Political candidate ads appearing in local newspapers are rated as annoying by just 18% of registered voters, while ads appearing on local TV are seen as annoying by 54%, according to results of a survey released in February 2012 by the Newspaper Association of America (NAA). Network TV (50%), cable TV (43%), and radio (39%) ads are also rated annoying by a significant proportion of registered voters, though political ads on the internet (27%) garner the frustration of far fewer.

Younger Voters Less Annoyed
Younger voters display a lesser propensity to be annoyed by political ads in a variety of broadcast media. 49% of 18-34-year-olds say they find candidate ads on local TV to be annoying, compared to 58% of those aged 35-44 and 56% of those over 65. Voters over 65 are also 30% more likely to be annoyed by network TV ads than 18-34-year-olds (57% vs. 44%), 20% more likely to find internet ads annoying (30% vs. 25%), and 47% more likely to be annoyed by local newspaper ads (22% vs. 15%).

Interestingly, though, 18-34-year-olds are as likely as their counterparts over 65 to be annoyed by candidate ads on cable TV (both at 47%), and 37% more likely to be annoyed by radio ads (44% vs. 32%).

Local Papers Most Reliable for Civic Info
Meanwhile, local newspapers top the list of sources for accurate, in-depth coverage of political or civic issues with an impact on voters’ specific locality, rated reliable by 57% of respondents. Local TV stations (55%) closely follow, ahead of local radio stations (43%) and local websites (39%). Just 14% believe social media websites to be reliable sources of accurate and in-depth information about local civic issues.

When asked about... http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/voters-say-political-ads-least...

The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce is having an art contest. We will be celebrating the 100th year anniversary for the May festival. The May Festival dates will be May 17, 18, 19, & 20. This year's theme is fortune favored Fillmore and due to the 100th year, purple is the traditional color for that celebration. So purple it is! We are asking all artists to participate in the art contest. You can use pencils, crayons, oils, water colors, etc... The size of your artwork is to be on 8x11 size paper. Please turn it into the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce located at 557 Ventura Street, Fillmore, CA 93015 no later than Monday, March 19, 2012. The top 10 entries will be posted at this year’s community awards dinner on March 22 where we will allow voting from the public. If you have any questions please call 805-524-7706.

Mark your calendar to save the date for the Great Train Robbery fundraising event, benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. This special event train will board at 5:30pm and is scheduled for departure at 6:00 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Upon boarding guests will first hustle through the BBQ buffet, provided by Laird’s Catering of Santa Paula, then claim a table in one of the four 1930-‘s-40’s dining cars. A full no-host bar is available onboard, provided by Fillmore & Western Railway.

Entertainment includes a ‘shoot out’ and ‘train-jacking’ by local desperadoes, played to the hilt by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Posse vs. the Frontier Gunfighter group. Many arrests will occur during the trip by Chief of Police Steve MacKinnon from Santa Paula. Judges for the night will be Fillmore Chief of Police, Monica “Blood Bath McGrath” and making a return appearance will be Sheriff, Tim “Hang ‘Em High Hagel”. Prisoners arrested, tried and sentenced will be held in a special onboard ‘jail’. The arrestees can be ‘bailed out’ after an appearance before the ‘traveling judge’. Passengers will also be encouraged to enjoy the music from a live band on the open-air dance car.

The route runs through the Heritage Valley departing Fillmore and traveling to Santa Paula. The entire trip will last approximately 3 to 3-1/2 hours.

Boarding tickets sell for $55 per person, and can be ordered by calling the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley at 805-525-7910. Advance sales are encouraged as seating is limited.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley provides after school and Summer Camp programs for children ages 5 to 18, at the Club’s two locations; 1400 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula and 565 First St., Fillmore. Club members pay a $25 annual fee to attend the Club, and no child is turned away for their inability to pay the membership fee. It costs the Club $560 per child annually to provide services for its members. The obvious gap between cost of services and membership is bridged by generous donations from local businesses, private donors and local and national grants. Donors interested in providing financial assistance to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley are encouraged to contact the Club at 805-525-7910. All donations, regardless of amount, are gratefully appreciated.

The Heritage Valley Girl Scouts from Piru to Santa Paula celebrated 100 years of Girl Scouting, Friday night February 10, 2012 at Wesley Hall at the Presbyterian Church on Mill St., Santa Paula. This celebration coincided with the annual World Thinking Day which occurs every February 22 around the world in which Girl Scouts participate in activities with global themes to honor their sister Girl Scouts and Guides in other countries.

This year’s event was attended by over 200 people as they watched 14 local troops adopt a state, set up a booth with their state’s history, facts and favorite foods which were available for tasting. The girls entertained everyone with a performance centered around their adopted states.

