Monday, October 26, 2009

The Campbell House at the northwest Museum of Arts and Culture is open for public and group tours after a nine month closure. This Spokane treasure, designed by famed architect Kirtland Cutter and built in 1898, is on the national historical register. It’s located next to MAC at 2316 West First Avenue in historic Browne’s Addition. Tours are scheduled Wednesdays through Saturdays on a reservation basis only through Museum Admissions. Go to northwestmuseum.org for more information.

Who would you like to be for Halloween this year? Go check out The Civic Theatre costume shop at 1020 North Howard for a custom costume that will have people talking. The shop has thousands of unique pieces, the best selection in town. The costume shop is located in the back of the theatre on the Dean Street side. They’re open Wednesdays from noon to 7, and Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 5:30. Go to spokanecivictheatre.com/shop for more information.

Happy Birthday River Park Square! Ten years ago last week, the final phase of retail at River Park Square opened, marking the completion of the urban center that has sparked over a decade of momentum by some 800 projects that have fueled the revitalization of downtown Spokane with over $3.7 billion of investment. The renaissance continues as development of the University District and plans for a medical school move ahead. River Park Square, located in the heart of downtown Spokane, is the Inland Northwest’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. The center, anchored by Nordstrom, includes a 20-screen AMC Theaters, a mix of 55 up-scale national and regional retailers and restaurants, and Mobius Kids, a children’s museum. The center’s redevelopment was completed in October 1999.

Telecom executive and publisher Greg Green has joined Zayo Enterprise Networks, a division of Zayo Group as vice president to lead the growth of their new Northwest Region. Green, the former President of NEXTLINK Washington (now XO Communications) as well as former CEO of Avista Communications, brings 22 years of Telecom expertise to the position. He was also the owner of Vivo Publications which produced Inland Business Catalyst and Prime magazines. Zayo Enterprise Networks is a provider of fiber-based telecommunications solutions for business, government and education. The new regional enterprise network includes previously acquired assets of Northwest Telephone Inc. in Wenatchee, as well as Columbia Fiber Solutions in Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Zayo has also announced that it is deploying fiber based Ethernet and Internet Access services in markets across its Washington regional footprint to deliver cost-effective local and wide area communications. The new region already owns and operates over 350 miles of metro fiber in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Wenatchee, and Kennewick as well as an extensive long-haul network connecting Spokane, Seattle and Portland. This backbone already connects over 300 customers and the Northwest team isn’t finished looking for opportunities to expand. For more information, visit Zayo Enterprise Networks’ Northwest market page at: www.zayoenterprise.com/Northwest.

Sean Stanelun, the owner of Manito Video Productions, is battling Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh eating bacteria) and kidney failure and needs our help! He has been hospitalized since September, much of that time in intensive care, and is facing multiple surgeries and rehabilitation. Sean and his wife, Dawn Picken, are the parents of two small children and have been active members in our community. They are great people and have always gone out of their way to help others. Now they need our help! A benefit to help Sean is scheduled, Friday, November 6, at the Spokane Masonic Center, 1108 W. Riverside. Dinner and silent and live auctions are 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Pasta Dinner provided by Luigi’s), dancing 8 to 11pm. Kids Entertainment provided by Bubbillusions. All proceeds go to the family to help with medical and household expenses. Tickets can be purchased at any Tuxedo Gallery location or at the door. $10.00 adults, $5.00 kids (5 -12), Under 5, free. Family tickets $30.00. The Sean Stanelun Fund has been set up at Numerica Credit Union. Please make a donation if you are unable to attend. Go to www.helpseanrecover.com for more details.

Project Access presents their 4th annual Physician Recognition Dinner Saturday, November 7, in the Red Lion Inn at the Park’s Skyline Ballroom, with keynote speaker U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. Cocktail hour starts at 6pm with dinner and program beginning at 7. The cost is $80 per person. Project Access is a physician-led community partnership of coordinated charity care including 800 volunteer physicians, all Spokane County hospitals, pharmacists, and allied healthcare professionals who provide total health care to low income uninsured residents of Spokane County. RSVP at your earliest convenience to 509-532-8877 x27 or nancy@spcms.org.

