Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) on Oct. 24 and 25 has reached its goal of 103 new members.

The drive was part of a statewide campaign by all Building Industry Association of Washington affiliates. Nearly 50 members and staff participated in the record-setting event.
BIAWC came in second in the campaign on a per-capita basis behind the North Peninsula Home Builders Association, headquartered in Port Angeles, with a final count of 75 new members.
New members may qualify for a variety of benefits and services such as group rate health care and workers’ compensation premiums depending on their membership category, type of business, and number of employees.

Bellingham Aviation Services is exclusive dealer for aircraft line
Bellingham Aviation Services has recently signed an agreement with Sport Aircraft Works to be an exclusive dealer in Washington for the SportCruiser Light Sport Aircraft, said Jeff Eriksen, director of flight instruction and aircraft sales.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer people in Northwest Washington the opportunity to join the ranks of Federal Airline Administration-certified pilots for half of what it used to cost,” Eriksen said. “The SportCruiser combines miserly fuel burn rates and the technological advancement of modern ‘glass-panel’ instrumentation with the predictable reliability of all aluminum construction. A whole-plane parachute is even an option.”
Bellingham Aviation Services expects brisk sales for the economical airplane. They predict increased interest in local residents who wish to learn to fly as well as renewed interest in flying from pilot-retirees.

Farm Service Agency prefers Banner Bank
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) recently announced that Banner Bank, headquartered in Walla Walla, has been granted preferred lender status for the guaranteed farm loan programs of FSA throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Designation as a preferred lender recognizes Banner Bank’s positive track record in making and servicing farm real estate and operating loans. As a preferred lender, Banner Bank will now have less FSA paperwork to deal with and more time for providing credit to farmers and ranchers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The preferred lender program is for elite agricultural lenders that have experience with FSA guaranteed loans.

Bellingham Marine renovates California yacht club
Located just 15 miles from world-famous Beverly Hills in California, the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club underwent a complete renovation in 2007. Everything from the hotel’s guest rooms to the docks at the onsite yacht club were completely refurbished and updated.
Bellingham Marine was hired as the design-build contractor for the waterside portion of the rebuild project. The company assisted in obtaining local conceptual approvals, as well as approvals from regulatory agencies.
The company demolished the existing marina and designed, manufactured and constructed the new marina – including docks, gangways, security gates, piles, utilities and dock accessories such as dinghy racks and in-slip signage. A new fire suppression system, fresh water hose bibs, upgraded power, cable TV and telephone hookups were installed at each slip.

Whatcom Young Professionals announces nominations
The members of Whatcom Young Professionals have nominated Neighborhood Mortgage, Robek’s, and the Spice Hut for the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year award. For Large Business of the Year, the members nominated the Lakeway Inn and Woods Coffee. The chamber will announce the winner of each category at its third annual awards banquet Dec. 3 from 6-9:30 pm.
The Whatcom Young Professionals currently have a membership that exceeds 250 members and is growing daily.

Blade IT Services has new Web site
Blade IT Services, a Mount Vernon-based IT consulting and support company, has launched a new Web site. The new Web site is at http://www.bladeitservices.com.

Fair trade experts join Whatcom farm workers on panel
Key actors in the sustainable food movement teamed up with Whatcom County farmers and farm workers in an unprecedented public event last month. The event was a panel and community dialogue about the possible benefits to local sustainable agriculture offered by domestic fair trade.
National experts on fair trade joined local farm workers to discuss these and other matters. Free to the public, the discussion was held on Nov. 6 at the Bellingham Public Library lecture room.

Law office headlines licensing workshop
The Bellingham-based Law Office of Brian Brunkow has agreed to lead a workshop through the Washington Lawyers for the Arts (WLA) for the Senior Center Directors of the Area Agency on Aging in Bothell on Dec. 13. Brunkow will address directors’ questions regarding rights and responsibilities concerning the use and public performance of music and movies for the center’s purposes.
Brunkow works primarily with small businesses and start-ups on compliance and contractual issues. The WLA, established in 1976, is a nonprofit service organization based in Seattle and is dedicated to supporting the arts in Washington state by creating alliances and making legal resources accessible to artists and arts organizations of all disciplines.

Bellingham conservation group protects Canadian wilderness
In a major environmental victory recently announced in British Columbia, Canada, more than five million acres of forest will be protected for mountain caribou. The caribou is one of North America’s most endangered mammals and a trans-boundary species that travels between Canada and the United States.
Bellingham-based conservation groups ForestEthics and Conservation Northwest played key roles in the five-year campaign that won this protection.
Mountain caribou enjoy legal protection in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, but in Canada their numbers have been rapidly diminishing due to habitat threats. The recovery plan commits the Canadian government to legislating protections from logging and road building over five million acres.
The plan also commits government to developing more environmentally friendly forest management approaches in surrounding forest habitat, and restricting motorized recreation in caribou habitat.
“The issues of our day – climate change and species extinction – cannot be contained by political borders, and neither could the support of the thousands of U.S. and Canadian businesses and citizens who worked to protect mountain caribou and its habitat,” said Candace Batycki of ForestEthics.

Whatcom County initiates Green Cleaning Program
The Whatcom County government is on the verge of launching a Green Cleaning program for its operations. The program is in conjunction with Bay City Supply and Johnson Diversey.
County staff members have been exploring options for this type of program for the past several months. Thus far, they have successfully switched to 100-percent recycled bath tissue and hand towels. Now they are preparing to take the next step: a pilot program for green cleaning in all buildings maintained by the facilities management division.
The new program will include several cleaning products that have been certified as having healthier components than standard products. These types of products have three benefits: they are healthier for the custodians who use them, they improve the overall air quality of the buildings, and they have a lower impact on the environment.
The cost for these new products should be approximately the same as with standard products, according to Johnson Diversey representative Michael Gibson. If adopted, this standard will be the first of its kind in the industry, and Whatcom County will be the first pilot program to adopt its methods.

