Every year the Ventura County Fair enjoys the participation and partnership of generous sponsors from the business community. Some sponsors have been partners for many years while others have just joined the fun. All of the Fair Sponsors give generously to ensure that Fair visitors have a safe and enjoyable Fair experience.
These sponsors help the Fair bring fantastic entertainment to Ventura County and host events that make the Ventura County Fair one of the finest in the state. Sponsors also support the numerous exhibit spaces that showcase the results of Ventura County residents’ creations and accomplishments.

The Official Sponsors for the 2009 Fair were matched with specially chosen venues, events, and activities. Pepsi is host of the Pepsi Community Stage and is also the sponsor of Dollar Days. The Ventura County Star is the sponsor for Porker Flats, the Photography Building and Carnival Wristband Days. Toyota is once again the sponsor of the Livestock Area as well as the Junior Fair Board, Motorsports, and the Rodeo.

A benefactor sponsors each Exhibit Building. Rabobank, true to its roots, is supporting the Agriculture and Floriculture Buildings, which exhibit the fruits, vegetables, flowers and other plants. Because the kitchen is the heart of the home, Kitchen Craft is sponsor of the CONTINUED »

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced a $100,000 reward for information leading toward the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting the Station fire in Los Angeles County.

Full text of the proclamation is below:

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2009, I proclaimed a State of Emergency in Los Angeles County due to a fire that started on August 26,2009, now known as the Station Fire; and

WHEREAS, the Station Fire has burned approximately 150,000 acres, continues to burn and is not yet contained; and

WHEREAS, two firefighters were killed while fighting the Station Fire in Los Angeles County; and

WHEREAS, state and local officials have determined the cause of the fire is arson; and

WHEREAS, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca requested that a state reward be offered, in supplement to an existing reward, to encourage individuals with information about this crime to contact law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, public assistance is vital to law enforcement CONTINUED »

The Humane Society of Ventura County will hold its third annual fund-raiser on Sunday, Sept. 27. Proceeds go to the care of animals in need throughout Ventura County.

The “Cats in the Canyon & Hounds in the Hollow” event, which will feature an Italian buffet, entertainment and a silent auction, will run from 2 to 5 p.m. at Boccali’s Restaurant at 3277 Ojai-Santa Paula Road in Ojai. Attendees also will get a chance to visit with animals from the nonprofit’s shelter.

Tickets purchased in advance are $40 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. Tickets bought on site will be $50 and $25, respectively.

For tickets or more information, call 646-6505.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 11500 block Chestnut Ridge Street, Moorpark, CA
Date: September 3, 2009

During the early morning hours on September 2, 2009, a resident in the 11500 block of Chestnut Ridge Street in the City of Moorpark discovered that the family dog had been attacked and killed. Subsequent examination revealed that a mountain lion was most likely responsible for the attack.

The area of the attack is adjacent to an undeveloped and natural open-space hillside. The undeveloped hillsides surrounding the communities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks are home to many wild animals including mountain lions, coyotes, and bears. Many of these wild animals CONTINUED »

To our Piru and Fillmore Community, Our Teachers and Educators and Parents. We had a wonderful and successful 2008-2009 school year. It has not gone unnoticed of your help and support, devotion, caring hearts with donations and supporting our Fundraisers. We were able to send the children to educational and rewarding field trips. Provide supplies for our kids, office and medical supplies, paint and supplies for the outdoor number chart ,printers, High School Scholarships and so much more. Our traditional year end Dance Festival event for over 50 years now was again successful and a blast. Its a great time for the children with there families to have a fun and safe evening event. For all of us its very rewarding to see everything that has been accomplished and given at Piru School. We again thank each and every one of you and very grateful to all.
I want to also personally thank the group members and teachers I work with in "FOPS. You all are very special people who work hard and dedicate all your energy so that we can succeed. You all are fabulous and rock! I am very appreciative to have you all in my group and in my life.
Again Thank You,
FOPS / Katharine Warring Ponce

The Piru Depot and Gazebo Plaza & Park will be full of fun, food and family entertainment during this year’s 9th Annual PiruFest. Activities for this Labor Day Weekend festival begin at 3:00 pm and continue until 10 pm. Registration for the horseshoe tournament will start at noon with play set for 2:00 pm.

