Daily Business Report-June 6, 2013
San Diego Rental Market Stable
Rents increased during the winter in San Diego’s rental market, but not by much, KPBS reports. The typical two-bedroom apartment is renting for about $1,428 this spring. That’s up nearly $120 from the average rent one year ago. The San Diego County Apartment Association takes the pulse of the rental market every six months. Association President Alan Pentico said apartment rents have climbed back to where they were before the economy collapsed in 2007. “We follow job growth. As people get jobs, they can afford to move out of their parent’s home or if they doubled up, they can go back to living on their own,” Pentico said. “And that’s what we’re starting to see in this survey.”
The vacancy rate held steady at 4.5 percent, according to Pentico. He said a market with a vacancy rate of 5 percent is considered in balance. Pentico predicted the rising rents and low vacancy rate will likely encourage the construction of more multi-family housing in the coming year.
Alaska Airlines Offers a Third Nonstop Route to Hawaiian Islands
Alaska Airlines is implementing new nonstop air service from San Diego to Lihue, Kauai, the third nonstop route between San Diego and the Hawaiian Islands offered by the airline, complementing existing service to Oahu and Maui.
Balboa Park Conservancy and Balboa Park Central Talk Merger
The Balboa Park Conservancy and Balboa Park Central, two nonprofit organizations working on behalf of the city-owned park, are working toward a merger sometime next year. The Conservancy, formed in 2010, is primarily responsible for raising funds for capital projects and park maintenance. Balboa Park Central provides services to visitors and park institutions and operates the visitors center in the park. “The ongoing working relationship between the Conservancy and Balboa Park Central revealed a natural alignment between our organizations in regards to caring about the whole of the Park and the quality of the visitor experience,” said Carol Chang, the Balboa Park Conservancy’s board president. “It became readily apparent that combining our organizations would not only greatly benefit one another, but the future of the Park as well.”
San Diego Nonprofits Ranked No. 1 in Nation
San Diego’s charities are the best in the nation, according to report from Charity Navigator. Charities in San Diego were ranked 19th best in the nation last year. This year, they have climbed to No. 1, topping cities such as Houston, Kansas City, Cincinnati and San Francisco. Charity Navigator rates the charities in 30 U.S. cities based on growth, funding, assets, efficiency and ethics, according to the organization’s website. (KPBS report).
Information Session Scheduled for Craft Beer Certificate Program at SDSU
Persons wishing to enroll in a craft beer certificate program offered by the San Diego State University College of Extended Studies are encouraged to attend an information session July 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Aztec Brewing Co., 2330 La Mirada Drive, No. 300, in Vista. To register, visit www.neverstoplearning.net/craftbeer. The certificate program for adults 21 and older will offer students an opportunity to learn from instructors who are professionals in the industry in an interactive, hands-on learning environment. Classes will be held both at on-site breweries and SDSU, providing students an opportunity to network with local industry experts. To learn more about the program, call (619) 594-1138.
Greater San Diego Business Association Holds Annual Business Awards Luncheon on June 20
Robert Gleason, chief financial officer and general counsel for Evans Hotels, will receive the State Farm Insurance Good Neighbor Award on June 20 as part of the Greater San Diego Business Association’s annual Business Awards luncheon. The new award goes to a member of the LGBT community who is dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Mission Valley Hotel, 1433 Camino del Rio South.
Awards will be presented in the following categories to these seven companies, not-for-profit organizations,and individuals:
• GSDBA Business of the Year: Bair Financial Planning, Marci Bair, principal.
• GSDBA New Business of the Year: Wang’s North Park.
• Nonprofit of the Year: Imperial Court de San Diego.
• Community Leadership Award: Todd Gloria.
• Corporate Partner of the Year: Wells Fargo.
• Corporate Diversity Leader: Comerica.
Luncheon tickets are $60. They can be ordered online at www.gsdba.org.
Julie Austin Reappointed to Development Disabilities Council
Julie Austin, 57, of Oceanside, has been reappointed to Area Board XIII of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, where she has served since 2012. Austin, reappointed by Gov. Brown, has been an independent special education and disabilities advocate since 1997 and an advocate for the developmentally disabled community since 1995. She was the owner and general manager at Brengle Terrace Animal Hospital from 1993 to 1994 and a retail sales associate at Aquarium Supplies Unlimited from 1991 to 1993. Austin held multiple positions at Zoecon Industries Veterinary Pharmaceuticals and Pet Supplies from 1988 to 1991, including regional sales manager. The position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Austin is a Democrat.
Dan McGuckin Named Operations Manager for Turner Construction Co. San Diego Office
Turner Construction Co. has promoted Dan McGuckin to operations manager for the company’s San Diego office. McGuckin is currently directing the $470 million Terminal 2 West Building and Airside expansion at San Diego International Airport. McGuckin has held numerous roles on high level projects including the San Diego Convention Center expansion, operations manager for the 55 Airports in the Southwest region of the nationwide Baggage Screening Deployment Program, and project executive on several projects including the 1Mission and Aperture condominium projects. He originally joined Turner Construction Company in 1982.
