Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

Authentically Beautiful Photography

L to R: Ned Boss, Mayor of Mt. Shasta,  Kelly Samuelson, owner, Vicki Zanni events coordinator and Vice Reinig, Mt Shasta Chamber of Commerce president.

Authentically Beautiful Photography (formerly KLS Photography), based out of Mt. Shasta, is owned by photographer Kelly Samuelson.  Samuelson has over 12 years experience in photography, ranging from digital to film and darkroom processes.  Founded in 2009, Authentically Beautiful Photography specializes in portraits, weddings and event photography.

Authentically Beautiful Photography has a unique take on portraiture, looking to capture a subject’s essence in a natural way.  Using lifestyle and posed portrait photography, Samuelson aims to make subjects feel comfortable and enjoy their experience in front of the camera.  The business’s name comes from the practice of capturing subjects at their best, while looking their most natural and genuine.

Authentically Beautiful Photography is one of few local photographers who provide event photography services.  Kelly Samuelson has done all of the event photography for Weed Arts Council events in addition to other community and business events in Siskiyou County.  This experience in event photography gives Authentically Beautiful Photography a unique advantage and extensive knowledge in capturing images for businesses and organizations to use in promotional material and as keepsakes for guests.

This year, Authentically Beautiful Photography added a photo booth rental to their services.  Photo booth rentals, like the ones seen in malls, let participants sit for 4 photos, which are then printed onto a photo strip.  Popular for weddings and events, photo booth rental is available for a discounted rate when paired with event or wedding photography.

Authentically Beautiful Photography will be a vendor at this year’s 4^th of July celebration in Mt. Shasta.  The photo booth will be available for use all three days of the event on Castle Street.  Please visit and take a look at the unique and fun services Authentically Beautiful Photography has to offer.

To contact Kelly Samuelson and Authentically Beautiful Photography, visit www.authenticallybeautifulphotography.com or call (530)918-8575.

Alpine Originals features Siskiyou County artisans

L to R: Ed Valenzuela, County Supervisor, daughter Carlee Punt and owner Debra Punt , Cindy Corrales & Brett Waite, directors on the Board of the Mt Shasta Chamber of Commerce

Gary and Debra Punt announced the Grand Opening of Alpine Originals on May 25th at 304 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. in Mt. Shasta. Alpine Originals is now open Monday through Saturday 10am – 6pm. Alpine Originals provides a showcase for items produced by more than 30 Siskiyou County artisans. Come by to see the wide selection of uniquely handcrafted products, all created locally. They offer a large selection of gifts and art including blown and fused glass dishes and jewelry, wire sculpture, woodcraft and pottery. A variety of originals, prints and cards from several different artists. Those looking for something softer will find crochet items, fabric art, soaps and candles. Foodies will enjoy our gourmet food items including chocolate, coffee beans, honey, dip mixes, gourmet Italian spreads and grow your own microgreen kits. They even have blacksmith art and custom stringed instruments. New artisans are constantly added to the product offerings. They are excited to find new local artisans creating all kinds of interesting products.

Alpine Originals, where everything is uniquely handcrafted and locally made. You can call us at 530-926-6038 or check out the website at alpineoriginals.com.

Andrew Oser offers mountain journeys for peace and vision

L to R: Ned Boss, Mayor of Mt. Shasta; Vicky Zanni, Chamber Events Coordinator; Andrew Oser, Owner of Summit Coaching Services; and Jim Mullins Vice-President of the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce.

In these uncertain times in which we live, more people than ever are coming to Mount Shasta seeking peace and clear vision. The mountain’s majestic presence and the abundant natural beauty of this area draw spiritual tourists from throughout the world.

Summit Coaching Services, a new member of the Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce, serves these visitors, as well as local residents, offering guided retreats and hikes on and around the mountain. Business owner, Andrew Oser, has almost 30 years of experience in offering these services.

Andrew fell in love in the mountain on his first visit in 1978. For the next 28 years, he came to Shasta almost every Summer. In 2006, after completing a successful career of founding and running the nonprofit Joy of Sports Foundation, Andrew moved to Mt. Shasta. Since he’s relocated here, Andrew has turned his focus more and more toward guiding retreats and hikes on the mountain, which he describes as “my great passion and joy.”

Andrew is a life coach, as well as retreat leader/mountain guide. His specialty is working from the inside-out to help clients make breakthroughs in their lives. He works with clients to shift fears and limiting beliefs which may be blocking them, then to come up with effective strategies and action steps.

When he takes clients up on the mountain, Andrew serves as both an inner and outer guide. Having hiked Shasta for 33 years, he is familiar with a wide range of sacred sites and great hikes. He also offers guided meditations, vision quests, and coaching sessions. As Andrew says, “Everything is amplified on the mountain. Up there, it’s so easy to connect with God, to clear blocks, and receive a fresh vision.”

