New Wrinkle in the Hospital Flap

While the question of whether to disaffiliate was still being considered by the county’s two largest hospital districts, in walked the biggest private medical practice facility with a proposal to do business, at least where imaging operations are concerned.

District 1, which operates Skagit Valley Hospital (SVH) for Mount Vernon south, and 304, which runs United General Hospital (UGH) for Burlington east, have been at odds over affiliation since they decided to combine forces in 1991. The resulting Affiliated Health Services was intended to save money as health-care costs continue to rise, allowing the two districts to share not only imaging services — including magnetic resolution imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan and endoscopy — but all facets of hospital care.

From the beginning, commissioners of both districts, each with its own funding systems, have sparred over what units would serve which district, with closures of acute-care and emergency services in the eastern portion creating the highest tensions. UGH in Sedro-Woolley at least got its 24-hour service restored.

Then came the proposal of consolidating the two hospitals into one new one, to be built at a location mutually accepted by commissioners, their constituents, physicians and planners, not all of whom could agree. Along comes the medical center, the largest such private institution in the county, offering to build a surgery to compete with the hospitals.

Don Schlichtmann, chief executive officer at Skagit Valley Medical Center, says the surgery plan came up after “several years’ study” and, although seen as a direct competition with the hospitals, is not unusual in the medical field. Once the scheme was known, Affiliated’s chief executive officer Pat Mahoney last February called Schlictmann and told him AHS “could offer us different ventures” in partnership, but only if surgery was not among them.

“We said, ‘Yes,’” Schlictmann states, adding that imaging was the offer proffered.

The end of August, the two hospital boards agreed unanimously to partner with the medical center on the plan to provide imaging services, even though disaffiliation was still being debated. The new-surgery plan was abandoned.

Schlichtmann says the imaging plan especially would appease doctors, who have been opposed to building a new hospital beyond the present location of SVH on the hill east of downtown Mount Vernon.

 

Local High-tech Firms Add, Subtract Jobs

First the good news. Etera, the Internet-driven perennial nursery that recently filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has hired back nearly 100 employees after laying off many more and apparently has been sold, at least in part. The bad news is: SHS.com, one of the first large high-tech firms to locate in Skagit County, has let 40 percent of its workforce go.

SHS (Shared Healthcare Systems) of Anacortes reported its controlling partner, Sun Healthcare Group of Albuquerque, N.M., was laying off nearly half of its 129 employees over a 60-day period, another example of downsizing in a period of economic instability. Sun also accepted the resignation of SHS founder and chief executive officer Kevin Welch, who remains on the board of directors.

The company, which two years ago built an $8 million facility on Port of Anacortes property downtown, designs software programs for the health-care industry and was soon to release a new product to help reduce billing errors and improve efficiency in the accounting process in nursing homes.

Meanwhile, Etera, founded by Summersun owner Carl Loeb, reemployed about 80 workers in mid-August after laying off most of its workforce — numbering at one time 350 employees — during a bankruptcy reorganization begun by a controlling capital-investment firm.

Etera, which sold unique potted plants wholesale over the Internet, is being looked at by a group of investors, according to management. The Puget Sound Business Journal reported last month that MV Greenhouses LLC would take over control of Etera’s horticulural facility. The firm’s partner, Gary Gigot, is a board member at Etera, the Journal said.

The company, which claimed to have sold 10 million plants in one year, stumbled when it fell behind to creditors, several of them major trucking firms on the East Coast. It was estimated the company still owns more than $40 million.

Etera built greenhouses on Riverbend Road in Mount Vernon and Mabton in Eastern Washington and also grows plants on Fir Island. It also owns administrative buildings on Goldenrod and Peterson roads in Burlington. Loeb started the firm in 1997 after selling some of his Summersun greenhouses to Color Spot, a regional wholesale nursery.

 

Happy 75th Birthday, Skagit Valley College

To administrators, it’s an occasion to celebrate — the 75th anniversary of Skagit Valley College’s first year in business.

President Lydia Ledesma-Reese invited a group of media representatives to lunch last month to view the college’s new PowerPoint presentation, highlighting accomplishments since Sept. 7, 1926, when 24 students first began classes at Mount Vernon Junior College.

The presentation tells how dean C.A. Nelson, superintendent at Union High School in Mount Vernon, brought together five faculty members and Joe Reeves as administrator at an average salary of $2,310 a year. It cost the first students $100 a year tuition and from $5 to $10 for books each quarter.

Today, Skagit Valley College — in its present location since 1959 — is one of the leading community colleges in the state and recently placed 11th in the nation as the most wired.

