Heritage Valley Bus Service – Valley Express

During a meet and confer meeting with representatives of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, VCTC, and representatives of the Heritage Valley Policy Advisory Committee, which Mayor Manuel Minjares is a member, held a vote to award the transit contract to MV Transportation. The vote was 4-2 with Mayor Minjares voting to have MV Transportation and Fillmore Area Transit Corporation (FATCO) submit final and best proposals. The new bus service is scheduled to begin March 1, 2015 when MV Transportation begins operating the new Valley Express transit service.

The Mayor and City Council are deeply disappointed in this decision. FATCO has provided public transportation for over forty years in Fillmore and throughout Ventura County. FATCO was founded out of a need to help provide people in the community transportation. FATCO is a part of our city history and is a wonderful, historic, small business success story.

I want to publicly thank the Morris Family for their dedication to Fillmore and our residents over the years.

Council Member Steve Conaway

Steve Conaway’s last city council meeting will take place Tuesday, December 9 when city council swears in two newly elected members Carrie Broggie and incumbent Diane McCall. He was appointed to the city council in 2013 to serve out the remaining term of another city council member who resigned their position. He has served the residents of Fillmore for over 9 years both as Mayor and as a council member. He was able to share historical information and the basis behind city council decisions in the past. It was a great honor and pleasure to work with Steve over the past year. While he will no longer be on the dais, I have no doubt he will still be actively involved with the city as he has a great love and appreciation for Fillmore. Most people know he loves to barbeque and recently started to enter local BBQ competitions. I look forward to being a taste tester for his entries at the various competitions.

The Morris family and Steve are prime examples why Fillmore is the “Last Best Small Town”.

The Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC) is hosting its annual “Santa Paws” Pet Photos and Holiday Boutique from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Humane Society shelter, 402 Bryant Street, Ojai.

Have your family and your pet’s picture taken with Santa and do your holiday shopping while supporting the HSVC. All proceeds from vendor fees and Santa Paws Pet Photos will go directly to help the animals at the Shelter.

Photo registration starts at 10 a.m. Cost is $25 for one photo on a CD. For an additional donation receive several photos on CD that is ready that day. Adults and children are welcome in photos — with or without Santa. If you don't have a pet, just bring your children and avoid the long lines at the Mall.

The holiday boutique will feature a wide range of gifts for people and pets and a bake sale.Guests do not need to have photos taken to shop at the boutique. There will also be raffles, and pet readings and healing.

The photography is by Greg Cooper, professional photographer and instructor at Brooks Institute.

For more information call the Shelter at 805 646-6505 or visit website: www.hsvc.org

The Ventura County Garden Club will celebrate its 90th anniversary on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 117 7th Street, Santa Paula. The club is the oldest garden club in Ventura County. Historian Glenda Jackson will entertain guests with stories and news from the club's history. The public is welcome.

Please contact Linda Stallard (805-482-7201).

CAMARILLO, CA - Today, the Gorell for Congress campaign released the following statement from Jeff Gorell regarding the race for California's 26th Congressional District:

"With today's vote count update showing me trailing by more than 3,000 votes, it's time for me to concede the race. I'm disappointed in the outcome, but proud of the positive, issue-oriented campaign we ran. I want to thank my superb staff, and the hundreds of amazing volunteers who worked so hard to make this House race one of the most competitive in the nation. Laura and I feel blessed by the outpouring of support from so many people in the community. We have strengthened old friendships and forged new ones that I'm sure will last a lifetime. Laura and I now begin a new life chapter, and although I do not know exactly what that will be I'm sure it will continue to include service to my community and nation.

For the past four years, I have had the honor of representing the community as a member of the California State Assembly. This job has been humbling and enlightening. Whether working on education policy or creating incentives for new job creation in California, I leave the legislature believing I helped make a difference in California and in my district. For that opportunity, I will always be grateful. To my constituents, and to everyone who supported my campaign, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart."

