On Wednesday, August 26th from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Braille Institute’s Mobile Solutions Van will be visiting the Santa Paula Senior Center (530 W. Main St.). Services available will include a FREE consultation with a Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialist, demonstrations of several kinds of assistive technology; a mobile retail store featuring such items as talking watches, writing guides and large print calendars; information on Library services, and much more. If you or someone you know has low vision, stop by the Senior Center to tour the van and see if they can help! To make an appointment with the Rehabilitation Specialist, call the Senior Center at 933-4226 ext 356. For more information, call the Braille Institute at (800) 682-6222.

SANTA PAULA, CA. – A Ventura County tradition continues with the Santa Paula Rotary Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival at Faulkner Farm at the University of California Hansen Agricultural Center. Building memories and providing unforgettable oldfashioned family fun has been a long-standing tradition.

Enjoy great autumn weekends with acres of bright orange pumpkins, a giant broom corn forest for the kids, towering hay pyramids, hayrides with historic information about the area, farm animals, pony rides, mini train rides, pumpkin chucker, face painting, a country store, delicious food and great entertainment. Fun for all!

Find your pumpkins while enjoying the festive sounds from great area bands and choral groups in this beautiful setting among the orchards and historic barns. CONTINUED »

Fillmore High Alumni Association

Once again the Fillmore High Alumni Association is awarding Continuation Grants to Fillmore High graduates who are continuing their education at a college or university, pursuing the profession of their choice. This year eight $500 scholarships are being awarded to:

Raquel Ortega Arreola, class of '99 who is attending Cal Lutheran University, majoring in Business Management and will graduate in 2010.

Amy De La Piedra, class of '93, is attending Oxnard and Moorpark Community Colleges, studying to become a registered nurse. She has a few more classes to complete before she can be admitted to the Registered Nursing Program at Moorpark College. She hopes to graduate in 2011.

Mario DeLaPiedra, class of 2005, has as his eventual goal to be a U.S. Congressman, but prior to starting his political carer, he would like to travel the world, pursue a Master's Degree in political science and continue his current job as an insurance agent. He is attending San Diego State University and will graduate in the fall of 2009. CONTINUED »

What comes to mind when you think of a Country Fair with Ocean Air? Is it the home grown vegetables? Is it purebred Friesian horses on parade? Is it piping hot cinnamon rolls and high thrill rides? The Ventura County Fair will have all this and more for twelve fun-filled days August 5th-16th.

The fair brings everyone together from all corners of county life—it’s this solidarity that makes the fair so special. Boys, girls, moms, dads, teachers and cowboys unite to enjoy the fun they’ve anticipated all year long.
Gems and Genealogy, Collections and Photos, Paintings and Collages, Quilts and Cupcakes, Tortoises and Lambs—everything is on display at the Ventura County Fair. All the hard work of your friends and neighbors will be on hand for twelve exciting days. Don’t miss a single exhibit hall!

You will never find more food in one place! Whether you’re looking for fresh from the farm strawberries or colossal gelato, craving a savory tater dog or a sweet slab of gingerbread, the fair has something for all appetites. CONTINUED »

The Heritage Valley Red Hatters August Event will be a birthday luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, at the Bella Maggiore Inn Nona’s Courtyard Restaurant, 67 South California Street in Ventura. We will dine in a
lovely flower-filled courtyard with balloons, birthday cake, and prizes. We will celebrate five years together in our sisterhood chapter. New members are welcome to join us. RSVP: Queen Mum Marlene Wait at 805-386-4224.

Come experience the thrill of acting in a live community theater production. Sespe Players Inc. of Fillmore is looking for adult actors and actresses (no prior acting experience necessary) to audition for their Halloween Production to be held Fri., Oct. 23, Sat., Oct. 24, Sun., Oct. 25, Fri., Oct. 30 and Sat. afternoon, Oct. 31, 2009.

Auditions and the production will take place at the Historic Sespe Auditorium located at 627 Sespe Ave. Fillmore. Auditions will be held on the following evenings: Tuesday, August 4, Wednesday August 5, and Tuesday August 11, 2009 starting at 7:00 P.M. Callbacks will be scheduled as necessary. Please contact Chris Villegas at 805-524-3275 or Janet Foy at 805-217-2402 or 805-524-2757.

We look forward to see you there. Please bring a friend. We also have positions open for a stage manager, make up
artist, lighting and sound technician, and a prop manager. Anyone who is willing to learn about live theater is
welcome.

This month we will be covering some healthy dishes that pack on the flavor. The most important thing about eating well is enjoying what you eat. That way you will not mind making the effort on trying to cut down the calories on some new dishes.

As it is every month, the dinner and supplies will be provided. Hopefully these tips and handouts will stay with you along the way so you can make something healthy in a pinch. Nutrition is a true passion of mine so this will be a fun time.

