By Adam Smith

YAKIMA VALLEY - Wineries throughout the Yakima Valley previewed their future vintages beginning Saturday and continuing through Monday April 30th at the annual Spring Barrel Tasting. It is the biggest day of the year for many of the vintners from the upper Yakima Valley to Prosser.

An estimated 4,000 patrons will have circulated the area by the end of the three day event, sampling wines that are just coming of age for bottling and production, learning something of the art of winemaking, and perhaps most importantly for local vineyard interests, stocking up their supplies for the year, buying cases of their favorite varietals, and, hopefully, trying some new ones.

It is easily the busiest day of the year for these smaller wineries that introduce their future stocks at Spring Barrel Tasting, and sell their vintages from the last few years.

Imperial's Garden is Open for business and will soon be serving over 1,000 customers each weekend. Photo by Adam Smith

By Adam Smith
WAPATO - Although only a fraction of this year’s asparagus crop has been picked, Imperial’s Garden, located 5 miles south of Highway 97 on Lateral A is now open for this year’s season.

Considering recent consumer demands for large grocery chains such as Safeway and Albertsons to stock more local vegetables, instead of shipping in produce from out of state, even during growing season, that’s good news. The tough part is that competition might likely drive up prices.

By Adam Smith  
TOPPENISH - Round 3 Boxing Club of Toppenish meets up every day during after school hours at Parks and Recreation and has several dedicated young athletes, some working hard to get to their first bout. It’s certainly nothing to hurry into without solid preparation.

Hiram Cantu who works as an investigator for Child Protective Services and coaches the boys and girls in the club quickly points out, “This program we have going here is a really good after school opportunity for kids to just get off the streets and have a place to go. We have 12-15 kids that show up and work out every day. They’re getting in really great shape.”

There is more to it though. Cantu points out that boxing involves skills that kids can use frequently in their lives, of both solid preparation and dedication.

In fact he cites the philosophy of the late Bruce Lee who took the approach that, “A match is really supposed to be a natural event that you take in stride, like everyday life,” the coach propounds. “And,” he adds, “you need to always, always be ready.”

By Kathy Miller

     Thanks to the 2010 tax-relief legislation, the rules for estate planning are very favorable in 2012.
This two-year window of opportunity provides the incentive to act now.

   Lifetime gifts can be a simple, effective way to transfer your wealth to other individuals – provided you know the tax rules. Here’s a brief overview of three opportunities you may want to consider that allow you to make transfers without any estate or gift taxes.

    Annual exclusion gifts. Did you know you can give up to $13,000 per year to as many people as you like? And you can gift to anyone, not just family members. If you are married, you and your spouse can give $26,000 per beneficiary per year.

     Annual exclusion gifts are attractive because they’re simple – no tax reporting is required. They reduce your taxable estate (potentially saving a 35% tax), and there are no lifetime limits, as long asyou stay within the annual limits. Gifts to individuals are not taxable income to the beneficiary and do not create any income tax deduction for you.

Pictured from left to right, Quincy Store Manager Luis Chavez, Grandview Store Manager Dario Chacon and Pricing Coordinator Thelma Romero.  Photo by Elena Olmstead

By Elena Olmstead
GRANDVIEW - When David Weber and Phil Blackburn bought the grocery store just off of the main drag in Grandview last June they knew what they needed to do.

They needed to find a focus to bring customers back to the store and make employees proud to work there.
And over the past 12 months they’ve done that.

Patrick Waber, MD

YAKIMA - Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital is proud to announce that Patrick Waber, MD, has been named Physician of the Year by the Home Care Association of Washington (HCAW).  Dr. Waber is the Hospice Medical Director for Memorial and a family practice physician with Apple Valley Family Medicine in Yakima.  The staff at Memorial Home Care Services nominated Dr. Waber for this prestigious award.

“Hospice is a team approach and this award recognizes the efforts of the entire team at Memorial,” says Dr. Waber.  “It encompasses the physical, spiritual and psychosocial aspect of care which is why I am dedicated to being a part of this in our community. “

SUNNYSIDE -- Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS) has received a federal grant of nearly $4.7 million from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand their Sunnyside dental and mental health clinics, along with opening a Vision Center and a Pharmacy to serve YNHS clients at the Sunnyside location.

The wineries of Alto Adige (AH-dee-zhay) arrived in Seattle recently for their bi-annual tradeshow. This beautiful region of northernmost Italy is amidst the Southern Alps between Austria and Switzerland. More locals speak German there than Italian. 5,000 growers have planted 17 grape varieties up to an elevation as high as Snoqualmie Pass. As one first compares, say, a dozen pinot grigios from the various towns; you are most struck by their similarities.

Like the great Sancerre of the Loire Valley, these white wines are all about structure, minerality and a sense of place. They are refreshing and cool, the alcohol levels do not get too high nor is oak a dominant trait, or in many cases even used. It must be that way with wines of transparency so that you can really see into them. You do not appreciate the nuances of a beautiful gown with a coat over it.

By Cory Bemis

     Spring has finally arrived!  A slow February and March had the local real estate industry concerned.  All worries were put to rest as April sales produced the best month for Yakima market since last fall.  In the month of April, the Yakima area real estate market recorded 106 total homes sold with an average sales price of $196,145.  106 total homes sold is the 5th highest in the past 12 months.  The average sales price of $196,145 is likely the highest for any month in Yakima history (available MLS sales stats only date back 15 years).

Exactly how many high end home sales were there in April?  There were 15 home sales for $250,000 or higher.  Ten of those sales were between 250k-300k, three were between 300-350k, and two others sold at 1.5 million or more.  If the two highest valued sales were removed, the average home sales price would have been $164,580. This amount is very similar to the averages over the past two years. In addition, the median sales price has continued to remain steady throughout the past two years.     

     Spring is not only the time for buyers to begin looking at homes, it's also the time for sellers to list their homes for sale.  There were 242 new residential listings this April, which is an 11% increase over March, and a 65% increase over February.  In 2011, there were 248 new residential listings in April.  Year to date, in 2012 there have been 820 new residential listings, which is a 10.5% decrease from 2011 YTD.  As listings decrease and home sales continue to rise, it may not be long before the market can once again be considered a stable and balanced market.  

     To view more statistics pertaining to the Yakima Real Estate Market, visit my blog (mobile friendly) at www.corybemis.com

Susan and Spencer Wilson recently started Punkin Center Farms outside of Granger. The farm offers market-fresh produce, a guesthouse and a community supported agriculture program. Photo by Elena Olmstead

By Elena Olmstead

GRANGER - For Susan and Spencer Wilson moving to Granger and starting Punkin Center Farms was a homecoming of sorts.

The couple had both grown up in the Valley, outside of Zillah, but had moved on to fast paced careers that took them to the West side of the state. But when they found the property outside of Granger was for sale, they started talking about moving back to the area.

“It just seemed serendipitous,” Spencer Wilson said.
Spencer Wilson said while he may have grown up as a city kid in the Valley, being that it is an agricultural area, he would spend his summers doing farm work wherever he could get hired. Susan Spencer said growing up her family lived in the rural areas and owned their own farm.