Bellingham Business Journal articles from July 2008

Bellingham Business Journal archives from July 2008

High-tech firm moving to Ferndale: growing company makes camera-stabilization systems.
July 1, 2008... Sequoia Technologies, a technology manufacturing and engineering company that pioneered high-definition camera technology now used in popular televised events, is in the process of moving almost its entire operation into Whatcom County. ...

Self-serve biofuel company eyes Meridian site.
July 1, 2008... Propel Biofuels, a Seattle-based builder, owner and operator of alternative fuel stations, has applied to the city of Bellingham for permission to construct a biodiesel mini-station on the northeast corner of the Bellis Fair Shell station's...

Blossom Childcare center grows.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Blossom Childcare and Learning Center, located at 2945 Douglas Ave., celebrated its m-year anniversary on June I by kicking off a $200,000 site improvement. Led by sisters Teresa Hertz and Manreen Boncheff, who own the business, the...

Travel House Inn sold to OH2 Limited.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Travel House Inn, located at 3750 Meridian St. near Bellis Fair Mall, has been sold for $3,950,000. According to The Bellingham Business Journal's Top Properties listing, Charles and Sandy Cha sold the three-story, 124-unit motel to OH2...

Starbucks opening in Meridian center.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... A new Starbucks will open in the 48,000-square-foot shopping center planned at 102 W. Stuart Road off of Meridian Street. The 1,800-square-foot drive-through will accompany United Furniture Warehouse and Big 5 in the new retail center, said...

Brenthaven to open outlet store July 21.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Brenthaven, a local manufacturer of luggage and laptop cases, is planning to open its retail outlet store on July 21 at the company's factory at 300 Harris Ave. across from the ferry terminal. In December, the company moved out of its...

West Coast Grocery moving in July.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... West Coast Grocery, currently located at 4151 Meridian St., is planning to move down the street to 4010 Meridian St. at the end of July. Owner Chart Ly said the new 3,600-square-foot space is twice as big as the current spot and will allow...

Southside Chiropractic acquires Mountain View Chiropractic.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Southside Chiropractic, located at 1050 Larrabee Ave. Suite 102, recently increased its business by purchasing Mountain View Chiropractic. Owner Brian Boyd said he purchased the business from Eric Tkacsik, who has since moved to Europe to...

Old Town's Fastway Exxon applies for 500-square-foot expansion.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... The Fastway Exxon convenience store and gas station located at 1008 W. Holly St. has applied to the City of Bellingham for permission to construct a 500-square-foot addition to the existing 1,600-square-foot building. Store owner Gurbreed...

Allegiant Air to serve Palm Springs.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(expansion of its non-stop jet service)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Allegiant Air announced last month that it will expand its non-stop jet service from Bellingham to Palm Springs, Calif., by offering Wednesday flights beginning Oct. 1. Allegiant recently launched Bellingham as an official Allegiant Air...

Bay City Financial Service moving to Barkley.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bay City Financial Service will be moving the first week of July from its current location on F Street to a 1,500-square-foot office at 1255 Barkley Blvd. Suite 102 next to Reset Games. The new office is 300...

Bank of the Pacific to open in Ferndale.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... The Bank of the Pacific will open its newest branch in Ferndale on July 9. Located at 1860 Main St., the former 1,500-square-foot site of Mount's Cafe will include safe deposit boxes and a drive-up window. Branch manager Robbie Flynn said...

SMT now offers dockside service.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Specialized Marine Transport)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Specialized Marine Transport recently received a permit from the Port of Bellingham to use port-owned boat launches for its landing-craft service. In fall 2007, the company bought Tin Boot II, a 48-foot aluminum landing craft capable of...

ICU adds Barkley District branch.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Industrial Credit Union)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Industrial Credit Union is launching its seventh branch this fall in the Barkley District. The new branch at 2955 Newmarket St. Suite 107 is scheduled to open in early September after completion of a $50,000 remodeling project. ...

Diamond Jim's Grill purchases building.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Jim Green, owner of Diamond Jim's Grill, made a move on April 16 to purchase the building the restaurant has occupied at 1906 N. State St. for the past decade. According to The Bellingham Business Journal's Top Properties listing, Diamond...

