City of Thousand Oaks Announces Winners of 2012 City Photo Contest

Category People and Places (1st Place) Janss Marketplace Fountains by Desiree VidalThe City of Thousand Oaks has selected winners for its First Annual, "Faces, Places, & Open Spaces" Photo Contest.  Twelve winning photos were chosen out of over 100 entries from photographers of all ages and skill levels. Images best depicting the community in five categories: Environment, Architecture / Structure, People & Places, Business/Industry, and Mobile were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

A panel of judges from the City's Public Information Team, Cultural Affairs Commission, Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, and Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce picked the winning shots. The photos were judged anonymously based on photographic quality, creativity, relevancy to category, and representation of Thousand Oaks. Some photographers won in multiple categories. 

Category: Architecture/Structure (1st Place) Dos Vientos Neighborhood by Shima Tshimanga

"The photo contest was a success and showcased resident’s skill in capturing the City’s beautiful landscapes, wildlife, events, parks, and community life in a great way,” said Public Information Analyst Rachel Wagner.  “We thank everyone who shared their images with us and hope to get even more entries next year.”  

Category Environment (1st Place) Horses in the Mist by Mike ShawThe first place winner in the Environment category, a photograph of “Horses in the Mist” near Hidden Valley, was submitted by Mike Shaw.  An aerial shot of the Dos Vientos neighborhood submitted by Shima Tshimanga won top prize in the Architecture category. Kelly Hammerslag entered the winning photo in the Mobile Phone category for her “Fourth of July Sunset” and also took third place in the Environment category for a line-up of oak trees on Los Padres Trail. Desiree Vidal not only came in a close second in the Architecture category, but her shots of a girl running through the Janss Marketplace Fountains and a woman jogging in Wildwood took both first and third place in the People and Places category.

Category Mobile (1st Place) 4th of July Sunset by Kelly Hammerslag

The winners will be honored at the Tuesday, July 10 City Council Meeting and their photos will be featured on the City’s Website and Summer Newsletter.  Visit www.toaks.org/photocontest to have a look at the winning photos.

Straight Up Ventura County 2012 "Make a Difference" Video Contest for Youths

2012 Video Contest for Young People: "Make a Difference"

Ages 12-25 invited to submit videos about making a difference and creating positive community change

Youth advocacy group Straight Up Ventura County has announced its 2012 video contest, open to young people 12-25, around the topics of making a difference among peers, educators and parents.

"We're looking for young people to explore topics such as how to create 'positive' peer pressure. what activities can bring awareness to destructive decisions, or people that have been an inspiration for making positive decisions around alcohol or drugs," says Katherine Kasmir, Program Director of Straight Up. "We look to the youth in our community to help make social change."

Straight Up focuses on prevention surrounding underage and binge drinking, over-the-counter/prescription drug abuse, marijuana use, and impaired driving.   

Last year's contest, "The Power of Speaking Up," garnered submissions from all over Ventura County. They can be seen at straightupvc.org/contest_2011 and below!

Short videos (30-90 seconds) are preferred, but longer videos are welcome as well. The subject matter and tone can be serious or humorous, as longs as the video deals with the powering of speaking up.

A grand prize of $500 will be awarded. The deadline is March 9, 2012 and winners notified by April 20.

Downloadable rules and guidelines can be found at www.straightupvc.org/contest. Resources are available to youth and to educators in the form of educational workshops and equipment lending.

Interested parties can find out more information by contacting contest@straightupvc.org or (805) 647-4622.

Winning Entries from 2011 "Speak Up" Video Contest

WINNING VIDEO: "Out of the Mouths of Children" by Joe Lanthier's Fillmore High School Production Class (ages 16) Description: A young boy refuses to get into his brother's car after the brother has been drinking.

RUNNER-UP VIDEO: "Bobby V" by Camilo Alvea, 23, and Sergio Arias, 23 Description: A young female recounts an accident in which she was involved, in which "Bobby V" was killed.

RUNNER-UP VIDEO: "Choice" by Sophie Glander, 16, of Agoura Description: A young boy refuses to get into his brother's car after the brother has been drinking.