The Ventura County Library community libraries will be closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, and will be closed Thursday, December 25, for the Christmas Day holiday.
The libraries will also be closing at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, and will be closed Thursday, January 1, for the New Years Day holiday.
In addition, the Piru Library will be closed on Wednesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 31.
The fourteen 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 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.

On Sunday December 7th, the California Oil Museum in conjunction with the students of Santa Paula High School’s Mexican American Studies Course will be premiering its new exhibit, Mexican American Heritage. Running through February 24th 2009, this new exhibit will be available for viewing every Wednesday through Sunday 10am-4pm. Opening reception will be December 7, from 3-5pm featuring dancers, music and crafts. Admission to the museum is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $1 for youth, and free for members.

Santa Paula High School’s Mexican American Studies Course is a college preparatory class taught by Karen Calhoun that emphasizes the following three components: Mexican History, Mexican American History, and culture. With students selecting topics across this spectrum -- from the Aztecs, the Spanish Conquest, and the Mexican Revolution to Diego Rivera, Zapatistas, the Zoot Suit Riots, the Chicano Movement, and recent hate crimes against Latinos -- the exhibit wonderfully captures all three of these elements.

While many students are presenting issues close to their heart, other students admit that the project has helped them learn about things they previously knew little about. And while many of the exhibit boards present topics that are sources of pride for the students such as Ballet Folklorico and Mexican art, many others, especially those dealing with poverty, pollution, corruption, and human rights express concerns of the students and are written with a tone of reflection and even criticism.

“The community will be impressed by our wonderful pictures and facts, it’s for the community” (Jesus Alvarez).

What: “Mexican American Heritage”
Where: California Oil Museum, 1001 East Main Street, Santa Paula
Exhibit Dates: December 7, 2008 – February 24th, 2009
Opening Reception: Sunday, December 7, 2008, 3-5pm
Museum Hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 10 to 4
Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors and $1 Youth, Free for Members
Museum Phone: 805-933-0076 Museum Website: www.oilmuseum.net

Many Community members and local businesses have stepped up to help FOOD Share tackle hunger this holiday season. Annual sponsors PODS and VONS have been joined by Longs Drug store, Ventura Credit Union and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the fight against hunger.

There are many opportunities to donate food and make a difference this holiday season.

December events:
Dec. 5—Come to the 58th Annual Tree Lighting in Plaza Park, see Santa and donate canned goods or money to FOOD Share’s protein fund

Dec. 5, 6 & 7—Bring 10 cans of protein rich food to Plaza 14 Cinemas in downtown Oxnard and receive a free large popcorn

Dec. 6—Visit Oxnard’s Christmas Parade in downtown Oxnard at 10 am followed by the Tamale Festival and donate canned foods to marked barrels

Dec. 6— Come to Holiday Traditions at Pacific View Mall between 2pm-6pm, and receive a $5 Target gift card when you donate a toy and 2 cans of food

Dec. 8—Jeff Grodin of Captain Hook's Sportfishing is encouraging fishermen to grab their tackle boxes and fish for FOOD Share. For a cost of only $25.00 people can go deep sea fishing and all fish caught will go to help the hungry at FOOD Share. To reserve your spot call 805-382 6233 or book online at www.captnhooks.com.

In addition to large community events, many people are tackling hunger one neighborhood at a time. People have started organizing neighborhood food drives to collect protein-rich canned food items to donate to FOOD Share.

To register your neighborhood food drive call (805) 983-7100 X135 or email fooddrives@foodshare.com.

What to donate
FOOD Share of Ventura County is growing its Protein Fund and needs cash donations to purchase nutritious foods and is requesting donations of protein-rich non-perishable canned food items including: Canned tuna, chicken and meats, canned soups, canned beef stew, canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned beans, canned spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, rice, dry beans, macaroni & cheese, peanut butter, jelly (in plastic), fruit juices (canned, plastic bottles & boxes).

Questions or for more information, please call: (805) 983-7100
www.foodshare.com

The Aviation Museum of Santa Paula will welcome home Barbara McQueen with a VIP reception, dinner and booksigning on Saturday, December 6 at the Santa Paula Airport. The 5 p.m. reception will include a catered dinner, slide show and booksigning for Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.

