Ramona Days at Rancho Camulos Museum on Saturday, September 7th is just around the corner. Advance tickets are now on sale for only $7 per adult ($10 at the gate). Children are free.

This year's event features the Ramona Pageant Players and Dancers, Flamenco dancers, historical re-enactors, tours of the beautiful grounds and gardens, and the historic 1853 adobe, special children's activities, food, specialty vendors, and an exciting raffle with great prizes. Fun for all ages and a great way to see where one of early California's rancho families lived and cultivated the large Mexican land grant that became the setting for the bestselling novel Ramona. Don't miss this chance to visit Ventura County's only National Historic Landmark.

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 2. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, Sept. 7, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Ventura, CA - The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is holding its 41st Benefactors’ Ball on Saturday, Sept. 28, with proceeds benefitting the new Community Memorial Hospital.

Festivities begin with wine tasting at 4:30 p.m. at the Limoneira Ranch, 1141 Cummings Road in Santa Paula. Dinner, with food stations created by Plated Events, is set for 6 p.m., with dancing and music performed by blues and rock band Kal David and the Real Deal starting at 7 p.m. Attire is cocktail casual.

The event represents an opportunity for residents to support community-based healthcare. Every year, hospital and community leaders from all over Ventura County gather for a night of dining, live music and dancing.

Tickets can be bought individually or by table of eight. Sponsorship package opportunities are also available. For ticket or sponsorship information, visit www.benefactorsball.org, or call the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation at 805-667-2881.

This year, the Benefactors’ Ball will hold an Opportunity Raffle. Tickets are $100. The person with the winning ticket will receive airfare and a Viking River cruise for two to Bordeaux, France valued at over $7,000.
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 11 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

SANTA PAULA, CA. - Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVBank;OTC BB: SCVE) Chairman of the Board, Scott K. Rushing, today announced the Bank's 2013 second quarter results.

Board Chairman Scott Rushing reported that portfolio quality continues to demonstrate solid performance with a low level of past due loans to total loans of just 1.18% at the end of the second quarter of 2013, an all time low since pre-recession. President Cheryl Knight commented that “a good quality loan portfolio will enable the bank to focus more resources on the origination of good quality loans in our local community, leading to growth and enhanced earnings.”

SCVBank recorded a net loss from operations of $1,000 for the second quarter of 2013 compared to a net profit of $196,000 for the second quarter of 2012. The increase in expenses in 2013 is primarily due to the hiring of additional loan officers and loan support staff. Chairman Rushing stated that “the results are consistent with the bank’s strategic plan to hire additional lending staff to support future growth of the bank. Results are already apparent with second quarter new loan production representing the highest level in the most recent six quarters.” Ms. Knight added that “the bank is always seeking good quality loans and, while historically low interest rates remain a challenge, as new quality loans are funded, the financial performance of SCVBank should strengthen.”

SCVBank continues to maintain a strong capital position with a Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio of 11.06%, up from 10.68% at December 31, 2012.

Liquidity continues to be very strong as cash and investments total 50% of total assets at quarter end.
Founded in 1998, SCVBank currently operates three branches in Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Valencia. Under its stock symbol of SCVE.OB, SCVBank’s stock is traded through McAdams Wright Ragen, Raymond James & Associates Inc., and Monroe Securities. The Bank’s web site is www.SCVBank.com.

Santa Clara Valley Bank Corporation Headquarters
901 East Main Street
Santa Paula, California 93060
805 525-1999

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events concerning expectations for growth and market forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of interest rate changes, and the ability to control costs and expenses, the impact of consolidation in the banking industry, financial policies of the United States government, and general economic conditions.

Ventura, CA - The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation has announced the addition of three new board members: Debbie Golden, Bob Cheatham and Donald Gloisten.

Golden has been a member of the Ventura Unified School District’s Board of Education since 1998 and also is active in several other community organizations, including the Ventura Education Partnership, the Ventura County Anti-Defamation League and the Rubicon Theater Education Outreach Committee. Golden earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara. Her husband, Dr. Thomas Golden, a Ventura orthopedic surgeon, is Chief of Staff at Community Memorial Hospital.

Cheatham is a financial planner and financial services representative for MetLife. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College and his master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California. He formerly worked at the Pentagon, where his duties included writing speeches for then-Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. Cheatham works with several nonprofits, including the Salvation Army, and he is a longtime supporter of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CMH. In 2008 he was named Rotarian of the Year for Ventura.

