Merger Agreement Terminated between Frontier, Whidbey Island Banks
In a surprising move on June 3, Washington Banking Company (WBC), the Oak Harbor-based holding company for Whidbey Island Bank, notified Frontier Financial Corp. (Frontier) that it is terminating the merger agreement signed last September.
“The continued uncertainty created from waiting for the potential merger was not benefiting our customers, communities, employees or shareholders,” said Michal Cann, president and CEO of Washington Banking Company in a press release. “Our Board of Directors carefully considered the alternatives and decided to terminate the merger and re-examine our strategic direction in light of these circumstances.”
In its notice, WBC alleged that Frontier breached certain obligations under the merger agreement. Frontier denies that it breached the agreement and believes WBC’s repudiation of the agreement is a breach of the merger agreement. Frontier and WBC have each asserted they are entitled to a $5 million termination fee from the other party in connection with the termination of the merger agreement.
“The agreement could only be broken by mutual agreement or when it expired on June 30,” stated Carol Wheeler, CFO of Frontier. “By terminating on June 3, they did break the agreement.”
It does appear, though, that Frontier wasn’t going to get approval. Wheeler commented, “In this market place they’ve (federal regulator) raised the bar; we’re not the only bank not getting approval.” Wheeler cited the example of Sterling Financial Corp., the Spokane-based owner of Sterling Savings Bank (Sterling). In December 2007, Redding, Calif.-based North Valley Bancorp terminated the definitive agreement for the merger with and into Sterling because of the longer-than-expected approval process with federal bank regulators. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) informed Sterling that the FDIC could not advise when or if the pending application would be approved.
“We are disappointed and frustrated with the delay in the regulatory approval process,” stated John Dickson, president and CEO of Frontier, in a press release. “We continue to believe this merger would have been positive for both organizations. However, any further delay would have been detrimental to both organizations and reduced our chances for a successful combination.”
“We are working with each other to end the dispute and get it all squared away,” Cann said.
– Kate Nichols

FIRE Destroys Lynden’s DELFT SQUARE
A three-alarm fire destroyed the historical Delft Square in downtown Lynden the afternoon of June 9. The building’s tenants were evacuated and no one was reported injured.
Two Lynden-area boys, ages 13 and 14, have each been charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree reckless burning. Both boys plead not guilty and a trial date was set for Aug. 4.
At least 10 businesses located in Delft Square suffered fire damage and several others next door and across the street suffered smoke and water damage. Storage space was made available at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds for use by the displaced or fire-damaged businesses.
Damage to the building itself is estimated at more than $2 million.
The Lynden department store was built with 30,000 square feet of floor space in 1914 and once held the reputation as the largest department store west of the Mississippi River.

Tri-County Truss receives state safety recognition
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) awarded a prestigious workplace-safety award to the Burlington plant of Tri-County Truss on June 19. It is the first plant of its kind in the state to receive the award.
The award is part of L&I’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), which has designated the Tri-County Truss plant as a STAR site. The designation means that the company has reached the highest level of workplace safety. It recognizes the company’s management commitment and employee participation in an ongoing safety and health program, and means it successfully passed an L&I audit and extensive onsite review.
“Safety is a core value at our company, and we take a proactive approach that involves all employees doing their part to make sure no one gets hurt on the job,” said Gary Lund, Tri-County Truss general manager. “This award means a lot to us because it validates the commitment we have to safety.” Tri-County employs 132 people and specializes in engineered wooden roof and floor trusses.
Only 2,000 worksites out of more than 7 million nationwide, have received a VPP award. The program is run by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), but administered in Washington by L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health. In Washington, 28 companies have achieved the VPP STAR-level award.

Bellingham Herald loses 13 employees, printing moves to Mount Vernon
Although combined readership of The Bellingham Herald print and online editions has grown, the paper will be losing 13 employees including four from the newsroom, the Herald reported last month. The Herald’s parent company, McClatchy Co., will be cutting 10 percent of its workforce company wide. The decision will eliminate 1,400 jobs, 123 of which will come from four newspapers in Washington state.
McClatchy and Pioneer Newspapers, Inc., owner of the Skagit Valley Herald, have also signed a letter of intent for a printing agreement allowing The Bellingham Herald to be printed in Mount Vernon after the Skagit Valley Herald’s new office is complete sometime in 2009.
Glen Nardi, president and publisher of The Bellingham Herald, said the cuts and the printing agreement are the company’s response to economic conditions and a downturn in real estate, auto and employment advertising.

Diehl Ford Celebrates 100th Birthday
Diehl Ford celebrated its 100th birthday with a community-wide party on June 7 and an appearance by Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co. president and CEO. It was Mulally’s only appearance on his trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Mulally spent time touring the dealership, greeting many Diehl Ford employees and event guests as well as signing autographs and posing for pictures.
Senators Dale Brandland (R) and Harriet Spanel (D), Representative Doug Ericksen (R) and Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce CEO Ken Opplinger also were in attendance.
Opplinger congratulated the Diehls on behalf of the entire Bellingham business community and presented a proclamation signed by Mayor Dan Pike naming June Diehl Ford Month.
Mike Diehl, general sales manager and fourth generation in dealership operations, extended his appreciation to the nearly 1,000 people who attended the event.
“We’ve weathered two World Wars, the Great Depression, floods, fire, the gas crisis of the ’70s and a number of other challenges over the decades,” he said. “Without you, our loyal customers, and our many dedicated employees, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

SKAGIT STATE BANK CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY
Burlington’s Skagit State Bank celebrated 50 years of success in the North Puget Sound Region June 14.
Founded in 1958 by the late James P. Bishop and other local businessmen, the first Skagit State Bank office opened on Fairhaven Avenue in Burlington with an open house on June 14, 1958. Founded on the core values of independence, customer service and community commitment, Skagit State Bank has grown to 13 offices in three counties.
Skagit State Bank remains an independent community bank run by local people, serving local people. Today, Cheryl R. Bishop serves as president and CEO.

