City of Simi Valley Flag Design Contest Entries Eric Orozco – First Place The main element of my design is the traditional Simi “brand” icon of the valley landscape with hills. I feel it is important to keep this Simi Brand in place, while at the same time updating the overall look with the addition of a setting sun and a more contemporary color palette of gradated blues, oranges, and green. Simi Valley is known for great sunsets and green hills, which is also represented in my design. Janice Rodnunsky – Second Place Three wave stripes symbolize the three major periods in Simi Valley history, as well as representing the curve of the valley, the sloping surrounding foothills and history of transportation through Simi Valley. Eight Stars: Represents the 8 stars found in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library symbol, noting the significance of Simi Valley being the Library’s home. Arrad Rahgoshay – Third Place Though the flag is very simplistic in its form, it subtly represents and glorifies the beautiful City of Simi Valley throughout its history. The two primary colors used in the design are green and glue, both of which are fundamentally found in nature. The blue symbolized the immense valleys and skyrocketing mountains of the City, while the green portrays the blooming terrain of the Rancho Simi Parks. Evidently in the center, there are three yellow stars. These represent the three eras of Simi Valley since its existence. The stars symbolize the early Chumash period, the Spanish period, and the infamous Pioneer period. Each time frame has allowed for Simi to expand from a small colony and develop into the city it is today. In the center, lying in a crest, the outline of the American Flag is shown. As one of the most insightful parts of the design, it shows that Simi Valley is committed to being a genuine American city with patriotic morals and also highlights the fact that the City has a presidential library of its own. The beams in the background expand in every direction, making the name Simi Valley shine in it nobility. Ashley Bestamonte The triangle stands for the past and shows you can power things without chemicals in batteries. The blue stripes stand for the great time we have now. I chose yellow stripes for the future where goals will be successful and Simi Valley will be better. Gloria Catuna Past: Chumash pictograph for the past. Present: Oak tree Branch for strength and endurance. Future: Wild Rose for beauty and longevity. Note: I have permission from Ojai Museum and Indian Council to use the pictograph swirly background representing wind. Kristine Ly An Oak tree because a lot stood in Simi Valley and it is the #1 tree. Carl Sheido I drew three different colored houses, brown mountains and some gray clouds. Paige Pelletier I used the Rose as a symbol of our City’s flower. The stars on my flag link to the California state flag and the United States flag. I put the sun on my flag because it is always sunny in Simi Valley. Carsy Parle The hills, a house, and mention of the Ronald Reagan Library Angelina Toste The mountains and trees represent the beautiful views of nature. The Ronald Reagan Library represents an important place in our City. The houses in my picture represent the wonderful community and people. Paige Claghorn The hills and parks of Simi Valley Jade Madayag Stars are for the State Yellow is for leadership. Jenna Lazarus Everything means special to me. Simi Valley means enough to me. The movies in Simi Valley and the Ronald Reagan Library. Nancy Lukunich I watch the City Council meetings…and the wall behind the dais says it all. The beautiful green looks like our hills that surround us...the constant “welcome home” that we all enjoy…whether we have traveled to Europe or just “over the hill”…there is nothing like their beauty (as long as we have some rain, of course), when we make the descent back into our valley. The simplicity of our logo (our hills) and City of Simi Valley says it all. I believe the gold lettering for City of Simi Valley, as well as the logo, against the lush green background will make a flag we will always be proud of. William Avnon None. Alexis Shiber It is a purple, green, and blue happy dragon. I got the idea from the dragon statue in the mall. Shayna Apellbaum This flag design represents the utter beauty, simplicity, and natural lifestyle of living in the amazing place that is Simi Valley. It also shows it’s an all­American town. Barbra Williamson Design depicts the City seal, mountain(s) and motto “Home of the Ronald Reagan Library”. It is also a reflection of the City stationary and business cards David Sgambellone Red: Represents the citizens of the City as the life­ blood and valley floor/foundation. Green: Represents the prosperity of the City; its overall beauty as these two colors compliment each other. Gold or Tan: Represents uniqueness that separates Simi Valley from any other City by its location within the continuous mountain range. Sky: It is divided into two shades of blue as a reminder of our great weather. Also, the citizens that work for the City are working together to make Simi Valley a wonderful place to live and work. The small division in the sky reminds us that we can have different opinions, but use these divisions to make the overall City of Simi Valley a great place to live and work. Ariana Villalobos In my design I included the past, present, and future. Past: I drew a Chumash Indian village with the Chief watching the sunrise (left). Present: I drew the Ronald Regan Presidential library, representing our beloved president of the past (middle). Future: A part of Simi Valley, promising more jobs and education for our future (right). Rachael Brasswell Oranges: Stand for the orange orchards that were where the Public Library and Kohl’s are now located. Background color: Yellow, because of Simi High School colors. Cow: The cow stands for settlers that came to Simi Valley. Acorns and woven baskets: Stand for Chumash Indians that lived in the valley. “City of Simi Valley”: Maroon in color because it is another Simi High School color. Hills & Sun: Hills are Simi Valley and the sun is for the starting of a better economy. Jose Bernal I incorporated some of the Simi Valley Seal, Ronald Reagan Library, and what I call Happy Face Hill. I looked at the Simi Valley Seal and decided to incorporate the oranges and the nuts as the border, I picked Ronald Reagan and decided to put him in black and white because even though he is dead, he is one of my idols as a person, actor, and beloved President of the United States of America; his spirit walks among us and will never be forgotten for the impact he has made to the United States and to the world. I reallye lik going to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library; it is one of my favorite places in Simi Valley. The Happy Face Hill is one of my favorite things in Simi Valley as well. Every time we leave I see on one side of the hill a heart and on the other side a Happy Face. I put Happy Face Hill because I always look forward to seeing it every time we leave Simi Valley or come back. Thank you for the opportunity and I hope you pick mine! Ela Brzezinski White, with Chumash Rock Painting Symbol – The name, “Simi” comes from the Chumash word “Shimiji”, meaning little white clouds” (the kind of clouds you find during the East Wind or Santa Ana’s. Blue – The Ocean Brown ­ The mountains Light Green – The valley No one is absolutely certain about the meaning of the Chumash Rock Art or symbols, but scholars generally agree that is connected with religion and astronomy. We can only guess what those mysterious symbols meant to their creators. They may represent mystic figures, natural phenomena or abstract concepts. The most common symbol or painting in Chumasht Rock Ar is a circle with spokes surrounded by other circles, some concentric, which are believed to be sparks of the sun. Paint pigments came mostly from minerals. Red was made from an iron oxide called hematite or red ochre. Chumash Rock paintings are irreplaceable cultural heritage, the oldest history of Simi Valley. I used the most common symbol from the Chumash art – a circle for the flag to memorialize the spirit of Chumash people, who are an important part of history in Simi Valley. Ela Brzezinski Light Green, with Chumash Rock painting­symbol – The valley. Dark Green: The mountains Blue – The ocean. Chumash Rock Art – No one is absolutely certain about the meaning of the Chumash Rock Art or symbols, but scholars generally agree that is connected with religion and astronomy. We can only guess what those mysterious symbols meant to their creators. They may represent mystic figures, natural phenomena or abstract concepts. The most common symbol or painting in Chumash Rock Art is a circle with spokes surrounded by other circles, some concentric, which are believed to be sparks of the sun. Paint pigments came mostly from minerals. Red was made from an iron oxide called hematite or red ochre. Chumash Rock paintings are irreplaceable cultural heritage, the oldest history of Simi Valley. I used the most common symbol from the Chumash art – a circle for the flag to memorialize the spirit of Chumash people, who are an important part of history in Simi Valley.