December 2009 www.TulareChamber.org the the save the dates save the dates Update Update the update is the official monthly publication of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, 220 E. Tulare Ave., P.O. Box 1435, Tulare, CA 93275-1435 email: [email protected] web: www.tularechamber.org Editor: Kary Mancebo-Ingram For advertising information call: Colleen Ferreira — (559) 735-3227 the update is published in partnership with the Tulare Advance-Register PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 232 TULARE, CA 2009 Officers Lance Morris Chair of the Board Adair & Evans Patty Rocha Chair-Elect Preferred Outlets at Tulare Brian Martinho Vice Chair of Membership Martinho Construction Marc Limas Immediate Past Chair TF Tire & Service/Limas Real Estate Mat Sozinho Vice Chair of Finance Sozinho Realty Matt Weaver Vice Chair of Governmental Affairs Ely Auto Parts 2009 Board Terry Brazil Tulare Historical Museum Art Clark Kohler & Clark Screw Products Daniel Enriquez Hazel’s Kitchen Gary Germaine Land O’Lakes Sue Ann Hillman Tulare City School District Lionel Pires TF Tire & Service Marie Pinto Tulare Adult School Leanne Sandlin Mario Simoes Family Dairies Marisa Simoes Three Sisters Farmstead Cheese John Thomas Bank of the Sierra Traci Myers City of Tulare – ex officio Professional Staff Joyce Rauen Office Manager Bette Pence Information Coordinator Legal Counsel provided by Horswill, Mederos & Soares Nona Watson President/CEO Kary Mancebo-Ingram Membership Program Coordinator December 1 – K-Doll Anniversary Open House & Fashion Show, 6pm December 7 – Children’s Christmas Parade, 7pm December 10 – Grand Opening, California Welcome Center, 4-7pm December 15 – December Mixer, Hazel’s Kitchen, 5-7pm January 12 – 37th Anniversary Celebration, Camara Auto Services, 5pm January 22 – Annual Awards Banquet, 100th Anniversary of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, 6pm The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Maryann Perry-Felemi has been selected as grand marshal of the 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade. For 17 years, Perry-Felemi has volunteered at the Tulare County Fair helping set up displays by 4-H, FFA, and other youth groups. She never says no when it comes making the children come first in our community, whether it’s helping with the displaying of their projects or supporting the many youth organizations by donating time or money to their events. She also teaches an arts and crafts class at the Tulare Adult School, working with many high school students who need the credits to grad- uate. According to her nomination letter submitted by Robert Martinho Hernandez, “I have personally seen Maryann take these students under her wings, give them the guidance they need and I have seen many students learn how to respect one another through her guidance.” Perry-Felemi also teaches the arts and crafts class at two local nursing homes. The 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade will be Monday, December 7, at 7pm, in downtown Tulare. Maryann Perry-Felemi Has Been Selected as Grand Marshal of the 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade Labor Law Corner Post-Pregnancy Leave Obligation: Same Job, Not Reduced Hours The Tulare Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize these members who have gone above and beyond membership investment in 2008-09. Their support is instrumental in the growth of the Chamber. President’s Circle Del Lago Development Company J.D. Heiskell & Company Director’s Circle Citizens Business Bank International Agri Center, Inc. Land O’ Lakes Tulare Regional Medical Center Ambassador’s Circle Lane Engineers, Inc. Magnolia Health Corporation T F Tire & Service Educational Employees Credit Union Adair & Evans ResCom Pest Control College of the Sequoias Ruan Transport Corporation Farm Credit West Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. Horswill, Mederos, & Soares Sturgeon & Beck, Inc. Lampe Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Tulare Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino Merle Stone Chevrolet Will Tiesiera Ford Mercury, Inc. Preferred Outlets at Tulare Quad Knopf, Inc My employee had a baby last month and will be returning to work soon. Before her leave she worked full-time, but now she wants to work only part-time. What are my obligations to return her to work? An employee who returns to work after tak- ing time off to have a baby does not have the right to demand a move from full-time to part- time employment. In general, your legal obliga- tion is to put a woman back to work in the same position she held before the leave, with the same hours and duties. If she chooses not to go back to that position and instead asks for a job with fewer hours or different duties, you are not required to comply with her requests. If you choose to allow the employee to come back to work with part-time hours, be aware you are creating a precedent for other employees to do the same. Your specific obligations to return a woman to work after having a baby may very depending on the type of leave taken, as follows. Pregnancy Disability Leave Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) will apply if: • You have fewer than 50 