WWU Trustees Approve First Faculty Contract
The Western Washington University Board of Trustees approved the University’s first union contract with faculty June 13 at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.
The United Faculty of Western Washington (UFWW) membership recently ratified the contract with a 98 percent yes vote. The vote by the board of trustees concludes the process of ratifying the first contract between the university administration and the UFWW.
The agreement includes:
• A one-time bonus of 4 percent on 2007-2008 base pay, which will be paid to all qualified faculty;
• A 10.5 percent increase in salary for all qualified faculty beginning September 2008;
• Merit pay of $4,000 for 9 percent of the tenured and tenure-track faculty;
• On disciplinary action, an appeal process with final authority in a seven-member committee with three members appointed by the board of trustees and three by the UFWW. The committee will be chaired by a person jointly selected by the UFWW president and the board of trustees chair. The committee chair will convene and chair the committee and will vote in the case of a tie;
• A 10 percent increase in department chair stipends;
• A new category of senior instructor with a 7 percent increase in compensation upon advancement;
• Binding arbitration on contract interpretation.

BAYSIDE DAIRY PAYS PENALTY FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS
Bayside Dairy LLC has agreed to pay an $8,000 penalty to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations related to animal waste.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the violations occurred at the Bayside Dairy’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation facility in Mount Vernon.
Based on an inspection of the Bayside Dairy operation in February 2007, EPA inspectors found animal wastes leaking from the barns into a neighboring drainage ditch. The ditch drains to the Skagit River, which provides spawning habitat for salmon and is the largest watershed in the Puget Sound. This discharge was not authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
This was Bayside Dairy’s first alleged violation of the Clean Water Act. The company immediately corrected the discharge problem after it was discovered.

CASCADE BANK OPENS BURLINGTON BRANCH
Cascade Bank opened the doors of its newest branch in Burlington on May 1, expanding its branch network to a total of 21 branches in a three-county footprint.
The branch is located in the 800 block of South Burlington Boulevard and includes branch staff and business bankers, all of whom have enjoyed long banking careers in Skagit Valley and live in the local community. In addition to having a full-time employee who is fluent in Spanish, Cascade has translated several of its brochures into Spanish in an effort to meet the diverse needs of the community.

SILVER REEF BREAKS NEW GROUND
Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa broke new ground May 29 in Ferndale for the Phase IV addition to its facility. The groundbreaking ceremony was outside the south end of the casino.
“It’s amazing to know that in such a short amount of time, we’ve been fortunate to be able to expand for the third time,” said Harlan Oppenheim, Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa general manager.
The ceremony included blessing songs from the Tom Family, members of the Lummi Nation, and refreshments.
Phase IV will provide an additional 9,000 square feet of space, which will allow an additional 200 plus slots, and the new Pizzanini Restaurant. Also, the existing Gold Rush Deli will be converted to a specialty coffee bar.

GOOSEFOOT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Goosefoot, a nonprofit organization located on South Whidbey Island, has launched a new Web site at www.goosefoot.org.
Founded in 1999, Goosefoot’s mission is to bring neighbors together to build a sense of place and community, preserve rural traditions, enhance local commerce, and help create a healthy, sustainable future for South Whidbey Island.

CDI WINS CASINO CONTRACT, OPENS NEW DIVISION IN IDAHO
Custom Design Inc. (CDI), of Bellingham, a design and manufacturing firm, was awarded a $2.1 million contract to provide the design, fabrication and installation of the theming and millwork elements for the new Lone Butte Casino owned by the Gila River Indian Community in Chandler, Ariz. As a result of the contract, CDI has opened a new 7,000-square-foot Millworks Division in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Loren DeMuth, president & CEO of CDI, says he expects staffing to increase from the current 50 to more than 70 employees in the next year.
CDI has been specializing in providing signage and theming elements for the tribal casino industry for more than 15 years.

BURLINGTON CHAMBER HAS NEW HOME
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce relocated in May to the 100 block of South Cherry Street.
The chamber’s new telephone numbers are 360.757.0994 and 360.757.3268. The mailing address and fax number remain the same.

BELLINGHAM BUSINESSES CELEBRATE PARTNERSHIP
G.B. Enterprises, a member of The Alpha Group, was recognized for 25 years of continued support as a major customer by Current Industries during a ceremony in May.
The event included a presentation by John Butorac, executive director of Current Industries, to Grace Borsari, CEO of G.B. Enterprises. Both companies are located in Bellingham.
“We established a working partnership with Grace and G.B. Enterprises in 1983,” Butorac said. “GBE was quite literally one of our first manufacturing customers, and we have enjoyed a strong working relationship ever since. This local alliance has provided over $2 million in wages paid directly to adults with disabilities, allowing individuals to participate more fully within the community.”
G.B. Enterprises manufactures backup supply systems for the cable TV and telecommunications markets. Current Industries is a local, nonprofit, contract-manufacturing business that employs people with developmental disabilities in a number of work situations, including wire harness assembly, packaging and distribution.

