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January 7, 2002
San Diego-based Sensoria Corp., a wireless connectivity provider to the automotive, defense and other industries, has joined forces with the also San Diego-based Science Applications International Corp. to support SAIC's pursuit of U.S. government homeland security projects.
Under the terms of the agreement, SAIC, one of the leading technology providers to the U.S. government, will be the prime contractor while Sensoria will provide expertise in the wireless networking of embedded systems. The technology is crucial for the deployment of reliable systems for physical security, bioterrorism detection, and remote monitoring of buildings, equipment or infrastructures under government-sponsored homeland security programs.
"SAIC selected Sensoria to assist in the area of wireless embedded systems networking because its technology has been implemented with reliable results in similar applications," says Dan Dakin, SAIC group senior v.p. "The alliance with Sensoria can complement our ability to respond to the government."
For more than two years, Sensoria has been working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to deploy a wireless sensor platform for developing and delivering new information technology. Some of these projects were performed under subcontract to SAIC.
"This alliance leverages the marketing resources of one of the top systems integrators to the U.S. government, and expands the reach of our technology within the government sector," says Dave Gelvin, Sensoria CEO. "We look forward to increased business opportunities through the application of our technology into additional government programs."
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The 2001 Del Mar Fair was the eighth largest fair in the United States and 10th largest in North America, reports the Dec. 24 edition of Amusement Business Magazine.
Despite a slight drop in attendance, the Del Mar Fair retained the same position it held in 2000, which was a record year. Attendance for 2001 was, 1,126,204 as compared to 1,169,150 in 2000.
The fair is the largest and oldest annual event in San Diego County, and is a yearly tradition for the majority of visitors. It is perennially among the top 10 fairs in the United States for attendance.
“Our high ranking is a tribute to the teamwork of those who help to make the fair happen,” says Timothy Fennell, CEO and g.m. of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. “We also have a great location with cool breezes that help attract visitors on warm summer days; and our theme, ‘The Endless Summer,’ was a perfect fit for our event.”
The Amusement Business article notes that there was a major reshuffling of fairs in the top 10 rankings in 2001; much of which was attributed to the Sept. 11 disaster, a weaker economy, and poor weather conditions.
The top 10 U.S. fairs for attendance in 2001 were:
1.) Texas State Fair, Dallas; more than 3 million visitors.
2.) Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN; 1,762,976.
3.) Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; 1,382,183.
4.) Western Washington Fair, Puyallup, WA; 1,205,175.
5.) Los Angeles County Fair; 1,171,304 (the total includes horseracing attendance figures).
6.) Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA; 1,135,480.
7.) Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL; 1,130,000.
8.) Del Mar Fair, CA; 1,126,204.
9.) Arizona State Fair, Phoenix; 1,079,508.
10.) California State Fair, Sacramento; 1,045,091.
“Our goal for next year is to move up a few notches,” says Fennell. “And we’ve got some big changes planned for the 2002 fair.”
Among changes is the renaming of the event back to its original name — The San Diego County Fair — which it held in some fashion from 1880 through the early 1980s. The renaming, already approved by the Fairgrounds’ board, is intended to reconnect the fair with its intended constituents: The people of San Diego County.
Other changes at the fairgrounds in 2002 may include renaming the entire fairgrounds facility. In December, the Fairgrounds staff mailed hundreds of letters to corporations and organizations soliciting their interest in acquiring the naming rights for the fairgrounds. With more than 300 events each year and an annual attendance in excess of three million visitors — more than the San Diego State Aztecs, Padres, and Chargers combined — directors felt there was enough name recognition and relationship-building potential associated with the facility that corporations would be interested in investigating the possibility of creating a strategic partnership
Some of the most popular of the more than 300 events held at the Fairgrounds include: The Scream Zone, Holiday of Lights, Del Mar National Horse Show and the live thoroughbred horseracing meet. The Fairgrounds also owns and operates the Surfside Race Place, the largest off-track betting facility in the nation; the Del Mar Horsepark; and the Surf n’ Turf recreational facility making the fairgrounds one of the most popular entertainment venues in the region.
