Ventura, CA - Community Memorial Health System’s Bariatric Weight Loss Center has achieved a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Qualifications accreditation under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint program of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Adolescent qualifications require the center to provide pediatric and psychiatric expertise, and also to include the very specific health needs of an adolescent. Families are an integral part of the process and are included in this major health challenge.

“Community Memorial is committed to providing our patients with the highest level of comprehensive bariatric care,” said Helmuth Billy, M.D, director of Bariatric Surgery at the Bariatric Weight Loss Center located at Community Memorial Hospital. “Our team never stops striving to improve and including adolescent qualifications is another example of that dedication.”

To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Community Memorial met essential criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure, ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity. The center also participates in a national data registry that yields semiannual reports on the quality of its processes and outcomes, identifying opportunities for continuous quality improvement.

For more information about the CMHS Bariatric Weight Loss Center call 805/658-5839.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

Since Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Friday this year, Santa Clara Valley Disposal delay its regular Friday trash collection schedule to Saturday in Fillmore both weeks.

The regular collection schedule will return the week of Jan. 4-8, 2016.

As a special holiday feature, residents may put out twice the amount of trash at no extra charge during the two weeks following Christmas. Please make sure the trash is in bags. We will also collect extra recyclables, but please make sure to flatten all boxes.

Also, Harrison is making it easy for their customers to recycle their Christmas trees. All customers need to do is remove the ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows, nails and tree stand, then cut the tree into sections no more than 4 feet long and place in the yard waste barrel on their scheduled pickup day. Also, for the first year, flocked trees can be recycled.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Santa Clara Valley Hospice Home Support Group Inc.
Light up a Life Memorials and Honors
A light will be shining on the Fillmore/Piru Hospice Tree at
Central Park Plaza in Fillmore, for names of loved ones
received, for Fillmore in MEMORY OF:
Rebecca & John Brown
Mickey “Maud” Estrada
Tina Ramirez
Manuel Guzman
Reyna Valenzuela
Raymond Valenzuela
Raymond Bessera

the following are new this week and if possible add them to the ones above:

Light up a Life Memorials and Honors
A light will be shining on the Fillmore/Piru Hospice Tree at
Central Park Plaza in Fillmore, for names of loved ones
received, for Fillmore in MEMORY O
Aaron Meyers
Carl Meyers
Gertrude Schleimer
Gerry Schleimer
Jerry Schleimer
Alice Schmittou
Leland Schmittou
Corinne Schmittou
Elise Goertz
Hanna Swafford

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) invites cyclists of all ages and ability levels to take part in its Regional Bicycle Wayfinding Program. The program’s goal is to make it easier to navigate Ventura County by bike.

Between Dec. 9, 2015 and Jan. 29, 2016, VCTC invites members of the public to help identify intercity and cross-county bicycle routes.

The agency has created a Bicycle Wiki Map, available at www.goventura.org, to gather input. Users may log into this online tool to take a brief survey on their cycling habits and create bike routes through an interactive map. Cyclists who track their bike rides with GPS or Strava can upload their routes to be included in the project.

The Bicycle Wiki Map can be accessed directly at: http://wikimapping.com/wikimap/VenturaCountyBikeWayfinding.html
Through the Regional Bicycle Wayfinding Program, VCTC will develop a plan that designates important regional bike routes and specifies design rules and signage templates that help cyclists easily find and navigate them. The plan will also prioritize gaps in the regional network of bike paths for future improvements. Cities across the County will use the plan to install regionally consistent signage and plan future bicycle projects in their jurisdictions.

“Whether you bike to work, to school, to stay in shape or simply for fun, your input is important,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. “To make meaningful improvements to Ventura County’s bicycle network, we need to hear from people who are out there using the system and understand its challenges.”

VCTC’s final wayfinding plan will include proposed bikeways, major destinations and services, bicycle parking facilities, and connections to transit. A major purpose of the wayfinding program will be to design and prioritize how the Ventura County network connects cities within the county and to destinations in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.

About the Ventura County Transportation Commission
The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information is available at www.goventura.org.

Fillmore High School Interact Club has kicked off the collection of Canned Food for Fillmore's Christmas Toy Voucher and Christmas Basket Annual Project. This great annual project will be serving 350 families this year.

