G-P’s Pulp Mill Permanently Closed

Georgia-Pacific Corp. announced March 30 the permanent closure of its Bellingham pulp mill and associated chemical plant, affecting approximately 420 employees.

Those employees had been laid off since December when the pulp mill and chemical plant temporarily closed because of high electric power costs.

Georgia-Pacific will continue to operate its tissue paper and converting facilities, which employ about 330 employees, with temporary electric generators while the company searches for other sources of affordable electric power.

“This decision was driven primarily by the high cost of the pulp operations at Bellingham compared with the lower-cost pulp available within the Georgia-Pacific system, including additinal pulp supplies now available from mills acquired in the Fort James deal (last year),” says Lee M. Thomas, G-P’s executive vice president for consumer products.

“The current, unanticipated West Coast energy crisis has significantly raised the cost of energy for the mill and, beginning in December, caused the shutdown of the pulp mill and other operations within the facility,” Thomas adds.

The Bellingham mill produced 220,000 tons of pulp and 260,000 tons of lignin annually.

 

IAAP Celebrating with Luncheon

The Bellingham chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals is celebrating Administrative Professionals Day (formerly Professional Secretaries Day) on April 25 with a luncheon and seminars.

The chapter has scheduled all of the events at The Majestic at 1027 N. Forest St., Bellingham.

The day will begin with two free morning sessions: “Professional Development for Today’s Administrative Professional,” 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., and “Professional Certification: What’s in It for Me,” 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. Check-in for the morning sessions is 9:30 to 9:45 a.m.

The luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Rosemary Scott Vohs, will be presented from noon to 1:30 p.m. Vohs, a teacher at Western Washington University who has a background in storytelling, public speaking and drama, will talk about overcoming one’s fears of public speaking and making a presentation enjoyable for the speaker and the audience. The cost for the luncheon only is $17.

Two afternoon sessions are planned. Investment representative Denise Dibb of Edward Jones will talk about “Planning Your Retirement Years” from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Cate Westphalen, executive director of the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, will speak on “Personal Steps toward Creative Conflict Resolution” from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

The cost of the afternoon sessions is $35. The cost of the luncheon and the afternoon session is $50. Registration letters must be postmarked by April 18. Registration forms are available from Patti Russell, 676-2170, ext. 3203.

For registration forms and more information, contact Ellen Richards, 647-6962 or erunicorn@hotmail.com

 

Architectural Firm Changes Name

Ross McClure Cornwell Architects is the new name of a 15-year Bellingham firm.

Formerly Ross & McClure Architects, the new name reflects the addition of partner Brad Cornwell, who joined the firm in 1994. RMC has received awards in the past year for several of Cornwell’s projects, including Barkley Building II and the Church of the Assumption/Assumption Catholic School project, both in Bellingham.

Founding partners Bob Ross and Jeff McClure say Cornwell has been an integral part of the firm’s growth.

“Brad’s design approach, project management skills and leadership have been essential to our success,” McClure states.

 

Landlubber Mercantile Moves Downtown

The Landlubber store at Sunset Square in Bellingham has moved downtown and been renamed Landlubber Mercantile.

Landlubber Mercantile reopened March 26 at 1322 Cornwall Ave., a half-block from Magnolia Street. The store has an “American country” theme and offers clothing, furniture, dinnerware, lotions and much more.

 

Jameson Opens Skin-care Center

Patti Jameson, a licensed skin-care therapist (esthetician), has opened Discovery – The Face and Body Place at 115 Unity St., Suite C-1, Bellingham.

Jameson previously had provided skin-care services at a Bellingham salon for the last year.

Jameson and other professional practitioners will provide a full spectrum of skin-care services, including facials, spa body treatments, massage therapy, manicures, pedicures, waxing and brow and lash tints. Make-up and skin-care products also will be available at Discovery, located above Grigg’s Stationers.

A professional make-up artist will be at Discovery for consultations on May 19.

For appointments or more information, call Discovery, 527-8483.

