City Kicks off Fundraiser to Restore Lincoln

About 70 people attended a rally at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon last month to hear the city’s plans to renovate the 75-year-old entertainment center through a capital campaign and grants.

Mount Vernon Mayor Skye Richendrfer calls the city’s recent purchase of the theater and building for $900,000 important “to ensure the preservation of this incredible community asset.”

A total of $2.85 million is needed to restore the property, but the purchase, from John and Gretchen Pickett, has been paid for through the city’s hotel/motel tax fund.

Heaviest costs will be restoring the building exterior ($257,120) and auditorium ($225,280) and building an extension on the back of the stage (about $1.9 million). The extension, from 13 to 30 feet, will include a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit on the roof.

The theater also will get new seats.

Richendrfer says the city has applied for a state grant of $250,000 to help restore the old theater, which is on the list of National Historical Buildings, and also received a $25,650 gift from the Lincoln Foundation Board of Directors.

The rest of the needed funds are expected to come from donations. The capital campaign will get an official kickoff April 21 during a concert with Mount Vernon’s Cheryl Bentyne, known best as a member of the musical jazz ensemble Manhattan Transfer.

The rally March 7 included elevation plans drawn by architects of Henry Klein Associates of Mount Vernon, who are involved in the project.

Richendrfer says the community will benefit in many ways through the Lincoln Theatre, not only in hosting the events and films that are presented there but also through “partnerships with schools” and possible live broadcasts for television or teleconferencing. The city’s fiber-optic cable system “runs right by the door” and would be easy to hook up, he adds.

 

Whitener Named New MV Chamber Director

Kristen Whitener has been hired to stir the ship of commerce at the Mount Vernon Chamber.

The former director of sales at the Best Western CottonTree Inn and Convention Center in Mount Vernon replaces Stephanie Hamilton, who served as interim executive director for about three months upon the departure of Bruce McBane, who now is head of the Skagit Valley College Public Information Office.

“Basically, I want to help increase membership and bring awareness to the community about the chamber of member businesses,” says Whitener, who grew up in Oak Harbor. “I want the community to know what we do, what the chamber’s all about, and how it can benefit them.”

Whitener says she’ll work closely with other chamber directors in the area and also others in the county.

“It’s important to work for the county, too, because what happens elsewhere can benefit the city as well,” she explains.

Whitener, who started with the CottonTree as a front-desk clerk eight years ago, is married to Shane, a lead press operator at Pacific Woodtech in Burlington, and they have two daughters, Kylie, 7 1/2, and Melyssa, 4. She graduated from Oak Harbor High School and took general-studies courses at Skagit Valley College. She enjoys horseback riding, 4H activities and helping her children with school projects.

She was selected for the executive director job over 51 other applicants.

Hamilton, meanwhile, has started her own business (see below). She was asked to serve as interim director while serving on the chamber board of directors, a position she took while employed as an advertising representative with The Skagit County Business Monthly magazine. Prior to that, she was with the Economic Development Association of Skagit County.

McBane was hired last November to join the college. A former U.S. Army officer, McBane replaced Carl Young, who quit to work with his wife in their home business.

 

Nordic Tugs Shows off Massive New Building

Nordic Tugs owner Jim Cress made it clear at the outset that he wanted his workers to take center stage at the dedication ceremony for his new 33,000-square-foot lamination center.

Cress, who brought the boat manufacturer to Skagit County in February 1990 with a dozen employees, called all of the lamination crew up front to participate in the ribbon cutting at the facility on Higgins Airport Way at Bayview Business and Industrial Park.

Rick Reid, vice president and general manager of the plant, snipped the ribbon as the crew, behind him, applauded.

Nordic Tugs, which makes seagoing, tugboat-like pleasure craft from 32 to 42 feet long, has grown steadily over the years, taking over the old JanSport building and moving right into the lamination structure, the first of a planned two large buildings. At present, the company, with 175 employees, produces 60 boats a year. The new facility, built by Crest Inc., General Contractors of Mount Vernon, will expand that to 70 and provide tooling for a new 52-foot luxury craft.

The 40,000-square-foot building it has occupied for several years will become an assembly shop.

“It’s been very, very rewarding to watch the growth of this company,” Don Wick, executive director of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, said at the dedication March 16. “It’s a great success story.”

“You can just smell it. Commerce is in the air,” enthused Brian Rolfson, one of three commissioners for the Port of Skagit County, which administers Bayview Business Park. He referred to the faint whiff of composite epoxy and plastic used in shipbuilding and pointed out that the new facility will recycle air every eight minutes, protecting workers from toxic fumes.

Cress later brought attention to more of the Nordic Tugs family when he introduced the Jerry Husted, who founded the company in Woodenville in 1980, and the original designer, Lynn Senour. Both are retired.

