Volume 31 • Issue 09 • September 2006

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Trader Joe’s coming to Bellingham
Sunnyland Properties, owner of Sunnyland Square, the 40,000 square foot retail shopping center at the corner of James Street and Alabama in Bellingham, announced in August that national specialty grocery chain Trader Joe’s will lease the grocery location at 2410 James Street formerly occupied by Clark’s Market.
“We’re all so excited about this move by Trader Joe’s into Bellingham, and particularly by their decision to do so at Sunnyland Square,” said Patrice Clark, president of Sunnyland Properties, the legal owner of the property.
“As this location was the site of our family’s grocery business, Clark’s Market, starting in the early 1960s, the addition of this specialty grocery store will be a great asset to our shopping center and to all of Whatcom County and beyond.”
Sunnyland Square will undergo a $2 million renovation featuring new storefronts, signage, landscaping and clock tower. Trader Joe’s will occupy the building to coincide with the completion of the renovation, scheduled for summer 2007.

Ferndale’s PRWeb acquired by public company
Vocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: VOCS), a leading provider of on-demand software for corporate communications and public relations, has acquired privately held PRWeb, the pioneer in online visibility and search engine optimized (SEO) press release distribution.
Vocus has a reputation as the leading provider of public relations (PR) software-as-a-service and an integrated, all-digital PR solution.
Ferndale-based PRWeb uses proprietary SEO tools and a team of specialized editors to help ensure that its customers’ news receives maximum exposure throughout the full spectrum of news media. PRWeb-distributed press releases are indexed by major search engines, distributed to thousands of news sites including Google News and Yahoo News.
PRWeb operations and staff will remain based in Ferndale.
Under the terms of the transaction, which closed Aug. 4, Vocus assumed certain liabilities and acquired certain assets of PRWeb including PRWeb’s proprietary online distribution network and other technology. The total consideration was approximately $28 million, consisting of $20.8 million in cash and 494,543 shares of Vocus common stock.

Silver Reef opens $24.5 million hotel and spa
Ferndale-based Silver Reef Casino opened a $24.5 million dollar destination hotel and spa just north of Bellingham. A VIP preview event was held Aug. 9, culminating with a concert from Don McLean.
This is the Silver Reef’s second expansion in four years, and it consists of 105 deluxe hotel rooms with four executive suites. The sixth floor Diamond Executive Level features restricted access, a private lounge, turndown service and upgraded amenities. All guests receive a complimentary continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
The spa at Silver Reef offers treatment rooms for massages, manicures, pedicures and other body treatments. The indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room, sauna and fitness center are available to spa patrons and hotel guests.
Panasia, the fourth restaurant at the Silver Reef, will seat more than 60 diners. The menu will feature contemporary cuisine from the Far East.
Additional meeting space is being added with a 14-seat executive boardroom and the Legacy room that is 1,000 square feet of multi-function space.
This phase of expansion will bring the size of Silver Reef Hotel, Casino & Spa to 135,000 square feet. The total number of slot machines will increase by 125 to 675. Silver Reef will now have more than 500 employees.

Earthenworks Gallery wins 2006 Top Retailer Award
Earthenworks Gallery of La Conner won a 2006 Top Retailer Award from NICHE magazine in a ceremony held July 21 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The 2006 Top Retailer Awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, the nation’s largest wholesale craft show.
More than 18,000 professional craft artists throughout the United States and Canada nominated more than 700 galleries, retail stores, arts nonprofits, museums and guilds for supporting and promoting the American craft community and its artists.
Criteria for nomination were based on NICHE magazine’s Retailer Guide to Best Practices, which details the characteristics of craft retailers who are committed to fair business practices and to growing and strengthening the American craft community.

RMC Architects complete Fairhaven projects
RMC Architects has completed two projects in the Fairhaven District – Taylor Dock Uplands Park and Tenth & Taylor Condominiums.
Taylor Dock Uplands Park, located next to the Chrysalis Inn & Spa, consists of a gateway, restroom facility and over-water pavilion on the boardwalk that connects the dock to Boulevard Park.
RMC designed the park structures under the leadership of Paul Leuthold of Bellingham Parks & Recreation. J.A. Brennan Associates of Seattle provided the landscape architecture and Tiger Construction was also part of the team. The gateway structure was funded by the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club.
RMC partner Brad Cornwell said that the firm was proud to be part of a project that supports the livability of the community and enhances the quality of life in Bellingham.
Tenth & Taylor Condominiums, also completed this month by RMC, consists of 12 luxury (and already sold) condominiums ranging from 2,000 to 2,200 square feet. The project is designed to take advantage of its location across from Taylor Dock Uplands Park and Bellingham Bay with views from the units, courtyard and “outdoor rooms.”
RMC partner Jeff McClure said that the architecture is respectful of the surrounding structures and landscape, and helps create an urban border for the Fairhaven District.
The project was designed with Pacific Crest Partners development company and Wellman & Zuck contractors.

