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Chamber briefed on “New Whatcom”
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry heard an update on the Port and City of Bellingham’s redevelopment of 137 acres of waterfront property in its annual economic forecast breakfast in February. Mayor Mark Asmundson and Port Environmental Director Mike Stoner addressed the group.
Asmundson remarked that Georgia-Pacific, which previously owned the property, left its imprint on the property for 100 years, and now is the opportunity for the community to shape the “New Whatcom” property “for a century to come.”
“We are begging you to be part of the process,” pleaded Asmundson. He stressed that the changes to the waterfront will be driven by the input received from the community, explaining that development regulations are still to be finalized, so now is the time to speak up.
While public access and a working waterfront are among the considerations for the development, “The city and port don’t have the end destination in mind.”
Asmundson called the work between the city and the port an “unprecedented partnership” and one that is extremely beneficial in acquiring funding for the project. Currently $17,000 in legislative earmarks as well as $30-$40 million for environmental cleanup are in the works.
That cleanup is being spearheaded by the port and its Environmental Director Mike Stoner. He estimates the property will require a $65 million investment to clean up. It is known that the site contains mercury contamination, as well as other contaminants in lesser amounts.
The port will also play a large role in redeveloping the property. Determining the proper mix of jobs vs. green space is “one of the key public comments we are trying to get,” Stoner said.
Another key question is what will become of the old treatment lagoon. The port commission has passed a resolution supporting transforming the 30-acre site into a marina, Stoner said. “It’s part of our growing community,” he added, noting the high demand for the current marina.
Other items being considered are historic preservation of some of the G-P buildings and preservation of the current deep-water terminal.
A final master plan is slated for December.

Delta Air Lines to serve Bellingham
Beginning in June, travelers out of Bellingham will be able to fly directly to Salt Lake City aboard Delta Air Lines. From Salt Lake City, travelers can connect on more than 300 daily flights to 107 non-stop destinations in the U.S (including Hawaii), Canada and Mexico.
“For years people in our community have asked for additional direct flight destinations out of Bellingham and we believe this new service from Delta is exactly what people have wanted,” said Port of Bellingham Commissioner Doug Smith from a Salt Lake City press conference announcing the deal. Smith and Port Aviation Director Art Choat flew to Salt Lake to take part in the announcement.
Delta’s new service to Bellingham will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest using a 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet. Two flights a day will fly from Bellingham to Salt Lake.
“More than one million people live within 60 miles of the Bellingham Airport,” said Choat. “We believe that many people will choose to fly out of Bellingham and avoid the I-5 traffic and hassles of going to SeaTac or Vancouver International Airport.”
The port has been pursuing additional air service since United Airlines stopped serving Bellingham in 2001. The port worked with a coalition of local business and community leaders to promote Bellingham and the port has been in discussions with Delta for several years. In addition to serving regional residents, the new service also will be a boost for the local tourism industry.
“Having this service to Salt Lake City will open a new world of visitor and meeting markets for us, not only in Utah, but for all the connecting cities Delta serves,” said Bellingham Mount Baker Tourism Director John Cooper. “In the past we focused largely north and south for visitors; now we can look to the east.”
Last month the Port of Bellingham completed a $2 million remodel and airport enhancement project that expanded the terminal area, enclosed the baggage area, remodeled terminal restrooms, replaced all airport seating and carpeting and installed a Northwest-style exterior to the commercial terminal building. It is likely that the port will add additional parking areas to accommodate the increased demand once Delta flights begin.
Currently Horizon Air flies seven flights out of Bellingham to SeaTac daily and Allegiant Air flies from Bellingham to Las Vegas six times a week.