Maaco to open on Iowa Street.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Bellingham will soon get its first Maaco, a nationwide auto body and paint shop. The shop will open at 2515 Iowa St. near the freeway entrance and along auto row, which franchisee Marvin Bohall said he is excited about. He said the shop...

BioLife expands and adds new employees.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... BioLife Plasma Services is expanding its center at 465 W. Stuart Road to add 18 new donor beds and 10 to 12 new employees. Center manager Bart Miller said the 13,000-square-foot center will expand into an existing 1,000 square feet of...

County business park expands with 15,000-square-foot addition.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Callen Construction Company, owner of the Silver Creek Business Park located at 1350 Slater Road, has begun construction on a 15,000-square-foot addition to the existing 18,000-square-foot office and warehouse complex. Cleo Callen, owner...

Cascadia Cabs expands to Canada.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Cascadia Cabs, which operates a fleet of pedicabs downtown, has been approved to operate 20 of the three-wheeled people movers in Vancouver, B.C. Owner Ryan Hashagen said this is the first time the business has expanded beyond the U.S....

CPA firm Varner Sytsma Herndon expands.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Varner Sytsma Herndon, a certified public accounting firm, is planning to expand its offices at 2200 Rimland Dr. Suite 205 by July. The firm will take over approximately 1,800 square feet of neighboring space, said firm administrator...

New name and offices for Country Financial.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Country Financial is planning to remodel its offices at 123 W. Kellogg Road later this year. The minor remodel of the 1,000-square-foot, loft-style space will enclose existing offices, said agent Ryan Grams. When the business added a third...

Plato's Closet now open.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... Plato's Closet, a nationwide used-clothing store, opened last month at 3960 Meridian St. Suite 103. The store offers slightly used name-brand clothes and focuses on the teen and young adult market. "Our store fills a need in the retail...

Panel discusses climate change and farming.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)
July 1, 2008... As one of the most climate-dependent businesses in the state, Washington farmers have a lot to lose as the climate changes toward fluctuating temperatures and more extreme weather events. That's why a group of Washington's most innovative...

RH2 Engineering expanding.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... RH2 Engineering, located at 454 W. Horton Road, is planning to double its office space by the first quarter of 2009. With the expansion, the firm will jump from five offices to 11 offices, said principle Ken Thomas. But empty offices are no...

Bayside Montessori School could expand.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Bayside Montessori School, located at 1027 Samish Way, has applied to update its 1994 conditional use permit to allow the school to grow from 48 to 85 students and convert an existing residential unit to a classroom, which would add 1,296...

Crystal Creek Logistics opens in Ferndale.(THE BUZZ: Tips, rumors & miscellaneous pieces of business information)(Crystal Creek Logistics)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Crystal Creek Logistics, a third-party packing and shipping company, opened for business on May 22 in a 6,000-square-foot warehouse space at 1371 Admiral Place #103 in Ferndale. Co-owner Mike Bradburn said the new company, handles order...

Samishen Way neighbors vision urban village: former gateway to city seeks return to glory days.
July 1, 2008... In the summer of 1957, the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new tourist-information center, a 48-foot tugboat named Shamrock II that was hauled from the harbor to its final resting place at the intersection of North Samish...

Musician inspired Boulevard Park project: colleagues build tribute to friend who suffered fatal heart attack.
July 1, 2008... In 2003, Mark Witter, a seasoned timber framer, began biking to work. By all accounts, Mark was a guy who enjoyed life. He liked his job and the slow and steady bike ride to his job at the Cascade Joinery in Fairhaven. But on June 16,...

Fragrant fields: Lavender blooming as a cash crop in Whatcom County.
July 1, 2008... Years ago while traveling in Provence, France, Deming resident Peggy Parker envied the rolling fields of lavender that dotted the countryside. The sweet smell and iconic straight rows of dense purple struck a chord with Parker. "If I ever...

Golden spike: Bullion business prospers: gold market rises as economy falls.
July 1, 2008... During economic uncertainty, luxury items are often the first thing to go, but local businesses that specialize in gold are seeing growing customer interest as the value of gold increases. The dollar demand for gold spiked to more than $1,000...

