Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

What’s Up February 2012

Lacking a relevant space picture for this month’s post, I present instead a recently released “Blue Marble” photo, one of the more detailed images of Earth ever seen. Click the link for a bigger version, and more information.

This month, look for Venus and Jupiter at twilight!

As soon as the Sun sets, you’ll be drawn to a pair of unmistakably bright beacons that dominate the early-evening scene. Over in the southwest is dazzling Venus — a planet is so bright that you might try locating it even before the Sun slips away for the evening.

Shift your gaze to the upper left until you come to Jupiter, which is also really bright — but no match for Venus. Later in the evening, look for Mars rising in the east and, above it, the stars of Leo. Orion and his easy-to-spot three-star belt is striding high in the south. At upper left is slightly reddish Betelgeuse and at lower right ir icy-white Rigel.

Betelgeuse is at the center of what stargazers call the Winter hexagon, a broad six-sided pattern tipped by Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Capella, and Aldebaran.
— Sky and Telescope

The next Full Moon is on the 7th, and the next New Moon is on the 21st.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map. (Translations to other languages are not currently supported, but they hope to have them back sometime in 2012.)

Hi! I’m Danielle Signor, MSCoC’s webmaster. I witnessed two out of three of the last space shuttle launches in the program: Discovery in February 2011, as part of the STS-133 NASA Tweetup event; and Atlantis in July 2011 (STS-135). Find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, and check out my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

Mountaindesignworks joins the Mt. Shasta Chamber

L to R: Jim Mullins Mt. Shasta Chamber President; Even, Amanda and Ron Cooper, Mountaindesignworks; Brett Waite & Vince Reinig, Mt. Shasta Chamber Board.

Mountaindesignworks is now a member of the Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce and brings the creative talents of graphic designer and artist Ron Cooper. Ron has worked in the local area for the past seven years. He offers personalized and accessible graphic design services creating websites, identity, branding, logos, user interfaces and print design. His work primarily focuses on design that maintains a balance between beauty and function and is heavily inspired by his lifelong career in the visual arts.

Mountaindesignworks works closely with each individual client from start to finish, offering knowledgeable, resourceful and creative design solutions. Ron draws upon his artistic talents and up-to-date technical knowledge, which enables him to meet the individual needs of each client. Services include the latest in database driven dynamic websites, development of unique, intuitive, functional and beautiful user interface experiences, complete identity packages and the appropriate tools for success both on the web and in print.

Form follows function and Mountaindesignworks aims to offer state of the art web design  with services that include, website creation, website extensions, icons, user interfaces, web typography, cms integration, coding, content strategy, e-mail and newsletter campaigns, e-commerce solutions, web hosting plans, digital photography, website redesigns, website maintenance, search engine optimizing (seo), social media and blogging platforms. Reach out to the world of mobile with responsive web design that is fluid all the way down to any number of new-fangled devices, and more.

For print services Ron draws inspiration from his love of traditional print design and typography. Print services include, logo development, identity graphics, branding, promotionals, labeling, package design, prepress setups, newsletters, rack cards, business cards, identity graphics, advertising, posters, calendars, signs, publications, digital and traditional illustration, graphic art, page layout, cd and dvd packaging, book covers, editorial spreads, magazine layouts and more.

Redesigns, overhauls and makeovers are always welcome. For more information contact: ron@mountaindesignworks.com. Visit Mountaindesignworks.com or call 530.918.9497

“Home Guard” will help whenever they can

Thursday, January 12, 2012, noon at Lalo’s restaurant, 520 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta 96067

While soldiers in the 132nd detachment of the National Guard prepare to be shipped overseas next year, Mount Shasta’s Dan Dorsey is planning ahead. Dorsey is the man behind Home Guard, an organization formed to assist the families of deployed Siskiyou County soldiers. If you want to learn more about the organization come and listen to Mr Dorsey. The meeting is open to chamber members as well as the public. Bring a friend!

Bring your flyers, business cards or brochures to share with others as we will allow ample time for networking.

What’s Up January 2012

Quadrantid meteor shower 2011. Image credit/copyright to Jeff Berkes, all rights reserved.

