“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board, Changing Business Practices Sub-Committee

The State Department of Licensing has announced another sub-committee meeting, to take place on Wednesday, September 10th. This sub-committee is the one that focuses on Changing Business Practices, as home inspector licensing becomes a reality in the state.

The meeting time is 1PM to 4PM at the Double Tree Inn, Seattle. The address is 18740 International Blvd. Members of this committee include Bruce Macintosh, Michael O' Handley and Stephen Cancler, all from the greater Seattle metro area.

Issues on the agenda include -- Standards of practice; Professional conduct; Ethics; Written reports; Advertising standards and related business issues.

Since space is limited, those members of the public wishing to attend, need to first contact Jerry McDonald of DOL.  If you have been paying attention, you will see that this afternoon meeting follows the first meeting of the education committee, which meets in the AM

Contact person:      Jerry McDonald, Assistant Administrator

360-664-6524

jmcdonald@dol.wa.gov

 

Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board, education sub-committee

Okay, I know it is dry, but a number of inspectors have asked to have these messages circulated here on Active Rain.

The next sub-committee meeting of the state home inspector licensing board will be taking place on Wednesday, September 10, at the Double Tree Inn, Seattle. The address is 18740 International Blvd. This will be the education sub-committee and they will be discussing some far-reaching and important issues.

The home inspector examination

Classroom instruction requirements

Field training components

Continuing education requirements

Related business issues

Committee members on this sub-committee include Bill Myers from Spokane, Stephen Cancler and Michael O' Handley both from the greater Seattle metro. The meeting is scheduled to run from 9:30AM till Noon.

Since seating is limited for these meetings, any inspectors or members of the public wishing to attend should call Jerry McDonald of the DOL, to confirm attendance.

Jerry McDonald, Assistant Administrator

360-664-6524

jmcdonald@dol.wa.gov

 

Pacific Northwest Music Legend -- Quincy Jones

Future jazz and music legend Quincy Jones and his family moved to Seattle when Quincy was a youngster, in the early 1930's. In Seattle, the young Quincy Jones became involved in the busy Seattle jazz music scene. Upon graduation from high school, he was accomplished enough as a trumpet player and a musician to receive a scholarship to a top music school in Boston.

After that training, Jones moved to NYC to further his career.  He spent time in France as well but, ultimately, Jones became noted as one of the most influential men in the music industry. He has been a solo artist, a band leader, a hitmaker himself but he is best known for achieving fame as a "heavyweight", a hitmaker, for other artists. His earliest success was with "It's My Party" for Leslie Gore. He has also worked wtih Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Peggy Lee, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson and other household names. Jones has produced movies, television shows and he has written top motion picture soundtracks.  Quincy Jones, a Pacific Northwest Music Legend.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

School Daze: How Time Flies

Boy, how time flies.

Last night the wife and I had to stop at a large department store, Fred Meyer, to buy paint for one of our rental houses.

We were getting there late and we could not believe all the cars in the parking lot. The place was packed. When we got inside, we asked the checker what was going on.

She said that it was last minute shoppers, from Bellingham and the county, getting ready for school today. That startled me. You might say I was in a school daze. No longer having a kid in school, I had lost track of the time line of summer. I did not know it was time for the first day of school. It seems to me that I just read about the last graduation and school letting out for the summer. Now, that cycle is starting all over again, year after year.

The upside is that, in Bellingham, once school is back in session the library is open on Sundays again. I like that. Also, another big one: Crossing back and forth into Canada is much easier. That is good for an inspector who goes to Point Roberts a lot -- me.

Here is a song dedicated to back to school, and those students who are going back to that institution for yet another year. This has got to be the most famous school song that I know of.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

Biking Lummi Island

I have lived in Bellingham all of my life, born here. I have been over to Lummi Island a few times but yesterday was the first time that I have ever walked on the ferry and gone over just to bike. My wife is learning to speak Italian and her Italian group, including her teacher, headed over to Lummi Island for a biking adventure. To get there, you have to take the ferry. It is a tiny ferry, only takes a few cars at a time and the crossing time is maybe ten minutes -- fast. First the walkers get on, then the cars, then the bikers. You pay to get onto the island, and it is free coming back. With a bike it only costs $3.00.

After disembarking from the ferry, you are ready to explore Lummi Island. There are lots of sights to see by bicycle. However, if you are not into riding up hills, there is terrain that might lead to your walking your bike for awhile -- I did that a couple times. My general impression is that it is not hard to find places to ride with small to modest hills, so it is not too strenuous. One of the fellows on our ride yesterday had ridden from Mesa, Arizona to St. Augustine, Florida two years ago. He rode on this little folding bike, same one he took on his cross country trip. It was quite the amazing machine. It looked like you would have to peddle about twice as hard, tiny tires, but he said it was geared well and not so bad. I will tell you this, he sure kept ahead of me. This was a fun day and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to bike. There are a couple places to eat over there, one quite fancy. The bikers below are typical of those going to check out Lummi Island.

 Cyclists, a typical sight at Lummi Island

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections