The Conejo Valley Guide "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, highlights of local things to do, compilations and other items. Focus is on information relevant to Ventura County and surrounding areas, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark, Somis, Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara and Moorpark.
The Conejo Valley Guide® "Welcome" blog covers a wide range of topics, local information, local things to do, holiday event compilations, announcements and more.
A public service announcement from Ventura County Behavioral Health, Alcohol & Drug Programs, Prevention Services. To learn more about alcohol and drug programs and initiatives, visit venturacountylimits.org.
TSA Pre✓™ is a pre-screening initiative that makes risk assessments on passengers who voluntarily participate prior to their arrival at the airport checkpoint.
TSA Pre✓™ includes U.S. citizens who are members of existing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Trusted Traveler programs including Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI programs as well as eligible airline frequent flyers.
If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA reads the barcode at designated checkpoints and the passenger may be referred to a lane where they will undergo expedited screening, which could include no longer removing shoes, 3-1-1 compliant bag from carry-on, laptop from bag, light outerwear/jacket and belt.
TSA will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures throughout the airport and no individual will be guaranteed expedited screening.
TSA Pre✓™ is in partnership with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Certain frequent flyers from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and certain members of CBP's Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS who are U.S. citizens are eligible to participate. US Airways and United Airlines will also offer TSA Pre✓™ to eligible passengers in the coming months. TSA plans to expand TSA Pre✓™ to include additional airlines, as well as airports that participate in a CBP Trusted Traveler program, once operationally ready.
The above airlines are contacting eligible frequent flyers with an invitation to opt-in. Once the passenger opts-in, the airline identifies the individual as a TSA Pre✓™ participant when submitting passenger reservation information to TSA’s Secure Flight system.
If a participating airlines’ frequent flyer did not receive an invitation from the airline, he/she can still participate by joining a CBP Trusted Traveler program.
Locally here in the Los Angeles area, as of May 2012, the only TSA Pre✓™ screening lane is available only in the American Airlines terminal. TSA Pre✓™ is currently at 14 airports and is anticipated to expand to 35 airports by the end of 2012.
The TSA announced that it has pre-screened over one million travellers through the TSA Pre✓™ initiative as of May 2012.
Learn more at www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/escreening.shtm.
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Though intended for frequent international travelers, there is no minimum number of trips necessary to qualify for the program. Participants may enter the United States by using automated kiosks located at select airports.
To apply, you fill out an online application and pay a $100 non-refundable application fee. After your application is reviewed, you will be asked to schedule an interview at an enrollment center (there's one at LAX). A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will ask you questions, take your photo, and collect biometric information, e.g., scan your fingerprints.
As a pre-screened Global Entry member, you arriv
About 79% of Ventura County residents that are eligible to vote actually register to vote. Do your civic duty and register to vote! Visit www.sos.ca.gov/nvrc/fedform/ for an online form that you can complete and mail in. For additional information about voter registration, including timing deadlines, visit www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm
You may register to vote in California if:
YOU HAVE UNTIL MONDAY, MAY 21ST TO REGISTER TO VOTE!!
But of that 79%...only 40% actually vote! That's pitiful! Come on, register to vote...then VOTE! To make it easier on yourself, apply for a Permanent Vote by Mail status when you receive your Sample Ballot! That way, you never even need to visit a polling place to vote.
TO VOTE BY MAIL IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION ON JUNE 5, 2012, YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN MAY 29TH.
Smokefree.gov (http://www.smokefree.gov) provides free, accurate, evidence-based information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking. The site was created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute.
Smokefree.gov has a variety of resources to help you stop smoking, including a step-by-step quit smoking guide, a wide range of information sources related to smoking and quitting, free text messaging and mobile app services and much more.
National Cancer Institute smoking cessation counselors are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Call 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) to learn more.
There are also state-based tobacco cessation "quitlines" available by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Quitlines are staffed by counselors trained specifically to help smokers quit and the service is completely free.
