Fillmore’s Aquatic Center has summer schedule set and ready!

Lap Swim hours are from 6:30 am to 8:00 am. Monday through Friday and 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm Monday through Thursday. Saturday Lap Swim hours are from 8:30 to 10:00 am. The cost is $4.00.

Recreation Swim is now daily! Starting on Monday and going through Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Cost is $2.00.

Friday Night Family Night is every Friday at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Cost is $1.00.

We also have Teen Night the first and third Friday of every month from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Cost is $1.00.

If you would like information about swim lessons please call the Aquatic Center during the above mentioned hours at 524-4902.

Chamomile tea for your tummy aches, oregano and sweet basil for your tomato sauce, whatever your herb needs, you can find them at the Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market. You can purchase the herbs you need from ABC Farm.
The ABC Farm is a family owned business. The business began in Santa Paula where they primarily grew rhubarb. In the late 1980’s, they sold their property and moved ABC Farm to thirty one acres in Fillmore where they began growing different varieties of herbs. At the farm they grow oregano, basil, dill, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, the list goes on and on. As I toured the ABC Farm with Albert, the eldest Baltazar son, he explained to me how the business has grown. Years ago, Albert would sell 5 bundles of watercress at each market, but today currently sells over 50 bundles a market. Why the sudden increase in watercress sales? Apparently Dr. Oz had a TV episode on watercress and its health benefits which prompted costumers to ask for more watercress. Other than watercress, their top seller is mint. Albert told me that the herbs they sell are not only used for food but some costumers choose to use herbs like rue, chamomile and aloe vera for their medicinal benefits. To help keep their herbs organic they grow the plants on top of mulch piles instead of the ground. ABC Farm is in the process of being certified organic, they currently do not use any fertilizer or sprays on their plants. It takes approximately four to six years to become certified organic and ABC Farms have about 18 more months until the process is finished. They have a certificate that allows them to sell at farmer’s markets. Each year, an inspector from the Ventura County Agriculture Department comes to the farm to make sure they are growing what they are selling at the farmer’s markets. Albert sells to markets around Ventura County, but his daughter-in-law Sandra helps with the sales at the Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market. Albert enjoys the farmer’s market because he meets many people of different cultures. Albert’s goal for the next year is to grow more Asian and Persian herbs. In the mean time, stop by for a bundle of Rue, Albert tells me it’s a great natural air freshener. The Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market is every Wednesday from 3:30-7pm. Hope to see you there!

On Tuesday, June 21st, the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers presented a check to Pierre Gerardy of AYSO to fund membership for two AYSO participants. The Sun Risers support many community and International projects including: Dictionaries to all 3rd grade students in FUSD (we hand them out annually); scholarships to FHS and Sierra H.S. seniors; child safety car seat project; FHS Career Day; RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) leadership camp; Relay for Life; Condor Track Team; FMS Youth Act Club; FHS Interact Club; Piru Elementary Leadership Camp; San Cayetano Robotics, to name a few. International Projects include water project with Camarillo Rotary Club and PolioPlus project to eradicate Polio worldwide.

The Club meets every Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM at El Pescador Restaurant. For more information call Irma at 794-2353.

The Sun Risers will be working in their annual Fireworks Booth from June 28th through July 4th. This is a major fund raiser for the Club and helps to support many community and International project. The Sun Risers booth is located in the McDonald’s parking lot. Please visit the booth and help support many worthy projects, including AYSO.

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

VCHCA Las Islas Mobile Medical Clinic & Ventura County Public Health Immunization Program have partnered to offer low cost or no cost Tdap vaccine for students entering 7th - 12th grade this year.

