Maxwell tapped by president

Annie Maxwell, Direct Relief International’s chief operating officer, has been appointed by President Barack Obama as one of 15 members of the 2009–10 class of White House Fellows.

Maxwell is a Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, which she attended on a full athletic scholarship. She also earned her master’s degree in public policy from Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy while still captaining the University of Michigan’s women’s Division I volleyball team.

Maxwell serves as chair on the Alumni Board of Governors at the Ford School and is a member of the founding board of directors for Wizzy Digital, a nonprofit aimed at expanding the reach of the web in developing countries.

 

WalMart donates $7.8 million

The WalMart Foundation is donating $7.8 million to support food banks and provide healthy, summer meals to children who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year.

In California, the foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnership will provide more than 12,000 children with wholesome meals during the summer.

The foundation will also continue supporting hunger relief organizations at the state and local levels. This summer, more than $2.1 million will be donated to Meals on Wheels programs, food banks and other hunger-focused organizations in 21 states via the WalMart Foundation State Giving Councils.

Additionally, on the heels of President Obama’s recent announcement of the United We Serve summer service initiative, WalMart and Sam’s Club associates are encouraging their employees to find local volunteer opportunities.  www.walmartfoundation.org

 

Chef Ogden honored

Bradley Ogden, chef of Root 246 restaurant in Solvang, has been named chef of the year by the California Travel Industry Association.

The award recognizes Ogden’s “world class cuisine.”

Ogden, who also has restaurants in San Francisco and Marin County, is known for his fresh, organic food.

Root 246, formerly The Meadows restaurant, and Hotel Corque, formerly the Royal Scandinavian Inn, in downtown Solvang are owned by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

 

Bankruptcy filings up

According to an online story by the Pacific Coast Business Times, tri-county bankruptcy filings have shot up nearly 65 percent so far this year, including for small firms and entrepreneurs.

According to the story, at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Barbara, there were 1,467 Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings between January and April, up from 896 in the same period last year. There were 17 Chapter 11 filings, up from three last year.

 

Fair employment is meeting topic

An overview of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing will be presented to the Human Resources Association of the Central Coast at the organization’s meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14, at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo.

Mary L. Bonilla, a district administrator for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, will discuss the complaint process, responding to complaints, what the department looks for if it knocks on a business’ door and common mistakes employers make and how to avoid them.

The Human Resources Association of the Central Coast is a not-for-profit organization providing education and a network for local human resource professionals, students and company managers responsible for personnel functions in their organizations.

The cost to attend this meeting, open to the public, is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers in advance, or $30 at the door. Visit www.hracc.net for more information and to reserve a seat.

 

‘Alpha Dog’ trial nears end

Saying Jesse James Hollywood was a “child killer” and the “king of thugs,” Santa Barbara County Chief Trial Deputy Josh Lynn made his closing statement June 30 in the man’s capital murder trial.

In his closing statement, Lynn reviewed a lot of the witness testimony presented during the six-week trial, including that of Hollywood, who over the span of four days, delivered an exhaustive first-hand account of the events surrounding the murder.

The only problem with Hollywood’s version, Lynn said, is that the defendant was lying.

Hollywood’s co-defense attorney, Alex Kessel, delved into his closing remarks, and told the jury to decide his client’s fate as if it is one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make.

Kessel, who has been reprimanded for badgering witnesses during the trial, and whose excitement can easily be gauged by the tone of his voice, told the jury that the prosecution’s case is simply “not true.”

Four others already have been convicted in the slaying that was the subject of the 2007 movie “Alpha Dog.”

The trial resumed July 1.

 

Volunteer honored

In recognition of outstanding service, the Aaron Petersen and five others were presented with the YMCA 2009 Golden Triangle of Distinguished Service Award. Petersen has served as board chairman, campaign chairman, Major Gifts Division leader and Capital Campaign Founders chairman. He currently serves on the cabinet to complete the second capital campaign at the Stuart Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez.