The Ventura County Asscociation of Realtors reported that a plan to build three towers on the old Levitz lot in north Oxnard has been put on hold due to the present economy.  The developer, out of San Diego, still feels the near 9 acre parcel close to Hwy 101 is too good a location not to be developed, but has made a decision to hold off from doing anything until the housing market changes.  Good or bad news for Oxnard?  You make the call. www.VenturaRealEstate.org 09/27/2008

Thursday September 11, 9 a.m. to noonCommunity Health screeningPlaza Park Farmers Market between Fifth Street and C StreetFor more information contact (805) 677-5250 and (805) 483-7960.Thursday September 11, 4 p.m.Folk Dances of MexicoColonia Branch, Oxnard Public library, 1500 Camino del Sol No. 26Inlakech Ballet Folklorico Ensemble performs regional folk dances of Mexico.  For more information contact (805)385-8108.Thursday September 11, 7:30 to 10 p.m.Weekly DanceOxnard Performing Arts & Convention Venter, 800 Hobson Way.The Oxnard Ballroom Dance Club hosts its weekly dance, featuring live Latin and swing music. Singles and couples are welcome. Admission is $7, free for single men on their first visit. For more information contact (805) 647-2603 or (805) 647-2963.Friday September 12,... 09/10/2008

I Live with my husband and 3 dogs on a Main Channel in the Channel Island Harbor of Mandalay Bay... I love fishing with my husband on our 38 foot Boston Whaler and riding my PWC on the Ocean Front... It is an easy job selling what I love... Please Visiit My Website at ..... www.mrsdockside.com 08/28/2008

Oxnard is a great place to call home.  Here are some of the events happening in and around Oxnard over the next week: Thursday August 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Senior & Caregiver Health FairOxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, 800 Hobson WaySenior & Caregiver Health Fair.  Free health screening, wellness checks, information and resources for senior citizens.  Sponsored by County of Ventura Human Services Agency.  For more information contact (805) 654-3217 .Thursday August 28, 7:30 to 10 p.m.Weekly DanceOxnard Performing Arts & Convention Venter, 800 Hobson Way.The Oxnard Ballroom Dance Club hosts its weekly dance, featuring live Latin and swing music. Singles and couples are welcome. Admission is $7, free for single men on their first visit. For more information contact (805) 647-260... 08/26/2008

There's always something fun to do in Oxnard!  Make sure you get out to Channel Islands Harbor for the this summer's Concerts By the Sea - they end soon!  Check out this weeks community events: Thursday August 21, 6 p.m.Open House445 E. Esplanade Drive, Suite 200Azusa Pacific University Ventura Regional Center Open House.  For more information contact Rudy Sahagan at 626-815-2244 or http://www.apu.edu/venturaFriday August 22, 6 p.m.Friday Night Concert SeriesHeritage Square, 715 South A St.This week's concert: . For more information contact (805) 483-7960.Saturday August 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Third annual Veterans Health and Resource Fair1701 N. Lombard StAssemblyman Pedro Nava, the ProCare Foundation and the Veteran Steering Committee of Ventura County will be hosing its 3rd annual Vete... 08/20/2008

Friday July 25, 6 to 8 p.m.Heritage Square Summer Concerts715 South A St.Heritage Square Summer Concerts featuring a variety of musical styles from Caribbean and swing to Latin jazz to rock. Lawn seating is free, plaza seating is $5 Saturday July 26, 2 p.m.Lecture on alternative fuels and environmental impactMeeting Room B, Oxnard Public Library, 251 South A St.UC Professor John Perona will lecture on alternative fuels and environmental impact. With the emphasis on global warming and the push to develop alternative fuels, is there a continued need to find more oil deposits?  For more information contact Robert Franks at (805) 385-7530.Saturday July 26, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday July 27Salsa FestivalPlaza Park, Fifth and B streetsThere is a Salsa Festival with salsa contests, foo... 07/22/2008

Monday July 7, Noon to 3 p.m.Public comment on the future of agriculture in the state of CaliforniaThousand Oaks Room of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way.California Secretary of Food and Agriculture A. G. Kawamura and others seek public comment on the future of agriculture in the state.     Tuesday July 8, 7 p.m.City Council MeetingOxnard City Hall, 305 W. Third St.For more information call 805-385-7803.    Wednesday July 9, 7 a.m.The Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce will host a discussion of the new Veterans Home in Ventura.Capistrano's Embassy Mandalay Beach Suites Resort, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road.For more information contact 805-488-2023.    Thursday July 10, 10 a.m. to noonControlling Your Cholesterol ClassSt. John's Regional Medical Center, 1600 Rose Ave.Controllin... 07/11/2008

