Team VFD to Participate in Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle on March 9th

Team VFD is a group of ten Ventura City Fire Department members determined to make a difference. Team VFD is preparing to participate in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, a timed race up the stairs at the Columbia Center in Downtown Seattle.  They will dress in full fire gear and self contained breathing apparatus as they climb 69 flights of stairs, 1,311 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation. The group is climbing to support two causes – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and 11 year old Ventura resident Emma Bowles.

LLS is dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds research in the Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county areas. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community

Honoree Emma BowlesEmma Bowles was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in August 2013. Emma is a very enthusiastic and positive girl who always looks at the glass as half full. Her favorite color is pink and for the last year she has been taking classical guitar lessons. Together with your help and participation Team VFD will climb for a cure and help Emma and her family in this difficult time.

To learn more and to donate to the cause, visit www.teamvfd.com. Team VFD will be hosting a fundraising event at Barrelhouse 101 in Ventura on March 1st and is selling wristbands and T shirts to support Emma. See video below to learn a bit more about Emma. Donate at www.teamvfd.com/donate.

US 101 / SR 23 Interchange Improvement Project Closures Begin February 10th

On Monday, February 10th, Southern California Gas Co. will begin performing utility relocation work in preparation for the start of construction on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. This work is expected to continue intermittently through mid-March 2014.

The following closures will be in effect for approximately the next two to three weeks, to facilitate this work:

• Southbound 101 Moorpark Rd. off-ramp will be closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Northbound  traffic on Moorpark Rd. at the US 101 undercrossing, will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly, Monday through Friday, through mid-March.
• Conejo School Rd. will be reduced to one lane only, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., daily, Monday through Saturday, through mid-March.  Flaggers will be on-site to direct traffic and maintain traffic flow.        

To avoid delays, please plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination if your trip involves any of these routes.

Additional lane reductions and/or closures will take place over the next few weeks as utility providers work to relocate their equipment before construction begins on the US 101 / SR-23 Interchange Improvement Project. The project team will make every effort to provide advanced notice of this work to assist the traveling public.

View Ramp/Lane Closures for Utility Relocation in a larger map

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised these dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather.

Source: www.toaks.org/10123

55 Hour Closures of 118 / 23 Freeway Interchange February 7-10 and 21-24

55-HOUR CLOSURES OF SR-118/SR-23 INTERCHANGE PLANNED 2/7-2/10

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close the northbound Moorpark Freeway (SR-23) connector to the eastbound Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) at Los Angeles Avenue from 10 p.m. Friday, February 7 until 5 a.m. Monday, February 10.

The closure is required to implement emergency repairs of bridge joints on the Arroyo Simi Overhead structure.

Electronic freeway message signs will begin warning of the impending closure a week in advance. Caltrans is urging motorists to avoid the interchange if at all possible and to expect delays.

Eastbound SR-118 will be directed to exit northbound SR-23 at Tierra Rejada Road, travel eastbound and then turn left onto Madera Road to return to eastbound SR-118.

Motorists continuing on eastbound SR-118 from eastbound SR-118/Los Angeles Avenue will take southbound SR-23 to Tierra Rejada Road.

Work will take place around the clock and may generate noise and dust for residents adjacent to the freeway. Otherwise, the work is not expected to involve significant community impacts.

A second 55-hour closure will be required to perform the same work on the westbound Sr-118 connector to southbound SR-23, currently scheduled from 10 p.m. Friday, February 21 through 5 a.m. Monday, February 24. Additional information will be provided closer to that date.

Source: Caltrans District 7 www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/news

Bright Child Indoor Play Center in Oak Park Closes But is Now Called Kids World

Well this is sad news. The Bright Child indoor play center at the corner of Lindero Canyon and Kanan in Oak Park announced that it closed its doors after 10 years in operation on Monday, January 20, 2014.

However, the location is now called Kids World. Same location, different name! More info at kidsworldla.com.  Located at 618 Lindero Canyon Road. 818.338.8888

Although my kids are a bit older now, we have fond memories of visiting Bright Child over the years. Sorry to see them close, but on a brighter note, they indicate in this Facebook post that "the Oak Park venue was 10 years old and Bright Child believes it will better serve our customers to open a brand-new facility with all new equipment."

Looking for other fun indoor play options in and around Ventura County? Check this link.

Ventura County Public Health Provides Advice - First Flu-Related Death of the 2013-2014 Flu Season

Dr. Robert Levin, Ventura County Health Officer, announced today that Ventura County’s first flu-related death has occurred. A resident, under 65 years of age, died after having been hospitalized with the complications related to the H1N1 virus. The victim had other underlying conditions which may have put him at risk for severe H1N1 illness.

 “Flu, including the H1N1 strain, is on the rise throughout the state and, over the past week, influenza-related deaths have increased by 50 in California,” said Dr. Robert Levin, VCPH Health Officer. So far this season, the California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH) has confirmed 95 flu-related deaths statewide.

In Ventura County, there have been 23 flu-related hospitalizations so far this season with six patients requiring treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). With the exception of the one death, all other ICU patients have been released from the hospital. During the 2012 – 2013 flu season, Ventura County had three flu-related deaths.

“The peak of the flu season usually occurs in late January through February, so there is still time to benefit from a flu vaccine,” said Levin. According to the CDPH, influenza vaccine remains available and there is no widespread shortage of anti-virals for treatment of the flu.

An annual flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. It is also important to practice the three “C’s” of illness prevention in an effort to prevent the spread of germs:

• Cover your cough
• Clean your hands
• Confine sick people at home

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please call your healthcare provider:

• A fever higher than 100 degrees and a cough and/or sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Have had contacts with a confirmed influenza case
• Are in a high-risk setting for transmission (e.g. school, prison, camp or other residential institution)
• Are a part of a cluster of influenza-like illness or symptoms

People experiencing flu-like symptoms should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.

For a list of Ventura County flu-shot clinics, visit the Ventura County Public Health’s website clinics page: bit.ly/1avFeAS. For more information about where to get a flu shot, call VCPH Clinics at: (805) 981-5221.

Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society Will Not Host Railfest 2014 Event

The Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society has announced at www.scrvrhs.com that it will not be hosting a 19th Annual Santa Clara River Valley "Railfest" event this Spring, primarily because of "the uncertain contractual relationship between the Fillmore & Western Railway and the Ventura County Transportation Commission, along with the related recent court decisions as published in the media."

The Society indicates that the Fillmore & Western Railway may undertake their own version of Railfest for 2014 and that it is in no way relinquishing our rights to the annual "Railfest Event." The Society is hopeful that by next year, VCTC and Fillmore & Western have an agreement in place for continued rail operations and that Railfest will be back.