Published June 2004

Business Briefs

Snohomish design studio
recognized by trade magazine
Snohomish-based Dara Turransky Design Studio has been selected to appear in the May/June edition of Communication Arts: Design for the Public Good, a trade magazine of the graphic design industry. The piece chosen for the honor is a poster created for the Everett Symphony’s salute to Duke Ellington, which was done on a pro-bono basis.

For more information on Dara Turransky Design Studio, call 425-337-6634 or online at www.turransky.com.

Reynolds to close
Lynnwood manufacturing plant
A Lynnwood plant that manufactures retail checkout systems will close later this year, eliminating 52 jobs.

Work done at the Reynolds plant at 5720 204th St. SW will be moved to Jackson, Tenn., where the company has another facility. Reynolds will relocate its Tennessee plant into a larger building and upgrade its equipment there as a result of the consolidation.

“The plant realignment plan comes after an extensive review of current and anticipated future equipment requirements of Reynolds customers and the geographic realities of retail expansion in the U.S.,” according to a statement released by Reynolds parent, Selkirk Industries LLC.

Lou Soumas, executive vice president of Selkirk, said the manufacturing work at the Lynnwood plant will probably wind down in late June. He added that some office functions could continue into the fall.

Soumas said the company offered its employees similar jobs in Tennessee or Georgia. So far, about six employees have agreed to move.

Originally founded in the 1940s in Seattle, Reynolds makes cabinetry and components for supermarket checkout stations. The company established its Lynnwood plant in the early 1970s, while the Tennessee plant opened during the 1980s.

Neah Power Systems
earns start-up honors
Neah Power Systems of Bothell has been named Start-up Company of the Year by the Alliance of Angels, a nonprofit group that connects early stage technology companies with venture capitalists.

Neah is the first company to receive the award from the organization, which was founded in 1998.

Sonus raises $15 million
for drug’s clinical trials
Sonus Pharmaceuticals Inc. in May said it had raised more than $15 million to help pay for ongoing clinical trials for its chemotherapy drug.

The Bothell company’s new influx of money comes from a private placement of stock with an undisclosed group of institutional investors.

As a result of the placement, which should net about $14.4 million for Sonus, the company has issued an additional 2.9 million shares of stock.

Sonus said stock sale proceeds would be used primarily to advance the biotechnology firm’s lead drug candidate, Tocosol paclitaxel.

Tocosol, which is in phase 2 trials, is being tested as a treatment for cancers of the bladder, lungs and ovaries. The drug belongs to the family of taxane-based treatments — the most widely used chemotherapy drugs in the world. Sonus’ researchers believe their product, however, can be administered faster and more safely than Taxol, the leading cancer drug on the market.

West Coast Enterprises
designated a premier dealer
West Coast Enterprises of Lynnwood has been designated a premier dealer by Beam Industries. The designation goes to dealers that participate in training and promotional programs and deliver superior customer service.

West Coast sells and installs Beam’s line of central vacuum systems. The business is at 2004 196th St. SW.

Everett Chevrolet ranks No. 1
in Puget Sound region
Everett Chevrolet is the Puget Sound region’s top-ranked Chevrolet dealership for customer satisfaction for the first quarter of 2004.

The dealership was ranked first among 30 by the carmaker based on customer surveys.

Port to sell $10 million in bonds
The Port of Everett will sell as much as $10 million in bonds this month in an effort to beat Tim Eyman’s latest tax-cutting initiative, while beefing up its bank account.

The June bond sale is intended to raise money for several major projects before Eyman’s I-864 is approved for the ballot. The initiative, which needs 200,000 signatures by July 2 to qualify for the November election, would cut property tax collections by 25 percent for most local governments, including the port.

If Eyman gathers the necessary signatures, government entities in Washington that rely on property taxes might see their credit rating drop, and will likely have to pay bond buyers substantially higher rates, David Thompson, a lawyer with the Seattle firm of Preston Gates and Ellis, told port officials in May.

Port officials said they will need $96 million to pay for all the projects they have planned over the next five years, with much of the money being needed within the next two years.

The port has $31.5 million in the bank available to spend, expects the sale of property to generate another $25 million and income from existing business activities to bring in another $22 million during the five-year period.

Host families needed
for 2004 AquaSox team
The Everett AquaSox are looking for families to house AquaSox ballplayers during the 2004 season. As the host of a ballplayer, families have the unique opportunity to experience a part of what life is like for a professional ballplayer.

Host families must be able to provide ballplayers with transportation to and from the ballpark, a bedroom and bathroom, and meals when the team is in town. Spanish-speaking families or families interested in housing a Spanish-speaking player are encouraged to apply, the organization said.

In return for sharing their homes, families receive a modest rent each month — and the chance to establish a relationship with a future major leaguer, the AquaSox said, noting that former Sox players who have stayed with host families include Joel Piñeiro, Gil Meche, Willie Bloomquist and Julio Mateo.

For more information, call Matt Nystrom at 425-258-3673 or send an e-mail to mattn@aquasox.com.

Deal in works for Elks
to sell downtown property
Members of the Everett Elks Club have approved an offer from Skotdal Real Estate to buy the organization’s downtown property, including its 44-year-old lodge along Rucker Avenue.

