AROUND THE VALLEYS

Westlake Village Billy Blanks World of Fitness has inked a deal for a lease on about 11,000 square feet of space in a former gym facility in Westlake Village, about one third the size of the former Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks. A spokesman for Blanks said that the new facility, which will hold its grand opening sometime in June, will offer the same programs and services offered in Sherman Oaks although the scale will change. “It is about one third the size, but from a usability standpoint it gives us half the usability,” said Michael Crum, business manager for the company. “So we’re definitely reducing the size of the center.” With the smaller size, the new gym, located at 880 Hampshire Road in the Watercourt complex, will accommodate class sizes of about 75 instead of the 150 that packed the former Sherman Oaks facilities, Crum said. The company is at work on a software program that will allow enthusiasts to reserve class space online. Many of the instructors that had worked at the Sherman Oaks center, which closed last November, have since moved onto other jobs. But the core family that drew loyalists to the workouts in droves, will remain, including Tae Bo creator Billy Blanks, his wife Shellie and brother John and Julianne Hartman. Blanks’ former World Training Headquarters in Sherman Oaks for some 10 years drew an especially loyal following from around the Valley and even the Westside for workouts that fans regarded as much for their spiritual as for their physical benefits. The owners would have liked to keep the location in the central Valley area but were unable to find a suitable alternative, Crum said. “The parking requirements for gyms in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley are twice what they are in Ventura County,” said Crum. “It’s 5 to 1 in Ventura versus 10 to 1 in Los Angeles. We searched for two- and a-half years to find a replacement in the San Fernando Valley and we were unable to do so. Blanks made the decision to leave the Sherman Oaks location because the building is slated for redevelopment. Although no date has yet been set for the rehab, the old, outdated facility had begun to pose numerous problems, not the least of which was the air conditioning system, which class attendees complained was on the fritz for much of the last summer. In the interim, Blanks had been teaching classes at 360 Health Club, a gym in Reseda. CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Campaign: The Vyant Group has been named as marketing agency of record for DermaQuest Skin Therapy. Vyant recently handled the branding campaign for DermaQuest’s high end clinical skin care products. The company’s “brand to market” approach saved the client over $13,000 by eliminating various agencies and having one point of contact. “The new look Vyant created for DermaQuest exceeded our expectations,” said Sam Dhatt, a cosmetic chemist and owner of DermaQuest. Westlake Village Kudos: A local educator is one of 30 science teachers from U.S. and Puerto Rico to receive the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Steve Latshaw of Westlake Hills Elementary School received the honor, awarded by the Thousand Oaks drug maker to elementary, middle and high school teachers who have inspired students in science. It is the 16th year the biotech company has handed out the award. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Glendale Power: Glendale Water and Power has been awarded the Resource Efficiency Award from the California Municipal Utilities Association. It is the third time the utility has won the award, which recognizes innovative approaches to usage of public benefit funds. Jobs: The State of California Employment Development Department Glendale Workforce Office sponsors the “Hire a Hero, Hire a Vet Job Expo 2007” on May 4 at the Army National Guard Armory, 220 E. Colorado St., Glendale. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to veterans and members of the community. Veterans possess a variety of qualities experience, maturity, loyalty and leadership that make them ideal candidates for employment, said Carl Frierson, site manager for the Glendale office. The expo is put on with the cooperation of the Foothill and Verdugo Workforce Investment boards. Studio City Efficient: Actor Ed Begley Jr. was honored by The Gas Company with its first-ever “Energy Efficiency Champion Award.” A Studio City resident, Begley has supported energy-efficiency and environmental issues for nearly 40 years. He arrives at Hollywood events on his bicycle, serves as chairman of the Environmental Media Association, and produces a line of environmentally-friendly cleaning products. “I’ve tried to prove that energy efficiency is not only possible but practical,” Begley said. The award will be manufactured from 100 percent post-consumer recycled wood and glass. Cuts: An old-school barbershop has opened at Moorpark Street and Colfax Avenue. Floyd’s Barbershop features unisex service cuts start at $16 along with Internet stations, music and plasma televisions. The company, based outside Denver, also has locations in Maryland, Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado, Hollywood and Santa Monica. San Fernando Chicken: Employees of a San Fernando El Pollo Loco restaurant took top honors at the chain’s fourth annual “Pollo Bowl Tournament of Champions” contest in Anaheim. The competition tested 16 teams from El Pollo locations across the country on operations procedures. Top honors went to the team from the El Pollo at 12930 Foothill Blvd. led by General Manager Xochilt Ordonez, Assistant Manager Maria Alarcon and crew members Jose Cervantes, Shirley Guerra, Rigoberto Magana and Maggie Briseno. Additionally, Briseno was honored as Pollo Bowl Wizard for answering every question in the tournament correctly. Northridge Erase: California State University Northridge is adding interactive whiteboards to its classrooms. SMART Boards are large screens that function as traditional blackboards, only with writing provided by a stylist or touch. Videos, audio and other interactive functions can also be played on the screen. The boards, produced by the Canadian company SMART Technologies, costs about $10,000 each. Tarzana Kids: About 30 kids participated in the fourth annual “Take Your Child to Work Day” at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center on April 26. The children got a first hand look at how the hospital operates and how their parents work. They also performed a “craniotomy” on a pumpkin, learned how to take vital signs and demonstration of anesthesia equipment and a pacemaker. Universal City Ride: NBC Universal is adding a new “Simpsons”-inspired ride to its roster of attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood, the company announced Tuesday. The ride will feature Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson on a hybrid thrill and dark ride and live show. Universal is working with “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and Executive Producer James L. Brooks on the attraction, scheduled to open next spring. Sun Valley Park: Construction has started on a new park atop the former Sheldon-Arleta landfill, which closed in 1974. The $35 million Cesar Chavez Recreation Complex will include grassy fields, baseball diamonds and bike paths. The 41-acre park, the first city project funded by Proposition O dollars, is scheduled to open by 2011. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Newhall Active: A new health center geared towards older adults is opening in Newhall. Reno, Nev.-based Club 50 Fitness Centers has launched a franchise at 24148 Lyons Ave. near Wiley Canyon Road. The chain specializes in training and fitness for people over 50. The franchise owner is Tami Lindahl. Travel: The city plans to shell out $2 million to spruce up its 51 bus stops. Plans call for solar security lighting, steel benches with armrests and tile roofs. The city also wants to construct 40 new shelters. The plans are part of a city effort to increase public transit usage in Santa Clarita. Valencia Discovery: Crews grading a portion of Castaic Junction unearthed an ancient stone bowl. The relic, which measures about 10 inches in diameter, may have been used by the Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, which lived in the Santa Clarita Valley hundreds of years ago. Tests are underway to determine the bowl’s precise age. Newhall Land and Farming Co. is building a housing project on the site, near state Route 126 and Golden State (5) Freeway.