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Atwood Wears New Hats in County Job County administrator Roy Atwood has taken on added responsibilities as human-resource director and legislative liaison, but will continue in the administrator post until a replacement is found, according to Don Munks, chair of the Board of Commissioners. Former district director for Second District Rep. Jack Metcalf who retired from public service last year, Atwood replaced Mike Woodmansee in the county administrative post Jan. 8, 2001. “I’ve enjoyed my experience as administrator, but I look forward to focusing my attention on personnel and legislative issues,” Atwood declares. Atwood, who takes over the personnel position held until last November by Stephanie Wood, will oversee the Human Resource Department and serve as legislative liaison for the county on the state and federal levels. “We appreciate Roy agreeing to continue as administrator until we can fill the position,” Munks states. “Having a known entity like Atwood take over in personnel and continue to provide his legislative expertise is invaluable to the county.” Atwood, who has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washington State University and a master’s in public administration from Seattle University, also has served as legislative assistant for former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash.
Cantwell Holds Second Business Round Table U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell has made her second swing through Skagit County in recent months to talk to business owners about problems and employment needs, as part of a statewide “Workforce Week” tour. Cantwell, here to discuss jobs and training, singled out the owners of four county industrial giants: Janicki Industries of Sedro-Woolley, where the meeting was held, Team Corp. of Bayview Business Park, and two Anacortes firms, T Bailey and Northern Marine, this month’s cover subject (see page 20). She also talked with more than a dozen other business leaders and held the round table with representatives of Skagit Valley College, WorkSource Northwest, Cascades Job Corps, Mount Vernon Job Service Center and the Economic Development Association of Skagit County (EDASC). “We really appreciate her coming here to listen to issues about job training,” EDASC executive director Don Wick says. “We’re honored to be able to do the round table.” The U.S. Senator for Washington held a similar round table in Mount Vernon last fall, at that time emphasizing the growing high-tech industry here. That meeting was at WebEKG in the new eTech Center on Continental Place.
Alf Christianson Seed Company Sold Alf Christianson Seed Co. of Mount Vernon, a mainstay business in Skagit’s agricultural industry since 1926, recently was purchased by its partner of 20 years, Sakata Seed Corp. of Yokohama, Japan. Sakata, which operates here as Sakata Seed America, based in Morgan Hill, Calif., will oversee Christianson’s two operations. One is to propagate and market seeds and the other to provide contract seed-production services to other companies. Although the purchase price was not disclosed, Alf Christianson ranked 37th on the list of top privately held companies based in the county, with gross sales last year of $10 million. It has some 50 full-time employees and up to 1,000 seasonal workers. Over the years, it’s led the world in the production of cabbage and beet seed, plus has manufactured carrot, radish, turnip and other seeds. It also has been a major, global player in hybridization of seed and seed research. At present, it has about 3,500 acres of land under cultivation here plus has a warehouse operation in Quincy, Eastern Washington. The company, established by Alf Christianson 76 years ago, has remained in the Christianson family ever since, with grandson Ken Christianson serving as president for the past 21 years. It was about the time Ken took over that Sakata became a minority stockholder in the firm.
Public-relations, Marketing Firm Gears up in Valley Valley Marketing, a marketing and public-relations firm, has opened for business in Mount Vernon. “Strategic marketing and public relations play an important
role in any business,” says Tamara Anderson, managing director of
Valley Marketing. Anderson says her company, with experience in marine, nonprofit, governmental, educational, high-tech and manufacturing industries, seeks out companies and organizations that otherwise would not be able to afford professional consulting services. “At Valley Marketing, our goal is to provide these essential services at a price small-business and nonprofit markets can afford; and we accomplish this through sliding fee scales,” Anderson notes. Initial consultation is at no cost. You can reach Valley Marketing at 428-5860 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with appointments in the evenings or on weekends.
