Fatal citrus threat approaches county line
Ventura County citrus growers are bracing themselves for what could be the most dire threat their crops have ever faced. The Asian citrus psyllid, an invasive insect that can transmit an incurable, fatal disease to citrus trees, has been steadily making its way north from Mexico for months and was most recently discovered just 20 Read More →
PCBC buys time to survive
Though Pacific Capital Bancorp announced narrower losses and an intent to sell branches, the drama surrounding the fate of the struggling parent of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust is likely to continue for months. On Feb. 1, Pacific Capital, which has been under pressure from regulators to boost its capital ratios, announced a $20 million Read More →
Weyrich properties hit the auction block
San Luis Obispo County businessman David Weyrich gave up several large properties, including the winery named after him, at a public auction Feb. 2, the Tribune reported. Aegon, an insurance and financial services firm and one of Weyrich’s creditors, now owns the Martin and Weyrich Winery and Villa Toscana, a bed-and-breakfast near Paso Robles, as Read More →
Cuesta cuts classes
Cuesta College, a community college outside San Luis Obispo, announced Feb. 2 that its summer class offerings will be all but eliminated this year because of budget issues. The school said that the only classes to be offered this summer will be classes that support its health curriculum and classes that support the San Luis Read More →
Walking Co. Reorganizes
On Feb. 2, Santa Barbara-based shoemaker The Walking Company Holdings filed a reorganization plan that would let the company keep 96 percent of its store locations open and pay off all of its debts and future obligations to trade creditors. The company said it is positioned to emerge from Chapter 11 protection sometime this spring. Read More →
Businesses honored at tech industry awards
The Santa Barbara Technology and Industry Association honored five business and political leaders at its annual awards dinner Feb. 4. Kelly Magne of Jensen Audio Visual was named Executive of the Year, and Alex Rasmussen of Neal Feay Co. was named Entrepreneur of the Year. High Tech Sector Company of the Year honors went to Read More →
Schniepp: Ventura County will see turnaround in 2010
Economist Mark Schniepp thinks the lowest point in the recession has passed and that 2010 will be a transition year for Ventura County. Schniepp, director of the California Economic Forecast in Goleta, predicted a recovery for the county during his presentation at the 2010 Ventura County Real Estate & Economic Outlook held in Westlake Village Read More →
