Monday, April 26, 2010

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children's Hospital recently received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, a prestigious honor given by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). This is the second year the hospital has achieved the award, which recognizes the nation's top pediatric and adult critical care units for high-quality critical care standards, and dedication to the exceptional care of patients and their families. There are approximately 6,000 critical care units in the United States; only 121 (2 percent!) have been recognized as Beacon units. Only half of those have received the Beacon award more than once!

Julie Morin has joined Aspen Personnel Service as their new vice president of sales and marketing. She was previously working in advertising sales for the Inlander. Another new face at Aspen, Natalie Judd has also joined the company as their new office manager. Aspen Personnel Service is a locally owned full service employment agency located in the Flour Mill.

Valpak Spokane, owned and operated by Val Workman has had a very good couple of growth years resulting in a 320% increase in sales first quarter 2010 as compared with 2008. The local advertiser count has nearly doubled in the last year alone. Surprisingly, much of the growth has been in categories like casual and fine dining, home improvement, entertainment, hospitality and health. With the exception of Papa Johns Pizza, Valpak has not had a single advertiser go out of business even with the challenging economy. As part of a national Valpak network of over 200 cities, the Spokane Valpak has steadily climbed in rank. They are recently ranked 6th in the nation for markets this size. Instead of downsizing, the Spokane franchise is adding new neighborhoods to better serve the advertisers. They are adding another 10,000 homes on the North Side of Spokane in June, with additional zones planned for the Valley and North Idaho. You can contact Val Workman at 509-892-6334 or val@valpaknw.com.

Spokane is preparing for the 100th anniversary as the birthplace of Father's Day, which was founded here by Sonora Dodd in 1910, in honor of her father, William Jackson Smart. Businesses and organizations, led by the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, are planning a variety of events to celebrate leading up to Father's Day, June 20. You can learn more about Father's Day at www.fathersdaybirthplace.com, and all the planned events at http://www.fathersdaybirthplace.com/events.php. If your business would like to participate contact Pam Scott at the CVB, 509-742-9373 or pscott@visitspokane.com.

Historic Hillyard is having their Grand Re-Opening Celebration this Saturday, May 1, after a long road construction project last summer-winter. Mayor Mary Verner will be cutting the ribbon at 10:30am at Queen and Market. A Parade will take place at 11am starting at Columbia and ending at Wellesley on Market. The day long celebration includes a car and motorcycle show, a street dance, antiques and food vendors.

Construction has begun at Kendall Yards on the first phase of what will be Spokane's newest urban neighborhood. Foundation work on the first of what will be 18 homes along Bridge Street got underway last week. Work on infrastructure development, Summit Parkway and the first phase of Great Gorge Park and the Centennial Trail will begin in the next few weeks. Go to kendallyards.com for more information.

Leadership Spokane has extended the deadline for Class of 2011 applicants. You now need to submit your application by today. In addition, there is a $250 Express Employment Professionals scholarship available for two members of the 2011 adult class. Visit www.leadershipspokane.org/apply to apply for the Class of 2011 and be considered for the Express Employment Professionals scholarship. If you have questions, call Executive Director Linda Finney at 509-321-3639.

TidBits free weekly publication has recently been sold to Kim Ferraro, who has had long time roots in the Inland Northwest. She has relocated to Spokane from Los Angeles where she has long been in the marketing field with the L.A. Chamber of Commerce for many years. The TibBits publication has not been produced since mid-November, so Ferraro has had a lot of leg work to meet with previous advertisers and distributor locations. Her plan is to take the publication to the next level. Her phone number is 310-560-4498. The transaction was facilitated by Watson Company, 3027 S. Glenrose Road, in Spokane. Watson's phone number is 509-624-5291.

"Shop Outside the Box" is a new buy local event happening this weekend in downtown Spokane. "Shop Outside the Box," developed by Nosey Parker Guide Books for downtown Spokane is a Buy Local effort to bring like-minded individuals into the small businesses in downtown Spokane, not only locals but all the visitors as well. "Shop Outside the Box" encourages people to warm up for Bloomsday by walking downtown on Friday or Saturday and into the participating stores. The Map to all participating stores can be found on NoseyParker.net/INW for download or just check out which stores are participating and pick one up while you are there. "Shop Outside the Box" also encourages the community to "Tell Your Story". Nosey Parker and Buy Local would like to know your favorite shopping story. Do you know a terrific salesperson? Community Give-Back? Above and beyond service? Go to NoseyParker.net/INW and tell your story. The best stories will be posted on NoseyParker.net/INW, Facebook NoseyParkerINW and Twitter NoseyParkerINW. For more information contact Heather Hanley, owner of the Tin Roof and Concept Home furniture stores at 509-535-4121.

