The leaves are changing and thoughts soon will turn to the holiday season. That means the end of 2012 is fairly close at hand.

TRACY – The Tracy Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new sandwich shop.

The public is invited to meet with Mayor Garrad Marsh at Beyer High School’s Little Theatre, located at 1717 Sylvan Ave on August 4 from 10 a.m. till noon.

STOCKTON – A local economic development agency and an agency with a reputation for helping small- and mid-sized manufacturers meet the challenges of rapidly changing technology and global competition are teaming up to help local manufacturers.

STOCKTON – Two local companies earlier this week announced an all-new low-cost loan program created to finance energy improvements to existing homes in the area.

STOCKTON – A local mass transit district will be the second in the state to operate fully electric buses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Barrack Obama today signed legislation that will clear up a 14-year bureaucratic problem that had kept Tracy from going ahead with a solar energy project.

SACRAMENTO – A marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels with a plant in Stockton late last week reported its first quarter financial results.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill that will create jobs and give the city of Tracy a source of renewable energy passed the House today.

The sun continues to shine brightly on solar energy as a good investment for Central Valley businesses thanks to local utility rebates and low equipment costs, and despite the loss of some incentive programs.