AROUND THE VALLEYS

News and notes from around the greater San Fernando Valley area San Fernando and Conejo valley businesses will take part in the Frugal Festival Food on June 25 at Canoga Park High School. Among the sponsors are grocery chain Albertsons, The Coupon Wallet, Yozen Frogurt, Starbucks and EasyLunchboxes. Event organizer Julia Scott has been putting on the Frugal Festival for three years, but this is the first in which she has focused on saving money on meals. Cost cutting by making meals at home has been a popular topic at her site, BargainBabe.com. Another hot topic on the site is how to save money while eating out. These topics were the inspiration for the festival, Scott said. Scott’s track record of hosting a successful festival has made it easier for her to get businesses to sponsor the event. “People want to know what they are getting into,” said Scott, a former reporter with the Daily News. “They like to see good attendance.” Attendees of the festival can taste free food, participate in a recipe and coupon exchange, take part in a raffle and attend a nutrition class. Tickets for the festival are available exclusively at Goldstar. A donation of $1 from each ticket sold will go to a Los Angeles-area food bank. Also, each attendee who brings a canned food item for the food bank will receive a $5 discount. Albertsons will match up to 500 cans of food, Scott said. Frugal Festival Food takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Canoga Park High School is located at 6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park. —Mark R. Madler CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Education: SAGE Publishers acquired three journals on teaching to gifted children and their parents from Prufrock Press. Gifted Child Today, Journal of Advanced Academics, and Journal for the Education of the Gifted, will move to SAGE in late 2011. “SAGE is delighted to add these quality journals to our education collection,” said Jayne Marks, SAGE Vice President and Editorial Director, Library Information Group. “In particular, we are happy to be expanding upon our offerings in gifted education.” Gifted Child Today offers timely information about teaching and parenting gifted and talented children; the Journal for the Education of the Gifted offers information and research on the educational and psychological needs of gifted and talented children; and the Journal of Advanced Academics publishes articles promoting high academic achievement and preparing students for high-level academics. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Pacoima Vegan: Sales agency Jay Halaby and Associates has been selected to represent and distribute Zerran Hair Care products. The first product Halaby will distribute is the new Zerran RealLisse Vegan Hair Smoothing System. “We are pleased to have a partner who shares our vision and approach in serving the beauty industry,” says Zerran president Steve Saute. “Jay’s group is focused on opportunities and relationship building; they simply believe in doing the best they can every day.” Calabasas Money: Calabasas resident Rebecca Rothstein has been named among the Top 100 Financial Advisors by Barron’s magazine. Rothstein works in the Beverly Hills office of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Barron ranks top advisors based on assets under management, revenue produced for the firm and quality of service provided to clients. “I am extremely proud that Rebecca Rothstein is representing Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management on this list,” commented Bob Perry, Los Angeles Metro Regional Director of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. “This listing recognizes an elite group of financial professionals who are dedicated to providing clients with exceptional wealth management services.” Northridge Brainstorm: Accounting firm Breard & Associates completed a three day retreat in Oxnard in May. The firm’s retreat is unique in that employees at all levels are involved, from partners to admin, said Managing Partner Kevin Breard. Outdoor meetings took place on the beach and staff members attended small break-out seaside conferences on marketing, technical issues, budgeting and other topics. The retreat is valuable to the firm as a way to spend its dollars wisely when it comes to strategic marketing decisions, Breard said. “You have to get maximum strategic bang for your buck,” he said. “In a relaxed atmosphere away from the office, you can get very strategic with your thinking.” Burbank Art: David Guertin of Insomniac Games was named as one of the winners of the Into the Pixel video game art collection on display during the E3 Expo from June 7 to 9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Guertin’s submission, “Oktonok Cay Cannery,” comes from the game “Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One.” Into the Pixel is a collaboration between Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences in Calabasas and the Entertainment Software Association, the trade organization the puts on E3. “Into the Pixel is the industry’s