The Ventura County Library wants you to design our new children and teen library cards. The contest will run from June 1 through June 30. Only children (ages 5-12) and teens (ages 13-17) are eligible to participate, one entry per person. All entries must be submitted on a regulated contest form. You may pick up a regulated contest form with contest rules at any Ventura County Library. For library locations please visit www.vencolibrary.org

Here are some ideas on how you can save water in your garden.

Mulch, mulch, mulch! A layer of 2 - 4 inches of wood mulch will reduce water use tremendously. Don't let the mulch layer get less than 2 inches.

Water your plants in the morning. The cool part of the day is the best time to water.

Water deeply. You need to train the plants in your garden where to find water. By watering deeply, roots will be able to grow deeply and find the moisture they need.

Water your trees. Many of our trees are expecting to have water during the summer because they have always had water during the summer. When watering trees, water slowly and deeply for many hours. Apply water halfway out to the drip line of the tree and not at the trunk of the tree.

Use organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers breakdown slowly allowing the plant to use the nutrients they need.

Water use communities. When designing your yard, create areas with similar water requirements. Keeping plants together with the same water needs will allow you to water for those plants needs and not the one plant that needs more than the rest.

WUCOLS. This web site will let you know what the water requirements of plants are so you can easily create water use communities in your garden. http://ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS/

June 20th - At our Summer Rose Care class at 9am we will be talking about these ideas and answering your dry questions.

Otto & Sons Nursery
1835 E. Guiberson Rd.
Fillmore Ca 93015
805-524-2123
www.ottoandsons-nursery.com

The Ventura College Foundation has awarded a total of $28,000 Phoenix Scholarships to 28 re-entry students this spring, helping them get one step closer to achieving their career goals by returning to Ventura College to study. Re-entry students are defined as people who return to school to learn new skills in order to be competitive in the marketplace or who are returning to school after an extended break.

Each student received a scholarship of $1,000, awarded at the 16th annual scholarship ceremony, which was hosted by the Foundation’s staff and board of directors. Stan Weisel, a Ventura resident and founder of the Stan Weisel Endowed Scholarships, sponsored the event this year and has pledged to do so for the rest of his life.

“I didn’t know that this was the treasure that I was looking for all my life—to help other people,” said Weisel. “Most people would love to make people happy.”

The Ventura College Foundation board of directors started the program in November 1999 after learning about the special needs of Ventura College re-entry students.

“Each year, I am inspired by the scholarship recipients’ tenacity and their unwavering determination. These students are driven to overcome financial and personal challenges to be in school so they can upgrade their skills and make a better life for themselves and their families,” said Richard Taylor, Ventura College Foundation board member and one of the Phoenix Scholarship program founders. “Finding the money and the time to pay for and attend college when you’re already working a job and/or caring for a family requires commitment and sacrifice. I am so glad to see the efforts of these students acknowledged with a Phoenix Scholarship.”

Weisel is a retired math instructor who taught at East Los Angeles College for a quarter century. He volunteers at the Stan Weisel Tutoring Center at Ventura College, helping students as they study for finals.

To be eligible for a Phoenix Scholarship, students submit an application and essay, and obtain recommendations from counselors, faculty and employers. Recipients are chosen based on their academic goals and progress, along with their financial need.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Norbert Tan at (805) 289-6160 or ntan@vcccd.edu. Or visit www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.

The author will be signing books at:
Fillmore Historical Museum (350 Main St, Fillmore, CA 93015) on June 11th at 4 pm
Bank of Books (748 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001) on June 20th from 1-3 pm.

Since its beginning as a Southern Pacific Railroad town 100 years ago, Fillmore has been the setting of many legends and true tales, like the St. Francis Dam disaster, the 1994 earthquake, and the Hollywood film shoots. Joaquin Murietta hid in the hills, and the story of the T. Wallace More murder in Rancho Sespe in 1877 was the “murder of the century.” Rancho Camulos, owned by the del Valle family until 1924, signifies the last of the Californios. Today, it is owned by the descendants of August Rubel. Tales of the sycamore tree abound, and it is an icon on Highway 126, as is the tower of the Sanitary Dairy, which was ordered from the Sears, Roebuck & Company in Chicago. Oil was discovered early in Shiells Canyon and brought Texaco to town. The fruit industry prospered, and Sunkist was welcomed. Hugh Warring installed indoor plumbing in the Piru Mansion. The likes of “Booty” Sanchez, Marcelino “Woody” Ybarra, Gene Wren, Kevin Gross, Jim Fauver, and Dorothy Shiells still influence the community.

