How do we cope with the good and bad things we face in life? Everyone must overcome hardships like illness, natural disasters, job loss and the deaths of loved ones.

There are lessons to be learned about recovering and thriving after challenging experiences. At this time of year when people give thanks, Community Memorial Health System is sharing personal and inspiring stories that help teach others how to build resilience, strength and hope during trying times.

“Stories of Life’s Joys and Challenges: A Thanksgiving Program” is a free Ethics in Healthcare event and part of Community Memorial Health System’s 2017 Speaker Series. The program starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. in Ventura. James Hornstein, M.D., CMHS Bioethics Committee Chair, will serve as moderator.

Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of toys, food, diapers and toiletries for three charity efforts: Ventura County’s FOOD Share food bank; Gabriel’s House, a transitional support organization for women and children; and the Ventura County Fire Department’s Spark of Love toy drive, which collects unwrapped toys for needy local children.

There will be raffles for prizes throughout the evening program, and those who make donations will receive reusable tote bags.

Registration is free but reservations are required. To secure reservations, please visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006. Program sponsors are KVTA radio, the Accountable Care Alliance of Ventura, SCAN and Ventura Care Partners Apc.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

In an effort to improve the college-going rate among veterans and active duty military in Ventura County, the Ventura College Foundation is helping Ventura College students who are U.S. veteran and U.S. active duty military offset the cost of tuition through the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program, a four-year pilot program funded by donors who cover the first-year costs of enrollment fees for qualifying students, allowing these students to reserve their GI Bill for university tuition.

“The William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program allows us to better assist active duty military and veterans with honorable discharges, to transition into civilian life by helping them further their education and successfully pursue their next career,” said Anne King, Ventura College Foundation executive director.

For the 2017/2018 academic year, the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program will award approximately $1,200 to 16 veterans. Applications are accepted from Oct. 1 to 31, and awards will be distributed in January 2018.

To be eligible, students must be U.S. active duty or U.S. veteran (includes U.S. National Guard), a first-time Ventura College student, honorably discharged (if U.S. Veteran) and not currently using a GI Bill. Students must commit to attend Ventura College in both Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters and have completed the FAFSA for the 2017/2018 academic year. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and successfully complete at least 70 percent of the classes the student originally registered for.

Designed to eliminate economic barriers to higher education, the Promise grant encourages students to further their education and reach their academic goals. According to Foundation staff, 90 percent of Promise students persist to the second semester at Ventura College compared to 70 percent of their non-Promise counterparts. Promise students enjoy greater retention by taking 25 percent more units than non-Promise counterparts and seeking services available to them on campus, including the Foundation’s Lending Library and Scholarship Program.

In addition, the Veterans Resource Center at Ventura College offers a supportive environment and a welcoming campus culture for all veteran students, along with their dependents, and is available to help provide the support needed by veteran students to reach their educational goals.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Anne King at (805) 289-6160 or aking@vcccd.edu, or visit www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.

Ventura County Arts Council in Partnership with the Fillmore Library is pleased to announce “The First Time” Poetry Contest. The contest is for adults and runs through October 31, 2017. One lucky poet will receive a $50.00 Visa gift card!

There will be a special Poetry Workshop at the Library Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017 from 1 p.m to 2:30 p.m. Fernando Albert Salinas will assist those interested in improving their poetry writing skills. Mr. Salinas currently serves on the VCAC Board and is a local county poet and performer. His writing has appeared in multiple publications including ASKW, Chaparral Journeys and The Aviator.

Poetry submissions may be brought or sent to the Fillmore Library 502 Second Street, Fillmore CA. 93015. Please contact Cathy Krushell at 805.524.3355 for further information.

Promoting exercise and fun, Bike HUB (a mobile unit) has a mission to foster a safe, healthy community through bicycle-centered education, empowerment and advocacy in Ventura County. They are now in Fillmore. On Sunday, September 2, 2017 they had a bike ride and swim event that included a ribbon-cutting by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. For information please contact Jaime Ambriz 805.421.9182 or Email: jambriz@bikeventura.org.

On Oct. 5, 2017, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) introduced the St. Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial Act, legislation which would establish a national memorial to honor the lives of the 1928 St. Francis Dam disaster that claimed the lives of 431 Californians. The Dam disaster was California’s second largest tragedy in terms of lives lost.

“We should not forget the hundreds of lives lost during one of the worst tragedies in California’s history,” said Senator Harris. “And while this monument will serve as a reminder of the consequences of a failure of infrastructure, it offers a lesson going forward.”

