|
Mitzel’s Restaurant Becomes Buzz Inn The Mount Vernon-based Mitzel’s American Kitchen restaurant chain has been sold, with the flagship outlet on Freeway Drive becoming the Buzz Inn. John Mitzel, co-owner, says most of the seven have been purchased by Elmer’s Restaurants Inc., a Portland-based family-style chain, and the Mount Vernon store was sold to Everett-based Buzz Inn. The Buzz Inn on Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon, meanwhile, was purchased by Don Mayfield, who has turned it into a second Daverthumps Pub and Galley, the other being in Lynnwood. This round of “musical restaurants” came to light before the beginning of the year. Mitzel says he and partner Terry Brazas have decided to put their energy into Mitzel’s Farmhouse Inn, located at 13724 La Conner-Whitney Road, a landmark along Highway 20 between Burlington and Anacortes. The Farmhouse, sold to Mitzel and Brazas last year by Tory and Diane Dybfest, has undergone a half million dollars worth of renovation. Mitzel says former employees of the Mitzel’s chain have been taken care of, some going to the Farmhouse and another Mitzel’s in Oak Harbor. They also own three Yankee Grill and Roasters in Seattle, Tacoma and Renton. Sue Romig, manager of Daverthumps at 1115 Riverside Drive, says Mayfield is turning it into more than just an eatery. “We’re changing it into a dance club and full-service restaurant,” she says. “Don is more into the club side, while I know the kitchen.” Mitzel’s from previous page The cocktail bar, which once was a tavern called Bobby’s in the ’70s and later became What’s Your Beef? restaurant before Buzz Inn took over, will accommodate families for food from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Dancing after 9 p.m. will be for people 21 years and over. “It’ll be a lot of fun when we’re fully up and running, sometime in mid-February,” says Romig, pointing out the restaurant has been open throughout renovations. Daverthumps has 20 on staff. Leslie Hanning, co-owner of the Buzz Inn group, says his new location is the Buzz Inn’s 15th store, which was undergoing extensive renovations last month. Another Buzz Inn is on Highway 20 near Sedro-Woolley, and all of them employ about 300 people throughout the Puget Sound area.
Metcalf Aide Atwood Gets Top Skagit Job Roy Atwood, district director for U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf before the congressman’s retirement, has been named the new administrator for Skagit County, replacing Mike Woodmansee, whose contract expired the end the year. Outgoing commissioners Harvey Wolden and Bob Hart, acting on advise from their successors Don Munks and Ken Dahlstedt, declined to renew Woodmansee’s contract. Munks, a Republican, and Dahlstedt, a Democrat, said they had hoped to find a new administrator who fit their own personalities. Atwood, 44, headed up Metcalf’s Everett office until the end of the congressmen’s final term the end of the year. He lives in Arlington with his wife, Julie, daughter, Victoria, 7, and son Thomas, 4 months. He will make $70,000 a year, compared with Woodmansee’s $98,800 after three years, which included two paid months off to attempt a climb last spring of Mt. Everest in Nepal. Woodmansee also was given a six-month severance package. “I think we were very fortunate in the timing of this with Congressman Metcalf’s retiring,” Commissioner Ted Anderson states. “Roy brings several ingredients that we were looking for: he brings a lot of legislative and political smarts and experience. He certainly knows his way around Olympia and Capitol Hill, and that will be beneficial to the people in Skagit County.” Anderson adds that Atwood also “has a management style that fits in very well with the direction that we want to go with the county — a direction of unity.” The six-year commissioner also welcomed Monks and Dahlstedt and pointed out they had discussed their own management style and “decided we’re going to govern as a county” rather than in the best interests of their individual districts. “We’re going to do what’s best for the county as a whole,” Anderson states.
