Skagit Valley Hospital expansion celebrates grand opening
Skagit Valley Hospital’s $92 million expansion project was celebrated with a grand opening June 16.
The 220,000-square-foot expansion at the hospital’s Mount Vernon campus features:
• Three stories, plus full basement
• New Emergency/Trauma unit with 23 private patient rooms, including two trauma rooms, two major medical rooms and two triage rooms
• New Family Birth Center with 21 private rooms for labor, delivery and recovery, plus two dedicated Caesarian section rooms
• Expanded space for surgical services, including six spacious operating rooms and room for two more in the future
• More space for critical care patients, featuring a 31-bed unit of universal rooms to flex with the needs of acutely ill patients
• All private patient rooms.
The architect on the project is Kaplan, McLaughlin, Diaz of Seattle and the general contractor is Hoffman Construction Company of Seattle. Excavation work started in August 2005.
The project is paid for by a $62.1 million general obligation bond issue approved by voters of Public Hospital District No. 1 in 2004, hospital revenue bonds and reserves.
Skagit Valley Hospital was opened in 1958.

Northwest Computer to move headquarters
Northwest Computer has announced that the company will be moving to a new corporate headquarters this summer and is also opening a Technology Solutions Center and retail store downtown.
According to company CEO John D’Onofrio, the new headquarters, including its distribution center, manufacturing facility and administrative offices, will be located in the Creekside Building on Ellis Street.
The Technology Solutions Center and retail store will be located on Cornwall Avenue, near the company’s present facility.
The company plans to open its new facilities Aug. 1.
Northwest Computer, founded in Bellingham in 1990, has operated all its services in the Union Printing building downtown since 1998.
“It’s a big change for us,” D’Onofrio said. “We’ve been in our present location for a long time and have really become a landmark in downtown.”
In addition to providing local businesses with networking services, Northwest Computer manufactures computers for business and home users as well as servers used to power business networks under the Blue Mountain brand name.

Nordic Tugs earns Title V air operating permit
Nordic Tugs Inc. announced that it recently received Title V certification from the Northwest Clean Air Agency. Nordic Tugs previously operated under a synthetic minor air permit, monitored by the state of Washington. The Title V permit is controlled and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Under the old permit, we were limited to building about 60 boats annually, but under Title V, that number is virtually unlimited,” said Buddy Brown, environmental health and safety manager at Nordic Tugs.
Nordic Tugs must now operate under stricter federal rules and standards, which regulate how chemicals are handled and disposed. The regulations also limit the level of allowable air pollution.

Bellwether has new owner
The Hotel Bellwether changed ownership May 17. Former owner Peter Paulsen sold the hotel and a nearby office building to Bellwether Harbor Investments LLP, which was established on Jan. 16. Andre Molnar is the managing partner and Michael Herzog is the managing director of the Hotel Bellwether.
The sales were officially filed at the Whatcom County treasurer’s office. The hotel sold for $12.2 million and the office building sold for $4.7 million.

International Absorbents shutters original production facility
International Absorbents Inc. (AMEX: IAX), a leading developer and producer of environmentally friendly pet care and industrial products, announced that in keeping with its three-phase capital expansion plan, the company is in the final stages of relocating its original Bellingham factory, built in 1986, to its modern facility in Ferndale. The equipment at the Bellingham plant was shut down as of April 21.
“We are pleased to be nearing completion of our three-phase capital infrastructure expansion and look forward to being able to focus our efforts more on market growth and product improvements,” stated Gordon L. Ellis, chairman of International Absorbents Inc. “In some respects, it is sad to see the old plant decommissioned. We produced almost half a billion bags of animal bedding and industrial absorbents in just 12,000 square feet of manufacturing space. That represents over 11,000 truck loads of beneficial products derived from waste fiber that would have otherwise been land filled or incinerated.”