 

BP Proposes Power Plant for Cherry Point

BP Amoco is proposing construction of a 750-megawatt, natural-gas-fired power plant next to its Cherry Point refinery.

The company asked the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council in March to begin a study of potential locations. BP Amoco proposes building it on 25 acres that it owns on Cherry Point, located several miles west of Ferndale.

The proposed plant would cost $300 million to $400 million. It could provide enough power for the refinery, which uses 85 megawatts, as well as the nearby Alcoa Intalco Works aluminum smelter, which requires about 470 megawatts, and other businesses.

Since power prices soared, the Cherry Point refinery has been relying on portable diesel generators, which are being replaced with truck-mounted, natural-gas generators that produce five megawatts apiece.

The EFSEC, which has a year to give a recommendation to Gov. Gary Locke, may conduct a public hearing on the proposal this month. The EFSEC in February recommended that Locke reject a proposal by National Energy Systems for construction of a 660-megawatt power plant, also fired by natural gas, in Sumas. As of late March, Locke hadn’t made a decision on that proposal.

 

WWU Grads Move Firm to Bellingham

The four Western Washington University graduates who own Pro CNC, a manufacturer of metal and plastic parts, have moved the company to Bellingham.

Mark Dudzinski, Kelsey Heikoop, Darcy Hughes and Paul Van Metre began operations in their new location at 425 Sequoia Drive, a block east of Cordata Parkway, on March 5. The warehouse has 10,000 square feet, twice as much as their previous building in Monroe. Pro CNC started in Bellingham with 13 employees, but expects to have more than 20 in about three months.

Founded in 1997, Pro CNC uses computer numeric control machines to precisely create parts for clients in aerospace, medical, consumer and other industries.

All of the owners are graduates of Western’s Vehicle Research Institute. Van Metre says Pro CNC “is a stepping stone” to manufacturing energy-efficient, high-performance cars.

 

Boys & Girls Clubs Honors KVOS

A television commercial produced by KVOS Studio 12 of Bellingham for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County has received an award.

The 30-second commercial — “What’s a Dollar?” – earned a gold award in the 14th annual Boys & Girls Clubs of America Marketing and Communications Awards Program. The commercial was produced by Karyn Glubis and edited by Kris Stewart of KVOS Studio 12.

Since January, KVOS Studio 12 has produced three more commercials and a promotional video for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.

 

I Wana Moka Adds Second Location

The owners of I Wana Moka opened a second espresso stand in late March at 319 E. Holly St. in downtown Bellingham.

Owners Shelly Ness, David Baxter and Brett Hanson remodeled the former Café Go Go espresso stand at the corner of East Holly and North Forest streets. Their first I Wana Moka stand opened in August 1999 at 3100 Old Fairhaven Parkway, Bellingham.

I Wana Moka offers coffee and espresso drinks, milkshakes and fruit smoothies, with protein and vitamin supplements available for the latter. It also carries bagels from The Bagelry in Bellingham and makes bagel sandwiches.

Both espresso stands are open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Both stands are conducting a food drive through April 15 and reducing the price of an espresso drink by $1 for anyone who bring in two cans of food.

I Wana Moka has 20 employees.

 

CVB Offering Free State Visitors’ Guide

The 2001 Washington State Visitors’ Guide is now available at the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The free 122-page guidebook includes a lodging directory, an official highway map, things to do and event listings. The cover photo, depicting Mt. Baker from Blaine Harbor, was taken by Mark Turner of Bellingham.

For a free copy, go to the CVB’s office at 904 Potter St., Bellingham, located just off the Interstate 5 off-ramp/on-ramp for Lakeway Drive. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, call 671-3990.

 

College Seeks Firms for Internships

Northwest Indian College of Bellingham is seeking local entrepreneurial businesses to provide internship and mentoring opportunities for talented Native American high school students.

NWIC is seeking start-up businesses with five or more employees to provide 150 hours of unpaid internship experience over a six-month period. The objective is to provide students hands-on experience in the areas of accounting, marketing and sales, and business operations.