‘Topping off’ ceremony for Silver Reef hotel
The Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa is marked an important milestone in the construction of their new destination hotel and spa just north of Bellingham. A topping-off ceremony took place in early March at the six-story structure.
Midway between groundbreaking and grand opening, a point in the construction process occurs when the highest structural element of a building is put in place. Whether it is a steel beam, a piece of wood or even a concrete plank, workers and guests will sign it. A crane then hoists it to the top of the building, along with a small pine tree to symbolize new growth and good luck.
Silver Reef’s third phase will consist of 105 hotel rooms with four deluxe suites. The sixth floor will be called the Diamond Executive Floor and features restricted access, a private lounge and upgraded amenities. The Spa will offer massage rooms, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and a fitness center. Also included in this phase of the master expansion plan is a third full-service restaurant called Panasia, a 50-seat restaurant specializing in contemporary cuisine from the Far East. More catering space will be added with a fixed seat executive boardroom, in addition to a 1,000 square foot meeting room.
This phase of expansion will bring the size of Silver Reef Casino to 135,000 square feet. The total number of slot machines will increase to 675. Seventy-five new jobs will be added the current roster of almost 400 employees.

North Island Boat Company moves to Skyline Marina
North Island Boat Company announced in late February that its marine service and repair business will relocate to Skyline Marina from its current location on 28th Street in Anacortes.
North Island will operate the marina’s fuel dock. Twenty-four-hour fueling will be available through an answering service with a phone stationed at the fuel pumps for fueling after hours. The company will also manage outdoor boat storage. North Island also will expand into the small boat repair business by offering outboard engine repairs and gas engine and outdrive service.

New reservation features at Hampton Inn
The Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport is now offering customized links that can be created for both individual and group guestroom needs to facilitate the reservation process. The hotel, featuring newly remodeled guestrooms, also provides a complimentary hot breakfast buffet and Internet access. Transportation is provided to and from local transportation centers. The Hampton Inn is a member of the Hilton Family of brands.

Dri-Eaz recognized by state business group
Dri-Eaz of Burlington was presented with two Better Workplace Awards from the Association of Washington Business in February. The awards honor member businesses that are innovators in workplace safety, job training and advancement, and benefit and compensation programs.
Dri-Eaz was recognized for its Continuous Commitment to a Better Workplace, 101-250 employees, for its online performance management system, as well as for Innovative Benefit & Compensation Programs for its benefits package.

Colony Wharf property sold to city
Colony Wharf, Inc. sold its six-acre property on C Street to the City of Bellingham. The city plans to include the land in a future environmental cleanup of the area. As that cleanup plan is not yet finalized, the property will be leased back to the company, now doing business as The Landings at Colony Wharf LLC. The lease agreement is for four years.
Colony Wharf will continue its operations in boat hauling, barge services, and leasing land and buildings.

Peoples Bank sponsors Ski to Sea
Charles LeCocq, president and chief executive officer of Peoples Bank, announced that the bank has agreed to be the title sponsor of the 2006 Ski to Sea Race.
The Ski to Sea title sponsorship provides funding for the Ski to Sea Race on May 27-28. The event features an 85-mile, seven-stage relay race that begins on snow skis at Mount Baker Ski Resort and ends in sea kayaks on Bellingham Bay. The Ski to Sea Race traces its roots back to 1911 and today showcases the many recreational opportunities available in Whatcom County. Since its inception, the race has become an international event attracting participants from around the globe.
“We are very pleased to be the title sponsor of the 2006 Ski to Sea Race,” commented LeCocq. “Like Peoples Bank, the race has a long history in Whatcom County and it showcases many of the diverse activities that make this area such a great place to live and work. Peoples Bank is thrilled to help make the 2006 race a success.”
“On behalf of the board of the Chamber and Whatcom County’s business community, I can’t say enough about how thrilled we are with the new partnership being formed by Peoples Bank and the Ski to Sea Race,” commented Ken Oplinger, president and chief executive officer of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “For the first time in our history, we have a title sponsor for the Ski to Sea Race, and we look forward to working with Peoples Bank to make Whatcom County’s premier event bigger and better than ever.”
Peoples Bank is headquartered in Lynden.

