MY EVERETT NEWS

The new Panera Bread store is on the corner of 3rd SE and Everett Mall Way

Well the P.R. Department at Panera Bread wasn’t forthcoming with a lot of details today but did say that the Panera Bread store at the corner of Everett Mall Way and 3rd Ave. SE will open Friday morning. I asked how many people were employed and why they chose Everett but got no response. One thing is obvious, more tasty food and more jobs are a good thing for Everett.

UPDATE 10:45am Fri 5/17/13:

Just received the following this morning from Stephanie Wren, Senior Regional Marketing Manager at Panera Bread…

Thank you for your voicemail the other day and I just received confirmation that we hired approximately 50 employees. We are very excited to be opening today in Everett. We selected the city of Everett as it truly is an all-American city with its beauty of the harbor, great fishing and a relaxing place to live.

Ms. Wren also sent along this…

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,673 bakery cafes as of March 26, 2013 under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Café® names. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.

You’re going to have to shop around now to get the best price on gas…

They say a picture is worth a thousand words as two different gas stations in Everett are well above $4.00 a gallon for unleaded gas. The Shell station on Broadway just north of the 526 interchange at Eastmont and the Chevron station at 110th and 19th Ave. SE near Silver Lake today topped the $4.00 a gallon mark. It does pay to shop around as the AM-PM station at 100th and 19th SE about halfway between the two, is selling unleaded at $3.69 a gallon. That is as of the time of this posting…

The 20th edition of the market will open June 2nd

Just got the following press release announcing the date of the 20th edition of the Everett Farmer’s Market…

Everett, WA, June 2, 2013 meet your local farmers, partake in the abundance of Washington grown farm fresh wholesome produce, and sample from the delights of local processors and concessionaires.

Share in the variety and creative genius of your favorite artisans; listen to live music, and watch the magic of the balloon fairy.

The day will be opened with the Port of Everett’s Director welcoming us to the 2013 Season, and Marie Brayman will be introduced who is the visionary developer of Everett’s Original Farmers Market.

The 2013 Season opens June 2, and runs through October 6. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanks to all in sharing in this very special day!

The Everett Farmer’s Market is located at 1600 West Marine View Drive right on the Everett waterfront.

The Seattle Times has the story of the FDIC suit against former Frontier Bank officials.

At one time, Frontier Bank was a small Everett based bank working with local business owners and residential customers. Over the years it became a leading lender in the real estate market stretching well beyond its local roots. The Everett based bank was founded in 1978 and was closed by regulators in 2010. Our news partner, The Seattle Times, has the story of a lawsuit filed on Friday against 12 people formerly involved with Frontier Bank. According to the accompanying documents, the FDIC is seeking more than 46 million dollars in damages.

From The Seattle Times article…The 12 officers and directors named in the suit include Michael Clementz, CEO when Frontier failed; John Dickson, the bank’s CEO when the loans were made in 2007 and 2008; and Frontier founder Robert Dickson, who was chairman until December 2008.

According to the FDIC suit, the bank in 2003 “instituted an aggressive growth strategy centered on increased commercial real-estate lending.” Between 2005 and 2007 its total real-estate lending increased by 58 percent, to $3.2 billion.

You can click this link to see the entire story from The Seattle Times.

A special financial health fair targeting Everett’s Latino community is set for this Saturday. Here are the details…

The event is Saturday from 11am – 3pm

Nonprofit organizations, financial institutions and the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle join efforts to host the Latino Financial Health Fair on Saturday, April 27. The fair will be held at Challenger Elementary, 9600 Holly Drive, Everett 98204 from 11am – 3pm.

The goal of the fair is to provide information to the Latino community about the ways to handle their money safely, the options to make it more productive, how to protect their assets and to offer counseling regarding the places where they can go to obtain help and take informed decisions regarding their financial wellbeing.

Several services and informational sessions will be offered, such as counseling on credit, debit and budgeting, home ownership and foreclosure, bankruptcy and consumer rights, starting a business, getting screened for public benefits, opening a checking or savings account and others.

The event will include many participating organizations, including The Arc of Snohomish County, Clear Point Credit Counseling Solutions, College Bound Scholarship, Economic Development Association of Skagit County, Familias Unidas, Goodwill, Housing Hope, Lake Stevens Family Support Center, Las Americas Business Center, Latino Education and Training Institute, South Everett Family Support Center, United Way of Snohomish County, Volunteers of America Western Washington, WithinReach, Workforce Development Council, and WSU-Extension.

For further information call Snohomish County Asset Building Coalition at 425.513.2880 or visit www.snocoabc.org, or the Consulate of México in Seattle at 206.448.8938 consulmex.sre.gob.mx/Seattle

Good news for hockey fans in Everett as the Everett Silvertips today announced an extension of their contract with the Everett Public Facilities District to play Comcast Arena at Everett to through the 2018 season.

The Everett Silvertips Hockey Club, Global Spectrum, and the Everett Public Facilities District today announced an extension to the club’s Comcast Arena at Everett lease agreement that will run through the 2017-2018 Western Hockey League season. The new five-year renewal comes on the heels of the club’s initial lease agreement, which spanned ten seasons since the inception of the Silvertips and the construction of Comcast Arena at Everett in 2003.

“We are pleased to renew our lease and continue to be a part of the fabric of the Everett community,” said Silvertips President Gary Gelinas. “We have a community that supports us both on and off the ice, a market where we have built a loyal hockey following and the best fans in the WHL. Our commitment to meeting the needs of our fans and Arena partners will be unwavering as we continue to establish the Silvertips as a top program in the WHL.”

“We are very excited about the years ahead and will do our very best to continue to make this community proud. We wish to thank the EPFD, Global Spectrum and Comcast Arena for their continued support and look forward to working as a partner over the term of this lease and beyond.”

The Silvertips recently completed the 10th Anniversary season of WHL hockey in Everett, a season which culminated in our 10th consecutive WHL playoff appearance. Since the first home puck drop in franchise history at the then-Everett Events Center on October 4, 2003, the ‘Tips have played over 400 regular season and playoff home games in downtown Everett. The team has also hosted scores of preseason contests, tournaments and other team events at Comcast Arena and the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center.

“The Everett Public Facilities District is pleased to renew our partnership with the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club and to continue to provide the ultimate game day experience for their fans,” stated EPFD’s Board President, Gary Weikel. “The Silvertips organization has done a tremendous job building a solid fan base and community support in the area over the past decade. We know the fans will be thrilled to continue enjoying first-rate hockey competition for years to come right here in Everett at Comcast Arena.”

Comcast Arena has presented one of the WHL’s toughest environments on the ice for visiting teams over the past ten years. Nearly 2.4 million fans have enjoyed Silvertips hockey in the building since 2003, good for an average attendance of 5,840 fans per game over the life of the franchise. That fan participation has contributed to the team’s performance, where the Silvertips have enjoyed a .600 all-time winning percentage on their home ice.