Ventura, CA – Edible landscaping, simply put, replaces plants that are strictly ornamental with plants that produce food. Colorful fruits, vegetables and edible flowers add both interest and beauty while providing a return on your investment of time, water, and mulch.

The Ventura County Master Gardeners are teaching Edible Landscaping techniques to residents across the county through a series of free weekend workshops in March and April. Workshops will include instruction on designing, installing, and maintaining an edible landscape. Topics include plant choices, soils, composting, site selection, safe harvesting, and how-to store your edible creations. Master Gardeners will also share information about container and raised bed gardening.

Workshops will be held:
Ventura – Saturday, March 2, 10:00 am – Noon, University of California Cooperative Extension, 669 County Square Drive, Ventura CA 93003 Conference Rooms A & B

Oxnard – Saturday, March 2, 1:30 – 3:30 pm, United Methodist Church, 1801 Joliet Place

Camarillo –Sunday, March 3, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Camarillo Ranch House, 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd.

Ojai – Saturday, March 9, 9:30 – 11:30 am, ARC Enrichment Center, 210 Canada Street

Santa Paula – March 23, 9:30 – 11:30, Hansen Agricultural Center, 14292 W. Telegraph Road,

Simi Valley – March 23rd, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Rancho Santa Susana Community Center, 5005 East Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks – April 6th, 9:30 – 11:30, Goebel Center, 1385 E Janss Rd

Space at each site is limited and pre-registration is required.

Register for these free workshops at http://ucanr.org/sites/VCMG/?calendar=yes&g=28738.

For additional information, contact the Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Leah Haynes, at ljhaynes@ucdavis.edu or phone (805) 320-4134.

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Message from Detective Ray Dominguez:

Greetings Farm Watch Readers, over the past month I have seen a number of reports filed reference vehicle burglaries. As I have mentioned in the past, unknown suspect(s) are targeting field workers vehicles parked along the edge of the roadway. The suspect(s) are using an unknown tool to shatter the windows on these vehicles and stealing electronic items including car stereos. The suspect(s) are also rummaging through the passenger compartments and taking items from purses including credit cards that have been used to purchase electronics online at places like Best Buy and the Apple Store.

The Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit has prepared a flyer in both English and Spanish addressing this issue. Refer to the attached flyer and please print out some copies for yourself to post them at your farms and ranches to alert your employees of this on-going problem. Please remind them to lock their vehicle doors and secure their personal property out of sight. If possible, designate a storage locker area where they can store their belongings during their work shift or ask them to leave their valuables at home whenever possible. No suspect(s) have been identified in these cases. The areas targeted most recently have been farms located in the area of Hueneme Rd. / Wood Rd. in the unincorporated area of Camarillo, and one report in the Somis area off of La Loma Ave.

Please remind your employees to immediately report suspicious subjects or vehicles in the area to police. Ask them to snap a photo if they have a cellular phone handy or try to copy down the vehicle license plate number or any vehicle/suspect description.

For those of you growing avocados, as we start the new season I have sent out information to our various patrol stations alerting them to be vigilant in anticipation of avocado thefts. Many of our deputies are trained and experienced in handling these types of calls. Please remind your employees that if they encounter a theft in progress to please contact our Sheriff’s Dispatch Center immediately 911 or 654-9511 and let the dispatcher know this is a theft in progress call as opposed to a late report.

Once they are in contact with the dispatcher, they will be asked to provide information in real time about the suspect(s) description, any vehicles involved, location of the offense, direction of travel, etc.

Please ask your employees to avoid confronting the suspect(s) themselves as they don’t know who they may be dealing with, and may spook them causing them to flee before deputies arrive.

Please remind your employees to not disturb the crime scene or items left behind by the suspect(s) as they may prove valuable as evidence. Tell them not to touch or move anything because they will contaminate the scene. In my experience, these crooks have been known to pile fruit under trees or at the edge of a roadway and come back later to retrieve the fruit. In such a case, we may be able to catch the crooks and make an arrest as they return to the scene.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me directly at 384-4726 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org.

The following advice is always wise if you suspect illegal activity on your property:

Call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 911.
Be a good witness
Note suspect descriptions such as age, height, weight, facial hair, clothing, and shoe type.
If a vehicle is involved, obtain a license plate number and note vehicle color, body damage, bumper stickers, camper shell, after market tires and wheels, etc.
Provide the dispatcher with information about the time and last known direction of travel.
If you are not sure of how to address the problem or would like additional crime prevention tips please contact your local Sheriff’s Office substation or Detective Ray Dominguez directly at (805) 384-4726 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org.

