On Saturday, June 6, 2009, Ventura County’s Friday Night Live Youth Advisory Council will hold a press conference to reveal and highlight their year-long efforts in the “Numbers Don’t Lie” underage and binge-drinking media campaign.

The Council, which consists of Ventura County youth from Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, has created this poster-advertisement campaign in an effort to create youth, adult, and community awareness about the often-overlooked dangers associated with alcohol and underage binge-drinking.

This press conference will be held on the evening of Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Plaza Park in Oxnard (the corner of 5th Street and B Street). Members of the press and public are invited to attend.

Memories to Memoirs Workshop- June 13
Learn how to write effectively about your life experiences and preserve them for the future, when Libby Atwater, professional personal historian, conducts a Saturday, June 13 workshop entitled Memories to Memoirs. The workshop is from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Museum of Ventura County. Cost is $10 for the general public and free to Museum of Ventura County members. Space is limited; RSVP to 653-0323 x 10.

Artists’ Books: Personal Visions - Free Panel Discussion– June 20
Not all stories are told with words and not all books have pages. Artists Donna Barna, Inés Monguió, and Luis Pérez share their hand-made art books and discuss this expanding art form in a free panel discussion on Saturday, June 20, at 2:00 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County. For reservations, please call 805-653-0323 x 10.

The museum is at 89 South California Street, Ventura. Open Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, except for some events. (805) 653-0323 or go to http://www.venturamuseum.org.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County has announced a Request for Proposals. A total of $50,000 will be available in the Fund’s third annual grants program.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County seeks to strengthen social justice in Ventura County by providing financial grants and other support to grassroots efforts that address root causes of injustice and remove structural and institutional barriers to social, economic and environmental equity.

Grant proposals in any amount up to $10,000 will be considered. The Social Justice Fund’s Giving Circle expects to make a number of small grants (under $3,000) and a few larger grants. Proposals are due by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2009.

Grants this year will focus exclusively on community organizing towards systemic social change in Ventura County. SJF defines “community organizing toward systemic change” as a values-based process by which people absent from decision-making tables come together to jointly bring about positive community-level social change. The Giving Circle seeks proposals that include elements of best and promising community organizing strategies: leadership development, advocacy, and transformational learning. CONTINUED »

The 25th Annual Ojai Peddler's Fair is being held from 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday, June 20 & 21, 2009. Located in the Chaparral Auditorium at 414 E. Ojai Ave., in downtown Ojai CA. Parking is free in the adjacent Municipal parking lot, and admission is always free.

Held rain or shine, the Peddler's Fair is chock-full of quality antiques, collectibles, handcrafts and international crafts.

This is a benefit for the Mira Monte PTO.

Vendors are sought.

For more information, please contact Pat at 805-964-8915.

Bill Shiells, Rotary President, recognizes Dave Wareham for his generous donation to Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund.
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The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International recognized Dave Wareham for becoming a Foundation benefactor. The funds in the Foundation are used for humanitarian and educational programs around the world.
The 4-Way Test Essay winners and their parents were honored during the Thursday meeting. Each participant read her essay to the Club.

Recently, Elizabeth Wareham and Franiska Scheifler presented a program on their experiences at RYLA. The Rotary Youth Leadership camp was held in Ojai in April. They enjoyed meeting new people and listening to enthusiastic speakers.

Fillmore artist Lois Freeman-Fox is pleased to announce her upcoming Paintings and Drawings show from May 26th through June 20th at the Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Gallery. The opening reception is May 30 from 4:00 to 7:00pm.
Freeman-Fox, an Emmy-award winning film editor, was one of the first in that industry to edit films digitally. Her approach to her art has been no less innovative.
“Historically, artists traditionally incorporate the latest technological advances or ideas into their artwork,” says Freeman-Fox. “The Renaissance introduced Perspective. Paint being available in tubes made art created by Impressionists more portable. And Pointillism encompassed scientific discoveries of the time relating to optical effects and the perception of color.”
Freeman-Fox’s Drawings and Paintings show, sponsored by the Buenaventura Art Association, unites Lois’ well-developed artistic skills with computer-enhanced techniques through the juxtaposition of photographic clarity and painterly self expression.
“I paint traditional subject matter, portraits and landscapes with modern tools while exploring the art of the masters creating dynamic tension between the old and the new" says Freeman-Fox.
Vintage portraits of family members are vividly brought to life in a colorful celebration of the artist’s past, while the environment Freeman-Fox calls home, the inspiring vistas of Ventura County’s glorious landscapes, serve as a natural backdrop of beauty as seen through the artist’s eyes.
Clearly, Lois Freeman-Fox’s Drawings and Paintings From The Undergrove is a show not to be missed.
Paintings and Drawings runs from May 26th through June 20th at the Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Gallery. The opening is May 30 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from Noon to 5PM and Saturdays from 11AM to 5PM. The Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Galley is located at 700 E. Santa Clara in Ventura.