WWU fourth on EPA green energy list
Western Washington University (WWU) is fourth on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) quarterly list of the nation’s top 10 renewable or “green” energy purchasers in higher education.
WWU ranked behind only the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University and Northwestern University on the EPA’s third Top 10 College and University Partners list of schools with the largest completed renewable energy purchases.
The state of Washington had two on the list, with WWU at fourth place and the University of Washington at eighth.
WWU was the top college or university on the list receiving 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
WWU dropped from its second-place spot on the EPA’s first list of the nation’s top 10 green energy purchasers in higher education to fourth place in this most recent listing.

ABC hires service to clean, detail yachts
America’s Best Charters, ABC yacht charters of Anacortes, hired Professional Marine Services to perform the detail and cleaning, inside and out, of their fleet of yacht charter boats.
ABC’s interest is to always have the highest quality maintained boats of any charter company. In doing so, it has decided this year to use a professional service that will meet their level of quality standards.
ABC is the oldest bareboat yacht charter company in the Northwest, and is the premiere company from the San Juan Islands to Alaska.

Localcents.com seeks community involvement
Localcents.com released the beta version of its new online service, providing a free venue for community members to post, search for and view classified ads. In addition, the site can be used to download and print coupons offered by local merchants. Localcents seeks to involve communities and improve access to local information.
Rather than restricting its reach to major cities, Localcents takes a more organic approach to online classifieds. Ads can be posted at any zip code in the United States. Entering a starting location will automatically pull together everything within a 30-mile radius.
Localcents’ cofounders Theron McCollough, Arron Kallenberg and two other partners created the site because they were frustrated with the lack of local information available on the Web.
The beta release is intended to get communities acquainted with the idea of a local search engine and involved in the development process.
The classifieds and coupons are the first of many free services the Web site plans to offer. Localcents’ development team is currently working on another service that will allow community members to read, write and share reviews on local businesses.

Local company conducts market research for aluminum exhibition
Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH of Germany contracted Bellingham-based Metals & Materials Co. to conduct market research for organizing an aluminum exhibition in Russia.
With more than 460 events arranged annually in 38 countries and covering 52 industries, Reed Exhibitions is the world’s largest organizer of specialized shows and conferences in different industries around the world.
Metals & Materials Co. is an international consultancy involved in the modernization of the Russian aluminum industry. With its clients and partners from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria and Australia, the company is involved in several projects with world-leading aluminum producers including RUSAL, SUAL and Alcoa.

Hexcel reports second quarter results
Hexcel Corporation (NYSE/PCX: HXL) second quarter 2006 net sales of $316.0 million are up 1.5 percent year-over-year, despite a 40 percent decline in ballistics revenues
Commercial aerospace sales are up more than 11 percent from the second quarter of 2005, and approximately 5 percent from the first quarter of 2006. Total debt and net of cash is down $10.1 million, to $418.8 million.
Hexcel has a composite manufacturing location in Burlington.

Ski to Sea wraps up record year
The Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce and Industry released the final numbers for the 2006 Ski to Sea Festival.
The Junior race had a record total of 160 teams with 960 participants and more than 5,000 spectators. The big race drew 3,200 participants and more than 33,000 spectators. The revenues brought into the county for the weekend exceeded $5.3 million.
The participants came from 26 states and two Canadian provinces. Fifty-three percent of the participants hailed from Whatcom County. The oldest participant was 74 years old from Port Orchard and participated in the running leg. Twenty-nine percent of the participants were women. There were 775 race day volunteers.

Terra Organica, Bargainica to accept time dollars
Bellingham’s Terra Organica and Bargainica now accept “time dollars.” A time dollar is a unit of exchange equivalent to one hour of time.
Fourth Corner Exchange, a currency system founded in Whatcom County in 2004, currently has more than 300 members who exchange goods and services through the medium of the time dollar.
Terra Organica is an organic grocery store, and Bargainica is a discount natural foods store. The stores are co-located in the Bellingham Public Market on Cornwall Avenue. A second Bargainica store is located on North State Street. Time dollars will be accepted at both locations.
Initially the businesses will set the time dollar limit to approximately $10 per person per month, but as more people sign up in the future the limit will be lifted. Members will be able to purchase everything except beer and wine with time dollars.
Other businesses accepting time dollars include Mallard Ice Cream, Fair Trade Crafts and Naked Clothing.

