Santa Ynez Marriott paves way for future hotel green certifications
ColumnsThe Santa Ynez Valley Marriott just became the first hotel certified by Santa Barbara County’s Green Business Program. And it all started when General Manager Mike Hendrick heard Bill Hayward of Hayward Lumber speak at a green business luncheon. “We were already listed as a participating business, but we hadn’t done the big thing — Read More →
Montecito Bank & Trust shares the wealth
OpinionIt’s nice to see traditions get established — especially when it comes to philanthropy. That’s why we once again recognized Montecito Bank & Trust for its seventh annual Community Dividends program, where some 150 area nonprofits shared in $1 million in grants at a luncheon on Nov. 23. The privately held bank, which has nine Read More →
Ten things to be thankful for this year
ColumnsFace facts. This has been a horrible year to have to navigate a business through the tri-county economy. Between the meltdown in commercial real estate, California budget woes, softness in tourism, the foreclosure mess and the ongoing travails of community banking, this has been one for the books. But hey, kvetching only makes things worse. Read More →
Historic Wineman Hotel lights up San Luis Obispo streets again
ColumnsThe intersection of Chorro and Higuera streets was lit up Nov. 18 with neon from the historic Wineman Hotel in San Luis Obispo. Again. The 100-year-old building first opened as the Wineman Hotel in 1930. Since then, it’s housed Riley’s Department Store, Carpenter’s Rexall, Copelands Sports and the Sports Authority, but even native daughters like Read More →
Mixed signals from the top ruin strong economic foundations
OpinionAs an awful year for business heads for the history books, we’re going to sound a couple of warning notes about 2010. What troubles us more than anything else are what economists like to call “externalities” — events clearly beyond control of those of us who operate in the Tri-Counties. Here’s a look at two Read More →
