Ventura County Library today announced it will be taking part in the Big Library Read program. Library card holders will be able to borrow and enjoy eBook and eaudiobook versions of the Big Library Read book, "Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth" by Jane O'Connor, from September 16th through September 30th by visiting http://vencolibrary.lib.overdrive.com/.

Big Library Read is an international program that gives libraries and library patrons unlimited simultaneous access to a popular title for a two-week period, creating a virtual, global book club. Interested patrons will be able borrow Book 1 in the Nancy Clancy series using a Ventura County Library card. This title may be enjoyed on all major computers and devices, including iPhone®, iPad®, Nook®, Android™ phones and tablets, and Kindle® without worrying about wait lists or holds. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees!

The Big Library Read program is made possible through a partnership between OverDrive and HarperCollins. To borrow the eBook and eaudiobook versions of "Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth" as part of Big Library Read, patrons can visit http://vencolibrary.lib.overdrive.com/.

The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.

Ventura County Library (VCL) announces significant upgrades to its digital music offering. The library launched Freegal Music in April 2013, and in August launched the 4.0 update to the Freegal Music Service.

Ventura County Library’s patrons may now enjoy significant new benefits with Freegal 4.0, including: access to over 4 million new songs from 12,000 labels from around the world; a brand-new interface with a new-generation search and browse function; the ability to download from a selection of 8,000 popular DRMfree music videos and other crowd-pleasing features.

By the end of September, the library’s digital music collection will top 7 million songs, from over 28,000 labels including Sony Music Entertainment’s catalog of legendary artists. “We are very excited to offer a service like this that delivers great music, compatibility with lots of devices and simplicity of use. We think this upgrade will be incredibly popular with our patrons and will help the library in marketing all its services to the community,” said Jackie Griffin, Ventura County Library Director.

Freegal Music is available online from any computer with a broadband internet connection through the Ventura County eLibrary at http://157.145.215.81:81/rpa/default/RPA_redr.htm.

All online Ventura County eLibrary resources are free with your VCL card.

The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.

Ventura County Library is the place to go when you want to know!

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sept. 10, 2013) The Thousand Oaks Police Department and California Lutheran University are presenting a free event on Saturday, Sept. 28, to educate to women on the dangers of dating violence and sexual assault.

“Empowered: Take Charge of Your Health and Safety” will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Lundring Events Center on CLU’s Thousand Oaks campus.

Organized in response to an alarming increase in sexual assaults of women aged 18 to 24 in Thousand Oaks, the forum will feature presentations on how young women can take charge of their safety, health, nutrition and self-esteem.

Maureen Shea, a professional boxer from Ventura who was Hilary Swank’s main sparring partner as she prepared for the movie “Million Dollar Baby,” will present the keynote address, “How I Took Control of My Life.” In an abusive relationship at 19, Shea began going to a gym because she didn’t think she looked good enough for her boyfriend. Boxing taught her to depend on herself and dig deep to face the challenges in her life.

Margaret Allan, a clinical consultant and supervisor for CLU’s master’s degree program in marriage and family therapy and doctoral program in psychology, will speak about dealing with trauma. Jenna and Daniel Knauss of CLU’s Verizon Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Program will cover dating violence. Robert Ferguson, a nationally recognized wellness expert, will give a presentation on fitness and nutrition. Dr. Hannah Grossman, the chief medical officer of Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, will share information on women’s health.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided and there will be a raffle for gifts. Several community organizations will have resource tables.

Los Robles Hospital, the City of Thousand Oaks, Engage in Recovery, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and Soroptimist of the Conejo are also supporting the event.

Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is north of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard.

For more information or to register, got to www.empoweredwomen.eventbrite.com or contact Senior Deputy Tim Lohman at 805-371-8362. Due to the mature subject matter, participants aged 17 and younger must provide a parental consent form or be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Ojai, CA - Bariatric surgery for obesity will be the focus of a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Helmuth Billy, a local bariatric surgeon, will lead the seminar from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Soule Park banquet room, located at 1033 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai.

Dr. Billy will discuss a variety of weight-loss procedures and the advantages of losing weight, including relief from: Type 2 diabetes, weight-related high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and arthritis.

Dr. Billy received his medical degree from the University of California at Davis. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the American Society of General Surgeons. Dr. Billy also is an active member of the Community Memorial Hospital medical staff.

Admission is free but space is limited, so reservations are required. Call 640-2355, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 11 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Theresa Robledo with the City of Fillmore Vision 2020 Civic Pride presents Yard of the Month for September to Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez! Congratulations! Their yard is located near the corner of D Street and on Blue Jay. There you will find a lovely tropical yard with large beautiful palm trees, detailed green lawn, Hydrangea, Amapolas, Juniper Trees, outlined with beautiful rocks with so much more to see. Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez have lived in Fillmore since 1965 and have lived at their present home since 1989. There lawn is maintained by their son. Please take a drive by to view their tropical oasis! We would like to thank Otto & Sons Nursery for providing a gift certificate to the winners, where they will find more of their gardening and plant needs!

