The Humane Society of Ventura County will hold its annual “Santa Paws” fund-raiser and holiday boutique on Sunday, Nov. 23, where pets – along with their families – can have their pictures taken with Santa.

The photo shoot and holiday boutique will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the HSVC’s Ojai shelter, 402 Bryant St. For a $25 donation, pet owners receive several professional photos on a compact disc that will be ready to take home the day of the event. Adults and children are welcome in photos – with or without Santa. Those who do not have a pet can still bring their children to avoid long lines at the mall.

The holiday boutique will feature vendors with a wide range of gifts for people and pets, along with a bake sale. People do not need to have photos taken to shop; everyone is welcome.

Greg Cooper, a professional photographer who also teaches at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, is the photographer. Chuck Bowman is Santa.

Proceeds go to the care of animals in need throughout VenturaCounty.

For more information, call 646-6505 or visit www.hsvc.org.For vendor information, email heatherr@hsvc.org.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1932. It does not receive federal, state or local tax dollars to operate and relies solely on private donations.

Advances in cataract eye surgery will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

JillAnne W. McCarty, M.D., a Ventura ophthalmologist, will lead the seminar that will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Community Memorial Hospital’s eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium.

Cataract surgery has evolved into a brief, painless, sight-restoring procedure, and patients undergoing cataract surgery have more advanced options now than ever before. Dr. McCarty will discuss state-of-the-art surgical advances and new technology to treat cataracts and restore clear vision for an active lifestyle.

Dr. McCarty received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and received residency training at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the UCLA School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. McCarty is an active member of the Community Memorial Hospital Medical Staff.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are required. Please visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Ticket at 1-800/838-3006.

Community Memorial Hospital is located at 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Camarillo Hospice, a volunteer hospice and grief counseling center serving Ventura County, offers practical and emotional support for individuals and families facing a life-limiting illness and/or dealing with the grief of losing a loved one.

As a volunteer hospice, Camarillo Hospice does not deliver medical care and does not require a life expectancy of six months or less. Patients do not need a doctor’s referral to avail themselves of assistance from Camarillo Hospice.

Among the many services provided are: caregiver respite, friendly visiting, life story recording, errand-running, transportation, education and resources on end-of-life issues.

All services of Camarillo Hospice are free and not subject to regulatory time limits.

Ongoing bereavement support groups and individual and family grief counseling are also available from Camarillo Hospice. In 2013 alone Camarillo Hospice provided assistance and support to more than 10,000 community residents.

For more information, please call the Hospice office at 805.389.6870,email info@camarillohospice.org or visit the hospice website at www.camarillohospice.org.

Ventura County students have a long, proud tradition of excellence in local, state and national Academic Competitions. This is only possible through the strong commitment and partnership of our local businesses and organizations. Amgen, Sage Corwin Publications, Gene Haas Foundation, California Resources Corporation and Aera Energy are among the sponsors who generously contribute to these popular events. On average, local sponsors provide more than $100,000 in donations and more than 600 volunteer judges in support of about 1,500 students who annually participate in the Ventura County Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial and Science Fair. Our sponsors’ tax free donations cover the cost of food, facility rentals, printing, promotion and awards for the students.

During the 2014 event season, our sponsors supported the Academic Decathlon, which was a huge success with 306 students representing 16 high schools. Westlake High School took first place at the county level and went on to Sacramento to represent Ventura County at the state competition.

The Mock Trial competition was exciting as always, with 651 students representing 25 high schools. La Reina High School took first place at the county level, going on to win at the state level for the third time in a row, and then on to the nationals where they placed second.

The Ventura County Science Fair continued to amaze with 763 students representing more than 37 Ventura County schools participating in the exploration of science. More than 45 Ventura County students qualified to go on to the state level, where several placed in the top four of their categories.

Sponsorship opportunities range from Supporter at $100 to Title Sponsor at $20,000. If you or your organization would be interested in sponsoring any of the 2015 Ventura County Office of Education student competitions, please contact John E. Tarkany at (805) 437-1501 or by email at jtarkany@vcoe.org.

