Mayor Among City’s 13 ‘Living Treasures’

A photographer whose work has been purchased by the Smithsonian Institution, a woman who trains search dogs, and Mayor Steve Olsen are among the people named as Living Treasures of Ojai this year.

The program will introduce its 13 Living Treasures for 1997, as well as the first 11 people honored by Ventura’s newly formed Living Treasures chapter, at a May 1 reception.

Founded in 1993, Living Treasures identifies and encourages people with diverse expertise who are willing to offer various educational programs for at least two years.

During the program’s first two years in Ojai, more than 2,700 people attended nearly 300 programs.

This year, the program is expanding to Ventura as well as internationally.

Ojai’s 1997 Living Treasures include:

* Photographer Carole Topalian, who plans to give 100 people disposable cameras for 24 hours to see what images are collected.

* Wilma Melville, an animal trainer who will offer educational programs related to search dogs.

* Olsen, a school principal who intends to involve the community in the implementation of a recently adopted youth master plan.

* Attorney Paul Blatz, who will offer workshops for high school seniors on family law and the responsibilities of being a parent in an effort to prevent teenage pregnancy.

* Ojai Ambulance owner Steve Frank, who plans to give seminars on disaster preparedness.

* Kindergarten teacher Claire Hill, who will offer a program to parents on how to prepare their child to go to school for the first time.

* Actress Kim Maxwell Brown, who plans to teach drama classes to senior citizens.

* Historian and writer Pat Clark Doerner, who will make presentations on Irish and Ventura County history.

The names of Ventura’s Living Treasures are being kept secret until the combined May 1 reception, which will be held at 5 p.m. at the Ventura City Hall Atrium, 501 Poli St.