WHEN: Thursday, June 30th 4pm-7pm

WHERE: Santa Paula West Clinic 254 West Harvard Blvd, Santa Paula, CA (In the parking lot behind the Clinic and DMV)

. Parent or legal guardian must be present for children under 18 years

. Bring child's insurance card or Medi-Cal card

. Bring all immunization records (yellow immunization card)

For more information about this upcoming "LOW Cost or NO Cost Tdap Vaccine Clinic," please contact the Immunization Program at Ventura County Public Health: 805-981-5211 or Immunization.Program@ventura.org

For more information on the event, go to our facebook: http://on.fb.me/TdapVaccineClinic

Ventura, CA - United Blood Services is experiencing a critical shortage in type O-negative blood. The shortage has hit just as blood bank officials are gearing up to prepare for the next long summer holiday weekend, over July 4th. United Blood Services is urging O-negative blood donors to donate immediately and for other eligible donors to remember to give before July 4th.

While donations of all blood types are encouraged, donors with type O-negative blood, or those who have never donated before, are especially needed. Holidays such as this bring an increased risk of emergencies and accidents, and it is O-negative blood that is often used to help patients when there is no time to determine their own blood type. As a "Universal Donor," blood type O-negative can be transfused to anyone. As a special way of saying thank you, each volunteer blood donor will receive a certificate for a medium one-topping Domino’s Pizza!

Donations may be made at the UBS Center in Ventura at 2223 Eastman near McGrath, or any of a number of community blood drives happening throughout the county. Donors are asked to make an appointment by contacting United Blood Services toll-free at 800-715-3699; or online at www.Blood4Life.org. Just click on “Donate Blood” and type in your zip code to find a list of drives nearby. Appointments are appreciated, but not necessary. Walk-ins are also welcome, and will be honored as our appointment schedule allows.

You may donate blood if you are over age 16, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger.

Ventura Center Hours:

Monday and Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Pizza served 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday)

Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Closed Monday, July 4th in observance of the holiday.

Fillmore/Piru Relay for Life fundraising is off to a roaring start! Gilbert’s Legacy Relay team is having a fundraiser in the quest to fight this terrible disease that has touched so many lives!

Come and join us for good food and friends on Sunday, June 26, 2011, dinner pick –up is from 3:00pm to 5:00pm in front of the Fillmore Fire Station, 711 Sespe Place. A delicious Enchilada Dinner, with enchiladas, rice, beans and a dessert will be hot and ready to enjoy!

A $10 donation is suggested for each dinner. To purchase tickets, or to make a donation to the
American Cancer Society Relay for Life, please send an email to: relayforgilbertslegacy@gmail.com or call 805-524-5241 for more information. Hope to see you there!!

The present social justice include the SuperFund Clean Up Site Committee, our goals include getting the superfund site cleaned up. The site is north of hwy 126 and east of Pole Creek. Recently there has been evidence of a plume of contaminated soil from the Superfund Site. This might indicate a contamination of the underground water sources. The SUPERFUND CLEAN UP SITE Committee meets every Thursday at 4:00pm. One Step A La Vez would like to invite the community to a special presentation by EPA Community Involvement Coordinator- Alejandro Diaz on Thursday June 16 at 4:00pm, 600 Saratoga Street, Fillmore, CA. For more information contact Youth Adelante! Advocate, Daniel Gonzalez: daniel@myonestep.org or (805)298-2237.

One Step A La Vez Teens have a voice in Fillmore and Piru. They discuss what areas need to be changed and they work hard to improve their community. If a teen has an idea about a change that needs to happen in their community and they want help with making that change, they are invited to come to the One Step Board of Directors to discuss their concern and their plans. The Board listens, asks questions and decides if that particular concern fits within the Board's recognized need for social justice. The Board sponsors community activism training each year that such features as: public speaking, learning how to advocate effectively, building partnerships, and meeting management.

One Step A La Vez program provides services to youth 13-19. Services include youth activities, youth development, and mental health referrals. Daily attendance rages from 15-40 youth. Staying true to our motto “Making changes poco a poco” we strive to ensure that youth are healthy (physically, mentally), empowered and educated, thus changing our community One Step and One Person at a time!

