A new session of the Green Building Professional Certificate Program offered by Longview Education Associates and the Redwood Empire Chapter of the US Green Building Council begins July 11 at Autodesk in San Rafael.

Charter Oak Bank is holding a special Relay For Life barbecue fundraiser, Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in front of the bank at 600  Trancas St.

The Napa Valley College Business Boot Camp is being offered to high school and college students, ages 14-27.

Carrier Corp., a unit of United Technologies Corp., announced that Bell Products Inc. of Napa has been awarded the Carrier 2009 President’s Award, one of the company’s highest honors for its dealers.

Before starting Reich & Associates Business Services, Lori Reich was taking care of another kind of business — kids. For 10 years, beginning in the mid-90s, she ran a family daycare center out of her Napa home. 

Hiring your first employee can be overwhelming, almost as overwhelming as laying off an employee. Many small business owners don’t know where to begin and what they must cover to avoid potential legal and financial liabilities. Most of the critical steps are listed below, but I would encourage all businesses owners when hiring or downsizing to be aware of the risks.

An e-mail from a fellow associate this past week seemed to make a lot of common sense in a time when it could appear least appropriate. With national unemployment nearing    10 percent and an economy struggling to emerge from recession, the focus on survival leaves little room to consider the role that happiness might play in your personal or company business plan.

The Little Engine That Could had to push pretty hard against gravity and perceptual obstacles. Outside of children’s bedtime books, heroic locomotives pull their weight to a higher standard of air quality. Old diesel-powered engines out there right now are chanting in several languages, “I think I can convert, I think I can convert, I think I can convert.” To what?

Dear Len & Rosie, Mother passed away two months ago. We just found the deed to the house. All five names were on the deed — mom and the four kids. When we sell the house do we have to pay capital gains tax? If so how much? - Judy

Every once in a while, I see an Internet posting that is entertaining and full of wisdom. A friend sent me one written by Regina Brett, a columnist in Cleveland, Ohio’s Plain Dealer, who had just turned 50. She listed 45 lessons of life, plus five to grow on, which I have reduced to the ones with business applications.