Bellingham Business Journal, October 07, 2013 by Sound Publishing

Year 21 No. 10

OCT 2013

“BIKE THRU” COFFEE

The Wailing Goat Espresso settles into “Alley District” business community [10]

THE SEEDS OF BUSINESS

After one decade, a high success rate for program helping farms to market BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

fter deciding to start a small farm in Whatcom County, Ephraim and Laura Kurszewski knew that growing crops would only be part of the challenge. To get a handle on the commercial side of the endeavor, they turned to a business training program for local farmers called Food To Bank On, run by the Bellingham-based nonprofit Sustainable Connections. “We just decided to dive in,” Ephraim Kurszewski said. Having just wrapped up their third season on the farm, which they named The Carrot and Stick after opening in 2011, the Kurszewskis see signs of a promising future. They sold 30 shares this summer in a community-supported agriculture program, where members buy into the farm at the beginning of the growing season, then later collect shares of the harvest. The Carrot and Stick grows a variety of produce, including carrots, beans, tomatoes and squash. Demand was high enough that the Kurszewskis were actually forced to turn away a number of prospective members. Ephraim said they don’t want to expand faster than they can manage. “We’ve grown at the rate we’ve wanted to grow, so that’s really satisfying, that there’s that level of support in the community,” he said. Success is not uncommon for Food To Bank On participants. Nearing the end of its 10th year in existence, 37 farmers

theBUZZ Enrollment opens for health exchange Individuals can now shop online and sign up for new health care plans under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.” State insurance exchanges opened across the nation on Oct. 1. [9]

Strike delays classes at Bellingham Tech A faculty and staff work stoppage set the start of fall classes back one week at BTC. After picket lines, a failed court injunction and a series of mediated negotiations, the college and employee unions were able to agree on new contract terms. More coverage is online at BBJToday.com.

County’s jobless rate drops to 6.5 percent Laura Kurszewski of The Carrot and Stick farm in Whatcom County prepares flower bundles for CSA shareholders. (Right) Buckets of beans await washing and packing.

EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTOS THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

(excluding current first-year participants) have gone through the three-year program. Of those, 29 are still operating today, and 18 have taken on the more challenging business of selling their crops on the wholesale market. Sara Southerland, the food and farming program coordinator

at Sustainable Connections, has managed the Food To Bank On program for the past three years. She said the goal of the program is to support a stronger, more viable and more diverse sustainable food system. But its focus on helping beginning farmers establish sound business prin-

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31st Annual

ciples has been a major contributor to its success, she said. Food To Bank On pairs participants with more established mentors in the local agricultural community. Participating farmers are given business-plan training, and the program focuses on specifics such as developing strong day-to-day efficiency and longrange planning, Southerland said. A six-member committee of mentor farmers reviews the applicants and selects new participants in the program each year. They look for new additions who have basic farming skills and have begun farming for at least one year, Southerland said. “We’re trying to catch farms in

Private-sector job gains continue, though total workforce growth remains stagnant. [8]

Inside this month’s Business Toolkit Making sense of Twitter lists for your company’s marketing needs. [14] When collaboration makes more sense than competition. [15] See BUZZ, Page 3

Price: $1.00

See SEEDS, Page 22

Order tickets online www.wwib.org

You are invited to help us celebrate!

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October 2013

CONTENTS October 2013

Feel confident with your home financing decision As a responsible lending leader, we work closely with you to help you understand your home financing options so you can make informed decisions. Whether you’re buying your first home, second home or refinancing your current home, we have the products and services to help you reach your homebuying goals.

Call us to explore your options.

FEATURES

[4] Bellingham Chamber joins legal challenge to travel ban

Economic leaders say “expedited removal” hurts business and good will.

[5] Whatcom County will be allowed 15 marijuana stores Cannabis regulators will begin accepting license applications next month.

[6] Credit unions push to preserve nonprofit status Dixie Anndi Pena Branch Sales Manager 738-2363 NMSLRID 413608

Barry Weafer Home Mortgage Consultant 647-0897 NMLSR ID 420701

Hendor Rodriguez Home Mortgage Consultant 733-5892 NMLSR ID 404085

A “clean-slate” approach to federal tax reform could bring big changes.

[9] Quick facts on the new health insurance marketplace Tips on where to find information and how to avoid scammers.

[10] Wailing Goat Espresso caffeinates those on bike, foot

Coffee stand on the South Bay Trail finds niche among like-minded neighbors. BUSINESS TOOLKIT

This month’s contributors: Patti Rowlson [14] and Mike Cook [15]. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Market Indicators [7], People [16] and Public Records [18].

Connect with us online Brandon C. Mankle Home Mortgage Consultant 738-2362 NMLSR ID 634610

Reah Marie Dewell Home Mortgage Consultant 384-4975 NMLSR ID 156730

Brad Roen Home Mortgage Consultant 647-2342 NMLSR ID 408736

On BBJToday.com: Sign up for our free daily email and have the latest business news sent to your inbox every morning. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/BBJToday On Twitter: @BBJToday On Google+: Bellingham Business Journal

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October 2013

BUZZ | FROM 1

Lehmann’s Maytag appliance store sold to Judd & Black One of Bellingham’s oldest family-owned stores has changed hands. Terry Lehmann, the third-generation owner of Lehmann’s Maytag Home Appliance Center at 2001 James St., retired at the end of September and has sold the store to Judd & Black. Judd & Black, which has five locations in Snohomish and Skagit counties, took over the store’s operations on Oct. 1. Lehmann’s grandfather, Ed Lehmann, launched the business in 1929, shortly after the start of the Great Depression, by selling wringer washers door to door in Lynden. Ed Lehmann moved his company to Bellingham in 1930 and opened a store on State Street. He sold the business in 1965 to his son Don Lehmann. Terry Lehmann began working for his father when he was 11—washing windows, mopping floors and dusting appliances. After attending college business classes for two years, he began working full-time at the store in 1970. Terry Lehmann and his wife Jackie bought the store in 1987. Lehmann’s, a Maytag dealer since its founding, offers washers, dryers, ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators and coin-operated laundry equipment for rental units. It also is the rare appliance dealer with a complete service and parts department.

State’s minimum wage up to $9.32 an hour in 2014 Washington state’s minimum wage will increase to $9.32 per hour starting Jan. 1, the Department of Labor & Industries announced Monday, Sept. 30. Next year’s minimum wage is a 13-cent increase from the current $9.19 per hour, which L&I says reflects a 1.455 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers over a 12-month period ending Aug. 31.

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The index measures average price changes for goods and services purchased by urban-wage earners and clerical workers. The goods and services it monitors include basic living costs such as food, clothing, shelter, fuels and services such as doctor visits. Washington will maintain the highest minimum wage in the country. It is one of 10 states that adjusts its minimum wage based on inflation and the price index, the other being: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont. Oregon, which recently announced a 15 cent minimum wage increase to $9.10 starting next year, had the second-highest minimum wage in the U.S. Washington’s minimum wage applies to workers in both agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, although 14 and 15-year-olds may be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage, or $7.92 per hour in 2014.

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union opens Bellingham branch Alaska USA Federal Credit Union has opened a new branch inside the Sehome Village Haggen store in Bellingham. It is the credit union’s first expansion into Whatcom County, although Alaska USA operates 26 branches in Washington state, reaching as far south as Olympia. Overall, the company operates 67 branches in Alaska, California and Washington. The Bellingham branch, which is located at 201 36th St., offers a full range of credit union services, including a depository, 24-hour ATM and a selfservice center. It will be open seven days a week and most holidays, according to the company. In addition to a full range of financial solutions, the company also offers home loans through Alaska USA Mortgage Company and insurance through Alaska USA Insurance Brokers. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Washington state, according to the company.

Chestnut Flats to get second-phase expansion

Developers of the Chestnut Flats mixed-use building in downtown Bellingham have submitted preliminary documents with the city for an expansion that would add 21 new apartments along with an additional 1,100 square feet of street-level commercial space. The new apartments would be built above an existing altered basement on the east side of the current building, according to city planning documents. The city has listed the project’s valuation at $1.35 million. Chestnut Flats is located at 119 W. Chestnut St., the former location of Dream On Futon. David Hovde, a broker with Windermere Real Estate in Bellingham, who has been handling leasing in Chestnut Flats, said demand for the building’s first phase of apartments was extremely high. He said when the building first began leasing its residential space, he was able to secure commitments for all of the existing 37 units within 45 days. The apartments in the second phase of the building will be different than those in the first, he added. Hovde said phase two will include plans for twobedroom apartments and “executive” one-bedroom units. Rental rates have not yet been determined. He said construction would likely take eight months, start to finish, once a building permit is issued.

Cobalt Mortgage opens branch in Barkley Village Cobalt Mortgage has opened a new Bellingham branch in Barkley Village at 2915 Newmarket St. The facility is the company’s 19th office in Washington state. Cobalt now operates more than 50 offices across the western U.S., and plans to expand eastward during the next several years to make its products more broadly available, according to the company. The Bellingham branch

Two new craft breweries opening in Bellingham

PHOTO COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

A sign goes up at the future home of Aslan Brewing Company at 1330 N. Forest St., near downtown Bellingham. Aslan is remodeling the former home of Signs Plus Inc., which is now in its new location on 766 Marine Drive (Jim Sutterfield of Signs Plus submitted this photo.). Another new brewery called Wander Brewing has been issued a building permit by the city to build a brewery and tasting room at 1807 Dean Ave., in Bellingham. is run by manager Scott Ask, who has more than 10 years of mortgage-industry experience. Ask said the local office currently employs seven loan officers and intends to add more in the near future. He added

that plans to open an additional Bellingham location are also in the works. Cobalt is licensed in 18 states, and is one of the largest privately held mortgage-banking firms in the U.S.

Dan’s Automotive acquires Smitty’s Auto Repair Smitty’s Auto Repair in Bellingham’s Roosevelt

BUZZ | Page 11

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS Economic data on the monthly number of motor-vehicle registrations in Whatcom County was incorrectly presented in our September 2013 edition (Market Indicators). A graph of the data wrongly showed monthly numbers in reverse chronological order, which also resulted in a misleading headline referring to a downward trend in year-overyear registrations. The error has been corrected in this edition.

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October 2013

Chamber joins legal challenge of “expedited removal” Business leaders worry border-security measure puts damper on travel between U.S., Canada BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal Several regional economic groups, including the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, are taking a stand against the U.S. government’s use of “expedited removal,” a border-security measure that can ban foreigners from entering the U.S. for at least five years—and in some cases, forever. Bill Gorman, interim director of the Bellingham Chamber, said that while he believes federal agents should have appropriate tools to police the border, a lack of accountability and oversight in the expedited-removal process could hurt crossborder traffic between the U.S. and Canada and the economic benefits it brings into Whatcom County. “It has long been an open border between the U.S. and Canada,” Gorman said. “We have a special relationship because of our long history with our border and our history as natural friends.” Along with the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Northwest Economic Council and the Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council, the Bellingham Chamber has joined a legal challenge on the expedited removal of John R.G. Smith,

a Canadian cameraman for a national skydiving team, who says he was placed in expedited removal after trying to cross the border several years ago on the way to a training trip in Arizona. U.S. border agents didn’t buy his story, and suspected he was trying to enter the country to work illegally. Federal law grants border agents authority to use expedited removal if they believe noncitizens are misrepresenting themselves or lacking proper documentation. The Bellingham Chamber and its partner organizations filed an amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” brief in the case, which is currently pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A decision from the court is expected within six months. Expedited removal has garnered controversy in Canada for years, mainly due to the limitations individuals have to challenge their bans handed down by U.S. border agents. Those placed in expedited removal cannot legally enter the U.S. for a minimum of five years, according to federal law, though in some instances they can be given lengthier bans, including lifetime ones. While appeals to U.S. Customs and Border Protection are allowed, there are no

