Students work to fingerprint area children

PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN - Howard Smith, left, fingerprints 17-month-old Natalie Hudgins while Naomi Hudgins, to Smith's right, Paige Durand, and Noah and Tom Hudgins watch.

Some students from two local elementary schools, the Mustangs of Maple and the Cypress Cubs, were out in front Albertson’s on Reino Road last weekend sponsoring a free fingerprinting program. The two schools spilt a $50 Albertson’s gift card as a reward for their hard work. The certificate was planned to be awarded to the school printing the most kids, but as the effort was manned by volunteers working for their community, it was decided that there need be no winners or losers, and so they split the prize equally.

According to parent Janet Duran, 130 children were printed and photographed.

To support the effort, Conejo Valley Masonic Lodge #807 members donated their time and the use of a computer with a digital camera and electronic fingerprint scanner. The program gives parents a no-cost identification package on an 8" by 11" page with the child’s fingerprints and picture, along with spaces for the parent to add complete biographical data on the child. The information proves invaluable when a child goes missing or kidnapped.

The next fingerprinting opportunity is Sunday, Nov. 3 at Temple Adat Elohim on Hillcrest Drive. For further details, please call Roger Garretson at (818) 706-8136.

– staff reports