Dr. Brian A. DeCuir, OD.

1993 Fillmore High School graduate Brian A. DeCuir, OD, has opened an optometry practice in nearby Moorpark,. Dr. DeCuir, who attended Piru Elementary School, Fillmore Middle School, and Fillmore High School, went on to graduate from California State University at Northridge. In 1998, Brian enrolled at the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, California. During the next four years, Dr. DeCuir mastered the modern techniques of eye care and vision correction. Following internships in Arizona, Washington State, and the Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Brian was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Optometry.

Immediately following his graduation, Dr. DeCuir joined a practice in Ventura, and was later offered the position of Managing Doctor at the LensCrafters store in Thousand Oaks, one of the chain’s highest volume locations. Dr. DeCuir’s diligence and attention to the needs of his patients allowed him to diagnose severe and potentially fatal cancers in several patients who entered his office only to have their eyes examined for corrective lenses.

After earning a reputation as a meticulous practitioner and eye care professional, Dr. DeCuir determined that Moorpark was an ideal location for an independent Optometry practice, and in March of this year, he opened Arroyo Vista Optometry on Los Angeles Avenue. Equipped with the most modern equipment, and a complete line of stylish and fashionable frames, Arroyo Vista accepts most insurance plans, as well as Medicare and MediCal. Dr. DeCuir’s practice is family-friendly, and he specializes in children’s vision corrections as well as contact lens fitting. Dr. DeCuir and his staff are bilingual, and he welcomes patients from all Ventura County communities.

Dr. DeCuir’s practice, Arroyo Vista Optometry, is located at 252 Los Angeles Avenue in Moorpark. The telephone number is 805.530.3937

When: Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Fillmore City Council Chambers
250 Central Avenue, Fillmore
Forum: Fillmore City Council Candidates
CoHost: Fillmore Gazette Newspaper

The Fillmore Lion's Club is planning a big day on Saturday, Oct 11. Don't be surprised to see Lion members in front of City Hall, participating in their annual White Cane Days, a fund raiser for the blind and a chance to recruit new members. That night, at 6:30PM Lions and their guests will gather at the Lions/Boy Scout log cabin for their annual "Taste of Italy", a complete, authentic, homecooked Italian dinner, and entertainment by Delaney Gibson. Lion members and their guests are encouraged to make early reservations (no later than Oct 4) as seating is limited. If you are interested in becoming a Lion please contact Paul Schifanelli at 524-0858.

Sam Hishmeh is the owner of the Domino’s Pizza Franchise in Fillmore.

“Coach” Ron Tunick welcomes Dominos Pizza franchise owner Sam Hishmeh as a weekly guest co-host on “The Business of Life” airing weekdays 4 to 6 pm on Ventura County’s AM 1400 KKZZ.

Each weekday from 4 to 6pm Coach Ron Tunick inspires, motivates and educates listeners, helping them better their business and take charge of their life. The show features a wide rage of guest co-hosts that provide listeners with tips and advice to succeed in business.

Coach Tunick will be joined each Friday from 5:30 to 6pm by Sam Hishmeh, president of Hishmeh Enterprises and owner of 15 Domino’s Pizza franchisees in Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, Santa Barbara and Goleta to discuss issues concerning small business and community service.

In 2007, the Hishmeh family received the Family Business of the Year Award for Community Involvement. The Hishmeh family supports many community charities, including the Boys & Girls Club, Food Share and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Santa Paula and Fillmore residents who want to learn how to protect their home investment and other alternatives to foreclosure are encouraged to attend a free, half-day “Credit Smart” workshop on October 11 at the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 West Main Street, on “Foreclosure Prevention” and “Preserving Home Ownership: Protecting Your Home Investment.”
The credit smart workshop, sponsored by Freddie Mac and The Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, (REFAT), is being held to assist local residents interested in being more financially literate and learning how to avoid the threat of foreclosure.
The workshop will also cover topics on how to avoid becoming a victim of predatory lending practices.
The class session will run from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., with registration beginning at 8:30 A.M. A Spanish translation will also be available.
“This credit smart workshop will be very beneficial for anyone who would eventually like to own their own home, said Fernando Campos, chairman of the REFAT marketing committee. The course will demonstrate how to establish a good relationship with a financial institution and how to prepare for obtaining a mortgage
Other topics to be covered include how to maintain a good credit record, understanding credit scoring and how to avoid credit traps. Special emphasis will also be put on the growing problem of identity theft and unscrupulous loan scams.
With more families facing foreclosures, a new module has also been added to the class, Campos said, on how to avoid the pitfalls leading up to foreclosure.
The October 11 program is the fourth in a series of educational outreach programs throughout the county that Freddie Mac and The Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, (REFAT), have been conducting as part of the “Don’t Borrow Trouble—Ventura County” campaign. REFAT was established in conjunction with the District Attorney’s real estate fraud prosecution program to make the public more aware of predatory practices in the county.
Due to limited seating, advance registration is recommended, and may be made by calling (805) 340-4168, or by registering online at dbt.education@yahoo.com.