employees and therefore are not covered by the family leave laws-federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and California Family Rights Act or • You are covered by the family leave laws but your employee is not eligible to take family leave. If the employee’s leave is covered by PDL but not FMLA/CFRA, she is entitled to return to her original job, with the same hours, pay, duties and benefits. You may refuse reinstatement to the original position only if you can show that either: • The employee would not otherwise have been employed in her same position for legitimate business reasons unrelated to the employee taking the leave (such as a layoff of her entire department) or; • That preserving the job for the employee (such as leaving it unfilled or filling it with a temporary employee) would substantially undermine your ability to operate the busi- ness safely and efficiently. Keep in mind that this means more than showing it was inconvenient to hold the position. Even if you can meet one of these two stan- dards to justify not returning the employee to her original position, you still must return the employee to work in a comparable position unless you can show that: • There is no comparable position available for which the employee is qualified; or • Filling the available position with the returning employee would substantially undermine your ability to operate the busi- ness safely and efficiently. Baby Bonding If your employee’s pregnancy disability leave has ended and she is now taking baby bond- ing leave under the CFRA, her return rights are somewhat different than they would be had she returned directly from pregnancy disability leave. At the end of CFRA baby bonding leave, you may return her to either her original position or a comparable position, at your option. You may refuse reinstatement only if; • The employee would not have been employed for reasons other than taking leave, such as where her department was laid off; or • If she is a “key employee” as defined by the FMLA and CFRA. Member News Tulare’s Hampton Inn & Suites is offering a special Holiday rate of $72 per night. This rate is valid November 1, 2009 through January 15, 2010. This rate is based upon availability and you must contact the hotel directly. The Hampton Inn also has space available for your holiday party. For more information, please call 686-8700 or visit www.tularesuites.hamptoninn. com. La Piazza Ristorante Italiano now has an enclosed meeting/party room. The Tuscan Banquet Room can seat up to 45 people. The room has a viewing screen and a multi-media projector is available to rent, if necessary. La Piazza is located at 1600 East Tulare Avenue. For more information, please call 687-9833. Visalia Medical Clinic, the largest physi- cian-owned clinic in the Valley, has remodeled its Visalia and Lindsay clinics. “Every aspect of these remodels was done with our patients in mind,” said Russ Desch, chief financial officer of Visalia Medical Clinic. “Ultimately, they give patients a more pleasant surrounding and allow nursing staff and physicians more efficient work space.” The Visalia remodel, completed in October, improved the clinic’s surgery and urol- ogy departments and updated patient waiting and reception areas. It also improved exam rooms and the convenience of the clinic’s patient drop- off area, Desch said. The Visalia Medical clinic remodel is just one of several remodel projects that is improving services for patients. Earlier this year, the clinic’s Lindsay Medical Group also completed a renovation of its 10,000-square- foot facility. The Lindsay facility was fitted with energy-efficient windows and doors, its exterior was improved, and its exam rooms were upgrad- ed with new cabinetry and flooring. Visalia Medical Clinic offers the expertise of more than 40 physicians, physical therapy, a sleep lab, a diagnostic laboratory and a wide array of imag- ing technology all in one location at 5400 W. Hillsdale, Visalia. The clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, while QuickCare is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Steve McFadden, Vice-president and General Manager of Century 21 Jordan-Link & Company, today announced Lino Pimentel had the most new sales for the month of October. Ruben Martinez had the highest dollar sales volume for the month. Mike Bishop earned the most new listings for October. Rito Valero had the highest dollar volume in new listings. Others named in the President’s Gold Council for October were Patty Decker, Cynthia Kennemer, Luis A. Mota, Gina Patrick, Susan Renteria, Tammy Johnston, Alicia Alafa and Gina Gentilli. Founded 33 years ago by President/CEO Bill Jordan, Century 21 Jordan-Link is Tulare and King’s County’s largest real estate firm with 120 agents staffing offices in Visalia and Tulare. The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) being a leading, global HR organization, believes that assembling and providing information about the annual seasonal flu, and now, also the H1N1 virus, is a moral imperative. The Society has consulted with the government’s leading health authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), to compile the facts you need to know. Then, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, a guide was created. This guide can be accessed at: www. shrm.org/hrdisciplines/safetysecurity/articles/ documents/CIDRAPTOOLKIT.pdf. This important and unique publication should be invaluable to you in planning for every possible (continued on page 3)
