Volume 10, Issue 4 Published by the Martinez Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau Winter 2012

WAYS TO HELP THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

One in four people in our community are at risk of hunger.Your neighbor, co-worker, or the person in front of you atthe grocery store might not share with you that they arehungry, but you can help them. Here are some ways youcan make a difference:FOOD DRIVE Host a food drive at your business, placeof worship, neighborhood, favorite store or your children’sschool. We will deliver empty barrels, pick up full barrelsand send you a thank you letter with the weight of foodyou collected.VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE We are able to take your dollarand turn it into more food because we buy in large quanti-ties. We give you ten choices of our most needed foodsthat you add to an online shopping cart and checkout. Wecan even create a drive just for your business or organi-zation.BUY A BAG Help raise money for the people served bythe Food Bank and decorate your office, business orschool for the holidays at the same time! Buy A Bags arecolorful (die-cut) paper bags and Christmas stockings.You collect donations for each bag or stocking - $1, $5,$10, etc. – you choose your donation price! Every $1 youcollect allows the Food Bank to provide two nutritiousmeals for our neighbors in need.Visit www.foodbankccs.org to how you can help this holi-day season and all year long. .

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYSThe onset of winter brings the images of hot chocolate,fireplaces and holiday shopping. But for many, this is apicture seen only on television or in a holiday storefrontad. These families will endure the cold without much ontheir back or a roof over their heads. It is this time of yearwhere we begin to see many seeking refuge in hopes tobring a glimmer of the holiday spirit into the lives of theirchildren.

At SHELTER, Inc., we strive to end the cycle of home-lessness one family at a time. Each family is given hopeand an opportunity to make a significant change in theirlife. With the help of case managers, our families maptheir own path to achieve their goals and become the peo-ple they always hoped to be.

It is the generosity of the community that makes our suc-cess. With your support, our organization has preventedand ended homelessness for over 6,500 people with morethan half being children. Anyone can make an impact inthe lives of others. We hope that many will come forwardto take on our mission and help families rise from thebrink of hopelessness into the light of hope.

To make a donation, go to www.shelterincofccc.org.For volunteer opportunities,contact Theresita attheresitag@shelterincofccc.org or call 925-957-7561.

Did you know that there are more than 70,000 children in Contra Costa County in need of toysthis year? We are proud to let you know that Security Public Storage Martinez is helping Santaas an Official Drop-Off Location for NEW and UNWRAPPED Toy Donations for the U.S. MarineCorp Reserve Toys for Tots Program. We invite you to drop off a toy during regular office hours9AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday and 10AM to 4PM Sundays. We look forward to seeing

you! Have the Happiest of Holidays! — Paul and Gail King 925-229-4898

Page 2 Martinez Living Winter 2012

Martinez Chamber of Commerce2012 Board of Directors & Officers

Marie KnutsonChairperson of the Board

Allied Waste925-671-5814Tuong Truong

Past ChairpersonBoys & Girls Clubs of Diablo Valley

925-228-3896Dwayne GlemserChairperson Elect

Les Schwab Tire Center925-370-6382Adam Hoffert

VP Community AffairsAAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah

925-287-7626Suzanne Looker

Chair of EducationJ. Rockcliff Realtors

925-917-9070Bill Schwass

Chair of Government AffairsJBS Promotions925-768-3110

Fadhila HolmanTreasurer

F. Holman, Inc.925-768-1802Will Frisbie

Chair of MembershipLemonade Accounting

925-330-2982

Erin HallissyShell Oil Products US

Martinez Refinery925-313-3771

Darrel M. HodgeRhodia, Inc.

925-313-8224Laura PhilpotHeald College925-288-5800

Rami MuthSuperintendent of Martinez School District

925-335-5909Paula Kinder

Kinder’s Meats & Deli925-363-7367

Angela RundlesRundles & Associates

925-370-7496Janet Kennedy

ExOfficioMartinez City Council

925-228-4253

Martinez Area Chamber of Commerce603 Marina Vista, Martinez, CA 94553

925-228-2345 Fax 925-228-2356

Reba Bower, Membership/Sales DirectorJoyce Deaver, Office Assistant

Chairperson’s MessageMarie Knutson,

Chairperson of the Board - Martinez Chamber of Commerce

It has been an eventful fall: a successful Martini Event, lots of ribboncuttings, mixers and more. I could spend this whole article on theChamber’s accomplishments, but I would rather give you new infor-mation you can use as a member.

