west valley news

Census Report HighlightsValley’s Growth and DiversityEconomic Recession Pressuring Valley Families

Recently, Congressman Brad Sherman(D-Sherman Oaks) released the U.S. CensusBureau’s 2009 San Fernando Valley CensusReport. At his request, the Census Bureauupdated the report using detailed data fromthe 2009 American Community Survey (ACS).

The Valley Census Report offers an annualdemographic snapshot of the San FernandoValley to help community organizations,businesses, and government leaders makebetter-informed decisions affecting the Valley’sfuture and help our region compete for its fairshare of funding for transportation improvements,housing, and social service programs. Thefirst-ever Valley Census Report was releasedin December 2006, also at CongressmanSherman’s request. The Census Bureau willrelease decennial census data by April 2011.

“The Valley Census Report reveals importantinformation about the Valley’s diverse populationand the challenges it will continue to encounteras we recover from the economic recession,”said Congressman Sherman. “The Valley’s richcultural diversity and highly educated workforcestands apart from other large regions, but theeconomic recession has prevented many Valleyfamilies from achieving economic security andhomeownership,” said Sherman.

The more than 1.77 million people who live inthe Valley exceed the populations of all but the

It’s up to us and our strategic partnersto create our own opportunitiesBy Ed Crowe, West Valley News

That’s right we can sit around and wait forthings to happen or we can make things happen.

The spirit of innovation and entrepreneurshipis part of the American fabric and developingthe right strategic partnerships, are some of theimportant ingredients necessary for success.

The San Fernando Valley represents a strongeconomic engine within the City of Los Angeles.With a population of nearly 2 million and morethan 70,000 operating businesses, opportunitiesabound. Large and small businesses can worktogether. The Valley has great resources andthis publication will highlight everything thatis available for existing business owners andnew entreprenuers with innovative ideas.

Businesses create jobs, provide and income totheir employees, generate a tax base for federal,state and city governments, and bring prosperityto our communities.

Where do you find like-minded people todevelop strategic partnerships with? Your localchamber of commerce is a good place to start.

CONNECTING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SINCE 2004. CELEBRATING 8 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY. Volume 7 Number 1 2011

TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL

Let’s Make 2011 a Great Year for Jobs and Business!

Serving:CalabasasCanoga ParkChatsworthResedaTarzanaWest HillsWinnetkaWoodland Hills

FREE

The dynamic trio of Jen Svejda, director of business development, Felicia Paust, executive assistant, andDiana Williams, executive director, Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber, kicked off 2011 in style at their Mardi GrasMember Celebration and Annual Installation Gala at the Hilton Woodland Hills.

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Enadia Elementary gets new garden

Ed Crowe / Crowe Marketing Design

On Saturday, January 15, 2011, a number of parents and volunteers made their way, bright andearly, to Enadia Way Elementary in West Hills, to help plant trees and vegetables on the schoolgrounds to create a sustainable garden for an outdoor classroom. In celebration of MLK’s Day ofService, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stopped by Enadia to meet and greet the volunteers.

See Enadia Elementary new garden on Page 8.

Ed Crowe / Crowe Marketing Design

INSIDE

Free Business Counseling 2

Soteras Mortgage 2Commercial / Residential

The Growth Coach 6

7

$ave BIG with Business Servicesand Classified 15

Your heart is in good hands 16

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited Enadia Way Elementary to greet the volunteers building a learning garden.

See “Growth and Diversity on Page 6

See Strategic Partnerships on Page 3

Ed Crowe / West Valley News

Old Fashioned Family Fair at Warner Center Park

WHTCC new Board member Paul Shivily and family.

From the Publisher’s DeskThe first issue of the year is a special one because it sets the mood

and direction for the rest of the year.

As the publisher, I generally focus on promoting the developmentof strategic thinking and the idea of finding strategic partners amongour business acquaintances, to execute new strategic plans for thenew year and beyond.

The month of February marks the beginning of our eight year ofpublication. It was in February of 2004 when I took over as publisherof a chamber newsletter and expand it into what it is today. A localindependent, community-based, monthly tabloid, serving eightcommunities in the west valley.

Many times when I’m working late hours trying to get the next issueout, the thought goes through my head, that I have created a monster. Only because I keep addingmore and more and creating additional work for myself. I joke with my wife about comparing it togiving birth. The pain is intense while you are in labor but with time you forget about it, when yousee the fruit of your labor. Except, I suppose, with this publication you give birth every month.

So moving forward in 2011, if you are a business owner or want to be one, think about joining afamily of business owners in your community—your local chamber of commerce—and start puttinginto practice some of the strategic thinking and advice Jonathan Goldhill and Daniel Murphy of TheGrowth Coach will be sharing with you through this publication.

PAGE 2 West Valley News Volume 7 Number 1 2011

Crowe Marketing PublisherEd Crowe Managing Editor/Creative DirectorRickey Gelb Contributing WriterSandra Gonzalez Editor CRA/LAJonathan Goldhill Contributing WriterAl Martinez Contributing WriterLance Miller Contributing Writer

The West Valley News is published monthly asan information and educational resource for smallbusinesses and community-based organizations.

WEST VALLEY NEWSc/o Crowe Marketing Design8378 Sale Avenue, West Hills, CA 91304Tel: (818) 883-3374Fax: (818) 883-9678advertising@westvalleynews-sfv.comwww.westvalleynews-sfv.com

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pmAnnual subscription rate is $15.Single copies $1. Multiple copies $50/100 bundle

Targeted flyer insertion and distribution isavailable. Call for estimated cost.

Editorial Contributors

The deadline for articles, letters and photos isthe third week of the month for consideration inthe upcoming month’s issue. E-mail (preferred)submissions to: [email protected].

The Editor reserves the right to reject or edit allsubmissions. Opinions expressed by contributorsare not necessarily those of the West Valley News.

Advertisers

To advertise, call 818-883-3374. The deadlinefor ads for each issue is the end of the third weekof the month prior to the month of publication.

©2011 Crowe Marketing CommunicationsImage copyrights held by the artists.

The West Valley News is open to the entirebusiness community of the San Fernando Valley.

The West Valley News is distributed by regular mailto active subscribers, via email to an electronicmailing list, and to the general public throughmore than 60 strategic, high-traffic businesslocations throughout the West Valley.

Now with 24/7 online Internet presence.

CalabasasCanoga ParkChatsworthResedaTarzanaWest HillsWinnetkaWoodland Hills

FREE Business CounselingSBA SCORE Program

Call the Chamber Office to schedule an appointment withDon Doner/Senior SCORE Counselor

818.884.42225 Tips on Advertising Basics• Be consistent in your ad message and style including business cards, letterhead, envelopes, invoices,signs and banners.

• Newspapers, radio and TV stations are helpful in producing the advertising that you will be running with them.• While word-of-mouth advertising has been around a long time, it usually falls short of being able to attractthe number of customers needed to be successful in business.

• Promote benefits rather than features. A benefit is the emotional satisfaction your product or service provides,or a tangible performance characteristic.

• Know your competitors. Knowing everything about your competitors is just as important as knowing everythingabout your own business.

Counselors to America’s Small Business

Strategic PartnershipsContinued from Page 1

I like to think of local chambers of commerce as an extension of your own family—a family ofbusiness owners with common purposes. On Page 4 of this publication, you will find contactinformation for a number of chambers of commerce. Get in touch with the one in the communitywhere you operate your business and become a member.

Like any new relationship, you have to work at it. There is no magic to it. You have to get to knowthe other family members. With time, you will find that special one who shares some of the sameinterests and goals you have. A special relationship develops and if everything goes well, a marriageof sorts occurs. A strategic partnership forms and you have to work together to make it last.

Let’s make 2011 a great year for creating new opportunities and developing new partnerships orstrengthening the ones we already have. It’s up to us to make things happen. Let’s work together tomake it happen. Have a terrific year!

New partnerships have formed in my own family. My beautiful daughter Taryn got married to theyoung man of her dreams, Nicolas Tarditti, on New Year’s Eve. My wife Sonya and I told them theymake a good team. A good beginning for a strong relationship. In January, we attended anotherfamily wedding in Palm Beach, Florida. I guess, it’s going to be a year of strategic partnerships.

West Valley News Volume 7 Number 1 2011 PAGE 3

For Mamala…By Kandis Swimmer-Landmann

Esther Billy Swimmer Sep 28, 1918 – March 19, 2007In keeping with Mother’s tradition, her Legacy was Mother’s recipe for life. She believed in facing difficulties

and challenges square on with a positive viewpoint, add lots of love to the mixture, perhaps a hot bowl of MatzoBall Soup, or a box of Mandel. “Stand up, dust yourself off, and try again.” She would say.

Mother was Born in Cleveland, Ohio, 1918 or so. Her parents Sam and Lillian Weltman emigrated here fromPrussia. Mother would tell me beautiful stories of when she was young. If a young man would come to seeMother, the welcoming committee of Grandpa, Uncle Irv, Aunt Sylvia, and Grandma would all sit with them until

he left. If he passed the 20 questions from Grandpa,and had the intestinal fortitude, he may have gotten achance to come back. When Morry Swimmer, walkedthrough her door, he had driven from Canton Ohio,which was a couple hours away, she knew, this wasthe One. After they had about a two-year courtship,they had a wedding in Cleveland, Ohio.

Years past, with the arrival of us children. EveryFriday night was a delicious Shabos (Sabbath) dinner,and during the Holidays, we walked the eight blocksto Synagogue as a family. Sunday mornings were myfavorite. The house was perfumed with the aromasfrom her Kosher kitchen, chicken soup cooking, orroasts, or homemade cookies and always Mario Lanzaor opera on the record player. Those are the memorieswe all hold dear.

With my brother Chuck and I living in California,and Dad’s business failing, Mom and Dad decided tomove to sunny California. Mom started to work hermagic here in San Diego. She was always availableto share her wisdom, her exceptional kindness, as

mother was the Mitzvoth (good deed) specialist. If you were one of her Doctors, you’d receive a box of Mandeland a kiss, and the nurses perhaps candy. During the holidays, my sister Barbara and I had lots of wrapping todo as no one could be forgotten who had done any measure of kindness for her. They all needed a gift and apersonal card. No one could be forgotten. But in truth, Mamala was the gift. Mother had a standing invitationto friends and family that Sundays meant a party with the Swimmer Family. She’d have her LIST of food, tapedto a kitchen cupboard, and the table was laid out with little pieces of paper to serve as a marker, potatoes salad,co slaw, meat, or whatever. Then a serving utensil was placed next to the item. Every detail well thought outand beautifully displayed. Mother created a fund raiser for the Sharah Torah Synagogue in Canton Ohio perhaps50 years ago called the House of Treasures. Everyone was asked to donated their unwanted items, Dad was thepick up man for anyone who couldn’t get their items to the Synagogue. Mother and Barbara took an inventoryof them, polished off the tarnish, priced the items, kept records of all of this, organized the tables with lovelycloths, and added homemade pastries for sale, to the mix. It was the most successful fund raiser our Synagoguehad ever had. And the true Mitzvah was the spirit of love and laughter in which all was accomplished andMamala was the catalyst.