The big news this month is tonight: head out in the wee hours to see the Quadrantids… for a limited time only!

The 2012 Quadrantids, a little-known meteor shower named after an extinct constellation, will present an excellent chance for hardy souls to start the year off with some late-night meteor watching.

Peaking in the wee morning hours of Jan. 4, the Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 100 per hour, varying between 60-200. The waxing gibbous moon will set around 3 a.m. local time, leaving about two hours of excellent meteor observing before dawn. It’s a good thing, too, because unlike the more famous Perseid and Geminid meteor showers, the Quadrantids only last a few hours — it’s the morning of Jan. 4, or nothing.
— NASA

The month starts off with a bang, celestially speaking, as the annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on the morning of January 4th. This year’s edition favors North America, but to see these “shooting stars” you’ll need to be up well past midnight — or get up a couple of hours before dawn.

The early evening sky is anchored by dazzling Venus low in the west and very bright Jupiter high in the southeast. These are the two brightest planets, and it’s a visual treat to have them both in the sky at once.

Spend some quality time with Cassiopeia, queen of the northern sky. Nearly overhead right now, this constellation looks more like a squashed “M” than a feminine figure. But its five bright stars are still easily recognized.
— Sky and Telescope

The next Full Moon is on the 9th, and the next New Moon is on the 23rd.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map. (Translations to other languages are not currently supported, but they hope to have them back sometime in 2012.)

Hi! I’m Danielle Signor, MSCoC’s webmaster. I witnessed two out of three of the last space shuttle launches in the program: Discovery in February 2011, as part of the STS-133 NASA Tweetup event; and Atlantis in July 2011 (STS-135). Find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, and check out my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

DOCS medical group opens in Mt. Shasta

L to R: Elizabeth Mitchell-Collord, Mt. Shasta Chamber Board;  Darlene Shoop, MA; Carrie Hood, MA; Janet Becks, Office Manager; Jim Mullins Mt. Shasta Chamber President; Dr. John Capos, DO; Ned Boss, Mayor of Mt. Shasta; Brett Waite, Mt. Shasta Chamber Board. Not pictured Renee Wilson, FNP

On November 22^nd, the Chamber of Commerce welcomed DOCS Medical with an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at 408 Pine Street, DOCS took over the practice of Dr. Jill Schenk who relocated out of the state last year. Some features of the office are: fully computerized health records, in-office PT/INR testing, and same-day appointments for established patients. Most insurance are accepted and they are welcoming new patients.

In June, Renee Wilson, Family Nurse Practitioner, joined the practice. Her sunny personality and ability to put people at ease made her an immediate patients’ favorite. She comes from Fort Jones, where she has also shared a practice with her husband, Dr. David Wilson. Renee enjoys biking, gardening, running, hiking, and camping with her family.

In September, DOCS welcomed the addition of a medical director, Dr. John K. Capos, an ex-Navy Flight Surgeon who came to the area after practicing for several years in the Sacramento area. Born in Chicago, IL, Dr. Capos came to California in the mid 70′s while working as a Naval Hospital Corpsman. He attended medical school at Western University in Pomona, CA, and did student rotations both in the Mid-West and here on the West coast. He served his internship at Metropolitan Medical Center in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Capos believes in treating the underlying cause of medical problems, rather than just treating the symptom. Patients have been pleased with his thoroughness and the time he spends caring for patients. Dr. Capos enjoys living in Mount Shasta, and is looking forward to enjoying the outdoors and our beautiful natural resources.

DOCS Medical Group is looking forward to continuing to serve Mount Shasta with the dedication and caring that the staff has always shown. They are proud to be part of this wonderful community. Contact them at 530-926-3222.

Wise Mountain Botanicals is the newest chamber member

L to R: Joy Taylor, Chamber Board Member; Ned Boss, Mayor of Mt. Shasta; Amy Rachkowski, Owner; Brett Waite, Chamber Board Member; Ellen Coleman, Chamber Board Member.