ADVANCING EDUCATION INCOME AND HEALTH

immigration courts or other independent forums set up to hear challenges. Canadian media outlets have highlighted several expedited removals that have confounded immigration attorneys and business leaders. One recent high-profile case involved Chad Rook, a Vancouver, B.C. television actor who was barred from the U.S. for five years after trying to get through the Peace Arch Border Crossing in early 2013. Rook said he was on his way to California to scope out potential acting jobs, but wasn’t planning to stay in the U.S. indefinitely. Border agents didn’t believe him. In the amicus brief, the Bellingham Chamber and its partners argue that the expedited removal system, as currently managed, causes unnecessary harm to businesses in both countries. U.S. officials are not commenting on the current legal challenge, as they do not talk about matters pending in court, said Michael Milne, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Milne did provide federal statistics on the annual number of expedited removals recorded at each of the four border crossings in Whatcom County. According to the numbers, individuals placed into expedited removal make up a sliver of the total number traveling across the U.S.-Canada border every year. Of the 14.8 million people who crossed the border into Whatcom County in 2012, 47 were placed in expedited removal, according to the U.S. government. Those 47 cases were the fewest annual expedited removals recorded since 2005,

the last year stats were readily available from federal officials. But Greg Boos, a Bellingham immigration lawyer who wrote the economic groups’ amicus brief and represents them in the 9th Circuit case, said he doesn’t think those numbers reflect the real impacts at the border. Boos believes far more Canadians stay away from the border due to the threat, either real or perceived, of an expedited removal ban. He said expedited-removal decisions are better left to immigration courts rather than on-the-spot calls made by federal law-enforcement officers. Boos said federal government resistance to address the issue could have harmful effects on future economic ties between the U.S. and Canada. “It’s become apparent that our economy is dependent on cross-border trade and commerce, and that’s not just shoppers coming down to shop in Bellingham,” Boos said. Gorman said he would like to see a better balance struck between security and ease of travel between the two countries. The threat of expedited removal, along with the tightening of other border security measure over the past decade, has had a dampening effect on cross-border travel into Whatcom County, Gorman said. “I think it just raises the bar on uncertainty, and makes it risky to come across,” he said.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

Workforce Council earns honors The Northwest Workforce Council has achieved the highest level of performance across all workforce-development groups in the state, in its operation of workforce training and education programs in four northwest Washington counties. It is the second straight year the council has been noted as Washington’s top performer. Performance outcomes are based upon a set of nine federal common measures. Results in achieving employment, retention of that employment, and wages earned are examined. Youth programs also measure literacy and numeracy gains and credentials attained.

The council exceeded its performance target in each measure and exceeded the state’s overall performance. The eligibility-based workforce training programs assist individuals in building occupational skills and job search strategies required in key regional industries. Programs serve adults and workers dislocated from their employment due to layoffs or business closures. The council’s programs are operated from WorkSource Northwest Career Centers in Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor and a local career center in Friday Harbor.

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October 2013

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Whatcom County will get 15 marijuana retail stores BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal The Washington State Liquor Control Board will allow up to 15 marijuana retail stores in Whatcom County, including at least six in Bellingham, according to a list of license allocations regulators released on Sept. 4. The board also announced that it is ready to file a series of revised rules that would govern Washington’s marijuana retail market, from production to sale. The rules will be subject to public hearings in early October (with times and locations yet to be announced), before a final vote on adoption will be made. That final vote has been scheduled for Oct. 16, according to the board. The revisions are updates to proposed rules that were released by the board back in July. Due to the amount of feedback from five public meetings held around the state in August, the board chose to refine its rules and re-issue them for additional comments before making a final decision. If the rules are adopted, the board will open a 30-day window on Nov. 16 to accept license applications for producers, processors and retailers. State regulators say licenses would be issued, at the earliest, in December or January.

Retail-license allocations were chosen on a county-by-county basis using population data from the state’s Office of Financial Management, as well as adult consumption data gathered by BOTEC Analysis Corp., a private company hired as a consultant to the state to help implement the new system, mandated by last year’s successful Initiative 502. Statewide, the board will allow up to 334 marijuana retail outlets. Cities with larger populations were given a proportionate number of license allocations, based on available data, and “at-large” licenses were also allocated for outlying communities and unincorporated areas in each county. Of Whatcom County’s 15 allocations: Six are in Bellingham; both Ferndale and Lynden each get one; seven are “at-large.” As part of its revisions, the board proposed several limitations designed to ensure one license holder cannot monopolize the market. They cannot have more than three licenses total, either for producing, processing or selling marijuana. They can also not hold more than 33 percent of the retail licenses allocated to a county or city. This means an individual cannot hold licenses for more than two marijuana stores within Bellingham’s city limits, and

no more than four in Whatcom County. Should there be more applicants than available license allocations for a specific area, the board is proposing a lottery system be used to select locations. Guidelines for such a system are still in development. Retailers will need to follow their local municipal zoning rules, and the board has stated that cities could conceivably zone out cannabis-related business. In August, the Bellingham City Council dropped a short-lived moratorium on marijuana retail within city limits. The city is expected to soon issue permanent rules on how such enterprises would be handled on a local regulatory level. The Lynden City Council voted to place a six-month moratorium on recreational pot sales within city limits during a meeting on Sept. 16. City leaders say they want better clarification on state rules before moving forward. A public hearing before the Lynden council regarding the moratorium is scheduled for Oct. 21. The liquor board has released a document highlighting its recent updates to the proposed rules, and it has also updated a “frequently asked questions” document about the I-502 implementation process (view both online at www.liq.wa.gov).

Some additional notes on cannabis retail (according to the board’s updated rules): — All sales would have to take place in a licensed retail establishment, meaning no online or delivery sales would be allowed. — Medical marijuana and recreational retail marijuana could not be sold within the same store. — Stores would have to close by midnight, and they cannot begin selling before 8 a.m. — Opened marijuana containers or products would not be allowed inside stores, meaning customers cannot handle their pot before buying it. Retailers would be allowed to keep sample jars with plastic or mesh screens to allow customers to smell varieties before making purchases. — The board would not set prices, but retailers would be required to mark up their products and not sell them below acquisition cost. — While producers, processors and retailers would be able to give product samples to each other, stores would not be allowed to do so for customers. Retailers would be able to keep four months of inventory.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

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October 2013

Credit unions in campaign to preserve nonprofit status Debate revisted on whether credit unions should keep their federal tax exemptions BY CHRISTINA HARPER The (Everett) Herald Business Journal The Credit Union National Association has launched a grassroots campaign encouraging its 96 million members throughout the U.S. to contact Congress in a bid to deter the removal of credit unions’ not-for-profit tax status. In 1934, Congress passed the Federal Credit Union Act, allowing not-for-profit credit unions a federal tax exemption status with the purpose of making credit available to “people of small means.” It gave those who needed loans an alternative to banks that would not lend to them. But many in the commercial banking industry believe that credit unions have become not-for-profit banks that just don’t pay federal tax. Assuming Congress takes a clean-slate approach to tax reform in coming months, it could soon withdraw credit unions’ notfor-profit category. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, have asked senators to advocate for businesses whose not-for-profit status should be kept. “They are going to have to make their

case to Congress to justify to the Senate that they are deserving,” said Jim Pishue, president and CEO of the Washington Banker’s Association. This seems like a fair approach to many in the banking industry who believe that credit unions should give up the tax exemption to level the playing field with banks. “It’s not a bank issue anymore,” Pishue said. “It’s all about taxpayers. They absorb the tax exemption.” Pishue argues that each time a tax exemption is granted to one group, taxes get raised elsewhere to compensate. “This isn’t one industry complaining about another,” Pishue said. “This is much larger.” The principle of people helping people has not changed, said Lynn Heider, vice president of public relations and communications at Northwest Credit Union Association, which represents credit unions in Washington and Oregon. “We are not profit-driven banks,” Heider said. “Credit unions do not pay stockholders and there are no profits.” The millions of dollars per year that credit unions pay in payroll, property and

sales taxes benefits local communities. If credit unions lose their federal tax exemption status, then the cost of services for members would rise, he said. In 2012, credit union members in Washington saved about $3 million in fees. Averaged out, that breaks down to $111 per credit union household. “Ask consumers if they want to lose those benefits and I think I know what they will say,” Heider said. Credit unions are cooperative organizations and, unlike banks whose profits pay shareholders, profits at credit unions are cycled back to members who each own a slice of the business. This is done in the form of lower fees for services including free checking, lower interest rates on loans and higher dividends on savings. Credit unions can provide these services because they hold not-for-profit status. The national debt is one thing, said Mark Duffy, president and CEO of Everett’s Mountain Pacific Bank. “I would think that the other thing is that the credit unions have changed.” Duffy has nothing against credit unions, but when they do business in an area where his bank specializes, such as business loans, then the not-for-profit status gives credit unions an unfair competitive advantage. “I’m competing with them with the same

products and I have to pay taxes if I make a profit and they don’t,” Duffy said. Others in the banking industry argue that credit unions are much larger than they were in 1934 because of changes to loosen membership rules. Credit union members used to have to be employed by the company or organization tied to the credit union. Only employees of the Boeing Co., for example, could open an account at Boeing Employees Credit Union. Now anyone can join BECU. This is not the first time the tax issue has flared up. In 1951 and 1998, the status was argued but preserved. “The taxation issue has been brought up by banks for years,” said Todd Pietzsch, manager of public relations at BECU. Credit unions have products and services that all large banks have but members own a piece of the credit union and have a vote on how the institutions are run. In areas where credit union membership is high, all consumers benefit because they add competition to the marketplace, Pietzsch said. “There is a ripple effect. If you are not paying $10 a month to have a checking account then that is $120 a year in your pocket you can save spend or invest,” Pietzsch said. “It all adds up.”

Christina Harper is a freelance writer for The Herald Business Journal in Everett, Wash., a partner publication of The Bellingham Business Journal.

Old mercury cell building dismantled on Bellingham’s waterfront

PORT OF BELLINGHAM PHOTO | COURTESY TO THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

This photo, taken Sept. 3, shows crews tearing down the old mercury cell building on the Georgia-Pacific West cleanup site on the Bellingham waterfront. The demolition is part of an interim cleanup project to remove mercury contamination in the ground and building. The cell building was part of the Georgia Pacific Chlor-Alkali plant that used a mercury-cell technology to make chlorine and sodium hydroxide (caustic). The chlorine and caustic were used in the pulp and paper production process and were sold for other commercial uses.

BuildIt series seeks to help inventors A Bellingham nonprofit is offering a series of classes and workshops to help inventors get their product ideas into the consumer market. The BuildIt Lecture Series, run by the Northwest Innovation Resource Center, will include six sessions between Oct. 9 and Nov. 11. Heather McKendry, program manager for the NWIRC, said the series will cover the key stages of getting a product idea into the marketplace, including patents and intellectual property laws, marketing, design, product testing, funding and sales. A three-hour design workshop on Oct. 23— which is also offered as a standalone event—will feature Peter Coughlan, a former partner with the global design consultancy, IDEO. Coughlan will teach design principles with an interactive approach, utilizing product examples from attendees. For more information on registration costs, and how to sign up, visit www.builditnw.com.

October 2013

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MARKET INDICATORS Tracking the local economy

Jobs: Local unemployment at lowest level since October 2012 Unemployment rate

Aug. 2012: 7.7% (revised) | Aug. 2013: 6.5% (initial) Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County

Jobless benefit claims 4000

3000

Includes non-seasonally adjusted figures in Whatcom County 90K 80K 70K 60K 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K

2000

1000

SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

50 40 30 20 10 J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

Includes Chapters 7,11,13 in Whatcom County

70 60

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J 2012 2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

Bankruptcies

Aug. 2012: 49 | Aug. 2013: 44 (initial)

Aug. 2012: 79,700 (revised) | Aug. 2013: 82,100 (initial)

Includes continued unemployment benefit claims in Whatcom County

10%

Total nonfarm employment

July 2012: 2,477 | July 2013: 2,036

SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT

SOURCE: U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

Spending: Vehicle registrations outpacing previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s figures Sales-tax distribution

Aug. 2012: $1.65 million | Aug. 2013: $1.8 million $2M

Includes basic and optional local sales tax to Bellingham

$1.75M

Motor vehicle registrations Includes original registrations in Whatcom County

1250

$1.25M

750

$1M

500

$750K $500K

250

$250K J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

J A 2012

J F 2013

M A M

Includes monthly averages (Canada-to-U.S.) at market closing

April 2012: 549,520 | April 2013: 545,964 Includes southbound passenger-vehicle crossings into Whatcom County 700K 600K 500K 400K 300K 200K 100K 0

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

SOURCE: WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING

Border traffic

Aug. 2012: $1.00 | Aug. 2013: $0.96

$1.10 $1.00 $0.90 $0.80 $0.70 $0.60 $0.50 $0.40 $0.30 $0.20 $0.10

1000

$1.5M

Canadian dollar

Aug. 2012: 1,133 | Aug. 2013: 1,225

SOURCE: BANK OF CANADA

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A 2012 2013

SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Housing: Residential sales continue hitting high notes as fall begins Home sales prices

Average: Aug. 2012: $270,179 | Aug. 2013: $277,350 Median: Aug. 2012: $237,250 | Aug. 2013: $253,400 Average price

$300K $250K

Median price

350

Includes single-family homes and condos in Whatcom County

Aug. 2012: 326 | Aug. 2013: 348

400

300

350

250

300

200

$150K

150

$100K

100

$50K

50 2013

200 150 100 50

SOURCE: NORTHWEST MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Foreclosures & delinquencies Delinquency rate: July 2012: 4.37% | July 2013: 3.51% Foreclosure rate: July 2012: 1.5% | July 2013: 1.28%

4.5% 4% 3.5% 3% 2.5% 2% 1.5% 1% 0.5%

250

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

SOURCE: NORTHWEST MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Pending residential sales

Aug. 2012: 262 | Aug. 2013: 274

$200K

2012

Closed residential sales

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2012

Foreclosure rate

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J 2012 2013

2013

SOURCE: NORTHWEST MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE

Delinquency rate

SOURCE: CORELOGIC

Other factors: Bellingham Cruise Terminal made most of busy season Airport traffic

Cruise terminal traffic

Aug. 2012: 53,724 | Aug. 2013: 52,909

Aug. 2012: 4,112 | Aug. 2013: 4,450

Includes total enplanements at Bellingham International Airport

Includes inbound/outbound passengers at Bellingham Cruise Terminal 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500

70K 60K 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A 2012 2013

SOURCE: PORT OF BELLINGHAM

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2012

SOURCE: PORT OF BELLINGHAM

2013

Bellingham permit values

Aug. 2012: $4.3 million | Aug. 2013: $11.9 million Includes total building-permit valuation in Bellingham

$45K $40K $35K $30K $25K $20K $15K $10K $5K

Whatcom permit values

Aug. 2012: $11.1 million | Aug. 2013: $17.2 million

Includes building-permit values in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County $25M

$20M $15M $10M $5M

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2012

SOURCE: CITY OF BELLINGHAM

2013

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2012

2013

SOURCE: WHACTOM COUNTY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

BBJToday.com

October 2013

Whatcom County’s unemployment drops to 6.5 percent BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

ontinued private-sector job growth in August pushed Whatcom County’s unemployment level to its lowest point in 2013, according to the latest figures from the Washington State Employment Security Department.

The county posted a 6.5 percent jobless rate in August 2013, according to initial estimates. That’s down from 7.7 percent in August 2012, and also a drop from a revised rate of 7.2 percent in July 2013. Whatcom’s private sector had an estimated 1,900 more jobs in August 2013 than it had during the same month last year.

More than half of those gains were in the leisure and hospitality sector, whose total employment grew 10 percent between August 2012 and August 2013, adding an estimated 900 new jobs. Local leisure and hospitality business is poised for additional growth. Blaine’s Semiahmoo Resort re-opened under

new ownership in midAugust. In Bellingham, two new hotels are expected open by the end of 2013, and two others should be ready to break ground over the next eight months. Other sectors that saw year-over-year growth in Whatcom County, according to the August 2013 figures, include: goods producers (gain of 600 jobs),

retail (up 500) and manufacturing (up 400). No private industries reported year-to-year job losses. But the financial activities and the professional and business services sectors showed no job growth in August 2013, compared to last year. Government jobs are also up when comparing figures from August 2013 and

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August 2012. Local offices have added 300. State agencies added 200. Federal employment levels showed no change. Growth in Whatcom County’s overall labor force, which has lagged for most of the year, continues to stagnate. The county’s total civilian labor force—which factors in residents who work in agriculture, and those who work outside of the county—shrunk by 1.2 percent in August 2013, compared to the same month the year before. State economists estimated that Whatcom’s labor force contained 103,870 people in August 2013. Whatcom County’s August jobless rate was among the lower rates estimated in northwest Washington. Skagit County’s unemployment was at 7.7 percent. Island County posted a 7.1 percent rate. San Juan County had a jobless rate at 4.3 percent, which was the lowest out of all 39 counties in Washington. The state’s highest unemployment estimate was found in Grays Harbor County, at 11 percent in August.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

State jobless rate at 7 percent in August

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Washington’s August employment picture looked much the same as it has over the past several months, according to the latest monthly report from the state’s Employment Security Department. The state added jobs for the eleventh straight month in August, gaining a seasonally adjusted estimate of 5,300 jobs. At the same time, a small decline in the total labor force, combined with an increase in unemployed people actively looking for work, nudged the estimated unemployment rate up to 7 percent from 6.9 percent in July. Washington added an estimated 62,500 jobs in the past year. Unlike county-level rates, statewide unemployment is adjusted to account for seasonal factors.

October 2013

BBJToday.com

Quick facts on the new health insurance marketplace Where to get information Locally, information is available from the Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement, online at www.whatcomalliance.org. A toll-free hotline for information on buying individual health insurance plans in Washington is available at 1-855-923-4633. Information on how to sign up for health insurance is available at the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, wahealthplanfinder.org, and at the state Insurance Commissioner’s Office website, http:// tinyurl.com/qzbpp4r. A map listing the organizations and addresses for help and information is available at www.wahealthplanfinder.org/map. php.

Key dates Oct. 1: Consumers can begin comparison shopping and signing up online for individual health insurance plans. Jan. 1, 2014: Insurance coverage begins for those who have signed up. March 31, 2014: The deadline to sign up for individual health insurance plans for 2014. For a chart to help you compare insurance plans, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ healthplanchart.

What changes Starting Jan. 1, no adult can be denied health insurance because of a medical problem, sometimes called a pre-existing condition. The rule already is in place for children. All health insurance bought by individuals and small employer health plans that go into effect on Jan. 1 must include coverage for the following: Outpatient services Emergency services Hospitalization

Maternity and newborn care Mental health, substance abuse disorders Prescription drugs Rehabilitative services, such as physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy Laboratory services Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management Pediatric services, including oral and vision care Sources: Washington State Insurance Commissioner’s Office and Washington Health Benefit Exchange Compiled by Sharon Salyer, staff writer for The Daily Herald in Everett, Wash., a partner publication of The Bellingham Business Journal

Additional privacy tips

3. Verify the Web Address of the Exchange: The only official web address for the online marketplace is www.wahealthplanfinder.org. Any other site with a variation on the name or with an address that ends in *.net or *.com is not the state’s official marketplace. If you’re unsure of a website, call Washington Healthplanfinder tollfree at 1-855-WAFINDER. If you suspect a site is fraudulent, contact the Insurance Commissioner’s office at 1-800-562-6900. 4. Don’t be fooled by Imitations: Wahealthplanfinder.org is the official health insurance marketplace for the state of Washington and the only place where you can receive tax credits, subsidies or access to free coverage through Medicaid or Washington Apple Health. Do not be fooled by imitations. There is never any

cost in signing up for free or low-cost health coverage. 5. The Exchange Does Not Cover Medicare: Washington Healthplanfinder does not offer supplemental coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Do not be fooled by individuals telling you they can enroll you in new Medicare coverage under the Affordable Care Act or through the “Exchange.” If you suspect someone of Medicare fraud, call the Insurance Commissioner at 1-800-562-6900. 6. Report Scams: If you receive an unsolicited request for your personal information to enroll in health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, ask for the individual’s name, associated organization and phone number to verify the information, or do not respond.

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Local home sales still rising BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal Sale prices for single-family homes and condominiums in Whatcom County are on the rise, and closed sales are continuing to outpace the level of activity from last year, according to the latest reports from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Local brokers reported 274 closed residential sales in August, a 4.6 percent increase from the same month last year. Pending sales are also up, according to the NMLS. Whatcom County had 348 in August 2013, up 6.7 percent from August 2012. Home prices in Whatcom County are seeing healthy year-over-year increases, as well. The county’s median price on closed sales of single-family homes and condos in August 2013 was $253,400, a 6.8 percent increase from the same month last year. The average price jumped 2.7 percent in August 2013 to $277,350. Whatcom County’s home prices were below averages from the 21 counties the

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NMLS serves. Across those counties, the median sale price was $283,000. The average sale price was $348,736. Housing markets tend to slow in August, yet the NMLS reported increased buyer demand and rising inventory levels across the state. With our 154-seat tiered seminar theatre and two other adaptable meeting rooms, your next corporate event is sure to meet with success.

Housing market activity (August 2013) Includes single-family homes and condos Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service Closed sales Total: 274 (up 4.6 percent from 262 in August 2012) Average price: $277,350 (up 2.7 percent from $270,178) Median price: $253,400 (up 6.8 percent from $237,250) Pending sales Total: 348 (up 6.7 percent from 326 in August 2012) Average price (list): $300,776 (up 13.5 percent from $265,013) Median price (list): $259,900 (up 8.6 percent from $239,250

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October 2013

GOATS, ART & COFFEE Recent arrival in “Alley District” serves up caffeine jolts

BY EVAN MARCZYNSKI The Bellingham Business Journal

ith no street visibility and a sales cycle that depends on sunny weather in notoriously gloomy Bellingham, dollars do not come easy for The Wailing Goat Espresso. But Suzanne Lundberg, who first opened Wailing Goat in Sudden Valley in 2011 and moved it to Bellingham’s central commerce district last year, said the coffee stand is fitting in well among an eclectic group of small businesses near the downtown terminus of the city’s South Bay Trail. “When I set it up here, I kind of came into this glorious community that had this plan to develop this space all ready before I got here,” Lundberg said. Wailing Goat is among the newer additions to what’s now being called the “Alley District,” a consortium of 16 businesses located along a stretch of the South Bay Trail that snakes behind North State Street. The group grew out

EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTO | THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

Jason Byal, left, and Aaron Loveitt, right, talk with Suzanne Lundberg, the owner and operator of The Wailing Goat Espresso. Lundberg’s business is located along the South Bay Trail in downtown Bellingham. of an informal support network that has for years shared similar interests, including support of local art, sustainability and community, Lundberg said. Inside a small, remodeled trailer, Lundberg sells espresso along with baked goods such as cookies and scones. Aside from coffee, Wailing Goat exists to support local

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artists, Lundberg said. The stand sells a variety of art pieces, including handmade baskets, jewelry, pottery and soap. Lundberg offers free espresso to customers who buy artwork. Jason Byal, owner of Positive-Negative, a photo studio and darkroom located just down the trail from Wailing Goat, said Lundberg has been a welcome addition to the group of business owners nearby. “She’s bringing in a whole new energy,” Byal said. Aaron Loveitt of Altility Art Studio, also nearby, agreed. “Coffee shops are innately social places,” Loveitt said. “It fits really well in here because it’s really diverse and unique.” Wailing Goat caters to a range of customers who walk, run and bike on the South Bay Trail. Lundberg markets her business as Bellingham’s one and only “bike-thru” coffee stand. A lot of the artwork and garden plants that surround the stand are collected through trade and barter, which is a key theme of the business, she said. “We try to modify and enhance things by trade and barter,” Lundberg said. The peak of business for Wailing Goat generally hits mid-summer, she said. Saturday afternoons are particularly busy, especially when the weather is agreeable and the weekly Bellingham Farmers Market brings heavy foot traffic downtown. Nice weather is important, since Lundberg generally doesn’t open the stand on rainy or particularly cold days. There’s just not enough customers, she said. Difficulty attracting business in poor weather is also a major reason she’s made the stand a seasonal business, she said. Aside from the natural elements, Lundberg said one of her biggest challenges is a lack of visibility. Since the stand isn’t located on a main city street, the Wailing Goat’s marketing efforts rely heavily on word of mouth and casual partnerships with surrounding business owners. Yet this strategy has worked well, so far, she said, particularly with support from her neighbors. “Everybody is kind of on the same page as far as going green, promoting each other and working together,” she said. The Wailing Goat’s name comes from an Ethiopian legend that describes the origin of the world’s first cup of coffee, Lundberg said. As a play on its name, the stand features a special goat-milk latte on its menu. The name has sparked unique interest from some local goat owners, she said. But while Lindberg hosts the occasional goat petting zoo for fun, she doesn’t keep goats herself. “Everyone always asks me if I have goats,” Lundberg said. And are they disappointed when they find out she doesn’t? “I think so,” she said, laughing.

