Business Briefs

  • Wednesday, December 19, 2012 3:51pm

United Way, local labor deliver for Toys for Tots

EVERETT — United Way of Snohomish County and several local labor unions, through an ongoing partnership, brought some holiday cheer to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots warehouse in Everett by donating approximately $1,500 in toys and supplies, and organizing volunteers to help sort donations and pick up toys from drop-off locations around the county.

“Our union has two goals: making our companies better places to work, and making our communities better places to live,” said Tom Wroblewski, president of Machinists Union District Lodge 751.

About 40 volunteers from Machinists Union District Lodge (IAM) 751 were joined by volunteers from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1576, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 89 and other unions affiliated with the Snohomish County Labor Council for this event. The project was organized and funded through a partnership between United Way of Snohomish County and the Snohomish County Labor Council.

Swedish/Edmonds gala proceeds rise 31 percent

EDMONDS — More than 450 people attended the Swedish/Edmonds Imagine Gala on Nov. 16 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, raising more than $550,000 to benefit patients. Funds will support charity care, cardiac diagnostic care and emergency services.

“We are thrilled and grateful for the commitment this community has shown to their hospital,” said David Jaffe, chief executive of Swedish/Edmonds. “All gifts made to Swedish/Edmonds stay right here, and support programs and services for local patients.”

Swedish/Edmonds emergency physicians, CEP America, made a leadership gift of $216,010 in emergency services.

Announcements

EVERETT — Jonathan Holbrook, owner of Tall Taurus Media, has launched Short10Cinema. The venture was originally designed in 2009 to help and promote filmmakers from all over the world expose their short films. “After three years of promoting quality short films, we have a new and more exciting mission to take it a step further,” Holbrook said. Throughout the year, Short10Cinema will hold multiple challenges where filmmakers have up to 100 hours to produce a short film of less than 10 minutes while meeting emailed challenges. Starting Feb. 21, the first of five competitions will be held during 2013. The Best in Show winner of each challenge will be shown at the Short10Cinema Film Festival in Everett. Register and learn more at www.short10cinema.com.

EVERETT — The Port of Everett commission adopted the 2013 budget on Nov. 27. The $53.6 million budget reflects $3.3 million in property tax revenue. The average household pays $57 per year. The port intends to continue environmental cleanup projects that will return the Marina District to viable use.

MONROE — The city of Monroe has successfully closed the sale of 9.2 acres to Beta-Kelsey LLC for $2 million. The sale is the fee title interest which is encumbered by a long-term lease to a movie theater company. The proceeds will pay off bond debt, fund reserve accounts and establish a contingency fund.

EVERETT — Everett Therapeutic Center has welcomed Massage Solutions to the office at 1505 Broadway, Everett. The membership-based program offers wellness massages. Membership guarantees one massage per month, with subsequent massages in the same month offered at a reduced rate. Learn more at massagesolutionseverett.com.

TULALIP — The Ram Restaurant &Brewhouse opened Dec. 3 at Seattle Premium Outlets on Quil Ceda Boulevard. It is the 10th Puget Sound-area location. The family-owned business features lunch and dinner menus and its own locally brewed beers.

LYNNWOOD — Edmonds Community College is now accepting applicants to start spring quarter in its Licensed Practical Nursing program. The college has received approval from the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to offer the training. Graduates will receive a certificate of proficiency in practical nursing. The deadline to apply for the nursing program is 5 p.m. on Jan. 31.

BOTHELL — Leviton has announced that it will transfer the manufacturing processes of its popular QuickPort datacom wallplates product line from China to Leviton’s Network Solutions plant in Bothell. The move comes as part of the company’s effort to reduce waste from shipping, boost efficiency and bring manufacturing closer to the U.S.

ARLINGTON — Community Thrift of Arlington is seeking volunteers. The thrift store, operated by Quilceda Community Services and Sherwood Community Services, provides a work site for special needs adults learning job skills and general funds for both non-profits. The store sells clothing, household goods, furniture, and seasonal items. Call 360-435-0707 for information.

BELLEVUE — Puget Sound Energy residential customers in need of a contractor for energy efficiency and home improvement projects can now generate their own contractor referrals online through the company’s Contractor Alliance Network. Currently, there are more than 100 member contractors covering PSE’s service area. PSE developed the free online service to take the time and hassle out of finding the right contractor.

OLYMPIA — Aviation stakeholders, local jurisdictions, agencies and citizens are encouraged to test the features and functions of a new, Web-based Airport Mapping Application. The Washington State Department of Transportation asks potential users to test the application and provide feedback during a public comment period that ends Dec. 26. Links to the application can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov.

BOTHELL — BioLife Solutions, a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues, announced that its customer TiGenix NV has completed a phase I clinical safety trial of its expanded adipose-derived stem cell platform incorporating BioLife’s cGMP HypoThermosol cell/tissue storage/shipping medium.

EVERETT — Fluke Corp. has introduced the My First Fluke program, which allows students actively enrolled in technical or vocational schools, colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs or high schools in the United States to purchase one Fluke tool at a 25 percent discount. The My First Fluke program complements the existing Fluke Education Program, which provides an unlimited 25 percent discount to not-for-profit educators and union instructors.

OLYMPIA — Unemployment tax rates in 2013 will be unchanged or lower for three-fourths of Washington employers, according to the state’s Employment Security Department. However, some employers will pay more in 2013 because their layoffs increased in the past four years, while others may see a slight increase due to the amount of wages that are taxed.

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Labor &Industries announced there will be no overall increase in worker-compensation insurance premiums in 2013.