Northwest Indian College expands programming
Northwest Indian College President Cheryl Crazy Bull said the college has candidacy status as a four-year, degree-granting institution. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities granted the college’s candidacy after the college requested to begin offering Bachelor of Science degrees in native environmental science.
“Native people have incredible scientific and environmental knowledge to share as we explore how to live on the earth in a good way,” Crazy Bull said. “With the advent of this degree program, (the college) is moving into a new arena of professional opportunity for our students and their tribes.”

Whatcom Young Professionals membership hits 200
Whatcom Young Professionals, a division of The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry, reached a milestone in April when their membership hit the 200 mark.
The honor of being 200 was Eric Shew, co-owner of Shew Design; a Bellingham based visual design company. “I was looking to network with other people and had read about them in the paper. As a young professional, I was looking for ways to increase business and get my name out there,” said Shew. As a bonus, WYPs Advisory Council members extended Eric’s annual membership to two years for the price of one.
Created in May 2006, WYPs seeks to strengthen, enhance and engage emerging business leaders in Whatcom County by providing effective, viable and inclusive opportunities for the development of young professionals.

msnw awarded janitorial contract with US Bank
Management Services Northwest Inc., a Whatcom County-based company, has expanded their service contract with US Bank, a client of 12 years. Effective June 1, Management Services Northwest has been awarded the janitorial contract for their entire Northwest Washington Region, including 91 bank branches.
President and CEO Janelle Bruland, CBSE, started Management Services Northwest in 1995, and specializes in full-service facility maintenance programs for clients throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Randy Alley, facility manager for US Bank says of Management Services, “I have high regards for this company and consider them more of a partner, rather than another contractor.”

Golf Savings Bank opens mortgage-lending office
Dimi Hartman, who has been a Loan Officer with Golf since 2002, will serve as branch manager of the new office, temporarily located on Rimland Drive, across the street from the permanent space, which will be ready in August.
Two other loan officers will join Hartman: Becky Farrar and Erica Zender, both veterans of the mortgage business.
This is the company’s 28th residential mortgage office. Last year, Golf opened an office in Mount Vernon and has offices throughout Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.

Boundary Bay wins ‘Golden Ladle’ award
From among entries offered by 28 local restaurants and caterers, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro won the 2007 “Golden Ladle” award for the Best of Show soup at the fourth annual Soup for Shelter event.
The event took place on Saturday, April 29, at Depot Market Square and in Boundary Bay’s beer garden. The event benefits the programs of Northwest Youth Services that provide shelter, housing and support services for runaway, homeless and abused children and youth.

Baron & Company develops Web site for Moles
Baron & Company announced the launch of a new Web site, www.molesfamilyservices,com for Moles Family Services. The new site was designed to meet the many needs of Moles’ customers, including bereavement care, obituary listings and an online flower ordering service.
“Moles Family Services has facilities in Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden,” said Brian Sibley of Baron & Company. “Prior to the development of their new Web site, each Moles location had its own Web site. Their newly designed site has centralized their facilities with a single site, making it easier to navigate.”
By logging on to www.molesfamily services.com, people can use the “Find an Obituary” tool to find the obituaries of loved ones. Customers can use the online flower ordering service to send flowers to any funeral service, as well as learn about the variety of signature services that Moles has to offer.

Emerald Bay Events remodels old bingo hall
Emerald Bay Events is set to undergo construction of its new banquet facility at the old Bingo 262 building in Ferndale. The company plans to remodel the inside with new carpets, paint, bathrooms and finish to create an elegant space for events that can seat up to nearly 700 people. Upon completion, it will be one of the largest event spaces in northwest Washington. Emerald Bay Events hopes to complete the project before the end of the year, in time for company holiday parties that typically take place in late November and December. In the interim they have enlisted the help of Pacific Party Canopy to install a large tent outside of the facility that can hold an event of up to 150 guests.