Life is really too short. Do you notice with each year that passes, each Holiday seems to end, and just aroundthe corner, here it is again? Mother possessed a timeless beauty about her. Her laughter was infectious and sheinsisted her favorite age was 21 and holding. I know, until recently, all my birthday cards to her, were Happy21st Birthday. I remember when my son Seth was only seven years old, we packed up the car and were on ourway to San Diego to celebrate my 40th birthday. All of a sudden, in the back seat Seth blurted out that we reallyhave a big problem! My heart was now pounding with concern. I swerved the car a little as I looked out myrearview mirror to see if I could also see the problem. I told Seth all looked OK to me, what exactly was theproblem? He said “ How is it possible for you to have your 40th birthday today, when Grandma is only21 years old”?

Our mother, our friend, our beautiful matriarch. I believe would best be honored, if you do one thing, just onething…in keeping with her LEGACY.

Play Maj or Rummy Que, laugh your way through the evening, have great dessert and make everyone feelwelcome—because that would be what Mom would have done.

If you pass a baby carriage, be sure to tell the Mom, or Dad that they have such a beautiful baby— becausethat would be what Mom would have done.

Next time you meet a stranger, look into their heart, because the joy of meeting someone new has nothing todo with their status, their color, their religion. But if they have kindness in their heart, you may have found anew friend—because that would be what Mom would have done.

It’s never easy to say what truly must be said sometimes, to be candid, honest and truthful. But, if you reallylove someone, who better to help steer through the course of life than you! Step up to the plate—because thatwould be what Mom would have done..

Encourage your children to be the BEST they can be, make time to spend with them, because the greatest giftis you and the memories and moments you help create are what we value most of all. If things were going well,the first person I would call would be Mom, because she would be so proud of every milestone. And if I wassad, I’d call Mom because she would know the right way to sooth me and lift my heart.

Carry on her Legacy—because this is what Mom would have done.

Thank you, seems so inadequate, Mother dear. We will always be so honored to have been known as theSwimmer kids. And to have had Maurice Swimmer as our father and Esther Billy Swimmer as our Mother.Rest in Peace Mamala.

TRIBUTE to my ParentsTHE LEGACY, THE LESSONS, THE LOVE

A new West Valley News column honoring our parents. Write about your father, mother or both, as a tribute to them for theirlegacy, their life lessons, their love and sacrificies, and anything that made them special to you. Write 500-800 words. Sendby email to [email protected]. Include a photograph (in digital format 200 ppi) and name, address, anddaytime telephone. Submissions may be edited for clarity and length. Publication at the discretion of the editor.

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Ed Crowe / www.westvalleynews-sfv.com

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West Valley News Volume 7 Number 1 2011

United Chambers of CommerceA Coalition of 32 Business Organizations, including 22 Chambersof Commerce representing over 21,000 businesses.

5121 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 208Sherman Oaks, CA 91403T 818-981-4491 F 818-981-4256

Build your business while building your community.Join a Chamber of Commerce today.

How does your business benefit by being a memberof your local chamber?

• Opportunities to market your business.• Great networking opportunities and events.• Get involved with local legislative issues.• Meet local business and political activists.• Be involved in a variety of community events.

For a complete list of member chambers,visit www.unitedchambers.org

Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber(818) 889-3150 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Calabasas Chamber(818) 222-5680 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber(818) 884-4222 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber(818) 341-2428 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Encino Chamber(818) 789-4711 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Granada Hills Chamber(818) 368-3235 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber(818) 989-0300 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Regional Black Chamber818.464.3484 | Fax [email protected]

Reseda ChamberContact Nancy at (818) 989-0300 for [email protected]

SFV Filipino-American Chamber(818) 780-9197 | (818) [email protected]

Sherman Oaks Chamber(818) 906-1951 | Fax (818) [email protected]

Winnetka Chamber(818) 340-2282 | Fax (818 [email protected]

Woodland Hills/Tarzana Chamber(818) 347-4737 | Fax (818) [email protected]

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VALLEY-WIDE BUSINESS & SOCIAL HOURTRADE SHOW AND MIXER TO BE HELD INFEBRUARY 2011

Event to kick off the Chamber’s 100thAnniversary CelebrationThe Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber

of Commerce is kicking off its centennialcelebration with its first-ever Valley-wideBusiness Expo, the B.A.S.H. - Business &Social Hour to be held on Wednesday,February 9 at Braemar Country Club.

B.A.S.H. is the largest business expositionin the Valley, giving you unparalleled successin exposing your products and services toyour most important marketplace. Its winningcombination is the Valley-wide mixer thatwill connect attendees and exhibitors withprospective customers and suppliers.

Table top exhibits are reasonably priced,making it affordable for all businesses toparticipate. Add-ons include the chance to placea business flyer in the reusable shopping baggiven to all attendees, ads in the BusinessReferral Directory (available for non-exhibitorsas well), and sponsorships that further yourexposure.

Throughout 2011, the Chamber will becelebrating its 100 years serving businesseswith Valley-wide events throughout the year.Visit www.sanfernandovalleychamber.com formore information.

Donations of goods and services can beextremely valuable to service and volunteerprograms. This type of charitable donation canbe made by individuals or organizations andranges anywhere from an automobile, to food,printer paper, creative services, advertising,silent auction items, meeting spaces, orconsulting services. Although they are oftenwelcome assets, grantees must be sure todocument them properly.

Abstract

Developing an effective financial managementsystem can be a challenge for national serviceprogram directors. Understanding financial man-agement responsibilities and the fundamentalconcepts of national service budgets will helpprogram directors streamline their work.Especially problematic is the issue of in-kindcontributions; donated goods and services mustbe as carefully tracked and monitored in thesame manner as cash donations. This effectivepractice, shared by Walker and Company, LLP, atthe 2006 Financial Management Institute held inSan Diego, CA, outlines the necessary steps forproper documentation of in-kind contributions.

Issue

In-kind contributions (non-cash transactions inthe form of goods or services) are not alwayscarefully documented by national service partici-pants. Many rules and regulations apply tonational service providers, and the varied com-ponents of maintaining a successful budget canbe cumbersome if not properly understood.National service organizations are subject toaudits; and when financial reporting is incom-plete or delinquent costs may be questioned.

Action

• Develop an effective financial managementsystem from the outset that maintains

CALABASAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCEMeet the New 2011 Chairman of the Board

Brenda JohnsonThe Calabasas Chamber of Commerce is

please to announce that Brenda Johnson, R. Ph.,owner of Calabasas Pharmacy in Calabasas,has been named the Chamber’s 2011 Chairmanof the Board.

“Brenda brings 7 years of experience workingeffectively on the Calabasas Board of Directorsin their strategic planning and in numerousleadership roles. She has an excellent reputationin the business community as a successful smallbusiness owner and as a dedicated advocate forall business,” stated Carol Washburn, President/CEO of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.

Brenda has been a Calabasas Chamber member since opening her pharmacy almost 15 years agoand has served on the Board of Directors from 1999 to 2001, and again in 2006 until present time.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, in their school of Pharmacy, Brenda moved tosouthern California to start work with Thrifty Drug as their Pharmacist. There she was promoted toDirector of Pharmacy Training & Development, then promoted again to Regional Pharmacy Manager.After Thrifty merged with Payless, Brenda opened her own pharmacy, Calabasas Pharmacy locatedin the Gelson’s Market at Gelson’s Village off Mulholland Highway in Calabasas and is open sevendays a week providing a service level you won’t find in the big chain drugstores. Brenda knowsmost customers by name, answers their questions, and fills prescriptions in a timely manner.

Brenda has served on the Board of Directors of Pharmacists Professional Society of San FernandoValley since 1997, and serving as Treasurer since 2004.

Brenda is married to her husband, Craig, and has a nine-year-old daughter named Kirsten.

individual accounts for both federal andgrantee share that report expenses consistentwith the format of the program budget.

• Determine the value of in-kind contributionssuch as, services, material, equipment, build-ing, and land. To decide the appropriate valueof goods or services, consider what the costwould be if the goods or services were notdonated and needed to be purchased.

• Recognize that in-kind contributions includeany non-cash donation including corporateloaned executives; meetings held in donatedspaces; government or college interns and/orfellows; corporations or municipalities thatdonate supplies for projects; landlords whodonate space or discount rent.

• Document in-kind contributions using thesame standards as other expenditures.

• Record in-kind contributions as both rev-enues and expenses in the General Ledgerand all Corporation for National andCommunity Service financial reports.

• Provide the donor with a receipt and havethem sign it. It should include the donor'sname, date of donation, description of theitem or service, and the estimated value. Keepa copy of the donor's receipt for your files.

• Retain financial records for three years fromthe date of submission of the final FinancialStatus Report.

• Goods and services that have been correctlydocumented and that are necessary to accom-plish the program's goals and activities maybe used as a match.

• Volunteer exception for match: the value ofdirect community services performed by vol-unteers does not count as match.

In-Kind Donations

HERE’S A MILLIONDOLLAR IDEAA fleet of Red Cars is needed to take

people around a designated historical route inthe West Valley. The shopping malls and futuredevelopments will be along the path. Historicallandmarks along the Sherman Way corridor andother areas will be part of the tour.

This is something from the past that will begreat for the future. Now is the time to investon the idea. A million dollar idea.

The Valley Business Expo 2011Thursday, February 10, 2011

9:30 am to 2 pmPickwick Gardens Conference Center

www.TheValley.net


UNITED CHAMBERSCELEBRATES 2010MOVES INTO 2011Sherman Oaks, CA - United Chambers ofCommerce held it’s 35th Annual Business

Recognition — Installation Event on ThursdayJanuary 20, 2011 at the Airtel Plaza Hotel inVan Nuys. With over 150 guests in attendancethe evening was celebrated with the Installation

of our 2011 Board of Directors. UnitedChambers also recognized the 2010 award

recipients during the evening. A big thank youto WELLS FARGO for their support as thekeynote speaker sponsor and all our other

sponsors for the event. Our keynote speaker forthe evening was Ron Kaye, who gave us someinsight to a few things that is important for us

all to know and doesn't sugar coat it.

The following awards were given out to thebusinesses or individuals that were submittedby their local Chamber of Commerce and have

made a difference in the community:

2010 CHAIRMAN’S AWARDCBS STUDIO CENTER

(STUDIO CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)—

2010OUTSTANDING BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR

J. RICHARD LEYNER—

2010OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

CORSICA DELI(SUNLAND–TUJUNGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

—

2010OUTSTANDING MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

BEDS UNLIMITED(CANOGA PARK/WEST HILLSCHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

—

2010OUTSTANDING LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

OLIVE GARDEN

(CHATSWORTH–PORTER RANCHCHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

—

2010 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERL.A.P.D. SENIOR LEAD OFFICER SEAN DINSE

(WOODLAND HILLS–TARZANACHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

—

2010 TAMI GINSBURG“CELEBRATION OF SERVICE” AWARD

SUSAN DU BRIN(ENCINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

—

Thank you to Stephen T. Holzer the immediatepast Chairman of the Board for his leadershipand dedication during his time served.

