By Jen Komaromi

A few years ago, I started noticing strange online orders coming into my shop. The details didn’t quite line up — mismatched names, unusual payment attempts — and after some digging, I realized I was seeing early signs of a triangulation scam. I tightened my processes, canceled suspicious orders, and thought I had it mostly under control. Then this past fall, it came back.

Another round of fraudulent orders hit, more persistent this time. Multiple credit cards were used on the same order. That familiar uneasy feeling. Weeks later, the losses showed up as chargebacks and reversed payments.

Here’s how these scams work: a scammer lists items for sale on a large online marketplace (like Amazon or eBay). When a customer buys the item, the scammer turns around and orders it from a legitimate retailer like me — using stolen credit card information — and ships it directly to the customer. The customer believes they made a normal purchase. The retailer doesn’t realize anything is wrong until long after the item has shipped.

What bothered me most wasn’t just the financial hit — it was realizing that customers are victims too. These are people acting in good faith who have no idea their purchase could later be tied to fraud, flagged accounts, or compromised information. As a local business owner in El Cerrito, I’m required to hold a business license, collect and remit taxes, and operate with real accountability. I could be audited at any time. That’s part of doing business responsibly in a community.

Many online marketplaces, however, allow third-party sellers to operate with little verification or oversight. When something goes wrong, the scammer disappears, and the impact falls on small businesses and consumers instead.

That’s why awareness matters. As consumers, we can pay attention to who we’re buying from. As business owners, we can share patterns we’re seeing and trust our instincts. And as a community, one of the simplest ways we can protect ourselves is to shop local, at businesses that are accountable, transparent, and invested in the people they serve.

Every local purchase is a vote for trust.

Jenny K. is located on Stockton Street in El Cerrito as a brick-andmortar store, but also has online sales through their website jennyk.com

Dear Members,

Coming out of the winter months, we set ambitious goals for 2026. We’ve welcomed three new Directors to our Board and mapped out an energetic year focused on visibility, engagement, and community connection. The momentum has been building ever since.

As this newsletter goes to print, we have officially launched Best of El Cerrito 2026. Please read more on the following page for full details.

This program would not be possible without the generous support of our early sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Honda of El Cerrito 
• Partners: El Cerrito Natural Grocery, City of El Cerrito, Negar Souza & Feri Niroomand of Red Oak Realty, Rachel Melby & Rachel Sheftel of Little Hill Real Estate, Prospect Sierra, and El Cerrito Royale 
• Associates: East Bay Sanitary, Well Grounded Tea & Coffee Bar, and Kyle Ashcraft of Edward Jones 
• Supporters: Hassler Heating & Air Conditioning

We’re also excited for an upcoming event on Father’s Day weekend: a Classic Car Show on Saturday, June 20th, along Kearney Street behind El Cerrito City Hall, bringing the community together, highlighting our local businesses, and showcasing some amazing vehicles from local car clubs.

One important focus this year is strengthening our online presence as a true community hub. Our website is not only where you’ll find Chamber events, but also where Members can promote their own events through our Community Calendar. . If you’d like to post an event, log in to your membership account at www.elcerritochamber.org to get started.

There are plenty of upcoming events (see the list on page 7 and register on our website), but I want to call your attention to one I’m especially looking forward to: the Golf Tournament, scheduled for August. Summer may feel far away, but we need volunteers now to tee off the event and make it a winner.

We also want to spotlight the incredible expertise within our membership. If you are interested in speaking at a future Chamber event or volunteering, please contact us at info@elcerritochamber.org.

This year, we have an ambitious lineup — and it depends on Members stepping forward. The first step? Join our Ambassadors Program. Meet our Ambassadors and fellow Members at 9:00 am on the first Wednesday of each month at FatApple’s Restaurant & Bakery, 7525 Fairmount Ave. This informal setting provides members with an opportunity to get to know one another and connect with the Chamber.

Join us!

Thank you for being part of a Chamber that continues to grow, collaborate, and show up for El Cerrito.

Warmly,

Kevin O'Neal

President, El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce

Best of El Cerrito 2026 is officially underway. Nominations have begun. This is your opportunity to tell us what makes El Cerrito special. Which businesses, organizations, and places make you proud to live here? Who goes above and beyond? Who represents the very best of our community?

