The Brentwood Voice of Business November 2011
Vol. 47, No. 11
It’s Time to Nominate a Citizen and Business of the Year! The Chamber needs your help! 2012 Citizen of the Year For the past 39 years, The Chamber has annually honored an individual for his or her contribution in making Brentwood a better place to live and work. Unfortunately, we are not always aware of those individuals or what they have achieved. This is why we are asking for your help. If you know of someone who should be honored, please submit a completed nomination form to the Chamber no later than Friday, December 16th at 12 noon. Forms are available at the Chamber office or you may call us at 634-3344 to have one emailed to you.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR BOTH OF THESE GREAT EVENTS! Upcoming Holiday Mixer at First Bank on December 15th Annual Awards Dinner on January 28, 2012
Page 1: Nominations needed Page 2: Director’s Message; Board of Directors and Staff Page 3: Ambassadors Corner and Upcoming Chamber Events Page 4: Hometown Halloween
2011 Business of the Year Starting in 2005, the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce instituted a “Business of the Year” award honoring a business for its contribution in making Brentwood a better place to live and work. If you know a business that should be honored, please submit a completed nomination form to the Chamber no later than Friday, December 16th at 12 noon. Forms are available at the Chamber office or you may call us at 634-3344 to have one emailed to you.
Page 5: New and Renewing Members Page 6: October Mixer Page 7: Ribbon Cutting, New Brentwood Maps are Here Pages 8: Brentwood in the News
Page 9: news Page 10: Page 11: Page 12:
Workers Compensation Holiday Happenings Holiday Happenings General Information
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 2 BRENTWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Life Lessons
Joe Trebino, President Delta Pure Water Shayn Cutino, Past President Anja Wellness
You are going to die. So will I. That is guaranteed. Unequivocally, …Absolutely,… guaranteed.
Paul Kelly, President-Elect Bank of America Mortgage Dirk Zeigler, Chief Financial Officer Zeigler Insurance Group Olga Vidriales, V.P. Community Programs, Travis Credit Union Brent Aasen Equus Group
A recent death within our extended family reminds me - Death is certain. Life is not. Yet, how often do you or I focus on that topic? Likely, not much. But, if I absolutely knew that I would die next Saturday morning,…how would I spend my remaining time? My first priority wouldn’t be about stuff - material things. It would be about people,… Relationships. My most important relationship will carry on after death – a decision I made many years ago & strive to reflect daily. My next thought - Family. My wife. My children. My grandchildren. My business
Amy Alvis Alvis Frantz and Associates
team. My close friends… It is said that friends are family you get to choose…I agree. Do they all
Greg Benner Les Schwab Tires
se people can easily deal with what I leave behind? I don’t want to spend much time on stuff,… but
Kathy Blanton Sutter Delta Medical Center Jacqueline Hanel John Muir Health Lori Knudsen California Payroll Madelynn Krebs Speedee Oil Change & Tuneup Robin Schiavone Raley’s Ken Seamann Discovery Professional Services ********************************
Chamber Staff Lisa Hurt, Support Services Director
know how much I care for them? Do my actions reflect that? Are my affairs in order, so that theI want to clarify how I’d like it dealt with to minimize any pain or issues for those I love. (Thankfully, caring experts can be found who ask the right questions & take care of the details in advance…) Beyond my family & friends - am I a benefit to others? Have I made life better for those I have touched? Are they drawn toward the one who gave life? If I only had one more week to live, there are a few more experiences I’d like to have…
Another spectacular sunrise… A perfect breakfast - shared with my wife (where her love spills out in the warmth of her smile
& sparkling eyes)
The birth of our grandchild: the miracle of life - God’s hand at work
The chance to say I love you &Thank you.
A walk in the rain. A rainbow. My body, exhausted & happy - after a hard bike ride to the top of the hill. Wading in the ocean surf…a glorious, soothing massage for all of the senses A warm embrace. Individual time with those close to me.
