By SUSAN PARK

Avtech names new president

Jeffrey F. Smith, formerly vice president/general manager, has been appointed president of Avtech Corp. in Wallingford. He succeeds the company's former president, Robert Hancock, who retired in June 1998.

Smith joined Avtech in 1989 as director of operations. In 1991 he was named vice president of engineering and promoted to vice president/general manager the following year. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington in 1982. Prior to joining Avtech, he held positions at John Fluke Manufacturing and Hewlett Packard Corp.

Avtech, located at 3400 Wallingford Ave. N., in the former site of the old Grandma's Cookies factory, is a provider of airborne electronics to airframe manufacturers and airlines throughout the world.

Chiropractic office opens in Roosevelt

The Roosevelt neighborhood has a new chiropractic practice. Dr. Ya-Ling J. Liou recently announced the opening of her chiropractic office at 1223 NE 65th Street. Liou says one of her prime objectives is to help her patients learn more about their bodies and how to help themselves.

In addition to running her practice, Liou is a faculty member at Ashmead College (formerly Seattle Massage School), where she teaches anatomy and physiology at the college's Greenlake and Everett campuses during the evenings.

Fandrich's locally made piano is musicians' choice

Fandrich and Sons Pianos in Lake City has donated the use of one of its grand pianos to the 7th Annual Art of Jazz music series.

Six after-work concerts will be presented every second Thursday of the month through June. Concerts take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Seattle Art Museum lobby and are free to SAM members. The cost is $7 for the general public and includes access to the galleries.

Heather Fandrich, co-owner of Fandrich and Sons, says that although the Seattle Art Museum just purchased a new Steinway and Sons grand piano, the musicians prefer to play the Fandrich's model.

Once a month, Fandrich's ships the piano downtown with the help of their professional mover/technicians, Nate Foss and Jeremy Husby. Fandrich says moving a grand piano is no easy task. The legs must be removed one at a time and the piano hoisted into a moving truck.

Fandrich and Sons is located at 12515 Lake City Way NE.

U. Village adds new merchants

University Village shopping center recently announced the signing of four new local merchants:

Ruby Garnet, an upscale boutique of women's apparel which opened last month at U-Village's Center Court in mid-April. The store is run by owner Cheryl Duryea.

Former cosmetics industry exec Colleen Stone is planning to open a day spa in June called inSpa, which will be located between Barnes & Noble and Delfino's Pizzeria.

Also opening in June will be Morgan Ross, Merchant Explorers. The store, located between A La Francaise and FireWorks, will showcase one-of-a-kind offerings of 19th and early 20th century jewelry, furnishes, clothing and home goods. Marnie Ross is the owner.

Jeremy Hardy and Peter Levy, owners of the Jitterbug restaurant in Wallingford, are planning a yet-to-be named restaurant that will open in August, next to Mrs. Cook's in the Pavilion building at U-Village.

Yankee Candle opens at Northgate Mall

Northgate Mall recently welcomed a new tenant: Yankee Candle Company, the Massachusetts-based retail chain's first store in this state.

Yankee Candle Company began in 1969 when founder Mike Kittredge, then only 16, melted his childhood crayons to make a candle as a Christmas gift for his mother. The company has grown to become the nation's leading manufacturer, retailer and wholesaler of scented candles, with 66 stores in 20 states. The company plans to open 40 more stores in 15 states over the course of the next three years.