BRIEFCASE: Sept. 4, 2011

‘Eye Candy’ opens Tuesday

Eye Candy Gift Shop, located at Mat-Su Senior Services (the brand new Palmer Senior Center at 1132 S Chugach Street) opens at 10 a.m., Sept. 6. We invite everyone to visit our new Center and to drop by the gift shop. Eye Candy is proud to carry an impressive selection of Made in Alaska products. Locally handmade baby alpaca wrist warmers, tams, headbands and scarves by Raven Wi’ Enterprises; stained glass sun-catchers from Raven Glass Works; Sandy’s Silky Scent-Sations mini-spa body butters and soaps; Denali Dreams soaps and indulgences; whale bone bowls by Palmer artist Duaine Richards; silkscreens by Silver Tip Design; and a selection of other fine art and gifts. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Proceeds from Eye Candy are directed back into Senior Services to help keep Valley seniors as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Health fair is Sept. 10

Fresenius Medical Care North America, the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, invites the community to attend a free health fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 10 at its dialysis clinic in Wasilla, 3787 E. Meridian Loop. The facility enables Fresenius Medical Care’s local team of expert medical professionals to better serve the Wasilla area’s growing dialysis community. For more information, contact the facility at 357-5600.

Team CC earns Suzuki Super Service Award

Team CC in Wasilla has been named a Suzuki Super Service Award winner for 2011. This prestigious award recognizes only those Suzuki dealers that have consistently achieved the highest level of customer satisfaction, dealers who have done the best job of meeting customer needs and enhancing the overall Suzuki ownership experience throughout the year.

Earning a Suzuki Super Service Award requires a commitment to service excellence from the entire dealership staff. It means this dealership has been able to take care of its customers quickly, correctly and with a minimum amount of inconvenience. A Super Service dealer is dedicated to quality and professionalism, and has demonstrated the skills and capabilities to earn one of the top CSI scores among Suzuki’s entire dealer network.

Team CC is extremely proud to have attained this exceptional honor in 2011.

Alaska Marine Highway System adds vessel tracking

The Alaska Marine Highway System’s redesigned and updated website features real-time vessel tracking. Nine of the 11 ferries in the fleet have been outfitted with satellite tracking hardware making it possible to view and track the location of each vessel in real time at FerryAlaska.com.

The two fast ferries, Chenega and Fairweather, are expected to be equipped with satellite communication equipment in the coming year.

Visitors to the new website will find the System Map on the main navigation page under the “Plan a Trip” tab. The tracking application makes it easy to search for vessels by name using a dropdown menu at the top of the page, and vessel icons can be clicked to reveal details about each ship.

Larson wins ‘Service Star Award’

Jane Larson is the Service Star Award winner for July at First American Title.

She represents the eight statewide offices in this recognition.

The service award is presented on votes by her peers and clients throughout the state for repeatedly going above and beyond while performing extraordinary customer service for our internal and external customers.

Northrim Bank names new CEO

Northrim Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northrim BanCorp Inc., has named Joe Beedle as chief executive officer of the bank in addition to his title as president. Beedle was also elected to the Northrim Bank Board of Directors, increasing the number of bank directors to 12.

Marc Langland, one of Northrim’s founders, will remain chairman, president, and chief executive officer of the holding company and chairman of the bank. “With this change, the company continues to execute its strategic plan for management succession,” said Langland. “In addition to his extensive banking experience, Joe’s commitment to customers, employees and the community match Northrim’s values and approach to doing business.”

Beedle has been president of the bank since August 2009. He has primary responsibility for lending; marketing and sales; and facilities; and will continue to serve on the executive team responsible for day-to-day management of the bank.

Speakers Bureau recruiting members

Alaska Speakers Bureau is looking for presenters and trainers who are interested in expanding their speaking career to join their new organization.

The Alaska Speakers Bureau facilitates speakers for large and small corporations, professional and trade associations, meeting planners, educational or public institutions requiring keynote, motivational, after-dinner speakers, trainers, and conference facilitators.

For more information, contact the Alaska Speakers Bureau at 339-0178.

Toastmasters groups meet Tuesdays in Wasilla, Palmer

There are weekly Toastmasters meetings in the Valley, one in Palmer in the evening and one in the morning in Wasilla. Mat-Su Toastmasters meets Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Wasilla Area Senior Center. And the Palmer Toastmasters meet Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. downstairs at the MTA Building in Palmer. Toastmasters groups offer an educational and supportive learning environment where you can improve and hone all of your communication skills.

Learn to prepare and deliver a speech, provide effective evaluations, and think on your feet with impromptu speeches. For more information, contact Melissa Vega at 841-0077 or email melissa@greatlander.com.

Houston Farmers Market continues

Houston Farmers Market continues Fridays from 3 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in the Spenard Builders Supply parking lot. For more information, contact Peggy Bjornton at 892-4727.

Willow Farmers Market is Fridays

The Willow Farmers Market opens from 2 to 7 p.m., Fridays through Sept. 23 at Mile 68.8, Parks Hwy., across from Newman’s Tesoro. Check out the fresh local produce, crafts and the new food vendor. See what’s new each week on Facebook. For more information, contact Nina Davidson at ninamarie.willow@gmail.com.