Full-service Copy Store Minuteman Press Opens Minuteman Press recently opened at 2025-D Riverside Drive just north of Day’s Inn Hotel. A household name in franchise printing since 1975, Minuteman offers a full range of printing services, including its unique “free color days” in which customers can buy two-color prints for the same price as black and white. “Minuteman Press is not merely a ‘quick-print;’ they guarantee commercial quality printing — fast,” says a press release. “Their friendly and experienced staff work together to efficiently expedite the orders.” Manager Paul Wein Jr. will pay calls to businesses to discuss printing needs, give quotes and deliver orders free of charge. For more information, call 848-0700 or fax 848-6880.
4th Corner Network Brings Services to MV The 4th Corner Network, Inc. has opened an office in downtown Mount Vernon . The business provides support services to attorneys in the form of service of legal process, legal messenger pickup and delivery, and courthouse records retrieval. It also helps landlords screen prospective tenants by providing credit reports and other background information. The company, based in Bellingham, has been providing services for 24 years. The new office, at 605 S. Second St., is managed by Linda Duralia. Call 1-800-321-2455.
Apex Radiant Heating New MV Business Stacey Davis, formerly lead radiant-heating installer for Barron Heating, has opened his own company, Apex Radiant Heating, in Mount Vernon. Davis has 14 years of experience in the heating industry, with seven years in boiler and radiant floor heating. Priding himself on his “meticulous workmanship,” he says he has installed “hundreds of systems, from the small addition to the 60,000-square-foot commercial building.” Call 336-1924 for an appointment or more information.
La Conner Tea Room Opens in Time for Fest Verna and Dave Wilcox have opened La Conner Tea Garden and Gift Shoppe in La Conner. The tea room offers breakfast, lunch and an afternoon tea in the pleasing setting at 508 E. Morris St. “We serve 60 varieties of tea,” Dave Wilcox says, adding they even have a “children’s tea” and other “theme” teas. The garden is beautifully landscaped, with gazebo and waterscape. Indoors is cozy and warm, while the gift shop is in a nearby, separate building. Hours are 9-11 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch, and 4-5 p.m. for high tea. The stores are open Tuesday through Sunday, with a schedule change expected as the tourist season develops. Verna is a former school teacher and author of three mystery books. Dave is a retired Microsoft employee and civil engineer, who also has a consulting firm. Call them at 466-0240 or consult the Web site: LCTeaGarden.com.
Spanish-language Ad Agency Started Ben Ocean of Sedro-Woolley recently started La Agencia, which he says is the first Spanish-language advertising agency in the county. According to Ocean, more than 25 percent of the residents of Mount Vernon and Burlington are Hispanic and many are only learning to speak English. “We haven’t seen a marketing opportunity like this in 40 years,” Ocean says. “There are 68 TV channels, 47 radio signals, 17 print publications and who knows how many direct-mail pieces that reach the English-speaking people of our county. “There are only three media that reach the Spanish-speaking population,” he continues. “Saturation could not be easier, and you don’t have to worry about cutting through the advertising clutter, because there is none.” Ocean has 20 years of experience in television, radio and public relations and spent several years in Puerto Rico and Paraguay, becoming fluent in Spanish. For more information, call 855-0899 or e-mail beno@laagencia.net.
Marblemount Mercantile Changes Ownership The Marblemount Mercantile has been sold to Sandy Sofer, who plans to change the name to Sandy’s Country Store. The Marblemount landmark, along Highway 20 as it turns toward Newhalem just before the Cascade River Road bridge, has been owned by Gary Stewart and his family for 27 years. In an interview last spring, Stewart said he moved to Marblemount to escape the noise and traffic of San Diego. Once settled, He and his wife, Sallie, raised 10 children and ran the mercantile, popular with locals, campers, hikers and people just passing through when the North Cascades Highway is open. He said he lost $10,000 per month when the highway was closed but made up for it during the summer when the store could gross $15,000 a week. He, Sallie and some of their children, meanwhile, bought the Good Food restaurant near the start of Marblemount, principally, he said, to keep his kids busy. Sofer was not immediately available to comment.