Sales tax change begins, creates headaches: state predicts revenue loss for Bellingham under new rules.
July 1, 2008... Retail businesses have a lot to keep track of. Bills, benefits, inventory; it's enough to make anyone's head spin. As of July i, businesses owners in Washington state who ship products within state lines will have to keep track of the different...

New cohousing group plans development: residents build community, affordable houses.(real estate and construction)
July 1, 2008... Cori Kauk has been house hunting in Bellingham for eight years. The search began after she graduated from Western Washington University and found a job in her field at the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department. "I'm one of the lucky...

More drivers shift from thirsty trucks: dealers overrun with trade-ins as fuel costs rise.
July 1, 2008... In America, bigger has always been better: a big house and a big vehicle mean big money; and big money equals big success. But lately, as drivers cringe at gas-pump prices, they look at their trucks and SUVs with a little less pride and a...

Blame Canada for gas prices? Not so fast ... deeper look at AG study shows other factors cause cost spikes: Bellingham has bigger range at the pump than Seattle.
July 1, 2008... In May 2006 Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen decided to do something about the high price of gasoline in Bellingham. He wrote a letter to state Attorney General Rob McKenna, whose office investigates consumer complaints, hoping for an...

Switching to electric engines sparks interest: city company sells kits, converts motors to battery power.
July 1, 2008... As Greg Aanes drives away from his furniture store on East Champion Street, a father and his two young daughters pause on the sidewalk to admire Aanes' car silently enter traffic. There is nothing visually appealing about the silver 1986...

Building permits.(TOP PROPERTIES)(Public notice)
July 1, 2008... The following recent building permit activity includes permits for commercial projects valued at $10,000 or more, and residential homes valued at $250,000 or more. Accepted 1 Bellis Fair Pkwy. Suite 522, $17,000 for tenant improvements...

Top properties.(List)
July 1, 2008... The following is a list of recent commercial and high-end residential property sales in Whatcom County. Top properties is compiled by Wendy Darling, with assistance from the county treasurer's and assessor's offices. Residences above...

Jump around fun zone.(business births)
July 1, 2008... Owners: Matt and Sarah Robison and Cris and Nikki Wesselman Address: 4600 Meridian St. Suite 108 Startup date: May 2 Square footage: 6,000 square feet Phone: 647-JUMP www.jumparoundfunzone.com Every Sunday for six...

Red Cedar Communications.(business births)
July 1, 2008... Owner: Heather Lewis Address: 909 Harris Ave. #201D Startup date: May 13 Square footage: 300 square feet Phone: 752-3343 Heather Lewis has two passions in her life: words and the environment. Recently Lewis has...

Northwest Sleep Solutions.(business births)
July 1, 2008... Owners: Scott and LeAnn Caseria Address: 1440 10th St. Suite 103 Startup date: May 12 Square footage: 2,650 square feet Phone: 734-6977 Scott and LeAnn Caseria hate it when people say they need to run out and buy a...

Peschek receives Horizon Bank chairman's award.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Horizon Bank announced that Grace Peschek is the recipient of its Chairman's Award for fiscal year 2008. The Chairman's Award is the highest employee award given by the bank, and recognizes an employee for both...

Tourism bureau hires membership and convention coordinator.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism)(Marni Schroeder )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism hired Marni Schroeder as the membership and convention coordinator. Schroeder's responsibilities at the bureau include providing membership assistance, communications and technical support in the convention and...

Chase hires sales manager for new Bellingham office.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Chase, one of the nation's leading residential housing lenders, announced the opening of its first mortgage office in Bellingham. In addition, Chase hired sales manager Christy Austin to manage the office at 1616 Cornwall Ave. Austin, a...

Bellingham attorney approved for practice before International Criminal Court.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Joining a select group of attorneys from around the world, Bellingham attorney Greg Boos has been approved to practice before the International Criminal Court (ICC) Which is seated in The Hague, Netherlands. To date,...

Coast landscape marks two decades of service.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Coast Landscape, Inc. of Bellingham will celebrate 20 years of service this year. Rick Neugebauer established the company in Bellingham in 1988. Since then, Coast Landscape, Inc. has become a leader in landscape irrigation technology and...

