National Park Service Announces 2014 "Spirit of the Mountains" Photo Contest

"Corazon del Matador" People's Choice Best Photo 2013 (Photo Courtesy of Jazan Kozma)

Amateur photographers from all walks of life are encouraged to submit their favorite snaps for the National Park Service’s popular Spirit of the Mountains contest.

Entries may be submitted in person at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center, 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, from Saturday, September 20th until Saturday, October 11th.

“As in past years, anyone can participate in the contest by submitting a matted print,” said National Park Service ranger and contest coordinator Sheila Braden.

A highlight of the contest is critiquing by professional judges of all winning entries, to be held at the photo exhibition opening at 2 p.m. on November 2nd. All entries will be on display November 2-23 at the visitor center, located on the grounds of King Gillette Ranch.

First, second and third-place ribbons will be awarded. Categories throughout the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent venues include plants, animals, scenics, People in Parklands and the 2014 challenge: Variations on Light. The overall winner will receive the Best of Show award.

Winning photos may also be published in “Outdoors,” a popular quarterly publication of events and programs with a circulation of 70,000.

Entry forms and instructions are available daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the visitor center (26876 Mulholland Hwy) or online at www.nps.gov/samo/photocontest.htm. Submissions are limited to two photos per amateur photographer. For further information, call 805-370-2301.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) is the largest urban national park in the country. encompassing more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A unit of the National Park Service, it comprises a seamless network of local, state and federal parks interwoven with private lands and communities. As one of only five Mediterranean ecosystems in the world, SMMNRA preserves the rich biological biversity of more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/samo.

Quicken Loans and Warren Buffett Team Up For the 2014 NCAA March Madness "Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge"

According to a post on WarrenBuffet.com, Warren Buffett's holding company Berkshire Hathaway and Quicken Loans have teamed up to offer $1 billion to someone who is able to pick a "perfect" NCAA March Madness bracket. Registration for the Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge opens up on March 3rd.

What is a perfect bracket? That means picking the correct winner of every single game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament that begins on March 18, 2014. Berkshire Hathaway is ensuring the grand prize. I think they're good for the money, given the company has over $200 billion in net assets (assets less liabilities) as of September 2013.

The chances of winning are 1 in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808, which in words is nine quintillion, two hundred twenty three quadrillion, three hundred seventy-two trillion, thirty-six billion, eight hundred fifty four million, seven hundred seventy-five thousand, eight hundred and eight. This actually gives me some incentive to play POWERBALL, with its much better chances of winning the prize at 1 in 176 billion!

Is this really $1 billion!? Well, kind of. If you take the winnings over 40 years, you'll receive $25 million each year. Or you can take a lump sum of $500 million up front. I think I'd go with that option. Of course, if there are multiple winners, you'll split the proceeds.

Quicken Loans is also giving away $100,000 to the top 20 scoring brackets! They are capping contest entires to the first 10 million registrants, thought they may expand that at their discretion. The contest is open to legal, 21 and older residents of the U.S. and District of Columbia.

Follow the Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge Facebook page at www.facebook.com/notes/quicken-loans/quicken-loans-billion-dollar-bracket-challenge-short-form-rules/10152185833560489 for details and official rules.

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.