Cypress Island Seafood to employ 35 to 75 people
The K-C Fish Company (formerly Sea K Fish) location in Blaine will be the new home of Smoki Foods’ Cypress Island Seafood’s fish processing plant. The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners approved the transfer of the K-C Fish Company lease to Cypress Island Seafood, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seattle-based Smoki Foods. Operations began in early April.
“Seafood processing has a long history in Blaine and we are very pleased that Cypress Island Seafood will bring new jobs and new opportunities for fishermen in Blaine and the surrounding area,” said Port Commission President Scott Walker.
Cypress Island Seafood purchased the K-C Fish Company, which had been a port tenant in Blaine Harbor since 1962.
As part of the transaction, Cypress Island Seafood agreed to pay K-C Fish for its business and improvements. The current port lease will allow Cypress Island Seafood to be in the facility until at least 2022 with options to extend.
The new company, Cypress Island Seafood, plans to employ 35 people at start up and projects to be employing as many as 75 by its third year of operation.

Joe’s Garden handed over to next generation
Jason Weston has purchased Joe’s Garden from his parents, Carl and Karol Weston. The family purchased the seven-acre farm from its original owner, Joe Bertero, in 1983, and Jason has been working alongside his parents since then. Located in the Happy Valley neighborhood of Bellingham, it is one of few working farms within the city limits, offering a variety of produce and flowers. Weston expects his brother, Nate, to join the operation within the next year.

Allegiant Air nonstop to Reno-Tahoe
Allegiant Air LLC, announced new, low-cost, nonstop flights to Reno-Tahoe, from Bellingham, beginning May 25.
“We are pleased to extend another low-cost and convenient option to the Whatcom County and Vancouver communities,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant Air president and CEO, said. “We are confident the entire region will enjoy the low-cost, nonstop jet service to the Reno-Tahoe destination, as they already do to Las Vegas and Palm Springs.”
The airline will launch the new scheduled service from Bellingham International Airport to Reno-Tahoe International Airport with three flights weekly Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights will depart Bellingham at 9:00 a.m. arriving in Reno at 10:45 a.m. Flights leaving Reno will depart at 11:25 a.m. arriving in Bellingham at 1:25 p.m. (all flight times are local).

City of Oak Harbor helps visitors with wayfinding signs
The City of Oak Harbor recently installed signs along the commercially dominated city streets and along State Route 20 as part of the Wayfinding Signage Project. The 26 signs guide visitors and residents to Oak Harbor’s unique shopping districts, public parks and facilities, and other visitor attractions. Visitor signs and municipal signs direct drivers to each destination category. Each of the signs bear the recently created double-sails adopted as the City’s new logo. The Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce initially proposed the signs. The Wayfinding Signage project is one goal of the Windjammer Plan, a redevelopment, branding and marketing plan designed to revitalize the historic downtown corridor and waterfront area.
The Windjammer Plan has been greatly influenced by a citizen-based group, the Windjammer Committee. This committee has worked with city staff and design consultants to create a plan that will benefit the larger community. This citizen body helped to create the attractive signs now directing drivers toward community assets and local businesses.

Dr. Craig Weinston throws birthday party
March 12 marked the third anniversary of the establishment of The Chiropractic Zone in Freeland. In appreciation of all the community support that this wellness center has received, a “birthday party” was thrown to celebrate. Festivities included more than 30 raffle prizes donated by local professionals and merchants. More than 100 patients and business owners came by throughout the day to enjoy the festivities.
Dr. Craig Weinston opened his clinic after moving to Whidbey Island from northern California. He saw the need for a family wellness chiropractic center on the island that focused on spinal correction, education and rehabilitation. Dr. Craig, as most patients refer to him, specializes in spinal correction, with advanced training in Chiropractic Biophysics and Pettibon Spinal Correction techniques.
As a service to the community, Weinston provides weekly seminars open to the public on spinal health and a wide variety of health topics.
In three years, he has grown his practice significantly by lecturing on health topics to the local schools on backpack safety, and to community service groups and small businesses. He works with local MDs, physical therapists and allied health professionals to provide complete wellness care.
Weinston has served the community as a director on the Freeland Chamber of Commerce and with the South Whidbey Rotary, participating in projects involving island visitor tourism and emergency preparedness.

