Biz Buzz

REAL ESTATE CERTIFICATION ACHIEVEMENT
Bliss Goldstein has competed the certification process to be an SRES: Senior Real Estate Specialist. During the training topics such as senior proofing the home, finding senior loan programs, and uncovering other sources just for seniors were discussed. In addition, sensitivity towards older seniors, and the families that are trying to help them transition from their homes, was an important part of the training. The Goldsteins look forward to helping more families with their elder housing needs, whether that is to sell the home and/or to help them downsize into a smaller one. The training also extended to working with Baby Boomers.

TWIN SISTERS CREAMERY WINS AWARD
The 2016 Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival showcases a wide array of artisan and farmstead cheeses made in Washington. “People’s Choice Awards” were given to three cheeses at the event. 2nd place was awarded to Ferndale’s Twin Sisters Creamery for their Whatcom Blue cheese.

REMODEL AT OUTLAWS SALOON
After closing for a week, Outlaws Saloon re-opened with the same owner, but a fresh look. Patrons now have access to a private lounge away from the bar and main seating area that features couches, table and a TV. The bathrooms were also were renovated and the back of the bar was redone with lighted shelving.

Biz Buzz

FERNDALE PUBLIC MARKET KICKS OFF SEASON
The Ferndale Public Market started its season on June 10 with a great kickoff celebration. The Public Market will be open every Friday from 1-6pm in the field between the Ferndale Chamber and the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club along Cherry St.

FERNDALE DAIRY QUEEN RECEIVES AWARD
In June, the Dairy Queen located in Ferndale received their second Silver Platter Award from the Whatcom County Health Department for excellence in safe food handling throughout the year!

SEMIAHMOO WELCOMES NEW SALES & CATERING MANAGER
Nicole Croney has been in the wedding and event planning industry for over 9 years. She started her event consulting business Elegant
Endeavors in 2004. In November of 2013, she purchased Belle Bridal in downtown Bellingham. After a facelift, rebranding, and a lot of hard work and determination to bring Belle Bridal back to its former glory days, she felt it was time to move on. Starting in June 2016, she accepted the position for Semiahmoo Resort Golf and Spa as Sales and Catering Manager with an emphasis on weddings and social events.

FERNDALE GROCERY OUTLET & FERNDALE FOOD BANK WORK TO END HUNGER
Grocery Outlet has launched its 6th Annual Independence From Hunger® Food Drive to donate food throughout July, traditionally a time when food agencies experience the greatest need to serve children who are out of school during the summer. The Grocery Outlet is teaming up with Ferndale Food Bank, and will be collecting donations throughout the entire month of July that will go directly to that partner.

LIVE FIT MERGES WITH CROSSFIT X
LiveFit, LLC takes great pleasure in announcing that they have merged with CrossFit X of Whatcom County.
Utilizing the strong brand name of CrossFit X, together, they will be able to provide stronger services to Whatcom County businesses in the form of corporate and personal wellness programs.
“Shasonta is an amazing asset to have – her nutrition and fitness knowledge, not to mention her 15+ years in marketing communications experience, will enable us to offer businesses a full range of wellness options from fitness to a fully-executed wellness program. Employees who feel their best perform their best – and that affects the bottom line,” says Travis HoGlin, owner, CrossFit X.

Biz Buzz

PHILLIPS 66 DONATED TO NORTHWEST SOCCER PARK

Northwest Soccer Park, one of the county’s most active athletic facilities for nearly 25 years, is about to undergo a major transformation, thanks to a generous influx of funding combined from the state legislature and Phillips 66.

“The Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery workforce is proud of the contributions we’ve made in Ferndale, Bellingham and other surrounding communities,” said Ferndale refinery manager Rich Harbison. “To our knowledge, this is the largest single gift we’ve made during more than 60 years of operation here in Whatcom County, and we’re excited that this donation will benefit so many young people and adults.”

Whatcom Sports & Recreation will combine funding allocated to the soccer park in the 2015-17 Washington State budget with a $700,000 donation from Phillips 66 to construct two artificial turf fields, with lights and scoreboard.

ALYBLUE MEDIA RELEASES GRIEF DIARIES

On December 20, Grief Diaries, a community and brand dedicated to offering company, comfort and hope through life’s losses, released a 10-book anthology featuring stories from contributors around the world. Packed with intimate experiences, the series offers comfort and promote healing and understanding in the aftermath of the loss and other dark challenges.

