West Richland Real Estate Blog

How to Beat the West Richland Heat

Matt McGee — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:56:44 +0000

When the temps go above 100 degrees, like they’ve done the past couple days, it’s easy to beat the heat if you’re a dog who loves sprinklers. Like our dog, Sparky:

As for the rest of us, I’d suggest taking it easy, drinking lots of liquids, and staying inside with the air conditioning on.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

How to Beat the West Richland Heat

Merry Christmas, West Richland!

Photos: Hogs and Dogs 2009

Matt McGee — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:19:29 +0000

Another Hogs and Dogs is in the books, and this one was surely as big a success as any. The McGees are early Hogs & Dogs attendees (as the pictures below will reveal), and it was already pretty darn packed during the 5/6 O’Clock hours when we were there. More crowded than I remember it being last year, so I’m guessing the final numbers will set a new attendance record.

I’ve posted a full set of Hogs and Dogs 2009 photos on Flickr, but I’ll include a few of my favorites below, too.

If you took any photos and posted them online, leave a link in the comments, please!

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

Photos: Hogs and Dogs 2009

Merry Christmas, West Richland!

Hogs & Dogs road closures, parking, etc.

Matt McGee — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:00:38 +0000

Okay, so tomorrow is the big day - Hogs and Dogs 2009 in West Richland! It’s always fun, but it’s also somewhat of a coordination nightmare, and if you’re planning to be traveling in or around the Bird Hill neighborhood tomorrow, here’s what you need to know:

Road Closures

These roads will be closed on Thursday from 2:00 - 10:00 pm:

Holly Way between Bombing Range Rd. and Iris St.
Northlake Dr. at the intersection with Bombing Range Rd.
Victoria Ct. and Sunglow Ct.

Getting to Hogs and Dogs

For the first time, there will be FREE shuttles available with pick-ups and drop-offs at both Wiley Elementary School and Enterprise Middle School. These will run continuously from 4:30 to 10:30 pm.

The only public parking available will be in the back parking lot of the sports complex, accessible from Mt. Adams View Drive.

Motorcyle & Classic Car Owners

Motorcyclists can drive right in at the north end of the sports complex parking lot.

Classic car owners will NOT have access via Bombing Range Rd. Instead, use East Lattin Rd. to Eastlake Dr. to Northlake Dr.

That’s all!

Should be a lot of fun - see you tomorrow!

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

Hogs & Dogs road closures, parking, etc.

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West Nile Virus in West Richland

Matt McGee — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:58:09 +0000

Who needs TV and papers when local news breaks first on Twitter? Earlier this evening the Benton-Franklin Health Dept. announced on Twitter that West Nile Virus has been confirmed in West Richland:

If you pay attention to local news, you probably know that the local mosquito control folks have been unusually active in trying to control mosquito populations around the county already this year. You can check for daily updates on where they’re spraying at MosquitoControl.org. There’s also good prevention information and other WNV stuff on that site.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

West Nile Virus in West Richland

West Nile Virus in West Richland

Building the Perfect Sunset

Matt McGee — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:23:10 +0000

With all due respect to the rest of the Tri-Cities, let it be known that West Richland has the most beautiful sunsets of all.

This is from mid-May, when I got lucky and caught a the sun setting “inside” of this excavator while on a bike ride up here in the Bird Hill neighborhood.

You can click the image to see it on Flickr.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

Building the Perfect Sunset

West Richland Concerts at Flat Top Park

Matt McGee — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:21:41 +0000

The schedule is out for this summer’s “Concerts at the Pavilion” series at Flat Top Park and … it seems a bit sparse to me. Only four concerts? Weren’t there more last year?

Anyhoo, here’s the lineup:

July 3: Mid-Columbia Symphony and Richland Light Opera Co.

July 24: Wylie and the Wild West Band

August 7: Ockam’s Razor

August 21: Bram Brata and OK 2 Botay

The concerts are free and all start at 7 pm. You can buy hot dogs, soda, and ice cream if you get hungry. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket!