The Friends of the Blanchard Community Library invite all book lovers, and those shopping for book lovers, to the First-Saturday-of-the-Month Book Sale on December 6, in the Back Stacks at the Blanchard Community Library, 119 N. 8th Street, Santa Paula. Please enter from the north parking lot. The hours are 10AM-2PM. This sale will feature Golf books for $.25 each, and a 21 volume set of Cooking Club of America cookbooks for $5.00. These books, and many more on display, are in like-new condition suitable for gift giving. Make your holiday shopping easy and affordable.

Also, there is always a great selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and unique rare collectible books available. General prices range from $.25-$2.00. Collectibles start at $4.00.

If the Saturday sale is not convenient, The Back Stacks are also open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12 Noon to 2 PM. and a smaller selection of books is available during library hours at the Friends Book Mart located inside the library.

For further information email fobcl@yahoo.com

SANTA CLARA VALLEY HOSPICE HOME SUPPORT GROUP, INC

A light will be shining on the Hospice “Light Up A Life Tree” at the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Fillmore Plaza,251 Central Ave. Fillmore. Join us for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 4:30 PM. These names were received up to October 29, 2014

IN MEMORY OF:
Chris Cone
Diane Dudley
Sean Campos
Diane Dudley
Tommy Wallace Whiteley
Raymond Wallace
Lark Whiteley
Bob Olson
Harold Michel
Ed Koger
Dorothy Koger
Cornelius V. Morales
Elmira V. Morales
Hazel Davis
Gerald Davis
Lois Main
Ed Preston
Betty Preston
Austin Maytham
Bill Hayne
Olen Core
Sue Core
Claude Lee
Mary R. Lee
Hazle Hiebert
Rufus Hiebert
Jim Stehley
Frank Norris
Sophie Norris
Susan Taylor
IN HONOR OF
Cleve Cunningham

A light will be shining on the Hospice “Light Up A Life Tree” at the Tree Lighting Ceremony in PIRU, Center Street and the Gazibo. Join us for the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 4:30 PM.
These names were received up to October 29, 2014
IN MEMORY OF:
Lee and Romona Golson
Anthony Golson, Sr.
Lee Golson
Loni Golson
Lola Alcozar
Ronnie Alcozar
Gregory Alcozar

The Humane Society of Ventura County will hold its annual “Santa Paws” fund-raiser and holiday boutique on Sunday, Nov. 23, where pets – along with their families – can have their pictures taken with Santa.

The photo shoot and holiday boutique will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the HSVC’s Ojai shelter, 402 Bryant St. For a $25 donation, pet owners receive several professional photos on a compact disc that will be ready to take home the day of the event. Adults and children are welcome in photos – with or without Santa. Those who do not have a pet can still bring their children to avoid long lines at the mall.

The holiday boutique will feature vendors with a wide range of gifts for people and pets, along with a bake sale. People do not need to have photos taken to shop; everyone is welcome.

Greg Cooper, a professional photographer who also teaches at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, is the photographer. Chuck Bowman is Santa.

Proceeds go to the care of animals in need throughout VenturaCounty.

For more information, call 646-6505 or visit www.hsvc.org.For vendor information, email heatherr@hsvc.org.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1932. It does not receive federal, state or local tax dollars to operate and relies solely on private donations.

Advances in cataract eye surgery will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

JillAnne W. McCarty, M.D., a Ventura ophthalmologist, will lead the seminar that will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Community Memorial Hospital’s eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium.

Cataract surgery has evolved into a brief, painless, sight-restoring procedure, and patients undergoing cataract surgery have more advanced options now than ever before. Dr. McCarty will discuss state-of-the-art surgical advances and new technology to treat cataracts and restore clear vision for an active lifestyle.

Dr. McCarty received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and received residency training at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at the UCLA School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. McCarty is an active member of the Community Memorial Hospital Medical Staff.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are required. Please visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Ticket at 1-800/838-3006.

Community Memorial Hospital is located at 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura.

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.

Camarillo Hospice, a volunteer hospice and grief counseling center serving Ventura County, offers practical and emotional support for individuals and families facing a life-limiting illness and/or dealing with the grief of losing a loved one.

As a volunteer hospice, Camarillo Hospice does not deliver medical care and does not require a life expectancy of six months or less. Patients do not need a doctor’s referral to avail themselves of assistance from Camarillo Hospice.