SVMC to breaks ground on expanded medical facility
The Skagit Valley Medical Center (SVMC) broke ground in May on a $10 million medical office building. This three story, 33,000-square-foot facility is the first phase in a 10-year expansion plan for SVMC. Larry Thompson, SVMC’s CEO, hosted the ceremony with various community leaders speaking about the project.

IMCO awarded $31 million to widen Guide Meridian
IMCO General Construction, a Bellingham-based civil construction company, announced that Washington State Department of Transportation selected it as general contractor to widen the Guide Meridian in Whatcom County to five lanes from Horton Road to Ten Mile Road. This contract is valued at more than $31 million.
“With more than 23,000 drivers using the Guide Meridian on a daily basis, this roadway has become known for its congestion. Many choose to avoid the area during times of particularly high traffic, but this route is unavoidable for some,” said Frank Imhof, president of IMCO General Construction. “As members of this community, we’re excited to be involved in expanding the roadways through this area, which will provide a safer and much less frustrating commute for our residents and visitors alike.”

Copy Source introduces digital offset press
Copy Source is proud to announce the arrival of the first digital offset press in Whatcom County. This is also the first environmentally sustainable printing press in the area. Copy Source now can provide the speed of digital printing with the high quality of offset printing. The technology has eliminated the need for environmentally damaging chemicals as well as for analog intermediate processes such as film output and plate exposure.
The press has built-in lasers, which burns the image onto plates in four colors with precise registration on each plate cylinder. The whole process is fully automatic, from plate advancing and imaging to presetting the ink fountain keys and running a test print. The short make-ready time from plate advance to the start of test printing dramatically increases productivity.
Its delivery system is also equipped with an infrared dryer that results in a shortened drying time for printed materials, which is especially effective for jobs requiring short turnaround times.

Two design companies to hold ‘Let it Green!’ event
Local tile design company La Tene Tile and building design retailer Elements Design Center are partnering to put on the “Let it Green!” event, which will promote sustainable green practices and the use of green products in Whatcom County. The event is scheduled for July 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Elements, on East Bakerview Road.
The event will feature food by Ciao Thyme, authentic Irish music by Finnegan’s Wake and laughs by Loose Cannon Events. Various vendors will be on hand to share information about green products. The event is intended to attract a crowd of green-conscious builders, homeowners and designers.
Elements Design Center is the first Whatcom County interior design showroom to create a green product showcase. La Tene Tile, a member of Bellingham Sustainable Connections, creates sophisticated metallic tiles produced with 100 percent recycled copper.

New marketing company to be introduced
Peter James Photographic Art will introduce a new business division, Pro Marketing Works, at the Whatcom Young Professionals’ monthly networking event on July 26.
The introduction of Pro Marketing Works’ new marketing system will be a prime opportunity for small businesses to learn how to make their marketing simpler and more effective.
The popular evening networking event will also feature appetizers, music and entertainment. Health & Exercise Prescriptions is sponsoring the event along with Peter James Photographic Art, which is taking place at Lairmont Manor.

Boom times for Hardlines
Six years of steady growth has prompted Hardlines, a Bellingham-based Web and IT services company, to move its operations to a new site on Carolina Street in the city’s Sunnyland neighborhood.
The new office opened with a Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 8, followed by a Hawaiian luau-themed party for employees, clients and guests.
“The new space will allow us to further expand and develop services, including seminars and workshops, that are of interest to our clients and the community,” said Aaron Booker, president and founder of Hardlines.

SSC goes 100 percent green power
Sanitary Service Company (SSC) is now producing 100 percent of its electricity usage through PSE’s Green Power Program. SSC’s recent switch makes them the largest private business in Whatcom County to get all of its electricity through the Green Power Program.
“We were at 46 percent green power when we originally signed up, but made the decision to go 100 percent green power because we wanted to do more to contribute to supporting renewable energy options for our region and help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” SSC President Paul Razore said. “We hope our move will encourage other large Whatcom County businesses to join us as a Green Power Program Business Partner.”
PSE’s Green Power Program, ranked as one of the top 10 programs in the United States, provides SSC with just over 200,000 kilowatt hours annually of domestically produced, alternative energy.

