GCH2M HILL finalizes acquisition of VECO
CH2M HILL, a Denver-based full-service engineering, construction and operations firm, announced in October that it has finalized the acquisition of Bellingham-based VECO.
“Our extensive due diligence has confirmed VECO is an outstanding company with an exceptional workforce and project resume,” said Lee McIntire, president and chief operating officer of CH2M HILL. “Like CH2M HILL, VECO’s business operations are built on a commitment to safety, quality and client satisfaction. The employees are a great fit for our firm. We are proud to call them our colleagues.”
VECO’s organization included businesses specializing in program management, construction, engineering, procurement, operations and maintenance that have been serving oil and gas, mining and power clients for more than 39 years. The organization has more than 4,000 employees, with major operations in western Canada, the United States, Russia and the Middle East and will generally operate under the CH2M HILL name.

Ecology approves cleanup plan for Whatcom Waterway
The Washington State Department of Ecology recently approved a Cleanup Action Plan and Consent Decree for the Whatcom Waterway on Bellingham’s downtown waterfront, which sets the stage for one of the state’s largest marine cleanup projects to date.
When completed, this cleanup will remove 530,000 cubic yards of contaminated material from Bellingham Bay and the waterfront area, will create two miles of enhanced nearshore habitat and will transform a contaminated 37-acre industrial treatment lagoon into a clean ocean marina with new salmon habitat and fish passageways.
While the waterfront has been used for industrial purposes for more than 100 years, the community now is working on a transition to a more sustainable waterfront economy with a mix of light industry, commercial and recreational uses. Ecology’s cleanup plan is designed to support these new waterfront uses into the future.
At the heart of the cleanup plan is the conversion of the industrial treatment lagoon into a new clean ocean marina. This will add new public access, moorage and small boat launching for Whatcom County’s boating community.
Ecology has pledged to provide half of the $44 million cleanup costs to the port through the state’s Model Toxic Control Act fund.

Impact Directories opens Mount Vernon office
Impact Directories of Northwest Washington has opened a new business office in Mount Vernon.
Impact Directories is the only locally owned yellow pages directory publisher in Skagit County. The company is currently working on its first directory, which will include and be delivered to every residence and business in Skagit County, Oak Harbor, Coupeville and the San Juan Islands.
“We are excited to be providing local businesses and residents with one quality, comprehensive directory that includes the same information that they have traditionally needed three directories to cover,” said John Hein, sales manager of Impact Directories. “Our goal is to help local businesses have more impact on their target market for less money by giving the local community the highest quality, easiest to use, and most complete directory they have ever seen.”
Impact Directories of Northwest Washington currently has eight employees.

Bellingham Angel Group to host workshop
On December 4, the Bellingham Angel Group and the Angel Forum of Vancouver, British Columbia, will host an all-day advanced workshop for angel investors and entrepreneurs. The workshop: “The Power of Angel Investing – Valuation & Portfolio Strategies and the Post-Investment Relationship: Entrepreneurs and Angels,” will be held at the Hampton Airport Inn in Bellingham from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a networking reception.
The workshop hopes to attract members of Angel Groups or investors who have completed the Angel Investing Overview seminar or have made three to five angel investments.
The day will be divided into two sessions: one will cover valuation and portfolio strategy, and the second session will address the post-investment relationship between entrepreneurs and angel investors.
For more information and to register for this workshop, visit www.bellinghamangels.com and download and complete the online registration form.

Bellingham salon expands
Zazen Salon Spa, a full-service salon and spa under new ownership, is expanding its services and square footage. Bellingham native and licensed hairstylist Shelly Martin took over as the spa’s new owner this summer.
Martin hired Christina Lorraine, former owner of Blush, as the new manager of Zazen Salon Spa. Lorraine, who has 30 years experience in the salon/spa industry, is a licensed esthetician and hairstylist. Martin’s husband, retired Microsoft executive Ford Martin, manages the books as well as all technical aspects of the salon.
Zazen Salon Spa will increasingly utilize natural and organic skin care products, local products and local distribution services. Such products include a new line of all natural skin care products called “Botaniko” as well as a local skin care line, “Organic Complexion,” which is produced Bellingham.

