Main Street Promenade (see fifth story in Briefs)

Entomologist-artist Diane Ullman (left) admires the work of 8-year-old Aleta Ballinger. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) See penultimate story in Briefs.

This trio of honey bees is the work of 8-year-old Aleta Ballinger of Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has struck out in an effort to cut the pay of more than 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. But, like a baseball game, he gets another turn at bat.

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge ruled against the governor’s demand for an immediate cut in pay but has not dismissed the case. A hearing on it is set for July 26.

That’s four days after the last day that state Controller John Chiang says he has to send payroll data to the printer.



“I am pleased the court ruling today spared taxpayers and California’s economy from further harm,” says Mr. Chiang on Friday. 

“Playing games with a 40-year-old payroll system does nothing to bridge the budget gap, but could make it worse by exposing California taxpayers to millions, if not billions, of dollars in penalties and fines for violating federal and state labor and contract laws.”

California employment numbers are looking up

California lost 27,600 jobs in June, representing a 0.2 percent decrease in employment over the month. But no hand wringing is required as far as the larger employment picture is concerned, says a report from Beacon Economics of San Francisco.

The job loss was due almost exclusively to a cutback in temporary census workers -- something that has long been expected. Take away Census related losses, and the state would have reported an overall gain in employment, says the report. The 28,900 jobs lost in temporary government employment was offset by an addition of 1,300 private industry jobs.

While the employment picture is looking better in California, it’s only for certain industries. Both the “Construction” and “Other Services” sectors continued to show weakness losing 8,500 and 4,500 jobs, respectively. However, “Manufacturing” (up 7,300), “Trade, Transportation, and Utilities” (up 5,600), and “Professional and Business Services” (up 1,500) all posted very respectable gains, says the report.

California's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points in June to reach 12.3 percent. Of the state's previously unemployed residents, 8,000 found jobs this past month.

“But what is surprising is that 24,000 Californians gave up their job search and dropped out of the labor force altogether. This is unexpected because we have been seeing a steady return to the labor force in recent months as economic conditions have improved,” says the report from Beacon Economics.

Sacramento’s economy gradually recovering

The economic forecast for the Sacramento region suggests the worst is over, but recovery will be slow due to a variety of issues including a double-digit unemployment rate and a state budget that will likely include cuts to payroll and programs, according to the July 2010 Sacramento Business Review.

The bi-annual Sacramento Business Review is published by Sacramento State University's College of Business Administration and the CFA Society of Sacramento. It is an independent review and forecast that focuses specifically on the economy of Sacramento.

"Despite the national economy rebounding, Sacramento unfortunately remains pressured with continued job losses, albeit at a slower rate, and heightened uncertainty due to a growing state deficit," says Sanjay Varshney, dean of the College of Business Administration at Sacramento State.

The report addresses the housing and real estate market's continual drift in search of a bottom as well as a struggling bank industry and non-performing loans continuing to pose challenges. Those factors, as well as the state deficit, compound to slow down economic progress, says Mr. Varshney.

But in spite of unemployment holding at current high percentages, Mr. Varshney says the levels will slowly improve, with an expectation that the positive momentum of the current business cycle will gradually lead the local economy back to health.

"On the bright side, our recession in Sacramento may end as early as the third quarter of 2010 with economic growth, despite weak employment outlook," says Mr. Varshney. "Capital markets provide hope with stable local corporations and the SBR Index performing in line."

Major construction project starts in Merced

Road work on the G Street Underpass project in Merced officially began Friday when Mayor Bill Spriggs used a backhoe to take a scoop of earth from the roadbed, while an Amtrak train idled in the background.

The event kicked off construction of a four lane undercrossing at the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe tracks. The $18 million city of Merced and Merced Redevelopment Agency project will take 18 months to complete.

When it opens in December 2011 the four-lane road under the tracks will connect Central and North Merced residents without having to stop for train traffic. Currently, police, fire and other public safety vehicles in Merced spend up to two hours each day delayed by the trains. Merced can have up to 42 trains a day cutting through town.

