CAMARILLO, CA - The Ventura County Community Foundation will honor the service of four individuals and two organizations at the third annual Community Leadership Awards luncheon at the Museum of Ventura County on May 23.
These awards spotlight the exemplary volunteer work of residents, businesses and nonprofits that strive to build community in Ventura County.

"We at the Community Foundation have been fortunate enough to partner with all of them during our almost 25 years in existence, allowing us to do more together than any of us could have accomplished alone," said VCCF President and CEO Hugh Ralston. "They have given of their time, talent and money with the dream of improving the quality of life in Ventura County."

Dorothy Loebl of Ojai will receive the Philanthropist Award. Loebl began volunteering at public and private educational institutions in Ojai, and then expanded her efforts to include financial support and leadership for countywide programs and causes. A former VCCF board member and past chair of the Interface Children & Family Services board, Loebl focuses on health care, education and social services.

The Organization Award goes to Verizon CONTINUED »

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, May 28. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, June 2, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

“Who knows what is happening on May 17th-20th?” asked Chairman of the Fillmore May Festival Shawn Diaz. “The fair!,” yelled the crowd of approximately 30 children, including the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley and neighborhood kids who gathered at the Fillmore Library to participate in the very popular Success through Reading program on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Shawn proceeded to read the book Night at the Fair by Donald Crews and also gave the children the latest and greatest about changes to the fair this year like more rides for the young people. Bracelets where made to remind them about the fair. Two books donated by the Fillmore Friends of the Library were given away as door prizes. Then Shawn surprised the children with a free entrance bracelet good for the first day of the fair! For more information on the Fillmore May Festival please go to their website: www.http://fillmoremayfestival.com/

The Success through Reading program is put on by Soroptimist International of Fillmore in conjunction with the Fillmore Friends of the Library and in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. For more information on the program please contact Ari Larson, 805.794.7590 or petenari55@hotmail.com

Ventura, CA — After rigorous two-day surveys, Community Memorial Health System has announced that both Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura and Ojai Valley Community Hospital in Ojai has achieved national accreditation from DNV Healthcare, a Cincinnati-based hospital accreditation organization.

CMHS made the decision to pursue DNV accreditation to further its commitment to continually improve the quality of care it provides. According to Gary Wilde, CMHS president and chief executive officer, DNV hospital accreditation addresses the demands of quality-driven hospitals that are dedicated to patient-centered care.

“Earning national accreditation through a program such as DNV shows CMHS’s commitment to quality, process improvement and providing excellent healthcare,” Wilde said. “Partnering with DNV helps us identify our strengths so we can continue to excel in those areas and assist us in finding opportunities to improve.”

DNV Healthcare’s hospital CONTINUED »

Job seekers mark your calendars! The Ventura County Job & Resource Fair is coming to Ventura on Wednesday, May 23rd from 10am to 3pm at the Crowne Plaza, located at 450 E. Harbor Blvd in Ventura.

The job fair will provide an opportunity for veterans and local job seekers to meet with local employers and be introduced to a variety of available job positions. With more than 60 employers set to attend, including Vons, Time Warner Cable, Quest Diagnostics, CACI Technologies and a host of federal agencies, this fair is not to be missed!

“SBBCollege is proud to sponsor this great event,” says College President, Matthew Johnston. “We’ve been able to engage many of the local employers we work with and create a win-win for Ventura County veterans, job hunters and businesses.”

The Ventura County CONTINUED »

A yard with pleasant surprises at every turn was chosen as the Fillmore Civic Pride/Vision 2020 Yard of the Month for the month of May.

Mike and Deirdre Van De Mheen the owners of 457 Mountain View have built a fun yard that is enjoyed by their two sons Scott 13 and Matthew 10 along with neighbors Adrian 9 and Isaiah 6 Hernandez.
The house was built in 1929 with the Van De Mheens remodeling it since 1992. The front porch was redone after the earthquake. The upkeep of the yard is a family affair with the Van De Mheen boys helping out with mowing the lawn and participation in each project.

A three trunk white birch tree sits on one side of the yard boasting a tree house, swing and ladder. The tree house was made using the wood from the white birch which they purchased from Otto & Sons Nursery. The Van De Mheens say that their favorite part of the yard is the pond and the front porch. The swinging two seater with the lovely vines growing overhead by the pond is also very nice. Some of the plants include plumeria, marigolds, pansies and roses. Deirdre says that they have always worked hard to keep their yard in good standing.
The Van De Mheens received a certificate donated by Otto & Sons Nursery in the amount of $25.

Fillmore Civic Pride/Vision 2020 whose vision statement is “to foster a thriving small-town atmosphere in which civic pride, personal well-being and a balanced economy are nurtured and protected” meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Fillmore City Hall (2nd floor conference room) at 1:30pm. Please call 805.524.3841 for more information.

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. No registration is necessary; for information call Linda Hampson, RN, MSN @ 805-642-0239,ext 723.

