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, no registration is necessary. Call 805-642-0239 for information. The classes are held:

· In Ventura, first Tuesday of the month: August 6 @ Livingston VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, #109, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm.

· In Camarillo, first Wednesday of the month: August 7 @ Camarillo Community Center, Room 3, 1605 Burnley Street, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm.

· In Simi Valley, first Wednesday of the month: August 7 @ Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon.

· In Thousand Oaks, fourth Wednesday of the month, August 28 @ Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Rd, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm.

The Fillmore FFA Freedom Breakfast is being held at the Memorial Building on Thursday July 4th. The breakfast runs from 7am-10am and serves sausage, eggs, coffee, orange juice, and all you can eat pancakes. There is a $5 suggested donation and Veterans eat free with ID. We would all love to see you there in support of our FFA!

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, (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31); from 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#112), Ventura; Every Wednesday, (July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31); from 6:30 – 8:00

Help of Ojai, 370 Baldwin Road, Ojai; On 2nd & 4th Tuesday, (July 9 & 23); from 10:30 am – 12 noon

For the newly bereaved: at Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, (#112), Ventura; On second Thursday, (july 11); from 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Call 642-1608 for more information.

Santa Barbara County Animal Services wants to make sure you and your pet beat the heat this summer. It only takes a few minutes for your pet to get overheated, which can ultimately result in the animal’s death. Although pet owners mean well by wanting their animals to enjoy the outdoors, hot weather can cause serious health issues. There are several activities you should avoid and signs to look out for to help keep your pet safe during this heat wave.

Never leave your pet in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked. “The greenhouse effect can quickly become lethal for your pet. Avoid tragedy and leave your animals at home when hot weather strikes” says Jan Glick, Animal Services Director. The temperature inside a car will rise and can quickly cause your pet to become overheated and possibly die.

Active animals are more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Try to keep the activities and places you take your pets to a minimum while the outside temperatures are high. Avoid rigorous activities like running or hiking with your pet. If your pet is going to be outdoors, make sure that there is plenty of cool shade. Bring pets indoors periodically so they can escape the heat and cool down. Give your pets plenty of cool water in a container that they cannot spill.

If your pet is active in the heat there are many signs that he/she may be suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Things to be aware of during weather with such high temperatures are: high body temperature, heavy panting, rapid pulse, lethargy, darkening of the tongue, unsteadiness, vomiting, and/or glazed eyes. If you notice any of these signs on your pet you must lower their body temperature immediately. Get your pet into a cool or shady area. Apply cool water to their whole body. Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pets head, neck and chest. Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water. Most importantly, get your pet to the veterinarian right away.

If you notice an animal in distress please contact your local Animal Services Shelter; Santa Barbara at 681-5285, Santa Maria at 934-6119, Lompoc at 737-7755, or Santa Barbara City Animal Control at 963-1513. Be aware of the effects of high heat and keep your pets cool all year long.

“Window Dressing” by Carmelita Miranda
Enlarge Photo

Carmelita Miranda, of KSSP Photographic Studios, has won Best In Category – High School Senior Portrait at the quarterly competition of the Channel Islands Professional Photography Association (CIPPA). Earlier this year she also won CIPPA Architectural Photographer of the Year for 2012. An award she also won in 2011. One of Carmelita's architectural images merited at the Western State competition and was put on International Loan by the Professional Photographers of America.

Photographic competition is one way professional photographers hone their skills. In these competitions, images are judged by three judges at the local level and six judges at the regional level. Images receiving a score of 80 or greater receive a 'merit.' Typically, only one in four images receive a merit.

Carmelita's portrait of 2013 FHS senior Billy Gabriel entitled 'Playing Softly' won Best in Class for High School Senior. Her architectural portrait “Window Dressing” was put on Loan.

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in high school senior, family, children, glamour wedding and quinceanera photography. KSSP Photographic Studios is the school photographer for Fillmore High School. For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com.

The 2013 Ventura County Fair invites participants for this year's Ventura County Fair Parade. This year's parade is themed "Boots, Barns & Banjos", and takes place on Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am in Downtown Ventura.

