Everybody’s business

This is the Sound
Sound Source, one of Chico’s main retailers of music gear for the past nine years, is changing its tune.

Last week the store officially launched its Web site and new business model, www.soundsource.com.

Sales and marketing manager Brian Fredson said the business began consolidating its physical inventory last week and will now be open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays only.

However, customers will be able to come in during the week on an appointment basis. Fredson said this will allow individual and commercial clients such as bands and churches to test out gear without distractions.

“They can come in, and they don’t have to hear the young guy playing every AC/DC cover,” Fredson said.

He said changes in the business, the industry and economy were factors in shifting to the new format. Fredson added that Sound Source will now be able to capture both in-store and online shoppers who can receive items in as little as 24 hours.

Golden opportunities
One of Chico’s many tanning salons, Cabo Sun Tanning, is under new ownership.

Kerry Steinle took over the 542 Broadway shop on Nov. 1. She said that, while this is her first time managing a business, she’s received plenty of training from observing her mom Janet Owen, who ran Blondie’s restaurant in Paradise for 23 years.

“There are a lot of things you don’t learn in school,” Steinle said.

Although she wanted to open up her own salon, she said she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take over the already established business, which opened in 1999.

Beginning in January the salon will be offering a year-long special for those looking to maintain that natural-looking bronze and set themselves apart from us pasty faces.

A good catch
Former major league catcher Mark Parent has been hired as the manager for Chico’s charter baseball team. Parent played 13 years in the Bigs with seven clubs, including the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the excitement in Chico this summer and helping the Golden Baseball League get off to a successful start,” Parent said in a press release.

Parent managed the Lancaster Jethawks, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ single-A affiliate, and led them to a franchise-best 89-51 and a California League playoff appearance in 2000.

Cold cash
I go to Durst Theatre at Chico Junior High School every two weeks, where the district’s Campus Consolidation Committee meets to discuss the possibility of closing schools in an effort to save the district $900,000.

While we sit in this cold room listening to discussions about budgets and saving money, some sort of cooling or heating system is rattling at full power while the doors to the theater are propped wide open.

My dad used to yell at me when I’d leave the door open. “I’m not trying to heat the entire town!” he would tell me.

Shutting the doors won’t make a dent in that $1 million monstrosity. I just thought it was amusing that, while we’re discussing something as touchy as school closure, a simple energy and money saving measure has gone out the window. Maybe I should sic my old man on them.