Community Food Co-op closes on Cordata property
Philip Buri, chair of the Community Food Co-op Board of Directors and Jim Ashby, general manager, signed closing papers in February on the property for the Co-op’s second site. The 76,000 square-foot site is at the corner of Cordata and Westerly, two blocks north of Bakerview.
Following permitting, the Co-op plans to break ground this summer.
“Design work has been in full swing since last fall,” says Buri. “We have been meeting with members and staff since last October to take their needs and suggestions into account.”
The second store, which will have about 16,000 square feet of retail space, will be a full-line grocery store and deli.
The Co-op plans to use LEED guidelines in choosing materials, building to a LEED silver standard. LEED (Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design), a certification program developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council, focuses on five main categories: sustainable sites, water resources, energy and atmospheres, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
“We plan to open the doors in early September 2007,” says Ashby.

Fairhaven shop puts best foot forward
12th Street Shoes was awarded the “Best Store” award by the National Shoe Retailers Association at a ceremony at the National Conference in Vegas. The conference is held annually just before the World Show Association buying market. The store competed with entries from stores in the U.S. and Canada by showing not only photos of the shop interior and display windows, but also financial information. The Fairhaven store presented the costs of their 2005 expansion, including the addition of men’s shoes, and the resulting sales increases.
Store owner Jody Finnegan was pleased with the award.
“It was really a great honor to be recognized by my peers,” she said. “It was as though we were celebrities with other store owners congratulating us all weekend long!”

Birch Bay mixed-use project starts construction
Construction began in February on Terrell Creek Landing, a $4.5-million retail/condominium project just off the waterfront in Birch Bay.
Terrell Creek Landing will feature a pair of three-story buildings totaling 26,700 square feet. Each building will offer retail units on the ground floor, three-bedroom townhomes and two-bedroom condominiums.
“Mixed-use projects are ideal for thriving communities to accommodate both residential and business needs,” said Gina Weigum, a Bellingham native who is developing Terrell Creek Landing with her husband Marc. “Birch Bay needs retail businesses for its growing year-round community. Having spent my summers as a youth in Birch Bay and now living here, I want others to enjoy the beauty and charm of the area.”
Roosendaal-Honcoop Construction of Bellingham is the general contractor for Terrell Creek Landing, which is expected to be completed this fall. Sean Hegstad of JWR Design in Lynden is the architect.
Weigum said the ground-floor retail units will range in size from 1,000-1,200 square feet, although any two units can be combined for a space up to 2,500 square feet.

WWU ranked 2nd for green energy use
Western Washington University is second on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the nation’s top 10 green energy purchasers in higher education.
Western ranked behind only the University of Pennsylvania on the EPA’s first “Top 10 College and University Partners” list of schools with the largest completed renewable energy purchases.
The University of Utah was third on the list, followed by Syracuse University, Duke University, Pennsylvania State University, Harvard University, The Evergreen State College, Oberlin College and the University at Buffalo.
The state of Washington had two on the Top 10 list – and Western and Evergreen also were the only colleges or universities on the list receiving 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.
In the EPA’s final Top 25 list of Green Power Partners for 2005, highlighting the largest U.S. green power purchasers overall, Western was ranked 24th in the nation by order of purchase size.
Western’s students voted to pay a fee to supplement the purchase price of renewable energy in 2004.

Evans celebrates 30 years
Evans Glass, a Seattle-based supplier of energy-efficient windows and doors, is celebrating 30 years of business. The company participated in the Skagit Home Show in March, and recently has provided their specialty energy-efficient windows to many projects in the Bellingham area.
Recognized for its high standards of customer satisfaction as well as its superior product, Evans Glass was chosen by ATOFINA Chemicals Inc. to conduct a residential energy efficiency survey in Washington and Oregon. The results of the research were used in product development to create the next generation of energy-efficient “Low E” windows.
Larry Breuer, president of Evans Glass, says business will be expanding from Washington and Oregon into California in the near future.

Credo offices move
Credo Construction, a Bellingham-based construction company, recently relocated their offices to the 1616 Cornwall building. The 2,500-square-foot office was extensively remodeled under the project management of Clarence Kobes for the tenant improvements and Arlene Sanders for the interior design. The offices present a warm, inviting character and charm, showcasing the skills the company brings to the industry. Credo Construction has been serving the community since July 2004, specializing in all types of commercial building along with tenant improvements and finer quality residential projects. Credo Construction is locally owned by Todd Lapinsky, Arlene Sanders, Clarence Kobes and Harvey Pelleboer.

Web Rodeo rustles up Web site for riding center
The NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center is pleased to announce the launching of its new Web site, www.nwtrc.org, featuring a newly designed logo. The logo design and Web site were donated by Web Rodeo of Bellingham.
The NWTRC is a non-profit organization established in 1993 to provide therapeutic horseback riding activities for mentally, physically and emotionally challenged children and adults in Whatcom County.
Web Rodeo is locally owned and operated by partners Karen Hower and Warren Monroe, and offers full-service graphic and Web design complete with client, server and database programming.

Burlington breaks ground on new library
After more than 10 years of planning and extensive community input, the City of Burlington broke ground for the new Burlington Public Library on March 14. The new 22,000-square-foot library will be located at corner of Holly and Washington streets. The library is expected to open in late spring of 2007.

GaPac members gather for annual meeting
GaPac Employee Federal Credit Union held its 54th annual meeting at Northwood Hall in February. The event was attended by 180 members and guests.
Elected to the 2006 Board of Directors for a two-year term were incumbents Don Cook, LeRoy Fuller and Phil Whitson. Newly elected was Frank Castaneda. They join Barry Lawson, Kon Lemperes and Ron Olson. The 2006 GaPac Supervisory Committee consists of Chair Clydia Hitchcock, Steve Seholm, Terry Bradley and Julian McAllister.
GaPac has $38.5 million in assets, serves 4,300 members, and employs 16 people. GaPac EFCU, located at James and Alabama, offers membership to those who live, work or worship in Whatcom County.

Western professors approve union
By a vote of 300 to 284, Western professors and instructors agreed to be represented through collective bargaining by the United Faculty of Western Washington. UFWW is the third union to organize under a 2002 state law that granted collective bargaining rights to faculty at public universities and four-year colleges.
Union supporters at Western say they seek a larger role in decision making, improved compensation and increased funding from the state.
UFWF is affiliated with the Washington Education Association; AFT Washington, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; and the National Education Association.