Ledesma-Reese, who succeeded long-time president James Ford five years ago, says, “We’re looking forward to continued growth,” not only in number of students but in classroom space as well.

Particularly high on her list is the ongoing involvement the community has had in the college.

“My vision is to continue to embrace the community,” she says.

Another goal, she adds, is to see faculty salaries — “all salaries” — increased on campus.

 

S.W.A.N. Candidates Announced for 2001

The Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network (S.W.A.N.) announced its slate of candidates for the 2001 Business and Professional Woman of the Year Award, to be presented in a gala banquet ceremony Oct. 18.

The nominees this year include:

• Harriet Follman, owner of the Follman Agency in Burlington, a treatment center for people with substance abuse and chemical dependency, and a criminal justice specialist.

• Laurie Gere, owner of Gere-a-Deli in Anacortes and former president of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce.

• Joan Penny, dean of academics and former chair of the musical department at Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon.

• Audrey Smith, long-time executive director for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

• Sandra Tonkin, a real estate professional at Skagit Prudential Realtors, Mount Vernon.

• Kathy Williams, retired employee-development manager at GTE and a United Way volunteer.

The woman of the year winner will be announced during the banquet at the CottonTree Convention Center in Mount Vernon. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m., according to S.W.A.N. chair for 2001 Lydia Ledesma-Reese, president of Skagit Valley College. Violet Malone is keynote speaker and last year’s winner, Hon. Susan Cook, Superior Court judge, will be the inspirational speaker, she adds.

This will be the 17th-annual S.W.A.N. banquet. S.W.A.N was formed in 1984 to bring together women’s groups from the business and community sectors and honor one person for her participations. Nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Eligibility: Lives and works in Skagit County and is actively contributing to the area.

• Excellence: Demonstrates excellence in her work, including contributions to professional associations within her field.

• Professionalism: Actively promotes professionalism of women in business, including contributions to her community, networking with and serving as a mentor to other business people.

• Contributions: Makes outstanding contributions to her community including service in charitable or nonprofit groups and cultural and volunteer activities that enhance the quality of life in Skagit County.

This year’s judges include Pam Baird, Susan Cook, Sharon Dillon, Nancy Gentry and Dick Nord.

Former winners have been, in order since 1985: Carol (Pritchard) Poppe, Judy Menish, Geneva Sasnett, Cheryl Bishop, BJ Kendall, Carol Kirkby, Pat Hyatt, Nan Hough, Judy Montoya, Dorothy (Bluhm) Urbick, Judi Knutzen, Maureen Dickson, Lola Lang, Linda Freed, Shirley Osborn and Susan Cook.

 

Granary Restaurant Goes Italian

Alberto Candivi and Kate Howard have opened Il Granaio, specializing in Italian food, at the Old Town Grainery in downtown Mount Vernon.

The 2,500-square-foot restaurant takes over the space occupied by the Grainery Restaurant, owned by Joan VanderMeulen, who said she wanted to “concentrate more on my catering service and Java Jo’s,” referring to her deli-style café on Riverside Drive.

Candivi, a native of Milan in northern Italy, began working in restaurants at age 14. He has been in the United States about 15 years. Helping out at Il Granaio (“granary” in Italian) will be friends and family of Candivi and Howard.

The owners have renovated the old restaurant and installed a large cooking arena just inside the door to the new dining area. They also provide extensive lunch and dinner take-out menus.

To make more room for the enlarged restaurant, Michelle’s Home Furnishings has moved to larger quarters in the 90-foot-tall, five-story building, hard by Interstate 5. Another business, BCO (Backcountry Outfitters) has made improvements as well, adding a rock-climbing wall.

Granary owner Paul Ware and building manager Michelle Lehr say they envisioned having an Italian restaurant in the newly renovated structure since the beginning, and at one time, it was suggested the second floor be set aside for the eatery. That area, next to BCO, has been used for special events over the past few years.

For reservations at Il Granaio, call 419-0674.

 

Basketree a New Florist in Mount Vernon

Lori Valgardson has opened The Basketree, a new floral shop at 217 S. First St., next to Tri-Dee Distributors in downtown Mount Vernon.

Valgardson, who originally hails from Montana, specializes in European-style, hand-tied flower bouquets and custom gift baskets.

“We’ve already had a good response from people in the area,” she says.

Call her at 336-5082.

 

Brooking Offers Video Service for Family Histories

Ann Brooking recently opened a video service to families who want to record oral histories or personal stories for posterity.

