PNNL Community Science & Technology Seminar Series: Feb. 9 - Inspired by Nature with Wendy Shaw2/8/2021 The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Community Science and Technology Seminar Series presents: Inspired by Nature: Learning from and Mimicking Nature in Materials and Chemistry.
Have you ever wanted to permanently fix a cavity in your tooth? Have you ever wished that hip or knee implants could be permanent and non-painful? Have you ever thought that it would be great if we could harness the energy of photosynthesis? Guess what—all of these things are possible! While we have not yet learned how to do these, nature has given us the models upon which to build. By understanding how to mimic nature, we have the potential to solve many materials and energy challenges to transform human health and the impact of humans on the planet. In this talk, learn about some of the major developments we have made in understanding biology and how it can be mimicked and modified to benefit all. About the Speaker: Dr. Wendy Shaw is a Biophysical Chemist and a Division Director at PNNL. She learns from nature to understand how bones and teeth are made, and also how enzymes work, to ultimately enable improved materials and renewable energy by mimicking the superior processes found in nature. Register on Zoom
0 Comments
![]() Prosser Memorial Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Richard Unger to Prosser General Surgery Center. Dr. Unger is a board-certified general surgeon providing general surgery services including laparoscopic, gynecological, endoscopy, tissue and breast, colon cancer, gall bladder, and hernia repair, among other surgeries for Prosser Memorial Health. Born near Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Unger graduated from A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed his general surgery residency in St. Louis at Deaconess Hospital. More recently, Dr. Unger has traveled all over the United States, including here in Prosser, providing surgical services in rural, critical access hospitals. “What made me want to come back is I just felt at home here. The team at Prosser Memorial Health were not only colleagues, they were friends. This hospital takes time and effort to invest in the newest updated technology in surgery. We have good equipment, and we are going to do what’s best for the patient.” -Dr. Richard Unger In his free time, Dr. Unger enjoys being outdoors, hiking, riding horses, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and spending time with his children and grandkids. For questions about surgical services at Prosser General Surgery Center, call 509.786.5599, or learn more at prosserhealth.org. Passenger numbers at Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 377,971 people traveled through the airport in 2020, down 57 percent from 2019. 2019 was previously the airport’s busiest year on record.
PSC passenger counts began high in January and February—generally the airport’s slowest time—and put the airport on pace to exceed 2019 numbers. In March, the start of the global pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders sharply reversed the trend. In April 2020, 95 percent fewer people traveled than in April 2019. Passenger trends slowly resumed over the summer, and the airport finished the year with a 57 percent total decline. “As with all airports in 2020, Tri-Cities Airport had to contend with the sudden stop in air travel due to the pandemic,” said Buck Taft, Tri-Cities Airport Director. “Our recovery has been supported by implementing additional health and safety protocols, and we look forward to serving travelers when they are ready to fly again.” Airlines count their passengers in terms of enplanements, or the number of people who board an aircraft at an airport. The number of people arriving are considered deplanements; the sum of both numbers is an airport’s total passenger number. In 2019, the airport saw 438,123 enplanements, an all-time high for the airport. In 2020 PSC processed 188,959 enplaned passengers—a count not seen since 1997. One bright spot in last year’s operations was cargo. Enplaned cargo, or the goods shipped from Tri-Cities elsewhere in the world, increased 9 percent over 2019. UPS was primarily responsible for the rise, carrying 840,494 tons of goods in 2019, a 38 percent increase from the year prior. While a full recovery isn’t expected until after the pandemic is contained and stay-at-home orders are lifted, the nonstop service options at the airport are increasing. Travelers from PSC can already reach Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, and flights to Minneapolis St. Paul will be available beginning March 2. Additional statistics can be found here on the Tri-Cities Airport’s website. At 9:00 p.m. on February 1, 2021, the Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) will begin enforcing a new federal mandate that requires everyone on airport property to wear a mask or face covering.
After President Biden signed the Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released its related Security Directive, which dictates that all passengers, operators, and visitors at the airport must cover both their nose and mouth while on the premises of any transportation hub. Children under the age of 2 are exempt, as are those who meet special conditions set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At PSC, passengers may ask for a free mask from their airline carrier or airport staff. Those who refuse to comply with the TSA Security Directive may be denied boarding, asked to leave the airport and/or receive a fine. Face coverings have been required at PSC since June 2020, but the new regulations provide additional enforcement guidelines and stricter penalties for violation. The federal Security Directive can be found here on the TSA website. Tri-Cities Monarchs 3vs3, a newly formed basketball organization serving the Tri-Cities, WA area, announces the 1st Annual #Ball4All Raffle in support of youth league basketball, in hopes to get enough capital to bring more sports events to the local community.
