5B
| MAY 22, 2013
Business
THE MINER
Financial education event reaches seniors at three area high schools
MINER PHOTO|MICHELLE NEDVED
Dale and Karen Snyder opened ERGJ jewelry and art gallery in Newport.
Top Northwest artist makes jewelry in Newport Snyders open jewelry store, art gallery on Washington BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER
NEWPORT – A new jewelry and art gallery is now open in Newport. ERGJ Newport, in downtown Newport, offers a variety of handmade jewelry and original art pieces, ranging from wood carvings, to glass beads. Owners Karen and Dale Snyder moved to Newport from central Washington, near the Entiat River. The “ERGJ” stands for Entiat River Glass and Jewelry. Dale also pointed out that ERG is measurement of energy, so the name has a double meaning: energy and jewelry. Karen is a juried artist in the Northwest Designer Craftsman Association, comprised of the top 200 artists in the Northwest, in any medium. Last year 80 applied; she was one of eight accepted. Karen hand makes wire wrap and silver lace jewelry, one of a kind pieces and custom orders. The wire is made of sterling silver and copper. She also works in gold by special order only. She knots the wire using her hands and pliers, like in macrome or tatting. She has a piece at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, purchased by the museum. Dale specializes in lampwork glass beads, marbles, implosions and faceted glass. He is not a glass blower. He began making glass beads about 15 years ago as a way to relax and was able to sell them to Spokane-area bead stores. “My work is unlike anyone else’s,” he said. He makes marbles too, which some people like to collect. Karen’s inspiration came from her grandfather, a lapidarian. She did lots of rock hounding trips with him, and the only thing in his will when he passed away gave all his lapidary equipment to Karen. Both Karen and Dale worked in the corporate sales world and did their glass and gem work as hobbies. They raised their son, Jesse, in Spokane. He gradu-
ated from Mount Spokane High School in 1999 and is now a teacher and coach on the west side of the state. He is married and they had their first child last year. The Snyders moved to this area recently because Karen’s mother lives in Oldtown and they decided it was time to settle down and help her. They moved here and began renting the former food bank building sightunseen. “We’re here for the long term,” Dale said. They both grew up in Spokane, but didn’t meet until after they finished school. Dale was working for his father’s moving and storage company, making a trip from Spokane to Seattle. On his way back he stopped in Ellensburg. His waitress at the restaurant was Karen. They’ve been married for more than 33 years. The gallery will feature artwork from local and regional artists, many of which are personal friends of the Snyders. They meet artists at trade shows and trade with them. A featured artist is Kris Vermeer, a descendant of the Dutch painter of “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” whose work was mostly lost at sea and just recently discovered. Kris will be onsite during their grand opening May 15. Karen will also teach classes in the shop. They plan on working with the Kalispel Tribe to teach art classes to tribal members. Other artists showing include Phil and Jody McCrain, the only two photographers to show at ERGJ. Phil McCrain photographs bird solely and doesn’t manipulate pictures digitally. Other artists are Steven Baird of Cheney, who does watercolors, Renee Healy, who does watercolors on silk with other medium, potters and wood workers and turners, including Ralph Mitchell, a local artist, and Richard “Bo” Bebow, a wood worker. The gallery is located at 331 S. Washington Ave., Newport, next to Owen’s Grocery and Deli in the former food bank storefront. 509-447-1036.
Identity theft: Protecting your business and customers WASHINGTON D.C. – A free webinar for small business organizations and their members will discuss keeping your customers’ information safe and guarding against identity theft. The webinar will be presented by the Federal Trade Commission and Internal Revenue Service Tuesday, June 25 form 11 a.m. to noon. To register, visit bit.ly/14pkVy7. Hear how to identify data security risks for small businesses that can result in ID thieves getting customer information, and get advice from the Federal Trade Commission on how to protect sensitive information.
Identity theft is growing, and the IRS has taken numerous steps to combat it and protect taxpayers. Learn what to look for and how to report tax related ID theft issues, and where to find information and resources on the IRS website. Before registering, set your spam filter to accept email from the webinar provider. Confirmation and reminder emails will appear with the name “SL Northwest” and will be from the email address noreply@ infiniteconferencing.com. If you have any problems registering, contact SL.northwest@irs.gov.
NEWPORT – High school seniors from throughout Pend Oreille County have the opportunity to beat national surveys showing that many young Americans lack the basic skills to manage their own money. Newport, Selkirk and Cusick school districts participated in the Money Live event supported by area businesses through the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by the Kalispel Tribe, Money Live took place Wednesday, April 10, at Camas Center for Community Wellness. This is the first time Money Live has been offered communitywide, anywhere in Washington. A similar event with the same curriculum is a requirement for high school seniors in Bonner County. “The importance of financial education for our high school seniors is crucial as they transition to the adult world,” said Jason Thompson, Newport School District Superintendent. “We appreciate STCU, local businesses, the tribe, and all of the community volunteers who are working hard to make this event happen.” Developed by Spokane Teachers Credit Union, Money Live assigns each participant a random life story – individualized job, salary, debt, family and financial obligations. Just as in real life, some make big salaries and have relatively uncomplicated life stories; others struggle to support families. Each teen is given a debit card and told to come up with a plan for paying off existing debt, set aside some money for charitable giving and buy the necessities of life, along with some luxuries. They make these purchases at stores staffed by community vol-
unteers, including some who will try hard to get the teens to spend beyond their means. Will they rent a modest apartment or buy a dream home? Buy a sporty new car, something used, or rely on public transportation? Will they set any money aside for emergencies, or blow it all on vacations? Each teen must make these decisions and more – and balance their monthly budgets – while facing unexpected financial blows, such as auto repairs. While not participating in the role-playing portion of Money Live, students are given lessons on balancing checkbooks, budgeting and other critical skills. Yvonne Clark of Country Financial discussed the basic principles of saving, budgeting and wise use of credit. Members of the Money Live steering committee are: Valorie Hein, formerly executive director of the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce; Donna Molvik, Kalispel Tribe administrative officer; Dennis Matson, Newport High School principal; Steve Shumski, Newport High School career and technical education director; Robin Maurer, STCU Newport Branch manager; and Keith Appleton, STCU community development officer. In addition to the school districts, tribe, chamber of commerce, Country Financial and STCU, organizations supporting Money Live included: Pend Oreille County Economic Development Council; Pend Oreille Public Utility District; Shanty; Country Lane; Kitchen Shoppe; Roger’s Body and Frame; Exbabylon IT Solutions; Concept Cable; Newport/ Priest River Rotary Club; Newport Hospital and Health Services; and Seattle City Light.