Tenants of S. Mt. Vernon Oppose Annexation Mount Vernon’s hope to annex south Mount Vernon into the city ran afoul of property owners there last month, with many of them pledging to fight it. Nearly 40 owners formed South Mount Vernon Property Owners to seek more information from the city on tax increases, impact fees, new ordinances and other regulations that will affect them once the 410 acres has been formerly citified. “The owners are concerned about cost containment,” says attorney Tom Moser, who represents the group. “People didn’t want to be in the city limits to begin with. There’s the regulatory impact.” “The bottom line is that annexation is not a good thing; it has to be positive for both sides,” insists Bill Youngsman, partner at Skagit I-5 Business Park on the east side of I-5. “As it now stands, it’s only positive toward the city. “We cannot find any solid, concrete benefit for property owners in south Mount Vernon,” he says of the current annexation proposal. “The taxes and fees will go up.” “The costs for us down here for annexation are just tremendous,” says Jack Hilde, owner of Brown Line Trucking Co., one of the larger firms affected by the change, located on the west side of the freeway. “There’s absolutely not one plus for us going into the city,” Hilde states. “Even the sewer (line) isn’t a plus. We have 15 people down here. We can get along with our septic system just fine.” Mayor Skye Richendrfer, who has spearheaded the annexation efforts that have included fiber-optic connections and $6 million in road and sewer improvements, says he welcomes the anti-annexation group’s dialogue but points out how important he feels the city’s action will be to the city. “Our hope is that we will continue to move forward with the annexation discussions,” he says. “They (South Mount Vernon Property Owners) are able to express a particular position and concerns and we’re going to do the very best to address every one of them as completely as we can. That’s our job,” the major remarks. “But we’re not going to lose sight of the fact that annexation of south Mount Vernon is absolutely critical to the long-term economic vitality of the city.” In particular, Richendrfer adds, is that of attracting business, especially high tech, into what will be the city’s only real light-industrially zoned property. The area, he says, was identified in 1996 as a “top priority” for annexation because of the need of commercial development. “The city very creatively and intelligently found a way to have that occur with the least possible financial impact on everybody. This is about long-term benefits (and) positive, economic development climate for our city,” he concludes.
EDASC Celebrates Coming of High-tech Firms The Economic Development Association of Skagit County held its Annual Meeting and Economic Forecast last month, celebrating a year’s work in attracting new businesses and jobs to the area and predicting a growth spurt here in the number of high-tech companies. “What’s occurring in Skagit County has been phenomenal,” said Don Wick, executive director, who emceed the event Jan. 25 at Mount Vernon’s St. Joseph’s Center. Wick hailed efforts by private enterprise and the City of Mount Vernon to build a new E-tech Campus on Continental Place as the start of an influx of high-tech industry and included two other major projects in the works — Fredonia Business Park, a 120-acre “smart” park near the Port of Skagit County, and the West Burlington Business Park, a 60-acre site in the Goldenrod Road area of town. In all three cases, Verizon Communications has contributed to cost of laying essential fiber-optic infrastructure for the projects to go forward. He also singled out another new business requiring high tech, IMS (Independent Market Services), which is locating in downtown Mount Vernon. Michael Parks, editor of Marple’s Business Newsletter, told business leaders and elected officials the economy in the region will be “a little bit slower for 2001 than it was in 2000; (it’ll be) a little rougher year.” He cited the U.S. economy, the California energy debacle, an upturn in the aerospace industry, what we do with out high-technology status and Alaska’s likely construction of a natural-gas line as five major indicators of how our economy will fair over the coming year. Barry Mitzman, host of KCTS-TV’s “Smart Money” show, also spoke.
Chief Hofstad Sells Expertise, Fire Supplies Dennis Hofstad, retired Mount Vernon fire chief, has started Fire ES, a full-service fire and safety company specializing in home, business and marine fire-protection equipment and service. “Whether it be servicing your portable fire extinguishers or built-in fire-suppression system, our goal is providing you with exceptional customer service at affordable costs,” Hofstad says. Hofstad served 35 years as a fireman in Mount Vernon, 12 of them as chief, retiring last June. He and his wife, Susan, a former nurse, put their expertise together in starting Fire ES. Other services offered include emergency light servicing, marine fire systems, kitchen extinguishing systems, fire department equipment, backflow assembly servicing, contractor support, consulting, and instruction and training. Call 424-FIRE (3473) for more information.
El Cazador Opens Outlet in Mount Vernon El Cazador, a popular Mexican restaurant chain in northwestern Washington, has opened its fourth location with lounge at 2121 E. College Way in Mount Vernon. “The opportunity was here and we thought we would try a new place,” says owner Hilda Rodriquez. Other El Cazadors (meaning “The Hunter”) are located in Burlington, Oak Harbor and Sequim. The new outlet will employ 15 persons, including cooks, waitpersons, bartender and manager, who is Rodriquez’s sister, Angelica Cortez. The location formerly housed a Mexican restaurant and has also been a family-style restaurant and pizzeria in the past. Rodriquez says she learned of the availability through a local Realtor. “We found it through the real estate office of Nor’West Properties,” she says, “not through the former owners.” Owners of the property, Ron and Joyce Curry, purchased it two years ago and almost immediately lost their tenants through no fault of their own. With the new restaurant open and other tenants in place, things are looking a little brighter, they say. El Cazador was given a complete renovation, with about $750,000 worth of alterations both inside and out. These include a variety of Mexican motifs throughout. Other established Mexican-style restaurants are nearby, the closest one being El Gitano on Riverside Drive, which also has a eatery in Burlington. “There’s no competition, really,” says Rodriquez. “They have their clientele and we have ours.”
