SKY WATCH: Yo, parents. Santa may be...

SKY WATCH: Yo, parents. Santa may be headed to a night sky above you (B2). . . . Starting about 6 on Christmas Eve, Aspen Helicopters in Oxnard will continue a 15-year tradition of flying a facsimile of Santa’s sleigh, illuminated by 20,000 watts of light, over western Ventura County. “We love to do it,” said pilot Rick Throckmorton. “Children love it, and the community has given us such an outpouring of support, we can’t end a tradition.”

IN STEP: Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) has voted with the Republican leadership this year 97% of the time, the fifth-highest ranking in the House. Citizen Action, which prepared the study, accuses him and other members of the GOP of marching in lock-step with Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). Gallegly’s response: “I’m proud of every vote I’ve taken.” Needless to say, Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills) rarely sides with the GOP. He overlapped just 23% of the time.

LASTING TRIBUTE: Arc-VC employees Carolyn Whalen and Karen Arias have won the Richard M. Bateman Award, named after the job counselor who was killed two years ago at a state unemployment office in Oxnard. The award from Arc, which teaches living skills to developmentally disabled adults, honors those who “go way beyond what their job requires,” said Director Fred Robinson of Arc. . . . “It’s truly very humbling and very honoring,” said Whalen, a client advocate. In her off hours, Whalen volunteers her time leading a self-advocacy group for clients.

CLOSER QUARTERS: Arc will start the new year with a new facility in the Wagon Wheel area of Oxnard. The center will serve about 100 of Arc’s 700 clients. . . . “We’ll be in a nicer facility and closer to home” for many clients, said Robinson. Another plus for the new location is that clients can use the SCAT bus that stops outside. “We’re SCAT’s best customers,” Robinson said.