Published by AlyBlue Media, the anthology series will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, and other major retail book sellers around the world.

 

SSC HONORED WITH AWARD

Sanitary Service Company (SSC) was named the Outstanding Philanthropic Small Business of 2015 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Advancement Northwest (AFP). The award was accepted by Recycling Manager, Rodd Pemble, at the AFP’s annual National Philanthropy Day Luncheon held Thursday, November 12 in Seattle in recognition of SSC’s longtime support of Western Washington University (WWU) and more than 100 other Whatcom County community organizations. “We are privileged to serve the people, businesses, and institutions in our communities, and to work in partnership, and I emphasize the word partnership, with so many others to improve the quality of life for all,” said Pemble.

 

Biz Buzz

Best Western Lakeway to Become Sheraton

The 132-room Lakeway Inn is changing brands from Best Western to Sheraton. On Oct. 1 it will officially be called the Four Points by Sheraton Bellingham Hotel and Conference Center. The Bellingham facility will become part of Starwood Hotels company, which has more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries with 10 different brands, according to the company website.

Children’s House
International Celebrates 40 Years & DC
Recognition

Children’s House International is simultaneously celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the nomination of their colleagues as Angels in Adoption™ by Senator Murray and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI), which orchestrates the Angels in Adoption™ Program   in Washington DC.
Three of Children’s House International’s staff will be making their journey to Washington D.C. early this October to be recognized at a gala for bettering the lives of foster children and orphans domestically and internationally.

People’s Bank and WECU Come Out on Top
With $730.3 million in Whatcom County deposits at the end of June and a 22.4 percent market share, Peoples Bank tops the list of banks with local branches, according to a new report from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Bank of America had the next highest bank market share at 13.7 percent, followed by Washington Federal (10.3 percent market share), Wells Fargo (9.1 percent) and U.S. Bank (9 percent).

Whatcom Educational Credit Union continues to have the highest amount of local insured deposits, with $895.9 million at the end of June, according to data from the National Credit Union Administration. WECU had 75,518 members at the end of June, a 3.8 percent increase compared to the previous year. Industrial Credit Union had the second-highest deposit total among credit unions in Whatcom County, with $164.6 million, followed by North Coast Credit Union at $153.8 million and WestEdge Credit Union at $43.9 million.

Ferndale Chamber Moves to New Location

1743713_10153394818577427_997365749267076531_nWhen the Ferndale Library moved to their new space late last year, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce couldn’t help but to hope to move to the library’s old location right next to Pioneer Park.

We are pleased to announce that we have officially moved to Pioneer Pavilion, 2007 Cherry Street, as of July 13, 2015. We look forward to serving visitors from far and wide and anticipate seeing more faces through our door, as we are now next to one of Ferndale’s largest tourist attractions—Pioneer Park.

Moving to the Pavilion allows for more visitor parking and space for large campers or RV’s to park as well.    The move also allows more room in the Visitor’s Center for brochures and Member inforamtion.  The Visitors Center will features a fireplace, a sitting area and computers for visitors to look up directions or book a hotel room.

The Chamber and the City of Ferndale will be hosting an open house to celebrate the move on August 6th from 2:30-6:30pm and everyone is welcome to attend.

Biz Buzz

VSH CPA’s Make Best Of List

VSH CPAs of Bellingham made the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2015 list of best workplaces in the small company category.

Alcoa Foundation  Gives Back

The Alcoa Foundation and American Forests Global ReLeaf partnership for Trees awarded $20,000 to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association to support restoration work in Whatcom County.

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring salmon habitat, will use the funds to involve and educate more than 1,000 volunteers in stream-side habitat restoration, restore 1,500 feet of degraded riparian habitat and plant 10,000 trees to help local salmon recovery efforts.

Samson Rope
Receives Vendor of the Year

Samson Rope was named the 2015 Vendor of the Year by national rope company, SherillTree, of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Ferndale Grocery Outlet Set to Open July 23

The Ferndale Grocery Outlet will make its grand debut on July 23rd with a soft opening.  The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce will be assisting the new grocery store with their ribbon cutting.  You can also join them on Saturday, July 25th for their Grand Opening.