Victoria Secret Newest Tenant at Cascade Mall Popular lingerie and body-care company Victoria Secret will open a new outlet at the Cascade Mall this April. The Columbus, Ohio-based company has joined 77 other businesses that make up the Burlington mall. “We have two other companies coming in this spring,” says Josie Smith, the mall’s marketing director. “Christopher and Banks focuses on the fashion-conscious woman, with seasonal sportswear, casual dresses and accessories, among other items for sale. And Hot topics is popular with teens.” Smith says the mall also plans upgrades to lighting in the common area and parking on the east side of the mall. Other plans to improve the mall are currently being discussed. “We’ll definitely have some changes in 2001,” she notes. The current tenant list of 77 stores includes the department stores and theater and some stores with temporary leases. An occupancy rate of 84-88 percent is normal, she adds.
New Company Helps Small Businesses on Web Thomas Ghioto has started ATASTAR.COM, providing companies with an economic means of promoting their businesses on the Web through “visual tours.” According to Ghioto, “www.ATASTAR.COM offers a unique way of doing business by allowing people to take a visual tour of your business at the push of a button. These are businesses that might not normally be on the World Wide Web because it’s too expensive. We’re affordable.” The way it works: a business is provided with a site that gives directions to its location, with e-mail and more, “just as you would if you had your own Web site, but without the hassles of getting a domain name, registering and (paying) high maintenance costs,” Ghioto states. Other businesses and customers would be able to log on and take the “visual tour.” For more information, call ATASTAR at 848-8408.
S-W Sporting Goods Store Reopens Don and Roberta Ostrom, owners of Priced Less Sporting Goods of Sedro-Woolley from 1987 to 1994, have reopened it, following its closure last year by then-owner Kelly Hawley. The Ostroms bought the store from Terry Russell when it was C&R Sporting Goods; Russell had started it in 1960. They in turn sold it to Hawley, who became a local expert on Skagit fishing, wrote magazine articles on the subject and had his own radio program for a time. Hawley closed it last summer, filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy and claiming new regulations limiting sports fishing had been one cause. Renaming the store Sports and More, the Ostroms plan to sell a wide range of sporting goods and continue serving outboard motors with help from mechanic Don Colleen. For more information, call 855-0648.
Expansion of North Cascade ENT Complete North Cascade Ear, Nose, Throat and Facial Plastic Surgery Center in Mount Vernon has open its new building across the alley at 118 S. 12th St. The main clinic, a warren of corridor and upstairs offices at 111 S. 13th St., had become too crowded, necessitating expansion, according to business administrator Alex Odell. Gary Brown, Gary Johnson, James Gross and David Riley, all M.D.s, had purchased property across the alley and hired Tower Pacific Construction of Mount Vernon to build the new, 3,200-square-foot structure, which now houses the audiology and hearing-aids center, clinical esthetician services and new office space. The surgery and bookkeeping department will remain in the old building. For more information, call 336-2178.
Tile and Stone Connection Moves Lori and Chuck Sutfin have moved their business, The Tile and Stone Connection, from downtown Mount Vernon to a new location next to Karl’s Paints. The business, formerly in the Skagit Co-op building, was told last summer it would have to move to make room for an expansion of the popular grocery store and Deli Next Door. At that time, Lori Sutfin told The Skagit County Business Monthly that a move would be beneficial to her company because of the parking problem downtown. “We want a better location for our customers, who have to carry heavy material out to their cars; sometimes that might be more than a block away,” she said. The new location, with plenty of parking, is at 1515-C Freeway Drive, Mount Vernon.
Chem-Dry Opens Westside Storefront Chem-Dry of Skagit County has announced its new location at 901 McLean Road on Mount Vernon’s West Side. “The building has two bays used for Oriental rug cleaning, featuring controlled humidity and drying racks,” say owners Tom and Delaina Bly. “Our office area enables us to meet the public and provide service at the store.” Customers also can purchase cleaning supplies at the store. The Blys also have set up an emergency spill service. For information, call 428-1880 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and follow the prompts to the service tech’s extension.
