The Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn & Conference Center in Bellingham has received the Best Western Director’s Award for outstanding quality standards. The award recognizes high performance in areas of cleanliness, maintenance, design and customer service, among the top 20 percent of more than 2,100 Best Western hotels in North America. The Lakeway Inn is located at 714 Lakeway Drive.

A holiday food drive at Birch Equipment locations in northwest Washington and southeast Alaska raised nearly $5,000 and more than 600 pounds of food for local food banks. Birch Equipment donated $2,500 to the cause and also invited businesses and individuals to participate. The company has set a goal of raising at least $10,000 in food drives in 2014. Businesses and community members interested in participating can email  community@birchequipment.com.

Real-estate brokers and staff at RE/MAX Whatcom County Inc. recently delivered more than 200 new teddy bears and other stuffed animals to volunteer coordinators at the St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. Lori Reece, the company’s owner and operator, started the annual teddy bear drive in 2008.

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