Alcoa secures 5-year power supply for Intalco smelter
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) has secured power in the open market to operate one potline at its Intalco Works aluminum smelter in Ferndale with the intention of operating the plant for five years by using benefits provided in a recent agreement with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
Alcoa plans to be able to purchase cost-based BPA power like other key industries in the Pacific Northwest by 2011.
The BPA agreement signed in June provides Pacific Northwest aluminum companies with financial benefits to help reduce the cost of open market power purchases made after the current BPA contract expires in October. Alcoa has since been able to secure enough power to continue operating Intalco at 90,000 metric tons per year, which is a third of its capacity.
A number of key Alcoa stakeholders have come together to help support the 450 family-wage jobs at the Intalco smelter.
The total economic impact of Alcoa’s operations in Washington amounted to $210 million in 2005.

Clinic expands treatment space, offers free seminars
Core of Life Wellness Center in Bellingham has added 600 square feet to their 1,400-square-foot chiropractic office in Fairhaven Square. The expansion allowed for two massage treatment rooms and a small education space.
Owner Dr. Chad Booth opened the clinic two years ago in response to the demand for chiropractic clinics that also offer massage and physical therapy strength building equipment to avoid future injuries. He has three employees.
Booth also offers free ergonomics and workstation consult and analysis seminars by appointment to businesses located within Whatcom County. He will visit the business to advise workers and managers on repetitive motion injury prevention. He also plans future pain relief seminars at his office for small groups.

GrafixCORP to design, produce tulip festival brochure
GrafixCORP of Mount Vernon has been chosen for the third consecutive year to design and produce the official Skagit Valley Tulip Festival brochure.
The 2007 edition of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival brochure will be distributed in January 2007.
GrafixCORP is a full-service graphic design studio, providing visual communications in print, illustration and Web site development.

Mindfly moves to downtown Bellingham
Mindfly, a Web development company launched in 1999, moved to downtown Bellingham. Its offices now are on West Holly Street in the Bellingham Hardware Building.
Mindfly offers a full suite of Web site design, e-commerce, content management and custom Web programming services. Its clients include small businesses, major corporations and governmental agencies. From small updates to complete turnkey projects, the Mindfly team of designers and programmers is available to assist with any Web project.

MSNW expands service contract
Whatcom County-based Management Services Northwest, Inc. expanded its service contract with Horizon Bank, a client of 10 years. Management Services Northwest was appointed as the facility management company for Horizon Bank and will be the initial point of contact for all facility services including janitorial, landscaping, lighting and routine and emergency maintenance services for all of the bank’s branch locations in Washington state.
Management Services Northwest markets its services to commercial office buildings, banks and medical, school and industrial facilities. People’s Bank, Diehl Ford, Northwest Ambulatory Surgery Center and Metcalf, Hodges & Company are a few businesses the company serves.

WCC offers Command Spanish training
The Community Education program at Whatcom Community College received certification as an official registered provider of Command Spanish, Inc. language and cross-cultural training programs.
Command Spanish is the nation’s leading provider of occupational Spanish language and cross-cultural training and materials. As an official registered provider, community education can offer on-site, job-specific Spanish language and cross-cultural training in such areas as nursing, law enforcement, dentistry, public safety, construction, hospitality, banking, office management, warehousing, manufacturing and retail sales.
On-campus, open enrollment courses will be offered based on community interests beginning Fall Quarter 2006. No previous Spanish experience is necessary to enroll in Command Spanish courses, which are low-stress, occupational-specific, and last eight to 24 class hours.

InvestorIdeas.com launches new home page
InvestorIdeas.com, a leading global investor and industry Web site specializing in sector research based in Point Roberts, has redesigned its home page to give interested investors and industry access to leading content.
InvestorIdeas.com recently entered into a content partnership with ClipSyndicate. The agreement gives InvestorIdeas.com access to ClipSyndicate’s proprietary online video search and publishing tool, facilitating online publishing of video content.

Wood Stone expansion moves ahead
Wood Stone Corporation is working on a major expansion that will add a new, 52,500-square-foot manufacturing building, and is expected to provide up to 30 new, full-time manufacturing jobs.
Wood Stone is constructing the new facility alongside the building it leases from the Port of Bellingham at the Airport Industrial Park. Wood Stone has been a port tenant since 1994.
In June, the Port Commission approved a 40-year land lease for the property and, as a condition of the contract, the port agreed to install necessary improvements to the site.
The port selected Tiger Construction for the $815,295 site improvement project to construct paved roadways, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, underground utilities, signage, street and site lighting, landscaping, irrigation and storm water drainage. Tiger Construction will begin work on this project in September.
Wood Stone has hired Dawson Construction to construct the new building, which will cost approximately $4 million and should be completed by the end of the year. Last month the Port of Bellingham’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) issued $3.4 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) to Wood Stone to provide the company with low-interest financing.
Industrial Revenue Bonds are tax-exempt financings that provide low-cost debt to manufacturing and process facilities. The port’s IDC can issue IRBs anywhere in Whatcom County.
Wood Stone is the world’s largest producer of stone hearth cooking equipment. It employs nearly 50 workers.