Tomco Discloses Expansion at Port’s La Conner Facility Tomco Marine Group, Inc. has announced plans to expand its facility at the Port of Skagit County’s La Conner Marina by 150 percent to accommodate construction of new models of it’s American Tug pleasure craft. Port commissioners announced the plans and a new 10-year lease, with options for up to 30 years, for the two-year-old company during a recent meeting. American Tugs are fiberglass coastal-cruising boats, producing a 34-foot model at the La Conner facility. The company started with eight employees and has quickly expanded to 40, according to company president Tom Nelson, one of three principals who also include Kurt Dilworth and Mike Schoppert. “This expansion is necessary for us to build more boats within the family of American Tugs,” Nelson states. “We’ll be adding more product lines to the mid-40-foot range and, hopefully, adding several new models.” When the latest expansion is completed in August, Nelson expects employment to rise to nearly 60 people. Tomco now occupies 12,000 square feet and will add 18,000 square feet of manufacturing space to the current building, at 800 S. Pearle Jensen Way, formerly leased by Pacific Mariner, another active boat builder in La Conner.
Mortgage Firm Holds Burlington Open House A+ Mortgage, a brokerage firm providing a wide variety of loan, insurance and financial-planning services, recently held an open house to show off its new offices at 120 E. George Hopper Road. Owners Corey Zembruski and Robin Price recently moved the company into the 2,700-square-foot office space formerly occupied by Merrill Lynch in the George Hopper building. They also added a 400-square-foot seminar room to the facility. “Our unique combination of products allows branch specialists to provide a one-stop environment to help commercial and residential clients with their goals,” says Zembruski. “We design loan packages and financial programs that create wealth for middle-income families.” The company has 30 agents. Zembruski and Price hope to expand their staff and business along the I-5 corridor from Olympia to Bellingham. Call 757-4224 for more information.
Renovated Bank Building Accepting Tenants One of Sedro-Woolley’s most historic buildings, the old Bingham Bank at the corner of Woodworth and Metcalf streets, recently underwent a major renovation by owner/contractor Steve Brisbane of Lynden. The building — site of the city’s best-known violent crime, a bank robbery and murder in 1933 — has been lovingly modified to accommodate both retail businesses downstairs and professional offices upstairs, according to Brisbane. “It’s really a beautiful building and it’s been fun to restore,” he says. “The building is in good structural shape.” Built in 1905, the building served as the bank owned by one of the city’s founding fathers, Charles E. Bingham, and later by SeaFirst. More recently, it has held small businesses that have come and gone. One business that’s survived is Sheer Delight Salon. Brisbane says he’s looking for one more retail shops to add to the hairdresser’s and a smoke shop soon to go in on the ground floor. Upstairs, attorney David Lowell and psychologist Robert Baize occupy five of 12 spaces, with seven in any combination available. “Each space averages 250 square feet,” he says. Total space in the building is 8,500 square feet. For more information, call Brisbane at (360) 815-1000.
Skagit Pediatrics Will Soon Have New Facility A Mount Vernon medical group will soon have a new center specializing in pediatrics just off LaVenture Road south of Section Street. The clinic is the new home for Skagit Pediatrics. The former building, built in 1981 at 18th and Division streets by Drs. Frances Chalmers and Nancy Robblee, among the first women medical doctors to have practices here, will be leased or sold. Five doctors are partners in the medical group. The new clinic will include Chalmers and Robblee; their partners Drs. Mark Barr who joined them in 1987, Richard S. Levine in 1995 and Jennifer S. Taylor in 2000; two other M.D.s, Jeff Landesberg and Andrea Smith, who joined within the past two years; four nurse practitioners; and 31 other nursing and support staff, according to clinic administrator Terry Rowell. The 12,000-square-foot clinic, at 2101 Little Mountain Lane, across from Mt. Baker Middle School, should be completed by Labor Day, Rowell predicts. Fisher and Sons Inc. is the general contractor. According to documents, the structure is costing $950,652 to build. For more information, call 428-2622
Full-service Dental Clinic Opening on Section Street Three long-time area dentists were moving into new quarters at the end of April near Mt. Baker Middle School in east Mount Vernon. The building, at 2100 E. Section St., will have the practices of family dentist Howard Mizuta and oral surgeon Ronald Guttu, and pediatric dentist B.J. Larson. The 7,800-square-foot building, with 47 parking spaces, was built by Kohl Construction Inc. of Bellingham, with financing through Skagit State Bank. Owner is Tannleger LLC.