Gloisten is Chief Executive Officer for GBS Financial and works out of the firm’s downtown Ventura office. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, and while working at the New York Stock Exchange, he attended night classes at the Seton Hall University of Law. After graduating and passing the bar exam, Gloisten was hired as House Counsel for the Dreyfus Fund. Gloisten taught night classes in Investments at UCLA for 30 years and has served as treasurer of the Northridge Hospital Foundation. He is a board member of the Ventura Music Festival and the Pierpont Community Council.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, formed in 1984, is a nonprofit, charitable organization with the basic mission of providing meaningful ways to educate the community regarding the service capabilities of Community Memorial Hospital; to work with the community to facilitate support of Community Memorial Hospital; and to raise funds for the development, operation and maintenance of programs and services.
The Foundation was organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Laws of the State of California and has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
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.

Livingston Hospice conducts several adult bereavement support groups to help those who have experienced a loss. Explore and express feeling, understand the grief process and receive emotional support. Open to the public, free of charge, all are welcome. The groups are held at:

The First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard; Every Wednesday, (August 7, 14, 21, 28); from 3:00 – 4:30 pm.

Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#112), Ventura; Every Wednesday, (August 7, 14, 21, 28); from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

Help of Ojai, 370 Baldwin Road, Ojai; On 2nd & 4th Tuesday, (August 13 & 27); from 10:30 am – 12 noon.

For the newly bereaved: at Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, (#112), Ventura; On second Thursday, (August 8); from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

Call 642-1608 for more information.

Potluck & Bellydance Show featuring the Sespe Sapphires and Students of Kali.
Sunday August 4th, 2013
6:30pm

Fillmore's Health and Wellness Center
448 Santa Clara Street
Fillmore, CA 93015

August 4th is International Friendship Day and we are celebrating friendship, light, and the exact middle of the summer! Please bring a potluck item to share and some form of light – candle, lantern, twinkle lights, etc.

The wind blew... the snow flew... it was a July blizzard at 711 Sespe Place. A robust Hollywood-type production company arrived in Fillmore on bobsleds, dogsleds and toboggans... (well, OK... they came in trucks)... to film a commercial for a wellknown battery company for the upcoming Christmas season. A living room set was built in one of the fire department bays complete with Christmas tree, fireplace, presents under the tree etc.) Snow covered the adjacent fire department administration building and surrounding shrubbery. Christmas wreaths were hung with great care on the fire house. Attention to detail was evident everywhere. Even a dalmatian sat at attention. Only two things were absent... a community troupe belting Jingle Bells (dropped a note in the suggestion box) and Santa! After shooting the indoor scene... attention was placed on the truck with secret cargo... zooming up Sespe Place... through fog and snow... on the way to deliver boxes of goodies of various sizes to all those who receive electronic Christmas gifts. . If it snows in Fillmore... it’s Christmas in July. But you’ll have to wait til December to watch the ad!
Ho...ho... ho!

At a special meeting on July 26, the Board of Directors of United Water Conservation District appointed Michael W. Mobley to fill the Director vacancy representing the District’s Division 2.

Mr. Mobley, a lifelong resident of Ventura County, owns and operates Progressive Land Management which, based in Santa Paula, provides complete ranch management and consulting services throughout the county. Mike has served on the boards of numerous trade and community organizations including California Farm Bureau, Ventura County Farm Bureau (President, 1996-1997), Ventura County Ag Advisory Committee, Ventura County Resource Conservation District (President, 2004-Present), Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley (President, 2006-2008), and Fillmore-Piru Citrus Association. Mr. Mobley earned a B.S. from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.

Board President Dan Naumann stated, “We are fortunate to be able to appoint to the United Board someone with Mike’s qualifications and knowledge of the area he will represent. We have some big challenges ahead, and United will greatly benefit from his leadership.”

United Water’s Division 2 includes the Santa Clara River Valley from Santa Paula’s western city limit to Kimball Road north of Hwy. 126, taking in much of East Ventura, and it includes the Saticoy and El Rio areas and a portion of the City of Oxnard in the River Park area.

On July 16, 2013, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (EHD) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health that one wild bird collected by the EHD on July 8, 2013, tested positive for an acute infection of West Nile Virus (WNV). The bird was collected from the City of Simi Valley. This is the second bird to test “acute” positive for the WNV in Ventura County this year. Two additional birds have tested “chronic” positive for the WNV in Ventura County this year. An “acute” positive indicates that the bird was recently infected. Since WNV is established in Ventura County, we expect that additional WNV positive birds will be collected.

