E.J. Harrison & Sons Reaches Storm Water Settlement Agreement with the Wishtoyo Foundation and its Ventura Coastkeeper Program to Protect the Santa Clara River and Ventura's Coastal Waters

Saticoy, Ventura County, CA - E.J. Harrison & Sons and Wishtoyo Foundation's Ventura Coastkeeper Program ("VCK") are pleased to announce the resolution of a lawsuit filed against E.J. Harrison & Sons by VCK in December of 2010. The settlement agreement, filed in federal court along with a dismissal of the suit, provides for E.J. Harrison & Sons to construct additional storm water treatment infrastructure to continue to ensure that storm water discharges from its Saticoy facility comply with Clean Water Act water quality standards and are protective of the ecological, recreational, and cultural uses of the Santa Clara River and Ventura's Coastal waters. "E.J. Harrison & Sons is making a commitment to protecting the Santa Clara River and Ventura's coastal waters that should be applauded" says Jason Weiner, Ventura Coastkeeper's Associate Director and Staff Attorney.

In addition, E.J. Harrison & Sons is providing $50,000 for California Trout to work on steelhead migration projects in the Santa Clara River watershed, and $5,000 for Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy ("CAUSE") to conduct 12 Santa Clara River watershed street, storm channel, wetlands, stream, and river community trash clean up events.

"The settlement is one more of the important needed measures to provide Ventura County residents and visitors with coastal waters and a Santa Clara River that are safe for recreational and cultural utilization, and that support native wildlife such as the endangered "Isha'kowoch" (Chumash name for Southern California Steelhead)," says Mati Waiya, Chumash Ceremonial Elder and Executive Director of the Wishtoyo Foundation and its Ventura Coastkeeper Program.

E.J. Harrison & Sons, founded in 1932, operates a facility in Saticoy adjacent to the Santa Clara River. The company services about 90,000 customers in Ventura, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Thousand Oaks and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura County with residential, commercial and industrial service. The company also services Point Mugu and the Channel Islands Beach Communities as well as Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County.

"We feel our commitment to the environment is second to none, and we have a long history to back our claim," said Ralph Harrison, President of E.J. Harrison & Sons.

Harrison said his company's trash collection and recycling practices have had a major positive impact on the environment for over two decades, and last year marked a major milestone for the company. In 2010, Harrison earned Climate Registered status for taking voluntary steps to measure its operation's carbon footprint, ensuring that it is moving toward compliance of Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act. The Climate Registry is a non-profit organization that operates the only carbon footprint registry in North America. Even before earning Climate Registry status, Ralph Harrison noted the company began gradually replacing a large number of its diesel trucks with vehicles that run on cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas and in 2006 opened the first LNG fueling station in western Ventura County.

Ralph Harrison also points to a number of industry and civic honors Harrison has been awarded over the years for its environmental efforts. They include the 2011 Climate Change Action Award, by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors; the 2010 Environmentally Conscious Business Award, by the Ojai Chamber of Commerce; and the 2005 Blue Sky Award, given by CALSTART, North America's leading advanced transportation technologies consortium. As for recycling, E.J. Harrison & Sons' record speaks for itself. In the newly released diversion numbers from the State of California, all of the cities Harrison serves surpassed the mandated 50 percent diversion goal. Harrison also has future plans to bring food waste recycling to all of its customers, working toward the 75 percent reduction that is now mandated.

In recognition of its great recycling programs in 2007, the California Resource Recovery Association took note, citing Harrison Industries for having California's Outstanding Recycling Program. For further information about Harrison-visit: www.ejharrison.com

About the Wishtoyo Foundation and its Ventura Coastkeeper Program: Founded in 1997, Wishtoyo is a 501(c)(3) non profit grassroots organization with over 700 members consisting of Ventura County's diverse residents and Chumash Native Americans. Wishtoyo's mission is to preserve and protect Chumash culture, the culture of all of Ventura County's diverse communities, and the environment that our current and future generations depend upon. Wishtoyo shares traditional Chumash Native American beliefs, cultural practices, songs, dances, stories, and values with the public in its Chumash Discovery Village and through educational programs in schools to promote environmental awareness and natural resources stewardship. In 2000, Wishtoyo founded its Ventura Coastkeeper Program ("VCK"). VCK's mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the ecological integrity and water quality of Ventura County's inland and coastal waterbodies for all beings in the County's diverse community through outreach and education, restoration projects, scientific analysis, advocacy, litigation, and community organizing and empowerment. To learn more about Wishtoyo and its Ventura Coastkeeper Program, visit us at http://www.wishtoyo.org/ventura-coastkeeper.html.