Contacts:

Camarillo Detective Robert Arthur, robert.arthur@ventura.org

Fillmore Detective John Fox john.fox@ventura.org

Ventura Detective Dennis Smith dennis.smith@ventura.org

Agricultural Crimes Detective, Ray Dominguez at Ray.Dominguez@ventura.org

As always, we would like to thank Sheriff’s Crime Analyst Karen Brown and Det. Ray Dominguez, for this issue’s great crime and alert update.

Be alert and always safe!

Monica (797-6338)

Geoff Dean - Sheriff

John Crombach and Gary Pentis - Assistant Sheriffs

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 (March 6, 13, 20, 27); from 3:00 – 4:30 pm

Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#112), Ventura; Every Wednesday (March 6, 13, 20, 27); from 6:30 – 8:00

Help of Ojai, 370 Baldwin Road, Ojai; On Tuesday, March 12th & 26, from 10:30 am – 12 noon

For the newly bereaved: at Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, (#112), Ventura; On Thursday, March 14, 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Call 642-1608 for more information.

(l-r) Dr. Rochelle Wilson, Chief of Staff at Ojai Valley Community Hospital and Dr. Thomas Golden, Chief of Staff at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.
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Ventura, CA - Community Memorial Health System welcomes Dr. Thomas Golden as Chief of Staff at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura and Dr. Rochelle Wilson as Chief of Staff at Ojai Valley Community Hospital. Their terms run for two years.

Both physicians will serve on the Board of Trustees as their hospital’s medical staff representative.

Dr. Golden is an orthopedic surgeon certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a Fellow of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and an active member of The Arthroscopy Association of North America. He also is a member of The California Orthopedic Association and The California Medical Association.

Dr. Golden has been a member of the Ocean Orthopedic Surgery medical group in Ventura since 1991 and specializes in arthroscopic surgery and total joint replacement. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1975 and completed his residency from the San Francisco Orthopedic Residency Program in 1983.

Dr. Wilson has been a family physician in Ojai since 1999 and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She previously practiced medicine in Torrance, Palos Verdes and Garden Grove and is a diplomat of the American Academy of Family Medicine.

Dr. Wilson earned her medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona in 1984 and completed her residency at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center in 1988.
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.
Caption: Tom Golden, M.D., Chief of Staff, Community Memorial Hospital. Rochelle Wilson, M.D., Chief of Staff, Ojai Valley Community Hospital.

Ventura, CA - Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD – will be the focus of a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, March 19.

Robert Bernstein, M.D. who specializes in pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine, will lead the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital at 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

COPD affects an estimated 24 million people in the U.S., with half of those cases remaining undiagnosed. Dr. Bernstein will discuss COPD’s symptoms – including shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing – and how early diagnosis and treatment help manage this serious lung disease.

Dr. Bernstein received his medical degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and completed his Internal Medicine residency at UCLA. He is a member of the medical staff at Community Memorial Hospital.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are required. Call 805-652-5436, or visit www.cmhhealth.org/rsvp.

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.

On Friday February 22, 2013 the Girl Scouts of The Heritage Valley celebrated World Thinking Day. Seventeen troops from Fillmore and Santa Paula with girls in grades from kindergarten through seniors in high school participated. The Girl Scout tradition of World Thinking Day ask each troop to study a country and present what they learned with skits, food, dancing and most of all fun. For parents looking to guide their daughters in leadership experiences contact Suzi at 524-0537 or 1-800-822-2427 for more information.

Girl Scout cookie season has begun so be on the lookout for cookie booth sales. This year there are six varieties, Savannah Smiles, Do-si-do’s, Trefoils, Tag-alongs, Samoas, and Thin Mints.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa (Tree) Pavan, BSHS, RN, as Livingston Memorial’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Pavan started her nursing career as an Oncology nurse and joined Livingston Hospice 13 years ago. She held a supervisory role in Livingston’s Home Health division, moved to the Hospice Director of Patient Care Services and now takes the helm as VP and COO. Mrs. Pavan brings over 18 years of nursing and leadership experience to this position and will provide administrative oversight for Livingston’s clinical services in Home Health, Hospice and CareGivers. “Having been part of the Livingston family for so many years, I understand the importance of our mission to serve our community. I am so proud of the work we do”, says Mrs. Pavan, who resides in Camarillo with daughters Savannah and Alina and husband Paul. Livingston Memorial VNA has been serving the residents of Ventura County for over 65 years and as a non profit home health and hospice agency, and provides care for all regardless of the ability to pay.