To learn more about any of these events, please visit us online at www.vcoe.org/sc.

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org

OXNARD, CA - As part of a new effort to support “good choices” and prevent impaired driving, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department aims to reduce DUIs due to marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter drugs using a $162,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

The grant was developed using local data and calls for collaboration with other Ventura County agencies and the State of California to develop a countywide educational media campaign to increase public understanding of drugged driving and its consequences; convene an interagency workgroup to share prevention strategies; and conduct drugged driving prevention presentations to a range of organizations, including local colleges.

“This marks a great extension of our ongoing prevention efforts,” said Patrick Zarate, Division Manager for Ventura County’s Alcohol and Drug Programs. “Driving under the influence of any substance—whether it’s alcohol, pot or prescription drugs—is a significant personal and public safety risk, and receiving this funding will allow us to further educate the public about these dangers.””

The Ventura County Alcohol and Drug Programs and local partners will leverage this grant award to counter attitudes about drug-impaired impaired driving and emphasize the very real risks. Planning has begun for a regional Drugged Driving Prevention Conference in 2015, to counter the apparent rise in the number of local DUI arrestees who say they used marijuana or another drug on the day of their arrest.

“It’s a sad truth: many people don’t realize that having a doctor’s note to use a drug, doesn’t mean you can safely drive after using,” said Dan Hicks, Prevention Services Manager, “We aim to change local perceptions of risk—and let people know that they’re still looking at a criminal record and thousands of dollars in costs if convicted—not to mention the tragic crashes and other consequences that can result.”

In 2011, there were 23 fatal collisions involving alcohol and/or other drugs in Ventura County and the County was rated 48 out of 58 counties by the OTS for victims killed and/or injured in collisions involving alcohol. “That number is unacceptable, with or without the other substances of abuse, and this grant extends our efforts to save lives and protect safety,” said Zarate.

Impaired driving prevention countermeasures are needed now more than ever. The goal is clear. As OTS Director Rhonda Craft said, “Toward zero deaths, every one counts.”

Funding for the grant is from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information go to: www.venturacountylimits.org

Ventura, CA - November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Community Memorial Health System is offering a free lung assessment online screening tool that takes just seven minutes and provides participants information about personal risk for lung disease.

According to the American Cancer Society:

 Lung cancer is the second most common cancer found in men and women (not counting skin cancer).
 About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year.
 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women.
 Smoking is the leading risk factor for developing lung cancer.
 There are more than 400,000 lung cancer survivors in the United States today.

Symptoms of lung cancer may include nagging cough that does not go away or gets worse with time, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness, weight loss and loss of appetite and repeated respiratory infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis.

Answer a few simple questions, and participants will be provided with a report of their risk factors and recommendations for improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For more information, go to www.cmhshealth.org/healthaware.

In addition, CMHS offers a lung cancer screening program using low dose CT to aid in the early detection of lung cancer. This helps doctors treat the disease in its early stages. Oftentimes, lung cancer is detected in its later stages, making it difficult to treat after it has compromised other parts of the body. Doctors can determine if patients are good candidates for the screening.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

CAMARILLO, CA - Today, the Gorell for Congress campaign released a statement on the election for California's 26th Congressional District.

Statement from Jeff Gorell:

"Laura and I have been overwhelmed by the positive response my candidacy for Congress has received from people throughout our local communities. I want to thank the many volunteers who sacrificed their time, their financial support and their shoe leather to make our campaign such a success.

There are still more than 50,000 absentee and provisional votes left to be counted and it will be many days until the final outcome of the election for Congress in the 26th District is determined. The Ventura County Elections Office has informed me that there will be an updated count of the outstanding votes tomorrow.

My campaign has a strong election team in place to ensure that the counting of these ballots meets the highest standards of transparency and integrity. I am confident that we will be victorious when all of the votes have been tallied.