Twenty-four students will be selected to participate in EntrePrep, a national program supported by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. NWIC, an accredited tribal college located on the Lummi Reservation, is the only tribal college chosen for the program.

Interested businesses should contact Liz Christner at the NWIC Lummi Campus by phone, 392-4234, or e-mail, lchristner@nwic.edu, by May 1 for more details.

Local businesses participating in the program last year included Ryzex Re-Marketing, Laurel Farm Supply, Alicia’s Bridal Supply, B&B Paint, Eagles Haven RV Park, 3-D Computers and Mallard Ice Cream.

 

Longs Drug Closes Bellingham Store

Longs Drug Stores closed its Bellingham outlet, located in the Koll Cordata Center at 4255 Guide Meridian, on March 30.

The location was a Drug Emporium store for seven years before Longs Drug Stores acquired it three years ago. The closure comes just several months after a Walgreens drugstore open several blocks south at the intersection of Guide Meridian and East Bakerview Road.

The store had 25 employees. Some managers were offered jobs in other Longs Drug locations. The store’s pharmacy files were sold to Haggen, Inc.

 

Moving Business Adds Division for Seniors

Moving and Storage Solutions, Inc. of Bellingham added a division, Moving Solutions-Senior Services, in March.

Moving Solutions-Senior Services will work with a senior citizen preparing to move to a retirement facility and coordinate moving activities with children who are unable to be present. During a free consultation, the person moving can receive guidance and ask questions before determining the amount of assistance that will be required.

Moving Solutions can pack, move and unpack items and even take photographs so that rooms can resemble ones in a client’s previous residence. The company also can dispose of or arrange the sale of items and ship furniture to family members elsewhere.

Kimberly Powell is coordinator for the new division. She worked for Moving and Storage Solutions from 1996 to 1998 and has returned to the firm on a part-time basis after maternity leave. She previously was a business consultant for four years in personal organizational development, working primarily in Vancouver, B.C. For more information, call her at 676-5267.

Moving and Storage Solutions, in business since September 1995, is owned by David Powell and has an office at 4600 Guide Meridian, Suite 105.

 

Farmer’s Outlet Opens on Sunset Drive

Farmer’s Outlet, a retail store offering produce and dairy products at wholesale prices, opened in March at 1212 Sunset Drive in Bellingham.

The store is owned by Jeff Jordan. His Sound Wholesaling business includes a Bellingham Produce division, which delivers produce to local restaurants and food-service establishments.

The 2,200-square-foot building, formerly occupied by a 7-Eleven convenience store, is at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Orleans Street. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call 756-1511.

 

Western Hosting Spring Career Expo

Nearly 70 employers will recruit for a wide variety of jobs April 25-26 at Western Washington University’s Spring Career Expo.

The event, free and open to the public, will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day in Viking Union 565 on Western’s campus in Bellingham.

The expo will include representatives from companies such as Boeing, the Bon Marché and Weyerhaeuser, as well as representatives from government and nonprofit agencies such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Port of Seattle and the Community Psychiatric Clinic.

Participants should bring copies of the resumes to the event. WWU’s Career Services Center will present a workshop, “Preparing for the Spring Career Expo,” at 3 p.m. April 19 and noon April 23. Parking passes are available at the Visitors Center on South Campus Way, off Bill McDonald Parkway. For more information about the expo or workshop, call 650-3240.

 

ReFace-It Launches Web Site

ReFace-It & Kitchen Design Concepts of Ferndale has launched a Web site, www.refaceit.com.

“We are extremely excited that now we have the opportunity to showcase our multitude of services on the Web,” says owner Ron Good. “We offer every service from creative consultation through complete renovation and installation. We work closely with architects, designers and construction companies on new homes as well.”

ReFace-It & Kitchen Design Concepts is located at 5506 Nielsen Road, Unit C. For more information, check the Web site or call 384-3546.

