LOS ANGELES, CA – More low-income Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) customers are eligible to save 20 percent on their monthly natural gas bill and receive no-cost energy efficient home improvements as a result of updated income guidelines for the state-sponsored California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Energy Savings Assistance Program.

“SoCalGas is committed to enrolling as many eligible customers as possible into our assistance programs,” said Rodger Schwecke, vice president of customer solutions for SoCalGas. “Together with our community partners, we engage in continuous outreach to help ensure our customers know about the many assistance programs available to help them in difficult economic times.”

The CARE program provides a 20-percent rate discount on the monthly natural gas bill for eligible households. Those who qualify and are approved within 90 days of starting new gas service will also receive a $15 discount on the Service Establishment Charge.

The Energy Savings Assistance CONTINUED »

United Water Conservation District is seeking candidates for appointment to an opening on its Board of Directors representing its Division 7. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a qualified elector and reside within Division 2, which encompasses the following area:

Immediately west of the City of Santa Paula, and extends south across the west Las Posas Valley to approximately Hwy. 101 at Central Ave., and includes the communities of Saticoy, Nyeland Acres, Strickland, El Rio, and RiverPark. South of Hwy. 101, Division 2 includes the college tracts east of the intersection of Oxnard Blvd. and Vineyard Ave., and the Wagon Wheel area. From Wagon Wheel the boundary extends northeast along the Santa Clara River to the vicinity of S. Petit Ave, then trends north to include the eastern portion of the City of Ventura. From S. Petit an irregular boundary extends north to Telephone Rd., west to Kimball Rd, north to Hwy 126, then north along Harmon Barranca to the District boundary located north of Foothill Rd. A copy of the map for Division 2 is available at the United Water Conservation District office in Santa Paula.

United Water Conservation District is a California special district organized and operating pursuant to the California Water Conservation Act of 1931, and it has as its mission to manage, protect, conserve and enhance the water resources of the Santa Clara River, its tributaries and associated aquifers in the most cost effective and environmentally balanced manner. A seven person board governs the District. Each director is elected from one of the seven divisions of the District. It is the intent of the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy by appointment at its regular Board meeting on July 10, 2013, and the appointment will be effective on July 10, 2013.

Persons interested in appointment as the Director from Division 2 should submit a written expression of interest and/or resume of their experience and qualifications to the District, c/o Mike Solomon, District General Manager, at the District’s offices located at 106 No. 8th Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060 on or before June 28, 2013. A Board Committee will review letters and/or resumes, interview candidates, and make a recommendation for appointment of an individual to the full Board of Directors. Appointment will be made at the Board’s regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at the District’s offices in Santa Paula. For more information please contact Mike Solomon or Mary Kanatzar at 525-4431.

Southern California – Optimism has arrived in Fillmore and residents wishing to help improve the lives of youth are invited to attend an informational meeting about a new Optimist Club at Noon on Tuesday at The Chevy Dealer Café on Ventura St..

Community leaders and service-minded individuals will be on hand at the meeting to talk about the future club and to gather ideas about how the club can improve the local community and how volunteers can get involved.

Optimist Clubs throughout the world conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. Members of Optimist Clubs strive to maintain an upbeat attitude and help empower young people to be the best they can be. Each Optimist Club determines the best way it can serve children in the local community and develops service projects to suit those needs.

“Our children are the future of this community, and it’s up to us to make sure they have the tools they need to be good citizens with a promising future,” said long-time Optimist John Romano. “A local Optimist Club can do just that, but we need volunteers to help determine the biggest areas of need and to help put our plans into action.”

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 93,000 adult and youth members in 3,200 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call (314) 371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.

For more information about the informational meeting, please call Norb Moniz at 661-678-3637 or Dr. T G Thomas at 661-205-5525.

Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will hold the following Joint Replacement Class to prepare you for total knee or hip replacement surgery. Home preparation, exercises and rehabilitation information will be discussed. Open to the public and free of charge, the class will be held:

July 11 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, Rm 109, 1996 Eastman Ave, Ventura, RSVP Diana Davis @ 642-0239 x 739

July 10th, from 10:00 – 11:00 am @ Pleasant Valley Hospital, 3rd floor Classroom, 2309 Antonio Avenue, Camarillo, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

July 10, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, 401 E Rolling Oaks Drive, Thousand Oaks, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

July 17, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm @ Sunrise Senior Living, Activity Room, 190 Tierra Rejada Road, Simi Valley, RSVP Barrie Gilster @ 797-7699

Larry Wade

Longtime Minnetonka resident and former Hopkins teacher Larry Wade recently published his first book, “Nature Seeker Workbook: Connecting to the Wilds of Your Neighborhood” geared to children grades 2-5. Wade believes children need to spend more time outdoors and in nature to become better stewards of the environment when they become adults.