Among the many services provided are: caregiver respite, friendly visiting, life story recording, errand-running, transportation, education and resources on end-of-life issues.

All services of Camarillo Hospice are free and not subject to regulatory time limits.

Ongoing bereavement support groups and individual and family grief counseling are also available from Camarillo Hospice. In 2013 alone Camarillo Hospice provided assistance and support to more than 10,000 community residents.

For more information, please call the Hospice office at 805.389.6870,email info@camarillohospice.org or visit the hospice website at www.camarillohospice.org.

Ventura County students have a long, proud tradition of excellence in local, state and national Academic Competitions. This is only possible through the strong commitment and partnership of our local businesses and organizations. Amgen, Sage Corwin Publications, Gene Haas Foundation, California Resources Corporation and Aera Energy are among the sponsors who generously contribute to these popular events. On average, local sponsors provide more than $100,000 in donations and more than 600 volunteer judges in support of about 1,500 students who annually participate in the Ventura County Academic Decathlon, Mock Trial and Science Fair. Our sponsors’ tax free donations cover the cost of food, facility rentals, printing, promotion and awards for the students.

During the 2014 event season, our sponsors supported the Academic Decathlon, which was a huge success with 306 students representing 16 high schools. Westlake High School took first place at the county level and went on to Sacramento to represent Ventura County at the state competition.

The Mock Trial competition was exciting as always, with 651 students representing 25 high schools. La Reina High School took first place at the county level, going on to win at the state level for the third time in a row, and then on to the nationals where they placed second.

The Ventura County Science Fair continued to amaze with 763 students representing more than 37 Ventura County schools participating in the exploration of science. More than 45 Ventura County students qualified to go on to the state level, where several placed in the top four of their categories.

Sponsorship opportunities range from Supporter at $100 to Title Sponsor at $20,000. If you or your organization would be interested in sponsoring any of the 2015 Ventura County Office of Education student competitions, please contact John E. Tarkany at (805) 437-1501 or by email at jtarkany@vcoe.org.

To learn more about any of these events, please visit us online at www.vcoe.org/sc.

About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org

OXNARD, CA - As part of a new effort to support “good choices” and prevent impaired driving, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department aims to reduce DUIs due to marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter drugs using a $162,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

The grant was developed using local data and calls for collaboration with other Ventura County agencies and the State of California to develop a countywide educational media campaign to increase public understanding of drugged driving and its consequences; convene an interagency workgroup to share prevention strategies; and conduct drugged driving prevention presentations to a range of organizations, including local colleges.

“This marks a great extension of our ongoing prevention efforts,” said Patrick Zarate, Division Manager for Ventura County’s Alcohol and Drug Programs. “Driving under the influence of any substance—whether it’s alcohol, pot or prescription drugs—is a significant personal and public safety risk, and receiving this funding will allow us to further educate the public about these dangers.””

The Ventura County Alcohol and Drug Programs and local partners will leverage this grant award to counter attitudes about drug-impaired impaired driving and emphasize the very real risks. Planning has begun for a regional Drugged Driving Prevention Conference in 2015, to counter the apparent rise in the number of local DUI arrestees who say they used marijuana or another drug on the day of their arrest.

“It’s a sad truth: many people don’t realize that having a doctor’s note to use a drug, doesn’t mean you can safely drive after using,” said Dan Hicks, Prevention Services Manager, “We aim to change local perceptions of risk—and let people know that they’re still looking at a criminal record and thousands of dollars in costs if convicted—not to mention the tragic crashes and other consequences that can result.”

In 2011, there were 23 fatal collisions involving alcohol and/or other drugs in Ventura County and the County was rated 48 out of 58 counties by the OTS for victims killed and/or injured in collisions involving alcohol. “That number is unacceptable, with or without the other substances of abuse, and this grant extends our efforts to save lives and protect safety,” said Zarate.

Impaired driving prevention countermeasures are needed now more than ever. The goal is clear. As OTS Director Rhonda Craft said, “Toward zero deaths, every one counts.”

Funding for the grant is from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information go to: www.venturacountylimits.org

Ventura, CA - November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Community Memorial Health System is offering a free lung assessment online screening tool that takes just seven minutes and provides participants information about personal risk for lung disease.