Forty outstanding seniors applied for Alumni Scholarships, and after screening all forty by way of an autobiography, participation in community and school activities, and an oral interview, seventeen scholarships were awarded. Those receiving scholarships for this year are: Julianne Sandoval and Brina Suttle the John and Nit Lemley Scholarships; Natalie Garnica and Karli Chessani the Dulcie Arnold Memorial Scholarships; Jillian Wilber and Rebeca Herrera the Carl & Helen Siechert Memorial Scholarships; Aimee Orozco the Vernon & Arlene Nelson Memorial Scholarship; Michael Watson the Fillmore American Legion Post Scholarship; Bailey Pina the Wm. Brisby Science Scholarship; Jacob Zellmer the Fillmore Masonic Temple Scholarship, Miguel Angel Alonso the Piru Youth Scholarship; Kyla Hernandez the Stella Harthorn Scholarship, Gabriel Manzano the Ambros Myer Scholarship, Jonathan Escamilla the Richard Ortega Memorial Scholarship; Stephanie Bolanos the Valerie Zavala Wilson Memorial Scholarship; Nathan Liu the Fillmore Breakfast Club Scholarship; and Erica Rodriguez the Fillmore Alumni Business Scholarship. This is a most outstanding group of graduates who are leaving Fillmore High to further their education.
The May issue of the alumni newsletter will be coming out next week so be on the look out for it if you are a paid up member of the alumni association. Once again, Kathleen McCreary has put out an excellent edition with news from many graduates of Fillmore High. Also in this issue is a copy of the reservation form for the alumni dinner which is coming up on Saturday June 6 at the Memorial Building, beginning at 4:00 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:00, catered by Gary Laird, and visitations continuing until 11:00 p.m. Many out of towners have already sent in their reservations and they hope to see many of their local friends at the dinner, so get your reservation form in if you haven't already done so.
The alumni board will meet on Friday, May 22 to finalize all the plans for the dinner.

Dear Friends of Piru and Fillmore:
As you may have heard or read, Piru lost one of our young ones with this weekend’s tragic drowning of 9-year old Denise Arredondo at Lake Piru.
Denise, a fourth-grade student at Piru Elementary School, and her family were enjoying a day at the lake that ended in this terrible tragedy. As many of us have learned, out of tragedy can come strength and hope. This is especially true in our wonderful town of Piru.
So, the kids and parents of Piru have organized a recycling drive in order to gather funds needed for the Arredondo family. Working with Rodriguez Recycling, located next to Piru Market at 981 Main Street, we ask for the following donations: all monies raised from cans, bottles and plastic donated in Denise’s name beginning this Wednesday, May 20th will be donated to the Arendodo family for assistance during this time.
We appreciate your consideration of taking a bag, box or bucket of materials to the recycling center to help us raise immediate funds for the family.
Any questions should be directed to Juana Aguilar at 805-660-9095 or Lorena Cardenas at 805-558-5708.
Also a Bake Sale For Denise will be held Saturday, May 23 at 9 am, at the Piru Train Station Gazebo. Any donations are welcome.
The community is pulling together. The church paid for the plot. Friends of Piru and Piru council are taking huge lead on donations for funeral home. We had school psychologists out today and I met with all her teachers. Her parents came and talked to the school staff. Here is the low down: DENISE ARREDONDO

ROSARY: RELIGIOUS SERVICE
OPEN CASKET
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
2:00 -
Residence - Denise Arredondo
496 River Street
Piru, CA 93040

Funeral Service
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
9:00 AM
San Salvador Mission
4045 Center Street
Piru, CA 93040
Thank you and gracias por su ayuda!

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VENTURA, CA - The Ventura Family YMCA has received a $17,000 grant from an anonymous donor to perform much needed renovations in its child watch areas. All funds received will go directly towards upgrading the YMCA’s Children’s Corner, Adventure Zone and the Teen Center. “The grant couldn’t come at a better time with summer just around the corner” stated Jacob Munyon the Ventura Family YMCA Childcare Director. “The grant will cover three renovation projects and bring the facility new and exciting equipment for the youth.”

The YMCA Children’s Corner, will receive an expansion of its outside play area along with a with a brand new sun shade. Children’s Corner is available for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and allows parents the opportunity to have time by themselves to exercise or just relax within the facility. In addition to the new outside equipment, Children’s Corner will also receive all new play structures and basketball hoops.

The YMCA Adventure Zone, for children ages 5-13, is another place for children to play while they are at the YMCA. The Adventure Zone is comprised of a game area along with a two story play structure. The play structure will receive replacements for all worn out accessories, pads and netting. The grant has also allowed the YMCA to make a special call to a building safety inspector to ensure that everything is still up to code. CONTINUED »

Ventura, CA – Funding in the amount of $20,000 from the Santa Barbara Foundation along with funds from the Orfalea Foundation has provided Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast with funding to begin construction on a shower facility, that will add 8 more showers, for their Girl Scout Camp Arnaz. A total of eight showers will give Girl Scouts the opportunity to provide summer resident camp, as well as overnight program opportunities throughout the year.

