Vereniz Magana (left) and Amelia Aparicio

Story By Vereniz Magana and Amelia Aparicio

The month of January is "National Mentoring Month" and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBBS) will be celebrating Fillmore/Piru Big Brothers Big Sisters Program by highlighting one of the 54 local adult community volunteer mentor matches. A community mentoring match is the partnering between a local community member and a student. The community volunteer meets on an average of once a week with a youth to encourage, offer some different experiences and listen. A mentor is an unconditional friend.

The Fillmore/Piru program is unique in that the match is usually made when the youth is in middle school or high school and continues until the youth is 21 in order to help in those difficult adolescent years and through the most challenging transitions from middle school to high school as well as from high school to college or a career.

The mentor highlighted this month is between Vereniz Magana (mentee) and Amelia Aparicio (mentor). They have been matched for over three years. Amelia was inspired to become a mentor because she wanted a youth to have a positive experience outside of their family household. Amelia met with Vereniz at least once a week and the relationship developed into a strong friendship.

Three years later, Amelia realizes that she CONTINUED »

Ventura County, Calif. – The American Red Cross of Ventura County invites children ages 7 to 12 to learn all about safety education during Safe Kid’s Day. Several upcoming sessions are being offered from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on selected dates including Thursday, January 21 at the Ventura Boys & Girls Club, 1929 Johnson Drive in Ventura; Thursday, February 11 at the Simi Valley Boys & Girls Club, 2850 Lemon Drive; and Tuesday, February 16 at the Somis Boys & Girls Club, 5268 North Street.

Presented by the American Red Cross of Ventura County Youth Services Program, high school club members provide children with all types of emergency training. Highlights include Basic First Aid where kids learn what to do in an emergency, how & when to get help and what to do when help arrives. In addition, students will be trained in Water Safety, learning ways to prevent drowning and using safety precautions and rescue procedures for water activity. The Fire Safety segment will help kids understand how to prevent fires, the importance of controlling air flow to fire and developing ways to prevent burns.

Students will also learn ways to avoid motor vehicle injuries during the Safe Wheels training and learn the importance of using safety belts, cycling helmets & knee pads. Rules for school bus safety and preventing bicycle injuries will also be presented.

Other training includes Lost & Found, which outlines ways to prevent getting lost, and teaches kids how to make a preparation plan if lost. Students will also learn how to prevent choking and first aid procedures during Chocking Prevention.

The emergency training is conducted by high school students in the American Red Cross of Ventura County Youth Services Program. To prepare for training, high school students undergo First Aid Training and other emergency preparedness programs to instruct kids 7-12 years of age in safety skills.

“This is a great opportunity for teens to serve as role models to young children,” said Pam Mays, Director & Volunteer of Youth Services. “This is vital information to help save lives and keep kids safe,” she added.

To register for the event, call the American Red Cross of Ventura County at 805-987-1514, ext. 306.

Since 1917, the American Red Cross of Ventura County has been meeting needs throughout the communities it serves. Each year, more than 1,200 local volunteers respond to more than 50 local disasters, teach tens of thousands of individual’s vital lifesaving skills, and support the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. The American Red Cross is not a government agency.

On January 26th, at the Fillmore Library the continuation of the crane-folding project will take place. It will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In anticipation of the September 21 dedication of the Peace Pole in front of City Hall, our goal is to fold 1000 origami paper cranes. An old Japanese tradition says when you fold 1000 paper cranes, your wish is granted. Ours is a communitywide wish for peace, therefore everyone is invited to fold one of more cranes to be displayed in Central Park. Suggested donation $1 per person donated to Peace Pole Project.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee, is sponsoring the revived Fillmore Flower Show on April 10-11, 2010. It will be held at the Fillmore Senior Center, like last year, at 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore, California, 93015. The event is open to the public both days from 1:00pm-4:00pm and it is FREE.

Pruning workshops open to the public will be taking place this month to get you started in time to have glorious roses ready for show entry in April.