The Federal Government must change direction and I look forward to being part of the solution in the new Congress that will provide a better future for all Americans."

Ventura, California - Should marijuana be a medical option, will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding as part of its Ethics in Healthcare series on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

James Hornstein, M.D., chairman of the Bioethics Committee at Community Memorial Hospital, will moderate the seminar entitled “Ethics in Healthcare - Marijuana as Medicine, Benefit or Boondoggle?” that will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, located at 100 E. Main St. in Ventura.

Other featured speakers will be Margaret A. Peterson, M.D., staff member of CMHS’s Department of Family Practice; Tara Snow, M.D., staff member of CMHS’s Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Hospice and Palliative Care; and Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney.

Some feel marijuana can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma and epilepsy, while others believe marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system and brain.

Please join us for this discussion. Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call 1-800-838-3006.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Ventura, CA - Ventura County Rideshare Week 2014 wasn’t just successful, it was one of the county’s best ever. This year, Rideshare Week (October 6-10) garnered more than 1,000 pledges to share the ride and featured increased outreach, making the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD)-sponsored campaign one of the most successful to date.

Rideshare Week 2014 raised awareness of alternative commute options through its “Join a New Social Network…Rideshare!” theme and 12 on-site workplace events across Ventura County. At each event, commuters had the opportunity to win prizes and share their excitement about opportunities to connect while making better commute choices. “VCTC and VCAPCD could not be happier with the results of this year’s campaign – not just the participation, but the potential impact on local air quality and roadways,” noted VCTC Commuter Services Program Manager Alan Holmes. “After connecting with local employers, we are encouraged to see a growing commitment to ridesharing as commuters make the choice to switch to alternative methods of transportation. We are already looking forward to next year.”

But that doesn’t mean commuters need to wait until next year to join a new social network…rideshare. VCTC’s Commuter Services team has valuable resources available online at www.GoVenturaRideshare.org, including free customized eRideGuides with personalized transportation information. VCTC staff will continue to spread the word about this no-cost employee benefit by hosting on-site events or participating in wellness/benefits fairs and celebrations like Earth Day at worksites throughout Ventura County.

To learn more about ridesharing, the VCTC Commuter Services program, Guaranteed Ride Home program, employer support, and more, visit www.GoVenturaRideshare.org or call (800) 438-1112. Make sure to visit Facebook (GoVentura and TheAirZone) and Twitter (@GoVentura and @VCAPCD) for updates from VCTC and VCAPCD.

Ventura, CA - Community Memorial Health System’s Healthy Women’s Program is hosting a Community Outreach Day which offers free mammograms and healthcare education to the first 35 women who qualify. This event will take place at the Center for Family Health in Ventura on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The women will arrive early at the CFH office at 138 West Main Street, Suite E in Ventura where they will be transported to The Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, and then back to the Centers office.

In 2013, an estimated 234,580 new cases of breast cancer occurred in the United States, and early detection and awareness is the key to fighting this life-threatening disease. The Healthy Women’s Program provided through Community Memorial Health System benefits women in the community who are uninsured, under-insured or lack funds to pay for mammograms and follow-up treatment, if necessary.

“These women have nowhere else in the county to go to get these services; that’s why they come to us,” said Patty Jimenez, Healthy Women’s Program Outreach Coordinator.

“I was due for my yearly mammogram…this program was a blessing to me.”
Catalina Cardone

“A special thank you for the services this program offers, I am completely satisfied. My appreciation to everyone who helps fund this much need program.”
Maria Molina.
The Healthy Women’s Program is made possible through funds raised by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s annual Gold Dust Gala, along with the generous support of the Wallis Foundation.

To find out if you qualify for this program, call 805/651-2661. For more information on the Healthy Women’s Program visit www.cmhshealth.org/healthywomen.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

The Ventura County Rose Society will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at the Ventura County Office of Education Conference Center at 5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for advice from Consulting Rosarians and refreshments. A little rose celebration will be held at 7:00 P.M. and our speaker presentation will begin at 7:30 P.M.