The 5th annual Fillmore Flower Show, presented by Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee, will take place April 13, 14 at the Fillmore Senior Center located at 533 Santa Clara Street. The theme selected for this year will be “Fiesta of Flowers” and those who are already at work making preparations for this year’s show are hoping to see many more youth created entries. It is hoped that providing a newly added class, Team Arrangements, within the Youth Arrangement Division, will attract groups of 2-4 young people that will work together to create an entry.

They could plan together their entry, bring their flowers from various relatives’ yards, along with any objects to be part of the arrangement between 7:30am-9:00am and create the entry working together.

Another opportunity for young people would be the Youth Composition Division where they might take a photograph depicting a fiesta of flowers or celebration with flowers, or make a collage of flower pictures or create some other original drawing or painting and then combine it with an original poem, or song or short essay on a single page. These entries need to have the name, age or grade level written on the back of the entry.

Youth entries are free and adult entries are still only $5.00 for unlimited entries. All who live within the Fillmore Unified School District which includes Piru and Bardsdale are eligible for the competition.

Posters will be put up soon and brochures explaining all details for the show will be placed at the City Hall, Library, Senior Center, El Dorado Park and other businesses in town, the first of March.

It takes many, many volunteers to put together a Flower Show and volunteers are always welcomed. If you would be able to help set up on Friday at 3pm, or to help Saturday morning getting entries carried in for placement between 7:30-10:30am, or just to help in a time slot as hostesses (standing or sitting in a room to see that nothing is touched or moved), please call Joanne King at 805-524-4904 or Linda Nunes at 805-524-3021.

Volunteering is a great way to get to know others in the community and share in this worthwhile effort that first began before World War I.

Don Snyder a premier Cabaret entertainer will be entertaining the Fillmore Ebell Ladies on February 26th at their annual past presidents meeting.

Mr Snyder was a musical director and entertainer for the NCL cruise lines. He has also worked with and for Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Milton Berle, Michael Crawford and the Dean Martin Variety Shows. Not only has he wowed audiences throughout the world he also ran his own production company showcasing other performers. He has performed for the Fillmore ladies many times and never fails to amaze them.

For more information regarding this wonderful experience please call Glenda at 524-4949.

Lunch begins at 12:30 program starts about 1:30 and the cost is only $12.00 per person.

We meet at the Fillmore Memorial Building.

Ventura, CA - Advances in women’s health treatment options will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

David Crownover, M.D., a Ventura obstetrician/gynecologist, will lead the seminar that will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

Many women desire treatment for common ailments such as fibroids, irregular bleeding and urinary leakage. However, many women postpone treatment due to the invasive nature of treatment. Dr. Crownover will cover new surgical treatment options now available that are minimally-invasive with less recovery time and discomfort.

Dr. Crownover received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Services in Little Rock and completed his OB/GYN residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He is an active member of the Community Memorial Hospital staff.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are required. Call 652-5436, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

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.

Filming for the FX Network television drama “Justified” took place on Tuesday on A Street at Old Telegraph Road. The show is based on Elmore Leonard’s novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story “Fire in the Hole”. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky, and the hill country of eastern Kentucky. Justified premiered on March 16, 2010 on the FX Network; a fourth season of 13 episodes was announced on March 6, 2012 and premiered January 8, 2013. Justified has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards as of 2012, with two wins.

Kristen Webb

Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s annual Gold Dust Gala is honoring The Women We Love - mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, and friends - the women who help shape our lives and who impact our lives in a profound way.

This year, The Gold Dust Gala will be held in Camarillo at the beautiful Serra Center at 5205 Upland Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. for Silent Auction bidding, cocktails, raffle, and tribute tree. A dinner featuring Command Performance’s Classic California Cuisine will be followed by the dance-inspiring music of “Platinum Groove.”

For over two decades, the Gold Dust Gala has annually raised funds and awareness for the Healthy Women’s Program. This unique program offers breast and cervical cancer screenings to women living in Ventura County who are unable to pay due to lack of insurance or are under-insured.

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VENTURA COUNTY, CA - Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) recently launched a new animal foster parenting program that utilizes volunteer help to care for some of the smallest and most vulnerable wards at VCAS shelters – newborn kittens and puppies.

VCAS foster parent volunteers agree to care for and feed one, two or an entire litter of kittens or puppies until the animals are old enough and large enough to be put up for adoption at VCAS shelters.