With most businesses time is an issue, so here are quick tips for the holidays to in-crease business. If you are a brick and mortar with product, make sure your windowsare sparkly, inviting and maybe even a little whimsical. You will want to stand out. Puta “come back” coupon in every bag, with every purchase. A special offer for after theholidays can get them back in.

The holiday season can be very busy. If you provide a service, solve a problem forsomeone. If your business helps someone out, that positive word of mouth is gold.So go the extra mile and deliver it, reduce the cost, add a give-away, throw in a giftbag, or get it done faster. And if your customer is happy, don’t forget to ask them topost a sentence or two on YELP, email a testimonial for you to use on your sites ormention your business in their electronic circles.

Need some news to post in your store or in your social media choices? Donate andhelp a charity. Then everybody wins.

Please remember to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Shop local and consider reuse stores.The Martinez Hospice Thrift Shoppe (very classy) just opened in the old HollywoodVideo location on Morello Avenue and the Hall Closet at Juvenile Hall on Glacier isjust up the street. Both stores are treasure troves, great for finding a unique gift. Nomatter where you shop, use reusable shopping bags. If you need custom greetingcards, or that special package shipped…visit the UPS Store, also nearby (ok, shame-less plug.)

This is my last article as Chairperson. Looking back, I would not change what I havelearned or the relationships I have gained. Two plus years have gone by quickly but ithas also been a long journey. One of my favorite quotes is, “If nothing ever changed,there would be no butterflies.”-Anonymous.

The Chamber has grown in many ways and it will be in capable hands with the newChairperson. If you look at our website, and at the members of our Board of Directorsand Ambassadors, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience to guide the Cham-ber to new heights and we will be excited to have a new CEO take the reins. Andspeaking of reins, and reindeer, may the magic of the Holiday Season bring you andyours warmth, and joy, and blessings for the New Year.

Martinis on the Plaza

Page 3Volume 10, Issue 4

A word from the Mayor by Mayor Rob SchroderFor the first time in ten years there will be a new face on the Martinez City Council. Two seats were up forgrabs in the recent general election held in November, and with the retirement of Councilmember Janet Ken-nedy, only one incumbent was in the race. Veteran Councilmember Mark Ross was re-elected to a fourthterm and former Planning Commissioner Anamarie Avila-Farias was the top vote getter. On December 5th

both Mark and Anamarie will be sworn into office as members of the council for the next four years. I look for-ward to working with them on the many challenges facing our city.

I will be proposing some organizational changes with respect to city council standing and ad hoc subcommittees in the nextfew months. In speaking with city staff, we have just too many subcommittees and it is sometimes difficult to know what issuesto send to what committee for review and recommendation to the full city council. I believe that we can reduce the number ofstanding subcommittees by identifying and broadening their responsibilities, eliminating ad hoc subcommittees that have notmet for the last 6 months, and appointing new ad hoc committees to deal with a specific single issue at hand.

Mayor Ron Leone of Concord recently organized an informal group of Central County Mayors made up of the cities of Con-cord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Clayton. We have been meeting monthly in a different city and dis-cuss issues of the day in each of our communities. In our last meeting of 2012 one of the topics was city council subcommit-tees. It was a valuable discussion for all of us and much of what I learned in that session I will be bringing to the city council fortheir consideration.

This holiday season will be an active one with the very popular snow park opening in late November through the first weekendin December. Santa will be hearing the wishes of children all weekend and then during selected hours every weekend up untilDecember 23rd. After telling Santa your holiday wish, browse the many unique shops and have a warm meal in a downtownrestaurant. With the outdoor lights strung from lamppost to lamppost and the new outdoor dining platforms downtown has afestive and inviting feeling this year.

I wish all of you and your families and happy and healthy holiday season and a prosperous new year.

Marie Knutson,

Community Emergency Response TeamDon't Be Scared Be Prepared - Martinez Community Emergency Response Team - FREE Classesstart soon, CERT will train you to be better prepared for disasters and how to respond when your fam-ily, neighbors and neighborhoods need you most. So Be Informed... Make a Plan... Build a Kit... GetInvolved...

FREE instructor-led classes on topics such as Personal and Family Preparedness, Earthquake Preparation, Team Organiza-tion, Medical Operations and Triage, Damage Assessment, Fire Suppression, Utility Control and Light Search and Rescue.

