RE/MAX Whatcom County ranks high among real-estate leaders
RE/MAX Whatcom County, Inc. ranked 383 in 2004 sales volume among all residential real-estate firms in the country, according to the 18th annual REAL Trends survey released in May.
“We’re extremely proud of our hard-working realtors for placing us in the REAL Trends 500 a second consecutive year,” said Lori Reece, RE/MAX Whatcom County’s broker and co-owner.
REAL Trends ranks in the country’s top 500 brokerages, which represent less than 0.6 percent of approximately 80,000 residential real estate firms.
In Washington, only four other brokerages - located in Mercer Island, Seattle, Bothell, and Spokane - ranked higher than RE/MAX Whatcom County, which had 1,854 closed transaction sides in 2004.

Energy bar gets regional distribution
Goit House Natural Foods, makers of Belly Timber Gourmet Survival Bars and Original Stout Granola, recently shipped its first pallet order for Specialty Frozen Distributors, a regional supplier of natural food stores in Western Washington and Oregon.
Mary Goit started Goit House Natural Foods in 2003. She updated a 1960s granola recipe to make it commercially viable and socially responsible. As a result, all Goit House products are certified fair-trade and free-trade. Goit introduced her Original Stout Granola at Bellingham’s Community Food Co-op, where she continues to enjoy her strongest following.

ioCreative launches Web site for Victoria San Juan Cruises
Bellingham-based marketing firm ioCreative, recently launched a Web site for Victoria San Juan Cruises, a local company offering cruises throughout the San Juan Islands and into Victoria’s inner harbor. One of the main cruise attractions is the area’s Orca whales.
“The team at ioCreative made renovating our web sites painless,” said Drew Schmidt, owner of Victoria San Juan Cruises. “They have a very diverse group, able to handle everything from integrating our interactive reservations system to designing beautiful and appealing graphics.”
Skylark’s Hidden Cafe triples Fairhaven space
Don White, owner of Skylark’s Hidden Café in Fairhaven, closed his restaurant for two weeks in June to undergo a large scale remodel, tripling the restaurant’s floor space and adding a saloon.
When Abbey Garden Tearoom moved out of the front space to a larger building next door, White jumped at the chance to renovate. The 10-year-old cafe had long grown out of its tiny space. Weekend breakfast seekers often had to wait in line, unless the outdoor seating was open. The kitchen also needed more space.
“We’re not changing the original Skylark’s,” White said. “We have a solid customer base that loves the day room on the cobblestones. We’re just adding seating for people who would like to go out for a good home-cooked dinner that’s not too expensive, with the benefit of a full bar.”
Taking his cue from the actual 1890’ history of the restaurant’s Fairhaven location, White looked for historical style. He was inspired to create the type of decor of an upper class brothel, which was very prevalent in Fairhaven in the past.

Young Lynden entrepreneur buys Sidewalk Café
Grafton DeKoster recently purchased the Sidewalk Café in Lynden, becoming one of the youngest restaurant owners in Whatcom County.
DeKoster started as a restaurant dishwasher at age 15, then served as a host, a prep cook and a line cook.
“We’re now doing most of our baking on the premises, because I want our customers to enjoy the freshest pies, cookies, muffins, and biscuits,” DeKoster said. “Our menu features hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, crisp entrée salads, gourmet burgers and Dutch split pea soup. We also provide catering for events ranging in size from wedding receptions to business lunches.”
DeKoster renovated the Sidewalk Café’s outdoor patio, which features five tables and views of Mt. Baker. The remainder of the restaurant, founded in 1987, was refurbished this past year.
Ownership of Lynden restaurants runs in DeKoster’s family. His mother, Beth DeKoster, owned the Little Voo in the 1970s and an aunt, Gracine Polinder, previously operated the Fairway Café.
Local metal artist speaks nationally
Local metal artist Jim Binnion was recently invited to present a paper on a Japanese metal lamination process at the Santa Fe Symposium on Jewelry Manufacturing Technology in Albuquerque, N.M. The Symposium also presented him with the Industry Leader Award for significant contribution by a manufacturer in sharing quality technical information with the jewelry industry.
In the 17th century, a master swordsman, Mokume Gane, created a metal lamination process to adorn the swords of samurai in Japan. Binnion has spent 25 years perfecting the art, which results in an unusual pattern in mixed precious metals resembling wood grain or star patterns.