Divisions for this year's entries are:
Color Guards
Bands
Equestrian
Floats
Antique Automobile (over 50 years old)
Classic Automobile (under 50 years old)
Miscellaneous

Deadline for entries is July 13th. For a complete list of guidelines or to apply, visit the Ventura County Fair's website at www.venturacountyfair.org.

WHO: Ventura County organizations (Youth or Adult), Color Guards, Bands, Equestrian groups, antique or classic automobile owners (individuals or clubs), Ventura County businesses

WHAT: The 2013 Ventura County Fair Parade

WHEN: Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

WHERE: Downtown Ventura

WHY: To showcase your organization and to be a part of the 138th Ventura County Fair.

4th Annual Fillmore FFA Freedom Pancake Breakfast Thursday July 4th, 7am-10am at the Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building. Suggested pre sale donation $5.00, or $6.00 at door, Veterans eat free.

LOS ANGELES, CA – More low-income Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) customers are eligible to save 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bill and receive no-cost energy efficient home improvements as a result of updated income guidelines for the state-sponsored California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Energy Savings Assistance Program.

“SoCalGas is committed to enrolling as many eligible customers as possible into our assistance programs,” said Rodger Schwecke, vice president of customer solutions for SoCalGas. “Together with our community partners, we engage in continuous outreach to help ensure our customers know about the many assistance programs available to help them in difficult economic times.”

The CARE program provides a 20-percent rate discount on the monthly natural gas bill for eligible households. Those who qualify and are approved within 90 days of starting new gas service will also receive a $15 discount on the Service Establishment Charge.

The Energy Savings Assistance CONTINUED »

United Water Conservation District is seeking candidates for appointment to an opening on its Board of Directors representing its Division 7. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a qualified elector and reside within Division 2, which encompasses the following area:

Immediately west of the City of Santa Paula, and extends south across the west Las Posas Valley to approximately Hwy. 101 at Central Ave., and includes the communities of Saticoy, Nyeland Acres, Strickland, El Rio, and RiverPark. South of Hwy. 101, Division 2 includes the college tracts east of the intersection of Oxnard Blvd. and Vineyard Ave., and the Wagon Wheel area. From Wagon Wheel the boundary extends northeast along the Santa Clara River to the vicinity of S. Petit Ave, then trends north to include the eastern portion of the City of Ventura. From S. Petit an irregular boundary extends north to Telephone Rd., west to Kimball Rd, north to Hwy 126, then north along Harmon Barranca to the District boundary located north of Foothill Rd. A copy of the map for Division 2 is available at the United Water Conservation District office in Santa Paula.

United Water Conservation District is a California special district organized and operating pursuant to the California Water Conservation Act of 1931, and it has as its mission to manage, protect, conserve and enhance the water resources of the Santa Clara River, its tributaries and associated aquifers in the most cost effective and environmentally balanced manner. A seven person board governs the District. Each director is elected from one of the seven divisions of the District. It is the intent of the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy by appointment at its regular Board meeting on July 10, 2013, and the appointment will be effective on July 10, 2013.

Persons interested in appointment as the Director from Division 2 should submit a written expression of interest and/or resume of their experience and qualifications to the District, c/o Mike Solomon, District General Manager, at the District’s offices located at 106 No. 8th Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060 on or before June 28, 2013. A Board Committee will review letters and/or resumes, interview candidates, and make a recommendation for appointment of an individual to the full Board of Directors. Appointment will be made at the Board’s regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the District’s offices in Santa Paula. For more information please contact Mike Solomon or Mary Kanatzar at 525-4431.

Southern California – Optimism has arrived in Fillmore and residents wishing to help improve the lives of youth are invited to attend an informational meeting about a new Optimist Club at Noon on Tuesday at The Chevy Dealer Café on Ventura St..

Community leaders and service-minded individuals will be on hand at the meeting to talk about the future club and to gather ideas about how the club can improve the local community and how volunteers can get involved.

Optimist Clubs throughout the world conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. Members of Optimist Clubs strive to maintain an upbeat attitude and help empower young people to be the best they can be. Each Optimist Club determines the best way it can serve children in the local community and develops service projects to suit those needs.

“Our children are the future of this community, and it’s up to us to make sure they have the tools they need to be good citizens with a promising future,” said long-time Optimist John Romano. “A local Optimist Club can do just that, but we need volunteers to help determine the biggest areas of need and to help put our plans into action.”