premier showcase for the art of computer and video games and celebration of the artists whose talent creates these stunning images,” said ESA President and CEO Michael D. Gallagher. Judges for Into the Pixel include experts from the traditional fine art world and the interactive entertainment industry. Encino Road Trip: Staffers with uSamp will visit six major cities this summer to give live demonstrations of SampleMarket 2.0, its next-generation market sampling platform. Attendees will learn how SampleMarket 2.0 platform enables them to engage verified survey panelists instantly. In just a few clicks, the simple, intuitive platform gives users self-serve access to millions of uSamp’s high-quality, richly profiled respondents. The tour began May 25 in West Hollywood and will visit New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Boston and Dallas. uSamp co-founders, Matt Dusig and Gregg Lavin will appear in some of the cities. “We’re extremely proud of our SampleMarket technology, which allows anyone who wants to obtain powerful market insights to do so with an easy-to-use, do-it-yourself platform,” Dusig said. Van Nuys Funds: The Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union announced on June 4 the winners of the “Partners in Community” video contest. Eleven units of the Los Angeles Police Department submitted short videos detailing how their divisions could benefit from one of three $750 cash prizes. Three units were chosen as winners. Representatives of the credit union and police department presented the checks to the winners. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Promote: The City of Palmdale is seeking businesses to sponsor banners in the new “Shop Palmdale” program. A limited number of banners are available at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th St. West in the heart of the Antelope Valley’s largest shopping district. The banners will promote the sponsoring businesses to 40,000 potential customers who come through the area each day, city officials said. The $400 cost covers installation and maintenance. The summer/fall program runs from June 15 to Dec. 15. The winter/spring program runs from Dec. 16 through June 14. For more information, call Stella Knight at (661) 267-5611. Lancaster Culture: The Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery has changed its name to the Lancaster Museum of Art and History to better reflect is mission of collecting, preserving, interpreting and exhibiting works of art and historical artifacts. The revised designation also positions the museum as a place where the Antelope Valley community can gather for artistic enlightenment and appreciation. The “Art Gallery” in LMAG’s name was found to be redundant and associated the museum with commercial art galleries that buy and sell artwork for profit. The City’s museum has been a free educational, cultural and arts resource for residents of Lancaster since 1986. VENTURA COUNTY Simi Valley Fresh: The new Simi Valley Town Center Certified Farmers’ Market opens June 7. The Town Center shopping mall has partnered with the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association to host the outdoor market, which will take place every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the mall’s parking lot. “We are very excited with the new direction for our certified farmers’ market, indicating our commitment to value for local residents and visitors from around the region,” said Dee Dee Nolley, General Manager for Simi Valley Town Center. Feast: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts the Taste of Simi and Mega Mixer on July 20 at The Vineyards in Simi Valley. The event will provide local businesses and restaurants an opportunity to showcase their services and products. It will also expose the public to thriving businesses and dining options in the city. “Last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 1,700 people. It has become one of our most popular events,” said Leigh Nixon, CEO of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. The $30 admission fee includes food tastings and six wine tastings. Applications for vendor booths and featured restaurants will be accepted until June 30. For more information on sponsorships and general information contact Michele Bennett at 805-526-3900. Clean: SA Recycling is now accepting metal items in exchange for cash at is newest location in Simi Valley. The center will accept aluminum cans, pots and pans, old appliances, metal drums and plumbing fixtures. SA Recycling is a drive-through facility at which staffers will unload vehicles, weigh the metal items and pay cash on the spot. “You might have an old brass lamp, a refrigerator on the blink or malfunctioning tools laying around the garage just taking up space,” said Cristi Rossi, executive vice president for SA Recycling. “Those items may be worthless to you, but not for us. We encourage those living in or around Simi Valley to take a look around the house as they may be sitting on a treasure trove.” SA Recycling is located at 780 E. Easy Street. Compiled by Mark R. Madler