrade amenities, increase treatment rooms from 10 to 21, and expand physical space by almost 11,000 square feet. The expansion will also increase staff by 60 percent, increase behavioral health services and serve nearly 1,000 additional children per year after the remodel and expansion. “Everything we do is in partnership with parents and families—it's all about strengthening families. Strong children today will change the world tomorrow.” stated Erin Black, CEO of the Memorial Foundation. Yakima Federal Savings and Loan is headquartered in Yakima, WA. and has been in business since 1905. With over $2 billion in assets, the association is the 11th largest Washington-based FDIC insured financial institution. |
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July 2024
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