Monday, May 18, 2009

Spokane’s top country radio morning team Jay and Kevin move to KXLY Group’s Coyote Country 96.9 from KDRK starting today. Jay and Kevin will be broadcasting Live from 6am to 10am, followed by TC (Tim Cotter) also from KDRK live from 10-3pm and Boomer will broadcast live from 3-7pm. You can also log in to stream The Coyote live at www.coyotecountry969.com and click on "listen live".

Becker Buick Pontiac GMC is still open for business! On Friday General Motors Corporation notified 1,100 of its dealers across the country that it would not renew their franchise contracts, effectively eliminating nearly 20 percent of its distribution network. Becker, owned by father and son team Dale and Wayne Cornwell, was not among those notified. The heritage auto dealership has been in business in Spokane as Becker Buick since 1964, and was named Kauffman Buick prior to that. Becker operates two locations, 600 East Sprague and 6600 North Division.

STCU opens its 14th branch tomorrow, and the location is familiar if you ever bought a car from the Wendle auto group. For 40 years, the family-owned dealership was at the corner of Division and Wellesley, across the street from Northtown Mall. Then, in 2008, the Wendle dealership completed a move to the North Division "Y." Now the Wellesley location is being transformed into a retail center, with Chud Wendle as the managing partner in Northtown Square LLC. The square will include STCU, Red Lobster (which opens later this week), DSW Shoes, Dress Barn, Starbucks, and a variety of other businesses. STCU’s Northtown Square Branch will anchor the north end of the main retail suites, with three lanes of drive-through banking, the outer one with a 24-hour ATM. There’s also a 24-hour shared branch kiosk in the vestibule. Inside the 3,400-square-foot branch are earth-friendly touches like recycled carpeting, metal, fabric and glass. It will be a full-service branch, with Mike Hadley as Real Estate Officer, and Cheryl Connors as Business Services Officer.

The upcoming June exhibit at Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 West Sprague Avenue, will feature work by Jen Erickson and Andrew Bohl. Their pieces are small in scale but large in concept. Although the title of the exhibit is "Dark Matter," the work is light and airy in feeling - a perfect start to the summer season. A reception for the artists will be held Friday, June 5, from 6 to 8pm. The exhibit runs through June 27. For information contact Lorinda Knight at 509-838-3740.

Recently, the Spokane Area Workforce Development Council announced an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) award of $1,500,000 to the Spokane Workforce Consortium to operate the Summer Youth Employment Program in Spokane County. There are openings for approximately 400 businesses/worksites throughout Spokane County who wish to take on qualifying youths as summer interns and have them train and work in your field of expertise at no cost to you. Wages are paid directly to interns. To sign your business up or to get more information, visit the Next Generation website, www.nextgenzone.org.

When you test drive a new Wendle Ford vehicle during the month of May a $40 donation ($20 from Ford Motor Company matched by $20 from Wendle Ford) will be made in your name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® (Eastern Washington Affiliate) to support breast health programs in eastern Washington. Go to www.Wendle.com and click on the "Warriors In Pink" logo for more information and to sign up. You can also call Andy Keys at Wendle Motors, 509-484-4800.

Last week, the Inland Northwest Tourism Awards winners were announced at a ceremony at The Davenport Hotel and Tower. The event was hosted by the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here are the winners:

The Business Awards:
Festivals & Events Award: Spokane Lilac Festival
Attraction Award: Green Bluff Growers
"Near nature. Near perfect." Award: Cat Tales Zoological Park
Spirit of the Inland Northwest Award: The Davenport Hotel and Tower
In the Bag Award: Auntie's Bookstore
Top Table Award: Wild Sage American Bistro

The Park Bench Café in Manito Park opens for the summer season this Friday, May 22. The Café will operate on limited hours until June 17th when it will be open daily from 8am – 7pm, seven days a week, including holidays. Originally opened in 1923, the Park Bench serves sandwiches, soups, salads pastries from Rocket Bakery, espresso drinks and free treats for dogs. The Park Bench will be open through Labor Day and then, based on demand and weather will open select days and hours with beverages and food items.