Livingston Memorial VNA & Hospice conducts weekly adult bereavement support groups to help those who have experienced a loss. Explore and express feeling, understand the grief process and receive emotional support. Open to the public and free of charge, the groups are held:

Wednesday Afternoons from 3:00 – 4:30 @ The First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard

Wednesday Evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 @ Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura

The second and 4th Tuesday of the month from 3:00 – 4:00 @ The Townhouse, 4900 Telegraph Rd, (7th floor), Ventura

A monthly class for the newly bereaved is also held:

The second Tuesday of the month from 6:00 – 7:00 @ Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura

Drop ins are welcome; for more information call: 642-0239

Sacramento, CA – This Sunday, Californians will be rolling back their clocks as daylight saving comes to an end on November 6, 2012. CAL FIRE and fire departments across the state are reminding residents to replace the batteries in all smoke alarms as well as their carbon monoxide (CO) alarm when they change their clocks.

“We recommend changing the batteries in your smoke alarms twice a year,” said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover, CAL FIRE. “While you are spending a couple minutes to change the time on all your clocks, it’s so easy just to add an extra minute to ensure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarm all have fresh, new batteries as well.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths occurred in homes without working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms increase the change of surviving a home fire by 50 percent.

For decades, firefighters have used the time change as a reminder for residents to change their smoke alarm batteries. This year, officials are adding carbon monoxide alarms to their message following a new state law requiring all single-family homes have a carbon monoxide alarm.

CAL FIRE has the following tips on smoke alarms:

Test smoke alarms once a month.
Replace batteries in all smoke alarms and CO alarms twice a year.
Don’t “borrow” or remove batteries from smoke & CO alarms even temporarily.
Regularly vacuum or dust smoke & CO alarms to keep them working properly.
Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
Don’t paint over smoke or CO alarms.
Practice family fire drills so everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm goes off.

Find more information visit the CAL FIRE Web site at www.fire.ca.gov.

November 11th is the last day the students can sell Marie Callender Pies for Grad Nite Live. They will be turning their orders and money in Monday, November 13th so we can process the orders and call them in to Marie Callender. It gets rather hectic the last week and the week-end. If possible please get your selling/buying done as soon as possible. If you want to order pies call Mrs Chaney, 524-4909 or 407-5759 and I'll see that your order is processed on time. We are hoping that this "Pie Sale" will help the students get their ticket for the Graduation Harbor Cruise. Grad Nite Live gets $5.00 for every pie, so if the student turns in 20 pie orders they have made their $100. If they do nothing for our fundraising, then they pay $100 for the Cruise. Parents please help your seniors get their orders filled. Thanks.

November 9, 2011

OAKLAND, CA - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The nationwide test will occur on Wednesday, November 9 at 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and may last up to three and a half minutes.

The EAS is a national alert and warning system established to enable the President of the United States to address the American public during emergencies. NOAA's National Weather Service, governors and state and local emergency authorities also use parts of the system to issue more localized emergency alerts.

Similar to local EAS tests that are already conducted frequently, the nationwide test will involve broadcast radio and television stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wireline video service providers across all states and the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.

On November 9, the public will hear a message indicating that "This is a test." The audio message will be the same for both radio and television. Under the FCC's rules, radio and television broadcasters, cable operators, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers and wireline video service providers are required to receive and transmit presidential EAS messages to the public. A national test will help the federal partners and EAS participants determine the reliability of the system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential dangers nationally and regionally.

