The latest treatments in heart care as well as women’s heart health issues and tips to prevent heart disease will be the focus of a free seminar on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Ventura.

Community Memorial Health System is hosting the free Heart Symposium as part of its 2019 Speaker Series. The symposium begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the Ventua Beach Marriott, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd. This event is designed to be an educational resource for those with concerns about heart health and disease.

The symposium begins at 8 a.m. with presentations by physicians about heart disease treatments, including the Watchman procedure and reducing the risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation; controlling atrial fibrillation without medications and cardiac ablation; what women should know about heart disease; what’s new in cardiac surgery at the new CMH; TAVR, the latest minimally invasive aortic valve replacement procedure; and tips to prevent heart disease. The symposium will wrap up with a Q-and-A panel discussion before concluding by noon.

Registration is free but reservations are required. For reservations, visit http://www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

The 2019 California Coastal Cleanup Day is Ventura County’s premier coastal cleanup activity of the year. It is anticipated that the event will bring thousands of residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations together to collect trash and debris from Ventura County’s beaches and inland areas to keep it out of our oceans and waterways. Held on Saturday, September 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00.

Last year, over 3,000 dedicated volunteers from Ventura County collected close to 13,000 pounds of trash and recyclables. Statewide over 71,000 volunteers joined together to collect over 800,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the California shorelines and inland waterways.

Bring Your Own Bag or Bucket, Gloves, and Water Bottle! Volunteers are again encouraged to attend their local cleanup site and bring their own bucket or used grocery bag, gloves, and a reusable water bottle to lessen the amount of trash created during the event.

The California Coastal Commission and the Ventura County Coalition for Coastal and Inland Waterways will once again coordinate this regional cleanup event made possible by our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers.

Debris found on beaches and adjacent waterways throughout California include products such as cigarette filters, food wrappers, beverage bottles and cans, grocery and trash bags, and fishing line, nets and gear. Once these products enter local waterways they can travel thousands of miles on ocean currents, posing a threat to ocean ecosystems and wildlife along the way.

Thousands of marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in debris or from ingesting it. Marine debris can impact critical habitat, smothering sea grasses or dislodging or injuring corals. Debris can also pose human health and safety risks. Syringes, broken glass, and other hazardous items pose obvious dangers to barefooted beach goers. Grocery and trash bags, fishing line, nets, rope, and other debris can wrap around boat propellers and clog seawater intakes, causing costly damage and becoming a safety hazard.

Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers not only help improve our local beaches, they also improve their own understanding of nature and the positive impact people can have on the environment when we work together.

To find a site near you go to vccoastcleanup.org

For more information, please contact Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator Kelly Hahs at (805) 658-4375 or [email protected], or Steering Committee member Kay Allen at (805) 583-6424 or [email protected].

County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn announced that signatures-in-lieu of the filing fee petitions for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election may be obtained from the Ventura County Elections Division beginning Thursday, September 12, 2019, for the following offices:

Voter-Nominated Offices:

President of the United States

United States Representative in Congress: 24th, 25th, 26th, and 30th Congressional Districts

Member of the State Senate: 19th and 27th Senate Districts

Member of the State Assembly: 37th, 38th, 44th, and 45th Assembly Districts

Nonpartisan Offices:

Judge of the Superior Court

County of Ventura Supervisor: 1st, 3rd and 5th Supervisorial Districts

Lunn stated, “This is an important election and will have a significant future impact on our cities, county and state.” Lunn added, “Every registered voter in Ventura County is encouraged to take part in our democracy and ensure they cast their ballot in the March 3, 2020 election.”

Petitions for Signatures-In-Lieu of filing fee for all offices, including the office of Judge of the Superior Court, must be filed at the Ventura County Elections Division by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Information regarding filing for these offices and the filing fee amounts may be obtained by calling the Ventura County Elections Division at (805) 654-2664, or by visiting the Ventura County Elections Division website: http://www.venturavote.org.

On Wednesday morning, September 11, 2019, all Ventura City Fire Department stations held a special remembrance ceremony for the first responders and civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Fire Chief David Endaya stated, “It is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since September 11, 2001. Whenever we see the images and hear the sounds, it evokes painful emotions that are as strong as they were when, as an on-duty Firefighter/Paramedic, I watched everything unfolding on the news that fateful morning. We will never forget the heroic efforts of everyone – the firefighters, law enforcement officers, members of our U.S. Armed Forces, and the brave civilians – who gave their all to help others, many losing their lives that day.”

City officials, law enforcement personnel, and civilians attended Ventura City Fire Department stations to participate in the brief ceremony. All stations participated in the ceremony to ensure that all who perished that day are never forgotten.

Fire apparatus rolled out of the stations and was positioned on the station ramps as firefighters stood at attention and raised the U.S. flag ceremoniously to half-staff as silence was maintained.

A special tone was broadcast over the fire radio followed by four sets of five bells. The time coincides with the collapse of the World Trade Center South Tower, and the bells are traditionally used by the fire service to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Fire Officers then shared a brief narrative on the events of September 11, 2001.

Ventura County Public Works Agency Announces Ojai Valley Bike Trail closure for Fresno Canyon Diversion Project

The Fresno Canyon Diversion Project will start construction at the Ojai Valley Bike Trail in August 2019

Ventura County Public Works Agency’s (VCPWA) Watershed Protection District (WPD) is working to reduce repeated flooding in the Casitas Spring community and State Route (SR) 33 with the Fresno Canyon Diversion Project.

The new Fresno Canyon Diversion, which will take nine months to complete, constructs a new storm drain facility, approximately 1,500 feet in length. The project includes installing a 9-foot in diameter, reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) from Fresno Canyon to the Ventura River for conveying stormwater, debris and sediment.