Lifetimes: Personal History Videos will record histories in the persons’ own words, covering family background, education, work, relationships, military experiences, achievements, values, lessons, regrets, how life has changed over the years, advice and more.

She encourages people to make their tapes in their younger years as well, doing it “while memories are fresh,” and not wait until they are too old.

For more information, call Brooking at 766-6644 or e-mail brooking@fidalgo.net.

 

Helping Small Businesses Goal of New Finance Biz

Navor Tercero knows how slow-paying customers and high expenses can put small-business owners in a cash-flow crunch. So he’s opened Pacific Capital Strategies (PCS) to help them.

PCS specializes in brokering, factoring transactions including accounts receivable, financing and invoice purchasing, equipment lease financing and asset-based lines of credit.

“Many people have never heard of this type of business financing and so I will try to educate the business community on the process and advantages of this type of funding,” Tercero states.

Tercero spent six years in a small, family business and then went on to become certified in marketing and financial planning.

For more information, call 421-3079 or visit his booth at the forthcoming Business Expo at the CottonTree Conventiion Center in Mount Vernon.

 

AFLAC and Its Duck Come to Burlington

Who hasn’t heard the (“quack quack”) frustrated expostulation of the AFLAC insurance spokesduck on TV! Now you can hear all about AFLAC in person at a new office in Burlington.

Lynn Reimer, regional sales coordinator, has announced the opening of the new regional office in the Cascade Business Center, 160 Cascade Place, Suite 210, across from Cascade Mall.

“Due to the popularity of all our duck ads, AFLAC, the leading supplier of supplemental insurance in the U.S., is expanding its market in Skagit county,” Reimer states.

Although AFLAC agents have worked here before, this is the first major office in the county, and the only one north of Bellevue, Reimer says. “We service the area from Everett to the border,” she adds.

Reimer also says the business is looking for “career-oriented people” to join the team.

Call 404-2040.

 

Burl. Family Dentistry Takes over New Space

Burlington Family Dentistry is now welcoming patients at 1250 S. Burlington Blvd., in the gleaming new building near the Pier 1 Imports store across from Cascade Mall.

Dr. Otto J. Hanssen, who also maintains practices in Smokey Point, Monroe, Covington, Woodenville and Bonney Lake, operates the new dental clinic with dentists Chad G. Slocum and Dat N. Nguyen. Slocum also practices at Smokey Point. Nguyen is just starting in this area.

Hanssen also is providing dentistry services for those unable to make it during normal office hours, offering evening appointments Monday through Thursday to 8 p.m., Saturdays to 2 p.m. and some early-morning appointments. Call 755-5600.

 

Psychiatry Office Opens in Mount Vernon

C. Jess Groesbeck, M.D. recently opened a psychiatry and preventive medicine practice in Mount Vernon.

Dr. Groesbeck specializes in anti-aging, family systems and Jungian analysis, as well as hormone replacement, sleep and immune therapies and nutritional counseling.

The practice is located at 1418 E. Blackburn Road. Call 424-0440 for an appointment.

 

Omnigrid Back with Founders in Charge

Randy Schafer, who invented and manufactured the standard quilting rule under the name of Omnigrid, has, with his wife Peggy, restarted the Burlington-based factory as Eva Holdings.

The Schafers built up their company, receiving many plaudits for their acrylic rules, cutting boards and other accessories used for quilting and crafts and, two years ago, sold it to a German firm, Prym-Dritz, which later moved the operations to Wisconsin.

According to the Schafers, the demand for the distinctive rules has been so great that it was possible for them to reopen the business at 1560 Port Drive under the new name. They currently supply Prym-Dritz with its product to help it catch up on back orders.

“The employees of this facility were so efficient and the production demand was such that it pulled us back into the loop,” Randy Schafer notes.

New products are being developed to make Eva Holdings (named for their daughter) a viable manufacturer of more than the world-famous acrylic rules, of which they hope to make 5,000 per day.

Eva Holdings employs 23 persons, most of whom are former Omnigrid workers, the Schafers say, adding that they hope to double that by next year.

 

First American Anacortes Moves to New Location

First American Title Co.’s Anacortes branch has a new home at 3202 Commercial Ave., according to manager Nancy Albanese.

Reasons for the move were given as “better location to service clients and better exposure to the public . . . additional 800 square feet of leased space available . . . future remodeling to provide additional office space for lease.”

The location is the former home of Anacortes Telescope and Wild Bird Store, which moved to Padilla Heights Road.

The Anacortes office was recently bolstered by the addition of three women: Jeri Liggitt, Vicki Hoffman and Kelly Miller.

