Businesses sign Port of Skagit County leases
Three businesses recently signed leases with the Port of Skagit County. Garcia Enterprises signed a six-year lease, while existing tenants Tri-County Truss and Eddyline Kayaks each signed five-year leases. All three businesses will be located at the port’s Bayview Business and Industrial Park.
Garcia Enterprises, owned by Carlos and Cathy Garcia of Mount Vernon, signed a six-year “start-up program” lease with the port. The program is designed to assist beginning businesses by offering stepped lease rates. In the program one-third of rent is charged the first year, two-thirds rent is charged the second year and the full rate is charged the third year. Garcia Enterprises rented 15,274 square feet of manufacturing space and two loading dock bays. The company assembles Styrofoam food trays, with absorbent pads and bags, used for chicken packaging for Draper Valley Farms. Garcia Enterprises currently has nine employees.
Tri-County Truss’ five-year lease adds 4,461 square-feet of office space to its ten-acre manufacturing site. Tri-County Truss’ Burlington plant is a state-of-the-art facility that employs 170 people.
Eddyline Kayaks, owned by Tom and Lisa Derrer of Mount Vernon, signed a five-year lease that enabled it to expand into a 17,400 square-foot building. Twenty-five people are currently working at Eddyline designing and manufacturing kayaks and paddles.

EDASC Procurement Program wins national award
EDASC’s Procurement Technical Assistance Program was recently awarded the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Center’s 2004-2005 Project of the Year Award. EDASC was presented with the award at the annual APTAC conference in Nashville, Tennessee on April 6. EDASC received the award for its work on the HUBZone project.

Western proposes waterfront presence
Western Washington University will most likely occupy a significant amount of central waterfront land being redeveloped by the Port of Bellingham.
Western faculty and administrators presented nineteen proposals after Western President Karen Morse, chair of the selection committee, asked for ideas for the 137-waterfront acres.
Some of the proposals call for relocation of existing programs, while others aim to establish stronger relationships with the community.
Some of the ideas include a 6,000–seat events center that would replace Sam Carver Gymnasium for basketball and other civic events, a new campus for Huxley College and relocation of the Performing Arts Center.
The university will look at programs providing opportunities to work with the private sector and the government.
For the port, figuring out how much land to allow Western is the question. While officials said Western’s presence is a huge boost to the redevelopment, they also need to resell portions of the land to recoup the $15 million environmental cleanup costs they face. The city also hopes to see property tax revenues cover the money it is spending on street access and utility improvements to the site. Western does not have to pay property taxes.

Zervas wins award for home design
Zervas Group Architects recently won a Custom Home Design Award for the Doornenbal residence in Bellingham.
Of nearly 300 entries, Zervas was one of only 4 Grand Award winners, the highest honor other than the Custom Home of the Year.
The award was presented at The Best in Housing Awards Dinner at the AIA National Convention May 20. The awards are a cooperative effort between Custom Home Magazine and Residential Architect Magazine.

Anacortes hotel sells, new owners have big plans
The Majestic Hotel in downtown Anacortes was recently purchased by Regal Hospitality LLC and the new ownership group has plans to renovate the building and house a restaurant, bar and spa.
The restaurant and bar are planned to open this summer, while the spa will be a more in-depth project that will take up the entire second floor.
The Majestic has been empty since a fire gutted the building in 2001, the night before a sale with a different buyer was set to close. After that deal fell through, Main Street Group LLC purchased The Majestic with hopes for buying other property in the area and developing the entire block. When that didn’t work, Main Street sold the hotel to Regal Hospitality.
Regal Hospitality has three partners, Bob Morand and Guy Davidson of Anacortes and Mike Keenan of Bellingham, who owns the Chrysalis Inn and Spa.

New office and retail building in planning stages in Anacortes
Seafarer’s Way in Anacortes could become home to a 20,000-square-foot office and retail facility.
ASAP investments owns property on the south side of the Cap Sante Boat Basin and the ownership group decided to develop the property after interest was expressed by businesses who would like to relocate there. The businesses in the building would most likely be marine related.
ASAP investments hopes to move quickly through the public comment and planning stages and break ground this spring.