INTERNATIONAL ABSORBENTS EXPANDS INTO JAPANESE MARKET
International Absorbents Inc. of Ferndale, a leading developer and producer of environmentally friendly pet care and industrial products, announced that Japell, USA has become a distributor for the company’s line of CareFRESH products in the Japanese market.
Japell is part of a larger organization with distribution centers and a sales force covering all of Japan. Based on presales by Japell, the first container that lands in Japan is already sold out.
“Our plans to grow internationally are moving forward both across the Atlantic and across the Pacific,” said Shawn Dooley, vice president of sales and marketing for International Absorbents Inc.

GRIZZLY INDUSTRIAL CAPS 25 YEARS WITH 700-PAGE CATALOG
Grizzly Industrial Inc. is celebrating 25 years of business in 2008 in a big way – with a 700-page, full-color catalog featuring more than 12,000 products.
Grizzly began as a side business for Shiraz Balolia, who financed a metalworking hobby by buying, reconditioning, then selling used metal lathes at a modest profit. After formal incorporation in 1983, Grizzly began with a 48-page catalog and rented a warehouse in Bellingham.

INTERNATIONAL ABSORBENTS SEES RECORD RESULTS FOR 2008 FISCAL YEAR
International Absorbents Inc. of Ferndale announced record financial results for 2008 Fiscal Year, which ended Jan. 31, 2008.
Net income for fiscal year 2008 improved 188 percent to a record of approximately $2 million, or 31 cents per share, versus $701,000, or 11 cents per share, for fiscal year 2007. Sales increased 12 percent to a record of approximately $33 million for fiscal year 2008, compared to approximately $29.5 million in the previous fiscal year. Gross profit for fiscal year 2008 was approximately $9.9 million compared to $9.5 million the prior fiscal year.
“Net income is up considerably over the previous year despite the fact we shut down and moved our Bellingham manufacturing facility during the year,” said Chairman Gordon L. Ellis. “Our three-phase infrastructure build-out strategy we put in place a few years ago is now complete, and we expect to be in position to take advantage of our up-to-date facilities and grow the business.”

WHATCOM LAND TRUST BUYS LILY POINT
Whatcom Land Trust has purchased Lily Point from Welsh Developments Inc. for $3.5 million.
Whatcom Land Trust has deeded Lily Point to Whatcom County for use as a marine reserve and public park. Appraised at approximately $4.4 million, the 90-acre marine shoreline property, with 40 acres of tidelands, sits at the southeast corner of Point Roberts between Boundary Bay and the Straits of Georgia.

BUSINESS PARK REACHES 100-PERCENT OCCUPANCY
The completely renovated Wiser Lake Business Park celebrated a major milestone of reaching 100-percent occupancy in April.
Complete occupancy of the 15,500-square-foot building followed on the heals of the additions of Biker’s Oasis and Wiser’s As Is Furniture, plus the doubling in size of Advanced Electrical.
Dave and Debbie Black, along with their son Ross Black and his wife Taya, purchased the former Sequoia Center in August 2004.
“It only took us four years to become an overnight success,” chuckled Dave Black. “Our success is due to the perseverance of many small-business owners and the support of their customers.”

MULTOP FINANCIAL LANDS SPOT ON “10 MOST DEPENDABLE” LIST
Multop Financial has been selected by Goldline Research as one of the 10 Most Dependable Wealth Managers of the Northwest and Hawaii, as published in the March 24 issue of Forbes Magazine.
In order to be selected to a Most Dependable list, firms must meet all of Goldline Research’s industry criteria, have no consumer complaints, lawsuits or disciplinary actions and provide client references that are checked and scored based on a proprietary scoring system.
“Our wealth management and investment planning departments have built momentum over the past several years as we continually fine-tune our strategies and add skilled analysis techniques to our clients’ portfolios,” said Phillip Multop, owner and founder of Multop Financial.

RE/MAX WHATCOM COUNTY RANKS AMONG TOPs in nation
RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc. ranks among the country’s top 500 real estate firms in closed transaction sides and sales volume for the fifth consecutive year, according to the 2008 REAL Trends survey.
RE/MAX Whatcom County was ranked 368th in 2007 with 1,333 closed transaction sides, up from 429th in 2006, which means it represented either the buyer or the seller in residential real estate transactions. RE/MAX also was ranked 350 in closed sales volume in 2007, up from 426. RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc. is the only Western Washington agency north of King County that earned a top-500 ranking.

SATURNA CAPITAL wins SECOND AWARD FOR AMANA FUND
Bellingham-based Saturna Capital Corp.’s Amana Income Fund placed first for the second consecutive year for “Best Equity Income” over three-years at the 2008 Lipper Fund Awards. Amana Income, managed by Nicholas Kaiser, president and portfolio manager of Saturna Capital Corp., also placed first in the five-year time period for the same category.
The Amana Funds are designed for American Muslims who wish to invest according to Islamic principles. The fund was chosen from 198 funds in its category and rated the best fund over three years through Dec. 31, 2007, for demonstrating “consistently strong risk-adjusted returns compared with peers.”
Lipper, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reuters, presented the award to Kaiser at a ceremony in New York City in April.

