Nutcracker Dances Its Way Into Family Holiday Traditions
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December 2015 Commercial kitchen Volume 3 • Issue 12 and café on the way for Meals on Wheels By Mary Coffman It was an exciting and long-awaited day when Senior Life Resources broke ground on a new 6,000-sq.-ft. commer- cial kitchen and café for Meals on Wheels. Toppenish Train Senior Life Resources, which operates Museum is a special Meals on Wheels in the Mid-Columbia, holiday stop bought the 2.2-acre site at 1824 Fowler St. in Richland in 2012. At some time in the future, the lot will have three 6,100-sq.-ft. buildings: the Meals on Wheels commercial kitchen and The Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet’s annual Nutcracker performance is café, a Senior Life Resources administra- comprised of more than 150 dancers. Pictured above is a scene from the tive building, and an administrative office 2014 Nutcracker production at the Richland High School Auditorium. Contributed photo. for SSR’s Home Care Services supervi- sors. Right now, SLR is starting construction Nutcracker dances its way into Crosby performs on two of the buildings — the Meals on Celtic Christmas Wheels kitchen and café and the SLR administrative building. family holiday traditions Marcee Woffinden, the Meals on By Jessica Hoefer for Senior Times Rogo runs the Tri-Cities Academy of Wheels director, is especially excited The Nutcracker is as synonymous Ballet, while his wife, Debra, is the about the new kitchen and café. with the holidays as gingerbread cookies artistic director of the Mid-Columbia “We prepare about 160,000 meals each and pumpkin spice mochas. For many Ballet—the nonprofit arm that produces year and we have outgrown the kitchens families, attending a holiday performance the Nutcracker each year. Both that we have leased and borrowed for is as significant as putting up the organizations operate out of the same years,” Woffinden said. Christmas tree. building at 21 Aaron Drive in Richland. And with the Baby Boomer generation “The Nutcracker is unique unto itself While the Tri-Cities Academy of West Richland moving into their senior years, demand is because it doesn’t really attract a ballet Ballet offers private dance instruction, woman creates expected to double over the next 20 years, audience,” said Joel Rogo, co-owner of the Mid-Columbia Ballet is comprised of cross-stitch patterns she added. the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet. “It’s a about 60 amateur ballet dancers, Initially, the plans were to build one holiday audience — and the Nutcracker separated into senior, intermediate and Don’t miss it large building on the site, but the costs has become part of the holiday season junior companies. around the country.” The annual Nutcracker production is Friday, Dec. 4 & were much higher than anticipated, so The first national Nutcracker the Mid-Columbia Ballet’s main Saturday, Dec. 5 that idea was scrapped. Leaders began re- thinking the project and decided to devel- performance took place at the San fundraiser and is projected to bring in 7:30 p.m. op the property using a campus approach Francisco Ballet in 1944, said Rogo. It $118,000 this season. That money is Mid-Columbia — building three small buildings, each quickly went nationwide, dancing its used to pay for various dance activities Mastersingers with a specific purpose. way into the Tri-Cities about forty years and expenses. Holiday Concert Construction of the new kitchen and ago. uNUTCRACKER, Page 14 Central United café will cost about $975,000, and Protestant through fundraising efforts, Meals on Ben Franklin Transit offers many Church, Richland Wheels has that portion covered. uMEALS, Page 8 options for those who can’t drive By Loretto J. Hulse there’s also help for learning to navigate We all like our independence and free- the system, “Travel Training,” courtesy dom to come and go when and where we of Ben Franklin Transit. want. So when it comes time to hang up “We have a fairly robust and free the car keys for good because of failing travel training system,” said Christy health or to save money, questions are Watts of Ben Franklin Transit. going to race through your mind. The company has three trainers; two How will I get to the grocery store, the speak Spanish as well as English. They dentist or get my dog to the vet? help transit customers map out routes to The answers are driving Tri-Cities’ where they need to go, learn which buses ccupant O CURRENT TO DELIVER PLEASE PERMIT NO. 8778 NO. PERMIT streets right now — Ben Franklin Transit to catch and how to read the schedules. , WA , O C AS P