The Fillmore Fire Department wants to remind everyone that fire season is here and Fillmore Fire Department will be doing its annual weed abatement inspections. Let’s get ahead of the game and get your weeds cut down. Weeds
must be trimmed below 3” in height and debris removed from the property to eliminate the potentially hazardous situation.

The weed abatement deadline is June 1, 2015. Properties failing to meet this deadline will be cleaned by a City of Fillmore approved Weed Abatement Contractor and the property owner will be billed for the cost plus a 15% administrative fee. These Weed Abatement Deadline, June 1st costs constitute a special assessment and may become
a lien against the properties noted parcel. The collection of such assessments and enforcement of the lien shall be made by the Ventura County Tax Collector. The Fillmore Fire Department thanks you in advance for your cooperation in keeping our town safe.

Come enjoy dinner & some music Wednesday, May 27th, 2015.

The Grilled Cheese Truck & Kona Ice will be serving deliciousness at the Fillmore Middle School 5pm - 7pm.

Then stay for the Fillmore Middle School & Elementary School Bands Spring Concert which starts at 7pm.

Hope to see you there!
Judy Fairall,
Fillmore Band Boosters

Gavin
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Missy
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The non-profit Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) in Ventura County is launching the “Who’s Your Momma Contest” on the SPARC Facebook page through mid-June.

Two unusual-looking dogs at SPARC were chosen to have their DNA tested to determine their breed ancestry. Anyone who would like to guess their breed by looking at the dogs’ photos can enter the contest on SPARC’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/santapaulaarc. A $5 donation is encouraged, but not required. Donations go toward the cost of medical care for the shelter animals. The contest also is being held to bring attention to the two dogs, which are seeking a foster or forever home.

Rene Ruston, a director on the SPARC Board, says, “For many dogs, a DNA test may mean a dog gets adopted faster if it looks like a mutt but has a specific breed in its background DNA. Some breeds experience stereotyping and this could also help them be more easily adopted.”

The two SPARC dogs, Gavin and Missy, were DNA tested. Even professionals who work with dogs had a hard time assessing their breed when they arrived at the shelter.

Gavin is a hefty but gentle dog with severe ear infections that were left untreated by previous owners for months, if not years. Gavin recently had surgery to repair the damage to his ears. Not only is the aftermath of the surgery painful but it requires a long recovery period, which means Gavin needs to find a foster or forever home where he can recover.

Missy is a healthy, sparkling white and tan, almost one-year old puppy with gigantic “bunny” ears. She needs an active owner who can take her for long daily walks and give her the affection she craves. She’s quick to learn and wants to please everyone.

To enter the SPARC “Who’s Your Momma Contest,” go to the SPARC website at www.santapaulaarc.org or on www.facebook/santapaulaarc. Correct answers will be entered into a drawing and the first three entries drawn will win a prize. No purchase is necessary to enter.

SPARC is a private, non-profit organization and is the first open admission, no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County. SPARC is a place where homeless animals are brought for humane care without risk of being killed due to lack of space, illness or injury. SPARC rehabilitates and rehomes animals while partnering with the community to provide spay/neuter resources and vaccination programs as well as educational outreach. SPARC relies solely on private donations.

The Friends of the Santa Paula Blanchard Community Library invite all book lovers to their “Back Stacks” Book Sales. They are held the first Saturday of every month from 10AM to 2PM, every Wednesday from Noon to 4PM, and every Thursday and Friday from Noon to 2PM.The next First-Saturday sale will be June 6, 2015. The sales offer great choices in fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and collectibles and are accessed from the north parking lot of the library at 119 N. 8th Street, Santa Paula, CA.Most books are priced from $.50-$2.00.Collectibles start at $4.00.

This month’s specials include a four volume boxed set of Doonesbury Classics by G. B. Trudeau, a two volume boxed set of “Great River, the Rio Grande”, portraying the importance this river has had in our history, and a three volume boxed set of “The Crosswicks Journal” by MadelineL’Engle. Each set is $1.00. Also visit the $1.00 table at the June 6 sale for more incredible bargains.
For more information email fobcl@yahoo.com.

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, June 13.

