Business Notes

Scotts Valley pastry chef launches business
Eva Marie Vaniotis-Tordoff of Scotts Valley has launched Eva’s Baklava, a specialty Greek pastry business. Baklava is a rich, sweet Mediterranean dessert made with flaky layered dough, nuts, butter, cinnamon and sugar, all baked and sprinkled with sugar-syrup.
Eva’s Baklava are individually wrapped and distributed to stores in the county. They can be found at New Leaf Markets, Shoppers Corner, Food Bin, Capitola Produce, Scotts Valley Market, Aptos Natural Foods, Staff of Life and Santa Cruz Local Foods. Platters and holiday tins are available at Santa Cruz Local Food and Shoppers Corner.
For information: ev*********@***il.com
Children’s Carnival in Ben Lomond
The Children’s Center of San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond, will host a fall harvest fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct.17, in Highlands Park.
The festival will include pony rides, a petting zoo, a face painter, family games, Roberto the Magician, arts and crafts, music, food, and local artisans.
Proceeds from the festival will benefit the nonprofit center. Admission is free, but tickets will be sold for games, activities, and food.
For information: Lisa Whitworth, 408-316-5120
New martial arts teacher in town
Martial artist David Weeks began teaching cardio kickboxing classes at Valley Tae Kwon Do, 9520 Mill St., in Ben Lomond this week.
Classes are from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday and Thursday . A Saturday class might be added to the schedule.
For information: 336-2043
Council makes it easier to open a new business
Scotts Valley City council members voted to make opening a new business easier by temporarily cutting building permit fees.
Council members voted unanimously Oct. 6 to apply some planning fees to the cost of building permits.
The program will run one year from Friday, Oct. 8.
It is estimated to cost the city about $38,000 in lost fees; however, council members said the potential to attract and retain new businesses represents a long-term gain that overrides the losses.
New businesses, especially retail stores, generate sales tax revenue for the city and draw people in to spend their money on daily needs like gasoline and food.
The new program allows the use of permit fees, design review fees and variance fees usually footed by business owners to be applied to the cost of a building permit.
Only commercial projects whose planning applications are submitted by Oct. 8, 2011, are eligible. All fees other than the building permit must be paid.
Financial counselor offers workshop
Kathleen Fahmie, a certified financial recovery counselor, will present a two-hour workshop on managing time and money during the holidays from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Skypark Classroom, 361 Kings Village Road, in Scotts Valley.
Cost is $20, and there is limited seating.
For information: www.kathleenfahmie.com or 818-7699
Submit information about business openings, management changes and other news to pb******@*********er.com or 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley 95066.