October 2013

BUZZ | FROM 3

Neighborhood has new owners. Larry Keen, who bought the shop in 1996, has decided to retire along with his longtime employee, Mike McKernan, who was co-owner of Smitty’s from 1984 up until Keen took over. Smitty’s, located at 2205 Woburn St., will now be operated by Dan and Elizabeth Thorndike, who own Dan’s Automotive, also in Bellingham. The shop will do business under the Dan’s Automotive name. Along with the new acquisition, the Thorndikes plan to eventually move their entire business to the Smitty’s location. Dan’s Automotive, which is located in the Sunset Pond Business Park, has outgrown its original space, Dan Thorndike said. With two more bays and triple the amount of parking, the Smitty’s shop will enable quicker turnarounds for customers needing service, he added.

State proposes 2.7 percent raise in workers’ comp premiums The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has proposed an average 2.7 percent increase for the state’s 2014 workers’ compensation premiums. It would be the state’s first workers’ comp increase in three years. The 2.7 percent raise represents an increase on less than two cents per hour worked, according to L&I. Nearly 100,000 claims are filed each year through the Washington State Workers Compensation State Fund. Comments on the proposed increase will be accepted at a series of public meetings

BBJToday.com across the state in October. One such meeting will be held in Bellingham at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the city’s Central Library Lecture Room. Comments can also be made in writing to Doug Stewart, Employer Services Program Manager, P. O. Box 44140, Olympia, WA 98504-4140, or by email to Doug. Stewart@Lni.wa.gov. More information regarding the rates proposal is available at www.Rates.Lni. wa.gov Final rates will be adopted in early December and go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

Lehman McShane Strategies opens in Bellingham Towers Cathy Lehman and Lisa McShane have created Lehman McShane Strategies LLC, a political and strategic communication firm headquartered in downtown Bellingham. Both have backgrounds in politics and communication. Lehman is a current Bellingham City Council member, representing the city’s 3rd Ward. McShane has worked with Conservation Northwest and also served as former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire’s statewide field director in 2008. The consultancy will work with community groups, environmental organizations, tribes and individuals to provide strategic planning, policy, communications and political and donor advising, according to a news release. Lehman McShane Strategies is located on the second floor of the Bellingham Towers building, in Suite 235.

Color Chiropractic opens in Fairhaven

Richard Tran and Michelle Hsu have opened Color Chiropractic at 1224 Harris Ave., Suite 107, in Bellingham’s Fairhaven District. Tran and Hsu have been in practice for 10 years, specializing in a holistic approach to chiropractic care that includes physical, nutritional and emotional aspects. Both practitioners offer detoxification services, laser light therapy, nutritional testing and counsel combined with chiropractic adjustments. Color Chiropractic is also a new member of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Downtown Bellingham’s “parklet” now up for sale The “parklet” that has been temporarily installed outside of two downtown Bellingham restaurants over the past two summers is now for sale for $3,750. Sustainable Connections, the local nonprofit that along with the city of Bellingham has led a pilot project for the mobile mini-park that fits inside a standard park-

ing space, announced the sale listing on Friday, Sept. 20. Organizers said the listing date was to mark PARK(ing) Day, an international event celebrating such temporary public parks that has been held annually since 2005. Bellingham’s parklet was initially outside of La Fiamma Pizza at 200 E. Chestnut St., during summer 2012. Over the past several months, the parklet sat in front of Dashi Noodle Bar at 1311 N. State St. The mini-park features native plants, benches and tigerwood decking certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. It was built by Bellingham Bay Builders, Atility Art Studio and Plantas Nativa. The project was designed to support the city’s ongoing downtown planning update. City planners have noted a community desire for more public space in Bellingham’s central district. The parklet’s new owner will need to apply with the city of Bellingham to install it in a parking space. Proceeds will go

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October 2013

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2013 FINALISTS

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October 2013

BUSINESS TOOLKIT Growing and maintaining your business

Focus your social-media marketing with Twitter lists

ver feel like you are lost in a stream of information that is moving too fast to keep up? Sometimes using Twitter makes people feel that way, mainly because the content stream on that particular social media platform changes so quickly. To some, it can feel like the more people and businesses they connect with (which is a good thing), the harder it can be to find the profiles and content they are looking for (that’s a bad thing). The good news is that there are simple solutions that can help users stay focused and use Twitter more efficiently. They’re called Twitter lists. Lists are a profile feature available to every Twitter user. Creating a variety of lists can help users filter tweets into meaningful, focused categories, so time

Patti Rowlson On Social Media & Marketing spent communicating and marketing on Twitter can be targeted and efficient. Using lists to engage with local customers New reports have shown that approximately threequarters of users say they are more likely to purchase something from a company

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they are connected with on Twitter. Think about how those numbers could impact a small, local business. Businesses that sell products and services in their local communities should consider setting up at least one list that only includes users in their geographical community—like the Whatcom County list shown in the example [left] (blue arrow). Need help setting up Twitter lists? A quick video tutorial that shows how to create, and add members to a list, is available online (pnw.cc/pcOsb). Once lists are created, users can view a stream of filtered tweets by clicking “Lists” on their profile [yellow arrow above] and then selecting the desired list they want to view. In this example, opening the Whatcom County list will only display tweets from 211 local users, not all the tweets from 1,680 users being followed by this account. The beauty of using lists is that when business professionals are short on time, they can simply pop onto Twitter for 5-10 minutes and go directly to their local list to read tweets from their local community. When there is more time to explore, they can check out other lists or scan through the unfiltered stream found on their Home screen. Personally, I know I have been influenced to buy things from local businesses who engage with me on Twitter—picking up things like coffee, event tickets, meals out, and even shoes. How about you? Has a local business influenced your buying decisions by marketing on Twitter?

Patti Rowlson of PR Consulting Services is a publicist and marketing consultant based in Whatcom County. Visit her website at www.pattirowlson. com, or connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

The Bellingham Business Journal: In print monthly, online all the time.

October 2013

BBJToday.com

BUSINESS TOOLKIT

When business collaboration is better than competition their individual choices more on the stores’ specialties than what they have in common. Did the owners work out these differences (collaborate) between themselves? I don’t know the answer, but it would have been a smart strategy, as both stores thrive despite the presence of large national chain stores in the sur-

Mike Cook On Management

rounding vicinity. Occasionally hard times drag the practicality of mutual self-interest center stage from its normal location on the periphery of market activity. When times are good and demand exceeds supply, any recognition of mutuality may not be apparent, though it is ever present. If the going gets tough or demand shrinks, the temptation to either bail out or compete only on price becomes mighty appealing. It is at times like this when some business owners may realize there is always opportunity in collaboration. In 2009, when the entire economy was upended, local impacts were varied. For instance, there was a dramatic decline in

Just North of Fred Meyers Lakeway and Woods Coffee on the West Side of King Street

menus, smaller portions and lower prices. It worked! The locals turned out. Many restaurants that might have otherwise closed now remain and special nights for the locals to feel appreciated have become the common practice. If you are a business owner, especially a small-business owner, consider these actions: — Visit other product or service providers in your industry to find out how they differ from you and what you can offer to be different yourself. — Gain an understanding of demand for the service you are, or are thinking of, providing. It may be cheap to open a pizza shop. But will your neighborhood support one? — Invite some of the other providers (collaborate) in your industry to get together and talk about how you can collaborate to grow the market for everyone’s offerings.

Mike Cook is a management developer who lives in Anacortes, Wash.

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tourist trade in Napa Valley. While wineries definitely are an attraction to the area, part of the allure for many tourists is also the opportunity to dine in some of the finest restaurants in the country. If you’ve been to Napa Valley, you know there is usually a wait to get into some of the better-known establishments. When the economy cratered, that was no longer a problem. Faced with laying off highly trained and experienced wait and cooking staffs, many of the local owners got together and came up with a collaborative strategy that made perfect sense. But it would not have been visible if they had tried to compete for the limited demand then available. Tourists expected varied menus and high prices for unique dining experiences. The residents of Napa Valley enjoyed these restaurants, as well, but not enough to regularly pay high prices. The new strategy: cater to the locals, and create a new marketing approach. Restaurants began offering more limited

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What is it about our seeming obsession with competition in business? The common mythology would have us believe that, in a capitalist economy, we favor free markets. In theory, it makes all players better. In practice, upon close examination, we find that often the ostensibly fiercest competitors don’t really like competition themselves. The mythology surrounding competition obscures an underlying belief that opportunity is scarce, and demand is limited. This has led many business owners who might otherwise thrive by focusing on improved products and processes to become engaged in useless price competitions or hide behind legislation that leaves consumers having to choose among mediocre offerings. Here’s the truth about us as consumers: We like having choices, and choice grows market size. A case in point is the hardware stores in my town of Anacortes. There are two, and both carry the basics: nuts, bolts, light bulbs and plumbing and electrical supplies. However, there are critical differences. One store clearly addresses the needs of the customer concerned with yard and lawn issues, plants, mulch, mowers, seeds and the like. The other store focuses on rentals that assist in bigger jobs like digging trenches, taking down trees with chain saws and building fences with posthole diggers. While you can get the basics at both hardware stores, customers seem to make

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October 2013

PEOPLE

Who’s news in Bellingham & Whatcom business Banking

Education

Business Bank has made several top-level personnel changes. Michal D. Cann has been appointed chairman of the board of directors; he also continues in his role as CEO. Andy Hunter has taken over as president and is a new member of the board; he continues as chief credit Michal D. Cann officer. Don Gordon Sr. has been named as the bank’s lead director.

Craig Dunn has been appointed to serve as interim dean of Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics, as current dean, Brian Burton, began duties as the university’s new associate vice president for academic affairs on Sept. 30. Dunn will serve as interim dean as a national search takes place for a permanent dean.

Bob MacIsaac has joined Whidbey Island Bank as vice president and commercial lending officer in Whatcom County. Prior to joining Whidbey Island Bank, MacIsaac was with the Bank of Washington in Lynnwood, serving as senior vice president for community banking. He also served as regional Bob MacIsaac manager and senior vice president for Union Bank (previously Frontier Bank) in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

Financial services Casey McKinlock has been hired as a staff accountant at VSH CPAs, located in Bellingham’s Barkley District. McKinlock graduated from Western Washington University, double majoring in financial economics and accounting. Brandon Mankle has joined the lending team at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Mankle was born and raised in Bellingham, and he has spent the past eight years working in the Brandon Mankle financial industry.

Insurance Rice Insurance has made several recent hires in its Bellingham office, and the independent agency has also expanded outside

of Whatcom County with a new office in Kent, according to an announcement from the company. The Kent location is staffed by Gary Kelley and Nicole Cassat. Additional hires announced by Rice Insurance include: Amy Dalton as business ambassador for the company’s benefits department; Taylor Oldfield as administrative assistant for the benefits department; Amelia Dobson as a personal insurance agent; Shane Vander Giessen as a personal-lines producer.