Dec 2009
Oct 23, 2014
Tulare Chamber of Commerce monthly newsletter, Tulare CA
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December 2009
www.TulareChamber.org thethesave the datessave the dates
UpdateUpdate
the update
is the official monthly publication of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, 220 E. Tulare Ave.,
P.O. Box 1435, Tulare, CA 93275-1435
email: [email protected] web: www.tularechamber.org
Editor: Kary Mancebo-IngramFor advertising information call:
Colleen Ferreira — (559) 735-3227the update is published in partnership with the Tulare Advance-Register
PRSR
T ST
DU
.S. P
OST
AGE
PAID
PERM
IT N
O. 2
32TU
LARE
, CA
2009 OfficersLance MorrisChair of the BoardAdair & Evans
Patty RochaChair-Elect
Preferred Outlets at Tulare
Brian MartinhoVice Chair of Membership
Martinho Construction
Marc LimasImmediate Past Chair
TF Tire & Service/Limas Real Estate
Mat Sozinho Vice Chair of Finance
Sozinho Realty
Matt WeaverVice Chair of Governmental
AffairsEly Auto Parts
2009 BoardTerry Brazil
Tulare Historical Museum
Art ClarkKohler & Clark Screw Products
Daniel EnriquezHazel’s Kitchen
Gary Germaine Land O’Lakes
Sue Ann HillmanTulare City School District
Lionel PiresTF Tire & Service
Marie PintoTulare Adult School
Leanne SandlinMario Simoes Family Dairies
Marisa SimoesThree Sisters Farmstead
Cheese
John ThomasBank of the Sierra
Traci MyersCity of Tulare – ex officio
Professional Staff
Joyce RauenOffice Manager
Bette PenceInformation Coordinator
Legal Counsel provided byHorswill, Mederos & Soares
Nona WatsonPresident/CEO
Kary Mancebo-IngramMembership Program Coordinator
December 1 – K-Doll Anniversary Open House & Fashion Show, 6pm
December 7 – Children’s Christmas Parade, 7pm
December 10 – Grand Opening, California Welcome Center, 4-7pm
December 15 – December Mixer, Hazel’s Kitchen, 5-7pm
January 12 – 37th Anniversary Celebration, Camara Auto Services, 5pm
January 22 – Annual Awards Banquet, 100th Anniversary of the Tulare Chamber of Commerce, 6pm
The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Maryann Perry-Felemi has been selected as grand marshal of the 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade. For 17 years, Perry-Felemi has volunteered
at the Tulare County Fair helping set up displays by 4-H, FFA, and other youth groups. She never says no when it comes making the children come first in our community, whether it’s helping with the displaying of their projects or supporting
the many youth organizations by donating time or money to their events. She also teaches an arts and crafts class at the Tulare Adult School, working with many high school students who need the credits to grad-uate. According to her nomination letter submitted by Robert Martinho Hernandez, “I have personally seen Maryann take these students under her wings, give them the guidance they need and I have seen many students learn how to respect one another through her guidance.” Perry-Felemi also teaches the arts and crafts class at two local nursing homes. The 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade will be Monday, December 7, at 7pm, in downtown Tulare.
Maryann Perry-Felemi Has Been Selected as Grand Marshal of the 2009 Children’s Christmas Parade
Labor Law Corner
Post-Pregnancy Leave Obligation: Same Job, Not Reduced Hours
The Tulare Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize these members who have gone above and beyond membership investment in 2008-09. Their support is instrumental in the growth of the Chamber.
President’s CircleDel Lago Development Company
J.D. Heiskell & Company
Director’s CircleCitizens Business Bank
International Agri Center, Inc.Land O’ Lakes
Tulare Regional Medical Center
Ambassador’s CircleLane Engineers, Inc.Magnolia Health CorporationT F Tire & ServiceEducational Employees Credit Union Adair & EvansResCom Pest ControlCollege of the SequoiasRuan Transport CorporationFarm Credit West
Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. Horswill, Mederos, & SoaresSturgeon & Beck, Inc.Lampe Dodge Chrysler Jeep of TulareTachi Palace Hotel & Casino Merle Stone ChevroletWill Tiesiera Ford Mercury, Inc.Preferred Outlets at TulareQuad Knopf, Inc
My employee had a baby last month and will be returning to work soon. Before her leave she worked full-time, but now she wants to work only part-time. What are my obligations to return her to work?
An employee who returns to work after tak-ing time off to have a baby does not have the right to demand a move from full-time to part-time employment. In general, your legal obliga-tion is to put a woman back to work in the same position she held before the leave, with the same hours and duties.
If she chooses not to go back to that position and instead asks for a job with fewer hours or different duties, you are not required to comply with her requests. If you choose to allow the employee to come back to work with part-time hours, be aware you are creating a precedent for other employees to do the same.