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

West Richland Concerts at Flat Top Park

Free Movies at Flat Top Park in West Richland

Hogs & Dogs 2009 in West Richland

Matt McGee — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:24:52 +0000

UPDATE: In addition to the info below, please see this more recent post: Hogs & Dogs road closures, parking, etc.

———-

It’s almost here! The biggest event of the year on any West Richland calendar has to be the annual Hogs & Dogs party at the Bombing Range Sports Complex. This year’s event is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, at 4:00 pm. I’ve seen conflicting reports about when it’ll end — the West Richland Chamber says 10:00 pm, but an information sheet in my most recent city utility bill said 11 pm. Either way, it’ll be fun. And any time you can pack as many people into the sports complex in one night as usually live in the entire city, you’re pretty much guaranteed lots of fun stuff.

Tickets are already being sold for this year’s raffle. The winner will get a Harley Davidson XR1200 (much like the one shown here, though it may be slightly different). Raffle tix are $15 a pop and you can get them at Yoke’s grocery store or the Chamber’s office.

As always, Hogs & Dogs will involve lots of sweet motorcycles on display, not to mention good food, live music, and more. One thing to know, however: There will be no “kid zone” at this year’s Hogs & Dogs. Seems too many parents used that as an opportunity to drop off their kids and go have fun without them. Tsk-tsk.

Here’s a fun fact: Last year, riders from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, California, and Canada showed up at Hogs & Dogs.

Entrance is free, as always, you pay for food if you’re hungry and that’s about it. See you on the 25th!

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

Hogs & Dogs 2009 in West Richland

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What’s that nasty smell?

Matt McGee — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:19:54 +0000

I don’t know if this is just a Bird Hill neighborhood thing or if it’s happening all over the city, but maybe you’ve been driving around and were suddenly hit with an olfactory foul. Or maybe you were sitting at home and smelled something funny creeping in the open windows.

These guys are responsible:

That’s a crew doing road work in front of my house today. They’re installing crack sealant on several roads up here on Bird Hill. And let me tell you … the smell is nasty. Oh, the price we pay for better roads.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

What’s that nasty smell?

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Wiley Elementary Turns 10!

Cari McGee — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:23:06 +0000

Wiley Elementary was just being built when Matt and I moved to West Richland in ‘98. It opened its doors in the fall of 1999.

A big celebration is scheduled for the 28th of May at the school to celebrate its 10th school year. All anyone really needs to know is that there will be cake available. ‘Nuff said!

Actually, a large portion of the event will be honoring the moms and dads who have volunteered their time, effort and money in order to “help make Wiley a great place to learn”, as the code of conduct of the school states.

Drop by if you get a chance. The festivities start at 4pm.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

Wiley Elementary Turns 10!

William Wiley Elementary School - 2008 Open House

We’re Big Time: West Richland is on Google Streetview

Matt McGee — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:22:34 +0000

It finally happened: Google Streetview has added at least some of West Richland to its collection of “street view” images on Google Maps. I was messing with Google Maps tonight and found these images running along Van Giesen St.

and here’s a different angle –

(you can click each image to see a full-size version)

Not familiar with Google Streetview? Google sends a car around with a camera mounted to the top, and it’s constantly taking photos as the car drives around a town. Google ends up with street-level photos that are added to Google Maps to add a visual representation of the towns on the map.

Right now, I can only seem to get Streetview photos to show up along Van Giesen St. I assume the car hit other parts of West Richland, too, but those photos may not have been added into the system just yet.

See For Yourself!

To see this in action, click on this link, which will show directions from Van Giesen to Sahara Pizza on Bombing Range Rd. Look in the left column where the directions are listed, and click the little camera icon.

I think it’s pretty cool — West Richland is hitting the big time.

This is a post from the West Richland Real Estate Blog by Cari and Matt McGee.

We’re Big Time: West Richland is on Google Streetview

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