Alaska Marine Highway achieves federal recognition
Byway designation should boost tourism

 

America’s newest scenic byway is paved with…water. U. S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta recently awarded the “National Scenic Byway” designation to the Alaska Marine Highway System, which is anchored at Bellingham’s Fairhaven Transportation Center.

There are 72 National Scenic Byways in 32 states, chosen for their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities. Achieving the honor means the marine highway system will be able to apply for federal grants to enhance services to travelers, such as expanded interpretive exhibits at the terminals and aboard the ships.

A celebration of the designation was held on September 5 at the ferry terminal in conjunction with the Alaska Marine Highway “Sail-abration,” marking the system’s 40th anniversary.

“We’re looking forward to discussing ideas as to how the marine highway and the communities we serve can maximize the benefits from this national designation,” said Captain George Capacci, general manager of the system.

One of the immediate benefits, according to John Cooper of the Bellingham/Whatcom Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be the listing of the byway in national publications, websites and marketing efforts.

“This is a unique hook for travel writers,” Cooper said.

Both the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Council of Governments wrote letters in support of the designation.

During the Bellingham ceremony, a commemorative plaque was presented to the terminal and a newly designed flag was unveiled that will be flown aboard all the ferries. A crowd of several hundred people attended the ceremony and subsequent open house aboard the marine highway’s flagship MV Columbia.

 

 

Unique business comes of age
Success requires bigger facility

 

For the past six years, a fascinating experiment has been taking place in Bellingham. Is it a gallery? Is it a museum? Is it a school? Mindport is actually all of those and more. It started as an eclectic collection of hands-on exhibits designed to appeal to children of all ages. Now it is expanding into new quarters on Holly Street and more fine art will become part of the mix.

Mindport is a business funded completely by private donations that is not expected to turn a profit. Instead, coordinator Anmorgan Curry wants to help people connect with their creative selves. Workshops and other educational opportunities with that purpose in mind will be offered at the new facility.

Lummi Island artist Kevin Jones, one of the founders of Mindport, has created a series of indescribable contraptions that are reminiscent of the late Rube Goldberg’s work. They whirr and click and rattle and light up and somehow produce fascinating insights into both physics and metaphysics. Rather than posting a lot of signs telling you how to operate the ingenious machines, Mindport allows you to discover the magic for yourself.

The larger space will allow Mindport to display the works of artists that might not be well known or commercial enough to be invited to galleries that must rely on sales. Curry is building a liaison with Western Washington University so that student artists will have an off campus venue for their work.

“Mindport has been perceived as a place just for children,” Curry said. “We want to encourage parents, grandparents, teenagers on a date to experience what we have to offer.”

One of the things Mindport has to offer is play. That is why many of the exhibits are interactive.

“People need the time and space to be comfortable just playing,” said Curry. “We can provide that opportunity.”

Curry admits that Mindport continues to be a work in progress and that lots of ideas are still floating around as to how they can best utilize their expanded quarters.

“We’re about more than just the visual arts,” Curry said. “We want to enable people to express themselves freely, whatever form that might take.”

Many workplace experts are now suggesting that “Play Workshops” help employees and management break down barriers and become more productive. Curry wants to encourage local businesses to use Mindport for such purposes.

“Mindport can serve as a model for the creative life,” Curry explained. “There are no big salaries here, no linear structure; just a cooperative effort by everyone involved.”

The only advertising Mindport ever does is old-fashioned word-of-mouth. That word is that there is something strange and wonderful going on in downtown Bellingham.

 

Creative measures land jobs in tough times

When the market tightens, some job seekers will go to amazing lengths to get recruiters and human resource managers to take note. A recent survey of 250 advertising and marketing executives by the Creative Group, a staffing company, catalogued some of the more novel.

Responses to the question “What is the most unusual or creative tactic that you ever heard of a job hunter using to land and advertising or marketing job?” included an applicant who handcuffed himself to the desk during the interview, someone who sent a singing telegram and a job hunter who studded his resume with pineapple scratch and sniff stickers.

“Off-the-wall yet tasteful job-hunting techniques can sometimes help candidates get their foot in the door, particularly within the creative industry,” said Tracey Turner, executive director of the Creative Group.