Chamber briefed on “New Whatcom” The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry heard an update on the Port and City of Bellingham’s redevelopment of 137 acres of waterfront property in its annual economic forecast breakfast in February. Mayor Mark Asmundson and Port Environmental Director Mike Stoner addressed the group. Asmundson remarked that Georgia-Pacific, which previously owned the property, left its imprint on the property for 100 years, and now is the opportunity for the community to shape the “New Whatcom” property “for a century to come.” “We are begging you to be part of the process,” pleaded Asmundson. He stressed that the changes to the waterfront will be driven by the input received from the community, explaining that development regulations are still to be finalized, so now is the time to speak up. While public access and a working waterfront are among the considerations for the development, “The city and port don’t have the end destination in mind.” Asmundson called the work between the city and the port an “unprecedented partnership” and one that is extremely beneficial in acquiring funding for the project. Currently $17,000 in legislative earmarks as well as $30-$40 million for environmental cleanup are in the works. That cleanup is being spearheaded by the port and its Environmental Director Mike Stoner. He estimates the property will require a $65 million investment to clean up. It is known that the site contains mercury contamination, as well as other contaminants in lesser amounts. The port will also play a large role in redeveloping the property. Determining the proper mix of jobs vs. green space is “one of the key public comments we are trying to get,” Stoner said. Another key question is what will become of the old treatment lagoon. The port commission has passed a resolution supporting transforming the 30-acre site into a marina, Stoner said. “It’s part of our growing community,” he added, noting the high demand for the current marina. Other items being considered are historic preservation of some of the G-P buildings and preservation of the current deep-water terminal. A final master plan is slated for December. Delta Air Lines to serve Bellingham Beginning in June, travelers out of Bellingham will be able to fly directly to Salt Lake City aboard Delta Air Lines. From Salt Lake City, travelers can connect on more than 300 daily flights to 107 non-stop destinations in the U.S (including Hawaii), Canada and Mexico. “For years people in our community have asked for additional direct flight destinations out of Bellingham and we believe this new service from Delta is exactly what people have wanted,” said Port of Bellingham Commissioner Doug Smith from a Salt Lake City press conference announcing the deal. Smith and Port Aviation Director Art Choat flew to Salt Lake to take part in the announcement. Delta’s new service to Bellingham will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest using a 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet. Two flights a day will fly from Bellingham to Salt Lake. “More than one million people live within 60 miles of the Bellingham Airport,” said Choat. “We believe that many people will choose to fly out of Bellingham and avoid the I-5 traffic and hassles of going to SeaTac or Vancouver International Airport.” The port has been pursuing additional air service since United Airlines stopped serving Bellingham in 2001. The port worked with a coalition of local business and community leaders to promote Bellingham and the port has been in discussions with Delta for several years. In addition to serving regional residents, the new service also will be a boost for the local tourism industry. “Having this service to Salt Lake City will open a new world of visitor and meeting markets for us, not only in Utah, but for all the connecting cities Delta serves,” said Bellingham Mount Baker Tourism Director John Cooper. “In the past we focused largely north and south for visitors; now we can look to the east.” Last month the Port of Bellingham completed a $2 million remodel and airport enhancement project that expanded the terminal area, enclosed the baggage area, remodeled terminal restrooms, replaced all airport seating and carpeting and installed a Northwest-style exterior to the commercial terminal building. It is likely that the port will add additional parking areas to accommodate the increased demand once Delta flights begin. Currently Horizon Air flies seven flights out of Bellingham to SeaTac daily and Allegiant Air flies from Bellingham to Las Vegas six times a week. ‘Topping off’ ceremony for Silver Reef hotel The Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa is marked an important milestone in the construction of their new destination hotel and spa just north of Bellingham. A topping-off ceremony took place in early March at the six-story structure. Midway between groundbreaking and grand opening, a point in the construction process occurs when the highest structural element of a building is put in place. Whether it is a steel beam, a piece of wood or even a concrete plank, workers and guests will sign it. A crane then hoists it to the top of the building, along with a small pine tree to symbolize new growth and good luck. Silver Reef’s third phase will consist of 105 hotel rooms with four deluxe suites. The sixth floor will be called the Diamond Executive Floor and features restricted access, a private lounge and upgraded amenities. The Spa will offer massage rooms, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and a fitness center. Also included in this phase of the master expansion plan is a third full-service restaurant called Panasia, a 50-seat restaurant specializing in contemporary cuisine from the Far East. More catering space will be added with a fixed seat executive boardroom, in addition to a 1,000 square foot meeting room. This phase of expansion will bring the size of Silver Reef Casino to 