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 93,000 adult and youth members in 3,200 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.

For more information about the informational meeting, please call Norb Moniz at 661-678-3637 or Dr. T G Thomas at 661-205-5525.

Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will hold the following Joint Replacement Class to prepare you for total knee or hip replacement surgery. Home preparation, exercises and rehabilitation information will be discussed. Open to the public and free of charge, the class will be held:

July 11 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, Rm 109, 1996 Eastman Ave, Ventura, RSVP Diana Davis @ 642-0239 x 739

July 10th, from 10:00 – 11:00 am @ Pleasant Valley Hospital, 3rd floor Classroom, 2309 Antonio Avenue, Camarillo, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

July 10, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, 401 E Rolling Oaks Drive, Thousand Oaks, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

July 17, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Sunrise Senior Living, Activity Room, 190 Tierra Rejada Road, Simi Valley, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

Larry Wade

Longtime Minnetonka resident and former Hopkins teacher Larry Wade recently published his first book, “Nature Seeker Workbook: Connecting to the Wilds of Your Neighborhood” geared to children grades 2-5. Wade believes children need to spend more time outdoors and in nature to become better stewards of the environment when they become adults.

Former Gatewood Elementary sixth-grade teacher and Hopkins School District Naturalist Larry Wade sees a growing trend in fewer kids being outside and enjoying nature.

Instead of bemoaning this development, he has attempted to help kids reconnect with the great outdoors by penning his first book, “Nature Seeker Workbook: Connecting to the Wilds of Your Neighborhood,” that includes hundreds of illustrations by Jeannette Dickinson and Amelia Ladd.

Wade, a Minnetonka resident for 30 years, volunteers for the city and skis on Minnehaha Creek during the winter.

“Not now, obviously,” he said, pointing to the thinning ice of the creek. “Anything outside is good for me.”

On April 10, Wade sat down with the Sun Sailor to discuss his new book and how the next generation of children can connect with the environment.

Q: What factors lead you to write this book?
A: I lived in southern California, and I grew up in a canyon called Sespe Creek (in Ventura County north of Los Angeles) and basically was outside 24/7. It was an incredible place to live. And, working with children over the years, I’ve seen their connection to the Earth change and now … the kinds of things I did as a kid, children rarely do.

We didn’t even have a television. That’s CONTINUED »

The 2013 Ventura County Fair invites participants for this year's Ventura County Fair Parade. This year's parade is themed "Boots, Barns & Banjos", and takes place on Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am in Downtown Ventura.

Divisions for this year's entries are:
Color Guards
Bands
Equestrian
Floats
Antique Automobile (over 50 years old)
Classic Automobile (under 50 years old)
Miscellaneous

Deadline for entries is July 13th. For a complete list of guidelines or to apply, visit the Ventura County Fair's website at www.venturacountyfair.org.

WHO: Ventura County organizations (Youth or Adult), Color Guards, Bands, Equestrian groups, antique or classic automobile owners (individuals or clubs), Ventura County businesses

WHAT: The 2013 Ventura County Fair Parade

WHEN: Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

WHERE: Downtown Ventura

WHY: To showcase your organization and to be a part of the 138th Ventura County Fair!

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - From June 22- 30, license ambassadors from Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) will go door-to-door in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County to check that pet owners are up-to-date with their current State of California animal licensing requirements.

VCAS license ambassadors will verify the status of pet licenses, sell and renew licenses at the door and distribute dog spay/neuter vouchers that reduce the cost of pet sterilization.

To help prevent the spread of rabies, the State of California requires all pet owners to vaccinate against rabies and purchase a license within 30 days of acquiring a new dog, or with a puppy, after it is four months of age. A rabies certificate is valid for a minimum of 12 months and is required to receive an actual license tag.

The fees for purchasing a Ventura County animal license are $20.00 for spayed/neutered animals (with proof of sterility) or $75.00 for unaltered animals. A 100% penalty applies to all delinquent licenses.

For more information on licensing and/or low-cost rabies clinics, call: (805) 388-4341 or go to: www.vcas.us.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Thursday, July 4. As a result, Fillmore residential customers will have their trash and recyclables collected on Saturday, July 6, one day later than usual.

The regular schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.