Whidbey Art Gallery has new name, new sculpture garden
Whidbey Art Gallery, formerly the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, took its new name in September to more accurately reflect the nature of the gallery as well as its island location.
Located at the corner of Second and Anthes in Langley, the gallery has created an expanded display space by using the entrance to the gallery and the open space behind the gallery to show bronze, steel and stone sculptures. The former Artists’ Cooperative Gallery was started 15 years ago and did business under that name until September 2007, when the new name was adopted.
The original purpose of the Artists’ Cooperative Gallery was to provide local artists with a venue to share their work on a continuing basis. The gallery had eight founding members and started on Second Street where the Braeburn Restaurant is now located. Paul Schell, former Seattle mayor and owner of the Inn at Langley, encouraged and mentored the gallery and helped it to grow.
With the membership split between active artists and consignment artists, the gallery felt it was time to represent that change with a the new name that more accurately reflects what they do. Whidbey Art Gallery serves as a broker for the work of many artists as well as a retail outlet for its own membership. They are also moving into Internet sales and promotion.
Members run the gallery and are responsible for all aspects of the business. New artists are accepted through a rigorous process of having their work juried by a panel of members. The 17 members accept consignment work from juried artists unable to contribute to sharing in the everyday maintenance of gallery operations. This brings the number of represented artists to about 30.

West Lynden Business Park sells 10 acres to PeaceHealth
Additional medical facilities to serve residents of north Whatcom County are now possible with PeaceHealth’s acquisition of 10 acres in West Lynden Business Park.
Windward Consulting LLC of Lynden, co-owned by Dick Vandenberg and Jim Wynstra of Lynden, sold 8.15 acres for nearly $1.8 million to PeaceHealth and donated an additional 1.78 acres, valued at approximately $400,000.
PeaceHealth is the parent company of St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.
The 60-acre West Lynden Business Park is located within the City of Lynden at the southeast corner.
“We’re pleased that PeaceHealth will be able to use West Lynden Business Park to serve north-county residents,” Vandenberg said. “As part of the sale, we’ve agreed to create a buffer zone around their parcels that will be limited to healthcare-related uses.”
Windward Consulting created West Lynden Business Park in 2005. Since then, infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks and utility lines have been installed.

Moving & Storage Solutions announces partnerships
Whatcom County-based Moving & Storage Solutions Inc. recently announced that Arpin Van Lines Inc., headquartered in East Greenwich, R.I., has formed an interline agreement with Great Canadian Van Lines Ltd., based in Delta, British Columbia. Moving & Storage Solutions is a proud agent of Arpin Van Lines and serves its customers’ household goods relocation needs throughout Whatcom County and beyond.
“This is a total win-win situation for both Arpin Van Lines and Great Canadian Van Lines,” said David Powell, owner of Moving & Storage Solutions. “Through this alliance, both companies will expand their markets and networks across the Canadian/U.S. border with improved services and coverage areas for all of our relocation customers.”
The new alliance greatly improves flexibility for Moving & Storage Solutions, Arpin Van Lines and Great Canadian Van Lines, allowing the carriers to share and utilize each other’s shipping lanes. Arpin agents gain the use of Great Canadian’s regularly scheduled service lanes across Canada, making it more efficient and cost effective for its customers. Great Canadian can now utilize Arpin’s specialized cross-border system to service all areas in the United States.

Blue Sea Systems announces new innovations
Bellingham-based Blue Sea Systems is now offering a practical way to provide full-boat ground fault protection as well as offering a terminal fuse that provides circuit protection.
Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCBO) combine the overcurrent tripping characteristics of a normal circuit breaker with ground fault protection.
RCBOs immediately switch electricity off when a ground fault is detected. Although they are new to the U.S. market, they are commonly used in Europe. A ground fault occurs when current leaks from circuitry to the boat’s ground and possibly to the surrounding water through faulty insulation, improper wiring, or failing appliances and devices.
Terminal fuses are also referred to as Marine Rated Battery Fuse (MRBF). Terminal fuses provide circuit protection in tight space constraints.
This compact fuse, approximately a 1-inch by 1-inch by 1/2-inch cube, mounted in the terminal fuse block, can be installed on terminals, batteries, battery switches, or busbars. The terminal fuse block’s insulated nut and cap prevent accidental shorts.
The fuse’s weatherproof construction makes it suitable for open-cockpit boats and other harsh environments. And it is ignition protected, making it safe for installation for gasoline-powered boats.

