Camarillo, CA – Residents of Ventura County donated thousands of dollars in school supplies including backpacks for local students from low income families, making Assemblyman Jeff Gorell’s (R-Camarillo) “Stuff the Bus” grass-roots effort a resounding success.

“Today’s students are the future of Ventura County, and ensuring that our students are prepared for the coming school year makes us all stronger,” said Gorell. “I’m really proud of the charitable response we have received from the community, and I’m glad that I am able to bring this effort to my district.”

Staff and volunteers from Hueneme Elementary School District, the Oxnard Union High School District, Community Action Partnership of Ventura County, Big Lots and a host of others stuffed a school bus with boxes of school supplies, and the supplies were driven back to the school for sorting and distribution by school administrators.

“We strive to help our students reach their highest potential. Our kids are not always equipped with the supplies they need to make this happen. This effort will help our kids immensely,” stated Hueneme Elementary School District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Dannenberg. “I’d like to thank Assemblyman Gorell for organizing this effort as well as everyone who contributed to make it a success.”

“Stuff the Bus”, a grass-roots effort presented by Assemblyman Gorell, ran for two weeks and culminated in a final day effort collecting donations of school supplies to deliver to students from families who might otherwise not be able to prepare their kids for the new semester. The last day effort at the Big Lots store in Camarillo, one of the locations where supplies were collected, brought together a coalition of businesses and community leaders, including Community Action Partnership, who fueled the success of “Stuff the Bus” by donating their time and resources to the effort.

Major supporters of the Stuff the Bus effort included:

• International Paper donated $500 ($250 to each school district)
• AT&T Pioneers (in-kind contribution of 50 backpacks)
• Big Lots (in-kind)
• Community Action Partnership (in-kind)

Ventura, CA - Community Memorial Health System is sponsoring a free live simulcast of “TEDMED Live,” an annual conference focusing on health and medicine originating from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 11.

TEDMED Live will be held in two sessions from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street in Ventura. The intent of the conference has been described as “a gathering of geniuses” that brings together some of the most innovative, thoughtful pioneers of healthcare technology, media, and entertainment to learn from one another and mix people up from different disciplines and industries to solve big problems in healthcare.

Session 9:45 to 11:15 a.m.: “Don't You Dare Talk About This.” This session will raise controversial issues in health and medicine that many people are reluctant to discuss publicly. Speakers include Sigrid Fry-Revere, organ donation ethicist; Patricia Horoho, Army surgeon general; Elizabeth Kenny, patient performer; Carl Hart, drug data dealer; Amy Baxter, pain deflector; Leana Wen, transparent physician; and Heather Raffo, global witness/artistic healer

Session 1:30 to 3:05 pm: “Play Is Not a Waste of Time.” This session reveals the many ways that imagination rewards us, specifically how health and medicine are enhanced through the extraordinary power of play. Speakers include Gerardo Contino, Cuban musician; Kayt Sukel, edgy science writer; Rupa & The April Fishes, rock star hospitalist/rebel musician; Carla Pugh, haptic educator; Jill Vialet, recess champion; Cole Galloway, pediatric motor learning scientist and designer; and Howard Rose, health games designer.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to register visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call 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 twelve family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

Join our vibrant art community by expressing yourself in the new sketchbook check-out program at E.P. Foster library. We have archival quality sketchbooks that check-out for three weeks, giving customers ample time to create wonderful sketches, poetry or other forms of 2 dimensional art.

The goal of this program is to create a personal and public museum of Ventura County residents art. All skill levels are welcome to participate in this creative community endeavor.

In addition to our sketchbooks we check-out DVDs, books, magazines, e-books, and of course, ukuleles. We have free parking, free WIFI and desktop computers to use for one hour per day. Amazing things happen when you have a library card!

The Ventura County Library is available 24/7 at www.vencolibrary.org.

CAMARILLO, CA - The Ventura County Community Foundation is accepting proposals to support behavioral health programs in Ventura County through a primary prevention approach aimed at reducing the number of people who need services.

The VCCF Health Fund will award a minimum of $80,000 to support local programs using at least one of three primary prevention strategies. These strategies focus on: 1) enhancing places where people live, work, attend school, seek recreation, to name a few; 2) connecting people to strengthen positive social-emotional development; and 3) fostering prosperity to enhance opportunities for self-sufficiency.

The application deadline is 3 p.m. Sept. 22, 2014. Proposals must be received in the VCCF offices by the deadline. Those that are postmarked the day of, faxed or arrive late will not be accepted.