Based in Mount Shasta, Wise Mountain Botanicals harvests abundant, native and locally grown medicinal plants to create hand crafted herbal remedies. The mission is to promote community health and vitality with herbal medicine. Wise Mountain Botanicals specializes in herbal extracts and herbal skin care products that are created from fresh wildcrafted or organically grown herbs. WMB is committed to producing the most energetically potent and high quality herbal remedies using fresh herbs that are abundant in the Mount Shasta bioregion.

Founder, Amy Rachkowski, is a certified herbalist who has been studying herbal medicine and botany for the past ten years. She is excited to share her knowledge and passion for herbs with the community through her line of herbal remedies.

Wise Mountain Botanicals sells a line of 25 single herb extracts, as well as compound herb formulas for specific ailments, herbal healing salves, and lip balms. Fresh tinctures of Elderberry, Yerba Santa, and Oregon Grape Root are the most popular during cold, flu and allergy season. Products can be purchased locally at Berryvale Grocery, Alpine Originals, and at www.wisemountainbotanicals.com. Products will be featured at the JEDI Holiday Party on December 8, 2011 from 3 pm- 6 pm at the JEDI office, located at 403 Berry St. in Mount Shasta.  For more information you can reach Amy at (530) 925-5003 or via email at amy@wisemountainbotanicals.com.

What’s Up December 2011

Image Credit & Copyright: Javier Algarra

Get ready for a total lunar eclipse on the 10th (coinciding with the full moon), and the Geminid meteor shower on the 14th!

December is the month of the solstice, when the Sun appears farthest south in the sky. That means winter for us and summer for Australians. This year the December solstice comes at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the 22nd — and late on the 21st for those farther west.

Venus lurks low in the southwestern twilight after sunset. You’ll need an unobstructed horizon to see it.

But after it gets good and dark, swing around to the east to see dazzling Jupiter, the King of Planets, amid a tower of brilliant early-winter stars that extends from the horizon to overhead. Start with Orion low down, the climb upward through Taurus, Auriga, Perseus, and Andromeda.
— Sky and Telescope

The mid-December night sky hosts a lovely meteor shower. From December 13th to 14th, the bright and fast Geminids will skip across the upper atmosphere. Watch for meteors zipping away from the constellation Gemini after midnight.

Many skywatchers will enjoy a lunar eclipse on December 10. This happens when the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. The Moon does not quite disappear but turns a coppery red. Viewers in North America will see the eclipsed Moon sink into the western horizon before dawn.
— HubbleSite – Tonight’s Sky

The next Full Moon is on the 10th, and the next New Moon is on the 24th.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map. (Translations to other languages are not currently supported, but they hope to have them back sometime in 2012.)

Hi! I’m Danielle Signor, MSCoC’s webmaster. I witnessed two out of three of the last space shuttle launches in the program: Discovery in February, as part of the STS-133 NASA Tweetup event; and Atlantis in July (STS-135). Find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, and check out my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

Northland Communications has moved

L to R: Brett Waite, VP of the Visitors Bureau; Ned Boss, Mayor, Cindy Corrales Visitors Bureau Committee; Shellee Mittan, Customer Service Representative; Vince Reinig, Regional Manager; Jim Mullins Chamber President; and Ed Valenzuela, County Supervisor.

Northland Communications celebrates the opening of its new customer service and sales office in Mount Shasta, California.  Located in the old Crispi’s Market building at 900 South Mount Shasta Boulevard, the building has been re-purposed to serve south county residents with all of their communications and technology needs.  Inside the warm and spacious new office, customers can experience the many products that Northland has to offer.

Sit in a comfortable chair and let the knowledgeable staff show you a whole new world of entertainment possibilities – powered by their Turbo Power® broadband Internet service.   New technologies such as Roku® and Tivo® DVR are available for you to test drive.  Both of these products bring a whole new dimension in entertainment, direct from the Internet in high definition on your big screen television and home theatre sound system.   Thousands of movies, sports, network shows, news programs and music are now available whenever you want them.

But that’s not all.  The New Northland Communications offers you a whole lot more.   Their Home Phone service includes unlimited local and long distance calling in the U.S. and Canada, many free calling features and will likely save you money.  Plus, you get to keep your existing phone number.