 

Fire Closes Taco Lobo

A March 14 fire caused substantial damage to Taco Lobo, a Mexican restaurant at 117 W. Magnolia St., Bellingham.

Taco Lobo, opened by Luis Santos in April 1999, was forced to close because of heavy damage to the kitchen and smoke and water damage to the rest of the restaurant. No plans for reopening the restaurant were known at press time.

The fire also caused some damage to other shops and offices in downtown Bellingham’s Luther Building, built in 1912.

 

Travel Show Making Bellingham Debut

The Great Northwest Travel Show will be presented for the first time April 28-29 at Bellis Fair mall in Bellingham.

Admission is free to the show, sponsored by the mall and the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 28 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 29.

Up to 50 exhibitors from Washington and British Columbia will showcase travel destinations and packages, festivals, summer camps and vacation ideas.

For more information, call the CVB at 671-3990.

 

Woldens Open Subway Restaurant

Ron and Dorice Wolden have opened a Subway sandwich restaurant at 1920 King St., next to a McDonald’s restaurant, in Bellingham.

The couple also owns Subway franchises in Mount Vernon and Burlington.

The Bellingham restaurant is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

 

Reno Charters Return to Bellingham

Enterprise Holidays again is offering non-stop flights from Bellingham to Nevada.

The company began in early March with charter flights on Mondays and Fridays from Bellingham International Airport to Reno. Flights to Las Vegas on the same days were scheduled to start in late March. The flights use a Boeing 737, which carries 120 passengers.

Wellington Lee, president of Enterprise Holidays, says most of his passengers are from British Columbia but he will be marketing in Bellingham. Enterprise Holidays operated a similar charter service in Bellingham last year and in the early 1990s.

“We are very pleased to have these charters operating because each week they bring hundreds of people through the airport,” remarks John Sibold, aviation director for the Port of Bellingham.

For information about flights, contact a travel agent or call Enterprise Holidays at (800) 667-4041.

 

McNett Corp. Moves to Larger Building

McNett Corp., a Bellingham manufacturer and distributor of accessories for outdoor and sporting enthusiasts, moved Feb. 1 to a 25,000-square-foot building.

The new building, owned by the company, is located at 1411 Meador St. in the Haskell Business Park. About 7,000 square feet larger than the previous building, it will enable the company to expand and offer new product lines, according to Duane McNett, who owns the business with Nancy McNett.

McNett Corp. has more than 150 products sold at more than 6,000 retail outlets in 40 countries. The company, which moved its headquarters to Bellingham in 1981, has a distribution center in Amsterdam. It has 32 employees and about 170 independent sales representatives.

 

Prime Equipment Becomes RSC

Rental Service Corp. (RSC) is the new name for the Prime Equipment store at 3896 Irongate Road, Bellingham.

The name change didn’t affect ownership and the Bellingham store’s personnel, led by branch manager Wade Randall. RSC continues to rent items ranging from chain saws to heavy-industrial equipment.

For more information, call the Bellingham store, 738-0298, or visit the Web site at www.rentalservice.com.

 

Record Company Hires Fairhaven Design

Vibe Records, Inc., a New York-based record company targeting the urban hip-hop music trend, recently hired Fairhaven Design Group of Bellingham to redesign and launch its Web site.

“This is a Web designer’s dream job – a chance to use all of our skills and creativity to create a cutting-edge, entertainment-based Web site,” says Nous Martin, creative director for Fairhaven Design Group.

The new site at www.viberecords.com will be launched in June.

 

Couple Acquires Everson Restaurant

Mandy and Richard Cross acquired an Everson restaurant, Ye Ol Farmers Inn, on Feb. 1.

Mandy Cross, a culinary arts graduate, had worked at the restaurant as a cook for several years before purchasing it. The new owners have added a non-smoking section and dinner hours while retaining favorites such as homemade soups, cinnamon rolls and cakes.

The restaurant is located in downtown Everson at 210 Main St. and open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 966-2742.

