Festival of Trees Raises Record $190,000

One of the best-attended events of the holiday season, Festival of Trees, raised a record $190,000 this year to benefit cancer-care services at Skagit Valley Hospital.

The 13th-annual festival, held at St. Joseph Center in Mount Vernon the weekend of Nov. 24-25, saw about 5,000 people young and old enjoy the 33 elaborately decorated Christmas trees, all of which were sponsored and decorated by community and business leaders and then auctioned off as part of the fundraiser. The gala opening night Friday was attended by 700 persons, organizers say.

Responding to the fundraiser’s new record by $15,000 over last year, Linda Frizzell, the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation executive director, applauds the community for coming forward with their support.

“We are pleased and gratified by this incredibly generous response from the community and area businesses to our Festival of Trees,” Frizzell says. “We are (also) truly thankful to the many volunteers who devoted their time and talent to make this festival a wonderful success.”

Several of the trees were given awards for their imaginative decorations and themes. Winners this year were:

• Best of Show and Designer’s Choice: “For the Love of Life,” designed by Danice Reichlin, Carol Snyder, Michele and Kelli Perry, Shelly Whan, Kim Rawlins, Deana Bingham and Heather Schols and sponsored by Pat Rimmer’s Les Schwab Tire Centers in Burlington, Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood.

• Most Traditional: “Waiting for Santa,” designed by Elsa Atterberry and Joan Davis and sponsored by Skagit Ford Subaru, Skagit Auto Center and Skagit I-5 Auto Outlet.

• Most Unique: “Yee Ha Santa Claus,” designed by Marilyn Houser, Virginia Learned and Valerie Tibbetts and sponsored by Virginia and Clay Learned.

• President’s Choice: “Christmas in the Greek Isles,” designed by Judi and John Tesarik, Kelly Youngquist, Michele Tremblay and Vicki Blade and sponsored by Blade Chevrolet and RV.

• Public’s Choice: “A Royal Christmas,” designed by Summersun Greenhouse and Nursery — Cheryl Loeb, Linda Bustad, Vi Knutzen, Marguerite Stroosma-Jacobs, Jadzia Walczek and Elyse Robbins — and sponsored by the physicians at the North Puget Oncology Cancer Care Center.

• Children’s Choice: “A Magical Season,” designed by Sherrie and Joan Marble to commemorate the Mariners’ baseball season, and sponsored by Crown Distributing and Group Health Cooperative.

The event also included a large variety of wreaths, which were also auctioned, and raffled trees. Among the high-end bid items were a fishing trip to Sitka, Alaska, which sold for $9,000, and “A Hawaiian Christmas Extravaganza” tree including a trip to Hawaii and an Eddyline kayak, which sold for $8,000. The tree, designed by Pam and Sue Saunders, was sponsored by Fred Meyer, while the vacation was compliments of Hawaiian Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Eddyline Watersports, Ken’s Cameras and photographer Lynn Bowen.

The money raised this year was earmarked for cancer care. Nancy Hoyt, RN and director of Affiliated Health Services’ cancer-care and hospice services, says: “We have outgrown our current clinical setting. This generous support . . . will help us improve our patients’ clinical setting and experiences.”

The foundation, which hosts the festival each year, is a private, nonprofit corporation that acts as the official gift-receiving agency for Skagit Valley Hospital.

 

KBRC Radio Celebrates 55 Years

Books on the subject will tell you that Leo Beckley was one of the greatest pioneers of radio in Western Washington. He and his wife, Louise, started KBRC (Beckley Radio Co.) on Dec. 11, 1946, with 500 watts of power.

Today, KBRC broadcasts with 5,000 watts at 1430 AM and is on 24 hours of day, playing “Good Time Rock ‘n’ Roll music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, as well as Husky, Seahawks and Mariners games.

“Colonel” Beckley, who came to radio without experience after World War II, sold KBRC to George Dewey and Ed Watson in 1976. They, in turn, sold to Pioneer Broadcasting in the mid-’80s, and in 1996, Valley Broadcasters, owners of KAPS Radio in Mount Vernon, bought it from them.