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo 2010 with the entire family at De Leon's annual Fiesta! The family event is Saturday May 1st from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm at 102 E. Francis Avenue. Enjoy face painting, McGruff the Crime Dog, a bounce castle, Mariachi's, music from Milonga, dancers and of course the De Leon family's amazing Mexican food. You can get more information by calling 509-483-3033 or on line at www.deleonfoods.net.

The Miss Spokane Valley Ambassador coronation program took place Saturday evening at the West Valley High School Theatre. The 2010 Miss Spokane Valley is Hannah Robb from Central Valley High School. Crowned as members of the court of the Miss Spokane Valley Ambassadors, are Emmalee Ohlstrom of East Valley High School and Madeleine Walsh of University High School. This is the 7th year for the Miss Spokane Valley Ambassador program which focuses on academic achievement, public speaking skills and community involvement. The coronation was organized and managed by Connie (Wagner) Dullanty and Barb Olson. Miss Spokane Valley will receive a $1,000 scholarship and the two Ambassador Assistants will each receive a $500 scholarship. Scholarship awards will be made payable to the university or college of the winner's choice. The winners are the official community goodwill ambassadors representing all of the communities in Spokane Valley. They will be present at community events, grand openings and parades in the coming year. One of their first official acts will be to participate in the Lilac Festival representing the community on a beautiful float in the Torchlight Parade May 15 in downtown Spokane. The Miss Spokane Valley Ambassador Program Scholarship Program has been developed by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce with the scholarship program administered by the Spokane Valley Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Tax deductible gifts for the scholarship program are welcomed and encouraged. For more information, contact the Greater Spokane Chamber of Commerce at 509-924-4994.

Last week's "Buy Local Give Local, Local Motion" shopping event organized by Finders Keepers owner, Deena Moe-Caruso, was a great success. Finders Keepers was able to give back $1,030 to Cancer Patient Care of Spokane.

Merlyn's, W. 19 Main, presents a Free Comic Book Weekend this Saturday and Sunday May 1st and 2nd. They will have goodies for free, 20% off sales on all their merchandise, the 501st Star Wars characters for pictures (noon - 4pm), and local comic artists doing sketches for kids under the age of 10 (noon - 4pm). Merlyn's has been a leader in the sci-fi/fantasy gaming, comic and book industry in Spokane for over 20 years. Their location has over 7000 Square feet of retail, meeting and playing area. You can get more info at their web site - http://www.merlyns.biz/, or contact John Waite by phone at 509-624-0957 or via email at goribob@aol.com.

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Hampton® Hotel, the global brand of mid-priced Hampton Inn® and Hampton Inn & Suites® hotels, has announced the official opening of its newest property, the 106-room Hampton Inn and Suites, Spokane Valley, located at 16418 E. Indiana Avenue. The hotel is owned by Spokane WV Hotel, Inc and operated by Capri Inc. Hampton Inn and Suites, Spokane Valley hotel is located just minutes from Valley Mall, Spokane Centennial Trail, movie theaters, and over 25 restaurants. Hotel amenities include free wireless Internet throughout, complimentary "On the House" breakfast, indoor swimming pool and spa and a 24 hour fitness room featuring top of the line Precor equipment. There is also a 24 hour Suite Shop and business center. Guestrooms are equipped with Cloud 9 Beds, 32” flatscreen TV's with Free HBO. There are also microwaves and mini refrigerators in select rooms and in all 32 Suites. The phone number is 509-928-6900.

Spokane's Lions Clubs will be holding their 41st annual White Cane Days, raising money to give sight, hope, and a second chance this Friday and Saturday, April 30 – May 1 from 10:00am to 4:00pm each day. Volunteers will be collecting donations on various corners in downtown Spokane and also at Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores throughout the area.

General Motors has ended its relationship with Interpublic Group advertising agency Campbell-Ewald. Their ties go back to 1919, and over the years Campbell-Ewald has launched such memorably Chevy campaigns as "See the USA in your Chevrolet", "Like a Rock", "Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet" and "Heartbeat of America." Chevy's new lead agency, Publicis Worldwide, will handle the entire account.

Marketing Associates of Spokane will hold their monthly meeting Thursday, May 13th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Red Lion River Inn. This month the speakers will be Taree Bollinger, CPSM & Pam Heeke, CPSM, presenting "Marketing Ethics During Economic Downturns - The temptation to push ethical boundaries grows as marketing opportunities decrease and competition intensifies." RSVP per the MAS website www.maspokane.org by Monday, May 10th. Lunch will be provided at a cost of $20 for members and $30 for non-members. For more information please contact Taryn Erickson, at Trindera Engineering, 208-676-8001 or terickson@trindera.com.