 

Businesses Sought as WorkFirst Partners

WorkFirst, a program designed to help welfare people find jobs in their communities, has gotten a boost in this county in recent months, with a number of “partnership” businesses and agencies helping out, according to program administrators.

During a “WorkFirst Employers’ Breakfast” at Skagit Valley College last month, administrators lauded the efforts of businesses and individuals who have made a difference. Among them are the Skagit Valley Resort and Casino, which interviewed 11 WorkFirst “graduates” and hired all of them; Catherine Jennings of the Mount Vernon Goodwill store, for facilitating job-training experiences; the Mount Vernon Planning Department’s Elizabeth Sjostrom and Jennifer Kramer for helping out; and others.

“This is an exciting event,” said Marijo Olson, SVC’s vice president for business and community development. “We need to have the employers be the catalysts to make this a success.”

Bruce Alexander, who is heading up the local WorkFirst office, congratulated the Upper Skagit Tribe for become “a very active partner in all this” by employing WorkFirst people, and said, “We saw it as an opportunity to reach out into the community.”

Since WorkFirst went into effect Aug. 1, 1997, more than 60,000 adults have gone from welfare rolls to payrolls, according to the agency.

For more information about partnership with WorkFirst, call 1-888-734-9675 or visit the Web site at www. wa.gov/workfirs

 

Marketing Specialist Launches P/R Firm

Stephanie Hamilton has opened a marketing and public-relations company, Image By Stephanie, specializing in image building on a local to international level.

A former director of marketing at the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, Hamilton has a degree in public relations from Washington State University and has served as a sales associate with The Skagit County Business Monthly magazine and interim director of the county’s largest chamber of commerce in Mount Vernon.

“I have a lot of close ties to this community, which will enable me to effectively construct integrated image-building teams as needed,” Hamilton states. “Additionally, I will be partnering with my sister-in-law, Sylvie Hamilton, who is a marketing consultant from France.”

Sylvie Hamilton worked as the marketing director for General Foods International. “Sylvie’s expertise in planning international marketing programs provides our firm with an exciting and rare perspective,” Stephanie Hamilton states. “She’s awesome.”

For more information, call 588-1903.

 

Independent Marketing Newest High-tech Business

Krishna Fells chose Skagit County over nine others to relocate her fast-growing and unique business because it simply was “the most beautiful” of the others she visited.

Independent Marketing Services (IMS) helps companies, such as insurance firms, reclaim losses caused by lapsed accounts, negligence or inability to follow through on claims.

Fells, a former employee with the state Insurance Commission, found support for her idea from Gov. Gary Locke and the head of a major insurance company.

She got funding and a staff and set up shop in Redmond before she found Mount Vernon, not only as a livable location but a fertile ground for good employees, through the college, WorkFirst, Job Corps, Private Industry Council and others.

“We talked (with them) about what employees were needed. The college recruited and trained them and got them licensed (as insurance agents),” she explains. “For a start-up business, this is incredible. We hired the first 19 from the class.”

IMS is located on the second floor of the 419 S. First St. building where workers, who earn $10-$13 an hour, make phone calls during two split shifts. The company contacts a wide variety of businesses and individuals whoinsurance firms want to reach and see what can be done to recoup lost monies.

In the beginning, Fells states, “we reinstated lapsed accounts and recouped as much as $1 million a month. If we’re successful, we make money.”

Fells hopes to expand her business to include far more than insurance companies as her clients and, over the next 30 months,

 

Unique Caterer Brings Cajun Cooking to Homes

It might be a few thousand miles to Louisiana, but good Cajun cooking is only a phone call away.

Ken Long, who’s mother came from the heart of Cajun country in Lake Charles, La., has started a unique catering business featuring Jumbalaya, gumbos, catfish and shrimp Creole — and will do it in your own home.

“I come in with everything ready to cut up and cook. It takes about two hours,” Long, of Sedro-Woolley, explains. “I use the customers’ pots and pans, slice and dice in front of them, cook everything and they serve it. It’s great for the family, or for entertaining guests.”

Cajun food, which is “about 90 percent vegetables,” is not as hot as rumored.

“It’s spicy, but not hot-hot like Mexican foods,” Long states, “unless you add the hot sauce.”

Long, who grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, across the border from Louisiana, says he’s taking orders now. “Give me two or three days’ notice,” he says. “I charge $35 for the first regular meal, $30 for each additional person. Shrimp is a little more, and I ask $10 for side dishes.”

Call 856-2171 after 3 p.m. or leave a message, he says.

 

Crary’s House of Gifts Opens in Sedro-Woolley

Ann Crary has started a gift store business at 108 Woodworth St. in downtown Sedro-Woolley.

Called Crary’s House of Gifts, the business offers about 4,000 seasonal and novelty gift items for sale, both at the store and through a catalog.

“I’m also hiring people now to hold open house to sell products,” she says, adding that she does deliveries as ell.

For more information, call 855-5062.