Wine & Food Pairingsoffered by

French Chef "Charlie"6:30- 9:00 pm Every Friday & Saturday

Reservations required($45 per person inclusive)

SAMPLE WINE LISTWine tasting includes 4 flights of wines (2oz. each flight)

Chateau des Matards 2006, Cotes de Blaye.Sauvignon Blanc

Macon-Vinzelles 2008, Bourgogne.Chardonnay

Beaujolais Nouveaux 2010.Gamay

Mas Gabinele 2000, Faugeres.Syra

Holiday Gifts Galore!We've liquidated the old and brought in the new!French decor, jewelry, our famous candles,

scarves, decorative bottles, soaps,and customized gift baskets

23130 Sherman Way, West Hills, CA 91307818-610-3228

www.hiddenchateau.com

The planting of a garden at Enadia Way Elementary SchoolMLK Day of Service, January 15, 2011


SUPPORTING THE BRAVE OFFICERS THAT PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

www.topangaboosters.org

PLEASE JOIN US AS A MEMBER

The Topanga Boosters is a volunteer support organization made up of business and community leaders. Its primarymission is to increase the effectiveness and morale of the officers and staff of the Topanga Police Station by raisingmoney for community services, materials, and equipment not generally supplied by the City of Los Angeles.

TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE

There are many ways how you as a stakeholder in the community can be part of the Topanga Boosters.

LAPD Good Neighbor Any Amount

LAPD Residential Supporter $60.00 per year

LAPD Business Supporter $120.00 per year

The Topanga BOOSTERS is a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organization. Tax ID# 36-4622976

For more information about becoming a member of the Topanga Boosters as a resident or business owner, contactEd Crowe, Vice President of Community Relations at (818) 231-4454 or at [email protected].

The Growth CoachBecoming a Strategic Business OwnerBy Jonathan Goldhill and Daniel M. Murphy

Editor’s note: Beginning with this issue of the WestValley News, we will publish, in monthly installments,the content of a book by Daniel M. Murphy, CEO &Founder of The Growth Coach. The title of the book is“Becoming a Strategic Business Owner. AProven Process to Enhance Your Strategic Mindset.”

__________

INTRODUCTIONMen are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners oftheir own minds. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

To begin, let me ask you some revealing questions.As a business owner, can you walk away from yourbusiness today for one or two months and come backto find it operating smoothly and profitably?

Can you even escape for two weeks? Have you everhad a work-free vacation? If your answers are “no,”you don’t have a successful business, you have aglorified job in which you are trapped! You don’t havean effective business system; you are the businesssystem! You are a prisoner of your own making.

Let me be very clear. No matter what industry youare in, you should not be a prisoner to your business!If you are, you have it backwards. Your businessshould serve you and your dreams. It should giveyou greater freedom, not less. In fact, your business,properly designed, should function practically withoutyou, not because of you. It should run predictably andautomatically whether you are in the office or not, inthe store or not, out in the field or not, on vacationor not. Your business should not depend upon yourpresence, personality, problem solving and perspira-tion for its daily survival. If so, your business doesnot work, you do!

Bottom line, you should run your business; it shouldnot run you, your family or your life. Your businessshould work harder so you don’t have to. It should besystems-dependent and not ownerdependent for itssuccess. It should have its own heart, mind, and soul— it should not steal your vital organs and spirit!

Stop for a moment and think of the consequences.If everything in your business flows through you andis dependent upon you, then you are dramaticallyrestricting the growth and profits of your ii company.As a single human being, there are natural limits tothe amount of work, transactions, problems, anddecisions that can flow effectively through you in agiven day. Stop being a bottleneck or clog. Otherwise,you will continue to restrict the potential of youremployees and business and ensure your persistentexhaustion. Stop missing out on greater personalfreedom, money and happiness.

If you are the owner of a business that is at least twoyears old and has annual revenue between $100,000and $20 million, this book could be for you. If at timesyou feel like a prisoner/slave to your business or

struggle to manage its growing size and complexity,this book is probably for you. If you wish to be moreeffective, work less and make more money, this bookis definitely for you.

Furthermore, this book should be mandatory for anyof your current or future advisers and coaches. Theseprofessionals can’t help you if they don’t understandyour real issues, challenges and the strategic solu-tions that are available. Small business coaches affili-ated with The Growth Coach have been professionallytrained and certified in our on-going coaching andaccountability process and understand deeply thestrategic solutions addressed briefly in this book.

On the flip side, this book is not intended for entre-preneurs with a business still in diapers — two yearsor younger. No disrespect, but such proud ownersare still blissfully naïve and high on the passion,promises and adrenaline rush associated with anewborn enterprise.

They generally are too busy to hear this message.Starting out, such owners are willing to accept12-hour workdays, being chained to the business,and intoxicated by the busyness and details of a newventure. However, the few wise enough to shape theirbusinesses while still in the nursery will avoid many“growing pains” and headaches down the road.

Think of this metaphor. Creating a baby is rathereasy and enjoyable; raising a child is much morechallenging. Similarly, iii starting a business is fairlysimple and fun; managing a growing andcomplexbusiness is much more difficult. As such, this bookis aimed at the entrepreneur who faces the dailyrealities and challenges of managing a growing andchaotic business. The owner who is overwhelmed,overworked and wondering what the heck they gotthemselves into.

This book is for the owner who feels like a hostageto the business.

It is for the owner who still feels compelled tocontrol and do everything in the business. It is forthe owner starting to question and re-examine his/herlife, priorities and personal sacrifices. In short, thisresource is intended to serve as a formula for freedomfor any distraught entrepreneur who feels enslavedand overwhelmed by his or her business.

If you are seeking better approaches to managingyour business and life, I can help. As an entrepreneurand business adviser/coach for nearly twenty years,I fully understand the unique mixture of pleasure andpain that comes with owning and managing a growingbusiness. I know the long hours and stress, the heavyburden of responsibilities, and the loneliness, fearsand frustrations. I have spent my life helping smallbusiness owners, my heroes, to shape better

Jonathan Goldhill, The Growth Coach, coaches leaders of private companies to grow their business. To learn more abouthis unique group and individual coaching programs visit www.TheGrowthCoachLA.com. Jonathan can be reached at(818) 716-8826 or [email protected]. Daniel M. Murphy is CEO & Founder of The Growth Coach FranchiseSystem, www.TheGrowthCoach.com.

The report also shows that poverty continuesto plague many Valley families (11.1%, or over44,401 households, have incomes below$15,000). Although the poverty rate hasdecreased over the last eight years in the SanFernando Valley and Los Angeles, the figureshave edged upward within the last year due tothe impact of the economic recession.

“The just released 2009 American CommunitySurvey shows how the recent recession putpressure on the San Fernando Valley,” saidDr. William W. Roberts, Director of the SanFernando Valley Economic Research Centerat California State University, Northridge.According to Dr. Roberts, Valley residents thatdrove to work solo dropped by 3 percent andthe average commute time fell by over a minutefrom 29.4 minutes in 2008 to 28.2 minutes in2009. Notably, individuals working at homerose by over 30 percent to 44,500 in 2009.

“The Valley continues to be home for ahighly diverse population employed in abroad range of industries.

“While the greatest impact of the recessionshows in the substantial rise in unemployment,the median household income declined by lessthan 3 percent,” explained Dr. Roberts. “TheValley continues to be home for a highly diversepopulation employed in a broad range of indus-tries. This diversity has helped us weather theeconomic downturn and should yield signifi-cantly improved figures for 2010,” added Dr.Roberts.

“The results of the 2010 decennial censushave a major impact on the drawing of politicalboundaries. That is why it’s important that theSan Fernando Valley be seen as an identifiable‘place,’ both demographically and socially—asthese will be criteria used in determining leg-islative districts,” explained Robert L. Scott,Director of the Mulholland Institute (a divisionof The Valley Economic Alliance). “The 2010decennial data will be used throughout the com-ing decade, by government, non-profits andbusinesses in distributing services and makingstrategic decisions on a range of issues thataffect the economics and development of ourcommunities.”

four largest cities in the United States —New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.According to the 2009 ACS data, the Valley’spopulation has increased 4.7% since the 2000Census.

The Valley Census Report shows that Valleyresidents spend, on average, nearly a half-hour(28.2 minutes) commuting to work, which isnearly 6% longer than the average Californianand 11% longer than the average American.Although commute times have decreasedslightly from a year ago, Congressman Shermancontinues to highlight the need to develop moretransit alternatives and highway improvementsfor Valley residents, such as a transit corridorthrough the Sepulveda Pass to connect theMetro Orange Line and the future subway exten-sion to Westwood and additional improvementsto the 101/405 interchange.

Valley residents, on average, are more educat-ed than other parts of the City and County with117,365 people with graduate or professionaldegrees and another 259,125 with bachelor’sdegrees. Since 2000, the Valley has had a nearly26% increase (77,458) in those with bachelor’sor advanced degrees. Valley residents haveaccess to renowned colleges and universities,such as California State University, Northridge,Woodbury University, Pierce College, ValleyCollege, and Mission College, and efforts mustcontinue to educate, train and retain this skilledworkforce.

In 2009, the median home value as self-report-ed on the American Community Survey form byrespondents in the Valley ($458,700) was higherthan the median home value in Los AngelesCounty ($441,400) and California ($384,200),and was nearly triple the U.S. median homevalue ($185,200). According to the CSUN SanFernando Valley Economic Research CenterHousing Report for October 2010, Valley hometransactions decreased 30.4% from a year ago,but housing prices remain stable.

Also in 2009, nearly half of Valley homeowners(117,420) were spending 35% or more of theirincome on housing. Overall, the median month-ly mortgage and homeowner’s costs haveincreased nearly 10% ($2,381 to $2,632) since2000. This dramatically contrasts with the U.S.as a whole, where only about a quarter spendover 35% of their income on housing.

The entire report is available online at http://BradSherman.house.gov

Growth and DiversityContinued from Page 1


West Valley BOOSTERS presents check to Simmons Foundation

Mrs. Simmons receives a check for $6,605 to benefit the children at the Randal D. Simmons OutreachFoundation. The money was raised during the annual West Valley Memorial Ride. Over 400 riders participatedwhich helped exceed the projected goals for the year.

See Strategic Business Owners on Page 13


Child DevelopmentInstitute Center(Former Canoga ParkLibrary)

The ground-breakingevent of the new ChildDevelopment InstituteCenter “Together We Grow”

took place this fall, amongst excited dignitaries,community leaders and philanthropists.Construction is rapidly progressing with aprojected opening to take place in spring 2011.

CRA/LA West Valley Regional Office18107 Sherman Way, Suite 100Reseda, CA 91335T 818.708.5844 F 818.344.2425www.crala.org

Letter from Mayor AntonioVillaraigosaIn response to the severe recession affecting

Los Angeles, the Community Redevelopment Agencyof the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) has acceleratedits investments to support economic recovery inLos Angeles’ neighborhoods. Over the past fiscalyear, CRA/LA invested $178 million in housing, eco-nomic development, and neighborhood revitalizationprojects. These investments are being made despitethe unprecedented challenges facing our city froman economic downturn that has virtually halted newdevelopment in Los Angeles.

