VENTURA

Volunteers sought for cleanup effort downtown on Saturday

Organizers of a Saturday cleanup effort in downtown Ventura are seeking volunteers.

All ages are invited to help clean, scrape, paint and pick up downtown.

Sponsored by the Downtown Ventura Organization, the cleanup effort will take place 7:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Bank of America parking lot, just up from the corner of Main and California streets.

Organizers say they will offer several easy and safe projects for teens who need community service credit.

Volunteers are encouraged to take work or garden gloves, newspapers, paper towels, cleaning equipment, bottled water and anti-bacterial hand gel.

Refreshments will be provided by downtown restaurants.

For more information, go online to www.downtownventura.org.

CAMARILLO

Restaurant for fire station approved

The Camarillo City Council voted 5-0 Wednesday night to adopt an ordinance that will allow an unused fire station in Old Town Camarillo to be used as a restaurant.

Camarillo officials have wanted to see the fire station, owned by the city Community Development Commission, converted into a restaurant as part of a continuing effort to revitalize Old Town. But the zoning for the station didn't allow that type of use.

Now with the approved ordinance, publicly owned buildings in the zone can have eateries, as long as they have a conditional-use permit.

The fire station is adjacent to Dizdar Park.

Camarillo officials are working with a company interested in using the facility, Community Development Director Bob Burrow said.

Camarillo Commons regulations adopted

The Camarillo City Council on Wednesday night unanimously passed an ordinance aimed at establishing regulations for redevelopment in the Camarillo Commons area.

The ordinance will add a new Camarillo Commons mixed-use zone to the city's zoning ordinance. It allows for a variety of land uses, including office, commercial and upper-story residential.

The Camarillo Commons area is 55 acres bordered on the south by Daily Drive, Ponderosa Drive to the north, Mobil Avenue to the west, and Arneill Road to the east.

AGOURA HILLS

Reyes Adobe Days a success, officials say

The city-organized Reyes Adobe Days, held Oct. 12-14, was declared a success by Agoura Hills officials this week.

Mayor Dan Kuperberg, speaking Wednesday night during the City Council meeting, referred to the celebration as a "win-win." The festival celebrated the area's rural and Spanish heritage and doubled as a 25th birthday party for the city.

"What a great tribute to the whole community," Kuperberg said, citing benefits to local businesses, nonprofit organizations and community members including children. He also thanked the volunteers and city staff members who helped.

Community Services Director Nick Newkirk, whose staff was largely responsible for planning Reyes Adobe Days, summed up the event in terms of numbers: "One Emmy-nominated Grand Marshal, Rainn Wilson (of TV's "The Office"), four locations, 10 events, 23 sponsors, 80 bales of hay, 100 volunteers and approximately 14,000 people attended this year's events. We truly believe that this was the best Reyes Adobe Days yet."

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

City OKs funding plan for YMCA

The Westlake Village City Council unanimously approved Wednesday night four documents needed for the development of a joint city-YMCA sports-park project.

The documents include a lease purchase agreement for the city to take the lead in grading the site and building an access road, drainage and other infrastructure expected to cost $10 million.

The property is a vacant, sloping parcel on the north side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard west of Lindero Canyon Road.

The city has 48 months to complete the site improvements.

The YMCA of Southeast Ventura County will reimburse the city for one-fifth of the cost of building the master pad and other site improvements.

The council heard from residents, and community and youth sports organizations, with all but one of person speaking strongly in favor of the project. Several dozen people attended the meeting.

Among those expressing support for the project through cards and e-mails were former Los Angeles Dodgers Mike Scioscia and Todd Zeile, city officials said.

Westlake Village resident Robert Azarella spoke against approving the project until more details are made clear, particularly financial aspects.

"It's a great project, and we need it," he said, but he added that he "loathes the idea that you will be voting on this tonight."

City Manager Ray Taylor said the city would pay for the cost of building the master pad from a combination of capital improvement fund reserves, borrowing and grant funds already committed by the state and county.

The borrowing would be done through bond financing of $4 million to $7 million, resulting in an annual debt-service cost of $200,000 to $400,000, based on city estimates.

VENTURA COUNTY

West Nile virus found in three more birds

One of the 40 sentinel chickens used by the county to monitor for mosquito-transmitted diseases and three more wild birds have tested positive for the West Nile virus, according to environmental health officials.

The three wild birds were collected in the Thousand Oaks area during the first two weeks of October.

A total of 14 birds collected throughout Ventura County have tested positive for West Nile since Jan. 1. Because the virus is established in Ventura County, officials expect that additional West Nile positive samples will be collected.

To minimize exposure to the virus, the public is urged to eliminate standing water from their property, make sure exterior doors and windows have tight-fitting screens; limit outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk; and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors and apply insect repellent.

To report potential mosquito-breeding sources, call the mosquito complaint hotline at 658-4310.

Red Cross offers free disaster training to public

In response to community interest in volunteering during the Southern Californian wildfires, the Red Cross is offering a two-day disaster action training course this weekend.

Anyone who completes the training can then be deployed locally or throughout the country to help the Red Cross respond to disasters.

The training will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Courtyard by Marriott, 191 Cochran St., Simi Valley. The training is free.

It begins with a basic American Red Cross orientation and is followed by a more detailed introduction to volunteering in disasters. Participants will learn about mass care and run through a disaster action training. On day two, participants will learn about shelter operations and management. Shelter simulations will allow volunteers to see how the Red Cross operates shelters in times of disaster.

Seating is limited. To reserve a spot, call 339-2234, ext. 235.

— From staff reports