Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/20649
4A – Daily News – Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Commerce business Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce. Beginning with a new CEO, Dave Gowan’s arrival in March, office refurbishment, electronic and Internet upgrades, enhanced marketing image and a robust and growing mem- bership soon followed. In May we conducted a long needed Strate- gic Advance meet- ing and set forth a strategy to improve membership, communication, group cohesion and our image. Regularly communicating with the city has been an important component of our strate- gy, delivering updates on a monthly basis. Committee work has been vibrant with the chamber involvement and in some cases leadership of April’s Red Bluff Round Up 11-days of Rodeo, Good Morning Red Bluff, Red Bluff Rebound Radical 10 ideas, Lake Red Bluff Mitigation Plans, Farmers Mar- kets, 4th of July, Seeds of Opportuni- ty, monster trucks, Ribs, Rods and Rides, candidates night, annual wine & drive, Government Relations focused on Development Impact Fees, Air Quality Fees and any other act that impairs our ability to sustain and grow our community. We have proudly sup- ported the community effort to establish a brand for Tehama County that cele- brates and markets our assets and look for- ward to turning the corner of yet anoth- er year with new Directors Darwyn Jones, Lisa Hansen, Suren Patel and Kristen Gray. These directors come with new ideas such as Suren’s efforts to create a Red Bluff Business After Hours networking opportunity of which the November gathering was an overwhelming success hosted by Wilcox Golf Course. We say goodbye to our long time friend and volunteer Carol Wood as she took a final bow at her final Good Morning Red Bluff and handed the reins to her long time co-leader, Cindy Brown and Laurel Sparrow. Leaders are always needed and welcome. Our election process is just around enterprise Lighting candles; never cursing the darkness It has been a busy year for the Red the corner, a process that has not been followed for some time as no one seemed interested in joining our efforts to support our mission to pro- mote the growth and prosperity of local business. However, the tides have turned — soon our members will receive a sur- vey and nomination form electroni- cally to nominate new board mem- bers and provide feedback on our progress. We hope you join us 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the annual Holi- day Mixer hosted by Randy Leak and the Palomino Room, and don’t forget Dessert First across the street at Job Training Center beginning at 4 p.m. We look forward to awarding the Beautification Awards to Tehama County Businesses who have made improvements to their business and ultimately support the beautification of our community. To become a member, call Dave Gowan at 527-6220. Kristin Behrens is president of the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Director for St.Elizabeth Community Hospital. Local company renews NATO contract Vigilant Canine Services International, LLC recently renewed its commitment and contract to provide contract- ed working dogs to NATO’s International Security Assis- tance Forces in Afghanistan. CEO Buck Dikes traveled to Kandahar and met with NATO contracting officials recently to discuss the contin- ued canine services and sign the one year option period, which extends the contracted services for an additional year. The company has been providing the contracted canine services to NATO troops in Afghanistan since March 2009. “We are very pleased and honored to be providing these special services to our international troops in Afghanistan,” Dikes said. “The renewed contract is an indication that we are carrying out the mission and doing it well.” The contract will extend the services until Dec. 31, 2011, at which time NATO can again renew the contract should there still be the need to have these specially trained dogs protecting coalition forces in Afghanistan. Vigilant Canine has been supporting the freedom efforts in Afghanistan since 2007 and is one of the largest providers of contracted working dogs for private security and military forces in the Afghanistan. For additional information about the company, call Shaun Hoover at 517-1771 or send an email to shoover@vcsik9.com. Fashion and salon opens in downtown RB Wink Fashion and Salon offers hand-selected cloth- ing, jewelry and accessories in a welcoming boutique salon. Hair color, cuts and waxing are available by appointment with Wink's stylist Amber Micke. Private parties and fundraisers are available. Business hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday 1705 Airpport Blvd., Suite E 530 528-1225 GRAND OPENING - DEC. 4, 2010 We buy guns & do consignments FIREARMS • RE-LOADING SUPPLIES GUN ACCESSORIES • AMMUNITION Name Phone # E-mail COUPON No purchase necessary BRING IN COUPON FOR CHANCE TO WIN A CRICKETT .22 RIFLE through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Extended hours began Nov. 28. Wink will be