The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has approved service changes for the Intercity Transit system beginning May 22, 2017. The changes will affect bus schedules on all VCTC Intercity Transit routes. The intent is to streamline and improve efficiency of the regional transit system while limiting impacts to riders.

“As a responsible steward of public funds, VCTC must operate its bus system as efficiently as possible,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. “We never undertake service changes lightly, and these modifications will help optimize service and address increasing congestion while minimizing the impacts to our riders.”

While schedule changes will impact all routes in VCTC’s Intercity Transit system, the most extensive changes will occur on the two routes funded in partnership with other agencies: Coastal Express and CSUCI. The Coastal Express, a heavily used bus line connecting Oxnard and Ventura with Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta, is jointly funded by VCTC and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) funds the operation of a pair of routes serving the university.

As a result of low ridership, mid-day and weekend Coastal Express service will be reduced, and travel times on some trips will be adjusted by 15-20 minutes to account for increased traffic congestion and road construction. “The Coastal Express is critically important to addressing the traffic congestion in the Ventura-Santa Barbara corridor, and SBCAG looks forward to partnering in the future with VCTC to make the service as effective, efficient, and attractive as possible to draw commuters out of their cars” said SBCAG Executive Director Marjie Kirn.

During CSUCI’s summer break (May 22-Aug. 28, 2017), the two lines serving CSUCI will be suspended and replaced with a new line that combines CSUCI service with the existing Oxnard/Camarillo Connector. This new line, Oxnard/Camarillo/CSUCI (#96), will include Sunday service and stops in downtown Camarillo, the Camarillo Outlets and the Oxnard Transit Center. Direct service, however, between CSUCI and the Center Point Mall (C Street) in Oxnard will be eliminated during the summer break.

“When the financial contributions of our partners -- as well as those from traditional State and Federal funding sources -- change, there is a direct impact to levels of service on the Intercity Transit system,” Kettle said.
In all, service will be reduced about 8% across the entire VCTC system. In addition to the partner-funded routes, all other VCTC Intercity bus lines will experience adjustments to routes, stops and schedules. Riders can view the new bus schedules, which go into effect on May 22, at www.goventura.org/travel-ventura.

In concert with the service changes, VCTC will also roll out streamlined rider information materials on May 22. The materials, including redesigned schedule brochures and bus-stop signage, will make navigating the VCTC system easier and more intuitive. The new materials will also introduce a route numbering system to clarify deviations to specific landmarks that are serviced by some, but not all, trips along a certain line.

For more information visit www.goventura.org/travel-ventura or call (800) 438-1112.

About the Ventura County Transportation Commission
The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information is available at goventura.org.

Submitted By Ari Larson Next year will be the 90th Anniversary of the St. Francis Dam collapse. The Fillmore Historical Museum in conjunction with the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau is planning a multi-city (Santa Clarita, Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula) event to commemorate the occasion in 2018. There will be a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at the Fillmore Historical Museum (340 Main St.) at 4pm. Please RSVP to Ari Larson (805.794.7590 or email: Petenari55@hotmail.com) if you will be in attendance or if you are interested in
being a part of the committee.

The children from the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, under the direction of local artist Virginia Neuman received honors from the Ventura County Fair for their artwork. There will be an art show showcasing the budding artist's creations, during business hours on Friday, April 28, 2017 from 9am-5pm at Union Bank (566 Sespe Ave. Fillmore.) The public is invited to stop by. There will be light refreshments served. For information on the Boys & Girls Club of SCV please call Buddy Escoto at 805.524.0456

Community Memorial Health System is holding its “Great Advance Directive Awareness Event” on Wednesday, April 19, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. in Ventura.

An advance directive, also known as living will, personal directive, medical directive or advance decision, is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity.

Jim Hornstein, M.D., CMHS’ Chair of the Bioethics Committee, will moderate the latest seminar in its 2017 “Ethics in Healthcare” series. The event is for people 18 and over. Experts, including palliative care, social services, quality care and CMHS residents, will be available to answer questions and help participants fill out their advance directives for free. A notary public also will be on site.

There will be refreshments, raffle prizes, music and giveaways, and the first 200 people who complete their advance directive will receive a free gift.

Future Speaker Series events are: Diagnosis and Management of Pituitary Tumors on May 10 at CMH; and What is a Hospitalist? on June 7 at CMH.