For more information or to register for classes E-mail Martinez.CERT@gmail.com website www.MartinezCERT.org. CERT issponsored by Martinez PD.

Hall Closet Thrift StoreImagine if your parents abandoned you before you were 5. Imagine spending your childhoodmoving from one foster home to the next. It takes little imagination to guess what could happennext- crime, jail time, crime, jail time. What can we do to help reduce recidivism? To make asafer, stronger and more responsible community?

The Hall Closet Thrift Store, located behind Contra Costa Juvenile Hall answers these ques-tions. By selling community donated kitchenware, furniture, books, and clothes, the thrift store is the mainsource of funding for the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary. This funding allows the 501(c)(3) non-profit to provide scholar-ships, internships, career development, and mentoring, to the young people who need it the most. In turnthese programs reduce recidivism by giving the youth positive relationships, arming them with the skills theyneed for a fighting chance, and offering assistance at every step of their re-entry into society.

So stop by the Hall Closet Thrift Store and make a difference. You will find a dedicated and welcoming all volunteer staff, lowprices, and most importantly, an opportunity to give a second chance. During this holiday season, the Hall Closet extends intoa Christmas Closet where you can buy all your Christmas related needs and even pay a visit to Santa. Also during this season,the non-profit also needs extra help with holiday gifts for the youth so financial contributions are always appreciated. Help usgive a second chance!

Page 4 Martinez Living Winter 2012

THE CALIFORNIA

EMPLOYMENT LAW

CORNER“THE

LIKEABLE

LAWYER”

JESSICA A. BRAVERMAN, ESQ.

Employers FaceNEW Laws in

2013Is your handbook

ready?As this year quietly unfolds, Employersare tasked with coming up to speedquickly on many new employment lawsrequired by January 2013. Below areselected samples only but is not an ex-haustive list. Be ready to make edits toyour employee handbooks to launch byJanuary 1, 2013.

Employers must give Employees acopy of their personnel file upon re-quest:

For years the California Labor Codeprovided all employees the opportunityto review their personnel file, but em-ployers were never required to give theemployee a full copy of the personnelfile. Starting in 2013, the employer isnow tasked with providing the employeewith a full copy of the personnel fileupon request. The new law signed byGovernor Brown will place a tighter bur-den on the employer to maintain accu-rate personnel records and to afford theemployee a full copy of his/her file upon

request.

Employers no longer can requireemployees to provide passwords topersonal social media:

In an effort to protect the employee’sright to privacy under California’s con-stitution, Assembly Bill 1844 wassigned into law adding to the CaliforniaLabor Code that employers are prohib-ited from requiring or requesting em-ployees or applicants to disclose theiruser name or password for any per-sonal social media sites. There arelimited exceptions when an employer isrequired to investigate alleged em-ployee misconduct or violations of thelaw.

Employers must add Breastfeedingas a protected class under sexualharassment/discrimination:

California’s Fair Employment & Hous-ing Act (“FEHA”) has been expandedto include breastfeeding and any medi-cal condition relating to breastfeedingunder the definition of “sex” for pur-poses of prevention discrimination orharassment. This definition will haveto be added to the employee handbookand should be added to all legally re-quired sexual harassment preventiontraining.

Employers have an expanded dutyfor Religious Accommodations:

Beginning January 2013, Assembly Bill1964 expands the employer’s duty toprovide for religious accommodationsunder FEHA. For example, religiousdress and grooming practices are nowcovered “beliefs and observances”under the law which means the em-ployer has a duty to make a reason-able accommodation for religious be-liefs and observances. The strict bur-den is on the employer to prove it can-not make a reasonable accommoda-tion because it is a significant or diffi-

cult hardship, or is an undue expensefor the employer.

Employers no longer can physicallysegregate or separate an employee outof public view as an acceptable accom-modation.

The IRS increases Mileage to be paidby the Employer for Business Re-lated Travel:

Starting January 2013, the IRS has in-creased the standard mileage rate forbusiness expenses to 56.5 cents amile. The employer must be sure toreimburse the employee correctly forthis business related travel expense asusual.

San Francisco’s minimum wage in-creases to $10.55/hour

Also beginning January 1, 2013, Em-ployers in San Francisco are required tobring the minimum wage up to $10.55an hour.

