Learn How to Maximize Your Social Security Benefits Are you taking full advantage of your Social Security Benefits? If you’re between the ages of 58 and 67, you’re invited to attend a public workshop that will teach you how to maximize the benefits you get from your social security.

Things You’ll Learn from the Workshop
This educational public workshop will be held at the Richland Public Library on February 14, 2014 from 2:30 to 4:00PM. This workshop will help you:

  • Learn how to increase your retirement income
  • Learn how to calculate your social security benefits
  • Decide on the best time to apply for benefits
  • Learn how to coordinate benefits with your spouse (for married individuals)
  • Learn other opportunities to increase your benefits

You may be deserving of more than what you are…

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Tri Cities Cancer Center Book Reading – Leading a Charmed LifeCancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. In Washington alone, an estimated 37,290 new cancer cases was projected last year. This figure goes to show how big a problem cancer is.

It’s a good thing that certain types of cancer can be treated. However, not many people know what to do or how they should react when diagnosed with the dreaded disease.

Book Reading for Cancer Awareness
So if you know someone, a friend or a member of the family, who has been diagnosed with cancer, invite them to join you on February 10, 2014 at the Tri Cities Cancer Center from 12 noon to 1PM for a book reading session entitled “Leading a Charmed Life” – My Journey through Cancer Treatment.

She’s a Survivor
Gayle Bittinger, a local author, will…

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Carbon Nation – A Documentary Film about Climate ChangeClimate change is defined as “the change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards, attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.”

Effects of Climate Change
This change has led to the emergence of large-scale environmental hazards that affect human health. Extreme weather conditions (think Hurricanes Sandy, Katrina, and Typhoon Haiyan), the continuous weakening or depletion of the ozone layer, the loss of biodiversity, stresses to food-producing systems, and even the spread of infectious diseases all over the world are all effects of climate change.

Climate change is such a wide scale problem. Even if there are people who doubt the severity of the…

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Carbon Nation – A Documentary Film about Climate ChangeAre you looking for a fun activity to jumpstart your Valentine’s Day celebration? Then head out to Historic Downtown Kennewick for “Discover the Charms” on February 6, 7, and 8, from 11AM to 6PM.

Charms at the Downtown
Spend a few hours strolling through downtown Kennewick and visiting different businesses that are directly involved in the event. You just might be eligible to win gift certificates to downtown stores of your choice or take part in other draws for a chance to win amazing prizes.

The event kicks off at the lobby of the Downtown Kennewick Business Center. Entrance fee is $5.00, but you will receive a lovely charm bracelet along with a map of participating businesses. You could try collecting all 25 free charms from participating…

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Sigh of Relief from Mid-Columbia Farmers with Passing of the Farm BillFinally, after years of setbacks, the House has passed an almost $100-billion a year compromise farm bill. The passing of the bill is not without challenges, as it met strong opposition from conservatives who were seeking a bigger cut on food stamps.

What Is the Five-Year Farm Bill?
The five-year bill, which preserves generous crop subsidies, is on its way to the Senate where it is sure to be approved. The White House has already given word that President Obama would sign it. With the backing of a strong Republican leadership team, the House approved the bill, 251-166.

Possible Repercussions
If the bill weren’t passed, it would have affected the agricultural industry, as bared by Pat Sullivan of Pasco, an orchardist and member of the Northwest Fruit…

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Winter Birds at McNary National Wildlife RefugeOn Saturday, February 8, the Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges will host the 3rd annual Winter Birds event at McNary National Wildlife Refuge from 9AM to 12 noon.

Birds Aplenty
Get a chance to discover the abundance of ducks, swans, geese, and other birds of the Mid-Columbia. Various activities are in store for those who will come, including guided bird walks, owl pellet dissection, and a bird banding demonstration. Blue Mountain Wildlife of Pendleton will do a live birds-of-prey presentation, videographer Gaylord Mink will share his wonderful wildlife films, and Ivar Husa of the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society will present bird identification.

Friends of the Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges Annual Meeting
After these…

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Academy of Children’s Theatre Presents Heart for the ArtsThe Academy of Children’s Theatre or ACT will be holding a major fundraising event on February 8, 2014 at Red Lion Hotel Columbia Center in Kennewick, Wa. The highlight of the evening would be a tribute to Porky Thomsen.

Who Is Porky Thomsen?
Ralph “Porky” Thomsen is a farmer, spokesperson for Toyota, businessman, actor, and philanthropist. He’s described as a fun, wild, and crazy guy who wears many hats. However, it’s for his philanthropic activities that he is being honored with this year’s Heart for the Arts award.

Heart for the Arts
The Academy of Children’s Theatre gives the Heart for the Arts award yearly in honor of local people who have performed above and beyond to support the arts. Aside from the awarding ceremony, there will be…

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Mid-Columbia Mastersingers Concert – Unterseher and GesualdoOn February 21 at 7:30PM and February 22 at 3:00PM, the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers will present the third in their Perfect Pairing Concert Series.

Perfect Pairing #3
On both days, the work of Tri Cities’ composer, Reginald Unterseher, will be presented, along with a weeklong guest artist residency and an exciting new commission. Some top local singers will be featured in small group performances highlighting Unterseher’s music as it is paired with the works of innovative Rennaisance composer Carlo Gesualdo. There will also be a 30-minute “Behind the Music” talk before each concert.

Save the Date
The concert will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on 520 S. Garfield St. Kennewick, Wa. Advance-purchase single tickets are available for $20 while…

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LIGO Hanford Observatory Public Tours for All AgesAre you a lover of astronomy? Then a trip to the LIGO Hanford Observatory should be included in your list of to-dos.

LIGO Hanford Observatory
LIGO is the acronym for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, which aims to observe gravitational waves of cosmic origin. As the LIGO website states, “LIGO searches for gravitational waves created in the supernova collapse of stellar cores to form neutron stars or black holes, the collisions and coalescences of neutron stars or black holes, the wobbly rotation of neutron stars with deformed crusts and the remnants of gravitational radiation created by the birth of the universe”.

Tour Schedules
They offer public tours every second Saturday and fourth Friday of each month, and for February, the…

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Double Feature at the CBC’s Bechtel National PlanetariumIf you’re looking for an exciting and educational adventure that you and your whole family can enjoy, then head on out to Bechtel National Planetarium at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave. Pasco, Wa., on any of these dates and times: February 7-28 (Fridays only) at 7 and 8PM, and February 8-22 (Saturdays only) at 2 and 3PM.

Bechtel National Planetarium Shows
The planetarium at CBC offers life-like, high-definition images and sound using the most state-of-the-art projection system in the entire Pacific Northwest. You won’t need 3D glasses to enjoy the 36-foot panoramic viewing dome that can simulate a 3D effect.

Young children are unlikely to get bored, since a typical hour-long show normally includes a live presentation that lasts for 20-30…

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