Escape opens medical spa
Escape Medical Spa recently announced the opening of its physician-managed medical spa offering skin and cosmetic rejuvenation treatments including Medical Microdermabrasion, VascuTouch, IPL Laser Hair Removal, IPL Fotofacial, Vitalize Peel by SkinMedica and BioUltimate Facial Toning.
Escape Medical Spa owner Ulrike Bartlett decided to add medical spa treatments as a result of increased local demand and to expand the spa’s skin care offerings. Previously patients seeking medical skin care treatment would have to visit a doctor’s office or go out of town.
“Receiving treatments at a true medical spa used to mean driving to Seattle,” Bartlett said. “Escape Medical Spa offers an alternative to long drives or unpleasant waits in physician waiting rooms.”
In addition to convenience, patients will enjoy Escape’s relaxing and soothing spa environment while receiving treatment from licensed skin care specialists under the supervision of the directing physician, Dr. Anthony Burden.

Janicki Industries hosted tour
Approximately 200 members of the community plus representatives from the state office of Community Trade and Economic Development gathered in Sedro-Woolley Sept. 19 at Janicki Industries for a tour featuring the technological innovations that the company is bringing to the world.
Janicki Industries Inc. has become a leader in the composite tooling industry for customers including the Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Northwest Composites, Delta Marine, Goodrich Corporation, Westport Shipyard, Northrop Grumman, Pratt and Whitney, US Marine and Vought Aircraft Industries.
“It was great to see our mission and vision in action,” said David Bricka, executive director of the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce. “Partnering with the community to promote business, and establishing partnerships and communication with the city, business and the community is what we strive to do every day.”

City of Bellingham hires consultant for Fairhaven Highlands
Bellingham city officials have hired a consultant to conduct an environmental assessment of Fairhaven Highlands, a process that will be managed by the city and funded by the company proposing to develop the property.
Fairhaven Highlands is a development proposed by Greenbriar Northwest Associates LLC on property located within Bellingham city limits between Chuckanut Drive, Interurban Trail, Old Fairhaven Parkway and Old Samish Highway.
ESA Adolfson & Associates was selected as the consultant to conduct the environmental impact statement (EIS).
“Of the five firms that submitted proposals, ESA Adolfson was selected unanimously for their extensive experience preparing EIS’s under three-party agreements, as well as their demonstrated ability to provide an objectively developed document,” said Tim Stewart, Bellingham’s planning & community development director.

Chuckanut Bay Gallery & Sculpture Garden celebrates anniversary
In Nov. l988, Don Salisbury opened Chuckanut Bay Gallery, which included 15 consignment artists in 800 square feet of retail space with a small pottery studio in the back. Since that time, the gallery has grown to include more than 400 artists and craftspeople from all over the U.S. and Canada, 2,000 square feet of retail space, custom framing, espresso and a wonderfully landscaped sculpture display garden.
Salisbury will commemorate the 20th year of the gallery by hosting its annual open house on Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served, drawings will be held and all sales on the anniversary will be discounted by 20 percent.

Gentle Acupuncture celebrates fifth year
Gayla Woodenlegs, a licensed acupuncturist, is celebrating the fifth year in Ferndale at her clinic, Gentle Acupuncture.
In addition to treating patients for pain, stress and emotional issues, Woodenlegs specializes in cosmetic acupuncture/facial rejuvenation. “Using this protocol, we not only treat patients constitutionally and help them feel better, we also help them look better – refreshed, vibrant,” said Woodenlegs.

Sculptural Glass Doors wins innovation award
Sculptural Glass Doors Inc. has received Glass Magazine’s 2007 Crystal Achievement Award in the “Most Innovative Commercial Doors – Small/Medium Company” category for its debut collection of entry doors.
The award recognizes significant innovations and achievements in architectural glass technology and manufacturing. Glass Magazine is monthly publication serving the architectural glass industry, building, remodeling and related architectural industries, and is the official magazine of the National Glass Association.
Sculptural Glass Doors Inc. is based in Whatcom County and started operations earlier this year.
The company sells direct to architects, designers, builders and design-conscious homeowners primarily from its Web site.

Matthei Place homes are focus of Nov. 10 open house
Kulshan Community Land Trust will celebrate its first new construction project, Matthei Place, with a free public open house on Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community members are invited to meet at Hillcrest Preschool, where tours of Matthei Place homes will begin and end, and refreshments will be served.
Matthei Place is a 14-home development on less than one acre in the Happy Valley neighborhood. It is the first project to utilize the City of Bellingham’s demonstration program for innovative permanently affordable home ownership and is a creative solution to growth and sprawl through “friendly proximity.”
The two- and three-bedroom homes are registered with the U.S. Green Building Council, and will serve as a pilot project to establish Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the single-family residential market. These homes will also receive certification from the BuiltGreen program of the Whatcom County Building Industry Association.