This event was hosted by Senior troop, 60933 with Suzi Ortiz as their leader. They also gave a wonderful history of the 100 years of Girl Scouting dating back to its founder, Juliette Gordon Low, who started the first U. S. troop in Savannah, Georgia back in 1912. Low worked with Lord Baden Powell in England back in 1911 when Boy Scouts was founded there.

The troops that participated in this event with their adopted states include: Santa Paula troops: 60040, Cadettes, Leader-Erin Valenzuela, Alaska, 60321, Cadettes, Leader-Cathy Fernandez, California, 60287, Seniors, Leader-Marilyn Appleby, Virginia, 60624, Daisys, Leaders- Glenda Learn and Karen Reeder, New York, 60625, Brownies, Leader-Susan Reese, Texas, 60638, Juniors, Leader Karen Reeder, Louisiana, 60776, Brownies, Leader-Cathy Fernandez, Kansas.

The Fillmore troop participants were: 60420, Brownies, Leaders-Casey Beckett and Kelli Couse, Illinois, 60697, Juniors, Leader-Andrea Rodriguez, Hawaii, 60631,Cadettes, Leader- Autumn Ramirez, Oregon, 60558, Juniors, Leader Kelli Couse, Wisconsin, 60101, Brownies, Leader-Lena Perez, Washington, 60120, Daisies, Leader-Alyssa Cruz, Georgia.

Last night the Alumni Board had their first Board meeting of the year. Many subjects were discussed from Class Pictures being framed to our 100th Alumni Anniversary in June 2013. The Financial reserves were discussed and approved. The Flashbacks (Newsletter) Editor gave us information on the upcoming issue, and should be ready to mail out before the end of the month. Speaking of Flashbacks, please send us any fun stories of your years growing up in Fillmore, or attending Fillmore Schools. We can publish them in the upcoming issues of Flashbacks.

The 2012 Scholarship Applications were sent to the High School in January, and we already have 37 apps returned for review. The Deadline for the High School Seniors to get their application in to the Alumni office is February 24th.

Another discussion being brought up was having an Alumni Booth at the Fillmore May Festival this May. Information will be collected and then the Board will decide whether to go with this project or not. One of the concerns is getting enough Alumni in the area to work the booth. If you ever have thought about helping the Alumni out in some way or another, please contact the Alumni Office at 805-524-0416, and discuss this with Mark Ortega. It could be anything. Maybe setting up chairs at the Memorial Building for the Alumni Dinner, or sitting at the May Festival Booth to hand out information. We love our organization and we know you do to, so any help, in anyway is appreciated. The Next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 21st, 2012. F.H.S. Alumni., Onword, and upword.

Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will hold Diabetes Classes to introduce basic information regarding diet, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, new developments and common problems. Open to the public and free of charge, the classes are held the first Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:30 pm @Livingston VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, #101, Ventura. C all Linda Hampson, RN, MSN @ 805-642-0239,ext 723.

Ventura, CA – The Ventura County Health Care Agency announces the opening at 7:00 a.m. this morning of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), located at 3291 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. The newly opened unit will care for gravely ill children, and is the only PICU in the county.

Dr. Robert Gonzalez, the Health Care Agency Director, says the opening of the new PICU on the VCMC campus has been a goal for the hospital for some time now. “This unit, under the medical leadership of Dr. John Marcum, will allow very sick children the opportunity to be cared for close to home. This is a wonderful advantage for families who are already undergoing a stressful time.”

Dr. John Marcum, the VCMC Pediatric Intensive Care Director, comes to VCMC with 10 years of experience. He was formerly Director of Pediatric Intensive Care at North Central Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Marcum graduated from medical school at the University of Southern California, and following his residency in pediatrics, completed a fellowship in Critical Care at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Marcum is Board Certified in general pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine. “So many people have worked for many months to see this realized and this opening today is the culmination of the dedicated team here at VCMC and the tremendous amount of heart and soul they put into the services they provide to this community.”

The VCMC PICU has received generous support from the community, including the Harriet H. Samulesson Foundation and the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation.

A grand opening celebration for the new PICU at VCMC, which will be announced shortly.

Applications for the Miss Fillmore/Miss Teen Fillmore Pageant are available. The Mother/Daughter Tea will take place at the Memorial Building on Wednesday, February 22nd beginning at 6:30PM. Points will begin that evening. Refreshments will be provided. Questions and answers will also be addressed at that time. The first practice begins Wednesday, February 29th. Miss Contestants must be a Junior or Senior girl in good standing. Teen Contestants must be a girl between the ages of 13 (by January 1st) and 17 in good standing, but not a Junior or Senior. All contestants must reside within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries. Applications are available at Fillmore High School, Fillmore Middle School and at Fillmore Chamber of Commerce or by contacting Pageant Director Lori McLain at #524-4432.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County (SJF) is accepting entries from teens, ages 14 to 18, for its Second Annual Social Justice Fund Teen Multimedia Contest.

