Business: Marty’s Motors Owner: Marty Kaliski Age: “My age is 66. Everybody says I look like I’m about 55.” Kaliski took time out to talk with Patch in a busy day that started at 7 a.m. and included a Rotary Club luncheon, where he presides as club president. When we arrived, he was sitting at his desk with Sam, the shop dog, who decided to say hello before lying back down on his big doggie bed (which has been granted a significant portion of the office space.) How long have you been working with cars? I’ve been doing this for about 45 years now. How long have you owned your spot in El …

Business: Rainbow Orchards Employee: Michelle Livingston, 39 Approaching the Rainbow Orchards farm stand at the El Cerrito Plaza Farmer’s Market was a delight to the eyes. Green apples were stacked high in bins and customers were stopping frequently to taste a sample of a rich, sweet apple cider that also was for sale. Livingston was busy, with a smile on her face, taking time to make sure to offer samples to everyone who stopped by. How long have you been working for Rainbow Orchards? Eleven years. How long have you been coming to the El Cerrito market? Our farm has been coming for probably …

Business: R&R Auto Service Employee: Harjit Singh, 27, manager On our visit to R&R Towing, we found a couple of mechanics hard at work in the garage and out front, rigging tow trucks and working on various models of cars. A customer came in to drop off a Chevy Blazer and Singh took his time to patiently explain the services. The customer left in good spirits, and we took that opportunity to find out more about this long-standing local business near the El Cerrito Plaza. R&R has been here for how long? In this location since 1994, in business since 1986. Were all the previous locations in El …

Business: Semifreddi’s Employee: Dan Holzer, 40, interim retail manager When we went to interview Holzer at the tiny flagship Semifreddi’s café in Kensington, employees behind the counter were helping a customer purchase from a selection of fresh baked goods and coffee while another customer sat outside enjoying a pastry. What’s your job description at Semifreddi’s? I’m the interim retail manager. I do other things at the bakery, but the current retail manager is out on maternity leave. What’s your normal role when you’re not covering for your coworker? I was recently rehired. I worked for …

Business: Roong Jing Jing Owner: Jerasak Sarakul, 56 How long has your store been here? We’ve been here a couple of years, but before we moved in here, we had a store in Ranch 99. How do you like El Cerrito? Oh, I love El Cerrito. I’ve been a resident of El Cerrito for more than twenty years. I don’t want to move to any other city. I've gotten used to it. Where did you live before El Cerrito? Daly City. You specialize in Thai products? Yes. And music, drama, movies from Thailand and Thai grocery. Have you ever lived in Thailand? Yes, yes. When you were little? Oh yes. Do you ever go visit? …

Business: Abbey Carpet & Floor in El Cerrito Name: Avel Martinez, 34 How long have you been in business here? Ron (Codron) has owned this store for 38 years in July. What should locals in El Cerrito know about your business? That we’re locally owned and run, and have been for 38 years. We offer the service of a smaller store with the buying power of much larger stores. Because Abbey Carpet is part of a nationwide chain, we can negotiate better pricing. What do I not know about carpet that I should know? (laughs) It really depends on what you know about carpet. A lot of people believe that …

Business: El Cerrito Martial ArtsOwner:  Cody Wilson, 34 Can you describe your business? I am the owner and primary instructor at El Cerrito Martial Arts academy. We mainly teach the Gracie Brazilian style of jiu-jitsu, known as one of the world's most effective and fastest growing martial arts. We have classes for kids, teens, adults, and even a family class where kids and parents can practice together. We also have a Muay Thai kickboxing program with classes for fitness or self-defense taught by a certified trainer. Can you describe Brazilian jiu-jitsu? How does it differ from other forms …