“It can be difficult to gauge whether an employer will be receptive to a non-traditional approach.

“Some may find such tactics clever, while others may question the applicant’s professionalism,” Turner said.

Other creative attention-getting techniques cited by survey respondents included:

• A resume printed on a softball;

• A resume accompanied by lottery tickets;

• A candidate who had t-shirts printed with the names of everyone in the company, including her own;

• A candidate who rented a billboard and listed his qualifications within sight of the creative director’s window.

Food was also a popular resume enclosure, as creative directors reported receiving doughnuts, cookies iced with reasons to hire the client, a cat-shaped dish full of candy (because the applicant was the cat’s meow), an ice cream cake, and Chinese food with the applicant’s contact information printed in the fortune cookie.

Turner said novel job-hunting strategies don’t have to be strange to be memorable. Sometimes a well-presented electronic portfolio, a uniquely assertive approach to the interview or promptly written thank yous are enough to set a candidate apart.

 

State settles with cookie monster

Washington is one of nine states to settle with DoubleClick Inc, a New York-based Internet advertising firm. The settlement follows a 30-month investigation of how DoubleClick uses cookies to track customers’ Web activities.

A cookie is a small file created on a user’s computer after visiting a Web site. Cookies can be used to track which sites users visit on the Web and to deliver customized ads based on the individual’s browsing behavior.

According to Christine Gregoire, Washington’s Attorney General, the states were concerned that DoubleClick could merge personal data with cookie information.

Terms of the settlement mean DoubleClick will have to do more to inform Internet users they are being tracked through cookies. Web sites that contract with DoubleClick will have to inform users about cookies in their privacy policies. Users will be able to sign up to hear about policy changes. An independent third party will assess how well DoubleClick conforms to its own policy.

“Cookies create a record of a Web surfer’s travels like footprints in the sand,” Gregoire said. “Today’s agreement…will go far toward helping consumers guard their privacy on-line.”

Users can also change the settings in most Web browsers to control which cookies they accept and which they refuse.

 

Pacific Northwest Bank declares dividend

Shareholders in Pacific Northwest Bank as of Sep. 16 will receive a 14-cent per share dividend on Oct. 10. This dividend continues the bank’s streak of paying dividends since going public in 1991.

 

ExxonMobil agrees to reduce tobacco sales to minors

An agreement entered in Thurston County will commit ExxonMobil to reduce tobacco sales to minors at gas stations and convenience stores. The oil company has entered into the agreement with Washington’s Attorney General. ExxonMobil has agreed to:

• Create a set of standards regarding tobacco sales for hiring and training employees;

• Instruct store clerks to check identification for any customers who appear to be under 27 years old and use security video to monitor workers’ compliance;

• Prohibit self-service displays, the sale of cigarette papers or pipes to minors and distribution of free samples in store property;

• Use an external firm to conduct random checks and internal monitors on company performance.

The agreement was the result of negotiations between attorneys general in 43 states, including Washington, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and the Mariana Islands on how to limit minor’s access to tobacco at gas stations and convenience stores.

 

Christmas in the Northwest CD returns

Christmas in the Northwest, vol. 5, a benefit album for Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle presented by Pacific Northwest Bank, returns this year.

“Christmas in the Northwest has been a great project for Children’s Hospital,” said Doug Picha, Children’s Hospital Foundation Executive Director. “To date, the four previous CDs have raised over $500,000”

This year’s edition features a new song by Brenda Kutz White, and performances by Loni Rose, Darren Motamedy, the Brothers Four, Grant Goodeve, Tim Noah, Carolee Mayne, and others.

 

HMOs and health insurers increase profit in 2001

Health insurers and HMOs posted a 25 per cent profit increase in 2001, according to a Weiss Ratings report. Last year’s profit was $4.1-billion, up from $3.3 the year before.

The report also found that Blue Cross Blue Shield accounted for 70 percent of the industry’s total profit. Of 54 Blue Plans, 49, or 90.7 percent, made a profit in 2001.

