AROUND THE VALLEYS

Van Nuys Airport concluded its 80th anniversary celebration with a dinner and tribute to members of the airport community providing medical transportation. The event Dec. 4 at the Pentastar Aviation hangar honored Alan Purwin, president of Helinet Aviation, who provides emergency flights for patients at Childrens Hospital in Los Angele. AIRescue International and the Los Angeles Fire Department were also recognized. “Van Nuys Airport’s 80-year history is woven into the fabric and development of the San Fernando Valley,” said Airport Manager Selena Birk. “Our event not only commemorated the airport’s leadership in aviation and legacy of community service, but honored the dedicated men and women who tirelessly work, often in dangerous and complex situations, to provide critical air ambulance services to individuals and families in need.” In April, the airport celebrated a week’s worth of events in connection with the anniversary, including Aviation Career Day for middle school and high school students at Syncro Aviation; a screening of “One Six Right,” a documentary on Van Nuys Airport by Valley-based filmmaker Brian Terwilliger; and Community Day featuring airfield tours, aircraft displays and activities for children. The then-named Metropolitan Airport opened for business on Dec. 17, 1928 under private ownership and became a hub of flying activity, some by pilots who later became world renowned. Flying records were established at the airfield and it became a favored spot for Hollywood celebrities. During World War II the airport was purchased by the government and became a military base and manufacturing center. The City of Los Angeles purchased the airport from the government after the war. While Air National Guard planes continued operating at the airfield throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Van Nuys Airport became a center for corporate aviation and piston aircraft and where Clay Lacy is credited with starting the first executive air charter operation on the West Coast. SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Burbank Launch: Kids Castle, a new medieval- themed family entertainment center and restaurant, opened Dec. 7 at 2814 Empire Ave. in Burbank. By combining what representatives say is an upscale dining experience for adults with a number of activities for children, Kids Castle is striving to set a new standard in family entertainment. The concept for Kids Castle evolved from the belief that there weren’t enough places for children of all ages to play that had a safe, clean, family atmosphere with high quality food, according to representatives. Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski, Kids Castle Owner Michael Daglian and Kids Castle General Manager Reggie Moultrie attended the grand opening. Northridge Lecture: Author and sustainable development advocate L. Hunter Lovins will present “The Business Case for Protecting the Climate” Dec. 9, 3:30 p.m., in the Campus Theatre on the southwest side of California State University, Northridge, which is at 18111 Nordhoff St. Lovins’ talk is part of the university’s Distinguished Visiting Speakers Program and is being held in conjunction with the Greening Project, a campus-wide planning group that is developing a portfolio of sustainability initiatives to ultimately “green” the CSUN campus. A professor at Presidio School of Management in San Francisco, Lovins has authored nine books, including Natural Capitalism and the Natural Advantage of Nations. She has also addressed the World Economic Forum, the U.S. Congress and the World Summit on Sustainable Development. She was named millennium “Hero for the Planet” by Time magazine and has received the Right Livelihood Award, the Leadership in Business Award and more. Sherman Oaks Contest: Social Search Engine Scour.com is having a contest for people to write, film and star in a video that will become Scour’s next commercial. The contest runs through Jan. 14. The three videos that garner the most votes will become finalists, with the winner receiving a $500 VISA gift card and the opportunity for their commercial to be featured on the Scour homepage, which is seen by more than a million unique users monthly, according to the company. Scour is a meta social search engine, grouping together search results from Google, Yahoo! and MSN. It delves into the social media realm by allowing people to vote and comment on each search result. Users are awarded one point for all activity (searching, voting, commenting) on Scour. For complete contest rules visit: http://www.scour.com/com-mercialcontest/rules/ CONEJO VALLEY Thousand Oaks Exhibit: Ceramicist Kathleen Colles Waggoner will exhibit her series on third-world women in California Lutheran University’s Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture from Dec. 13 through Jan. 30. An opening reception will be held Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Waggoner creates imagery that explores the physical manifestations of emotion and human behavior. Myths, identity and stereotypes define her work. Waggoner, who has worked out of Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo for nine years, has exhibited widely throughout the United States. She earned a master’s degree with an emphasis in sculpture and ceramics from California State University, Northridge. The gallery is in the Soiland Humanities Center, located on Memorial Parkway in Thousand Oaks. Admission to the exhibit is free. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Westlake Village Scholarships: Dole Food Company Inc. will provide scholarships to students in the Philippines as part of a partnership with the U.S. State Department on the English Access Microscholarship Program. To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Dole Philippines is matching $40,000 provided by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to fund scholarships, giving students the opportunity to develop English language skills, which leads to better jobs and economic growth, according to the company. “Public-private partnerships such as Access Microscholarships are critical to Dole’s long-term investment in the communities in which we operate,” said David DeLorenzo, president and chief executive officer of Dole Food Company. Dole’s participation in the Access Microscholarship Program complements a number of community-focused initiatives Dole Philippines has implemented, including the “Chairs-for-Trees” program, which provides desks and chairs for local schools, and has planted more than a million trees in the Philippines. SANTA CLARITA VALLEY Santa Clarita Garcetti: Former Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti has another career photography. Named one of the country’s four master photographers by American Photo in 2003, Garcetti will exhibit his photography at the College of the Canyons Art Gallery through Dec. 16. Garcetti has exhibited his photography nationwide and internationally, including at the United Nations, National Building Museum, the UCLA Fowler Museum, the University of Southern California School of Architecture and the Millennium Art Museum in Beijing. The COC Art Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors unable to attend during these hours may call the gallery at (661) 362-3612 to make an appointment. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Pageant: The Palmdale Playhouse will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Dec. 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. The pageant is about a couple struggling to put on the annual Christmas Pageant at their church. They are forced by necessity to cast the Herdman kids, “the most awful kids in history,” in the most pivotal roles in the pageant. The show features a large cast of children and traditional holiday music. The Playhouse lobby will be filled with holiday decorations and Santa will be on hand to take holiday wishes. The playhouse is at 38334 10th St. East. Tickets for the show are $16 for adults and $12 for seniors, students, military and youth. Groups of 10 or more receive a $2 discount on each ticket. Information: (661) 267-2787, (661) 267-5685 or www.cityofpalmdale.org/palmdale playhouse. Training: The City of Palmdale’s Public Safety and Community Relations department will hold landlord training classes Jan. 14-Jan. 15, 6 to 10 p.m., in the administration training room at Palmdale City Hall, 38300 Sierra Highway, Suite A. Attendance at both classes is required to complete the training program. Landlord training classes are designed to train local apartment managers and owners in the most up-to-date laws and regulations on property management and are required for owners or managers of buildings wishing to acquire certification under the City of Palmdale’s Partners against Crime program. The classes are open to anyone who owns or manages an apartment property. Participants do not need to be a resident or own property in the City of Palmdale to attend. The class fee includes all training materials and costs $25 per person. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Information: (661) 267-5172 or (661) 267-5542. Extravaganza: The Palmdale Senior Center will host its annual Holiday Extravaganza Dec. 16 at the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350 Sierra Highway. Tickets for seniors 55 and older are $2 and are on sale on a first-come, first-served basis at the Palmdale Senior Center, 1002 E. Ave. Q-12. The “Winter Wonderland” themed event will feature entertainment by the Tony Capko Jazz Trio, featuring Bernie Miesinger and comedian Jerry Corley. Dessert and coffee will also be served. Information: (661) 267-5551. Compiled by Nadra Kareem