As part of a series of events celebrating “The Big Read,” a community-wide reading initiative, the H. P. Wright Library in Ventura will host a drum circle presentation Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. This family oriented event, presented by Pulse Drumming of Ventura, will demonstrate healing ceremony drumming styles used by native peoples of the south west. All ages are invited to attend this free program.

The “Big Read” book selection is Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya. All are invited to read the book and join in on various events and book discussions happening throughout the county through the month of October.
The heroine of the book, Ultima, is a curandera, which means healer.

This event is co-sponsored by the City of San Buenaventura and the San Buenaventura Friends of the Library and is free to the public.

The H.P. Wright Library is located at 57 Day Road in Ventura.

For additional information about The Big Read, visit the library website at www.vencolibrary.org.

Discover the rewards of foster parenting at a Foster Parenting Informational Meeting. Learn how you can provide the healing, support and guidance that can transform a child at risk into a self-assured, successful adult. More than 600 children are currently in foster homes in Ventura County, and every day, another child is removed from their home because they have been neglected, abused or abandoned. By being a foster parent, you have the opportunity to make the difference in a child's life. English only. For more information call 805.654.3456 or go to vchsa.org/foster.

EVENT DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
LOCATION: Human Services Agency, 4601 Telephone Road, Suite 112, Ventura.

Fillmore -- October 2nd -- Members of the Fillmore Lions Club will take to the streets of Fillmore on Oct.11th to raise funds as part of the annual White Cane Day. Funds donated by community members will be used to provide assistances to those with little or no resources in our community who are victims of, or are potential victims of blindness and eye defects. During past years, we have made arrangements for many eye examinations and glasses, and have provided for some major eye surgeries at no cost to the patient. We support the Lions Eye Foundation in Santa Monica, California, the Braille Institute, Diabetes Research, S.E.E. (Surgical Eye Expeditions),The City of Hope and The Western Lions Ear Foundation.

According to President Bill Edmonds of Fillmore Lions Club, “Money raised on Oct. 11, 2008 will allow Lions to meet pressing needs in our community including eye exams, new or replacement glasses and contribute to the continuance of vision research. Lions members thank everyone who contributes to this important work. You are truly helping Lions make a difference in our community.”

The Fillmore Lions Club has 37 members and meets on (the first & third Monday of each month at 7:00PM at The Scout House 128 E. Sespe Av. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to get involved with the Fillmore Lions Club, please contact Membership chairperson Lion Jim Austin 524-2721 or E-Mail jimaaustin@sbcglobal.net

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.35 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit the Web site at www.lionsclubs.org.

First United Methodist Church in Santa Paula is having its Annual Bazaar early this year on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. 'til 2:00 p.m. with lunch being sold and served from 11:00 a.m. 'til 1:30 p.m. at 133 North Mill St., near Santa Barbara St. and one block west of 10th St.
Halloween, Fall, Christmas, and Holiday Decorations; Crafts, Tea Towels, Aprons, Dolls; Homemade Jam and Fresh Produce; Granny's Attic (random used or vintage treasures); Lunch for only $7.50 includes Homemade Soup, Roll, Pie and Beverage; Pie and Beverage only for $4.00

Conway Spitler

According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in 1950, over half of the milk delivered was to the home in quart bottles, by 1963, it was about a third and by 2001, it represented only 0.4% percent.

Nowadays most milk is sold through super markets in gallon jugs. The steady decline in home-delivered milk is blamed, of course, on the rise of the super market, better home refrigeration and longer-lasting milk. Although
some milkmen still make the rounds in pockets of the U. S. they are certainly a dying breed.

