Novato Business Roundup: Nostalgia Days Brings Classic Cars and Rock & Roll to Grant Avenue West

The Downtown Novato Business Association’s 15th annual Nostalgia Days Rod and Kustom Car Show is coming to Grant Avenue on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 12-13. The street will be blocked off from Redwood Boulevard to Seventh Street for this event, which attracts thousands of vintage auto enthusiasts every year.

The annual event features classic cars, trucks and motorcycles, food and drinks and the rock and roll sounds of the '50s and '60s with bands The Deadlies, Lovin’ Harmony, Johnny B and the Speedshifters, Dave Crimmon and Mark Hester’s Good Time Mobile DJ. For more info on the schedule of events, visit the DNBA website or Nostalgia Days online.

Dollhouses, Trains and More

A rise in theft over the past two years is forcing hobby shop to convert to a members-only store, according to a story. Owner Linda Becker has tried surveillance cameras, security mirrors, redesigning some areas of the store for more visibility and requiring that purses and backpacks be checked at the door. But with continued losses from the theft of high-ticket hobby trains and collectibles, Becker now requires  customers to complete a member form and submit their driver's license for scanning. To read more, click this link.

Chamber's Women In Business

SummerFest Top Chef: Just Appetizers is the theme of the annual summer mixer of Women in Business. The event will be Thursday, Aug. 18 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Novato City Hall.

The fun and friendly competition between chefs and caterers will showcase their favorite hot or cold appetizer or favorite dish or dessert.  Guests will determine the winners by voting for their favorites. Member registration is $25; non-member registration is $30; an additional $5 for tickets at the door. To register, go to the website.

Middle East Class at COM

The Middle East: A Political Perspective (Political Science 117) will be taught this fall at College of Marin’s Kentfield campus on Wednesdays from 6:40–9:30 p.m. The course covers key historical, political, cultural and economic developments that have contributed to the dramatic chnges sweeping the region today. The class runs from Aug. 17–Dec. 14. For a schedule of classes, visit College of Marin’s website.

BioMarin Receives Award

Novato-based BioMarin was named in the North Bay Business Journal’s 2011 Manufacturing Awards. According to the article, BioMarin has become one of the top pharmaceutical manufacturers in the North Bay and in the industry. The company is also sponsoring a master’s degree program at Dominican University in San Rafael. Each year two students are awarded scholarships of $25,000 each and are given the opportunity to work alongside research professionals at the company’s laboratories.

Circle Bank CEO Plucked for Duty

Kim Kaselionis, CEO/chairman of , has been invited by the U.S. Department of State to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting scheduled for Sept. 13-16 in San Francisco.

The conference is by invitation-only and is a forum to facilitate economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region between its 21 member nations. The S.F. conference is one of four to be held in the U.S. in 2011.

Circle Bank will also be hosting a touring delegation of Japanese community bankers on Sept. 15. The delegation is looking for insights into our banking system and how community banks compete and provide services, said Kaselionis in press statement.

T&B Sports Profile

San Rafael Patch did a profile on a Marin County sporting goods institution, T&B Sports. The company was founded in 1946 as a sport and saddle shop by Rome Brusati and Anthony Taveggia. In 1978, Jeff Brusati took over the business operations when he was 21 years old, after the death of his father. To read the full article about the company and its history in Marin, .