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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

AROUND THE VALLEYS

Ventura County Camarillo Partnership: Owners of Camarillo based-Sterling Travel, Larry and April Tatelman, have arranged a cruise featuring national morning news talk show host and top political pundit Bill Bennett. Partnering exclusively with Sterling Travel, Bennett will host a 12-day Alaskan cruise program embarking July 20. The cruise will include private seminars and receptions and shipboard amenities. “We are thrilled at Sterling Travel to be aligned with such an influential personality and true American,” Larry Tatelman remarked. “Travelers onboard will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Agoura Hills Facility: Digital technology company DTS Inc. opened a research and development facility in the Silicon Valley. The new location will be involved in developing technologies for the online, PC and mobile device markets. Dr. Jean-Marc Jot will head up research and development at the location. He led the development of next generation audio playback enhancement technologies and intellectual properties for Creative Labs Advanced Technology Centre. Burbank Opening: Big Machine Design completed a new opening for the nationally syndicated hit “Live! with Regis and Kelly.” The new show opening involves live action production utilizing the digital RED camera and features original animation and motion graphics showing fast-paced visuals taking viewers through the streets and skyline of Manhattan. The shoot in Times Square was a real treat as Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa are fun, professional and highly entertaining personalities, said Steve Petersen, a co-founder and executive creative director with Big Machine. “Working with the RED Camera was also a technologically enjoyable experience,” Petersen said. Body: Interactive exhibit “Sesame Street Presents: The Body” will be on display at the Hollywood & Highland complex from Jan. 31 to April 26. The exhibit was designed and created by Thinkwell Design & Production in Burbank and is currently on a national tour sponsored by New Balance. The free-flowing exhibit teaches children about the body and how to keep it healthy. The Thinkwell staff put together an amazing educational attraction, said Joe Zenas, a principal with the company. “It is a hands-on, interactive learning experience that uses Sesame Street and its incredible cast of characters to deliver real science and education in wildly kinetic, imaginative and unforgettable ways,” Zenas said. Calabasas Launch: 7-Eleven celebrated the opening of its new store in Calabasas Jan. 9 with a grand opening event featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony. Entertainment for attendees included music, a clown, balloon art and a raffle. During the event, all 7-Eleven hot dogs, fountain drinks and donuts cost just $0.25. The new store is at 4919 Las Virgenes Road. Canoga Park Logo: The Free Speech Coalition, the trade association for the adult entertainment industry, started the new year with a rebranding campaign. The coalition redesigned its logo and website; and gave a new look to its weekly online newsletter. Later in the year, the group will launch a Facebook page to provide an interactive online space for its members. The new logo, incorporating a white star and red stripe, debuted at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. Chatsworth Dossier: Logicube Inc. has launched the Forensic Dossier, said to be the fastest digital forensic data capture device on the market today. The dossier was featured in the Logicube booth at the 2009 International CES show held in Las Vegas Jan. 8-11. It is scheduled to be available by late spring. “Developed to meet the complex challenges of digital forensic investigators, the dossier is the cornerstone of a future-focused platform of forensic products from Logicube,” stated Farid Emrani, vice president and COO of Logicube. “Sophisticated but easy to use, the dossier’s design ensures investigators will keep pace with advanced digital technology used in criminal activities.” Sherman Oaks Name: NASDAQ has approved the corporate name change of Red Mountain Pharmaceuticals Inc. to Zalemark Holding Company Inc. The new trading symbol for Zalemark Holding Company Inc. is ZMRK and became effective at the open of business on Jan. 8. Zalemark, in Sherman Oaks, designs, develops, manufactures and markets lines of branded jewelry. Current properties include Seventeen, ESQ, Badgley Mischka, B. Smith, Demeter and several celebrity brands. Studio City Consult: Former Valley Industry & Commerce Association President and CEO Brendan Huffman has started his own consulting business. Huffman Public Affairs will specialize in issue advocacy and strategic communications. The firm will connect clients with opinion leaders to ensure their message is heard and interpreted in a favorable way by their targeted audience, Huffman said. “My background as a legislative aide and, more recently, as a business advocate for two of the state’s most influential business organizations has helped me to familiarize myself with the legislative and regulatory processes,” Huffman said. “I am also well acquainted with the individuals and entities who have direct impacts on the outcomes of decisions affecting environmental issues, energy, land use, water, transportation, job creation, and more.” Sun Valley Move: Stage and show systems designer and manufacturer LA ProPoint has moved to a larger building in Sun Valley. The new space is twice that of the company’s previous Sun Valley location. The additional square footage was needed to accommodate the growing staff of 40 employees and their work on several