Fillmore High School Flashes Homecoming Parade will be held this Friday at 2:45 p.m. on Central Avenue. This years Grand Marshall is Barbara Lemons. Freshmen Prince and Princess – Robert Bonilla and Anissa Magdaleno, Sophomore Prince and Princess – Angel Barajas and Angelica Gonzalez, Junior Prince and Princess Anthony Chavez and Victoria Ayala. Nominated Seniors are Rebeca Herrera, Brina Suttle, Jill Wilber, Colin Cone, Nathan Ibarra, Ralph Sandoval. The King and Queen will be announced at the rally before the parade.

Sespe Players Agenda,
Sept. 24, 7:00, Villegas’ House
541 Stonehedge Drive, 524-3275

Welcome and Introductions

Purpose of Meeting

Sespe Players-Who and What They Do

Financial Report

Board of Directors-volunteers for positions
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership

Putting on a Show

Areas of Participation

Short Term Goals- Productions in Spring ’09 or Fall ‘09

Venues

Children’s Theatre Workshops

Long Term Goals-Researching and Writing Grants

Set the next meeting

Camarillo, California – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is sponsoring the 4th Annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the county’s court-dependent abused and neglected children. The Walk/Run will be held Saturday, October 11th at College Park in Oxnard. College Park is located on Rose Avenue at Channel Islands Blvd. (site of the Strawberry Festival). Registration begins at 8:00am, and the Walk/Run commences at 9:00 am. There is a registration fee of $10 per child and $15 per adult. Major sponsors include FAMSA and Bi-National Health Week, as well as Basu’s Homestyle, Metal Window Corporation, Joyce A. Brykman CPA, and Kevin and Gerry Rubey.

Sponsorship forms are also available from CASA, for participants who wish to gather pledges for their Walk/Run. A youth bicycle will be raffled off, and there will be appreciation prizes for the adult and child who generate the most pledge money. A fitness trainer will lead participants in stretching exercises prior to the event. The Walk/Run is approximately three miles in length and promotes healthy activity for both adults and children, as well as raising funds to benefit children in crisis.

CASA is a program of Interface Children Family Services and the only program of its kind in Ventura County. CASA volunteers help individual children who have been removed from their homes by the court system because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. The CASA volunteer becomes the child’s voice in court, mentors him or her and provides a stable adult presence throughout the time the child is in foster care or other safe havens. Funds raised from the 5K Walk/Run will assist CASA in training and coordinating additional volunteers, so more children in need can benefit from a CASA’s help and support. Interface Children Family Services is a nonprofit organization, funded primarily through corporate and individual donations and fund-raising events such as this 5K Walk/Run. For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer or for information about the 5K Walk/Run, contact Adi Levi, CASA Volunteer Specialist at (805) 485-6114 x611.

VENTURA, Sept. 22 – The American Heart Association, Ventura County Division, will hold its 2008 Start! Ventura County Heart Walk on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Simi Valley Town Center. The annual event is expected to draw more than 500 participants. Event attractions include health screenings, Yoga, Pilates and breathing classes, stretching clinic, free massage, and a Kids Zone with fun activities for children.

The Start! Ventura County Heart Walk is a celebration of the American Heart Association’s groundbreaking national Start! movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. It aims to inspire healthy lifestyle habits by promoting exercise, such as walking, as a regular part of life. The Start! Heart Walk is the American Heart Association’s biggest fundraising event benefiting the fight against heart disease and stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Ventura’s goal this year is to raise $180,000 to help fund lifesaving cardiovascular research and community education.

Simi Valley resident Bruce Kanegai, who competed in the TV show Survivor Panama Exile Island 2006, will emcee the event. Kanegai, a Karate instructor, taught art for 34 years at Simi Valley High School and he is a recipient of a number of teaching awards.

Families, friends, companies, employees and community groups are invited to be a part of the 2008 Start! Ventura County Heart Walk. To join or learn more about the event, visit www.venturaheartwalk.org or call Ally Walker at (805) 445-7050.

Start! is sponsored nationally by Subway, Healthy Choice and AstraZeneca, and locally by Simi Valley Hospital.