 

Lakeway Inn Sponsors Soccer Field

The Best Western Lakeway Inn of Bellingham has signed a two-year agreement with the Whatcom Soccer Commission to help fund maintenance of a field at the Northwest Soccer Park.

The Whatcom Soccer Commission is a nonprofit corporation that operates the Northwest Soccer Park, located several miles north of Bellingham near the intersection of Northwest and West Smith roads. The park is used by more than 5,100 players between the ages of 5 and 18, as well as more than 1,800 men and women, in Whatcom County.

 

Pilot House Grill Opens in Fairhaven

The Pilot House Grill has opened inside the Bellingham Cruise Terminal at 355 Harris St. in Fairhaven.

The restaurant is owned by Britain and Gail Walker of Emerald Bay Events, the renowned Bellingham catering firm. It will be a bistro-style restaurant serving contemporary West Coast cuisine and selected fine wines and sherries.

The restaurant currently is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays while renovations are being done in the building. However, by the time construction work is completed in May, the Pilot House Grill will offer dinner hours, as well as a tapas bar from Thursday through Saturday evenings and a brunch on Sundays.

For more information, call 647-5072.

 

Dogs Go Hiking with See Spot Run

Lisalea Latva recently purchased See Spot Run, a Bellingham business that takes dogs for hikes of 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Since buying the business in September, Latva changed the name from Four Paws on the Trail and has nearly doubled the number of dogs she takes on two-hour hikes. The hikes are offered Tuesday through Friday. Latva picks up the dogs at sites within 10 minutes of downtown Bellingham, takes them out (usually to logging trails) and brings them back to clients.

Latva says her business is for dogs that need more exercise and stimulation than a walk on a leash can provide. She says the dogs that go on hikes are healthier, happier and less likely to exhibit behavioral problems.

The cost is $15 per outing with discounts available for clients with three or more dogs and clients who schedule four outings per week. For more information, call Latva at 676-7379.

 

Key Bank Donates Van to Forestry Center

Key Bank has donated $3,200 to the Black Mountain Forestry Center for its purchase of a surplus Whatcom Transportation Authority van.

The BMFC was created last year at Silver Lake, about eight miles east of Maple Falls. The center includes old and new timber harvest machinery, antique tool collections and photographs, as well as a gift shop with productions from local woodcrafters. It is open from Memorial Day weekend in May through Labor Day weekend in September. The center focuses on history, education and commerce as they relate to forest-related products and practices.

The BMFC held its second annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser on March 16 at the Best Western Lakeway Inn, Bellingham. It is trying to raise $45,000 to construct and operate a building that will house a sawmill.

To donate money or volunteer time, call the center, 599-2623, or send e-mail to info@blackmountainforestry.com. For more information, visit its Web site at www.blackmountainforestry.com.

 

Car-rental Franchise Opens in Bellingham

Scott Bertelsen opened an U-Save Auto Rental franchise in Bellingham on March 1.

U-Save Auto Rental is located at 2119 Lincoln St., inside a portion of the former Custom Design Sign & Awning building. Jesse Parker is manager of the franchise, which has a variety of 15 domestic cars now with plans to increase that total to 50 by this summer.

Bertelsen also owns Bellingham RV Park and has experience selling cars.

U-Save Auto Rental has more than 500 franchises nationwide.

For more information, call 647-8888.

 

Outpatient Surgery Center Proposed

Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center LLC has filed plans to build a five-room ambulatory surgery center in Bellingham for nearly $6.1 million.

The center would be located in a new building, owned by St. Joseph Hospital, that will be built at 3015 Squalicum Parkway. The expected opening date of the center is September 2002.

The company is owned 70 percent by Pacific Rim Anesthesia & Surgical Consultants (formerly Bellingham Surgical Consultants) and 30 percent by Physician Surgery Centers, Inc. Its application for certificate of need, filed with the Washington State Department of Health, states that the center’s staff would include all physicians in Pacific Rim Anesthesia & Surgical Consultants (currently 60 in nine specialties), as well as any others who meet the center’s credentialing requirements.