The station was located in West Mount Vernon until 1990 when the great flood forced them to move the studios to 2222 Riverside Drive. When Valley took over, it was prudent to move the studio again, this time to the KAPS building along Freeway Drive.

One thing has stayed the same through all of those years: broadcast of local high school football and basketball games. The popularity of these broadcasts has endeared many to KBRC.

Today, the station broadcasts ABC national news on the hour. Guy Ovenell, who’s been with the company 13 years, is the morning personality and program director. General manager is Jim Keane.

 

Most of Tillinghast Businesses up for Sale

Arberta Lammers, owner of one of the oldest Skagit businesses, Tillinghast Seed Co., has put her landmark La Conner property up for sale and is scaling back to just her floral shop for the time being, she says.

Lammers bought the 116-year-old company at 623 E. Morris St. in 1980 when it already was nearly a century old. She expanded the seed operation to include a kitchenware department, nursery, garden center, horticulture-information corner, book stall and a year-round Christmas shop upstairs, as well as the fully equipped retail florist. Each business will be sold off separately, except the latter, she adds.

“I’ve had several offers over the years,” she says, “but none worked out.”

Tillinghast was founded in the mid-1880s by Gus and Emma Tillinghast at Padilla Station, near the start of the La Conner-Whitney Road and Highway 20. Later, it was moved to La Conner.

The old structure, about 6,000 square feet, includes much of the original flooring, which rises and lowers to meet the needs of former wagon loading docks and warehousing space.

Lammers, who owned a floral shop in Eugene, Ore., and earlier was a registered nurse before coming to La Conner, she discovered the town while working in Seattle in the ’70s.

When she took over the seed store, she says, much work was to be done. “There was no water, no heat,” she adds.

Over the years, she expanded the business greatly, taking over former outbuildings to combine with the main structure, and has garnered a number of local business awards along the way.

Her immediate plans are uncertain, she says, although she has writing a cookbook in mind. She’s also always open to new ventures and will continue on with the florist business. She has long been a strong advocate and tireless supporter and volunteer in La Conner’s business community.

 

La Conner Has New Hardware Store

Henry Nyland and Larry Labo recently opened La Conner Hardware at 520 E. Morris St., that town’s first such store since Nelson Hardware closed down several years ago to make way for the La Conner Retirement Inn on North First Street.

Nyland, who has a quarter-century of experience including management experience at the old Copeland Lumber Co. in Burlington and Frontier Industries, and Labo, with about 15 years’ experience, have been friends and colleagues for many years. Their new venture will be a family concern, with their wives, Shirley Nyland and Marcie Labo, helping out.

The store offers basic hardware services, but with the old-fashioned, small-town touch. While it isn’t able to stock vast quantities of lumber and hardware needs, it promises to stay competitive with the larger stores, such as Lowe’s, Home Depot and the like, the two say.

 

Sure and Begorra, an Irish Pub in Anacortes

Kyle Marth has opened Murphy’s Irish Pub at 804 Commercial Ave., Anacortes.

The old-style Irish watering hole offers lunch and dinner specialties in a comfortable dining area. The bar, also offering spirits, is enclosed by a swing gate and wooden rails.

The business is in the old Michael’s Restaurant on the site of the old New Wilson Hotel and diagonally across the avenue from the chamber building

 

Excel Marketing Joins with CyberIsland

Excel Marketing Group of Anacortes has joined forces with CyberIsland Studios to provide a larger variety of marketing and media services to the local market, according to Excel’s Lon Rydberg.

A 16-year-old company, Excel specializes in developing custom action plans for small- and medium-size businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest.

CyberIsland Studios, also in Anacortes, is owned by Steve Lomas, a 20-year media veteran who’s produced more than 300 hours of broadcast television, dozens of marketing videos and a number of television commercials and music videos. The digital studio is equipped to provide quality, innovation and software solutions for such corporations as Panasonic, Xerox, DreamWorks, Addison Wesley and Electronic Arts.

“This collaboration of our two firms really brings together outstanding talent to help companies focus their marketing dollars and energies,” says Rydberg.