Former Gatewood Elementary sixth-grade teacher and Hopkins School District Naturalist Larry Wade sees a growing trend in fewer kids being outside and enjoying nature.

Instead of bemoaning this development, he has attempted to help kids reconnect with the great outdoors by penning his first book, “Nature Seeker Workbook: Connecting to the Wilds of Your Neighborhood,” that includes hundreds of illustrations by Jeannette Dickinson and Amelia Ladd.

Wade, a Minnetonka resident for 30 years, volunteers for the city and skis on Minnehaha Creek during the winter.

“Not now, obviously,” he said, pointing to the thinning ice of the creek. “Anything outside is good for me.”

On April 10, Wade sat down with the Sun Sailor to discuss his new book and how the next generation of children can connect with the environment.

Q: What factors lead you to write this book?
A: I lived in southern California, and I grew up in a canyon called Sespe Creek (in Ventura County north of Los Angeles) and basically was outside 24/7. It was an incredible place to live. And, working with children over the years, I’ve seen their connection to the Earth change and now … the kinds of things I did as a kid, children rarely do.

We didn’t even have a television. That’s CONTINUED »

The 2013 Ventura County Fair invites participants for this year's Ventura County Fair Parade. This year's parade is themed "Boots, Barns & Banjos", and takes place on Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am in Downtown Ventura.

Divisions for this year's entries are:
Color Guards
Bands
Equestrian
Floats
Antique Automobile (over 50 years old)
Classic Automobile (under 50 years old)
Miscellaneous

Deadline for entries is July 13th. For a complete list of guidelines or to apply, visit the Ventura County Fair's website at www.venturacountyfair.org.

WHO: Ventura County organizations (Youth or Adult), Color Guards, Bands, Equestrian groups, antique or classic automobile owners (individuals or clubs), Ventura County businesses

WHAT: The 2013 Ventura County Fair Parade

WHEN: Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 am

WHERE: Downtown Ventura

WHY: To showcase your organization and to be a part of the 138th Ventura County Fair!

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - From June 22- 30, license ambassadors from Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) will go door-to-door in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County to check that pet owners are up-to-date with their current State of California animal licensing requirements.

VCAS license ambassadors will verify the status of pet licenses, sell and renew licenses at the door and distribute dog spay/neuter vouchers that reduce the cost of pet sterilization.

To help prevent the spread of rabies, the State of California requires all pet owners to vaccinate against rabies and purchase a license within 30 days of acquiring a new dog, or with a puppy, after it is four months of age. A rabies certificate is valid for a minimum of 12 months and is required to receive an actual license tag.

The fees for purchasing a Ventura County animal license are $20.00 for spayed/neutered animals (with proof of sterility) or $75.00 for unaltered animals. A 100% penalty applies to all delinquent licenses.

For more information on licensing and/or low-cost rabies clinics, call: (805) 388-4341 or go to: www.vcas.us.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, the employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Thursday, July 4. As a result, Fillmore residential customers will have their trash and recyclables collected on Saturday, July 6, one day later than usual.

The regular schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Ventura, CA - Lymphedema – the abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid in a body part resulting in swelling – will be the focus of a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, June 25.

Claudia Steele-Major, a 25-year-practiced licensed physical therapist in acute care/rehabilitation and outpatient therapy, 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 at 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

Steele-Major will cover risk reduction strategies and current treatment for lymphedema and how early diagnosis and treatment can help to manage this often unrecognized condition. Persons who have had cancer surgery with lymph node removal and/or radiation therapy are at risk to develop lymphedema.

Steele-Major, who graduated from the School of Physiotherapy in Erlangen, Germany, is certified by the Lymphology Association of North America. She established the Lymphedema and Oncology Rehabilitation program and is a Lymphedema Therapist at the CMH Cancer Resource Center.

Space is limited to this free event and reservation are required. Call 805-652-5436, or visit www.cmhhealth.org/rsvp.

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

Nicholas Hastings and Amanda Vassaur.
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The Fillmore Women's service Club is pleased to announce the receipents of the FWSC Educational Scholarships and the Community Scholarships. At a luncheon for the students and parents held at the Movie Train Cafe on May 29th, the students were presented a certificate notifying them of their award. Also present was Isela Larin, College and Career Center, Karen Ashim and DenaWyland High School Counselors, and members of the FWSC.