Jilda Fairhurst, Event Coordinator Pat Trombino, Event Coordinator Bill Putman, Volunteer
The real question is not “When will each of us die?,… But, “How shall we live? What is the best use of the precious time we have been given? In everything we do… Thank you. - Brent Aasen
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Chamber Ambassadors Vicki Sexton, Chair, First Bank Amy Alvis, Alvis-Frantz and Associates Kathy Blanton, Sutter Delta Medical Center Maurice Daroy, Farmers Insurance Fred Ehler, Kerri Fritsch, Monogramming by Fritchy Lori Knudsen, California Payroll Sam Lamantia, Lamantia Insurance Services Michele Lane, ReMax/Accord Kathi Regan, Maxx Worms Paul Roman, Window Innovations, Inc. Patti Schneider, The Right Choice Kurt Tomicich, KRT Services Joe Trebino, Delta Pure Water, Etc. Pat Trombino, First Bank Kimberley Victor, Mary Kay Cosmetics Olga Vidriales, Travis Credit Union
UPCOMING EVENTS Chamber Mixers Thursday, December 15th First Bank
Annual Awards Dinner Saturday, January 28th, 2012
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Ambassador's Corner No article this month, but here’s some pictures of our Ambassadors hard at work. Ambassadors help out at Mixers, attend Ribbon Cuttings, attend Chamber events, and showcase their own businesses while volunteering for the Chamber. We thank them for all their effort and dedication!
The Brentwood Clarion
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HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN A HOWLING GOOD TIME! Thank you to Sutter Delta Medical Center for sponsoring the Chamber’s Annual Hometown Halloween event held October 22nd, back in downtown Brentwood. It was a beautiful night and trick-or-treaters and their families came out by the thousands to enjoy a safe Halloween celebration. Thank you to our Event Coordinator, Jilda Fairhurst, and all the volunteers who helped make this a successful event.
The staff of Brentwood Funeral Home got into the Halloween spirit by dressing as Toy Story characters.
Corny and pals make an appearance with Mayor Bob Taylor.
Haunted Bus provided by Tri-Delta Transit.
Sponsor booth, Sutter Delta Medical Center.
Brentwood Bike Co. all ready to go.
John Muir Health handed out over 3,000 First Aid kits.
Thousands came to Downtown Brentwood for a good time.
A Halloween spirited girl and her dog.
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NEW MEMBERS The Brentwood Chamber is pleased to welcome the following new members: Atlantis Pool Service Jayne Oertwig 1720 Fairview Avenue Brentwood, CA 94513 (925) 513-0485 www.atlantispoolservicebrentwood.com Big Wave Dave’s Mongolian Grill David Truhe 4441-A Balfour Road Brentwood, CA 94513 (925) 513-4944 www.bigwavedavesmongoliangrill.com Contra Costa County Republican Central Committee Hal Bray PO Box 5079 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 www.contracostagop.org Elite Comfort Systems Bernadette Gewondjan PO Box 1422 Brentwood, CA 94513 (925) 580-8875 www.elitecomfortsystems.com Heavenly Cheesecakes & More Michelle Hirsch 3101 Balfour Road, Suite F Brentwood, CA 94513 (925) 684-4107
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NEW MEMBERS continued Macian Wealth Management, LLC Matthew Hodgen 100 Cortona Way, #130 Brentwood, CA 94513 (800) 779-0245 www.macian-wm.com Silman Properties Rick Silva 812 First Street, Suite A Brentwood, CA 94513 (925) 634-8405 www.silmanproperties.com
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Thank you to the following members who recently renewed their membership. The Chamber appreciates your continued support.
Brentwood Balfour Investors LP California Carnival Company Extreme Pizza E-Z Ink Promotions Hannah Nicole Vineyards Maxx Worms Office Depot
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The Brentwood Clarion
OCTOBER MIXER AND RIBBON CUTTING AT
Sien Siao, DDS and Dimple Rayani, DMD are the smiling dentists of Balfour Dental. Sien Sipo cuts the ribbon as Chamber Ambassadors and members look on. A big thank you to Balfour Dental for hosting October’s mixer at their beautiful new office located near Cortona Park. A good time was had by all as delicious pizza was served and members were able to tour the dental office. Balfour Dental donated a big basket of dental care goodies for the Business Card drawing reminding us it’s important to take care of our teeth! Also, thank you to The Brentwood Press, Sutter Delta Medical Center and The Monthly Grapevine for donating additional raffle prizes. Balfour Dental is located at 100 Cortona Way, Suite 100 in Brentwood. They specialize in aesthetic and restorative dentistry. You can visit them on the web at www.balfourdental.com. Dimple Rayani tells the gathered crowd about Balfour Dental and its services.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our next Mixer held on December 15th at First Bank in Brentwood.
The Brentwood Clarion
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At Big Wave Dave’s, diners choose their own meats, veggies and sauces and bring them to the grill to be cooked as they watch.
Dave Truhe cuts the red ribbon as his family, Chamber Ambassadors and Directors cheer him on.
Chamber Mixers Interested in hosting a Chamber mixer? Do you have enough space to accommodate 50-75 people? We are now booking into 2012. Call the Chamber today at 925-634-3344 to get on the list. Mixers are a great opportunity to showcase your business to our membership.
