California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will be collecting toys during its annual CHiP’s for Kids toy drive. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at the Ventura Area CHP office located at 4656 Valentine Rd. in Ventura. Toys collected during the CHiP’s for Kids toy drive will be given to less fortunate families in Ventura County. Questions regarding the CHiP’s for Kids program may be directed to Officer Steve Reid at (805) 477-4100.

Since both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Friday this holiday season, Fillmore city resident customers of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will have their trash and recyclables collected on Dec. 26 and trash and green waste collected Jan. 2, one day later than usual both weeks.

The regular collection schedule will return on Friday, Jan. 8, 2010.

As a special holiday feature, residents may put out twice the amount of trash at no extra charge during the two weeks following Christmas. Please make sure the trash is in bags. We will also collect extra recyclables, but please make sure to flatten all boxes.

Also, Santa Clara Valley Disposal is making it easy for their customers to recycle their Christmas trees. All customers need to do is remove the ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows, nails and tree stand, then cut the tree into sections no more than 4 feet long and place in the yard waste barrel on their scheduled pickup day.

Please note, however: Flocked trees cannot be recycled.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Dear Friends:
It is a few days before Christmas. The sounds of footsteps, clatter and laughter scatter in the single-file line. The kids are waiting with anticipation to see Santa at the North Fillmore Community Storefront. Every year the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department and other civic organizations collect donated toys to give to the kids who would otherwise not be getting toys this Christmas. There are more children in this line than in years past. My seven-year-old looks on with awe and curiosity. I tell him that many children are not getting presents this year because their parents have lost their jobs; lost their homes or there just isn’t anything extra to buy presents; that in this line where they stand exposed to the late afternoon chill for their one toy it will be their only Christmas present. He goes quiet. With saucer eyes he indignantly asks: “Mom, why won’t Santa give presents to these kids?”

I look at the line with a different kind of awe. None of the kids have on coats. My mind judges immediately “Did the children forget their coats? They knew it was cold and that the wait was long.” The line snaked as the little boy tucked into his mother and the realization hit me like the cold wind- he didn’t forget his coat. He doesn’t have a coat.

Please join Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid’s third annual CONTINUED »

By Carole Power

The Positive Place for Kids (aka Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley) is always cooking up something for kids to do and learn. Included in the long list of things for member kids to do is participating in a cooking class. Under the direction of faithful volunteer Lia Verkade, who is from the Netherlands, every Tuesday and Thursday the Club members get to congregate in the kitchen of the Fillmore Clubhouse (565 First St.) to learn the art of cooking, kitchen safety, sharing and cooperative working. Their current project is to share their recipes from home. The kids are currently working on a recipe book, which is a compilation of their collective recipes that will be a gift for their parents at Christmas.

Recently the class made Dutch Pancakes, under Lia’s watchful eye, which received an enthusiastic vote of approval from the entire class. Who knows, there may be a budding Emeril Legasse or Rachel Ray in the group! Wouldn’t that be great? At the very least these enthusiastic young people are learning to take care of themselves and others. A great lesson to learn at any age.

Programs of this type are promoted at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley. With the guidance of the Club’s national organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, though the Club’s Five Core Areas the Arts, Health & Life Skills, Character & Leadership, Career & Education, and Sports Recreation and Fitness, Club members learn positive life skills like gang avoidance, cooperation with others, and self care. These valuable tools that will last them throughout their lives, which will naturally be passed on to their future friends and families, making our communities a better place for everyone.

Club membership is only $25 per year and provides afterschool programming for children from the ages of 6 to 18 years old. There are three Club locations in the Fillmore area, the Neil C. Schmidt/Fillmore Clubhouse (on First St.,) the N. Fillmore Clubhouse (at the Fillmore Police Storefront on Lemon Way,) and the Rancho Sespe Clubhouse in the Rancho Sespe Apartments on Telegraph Rd. There are also eight sites in Santa Paula, the Las Piedras Clubhouse (at the Santa Paula Police Storefront on 13th Street,) the Harvard Clubhouse (1400 E. Harvard Blvd.) and in six schools in Santa Paula. (Barbara Webster Elementary, Thelma Bedell Elementary, Glen City School, McKevett School, Blanchard School and Grace Thille School.) Of course, the Club cannot provide all these services for its current membership of over 700 youth with only $25 per child per year. Additional funding comes from national and local governments, local businesses and community groups and individual donors who appreciate the value of the Club in the community.