A larger capacity camp will also enable Girl Scouts to introduce new camp programming such as surf and kayak camps, horse camps, and drama camps, as well as off-site excursions. Girl Scouts will be able to offer more intensive, multi-day programming such as educational retreats and high-adventure programs, outdoor education, sports, environmental awareness, art and science.

The construction of a shower facility will improve the nightly capacity of Camp Arnaz from 45 resident campers to 145 campers. Girls’ opportunities to benefit from the life-changing experience of camp are limited, simply because Girl Scout resident camps do not exist locally. CONTINUED »

(Ventura, California) The public is invited to learn how to better live a healthy life and help ward off diseases through diet, exercise, personal habits and sleep during a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, June 16.

Manual Marquez, M.D., the assistant medical director for Western Ventura County of Southern California Permanente Group, will lead the seminar called, “Living Well: Personal Preventive Healthcare.” It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, located at 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

In addition to providing tips for leading a healthy life, Dr. Marquez also will discuss other topics that include immunizations, aortic aneurysm, bone density, cancer screenings, heart attacks and strokes, and quitting smoking.

Dr. Marquez received his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine and completed his residency in Family Practice at Ventura County Medical Center. He is on staff at Community Memorial Hospital and is board-certified in family medicine. Dr. Marquez is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is a member of the California Medical Association and the Ventura County Medical Society.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are suggested. Call 652-5436, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Ventura, CA – Santa Barbara Bank & Trust has become the first business to sponsor Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast Annual Women of Distinction luncheon.

This year’s luncheon will be held on Friday, September 18 at Las Posas Country Club. The event will start at 10:30 with champagne and silent auction and lunch and presentation of awards beginning at noon.

Every year, Girl Scouts honors women who embody the values of Girl Scouting – values such as leadership, courage and community service. All honorees are outstanding achievers as well as generous and compassionate contributors to this community.

Girl Scouts 2008 honorees include Yvonne Bodle Farris, Frances Prince and Dr. Cheryl Lambing.

As a Women of Distinction sponsor, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust is supporting the world’s largest and most effective leadership program.

Proceeds from this event go to help all girls have the experience of participating in the number one leadership program.

Krystal Sewell and Lace Granatelli
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The new Miss Regional California USA® Pageant is now accepting applications. Toay Productions has been providing young women with the opportunity to be the ambassador for the county of Ventura for over 10 years. The Teen and Miss titleholders will both receive over $5000 in entry fee/scholarship and prizes. These prizes will include a photo shoot from KSSP Photography, website designed, a custom gown, make-up, jewelry and many other gifts from local sponsors. Our corporate sponsors, Lexus of Oxnard http://www.dchlexusofoxnard.com/ and H&R Block hrblock.com have helped to ensure that the scholarship or entry fee is available to the two new titleholders.
This year the pageant is geared toward giving young women a choice to compete at a state pageant or receive a $500.00 cash scholarship. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen never married or pregnant. Participants must be a resident of California for the past 6 months. Applicants attending college out of state may enter if their primary residence is in California.
The sign-up date for this year’s pageant is on May 13, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Norman E. Brekke Elementary School, 1400 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Oxnard, CA. All Participants will be taught communication skills, interview techniques, walking techniques, the importance of character, poise, and stage presence. CONTINUED »

On May 1, 2009, the Ventura Chapter of National Charity League was pleased to present a check for $3000 to the Santa Paula Theater Center for a new sound system for their backstage performances. The Santa Paula Theater Center has been one of the many philanthropies that National Charity League has been donating time and money to for a few years now and has been a favorite for the members. At the end of each year the Ventura Chapter of NCL divides the funds they have raised to all the philanthropies that they participate in. This year was the best yet, raising more than $19,000 going directly to non-profits throughout the County as well as 7,741 hours of volunteered time. “We are just thrilled with the support National Charity League gives us”, says Leslie Nichols of SPTC. “Every year they are so generous.” Leslie Sullivan, incoming president of NCL, added that “due to the hard working mothers and daughters in NCL, we were able to give SPTC $2000 more than last year! We love the theater and we love giving to such a wonderful non-profit.”

The Ventura Chapter of National Charity League, Inc. was organized in 1959 and chartered in 1960. The current philanthropies served by our chapter are: American Cancer Society, Assistance League School, Bargain Box, Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, Camarillo Ranch House, Children's Services Auxiliary, various convalescent hospitals, Douglas Penfield School, Easter Seals Preschool, Food Share, Habitat for Humanity, Hospital Junior Volunteer Programs, Humane Society of Ojai, New West Symphony, Project Understanding, Rubicon Theater, Santa Paula Theater Center, Special Olympics and the Ventura County Libraries. Patronesses and Ticktockers are also active in many other philanthropic projects.