In Brief
11/09/2006
Roast whole beans, not each other
The comments section of an active blog might be a place of response and discussion, or it might be a place of vitriol, depending.
Tyler Suchman, founder of OjaiPost.com — a virtual community bulletin board and roundtable — witnessed a spirited discussion regarding the recent local election unfold on his site.
“It being an open forum, you tend to get people that throw a couple punches,” he says diplomatically, “and there was a bit of that back and forth going on on the Web site.”
Some of the more acerbic comments prompted him to post “On civility,” urging greater respect between commenters. The relative anonymity among neighbors was somewhat ironic, and made Suchman and the other OjaiPost bloggers realize that perhaps it was time for them to get away from the computer screen and actually talk to each other.
“Instead of the discussion devolving into flame-throwing, it evolved into, ‘Where do we go from here? How do we have a positive discussion?’ ” Suchman says.
As one of his fellow bloggers noted, a popular common ground is coffee, and the simple social gesture of getting together for a cup led to what might be the first of many social gatherings at local independent coffee shop, Stir Crazy. The public is invited to attend, and there is but one thing to consider over a steaming cup: “How do we collectively start the discussion that leads to improving the community we all love?”
Residents are all invited to grab a warm libation and join the discussion on Nov. 18, 3 p.m., at Stir Crazy, 11534 N. Ventura Ave, Ojai. For more information, visit www.ojaipost.com.
Holiday cook-off
As we approach the season of baked goods, the Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association and the City of Santa Paula encourage locals to dust off their best recipes and show their stuff in the Third Annual Cookie Contest.
Participating bakers are asked to bring three dozen cookies to be judged by a panel of experts. To sweeten the deal, there will be live music, gift wrapping services for merchandise purchased locally and an appearance from Santa Claus, all against the backdrop of the annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest at the new South Paseo. First prize is a $100 grocery store gift certificate, as well as second and third prizes.
Festivities Dec. 9, 4pm-6pm, South Paseo, Santa Paula. More information, call 525-2873.
Secret senior Santa
Think of it as a Toys for Tots ... for grandma. Just as some programs aim to give gifts to needy children, the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program hopes to bring some joy to isolated seniors around the holiday season. Home Instead Senior Care has teamed up with area organizations and Wal Mart in the hopes that no local elder will go without a gift this December.
Eligible seniors are identified by local organizations, and their names are given to Home Instead Senior Care. First names are then placed on ornaments on Christmas trees located at Wal-Mart in Simi Valley; Atria Las Posas Assisted Living, Camarillo; Strathern Historical Park, Simi Valley; Simi Hills Gracious Retirement Community, Simi Valley; and Cypress Point Lane. Ornaments will identify items requested by the seniors.
The program is in effect Nov. 10 to Dec. 11. On Dec. 12, volunteers are invited to a countywide gift wrapping day.
To volunteer, or for more information, contact Laurie read at 577-0926.
The ethics of globalization
Aiming to “bring the Notre Dame campus to its alumni and communities,” the Hesburgh Lecture Series invites educators and graduates of the University of Notre Dame to make intellectual contributions throughout the country. The Ventura alumni will host Professor of Economics Kwan S. Kim, who will give a lecture entitled, “Globalization, Economic Growth, Income Equality and Poverty,” which will focus on the implications and ethical concerns of globalization.
In keeping with the series’ aim to “revitalize the intellectual spirit both of the graduate and the faculty,” Kim will reflect on his study of economics in the developing world, specifically East Asia, Africa and Latin America, along with his knowledge of international commerce and finance, income ratio and poverty rates.
Kim also brings with him two years’ experience in the position of U.S. Agency for International Development Senior Economist, and several years’ experience studying in Kenya, Tanzania, Mexico and Japan. He is currently the Faculty Fellow of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at University of Norte Dame.
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