NOMINATING PHASE: Now through May 10th

Visit BestofElCerrito.com to submit your nominations. The Nominating Phase lays the foundation for all that follows, so don’t delay. Your voice determines who moves into the Voting Phase.

VOTING PHASE: May 18th – June 15th

Beginning May 18th, the website will support official ballots. This is when nominated businesses rally their customers and supporters, and the community casts its votes for the Best of El Cerrito winner. This is where it counts most.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: July 4th at the WorldOne Festival, Cerrito Vista Park

Winners will be announced at the WorldOne Festival, the largest annual gathering of El Cerritans. Our community’s favorites will receive well-deserved recognition in front of the entire city!

AWARDS CEREMONY: September 17th Hosted by El Cerrito Honda

Each winner will receive their official award at a celebratory gala that has become a highlight of the Chamber calendar as a night of recognition, connection, and celebration year after year.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

We couldn’t do this without their generous support! Additional sponsor levels to follow.

Premier Sponsor

Partner Sponsors

Associate Sponsors

• East Bay Sanitary Co., Inc. 
• Well Grounded Tea & Coffee Bar 
• Kyle Ashcraft - Edward Jones

Please welcome the Chamber’s newly elected Board of Directors, who will serve for a 2-year term, building community and working with local businesses. Thank you for your service. If your business would like to get involved with the Chamber, consider joining the Chamber Ambassadors at one of their upcoming monthly meetings, published on the Chamber’s website.

• Kyle Ashcraft, Edward Jones
• Dr. AnnMarie Baines, The Practice Space
• Sheriff Demetri, El Cerrito Honda
• Kathleen Mascarenhas, KBM Accounting
• Kevin O’Neal, Well Grounded Tea & Coffee Bar

Located in the Upper Stockton Avenue commercial district, at 7002 Stockton, SPORTS THERx and Recovery is helping athletes and active adults recover smarter, perform better, and move without limits. As a Certified Athletic Trainer and owner, Joe Scarcell's mission is simple: to bridge the gap and assist with injuries, rehab, recovery, and performance.

Too often, people are told to “rest” after an injury, but without a real plan to return to their sport, training, or active lifestyle. That’s where SPORTS THERx and Recovery comes in. Our approach combines:

• Injury assessment & rehabilitation to restore return to activity 
• Hands-on therapy to accelerate healing and reduce pain 
• Sports performance training tailored to each individual 
• Cutting-edge recovery tools that keep you in the game

Whether you’re a young or old competitive athlete, weekend warrior, or someone who just wants to live pain-free, Joe provides evidencebased, personalized care to help you recover faster, reduce re-injury, and reach your goals. From the treatment table to the training floor, SPORTS THERx and Recovery is your partner in lifelong movement health.

Enjoy 20% off your first service by visiting mysite.vagaro.com/sportstherxandrecovery

The City of El Cerrito has developed a permanent Outdoor Dining Ordinance that builds off the success of the temporary outdoor dining and retail regulations first adopted during the pandemic. The program allows flexible use of outdoor spaces adjacent to businesses and includes a greatly streamlined application process for businesses.

For more, visit elcerrito.gov/outdoorseating

El Cerrito families seeking orthodontic care have a unique resource right in their backyard, or, more specifically, at the El Cerrito Shopping Plaza. In addition to its convenient location, there are substantial reasons that Aubrey Barrett Orthodontics has stood out as a successful local business in El Cerrito for over 16 years.

Blending cutting-edge technology with a warm, community centered approach, patients at Aubrey Barrett Orthodontics benefit from technological advancements, such as convenient at-home digital monitoring, which reduces the need for office visits and makes treatment easier for busy families. State-of-theart digital scanners eliminate uncomfortable, old-fashioned impressions and provide precise 3D maps of patients’ smiles.

But high-tech efficiency is only part of what sets this local practice apart. Dr. Aubrey Barrett and her team create a fun, friendly atmosphere, especially engaging for kids and teens, with milestone celebrations and special “end-of-braces” kits to keep the experience positive and rewarding.