For more information, contact Rydberg at 293-7655 or e-mail him at lon@excelmarketinggroup.com.

 

Small Planet Foods Part of Even Larger Company

Small Planet Foods Inc., the processing and sales company for organic grower Cascadian Farm of Sedro-Woolley, is part of an even larger corporation now, with the recent purchase, by its owner General Mills, of the Pillsbury operations of Diageo PLC of Britain.

The acquisition makes Minneapolis-based General Foods the third-largest food processor in the United States, with potential sales of more than $13 billion a year.

According to Small Planet’s founder and president Gene Kahn, the expansion will only make his subsidiary stronger and able to meet consumer demands.

Small Planet produces jams and jellies, prepared meals, frozen fruits and vegetables, juices and tomato-based products under the Muir Glen label.

 

Sound Beverage Moves to Everett, Buys out Clark

Sound Beverage Distributors of Burlington has acquired Clark Distributing of Everett and will move to Snohomish County, according to owner Ellis Tofte.

It’s the third major acquisition of beverage distributors between the two counties in less than two years. In March 2000, Friendly Distributing of Everett purchased Mount Vernon’s Alpine Distributing Inc. and, in May of that year, Crown Distributing, also in Everett, took over Skagit Northwest Distributing of Burlington.

Clark, at 2206 - 36th St., Everett, has been owned by the Pitcher family since 1936, Tofte says.

“Clyde Pitcher wanted to retire and allowed me the opportunity to acquire Clark Distributing, which turned out to be successful. The reality is consolidation in this industry, as it is with everybody, and so for me it was an opportunity to retain most, if not all, of my personnel and most, if not all, of his personnel, because we sell the same brands.” Tofte explains.

He says Clark officially became Sound Beverage Jan. 1. Headquarters has been moved to Everett, but a small sales staff remains in Skagit County. The company distributes Miller, Heineken, Gallo and smaller, miscellaneous brands of beers, ales and wines.

Sound Beverage, located on Bayview-Edison Road next to Highway 20 and across from The Farmhouse Inn Restaurant, was previously owned by Mac Huseby and the late Danny Gilbert, who sold it to Tofte in 1978. Tofte says his old warehouse is up for sale.

Huseby recalls he went to work for the previous owner, Dale Shintaffer, as a driver in 1956. Shintaffer also started Sound Beverage Distributors of Bellingham in 1950 and was a partner for a time in Skagit County with Gilbert and Bob Stein, who sold out in 1960, according to Huseby.

 

Anacortes Council Gives Conditional OK on Resort

The Anacortes City Council has approved a conditional-use permit for the construction of a 159-unit hotel-condominium development at Skyline.

The permit allows West Coast Land Investments to build the $10 million project — Fidalgo Resort — but on approval of final designs still to be submitted by the firm.

Residents protested the expected increased traffic flow and the fact some views of Burrows Bay would be blocked by the structures. The developers were expected to come in with a scaled-down version of the plan before final approval.

 

Whidbey Bank Project Close to Completion

Whidbey Island Bank has expended its Burlington branch to include more office space, according to manager Dick Blomberg.

“We’ve added six new office spaces. We’ve also set up the rest of the office a little differently,” Blomberg says. The project cost about $400,000, he adds.

About half of the new spaces has been appropriated, including one for commercial-loan officer Shirley Osborn and her assistant, who have come over from the Sedro-Woolley branch.

Whidbey Island Bank, which built its first branch in Burlington six years ago and now has 13 branches throughout the northwest corner, has assets of about $430 million, Blomberg says, making it “bigger than Skagit State Bank now.”Whidbey is based in Oak Harbor.

 

Car Dealership to Be Built near Dike

The Burlington City Council has approved a conditional-use permit for construction of a 30,000-square-foot automobile dealership owned by Ron and Darla Rennebohm at 2100 Bouslog Road.

The sales and service facility and lot will be built on the 5.45-acre site across from the dike on West Whitmarsh Road. The Dike District has maintained businesses cannot build within about 600 feet of the dike, which would include part of the property.

The Rennebohms will have to agree to several compliance orders in order to build, according to planner Margaret Fleek.