“It’s been almost 90 years since the catastrophic breach of St. Francis Dam, one of the most tragic events in California’s history,” said Senator Feinstein. “The dam’s collapse had an impact on the entire nation, with news of the tragedy appearing in newspapers as far away as Maine. This monument will honor the more than 400 lives lost and serve as constant reminder of how critical investments in dam and infrastructure safety are to our communities. That message is just as true today as it was when this horrible event occurred.”

The bill would also establish a 440-acre national monument around the area that would be managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and it would authorize the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to establish the memorial through the acceptance of donations for the purpose of creating and managing the Memorial.

H.R. 2156, the house companion bill authored by Representatives Steve Knight (CA-25) and Julia Brownley (CA-26), unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Ventura County in conjunction with the Newbury Park High School Theater Department is pleased to announce its first-ever fundraising variety show and night at the theater: Celebrate RECOVERY! An evening of performance to celebrate the depth and diversity of life in recovery with mental illness.

Cathy Ladman has appeared on The Tonight Show nine times, and was also featured on the last two of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show Anniversary shows, which she considers to be a great honor. She’s made five appearances on The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, had her own HBO One Night Stand comedy special, and was awarded the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-Up Comic. A native New Yorker, now living in Los Angeles, Cathy has acted extensively in film and television. Some projects include Mad Men, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Everybody Loves Raymond. She is currently developing her solo show, “Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?,” about her journey with anorexia, and you can see her in her recurring role on the new Showtime series, “I’m Dying Up Here.”

As host and emcee of Celebrate RECOVERY!, Cathy will share stories of her own lived experience related to having a mental health condition. Stories of resilience and hope with a touch of humor.

The event will be held on October 21, 2017 at 6:00p.m. at the Newbury Park High School Performing Arts Center. Regular ticket prices are $125 each and include catered appetizers before the show, a full evening of entertainment, and a dessert bar with coffee afterwards. Performances will include comedy, music, skit, dance, poetry, and more and will be presented by a diverse mix of performers of all ages. Performers will have connections to the mental health community or will have a mental health diagnosis themselves. Tickets are on sale now at www.showtix4u.com. Tickets for door prize drawings will be available for purchase on site, and prizes will be valued at a minimum of $100.

NAMI’s classes, programs, and presentations are FREE to the public. In 2016 alone, NAMI’s coordinated outreach served the needs of over 5,000 community members, facilitated by 185 volunteers! Events like Celebrate RECOVERY! are vital to NAMI’s ability to meet the ever expanding needs of Ventura County community members.

And it will also be an opportunity to reach out in order to raise awareness and erase the stigma of mental illness.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI Ventura County is an affiliate of NAMI Ca. NAMI Ventura County and dedicated volunteer members and leaders work tirelessly to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people in our community living with mental illness and their loved ones.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact david@namiventura.org.

Mimi Burns’ was awarded the September 2017 Yard of the Month by Civic Pride representative Ari Larson. Mimi was presented with a $40 gift certificate courtesy of Otto & Sons Nursery.

When asked about the inspiration for her yard, Mimi said, “I wanted to have a yard that was low maintenance and didn't need much watering. My friends Kim and Wade started by putting up the split rail fence. They then leveled the yard and put the extra dirt in the center making the planter for the flower bed. Kim then put the grass turf down for me. I got the rocks from my friend Susan and my daughter Carina.”

“I haven't bought a single plant for my yard - everything comes from friends and family. The pine tree was a Christmas present from Carina. The white birch and the purple plum tree were replants from a neighbor that Wade planted for me. The succulents, geraniums and everything else in the yard come from friends who have given me clippings from their plants,” says Mimi when asked about the types of plants featured in her yard.

Regarding the design of the garden, Mimi stated, “I have taken these clippings and randomly planted them throughout and it is surprising how they have taken hold and flourished. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to my ‘friendship garden.’ It is still a work in progress and a true reflection of ‘all things are possible.’ Thank you.”

The house is located at 450 Fillmore St. If you would like to nominate a yard in the Fillmore area please email Ari Larson at petenari55@hotmail.com or call 805.794.7590.

Ventura County Library announces the addition of the MyVCLib mobile app for instant access to Library Services. We have an app for you! Ventura County Library customers can now quickly access online services and resources via an icon on their mobile devices.

The mobile app “MyVCLib” delivers the Ventura County Library catalog along with account services such as catalog search, holds, and renewals. You can find the app in the Google Play or iTunes app stores.

Downloadable book and online resource apps are integrated within MyVCLib for easy access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, language learning, movies, and music. Users also have quick links to Ventura County eLibrary content, the Library’s event calendar, VCL news, and library location information.

Other features include BookLook, allowing customers to scan a book’s bar code (for example, when in a bookstore) to see if the library owns the title, “Popular This Week” suggested reading lists, a place to store library card numbers, and links to the library’s social media and website.

