J.H. Snyder Co. will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the retail component of its NoHo Commons project on February 27. The retail portion of the $200 million development project will be anchored by a HOWS Market. Among the tenants that have already signed onto the center are Wells Fargo bank and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. NoHo Commons, which is located at Lankershim and Chandler Boulevards, will also include more than 700 residential units. Groundbreaking for a portion of the residential development took place in 2003 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

Woodland Hills Chamber, Gala Recognition Dinner & Dance 6:00 p.m. Hilton Woodland Hills, 6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills $80 Contact (818) 347-4737

Guitar Center reported a 23.6 percent increase in its fourth quarter 2005 earnings, the Westlake Village guitar retail chain reported income of $33.5 million, or $1.14 per share on consolidated net sales of $562.8 million compared to earnings of $28.3 million, or $0.99 per share on consolidated net sales of $468.9 million in the same period last year. Marty Albertson, chairman and CEO, said the sales increase, while below expectations, was due to their product and efficiency, as well as store expansion. The 2005 earnings increase in the fourth quarter was affected by the after-tax charge of $1.7 million as a result of two class action lawsuits and an after tax gain of $883,000 due to stock-based compensation. For the full year of, Guitar Center’s earnings jumped 20.9 percent to $76.7 million or $2.67 per share on consolidated net sales of $1.8 billion versus $63.4 million, or $2.29 per share on sales of $1.5 billion in 2004. Full year sales increased 17.8% and included a $2.1 million after-tax charge after the acquisition of Music & Arts Center Inc.

Figure skater Michelle Kwan has signed on as a spokesperson and representative for The Walt Disney Corp, the Burbank-based entertainment company announced Thursday. As part of a multi-year agreement, Kwan will participate in advertising, promotions, or public service announcements involving all Disney businesses, take part in company-wide initiatives and make personal appearances at live Disney events and in original programming. Kwan has previously appeared in Disney and ABC Television specials, including the primetime special, Reflections on Ice: Michelle Skates to the Music of Disney’s Mulan. Kwan’s grace and dignity has helped establish her universal appeal, said Matt Ryan, senior vice president, Brand Management. “We at Disney are honored to be associated with Michelle and know that her unique style and commitment to quality will be enjoyed and appreciated by our audiences everywhere,” Ryan said. In her skating career, Kwan has won five World Championships, two Olympic medals, and eight consecutive and nine overall U.S. National Championships.

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank will return rates for most of its parking lots to 2002 levels effective Monday, February 20th. Rates at three of the airports four economy lots will increase, although the largest economy lot will remain at its current daily maximum. “The airport has been offering parking at a deep discount for the past three years, but increased labor costs and steep hikes in paving costs due to rising oil prices have brought us to the point where these adjustments are necessary,” said Scott Smith, director of Financial Services in a news release. The new rates include a 12 percent parking tax imposed by the city. Economy Lot A will be unchanged at $7 per day. Economy Lots B and C have a daily maximum of $9 per day. Economy Lot D will have a daily maximum of $11 per day. Valet parking will costs a maximum of $20 per day, and Short Term Parking will cost a maximum of $39 per day.

CaminoSoft Corp. lost $221,537 or $0.02 per share in its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, as the company’s efforts to expand its sales base fell short of expectations. Calling the results disappointing, the Westlake Village-based storage software developer said its efforts to expand its sales base have taken more time than anticipated. CaminoSoft has been working to expand its customer base from the small- and mid-sized businesses the company has traditionally served to larger, enterprise organizations. Officials said that the time for identifying and selling through to those accounts is longer than it is for its traditional customers. CaminoSoft’s loss compares with a net loss of $258,810 or $0.02 per share a year ago. Net sales for the fiscal first quarter fell to $470,213 compared with net sales of $571,750 last year.

RPMC, a Calabasas-based marketing company, will promote the centennial event for New Balance, a manufacturer of athletic footwear headquartered in Boston, Mass. The travel promotion involves a program of 500,000 athletes, the New Balance Global Centennial Team, participating in 50 races around the world. Two runners from each race will win a trip to the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October 2006 to represent New Balance.

The popularity of the new Porto’s Bakery and Caf & #233; has led the Burbank City Council to take steps to improve traffic circulation near the business. On Tuesday, the council approved making an alley behind the bakery one-way in the eastbound direction, creating three 15-minute spaces on Magnolia Boulevard for quick pick-up service, and re-striping a city-owned parking lot to allow vehicles to exit onto Hollywood Way. Porto’s opened Jan. 23 at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Hollywood Way in the Magnolia Park neighborhood. Interim Public Works Director Bonnie Teaford described the changes as the city “managing the success” of the bakery and caf & #233;. “The building was empty for so long that the city wanted something viable in there, and Porto’s certainly is that,” Teaford said. “This is tweaking the pattern to make it better.” The change to the alley will be monitored to determine what affect there may be on the adjacent residential neighborhood, Teaford said. Other changes to be made by Porto’s include reconstructing the alley entrance off of Hollywood Way to increase the turning radius; restricting deliveries through the alley to before 7 a.m.; and reconstructing the first driveway south of the alley to allow better entry from Hollywood Way.

Masterplan, a Chatsworth-based provider of technology services to more than 1,400 healthcare customers, has acquired Genesis Technology Partners. Bruce Cree, chairman and CEO of Masterplan, said the acquisition will make the company the leader in its field. “The addition of GTP will benefit the customers of both companies by allowing Masterplan to offer a wide range of maintenance and information services unparalleled in our industry,” said Cree in a prepared statement. “Masterplan is now the country’s largest independent service provider focused solely on delivering high quality, cost-effective equipment maintenance to the healthcare industry.” Masterplan employs over 500 technicians nationwide offering providing service on medical devices such as CT and MRI.

Sun Valley Area Chamber Mixer 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Waste Management, 9081 Tujunga Ave., Sun Valley Contact (818) 768-2014