Christopher Simmons

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Sunday December 9, Erik Cutter, Managing Director of Alegria Fresh, will speak at Foodprint LA as an expert panelist about innovative ideas for the future of food production within dense urban environments.

BURBANK, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) announced on Tuesday that he is seeking applications from local business owners to serve on his District 43 Business Advisory Commission. The commission will meet several times in the months ahead, with the goal with formulating one or more legislative proposals that would be introduced by Assemblyman Gatto in the 2013 state legislative session.

MILL VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ArteQuesta Collectors Drs. Holly and Mark Monroe will loan a portion of their collection for display in ArteQuesta's private museum, Rayah Levy and Jessica Jacobson, co-founders of ArteQuesta, announced today.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- PCM of California, Inc. (PCM), an Associa company, announced today that it has assumed management of Mission Viejo's Highland Park Homeowners' Association, effective November 1. The 208-home community is the fifth to be added to PCM's Orange County management portfolio in recent months. PCM now manages 18 associations in the city of Mission Viejo.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Aaron Robertson, 44, of Roseville, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Robertson has been deputy director of administration at the California Department of Parks and Recreation since 2012.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced today that he will return without signature a City Council election ordinance to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the March 5, 2013 ballot:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Jason Bush, 42, of Fresno, has been appointed to the Carcinogen Identification Committee. Bush has served as associate professor of cancer biology at California State University, Fresno since 2012 and was assistant professor of cancer biology from 2006 to 2012.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the 81st Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 5 on the West Steps of the State Capitol. This year's tree is a 50-foot tall white fir tree from the Latour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in Shasta County and is the first Capitol Christmas tree from a state forest.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Monday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Ken DaRosa, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). DaRosa has served in multiple postions at the California Department of Finance since 2004, including program budget manager, assistant program budget manager, principal program budget analyst and staff finance analyst.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO Sample Digital/DAX LLC, emphasized technology's critical role, in both the creative and business aspects of media, in his address as a featured speaker at the 1st Annual Media and Entertainment Forum in Tianjin, China. Organized by KPMG Advisory China and AID Partners Capital in Tianjin, the international conference assembled key executives from the U.S. and Chinese to explore the state of the media and entertainment industry.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians agreed to an amended tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Tribe.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: first, Paul Marchand, 64, of Kelseyville, has been appointed to the 49th District Agricultural Association, Lake County Fair Board. Marchand has been an independent emergency physician and contractor since 1985 and owner of Highland Springs Equestrian Center since 2005. He is a founding member of the Lake County Horse Council and Lake County Dressage Society.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park today announced the top winners of the third annual Scarecrows in the Park fundraising competition, which challenges local businesses and community organizations to build creative, themed scarecrows that are displayed for public voting at the Great Park’s Farm + Food Lab and on the Great Park’s website.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mayor Edwin M. Lee today at the U.S. Green Building Council Greenbuild International Conference and Expo being held at the Moscone Convention Center announced that the City and County of San Francisco has filed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for eight buildings in San Francisco’s Historic Civic Center District.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced an agreement between the Golden State Warriors, local building trades unions and community groups to hire a minimum number of San Francisco residents for the construction of a proposed basketball and performing arts venue on San Francisco’s waterfront.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Hal Geiogue, 71, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Student Aid Commission. Geiogue was the chief consultant to the California Assembly Education Committee from 1995 to 2002, and was assistant state treasurer to the California State Treasurer from 1991 to 1995.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Edupoint(TM) Educational Systems, a leading student information system (SIS) solutions provider to the national K-12 market, has been selected by Poudre School District to implement its Synergy(R) SIS solution. The centralized web-based system will connect the district's schools and administration facilities to serve students, their parents, teachers, and district staff.

CAMARILLO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- AMT Datasouth Corporation is pleased to introduce its new Accel 7450 serial-dot-matrix (SDM) printer. The Accel 7450 features the latest technology in motors, drivers and electronics. The Accel 7450 is the successor to the very successful Accel 6300 and 7350 series printers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Elaine Howle, 54, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed state auditor for the California State Auditor’s Office. Howle has served in multiple positions at the California State Auditor’s Office since 1993, including state auditor, deputy state auditor and principal auditor.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Meredith Biasca, 54, of Loleta, has been appointed to the 9th District Agricultural Association, Redwood Acres Fair Board. Biasca has been manager at Don’s Rent-All since 2005. She was manager at the Party Place from 1990 to 2005.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- 'This food will keep you alive and vital, and I am living proof,' says Francis Lingel, a 90-year young veteran who has joined Alegria Farm's team to assist with farm tours. 'Fresh greens are the secret to longevity,' he adds.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Bonne Foi Beauty Products, an anti-aging skin care line, is proud to host its first Autumn Open House event in downtown Huntington Beach on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Bonne Foi will feature its full line of anti-aging skin care and hair care products for guests to try at its Open House.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Having just been selected as one of nine artists nationwide to be showcased at Art Basel Miami in December 2012, in conjunction with Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, John Waguespack will exhibit his 'New Works' at 111 Minna Gallery November 16, 2012 through January 26, 2013.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Delivering on his pledge to ask the people of California to vote on the best path forward, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today hailed the passage of Proposition 30 as a clear and resounding victory for children, schools and the California dream.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park and Arts Orange County are pleased to present a new Arts Happening featuring the premier of a new one-woman play: The Dig. Written by and starring Los Angeles-based actress Stacie Chaiken, The Dig recounts the dramatic tale of a world-renowned American archeologist who uncovers the identity of a remarkable find in the Middle East that has the potential for explosive consequences.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board conducted a study to identify the top demand sectors for employment in San Bernardino County. The results showed that manufacturing, health care, transportation and logistics, energy and utilities, and construction are the top five industries that will be seeking a skilled workforce in San Bernardino County to fill available jobs.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Monday directed the California Emergency Management Agency and California National Guard to send specialized assistance to the east coast to help in responding to Hurricane Sandy.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- A Swedish delegation of Sustainable Teachers toured Alegria Farm to learn about its new high efficiency farming process and find out about the disease fighting food being grown and delivered by Alegria Fresh. Alegria's innovative new farming method employs the Verti-Gro System.