Assuming the sale is approved by the Elks’ Grand Lodge, the site could be redeveloped in the coming years for a combination of residential, office and retail uses, said Craig Skotdal, president of Everett-based Skotdal Real Estate.

Because the deal hasn’t closed, Skotdal and Elks representatives declined to disclose the price offered for the property. According to the Snohomish County Assessor’s Office, the assessed value of the lodge and adjacent parcels on Hoyt Avenue and California Street exceeds $2.4 million.

Skotdal, whose father, Art, has belonged to the Everett Elks Club for 38 years, said the property is attractive because of its central location near the Everett Public Library, downtown offices and retail businesses. It also offers a “great” view of the waterfront, he said.

Even after the sale is completed, the Elks Club won’t have to move out right away.

“We want to give them a period of a couple years to go out and find potential locations for their facility,” Skotdal said. “We’re going to be as supportive of the Elks Lodge as we can to help them make the transition.”

In January, Elks members voted to seek offers on the property, noting that a decrease in membership, from more than 4,500 in the 1960s to about 1,100 now, made the job and cost of maintaining the large lodge building more difficult over the years.

Boeing 747 sales pick up in 2004
The Boeing Co. has sold more 747s so far this year than it did in all of 2003.

In May, the company announced that China Airlines had ordered two 747-400F freighters for delivery in 2006. The deal was worth about $425 million at list prices, although discounts are common.

For the year, Boeing has sold six 747s, all freighters. Boeing sold four 747s during 2003, also all freighters. The company took orders for 17 in 2002.

Hotel occupancy up
19 percent from year ago
Nearly 55 percent of Snohomish County’s hotel and motel rooms were occupied in March — up more than 19 percent from the same month of 2003, according to Smith Travel Research.

Sandy Ward, executive director of the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau, said the increase may be a sign that the long slump for tourism-related businesses is ending.

“My sense, from what we’re seeing here at the tourism bureau and talking to motel owners, is the economy is up,” Ward said.

However, rates charged by motels were not up during March. Smith Travel’s report showed the average room rate fell just under 1 percent from last year to $61.92 a night.

With March’s upswing, occupancy during the first three months of the year was 11 percent higher in Snohomish County over last year’s first quarter. Revenues also were up by the same percentage, according to Smith Travel Research.

Ward said this summer should build on that trend.

The only potential damper could come from high gasoline prices.

If the prices stay well above $2 a gallon, it could encourage residents to vacation and sightsee closer to home, and thus spend more money in the county. On the other hand, that may discourage out-of-state residents from attending some of the national tournaments and conventions scheduled for here, Ward said.

Adult sports leagues
signing up for summer fun
Underdog Sports Leagues Seattle, an association that runs co-recreational adult sports leagues in the Seattle and Eastside area, is planning to expand north with its flag football, softball and kickball leagues.

Registration is now being taken for summer sessions of golf, kickball, soccer, flag football and softball. For more information or to register, call 206-320-TEAM or go online to www.underdogseattle.com.

New businesses, locations
n Andrews Antiques, a dealer in antique Chinese furnishings, is now open on Camano Island. The company’s catalog is available online at www.andrewsantiques.net. Private viewings are available by appointment. For more information, call 425-220-6415.

n The Snohomish County Tourism Bureau recently moved its visitor information center at Interstate 5 and 128th Street SW in south Everett to the new Heritage Park, 19921 Poplar Way, in Lynnwood. The visitor information center is now housed in the restored Wickers Building, which will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, 362 days a year. The center’s new telephone number is 425-776-3977.

n Big Bam’s BBQ has opened at the Everett Mall’s food court. It’s owned by Leander and Kevin Whiteside.

n Comfort Keepers has started providing service in Snohomish County. The company is a national franchise that offers companionship and nonmedical services for aging adults, new mothers and others needing assistance to stay in their homes. The local franchisees are Bob and Denise Collard of Mill Creek. For details, call 425-742-9200 or go to www.comfortkeepers.com.

n Klassen Communications of Everett has expanded to include a resume writing service. For details, go to www.mikeklassen.com.

n Save Now Discount Pharmacy has opened at 3333 184th St. SW in Lynnwood. It is the first of 10 locations the privately held Washington company plans to open in 2004.

n West Coast Careers Inc. has opened in Lynnwood at 4100 194th St. SW, Suite 225. The company will provide staffing and recruiting services for companies seeking to hire permanent employees in professional fields. The principals are Ed Beaulieu and Chris Shablak.

n Wickkiser International Cos. of Ferndale, which does business as Airporter Shuttle and Bellair Charters, has started a new shuttle service between Marysville and downtown Seattle, while also expanding its service between Marysville and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. For details, call 866-235-5247 or go to www.airporter.com.

n Value Village, the chain of thrift stores that donates to local charities, opened its fourth Snohomish County location in May, at 1334 State Ave. in Marysville. The store carries used clothing and household items, with most sold at 10 percent to 50 percent of their original price. The location in Marysville Plaza formerly housed a Shop N Save, a thrift chain acquired last year by Savers Inc., the Bellevue-based parent company for Value Village. Value Village’s store in Marysville can be reached at 360-659-0098.

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