Submit completed proposals to Ventura County Community Foundation, Attn: Linda Garcia, vice president, Philanthropic Services, VCCF Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Suite A, Camarillo, CA 93012.

A staff member from organizations that plan to apply are strongly urged to attend an applicant information session from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 22, at the VCCF Nonprofit Center, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo. To attend, please RSVP to Natalie Kamajian at 805.330.6673 or nkamajian@vccf.org. Bring a copy of the RFP, available at vccf.org/grants/index.shtml, to this session.

For more information, visit vccf.org/grants/index.shtml or contact Linda Garcia at lgarcia@vccf.org or 805.330.6678.

In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 1. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, Sept. 6, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

The Moorpark Beer Festival Committee announces that the 5th Annual Moorpark Beer Festival will take place on Saturday, October 11 at Moorpark College. The community fundraiser is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning. Presale tickets are on sale at www.MoorparkBeerFestival.com and are offered at a 20% discount before October 4th. VIP tickets are $80 and General Admission are $40. Designated Driver tickets are offered for $20.

Dylan Gunning, Chairman of the Moorpark Beer Festival, had the following remarks: “This year will be the best Moorpark Beer Festival yet. We are excited to be back at Moorpark College and have many breweries returning to serve their beer.”

Entering it’s 5th year, the Moorpark Beer Festival has become a staple in the Eastern Ventura County community calendar. The event raises money for local nonprofit organizations. Last year, the Moorpark Rotary Club Foundation donated $20,000 in festival profits to 20 community organizations and schools.

For more information about the Moorpark Beer Festival, visit www.MoorparkBeerFestival.com.

Piru, CA - Due to ongoing severe drought, United Water Conservation District will not be offering whitewater boating on Lower Piru Creek in 2014. In normal years, the District releases water from Lake Piru for several weeks in September and October in order to recharge downstream groundwater basins. Due to the very low levels of water stored in Lake Piru this year, the District will not conduct a fall release and rafting and kayaking on Lower Piru Creek will not be available in 2014. For more information on future whitewater boating opportunities, please contact Lake Piru Recreation Area Senior Park Services Officer Clayton Strahan at 805-317-8990 or claytons@unitedwater.org

Location: Diamond Realty Of Fillmore, Corner Of Central Avenue And Santa Clara In Fillmore
Date: Friday, August 15, 2014 At 5pm-7pm

The Artists Guild of Fillmore is celebrating the 100th Birthday of our city in artistic style with an exhibit of original, one of a kind post card size works of art. The art harks back to the time before facebook, twitter, email and other modern day forms of communication, and speaks to the time when a brief note was placed on a small , 4" x 6" decorated card and was mailed to friends and family far and wide!!. .

These small, ready to frame works of art are available for sale and are a perfect way to begin or add to a collection of art by local artists. The art is presented anonymously, so the buyer finds out the artist's name after purchase!!! The concept is patterned after similar gallery exhibits , especially the annual event at the Royal Academy of Art in London, England.

Participating artists are Judy Dressler, Karen Scott Browdy, Lady Jan Faulkner, Lois Freeman Fox, Joanne King, Wana Klasen, Virginia Neuman,, Doris Nichols, Luanne Hebner Perez and Lia Verkade. Along with Theresa and Henry Robledo of Diamond Realty we invite you to join us for this festive, artistic celebration of Fillmore's 100th Birthday! We hope to see you at the Reception!!!!

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October 26, 2014
12:00 noon- 4:00 pm
370 Baldwin Rd., Ojai CA 93023

Ojai Raptor Center, (ORC) a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of birds of prey and other wildlife, and to providing educational programs to teach communities about wildlife and our shared environment.

The Center is closed the public year-round due to the sensitive nature of wildlife in rehabilitation, but on Sunday, October 26th, ORC will open its doors to the public for a rare opportunity to meet all 18 of our non-releasable “ambassador” raptors.

Hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls will be on hand to greet guests with concurrent presentations on the ORC stage along with special guest Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, Chumash elder, who will be sharing native stories about our local wildlife throughout the afternoon. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase as well as activities for children, auctions, and raffles.

Ojai Raptor Center Open House will be a free event with a suggested donation of five dollars. Handicapped parking will be available. Overflow parking will be located one street down from the Center where Pegasus shuttles will be running every 10 minutes.

