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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

AROUND THE VALLEYS

Simi Valley Simi Anniversary: Simi Valley Hospital’s Patient Care Tower celebrated its one year milestone June 17. Over the course of the year, the Hospital launched a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as part of the new Patient Care Tower services; and it invested $1.5 million in new equipment purchases including a new 16-slice CT scanner, state-of-the-art surgical and GI equipment, and an ultrasound machine for the Nancy Reagan Breast Center. The hospital was also accredited as a gold level Fit Friendly Company by the American Heart Association. Conejo Valley Westlake Village Electronics: A microphone for the iPod and a small high-definition webcam earned Blue Microphones the Best New Product: Hardware Peripheral award at RetailVision Europe 2009. Retail executives attending the show vote on the “Best of RetailVision Awards” following two days of attending retail executives who represent leading retail chains in Europe after two days of boardroom presentations and one-on-one meetings. Blue Microphones was honored for the Mikey, a plug-and-play CD-quality microphone for the iPod; and the Eyeball, a USB Webcam delivering CD-quality audio and outstanding HD quality video. “This award recognizes Blue’s efforts to build on the success of our professional audio products by changing the game for portable digital recording and personal broadcasting,” said Blue Microphones President Skipper Wise. Thousand Oaks Safety: Mobicip has made available a new product to allow parents of children with iPhones, iPod Touches and Netbooks to track Internet usage and prohibit inappropriate content. Mobicip.com uses four stages of content filtering technology to block inappropriate content and tagged photos even on allowed Websites, putting parents at ease when their children are browsing the Internet. The service also features a Web site that parents can use to track Internet surfing history and to adjust their parental controls. For simplicity, adjustments are applied to all the mobile devices that are covered under the Mobicip.com service. San Fernando Valley Woodland Hills Alliance: Classic Cruise and Travel will partner with Frosch, an international full service travel company. Based in Woodland Hills, the new Frosch Classic Cruise and Travel alliance signals the entry of Frosch into the Southern California market. Classic Cruise and Travel co-owners Penny Entin and Susan Reder said their 40-plus staffed travel agency will continue to serve both corporate and leisure clients with high quality customer service. Frosch Classic Cruise and Travel will also continue to be part of Signature Travel Network, a multi-billion dollar travel organization with a portfolio of supplier partners with exclusive negotiated amenities at more than 600 luxury hotels and resorts. Burbank Tech: Executives from three Valley area entertainment companies were among “The Digital 25: Visionaries, Innovators and Producers of 2009” named by the Producers Guild of America. Recognized by the Guild were Sandy Climan, Steve Schklair, Jon Shapiro, and Peter Shapiro of 3D technology firm 3aliity Digital in Burbank; Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of Dreamworks Animation Studios in Glendale; and Jason Kilar, CEO of HULU, the online distribution channel that is a joint venture between NBC Universal, The Walt Disney Co. and 20th Century Fox. The Digital 25 honors individuals and teams that have made the most significant contributions to the advancement of digital entertainment and storytelling over the past year. North Hollywood Site: DisneyFamily.com was named as the best family/parenting website of the year at the 13th Annual Webby Awards in New York City. The site was recognized for its content, design, interactivity and overall experience. The Webby Awards is presented by International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and winners were chosen from 10,000 entries. “The Webby Awards honors the very best of the Internet,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of the Webby Awards. “Disney Family.com’s achievement is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of its creators.” Encino Cable: Online reverse auction firm Bid4Spots hosted its first public auction for cable television ad time on June 11. The new Bid4Spots marketplace offers premium local cable TV airtime at discounted rates using an auction model the company has been using for several years to sell unused radio ad time. To match channels with potential advertisers, the company created a database to bring together an advertiser’s stated target audience with all the local cable systems that provide that particular audience reach. Cable systems from many large markets around the country are participating in the auction with others rapidly joining, said Bid4Spots founder and CEO Dave Newmark. “Advertisers that need to reach people nationwide are especially interested in how our marketplace finally makes it easy to buy time on certain cable networks in particular markets at great rates,” Newmark said. “We offer both sides a level of control and flexibility not often found in cable TV advertising.” Stylish: Nori’s Eco Salon will offer free haircuts to job seekers two days a week beginning June 30. The salon is working with two employment agencies to receive