Your specific obligations to return a woman to work after having a baby may very depending on the type of leave taken, as follows.
Pregnancy Disability LeavePregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) will apply
if:• You have fewer than 50 employees and
therefore are not covered by the family leave laws-federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and California Family Rights Act or
• You are covered by the family leave laws but your employee is not eligible to take family leave.
If the employee’s leave is covered by PDL but not FMLA/CFRA, she is entitled to return to her original job, with the same hours, pay, duties and benefits.
You may refuse reinstatement to the original position only if you can show that either:
• The employee would not otherwise have been employed in her same position for legitimate business reasons unrelated to the employee taking the leave (such as a layoff of her entire department) or;
• That preserving the job for the employee (such as leaving it unfilled or filling it with a temporary employee) would substantially undermine your ability to operate the busi-
ness safely and efficiently. Keep in mind that this means more than showing it was inconvenient to hold the position.
Even if you can meet one of these two stan-dards to justify not returning the employee to her original position, you still must return the employee to work in a comparable position unless you can show that:
• There is no comparable position available for which the employee is qualified; or
• Filling the available position with the returning employee would substantially undermine your ability to operate the busi-ness safely and efficiently.
Baby Bonding
If your employee’s pregnancy disability leave has ended and she is now taking baby bond-ing leave under the CFRA, her return rights are somewhat different than they would be had she returned directly from pregnancy disability leave.
At the end of CFRA baby bonding leave, you may return her to either her original position or a comparable position, at your option.
You may refuse reinstatement only if;• The employee would not have been
employed for reasons other than taking leave, such as where her department was laid off; or
• If she is a “key employee” as defined by the FMLA and CFRA.
Member NewsTulare’s Hampton Inn & Suites is offering
a special Holiday rate of $72 per night. This rate is valid November 1, 2009 through January 15, 2010. This rate is based upon availability and you must contact the hotel directly. The Hampton Inn also has space available for your holiday party. For more information, please call 686-8700 or visit www.tularesuites.hamptoninn.com.
La Piazza Ristorante Italiano now has an enclosed meeting/party room. The Tuscan Banquet Room can seat up to 45 people. The room has a viewing screen and a multi-media projector is available to rent, if necessary. La Piazza is located at 1600 East Tulare Avenue. For more information, please call 687-9833.
Visalia Medical Clinic, the largest physi-cian-owned clinic in the Valley, has remodeled its Visalia and Lindsay clinics. “Every aspect of these remodels was done with our patients in mind,” said Russ Desch, chief financial officer of Visalia Medical Clinic. “Ultimately, they give patients a more pleasant surrounding and allow nursing staff and physicians more efficient
work space.” The Visalia remodel, completed in October, improved the clinic’s surgery and urol-ogy departments and updated patient waiting and reception areas. It also improved exam rooms and the convenience of the clinic’s patient drop-off area, Desch said. The Visalia Medical clinic remodel is just one of several remodel projects that is improving services for patients. Earlier this year, the clinic’s Lindsay Medical Group also completed a renovation of its 10,000-square-foot facility. The Lindsay facility was fitted with energy-efficient windows and doors, its exterior was improved, and its exam rooms were upgrad-ed with new cabinetry and flooring. Visalia Medical Clinic offers the expertise of more than 40 physicians, physical therapy, a sleep lab, a diagnostic laboratory and a wide array of imag-ing technology all in one location at 5400 W. Hillsdale, Visalia. The clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, while QuickCare is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.
Steve McFadden, Vice-president and General Manager of Century 21 Jordan-Link & Company, today announced Lino Pimentel had the most new sales for the month of October. Ruben Martinez had the highest dollar sales volume for the month. Mike Bishop earned the
most new listings for October. Rito Valero had the highest dollar volume in new listings. Others named in the President’s Gold Council for October were Patty Decker, Cynthia Kennemer, Luis A. Mota, Gina Patrick, Susan Renteria, Tammy Johnston, Alicia Alafa and Gina Gentilli.Founded 33 years ago by President/CEO Bill Jordan, Century 21 Jordan-Link is Tulare and King’s County’s largest real estate firm with 120 agents staffing offices in Visalia and Tulare.
The Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) being a leading, global HR organization, believes that assembling and providing information about the annual seasonal flu, and now, also the H1N1 virus, is a moral imperative. The Society has consulted with the government’s leading health authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), to compile the facts you need to know. Then, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, a guide was created. This guide can be accessed at: www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/safetysecurity/articles/documents/CIDRAPTOOLKIT.pdf. This important and unique publication should be invaluable to you in planning for every possible
(continued on page 3)
Agriculture is the backbone of Tulare County. As members of the Leadership Tulare Program, we were able to witness the importance of agri-culture directly within our community. Currently in today’s society our farmers and dairymen are facing many obsta-cles such as water and air regulations, rising input costs, and low milk prices. Throughout the day we were educated on these issues and how difficult it is to be involved in agriculture today.