The fee is $25.00
location: The Memorial Building Kitchen
Date: Aug. 12th Wednesday
Time: 5:30pm, Menu: Chopped Salad with a Fiery Orange Vinaigrette, Jerked Chicken with Peaches and Fruit Parfaits.

Call to reserve a spot, 805-315-1025. See ad in Gazette business directory, page 7.

Soil products and mulches made from materials collected each week from the green waste bins of Santa Paula and Fillmore residents are now available at five area outlets. Planting mix, potting soil, vegetable garden mix and other soil products are produced by green waste recycler Agromin. They are available at AG Rx (186 Telegraph Rd., Fillmore), Apco Ag & Irrigation (17905 E. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula, Fillmore Rentals (215 Santa Paula and Palm St., Fillmore), Fruit Growers Supply Company (980 W. Telegraph Rd., Santa Paula) and Heritage Do It Best Hardware (568 W. Main St., Santa Paula).

Agromin was recently named “Composter of the Year” by the U.S. Composting Council (USCC). Agromin compost is also
USCC certified, meaning it meets the USCC standards for compost content and its soil products are clean and safe. Agromin compost complies with the requirements of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), meaning it can be used in certified organic farm production and food processing according to the USDA National Organic Program. CONTINUED »

VENTURA, CA. (August 5, 2009) Distinguished American statesman Judge William P. Clark will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2009 Ventura County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 8 at 10 AM.

Born in Oxnard, Judge Clark studied at Stanford University and Loyola Law School. He was an active member of the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps.

His celebrated career has included time served as judge of the Superior Court of California and as Associate Justice on the California State Supreme Court.

At the epitome of his career, Judge Clark served in the Reagan Administration as National Security Advisor from 1982 to 1983 and as Secretary of the Interior from 1983 until 1985. CONTINUED »

On Saturday, September 12th, The Life Centers will hold their Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show Fundraiser.

The Life Centers of Ventura County is a non-profit organization that has been assisting young women facing unplanned pregnancies in our local community for over 30 years.

Enjoy an elegant outdoor luncheon while admiring a sophisticated fashion show with clothing from the Camarillo Outlets. Bid on live auction, silent auction, and raffle prize items. Indulge in a fun filled afternoon and give back to the community at the same time!

The Luncheon & Fashion Show will be held 12:30pm – 3:30pm at a beautiful home in Camarillo. Tickets are $30 per person. Ticket reservation deadline is Sept. 7th. CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

The Ventura Family YMCA is pleased to announce the launch of its Kindergarten Care Program. Kindergarten Care will be provided at Loma Vista and Rio Del Norte Elementary Schools for the 2009-2010 school year. With quality childcare and safety being a parent’s number one priority the YMCA prides itself on providing a safe learning environment for children to grow and develop with licensing from the state of California and by following the strict standards set by the American Camping Association (ACA).

“We heard from parents that childcare for kindergarteners was needed, and that’s what the YMCA is all about; we create programs to fill community voids,” said Jake Munyon, Ventura Family YMCA Childcare Director.

Kindergarten Care at Loma Vista Elementary will provide care for children during the school week, all school year long, from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. This allows the YMCA to provide 2 ½ more hours of childcare specifically for kindergarteners. Hours have also been added to the Rio Del Norte Elementary School site as well. KinderCare will open at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. and be held in a brand new room at the school allowing Kindergartners a safe environment with age appropriate activities tailored specifically to their grade.

The curriculum for Kindergarten Care will tie in Healthy Kids and Character Counts! lessons which will introduce them to the YMCA six pillars of character development including caring, respect, responsible, honestly, trustworthiness, and citizenship. Along with character building, children will have plenty of time for outdoor games, arts and crafts, story time, and healthy snacks will be provided. Kindergarten Care is a wonderful opportunity for children to socialize with their peers in an age appropriate and friendly environment at a state licensed site with dependable, caring and trained staff.

Registration for Kindergarten Care will start on August 10th. Registration Packets, parent handbooks, & schedules will be available at the Ventura Family YMCA and online at www.venturaymca.org . The Ventura Family YMCA offers several payment options to fit the need of your family and scholarships are available. For more information please contact Jake Munyon at 805-642-2131ext 16.

About the Ventura Family YMCA
The Ventura Family YMCA serves over 20,000 individuals annually through facility memberships, before & after school childcare, day & resident camps, youth sports, swim lessons, teen programs, and many more healthy lifestyles and community enriching programs throughout Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy. Membership without contracts or join fees makes the Ventura Family YMCA accessible to everyone. The Ventura Family YMCA is located at 3760 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003.

After one year in development, the County of Ventura Parks Department has just fielded a new online reservation system. The system, developed by Art Street Interactive, Inc., allows the public to look up details about camping and group use areas, view maps and campsite photos, check availability of sites open to reservation, make camping reservations, and pay for their stay, all via the internet.