Skagit River Brewery Expands to Burlington Skagit River Brewing Co. has outgrown its Third Street facility it shares with a bar and restaurant and has expanded to the Pease Road Business Park in Burlington. Charlie Sullivan, brewery owner, says the 6,800-square-foot addition in the new structure owned by Mike Fohn and Mike Spink will provide him the space to house new brewing equipment, store raw materials and warehouse beer for distribution. The brewery opened six years ago in the old Pacific Fruit and Produce warehouse along the railroad tracks at 404 S. Third St. Pacific Fruit years ago abandoned that facility to take up a new home in Burlington as well, just around the corner from Skagit River’s new digs. The newer Pacific Fruit warehouse has been torn down and is now the home of Cascade Clear on Port Drive off Pease Road.
Valley Homes Goes from C21 to RE/MAX Valley Homes and Investments, a Mount Vernon real estate firm, has switched from being a Century 21 agency to RE/MAX. “RE/MAX is a growing organization with over 62,000 associates and 3,700 offices world wide,” says owner Ron Gilbertson. Other RE/MAX offices in Skagit County are in Burlington and La Conner
SpiderDomain.com Adds Servers to Network SpiderDomain.com of Sedro-Woolley Gavin Mobraten, owner, says the servers — three for Web clients and a database server — “are state of the art and fully redundant and located at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, the “Web hub of the Northwest.” “We wanted to supply our clients, who host their Web sites with us, with a 99.99-percent guarantee,” Mobraten states. “We can host more clients and, with the growth, supply more jobs here in Skagit County.” Mobraten says his company’s Web site — www.spiderdomain.com — also has a new look.
Mount Vernon Condemns Property for Bridge (NUP) The Mount Vernon City Council has given the go-ahead for condemnation of three strips of land near the Skagit River Bridge so that construction of a new span can begin this July. The Engineering Department must go to court to legalize the condemning strips of three properties. The strips range in size from 5 to 15 feet. The properties include land owned by Greg Hinton of Samish Island, which now houses Valley Oldsmobile Cadillac and GMT Truck on Riverside Drive and Hoag Road; a piece owned by Doug Avery of Mount Vernon at Urban Avenue and Hoag Road; and another owned by Romeo Ubungen of Mount Vernon at Stewart Road near Interstate 5. Mount Vernon and Burlington already have purchased portions of 32 other properties on both sides of the bridge. Bridgework was expected to begin in July and will include a second span west of the existing, 65-year-old structure, which will be upgraded.
Movie Theater Will Be Built in Anacortes The on-again, off-again cinema project for Anacortes is on again. The Anacortes City Council reapproved a plan to build the three-screen cineplex on 7,000 square feet of city land at O Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Street. Under the proposal, Heritage Construction Group of Ocean Shores will build the theater with financing through Whidbey Island Bank. It will then lease the building to Steve Lange, owner of theaters in Oak Harbor, Moses Lake, Poulsbo, West Seattle and Idaho and a former owner of Cinema 5 in Mount Vernon. A previous plan approved by the city called for Mount Vernon developer Piazza Construction to build the theater, but owner John Piazza says the financing, also through Whidbey Island Bank, had fallen through and he had to pull out. Anacortes has been without a movie theater since 1997. The closest cinema has been the Odeon complex at the Cascade Mall in Burlington, about 20 miles away.
Controversial Marina Gets Partial Okay The Anacortes City Council has agreed to drop its opposition
to construction of the Ken Youngsman, owner of the marina, was ordered to halt construction of his 68,000-square-foot dry-stack boat-storage building when it was discovered it threatened the water supply. He also was fined $17,000 for what the state Department of Ecology says was a violation of shoreline requirements. The city, meeting last month, said the almost-completed marina would be permitted pending installation of a 36-inch water line to replace the old line, which depends also on the city securing a $300,000 economic-development grant from the state Legislature.
‘The Cove’ Construction Under Way in Anacortes A 30-unit, three-story luxury waterfront condominium project has begun its construction phase north of Weaverling Spit in Anacortes. Called The Cove at Fidalgo Bay and featuring a 65-car, secured, underground parking garage, the project is located on two beachfront acres east of Fidalgo Bay Road. Cove developers Ken Knight and Piazza Construction hired BOORA Architects to design the project, Kirtley-Cole Associates Inc. to be general contractor and Rich and Gail Ballow of Windermere Real Estate/Anacortes Properties, Inc. to sell the property. Peoples Bank has agreed to finance the project. The community will offer such amenities as elevators, 1,800-square-foot living units with view decks, hardwood entries, granite counter tops, gourmet kitchens, master suites and gas fireplaces. The view faces Mt. Baker and the Tesoro refinery across Fidalgo Bay. For more information, call the Ballows at 293-8008.