“Like HMOs, Blues plans have benefited from rate increases over the last several years,” said Melissa Gannon, vice president of Weiss Ratings. “However, with a more diversified product line, the Blues are positioned to take advantage of the public’s dislike of HMOs by also offering PPOs, point of service products, and traditional indemnity plans.”

Profits at HMOs were down by almost 7 percent in 2001. Weiss suggests the small profit decline is not serious, but indicates the rate increases of the past few years are being outpaced by rising medical costs.

The five strongest medical insurers in Washington, ranked according to Weiss’ assessment of their safety as investments, are Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, New York Life Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America.

 

State advisory committee seeks members

Three vacancies on the On-SiteWastewater Treatment System Designer Licensing/Inspector Certification Advisory Committee of the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers are open to area applicants.

Candidates must meet the following qualifications:

• Have at least seven years continuous experience in on-sire wastewater treatment systems immediately prior to appointment;

• Be a Washington state resident;

• Meet the minimum requirements to hold a license under this new
program;

• Be available to attend meetings/workshops in the Seattle or Olympia areas about once a month.

Committee members do not receive compensation, but are reimbursed for all expenses associated with work on the committee. For more information, see the website at www.dol.wa.gov.

 

Ratings firm calls for tougher investor protection

Weiss Ratings, Inc., an independent provider of ratings and analyses of financial service companies, mutual funds and stocks has called for tougher measures to protect investors. According to Weiss, the Security and Exchange Commission’s proposed “Reguilation Analyst Certification” needs to be strengthened.

“The current SEC proposal relies on two mechanisms: certification and disclosure, neither of which adequately solves the problem of biased research,” said company chairman Martin D. Weiss, Ph.D. “Certification of analysts’ personal views may often turn out to be an exercise in futility, because many analysts will either modify their views under pressure or keep their personal opinions to themselves. Moreover, the mere disclosure of conflicts is seldom effective as a protective measure.”

Weiss Ratings has proposed the following measures to protect investors:

• Prohibition of sales incentives. Brokerage or investment banking firms should never be allowed to tie the compensation of their research analysts to the success of investment banking or other sales.

• Separation of brokerage and investment banking. All firms should be urged to separate banking from brokerage operations through divestiture.

• Compensation tied to accuracy. All firms should be encouraged to tie a substantial portion of research analysts’ compensation to the accuracy of analyses and recommendations.

• Disclosure. Firms that choose not to separate their operations through divestiture or tie compensation to accuracy should adhere to a strict certification and disclosure regime as proposed by the SEC and enhanced by the following recommendations:

1. Signature requirement. The analyst should be required to personally sign the certification.

2. Corporate and individual responsibility. Both the firm and the analyst should be held responsible for insuring the accuracy of the certification and its timely submission.

3. Penalties for failure to comply. Disciplinary action should be enforced for both the analyst and the firm for non-compliance.

4. More than just standard boilerplate. Disclosures written in simple English should be included as an integral part of all printed materials or communications.

5. Implementation of NASD 2711. The NASD proposal that larger firms include a rating history in all research reports showing any previous recommendations issued on the company along with the stock price as of the date of that recommendation should be required of all firms, large and small.

“The rampant conflicts of interest on Wall Street have shaken investors to the core and a band-aid approach will not work,” Weiss said. “By strengthening the Regulation Analyst Certification proposal with the measures we’ve outlined, regulators are likely to be far more successful in restoring investor confidence.”

 

Samson Rope rigs European mega yacht

Ferndale-based Samson Rope manufactured the running rigging for the Baltic 147 project. Baltic 147 is a custom all carbon fiber sloop. It’s scheduled for delivery in 2003.

 

Cook to address professional women’s 10-year celebration

Sonny Kobe Cook, founder of Sleep Country USA, will be featured speaker at Women’s Professional Network’s 10-year anniversary, Women Empowering Women.

Cook is a past winner of Inc. magazine’s women entrepreneur of the year award and Sleep County USA has won best place to work in Washington awards numerous times. WPN’s 10-year anniversary breakfast takes place Nov. 21, but preresgistration is required by Nov. 15.

WPN is focused on providing opportunities for professional women to build relationships with other women in Whatcom business.