“Santa Paula was the beginning and end of Steve McQueen's aviation roots, and realized the airport had never recognized him before. Steve used to say, 'Santa Paula Airport is my kinda country club,'” said Mike Dewey, a museum board member who has a long history with the privately owned airport. “We also felt this was a good opportunity to promote our new 3,000-square foot museum headquarters.”

This is Barbara McQueen's first trip back to Santa Paula since her late husband's 1980 death.

“Santa Paula was Steve's church and he really loved the city with all of his heart and soul. He was treated like a normal person there where he could relax and be himself, hang out with friends and fly his planes,” McQueen said. “I'm really looking forward to coming back because it was a big part of my life. It'll be good to renew some of those old ties and make new friendships.”

The tax-deductible (as allowed by law) dinner is $50 with proceeds benefiting the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula. Seating, however, is limited and attendees are asked to RSVP by December 1, 2008. Please call (805) 525-1109 or e-mail mcqueenevent@amszp.org to RSVP.

The Santa Paula Airport will salute the life of Steve McQueen on its “First Sunday Open House,” on December 7. Privately owned hangars open their doors to unveil a variety of vintage aircraft, cars, and memorabilia, which are on display for the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several other aircraft owners will put their antique aircraft on static display and many vintage aircraft also fly in each month. Car and motorcycle clubs will also display their machines on the airport's taxiways and the Museum Tram will provide travel between hangars. The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 723 offers free airplane rides to kids ages 7-17. Barbara McQueen will also sign, Steve McQueen: The Last Mile at the five-hour extravaganza.

Steve McQueen: The Last Mile is a photo book that captures wonderful and unique images that the very private actor allowed to no one else. Barbara soon discovered that the screen legend she had idolized since a kid was a determined individualist who loved vintage planes, motorcycles and cars and admired the men who flew and drove them above all others.

For more information on both McQueen events, visit www.amszp.org.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A message from the Moorpark Police Crime Prevention

Those of us who work in law enforcement will tell you that if a thief really wants to get into your home, he probably will. However, there are some easy steps to make your house unattractive to the bad guy. We will call these techniques “Target Hardening”.

Lighting (The Crime Prevention Staple)

Bad Guys don't like to be seen, so install lights that will light up the outside of your home. Motion detecting fixtures work great. Remember to install them where they can't be reached or the bulb removed or broken. Placing a double light motion detector on all exterior corners of your home should sufficiently light your entire yard. Most double light motion detectors have directional light fixtures. Each light should be aimed down a side of your home allowing full-lighted coverage of your exterior walls. Remember to be courteous to your neighbors when aiming your lights.

Environmental Design

Plants and shrubs growing around your home can provide a great place for a burglar to lurk unseen. Keep your bushes trimmed so a burglar can't hide in them, out of sight. In crime prevention we call this the 2 and 6 concept. All shrubs should be trimmed at a maximum height of 2 feet and all tree skirts should be trimmed above 6 feet.

Don't advertise that there are things worth stealing in your home. If you get a new TV or computer, don't just put the box out by the curb on trash pick up day. This is like a billboard to the bad guys telling them you have a nice TV for them to steal. Break down the box or turn it inside out, so no one passing by will be able to make a shopping list of what is in your home. CONTINUED »

Conway Spitler

This week the California state accreditation committee visited the local high school. The committee meet with a number of the teachers of the high school as well as student representatives. The purpose of the meeting was to gather from the teachers and students about various aspects of Fillmore High School. The commitee has the report given by the school prior to their visit.
The questions asked by the two commitee members, representing the State of California, were varied and down to the point!
What impressed me, very much, was the answers given by various teachers at the high school. It was impressive indeed to see how they had a “handle” on the various aspects of the school. The teachers and students, as well, told it as it was with a very professional attitude. The good points, were emphasized, and the areas needing improvement were discussed on both ends of the spectrum—bad to good!
Every parent who has a student in the high school, and those of us who have students who pass through the school, should be impressed with the work being done at the high school. There were expressions of high expectations with the leadership of the new principal.

