Business

Tucked away in a small room in Comfortable Home in Kittredge is an earth-friendly shop called Bella Vita, which sells products for bath, bed, baby, gifts and home décor.

Owners Brent and Michele Culp believe that being green can be both accessible and beautiful.

The store “has been a dream of mine for a long time,” said Michele Culp. “In turn, it’s helping (Comfortable Home) have new products.” Bella Vita opened in mid-January.

As we look at our financial mess, and the billions of our taxpayer dollars going to what we now call large banks, I can’t help trying to figure out how in the world we got here. These large institutions were on the verge of failure because they lent millions to people who didn’t have appropriate credit worthiness. So our Congress and our president gave them billions to “keep the banking system” operating. Many are continuing to pay huge salaries and bonuses with our money. What makes them think that anyone in their failed operations deserves one cent of our money?

Usually, receiving a gift doesn’t generate controversy. Well then, why is the stimulus package Congress approved not receiving overwhelming support from all of us citizens? Perhaps it’s because we can’t understand or support the way the politicians came up with it.

Rustic Point furniture and gift store had a great 2008 and is expecting 2009 to go just as well.

“We had a great year,” said owner Sara MacBean of the store, which is in the HONKA building in the El Rancho Town Center. “Truly, I think a large part is that we had our first full year in this location.” The store had been located on Meadow Drive.

MacBean says the store has created a following of customers, who stop in to see the furniture, gift items and home accessories. She said people are always coming in to see what’s new.