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Real Estate Sales
Miramar Industrial Building
A 9,744-square-foot industrial building at 7737 Formula Place in San Diego has been sold to the Howarde Langman Family Trust for $1.5 million. The seller was the Shannon Family Trust. The buyer plans to operate the space for general office and warehouse facilities with a proposed move-in date of August. Colliers International and Prudential were the brokers.
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San Diego Authors to be Panelists in Summer Reading Program
San Diego authors Kathi Diamant, Laurel Corona, Zohreh Ghahremani, Caitlin Rother and Judith Liu will be featured on a panel at a June 29 summer reading program sponsored by Adventures by the book in partnership with the Carlsbad Library. The authors, members of San Diego Writing Women, will be joined by moderator Susan McBeth, founder of Adventures by the Book. The program will be at 4 p.m. at the Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane in Carlsbad. It is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing. For more information, contact Jessica Padilla at (760) 602-2049.
Panelists to Discuss Catholic Church’s Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael D’Antonio, author of a new book about the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal, joins other panelists at a June 26 program discussing clergy sex abuse in the United States and Southern California. It will be held at 7 p.m. at Alliant University’s Green Hall, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego. The event is co-sponsored by IVAT, the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma at Alliant University and SNAP, The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. D’Antonio’s book, “Mortal Sins: Sex, Crime and the Era of Catholic Scandal,” is a sweeping account of the church’s sexual abuse scandal and the persons who fought for justice. Other panelists: Patrick Wall, a former priest, now advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse; San Diego attorney Irwin Zalkin; and A.W. Richard Sipe, a former priest and expert on celibacy and sexual abuse in the church who lives in San Diego.
SDSU Fundraising Campaign Tops $400 Million
The Campaign for SDSU, the campus fundraising program, has climbed to more than $400 million, getting a big boost from a $250,000 donation by Union Bank to the university’s Guardian Scholars program. Launched in 2007, the campaign has benefited from 76 gifts of $1 million or more. It has included more than $200 million for SDSU’s eight colleges to establish faculty endowments and support academic programming. Another $55 million in gifts support students through scholarships, internships and research opportunities.
Adrian Noble to Finish His Last Summer Shakespeare Run
This is the last summer in a three-year run for renowned Shakespeare director Adrian Noble, who’s been at the helm of The Old Globe’s outdoor Shakespeare series in Balboa Park. Noble spent 13 years as chief of England’s Royal Shakespeare Company. This summer’s season includes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (June 2-Sept. 29), “The Merchant of Venice” (June 9-Sept. 28) and for the festival’s annual non-Shakespeare selection, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” (June 16-Sept. 26).
Eight San Diego County Cases Linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak
The number of San Diego County Hepatitis A cases associated with a recall of Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend of frozen berries sold through Costco has grown to eight, according to officials with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. The eight local individuals with hepatitis A reported eating the frozen berry blend purchased from Costco. Six of the cases were hospitalized and have fully recovered. Two more local cases are currently under investigation. At least 49 cases in seven states have been identified in the outbreak, and at least 12 have been reported in other counties in California. Health officials expect more cases to be reported because it can take up to seven weeks to become ill with hepatitis A after exposure to the virus. “If you ate the recalled frozen berry blend within the past two weeks, talk to your health care provider about getting immunizations to prevent the illness,” said Wilma Wooten, county public health officer.
Walden Family Services Staff and Volunteers Raise $3,850 at the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon
Staff members and volunteers of Walden Family Services, a nonprofit foster care and adoption agency, ran the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon in support of the foster youth, adoptive youth and families they serve. The team, “Running4Families,” reached its goal of raising $3,850. Walden team members included Jennifer Chavez, Alanna Chiler, Craig Gainor, Erica Hoy, Sarah Lara-Toney, Elia Madera, Michelle Ozanne, Teresa Stivers and Wendy Van Dyk. The agency is currently raising money to send foster youth to camp. To donate, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/foster-youth-summer-camp-fund.
San Diego County Fair Opens on Saturday
The annual mix of down-home agricultural exhibits, belly-busting food, eye-catching entertainment and powerhouse musical lineups is set to return to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for a month-long engagement on Saturday with the opening of the 2013 San Diego County Fair. The fair runs through July 4.
Touting a theme of “Game On!,” this year’s fair is designed to spotlight classic and nostalgic games and show how these have evolved over the years — from board games and pinball to television, videos and computers — and to demonstrate how technology has enhanced the gaming culture beyond dreams.
Of course, the fair has plenty of food and drink vendors spread across the fairway and the infield track area. And each year, Fair officials spice things up with some very unusual food offerings that, well, can test one’s willingness to break the normal gastronomical barriers. This year, among other items, vendors will be selling Krispy Kreme sloppy Joes; deep-fried, bacon-wrapped pickles; chipotle BBQ beef chips; bacon beer; wild boar kabobs; and waffle dogs.
Also new this year is a “Star Trek Exhibition,” an interactive, museum-style experience involving one of the largest collections of authentic Star Trek artifacts and information ever put on public display, according to Fair officials. (sdnews.com)