WHAT: Relay For Life is a fun and unique 24-hour event to increase cancer awareness in Fillmore and Piru while raising much-needed funds for the American Cancer Society’s programs and services. Teams formed by local businesses, community groups and individuals raise funds prior to the event. At the Relay, team members take turns walking or running around a track, relay-style and enjoy fun activities and entertainment off the track.

WHEN: 10 am - Saturday, Sept 14, 2013 – 10 am - Sunday, Sept 15, 2013

WHERE: Shiells Park, Old Telegraph Rd & C St, Fillmore

WHO: Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature event, held in more than 4,800 communities across the country. In California, more than 300 communities will host Relay For Life events. Twenty-four (24) community members on thirty-five (35) teams are expected to participate in the event this year.

WHY: Relay For Life celebrates those who have survived cancer, remembers those who have lost the battle and gives communities an opportunity to fight back against a disease that takes too much. Funds raised go to the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving research, advocacy, education and free support services.

ABOUT: The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Come for the ceremonies, come to participate, come to donate hair, come to support fundraisers, come to enjoy the entertainment, come to eat, come to visit or to see what Relay is about in our community!

The Fillmore area youth of Sespe 4-H were highly rewarded for all their hard work at this year’s Ventura County Fair.

The swine project took home top honors this year with nine 1st place winners in their market classes and six 1st place winners in the barrow show classes. It only got better from there as club member Silver Perez won 4-H Champion and overall Reserve Grand Champion for her pig. Member Jazmin Olvera took home the 4-H Reserve Champion award and member Paula Lauriano won Grand Champion Market Barrow with her hog.

The swine project also swept the Fair for showmanship with Mackenzie Hernandez winning the Novice Champion in Showmanship and Aaron Aguillera winning the Novice Reserve Champion.

In the Junior Division Dezeray Zavala won Champion for Showmanship, Julian Calderon won Reserve Champion and Enrique Guitierrez won third place.

Our senior members Daniel Torres took home the Champion award, Chase Bowen won the Reserve Champion and Paula Lauriano won third place.

The Sespe swine kids also took home the top awards in their divisions for their knowledge of swine with Chase Bowen winning the Senior Knowledge Bowl and Dezeray Zavala winning the Junior Knowledge Bowl.

Our three time Pygmy Goat Champion Aliza Estrella once again ruled as the Junior Champion & Grand Champion Unregistered Pygmy Goat and won 1st place in her showmanship class.

Sespe 4-H also went home with 2nd place in herdsmanship for the lamb & pygmy goat projects. Herdsmanship is judged on how well the members decorate their barn and keep it tidy, as well as exhibit knowledge about 4-H and their projects. They are judged over the entire week they spend at the Fair.

Members Jazmin Olvera and Soleil Peacock were also awarded 1st in class for their arts & crafts and table setting projects exhibited in the Youth building and Blake Palacio and Clinton Staples won the senior & junior Watermelon Eating contests run by the Junior Fair Board.

Congratulations to all the Sespe 4-H members for doing such a great job and having so much fun at the Fair.

The Ventura County Library is pleased to announce the addition of over 500 new Spanish-language books to its collection, thanks to a grant administered by the State Librarian. The $10,000 grant was made possible through the Library Services and Technology Act for the purpose of bolstering libraries’ print collections as they face upcoming funding cuts due to federal sequestration and the uncertain future the LSTA faces.

The Books4U Program distributed over one million dollars statewide to libraries, and the Ventura County Library chose to put these funds toward Spanish language and bilingual print items.

Deputy Director of Public Services Dale Redfield explains, “From community conversations, we have chosen to select materials in translation as well as works written in Spanish. We have also chosen juvenile material… to appeal to younger patrons and those wanting to practice their reading skills.”

The approximately 200 juvenile books and 300 adult fiction and non-fiction titles are hitting the shelves beginning this week, and can be found in the online catalog at http://www.vencolibrary.org

The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.

Super Seal & Stripe was purchased by Brenda Hampton-Ortiz in 1991, and relocated from Ventura to Fillmore in 1995. We are a street, highway, airport and parking lot striping company signatory to both the Northern and Southern California Unions, with 24 employees whom travel Statewide to perform work. . Brenda is on both negotiating committees, which meet every 3 years We are certified by the State and Federal Government as an SBE, DBE, and WBE company. Contracts are awarded through the process of Public and Concealed Bidding as well as relationship customer accounts.