Lummi Island company earns environmental honors
Lummi Island Wild received the 2007 Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices in a ceremony at the state capitol in Olympia Oct. 9.
The commercial fishing business is among 11 companies and agencies Washington is recognizing this year for their success in moving the state toward a more sustainable future.
Lummi Island Wild uses the ancient art of reefnet wild salmon fishing to help shape the future of the Pacific Northwest salmon fishery. They use selective and sustainable methods, catching only targeted species while returning protected or unwanted species to Puget Sound unharmed.
The company’s innovative live well system also helps protect vulnerable species while supplying fresh, sustainably caught salmon to market.

North Coast CU opens branch in Sedro-Woolley
North Coast Credit Union will open a new branch in Sedro-Woolley this fall, which is the first credit union in Sedro-Woolley. The grand opening takes places Nov. 17.
“Our Skagit Valley operations have been successful beyond our expectations, and with roughly 1,600 members in the Sedro-Woolley area we thought it was about time Sedro-Woolley had its own credit union,” said Terry Belcoe, North Coast Credit Union president and CEO.
The new branch will have seven local employees with a mix of new hires and veteran employees, several from the Sedro-Woolley area.

HBHansen Construction Inc. launches new Web site
HBHansen Construction Inc. of Lynden recently announced the upgrade of its Web site, HBHansenConstruction.com
“Upgrading the Web site has allowed potential clients to see the high level of quality we deliver. It also provides those planning to build a chance to view design features they can include in their own project,” said owner Bernie Hansen.
The improved site showcases detailed photo galleries of the company’s residential and commercial construction projects as well as contact information for the company.

SVC program renews accreditation
The Skagit Valley College Medical Assistant Certificate Program was reaccredited for another decade by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. This third-party accreditation ensures that SVC’s Medical Assistant Certificate meets the highest standards in education established by the profession. Graduates of the program qualify to take an exam and become nationally certified medical assistants.
The program also offers continuing education to certified medical assistants so they can earn required continuing education units. It offers five additional certificates on the Mount Vernon Campus: medical front office, medical billing and coding, pharmacy technician, medical transcriptionist and phlebotomy assistant.

Novori Inc. featured on national game show
The diamond rings of Bellingham-based Novori Inc., a leading online interactive retailer of fine diamond engagement rings and jewelry, made its second television appearance last month as a grand prize on the new FOX hit television game show “Temptation.”
Novori’s exquisite Sareen signature line pendant and earrings were featured as a grand prize.
“We are extremely pleased that our jewelry is being featured as the grand prize in Shoppers Paradise,” said Harold Schaffrick, CEO of Novori Inc. “The Sareen jewelry pieces featured are an online exclusive at and we anticipate an increase in traffic to our Web site because of their superior quality.”

Peoples Bank opens location in Ferndale
Peoples Bank has a new Ferndale office. The Bank’s new office replaces the old office inside of Cost Cutter Foods, which recently closed.
Customers will find the new Ferndale office to be warm and inviting. Visitors to the new office will enjoy free Internet access and financial headlines in the customer lounge. The teller and new account areas are designed to make the banking experience personal and more enjoyable.
The move from in-store to freestanding allowed the bank to add drive-up teller and ATM services. Although no longer in-store, the bank’s commitment to offer customers the best banking hours in Ferndale remains unchanged.
The office is under the leadership of Angie Ritchey, branch manager, and Nathan Lovegren, assistant branch manager.

SSC starts electronic recycling program
Sanitary Service Company (SSC), Whatcom County’s largest recycling and garbage collection company, has added electronic products to the list of items it will accept for recycling.
Rodd Pemble, SSC recycling manager, said the company has been working to develop the program with local electronics recycler Ryzex Inc. for the past several months.
“Most electronic products, like computers, TVs and telephones, don’t belong in the garbage,” said Pemble. “We are pleased to now be able to offer convenient recycling opportunities for customers.”
According to Pemble, customers will have several options for recycling electronic products depending on where they live or work, and the type of electronic item they want to recycle. Collection fees depend on the type of electronic product being recycled. Fees range in price from $6 per item for products like printers, fax machines and video players, to $31 per item for big screen TV’s and photocopiers.

Correction: Mark and Deb Lambert were incorrectly identified as homeowners of the winning Remodeler’s Excellence Award given to DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen. The Lamberts are the former DreamMaker owners, purchased by Matt Peterson and Tally Rabatin in 2006.
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