The Piru Neighborhood Council (PNC) sponsors this annual event to celebrate Piru, its heritage and offerings. All are invited to attend this free event, in the Depot Park and plaza on Center Street in this historic town. Local eateries have geared up to feature popular local cooking and treats, including the Heritage Valley Inn, U-Scream Ice Cream, Poncho’s Restaurant, Fina’s Market, Elva’s Center Street Market, Roadside Bar-B-Q Grill, Sanchez Market and Piru Market.

Still finalizing the day’s schedule, food, crafts and information vendors are invited to contact the PNC to obtain a registration form. Fees are minimal and vendors are required to obtain necessary health and other permits. Vendors have traditionally offered clothing and music selections, healthy lifestyles resources, while other booths will feature local jewelry, arts and crafts, popular sportswear, and specialty items for children. The contact for inquiries is Chacha Troyke at 805-521-0527. CONTINUED »

This class we will be getting an intro into the fall season. This is the season when the weather starts to cool down and we can enjoy those hearty savory dishes. All of these dishes are meant to enjoy the flavors of the simple ingredients we will be using. We hit two of the major holidays in this season where we can have a lot of fun trying new dishes, so hopefully these next few classes you can pick up a trick or two and impress your friends with what you bring to the dinner table.

Menu: Spiced Butternut Squash Soup, Sautéed Pork with Apples & Sage, Homemade Apple Sauce, Rustic Bread Pudding. Date: September 9th, 2009 – Wednesday, Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm, Price: $25.00 – everything included, Place: Memorial Building Kitchen, enter through the back. What to Bring: Just an empty stomach.
RSVP early, spots are filling up fast again. If you sign up and are not able to make it and can not cancel at least 48 hours in advance your $25.00 fee will still be enforced, this just makes sure everyone gets a chance to attend.

Call Dustin to RSVP at (805) 315-1025, Email at ddoublea@hotmail.com, Facebook info at: http://facebook.dj/ddoubleacatering/.

Grad Nite Live’s summer fundraiser is underway as of July 1st. We have to raise $23, 500 this year for the Class of 2010 for approximately 170 students. The Central Station has given us the opportunity to sell their famous “Sandwich Meal”, however we will be offering a choice of Tri-Tip, Chicken or Pulled Pork sandwich for only $10.00 a ticket. Senior class members and their parents are working hard to make our first fundraiser a success. Call 524-4909, Mrs Chaney and I will direct a senior to you! Also, Donate your old cars, trucks, boats or RV running or not . We will haul it away free. Call Mrs. Chaney 524-4909 for pick up arrangements.

Saturday, Sept 26Th, at the Memorial Building in Fillmore.
Social Hour 4:00pm - 6:00pm (no host bar)
Dinner Served at 6:00pm (Food Provided by Lairds Butcher Shop. Gary Laird - Owner Class of 76’
Music and Dancing until 11:00pm
$40.00 per person (Pre Registration by SEPT 15TH)
$50.00 per person (After Sept 15Th, and at the Door)
The cost covers your Dinner, Dessert, Coffee, Bottle Water, Music, Dancing, and entry to all the Great, Great door prize Giveaways!!! Grand Prize Give Away - Free Southwest Airline Tickets. (Thank You Donor). anonymous Alumni Make your check payable to Mark Ortega, and mail to Mark Ortega., 453 Market St., Fillmore, CA 93015.
Reunion Website: https://sites.google.com/site/reunion7879
Send your email address and mailing address to mrkoinsdca@sbcglobal.net to update your info with the Alumni Association.
Reunion Schedule:
Fri, Sept 25Th - Reunion weekend Opening “Tailgate Party”
4:00 to 7:00pm Home of Trisha Urrea-Gradias.
7:30pm - Cheering on the 2009 Flashes Football Team.
Game against Kilpatrick High Mustangs.
Sat - Sept 26Th - 9:00am. Decorate the Memorial Building.
4:00pm to 11:00pm - 78’, 79’ Class Reunion.
Sun - Sept 27TH - Continental Breakfast/Brunch/Menudo at the Ortega compound.
If your class has not had a reunion in quite a while, and you are just itching for a fun evening full of Music, Dancing, and laughter.