600 Second Street, Fillmore, CA 93015
805.516.9336 or 805.910.6642
www.myonestep.org

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Naval Base Ventura County, Calif., June 16, 2011 . . . Join the U.S. Navy on Saturday and Sunday July 23-24 as they celebrate Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Seabee Days 2011 at Port Hueneme. Admission and parking are free.

The 24th Seabee Days provides the public with an opportunity to learn about the Navy’s construction engineers and have a weekend of fun. The activities include hands-on displays and demonstrations of construction and disaster recovery skills and static displays of some of the latest in construction equipment. Also included are a carnival, music, food, a classic car and motorcycle show, a karaoke contest, 10 boxing matches, a softball tournament and a craft fair.

The boxing matches on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. are free to watch. The matches feature one women’s, two youth, two local boxers and five Navy boxers. For information on the boxing matches or the softball tournament call 805-982-4392.

The Pass and Review Parade, set for Saturday at 11 a.m., features as its guest speaker Rear Adm. Christopher J. Mossey, commander of the Naval Engineering Command, Chief of Civil Engineers. The parade will feature approximately 1,0000 Seabees marching and military vehicles driven by Seabees as blanks are fired from crew served weapons. An aircraft flyover will also be held.

Begin your visit to NBVC by entering the base at either the Patterson or Victoria Avenue gates. Gates open both days at 9 a.m. The carnival at NBVC Port Hueneme is open from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 23 and Sunday July 24, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The new Seabee Museum opens Friday, July 22. Hours that day and Saturday will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, July 24 noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the Museum is also free.

For more information visit NBVC Seabee Days 2011 Facebook page or the website at www.seabeedays.org, or call the Seabee Days hotline at (805) 982-6000.

NBVC Port Hueneme has heightened security measures in place. All vehicles and personnel entering the base are subject to search. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to; skateboards, bicycles, pets, alcohol, and weapons. All vendors and staff must have a photo ID for access to the base. The cooperation and patience of guests is greatly appreciated.

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Last week’s gloomy weather couldn’t dampen the mood at the Fillmore Community Farmer’s Market. Shoppers were treated to an abundance of bright vegetables, stone fruit and flowers. Consumers also had a chance to purchase fresh eggs from Shepard Farm.

Shepard Farm is owned and operated by Bob and Barbra Shepard. They are primarily organic citrus growers. In their orchards they do not use chemicals or sprays. A little more than a year ago, the Shepards came up with the idea of using chickens to control the weeds with the added benefit of using the chicken manure to fertilize the trees. The fencing used to contain the chickens around the trees is portable. This enables the Shepards to move the chickens to different locations once the weeds are eaten down. This makes for very happy chickens and healthy eggs for the consumer. The Shepards raise several different varieties of chickens which include Rhode Island Reds and Red Stars that produce brown eggs. You can also purchase blue eggs which are laid by the Americana chickens. The eggs range in size from small to large and can be purchased for $4 to $6 a dozen. Currently the Shepards have 500 laying chickens and 300 chicks on their farm which supply about thirty dozen eggs a day. To be able to sell their eggs at the farmer’s market, the Shepard’s business was approved by an inspector from the Ventura County Agriculture Commissioner’s Office. The Shepards have a California Certificate of Production to sell their eggs at the markets. When asked why she enjoys the Fillmore Community Farmers Market, Barbara said “The people are very friendly, they are here trying to get the best quality food they can and it’s nice to be apart of that.” The Shepards also sell oranges but their varieties are currently not in season. Besides Fillmore, they also sell at farmer’s markets in Simi Valley, Oak Park and Woodland Hills. The Shepard Farm is located in Bardsdale and is not open to the public, so come visit Shepard Farm every Wednesday from 3:30-7pm on Central and Main St at the Fillmore Community Farmer‘s Market.

