Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) is looking for teams and individuals to participate in the annual BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE fundraising event. Bowl a strike or bowl a gutter ball...the kids still win! The event brings awareness to the youth mentoring programs offered by BBSVC; and in 2014, BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE raised over $75,000 to directly benefit BBSVC’s programs in Ventura County.

Bowling participants fundraise by registering online at BFKS.bbsvc.org, and may then raise donations from family, friends, coworkers, and their social networks. Local businesses can also support the event through sponsorships, prize donations, and by supporting a company team to bowl on the day of the event.

The bowling events will take place at Harley’s Camarillo Bowl on Saturday, March 14, and Harley’s Simi Valley Bowl on Sunday, March 15. Multiple bowling times are available at each location to celebrate the fundraising efforts of the participating teams and individuals.

Exciting grand prizes will be available for the Top Fundraisers, in both individual and team categories. There will also be a special grand prize for the “Big” (mentor) and “Little” (mentee) who raise the most funds: two tickets to Disneyland!

To register for BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE 2015, participants can sign up for free at BFKS.bbsvc.org, where they can make their personal fundraising page and begin collecting donations. Businesses and organizations interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities are encouraged to call Miriam Zacuto at 805.484.2282 ext 118.

For more information about BOWL FOR KIDS’ SAKE 2015 or to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, please contact Danica Selvaggio at dselvaggio@bbsvc.org or 805.484.2282.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBSVC) has been helping youth in Ventura County and neighboring communities realize their potential for over 44 years. Facilitating more than 1,500 one-to-one
mentoring relationships annually between adult or school-based volunteers and youth ages 6-21, BBSVC is committed to bringing their life- changing program to every child who needs and wants it. BBSVC is an independent 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that depends on private donors for 75% of its funding. To donate, become a mentor, or learn more about BBSVC, please call (805) 484-2282 or visit www.bbsvc.org.

On Saturday January 31 at noon experience noted Ramona author Helen Hunt Jackson's January 1882 visit to Rancho Camulos that forever changed the history of the Santa Clara River Valley Reservations for the historical reenactment are encouraged but not required. The suggested $5 donation also includes a docent-led tour. Tours will also be conducted at 2 and 3 PM. Rancho Camulos Museum and National Historic Landmark is located on Hwy. 126 , 10 miles west of the I-5 Newhall Ranch Road exit. Visitwww.ranchocamulos.org for more information about Rancho Camulos. Contact info@ranchocamulos.org or call (805) 521-1501.

"The Hotsy-Totsy 1920's!
Fillmore Community please join Fillmore Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Awards Dinner!
Date: Friday, March 6, 2015
Time: Social Hour: 5:30pm-6:30pm, Dinner/Ceremony: 6:30pm
Location: Veteran's Memorial Buiilding (511 Second St.) Fillmore, Ca. 93015
Attire: Vintage (optional)
Tickets: $35/per Adult and $20 under 17 years
$250 Table Reservations Available (Seats 8) get your reservations early for prime seating.
Sales End Friday February 27, 2015.
Promote your business by purchasing a Table Top and/or Advertisement in our Pamphlet also Available for $35 each.
For ticket sales call the chamber office 805.524.0351 or email: fillmorechamberc@gmail.com
President Irma Magana 805.794.2353 email: Notaryirma@hotmail.com or First VicePresident Ari Larson 805.794.7590 email: petenari55@hotmail.com
Questions regarding nomination requirements and submissions please contact: Renae Stovesand 805.746.1923 or email: rstovesand@att.net.

Emily Hadley

The practice of art is alive and well and progressing beautifully at the Fillmore Senior Center. The community is invited to enjoy the results of the arts program on Saturday, January 31 from 10am to 2pm as part of the Center’s Open House.

Four instructors and their students will be on hand to display and discuss the work they have been enjoying in the classes at the Center. Virginia Neuman, who works in acrylics, oils and watercolor, teaches drawing on Mondays. Virginia is an active practicing artist having worked in England, where she was born, as well as in France and the US. Virginia is a veteran of the Fillmore United School District where she established Independent Art Programs at Piru and San Cayetano.

Wana Klasen offers a watercolor class on Thursdays. A retired Registered Nurse and former educational administrator, Wana is a multi-disciplined artist working in watercolor, acrylic and collage. Currently, she is helping to lay the foundation for a local program of Artists for Trauma, a group seeking to provide art instruction for seriously disabled civilians and members of the military.