Equilon Agrees to Pay $45 Million Equilon Enterprises, parent company of Puget Sound Refining Co., has agreed to pay $45 million to families of six victims in the fatal 1998 coker-unit blast at the Anacortes refinery. The out-of-court settlement, which came a week before a trial was to begin in Skagit County Superior Court, is believed to be the largest single cash settlement in a wrongful-death case in the state. The six men who died the day before Thanksgiving more than two years ago included: James Berlin, Ted Cade, Wayne Dowe, Warren Fry, Ron Granfors and Dave Murdzia.
Leprechaun Completes Two Projects Leprechaun Landscaping and Irrigation Systems of Sedro-Woolley recently completed two commercial projects and has started a third in Anacortes. Owner Shannon Kelley says the firm finished a project at Magic Toyota in Edmonds for Wilcox Construction, Inc. and another at the Les Schwab Tire Center in Mill Creek for Fisher and Sons of Burlington. Meanwhile, Leprechaun is working on a 32-unit condominium project called Forest Ridge in Anacortes for Vintage Investments, Inc. Leprechaun has four employees and can be reached at 856-4409.
Oncology Service Now Provided in Anacortes Cancer patients in Island and San Juan counties can now benefit from a new oncology center opened recently through the joint efforts of North Puget Oncology Cancer Care Centers and Island Hospital. The center allows patients in that area to drive a minimal distance to receive care. Currently, patients must drive to North Puget’s United General Hospital center in Sedro-Woolley or farther. North Puget is a division of Affiliated Health Services (AHS) in Mount Vernon; Island Hospital is governed by Island Health Northwest. “We are thrilled to work with Island Health Northwest in assuring that residents of that area are receiving excellent cancer treatment close to home,” says Nancy Hoyt, AHS’s director of oncology. For more information, call 299-4211.
Chinook Applauds United Way for Help When the state cut vocational rehabilitation funds for job assistance for persons with disabilities, about 30 persons who work for Chinook Enterprises of Mount Vernon were left with no employment resources. United Way of Skagit County stepped in to help. “Chinook Enterprises applauds United Way for coming to the aid of persons with disabilities,” says marketing coordinator Debbie Ridenhour. “Skagit County United Way was able to provide a one-time emergency grant to cover much of the loss in funding, which allowed two persons to find needed employment, two people assistance in applying for continuing education, four people continued on-the-job training support and 22 people continued job-search support,” she says.
G-P Wants to Develop Its Own Power Georgia-Pacific West, after acquiring up to 38 diesel-powered generators, was scheduled to have resumed full production at its Bellingham mill by Feb. 1. The G-P mill halted production twice last year — in early July and early December — due to high electric costs. The Dec. 5 curtailment temporarily reduced the workforce to 200 salaried personnel. By mid-December, resumption of some production activities brought an additional 500 hourly employees back to the mill. The mill used about nine megawatts of power from 16 diesel generators to operate three tissue-paper machines and seven tissue-converting units. To reach full production, G-P brought in diesel-powered generators that can produce one megawatt of power each. Its electrical requirements at full production are approximately 38 megawatts. Due to high electricity prices, G-P hasn’t purchased power from Puget Sound Energy since mid-December. Its contract to buy electricity from PSE end in May and the two companies haven’t agreed on a new contract. According to a company statement, G-P “is exploring the possibility of installing a permanent generation system that would make the mill electrically independent.
DOE Cites PSE for Baker Dam Violation The state Department of Energy issued a notice of violation to Puget Sound Energy for reducing water through Baker Dam, threatening the biological integrity of the Skagit River watershed. According to the report, PSE rapidly reduced the flow of water through the dam Nov. 22, apparently anticipating low demand for electricity during the extended holiday weekend. “We believe the company’s action created a substantial potential to damage salmon and other wildlife in the Skagit River,” says John Glynn, who oversees DOE’s water-quality activities in northwestern Washington. Puget Sound Energy dropped the water flow from 2,500 cubic feet per second to 125 for four days, exposing hundreds of chum and endangered Chinook salmon redds (egg deposits). PSE was given time to respond to the notice of violation.