"We are hopeful that with the proceeds from this raffle, we will have the working capital to begin to build quality events in our community, which will involve tournaments and leagues, support charitable foundations in our immediate neighborhoods, and provide a means to participate for those who may have financial burdens or other hardships limiting their access," states Darvin Phillips Jr., Director/General Manager of Tri-Cities Monarchs 3vs3. As a basketball organization official licensee of Hoop It Up, the world’s largest 3x3 basketball tour for the past 30 years, and FIBA-endorsed event organizer, the Tri-Cities Monarchs 3vs3 is proud to introduce a fast and exciting alternative to traditional basketball with the 3 versus 3 model, which is quickly blossoming to a very popular way for youth and adults of all skill sets to play, be involved and have a wider variety of playing options and development potential. "The decision is to bring this opportunity to the Tri-Cities area was a simple one - Tri-Cities is known for its love for the game, wonderful and passionate people who care about their community, and a prime location to allow others in the immediate vicinity to join us and participate side by side," states Phillips Jr. Tickets for the raffle are already available for the price of $50 each. All the proceeds will be used to support offsetting operating expenses for youth leagues and relieve some costs to assist less fortunate participants. The prize for the raffle is a Western Caribbean Cruise to Mexico, including a 5-day/4-night Cruise for two aboard the Royal Caribbean Adventurer of the Seas. The support is much appreciated as it is an opportunity to support the Tri-Cities area, get involved in the local community and encourage one another. "As Director and General Manager of Tri-Cities Monarchs 3vs3, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so wholeheartedly for your support and for helping me spread my love for this amazing game throughout the land and a way for everyone to get involved," finishes Phillips Jr.. For more information about the 1st Annual #Ball4All Raffle click here. On Sunday, February 14th, 2021 from 2PM to 4PM, the Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation will be hosting a drive up event called “Crush On Cancer”.
Purchase a “Crush On Cancer Package” for pickup on Valentine’s Day at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center. Your package includes a 3-course cancer crushing meal from Chef Kyle Thornhill of Tsunami Catering, a wonderful bottle of wine from our Cancer Center Cellar and two Crush On Cancer beanies! One special couple will receive a bottle of Leonetti! 3-Course dinner includes Strawberry Pecan Salad with Ginger Carrot Dressing and your choice for entrée for two: Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with Cashews and Brown Rice or Fresh Cod with Red Coconut Curry, Cauliflower Rice and Grilled Zucchini or Vegan Buddha Bowl with Peanut Sauce and Avocado Dressing. The yummy dessert is Chocolate Pots De Crème with Flaked Sea Salt! The cost of this event is $100 per couple. To register, please visit the Tri-Cities Cancer Center’s Facebook page or tccancer.org For more information or to add additional people, please call Lori Lott, Tri-Cities Cancer Center Foundation Events Coordinator at (509) 737-3373. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new West Richland Police facility will occur on Thursday, February 4th, at 2 p.m. Due to the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery Phase 1 status, the event is being held virtually on the West Richland Police Department’s Facebook live.
The new police facility is being constructed after West Richland voters approved a 12.5 million dollar bond for constructing and equipping a 22,500 plus square foot building. The new police facility has been designed to meet the needs of the community for the foreseeable future. The City of West Richland had purchased the 93-acre “racetrack property”, located near the intersection of Keene and Van Giesen, and allocated 5 acres for the new police facility. The placement of the new facility will be just to the north of the racetrack oval. The anticipated completion date is December 2021 with a live ribbon cutting and celebration scheduled for all to attend. Lucas Organizational Performance Team (OPT), a division of local project services leader Lucas Engineering and Management Services, Inc. (Lucas), rebranded for 2021, highlighting the growth the organizational performance improvement services that developed over the past ten years. “I’m extremely proud of the team we’ve assemble for our Organizational Performance Team,” states Ken Lucas, CEO & President. He continues, “2020 was extremely challenging for our clients as they struggled with many of the same challenges we did. What our team has accomplished last year will only continue into this new year.”