T Bailey moving on new steel fabrication plant
T Bailey, an Anacortes steel fabrication company, recently purchased 19 acres from the Port of Anacortes with plans to build a 115,000-square-foot plant on March Plant.
The plant is scheduled to open in December and will create 80 new jobs, which currently has about 60 employees.
T Bailey bought the acreage from the port for about $600,000 with the promise to build the new plant, which should break ground by July.
The company was formed in 1994. Nearly 25 percent of the companies business comes from wind towers that it produces for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and General Electric.

Rome Store celebrates 90th anniversary
A grocery store five miles east of Bellingham is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Rome Store, founded in 1915, is one of the oldest grocery stores in Whatcom County still operating at its original location: 2908 Mount Baker Highway at the Sand Road intersection. Owner Bill Broy purchased Rome Store in 1993 and operates it with the assistance of his parents, Cliff and Nancy Broy.
The store’s rich history includes a visit by movie legend Clark Gable when he was appearing in scenes on Mt. Baker for “The Call of the Wild” in 1935. In many ways, Rome Store still is like the general stores of yesteryear, offering a variety of hardware and household products to complement its grocery items. The store provides the closest U-Haul, Western Union, lottery, and ATM services for many local residents.
Rome Store also appeals to those traveling to and from Mt. Baker. Its deli serves fresh sandwiches, chicken, burritos, and hamburgers.

North Coast, Financial Network Investment are separate companies
While North Coast and Financial Network Investments are now separate companies, North Coast members and the public will continue to have access to investment services through the investment company at their local credit union branch offices in Bellingham and Mt. Vernon. Services include investment planning, educational seminars, mutual funds, insurance, annuities, stocks and bonds.“Financial Network is one of the largest and most reputable broker/dealers in the U.S.,” said North Coast’s President and CEO, Terry Belcoe, “We are excited that members and the public will continue to have the opportunity to handle their planning and investment needs right on the premises.”Since 1939, North Coast has been committed to the financial health and well being of its member-owners. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or worships in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan County. North Coast is federally insured by the NCUA.

All American Marine builds its largest catamaran
Bellingham-based All American Marine Inc. recently built the $2.2 million Valdez Spirit for Stan Stephens Cruises in Valdez, Alaska, where it will be used for glacier and wildlife tours. The 82-foot catamaran is the largest of the 14 catamarans the company has built.
All American Marine has 40 employees and specializes in building New Zealand teknicraft hull design catamarans.

Air Taxi adds flights to islands
Bellingham-based Air Taxi recently began offering daily flights between Bellingham, the San Juan Islands and Anacortes.
The company, which opened in April, currently has a three-passenger Cessna and is adding a five-passenger Cessna. The company is owned by Fred Knutsen, who also owns Bellingham Aero Flight School and Bellingham Fuel Services.

Home Depot opens in Oak Harbor
Home Depot opened a new store on Highway 20. The store offers more than 35,000 different products and will employ 125 local employees, Manager Melanie Arbogast said.

Port revenue up
The Port of Bellingham’s first quarter revenues were up 10 percent from last year, including an operating income that increased by 17 percent.
Total income from port operations was nearly $1.3 million and expenses were lower than originally predicted.

Topping to teach health education classes
Noted author and trainer Wayne Topping, PhD, LMT, recently began offering a series of health education classes in Bellingham.
The classes include Stress Release I through IV, Energy Centers, Nutritional Testing and Allergies. The classes may be taken individually or as a series. While ideal for kinesiology and other health practitioners, these classes are open to anyone, and will be held at the Topping International Institute at 2505 Cedarwood Ave., Suite 3 in Bellingham.
Dr. Topping is one of four IKC (International Kinesiology College) faculty members in the United States and the founder of Wellness Kinesiology.

DeWaard & Jones moves to Broadway Commercial Center
The DeWaard & Jones Company recently relocated to the Broadway Commercial Center at 1609 Broadway, on the corner of Broadway and Elm in Bellingham.
Personnel and service additions made the company’s former location on Franklin Street too cramped, co-founder Bob Jones said.
DeWaard & Jones helps local businesses grow and tune the information systems that run the business.

