Camarillo, CA — Low to moderate income workers can receive free help with tax preparation and income tax filing at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site located throughout Ventura County. Tax returns are filed electronically by IRS-trained volunteers and filers may receive as much as $5,751 for families with two or more children – even if they pay no income tax. The Ventura County Financial Empowerment Partnership aims to increase the number of individuals and families who receive no-cost tax preparation assistance and who access the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program — the nation’s largest and most powerful federal aid program for the working poor.

“The EITC can boost a family’s income, but the rules are somewhat complicated and so not everyone who applies for it will receive it,” said Susan Englund, United Way of Ventura County's Vice President of Community Impact.

The Partnership targets individuals and families with a household income of less than $50,000. Beginning the week of January 30th, trained volunteer tax preparers will prepare federal and state tax returns at sites located at El Concilio in Oxnard, Housing Authorities of Ventura and Oxnard, and in the Job & Career Centers in West Oxnard, Santa Clara Valley, Ventura and East County. The public is encouraged to call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment at any of the eight Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) locations throughout Ventura County.

Tax filers must bring a social security card for each family member or ITIN number for the working adult(s), W-2 forms for all jobs worked in 2011, all 1099 forms for other income earned, photo identification for each adult filing, child care provider information, and bank routing and account number for direct deposit of refund.

Ventura County Financial Empowerment Partnership members include United Way of Ventura County, the Business and Employment Services Department of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, and the IRS.

Sacramento, CA - The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and Board of Equalization (BOE) announced today that collective efforts from the Internet posting of California’s 250 largest unpaid state tax debtors has raised more than $100 million since the program’s inception.

“Collecting these large unpaid tax debts is absolutely crucial, because every dollar collected helps spare schools, public safety, and other public services from severe budget cuts,” said State Controller and FTB Chair John Chiang.

“California's tax cheats should know we are serious about making them follow the law,” said Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome E. Horton. “Those who owe the BOE and FTB the most will continue to be exposed to public scrutiny to encourage them to pay their delinquencies.”

State law (AB 1418, Horton) effective for 2007 established the requirement for FTB and BOE to each post a list of the 250 largest state income tax debtors who owe more than $100,000. Last fall, new state law (AB 1424, Perea), increased the number of posted top tax debtors to 500. It also authorizes the state to suspend the professional and/or drivers’ licenses of the state’s top 500 debtors until they resolve their accounts or enter into payment arrangements. It also authorizes the state to publish the titles and names of principal officers for business entity delinquencies.

Taxpayers on the Top 250 list are removed once the tax is paid or the taxpayer agrees to make payments under an approved installment agreement. Tax liabilities under appeal, in litigation, in bankruptcy proceedings, or under consideration for an offer in compromise are not included on the list.

The first Top 500 list for FTB will debut in April 2012. Also starting this year, FTB’s complete list will be updated bi-annually in April and October on FTB’s website at ftb.ca.gov. The Board of Equalization’s listof the state’s top sales and use tax delinquencies, is updated quarterly at boe.ca.gov.

Individual taxpayers on the list can contact FTB at 866.418.3702 to resolve their accounts. Business taxpayers can call 866.914.5594. Taxpayers on the BOE list can call 916.445.5167 to resolve their accounts.

Sespe Players will be holding auditions Wednesday and Thursday, January 18 and 19, from 5:30 to 7:30pm in the drama room at Fillmore High School. For those unfamiliar with this location, it's a small theatre directly across from the Memorial Building at FHS. The gate will be open.

They I need adults and youth as young as nine. They are also in need of an organized assistant director who can make every rehearsal (weekday evenings, 5-7pm or so). Email Janet Foy or text her at 805-276-6070 if you would like to try your hand as an AD. This show has TONS of potential and theywould LOVE to see as many of your faces as possible onstage, backstage and in the audience!

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy Conjunto Zacamandu (music from Veracruz- son jarocho) and Rey Fresco (rock, reggae, soul, world, and Latin music) in concert this Sunday, January 22, 2012 at the Fillmore Middle School Gym. The Rico and Mambo Morning Show will make a special appearance. The doors will open at 12:30 pm. Tickets are only $12 per person, and can be purchased from the high school band students, at the door, or by calling Jennie at 524-5632 or 415-2119 or Lisa at 524-1697. The Fillmore Band Boosters are grateful that these fine musicians and radio hosts are donating their time to raise funds for the band students in the entire district! Thank you to the community for your continued support.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The U.S. Small Business Administration, Veteran Business Outreach Center and the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network cordially invite you to attend this expo for veteran small business owners. The event will have an expo area with dozens of resource providers, prime contractors and veteran business owner organizations. In addition, the event will have four separate panels on Supplier Diversity, Access to Capital, Government Contracting, Certifications and Business Resource Providers. Register at www.vboc-ca.org or by calling 916-393-1690.