On Tuesdays, Karen Scott Browdy teaches a composition class based on collage and mixed media. Karen’s teaching experience includes 14 years as an adjunct instructor in Santa Barbara City College’s Adult Education Division. At present, she continues to teach independently in Carpinteria and Los Alamos, CA while maintaining a studio as an artist-in-residence at Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo. Karen works in collage and assemblage.

Every other Tuesday, Charlene Smith convenes a decorative gourd class. She has been working in this medium since 1997 and in her own work, concentrates on masks. However, in class at the Senior Center, her students turn out bowls, rattles, drums and spirit dolls. Pyrography, carving, painting and dyeing are all a part of gourd art and make for interesting art pieces.

All of these artists regularly exhibit their work in various Ventura County venues and will have examples on display and for sale at the Open House. In addition, student work will be displayed and sold with a portion of all sales going to the programs of the Fillmore Senior Center Incorporated, a non-profit organization.

On Saturday January 24th, Jeff Bode and his crew from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #952 pulled wire and conduit all day long at the Fillmore Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. Jeff, along with Chris Huston, Corey Spurgeon, Rene Guzman, Rebecca Andrews and Johan Lopez donated their time to help the Club with their soon to be Teen Study Room. In fact, not only did they donate their time but also all electrical materials. The Teen Study Room will have the latest technology so that teens will get assistance with homework, resume building, how to fill out employment applications and scholarships and most of all- a positive place that they can come to for more resources and support. The room is 720sq.ft. and previously was the old girls’ shower room at Fillmore High School when the facility was owned by the Fillmore Unified School District. If you would like to contribute to this project donations can be sent to : Teen Study Room Project PO Box 152 Santa Paula, CA. 93061

Buddha, a gentle, 10-year-old pitbull, has faced many challenges. He lost the use of his back legs and learned to use a pet wheelchair. Buddha says goodbye to his temporary home at the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center this week to move to a rescue sanctuary to await a new, permanent home.

A Santa Paula Police Department officer found the dog lying by the side of the road, unable to use his back legs. The officer brought him to the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), where the staff rushed him to a pet emergency hospital. The dog was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy/neuropathy, meaning he lacks the strength to use his back legs and his condition may worsen with time. It appears the dog, named Buddha, had either been dumped or had dragged himself to the road, scraping his leg raw in the process.

Buddha recovered from his scrapes and bruises but needed help with mobility. In January, SPARC received the gift of a donated wheeled cart from Eddie’s Wheels, a company in Massachusetts which custom-makes wheels for dogs. The carts cost up to $600. SPARC is very grateful for the donation.

With encouragement and lots of treats from the SPARC staff, Buddha has learned to use his new wheels. After a few days with his new wheels, Buddha now enjoys getting out for a “spin” several times a day and is becoming more confident. When he becomes more proficient using his cart, he’ll be able to enjoy spending time with other dogs again.

Buddha is a gentle old soul who has been greeting and socializing with SPARC visitors for months as their “office dog.” He's been looking for a home all the while, but this week will be his “farewell” to SPARC as he will be leaving for greener pastures, moving to a rescue sanctuary that provides medical supervision and will care for him in a loving environment until he finds the perfect, forever home.

Donations to help with Buddha’s and other SPARC animals’ medical care can be made at www.santapaulaarc.org. SPARC is a private, non-profit organization and is the first and only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County. SPARC is a place where homeless animals are brought for humane care without risk of being killed due to lack of space, illness or injury. SPARC relies on private donations to care for the animals.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Start 2015 with a guided tour of the Ojai Meadows Preserve!*
Docent and naturalist for the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy,StuartNiebel, will guide us on a 60-minute, easy, walking tour describing the Conservancy’s efforts to reclaim the Meadows using native plants and grasses.
Lunch-11:30am, Tour-1pm, both in OJAI
Group reservation @ 11:30 for self-paid lunch before the tour
at Eggs ’n’ Potatoes Restaurant - 1103 Maricopa Hwy, Ojai 93023
805-646-5346 Lunch specials start at $11 + beverage, tax and tip
*Directions to Meadows - Highway 33 Entrance:
Take Highway 33 west (towards Maricopa) from the Highway 150/33 intersection at the
Rotary Community Park. Go past the high school and the football stadium, turning left
at the next available break in the highway’s dividing island.
Park in the small parking lot for the Preserve or along the curb of the highway.
Please Note: Rain or very muddy conditions will postpone lunch/tour to a later date.
R S V P REQUESTED !!
Call or email Lora Clarke by Jan 31st
805-218-2105, loralclarke@yahoo.com

Ventura, CA - Ventura County Clerk Recorder Mark Lunn announced that the County Clerk’s Office will be open on Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Lunn stated, “Valentine’s Day is our busiest wedding day of the year. Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, we will extend our office hours to accommodate couples that want to marry on this romantic day.”

