Each summer, many parents throughout Ventura County are faced with the same old question: What do I do to keep my kids occupied this summer? The Ventura County Library has the answer. Get them reading!
The Ventura County Library encourages children and teens to improve their reading skills by reading and using their public library. Sign up for the Ventura County Library 2009 Summer Reading Programs Be Creative @ Your Library for kids through middle school, and Express Yourself @ Your Library for students middle school and above. Studies about summer learning show that more than just fun happens when children participate in library programs. These free library programs run from June 15 to August 22, and encourage children of all ages to enhance their reading skills during summer vacation. They have the opportunity to read books and earn prizes, simply by signing up at their community library. The 2009 Summer Reading Program kicks off at Ventura County community libraries with special programs during the months of May and June. Check the schedule below to find out when your community library is scheduled to have a program. Programs are free and ideal for children of all ages!
Teens are encouraged to check with their local libraries for summer volunteer opportunities.
You may visit your local Ventura County Library for more information about the 2009 Summer Reading Programs. Information can also be found on the library’s web site www.vencolibrary.org.
2009 Summer Reading Program Kickoff program schedule. Be Creative @ Your Library! For all ages! Kickoff program! For all ages! Craig Newton’s Music-Fest, a Celebration of the Joy of Creating Music. This Kick Off program is free! Wednesday, June 3, Fillmore Library, 3:30 pm.

On May 13, 2009 at 3:30, the Folk Ensemble will share enchanting music and dances from Hawaii and the South Pacific. Come enjoy the graceful Hula along with the energetic and vigorous dances of Tahiti and the Maori people of New Zealand.

The free event is sponsored by the Fillmore Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization providing support to the library with funds for books, children’s programs, and adult events. The event will be held on January 17, 2007 at 3:30 PM at the Library’s 502 Second Street address.

Docent led public tours are available without appointment February through November, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm and year round by appointment. If you belong to a club or other group, you can make a reservation for a special group tour that will fit in with your schedule and special interests. Teachers and others working with youth groups are encouraged to schedule an interactive tour to help children learn about California history.
Rancho Camulos is a National Historic Landmark where the early Californio lifestyle is preserved in its original rural environment. What began as part of the 48,000 acre Mexican land grant, Rancho San Francisco, deeded to Antonio del Valle in 1839 is still a 1,800-acre working ranch. Rancho Camulos was also the setting for "Ramona," the 1884 novel by Helen Hunt Jackson that generated national interest in the history of Hispanic settlement in California and the impact on Native Americans. The museum is a 10-acre portion of the ranch where visitors view the 1853adobe, 1920 adobe, cocina, winery, chapel, schoolhouse, and beautiful grounds and then view the 1910 silent film “Ramona” that was filmed on location at Rancho Camulos. The suggested donation for the one- hour tours is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children and students. Private group tours and special events can also be arranged. The Museum is located on Highway 126, 10 miles west of the I-5 freeway in Piru. INFO: (805) 521-1501 or www.ranchocamulos.org
Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark Needs Docents / Volunteers
Become a part of where the history, myth and romance of Old California still linger. CONTINUED »

The Ventura County Library community libraries will be closed Monday, May 25, for the Memorial Day holiday.
The Ventura County Library community libraries include Avenue Library, Camarillo Library, Fillmore Library, E. P. Foster Library, Meiners Oaks Library, Oak Park Library, Oak View Library, Ojai Library, Piru Library, Ray D. Prueter Library, Saticoy Library, Simi Valley Library, Albert H. Soliz-El Rio Library, and H. P. Wright Library.
Books may be returned to the bookdrops at any of the community libraries. The Ventura County Library is available via the internet, 24 hours a day, at www.vencolibrary.org.

The American Red Cross of Ventura County is seeking new volunteers for its Disaster Services Teams. Individuals can sign up for free training on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, which will take place at the Hyatt Westlake, 880 S. Westlake Boulevard.