The biggest threat to CRA/LA’s ability to continuethese investments is perhaps the $2.05 billion inlocal redevelopment funds taken last year to balancethe State Budget.

For CRA/LA, that translates into a loss of nearly$85.4 million that was transferred to the State ratherthan being invested in CRA/LA’s 31 redevelopmentproject areas in Los Angeles. In light of the fact thatone redevelopment dollar attracts five dollars ofprivate investment, the State’s raid translates into a$427 million loss of private investment and nearly3,000 construction jobs.

Despite these challenges, redevelopment remainsone of the public sector’s primary economic develop-ment engines in the State of California. CRA/LAcontinues to strengthen the City’s economic develop-ment strategy through strategic investment, businessattraction, workforce development, infrastructurefinancing, and the promotion of sustainable commu-nities for current and future generations.

CRA/LA’s presence is visible across the city— fromMorgan Place, a new, sustainable senior housingdevelopment in South Los Angeles, to the LEED Goldcertified NoHo Commons Phase III, to Plaza Pacoima,the Costco-anchored, big box retail project in NorthEast San Fernando Valley.

Business and city leaders across Los Angeles arefinding new ways to work together to address thechallenges facing our city. I have directed CRA/LA toincrease its efforts to assist small businesses, attractclean technology and bio medical businesses, expandjob growth and maximize our resources by buildinghousing and retail near transit centers. When theeconomy begins to grow again, Los Angeles will bewell positioned to receive a positive return on ourmany strategic investments and partnerships.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

Message from CEO Chris EsselRedevelopment is one of the most important tools

cities have to create economic activity in communitiesthat are struggling in the current economy. That iswhy Los Angeles needs CRA/LA now more than ever.Our projects and programs are helping Los Angelesrestore and revitalize communities by eliminatingblight and providing assistance to businesses andresidents in the form of new affordable housing, com-mercial retail centers and new jobs generated by con-struction and other economic activity. Without rede-velopment, our city has few ways to bring investmentinto the neighborhoods that need it the most.

How does redevelopment bring economic revitaliza-tion into a community? Studies show that for everyredevelopment dollar that is spent in a neighborhood,it draws in at minimum five dollars of private invest-ment. That means that each of our projects is acatalyst for additional investment by the privatesector and other organizations in the form of newbusinesses, new jobs and new investment from otherpublic sector organizations. But without thoseCRA/LA dollars, many of our city’s neighborhoodswould be left behind.

CRA/LA and all redevelopment agencies in thestate are under attack again as our legislature strug-gles to balance the state budget. Last year, the Statelegislature took funds from redevelopment agencies tobalance the budget; CRA/LA’s share was $85 millionthat would have gone into our local communities.Today, CRA/LA and all redevelopment agencies in thestate are facing elimination in the coming fiscal year,potentially depriving cities of the most powerful toolthey have in their efforts to recover from the currentrecession.

However, CRA/LA, one of the most creative andflexible agencies in the City, is using these challengesas the impetus to seek out new sources of funding,to streamline our staff and operations and to developcreative new programs and projects to generateeconomic activity and jobs.

Challenges often bring opportunities. Like manybusinesses and families in our city, CRA/LA islearning to weather the economic storm, while layingthe groundwork for Los Angeles’ future recovery.

Christine Essel

Chief Executive Officer

COOKING CLASSES

Main Street Canoga Park

Farmers’ MarketMAKE IT A HABIT

Every Saturday 9AM-1PMOwensmouth north of Sherman Way

STATE BUDGET 2011-2012Proposal to Phase OutRedevelopment AgenciesOverview

- Existing budget deficit is $20 million

- There are 425 redevelopment agencies

- Budget would call for phasing out of redevel-opment agencies

- Enterprise zones will be eliminated as well

Budget Proposal – Redevelopment

- By July 1, existing agencies would be dises-tablished and successor local agencies wouldbe required to use the property tax that RDAswould otherwise have received to retire RDAdebts and contractual obligations in accor-dance with existing payment schedules.

- The Budget prohibits existing agencies fromcreating new contracts or obligations effectiveupon enactment of urgency legislation (note:this can happen at any time, needs 2/3 voteby legislature)

- This plan is estimated to cost $2.2 billion in2011 12. Finance estimates $3 billion willremain after these debt service and contractu-al payments.

- From this remaining amount, one time pay-ments estimated at $1.1 billion will be provid-ed equal to the pass through payments thatotherwise would be received. Of the remaining$1.9 billion the Governor’s Budget directs$1.7 billion on a one time basis to offset stateGeneral Fund costs for Medi Cal ($840 mil-lion) and trial courts ($860 million). The final$210 million will be distributed on a one timebasis to cities, counties, and special districtsproportionate to their current share of thecountywide property tax.

- This plan would provide revenues for corelocal services. Beginning in 2012 13, theamounts remaining after payment of preexisting RDA debts and contractual obliga-tions will be distributed to cities, counties,non enterprise special districts, and K 14schools in amounts proportionate to theirshare of the base countywide property tax.The only exception is that roughly $50 mil-lion that would otherwise be distributed toenterprise special districts (mainly water andwaste disposal districts) will instead be pro-vided to counties. Enterprise special districtsare mainly fee supported.

- Budget calls for a way to provide improvedoptions to fund local economic development

with voter approval. The Budget proposes anew financing mechanism for economicdevelopment. Specifically, the Budget pro-poses that the Constitution be amended toprovide for 55 percent voter approval for lim-ited tax increases and bonding against localrevenues for development projects such asare currently done by RDAs. Voters in eachaffected jurisdiction must approve use oftheir tax revenues for these purposes.

- Use housing balances for housing. Amountsin the RDA’s balances reserved for low mod-erate income housing would be shifted tolocal housing authorities for low and moder-ate income housing.

Construction progressing rapidly at CDI

Ron L. WoodPresident & CEOThe Valley Economic AllianceThe Valley Economic Alliance (VEA), the

San Fernando Valley’s premier economicdevelopment organization, today announcedRon L. Wood as its new president and CEOeffective immediately.

Wood, an accomplished business leader andformer newspaper publisher, previously headedthe San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnershipfrom 2007-2009, where he oversaw efforts tosustain and build the regional economy.

“Ron has a proven track record of successworking with public and private sector partnersto foster economic growth,” said VEA ChairmanDavid Fleming. “He knows what it takes toretain, attract and grow high quality jobs andbusinesses, and we are confident he will providethe leadership needed to improve the businessclimate and quality of life in the San FernandoValley.”

Wood replaces the late business and civic leader Bruce Ackerman, who joined VEA in 2000 andpassed away in August 2010 after a battle with cancer. Months prior to his death, Ackerman unveileda new organization logo and branding campaign aimed at reinforcing VEA’s role as the best sourcefor connecting local businesses, workers and residents with resources to improve their economicconditions.

“I’m honored to help move forward Bruce’s vision of strengthening and positioning VEA (more) asthe region’s premier economic development collaborative,” Wood said. “I look forward to workingwith key business, government, education and community leaders to grow and sustain the economyof the Valley’s five-city region.”

Prior to his economic development work, Wood joined the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group aspublisher in 1998. Previously, he held executive positions with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group,MediaNews Group and the Bakersfield Californian. He holds an MBA from the University of La Verneand a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from the University of San Francisco.

Among his many professional and philanthropic endeavors, Wood served on the board of directorsfor Goodwill Industries of Southern California, San Gabriel Valley Council Boy Scouts of America,Boys and Girls Clubs of the Foothills, and Valley Public Television-Central California. He is alsofounding chairman of Goodwill Industries of Kern County and a member of the Los AngelesEconomic Development Corporation.

“During our nationwide search, we looked for an individual with unparalleled business experience,a passion for community service, the highest ethical standards and a shared view

that we must work collaboratively to achieve economic prosperity,” Fleming said. "We are excitedabout the new energy, expertise and innovation Ron brings to our team.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST?


818.883.3374 www.crowemarketingdesign.comHelping Small Valley Businesses Increase Sales and Prosper

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People and Faces You should Know

Attendees danced their socks and shoes off atWestfield Topanga’s 50’s-style Sock Hop and ShoeDrive on Saturday, January 29th from 3-5pm. Theevent was designed to support “Operation CoverThose Toes,” an on-going sock and shoe collectioneffort for disadvantaged, school-aged children inthe San Fernando Valley.

“Operation Cover Those Toes,” is organized bySweet Charities, a valley-based group of professionalwomen who support small scale or little-knownphilanthropic efforts. Sweet Charities transports allshoes and socks collected to M.E.N.D. for distributionto some of the neediest families in the San FernandoValley. “We’re excited about this event and theopportunity to partner with Westfield Topanga” saysStar Tomlinson, who established the Cover Those Toesinitiative. “So many families are struggling right now.Their children grow out of shoes so rapidly, and it’sdifficult for them to keep up.”

The event featured 50’s style music, refreshments,

WESTFIELD TOPANGA HOSTED 50’S STYLE SOCK-HOP & SHOEDRIVE TO BENEFIT SAN FERNANDO VALLEY-BASED M.E.N.D.

arts and crafts by Art Rebel, raffle prizes, a costumecontest for kids and a swing dance demonstration.Attendees participated by donating a pair of new orgently used shoes, a package of new socks, or bymaking a $5 donation to M.E.N.D. Children’s andadult sized shoes and socks were accepted.

Four Westfield Topanga shoe retailers participatedin the event by providing a special offer for partici-pants who donate shoes or socks. Flip Flop Shopsoffered a 40% off the purchase of a second pair andfor every sock and/or shoe donation customersreceived a coupon for an additional 20% off theentire purchase. Attendees received 30% off atReflection, located just outside of the event for everysock and/or shoe donation.

Event sponsors were Westfield Topanga, SweetCharities, and Art Rebel.

"It was a very successful event – 700 shoes, 1000socks and $1300 in 2 hours!" Said Tammy Billings,Director, Marketing, Westfield Topanga & Promenade.

CATALOG SHEET

COMMEMORATIVE POSTER

PROGRAM BOOKLET


Anecdotes, Interviews,Bits & Pieces aboutWest Valley History.

The West Valley News 818.883.3374. We Deliver.

On the Home FrontBy Chet Cohen for Canoga Owensmouth Historical Society

The writer of a 1946 dispatch from Canoga Park might have been a former war correspondenttrying to adjust to civilian life a year after the shooting stopped. The news told of a coalition offorces, thus—

Chamber Urges Beautification

Canoga Park — Assurance that the Chamber of Commerce will back Canoga Park clubwomen andhousewives in a concerted war on weeds and refuse in a city-wide beautification program has beenvoiced by President Victor I. Tierman of the men’s civic body.

Armed with communications from the Board of Public Works and the Department of Forestry, thewomen with Mrs. A.A. Knapp as chairman and Mrs. William Warren Orcutt as counselor have startedsystematic zoning of the area to which platoon leaders will be assigned as the city housecleaninggets under way. First step will be the pruning of catalpas lining the parkway along Topanga CanyonBlvd., and the planting of wild-flower seed there preliminary to holding a spring catalpa festival.