referrals for customers who are seeking jobs, said owner Roya Adjory. Nori’s has been in the Valley for more than 20 years and considers itself the only salon using non-toxic products and sustainable materials. “We are counting our blessings and giving back to the community,” Adjory said. Nori’s Eco Salon is at 15826 Ventura Blvd. The haircuts for job seekers are available form 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Studio City Advertising: The Hallmark Channel created a new commercial format designed exclusively for a single sponsor. Insurance carrier Mutual of Omaho is the first sponsor to sign on for the “Fast Break” format with its ads airing beginning June 23. The format is meant to spotlight a single advertiser in a clutter-free environment with a intentionally brief ad so that viewers stay tuned-in to both the network and the sponsor’s message, said Hallmark Channel President and CEO Bill Abbott. “Clients are increasingly concerned over the amount and length of commercial pods on television; this endeavor will provide greater awareness and ROI for our clients,” Abbott said. The “Fast Break” format will be used in 30-minute, 1-hour and 2-hour show formats. Chatsworth Power: Langford Performance Engineering modified a Ford S-Max with a liquid-fueled microturbine made by Capstone Turbine Corp. The Whisper Eco-Logic car gets up to 80 mpg in early stage demonstration testing. Using a Capstone C30 microturbine in the vehicle has been under development by Langford for two years. “The design characteristics of Capstone’s turbine permits ultra low emissions, high fuel economy, multi fuel capability, no coolants or lubricating oil, and little to no maintenance in an automotive application,” said Jim Crouse, Capstone’s Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Langford will market and demonstrate the plug in hybrid vehicle in hopes of further developing this concept with a suitable automotive partner who could commercialize the product for U.S. use. Supplier: IRIS International Inc. received the Supplier Pinnacle Award from Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, the group purchasing unit of the Premier healthcare alliance. Winners are recognized for their outstanding management of Premier agreements and drive toward the mutual goal of providing clinical and financial value to the not-for-profit hospitals that are members of the Premier alliance. Thomas Warekois, President of the Iris Diagnostics Division, and Corporate Vice Presidentaccepted the award June 17 at the 2009 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim “We are delighted to be honored by Premier for the second year in a row for exceeding performance expectations, and we are particularly proud for the first time to be among Premier’s prestigious Pinnacle Award recipients,” Warekois said. Glendale Art: Do-it-yourself ceramics franchiser Color Me Mine has teamed with Disney Pixar to offer children’s events based around Pixar’s new film, “Up.” The events build awareness and excitement for the film and its characters by giving children the opportunity to create an “Up”-themed ceramic plate, and receive official movie activity sheet, coloring sheets and bookmarks. “Disney and Color Me Mine both strive to appeal to the family market, offering high quality entertainment and product,” said Color Me Mine Marketing Director Tara Barnett. Burritos: Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening a new location in Glendale. The chain featuring burritos and tacos is building its newest restaurant at what had been the China Inn Express in the 100 block of Glendale Ave. Chipotle also has locations in Burbank, La Ca & #324;ada Flintridge and Woodland Hills. Ventura County Camarillo Research: California State University Channel Islands presented its first Amgen Scholarships to four graduate students on June 20. The recipients are Kartheek Dokka, Rohan Modak, and Sidney Pehrson in the Biotechnology Program, and Yuekia Wu in the Biotechnology and MBA Dual Degree Program. The awarding of the scholarships was part of the 3rd Annual Team Project Colloquium in which students present team projects. The scholarships from Amgen demonstrate the importance of the public-private partnership towards our educational effort, said Dr. Ching-Hua Wang, Professor of Immunology and Microbiology and Chair of the Biology Program. Santa Clarita Valley Valencia Clean: ITT Corp. has renewed its emphasis on developing technologies for governments and businesses to reduce dependence on oil-based fuels. ITT has the capability to offer customers innovative products using alternative fuel sources, such as environmentally friendly compressed natural gas regulators. “Over time, these products have earned a reputation for world-class reliability and performance in the most demanding applications,” said Jim Dauw, president of ITT’s Control Technologies business. Santa Clarita Small: The Small Business Development Center at College of the Canyons received the 2009 Service Excellence and Innovation Award from the Los Angeles district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The center was recognized for providing value to small businesses and advancing program delivery and management through innovative means. Also honored was Connie Sparks, senior trainer and counselor at the SBDC and founder/president of the Wade Institute.

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