The people Andrew takes up on the mountain consistently experience powerful breakthroughs. One recent visitor from Atlanta shared, “My time with Andrew on Mount Shasta was truly life changing. I came home with a renewed sense of God’s Presence and Guidance in my life.”

Contact Andrew at 760-525-4512 or visit www.summitcoachingservices.net

In and Out Gardens, Mount Shasta is now open

L to R: Vince Reinig, Mount Shasta Chamber President; Ned Boss, Mayor of Mt. Shasta; Vaughn Sims; Gabriel Hoff, Reny Townsend, Owner/Partner; Jan Cummings; Ryan Turner; Brett Waite, Chamber Board member and Ed Valenzuela, Supervisor District 2 .  Inset photo: Jeremy Savory, Owner/Partner.

Recognizing a need and pursuing a long-time desire, In and Out Gardens, Mount Shasta aims to provide everything gardeners, both indoors and out, at every level, could need, combined with a heartfelt emphasis on and sincere passion for organic and sustainable horticultural and agricultural practices.

Located at 316 Chestnut Street, directly behind Couch Critic’s Movies and Games, In and Out Gardens offers South County’s best prices on hydroponic supplies, environmental controls and organic seeds, soils, amendments, fertilizers and pest and disease control options.

In addition, In and Out Gardens, Mount Shasta will be offering micro-brewed, crop/soil needs specific fertilizer teas, LAB TESTED actively aerated compost teas (AACT) and liquid microbial inoculants solutions, all routinely prepared on-site in a controlled environment with microscopic analysis (all customers are encouraged to get behind the microscope), assuring optimal “freshness” in beneficial biological diversity.

In and Out Gardens, Mount Shasta, its experienced, local, passionate and friendly staff plus its knowledge and supply based resources…a sure way to give your garden the boost it needs, when it needs.

In and Out Gardens, 316 Chestnut St., Mt. Shasta, California 96067  •  530-926-9907  •  http://www.inandoutgardens.com/

Chamber welcomes Batchelder Property Management

L to R: Kathy Anderson, Mt. Shasta Visitors Bureau, Bruce and Sally Batchelder, owners, Ned Boss, Mt. Shasta City Mayor and Vicky Zanni, Chamber’s events coordinator.

Bruce and Sally have been in the real estate business for a combined 16 years. They have recently changed offices and are broker associates with Coldwell Banker, Mountain Gate Properties located at 426 North Mt. Shasta Blvd. in Mt. Shasta. They are very experienced with representing both buyers and sellers in sales transactions. With the constantly changing real estate market, they keep up with the volatile market with classes and seminars. They have lived in South County for 40 years and thus have a feel for market trends both in the area and throughout Siskiyou County. In years past they have received the award for Top Overall Producer and Multi-Million Dollar Producer from Coldwell Banker.

Batchelder Property Management is a separate business owned by Bruce & Sally and is not affiliated with Coldwell Banker, Mountain Gate Properties.

They have been in the property management business for 3 1/2 years.  They can also apply knowledge of the local market to the landlord/tenant situation. They use only state association approved forms and are constantly training on new laws that apply to landlords and tenants.

It’s all about hands-on managing. That’s what sets them apart from other companies.

From the moment a landlord signs on with them, they both take ownership of the project. As they tell every tenant who applies, “Imagine that this is YOUR home that you are renting out”. It’s that personal.

They communicate constantly with both owners and tenants and have a very low vacancy percentage because of that.

It’s the attention to details also that makes their company successful. As they say, the devil is in the details and they cover them like a blanket.

Bruce and Sally can be reached at Coldwell Banker, Mountain Gate Properties, 926-5236, for real estate sales, and 938-0385 for property management.

Britton Stained Glass and Mystical Art Studio opens in Mount Shasta

L to R: Vicky Zanni, Mt. Shasta Chamber, Daaron Gott, Son, Mackenna Gott, granddaughter, Lauren Gott, “awesome granddaughter”, Margaret Britton, Owner/Artist, Jim Mullins, Mt. Shasta Chamber Board Vice President

I lived in Mount Shasta over 20 years ago.  After my youngest was on his own I decided to “go out into the world to make my fortune”.  My career as a stained glass artist flourished. Working for one the largest, oldest and prestigious studios in the industry, Willet Houser studio, facilitated my education.  When I opened my own studio I had a strong background and with employees constructed windows for churches, business and homes.  I have done complete churches taking years, as well as just one window in a home; all of them are like my children.  Windows I’ve done are located across the United States as well as the Virgin Islands.  My individual panels were also displayed in galleries in the Sedona AZ area.