HAGGEN INC. OFFERS SAFE HARBOR SEAFOOD
TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores have become the first supermarkets in the Pacific Northwest to offer Safe Harbor mercury-tested and certified seafood.
Seafood sold with the Safe Harbor seal is certified to have a mercury level that is among the lowest available for each species. All Safe Harbor-certified seafood meets a stricter standard than what has been set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No other supermarkets in Washington and Oregon offer the Safe Harbor certification.
Haggen Inc. is introducing Safe Harbor-certified seafood at all 33 of its supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the TOP Food & Drug, Haggen Food & Pharmacy and Larry’s Market names.

SUPERFEET PLACES SECOND ON “BEST PLACES TO WORK” LIST
Ferndale-based Superfeet Worldwide Inc. has been named to Outside magazine’s inaugural “Best Places to Work” list, which was published in May.
Superfeet, an insole company, was awarded second place in the medium-sized company category (50-249 employees). The program was created by Outside magazine, in partnership with the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group.
“Superfeet is the most exciting and progressive company to work for in my own career, and I am especially pleased that our employees’ surveys reflect the same point of view,” said Lynette Ziegler, vice president of operations and 20-year veteran of Superfeet Worldwide. “This is not just a business, it is a family.”
In 2005, the owners of Superfeet instated an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) in hopes of preserving their company culture. The unanimously supported program is now in its third year, and by 2011, the employees of Superfeet will be co-owners of 30 percent of the company. Superfeet allows new moms and students to job-share, allowing for full-time benefits, and pays 100 percent of employees’ medical, dental, vision and disability premiums. In addition, Superfeet has a history of providing financial support to employees enduring either health-related or family crises. The company’s mission and business practices are based on a set of employee-written core values, focusing on ethics, responsibility and sustainability.

SILVER REEF GOES GREEN
In an effort to go “green,” Ferndale’s Silver Reef Hotel Casino and Spa administration has created a Green Team, consisting of various department members, designated for distributing information to line employees.
“Green” efforts include eliminating the use of an estimated 20,000 Styrofoam cups a month from the employee dining rooms by using mugs or re-usable, plastic juice cups; and placing blue recycle containers in administrative office (soon to be available on the casino floor for patrons); and replacing incandescent slot light lighting with high-efficiency light bulbs to conserve more energy. Silver Reef also is planning to participate in a food recycle program. This summer, beginning with the Panasia Restaurant, leftover food will be sent to the Food Recycle Pilot Program in Lynden to be composted. In selected guest restrooms, an air dryer will be installed on a trial basis to reduce paper towel usage.

VIDEO ONE, EVERGREEN TEAM CONCEPTS CREATE TRAINING SERIES
Bellingham video production company Video One has teamed up with Evergreen Team Concepts to produce a series of training videos aimed at the business professional.
The first DVD in the series, “Powerful Personal Energy,” is designed to help the viewer create, sustain and transfer a powerful energy of success, both in their business relationships and in their personal lives.
The video was filmed during an evening training event in the seminar room at Evergreen Team Concepts’ main office in Bellingham.
“Technology has moved so fast in the past few years, that what used to cost tens of thousands of dollars can be done for a fraction of the cost,” said Eero Johnson, Video One director. “We’re seeing more and more local businesses using DVDs as part of their sales presentation, not to mention the explosion of Web video on YouTube and on Web sites.”
Future videos will appear regularly as part of Evergreen Team Concepts, “Training in a Box” DVD series, and include audio files, a Powerpoint presentation, worksheets and all other materials needed to train a team.

FIXED-ROUTE RIDERSHIP INCREASES MARK WTA HISTORY
Whatcom Transportation Authority’s (WTA) February 2008 Fixed Route ridership (measured as one-way passenger trips) was up 46 percent compared with ridership for February 2007.
This represents 130,772 additional passenger trips over the course of the month, and the largest ridership increase in WTA history.
Western Washington University (WWU) students account for 73 percent of the increase. While increases on routes serving WWU saw the largest ridership gains, students boosted ridership throughout WTA’s system, not just on routes serving WWU.
Non-WWU students account for 27 percent of the ridership increase. Three of WTA’s longest routes, serving Kendall (32 one-way miles), Mt. Vernon (28 one-way miles) and Everson/Nooksack/Sumas (25 one-way miles), have seen increases of 32, 35, and 40 percent, respectively. Ridership gains on these long routes are especially important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, highway congestion and travel costs for individual travelers.

NORDIC TUGS RECEIVES EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Seattle office of the U.S. Department of Commerce has bestowed Nordic Tugs of Burlington with an Export Achievement Award in recognition of the company’s successful move into foreign markets.
With economic indicators pointing to a potential slow-down in the domestic boating market, Nordic Tugs’ executive staff made the decision in 2006 to research international export opportunities. Working closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the company looked first to the European market, in part due to the strength of the Euro.
Nordic Tugs spent a year working to receive CE approvals on the Nordic Tug 32, 37 and 42 in order to export the boats into Europe. They signed their first dealer, Nordic Tugs UK Ltd., located in Southampton, U.K. in June of 2007. Nordic Tugs made their European debut at the Southampton Boat Show in September of 2007, and sold their first boat the morning of the first day of the show. In less than one year, the European market now makes up 10 percent of Nordic Tugs’ annual sales.
Nordic Tugs is currently researching additional international opportunities and reached an agreement last week to sign their first dealer in Russia.