Two Community Scholarships were presented, Nicholas Hastings and Amanda Vassaur each received $500.00

Nineteen Education Scholarship were awarded. Marlene Carvajal, Vincent Chavez, Yanelle Diaz, Margaret Carrillo, Collin Farrar, Karla Flores, Javier Guerrero, Desirae Perez, Hailee Smith, Kennedy Smith, Beatriz Tovar, Hugo Valdovinos, Vanessa Villagomez and Maria Villalobos each recevied $1,00.00.

Raquel Alcantar, Billy Gabriel, Kaylee Hinklin, Jessica Reyes, Armando Vidal were presented with $300.00 scholarships each.

This was an exceptional Class and the Fillmore Women's Service club is proud to have been able to award so many scholarships to help our graduates achieve their dreams and aspriations.

Fillmore Chamber of Commerce Mixer: June 27th, 5:30-7pm. Hosted by Chivas Skin Care. Come explore the beautiful Chivas Skin Care goat farm located at 2220 Bardsdale Avenue, Fillmore. There will be appetizers and a no host bar. Chamber Members; don't forget to bring a door prize to promote your business! For more information call Chamber office at 805-525-0351 or Chivas directly at 805-524-3134.

Hey Kids & Teens! Hungry to read? June 2--August 31, bring your reading appetite to Ventura County Libraries and join the Summer Reading Program. Earn prizes for every 5 hours that you read (or are read to) and enter into an end-of-summer drawing for a Nook HD. For more information about this tasty program or to print more reading logs, visit www.vencolibrary.org.

The Fillmore Women’s Service Club at their May meeting held an installation luncheon to welcome a new board for 2013-2014. This year they installed Jeanne Klittich as President. First Vice President is Mimi Burns, Second Vice Presidents are Valerie Richards and Rita Avila, Third Vice President is Shelly Johnson, Fourth Vice Presidents are Susan Banks and Valerie Richards, Recording Secretary is Glenda DeJarnette, Corresponding Secretary is Carole Rivera, and Parliamentarian is Michele Smith.

Members met at the Movie Train Café for a group luncheon. This past year they have had a very busy time, raising scholarship money, working on the new Facebook page, and setting up their new Web page: www. fillmorewomensserviceclub.com.

The Fillmore Women’s Service Club’s main objectives are to support the City of Fillmore’s youth and community. This year the club awarded 19 educational scholarships, 2 community scholarships and 3 adult scholarships. It was a very exciting year.

The club’s ability to give these scholarships comes mainly from the proceeds generated from the sale of 4th of July Fireworks. Fillmore Women’s Service Club’s fireworks booth will be located in the vacant lot west of “C” street and Hwy 126 (Ventura St.). Please look for the club’s sign and stop by to support Fillmore Women’s Service Club and to provide scholarships for Fillmore graduates. The club members volunteer their time in the fireworks booth and count on community support to raise the scholarship money.

Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will hold Diabetes Classes to introduce basic information regarding diet, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, new developments and common problems. Open to the public and free of charge, no registration is necessary. Call 805-642-0239 for information. The classes are held:

· In Ventura, July 2nd @ Livingston VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, #109, from 1:00 – 2:30 pm.

· In Camarillo, July 3 @ Camarillo Community Center, Room 3, 1605 Burnley Street, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm

· In Simi Valley, July 3 @ Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon

· In Thousand Oaks, July 24 @ Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Rd, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm

UC Merced Chancellor, Dorothy Wilson Leland, Fillmore High Class of 1966.

This will be our last reminder for the big day we have worked so hard on all year. Join us for the 100th Alumni dinner celebration June 15th, 2013 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building. Better hurry, we have close to 500 reservations already and the fun is just beginning. The deadline for reservations is June the 10th, 2013. You can call the Alumni office @ 805-524-0416 and we can mail you a reservation form or you can go on line to www.fillmorehighalumni.com and print a form or drop by Patterson Hardware and pick up a form.

Our guest speaker this year is Chancellor Dorothy Wilson Leland class of 1966. Chancellor Leland earned a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s in American Studies and a doctorate in Philosophy from Purdue University which awarded her its Distinguished Alumna award. We are honored and proud to have her with us, back in Fillmore where she began her education.

Social time starts at 3:00pm with visits on the patio area and our parade of class pictures hanging in the building. Dinner will start at 6:00pm with a few words from our board and then it’s time for the delicious dinner prepared by DJ’s California Catering. After dinner we will make a presentation to our Scholarship Foundation recipients. There will be plenty to see and reminisce about throughout the evening. There are several classes having their reunion at the dinner and the fun doesn’t stop after dinner. There will more visiting in the patio area and a DJ for those who wish to dance the rest of the evening away.

