Small-business Happenings for December 5, 2012

Mary Kay re-launches gift-giving program 

Local Mary Kay consultants have caught the Christmas spirit again this year, mounting another campaign to give gifts to people confined to local retirement homes.

Mary Kay Sales Director Deena Reed said she and her colleagues are soliciting $25 donations. Each donation will be used to buy a Christmas present for a shut-in. Deena said the Mary Kay people will deliver gifts to facilities throughout the county.

Reed said that during its inaugural run last year, the program yielded presents for more than 60.

“It’s a family event for us, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Mary Kay sells beauty products through a nationwide network of consultants.

People wishing to make a donation to the local gift program should contact Reed at 541-786-5479.

Porter takes over at Blue Turtle 

The Blue Turtle Gallery at 1124 Adams Ave. has a new owner in Sharon Porter, a retired Eastern Oregon University professor who has served on the City of La Grande’s arts commission and is a current member of the ArtsEast board.

The Blue Turtle sells fine arts for local artists who work in a broad variety of mediums. Artists from Union, Wallowa, Baker and Umatilla counties consign their work at the store, which is staffed by volunteers.

Porter, who has experience in farm business, has taken over leadership of the store from Sandy Young, a local businesswoman who formerly owned Sandy’s Fashions and ran the Blue Turtle the last three and a half years.

Porter said her technology and library science skills will help the gallery move from paper to electronic inventory and accounting. Upcoming changes will include an electronic point-of-sale system.

Porter said that in January, landlord Eric Laurence will be renovating the inside windows of the gallery to restore it to its original beauty.

During December, the Blue Turtle will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Regular hours remain 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Bingaman takes in Kubota conference

Greg Bingaman of Pioneer West in La Grande  recently attended Kubota Tractor Corporation’s national dealer meeting in Dallas, Texas.

The gathering marked Kubota’s 40th anniversary of doing business in the United States. More than 1,000 dealers from across the country joined together to celebrate the milestone and receive a first look at all 2013 product enhancements.

During the meeting, Bingaman attended field demonstrations and classroom sessions, gaining hands on operator experience with Kubota’s products.

Torrance, Calif-based Kubota Tractor Corporation is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-branded products.