The women will arrive early at the CFH office at 138 W. Main Street 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 2014, an estimated 235,030 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 twelve family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, May 25. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, May 30, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

More than $3,251,000.00 has been contributed this year by members of Elks Lodges throughout California and Hawaii to be used in treating children with disabilities.. “We are pleased and proud that members of our local Elks Lodges were so generous with their dollars and time in this important undertaking. Since 1950, the 84,000 members from throughout California and Hawaii have turned over more than $103,400,000 to the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc., which administers the non-profit charitable corporation. All of the funds are devoted solely to providing vision screening and therapy treatment to children with a broad range of disabilities. Without the Elks supported donations, many of these children would not receive such treatment. The year-long fund raising campaign is capped by an impressive ceremony at the annual Elks Convention when representatives of lodges from throughout California and Hawaii present their donations to Major Project and Elks Association leaders. The raising of funds to aid children with disabilities is just one of the many philanthropic and patriotic projects which mark the Elks’ contribution to our community.

Well, I have learned the hard way to never ask a lady how old she is, but I can safely say that the celebration of Pat Morris's birthday today, May 7, 2015, at the Fillmore Senior Center, I heard from my wife Carolyn, was a big one! Not as big as Gertrude Ness's 109th, but significantly bigger than my nearly 68th which is right around the corner! There was only one other person in the room older than Pat! And, it is an even numbered birthday! Probably an annoying riddle for most of you, but remember I am a slow learner! To prove that I am a slow learner I asked Pat and she proudly told me that today is, “My 80th Birthday! She then proudly followed with, "I am looking forward to my 90th!"

A quick stop at the Fillmore Senior Center on my way home from the airport allowed me to witness the love and friendship friends of Bardsdale resident Pat Morris, felt for Pat. In the room were twelve wonderful ladies there to celebrate Pat's Birthday! Most of the ladies present, in the back room of the Senior Center, are Sisters within the P.E.O. Chapter GY here in Fillmore. Because Pat is very active in the Community, others in attendance were from The Bardsdale United Methodist Church, Fillmore Historical Museum and the ranching community here in the Santa Clara Valley. Those in attendance were; Carolyn Diaz, Jane Kampbell, Joanne King, Lia Veiekade, Rae Bretzing, Bev Hurst, Sue Cuttriss, Lanie T. Doll, Rita Rudkin, Linda Gilden and Carmen Zermeno.

Pat is married to Bob Morris of Bardsdale and together they farm on about 119 acres in the Bardsdale and Santa Paula area. Together Pat and Bob have raised 4 children; Gregory Seely, 48 of San Francisco, Treacy Seely, 44 of Long Beach, Sean Morris, 49 of Fillmore and Tonya Peters, 51 of Melbourne, Australia. Pat and Bob have two Grandsons; Ian, 14 and Jack, 10 of Fillmore.

Pat is a retired educator in both public (Santa Monica and Beverly Hills) and private school. Pat retired as a Principal with the St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and Day School. After retirement Pat held positions as Vice President and President of The St Patrick's Episcopal Church and Day School Board.

Pat and Bob are both active as Board Members with the Fillmore Historical Society, and are members of the Bardsdale United Methodist Church Choir as well as serve on various committees within the Bardsdale United Methodist Church. Pat would like to invite the entire Santa Clara Valley Community to attend the Memorial Day Observance at the Bardsdale Cemetery where the Bardsdale United Methodist Church Choir will be performing as part of the Memorial Day Observance. Pat is the Past President, and sitting Vice President of P.E.O. GY Chapter. Bob serves on the Board of Fruit Growers Lab and the Southside Improvement Company which serves the water needs for the Bardsdale area. Both Pat, born in Los Angeles on May 7, 1935 and Bob born in Santa Paula, are life-long Californians!

I would like to thank Sue Cuttriss for the great lead on a good story! Although I wasn't offered any of the Birthday Girl's cake, I would still like to say Happy Birthday Pat from all of us here in the Santa Clara Valley! I hope to be at your 90th!

Laurie Reid from the Ventura County area is on a mission to see more families share sit-down Sunday dinners with their senior loved ones. The reason? New research shows that 50 percent of surveyed families living near senior relatives feel they do not share enough meals with older loved ones, losing an important family connection.*

“For seniors, it’s not what’s on their plate that matters most at mealtime – it’s who is at the table with them,” said Reid, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care® office. “When seniors share meals with a companion, they have a better mealtime experience – both nutritionally and emotionally.”

Almost 75 percent of the people surveyed said they only sit down for a family meal with senior loved ones for special occasions, events or holidays. They say a big part of the problem is time – both not having enough of it and conflicting schedules.