Pictured are Fillmore High Seniors, winners of a $l,000 scholarship: Grace Ann Simon, Karissa Tarango, Mariah Perez, Chloe Keller, Riley Wright, Troy Spencer.
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$500 in scholarships was present to five adults returning to or attending college by the Women’s Service Club. Pictured are recipients Rita Avila, Rebecca Pillado, Davin Banks, Brianna Rojo, Maia Thayer.
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The Fillmore Women’s Service Club presented Educational Scholarships to Fillmore High School Seniors at a luncheon held at El Pescador Restaurant in May. Their were six seniors that were winners of a $l,000 scholarship:
Grace Ann Simon, Karissa Tarango, Mariah Perez, Chloe Keller, Riley Wright, Troy Spencer.

This year the Fillmore Women’s Service Club was Service Club presents Eleven scholarships also able to award five adult scholarships for “Continuing or re-entry” to school. This year we were excited that we had several applications, and were able to give $500 to five adults returning or attending college: Rita Avila, Rebecca Pillado, Davin Banks, Brianna Rojo, Maia Thayer.

Susan Banks, Scholarship Chairman made this presentation at the Club’s regular monthly meeting June 8th at the Senior Center. The only way the Fillmore Women’s Service Club is able to award these scholarships and recognize not only Fillmore High School Seniors, but also adults in the community, is through your continued support of our 4th of July Fireworks Booth. This year our booth will be located HWY 126 across from Tipsy Fox in the empty lot, please look for our sign. Thank you again and hope to see you at our booth.

(l-r) Jan Marholin, San Cayetano principal, and Irma Magana-Rodriguez, Sun Risers Club president

On Tuesday, June 14th, the Sun Risers presented to Jan Marholin, San Cayetano Elementary School principal, a check for $300 for the school’s NASA Robotic program. The Rotary Club has been a long time supporter of the Robotics program. The Club meets every Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM at El Pescador Restaurant. For more information call Irma at 794-2353.

The Sun Risers will be working in their annual Fireworks Booth from June 28th through July 4th. This is a major for the Club and helps to support many community and International project. The Sun Risers booth is located in the McDonald’s parking lot. Please visit the booth and help support many worthy projects.

All funds raised go to support Sun Riser Rotary projects like: Dictionaries to all 3rd grade students in FUSD (we hand them out annually); scholarships to FHS and Sierra H.S. seniors; child safety car seat project; FHS Career Day; RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) leadership camp; Relay for Life; Condor Track Team; FMS Youth Act Club; FHS Interact Club; Piru Elementary Leadership Camp; San Cayetano Robotics, to name a few.

International Projects include water project with Camarillo Rotary Club and PolioPlus project to eradicate Polio worldwide.

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

Fillmore’s Aquatic Center has summer schedule set and ready!

Lap Swim hours are from 6:30 am to 8:00 am. Monday through Friday and 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm Monday through Thursday. Saturday Lap Swim hours are from 8:30 to 10:00 am. The cost is $4.00.

Recreation Swim is now daily! Starting on Monday and going through Saturday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Cost is $2.00.

Friday Night Family Night is every Friday at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Cost is $1.00.

We also have Teen Night the first and third Friday of every month from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Cost is $1.00.

If you would like information about swim lessons please call the Aquatic Center during the above mentioned hours at 524-4902.

Ventura, CA - The Network for a Healthy California—Children’s Power Play! Campaign in partnership with San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura County community youth organizations today kicked-off the third annual “Power Up Your Summer!” Challenge to empower kids to add more active play and eat more fruits and vegetables this summer to combat the “summer slump” in physical activity and healthy eating.

Kids gain weight more than twice as fast during the summer as they do during the regular school year. The difference between school and summer gain rates was especially large for Black and Hispanic children, as well as those children who are already overweight.

“For many students, summer break is also a break from healthy habits fostered in the structured school environment” said Carolina Ugarte, Power Play! Coordinator. “Instead of scheduled meals and snacks, children at home during summer break may have continuous access to unhealthy snacks. In place of recess, children may spend more time watching television and playing video games. It all adds up to more calories consumed and less burned.”