The training on Saturday, May 16 runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and includes an overview of the American Red Cross, a look at how the Disaster Services Team is organized and how the Red Cross responds to large and small disasters. Information will also be presented on ways the Red Cross provides food, shelter and how the organization meets clients’ needs. A Disaster Action Team Workshop will also be offered, detailing how the Red Cross responds to small local disasters such as single family fires.

The training continues on Sunday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes information on Shelter Operations, with details on how to work and run a shelter, and a Shelter Simulation, consisting of a tabletop exercise pulling all the elements together.

Seating is limited, and RSVP’s are required. To make a reservation, email TrainingVentura@usa.redcross.org or call 805-987-1514, ext. 320. Individuals can also sign up online at www.arcventura.org. Further information is also available through these channels as well.

Since 1917, the American Red Cross of Ventura County has been meeting needs throughout the communities it serves. Each year, more than 1,200 local volunteers respond to more than 50 local disasters, teach tens of thousands of individual’s vital lifesaving skills, and support the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. The American Red Cross is not a government agency.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County (SJF) is only four years old and yet is already making great strides in addressing the county’s chronic social issues, thanks to its many generous benefactors. In addition to nearly 100 active donors that seed its Giving Circle with grantmaking dollars, numerous foundations have also been vital contributors. Recently the SJF has received several generous grants that will allow it to grow organizational capacity, increase education and outreach, and improve operations.

The Marisla Foundation provided a one-year $20k grant to expand the SJF education program for the Giving Circle members and donors, grassroots organizations and the broader community. This grant will fund a Ventura County critical issues report, as well as a guided tour for Giving Circle members to explore the social and environmental conditions in the county in order to make good grantmaking decisions.

The McCune Foundation, an original and ongoing supporter of SJF, has recently provided an additional $25k grant for operations and capacity building. Sage Publications presented $2k for staffing and program costs.

The California Endowment provided a two-year $127,575 grant towards capacity building, which will include, among other goals, developing outreach material, providing professional trainings to grassroots community groups, evaluating the social justice issues through the impact on health in low income communities in Ventura County, and designing a participatory evaluation process. CONTINUED »

Santa Paula, CA. May 5, 2009- Santa Clara Valley Bank (SCVBank; OTC BB: SCVE.OB) today announced that Mr. Ralph DeLeon has been elected Chairman of the Board. DeLeon replaces Mr. Guy E. Cole, who has served as Chairman for the past two years. He will continue to serve as a Director of the Bank. Additionally, Mr. Elias Valdes has been selected as Vice Chairman.

In the spirit and tradition of community based organizations, the SCVBank Board has customarily rotated the leadership of the Board.

President and CEO Michael Hause commented, “I have known Mr. DeLeon for over 27 years, and he has been a leader in many fields and endeavors. Ralph is well suited to lead SCVBank into the future.”

After managing several grower and harvesting companies, DeLeon formed SAMCO, which provided custom harvesting services for growers in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and The Bahamas.

DeLeon has been honored as a Kellog Fellow of the Agricultural Leadership Program. He has served as Director of Fruit Growers Laboratory, Associates Insectary, Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clara Valley, the Ventura Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and Agricultural Producers. CONTINUED »

Its hustle and bustle and the Ventura Family YMCA as individuals and families get ready for summer. Registrations are currently taking place for numerous summer childcare and youth sport and aquatics programs. The YMCA has also started early registration for its 2009-2010 school year childcare.

Summer Childcare Day Camps: Send your child to the ultimate summer childcare experience. Campers will discover hidden talents and develop new hobbies through age appropriate activities such as arts and crafts, organized games, swimming, music and field trips. Day camp for the children is the YMCA’s most widely offered program nations wide. The Ventura Family YMCA provides summer day care for over 200 children in Ventura and Oxnard.

Specialty Camps: These camps provide an opportunity for children to learn and excel in an area of their interest. With choices ranging from photography to sports camp, there are choices for every child’s interest. Each camp focuses on character development, social skills, and keeps children active during the summer months.