ZAZEN SALON SPA EXPANDS STOREFRONT
Zazen Salon Spa has expanded its storefront space providing even more opportunities for clients to come to its nurturing environment at the Bellwether on the Bay in Bellingham.
Beginning in May, Zazen doubled its spa and salon space to 2,500 square feet by leasing the adjacent vacated storefront, formerly Blue Willie’s.
“We were definitely turning business away, especially larger parties because we just didn’t have the room,” said owner Shelly Martin. Zazen focused primarily on the spa for its expansion, hiring Charlene Nelson, an interior decorator from Seattle, to lead the decorating, tile work, carpeting and colors selection. Charlene H. Nelson Design Associates was a lead interior designer for Nordstorm Inc.
In addition, Zazen added three state-of-the-art pedicure chairs and gel nails as a new service. A newly designed treatment room is home to couple’s massage, a popular request.
Zazen Salon Spa, which originally opened in 2000, was purchased in 2007 by Shelly and Ford Martin. The company currently has 25 employees.

SILVER CREEK BUSINESS PARK EXPANDS
Silver Creek Business Park, located just west of Interstate 5 on Slater Road (exit 260), is adding another 15,000 square feet to its existing office/warehouse building.
The concrete walls have been tilted, and completion is expected by mid summer. The project general contractor is Strengholt Construction. The building features 3,000 square feet of suites with Class A office finishes.
The Business Park also has building pads available for up to 40,000-square-feet build-to-suit structures.

STONWEST CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
Bellingham’s StoneWest celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.
Operations began in 1993, and since then, the company has been involved in community projects such as the Memorial Park near E. Maryland and King streets and the Roosevelt Park renewal project. It also has supported youth groups by providing material donations for their community projects.
StoneWest participated in the annual Whatcom Home & Garden Show in March and will be involved in the Northwest Washington Fair this August in Lynden.

LEADING EDGE GYMNASTICS CHANGES OWNERSHIP, NAME
NCGA PHOTO: North Coast Gymnastics Academy owners Jamie Sutterfield (left) and Teresa Storrer (right) with Program Director Andrea Roberts.
Teresa and Tadd Storrer and Jamie and Jim Sutterfield have purchased Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy in Bellingham and renamed it North Coast Gymnastics Academy (NCGA).
Jamie and Teresa will manage the academy’s day-to-day operations, along with Program Director Andrea Roberts. The academy was established more than 15 years ago to provide recreational and competitive gymnastics, gymnastics and cheer camps and rock wall climbing.
Along with a new name, the 12,000-square-foot facility will receive equipment and facility upgrades, including restroom updates, a new Pro Shop and customer service counter and new training equipment on the gymnastics floor.
The new owners also are planning expanded programs and business hours.

PHOTOGRAPHER INSTALLS SOLAR POWER PLANT
Mark Turner, owner of Turner Photographics in Bellingham, has expanded into green energy by installing a 4.5KW rooftop solar power plant.
The photovoltaic power system was turned on in May and has 24 panels with the DC output converted to AC and tied to the power grid. Turner sells power above and beyond what he uses to Puget Sound Energy, called net metering. He has calculated that during a typical year, he will produce about 75 percent of the electrical needs for both his home-based business and household.
The big investment for the system is made easier by a state sales exemption, a federal income tax credit, alternative energy production credits and sales of green tags.
Tim Nelson of Fire Mountain Solar in Mount Vernon designed and installed the system.

ANDGAR CORP. WINS SAFETY AWARD
Andgar Corp., northwest Washington’s full-service metal fabrication firm, received a 2008 Build Washington award for safety excellence as a subcontractor from Associated General Contractors of Washington (AGC) on May 21 at the Seattle Art Museum. Andgar also was recently presented with a plaque as one of AGC’s Top 10 Companies with the lowest experience modification rating, and maintaining a .60 EMR average for 11 years.
Andgar Corp., based in Ferndale, has consistently received numerous awards and national recognition for its safety program.
“We always strive for perfection,” said Rod Visser, Andgar’s safety representative and safety representative for AGC’s Northern District. “Not only do we want all our employees safe, but we also want to set a standard for other trades we come into contact with.”

FABER BROTHERS WINS MASTER BUILDER AWARD
Faber Brothers Construction Corp. of Lynden was presented with Star Building Systems’ Master Builder Award in the Best of Small Commercial category in 2007.
The award recognizes completed Star projects, which have been submitted by builders and judged by a panel of qualified Star employees. Faber Brothers, who has been an authorized builder of Star Building Systems since 1997, received the award for Wilson Furniture in Ferndale.
Star is a leading manufacturer of custom-metal buildings, headquartered in Oklahoma City.

bellingham marine RECEIVES EXCELLENCE AWARD
Bellingham Marine’s northwest division, in partnership with its local concrete supplier Ferndale Ready Mix and Gravel, received an Excellence in Concrete (EIC) Award in the area of technical merit from the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA) during the May Excellence in Concrete banquet.
A panel of independent industry professionals reviewed the award submissions, and the WACA recognized a number of Washington state contractors for exceptional projects that reflect the unique advantages of ready-mix concrete and the teams that build them. Bellingham Marine received the EIC technical merit award for its work on Salpare Bay Marina, a 193-slip, luxury marina located on the Columbia River near Portland, Ore.
“It’s a tremendous honor and the highest form of flattery to receive this award,” said Jesse Ellenz, Bellingham Marine’s northwest division general manager.