Cable Creek, a historic farm located in North Idaho, is now offering organic produce and pasture-raised meats and eggs to the North Idaho community. Our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm is the first in North Idaho to grow organic produce and pasture-raised, hormone and antibiotic-free meats, and deliver them weekly to customer's homes. Operating under a unique model that is growing in popularity nationwide, customers purchase a "share" of the farm based on their family size and eating habits, and Cable Creek grows and harvests food specifically for them. This model reconnects people with the land, provides them with the freshest, most nutritious in-season produce, eliminates the danger of contamination recalls by major food conglomerates, and recycles their money within our community. It benefits customers, the land, and the local economy. Shares are available now via the website at www.cablecreekfarm.com, or by calling 208-773-3202.

The Spokane Association of REALTORS® recently announced the annual recipients of the James S. Black Memorial Scholarship Award, Gary Fox Memorial Broker Award and the Excellence in Professionalism Award. Arne Woodard of Woodard Properties received this year's James S. Black Memorial Scholarship Award, presented by James Black III and Dave Black, of NAI Black. This scholarship fund, established in 1985, honors the memory of James S. Black, a real estate broker and former president of the Spokane Association of REALTORS®, who made many vital contributions to the Spokane business community. This scholarship helps a distinguished REALTOR® member pay for tuition and expenses for classes leading to professional designations offered by the National Association of REALTORS®, i.e. Graduate REALTORS® institute, Certified Residential Broker, Certified Property Manager, Society of Industrial REALTORS® or a member of the Appraisal Institute. Also honored was John Becker, managing broker at Windermere Real Estate North. Becker is the third recipient of the Gary Fox Memorial Broker Award, presented by SAR member Sabrina Jones-Schroeder, last year's recipient. Becker, who also serves as Chairman of the Board for Windermere Services, Mountain West, is a well-known and respected real estate broker in Spokane, licensed as a broker 32 years ago in 1978. The Gary Fox Memorial Broker Award was created in 2007 and first presented in 2008 by the leadership of the Spokane Association of REALTORS® to recognize those rare individuals who exemplify the things that Gary Fox stood for. Recipients for the Gary Fox Memorial award are nominated by the Membership of the Spokane Association of REALTORS®. They must be a current REALTOR® member, have a broker's license, and be a current broker or manager with at least 5 years experience in that role. The Spokane Association of REALTORS® also awarded Marianne Guenther it's "Excellence In Professionalism" award. This prestigious award is now in it's ninth year. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding performance in REALTORS® for their outstanding contributions to the community and the Association. Congratulations all!

Start your garden at "Bloom-In-Tune" on Thursday, May 6th from 9am-6pm and support your Spokane Symphony at the same time. Each spring, the Bernstein Chapter of the Spokane Symphony Associates takes over the sales duties at a local nursery and The Spokane Symphony receives a percentage of the sales. "Bloom-In-Tune" returns this year to Judy's Enchanted Garden, located at 2628 W Northwest Blvd, Spokane, WA 99205 (Between North Alberta St/W Fairview Ave and North Lindeke St). You can make a notable difference by purchasing your flowers and plants at Bloom-In-Tune. Spokane Symphony Associates (SSA) is divided into smaller groups called Chapters. All chapters help with post-concert receptions and events. For more information on Spokane Symphony Associates go to spokanesymphony.org/21,spokanesymphonyassociates.

Associated Industries (A.I.) has announced the addition of Marla Fruit to assume the role of Membership Development Representative, a newly created position for the organization. Fruit comes to A.I. from the staffing industry and has over 12 years experience in business development, multi-level recruiting, client relations and retention and client/candidate negotiations. Fruit was born and raised in Spokane and attended Gonzaga Preparatory high school. She earned her BS degree in Psychology from Washington State University and is recognized by several honor societies. Fruit can be reached at 509-326-6885 or 800-720-4291 or mfruit@aiin.net. Associated Industries, an employers' association, was founded in Spokane in 1910. A.I. offers business-related services including medical health benefit plans; industrial safety and risk management consulting; human resource consulting, education and training; electronic payroll; legal services among its business related services. You can find more information about Associated Industries at www.aiin.com.

The business thought of the week is from actress and United Artists co-founder Mary Pickford: "Today is a new day. You will get out of it just what you put into it."

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