theatre, museum and theme park projects. LA ProPoint has done work at the Hollywood Bowl, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, El Rey Theatre, and Nokia Theatre. “Our team has always been dedicated to developing better solutions for a variety of entertainment venues,from concert halls to theme parks to outdoor amphitheatres,” said Jim Hartman, LA ProPoint’s vice president. “The new headquarters gives us the room we need to design, engineer and fabricate large- scale customized stage and show systems for our clients.” ANTELOPE VALLEY Lancaster I.D.: Due to the growth and severity of identity theft crimes, the City of Lancaster’s Public Safety Office is raising public awareness and providing information on recent criminal techniques and ploys. On Jan. 15, the city held a presentation in the Council Chambers at Lancaster City Hall that featured a discussion of identity theft, including professional insight as to how to keep one’s identity safe. “Just like many crimes, opportunistic criminals target vulnerable individuals who are unaware of the possibility of theft,” Community Safety Supervisor Shelli Henson stated. Palmdale Award: The League of California Cities (LOCC) Desert-Mountain division presented Frank Crom as the recipient of the third annual Larry Chimbole Public Service Award. Crom began his career in public service over 40 years ago, starting off as a jailer and dispatcher in the Bishop Police Department in 1966 and working his way up to lieutenant by the time he retired in 1995. Crom successfully ran for Bishop City Council in 1997, and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005. He also served as mayor in 2001 and 2007. The Larry Chimbole Public Service Award recognizes elected officials or city managers serving in the Desert-Mountain Division of the League of California Cities. Reflective of the award’s namesake, the recipient demonstrates a dedication to public service through outstanding service to municipal government, leadership and activities with the LOCC and high standards of personal character. Chimbole, along with the “50 Grand Men” helped incorporate the City of Palmdale in 1962 and served as the city’s first mayor. Photos: The City of Palmdale is accepting photographs of the Palmdale area to be featured for the “Photo of the Week” section on the city’s Web site, www.cityofpalmdale.org. “We’re going to be unveiling our redesigned Web site in the next few weeks and as part of the redesign, we are incorporating a ‘Photo of the Week,'” explained Communications Manager John Mlynar. “What we’re looking for are interesting photographs of the Palmdale area, including landscapes, buildings, homes and recreational activities in the City.” To submit photos to the Webmaster for consideration, visit www.cityofpalmdale.org, click on the “Community Info” tab on the left and then on “Photo Gallery.” SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Open House: With construction on the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center scheduled for completion in the spring, College of the Canyons will host an open house designed to answer questions and provide information about the center and its partner institutions. The open house will take place Jan. 21, 4 to 7 p.m., in the college’s interim University Center on the Valencia campus. The University Center was created with a goal to increase student access to advanced degrees by forging partnerships with surrounding four-year colleges and universities , which then make their academic programs available to students through courses offered at College of the Canyons. The center is expected to house up to 10 partner institutions and offer more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and credential programs. Valencia Gala: The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation’s “Have a Heart” Sweetheart Gala will take place Feb. 13, 6 p.m., at the Valencia Hyatt. During the event, couples are invited to enjoy an evening of fine dining, dancing, and romance with this year’s special “Sweetheart” couple, Tamara and Dale Donohoe. Guests will enjoy entertainment from Crush, an eight-piece band. Tickets are $150 per person and all proceeds will benefit ongoing technology improvements to Henry Mayo’s cardiac services. For more information about tickets or sponsorships for the event, call (661) 253-8082 or visit www.henrymayo.com. Acquisition: U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group, an operator of occupational health care centers, has acquired First Care Occupational Medical Group at 25327 Ave. in Valencia and First Care Walk-In Medical Group at 22840 Soledad Canyon in Saugus. This acquisition expands U.S. HealthWorks’ presence in the California market to 65 medical centers, with a total of 119 nationwide. Both medical centers integrate a spectrum of occupational medicine, including injury and illness diagnosis and treatment, preventive services, pre-placement and post-offer exams and testing, physical therapy, return-to-work programs and orthopedic services. Terms of the transaction, completed Dec. 31, were not disclosed. SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley Chamber: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will honor Dee Dee Cavanaugh, 2008 Business Person of the Year; and Simi Valley Hospital, Business of the Year; at its annual Business Achievement Luncheon Jan. 30. “Handing out these two awards is especially exciting because the recipients are not announced until the day of the luncheon. The reaction by the honorees is always one of great surprise and humility,” stated Leigh Nixon, CEO for the chamber. The new directors and officers for 2009 will be installed as well.

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