Mount Vernon’s WNS top job contractor in Washington
Work Now Services, a job contractor that serves Skagit and San Juan counties and Camano Island through the WorkFirst program, has the highest percentage of employed clients of any agency in Washington state.
Ninety-five percent of WNS clients are currently employed. The state average is 63 percent and the next highest contractor serves the city of Seattle and has a 74-percent employment rate.
WNS was formed in 2002 by Ed and JoAnn Parris and the company’s goal is to find the right job for every client to succeed. In addition to Ed and JoAnn, the WNS staff consists of two former WorkFirst clients, April Soria and Julie Moors. The staff has been responsible for moving more than 200 families from the welfare roll to the payroll since 2002.
Zervas Group Architects wins “Best New Building” of 2005
Bellingham-based Zervas Group recently completed its largest project to date, the Lynwood Convention Center, which won Evening Magazine’s “Best New Building” for 2005. The $31 million convention center is located one block west of Interstate 5 in Lynwood, Washington and has 55,000 square feet of convention space.
The center has 11 flexible meeting spaces and incorporates state-of-the-art technology systems, in-house catering services from a commercial kitchen and a light floor that is the only of its kind in the nation
The Zervas Group Architects, a 14-person firm founded in Bellingham in 1961, specializes in public, commercial, multi-family and custom residential projects.

Trust for Public Land will not purchase spit
The Trust for Public land has backed out of negotiations to purchase land on the Semiahoo spit from the Trillium Corporation.
In a statement TPL Project Director Peter Dykstra said that in meetings with Trillium it became apparent that the company wanted to move forward with its development plans rather than sell the land to TPL.
For many Blaine-area residents the end of negotiations comes as a blow in the effort to preserve the spit instead of developing it with 72 condominium units that will be built on 22 acres.

LTI drivers ratify labor deal
Milk tank truck drivers ratified a new three-year contract with Lynden-based LTI Inc., assuring that milk will continue to move from the region’s dairies.
The drivers had been without a contract for almost three years and during that time their medical premiums had increased to an average of $401 per month – causing the drivers to threaten striking.
But after a mediator was brought in the Teamsters Local 231 and LTI quickly came to an agreement that lowered the drivers’ share of the premiums to $206 per month, equal to a $1.15-an-hour raise. The drivers will also receive a 40-cent-an-hour raise in each of the contract’s three years.

Anacortes marina raises rates by 10.5 percent
The Port of Anacortes recently increased the rates at the Cap Sante Boat haven by 10.5 percent. The marina currently provides year-round moorage for about 1,200 recreational and commercial vessels.
The new rates were implemented after a revised cost replacement model for setting rates was adopted. The replacement model looked at direct operating expenses, maintenance expenses, inflation adjustment, interest payments, cost replacement asset value and total square feet of billable moorage for setting new rates at the marina.

Airporter Shuttle / Bellair Charters celebrates 20th year
Ferndale-based Airporter Shuttle / Bellair Charters is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a celebration in Mount Vernon on June 17. The event is from 11am – 3pm at the Best Western CottonTree Inn and is free and open to the public. KAFE-FM will broadcast live from the event and there will be food and giveaways.
Airporter Shuttle / Bellair Charters has provided safe, dependable transportation services since 1985. One minivan and two trips to Sea Tac has expanded to 45 vehicles, offering 12 daily round-trips to SeaTac, as well as service to Anacortes, Oak Harbor and eastern Washington.

Deception Pass Visitor Center reopens
After three years of vacancy the Deception Pass Visitor Center reopened April 18, offering information of all sorts as well as an espresso bar, snack and Northwest gifts for every budget. The center is also a local art gallery and offers Asian gifts.
The center, located one-mile south of Deception Pass on the west side of SR 20, is now owned by Tim and Chong McCarthy, who want to make the center an asset to the Oak Harbor area again.
Pete Rivera of Coldwell Banker, Koetje Real Estate was the listing and selling agent.

Cascade Gas opens Bellingham call center
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation opened a new Bellingham call center in May.
The center consolidates customer service operations that were previously spread out in 13 locations in the Seattle-based company’s Oregon and Washington service zone.
The new center has 25 customer service employees and is averaging 2,100 calls per day.