The most powerful way to influence people, get the grade that you desire, and gain the job that you need is through proper communication skills. If you’ve ever thought about taking such a class but didn’t have the money or the time, then this may be the opportunity that you’ve been waiting for. This class is specifically designed for those in the Fillmore community from high school through adults, who desire to take an abbreviated college class on the subject of public speaking and communication. The class will meet at Fillmore church of Christ, 219 Mountain View Street, in Fillmore, on June 2nd, 9th, 13th, and 23rd from 5 to 7 pm.

Your teacher is Professor Barry Fike who has taught this subject in high schools since 1977 and at Pepperdine University since 2005. His debate teams have received top seats at Stanford University and Pepperdine University for the past seven years with many gaining speaking trophies. He is a minister of the Fillmore church of Christ. In this class there will be speeches given and graded, discussion on personal communication, a session in listening techniques along with a cursory approach to classroom presentations and question/answer situations such as a job interview. It’s a practical approach for just about anyone in the community that has the time and interest in bettering their skills in speaking and public communication. It is suggested that you attend all sessions for maximum benefit and instruction. The class will be cut off at a twenty member limit, so you’ll need to go ahead and sign up quickly.

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Seven graduating seniors have been selected to receive the 2012-2013 F.H.S. Alumni scholarships and three have been selected to receive the John and Nit Lemley F.H.S. Alumni scholarships for the 2012 to 2014 school years. Each recipient has been accepted to at least one college or university for the coming year, and each will receive $1,000.00. Those seniors are: Taelor Burhoe, daughter of Tim and Debra Burhoe, who will be attending Liberty University in Virginia where she will major in Communications, and Government. She will receive the Dulcie Arnold Scholarship. Taylor DeZavala, daughter of Geoff ('81) and Kathy ('84) DeZavala has been accepted at U.C. Santa Barbara. She has not decided on a major, but plans to minor in Art. She will receive the Carl and Helen Siechert Scholarship. Jaynessa Lopez, daughter of Dolly Provencio, will attend either UCLA or Cal Lutheran and will major in Biology and minor in Music. She hopes to become a high school teacher or go on to pre-med. She is to receive the Wm. Brisby Memorial Science Scholarship. Roberto Munoz is the son of Mike ('70) and Janey Munoz. He is undecided as to what his major will be, but will attend either UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara or Grinnel. He will receive the Richard Ortega Memorial Scholarship. Andrea Ocegueda is the daughter of Jaclyn Ibarra and Gabriel Acegueda and has been accepted at UC San Diego to major in Sociology. She will receive the Vernon and Arlene Nelson Scholarship. Jenna Wilber, daughter of John ('79) and Julia Wilber will attend Ventura College for two years before transferring to Westmont College. She will major in Liberal studies and hopes to become a Special Education teacher. She will receive the Masonic Temple Scholarship. Johnny Wilber is the son of John and Julia Wilber and will attend Cal Lutheran University and major in History with a minor in Multimedia. Mr. John Lemley, Class of 1961, is awarding three scholarships this year. Westley Fairall, Ana Morino and Vanessa Villa will each receive $2,500.00 scholarships for each of two years, and will also receive $500.00 for a one-time purchase of a laptop computer. Mr. Lemley is also continuing the $2,500.00 scholarships that were awarded to Clair Faith and Troy Spencer last year. Our congratulations to these outstanding graduates from Fillmore High, who will undoubtedly represent our school very well. The F.H.S. Alumni Association turns 99 years old this year. Thank you all Alumni and Friends for your contributions, and continued support of our fine organization. Don't forget, June 9th is our 99th Alumni Dinner. Why don't you come on out for a great dinner, and meet our Scholarship recipients. Good luck to all of them.

On May 22 at the Fillmore Memorial Building the Ebell ladies will hold their monthly meeting. The luncheon this month will be catered by Phyllis Austin at 12:30pm.

The installation of officers for year 2012-2013 will be held the new incoming president is Charlene Smith.
The ladies will then adjourn to the big auditorium and be entertained by the Fillmore High School Band under the direction of Mr. Greg Godfrey. The ladies always look forward to this program.

For more information and/or reservations please contact Yvonne Deeter at 524-2090.

A group of concerned citizens visited the Pacific Coast Pipeline Superfund Site on Thursday, April 26th. From 1915 to 1950, a refinery operated on The site; Due to past practices the soil and groundwater are contaminated. EPA installed a system to remove and clean the groundwater, which operated from 1992 to 2002. This system made progress in removing benzene from the groundwater but was not able to clean it up to the drinking water standard of one part per billion. In summer 2011 EPA proposed a new cleanup option of the site, conducted a 30-day comment period and held a public meeting in Fillmore. A final cleanup remedy for both remaining contaminated groundwater and soil were considered. There will be a follow-up tour in May as well.

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WELCOME FARM WATCH READERS!

The overall crime rate for this period vs. the same time period last year shows an increase in larcenies as we continue to have larcenies that include farm equipment and landscaping tools. Additionally, avocado thefts are creeping back into the picture as Det. Dominguez points out in his crime summary for this edition.