You, too, can help with this individual growth and community betterment. Make your tax deductible contribution to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley by sending a check to Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley, PO Box 18, Fillmore, CA 93016-0018. Or by calling the Club at 805-525-7910 and donating from your credit card. There is no donation too small that it won’t help a child, so, please, contact the Club with your help today. The Club thanks you and the kids thank you!

On November 24, 2009 the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley released a notice to the media and club families that the Clubs would be closing for the foreseeable future due to significant financial constraints. The Board of Directors was not aware of this decision at the time and quickly rescinded that notice. We regret any confusion this may have caused and apologize for this miscommunication to our members, their families and the communities we serve.

Since that time the Board of Directors have met together as well as with the staff of the Clubs. We view the actions of the Executive Director as an internal personnel matter and by policy will not be discussing it. We wish to emphasize that we are committed to keeping the Clubs up and running. The Board and the Club’s Staff are passionate about serving the youth in the Santa Clara Valley and believe the Boys and Girls Club is a positive place that provides so many worthwhile programs.

The current recession we are all experiencing has stricken the country and adversely affected many companies and individuals. Clearly the economy has also affected most non-profit organizations including our own Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley. Many of our generous donors in the past have been hit hard by this recession and have temporarily had to reduce or curtail their support for our organization. We are confident this is a temporary situation.

As we approach the beginning of the New Year, we are asking for the help of all the communities we serve. If you are committed to the belief of keeping our youth engaged in positive programs and off the streets, we would encourage you to send a donation of any amount to: P.O. Box 152, Santa Paula, CA 93060 or P.O. Box 18, Fillmore, CA 93016.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of those generous companies and individuals who have so kindly donated in the past. Your contributions are needed now more than ever! The Board also wishes to acknowledge our Club Staff who cannot be thanked enough for their commitment and dedication to our children who they care for so completely. They are making the difference on a day-to-day basis.

32nd Annual Piru Christmas Parade gets on its way Saturday 12th at 12 noon. Merry Christmas to Our Soldier is the theme. Briana Segoviano 6th grader from Piru School won the contest that was Piru Neighborhood Council Sponsored. Donna Chessani (Mrs. Cheese) will start off our parade and our proud veterans to follow. Immediately following will be our post parade celebration at Piru Depot.

Entertainment, live music with Dan Torres and The Piru River Band, DJ Chuck Castro, Mariachi by Jalisco. Bike rodeo for the kids (bring your bike to enter consent), Jolly Jumper. Bingo, Relay for Life, 50/50 proceeds for Fillmore School Band uniforms, Piru Lake sponsored raffle, 1 day pass with pontoon boat, two drawings. Rusty’s Horse Shoe Tournament , cash prizes, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, contact Rusty at (805) 432-6388, please bring your own chairs. See if you can cowboy or cowgirl up and be the winner of the mechanical bull contest.

Great food, Piru special Christmas tamales hot, mild, sweet and tasty , Elva’s Special Tri Tip and chicken, Poncho’s Restaurant, and Adrian banuelos and more. Arts and Crafts, Lovely by Maria, wreaths, candles, Julie’s Avon, Diana & Brianna’s special items, Relay for Life blankets, Cookie Lee Jewelry, car Models and more.

Don’t forget Santa he will be riding down the parade on Piru‘s fire engine and will be available for photos with Mrs. Clause. Santa’s gifts will be supplied by The Carnales motorcycle club. Please donate to Our Soldiers,
bring letters, cards or supplies show our appreciation and wishes HAPPY HOLIDAY to OUR TROOPS.

