SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Agoura Hills Loans: A webisode series from Interthinx Inc. teaches mortgage lenders all they need to know about loan compliance, lending and fraud. The series is the third program from Interthinx as a way to take new approach in video communication. The company previously released “Fraud Angels” and “FSI: Fraud Scheme.” “If you can’t get a lender to tune into important messages relating to training, compliance and fraud, then your approach is ineffectual and lenders are left vulnerable,” said company marketing director Kristi Kennelly. “This is material they’ll actually enjoy watching and will hopefully initiate quality assurance discussions and kick off training sessions.” The first of the webisodes, “Attack of the FHA Loan Files,” is now available at the Interthinx website (www.Interthinx.com) with additional ones to follow every few weeks. Calabasas Hills Cheesecake: The Cheesecake Factory is celebrating its 30th anniversary by inviting guests to share their love for cheesecake in three ways: create and name the next cheesecake flavor for the menu at www.thecheese cakefactory.com/love, send a personalized “e-slice” of cheesecake to friends and family and receive a complimentary slice of cheesecake. Finalists will be chosen on March 15. The five finalists’ creative entries will be posted on the Cheesecake Factory’s website for the public to vote on from March 16 31, and the winner will be announced on April 1. The grand prize winner will be awarded a trip for two to the “original” Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills. Chatsworth Flying: Sensor Systems Inc. Executive Vice President and CEO Seymour Robin received a Living Legends of Aviation award for his accomplishments designing and manufacturing antennas used on aircraft around the world. “Being inducted in the Living Legends of Aviation is a personal honor, as well as a tribute to the nearly 300 employees who have provided us with remarkable moments of innovation and invention,” Robin said. “This award is a celebration of those in the aviation and aerospace industries who have had the courage, passion and determination to dream the possibility and create the reality.” Sensor Systems includes Boeing, Cessna, and Northrop Grumman among the customers for the 1,100 antennas made each day at the Valley facility. The Living Legends of Aviation award is given by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a not for profit promoting an interest in aviation in children. Northridge Radio: The public radio station of California State University, Northridge,KCSN-FM 88.5,has won its 56th “Golden Mike” award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California. The station received the “Best Newscast-More Than 15 Minutes” award for stations with five or fewer full-time employees in their news division. KCSN-FM 88.5 is a nonprofit, member-supported public radio station broadcasting live from the campus of California State University, Northridge. Since 1987, the station’s news division has won more than 400 awards in national, state and regional competitions against professional broadcasts and other university students. Grant: The CHIME Institute has received a $21,165 grant from Autism Speaks to train paraprofessionals, or teacher’s aides, to effectively support children with autism and their families. Specifically, the grant will provide the paraprofessionals with the training to ensure that the children are successfully included in early education, elementary and middle school programs. The grant also will increase the capacity of service providers in local school districts to provide high-quality educational programs to students on the autism spectrum. Woodland Hills Cameras: Panavision executive Andy Romanoff received the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Camera Operators. Romanoff, executive vice president, technical marketing and strategy for the Woodland Hills-based camera and lens maker, was recognized for his contributions to the motion picture and television industry’s camera community. Romanoff introduced the Louma crane to the U.S., was a pioneer in film camera time-code synchronizing systems, and designed Concertcom, the first fully integrated monitoring, timing and communications system for filming of concerts and events. He also holds several patents bearing directly on better, more efficient camera use in filmmaking. “I am deeply honored by the SOC’s decision to name me as the recipient of this award,” Romanoff said. “The film and TV business and the people in it are my calling and my community. I’m grateful to the members of the SOC and to my colleagues at Panavision for their friendship and support.” Film: Acclaimed director Peter Bogdanovich will receive the Auteur Director from The Method Fest film festival on Feb. 26 at Pierce College. The festival will give the Performer to Watch Award to actress Tanna Frederick after which follows the announcement of the film lineup for this year’s festival. Bogdanovich directed the Oscar-nominated “The Last Picture Show,” “What’s Up, Doc,” “Paper Moon” and “Mask.” He is also an actor, writer and film historian. Frederick appeared in soap “Days of Our Lives” and the films “Hollywood Dreams” and “Irene in Time.” The Method Fest festival takes place March 26 to April 2 in Calabasas. VENTURA COUNTY Camarillo Chicano Studies: California State University, Channel Islands, introduced its new Chicano Studies program and faculty to the community Feb. 2. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Chicano Studies asks students to examine local issues in context with trans-border questions through interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives. The core courses at the lower and upper division level provide majors with training in Chicano Studies while providing them the opportunity to major, minor or double major with other disciplines in the sciences or social sciences. Both the major and minor call for students to work with community partners through service learning and internship projects. Simi Valley Mayor: The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce will host the Mayor’s State of the City Address Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m., at the Grand Vista Hotel. The address will provide an overview of city departments and projects. “We appreciate and look forward to the opportunity to present the State of the City and to share in detail how our city is doing,” Mayor Paul Miller stated. “We are all facing challenging times and this event will allow the City Council to provide information and to gain input from our businesses and residents to ensure that we are doing our best job to meet the challenges on behalf of the community.” Banquet: The Eleventh Annual Simi Valley Police Foundation Banquet was held Feb. 13 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Education Center. The event featured a special awards presentation, live auction and entertainment. The mission of the Simi Valley Police Foundation is to encourage and promote citizen participation in maintaining a safe community. ANTELOPE VALLEY Lancaster Honor: The City of Lancaster has named Community Safety Supervisor Shelli Henson, its 2008 Employee of the Year. City Manager Mark Bozigian announced the honor during the city’s recent Employee Appreciation Breakfast, held at the Hellenic Center. Henson helped increase the city’s Neighborhood Watch program from 90 to 165 participating groups. In addition, the department instituted a revamped Business Watch Program and conducted several community presentations on public safety and emergency preparedness. “The award took me by complete surprise. This is a high honor, of which I’m very proud,” Henson stated. “I particularly enjoy this position, as it allows me to work closely with all Sheriff personnel from Captain Anderson, to special units and patrol officers. However, what I enjoy most is working with our citizens.” Station: Lancaster Sheriff’s Station has been designated L.A. County’s First Research and Development Station. On Feb. 10, Mayor R. Rex Parris and L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca attended the renaming ceremony. The sheriff’s station is at 501 W. Lancaster Boulevard at the corner of Sierra Highway. Palmdale Opening: There was a ribbon cutting ceremony for Michael Anthony Spa & Salon Feb. 6. Mayor Jim Ledford, City Council members, City of Palmdale staffers, Elena Treat of Palmdale Chamber of Commerce and the owners and staff of Michael Anthony attended the event. The salon is at 40125 10th St. West, Suite O. Award: Palmdale High School student Alyshia Hidvegi was honored at the Feb. 4 City Council meeting for her work with South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES). Hidvegi organized a holiday food, clothing and toy drive for SAVES during the months of November and December with drop off stations at Wildflower Elementary School, Pelona Vista Park and the Palmdale City Library. “I was looking for a good project for my community service hours for my Health Careers Academy,” Hidvegi stated. “I chose SAVES because it is a program that really is helping the community.” Mayor Jim Ledford presented the certificate of recognition. “This young lady took it upon herself to make a difference in our community,” Ledford stated. Forum: The City of Palmdale’s public safety and community relations department will hold a free Business Watch Forum for business owners and employees Feb. 24 at 8:30 a.m. in the Lilac Room at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350 Sierra Highway. Business owners and employees are invited to attend to learn about the Business Watch program and ways to help prevent crime. Owners are also encouraged to share their own ideas and concerns on business safety and crime prevention. Staff members from the city’s public safety and community relations department and representatives from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station will be at the meeting. Information: (661) 267-5541. Hotels: Seven Antelope Valley hotels and motels were recently honored at the Palmdale City Council for providing accommodations to stranded individuals during the night of the Dec. 17 snowstorm that forced the closure of the Antelope Valley freeway. Mayor Jim Ledford and Palmdale Director of Public Safety and Community Outreach Anne Ambrose presented certificates of recognition to hotels and motels at for welcoming and reaching out to thousands of stranded motorists. Those honored included the Palmdale Best Western, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, Lancaster Holiday Inn Express, E-Z8 Motel and Bonaire Motel. Consumers: As part of National Consumer Protection Week, the City of Palmdale’s public safety and community relations department will host workshops designed to arm the community with the information needed to safeguard against scams and thefts. All workshops are free and open to the public and will be held in the Palmdale City Council Chamber at 38300 Sierra Highway, Suite B, beginning at 7 pm. A workshop called “Phishing and Pharming” will be held Feb. 23. This workshop will discuss how criminals use computers to steal personal information and methods to use to stop them. A workshop called “Real Estate Fraud” will be held March 2 and will cover the different ways criminals con people out of property. Fraudulent loan and refinance scams will also be discussed. Information: (661) 267-5547.