Leisure and hospitality The Chrysalis Inn and Spa in Bellingham has promoted Mollie Tan as its new banquet and meetings coordinator, and Krystal Clark as its new front-office manager. Tan, a Bellingham native, studied hospitality and tourism management at Whatcom Community College. She has previously served as a marketing and events intern at the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where she helped coordinate large community events such as Junior Ski to Sea, Ski to Sea and the Chamber Golf Classic. Clark, a recent graduate of Western Washington University, brings a background in business and marketing.

ference Center in Bellingham has made two additions to its management team. Lynden native Derek Som, who has 16 years of food-service experience, has been named executive chef, and Pat Draper joins as the hotel’s catering sales manager. Som is directing all culinary operations at the Lakeway Inn, including Poppe’s 360 Neighborhood Pub, The Oboe Café, room service and catering. Draper’s responsibilities include all aspects of events held at the Lakeway Inn, including conferences, weddings, fundraisers, corporate events and holiday parties.

Manufacturing Absorption Corp. of Ferndale has made two additions to its management team. Jesse Henman joins the company as its new mass and grocery national accounts manager. Henman has previously worked as a client insights manager with Symphony IRI in California, working with E&J Gallo. James Gorrell joins as Absorption Corp.’s new CareFRESH and pet specialty brand manager. Gorrell has previously worked with The Nutro Company, a division of Mars Inc., the Corporate Communications Center, the Bankcard division of Tabs Direct in Houston.

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PEOPLE | FROM 16 Nonprofits Alice Clark plans to step down as the executive director of Bellingham’s Pickford Film Center. Clark has led the Pickford since 2001, and has been involved with the center as a founding board member and volunteer since 1998. She will end her tenure on Dec. 31. The center’s board of directors has created a hiring committee to begin searching for a replacement. Teresa Scott has joined the Mount Baker Chapter of American Red Cross as its new financial development director. Scott Teresa Scott brings six years of professional development experience in donor relations, grant writing and event management. She most recently served as the donor relations coordinator with Childcare Worldwide. Brad Tuininga, former development director for the Bellingham Technical College Foundation, has joined North Cascades Brad Tuininga Institute in SedroWoolley as its new resource development director. Tuininga is an alumnus of the Institute’s graduate program offered in partnership with Western Washington University.

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Real Estate Peter Gigante and Stacy Graves have joined RE/ MAX Whatcom County’s Bellingham office. With his wife, Hong Wei (Joana) as his assistant, Gigante serves Mandarin-speaking clients and focuses on investment properties, both residential and commercial. He serves clients from the greater Seattle area to Blaine. Graves was an accounting/finance recruiter in New York City before relocating to Bellingham two years ago. She focuses on residential properties and serves both buyers and sellers.

PEOPLE | Page 23

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October 2013

PUBLIC RECORDS Government information relevant to business

Business licenses Listings, which feature both new and renewed licenses, include business name, licensee name and the business’ physical address. Records are obtained from the city of Bellingham. 206 Technology LLC, 206 Technology LLC, 2915 Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225. 360 Mobile Welding LLC, 360 Mobile Welding LLC, 2227 Queen St., Suite 9, Bellingham, WA 98229. Ace Clean, Christopher Ray Raymor, 2247 W. Birch St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Advancify LLC, Advancify LLC, 1306 W. North St . Bellingham, WA 98225. Aggregus, Aggregus LLC, 1001 Larrabee Ave., Suite 203, Bellingham, WA 98225. Akers Construction, Glen K. Akers, 1800 Alabama St., Apt. 9, Bellingham, WA 98229. Any Day Painting, Seth Howard Anderson, 259 W. Bakerview Road, Apt. 307, Bellingham, WA 98226. Ashley Marie Garver, Ashley Marie Garver,321 Telegraph Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. B.W. Heig & Sons, Bret William Heig, 1130 21st St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Bellingham Bay Software Ltd., Bellingham Bay Software Ltd., 851 Coho Way, Suite 302, Bellingham, WA 98225. Bellingham Professional Finishes, Nicholas John Haas, 2704 Williams St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Blue Whale Systems Inc., Blue Whale Systems Inc., 4058 Hammer Drive, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98226. Brandi Jones, Brandi Renee Jones, 1128 Finnegan Way, Unit 1, Bellingham, WA 98225. Buddy’s Northwest LLC, Buddy’s Northwest LLC, 1622 N. State St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Cambridge Consulting, Courtney M. Miller, 4380 Tull Road, Apt. 402, Bellingham, WA 98226. Carol T. Baker Photography, Carol Taurean Baker, 2607 Elizabeth St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Carpet Liquidators, Carpet Liquidators Of North Seattle LLC, 200 E. Bellis Fair Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98226. Cascadia Insurance, Cascadia Insurance LLC, 1313 E. Maple St., Suite 201-595, Bellingham, WA 98225. Christen Mattix, Christen Joy Mattix, 2612 Clair St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Ciderpress Design, Benjamin Kegan Eisner-Butzen, 2539 James St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Clear Choice Septic Design Inc., Clear Choice Septic Design Inc., 3111 Firwood Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Clear Creativity, Ron L. Guier, 2633 Xenia St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Creative Solutions By Jk, Jennifer Lynn Kaatz, 5405 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Crisman Gunsmithing, Crisman Gunsmithing, 4921 Guide Meridian, Bellingham, WA 98226. Crossfit X LLC, Crossfit X LLC, 4000 Academy St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Dallas Chiropractic Clinic, Dallas Chiropractic Clinic LLC, 1509 Broadway St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Daphne’s Fairhaven, Tiny Bar Empire Inc., 1200 10th St., Suite 102, Bellingham, WA 98225. Daryl’s Just Fix It LLC, Daryl’s Just Fix It LLC, 18616 Abbey Pl., Bellingham, WA 98229. David U. Hooper, David U. Hooper, 501 Everglade Road, Bellingham, WA 98225.

DGW Creative Processes Inc., DGW Creative Processes Inc., 960 Harris Ave., Unit 603B, Bellingham, WA 98225. Emeritus At Bellingham, Emeritus Corporation, 4415 Columbine Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Era Capital Management, Era Capital Management LLC, 804 Salmonberry Lane, Bellingham, WA 98229. Fantastic Cleaners LLC, Fantastic Cleaners LLC, 733 Sterling Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Ferndale Fish Co., Ron William Limbacher, 1593 Slater Road, Bellingham, WA 98248. Fidalgo Books, Fernanda Viveiros Goncalves, 3573 Skylark Loop, Bellingham, WA 98226. Fish, Daniel Sampson Ruiz, 2225 Texas St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Fort Bellingham Market & Deli, JKD Inc., 1383 Marine Drive, Bellingham, WA 98225. Fredrick Dent Photocine, Spicerdent LLC, 1328 23rd St., Bellingham, WA 98225. From Here To There Importers, Elisha Fae Weinberg, 2524 Ontario St., Bellingham, WA 98226. H5 Consulting, Hannah Jo Ordos, 116 S. 41st St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Hair And Makeup By Laurel, Laurel Ruth Bareman, 1213 N. State St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Healogics Wound Care & Hyperbaric Services Inc., Healogics Wound Care & Hyperbaric Services Inc., 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225. Henderson Lawn Care, Douglas Edward Henderson, 1688 Sapphire Trail, Bellingham, WA 98226. Highway 542go, Highway 542go LLC, 2185 Alpine Way, Unit 101, Bellingham, WA 98226. Hypnopathic Healing, Gail Ann Coleman, 112 Ohio St., Suite 110, Bellingham, WA 98225. Inpatient Management Inc., Inpatient Management Inc., 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225. J. A. Griffin Inc., J. A. Griffin Inc., 1321 King St., Suite 4, Bellingham, WA 98229. James Kevin Vermillion, James Kevin Vermillion, 2401 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA 98229. Juice Peddler, Kelli Michelle Akre, 1909 I St., Apt. 4, Bellingham, WA 98225. Julie L. Adams, Julie L. Adams, 929 11th St., Apt. 202, Bellingham, WA 98225. Kelly Bird Elemental Hair, Kelly Bird, 1201 11th St., Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98225. Khya Rice LMP, Khya Denise Rice, 1229 Cornwall Ave., Suite 209, Bellingham, WA 98225. Lauren Ashley Creations, Dennis Wade Pate, 1425 Portal Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229. Lindsay J. Petersen M.S. CCC-SLP, Lindsay J. Petersen, 335 W. King Tut Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Logic Wireless Inc., Logic Wireless Inc., 2115 Franklin St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Mahnaz Lary MD Inc. PS, Mahnaz Lary MD Inc. PS, 1211 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Medina Home Renovations, Victor Medina, 2125 King St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Megan Clare Sylvester, Megan Clare Sylvester, 203 W. Holly St., Suite 221, Bellingham, WA 98225. Megan Lorraine Studio, Megan Lorraine Wight, 118 E. Magnolia St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Mica Beauty Make Up & Skin Care, IGWT Holdings Inc, 1 Bellis Fair Parkway,

Bellingham, WA 98226. Mt. Baker Auto Glass Inc, Mt. Baker Auto Glass Inc., 1919 Humboldt St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Mt. Baker Birth Assistant, Rachel Rebecca Davison, 2517 Kentucky St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Mt. Baker Moto-Sports, Steel Dreams II LLC, 3945 Home Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Nails Care, Song V. Pham, 4151 Meridian St., Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98226. Natural Birth Offerings, Christina Marie Banks, 1725 N. Shore Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Neverland Glass, Matthew Brandon Smiley, 2820 Eldridge Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Nicole E Kilgos OTR/L, Nicole E. Kilgos, 112 Ohio St., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225. Norco Inc., Norco Inc., 101 Stuart Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Nortat, Nortat, 5550 Aldrich Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Northwest ISR, Northwest ISR LLC, 19 Canyon Court, Bellingham, WA 98229. O’Daniel’s Painting Services, Kevin Francis O’Daniel, 3255 Racine St., Apt. 102, Bellingham, WA 98226. O’Donnell’s Bellingham Flea Market, O’Donnell Tri-Cities LLC, 1200 Dupont St., Suite 2H, Bellingham, WA 98225. One Ocean Global Inc., One Ocean Global Inc., 408 E. Horton Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Pinnacle Window Washing, Pinnacle Window Washing, 1165 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA 98226. Pro Fitness Northwest, Pro Fitness Northwest LLC, 2 Marigold Drive, Unit 10, Bellingham, WA 98229. Prographics LLC, Prographics LLC, 4131 Hannegan Road, Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98226. Pukka Herbs USA Inc., Pukka Herbs USA Inc., 424 W. Bakerview Road, Suite 105 #327, Bellingham, WA 98226. Qualified Tree Services LLC, Qualified Tree Services LLC, 2400 Meridian St., Suite B, Bellingham, WA 98225. RSK Cleaning Services, Roy Allen Knaak Jr., 3705 Canterbury Lane, Apt. 3, Bellingham, WA 98225. Reset Games, Another Castle LLC, 1255 Barkley Blvd., Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98226. Rising Sun Psychotherapy Ltd., Rising Sun Psychotherapy Ltd., 1329 Lincoln St., Suite 2, Bellingham, WA 98229. River’s Landscaping, River Thomas Fleischner, 906 Jersey St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Sarah Day Photography, Sarah Elissa Day, 1057 N. State St., Apt. 3, Bellingham, WA 98225. Shift Yes, Galen Emanuele, 1655 Summit Court, Bellingham, WA 98226. Simple Perfection House Cleaning, Simple Perfection House Cleaning, 1800 Texas St., Apt. 65, Bellingham, WA 98229. Simply Solar LLC, Simply Solar, 3886 Hammer Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. Sole Graphics LLC, Sole Graphics LLC, 12 Bellwether Way, Suite 232, Bellingham, WA 98225. Sound Social Media, Rebecca Elizabeth Campbell, 1213 Whatcom St., Apt. 131, Bellingham, WA 98229. Southland Hospitalists PC, Southland Hospitalists PC, 2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225. Spurian Services, Arnie Esguerra Ewing, 1017 Yew St., Bellingham, WA 98229. Stallions Love Angels, Terrence Uriah Erickson, 1104 E. Maryland St., Apt. 1,

Bellingham, WA 98226. Sueno Celebrations, Norma Suarez Liliana Suarez, 305 Telegraph Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Sunrise Medical Consultants LLC, Sunrise Medical Consultants LLC, 1400 King St., Suite 105, Bellingham, WA 98229. Sure Can Services, Tracy Lanee Neff, 2633 Woburn St., Bellingham, WA 98226. Tacos El Tule, Luis Manuel Robles, 200 Prospect St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Templeton Health Inc., Templeton Health Inc. PS, 1000 Mckenzie Ave., Suite 22, Bellingham, WA 98225. The Better Competitor, Jeff Dan King, 1511 N. State St., Apt. 152, Bellingham, WA 98225. Tiffany Brooks Photography, Tiffany Renee Brooks, 511 W. Illinois St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Tom @ Off The Top Studio, Thomas Mayer Smith, 2315 James St., Bellingham, 98225. Toryb LLC, Toryb LLC, 1319 Oriental Ave., Bellingham, WA 98229. Total Fitness NW, Chelsea Lynn Williams, 112 Ohio St., Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98225. Totaleerelaxed LLC, Totaleerelaxed LLC, 2321 E. Bakerview Road, Suite A, Bellingham, WA 98226. Totally Unique Designs LLC, Totally Unique Designs LLC, 5588 Market Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Traders Depot LLC, Traders Depot LLC, 410 W. Bakerview Road, Suite 114, Bellingham, WA 98226. Used Stuff Sale, Phuong T. Le, 3206 Orleans St., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98226. Wander Brewing, Wander Brewing LLC, 1807 Dean Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. Witt Group Holdings LLC, Witt O’Brien’s LLC, 1204 Railroad Ave., Suite 200, Bellingham, WA 98225. Zack’s Guitar, Zachary Grant Van Houten, 2800 Superior St., Bellingham, WA 98226.