Best in sales recognized at Bellis Fair
The Bellis Fair management office recognized its 2006 top performing retailers at the annual spring merchant meeting. Retailers are celebrated in three categories: sales growth, sales achievement and people’s choice.
The Sales Growth awards recognize the merchant in different categories that achieved the highest year-to-date percentage sales increase over the previous year. This award is based on the total sales increase for the month of January through December. To be eligible, the store must have been open on or before January 1, 2005.
The winners are: Champs Sports, Waldenbooks, Zumiez, Famous Footwear, J&J Mongolian Grill, Radio Shack, Select Comfort, Zales, Piercing Pagoda, Bath & Body Works, Pure MedSpa, Boston’s, The Gourmet Pizza, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream & Treatery, Just Sports, Hollister & Co., Victoria’s Secret and Romy.
Sales Achievement awards recognize the merchant in different categories that achieved the highest sales per square foot during the fiscal year, January through December. To be eligible for this award, stores must have been open on or before January 1, 2006.
The winners are: Lady Foot Locker, Lids, Zumiez, Journey’s, McDonald’s, EB Games, Select Comfort, Ben Bridge, Sunglass Hut, Bath & Body Works, Regis, Red Robin Burger and Spirits, Cinnabon, Just Sports, Hollister & Co., Victoria’s Secret and Wet Seal.
Perhaps the most fun for the retailers are the People’s Choicea awards. These awards allow retailers to nominate their peers in a range of categories.
This year’s categories and winners are: Fastest Moving Staff in the shopping center is Bruce Livingston (the UPS guy), Best Lunch Stop is Taqueria Los 3 Hermanos, Friendliest Staff is Key Bank (the merchant bank located on the property), Best Coffee/Tea Stop is TeaQuent Stop and Best In-store Music is American Eagle.

Broadway Chiropractic celebrates six-year anniversary
Broadway Chiropractic, home to the practices of Dr. Theresa Murry and Dr. Robert Curtis, is pleased to announce its six-year anniversary in May. Broadway Chiropractic offers comprehensive chiropractic care for patients of all ages. “It has been an amazing six years dedicated to serving patients,” says Dr. Murry.
To celebrate its six-year anniversary, Broadway Chiropractic will host three days of patient appreciation on May 16, 17 and 18 (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) during regular business hours. The public is invited to drop in and enjoy free chair massage, catered food and beverages and new patient discounts on exams and X-rays.
In her practice, Dr. Murry focuses on preventative wellness care for children and adults, as well as injury management for motor vehicle collisions and work-related injuries. Dr. Curtis specializes in keeping athletes at peak performance and taking care of the entire family.

Department of Revenue debuts new Web site
The Washington State Department of Revenue launched a new Web site that incorporates more streaming videos, interactive tutorials, and other features that will help businesses find information quickly and file more accurate tax returns.
The new site was developed using extensive usability testing by volunteer businesses. Significant changes stemming from hands-on research with volunteers include a new navigation scheme with “plain language” text and titles that better represent the way users seek information and services from the site.
To view the new web site, visit http://dor.wa.gov.

AWB receives U.S. Chamber’s highest accreditation
The Association of Washington Business, Washington state’s chamber of commerce, was awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s accreditation with distinction. This is the highest accreditation a state chamber of commerce can receive.
AWB and the South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce are the only two state chambers in the nation recognized as distinguished state chambers.
Thomas Donohue, president of U.S. Chamber, made the announcement in a letter to AWB President Don C. Brunell and will present the recognition plaque at AWB’s annual spring board meeting in Spokane on May 22.
The only program of its kind in the country, the U.S. Chamber Accreditation recognizes an organization for its quality programs, clear organizational procedures, and being a catalyst for positive action in their community. To achieve accreditation, a chamber must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs and technology. This extensive self-review can take from three to six months to complete.

Bowers Programming launches Unity Church Web site
Bowers Programming recently launched a new Web site for Unity Church of Bellingham, using their custom content management system. The Bowers Programming content management system allows Web site owners to make changes to the content of their Web site without programming knowledge or the assistance of a Web developer.
Unity Church describes itself as “a positive, practical, non-denominational church based on Christian ideals” that strives to “honor the strength of diversity.” The new Web site gives them a forum to express their beliefs and post their upcoming events.