Skagit State Plans New Bank in Lynden Skagit State Bank plans to go Dutch this year with the construction of its first branch in the Lynden area of Whatcom County. Co-chief executive officer Cheryl Bishop says the 3,600-square-foot, full-service bank will be built on the Birch Bay-Lynden Road and feature a Dutch motif on the outside to comply with the town’s building codes and traditions. Construction by Fisher and Sons Inc. of Burlington is to begin in June or July and be completed by November, if possible, Bishop says. It will be the 13th office for the Burlington-based bank, which serves customers from three northwest counties.
Swinomish Tribe Wins Marina Court Battle The Swinomish Indian Tribe wants to build a marina on 240 acres of reservation tidelands just south of the Berentson Bridge across the channel. The county, fearing a loss of property and sales taxes, doesn’t want it to, but the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has opened the way for it to happen. The BIA recently gave the tribe its blessing to put 350 acres of agricultural land it owns on the west side of the Swinomish Channel into trust. The county was given a month to decide whether it would appeal the ruling to the BIA office in Washington, D.C. The Swinomish tribe has wanted to build the marina — its 1,216 slips badly needed for the growing number of pleasure craft seeking moorage in this area — for more than 30 years. The plan would also call for a hotel, conference center and retail stores. The land was once owned by the Knudson family and is zoned for agricultural use. The county says the tribe, which operates outside the jurisdiction of local government based on earlier treaties, would not have to pay property or sales taxes on the use of visitors’ facilities.
Price of Homes in Skagit Increase Slightly The average price of a home in Skagit County climbed in March to $187,792, a 6-percent increase over a year ago, but the number of sales was still somewhat lower, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS). March closed with 121 sales, compared to 145 in March 2001, but pending sales were up from 130 to 150. There were 259 listings, bringing to 867 the number of homes and condominiums on the market here. It’s also taking longer to sell a home, from an average of 80 days last year to 105 this year. The median price of a home — the midway point between the highest- and lowest-priced sale — was $156,396 in March, down from $159,500 a year ago. NWMLS, which handles transactions in 13 counties, all but one in Western Washington, says the average cost of a home throughout its service area is $239,066, up from $228,898 a year ago. These figures include homes sold in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.
Nelson Chevrolet Closes in Seattle Pam Nelson, president of Foothills Pontiac Buick Toyota of Burlington, recently announced the closure of the Nelson Chevrolet dealership in the Ballard district of Seattle, which she and her two sisters owned. Nelson Chevrolet, started by her grandfather, Stanley Nelson Sr., in 1922, and passed down through her father, Stan Nelson Jr., and brother, Stan Nelson III, was an icon in Seattle, well known to long-time residents because of its advertising. “It was a matter of the value of the property being worth more than the dealership,” Pam Nelson says of the closure, a decision made by the three sisters, Pam, Barbara Nelson who also owns Accura of Bellevue, and Fredricka. “We had it for four years. Things change. There’s been a steady decline in sales there. We talked about moving it, but there are restrictions because of other dealerships in the area.” Nelson says they are talking to developers about what to do with the four acres of valuable property, located across the bridge at 1521 N.W. 50th St. “Since the story was out, I’ll bet every developer in Seattle has called me,” she quips. Stan Nelson also had one of the first Chevrolet dealerships in Skagit County, which today is Countryside in Sedro-Woolley.