The VCRS meeting will feature Steve Benning from Star Roses, a major rose producing company, who will present and show the new roses available for 2014 and 2015. He will also answer questions about rose care and growing roses. This should be very interesting evening presentation.

Visitors are always welcome to our VCRS meetings. For more information contact; Janet Sklar at 818-337-9970 or Dawn-Marie Johnson at 805-523-9003. Our website is http://www.venturarose.org/

Note change of week due to Thanksgiving

The Humane Society of Ventura County will host its third annual “Purrs & Paws Holiday Crafts Boutique” from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Balboa Middle School cafeteria, 247 S. Hill Road, Ventura, CA. Admission is free.

More than 30 local artisans and vendors will be selling their handcrafted items. Funds raised through this event go towards the care and protection of the animals of the shelter, including a much needed renovation of the dog kennels. It costs approximately $960,000 yearly just to keep the shelter open. The Humane Society of Ventura County receives no direct financial assistance from city, county and state agencies, the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Fundraising events, grants and donations are the HSVC’s only sources of income.

There are some vendor spaces still available. Download the application form at www.hsvc.org, or call 805 646-6505 x 104 or email Heather Rowe at heatherr@hsvc.org.

CAMARILLO, CA - Today, the Gorell for Congress campaign announced that former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice has endorsed Jeff Gorell for California's 26th Congressional District.

Statement from former Secretary of State Rice:

"The United States faces challenges both at home and abroad. We need leaders in Washington who understand the importance of America's role in the world and are willing to combat the threats against us. As a naval intelligence officer, Jeff Gorell has served our country with honor and integrity to find solutions to these challenges. America needs lawmakers, like Jeff, who understand our increasingly complex world. Join me in supporting Jeff Gorell for Congress on election day."

Statement from Jeff Gorell:

"I am truly honored by Secretary Rice's endorsement. As our nation's former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, I had the pleasure to serve under her leadership. She is a global leader and a role model for millions of women and girls around the world.

I am deeply grateful for her support of my campaign for Congress."

Commander Gorell, a Navy intelligence officer, was mobilized and embedded with the U.S. Marines in Helmand, Afghanistan from 2011-2012. He was the officer-in-charge of a targeting cell, tracking Taliban movements and other insurgents. He had previously been deployed to Afghanistan in 2002. Assemblyman Jeff Gorell was elected to the California legislature in 2010 where he serves as Vice Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee. From 1999 to 2006, Gorell served as a Ventura County District Attorney. In addition to his military service as Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Jeff is also on the faculty of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks where he has been an adjunct professor of public policy since 2006.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors and other involved officials and agencies have now submitted required written responses toreports by the 2013-2014 Ventura County Grand Jury.These responses are posted with the corresponding report on the grand jury’s website, http://www.ventura.org/grand-jury , click on “Annual Reports” and consult “Fiscal Year 2013-2014.”

“Overall, we’re very pleased with the responses,” says Grand Jury Foreman Robert Stewart, “which include implementing a majority of our recommendations. This should have a major positive impact on key areas of local government.”

Each report is the result of a thorough investigation—usually sparked by a public complaint—into a city’s or the county’s government policies, procedures and/or practices. Each report includes methodology, determinations of facts, major findings and recommendations for improvement.

Grand jury reports turn a public spotlight on troublesome issues and act as catalysts for improvements. Elected public officials and boards that are subjects of a grand jury report are legally required to respond in writing to specified aspects of the report within 60 and 90 days respectively. When complete, all responses are sent to the state’s archives in Sacramento.