Super Seal & Stripe commits itself to several communities and organizations by donations and or product services. In our local community, we have striped Fillmore Middle School Basketball Courts, the Elementary playgrounds as well as the High School football field for homecoming at no cost to the school district. In addition, we have provided the use of our trucks for float building during the homecoming parades, and for use in Fillmore’s community parades. Super Seal & Stripe has lent itself to the Ventura County ROP internship program for the past 13 years. On an individual / personal level, Eddie and Brenda Ortiz have coached various sports in the community for the past 25 years. Eddie Ortiz has also umpired for 40 years for Fillmore Little League and Super Seal & Stripe has sponsored several teams. Our children grew up, attended and graduated from our community schools. Eddie and Brenda donated time and money on community functions/organizations, for their kids and stayed involved for everyone else’s kids.

The Fillmore Fire Department will be offering a CPR class starting September 11th at the fire Station, from 6pm to 10pm. The cost is $30.

"Retro Girl" by Charles Morris
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"Machismo" by Carmelita Miranda
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"Unmasked" by Charles Morris
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"Where Have They All Gone" by Carmelita Miranda
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Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris, both of KSSP Photographic Studios, have won awards in the Professional Division of the Ventura County Fair and at the quarterly print competition held by the Channel Islands Professional Photography Association (CIPPA);.

At the Fair, Carmelita won 1st place in the Architecture with “Window Dressing” and Agriculture with “Peppers” and 2nd place in the Fair Theme (Boots, Barns and Banjos) entitled “Where have they all gone?”. Charles won first place in the Fashion with “Retro Girl” and 3rd place in the Portrait with “Unmasked” featuring 2013 Fillmore Senior Katie Boynton. “Unmasked” also won a merit at the CIPPA competition in the High School Senior Category, as did Carmelita's portrait of 2014 Fillmore senior Alexis Ochoa entitled “Machismo.”

Photographic competition is one way professional photographers hone their skills. In the CIPPA competition, images are judged by three judges. Images receiving a score of 80 or greater receive a 'merit.' Typically, only one in three images receive a merit.

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in high school senior, family, children, glamor, wedding and quinceanera photography. KSSP Photographic Studios is the school photographer for Fillmore High School. For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com.

Location: West Oxnard Job & Career Center
635 S. Ventura Road, Oxnard
805-204-5171

Wednesday, September 11 - Resumes that Sell, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon - Workshop providing hands-on assistance in completing a resume, cover and thank-you letters. Walk away with a portfolio that shows off professional skills and experience. Career Shops are offered at no cost to Job Seekers. Space is limited. Prior registration required by calling the West Oxnard Job & Career Center at 805-204-5171 to enroll.

Thursday, September 12 - Winning Interviews, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon - Supplies the tools to make a lasting first impression when interviewing. Career Shops are offered at no cost to Job Seekers. Space is limited. Prior registration required by calling the West Oxnard Job & Career Center at 805-204-5171 to enroll.

Wednesday, September 25 - Power of VOS (Virtual OneStop), 9:00 am – 12 noon – Learn about the Virtual OneStop website and how you can use the various tools in the system to build your resume and customize your job search to a specific location and occupation. Must have basic computer skills. Career Shops are offered at no cost to Job Seekers. Space is limited. Prior registration required by calling the West Oxnard Job & Career Center at 805-204-5171 to enroll.

Spanish language workshops:

Friday, September 13 - Tecnicas para la Busqueda de Trabajo (Job Search Techniques), 8:30 am – 12 noon - Presentado por Los Centros de Empleos y Carreras Esta sección de 3 a 4 horas está diseñada para personas que están buscando empleo. Los temas incluyen donde y como buscar empleo, como crear una red de comunicación, técnicas de cómo usar el teléfono apropiadamente para buscar empleo y como usar la red del Internet para buscar empleo. También aprenderá técnicas apropiadas para hacer una entrevista. 805-204-5171.

Career Shops are presented in partnership with Ventura County Job & Career Centers and are sponsored by the Human Services Agency and the Workforce Investment Board. Equal opportunity Employer/Program/Service – TDD/TT Inquiries call 1 (800) 735-2922. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individual with disabilities.

Ramona Days at Rancho Camulos Museum on Saturday, September 7th is just around the corner. Advance tickets are now on sale for only $7 per adult ($10 at the gate). Children are free.

This year's event features the Ramona Pageant Players and Dancers, Flamenco dancers, historical re-enactors, tours of the beautiful grounds and gardens, and the historic 1853 adobe, special children's activities, food, specialty vendors, and an exciting raffle with great prizes. Fun for all ages and a great way to see where one of early California's rancho families lived and cultivated the large Mexican land grant that became the setting for the bestselling novel Ramona. Don't miss this chance to visit Ventura County's only National Historic Landmark.

