How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Business News
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – Konocti Vista Casino's Executive Chef Ben Larimer recently took second place in the Iron Chef California.
Larimer was one of eight finalists chosen to take part in the main event from the fifty recipes submitted. He breezed through the first round on Tuesday, March 9, with a pan-seared swordfish served with pineapple ginger puree and roasted cilantro risotto.
On Wednesday, when the final four contestants took to the kitchen, Larimer achieved victory over Ryan Barnett, a corporate chef for Palm, when he produced a Napoleon filet. The Napoleon was prepared with Australian tenderloin layered with seared spinach with a balsamic reduction.
In the final his Yin and Yang Salad, Parpadelli pasta infused with sesame and ginger served with marinated Kobe beef and dressed with a roasted red pepper sesame vinaigrette and cilantro pecan vinaigrette was narrowly defeated by Kristela Nazario of Pyramid Brewery Berkeley.
Larimer, a native of Coweta, Okla., is a self-taught chef who learned his trade under Italian and Mexican chefs and at five-star 5 Diamond properties.
This is not the first time he has enjoyed success in nationally recognized competitions. Next month he will be filming two episodes of “Top Chef” as a guest judge following his win in the Top Chef Tour Quaker Oats Quickfire Challenge. You can view a story about this event at http://quickfire.bravotv.com/quickfire/index.php .
Konocti Vista Casino is very fortunate to have a chef of his quality heading up the team at the Vista Steakhouse and Larimer likes to think they produce “the best steak on the lake.”
“I enjoy the area and the people of Lake County and I really appreciate their hospitality,” he said.
Humble and soft spoken, Larimer is passionate about food and cooking and his dedication to producing quality dishes is unsurpassed.
Watch out for this rising star of the culinary world whose talent and commitment will take him to the top.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT – The Lake County Department of Social Services and Arbor Education and Training will present a new subsidized employment program to potential employers.
Informational meetings will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 24.
They are offering informational meetings for employers about this program at the Board of Supervisor’s Chambers, located at 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport
This program is funded with newly available federal stimulus dollars with the goal of placing qualified participants in jobs to stimulate the local economy.
The Lake County Department of Social Services will reimburse employers the wages and taxes for qualified employees.
The employer will, in turn, provide supervision and training to the participants.
Space is limited, so please RSVP to Jeremiah at 707-995-9015.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang has released his monthly report covering California’s cash balance, receipts and disbursements in February.
The month’s receipts rose above the governor’s 2010-11 budget estimates by $480 million, or 8.7 percent.
“Revenues came in above projections for the third month in a row, continuing a positive trend that shows California is on the road to recovering from the recession. Given February’s numbers and recent action from the Legislature to improve the state’s cash flow, Californians should expect to receive their hard-earned tax refunds on time,” Chiang said. “While the worst may be behind us, we still face cash challenges later in the summer absent enactment of further credible and sustainable budget and cash solutions.”
Earlier this month, the Legislature enacted a package of payment deferrals – impacting largely state, local government, and school operations – to avoid cash shortfalls projected over the next 15 months.
Specifically, the bill provides up to $5 billion of additional liquidity during the weakest points in the State’s cash position.
Earlier projections showed the state’s cash position falling below safe levels on March 30. The controller has updated his cash-flow outlook to reflect February’s receipts as well as the Legislature’s payment deferrals.
Year-to-date receipts are ahead of budget estimates by $1.94 billion, or 3.9 percent. The state’s cash position was $2.15 billion ahead of projected levels on Feb. 28.
The state started the fiscal year with an $11.9 billion cash deficit in the General Fund, which grew to $22.3 billion by Feb. 28.
Those deficits are being covered with a combination of $13.5 billion of internal borrowing from special funds and $8.8 billion in short-term Revenue Anticipation Notes.
February 2010’s financial statement and the summary analysis can found on the controller’s Web site at www.sco.ca.gov .
- Details
- Written by: Editor
SACRAMENTO – Betty T. Yee, chairwoman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), has released California gasoline and diesel consumption figures for November 2009.
Gasoline consumption decreased 2.3 percent, while diesel consumption declined 3.2 percent compared to the same month in 2008.
“While gas prices have changed little in recent months, they are up quite a bit compared to the extremely low prices of late 2008. So we would expect consumption to be lower compared to 2008,” said Chairwoman Yee.
January through November 2009 California gasoline consumption declined 1.4 percent compared to January through November of 2008.
Gasoline consumption declined 2.3 percent in November 2009 when Californians used 1.170 billion gallons of gasoline compared to 1.198 billion gallons in November 2008.
The average price at the pump for gasoline in California during November 2009 was $3.01 per gallon compared to $2.51 in November 2008, a 19.9 percent increase.
Prices were extremely low in late 2008, reflecting the burst of a crude oil price bubble that developed earlier in the year.
Sales tax revenue generated from gasoline sold in California was approximately $293 million in November 2009, which is an estimated $72 million less than generated in November 2008.
Sales tax revenues from gasoline in November 2009 would have been about $40 million less if the sales tax rate had not increased by one percent on April 1, 2009.
Diesel consumption in California declined by 3.2 percent in November 2009 when Californians used 198 million gallons compared to 204 million gallons in November 2008.
Diesel prices in California were $2.96 per gallon in November 2009 up 4.6 percent compared to November 2008 when the average diesel price was $2.83 per gallon.
The BOE is able to monitor gallons through tax receipts paid by fuel distributors. Figures for December 2009 are scheduled to be available at the end of March 2010. All monthly, quarterly, and annual figures can be viewed at: www.boe.ca.gov/sptaxprog/spftrpts.htm .