Proving that you can have fun while also striving for excellence, Dr. Barrett is a published researcher and a respected member of the dental community. She brings both expertise and a kind, gentle touch to her work. She also participates in local professional groups, often connecting patients to trusted pediatric dentists and other specialists in the area.

Patients can count on accessible, inclusive practices with upfront pricing and interest-free financing, making quality care attainable for more El Cerrito families. The practice is a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ and transgender patients and is deeply committed to supporting local schools, sports teams, and events.

With offices in both El Cerrito and Pittsburg, the practice proudly serves El Cerrito and Albany, Richmond, Berkeley, Kensington, and beyond. For modern, personalized orthodontic care with a true sense of community, Aubrey Barrett Orthodontics is a local standout.

For more information, visit aubreybarrettortho.com

Advertorial by Ian Birnam, Owner, IBX Fitness

If you want that “toned” look, you’re not chasing a magic workout. You’re chasing body composition: more muscle, less body fat. That's all that "toning" is: replacing fat with muscle. Muscle gives shape, and losing fat lets that shape show. Here’s how to do it in a way that works for real life, not just January motivation.

1) Train Strength On The Right Schedule

For most people, the sweet spot is strength training 4x per week. That frequency gives your body enough stimulus to actually change.

Already doing a sport consistently like running, soccer, or tennis? Great! Then strength train 2x per week to support your sport, stay resilient, and still see composition changes.

Avoid the trap of exercising 6 to 7 days a week. More is not always better. Too much can cause fatigue, stall progress, and make you feel run down.

2) Lift Heavy Enough (Without Fear Of “Bulky”)

Workouts that never get challenging won't bring results.

If it feels easy, you need to adjust. Go a little heavier, slow the tempo, or choose a harder version of the movement.

And no, lifting weights will not make you bulky by accident. Getting bulky typically takes very heavy lifting (often 100+ lb lifts) plus a consistent calorie surplus over time. Lifting a 30lb dumbbell isn't going to suddenly turn you into a bodybuilder.

A practical target: finish most sets with 2 to 3 reps left in the tank. That’s where strength and muscle-building happen for everyday people. It also significantly reduces the chance of injury since you're working below your max, which is where most injuries occur.

3) Stop Letting The Other 23 Hours Undo Your Workout

Your training matters. Your non-training movement matters more.

If you sit most of the day, progress can feel slow even with consistent workouts. Add low-effort movement that stacks up:

• Take short walks between meetings or after meals 
• Choose stairs when you can 
• Use a standing desk for part of the day 
• Park a little farther away on purpose

More low-impact movement helps with fat loss, energy, and recovery.

4) Eat With Awareness, Not Perfection

You cannot outtrain a chaotic diet. You also don't need to live on salads.

Pizza, beer, wine, and cookies can absolutely fit. The key is being aware. Weekends can quietly undo weekday effort if you’re not paying attention.

Ask yourself:

• Am I eating mostly nutrient-dense foods most days? 
• Am I hydrating? 
• Am I hitting a decent protein baseline (0.36-0.60g per lb of bodyweight)? 
• Am I treating every weekend like a free-for-all?

Awareness creates options. Options create results.

5) Choose A Plan That Removes Guesswork

Most people don't need more motivation, and don't need to spend time creating their own workouts when they're already busy. You need a plan you can repeat that gives you results.

At IBX, our 50-minute classes are always two parts strength to one part cardio. You get coaching, form help, and weight guidance so you train safely and keep progressing. We program on a 4-week cycle to ensure steady progress without burning out. We do weekly accountability and quarterly goal setting to help you adjust your plan in and out of the gym.

If you want to get “toned,” start by building strength you can measure and repeat. The results will follow.

Curious what this could look like for you? Book a free 10-minute intro call at ibxfitness.com, and we’ll help you map out a simple plan that fits your schedule and your goals.

Maximize your talents and skills as part of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team.

This group meets at 9:00 AM on the first Wednesday of each month at FatApple's Bakery (7525 Fairmount Ave, El Cerrito) to support one another and contribute to Chamber projects together. Share stories and accomplish meaningful membership-related tasks that bring you closer to the community. Any member can join by contacting coordinator@elcerritochamber.org

Feature your business in the Insider

There are many options for advertising your business with the Chamber. Contact members@elcerritochamber.org