Come enjoy the day or make it an overnight stay when the lights of Christmas are at their best. Make reservation at the beautiful downtown Piru Heritage Inn., call (805) 521-0700 for information. It’s not to late to enter the parade. Call chacha PNC event planner at 805) 521-0527.

The Fillmore Friends of the Library will host their Annual Open House at the Fillmore Library 502 Second Street Wednesday December 16th from 1pm-5pm. Please drop by to visit the library, indulge in delicious refreshments, and learn more about opportunities to become an active member of the Friends group.

On display will be art work produced by local students: Froy Corona, Kyla Hernandez, Aimee Orozco, and Maia Thayer. Also, Colors: Youth Community Art Studio has a beautiful display of collage art work done by students this last summer.

We will also be featuring the works by local student authors: Jeremy Brooks, Emma Couse, and Raphael Magana.
Wana Klasen’s beautiful poinsettia art will grace our welcoming table.

Don’t forget to bring the kids! We will have a puppet show at 3:30 p.m. and drawing for special prizes! Refreshments will be served throughout the day, and every child will have a chance to select a toy from our Magic Toy box!

Rotary Sun Risers meet every Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. at El Pescador. Presentations are planned for each meeting. For more information please contact. Joe Aguirre, President at 524-2096.

Ventura, CA. - The Ventura County Public Health Department has expanded the list of who is eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine once again and now includes all people, healthy or high risk, 6 months of age and older. This list has been updated and includes those adults aged 25-64 who are healthy; they are the last group to become eligible to receive the vaccine in Ventura County. “This basically opens the eligibility for H1N1 vaccine to everyone in our county,” said Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Levin.

Infants (under 6 months of age) are ineligible to receive the vaccine. Scientists believe the vaccine will not be effective in this age group.

This new dictum was arrived at due to the following factors:

• The amount of vaccine that has arrived in the county since September has increased to adequate levels
• 25 to 30% of the high risk population in Ventura County has now been vaccinated against H1N1
• There has not been an unmanageable increase in the length of lines at clinics where vaccine is being offered

“This vaccine isn’t going to do anyone any good if it sits on the shelf,” said Dr. Levin. “The more people we can get this into in our county, the better.” The novel H1N1 (swine) vaccine is available for Ventura County residents only. Sites where the vaccine is available can be found on the Health Care Agency Public Health website: www.vchca.org/H1N1.

Ventura, CA. - The Ventura County Public Health Department lists the following groups of people as eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine. This list has been updated and includes the following:

• Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years of age
• Caretakers and household contacts of infants less than 6 months of age
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years of age who have high risk medical conditions, e.g.: lung disease including asthma, COPD; heart disease (not high blood pressure); diabetes; morbid obesity; neurocognitive or neuromuscular disease; immunocompromised (cancer, chemotherapy, steroids, congenital, HIV).
• All health care and emergency medical services personnel
• All first responders
• All senior citizens 65 years of age and older
• Pregnant women

The novel H1N1 (swine) vaccine, is available for Ventura county residents only. Sites where the vaccine is available can be found on the Health Care Agency Public Health website: www.vchca.org/H1N1.

On November 24, 2009 the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley released a notice to the media and club families that the Clubs would be closing for the foreseeable future due to significant financial constraints. The Board of Directors was not aware of this decision at the time and quickly rescinded that notice. We regret any confusion this may have caused and apologize for this miscommunication to our members, their families and the communities we serve.

Since that time the Board of Directors have met together as well as with the staff of the Clubs. We view the actions of the Executive Director as an internal personnel matter and by policy will not be discussing it. We wish to emphasize that we are committed to keeping the Clubs up and running. The Board and the Club’s Staff are passionate about serving the youth in the Santa Clara Valley and believe the Boys and Girls Club is a positive place that provides so many worthwhile programs.