135,000 square feet. The total number of slot machines will increase to 675. Seventy-five new jobs will be added the current roster of almost 400 employees. North Island Boat Company moves to Skyline Marina North Island Boat Company announced in late February that its marine service and repair business will relocate to Skyline Marina from its current location on 28th Street in Anacortes. North Island will operate the marina’s fuel dock. Twenty-four-hour fueling will be available through an answering service with a phone stationed at the fuel pumps for fueling after hours. The company will also manage outdoor boat storage. North Island also will expand into the small boat repair business by offering outboard engine repairs and gas engine and outdrive service. New reservation features at Hampton Inn The Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport is now offering customized links that can be created for both individual and group guestroom needs to facilitate the reservation process. The hotel, featuring newly remodeled guestrooms, also provides a complimentary hot breakfast buffet and Internet access. Transportation is provided to and from local transportation centers. The Hampton Inn is a member of the Hilton Family of brands. Dri-Eaz recognized by state business group Dri-Eaz of Burlington was presented with two Better Workplace Awards from the Association of Washington Business in February. The awards honor member businesses that are innovators in workplace safety, job training and advancement, and benefit and compensation programs. Dri-Eaz was recognized for its Continuous Commitment to a Better Workplace, 101-250 employees, for its online performance management system, as well as for Innovative Benefit & Compensation Programs for its benefits package. Colony Wharf property sold to city Colony Wharf, Inc. sold its six-acre property on C Street to the City of Bellingham. The city plans to include the land in a future environmental cleanup of the area. As that cleanup plan is not yet finalized, the property will be leased back to the company, now doing business as The Landings at Colony Wharf LLC. The lease agreement is for four years. Colony Wharf will continue its operations in boat hauling, barge services, and leasing land and buildings. Peoples Bank sponsors Ski to Sea Charles LeCocq, president and chief executive officer of Peoples Bank, announced that the bank has agreed to be the title sponsor of the 2006 Ski to Sea Race. The Ski to Sea title sponsorship provides funding for the Ski to Sea Race on May 27-28. The event features an 85-mile, seven-stage relay race that begins on snow skis at Mount Baker Ski Resort and ends in sea kayaks on Bellingham Bay. The Ski to Sea Race traces its roots back to 1911 and today showcases the many recreational opportunities available in Whatcom County. Since its inception, the race has become an international event attracting participants from around the globe. “We are very pleased to be the title sponsor of the 2006 Ski to Sea Race,” commented LeCocq. “Like Peoples Bank, the race has a long history in Whatcom County and it showcases many of the diverse activities that make this area such a great place to live and work. Peoples Bank is thrilled to help make the 2006 race a success.” “On behalf of the board of the Chamber and Whatcom County’s business community, I can’t say enough about how thrilled we are with the new partnership being formed by Peoples Bank and the Ski to Sea Race,” commented Ken Oplinger, president and chief executive officer of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “For the first time in our history, we have a title sponsor for the Ski to Sea Race, and we look forward to working with Peoples Bank to make Whatcom County’s premier event bigger and better than ever.” Peoples Bank is headquartered in Lynden. Community Food Co-op closes on Cordata property Philip Buri, chair of the Community Food Co-op Board of Directors and Jim Ashby, general manager, signed closing papers in February on the property for the Co-op’s second site. The 76,000 square-foot site is at the corner of Cordata and Westerly, two blocks north of Bakerview. Following permitting, the Co-op plans to break ground this summer. “Design work has been in full swing since last fall,” says Buri. “We have been meeting with members and staff since last October to take their needs and suggestions into account.” The second store, which will have about 16,000 square feet of retail space, will be a full-line grocery store and deli. The Co-op plans to use LEED guidelines in choosing materials, building to a LEED silver standard. LEED (Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design), a certification program developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council, focuses on five main categories: sustainable sites, water resources, energy and atmospheres, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. “We plan to open the doors in early September 2007,” says Ashby. Fairhaven shop puts best foot forward 12th Street Shoes was awarded the “Best Store” award by the National Shoe Retailers Association at a ceremony at the National Conference in Vegas. The conference is held annually just before the World Show Association buying market. The store competed with entries from stores in the U.S. and Canada by showing not only photos of the shop interior and display windows, but also financial information. The Fairhaven store presented the costs of their 2005 expansion, including the addition of men’s shoes, and the resulting sales increases. Store owner Jody Finnegan was pleased with the award. “It was really a great honor to be recognized by my peers,” she said. “It was as though we were celebrities with other store owners congratulating us all weekend long!” Birch Bay mixed-use project starts construction Construction began in February on Terrell Creek Landing, a $4.5-million retail/condominium project just off the waterfront in Birch Bay. Terrell