Blaine to receive $7 million for wastewater treatment plant
Governor Chris Gregoire signed legislation awarding $71 million in infrastructure loans to 19 communities across Washington. The funds will help local governments improve sanitary sewer systems, domestic water and storm water services.
The city of Blaine will receive $7 million to construct a new wastewater treatment plant to serve the projected demand for the next 20 years, using the latest membrane filtering technology to produce reuse-quality water and minimize impacts to local shell fishing.
“These projects are smart investments in local Washington communities,” said Gov. Gregoire. “They will help to protect public and environmental health while providing good jobs and support for thriving local economies.”

Selective buyers taking longer to sell houses
Although sale prices of Whatcom County homes rose slightly in this year’s first quarter, it is taking an average of more than three months now to sell one.
The average time a Whatcom County home was on the market before a sale closed was 109 days in the first quarter, 58 percent longer than in the first quarter of 2006, according to Lylene Johnson of The Muljat Group South office in Fairhaven. For specific communities, the average time on the market in this year’s first quarter ranged from 100 days in Bellingham and Lynden to 141 days in Blaine/Birch Bay.
“The best homes still are selling within 30 days,” Johnson said. “But the initial listing price is critical now. Sellers who ask for too much will find buyers have many other options in our real estate market.”
Housing sales and prices in the county were fairly stable in the first quarter of this year in comparison to the first quarter of 2006, Johnson said. The county’s median price – the figure where half the sales were above and half were below – was $289,000, 7 percent higher than a year ago. The average price of all housing sales in the county was $328,676, up 4.3 percent from the first quarter of 2006. The number of sales dropped 3.9 percent this year, but the number of pending sales is close to 2006 levels, Johnson added.

Construction Careers Academy to open
The Whatcom County Construction Careers Academy will launch in September 2007. This program is designed for highly motivated high school juniors and seniors who are seriously interested in a career in construction or related fields. Students must complete an application process, be 16 years old to enroll and turn 17 by March 2008.
The program will help students explore a variety of construction-related career opportunities, develop appropriate work readiness skills and prepare to enter apprenticeship or registered training programs, enroll in a postsecondary education program or attain direct entry employment. After completing a minimum of 240 classroom hours, students will be provided with 10-12 weeks of paid internships through partnerships with local contractors and construction-related employers.

Washington Choppers receives new license
Washington Choppers has received a license to manufacture their own line of retro style, custom Bobber motorcycles from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Washington Choppers’ Bobber style, called the “Chop Bob” series will be featured at the “100 years of Motorcycle Rally” this August in Rosalia, Wash.
“We will feature two styles of custom motorcycles, one has a 200mm series rear wheel and the other has the meaty 250mm rear tire. Our ‘Chop Bob’ series of custom bikes brings back the look of the ‘60s and ‘70s, but has all the attitude and dependability of 2007.”
Washington Choppers is located on Grant Street in Bellingham.

His Place bookstore changes hands
Joan Nienhuis owner of His Place Christian Book Store in Oak Harbor is retiring and Jill Farnsworth has taken ownership of the long-time business. Neinhuis operated the successful business for more than 30 years. Farnsworth has been on staff for at the bookstore for many years.

Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport receives award
Hampton, the national brand of Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, has awarded the Hampton Inn Bellingham Airport, located at on Bennett Drive, one of its national Circle of Excellence awards. The property is designated as being in the hotel chain’s top 10 percent in service, product and quality among more than 1,400 Hampton properties.
The criteria for receiving this award is based on customer feedback measured through guest satisfaction surveys about the hotel, as well as product quality and service scores measured quarterly by the company.
“We are honored to achieve this designation among all Hampton hotels,” said Trey Campbell, hotel general manager. “Providing clean, comfortable rooms and outstanding guest service is a top priority for our hotel staff and one reason we remain highly competitive in our local market.”

Department of Revenue offers free tax workshop May 8 in Bellingham
The Bellingham office of the Washington State Department of Revenue is hosting a free workshop for new and small business owners on Tuesday, May 8, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Labor and Industries/DSHS Building, 1720 Ellis Street, First Floor Conference Room A, Bellingham.
Participants will learn about Washington excise taxes, reporting classifications, deductions, tax incentives, sales tax collection, and record-keeping requirements. All receive a workbook and helpful reference guide to Department of Revenue rules and regulations.
To register, visit the Department of Revenue web site at www.dor.wa.gov or call (360) 676-2114. Space is limited.

Two fitness centers team up to provide post-rehab fitness
Health and Exercise Prescriptions and Esteem Pilates have joined to be Bellingham’s premiere post rehabilitation/fitness center. Both fitness centers have been providing complete one-on-one personal training and Pilates instruction on Holly Street for two years.
Their mission is to support healthy individuals, by emphasizing proactive injury prevention, and facilitating full recovery from injuries and medical conditions.

