Santa Clara Valley Disposal will maintain its regular Friday trash collection schedule on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Did you know that according to the Association for the Advancement of Arts Education, music programs in school actually improve ALL areas of studies for children in grade K-12? Santa Clara Elementary school, the “Little Red Schoolhouse”, serving students K-6 from Fillmore and Santa Paula, is very excited that this year they will be bringing a musical instrument program to their small historic schoolhouse thanks to the generous support of Chevron Environmental Management Company. Leslie Klinchuch, Project Manager for Chevron for the Santa Clara Valley, presented a check to the principal, Kari Skidmore for $4,000 to support the Music in the Classroom program that will be offered this year at the school for the 55 students that attend. The community support of Chevron will assist with bringing a music teacher to the classrooms to teach appreciation and understanding of music for students, teach instrument instruction to the students, assist with developing community involvement by inviting community members to participate in concert, and help with a 10% increase of the student’s success on standardized tests based on skills learned through music.

Chevron is committed to contributing to the social and economic development of our communities. They believe that providing community support, both through financial assistance and personal involvement, is their responsibility as a good neighbor. They focus on areas such as Health, Environment, and Youth and Education. Their support in serving the students that attend Santa Clara Elementary demonstrates their desire to serve others and be an integral part of the neighborhood.

One Step a la Vez will be hosting "Pie for Breakfast!" a fundraiser this coming Saturday at 10am. One Step will be serving a slice of pie to everyone until they run out and will be sharing information about their teen wellness program with the community. There will also be a pie auction. If you would like to donate a pie please email kate@myonestep.org or just bring it on over Saturday morning.

When:
Saturday Nov. 5th at 10am

Where:
One Step Center
421 Sespe Ave.
Fillmore, CA 93015

Fillmore High School’s drama club, led by director Josh Overton, is bringing an original 80’s jukebox musical to their stage in early November. “Totally Rad!” showcases the many talents of the students at Fillmore High and features some fantastic tunes from the 80’s by Madonna, U2, The Go-Go’s, The Police, and much more!

The 20+ member cast, led by Blake Palacio, Elana Strazzula, and Giselle Lozano, has been hard at work and can’t wait to share this fun stage experience with you!

“Totally Rad!” opens Wednesday, November 2nd at 7pm in the drama room (right across from the Memorial Building) at Fillmore High School. There are also performances on November 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11. The Sunday, November 6th performance is at 2pm. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. Tickets are $5 for senior citizens and students, $7 for adults. Snack and drinks will be available to purchase. All proceeds benefit the Fillmore High School Drama Club. Seating is limited and we expect this show to sell out, so get to the theatre early! Tickets only available at the door.

The Ventura County Writers Club is proud to announce the opening of their 17th annual short story contest. The fiction contest is open to all writers and winners receive cash prizes. Adult first place prize award is $500, second place is $250 and third place is $125. In the high school category, first place award is $100, second place is $75 and third place is $50. Winners are published in the club’s biennial anthology. The contest closes at midnight on November 15, 2016.

Entries must be family friendly, original and previously unpublished—not appearing in any newspaper, magazine, or book, whether or not the author received compensation. Authors may enter multiple stories. Entrants may only receive one cash prize. Entries are accepted through submittable.com.

Stories are limited to 2,500 words or less. The submission fee for each story submitted: $15 U.S. for adult VCWC members; $25 U.S. for adult non-members; and $10 for high school students. Winners will be notified in early January 2017. Award Ceremony is January 10, 2017. Go to http://venturacountywriters.com/contests/short-story for more information or call Sheli Ellsworth at 805.499.3490.

Our club is open to writers at all ages and all levels of writing. We meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley Street in Camarillo, CA. Meetings are free and open to everyone.

"Guiberson Barn" by Joanne King
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"Fillmore Fire Station" by Lady Jan Faulkner
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The Fillmore Historical Museum is pleased to be hosting an art exhibit “Southern California Images” produced by the Fillmore Artists Guild. The exhibit will be in place in the Rancho Sespe Bunkhouse building, 340 Main St., through November 19th. Our very talented local artists have produced interesting and beautiful work using a variety of media and local subjects. All are for sale. We at the museum hope that you will take the time to visit and admire their work. The museum is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9-12; Thursday from 1-4 and Saturday from 10 -3. For more information telephone: 805-524-0948.