 

Heininger Becomes Firm’s Sole Owner

Jeff Heininger has purchased the interest of partner Kevin Moore and renamed the Bellingham vehicle-accessories company Heininger Holdings LLC.

The company, founded in 1998 and located at 2185 Alpine Way, previously was known as Heininger & Moore Holdings. The firm creates and markets products such as Advantage Sports Racks, Hitchmate Cargo Accessories and CommuteMate Travel Enhancements.

Moore has become chief financial officer at Premier Graphics in Bellingham.

 

Day-care Facility for Dogs Opens

Tails-A-Wagging Doggie Day Care opened March 7 at 2123 Lincoln St., which is behind the Hardware Sales store in Bellingham.

The facility has 3,700 square feet of indoor and outdoor areas for dogs, including special areas for small dogs, large dogs, older dogs and puppies. It is open from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

The day-care business is an expansion of services offered by Angela and Jason Lenz, who launched Tails-A-Wagging in 1998 by providing professional pet-sitting services.

“Our clients have been asking for a service in which their dogs can play and socialize in a safe environment while they are at work,” Angela Lenz says.

Owners can see their dogs via a video Web camera at www.tails-a-wagging.com.

Angela and Jason Lenz have a combined total of 15 years in caring for pets. Both are certified in animal CPR and first aid and Angela Lenz is a licensed animal health technician.

For more information, visit the Web site or call 223-PETS (7387).

 

Restaurants Supporting Maple Alley Fundraiser

Some Bellingham restaurants are participating in “Dine Out for Maple Alley Inn,” which will raise funds for the homeless and hungry in the community.

The event, scheduled May 8, will encourage the public to eat that day at participating restaurants. The restaurants will donate a percentage of their sales that day to the Maple Alley Inn, a program that provides free, hot meals for the disadvantaged in the community. Last year, the Maple Alley Inn served more than 11,000 meals to the elderly, disabled veterans, homeless, mentally ill and families with children.

 

Ferndale Firm Gains New York City Job

The G.R. Plume Co. of Ferndale has been retained to fabricate and assemble a timber dome for a synagogue in New York City.

The eliptical dome, 35 feet by 45 feet with a height of 20 feet, is for the wedding chapel of Congregation Beit Yaakov Synagogue. It will be manufactured and assembled in Ferndale, then disassembled and trucked to New York for re-assembly.

G.R. Plume has created a similar circular dome, fabricated of clear Douglas fir, for the William Gates resident in the Seattle suburb of Medina. Other recent projects include timber trellis work for the Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland’s new California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. and the large timber works in The Lodge Area at Bellevue Square in Bellevue.

 

Sunset Square Restaurant Sold

The La Pinata Mexican Restaurant in Bellingham’s Sunset Square has been sold to Adrian Ibarra, owner of El Gitano restaurants in Mount Vernon and Burlington.

Ibarra soon will change the name of the Sunset Square restaurant to El Gitano.

Former owner Macedonio Areas is retaining the La Pinata restaurant in downtown Bellingham.

 

Milestone Offers Software Seminars

Milestone Information Solutions of Bellingham is offering seminars in April on Sage Software’s MAS90 business management and accounting software.

The seminars will show how the software can make businesses more efficient and profitable, according to the company. They are scheduled at 9 a.m. April 19 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lynnwood and 9 a.m. April 26 at the CottonTree Inn in Mount Vernon. For more information about the seminars or the software, contact Janet Eiford at 734-3387 or janete@milestoneis.com.

Milestone Information Solutions specializes in the analysis, design and implementation of automated business information systems. The company used a wide range of products to design custom packages that meet the accounting, manufacturing, distribution or job-costing needs of clients.

 

Think-A-Tron Adds DVD Services

Think-A-Tron Media Labs of Bellingham has added DVD authoring services to its professional motion graphic and interactive media development capabilities.