Building permits Includes commercial building activity with an estimated valuation of $10,000 or more. Records are obtained from the city of Bellingham. 9/23 to 9/30/2013 Issued 2901 Squalicum Parkway (north tower), $518,000 for commercial alterations: kitchen remodel and installation of new exterior grease trap: St. Joseph Hospital. Contractor: Dawson Construction Inc. Permit No.: BLD201300421. Issued Sept. 27. 1600 Broadway St., $285,000 for commercial: additions and remodel to existing structure to create a new birthing center: Birthroot Midwifery. Contractor: Chuckanut Builders LLC. Permit No.: BLD2013-00205. Issued Sept. 24. 4029 Northwest Ave. 202, $150,000 for commercial tenant improvement: expansion of space #202 into adjacent vacant tenant space: Mt. Baker Imaging. Contractor: Pearson Construction Corp. Permit No.: BLD2013-00475. Issued Sept. 25. 1204 Cornwall Ave., $92,000 for tenant improvement: convert office space to restaurant (no exterior work proposed or permitted): Hot Point Tea and Express. Permit No.: BLD2013-00279. Issued Sept. 25. 800 Lakeway Drive, $43,000 for commercial re-roof: re-cover portions of existing gardening/outside sales area with CC1 poly-card plastic roofing: Fred Meyer Stores. Contractor: Equipment Roundup. Permit No.: BLD2013-00196. Issued Sept.

25. Pending 805 Home Lane, $1,316,150 for foundation-only for new 106-unit hotel (see BLD2013-00354). Permit No.: BLD2013-00486. Accepted Sept. 23. 2200 Iowa St., $720,000 for commercial: addition to automotive showroom, includes new service reception area and re-grading of parking lot: Roger Jobs. Permit No.: BLD2013-00251. Accepted Sept. 25. 1330 N. Forest St., $245,000 for tenant improvement: construction of brewery and pub/restaurant in former sign shop: Aslan Brewing Company. Contractor: Slab Design. Permit No.: BLD2013-00357. Accepted Sept. 24. 1250 Carolina St., $200,000 for commercial: remove shop hoist and install foundation for new hoist in bay 3 (all interior work and staging). Permit No.: BLD2013-00454. Accepted Sept. 23. 9/16 to 9/23/2013 Issued 950 Lincoln St. 101-106, $250,000 for tenant improvement: construct twolevel, live-work residential spaces in shell building area originally planned as retail: The Edge. Applicant and contractor: Oracle Contracting Services. Permit No.: BLD201300356. Issued Sept. 18. 4465 Cordata Parkway 104, $95,000 for tenant improvement: new office layout and acoustical ceiling. Contractor and applicant: Scoboria Construction Inc. Tenant: PeaceHealth. Permit No.: BLD2013-00459. Issued Sept. 17. 1807 Dean Ave., $80,000 for tenant improvement: brewery with tasting room: Wander Brewing. Permit No.: BLD201300453. Issued Sept. 20. 303 Potter St., $36,000 for commercial alterations: remodel existing eye-exam facility into offices and workspace: Northwest Living Workspace. Permit No.: BLD2013-00388. Issued Sept. 16. 306 Flora St., [no valuation listed] for tenant improvement: occupancy review within basement storage level for assembly occupancy and for artists’ studios; replace exit stair in previous opening, provide new exit at garage ramp for basement assembly room: Make.Shift Art Space. Permit No.: BLD2013-00373. Issued Sept. 16. Pending 516 High St. (WWU’s Nash Hall), $4.2 million for commercial alterations: renovations/upgrades to dorm. Permit No.: BLD2013-00404. Accepted Sept. 19. 1315 Dupont St., $1,728,560 for commercial: new 20-unit mixed-use building. Permit No.: BLD013-00485. Accepted Sept. 20. 4029 Northwest Ave. 202, $150,000 for commercial tenant improvement: expansion of space #202 into adjacent vacant tenant space: Mount Baker Imaging. Permit No.: BLD2013-00475. Accepted Sept. 17. 4064 Irongate Road, $148,954 for new commercial: construct metal canopy for new fueling site. Permit No.: BLD201300474. Accepted Sept. 16. 4064 Irongate Road, $17,524 for new commercial: construct utility/restroom building for new fueling site. Permit No.: BLD2013-00473. Accepted Sept. 16. 9/9 to 9/16/2013 Issued 1225 W. Bakerview Road, $3.5 million for tenant improvement: remodel of existing retail store; includes small addition at front entry and enclosure of small existing area as new coffee shop: Fred Meyer. Contractor: Western Construction Services Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00069. Issued Sept. 9. 3920 Meridian St., $175,000 for

commercial tenant improvement: provide unisex fitting rooms, two family restrooms, selective demo of interior walls, new finishes. Tenant: Ross Dress For Less. Applicant: MCG Architecture. Contractor: Pennon Construction Co. Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00379. Issued Sept. 10. 2430 James St., $55,000 for tenant improvement: new restaurant in existing tenant space: La Patissiere. Contractor: The Franklin Corp. Permit No.: BLD2013-00392. Issued Sept. 11. Pending 805 Home Lane, $6,580,750 for new 106-unit hotel. Permit No.: BLD201300354. Accepted Sept. 10. 119 W. Chestnut St., $1.35 million for new mixed-use building (above existing altered basement) attached to existing multifamily mixed-use building: Chestnut Flats II. Permit No.: BLD2013-00285. Accepted Sept. 12. 410 W. Bakerview Road, $520,000 for commercial: initial tenant improvements. Permit No.: BLD2013-00468. Accepted Sept. 11. 2901 Squalicum Parkway (north tower), $518,000 for commercial: kitchen remodel and installation of new exterior grease trap. Permit No.: BLD2013-00421. Accepted Sept. 12. 1297 E. Sunset Drive, $375,000 for commercial: new restaurant with drivethru: Taco Bell. Permit No.: BLD2013-00383. Accepted Sept. 13. 1135 E. Sunset Drive (demolition permit), $120,000 for commercial: nonstructural interior demolition, four new openings in exterior wall for new overhead doors and removal of approximately 2,000 square feet of asphalt for future loading dock. Permit No.: DEM2013-00046. Accepted Sept. 9. 9/3 to 9/9/2013 Issued 1225 E. Sunset Drive 155, $150,000 for tenant improvement: remodel former coffee shop into pharmacy: Safeway Pharmacy. Contractor: Commercial Retail Services LLC. Permit No.: BLD2013-00447. Issued Sept. 4. 1 Bellis Fair Parkway 516, $17,000 for tenant improvement: remodel for new food-service tenant in Bellis Fair Mall food court. Tenant: TCBY. Contractor: TKO Contracting LLC. Permit No.: BLD201300449. Issued Sept. 6. 2732 Alderwood Ave., $10,000 for commercial: pave 4,100 square feet of existing gravel parking and revise/add ADA parking. Permit No.: BLD2013-00443. Issued Sept. 4. Pending 1250 Carolina St., $200,000 for commercial: remove shop hoist and install foundation for new hoist in Bay 3. Permit No.: BLD2013-00454. Accepted Sept. 3. 4465 Cordata Parkway, $95,000 for tenant improvement: new office layout and accoustical ceiling. Contractor: Scorboria Construction Inc. Permit No.: BLD201300459. Accepted Sept. 5. 1155 E. Sunset Drive 118, $80,000 for commercial: expand storage area into adjacent tenant space and racking for storage. Permit No.: BLD2013-00457. Accepted Sept. 3. 2114 Electric Ave., $18,170 for commercial: foundation only for new unheated storage building for Whatcom Rowing Association. Permit No.: BLD201300460. Accepted Sept. 6. 8/26 to 9/3/2013 Issued 4700-block Cordata Parkway, $80,875 to construct 483 lineal feet of retaining walls to support extension of Cordata

RECORDS | Page 19

October 2013

RECORDS | FROM 18 Parkway and one edge of South Pond: Larrabee Springs Inc. Applicant: Jones Engineering. Contractor: RAM Construction General Contractor Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00297. Issued Aug. 28. 2938 Lindbergh Ave., $65,000 for commercial alterations: upgrades to existing classroom for nursing simulation control room: Bellingham Technical College (previous building “H”). Permit No.: BLD2013-00387. Issued Aug. 30. 113 N. Samish Way, $60,000 for tenant improvement: new restaurant and delicatessen in previous take-out sandwich space: Goodfellers Gourmet Grinders. Contractor: Unlimited Constructio. Permit No.: BL2013-00310. Issued Aug. 29. 2001 Masonry Way 103, $20,000 to install ADA-compliant restroom, tenant improvement for office for Internet-based distributor. Tenant: Canfield Brothers Bikes. Permit No.: BLD2013-00312. Issued Aug. 29. 710 Samish Way, $19,000 for commercial re-roof: Remove two layers of existing roofing and install one new layer of roofing (per applicant, no structural changes, roof system already insulated, new materials less weight than existing). Applicant and contractor: Nolan’s Roofing Inc. Permit No.: BLD2013-00444. Issued Aug. 26. 516 High St. (WWU College Hall), $11,000 for commercial alteration: remodel classroom 133 into office space. Permit No.: BLD2013-00376. Issued Aug. 27. 255 N. Forest St., $10,000 for commercial alteration: improvements to office area within multifamily building. Contractor: Jacobsen and Associates. Permit No.: BLD2013-00428. Issued Aug. 29. 1303 Cornwall Ave., [no valuation listed] for commercial alteration: expand optical business into adjacent retail space by exposing opening in partition wall: Everything In Sight Optical. Contractor: Robert G. Holmgren Construction. Permit No.: BLD2013-00403. Issued Aug. 29. Pending 114 10th St., $462,000 for foundation only for new mixed-use building. Permit No.: BLD2013-00446. Accepted Aug. 26. 1225 E. Sunset Drive 155, $150,000 for tenant improvement: remodel former Starbucks into pharmacy (for one-year temporary pharmacy). Permit No.: BLD2013-00447. Accepted Aug. 26. 1807 Dean Ave., $80,000 for tenant improvement: brewery with tasting room: Wander Brewing. Permit No.: BLD201300453. Accepted Aug. 30.

