Turn of fate on 9/11 spurred dramatic career shift to winemaking
By Tom Bronzini / Friday, March 21st, 2014 / Central Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Turn of fate on 9/11 spurred dramatic career shift to winemaking
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Peter Work and wife Rebecca watched from the Newark, N.J., Airport as the twin towers of the World Trade Center went crashing down in a cloud of dust and debris.
Eberle Winery to retain founder as ambassador, hold production steady
By Tom Bronzini / Thursday, March 20th, 2014 / Top Stories, Tourism, Wine & Viticulture / Comments Off on Eberle Winery to retain founder as ambassador, hold production steady
[EDITOR’S NOTE: This story, originally published on March 20, was updated on March 31 with additional reporting.] When Paso Robles viticulture pioneer Gary Eberle was unexpectedly ousted as general manager at Eberle Winery in January, it sounded like the new majority partners had some radical changes in mind to boost profits. Eberle told several media Read More →
Michael and Anne Towbes give $5M to Granada Theatre group
By Staff Report / Monday, March 17th, 2014 / Nonprofits, Real Estate, Tourism / Comments Off on Michael and Anne Towbes give $5M to Granada Theatre group
Developer and banker Michael Towbes and his wife, Anne, have made a $5 million gift to the Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts. The gift is irrevocable, the organization said in a March 17 announcement, and is in addition to the $15 million the couple has previously given to SBCPA.
Ceres to plow $23M raise into sorghum tests
By Stephen Nellis / Friday, March 14th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Banking & Finance, Tourism, Tri-County Public Companies / Comments Off on Ceres to plow $23M raise into sorghum tests
Thousand Oaks-based energy crop firm Ceres has raised $23 million that it hopes will help it to break even as it continues testing its seeds in Brazil.
Big firms check in to Santa Barbara hotel boom
By Marlize van Romburgh / Friday, March 14th, 2014 / Real Estate, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy / Comments Off on Big firms check in to Santa Barbara hotel boom
A Philadelphia company’s $41.7 million purchase of Hotel Oceana in Santa Barbara signals that large out-of-town investors are betting on a major boom in South Coast tourism.
South Coast golfers trod parched courses amid drought
By Christine De La Cruz / Friday, March 7th, 2014 / Agribusiness, Central Coast, East Ventura County, Features, Green Coast, South Coast, Top Stories, Tourism, Tri-County Economy, West Ventura County / Comments Off on South Coast golfers trod parched courses amid drought
Some of the greens on the South Coast are starting to look a little brown as regional golf courses cut back on watering amid California’s worsening three-year drought.
Hotel Oceana sells to Philadelphia firm for $41.7M
By Staff Report / Thursday, March 6th, 2014 / Real Estate, Top Stories, Tourism / Comments Off on Hotel Oceana sells to Philadelphia firm for $41.7M
Hersha Hospitality Trust said it purchased the 122-room Santa Barbara hotel as part of a strategy to get into one of the “highest-demand gateway markets in the United States.”