September Yard of the Month Winner’s (l-r) Brynn, Megan, Eli Hernandez and Ari Larson.
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Congratulations to the September 2016 Yard of the Month recipients, the Hernandez family, consisting of Eli, Megan and their daughter Brynn. Presenting them the award this month was Ari Larson, a member of the Fillmore Civic Pride Vision 20/20 group. When asked about the inspiration for the front yard landscape, Eli said that, “In the midst of the current drought, I decided it best to replace my already dying grass with drought tolerant and succulent plants. Using a few of my late grandfather’s aloes as focal points, I designed a colorful yet water conscious landscape using Fescue, Salvia, Euonymus, Cordyline and Rosemary. To fill in the rest, I used succulents including Crassula, Senecio, Sedum, Echeveria and Aeonium. I incorporated a few wooden containers filled with a few of the already named succulents to create depth. Over the years, I have continued to add and take away plants to change up the look and it always gives me something to work on all year round.” View the home’s inspiring use of succulents and drought tolerant plants at 649 Mountain View in Fillmore. Also, thank you to Otto & Sons Nursery for their donation of a $40 gift certificate to the family. For more information on Fillmore Civic Pride Vision 20/20 please contact Linda Nunes at 805.302.7527

Photographers... and wannabe photographers... meet to explore photographic possibilities Thursday, October 13, 2016, 7 p.m. at the Active Adult Community Center, 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore, CA.

Free! All that's needed is a camera, enthusiasm and an itchy shutter button finger.

In the near future, field trips, workshops, guest presenters. Shoot a theme for critique. Learn tips and techniques while enjoying the fun of photography.

When appropriate, to help photographers execute the assignment, brief instruction coinciding with the theme will be provided by facilitator Bob Crum, professional photojournalist.

One Step a la Vez teen center, with the support of several community donors and a generous $3000 grant from Bank of the Sierra, is busy creating a social business in the form of a silk screen print shop.

The One Step Print Shop will create internships and eventually paid positions for teens to learn the business of silk screening. According to Executive Director, Kate English, "This will give them [teens] a chance to learn the basics of running a business, from marketing and sales, to the software/design aspect, and the actual mechanics of the silk screen equipment." She also stated that youth involved in the print shop program will take financial literacy classes and learn the importance of a budget, managing an account and building good credit.

Capstone students from California State Channel Islands University will be assisting the One Step Print Shop in researching equipment purchases and potential clients as part of a service learning program and the Social Business area of study at the university.

One Step a la Vez is a drop-in teen center and after school program in Fillmore for teens with safe space, homework help, video games, music lessons, a computer lab and community improvement committees for teens to participate in. For more information about the non-profit center contact Kate English, 805-625-7067.

The City is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on the Ventura County Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (1 citizen member), as well as the Ventura County Transportation Commission ( 1 citizen member).

The Ventura County Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (VCCTAC) is an advisory group to the Ventura County Transportation Commission for purposes of transportation planning and identification of unmet transit needs. This committee meets the first Friday of every month, except August, at 9:00 a.m. at Camarillo City Hall.

There is currently one (1) scheduled vacancy on VCCTAC; term to December 2019. Applicants must be City residents. Applications for VCCTAC are due November 14, 2016.

For further information on committee functions, please contact Mike Houser, (805) 376-5063 or mhouser@toaks.org.

Applicants are vetted using a standard review process, and if selected, will be appointed.

Additionally, there is currently one scheduled vacancy for a citizen member on the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). VCTC’s mission is to improve mobility within the County and increase funding to meet transportation needs. To fulfill that mission, the VCTC establishes transportation policies and priorities ensuring an equitable allocation of federal, state and local funds for highway, transit, rail, aviation, bicycle and other transportation projects.

One applicant from the City of Thousand Oaks will be considered for a single opening, to be selected amongst all the 11 Ventura County cities, including the County of Ventura, on VCTC. This person will not be an elected official, but will be a resident of Ventura County. Applicant will be appointed to the commission after review by the Ventura County City Selection Committee. Applications for VCTC are due November 14, 2016.

For further information, please contact Jay Spurgin, (805) 449-2444 or jspurgin@toaks.org.

Applications, and additional recruitment information, may be accessed on the City’s Website at http://www.toaks.org/departments/city-clerk/boards-commissions/committee.... Application material may also be requested from the City Clerk Department, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., (805) 449-2151 or CityClerk@toaks.org.

The Ventura County Rose Society will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, October 27, 2016 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, We will have our Little Rose Show at 7:00 P.M. Our presentation will begin at 7:30 P.M.

The VCRS meeting will feature Corey Welles who is the Plant Health Care Coordinator at Lotusland. Corey will be talking about plant health with an emphasis on roses and sustainable ways to have plant health in drought conditions.

Visitors are always welcome to our VCRS meetings. For more information contact; Janet Sklar at 818-993-6622 or Dawn-Marie Johnson at 805-523-9003. Our website is http://www.venturarose.org/

California Lutheran University’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership announces the following upcoming workshops for October. These workshops are designed to provide practical and applicable skills for nonprofit leaders in Ventura County and beyond. All workshops will be held at Cal Lutheran’s Oxnard Campus at 2201 Outlet Center Dr., Oxnard.

• Positive Communication Strategies for Your Team—This interactive workshop will help you become a more effective communicator, problem-solver and trusted, focused leader. To be held Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. - noon. Cost for members: $45, non-members: $50.

• Building a Board that Works—Nonprofit consultant Andy Robinson explains how to take your board from good to great! Perfect for new board members as well as seasoned leaders interested in expanding their skill set. This event is co-sponsored by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. To be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. - 12:30 pm. Cost is free for members, non-members, $75.

• A Tailored Development Plan that is Right for You—In this two-workshop session, we will create or refine your plan to maximize the dollars you raise and even out the peaks and valleys of your income. To be held Thursday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. - noon. Part two to be held Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. - noon. Cost for members: $75, non-members: $90.

• Perfecting Your Pitch–This workshop will examine how to create a thoughtful, intentional ask that considers who your donor is and what they care about. To be held Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. - noon. Cost for members: $45, non-members: $50.

• Planning to Plan: Strategic Planning Preparation—The phrase “strategic planning” can spark fear and frustration with executive directors and boards of directors. This workshop will explore the important steps in the strategic planning process and how to adapt them based on organizational needs. To be held Thursday, Oct. 27 from 1 - 4 p.m. Cost for members: $45, non-members: $50.

For more details or to register for a workshop, visit callutheran.edu/nonprofit. For questions regarding registering for a workshop, contact program coordinator, Leanne Blackwell at (805) 493-3740 or blackwell@callutheran.edu.

As the only management training center of its kind in Ventura County, the Center for Nonprofit Leadership provides practical and affordable professional development opportunities for nonprofit leaders. The Center focuses on offering training, technical assistance, and access to research materials to help strengthen the leadership of nonprofit organizations throughout Ventura County and beyond. For more information, visit callutheran.edu/nonprofit or contact the Center at (805) 493-3740 or email blackwell@callutheran.edu.

Solarize 126, a community-led program offering group discounts on solar electrical systems, is available for one more month before it expires on Oct 31st. The program offers vetted installers and sizable discounts on solar installations to homeowners in Ventura County along California State Route 126. Solarize 126 is offered as a partnership between The Community Environmental Council (CEC), The Ojai Valley Green Coalition (OVGC), and the vetted installer partners.

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) began offering Solarize programs in Santa Barbara in 2011 as a tool to make going solar simpler and more affordable, and to increase the amount of renewable energy in the region. Since 2011, CEC has helped over 480 homeowners go solar in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ojai, and surrounding communities. Solarize 126 is the first time that the Solarize program is being offered in Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru. “With discounted, fixed pricing from vetted installers and education through workshops and independent consultation, Solarize has streamlined going solar and made to process easier on the customer,” explained Jefferson Litten, CEC’s Director of Energy Programs, “We are excited to bring the program to the Santa Clara River Valley.” The neighboring community of Ojai has hosted Solarize programs for four years, with 41 solar systems installed through the program within the Ojai Valley. Solarize 2015 participant, Sandra Blasé explained, “It was a great program. I was looking into putting solar on my house, but it was a little beyond my budget. This program made it possible to do it. So far I have had no problem with it and California Solar Electric did a great job. It was installed quickly and professionally.”

Solarize 126 features two local solar installers, California Solar Electric and Coastal Solar, who are both offering special discounted pricing for 126 corridor residents. The firms were selected for Solarize 126 after careful evaluation and vetting by a committee of local experts. Both companies are locally owned family businesses with years of experience in the region. “We are very excited to partner with California Solar Electric and Coastal Solar for this year’s program,” said Litten. “Not only are both companies local, they are both offering top quality panels and installation.”

As part of the program, CEC and OVGC will host free educational workshops covering solar technologies, energy efficiency, financing options and the Solarize program. “The workshops are a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of going solar - from technical aspects to the effects on home values, to how your electric bills will shrink,” said Litten. Robert Garven, a Solarize Participant in 2015, was particularly grateful for the education he received through Solarize. Robert explained, “I went to a homeowner workshop, and when I left an hour later I felt like I knew everything that I needed to know about going solar. The workshops saved me hours of research and the installers I worked with were fantastic”

In addition to monthly savings on their electricity bills, Solarize participants will help support the CEC and OVGC’s missions to increase renewable energy in the region. For each homeowner that goes solar through the program, CEC’s partnered solar installers will pay, at no additional cost to the homeowner,
a small fee which covers program costs and allows CEC and OVGC to continue to offer the program to local communities.

Solarize 126 launched on August 1, 2016, and runs through October 31, 2016. During this time, homeowners with the zip codes of 93015 and 93060 can switch to solar at a fixed, group-purchasing price the program’s vetted installers, California Solar Electric and Coastal Solar.

Upcoming Workshop:
Tuesday, October 4 6:00-7:30pm Blanchard/Santa Paula Community Library, 119 N 8th St, Santa Paula, CA 93060
More information is available at www.Solarize126.org or by calling 805-963-0583 x 101.

About the Community Environmental Council
Since 1970, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) has led the Central Coast region – and at times California and the nation – in creative solutions to some of the toughest environmental problems. Today CEC is focused on the climate, encouraging global change through local action with five initiatives: Drive Less, Choose Electric, Go Solar, Ditch Plastic, and Eat Local.