Bank of the Sierra today announced plans to open a new Loan Production Office (LPO) in the city of Oxnard, Ventura County, California. The office is scheduled to open in May of 2015. This represents the 29th location for the bank and follows the November 2014 acquisition of Santa Clara Valley Bank and its branches in the nearby cities of Santa Paula, Fillmore and Santa Clarita.

“Continued loan growth plays a key role in our ability to attain the bank’s short and long term strategic goals, and ultimately, return to shareholders,” commented Kevin McPhaill, President and CEO. “In the five months following our Santa Clara Valley Bank acquisition, very strong loan growth potential is evident in Ventura County, and the new LPO will help us meet the lending needs in that area,” he added.

“The loan production office in Ventura County is a natural fit to our existing franchise in this part of the state,” stated Michael Olague, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer. “We have experienced solid loan activity in this area and we look forward to expanding our presence in developing additional lending relationships,” continued Olague.

The new LPO will be located in Suite 1720 on the 17th floor of the Topa Financial Plaza tower at 300 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard, California 93036. Branch functions will be limited to loan processing and production. Deposit gathering and other bank branch functions will not be available at this office due to regulatory requirements governing LPOs.

Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 38th year of operations and at over $1.7 billion in total assets is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The Company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 28 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center, an agricultural credit center, and an SBA center. Sierra Bancorp, the holding company for Bank of the Sierra, is publicly traded on the NASDAQ: BSRR.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has postponed the Commission’s Hearing Board’s public review of the county's annual "unmet transit needs" draft findings until Monday, May 18, 2015. The rescheduled public meeting will convene at 1:30 p.m. at the City of Camarillo's Council Chambers (located at 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo).

According to VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle, the Commission's Citizen's Transportation Advisory Committee/Social Service Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC/SSTAC) simply wanted additional time to review the draft findings and recommendations arising from this year's "unmet transit needs" public process. CTAC/SSTAC serves as an advisory panel to the Commission and includes representatives from each city and the County, as well as the representatives of the various social service and advocacy organizations and providers in the county as called for in state law.

VCTC's "unmet transit needs" is a public process reviewing the transit needs of individuals and groups in Ventura County. Public hearings are held on an annual basis to receive public comment and to analyze potential unmet transit needs, and whether they would be reasonable to provide. As the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA), VCTC is required to conduct this process in order to be eligible to receive Transit Development Act funding from the state.

Agendas for VCTC and its various committees are available on the web at www.GoVentura.org. Public review of said agendas can also be made during normal business hours at the VCTC offices at 950 County Square Drive, Suite 108, in Ventura. Questions regarding the public process may be directed to Vic Kamhi at (805) 642-1591, extension 110.

Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Sierra Bancorp recognized net income of $3.738 million in the quarter, for a return on average assets of 0.93% and a return on average equity of 8.06%. Net income was slightly lower than in the first quarter of the prior year due in large measure to the impact of nonrecurring items and a higher income tax accrual, but diluted earnings per share increased to $0.27 in the first quarter of 2015 from $0.26 in the first quarter of 2014 as a result of stock repurchases over the course of the past year. Income statement highlights for the quarter include robust net interest income driven by a large increase in average interest-earning assets, and relatively strong non-interest income resulting in large part from a higher level of fee-generating customer activity. Non-interest expense was higher due to substantial gains on the sale of OREO which helped offset costs in the first quarter of 2014, as well as higher core processing costs subsequent to our conversion in February 2014, higher personnel expense, and other operating cost increases associated with our acquisition in late 2014.

Total assets were up $96 million, or 6%, during the first quarter of 2015, due to net growth of $95 million in gross loan balances. Loan balances exceeded the milestone level of $1 billion for the first time in the history of the Bank, and growth for the quarter was favorably impacted by increased utilization on mortgage warehouse lines as well as the purchase of $28 million in residential mortgage loans in March. Total nonperforming assets, including nonperforming loans and foreclosed assets, were reduced by close to $2 million, or 7%, during the quarter. Total deposits increased $24 million, or 2%, due to a $37 million increase in core non-maturity deposits that was partially offset by a reduction in time deposits. Non-deposit borrowings increased $77 million.

“Growth during the CONTINUED »

Fillmore and Piru community members will unite at a Kick Off rally to officially launch their 10th Annual Relay For Life season. Team Captains, Survivors, Participants, Sponsors and community members are all invited to ring in the new season with a rally that educates everyone on how their involvement benefits the American Cancer Society’s goal to save lives and create more birthdays. Money raised will fight cancer by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.