We were able to tour the county and get a hands on look at the differ-ent aspects of agriculture. We visited the Tulare High School Farm, which is the only high school farm facility with a running dairy ran by students and FFA Advisors. We also were able to see the future site of the College of the Sequoias new agriculture campus in Tulare. We had the opportunity to visit the Fernandes Family Dairy in
Woodville and witness how modern dairy facilities have evolved into high tech and efficient operations. Our guest speakers included Ag Commissioner of Tulare County, Gary Kunkel and Tulare County Farm Bureau Executive Director, Patricia Stever. Both dis-cussed the challenges and opportunities farmers and dairymen are facing in today’s economy.
Tulare ranks as the #1 dairy county and the #2 agriculture county in the nation. Tulare County extends from the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and Inyo County on the east to Kings County on the west, and from Fresno County on the north to Kern County on the south. Tulare County is fortunate to have an ideal climate to grow multiple crops throughout the year varying from cot-ton, permanent plantings, vegetables, and tree fruit. However, without water,
the Central Valley will become a dust bowl, which is the #1 issue farmers are dealing with today. Driving around our valley, you can see the effects of the water issues. Dry barren trees and open ground are visible. As leaders of tomorrow, we need to educate the community that these issues should be a concern to the entire community, not just the people who are involved in agriculture.
page 2 — December 2009 tulare chamber — the updatePROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Members Renew Chamber InvestmentThank you to the following businesses and individuals who renewed
their membership during the month of October.
Albers Manufacturing Company, Inc
Doug Anderson Real Estate, Inc.
Anthem Blue Cross
Armstrong Propriety Management
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Beatty Construction
Robert Bell, DDS, Inc.
Borges Irrigation Systems
Terry Brazil
Buckman-Mitchell, Inc
Cardoza Company
Carvalho’s Pool Service
CASA of Tulare County
Mick Chamberlain
Lawrence & Shirley Coelho
COS Career Technical Education/COS Farm
Dairy Facility Monitoring, Inc.
Frank De Pietro & Sons, LLC
Dinuba Glass Co
Patricia Drilling, DDS
Encore Theatre Company
Elements – Interior Design by Michelle
Lewis, Inc.
Franey’s Floor Covering, Inc.
G.J. Gardner Homes
Greater Tulare Foundation
Henry A. Garcia Dairy
Hilvers Construction, Inc.
Kirby Manufacturing, Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Tulare
Lucio Hay Co.
Magnolia Health Corporation
Mr. & Mrs Bel R. Martin & Sons Dairy
McElmoyl Commercial Refrigeration
Mendes Calf Ranch
Morningstar Foods, LLC
Paggi Electric, Inc
Palo Verde Union School
Pinnacle Technology
Prime Properties Management
SBS Ag
Shannon Brothers Company, Inc.
Sons of Italy, Roma Lodge #157
Alvin Souza Dairy
Stanley’s Food Marts
Terra Linda Dairy
Tony Jr. & Mary Nunes
Melody Tucker
Tulare Community Church
Tulare County Cabrillo Civic Club #12
Tulare County Compost & Biomass, Inc
Tulare County Consolidated Ambulance
Dispatch, Inc.
Tulare Dairy Herd Improvement Association
Tulare Emergency Aid Council, Inc.
Tulare First Assembly of God Church
Tulare Sunrise Rotary
Valley Air Crafts
P & M Vander Poel Dairy
Pete Sr. & Jeanne Vander Poel
Greg Watte Ranch
Leadership Tulare By: Melissa Gomes and Kerissa Chapman
The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome Lunch Thyme Express as a new member. Lunch Thyme Express specializes in the preparation and delivery of fresh sandwiches and salads, striv-ing to provide a diversity of selections that range from comfort to vegan. Lunch Thyme Express is an Earth-friendly operation, with biodegradable/compostable packaging. Even the cutlery is biodegradable. Their goal is to provide you with a quick meal that is delicious yet healthy for you, the community, the planet, and your pocketbook. They feature a revolving menu that is updated every Monday night. Lunches are prepared at the Tulare Veterans Memorial Building, Tuesday through Friday mornings, operating on an e-mail order basis. Simply go to their website, view the menu, and send in your request. You may order one day at a time or for the whole week. Lunch Thyme Express is proud to support Tulare’s local economy by working with local vendors whenever possible. Some of their sandwiches feature fresh baked rolls from the Tulare Bakery. Deliveries are Tuesdays through Fridays, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Please visit their web-site www.lunchthymeexpress.com for more information.