This is the Fourth year we have been doing this community project and has grown over the years along with the great need. Kids have been busy making posters and started organizing for this great cause. All schools from Fillmore Unified School District participate in this great cause. This year it is being made possible with the generous donations from Children's Services Auxiliary, Toys for Tots Port Hueneme Base, Students from Fillmore Unified Schools, FV Drafting Francisco Vazquez, Vivi Jewelry Ari Larson, American Dream Realty Alex Ortiz, One Call Logistics Ralph Jimenez, Farmers Insurance Paul Maher, Fillmore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Food Share, Fillmore Rotary Club, Edward Jones Kyle Wilson, St Vincent De Paul, Skillin Carrol Mortuary Martin Guerrero, Water Art Design Veronica and Sean Morris, April Ortiz Foundation Irma Magana, Farmers Insurance Dina Molina, First 5 Santa Clara Valley Neighborhood for Learning and many volunteers.

If you are interested in donating any unexpired canned food items, new all types children's clothing, new toys please contact Irma Magana for pick up at (805)794-2353 or email at Notaryirma@hotmail.com for more information last day to collect is December 23. Thank you for your generosity towards those who have less during the holidays.

Kings Corner Training Stables is holding an Open House on Saturday, December 12th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Kings Corner Training Stables is owned an operated by World Champion Rider and Trainer, Taurie Banks and has been producing top horses and rider for over twenty-five years. She will be available to answer your questions about horses and their care.

This is a great opportunity to meet the horses of Kings Corner Training Stable. See World Champion Stallion “Tribal King”, World Champion Stallion “See En Magic” and “White Pharaoh” who was the stunt horse for Disney's 2013 “The Lone Ranger” movie starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer.

Come and get your photo with the Lone Ranger's “Silver”. There are costumes that you can dress up in. Look like the Lone Ranger, a fairy with a magical white horse, or dress up as a knight from the Kings Corner. There will also be horse and pony rides. Proceeds from the Open House go towards competition fees for these amazing horses.

Information on the services that Kings Corner offers will be available, as well as Gift Certificates for Riding Lesson which make a great Holiday Gift.

The United Pegasus Foundation will be there with information about their program and how you can help. United Pegasus Foundation is a non profit organization founded in 1994 dedicated to the rescue of equines. United Pegasus has become one of the largest thoroughbred retirement, rehabilitation and adoption organizations, saving hundreds of former racehorses from slaughter by giving them a well deserved retirement, or second career. Two of the retired racehorses are at Kings Corner Training Stables for retraining to become show horses.

There will be other booths offering information on their products and services, and the neighbors, “Chivas Skin Care” is having their Holiday Boutique. So come and meet some wonderful animals and get your holiday shopping done while your at it.

Kings Corner Training Stables are located at 2230 Bardsdale Avenue, Fillmore. (805) 551-9244 www.kingscornerstables.com or find them on Facebook.

Topic: “Liberty and Justice for All”—What Does it Mean to You?
2015-2016 Sponsored by Lions International, Multiple District Four, California Lions

The Fillmore Lions Club has announced that this year’s contest will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 at the Fillmore Scout House located at the end of Sespe Avenue by Pole Creek. The Topic will be “Liberty and Justice for All”—What Does it Mean to You?

This topic is very appropriate and interesting in light of our present political climate and many controversies. Chair Bill Edmonds states that the total prize money will be over $21,000 with the Fillmore winner receiving $100 and the runner-ups $25. We can have no more than six speakers to get your application in early. The winner will go on to compete against other winners. All Fillmore high school age youth who live within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries regardless of school may enter including home-schooled students, foreign exchange students and students of other high schools may enter.

Students who wish to enter may contact Mr. Edmonds at 524-4839 or Principal Tom Ito at FHS. Edmonds emphasizes that this public speaking competition will be very worthwhile to the students and very interesting to their parents and to 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.

Heather Furness is The Gazette's Cub Reporter

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving this year. Make sure to invite friends and families to your feast. I think they will bring food for your feast. I hope you make great food for your feast and your friends and families will love it. I wonder what you are going to make, but I think you should make turkey because thats the main thing on Thanksgiving. I want to make sure you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. I want to say something to you very quick about this Thanksgiving:) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, established in 1990 to help local cities, including Fillmore, and the County of Ventura meet state mandates to cut the amount of trash they send to landfills in half, held a 25th anniversary celebration on Nov. 19.

Gold Coast Recycling and business partner Harrison Industries honored the cities they serve – also including Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ojai and Carpinteria – as well the County of Ventura with Certificates of Appreciation during the event at the 75,000-square-foot facility in Ventura.

George Harrison, general manager of Gold Coast Recycling, presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of the cities, chambers and communities Harrison serves for helping the communities exceed the trash diversion goals of California Assembly Bill 939, passed in 1989.

“We couldn’t have reached these state goals without the extraordinary commitment of the citizens, businesses and institutions of all of the jurisdictions, and for that we thank them also,” Harrison said.