Creek Landing will feature a pair of three-story buildings totaling 26,700 square feet. Each building will offer retail units on the ground floor, three-bedroom townhomes and two-bedroom condominiums. “Mixed-use projects are ideal for thriving communities to accommodate both residential and business needs,” said Gina Weigum, a Bellingham native who is developing Terrell Creek Landing with her husband Marc. “Birch Bay needs retail businesses for its growing year-round community. Having spent my summers as a youth in Birch Bay and now living here, I want others to enjoy the beauty and charm of the area.” Roosendaal-Honcoop Construction of Bellingham is the general contractor for Terrell Creek Landing, which is expected to be completed this fall. Sean Hegstad of JWR Design in Lynden is the architect. Weigum said the ground-floor retail units will range in size from 1,000-1,200 square feet, although any two units can be combined for a space up to 2,500 square feet. WWU ranked 2nd for green energy use Western Washington University is second on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the nation’s top 10 green energy purchasers in higher education. Western ranked behind only the University of Pennsylvania on the EPA’s first “Top 10 College and University Partners” list of schools with the largest completed renewable energy purchases. The University of Utah was third on the list, followed by Syracuse University, Duke University, Pennsylvania State University, Harvard University, The Evergreen State College, Oberlin College and the University at Buffalo. The state of Washington had two on the Top 10 list – and Western and Evergreen also were the only colleges or universities on the list receiving 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. In the EPA’s final Top 25 list of Green Power Partners for 2005, highlighting the largest U.S. green power purchasers overall, Western was ranked 24th in the nation by order of purchase size. Western’s students voted to pay a fee to supplement the purchase price of renewable energy in 2004. Evans celebrates 30 years Evans Glass, a Seattle-based supplier of energy-efficient windows and doors, is celebrating 30 years of business. The company participated in the Skagit Home Show in March, and recently has provided their specialty energy-efficient windows to many projects in the Bellingham area. Recognized for its high standards of customer satisfaction as well as its superior product, Evans Glass was chosen by ATOFINA Chemicals Inc. to conduct a residential energy efficiency survey in Washington and Oregon. The results of the research were used in product development to create the next generation of energy-efficient “Low E” windows. Larry Breuer, president of Evans Glass, says business will be expanding from Washington and Oregon into California in the near future. Credo offices move Credo Construction, a Bellingham-based construction company, recently relocated their offices to the 1616 Cornwall building. The 2,500-square-foot office was extensively remodeled under the project management of Clarence Kobes for the tenant improvements and Arlene Sanders for the interior design. The offices present a warm, inviting character and charm, showcasing the skills the company brings to the industry. Credo Construction has been serving the community since July 2004, specializing in all types of commercial building along with tenant improvements and finer quality residential projects. Credo Construction is locally owned by Todd Lapinsky, Arlene Sanders, Clarence Kobes and Harvey Pelleboer. Web Rodeo rustles up Web site for riding center The NorthWest Therapeutic Riding Center is pleased to announce the launching of its new Web site, www.nwtrc.org, featuring a newly designed logo. The logo design and Web site were donated by Web Rodeo of Bellingham. The NWTRC is a non-profit organization established in 1993 to provide therapeutic horseback riding activities for mentally, physically and emotionally challenged children and adults in Whatcom County. Web Rodeo is locally owned and operated by partners Karen Hower and Warren Monroe, and offers full-service graphic and Web design complete with client, server and database programming. Burlington breaks ground on new library After more than 10 years of planning and extensive community input, the City of Burlington broke ground for the new Burlington Public Library on March 14. The new 22,000-square-foot library will be located at corner of Holly and Washington streets. The library is expected to open in late spring of 2007. GaPac members gather for annual meeting GaPac Employee Federal Credit Union held its 54th annual meeting at Northwood Hall in February. The event was attended by 180 members and guests. Elected to the 2006 Board of Directors for a two-year term were incumbents Don Cook, LeRoy Fuller and Phil Whitson. Newly elected was Frank Castaneda. They join Barry Lawson, Kon Lemperes and Ron Olson. The 2006 GaPac Supervisory Committee consists of Chair Clydia Hitchcock, Steve Seholm, Terry Bradley and Julian McAllister. GaPac has $38.5 million in assets, serves 4,300 members, and employs 16 people. GaPac EFCU, located at James and Alabama, offers membership to those who live, work or worship in Whatcom County. Western professors approve union By a vote of 300 to 284, Western professors and instructors agreed to be represented through collective bargaining by the United Faculty of Western Washington. UFWW is the third union to organize under a 2002 state law that granted collective bargaining rights to faculty at public universities and four-year colleges. Union supporters at Western say they seek a larger role in decision making, improved compensation and increased funding from the state. UFWF is affiliated with the Washington Education Association; AFT Washington, AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; and the National Education Association.
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