State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today released the results of the 2009 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program that show California students overall continue to make steady academic progress in English-language arts, math, science, and history-social science. “I am pleased and encouraged to see that for the seventh year in a row, California…

Do you remember the old lime-green travel agency at 9661 Las Tunas? You may have known the cute little old couple that ran a travel agency business out of it for 25 years or more.  Now, that building is their pension fund. One day a few years ago, as we passed it to get our…

I recently received a call from a friend who was at wit’s end with her adorably small, but dingy apartment.  With the heat of August came a restlessness and the urge to do some serious sprucing up in her apartment.  She wanted to make her environment productive, peaceful and beautiful. With the desperation of Princess…

Huff Vows to Return Cash after Abruptly Shuttered School Leaves Students and Teachers Owed Thousands Shortly after being named Small Business of the Year by State Senator Bob Huff, the Montecito Fine Arts College of Design abruptly closed its doors in July, leaving students and teachers alike dumbfounded without pay, and without answers. However, Montecito…

I’ve heard that from more than one acquaintance in the last few weeks.  It’s not because they’ve lost a job, or had a medical emergency, it’s just that it doesn’t make sound financial sense to keep making the payments anymore. Defaulting on a mortgage or credit card has become a cool and calculated financial decision,…

Be careful what you wish for . . . Every time I went to Europe on a business trip, I would come home longing for the kind of coffee and pastry delicacies you could find on the streets of Paris.  I would think, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could find just a little of…

Every summer, without fail, there is a steady stream of visitors to our house. This means we have a revolving door when it comes to our guest room.  There is nothing more thoughtful than offering up a nice retreat for your visiting friends and family. With this in mind, and a few extra little luxuries,…

When higher end homes don’t sell for the price sellers want, it’s common for them to put their properties up for lease instead, and ‘wait the market out.’ Here’s an email I received recently: “Hi Dawn, I have a home in Illinois that I had for sale last summer that didn’t sell, so I finally…