Construction, Berry Dairy Days Lead Community Reports Anacortes: • Developers interested in building a resort and marina near the Washington State Ferries terminal asked the Port of Anacortes for another chance at raising the cash to do so but weren’t able to accomplish such in the allotted time. The long-postponed Ship Harbor project was about to go under, with the port prepared to change its focus regarding the land, when the developers requested more time to raise as much as $200 million for the hotel-moorage complex. By publication time, the developers had failed to come up with the money. • The beleaguered Anacortes Airport, despite a recently declared truce between the city and the port over a requested rezone, has new troubles. The port, which runs the facility west of downtown, declined a permit to a Coupeville developer who wants to build a hangar on site. Since the FAA pays most of the cost of running the airport, but only if services are provided to users, it’s cautioned the port it may withhold some money. The developer, Jim Martyn, has filed a suit against the port in an effort to get it to change its mind. • Gov. Gary Locke has signed a bill to allow the Port of Anacortes to add two more districts to the three it already has to accommodate the five elected commissioners, two of whom previously were “at large.” The plan now goes to the voters for approval.
Burlington: • The Burlington Chamber of Commerce recently held the annual unveiling of the Berry Dairy Days Poster at Saturn of Burlington. The three-part, watercolor poster by Jennifer Wood Bowman of Anacortes depicts berry-growing and harvesting scenes from the area, including one with Tinas Coma (Burlington Hill) in the background. Some 50 people attended the unveiling. Berry Dairy Days runs July 12 through 21 this year.
Mount Vernon: • Mount Vernon’s plans to annex 410-acres of industrial land may be in jeopardy. A state Supreme Court ruling in similar cases in Eastern Washington over whether a city can annex land it wants by petition may affect Mount Vernon. Depending on interpretation of the ruling, it appears that the city may have to get the approval of people who live in the proposed annexation area, rather than a percentage of owners of businesses in the area, to make it work. Stay tuned. • The City of Mount Vernon and state have agreed in principal on a new viaduct over Interstate 5, to replace the 72-year-old, substandard span that now bridges Second and Fourth streets. The Department of Transportation has agreed to build a three-lane bridge and raise it at least the two feet needed to bring it up o federal highway standards, as long as the city handles any stormwater drainage problems and donates the landed required to construct the bridge. The viaduct also would include bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides. Construction is expected to start one year from now. Sedro-Woolley: • The County Auditor’s Office has again terminated its Licensing Subagent Agreement with the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce after a two-week reprieve, because it could not achieve a 95-percent accuracy requirement, according to Auditor Norma Brummett. “In the two-week period we allowed for our Sedro-Woolley subagent to achieve our accuracy requirement, seven titles were rejected by the (state) Department of licensing,” says Brummett. The subagency provided about 75 percent of the chamber’s $100,000 budget. Brummett had suspended the chamber’s right to sell license tabs because of what she says were “a significant record of noncompliance by the subagency dating back to 1999.” The chamber, which has threatened to sue, was given another 30 days to appeal.
United General Hospital Continues Finance Search • United General Hospital was recently given the go-ahead by its commissioners to search for ways to finance itself as an independent, “critical access hospital” should it disaffiliate from Skagit Valley Hospital. The commissioners are looking for ways to make the Sedro-Woolley hospital self-sustainable after more than 10 years of joint operation with the Mount Vernon hospital. The state granted $15,000 to UGH to fund its a study on its position. To become a federally designated “critical access” hospital, it would first need to obtain an operating license from the state, a move that would not come until disaffiliation. The critical-access designation, which helps smaller, rural hospitals restructure to pay for themselves, would also permit higher Medicare and Medicaid payment rates for patients. UGH, under Hospital District 304, serves patients from Burlington east to Newhalem and beyond.
