Spotlight

In a season of perceived economic uncertainty, there are people seeking to bring hope and stability through the staffing industry. Kim Mundell opened an Express Employment Professionals office at 222 W. Carmen Lane, suite 102, in Santa Maria on Nov. 3, and business is already brisk. “I have no doubts,” Mundell said. “This is a […]

On Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., locals are invited to drop off a wrapped toy worth at least $10 at JR’s Drive-In Burgers, 603 E. Main St., Santa Maria. Locals can also take their toys to David Ryan Gallery, 205 E. Clark Ave. in Old Orcutt, between 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec. […]

Community West Bank recently announced that Ruth Moran has been hired as vice president, commercial loan officer in the bank’s Santa Maria branch office. According to a press release, she spent most of her 14-year lending career with California Coastal Rural Development Corporation, which provides loan capital and other financial services to businesses and farms […]

The American Heart Association has a new executive director for its Tri-Counties Division. Julia Nagy, who served as business development director for the association’s Santa Barbara Division, is now heading up the organization that covers Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. Nagy replaces Liz Adams, who has taken on a new role in […]

In honor of its 50th birthday in 2009, Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is holding its fifth annual Taste for Justice on March 7, 2009, starting at 2 p.m. at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. The event features food and drink, so Legal Aid is looking for about a dozen or so […]

Maria Shriver, in partnership with The Women’s Conference, has recently launched WE Invest, a statewide women’s economic empowerment initiative. The WE Invest program is partnering with Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and two other nonprofit organizations in California to launch this initiative. The WE Invest partnership will help link women with WEV’s Self-Employment Training Program, the […]

For the first time, Touring and Tasting Magazine and wine club is selling off cases of their inventory of limited production wines. The Holiday Warehouse Sale will take place on Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 125 S. Quarantina St. in Santa Barbara. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit three […]

To recognize the importance of wine grape vineyards and winemaking to the county’s economy, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution during their Oct. 28 meeting. The resolution was sponsored by Supervisor Joni Gray and presented to Kevin Merrill, vineyard manager for Mesa Vineyard Management in Santa Maria. “Winemaking and vineyards are […]

Faculty member Tracy Trotter of Trotter Productions and Brooks Institute alumnus Stephen McGee recently brought home a couple of Emmy awards. Trotter won his Emmy as the director of photography for his public service announcement, “Voter.” The announcement is currently showing in the Los Angeles area. McGee won his third Emmy for his project, “40 […]

The most listened to public radio station in the Los Angeles area is expanding its service to the Central Coast, starting in early 2009, according to station president Brenda Barnes. “We are very pleased to bring our all-classical format to the Central Coast. KUSC has recently been ranked by Arbitron as the most listened to […]

Nov. 6, the same day this issue of the Sun came out, is the last day to fax in paperwork for an Economic Injury Loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA). On Nov. 6, the county is sending in the paperwork for local businesses that lost revenue during the Gap Fire. The Economic Injury Disaster […]

Husband and wife Chris and Danielle Consolo started talking about owning their own dog boarding facility in 2001, and now, seven years later, they do. Lucky Dog Pet resort is open for business at 526 N. Oakglen Ave. in Nipomo. After years of working at kennels in New York, and with the help of a […]