Liquor licenses Records are obtained from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which is online at www.liq. wa.gov. New applications Tony’s Bar, TNT LLC; Tonia N. McDonald applied for changes to an existing license to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge and for catering services, as well as sell kegs to go at 2920 Main St., Custer, WA 98240. License No.: 353573. Filed Sept. 17. Daphne’s Fairhaven, Tiny Bar Empire Inc.; Elizabeth Ruth Cook and Heather Beth Ramsay applied to assume a license from Daphne’s, Daphne’s Fairhaven Inc., to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge at 1200 10th St., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 405491. Filed Aug. 23. Fitness Evolution-Bellingham, Trisin Corporation; Tamara McClellan applied for a new license to sell beer/wine/spirits in a restaurant lounge at 1504 Iowa St., Bellingham, WA 98229. License No.: 411660. Filed Aug. 22. Greene’s Corner Market, C-80 Inc.; Lance Stuart Bailey and Kristine E. Kager applied for a new license to be a direct shipment receiver (in WA only), and sell beer/wine in a restaurant, for catering services and for off-premises consumption at 5305 Northwest Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226. License No.: 402837. Filed Aug. 21. Wander Brewing, Wander Brewing LLC;

BBJToday.com Chad Kuehl and Colleen Kuehl applied for a new license to operate a microbrewery at 1807 Dean Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225. License No.: 411655. Filed Aug. 21. Recently approved Fred Meyer #025 at 800 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, WA 98226, had changes approved on an existing license to be a direct shipment receiver (in/out of WA). License No.: 359846. Filed Sept. 4. The Rustic Coffee & Wine Bar at 1319 11th St., Bellingham, WA 98225, had changes approved on an existing license to be a direct shipment receiver (in WA only). License No.: 408514. Filed Sept. 4. Discontinued Blue Horse Gallery at 301 W. Holly St., Suite M1, Bellingham, WA 98225, had a license to sell beer/wine in a restaurant discontinued. License No.: 407356. Filed Sept. 13.

Bankruptcies No business-related bankruptcies from Whatcom County were reportedlast month in the regional district office of the U.S. bankruptcy court.

Federal tax liens Tax liens are issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Records are obtained locally from the Whatcom County Auditor’s office. Robert D. Butler and Karen M. Hansey, $8,579.25 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 23. Richard S. Freeman, $10,249.44 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 23. Eric M. Badgley, $29,861.80 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 23. Bertin Rodriguez Cruz, $10,964.64 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 23. Milts Pizza Place LLC, Lynn Bernard Vanderyacht MBR, $17,268.07 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 23. Seattle Cabinet & Millwork Inc., $50,649.71 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 16. Trilogy Crab Company Inc., $14,401.48 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 16. Jones & Jones LLC, Jones, Michael D. MBR, $24,396.76 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 16. Ryan Caillier, Arlis’s Restaurant, $11,486.66 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 16. Parkway Chevron LLC, Gablehouse, Brad G. MBR, $28,965.84 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Max Management LLC, Kevin Faris MBR, $59,217.53 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Robert Appel and Kathleen Appel, $16,423.46 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Stephen W. McKinley, $151,285.32 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Stephen W. McKinley and Colleen M. McKinley, $8,774.70 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Gregory W. Heppner and Sharon L. Heppner, $9,590.07 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Laith Shalan and Kathleen G. Shalan, $12,842.74 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Aug. 27. Sofia Valdez, $27,969.53 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Aug. 27. Charles B. Neff, $182,517.26 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Aug. 26. NAMI of Whatcom County, $15,550.15 in unpaid IRS taxes. Filed Aug. 26.

Releases of federal tax liens Releases indicate liens that have been lifted or paid. Records include the taxpayer’s name, the total amount of the lien and the date the lien release was filed in the Whatcom County Auditor’s office. Copper Hog LLC, Aaron Matson MGR

MBR, $19,415.97, Sept. 23. Cristi A. Dews, $7,729.72, Sept. 23. Scott A. Schenk and Lisa A. Schenk, $11,986.44, Sept. 16. Scott O. Koker, $42,649.49, Sept. 16. John J. Urban and Vivian Urban, $48,560.82, Sept. 10. Big Fat Fish Company Inc., $9,161.75, Sept. 10. John J. Urban and Vivian Urban, $152,583.43, Sept. 10. John J. Urban and Vivian Urban, $140,852.51, Sept. 10. Stephen G. Peterson, $56,775.24, Sept. 10. Century Mining U.S. Corporation, $9,507.40, Aug. 30. Ryan Caillier, Arlis’s Restaurant, $8,163.35, Aug. 30. Billy E. Brown, $40,303.34, Aug. 26.

State tax judgments Tax judgments are issued by Washington state government agencies and filed locally in Whatcom County Superior Court. Records are obtained from the Superior Court clerk’s offices. JSport Inc., $2,167.19 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Allan Van Hofwegen Jr. and Lynette Van Hofwegen, $1,469.05 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Craig Duane Burling and Christina Marie Burling, $3,039.22 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Smitley Construction & Consulting, $3,384.24 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Robles Inc., $1,299.69 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Pacific Northwest Karate LLC, $1,223.55 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Hennessey Plumbing Services LLC, $14,881.50 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Adan G. Baldovinos, $3,584.16 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 25. Nona Rosas Inc., $2,229.51 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 24. Vivian Leigh White, $1,401.40 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 24. Assembly-Plus Inc., $5,383.57 in unpaid

Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 24. Harkness Contracting Inc., $7,114.67 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 24. Parkers Custom Concrete, $1,040 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 18. NW Choice Construction Inc., $1,040 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 18. Cash Corp., $5,049.13 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 18. Forever Fit LLC, $4,826.54 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 17. Non Surgical Spine & Joint Clinic PS, $1,143.37 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 17. Starvn Myouzishan LLC, $1,087.01 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 17. Travis J. Surmi, $3,798.79 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 17. Direct Connect CD Inc., $1,327.18 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 16. Thomas E. Lea, $8,604.19 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 11. Thomas E. Lea, $1,348.31 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 11. John J. Lira, $2,648.32 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 11. Nadine M. Nutting and Zachariah N. Nutting, $7,724.01 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 11. Kristina May Johnson dba Kings Janitorial Services, $14,493.04 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Svetlane Gorun and Pavel V. Gorun dba P&P Construction, $6,242.28 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Kristina May Johnson dba Kings Janitorial Services, $1,704.52 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Wildwest Express Inc. dba Point Roberts Auto Freight, $3,471.65 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Superior Energy Services LLC, $3,684.33 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 10. NW Choice Construction Inc., $5,323.60 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Bredman & Voeut dba Autoworks,

$1,334.83 in unpaid Employment Security Department taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Denzil A. Schweier dba Tooth & Nail Construction, $1,611.07 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 10. Arshveer Manesh, $1,970.46 in unpaid Department of Licensing taxes, Filed Sept. 9. Main Street Bar & Grill Inc., $1,363.60 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 4. Diller Construction Enterprise dba Whatcom Waterfront Construction, $2,758.16 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 4. Proformance Auto Repair LLC, $5,980.22 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 4. Assembly Plus Inc., $1,045.24 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 4. Big Fat Fish Company Inc., $2,329.75 in unpaid Department of Labor & Industries taxes. Filed Sept. 4. JSport Inc., $5,049.86 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Sept. 3. Bellagio Domestic Services LLC, $2,681.88 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 29. Glen P. Foster and Jamie M. Foster, $1,510.69 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 29. Gabe 5 LLC, $10,449.96 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 29. Managed Business Networks Inc., $3,562.85 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 29. Parvez Sandhu, $1,196.94 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 29. B&J Fiberglass LLC, $19,536.16 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 27. Brandon Bradshaw, $3,645.47 in unpaid Department of Revenue taxes. Filed Aug. 27.

Satisfactions of state tax judgments Satisfactions indicate judgments that have been lifted or paid. Records include the taxpayer’s name, the state government agency the judgment was issued by and the date the satisfaction was filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. TOG Inc., Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 24. Gary A. Cromwell, Department of

Revenue, Sept. 23. Kiel S. Rosales, Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 16. Hy Mark Wood Manufacturing, Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 16. Rachel Lynn Cox, Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 13. Rachel Lynn Cox (et vir), Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 13. Tubb’s Tavern, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. TOG Inc., Department of Revenue (judgment vacated), Sept. 13. Healthy Living Center LLC, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. Stauffer Stains LLC, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13 (x2). Pacific NW Roofing, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. Accusearch LLC, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. Richard K. Yeater, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. Blue Horse Gallery LLC, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. John V. Mallahan and Linda R. Mallahan, Department of Revenue, Sept. 13. Silas N. Rier (et ux), Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 10 (x2). Silas N. Rier (et ux), Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 9. Jennifer Lynn Wolford, Department of Labor & Industries (judgments vacated), Sept. 9 (x4). DJ Bates Enterprises, Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 9. Road Ranger Transport Inc., Department of Labor & Industries, July 19. Harjinder Gandham (et al), Department of Labor & Industries, Sept. 3. Jonathan P. Seymour, Department of Labor & Industries, Aug. 28. Designated Drivers Takemykeys, Department of Labor & Industries, Aug. 28. Mount Baker Powder Coating Inc., Department of Labor & Industries, Aug. 28. Harmoney Homes Inc., Department of Labor & Industries, Aug. 26. Chad A. Parsons (et ux), Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. A1 Reglazing LLC, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Duane R. Kramer, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Durham Design Ltc., Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Altus Industries Inc. & Dean Berkele, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23.

RECORDS | Page 22

BBJToday.com

October 2013

PORT NEWS

Port Draft Budget Focuses Resources on Jobs, Infrastructure Sponsored content provided by Port of Bellingham Area to gain new activity and industry, • Stimulating economic development and job creation through countywide marketing and business outreach services, and • Restoring and repairing aging marine infrastructure.

t may seem early to be thinking about 2014, but Port of Bellingham Commissioners and staff have been working on next year’s budget for the past several months. At the October Commission meetings, staff will present a draft 2014 Strategic Budget to Commissioners. During their November meetings, the Commission will have a public hearing (3 p.m. Nov. 5) and will vote a final budget (3 p.m. Nov. 19). Port districts balance operating transportation terminals, managing real estate and running marinas with operating parks and trails and completing complex environmental cleanups and habitat restoration programs. The Port of Bellingham, like most ports in the state, collects property taxes. This year the owner of a $275,000 home paid about $82 in property taxes to the Port of Bellingham. The draft 2014 budget proposes keeping the Port portion of the property tax levy flat in next year at just under 30 cents per $1,000 of property value. Although not required by law, the Port budget uses property tax revenue for environmental cleanups, park and public space operations, economic development, Bellingham Waterfront Redevelopment and other areas of broad public benefit. Port

policies direct that real estate, airport, marinas and marine terminals all must pay for their operations out of revenue from those lines of business without property tax support. So what is in store for 2014? Budget planning starts with setting goals. For 2014, the proposed Port Key Corporate Goals are: • Completing the first development agreements for the Bellingham Waterfront District, • Moving ahead on environmental cleanup and habitat restoration projects, • Attracting and expanding marine trades businesses through marketing and site improvements, • Managing the growing Bellingham International Airport to gain additional revenue and completing the Airport Master Plan, • Redeveloping the Bellingham Shipping Terminal and adjacent Log Pond

The draft 2014 Strategic Budget forecasts a Port operating budget of $ 24.9 million. The proposed budget recommends the Port expand its staff by three positions in 2014, primarily to meet the needs of the operations and maintenance of the growing airport. These proposed positions include jobs in airport operations, maintenance and information technology. The Port currently has 99 full time employees. The Port draft budget includes about $10 million in 2014 capital projects. This amount is smaller than the past two years because a large Squalicum Marina dock improvement is complete and the $35 million airport Commercial Terminal expansion is scheduled for completion in January 2014. Here are some of the larger projects proposed for 2014: • $2 million to construct more places for large commercial aircraft to park overnight • About $1.8 million in Bellingham Shipping Terminal repairs and stormwater improvements • $1 million to begin work on a multi-year project to replacing an aging portion

of the Fairhaven Shipyard Pier • About $1 million to install new fire sprinkler pressure lines and make float upgrades at Squalicum Harbor Later this month, the full proposed budget will be available online at www.portofbellingham.com and people are welcome to take part in the public hearing at 3 p.m., Nov. 5, to share their thoughts about Port

spending in the year ahead.

