North Bay Business Journal

Don & Sons wine negociant spins off edgy-brand group

SONOMA – Wine negociant Don Sebastiani & Sons, makers of the brands, today said it will spin off its The Other Guys division of edgy brands as a separate company from the Three Loose Screws portfolio that includes the mainstay brands Pepperwood Grove and Smoking Loon.

A better mousetrap … err golf club

KENWOOD – Jonathon Hayden is out to do for golf clubs what digital cameras did for photography and notebook computers did for laptops: make them smaller, lighter and more fun to use

Laid off from job, mechanic turns to eBay

SONOMA – It may not be surprising that Calkovsky Cameras and Lenses is selling $20,000 a month worth of vintage movie cameras and lenses. Owner Rudi Calkovsky is, after all, a new expert in the field and a leading supplier of Bolex cameras and Kern Paillard and Cooke lenses on the Internet.

New Tech Foundation hopes to take program across nation

NAPA – The newly merged New Technology Foundation in Napa and Ohio-based KnowledgeWorks intend to replicate the Napa New Tech instructional model in schools across the U.S.

Brad Bollinger: Public vs. private

This space has hinted at the vexing question of government’s intrusion into the private sector. But Wall Street Journal columnist Daniel Henninger nailed it last week when he wrote:

“The struggle over health care legislation isn’t just another battle between the Democratic and Republican parties. It’s about which force is going to take the United States forward for the next generation: the public sector or the private sector.”

BioMarin, doubling manufacturing capacity, sees quarterly earnings decline

NOVATO — BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN) said today investments made to double manufacturing capacity caused it to post lower second-quarter profit as operating expenses jumped 32 percent during the quarter.

Sunset Aviation renamed Solairus

PETALUMA – Sunset Aviation, a leader in charter aircraft, has restructured and rebranded itself as Solairus Aviation.

Amplifications and corrections

The County of Marin loaned the Marin Health Care District $20 million for transition costs. Incorrect information appeared the health care column, “Huffman questions Sutter on Marin General profits.” [p. 12, July 27].

Circle Bank assets rise; earnings $236,000

NOVATO – Circle Bancorp, parent company of Circle Bank, reported net income for the second quarter of $263,000, down from $426,000 in the same quarter last year. It was the 40th consecutive profitable quarter for the company. Total assets at June 30 were $267 million, up 8 percent over 2008. Loans also increased, up 2 [...]

Construction: Prospect of energy retrofits raises stir

A group calling itself the Santa Rosa Neighborhood Association created a furor in the West End portion of the city early this summer by circulating fliers claiming “the city of Santa Rosa is in the process of imposing green building requirements on all existing buildings that will impact your home and business.”

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PROFILES: University dorms; Sutter in Marin; assisted living wing; affordable apartments

Editor’s note: The Business Journal features profiles of North Bay construction projects that are complete or nearly so. Send details to jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or fax to 707-521-5292.

When is a lot line adjustable?

NAPA COUNTY – Recent efforts to transform a plot of vineyards near Yountville into six residential home slots have put the spotlight on lot line adjustment policies in Napa, and soon local officials will vote whether to tighten the ordinance governing the process, possibly curtailing future attempts to develop in the protected Wine Country valley.

Business News: Week of August 3

News submitted by North Bay businesses for publication in the Business Journal for August 3rd.

Sonoma County Bar group launches property law section

SONOMA COUNTY — The county’s longest-standing professional association of lawyers now has a committee focused on real property law.

Avoiding traps in ‘boilerplate’ forms

In today’s difficult economic times, the overlooked form agreement requires a careful review. Companies should pay particular attention to “boilerplate” or “form” agreements to be sure that the fine print does not contain onerous details that could trigger disputes. Often businesses sign these agreements without the benefit of legal advice, causing unnecessary headaches later.

Property & Construction Law: Attorneys see room for work outs on stressed commercial property

The recent residential mortgage meltdown has without a doubt been one of the most rigorous trials of the legal rights and constraints involved in the foreclosure process. Now with the second coming of the real estate slump expected in the commercial landscape, local attorneys expect a similar law testing ground, though perhaps more uncharted.

Leases & Sales: Week of August 3

Size and location; use; tenant; agent or landlord; approximate date of occupancy or transaction.

Calendar: Week of August 3

Calendar of business events in the North Bay for upcoming weeks

Napa’s New Tech high program merges with KnowledgeWorks in plan for more schools

NAPA — New Technology Foundation, which operates New Technology High in Napa, is merging with KnowledgeWorks of Cincinnati, Ohio, it was announced today.

After Hours: 20th Annual Nordby Golf Tournament

On June 1, 2009, The 20th annual Nordby Golf Tournament benefitting the Salvation Army was held at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club.