Monday, July 19, railroad crews will begin their work to drive pilings for the train bridge. They will be installing a prefabricated bridge with a minimal impact on trains passing through Merced. The railroad plans to have the bridge completed by October.

The city awarded the $5,059,272 contract to Teichert Construction for the G Street project. The company has been encouraged to hire local employees and subcontractors whenever possible.

The road project has its roots in a tragedy occurring almost 80 years ago. It was at the intersection of G Street and the then Santa Fe railroad tracks that a school bus coming from Fremont School was struck by a train. Six students were killed and another 23 were injured. The tragedy on May 7, 1931, helped lead to the legislation that requires all occupied buses to stop at railroad crossings.

Visalia downtown project secures anchor tenant

Main Street Promenade, the newest addition to downtown Visalia, has secured Keller Williams Realty as its anchor tenant.

Keller Williams Realty has leased the third floor of Main Street Promenade and a retail center on the first floor of the project, which is currently under construction at Main and Bridge streets.

Built in four phases, Main Street Promenade will include 60,000 square feet of mixed-use space including retail, office and restaurants when complete.

“We grew very rapidly as a company and we needed more room,” says Brian Icenhower, chief executive officer of Keller Williams Realty Tulare County. “We wanted to have a larger presence in the downtown area and contribute to the city’s focus on growing our downtown. Having our agents and staff plus their affiliates downtown – that’s 130 people eating and shopping downtown.”

Main Street Promenade, LLC, is a collaboration of several local builders and developers, including brothers Craig and Andy Mangano, Bob Dowds and Stephen Peck. Mangano Company Inc. is a family business that has been developing quality retail, commercial and residential projects throughout California for the past 40 years.

California energy program faces uncertain future

The California Energy Commission at its July 28 meeting may scuttle or put on the shelf the largest energy retrofit program in the country.

It’s due to the decision by the quasi-governmental mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that first-priority liens such as the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program used for the energy program are not permitted on properties they’ve financed.

The two companies own or mortgage 56 percent of the nation’s real estate.

Absent immediate legislative action by Congress or other appropriate federal relief, California's launch of its PACE-funded energy retrofit program cannot move forward, the commission says.

The commission’s staff wants the Energy Commission to act quickly and definitively to expand the financing options available to California municipalities for energy efficiency and renewable energy residential retrofit projects, thereby ensuring that California can meet the deadline to tap into federal stimulus money.

Blending art with science at honey bee garden

If it takes a village to raise a child, then the art at the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis is a child of the community and the campus.

The ceramic art work being installed at the half-acre bee friendly garden on Bee Biology Road is the work of not only undergraduates in the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program but community residents.

A grand opening celebration of the haven is planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.

“We are so inspired by the learning that happens as students from majors across the campus and community members collaborate to create beautiful and educational artwork,” says Art/Science Fusion Program co-director and co-founder Diane Ullman, an entomologist and an artist. “It is exciting to see the learning we can share extended to so many people as a result of connecting art and science in this way.”

Ms. Ullman, an entomology professor-artist and associate dean for undergraduate academic programs at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, founded the Art/Science Fusion Program in 2006 with Davis-based artist Donna Billick.

At the invitation of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, sixth graders at Korematsu Elementary School in Davis, and community members crafted flowers, pollen grains and bees for the haven.

At one recent community workshop, third-grader Aleta Ballinger, 8, of Davis, finished a handful of ceramic bees and also completed a larger ceramic of a worker bee on hexagonal cells.

Math Tutoring needs more tutors

Math Smart Tutoring is looking for volunteers to share their love of math, algebra and geometry with students in the San Joaquin County area.

Math Smart Tutoring provides free tutoring to any sixth through 12th grade student struggling with math. Tutors share their enthusiasm and expertise and offer individual attention and encouragement.

The tutoring program takes place at M.K. Troke Library in Stockton Mondays through Thursdays. 



New tutor orientation will be held at the Troke Library at 502 W. Benjamin Holt Dr. in Stockton on Tuesday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m.

To register for orientation or for more information contact Veray Wickham with the San Joaquin County Office of Education, 468-9021 or e-mail vwickham@sjcoe.net