BIZ BUZZ.

Byline: -- Compiled by Ben Jauron

Encino resident Alan Dickson recently joined the law firm Holland & Knight's West Coast Government Contracts practice. Dickson brings more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of government, commercial and construction contracting issues to the firm. He represents public and private sector clients across multiple industries, including software and computer products, heavy-equipment manufacturing, strategic defense studies and more. Before coming to Holland & Knight, Dickson served in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's department. Most recently, he was with the law firm Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services recently hired Woodland Hills resident Terri Peckinpaugh as its vice president. At Wells Fargo, Peckinpaugh will be responsible for the management, production, marketing and servicing of large commercial accounts in the Pacific region. Peckinpaugh has worked in the insurance industry for more than 33 years.

The Chatsworth Business Improvement District will hold its first

SummerFest grand event Saturday at the Chatsworth Train Depot Station. The free event will feature live music, international food and beverages, prize drawings, kids activities and special demonstrations and exhibits. The day will also mark the unveiling of the "Chatsworth Welcome" signs in eight locations throughout the community. The event will begin at 11a.m. at the station, 10038 Old Depot Plaza Road. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is scheduled to attend.

Newport Beach-based senior-housing operator VinCal Senior Housing LLC recently acquired the 115,000-square-foot Burbank Gardens Retirement Hotel in Burbank for $12.5million. Built in the 1980s, the eight-story building in the 2700 block of Willow Street is being upgraded to a state-of-the-art assisted-living and Alzheimer's care community. VinCal anticipates completion in the first quarter of '08.

The Amgen Foundation of Thousand Oaks recently made a three-year, $3 million grant to the National Science Teachers Association to launch the NSTA New Science Teacher Academy. The academy is a professional-development initiative to strengthen science teaching in middle and secondary schools and will support up to 200 science teachers from across the country. The participants will be named Amgen-NSTA Fellows and Associate Fellows, and they will participate in yearlong immersion in science-related activities and professional development opportunities.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) DICKSON

(2 -- color) PECKINPAUGH