Ramp closed until July 18
The southbound off-ramp of Highway 101 at Avila Beach Drive in Shell Beach is closed until July 18. Motorists can use the San Luis Bay Drive exit as an alternate route, Caltrans officials said. This closure is part of a project to add a new lane on the southbound highway from Avila Beach Drive to Read More →
Pesticide reductions pushed
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized approval of a revision to the California State Implementation Plan on July 7 in response to a request from the California Air Resources Board to gradually reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds from pesticides in Ventura County. The California Air Resources Board had requested that the EPA revise Read More →
$200M defense contract awarded
AeroVironment Inc., the maker of small unmanned spyplanes used by the U.S. military, won a contract valued at as much as $200 million to provide aircraft to the U.S. Special Operations Command. Work on the order will be done in Simi Valley, the U.S. Defense Department said in a July 1 statement. The statement Read More →
First responders are worthy of our praise
It’s hard to say whether residents of the Tri-Counties will ever take wildfires and other disasters in stride. Nothing quite resembles being forced to evacuate a canyon home and leave most belongings behind. Some residents simply refuse to leave. But those trying to help – the first responders – have dedicated their lives to Read More →
Central Coast commercial stats underscore the economy
It’s official. The regional commercial real estate market is no longer safe from the greater struggle. Radius Group Commercial Real Estate in Santa Barbara recently released a second-quarter report tracking South Coast commercial real estate activity over the last six months, and the numbers aren’t good. Until now, real estate agents have remained relatively upbeat Read More →
Disasters just part of the business landscape
One fatal earthquake. One fatal mudslide. Four major fires. That’s the toll of natural disasters our region has endured during the past five years. Beginning with the Simi Valley fires in the fall of 2003 and the Paso Robles earthquake toward the end of that year, it seems our region entered a new and deadly Read More →
Re-using wood
The 10-ton eucalyptus had towered over the original Hope Ranch near Santa Barbara for perhaps 100 years, standing sentry as the area changed form an agriculture outpost to posh neighborhood. When it came down it was destined for the landfill or the grinder. Urban trees meet similar fates every day on the Central Coast, but Read More →