Please join us on Monday, April 20th at Elkins Ranch Golf Course 1386 Chambersburg Road, Fillmore. Festivities will begin at 6pm. Refreshments will be served. For more information please visit our website at www.relayforlife.org/fillmoreca or contact Lorissa Magdaleno at 805-210-0023.

You are cordially invited to attend Fillmore High School’s 6th Annual Make A Wish event to be held on April 24, 2015 on the Football Field from 8:30-4:00pm. Our goal is to raise $5,000 so that we may grant a wish for a child with a life-threatening medical condition. Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties (“Make-A-Wish”) is an event to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. If you know of any child whose wish was granted, please contact Cynthia Perez cynthiaperez4455@gmail.com with the information so that we may create posters for them.

“Looking Toward the Future” is the theme of the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society’s (SCRVRHS) Annual Railfest, co-sponsored by the Fillmore & Western Railway. The Railfest, which attracts thousands of visitors annually, takes place at Central Park in Fillmore on the weekend of April 25th and 26th between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Admission and parking are free.

Following in the SCRVRHS tradition to provide Southern California with a family fun event, the Railfest offers railroad-related activities such as miniature steam train rides; ‘speeder’ rides, turn table demonstration, displays from various railroad-related organizations, including model railroads, Operation Lifesaver, and food booths, including SCRVRHS’ very own Locomotive Tri-Tip Bar-B-Que. Other invited attractions include the famous Frontier Gunfighters, antique farm equipment demonstrations and vintage tractors, live musical entertainment, arts and craft booths, and commemorative festival T-shirts.

This year, there will be 1 hour train rides departing at 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm and 2:30pm. A caboose will also be added to provide a unique and rare opportunity for the public to ride in an actual caboose for a one hour excursion.

A Family Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner Train will run on Saturday, April 25 featuring a Spaghetti dinner. On board will be gunslingers, good guys in white hats, frontier gals and other mystery players. Reservations required. For tickets or information please visit www.fwry.com or call 805-524-2546.

SCRVRHS will also have their 1956 Union Pacific Pullman Sleeping Car open for public inspection. The car, designated by U.P. as #1205 the ‘National Embassy’, is one of only twelve flat-sided aluminum ‘Embassy’ cars built for the Union Pacific Railroad. It came directly out of U.P. service spending the last twenty+ years on static display at the Miramar Hotel in Montecito. The interior is untouched and virtually original in every detail, right down to the Union Pacific blankets and Pullman soap bars. It has roomettes, staterooms, and a rare open section. A real step back into the closing days of the golden age of passenger train service! You’ll want to see this.

Plus the SCRVRHS RR Visitor Center will be open. The Center, located in the old Fillmore City Fire house, contains many railroad artifacts, an educational library, Lionel model train layout, gift shop and a video library and theatre.

Visit the old Southern Pacific Depot, Bunkhouse, or Hinckley house at the Fillmore Historical Society, which is rich in Fillmore history. They are located near the turntable.

This is SCRVRHS’s annual opportunity to demonstrate their charter as a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the history of the old Santa Paula Branch Line. Most of the Festival proceeds benefit the non-profit, its railroad restoration efforts; and a roundhouse/Railroad Interpretive Center.

Fillmore is located 40 miles north of Los Angeles in Ventura County on Highway 126 between Interstate 5 at Magic Mountain and the 101 Freeway in Ventura.

Fillmore Athletic Booster Club is committed to promoting and supporting all student-athletes at FHS and we are currently looking for new members. Parents, grandparents, and community members are invited to be an active participant in making sure our athletic programs have what they need. Stop by our May 4th meeting at 6:30 PM, held in the student store at FHS, or contact Jennie Andrade @ 805-340-3601. New members bring new ideas! Hope to see you on the 4th.

Ventura, CA – Local charity Hope’s Haven Children’s Charity has donated 10 iPads to the pediatric unit at Community Memorial Hospital.

The CMH pediatric unit averages two to three patients per day and has five beds.Critically injured and seriously ill children in Ventura County who receive either in-patient or out-patient care, along with their families, benefit as Hope’s Haven improves their quality of life with toys, financial assistance and VIP experiences. The siblings of these children benefit as they are included in the events and they are the recipients of gifts as well.

“While many children spend their days sitting in a classroom, playing at the park and having sleepovers, many of our children are being treated for illnesses or injury,” said Megan Meeker, CMH’s director of Maternal & Children's Health Services. “The iPads serve as a distraction and some fun during a difficult time for a child hospitalization or treatment, providing a sanitary alternative to toys and books while being a positive distraction during treatment.”