Pictured is Capt. Al Huerta, Fire Chief Rigo Landeros, EMS Chief/AMR Bob Scott, Firefighter/AMR Ken Harris, Capt. Billy Gabriel and Firefighter Jason Arroyo. Not pictured is Lou Farah Sr. and Michael Lechnar.
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On July 4th, 7:00am Fillmore Fire Department responded to a person not breathing on the 800 block of Hinckley Dr. Upon arrival we found Darlene Wallace not breathing and no pulse. Fillmore Fire Department and AMR personnel began CPR and defibrillated her twice. After 15 min. of CPR Mrs. Wallace regained her heart beat. She was transported by AMR Ambulance to CMH Hospital. Mrs. Wallace was discharged is doing well and expecting a full recovery. I am very proud of our Fillmore Fire Department for their quick response and great training that made a difference and saved a person’s life. Hat’s off to the Fillmore Fire Department and AMR Ambulance for a job well done.

Frank and Elaine Dunst

Mass for both Frank and Elaine Dunst will be on Thursday, August 14, at 10 A.M., Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 10800 Henderson Dr., Saticoy, CA.

A reception in Biedermann Hall at Sacred Heart Church will immediately follow the Mass.

The Month of August

Here is a list of upcoming events happening at the pool.

August 16, 2014 Safety Night- We will have Fillmore’s Finest here at the pool. The Fillmore Fire Department and The Fillmore Sheriff/Police Department will be on hand. 5-7 pm

August 29, 2014 Hot August Nights- Lets all get together to celebrate the end of summer. We will have music and other fun events. The evening is only $1 for all those attend. 5-10pm

We will still have 1 more afternoon session of swim lessons starting August 11- August 22 from 4:30, 5, and 5:30 p.m. only $50.00 for 2 weeks.

List of hours for the Month of August
Lap Swim A.M. session-Monday-Saturday 6:00 am to 8:00 am.
Lap Swim P.M. session-Monday- Thursday 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Pools Last Day is AUGUST 30! Come say goodbye to the Summer!

Camarillo, CA — Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Ventura County presents the 2nd Annual CASABlanca Pop-Up Dining Event, to be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 2 p.m. on the Ventura Harbor Village main lawn.

Hailed as the only event of its kind in Ventura County, over 500 Ventura County community members are expected to “pop-up” to raise awareness and funds to benefit CASA of Ventura County.

This year’s Pop-Up dining theme is “A Magical Dining Experience by the Sea.” Guests are encouraged to bring their own elegant table “scapes” and place settings, with prizes going to the most creative table decorations and best dressed. Guests may bring their own inspired meal and libations of choice, or pre-order dinners from participating Harbor restaurants.

“Our goal is to make people aware that each child in the foster care system deserves to have his or her own Advocate,” explained Teresa Romney, Chair of the Board of CASA of Ventura County. “The Advocate is the one constant adult presence in the child’s life who will stay with the child until she can be returned to a safe, permanent home.”

Last year 150 Advocates helped 200 of Ventura County’s neediest children, but there are still 1,000 others who need an Advocate. The purpose of CASABlanca is to raise awareness and funds to support the program.

Last year’s event raised nearly $25,000 for CASA of Ventura County. CASA is a not- for-profit organization which recruits, screens and trains community volunteers who become court-appointed advocates for a foster child. For every $1,600 that CASA raises, one child could be provided with a trained advocate to help her through what can be a frightening and confusing time.

For more information about the 2nd Annual CASABlanca Pop-Up Dining Event and for information about CASA of Ventura County, go to www.casaofventuracounty.org or call Pam Knitowski at (805) 389-3120.

The Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau meets every other month and welcomes the general public to attend. Their goal is to promote tourism throughout the Valley by working together with its Members, the California Welcome Centers, and other Tourism based offices throughout the County and region. If you are interested in becoming a member or would like to participate feel free to give them a call at 805-524-7500 or go to the Chamber’s Facebook.

Do you belong to a group that invites speakers to its meetings? The Ventura County Grand Jury conducts an ongoing speakers’ bureau and outreach program. Service organizations, teachers, librarians, and community groups are invited to request a presentation by current grand jurors.

The grand jury does not pursue criminal cases or give evidence in courtrooms. The grand jury truly embodies democracy in action. This all-volunteer “public watchdog” group serves as an independent agent of the public to investigate complaints from the public, write reports and make recommendations about all components of local government such as city councils, school districts, libraries, jails, hospitals, harbors and water districts. It investigates everything from alleged violations of city and county codes to disaster preparedness in schools and contracting procedures of ports, taking an in-depth, unbiased look at the policies, processes, and practices of the department or agency in question. The reports of grand jury findings and recommendations as well as required responses going back to 1995 are posted on its website, http://grandjury.countyofventura.org, along with a simple, one-page complaint form.

