Ventura, CA

A new 60 bed veteran's home is set to be complete by April and the first elderly veterans could move in as early as June. The new facility has been under construction since June of 2007 and is located in Saticoy on Telephone Road near Wells Road. A veterans adult day healthcare center at the facility won't open until 2010, because of budget constraints.

Ventura County is home to one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the nation, 60,000 to 65,000, with an average age of 65, according to the county Veterans Services Office.

There are two ways to get information on applying to become a resident of the Ventura home, which is for veterans who need special medical care. During construction, a letter of interest can be submitted online at http://www.cdva.ca.gov. Interested parties also can mail letters of interest to a temporary office, located inside the state Employment Development Department, 635 S. Ventura Road, Oxnard, CA 93030. Veterans Affairs coordinator Mercy Bustos can be contacted at the location or by phone at 765-5601.

The state also will be hiring for the Ventura facility. Available jobs will be listed online. Maria Gonzalez in human resources can be contacted at 765-5606.

Search the MLS for Ventura Real Estate Listings at:

www.VenturaRealEstate.org

PAQUITO D'RIVERA AND FUNK TANGO TRIO

PERFORM SWEET JAZZ & SPICY TANGO

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14!

Ventura High School Theater ~~ 8 pm

BRING YOUR VALENTINE FOR A SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT-ONLY CONCERT IN VENTURA!

To purchase tickets, go online to http://www.venturamusicfestival.org/, or call 805-648-3146.

Now entering its 15^th Season, the VENTURA MUSIC FESTIVAL is celebrating by bringing 9-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER PAQUITO D'RIVERA and his Funk Tango Trio to spice up Valentine's Day!

Search the MLS for Ventura Real Estate Listings at:

www.VenturaRealEstate.org

The budget deficit in California has been mounting and tensions are increasing as cities and counties try to balance their budgets this year. According to today's Ventura County Star newspaper,the local City Council is debating currently about whether or not to place a half-cent sales tax measure before the voters, but first wants to hold a public meeting. That should be interesting. There will be a special town hall meeting February 17 to discuss the tax proposal and get public feedback. A meeting time has not yet been set.

I, for one, am very proud of our city. Voters in Oxnard and Port Hueneme have already approved similar tax measures last year. Although recognizing the hardship on some, it seems to me to be only logical to support this approach. We all must pull together to support our city and community in a time of struggle and budget cuts. Let your voice be heard on February 17th in any case. Become "active" in your community.

www.Venturahomesforsale.org

Insurability is a big consideration when purchasing a home here in Ventura County. In our current climate of foreclosure properties, getting disclosure about the home you are buying just isn't an option. You don't know if there was water intrusion or how it was fixed. Can the home be insured? How much will it cost? Are there past claims? Checking with your insurance agent early on in the transaction is always a good idea. In addition, you can ask the seller to provide you with a C.L.U.E. Report that will give you information about any claims on the property over the past 5 years. Ask your Realtor about this report when you go to buy your next home, especially if it's bank owned or a foreclosure property!

Search the MLS for Ventura Real Estate Listings at

www.VenturaRealEstate.org

www.VenturaRealEstate.org