Previously, all reservations had to be booked through the reservation desk. Camping customers will now be able to completely bypass that desk. Being web based, reservations can be booked on any device that has internet access. All County parks that have camping and group use areas are listed with flash maps showing the park layout. Although reservations are not accepted at beachfront parks, they are featured online, so that campers may check the availability of campsites, and review available services.

Holders of California State Parks Distinguished Veterans cards will be able to register on this system, which will then allow them to book reservations online and receive their discount automatically (field verification may still be required). As an added incentive to use the system, online only camping discounts of 5% to 10% are available Tuesday through Thursday in selected parks. CONTINUED »

The Rubio Family of Santa Paula

One-day event seeks volunteers and donations for two duplexes in Oxnard and Santa Paula from 8:30am to 3:30pm on August 15.

Two Ventura County nonprofits are partnering to provide basic needs of food and shelter for fellow neighbors in our community – FOOD Share and Habitat for Humanity.

“Partnering with Habitat for Humanity makes perfect sense,” says Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share. “Two of our most basic human needs are food and shelter. Together, and with the help of many volunteers, we can build communities that can thrive into the future.”

Volunteers can work morning, afternoon or all-day building shifts and all skill levels are invited. Breakfast and lunch will be donated by Chick-Fil-A and Bobbi’s Mexican Food in Camarillo.

“We are thrilled to join hands with FOOD Share to serve Ventura County families,” said Stacy Swanson, Executive Director with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. “This collaborative effort is intended to invite the community to work together to help our low and very low income neighbors.” CONTINUED »

VENTURA, CA – Professional portrait artists from Decadent Images of Ventura are donating their time to create portraits of the general public that can be utilized for social networking pages like Facebook and Myspace or other uses.

A $10 donation per portrait will be requested. All proceeds will benefit Straight Up Ventura County, a youth development organization funded by the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Prevention Services. Straight Up representatives will also be on hand to answer questions or concerns about the use and safety of social networking sites.

Portraits will be taken on Sunday, August 9th from Noon to 4pm at Ventura Improv Company at 34 North Palm Street in downtown Ventura. No appointment is necessary.

"With increased use of Facebook and other social network sites, a person’s image may be viewed by hundreds of people a day. It is important to put your best self forward and stand out in the sea of sameness. This can be best done by having a creative portrait made by a professional photographer,“ says Sue Bell, owner of Decadent Images. CONTINUED »

VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, which is the single largest producer of original Internet talk radio programming in the world, has asked former Fillmore resident and national real estate consultant John Schleimer to develop and host a weekly program on housing trends and topics in America for its business channel.

Schleimer, who is the son of Jeri and Jack Schleimer of Fillmore, is the founder and president of Market Perspectives, is one of the leading residential housing authorities in the country and has been conducting market and consumer research, product positioning and feasibility studies for over 25 years for land developer, home builder and investor/lender clients in over 42 states and Canada.

Since 1999, VoiceAmerica has been streaming live Internet talk radio programs, featuring more than 300 hosts broadcasting on seven genre-based channels: its flagship VoiceAmerica Variety Channel, VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel, VoiceAmerica Business Channel, VoiceAmerica Sports, 7th Wave Network, The Green Talk Network and Power Up Motorsports Channel. CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Four new Cub Scouts were recently welcomed into Boy Scout Troop 406. The evening began with family members and friends packed inside the Boy Scout House for a potluck dinner followed by the traditional outdoor crossover ceremony.

Keeping with tradition, the day before the ceremony, members of Troop 406 build what is called a “monkey bridge” for new scouts to cross over. Cubmaster Sean Morris read his speech and wished his cub scouts nothing the best on their journey into Boy Scouts before they crossed over the bridge.

First up to cross over was Pablo Almazan who was presented his new neckerchief and loops by Brett Chandler and Robbie Munoz, followed by Chris Medrano who received his new neckerchief by his older brother Jonathan and loops by Scott Klittich.

Next was Matthew Hammond receiving his neckerchief and loops by Ron Smith, Robbie Munoz and Scott Klittich and James Wassel getting his new neckerchief and loops by Ron Smith, Scott Klittich and Esteban Almazan.

Another tradition that started several years ago is to have a parent of each scout crossover the bridge as well, which is not as easy as it looks. Everyone then was asked to sit around the fire pit for a flag retirement ceremony.

Senior Patrol Leader Esteban Almazan then read the twelve steps as the old and tattered flag was being folded. Older scouts then placed several torn flags that were donated into the fire pit as well. The evening then came to a close.

We would like to thank everyone who participated in making this a memorable evening for our new Boy Scouts and we wish you nothing but success on your trail to become Eagle Scouts.