CAMARILLO NOONTIME OPTIMIST CLUB Newsletter February 28, 2018 Editor in training: Ron Klemann By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids 8th Annual Run/Walk for Youth Brings Smiles & Pride to Young and Old!
On February 3, 2018, the Camarillo Noontime Optimist Club hosted the 8th Annual Run/Walk for Youth Fun Fundraiser at Arneill Ranch Park. With lots of help from school friends, JOI Clubs, parents, kids, family pets, raffle prize donors from the community, and generous contributions from members and local businesses, the event, with its Grand Marshall Shig Yabu sharing his Olympic Torch with lucky participants, was a big success. The Optimist Club is most grateful to the JOI Clubs, their faculty advisors Camille Kavon, CAPE School; Stacy La Frenz, Tierra Linda; Carolina Howard, PVSEA; Shannon Klemann, ACHS; and Jody Atkinson, Camarillo Heights School for helping support the event and encouraging students, friends, staff, parents, etc. to participate. Many thanks to club members for their help with set-up, check-in, raffle prizes, etc. Jeanette Bassett, Nobuko McClure, Roger Ransom (balloons), Jennifer Conn, Mike Kroll, Larry Davis, Jack and Marianne Rotenberg, Ada Lee Sullivan, Frank Roth, Aaron Aronson, Howard Hoover, and family members who pitched in Sean and Danny Roth, their dad, the Tony and Cheryl Morales family, Kelly Turner, the Klemann family, and others that we may have missed in this group of supporters. 2
Shig Yabu was most kind and generous in giving the winners of the States Game and running events a CD of his book The Boy of Heart Mountain! For a list of all the businesses in the community which gave raffle prize gifts and a list of all the thoughtful and giving donors this year you are referred to the Optimist Club website www.camarillooptimistclub.org. The Top Walkers Award Plaque for the school that earned the most in contributions went to ACHS this year. It was a very close competition among the participating schools. We look forward to seeing all the schools in the community participating next year. 3
Feb. 5 - YWA Student 12 Going on 30 Sophia Rene Emens, a sixth grader at Monte Vista Middle School, received the Youth We Appreciate Award from the Camarillo Noontime Optimist Club on February 5 at the Boys and Girls Club. Ariel Carmody, Sophia s teacher, said the 12-year-old is a straight A student who independently manages her time to take care of all her school responsibilities, has been a Junior Optimist Club member, and models outstanding athleticism and sportsmanship beyond her age as a member of her school volleyball team. She also plays volleyball in the community as a member of the Camarillo Heat and is active in the Girl Scouts. Sophia speaks highly and appreciatively of her family and the support they have provided her. She earned $100 for her school as part of the YWA Award recognition. She was accompanied by her parents, Tom and Rana Emens; her principal, Katie Burchell; and PVSD assistant superintendent, Dr. Paul Manett. Pictured above (l-r) Katie Burchell, Ariel Carmody, Sophia, and Chantelle Limon Optimist Club YWA presenter. Bestforms Donates Scholarship for Trade School Applicants Joseph Valdez, General Manager of Bestform Inc., in Camarillo, offered a $1000 scholarship for a graduating student from one of the five Camarillo area high schools planning on attending a trade school. This scholarship is in addition to six or so scholarships
offered to students going onto college this year. For more information about Bestforms Inc., check out their website: www.bestforms.com. Pictured with Mr. Joseph Valdez (center) is Bob Taylor(left), long time Optimist Club member, and contact person; and Larry Davis, Optimist Club president. Gerry Olsen, Camarillo Historian, author, and former newspaper editor and publicist shares excerpts from his book DON ADOLFO CAMARILLO A Living Legend - (1864-1958) With plenty of newspaper stories, pictures and memorabilia, Gerry Olsen was able to recap the history of the Camarillo family and its most famous member Don Adolfo Camarillo who has gone by many titles The Father of Camarillo, The Last of the Spanish Dons, A Living Legend, A Rancher and an Innovator, A Gentle Giant, El Patron (The Boss), and simply, a father and a grandfather ( Tata ). Among many of his achievements and honors, Adolfo was one of the first to plant lima beans in the area (1889); first to hand-dig a well and hit water at 15 feet (1898); gave the Southern Pacific Railroad right-for-way through his property (1899), the stop named Camarillo in honor of Adolfo and his brother, Juan (1901); donated land for the widening of Conejo Grade (1930); Camarillo State Hospital named in his honor (1934); donated 26 acres for Camarillo Oak Park (1940); received the Knight of St. Gregory honor from Pope Pius XII (1950); donated 50 acres for building of Adolfo Camarillo HS (1950); and took Sultan, the founding father of the famous family of Camarillo White Horses and his offspring, to many parades, festivals, and events including the Rose Parade for many years. Please contact Gerry Olsen or his wife, Joan, who will have been married 60 years this April 12, 2018, at olsens861@gmail.com for more information or access to his book Don Adolfo Camarillo A Living Legend. 5