New Member - Lunch Thyme ExpressThe Tulare Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Hapy
Bear Dentistry as a new member. We are also thrilled Hapy Bear has decided to relocate their practice to Tulare! A ground breaking ceremony was held at 1979 North Hillman Street to celebrate the new construction of their 6,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Since 1997, Hapy Bear Dentistry has cared for pediatric patients, specializing in calming and relaxing children with oral sedation or general anesthesia. Their office works on a referral-only basis. Hapy Bear’s highly trained doctors and staff takes care of children’s dental needs in a fully monitored and safe environment. They strive to turn a dreaded experience into a pleasant one for both the child and the parent. Their new office in Tulare will continue to be a family-friendly, comfortable atmosphere all while provid-ing the highest level of customer service. Hapy Bear Dentistry plans to be relocated by early 2010. For more information, please call 732-HAPY (4279) or visit www.HapyBear.com.
New Member - Hapy Bear Dentistry
Janet Heath of Brilliant Innovation Group was named the Ambassador of the Month for November. Janet participates in ribbon cuttings and is willing to help at mixers. Janet is always visiting businesses, informing them on the benefits of Chamber membership. She is a great Chamber representative. To learn more about the Ambassador Program, please call 686-1547.
Ambassador of the Month
Jeff Lefler, Vice President and SBA Manager of Valley Business Bank, announced that the Bank was named Lender of the Year by the Business Finance Center (BFC) in Tulare, California. According to a spokesperson at the BFC, Valley Business Bank was the most active lender in 2008-09 in the SBA 504 loan program. This program gives small business owners access to 90 percent financing at a low-cost, fixed-rate.
The Business Finance Center is a Certified Development Corporation located in Tulare that is autho-rized to help businesses prepare loans through the Small Business Administration. Last year, Valley Business Bank approved nine – 504 loan projects totaling more than $9.4 million with the SBA having $3.7 million in debentures. As a result of these loan approvals, more
than 100 jobs were created in both Tulare and Kings Counties. “These loans help growing businesses finance the acquisition of long-term fixed assets, as well as the construc-tion, renovation or restoration of facilities. Valley Business Bank is very pleased to be doing our part to stimulate the local economy through this process,” said Lefler.
Valley Business Bank, a full-ser-vice commercial banking institution, was established in 1996 and has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 13 years. It operates through conveniently located offices in Visalia, Fresno, Tulare, Tipton, and Woodlake, and can be found on the Internet at www.valleybusinessbank.net
Valley Business Bank: “A Passion For Excellence”
Valley Business Bank Named Lender of the Year
Mixer - Hazel’s KitchenTuesday, December 155:00pm to 7:00pm
$5 (goes to Chamber)More Info: 686-1547
Kerissa ChapmanMelissa Gomes
tulare chamber — the update December 2009 — page 3ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESS
Welcome Aboard New Members
Congratulations and thank you to the new mem-bers that invested in the Chamber this month.
California USA Wrestling, Inc.Wrestling Robert Valerio
5325 W. Clinton, Fresno, CA 93722(559) 275-9478
Website: www.ca.usaw.org
Hapy Bear Surgery CenterDentists- Pediatric Jeremy Pierson
1979 N. Hillman Ave., Tulare, CA 93274Website: www.hapybear.com
Lunch Thyme ExpressRestaurants Misti Mata
Tulare, CA 93274(559) 759-8448
Website: www.lunchthymeexpress.com
Salles CaféRestaurants Mike Wasnick
2082 North J Street, Tulare, CA 93274(559) 686-6368
The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome Olmeca Music Group as a new member. This record company was founded in 1998 and incorporated in 2001. They specialize in the production and promotion of musical artists, and distribution of their music. Their goal is to discover new talent, develop art-ists, and become one of the most important labels in the music industry. Another important aspect of their business is orga-nizing a toy drive festi-val, Posada California. This annual festival debuted in 2005, with the intention of bringing joy and happiness to the children of Central California and has since become the largest toy drive in our area, distributing over 18,000 toys last year. All the toys collected at Posada California are given to the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots. This year’s Posada California will be Sunday, November 22 at the International Agri-Center. For more information about this event and Olmeca Music, please call 686-2174 or visit their web-site, www.olmecamusic.com.
