Forecast: hope for SB tourism
UncategorizedSanta Barbara County’s tourism industry has reached bottom, and the slow crawl out will mean reaching out to markets both close to home and across the Pacific. That’s the message industry experts delivered to hoteliers and restaurateurs at a tourism and travel outlook forecast for the county on Nov. 17. Particular bright spots are continued Read More →
Ventura chamber CEO leaving Nov. 30
UncategorizedVentura 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 →
Santa Barbara
OpinionSince 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 →
Why SLO may lead the recovery
ColumnsThe Tri-Counties version of The Great Recession began in San Luis Obispo County late in 2006 when house prices started to falter. After three grueling years, what likely will amount to the worst of times for those of us too young to remember the 1930s, likely will end just about now as SLO County sheds Read More →
Tea fire not forgotten a year later
OpinionA 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 →
Cashing in on a retail trend
Small BusinessIf you own a small retail business in a tough economy, every dollar counts. That’s why many small businesses have found that automated teller machines, or ATMs, are quick and easy money-makers. By installing one of the cash-dispensing machines, merchants reap not only the benefits of a small commission every time someone uses it, but Read More →