To learn more or schedule a date for a presentation, please call the Grand Jury at (805) 477-1600.

The 2014 Ventura County Fair, “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” runs from July 30st through August 10th at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. As always, the fair will feature exciting entertainment and activities for all ages. Concerts, interesting exhibits, farm animals, wild carnival rides and delicious fair food are on tap for summertime family fun.

Fairgoers will enjoy new exciting events and attractions, including Cub Country with rides for children under 36”, a Ten-in-One Carnival Sideshow with old fashioned wonders of the world, “Deep Fried-Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers” in the Food Court, A Slider-Eating Contest in Kelly Court, The Bounty of the County Peoples’ Choice: Beer Contest and the Ventura County Fair Agricultural Scholarship Contest. Come on down to the fair and check out these new attractions, as well as your returning fair favorites!

This year’s Grandstand entertainment features The Beach Boys, Little Big Town, The Spinners, Larry Hernandez, Carmen Jara, Mariachi Aguilas de Mexico, Tony Orlando, Deep Purple, Seether, Jake Owen and Creedence Clearwater Revisited. All concerts are FREE with paid fair admission. In addition, Motorsports and the PRCA Rodeo are back by popular demand for the 2014 Fair! Motorsports with the Demolition Derby will take place on Wednesday, July 30, and has an admission cost of $5. Don’t miss the free Rodeos on Saturday, August 9th and Sunday, August 10th with shows at 2 PM and 7 PM.

The Ventura County Fair is home to a wide variety of exhibits. Whether you’re enjoying the slicers and dicers in the Commercial Exhibit building, sampling cooking creations in the Home Arts building or educating yourself on the county’s natural resources in the Agriculture building, the fair’s exhibits feature something for everyone. While you’re here, visit the various exhibits and learn about all that Ventura County has to offer.

Throughout the fair various horse shows will be presented in the Morgan Arena. These shows include the Friesian Horse Show, the Draft & Carriage Show and the two-day Open Horse Show with English classes. On Friday, August 8, Cattle Sorting and Team Roping will take place. Don’t miss these exciting Horse Shows, running throughout the duration of the fair.

Check out the farm animals in the livestock area! Chickens, rabbits, sheep and goats are just a few of the animals that will be displayed. These animals have been raised by county residents, and are showcased for all to see.

The Junior Livestock Auction, on Friday, August 8th, is an authentic livestock auction. You will feel the excitement of a good old country fair at this culmination of the 4-H, FFA and Grange youth livestock projects.

Thrilling rides in the Carnival Midway include the Carousel, the Wave Swinger and, of course, the famous Ferris Wheel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Ride enthusiasts will want to take advantage of the “Pay One Price” Carnival Wristband Days: July 31st, August 4th, 5th and 7 th. On these days, fair visitors can purchase a $25 wristband until 6 PM to ride unlimited rides until 7 PM.

The nightly fireworks extravaganza is the fair’s gift to the community! The dazzling show lights up the sky over the ocean at the end of the day.

For more information, visit the Ventura County Fairgrounds website at www.venturacountyfair.org, or call (805) 648-3376.

Ventura, CA - The Ventura County Transportation Commission awarded a nine-year contract to Camarillo-based Roadrunner Management Services for the operation of its popular inter-city bus service. The proposed contract award received unanimous approval at the Commission’s July 25, 2014 meeting.

The Commission received sealed bids from four vendors in response to a Request for Proposals released in early May 2014. Ultimately, three vendors were invited to participate in interviews conducted by representatives from various VCTC-member communities as well as senior managers for local and neighboring public transportation agencies.

Based on the proposals submitted, oral interviews, and subsequent deliberations, the six-member evaluation panel recommended VCTC initiate contract negotiations with Roadrunner Management Services.

“Selection of Roadrunner represents the ‘best value’ to the Commission, taxpayers, and transit riders alike,” noted Darren Kettle, VCTC’s Executive Director. “Roadrunner has demonstrated its ability to provide quality, safe inter-city transit service across the past two years. It has recruited and retained quality personnel and mobilized a supporting fleet (following the cessation of service by VCTC’s prior transit operations contractor).”

Celebrating its twentieth year of operation, VCTC Intercity Bus (formerly VISTA) provides frequent service along six routes throughout Ventura County as well as to Warner Center in Los Angeles County and neighboring Santa Barbara County. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, nearly 825,000 rides were provided.

For VCTC Intercity Bus service information, call (800) 438-1112 or visit www.goventura.org.