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First StoryFest a Success

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Contributed by: Kay Giles on 11/7/2007

While most of Ventura lay shrouded in fog, the sun shone on hundreds of young children and their families attending the first annual Young Readers' StoryFest, held November 3 at Ventura Unified School District's Education Service Center.

This free literacy event was a showcase for the Ventura Neighborhood for Learning (VNfL) program and featured appearances by children's authors Joan Graham, Mary Hanson, Carol Heyer, Barbara Jean Hicks, Sherry Shahan, June Sobel, Simms Taback, Greg Trine, Jody Fickes Shapiro, and Armando Garza.

Children also delighted to hear City Fire Chief Mike Lavery reading firefighter stories, County Supervisor Steve Bennett giving a spirited rendition of "Chicks and Salsa," Channel Islands National Park ranger Sue Johnston with stories about our ocean, Ventura High student Megan Senate presenting picture books produced by art students in their computer graphics class, and a performance by the Ventura Senior Readers' Theatre. Other special guest readers included VUSD Superintendent Trudy Arriaga, Deputy Mayor Christy Weir, City Manager Rick Cole, First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Claudia Harrison, and VUSD School Board trustees Debbie Golden and Mary Haffner.

In addition to visiting the six story tents, children also enjoyed making shibori banners with Art Trek, art and science activities presented by students of the Ventura Community College Child Development program, monarch butterfly games and activities by 4-H, soccer drills offered by the Ventura Family YMCA, and an art activity presented by La Petite Academy. Children filled their StoryFest passports by visiting all of the tents and received prizes, including books and gift certificates.

Young Readers' StoryFest was presented by VNfL, Adventures for Kids bookstore, and Ventura Education Partnership, the non-profit foundation that supports the VUSD.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this important literacy event: County Schools Federal Credit Union, Oxnard Children's Dental Group, Better Kitchens and Baths, Santa Clara Valley Veterinary Clinic, True North Fitness & Health, West Coast Environmental and Engineering, Matilija Bottled Water, Island Packers Cruises, and Rincon Gardens. Additional support was provided by Blenders in the Grass, Trader Joe's, Snapper Jack's Taco Shack, Farmer Jon's Jons, The Wharf, and Green Thumb International. VNfL is funded by First 5 Ventura County to provide early education, family strengthening, and access to health services for children ages 0-5 through Family Resource Centers and service sites located at Sheridan Way, Will Rogers, EP Foster, and Saticoy elementary schools.

For more information, please telephone 641-5000 x1550.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Kay Giles

Ventura , CA

Kay Giles has posted 2 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/10/2007. Kay Giles 's average story rating is 4.5.

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