 

Mediator Moves Anacortes Office

Claire Reiner, attorney at law whose practice is mediation, has moved her offices across the street to 913 Sixth St., Anacortes.

She, her legal assistant Elizabeth Olson and new mediator Pat Paul, who has done legal work with the Swinomish Tribal Council, will hold an open house at their new offices from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 19.

Reiner specializes in mediation for families and small businesses.

 

Debt Recovery Specialists Expands with Acquisition

Debt Recovery Specialists (DRS) of Mount Vernon has purchased Tri County Collections’ name, accounts and client list.

DRS owner Denise Decker says the two firms have been working together for six years. Recently, the Tri County owner approached Decker about buying the agency. “We were very pleased,” Decker states.

The acquisition allows Debt Recovery Specialists to expand and promote its “win-win” philosophy to a wider clientele along the I-5 corridor, Decker says. Call 428-8159.

 

New Showroom Coming at Barron Heating

Barron Heating and Air Conditioning is building a showroom a block from its long-time Burlington office.

The showroom, in an existing 2,400-square-foot building at 560 S. Burlington Blvd., will offer a wide variety of fireplace, stoves and inserts, and artesian spas, replete with private shower for customers to use when testing the spas.

Barron, with a location also in Bellingham, will retain its office at 121 E. Rio Vista Ave.

For more information, call 755-0558.

 

Dakota Creek Launching New Ferry This Month

Dakota Creek Industries of Anacortes, manufacturer of such passenger-only ferries as the MV Chinook, is launching a new $12.2 million car and passenger ferry that will be used between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan in Alaska.

The Prince of Wales, a 198-foot-long, 53-foot-wide ferry capable of handling 150 passengers and 30 cars, is soon to undergo final adjustments during trial runs near Anacortes and will be delivered in December to the Inter-Island Ferry Authority in Alaska.

The year-long project has involved about 150 electricians, painters, welders, carpenters and others and created about 20 new jobs. Another ferry is in the planning stage for the Alaskan agency.

 

Burlington Boat Builder Introduces Workboat

Workskiff, Inc. has launched its first 27-foot workboat built expressly for the user who needs a rugged, powerful boat.

Workskiff of Burlington has delivered more than 400 boats since its founding in 1989, according to president and naval architect George Lundgren.

“The new Workskiff 27 is engineered to adapt to a variety of uses and provide the extra room required to get larger jobs done,” Lundgren states.

Full-length longitudinal girders are used in an integrated double bottom construction. Lundgren says the 27-foot model can be trailered and is virtually unsinkable.

For more information, call 707-5622.

 

Cabinetmaker Receives Contract for Police Shop

Matt Barkley Cabinets of Burlington has been awarded the contract to install cabinets and countertops for the new Burlington Public Safety Building, being constructed on Cedar Street behind the fire hall.

Barkley designs, sells and installs cabinetry for residential and commercial customers. Call 755-9394.

 

Public Hears Options on Viaduct Replacement

An open house was held recently to explain options on replacing the Second Street Viaduct in Mount Vernon, long considered a hazard to tall trucks traveling Interstate 5.

The 72-year-old span that rises gradually from Second Street in downtown to Fourth Street above the freeway has been the subject of concern since the 1960s. State transportation officials last year completed a $290,000 study on freeway traffic flow in the Mount Vernon-Burlington corridor and it was concluded the concrete viaduct was structurally deficient.

Several plans have come forth in recently years, including one to extend Division Street straight down and across the freeway to intersect with the Westside Bridge, but business owners in the area said it would be too disruptive and displace valuable property.

 

Anacortes Port Starts Dock Renovation Project

The Port of Anacortes is completing a two-month, $1.9 million renovation project to Pier 2, being handled by the city’s Quantum Construction Inc.

Pier 2 is used to export coke produced by Puget Sound Refining Co. to ships and barges. The coke is transported to aluminum plants in Canada for use in the manufacture of high-grade aluminum.

Until the renovations are completed this month, about 55,000 tons of coke were to be stockpiled for shipment later.

The project involves demolishing and rebuilding the fender system, modifications of the dolphin mooring devices, grinding and repaving about 3 acres of dock surface, adding trench drains for wastewater collection and improvements to the wheel wash.

 

SVC to Build $7 million Center in Oak Harbor

Skagit Valley College held a groundbreaking ceremony recently on a new, $7 million Higher Education Center building at its Whidbey Island Campus in Oak Harbor.

The 37,141-square-foot, three-story facility will house classrooms, offices, conference rooms, science laboratories, distance learning rooms, electronic classrooms, a lecture room and fitness facility. Western Washington University also will have an office there.