New Member - Olmeca Music GroupThe Tulare Chamber of
Commerce is happy to welcome LPL Financial, and their consultants, Jerry Hayton and Trish Arnold, as a new member. Jerry and Trish recently formed Paladin Investment Group. The consultants of Paladin are affiliated with LPL Financial, a national net-work of more than 11,000 independent financial advisors located in over 6,000 branches in all 50 states. Jerry has been providing sound investment advice for more than 30 years. After graduating from the US Military Academy, he served six years in the Army. Following his military service, Jerry became an investment advisor with Dean Witter in Visalia. In 1997, he moved his business to Smith Barney, and now is an independent financial advisor through his company, Paladin Investment Group. Trish started her career as a financial advisor with Smith Barney five years ago after working in human resources for 16 years. She specializes in business retirement plans and private client financial planning. Trish and Jerry are pleased to be able to offer one-on-one advice and local decision making without having to take their direction from a large corporate client. This auton-omy allows them to concentrate their efforts on being the greatest help to their clients. Whether you need investment advice on life insurance, retirement planning, or preparing for your child’s education; Trish and Jerry can offer guidance. They are able to provide unbiased investment recommendations that integrate a broad scope of investment products, including stocks, bonds, annuities, and mutual funds. LPL Financial was recently ranked #2 in full service customer satisfaction by JD Powers and Associates. Jerry and Trish can be contacted by phone, 625-4005, or by e-mail, [email protected], or [email protected].
New Member - LPL Financial
The Tulare Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome California USA Wrestling, Inc. as a new member. CA-USA Wrestling is the official governing body for amateur freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in California. It is a non-profit organization that promotes amateur wrestling in many forms to Californians of all ages. CA-USA Wrestling educates the California public in both collegiate and international wrestling styles, makes wrestling fun and exciting, provides well-planned activities, and improves the quality of California wrestling at the competitive level. They are an affiliate of USA Wrestling in Colorado Springs, the national governing body for international-style amateur wrestling in the United States. CA-USA Wrestling is the designated representative for USA Wrestling in our state. They welcome athletes and coaches to become members of USA Wrestling and wrestling clubs may apply for charters from USA Wrestling. Recently, a large sign was raised at the site of their future building on North Hillman. CA-USA Wrestling is wasting no time bringing events to Tulare. Even before their building is completed, three events have been scheduled to take place at Mission Oak High School, begin-ning in April of 2010. Each event promises to bring hundreds of athletes, spectators, and dollars to our town. For more information on CA-USA Wrestling, please visit their website, www.ca-usaw.org.
New Member - California USA Wrestling, Inc.
Trish ArnoldJerry Hayton
impact of the flu season and in mitigating that impact to the greatest extent. In addition, you can visit www.SHRM.org for additional help in preparing your organization.
Personnel Solutions Unlimited, LLC is in the business of understanding the needs of our clients. The H1N1 virus has raised the aware-ness of the business community and we are
trying to do our part. Our business, just like yours, needs the help of qualified and healthy employees to be successful. The H1N1 Flu Virus has the potential to impact 30-40% of the workforce. The business community should ensure there is a plan to deal with the potential issues associated with the H1N1 Flu Virus and the impact it may have on their individual busi-ness. Personnel Solutions is prepared to help your business maintain productivity and efficien-cy, even in the most challenging of times. For more information, please contact Shelly Little,
President, at [email protected], www.psullc.com or 734-0570.
Mitch Choboian, November, 2009 - Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate is proud to announce that Carmen Pacheco has joined “The Winning Team”. “I decided to join the Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate group because of their extensive training they offer to existing agents,” stated Carmen Pacheco. Carmen was born and raised in El Salvador and currently lives in Visalia. Carmen attended high school and college in El Salvador, where she received her diploma. Carmen has been involved in real estate sales for ten years, since receiving her Real Estate License. Carmen is a member of the Tulare County Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and with the Tulare County Multiple Listing Service. “We are very excited to have Carmen join us at Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate. Our company has been serving Tulare County for 50 Years and we can give Carmen the training that she needs to help her take her business to the next level,” stated Mitch Choboian, Broker/ Owner of Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate. Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate
is located at 155 North “K” Street, Tulare, Ca. 93274 and can be reached at 559-686-8591. Coldwell Banker Choboian Real Estate has been serving the Tulare County area for over 50 years. Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker organization has been a premier provider of full-service real estate. In 2004, Franchise Times magazine’s pres-tigious Top 200 issue ranked Coldwell Banker number one in real estate and number eight
among all franchisors. The Coldwell Banker system has more than 3,600 residential and commercial real estate offices and 117,000 Sales Associates in 28 countries and territories. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. For 100 years, the Coldwell Banker organization has been the premier provider of full-service real estate.