In addition the women will seek adequate refuse receptacles along the principal thoroughfare andare asking for improved street cleaning, better sanitation and garbage disposal. (Los Angeles Times10-21-1946 II-2.)

In the follow-up story ten days later, the Times said the chamber president’s name is not Victor I.but I. Victor Tierman, and that the Canoga Park Woman’s Club community service section consistsof Mmes. Scott Bradley, Otto Gschwind, and Duncan Armstrong. Also that Canoga Park studentswill participate in the pruning, weed clearing, and planting of wild flowers.

The editors at the Times played down the imminent war in Canoga Park and instead featured ascare headline about Rodger Young Village, the emergency housing project for married veterans,which was in Griffith Park. The crisis there was that five hundred expectant mothers were facing ashortage of diapers.________

The Canoga-Owensmouth Historical Museum is located at 7248 Owenmouth Avenue (the former Los AngelesFire Station #72 and a 1930’s community landmark). It’s open to the public the second and fourth Sundays ofeach month from 2:00-4:00 PM and by special request. Call (818) 346-4892 for information.

The first “Red" Car over to North Hollywood, December 16, 1911, Van Nuys Line. Far right: Fred Weddingtonwho negotiated to get the line in the Valley; 9th from right: Wilson C. Weddington. The train behind wasHuntington's special car.

Saying goodbye to “Big Red,” 1952. The last Red Car in the Valley. Right: Fred Weddington, he rode the firstand last Red Car. Moses Sherman, President of Pacific Electric Car Line, Martin Pollard, first Fernando ServiceAward, 1959, Paul Whitsett, Richard Gilbranson, President of North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, MontyMontanta, cowboy movie star. Far Left: Ferd Mendenhall, owner of Green Sheet Journal (now Daily News).

Photos courtesy of: San Fernando Valley History Digital Library. California State University, Northridge. University Library.

Canoga Park Preparing to Celebrate its 100th

NEWS FROM BYGONE DAYS


The Way We WereIt is a day of unrelenting light in Southern California, a moment in the burgeoning spring

that forces the sun into every crevice of one’s life, whether he wants it or not. I am writing in ourgazebo where diagonals of light trace criss-cross patterns on the tiled floor, and the warmth onmy back offers relief from autumn’s chill.

Given all of that, it is not a happy time for me. I am saying goodbye to the Seattle PostIntelligencer, the Rocky Mountain News, the Tucson Citizen and, perhaps, to all of printjournalism. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye and goodbye. Newspapers that I have never reador don’t know about, strangled into silence by the foundering economy, have shut down andothers, like the San Francisco Chronicle, may soon turn off the lights in their news rooms.

Some have fled into digital journalism, struggling to survive in an arena that requires a newway of thinking, blasting news, as it were, into cyberspace and hoping that the next generationof readers will be willing to abandon coffee and the morning paper for flashes of informationon a computer screen.

I hope nothing but the best for those who rush into the new era, including the newspaperI recently left, the venerable Los Angeles Times, but Like many older readers, if the day evercomes when daily newspapers no longer fill the street corner racks or thump on my doorstepin the morning, I will be even more disconnected from this world than I already am.

I fell in love with newspapering in high school, and when I was hired by the 30,000-circula-tion Richmond Independent in 1952 I felt that my life had begun. They were the glory days.Newspapers were the primary source of information, straddling an era characterized by playslike “The Front Page,” with its lunatic take on the boozy, low-paying kind of journalism thatexisted in the ‘30s, and “Foreign Correspondent,” idealizing the dedicated war correspondentwho would risk his life to bring us the news during World War II. We were a combination ofErnie Pyle and a Broadway drunk.

Reminiscing, I can still hear the clickety-clacking of linotype machines, the endless chatterof wire service equipment, the drone of police radio monitors that no one listened to but every-one heard, shouts of “copy boy!” and telephones that never stopped ringing. We used ourtypewriters like weapons, slamming the carriage to reload the sentences, charging past dead-lines with breathless dedication, feeling very much like the world was waiting for what we werewriting, and maybe it was.

Eras end, sometimes too quietly to be noticed. The economics of journalism were alteringthe landscape. As the cost of newsprint rose and unions demanded better wages, Hearst’sOakland Post Enquirer folded, and across the bay the News followed soon thereafter; then theCall and the Bulletin merged, and died. Only the Chronicle and the Examiner survived, at warwith each other, and very shortly thereafter the Examiner went down.

Television news began assuming greater importance as the 1960s exploded into riotsand mass protests, bringing instantaneous images to the screen that categorized a culture intransition. We saw satellites circling the Earth, mushroom clouds rising against dark horizonsof the Cold War and a fury on the streets unlike any we had ever seen, demanding a new dayfor the people’s republic of Amerika.

In so many ways it was the beginning of the end for print journalism and for the joyousclash of professionalism and party time. The Knowland-owned Oakland Tribune, an afternoondaily, was trimming its staff, cutting expenses and dropping suburban sections. The warmembrace of the family daily had turned suddenly icy.

The L.A. Times I joined in 1972 maintained a little of the rollicking flavor of old newspaper-ing, but eventually rose to a new standard of professionalism under Otis Chandler. Drunksweren’t tolerated anymore, smoking wasn’t allowed in the building and the approach to newsgathering and reporting was less haphazard. But it was still the same game in so many ways,the deadlines, the breaking news, the front page felonies, the governmental debacles, the liars,the crooks, the bylines and the banner headlines.

Now a new age of Americans is turning away from us to begin receiving in online snippetsthe only news it cares about. So here we are, saying goodbye to all those print journals andpreparing to say goodbye to others. A company that specializes in distressed products justbought the San Diego Union-Tribune and it wouldn’t surprise me to see its name on the mast-head— The San Diego Platinum Equity Union-Tribune—the way ballparks bear the names ofthe companies that own them. Is that how print journalism will end up, pimping for dollars?

I lived through newspapering’s best era, when we were a band of brothers in a job that wasboth demanding and fulfilling, respected and condemned, and always vital to the free flow ofinformation. But things change. Continents move, oceans dry up and mountains erode. Whatnewspapering will become will be determined by the shifting notions of a new culture. But the

way we were was special. We were the sons and daughters of a trade thatflashed and burned brightly for two centuries, and we never forgot ourresponsibilities.

Remember us when you’re sipping coffee at a laptop and wonderingwhat in the hell you’re going to wrap fish in now.

Al Martinez is a Pulitzer Prize winning essayist, author of a dozen books,an Emmy-nominated creator of prime time television shows, a travelwriter, humorist and general hell-raiser. Try him. He’s addictive.almartinez.org/wordpress

AL MARTINEZ


PRIVATE LUXURY SUITESFOR YOUR PETWoodland Hills, CA –The Pampered Pet Hotel

& Spa redefines quality care for dogs with theGrand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony ofits full service facility in Woodland Hills onThursday, February 10 at noon. The GrandOpening & Ribbon Cutting Event complimentsof the Woodland Hills~Tarzana Chamber ofCommerce will include catered lunch, free give-aways, raffle drawings, and tours of the facility.

This getaway for dogs offers hotel accommo-dations, daycare, grooming, training, and retailselection. With your dog's every comfort inmind, the budget-friendly hotel rooms are allclimate-controlled and includes a night-lightand sound system. For the truly pampered pet,there are private luxury Suites equipped withindividual web cams, flat screen TV's, andfull-size beds.

The Doggy Daycare play areas promise fun fordogs of all sizes and temperaments with plentyof playground equipment. A slick window liningin the lobby and streaming web cams even allowyou to watch your dog at play!

The Grooming Salon is designed to be afurther pampering experience for your dog,featuring new equipment, eco-friendly bathingproducts and experienced groomers.

The Pampered Pet Hotel & Spa is located at20920 Victory Blvd at the corner of De Soto,Woodland Hills, CA 91367 and is now availableto pamper your pet. Please call (818) 340-2275for more information, or visit us at www.pam-peredpethotels.com.

Tell them you saw it in the West Valley News.

WESTFIELD TOPANGA SELECTSLOCAL FARMER’S MARKETOPERATOR RAW INSPIRATIONTO CREATE UNIQUE SHOPPINGEXPERIENCEWestfield Topanga has selected Raw Inspiration, a

California Certified Farmers’ Market operator, to set upand operate an indoor certified farmers’ market insidethe shopping mecca. “It is a first for us,” saidWestfield Regional Manager, Selina Bartassian,“to have what is typically an outdoor event inCalifornia inside the center among our shops. Itseems our tenants and their customers love the idea.”

The farmer’s market is held weekly on Saturdaysbetween 10AM and 2PM and is located in the south-east portion of the shopping center near Williams-Sonoma, between Sears and Nordstrom on the lowerlevel. Currently, there are about 15 vendors offeringfresh and local produce, artisan breads, flowers,Mediterranean hummus and other delicacies, driedfruits and nuts and much more. Tammy Billings,Marketing Director for Westfield Topanga beemed,“We are listening to the local community and bringinginnovative ideas to the Center. Topanga is truly a one-stop shopping destination where you can purchaseanything from groceries to a vehicle.”

Jennifer McColm, founder and President ofJennifer McColm LLC and California CertifiedFarmers Markets, was ecstatic about being chosen byone of the world’s largest shopping center operators.“It’s an honor to partner up with Westfield in thisexciting venture,” McColm said. “This is going to bea tremendous boost for our local farmers who aresuffering with awful weather conditions in this terribletime and I want to thank our friends at WestfieldTopanga for giving the go-ahead to this project.”

Local farms and artisans will be participating in thefarmers’ market, including Kensee Farms, Metzler &Vernis Farms, Ayala Farms, Pedro’s Ranch, SantiagoProduce, Cordero Farms, Eufloria Flowers, MyriadFlowers, Eliki’s Greek Foods, A Little Bliss Jams andJellies, Mom’s Mediterranean Foods, Me GustaTamales, Homeboy Bakery, and Alex Fruits and Nuts.The market anticipates partnering with Williams-Sonoma to offer cooking demonstrations, as well asoffer tips on fruit and vegetable preservation fromthe farmers themselves. “If this is successful,” saidBartassian, “there will be every reason to havefarmers’ markets inside every Westfield shoppingcenter.” An idea McColm enthusiastically endorsed.

For more information about this new Farmers’ Marketand/or Raw Inspiration, California Certified FarmersMarkets and Jennifer McColm LLC, please visitwww.ccfm.com or www.rawinspiration.org orwww.JenniferMccolm.com.

Tarzana got 27 new treesalong Ventura Blvd.On Saturday, January 15, volunteers and

members of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council,Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber—in coopera-tion with the Office of Councilman Dennis P.Zine and MIllion Trees LA— brought their ablebodies and can-do attitude to help plant 27 newtrees along the north and south sides of VenturaBoulevard.

The volunteers gathered at the St. JamesPresbyterian Church, in Tarzana to receiveinstructions. They worked in small teams andby noon, all trees were planted.

Keep up the good work!