Fillmore High Alumni Association

WOW!! Talk about a great response from the latest issue of the alumni newsletter, Flashbacks, that was sent out last Saturday. Not only are we getting many renewals for subscriptions to Flashbacks, but we received two offers for copies of the 1944 Copa de Oro, which has been absent from our library of high school annuals for many years. Bill Stocker, class of '44, came by with one of the two copies that that he has, and Harold Southwick, class of '45 called from Orem, UT, with an offer of his copy. Since we already have one on hand from Bill, Harold was told to hold on to his copy as they are very rare. Harold's offer is very much appreciated. This means that the alumni office now has at least one copy of a Copa de Oro from every year that a yearbook was printed. The exceptions are 1918 and 1919 when an annual was not printed due to World War I.
The November meeting of the Alumni Board of Directors was held last Monday at the home of Marla and Bill DeZavala, with all but two members present. The first item of business was to elect a new Secretary to fill the position previously held by Margaret Hackney Haskell for so many years. Glenda Gregory DeJarnette, class of '59, volunteered to fill in until we could find someone permanent, but later decided that she could do the job and would be our Secretary. For this, we are very appreciative.
The alumni dinner was discussed, and more emphasis was placed on encouraging classes who will be celebrating class reunions to do so at the alumni dinner on June 6 at the Memorial Building. Areas for meeting and visiting will be provided before and after the dinner, and special tables will be set up for each honored class during the dinner. The classes of 1959 and 1979 are already in their planning stages, and the classes of 1949 and 1954 are putting out the word that they want their reunions to be held at the alumni dinner. Class lists and mailing labels can be obtained from the alumni office for a deposit of $25, which will be returned if an up to date list of class members and addresses are returned to the alumni office. Troop 406 will again handle the flag salute ceremonies and the Bardsdale 4-H will help with the serving of the dinner.
Comments were made on the revisions in the scoring procedure for the alumni scholarships to help attract more applicants, and also to notify everyone that the Continuation Grants for graduates who are already attending colleges and universities will be available again this year. These applications may be obtained from the alumni office anytime after the first of the year and must be returned to the alumni office prior to July 1, 2009. Scholarship applications for high school seniors will be available January 21, 2009.
A reminder was made of the Shasta Daisy project being handled by Kirk Richter, class of '77 and his Horticulture class at the high school, and that anyone who has rooted cuttings to donate, flowers to donate for graduation, or who wish to donate money for this project, should contact Kirk at the high school or the alumni office.
The November issue of Flashbacks was handed out to all board members present, with the thanks to Kathleen Penrod McCreary, class of '66 for another great job of editing this important newsletter. We get lots of comments on how fortunate our alumni are to have such a newsletter.
Several Flashbacks have been returned due to lost mailing labels or stamps, so if you have not received your copy of the November issue, please call the alumni office, 524-0416, and a copy will be sent to you.
The next alumni board meeting will be held February 23, 2009. Be sure to check the alumni website at www.fillmorehighalumni.com for additional alumni news.

Monday class - 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM - ages 12 and up. Wednesday class – 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – ages 9 – 11. Thursday classes – 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – ages 3 – 5 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - ages 6 – 8 .
Cost: $30.00 per month or $10.00 per class
Dress Code: Leotard and tights (if possible) or dance apparel.
Hair pulled back out of face in a bun or ponytail. Pink or black ballet shoes.
Location: Fillmore Senior Center 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore.
For more information, please call the Recreation Department at City Hall.
At 524-1500 X216 or contact the instructor Kerri Krizer (805)906-9576.
elementdanceco@yahoo.com