Contact an Employment Law Attorneyto ensure full legal compliance. TheCalifornia Employment Law TrainingCenter (http://www.CAELTC.com) is anexcellent resource for all employers andis also a Martinez Chamber member.

Jessica A. Braverman, Esq. owns theCalifornia Employment Law TrainingCenter, a division of Braverman Media-tion and Consulting where the focus ison preventative employment law advice,earlier dispute resolution interventionand employment law training. For freearticles on Employment Law Topics goto BravermanSolutions.com and click on“articles”. This is not legal advice and noattorney client relationship exists.Please consult with your legal profes-sional for exact information.

707 Marina Vista

Martinez, CA 94553

925-228-6985

contacus@armandosmartinez.com

www.armandosmartinez.com

New Chamber MembersMirch Indian CuisineTake Shape For LifeAMAA MartinezThe Hall Closet Thrift ShopEssential Bodywear – Debbie MartinezElite LimoStahlberg PhotographyChase Bank – Arnold DriveFirst Congregational ChurchMeow & Howl Pet Sitting

Renewal MembershipsMuir Parkway Offices / Cranbrook GroupGLT Sign SolutionsCole Real EstateARCpointBayview ChartersEngineering/Remediation ResourcesGroupUniversity of San Francisco – PleasantonDC Solar SolutionsMary Kay Cosmetics – Debbie OertelLemonade AccountingCommunity FocusServpro of Benicia/Martinez/SE VallejoWaters Moving & StorageM Service, Inc.Bring Rover Over Dog TrainingTogo’s EateryPDQ PrintingMichael Brionez, J. Rockcliff RealtorsBest Western Heritage Inn – BeniciaBest Western PLUS John Muir InnBoydstun ConstructionPaddock Bowl, Inc.Village Oaks Shopping CenterChef’s TouchCalifornia FitnessMartinez Masonic LodgeJBS PromotionsNo Trace ShreddingBray & Bray, Attorneys at LawSt. Catherine of Siena SchoolConnolly & TaylorRe/Max Accord – Maureen IngallsRoss Co. RealtorsAlhambra ShellCentral Contra Costa County SanitaryDistrictMartinez Yacht ClubDomino’s PizzaFood Bank of Contra Costa & SolanoKaiser-Permanente

Volume 10, Issue 4 Page 5

CITY COMMUNICATIONS

CORNERBill Schwass, Chair of Government Affairs -

Martinez Chamber of Commerce

In a flurry of activity, as we swept into November from a campaigning-filledOctober, officials have been elected, propositions passed or defeated and every-one slowed down to take a break….Thanksgiving break. As the dust settles we willbe more able to see how the passed (and failed) propositions are going to affectus all. The business climate in California continues to become less comfortablefor many businesses even as the economy appears to be ‘lightening up’. Thegovernment report this time around is : “Keep your ear to the ground and try toanticipate what is coming!”

“Really?” you might say. It is probably the best I can offer right now. Industriesare regrouping and trying to anticipate what is next… the effects of ‘Obamacare’on many larger businesses, and certainly on healthcare firms, Cap and tradestandards impact on the big companies, and the effect of their responses onsmaller suppliers, and on and on. But most of the members of the Chamber aresmaller businesses, not directly affected by those potentially sweeping changes.So what can you do?

Stay in touch with your elected officials… really! They want to know what youthink. If all they hear from is bigger companies, all they have to act on is theinput from the larger firms. Stay engaged with local elected officials, inMartinez, the County, and at the State and Federal level. Let each of themknow how pending or anticipated legislation will affect you, your family and yourcommunity.

I hope to set up at least a quarterly meeting in 2013 to get together with eitherthe elected officials or their representatives to discuss what is going on in thepolitical realm and how it may affect the Martinez business community. Let meknow if you would participate….if there is enough interest I will try to get theofficials involved! Have a great Holiday Season, see you in 2013!

Kinder’s Meats & Deliwww.kindersbbq.com

1815 Arnold DriveMartinez, CA 94553

Phone: (925) 335-0698www.shelterincofccc.org

Page 6 Martinez Living Winter 2012

Page 7Volume 10, Issue 4

...CHAMBER HAPPENINGS...New Members, Ribbon Cuttings, Business Expo, Martini Stroll and More

Martinez Chamber of Commerce603 Marina VistaMartinez, CA 94553

PRESORTED

STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCONCORD CA

94520

Permit 346

Season’s Greetingsfrom the

MartinezChamber

ofCommerce