SANTA CLARITA VALLEY SANTA CLARITA Six lucky youth in Santa Clarita had a recent visit from a very special bus: The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The bus tours several cities throughout the country, where its operators mentor students. The students spend their time writing an original song, performing the song with equipment on the bus, and starring in their very own music video. Santa Clarita received its visit from the bus on Oct. 1. Students who participated ranged in age from eighth grade to early college. “It was just really cool,” said Phil Lantis, arts and events administrator for the City of Santa Clarita. “I was really impressed by the young men who were on the bus.” The city provided the bus with electricity for the day and provided the students and bus operators with lunch, but otherwise received the service free of charge. Given the opportunity to do it again, Lantis said he’s game. “We’d love to apply in a future year.” SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BURBANK Burbank-based Woodbury University will inaugurate Dr. Luis Calingo, its 13th president, in a ceremony and reception Oct. 20. Calingo took the helm of the school in July and has been at the university since 2009. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief academic officer at Dominican University, but spent most of his career within the California State University system, as dean of the Boler School of Business at Cal State University, Long Beach. “One of the things that students say attracts them to Woodbury is the size. Because it’s small, we can focus on students. That was also something that attracted me to Woodbury,” he said. “Coming from a very large school system at the CSUs, I can speak to that.” Calingo said he has spent the 14 weeks on the job getting to know the school and working with students, faculty and administration to form a vision for the university’s next few years. Saturday’s ceremony is a time for students and faculty to reflect on the history of the school as well as for Calingo to share his plan for the 128-year-old school. “It’s an opportunity for me to honor the past and honor the past leaders,” he said. “But it’s also a time to embrace the future and offer ideas for the future.” The event will take place at 10 a.m. in the Alumni Quad at the Burbank campus, with a reception following at Liberty Plaza. ANTELOPE VALLEY LANCASTER The City of Lancaster received a World Energy Globe Award for its efforts at bringing renewable energy sources to residents and businesses. The city was recognized for its partnership with Solar City, which resulted in 115 local residents and businesses converting to solar energy, and for working with home builder KB Homes and Chinese manufacturer BYD to design a solar-powered home prototype. The World Energy Globe Award, given out by Austrian energy pioneer Wolfgang Neumann, comes with a $10,000 prize and bronze trophy. Councilman Ken Mann represented the city at the awards event on Sept. 13 in Vienna. Having a strong foundation for renewable and clean energy resources in a mid-sized community like Lancaster is unique, said Mayor R. Rex Parris. “The many efficiencies of renewable energy, as well as the monetary and environmental savings which come along with it, are not only accessible to the government and larger entities,” Parris said. “Citizens in our community can now afford to take advantage of these benefits, as well.” VENTURA COUNTY CAMARILLO Channel Islands Aviation this month will begin a free seminar series on the various aspects of flying an airplane. The Camarillo-based charter company is offering the seminars to address an anticipated shortage of commercial and business aviation pilots in the next decade. The series is geared toward young people interested in flying and to people looking to change careers, said Sarah Oberman, the manager of the flight school. The one-hour classes will teach many subjects including basic aerodynamics, the parts of an airplane, and an introduction to aircraft instruments, Oberman said. “If we spark something they can follow through with actual training,” Oberman added. A report released in July by Boeing Co. forecast a need of 460,000 new pilots worldwide by 2031, with the U.S. needing 69,000 of those pilots. Boeing attributed the need for pilots to airlines expanding fleets and flight schedules to meet demand in emerging markets. “There is going to be extreme job growth in aviation,” Oberman said. The first seminar takes place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 20 at Channel Island Aviation, 305 Durley Ave. at the Camarillo Airport. The class is presented by Mike Lozano, the firm’s chief flight instructor. – Staff Reports