NEWS Unofficial ballot drop boxes reported Kindness Corner VC registrar criticizes “concerted effort to deceive voters” by Kimberly Rivers kimberly@vcreporter.com
Official indoor ballot box.
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n a statement released at 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11, the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters stated they have received reports of groups in the county promoting unofficial ballot drop boxes. “My office works hard to conduct fair and impartial elections and to provide safe and secure options for voters to return their ballot, to say I’m disappointed that people would make a concerted effort to deceive voters would be an understatement,” said Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. The two unofficial ballot boxes were in Simi Valley at the Republican Values Center and Saint Rose Church. “The church was aware of
Official outdoor ballot box.
the issues the box created and said it will no longer be placed there. A rep at the Republican Center said there was a box in the back and Elections staff told them not to use it,” said Miranda Nobriga, Public Information Officer with the Ventura County Registrar of Voters. According to the statement, the placement, use and promotion of “unauthorized, non-official ballot drop boxes is prohibited by state law.” The public should understand that only the locked white drop boxes at the stated locations with the official logo and signs of the Ventura County Elections Division are official and secure. “Elections are all about trust and unofficial drop boxes are not safe. There is no way for the voter to
know if their ballot reaches our office as cast and this certainly undermines public trust,” said Lunn. “My message to those that are putting out these boxes is ‘cease and desist this activity, you’re not being helpful and you’re undermining the process.’ ” There are two versions of the correct and official ballot drop boxes. One design is for outdoor locations and the other, also white, is narrower and designed for indoor locations. See photos. Locations of official Ventura County Elections ballot drop boxes can be found at VenturaVote.org or by calling 805-654-2664. Unofficial drop boxes should be reported to Ventura County Elections immediately at 805-654-2664 or after business hours elections@ventura.org.
Support for families facing cancer during pandemic
There are numerous challenges a family faces when a child is diagnosed with cancer. For some, the pandemic has introduced additional factors: job loss or insecurity, financial hardship and yet more health concerns and added stress. Since March, the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) has ramped up its services to provide additional financial, educational and emotional support in the face of COVID-19. Rent and mortgage assistance, grocery gift cards and meal and package delivery have helped meet food and shelter needs, while tutoring has helped ensure school-age children can make the most of their education. Direct financial assistance and therapy have also been provided. And because kids and their families need fun, too, TBCF has Andy Casas of Moorpark. organized a variety of virtual events Photo submitted for safe entertainment. “We have had so much support from Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation that I cannot even imagine what it would have been like not to have them by our side,” said Teresa Casas of Moorpark, whose son, Andy, nearly lost his leg to high grade osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. The foundation serves families throughout San Luis Obisbop, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and has helped 31 local families affected by both cancer and the economic impacts of COVID-19. For more information and to donate, visit www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org. — Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer
Tips for voters from County Registrar of Voters • RETURN YOUR SIGNED BALLOT: Vote By Mail Ballots can be returned using the prepaid postage return envelope or by bringing it to any official drop box, voting location, or the Ventura County Elections Division. Make sure to sign the envelope. • HELP RETURNING YOUR BALLOT: If you choose someone to return your ballot, only choose someone you trust. You and the other person must sign the back of the return envelope. Never give your ballot to someone else unless you have completed, signed and sealed the return envelope. • SIGN UP FOR BALLOT TRACKING: You can sign-up at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov to get automatic notifications by text message, email, or voice message about the status of your Vote By Mail ballot. You’ll be notified once your county has received your ballot, once it has been counted, and if there are any issues with the ballot. • TRUSTED INFORMATION: Get information on voting from trusted, official sources—the Ventura County Elections Division and the Secretary of State. Resources for Ventura County voters are available at: VenturaVote.org. The Secretary of State has resources for California voters at vote.ca.gov.
Eye on the Environment
Mosquito control ahead of rainy season by David Goldstein
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ccording to weatherspark.com, the rainy season in Ventura County usually starts this week and lasts 6.6 months, peaking in February. Although Ventura County has been hot and dry recently, now is a good time to start preventing mosquito breeding, a problem usually coming in tandem with our wet season. According to Cary Svoboda, Vector Control Program Lead with the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, small, day-biting, invasive Aedes mosquitoes were recently found in several cities in Ventura County. The problem will get much worse if we do not take precautions before the rains start. 6—
— October 15, 2020
One precaution is to be sure proper screens are attached to rain barrels that capture rainwater. A 1/16 inch mesh is necessary to keep out all mosquitoes, according to Svoboda. Tire swings, tire sandboxes, tire obstacle courses and other reuses of tires can also pose mosquito breeding dangers. No matter how a stored tire is angled, if it is uncovered, it will collect water. Worse, when the rain is over, the tire’s curve shades collected water, preventing rapid evaporation, and the tire’s black rubber heats the water, making it even more attractive to mosquitoes. Puncturing tire walls for drainage is difficult, and because cutting tools bounce off tires, it can be
dangerous, so covering tires to prevent water collection is essential, if not always practical. Also, keep an eye on potted plants to avoid a problem my parents faced last month. Plagued by mosquitos, they called a vector control specialist who examined their backyard and found pools of water in their overgrown, root-bound, potted orchids. Roots were preventing drainage out of the bottom of the pots, so water was pooling under leaves at the top of the soil, and mosquitoes were breeding. Re-pot to avoid problems. A similar problem with potted plants relates to over-watering. If you over-water, you can create puddles in the drainage plate under the pot. The Vector Control Program for Ventura County, managed by the Ventura County Environmental Health Division, has a website on the topic, at www.vcrma.org/vector-control-program, which mentions other tips. For example, fill a hollow tree stump or tree hole with sand to avoid water accumulation; store wheelbarrows, small boats, chil-
dren’s toys, wading pools, and empty pots upside down; and avoid accumulation of lawn cuttings or raked leaves in gutters and storm drains to ensure water flows rather than pools. You should also stock ornamental ponds with mosquito fish, which are available free by calling 805-662-6582. Bacterial larvicide, such as MosquitoDunks, is another control measure targeting mosquito larvae. If you see a danger on someone else’s property, the best option is to politely inform them. Another option is to contact the Ventura County Vector Control hotline at 805-658-4310. You can leave an anonymous report, including only the address of the danger, but if you also leave your name and phone number, staff can follow up with you in case they are unable to find the danger you noticed. David Goldstein, with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, can be reached at 805-658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.