Two Chmelik Sitkin & Davis attorneys named to super lawyer list.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Frank Chmelik and Jon Sitkin )(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Chmelik Sitkin & Davis, Bellingham's longtime business and municipal law firm, announced the inclusion of both Frank Chmelik and Jon Sitkin in the 2008 Super Lawyer[R] list in Washington Law & Politics magazine. This is the first year that a...

Symphony announces two new board members.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Randy Best, district manager and financial advisor with Waddell & Reed, has joined the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra board of directors. Best has 20 years of experience in insurance, banking and financial services and...

Carbajal to serve as interim dean for WWU's College of Humanities and Social Sciences.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Brent Carbajal has been appointed to serve as interim dean for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Western Washington University. Ron Kleinknecht, current dean of the college, is retiring July 1 and Carbajal will begin his new...

Gricius joins Acupuncture Health Center.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Valerie Gricius has joined Acupuncture Health Center (AHC) as office manager. Gricius has over 15 years of management, sales and marketing experience. Having recently relocated from New York state, Gricius is excited to be working with AHC...

WWU professor Zaferatos chairs international workshop.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Conference notes)
July 1, 2008... Western Washington University professor Nicholas Zaferatos chaired the fourth and final international workshop on sustainable community development in Kefalonia, Greece. The workshops, funded by the EuroMed Anna Lindh Foundation, focused...

WWU professor Dunn to serve on Port's Standing Ethics Advisory Committee.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Western Washington University associate professor of management Craig Dunn was recently appointed to the Port of Bellingham's Standing Ethics Advisory Committee. This committee was established in 2003 to assist the port in continuing an ethical...

New members, officers for tourism bureau.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism recently elected three new members to its board of directors. Lance Calloway, Marvin Fast and Paul Haskins were all elected for two-year terms. Calloway represents the Whatcom Sports Commission, a non profit...

Bellingham Kung Fu Master honored in his field.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Chris Strelau, owner of the Chinese Martial Arts Academy in Bellingham, was awarded Ph.D./Ma.D.Sc. doctorates of martial arts philosophy and martial arts science from the University of Asian Martial Arts Studies. He was also inducted into the...

Haggen promotes Skaggs to vice president of Strategy and Consumer Insights.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Becky Skaggs has been promoted to vice president of Strategy and Consumer Insights at Haggen, Inc. Skaggs started at Haggen in 1992 while attending Western Washington University, where she earned a bachelor's degree...

Farmers Insurance agent receives company honor once again.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rollo Van Slyke, owner of the Rollo Van Slyke Farmers Insurance Agency, Inc., in Bellingham, has qualified as a 'Topper Club' Agent by Farmers Insurance for the 19th consecutive year. As a company reward, Van Slyke...

Director of Small Business Development Center attends entrepreneurial retreat.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom Dorr, director of Western Washington University's College of Business and Economics' Small Business Development Center (SBDC), attended the Edward Lowe Foundation ESO2 Retreat, at Big Rock Valley in southwestern...

Bellingham financial advisor speaks at national conference.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... H.D. Vest advisor, Gene R. Bell of Bellingham was a featured speaker at the H.D. Vest Financial Services[R] 22nd annual National Conference, held at MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., on June 10-13. Bell's staff...

Blu Sky Creative Services promotes Simon, hires Armstrong.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Julie Simon)(Art Armstrong)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Blu Sky Creative Services of Belling ham promoted Julie Simon to creative director and hired Art Armstrong as a programming specialist. Simon oversees Blu Sky's client relationships involving print and Web media....

Fairhaven professor Larner awarded for dedication to civil liberties.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)(Daniel Larner)(Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Daniel Larner, a professor at Western Washington University's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been awarded the 2008 Liberty Bell Award by the Whatcom County Bar Association. The award is given each year on Law Day by bar...

Wells Fargo names branch manager, appoints two home mortgage consultants.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Wells Fargo Home Mortgage recently named Marty Schroder as manager of its new Bellingham south branch and appointed Kevin Kurtz and Jennifer Young as home mortgage consultants. Schroder, a. lifelong resident of...

Larson Gross supports aspiring accountants.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... Larson Gross has awarded three outstanding local area high school students with the Accountants of Tomorrow Merit scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in leadership, academics,...

