Woodland Hills The Valley Cultural Center will be hosting its 9th Annual Food, Wine & Micro-Brew Fest fundraiser from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m on May 15 at the Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills. “The event always sells out in advance,” said Jim Kinsey, VCC’s president and CEO. “We have about 1300 people attend each year.” The $50 per person admission will allow guests free range of the food offerings from 28 restaurants ranging from Poquito Mas to Ruth’s Chris Steak House; spirits from 14 wineries and 5 microbreweries; and coffee, tea, smoothies and soft drinks for the teetotalers. “Once you’ve paid your entry fee it’s all you can eat and drink,” said Kinsey.” A wide variety of goods and services will be on the auction block, presented in both silent and live-auction formats. Some of the more unique items up for bid include a 12,000-square-foot vacation rental casa in Manzanillo, Mex. and an electric bicycle. All activities will take place under a 25,000-square-foot canopy that will be either air conditioned or heated, depending on the weather. “The temperature will be a comfortable 72 degrees,” Kinsey joked. This year presenting sponsor Westfield will have a section within the canopy to promote their new Village project. “It’s a very interesting, unique, interactive area,” said Kinsey, “and that’s all I can say about it.” All of the proceeds from the event go to support the VCC’s free programs including the very popular Concerts in the Park and Movies in the Park series, the annual July 4th extravaganza, and the Monday Morning concert program for K-12 students. The 2008 concert and movie schedules are now up on the VCC website (at www.valleycultural.org.) Group tickets are available for $45 each if 10 or more tickets are purchased. Only those 21 or older will be able to enter. —Linda Coburn SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Glendale Launch: The Cheesecake Factory Inc. announced the May 2 opening of its 140th Cheesecake Factory restaurant at the Americana at Brand in Glendale. It contains approximately 11,500 sq. feet and 330 seats. The Cheesecake Factory Inc. is headquartered in Calabasas Hills. Sylmar Fest: Los Angeles Mission College’s award-winning Culinary Arts Institute held its annual Springfest Food & Wine Festival May 10. Participants were able to sample various kinds of cuisine and wines from more than 15 countries. A silent auction and raffles were also held. The event is coordinated by the Los Angeles Mission College Foundation, a support arm for the college made up of community members and civic and business leaders. Proceeds from Springfest went towards scholarship funds for financially disadvantaged students at Mission. Big Sunday: On May 4, Providence Holy Cross and Providence Saint Joseph medical centers hosted a picnic for clients of the Latino Senior Outreach Program (known as “Familias Ayudandos Familias)” as well as their families and all of the program’s volunteers and their families in Veterans’ Memorial County Park in Sylmar. The project was sponsored by Big Sunday, which donated entertainment, transportation for the elderly, food, a petting zoo, games and crafts. Big Sunday sponsors “America’s largest city-wide volunteer day.” Last year the organization brought in 50,000 volunteers of different ages from Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Van Nuys Award: Ford Motor Company has awarded Superior Industries International Inc. in Van Nuys with its highest supplier honor, the 2007 World Excellence Gold Award. “This is the second year in a row that Ford has awarded Gold World Excellence honor to Superior,” said Steven J. Borick, chairman, CEO and president of Superior Industries. “We see this award as a symbol of the strong business relationship between our two companies that has endured for decades. We are proud to be recognized by Ford for our 2007 performance.” Woodland Hills Postage: Free one-cent stamps will be given away at PostalAnnex+ stores in Woodland Hills and Simi Valley through the end of the May. “It’s just our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our customers,” said Steve Goble, vice president of marketing communications for Annex Brands, franchisor of PostalAnnex+. First-class postage rates rise to 42 cents for the first ounce on May 12. For locations and store hours, visit www.Annex Brands.com. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Valencia Volunteers: In celebration of National Healthcare Volunteer Week, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital honored its volunteers during a recognition luncheon May 2 at the Hyatt Valencia. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the value of volunteer time is estimated at $18.77 which translates to $998,602 in donated labor. “Our volunteers also spend hours knitting or crocheting hats and booties for babies born at Henry Mayo. We also have a Pet Visitation program and are actively recruiting volunteers for a music program,” said Maria Strmsek, volunteer services director. The Auxiliary, which includes many of the hospital’s in-service volunteers, also plays an active role in supporting the hospital. In April, 2007, the Auxiliary presented Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Foundation with a check for $50,907. CONEJO VALLEY Agoura Hills Recognition: Symark International, developer of the PowerSeries information security solutions for managing privileged account access, has received the 2008 Tomorrow’s Technology Today Award presented by Info Security Products Guide, a publication about security-related products and technologies. The award recognizes security vendors with groundbreaking network security solutions that are helping raise the bar in information security, according to the company. “This highlights and validates our ongoing commitment to providing industry-leading systems access management solutions that bring significant value to our customers by helping them efficiently and cost-effectively eliminate insider threat and comply with a variety of federal and industry regulations,” said Symark CEO Bob Farber of the award. Thousand Oaks Consulting: Students in California Lutheran University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program will provide free consulting services to local businesses as part of their coursework. In “Consulting to Business,” the final course that many MBA candidates take, teams of students address business owners’ concerns about bookkeeping, financial plans, compensation, marketing, human resources and technology. This gives students a chance to tackle real business problems while providing a free service to companies. The class begins June 1. Interested business owners should contact Ronald E. Hagler, director of CLU’s MBA program, at (805) 493-3371 or [email protected]. Honors: California Lutheran University will recognize students during Honors Day Convocation May 16, 3:30 p.m., in Samuelson Chapel. Sierra College head women’s basketball coach Brandie Murrish will deliver the keynote address and receive the 2008 Outstanding Alumna Award. Under Murrish’s guidance during her first year as head coach, the Sierra College Women’s Basketball team finished second in the California Community College State Tournament. As a result, she was voted 2006-2007 Coach of the Year. During the ceremony, Scholastic Honor Society inductees, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar athletes, the Mark Van Doren Poetry Award recipient and the Dean’s Award recipients will be honored. In addition, newly endowed scholarship donors will be recognized. Westlake Village Honor: For the second consecutive year, radiology management services provider MedSolutions has received “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” under the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center Program. According to the company, MedSolutions was the first radiology management company to be recognized with this award, which it considers to be an outstanding achievement in light of the fact that there are 75,000 call centers in North America and to date only 40have been certified with the award. To attain the certification, MedSolutions passed a detailed audit of its recruiting, training, employee incentives, management roles and responsibilities and quality assurance capabilities. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Luncheon: The City of Palmdale had its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon May 1 at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center. Palmdale Mayor James C. Ledford, City Manager Steve Williams and Palmdale City Council members, volunteers and staff attended the event. During the luncheon, each volunteer received a thank you gift. The City of Palmdale has more than 300 volunteers on record. Volunteers contribute to different City departments including the Parks and Recreation Department, Palmdale Playhouse, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42, Palmdale City Library, South Antelope Valley Emergency Services, Senior Center and the Volunteers on Patrol. SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley Distinction: PrintMasters in Simi Valley has been named the Small Business of the Year for the 38th Assembly District. The company was selected for this honor by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, in conjunction with the California Small Business Association. “Small business is the backbone of California’s economy. I am extremely proud to present this award to such an exemplary business,” said Assemblyman Smyth. “This award gives me an opportunity to acknowledge, at the state level, all of the wonderful things they have done for the community.” The award will be presented at a special luncheon in Sacramento May 28. Remembrance: Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed May 4 at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Simi Valley. During the event, Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple dedicated the Shoah Quilt of Memory and gave a keynote address. The Mount Sinai Shoah Quilt has been 18 months in progress and is comprised of memory squares from families all over the world. The event also featured a memorial candle lighting, a documentary about the quilt’s creators and the Long Beach Opera Company performing selections from “The Diary of Anne Frank” opera.