The conditions include: surface-water management compliance, utility and access improvements, understanding that future flood-control requirements could cause the property to be condemned, compliance with critical-areas flood standards, construction of the building at least 600 feet from landward toe of the dike, prohibition of fill except under the building itself, and submission of fully dimensioned site plan with elevation drawings and landscaping/maintenance information, among others.

Rennebohm, owner of Frontier Ford in Anacortes, has said he would like to have the dealership up and ready to go by next spring.

Asked if this would affect a nearby mall project planned by property owner John Bouslog, Fleek says, “It probably will affect the Bouslog project a lot. The Dike District is negotiating with all of the property owners along the dike.”

 

Hospital Helipad Repairs Completed

Skagit Valley Hospital’s helipad recently underwent repairs. During construction, the helicopters used to ferry patients for treatment used the City of Mount Vernon soccer field on 15th Street.

General contractor Angell and Company of Lake Stevens was hired to replace the landing surface of the hospital rooftop helipad with a new, lightweight concrete. The project was to be completed around Christmas.

Up until late November, a total of 107 medical helicopter flights had flown to Skagit Valley Hospital, most often transferring patients to Harborview or Children’s Hospital in Seattle.

 

Oncology Center Earns National Accreditation

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons recently granted a three-year renewal of accreditation to North Puget Oncology Cancer Care Centers, operated by Affiliated Health Services.

North Puget has been accredited by the prestigious national organization since 1975 as recognition of its comprehensive, quality cancer-care program.

“It’s like the national seal of approval and it lets the community know that we are recognized as a premier cancer program,” says program director Nancy Hoyt, RN.

North Puget is located at the United General Hospital campus near Sedro-Woolley and serves patients throughout the three Skagit County hospital districts. Its staff includes five medical and radiation oncologists, a nurse practitioner, trained chemotherapy nurses and others.

 

Budgets Generally Lower Than Those Last Year

Local governments have released their budgets for 2002. They include:

• Anacortes — The City Council approved a $34.6 million budget for 2002 last November.

• The Port of Anacortes — Anacortes Port commissioners approved an $8 million budget for 2002 last November. Within the budget was a provision for an across-the-board pay increase of 5.7 percent for employees, twice the rate of inflation.

• Burlington — The City Council approved Burlington’s $24.9 million budget for 2002 in October. It was slightly lower than the previous year.

• La Conner — The town has approved a budget of $2.7 million, about the same as last year. The sticking point will be on how to pay for a new Morris Street fire hall, which earlier had put its hopes in a bond that voters last November failed to pass by just two votes. The town was going to pony up half, or $415,000, for the station, while Fire District 13 pays the remainder, but late word had it that voters will get another chance to pass the bond Feb. 5. If it fails, the town may have to find a way to borrow the money.

• Mount Vernon — The City Council approved a $35.4 million budget for 2002 by a 4-2 vote last November. The budget includes an increase for emergency services and public safety. The new budget was $145,000 less than that for last year.

• Sedro-Woolley — The City Council approved a $15.9 million budget by a 5-1 vote in late November.

• Skagit County — Commissioners were looking at a $39.4 million budget, down $200,000 from 2001, but approval of new labor contracts and health-insurance premiums could push spending above that. The finance director says that could come from the roughly $5.7 million reserve. Substantial, across-the-board raises for commissioners and department officials were announced last month.

• Skagit Transit (SKAT) — The public-transportation entity set its 2002 budget at $5.1 million, 10 percent above last year’s, but about $1 million of that will come from savings, reducing the surplus to $4 million.

 

South MV Annexation Still in Dispute

Property owners in the 410-acre annexation of south Mount Vernon agreed to disagree with the city at the end of November on being within its limits.

At a meeting in which city officials spelled out the importance of the annexation, members of the Cedardale Property Owners Association, which is fighting annexation, say they will not agree to being part of the city until a number of demands are agreed to by the City Council.

The demands include creation of a special-use district, a break for property owners on monthly storm-water drainage fees, and fee hookup to the new sewer line.