Hope’s Haven is working with the Ventura County medical community to place iPads in hospital pediatric beds. “They provide a vehicle for kids to keep up on school work, connect with friends and family through social media, as well as provide entertainment with movies, games and apps while they are going through the treatment process,” Hope’s Haven committee Chairman Sean Copeland said.

Meeker also points out that the iPad project yields positive results. “The simple offering of an iPad can help to cast a more positive light on a difficult situation,” she said. “With the iPad, the time goes faster, children are having fun, they are learning and they are given the opportunity to stay connected with their peers.”

Hope’s Haven Children’s Charity is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Ventura County children facing life-threatening illnesses and serious injuries. Through the support of local communities and annual fundraising events, Hope’s Haven works directly with hospitals, clinics and social workers to provide financial and emotional support for families.

Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Ventura, CA - Should patients with a terminal illness have the right to decide when to end their lives? This controversial topic will be the focus of a free Ethics in Healthcare presentation Community Memorial Health System is holding on Thursday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County in Ventura.

Featured speakers are Jim Hornstein, M.D., CMHS’s Chair of the Bioethics Committee, and family physician moderatesa panel presentation which includes William Rajala, M.D., an internist and medical director of Assisted Home Hospice, and Debbie Weinstein, an emergency medical specialist and volunteer for Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization that offers free consultation, planning resourcesand guidance to patients considering ending their lives.

This presentation is being held in recognition of National Healthcare Decision Day, and comes months after California lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 128 and if passed the bill seeks to legalize aid-in-dying.While all sensitive citizens should support compassionate and dignified care for patients through the end of their lives, should this care include the option to select when?Join us for a conversation on the pros and cons of physician-assisted suicide, a topicthat touches on many personal and deeply heldbeliefs such as the meaning of life, death, suffering and the preservation of human dignity.

Registration is free but reservations are required. For more information or to register visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Ticket 800/838-3006.

Future scheduled Speaker Series topics include: Neurological Diseases of Aging on April 21 in Oxnard; State of the Health System Address on May 7 at Ventura County Museum; Update on Management of Brain Tumors on May 12 at CMH.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is continuing its free spay/neuter program for pit bulls and pit bull mixes until funding runs out.

Since the program began in January, the Humane Society has altered 67 pit bulls and pit bull mixes, according to Shelter Director Jolene Hoffman. She said funding remains for approximately 50 to 60 more surgeries. Dogs must be five years old or less and weigh no more than 80 pounds.

“It’s very important for owners to take advantage of this,” Hoffman said. “Through the program we can prevent thousands of Pit Bulls from being born.”

Appointments are required. Call 646-7849 or 656-5043 or visit www.hsvc.org.

In 2014, the HSVC’s Spay and Neuter clinic altered 1,443 cats and dogs and an additional 265 free spay and neuter surgeries for Chihuahua and Chihuahua mixes, saving the lives of countless animals.

The Ojai-based nonprofit also is seeking donations to help fund the free spay/neuter program as well as other programs at the shelter. Donations may be made by visiting the HSVC website, brought to the Humane Society shelter at 402 Bryant Street in Ojai, or mailed to PO Box 297, Ojai, CA 93024.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1932. It does not receive federal, state or local tax dollars to operate and relies solely on private donations.

“In the entire history of the world, those nations that have survived and continue to prosper have been the ones successful in providing a continuous and adequate water supply.” ~ Arnold Toynbee

Will Ventura County have a “continuous and adequate water supply” moving into the future? The 2014-2015 Ventura County Grand Jury was concerned about the current drought and what impact it could have on the county’s lifestyle and economy, especially as agriculture is the county’s largest economic segment. The grand jury chose Ventura’s most populous city, Oxnard, to examine how one municipality and its adjoining agricultural area are dealing with water issues. The grand jury investigated by conducting in-person interviews and studying published and online information.

With considerable foresight, Oxnard began looking into the water situation in the late 1990s. In May 2002, Oxnard released an advanced planning study known as the Groundwater Recovery Enhancement and Treatment Program or GREAT. A major component of GREAT was to build a state-of-the-art water-purification facility to further process water that has already been through the city’s existing wastewater treatment plant. This additional processing would produce “tertiary water”—high-quality, recycled water for use in agriculture, industry, golf courses and parks. The first of four phases of the new facility was substantially completed in 2012 at a cost of approximately $110 million. However, for the facility to operate effectively and be economically viable, more pipelines still need to be built to transport its water to potential customers.

In its report, the grand jury recommends that the Oxnard City Council pursue funding, including partnerships and grants, to complete the first two phases of the GREAT program. This will substantially increase Oxnard’s water supply and make it price-competitive with current suppliers. This additional water supply can be sold to other parties and increase Oxnard’s revenues.