Highway Safety, Health Lead County News • Passage of the state highway bill in the most recent Legislative session will help the county make highway safety improvements, especially along Highway 20, according to one of the bill’s proponents, Commissioner Ted Anderson. “This bill will allow us to address a number of safety issues along Highway 20,” he says. “I am especially concerned about the Pulver Road intersection near Burlington; but there are a number of intersections from Anacortes to Lyman where it may make sense to expend county funds.” The bill was sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and signed by Gov. Gary Locke. • “Planning commissioners wanted.” The Board of Commissioners is looking for volunteers to serve on the Skagit County Planning Commission, which makes recommendations for changes and updates to comprehensive plans and development regulations. The nine members who serve are chosen by the three commissioners, each selecting three. Openings are in Wards 2, covering the Mount Vernon area, and 3, which includes Burlington, Sedro-Woolley and eastern Skagit County. Interested parties should call 336-9300 for information and applications. • Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland (SPF) recently received a $40,000 grant to begin work with The Food Alliance (TFA) program. TFA promotes sustainable agriculture by recognizing and rewarding farms who produce food in environmentally and socially responsible ways. It also educates consumers and others about the benefits of sustainable agriculture. One TFA member, Mike and Jean’s Berry Farm of Mount Vernon, found the program very helpful for their enterprise. “The Food Alliance program helped us market our 180 acres of cauliflower,” says Jeanne Youngquist, co-owner. “Shoppers can now see the person who grew the food they are buying and choose to support farms with sustainable practices.” For more information, call SPF at 336-3974. • Two grants totaling $382,240 have been awarded to the Skagit County Public Health and Public Works departments by the state Department of Ecology (DoE). The funds, known as Coordinated Prevention Grants, assist city and county efforts for hazardous waste collection and disposal projects, solid-waste management enforcement projects and recycling education. The Health Department will receive $110,000 for solid-waste enforcement, while Public Works’ share of the grant will go toward programs dealing with household hazardous waste and operation of the facility for household hazardous waste disposal. • DoE also awarded a $350,000 grant to the county to complete Phase 3 of the Skagit River Flood Hazard Management Plan. The funds will help the county move forward on flood projection and salmon restoration, according to project manager Don Dixon. The county and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have completed Phase 1 of an $8.4 million study to determine a cost-effective method for safely managing large flood events here, along with improving salmon habitat. • A recent county health survey has concluded that nearly two-thirds of respondents suffer some form of medium to high stress in their jobs or daily activities. The survey, conducted by a Seattle firm for the county and paid for through a number of local agencies including the three hospital districts, found that 62 percent suffer from stress and 35 percent deal with it through physical activity. “In fact,” says Dr. Alex von Cube, the county’s population and health-information manager, “respondents suggested that for the benefit of improving access to physical activity, the community should direct their efforts toward improved parks and biking/hiking trails and should organize exercise activity.” The report is still under review.
State News Involves Bridge Work, Dam Closures • The state Department of Transportation has taken over management of the Riverside Bridge project after a Burlington civil engineering firm found itself unable to keep the $23 million project, now three months late, on schedule. The firm, Harding ESE, continues as project designer, but DoT has been managing the project to build new spans between Burlington and Mount Vernon since December. The City of Mount Vernon, meanwhile, asked federal Fish and Wildlife officials for permission to restart construction a month early, June 1, to help contractor Kiewit Pacific catch up. The project was to be closed from November to July for salmon protection. • Because of tightened security following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials at Seattle City Light will not permit visitors at its Skagit River dams this summer. The dams such as Ross, which allows access to hiking trails on the west side of Ross Lake, will be off limits to tourists for security reasons, the authority says. The dams, hiking and lake fishing are major draws for travelers through Skagit County communities, once Highway 20 has been reopened in the spring.