Last year started with the grand opening of the Richland training facility. The pivot from in-person development, assessments and mentoring to virtual, happened quickly. “We were not immune to the effects of last year. Our specialists, who thrive in the personal nature of our work, had to adjust to be effective. The launch of this re-branded Lucas OPT is our success story,” says Chris Lucas, VP & COO. The spaces in which OPT specialize are present in every organization. “We have the language we’ve been looking for to describe the OPT. Our clients have always understood our capabilities, now the larger environment, safety, health and quality (ESH&Q) ecosystem can access our information,” continues Chris. With over 80 active employment opportunities locally in ESH&Q, the need to develop talent has never been more apparent. Lucas has the tag line Performance Delivered. This tag line reflects our over 25 year commitment to providing our clients high-performance services in engineering, project/construction management, operations, and environmental services on a variety of public and private high-risk projects. Building on this real-world experience Lucas’ OPT is now Driving Performance by serving as catalysts for change within their client’s existing organizations. “Our clients know their business inside and out. Often an outside catalyst is what is needed after an adverse event happens, or quality controls marks are not met, to look at the 10,000-foot view of a process and determine where improvements can be made. We don’t make the improvements; we provide our clients with a path to excellence. It is up to them to deliver their own performance,” concludes Ken Lucas. The OPT promises an exciting year to come with the introduction of regular free to the public training check-ins on topics surround Human Performance Improvement (HPI), Conduct of Operations (ConOps), safety, organizational culture, and First Aid. Visit their website, www.lucasopt.com for more information on their upcoming public events or to learn more about how their team can drive performance in your organization. Baker Boyer wants to show leadership in the community by encouraging all businesses to urge their employees that can, to get vaccinated against Covid-19. This is seen as increasingly important as vaccines become more widely available. “Maximizing vaccinations will enable life for everyone in Eastern Washington to get back to the new normal as rapidly as possible,” said Baker Boyer President/CEO Mark Kajita.
Baker Boyer is focusing its resources on helping the vaccine initiative through education. The Eastern Washington bank is hosting a video on its website bakerboyer.com that explains vaccines targeting Covid-19 (https://www.bakerboyer.com/coronavirus). It will also host an online forum late February with health experts on Covid-19 vaccine efforts to help businesses plan for the days ahead. Included will be:
For its employees, Baker Boyer is granting each that gets vaccinated an additional two days of paid time-off for doing so. “We all want the same thing, a healthy and safe community for all of us,” said Kajita. “Getting to the vaccination levels needed for herd immunity will help keep people safe and enable all businesses to open up so we can eventually get this pandemic behind us.” New U Women's Clinic Healing Hands Project and Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities Team Up1/28/2021 When Dr. Rachel Fidino accepted an opportunity in Seattle to advance her Gynecological career, little did she know where that path might lead? While expanding her certifications in Women’s healthcare, breast cancer, cancer prevention and genetics, she became aware and involved in the plight of homeless and low-income women in King County. Wanting to help those women in need, Rachel and her husband Andrew founded a nonprofit called The Healing Hands Project.
The Healing Hands Project is a 501c3 approved nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower homeless women with dignity, knowledge, and basic human rights by improving menstrual health, access to necessities, and quality of life. Dr. Fidino moved back to the Tri-Cities in 2018 to open New U Women’s Clinic and Aesthetics and brought a division of The Healing Hands Project with her to help women in need that live in South Eastern Washington. Recently HHP received a donation of 30,000 organic menstrual pads from the LOLA organization to support their mission. HHP has become a primary resource for women across Washington State, and has been blessed with community and private donor support allowing them to increase their distribution and outreach during the pandemic. “Our headquarters is full of pad donations and there is a need to get those systemically to low-income women free of charge so we contacted Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities to see if they could help.” explained Dr. Fidino. “The Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities has a similar mission as The Healing Hands Project to empower women and children to create healthy families and a vibrant community through raising awareness of the unmet needs of women and children”. Women Helping Women Fund Tri-Cities began in 2000 granting over $2.6 million to 138 programs benefitting women and children in Benton and Franklin Counties. Alysia Johnson, Executive Coordinator for WHWFTC, agrees that a distribution partnership would be advantages to the community. “Our network of organizations that serve the Tri-City area women in need is a perfect match. We love being able to connect our community with resources.” Fidino and Johnson have collaborated to start the distribution process. Grace Clinic, Domestic Violence Services of BF Counties, Communities in Schools of Benton Franklin Counties, Mirror Ministries, SARC and the Union Gospel Mission (Women’s & Children’s Shelter) will receive the pads. “We are so thankful for the donation of sanitary pads. This is something people forget about, but when it is not available it can be very frustrating. This donation will not only help those staying at the shelter, but will also help those on the street who are in need” stated Lisa Godwin with the Women and Children’s Center TCUGM. |
Have News?Email your press release and a photo to Austin Regimbal, Marketing & Communications Director. Press releases are posted in their entirety. This is a free benefit for members of the Tri-City Regional Chamber at the Connect level and above. Archives
July 2024
|