SEATTLE — The Puget Sound Regional Council is accepting nominations for the annual Vision 2040 awards program, which recognizes superb work to achieve the region’s growth, economic and transportation strategy, called Vision 2040. Nominations will be accepted until March 1. Nomination materials are available online at www.psrc.org or by contacting Michele Leslie Potter at 206-587-4819 or mleslie@psrc.org.

OLYMPIA — Despite stockpiling in May, spirits sales by volume were 2.9 percent higher during the first four months of privatization than they were a year earlier, the state Department of Revenue reports. Nearly 13.6 million liters were sold from June through September, compared to 13.2 million a year earlier, when state liquor stores were in operation.

OLYMPIA — State regulators fined Puget Sound Energy $430,000 for improperly charging residential disconnect visit fees to electricity and natural gas customers. In addition to the penalty, the utility has now refunded to customers more than 9,000 disconnect-visit fees charged in error, dating back to 2009. PSE also agreed to change procedures for handling such visits.

MARYSVILLE — North County Outlook is increasing its publication frequency in 2013 to become a weekly newspaper. The bi-weekly community newspaper, that serves north Snohomish County is mailed directly to approximately 23,000 households and businesses in the Marysville to Arlington area. North County Outlook is locally owned and managed. Owners are Sue Stevenson, Anita Wuellner and Beckye Randall.

MONROE — Snohomish County’s Evergreen Speedway has been chosen as one of NASCAR’s top 10 home tracks across America. Additionally, Evergreen Speedway operators Doug and Traci Hobbs of High Road Promotions were presented with an Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The speedway has been a NASCAR-sanctioned track for 24 of its 57 years.

TULALIP — Tulalip Bay Restaurant at the Tulalip Resort Casino has been honored with the prestigious Four Diamond Restaurant Award from AAA. Dining venues at these rating levels offer an extensive array of amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.

EDMONDS — Walnut Street Coffee in Edmonds was mentioned in a new book, “Eclectic Coffee Spots in Puget Sound” by Marsha Glazière. It was noted for friendly environment, locally baked treats and whimsical decor. Walnut Street Coffee is owned by Pam Stuller.

Good deeds

EVERETT — Machinists Union District Lodge 751 raised nearly $299,000 for Guide Dogs of America in 2012. District President Tom Wroblewski was presented with a 2012 Gift of Sight award recognizing his efforts on behalf of the union. Over the past four years, District 751 has raised more than $1 million for Guide Dogs of America.

EVERETT — The William H. Geiger Family Foundation has pledged to match every dollar the Schack Art Center receives by the end of the year up to $5,000. The center wants to raise $10,000 to support free gallery exhibits and art education. To donate, go to www.schack.org/give-now.

MONROE — Employees of Canyon Creek Cabinet Co. donated food and $2,750 to the Sky Valley Food Bank this year. Every year, Canyon Creek conducts a food drive to benefit needy families and has been one of the food bank’s largest contributors for 12 years. Additionally, the company has a program to help people on the East Coast rebuild after Hurricane Sandy.

EVERETT — Dentist Colleen Tracy is giving away dental services in tandem with raising donations for a local food pantry. She will provide people who need dental care with a cleaning, exam and X-rays for $50. She will then match the $50 and donate the total of $100 to the Volunteers of America Food Bank. For more details, go to www.DentistEverettWA.com.

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The City of Mountlake Terrace United Way Campaign for 2012 raised more than $8,400. Over the last seven years, city employees have donated more than $43,000 to benefit children and families throughout Snohomish County.

STANWOOD — Solarize Stanwood/Camano has announced that the Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center, which recently broke ground on a 7,000-square-foot facility in Stanwood, was selected to receive a solar system donation from Whidbey Sun and Wind and Fire Mountain Solar. The system will be installed early in 2013.

EDMONDS — Windermere Property Management/Lori Gill &Associates donated more than $5,000 to local service organizations via the Windermere Foundation, including $500 to Clothes for Kids and the Edmonds Food Bank.

EVERETT — Housing Hope has received a $90,000 grant from the Boeing Co. to support Housing Hope affiliate HopeWorks. The grant will be used for the Economic Asset Building project of small businesses, which aids homeless and at-risk individuals seeking career growth. The grant was made possible through Boeing’s Global Corporate Citizenship organization.

Kudos

EVERETT — For the second year in a row, Nick Pembroke of McClain Insurance Services, has earned Seattle Magazine’s prestigious Five Star Home and Auto Insurance Professional Award. Pembroke is the past president of the Independent Insurance Agents &Brokers of Snohomish County and has been a key member of the McClain Insurance Protection Team since 2000.

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Janicki Industries, a fast-growing manufacturer of state-of-the-art composites used in aerospace and other industries, was named the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year by the Association of Washington Business.

BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics has selected Steven Globerman as its 2012 Distinguished Research Fellow. Globerman is the Kaiser Professor of International Business and director of the Center for International Business at Western. Globerman’s work is highly respected by those in his field. He was also voted the MBA Professor of the Year for 2009-2010 by the students.

SEATTLE — Chris Berger, senior vice president at Kidder Mathews, has been named 2012 Appraiser of the Year by the Seattle Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. The award is presented to a member who has significantly contributed to the community and chapter. Berger has been an active member for 20 years and has served in several leadership positions including 2008 chapter president.

Port shipping schedule

Port of Everett shipping schedule as of Dec. 17. The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Long term includes regularly scheduled vessels only.

Dec. 26: Westwood Columbia, Westwood

Dec. 31: Bright Stream, ECL

Jan. 2: Westwood Pacific, Westwood

Jan. 8: Westwood Olympia, Westwood; Madame Butterfly, Eukor/Fesco

Ship port calls 2012 YTD: 96

Barge port calls 2012 YTD: 64

Total ship port calls 2011: 100

Total barge port calls 2011: 56

From HBJ staff reports

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.