Yonally joins Golf Savings Bank team.(KEEPING UP WITH PEOPLE)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sharon Yonally recently joined Golf Savings Bank, located in Barkley Village. She is a CMPS certified Mortgage planner, and has over 22 years' experience in the local mortgage market. Yonally is an active board...

Groups find cure for health-insurance woes: small businesses can find ways to get big benefits.(business toolkit)
July 1, 2008... When Troy Olney, owner of Unity HR, first opened his business in 2002, there was no one to worry about but himself. As his business grew, he needed help. So in 2004, he hired his first employees and immediately he began thinking about...

Meetings & club.(Calendar)(Conference news)(Calendar)
July 1, 2008... * Bellingham Referral Network--Meets at 7 a.m. every Thursday at The Bellingham Golf and Country Club. For more information, call Tim Villhauer at 714-8661, or visit www.bellinghamreferral.org. * City Club--Noon to 1:30 p.m. the fourth...

Contracts awarded.(TIPS & LEADS)
July 1, 2008... The following construction contracts were awarded in the past month: Depot Market lease space improvements, $126,000 to Myers General Inc., 1784 Donald Ave., Bellingham. Issued by City of Bellingham Purchasing, Bellingham. Bellingham...

Business licenses.(TIPS & LEADS)(List)
July 1, 2008... The following business licenses have been awarded in the past month, listed by business name, owner and address: 360 Design, 360 Design LLC, 711 Baker St., Bellingham, WA 98225. A & M Underground Construction, 214 N. Commercial St.,...

Liquor licenses.(TIPS & LEADS)
July 1, 2008... The following licensing activity has been noted by the state liquor board: New Applications Gifts In The Bag, Johnson, Sheryl C.; Johnson, Sheryl Colleen; Johnson, James Lee; Heggem, Joanna Lee; Heggem, Eric Michael have applied for a...

Tax liens.(TIPS & LEADS)(List)
July 1, 2008... A tax lien is a legal claim filed in court by a government against a person or business owing taxes. Liens are civil, not criminal claims, and normally seek to attach money and/or property to pay the taxes. A list of liens is kept at the county...

Judgments.(TIPS & LEADS)(List)
July 1, 2008... When an individual or business becomes delinquent in tax payments, the state can obtain a judgment against any property or business. Judgments are filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, as are records of judgments paid or satisfied. ...

Bankruptcies.(TIPS & LEADS)(List)
July 1, 2008... Chapter 7--Straight bankruptcy; debtor gives up non-exempt property and debts are discharged. Chapter 11--Business reorganization; protection from creditors while business devises a plan of reorganization. Income/expense reports must be...

Off beat.(opinions)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WAITING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO A SALES TAX INCREASE.

Where do islanders go to get away? Here.(THE LAST WORD)(Travel narrative)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Make no mistake, I added my voice to the chorus of complaints about our "June-uary" weather. The Seattle Times told me that city was literally colder than Siberia this spring. Even as a California transplant (Hey,...

Sales tax hike wrong answer.(Editorial)
July 1, 2008... It would be tough to argue with the numbers: $24,820 to house someone in jail for a year or $4,600 to treat that person's substance-abuse problem or mental illness and allow that individual to hold a job, care for his children and live a...

Suit up, tourism is not a spectator sport.(GUEST COLUMNS)
July 1, 2008... If you feel like you've been sitting in the stands, quietly observing and occasionally applauding the positive impact and economic momentum of the local visitor industry--it's time to "suit up and play." After all, whether you realize it or...

County's foundation softens economic slump.(GUEST COLUMNS)(Column)
July 1, 2008... Impact of the national economic downturn on Bellingham and Whatcom County is noticeably less severe than in other areas of the United States. Although shallower, our economic slowdown and the growing chasm between income and cost of living are...

Scholarships, internships help firms find, hire talent early.(Technology Spotlight)(Viewpoint essay)
July 1, 2008... I wrote previously about the "issue that refuses to go away": the constant cycle of finding/hiring/growing/keeping skilled employees. This month I m going to look at a different point in that cycle, that difficult-to-identify inflection point...