Settlements Announced in Olympic Pipe Line Tragedy A settlement of $75 million has been announced in the suits over the Olympic Pipe Line blast three years ago that killed three youths in Bellingham. The out-of-court settlement, negotiated for the families of two of the youths by Skagit attorney Paul Luvera, came shortly before the expected start of separate wrongful-death suits in Bellingham brought by the families of Wade King and Stephen Tsiorvas, both 10. A third youth, 18-year-old Liam Wood, also died when a breach in the pipe caused 236,000 gallons of gasoline to leak into creeks running through Bellingham’s Whatcom Falls Park and erupt in flame that coursed almost to Interstate 5. Last year, the state Department of Ecology fined Olympic, Equilon and a Bellingham construction company $7.8 million for negligence that led to the rupture. Olympic agreed to pay $10 million; but Equilon, based in Houston, but at the time the parent company for Puget Sound Refining Co. in Anacortes, and the other company were contesting the fine. Meanwhile, by a 94-0 vote, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment to the Pipeline Safety Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray. “The Senate has again taken a critical step to improve pipeline safety,” says Murray. “Today’s effort will protect families and communities by improving pipeline inspections and practices, while expanding the public’s right to know. It holds pipeline companies accountable by raising penalties for safety violations.”
Naturopathic Physician Celebrates Clinic’s 10th Year Dr. Gary Bachman has completed 10 years of practice at Skagit Naturopathic Clinic in Mount Vernon. “Alternative medicine has evolved dramatically in the past decade,” Bachman states. “This includes more nutritional scientific research, state-of-the-art hormonal lab tests and improved insurance coverage.” Dr. Bachman, whose practice is located at 1910 Riverside Drive, Suite 5, has been in health care for more than 30 years. Call 424-3460.
Seattle Students Use Local ‘Big Top’ for Play Practice You’re putting on a production about the circus and P.T. Barnum and you want a “big top” to perform in, especially when the practice includes instruction from the Ringling Bros. Circus. What do you do? You call Pacific Party Canopies (PPC) of Burlington. A California tent manufacturer recommended Pacific Party Canopies to the drama director at Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle when he called for help. According to PPC’s Laura Stewart, the company provided a tent 80 feet by 100 feet to the Blanchet students to practice and later perform in. The story of Barnum, one of the founders of the circus, was presented April 18-28. Stewart says Ringling Brothers also sent circus people to Blanchet to help the students in preparing for the production.
Georgia-Pacific Donates Computers to College Georgia-Pacific Corp. has donated five personal computers, with monitors and other support hardware, to the Diesel Power Technology program at Skagit Valley College. Program department chair Bernie Andringa says the computers will help students prepare for work in the 21st century. “These computers will enhance the diesel program greatly and allow our students to stay current with today’s technology,” he says. “They will be a great addition to our newly created computer lab where students can search the Internet for online technical and repair information. We will also use them in our rolling diagnostic cabinets for troubleshooting engines and other related electronic concerns.”
Cascade Candy Helps Farm Preservation Group Cascade Candy of La Conner recently presented a check for $702 to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland (SPF) as part of their annual fundraiser for the organization. Owners Joan and Chuck Kiser donate 5 percent from the sales of their renowned Royal Dessert Apples from mid-November through December to the cause. The apples, Jonagolds from Merritt’s of Bow, are dipped in caramel and chocolate. “We wanted to find a way to keep farmers farming, save farmland and let our customers know we are making a direct contribution to SPF,” says Joan Kiser. “If every business in Skagit Valley made a similar commitment to support farmland preservation, we could guarantee the valley will be a working landscape for future generations,” says Bob Rose, SPF executive director.
Local Grocers Donate to Food Banks For the third consecutive year, Cost Cutter, Thrifty Food Pavilion and Sedro-Woolley Market Place supermarkets have participated in the national Food For All campaign, donating proceeds to local food charities. The program, part of the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger, included more than 7,000 retailers and their generous customers. Locally, Skagit stores raised more than $900 to benefit Senior Meals on Wheels, Skagit Gleaners, Anacortes Food Bank and Helping Hands Food Bank. The 35 Brown and Cole stores in Washington, Oregon and Montana raised more than $17,000 this year.