“Last year, our clients’ demand for DVD-based content for corporate training, trade-show loops and interactive kiosks made adding this service obvious,” says John Mortensen, owner and producer/director. “They wanted a format that is high quality, easy to use and compact, which describes DVD perfectly.”

Think-A-Tron Media Labs, founded in April 1995, is an electronic media design company specializing in video/film, motion graphics, CD-ROM, Internet, DVD development, design and production. For more information, call 738-8882 or visit its Web site at www.thinkatron.com.

 

Bookmobile Again Rolling in County

The Village Books Bookmobile is again making stops throughout Whatcom County after a winter break.

The bookmobile carries a variety of new books and also buys and sells used books. Customers also can call Village Books at 671-2626 to request that the vehicle bring specific titles to a site.

The bookmobile is stationed from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following sites: Mondays at the Meridian Cost Cutter store in Bellingham; Wednesdays at the Ferndale Cost Cutter and Fridays at the Everson Red Apple. It is at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and the Pastazza restaurant in Bellingham’s Barkley Village on Sundays. The bookmobile also will appear at some special events, such as the Northwest Washington Fair, Aug. 13-18 in Lynden.

 

SPIE Assisting Local Groups

The International Society for Optical Engineering, known as SPIE, has announced it will give $15,000 this year to social-service organizations in Whatcom County.

SPIE’s Good Corporate Citizen Committee designated $10,000 for basic human needs such as food, clothing and shelter, $3,500 for educational purposes and $1,500 to the “Reaching for the Light” art exhibit to benefit breast-cancer treatment and awareness. Those donations will include $1,000 for the Interfaith Coalition, which provides health and dental care to low-income people and shelter and support for homeless families, and $700 for the Whatcom Literacy Council.

Headquartered in Bellingham, SPIE is the largest international professional society serving the practical engineer and scientist in the fields of optics and photonics.

 

‘Labor of Love’ Raises Money for Homeless

Silhouettes Salon in Bellingham raised $2,175 for the Opportunity Council’s homeless programs during the third annual “Labor of Love” event Feb. 24.

“Labor of Love” clients who purchased a $25 ticket received up to four beauty treatments and free salon products while enjoying champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Many clients also bought $1 raffle tickets for gift baskets filled with items donated by more than 20 local businesses. Silhouettes Salon staff members donated their time so that all proceeds benefited the Opportunity Council, a private, nonprofit community-action agency serving Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties.

 

Breakwater Makes Lunch Change

The Breakwater Restaurant at Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor has closed for lunch to the public so it can focus on its lunch banquet business.

The restaurant, located at 2625 Harbor Loop Drive in the former Bellingham Yacht Club building, still is open to the public for dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is closed for dinner on Sunday and Monday.

Also, a Feb. 17 fundraiser at the Breakwater raised $6,901 for 19-year-old Jacob Foster, who recently was released from a hospital after suffering major injuries in a car accident. The restaurant donated food and waived its usual rental fee and other businesses contributed to a silent auction.

 

VECO Awarded Refinery Contract

VECO Corp. has been awarded a multimillion-dollar engineering and procurement contract to upgrade and optimize the Tosco Corp. refinery in Ferndale.

Tosco and VECO recently started the engineering phase of the project, which will include modifications to existing process units, utility systems and storage facilities. The $220 million project is scheduled to be completed in spring 2003.

A specific amount for the VECO contract wasn’t disclosed.

 

Express Fitness Offers Health Programs

Express Fitness for Women is conducting a pair of health-related events in April.

As part of Women’s Wellness Day on April 23, Express Fitness will be open to the public and offer screenings of bone density and body composition. The screenings will help in the assessment of an individual’s risk for osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses.

Also, Express Fitness, located at 133 Telegraph Road, Bellingham, will host a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class for the general public on April 29. The course will cover risk factors for heart disease, recognition of heart-attack symptoms, adult CPR and choking.

For information on appointments and fees, call Express Fitness, 756-1110.

 

Businesses Move to Marina Square

The Port of Bellingham’s tenants in the Squalicum Mall completed in March their move to the new Marina Square.