 

WWU offers project management program

Western Washington University is offering a three-day project management course, Nov. 5-7. Program content includes:

• Ways to identify and execute elements of a successful project

• Implementing a project from start to finish

• Understanding the top 5 things that can go wrong in projects

• Why it’s important to support team members and avoid putting out fires

• How to use Microsoft Project

The course is taught by Mark Polhamus of Integrated Strategic Solutions.

 

Colophon among best of the best

Recipes from the Colophon Café’s four cookbooks were recently selected for the Best of the Best from Washington cookbook. Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley, who spent two years compiling recipes before narrowing down to 350 recipes, edit the Best of the Best series. Currently, the series consists of 34 volumes covering 42 states.

Colophon recipes selected include Yogi’s Banana Bread, Mexican Corn and Bean Sopa, African Peanut Soup, Clam Chowder, Turkey Chili, Avocado Caesar Salad, and Broccoli Cheddar Pot Pie.

 

Baron Telecommunications extends customer base

Baron Telecommunications has acquired records for Thomas Telecommunications and have thereby expanded their list of regional customers.

Mitch Thomas, principal of Thomas Telecommunications, is relocating out of state and chose Baron Telecommunications to serve his established client base.

 

Liberty Financial Group moves

Liberty Financial Group LLC, a mortgage bank serving real estate clients, has moved to a new office location in Bellevue. Westel Consulting upgraded and moved Liberty’s telephone system.

 

Whidbey Island Bank opens third Bellingham branch

Whidbey Island Bank opened the Fairhaven Financial Center last month. It is their third branch in Bellingham and their 16th branch in Northwest Washington.

The Fairhaven branch is a full-service center, offering deposit and loan products, private banking and investment services.

 

Local businesses in bloom

Members of the Whatcom County business community won awards in the 17th annual Whatcom County in Bloom competition. Among the notable award winners from the local business community were:

Individual Business

• Sunrise Ponds

• Greenacres Memorial Park,
Ferndale

• North Fork Brewery & Beer Shrine

 

Entrance with a Sign

• Lynden Downtown Business
Association

• Semiahmoo Resort Association

 

Office Complexes

• Northwestern Clinic

 

Shopping Districts

• Lynden Downtown Business
Association

• City of Everson

 

Public Agencies

• Whatcom County Master Gardener Foundation

• Hovander Park Demonstration
Garden

• Port of Bellingham – Blaine Public Promenade

• Ferndale Senior Center

Judges assessed each garden during the summer. Awards were handed out at a ceremony in September.

 

Surf’s up at Bellis Fair

B.C. Surf and Sport opened a location at Bellis Fair in August. The store offers gear and clothing for action sports, including skateboarding, in-line skating, and snowboarding. Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, B.C. Surf and Sport is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary this year.

 

REI awards grant to alpine safety program

REI, headquartered in Bellingham, gave $4,000 to the Alpine Safety Awareness Program, an educational program for middle and high school students. The grant will help produce a handbook to be distributed to ASAP students. ASAP is a Bellingham-based community organization with curricula across the United States. Recently, the American Avalanche Association endorsed ASAP.

 

Here’s How says Here’s Dana

Dana Johnston was promoted to assistant publicist at Here’s How Marketing. She started with the company in March as an intern from Evergreen State College. Johnston has a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis on English literature and marketing.

 

Personalized baby clock company bought by Bellingham couple

Bobbi and Dave Kelly of Bellingham are launching Moments in Time, a company featuring wall clocks personalized with a baby’s birth information. Previously, Gerber and Duracell promoted the clocks. The Kelly’s bought the company in January. Each clock comes with the baby’s name, place and time of birth, weight and length. The couple purchases the clocks from Wesclox and creates the clock faces themselves.

 

Saratoga on the move

Saratoga Commercial Management has relocated to a larger office in the Crown Plaza Building. High demand for professional management services led to their move.

 

VECO ranked 31st by trade paper

VECO Corporation, with an office in Bellingham, was ranked 31st in the nation for engineering and design, on $310 million in engineering revenues in 2001. Furthermore, VECO was ranked 1st for cogeneration engineering, 8th for pipeline engineering, 11th in refinery engineering, 19th in process engineering and 24th in power engineering,

The Bellingham office has been open since 1974. They provide multidisciplinary engineering services through a series of offices across the United States, Canada and the Middle East. The company has several projects in North and South America and across the world.

