“Bald for Books” benefits school library

By Susan Branham Santa Paula TimesA bad hair day turned beautiful last week for Mountain Vista Elementary School in Fillmore. “Bald for Books” came to the rescue of the new school’s half-empty library. Former Santa Paula resident and graduate of Santa Paula High School, Tressa Saviers, parent and president of the Mountain Vista Booster Club, had her locks shorn in front of 450 cheering students and supporters. Tressa is the daughter of Steve and Susan Lazenby.“It was a fun day,” she said. Tressa lost her tresses as part of a challenge to raise funds for library books for the new school. The parents’ Booster Club started working on ideas last summer and Tressa Saviers, who also works lunch and recess yard supervision at the school, threw out the challenge. “If you raise enough money, I’ll shave my head,” she told the children. “Try me. Let’s get $8000 together.”And so they did. Last month the students participated in a successful Walk-A-Thon for library books, surpassing their initial goal of $8000. The students and the community came through. “As of today we have nearly $18,000,” Tressa said last week.Tressa kept her promise. Monica Torrez of Genesis Hair Design did the honors, as students cheered and chanted, “Tressa, Tressa.” High fives and hugs followed the event. “I felt like the queen of the world,” recalled Tressa.