Business notes

‘Idol’ singer sports local leather
Anyone who attended “American Idol” finalist James Durbin’s May 14 Santa Cruz homecoming might have noticed him sporting a black leather cuff patterned with silver rivets. The cuff was a gift of Scotts Valley fashion designer Ruby Agresta of Ruby Roxanne Designs, said Dori Gillin, a close friend of Agresta’s.
Gillin said Agresta felt compelled to give Durbin one of her handcrafted leather fashion cuffs in honor of his performance on “American Idol,” where he reached the top four. So she had Gillin track down Durbin and present him and his family with a cuff each.
Local insurance agents recognized
A pair of local insurance professionals — Dan Nicholas of Scotts Valley and Barbara Hanson of Felton — received kudos last week from director Jesse Slome and his American Association of Long Term Care Insurance, as two of the top 30 long-term care insurance producers in California for 2010.
“Hats off to Dan and Barbara of the Monterey Bay, who have been great promoters this last decade of this very important insurance coverage,” Slome said.
“They’ve helped us get to where, now, over 10 million Americans own personal, privately purchased LTCi coverage, where the top carriers now pay $10.8 million in claim benefits each day, the biggest portion going to pay for in-home care.”
Zero Motorcycles announces CTO
Former Buell Motorcycles analyst Abe Askenazi has been promoted to chief technology officer of Scotts Valley-based Zero Motorcycles.
Askenazi, who joined the company as vice president of engineering in February 2010, led his team in the rapid development of the company’s 2011 product line and added three new models.
Askenazi holds Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from University of California, Berkeley, and worked for Buell Motorcycle Co. for 15 years before joining Zero.
Health business to raise money for Giants fan
One to One Health, a recently opened boutique personal training studio at 7 Camp Evers Lane in Scotts Valley, will host a benefit at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 29, for Bryan Stow, the Giants fan beaten outside of Dodger Stadium last month.
The business offers personal training, nutrition counseling, yoga, pilates, outdoor boot camps and more.
For information: 278-1082.
Online retailer authorized to train eBay sellers
Corinna Stevenson, owner of Annirocs House of Treasures, an online retailer in Felton, has received certification as an eBay education specialist, which authorizes her to run workshops on buying and selling on eBay.
Stevenson, also an eBay trading assistant, is featured this month in a profile on www.auctiva.com and has been interviewed on several online radio shows about her online retailing business, also known as AHOT Stores.
Stevenson’s online shops sell vintage jewelry, clothing, antiques, quilts and collectibles, including dolls, crystal, buttons, dinnerware, David Winter cottages and Raggedy Ann items, to customers worldwide.
For information: www.annirocshouseoftreasures.com or co*****@**********************es.com.
Submit information about business openings, management changes and other news to pb******@*********er.com or 5215 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley 95066.