Member News(continued from page 1)
page 4 — December 2009 tulare chamber — the updateNETwORkING OPPORTUNITIES
1 Third Annual Downtown Open House
5 to 8 p.m. in Downtown Tulare. Stores will be open to welcome customers with holiday refresh-ments and sales. Information: Tulare Improvement Program, 685-23503 22nd Annual Tree Lighting Cer-
emony5:30 to 8 p.m. in Downtown Tulare, corner of Tulare Avenue & K Street. Entertainment, refresh-ments, Santa Claus and more. Information: Tulare Improvement Program, 685-23504-5 Hmong, Mienh and Lahu Art and
Stitchery Sale10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 2395 Dover Canyon Court, which is off Glen Ellen in the Del Lago residential subdivision off Hillman Street. Refugee Southeast Asian women from Parkside Chapel will sell embroidered tapestries, dresses, vests, jackets, bags, dolls, jewelry. Information:686-5608 or 688-1844.5 Policeman’s BallAt the Heritage Complex, 4500 South Laspina St., Tulare, 6 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Tickets $40 or $300 for a Table (No Refunds). Evening will feature Dinner, live auction, raffle & dancing. Music by Parris Brothers. Sponsored by Tulare Police Benefit Association. For tickets or information call: (559) 302-0491. 7 Tulare Chamber of Commerce
Children’s Christmas Parade7 to 9 p.m. in Downtown Tulare. For more information contact Tulare Chamber of Commerce: 686-1547.8 Tulare Senior Services Christmas
Party10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tulare Senior Center, 201 North F Street. Tickets $15. Food and dancing to the music of Jerry Hobbs and Bobby Seals. Informa-tion: 685-23308 Tulare Chamber of Commerce
Ambassadorsmeet 12 noon at various locations. For location and information: 686-15479 Tulare Senior Services Christmas
Bingo12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Tulare Senior Center, 201 North F Street. Hors d’oeuvres, extra large payouts and raffle prizes. Information: 685-233010 California Welcome CenterGrand Opening, 4-7pm12 Kids Count Indoor Sale7 a.m. to noon at Bethel Assembly of God Church, M Street and Cartmill Avenue. Entrance off the back parking lot. Clothes and shoes for infant to teens, 50 cents; jackets and hoodies $1 to $3; books, movies, puzzles and toys 25 cents to $1; strollers, car seats etc. under $10; maternity clothes, $1 each. For information or to make a donation: Pam Malloy, 686-684814 Tulare Chamber of Commerce
Governmental Affairs Committeemeets 12 noon at Apple Annies in Tulare. Informa-tion: 686-154715 December MixerHazel’s Kitchen, 5-7pm16 Tulare Chamber of Commerce
Board Meeting4 p.m. Tulare Chamber of Commerce Office, 220 East Tulare Ave. Information: 686-1547.26 Preferred Outlets at TulareAfter Christmas Side Sale, December 26 to January 3, 2010. Information: 684-9091
December CalendarDecember Calendar The Chamber is always pleased to help our members celebrate new
beginnings with ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremonies.Martinho
Fitness Center
celebrated their recent
opening with a ribbon cut-
ting. The gym offers martial arts classes,
treadmills, weights,
and other traditional
gym equipment at their new facility. Martinho Fitness Center is owned by Danny Martinho, Jr. and is located by 1671 West Inyo.
For more information, please call 991-5640.
Patricia Drilling, DDS celebrated
the grand opening of her new office with a ribbon cut-ting. Dr. Drilling
has been practic-ing for 18 years, following in her
father’s footsteps. The new 2,500 square foot, state-of -the-art facility is located at 877 East
Merritt and is accepting new patients for all general dentistry needs. For more information, please call 686-5184.
Thank You Galaxy Tulare 10 Theatre For Hosting Mixer
Thank you to Galaxy Tulare 10 Theatre for hosting our November mixer. The mixer was held in conjunc-tion with Galaxy’s 5th anniversary. Guests enjoyed deli-cious food from Fugazzis, raffle prizes, a 50-50 drawing, and a champagne toast. Galaxy Tulare 10 is located at 1575 Retherford.
Wal-Mart celebrated their recent transformation with a ribbon cutting. The store endured three months of ren-ovations and is now ready to show off their new look. Bright lights, clean tile and wooden floors, and wider aisles, immediately greet you upon entering. Check out the expanded grocery section. Tulare’s Wal-Mart is open from 7am to 11pm every day. For more informa-tion, please call 684-1300.
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