Seascape condo sales begin
Bellingham Developer Harbor Lands LP’s Joel Douglas announces the completion of SeaScape Villas on the Bay. The 21 luxury condominium units have a view of the harbor and are centrally located in Blaine on Peace Portal Drive.
“With more than 30 years of experience and extraordinarily high customer satisfaction, we have earned our reputation in building imaginative condominium designs with superior top-quality features,” Douglas said.
Seascape Villas will be managed by Larry Bellamy. Bellamy came to Blaine in December 2003 to manage the Westview Motel, the facility that Douglas’ Harbor Lands Company bought two years ago.

WWU, federation reach labor agreements
The Washington Federation of State Employees and Western Washington University have concluded negotiations for collective bargaining agreements covering many of the university’s classified employees.
After negotiations the parties reached agreement on a package that includes base wage increases of 3 percent in the first year of the contract, and 2.2 percent in the second year of the two-year deal.
Other parts of the agreement include a winter holiday between fall and winter quarters, 24 days of vacation for employees with more than 16 years of service and a 21-day work schedule for campus police.
Once ratified, the agreements will take effect July 1, 2007.
The contracts are the second negotiated by the parties under a statute that permits classified employees to bargain over wages and benefits, as well as the terms and conditions of their employment.
The final, ratified agreements are due at the Office of Financial Management by Oct. 1, where the economics of the deal will be included in the state’s budget process for consideration by the Legislature.

AM radio station switches formats
On June 1, the general manager of AM 930 The Bay, Rick Staeb, announced the station was switching formats and would now be called Good Time Oldies AM 930. The call letters will remain KBAI.
The station will play music from the late ‘50s and ‘60s and the early ‘70s. Staeb said most of the people’s he’s heard from have embraced the new format. In addition to music, the station will provide weather updates throughout the day, and news and contests during the morning drive time.
Good Time Oldies AM 930 is a member of a group of five Bellingham radio stations known as the Cascade Radio Group, which is part of Saga Communications.

Chefs introduce unique dining experience at Nimbus
In the three years since graduating from Bellingham Technical College’s culinary arts program, Josh Silverman and James Winberg have been chefs in restaurants from Seattle and Napa Valley to Boston and Spain. Now the pair has returned to Bellingham to assume ownership of Nimbus Restaurant, located on the 14th floor of the Bellingham Towers building.
The first-time restaurant owners will honor a progressive and conceptual dining experience by integrating worldwide flavor influences into dishes created with local products.
The chefs strive to use local, organic ingredients and sustainably harvested seafood. The menu includes a wide range of flavors and options from a vegetarian BLT featuring Joe’s Garden tomatoes, roasted tofu with wild mushrooms from mountains and pastures of Washington state, and seafood pot au feu with prawns caught off the shores of Lummi Island.
Nimbus is located on top of Bellingham Towers, offering diners incredible views of Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker.

PSPIE hosts Optics & Photonics conference
SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering, held its Optics & Photonics conference Aug. 13-17 in San Diego.
Optics & Photonics included more than 2,700 technology presentations highlighted by numerous plenary and keynote sessions, 70 educational courses, a free Industry Perspectives program and a free exhibition featuring 270 companies with the latest lasers, lenses, detection and measurement devices, image capture systems and software for optical design and image processing.
Nearly 500 nanotech-related presentations occurred at SPIE Optics & Photonics, making it one of the largest gatherings of nano-researchers anywhere in the world.
SPIE is a nonprofit professional society based in Bellingham that has become the largest international force for the exchange, collection and dissemination of knowledge in optics, photonics and imaging. Founded in 1955, SPIE organizes technical conferences around the world and publishes journals, books and proceedings.

Best Western Heritage Inn receives award for quality
The Best Western Heritage Inn has received the Best Western Director’s Award for outstanding quality standards.
The Director’s Award recognizes Best Western International hotels with a cleanliness and maintenance inspection score of at least 950 points out of a possible 1,000. The Heritage Inn received a score of 961. Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for the distinction.
The Best Western Heritage Inn on McLeod Road in Bellingham features 90 rooms and a variety of meeting and small banquet options.