PORT OF BELLINGHAM

Contact: Port Administrative Offices 360-676-2500 info@portofbellingham.com www.portofbellingham.com

1801 Roeder Ave. Bellingham, WA 98225 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Board of Commissioners Scott Walker, District One Michael McAuley, District Two Jim Jorgensen, District Three

Meetings: 3 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Agendas are on the Port website. The Port operates: Bellingham International Airport Bellingham Cruise Terminal Squalicum Harbor Blaine Harbor Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park Bellwether on the Bay Shipping Terminal Airport Industrial Park Sumas Industrial Park

October 2013

BBJToday.com

Serving: Bellingham, Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale, Lynden, Lummi Island, and all of Whatcom County.

Arts & Culture • Dining Bicycling • Fishing • Wildlife Water Adventures• Casinos Lodging• Winter Activities Shopping • Spas • Health

A Refreshing Change

MORE... to explore.

Travel Writers Help Tell the Whatcom County Story Sponsored content provided by Loni Rahm, and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. lines and “pitches” that align with them. We respond to information requests from reporters and writers, who are often on deadline, filling in their gaps, providing pictures and fact-checking. But probably BWCT’s most distinctive and most successful approach has been our invitation-only themed media tours.

he 2nd Annual Bellingham Beer Week just ended, and I’m already looking forward to next year. Brewers, restaurants, retailers and their partners and suppliers packed together so many great activities, events, tastings, book signings, and demonstrations that “Beer Week” actually became “Beer 10-days”. I could write an entire column on just the camaraderie and creativity that went into this success-

ful collaboration, but my focus is really on the special way I got to view Bellingham Beer Week – through the eyes of a group of enthusiastic journalists. Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism utilizes integrated and strategic marketing tactics to promote our destination, including a strong media relations program. We love sharing our story with writers, who in turn, delight in sharing it with their readers, viewers, and listeners. They in

turn, share it with their family and friends. In the domino effect that follows, our initial communication generates exposure for hundreds or thousands or even hundreds of thousands. Sounds simple – right? I have a plaque given to me by my kids that says “motherhood is not for the faint of heart”. Neither is media relations. After all, the emphasis in media relations is on the “relationship part”. Over the past 20 plus years, tourism team members and I have cultivated strong partnerships with hundreds of travel writers, bloggers, publishers, editors and broadcasters. Sometimes these relationships span years, others span decades. Our marketing staff consistently researches prolific writers, bloggers, publishers, editors and broadcasters – tracking their interests, followers, and outlets – and we develop specific story-

From ambitious beginnings several years ago when we invited eight writers to participate in a 4-day fully planned soft adventure itinerary, our program has grown in popularity and shrunk in size. We reduced the length of the tour to 2-1/2 days and limit participation to a transportation friendly 3-6 writers. Themes have ranged from “Small Town Secrets” to “Foodies Afloat” with invitations extended to media who’ve demonstrated proficiency in outlets relevant to the themes.

They were incredibly dissimilar but all shared a common trait inherent in journalists: an insatiable curiosity and a pure wonder about each new adventure. All but one of them had never been to Bellingham. All of them are already planning return trips. None of these media tours, nor any of the Tourism Bureau’s media relations activities, would be possible without two things: the depth and variety of regional experiences and venues that not only attracts and keeps writers’ attention, it leaves them wanting more; and the generous sup-

port of our business members and partners throughout Whatcom County. If you’re curious about what our media partners are saying, I invite you to visit www.bellingham.org – simply click “Press” at the top of the homepage and “view all articles and coverage”. While you are there, sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter, The Traveler, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter – just search “Bellingham Experience”.

Which is how I came to be spending a portion of Bellingham Beer Week with a diverse group of writers on our “Boots & Brews” tour. They came from Portland, New York City, Los Angeles, Victoria, Vashon Island, and San Francisco Bay Area. Two had written books on beer. One just finished editing a walking tour guidebook. They produce for blogs, radio programming, magazines, and social media. They were blogging, facebooking, instagraming, interviewing and photographing their way from the Mt. Baker Trail on Lummi Island to Artist Point (the boots part of the tour) to a variety of Beer Week events and venues. They arrived as strangers and left as friends and colleagues.

October Events

Visit our website or call for more details: www.bellingham.org (360) 671-3990 October 5-6 Whatcom Artist Studio Tour

October 17-19 Lynden Craft & Antique Show

October 8 Documentary Film: The Graduates - 5:30 pm

October 23-25 Professional Meditation Training October 29-31 Nightmare at the Spark Museum

October 12-13 Whatcom Artist Studio Tour Northwest Ballet Theatre: Dracula

Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism 904 Potter Street | Bellingham, WA 98229 360-671-3990 | 800-487-2032 www.Bellingham.org Open 7 days, 9 a.m

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SEEDS | FROM 1

that beginning window, with people that have less experience,” she said. They are look for farmers willing to make a long-term commitment to the program, those that use organic and sustainable farming practices, as well as producers who grow niche products that are not already saturating the local market. Southerland said within the last three years, the program has accepted more farmers that produce meat instead of produce. She said demand for local meat is on the rise. “I think that people are realizing that it’s an untapped market,” she said. Food To Bank On also provides participants with market access. Farmers receive free memberships to Sustainable Connections, a nonprofit network of local businesses and community leaders focused on sustainable practices, along with a variety of trade-meeting and marketing opportunities. Southerland said the memberships allow participants to network and leverage local business connections to grow brand identities. They also get a chance to develop wholesale operations. Each year, Sustainable Connections pays participants wholesale prices for food that is donated to local food banks, soup kitchens and shelters. Southerland said this acts as a sort of practice run for larger wholesale deals the farmers might negotiate in the future. It also gives them a chance to get experience meeting demand. At The Carrot and Stick, Ephraim Kurszewski said they were not quite ready to jump into the wholesale market once their stint in Food To Bank On ends. He’s happy to maintain the business the farm has, while handling other, more pressing challenges, including marketing and better time management. But greater sales volume would certainly allow the farm to scale up in the future, he said. “These are big questions right now on

the horizon,” he said. He said he has probably benefited most from the the connections made with other local farmers through Food To Bank On. The program has created a sort of informal support network, he said, which he expects will continue even after they complete their three years in the program. Melissa Moeller, who raises chickens on her family’s Misty Meadows Farm in Everson, was initially a participant in Food To Bank On, but stayed on as a mentor after completing the program. Moeller said that for beginners, learning from established farmers who have already developed connections and networks in the area is a huge benefit. Yet profits are not easy to come by, Moeller said, especially when trying to set competitive prices amid the higher costs of using sustainable farming practices. With shoppers accustomed to finding cheap and easily accessible products in grocery stores, justifying higher prices for locally and sustainably produced food presents a big challenge for small-scale farms, she said. Moeller suggests more education and outreach to buyers could help. When shoppers buy into the ethic of local farmers, higher prices are easier to manage, she said. Southerland said it usually takes three to five years on average for a beginning farmer in the program to be profitable, one of the reasons that Sustainable Connections provides subsidies for wholesale products. “It’s definitely a hard way to make money,” Southerland said. “It’s a lot [of work], but it’s doable” For Moeller, the challenge is worth it. “I learned so much being in the program. I wanted to be able to pass that on,” Moeller said. “I think there’s a lot of room for a lot more farmers in Whatcom County.”

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.

(Above) Ephraim Kurszewski washes and sorts beans to distribute into CSA shares. (Right) Laura Kurszewski selects flowers out of the gardens at The Carrot and Stick farm. (Below) The Carrot and Stick grows a variety of produce, including tomotoes, squash, carrots and beans. EVAN MARCZYNSKI PHOTOS THE BELLINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL

The Food To Bank On program is currently accepting applications for new members in the 2014 season. Learn more online at www. sustainbleconnections. org/foodfarming/ FTBO.

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RECORDS | FROM 18 Accusearch LLC, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. K2B LLC, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Braun Corporation, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Forever Fit, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. JSport Inc., Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Adan G. Baldovinos, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Halldorson Homes Inc., Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Jason Murphy LLC, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Auction House LLC, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. Pegasus Corporation, Department of Revenue, Aug. 23. John B. Leenstra, Department of Revenue (judgment vacated), Aug. 23.

Get daily news updates at BBJToday.com.

October 2013

BBJToday.com

BUZZ | FROM 11

toward future “bike parking corrals” in downtown Bellingham, according to Sustainable Connections. More information is online: http://hoppisrealestate.com/545602

üttana launches Web-based “Lean” training platform

platform offering training videos on the increasingly popular business-efficiency practice typically referred to as the “Lean” model. The company’s platform allows viewers to stream hundreds of training videos. It is free to use, although paid memberships are required to access more advanced content. In addition to training videos, üttana provides study guides, transcripts and presentations for download.

üttana, a Bellingham publishing company, has launched a new Web-based

PEOPLE | FROM 17

Local kudos

Retail Paul Hanson has been promoted to general manager of Village Books, as well as its connected greeting card and home decor store, Paper Dreams, in Bellingham’s Fairhaven District. Hanson is the first person to take over the position since Chuck and Dee Robinson founded the two businesses more than three decades ago. The Robinsons have fulfilled the general managing duties for their stores by default up until now. They will continue as co-CEOs.

Sports The Bellingham Blazers junior hockey team has added Rod Collins to its coaching staff for the upcoming 2013-2014 season. Collins has coached throughout the U.S. and Canada. He brings more than 30 years’ experience to the Blazers.

Dean Brett, a Bellingham attorney with Brett Murphy, will be included in the 20th edition of The Best Lawyers in America, considered among the most respected listing of attorneys in practice due to its rigorous review process. Selection is based on attorney performance, track record and years of expertise. Julie DePaul and Wren Cunningham, both of Healthy Focus Physical Therapy in Bellingham, have received board certification from the American Physical Therapy Association as clinical specialists in women’s health physical therapy. Only 154 physical therapists across the U.S. were board certified in the women’s health specialty in 2012. The specialization process and certification is administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. Steve Morris and Sharon Morris, owners of Right At Home, a senior caregiving service in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties, have earned Certified Senior

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Launching Success Learning Store changing ownership The owners of Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham are passing the business down to two of their employees, according to an announcement from the company. Dan and Barbara Sanford, who have directed the growth of Launching Success for the past decade, are selling the store to general manager Jen Zimmermann and business manager Kristen Krumdiack, who

Advisor designations from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. CSA training includes understanding the financial, health and social issues facing seniors, along with developing effective communication techniques. Joni Och of the PeaceHealth Northwest Network has been appointed to the board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Baldrige Award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Becky Raney and Larry Raney, owners of Print & Copy Factory in Bellingham, have been honored for their company’s sales growth by CPrint International. CPrint, an organization of independently owned, family-based businesses, awards printing companies that have demonstrated significant sales growth over the past year. Allstate Insurance Company is rec-

have both played major roles in the company for the past three years. The Sanfords said the store’s customers should notice few changes. Zimmermann is a former school teacher with experience in classroom and churchschool education. Krumdiack is active in church and community organizations, and she is in the process of getting certified as a public accountant.

The Buzz is compiled from BBJ Staff Reports.

ognizing Scott Richardson for 35 years of local service through the State Street Insurance Agency located at 1901 N. State St. in Bellingham. Whatcom Women in Business has announced its 2013 scholarship recipients. The nonprofit organization will award $1,200 in scholarship money to: Portia Bajwa, April Benson, Bryli Elsner, Kimball Gainor, Laura Gelwicks, Shannon Gnagey, Sydney Gray, Claire Harris, Tiffany Holden, Molly Honcoop, Olivia Hortegas, Hannah Lewis, Morgan Loy, Julie Nelson, Lauren Oswald, Nikita Pretty, Sydney Ratzlaff, Priya Sall, Chelan Schneider and Bailey Vallee. Scholarships are awarded based on applicants’ professional goals, GPA, personal achievements, community service, extracurricular activities, financial need and interview skills. Email your business announcements to editor@bbjtoday.com.

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October 2013

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