Avocado marketer Calavo Growers reported a record third quarter, with earnings up 141 percent to $5.9 million, or 41 cents per share.

“The money’s in the bank.”

That was the word from Texas billionaire Gerald Ford at the Aug. 31 announcement of the closing of a $500 million recapitalization deal with Pacific Capital Bancorp. It was Ford’s first public appearance regarding the deal, which leaves him with 86 percent of the tri-county region’s largest independent banking company.

Online software training firm Lynda.com purchased 57,474 square feet in Carpinteria on Aug. 31, continuing its expansion and move into the South Coast.

Don Facciano, the president and CEO of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association for the past 10 years, will leave the post on Sept. 1 to concentrate on his campaign for Ventura County treasurer-tax collector.

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps plans to appear Aug. 30 at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to highlight a new $1.5 million federal grant to help build the airport’s new terminal.