"A national test of our Emergency Alert System, with the vital communications support and involvement of participants, is a step towards ensuring that the alert and warning community is prepared to deliver critical information that can help save lives and protect property," said Damon Penn, FEMA's Assistant Administrator of National Continuity Programs. "Because there has never been an activation of the Emergency Alert System on a national level, FEMA views this test as an excellent opportunity to assess the readiness and effectiveness of the current system. It is important to remember that this is not a pass or fail test, but a chance to establish a baseline for making incremental improvements to the Emergency Alert System with ongoing and future testing. It is also important to remember that the Emergency Alert System is one of many tools in our communications toolbox, and we will continue to work on additional channels that can be a lifeline of information for people during an emergency."

"The upcoming national test is critical to ensuring that the EAS works as designed," said Jamie Barnett, Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. "As recent disasters here at home and in Japan have reminded us, a reliable and effective emergency alert and warning system is key to ensuring the public's safety during times of emergency. We look forward to working with FEMA in preparation for this important test."

Over the past two years and as part of ongoing national preparedness planning efforts, FEMA, the FCC and other federal partners, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, Emergency Alert System participants and other stakeholders have been working toward making this test a reality.

As the federal, state, tribal, territorial and local governments prepare for and test their capabilities, this event serves as a reminder that everyone should establish an emergency preparedness kit and emergency plan for themselves, their families, communities, and businesses. Anyone can visit www.Ready.gov for more information about how to prepare for and stay informed about what to do in the event of an actual emergency.

About FEMA
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

VENTURA, CA - The Ventura Family YMCA is celebrating YMCA National Week of Prayer November 7th through November 10th. Everyone in the community is invited and encouraged to come and enjoy the messages and fellowship that will be shared by pastors from local churches in the community.

The week’s activities will kick off on Monday morning, with a lecture from Bill Findley focused on the theme “Prayer for Non Profits” accompanied by a musical performance by Troy Jones. Tuesday afternoon, Gary Archer from Ventura Missionary Church will have a discussion featuring the topic of “Grey Matters – Senior’s Day” with The Silvertones providing musical entertainment. Wednesday will be a special evening dedicated to our youth; activities will include a camp fire, participation from local youth groups, Bubble Rollers, a rock climbing wall and music from The River Community Worship Team and Bible Fellowship. Thursday afternoon, Teen Challenge will provide both music and lecture on the subject of Addiction. Local sponsors have generously provided refreshments that will be served at each day’s activities.

This is the fourth year that the Ventura Family YMCA will be participating in the YMCA National Week of Prayer. In addition to the activities held at the Ventura Family YMCA Monday through Thursday, the Y invites the community to participate in events held throughout the community honoring veterans.

The Week of Prayer is an annual event to celebrate the spirituality of the YMCA movement around the world. This week is a tradition that dates back to 1904 when local YMCA’s unite to consider their work in the context of the Bible. YMCA is an organization with a heritage based on Christian principals that serves individuals and families of all religions, races, and creeds. Everyone is welcome to come and participate in activities during Week of Prayer regardless of their spiritual background.

Pastor Jim Duran from the River Community Church and Chair of the Y’s Mission Emphasis Committee is been an active participant in the YMCA Week of Prayer and knows how beneficial the week can be for everyone.

“I believe this will be the best "Week of Prayer" so far because there is a lot more people involved. The partnerships between the YMCA, local churches and pastors, the business sector, and the community at large are making our week second to none. I am excited about our topics this year because we are coming together to discuss and pray about real life situations that many people deal with but nobody wants to talk about. And if that is not enough, we are inviting all Ventura's youth to unite with a Wednesday Night Youth Event. Where else can you go and get a free meal, great music, superb speakers and hope for the future through the power of prayer? This is an event that the entire community should attend,” said Duran.

If you are interested in celebrating in the YMCA National Week of Prayer please feel free to contact Margo Byrne, Executive Director of The Ventura Family YMCA at 805-642-2131 Ext 17 or email margo.byrne@ciymca.org. Or visit www.ciymca.org/ventura.

About the Ventura Family Y
The Ventura Family YMCA serves over 20,000 individuals annually through facility memberships, before & after school childcare, day & resident camps, youth sports, swim lessons, teen programs, and many more healthy lifestyles and community enriching programs throughout Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy. Through the Open Doors program the YMCA ensures that no one is ever turned away due to their inability to pay and facility memberships without contracts or join fees makes the Ventura Family YMCA accessible to everyone. The Ventura Family YMCA is located at 3760 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003.

