The Surprise Independent periodically highlights a business that does work in the Surprise area.

• Business Name: Whatcom Edge Sharpening Service

• Your name: Truk Tolstad

• Age: 60

• Contact Info: 360-562-8999, WahtcomEdge@gmail.com, whatcomedge@gmail.com

• Town/Neighborhood: Lynden, Washington; Sun City West

• Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays at Toliver’s Plaza, Surprise; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Park West Farmers Market; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays at Surprise Farmers Market.

• What I do: Mobile cutler; knife, scissors and garden tool sharpening from a solar powered trailer/shop that I built myself, working at farmer’s markets, businesses and private homes.

• Personal background highlights: Grew up in and attended college in Winona, Minnesota. Have been living in Western Washington for last 40 years. Currently spend my time between Lynden, Washington, and Sun City West. Enjoy camping, mushroom hunting and hiking with my Jack Russell “Macaroni.”

• Professional background highlights: Retired chef and garde manger of 30 years. Graduate of Culinary Institute of America. Certified bookkeeper. Licensed massage therapist.

• What I like most about doing business here: I love the beauty and, of course, fabulous weather here in Phoenix, and love meeting all the new customers at the farmer’s markets and proving them with incredibly sharp knives and scissors.

• Changes I’d like to see in this area: I would like to see more weekday and evening markets and am impressed with the variety and excellence of the vendors at the markets I attend.

• What am I promoting: I am always excited to tell people of the variety of Items we can sharpen for them, giving them additional or enhanced use of their knives, scissors and gardening tools.

• What I’m excited about and why: I am excited to visit many of the parks and trails in the area and on my trip back to Washington this spring.

• Favorite community cause and why: I have been active with a number of groups and lately have been donating and volunteering with Vietnam Vets of Whatcom County. Whatcom Edge is always willing to donate services and/or gift certificates to local nonprofit organizations.

• When and why I started my business/employment here: I started Whatcom Edge four years ago with a good friend as a part-time venture. After the sudden death of my business partner and the loss of my full-time job, I jumped into the business full-time, and have enjoyed the growth and travel that comes with it.

• Where was before and why I left: I split my year between Western Washington and Phoenix with some travel inbetween.

• My interests and hobbies: My interests are reading, cooking and anything outdoors. I sew, do woodworking and other crafts. I am currently building cabinets and converting my van for camping.

• People who inspire me (and how): My mother was a chef and a great guide and inspiration for me, and I used her guidance many times in my career in the hospitality business.

• My guiding philosophy: My guiding philosophy is simple: I try to never say “no.”