Resident Camps: Pre-teens and teens can participate in one of our life changing week long resident camps. Campers share cabins with friends and meet new cabin mates from other Channel Island YMCAs. Some activities include archery, crafts, lakes swimming, hiking, and rock climbing. This all takes place in a safe and fun setting with trained, caring volunteers and professional staff. CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

“Day of the Teacher” will be observed on Wednesday, May 13. This special observance was established 27 years ago to honor teachers and the teaching profession in California. This year’s day of the Teacher theme is “California Teachers: Standing Up for a Better Tomorrow.” Remember the teacher who taught you how to read, do math, spell a word correctly? Or the one who taught you that it was just as important to listen as to talk? If you want to honor a special teacher, send 300 words or less to info@thefillmoregazette.com telling us about the professional who made a difference in your life. We will post them online, and if space allows, in print.

Conway Spitler

The most useless thing to do -- worry
The greatest Joy -- Giving
The greatest loss -- loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work -- helping others
The ugliest personality trait -- selfishness
The most endangered species -- dedicated leaders
The greatest "shot in the arm" -- encouragement
The great problem to overcome -- Fear
The most effective sleeping pill -- Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease -- excuses

The most powerful force in life -- love
The most dangerous pariah -- a gossiper
The world's most incredible computer -- the brain
The worst thing to be without -- hope
The deadliest weapon -- the tongue
The two most power-filled words -- I can
The greatest asset -- faith

The most worthless emotion -- self pity
The most prized possession -- integrity
The most beautiful attire -- a smile!
The most powerful channel of communication -- prayer
The most contagious spirit --- enthusiasm
The most important thing in life -- God

The Sespe Players are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a new, original production entitled, "The Pole Creek Radio Hour". The play, written and directed by Fillmore's own Chris Villegas, pays homage to the traditional live radio broadcasts from America's past. Using a variety show format with a storyline winding through the presentation, performances are being held at Fillmore's Sespe Auditorium. After three successful performances last weekend, the play will be presented again this weekend Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Sunday at 2:00. Tickets are priced at $15 for Adults and $10 for Seniors and Students. A portion of the profits will be donated by the Sespe Players to a fund for the renovation of The Sespe Auditorium. For further information, please call Pete Orozco at 805-625-3359.

Ojai, CA. - The public is invited to learn more about the latest advances in cancer radiation therapy at a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding in Ojai on Saturday, May 2.

Thomas Fogel, M.D., a local radiation oncologist, will lead the seminar that will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Soule Park banquet room at 1033 East Ojai Ave.

In addition to providing information on modern advances in radiation therapy, Dr. Fogel will offer his straightforward opinions on the benefits and risks of the newest procedures. They include:
 Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT);
 Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT);
 3-Dimensional Treatment Planning;
 Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Gamma Knife). CONTINUED »

SANTA PAULA, Ca—The Limoneira Company, one of California’s oldest and most important agribusinesses, has won the inaugural Ventura County Board of Supervisors Climate Change Action Award for its leadership in the use of clean, renewable energy sources.

Last October the company installed a 5.5-acre solar energy system that generates a full megawatt of electricity, enough to power its lemon packing house and storage facilities, which together account for more than a third of the company’s total energy usage.

The award, which henceforth will be given annually, was decided by a select committee that evaluated nominations made by individuals, groups, and organizations throughout the county. Kathy Long, third district supervisor who was responsible for nominating Limoneira in the Agricultural Industry category, also pointed to Limoneira’s ongoing relationship with UCSB’s Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, as well as the company’s partnership with Agromin to convert Ventura County’s green waste into a highly effective organic mulch. CONTINUED »

Ventura, CA. - The public is invited to learn more about Community Memorial Hospital’s plans to build a new hospital in today’s financial recession when President and CEO Gary Wilde gives the 2009 State of the Hospital address on Tuesday, May 5.

The address will be held at 6 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. Light refreshments are available at 5:30 p.m.

Wilde also will give the latest updates on healthcare reform on the local, state and national levels during his address.

Space is limited, so reservations are encouraged. For reservations, call 805/652-5385, or RSVP online at www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.