 

We Care files appeal of ergonomics ruling

The We Care Coalition, an association of business organizations across the state, filed an urgent appeal to the State Supreme Court of a ruling upholding the state’s ergonomics legislation.

We Care contends the ergonomic rules undermine the state’s Regulatory Reform Act.

“Cost benefit analyses, implementation plans and standard of review for significant reviews were a major part of that act and we were just starting to set Washington’s overzealous, burdensome regulatory process back on the right track,” said Amber Balch of the Association of Washington Business. Balch contends the Department of Labor and Industries didn’t do appropriate analysis before implementing the ergonomics legislation.

 

Life and health insurers’ profits up in first quarter

Life and health insurance companies posted $4.5 billion in profit in the first three months of 2002, an increase of $1.1 billion, or almost 33 percent over last year, according to Weiss Ratings. Increased profits were the result of increase in net written premiums along with declines in policy surrenders, life claims and annuity claims.

“Insurers’ revenues were buoyed by an increase in life insurance sales in the months following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,” said Melissa Gannon, vice president of Weiss Ratings.

Weiss also found insurance company’s investment in junk bonds increased by eight percent.

“The continued upward trend in junk bond holdings is disturbing given the high default rates this year,” Gannon said. “We hope to see the trend stop short of the dangerous levels reached in the early 1990s.”

Northern Life Insurance of Washington was upgraded by Weiss from a C+ to a B-.

 

Frontier Financial announces 4th quarter dividend

Frontier Financial Corporation declared a 16-cent per share forth quarter cash dividend on Oct. 21 to shareholders of record on Oct. 7. This is the twelfth consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid by Frontier.

 

Spook Shop comes to Bellis Fair

The Spook Shop, a one-stop shop for Halloween, is open in the Mervyns wing at Bellis Fair.

In addition, Bellis Fair will offer trick-or-treating to kids on Halloween from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Merchants will provide candy or other goodies to kids until supplies run out.

 

Johnson Team joins MLS

Properties listed by the Johnson Team will now be listed to agents in the Seattle area through the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Based in Kirkland, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service serves more than 17,000 associates in 13 counties in Western Washington.

According to Lylene Johnson, high prices in the Seattle real estate market mean buyers from Seattle are looking further north for property. Sellers will have access to this market through multiple listing service.

 

Collection agency fined

Nationwide Credit Inc. of Bellevue was fined $2,000 by the state licensing department for contacting an individual more than three times in a single week. The company must also review state regulations for collection agencies with their employees. According to the licensing department, it is illegal to harass, intimidate or threaten to collect a debt.

 

Radio Museum updates Web site

Bellingham’s American Museum of Radio has updated its Web site to include the Workroom. The Workroom includes clips of historic newscasts, demonstrations of static electricity devices and a virtual 1922 Tuska radio.

 

WWU offers business courses

Writing for business and nonprofit groups will be offered for seven sessions beginning Oct. 1 at Western Washington University. Margi Polland Fox, former English teacher and business owner, will teach the class, which will focus on clear and persuasive language when writing brochures, booklets, reports and
biographies.

Aligning Organizational Priorities, a two-day workshop held Oct. 15 – 16, covers ways to identify and work toward goals across an entire organization. The course is taught by Judy Heinrich, principal of the Whidbey Group, and Kathy Washatka, consultant.

Essentials for Supervision is a two-day workshop designed to teach supervisors skills related to decision making, time management, planning, delegation and conflict resolution. It will be held on successive Tuesdays beginning Oct. 29 and taught by Kathy Washatka.

 

State unemployment rate up slightly in August

Washington’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.2 percent in August.

“The August numbers are further evidence that Washington’s economy is likely to experience a slow recovery,” said Sylvia P. Mundy, employment security commissioner. “The good news is that the state’s economy appears to be withstanding the declines in manufacturing.

“Although economic signals are still mixed, it appears unlikely that the state or the nation will go into a double dip recession.”

 

Toll-free service offers lodging discounts

Bellingham Best Buys, a program of the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau, offers low rates on lodging through a toll-free service. Offers can be up to 50 percent off during the October – April value season.

