BRIEFLY IN BUSINESS

Inventors forum coming up at OCC

The Orange County-based Inventors Forum will host an inventors’ networking event and seminar at 7 p.m. March 9 called “Don’t Get Poor Quick: Inventing 101 and the New Google Patent Search Site.”

Registered patent agent and inventor Kevin Prince will speak at the event in Orange Coast College’s Science Lecture Hall Room 101.

The Inventors Forum is a nonprofit, volunteer group focused on educating inventors and entrepreneurs. Registration is $5 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Refreshments will be served.

For more information or to register, go to www.inventorsforum.org or call (714) 540-2491.

Roger’s Gardens named top garden center

Roger’s Gardens announced Tuesday it was named as one of the country’s top five revolutionary garden centers for 2007 by Today’s Garden Center, an industry publication.

The garden center won a regional award for having the most points of any similar operation on the West Coast.

Roger’s Gardens was chosen by surveys and recommendations from people in the industry.

Roger’s Gardens is on seven acres in Corona del Mar. For more information, go to www.rogersgardens.com.

Irvine Co. expanding its presence in San Diego

The Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. announced Feb. 15 an agreement to buy 17 office properties in San Diego from an affiliate of New York-based Blackstone Group.

The 2.1-million-square-foot purchase includes 15 in La Jolla, one in Del Mar and one in Mission Valley.

The deal is expected to close within the next two months, and the Irvine Co. will begin management and leasing duties at that time.

The Newport company is quickly expanding its holdings in the San Diego area and now has six apartment communities, high-rise, mid-rise and “campus-style” offices.

The company is also planning a 34-story marble office tower for San Diego’s downtown area.

Chip-maker comes out ahead in merger

Newport Beach-based Conexant Systems Inc. announced Tuesday it made more than $98 million after it completed the merger between Acquicor Technology Inc. and Jazz Semiconductor Inc.

The all-cash merger was valued at more than $260 million.

Conexant plans to use the money for corporate funds, including debt retirement, according to a news release.

Conexant also made a $10 million investment in the merged company, Jazz Technologies Inc. Newport Beach-based Jazz Semiconductor will keep its name and is a wholly owned subsidiary.

Edison offering savings special this summer

Applications for a special energy program from Southern California Edison are available for business and residential customers at Costa Mesa City Hall and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

The Commercial Discount Plan can help customers save up to $240 this summer by installing a cycling device on air conditioner units, which will cycle the units during peak energy periods from June through September.

The maximum credit depends on the size of the unit and enrollment participation.

Ikea to charge for plastic bags

Ikea, including the Costa Mesa store, will now charge five cents for every plastic bag used at the checkout line, according to the Associated Press.

The furniture store’s customers may buy cloth bags there to avoid the fee.

Last year, the store went through 70 million plastic bags and hopes to cut that number in half in 2007, according to the Associated Press.

Mamma Gina brings magic to its tables

Ristorante Mamma Gina in Newport Beach will now have a local magician perform at the Italian eatery on East Coast Highway.

Kevin Viner will perform his magic tableside during the time between ordering food and receiving it. Viner will perform every Sunday and some Saturday and Friday nights.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (949) 673-9500. For more information on Viner, go to www.kevinvinermagic.com.