Fillmore Fire Department

The Annual Toy Drive Sponsored by City of Fillmore Fire Department & the Ventura County Sheriffs Department North Fillmore Storefront Station is underway. Unwrapped toy donations are currently being accepted at Fillmore Fire Station 91 located at 711 Sespe Place, Fillmore. All donors will receive a ticket for each toy donated, good for one BBQ Chicken Dinner. The BBQ will take place on Sunday December 14th, 2009 from 5:00PM – 7:00PM. Dinner will be served at our Fire Station or you may take advantage of our drive thru service.
In addition to our annual BBQ chicken dinner, Fillmore Fire has teamed up with Dr. Michelangelo Rubino of Healing Solutions Chiropractic & Wellness Center of Fillmore. Dr. Rubino is now offering new patients a FREE chiropractic adjustment when you bring a toy to his office valued at $20.00 or more! Please visit Dr. Rubino at his office located at 751 Ventura Street Suite D in Fillmore.
Toys will be distributed to Fillmore children on Tuesday December 23th 3:00PM at the North Fillmore Sheriffs Department Storefront Station located on Lemon Way in Fillmore. For children, a new toy during the holidays symbolizes continual hope and the potential for a wonderful new year. Many of us don’t realize how hundreds of families in Fillmore struggle each week to put food on the table and pay rent, leaving many families without money for day to day activities. Many of these families are left disappointed when they are unable to provide their children with a new toy during the holidays.
Toy Drop-off Locations: Fillmore Fire Department 711 Sespe Place Fillmore, CA 93015
805-524-0586. Healing Solutions Chiropractic & Wellness Center Dr. Michelangelo Rubino 751 Ventura Street Fillmore, CA 93015 805-524-2044. El Pescador Family Restaurant 1305 Ventura Street Fillmore, CA 93015 805-524-9999.

The Fillmore Lions Club has announced that this year's Student Speaker Contest will be held on Monday February 2, 2009. The topic will be "Water-Will California be Left High and Dry?". The topic is very timely and important to Fillmore High School students, their friends and family.This is a very appropriate topic in light of California's drought , California's growing population and need for water; and California's disputes with bordering states over a very limited natural resource.

Chair Bill Edmonds states that the total prize money going to the overall winner will be $21,250 in college scholarships and cash. The local Fillmore winner will get $50 with the runner-ups receiving $25. The winner will go on to compete with the winners of other near-bye communities . All High School age youth who live within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries are eligible to compete. This include home taught students as well as Fillmore residents who attend other high schools as well. This also includes foreign exchange students.

Students who wish to enter may contact Bill Edmonds (524-4839) or Josh Overton -the FHS drama teacher. Edmonds emphasized that this public speaking experience will be very worthwhile to the students and interesting to their parents and the community. Public speaking competition will also look very good on college applications and resumes. Students should get started early because it takes time to develop and practice a good speech.

On December 13th 2008, the Ventura Family YMCA will host its third annual Breakfast with Santa from 8 – 10 a.m. Admission to the event is FREE to community residents with a donation of an unwrapped gift which will be given to the Kids and Families Together Organization in Ventura. Kids & Families Together is a not-for-profit support, education and counseling resource center that provides services for individuals and families in foster care, kinship care and adoption.

The YMCA Breakfast with Santa provides children and their parents the opportunity to enjoy a pancake breakfast and meet with Santa who will be available to listen to all of the children’s Christmas wishes and take pictures. Children will also have the opportunity to create an ornament for the holidays which is always a big hit!

Each December the Ventura Family YMCA chooses a local not-for-profit to partner with. Past partners include Casa Pacifica, Kids to Kids and the VCMC Children’s Oncology Unit. All of the donations collected this year will be distributed between children and teens that are in current foster care homes in Ventura County through the Kids and Families Together Organization.

Kids and Families Together offers supportive resource where individuals, families, and community members can meet and share information and concerns. They also support the preservation of mental, physical and emotional health of the children and teens that are involved in foster care. The organization is hoping to shed light on an often forgotten demographic during the holiday season, teens. Teenagers usually get overlooked during toy drives, so they are asking for gift cards, bedding, and hygiene products like shampoo, conditioner and soap which is greatly needed. Unwrapped toys are also being accepted for the young children entered into the foster care program.

For more information about attending Breakfast with Santa please call Jennifer Rivard at 642-2131 ext. 25 or email Jennifer.Rivard@ciymca.org.

The Ventura Family YMCA serves over 20,000 individuals annually through facility memberships, before & after school childcare, day & resident camps, youth sports, swim lessons, teen programs, and many more healthy lifestyles and community enriching programs throughout Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy. The Ventura Family YMCA is located at 3760 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003. Visit www.venturaymca.org for more information.

There will be a “temporary road closure” of Central Avenue on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from approximately noon until 3:00 PM for the 2008 Fillmore Lions Club Christmas Parade. Staging and Check-in for the Parade will be in front of the Memorial Building. The Parade starts at 1:00 PM at the intersection of Second Street and Central Avenue. The “temporary road closure” will be removed as soon as the Parade participants have completed their trek down Central Avenue to Santa Clara Street.