Feb. 26 - Pleasant Valley School District Adminisitrators Join the Optimist Club and Share Latest Happenings for the Community Dr. Veronica Ortega, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services for Pleasant Valley School District, was invited to join the Camarillo Noontime Optimist Club and was introduced by our most senior and longtime club member and retired educator Howard Hoover. She was accompanied by PVSD Superintendent Dr. Angelica Ramsey and Dr. Chris Johnston, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. Dr. Ortega shared some of her history and family travel with members and guests. Talk about your hometown girl, Veronica was born in Camarillo and attended many of the district schools as a student, teacher, or principal over the years before moving to the district office. Although her family, for job related reasons, moved away to New Orleans and Spain for short periods, she came back to the area and graduated from UCLA. Her super-friendly smile, gregarious nature and dedication to helping children will be a perfect match for the Optimist Club. We are lucky to have such a wonderful link to our local schools, and we look forward to getting to know more about her and her family in the months ahead. Pictured top above (l-r): Dr. Ramsey, Dr. Ortega, and Larry Davis and below: Howard Hoover, Dr. Veronica Ortega, and Dr. Chris Johnston. 6
Dr. Chris Johnston, our as guest speaker, took time to outline the PVSD Facilities Master Plan to repair, modernize, and improve Camarillo s schools in order to provide the best educational environment possible. He noted that since education has changed dramatically in recent years, there is a facilities need to support modern methods of teaching and learning. He cited research that shows student test scores improve 5-17% when they attend a modern, upgraded school facility. Eleven categories of projects to modernize PVSD facilities were listed utilities, pavement and parking lot safety; exterior renovation and security; roof restoration and replacement; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; modular building renovation and replacement; new construction; energy efficiency and solar power; playground, field and landscaping renovation; interior remodeling; and classrooms furniture and technology. To pay for the repairs, modernization, and improvements, the PVSD will submit a general obligation bond measure for the June 5 ballot. It has been calculated that the bond investment will cost property owners on average about $14.75 based on $30 per every $100,000 of assessed home value. More information may be obtained by viewing the PVSD website and/or stopping by the district office. Many thanks to Dr. Johnston for taking time to stop by the Boys and Girls Club for our meeting and sharing the latest news and projects. A Couple of news notes: 1. Light lunches (sub sandwiches, chip, cookies, pizza, etc., and waters) can be enjoyed for $5 at our regular Mon. meetings. 2. Don t forget to use our website www.camarillooptimistclub.org to check on upcoming events, current events, and all our past events, activities and our history for the past few years found in all the club newsletters and news briefs. 3. Mark Malloy, our soon to be
newest member, was on jury duty this month and was not available for the induction ceremony. 4. The Golf Committee is underway and looking for members to pitch in contact Jack Rotenberg or David Stone. The next meeting will be Thursday, March 8, at 5pm at the Rotenberg s. Calendar of Upcoming Meetings and Events: Mar. 5 - Jim Arthur will be speaking about Art How It Is Used in Everyday Life. Two YWA students will be honored. Mar. 12 - No meeting Mar. 19 - Tracy Bowers will be talking about Aging Parents. Mar. 22 - Annual Optimist Club High School Youth Banquet and Awards Night at the Camarillo Community Center 6 pm. Mar. 26 - No meeting Apr. 2 - Roger Ransom Reminiscenses of an Old Geezer Apr. 16 - Chris Calaprice will be sharing personal experiences as a Cancer Survivor. Apr. 30 - TBA
Just for laughs..