Ventura County Library System:
Inspiring our community to explore, discover and connect.
The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org

VENTURA CA - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the creation of a Misdemeanor Diversion Program for low-level misdemeanor offenders. The program is an effort to reduce recidivism by providing meaningful education and rehabilitation to appropriate individuals. Beginning October 1, 2017, eligible offenders who choose to participate in diversion will have their criminal charges deferred while they complete rehabilitative classes and pay any restitution owed to the victims. Programming is based on a therapeutic concept known as cognitive behavioral therapy and addresses the individual’s particular criminal actions.

Individuals who commit specified misdemeanor crimes will be eligible for diversion only if they have never been convicted of a felony, have not previously been diverted, and have not been convicted of a misdemeanor in the past 10 years. More serious misdemeanor crimes are excluded from diversion, such as driving under the influence, domestic violence, gang-related offenses, crimes exhibiting criminal sophistication, and crimes of significant violence.

Participation is voluntary for offenders. Those who choose not to participate or who fail to complete the program will face criminal charges that have been authorized by a deputy district attorney. Those who complete the diversion program and pay victim restitution, if any is owed, will not face prosecution.

The program is funded entirely by offenders, with neither cost nor revenue to the District Attorney’s Office or the County of Ventura. Payment plans are available and a portion of each fee will be deposited into an indigent offender fund that will be used to reduce program fees for indigent defendants who cannot afford the full fee.

The Misdemeanor Diversion Program will be administered by Pacific Educational Services, Inc. (PES), a leader in California diversion programs. PES was selected based upon their proven record of success. A study conducted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office found that while 21 percent of those who declined diversion re-offended within one year, only 6 percent of those who completed the PES program committed a new crime in that timeframe.

The goals of the Misdemeanor Diversion Program are to achieve more positive outcomes and reduce recidivism. Similar programs currently operate in various California counties, including San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties.

Of the program, Mr. Totten stated:
My hope is this program will provide offenders with an opportunity to address the issues that led them to offend in the first place. If we can do that, we will improve the safety of our community and help offenders to change their lives for the better.

“The author, Russ Goodenough, working with the USAF Historical Research Center staff, assisted my Southeast Asia Declassification Team by identifying specific documents for declassification that could potentially provide special insight into the conflict in SEA. Utilizing this wealth of declassified information, the author has gained an exceptional understanding of the conflict, enhancing & enriching his own combat experience.
“A reader should follow this fighter pilot’s airborne journey that placed him into benchmark events in the escalating Vietnam conflict. He was one of the first involved. Cockpit experiences combined with research data have created a unique story that portrays this conflict very differently than what we have been told. His detailed portrayal of the massive, clandestine Laotian Air Wars and the CIA involvement deserves to be read by anyone interested in our history. This book should be required reading for all Air Force cadets. Very eye opening!” — USAF Colonel (ret.) James R. Annis, MBA, MS

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A ceremony to honor the International Day of Peace will take place on September 21st at Central Park in front of Fillmore City Hall. The community was invited to participate in the event. The International Day of Peace began in 1982 with a United Nation’s proclamation following a celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly stating “that this day be devoted to…strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among nations”. It was expanded in 2001 to call for a day of global cease fire and nonviolence. Soroptimist International of Fillmore began to honor the International Day of Peace in 2008 with a temporary wooden pole. The permanent Peace Pole was installed in 2010 through the collaboration of the City of Fillmore, local service groups and donations from individuals. The Peace Pole now stands in the southwest corner of City Hall Park to invite person reflection and to stand as a permanent reminder of the need for peace. The Pole has inscribed “Let There Be Peace On Earth” in seven different languages. Taking part in the event were Unitarian Minister Maddie Sifantus , Soroptimist President Jane David, Lynn Edmonds, Methodist Pastor Bethany Carpenter, Marlene Barragan and Anthony Palomera. A representative of St. Francis of Assisi Fillmore closed the ceremony. Honored were Janine Rees as Fillmore Peace Maker, and America Munoz as Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. A reception followed in Janine Rees’s honor, hosted by Bill Faith and the Rees/Faith families. A special thank you to Lions International of Fillmore for co-sponsoring the event and the Fillmore City Fire Department for setting up the lights.

Ventura County Clerk–Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn announced plans to host a National Voter Registration Day event on September 26, 2017, to register voters and encourage participation in future elections.

Started in 2012 for the Presidential Election, National Voter Registration Day is designed to create an annual moment when the entire nation focuses on registering Americans to exercise the right to vote. The goal is to increase participation by encouraging people to register to vote and come to the polls next year.

The Ventura County Elections Division has partnered with libraries throughout Ventura County, Ventura Adult School, Ventura Community College, Moorpark Community College, and Cal State Channel Islands to engage new and existing voters.