 

Lapidary Supply Adds Depth to Pine St. Jeweler

Dave Ebersole recently opened Skagit Lapidary Supply at the front of H.L. “Harold” Peterson Jewelry in downtown Mount Vernon.

“Going in with Harold is a good marriage,” Ebersole says about combining shops.

“Dave has been my apprentice and now has his shop in front,” says Peterson, long-time Mount Vernon businessman, whose store is at 306-A Pine St. “And we’re now doing clocks.”

Ebersole, who has been doing lapidary work for nearly eight years, carries hand pickaxes, books, rock tumblers, gold pans and other supplies for the rock hound. In addition, he has “thunder-egg” bookends and other items for the home.

For more information, call 770-2124.

 

Conijn Takes over New Offices on Gilkey

Peter Conijn has moved his accounting firm from Fairhaven Avenue to 302 Gilkey Road in Burlington.

Conijn, an accountant for 14 years, offers tax planning and preparation for businesses and individuals, as well as accounting, bookkeeping and payroll services. Call 707-5590.

 

Mystic Wind Has New Metcalf Address

Sandra Fedor has moved her Mystic Wind Nail and Body Impressions to 702-B Metcalf St. in Sedro-Woolley.

“The new place is larger and there will be more services added to the menu,” she explains. “The new salon will also have space for a dance studio. Classes for belly dancing will start in April on Tuesday nights and Saturdays.”

Fedor also recently participated in a training seminar called “Look Good, Feel Better,” a program designed for women who have cancer. She is now certified to teach classes on beauty issues as a volunteer at Skagit Valley and United General hospitals.

For more information, call 855-1191.

 

Swinomish Casino Adds ‘Northern Lights’ to Name

In a promotional move, the Swinomish Tribe has changed the name of its gaming operations along Highway 20 to Swinomish Northern Lights Casino.

Brian Wilbur, general manager of the tribal-owned casino, says the new name would be easier to remember and has ties to Swinomish culture and the Northwest.

The 70,000-square-foot casino is on 40 acres of tribal property below the Twin Bridges over the Swinomish Channel. It started as a bingo hall in 1985 and was converted to a full casino nine years later.

 

Northwestern Architecture Firm Changes Name

Ross & McClure Architects of Bellingham, designer of the Peoples Bank Building in Mount Vernon, recently celebrated its 15 years in business with a name change and logo. It’s now called Ross McClure Cornwell Architects, or RMC.

“The new logo reflects our contemporary approach to architecture and our willingness to change and grow in order to better serve our clients,” according to partner Brad Cornwell.

RMC has designed two Peoples Bank branches and the Northwest Washington Medical Bureau office in Burlington.

 

Loew’s Cineplex Files Chapter 11, Ads Cut

Loew’s Cineplex Entertainment, owner of the 14-screen cinema at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, declared bankruptcy last month, and for a time, the Skagit Valley Herald refused to run their advertising.

According to Tracey Fosso, the Herald’s advertising director, the company promised to pay its account weekly, so the newspaper agreed to resume the ads.

Cascade Cinemas opened Nov. 6, 1998, as the Cineplex Odeon, the Toronto-based company that owned it and later sold to New York-based Loew’s Cineplex.

Loew’s filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy Feb. 15, 2001, pending purchase by another Canadian group, Onex Corp.

 

Kidney Dialysis Center Looking to Expand

The 3-year-old Skagit Valley Kidney Dialysis Center is already near capacity and has applied to expand by nearly 10 percent.

The Affiliated Health Services’ Joint Operating Board recently approved the expansion request and the center applied for a Certificate of Need from the state Department of Health, which must approve such renovations. If the state approves, 10 new stations could be operational by early 2002, bringing to 112 the total number since the center was opened in 1998.

According to AHS, the kidney dialysis center has 90 patients already, with more applications coming in.

Cost of the expansion would be nearly $500,000 of which $350,000 would come from the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation and the rest from private donations.

 

PrepWork Recruiting Teachers for Biz Program

Beginning in June, a group of teachers from Skagit and Island counties will be placed in business settings as interns for specific projects by the PrepWork Consortium.

“This project will enable educators to experience the business world and integrate that information into their class rooms,” says Linda Nelson, director of Skagit-Island PrepWork Consortium.

The Summer Institute 2001 is designed to connect educators with the business community to learn, firsthand, about an industry and create curricula based on industry-skill standards.

“This is another piece to the economic-development puzzle,” states Don Wick, executive director of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC), which recruits businesses and jobs to the area. “Recruiting family-wage jobs is good for our local economy, but we must close the loop by ensuring our youth are prepared to work with these businesses.”

For more information on how your business can participate, call 855-3589.

 

Unemployment Rises Sharply in Area

Skagit County’s unemployment rate increased dramatically by seventh-tenths of a percentage point in February compared to the previous month.