Fillmore High School History
The first meeting of the newly-formed Fillmore High School District Board of Education was held June 28th, 1909. The county superintendent of schools presided at the meeting which elected George N. King, president, and Fergus L. Fairbanks, clerk with R.A. Holly, Hugh Warring and F.A. Case making up the rest of the board. The first classes of the new School were held in the basement of the Presbyterian Church while a building was being erected on land purchased by Mrs. Hattie King. This structure (located on Second Street across from the Ebell Club was erected in 1909 and used as a temporary school. Meantime, on September 11, 1909, the people of this district voted a bond issue of four thousand dollars to raise funds for purchasing the site, erecting the buildings and providing the furnishings. The board then purchased the land and chose a design for a new permanent school building. This, the first Science Building completed in 1911 on the present site, was considered one of the most beautiful in the State. Regular high school instruction commenced with twelve students on September 13, 1909, with three more enrolling the following week. It was not until 1911 that the first class was graduated with our students receiving diplomas.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee, was pleased to present a certificate of appreciation to Michelle Patterson of Patterson Hardware for their support of our down town planter refurbishing project with the sponsorship of two pots near the store entrance.

This hardware store has been a mainstay in Fillmore since the early 1900’s. Fillmore was founded in 1888 and Michelle’s grandfather, Harvey Solomon Patterson, “Pat”, was already working there in 1919. The store was named, Hickey Brother’s Hardware at that time.

In the 1930’s, Harvey S. purchased the store from the Hickey family. Then in the 1950’s, Michelle’s father, Harvey Foster Patterson purchased the store from his father and established the motto of “House of Services”, to express their ideal for serving their customers.

Michelle manages the store for her mother, Emma, the current owner. When asked why they wanted to participate in this project, Michelle said they “wanted to help beautify the community.”

The store has a historical plaque mounted on the front of the building that tells more of its history and the interior has many historical farm implements displayed around the ceiling. Visit this traditional hardware store and experience small town service at its best.

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A message from Detective Ray Dominguez:

Greetings Farm Watch readers, recent activity indicates that avocado thefts are on the rise and thefts have been reported in the Somis, Fillmore, and Piru areas. The majority of the reported thefts are small in quantity, but can add up quickly if not reported in a timely manner and fruit is left on the trees for an extended period of time. If you discover a theft has occurred, please contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 654-9511 or 911 in an emergency, and keep people out of the area to avoid contaminating the crime scene.

Another emerging trend is the theft of “trap wagons” or portable refueling trailers. Two trailers of this type have been reported stolen within the last couple of weeks from the unincorporated areas of Camarillo/Oxnard. No suspect(s) have been identified in either case, but Detective Robert Arthur of the Camarillo Station is working on it and would be pleased to hear from you with any information you can provide. One of the trailers stolen is similar to the one depicted in the attachment below. Based on information provided by Detective Arthur, it appears the same suspect(s) are responsible for stealing both trailers, and it is likely the trailers were taken because of the red dye diesel the storage tanks contained.

I’m also pleased to announce that Senior Deputy Steve Buckley of the Sheriff’s Santa Clara Valley Station is working closely with Rosie Castillo of the Limoneira Company on forming a neighborhood watch program. They are in the early stages of developing the program, but are extending an invitation to neighboring farms, ranches, homes, and other businesses in the area of 1141 Cummings Road in Santa Paula. If you’re interested in joining the program, please contact Rosie at (805) 525-5541 Ext. 238 or by email at rcastillo@limoneira.com.

Last but not least, kudos to Deputy Nora Sanchez of the Camarillo Station forlocating and arresting a cucumber thief this past week. As it turned out, the crook found himself in a bit of a "pickle" when confronted by Deputy Sanchez as she got the crook to confess to multiple thefts from the farm! Great job Nora!

The following advice is always wise if you suspect illegal activity on your property:

· Call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 911.

· Be a good witness

· Note suspect descriptions such as age, height, weight, facial hair, clothing, and shoe type.

· If a vehicle is involved, obtain a license plate number and note vehicle color, body damage, bumper stickers, camper shell, after market tires and wheels, etc.

· Provide the dispatcher with information about the time and last known direction of travel.

If you are not sure of how to address a problem or would like additional crime prevention tips please contact your local Sheriff’s Office substation or me directly at (805) 384-4726 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org.

Contacts:

Camarillo Detective Robert Arthur, robert.arthur@ventura.org

Fillmore Detective John Fox john.fox@ventura.org

Ventura Detective Dennis Smith dennis.smith@ventura.org

Agricultural Crimes Detective, Ray Dominguez ray.dominguez@ventura.org

As always, I would like to thank Sheriff’s Crime Analyst Karen Brown for this issue’s great crime and alert update.

Be alert and stay safe!

Ray

Geoff Dean - Sheriff

John Crombach and Gary Pentis - Assistant Sheriffs