Business Briefs: Dollar Tree joins toy drive for military kids

Local Dollar Tree stores have joined up with Operation Homefront for a holiday toy drive to collect gifts for military children.

Donated toys can be dropped off at a Dollar Tree store including at 1409 B St., Marysville, and 1460 Bridge St., Yuba City.

Operation Homefront provides emergency finanial and supportive assistance to military families nationwide. The organization's 2011 holiday toy drive collected more than 7 million toys nationwide.

For more information, visit operationhomefront.net/holidaytoys.

Dr. Kim joins North Valley group

US Air Force veteran Dr. Alex Kim has joined North Valley Gastroenterology Medical Group in Yuba City.

A physician in the Air Force, he trained in internal medicine at Wright-Patterson Medical Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and completed training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Kim and his wife have three children.

The medical group, at 870 Shasta St., includes Drs. Jon Marsh, Ken Chow and Siva Doma.

Farm Bureau classes offered on respirators

The Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau is hosting classes in mandatory respirator-use training, followed by fit testing.

Scheduled on Saturday, training begins at 8 a.m. in Spanish and at 1:30 p.m. in English at the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau 475 N. Palora Ave., Yuba City.

The cost is $30 per respirator. The courses are sponsored by MVP Consolidate.

Attendees must bring a respirator, valid medical clearance forms, payment and completed forms.

For more information, call 673-6550.

Growers education topic: Pesticide plastics recycling

A review of pesticide plastics recycling programs is the next topic in a series of growers continuing-education seminars sponsored by the Sutter County Agriculture Department and UC Cooperative Extension.

The seminar is slated from 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 28 at the Sutter County Ag Department, 142 Garden Highway, Yuba City.

For registration information, call 822-7503.

'Gifts of Love' program accepting hospice donations

Donations are being accepted for "Gifts of Love," a program allowing individuals to acknowledge loved ones and support Sutter North Hospice.

For each individual recognized, an ornament will be displayed from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31 on a "tree of love" at 440 Plumas Blvd. in Yuba City or the Brownsville Clinic, 16911 Willow Glen Road.

For more information, call 749-3424 or visit suttermedicalfoundation.org/snmg.

Cartoscelli senior project manager at Tri Counties

A Yuba City man has joined Tri Counties Bank as senior project manager, with the responsibility of developing services and strategies more tuned to what bank customers want.

Michael Cartoscelli, who previously was regional vice president with Sierra Central Credit Union, is an assistant coach for River Valley High School's varsity boys basketball team and a public address announcer at Yuba City High and River Valley High football games.

In a press release, Dan Bailey, Tri Counties Bank executive vice president of retail banking, said Cartoscelli brings 23 years of banking experience and the knowledge to meet changing, growing customer needs.

UCCE offering almond production classes

Courses in introduction to almond production in the south Sacramento Valley are being offered by UC Cooperative Extension.

The course is scheduled from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Granzella's banquet hall, 391 Sixth St., Williams; and Nov. 29 at Veterans Memorial Building, 1425 Memorial Circle, Yuba City.

Cost for the course is $30 per person. A light breakfast and lunch are included.

For more information or to register, call the UCCE Sutter-Yuba office at 822-7515 or visit cesutter .ucdavis.edu.

Qaderi is Rideout Health chief quality officer

Dr. Istikram Qaderi has been named senior vice president and chief quality officer for Rideout Health.

His responsibilities include planning and directing programs for patient safety and satisfaction; risk management; and compliance with state and federal regulations.

A former surgeon, he earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan, and his master's degree in professional studies and administration from Alfred University in New York state.

Qaderi previously served as a vice president of quality for Martin's Point Healthcare in Portland, Maine.