At the close of February, 4,310 persons were unemployed in a workforce of 50,320, registering an out-of-work percentage of 8.6. At the end of January, the figure was 7.9 percent, a tenth of a point above February 2000.

In neighboring counties, Whatcom was up 0.2 percent to 7.0, Snohomish was up 0.5 to 4.7, Island was up 0.3 to 4.2 and San Juan up 0.1 to 6.5.

The state’s unemployment was up a half point to 6.3 percent, which was 0.3 percent higher than a year ago.

“The jump in the rate is bigger than usual this year,” says Paul Trause, acting Employment Security commissioner. “The rise is a concern both in Washington state and across the nation.”

The nation’s jobless rate held at 4.2 percent in February as 135,000 more positions opened up, indicating a possible end to the economic slowdown. A total of 371,000 factory jobs have been lost since June.

 

Pacific Mariner to Take Yacht at Seattle Show

Pacific Mariner, builder of fully equipped motoryachts in La Conner, debuts a Special Edition 65-foot yacht next month at the Fleet of Dreams Boat Show on Seattle’s Lake Union.

The yacht, designed and equipped to be the “ultimate owner-operated motoryacht,” according to Pacific Mariner, includes stabilizers, satellite telephone, flybridge hardtop and 42-inch plasma TV, among many enhancements.

Pacific Mariner delivered five 65-foot pilothouse yachts in the final six months of last year to owner-operators on both U.S. coasts.

For information, call 466-1189 or e-mail: pacmar@ncia.com.

 

Frontier Ford Achieves Ford’s Blue Oval Certification

Frontier Ford in Anacortes recently earned Ford Motor Co.’s prestigious Blue Oval Certification for customer satisfaction.

According to Frontier, at Highway 20 and Thompson Road, the Blue Oval “challenges dealers to look at their business in a different light.”

In congratulating Frontier, Ford executives said, “Your performance in the areas of customer sales and service experiences, technology, customer follow-up, resolution of concerns and commitment to your employees will contribute to increasing owner loyalty, enriching the value of the Ford brand and your franchise.”

For more information, call 293-3105.

 

MV Schools Wins Gold Medal by Magazine

The Mount Vernon School District has earned a Gold Medal from Expansion Management Magazine, a business-to-business monthly for executives of companies who are actively looking for a community to expand or relocate their facilities.

“Mount Vernon Schools is honored to be awarded this high ranking,” says Mack Armstrong, school superintendent. “Yet, this recognition is bigger than just the school district. It reflects the ongoing support of the community and its level of commitment in making our schools a positive place for kids to learn.”

The magazine rates districts as a way of providing its readers with a basis for comparing the kind of work force they are likely to encounter.

“It’s one of the first things companies ask about,” says Don Wick, executive director of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County. “Companies want to relocate in communities where education is a top priority. . . . It’s a big issue these days.”

Mount Vernon’s gold medal places it in the top 17 percent of 2,234 districts in the nation. Of the 49 districts evaluated in this state, only six received gold medals, most of them in the Seattle area.

 

SVC Biz Management Students Compete at State

Twelve students from Skagit Valley College’s Business Management Program competed recently in the Delta Epsilon Chi State Career Development Conference in Spokane and walked away with 11 awards.

First-place awards went to: Julee Walsh in Restaurant and Food Services Marketing/Management, Rich Riehl and Esmael Lopez in Sports and Entertainment, Cory Miracle in Design and Elizabeth Kelley in The Evergreen, who also was a finalist in Retail Merchandising.

Second-place honors went to: Tom Black and Louise Wipf in Business-to-Business, Jose Castro in Management Decision Making-Merchandising and Elaina Mueller in Design.

Third-place kudos went to: Julia Dekiewiet in Management Decision Making-Merchandising and Ruth Orebaugh in Sales Representative.

Kate Finney finished sixth in the “very competitive” Human Resource event.

Accompanying the group were Laura Cailloux, instructor and department chair, and Marie Johnson, instructor.

The students qualified to attend a national competition next month.

 

Young Chefs Display Talents at SVC Fiesta

Budding chefs from Mount Vernon schools learned traditional cooking methods for Latino schools recently during a program developed by the Culinary Arts Department at Skagit Valley College.

The students from elementary and middle schools took 10 weeks of classroom training at the college to learn the culinary arts of Central and South America and then displayed their skills to parents at a fiesta held March 14 in the college cafeteria.

The free program was sponsored by the college, Washington State University Learning Center, WSU Cooperative Extension 4H Program and the American Culinary Federation.

 

Donation Helps SVC Train Fire Fighters

The Whidbey Island Naval Air Station recently donated $42,780 worth of fire-fighting equipment to Skagit Valley College to be used in training.

The equipment included barely used breathing apparatus, face masks, spare bottles and a bench tester, all that met fire-fighting standards.

“These valuable tools for learning are wonderful donations that will enhance our program immensely, allowing us to provide our students even better training and preparation for the workplace,” says Patrick McVicker, department chair of the SVC Firefighting Training Program.