Bayley Construction is general contractor; architects are from The Henry Klein Partnership of Mount Vernon.

 

Island Health Reports Profits after Shortfall

Island Health Northwest, representing Hospital District 2 in Anacortes, found itself in the black again after a shortfall the year before. The financials for the first six months of 2001 through July showed more than $1.4 million in profits.

Part of the reason for the good return was the sale of a money-losing clinic, North Cascades Family Physicians of Mount Vernon. Physicians attached to the clinic purchased it last year after it reported a loss of $2.7 million.

Another reason given was downsizing staff by 12 employees.

Island Health Northwest is the business name for three district divisions including Island Hospital in Anacortes, six clinics and a pharmacy, and group of health-care providers who process medical information.

 

Attendance Record Broken at Anacortes Art Fest

Organizers of this year’s Anacortes Arts Festival say as many as 90,000 persons attended, based on the amount of food sold. One of them says the annual event — the 40th — was packed every day.

Although not all of the sales figures were in, the organizers say this was the best events ever, with successes reported from vendors, performers and festival-goers as well.

 

Burlington Examines Development near Dikes

An automobile dealership near I-5 Auto World in Burlington may have to wait a little longer to build while the city examines whether it will permit large-scale developments within 500 feet of existing dikes.

The dealer has applied for a conditional-use permit to start construction of a 30,000-square-foot building and lot along Bouslog Road, which runs behind Auto World, but planners want an ordinance passed to prevent such developments.

Dikes now would be able to handle a 35-year flood, but not a 100-year flood, which would inundate homes and businesses along the river. To be prepared for such an eventuality, planners recommend barring development within 500 feet of the dikes to provide space to pull them back if necessary. Only bigger developments would be affected.

According to the city’s planner, Margaret Fleek, the property is owned by Ron Rennebohm, owner of Frontier Ford in Anacortes and a partner in the Valley Oldsmobile dealership on Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon.

 

Home Prices Leap for Second Month

The cost of a new home in Skagit County jumped nearly $8,000 between July and August, bringing to $16,666 the two-month total for real estate increases, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

August closed with 137 closed sales, up four from July but still down 22 from a year ago, at an average cost of $197,733. That compares with $189,991 for July and $181,067 for June. There were also 229 new listings, down five from July and 52 from a year ago, and 157 pending sales, up 21 from July and seven from 2000.

The median price of a home — the figure exactly between the lowest- and highest-selling prices — was $160,000, which was down slightly from the average among the NWMLS’s 13 counties. The average change overall was 10.7 percent, compared to Skagit’s 8.1 percent for August. At the close of August 2000, the median price of a home in Skagit County was $147,950.

By Aug. 31, Skagit’s inventory stood at 978 homes and condominiums on the market. It was taking 93 days to sell a house, 45 days longer than the overall NWMLS average.

 

Jobless Rate Drops Slightly in August

Unemployment in Skagit County actually fell two-tenths of a percentage point in August, following most areas of the state, according to the state Employment Security Department.

The jobless figure for August was 6.1 percent, compared to 6.3 in July and 5.7 in August 2000. The total workforce was listed at 51,450, with 48,330 employed.

The state’s unemployment figure also fell slightly, closing August at 5.6 percent, down a tenth of a point from July but still up from 4.9 percent last year.

“The change was pretty marginal from July to August, but employment seemed to be somewhat weaker than usual for this time of year,” says Sylvia P. Mundy, the state’s ESD commissioner.

In Whatcom County, 6.2 percent were out of work, down a tenth; in Snohomish, 4.7 percent, down a tenth; in Island County, 4.0, down three-tenths; and in San Juan, 2.3 percent, up a tenth. King County stood unchanged at 4.8.

 

Chevron/Texaco Merger OK’d, May Affect Equilon

The Federal Trade Commission and 12 states, including Washington, have filed settlement papers that clear the way for the merger of Chevron Corp. and Texaco Inc.

Under terms of the settlement, Texaco must divest itself of all interest in Equilon of Houston, the parent organization for Puget Sound Refining Co. (PSRC) of Anacortes. Texaco owns Equilon with Shell.

San Francisco-based Chevron agreed to buy Texaco in October in a stock purchase valued at about $39.3 billion and about $6 billion worth of debt. Under the deal, the new company will be called Chevron Texaco and trade on the New York Stock Exchange as CVX.