U.S. POSTAGE PAID PAID POSTAGE U.S. buses and vans. Then they will even ride with you until 99336 WA Kennewick, STANDARD STANDARD 8919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1 Ste. Blvd., Grandridge W. 8919 For anyone who’s never used mass you’re comfortable using the transit sys- PRESORTED PRESORTED Senior Times Senior transit, or if it’s been a few decades, tem, Watts said. uTRANSIT, Page 2 2 Senior Times • December 2015 TRANSIT, From page 1 all the taxis are equipped to handle 6:30 p.m. and goes until 1:30 a.m., “Riding the buses can be intimi- wheelchairs. Monday-Saturday. dating for someone who’s never Watts said some of the larger elec- “It’s for people who have medical done it before,” she said. tric scooters pose problems for the appointments at night, maybe for (509) 737-8778 Ben Franklin Transit offers sev- buses too. dialysis, who work nights or even (509) 737-8448 fax eral options for getting around town. “They’re simply too big and some just want to go out to the movies,” 8919 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. A1 Kennewick, WA 99336 There are the big buses that travel of the larger strollers don’t fit Watts said. “This would be a shared srtimes.com fixed-routes. Depending on where either,” Watts said, explaining that ride, the taxi would pick up several you live, you can ride one or more to for safety nothing can block the cen- people and drop them off at different get to your destination. ter aisle. places.” STAFF The buses run from 6 a.m. to 6 If that’s the case Dial-A-Ride To book a taxi, call Tri-City Taxi Mary Coffman p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 vans are the solution. after 2 p.m. at 545-0684. Managing Editor/Reporter p.m. on Saturday. “Dial-A-Ride is for everyone with “It’s best to call earlier, rather (509) 737-8778 ext. 102 No bus stop nearby? Opt for the a disability, there’s no age limit than later. That way you’re more [email protected] transit’s shuttle though people think likely to get a ride at the time you Shawna Dinh service, called taxi they’re just for the request,” she said. Ad Design/Production feeder. Call 545- elderly. With Dial- Tri-City Taxi/Ben Franklin Transit (509) 737-8778 ext. 100 “Riding the buses [email protected] 0684 at least 30 can be intimidating for A-Ride, it’s all also offer this service on Sundays minutes before you about the disabili- but only from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mike Haugen someone who’s never Advertising Director need to arrive then ty,” she said. Fares range from 75 cents to $3, (509) 737-8778 ext. 103 walk to the pick up done it before.” To use the ser- depending on the service used. [email protected] point. vice, you’ll need to Seniors 65 years of age and older Melanie Hoefer “Unlike hiring a - Christy Watts, fill out an applica- can ride free on any of the fixed- General Manager regular taxi this is Ben Franklin Transit tion and answer a route buses. You’ll need to get a (509) 737-8778 ext. 105 not a curb-to-curb few medical ques- special ID card from the transit com- [email protected] service. Instead we tions. The form is pany at either the Three Rivers Loretto J. Hulse Reporter have pick up points available on the Transit Center or by calling Ben (509) 737-8778 ext. 101 scattered around transit system’s Franklin Transit’s customer service [email protected] the cities. The taxi will deliver you, website, www.bft.org. You can also department, 735-5100. Britta Thompson and perhaps several other transit find it and fill it out at the Three Full information on fares, routes Advertising Account Manager customers, to the nearest bus stop Rivers Transit Center, 7109 W. and other information is on the tran- (509) 737-8778 ext. 104 where you’ll continue your trip,” Okanogan Place, Kennewick, or call sit company’s website, www.bft.org. [email protected] Watts said. 735-0160 and then 3, to request a With the exception of the taxies You will pay the taxi driver a fare form be mailed to you. space is limited. depending upon the distance of your “Some people use Dial-A-Ride all “Riders are welcome to carry on CONTRIBUTORS trip. Also you’ll need to pay the the time, others just occasionally their groceries, but only what they regular bus fare when you board the like when it’s snowy or severely hot can carry themselves. Our bus driv- Jessica Hoefer.................................. 1 bus. or cold. For some, the fixed-route ers don’t have time to get out and Dori O’Neal...........................6, 7, 15 Elsie Puig........................................ 3 “The drawback to the fixed-route buses are more convenient because help with packages,” Watts said.