Work Shop Options Available: January 23…King Ranch, 642 E. Guiberson Road, Fillmore, CA, 93015, 10 AM. Bring a sack lunch. No reservations required. Presenter: Joanne King, 805-524-4904, January 16, 23, 30…Otto & Sons Nursery, 1835 E. Guiberson Road, Fillmore, CA, 93015, 10AM-12 noon, Reservations required. Call for more information 805-524-2123.

Watch for further opportunities, open to the public, coming in February to get you ready and excited about entering the Fillmore Flower Show.

The Ventura County Fair has announced that a poster contest will be held for the 2010 Ventura County Fair. The contest is open to young artists in grades 5 - 12 who reside in Ventura County.

The theme of the 2010 Fair is “Western Nights and Carnival Lights” and will serve as the only guideline to the imagery. Artwork may be created in any medium but may not be 3 dimensional.

Poster designs will be judged on Theme, Originality, Composition and Skill. Entries will be accepted from February 1 until March 31.

Rules, deadlines and other information can be found on the Fair website, www.venturacountyfair.org. For more information about the contest call 648-3376 x 110 or send an email to contest@venturacountyfair.org.

The Ventura County Fair will begin its annual 12-day run Wednesday August 4 and continue until Sunday, August 15.

For more information about the Fair, or the poster contest, please call the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

In January 2010, U.S. Census Bureau field representatives will collect information about how much Americans spend for groceries, clothing, transportation, housing, health care and other items from a sample of households across the country.
The Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) program consists of two parts:
The Interview Survey — During the year, about 15,000 households will be interviewed
each quarter to obtain data on relatively large expenditures and also for those
expenditures that occur on a regular basis (such as rent and utilities).
The Diary Survey — During the year, another 12,500 households will be asked to keep
two consecutive one-week diaries of smaller, more frequent purchases that may be
difficult for respondents to recall later (such as a fast-food purchase at a drive-through
window, a soda or candy bar from a vending machine, or a carton of eggs from the
supermarket).
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics then calculates and publishes integrated data from the two surveys — providing a snapshot of our nation’s economy and spending habits. Government economists use the survey results to update a “market basket” of goods and services for the Consumer-Price Index, our nation’s most widely used measure of inflation.
“Findings from this survey help business and community leaders make sound decisions, particularly in these trying economic times,” said James T. Christy, director of the Census Bureau’s Los Angeles Regional Office. “Business owners get the information they need to help respond better to consumer needs, as do government officials planning public services.”
USCENSUSBUREAU
Before the CE interviews begin, households will receive a letter from the Census Bureau director informing them of their selection to participate in the survey. Census Bureau field representatives will visit these households to conduct the interview. The field representative must display an official photo identification before proceeding with the interview. Federal law ensures survey respondents’ personal information and answers are kept confidential.

The Fillmore Ebell Club will be entertained this month by the Barbershop Quartet, The Harmony Channel Quartet, at the Veterans Memorial building on January 26, 2010.

The Harmony Channel Quartet has been entertaining audiences in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties since 1990 and are members of the International Barbershop Harmony Society. The members are: Tenor: Duane Ashby of Santa Paula, Lead: Bruce Hunter of Ventura, Baritone: Doug Van Bogelen of Oxnard and Bass: Brent Burningham of Santa Paula. Their music is rooted in the Barbershop style, but they also perform songs in other musical genres. Some of their favorites are 50's style "doo-wop".

The quartet has performed for community groups, churches, families, birthdays, anniversaries, and many weddings, including those for three of their own daughters. They often donate their performances to charitable organizations to help with their fund raising efforts, and have worked in many roles to help support music education in the schools. You may have seen them delivering Singing Valentines somewhere in Ventura County over the last 19 years to support local music programs.

The quartet recently performed on a festively decorated sail boat, singing Christmas carols at Ventura Harbor's Parade of Lights, helping the entry win first place.