CHASE OPENS MORTGAGE OFFICE IN BELLINGHAM
Chase, one of the nation’s leading residential housing lenders, has opened its first mortgage office in Bellingham.
The office is located in the 1600 block of Cornwall Avenue.
“We want to provide additional mortgage expertise for home buyers and real estate professionals in the vibrant and fast-growing Bellingham area,” said John Higgins, area manager for Chase. “We’re looking to recruit some talented people to help consumers select the right mortgage to finance their homes.”

CAFE CAFFE HAS NEW OWNER
Carole Burton, owner of Cafe Caffe in Bellingham, sold her business June 1 to Pat Schiedigger.
Café Caffe has been in operation for more than 18 years in the 3900 block of Meridian Street.
Burton plans to take the summer off for travel and grandkids before developing commercial property in Laurel.

JUDGEMENT FORCES SUMAS TRANSPORT INC. TO RESTORE RETIREMENT PLAN
The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment restoring more than $28,000 to the retirement plan of now-defunct Sumas Transport Inc. (STI) of Bellingham as restitution for failing to deposit employees’ salary reduction contributions into the company’s plan.
The suit alleged that STI and its president, Dennis Scheffer, violated their fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by failing to remit more than $28,000 in employees’ salary reduction contributions to the plan from June 30, 2001, through March 22, 2003. The plan’s governing documents allowed that participants could make salary reduction contributions to the plan.
Under the consent judgment, entered in federal district court in Seattle, the department has been allowed a general unsecured claim of $28,048 plus $5,609 for civil monetary penalties imposed under ERISA. The court shall appoint an independent fiduciary, if deemed appropriate, to distribute any funds to all eligible participants and beneficiaries, except defendant Scheffer.
On Jan. 2, 2008, the department obtained a default judgment against Scheffer for restitution, removed him as a plan fiduciary and barred him from future service to employee benefit plans.
STI excavated and hauled waste, sand and gravel in Oregon and Washington until it ceased operations in May 2005.

CONCRETE NOR’WEST WINS AWARD FOR HOSPITAL PROJECT
Concrete Nor’West of Burlington earned state-wide honors in the 40th annual Awards for Excellence in Concrete Construction by the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association on May 1 in Bellevue for its work in the Skagit Valley Hospital expansion project.
The 220,000-square-foot expansion project, completed in June 2007, won the state prize for cast-in-place concrete structures. Nor’West supplied the ready mix for the construction project, which included nearly 20,000 cubic yards of concrete.
“This was a challenging project including, I believe, the first use of a tower crane in Skagit County,” said Brad Barton, Concrete Nor’West general manager. “This project required demanding, high-performance concrete mixes, and we salute Hoffman Construction and the project team for a great success.”

BURLINGTON FAIRFIELD INN WINS AWARD
Burlington Fairfield Inn & Suites was awarded the Platinum Award by Marriott International for outstanding guest service in 2007 during the Select Service General Manager Conference in March in Anaheim, Calif.
The Platinum Award is Marriott’s highest guest service award. Key measures for the award include overall satisfaction, room cleanliness, and staff service; areas in which the Fairfield Inn and Suites Burlington ranked in the top 10 of the Fairfield Inn Brand. InnSight Hotel Management Group, based in Springfield, Ore., manages the Burlington hotel. Brooks McLain is the general manager.

NEW RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY PLANNED FOR GOVERNORS POINTE
The Sahlin Family of Whatcom County is preparing the final plans for a new single-family waterfront community at Governors Pointe, a peninsula on Chuckanut Bay, south of Bellingham.
The planned neighborhood will have 141 homes, although 378 are allowed under its zoning of 3 units per acre. The Sahlin’s are proposing a lower-impact, more environmentally oriented community. Governors Pointe will be a green community, utilizing neighborhood development and home design standards for “green neighborhoods.” Homeowners will be required to use building materials in keeping with green building practices.
Whatcom County will soon begin a comprehensive analysis of the project through the preparation of a full Environmental Impact Statement. It will be published and followed by a public comment period. Public hearings on various required permits will be conducted by the Whatcom County Hearings Examiner.

CITY OF BELLINGHAM DRAWS MORE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS
City of Bellingham officials were honored with two new awards for “greenest government” and climate protection.
Bellingham continued to receive regional and national attention for its leadership in environmental protection by winning first place May 21 over the City of Seattle as Washington CEO Magazine’s greenest city, winning the Green Washington Award in the ‘government’ category. Bellingham was honored by international leaders May 15 at the ICLEI Local Action Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for designing a climate action plan. The international award is part of the ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability’s Five Milestone climate protection process.

FIRST EA-18G GROWLER ARRIVES AT NAVAL AIR STATION
Growler.jpg
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Commander, Electronic Attack Wing accepted delivery of the first of the Navy’s newest airborne electronic attack asset, the EA-18G Growler, June 3 in a dedication ceremony.
Capt. Bradley S. Russell, Commander Electronic Attack Wing, welcomed guest speakers Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), along with Navy, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, Northrop-Grumman Corp., General Electric and Raytheon Co.-representatives.
The Growler combines Boeing’s state-of-the-art two-seat, twin-engine F/A-18F Block 2 Super Hornet with Northrop Grumman’s ALQ-218(v)2 receiver system to provide next-generation electronic attack capability to the joint war fighter. The Navy selected the EA-18G to replace the current airborne electronic attack platform, the EA-6B Prowler, which has been in service since 1971. NAS Whidbey Island is home for the entire U.S. Navy’s airborne electronic attack aircraft, to include the fleet replacement squadron and one forward-deployed squadron in Atsugi, Japan.

