Tri Cities Real Estate News & Views

AWC join the REALTORS® in their concern that the lack of affordable housing is a barrier to our quality of life. Because “housing was a major topic in the 2007 session” (and “likely to be addressed by the Legislature over the next few years”), AWC will conduct a workshop at their Annual Conference this week to provide input into housing policy needs for the 2008 legislative session and glean ideas for enhancing affordability at the local level. REALTORS® will serve on the panel of speakers with Representative Larry Springer (45th District), and representatives from Futurewise and the Cascade Land Conservancy.

The Tri-City Dust Devils are pleased to announce the addition of Mike Boyle as the new Voice of the Dust Devils for the 2007 season.  Boyle comes to the Dust Devils from Spokane, where he is a sports anchor and reporter for KREM TV and covers prep sports for the Spokesman-Review.  He has also served as the radio voice for the Spokane Chiefs hockey team since 2002. “It’s an absolute thrill to be calling Dust Devils games this summer,” says Boyle.  “Calling baseball full-time is a dream come true.” All 76 Dust Devils games will be broadcast on ESPN 960 (formerly KJOX).  Games can also be heard live at www.dustdevilsbaseball.com.

Former Dust Devils radio broadcaster Tom Barket has accepted the position of Sports Director for ESPN 1280 in San Luis Obispo, where he will be the radio voice for the Cal Poly baseball, men’s basketball, and football teams.“My family and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Tri-Cities, and we’re going to miss it a ton” says Barket. The Dust Devils open the 2007 season at Vancouver on June 19th before returning to the Tri-Cities for the home opener versus Everett on the 24th.  Opening Night festivities include a magnet schedule giveaway courtesy of Gesa Credit Union and post-game fireworks presented by Connell Oil.  Individual game tickets for Opening Night and the rest of the season are on sale now and can be ordered by phone, online at www.dustdevilsbaseball.com, at the stadium box office, and at all TicketsWest locations. Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets are also on sale at the box office, by phone, and online. 

Within each home there are private, service and communal living spaces. Use some drawing paper to map out a flowchart that interconnects rooms that are related in these rooms when considering a home purchase. The kitchen and dining area are often near each other as they both function to provide sustenance. However, people tend to keep bedrooms away form service areas due to their tendency to have higher noise levels. Who wants a bedroom next to a pool area?

On your diagram list the activities that you and your family engage in regularly. This will give you an idea of the ambiance to give to your home that will reflect your lifestyle and values; for example, vibrant and open or secluded and peaceful. Now for each room in your flowchart repeat the process to determine the best atmosphere that reflects that space in relation to your family’s needs and values.

It is important that the diagram and suggestions be inclusive of all family members in order for it to “fit”. Be as creative as you like and then edit back, some of those whacky-off-the-wall ideas can lead to inspiring innovations that can become a distinctive feature for your family home. Remember, this is your home – enjoy making it so.

CREHST Museum is partnering with Columbia Kayak Adventures to offer the chance of a lifetime. Join us for a full day guided kayak tour of the Hanford Reach.

Enjoy the serene beauty of the Hanford Reach, the last free flowing stretch of the Columbia River. Witness the 300-foot tall white bluffs surrounded by shrub-steppe habitat. Learn the history of our Native Americans and pioneers and how the Hanford Nuclear Reservation changed their lives, and the world, forever.

No prior experience is needed and all equipment will be provided. Pre-registration is required. | Date: Saturday June11th, 2007 | Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm | Location: Hanford Reach, meeting place TBA | Fee: $109.00 per person | For more information, call 943-9000

During April’s Mid-Columbia Earth Month and Community Clean-up, 1,750 volunteers and 66 teams completed a total of 156 beautification projects. 107 projects in Richland, (71 were storm drains that were stenciled with information regarding the importance of keeping our storm drains clean.) 20 in Kennewick, 9 in Connell, 8 in Benton City, 5 in Pasco, 2 in West Richland, 2 in Finley, 1 in Benton County, 1 in Kahlotus and 1 in Prosser. The public was invited to attend 60 earth related activities and 421 cell phones were collected at area libraries and given to Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin counties.

The winner of Tapteal Greenway’s Conservationist of the Year was Andy Plymale. Andy has been a long-time volunteer for Tapteal Greenway and a highly successful fundraiser. Reuse-A-Shoe contest brought in 540 pairs of used athletic shoes from 13 area schools with Badger Mountain Elementary receiving first place with 155 pairs. The winner of the Aluminum Can Contest was Marcus Whitman Elementary School who collected 400 pounds of cans. A total of 715 pounds of aluminum were recycled during the school contest.

In March, Sharefest Organizers completed 121 yard projects, previously done by Earth Month volunteers.

A more detailed report is available on http://www.earthmonthmc.org/ and a slideshow will be complete in mid-June. Gail Everett, Environmental Education Coordinator, Public Information Office - City of Richland

Tri-City Dust Devils individual game tickets will be going on sale Friday, June 1st, at 9 a.m.  Tickets can be purchased at the stadium box office, by phone at (509) 544-8789, online at http://www.dustdevilsbaseball.com/, or at any TicketsWest outlet.  TicketsWest outlets in the Tri-Cities can be found at the Red Lion Hotels in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland.

Opening Night at Dust Devils Stadium will be June 24th at 7:15 versus the Seattle Mariners-affiliate Everett AquaSox. The festivities will include a magnet schedule giveaway courtesy of Gesa Credit Union and a post-game fireworks show presented by Connell Oil.  A large crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. 

Opening Night will also feature the debut of the $1.3 million sun shade, which will put every seat in the shade at game time and reduce temperatures by up to 20 degrees.

In addition, through advance ticket package sales, lower box seats are sold out for the 18 nights that are included in Dust Devils mini plans, such as Opening Night and the six other Fireworks Nights.  With fewer seats available to walkup fans, purchasing tickets prior to the day of the game will be even more important in 2007.

“With the new sun shade and record crowds, we are looking forward to another fun and exciting summer of Dust Devils Baseball,” says President/General Manager Brent Miles.  “The 2007 season will indeed be ‘Cooler than Ever!’”

Ticket prices remain unchanged from 2006 and are as follows: $9 for lower box, $6 for upper reserved, and $5 for general admission.  Also, general admission tickets for seniors, children 12 and under, and military are $4.

The Dust Devils open the 2007 season at Vancouver on June 19th before returning home on the 24th.  Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets are still on sale at the box office, by phone, and online.  Plans start at just $30.

2007 Dust Devils Baseball…”Cooler than Ever!”