EHD vector control technicians routinely monitor and control mosquito breeding sources throughout Ventura County. The EHD will inspect all mosquito breeding sources near where the wild bird was collected, and treat for mosquito breeding if necessary.

The public is advised to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to WNV:

1. Eliminate standing water from their property to reduce mosquito breeding, including water in buckets, barrels, old tires, children’s toys, ornamental ponds, and neglected swimming pools.

2. Make sure exterior doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Screens should be replaced if they are torn or have holes.

3. Limit outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk.

4. When outdoors, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

5. Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, according to label instructions.

The WNV also affects horses. For information about the WNV infection in horses and preventative measures, horse owners should contact their veterinarian.

The WNV finding is a result of on-going countywide surveillance efforts by the EHD. In addition to these efforts, vector control technicians routinely monitor over 2,000 potential mosquito-breeding sources in or near urban areas and implement control measures when evidence of mosquito breeding is observed. Mosquito-eating fish are available from the EHD at no charge to residents for use in ornamental ponds and similar water features. To order fish, the public should call 805/662-6582.

To report potential mosquito-breeding sources in Ventura County created from improperly maintained swimming pools and other similar water impoundments located on private property, the public is encouraged to call the mosquito complaint HOTLINE at 805/658-4310.

To assist in WNV surveillance efforts, the public is encouraged to report any crows, ravens, and birds of prey that have died recently to the California Department of Public Health at 877/WNV-Bird (877/968-2473).

To obtain information about mosquito control and surveillance efforts in Ventura County please visit the EHD's website:

http://www.ventura.org/rma/envhealth/technical-services/vector/index.htm...

(l-r) Ari Larson Vice President of Fillmore Chamber, Francisco and Francisca Cardenas, Theresa Robledo Board Director and President Cindy Jackson presenting their Business of the Month certificate. Francisco and Francisca, husband and wife, opened up their fruit stand in 1984 by selling their citrus from the family farm. They grew selling local farmers produce, citrus, honey, jerky and olives. They have supported the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce for many years as well as the community. During the May Festival they donate their building for use as a command post. Since 1984 Francisco’s Fruit, has been located at 1782 E. Telegraph Rd, just 3 miles east of Fillmore on Highway 126. They grow their own oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and avocados as well as other fruit. 80-90% of the produce they sell comes from local farms. They also sell premium beef jerky, raw honey olives, nuts and candies. Seasonal items are available throughout the year such as: pumpkins, blueberries, pomegranates, blood oranges, cherimoya, persimmons, dragon fruit and much more. They are open seven days a week including holidays. As an added treat, on Sundays, Francisco plays Latin music from 3-7pm, for anyone that wants to join the fun.

For all of us who have been watching this building project from the first day, We cannot express to you how excited we are to see the very first floor of the new Community Memorial Hospital.

Crews will now focus on waterproofing the basement walls, then backfilling dirt around the exterior. As they complete this process, we look forward to the initial shipments of steel that will signal the beginning of the installation of the steel skeleton of the hospital.

Please enjoy our latest film documenting the “concrete pouring of the first floor”.

Thank you,
CMH Staff

Enlarge Photo

A message from Detective Ray Dominguez:

Greetings Farm Watch readers, recent reports indicate that avocado and copper wire thefts continue to be a problem. A substantial theft of avocados was reported from a farm in Santa Paula, luckily an observant security officer found the fruit piled under trees and was able to recover the fruit, thus thwarting the crooks plan to return for it at a later time.

A copper wire theft was reported in the Ventura area, but no suspects have been identified in this case. Unfortunately, the victim’s pumping equipment was targeted at a time when the farm was not being actively worked. Just this past week, two theft reports came in from the Camarillo/Oxnard Plains area, where fungicides and a forklift were reported stolen. There are no suspects identified in either case.

Remember, if you discover a theft has occurred, please contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 654-9511 or 911 in an emergency, and keep people and animals out of the area to avoid contaminating the crime scene. Please do not allow anyone to touch or move anything in the area as they may be contaminating or destroying otherwise viable evidence.

On another note, in early June I along with numerous representatives from various county, municipal and state public safety and regulatory agencies attended a “Pre-fire Season” meeting hosted by the Ventura County Fire Department. As many of you know, we had already experienced several fires in the county by the time the meeting was held, and it appears the fire season seems to start earlier each year.

The meeting was well attended, as they packed the room. The meeting was an open forum allowing attendees to comment and share ideas. The focus of the meeting was on the “Springs” fire and a debrief of the incident to discuss what went right, and how we could improve in the area(s) where deficiencies were identified. Overall, things went well based on the discussion and analysis of the incident.

