Joe's Blog

International Fantastic Film Festival - Richland Community Center - This afternoon and evening is the last day to see the Tri-Cities International Fantastic Film Festival. The festival features independent films from around the world. This festival will focus mainly on Fan, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation and Amine film genre. Screening includes films ranging from Star Wars to Lord of the Rings fan films.

The First Thursday Art Walk is a self-guided walking tour/open house in Historic Downtown Kennewick. Several businesses open their doors and feature art and the artists.  There will also be music and entertainment.  Start at Auburn Street and Kennewick Avenue intersection and follow the balloons.

Originally posted at First Thursday Art Walk

"...thankful to be in the Tri Cites as for the most part our homes are either maintaining their value but most often increasing in value..."

I thought this one worthy of reblogging, especially since my wife posted it!  :)

Let’s go on a treasure hunt through Tri Cities Washington, instead of using a map with a ‘X’ on it, how about we use a GPS (global positioning system) to direct us to the treasure. This is precisely what geocaching is all about! For those who have never heard of Geocaching before let me give you an overview of the game. The idea of geocaching is to find hidden containers using a GPS devise. Inside each container, or cache, there will be a logbook, writing utensil, and most of the time some sort of trinket collection.

Geocaching in the Tri Cities is the same as geocaching anywhere, right? Wrong. Geocaching in the Tri Cities is a great thing, every area is unique in terms of Geocaching. The City of Richland has several events centered around Geocaching, one of the events going on right now is the Geocoin Challenge Event. The Geocoin Challenge Event is spread out in 12 different locations, throughout Richland Washington there are geocaches strategically placed. On the lid of each container there will be a code, keep track of each code you find and for each person to visit 10 of the 12 geocaches they will receive a special geocaching coin.

There are 4 types of geocaches:
Traditional – This is the original type of cache, containing only a logbook inside the container.
Multi-Cache – This is a cache with involving 2 or more locations, hints are found at multiple locations to lead the seeker to where the final cache is positioned.
Mystery or Puzzle Catcher – To find this cache the seeker must solve a puzzle first to determine the coordinates of the cache.
Event Cache – This is an event to gather fellow geocachers together, the coordinates leads you to the events location.

Geocaching in 8 easy steps from Groundspeak:
1. Go to the Geocaching website and register for a free account.
2. Click “Hide and Seek a Cache”
3. Enter a postal code or address and click “Search”
4. Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name
5. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your device
6. Use your GPS device to help you find the hidden geocache
7. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location
8. Share your geocaching stories and photos online

For more information visit the Geocaching website or call one of the local parks and recreation departments.

Posted by Joe and Colleen Lane, your Tri Cities Real Estate Agents. Call or email us today! 509.438.9344

Originally posted at, Tri Cities Washington Geocaching: A High-Tech Treasure Hunt

If you have a crafty child then check this out! Sheep’s Clothing, in Kennewick Washington, is offering various Summer Make and Take Classes for kids over the summer. Through the various classes your child will learn the basics of knitting and crocheting, learn how to make jewelry, create knitting or weaving crafts that could make great gifts, as well as a variety of other creative shapes and toys. Most of the classes are taught by Kris Sperling, a few classes will be taught by either Johnabeth Sealy or Marcia MacDonald, owner of Sheep’s Clothing.

God’s Eye Memory Keeper
These crafts are made using two sticks and basic weaving techniques. This would make a great gift from your child to a special family member with a picture of himself or herself tucked in it. The class will take place on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Knitting by Any Means
Kris will teach you a variety ways of knitting and weaving without needles or a loom. You will use your fingers, straws, and imagination to create your own masterpieces. The class will take place on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Bracelets
Kris will teach your child a basic wrap bracelet that any age can make, and a braided one for the older children. The class will take place on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Yarn Dolls and Toys
Make yarn dolls, octopuses, and other animals without any knitting or crouchet needed. The class will take place on Wednesday, July27, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Fork Flowers and Flower Felting Shapes
Did you know you could use a fork to make a flower? Kris will show you how! She will also show you ways to make felted flowers and other felted shapes (baseball, cars, etc.). These flowers would be great to add to your headbands, pin to an outfit, or add to any of your other projects. The class will take place on Wednesday, August 3, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Yarn Sculptures
Did you know you could sculpt yarn? Stop by and let Kris show you what you can do with some glue and yarn. The class will take place on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 from 1:00-2:30pm; the cost is $10 per person, no supplies to buy. Taught by Kris Sperling.