LIGHTHOUSE MISSION OPENS DROP-IN CENTER
Lighthouse Mission Ministries opened its new daytime Drop-In Center on June 6 in the 1000 block of W. Holly Street in the former Emerald Bay Catering offices.
Eventually, Executive Director Ron Buchinski sees this center as the Mission’s “hub,” which will provide initial access to all Mission services; and allowing other local service providers and clinics a place to interact with guests as well.

HUMAN RESOURCE NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
Allied Human Resources Consulting has started publishing a comprehensive human resource quarterly newsletter for area businesses.
“The newsletter will summarize all the most important human resource information that is otherwise found with numerous agencies and organizations, said Allied’s owner Kelly Lewis. “The newsletter will cover business tips, best practices, and recent legislation and laws, especially affecting Washington state.”

WELLS FARGO TO RELOCATE AND OPEN NEW FERNDALE LOCATION
Construction has started on a new Wells Fargo financial services store at the new retail development, Ferndale Station in the 1800 block of Main Street.
The 3,500-square-foot store is set to open by the end of 2008. The bank’s current location in the 5700 block of 4th Avenue will remain open until the new location is completed.
About 12 Wells Fargo team members will provide a complete range of financial services, including consumer and business banking, mortgages and investments. The new store will feature an ATM, two drive-up teller lanes, drive-up night deposit drop, safety deposit boxes, a conference room and five teller windows.

PSE program targets local three-county region
Puget Sound Energy announced an innovative energy-efficiency pilot program aimed at reaching multifamily housing owners, managers and residents in the North Sound.
The PSE Northern Division Multifamily Program will test new strategies starting this month to secure energy savings from existing multifamily properties in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.
“The multifamily market represents a great opportunity for energy savings,” said Cal Shirley, vice president of Energy Efficiency Services for PSE. “But traditionally, it has been a difficult market for us to reach, with many challenges in providing the right incentives and programs to reduce natural gas and electric energy use.”
The pilot will provide some no-cost conservation measures, as well as reduced-cost measures through PSE rebates to multifamily units in the three-county area.
Multifamily is defined as complexes with five or more attached units.

QUANTUM GETAWAYS MOVES TO LYNDEN
Sarah Gee
Quantum Getaways, owned by travel agent Sarah Gee, opened May 19 at Dutch Village Mall in the 600 block of Front Street in Lynden.
Gee operated from her home the past four years but said increasing demand for travel-related services led to the move into downtown Lynden.
“The Internet allows people to make flight reservations, but doesn’t provide the support before and during a trip that our full-service travel agency offers,” said Gee, who has earned the designation of Certified Travel Consultant.
Gee added that clients aren’t charged anything because Quantum Getaways receives commissions from vendors. However, Gee relies on her experience and contacts to ensure that she utilizes only companies with good records of quality and customer service. In addition to travel arrangements, Quantum Getaways can assist clients with overnight accommodations, car rentals and travel insurance. Gee also helps couples seeking florists, photographers, musicians and pastors for destination weddings.
Gee also has launched Destinations, a store offering travel accessories and gifts, at her new location.

SKYLARKS CAFE WINS ANNUAL CHOWDER COOKOFF
Skylarks photo: Don White serves up winning chowder at the Chowder Cookoff
Photo courtesy of: John Servais of fairhaven.com
Skylarks Cafe in Fairhaven won first place both the Peoples Choice and Judges Choice at the annual Dirty Dan Days Chuckanut Chowder Cookoff April 27 with their House Clam Chowder.
“It was an amazing honor,” said owner Don White. “It’s the popular chowder we serve every day in the restaurant.”

SPIE BRINGS HOME SOLAR POWER
A local organization active in advancing the research behind solar electric systems for homes and businesses has made a personal investment in the cost-efficient, sustainable energy source. SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, has a new 15 kW solar electric system on the roof of its Bellingham headquarters.
The system, being installed by Ecotech Energy Systems of Bellingham, is the largest solar-electricity-generating installation in Whatcom County, according to Ecotech owner Dana Brandt. The system will include 75 solar panels and will generate around 15,700 kWh per year.
SPIE sponsors conferences around the world where researchers present their work on the science and technology used in creating applications such as the silicon solar cells now on its roof.
“Developing and deploying sustainable energy sources is vitally important for today’s economy and for managing resources for the long-term future,” said Eugene Arthurs, CEO of SPIE. “Having been involved in promoting research on solar energy throughout the world for many years, we are very happy to be plugging the results of that research into our local electric grid.”

WOODS COFFEE OPENED LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN BELLINGHAM
The Woods Coffee opened its fourth Bellingham location May 21 in a state-registered, historic building in the 1100 block of Railroad Avenue.
“We have wanted to occupy this location for a few years,” said owner Wes Herman. “When it came available, we knew it was the right time. The history of this building is quite rich. The world’s tallest Christmas tree in 1949 stood on this corner. The massive beams from some of this area’s largest trees are mixed with steel to give this café a unique feel.”
The cafe, which offers free broadband wireless Internet access, and is open seven days a week.