Electric car conquers Mt. Constitution
Bellingham Chrysler Center Sales Representative Charlie Feld recently drove an electric car to the top of Mt. Constitution on San Juan Island. The small, but street-legal vehicle comes from Global Electric Motorcars, a DaimlerChrysler Company, based in Fargo, N.D.
“These cars are the future,” Feld said. “It’s environmentally sound, doesn’t require gasoline and is fun to drive. There’s no lead, oil, acid, gas or diesel. There is no tail pipe, and the car is totally silent.”
With a top speed of 25 mph, the electric cars are permitted in areas with a speed limit of 35 or less, perfect for neighborhood and small community driving. It ranges up to 30 miles without a recharge. An on-board charger plugs into any 110-volt outlet, fully charging the vehicle in 6 to 8 hours. Four models are available of the 2005 edition, including two or four passenger and long or short bed utility vehicles, the long-bed resembles a miniature pickup truck.

Bellingham Flea Market opens
The Bellingham Flea Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in June, July and August. The flea market is located at 1111 Cornwall Ave., just one block from the Bellingham Farmers Market.
The Flea Market is intended primarily for used items, but crafts and food products are welcome in limited quantities.
The Bellingham Flea Market is a fund raising endeavor of The Opportunity Council, a non-profit human service organization. Space rental fees help support services for homeless families throughout Whatcom County.

Prostock Athletic Supply purchases new building
Eric Ericson, president of Bellingham’s Prostock Athletic Supply, recently purchased the former Christo’s building at 110 N. Samish Way.
Ericson said the new location has improved accessibility to I-5, increased parking, and additional square footage allowing the company to not only to enhance its in-house decorating service of embroidery and lettering, but with the trend to year round sports participation and it will have all sports merchandise on the floor year round.
Remodeling of the building is scheduled to begin in July and should be completed by the end of the year. Prostock anticipates moving out of its location in January 2006.
Prostock Athletic Supply has been servicing school, club, and recreational athletic teams and corporate customers since 1982 as a locally owned and operated business.

Colophon Café celebrates 20 years
The Colophon Café, a restaurant in the heart of Historic Fairhaven in Bellingham, recently celebrated 20 years in business.
The owners of the Colophon Café, Chris Brainard and David Killian, have strived to preserve the homey feeling of the Café. They have made some aesthetic changes, recently putting new carpeting in the downstairs dining room and fresh paint both upstairs and down.
The Café opened in 1985 and Brainard joined the team in 1988when he was hired on as general manager. Brainard and Killian set their sights on designing a dining room in the unused basement of the building. The expansion allowed more diners to visit. The influx of current and new customers then prompted Chris to devise and implement a plan for full wait staff in the new downstairs dining room.
David Killian came on board in 1990 as a kitchen manager. He redesigned the kitchen to provide adequate food production for both the upstairs and downstairs.
The Colophon Café will celebrate its anniversary in conjunction with the 25 year anniversary of Village Books.

KD Events Wedding & Party Rentals expands
Kyle Devaney, owner of KD Events Wedding & Party Rentals in Bellingham, recently expanded his services to Skagit & San Juan counties.
In order to better serve its clients, KD Events, an event rental company that rents canopies, tables, chairs and linens, opened its second warehouse south of Bellingham. Devaney started the business three years ago after working in the event rental business for 10 years.

Jean Christensen opens new practice
Jean R. Christensen recently opened a new health therapy practice at 1106 Harris St. in Bellingham.
Christensen specializes in CranioSacral Therapies for children, infants and adults. She also offers SomatoEmotional Release, Structural Muscular Balancing and Bowen Therapy techniques.
She has been actively involved in the alternative health care industry since 1986, when she worked at the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians in Seattle.