Old Phone Books Have Recycle Value Don’t throw away your old phone book, says MacGregor Publishing Co. of Mount Vernon, publisher of the “Plaid” phone directories and visitors’ guides. Used telephone directories are being collected by schoolchildren to be recycled into cellulose insulation for homes being built through Habitat for Humanity. “Elementary schoolchildren from 19 schools throughout Skagit County and Stanwood once again will collect the phone books for the Return-to-Sender recycling program,” reports Bob Taylor, vice president and chief executive officer of MacGregor, which developed the program. Partnering with MacGregor’s are Skagit River Steel and Recycling, Waste Management, Puget Sound Truck Lines, Skagit County Public Works, Thermoguard Insulation, Skagit Habitat for Humanity and area pizza restaurants, which will host parties in classrooms as prizes for most books collected. Last January, over 5,000 children collected more than 60,000 pounds of used telephone directories, enough to partially insulate 40 Habitat homes — a savings of more than $16,000.
PSRC Contributes to New Learning Center Puget Sound Refining Co. of Anacortes has donated $5,000 to the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, being constructed on the Upper Skagit’s Lake Diablo. PSRC president Judith Moorad toured the site east of the town of Diablo with Saul Weisberg, executive director of the nonprofit North Cascades Institute (NCI), which will benefit most from the center. The learning center will be “a hub of discovery for a million-acre classroom,” Weisberg states. Among distinguishing features will be a multimedia science library and labs, lakeside dining hall, community center and classrooms. It also will feature overnight accommodations for 46 participants and 12 staff, an amphitheater, boathouse and “floating classroom.” NCI is in the midst of a three-year, $2.5 million campaign to fund the project, including major underwriting by Seattle City Light, which owns and operates Diablo dam and its town.
Brown & Cole Donated Food for Holidays Brown and Cole Stores teamed with Hormel Foods this past holiday season to donate 1,000 hams to local nonprofit organizations in Skagit, Whatcom and Snohomish counties. The hams, worth $20,000, were distributed through Skagit Neighbors in Need, Anacortes 100 Food Bank and other providers. It was the second year Cost Cutter, Thrifty Food Pavilion and other Brown and Cole outlets had worked with Hormel in helping families.
Camp Brotherhood Receives $1 million An anonymous donor has given $1 million to local religious retreat Camp Brotherhood to further its efforts to bring people of different faiths together. The donation will help construct a dining area for up to 300 people, an administration building and new lodge. Camp Brotherhood, on Lake McMurray, was started in 1966 by a Catholic priest and Jewish rabbi. It sits on a 320-acre farm, 12 miles southeast of Mount Vernon.
Local Grants Aid Youth Organization Youthnet, a nonprofit organization that administers Emerson High School and youth and family development programs, has received grants totaling $70,000. The grants include: • $10,000 from PACCAR for room and other repairs on Grace House, Youthnet’s headquarters. • $20,000 from The Skagit Community Network for a community-based fine-arts program. • $40,000 from Discuren Charitable Foundation for new textbooks, student testing, professional development, Spanish-language classes and science equipment at Emerson, a tuition-free alternative high school in Mount Vernon. Youthnet depends on grants and donations to support the educational and developmental programs it offers in Skagit County.
Anacortes Airport Issue Unresolved The Port of Anacortes has deferred a decision on rezoning 10 acres of its airport area west of downtown to an impartial judge for review. The port’s commissioners took the action at a special meeting last month after it had exhausted all informal and formal mechanisms in the city’s process to correct an error made 22 years ago when the land was zoned residential instead of light manufacturing. “It appears the only way to move this issue forward is to have an impartial judge review the matter,” the port says. The master plan calls for construction of two hangars in the disputed area for recreational aircraft, a move that would double the revenues currently received for leases and adding about $73,000 per year to the port’s coffers.
County Grants to Aid Four Projects County commissioners have approved grants totaling $565,000 for public facility projects. The Port of Anacortes has received a county grant of $65,000 to pay for half of its proposed water and sewer connections on a 10-acre parcel of land it purchased in 1996 at March’s Point. The undeveloped land is zoned heavy industrial and likely will be used for that purpose. The Town of Concrete obtained $200,000 of the $383,400 needed to improve its downtown water system. The Town of La Conner received $200,000 of $350,000 it needs to reconstruct Morris Street and fix drainage problems. Another $100,000 was granted to John Bouslog of Mount Vernon to build a road leading to the proposed 10-acre Bay Ridge Business Park near Peterson Road and Higgins Way. He needs $134,320 total.