When you Advertise in the West Valley News You’re Online 24/7ASK ABOUT HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED ON THE FIRST PAGE

OF GOOGLE PLACES. Call Monika at 818.614.0362


BLUMENFIELD AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ANNOUNCEVALLEY DISASTER PREP INITIATIVE(RESEDA, CA) In recognition of the 17th anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake and flanked by first

responders at Firehouse 73, Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley) announced a newdisaster preparedness initiative for the Valley developed in partnership with his Valley Public Response forEmergency Preparedness (Valley PREP) Task Force, a group of community leaders and emergency experts.

“The 1994 quake changed all of us,” said Blumenfield. “It showed that there simply are not enough firstresponders to provide life-saving and sustaining services in a major disaster. We must prepare, and prepared-ness starts at home.”

Blumenfield and members of Valley PREP announced the Get PREPped Campaign, which is dedicated todoubling the number of Angelenos trained to help first responders in disasters through the Los Angeles FireDepartment’s (LAFD) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program.

Introductory CERT training is free and requires about 17½ hours of training. Among other subjects, CERTclasses teach disaster preparedness, emergency medical operations, and light search and rescue procedures.Each year, some 4,000 Angelenos get CERT trained, approximately one tenth of one percent of the city’spopulation.

In support of the Get PREPped Campaign launch, representatives of the Coca-Cola Company pledged to train250 employees at their Sylmar facility and noted their intention to train employees at every company facility inLos Angeles. And, referring to an upcoming training in collaboration with the Encino Chamber of Commerce,Blumenfield announced that he and Valley PREP are sponsoring a series of training events to ensure that moreAngelenos CERT trained.

“The Task Force and I will work with anyone to get more members of the Valley community trained,” addedBlumenfield. “If you want to set up a class for your community, school, office or church, all you need is aminimum of 20 people and a place. If you don’t have a place, I’ll help you find one. I’ll also be hosting a seriesof training classes in my office.”

Centered in Reseda, quake-related destruction closed major roads and freeways, hospitals, and schools.Breaks in utility lines made water and power widely unavailable. Ruptured gas lines sparked hundreds of firesthat burned homes and businesses to the ground. The quake’s human cost was also enormous. It caused some60 deaths, 8,700 injuries, and 1,600 hospitalizations.

Blumenfield has been focused on disaster preparedness for many years. When the 1994 quake hit, he wasworking for Valley Congressman Howard Berman. Together, they secured $14 billion in federal relief fundsand then worked with victims to help the Valley recover and rebuild.

Further information about Blumenfield is available at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/blumenfield. Furtherinformation about CERT is available at http://www.cert-la.com.

(L-R) Kimberly Bordonaro, Calabasas Chamber Immediate Past Chairman of the Board; Brenda Johnson, Chair2011; Mayor Groveman; Carol Washburn, Chamber President and CEO and Stephanie Warren, Past Chair 2006and 2007.

Calabasas Mayor Barry Groveman presented the 13th annual Mayor's State of the City Addresson Monday, Jan. 31 at the Calabasas Civic Center in Founders Hall. Groveman reviewed the cityaccomplishments from the past year and outlined goals for the future with a focus on city financesand public safety. The Address was followed by a reception hosted by the Calabasas Chamber ofCommerce.

Encino Kumon director, Clara Lu Tripathi Honored

Clara Lu Tripathi, director of Encino Kumon, was recognized for her 15 years of service andcommitment to education by state legislators.

California State Senator Fran Pavley of 23rd district congratulated Tripathi for her service. “Yourspirit and commitment to education have set an example for all to follow.” She said during a specialrecognition presentation.

City Council Establishes Citywide Ban onMobile Billboard Advertising DisplaysLOS ANGELES – Recently, the City Council unanimously passed

an ordinance prohibiting mobile billboard advertising displays fromparking on City streets and public lands. As the author of the motion,Councilman Zine has led the battle against this form of advertisingblight introducing motions on the matter last fall and holding hearingsin Council last spring.

"This is a huge win against a major source of blight and traffic safetyhazards in our communities," said Councilman Dennis P. Zine. "These

mobile billboard advertising displays take up parking spaces, impede visibility, and attract graffitiand vandalism. I will continue to do everything in my power to eradicate them from the streets ofLos Angeles."

Mobile Billboard Advertising Displays (AB 2756, Blumenfield), a key piece of state legislationsponsored by the City of Los Angeles, created Section 395.5 of the Vehicle Code, which defines"mobile billboard advertising display" as an advertising display that is attached to a wheeled, mobile,non-motorized vehicle that carries, pulls or transports a sign or billboard and is for the primarypurpose of advertising. This bill also amended Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code to give localauthorities the ability to adopt rules/regulations by ordinance/resolution to regulate mobile billboardadvertising; this includes establishing penalties that could authorize removal of the mobile billboardadvertising display. In addition, VC Section 22651 was amended to say that the mobile billboardadvertising display may be towed when left parked or standing in violation of a local ordinance.Warning citations advising of the consequences, including towing of the mobile billboard display,are sufficient enough warning to the public.

The State law and City ordinance will take effect January 1, 2011. Councilman Zine is creating atask force and mobilizing his community P.O.S.S.E. (People Organizing Safe, Secure Environments)to help report and cite the mobile billboard advertising displays. If you are interested in participatingin the task force, please contact the district office directly at 818-756-8848.

West Valley News. We Deliver. Call 818.883.3374COMMUNITY ADVERTISING AT AFFORDABLE RATES.

CALABASAS / CANOGA PARK / CHATSWORTH / RESEDA TARZANA / WEST HILLS / WINNETKA / WOODLAND HILLS


MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON FROM…

We Must Ensure Continuity andLegitimacy of the PresidencyIt is practically a Washington parlor game each year to guess which

member of the President’s Cabinet has been whisked away to a secureand undisclosed location during the State of the Union address.

Of course, the Secretary’s absence is a precaution meant to preserve the line of presidentialsuccession if a catastrophic event decapitated the entire assembled federal government. However,there remain serious flaws with the line of presidential succession as it currently exists.

The tragedy in Tucson was a somber and sobering reminder of the fact that there are those whowould seek to cause grievous harm to the nation’s political system. With the State of the Unionaddress behind us and the 112th Congress underway, now is the time to consider how the currentlaws could leave the Executive Branch crippled and its legitimacy in doubt at the worst possible time,in the midst of an economic recovery and ongoing wars.

What is most important here is continuity and legitimacy: continuity of the President’s policies asmandated quadrennially by the voters, and the unambiguous right of a single person to serve as ourlegitimate president. Vast improvements can and should be made to presidential succession bystatute, without altering the Constitution.

Soon, I will introduce comprehensive legislation — The Presidential Succession Act of 2011 —to solve the current problems with succession law. Allow me to outline three of these concerns.

First, under The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 the Speaker of the House and SenatePresident Pro Tempore are second and third in line. Should either ascend to the Presidency, a radicalshift in policy could occur if the successor is not of the same party as the President. The possibilityof such a shift could also keep a President from taking a leave of absence for a medical operation ifthere was no one serving as Vice President.

My legislation enables the President to designate which of the top three House leaders (Speaker,Majority Leader, or Minority Leader) would become the second in line to the Presidency and whichof the top three Senate leaders (Senate President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader, or Minority Leader)would become the third in line. This change would greatly lessen any radical policy shifts fromoccurring in a time of crisis.

Second, The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 does not provide for any person in the line ofsuccession who resides outside of Washington; this would leave the country without a Presidentif the nation’s capital was destroyed. The Presidential Succession Act of 2011 will add our topfive ambassadors, starting with the Ambassador to the United Nations, at the end of the lineof succession.

Thirdly, The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 includes a provision allowing “prior entitledindividuals” to “bump” an Acting President, meaning if the Secretary of State becomes ActingPresident because the President, Vice President and Congressional Leaders have been killed, butthe House then elects a new Speaker, that Speaker would become the new Acting President andbump the Secretary of State out of the Presidency. This creates a game of musical chairs with thePresidency and would cause great instability. In a time of national crisis, the nation needs to knowwho its President is. My bill eliminates the bumping problem.

In 1865, John Wilkes Booth not only assassinated President Lincoln, but plotted to kill theVice President and Secretary of State as well. We must be prepared for the likelihood that Osamabin Laden, among other terrorists, may be more ambitious.

The foregoing scenarios may seem far-fetched and macabre, but in the nuclear age, and the ageof terrorism, our presidential succession laws must be as solid as the barriers surrounding theCapitol grounds.

Congressman Brad Sherman represents roughly half of the San Fernando Valley.

Blumenfield Comments on Governor Brown’sBudget Release(SACRAMENTO, CA) State Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley), Chair of

the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement today on the proposals announcedby Governor Jerry Brown to close California’s budget deficit of $25.4 billion over the next 18 months.

“Brown’s call for change doesn’t hold anything back. His visionacknowledges that we are long past a debate about cuts and taxes.California government must be restructured in order to be moreresponsive and cost-effective.

Brown is appropriately asking the people to be part of the solution.Moving forward, we must ensure that Californians are equipped for thechallenge by confronting enduring budget myths. Most Californians thinkwe can balance our budget only by eliminating waste. And most opposecuts to the areas that make up most of the budget. These expectationsdon’t match reality.

The budget is more than a bunch of numbers on a ledger. It’s aboutjobs and our economy. The Assembly Budget Committee will meet to review Brown’s budget throughthis lens on Thursday. I look forward to working with him to ensure that this time of great challengesand sacrifice transforms California into an even better place.”

An Assembly Budget Committee analysis of the governor’s proposals will be available athttp://www.assembly.ca.gov/budget.

Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008. He represents the 40th Assembly District, which spansthe northwest portion of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, including the communities of Canoga Park, Granada Hills, Reseda, North Hills,Northridge, Tarzana, Van Nuys, West Hills, Winnetka and Woodland Hills. Bob is a graduate of Duke University and the UCLA Anderson SchoolBusiness Executive Program. He is 42 years old and lives in Woodland Hills with his wife, Kafi, and their children Nia (4), and Obi (1). His wifeis the President of the Liberty Hill Foundation.

As you may know, I am retiring at the end of my term and I am notseeking re-election to the City Council on March 8, 2011. You will bereceiving your ballot in the mail soon, and I don’t want you to besurprised to find that my name is not on the ballot.

This election is extremely important for the future of our communityand I encourage you to vote on March 8.

Between now and the end of my term, our newsletter will featurehighlights of our major accomplishments over the last eight years. Noneof these achievements would have been possible without your support.

– Councilman Greig Smith, Twelfth District

A WORD FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

P.O.S.S.E. (People Organizing Safe, Secure Environments)Is your alley being used as a dumping ground? Tired of signs littering your community? Is there graffiti in your neighborhood?Are you fed-up enough to do something about it?

Join Councilman Dennis P. Zine‘s Community POSSE. TAKE BACK YOUR COMMUNITY! Call my District Office at 818-756-8848

Ask Your Elected OfficialStarting with the January 2011 issue of the West Valley News, we will publish specific questions

directed to Federal, State, and City elected officials who represent your local districts in the WestSan Fernando Valley.