Foster parents provide the babies with frequent feedings – either by bottle or, if old enough, with solid food - and care for them in their homes until they are at least 8 weeks old and weigh 2 lbs.

“Kittens and puppies are cute and cuddly but need a high level of care,” said Donna Gillesby, VCAS interim director. “This program is a wonderful way for volunteers to help newborn animals gain the strength and size they need to become eligible for permanent adoption.”

In the past, VCAS has only allowed VCAS staff and county employees to take home and care for tiny animals. By opening up the program to the public, VCAS hopes to lower the euthanasia rate, increase the number of animal adoptions and move one step closer to becoming a no-kill facility.

Those who sign up to become a foster parent will receive mandatory training from VCAS veterinarian, Heather Skogerson. Once trained, they will commit to providing animal care for three -five weeks, depending on the age and weight of the baby animals when they arrive at the shelter.

The foster parenting program is just one of many volunteer opportunities available at VCAS.

To find out more or to become a VCAS volunteer, contact VCAS Volunteer Coordinator, Brooke Novak at: 805-388-4345, VCAR.volunteer@ventura.org or go to: www.vcas.us

Nan Drake

Nan Drake, government affairs and public relations director for Harrison Industries, is this year’s recipient of the Ventura County Economic Develop Association’s prestigious Carl Lowthrop Golden Eagle Award for outstanding public service.

Drake received the award – VCEDA’s highest honor – during the organization’s recent 64th annual Installation of Officers event at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. The award is named in honor of Lowthrop, whose vision guided VCEDA for two decades, and is given each year to a volunteer demonstrating exemplary character.

Drake has over a 35-year record of service in Ventura County in both the public and private sectors. A member of the Ventura City Council from 1985 to 1989, she currently serves on the executive board of VCEDA as well as on the board of directors of the Economic Development Cooperative, Ventura County, and the Ventura and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce. In addition, Drake is co-chair of the Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee.

Drake also served as chair of the Los Angeles Region Water Quality Board and as a board member of the California Integrated Waste Management Board. In 2012 Drake was honored for the fifth consecutive year as one of the Top 50 Women in Business in the Tri-Counties by the Pacific Coast Business Times.

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Every day people across Ventura County use the Ventura Family YMCA as a gathering place for the community. Kids pour in before and after school to play and do homework. Seniors connect with one another through exercise classes and group activities. Families learn how to eat healthy and grow together. To ensure that the Y can continue to provide Ventura County residents with life enhancing services, each year we launch an annual community support campaign to raise money for the members of our community in need.

As a leading nonprofit for strengthening community, financial gifts to the Y will help advance programming and services that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. More importantly, the Y uses your gift to make a meaningful, enduring impact right in your own neighborhood.

“Through our community support campaign, we want to educate people that we are more than a place to go to exercise or swim, but an organization that does vital work thanks to the support of the community,” said Sal Cisneros, President and CEO of the Channel Islands YMCA. “The Y contributes to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods through a variety of ways that benefit all of us who live and work in the communities of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties”.

Last year we raised over $1.3 million dollars in financial support for the community. $300,000 of that was raised for those in need in Ventura County! We know that when we work as one, we move people and communities forward. That's why we are committed to providing support to our neighbors and opportunities for kids, adults and families to give, join in or advocate in the name of stronger communities.

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The Ventura County Rose Society will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at the Ventura County Office of Education Conference Center at 5100 Adolfo Rd., Camarillo.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for advice from Consulting Rosarians and refreshments, and our speaker presentation will begin at 7:30 pm.

The VCRS meeting will feature David Bassani, a professional garden designer and landscape contractor, who will speak on "Smart Tips for the Rose Garden" including tips for wise water consumption, companion plants, and rose garden designs. David is the President of the San Fernando valley Rose Society, a Board Member of the Beverly Hills Rose Society, and part of the International Rose Trials at Rose Hills.

Visitors are always welcome. For more information contact: Janet Sklar at 818-337-9970 or Dawn-Marie Johnson at 805-523-9003. Our website is www.venturarose.org

LOST DOG – Poodle type dog, floppy years grey short hair with black spots. Answers to Sparky. Family holds dear to heart. Lost on February 10, around Santa Clara Valley Bank, 805-421-9409

Hit and run on January 18th, 2013 at 10:30 p.m. On Hwy 126 and Sycamore Rd. East of the Railroad Tracks. Vehicle description Ford Explorer Light Brown, Between 1996 & 1999. If you have any information, that will help in the investigation a REWARD will be given. Please call 805-421-6773.