It’s that time of year again, where young men and women in our communities turn their tassels and toss their mortarboards into the air – then face their futures with a mixture of happy anticipation and a little bit of anxiety. We’ve all been in the same place and survived so we know they will too! We at Distinctive Properties, Inc., wish them the very best in their bright futures and new adventures!! Check here for the graduation schedules in the Mid-Columbia region: http://bit.ly/91IyGb
3 senior driving classes are being offered by AARP in the Tri-Cities. The 8-hour refresher classes give senior an opportunity to update their skills and knowledge. Classes are $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members, and will be held as follows:
June 7th & 8th starting at 8:30 am – Richland Community Center. Call 942-7529 to register.
June 9th & 10th starting at 9am – Pasco Senior Center. Call 545-3459 to register
July 15th & 16th starting at 9am – Kennewick Senior Center. Call 585-4303 to register.
Construction the first 2 quarters of 2010 has been much stronger than Pacific Northwest lumber companies had anticipated and that has made for some scrambling to keep up. In spite of the recession, lumber suppliers have been working hard to build up the inventories they keep, and with the loss of a plywood supplier in Chile that was wiped out because of the earthquake, Northwest mills are busy, busy, busy.
The housing market slowed last year, as far as construction of new homes went, but the rise in the building market this year took suppliers by surprise, so lots of overtime in some mills have brought the supply up and it looks like it will continue through the year, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Power pole supplier McFarland-Cascade in Tacoma says the federal money grants have helped, specifically for wind farm construction and alternative energy projects.
This is a wonderful article by Ben Stein about the joys of working with Realtors. It is a nice, positive and worthwhile read
http://www.distinctiveprop.com/files/files/PiecesOfHeaven.pdf
The annual Jimmy Buffett Tribute Party takes place this Sunday, May 30th at the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick, with gates opening at 4 pm, music starting at 5pm with the Tri-City band “Color Blind” as the opening act. Nobody Famous, a Spokane-based band will be the feature entertainers. Tickets prices for the 21 and over crowd are $15.00. This has always been a well attended blow out party, so grab your summer garb, your flip flops and party on down to the great music of summer!
Local CEO’s and Community Business Leaders will come together with members of the Young Professionals of Tri-Cities in a charity softball game Thursday May 27th at GESA Stadium in Pasco, with the game being promoted as “The Battle of the Ages”. Employees from Infinia Corporation and the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce comprise both teams, with a few extra local business leaders making up the “Suits Team”. The game starts at 6:00 p.m. and tickets are $10 & $15. The ticket proceeds will benefit the Greater Tri-Cities YMCA and are available at the locations below:
This writer is a season ticket holder with the Tri-City Fever and have ridden the high’s and low’s this season, but when I found out that the Fever Team is coming together with the US Army to aid the Wounded Warrior Project, I believe this to be the team’s biggest high!! The game will be held this Saturday May 29 at 7:00 pm as a special Memorial Day event. The Toyota Center box office in Kennewick can be reached at 222-2215 and tickets start at $15.
A silent auction will be held to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project and the special camo jerseys the Fever will be wearing for this game are the auction items. The Wounded Warrior Project holds a special place in this writer’s heart since two of my son’s are military. The work they do in this fund is simply amazing and is such a lift for these brave young men and women. Read more about their mission here: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Come out to enjoy a fun and fast paced Fevers game and do something to show our wounded troops that you care!
The Hanford Area Economic Investment Fund wants business owners from Benton and Franklin counties to know about their loans, which can range from $150,000 to $500,000. The loans are awarded for buying land, research & development, equipment or other improvement projects, and the applicants must demonstrate the need for and the ability to repay the loans. For more information call 943-9185 to speak with Art Tackett or email: atackett@bfcog.us
A 404 acre vineyard development on Red Mountain outside Benton City will aid Washington state school students by providing millions of dollars in tax exempt revenue to schools. There was a celebratory planting of the vineyard Friday, with the Commissioner of Public Lands and the partnership members in attendance. The estimated value of the vineyard will be 10 times that which a forest produces because the havests occur annually. Red Mountian is famous for it’s red wines.