| Published October 23rd, 2013 | business briefs | | ![](../issue0717/images/0717-02101.jpg) | Jennifer Lenfestey, Rheem Valley Pet Shoppe. Photo Sophie Braccini
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Jennifer Lenfestey Takes Over the Rheem Valley Pet Shoppe
388 Park St., Moraga
(925) 376-8399
At the beginning of October, the Rheem Valley Pet Shoppe changed ownership when Jorge Quintero sold his longtime business to store manager Jennifer Lenfestey. "I plan to continue to run the store with the same types of products and expand the inventory across the board by 25 percent," says Lenfestey, who was Quintero's employee for 17 years and the Moraga store manager for six. She also re-hired Carolyn Green who is a very active member of East Bay Rabbit Rescue. "We are expanding our business, offering small rescue animals," says Lenfestey, adding that rabbits will be available at the store, as well as guinea pigs and gerbils. "You might even see lizards and an occasional Leopard gecko," she adds with a smile. The store will continue to carry fish, and aquarium plant choices should grow. "We are also adding new lines of dog toys, new rabbit bedding," she adds, "and we will start a new frequent buyer program soon." The pet shop will renew its involvement with the community and the schools, such as Canyon School's eight-week internship program for middle schoolers.
Quintero continues to own and manage the Lafayette Pet Shoppe at 3517 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
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Klein Gallery Opens Across From Chow
50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette
The new Klein Gallery is opening in the space formerly occupied by the Lafayette Art Gallery (which moved to Mt. Diablo Blvd. next to Bo's Barbecue and Artisan Bistro). The building is also home to The Art Room studio, which offers art classes to teens, adults, and children; not really a coincidence, since both are owned by Carrie Klein.
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SmileLABS Dealer Opens in Lafayette
3483 Golden Gate Way, Ste. 16, Lafayette
(925) 826-6463
www.mysmilelabs.com/yourperfectsmile/
This month, after seeing the SmileLABS teeth whitening business on the east coast and extensively studying the products and company, business owner Teresa Ketterman decided to become a Lafayette dealer. The SmileLABS system combines a higher concentration of peroxide gel with the use of a strong, safe wavelength of blue LED light as an accelerator or catalyst to the teeth bleaching reaction. This provides a much shorter time of contact between gel and tooth that increases the bleaching efficiency of the gel and shortens treatment time by a large factor, while keeping the process mostly free from sensitivity, the company states. On her website, Ketterman advertises a 15 minute treatment time. The store is opened Monday and Tuesday in a private room located in the salon on Golden Gate Way.
Kaur Photography Becomes Bright Baby Photography
3538 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette
(415) 810-8615, brightbabyphotography.com
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Gurpreet Kaur is now offering newborn portrait sessions in her newly remodeled studio.
For the last several years, the professional photographer has specialized in wedding photography, but recently decided to change the direction of her studio with a focus on newborn portraits - a photograph taken in a baby's first 10 days of life. "This is a momentous time for a new life, and a portrait captures their innocence, almost as if they are still in the womb," says Kaur, who tries to captures an infant's perfect temperament with endearing, 'au naturel' poses during a session that can last approximately 3 to 4 hours. Up to five family members can also be in the portraits and a variety of photography props are available.
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Daljit Singh Named Moraga Employee of the Month
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From left: Harry Singh, Daljit Singh and Nora Avelar.
Photo provided
Popular Mountain Mike's Pizza manager Daljit Singh has been named Moraga's Employee of the Month for September. Singh has served as owner Harry Singh's right hand man since it opened in 2005. He works six days a week and greets most of his customers by first name when they arrive. "Daljit is a big reason for our success here in Moraga," said owner Harry Singh. "He not only is reliable and trustworthy, but knows all of our customers and they really like seeing his familiar and friendly face when they come in to enjoy our pizzas." The Moraga Rotary and Chamber of Commerce will award Singh a gift card to Safeway as well as a gift certificate to TJ Maxx in Moraga, which will be presented at the Moraga Rotary luncheon Nov. 5.
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Construction Place Becomes Ponta - Offers New Services
(925) 324-4718
Moraga resident Gary Westernoff, who began offering integrated online tools to property managers, real estate and construction professionals a few years ago with Construction Place, has changed the business name to Ponta, while improving the online functionality, and adding mobile device capabilities. A new software offering on Ponta is called PropertyAndProjects.com, which makes it easy to digitize, manage, share, and archive information for owned or managed property(s) and their respective projects and/or improvements while always being in control of the content. Westernoff also added a travel company to Ponta's service offerings. Tabitours.com facilitates group tours to and from Japan, weddings in Hawaii, and offers liaison services between businesses in Japan and the United States.
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News from the Three Chambers of Commerce
Tonight! The Orinda, Lafayette and Moraga chambers join together to kick off the California Independent Film Festival from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 in the lobby of the Orinda Theatre. In addition to networking, hear about and preview some of the films that will be screened at this year's festival.
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Lafayette
Ribbon Cutting at California Human Resources LLC at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at 201 Lafayette Circle, Suite 200.
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Trick-or-Treat Street on Oct. 25 (see article page A3). For a fun, safe Halloween event, children and their parents are invited to trick-or-treat on Mt. Diablo Boulevard from Oak Hill Road to Dewing Avenue and in La Fiesta Square from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. All participating businesses will display a "Trick-or-Treat" poster and balloons. Please come in costume to receive a special treat. Then head over to the Plaza for a costume contest and a special viewing of "Ghostbusters" at 6:30 p.m.
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The 21st Annual Reservoir Run includes a choice of races and fun for all levels of difficulty to fit all ages on Sunday, Oct. 27. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. with staggered start times beginning at 8 a.m. with a two mile fun run/walk, and 5K and 10K certified runs. Registration is required, either online at register.bazumedia.com/reg/form?eventID=3516, or at the chamber office at 100 Lafayette Circle.
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Moraga
Membership meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at the Hacienda de las Flores. Roger Poynts will discuss his project for the 'painted rock' property.
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Save the dates: Nov. 19 Mixer at the Barn hosted by Canyon Construction and Dec. 10 Holiday Party hosted by Moraga Royale.
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Orinda
Orinda Chamber Member Luncheon at noon Friday, Oct. 25 at the Orinda Country Club with guest speaker FBI Agent Joy Mihara-Meer, who will discuss "Spear Phishing," cyber attack on small businesses, your parents and your children. For tickets and reservations, go to OrindaChamber.org.
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