Daily Business Report — March 4, 2011

A Wee Bit of Ireland in Normal Heights

On St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), it’s not unusual to see a line of revelers snaking down Adams Avenue with hopes of getting into The Ould Sod — or for that matter, its cross-street neighbor, Rosie O’Grady’s. In its 20-plus years in Normal Heights, The Ould Sod (some call it San Diego’s only “real” Irish pub) has become a favorite stop for those in green, eager to gulp down a pint of Guinness poured by native Irish bartenders. Read more in the March online edition of the North Park News (sdnorthparknews.com).

SOHO Tour Visits Cliff May’s Hacienda-Style Homes

Designer Cliff May’s earliest, hacienda-style homes from 1932 to1936 will be open together for the first time during Save Our Heritage Organisation’s annual Home Tour Weekend March 26 and 27. The day-long, self-guided home tour on March 27 will invite visitors inside five rustic, adobe-like homes with multiple beehive fireplaces and large, walled courtyards in the historic neighborhoods of Talmadge, Presidio Hills and Loma Portal.

A classic home designed by May, a San Diego native who went on to be nationally known as “father of the ranch house,” will be the site of a cocktail party on March 26. On both days, SOHO’s Museum Shops at the Marston House and the Whaley House will feature select Spanish Revival and California Ranch House furnishings, period décor and books on architecture, preservation and do-it-yourself projects.

All proceeds from the Historic Home Tour Weekend benefit SOHO, San Diego’s largest preservation organization, in its advocacy and educational work to protect San Diego County’s historic architectural, archeological and cultural heritage, sites and landscapes. Founded in 1960, SOHO recently received a 2011 Governor’s Award for the documentary it produced on its history and role in San Diego’s preservation movement.

Grossmont Healthcare District Sells $136.9 Million in Bonds

The Grossmont Healthcare District has sold $136.9 million in general obligation bonds to finance several capital improvement construction projects over the next several years, including a new heart and vascular center, a new central energy plant and the new Dr. John W. Hardebeck Health Occupations Training Center, among others. Authorization for the bonds sale came from the passage of Proposition G in 2006, a $247 million measure approved by 77 percent of voters in the district. District officials said construction work related to Proposition G could continue until at least 2016. Construction projects are limited to buildings and other fixed assets.

Four of Eight Homes Sold at The Sentinels

Four of eight homes have been sold in Phase 2 of The Sentinels by Davidson at Del Sur, a collection of hilltop homes overlooking La Jolla Valley. The one-, two- and three-level residences range from three to four bedrooms, 3.5 to 4.5 bathrooms and 2,772 to 3,329 square feet. Three of four plans offer ground-floor master bedroom suites offering single-level living. Prices start in the $700,000s. Phase 2 framing is under way and summer move-ins are expected. Home sites range from 6,972 to 16,823 square feet. A limited collection of Sentinels homes will be built by Davidson Communities at Del Sur. The sales office is at 15682 Beltaire Lane, San Diego. For more information, call (858) 756-4283.

Freight Capital Names Vice President of Operations

Juan G. Estrada has been hired as vice president of operations for Freight Capital, a freight factoring company in Carlsbad. Estrada has more than 25 years of experience in client services, international factoring and management. He was previously senior vice president at Citibank. Estrada holds a degrees from Pepperdine University and the University of Phoenix.

SpearHall Relocates

SpearHall Advertising & PR has relocated to Mission Brewery Plaza, 2150 West Washington St. in San Diego after 12 years in the Scripps Ranch business park. “This is a very unique building and it provides the kind of creative atmosphere that is perfect for a marketing company like ours,” said Shelly Hall, agency president. The phone is (619) 683-3700 and the Website is spearhall.com.

Credit Union Executive Receives Industry Award

Heather Moshier, executive vice president for information technology at San Diego County Credit Union, has been selected as the Information Technology Executive of the Year by Credit Union Times, an industry publication. Mosier joined the credit union in 1995 as vice president of information technology and was promoted two years later. Credit Union Times recognized Moshier for integrating cutting-edge technologies and online services benefiting SDCCU customers, including live chat over the Website, electronic bill payment options and a number of personal finance management tools. In August 2009, Moshier was to the executive committee of the Technology Council for the Credit Union National Association and is a former member of the Credit Union Information Security Professional Association.