The “temporary road closure” will begin at Third Street and Central Avenue and continue south on Central Avenue to Santa Clara Street. All east and westbound cross traffic on Central Avenue between Third Street and Santa Clara Street will be affected. Barricades will be in place to prevent thru and cross traffic on Central Avenue. With the exception of emergency vehicles, no other vehicles will be permitted to park or travel on Central Avenue while the Parade is in progress.

The 2008 Fillmore Lions Club Christmas Parade is an annual family event and it is still not too late to enter the Parade as a participant. Churches, Community Service Clubs, all youth activities, businesses and just plain folks are encouraged to be in the Parade as a participant. Please make your entry a Christmas Holiday related entry, but have fun getting your theme assembled.

For more information contact Dick Diaz at 524-5315, or 279-3599, or by email at dickdiaz@roadrunner.com. There is no charge to participate in the Parade.

Natalie Graham
Enlarge Photo

Ventura County Ballet Company presents an international cast from Russia, Albania, and Kazakhstan, plus 90 dancers from Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Santa Paula, Somis, and Ventura.

A student at Ballet Academy Ventura since the age of 4½, Fillmore resident Natalie Graham will dance the role of Clara in the Ventura County Ballet Company’s production of “The Nutcracker,” November 22-23 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.
“I have wanted to dance Clara for eight years, and I am thrilled and honored to play Clara and to have the opportunity to interact on stage with my father and sister who also have supporting roles,” Natalie says. “This is a dream come true for me.”
"Natalie has grown from a toddler in my pre-ballet classes to a lovely young lady and I couldn't be happier with her role as Clara,” says Kathleen Noblin, founder and executive director of the Ventura County Ballet Company. “Choreographed by Marina Fliagina, associate artistic director of the VCBC and graduate of Perm Ballet School in Moscow, Nutcracker 2008 promises to be our most outstanding yet!"
Ninety Ballet Academy Ventura company dancers from Camarillo, Ojai, Santa Paula, Somis, and Ventura also will appear on stage.
An Authentic Nutcracker – Principle Professionals have experience.
Having danced the Nutcracker in Russia as children and young ballet stars, principal dancers include Sergei Domrachev of Russia, returning for his seventh season as The Nutcracker; and Enton Hoxha from Albania in his third year as Drosselmeyer, grandfather to Clara. In her third season with Ventura County Ballet Company, Victoria Luchkina from Kazakhstan will dance Dream Clara; and Spencer Gavin of California, who is on his second term will dance the Prince.
Performances: What:Ventura County Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker. When: 2pm and 7pm, November 22, 2008 and 2 pm, November 23, 2008. Where: Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard CA. Tickets: Adults: $23, $15, $9; $10 children 10 and under; $15 seniors 65 and over. Group rates available upon request
Information: (805) 653-2800 or www.balletacademyventura.com.
About the Ventura County Ballet Company
Kathleen Noblin founded Ballet Ventura in 1992 and has served as executive director of the company since its inception. Ballet Academy Ventura is the official in-residence school of the Ventura County Ballet Company. Students are taught creative movement as early as 2 to 3 ½ years old and pre-ballet to the age of six, through adult courses. Classes offered include beginning ballet through pre-professional levels, modern dance, flamenco, and jazz. Information: 805-653-2800 or www.balletacademyventura.com.

Conway Spitler

It is great to be able to drive from River Street to Central Avenue! However, you really have a change in tactics! First you stop a Central Avenue and make a right turn on to Central Avenue. As you make the turn there is maintenance vehicle there tearing up the newly paved Central Avenue.
After the right turn you come to the automatic signal. You can tell Cal Trans has been there because the wait has doubled in time to cross the highway. Then you come to the pavement which dips down with a number of bumps, then a stop sign. A short distance another stop sign (which is rumored) to be a four-way stop coming soon greets you, this after you cross the railway tracks which jars the vehicle. If you still go north, you come to "rough" concaves on Central Avenue--the brick crosswalk is not "level" with the pavement, so you have another jolt! Then you can rest after that last jolt. Let us hope that Central Avenue will be the "busy" time that used to be in a short period of time!