The County Clerk’s Office, located at the County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Main Plaza, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura CA 93009-1260, will be open solely to issue Marriage Licenses and perform marriage ceremonies. Standard Marriage License and ceremony fees will apply.

Appointments are highly recommended and can be made by calling (805) 654-2263. Additional information can be found by visiting www.VenturaClerkRecorder.org.

Behind city council’s leadership, Fillmore is in for a big year in 2015. Construction has started on new retail projects and housing sales are moving in a positive direction.

Economic Development
You may have noticed all the construction along Highway 126 over the past several months. The Stop project at the Business Park is in the process of building a new Dollar General store and pads for several other retail establishments. The City anticipates being able to identify future tenants over the next few months. Family Dollar has also started construction along Highway 126 near the Best Western Hotel. Both projects are planned to open later in 2015 expanding the shopping opportunities for our residents and guest.

The City has entered into a contract with The Retail Coach a national retail consulting, marketing research and development firm that combines strategy, technology and expertise to develop and deliver retail recruitment and development strategies. The Retail Coach has and will continue to visit our businesses and provide recommendations to the City Council that will support the City’s overall retail recruitment and development goals. Another aspect of the study will be the development of marketing material for targeted retailers and identify companies to recruit to Fillmore.

Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation
When Rigo Landeros was appointed Fire Chief, one of his first goals was to establish a foundation for the Fire Department. The Foundation was formed in November 2010.

Over the years, with the help of Patrick Maynard, the Foundation has received over $275,000 in grants. In addition, the Foundation has raised an additional $28,000 through donations and its annual golf tournament. These funds have been used to purchase new breathing apparatus, new radios, new turnouts and fire nozzles, and to provide training and repairs to the City’s fire station.

The Foundation’s Board is comprised of the following individuals:
Scott Beylik, Mike Bush, Bill Morris, Mike Richardson, and Scott Klittich. When you see these individuals in the community, please give them a big thank you. Under their leadership and Mr. Maynard’s ability to obtain grant funding they have saved the City over $300,000.

Thank you to everyone who makes Fillmore the “Last Best Small Town”.

The Lions Student Speaker Contest will be Monday, Feb. 2 at 7:00 pm sharp. The topic is "Water conservation-How can we reduce, recycle and reclaim?" The wimnner will receive $100 and the runner-ups $25. No more than 6 speakers can compete-so enter quickly. There will be a mandatory meeting on Thursday Jan. 29 at lunch time in the fillmore highschool conference room.( also after school for those who cannot attend at lunch. Please contact Bill Edmonds at 524-4839 or Mr. Dann, or Mr. Olverton at the highschool.

American country singer and songwriter Lacy J. Dalton will perform a benefit concert for the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Discovery Ventura nightclub, 1888 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura.

Dalton, who had a number of hits in the 1980s, including “Taking It Easy,” “Crazy Blue Eyes” and “16th Avenue,” will be joined by Nashville recording artist Ryan Hinkle.

Doors open for “A SPARC of Love” concert at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $35. VIP tickets are available at $55 but seating is limited. VIP tickets include early admission at 6:30 p.m. and guaranteed seating in the VIP area as well as a performance meet and greet.

Proceeds from the event benefit the animals of the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center.

For information, reservations and ticket sales call (805) 889-4800 or contact sparceventsinfo@gmail.com.

SPARC is a private, non-profit organization and is the first and only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County. SPARC is a place where homeless animals are brought for humane care without risk of being killed due to lack of space, illness or injury. SPARC relies solely on private donations.

Construction of a new Teen Study Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley remains underway.
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While most people were watching the football championships Sunday we continued on with the construction of a new Teen Study Room at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. Framing and footings were built in anticipation of a future cement pour. Three amazing men from Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Local #150 were hard at work. Jose Cobian, David Urrea and Joe Duran were the three who donated their time on Sunday. This is an amazing project that will benefit the local teens in Fillmore. When finished the Teen Study Room will have staff that can assist teens not only with their homework but work with them on such things as how to fill out job application and scholarship papers. A financial literacy course is also planned. We are excited about expanding our Positive Place For Kids. This is a $113,000 renovation project as the room under renovation was the former girls shower room when the facility was the girls gym at Fillmore High School many years ago. If you would like to make a donation to this project, checks can be sent to Teen Study Center c/o Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley PO Box 152 Santa Paula, CA. 93061.