Ventura County teens are asked to express what social justice means to them through essay, song lyrics, poem, poster, or video. Original work should address a social justice issue by identifying the problem and imagining a positive change the artist or author would like to see.

First-place winners in each of three categories – written word, poster and video - will win $250 and be invited to present their work May 6, as part of “Social Justice Center Stage,” SJF’s annual community event, at The Four Friends Gallery in Thousand Oaks. Winning entries will be on display at this event, and the winner in each category will be invited to attend and to show his or her work.

“Social Justice is more relevant in today’s world than ever before,” said Yvonne Tang, chair of the contest committee and a member of the Social Justice Fund Giving Circle. “From the Arab Spring to the Dream Act to college tuition increases to peer prejudice and bullying, social justice issues are shaping our lives and will greatly impact our future.”

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County is a social change grant making and educational organization created and guided by Ventura County donors, hosted by the Ventura County Community Foundation. SJF has been established to advance equality and opportunity for all. It brings together the resources of a “Giving Circle” – a place where SJF donors come together and have a say in the grants given – and the organizing power of grassroots groups. Together, we are working to advance solutions to poverty and inequality.

The contest entry deadline is Monday, April 2. Full contest rules are available on SJF’s website: SocialJusticeFundVC.org.

Ventura, CA - The Breast Center located at Community Memorial Hospital has become the first medical facility in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to be designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the by the American College of Radiology.

By awarding facilities the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy).

Peer-review evaluations, conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field, have determined that The Breast Center has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

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 eleven family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Scentry Biologicals Inc. has a glueboard in a local citrus tree, on the lookout for negative bug infestations like Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), an invasive, aphid-like insect pest. Although the psyllid is not a serious problem by itself, it can transmit a devastating bacterial disease to citrus trees. Known as Huanglongbing (HLB), the disease ruins the taste and appearance of citrus fruit, and eventually kills infected trees. There is no treatment or cure for Huanglongbing, and all commercially valuable varieties of citrus are vulnerable. If ACP and HLB reach Ventura County, and cannot be eradicated or contained, it is likely that the county will cease to be a significant producer of citrus fruit within a decade. But the potential threat posed by ACP and the disease it transmits goes well beyond commercial citrus production and the jobs, income and tax dollars it generates. Tens of thousands of trees in residential yards also are at risk. They, too, will die if infected with HLB, meaning that this iconic element of the suburban Southern California landscape — the backyard orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit or tangerine tree — also might disappear from Ventura County. Courtesy Farm Bureau of Ventura County.

A Street Self Storage is selling items that have been repossessed
Everything will be sold for $1.00 per item 9:00 to 3:00 2/12/12 Saturday

There will also be FREE items

Directions: Go down A street over the railroad tracks take a left on Sespe pass the fire station you will see a self torage signe take a right into the driveway.

The Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame is having their first Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, February 24, 2012. It will be held at Elkins Ranch Golf Course. Registration time starts at 9:30 a.m. First tee time will be at 11:00 a.m. Entry fee is $100.00 per player. This includes: Greens fees with cart, a raffle ticket, awards ceremony, with a tri-tip Bar-B-Q.

We will have Closest-to-the-pin, Longest drive contest. You willable be able to shoot for a hole-in-one contest with the player that hits a hole-in-one will drive of in a car donated but Wm. L. Morris in Fillmore. This Tournament is a four person Texas Scramble. So all golfer's good or bad come out and have a great time and help out a great cause, The Fillmore High School Sports Hall of Fame.

We also offer sponsorship options for the tournament from $4000.00 to $100.00 tee sponsor's. For registration and or Sponsorship opportunities please contact Lynn Cole at 805-524-8491, F.H.S. Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 697, Fillmore Ca. 93015. Lynn's e-mail is lcole@fillmore.k12.ca.us. Fillmore come out and play some Golf and have a great time with some Hall of Famers!

In a deal consummated February 1st, 2012, Sunkist Growers and Ventura Coastal have joined forces, uniting their long-time juice processing operations in order to provide more extensive service to their customers.

The newly formed company, Ventura Coastal LLC, a 50%/50% joint venture, will be headed by William (Bill) Borgers, CEO of Ventura Coastal. It will operate both the current Ventura Coastal plant in Visalia and the Sunkist plant in Tipton.

“The two processing facilities are extremely complimentary,” said Borgers. “Both Sunkist and Ventura Coastal bring a steady supply of products grade fruit, a skilled group of employees, state-of-the-art processing equipment and high quality products into the new company.”

“We believe the efficiencies achieved will better serve both our customers and growers,” added Sunkist President & CEO Russ Hanlin. ”

During 2012, Borgers expects the new joint venture will transition to a single set of processes and systems. “Our goal,” Borgers said “is to grow the joint venture and provide our employees with opportunities and a high quality work experience. Additionally our customers and the growers who provide the joint venture fruit will see additional value created as we blend the capabilities of the two operations.”