Restaurants Participate in Red Cross Drive A number of local restaurants participated recently in pledging a percentage of their sales or a portion of proceeds to the Skagit Valley Chapter Disaster Relief Fund for the American Red Cross. They were: Cameron’s Kiev Café, The Lunch Box, RiverCity Billiards, City Bakery Café, Chapalita Mexican Restaurant and World Market, all of Mount Vernon; Tacos Omar, The Cook-N-Musician Restaurant and Lounge and The Airport Deli and Grill, all Burlington; La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant and Destiny Ice Cream and Espresso, both Sedro-Woolley; The Eatery Restaurant of Rockport; Nell Thorn Restaurant and Pub of La Conner; and Lotsa Mama’s of Concrete.
Dog Trainer Releases Interactive CD Chris Hamer has taken a daring approach to publication and dog training with the release of her new interactive CD, “DogSense: Building a Bond through Obedience Training.” The program engages the reader with 55 chapters, including color photographs and cutting-edge streaming video technology. “It is both educational and fun, leaving the student with a motivated and ‘can-do’ feeling,” she says. The CD includes instruction on puppy selection, housebreaking, obedience techniques, family and animal relationships, problem solving and many more topics. Hamer has a master’s degree in animal behavior and has taught more than 10,000 dogs and their owners over a 20-year career. For more information, send an e-mail to trainerhotline@msn.com, or call Andy Sevens at 1-800-347-7042.
What’s Happening in Skagit County Events and programs available this month in the county include: • May 4: “Solar and Wind Energy,” a workshop at the Business Resource Center, 204 W. Montgomery St., Mount Vernon, presented by Gregg Murphy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee $25. Call 416-7873. • May 7-8: “Marketing, Pricing and Advertising,” at the Business Resource Center, presented by David Woods from 6 to 9 p.m. Fee $50. Call 416-7873. • May 11: Skagit Valley College holds its 75th-anniversary Reunion on the campus quad, starting with a picnic at 3 p.m., followed at 5 p.m. by program and events. Dillinger’s Clambake provides dance music 4-7 p.m. • May 11-12: American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Anacortes High School track, a 16-hour event starting at 3 p.m. Call Robin Swain for registration forms and information, 293-0225. • May 12: The Rotary Club of Anacortes is hosting its annual Scott Cossu Jazz Concert fundraiser at Anacortes High School’s Brodniak Hall. • May 14: Mount Vernon Women in Business holds its noon meeting at the CottonTree Convention Center. Keynote speaker is Eric Landon of Skagit State Bank, on electronic theft. • May 17: The Skagit Valley College Golf Classic, underwritten by Shell Puget Sound Refinery, will be held at Avalon Golf course. For more information, call 416-7945. • May 18-19: 2002 Anacortes Waterfront Festival, a two-day gala event that includes arts and crafts booths, food court, entertainment, children’s activities, classic car show, marine swap meet, radio-controlled boats, boat show and much more, all over downtown. Call 293-3832 or visit: www.anacortes.org. • May 18: “A Growing Experience,” an evening of entertainment, raffles, auction, refreshments and music, with all proceeds to benefit Children’s Hospital, at Christianson’s Nursery and La Conner Flats Gardens, 4-8 p.m. Tickets are $10. Special guest speaker is Ciscoe Morris. Call 416-6650. • May 28: Mount Vernon Women in Business holds its noon meeting at the CottonTree Convention Center. Members Phyllis Newman, Shaklee master coordinator, and Renae McFadden of Season Fine Furniture talk about their businesses. • June 20-22: The American Highland Cattle Association hosts its 51st-annual National Convention in Mount Vernon. The three-day meeting will feature visits to area cattle ranches, the Cattlemen’s College, and general membership meetings. More information at ahca@envisioner.net or visit the Web site at: highlandcattle.org. • June 27: Local Procurement Opportunities 2002 seminar through the Economic Development Association will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the CottonTree Inn. Call Diane McLeod at 336-6114. |
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