If anyone is interesting in singing some great music and making some good friends, you can contact Bruce Hunter about visiting a Pacific Sound (gents) or Channelaire (ladies) chorus rehearsal. Pacific Sound rehearses at the Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE) center in Ventura, at 7:30 P.M., Mondays, #104. Further info at www.pacificsoundchorus.com.

Contact Bruce Hunter (805) 654-8381, for engagements.

Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Pat Murray at 524-1825.

The drainage problem at Riverwalk levee has been solved with a runoff drain. The area had become muddy and resident complaints to the city were frequent. The area has been ‘bowled” with a drainage grate at the bottom (shown above), and plants placed aroung. Shown right is one of several signs announcing the use of recycled water at the levee/bike path.

Members of the Fillmore Ebell Club were present at their annual Holiday Christmas Tea Party, on December 8, 2009, held at the home of local long-time resident of Fillmore, Lorraine Finch, and hosted by Ebell Members Anita Bailey and Lorraine Finch.

As has been done for many previous years, the Ebell ladies donated food items and cash to local families in need. This year the Ebell ladies generously donated $50.00 cash; miscellaneous canned goods; and a total of over 118 pounds of rice, sugar, flour and beans.

Selection of local organizations to receive the donations was organized by Ebell Member, Charlene Smith, who delivered the donations to Barbara Donckels of St. Vincent De Paul Society, and First Five organizations, who then distributed the donations to families in need in Fillmore.

Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Pat Murray, 521-1825.

Conway Spitler

The Family Farm
Since the 1930’s, the number of family farms has been declining rapidly. According to the USDA, 5.3 million farms dotted the nation in 1950, but this number had declined to 2.11 million by the 2003 farm census (data from the 2007 census hasn’t yet been published).
Ninety-one percent of the U. S. farms are small family farms.

The Milkman
According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, in 1950, over half of the milk delivered was to the home in quart bottles. By 1963 it was about a third and in 2001, it represented only 0.4 percent.
Now days most milk is sold through supermarkets in gallon jugs. The steady decline in home-delivered milk is blamed, of course, on the rise of the supermarket, better home refrigeration and longer-lasting milk. Although some milkmen still make the rounds in pockets of the U. S., they are certainly a dying breed.

Santa Clara Valley Disposal will maintain its regular Friday trash and recycling collection schedule in Fillmore on Jan. 22, during the week of Martin Luther King Jr.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Hello, my name is Hellena. On 12/29/09 we found a small light brown male chihuahua. He was found on Fine Street in Fillmore. For contact information about this dog please call (805)524-3042 or (805)223-4254.

Ventura – United Blood Services is issuing an urgent appeal for Type O-Negative Blood. Increased usage in recent days has caused supplies of this blood type to drop to critically low levels. Those with Type O-Negative blood are urgently needed to donate today or tomorrow.

The Ventura Center will be open for special hours today and tomorrow:
Today: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donations may be made at the UBS Center in Ventura at 2223 Eastman near McGrath. Appointments are appreciated, but not necessary. Walk-ins are also welcome.

You may donate blood if you are over age 16, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger. Donors are asked to make an appointment by contacting United Blood Services at 800-715-3699 or online at www.unitedbloodservices.org/centralcoast.

This yard sale sign has been hanging on the tree at the corner of A St. and Hwy 126 for two weeks. Another sign advertising the same sale has been on the No Parking sign at River St. and Grimes Canyon for two weeks along with a yard sale sign for 102 Surrey Way, which has been there for six weeks. The Gazette spotted eight signs between A St. and C St. this afternoon, Tuesday, Dec. 29th. City Ordinance (see below) allows a fine of $50 per sign. Maybe this would be a good way to 1. Make some city ca$h, and 2. Clean up a trashy eyesore. If the city averaged five a week, that could mean $13,000 by year’s end.