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011 was a day when Fillmore’s reputation as one of the “Last of the Best Small Towns” was reconfirmed. If anyone passed along Central Avenue between the hours of 4pm-7:30pm, you might have wondered about all the activity as enthusiastic young people & seniors & “in- betweeners” worked together to refurbish the planter pots with red, white & blue themed flowers to go with our military banners hung above the street.
This was a long hoped for, and well planned “grass roots” event. Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee was given permission by our city manager, Yvonne Quiring, to seek sponsor ships to refurbish the pots because of the city’s deficit & the landscaper’s request for more money to do the work.

The pots had long struggled with hard rocky dirt, poor quality watering systems and frequently exchanged small annuals which did not balance with the pot size.

When the “word” was put out seeking sponsorships, we began getting calls and Wednesday was our first planting event.

All the large diameter pots have been planted with a compact tree rose & the red & blue flowering plants, but there are still small pots needing sponsors. Information is available from Linda Nunes at 805-524-3021 or other Civic Pride committee members like Cindy Klittich & Sarah Hansen.

Sponsors can be “hands on” types, helping with the planting & care or donating type.

They will receive a small plaque attached to the pot & a certificate of appreciation, along with publicity in our newspapers.

Civic Pride would like to recognize our city fire chief, Rigo Landeros for his immense help in driving the skip loader & dump truck for old soil removal. He even helped with shoveling dirt & sweeping. Now how is that for community members working together to benefit our town!

Sponsors that have already become involved are: Otto & Sons Inc., Victoria Pace, Kennedy Smith, Janet Foy, Sespe 4H,, Grace Beer, DDS, Soroptimist International of Fillmore, Gayle Washburn and Patterson Hardware.

Join us for two fun-filled days. On Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the Sr. Center will host a display and sale of hand made items and crafts and on Sat., Nov. 5, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. a giant Rummage Sale. Light refreshments will be served at the Craft Fair. It’s a great opportunity to support your Sr. Center and get your Christmas shopping done.

Officials provide links to easy steps to build a preparedness kit and watch how-to videos

SACRAMENTO, CA - After a recent string of moderate earthquakes that shook up parts of the Bay Area and Northern California, the California Seismic Safety Commission (CSSC) and California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) have teamed up to remind everyone that now is a good time to refresh home emergency kits, and focus on the need to take simple steps to prepare yourself, your family and pets for the next quake.

One of the most recent quakes rattled nerves late Wednesday night about 23 miles north east of Truckee, California. The 4.7 magnitude temblor did little damage, but residents in seven counties reported feeling the earth shake around 11:37 pm. And, last week's 3.9 magnitude quake near Berkeley was yet another wake-up call to all Californians that earthquakes can occur at any place and any time. Experts warn that if you don't take steps to prepare in advance, the consequences could be disastrous.

Once the ground stops shaking and you're safe to get up from the "drop, cover and hold on" position, experts say your next steps are critical. "Sometimes evacuations are necessary after earthquakes. Making a list of necessities that can be retrieved in a matter of minutes, can prove very useful," said Richard McCarthy, Executive Director for California's Seismic Safety Commission.

Mike Dayton, Acting Secretary of Cal EMA says it's also important to have family plans in place and know what you will do for the first 72 hours after a major quake. "It's just a matter of time before California gets hit by another major earthquake," said Dayton. "When the big one hits, it's likely you'll need to be on your own without power, water and other conveniences, so take some easy steps now to get prepared," he said.

In another effort to boost personal preparedness, Cal EMA and CSSC have partnered with the California Earthquake Authority to launch the "Totally Unprepared" earthquake readiness campaign. Through weekly videos and online resources, the public is encouraged to take simple steps to get on the path to preparedness. They're entertaining and short videos that anyone can watch and learn.

There are lots of resources available to help you get prepared. Check out the following websites to learn more.

www.seismic.ca.gov
www.calema.ca.gov
www.myhazards.calema.ca.gov
www.shakeout.org
www.totallyunprepared.com
www.ready.gov

What: A free health screening for people at risk for kidney disease – area residents with diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease. A health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine tests will be conducted on an anticipated 85 people throughout the day.