Ironically, Shell Oil Co. a few years ago merged some of its operations with Texaco and was forced to sell off its refinery on March’s Point to Tesoro. It joined the old Texaco plant as a partner under the Equilon banner. It’s conceivable that, with Texaco’s departure, PSRC — once a neighbor of Shell — will become sole property of Shell.

As of now, Chevron supplies about 20 percent of the retail gasoline market in the region while Equilon supplies 24 percent. If Texaco weren’t forced to sell its assets as part of the merger, regulators believe, the new, merged company would control as much as 44 percent of the Washington gasoline market.

 

Olympic Pipe Line Hires Kenneth Starr

The man who prosecuted the Whitewater case and investigated President Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky is now part of the legal team trying to fend off federal felony charges against Olympic Pipe Line Co. for its part in the fatal June 1999 explosion in Bellingham.

The Washington, D.C.-based lawyer joined the team several months ago while representing an oil company. He was brought into talks with the Justice Department after discussions failed between Olympic attorneys and federal prosecutors in Seattle.

According to sources, Olympic has expressed willingness to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, admit negligence in the blast at Whatcom Falls Park June 10, 1999, when three youths were killed, and pay a large fine. But it is fighting felony charges alleging intentional negligence. A federal grand jury in Seattle last month handed down indictments against Olympic, Equilon Pipeline and three Olympic employees.

With the high-profile lawyer on its side, the company hopes to fend off the felony charges.

Olympic pipeline, which reopened this summer, is now operated by BP Pipelines North America. BP and Olympic contend the blame for the disaster should fall on the shoulders of Equilon, owner of Puget Sound Refining Co. in Anacortes, since the pipeline at the time of the blast was in its jurisdiction. Equilon denies blame and contends Olympic was solely in charge.

 

Groves Expands Services for 34th Year at Ideal

Dave Groves, owner of Ideal Photo, has started his 34th year in business in Mount Vernon, and he’s doing so by adding a full array of digital photography and digital-processing services.

Ideal, at 315-C Main Street Plaza on the revetment, has provided clients with regular photography services for the past 33 years, but only recently went to digital.

For more information, call Groves at 336-5575.

 

Rack Attack Celebrates Five Years in Business

Shaun and Wendy Goodman are celebrating their fifth year in business with Rack Attack, a Westside store that specializes in vehicle rack systems for cars, trucks and SUVs.

“Some of the racks we sell are for bikes, skis, snowboards, kayaks and canoes,” says Shaun Goodman. “We also carry ladder and lumber racks for trucks and vans, as well as toolboxes and trailer hitches. Some of the brands we carry are Yakima, Thule, Weather Guard and Kargo Master.”

The Goodmans have two employees, Chris Sherburn and Russ Waters, and are located at 731 W. Division St. next to the Appliance Connection. Call 428-2665 or visit the Web site at www.rackyourworld.com. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

 

Webefx Scores Two Major Contracts

Webefx LLC, a Mount Vernon Web-development company, recently secured contracts with Skagit Valley College (SVC) and Back Country Outfitters, a retail outdoor-equipment business.

In the case of SVC, Webefx was awarded the contract based on work experience, competitive bid and needs-analysis services, according to Dave Adams, Webefx sales manager.

College spokesperson Bruce McBane says, “The new site will greatly improve our ability to communicate with students and the community.”

Adams says a content-management system developed by his company last year is key to Webefx’s ability to process data for the site. It’s already been tested with other clients, including Skagit P.U.D. and Valley Electric, he adds.

Zi Krostag, Webefex’s manager, says the BCO site — www.bcogear.com — will also provide visitors with access to alpine sites and a photo gallery.

“We are particularly pleased to bring Back Country Outfitters online since they’re a local company serving a niche market in camping, skiing and snow sports equipment,” he says.

Webefx, a 5-year-old company at 2204 Riverside Drive, designs and produces database-driven Web sites for content publishing and eCommerce applications.

 

Bail-bond Agent Has License Revoked

The state Department of Licensing (DOL) has revoked a Mount Vernon man’s bail-bond agent license and fined A-Quick Bail bonds, Inc. $25,000 for violation of state bail-bond laws.

DOL revoked David Cavanaugh’s license for one year, effective Aug. 22, 2001, and ordered that he not have any dealings with agents or staff at A-Quick, which operates four offices in Mount Vernon, Everett, Bellingham and Okanogan.

A-Quick, which continues to operate, and Cavanaugh were charged with violating fiduciary responsibility by converting a client’s property to their own use. If A-Quick violates the provisions of the agreed fine and suspension, it could lose its license for four years, DOL claims.

