In our thoughts
OpinionWe’ll take a few sentences to recognize Ugo Melchiori, founder of Melchiori Construction Co., and Roger Heroux, the retired head of the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. Just before press time, we learned that Melchiori, patriarch of a construction company that’s been highly successful on the South Coast, passed away after a long illness. Read More →
Watkins: state recession not over until end of 2010
UncategorizedThe U.S. economy will experiences slow growth throughout most of 2010 but California won’t emerge from recession until the very end of the year. That’s the view of California Lutheran University economist Bill Watkins, who presented his first state and national forecast for 2010 at a breakfast event on campus on Dec. 16. The Business Read More →
A high-tech patent war
UncategorizedIn what could become a contest of war chests, Westlake Village-based chipmaker Inphi has fired back in a patent battle with a struggling Orange County firm over products for one of the hottest parts of the semiconductor market. The dispute started on Sept. 23 when Irvine-based Netlist, a money-losing company whose stock had traded Read More →
Area leads the way in sustainable ag
OpinionAgriculture still dominates much of the landscape across the Tri-Counties. And thanks to a new wave of interest in creating a “sustainable” economy, agriculture is being reinvented for the 21st Century. Gone in large part are the pesticide-heavy, water-guzzling practices of the past. Instead, farmers across the region are focusing on efficiency, environmentally sound practices Read More →
Santa Barbara sees shifts, new business on the real estate front
ColumnsThere have been a few notable shifts in the Santa Barbara commercial real estate landscape over the past few weeks. First up, we have a new venture from real estate executive Jim Slaught. His new company, Slaught Real Estate Group, focuses on commercial real estate development, investment, management and brokerage projects. Slaught, a former vice Read More →
Recognizing the gift of life
OpinionThe gift of life is the greatest gift of all. That’s why we’ll take a few words to appreciate the extraordinary personal commitment of Randy Weiss, vice president of community relations at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Weiss, as has been reported, donated a kidney to help out Katherine Pinedo, a fellow bank employee whose Read More →