WESTMONT NAMES NEW CFO
La Jolla based Westmont Living, a privately owned and managed senior living provider, has just announced the appointment of Jason Ballow as the company’s new chief financial officer. Ballow, with twenty years’ experience in finance and commercial real estate, joined the company on November 30, 2020. “I am excited to be Westmont Living’s new Chief Financial Officer, said Ballow. “Westmont is a leader in senior living, and after meeting the team I knew immediately that it would be a great fit.” Ballow was formerly vice president of development for Dallas-based Trammell Crow residential in Southern California, responsible for entitlement and development of multifamily properties. Before his work at Trammell, he served as chief financial officer at Anderson Drilling, a deep foundation and earth retention contractor. Ballow has a MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in Business Economics. He holds a CPA license and is a real estate broker. Westmont Living, LLC currently has 14 senior living communities in California and Oregon, with plans to open four communities over the next year.
CITY COUNCIL SEAT OPEN
As a result of the November election, the Oceanside City Council declared the District 1 City Council seat vacant at its Dec.16 meeting, and directed the city clerk’s office to accept applications to fill the vacancy. If you are a District 1 resident over the age of 18 and registered to vote, you may apply for the vacancy by filling out an application. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Jan. 8, 2021. Applications are available on the city website and at the city clerk’s office and may be submitted electronically, by mail, or in person. Applications are due to the city clerk’s office For questions, call (760) 435-3000 or e-mail [email protected].
HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
The Vista Chamber of Commerce reminds local businesses that as part of an end-of-year pandemic relief package, Congress has passed several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and created a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loan. Other changes impact eligibility for initial PPP loans, the loan forgiveness process, and the tax treatment of PPP loans. Visit uschamber.com/report/guide-small-business-covid-19-emergency-loans#fourc.
CONGRATS, GRADUATES
— Spring and summer graduates from the University of Kansas include Ayden Bloom of Carlsbad with a bachelor of science in sport management; Stephen Charles Deen, of Carlsbad, with a bachelor of science in civil engineering and Saige Alli Metsch, of Carlsbad, with a bachelor of general studies in psychology.
— Alexis Dawn Sun, of Encinitas, earned a bachelor of arts, college of arts and sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
STAR STUDENTS
— Cade Windham, of Oceanside, has been named to the Knox College Dean’s List of distinguished students for the 2020 Fall Term.
— The University of Mississippi announced students Braden Brooks Zegras of Carlsbad and Lucy Brinkman Reed of Carmel Valley were named to the Fall 2020 Honor Roll.
— Sophia Knappertz, of Carlsbad, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at the University of Vermont. Knappertz is in the College of Arts and Sciences.
— North County students were named to the Honor Roll at Oregon State University, including Zareena A. Bokhari, Ashley J. Brewer, Allison N. Kelly, Kyrie M. Koehn, Qwen A. Landis, Gabriella K. Sanchez and Noelani S. Setzler, all of Carlsbad. From Encinitas, Sophie B. Williams. From Oceanside, Viktor D. Medvinsky and Mick R. Shipman. From Rancho Santa Fe, Emma C. Dudley. From San Marcos, Christian E. Plue and Carlee A. Quade and from Vista, Isaiah J. McGuire.
STUDENTS SHARE KINDNESS
Students at LePort Montessori School Solana Beach in Del Mar recently donated more than 250 food and essential items to give back in the community. Students collected a variety of nonperishable food items, toiletries, diapers and other essentials. The donations were delivered to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Barrio Logan, which will distribute the items to community members in need.
OFFICERS ELECTED AT V.I.D.
Vista Irrigation District board of directors elected Patrick Sanchez as its president and Marty Miller as its vice-president for 2021 at its annual organizational meeting. Sanchez has served on the board since March 2017. Sanchez represents division 4, which encompasses the Shadowridge area of Vista. Miller, who has served on the board since 2008, represents division 1, which stretches from Gopher Canyon Road to Vale Terrace Drive in Vista.
OCEANSIDE LIBRARY MEANS BIZ
The Friends of the Oceanside Public Library turns 50 in 2021, kicking off Jan. 6 and has instituted new membership opportunities for Oceanside businesses. For 2021 only, local businesses can become annual members for just $50, a new level that will be called the 50/50 Club. To sign up as a Friends Business Member, or to learn more about the Friends, visit oplfriends.org or e-mail [email protected]. Additional new membership levels are Business Bronze, $100; Business Silver, $250; Business Gold, $500; and Business Platinum, $1,000 and above.
NEW PALOMAR TRUSTEES
Three new trustees were sworn into the Palomar Community College District Governing Board in December. Voters in Trustee Area 2 elected Christian Garcia, a local high school teacher and long-time North County resident. Roberto Rodriguez was elected in Trustee Area 3, which includes much of Vista, unincorporated land north of Escondido and along the eastern side of Interstate 15 as far south as Poway. Rodriguez teaches government and economics in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Brian Olson was elected to represent Trustee Area 4, extending from I-15 east to near the Salton Sea. Olson lives in Poway and is a small business owner and real estate investor who previously served four years on the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees.
METROLINK ADDS AIR FILTERS
As COVID-19 cases across the state soar, Metrolink — Southern California’s regional passenger train service — stepped up efforts to keep its riders and employees safe and healthy. Metrolink announced the addition of new, state-of-the-art antimicrobial air filters on all its train cars to ensure safe air for passengers to breathe throughout their journey.