The 18,000-square-foot Marina Square, located in the 700 block of Coho Way at Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor, is home to seven businesses: Radar Marine Electronics, Accu-Steer, Rasmussen’s Marine Electric, Squalicum Marine, Bellhaven, San Juan Electronics and the Web Locker restaurant. It also houses the Port of Bellingham’s Squalicum Harbor office.

Marina Square was designed by Ross McClure Cornwell Architects of Bellingham. Ebenal Construction of Bellingham was the general contractor. The new building replaces the 30-year-old Squalicum Mall, which was demolished in late March.

Marina Square’s features include excellent street visibility, overhead doors on the backside of the building for easy delivery of materials, gas heat and double-pane windows.

 

InterWest Bank Getting New Name

InterWest Bank centers in Whatcom County and elsewhere in Washington will adopt the Pacific Northwest Bank name on April 9.

The name change had been announced earlier by Pacific Northwest Bancorp, a bank holding company which on April 9 will have 55 financial centers in Washington operating under the Pacific Northwest Bank name. The company had total consolidated assets of $2.9 billion as of Dec. 31.

 

Human Services Conference Set

Professionals, educators and students are invited to attend “Commitment to Change: Innovative Practices,” the annual Northwest Organization for Human Services Education conference, April 27-28 on Western Washington University’s campus in Bellingham

Registration fees are $75 for students and $90 for faculty and practitioners. For more information regarding conference registration and disability accommodations, visit the Web site at www.wce.wwu.edu/ Depts/HS/nwohse.

 

Peoples Bank Makes Camp Fire Donation

Peoples Bank has donated $500 to the Samish Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls to support its Saturday programs for at-risk youth in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Outdoor Discover is a Camp Fire program designed for boys and girls in grades 3-7 who can benefit from extra attention. Children participate in monthly outdoor adventures.

 

Mountain’s Edge Construction Launched

Greg Stone of Bellingham recently started Mountain’s Edge Construction, offering services from building custom homes to making renovations and repairs.

Stone has 20 years of experience in all phases of building construction. He vows to be personally involved with construction projects and customers to ensure that quality work at a reasonable price has been achieved.

For more information, call Stone at 715-9285.

 

Businesses Assist United Way Campaign

The United Way of Whatcom County’s 2000 campaign raised nearly $1.9 million, the second-highest amount ever raised by the organization.

The three largest employee campaigns were conducted at the BP Cherry Point Refinery, Georgia-Pacific and St. Joseph Hospital.

“Raising nearly $1.9 million is a testimony to the generosity of people in Whatcom County and the result of the hard work of hundreds of United Way volunteers,” says Ken Ferry, the 2000 campaign chair and a mechanical manager at Tosco Refining Co. in Ferndale.

 

SSK Insurance Acquires Noteboom

Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance has acquired Noteboom Insurance Group, bringing together the two oldest insurance agencies in Lynden.

Noteboom Insurance Group has been owned the last several years by Joel Kok, Larry Faber and Randy Duim. Kok purchased the shares of Faber and Duim in March and sold the business to SSK Insurance, owned by Paul Kenner. Kok and two Noteboom employees will join the staff of SSK Insurance at 501 Front St. around May 1, according to a letter Kok sent to Noteboom’s clients.

 

County’s Jobless Rate Reaches 7 Percent

Whatcom County’s unemployment rate rose to 7 percent in February, its highest level in two years.

The jobless rate rose from 6.7 percent in January, according to the state Employment Security Department. It was 6.2 percent in February 2000.

The county had 76,900 employed in February, just below the 77,000 employed a year ago. However, the number of unemployed people rose from 5,000 in February 2000 to 5,800 this February.

The statewide unemployment rate in February increased to 6.3 percent, up from 5.8 percent in January and 6 percent a year ago.

February jobless rates for other northwest Washington counties were: Skagit, 8.6 percent; Snohomish, 4.7 percent; Island, 4.2 percent; and San Juan, 6.5 percent.