Academic Outfitters moves to Fairhaven
Anne McGreevy and Mary Gibb, owners of Academic Outfitters in Bellingham, recently decided to move their business from downtown to a new Fairhaven location.
The new location on Harris Ave. will add 500 square feet, offering more space for merchandise, as well as classroom space for private tutoring, toddler times, summer learning camps and guest educators teaching small groups. The store also offers educational toys, science products and math games.
McGreevy and Gibb’s common experience of teaching at Assumption Catholic School, and having children, inspired the pair to open the store. The new store will open the first week of July.

BAC buys Woodway treadmills
Bellingham Athletic Club recently purchased $45,000 worth of Woodway treadmills.
Woodway treadmills are known throughout the industry for its unique deck surface that has been shown by the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Koln, Germany to have the ideal amount of cushioning to eliminate harmful shock to connective tissue.

BBB military project off and running
The Better Business Bureau Military Line, a new consumer advocacy program, recently started a new program to teach military personnel and their families about not falling victim to scams and poor money management.
“Military personnel get paid regularly every few weeks, and they’re not going to get laid off or quit,” said Holly Petraeus, a promoter for the new Military Line program. “That military salary is very attractive to scam artists and unethical businesses.”
On a local level, the Better Business Bureau serving Western Washington is providing educational briefings for military personnel and their families, as well as working with local businesses to promote ethical treatment of military consumers. Petraeus said the best advice for service members is not to make impulse purchases and to research what they’re buying and whom they’re buying from.

Gov. Gregoire will continue Competitiveness Council
Gov. Christine Gregoire recently announced plans to continue the Competitiveness Council started under the Locke Administration and reappointed Tom Fitzsimmons as chief of staff and Juli Wilkerson as Director of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
The Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest business association, will work with the Legislature to focus on the positives Washington has to offer to job providers. It will also work to lower costs such as high unemployment insurance rates, making it possible for companies and their workers to stay in the state.
“Our members tell us they are in a continuing race to maintain markets. Competitiveness is a moving target,” said Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business. “Each state and foreign government is constantly looking for ways to attract Washington employers and businesses.
Conference empowers Skagit Valley College women
Thirty-one women of color from Skagit Valley College attended the spring Women of Color Empowerment dinner held at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
Attendees from Skagit Valley College represented faculty, staff and students of color. The dinner was highlighted by four distinguished women of color who shared their stories of adversity, perseverance and successes in education and in their careers.

Local experts create business how-to CDs for Canadians
Three Bellingham professionals, Gene R. Moses, Greg Boos and Max Legg, recently produced a three-volume CD-ROM set titled “Doing Business in the U.S.A.”
The set provides information on business strategies, taxation, corporate law and immigration law for Canadians looking to do business in the United States.

Roger Jobs opens used-vehicle lot
Roger Jobs Motors Inc. recently opened used-vehicle lot at 1300 Iowa St.
According to the company, the demand for used vehicles has doubled in the past three years.
Roger Jobs sells Volkswagen, Audi, Jeep, and Porsche vehicles.

Quiznos Sub to open in Ferndale
Whatcom Wide Holding Inc, an investment company formed in 2004 by Ferndale Police lieutenant Travis Glass and special agent for Immigrations and Customs enforcement Aaron Labumbard recently opened a Quiznos Sub in Ferndale. Michael Culberson will manage and operate the store.

Management Services Northwest celebrates 10 years
Management Services Northwest, Inc. celebrate its 10-year anniversary on July 1.
Management Services Northwest, Inc. is a full service cleaning and maintenance company now serving more than 100 commercial facilities from Whatcom to King County. It is the only local maintenance firm that is a “one-call” source to meet all of its client’s facility needs including janitorial, floor and carpet care, landscaping, plumbing, electrical, project work and repairs and consulting services.

RMC Architects wins national masonry competition
Ross McClure Architects (RMC) of Bellingham, along with R&D Masonry in Everett, recently won the National Design Build Competition for masonry in Chicago. The competition was based on the theme “It Makes A Village.”
Pete Sutherland and Brett Dettering of RMC teamed with Adrian Siverson and John McCarthy of R&D. The team designed and built a tugboat complete with an operating smokestack, horn and lights. They also created a water effect with blue cellophane and glass block.
RMC was invited to the event after winning the top three awards at Masonry Institute of Washington’s competition in Seattle.