Baynut.com featured in “Business Owners’ Idea Café”
Saralee Sky, owner of babynut.com, is featured in the May 2005 edition of the online magazine, “Business Owner’s Idea Café.” The magazine provides small business information, ideas and tips. It also profiles small business entrepreneurs.
Babynut was launched on November 6, 2003, and provides natural, alternative and organic products and information for pregnancy, adoption, childbirth, parenting, babies and toddlers.
Based in Bellingham, Babynut does business solely on the Internet. Products for sale include natural and organic maternity, nursing, baby and toddler clothes, books on pregnancy, adoption, natural childbirth, parenting and music.

Coltran Allstate wins quality service award
The Allstate agency of Dick Coltran recently received the “Quality Service Agency Award” from Allstate Insurance Company.
The award indicates that Coltran’s agency, based in Bellingham, is one of the top Allstate agencies in customer satisfaction and retention and that they have consistently exceeded customer expectations throughout the past year.
In order to achieve the award, the agency had to meet specific customer satisfaction measures and must have customer satisfaction processes in place that support Allstate’s goal of providing outstanding customer service.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award,” Coltran said. “This award symbolizes our agency’s commitment to providing the best customer service available.”

Financial advisors combine to offer planning strategies
Marvin DeGraaff, CFP, and Jon Picolet, AAMS, both financial advisors with Waddell & Reed, Inc. in Bellingham, recently began a partnership to offer Successful Comprehensive Financial Planning. The service in unique in the way it is designed to benefit both the business and employee at the same time.
The duo’s approach utilizes DeGraaf’s CFP expertise of comprehensive financial planning for business and Picolet’s experience emphasizing personal comprehensive financial planning. They have combined these specialties into a service focusing on the needs of the three major components of any business: the business itself, the personal financial needs of the business owner and the individual financial planning needs of each employee.
The partnership will offer superior financial planning with unparalleled service and value.

Fitness/Spa Facility Changes Name and Lynden Location
Leesa Vos
A new location led to a new name for a Lynden business offering fitness equipment and spa services. Fairsquare Fitness and Tanning opened April 16 in the Fair Square shopping center at 1895 Front St., across from the Cost Cutter supermarket.
Leesa Vos, who launched the business in 1996, said the new building enabled her to make some improvements, but her focus remains the same. “This is for the average person, not somebody wanting to enter a body-building competition,” Vos said. “We’re all about comfort and atmosphere for the person who wants better health.”
As a result, the clientele at Fairsquare Fitness and Tanning ranges in age from 15 to 92. Vos said many start with the 14 toning beds and gradually gain the confidence to work out on the treadmills, stepping machines, elliptical machines, and Nautilus weights. Personalized instruction is available from the certified staff at no extra charge.
The spa side of the business features three tanning beds and the only leg tanner in Whatcom County. Alpha Massage, Aqua Massage and body wraps also are available. One of the additions is endermologie treatments, which are similar to a deep massage that removes cellulite from women and men without using an invasive technique such as liposuction. Vos said Fairsquare Fitness and Tanning is the only business in Western Washington north of Seattle/Bellevue that offers endermologie.

Mount Vernon Wal-Mart decision still in limbo
The controversy surrounding the proposed Wal-Mart supercenter is nowhere near over if the five-hour Mount Vernon City Council meeting, which ended with no resolution, is any indication.
The proposed store, a207, 000-square foot full-service grocery store that will also include other retail stores, would be located just north of Lowe’s Home Improvement at the corner of Freeway Drive and Stewart Road.
While a legal battle is brewing regarding the potential traffic impacts around the development site, much of the controversy centers on the local food workers union allegations that Wal-Mart does not pay living wages. About 75 union members rallied outside the council meeting holding signs reading “Livable Mount Vernon” and giving short speeches.
More than 100 people crammed into the police and court campus meeting room to hear the council’s decision that never came.
After five hours of deliberations council members called the meeting to a close and will revisit the issue at 6 p.m. on May 17.
During the meeting Wal-Mart developers and the State Department of Transportation revealed a plan that will have Wal-Mart pay about $1.4 million to make improvements to a congested area of College Way as part of plan to reduce congestion on a stretch of road the DOT estimates will see 16,000 additional traffic trips each day if the Wal-Mart is built.
But the union is not happy with improvement. Union lawyers said plans to restripe the intersections and provide more turn lanes still will not bring the intersections to city standards.