Business Spotlight

If you suffer from chronic pain in your neck or back and have been told you have spinal stenosis or a bulging disc, then you will definitely want to attend the free workshop Dr. Branvold is hosting at the Susanville Chiropractic Clinic. At 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Dr. Branvold will be discussing the latest non-surgical, non-drug technology and treatment modalities for spinal stenosis. Seating is limited so see his ad in this week’s paper for registration details.

Sunshine Preschool in Uptown Susanville is reopening Jan. 2. They will be accepting children ages 2 (must be potty trained) through 5. They have a new director; Jessica Jenner will be running the facility. For more information or to sign up you can reach them at 257-5893.

NEW HOURS, NEW LOCATION

Lynn Markman, owner of Markman Farm, has moved her business to 235 N. Gilman St. in Susanville. She has a lot of gift baskets, handmade crafts and treats to taste. She will be open at this location beginning at 10 a.m., on Dec. 9 and 10 as well as Dec. 16 and 17. If you miss those dates, you can visit her website at markmanfarm.com.

UPTOWN MASSAGE OFFERS ONLINE GIFT CERTIFICATES

Certified massage therapist Kelly Fairbank of Uptown Massage now offers instant online gift certificates through her website: uptown.massagetherapy.com.

“It’s the perfect thing for those last minute gifts. We all do it, wait until the night before someone’s birthday or other big event to think about getting a gift,” Fairbank said. For those who don’t have a printer, they can still purchase a gift certificate online and have it mailed directly to the recipients.

“In addition to the two online options, those without computer access can just pick up the phone and call me directly for a gift certificate,” said Fairbank.

You can enjoy a free cup of hot tea, cider or hot chocolate with your massage from the all-new tea bar at Uptown Massage.

NOTARY AT UPS STORE

The UPS Store in Susanville is now offering a licensed Notary Public on staff six days a week. Owner Andy Warren is a Notary and Sareena Estes now has her Notary license. They are conveniently located in the Windgate Mall next to Walmart in Susanville.

BANK CELEBRATES THE SEASON

Plumas Bank is celebrating the holidays by hosting several festive events at their branches as they have done for decades.

InSusanville,visit their office on Monday, Dec. 12 and Friday, Dec. 16 for Customer Appreciation Days.The Chester office is set from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14 Eastern Plumas residents can enjoy the festivities at the Portola office. If your social calendar is already booked you can enjoy refreshments when you do your everyday banking at the Greenville or Quincy branches beginning Wednesday, Dec.14 through Friday, Dec. 16. Don’t forget to pick up your custom 2012 calendar featuring the Simple Pleasures of Plumas Bank Country whileyou’re there.

SHELF RELIANCE PARTIES

Shelf Reliance is your premier source for emergency preparedness supplies and informational tools. Featuring freeze-dried foods, food rotation systems (food storage shelves), and their revolutionary calculators for food storage and emergency kits. Shelf Reliance offers the tools you’ll need to create a comprehensive customized emergency preparedness plan. If you don’t have an emergency kit ready to go, this just may be for you. For information about their products call Denise Ramsey at 251-6418.

FRIENDS IN ART ANNUAL SHOW

It’s time for the 11th annual Friends in Art show at the Artisan Coffee shop in Janesville. The show is on Dec. 9 and 10. You’ll find many of your favorite local artists featuring their beautiful one of a kind gifts and home décor. See their ad in this week’s paper for more info.

NEW PRODUCT LINES

Billington Ace Hardware tells us they are now carrying the Sears line of Craftsman tools. You’ll find everything from power tools to wrenches, sockets and more. If you don’t know what to get your significant other, then check out their selection of great holiday gifts.

NEW LOCATION

Monica Morris, of A Cut Above Hair Salon, would like to announce their new location inside the Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel.

Laura Gardner, Rhonda Welsh and Monica invite you to join in their grand opening celebration from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Stop by or call for an appointment at 257-8233.

On Dec. 2 and 3, in conjunction with the Lassen County Times Sleigh Days promotion, The Health Nut will be celebrating its 16th anniversary. Kristin and Keith Volberg opened the original Health Nut in Historic Uptown Susanville in December 1995. Two years later they moved to their current location at 2204 Main St. in midtown Susanville. The Health Nut staff invites everyone to stop by for the festivities on Friday Dec. 2. They will be offering gluten-free foods for tasting as well as other healthy hors d'oeurves and hot apple cider. Be sure to enter the free drawing for a $100 gift certificate and other prizes. Free samples of many products will also be available while supplies last.

A NEW SHOPPING TRADITION CONTINUES

With the holidays just around the corner coupled with the state of our sagging economy, this special shop-at-home challenge, first made two years ago, bears renewing for one very good reason: it’s been taken to heart by a lot of folks and it has helped. Merchants repeatedly have told us last year and the year before it was very common for shoppers to tell them they were participating in the “challenge” to help bolster our local economy.

So here it is again:

If our newspaper readers each spent just $100 shopping at home this holiday season, it would pump more than $2 million into the Lassen County economy — and that’s based on a conservative average of just two readers per newspaper delivered each week.

It could be gifts from your favorite stores; maybe gift certificates from local restaurants, beauty salons, massage therapists, auto detailers or other service providers. How about having your vehicle serviced before making that holiday drive to be with out-of-area friends or relatives? If you did have it serviced with this campaign in mind, that too counts towards our goal.

You get the idea, just look around town thinking creatively outside the box. You’re sure to find something for someone special — even if that someone special is you!

LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN

There is a lot of holiday fun happening in Susanville this week. It's the kickoff of Santa's Sleigh Days with a special edition in today's paper. Be sure and browse through the special section to see what great things are happening at the local participating businesses. On Friday, you will find free hors d'oeuvres at those local businesses. Be sure and visit them all to win your share of a $500 shopping spree. It's a great way to start the Christmas holiday season, and our local businesses will certainly appreciate your shopping locally.

Beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, the Magical Country Christmas celebration begins in Uptown Susanville. Once again the Susanville Police Department will have Main Street blocked off to through traffic allowing for music and dance performances in the middle of the street. The Lassen County Arts Council hosts its annual Chocolate Festival beginning at 5 p.m., and the Elks Lodge offers its Taco Feed, also beginning at 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Santa's Grand Entrance Parade, tree lighting and fireworks will begin. All day that day you can bring your toy donations to the Toys for Tots drive held at the Elks Lodge from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The stores in the Uptown area will be open late for your holiday shopping convenience.

DONATIONS TO THE SENIOR BASKETS

The Lassen Modoc Food Bank is asking for canned and non-perishable food items for its Senior Christmas Baskets.These baskets will be distributed throughout many parts of the county.Containers are located at Golden One Credit Union, Plumas Bank, Bank of America and Lassen Federal Credit Union.They hope to make this a little better and brighter Christmas for many of our county’s senior residents.

CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS

Enjoy the fun under the moonlit skies as Westwood celebrates its 3rd annual Christmas in the Mountains, from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 2. The event will be held at the Westwood Community Center, Birch and 3rd streets. The festivities include booths of treats and crafts from local businesses and organizations, plus they will be lighting the town tree. There will be a light parade, good food, good fun and of course a visit from the jolly old guy himself, Santa. For more information or to have a booth or entry call the Westwood Chamber of Commerce at 256-2456.

Lori Cooley, of Lassen Women’s Network, is hosting an open house at Susanville Pizza Factory from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. Representatives from Miche Bags, Vault Denim, Cookies Lee Jewelry and Scentsy Candles will be there. There will be raffles and prizes. For more information go to lassenwomensnetwork.com or 251-6169.