Business networking group launches in Blaine/Birch Bay
LeTip International Inc announced the launch of the Pacific Northwest chapter in Blaine. The chapter meets every Friday in the Palmer Room of the Blue Heron at the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club.
The Pacific Northwest chapter, like all LeTip chapters, provides a structured, productive program to teach members networking skills necessary to grow each other’s businesses by providing qualified business referrals. The program emphasizes building relationships, creating alliances and developing public speaking skills, all of which empower members and help create an environment for business success.

Logos 3 wins industry achievement award
Logos Bible Software 3 was honored with the Community’s Choice Award at the 12th annual Industry Achievement Awards (IAA), the annual technology awards event that recognizes the state’s most outstanding technology achievements in a variety of categories, hosted by the WSA, the state’s oldest and largest technology trade organization.
The gathering included more than 1,000 of the industry’s finest, including representatives from Microsoft, Google, the Puget Sound Business Journal, Farecast, WhitePages.com and many other Washington state businesses.

Neighborhood Mortgage moves
Neighborhood Mortgage recently moved to a new office. On March 15, Tim Unick of Faber Brothers handed over the keys to their 2-story 5,300-square-foot building in the new Bakerview Square in Bellingham.
Neighborhood Mortgage will have an open house celebration on May 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with cookies and coffee, and appetizers and wine from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Port provides funds for economic development projects
The Port of Bellingham’s Board of Commissioners approved spending $42,700 to assist small cities with their economic development projects. For the past three years, the port has provided money to its Small City Economic Development Fund.
The city of Blaine will receive $15,000 to pay for a consulting firm to develop a funding action plan to implement projects identified in the Blaine Wharf District Comprehensive Plan Update and Master Plan.
The city of Sumas will receive $7,700 to pay for electrical engineering services to construct a substation feeder line with Puget Sound Energy to service the growing industrial customer base. This new line would bypass the existing PSE feeder line that is reaching capacity.
The city of Ferndale will receive $20,000 to provide professional services to set up a Local Improvement District (LID) on 2nd Avenue Extension, just off the Portal Way exit off Interstate 5. The funds would pay for construction of 1,200 feet of new street and reconstruct another 1,000 feet to city standards. The improvements include a new Portal Way intersection and new section of 2nd Avenue, which would extend through the former Simplot site, a 20-acre area that is slated for commercial and light industrial redevelopment opportunities.

Electrolysis Plus moves to downtown Bellingham
Electrolysis Plus, specializing in electrolysis and permanent makeup, recently moved to Morse Square on Railroad Avenue.
Owner Candice Mechan, who launched Electrolysis Plus four years ago, said the new location is ideal for the increasing number of residents and businesspeople in the downtown district. Electrolysis Plus is located across Chestnut Street from Depot Market Square, home of the Bellingham Farmers Market.
Mechan has more than 10 years of experience and certifications in electrolysis and permanent makeup.

International Absorbents announces financial results for fiscal 2007
International Absorbents Inc. (AMEX: IAX), a leading developer and producer of environmentally friendly pet care and industrial products, reported financial results for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007.
Sales increased 16 percent to $29,495,000 for fiscal year 2007 versus $25,436,000 for fiscal year 2006. Net income for fiscal year 2007 was $701,000, or $0.11 per share, compared to $655,000, or $0.10 per share, for fiscal year 2006, representing an increase of 7 percent. Gross profit for fiscal year 2007 was $9,593,000 compared to $7,648,000 for fiscal year 2006, a 25 percent increase.
“Although we believe that the bottom line numbers do not reflect the full extent of improvements achieved during the year, progress in both top line and operating income has been good,” said Gordon L. Ellis, chairman of International Absorbents Inc.

SOS Office Solutions celebrates new location
SOS Office Solutions LLC, marked the grand opening of its new office in the Dupont Professional Building in April.
SOS began as a home-based business in 2004, after its founder, Lorena McLauchlin noticed a gap in the local business services market and set about to fill it. McLauchlin’s service is an alternative for small business owners who need less than full-time administrative help, those who don’t want to bring an extra person onto the payroll, or home-based businesses who may not be set up to use a temporary worker from an agency. Many SOS customers are bookkeeping clients, one-person businesses that only need help one or two hours a week, and start-up/first-time business owners requiring help setting up admin logistics.
Along with the services SOS has been providing, the move into new quarters enables McLauchlin’s business the ability to offer clients access to office space, complete with computer, supplies, and full wireless capability. “I call it a jump suite,” she says. “It’s a chance for business owners or travelers who work out of their vehicles to check email, run copies and even grab a coffee before heading out again.”
SOS also offers virtual services across the United States and Canada.

