Business

Bodegas Paso Robles, which specializes in Spanish and Portuguese varietals, was one of two American wine producers to win gold at the seventh annual international contest of tempranillos.

Hospice du Rhône organizers are encouraging syrah fans to tweet loud and proud about this food-friendly red Thursday, which they’ve proclaimed #Syrah Day.

The days leading up to Valentine’s Day are some of the busiest of the year for many local retailers. Joe Goldberg, president and CEO of Skyline Flower Growers in Nipomo, is ramping up operations at all of his production centers.

The doors are open at one retailer new to San Luis Obispo County and soon will open for another. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market celebrated its grand opening today, and Dick’s Sporting Goods is set to open early next month.

Local nonprofit organization Options Family of Services has ceased publishing the Central Coast franchise of TravelHost, a glossy travel publication distributed to San Luis Obispo County visitors through local hotels.

Atascadero native Jay DeCou was honored as the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Citizen of the Year.

A familiar group of volunteers will serve as the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 board of directors.

Former Mayor Janice Peters has been named the 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce.

San Luis Obispo County residents believe the top three issues that will impact the area in the next few years are employment and jobs, fast and uncontrolled growth, and water.

The fourth annual Culinary Carnival benefitting the Prado Day Center is set to take place Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo Embassy Suites.

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast has broken ground on its $7.5 million medical clinic in Nipomo.

A familiar group of volunteers will serve as the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 board of directors.

Citing increased profitability but an ongoing need to improve efficiency and cut costs, Paso Robles-based Heritage Oaks Bancorp said it is closing three of its 14 banks, has eliminated a top administrative position and has begun plans to grow loans and deposits in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

In September 2009, HumanKind Fair Trade held a grand opening celebration for its store at 982 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. It opened the doors two months earlier. The nonprofit sells décor, jewelry, toys and foods from artisans in fair-trade cooperatives in a variety of developing countries.

“People may not remember what you did or what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel,” marketing entrepreneur Mary Verdin explained to The Tribune’s Top 20 Under 40 Award winners Thursday at the Madonna Inn.

One airline has expressed interest in creating a direct flight from San Luis Obispo to Denver — but only if San Luis Obispo County can prove there is a demand.

Dave Juhnke, a San Luis Obispo attorney with a background of service to more than half a dozen nonprofits, is the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year.

BeeWench Farm, a family-run farm east of Paso Robles, plans to begin selling boxes of local fruits and vegetables in March.

The announcement Monday by Catholic Healthcare West that it is changing its name to Dignity Health and cutting its affiliation with the Catholic Church will not result in any major changes for the three local hospitals it governs: French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria.

Coast Bancorp announced Friday that it selected Anita Robinson to serve as chief executive officer of both Coast Bancorp and its subsidiary, Coast National Bank. Robinson will succeed former CEO Jack Wauchope, who resigned. She will also be named as a director of both Coast Bancorp and Coast National Bank. Her appointments are subject to required regulatory approvals.