Covered California, the State insurance exchange, announced 13 diverse health insurance plans that will be available in January 2014, State wide. The tenative selection of health plans is subject to a rate review by the state regulators.

The rates submitted for review for the 2014 individual market ranged from two percent above, to 29% below, the 2013 average premium for small employer plans in California’s most populous regions. The 2014 products include doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays including a maximum out of poket cost of $6,350.

Once plans are approved by state regulators, Covered California will sign contracts and begin the work of enrolling hundreds of thousands of Californians in the plans. In the Riverside, San Bernardino areas only five plans will be available for individual policies, including, Kaiser, Health Net, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Molina Healthcare.

Every health plan designed a custom network for Covered California. Negotiations included a review of each plan’s rates, their mix of hospitals, physicians and other providers and their contingency plans for expanding networks in the event that more consumers sign up than expected.

The current list of insurers is for individual policies only. Covered California will announce its options for small businesses to buy health insurance

On Saturday, June 22, Chamber guests headed out on the streets of downtown Redlands taste test some of the finest fare offered by local eateries. The third annual Cruisin Cruisine had attendees feasting on pasta and drunken chicken at the Chamber, offered by The Old Spaghetti Factory and Benjarong Thai Cuisine, then right around the corner to the Restaurant of Joe Greensleeves where the delights of tasting were treated to savory of delights, then it was off to Romano’s Family Italian Restaurant, a stop at Rok.n.Fondu for a glass of wine, bruschetta then a visit to the chocolate station. Attendees could wander in any direction they wanted so it was a left turn to Wildflowers Fiori de Campo, who hosted Brewcakes that served up the sweet scent of spring bouquets along with the tasty cupcakes. Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant offered a variety of bite size burritos will all the fixings and Savarino’s Italian Deli created a masterpiece of Italian salad with mouthwatering unforgettable meatballs. The Lounge 22, unveiled a brilliant melon gazpacho and slow roasted pork that left you wanting more if only you had enough room. But Eureka Burger was waiting with made to order sliders and fries and Corner Bakery & Cafe topped you off with their Cavatappi with Chicken and Pesto sauce and their signature Baby cakes.

Each guest had a passport signed at every restaurant that was turned into the Chamber office at the end of the evening making them eligible for the grand prized, an I-Pad and case, donated by Whitefrog Design. The drawing took place Monday morning and Brian Swann was the lucky winner.

“This is a homerun event for the Chamber and our restaurants”. said Chamber President, Daney Bachiu, Redlands Blueprint. “We are able to showcase many of the amazing dining facilities we have in Redlands. We heard over and over from those participating that they didn’t know about one or more of the restaurants and plan to go back for lunch or dinner. Mission accomplished! Our thanks to all the restaurants that participated in the cruise… and to all the cruisers that were treated to an epicurean extravaganza.”

Welcome to our newest Chamber Members:

June – the gateway to summer, children are out of school, vacations are being planned and I am half way through my presidency.  Wow! How fast the time is going.

I like June. There is a feeling of joyful anticipation, a throwback I’m sure, to the last day of school.  June temperatures are not yet the blistering heat of July and August. June 21st has the longest day light hours of the year. (California’s 8:30 PM dusk has nothing on Saskatchewan’s 10:00 PM).  June 22 is also the Redlands Chamber of Commerce “Cruisin’ Cuisine”. We have 10 great restaurants ready to serve up a sampling of their finest cuisine.  This event also affords you the opportunity to walk around our beautiful downtown area, something a lot of us don’t do too often. It is a wonderful way to share Redlands with out-of-town guest, family and friends. If gourmet eating and easy entertaining appeals to you, then Cruisin’ Cuisine is the event you won’t want to miss. Hurry and purchase your tickets before they are sold out!

If Paula Abdul’s song “What have you done for me lately” keeps running through your head, then you need to attend the Redlands Chamber of Commerce State of the Community Luncheon, June 19, 2013, at Orton Center, University of Redlands.  Redlands Mayor, Pete Aguilar and his fellow Council Members will talk about what has been accomplished this last year and what they hope to accomplish in the future. There will be a question/answer period after the presentations. The luncheon is always a sellout, so get your tickets soon.  Contact the Chamber office at 909-793-2546.

The Wall Street Journal reports “it is clear the Federal Govt. is not shrinking, but continuing to grow”. Instead of cutting jobs as threatened with any kind of budget cuts, the Federal Government is in the market for 27,000 employees with a median salary of $76,000 and one quarter of those jobs paying $110,000. The job postings include the critically needed bartenders, wait staff, Bowling Alley Managers and a Recreation Facilities Manager in Hawaii. (I think I will apply for this one.)

The Federal Government is clearly out of control and has no intention of listening to the voice of “We the People” or doing anything for the good of the country if it won’t get them re-elected. If state and federal government truly believe that small businesses are the backbone of America, why do they keep trying to break our backs?

So, what can we do? We can become VERY active and VERY vocal. Join your local chamber of commerce and become an active part of it.  Make sure your chamber interacts with other chambers, as there is power in numbers. Make sure to flex that power at election time.  Right now, call, write and email your elected representatives OFTEN. Question why they voted the way they did, in other words, MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE. From a National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) survey; 66% of Americans surveyed, think that small business exerts a positive influence on the way things are going in the country today.  Of the 8 institutions evaluated only science and technology fared better with the remaining such as federal government and labor unions lagging badly.

Until next month, when things are really popping, enjoy your June.

It’s food, it’s fun, It’s Cruisin’ Cuisine, Saturday, June 22, 6:00 PM to 8:30 in downtown Redlands. Visit 10 of Redlands finest and in some cases newest restaurants to taste the very best of what Redlands has to offer in the culinary arts. Check at the Chamber office at 5:30 where you will trade your ticket for a wrist band then off you go in any direction and being the grazing. Savor delicacies from Brewcakes, Corner Bakery, Eureka Burgers, Joe Greensleeves Restaurant, Oscar’s Mexican Food, Rok n Fondue Romano’s Italian Restaurant, Saverino’s Deli, The Lounge 22, Benjarong Thai Cuisine and The Old Spaghetti Factory.

All restaurants are within walking distance in downtown. For those not in the downtown area they will be hosted by downtown businesses including Wildflowers Fiori Di Campo on State Street.

If that weren’t enough during the feasting tasters will be asked to have his or her “gastronomic passport” signed by each restaurant making them eligible to win an Apple I-Pad donate by Whitefrog Designs.

Bring the family, bring your friends bring your taste buds and once again be treated to the fabulous flavors of Redlands restaurants. For more information or to purchase tickets to Cruisin’ Cuisine call the Chamber office at 793-2546.