Northland continues to invest in its local facilities in order to stay at the cutting edge of technology.   Turbo Premiere internet service with up to 12Mbs downloads and 1Mbs uploads will be available in December.  Those speeds will double in 2012 – and even faster as the technology evolves.

So stop in and have some chocolate or popcorn while you check out Roku®, ESPN3 or a Digital Video Recorder.  Or just stop in and say hi – after all these are your friends and neighbors.

Northland Communications is your local broadband Internet, home phone and digital television provider. 530-926-6128.

New business opens its doors

L to R: Brett Waite, VP of the Visitors Bureau, Christi Hunt, cosmetologist, Dena and Chris Harding, owners, David  Kulick, DC, Judy Silva, staff, Cindy Stevenson, staff and Vicky Zanni chamber events coordinator.

The Wooly Butterfly, located at 308 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. is a full service salon, that offers ten dollar haircuts for men and twenty dollars cut for women.  Owner Dena Harding and Christi Hunt, who are both licensed cosmetologists accept walk in clients as well as take appointments which are available within a week.  Both stylists offer pedicures, manicures, and acrylic and gel nails, as well as haircuts, perms, and color.  All services are at prices that are conducive to our current economy.

The Wooly Butterfly features new and gently used  men and women’s  clothing, as well as handbags, shoes  , boots, and jewelry. All the clothing is ready to wear off the rack and at super reasonable prices. New inventory is displayed daily.  Consignment  items are accepted each Tuesday. Additionally the shop offers an array of wicker baskets which owner Dena will customize with your items for any special gift. For your holiday convenience gift wrapping is available which features beautiful handmade bows. You can find Bare Wallow Herbal Medicine which is organic and handmade by Cara Saunders.

The office of  David Kulick, D.C. is also located in the Wooly Butterfly.  Chiropractic and deep tissue treatments. Specializing in preoperative conditions, trauma, overuse syndromes and muscle knots that don’t go away.  Sessions are an hour with the doctor doing all the work. Appointment s can be made with the Dr. by calling 918-9466.

The Wooly Butterfly will be celebrating its grand opening on Friday, November 25th, during the downtown Christmas tree lighting activity. Holiday shoppers and browsers are invited to stop by during the festivities and enjoy refreshments.

The business is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10am until 5:30 pm. For more information or to make a salon appointment please call 918-9277.

Friday Art Walk in downtown Mt. Shasta November 18th

Multiple art receptions will take place in downtown Mt. Shasta on Friday November 18, between 4 and 8pm. Participating galleries are: Siskiyou Arts Council (SAC) Gallery, Red Door Gallery, The Gallery In Mount Shasta (Black Bear Building), and Britton Stained Glass Studio. The receptions will feature original art and prints by a variety of local artists, and will offer light food and refreshment to visitors.

SAC Gallery‘s reception will be titled “Mountain Arts Cooperative Winter Gifts” and will take place 5-8pm. SAC Gallery is located at 418 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

“Blue Vespa” oil painting by Aleksander

Red Door Gallery‘s reception will be titled “Studio Liink – 2011 Print Collection” and will take place 4-8pm. The show will include limited- and open-edition archival printwork by Studio Liink (the print studio component of the gallery) from paintings and photographs by Aleksander Balos, Finley Fryer, John Rickard, Cynthia Henderson and Heinz Danzberger. Red Door Gallery/Studio Liink is located at 326 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

“Escorted By Legends” photograph by Brad Goldpaint

The Gallery in Mount Shasta (Black Bear Building) will showcase  photographer Brad Goldpaint, known for his striking photos of night skies combined with landscape images. Goldpaint will be present for the reception, which will take place 4-7pm. There will be port, chocolates and cookies as “a sweet thank you” to visitors. The Gallery in Mt. Shasta is located at 201 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.

“Mother Teresa” stained glass art by Margaret Britton

Britton Stained Glass Studio’s reception will be titled “Glass Gifts & Ornaments” and will take place 4-7pm. The show will feature artist Margaret Britton’s large stained glass work as well as smaller pieces and ornaments made from stained or fused glass. Britton Stained Glass Studio is located at 211 E. Alma Street.

All receptions will run simultaneously on Friday, November 18. Receptions are free and open to the public.