The current recession we are all experiencing has stricken the country and adversely affected many companies and individuals. Clearly the economy has also affected most non-profit organizations including our own Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley. Many of our generous donors in the past have been hit hard by this recession and have temporarily had to reduce or curtail their support for our organization. We are confident this is a temporary situation.

As we approach the beginning of the New Year, we are asking for the help of all the communities we serve. If you are committed to the belief of keeping our youth engaged in positive programs and off the streets, we would encourage you to send a donation of any amount to: P.O. Box 152, Santa Paula, CA 93060 or P.O. Box 18, Fillmore, CA 93016.

We want to take this opportunity to thank all of those generous companies and individuals who have so kindly donated in the past. Your contributions are needed now more than ever! The Board also wishes to acknowledge our Club Staff who cannot be thanked enough for their commitment and dedication to our children who they care for so completely. They are making the difference on a day-to-day basis.

Ventura, CA - Dr. Robert Levin, Public Health Officer for Ventura County Public Health, today expanded the list of eligible people for the H1N1 vaccine, to include all law enforcement personnel, and all people 65-years of age and older, whether healthy or high risk. Previously the vaccine has been available to the following targeted groups: children and young adults from the ages of 6 months to 24 years of age; all caretakers and household contacts of infants under 6 months of age; pregnant women; people 25 – 64 years of age with serious health conditions, such as lung disease, asthma and diabetes; and health care workers and medical first responders who have patient contact.

“We are pleased to expand the group of people eligible to receive the vaccine because we are seeing an increase in vaccine supplies and a decrease in the length of the lines of people waiting to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Levin, who attributed the decrease in demand to the receipt of the vaccine by many of the county’s physicians and clinics and to Public Health’s efforts in reaching the community with targeted community flu clinics, as well as expanded hours in Public Health clinics.

“There have been approximately 70 million available doses in the U.S. to date, out of a projected 150 million doses that will eventually be distributed,” said Dr. Levin. “With nearly half the population recommended to be vaccinated having done so, I feel confident that expanding the current list to include these two very important segments of our population – first responders and seniors – is a logical and necessary move.”

In a sampling of county clinics, a Camarillo medical office noted that they have “much vaccine on hand with a decrease in demand.” Additionally, clinics in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks have reported the same. Visits to doctors for influenza-like symptoms, both nationally and locally over the past few weeks, has been tapering off. Dr. Levin stressed that as we move into the annual seasonal flu season at the end of this month, it is likely we will see a spike in H1N1 as well, a third wave of the pandemic, and people should not become complacent about getting immunized. “We know that 9 out of 10 people who wanted to be vaccinated against H1N1 but didn’t receive the vaccine earlier, said they would try again. Now is a good time for these two important groups to get their vaccinations, as the vaccine is increasingly available,” added Dr. Levin.

For more information on H1N1, visit the Public Health website at: www.vchca.org/ph.

Fillmore Sun Risers Rotary President Joe Aguirre joined Santa Paula Rotary President Pamela Lindsay Monday presenting Mike Powers, Director, Ventura County Health Care Agency a check for over $11,000, a Rotary Humanitarian Grant. The presentation was made at the Santa Paula Rotary meeting at Logsdons Restaurant.
The grant provides funds for a Sonosite Ultrasound Linear Array Transducer for the Santa Paula Hospital Emergency room. This new equipment will provide improved diagnostic capabilities for the Emergency Room. Additional funds will be provided to the hospital to aid in funding health fair activities providing no-cost testing to local residents for many potential health issues such as diabetes and mammograms.
The grant was made possible by donations from the Fillmore Sun Risers and Santa Paul Rotarians in partnership their Rotary District 5240 and with Rotarians from sister Rotary Districts 4160, Mexico and District 3720, Korea. Our local Rotary District 5240 joins annually contributing with the Mexican and Korean Rotarians to jointly engage in projects in the three countries on a rotating basis. This year, Rotary District 5240 and the community of the Santa Clara Valley were the beneficiaries of this truly Rotary International effort.