Organization: Contra Costa Civic Theatre Employees: Daren A.C. Carollo, managing director, 34, and Derrick Silva, artistic director, 47 How long have you two been involved with Contra Costa County Civic Theatre? Daren: I came here to direct for the musical Forever Plaid in 2002, and I’ve been here ever since. I’ve served as the director, as a board member, as the associate artistic and finally as the managing director.  And you mentioned that once you start working for the theatre you don’t ever want to leave? Daren: You can’t leave. It’s interesting—the group of people is so welcoming and …

Business: The Arlington Co-owner: Trish McDermott, 43 (with husband Marc LaJoie) Tell me a bit about the background of The Arlington? We opened five years ago. We live right across the street. I’d worked in advertising at The Gap for ten years, Marc was working in the medical industry up in Napa. We have three small kids, and we were like, “Why are we commuting so far?” The opportunity came up to buy Shai’s (a former catering business). I knew Marc was at some point going to get into a cooking restaurant or a bed-and-breakfast kind of thing—it just seemed to be right there, so we did it. We …

Business: Nan Phelps Photography Studio Owner: Nan Phelps May I ask your age? Let's just say that I have four decades of young art school graduates nipping at my heels. How did you get into photography? I was going to be a doctor, until I went to get the cell off of the frog and it kicked back. I dropped my medical career. All of my notebooks were always covered with drawings, and I thought if I majored in art, I would have a skill when I graduated from college, and maybe I could actually do something. Back then, photography was not really considered art. It was separate, way down with the …

Business: YStudio Photography  Owner: Barbara Yasuhara Editor's note: Yasuhara responded to questions via email.Do you work with a partner in your business?  Yes my life long partner and husband, Wayne Yasuhara. What is your history in El Cerrito? I have a short but wonderful history so far. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with many business owners here, one being Mark Canepa of The Village Shops and Galleries in El Cerrito, who gracefully offered me a space to shoot on occasions when I (need the) use of a studio. Mainly, I am a lifestyle photographer. My studio sessions are …

Business: The Fuse Fitness Independent Contractor: Jennifer Lynch, 39 You work at The Fuse in Kensington—where else do you work? I'm a personal trainer and a group fitness instructor. I work at The Fuse, I also work for myself as a trainer and I work at a restaurant part-time, just until I can get into fitness full-time. When did you start pursuing fitness? I’ve always been a big gym buff and an athlete, but the social lifestyle and atmosphere of the restaurant business got the better of me for a while. A couple of years ago I decided that I needed to make a few changes. I decided to get …

Business: Tati’s Family Daycare Owner: Tatiana Pereira, 47 How long have you been working out of your daycare business in El Cerrito? We moved here in 2001, but I was doing the daycare before in Albany. When we bought this house, we moved here and I started working in El Cerrito. It’s great. I like my house, I like the city, it’s fun. The only thing I would change would be having more (accessible) parks.  How many kids do you usually sit? My license is for 12, but I only have four, because, I would need a helper to work. It’s nice to have a helper, but at the same time it’s kind of stressful …

Name: Jennie and James Koo Age: “Rather not say, because people will think, ‘Oh, they are old!’” Occupation: Owners of Great American Dry Cleaners in El Cerrito Plaza How long have you owned this shop? Jennie: Since 1990, May. James: (Looks at me) How old were you at the time? (laughs) My daughter was 6 months old. What made you decide to open the shop? James: She’s very good at sewing … Jennie: And also friends of ours owned cleaners here and there. We were visiting them and we saw them working and went, “Oh, uh-huh, OK!” (laughs) And you have a lot of the same customers that have been …

Name:  Herbert W. Foley Age: 90 Occupation: Owner of Foley & Bonny How long have you had your store here in the plaza? I've been in business 66 years. We've been in the Plaza since the Plaza started: the Plaza was built in '58. We came the next year after they had completed part of it, and then they built what they called Building C, which was right across from Capwell's.  Did you grow up in Albany? Yes. I went to Albany schools. ... I went to Marin (elementary school) and Cal. Do you have any favorite memories of growing up around this area? (laughs) Albany was a small town. Everybody knew …