Statewide Median Incomes Decline

The statewide median income for all personal income tax returns decreased to $34,079 (5.1 percent below 2008), while the median income listed on joint returns decreased to $65,025 (5.7 percent below 2008), according to statistics released by the Franchise Tax Board. The four Bay Area counties of Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara have led California for 38 years in reported highest median incomes. Median income represents the amount reported by a typical California individual or couple.

California taxpayers filed 15.3 million 2009 state income tax returns reporting $1.08 trillion in adjusted gross income, a 2.9 percent decrease from 2008 figures. Adjusted gross income is total income increased or reduced by specific adjustments, before taking the standard or itemized deduction.

Marin County had the highest median income for joint returns at $108,465, a decrease of 8.6 percent from 2008. San Mateo County ranked second with $95,176, Santa Clara County ranked third with $94,209, Contra Costa County ranked fourth with $85,942, and Alameda County ranked fifth with $83,886. Los Angeles County taxpayers filed 25.5 percent of all 2009 income tax returns in California. They reported median incomes of $30,112 for all returns, and $56,438 for joint returns, ranking 34th and 27th, respectively for all counties. The largest percentage gain in median income for all counties was 7.5 percent, reported in Alpine County.

Upcoming SCORE San Diego Workshops:

• March 5 – Business Plan 101: How to Develop Your Best Competitive Advantage – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $79, $89 at the door).

• March 5 – Costing, Pricing, Break-Even Analysis – 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

•  March 8 – Managing Grants and Contracts for Nonprofits – 9 to 11 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

• March 9 – Internet Marketing 301: Increase Sales through Pay-Per-Click – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Carlsbad (705 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad 92011; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 10 – Financing Your Business – 9:30 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 11 – Financial Statements: What They Mean, How to Use Them – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 12 – QuickBooks Basic – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 12 – Internet Marketing 101: Use the Internet to Successfully Market Your Business – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 14 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge – please preregister).

• March 15 – Hiring and Managing Employees – 9 a.m. to noon at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 17 – California Sales and Use Tax Basics – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; pre-paid registration $29, $39 at the door).

• March 18 – Women’s Networking Breakfast & Exhibits – 8 to 11 a.m. at Morgan Run Resort & Club (5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe 92091; Attendees: $30 by March 15, $40 thereafter; Exhibitors: $80 by March 15, $90 thereafter).

• March 19 – Introduction to Starting Your Own Business – 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 19 – Business Plan 201: How to Write a Winning Business Plan – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $99, $109 at the door).

• March 22 – Marketing & Contracting with Federal Government – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 24 – Internet Marketing 302: Develop a Winning E-mail Marketing Success Strategy – 9 a.m. to noon at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $49, $59 at the door).

• March 25 – Professional Selling: Increase Your Business Sales Now! – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University – Kearny Mesa (9388 Lightwave Ave., San Diego 92123; pre-paid registration $69, $79 at the door).

• March 30 – Business Basics 101 – 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at SCORE Entrepreneur Center (550 West C St., #550, San Diego 92101; No charge, please preregister).

• March 30 – How to Start a Nonprofit – 9 to 11:30 a.m. at The San Diego Foundation – Liberty Station (2508 Historic Decatur Road, #200, San Diego 92106; pre-paid registration $39, $49 at the door).

For more information, call (619) 557-7272 or visit score-sandiego.org.

North County:

The Business & Entrepreneur Center and the Small Business Development Center at MiraCosta College will offer free upcoming workshops to help businesses succeed. The workshops will be held at Vista City Hall, 200 Civic Center Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:

April 5:  Financing Options for Businesses: Direct lenders and the SBA will discuss financing options for a business.

May 3: Ways to Market A Business: Learn to identify the “right” customer for a business and easy ways to market your business to them.

June 7: Marketing A Business Using Google Tools: Learn how to use Google tools such as ad words, ad sense, Google trends and more.

Bring a lunch to the workshops. Drinks will be provided.

The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of SD METRO, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.