Eating more fruits and vegetables not only beats the “summer slump” and childhood obesity, but helps kids feel good, reduce stress, improve strength and increase self-esteem—all benefits that last far beyond the summer break. By participating in the “Power Up Your Summer!" Challenge, kids and their families receive resources, tools and guidance to ensure they meet their personal goals for healthy eating and physical activity this summer.

Elementary school children should get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, which can be done throughout the day for at least 10 minutes at a time and should eat two-and-a-half to five cups of fruits and vegetables every day.

"Parents can help their kids stay on track this summer by including more fruits and vegetables in meals and snacks, limiting screen time and by being positive role models,” said Ugarte. “One of the best ways for parents to help kids get active and maintain healthy eating habits is by enrolling them into a summer activity program, which provides scheduled play and snacks, as well as a safe place for children to learn and grow while parents work.”

To officially kick off the “Power Up Your Summer!” Challenge, local youth organizations throughout the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura County area will be celebrating “PLAY! Week” June 13-17. Youth leaders will guide kids in super-charged, fun group games and personal play activities, such as hula-hoop, jump rope and dancing to meet a regional goal for active play minutes. By the end of the week, it is expected that local kids will log more than 60,000 minutes of active play, helping the local community jump start an active summer.

Local organizations participating in the “Power Up Your Summer!” Challenge include People’s Self Help Housing in Paso Robles, Lillian Larsen Elementary in San Miguel, Isla Vista Elementary in Goleta, Green Valley CDI in Oxnard and Project Access in Oxnard.

About the Network for a Healthy California—Children’s Power Play! Campaign
The Network for a Healthy California—Children’s Power Play! Campaign motivates and empowers California’s low-income 9- to 11-year-old children to eat more fruits and vegetables and get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This statewide social marketing initiative is led by the California Department of Public Health’s Network for a Healthy California to improve children’s short-term health and reduce their long-term risk of obesity and other serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. Funding is from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). For CalFresh information, call 877-847-3663. For important nutrition information visit www.cachampionsforchange.net. The Network for a Healthy California is a program of the Ventura County Health Care Agency, Public Health Department.

CAMARILLO, CA – It could be a family’s worst nightmare – they’re being asked to evacuate because of a wildfire or other disaster, but they don’t know what to take or where to go. On Saturday, June 18, the Ventura County Fire Department, Farmers Insurance Company, the American Red Cross of Ventura County and the Home Depot store in Simi Valley will combine their efforts to ensure families are prepared for an emergency.

Using the fire department’s award-winning “Ready, Set, Go!” wildfire preparedness program as a foundation, families attending the event will learn how to prepare their property against a wildfire but, more importantly, they will learn how to assemble their emergency supplies, create an evacuation checklist, plan evacuation routes and recover their losses should any type of disaster occur.

The fire department will have fire engines and informational booths set up. Farmers Insurance will demonstrate the capabilities of their 45-foot Mobile Claims Center and the Red Cross will display one of their Emergency Response Vehicles and some of the emergency supplies available from them. Home Depot will feature products for wildfire preparedness including building materials to make the home safer, fire-resistant landscaping and other emergency supplies.

“Our Mobile Claims Center just returned from the Midwest,” said Jerry Davies, Farmers’ Assistant Vice President of Media and Public Relations, “and the destruction we witnessed there really brought home the need to be prepared. An event like this gives people the tools they need to cope with a disaster, and that brings peace of mind as well.”

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there will be activities for the whole family. Families will be encouraged to work together on a preparedness plan and backpacks will be given away so families can start the process of assembling their own emergency supply kit. The event is free of charge.

Event: Disaster Preparedness
Where: Home Depot, 575 Cochran St., Simi Valley (Thomas Bros. map page 497 G1).
When: Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, July 4. As a result, Fillmore residential customers will have their trash and recycling collected on Saturday, July 9, one day later than usual.

The regular schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.