County Names New Finance Director

Brad Whaley has been named the new Skagit County finance director, replacing Alicia Huschka who recently joined the Mount Vernon finance department.

Whaley has served as finance director for St. Joseph County, Mich., for the past eight years and also worked as director of fiscal operations for Kalamazoo Valley Community College in that state. He has a bachelor’s in accounting from Western Michigan University and will earn $64,444 in his new job.

Huschka was county finance director from February 1997 to last July, when she became the city’s assistant finance director.

 

Michael Takes over MV Planning Dept.

Long-time planner with Skagit County Roxanne Michael was recently named interim planning director for the City of Mount Vernon, replacing Rick Cisar who was suspended from the job in early August.

Michael, a resident of Bellingham, was co-director of the Skagit County Planning and Permit Center until 1998. She started with the county in 1983.

No reason has been given for Cisar’s abrupt departure Aug. 9. He was placed on paid administrative leave.

Cisar became the city’s planning director in 1992 and was making $71,894 at the time of his suspension.

 

Santolla Hired to Run La Conner Retirement Inn

Alice Santolla, RNC has been hired as the new executive director of the La Conner Retirement Inn.

Santolla’s nursing experience spans several decades. In addition to her degree in Healthcare Administration, she received her national certification as a gerontological nurse in 1990.

A resident of Camano Island, Santolla and her family drive and train draft horses on their farm.

In La Conner, she will oversee the facility’s staff of 25.

 

Realtor Rapp Joins NorthWest Properties

Realtor Jill Rapp, GRI has joined the sales staff of NorthWest Properties Aiken and Associates Inc. in Mount Vernon as an associate broker.

Rapp has lived in Skagit County for many years and has been a successful Realtor for 17 years.

Call her at 428-0195.

 

Atterberry Chosen Finalist for State’s Top Realtor

Jones Atterberry of NorthWest Properties Aiken and Associates, Inc. has been named a finalist for the state 2001 Realtor of the Year award.

The award represents recognition for the contribution of Atterberry’s time and talents to the Washington state Realtors and the local community, according to JoAnn Boudreau, NorthWest’s broker.

Atterberry, who formerly owned Better Homes and Gardens Realty in Burlington, also is a P.U.D. commissioner.

 

Soroptimists Install New Officers

Soroptimist International of Sedro-Woolley recently installed its 2001-202 officers. They are:

Donna Johnson, president; Toni Ruhl, first vice president; Jill Straathoff, second vice president; Fay Huggins, treasurer; Sheri Queen, assistant treasurer; Jackie Burley, recording secretary; Shirley Shanander, corresponding secretary; and board members Mary Ellen Byerly, Bev Tyree and Cyndi Ronk.

 

Gladstein of AzurYoga Returns from India

Miyabi Gladstein, instructor at AzurYoga of Mount Vernon, has returned from a two-month trip to Mysore, India, for a training class.

Gladstein trained in the second series of ashtanga yoga with the Guru of the Practice Pattabhi Jois.

She teaches prenatal yoga every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at AzurYoga, 315 Main St. on the revetment. She’ll rotate instruction of the primary series on Saturdays at 9 a.m.

In a related event, Tim Post, co-owner of AzurYoga, and instructor Randy Walker completed a weekend of ashtanga yoga with master yogi David Swenson, author of a successful book on yoga.

For schedules, information and sign-ups, call 336-5163.

 

Lincoln Leaders Attend Conference in NYC

Peter Heffelfinger, executive director of the Lincoln Theatre, recently joined Vicky Young, the theater’s community outreach coordinator, to attend the 2001 annual conference of The League of Historic American Theaters in New York City.

Highlights included tours of many historic theaters in the Times Square area, as well as the newly renovated Radio City Music Hall; workshops on restoration, fund-raising and programming; and a keynote address by actor Tony Randall.

Heffelfinger also presented an hour-long slide show on the successful efforts to revive the Lincoln in a workshop titled “Rebuilding a Community Gathering Place: 1987-2001.” After the conference, he toured 19th-century opera houses in upstate New York and Vermont.

 

Probstfield Aces, others Place at Big Tourney

The annual Hands Across the River Golf Tournament was another huge success for organizers Mount Vernon and Burlington chambers of commerce and for three teams and a single golfer, John Probstfield of Valley Electric.

Probstfield aced Avalon Golf Club’s 7 West hole to win $500 from Gordon Nissan.

Tournament results included: first place, Esary Roofing, with DJ Esary, Brett Esary, Jeff Stewart and Chris Eisses; second place, Levitator, with Mark Marcel, Boyd Joyce, Kirk Melton and Richard Eagle; and third place, Valley Electric, with Probstfield, Kirk Cannon, Andy Ward and Charley Meyers.