Kids Knit
Kids Knit classes are available for children who are beginning to knit as well as those with some knitting experience. Beginners will learn to cast-on, knit, and bind-off while creating their choices of small projects. More experienced knitters patterns while creating their choice of small projects. These classes are designed for children age 7 and up. Kids Knit Classes are one hour, twice weekly for three weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-2:00pm. The cost is $50 plus supplies. Taught by Marcia MacDonald. Session 1: July 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, and 28 Session 2: August 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and 25

Kids’ Crochet Camps
Johnabeth will teach you how to crouchet during these four day camps. These camps are designed for children age 7 and up. The cost is $50 for the four day camp. The camp will take place July 11-14, 2011 OR August 8-11, 2011 from 10:00-11:00am. Taught by Johnabeth Sealy.

If you are an adult interested in taking some knitting, crocheting or photography classes then check out the list of classes taught at Sheep's Clothing.

For more information about any of the Summer Kids' Activities offered by Sheep's Clothing visit the Sheep's Clothing website or call 509.734.2484.

Posted by Joe and Colleen Lane, your Kennewick Real Estate Agents. Call or email us today! 509.438.9344

Source: Sheep's Clothing

Originally Posted at, Tri Cities Washington Kids Crafts Activities and Events

Recently the Tri Cities Washington has been ranking on several “Top 10” lists, the most recent one is a pretty good list to be on. The projections of a data analysis put out by ProximityOne says that the Tri Cities Washington area is one of the Top 10 Real Estate Boomtowns. By 2020 the Tri Cities is expected to see the second largest increase in population size, a growth of 35.3%. This boomtown status in the Tri Cities is due in part to the fact that the Tri Cities is home to a diverse economy, a draw to many people. The Tri Cities brings in many people because of the industries like agriculture, solar energy, technology companies, and of course Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and the Hanford Project, both federally funded.

Along with being one of the top boomtowns, the Tri Cities has also been listed as one of the top cities for raising a family, starting a second career and just recently one of the top real estate markets to watch in 2011. With projections like these the Tri Cities is a great place to relocate to, or to stay!

Posted by Joe and Colleen Lane, your Tri Cities Real Estate Agents. Call or email us today with your real estate needs! 509.438.9344

Tri Cities WA Real Estate - Updated Hourly:

5th Annual River of Fire Festival in Columbia Park, Kennewick, July 4, 2011.
Enjoy live entertainment on stage beginning at 12pm, while the Kid’s Zone will have five different bounce houses for kids 12 and under. Sample the fabulous food from 22 different vendors. The cost of admission is $7.00 per car load to the greatest fireworks show in Southeastern Washington. The 25th Annual River of Fire Festival, an event of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The largest fireworks display in South Eastern Washington is set to take place on the Columbia River! Don’t miss out on being a part of this wonderful day-long fun family oriented event! Absolutely no alcohol or person fireworks aloud in the park.

Originally posted at River of Fire Festival

Tri Cities Washington The Next 2020 "Boom Town" According To Inman Real Estate News
Recently, Tri Cities Washington Real Estate is among the top 10 places in the United States to experience growth in the next decade. Among the 10 metro areas in the United States, Tri Cities Washington's Kennewick, Richland, (West) and Pasco were number two (#2) on the list of "Top 2020 Real Estate Boom Towns" among potentially thousands of other candidates. Here is the top 10 list from Inman News:

Source: ProximityOne
Originally posted at Tri Cites Washington Next Boom Town 2020

Takeaway: If you want to live in a United States location that rocks, Tri Cities Washington is the place to be!