Two years ago I thought I’d move back to Mount Shasta and retire, but I never really stopped. I did some pieces I’d always wanted to do for myself, a few for those who knew me, and a lot of painting.

I was encouraged by those close to me to get my work out for others to see and enjoy. Several people asked if I would do classes.  When I saw this space, 211 East Alma Street it just felt right. Here I have a gallery space for my paintings, individual panels, as well as fused glass pieces. Supplies and tools will also be for sale soon.   There is separate workspace for construction and classes as well as room for my kilns.

Open hours are 1:00 PM to 5 PM Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Close Sunday and Monday, I close early on Wednesday 3:PM.  I’ll start classes in February that will meet on Saturdays. Retirement is not for me, not when I love what I do.

For appointment or information call 926-1106 or visit my website brittonstainedglassstudio.com

Try the new Shasta Yoga Center… for a calmer mind & vibrant body!!!

L to R standing: Cheryl Petty, Amy Cooper, Jan Schrag, Ana Holub, Megan Hawk and L to R Front row: Eloise Larson, Janet Mathews, Sarah Sunshine, Annie Reinhardt, Meadow Barr

The Shasta Yoga Center (SYC) recently opened into its new, bigger 1,400 square foot location at 315 A South Mt. Shasta Boulevard. What makes the yoga center a unique and successful place to learn and study? “The primary motivation behind the yoga center is to offer the benefits of the ancient teachings of yoga with a modern approach and to support the role each individual brings in affecting change,” says founding director Amy Cooper.

With a 30 year history of teaching yoga in various settings and training yoga teachers in the Bay Area, Amy chose to open the SYC in 2003 to serve a niche that she felt was missing in the community. Perhaps compared with a fitness facility or college setting, the SYC offers a diverse selection of yoga classes and in-depth workshops for all different levels of student “with an emphasis on meeting the needs of each individual.” Fully equipped with yoga props, the yoga center is a tranquil and uplifting environment conducive for learning yoga safely from detailed instruction on alignment and technique by certified instructors. In addition to holding several “Introductory,” foundation classes for new students the yoga center offers “private” and “semi-private” lessons.

With the 500 square foot expansion, Amy says she has more room to integrate expressive arts into the variety of classes offered at the yoga center, such as sacred movement, dance and qi gong. “The intention of the expressive arts aspect of the SYC is to reawaken a true appreciation of the healing power of the creative and expressive arts,” says Amy.  In addition, the extra space will allow her to invite visiting instructors to broaden community exposure and learning as well as to develop the retail side of her business which offers Holistic Body Therapy products, yoga props, books and DVDs/CDs to support students in their practice and creating health and well-being.

For the Shasta Yoga Center schedule and info on the instructors, visit www.shastayogacenter.com or call 926-0221.

Wholesale Solar has a new home.

Employees from Wholesale Solar’s Ream Avenue Distribution Center join the growing company’s operations and executive staff under the recently completed signage of their new offices at 412 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. Ellen Coleman, Isabel Johnson Fuentes, Candice Robison, Angie Brunello, Dustin Bartholomay, Judy Roda, Chad Thorpe, Suzanne Scull, Talon Baldwin, Royce Flores, Nathan Johnston, Allie Coleman, Josh Rice, Jeremy Price, Caterina Wolmar, Amy Rogers, Todd Evirs, Brian Lee, Isaac Cunningham, Mark Coleman, Danny Moll.  Missing from this picture:  Wil Burlin and Aileen Vuyovich.

Local Solar Company Celebrates

On December 17^th Wholesale Solar of Mt. Shasta celebrated the design, sales and shipping of over 2.65 megawatts of solar power systems for year 2010.   Co-owner Mark Coleman noted that figure represents the equivalent reduction of 1,903 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere.

Wholesale Solar looks forward to continued growth as the North American renewable energy market responds to a dramatic lowering of solar panel prices, rising utility costs, and a wide variety of incentives.

“Siskiyou County residents and business owners will soon be able to apply for rebates from Pacific Power, which will lower the cost of solar even more than the current Federal tax credit of 30%,” points out Isaac Cunningham, one of Wholesale Solar’s solar designers.

Wholesale Solar has main offices in downtown Mt. Shasta and one satellite office in Taos, New Mexico, where owners Mark and Ellen Coleman’s history with solar power began.

Raising their two daughters Jessica and Allie off the grid in the northern New Mexico highlands, Mark learned to design solar and wind power systems for the homes he was building.  His interest in computers and the beginnings of the internet led to a livelihood that eventually allowed them to move anywhere they wanted to move, which was Mt Shasta!