Fitness spa facility changes name and Lynden location
Fair Square Fitness and Tanning recently opened in the Fair Square shopping center in Lynden. Leesa Vos, who launched the business in 1996, said the new building enabled her to make improvements without changing her focus.
“This is for the average person, not somebody wanting to enter a bodybuilding competition,” Vos said. “We’re all about comfort and atmosphere for the person who wants better health.”

Farmers Insurance agent earns ‘Top’ honors again
Erik Dyrland, owner of the Erik Dyrland Farmers Insurance Agency in Bellingham, has qualified as a ‘Topper Club’ Agent by Farmers Insurance for the 17th time in his 18 years as a Farmers Agent.
The ‘Topper Club’ award is given to agents for consistently high sales volume of auto, home, life and business policies, plus high client retention, service and profitability. Only 52 of the more than 600 Farmers Agents in Washington state qualified to receive ‘Topper Club’ honors in 2004, with Dyrland placing in the top 10.

WWU Board of Trustees endorses waterfront efforts
The Western Washington University board of trustees recently voted to endorse the universities efforts in working with the Port of Bellingham to plan for a university presence on Bellingham’s waterfront.The trustees’ motion does not commit Western to any specific project on the waterfront, but acknowledges the trustees’ approval of the process under way and their support with moving ahead with that process.
“I appreciate the board’s endorsement of our efforts,” said WWU President Karen W. Morse. “Looking to Western’s future is an exciting prospect, especially in the context of our growing Bellingham community.”
Morse appointed a committee in spring 2004 to explore the potential for involvement in redevelopment of the former Georgia-Pacific waterfront property. The committee developed guiding principles for considering the universities’ proposals and then held three public forums in fall of 2004.
First phase of Memorial Park complete
The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department, working in partnership with Bellingham radio station KGMI-AM 790, recently completed the first phase of “The Memorial Park Project.”
“Memorial Park was dedicated in 1919 to honor those from Whatcom County who died in World War I,” said Leslie Bryson, City Parks design and development manager. “This project is a community-wide effort to continue the tradition of honoring local men and women who have died in the service of our country.”

Communities gain Web sites with local business listings
BellinghamPlaces.com, a local business listing Web site, recently expanded to cover smaller communities in Whatcom and Skagit counties.
Owner Cale Luna launched FerndalePlaces.com, LyndenPlaces.com and BlainePlaces.com, and similar websites for Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, La Conner and Sedro-Woolley.
“I’m helping businesses that don’t need a full website but want a presence on the Internet,” Luna said. “Businesses that already have a Web site also benefit because additional links increase their rankings on search engines.”
Each business receives a free listing on its community Web site with its address and phone number.

Supreme Court to hear case against legislative abuse
The Washington State Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a case protecting the people’s rights to file a referendum on legislative actions, guaranteed by the state constitution.
“The fact that the Supreme Court is willing to take this case on is a huge victory for the people of Washington State,” said Don Whiting of the Washington State Grange.
This past month, the Washington Farm Bureau, the Building Industry Association, the Washington State Grange, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the Secretary of State’s denial of the referendum filed by the Farm Bureau.

Lynden company moves to Wiser Lake Business Park
All Season Windows & Gutters Inc. of Lynden, specializing in the exterior maintenance of homes and commercial buildings, recently moved to Wiser Lake Business Park. The three- year-old company relocated to accommodate the growth of its clientele.
Owner Brian J. Botta Pillo said the company has customers in Whatcom, Skagit and north Snohomish counties.
“Home and rental owners, property managers and businesses rely on us to prevent structural problems while improving a property’s appearance,” Botta Pillo said.
All Season Windows & Gutters cleans gutters, windows, decks, driveways, fences and sidewalks.