The Ventura County Elections Division will be registering voters at the entrance to the Hall of Administration at the Government Center located at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura on Tuesday, September 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Voters can also register at the Elections Division located on the lower plaza of the Hall of Administration, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Online voter registration is available in 10 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Individuals can register to vote in these languages by visiting http://registertovote.ca.gov.

Additional information regarding voter registration is available on the Elections Division website http://www.venturavote.org or by calling the Elections Division at (805) 654-2664.

Submitted by Lynn Edmonds
Come to the Fillmore Library on Thursday, September 14th at 6:00pm to learn strategies on how to make our community a more peaceful place. After the talk you are all invited to make cranes (from the book 1000 Cranes) to hang as a reminder to work toward peace in both Fillmore and Piru. The event is open to all ages. The talk is a continuation of the Soroptimist International Evening Library talks.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has begun accepting applications for the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). The AMMP is one of two programs designed by CDFA to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The program will provide $9-16 million dollars in grants to California dairy and livestock operators to implement non-digester manure management practices that reduce their methane emissions.
Earth First Construction, a California educational non-profit organization, under a grant from the CDFA is holding four Technical Assistance Workshops. These workshops will provide technical assistance with the application process and are free of charge. At the two-hour workshop participants will learn about the application process, scoring and how to submit the application through the online application tool, the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool (FAAST). Applications and all supporting information must be submitted electronically using FAAST by Monday, October 2, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

In addition to the four workshops underwritten by a grant from the CDFA and the California Strategic Growth Council, Earth First Construction is offering the Manure Solutions Seminar. This three-hour seminar includes these speakers and topics:

Jeff Weisel, Dairy Advisor, Chosen Acres, “Separating Solids and Green Bedding”

Lew Douglas, CEO, Urth Agriculture, “Microbial Solutions for Manure and Forage”

Dick Wullaert, CEO, Bioguard Industries, “Functional Water – Water that Serves a Purpose”

Ed Ober, Director, Sustainable Practices Associates, “Key Factors in Writing Successful Grants”

This Seminar will be held one time at the International Agri-Center in Tulare on September 11, 2017 from 9:00 to 12:00 pm. Door opens at 8:30 am. The seminar is registration cost is $125. However, if a participant registers for both the Technical Assistance workshop and the Seminar then the registration cost is only $50 a savings of $75. Complete details and registration available at www.ManureSolutions.org

The free of charge Technical Assistance workshop is being offered on the following dates and times:

Monday, September 11, 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the International Agri-Center, Tulare

Tuesday, September 12 at the Tulare County Library in Visalia, the workshop will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am; at 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

For complete details and registration visit www.ManureSolutions.org – Space is limited to 40 people at the Seminar and either 20 or 40 people at each workshop depending on the location.

NOTE – THE AMMP is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, visit California Climate Investments.

Fillmore, CA - In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 4. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash, recyclables and green waste collected on Saturday, Sept. 9, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Fillmore, CA - One Step A La Vez (OSALV) Teen Advocacy Center invites and welcomes hometown hero/MMA athlete Jose “Froggy” Estrada. As he will be conducting a motivational speech about how he overcame adversity and stayed on the right path by keeping himself busy by participating in wrestling and mixed martial arts. Froggy will also take the time to do a meet and greet with the opportunity to get an autograph and a picture. Froggy’s visit will be a part of a back to school open house at OSALV on September 1, 2017, to welcome our returning teens and hopefully to reach out to new teens interested in being a part of our center. OSALV is located at 421 Sespe Ave. in Fillmore, CA. As the event was briefly described at the beginning, the importance for a teen to have a positive role model in their lives is critical in this life stage.

Froggy understands the importance of giving back to his community and loves to lead by example to show that hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and discipline were important in the pursuit of his goals and dreams. His love for his family, friends, and beloved grandpa up in heaven in his hometown of Fillmore and all around Ventura County is the driving force that runs through his veins which motivate him to give his all in the octagon. When I interviewed “Froggy” he would always reiterate that he loved making his family and friends proud of him, which is important to him. In Froggy’s own words, he told me that he is “always down to give back to the kids” and excited “to teach them that hard work pays off”. With “Froggy’s visit to One Step A La Vez, it reinforces our center's mission and shows our community that there are people in our community that want to give back.

Our mission at OSALV is to serve the communities of Santa Clarita Valley, specifically the communities of Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula, by providing a safe environment for 13-19-year old’s and preparing informed, empowered youth who are equipped with the tools to lead, cultivate cultural awareness, bridge the gaps of inequality and advocate for fair, just and healthy individuals and communities.