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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.

Eighty-three students from the Fillmore Middle School Advanced Band will perform for members of the Fillmore Ebell Club on Tuesday, May 26th, at 2:00 p.m., in the Fillmore Memorial Building. The students will perform selections from classical to modern for the Ebell members. The band program at FMS is very active throughout the year, performing concerts and parades. The Fillmore Middle School Intermediate and Advanced Bands will combine with the Fillmore High School Band for the Fillmore May Festival Parade on May 16th. The Fillmore Middle School Bands will also be holding a joint concert with the Fillmore Unified Elementary School Bands on May 18th, at 6:30 p.m., in the FMS Gym. The Fillmore Ebell club has made numerous donations to the music and art programs in the Fillmore Unified School District in years past. Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Trisha Armstrong at 805-727-1901.

Show will be a 2 hour event with Juan Garcia and Shaun Latham as opening acts and headlining the show will be Felipe Esparza. Felipe Esparza is best known for his raw, real-life comedy that all audiences can relate to. He is also known for his wild hair and his often-imitated phrase, "what's up, fool?" He is one of many new comedians that got immediate television exposure, when he appeared on a Showtime, "Diamonds in the Rough" segment, just 1½ years into his stand-up career. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous television shows, including ABC's "Comics Unleashed", Showtime's "Comics Without Borders", BET's "Comic View" and "One Mic Stand", and Galavision's "Que Locos" (where he holds the title of most appearances by any comedian). He has also completed filming on his first feature-length film, "The Deported" directed by Lance Kawas and starring Nick Turturro and Paul Rodriguez amongst others. Show will be at the Casa Del Mexicano in Santa Paula on Friday, 19 June 2009. Doors open at 7:00 pm; show runs from 8 to 10 PM. The event cost is $25 a ticket and is for adults 18 and older. You can call or email Susie at 805-218-5649 or suzortega@yahoo.com.

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, May 25. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and recyclables collected one day later than usual, on Saturday, May 30.
The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.
For more information, call 647-1414.

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.