Swinomish Northern Lights Casino was the overall sponsor of the event, which raised funds to provide college sponsorships.

 

Bobble Head Dolls Meted out to Winners

Two lucky Skagit County residents now have coveted Ichiro bobble-head dolls, and they did it without standing in line at Safeco Field or bidding on eBay.

“I was so surprised,” says Pat Cunningham of Mount Vernon, whose name was drawn in a promotion sponsored by Gordon Nissan Suzuki at I-5 Auto World in Burlington. It was held during Guy Ovenell’s Goodtime Show on Oldies 1430 KBRC radio.

The other winner was Marge Ekstran of Bow, who says, “I have never won anything before in my life.”

 

Dickson Loses Battle with Lung Cancer

Maureen Dickson, owner of Cap Sante Marine in Anacortes, lost her brief but courageous battle with lung cancer Sept. 8. She was 63.

Dickson was the inspiration behind Cap Sante, a marine repair facility started by her late husband in 1980, since his death in 1992.

Her honors and awards are numerous. They included: the 1999 Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year, Professional and Businesswoman of the Year, the S.W.A.N. Woman of the Year, Minority and Women’s Small Business Conference Manufacturer of the Year, and the 1996 Nellie Cashman Woman Business Owner of the Year for which she also was a finalist this year.

Dickson was a founder of the Anacortes’ annual Christmas boat parade and was active supportng the local Anacortes Community Theatre, the Skagit Symphony and other groups committed to community development, and was twice president of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce.

She also was the subject of a cover story in The Skagit County Business Monthly Magazine for May 2000.

She is survived by her children: Pattie Anderson, Patrick Dickson, Shawn Dickson, Carie McFarlin, Dianna Chonka and their spouses and five grandchildren.

 

Stan Nelson, Chevy Dealer, Passes

Stanley Nelson Jr., who borrowed $2,000 to start a Chevrolet dealership in Sedro-Woolley in 1938 and built on that to become one of the Puget Sound area’s most successful car salesmen, passed away Aug. 24. He was 86.

Nelson bought what is now Countryside Chevrolet but paid back half of the loan a few weeks later to establish a good credit rating. It worked, and at 23, he became one of the youngest Chevy dealers in America.

His father, Stan Sr., owned Nelson Chevrolet in Ballard. Today, a third generation of Nelsons own auto dealerships in the area, including Pam Nelson, Stan Jr.’s daughter, who owns Foothills Pontiac Buick Toyota in Burlington.

Nelson, grandson of Swedish immigrants, also was a great civic leader and had much influence in both of his “home” communities of Sedro-Woolley and Ballard and participated in many service clubs and events over the years, including Sedro-Woolley Lions Club, Mount Vernon Elks Club, Sedro-Woolley Volunteer Fire Department and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Posse. He also served in 1994 as King Neptune Rex XLIV in the Seafair Celebration in Seattle.

 

Leitner, Business Owner, Dies

George J. Leitner, long-time resident of Mount Vernon and founder of LAE (Leitner Electric) of Mount Vernon in 1944, died Aug. 28. He was 93.

He owned and operated LAE for 35 years before retirement. During that time, he was on the Automotive Advisory Committee at Skagit Valley College and served as member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriner’s, Mount Vernon Elks Club, Moose lodges and Foresters.

 

Hansen, Ag-business Owner, Mourned

David L. Hansen, longtime owner of Hansen & Peterson feed store and other agricultural businesses, lost his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) disease Sept. 17. He was 63.

Hansen grew up in the business founded by his father and uncle and acquired a reputation for being fair and competitive with customers and dealers. He managed the family business on Highway 20 and later opened a small farm-and-garden store on Oak Street in Burlington, which he later sold.

Hansen has been active in his community, local business organizations and church and served on the board for the Burlington-Edison School District. He was past chair of the American Feed Industry Association, past chair and president of the Pacific Northwest Grain & Feed; Washington Feed Industry Man of the Year in 1979; a United General Hospital commissioner; former president of the Rotary Club of Burlington; and member of the Skagit Golf and Country Club.

 

Three Added to Anacortes’ First American Staff

Jeri Liggitt, Vicki Hoffman and Kelly Miller have joined the staff of First American Title Co.’s Anacortes office.

Liggitt, First America’s marketing representative for the Anacortes area, has been with the company for the past year but previously served for 30 years in the lending industry and 5 1/2 years with Century 21 in Anacortes.

Miller has worked in the Burlington office as an escrow assistant and brings 14 months’ experience and knowledge with her to Anacortes.

Hoffman worked previously with Philip W. Madden, DDS of Anacortes for four years and served 20 years before that as a legal secretary.

The First American Anacortes office is now located at 3202 Commercial Ave. and is managed by Nancy Albanese.