FRESNO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Central Valley Tea Party will host a massive phone banking event for their monthly Action Night meeting on Nov. 1, 2012. Several candidates will be in attendance to rally participants.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Thursday opened the new Visitacion Valley Family Resource Center annex at the Sunnydale HOPE SF public housing site as part of the Mayor’s IPO (Interrupt, Predict and Organize for a Safer San Francisco) violence prevention strategy.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Thursday announced the following appointments: First, Paul Helliker, 55, of Berkeley, has been appointed deputy director at the California Department of Water Resources. Helliker has been executive advisor at the Marin Municipal Water District since 2012 and general manager there from 2004 to 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointments: First, Bobbie Jean Anderson, 73, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Anderson served as a field representative for Assemblymember Mike Davis from 2006 to 2009, supervising legal office assistant at the Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender from 1978 to 2003 and a typist clerk for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services from 1957 to 1968.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board announced that Executive Director Sandy Harmsen was appointed to Chair of the California Workforce Association's Executive Committee. The committee facilitates the direction and management of the Association.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, The Nature Conservancy of California announced that their one-stop website on the sources and protection levels of drinking water across the state now provides such information for an estimated 26.5 million Californians residing in more than 500 cities and towns.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board announced it opened a new Employment Resource Center in Victorville. The Employment Resource Centers help county residents re-enter the workforce or transfer their skills from shrinking industries to expanding industries.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- PCM of California, Inc. (PCM), an Associa company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to manage the Traditions Homeowners' Association located in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. The 125-home community is the second to be recently added to PCM's management portfolio from this southeastern Orange County community of nearly 48,000 residents.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Joined by dozens of high tech student trainees and representatives of San Francisco’s major technology companies, Mayor Edwin M. Lee launched TechSF – a citywide workforce initiative that aims to train and place 2,500 San Francisco residents from diverse backgrounds in high technology jobs over the next five years.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee issued the following statement on San Francisco’s unemployment rate dropping below seven percent in September, based on preliminary unemployment numbers released by the State Employment Development Department (EDD):

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Shawn Bagley, 61, of Salinas, has been appointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board. Bagley has been a founding partner and vice president at Complete Produce Inc. since 2002.

MILL VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ArteQuesta has developed a unique software program designed to manage investment quality art portfolios, it was announced today by Rayah Levy and Jessica Jacobson, co-founders. ArteQuesta Art Portfolio Management is the first program of its kind, and was developed and tested over two years.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mayor Villaraigosa today joined Councilmember Jose Huizar to announce that the architecture firm HNTB is the winner of the international design competition for the redesign of the 6th Street Bridge.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- As San Francisco Bay Area marks the 23rd anniversary of the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake, Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Wednesday announced the appointment of Patrick Otellini to lead San Francisco’s groundbreaking Earthquake Safety Implementation Program (ESIP).

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced that San Francisco, in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers and a San Francisco Bay Area regional bid committee, will submit a formal bid to the National Football League (NFL) to host Super Bowl L in 2016.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- This October Angara presents the 'Pink Collection' in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every time you purchase jewelry from this collection, Angara will make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc (NBCF). The 'Pink Collection' includes pendants, earrings and rings in pink sapphires and gemstones.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Bynoskia Sams' Resort Collection was featured at Jon Gheri's Afternoon of Elegance fashion show which was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif. on October 14. More than 260 guests enjoyed the late afternoon meal that was given as a part of a fundraiser for the 'A Love Beyond Me' Foundation.

CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Quail and Olive celebrated its grand opening with nearly 250 new friends last Saturday at 3 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. The olive oil fustis had to be refilled as customers walked out with California-grown varieties of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegars, olives and other fine gourmet gifts.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Governor Brown issued a Proclamation Declaring October 17, 2012 as Mervyn M. Dymally Day. Text follows:

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Qvole Collective, an independent artist management and development company, announces today West Coast photographer, filmmaker, hip-hop scholar and Mochilla founder, Brian (B+) Cross shot and directed the new video 'Joven Navegante' for L.A.'s psych/tropical/soul act Chicano Batman. The video was premiered two separate times at 8:45 and 10:15 on Friday, October 12 at Highland Park's newly opened 'record gallery' Strictly Grooves.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- John Waguespack is the winner of the San Francisco portion of the 3rd Annual Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series for 'Deconstructing Dandridge,' a compelling portrait of the first African-American woman to be nominated for Best Actress in the Academy Awards.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Margaret Abe-Koga, 42, of Mountain View, has been appointed to the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board. Abe-Koga has served as a councilmember for the city of Mountain View since 2007. She has been corporate and foundation relations manager for Asian Americans for Community Involvement in San Jose since 2012 and was a self-employed consultant from 2005 until 2012.