Mac gets second chocolate shop

Bill and Jewel Carnett of Amity have opened Tamami Chocolates in the space at 250 N.E. Third St., home of the Anthony Dell Cellars winetasting room.

The couple moved to the area from Arizona and began building a home. They surveyed possible food businesses and eventually settled on chocolate.

Jewel, a chocolatier, has spent time in French culinary programs focusing on the French style of chocolate and pastry making.

She said she is handmaking her chocolates in a commercial kitchen in their home, using high-quality ingredients. She said she is using local products - berries, hazelnuts and wine, particularly - as much as possible.

Bob said towns in France, where Jewel studied, often support four or five chocolate shops. So McMinnville ought to be able to support two.

Tamami is the second, joining Honest Chocolates on McMinnville's tourist-driven Third Street. Honest Chocolates also has outlets in Carlton and Newberg.

"Tastes here are different than in Europe," Bob said. "It's learning what's enjoyed here."

Initially, their biggest seller has been orange caramel crunch. Other products include dark chocolate covered almonds, a chewy caramel-filled chocolate with merlot sea salt, Oreo cookies dipped in dark chocolate and even a treat for dogs made to human standards.

They also serve European-style hot chocolate and several types of cookies.

The business did a soft opening in February. Hours are noon to five Thursday and Sunday and noon to six Friday and Saturday.

The couple said they have gotten a wonderful reception.

The winery operates Wednesday through Sunday, taking two days off instead of three. In addition, the space is shared with Abbie and Oliver's artisan cheese outlet.

The couple's son, Christian, helped with graphics. He was also responsible for suggesting the name, tapping his mother's middle name, and his wife, Nozomi, is helping out in the shop.

Jewel can be reached at 503-298-9427.

:STIEBER RESIGNATION

Tim Stieber, executive director of the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District, is leaving to take a division director position in Todd County, Minn. That will put Stieber, who joined the agency in 1999, much closer to family in Wisconsin.

A public opportunity to honor Stieber for his years of work in Yamhill County will be offered during the community's annual Earth Day celebration, slated to run 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Miller Woods, 15580 Orchard View Road in McMinnville.

The district is in the process of recruiting a replacement. For more information, call 503-472-6403.

:ANGELL ACQUISITION

McMinnville-based Betty Lou's has announced the acquisition of Angell Organic Candy Bars, a company they have been supplying under contract.

"Everyone at Betty Lou's has always loved Angell Bars, and we're very excited to add them to our delicious products," said company founder and CEO Betty Lou Carrier.

"These bars are organic and all-natural, and that is important to us. We are looking forward to introducing the bars to an even wider audience."

Angell Bars was founded in 2008 by the husband and wife team of Christopher and Suzanne Angell, who longed for the candy bars of their childhood without sacrificing quality. Since its formal launch two years ago, the company had won places for its product in more than 700 stores around the country.

:SCAM ALERT

Attorney General John Kroger has issued an alert for individuals purporting to be tax preparers without possessing appropriate experience or credentials.

Scam preparers use a number of fraudulent tactics, including manipulating figures to claim inflated expenses, false deductions, unallowable credits or excessive exemptions.

When fraud is detected, it is the taxpayer, not the preparer, who suffers the ramifications. That can include paying additional taxes, plus interest and penalties.

Under both state and federal law, all paid tax preparers must have a personal tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service and use it on the returns they prepare. In Oregon, they must also be licensed by the state board of tax practitioners.

To report a tax preparation scam, call the Oregon Department of Justice consumer hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or the board of tax practitioners at 503-378-4034.

:STERN PRESENTATION

Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Stern will be the featured speaker at a noon luncheon meeting of the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce on Monday, April 9. The luncheon will be held at the Friendsview Springbrook Meadows Community Center, 4061 Hayes St. in Newberg.

The cost is $15 for those who pre-register with the chamber by Friday, April 6. It will be $18 at the door.

To reserve a seat, call 503-538-2014 or e-mail kassie@chehalemvalley.org.

:DISASTER RELIEF

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Yamhill County residents and businesses affected by the severe winter storm system of Jan. 17-21. The loans will be distributed through the U.S. Small Business Association.

Also eligible are those residing in the counties of Clackamas, Jefferson, Linn, Marion and Polk.

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center has been opened at the MAPS Credit Union, located at 4615 Commercial St. SE in Salem. It will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 9, through Friday, April 13, plus Thursday, April 19.

Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Both renters and homeowners are also eligible for up to $30,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. Interest rates will range from 2.063 to 4.0 percent, with amounts and terms to be established by the SBA on a case-by-case basis.

Online applications can be made at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. For more information, call 1-800-659-2955 (general) or 1-800-877-8339 (hearing impaired), or visit disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

:GREETERS EVENTS

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce has a greeters slated for 8:15 to 9 a.m. Friday at Mac Toyota, 3142 N.E. Doran Drive. Participants are asked to donate $1 or more for the weekly door prize drawing.

Newberg's Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce has one scheduled for 8 to 9 a.m. Friday at Velour, 109 N. Blaine St.

Molly Walker, the News-Register's business editor, can be reached at mwalker@newsregister.com or 503-687-1272.