Ventura, CA - Diabetes, a common disease that causes long-term damage to the body, will be the focus of a free seminar when Community Memorial Health System opens its 2015 Educational Seminars series on Tuesday, Jan 27.

Debra Ouyang, M.D. who specializes in endocrinology, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, located at 147 N. Brent St.

Diabetes affects an estimated one out of 10 Americans, and those numbers are rapidly increasing. Dr. Ouyang will discuss what causes diabetes, what people can do to prevent it and, if they already have the disease, what they can do to improve their health.

Dr. Ouyang received her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed her residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical/West Los Angeles Veterans Administration program. Dr. Ouyang is a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association and the Endocrine Society.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Please visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Ticket at 1-800/838-3006.

Future scheduled educational seminars include: Hyperbaric Oxygen and Wound Care on Feb. 24; Joint Pain and Arthritis on Feb. 28 in Ojai; Cosmetic Surgery on March 10; Neurological Diseases of Aging on April 21 in Oxnard, Update on Management of Brain Tumors on May 12; and Skin Cancer on June 16.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and 12 family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

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The Fillmore Senior Center will be holding an “Open House” Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 am -2:00 pm, at 533 Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. FSC Teachers and Artists are looking forward to the Open House and are planning to share their amazing talents and provide some “Interactive Art” activities with our guests.

The Fillmore Senior Center also provides instructional and recreational classes during the month to educate our seniors on Fall Prevention, Hi-Cap, AAA Driving Classes, Low Vision, Alzheimer’s Support, Spanish class, Busy Hands (Knitting & Crochet) Gourd Class, and Line Dancing, among others. This is a great place to gather with other seniors to socialize, learn new skills such as watercolor, collage, tai chi, senior exercise, yoga, sketching, knitting, crochet, watch movies, play cards or Board games use computers or you just want to get out of the house and your 55+ years, this is just the place for you. Refreshments will be served. For more information please Call 805-524-4533

Fillmore, CA - The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will host its third annual Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Day of service day event on January 19. This year, CEDC has organized a park clean-up effort which will take place at the Two Rivers Park in Fillmore, located at the corner of River Street and “C” Street. Everyone is invited to join in and lend a hand in service to the community to help celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and legacy.

“CEDC’s Annual MLK Day of Service is a day where we work side-by-side with our fellow residents and community members to beautify a community,” said Marco Ramirez, CEDC’s Community Building Director, whose team is helping to organize the event. “The City of Fillmore is providing the tools and equipment; we want everyone to help us contribute hands and positive energy. Last year, more than 100 Fillmore residents participated in the event—and we want that number to increase. Bring your friends and family!”

Participants are asked to bring a piece of new or gently used clothing to donate to CEDC’s PACT project. PACT is a project called “Providing Accessible Clothing to Teens.” PACT is a free clothing closet for low-income youth under the age of 18 based in Fillmore. The project was started by a group of Fillmore High School youth who wanted to give back to their community. For more information, visit www.pactyouthcloset.org.

This year marks CEDC’s third MLK Day event in Fillmore. The intent of the event is to leverage the strength of local citizens to enhance and beautify the places where they live.

This local MLK Day event in Fillmore is part of a national Day of Service which will take place nationwide on January 19. The national Day of Service honors Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to transforming our nation through service to others. These events portray America’s collective spirit of advancing economic opportunity and taking action to solve problems in local communities across the United States.

Dr. King committed his life and his work to expanding opportunity for all Americans. Dr. King’s vision of harnessing the power of volunteering and service to transform our communities is more important than ever. The MLK National Day of Service is an opportunity to re-commit ourselves as citizens by volunteering in service to one another. MLK Day is also, importantly, a launching pad for an entire year of service. Working together, we will create economic opportunities by improving education, strengthening health care services, and improving financial literacy.

The Friends of the Santa Paula Blanchard Community Library invite all book lovers to their First-Saturday-of–the-Month and Mid-Week book sales. The next First-Saturday Sale will beFebruary 7, 2015, from 10AM to 2PM. The mid-week sales are every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12 Noon to 2PM, except holidays. The sales are held in “The Back Stacks”, accessed from the north parking lot of the library at 119 N. 8th Street, Santa Paula, CA.

The February special will be a 48 volume set of children’s history books with wonderful illustrations and a 6 volume set of “The Third Reich”, a history of Hitler’s Germany with lots of interesting photos.Both are priced at $1.00 per set. There are also great choices in fiction, non-fiction, and children’sbooks with prices from $.50-$2.00.The unique collection of rare and collectible books start at $4.00.For more information email fobcl@yahoo.com.