AROUND THE VALLEYS

Santa Clarita Valley Santa Clarita Grant: Improvements to lights on bridges and public places in Santa Clarita will be paid for with a $1.5 million federal block grant. Along with retrofitting the lights, the money will also go toward a local green incentive program for energy efficiency retrofits and solar installations, and partially covering the cost of the new Newhall library’s green energy efficiency aspects, and implementation of a volume-based trash rate, allowing residents with less waste to pay lower collection rates. Antelope Valley Lancaster Shop: The City of Lancaster won a Silver Circle Award from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association for its program to get residents shopping at local businesses to promote economic stimulus. The city won in the category of Marketing Tools – Economic Development in the 16,000 – 265,000 population group. The stimulus program included $30 gift cards for every $300 spent at local businesses and rebating vehicle registration on new car and motorcycle purchases. About 6,000 families participated in the program or about 10 percent of households in the city. “We knew that increasing taxes, or raising development fees, would not be the long term solution to this problem,” said Vern Lawson, economic development director for Lancaster. “We needed an innovative way to help promote economic stimulus and sustainability while gaining positive public support from our businesses and residents.” Speaker: Lyn Heward, an executive producer for special projects for Cirque du Soleil, will be the keynote speaker at the Antelope Valley Board of Trade 2010 Outlook Conference on Feb. 19. As former president and chief operating officer of creative content, Heward helped turn Cirque from a boutique entertainment firm into a global creative brand. In 2009, the group produced twenty unique shows, reaching a total worldwide audience of over 90 million spectators, performing at venues in 200 cities on five continents “Lyn is the very personification of innovation in business,” said conference Chairwoman Dianne Knippel. “Learning how to better tap into the resources of our ‘creative class’ is a lesson from which we can all benefit.” Also speaking at the conference is Sacramento Bee political columnist Dan Walters and Mojave Air & Space Port General Manager Stuart Witt. The conference takes place at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. Conejo Valley Westlake Village Money: Title insurance and settlement services company Timios Inc. has developed an online good-faith estimate calculator that fully complies with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. Lenders enter loan information and receive an instant quote on title insurance, settlement fees and applicable government fees. The calculator acts in real time and meets RESPA’s disclosure and tolerance levels, officials at Timios said. “During testing, the feedback we received highlighted the ease of use of the application,” says Len Splane, executive vice president. “Our customers acknowledged that our new instant-rate calculator works more efficiently than existing integrated solutions.” Agoura Hills Beer: Ladyface Ale Companies has opened the only micro-brewery between Hollywood and Ventura. Ladyface Alehouse combines an old world brasserie-style restaurant with a brewery producing Belgian as well as American-style craft beers. The bar features up to 20 beers on tap including a careful selection of eclectic award-winning American and Belgian ales to complement Ladyface’s own. The cellar contains more guest beers as well as wines from France and California. San Fernando Valley Chatsworth Paper: Telesis Community Credit Union will offer free document shredding to the public on Jan. 23 at is Chatsworth location. The event is designed to assist consumers with preventing identity theft by securely shredding their sensitive documents. Materials that can be brought to the credit union parking lot include bills, account statements, tax records, medical information, credit card solicitations and other financial records. “Just about everyone has documents around that they don’t want to just throw out, but don’t have time to dispose of securely,” said Brian Siegel, vice president of marketing and e-commerce. “This free event lets consumers destroy those sensitive documents without worrying that the information will fall into the hands of identity thieves. And since all paper will be recycled, it’s good for the environment, too.” The document shredding takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9301 Winnetka Ave. Woodland Hills Films: The 12th annual Method Fest Film Festival will announce this year’s line up on Feb. 25 at the Performing Arts Center at Pierce College. The festival runs from March 25 to April 1 with screenings in Calabasas and Agoura Hills, and acting and filmmaking workshops, panels and seminars. Method Fest bills itself as the only major film festival focused on acting. It takes its name from the “Method” school of acting, which revolutionized the approach in acting, particularly in film. Since starting in 1998, the festival has sought out break-out performances and to launch the works of young, independent filmmakers. More than 125 films have premiered or played at the festival. Calabasas Compose: The tenth film scored by Joel Goodman to screen at the Sundance Film Festival will debut later this month. Goodman, of Calabasas, is an Academy Award and Emmy Award winner for his musical scores. “A Small Act,” screening at Sundance, tells the story of a woman who sponsored a young, impoverished Kenyan student who later becomes a respected U.N. human rights attorney. Goodman also provided the music to the documentary film “Valentino: The Last Emperor,” which is currently on the 2010 Oscar “Short List” for “Best Feature Documentary.” That film’s score was also nominated for “Best Score” by the Cinema Eye Honors, an industry group that specializes in awards for the documentary community. Pacoima Services: The El Nido Family Source Center had its grand opening on Jan. 9. The center offers free tutoring, mentoring, recreational and cultural activities for youths; and pre-employment and employment support, financial literacy, computer literacy, parent education and legal services for adults. Partners in the source center include Pacoima Beautiful, MEND, Woodcraf Rangers, Neighborhood Legal Services, and Teen Parent Support Services. The center is located 13460 Van Nuys Blvd. Universal City Golden: Television news anchors Paul Moyer and Pat Harvey will receive Lifetime Achievement awards Jan. 23 from the Radio & Television News Assn. of Southern California. Moyer, formerly of KNBC and KABC until his 2009 retirement, and Harvey, of KCAL-9, will be honored at the 60th Annual Golden Mike Awards. Both Moyer and Harvey are past recipients of Golden Mikes and Emmys for their television work. The Golden Mikes are given to recognize broadcast news excellence in markets from Santa Barbara and Bakersfield to the Mexican border. – Compiled by Mark R. Madler