 

Festival of Trees Coming Next Month

The 13th-annual Festival of Trees, one of the larger fundraisers in this county, is slated for Nov. 23-25 at St. Joseph Center in Mount Vernon, a departure from years past.

The gala festival includes dozens of spectacularly decorated Christmas trees and wreaths, which are bid on, and entertainment and prizes. It’s sponsored by the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation.

Last year, the festival — staged since 1997 at Cascade Mall in Burlington — garnered $180,000 to help purchase equipment for the Skagit Valley Hospital Family Birth Center. More than 5,000 persons attended.

This year’s event starts Friday, Nov. 23, with a gala night and continues with public days on Nov. 24 and 25. Businesses and organizations sponsor the trees and volunteers decorate them thematically. Business leaders, children and the general public vote on their favorites for awards. In addition, the trees are auctioned off to raise money.

To participate, call the foundation office at 428-2140.

 

United Way for 2001 Kicks off at Breakfast

United Way 2001 is under way. It was put into action during a gala breakfast at the Skagit Valley Casino Resort Sept. 7, attended by 130 persons.

The goal for this year is $725,000, according to Paul Chaplik, executive director of United Way of Skagit County. Last year, the campaign raised $709,000.

The money is divided among 23 local nonprofit service agencies.

Keynote speaker at the breakfast was Peter Browning, Skagit County’s health director who is also serving as this year’s campaign chair. He talked about the growing need for services in the county and said the money raised locally is distributed to local organizations to help local people.

 

Bounds Chosen Again as Tulip Festival Framer

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival has selected William Bounds Custom Framing and Gallery of Burlington as the “official framer” for the 2002 festival poster, according to festival executive director Audrey Smith. It’s the fourth year Bounds has been chosen.

In addition to framing the 375 posters given to sponsors of the festival, Bounds will create special artistic framing for the 2002 unveiling, held Oct. 11 at Skagit Valley Gardens on Conway Frontage Road south of Mount Vernon.

For additional information about the posters, call 428-5959 or Bounds at 404-2002.

 

Sedro-Woolley Soroptimists Donate $3.5K to Park

Soroptimist International of Sedro-Woolley recently donated $3,500 toward the Hammer Heritage Park as its 2001 project.

This is the third time the club has contributed money to the new park and public restrooms in downtown Sedro-Woolley. The club donated $11,500 earlier.

The women’s group owns and operates The Walnut Tree Thrift Shop at 713 Puget St. whose sales go to fund community scholarships, domestic violence prevention projects, youth soccer and baseball leagues, fire prevention and other projects, as well as Hammer Heritage Park.

 

Online Sweepstakes Worth $1,000 on PlaidNET

Surfing the Internet will yield $1,000 cash for a lucky visitor to PlaidNET.com, MacGregor Publishing Co.’s premier Web site, according to vice president and chief executive officer Bob Taylor.

MacGregor publishes telephone directories in Skagit, Island, San Juan, Whatcom and Snohomish counties, as well as area maps and newcomer-and-visitor guides for Skagit County, Anacortes, La Conner and Whidbey Island. Contents of all these publications are available online at www.PlaidNET.com.

Entering the sweepstakes takes one on a tour of the site, Taylor says. Simply log on and click on the Internet Sweepstakes button. Entrants must be 18 years or older and entries must be submitted online by Oct. 31. The drawing will be held Nov. 2.

 

Renowned Woman to Speak Oct. 9

Treena Kerr, internationally known producer, writer and motivational speaker, will give a talk at a celebration of National Women in Business Week, Oct. 9, sponsored by Mount Vernon Women in Business.

The event, at the CottonTree Convention Center in Mount Vernon, begins at 5:15 p.m., with dinner and speaker at 6 p.m. Kerr, wife of “Galloping Gourmet” Graham Kerr of Mount Vernon, titles her speech: “To Be or Not to Be.”

For ticket information, call Renae McFadden at 428-4848.

 

Sight for Students Program Now Available

Sarah Marossy, OD of North Cascade Eye Associates is participating in the Sight for Students program, which provides free eye-care services to children whose parents work but can’t afford exams or glasses and are ineligible for government support.

The national program operates through a network of partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as Head Start, YMCA and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the local chapter of which is a partner here. These groups identify qualified children and refer them to the program. Parents can then take their children to doctors, such as Marossy, for a free eye exam and eyeglasses, if needed.

For more information, call the Mount Vernon Boys and Girls Club, 428-6995, or Dr. Marossy, 416-6735.

 

Go-kart Track Hosting Business Events

Karttrak Indoor Raceway in south Mount Vernon is opening its go-kart facility for company parties, meetings and employee incentives, according to operators.