An extensive website, www.wholesalesolar.com, brings in customers from all across the United States and Canada.  Because of excellent search engine optimization by employee Dustin Bartholomay, internet searches for solar inevitably lead to Wholesale Solar.  A well-trained staff of eight solar system designers are backed up by computer savvy and friendly sales support and a bustling bookkeeping department headed by Judy Roda.  Choosing to keep inventory and shipping local gives another five sharp, strong guys employed at the distribution center on Ream Avenue.

“One of our recent customers was impressed with the fact that most of our employees have standing desks and/or large yoga balls to sit on,” said Ellen Coleman.  “We try to support health and wellbeing of our work community, but the neat thing is how supported I feel, too.  I really enjoy coming to work.”

For additional information, contact Ellen Coleman. Work phone:  530 926-2900, cell phone:  530 859-5741 or visit wholesalesolar.com

Chamber welcomes new member

L to R: Vicky Zanni, Chamber of Commerce staff, Inese, Natalia (kneeling), Monica Zinda, Bill Henson, David Kuhn, Susan Isabelle owner with the flowers, Zachariah Infinger, Victoria Varano, Mats Granlund, Stephanie Beltz and Michael Murray, City Council.

The Shambhala Center & Speciality Store held their Grand Opening on Nov. 19^th, with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and an Open House.  Stop in and meet Susan Isabelle, BS,LSW, C.Ht, author and lecturer, the founder of the Shambhala Center, a global training center for personal growth. Susan moved her established (1997) Shambhala Center from NH to the area in 2004. Outgrowing the five year Weed location, the opportunity to transform a gas station into a training center began. A Licensed Social Worker for 20 years and a former Chairperson for The Office For Children, Susan holds a community-building and cooperative focus.

There are many plans in the making. Ron Henson, Sculpter and Artist, will be on-site with the proposed replica of a 12-foot high Angel of the Eternal Light statue he is creating for the front entrance to the Shambhala Center. Her gentle, loving wings will enfold you in a heart shaped seat. Ron is known for many works, including the Bronze Dr. Seuss National Memorial.

Monica Zinda of Monzaic Designs will be outlining her community build and funding ideas to construct a mosaic Native American Medicine Wheel on the Shambhala site designed to honor the Creator, Mother Earth and All Of Creation. Monica’s mosaic “The Seed” is on display at the center throughout December. Monica recently completed the Chamber mural in Weed.

A beautification fund is being established by the Shambhala Center. Donations and landscaping materials will help us enhance the area. Let’s make our tourist and visitor’s experience to our uptown commercial district an exciting and memorable one.

530-926-1331 • www.mountshastacenter.com • susan.isabelle@live.com

Sanjeevani is a new member

L to R: Heather Weldon, Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Vicky Zanni, Chamber staff, Lezlie Enfield, owner and Michael Murray, City Council.

Sanjeevani is a Sanskrit word meaning, to infuse life..

At Sanjeevani we follow a holistic philosophy that encourages the body’s own healing mechanisms to function optimally and restore natural beauty from within. Using gentle, natural enzyme-based products free from irritating synthetic ingredients, these replenishing treatments will nourish and transform the skin.

Sanjeevani features products from Naturopathica Holistic Health, who’s products are certified organic by ECOCERT. The best of nature and science is combined in these performance-based Naturoceuticals – innovative ingredients such as glycolic acids, herbal enzymes and skin brighteners provide sought after results. Our featured facial for the month of December incorporates the cutting edge technology of Naturopathica’s Plant Stem Cell Serum.  The concentrated liquid cell cultures are proven to increase suppleness and elasticity in the skin.

We also have a unique boutique with accessories – jewelry, pashmina shawls, scarves, aromatic herbs, ayurvedic incense, Tibetan singing bowls, and more.

The owner of Sanjeevani, Lezlie Enfield, is a Licensed Esthetician. Lezlie also incorporates energy work into her specialized treatments. As a teacher of martial arts for over 20 years, Lezlie has traveled to Okinawa and India to study under the foremost Masters of Okinawa Goju-Ryu and Kalaripayattu. During this training, she was taught more than fighting techniques. Traditional systems of martial arts, such as Kalaripayattu, encompass an entire system that includes healing and revitalization through the balancing of mind, spirit and body. Lezlie carries with her the philosophy of traditional practices that span thousands of years.

We invite you to come and experience Sanjeevani’s personalized treatments. Upon entering, feel a calmness gradually envelope you. Aromatic fragrances wafting through the air awaken your senses. Soft music and the trickling sound of water reawaken the remembrances of the stillness of nature.

Good for the first week, December 1st through the 7th, 50% off all retail boutique items and 20% off all Naturapathica retail products both in stock and ordered. Also, 20% off gift certificates for services.

Sanjeeveni Holistic Skin Care And Boutique is located 204-C W. Lake Street. For more info call 530-859-0759