The Mid-Columbia Library and City of Pasco will open the doors of the newlyremodeled Pasco branch near the end of this month.In a nod to demographic and techno-logical changes in the 46 years since the

library was rst opened, space will be

rearranged to make room for 34 public

internet-access computers, an open-access wi- hotspot and larger collections

of Spanish-language material.

According to MCL Director Danielle Krol,

“...we are also expanding space and com-puters in the children’sarea to give our custom-

ers what they want, and to

achieve our number one Strategic Plangoal of providing young children with theresources and opportunities they need tostart school ready to learn.”

Michael Huff, MCL Collections andMerchandising Director, says, “...customerswill see all types of new materials, with

particular increases in our picture and

board book collections, Spanish materials,and media, such as DVDs, Playaways,

and books on CD. Downloadablebookswill alsobe a newfeatureavailable tocustomersin March.”The facil-ity was lastupgradedin 1999.Last yearthe Pascobranch had just over ahalf-millionpatronvisits andnearly a quarter-millionitems circulated.

The library will receive new paint, furni

ture, interior design and artwork by local

artists. The entryway foyer and meetingroom will also be remodeled. The librarywill have added self-check-out terminalsto improve customer convenience and

privacy. As part of the project, the libraryhas already received new energy-efcient

windows.The Pasco Library is a joint effort be-

tween the City, which owns the facility,and the Mid-Columbia Library System,

which provides library services oncontract.The Library’s upgrade project is a joint

effort too. The City provided $150,000toward the project, the Mid-ColumbiaLibrary kicked in another $70,000.$125,000 more came through the

library from the estate of Shirley Stroh.

The architectural rm of Arculus did the

project design and G2 Construction isthe contractor.For more information on the grandreopening of the Pasco branch of the

Mid-Columbia Library, please visit

www.midcolumbialibraries.org.

MARCH 2009

PASCO LIBRARY

Upgrades and Updates

Is your goal to survive 2009? Or are youaiming to thrive?

If times are tough, don't just hunker inyour ofce bunker. Get out there and

try something new!

Join a service club, attend a networkingevent, have coffee with someone you

could partner with in your business.Work on your speaking at Toastmasters.

Visit Bruce Davis at the Small Business

Development Center. Join Facebook or Twitter to add a littlesocial media into your networking mix.Start a blog or revamp your website. Ask

your satised clients for referrals. Have

lunch with someone in your industrythat you respect. Get some new ideasand develop a plan to succeed.Sometimes we have to step out of ourcomfort zone to recognize the opportu-nities around us.

When I was 19, I started a used car

dealership and detail shop. Peoplethought I was crazy. (I probably was!) I

decided I wasn't going to let my age be

the obstacle to stop me in this venture.It turned out to be a success—and agreat learning opportunity.

Whatever roadblock you're facing,

wrestle it to the ground with both arms.

Climb out of the rut, chip away at some

new ideas and make 2009 your mostsuccessful year yet!

Ryan Brault, President

Pasco Chamber of Commerce

Members wishing to contribute to this column can email news to info@pascochamber.org

WORTH MENTIONING

DON’T JUST SIT THERE...DO SOMETHING!

Ryan

Vic’s MensWear

hasopened at

Broadmoor.

Owned by

Victor and Monica Aruwah

, the store

carries fashions by Stacy Adams andAlberto Celini.

Edward Jones

was ranked 2nd by

Fortune

magazine in its “100 Best

Companies to WorkFor” list. Edward Joneswas number one for acompany of its size.

Walt Smith

has joined

Fat Boys Fleet Services

as Chief Financial

Ofcer.

The new Chapel at

Lourdes MedicalCenter

is complete.

John Rose, ARNP-CNM

, is providingOB/Gyn services, uro

-dynamic testing andcervical screenings at

Pasco Primary Care

on Sandifur Boulevard.

Chuck Stewart

hasbeen named ProjectManager for

EberlineServices’

contract atHanford.

BobGear

isthe new Fire Chief forthe

City of Pasco

Kathy Blasdel

wasappointed to a threeyear term on the

United StatesPotato Board.

Rose

THE CREDITUNION SOLUTION

With all the troubling nancialnews, have you wondered about

credit unions? “Prudent lendingand management has kept creditunions on safe footing despite

the recent economic downturn,”states Christina Brown, President

and CEO of Gesa Credit Union.Credit unions are portfolio lend-ers and member-owned coop-

eratives, so asset quality remainsvery high, and rst mortgage

delinquencies low. Credit unioncapital averages 11.5 percent

of total assets, and the National

Credit Union Share InsuranceFund has operated with anequity-to-insured share ratioof at least 1.24 percent for 16consecutive years. The moneyloaned to members is an invest-

ment of the members’ money, so

lending is made very carefully.Sound lending practices allowcredit unions to offer highlycompetitive loan and depositrates. If you’re tired of bad bank-

ing news, a credit union is where

you belong.

Christina C. Brown

President and CEO,

Gesa Credit Union

Stewart

CARL L. LETH

MID-COLUMBIA SYMPHONYNEFF RANCHSIMPLOT GROWER SOLUTIONSTRI-CITY UNION GOSPEL MISSION

Renewing Members

CH2M-HILL

KEYBANK COMMERCIAL BANKINGHAGGERTY INSURANCE ASSOC., INC.MCCURLEY INTEGRITY DEALERSHIP

PITA PIT

new Members

Vic’s Mens Wear

(Advertisement)

SmithGear

AROUND TOWN

Events | Activi ties | Fun things to do

Members wishing to contribute to this column can e-mail news to info@pascochamber.org

Chancellor’s Art Exhibit

goes through

March at WSU Tri-Cities East Building

administration corridor in Richland.

CBC Faculty Art Exhibit

is March 2-6

and 9-12 at CBC’s Esvelt Gallery.

Recycled Materials, Objects & Ob-servations Exhibit

runs during Marchat the Allied Arts Gallery in Richland.

American Red Cross Real HeroesBreakfast

will be March 5th, 6:30

at TRAC.

The Glass Menagerie

is being per-

formed March 5th-7th at 7:30

and March 8th at 2:00

at the CBC

Theatre.

CBC Winter Instrumental Concert

March 10th, 7:30

at CBC Theatre.

Taking a Bite Out of Hunger

foodand beverage tasting and auction to

benet

Second Harvest

, March 11th,6:00

at the Three Rivers Conven-tion Center.

Tri-City Antique Show and Sale

willbe March 13th-15th at TRAC.Richland Light Opera Company’sproduction of

Sweet Charity

is March

13th-14th and 21st-22nd, 8:00

atHanford High School Auditorium.St. Patrick’s School presents the

2009 Irish Games

, March 20th-21st

at TRAC.Academy of Children’s Theatre presents

Footloose,

on March 27th-29th

at the

CBC Theatre.

Spring Arts & Crafts Show

will beMarch 27th-29th at TRAC.Richland Players presents

Death Trap

on March 27th-29th,

at 608 The Park-

way, Richland.

PASCO BUSINESSES EXPAND

Dental West’s new building on Road 100.Haggerty Insuranceopens branch in Pasco.Pasco Chamber celebrates Viera’sBakery’s second location on Burden Blvd.Lourdes Medical Clinic nears completion.Broadmoor Storage Solutions expands.Chiawana High School will open in August.Discount Tires under construction on Road 68.GESA opens branch on Road 68.