open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4p.m. through December. facts & FICTIONS Book Store STORE CLOSING SALE After 28 Years In Business Look at what’s available for the Holidays EVERYTHING M-F 11-4, SAT. 10-2 409 Walnut St. 527-1449 20% OFF Owners Micke, Sarah Rider and Sophia Swarthout opened Wink with the mis- sion to offer classic and of- the-moment fashion, acces- sories and shoes at accessi- ble prices. They are thrilled to join historic Red Bluff’s vibrant downtown shopping experience. All three owners are longtime residents of Tehama County. Swarthout and Micke are sisters born and raised in Red Bluff. Rider has lived in Tehama County for 14 years. The owners look for- ward to serving and giving back to the Red Bluff com- munity they know and love through continuing involve- ment in local benefits and events. Wink Fashion and Salon is at 332 Oak St. across from the State Theatre. Before they shut the door Job Training Center In the multi-faceted world of the Job Training Center, a normal day usually includes helping nearly 100 visitors look for a job or explore career and training options and assisting businesses with hiring and human resource issues. However, word of a business closure or major layoff is an urgent call to action. Can staff get to the affected employ- ees before the doors are shut? Can they work with the owner to help ease the transition? Too often, there is nothing but a rumor and a sign on the door. “The best scenario is being notified and teaming up with management to provide a variety of services early on,” said Kathy Garcia, business services and marketing manager. “We’ve set up career centers on site filled with computers, resource materials and job leads. We’ve offered time with our career counselors, and provided computer-based work- shops and even mini job fairs.” For management, these services can make an often trau- matic time a little easier. “Most often management has the employee’s best inter- est in mind, and they feel helpless. Knowing their employ- ees are exploring and understanding their options offers them some relief,” Garcia said. Job Training Center staff is often called in during the last few days to provide a meeting with employees that covers unemployment insurance benefits, retraining options, job search tools and encouragement. Many who haven’t job searched in years, aren’t aware of the Center as a major resource. “The sooner employees have a plan of action, the soon- er they regain a sense of control,” Garcia said. “This econo- my has been tough, but we’re still working to bridge the transition from one job to the next through coaching, labor market information, referral s to job openings and often retraining." Career Centers like the Job Training Center are part of America’s One Stop system and are established across the country, open to the public to provide easy access to local jobs, computer and Internet access, tools and assessment, job leads, career and training exploration, classes and per- sonal assistance. A majority of the funding for the career centers comes from the federal government via the Work- force Investment Act. Job Training Center’s administrative arm in Chico seeks special funding through grants and spe- cial project money for programs such as nursing and green technology. One special grant fund is designated for those who have lost their jobs due to closures and major layoffs. “Even if the doors have already closed, the employees need to meet with us,” said Carrie Clark, manager of train- ing and development. “Those who lose their jobs due to no fault of their own, referred to often as dislocated workers, need to visit the center. There is no magic cure to this econ- omy, but there are pockets of opportunity and training options. They need to know their options.” Businesses and workers affected by local closures and layoffs are encouraged to visit the center at 718 Main St. or call 529-7000 for an appointment. Northeastern California Small Business Develop- ment Center at Butte College is presenting a workshop on "Tax Law Changes Affecting Small Businesses". The workshop will be held 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 3 at Chico Masonic Family Center, 1110 W. East Ave. The speaker, Joan Stoner, CPA, of Stoner, Jeffers & Associates, has extensive knowledge and background in tax laws and tax planning. This workshop is free and includes continental Tax law changes breakfast. Preregistration is required. Seating is limited. Existing businesses only. Call the Northeastern California SBDC at Butte Col- lege at 895-9917 to register and for information. COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. The Electric Man For all your electrical needs • New Outlets / 220 • Fans / Fixtures • Pools / Spas • Code Corrections • Troubleshooting • Panel Upgrade • Telephone Wiring $10.00 Customer Discount FREE Estimates License# 826543 347-4441 Customer Service Representative to help schools obtain money. Work with Principals, PTA’s, Coaches, Music, and Childcares! We train! $17.99-$ 20.00/hr.avg. Call 765-377-4501