Fillmore’s Parks & Recreation is now conducting the next series of our acting classes teaching all elements of stage acting for television, feature films and commercials. As this is our third workshop series, kids previously enrolled will continue to be trained in improv exercises with scene study and script memorization.

The 8-week series will be broken into two 4-week sessions. Participants are encouraged to take the entire 8-week series which will culminate in a stage presentation for family and friends to enjoy. Late enrollees will be accepted … however, early sign-up is advised to be included in the stage performance showcase.

Instructor for this class is Steve Burhoe, Hollywood Acting Coach. The city of Fillmore is fortunate to have such a talented professional whose experience CONTINUED »

Help us honor performing arts in Fillmore and Piru
In conjunction with the Fillmore Historical Museum we are attempting to begin a tribute to the Performing Arts in Fillmore and Piru.
Remember that great Christmas Program you participated in at school? Remember the Spring Operetta you were in at Sespe School? How about the Senior Play you participated in during your senior year? How about the Piru Dance Festival held each year? We are seeking written remembrances, photos ( be sure and identify the year, the place and the names of those pictured), programs, scripts and posters.
We plan to organize and exhibit paying tribute to all performing arts both in Fillmore and Piru. We hope to honor those who actively encouraged the arts. Mr. Mozley, Bea Albright, Don Ospenson, John and Mysrt Brothers, Phil Catalano, the Sespe Players, and the Fillmore Soroptomists are just some of the people and organizations we hope to honor. Please provided additional names and organizations if you can.
Please spend a little time and junt for artifacts we can use. If you have questions or need more information don't hesitate to contact one of the following: Ken Mittan kennethmittan@yahoo.com; Judy Towner judytee@aol.com ; Lucy Rangel tangelfan@roadrunner.com ; Susan Dollar dkdollar@prodgy.net.

Thanks for all you guys to assist the growing of the Arts in Fillmore.

Rotary Club of Fillmore, Sun Risers meets every Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m. at El Pescador. Presentations for September will be:
Tuesday September 1st: Marc Vertin will present a Power Point pPresentation on our Shelter-Matching Grant Project with the Rotary Club of San Felipe, Mexico.
Tuesday September 8th: Either the Mayor Ralph Fernandez or City council member Bob Gonzalez will give us the state of the city address for the City of Santa Paula.
Tuesday September 15th: Henry Vega (Santa Paula Rotarian, Farm Bureau board member) will talk about food safety issues.
Tuesday September 22nd: Our Club will be taking a tour of "The Lounge" across from our Fire Dept. They strip old trailers and make the classic new rv trailers
Tuesday September 29th: Kay Hara, foot doctor, will talk about taking care of our feet.

With an overwhelming response during a public meeting to bring back Little League in Piru, the need for additional activities was quickly addressed. Two group were immediately formed, Piru Youth Sports and Piru Youth. Piru Youth Sports had a successful Little League Season and will soon be starting Soccer in Piru. The Piru Youth group will focus on other needed activities for Middle & High School students of Piru.

Piru Youth’s first Youth Summit was held on April 3rd of this year and brought in 43 students. We had a few icebreakers for the youth and then it was off to the drawing board. We focused on the needs and wants of the youth, short and long term goals. We had snacks and drinks and thanks to the local businesses we were able to provide prizes for their ideas and suggestions.

Wasting no time to get started, we met the following Tuesday and started to plan for our first dance. The dance was on May 8th, and Cinco de Mayo was the theme. The youth helped in preparation of the dance by making signs, invitations and posters, they arrived early to help CONTINUED »

Kristina Jong, M.D.