Bellingham Fitness reopens
Bellingham Health and Fitness, located on North State Street, recently reopened as Bellingham Fitness.
“In celebration of our company’s huge success and four year anniversary, we’ve completely renovated the interior of the club,” Manager Todd Sheehan said.
“This included painting the walls beautiful new colors, resurfacing the aerobics floor and re-doing the spa.”
Fifteen ellipticals, 10 bikes and another line of strength training equipment were added. In addition to the name change, the gym has a new logo.

Pacific Party Canopies named small business of the year
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce named Pacific Party Canopies as its Small Business of the Year. Other nominees included Farmers Insurance – Mike Gubrud, Knot Just Yarn and Double Barrel BBQ.

Allegiant Air inaugurates new, nonstop service
Low-cost airline Allegiant Air LLC inaugurated a new nonstop jet service from Bellingham to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport in April.
“We are pleased to extend another low-cost and convenient option to the Bellingham community,” said Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant Air president and CEO. “We are confident the entire region will enjoy the low-cost, nonstop jet service to the Reno-Tahoe destination.”

New publishing company finds home
BlueWater Productions – a creative studio best known for producing comic books for various publishers – started self-publishing its works in May.
The debut titles include “Ray Harryhausen Presents: Wrath of the Titans” and “VSS: Nemesis Rising.” Both tiles will be available nationally as well as in local comic shops.
“We will also be doing graphic novels,” said BlueWater Managing Editor Darren G. Davis. “The first one, coming out in June, is ‘Lost Raven,’ which is a book about an HIV-positive character. Some of the proceeds will be going to Evergreen AIDS Foundation.” Davis said the book was important to him because it was based on a friend’s journal.

RE/MAX moves Ferndale office to larger location
The Ferndale office of RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc. moved to a new location on Main Street. The new building is located between the Haggen Food & Pharmacy store and the railroad overpass.
“It offers easier access for clients and provides room for up to 20 real estate agents so we can continue to serve the Ferndale area,” said Jack Mulhern, RE/MAX Ferndale branch manager. The move also was necessary because of the branch’s growth to 12 agents since opening in 2002, Mulhern said.

SSC expands FoodPlus! Recycling service area
Sanitary Service Company (SSC) recently expanded the service area of its popular FoodPlus! Recycling program. In addition to all SSC customers in Bellingham, Ferndale, Birch Bay and the Semiahmoo Resort, FoodPlus! Recycling is now available to customers in other areas of Whatcom County.
“We are pleased with the program’s success and glad we can expand our service area to make the program available to more of our customers,” said SSC President Paul Razore. “This current expansion now makes service available to our customers along North Shore Drive, in Sudden Valley and around Lake Samish.”
The limits of the new service areas are: Semiahmoo to I-5 then south to Birch Bay-Lynden Road, east to Hannegan Road and south to Hemmi Road, east to Fazon Road and south to Cedarville Road, east to Mount Baker Highway, then south to the Whatcom-Skagit County line and out to Bellingham Bay, then north to Cagey Road on Lummi Peninsula (including Sandy Point) and finishing back at Semiahmoo.

Pickford Film Center LEEDs the way
The Pickford Film Center, located on Bay Street in Bellingham, is undergoing renovations that follow national standards for energy efficient and sustainable building design and construction known as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
“By creating a state-of-the-art, energy efficient cultural institution that can be enjoyed by the entire community, Pickford Film Center is a model of environmental and organizational sustainability,” said Alice Clark, the executive director of the Whatcom Film Association, which operates the Pickford.

Buyer’s Market expands with new warehouse
Buyer’s Market is adding a 6,000-square-foot warehouse adjacent to its existing Bellingham store at the intersection of Iowa and Woburn streets. The additional space will result in increased showroom space at the main store.