Some property owners have argued that they have paid already for retention ponds and other improvements to remain in the county and don’t want to have to pay again. Owners also claim the city has not shown willingness to support business in the area.

 

Bond Vote Coming on Sedro-Woolley City Hall

Voters in Sedro-Woolley will be asked to approve a bond to relocate city hall, possibly in the old U.S. Forest Service building next to Crossroads Square northwest of downtown.

City planner Jeroldine Hallberg confirms a committee has been named to work with the city attorney and the building’s Oregon-based owners who assessed the property at “around $2 million.” Hallberg says citizens would be asked to vote on the bond issue to pay for it and expected renovation costs. The date of the election has not been set.

“It’s an opportunity. We didn’t have an active city-hall search on, but it also would provide space for the city shop as well,” Hallberg says. “The site has high-bay shop space for our garbage trucks.”

An independent appraisal was ordered for $3,600 and Mount Vernon architect Peter Carletti has drawn up a cost comparison if a new structure were to be built instead.

The Sedro-Woolley Municipal Building has long been a concern of city workers and community leaders over structural issues and safety in an earthquake. The building, at Murdock and Woodworth streets, was constructed in 1930, in part with $20,000 raised by the Women’s Garden Club.

 

Unemployment Rate Continues to Rise

The state’s unemployment rate continues to climb from 30-year lows just a few months ago and recently reached the highest level in the country.

Skagit County fell into step with the rest of the state, with a jump of several tenths of a percentage point recorded each month since last summer when it was around 6 percent.

November reports showed the state’s unemployment rate nudging 7 percent, up from 6.1 percent in September before the fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks could be properly documented. Since then, the state has projected a $1.3 billion shortfall in the economy, with unemployment a natural result of that.

 

SVC Partners with Alldata on Auto Tech

Skagit Valley College’s automotive program was recently selected to receive assistance from a company that provides diagnostic and repair information for training.

The Automotive Technology Department is one of only two in the state to be selected for the Alldata Corporation Future Technician Partnership program. Alldata produces diagnostic machines with computer information systems for almost every make of car. The information not only pinpoints the problems but also tells the mechanic how to fix it.

To qualify, the college had to be certified by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation in five areas; SVC qualifies in eight areas.

 

NW Computer Supplies Awarded Contract

Northwest Computer Supplies has been awarded a contract to provide the Northwest Air Pollution Authority (NAWAPA) in Mount Vernon with 13 computers as part of an ongoing technology upgrade at the agency.

NAWAPA is responsible for enforcing air-quality laws in Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties and regulates more than 400 sources of air pollution. It is funded primarily through operation permit and registration fees collected from industrial sources, as well as state and federal grants.

Northwest Computer Supplies is the state’s largest independently owned distributor/manufacturer of computer systems, parts, supplies and accessories. It’s located in Bellingham.

 

Lowe’s Donates Material to Upgrade Playground

Children using the playground at Bakerview Park will have a softer time of it now, thanks to Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse.

The national chain contributed about 150 cubic yards of wood chips — enough to stuff an 18-wheel semi-truck. The material filled the playground area up to about a foot deep and provided a cushion that could prevent injuries to children falling from apparatus.

Lowe’s also donated material for the playground at Edgewater Park in West Mount Vernon.

On hand for the Bakerview delivery were volunteers from Lowe’s, as well as Larry Otos, Mount Vernon’s director of parks and recreation.

 

Pacific Mariner Yacht Sets Record Crossing Country

Pacific Mariner of La Conner recently transported a 65-foot yacht across the United States to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in a little more than three weeks.

“Normally, we ship the 65 to the East Coast by ocean yacht transport,” says Jack Edson, company president, “but in this case, there simply wasn’t time.”

The Pacific Mariner 65 Special Edition yacht was scheduled to appear at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, held in October.

The boat was powered over five days to Clarkston, Wash., via the Washington coast and Columbia and Snake rivers, and there placed aboard a specially equipped transport truck, driven by Don Phillips, for the overland journey that included plenty of backroads and secondary highways without low-clearance overpasses and bridges. He arrived safely at Rockport, Texas, where the boat was launched into a stormy Gulf of Mexico for the last leg around Florida, arriving unblemished at Fort Lauderdale.