However, I would like to share a couple of things with you that came out of the meeting. I believe they are of particular interest and benefit to those of you involved in the local agriculture industry. They included the discussion about the “Agricultural Pass Program” and the “Ready, Set, Go!” program covering wildfire preparedness for farmers, ranchers and growers. If you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage you to visit the Ventura County Fire Department website at fire.countyofventura.org and read the information related to these two programs. Once you access the website, click on the “Wildfire Action Plan” in the Quick Links section found in the lower right corner of the home page.

The Agricultural Passes, I mentioned CONTINUED »

The second event in a community discussion series about the Pacific Coast Pipeline Fillmore Site (PCPL) is happening. A community technical advisor from EPA's Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program will present information about soil vapor intrusion and current air monitoring at PCPL and answer community questions from the first and second workshops.

Last year, TASC met with the community to better understand educational needs related to the PCPL. This discussion series will revolve around the major topics of interest expressed by the community.

Date, Time, and Location:
Thursday, July 18, 2013
6:30 PM Presentation and Open Discussion
One Step A La Vez
400 Fillmore Street
Fillmore, CA 93015

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - On Sunday, July 28, Ventura County Animal Services, in partnership with Rescue Me, Inc., will host the 9th Annual Dog-Gone Cat-a-Strophic Hugs, Slurps and Slobbers Pet Adopt-a-Thon.

This free family-friendly event will take place from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 600 Aviation Way, and will feature fun, food, live music, entertainment, vendors and the chance to adopt a furry or feathered best friend at 50% off the regular adoption rate.

Sponsored by Rescue Me, Inc., an organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for orphaned animals, the adopt-a-thon is a fun way for the public to visit the Ventura County animal shelter, meet the caring staff and volunteers and be introduced to the wide array of cats, dogs, rabbits and reptiles available for adoption.

“Each year, we welcome the public to the shelter during the adopt-a-thon and introduce them to the hundreds of animals that wait patiently for a loving family to call their own,” said Donna Gillesby, VCAS interim director. “Our goal is to empty the shelter of every adoptable animal. Many currently housed with us ran away from home on the 4th of July and have not been reclaimed by their owners.”

On the Saturday before the adopt-a-thon, Warren Eckstein, host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Pet Show, will broadcast live from the Camarillo animal shelter from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eckstein will preview many of the animals that will be available for adoption on the following day.

For more information, call VCAS at 1-888-223-PETS (7387), 805-388-4341 or go to www.vcas.us.

OPEN helps unemployed professionals jump start their job searches. We provide an intensive, five half-day outplacement training workshop that covers online and traditional job search strategies, network building, cover letter and resume writing, interviewing, salary negotiation, skills analysis, and more. These workshops are offered at NO COST to participants.

The next Workshop will run Mon, July 29th – Fri. August 2nd, 2013. Daily workshop hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at County of Ventura’s Job and Career Center, 980 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley, CA 93065-1998.

Reserve your place in our next workshop before Friday, July 26th by pre-registering online at www.EU-OPEN.org.

OPEN, a chapter of Experience Unlimited, is a no-fee service, sponsored by the State of California Employment Development Department.

Professionals who want more information or would like to network with other professionals are invited to attend our Friday meetings from 9 to 11 a.m. where guest speakers/presentations are provided. All professionals in Ventura County and surrounding areas are eligible. Previous workshops have drawn job-seekers from Monterey Park to Santa Barbara.

Ventura, CA - Community Memorial Health System’s Healthy Women’s Program is hosting a Community Outreach Day which offers free mammograms and healthcare education to the first 35 women who qualify. This event will take place at the Center for Family Health in Ventura on Saturday, July 27.

The women will arrive early at the CFH office at 120 N. Ashwood Avenue in Ventura where they will be transported to The Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, and then back to the center’s office.

In 2011, an estimated 230,480 new cases of breast cancer occurred in the United States, and early detection and awareness is the key to fighting this life-threatening disease. The Healthy Women’s Program provided through CMHS benefits women in the community who are uninsured, under-insured or lack funds to pay for mammograms and follow-up treatment, if necessary.

“These women have nowhere else in the county to go to get these services; that’s why they come to us,” said Patty Jimenez, Healthy Women’s Program outreach coordinator.

The Healthy Women’s Program is made possible through funds raised by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s annual Gold Dust Gala, along with the support of the Wallis Foundation.

For eligibility requirements, call 805/651-2661. For more information on the Healthy Women’s Program visit www.cmhshealth.org/healthywomen.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 11 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.