Dubroff: A personal view of why COVID-19 testing matters
Reports that a resident of Santa Clara County died of COVID-19 in early February sent me scrambling back to the weekly diary I’ve been keeping about life at the Business Times for the past 20 years. My barely legible notes, plus a few emails, make it clear that sometime around the Martin Luther King Day Read More →
Tri-county manufacturers up to COVID-19 challenge
Manufacturers are finding niche opportunities as Central Coast operations pivot to serve essential industries like health care in order to survive a deep downturn. The shift has resonated throughout the supply chain as manufacturers aim to retain all-important relationships. “The challenge isn’t just in operating, keeping your doors open, it’s keeping supplies and components coming Read More →
Santa Barbara and Goleta chambers to merge
Two of the region’s largest chambers of commerce have agreed to merge, creating a regional chamber for South Santa Barbara County that mirrors efforts elsewhere in the region. The Chamber of the Santa Barbara Region and the Goleta Chamber of Commerce announced April 24 that they will combine memberships, creating an organization with more than Read More →
Our view: Oil price crash cause for celebration on Earth Day
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Russian President Vladimir Putin have done what 50 years of protests could not accomplish. Their ill-timed decision to launch a price war has made it more economical to leave oil in the ground than to drill for it anywhere Read More →
Tri-county vintners use virtual wine tasting to connect to customers
Daniel Daou of Daou Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles hosted his first virtual wine dinner from home recently, reaching 140 people in Arizona. They spent an hour and a half with him in their own homes as they enjoyed a meal packaged by a local restaurant and three Daou wines. “I have to tell Read More →
Our view: Progress with numbers but hard road ahead
The Central Coast is proving — along with much of California — that social distancing and restricted activity can bend the curve of the coronavirus pandemic. But the battle is far from over and there are troubling signs that the disease will double back with a vengeance once the rules are relaxed. At press time, Read More →
Pandemic kills demand for tri-county produce and cut flowers
COVID-19 restrictions that canceled events and shuttered restaurants have collapsed distribution chains for fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers grown throughout the Tri-Counties. Consumer demand plunged, growers said, as buyers prioritized shelf-stable goods like grains, pasta and frozen and canned foods, foregoing berries, leafy greens and cut flowers grown on the Central Coast. “(Agriculture is) an Read More →