”Fortunately, we experienced a minimum of problems and, despite the long odds, were able to present the 65 at this very important boat show,” Edson states.

The entire transit was handled by Transcontinental Rigging and Loading of Streamwood, Ill.

 

Real Estate Topic for Two SVC Biz Classes

Two classes aimed at resources for the public and real estate industry are being offered by Skagit Valley College’s Business Management Department.

• “Real Estate Investment” is the title of a course on Saturday mornings, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 12, 19, 26 and Feb. 2. Learn the selection and property analysis methods, exchange without taxes and property cash flow, with tax deductions, in the course covering residential, commercial, office and business properties. Ben Griffin is the instructor for the class that provides three college credits and 30 clock hours toward license renewal.

• “Real Estate Finance” meets Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., starting Jan. 10 through Feb. 21. Learn the use of credit scoring and conventional, FHA, VA, Freddy Mac and Fanny May requirements. Robby Robertson is the instructor and the class that earns two college credits and 20 clock hours toward license renewal.

To register, contact the college for instructions, 416-7600.

 

College Offers Winter Computer Workshops

Skagit Valley College is offering a variety of computer workshops this winter.

The first is “Getting Started with the Internet and a PC,” Saturday, Jan. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For beginners, introductory classes are available as follows:

“QuickBooks,” Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 15 and 17, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Microsoft Publisher,” Saturday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Microsoft Excel,” Saturday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Microsoft Access,” Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 22 and 24, 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Windows,” Saturday, Jan. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, March 12 and 14, 6-9 p.m.

“Microsoft PowerPoint,” Saturday, Feb. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Microsoft Word,” Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Power of the Internet,” Monday and Wednesday, March 4 and 6, 6-9 p.m.

For the more experienced, intermediate classes are:

“Microsoft Word,” Tuesday and Thursday, March 5 and 7, 6-9 p.m.

“Microsoft Access,” Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Microsoft Excel,” Monday and Wednesday, March 18 and 20, 6-9 p.m.

“QuickBooks 2-The Basic Plus,” Tuesday and Thursday, March 19 and 21, 6-9 p.m.

The WorkSafe Institute also is offering classes as follows:

“WISHA’s Hazard Communication Standard/Right to Know,” Monday, Jan. 14, 6-10 p.m.; fee $80.

“Personal Protective Equipment,” Tuesday, Jan. 15, 6-10 p.m.; fee $80.

“Violence in the Workplace,” Tuesday, Jan. 22, 6-10 p.m.; fee $80.

“Ergonomics in the Workplace,” Thursday and Friday, Jan. 30-31, 6-10 p.m.; fee $144.

“Safety Issues for Small Business,” Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 4-5, 6-10 p.m.; fee $144.

“Accident Prevention Planning,” Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6-10 p.m.; fee $80.

“Accident Investigation,” Thursday, Feb. 28, 6-10 p.m.; fee $80.

“DOT Hazardous Materials Training,” Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; fee $144.

“40-hour HAZHOPER Chemical Spill Response,” Monday through Friday, March 25-29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; fee $495.

 

Biz Resource Ctr, EDASC Hold Open House

Several organizations that assist small-business owners in the area in a variety of ways held an open house recently at the Business Resource Center in downtown Mount Vernon.

Besides the BRC, which is operated by Skagit Valley College, the center is home to the Economic Development Association in Skagit County (EDASC), Service Corps of Retired Executives (S.C.O.R.E.), Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG) and WorkSafe Institute of Washington, which is funded by Equilon, owner of Puget Sound Refining Co.

EDASC’s Small Business Development Center, headed by Ryan Patrick, also greeted guests during the two-hour open house in late November.

Patrick, who is director of the Business Retention and Expansion Program for EDASC, says, “We had a good turnout. We’d like to thank everyone for coming.”

Business people and potential business operators were given tours of the facility at 204 W. Montgomery St. and offered fliers and pamphlets from the various partners. Many of the staff members, including BRC head Marijo Olson, who is also vice president at the college, were also on hand to answer questions.