Grassmere Included as Urban Growth Area The Town of Concrete has included the small community of Grassmere, west of town, within its urban growth boundary. The move approves an interlocal agreement between the town and the county to include Grassmere as an urban growth area, even though it’s not in the town itself. Becoming an urban growth area entitles Grassmere to receive sewer lines, sidewalks and water, as well as other services, from the town. Grassmere, which is along Highway 20, includes North Cascade Inn and Restaurant, Albert’s Red Apple Grocery, a strip mall of shops and eateries and some residences.
Mount Vernon Reapplying for High-tech Grant Although an advisory committee has rejected Mount Vernon’s application for a grant to lay fiber-optic cable, the county is allowing it to reapply with property documentation without delay. The city two years ago requested $500,000 from a special legislative fund for the fiber-optic project but failed to clearly specify how the project would be beneficial in terms of jobs. The advisory committee rejected the application but agreed the city could reapply without waiting until the May 1 deadline. “There was absolutely no mistake on the part of the City of Mount Vernon’s grant application,” says Major Skye Richendrfer. “We wrote an exemplary grant. We had a request to clarify some of the information in the grant application.” City leaders hope to attract between $35 million and $50 million in private investment and create 200 jobs by connecting regional and national fiber-optic lines.
Anacortes Chamber Lists Year’s Priorities Andy Mayer, executive director of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, recently outlined the organization’s priorities for the year 2001. • Marketing Anacortes — “The challenge will be, of course, to maximize our resources, . . .” Mayer says. • Marketing the Chamber — “. . . we need to do a better job of communicating with our members and community.” • Exploiting the Internet — “The chamber will help its members understand, participate in and benefit from this new medium.” • Training and Development — “The chamber will be exploring how we can help develop community leaders in a more strategic fashion.” • (Establishing) Proactive Issue Positions — “(The board should) take positions on issues of importance to the business community.” The goals were outlined during a board retreat late last year.
Resource Center Offers Business Classes The Skagit Valley College Business Resource Center is offering classes and workshops aimed at helping those needing assistance in their businesses. The courses available this winter and spring include: • “Business Planning & Management,” Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m.; fee $30. Course offers instruction on licenses, taxes, bookkeeping, marketing and financing. • “Marketing, Pricing & Advertising,” Tuesday, Feb. 20, and Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6-9 p.m.; $40. David Woods of Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.) teaches affordable marketing techniques for small and large companies. • “Importing, Exporting,” Tuesday, March 6, 6-9 p.m.; $30. Learn the specifics of exporting and importing from a banker, freight broker and business owners. • “Creating an Employee Policy and Procedures Manual,” Tuesday, March 13, 6-9 p.m.; $30. An effective and legal employee manual can save the business owner valuable time, energy and dollars. In addition, the college’s Computer Training Institute offers beginner and intermediate computer-oriented courses in February and March. For a listing, times, instructors and cost, call 416-7700.
Softball Tourney to Bring $1 Million to Valley Organizers says a major girls’ softball tournament coming to Sedro-Woolley in August could bring a million dollars or more to businesses in the area. The 2001 Fastpitch Western National Championship 12-and-Under Girls’ Tournament will be held Aug. 6-12 at Janicki Fields on Cook Road. It is expected to attract more than 2,000 players, coaches, relatives and fans from 21 states. The award of the tourney broke tradition in two ways, the organizers say: it’s the first to be held in the Northwest and it’s the first to be held in a rural area.
Used-car Dealer Cited by DOL for Violation Wilson Auto Brokers of Mount Vernon was fined $5,000 last year for title-transfer violations, according to the state Department of Licensing in Olympia. DOL assessed the penalties on the business, at 17866 Memorial Highway, and its owners, Luther D. Wilson and Arlo L. Wilson, for failure “to transfer the vehicle titles in at least 10 transactions,” a violation of state law.
Skagit Real Estate Prices Climb The number of homes sold in Skagit County the last month of 2000 increased 21 percent over the previous month but remained a few percentage points below the figure from last year. At the same time, the average price of a home fell from $187,193 in November to $184,504 in December. According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, Realtors in Skagit registered 118 closed sales, compared to 97 the month before, at a median price of $148,232, which was up $7,432 from the previous month. Listings were down, from 169 in November to 112 in December, with a total inventory of 850 homes. Sales on 83 homes were pending. The Skagit trend was opposite of home sales in the region. The number of homes sold in a six-county area of Western Washington fell 8 percent to 4,299 total sales.
Frontier Bank Hosts ‘Economic Forecast’ Frontier Bank has scheduled its 5th-annual Economic Forecast the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 14, featuring Michael J. Parks, editor-publisher of Marple’s Business Newsletter. “This very successful annual event is one component of Frontier Bank’s ‘Business connection,’ our outreach program designed for business clients,” says Barbara McCarthy, senior vice president of marketing for the Everett-based bank. The event will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Everett Performing Arts Center. For reservations, call McCarthy at (425) 514-0914.
