Around the Valleys

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Burbank Go Fish: McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants Inc. is opening its first Valley location in Burbank. The restaurant, which will be located at 3500 West Olive Ave., joins 63 other locations in 24 states for the Portland, Ore.-based restaurant operator. It will open in the fourth quarter of this year. “Burbank represents a natural growth opportunity for McCormick & Schmick’s, demonstrated by the success of our five other locations in Southern California,” said Saed Mohseni, CEO of the company. McCormick & Schmick’s also operates locations in downtown L.A., El Segundo, Pasadena and Beverly Hills. Canoga Park Smile: Roscoe Boulevard and DeSoto Avenue in Canoga Park is the latest Valley intersection to receive high-tech cameras that can capture both the front and rear license plates of traffic scofflaws. It is the third in the city to have the new digital cameras, manufactured by Nestor Traffic Systems Inc. of Providence, R.I. The city is upgrading all of its existing cameras to the more accurate devices. Ten signals are scheduled to be retrofitted by September, along with the installation of 22 new signals. Sherman Oaks Seminars: Volunteers and doctors from the Sherman Oaks nonprofit the Help Group will travel to Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, this month to teach 600 educators about learning disabilities. The two-day seminars will be presented to mental health workers, speech pathologists and occupational therapists and focus on attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, high-functioning autism, Asperger’s Disorder and other learning disabilities. Later this month, 35 Japanese educators are scheduled to travel back to the states for more seminars. Founded in 1975, the Help Group runs camps, educational conferences and six daycare programs for more than 1,000 students. Woodland Hills New Media: The Illusion Factory cuts out the middle man when it comes to distribution of audio and video content with the opening of its New Media division. Through portals available through the division, musicians, filmmakers, and television producers can directly reach consumers through portable devices, wireless devices, the Internet, and cable and satellite television. The division sets up and maintains distribution systems for global delivery of intellectual and physical properties. “Intellectual property from all walks of entertainment are all finding substantial revenue potential as they are promoted directly to a significant sector of the emerging global marketplace who are all looking to new media for their entertainment options,” said Illusion Factory CEO and founder Brian Weiner. Van Nuys Bond Support: The Valley Industry and Commerce Association announced its support of the Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond Act appearing on the November statewide ballot. The measure seeks to protect drinking water quality, improve water supply and protect our precious natural resources. If approved by voters, the bond measure provides $5.4 billion to fund critically needed improvements and programs to ensure safe drinking water, local water supply reliability, flood protection, and preservation of California’s natural landscapes, including parks, forests, lakes, rivers, beaches, bays, ocean and coastline. “VICA has carried on this tradition for more than 50 years, advocating for improvements in the delivery of public infrastructure, providing Los Angeles communities with critical services such as water and power,” said association Chairman Bob Scott. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Interview: A group of 27 students from the College of the Canyons had the opportunity this month to interview Violeta Chamorro, the former president of Nicaragua. The students were on a 12-day study-abroad trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica and met with Chamorro in her home in the capital city of Managua. Chamorro, chief executive from 1990 to 1996, is the first female president in Latin America. “Not only is it an honor, but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our students studying the social and political dynamics of the country,” said Claudia Acosta, department chair of foreign languages at College of the Canyons, who helped organize the trip. Canyon Country Branching Out: Bank of Santa Clarita is set to open its second branch location in Canyon Country in November. The branch will be located at 21021 Soledad Canyon Road. “This location is an underserved area by other bank branches and in the center of an industrial park located in Canyon Country,” said James D. Hicken, president and CEO of Bank of Santa Clarita. “Furthermore, the branch will be adjacent to a planned 1,100-unit residential development by Newhall Land.” The Santa Clarita market has increasingly been attracting banks since the area’s independent bank, Valencia Bank & Trust, was acquired by U.S. Bank in 2002. Bank of Santa Clarita opened in 2004. CONEJO VALLEY Agoura Hills Sponsors: The city of Agoura Hills is hoping to get businesses to sign on as sponsors for its annual Reyes Adobe Days festivities on Oct. 13-15. The city said it is looking for businesses interested in entering a float or providing entertainment for the street parade that is part of the three-day festival. Agoura Hills is also seeking sponsors for a number of events that take place through October as part of Reyes Adobe Days, including a teen dance, carnival and 8K Run. For information: (818) 597-7361. Thousand Oaks Sporting Moves: California Lutheran University will dedicate its newest athletic facility, Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, in October. The $18 million center is one of several new facilities the university is adding on an 80-acre site north of Olsen Road. It joins the George “Sparky” Anderson Baseball Field, which was dedicated in January, the Samuelson Aquatics Center and soccer, track and field facilities. CLU plans to begin construction on the Ullman Baseball Stadium next year. The Gilbert Center will house two gymnasiums including a 1,500-seat main gym, an event center, a fitness center, dance studio, classrooms and other offices and venues. The center was in part financed by Jack Gilbert, chairman of the board of TOLD Corp. and his wife Carol, who recently pledged $5 million for additional academic buildings and a presidential residence. Talk: California Lutheran University has announced the speakers for its Corporate Leaders Breakfast Series this fall. James D. Power IV and Chris Denove of J.D. Power & Associates will kick off the series in September. In November, Kinko’s founder Paul J. Orfalea will speak on his business philosophy. In February, CLU will host a panel of health care executives including T. Michael Murray, president of St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Jim Sherman, president of Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center and Gary Wilde, president of Community Memorial Hospital. Camarillo Blue All Over: Technicolor Home Entertainment Services announced that its new next-generation DVD manufacturing and distribution system is fully operational. The company has three HD DVD replication lines and three Blu-ray Disc replication lines in place to meet early studio and consumer requirements. In addition, Technicolor installed dedicated state-of-the-art mastering and testing equipment for both formats. The facility also houses complete printing, custom packaging, and distribution facilities to support North American retail operations. HD DVD debuted in April and Blu-ray Disc debuted in June. New Post: Michael S. Lavenant has been named president of the Camarillo Breakfast Rotary Club. Lavenant, 36, is an attorney with the Encino defense firm Landegger & Baron and vice chair of the business advocacy committee for the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley Honored: Dr. Otto Austel, a member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Rotary Foundation, the club’s highest recognition and one of only 50 awarded worldwide this year. A 15-year member of the club, Austel has traveled extensively in South America, Europe, Africa and Asia establishing clinics, installing water systems and creating reading materials. ANTELOPE VALLEY Lancaster Proposed Law: The Lancaster City Council is considering a municipal ordinance that would regulate massage parlors in the city. The action would toughen standards for the establishments, some of which have been cited for prostitution and drug sales, the city said. It would also require businesses to obtain a special massage therapy license and operator permit in additional to a regular business license. No date has been set for City Council action. The city held a community meeting Aug. 1 to discuss the issue.