 

B’ham Biz Forum Hears from REI CEO

About 300 business and education leaders from Whatcom and Skagit counties recently attended Western Washington University’s Bellingham Business Forum, presented by The Western Foundation.

Dennis Madsen, chief executive officer of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), spoke to the luncheon group at Bellingham’s Lakeway Conference Center on the importance of community and business connections and the main elements that drive companies such as REI.

Authenticity, quality, service, respect, honesty and balance, he said, “are what drive our business . . . and I know that’s what drives success in the community.

“Retailing isn’t about the product and it isn’t about the store; it’s about the people in the store,” he said, adding that if you hire good people, you will succeed.

The outdoor-equipment dealer opened a new store at Sehome Village in 1999 because of the large number of customers in the northwest corner of the state, he says.

Skagit County was well represented at the forum, with one whole table reserved for Skagit State Bank employees and others seating elected officials and business men and women from the valley.

 

Concrete Chamber Seeks Upper Skagit Scenes

The Concrete Chamber of Commerce is planning a second Scenic Photo Contest in conjunction with the 2002 Bald Eagle Festival next month and is seeking “breathtaking scenes of the Upper Skagit Valley” taken by photographers of all ages and abilities.

Deadline for entry is Jan. 18. The festival is Feb. 2-3.

Entries will be on display at Concrete High School during the festival and become the property of the chamber for use in a variety of promotional publications during the year, with photo credit given to all contestants.

Send or hand deliver entries, unmounted 4x6 or 3x5 prints, with name, address and phone number clearly printed on the back, to Annie’s Pizza Station, 44568 State Route 20, Concrete, WA 98237. Photographs will be entered in Youth, Amateur or Professional categories.

 

Waterfront Festival Looking for Sponsors

It’s that time again. The Anacortes Waterfront Festival is looking for sponsors.

The 12th-annual edition of the popular festival will be held this year May 18-19 throughout the city. A variety of day and evening events are planned, including a boat show, booths, arts and crafts, food court, entertainment, children’s activities, classic-car show and a number of marine-related stuff.

Sponsorships come in a range of packages, depending on amount given, and include billing and advertising and mementos. The whole shebang comes with a $5,000 donation, or you can downsize as Admiralty ($2,500), Vice Admiralty ($1,000), Commodore ($500), Captain ($300) or Skipper ($100).

Contact the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce for an entry form and information. Call 293-7911.

 

Local Edward Jones Office Hosting Broadcast

Timothy U. Price of financial-services firm Edward Jones is hosting “What’s Next for America?” — a provocative satellite broadcast featuring Newsweek columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author George F. Will.

The event, Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Edward Jones office at 1616 N. 18th St., Suite 140, Mount Vernon, will have showings at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Will and several analysts will provide perspectives on the state of the nation, economy and financial markets in 2002.

“We expect this sign-of-the-times round table to discuss such thought-provoking issues from what the lasting effects of terrorism will have on the U.S. to the Edward Jones perspective on attractive stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles,” Price says.

For more information and reservations, call 424-0366. Seating is limited.

 

Christianson’s Featured at NW Garden Show

Christianson’s Nursery of Mount Vernon will be represented at the 14th-annual Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle Feb. 6-10 with a special show-garden display.

Christianson’s, owned by John and Toni Christianson, has had displays at many of the NWFGS events, but not often as one of the highlight show gardens.

The nursery plans “Mole’s End Revisited,” a reflection of a small allotment garden outside London. Allotment gardens over history have included small greenhouses, potting sheds, arbors and fences, usually made from found materials, and are constructed on tiny parcels of land. They develop quickly into quaint, romantic gardens that demonstrate the resourcefulness, playfulness and humor of those who tend them.

Last year, Skagit County was well-represented at the NWFGS, held at the Convention Center downtown, by a total of seven local ag-based companies, including Christianson’s, and an antique store. One show garden, a forest scene by Skagit Landscaping of Big Lake, won a major award. Skagit Landscaping is not scheduled this year, however, according to the guide.

For more information on the NWFGS, look up www.gardenshow.com on the Internet.