 

Teddy Bears Donated to WSP through DECA

Cascade Mall has donated Teddy bears to the Skagit Valley College Business Management Program for use by the Washington State Patrol to help calm children involved in trauma and crisis situations.

Josie Smith, marketing director at the mall, presented the bears to student John Edward, member of the Leadership Development Marketing Team, who delivered the stuffed animals to the WSP in early March.

 

30 Tons of Recycled Phone Books to Help Habitat

MacGregor Publishing Co. of Mount Vernon reports 19 elementary schools and more than 5,000 schoolchildren collected about 61,000 pounds of used telephone books during its recent “Return to Sender” drive. The books are beingrecycled into insulation for 40 Habitat for Humanity homes.

“We sincerely appreciate MacGregor’s continued efforts on our behalf,” says Hardy VanRy, executive director of Skagit Habitat for Humanity. “It’s a great way to encourage children to recycle, while at the same time helping to provide warm, safe homes for working families.”

Students, from Skagit and Stanwood schools, compete for prizes, including pizza parties, in bringing in the recyclable phonebooks. Big winners this year were Viewcrest Christian, Mount Vernon Christian and Twin City Elementary schools.

MacGregor holds its annual campaign in cooperation with Waste Management, Skagit River Steel and Recycling, Puget Sound Truck Lines, Thermoguard Insulation, Skagit County Public Works, City of Mount Vernon, Hot Stuff Pizza at Conway Union 76, Stanwood Little Caesar’s Pizza and Domino’s Pizza.

MacGregor publishes the “Plaid Books” and several maps and visitors guides in the four northern counties and north Snohomish County. It employs 47 persons.

 

Earthquake Has Little Effect on Home Sales

Home sales in the Puget Sound area have been good, with several key indicators including new listings and pending sales pointing upward despite the sharp earthquake Feb. 28, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS).

Although a few buyers asked for reinspections of homes following the temblor, no sales failed during the reporting period, the NWMLS reports.

In Skagit County, new listings were down slightly while pending sales went up. Closed sales dropped from 102 in January to 76 in February.

Median price for a home in Skagit was $156,500, up from $143,950 a year ago, while the average price stood at $170,539.

 

Decision to Rezone Anacortes Airport Pending

The Anacortes City Council is expected to make a decision this month on whether to rezone 10 acres at the city’s airport from residential to light manufacturing, a move necessary to build new hangars.

Earlier, a Snohomish Superior Court judge ruled the council had the right to table the rezone issue until it had studied public concerns about the hangars the Port of Anacortes wants to build and the added noise that would be generated. Residents have complained about late-night noise from air traffic.

 

Burlington Wants More Overnight Guests

Burlington, the county’s largest shopping district, hosts seven times as many people in a day than it has residents, but most of them come and go without spending the night. City fathers would like to see more stayovers.

The city’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee wants to promote tourism and has requested businesses, individuals and others to come forward with ideas on how to spend a 4-percent lodging tax to promote activities that would bring people to town.

Last year, the city received $74,000 in lodging tax money.

For more information, contact the city administrator, Jon Aarstad, at 755-0531.

 

La Conner May Soon Get Needed Fire Hall

The Town of La Conner has partnered with Fire Protection District 13 to split the costs on a new fire station for the two parties and obtained a $110,000 loan to get the ball rolling.

The 4-percent, 20-year loan from the Skagit Council of Governments provides about half of the capital needed for the new station. The town says it will spend up to $600,000 on the project — about half of the total — and pay for it through the sale of the old fire hall on Morris Street and the old police facility.

According to Mayor Eron Berg, the new station could be built by early 2002 when Morris Street improvements begin.

Berg says the road work will take up to three months and involve a major disruption of traffic. Morris is the main road into town and will be completely torn out.

The mayor says efforts will be made to minimize the disruption to businesses, schools and other entities affected by the road work.

 

Court Sides with La Conner over Northend Development

A decision by the Town of La Conner to deny a local developer the right to build a multilevel commercial building on First Street was upheld recently by a Skagit County Superior Court judge.

West Coast Land Investments sued the city, claiming it had been discriminated against when the permit to build the structure on the site of the old Channel Landing restaurant was denied. The new building would be 20,000 to 28,000 square feet in size.

The judge ruled the town was in its rights to deny the permit for the specific proposal, pointing out that West Coast could submit alternative plans for development.

 

New Bids on Bridge Asked by MV Council

Roadwork to and from the Skagit Bridge was expected to begin this month, despite a possible delay in getting construciton started on the new bridge by July as planned.

The City of Mount Vernon last month rejected all the bids that had come in to replace the bridge because they were too high for the estimated $21.5 million project. The two lowest bids were 9 percent and 16 percent higher than the estimate.

In addition, one of the bidders neglected to include a provision for hiring disadvantaged subcontractors, which was required.