Also available now is the LIVE! Brochure for September, 2002- February, 2003. The biannual guide provides a calendar of visual and performing arts in Whatcom County.

The 2002-03 Entertainment Book is also available. They provide coupons for discounts and two-for-one deals for restaurants, attractions, lodging and area business.

 

Revenue department adds enforcement muscle

The Washington State Department of Revenue is adding 70 additional auditors, revenue officers and tax discovery agents to collect $60 million in state and local taxes. The new employees will identify unregulated businesses, increase business audits, accelerate collection of delinquent taxes and educate taxpayers about tax obligations.

“People aren’t fond of paying taxes, but they generally don’t mind paying their fair share as long as they’re not alone,” said Will Rice, agency director. “Our job is to make sure that everyone pays a fair share.”

 

Locke mandates sustainability

Gov. Gary Locke signed an executive order calling for all state agencies to adopt sustainable environmental practices. The goal is to wisely use resources through energy efficient products, recycled materials and conservation programs. Locke promised to enact this order in February when he received an award from the Resource Renewal Institute.

 

Hospital charges increase, hospital stays decrease

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, while the cost to treat patients in the hospital increased from 1993 through 2000, the length of hospital stays decreased during the same period. For example, the cost of treating a heart attack rose from $20,500 in 1993 to $28,700 in 2000. However, in 1993, patients spent more than 7 days in hospital and only 5.5 days in hospital. Data for other high-cost conditions has followed a similar trend.

According to AHRQ, rising costs can be attributed to new technologies and rising medication costs, while economic pressures have forced shorter hospital stays.

 

International Absorbents expands market

Critter Care, International Absorbents small animal bedding, is now being sold through one of the big three mass merchandise retailers. Initially, Critter Care will be sold in 2,000 stores across the US. This means Critter Care will be sold in two of the three largest mass retailers.

“The sheer number of retail outlets and the foot traffic major retailers generate is a great opportunity for us to continue to grow our market share,” said Shawn Dooley, vice president for sales and marketing.

The company also announced a 2 percent increase in net income over the first six months of last year. Sales increased by 27 percent over the first six months of last year.

“The company continues to grow despite a sluggish economy,” said Gordon L. Ellis, chairman of International Absorbents.

 

Suquamish receive rural development grant

The Suquamish people received more than $466,000 in a rural business enterprise grant, as part of a $6.8-million program of rural business loans and grants administered by the US Department of Agriculture.

The money is designed to improve the overall economic conditions on the Port Madison reservation.

“Expanding America’s rural economy depends on the development of new businesses and the creation of new jobs,” said Ann M. Veneman, agriculture secretary.

The USDA also announced the availability of funds for a rural business enterprise grant program. They are accepting applications from public bodies, private non-profit corporations and federal Indian tribes from incorporated communities of fewer than 50,000 people which are not becoming urbanized and from unincorporated rural areas. Grant money is to be used for financing the development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in rural areas. Businesses should employ 50 or fewer and have projected gross revenue of less than $1-million. Applications should be submitted by Oct. 28.

 

Dawson completes dental office

Dawson Construction recently completed improvements for Dr. Faith R. Bult’s new dental practice in Bellingham. The 1,700 sq ft office contains five operatories. Mike McCallum, project manager, and Paul Yuska, project superintendent, guided the project to completion in only twelve weeks.

 

Game teaches tolerance, self-esteem

Molly Foote, a Bellingham counselor, has created Branch Out, a socially interactive game designed to teach participants about their own strengths and reach an understanding of others. Unlike other, similar products, which are limited to six players, Branch Out can be played by up to 35 players. Participants add leaves to a tree on the fabric game board as they answer questions about themselves.

 

Emerald Arts back up and running

Shirly Strand, owner of Emerald Arts Design, is accepting new clients after a year away. Strand specializes in Web design for large and small clients. While early Web authoring programs required each line of .html be handwritten, newer programs allow more people to be trained to maintain the site. For example, Strand created a Web site for the Bergsma Gallery and then trained a staff member to maintain the site.

