Steve Cushman

BISHOP RANCH.  

On August 18, the City of Goleta will hold Part II of a workshop on Bishop Ranch, the single largest undeveloped site within the South Coast's urban boundary.

The Chamber and the Coastal Housing Coalition supports the initiation of Bishop Ranch, which would allow the City to study whether Bishop Ranch might present a unique opportunity to address the shortage of housing for local workers on the South Coast.

We encourage those who support studying the possibilities for this important site to attend the hearing at 6:00 pm on August 18 at Goleta City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive to add their voice to this important debate.

SMART METERS.  UCSB hosted an energy meeting on July 27 at the Corwin Center. The discussion was open to the public and featured a panel of experts on smart meters and a smart electrical grid. I participated on the panel representing the business community. All aspects of the grid and the panel were discussed including financing, health, security and law. Several hundred people attended the two-hour meeting. The conclusion of the panel was that the meters and the grid were safe and would result in a more efficient use of our electrical resources. Edison will begin installing the meters in early 2012 in Santa Barbara. The Public Utilities Commission is discussing whether individuals may elect to opt out of the mandated program.

CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.  The Chamber's GRC and endorsement committee will partner with the Restaurant and Lodging Association to produce a city council candidate forum on September 28 at 11:30 AM at Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort. The forum will provide the business community an opportunity to question the candidates for the 3 open seats.

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THE PACIFIC RIM.  Business First Bank is sponsoring a free morning seminar on banking, the economy, and opportunities on the Pacific Rim. The event will be held at Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort on September 8 from 7:30-10:30 AM. Speakers from the Federal Reserve Bank and Cal State Channel Islands will participate. This will be the first opportunity for the community to hear from Dr. Sung Sohn, the University's distinguished professor and expert on Pacific Rim economics.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COUNCIL

This month:

Barry Berkus

B3 Architects

Thursday, August 18, 2011
7:30 am
924 Anacapa St., Ste. 1
Call for more information at 805/965-3023  

July was very busy at the Visitor Center. We had thousands of people stop by to ask for help and get ideas about what to do in town. There were many things going on, as usual, so it was easy to point them in the right direction.  

Captain Fred of the Condor Express said there have been more whales this year than ever! The Double Dolphin was busy as well with sunset and dinner cruises to choose from. There were also many festivals and events that were very popular, like the Wine Festival at Chase Palm Park and the Greek Festival in Oak Park. We are lucky to live in such a wonderful and fun place.

Here are some exciting things to do in August:

· Mondays · Wine Tasting on the roof at Canary · www.canarysantabarbara.com

· Tuesdays · Music at the Ranch · www.goletahistory.org

· Wednesdays · Free Movies · UCSB Campbell Hall at 7:30 pm · www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

· Thursdays · Concerts in Chase Palm Park · 6-8:30 pm

· Fridays · Free Movies · The Sunken Garden SB County Courthouse at 8:30 pm · www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

· Saturdays · El Capitan Concert Series · www.elcapitancanyon.com

· Through Aug 13 · Music Academy of the West Summer Festival · www.musicacademy.org

· Through Aug 28 · Museum of Art · Van Gogh to Munch · www.sbma.net

· Through Sept 11 · Butterflies Alive! · www.sbnature.org

· Ongoing · SB Botanic Garden Classes and Hikes · www.sbbg.org

· Aug 1-7 · Fiesta Entertainment at Paseo Nuevo ·

www.paseonuevoshopping.com/Events/Details/39052

· Aug 3-6 · Fiesta Entertainment at La Cumbre Plaza ·

www.shoplacumbre.com/Events/Details/39466

· Aug 3-7 · Fiesta/Old Spanish Days · www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

· Aug 4 · 1st Thursday · www.santabarbaradowntown.com

·Aug 4·Celebración de los Dignatarios, Fiesta's wildest party!! SB Zoo at 5-10 pm · www.sbzoo.org

· August 12 & 19 · Friday Night Films · Museum of Art at 5:30 pm · www.sbma.net

· Aug 12 · Reagan 100: Special Gallery Event · Reagan Ranch Center ·

www.yaf.org/eventdetails.aspx?id=6893

· Aug 20 · Woodies at the Beach (Car Show) · SBCC West Campus at 9 am-3 pm · www.nationalwoodieclub.com/chapter_sbarb.htm

· Aug 21 · SB WILD Family Festival · SB Natural History Museum at 10 am-4 pm · www.sbnature.org

· Aug 23 · SB Chamber Summer Trade Show · Cabrillo Arts Pavilion at 5 pm ·www.sbchamber.org

· Aug 26 · Nights at SBMA · Museum of Art at 5:30-9:30 pm · www.sbma.net

· Aug 26 · Free movies on the pier · http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Departments/Waterfront/Movies+on+Stearns+Wharf.htm

·Aug 27·Zoofari Ball XXVI, Hot Hot Hot!· The Zoo's annual fundraiser at the Zoo at 5:30-11 pm · www.sbzoo.org

· Aug 28 · Wags N' Whiskers Festival · Girsh Park at 11-4 · www.care4paws.org

Please see The Chamber Web Site for details on all the events for the summer and all the Main Events for 2011. Go to www.sbchamber.org, click on CALENDARS and then CITY EVENTS.

Happy August!

Annmarie Rogers

Visitor Center

1 Garden Street

805-965-3021 or 568-1811

Annmarie@sbchamber.org