SVC offers new law enforcement academy
To meet the training and advancement needs of individuals who are employed in law enforcement, Skagit Valley College (SVC) is offering a Basic Law Enforcement Reserve Academy (BLERA) beginning Sept. 6 at SVC’s Mount Vernon campus. The academy is designed to meet the needs of individuals who are seeking full-time employment as a police officer.
The 270-hour academy is certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. The curriculum includes emergency response driving, defensive tactics, firearms and tactical communications.

Doll Tech continues efforts to recertify FAA fire test lab
Doll Technology Group, Inc., based in Sedro-Woolley, continues its efforts to complete the recertification of its RedBrooks Laboratory Division to the latest Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) standards. The facility has completed all requirements called for by the FAA, and RedBrooks underwent a review in May 2006 by the FAA.
Once approved, the laboratory will be certified to carry out tests on fire-penetration resistance of thermal/acoustic insulation.
RedBrooks intends to expand its capability to cover additional FAA aviation fire tests on a progressive basis. The laboratory has the potential to generate $1 million annually, once a full range of test capabilities are approved. In addition, the laboratory intends to perform other research and testing activities that do not require specific FAA test procedure certification.
RedBrooks has performed work in the past for major companies such as Federal Express, Bell Textron and other major OEM companies.
Doll Technology develops, manufactures and supplies “Clean & Green” products and technology that replace more hazardous solutions in various industry applications.

Moody’s upgrades Skagit Valley Hospital’s bond rating
Moody’s Investors Service, among the world’s most respected, widely utilized sources for credit ratings, research and risk analysis, has upgraded Skagit Valley Hospital’s bond rating based on the hospital’s ability to generate and sustain strong financial performance.
Moody’s also noted Skagit Valley Hospital’s operating performance in 2005 and the strong community support as evidenced by passage of the $62.1 million bond issue in 2004 to help fund hospital expansion. The hospital’s bonds were upgraded on the $45 million in outstanding revenue bonds.
The bond-rating upgrade will allow Skagit Valley Hospital to borrow money at lower interest rates in the future revenue bond market, which reduces the hospital’s ongoing operating expense. In addition, the many individuals and corporate buyers who invested in the 2003 and 2005 revenue bonds may see appreciation on the bonds they hold if they choose to sell them.

Whatcom Humane Society partners with American Home Mortgage
The Bellingham branch of American Home Mortgage and the Whatcom Humane Society announced a Power of Sharing partnership. In this new partnership, American Home Mortgage loan officers Alina Valieva and Karen Durham will make a donation of up to $300 each time they complete a home loan for a Humane Society member or supporter. In addition, each referred home loan, which includes refinance, will receive discounted closing fees from American Home Mortgage.
The partnership with American Home Mortgage comes at an opportune time because the Whatcom Humane Society has embarked on a capital project for a new shelter. The proposed new shelter replaces the outmoded existing facility at Williamson Way in Bellingham. The Power of Sharing partnership will provide an additional revenue stream for the Whatcom Humane Society as it launches this new project.

Mobile info center presents county tourism info
Bellingham/Whatcom County Tourism launched its mobile information center, a retrofitted van with colorful, iconic images of the Bellingham and Mount Baker regions, this summer. The mobile information center will serve as a traveling visitor center and make appearances at local and regional festivals and events.
The mobile information center was a community-wide project involving the efforts of local organizations and businesses. The original Dodge Ram van was donated to the tourism bureau by Hampton Inn of Bellingham. Airporter Shuttle/BellAir Charters completed a mechanical check of the van, and Bellingham Technical College’s Automotive Collision Repair Technology program repainted the exterior. Wayne’s Detailing and Jerome’s Upholstery refreshed the interior of the van, and Good Eye Design designed the exterior wrap that was installed by Signs Plus. The Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa was a financial contributor.

Grants broaden state agricultural marketing, trade efforts
Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recently granted funding for 16 projects, which are matched with in-kind contributions.
Funding was provided in 2005 by the state Legislature.
“These grants help our larger agriculture-related industries remain competitive in the global market,” said Janet Leister, manager of WSDA’s International Marketing program. “They also present opportunities for smaller organizations to promote Washington’s food products to local communities in our state.”
Local groups selected for funding in the current round of grants were:
Cascade Harvest Coalition – $15,000 to continue work on Farm-to-Table workshops to be held in Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The workshops consist of a facilitated networking session with the goal of increasing localized food sales and farm incomes.
Skagit Red Potato Growers Association – $15,000 to provide funding to market fresh red, white and yellow potatoes at the annual Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Show in San Diego in October.


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