VENTURA

Nuclear energy topic of discussion

Nuclear energy and economic justice will be topics of discussion when Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions holds its monthly meeting Sept. 2 in Ventura.

Das Williams, legislative analyst for the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, will give a talk titled "Economic Justice and Local Working Families." A member of the Santa Barbara City Council, Williams is a longtime activist for working families on the issues of healthcare, environmental and social justice, living wages and immigrant rights.

The meeting will be from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Foster Library's Topping Room, 651 E. Main St., Ventura.

Jon Block of The Union of Concerned Scientists will speak on "Why Nuclear Energy Is Not The Answer To Climate Change."

Block, an attorney, is project manager on nuclear energy and climate change for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

For more information, call 850-5849.

City offers free films under the stars

Families can view free movies on three Saturday nights in September and October as part of Ventura's Starlight Cinemas.

The three films, "Endless Summer," "Grease Sing-a-long" and "Creature from the Black Lagoon," will be shown on outdoor screens at three parks throughout the city. Families can take blankets and picnics to enjoy the films.

"Endless Summer" will be shown Sept. 15 at Plaza Park, at Chestnut Street and Thompson Boulevard. On Oct. 6 at Barranca Vista Park, 7050 E. Ralston St., "Grease Sing-a-long" will be shown. That will be followed by "Creature from the Black Lagoon" Oct. 27 at Ventura Community Park, 901 S. Kimball Road. All films will begin at dusk.

Alcohol, pets, umbrellas or grilling are not allowed. For more information visit www.cityofventura.net or call 658-4768.

SANTA PAULA

House blaze sets off small brush fire

A fire burned down a Santa Paula house under construction and scorched a quarter acre of the surrounding brush before being extinguished early Saturday morning, fire officials said.

About 17 fire units were dispatched to the 15900 block of South Mountain Road after the fire was reported around 12:12 a.m.

The structure fire was extinguished shortly before firefighters knocked down the brush fire about 12:50 a.m.

There were no reported injuries. Investigators are still searching for the cause of the fire.

SIMI VALLEY

Summer wine festival planned for Sept. 8

The third annual summer wine festival, sponsored by the Valley Veterinary Clinic, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in a private home in Lexington Hills Estates.

The festival includes food, wine and a silent auction and will raise money for the unwanted pets that are abandoned each year in Ventura County.

The Valley Veterinary Clinic Charitable Nonprofit Corp. provides financial assistance for spaying and neutering pets, helps with pet adoption and placement, and assists in feral cat trappings.

Along with Italian fare and music of the Riviera, highlights of the event include tarot card readings and the live auction.

Tickets are $75 if purchased before the event and $90 at the door.

Valet parking is available.

For tickets or more information, call 526-2743.

THOUSAND OAKS

Banned books to go on display at CLU

Books that people have attempted to ban will be on exhibit Sept. 4-28 at California Lutheran University's Pearson Library.

"Banned Books: From a Historical Perspective" will be held in observance of Banned Books Week, which the American Library Association created in 1982 to remind people of the freedom to read.

The ALA has designated Sept. 29 through Oct. 6 as Banned Books Week.

The Pearson Library exhibit will include many well-known critically acclaimed books, including "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou and "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. Displays will explain the reasons behind the challenges. Admission is free.

The library is open from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Friday, and 10:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Saturday. The university is at 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

For more information, contact Judith Samuel at 493-3092 or jsamuel@callutheran.edu.

Republican center opening set today

The Ventura County Republican Party will hold a grand opening today for its Republican Center in Thousand Oaks.

State and local GOP leaders have been invited to take part in the open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 2219 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The center is across the street from The Lakes shopping center and the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. A ribbon cutting will take place at 2 p.m.

The center will serve as the headquarters for the Ventura County Republican Party and a place where Republicans can gather to hear guest speakers, learn about candidates and propositions, and volunteer for campaigns.

Attendees are asked to bring items to be sent to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more information, contact Natalie Panossian at 217-2465 or via e-mail at venturacountygop@gmail.com.

VENTURA COUNTY

Workshops on healthcare initiative scheduled

The Ventura County Health Care Agency is hosting application assistance workshops for people interested in the new Access Coverage Enrollment Program, a healthcare coverage initiative for adults without medical insurance.

The next workshops are scheduled Saturday and Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Public Health office, 3147 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.

Participants will have access to ongoing, regular medical care services through the Ventura County healthcare system and the ACE provider network, including medical office visits, behavioral health services, immunizations, urgent care, prescription drugs, lab tests and hospital in-patient services. Each participant pays an enrollment fee and small co-payments for doctor visits, prescriptions and emergency room trips.

To qualify for the program, participants must be from 19 to 64 and not enrolled in other government insurance programs such as Medi-Cal or Access for Infants and Mothers. Participants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and have income that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Everyone who attends an enrollment workshop should take evidence of legal residency, a copy of a utility bill, and a current pay stub or a W-2 income tax form.

For more information or to request an application, call 677-5260.

Nominate the hardest working person

It's time for Star columnist Colleen Cason's annual Hardest Working Person in Ventura County Contest.

Each year for her Labor Day column, she features a local resident who not only works hard but also loves the labor he or she does.

Cason selects the winner from those nominated by Star readers.

If you know an eager beaver or a busy bee you think should be recognized, you have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to prepare your nomination.

Please try to limit your entry to 100 words. Describe what the nominee does on the job. Also talk about volunteer work or family obligations. Give an anecdote that demonstrates the nominee's good attitude.

Include the nominee's name, city of residence and contact information.

Include your name and telephone number.

Past years' nominees can be re-entered.

Some nominating letters will be reprinted in The Star's Opinion section during Labor Day weekend.

Nominations will be accepted by e-mail only at cccason@aol.com.

— From staff reports