Warning! 67 artisans from 7 western states will be in Spokane for Inland Crafts 27th Annual sale and exhibit, held at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 Spokane Falls Blvd (ballrooms B and C). This impressive event is Friday, November 6, noon to 8 pm, Saturday, November 7, 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, November 8, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $5 for entire weekend, and free on Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm. A $100 gift certificate will be awarded daily and there will be artist demonstrations-hourly. For the complete schedule and more information go to inlandcrafts.org.

Spokane Valley's KidSmile Dentistry, located at 12615 E. Mission Avenue, Suite 312, announces their second annual "Candy Buy Back" program in conjunction with Operation Gratitude. On Monday, November 2nd, from 3 to 7 pm, families are encouraged to bring their excess Halloween candy in to the office in order to earn a little money and to support our troops. KidSmile will be purchasing trick-or-treat candy for $1.00 a pound, with all of the sweets collected, packaged up and sent to service men and women deployed around the world. Last year, the program netted 300 pounds of candy and treats that Operation Gratitude combined with donations from all over the country to be distributed in care packages to the men and women of the armed forces. The group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is run by volunteers who assemble the care packages at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California. The Candy Buy Back program is not limited to KidSmile patients, so all of the Spokane area is invited to take part. This year the office has a goal of exceeding last year's donations for a total of 500 pounds. Not only do the service men and women appreciate the support from home, but it also helps parents who are concerned about the amount of sugar their kids eat.

Savvy social marketing strategies can increase awareness of your business and bring you more customers.
The Clark Company can help. Click here to get started!

With the holidays on the horizon, Tot Shots Photo Studio, a studio specializing in photos of children five-years old and younger, offers an easy, quick and affordable option for upcoming photography needs. The new store, located at 6206 North Division, opens November 27. Owned and operated by two Spokane natives, Rebecca Edwards and Hannah McConnell, Tot Shots Photo Studio is in a nearly 2,000 square foot space, located adjacent to Babies "R" Us. For more information on Tot Shots Photo Studio, please visit www.totshotsphoto.com.

Valpak goes green. Val Workman, owner of Valpak of The Inland Northwest announces that Valpak Direct Marketing Systems Inc., maker of The Blue Envelope®, has been awarded certification under the three leading environmental programs: Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification and the Forest Stewardship Council. Valpak successfully completed the certification process, which includes creating documentation and processes to report on and measure compliance to program standards. The standards ensure the paper used in all envelopes and inserts printed by Valpak comes from responsibly managed sources. For more information visit www.valpak.com/environment or contact Val Workman at 509-892-6334 and val@valpaknw.com.

The Riverfront Park Ice Palace, recognized as one of the best outdoor skating rinks in the nation, is open for the 2009-2010 season. They've made some great improvements including indoor seating, expanded food service and more new skates. For more information, including a complete schedule call 456-4FUN or 1-800-336-PARK, or visit the Riverfront Park Web site at www.spokaneriverfrontpark.com.

The Jazzercise Fitness Center of Spokane, located at 1604 N. Monroe Street recently certified 3 new Jazzercise instructors and, as a result, will be offering an expanded class schedule from 25 classes per week to over 30 classes per week in November. The expansion will include a noon class and an expanded evening/weekend schedule. Jazzercise started with 2 instructors and 7 classes per week in 2007 and have expanded to 9 instructors and over 30 classes per week in 2009. Jazzercise combines effective exercise with jazz dance-based choreography and popular music. Each 60-minute high-energy class includes a warm up, aerobic segment, muscle toning and flexibility exercises, and a cool-down. For more information on Jazzercise contact Carol Bjork at 509-325-0335 or visit their website at www.jazzfitspokane.com.