Another change patrons will see is more dates to attend the fair and a later opening time. The dates for the 2002 fair will be from Saturday, June 15 through Sunday, July 7. However the Fair will be closed the first two Mondays, June 17 and 24. The Fair will also open later on weekdays, setting the opening time at 11 a.m.
“The 2002 San Diego County Fair promises to be the best and most exciting ever. Just the kind of place San Diegans can gather to celebrate with their families, the community, and their country,” says Fennell.
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San Diego-headquartered Jack in the Box Inc.’s same-store sales for the four-week period ended Dec. 23 were flat compared with those reported for the same period in fiscal 2001, which were 3.5 percent higher than the prior year.
Through the first three periods of fiscal 2002, same-store sales increased 0.5 percent on top of a 4.1 percent increase for the first three periods last year.
"We realize that our guests' spending habits have been affected by national economic uncertainties,” says chairman and CEO Robert J. Nugent. “So it’s more important than ever to continue offering value-oriented products and pricing, such as the recent addition of a new sandwich — the Big Cheeseburger — to our under-a-dollar Value Menu and free jumbo sizing with the purchase of a Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger combo meal. In addition, we continue to develop higher standards of customer service that have helped us improve our industry rankings, according to such surveys as QSR Magazine's 2001 Drive-Thru Time Study."
Based on the softer sales experienced through the first three periods, the company now expects its same-store sales to increase around 0.6 percent for the first quarter and around 1 percent for the year.
These sales estimates are slightly lower than prior guidance; however, the company still expects to meet current earnings per share consensus estimates of 64 cents for the first quarter and $2.18 for the full year due to the implementation of its new Profit Improvement Program.
"In keeping with our philosophy of producing solid, disciplined earnings growth over time, this program is not simply a cost-cutting measure in response to what we feel is a short-term economic downturn," Nugent says. "Rather, it is a comprehensive, company-wide effort designed to develop more effective ways to operate the business to better support our future growth, as well as generate improvements to our current profit margins."
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A 1.2 acre piece of vacant land at the northwest corner of National City Blvd. and Highway 54 in National City has been sold for $700,000, reports BRE Commercial/NAI. The buyer, 54/National Self Storage, plans to develop a self-storage facility on the property.
Greg Wells of BRE's San Diego office represented the buyer. Darren Mullins, also of BRE, represented the seller.
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The Shadowridge Self Storage at 2220 Watson Way in Vista has been sold for $4.74 million, reports BRE Commercial/NAI. The 74,000 square foot facility, demised into 640 units, sits on 4.42 acres. Shadowridge Self Storage was 92 percent occupied at the time of Dec. 20 sale.
Wells represented the buyer, The Amsdell Cos./U Store It. Amsdell is the largest privately held self storage owner in the United States.
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Paradise Valley Hospital has hired Lil Ramey as critical care director and Connie Mayo as home services care director.
Ramey will oversee PVH's intensive care and definitive care unit. She brings more than eight years of critical care experience and management to her position previously working with University of Tennessee Medical Center and Aiken Regional Medical Center.
Mayo brings experience that includes having worked at Loma Linda University Center Home Health Care, Hale Makua Home Health Agency and Eisenhower Memorial Hospital Homecare Services.
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In San Diego, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline on Friday was $1.202, 0.4 cents less than the previous week’s price, reports the Weekend Gas Watch compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
The price of gasoline declined throughout Southern California, southern Nevada and Arizona for the 16th consecutive week, bringing the average price to below a dollar per gallon.
"For the past four months pump prices have been tumbling downward, trying to find the level where price would meet the ever-declining demand," Auto Club spokesman Jeff Spring says. "We may have reached that point because prices in most of the region have leveled out and, in some instances, have begun to rise."
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