When: Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Where: Santa Paula Community Center; 530 West Main St. Santa Paula, CA 93060

Who: Anyone over age 18 showing risk for Kidney Disease (above)

Why: Twenty six million Americans have chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it. In the Tri-Counties, one in eight people are suffering from chronic kidney disease. Early detection and treatment, including lifestyle changes and medications, may SLOW or PREVENT its progression to kidney failure and lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"I owe my health to these screenings," Cynthia Mullon told us with great relief. "They're comprehensive and helped me catch my kidney disease before it was too late."

Cynthia, a diabetic for over 20 years, attended a free National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®) screening recently in Newburgh, NY. "I found out that my GFR-a measure of kidney function-had declined immensely since the last screening," she reported.

"It showed that in the course of one year, I had gone from being healthy to being in stage two kidney disease." She is now working with her doctor and following a diet plan and exercise regimen to help prevent or slow further kidney damage.

Cynthia's story is just one of thousands. NKF has provided free early detection screenings to more than 155,000 people at risk for kidney disease. And for each of them, these screenings can be life-changing events.

SANTA PAULA, CA – Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVBank;OTC BB: SCVE.OB) today announced its 2011 third quarter results.

SCVBank recorded a net profit of $140,000 for the third quarter of 2011 compared to a net profit of $60,000 for the third quarter of 2010. Net profit for the nine month period ending September 30, 2011 was $384,000 versus a net loss of $(346,000) for the same nine month period in 2010. This improvement in earnings was largely due to the reduction in the provision for loan loss expense. Due to improved credit conditions there was no loan loss provision taken in the first nine months of 2011, compared to a $900,000 provision taken in 2011 during the same period.

Net loan charge-offs for the first nine months of 2011 totaled $279,000 as compared to $1,585,000 for the same nine month period in 2010. Interim CEO and Chairman of the Board Ralph De Leon noted, “We attribute this reduction in charge offs to the hard work of our loan staff to improve the overall quality of our loan portfolio.”

SCVBank continues to maintain a strong capital position with a Tier 1 Leverage Ratio of 11.00%, up from 9.09% a year ago. Total risk-based capital is 19.03%, up from 14.81% last September.

Liquidity continues to be very strong as cash and investments total $55,345,000, or 42.67% 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, Howe Barnes Hofer & Arnett, 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
805 525-7847

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 County Treasurer-Tax Collector Steven Hintz announced that the Secured Property Tax Bills for the 2011/12 tax year will be mailed by October 15, 2011. Property owners who have not received the Fiscal Year 2011/12 secured property tax statement by the end of October should either telephone the office at (805) 654-3744, or send an Email request for a duplicate bill to HelpingHand@ventura.org. A “virtual bill” for each Ventura County taxable parcel is available online through the Tax Collector’s website: www.venturapropertytax.org

Hintz further reported that the 2011/12 tax statement information is currently loaded into his office’s systems and taxpayers can begin to inquire about their 2011/12 bills, as well as make their payments. Payments can be made by U.S. Mail, by visiting the Tax Collector’s Office, or via the Internet from the Tax Collector’s website: www.venturapropertytax.org. A total of 246,604 Secured Property Tax Bills will be issued for 2011/12, representing a total secured tax roll of more than $1.179 billion.

The FIRST INSTALLMENT of the 2011/12 secured property tax is due November 1, 2011, and can be paid without penalty as late as December 12, 2011. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. A payment drop box near the East entrance of the Hall of Administration at the Victoria Avenue County Government Center in Ventura will be available until MIDNIGHT on December 12, 2011.

Mailing a check with the payment stub remains an efficient way to pay your taxes. Payments postmarked on or before December 12, 2011 will be considered on time. The timeliness of mailed payments is measured by the U.S. Postal Service cancellation mark. The closure of the Oxnard Postal Annex may impact the timely postmark of your payment. Please take this into consideration when mailing your payment. If you must wait until December 12, 2011, it is recommended that you take your payment into the Post Office and have it postmarked in your presence. State law requires that a 10% penalty be collected for all late payments.

Steven Hintz
Treasurer-Tax Collector
County of Ventura