New bids were requested immediately and were being considered. Work on the bridge must get started in July to meet a restriction on construction in November to protect salmon migration.

The project involves expansion of the current two-lane bridge between Mount Vernon and Burlington to four lanes with bicycle and pedestrian paths and reconfiguring access streets to avoid congestion.

 

Richendrfer to Write New Grant for Fiber Line

Mount Vernon Mayor Skye Richendrfer, no stranger to the importance of high-tech development, is writing another grant for expanding the city’s fiber-optic cable to anywhere and everywhere there is high-tech potential.

The city recently obtained a $500,000 state grant to help complete the loop it started five years ago, ringing the downtown area, College Way, LaVenture Road and back to City Hall.

According to the city, the state grant will be used to install a 5.1-mile line from the county’s 911 center on College Way to Blackburn Road.

Key to the plan is to bring high-speed, fiber-optic connections to the proposed eTech Center on Continental Place and areas of downtown serving other high-tech firms.

Meanwhile, Verizon which has provided funds for a number of ongoing “smart-park” projects in the area, has opposed Mount Vernon’s involvement in laying cable, saying it shouldn’t involve public spending and should allow it to compete.

In a related event, the mayor announced the launching of the city’s redesigned Web site: www.ci.mt.vernon.wa.us. The site is designed to communicate more effectively with residents as well as visitors.

“We now have the finest Web site of any small city in America because residents now have more access to city information,” Richendrfer, a computer technician by trade, states. “We especially welcome ideas for dealing with the challenging issues facing our community.”

 

MV Buys Properties for Possible Transit Center

The City of Mount Vernon is about halfway completed on purchase of property needed to construct a new transportation center in the downtown core.

The city council agreed to purchase two properties, enter into a possession-and-use accord with another owner and continue negotiations on two other locations whose purchase would complete acquisitions before construction can begin.

The city wants to develop a multiuse transit center around the railroad track south of the old granary building. When completed, the center would serve as the city’s train station, Skagit Transit hub, Greyhound bus depot and main taxi stand, as well as provide parking and tourism center.

The council authorized purchase of properties owned by Bruce Backlund and Richard Pettis and issued $500,000 as partial payment for a warehouse owned by Steve Wells, who is moving his Mobile Merchandisers warehouse to another location. Two other sites, both parking lots owned by Paul Ware and the county, also are needed to start construction. Ware owns the Old Town Grainery Building to the north.

 

Skagit Hospice Starts Foundation for Fundraising

Newly formed Skagit Hospice Foundation announced plans to raise funds, following assembly of a 15-member board of directors, appointment of a full-time director and grant of $114,000 to boost services.

Affiliated Health Services of Mount Vernon and St. Joseph Hospital of Bellingham agreed recently to form separate hospice agencies in the two counties. Hospice serves patients with terminal illnesses, providing for them the care to allow them to live their remaining lives to the fullest, in comfort and dignity.

The grant money will be used to expand bereavement services, create a rapid response team and hire a referral intake coordinator.

“We’ re excited about the partnership and to have a local foundation to work with,” says Gregg Davidson, chief operating officer for AHS. This grant will assist us in providing, enhancing and expanding what we can do for hospice patients. This will allow us to restore some of the services we had to reduce due to federal cutbacks.”

The board of trustees was formed with volunteers from the community. Doreen DeLong, a long-time resident of Mount Vernon and nine-year employee of AHS, has been named director.

 

Resource Center Offers Multitude of Classes

The Business Resource Center of Skagit Valley College offers a number of business-oriented workshops at its downtown Mount Vernon location. Coming up are:

“Grantwriting,” Tuesday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., presented by Joseph Garcia. Fee is $70. The course includes information on funding sources, the process, budgets, evaluations, funding plans, foundation, and federal and state solicitation. One hour for lunch, which you provide.

“Recordkeeping and Taxes,” Wednesday, April 18, and Thursday, April 19, 6-9 p.m., presented by Barbara Pearl of Sound Business Software. Fee $40. On creating and maintaining effective financial records for small businesses.

“Marketing, Pricing and Advertising,” Tuesday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 25, 6-9 p.m., presented by David Woods, Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.). Fee $30. Learn marketing techniques used by major corporations and how to apply them to your business at a price you can afford.

“Marketing Online: Pros and Cons, What’s the Process?” Tuesday, May 8, 6-9 p.m., presented by Ben Ocean and Steve Smith, TheWebsons.com. Fee $30. Marketing your business on the Web is the subject.

For more information on these and other classes, call BRC at 416-7873.

The Computer Training Institute at SVC also offers courses, including: beginner classes in Desktop Publishing, Introduction to Microsoft Excel, Introduction to Microsoft Word for Office, Power of the Internet and more; and intermediate classes on Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks 2 and more.

For more information, call 416-7700.