WHAT: “Veteran Small Business Expo 2012”

WHEN: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 am)

WHERE: Long Beach City College, Building T-1200, 4901 Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90808.

Free parking is available in the Veterans Stadium parking lot off of Clark Avenue.

HOSTS: Los Angeles SBA District Office, Veteran Business Outreach Center and the Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network

RSVP: Space is limited. Register by visiting www.vboc-ca.org or calling at 916-393-1690.

TOPICS COVERED:

Access to Capital – Many entrepreneurs need financial resources to start or expand their small business.

· SBA’s financing is primarily delivered through programs via our network of lenders: SBA 7(a) Loans (working capital), SBA 504 Loans (owner-occupied real estate), CAPLines (lines of credit), Export Working Capital Loans and Microloans ($500 - $50,000).

Overview of Technical Assistance – Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

· SBA Resource Partners meet the needs of small businesses and promote economic development in local communities by helping to create and retain jobs. They assist with development of business plans, provide manufacturing, financial packaging, contracting and international trade assistance; provide no-cost one-to-one consulting to aspiring and existing business owners; provide low-cost training and workshops. Based on client needs, SBDCs tailor their services to meet the evolving needs of the local small business community.

Government Contracting & Subcontracting – In Fiscal Year 2010, the Federal Government bought almost $500 Billion in goods and services.

· Ranging from paper clips and janitorial services to space shuttles and advanced scientific research – and pretty much everything in between. Small businesses received nearly $100 Billion in contract awards. Recent laws such as the Small Business Jobs Act and the Women-Owned Small Business Contracting Program will help put even more of these dollars into the hands of small businesses, helping them grow, drive innovation and create jobs.

Supplier Diversity – how to get on large companies lists of vendors and suppliers

· Hear from Supplier Clearinghouse, PGE, Verizon and Southern California Edison on contracting opportunities, how they select their vendors and what they look for in suppliers.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Registration

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. – Welcome Remarks, Color Guard and Opening Remarks

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Government Contracting Panel

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Supplier Diversity Panel

11:30 – 12:00 p.m. – DGS-DVBE Certification

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch – Larry Broughton

1:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Lender Panel

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Small Business Resource Panel

All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.
Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested in advance.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, the Fillmore Library will feature speaker Kimberly Shroud, director of the Ojai Raptor Center. She has been working with these special birds since 1992, and will bring some of her “friends” along for the presentation. The program begins at 3:30 PM at the 502 Second Street location. This children’s series is sponsored by the Fillmore Friends of the Library.

Backstage at SPTC (Santa Paula Theater Center) announces its third annual production of original one act plays. Full Frontal Humanity opens June 1 and runs through June 17 for eleven performances. Like its predecessors, Acts2Grind and Quills & Keys, Full Frontal Humanity will consist of original one act plays written exclusively by Ventura County residents.

Submission Guidelines
Plays will be considered only from Ventura County residents.
Plays must be previously unproduced and run 10 to 30 minutes in length.
There is no submission fee. Likewise, there is no pay or prize money.
Each writer may submit up to three plays, but no more than 45 pages total.
Submissions will only be accepted electronically. Send pdf or Word files to SPTCBackstage@yahoo.com.
Include a list of characters with any relevant description either on the title page or the 2nd page.
Including a bio or list of credits is optional, however you must include your name, street address and phone number in your email.
Submissions must be received by Friday, March 30, 2012.
Writers will be notified by email prior to April 15 as to the reading panel’s decision.

Important Information

· Backstage at SPTC is a “black box” theater. Plays are simply staged with minimal set pieces, props and set dressing. Think along the lines of simple furniture that can be reconfigured, redressed, or easily moved on and off stage quickly.

· Backstage at SPTC is a forum for new, original works. Strong language and adult situations are common.

· Writers of selected plays are required to sign a release granting rights of performance without monetary compensation including audio and visual recording for promotion and possible sale as a fundraiser.

· Writers of plays selected for production are invited to the opening night performance, along with a guest, and will receive two complimentary tickets to another performance during its run.

Please do not call the SPTC Box Office with questions regarding Full Frontal Humanity. Instead, send your inquiries to SPTCbackstage@yahoo.com. You may also visit www.santapaulatheatercenter.org for additional information regarding events.

