COMMERCE

Steve Cushman

                                                                March, 2012

First Monday Lunch. You do not want to miss this March 5 member's lunch at the Chamber. On the patio. FREE. Learn how to prepare the best hot dogs in Santa Barbara. Learn CPR in 10 minutes from the best looking firefighters in the World. 11:30 AM- 1:00 PM. Look for the fire truck parked out front. This is part of our campaign to get everyone CPR certified.

Government Relations Council. The Russians are coming. The GRC meeting this month is March 22 at 7:30 AM. Free continental breakfast. We will host former city council member Gil Garcia and a contingent of 30 young Russian business people. We will hold a discussion about what it is like to work with local governments, comparing Russian and American experiences. We will invite our local elected officials to attend. All members are invited to attend.

Tourism Committee. Our committee is recruiting members. Projects under consideration are: Cabrillo Blvd flags; waterfront signage; cultural institution signage; multilingual signage; an on line hospitality training program; red tile walk; maps in parking garages; multiple mini visitor centers in businesses; creation of a series of training videos that emphasize "The Santa Barbara Experience" and focus on customer service for anyone who works with visitors. We need some creative minds to help with these efforts, call me to volunteer.

Earth Day. The Chamber is proud to be a sponsor of Earth Day, April 21-22. Look for our booth at Alameda Park. For more information go to 805.963.0583 * www.cecsb.org.

Breakfast with Jack at SBCC. President Jack Friedlander has invited all chamber members to join him at the Santa Barbara City College Gourmet Dining Room for, yes, a free breakfast. The dates are March 16 and/or 23, from 7:30-9:00 AM. The President would like some advice on what types of curriculum would best serve the needs of the business community. Believe it or not.....reserved parking. RSVP to Angie Esqueda, esqueda@sbcc.edu. Or 897-3533

Star Award Winners: (awards presented at March 12 State of the City)

   Collaborator. Penny Jenkins, CADA

   Innovator: Dr. Sumita Pennathur, UCSB

   Businessman: Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, Sansum Clinic

   Businesswoman: Laura McIver, Canary Hotel

    Monday, March 5, 2012  

924 Anacapa St., Ste.

Making It In Santa Barbara is a series of short biographies on local businesses in the manufacturing sector.  The goal is  to showcase local  companies 

who have moved

beyond the beach to produce products for use around the world.  

For Don Radon of Radon Boats, boat making is second nature. Don spent much of his youth helping his father build some of the most advanced boats for the notoriously rough waters of the Channel Islands in a garage in Goleta. Don Radon's father, Ron Radon, started building boats in early 1966 after realizing the shortcomings of a boat he purchased for commercial abalone diving. With the construction of their line of boats for commercial diving they were able to work in almost any sea condition and were able to cover more territory very quickly than most boats in the fleet.

Radon Boats are in high demand as patrol boats in areas including, but not limited to, Santa Barbara and Hawaii. These boats are high end and made from the best quality materials. They offer boats from their smallest at twenty two feet up to forty two feet. The thing that Don Radon appreciates is "working with each customer individually." Working in his shop in Santa Barbara Don makes each boat fit the needs of the customer while enjoying the beauty and mystique that Santa Barbara has to offer. "It's great to live here. [Santa Barbara] has so much history. The weather is good and you don't have to be inside all the time."Don is proud to say how the operations have continued to stay family run, "we do everything from initial design, engine installation and electronics."

Though the Santa Barbara marine industry is small, Radon boats have come to be recognized all over the world. Due to the economy the market has slowed and Radon boats has had to downsize to about half the employees, but they have stayed true to the individuals who have stayed with them the longest and continue to make boats to fit the needs for many sea faring uses. "The Santa Barbara marine industry is small but we have a lot of interaction with the people we've grown with."

Visitor Center - 1 Garden St.

March

Visitor Center  

News  

  

 

 

 

 

Traditionally February and March are fantastic months for northbound Gray Whale Watching! There have been some "Epic Sightings" recently, with plenty of Humpbacks and even a few Orcas. There was also a killer whale calf cavorting in the pack. And, of course, lots of dolphins. What Fun!