 

Georgia Pacific delays separation plan

Georgia Pacific announced last month they are delaying plans to separate their consumer products and packaging divisions, due to the current slump in financial markets, weakness in the building products division, and the pending sale of Unisource, its paper distribution subsidiary.

Last May, the board decided to separate into two publicly traded companies.

“Although we are committed to our planned separation, we have reluctantly concluded now is not the right time to execute the transactions,” said A.D. “Pete” Correll, chairman and CEO of Georgia Pacific. “Implementation of the organizational structure and internal processes necessary for a separation of the two businesses will continue.”

 

WWU second in the west

According to rankings compiled by US News and World Report, Western Washington University is the second best public master’s granting institution in the west. Nationally, WWU ranked 11th in the country. Western is one of only two public schools ranked in the top 20 in the western US.

“We are very pleased that Western has moved up dramatically in the national rankings this year,” said Andrew Bodman, provost. “We have made substantial progress, despite tight budgets. The ranking is a tribute to the work of our faculty and staff.”

 

Northwest Pipeline gets project approval

Northwest Pipeline Corp. has received preliminary approval from the Northwest Air Pollution Authority and the Washington Department of Ecology to expand a natural gas pipeline compressor station near Sumas.

The two agencies are seeking public comment on the proposed permits.

Northwest plans to replace two gas-fired turbines with three cleaner burning turbines. According to the company, the new turbines will emit nitrogen oxide at lower levels then the current equipment. Both the new and old turbines emit carbon dioxide at the same rate, so a third turbine would increase carbon dioxide emissions.

Public comment period ends on Oct. 12.

 

Nooksack Tribe wins IHS battle

A federal judge dismissed Indian Health Services’ claim for repayment of funds by the Nooksack Tribe. The judge ruled that Indian Health Services did not determine the tribe’s obligations within a 365-day period allowed by law for such actions.

Indian Health Services is a federal agency charged with a treaty-generated responsibility to provide resources for Native American health care. The Nooksack Tribe operates several health care services.

 

Consultant weaves Fairhaven web

Computer and internet consultant John Servais had the foresight to reserve the URL Fairhaven.com back in 1995 when it was still free. Now, he’s launched the website in conjunction with business owners and the Fairhaven Association.

Most of the 200 businesses in Fairhaven are listed on the site, which features daily updates on Fairhaven activities called “The Buzz.”

“Fairhaven has that magical combination of ambiance, locally owned businesses and fun,” Servais said. “It’s a viable business community and deserves its own business website.”

Continuous updates on events, new businesses, buildings and history will be part of the website as well as a feature called “Haunted Fairhaven.”

 

Farmers, ranchers elect FSA rep

County Committee elections for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will take place November 19 – December 2. The FSA is seeking nominations from local agricultural producers, which are due at the county office by October 28.

“The County Committee is an important part of the delivery of USDA services to farmers,” said Darcy Maldonado, acting county executive director. “We want to include people representing a variety of crops and different types of operations. We also encourage women and farmers of different ethnic backgrounds to seek nomination.”

The FSA County Office Committee is the most direct link between USDA farm programs and local farmers. County Committees help shape nationwide programs into initiatives that work at the local level by making decisions related to commodity price support loans and payments, establishing allotments, yields and marketing quotas for some crops.

FSA committees also make eligibility determinations for conservation programs and disaster assistance.

 

Lynden gets crafty

A Country Collection Fall Craft and Antique Show celebrates its 13th year October 17-19 at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden. More than 100 of the best artisans and antique dealers in the area will be exhibiting their wares.

Many of the participants will be focusing on holiday décor and gifts. Admission is $3.50; seniors $3.00; under 12 free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and special door prizes will be awarded throughout the show.

 

Rocktoberfest at StonWest

One of Bellingham’s businesses with a very rocky outlook is holding “Rocktoberfest” throughout this month to kick off the fall remodeling season. The even will feature rock games to win prizes, rock coupons for savings on purchases, and numerous sale prices on granites, marbles, and other stones. Coupons and game prizes will be available at StonWest and other retailers to be announced on KAFE radio.

StonWest will extend its business hours during Rocktoberfest: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. StonWest is located at 2201 Valencia Street.