Do you know the person/family your street was named after? The Fillmore Historical Museum will be presenting the Ebell Club this information on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

You can join the ladies at the Memorial Building to learn about the fascinating families such as Elkins Lane, McNab Court, Atmore Rd, Burson Lane etc. Lunch begins at 12:30 and the program begins at 1:45pm. Call Lavonne Deeter at 524-2090 for reservations.

CAMARILLO, CA - The Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, hosted by the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, has expanded its roster of business services with the addition of free international business and entrepreneur workshops. The new workshops are in addition to SBDC’s one-one-one business advising and small business workshops and will be held at EDC-VC, 1601 Carmen Dr., Ste. 215, Camarillo.

“Entrepreneurship and international business are two categories in which we receive a great deal of interest from our clients. The new workshops will be held monthly so that people can get support for their business whenever they need it,” said Ray Bowman, director of SBDC of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Starting a Small Business Workshop is a monthly workshop presented by SBDC advisor Mary Anne Rooney and is an overview of the steps needed to establish a business. The next workshop will be 3-5 p.m., Feb. 20.

Introduction to International Importing and Exporting is presented by SBDC director Ray Bowman. The workshop is a practical introduction to the business basics importing and exporting. Topics include logistics, documents, contract administration, terminology, quality control and payment procedures. The workshop will be 3-5 p.m., Feb. 15 and will be offered the third Wednesday of each month.

Consultant Support Group is presented by SBDC advisor Joe Huggins and is an ongoing group for established consultants and those who are interested in entering the field. It will cover topics and issues they will encounter when working for clients and businesses. The group will be 8:30-9:30 a.m., Feb. 17 and meet the third Friday of each month.

Huggins will also present the Entrepreneurial Academy. Topics will include an introduction to the entrepreneurial mindset, the planning stages, products and pricing, marketing practices, managing sales, operations and HR, legal considerations, financing, and funding sources. The Academy will be held 1-3 p.m., Feb. 17 and will meet the third Friday of each month. Pre-approval is required for participation.

Introduction to International Shipping and Logistics is presented by Bowman and is a basic overview of international logistics, including definitions, regulations, documentations, transportation, warehousing and pricing, as well as emerging issues in today’s economy. Participants are encouraged to ask questions about their current logistics problems or concerns. The workshop will be 3-5 p.m., Feb. 22 and will be offered the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Workshops on QuickBooks and How to Start an e-business will be starting soon.

To register or for more information, contact EDC-VC at 805-384-1800 x 21, or kelly.noble@edcsbdc.org.

EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Small Business Development Center, loan programs, the Manufacturing Outreach Program, and international trade program, or other services available to small businesses through EDC-VC, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 24 or bruce.stenslie@edc-vc.com. Or visit www.edc-vc.com.

Thomas Staben Will Also Spend At Least $500,000 to Restore 5 Acres of the Creek, Create 2 Acres of Vegetated Buffer, and Fund A Stream Rehabilitation Project

SAN FRANCISCO – A Ventura County contractor, Thomas Staben, and his construction company, TA Staben, Inc., will pay a $225,000 penalty for illegally dumping imported material into a Ventura County creek. Thomas Staben illegally filled Calleguas Creek with 40,000 cubic yards of material - the equivalent of about 2,000 large dump truck loads. As part of the settlement, Staben will also spend at least $500,000 on restoration and mitigation projects, including removing the fill and restoring the creek’s natural functions. Calleguas Creek is the main freshwater source for the Mugu Lagoon Estuary, one of Southern California’s largest coastal wetland systems and home to various endangered species.

“Restoring Calleguas Creek is a win for the environment and for the local community,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Today’s settlement signals EPA’s commitment to protect coastal California’s watersheds, and sends a strong message to those who would despoil them.”

Between 2005 and 2006, Staben filled approximately five acres of Calleguas Creek, also known as Arroyo Las Posas, without the necessary Clean Water Act (CWA) permit despite several warnings by the Army Corps of Engineers to stop. The illegal fill substantially reduced the active floodplain in this portion of the creek, increasing potential flooding of adjacent properties and contributing to the bioaccumulation problems harmful to the health of endangered species and other wildlife in Mugu Lagoon. Staben, who has a history of noncompliance dating back to 1989, was cited by the Corps on various occasions for unpermitted work in Calleguas Creek and the Ventura River.

