Everybody’s business

Virginia is for lovers of Matt Keller
Stop the bleeding! How many more local news anchors can we lose before there is no longer any semblance of continuity, local character and long knowledge on our TV screens!?

OK, I’m being melodramatic. But I really will miss Matt Keller, who anchors the weekday broadcasts at 5, 5:30, 6:30 and 11 on KNVN. He’s been with the station since 1997, long before channels 12 (KHSL) and 24 began simulcasting the news in January 2002.

He’s headed to a morning anchor job at WTKR, a New York Times-owned station in Virginia Beach, Va., which takes him from this No. 130 market to No. 42 in the nation. His last day on the air here will be Oct. 21.

Keller was only 21 and a recent Biola University grad when the San Jose native joined what was then KCPM eight years ago. “They’ve really treated me well here,” he said. “I really have felt like part of the community.

“I wanted to learn more,” Keller said of the move, not to mention earn more. “I just want to improve.”

Post no bills
PG&E wants to close all of its company-operated payment centers, including the one at 350 Salem St. in downtown Chico.

The proposal is going before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this December, but if PG&E has its way, 84 payment centers across the state will be shuttered as early as June 30, 2007.

Instead, PG&E wants you to go online, call on the phone or visit one of some 400 “neighborhood payment center” such as, in Chico, the ones at Mr. Kopy, Terrace Pharmacy and Check Exchange on Whitman Avenue.

Jon Tremayne, a PG&E spokesperson, said the decision came about after “significant customer research” and the result will be “the same level of service or even improved customer satisfaction.” He added that the move would save $20 million, which the CPUC could order PG&E to either pass along to customers or invest in upgrades and maintenance.

Tremayne said the five workers at the Chico office could possibly be laid off, but the company will try to “transition” them to other jobs within the company.

At least I didn’t sleep through it
I missed out on a chance to see people sleeping in an office last week. (Although I can see that every day here at the CN&R—har, har.)

Sleep Diagnostics of Chico held an open house Oct. 6, unveiling its new facility at 35 Jan Court, Suite 150 and letting guests peek in on a real, live sleep study in progress.

Corporate pleasure
Holy cats, have you checked out the newly renovated East Avenue Safeway? Who’s the marketing genius behind that? I was really impressed by the country market-looking produce section, super-helpful staff offering samples and the free Starbucks mocha I got for spending more than $75 (before my evil club card and coupons kicked in.) The low “mood lighting” probably saves some energy bucks, too.

There’s a downside, though, that I didn’t figure out right away. All those cool, new features means less shelf space, so you might not find all the products that you used to.