Working in conjunction with Harrison Industries, GCR established a three-barrel curbside program for trash, recycling and green waste for residents and a white recycling bin program for businesses as well as roll-off and Construction & Demolition programs for both businesses and residents, GCR processes over 90,000 tons of recyclable materials each year.

Government officials presenting GCR with certificates of congratulations included State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy and Fillmore City Councilwoman Diane McCall. Representatives of the offices of Congresswoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblyman Das Williams also presented certificates of congratulations.

In the future Harrison Industries and GCR will be adding green and food waste recycling bins for its business customers, in compliance with California Assembly Bill 1826, which takes effect in 2016. AB 1826 is designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and create a source of green energy.

Community Memorial Health System is offering a free support group delving into emotional freedom techniques, also known as EFT, during December.

The support group will meet Dec. 1, Dec. 15 and Dec. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the CMHS HealthAware office now located at 2580 East Main Street, Suite 103.

Emotional freedom techniques is a healing tool that can provide results for physical, emotional and performance issues. It is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments, but without the invasiveness of needles.

Instead, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while participants think about their specific problem – whether it is a traumatic event, an addiction and pain – and voice positive affirmations.

Virginia Matsuda, who is certified in EFT and hypnotherapy, will lead the support group, facilitated by Evelyn Scott, R.N., of CMHS’s HealthAware program.

“I’ve done it myself and at first did not know what to think of it,” Scott said. “But at the end I felt relaxed with a sense of power over the issue I was dealing with.”

For and more information, contact the HealthAware program healthaware@cmhshealth.org or call 805/667-2818.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

SANTA CLARITA, CA – Bank of the Sierra announced a grant in the amount of $5,000 to the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project. The grant funds will be used to support the Education and Counseling Program for Youth, which implements free, highly-accessible individual and group counseling, as well as other campus-based strategies to help teens and their families in the community.

Bank President and CEO Kevin McPhaill commended the work that the organization does for Santa Clara’s teens, adding, “Bank of the Sierra is more than happy to promote the cause of the SCV Youth Project. The work they do is necessary, and we hope the grant goes far toward helping them achieve their mission.”

Serving a dozen middle, junior, and high schools in the Santa Clarita area, the SCV Youth Project started in 2000, and actively ministers to hundreds of at-risk youths at any given time.

About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over a million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. The grants go toward fostering community services, park preservation, and educational programs. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank’s web site at www.bankofthesierra.com/resources/sierra_grant_program.

About Bank of the Sierra
Since opening its doors in 1977, Bank of the Sierra has grown to become the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley with assets totaling $1.7 billion. The company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 28 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center, and an agricultural credit center.

Santa Clara Valley Hospice Home Support Group Inc. Light up a Life Memorials and Honors.
A light will be shining on the Fillmore/Piru Hospice Tree at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28, at 5:30 pm at the Central Park Plaza in Fillmore, for names of loved ones received, October 10 to November 16, 2015.

for Fillmore in MEMORY OF:
Ed Preston
Betty Preston
Ked Creed
Roberta Creed
Ruth Musgrave
Gerald Davis
Hazel Davis
Lois Main
Bill Haynes
Olen Core
Sue Core
Elmira Morales
Cornelius V. Morales
Adrian Morales
Claude and Mary R. Lee
Rufus and Hazle Hiebert
Clev Cunningham
Jeff Lowe
Logan Floyd Lowe
Bill Dezavala
Bernice Michels
Frank and Sophie Norris
Susan Taylor
Derek DeJarnette
Amy DeJarnette
Ruben Ramirez
Robert Ortega
Pete Cervantes
Mary Beyerl
Joe Beyerl
Julian Rangel
Past Soroptomist Members
Eric (Rick) Godfrey
Bret Godfrey
Vena Godfrey
Louis and Grace Meehi
Terry Meehl
Kathy Black
Diane Dudley
Lori Anne Hawthorne
Robert Stephen Hawthorne
Jean Griffin
Pat Dixon
Jean Griffin
Bob Hoy
Freda Hoy
Patti Gorski
Isabel Luna
Juan Sanchez
Daniel Sanchez
Melvin and Jeffrey Lloyd
Modesto Cardona
Madeline Davis
Ruby Riesgo
Benjie Ledesma
Patrick Holley
Bernard Holley
Boyce “Cotton” Taylor
Stanley Merry

for PIRU IN MEMORY OF
Zeke (Granpa) Hernandez
Lucy (Nana) Gonzalez
Dino Lovato
Paul A. Perez
Robert Perez