Looking for Tri Cities Washington things to do.
Consider these upcoming events* starting this weekend...

Riverfront Concert Series: Randy Travis
Columbia Park, Kennewick
Thursday, June 23
7 PM

Riverfront Concerts kicks off its 2011 concert series with country music legend Randy Travis. Columbia Park gives music enthusiasts a one- of-a-kind concert experience. Randy Travis is considered one of the Top 100 country music artists of all time. He's won five Grammys, six Country Music Awards, nine Academy of Country Music Awards, 10 American Music Awards, five Dove Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today, Travis is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and he's considered one of country music's best-selling acts ever. Plus, great local wine and food will be right there in the park.

Hogs & Dogs 2011
Bombing Range Sports Complex, West Richland
Thursday, June 23
4 PM - 11 PM

Hogs & Dogs has become one of the largest motorcycle events in Eastern Washington with over 4,000 motorcycles the last three years!! Enjoy live music in the beer garden, vendors, and of course Hot Dogs!

Cool Desert Nights
Uptown & Various Locations, Richland
Thursday - Saturday, June 23 - 25th
9 AM - 10 PM
Cool Desert Nights, a three-day classic car and street rod event, is open to all vehicle makes and models. Now in its 18th year, Cool Desert Nights features car cruises, street dances, a Show 'n Shine, games & activities, pancake breakfast, judging, awards & more.

Southridge Farmers' Market
Southridge Village, Kennewick
Thursday, June 23
4 PM - 8 PM

Farm fresh fruits and vegetables, quality beef and chicken, eggs, baked breads and cupcakes, nuts, plants and flowers, local artisans and crafts.

Live @ 5 Summer Concert Series
John Dam Plaza, Richland
Thursday, June 23
5 PM - 9 PM

Experience great family entertainment, food, a beer and wine garden, special promotions, give-aways, and appearances by on-air radio personalities. This Thursday listen to music from local band Locust Street Taxi.

Market at the Parkway
Lee Blvd, Richland
Friday, June 24
9 AM - 1 PM

The Market at The Parkway (Richland Farmers' Market) will be open each Friday from now through October 14. Enjoy a huge variety of produce, fruits, nuts, berries, flowers, plants, beef, lamb, specialty foods and wine, crafts, as well as musical entertainment!

Live Music: Dara Quinn Project
Bookwalter Winery, Richland
Friday, June 24
6 PM - 10 PM

Enjoy fine wine, live music, and distinctive culinary fare at Bookwalter Winery. Led by former Seattle keyboard sensation Dara Quinn, this Live Funk Fusion quartet plays a uniquely flavored blend of Jazz, Funk, Rock, Disco, World and you-name-it musical genres. No cover charge.

Live Music: Primitive Circus
Thomas O'Neil Cellars, Richland
Friday, June 24
6 PM

Have a glass of wine while taking in the eclectic sound of pop-rock and classic rock by Primitive Circus. No cover charge.

Live Music: Handful of Luvin'
Tagaris Winery, Richland
Friday & Saturday, June 24 & 25
7 PM

The winery entertains live music enthusiasts outdoors on the popular Tagaris Patio, which has been remodeled with an artfully inspired permanent stage adjacent to the 33ft. basalt fountain. Performing this weekend is Handful of Luvin's "experimental violin with undertones of blues & rock". No cover charge.

Richland Fly-In
Richland Airport, Richland
Saturday, June 25
8 AM - 5 PM

The Richland Fly-In is a community and family friendly aviation exhibition hosted by local aviators and sponsored by the Port of Benton. Bring out the family as they are exhibiting their aircraft and offering free airplane rides for kids till 2 PM!

Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire - 25th Anniversary
Howard Amon Park, Richland
Saturday & Sunday, June 25 & 26
10 AM - 5 PM

There will be Magic & Puppets, Music & Dancing, Shakespearean Play, Jousting & Sword Fighting, Food, and Arts & Crafts.

