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Fremont Chamber hires director

The Fremont Chamber of Commerce recently hired its first-ever executive director, Bill Elder.

"The Chamber has grown to the point where we needed a paid professional to keep track of the Chamber's events," said Russ Mead, this year's Fremont Chamber president. "We needed someone of Bill's caliber."

Elder, 59, moved to Seattle in 1988. He has worked in both the public and private sector and was also the first-ever executive director of the Fremont Arts Council. He retired three years ago from a career as a restaurateur (he owned a Capitol Hill restaurant called the Surrogate Hostess). He continues to volunteer for a number of groups, including the Seattle Audubon Society.

Elder, a former Fremont resident who now lives in Ballard, said he's looking forward to the challenge of his new job.

"The Chamber needs a new image and new sense of what it's about," said Elder, noting that in years past, the neighborhood was mainly known as an "artists' republic." "It's changed," he said of the neighborhood, "but we're trying to hold that same spirit."

For more information, call the Fremont Chamber at 632-1500.

New Lake City Rotary president

Bruce Edwards, a Cedar Park resident, was recently elected president of the Lake City Rotary Club for a 1-year term. He replaces Tom Hyde, owner of Hyde's Espresso on Lake City Way. Edwards is a self-employed financial consultant affiliated with LPL Financial Services.

Globe/map store opens

Aard's 1-World Globes & Maps recently opened its doors at 8312 Greenwood Ave. N. The shop is owned by Davia and William Bailey, a Greenwood couple who also run two online businesses: 1worldglobes.com and 1worldfilms.com. The latter Web site sells foreign films. The globe site (which has been in existence for three years) was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal this past January.

The Greenwood store is named Aard, a Dutch word which means Earth - a reference to early Dutch cartographers. Davia Bailey said she and her husband decided to open brick-and-mortar shop so local shoppers would have a place where they could view the globes.

Kiwanis recycles cartridges

The Northgate Lake City Kiwanis Club has launched a program to collect and recycle empty inkjet, laser and fax toner cartridges. The club will earn $1-$5 for each unit collected. Funds raised will support community service groups sponsored by the club including the Northwest School for Hearing Impaired Children and Nightwatch. For details, call Alida Fretz at 524-2135, ext. 146.

Windermere plans new office

Windermere Real Estate/Northwest Inc. broke ground on a new office at 2636 NW Market St. on June 7.

The new 8,000-square-foot, two-story building will replace the old Blaze's Broiler restaurant. It is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Currently, Windermere has Ballard office located at 5900 24th Ave. NW. However, that site became too cramped and could not be expanded. There is no decision yet on what will happen to the current office, but a spokesman for the company said it will likely be retained by Windermere for some other use.

Windermere Real Estate has nearly 6,000 associates and more than 200 offices in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Mobile Audio Design opens

Mobile Audio Design, located at 12528 Lake City Way NE, opened in April.

A spokesman for the company, Carl Siemering, said his brother, Ken Siemering (who owns Mobile Audio), left his former career as truck driver because he grew tired of the job's harsh physical demands.

Carl Siemering, who once worked at a mobile electronics store formerly located on Lake City Way called Mobile Installation, is acting as an advisor to his brother in the new venture.