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North Santa Barbara County poised for rebound

By   /  Tuesday, November 17th, 2009  /  Latest news  /  Comments Off on North Santa Barbara County poised for rebound

The recession likely is ending for North Santa Barbara County, which should be experiencing stable home prices and employment. That is the view of economist Mark Schniepp, who spoke at a Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce economic forecast event Nov. 17. Schniepp said plunging home prices in Santa Barbara County have been fueled by Read More →

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Ventura chamber CEO leaving Nov. 30

By   /  Tuesday, November 17th, 2009  /  Uncategorized  /  Comments Off on Ventura chamber CEO leaving Nov. 30

Ventura Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Zoe Taylor is stepping down. Taylor, who led the business group for more than 13 years, is in the final stages of starting her own consulting agency. She’ll help businesses connect to government agencies. “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while,” Taylor told the Read More →

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Deals bolster balance sheets at two area banks

By   /  Monday, November 16th, 2009  /  Uncategorized  /  Comments Off on Deals bolster balance sheets at two area banks

One bank went local, and one bank got smaller but sturdier. Two deals recently closed that change the tri-county banking landscape. As of Nov. 11, the Bank of Santa Barbara will answer to group of Santa Barbara investors rather than a Michigan-based parent firm. As of Nov. 6, the parent of Solvang-based Los Padres Bank, Read More →

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Diani builds on legacy

By   /  Monday, November 16th, 2009  /  Uncategorized  /  Comments Off on Diani builds on legacy

In 1949, a World War II vet named A.J. Diani started a small grading and paving business in his hometown of Santa Maria. The son of Swiss immigrants, he put an emphasis on family relations and customer satisfaction, added some elbow grease and watched his company grow. Sixty years later, A.J. Diani Construction is a Read More →

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Santa Barbara

By   /  Monday, November 16th, 2009  /  Opinion  /  Comments Off on Santa Barbara

Since the earliest days of the region as a Mecca for wealthy families, philanthropy has been part of the social scene. Some efforts, notably Direct Relief International, have grown from informal ideas into world-class social organizations. But lately, philanthropic efforts often seem to be single-cause focused, reflecting the special interests of donors. From the Santa Read More →

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Tea fire not forgotten a year later

By   /  Monday, November 16th, 2009  /  Opinion  /  Comments Off on Tea fire not forgotten a year later

A year ago, the Tea Fire devastated parts of Santa Barbara and Montecito, destroying more than 200 homes and ravaging the landscape. Twelve months later, homeowners are still regouping and many have not yet decided whether or not to rebuild. Fire remains a threat, one underscored by the Jesusita Fire, which struck the Santa Barbara Read More →

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Moguls lose out on inns

By   /  Monday, November 16th, 2009  /  Top Stories  /  Comments Off on Moguls lose out on inns

It’s been a rough year for tri-county luxury hotels and the moguls who may or may not still love to own them. In Ventura County, real estate tycoon David Murdock racked up an estimated $78 million in losses operating the Four Seasons Westlake Village, a posh resort for executives. The losses were so steep Murdock Read More →