New Brentwood Maps available now! Beautiful new, updated maps of Brentwood are available at the Chamber office. These full color maps cover all of Brentwood and include a lot of great city information. They are $2 each. If you have a business with a lot of foot traffic, these are great to have in your lobby or front counter. Stop by and pick one up today.
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Brentwood in the
This month the City completed the $8 million Downtown streetscape project. The improvements include widened sidewalks, trees, a gateway sign, all new infrastructure, landscaped medians, custom streetlights, a fountain and other public art, and other improvements. This exciting new project is part of the City's long-term commitment to preserve Downtown as the civic and social heart of Brentwood. Other downtown projects include: the newly-built City Hall, an expanded and refurbished City Park, a 280space parking garage, and programs to support local merchants and promote downtown events.
Downtown Brentwood receives Excellence Award The City of Brentwood received the “California Downtown Excellence Award” for its marketing strategy for Downtown Brentwood. Brentwood was one of only five cities honored statewide for innovative and effective strategies to revitalize downtown. The award was given by the California Downtown Association. Planning and Economic Development Manager, Alex Greenwood, accepted the award on behalf of the city. Be sure to visit our beautiful new downtown for a day of shopping and dining or wining and beauty! On November 10th, a ceremony was held downtown at the corner of First and Oak Streets to celebrate the completion of the new downtown. On hand were representatives from Congressman McNerney’s office, Supervisor Mary Piepho, Mayor Taylor and several City Council members.
Brentwood named a Playful City USA again for 2011! For the fourth year in a row, Parks and Recreation is proud to announce that Brentwood has been designated a “Playful City” for 2011. Only 14 California cities have received this designation. The Playful City USA program, KaBoom—a national non-profit—honors cities and towns determined to prioritize play and ensure that children are healthy by providing the time and space for play. Through its myriad of bike trails, parks, water park, sports fields and wonderful activities provided by Parks and Recreation, Brentwood certainly is a fun place to play. Congratulations!
The Brentwood Clarion
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Governor Acts to Protect Workers’ Compensation System (October 11, 2011) The Governor’s actions on eight workers’ compensation bills will preserve or allow cost savings for California businesses. The California Chamber of Commerce believes that workers’ compensation costs must continue to decrease to ensure that California remains economically competitive. CalChamber-supported reforms that delivered significant cost savings must be protected. With recent activity that already has begun to increase costs and other such actions on the horizon, employers and policy makers should work to offset these increases with additional changes to the system.
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed five CalChamber-supported bills: AB 335 (Solorio; D- Anaheim) Lowers Frictional Costs in Worker’ Compensation — Brings an estimated savings of $42 million to the workers’ compensation system by requiring the workers’ compensation administrative director (AD) to work with the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) to develop regulations regarding notices to injured workers; requires AD and CHSWC to develop and make accessible a booklet written in plain language about the workers’ comp claims process; streamlines and simplifies other notices to employees. AB 378 (Solorio; D-Anaheim) Lowers Pharmaceutical Costs — Lowers workers’ compensation costs by establishing guidelines for dispensing compound drugs, the circumstances under which those drugs would be covered and the reimbursement amount, and removes the incentives for physicians to refer patients to pharmacies in which the physician or physician's family has a financial interest. AB 397 (Monning; D- Carmel) Ensures Contractors Have Coverage — Seeks to address the underground economy problem by singling out contractors that do not have workers’ compensation coverage but requiring contractors that are exempt from having coverage at the time they are licensed to certify they are still exempt or have gotten coverage at the time of their license renewal. AB 1168 (Pan; D-Natomas) Contains Workers' Compensation Costs — Lowers costs for employers and insurers by establishing a fee schedule for vocational experts' services. AB 1426 (Solorio; D-Anaheim) Streamlines Workers’ Comp System — Streamlines the workers’ comp process and eliminates duplicative bureaucracy and inconsistency by eliminating the court administrator position. Governor Brown vetoed three CalChamber-opposed bills that would have upset the balanced system that provides fair benefits to injured workers at a low cost to employers, while minimizing friction in the system. AB 211 (Cedillo; D-Los Angeles) Increased Workers’ Comp Costs — Increases costs in the workers’ comp system by establishing a flat $6,000 supplemental job displacement voucher to cover retraining and skills enhancement for injured workers without clarifying the timeframe when the injured worker can start receiving the voucher. In the Governor’s veto message, he explained that he was “reluctant to enact piecemeal changes to the workers’ compensation system in the absence of more comprehensive reform that addresses both the cost and benefits under the system.” AB 584 (Fong; D-Cupertino) Delays Workers' Compensation Cases — Causes delays in utilization review (UR) and increases costs by unnecessarily requiring UR physicians to be licensed in California. The Governor said he vetoed this bill because he was “not convinced that establishing a separate standard for workers compensation utilization review makes sense.” AB 947 (Solorio; D-Anaheim) Extension of Temporary Disability (TD) Benefit — Increases costs to employers by broadening the definition of the types of injuries that qualify for an extended timeframe to receive TD benefits, from 104 weeks to 240 weeks. “It is vital that injured workers receive adequate compensation to provide for their needs when they are unable to work due to workrelated injuries,” Governor Brown wrote in his veto message. “Workers' compensation reforms, however, need to be addressed on a broad and balanced scale — ensuring workers receive adequate and timely benefits and treatment, while also ensuring that the costs of the system are sustainable.”