 

There are many different boat trips to choose from:

 * CONDOR EXPRESS, 882-0088, Sea Landing, 75 ft cruiser
Whale Watching:  9 am, noon, 3 pm, $45 adult, $27 child (with 10% VC disc)
* DOUBLE DOLPHIN, 962-2826, Sailing Center, 50 ft catamaran
Whale Watching: daily $30 adult, $10 child
Sunset Cruise: daily $25
* CELEBRATION, 888-316-9363, Stearns Wharf, 64 ft cruiser
Whale Watching: 10 am & 1 pm, $30 adult, $10 child (with coupon)
Sunset Cruise: Fri-Sat-Sun, $35

 

Here is what is happening at The Museum of Art:

* Van Gogh to Munch; Publicly Private; Pasadena to Santa Barbara; French 19th Century Art; Scenery, Story Spirit

* Thursday Night Film Series, 5:30 pm

* 3/10 - Sandra Torres Porcelain Trunk Show, Museum of Art Store, 10 am-2 pm

* 3/11 - Studio Sundays on the Front Steps, 1:30-4:30 pm,

* 3/13 - Mandelring Quartet, 7:30 pm

* 3/15 - Vincent van Gogh and the Invention of a New Language of Painting with Jill Finstein, 10 am-12 noon

* March 25 - Through The Photographer's Lens: Enrico Natali, 2:30 pm, www.sbma.net 

 

Here are some interesting events:

* 1st Thursday, www.santabarbaradowntown.com 

* 1st Friday - SB Astronomy Club, Museum of Natural History, 7:30 pm, www.sbau.org 

* 1st Sunday, Arlington West Memorial, Stearns Wharf,  www.veteransforpeace.org 

* Sundays - Sea Stories, 11:30 -12 & Shark Sundays 3:30-4:30 pm, Sea Center, www.sbnature.org  

* Weekends - How To Train Your Dinosaur, Santa Barbara Zoo,  www.sbzoo.org 

* The Flying A Studio: Silent Film in Santa Barbara,  www.santabarbaramuseum.com 

* Science PlayLab & The Art of Natural History,  www.sbnature.org 

* March 9-10 - Women's Festivals, Santa Barbara City College,  www.womensfestivals.org 

* March 10 - SB Outrigger Canoe Club Try It Out Event, by Sea Landing, 10 am,  www.sbocc.org 

* March 10 - Princess Day, Santa Barbara Zoo, shows at 1, 2, and 3 pm, www.sbzoo.org 

* March 10 - Brazilian Dinner & Dance Show, 240 Studio, 1 N Calle Cesar Chavez, 5-8 pm, 259-8318

* March 11 - Daylight Saving Time Begins at 2 am - Spring Forward ¸¸

* March 12 - State of the City Breakfast, Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort, 7:30 am

* March 14-18 Annual Taste of Solvang Food & Wine Festival, www.SolvangUSA.com 

* March 15 - SB Maritime Museum Free Community Day, 10 am-5 pm, www.sbmm.org 

* March 15 - The California Abalone Industry, SB Maritime Museum, 7-9 pm,  www.sbmm.org 

* March 16-18 SB International Orchid Show, Earl Warren Showgrounds,  www.sborchidshow.com 

* March 17 - St. Patrick's Day

* March 17 - Orchid Show Reception & Auction, SB Botanic Garden Benefit, Earl Warren, 6:30 pm

* March 25 - Cruise Ship Visit - Sapphire Princess

* March 30 - Cesar Chavez Holiday

* March 31 - UCSB Triathlon, UCSB Campus Point, 8 am,  www.ucsbtriathlon.org/race 

 

And for all events in March, go to: www.sbchamber.org, click on Calendars and then City Events. All ongoing events listed at the beginning followed by events in date order.

 

Happy February!

Annmarie Rogers

Visitor Center

    Thursday, March 22, 2012  

924 Anacapa St., Ste.