The creek has been the subject of extensive studies and protection efforts at federal, state, and local levels due to its ecological significance and impaired water quality. As part of the restoration project Staben will remove the illegal fill material, restore the five acres of filled active floodplain, and create another two acres of vegetated embankment buffer between the floodplain and the upland property. Restoration will allow the creek to perform the important ecological functions of recharging groundwater, retaining nutrients, attenuating floodwaters, and providing habitats and movement corridors for wildlife. The project will also address long-term erosion problems of the adjacent property and reduce non-point source pollution.

Staben will also spend $150,000 on mitigation by paying into the Ventura River Watershed Habitat Restoration Fund to help fund the Rice Creek Re-Alignment Project, which aims to create about 9 acres of new stream habitats and help maintain water quality for steelhead in the downstream Ventura River.

The CWA protects the nation’s coasts, rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands, which are vital to the protection of human health and the environment. Section 404 of the CWA requires anyone who proposes to fill and alter protected waterways, including wetlands, with dredged or fill material to first obtain permit authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The proposed consent decree for the settlement, lodged with the federal district court on December 30, 2011, is subject to a 30-day comment period and final court approval. A copy of the proposed decree is available on the Justice Department website at: http://www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

To view before and after photos along with a map of the Calleguas Creek Watershed please visit: www.epa.gov/region9/mediacenter/calleguas/

For more information about the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/reg_authority_pr.pdf

LOS ANGELES, CA — IRS Free File, which has been making taxes a little less taxing for a decade, opens today, Jan. 17. More than 33 million returns have been filed through Free File since its debut.

Everyone can use Free File, either the brand-name software offered by IRS’ commercial partners or the online fillable forms. Individuals or families with 2011 adjusted gross incomes of $57,000 or less can use Free File software. Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, has no income restrictions.
“Free File truly helps make taxes less taxing. Taking advantage of this program means you can prepare and electronically file your tax return, for free,” said IRS spokeswoman Anabel Marquez. “It’s great because the software helps you find any tax breaks you are due.”

Seventy percent of taxpayers – 100 million people - are eligible for Free File software. It’s perfect for first-time filers, families looking to save money or older Americans adept at using the Internet.

The easiest way to locate a software provider is to use the online “get help” tool at www.irs.gov/freefile that, with a little of a taxpayer’s information such as income, age and state residency, can identify matching free-file products. Or, taxpayers can review all providers and their offers. Some software providers also offer state income tax preparation for free or for a fee.

For taxpayers whose incomes are more than $57,000, there’s Free File Fillable Forms, available only at the IRS website. This program is best for taxpayers experienced in preparing their own federal tax returns. For people who prefer doing their taxes the old fashioned way – by paper – this is an electronic alternative.

Taxpayers must access the free-file products through IRS.gov to avoid any charges for preparing or e-filing a federal tax return.

Once taxpayers have selected a Free File software product, they will be directed away from IRS.gov to the partner’s site to prepare and e-file their returns. The IRS does not retain any personal information from the taxpayers.

The IRS also encourages businesses, state and local governments, charities and churches to inform their employees, clients and customers about Free File.

International Service is one of the five avenues of service that the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers participates in yearly. This year the Sun Risers have joined other Rotary clubs and organizations to reach out internationally. In October 2011, the Club made a $1,000 donation to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise toward their ongoing clean water project in Kenya. Santa Barbara Rotarians partnered with Engineers without Boarders (based at UCSB) in 2010 to build a much needed water well in Kenya. The Fillmore Rotarian’s donation will help this project continue and expand.

Fillmore Sun Risers have also joined the Rotary Club of Ventura and the Ventura Rotaract Club on their wonderful projects in Nicaragua. On Tuesday, January 17th members of the Rotaract Club will be making a presentation about their travels to Nicaragua in November 2011. The Fillmore Sun Risers helped sponsor the Rotaract by applying for a travel grant through Rotary District 5241. If you are interested in seeing this wonderful presentation please contact Cindy Blatt at 906-4114. The presentation will be at El Pescador Restaurant at 7:00 AM.

Another ongoing international project and fund raiser is the sale of Green Mountain Coffee. Green Mountain Coffee is high quality, organic and Fair Trade in origin. The program provides revenue for the Fillmore Rotary Sun Risers (for international and community projects), for Rotary International and for the Rotary Foundation’s Clean Water for Coffee Producing Countries Donor Advised Fund. Six countries have benefited from the efforts to provide clean water to coffee producing countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Bolivia, Haiti and Honduras. 1.1 billion people still do not have access to clean water. Bags of coffee are only $10. Contact Rotarian Kyle Wilson at Edward Jones in Fillmore. There are a variety of flavors.