The track, at the Skagit I-5 Business Park, 3302 Cedardale Road, offers three sizes of conference and banquet rooms, one of them overlooking the popular indoor racetrack.

In addition, operators say members of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County will be given an opportunity for some free racing with presentation of their business cards.

For more information, call 848-1635.

 

Airporter Shuttle Extends Services

Bellair Charters/Airporter Shuttle has decided to continue four seasonal trips between Oak Harbor/Anacortes and Mount Vernon past the Sept. 8 cutoff date.

The trips include two additional trips in the early morning and two in the late evening.

“All of the new trips have been well received and, as a result, we will continue to run them as long as there is sufficient rider support,” says Richard Johnson, chief financial officer for the company.

Currently, Airporter Shuttle runs a total of nine round-trips daily to service the connection from Oak Harbor/Anacortes to Mount Vernon and on to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

 

L&I ‘Holds Line’ on 2002 Worker Comp Rates

The state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is proposing only a 1.8-percent general rate increase for 2002 workers’ compensation premiums.

The program is made up of several funds that provide benefits when workers are hurt on the job. Both employers and workers pay workers’ compensation premiums.

L&I, which manages the system, provides coverage for more than 160,000 employers and more than 2 million workers.

 

New ‘Plain English’ Rules Available on Safety

The state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is providing some 40,000 employers with computer discs containing a concise, plain-English set of rules concerning health and safety.

These core rules took effect Sept. 1, culminating a two-year effort to rewrite the requirements in a form and language that people, other than lawyers, can understand.

The rules are available, not only on the disks but also at L&I’s Web site, www.lni.wa.gov/wisha.

 

L&I Offers Contractor Info

The state Department of Labor and Industries’ contractor-registration database now can be accessed quickly and easily with a new automated telephone system.

To access the interactive voice-response system, call 1-800-647-0982. Recorded instructions prompt the caller through the menu.

For consumer protection, state law requires construction contractors to be registered, electrical contractors to be licensed and plumbers to be certified.

 

Correction

In a Business News item (“BBQ Sauce Manufacturer to Compete for World Prize”) on page 13 of the August 2001 issue of The Skagit County Business Monthly Magazine, the sauce maker was incorrectly identified. The first paragraph should have read as follows:

“Special O Cajun Bar-B-Que Sauce, the official barbecue sauce and sponsor for the Washington State barbecue champion Fox’s Barbecue Team, has been invited to compete for the world title this October in Kansas City, Mo.”

 

Performing-arts Center Takes Step Forward

The $18 million performing-arts center slated for Skagit Valley College (SVC) took another step toward final approval last month when the City of Anacortes gave its endorsement, with conditions.

The city council voted unanimously to approve formation of a county public facilities district that will administer the center’s planning and construction, but the members left open the door for the city to form its own district later. Anacortes has proposed building its own performing-arts center.

Skagit County commissioners appointed prominent business leaders to the public-facilities district Aug. 14. They include Cheryl Bishop, co-chief executive officer of Skagit State Bank, Burlington; Mike Crawford, vice president of Miles Sand and Gravel Co. Inc., Burlington; John Janicki, vice president of Janicki Machine Co., Sedro-Woolley; Bud Moore, retired businessman and former La Conner mayor; Anacortes attorney Jim Anderson; Mary Scott, owner of Scott’s Bookstore in Mount Vernon; and Dennis Edmonds, DDS of Mount Vernon.

Rick Epting, who serves as vice president of the Skagit Performing Arts Council, declined to be on the district board because of his position as arts and entertainment editor for the Skagit Argus, citing a potential conflict of interest. He was replaced by Edmonds.

Plans originally called for just five members on the board. The commissioners felt five were not enough to give full representation to all areas of the county and decided to expand.

By setting up the panel, the district will recoup $8 million in state sales taxes to help pay for the facility.

Skagit Valley College agreed this summer to allot land for the construction of a performing-arts center, meeting a long-range goal. Key to the decision also was a $6 million gift for the center from the late Jack McIntyre of Sedro-Woolley and his wife Shirley, who wanted the center built at SVC and exhorted the community to divvy up the rest.

“The McIntyres have challenged our entire community to rally to this magnificent initiative,” says Colonel F. Betz, president of the SVC Foundation. “The challenge is to secure sufficient additional funding to build an $18 million, state-of-the-art, 42,000-square-foot facility on the southeast corner of the campus. It will feature a multilevel, 700-seat theater and an adjacent conference center to accommodate groups as large as 500.”