Santa Clarita Valley Valencia The Mercedes-Benz dealership of Valencia is in the process of a nearly $5 million expansion of its showroom and service center. The dealership opened its doors in December 2005 and is owned by the Sage Automotive Group of Los Angeles. The company owns 10 dealerships in Southern California, including two in Glendale and one in Universal City. The expansion will add 5,000 square feet to the showroom at 23355 Valencia Blvd. and will include the construction of a new lot behind the dealership. Antelope Valley Palmdale The B-2 stealth bomber will be upgraded at the Northrop Grumman Corp. manufacturing facility in Palmdale. Under a contract with the U.S. Air Force, the three-year process of modernizing the bomber’s defensive management systems, which includes antennas and display processors, is underway. The upgrades will include the latest in technology from Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Mission Systems and Training, L3 Communications and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. The B-2 was first introduced in 1997 and has a range of 6,000 nautical miles without refueling. Lancaster The largest operating photovoltaic power plant in California has reached a new milestone. The Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One Project in Lancaster, managed by First Solar Inc. of Pasadena, has achieved a generating capacity of 100 megawatts. First Solar expects the plant to have a generating capacity of more than double that number when it’s completed later this year. Construction on the solar project began in 2011 and power from the plant is being purchased by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. under a 25-year contract. Once fully operational, the facility will generate enough power for 75,000 average California homes and displace more than 140,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. San Fernando Valley Calabasas Cheesecake Factory Inc. named David Gordon as president of the Calabasas-based casual dining chain. He replaced Michael Jannini, who the company said left to pursue other interests. Gordon has been with the company 20 years and previously served as area director of operations and regional vice president for the West Coast. In addition, the company promoted Spero Alex, former regional vice president of the East Coast, to vice president of operations. The company operates more than 150 restaurants worldwide. Van Nuys Home prices in the San Fernando Valley have hit a four-year high, according to the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. The Van Nuys trade group said the median price of a home that closed escrow in January within the Valley sold for $420,000, an increase of 20 percent from the same period a year earlier. In addition, it’s the highest monthly median since August 2008. The group reported the Santa Clarita Valley median price as $360,000, unchanged from January 2012. San Fernando Valley inventory was low with 1,025 properties, down 52 percent from the previous year levels. There were 325 active listings in the Santa Clarita Valley, a 66 percent drop. Conejo Valley Thousand Oaks Amid protests by consumer advocates and criticism from state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, Thousand Oaks insurance provider Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to roll back an 18 percent increase on individual customers. The raise impacted more than 600,000 customers and took effect Feb. 1. The increase has been lowered to 14 percent, and customers who switched to cheaper plans are being allowed to switch back without any medical underwriting. Jones said the rollback will save about $54 million to customers who purchased the Anthem Blue Cross PPO individually, rather than through an employer. Anthem is a subsidiary of Wellpoint Inc. of Indianapolis. Around the Valleys To be considered for publication, submissions should be emailed to: [email protected]. If you do not receive a response in a timely manner, call (818) 316-3123.