According to the American Cancer Society:

 Lung cancer is the second most common cancer found in men and women (not counting skin cancer).
 About 228,190 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed this year.
 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men and women.
 Smoking is the leading risk factor for developing lung cancer.
 There are more than 400,000 lung cancer survivors in the United States today.

Symptoms of lung cancer may include nagging cough that does not go away or gets worse with time, coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness, weight loss and loss of appetite and repeated respiratory infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis.

Answer a few simple questions, and participants will be provided with a report of their risk factors and recommendations for improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For more information, go to www.cmhshealth.org/healthaware.

In addition, CMHS offers a lung cancer screening program using low dose CT to aid in the early detection of lung cancer. This helps doctors treat the disease in its early stages. Oftentimes, lung cancer is detected in its later stages, making it difficult to treat after it has compromised other parts of the body. Doctors can determine if patients are good candidates for the screening.

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.

CAMARILLO, CA - Today, the Gorell for Congress campaign released a statement on the election for California's 26th Congressional District.

Statement from Jeff Gorell:

"Laura and I have been overwhelmed by the positive response my candidacy for Congress has received from people throughout our local communities. I want to thank the many volunteers who sacrificed their time, their financial support and their shoe leather to make our campaign such a success.

There are still more than 50,000 absentee and provisional votes left to be counted and it will be many days until the final outcome of the election for Congress in the 26th District is determined. The Ventura County Elections Office has informed me that there will be an updated count of the outstanding votes tomorrow.

My campaign has a strong election team in place to ensure that the counting of these ballots meets the highest standards of transparency and integrity. I am confident that we will be victorious when all of the votes have been tallied.

The Federal Government must change direction and I look forward to being part of the solution in the new Congress that will provide a better future for all Americans."

Ventura, California - Should marijuana be a medical option, will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding as part of its Ethics in Healthcare series on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

James Hornstein, M.D., chairman of the Bioethics Committee at Community Memorial Hospital, will moderate the seminar entitled “Ethics in Healthcare - Marijuana as Medicine, Benefit or Boondoggle?” that will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, located at 100 E. Main St. in Ventura.

Other featured speakers will be Margaret A. Peterson, M.D., staff member of CMHS’s Department of Family Practice; Tara Snow, M.D., staff member of CMHS’s Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Hospice and Palliative Care; and Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney.

Some feel marijuana can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma and epilepsy, while others believe marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system and brain.

Please join us for this discussion. Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call 1-800-838-3006.

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.

Ventura, CA - Ventura County Rideshare Week 2014 wasn’t just successful, it was one of the county’s best ever. This year, Rideshare Week (October 6-10) garnered more than 1,000 pledges to share the ride and featured increased outreach, making the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD)-sponsored campaign one of the most successful to date.

Rideshare Week 2014 raised awareness of alternative commute options through its “Join a New Social Network…Rideshare!” theme and 12 on-site workplace events across Ventura County. At each event, commuters had the opportunity to win prizes and share their excitement about opportunities to connect while making better commute choices. “VCTC and VCAPCD could not be happier with the results of this year’s campaign – not just the participation, but the potential impact on local air quality and roadways,” noted VCTC Commuter Services Program Manager Alan Holmes. “After connecting with local employers, we are encouraged to see a growing commitment to ridesharing as commuters make the choice to switch to alternative methods of transportation. We are already looking forward to next year.”

But that doesn’t mean commuters need to wait until next year to join a new social network…rideshare. VCTC’s Commuter Services team has valuable resources available online at www.GoVenturaRideshare.org, including free customized eRideGuides with personalized transportation information. VCTC staff will continue to spread the word about this no-cost employee benefit by hosting on-site events or participating in wellness/benefits fairs and celebrations like Earth Day at worksites throughout Ventura County.

To learn more about ridesharing, the VCTC Commuter Services program, Guaranteed Ride Home program, employer support, and more, visit www.GoVenturaRideshare.org or call (800) 438-1112. Make sure to visit Facebook (GoVentura and TheAirZone) and Twitter (@GoVentura and @VCAPCD) for updates from VCTC and VCAPCD.