Ventura, CA. - Radiologist Kristina Jong has joined the Community Imaging Medical Group at Community Memorial Hospital where she will concentrate her practice on Breast Imagining and further development of the Breast MRI program.

Dr. Jong will work alongside Wook Chong, M.D., and Priscilla Wong, M.D., to create a team of Board-Certified experts in breast imaging at The Breast Center of CMH – the only comprehensive breast center in West Ventura County.

Dr. Jong earned her medical degree at the University of California Davis in 2001, and completed a Diagnostic Radiology residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 2006. She then pursued specialized training in Breast Imaging (including Breast MRI) at Stanford University. After finishing her Breast Imaging fellowship, she joined the staff at Stanford Hospital and Clinics as an Assistant Clinical Professor. She has since relocated to the Santa Barbara area, but remains on the Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Stanford

Community Imaging Medical Group offers outpatient and inpatient diagnostic imaging and procedures, including MRI, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and radiography. To reach their department or The Breast Center at CMH, call 805/652-5011.

Enlarge Photo

The Hedrick Ranch Nature Area is a +220 acre preserve owned by the Friends of the Santa Clara River (FSCR), located on the south side of the Santa Clara River near Santa Paula. We have an active group of volunteers working to restore the HRNA, via regularly scheduled workdays once per month fall through spring. Our efforts include weed abatement, planting of native plants, and establishing trails. We also spend time bird watching and looking for other wildlife. We start at 9:00 am and finish by 11:30 or 12:00. Bring water and sun protection; we have some tools and gloves, but it’s always nice to bring your own. NOTE: Substantial rainfall cancels the workday!!! Contact Jackie Worden for more information: jbworden7@gmail.com

LONG PANTS AND BOOTS OR CLOSED SHOES ARE REQUIRED
Because of our healthy population of rattlesnakes, this dress code will be strictly enforced!!

The 2009-2010 workdays will be:
• October 3rd, Saturday
• November 1st, Sunday
• December 5th, Saturday CONTINUED »

With an overwhelming response during a public meeting to bring back Little League in Piru, the need for additional activities was quickly addressed. Two group were immediately formed, Piru Youth Sports and Piru Youth.

Piru Youth Sports had a successful Little League Season and will soon be starting Soccer in Piru. The Piru Youth
group will focus on other needed activities for Middle & High School students of Piru.

Piru Youth’s first Youth Summit was held on April 3rd of this year and brought in 43 students. We had a few icebreakers for the youth and then it was off to the drawing board. We focused on the needs and wants of the youth, short and long term goals. We had snacks and drinks and thanks to the local businesses we were able to provide prizes for their ideas and suggestions.

Wasting no time to get started, we met the following Tuesday and started to plan for our first dance. The dance was on May 8th, and Cinco de Mayo was the theme. The youth helped in preparation of the dance by making signs, invitations and posters, they arrived early to CONTINUED »

The Piru Depot and Gazebo Plaza & Park in downtown Piru will be the site for the 9th Annual PiruFest, Saturday, September 5th. Activities for this Labor Day Weekend festival begin at 3:00 pm and continue until 10 pm. Registration for the horseshoe tournament will start at noon with play set for 2:00 pm. The Depot and park are located on Center Street in the downtown district.

The Piru Neighborhood Council (PNC) sponsors this annual event and is joined this year by MAD Youth, (Making A Difference). MAD Youth are organizing a variety of games for all ages, including the good old fashioned Dunking Booth featuring local community and regional leaders as “dunkees”. Local arts and crafts vendors continue to sign up to offer unique jewelry and other specialty items, as well as information on upcoming health and community events, such as Relay for Life. Food vendors have also signed on to feature their treats.

Always a hit with the locals and friends, the popular Horseshoe Tournament returns under the skills of Rusty Ortega. Organizers set up the pits in this downtown park to make this activity a center point of this daylong festival. This competition is an annual tradition among the town’s “ringers”. Contact Rusty at 805- 432-6388 to sign up or help organize. CONTINUED »