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.

For more information call CONTINUED »

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.

SANTA PAULA, CA. - Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVBank;OTC BB: SCVE.OB) today announced its 2012 first quarter results.

SCVBank recorded a net profit of $181,000 for the first quarter of 2012 compared to a net profit of $131,000 for the first quarter of 2011. This improvement in earnings was largely due to the improvement in non interest income and the reduction of non interest expenses.

SCVBank continues to maintain a strong capital position with a Tier 1 Leverage Capital Ratio of 11.27%, up from 10.37% a year ago.

Liquidity continues to be very strong as cash and investments total $56,753,000, or 43% 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 - Community Memorial Health System is offering free meditation classes the second Monday of every month to HealthAware participants and Community Memorial Hospital employees.

Reiki Master Diana Castellanos leads the classes that are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Community Memorial Hospital’s HealthAware office, located at 168 N. Brent Street, 3rd floor, CMH Outpatient Radiology.

Seating is limited and registration is required. To join HealthAware, take the online risk assessment at www.cmhshealth.org/healthaware. For more information, call 805/824-2614.

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.

Ventura, CA - Ventura Harley-Davidson and The Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital are calling on all women motorcyclists to take part in the seventh annual “Heels & Wheels” benefit ride on Sunday, July 15.

Check-in begins at 9 a.m., with kick-stands up at 10 a.m. The 60-mile ride begins at Ventura Harley Davidson, located at 1326 Del Notre Road in Camarillo, and will end at about 3 p.m. at the Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula. A pre-ride reception will be held Saturday, July 14, at 6 p.m. at the dealership.

Pre-registration by July 1 is $25, with $5 from each entry going to The Breast Center at CMH, which through its Healthy Women’s Program provides women with little or no health insurance with mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies for the early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Participants receive a pink “Heels & Wheels” T-shirt and lunch.

The event also includes a raffle for a 2012 Harley-Davidson Switchback motorcycle. Tickets are $20 each or six tickets for $100, with proceeds also going to The Breast Center.

“Heels & Wheels” raised $7,000 last year and Tracey Warriner, one of the motorcycle shop’s co-owners and organizer of the event, is aiming to top that figure.

“We had 162 riders last year and we’re hoping for more this year,” said Warriner, who lost a sister-in-law and two family friends to breast cancer. “The bigger it becomes the better.”

“It’s such a wonderful thing. There’s lots of energy and it’s a good time,” said Becky Trevino, director of The Breast Center. She said the program is the only one in Ventura County that offers free services to women under the age of 40.

“We’ve seen some women riders as patients, so that, I think, is a big reason why they have designated The Breast Center as their beneficiary,” Trevino said.

For further information about the event call Ventura Harley-Davidson at 981-9904. To find out if you qualify for the Healthy Women’s Program, call 805/651-2661 or go to www.cmhshealth.org/healthywomen.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system 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.

Chris Medrano of Fillmore winning honorable mention in the Junior Federal Duck Stamp contest.

Artwork from over 3,500 school-aged waterfowl artists throughout the state was judged during the 22nd Annual California Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest (Contest) in Chico, on Thursday, March 29th. In California, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is coordinated by Marilyn Gamette and facilitated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex (SNWRC).

A panel of 10 judges was tasked with selecting 100 winners. The artwork was judged in four age groups: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. From these groups, three 1st, three 2nd, three 3rd place, and 16 honorable mention winners were chosen. Winning designs receive ribbons and all entrants will receive a certificate of appreciation and awards.

One art design earned the distinguished title of California’s Best of Show, which is a pair of Hooded Mergansers, by 17 year old Hyun Wang from Torrance, CA and attends Green Art Studio. Her artwork will be submitted to Washington D.C. to compete with the other states’ Best of Show winners during the National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD, on April 20, 2012. The national winner’s design will be made into the 2012-2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp.

In addition, three conservation messages were selected from each age group to receive awards. These messages were submitted on the artwork entry form and judged for originality, understanding of wetland and waterfowl conservation, and inspiration. All 100 winning artwork entries and 12 winning conservation messages will be on display throughout the year at various California events.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

A workshop was recently led by Charlene Smith for the teenagers at One Step A La Vez on floral arrangements. Charlene Smith has led workshops the last two years to share her knowledge and creative talent in arranging flowers with the youth of Fillmore. I mentioned in my previously sent article on the 2012 flower show, that Civic
Pride Committee and volunteers like Charlene are trying to encourage another generation in the appreciation and
art of gardening and showcasing the floral products that result.