The investigative report titles and number of adopted recommendations are:
1. “Ventura County Campgrounds Park Host Program”(released March 24): All six recommendations have been implemented.
2. “City of Ventura Water Rates” (released March 26): All five recommendations have been implemented.
3. “Ventura County Campaign Finance Ordinance”(released April 8): As a board, the supervisors rejected two recommendations and voted one for further analysis. Individual supervisors’ and officials’ responses vary widely; consult website for details.
4. “Temporary Food Facilities in Ventura County” (released April 18): two of threerecommendations to the County Board of Supervisors have been implemented; one is being analyzed further. The Environmental Health Division of the county’s General Services Agency has implemented six of the recommendations directed toward its operations, committed to two, held one for further analysis and declined to implement three.
5. “Public Charter Schools Processes” (released April 21): Ventura County Superintendent of SchoolsStanley C. Mantooth responded that his office has implemented one recommendation and committed to the remaining three. Of six different school districts required to respond, all recommendations have been either implemented or committed to with the exception of one recommendation in the Moorpark school district.
6. “City of Ventura Claims Process” (released April 30): Of four recommendations, one has been implemented and three committed to.
7. “City of Ventura Crosswalks Alert” (releasedApril 30):Of six recommendations,one has been implemented, two committed to, one submitted for further analysis and two will not be implemented.
8. “Firefighting Air Assets: The Camarillo Springs Fire” (released May 14): The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department iscoordinating with the county Fire Protection District on four out of five of its recommendations and following throughon the fifth as well. The Board of Supervisorshas said that all six recommendations made to them require further analysis.
9. “Healthcare Records Processes and Procedures” (released May 29): Of four recommendations, the board of supervisors, Ventura County Health Care Agency, and county CEO’s office maintained that all are already standard procedures.
10. “City of Ventura Hillside Area Grading Permits” (Released June 9): Of eight recommendations, three have been implemented, one committed to, one submitted for further analysis and three will not be implemented.
11. “Moorpark Zoning Compliance, Tracking and Reporting” (released June 9): Of eight recommendations, one has been implemented and seven committed to.

Another report—“Detention Facilities Inspections”—documents yearly visits by grand jurors to all 15
facilitiesin Ventura County where persons may be held in custody. These visits are mandated by the State of California Penal Code and are not the result of an investigation sparked by a public complaint. The sheriff’s department agreed with all the report’s findings and recommendations.

The grand jury is a civil investigatory panel of 19 citizens created to serve as a voice of the people and a conscience of the community. Jurors are not appointed by politicians; they are volunteers who act as independent eyes and ears of Ventura County residents.

When asked “what’s going on at the new hospital these days”, our simple response is that there is a lot of activity underway. But we know that answer doesn’t say much, and certainly does no justice to the work going on.

So….to better answer that question, we bring you “The Beat of Progress”. Turn up the volume (or down) and enjoy.

Community Memorial Hospital has received the “Get with the Guidelines -- Stroke” Silver Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients.

“Get with the Guidelines Stroke” helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. CMH earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

CMH also received the association’s “Target: Stroke Honor Roll” for meeting stroke quality measures that reduce the time between hospital arrival and treatment with the clot-buster tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. People who suffer a stroke who receive the drug within three hours of the onset of symptoms may recover quicker and be less likely to suffer severe disability.

“CMH is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get with the Guidelines–Stroke” guidelines help us achieve that goal,” said Stephanie Lara-Jenkins, RN, BA, Stroke Coordinator for CMH. “With this award, our hospital demonstrates our commitment to ensure that our patients receive care based on internationally-respected clinical guidelines.”

“We are pleased to recognize CMH for its commitment and dedication to stroke care,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., M.P.H., national chairman of the “Get With The Guidelines steering committee and Executive Director of Interventional Cardiovascular Programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Studies have shown that hospitals that consistently follow “Get with the Guidelines” quality improvement measures can reduce patients’ length of stays and 30-day readmission rates and reduce disparity gaps in care.”

“Get with the Guidelines–Stroke” also helps CMH’s staff implement prevention measures, which include educating stroke patients to manage their risk factors and to be aware of warning signs for stroke, and ensuring they take their medications properly. Hospitals can make customized patient education materials available upon discharge, based on the patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format in either English or Spanish.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

About Get With The Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 4 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org/quality or heart.org/myhealthcare.