BEST WESTERN LAKEWAY INN WINS AWARD
Bellingham’s Best Western Lakeway Inn received the 2008 Tourism Business of the Year Award from Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism for serving as a continuous ambassador for Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Best Western was recognized May 20 during the tourism bureau’s awards luncheon in the hotel for its ongoing involvement in the community and contributions to the tourism industry by providing visitors with first-rate accommodations.

HOMEOWNERS CHOOSE REMODELING OVER SUMMER VACATIONS
AAA estimates that Americans will spend $30.7 billion in overseas travel this summer, a sharp increase due to high inflation and a weak U.S. dollar. But Bellingham’s DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is experiencing an interesting rebound as families rethink those summer vacations.
“We’ve actually had customers cancel plans for a summer vacation and spend those dollars with us on a home remodeling project instead,” said co-owner Tally Rabatin.
Rabatin said summer months have traditionally been strong for remodeling projects. But her team usually worked around clients’ vacation schedules. That’s not the case this year.
As gas prices surpass $4 a gallon and airlines charge to check extra bags, more consumers are avoiding a pricey getaway.
“Vacations are considered an expense and home improvements are seen as an investment,” Rabatin said. “In a strong economy, homeowners in Bellingham were happy to do both. But most of our clients are staying close to home this summer.”

WWU PARTNERS WITH UW TO STUDY STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
Western Washington University (WWU) is partnering with researchers at the University of Washington’s (UW) Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs to study the impact of Western Student Transportation (WST) and its programs to reduce congestion, transportation cost and environmental impact.
WWU has received grant funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation to hire up to 20 student research assistants and provide survey promotions and incentives. Western’s part in the study includes an e-mail survey and traffic counts on the streets around campus. The survey, which ran through May 28, asked students questions regarding how they get to school, work and other destinations, how they preferred to get around and what factors influenced their transportation decisions.

PSE FISH PASSAGE SYSTEM A SUCCESS
Juvenile Sockeye Salmon in northwest Washington’s Baker River only recently began their springtime trek to the sea, but early fish counts suggest that Puget Sound Energy’s new “floating surface collector” may be inducing the river’s largest out-migration of Sockeye on record.
The 1,000-ton apparatus floating above Baker Lake’s 280-foot-deep bottom is designed to attract and safely capture young salmon for transport around PSE’s two Baker River hydropower dams. The river’s 2008 out-migration of Sockeye, biologists estimate, is at least 70 percent complete. With more than 200,000 juvenile Sockeye already collected, the out-migration is peaking as the second highest total run on record and may be on pace to shatter the existing record.
“We’re thrilled by the results so far,” said Cary Feldmann, manager of resource sciences for PSE and a member of the design team for the new fish collector. “Run timing is variable so it’s still too early to make any definitive predictions, but if the current trend in (fish) collection holds, we should surpass the existing record of 289,000 fish.”
PSE’s new floating surface collector, with four times the capacity of the old gulper, is a $50 million, 130-foot-by-60-foot? barge equipped with a series of submerged screens, water pumps, fish-holding chambers, a fish-evaluation station, equipment control rooms, and a fish-loading facility. PSE completed the collector earlier this year following 14 months of lakeshore construction.
Fisheries agencies hope for a 90 percent to 95 percent capture rate of Baker Lake juvenile salmon from the new fish collector. The old system, by comparison, had an estimated 60 percent capture rate.

ICU ADDS BARKLEY VILLAGE BRANCH
Industrial Credit Union is launching its seventh branch this fall in Bellingham’s Barkley Village.
“Barkley Village has always been the most requested new location from our 20,000 members,” said Terri McKee, president/CEO of ICU. “We also see it as a growing community of residences and businesses that deserves the benefits of a not-for-profit credit union.”
The new branch, located in the 2900 block of Newmarket Street, is scheduled to open in early September after completion of a $50,000 remodeling project.

FERNDALE STATION CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY
Construction has begun on Ferndale’s newest retail center, Ferndale Station, with building completion slated for December 2008. Located adjacent to the Ferndale Haggen in the 1800 block of Main Street, Ferndale Station will become home for national tenants Sonic, Dollar Tree and Wells Fargo, as well as regional companies Woods Coffee and Thrive Fitness.
The new retail center will be comprised of five buildings totaling approximately 43,000 square feet and feature an open and walkable layout designed by Skagit County’s Carletti Architects. Construction will be completed by Exxel Pacific General Contractors.
“We’re proud of not only how Ferndale Station will look and feel, but of the caliber of local and national businesses that will be tenants,” said Troy Muljat, managing partner of FWD Development.
Ferndale Station is the first Ferndale project for FWD Development partners Troy Muljat and Kent Thomas.

TAPE GIANT CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
TAPE GIANT PHOTO: Tape Giant President John Maley and Vice President John Pratt
Ferndale-based Tape Giant recently celebrated its second year in business.
Founded by principals John Maley and John Pratt, the firm initially started as a local distributor of athletic tapes. Starting with hockey tape, they quickly expanded into trainer’s tape, therapeutic tapes and sports-specific items such as gymnastics tape.
Last year, Tape Giant introduced Shurtape brand industrial tapes to their line, which more than doubled gross sales. It now sells tape products to a wide variety of regional industries. Products include multiple grades of duct tapes, specialized masking tapes and industrial-grade package sealing tapes and dispensers.