An interesting interactive map of smoking trends by state is at www.smokefree.gov/map.aspx. Based on data from the 2009-2010 timeframe, the map shows smoking rates, average pack prices, work bans, restaurant bans and other information by state. We're doing pretty well here in California! Based on 2009 data, California had the 2nd lowest adult smoking rate in the U.S. at 12.8%, Utah was by far the lowest at 9.8%. rounding out the "Low 5" were Massachusetts (14.9%), Washington (14.9%) and Rhode Island (15%).
The national average in 2009 was 20.6%. The Top 5 smoking states were Kentucky (25.6%), West Virginia (25.5%), Oklahoma (25.4%), Mississippi (23.3%) and Indiana (23.1%).
As most of us hopefully know by now, individual tax returns for 2011 must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 17th. Why the 17th and not the 15th this year?
Two reasons. The first and most obvious one is that April 15th falls on a Sunday. When April 15th falls on a weekend or a holiday, Tax Day is pushed to the next business day.
However, this year, Monday, April 16th is Emancipation Day, a holiday that is observed in the District of Columbia. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year.
Emancipation Day is celebrated in Washington D.C. to commemororate Abraham Lincoln signing the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of about 3,100 enslaved persons in the D.C. on April 16, 1862. That would make this coming Emancipation Day the 150th Anniversary of that event.
Coincidentally, it was Abraham Lincoln on August 5, 1861 that signed the Revenue Act of 1861, which imposed a federal income tax on individuals for the first time to pay for the Civil War...a 3 percent tax on annual incomes over $800. Ah yes, the good ole days.
More info on taxes but of course is available at www.irs.gov. California follows federal guidelines for Tax Day.
As I sit here tonight tossing out yet another Mega Millions ticket with losing numbers, my mind wanders and I start thinking about just what this California State Lottery is, its history, who benefits and more. So for those of you looking for information about the Lottery, read on!
Background
The Lottery was created by a 1984 California ballot initiative approved by 58% of the voters. Ticket sales began on October 3, 1985, with the first Scratchers® ticket game “California Jackpot.”
Draw Game sales began on October 14, 1986, with Lotto 6/49®. Daily draw games were introduced in March 1990. The Lottery currently offers seven draw games. Players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes, except for the Mega Millions jackpot prize which is one year. Retailers pay prizes up to $599 while prizes over $599 are paid directly by the Lottery.
By law, the Lottery is required to return not less than 87% of revenues to the public in the form of prizes and education contributions, and must spend no more than 13% of revenues on operating expenses.
The Games
Scratchers® - Instant ticket games that are played by scratching the latex covering off a play area and learning “instantly” whether the ticket is a winner. (My kids love these.)
SuperLOTTO Plus® – Players select five numbers from 1 to 47 and one mega number from 1 to 27. There are nine prize categories. To win the jackpot, players must match all five lotto numbers plus the mega number. Jackpot prizes start at $7 million and have reached more than $190 million. Winning numbers are drawn every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:57 p.m. PST.
MEGA Millions® – Players select five lotto numbers from 1 to 56 and one mega number from 1 to 46. There are nine prize categories. To win the jackpot, match all five lotto numbers plus the mega number. Jackpot prizes start at $12 million and have reached as high as $390 million. Winning numbers are drawn in Atlanta, Georgia every Tuesday and Friday at 8:00 p.m. PST (you can buy tickets until 7:45 p.m.). MEGA Millions is one of the largest multi-state lottery games in North America, currently played in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
Hot Spot® – Players select numbers from 1 to 80 and have a choice of playing ten different “spots” ranging from 1 to 10. There are 58 prize categories in this game. Draws are conducted daily every four minutes with the first draw at 6:04 a.m. and last draw at 2:00 a.m. Twenty winning numbers are selected for each draw.
Conejo Valley Guide covers events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide® covers thousands of events, activities and things to do throughout Ventura County, California and surrounding areas.
Conejo Valley Guide is a participant in certain affiliate programs. These affiliate advertising programs are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the respective websites. Some links on the site may be affiliate links. We get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site. Learn more at paidforadvertising.com.
