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May 27, 2008
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Sarah Mason at (916) 651-4011
LINDEN TREE NAMED 11TH SENATE DISTRICT
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
SACRAMENTO - State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today his selection of Linden Tree Children’s Recordings and Books as the 11th State Senate District’s Small Business of the Year.
Linden Tree, located on State Street in downtown Los Altos, was founded by Linda and Dennis Ronberg in 1981 as Linden International, Children’s Record Specialists in Tacoma, Washington. The Ronbergs soon moved their business to Los Altos, opening a store on First Street in 1984 where they continued to sell children’s music and sponsor concerts. They moved a few blocks to their current location in 1989.
In the years since the store’s founding, Linden Tree has expanded its offerings to include children’s books, games and puzzles, and other toys and gifts. In addition, the Ronbergs still sponsor and host author events and many concerts for children every year, some in cooperation with Mountain View nonprofit Music for Minors.
“Linden Tree does so much more than sell books and music,” Simitian said. “It introduces our young people to the joys of reading and art and serves as a community gathering place. And the Ronbergs still find time outside of their working hours to give back to Los Altos and the Bay Area.”
“We are really excited about receiving this award,” Ronberg said. “It is a great honor and wonderful recognition for the importance of independent book stores.”
This is the fourth year in a row Simitian has chosen to name an independent bookseller as Small Business of the Year in his district (previous honorees were Kepler’s in Menlo Park, Bell’s Books in Palo Alto, and Bookshop Santa Cruz). “As we watch the seemingly inexorable ‘malling of America,’” Simitian observed, “we ought to take a moment to appreciate the locally owned, locally operated enterprises that give a community its character. Our independent bookstores are a valued community asset, and Linden Tree in particular is a real treasure.”
Simitian officially will present the Ronbergs with the award at a luncheon sponsored by the California Small Business Association in Sacramento on May 28th.
For more information on Linden Tree, visit http://lindentree.booksense.com .