Journal Gets Award from Web Group WashingtonSuite, a Web links directory, recently awarded the Skagit River Journal of History and Folklore five stars for its content and increasing popularity. Journal Webmaster Noel V. Bourasaw of Sedro-Woolley says the honor came from the “prestigious” directory as the Web site chalked up 3,000 hits in its short life. The Skagit River Journal — at www.geocities.com/skagitjournal — offers photos and memories of pioneers and descendants from the Skagit River watershed. Some recent additions include history of the Borseth and Kimble families, among several that “braved and tamed the wilderness from the 1860s,” and stories, facts and photos of the river from British Columbia to San Juan.
SkagitValley.com Provides Latest Hit List SkagitValley.com recently released its top-10 listing of most hits on county Web sites. They included: Skagit Valley College, Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Costco in Burlington, Skagit Valley Bulb Farm and the Skagit Valley Herald. Rounding off the bottom 10 were: Computer Consultants NW, Mama Rivas’, Cascade Cinemas, Bayshore Office Products and Skagit County Parks and Recreation.
S.W.I.B. Moves Monthly Meetings Skagit Women in Business has changed venue and time for its monthly meetings. S.W.I.B. now meets the first Friday of the month at the CottonTree Convention Center on Riverside Drive. The meetings are from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., with socializing starting at 7 a.m. S.W.I.B. provides a networking system, encouragement and information through members, guest speakers and educational activities. Call Teresa Knight for more information, 428-5055.
Anacortes Galley Talks This Month The Anacortes Museum offers two Tuesday-evening talks this month as part of its “Dirt, Planks and Pavement” series. Members of the Anacortes Historic Preservation Board present a panel discussion on historic preservation Feb. 13. Anita Luvera Mayer, Don and Marjorie McDugle, Pete Dragovich, Irv and Lavern Rydberg, Ray Iversen, Margaret Moore, Phyllis Luvera Ennes and Jean Copeland participate in a talk titled: “Memories of Commercial Avenue,” Feb. 27. Talks are held at 7 p.m. in the museum gallery, 1305 - 8th St. Call 293-1915 or e-mail museum@cityofanacortes.org.
Skagit Unemployment Remains the Same Unemployment in Skagit County remained at 6.6 percent between November and December, although the one-year overall employee count rose by nearly 2,000 workers. At the end of December 2000, Skagit County had 50,770 in the labor force, with 3,360 out of work, for a 6.6-percent unemployment figure. At the end of December 1999, the force was 48,880 with 3,020 unemployed, or 6.2 percent. In November 2000, the percentage also was 6.6 but with 510 less in the labor force. The up-and-down state rate fell 0.1 percent from November to December 2000 to 4.9 percent but was still up from 1999 by 0.6 percent. Whatcom County’s rate was up 0.1 percent in December, while Snohomish and Island counties were down 0.1 and 0.3 percent respectively. San Juan was up a half a percentage point to 4.8 percent out of work.
L&I Reports on Worksite Safety Washington workers suffered slightly fewer injuries and illnesses in 1999 than they did the previous year, continuing an eight-year trend of steady improvement, according to results released by the state Department of Labor and Industries. L&I reports 8.9 out of every 100 full-time workers in the state suffered a job-related injury or illness in 1999, down from 9.2 percent posted in 1998. This rate was as high as 11.2 as recently as 1992. “Since that time, there has been steady, incremental improvement,” L&I states. The federal rate, which includes only private-sector employees, was 6.3 per 100 FTEs. Washington’s rate was 9.0 per 100 FTEs. Accidents and illness hit the construction, manufacturing and agriculture industries hardest, in that order. Following that have been transportation, wholesale, retail, government, mining and finance, insurance and real estate.
Affiliated Health Services Offers Workshops Affiliated Health Services of Mount Vernon offers two workshops this winter. Medical Terminology is the focus of an 18-hour course Feb. 13, 15, 20, 22, 26, 28, March 6 and 8 at Skagit Valley Hospital. The course, held from 7 to 9:15 p.m., uses nontraditional teaching methods to promote 100-percent retention. A two-part series Tuesdays Feb. 20 and 27 will focus on the mature woman’s health, with presenters Dolly Joern, ARNP and Lou Kupka-Schutt, Ph.D., R.D. That workshop will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. each day. Call 428-2424 for more information and registration. |
||