Campus Community Coalition to receive national award
The National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) is honoring the Western Washington University-Bellingham Campus Community Coalition with an award that recognizes outstanding programs and innovative services in higher education.
The Coalition is the winner of the NASPA Excellence Award Grand Silver Medal in the program category of Off-Campus, Commuter, Non-traditional, Graduate, Professional and related programs. The award to the coalition recognizes its innovative outreach that promotes working relationships and communication between the WWU campus and the local community.

Blue Sea Systems achieves ISO 9001:2000 certification
Blue Sea Systems has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. ISO 9001:2000 is an internationally accepted reference for business-to-business quality management requirements. Certification is granted to organizations that demonstrate their ability to consistently fulfill customers’ quality requirements and applicable regulatory requirements. This certification recognizes Blue Sea Systems’ commitment to product quality and excellence in customer service, engineering, supply chain management and manufacturing.
David Johnson, senior vice president, said, “Blue Sea Systems has always been committed to quality. The certification of our quality system validates our previous efforts and continued focus on delivering quality products and service.”

Free Web tool allows farmers to evaluate farm management practices
Farmers now have a free online tool available that allows them to compare their current management practices with “best practices” for sustainable agriculture. Developed by Food Alliance, a non-profit certification organization, through a partnership with Oregon State University and Washington State University, and with support from USDA Risk Management Agency, the tool offers information and resources to help farmers identify and implement strategies to manage production, environmental, human resource and other risks.
The online self-assessment tool looks at safe and fair working conditions, integrated pest management, soil and water conservation, and wildlife habitat conservation. In each of these areas, the tool provides background information on issues and risk management strategies, and links to resources and incentives to help farmers improve their management practices.
Interested farmers should visit http://sat.foodalliance.org for more information.

New downtown Bellingham logo unveiled
The Downtown Renaissance Network has unveiled a new graphic identity for downtown Bellingham. Created by local design and marketing firm Baron & Company, the icon is on display now at the new downtown information station located on Cornwall Avenue and is currently being phased in throughout other downtown programs and events.
Kirsten Walker, executive director of the organization, talked about the challenge in creating an identity that accurately captures the essence of downtown Bellingham. “Mention the phrase ‘downtown Bellingham’ to 10 different people and you’ll get 10 different interpretations. One person will think of shopping and restaurants while another will think of the Mount Baker Theatre or their place of work. Throughout the design process we all agreed that the new downtown Bellingham identity in its final form should represent the vibrant and diverse place downtown is, as well as convey it as a friendly place welcoming those from out of town.”

VBI acquires distribution rights to hazardous waste disposal unit
VBI Services Inc. is proud to announce its recent acquisition of exclusive U.S. distribution rights to the OZONATOR bio-hazardous waste disposal unit from OZONATOR Industries – a cutting-edge Regina, Saskatchewan, technology company.
“By using patented technology, the OZONATOR is a zero-emission bio-hazardous waste disposal unit that will enable hospitals, laboratories and medical centers throughout the world to save millions of dollars in bio-hazardous waste management and disposal costs,” said Tim Reid, president of VBI Services. The OZONATOR unit eliminates the chemical sterilization liquids and air pollution – caused by incineration – associated with current bio-hazardous waste disposal methods.”

Peoples Bank is title sponsor for 2007 Ski to Sea
Russell Lee, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Peoples Bank, announced that the Bank will be Title Sponsor for the 2007 Ski to Sea Race.
The Ski to Sea Title Sponsorship provides funding for the Ski to Sea Race on May 27. 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 began back in 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.
“The Whatcom Chamber is pleased to be partnering with Peoples Bank, together we bring the 2007 Ski to Sea Race to Whatcom County and to the world,” said Ken Oplinger, president and chief executive officer of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

IHOP breaks ground for second location
IHOP of Bellingham recently broke ground for a new IHOP in the new Bakerview Square development. Faber Brothers will construct the new restaurant. Business partners Aysa Saadat and Chris Salios would like to thank the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County for their overwhelming support. IHOP’s original Bellingham location is on Samish Way.