The Brentwood Clarion
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Holiday Happenings...
Annual Canned Food and Toy Drive
Brentwood Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
This year’s ceremony will again take place at the Brentwood Senior Center on Friday, December 2, 2011. The event starts at 6 p.m. and includes music, light refreshments and a visit from Santa, followed by the official lighting at 7 p.m. The ceremony is sponsored by the City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Advisory Neighborhood Committee.
It’s that time of year again, time to help local needy families this holiday season. The Brentwood Regional Community Chest has been helping East Contra Costa County families for over 35 years. Over 500 families are served. Collection bins are located throughout the community for canned foods and new, unwrapped toys. There is one at the Chamber office. Monetary donations may be sent to BRCC, PO Box 845, Brentwood, CA 94513.
Holiday Drive: From November 28th thru December 9th, Shepherd’s Gate will be collecting donations of food, toys and new clothes for needy families at its Brentwood and Livermore campuses.
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Join us for the Holiday Mixer at First Bank! Parade Winners Awarded!
Page 11 Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival at the Streets of Brentwood
The Chamber’s December mixer will be held on December 15th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at First Bank on Lone Tree Way in Brentwood. In addition to our usual mixer festivities, we will announce the names of the Holiday Parade winners and they will receive their plaques and awards. Please join us for our last mixer of the year!
This event takes place on Saturday, November 26th at 6:00 p.m. at the Streets of Brentwood. Festivities include caroling by Liberty High School Chamber Singers, performance by the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, Santa’s arrival and lighting of the Holiday Tree. After the lighting, there will be a music concert, free train rides in the plaza, and pictures with Santa in the store space next to Express. $5 donation for picture benefits Kids Helping Kids.
Breakfast with Santa Annual Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 10th at the Brentwood Senior Center. There will be four seatings starting at from 8 to 11 a.m. General admission is $8 and children under 3 are free. Admission includes a pancake breakfast, visit with Santa, candy cane, coloring activities and live entertainment by the Heritage High School Jazz Band. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Heritage High School Performing Arts Boosters. Tickets can be purchased from event sponsor, Tummies to Tots at 3860 Balfour Road or call Cindy Vogler at 516-0832.
Happy Holidays to You and Yours from the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
The Brentwood Clarion
Page 12 IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS City of Brentwood
(925) 516-5400
Parks & Recreation
(924) 516-5444
Community Development
(925) 516-5405
Brentwood Library
(925) 516-5405
Police Non Emergency
(925) 634-6911
Fire Department
(925) 634-3400
Brentwood Aquatic Park
(925) 516-5430
Newspapers Brentwood Press
(925) 634-1441
Contra Costa Times
(925) 757-2525
Brentwood News
(925) 779-7120
Transportation Tri Delta Transit
(925) 754-4040
Hotels Hampton Inn
(925) 513-1289
Holiday Inn Express
(800) 345-8082
Medical Services Sutter Delta Medical Center
(925) 779-7200
John Muir Outpatient Center (925) 308-8100 Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center
SCORE Counselors, Counselors of Small Business Now at the Brentwood Chamber Office 1st and 3rd Monday’s: 1:30 and 2:30 pm----Call (925) 634-3344 for your appointment today.
(925) 813-6000
Theaters Delta Cinema
(925) 240-7370
Rave
(925) 809-0030
The Brentwood Clarion Brentwood Chamber of Commerce 8440 Brentwood Blvd., Suite C Phone: 925-634-3344 Fax: 925-634-3731 Email: info@brentwoodchamber.com www.brentwoodchamber.com