11.20.030 Sign Display—Permission Required. It is unlawful for nay person, firm, company or corporation to paint, post, put up, maintain or display any sign, bill, or poster, picture, lithograph, map, plat, sample or other device or advertisement of any kind upon any wall, window, billboard, fence, post, pole, tree, building or other structure within the city limits without express permission from the occupant, owner, or lessee or person having charge or possession thereof. (Ord. 70 % 3, 1922)

11.20.040 Sign Display Unlawful on Certain Poles.
It is unlawful for any person, firm, company or corporation to paint, post, put up, maintain or display any sign, bill, poster, picture, lithograph, map, plat, device or advertisement of any king, or any slot machine or receptacle for merchandise upon any telephone pole, telegraph pole or electric pole within the city limits. (Ord. 70 % 4, 1922)

Where: Piru Community Center
When: Tuesday, January 5th, 2009 from 6:30-8:00pm

Please join us to answer any questions about our proposal, to hear from enthusiastic local parents who have visited a local charter school, and to hear from parents who have their children currently attending charter schools. Come hear why these parents are fully committed to charter schools!

CHOOSE CHOICE FOR YOUR CHILD
CHOOSE TO SUPPORT PIRU CHARTER SCHOOL

For more info go to www.pirucharterschool.blogspot.com or send us an email at pirucharterschool@earthlink.net

ESTAN INVITADOS
Junta Para Escuela Charter de Piru
Para Padres y la Comunidad
Centro de Comunidad de Piru
martes, enero 5o del 2009 6:30-8:00pm
Los esperamos para poder contestar sus preguntas sobre nuestra propuesta, y para que puedan escuchar a padres que están entusiasmados después de haber visitado una escuela charter de la zona y también a padres que ya tienen a sus hijos en una escuela charter. Vengan a escuchar porque estos padres están tan felices de cooperar en la educación de sus hijos en escuelas charter.

We hope you have enjoyed a restful holiday and are now ready to think about plans for the New Year! One of the most important choices you have for the months ahead is your child’s education. We hope you are joining with us in supporting Piru Charter School, and have planned a meeting in the Piru Community Center on Tuesday, January 5th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to answer any final questions about this proposal, and to hear not only from enthusiastic local parents who have visited a local charter school, but from visiting parents who are excited to have their children attending a charter school right now. Come hear why these parents are fully committed to charter schools!

The goals for Piru Charter School continue to be:
Keep Piru School Open
Lower Class Sizes in the Upper Grades
Make Better Choices with Our School Money
Provide for a Possible K-8 Learning Opportunity
Continue Piru School’s Path to Success!

It is our belief that only by choosing to convert to Piru Charter School, can Piru parents be given the choice of schooling options they need in order to assure that every Piru student be given a high quality learning opportunity as they begin life.

Misinformation has been spread about charter schools. Come hear for yourself, the facts in a quiet sharing of information. Next week Piru Elementary will have a chance to choose not be guided by the continued attempts of Fillmore Unified School District , but by the Ventura County Office of Education and Success. Choose choice for your child. Choose to support Piru Charter School!
Tuesday, January 5th 6:30. We hope to see you there!
pirucharterschool@earthlink.net

The Ventura County Public Health Department has expanded the list of who is eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccine once again and now includes all people, healthy or high risk, 6 months of age and older. This list has been updated and includes those adults aged 25-64 who are healthy; they are the last group to become eligible to receive the vaccine in Ventura County. “This basically opens the eligibility for H1N1 vaccine to everyone in our county,” said Public Health Officer, Dr. Robert Levin.

Infants (under 6 months of age) are ineligible to receive the vaccine. Scientists believe the vaccine will not be effective in this age group.

This new dictum was arrived at due to the following factors:
The amount of vaccine that has arrived in the county since September has increased to adequate levels
25 to 30% of the high risk population in Ventura County has now been vaccinated against H1N1
There has not been an unmanageable increase in the length of lines at clinics where vaccine is being offered
“This vaccine isn’t going to do anyone any good if it sits on the shelf,” said Dr. Levin. “The more people we can get this into in our county, the better.” The novel H1N1 (swine) vaccine is available for Ventura County residents only. Sites where the vaccine is available can be found on the Health Care Agency Public Health website: www.vchca.org/H1N1.