Teens in need of financial education More than 6,000 high school seniors surveyed by the national Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy in 2008 scored an average of 48 percent on a multiple-choice test of financial literacy. That’s 10 percentage points lower than seniors who were given the same test 10 years earlier. Among the 2008 findings: 42 percent knew that a sales tax increases the cost of things
they buy. 36 percent correctly selected “pension” as the name of retirement income paid by a company. 37 percent correctly selected “collision” as insurance that covers damage to the driver’s own car, if the driver is at fault. 40 percent knew that their health insurance may stop if their parents become unemployed.
COURTESY PHOTO|ELISABETH HOOKER, STCU
Newport High School student Brandon Girouard, right, and Jestin Brazda of Cusick High School study the cost of food, while deciding whether their assigned incomes are better suited for gourmet, middle of the road or low-cost eats. High school seniors from throughout Pend Oreille County attended the My Life, My Money financial education event April 10. Right: Jessika Reiber of Selkirk High School, standing, and Jessica Nelson of Cusick High School, kneeling, contemplate how much they should set aside in savings at an April 10 financial education event for high school seniors. The students were assigned a life story, including fictitious salary and financial commitments, from which they had to pay for food, housing, transportation and other life necessities at the half-day event.
Business workshop series starts May 25 COLVILLE – A series of business basics workshops will be held for people interested in starting their own business. The workshops will take place at the Tri-county Economic Development District office at 986 S. Main in Colville Saturday, May 25 and continue
for the next two Saturdays, June 1 and 8. They will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will focus on things such as building a business plan, financing the company and making your cash flow. Cost for the series is $30, with a second attendee from the same
company paying $15 for the series. Individual sessions are $15 per session. Space is limited. To reserve your seat, contact Tri County Economic Development District at 509-684-4571 or blamont@ teddonline.com.
Pend Oreille County unemployment at 11 percent OLYMPIA – The unemployment rate for Pend Oreille County remained stubbornly in double digits for April, at 11 percent. That compares with a state rate of 7 percent. Spokane County had a 7.7 rate of unemployment. Stevens County also had an 11 percent unemploy-
ment rate, and Ferry County had an 11.9 percent rate. The Washington county with the least unemployment was King County, with 4.4 percent. At 12.1 percent Grays Harbor County had the highest unemployment rate in the state. In Idaho, Bonner County had an unemployment rate of 8.3
percent for April. The state as a whole had an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent. Clearwater County had the highest unemployment rate in Idaho for April, at 12.4 percent. Oneida County had the lowest unemployment rate, at 4 percent. The unemployment rate for the U.S. is 7.5 percent.
COURTESY PHOTO|ELISABETH HOOKER, STCU
Choppers Hair Design expanding NEWPORT – After a year in business, Choppers Hair Design is doubling its space. The salon on Washington Avenue in Newport is expanding into the spot formerly occupied by Turtle Bead Works. The bead shop shut down over the winter after about 18 years in business. Choppers owner Lisa “Hun” Smith will be offering full body waxing, and by fall hopes to expand her services to facial and skin care. Smith is a licensed cosmetologist, manicurist and esthetician. The shop at 221 S. Washington Ave. is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome. 509-447-5141.
Three Smith sponsored bills become Washington law OLYMPIA – State Sen. John Smith, R-Colville, saw three of the bills he co-sponsored signed into law recently. Senate Bill 5593 will help county governments plan for the future by providing with a streamlined process and new deadline for property tax exemption applications. This enables local municipalities to better project property tax revenue collections – money that is used to provide services for the entire county. Scott Furman, Okanogan County asses-
sor, brought this issue to Smith’s attention earlier this year. Smith and Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, RWenatchee, were co-sponsors. The second bill does something that Smith says has needed to be done since 2004, when a change made privately owned timber exempt from property tax. The measure, Senate Bill 5806, repeals the timber-tax credit that became obsolete after the remaining credits were used up in 2007. Smith teamed with Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge, Kirk Pearson,
R-Monroe, and Jim Hargrove, DHoquiam, to sponsor the bill. “It was a proud moment to watch the governor sign these two bills, knowing that they would benefit not only the 7th Legislative District, but residents all across Washington,” said Smith. “I think it is a good practice to remove obsolete laws and help county governments simplify their processes.” A third Smith-sponsored measure was also signed by the governor and extends protection
to individuals in the event they should lose money due to fraud, theft or the misappropriation of funds by a financial intermediary known as an “exchange facilitator.” Senate Bill 5082, introduced by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, addresses an issue that was initially worked on by retired Sen. Bob Morton at the request of an elderly couple who had lost their life savings because of a dishonest exchange facilitator. Smith was co-sponsor.