Smoovies in the Park: Free Outdoor Movie
John Dam Plaza, Richland
Saturday, June 25
7:00 PM

Catch a free movie outdoors Saturday night at John Dam Plaza in Richland where the feature movie will be Megamind. Pre-movie activities begin at 7 PM and include the Columbia River Chordsmen Barbershop Quartet.

Pasco Farmers' Market
Downtown Pasco
Saturday, June 25
8 AM - 1 PM

The Pasco Farmers' Market is one of the largest outdoor community farmers' markets in Washington, selling a wide variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other products. It is also one of the longest running farmers' markets in the state, and has been in operation for over 30 years.

Kitzke Cellars Grand Opening
Dallas Road, Richland
Saturday, June 25
12 PM - 4 PM

Grand opening of Kitzke Cellars will feature the release of their limited production 2008 Nebbiolo and 2008 Sangiovese. Check out the Summer Case Specials and be there for light appetizers on the patio from 2 PM - 4 PM.

Live Music: Dirty River Blues Band
Bookwalter Winery, Richland
Saturday, June 25
6 PM - 10 PM

Enjoy fine wine and distinctive culinary fare at Bookwalter Winery while taking in the sounds of the Dirty River Blues Band. No cover charge.

Live Music: Romagossa Blu
Thomas O'Neil Cellars, Richland
Saturday, June 25
6 PM

Enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the music of the Romagossa Blu. They play their originals and covers of folk-rock, Latin, Reggae, and Blues. No cover charge.

Live Music: The Shades
Ice Harbor Brewery & Pub, Kennewick
Saturday, June 25
7:30 PM

Grab some local brew at Ice Harbor Brewery & Pub in Kennewick. The Shades will perform popular rock from the 50's through today this Saturday night. No cover charge.

2011 Mariachi & More
Columbia Park, Kennewick
Sunday, June 26
11:30 AM - 7 PM

Great Music! Mariachis & local bands, mobile science exhibit, vendor & information booths, healthcare and wellness area, fantastic food & beverages, kids' activity corner, dancing horses, auto showcase, beer garden & more! Parking costs $5 or bring 5 cans of food to be donated to the local food bank.

*Courtesy of the Tri Cities Visitors Bureau.
Visit the Bureau for more events.
Originally posted at Tri Cities Washington Things To Do

My wife and I attended RainCamp Seattle this week and what follows is our notes.  Keep in mind, the notes we took are only the tip of the iceberg, as there was so much to learn, and so much enthusiasm to walk away with.  Enjoy...

Burbank Washington attracts many potential homebuyers for a variety of reasons. Some of the most prominent reasons are the schools, the rural feel without being too far from shopping and some bigger cities, employment, and the easy freeway access. Burbank is home to three schools, Columbia Elementary, Columbia Middle School, and Columbia High School. Homeowners in Burbank Washington love these schools because they are all situated right next to each other and great for families with kids at more than one school. The schools are also fairly small schools.

The rural feel of Burbank Washington also draws many potential homebuyers. Burbank Washington is spread out enough to give a homeowner privacy and lots of possibilities in what to use the land for. An attractive feature of Burbank Washington is the fact that the city has the small rural feel, but a bigger city is not more that 20 minutes away. One of the major freeways in the region runs right through Burbank Washington making traveling the short distance for groceries or other shopping needs that much easier. For the potential homeowner who needs to travel for work having the freeway close by is an added benefit to living in Burbank Washington.

If you are considering a Burbank Washington home, farm, or land purchase, please let us help. We are always available: Colleen, 509.438.9344 or Joe, 509.308.5513 Of course, you can always email us.

Burbank Washington Real Estate Currenlty Available (Updated Hourly):

Tri Cities Washington Real Estate Currenlty Available (Updated Hourly):

Through Wordle you can figure out and post what a site, person, and/or blog is about on any given day.  I chose to simply input "ActiveRain" and the image below is what I received today.  Kinda cool, eh!  Knowing what ActiveRain is all about is cool, but using your own site as the input value might offer invaluable insight to your website visitors.

I discovered a video providing 29 ideas to inspire your blogging creativity.  Not only are the ideas super, but the video is very well done.  My favorite is "Read A Page In The Dictionary!"  Think about it.  By the time you finish reading the page, you will most likely have numerous ideas stimulated by the text.  Enjoy...

Image Credit: Paul Zappia
...and with Paul's express permission!

Russell Ray turned me onto this recently and thought I would pass it along.  If ever you want to know who is subscribing to your blog, simply click the "Statistics" link (lower left side) when in "My Home."  Once viewing the Statistics, click on the "Subscribers."  Yup, that easy!

The Tri Cities Washington area has many distinctive features in which people are drawn to the area by. One reason is the outer lying areas surrounding the Tri Cities Washington. These outer lying, rural areas are great for those who enjoy or have a need for wide open land but like being situated relatively close to the mid-sized metropolitan area of the Tri Cities Washington and all the city has to offer. The rural areas around the Tri Cities are mingled with acres of agricultural land offering it's residents spacious areas in which to live. The Tri Cities Washington also provides those living in the surrounding rural areas with a place to go shopping and participate in recreational activities with people of all ages.

Contact us anytime for more information about local areas!

Good morning everyone on ActiveRain.  I'm hoping you are all attending church this morning.  I've got a video sung by Carrie Underwood at this year's Country Music Awards to share with you.  Most appropriate for those that look on Sunday as the Lord's Day.  Enjoy...

When considering a home purchase in Pasco Washington, there are plenty of education opportunities for both children and adults.

Pasco Washington School District
            1. Amount of schools in Pasco School District: 19 in all, 4 elementary schools, 1 early learning center, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, 1 alternative high/middle school, and one Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) high school.
            2. Facts of Pasco School District: 114 buses, Enrollment was 15,127 (2010), 58 certified teachers, and 2065 district employees: 1103 certified, 962 classified.

Colleges and Private Schools
            1. Colleges: Columbia Basin College and Charter College
            2. Private schools: Tri-City Prep

If you are looking to buy a home in Pasco Washington and desirre a city with many schooling options, then Pasco is the place for you.

Pasco Washington homes for sale at JoeLane.com (updated hourly):

Or, search here for your Pasco Wa Home:

The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Tri Cities Association of REALTORS®. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. © Copyright Real Estate Webmasters 2004-2011, All Rights Reserved.

Richland School District
The Richland School District serves the cities of Richland and West Richland with nine elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools. The District enrolls 11,100 students and has 1,400 employees.  Operating Budget - $100,000,000   Washington State Quality Award - Achievement Level   The schools in the Richland District offer many education options. Richland has plenty of elementary schools such as Badger Mountain Elementary, Jason Lee Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Lewis & Clark Elementary, Marcus Whitman Elementary, Sacajawea Elementary, Tapteal Elementary, White Bluffs Elementary, and William Wiley Elementary. Additionally, there are three middle schools, Carmichael Middle School, Chief Joseph Middle School, and Enterprise Middle School. Also, Richland has many high schools; they consist of Hanford High School, Richland High School, Rivers Edge High School, Tri-Tech Skills Center, Delta High School, and Three River Homelink. So, as you can see, Richland has many opportunities for public schools.

College and University Options
In Richland Washington, the college and university opportunities are great. Washington State University Tri-Cities, Columbia Basin College, and the Tri-Tech Skills Center are the college and university options. In Richland, Washington the educational opportunities are endless.

Richland Washington’s Endless Educational Opportunities
If you are looking to buy a house in Richland Washington, but you want somewhere where the educational opportunities are abundant, Richland would be a great place for you. Richland also has two private schools, Oasis School and Liberty Christian School. Richland is a great place to live that has much schooling.

Richland Washington homes for sale at JoeLane.com (updated hourly):

Or, search here for your Richland Wa Home:

The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Tri Cities Association of REALTORS®. The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. © Copyright Real Estate Webmasters 2004-2011, All Rights Reserved.