Tahiti Mi Tan opens second Bellingham salon
Tahiti Mi Tan recently opened a second Bellingham location to serve the city’s South Side. Owner Shannon Medearis opened her first store at Sunset Square in 2003.
Tahiti Mi Tan now offers 23 tanning units, including more high-pressure tanning beds that produce deeper and longer lasting tans with little risk of burning the skin.
Medeaaris said that families could use their tanning packages at both locations.

NW Hair Academy affiliates with Costa Mesa
Northwest Hair Academy of Mount Vernon recently affiliated with Costa Mesa, Calif.-based Paul Mitchell, The School, a training program for beauty professionals.
Northwest Hair Academy, owned by Darrell and Mary Camp, has been in business for 26 years. The school currently has about 100 students.

Language Exchange, Inc. receives federal contract.
Project Manager Connie Price and President Jaye Stover of The Language Exchange, Inc., in Burlington, submitted and won a bid to be an official supplier of government translations in up to 35 languages.
With a dramatic increase in demand for translations by all government agencies, The Language Exchange, Inc. is developing their Written Translation Division.
Since 1986 provision of oral interpreters through state, county and municipal contracting, as well as to a myriad of private companies, has been through sub-contracting with some 700 interpreters working throughout western Washington. Errors and Omissions Insurance covering interpreters, translations and certification of language professionals has contributed to nearly a million dollar gross revenue for this local company.

American Home Mortgage opens new branch
American Home Mortgage recently opened a new branch in Bellingham. Branch manager Christy Austin, who has 20 years of mortgage banking experience, will head the office.
American Home Mortgage is a national mortgage banking firm licensed in all 50 states, and in April, Forbes Magazine ranked the company among the top 2,000 companies in the world based on sales profits, assets and market value as well as the second fastest-growing company in the nation.

Bellingham Weekly joins Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Bellingham Weekly, Northwest Washington’s largest circulation arts and entertainment newsweekly, is the newest member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN).
The AAN is a prestigious organization of more than 125 metropolitan newsweeklies.
The Bellingham Weekly, that circulates 20,000 copies every Thursday throughout Whatcom, Skagit and Island Counties, is one of three weekly papers admitted this year from a field of ten.

Clickpop Records inaugural record release a success
Clickpop Records, a Bellingham pop music label, felt success when Warner Brothers/Reprise picked up Clickpop’s inaugural record release “Strange We Should Meet Here”. Warner Brothers/Reprise signed the band, Idiot Pilot, to a multi-CD recording artist development deal.
Clickpop founders, Dave Richards and Paul Turpin are music industry veterans. Richards launched the indie Rebel Alliance music label, owns Sonic Index, a successful record shop and works as a down-tempo DJ.
Paul Turpin is a proprietor of Bellingham’s top commercial sound studio, Bayside Recording and had worked with Idiot Pilot for some time before the formation of Clickpop Records.
Clickpop supports a diverse roster with singer-songwriter Kristin Allen-Zito, all-girl synth punk band the Trucks and space rockers Delay.

Frontier Bank receives “Top” recognition
The Independent Community Bankers of America recently recognized Frontier Bank as a “Top 20” earnings performer for having one of the best year-end earnings performances in 2004 for ICBA member banks with $500 million in assets or more.
Frontier Bank has 40 banking offices throughout Snohomish, King, Pierce, Skagit, Whatcom, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties.

Oak Harbor welcomes new restaurant
Flyers Restaurant and Brewery in Oak Harbor is scheduled to open in July. The restaurant is co-owned by Greg and Rosa Tritt, their son Jason Tritt and Tony Savoy. The menu features items such as burgers, soups, salads, pizza and sandwiches as well as steak and seafood on the dinner menu.
The Tritt family has three generations of military flyers and the owners will offer t-shirts and other items with a photo of Jason Tritt’s grandfather in flyer’s garb.

Management Services Northwest Celebrates 10 Years
Management Services Northwest, Inc. celebrate its 10-year anniversary on July 1.
Management Services Northwest, Inc. is a full service cleaning and maintenance company now serving more than 100 commercial facilities from Whatcom to King County. It is the only local maintenance firm that is a “one-call” source to meet all of its client’s facility needs including janitorial, floor and carpet care, landscaping, plumbing, electrical, project work and repairs and consulting services.