Ventura County Star Communities

Growing up poor in Mexico and working in the fields at age 8, George Herrera later survived three auto accidents, diabetes, high blood pressure and open heart surgery, not to mention the raising of 14 children.

SeaView IPA presents "Take Charge of Your Health, Understanding Your 2009 Healthcare Options" by Dr. Gary J. Proffett from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 21 at Residence Inn by Marriott, 2101 W. Vineyard Ave.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Tomorrow, it's your opportunity to find out for yourself. At 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Moorpark Active Adult Center, Roberta Andrino will begin the first of her classes on watercolor painting. The class lasts for three hours until noon. The class is open to all ages and levels of artistic skill. In addition to learning how to mix paint and blend colors, the students will have an opportunity to learn how to critique artwork.

Q: I am a senior who has just become computer literate and am enjoying my newfound hobby of visiting the Internet. I have viewed a number of Web sites offering health and healthcare information and am wondering how I can determine if the information provided is reliable. Are there any tricks on how to sort reliable from unreliable information?

Life is amazing! Just when I think I am ready to retire and read all those books I have never had the time to read, and the places I have never visited and want to, something comes along that is too good to pass up.

Rusty is such a fine pooch, handsome, spirited and full of life, playful and with a brilliant mind. He knows lots of commands, loves to play tug-of-war and fetch. He loves to have his back scratched just in front of his tail and, when scratched, he goes into huge contortions. But most of all, he loves to chase lizards and is bright enough to have figured out where he has the best chances to find one (sunny spots).

Camille is a sweet 1-year-old female Chihuahua mix who has been waiting for a home since July. She is a lovable dog who is reportedly good with kids and other dogs. You can meet Camille at the Humane Society of Ventura County in Ojai.

Recently the secretary of Veterans Affairs added amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease, to the list of presumptive conditions. Unlike other presumptive conditions, service connection for ALS does not require specific exposure to biohazards or confinement as a prisoner of war.

Her style may be contemporary, but Linda Taylor's technique is centuries old.

Meenal Kelkar spent 15 years in corporate finance, "leading the typical high-stress, poor-sleep, always-on-the-go, can't-sit-still lifestyle," she said.

A Westlake Village woman who has made culture her own professional and personal commitment will be honored Friday by the Valley Cultural Center in Woodland Hills.

Happenings briefs.

The death of their baby is still fresh, painful and tragic, but Andy and Katie Lutz of Moorpark are past tears.

In this troubled economy, it seems like it's always the consumer who's left holding the bag. But, if it's a designer bag you want to hold, there's a new option available to you.

In Uniform briefs.

Helping Hands briefs.

Club news briefs.

At 18, Wyatt Oroke says he has always felt the need to pursue something larger than himself. So when he heard about a youth volunteer program at his school made possible through the American Red Cross of Ventura County, he jumped at the chance.