Project construction began in April 2019, and due to the project’s connection to the Ventura River and proximity to the Ojai Valley Bike Trail, the pathway will be closed between the Arroyo Mobile Home Park and Foster Park for five months beginning August 15, 2019. For the Ojai Valley Bike Trial closure period, there will be an alternate bike route for trail goers from Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana Road and Casitas Vista Road.

“The implementation of this project will assist in improving the safety of our communities that are highly susceptible to storm damage,” said Glenn Shephard, director of VCPWA Watershed Protection District. “Our goal is to help reduce the amount of flooding and debris flow these communities face during rainstorms.”

As summer comes to a close, the Ventura Police Department is asking drivers to not get behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs that impact your ability to drive safely.

The Ventura Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in the national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. During this period, which ends September. 2 (Labor Day), the Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on the road looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Labor Day Weekend remains one of the deadliest times of year for alcohol-involved crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 376 deadly crashes nationwide during the 2017 Labor Day holiday period (Sept. 1 to Sept. 5). Among those crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved a drunk driver. Last year, two people were killed, and 31 others injured in California on Labor Day alone.

“There are so many ways to get home safely without driving,” said Sergeant Michael Brown. “Driving while drunk or high is dangerous, irresponsible and causes too many senseless tragedies. We hope that drivers get the message that driving impaired will never be tolerated.”

Driving while impaired is illegal, whether it is alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications or marijuana.

If you plan on drinking or are taking medications that can affect your driving ability, designate a sober driver or use a ride-share service. If you see someone driving impaired, call 911.

Funding for DUI enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

by Joe Morelli, Fire Marshal

As residents, you serve a critical role in emergency response operations whether it is preserving lives, protecting property, or providing other essential services to the community. The Ventura City Fire Department would like to invite you to join their Community Emergency Response Training Program (CERT)beginning Tuesday, October 1, 2019. The training sessions provide an excellent opportunity to meet and work with other city staff and members of the community.

With the use of grant monies, the department was fortunate to hire an experienced outside trainer who makes the classes fun and informative. The topics covered include:

        Disaster/emergency preparedness

        Fire safety and suppression

        Disaster medical (treatment and triage evaluation)

        Light search and rescue

        Organizing/managing a CERT team

        Disaster psychology

        Terrorism and CERT

Training is limited to 60 people and will be held on 6 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and all classes will be held at Police/Fire Headquarters, 1425 Dowell Drive, Ventura. A final exercise will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019, providing students the opportunity to work in multiple groups on common disaster problems.

Please submit your application online at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CERT and contact Kris Edwards at 805-658-4717 or [email protected] with any questions. Hope to see you there!

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (HTF Ventura County) hosted its eighth annual educational and donor recognition fundraising event at the picturesque Maravilla Gardens in Camarillo. The $100,000 raised during the event will grow to $200,000 thanks to a 1:1 fund matching program provided by California State Proposition 1. HTF Ventura County is now halfway to its year-end goal of raising $5 million in support of developing affordable housing for Ventura County. During the evening celebration, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County also debuted its fresh new logo and color palette.

Keynote State Treasurer Fiona Ma addressed a crowd of over 200 housing advocates, business, and community leaders speaking to this year’s topic, Your Business Depends on Housing: We’re all in this together. “My vision for the State Treasurer’s Office is a proactive, solution-oriented agency that understands the dire importance of creating partnerships with the private sector,” said Treasurer Ma, who noted that she has conducted two statewide housing listening tours seeking to revamp regulations under her purview and to “ensure we help increase the production of homes in California.” Inadequate, unaffordable, and a general lack of housing for Ventura County employees, especially those in the middle- and lower-income level, is a leading factor hindering business expansion and economic growth in our community.

With increased community and business donations, HTF Ventura County can exponentially grow its revolving loan fund by leveraging State Proposition 1, the Housing Programs and Veterans’ Loans Bond, which provides a 1:1 fund matching program, up to $10 million. “Our goal is to hit $5 million by December 31st and then raise the additional $5 million in 2020,” commented Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. “We were thrilled to raise $200,000 between donations and Prop 1’s matching fund at this event. Paired with previous donations and funding, we are now halfway to our 2019 goal.”

A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of HTF Ventura County’s new logo. “We went through a well-crafted decision-making process to arrive at this logo,” stated Housing Trust Fund Ventura County Board Chair, Jennie Buckingham.

The Museum of Ventura County, at 100 E. Main Street is closed for renovation until September 20, 2019. There will be a re-opening on September 20th with a massive party to launch the latest exhibit, California Cool. The opening reception, California Club, will be an exciting trip back to an era of Mid-century modernism. The era-immersive experience will feature craft cocktails, live entertainment, 1950’s inspired cuisine, period costumed actors, and much more! Tickets are available now at the early-bird rate.

Free Figure Drawing at the Museum is back in full swing. The Museum’s Artist in Resident, Ryan Carr, leads this class every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Pavilion. All skill levels are welcome and some instruction is provided. This is a dry medium drawing class, so we ask that attendees refrain from watercolors or paints. Although the Museum’s Research Library and Galleries are currently closed, many events/community activities are still scheduled in the Museum’s Pavilion.

The Free 7th Annual Labor Day Vintage Tractor Fair is taking place at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on September 2, 2019 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Performing at the Labor Day Vintage Tractor Fair is Salty Suites. Their songbook of original and traditional songs will cover bluegrass, old country, swing, and classical music with a current edge. Also performing is the Museum’s very own Haul & Oaks, featuring members of the Education department. Other family-friendly activities include pie-eating contests, bouncy houses, tractor crafts, and so much more. Many educational and preservation groups will be in attendance, including the UC Master Gardeners, The Santa Paula Bee Club, the Boys and Girls Club, etc. with a slate of free activities.