Photo for The Union by John Hart
The Green Light store at 257 Colfax Avenue in Grass Valley.

Grass Valley’s Green Light store up-cycles goods

Those in the market for a lamp made from a used brake rotor need look no further than a new business in Grass Valley. Green Light — Grass Valley’s newest furniture, lighting and accessories store — is a business based on up-cycling. The term up-cyc …

Photo for The Union by John Hart
Tom Head, owner of Abreu Gallery Picture Framers, works his magic in his South County workshop.

Owner strives to see big picture at ‘the little shop in the pines’

When it comes to framing art properly, it’s an intimate process, says Tom Head, who has 35 years of custom picture framing under his belt. Why? Because you’re framing something you love. That’s why Head feels it’s important to really dig deep — to fi …

Photo for The Union by John Hart
John O'Neill, artist and owner of "Game Whys: art and philosophy games for an emerging humanity" is pictured with Humanity, one of seven games, which will be featured 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Clavey Vineyards at 232 Commercial St. in Nevada City as part of a weekly game night.

Renowned artist, game designer to host game nights in Nevada City

While some games focus on violence and destruction, John O’Neill develops games to connect people and build a sense of community through emotions and consideration of others. “I think the role of art is to create a catalyst to keep people in touch …

Meet Your Merchant: Husband-wife team at Grass Valley’s True Grit Photography Studio

Talk about teamwork: Husband-wife team Sharon and Jim Beckett have been a successful duo in business and life for more than 25 years. After moving up from Southern California more than 18 years ago, the Becketts added a 1,000-square-foot photography …

Photo for The Union by John Hart
David Garcia, co-owner of Grass Valley Kenpo Family Karate at 640 East Main St. in Grass Valley teaches Sam Gilchrease during a group class Wednesday evening.

Karate class keeps family in mind

When you mix skilled movement with self-defense, you get a form of karate called Kenpo, something Grass Valley Kenpo Family Karate has offered for the past three years and will continue to offer in its new location. “We were working out of another m …

Photo courtesy of Cindy Zuelsdorf. Ensemble Designs received the Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit award at the National Associations of Broadcaster show for the BrightEye NXTCompact Router. (from left) Cindy Zuelsdorf, marketing czar at Ensemble Designs, Susan Anderson, managing editor at Broadcast Engineering, Mondae Hott, director of sales at Ensemble Designs and David Wood, president and chief design engineer at Ensemble Designs.

Nevada County companies win awards at National Association of Broadcasters show

Lights, camera and a whole lot of technological action were unleashed in Las Vegas last month for the National Association of Broadcasters show. Multiple local broadcasting agencies received awards for their products, which were shown and judged by …

Photo for The Union by John Hart

David VanZant, physical therapist, and Neva Walasek, physical therapy aid, are shown .Burger Physical Therap's new location at 857 Sutton Way, Grass Valley.

Burger physical therapy changes locations, hosts open house

Burger Physical Therapy will host an open house Thursday at its new location at 857 Sutton Way in Grass Valley. The event will include a walking tour of the new office, a prize raffle and refreshments. “It’s a walk-through to check out the clinic an …

Photo for The Union by John Hart
Lori Largent the owner of the S.O.A.P. (Save Our Ailing Planet) soap store. 104 Argall Way Nevada City. Lori Largent making organic Eucalyptus Salt Scrub.

Going green to clean: Nevada City’s S.O.A.P. takes enviro-friendly approach

Like most environmentally conscious people, Lori Largent was shocked when she first learned about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Truly the stuff of nightmares, the patch — also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex — is an enormous accumulation of non- …

Photo for The Union by John Hart
Margo Murphy, owner of The Artist Workshop, assists Caitlin Royston, and Ava Herrenkohl.

Fun at any age

Several years ago, Margo Murphy visited a Marin County art studio so she could make hand prints with her young daughter. She loved the concept of the drop-in, create-your-own-art studio and began researching the idea of opening a similar business her …