A couple of surprises on the local radio dial. The always entertaining Mark Larson, who’s been a fixture for years, most recently with San
Diego AM 1700 in the morning drive time slot, departs the airwaves after his Dec. 30 show. Progressive talk show host Stacy Taylor disappeared a few weeks earlier. The down economy is blamed. Stay tuned for more details … The success of the past could lead to success in the future, even as new car sales slip. Frank Motors Group, one of the county’s oldest family owned dealerships, has unveiled a new ad campaign, which features the 30-year-old tag line, “Knock, knock, knock is that you Frank?” Very popular in its time. The business is now behind Frank Toyota, Frank Scion and Frank Hyundai at the Mile of Cars in National City. Brothers Frank and Felice Fornaca opened their first store in 1965. Today, the business is operated by the second generation of Fornacas, including Jim Fornaca, Ron Fornaca and Gary Fenelli. “To stay ahead, we identified a unique opportunity for growth despite a greatly contracted market,” says Fenelli. “We realized one of the first steps we needed to take was to reposition our business in this new business climate.” Yes, the holiday season is now officially in the rearview mirror, but a few last words. More than 1,200 families benefited from the Community Resource Center’s annual basket program, one of the county’s largest. Despite a drop in donations and jump in need late last year, organizers filled a 20,000-square-foot makeshift warehouse at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with goodies so the deserving could enjoy “free” pre-Dec. 25 shopping. Last-minute donations of everything from blankets to toys to food helped immensely Meanwhile, the corporate sponsor for the Dec. 23 Poinsettia Bowl’s Make-A-Wish program pulled out at the last second, leaving hundreds of kids with life-threatening conditions with no way to get to the game, where they were to be honored in front of thousands, not to mention a national television audience. Roy Bell, a partner at Ross, Dixon & Bell, jumped in, canceling the firm’s holiday party and using the funds, along with cash donated by other attorneys and staff, to save the day. The result: The deserving youngsters got to play important roles in the game, including flipping the coin, serving as honorary captains and retrieving the tee after the opening kickoff. Atlanta-based Troutman Sanders expected to complete its merger with Ross, Dixon & Bell on Jan. 2, so the local nameplate is no more. But what a way to go! Sometimes, even we get egg on our faces! Robert Arends with JWalcher Communications writes: “The Dec. 1 issue was routed (finally) to me this morning and I enjoyed the piece on the editorial page, “13 Clich & #233;s We Don’t Need in the Business World,” including the term ‘hunkering down.’ Ironically, on the front page of that same issue is a story with the headline, ‘Tech Companies Hunkering Down By Pairing Up.’ ” Well, here’s hoping there’s no need to hunker down in 2009!
Send your insider tips to Tom York at tyork@sdbj.com.