To encourage families to make time for these meals, the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation® will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels America (up to $20,000 total through July 31, 2015) for each person that commits to regularly scheduling family dinners at SundayDinnerPledge.com. Pledging to have a sit-down dinner with loved ones will help to ensure other seniors will have a quality meal through the Meals on Wheels program.

“We hope families will make the pledge to either revive or begin new mealtime traditions with their senior loved ones,” Reid said. “This small commitment can have a big impact on a senior’s well-being.”
To help families across the country host their own Sunday dinner, Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with celebrity chef and mother of four Melissa d’Arabian to develop easy, nutritious recipes. Additional resources include tips for how to involve seniors in meal planning and preparation, pre- and post-dinner activities and meal plans for healthy, inexpensive meals that all generations can enjoy.

For these free resources and more information on how you can bring back the Sunday dinner and reconnect with your senior loved ones, visit www.SundayDinnerPledge.com or call Home Instead Senior Care at 805-577-0926.

* Home Instead, Inc. completed surveys with a random sample of 1,000 households in U.S. and Canada between February 10 and 15, 2015. Participants were 50 percent male and 50 percent female, with 900 households in U.S. and 100 in Canada.

About Home Instead Senior Care®
Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 15 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGivers℠ worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.

About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based senior nutrition programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.

About Melissa d’Arabian
Food Network star, best-selling author, writer and mom of four Melissa d'Arabian is an expert on affordable and healthy family home cooking. Well known for her “Ten Dollar Dinners” show and best-selling cookbook, she also hosts Food Network web series “The Picky Eaters Project” and serves as a lead judge on “Guy’s Grocery Games.” Her new "Supermarket Healthy” cookbook is available now. www.melissadarabian.net.

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Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers were among more than 90 volunteers to join Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County to help build affordable housing in Santa Paula in recognition of National Women Build Week, May 2-10. On Saturday, May 9th, a large group of women volunteers worked to provide, safe, decent, affordable housing in Habitat’s new Trinity Lane Development.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County has been participating in Women Build events since 2007. This year, participants included a number of mother-daughter teams and a diverse group of women, ages 16 to 75+, representing local businesses, community groups, and faith-based organizations – all working side-by-side with Habitat Partner Families who will purchase their Trinity Lane homes upon completion of construction and homeowner education classes.

Two successful young women who participated in Saturday’s build have been in their own Habitat home since 2005; sisters Maria Guadalupe Cisneros and Maria De Jesus Cisneros have earned their bachelor’s degrees, and Maria De Jesus is now enrolled in the master’s program at California State Northridge. Twenty year-old Irisela, the oldest daughter of our fifth Trinity Lane Family Partner has been working on-site with her mother and father helping to build other Habitat homes until construction on their house begins this summer. Irisela shared her family’s story during the Women Build lunch-and-learn, speaking to a crowd of more than 90 participants. Her parents and five siblings, ages 11 to 21, are currently living in a crowded three-bedroom apartment with a leaky roof, electrical problems, and no power in one room; her brother is sleeping in a walk-in closet. Irisela’s parent, who been employed by the same agriculture company in Ventura County since 2002, are excellent role models encouraging their daughters and sons to work hard and focus on their studies.

The first two Trinity Lane homes will be completed and dedicated on May 30, 2015 and another two homes will be dedicated in December of 2015. Among the first five homes in Trinity Lane, eleven young girls and five boys will soon have a decent place in which to live, grow and thrive.

“It is an exciting day when so many women work together to build and support families in need of safe, decent and affordable housing. Habitat is built on partnership and volunteerism, and Women Build is a particularly meaningful day of hard work and construction mixed with a desire to support our community,” said Steve Dwyer, Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County’s Executive Director.

National Women Build Week is a weeklong event created by Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program that challenges women to devote at least one day to help build affordable housing in their local communities. Across the nation, more than 15,000 women are expected to volunteer at Habitat construction sites this week to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women.

Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 and each year provides the support of Lowe’s Heroes and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills.

“National Women Build Week has made a difference in the lives of thousands of families since its inception,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to all the women in Ventura County who got involved this week and were part of something bigger with Lowe’s and Habitat.”

Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week, including a $5,000 store gift card to Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s national partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat and helped more than 4,000 families improve their living conditions.

Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable homes in their communities. Since the program was created in 1998, more than 2,300 homes have been built in partnership with low-income families using Women Build crews.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program and to learn about Women Build events in communities across the U.S. year-round, visit Habitat.org/wb or the Women Build tab on http://www.facebook.com/habitat.