Agricultural Crimes Detective Ray Dominguez had the following update regarding county-wide agricultural investigations:

"Over the past month we have continued receiving reports of metal thefts that plague local farms and agriculture related businesses. The Sheriff’s Office recently joined forces with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to form a task force to combat this problem. The group has held a couple of meetings and although the task force is in it’s infancy, once established it should prove to be a valuable resource in identifying and tracking suspects responsible for recycling stolen materials, and ensuring the recycling businesses responsible for accepting the stolen property are held accountable as well. The task force will only help strengthen the alliances we have already forged with business owners and operators that have been diligent in policing themselves and have provided invaluable investigative leads to law enforcement officers.

The formation of the metal theft task force is just one component of a plan to reduce metal thefts locally. We need your help, and ask that you take an active role in protecting your property by marking it with identifiable markings and/or numbers. This will aid investigators in identifying stolen materials and equipment found in the suspect’s possession or at recycling yards.

As always, we encourage farm owners and business operators to secure their property and keep it out of sight of would be thieves. If you stockpile it…they will come! If you have scrap metal items or old equipment lying around your farm or business you may consider selling or taking the items in yourself to be recycled before they draw unwanted attention.

We also ask that you report any suspicious persons or activity. If you see a suspicious vehicle displaying such tell-tale signs of transporting stolen scrap metal items that are seen hanging out of the truck bed or trailer and the vehicle is loaded down in such a manner that the rear bumper appears to be dragging on the ground, call us to report it. Make sure you jot down a description of the vehicle including the color, make, model, and license plate. Note the physical and clothing description of the driver and any occupants seen in the vehicle.

Farmers are often CONTINUED »

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:

Weekly: Wednesday; 3:00 – 4:30 pm @ The First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard
Weekly: Wednesday; 6:30 – 8:00 pm @ Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura
Bi-Monthly: 2nd & 4th Tuesday; 3:00 – 4:00pm @ The Townhouse, 4900 Telegraph Rd, (7th floor), Ventura
Monthly: For the newly bereaved; 2nd Thursday; 6:00 – 7:30 pm @ Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura.

For more information call: 642-1608

Janet Foy, who sponsored and replanted three Central Avenue pots receives a certificate of appreciation from Civic Pride Committee.
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Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee would like to invite members of the Fillmore community to join in with the Second and final round of our Central Avenue pot refurbishing project by becoming either a “hands on” sponsor or a “donating” sponsor. Our hope is to replant all the remaining planters along the downtown center by the end of May. We have all the large pots sponsored & planted and now have 16 more small pots awaiting sponsors. Sponsors will have a small plaque with their name attached to the pot & receive a certificate of appreciation with a photo in the newspaper. The remaining pots are $25 each which covers new potting soil, new sprinkler heads & fertilizer & plants.

Working together to make our downtown area more attractive for visitors & shoppers is a very worthwhile project. Many people have told Civic Pride members how much they have enjoyed walking by the lush, red, white & blue color themed plantings

Contact Linda Nunes at 524-3021 or Cindy Klittich at 524-4466 for more information.

In all our computer lives, let’s face it, there are problems “waiting to happen”. Such issues might be virus and/or spyware problems, a need to incorporate security to protect confidential information, setting up and/or verifying backups are performing properly to be sure our data is safe, setting up or enhancing a network so information and hardware is shared and secure, keeping redundant cost and time efforts minimized, and a slew of other issues.

Also, a big issue often overlooked, in my opinion, is lack of documentation. Documented information can be referred to whenever you like, eliminating extra effort in going and AGAIN looking as all system specifications, configurations, working notes, etc.

With that in mind, a good place to start is to create a ‘pro-active’ versus ‘re-active’ computer environment to ensure your operations are kept at efficient operating levels.

My suggestion is to start by implementing Maintenance Plans. You can do this for 1 computer or 100 computers. The details will of course vary, but the goal is the same; by implementing a structured, timely maintenance plan, you stay AHEAD of the failure curve. Maintenance plans can assist in keeping your systems and overall computer-related operations running more efficiently. They can also assist in saving costs. Such an example would be cleaning your current system in the most efficient manner and upgrading the memory. This would give you a solid working system by perhaps upgrading a system, still meeting your requirements, at a much lesser cost than a new system. Maintenance Plans also ensure routine tasks are performed (Defrag, etc.) that many users are unaware of or in reality, just tend to say “I’ll do that later”, and later never comes!

There’s no denying how important computers have become in our daily lives, whether using for the success of our business or home personal use, however, we can still maintain SOME form of control! Start by properly maintaining what you have and go from there…

I hope this bit of information helps you with your computer operations. Until next time, don’t forget your backups!

Harv Oliver is the owner/senior tech for HANDS-ON Consultations (HOC) Computer Support Services serving Fillmore, Ventura County & Beyond since 1998. For more information, visit the HOC web site at http://www.hocsupport.com or call (805) 524-5278. NOTE: Provided information is presented as a courtesy ONLY. Please check with an IT professional for assistance or perform suggestions at your own risk. Harv Oliver or HANDS-ON Consultations is not responsible for any activities users perform.