Husband and wife open businesses

After a year of living in Wales, a husband and wife are re-establishing their businesses in the Tristate.

Photographer Ron Baker provides environmental portraits: images of residential and commercial properties. His focus is business communications, corporate identity, public relations and special events.

"Specialized services include delivery on all jobs, previewing at home or office, along with stylist and wardrobe consultation," Mr. Baker said. "Through the end of December 2002, I am offering a 25 percent discount on all services."

Julia Baker, a native speaker of German, operates J.K.B. Translations, provides German-English translation. She offers language services for literature, catalogs and instructional materials for the publishing, tourism and marketing industries.

The couple will be temporarily located in Hamilton. Information: (513) 300-3600 or www.portfolios.com.

Investment firm offers free classes

An investment firm that has long provided investment education for Procter & Gamble employees is now offering its free classes to the public.

Retirement Capital Advisors recently formed RCA University, which is in the company's offices, 11500 Northlake Drive, Suite 100, in Sycamore Township.

"The new RCA Educated Investor Series is the most diverse curriculum we have offered in our 20-year history," said Dan Kiley, president and chief executive officer of RCA. "We have added a number of classes specifically designed for both the beginning and advanced investor."

Classes scheduled for January include planning retirement, college funding, estate conservation and retirement investment strategies. All classes are free and taught by financial professionals, said RCA's Bob Newton. Participants will not be asked to take any action or to invest with RCA.

Information: 769-4040 or www.rcawebsite.com.

Anderson pastry bakes up Web site

Customers can drool at their desks now that Jean Paul's Pleasures has launched its Web site.

The new online store features selections from the Anderson Township European bakery and pastry shop, as well as cooking and baking tips. There's also an online ordering form for the bakery's catering division.

"We wanted to launch a Web site so people can take a look inside the bakery and learn what we are all about," owner Jean Paul Belmont said.

Jean Paul's Pleasures offers pastries, breads and gelato. It also does full-service catering, with local airports as major clients. Mr. Belmont, a native of Switzerland, has learned food preparation all over the world.

He established the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Cincinnati and was pastry chef at Ferrari's Little Italy before opening his own business in 1997.

Information: 231-8100 or www.jeanpaulspleasures.com.

Consignment shop offers furnishings

Home furnishings from sofas to silver are available at Cabins to Castles, a new consignment shop at 107 E. Mulberry St., Lebanon, in the space formerly occupied by the Picket Fence. The business opened in August.

The shop sells used furniture, new and consigned accessories and gift items, tableware and linens. Owners Linda Epp and Connie Schuler are preparing to open a room devoted to kitchen linens.

Cabins to Castles is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Information: 932-8797.