Bellingham receives 2007 EPA Green Power Leadership Award
Bellingham officials celebrated Oct. 24 the city’s recent receipt of a 2007 Green Power Leadership award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This annual award recognizes leading national green power purchasers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s green power market.
Bellingham was chosen as a Green Power Partner of the Year, the most prestigious of the purchaser awards. Green Power Partner of the Year recognizes partners who distinguish themselves through their purchase, overall strategy, and impact on the green power market.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from EPA for our green power purchase,” said Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas. “Bellingham is committed to supporting cleaner technologies and helping develop the green power market.”

Harris Music opens Bellingham Academy of Music
Harris Music has recently opened the Bellingham Academy of Music. The academy is now accepting students for guitar, piano, violin and viola. Lessons are available for students of all ages, styles and levels of ability.
Teachers at the academy have been carefully selected for their abilities as well-educated and experienced musicians. As part of the academy’s program, students will be offered regular opportunities to perform in recitals, competitions and other performing venues.

Mount Vernon’s GrafixCORP produces Chamber directory
GrafixCORP of Mount Vernon recently announced that it has been selected to design and produce the 2008 members directory for the Burlington and Mount Vernon chambers of commerce.
This edition of the directory will be distributed in January 2008. This edition will sport a smaller, more convenient size, coupon ads, and many other useful enhancements.

Haggen Food & Pharmacy honors Barkley store
Haggen Food & Pharmacy recently honored its Barkley Village store as its best during the company’s 2006-2007 award year.
The store, located in Bellingham’s Barkley Village, was honored for excellence in numerous areas, including customer relations, community involvement and product presentation, according to Dale C. Henley, president and CEO of Haggen Inc.
“The contributions of the Barkley Village employees resulted in outstanding service for Haggen customers,” Henley said. “Their efforts also extend beyond the store to benefit many local organizations and charitable events.”
Four Barkley Village Haggen managers were named the best in their departments among 15 Haggen stores in Washington and Oregon: Paul Cooley, Store Manager of the Year; Tyler Cook, Center Store Manager of the Year; Dondena Scott, Garden Manager of the Year; and Tracy Pleas, Guest Services Manager of the Year.

Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber offers new tour
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce announces will offer its first Business Mission & Tour of India in April 2008.
This 10-day, all-inclusive tour is perfect for those travelers who are looking for a little adventure or for those who have traveled on chamber tours before. Travelers tour the Golden Triangle of India: Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

J&J’s Needle Art joins Bakerview Square
J&J’s Needle Art is moving within Bellingham from its current location on Meridian Street to Bakerview Square.
By moving to Bakerview Square, J&J’s Needle Art becomes the latest business to open its doors at the new retail development.
“Bakerview Square includes a good mix of retail, professional and restaurants,” says Jeaninne Kahan, owner of J&J’s Needle Art.
J&J’s Needle Art has been a member of the Bellingham retail community since 1990, providing knitting and needlework supplies and classes to the greater Bellingham market.
“It is exciting to welcome J&J’s Needle Art to Bakerview Square,” says Morgan Bartlett of Bellingham’s Madrona Bay Real Estate Investments, the developer of Bakerview Square. “Jeaninne’s choice to relocate to Bakerview Square says a lot about the success of our existing tenants.”

Bellingham Landing Craft Services launches new landing craft
Bellingham Landing Craft Services, a division of Whatcom Waterfront Construction, is pleased to announce that the landing craft “Peacemaker” is in service and ready to work. The Peacemaker is a Bellingham-based, 27-foot-long by 12-foot-wide landing craft.
It is able to take up to 6,500 pounds of construction material or other non-hazardous cargo to non-ferry served islands, desolate beaches or up rivers in the Puget Sound or Canadian Gulf Islands. The six-foot wide gate allows for ferrying of vehicles and construction equipment. The Peacemaker’s twin Honda 130 HP engines allow it to deliver material quickly with an unloaded speed of 22-35 knots and with loads at 24 knots with good seas.

Lisa Crosier Skincare Studio and Beauty Boutique announces move
Lisa Crosier Skincare Studio and Beauty Boutique is pleased to announce that it has moved. The new and larger salon is located on Lincoln Street in Bellingham. The new salon has been designed to offer a relaxing environment while offering a variety of products and services.
A licensed esthetician for 13 years, owner and operator Lisa Crosier specializes in microdermabrasion and peels. Other services include waxing, and eyebrow and eyelash tinting. A new addition is a makeup artist that can assist clients in applying the popular Bare Escentuals makeup line. Skincare consultations addressing all skin types are also available.
“As people become more aware of the damaging effects of the sun and our environment, they are taking advantage of the benefits of professional skincare. My goal is to offer rejuvenating treatments as well as skin care education,” said Crosier.

Mount Vernon Chamber newsletter wins statewide award
The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce accepted the “Best of the Best” award for its newsletter, the Mount Vernon Chamber Chat, at the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives annual conference on Oct. 25.
The award’s criteria included quality of writing, relevance of articles, graphic design, layout, print quality, and photos. Amelia Cook, the chamber’s communications director, produces the monthly newsletter and writes most of the articles. Members also submit educational articles in their areas of expertise. The Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce contracts with GrafixCORP for design and layout of the newsletter, and the printing is done by Printwise, Inc. The Chamber Chat newsletter has an annual distribution of 23,000.