 

Lennox (Pyro) Cited in Business Journal

Pellet stoves were big business last year, and with the energy crunch, some predict they may even be bigger this year.

Lennox Hearth Products in Burlington, which started as Pyro Industries, was surprised last year by the number of orders it received for its economic stoves, which burn pellets made of compressed sawdust. Asked what they expect this year, executives say they aren’t sure, according to a report in Puget Sound Business Journal. Much will depend on what they learn at the annual spring Hearth Products Association trade show.

Pyro was founded by Dr. Jerry Whitfield, whose efficient pellet stove took his name. Lennox International Inc. is based in Richardson, Texas.

 

Three County Businesses Cited by Ecology Department

The state Department of Ecology recently added three Skagit County properties to its list of contaminated sites.

Listed were Art’s Auto Wrecking of Sedro-Woolley, Lake Erie Trucking of Anacortes and Skagit Petroleum Co. of Sedro-Woolley.

The sites were among 32 properties listed in the latest DOE update, bringing to 875 the total number targeted since the list began. On the latest list, 13 sites were removed, but none was from Skagit County.

 

Maritime Poster Revealed at Peoples Bank Fete

The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce unveiled the 2001 Waterfront Festival poster during an open house March 15 at Peoples Bank’s newest branch at 616 Commercial Ave.

The poster, a photograph by John Peer depicting the hull of a bright red boat with a smaller boat beside it in shimmering water, was sponsored by Puget Sound Refining Co., whose president, Tom Smith, participated in the unveiling.

While chamber executive director Andy Mayer handed out copies of the new poster to sponsors, others in the large crowd took in the new bank facilities and partook in hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

 

Berry Dairy Days Poster to Be Unveiled

Berry Dairy Days is growing closer, and the first event of the year — the unveiling of the official poster — takes place at Saturn of Burlington, Friday, April 13.

This year, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce selected the art work of Mary Gregg Byrne for the poster. Gregg Byrne was the artist chosen for the 1999 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival poster as well and planned to be on hand to unveil the Berry Dairy Days poster, according to chamber director Dick Irwin.

For more information, call the chamber at 757-0994.

 

Thompson Talks Trains at History Museum

Dennis Thompson, widely respected author of Logging Railroads in Skagit County, will present a talk on that subject at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 19, in the Skagit County Historical Museum, La Conner.

Thompson will discuss the history of the area’s logging railroads, enhanced with historic photos and maps, as part of the Skagit Topics Program at the museum, 501 S. Fourth St.

General admission is $3, with a dollar off for students, seniors and members. Call 466-3365.

 

Dinner-dance Slated to Benefit Performing Arts

The Skagit Performing Arts Council presents its annual fund-raising dinner-dance-auction on Saturday, May 5, from 5:30 p.m.

The event, “Open Your Hearts to the Performing Arts,” will be held at the Skagit Valley Casino and Resort on Bow Hill at Interstate 5. Music will be provided by The Saltwater Octet swing band, with vocalists the Sweetwater Sisters. Tickets are $35 a person or $60 a couple.

The council is made up of a coalition of area performing-arts organizations. The money collected goes toward promoting performing arts in the area.

For reservations, call 428-5972.

 

‘Tulip Madness’ Art Exhibit at Scott Milo

Just in time for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is an art exhibit “Tulip Madness,” with paintings by Chicago artist Nancy Albrecht.

The exhibit is currently on at the Scott Milo Gallery at The Framemaker in Anacortes, 420 Commercial Ave. The runs through May 10. Call 293-6938.

 

Local HR Group Hosts Thursday Meetings

The Skagit/Island Human Resources Management Association holds meetings at 7:30 a.m. every second Thursday of the month at the Farmhouse Restaurant, LaConner-Whitney Road and Highway 20. Programs for the next three meetings include:

April 12: Marilyn Hoppen, association’s regional representative, who will speak on human-resource certification.

May 10: topic is Drugs in the Workplace.

June 14: topic is Employee Assistance Programs.

The meetings are open to the public and all association members are encouraged to attend. Cost is $10 members, $12 nonmembers, including breakfast.

To reserve space, e-mail Eileen Kitchen at ekitchen@affiliatedhealth.org.

 

Accounting Software Explained at Seminar

Milestone Information Solutions of Bellingham will hold a free seminar at the CottonTree Convention Center Thursday, April 26, to present Sage Software’s award-winning MAS90® business-management and accounting software.

For more information about the seminar, which begins at 9 a.m., call Janet Eiford at (360) 734-3387 or e-mail: janete@milestoneis.com.

 

S.W.I.B. Schedules Spring Social April 27

Acclaimed northwest artist Jody Bergsma will be guest speaker during the Skagit Women In Business (S.W.I.B.) annual membership drive meeting at the CottonTree Inn 5-7 p.m., Friday, April 27.

Tickets for the event are $12 at the door or $10 in advance from a S.W.I.B. member. Call Lori Ledbetter, 848-9328, or Frances Soler, 428-6682.

