
Ferndale inventor brings turmeric-flavored liqueur to market
By Emily Hamann It’s the new trendy food, and it’s now available in a cocktail near you. Kuma is a turmeric liqueur invented by Chet Holstein, of Ferndale. It went on the market in October, and is now available at local Haggen stores, and bars from Whatcom County to Seattle. “We’ve established that there is [...]
Tips on implementing a wellness program for your company
By Erin Krawczak For The Bellingham Business Journal As a busy working mom, I am always thinking about how to squeeze in quality time with my three active kids. That’s why it meant so much to me last year when I was able to spend a full workday helping my son finish his Eagle Scout [...]
Business Briefs, Contents, People On The Move
SPIE announces new CEO
SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, announced that Kent Rochford will be the new CEO. Rochford follows Eugene Arthurs, who will retire from SPIE on June 2. Rochford is a longtime SPIE member, and most recently was associate director for laboratory programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Rochford joined the [...]
Building permits, April 2-6
Includes commercial building activity in Bellingham with an estimated valuation listed at $10,000 or more. Records are obtained from the City of Bellingham’s Permit Center. Applied 1426 Cornwall Ave., $665,000 to expand restaurant to neighboring space – Pure Bliss. Applicant 2: Bundle Design Studio. Contractor: Chuckanut Builders LLC. Business/tenant: Pure Bliss Desserts. Permit no.: BLD2018-0320. [...]
Business Briefs, Contents, People On The Move
Peoples Bank appoints chief credit officer
Peoples Bank announced the appointment of Peter Cutbill as executive vice president and chief credit officer. Cutbill succeeds Terry Daughters, who will retire later this year. Cutbill has 30 years of experience. Most recently he served as senior vice president and chief lending officer at Skagit Bank. In that role, Cutbill managed all commercial loan [...]
Recent news


Bellingham explodes with new bar, eatery, nightlife options
By Emily Hamann Bellingham’s nightlife is coming alive again. Friday and Saturday nights see crowds of people eating dinner, seeing concerts, movies and getting a drink at one of the many breweries and bars. In the past six months, almost a dozen new bars and restaurants have opened or are in the process of opening [...]
Changing the way businesses train, treat middle management
By Emily Hamann Businesses have been training managers all wrong. That’s the idea Mike Cook puts forward in his new book, “Thriving in the Middle: How the best managers create mutual success.” Cook, a longtime BBJ columnist, advocates that instead of sending middle managers off to specialized training, they should meet in small groups with [...]
Bellingham Cider Co. opens brewpub in downtown Bellingham
By Emily Hamann The Bellingham Business Journal Driving down Prospect Street in Bellingham, the actual building is hard to miss. But its new tenant might be a little hard to find. Bellingham Cider Company opened in February in the former Cascade Laundry Building, at 205 Prospect St. It’s the same building that was painted bright [...]
After a year in limbo, rural landowners have hope after the state Hirst decision fix
By Emily Hamann The Bellingham Business Journal Buddy Breakey thought he was buying his piece of the American Dream. He and his wife, Deborah, found a beautiful piece of property in rural Whatcom County, near where her dad built his own house. It was a 10-acre plot covered in huge old cedar trees. They bought [...]
Granite Falls inventor built a wall — to keep mice out of his sports car
By Jim Davis The Herald Business Journal GRANITE FALLS — Some inventors want to build a better mousetrap. Not Tom Sharp. He wants to skip the trap altogether. In doing so, he thinks he’s solved not only his own problem, but a bunch of other people’s problems, too. The Granite Falls man adores his sports [...]
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