Registration is free but reservations are required. To secure reservations visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 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, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

A Patient’s Right to Die to Be Focus of CMHS Seminar on April 16

The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) reminds Californians that new sales and use tax rates will take effect on April 1, 2017, as a result of voter-approved initiatives in several cities and counties. The tax rate changes for the cities listed below apply only within the indicated city limits. The countywide tax rate increases apply to all cities and unincorporated areas within the county.

To find the tax rate in your area or business location, visit the BOE website at boe.ca.gov and click on the Find a Tax Rate by Address link to find the tax rate for a specific address. The new tax rates will be available on this website on April 1. You may also call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (TTY:711) to find your local tax rates. Representatives are available to assist you weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), except state holidays.

For more information about sales and use tax rates, including help for consumers who may have been overcharged, visit boe.ca.gov/knowyourrate

The effects of stress on the immune system and asthma will be the focus of a free seminar that Community Memorial Health System is holding on Wednesday, April 12.

Lewis Kanter, M.D., a board-certified clinical immunologist who also specializes in pediatrics, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St.

How does stress affect developing children? How does the human body react to stress? Can chronic stress cause asthma? Are patients sick because they’re stressed, or are they stressed because they’re sick? Dr. Kanter will address these questions, and more.

Dr. Kanter received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He continued his training in allergy/immunology there, as well as at the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland. He served 10 years in the U.S. Navy and was Chief of the Allergy Division of the Dept. of Medicine, National Naval Medical Center. Dr. Kanter is an active member of the CMH medical staff.

Future Speaker Series events are: Diagnosis and Management of Pituitary Tumors on May 10 at CMH; and What is a Hospitalist? on June 7 at CMH.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 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, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

Dr. Richard R. Rush

Dr. Richard R. Rush, former president of California State University Channel Islands, has been named the new chair of the Board for Community Memorial Health System. He succeeds Jeffrey Paul, who has served as board chairman since 2015.

Dr. Rush became the first president of CSU Channel Islands in June 2001. As head of the 23rd and newest campus in the California State University system, he hired the faculty and senior administrative staff and oversaw the creation and development of the university’s strategic, academic and physical master plans as well as its budget and financial structure. He retired in 2016.

Before arriving at CSUCI, Dr. Rush spent nine years as president of Minnesota State University, Mankato where he established public-private partnerships that led to the first buildings in the State University system to be constructed using private financing.

Dr. Rush also played a key role in the founding of CSU San Marcos while serving as Vice President in Charge during site selection and program establishment. Subsequently, he served as Executive Vice President with responsibilities for accreditation, academic programs, student affairs, finance and administration, and fundraising.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

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Theresa Robledo with Civic Pride Vision 20/20 had the pleasure to present Yard of the Month to Dave & Jeana Miller. “I have always been interested in gardening, probably from the days of watering the vegetable garden at my grandparents on La Campana Rd. (Hardison Ranch). It is in my genes, my other grandparents lived in Rancho Sespe and my grandfather ran the nursery. I love a nice lawn, but with water issues and the need of low maintenance and my back yard being 4 times this size, I planted mostly succulents and cactus. Plants include, Lavender Scallop, Silver Dollar, multiple varieties of Jade and Aloe, Sublanum, Euphorbia, Jacob Ladder, Russian Sage, Bougainvillea, Silver Pig Ears and some plants I don’t know the name of”. Please drive by 339 Second St and view this beautiful corner lot home.

We would like to thank Otto & Sons Nursery for the generous gift certificate and Diamond Realty for the gift of wine to the Millers!

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Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee, held a workshop at the King Ranch to create succulent terrariums and bee condos for the solitary, native bees in the area to lay their eggs. There are an estimated 90 species of native bees in California. In fact, the main pollinator for avocado trees is a native bee!

These bees are also in decline, like the honey producing European “hive” bees, so the “condos” are a great addition to the garden.

These terrariums and native bee condos will be part of the plants and gardening elements available in the Fillmore Flower Show boutique for a donation.

The Flower Show provides an opportunity for different generations to interact and show off their creativity. “Birds, Bugs and Beautiful Blooms”, might well be seen.

The show is on April 8,9 and brochures are in City Hall, the Library, Patterson’s Hardware and the Treasure Station, with all the information needed to enter. The show will be open to the public each day from1-4pm and it is FREE.