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 2. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, Sept. 7, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Ventura, CA - The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is holding its 41st Benefactors’ Ball on Saturday, Sept. 28, with proceeds benefitting the new Community Memorial Hospital.

Festivities begin with wine tasting at 4:30 p.m. at the Limoneira Ranch, 1141 Cummings Road in Santa Paula. Dinner, with food stations created by Plated Events, is set for 6 p.m., with dancing and music performed by blues and rock band Kal David and the Real Deal starting at 7 p.m. Attire is cocktail casual.

The event represents an opportunity for residents to support community-based healthcare. Every year, hospital and community leaders from all over Ventura County gather for a night of dining, live music and dancing.

Tickets can be bought individually or by table of eight. Sponsorship package opportunities are also available. For ticket or sponsorship information, visit www.benefactorsball.org, or call the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation at 805-667-2881.

This year, the Benefactors’ Ball will hold an Opportunity Raffle. Tickets are $100. The person with the winning ticket will receive airfare and a Viking River cruise for two to Bordeaux, France valued at over $7,000.
Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 11 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

SANTA PAULA, CA. - Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVBank;OTC BB: SCVE) Chairman of the Board, Scott K. Rushing, today announced the Bank's 2013 second quarter results.

Board Chairman Scott Rushing reported that portfolio quality continues to demonstrate solid performance with a low level of past due loans to total loans of just 1.18% at the end of the second quarter of 2013, an all time low since pre-recession. President Cheryl Knight commented that “a good quality loan portfolio will enable the bank to focus more resources on the origination of good quality loans in our local community, leading to growth and enhanced earnings.”

SCVBank recorded a net loss from operations of $1,000 for the second quarter of 2013 compared to a net profit of $196,000 for the second quarter of 2012. The increase in expenses in 2013 is primarily due to the hiring of additional loan officers and loan support staff. Chairman Rushing stated that “the results are consistent with the bank’s strategic plan to hire additional lending staff to support future growth of the bank. Results are already apparent with second quarter new loan production representing the highest level in the most recent six quarters.” Ms. Knight added that “the bank is always seeking good quality loans and, while historically low interest rates remain a challenge, as new quality loans are funded, the financial performance of SCVBank should strengthen.”

SCVBank continues to maintain a strong capital position with a Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio of 11.06%, up from 10.68% at December 31, 2012.

Liquidity continues to be very strong as cash and investments total 50% of total assets at quarter end.
Founded in 1998, SCVBank currently operates three branches in Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Valencia. Under its stock symbol of SCVE.OB, SCVBank’s stock is traded through McAdams Wright Ragen, Raymond James & Associates Inc., and Monroe Securities. The Bank’s web site is www.SCVBank.com.

Santa Clara Valley Bank Corporation Headquarters
901 East Main Street
Santa Paula, California 93060
805 525-1999

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events concerning expectations for growth and market forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of interest rate changes, and the ability to control costs and expenses, the impact of consolidation in the banking industry, financial policies of the United States government, and general economic conditions.

Ventura, CA - The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation has announced the addition of three new board members: Debbie Golden, Bob Cheatham and Donald Gloisten.

Golden has been a member of the Ventura Unified School District’s Board of Education since 1998 and also is active in several other community organizations, including the Ventura Education Partnership, the Ventura County Anti-Defamation League and the Rubicon Theater Education Outreach Committee. Golden earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara. Her husband, Dr. Thomas Golden, a Ventura orthopedic surgeon, is Chief of Staff at Community Memorial Hospital.

Cheatham is a financial planner and financial services representative for MetLife. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and his master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California. He formerly worked at the Pentagon, where his duties included writing speeches for then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. Cheatham works with several nonprofits, including the Salvation Army, and he is a longtime supporter of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CMH. In 2008 he was named Rotarian of the Year for Ventura.

Gloisten is Chief Executive Officer for GBS Financial and works out of the firm’s downtown Ventura office. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, and while working at the New York Stock Exchange, he attended night classes at the Seton Hall University of Law. After graduating and passing the bar exam, Gloisten was hired as House Counsel for the Dreyfus Fund. Gloisten taught night classes in Investments at UCLA for 30 years and has served as treasurer of the Northridge Hospital Foundation. He is a board member of the Ventura Music Festival and the Pierpont Community Council.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, formed in 1984, is a nonprofit, charitable organization with the basic mission of providing meaningful ways to educate the community regarding the service capabilities of Community Memorial Hospital; to work with the community to facilitate support of Community Memorial Hospital; and to raise funds for the development, operation and maintenance of programs and services.
The Foundation was organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Laws of the State of California and has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and eleven family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.