The Cool August Days car show in downtown Oxnard is expected to draw classic cars from across Southern California the weekend of August 9 and 10. The Murphy Auto Museum is accepting registration forms for entrants. The Packards International Club will lead a caravan to the museum from Thousand Oaks, the Santa Clarita Valley Corvette Club will lead another group from Valencia and the Antique Automobile Club of America will lead attendees from Santa Barbara. Cars will be on display from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. August 9 along Fifth and B streets near Plaza Park. Entrants will meet at 10 a.m. August 9 at the museum, 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard. The registration fee is $30 per car plus $10 for each driver and each passenger. The fee includes a place in the caravan, admission to the museum and... 07/01/2008

Friday July 4th, Fireworks by the Sea Celebration, 11 a.m. fireworks at 9 p.m.Food, parade, booths, children's events and fireworksChannel Islands HarborFor more information contact (805) 985-4852   Saturday July 5th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Summer series of model ship building classes.Ventura County Maritime Museum, Fisherman's Wharf, 2731 S. Victoria Ave.Master modeler Bob Little will teach two classes on how to put a ship in a bottle. Cost for each two-Saturday class is $49 plus $10 materials fee payable to the instructor.Contact for more information: Ventura College Community Education (805) 654-6459.    www.HopeGoss.com   07/01/2008

Rio Elementary School Disctrict Rio Elementary School District    2007 API score Statewide ranking Similar school ranking 2008 target score Rio Elementary 676 - - - El Rio Elem. * 609* 1* - 619 Rio Del Mar Elem. 609 1 2 619 Rio Del Norte Elem. 736 4 4 741 Rio Lindo Elem. 722 3 2 727 Rio Plaza Elem. 638 1 4 646 Rio Real Elem. 635 1 4 643 Rio Rosales Elem. 781 6 8 786 Rio Del Valle Elem. 627 2 1 636 Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com/schools for API Rankings of all Ventura County, CA schools. Purpose The Academic Performance Index rates California's public schools and sets targets for the schools to achieve.  What the categories mean: API scores: The state uses the Academic Performance Index to rank schools based on test scores. The rankings are based on student's scores on state standard... 06/28/2008

Oxnard Union High School Disctrict Oxnard Union High School District    2007 API score Statewide ranking Similar school ranking 2008 target score Oxnard Union 673 - - - Camarillo (Adolfo) High 789 9 5 794 Channel Islands High 666 4 7 673 Hueneme High 629 2 4 638 Oxnard High 677 4 3 683 Pacifica High 650 3 5 658 Rio Mesa High 681 4 3 687 Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com/schools for API Rankings of all Ventura County, CA schools. Purpose The Academic Performance Index rates California's public schools and sets targets for the schools to achieve.  What the categories mean: API scores: The state uses the Academic Performance Index to rank schools based on test scores. The rankings are based on student's scores on state standard tests, the California Achievement Test and the California Hig... 06/28/2008

Ocean View Elementary School Disctrict, Oxnard, CA Ocean View Elementary School District    2007 API score Statewide ranking Similar school ranking 2008 target score Ocean View Elementary 706 - - - Laguna Vista Elem. 807 7 10 A Mar Vista Elem. 673 2 7 679 Tierra Vista Elem. 690 4 9 702 Ocean View Jr. High 697 4 9 702 Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com/schools for API Rankings of all Ventura County, CA schools. Purpose The Academic Performance Index rates California's public schools and sets targets for the schools to achieve.  What the categories mean: API scores: The state uses the Academic Performance Index to rank schools based on test scores. The rankings are based on student's scores on state standard tests, the California Achievement Test and the California High School Exit Exam. ... 06/28/2008

Oxnard Elementary School District Oxnard Elementary School District    2007 API score Statewide ranking Similar school ranking 2008 target score Oxnard Elementary 688 - - - Brekke Elementary 754 5 6 759 Chavez Elementary 657 1 5 664 Curren Elementary 718 3 6 723 Driffill Elementary 662 1 3 669 Elm Street Elementary 659 1 5 666 Harrington Elementary 693 2 7 698 Kamala Elementary 664 1 4 671 Lemonwood Elementary 733 4 8 738 Marina West Elem. 719 3 5 724 McAuliffe Elementary 730 4 2 735 McKinna Elementary 683 2 5 689 Ramona Elementary 649 1 2 657 Ritchen Elementary 721 3 5 726 Rose Avenue Elementary 787 6 8 792 Sierra Linda Elementary 687 2 4 693 Frank Intermediate 625 2 2 634 Fremont Intermediate 685 4 3 691 Haydock Intermediate 664 3 7 671 Visit VenturaCountyRelocation.com/schools for A... 06/16/2008