Appetizers, buffet and a no-host bar will be available.

 

Garden Benefit for Children’s Hospital

The Children’s Hospital Guilds of Skagit County are presenting a fundraiser with their first-ever garden benefit at Christianson’s Nursery, Saturday, May 19, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Ciscoe Morris, KIRO Radio’s garden expert, is the featured speaker and will answer questions.

Christianson’s, sponsor of the event, will donate 10 percent of its evening sales and other proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital for uncompensated care. Last year, more than 900 children from Skagit County were served at Children s.

Tickets at $10 per person are available from guild members, Scott’s Bookstore, Snow Goose Books and Christian’s, located at 15806 Best Road, west of Mount Vernon.

 

EDASC Golf Tourney, Wine Fest on for July 27

It’s time to dig out the rusty clubs once again. Golf season is upon us. And one of the season’s highlights, always, is the EDASC tournament, this year on July 27 at Avalon Golf Club in Burlington.

The Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC) will host its 14th-annual golf Tournament, Wine Fest and Food Fair on Avalon’s lawn. This is a 27-hole affair with 55 teams and 220 golfers participating. The fest-and-fair part is attended by more than 600 community leaders and business owners.

For more information on how to participate, as a sponsor, advertiser, displayer, player or spectator, call Carol Thomas at EDASC, 336-6114.

 

La Conner to Host Classic Boat Show

Something new is coming this summer to La Conner. It’s the first-ever Vintage and Classic Boat Show, Aug 11-12.

The show, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, will include on-land (trailer) and in-water (floating) boats, with prizes presented for vintage, condition, uniqueness and history of the boat. Participants are limited to boats built prior to 1969.

The boats will be displayed throughout the town, from the Rainbow Bridge to the North Boat Basin, with events including salmon barbecue, beergarden, food booths, arts and crafts, maritime art, live entertainment and more. A free trolley will transport visitors around the entire show.

Boat entry applications are available at the La Conner Chamber of Commerce office at 413-B Morris St. or Port of Skagit Marina office at 613 N. Second St. For more information, call the chamber at 466-4778.

 

‘Memory Walk’ for Alzheimer’s Slated for Sept. 15

The 4th-annual North Counties Memory Walk 2001 will be held Saturday, Sept. 15, at Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon.

Purpose of the walk is to raise funds to educate, support and advocate for individuals, families and communities affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

For more information on how to pledge or participate, call 1-800-848-7097 or e-mail: linda.whiteside@alz.org.

 

Watercolor Art to Grace MacGregor Covers

The artwork of Sedro-Woolley watercolorist Julie Meyers will be featured on the covers of the MacGregor Plaid Books for the 2002 publishing year, according to Bob Taylor, vice president and chief executive officer of the publishing company.

Meyers began painting six years ago and since has settled on watercolors as her medium. Her favorite subjects are flowers and nature scenes, which will grace the MacGregor covers.

“Our unique and high-quality covers are a hallmark for MacGregor Publishing Company,” Taylor says. “We have always tried to feature the work of local artists and photographers on all our covers, including our newcomers and visitors’ guides.

MacGregor publishes the guides, maps and telephone directories for the four northwest counties and northern Snohomish County.

 

Complaints Highest against Communications Firms

For the third consecutive year, the communications industry, which includes telecommunications and on-line services, accounted for the most complaints received by the state Attorney General’s office last year.

“Once again, growth in the communications industry was a double-edged sword for consumers in the year 2000,” says Attorney General Christine Gregory. “Rapidly expanding Internet services and red-hot competition in the local and long-distance telephone industry have created both amazing opportunities and unrivaled problems for consumers.”

More than 2,000 complaints related to the communications industry were received by the attorney general last year.

The second industry was travel, followed by auto sales, retail sales, electronic shopping, contractors, auto repairs, credit-card users, collections and book-and-magazine sales.

 

Engineer Firm Moves from S-W to College Way

ConstructionCalc, Inc., formerly the civil- and structural-engineering division of Skagit Surveyors and Engineers, has recently restructured and moved to 3705 E. College Way in Mount Vernon.

Owned by Tim K. Garrison, Robert B. MacKay and Ivan Kaliban, ConstructionCalc provides structural analysis and civil-engineering services, develops and sells structural software and conducts technical seminars for non-engineers in the building industry.

Garrison, a former partner and principal engineer at Sedro-Woolley-based Skagit Surveyors, heads the analysis/design division. MacKay, nationally known for design of heavy-timber structures, is chief of ConstructionCalc’s software division. Kaliban, who has practiced civil and structural engineering in the county for 10 years, is in charge of the civil-engineering program.

Others on the staff include Curtis Metz, a structural analyst, and Tim’s wife, Cindy Garrison, who serves as office manager and seminar director.

For more information, call 419-9964 or visit the Web site at www.constructioncalc.com.