To fully understand the history of BEGA-US, you should first be aware of the history of BEGA, an international company based in Menden, Germany, and its relationship to our company here in Carpinteria, CA. BEGA, which is a family held company, was founded in 1945. At its inception BEGA began producing outdoor lighting with just 50 employees. Over the years, through the growth of its product sales and acquisitions of other manufacturing operations, BEGA has developed into a vertically integrated manufacturing company with an international presence, now employing over 1000 people worldwide. BEGA was first introduced to the U.S. market through a licensing agreement with Prescolite in 1961. This agreement provided for certain products to be sold under the Prescolite name. In 1985, former Prescolite president, Larry Routh, formed a joint venture partnership with the managing partners of BEGA in order to bring the entire BEGA product offering to the U.S. This partnership was the inception of BEGA-US, a U.S. corporation. After a modest beginning, essentially converting a limited number of European designs to U.S. standards, BEGA-US is now a $50 million corporation with a state-of-the-art 120,000 square foot manufacturing facility with corporate offices located in Carpinteria (Santa Barbara), CA. BEGA-US employs 110 people, which includes a full engineering staff as well as an in-house powder coat paint facility. More than 50% of our product content is now U.S. sourced, with many products being 100% designed and built here in our California facility. This means that BEGA-US products qualify under the "Made in America" Act! Additionally, all products offered by BEGA-US bear the UL label and carry a three year limited warranty. Our approach to product design is to innovate, not follow. Each product family is conceived to satisfy a general or specific lighting task as defined by its architectural or exterior surroundings. BEGA designs are intended to be classic, to blend with and complement all types of architecture, whether old or new. To accomplish this goal, we use only the highest quality materials. Our approach to engineering emphasizes practicality. At BEGA, our attention to detail, fit, tolerances, and installation methods is paramount.

The BOOM Collection is a selection of luminaires handcrafted by traditional methods from copper, cast bronze, brass, cast aluminum and hand-blown glass. Stylish luminaires which impress not only by their high-quality materials and workmanship but also by their modern lighting technology. As a carefully coordinated building detail, they help to accent sophisticated buildings and historical architecture.

This acclaimed biography of 19th century scientist Gregor Mendel is “a fascinating tale of the strange twists and ironies of scientific progress” (Publishers Weekly). A National Book Critics Circle Award finalist In The Monk in the Garden, award-winning author Robin Marantz Henig vividly chronicles the birth of genetics, a field that continues to challenge the way we think about life itself. Tending to his pea plants in a monastery garden, the Moravian monk Gregor Mendel discovered the foundational principles of genetic inheritance. But Mendel’s work was ignored during his lifetime, even though it answered the most pressing questions raised by Charles Darwin's revolutionary book, On the Origin of Species. Thirty-five years after his death, Mendel’s work was saved from obscurity when three scientists from three different countries nearly simultaneously dusted off his groundbreaking paper and finally recognized its profound significance. From the perplexing silence that greeted his discovery to his ultimate canonization as the father of genetics, Henig presents a tale filled with intrigue, jealousy, and a healthy dose of bad timing. Though little is known about Mendel’s life, she "has done a remarkable job of fleshing out the myth with what few facts there are" (Washington Post Book World).

'I don't paint so much anymore,' I say, looking to my feet. 'Oh. Well, I got a boy who needs to do some art. You can help him out,' Aunty Pam says, like I have no say in the matter, like she didn't hear what I just said about not painting so much anymore. 'Jackson, this is Tomas. He's living with me for a little while.' It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them... As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good. Compelling, honest and beautifully written, The Boy from the Mish is about first love, identity, and the superpower of self-belief. 'The Boy from the Mish is an extraordinary debut novel, and I loved this tender, beautiful story with all my heart. Jackson and Tomas stole my heart, and I'll be thinking about them for a long time.' NINA KENWOOD 'A lightning bolt to the soul. The Boy from the Mish announces a bold, necessary new talent.' WILL KOSTAKIS 'How I wish I had this big-hearted book when I was a teenager. It would've changed my life. Let it change yours.' BENJAMIN LAW 'It is, honestly, a book I've been searching for over my whole career as an editor, as well as all my years as a (queer) reader. I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry (repeatedly) and awed me with the power of its storytelling.' DAVID LEVITHAN, Scholastic US Editorial Director 'A deftly woven tale that is both a raw, unflinching look at the experience of growing up gay and Aboriginal, and a sweet, truly endearing love story you just can't turn away from. This is Own Voices storytelling at its best.' HOLDEN SHEPPARD 'Honest. Funny. Beautiful. This book is all the things.' GABBIE STROUD

This book is a travel guide of sorts to New York's local legends and best kept secrets, filled with crazy characters, cursed roads, abandoned sites, and bizarre roadside attractions that the author feels reflect the shared modern folklore of our time.