SAN FERNANDO VALLEY Encino Achievement: The Visual Effects Society gave Steven Spielberg the Lifetime Achievement Award at its sixth annual awards ceremony on Feb. 10. Spielberg reminisced that the first effect he ever tried involved poking small holes in a black poster board and filming a rocket ship model in front of it with an 8mm camera. As a director, working with visual effects artists is a collaborative effort that puts the frame around the dreams he has of what he wants on screen, Spielberg said. “You are the ones who fill in the colors and bring our dreams into focus,” Spielberg said. The Encino-based VES is a professional organization representing visual effects artists working in feature films, television, commercials, music videos and video games. Calabasas Gaming: The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences created a new scholarship to support students pursuing careers in game design, development and production. The Dr. Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund awards four $2,500 gifts to students attending accredited universities. Pausch is a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University and co-founded the university’s entertainment technology center. The scholarship is a collaboration between the Calabasas-based academy and Bing Gordon, chief creative officer at game publisher Electronic Arts. Contest: Final Draft Inc., publisher of scriptwriting software of the same name, has launched its ninth annual Big Break International Screenwriting Contest, which closes June 15. This year, Big Break has partnered with CineStory, a nonprofit that provides new screenwriters with opportunities to work with industry professionals to raise the level of their craft and career marketability. CineStory will also invite the top three Big Break finalists to participate in its annual retreat in Idyllwild, during which writers will meet with retreat mentors to discuss their script submissions and careers. At the conclusion of the three-day retreat, the Big Break contest winner will select two industry mentors with whom they will work for one year. Information: www.finaldraft.com. Northridge Expansion: The law firm of Kantor & Kantor LLP has relocated its offices to 19839 Nordhoff St. because of growing demand from clients. The firm represents plaintiffs in insurance coverage disputes but has developed a niche in helping clients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Epstein Barr, lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome. Because the causes of many of these conditions are still relatively unknown, insurers tend to discount the seriousness of the resulting disability and deny coverage, according to Kantor & Kantor. Sherman Oaks Hall: The Valley Industry & Commerce Association is calling for nominations for its inaugural San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame. Leaders and organizations of all sizes that have made major contributions to the San Fernando Valley are sought. Community members are welcome to nominate historical figures, companies and individuals in 200 words or less by March 7 via email to [email protected]. Honorees will be recognized at VICA’s Business Hall of Fame Dinner on June 12 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Woodland Hills Camera: Panavision Inc. received a Technical Achievement Award from the Society of Camera Operators for its Genesis digital camera system. The Genesis camera has been used on more feature films, television and commercials than any other single-chip digital cinema camera. Being recognized by the society is gratifying for the company because camera operators understand how important ergonomics, good flexible design, and reliability are to a productive on-set experience, said President and CEO Bob Beitcher. In addition, the society honored Panavision Executive Vice President Joe Dunton with its lifetime achievement award for his four-decade long career in the cinematic arts. Panavision acquired the England-based Joe Dunton Co. in 2007. Dunton worked with the late director Stanley Kubrick, and helped create films such as “Return of the Jedi” and “Poltergeist.” CONEJO VALLEY Camarillo Roundtable: SolarWorld hosted a roundtable discussion on energy conservation and renewable energy during a visit by Dr. Jurgen Ruttgers, prime minister of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. Ruttgers visited Camarillo as part of a national informational tour of the U.S. and used the occasion to talk about Germany’s successful renewable energy programs and solicit advice from local officials about localized conservation and renewable energy programs. SolarWorld is a German-based manufacturer of solar cells. Taking part in the roundtable discussion with Ruttgers were representatives from the Camarillo, Ventura County and the University of California. Thousand Oaks Advertising: The Marketing and Communications Division at California Lutheran University won three awards in the Service Industry Advertising competition. Direct mail campaign “It’s A Fact” won a silver award. The campaign was done in conjunction with Kevin/Ross Public Relations to inform residents and business leaders about the latest developments at CLU. This was the second year the direct mail campaing won an award. CLU Magazine won a silver award in the external publications category for educational institutions; and the 2007 “Expanding Your Horizons” won a bronze award for calendars. The winners were chosen from 2,000 entries. Honor: A middle school outreach program developed by California Lutheran University students will be honored as the Ventura County chapter of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineering’s 2008 Project of the Year Feb. 21 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The ceremony is one of several scheduled throughout the country in light of National Engineers Week, which will run through Feb. 23. The CLU project was selected for its vision, philanthropic component and intelligent design, according to the school. The program promotes engineering in young minds by showing the impact that engineers have on people’s lives. ANTELOPE VALLEY Palmdale Upgrade: Renovations have begun on the City of Palmdale’s Neighborhood House #2. Located at 1129 E. Ave. R-4, the house was damaged by fire. The house was completely gutted by students of YouthBuild, an organization that aims to empower young adults to build stronger communities. YouthBuild students will also build a separate structure that will be used as a community room on the property. The house is scheduled for completion in August, while the community room is expected to be finished by May. At present, students are working on the home Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Once completed, residents who live near Neighborhood House #2 may stop by to learn more about local and regional transportation, obtain library cards, get answers to city code questions, view city job openings and more. There will also be ongoing activities such as Club Drug and Life Skills Education (DALE), parenting classes and job training. Information: (661) 267-5126. Seniors: Palmdale City Council is accepting applications through Feb. 28, 5:30 p.m., to fill three expiring positions on the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission. The commission provides recommendations to the City Council on the special concerns and needs of senior citizens in the community. Each commissioner will serve a term ending April 2010. Applications for this appointment are available at www.cityofpalmdale.org or may be picked up at the Parks and Recreation Department, 38260 10th St. E. Applicants are encouraged to attach a resume. Appointed members must be Palmdale residents who are 55 years old or older. They must also be able to attend meetings the second Tuesday of every other month at 2 pm. Information: (661) 267-5611. Lancaster Conference: Writer, actor and economist Ben Stein will be the keynote speaker at the Antelope Valley Board of Trade’s Business Outlook Conference, to take place Feb. 29 at the Poppy Pavilion on the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. During the conference, the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance’s 2008 Economic Roundtable Report will debut. Highlights include the GAVEA presentation of “The Industrial Base and Vacancy Report” and “The Labor Base Report.” The report also contains the latest available information on retail sales, job growth, income growth, workforce issues and local house sales and prices. A special feature will be foreclosure sales in comparison with the last downturn in Antelope Valley homes. Information: (661) 942-9581.