Upcoming events/fund raisers and speaker: 1) Tuesday, Jan, 17th – presenation on Nicaragua project; Annual Casino Nite Fund Raiser at El Pescador, Friday, April 27th. Tickets will be available soon; Heritage Valley 10/5k Run/Walk on Saturday, May19th.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers, call Sean at 796-0276.

Sacramento, CA – Board of Equalization (BOE) Chairman Jerome E. Horton is urging fellow Californians to band together to combat the abusive practice of illegal human slavery and observe National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

“Human trafficking erodes an individual’s most basic human rights,” said Horton. “Our increased awareness may be the key to bringing these cases to light and giving freedom to countless victims who have suffered under this horrible exploitation.”

Horton’s comments come on the heels of last weekend’s Los Angeles Freedom Walk where he told participants that it is unacceptable to have people in our own country subjected to this heinous crime, where they are confined, forced to work under threats of violence, and isolated from anyone who can help them escape.

In an effort to address this growing problem, Chairman Horton plans to sponsor legislation he hopes will eradicate human trafficking. He said this activity is a large and growing part of California’s underground economy, a crisis that robs our state of an estimated $8 billion in revenue annually and undermines legitimate businesses.

Horton’s initiative is to create a multi-agency California Tax Agencies Human Trafficking Task Force, designed to increase communication between state tax agencies and streamline the sharing of information, resources and enforcement efforts. Horton is also reaching out to other state agencies and departments with similar missions to serve as partners.

This partnership’s goal is to sift out horrific situations of human slavery and trafficking by unscrupulous employers who engage in illegal tax evasion by failing to pay their employment taxes, insurance, income tax, sales and use tax.

In March 2010, Horton launched a statewide human trafficking initiative creating a partnership with the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Human Trafficking (CAST) to provide training and education for Investigators from all three state tax agencies, Board of Equalization (BOE), the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and the Employment Development Department (EDD), to recognize signs of human trafficking. The training has empowered them to proactively assist in state and national efforts to eradicate human trafficking.

“We applaud Chairman Horton’s leadership on this issue,” said Kay Buck, Executive Director of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST). “His dedication to working on a state-wide level to address this modern-day slavery, and ensure our government is really doing all it can, is truly commendable.”

FACT: Los Angeles is one of the top three destination cities in the United States for human trafficking. California is one of the top four states. Employers who abuse workers in this way inevitably engage in illegal tax evasion that impacts sales and use taxes, income taxes, employment taxes and insurance; contributing factors to the underground economy.

Ventura County Animal Services Shelter
600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA
January 26th, 2012 at 9:00 A.M.

Residents of Ventura County and members of the rescue community interested in a No-Kill county shelter will rally at the Camarillo facility on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 9AM. The Ventura County Animal Services Commission will be conducting a public meeting at this time. On the agenda, members of the local rescue community will be presenting a series of documents detailing current conditions, procedures and protocols at the shelter that contribute to the continued use of euthanasia as a population management tool.

An average of 50 to 100 adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized every week of the year at the facility. The general public and rescuers are demanding that immediate changes be implemented at the shelter to reduce and then eliminate their continued killing. There is a proven combination of programs called the “No Kill Equation” that over time will accomplish this goal. (www.nokilladvocacycenter.org)

Taxpayers in Ventura County should be able to expect our shelter to do these things (and more) with the $5.5 million annual budget granted to the Camarillo facility.

Apart from the humane concerns, it is bad business to kill adoptable animals. It is a waste of taxpayer money to expend resources killing thousands of animals that, with the implementation of life saving programs, would generate income for the county and for the local business community.

It doesn't make sense to spend taxpayer money to euthanize perfectly amazing companion animals when puppy-mill pet stores are selling pets. It’s better that the public adopt pets at the shelter, which will (1) save pets' lives, (2) save taxpayer money that would otherwise be spent on housing and euthanizing pets, and (3) put the inhumane puppy mills out of business.

These issues and others will be the topic of discussion at the Commission meeting on January 26, 2012. Everyone who is interested in how our county shelter can more effectively utilize taxpayer dollars and kill fewer animals is urged to attend this most important meeting and rally in support of No-Kill. Supporters are asked to wear yellow and blue ribbons pinned to their lapel as a visual show of support. For more information visit http://www.vcpapa.org

What: 10 Warning Signs and Communication and Behaviors

When: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: The Alzheimer’s Association, 80 North Wood Rd., Suite 302, Camarillo, Ca 93010

Join us for a FREE workshop on recognizing the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease, tips on communicating with someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, and gain an understanding of behaviors related to dementia.

To register please call Carol Swinney at 805.484.6028 or carol.swinney@alz.org.