I have trust issues.  My therapist and I have been working on them and I thought I had made progress.  But, as I sat listening to a presentation on the City of Oxnard's proposed half-percent sales tax increase, I had a relapse.  It happened last Thursday when seven top Oxnard officials came to the Ventura County Association of REALTORS to educate us on the proposed tax increase.  They were: Edward Sotelo, Oxnard City Manager; Daren Burnham, Assistant City Manager; Grace Hoffman, Deputy City Manager; Martin Erickson, Government Affairs; Haywood Milligan, Oxnard Fire Chief; and John Cromback, Police Chief.  The speakers gave a Powerpoint presentation with each taking turns presenting the slides.  We learned that the city had commissioned a survey last October that showed that 70% of Oxnar... 05/16/2008

Apostolic B'nai Moshiach Apostolic Church, (805)240-1684327 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033 Assemblies of God Assembly of God Church, (805)485-3167 1076 East Stroube Street, Oxnard California 93030 Baptist Calvary Baptist Church, (805)488-6982 950 East Pleasant Valley, Oxnard California 93033First Baptist Church, (805)483-2205936 West Fifth Street, Oxnard California 93030First Baptist Church of El Rio, (805)485-1316 2857 Cortez Street, Oxnard California 93030Free Will Baptist Church, (805)487-1717 831 West 7th Street, Oxnard California 93030Good Shepherd Baptist Church, (805)486-3618 808 East 1st Street, Oxnard California 93030Korean Baptist Church, (805)486-5700 241 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033Shiloh Baptist Church, (805)483-4877 327 Hill Street, Oxnard California 93033Sai... 05/09/2008

45 Written Offers in 5 Days It can still happen. Even in this so-called "slow real estate market" don't be shocked to see a flood of offers. With the help of your Realtor®, price your home right and you may get 45, or even more, offers in 5 days. Today my client and I, who by the way found me on Active Rain, toured an REO/Bank Owned Home in an area of Oxnard, Ventura County, where there are 3-4 for sale signs per street. The reason for that is a whole different story. This house had been on the market for 5 days and already the kitchen counter was filled with Realtor's® business cards. I have been showing an average of 5-6 homes per week and from that list there are at least 2-3 short sales or REOs.  This particular REO (Real Estate Owned), except for the carpets, was in great shape and... 05/08/2008

Oxnard is located on the Pacific Coast in Southern California.  It is approximately 62 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and 35 miles south of Santa Barbara.  With a population of just over 192,997 (2007) it is the largest city in Ventura County.  Oxnard has a mild climate with an average maximum temperature of about 70º.  It is always a surprise to homebuyers new to the area that only one in about a thousand homes have air conditioning!     Oxnard is named after the family that developed the first major industry here, a sugar beet factory in the 1890's.  From time to time someone suggests changing Oxnard's name to something else--Channel Islands to name one example.  So far, it's still Oxnard!  (Although many folks do refer to the area or Oxnard adjacent to the harbor and beach a... 05/03/2008

Somewhere, far, far way...in a parallel Earth there will be a huge celebration next month in a parallel Oxnard.  This parallel (and more enlightened) Oxnard will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the grand opening of Fisherman's Wharf to the public back in May of 1978.  There they cherished (or at least performed basic maintenance) on their Fisherman's Wharf and it is still a favorite hangout for locals and visitors alike.  Sadly, in our universe, Fisherman's Wharf has not fared so well.  More like a ghost town now, Fisherman's Wharf is a nearly abandoned place-deserted and rotting.  A testament to the inept county officials entrusted with it's care and management.       Last week I stopped by the Fisherman's Wharf in the morning to take a walk around. I was amazed at how much wors... 04/25/2008

I hate traffic!  Actually, everyone does.  That's what is so appealing about the title of a new initiative circulating in Oxnard named "The Oxnard Traffic Initiative."  Unfortunately, this initiative is really a no growth measure and offers nothing to improve traffic.  Last Thursday, Penny Boehm and Nancy Lindholm, both representing "Citizens for a Safe and Prosperous Oxnard", shared with the Local Government Relations Committee of the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS (VCCAR) why they oppose this measure and feel it would create more harm than good.Before, I go on, let me disclose that this article is not intended to be an impartial analysis.  I'm biased and no admirer of Tim Flynn, the Oxnard City Councilman who is a major proponent of this measure.  In my opinion, though... 04/19/2008

April 11, 2008The Foreclosure Consulting Law was designed to protect the public against such things as foreclosure scams.  There are important points that need to be followed to be under the protection of this law that dates back to the Depression.  l)There must be a written contract with the right to rescind.  So if someone approaches you without a contract with this provision consider it a warning sign that they may not be legitimate. 2)  The party approaching you for help cannot acquire an interest in the property.  3) There cannot be any money given until a service is performed.  So if you're asked for money up front to help you resolve your foreclosure woes then this can be another red flag that they're up to no good.  4) The seller of the possible foreclosure property must also re... 04/11/2008