This publication will publish the answers to those specific questions in the following issue,provided the answers are submitted by the respective offices of the addressed elected officials.

Email questions to [email protected]. Comments of a partisan or derrogatory naturewill not be published.


GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL ELIMINATING REDEVELOPMENTIS MORE BUDGET SMOKE AND MIRRORS THAT WILL BRINGLITTLE FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO STATE BUT WILL CAUSE

SIGNIFICANT HARM TO CALIFORNIA’S ECONOMY

California Redevelopment Association

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON MARCH 8


Business Education/Workshops

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPSJANUARY – FEBRUARY 2011

FREE Online Marketing Made Simple –The Complete Must Know Systemfor Generating Profits in 30-60 Days

This course will cover the quickest, most effective way to generate business using online marketintools and tactics to promote and grow your business. These include:

• 10 Biggest mistakes most people make that stop them from being ranked on page 1 of Google

• 4 Free guaranteed, proven strategies for generating new leads using Social Media

• A Step by Step system for incorporating online marketing successfully into your business, nomatter what the stage

• 7 Internet lead-generation tactics that drive quality leads

• How to leverage internet marketing so that it saves time and money

• Demystifying SEO, how and what you must do to dominate the Search Engines

• Proven link building strategies for traffic and SEO

• Using keywords to map and uncover new market and clients

– Thursday, January 20, 2011 from 10:00 – 1:00 FREE (Call for Februry schedule)

– Premier America Credit Union, 19867 Prairie St., Chatsworth

Ben Tenn has more than 35 years of business experience, with a focus onmarketing, sales and general management. He has been a corporate executiveat Disney and Activision and the co-owner of a $10 million small business. He hasbeen an independent business consultant since 1996 serving local and nationalsmall businesses, a successful presenter of marketing and sales seminars, acolumnist for the SFV Business Journal. He earned his MBA from UCLA.

Reservations required: visit www.cocsbdc.organd click on ‘Calendar.’Or call 661-362-5900 [email protected] arrive 10 minutes early to check in.

LOW COST OR FREE WORKSHOPS BY VEDC

VEDC also offers a comprehensive business training series for those ready to go to the next level of businesssuccess. VEDC offers comprehensive business workshops designed to transfer critical management skills tosmall business owners. These workshops are open and available to anyone seeking additional information onhow to start, operate and successfully grow a business.

Classes are reasonably priced or FREE. Workshops are offered in our different locations throughout theSan Fernando Valley and Downtown Los Angeles area. Core business workshop topics include

• Access to capital

• Basic legal structures of a business

• Marketing on limited budget

• Business record keeping

• QuickBooks

• Managing Employees

• Managing for profit and results

• E-Commerce

VEDC also offers a comprehensive business training series for those ready to goto the next level of business success.

All VEDC workshops at:

VEDC(Valley Economic Development Center)5121 Van Nuys Blvd. 3rd Floor, Van Nuys, CA

Contact Lucero Montañez818-907-9922

[email protected]

For additional information about fees and locations, visit:

www.vedc.org

• How to start a new business

• How to write a business plan

• How to do business with the government

• Import / export fundamentals

• Finance & accounting

• Customer service

• Human resources

• Procurement assistance

HELPING ENTREPRENEURS SUCCESSFULLY START, BUILD AND GROW THEIR BUSINESS

WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST?

818.883.3374 www.crowemarketingdesign.comHelping Small Valley Businesses Increase Sales and Prosper

ADVERTISING DESIGN / MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS / NEW MEDIA

College of the Canyons University Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355(661) 362 - 5900 www.cocsbdc.org

CHASE TO PRESENT MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TOVEDC TO BOOST SMALL BUSINESS LENDINGGrant Will Help Create Much-Needed Jobs in CaliforniaJPMorgan Chase Foundation will be awarding a multi-million dollar grant to VEDC (Valley

Economic Development Center) to generate the loans small and medium-sized businesses need tosustain and expand their businesses and to hire more Californians. The grant will help VEDC launcha statewide small business lending program—the Chase Small Business California Loan Program—that could generate $50 million in new loan capital. Over the next three years, VEDC plans to makedirect loans to 200 businesses that could create at least 2,000 jobs.

businesses and shape better personal lives. If you arewilling to keep an open mind, I am ready to help you.

Let me be very clear, you are the expert in yourbusiness and industry. I am not and will never claimto be. My expertise is guiding business owners tounlock greater potential in themselves and their busi-nesses. To help them enhance their strategic mindset,focus, actions and results. Over a decade ago, I devel-oped a process to do just that called The StrategicMindset™ Process.

This quarterly strategic-focusing process helpsowners, like you, to slow down, reflect, and decideon the critical changes necessary to improve theirbusinesses and personal lives. They discover practicaland highly effective personal management andbusiness management strategies and mindsets. Theygain clarity of direction, peace-ofmind and greaterconfidence pursuing their business and personalgoals. This year-round coaching and accountabilityprocess has become the foundation for The GrowthCoach, a national company specializing in coachingsmall businesses.

Through this book and the strategic path I map out,I guide owners to become more effective, focusedand productive. The life-changing process describedwithin this book allows owners to go to work “on”their businesses, “on” themselves, and “on” theirspecific issues, opportunities and goals.

This book, this process, helps owners to face reality— to see what is working and what is not working intheir lives and businesses. It helps them to “burn offthe fog” that keeps them from seeing their businessesand personal lives for what they really are — not asthey wish, hope or dream them to be.

This book shows you how to remove the clutter andnon-essential “stuff” from your days. To prevent youfrom wasting your time, talents and life-force on thewrong activities — the trivial many.

Rather, this book helps you to identify the highestand best use of your time and talents — getting youfocused on the vital few activities that producemassive results.

This resource should help you to better learn aboutyourself and what you truly desire from life and yourbusiness. After all, knowing who you are, what youwant and where you are going creates a powerfulsense of clarity. Few owners possess such clarityand confidence.

For the last eleven years in particular, I have been ona crusade to reeducate and re-focus business ownersto lead more, work less, and enjoy greater freedom,financial success and happiness. In short, trying toget owners to think and act strategically and effectively.

Are you a strategic business owner? To find out,ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you see the big picture and have a long-termview?

• Do you think more like a CEO than an employee?

• Do you create an annual business plan?

• Is your leadership purposeful, proactive, andplanningbased?

• Do you constantly think about the direction andobjectives of the business?

• Do you focus on your entire business and not justthe technical work of your business?

• Have you created plans, procedures and policiesto help operate your company?

• Have you developed and documented all your keybusiness processes?

• Do you utilize the leverage of marketing to growyour business?

• Do you spend more time on important mattersrather than trivial/urgent matters?

• Have you created a systems-dependent businessinstead of an owner-dependent business?

• Do you conduct one-on-one monthly coaching ses-sions with your managers and/or key employees?

• Do you avoid getting buried in the day-to-daydetails and headaches of the business?

• Have you shaped your business more by designthan by default?

• Are you experiencing more fun and fulfillmentthan frustrations?

If you answered “no” to most of these questions,you can benefit greatly from this book on becominga strategic business owner. In short, a strategicbusiness owner (SBO) gets the highest and bestreturn possible for his time, money and effort. Heor she focuses on working smarter, not harder.So does this book.

Be warned however, this book is not an easy read.I don’t write in entertaining fables or parables. That’snot my style and that’s not how I have helped hun-dreds of business owners over the years get free fromthe debilitating details of their companies. If you wantentertainment, buy a novel or watch HBO. This bookcontains real world, in-your-face, practical advice.While this medicine may not always taste great, thisprescription should help you feel better about yourself,your business, and your life.

If you want different results, you must take differentsteps. You must get out of your comfort zone, stopthe excuses, face reality and acknowledge somethingis broken. Turn down the ego. It is time to becomehonest, time to reflect, and time to re-focus. It’s timeto stop treating the symptoms and start addressingthe real points of pain.

Be prepared to re-think, re-calibrate and re-organizeyour business and management approach to achievelong-term solutions to your hassles and headaches.

Regardless of how frazzled and swamped you mayfeel, know that there is hope for real relief. Your pastdoes not have to equal your future. Whether you haveno employees, 10 employees, 100 or 1,000 employ-ees, there are practical solutions to gain more free-dom, flexibility, and fulfillment in your life. However,the answer is not to shift into higher gear; it is to shiftmindsets. For you workaholics, let me repeat.Sustained relief comes from shifting mindsets andstrategies, not gears. You must adopt a strategicmindset. To gain a fresh start, you will need to re-bootyour mental software and try new attitudes and strate-gic approaches.

At my very core, I am a teacher. I have gainedinvaluable insights and lessons to share with youas a business owner myself and as a marketingconsultant, a strategic planning facilitator, a businesscoach, a sales/marketing executive, a sales trainer,and a CPA. From these experiences, I feel wellqualified to help business owners to get strategic,get free, and get happy.

This resource will help you transform your mind andhabits in order to transform your business and life forthe better. This educational journey will allow you tore-design your business and re-gain your personal lifeand freedom. While I can’t promise you nirvana, I amconfident this book will help you map out your path toguilt-free liberation. It will connect the dots to reveal amore enjoyable and less stressful way to run yourbusiness and life. It will help you shape your businessby design, not by default.

Henry David Thoreau stated, “Things do not change;we change.” I hope to share valuable lessons andinsights with you that will help you change andrediscover the joy, passion and blessings of beinga business owner.

Daniel M. Murphy

“Enhancing the strategic mindset, focus andresults of small business owners, managers,and the self-employed.”


Strategic Business OwnersContinued from Page 6


Madrid Theatre

Clyde Porter West Valley Playhouse

www.culturela.org/madridtheatre

2011 SEASONPERFORMANCE SHOW CATEGORY DATES

Gaslight Mystery Feb. 4 – Mar. 6The Chantilly Sisters Show Musical Apr. 1 – May 1Arsenic and Old Lace Comedy May 27 – June 26Summer Musical (TBA) Musical July 29 – Aug 28Lily Dale Comedy/Drama Sept 23 – Oct 23Run For Your Wife Comedy Nov 18 – Dec 18

Visit our website for abstracts about each show. Show titles subject to change.

www.whctheatre.com

Box Office: (818) 884-1907

Community News/Calendar

WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE EFFECTIVECOMMUNICATION A REALITYIf you ever had to stand up in front of a groupand make a presentation about your business—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you ever had to introduce an important person ina public meeting and panic at the thought becauseyou don’t know how—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are involved in your community and need tospeak out about what you are passionate about—YOU NEED TOASTMASTERS!

If you are in a position of leadership and want toimprove your communication skills—YOU NEEDTOASTMASTERS!

Welcome to “Spirit Speaks” Toastmasters

We invite you to attend one of our meetings. Noreservation is required, just show up. You won't bepressured to speak or join, and there is no cost.Come prepared to enjoy yourself!

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the monthTime: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

TV Motion Picture Fund CenterEducation RoomCalabasas Road at Mulholland Road(Right off the 101 Fwy at Valley Circle)Calabasas, CA 91302

For membership information contact:

Sarah Marr, VP Membership (310) 962-5445Jacquelyn Guardado, VP PR (818) 570-2235

Judi Baumbach and Carolyn Cousin-Goldman are to becongratulated on achieving their DTM (DistinguishedToastmaster) designation. The highest recognition a memberof Toastmasters may receive.