Get a head start on your Holiday shopping and support the Greater Spokane Valley's number one human care facility and programs. Ladies Nite Out, an after work week night auction with heavy hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine, will be held November 12th at the Mirabeau Park Hotel. All proceeds go to support Spokane Valley Partners, home of the Valley Food Bank and Clothing Bank. A silent auction begins at 5:30pm. Tickets are on sale now at Spokane Valley Partners, 10814 E Broadway, or online at www.svpart.org.

The data for the third quarter of 2009 from the Council for Community and Economic Research shows the Spokane region's cost of living remains below the national average and is among the lowest of major western cities. Of the 315 urban areas participating across the United States, Spokane MSA ranked lower than participating cities in California and Oregon; and lower than these participating peer communities: Albuquerque, NM; Boise, ID; Portland, OR; Raleigh-Cary, NC; Reno-Sparks, NV; Salt Lake City, UT; Seattle and Tacoma, WA; and Tucson, AZ. Peer cities have been identified as comparable based on similarities to our region in population, employment, and key industry clusters. The cities were first selected three years ago for Greater Spokane Incorporated's Spokane Vitals, now an annual report, available on the Greater Spokane Incorporated website, www.greaterspokane.org.

Kootenai Health’s out-patient Cardiac Rehabilitation program, operated by the Kootenai Heart Center at 2003 Lincoln Way in Coeur d’Alene, has earned national certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, the sole authority of its kind. So far this year, 254 cardiac rehabilitation patients have actively participated in the program. After completing rehabilitation, patients and community members may continue exercising independently at the Heart Center by joining Kootenai’s Activity for Life program. New cardiac rehab patient evaluations can be scheduled by calling 208-666-2897. For more information, visit kootenaihealth.org/heart.

Adam Griffith has joined Moloney O’Neill as a sales executive for the company’s Commercial Insurance Division. The EWU grad was previously with Progressive Insurance for five years.

Washington Auto Carriage at 5301 E. Broadway, which has been in continuous operation for over a hundred years, is moving into the new-truck sales business offering Mitsubishi Fuso trucks. The company, founded in 1906, operated in its early years as a maker of horse-drawn wagons and coaches. With the coming of the motor age, the business gradually migrated to the custom and manufacture of truck bodies, school buses and other truck and bus equipment. Eventually it added light and medium truck repair to its roster of services, including servicing RVs of all kinds, Workhorse chassis and others. As a result of its continued dealer expansion program, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. has appointed Washington Auto Carriage as its 200th authorized new truck dealer. The dealership will extend commercial truck sales, service and parts coverage across the Spokane area and the Inland Northwest. Washington Auto Carriage also has a dealership located in Seattle. For more information, call 509-535-0363 or visit www.wacnw.com.

Where can you catch Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich walking down a runway in a fancy tux? Only at the Hope House Celebrity Fashion Show. The fashion show and luncheon, benefitting Hope House women’s shelter, is now in its eleventh year and will be held Friday, October 30, at the Doubletree Hotel (322 N Spokane Falls Court). Funds raised at the event provide up to one-third of the shelter’s annual operating budget, literally providing hot showers, warm beds and a second chance for nearly 350 vulnerable women each year. Debra Wilde will be the emcee for the event which includes Wine tasting and a silent auction beginning at 11:00 a.m. The luncheon and fashion show follow at noon. Admission is $40 for an individual ticket or $300 for a table of eight. Tickets can be purchased at (509) 624-2378 or at www.voaspokane.org.

The business thought of the week is from Dale Carnegie: "Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."

For more information about advertising on this newsletter, which is read by over 5,000 business people each week, please call 509-838-4080 or e-mail us at info@clarkadspr.com.

If this "How’s Business?" report was forwarded to you, and you would like to have your own copy e-mailed every Monday morning, please sign up at the bottom of this newsletter or go to www.clarkadspr.com, and click on How’s Business? Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Be sure to catch “How’s Business?” Friday mornings at 8:55 on KXLY News Radio 920 and Sunday mornings at 7:30 on KXLY TV News 4’s Good Morning Northwest Sunday.