By Alicia Doyle, Star Correspondent
September 12, 2002

Simi Valley students now have the world at their fingertips.

PlanetSimi.com, a new Web site donated to area youths by the Leadership Simi Valley Class of 2002, gives students one road to hundreds of topics, from
colleges to volunteer opportunities, job openings to entertainment. "This is a one-stop, online resource for the youth of Simi Valley," said Thom McLean, vice chairman of the Planet Simi Steering Committee. "It fits the modern times."

McLean and Tim Keaney, chairman of the steering committee, introduced the Web site to the Simi Valley school board during Tuesday's meeting.

Leadership Simi Valley is a comprehensive, nine-month program for adults that explores all facets of life in Simi Valley, including city government, recreation, history and police services. It is sponsored by the Strathearn Community Foundation and falls under the umbrella of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The PlanetSimi.com site impressed the trustees.

School board member Carla Kurachi praised the Leadership 2002 class for coming up with a fantastic idea. "I can't thank you enough for the many hours that this must have taken," Kurachi said. "I can't wait to go home and try this."

Students inspired all links on the site. A bulletin board displays current events on different campuses. An arts and entertainment link offers Web pages on celebrity biographies, Harry Potter, the Hollywood Bowl and Magic
Mountain. A homework help page offers library resources and lessons in many subjects, from language to math. A hotlines and help page features contact information for victims of abuse, alcoholism and drug use, as well as
information on weight loss and birth control. More than a dozen search engines are provided. There also are links to travel and world news. "Even adults will link to this site," said McLean, a vice chairman on the chamber board and information systems director of the Ventura County Star.

As PlanetSimi.com grows, schools will have the opportunity to add links to their campus Web sites and offer information about clubs and organizations.
Youths also will be able to submit their own pages, which must be approved by a steering committee before going live.

"It has to be wholesome, clean, appropriate content," McLean said.

Key sponsors of PlanetSimi.com are California Oaks State Bank, Simi Valley edition of The Star, Moorpark College, Simi Valley Hospital and the Simi Valley Police Officers Association.

The site is scheduled to be launched in the high schools the week of Sept. 30, but can be accessed now.
For more information or to become a PlanetSimi.com sponsor, call McLean at 655-1729, or Keaney at 306-0024 or tim@assistingu.com.