Woodland Hills~Tarzana Chamber of Commerce

February

Wednesday, February 2, 7:00 AM to 9:00 AMBusiness Networking BreakfastWoodland Hills Country Club21150 Dumetz Rd.RSVP REQUIRED by noon on Tuesday. Walk-Ins wel-come add $5. No Jeans please at Breakfast Venue(818) 347-4737Members $20, One Time Trial Guest $20. There willbe assigned seating.

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 11:30 AM – 1:15 PMBusiness Networking LuncheonWarner Center MarriottAddress: 21850 Oxnard Street.RSVP REQUIRED by noon on Tuesday.Walk-Ins welcome add $5.(818) 347-4737Members $25, One Time Trial Guest $25

Wednesday, February 23, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PMBusiness Networking MixerLocation: TBARSVP REQUIRED by noon on Tuesday(818) 347-4737Members $0, One Time Trial Guest $10

March

Wednesday, March 2nd, 7:00 AM – 9:00 AMBusiness Networking BreakfastSponsor: California Lutheran University~Vanessa ChaconWoodland Hills Country ClubRSVP REQUIRED by noon on Tuesday. Walk-Ins wel-come add $5. No Jeans please at Breakfast Venue(818) 347-4737Members $20, One Time Trial Guest $20. There willbe assigned seating.

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton now playing through March 6, 2011 at the 167 seatWest Valley Playhouse in Canoga Park.

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton tells the story of the Manninghams of Angel Streetin the Pimlico district in London in 1880. Under the guise of kindliness, handsomeMr. Manningham is torturing his wife into insanity. Since her mother died of insanity,she is more than convinced that she, too, is going out of her mind. This is a thrillingand exciting game you will not soon forget.

Runs Feb.4 – Mar.6, 2011

Thurs., Fri., Sat. 8:00 pm, Sun. 2:30 pm

Ticket Prices are $25.00 Reg. $23.00 Seniors and Students.

Group Discounts are available.

Clyde Porter’s West Valley Playhouse 7242 Owensmouth Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303

__

Adult Education Classes, SFVGet your GED or HS diploma. Upgrade your jobskills. Learn a new trade. New Culinary & ServeSafeCert. Classes, ESL, Sat. classes. For informationor to enroll, call Hughes Education & Career Center,818-587-4335, El Camino Real Comm. Adult School,818-595-8000, Canoga Park High School Campus,818-673-1391, Reseda High School Campus,818-758-3700.

Main Street Canoga Park

Farmers’ MarketMAKE IT A HABIT!

Every Saturday 9AM-1PMOwensmouth north of Sherman Way

100th Anniversary EventB.A.S.H. – Business & Social HourValleywide Mixer & Trade ShowWednesday, February 94:30 – 8:00 p.m.Braemar Country Club4001 Reseda Blvd.TarzanaFree to attend!Exhibit space available starting at $200Call (818) 989-0300

Network Connection BreakfastWednesday, February 237:15 a.m. – 9 a.m.Braemar Country Club4001 Reseda Blvd.Tarzana$20 for GSFVCC members$25 for non membersAfter January 21, add $10 per personwww.sanfernandovalleychamber.com(818) 989-0300

Canoga Park-West Hills Republican Women'smonthly luncheon meeting will be held onWednesday, February 16 from 10:30 AM-2 PMat the Radisson Hotel in Chatsworth,9777 Topanga Canyon Blvd.Business meeting in the morning; Lunchis served at noon and guest speaker, 1 PM.Lunch is $22 and a reservation is needed.Phone: 818-894-1081

West Valley Garden ClubDesigner Mayita Dinos, will present "CreatingGardens that are Climate Appropriate" at the WestValley Garden Club, February 8th. The Program willinvolve environmental issues and the use of lesswater in our gardens.

11:00 a.m., Orcutt Horticultural Center, 23600Roscoe Blvd., West Hills.

If you wish to attend, please call: 1 818 348 6677.

On March 8, the City of Los Angeles MunicipalElection will include 10 Ballot Measures ofsignificant importance.

A representative of the LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERSwill lead a discussion on the pros and cons of someof these measures.

Thursday, March 3, 20111:30 PM at the City Pensions and Budgets Taxation

The DWPCampaign Finance IssuesMedical Marijuana,Funding for the Los Angeles Public Library.ENCINO-TARZANA BRANCH LIBRARY18231 VENTURA BLVD., TARZANA, CA 91356(818) 343-1983Sponsored by the Library and the Friends of theLibrarywww.ETLibraryFriends.org

DON JOSE DE ORTEGA CHAPTER NSDAR"Ancient Argonauts of the American Revolution" willbe the topic of speaker, Jan Gordon at the Don Josede Ortega Chapter National Society, Daughters of theAmerican Revolution at the February 17, 2011 lunch-eon meeting at 10:30 am at the Braemar CountryClub, 4001 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana, CA, 91356.

Please join us for an informative talk. For reserva-tions, call Jane Stauss by February 11, 2011 at(818) 883-7843 or Hazel Prize at (818) 884-0224.The cost of the luncheon is $24.00. For moreinformation, please contact Ellen Fisher, Regent,at (323) 255-9536.

San Fernando Valley Genealogical Society

"NARA What Records Do They Have in the NationalArchives?" will be the topic of speaker, Kerry Bartels,at the San Fernando Valley Genealogical SocietyFebruary 18, 2011 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at theMeeting Room at the Chatsworth Train Station,10038 Old Depot Road, Chatsworth CA 91311.Bartels is Archives Specialist at the National Archivesat Riverside, CA. He has extensive experience as anarchivist and genealogist and has done extensiveresearch in the United States and Canada and manynations in Europe.

Mr. Bartels will demonstrate how genealogists canutilize the tools on the National Archive website todetermine for themselves records that may be usefulin their particular family research.

Join us for this interesting and informative presen-tation. Visitors are welcome. Our programs are free,but donations are appreciated. You can also find usat the following web site:(http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~casfvgs/index.html) For info. call John Lindsay at (818)349-0878.

Travel to Peru – Meet & Greet OrientationTuesday, February 156:00 p.m.

Find out more about the Chamber’s summer trip toPeru. Special program for educators, but all are wel-come!

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce7120 Hayvenhurst Ave. #114Van NuysFree!RSVP (818) 989-0300

Network Connection BreakfastWednesday, February 237:15 a.m.Braemar Country Club4001 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana$20 GSFVCC Members by February 20; $25 nonmembers by February 20Add $10 after February 20Register online: www.sanfernandovalleychamber.comFor information call: (818) 989-0300

FREE E-Waste CollectionSaturday & SundayMarch 12 & 139:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.Canoga Park Bowl parking lot20122 Vanowen St.Canoga ParkFor information call (818) 989-0300

RESEDA BUSINESS“Meet & Greet” Business Watch

Tuesday, February 15, 20116:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.West Valley Police StationAnn Kinzle Community Room19020 Vanowen St., ResedaPlease join us as we conduct a workshop on:

CUTTING THROUGH THE “RED TAPE”

Find out who to call to get issues addressed thatimpact your business.

Meet your Reseda L.A.P.D. Senior Lead Officers,Councilman Zine’s Staff, Community RedevelopmentAgency/LA Staff, the Deputy City AttorneyNeighborhood Prosecutor, the Reseda NeighborhoodCouncil and Revitalize Reseda.

Free parking behind the West Valley MunicipalBuilding on the south east corner of Vanowen andVanalden. Food and refreshments will be served.

Please reply to Revitalize Reseda at [email protected] or (818) 832-2280 by February 11 withyour name, business name, address, phone numberand e-mail address.

USED BOOK SALEFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2011 andSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2011

10 am to 5 pmPresented byThe Friends of the Library

ENCINO-TARZANA BRANCH OFTHE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY18231 VENTURA BLVD.TARZANA, CA 91356(818) 343-1983

PROCEEDS ARE USED FOR PROGRAMS, SUPPLIESAND BOOKS AT THIS BRANCHwww.ETLibraryFriends.org

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FAX YOUR AD TO WEST VALLEY NEWS 818.883.9678VISA & MASTERCARD ACCEPTED(6 Months Minimum Placement for Classified Ads)

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ADVERTISING/GRAPHIC DESIGN

Crowe Marketing DesignEd CroweT (818) 883-3374 M (818) 231-4454ecrowe@crowemarketingdesign.comwww.crowemarketingdesign.com

West Valley NewsCommunity AdvertisingEd Crowe (818) 231-4454advertising@westvalleynews-sfv.comwww.westvalleynews-sfv.com

Advertise for 6-12 issues and get your contact informationlisted online 24/7 in BUSINESS BY REFERRAL free of charge.

You also get a FREE business profile with photo. A value of $250.

Classified ads not included in this offer.

COMING SOON!A business exchange program with value-addedbenefits to participating members. Be part of it.

For information about BizEx contact:

Ed Crowe | CROWE MARKETING DESIGN | Since 1986818.883.3374 Direct 818.231.4454 [email protected]

If you are in business in the San Fernando Valley, you want to be part of BizEx.There are over 70,000 registered businesses operating in the San Fernando Valley.

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Please call (818) 887-3386

APARTMENT FOR RENT

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BEFORE AFTER

Digital Photo RetouchingDigital Restoration of Old Photographs

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See listing of all hosting plans with complete details and prices!

Visit www.crowemarketingdesign.comand click on New Media / Web Solutions

Canoga Park 2 Bed, 2 Bath Apartment for Rent $1,181

$25PER ISSUE

Regular Rate $50

Your BusinessCard Size Adhere in B&Wfor ONLY

CROWE MARKETING DESIGN Special 25th Anniversary Offer

Valid Jan-June 2011with AdvertisingInsertion Orders of6 issues minimum.YOU SAVE $150

Soon you will beable to FLEXyourBizEx™and SAVE!

50%

Do you need more customers?Local customers are searching the Internet right nowfor your products and services in your neighborhood!

Can they easily find you?We can make it easy for prospective clients to find you.

We’ll put you on the map with a professionaland optimized Google Places listing!

Take the first step now and call 818-883-3374and ask how we can get your business at the top of the list.

When You Advertise in the West Valley News You’re Online 24/7

MAXIMIZE VISIBILITY & EXPOSURE OF YOUR BUSINESSwith monthly print advertising and 24/7 Google Places local exposure

ONLY $157 per month with 6-month agreement

Your business promotion/advertising bundle includes:

– Business card size ad in the West Valley News (See sample above)– Print ad exposure in 8 communities in the west valley– 24/7 online listing of contact information in WVN Web site– Optimized Google Places local mapping for top ten, first page placement– Monitoring of SEO keywords and period updates

Call Monika Heigh at (818) 614-0362 for details.

Ask her about the West Valley News 24/7 Promotion Bundle

NEW

25PAGE 16 West Valley News Volume 7 Number 1 2011

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF HELPING VISIONS BECOME REALITY


818.883.3374

west valley news

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