New Frontiers sponsors monthly donations

New Frontiers Natural Marketplace has been helping its customers get into the holiday spirit with two events this month. On Dec. 11 the store hosted a blood drive with the Blood Mobile in its parking lot at 1984 Old Mission Drive, Solvang, during the middle of the day. Currently the store donates five percent of its total sales to local nonprofit agencies on the third Wednesday of every month.

December’s recipient is People Helping People, a group working to help residents of the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos, and the Gaviota Coast. As part of the seasonal giving, New Frontiers also hosted a food drive to benefit community members in need.

In addition to helping with the five percent donation for its monthly non-profit groups, the store accepts cash contributions, which are given directly to the non-profit agency. For more information, contact Amy Derryberry at 693-1746.

 

 

Lompoc music store to close

Morninglory Music, Lompoc, will close its doors at the end of December after 13 years of business. The retail outlet in Santa Barbara will remain open. Stan Bernstein, owner, said that technological advances have been hard on the music industry, especially with the development of iTunes and iPods.

The store, initially located near Albertsons, moved to a site near Vons in 1999 and to its present site in 2005 at 720 North H St., formerly a Wherehouse outlet. Bernstein said over the years the principal customers were people between 30 and 50 years of age. He said compact discs now sell at discount rates because the store has to compete with music download options and online services.

 

 

Farm Bureau selects officers

Doug Mosebar, Santa Ynez, was reelected to serve as president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. The unanimous vote came during the group’s 89th annual meeting in Sparks, Nev. Initially elected in 2005, Mosebar has served on the organization since 1989 when he was elected second vice president.

He said the group will work for state and federal policies to allow California ranchers and family farmers to provide safe, affordable food and farm products for consumers. A farmer in the Santa Ynez Valley, Mosebar grows squash, flowers, pumpkins, and hay and raises cattle on his ranch. His property also is the setting for television commercials and Hollywood films.

Formerly a president of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau, Mosebar will be assisted by Paul Wengar, first vice president, and Kenny Watkins, second vice president. Wengar, Modesto, grows almonds and walnuts, and Watkins, Linden, Calif., raises beef cattle, alfalfa, tomatoes, walnuts and hay. The Federation has 91,000 members statewide and lobbies to protect family farms and ranches.

 

Car wash under construction in Buellton

Buellton’s newest business, Quick and Clean Car Wash, is expected to be completed in April, 2008, according to a spokesman for Naran Construction, Inc., Santa Maria, general contractor. The project, started last summer, includes a ride-through express wash with four self-service wash bays. The owner is Jason Prather, San Luis Obispo, who also owns a similar service in that region. The business is located on Highway 246 near the Central Avenue intersection.