Kennewick Real Estate Blog

Cari and I are still talking about the Home for Christmas concert that took place Sunday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The music was great — terrific musicianship, excellent arrangements, and fabulous singers. Monte Ingersoll has a straight-from-Heaven voice, and the other singers who performed were excellent, too. I told some friends afterward that it was 10,000x better than I expected it to be. The show lasted more than 2.5 hours, with only a 20-minute intermission in the middle.

They’ve done this concert several times before, but usually at local churches. This was the first time in the Windermere Theatre at the Toyota Center, and the 2100 seats were pretty close to sold out. Haven’t heard how much money was raised for charity, but I’m betting it’ll be a nice amount. (You can read more about the local charities who will benefit from the concert at HomeForChristmas.org.)

Our kids loved it, too — it was our daughter’s first concert, and she was clapping and singing along through the songs she knew. We’ll definitely do it again next year. During the show, Monte hinted that they might try to do the show over a couple nights next time.

[where: Toyota Center, 7000 W. Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA 99336]

Like them or not — and apparently a lot of folks are in the “not” category — the new roundabouts just south of the Blue Bridge in Kennewick seem to be doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing: cutting down on the number of traffic incidents.

According to this article, in the first 16 days after the project officially ended, there were only two collisions. In the same 16-day period last year, there were seven.

Small time sample there, but good news nonetheless.

The Kennewick School District is looking for some help in coming up with a name for the new elementary school that will open next year near Badger Canyon. There’s a committee of parents and district staff that’s gathering ideas and will choose three finalists.

Submit your idea via email to Lorraine Cooper at lorraine.cooper@ksd.org, and be sure to explain in a short paragraph or two why you’re recommending the name. You’ve got until December 4 to share your idea(s), and the top three will be announced around December 8th for voting.

Now, I know you’re tempted to suggest Matt McGee Elementary (as am I), but that’s probably not gonna fly. If you read KSD’s school naming policy (PDF), you’ll discover this:

“New district buildings shall be named after persons who have attained national or local prominence in the fields of education, arts and sciences, politics, military achievements and statesmanship, or other notable accomplishments; after past U.S. Presidents or Washington national senators or representatives; after the geographical characteristics of the area in which the facility is located, or after other important events or achievements.”

See? I’ve actually attained national prominence in my field, and international prominence in my hobby, but not in the “fields” listed above. So, I’m out. (sigh) Just go with your second choice and email it by December 4th.

If you don’t watch KEPR-TV news, you may have missed this from Friday’s newscast: Gold’s Gym will be taking over the Hastings facility in Kennewick after the new year. And not only that, but Gold’s also some pretty big plans. Check this out:

Gold’s is moving into the Hastings building in the shopping center off of highway 395. Hastings’ lease ends December 31 and construction on the gym will start soon after. In addition to weights and cardio machines, the floor plan calls for a pool, racquetball court, spin class rooms and a kid zone to name a few amenities.

The plan should also bring between 200 and 300 jobs. Part of that is for gym employees and the other part are for local construction sub-contractors.

Sounds like a nice facility they’re putting in, and Gold’s people say it should be open by June or July.

Downtown for Three, Kennewick’s 3-on-3 basketball tournament, is back and it’s happening this weekend!

The tournament has separate brackets for boys and girls ranging from 1st grade up to high school. There are also men’s and women’s adult-level brackets, and two elite brackets — one of which is for folks 6′ and under. Team entry fees range from $80 to $120.

Team packets can be picked up tomorrow (Friday) from 5-7 pm at Centennial Flag Plaza on the corner of Kennewick Avenue and Benton Street. Team packets not picked up by then will be available Saturday morning at 7 am at the registration tent.

All of this is being organized by the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership. Visit www.downtownforthree.org for more last-minute information.