Sun Rental Centers has opened a sixth Spokane area location in Airway Heights. The new rental facility, operated by TJH Enterprises, is in a 2,500 square foot building at 14024 West Highway 2 and may be a temporary location for the company as they continue to look for a larger building in the Airway Heights area. Sun Rental Center outlets offer a variety of power tools, lawn and garden equipment, light construction equipment, and special event items. They also sell gloves, safety equipment and propane. Other Sun Rental locations operated by TJH are located at 16701 East Sprague, 5019 South Palouse, 10717 North Division, 2605 North Highway 41 in Post Falls and 7080 North Government Way in Coeur d’Alene.

The semi- annual conference of Northwest Weavers’ Guilds and Fiber Artists from four provinces of Canada and six U.S. states meets in Spokane May 28-31. In addition to the conference, which will attract 400 participants, workshops open to the public will be offered from June 1 through 3. Some of the most well known weaving, spinning and fiber professionals will be doing seminars at the conference and teaching at the post conference workshops. There will be a vendor hall, with weavers from all over the country selling their fiber products and accessories. Exhibits of hand woven garments, a juried exhibit, an open exhibit and displays and demonstrations will also b e held at GU’s Martin Center, the old Field House at 111 N. Cincinnati Street, Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 from 9-5 and on Sunday, May 31 from 9-5. During the month of May a tour of Spokane galleries are featuring the stunning work of 15 superior northwest fiber artists: Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First; Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague; Tinman Art Gallery, 811 W. Garland; Artisan Wares Gallery River Park Square; Artstyle Northwest, 901 W. Garland; Chase Gallery, City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.; Pottery Place Plus, 203 N. Washington; and Avenue West Gallery, 122 S. Monroe. For more information call 509-456-3178.

Celebrating a 25 percent increase in business for the first four months of 2009 over the same period last year, specialty mattress and furniture store, Better Bed and Back has moved downtown to the skywalk level of the Saad building at 702 West Main, adjacent to River Park Square. The store, which was previously at 6417 North Division, sells Tempur-Pedic mattresses, ergonomic desks and office chairs, massage chairs and inversion tables in a 1,400 square foot show room. Better Bed and Back, owned by Tom and Janet Weldon employs five people and expects to add one more part time employee.

A new delivery and courier business serving Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, and employing 3 drivers, has opened in Liberty Lake. Spokane Delivery Service, owned by Anthony Seale offers pickup and delivery of a variety of items including packages, documents, groceries, prescriptions and even dry cleaning. The cost is $14.99 with advance notice and $19.99 for same day service. You can get more information at their website www.spokanedeliveryservice.com.

Take a bite out of Identity Theft and enjoy some free ice cream while benefiting local charities. Washington Trust Bank is continuing their annual campaign of "Shred Days" again this year by hosting five "Shred Days and Ice Cream Socials," each benefiting a local charity. The first of these dates is this Friday, May 22 at the Windermere Branch located at 438 E Hastings Rd. benefiting the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. The first two small boxes or grocery bags are complimentary, although a donation is kindly suggested. For every box or bag over that, there is a charge of $5 with all proceeds benefiting Vanessa Behan, which will receive 100% of all donations and proceeds. Washington Trust Bank has held over a dozen "Shred Days" throughout the past two years at various Spokane and North Idaho branches. Secure, on-site shredding will be provided by DeVries Business Services, a NAID AAA Certified company. For more information about DeVries Business Services or NAID Certification, visit www.devriesinc.com., or call 509-838-1044 in Spokane or 208-765-4397 in Coeur d’Alene. For more information about "Shred Days", contact James Mellott, 509-353-3334, jmellott@watrust.com.

The business thought of the week is from William Morris: The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.

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