The just-released report also considers countywide water management, pointing out that the County’s water supply is managed by 76 different entities that have no legislative or regulatory authority over all water issues. It recommends that the Oxnard City Council collaborate closely with the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, which oversees the county’s largest underground water source, the Fox Canyon Aquifer, and is responsible for producing the area’s newly mandated groundwater sustainability plan. A joint effort could provide a more efficient and equitable process to distribute water countywide.

The complete report may be accessed at www.ventura.org/grand-jury; click on the Annual Reports tab and consult “Fiscal Year 2014-2015.”

The grand jury is a civil investigatory panel of 19 citizens created to serve as a voice of the people and a conscience of the community. Jurors are not appointed by politicians but are independent volunteer citizens.

Ventura, CA – A Community Memorial Health System nurse, Lisa Baker, is a recent recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a peer-elected awards program the hospital participates in each quarter. Nurses are nominated for the DAISY awards by patients, family members and colleagues.

Lisa, a registered nurse in Community Memorial Hospital’s Critical Care Unit, is known at the hospital for hercompassionate care, concern and dedication to patient health.

Lisa was nominated by a colleague who wrote: “Lisa is continually used as a resource by staff throughout the entire hospital for her wealth of knowledge, experience, amazing ability to critically think during tough situations, and herwillingness to work as a team to assist in any role -- whether it is assisting in giving a bed bath or to help stabilize a critical post-opt open heart patient in order to send the patient back to theOR.I cannot think of a more deserving recipient of the DAISY Award. Lisa is the type of nurse we should all strive to become. It is an honor to work with her.”

Each quarter, a nurse is selected to receive the DAISY Award by an awards committee. At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s peers, patients and leadership, the honoree receives a certificate of commendation for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree is also given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

The DAISY Award is supported by the not-for-profit DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation. Bonnie and J. Mark Barnes created this foundation and award as a way to remember their son, J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick had a disease that attacked his body and was in the hospital for a long time. His nurses did such a great job with him that the Barnes family created an award that continues to recognize the excellent work nurses do every day.

Said CMHS Vice President of Patient Care Services, Bobbie McCaffrey, “We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroesevery day. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The DAISY Foundation provides a way for us to do that.”

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

(l-r) Jim Holly and Kevin McPhaill

Porterville, CA – The Board of Directors of Sierra Bancorp, the holding company for Bank of the Sierra, today announced that it has officially appointed Kevin McPhaill as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2015. On the same day, the founding bank President, James C. Holly, will officially enter retirement, but continue on the Board of Directors as Vice Chairman.

Locally born and raised, McPhaill grew up in Tulare County and attended Fresno Pacific University for his undergraduate degree, and earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance at Fresno State University. Additionally, McPhaill graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. McPhaill has been in the banking industry for 24 years, including 14 years with Bank of the Sierra, and in his most recent role at the bank, McPhaill held the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. McPhaill also holds a seat on the bank’s Board of Directors.

“I am privileged to have worked with Jim for the past several years and have come to admire his leadership, energy and drive,” stated McPhaill. “I congratulate him on an exceptional banking career that spans over 50 years, including nearly 38 years as CEO of Bank of the Sierra. I am honored to move into this role and I am committed to working with our team as we realize our full potential,” continued McPhaill.

“As we transition to a new President, the Board of Directors and I have full confidence in Kevin and his abilities,” mentioned Holly. “Kevin has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and a true passion for customer service. With the top-level leadership we have in place, Bank of the Sierra is well positioned for future growth and high performance.”

Early in his banking career, Holly was instrumental in starting the Porterville, California based bank in 1977, and maintained his role as the bank’s CEO for nearly 38 years. Holly has seen Bank of the Sierra flourish from a small, single office bank to a 28 branch multi-community bank. Through multiple recessions, and a corporate building fire in the early 90’s, Holly and his team have managed to generate a profit every year since 1982. Sierra Bancorp is the largest publicly-traded financial institution headquartered in Tulare County and is traded on NASDAQ (BSRR). Although Holly will retire as CEO, he will continue on as a director and will retain all current Board committee assignments. In addition, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board for both Sierra Bancorp and the Bank, with oversight for merger and acquisition activities, effective April 1, 2015.

Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com) is in its 38th year of operations and at $1.6 billion in assets is the largest independent bank headquartered in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. The Company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 28 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center and an agricultural credit center.

Fillmore High School is holding a PTO metting on Wednesday, April 8th in the school library at 6:30pm. A Board will be elected. Please come and join the FHS PTO.