Tired of Junk Mail? You can stop some of it.

We receive so much junk mail that frequently important mail is lost among the advertising circulars. We have discovered that there is something a frustrated mail box owner can do.

While not clearly disclosed to folks, advertisers must include the means to contact them on the circulars they send out. This information is usually found in the very small print along the edge of the mailing. When you call that number, there is usually an option to opt out of any future mailings.

Two big local advertisers that have taken up the bulk of our mailbox have been Valpak and the Pennysaver.

If you want to increase the functional availability of your mailbox, you can contact Valpak and Pennysaver and tell them to stop all mailings to your address. Their contact information is:

Pennysaver - CALIFORNIA:
Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino, Ventura and Tulare Counties Private Party: (800) 995-3333 Commercial: (714) 996-8900 Email: PrivateSCA@PennySaverUSA.com San Diego County Private Party: (888) 736-6972 Commercial: (760) 599-1400 Bay Area & San Jose Private Party: (800) 947-3669 Commercial: (800) 947-3669 Email: ads@pennysaverusa.com Sacramento Private Party: (800) 947-3669 Commercial: (916) 636-2200 Stockton & San Joaquin County Private Party: (800) 947-3669 Commercial: (800) 947-3669

When calling the numbers above, listen to the voicemail options and follow them to consumer services and distribution. There will be a voicemail that will ask you for your address. In addition and for your records, you may want to email them so you have a date and time of request in writing.

For Valpak, including the "blue envelope" advertising, send an email to:

valerie@Valpak.com and request all mail advertising to stop immediately.

Unfortunately Valpak is stating that it typically takes a couple of months to stop because they send to so many homes. This does seem quite unreasonable. It would seem that multiple requests may be necessary to help them get the message.

Best wishes

Thousand Oaks Street Fair

The Rotary Club's Thousand Oaks Street Fair is scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2007. From the Rotary Club's website there is the following information:
Sunday, November 4th, 2007
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair continues as the premier Arts & Crafts Fair of Ventura County with over 25,000 attendees and 245 vendor booths. It is a great showcase that continues to grow and offer new exciting events.
NEW! "Rodeo Drive": a new area specifically for artisans displaying their own hand-made products.
NEW! in the spirit of Oktoberfest, a Beer and Wine Garden joins the
Whole Foods Taste of the Conejo Valley
The Domino's Pizza Kids Playground with games, crafts, jumpees, soft drinks and pizza.
Two stages will have music, dancing, singing and reptiles for the kids.

Notary Public

California Fires

It is incredible to see such a beautiful day today after so many days of destruction. This weekend we had light showers, so today the sky is clear and there is moisture in the air.

For those who haven't seen Malibu Canyon since the fire, everything is charred from after the last tunnel down to Pacific Coast Highway. The "castle" is destroyed.

If only we had this rain last week, things may have been quite different. The smoke, ashes, and orange skies are gone.

My heart goes out to those that lost their life or family possessions through these fires. There are so many stories of loss...

San Diego County figures:
Residences destroyed -- 1,588
Residences damaged -- 320
Commercial properties destroyed -- 2
Commercial properties damaged -- 0
Outbuildings damaged -- 720
Outbuildings destroyed -- 25
Evacuated residences -- 640,000
Firefighters injured -- 93
Civilians injured -- 23
Civilian fatalities -- 7
Total firefighters assigned -- 8,324

23 Freeway Construction Ventura County

Has anyone else noticed that there are NO signs warning of construction, concrete mixers or other trucks randomly pulling out onto the 23 freeway at the construction site?

In driving that area each morning it seems that there has been an incredible increase in traffic accidents. Some of them have looked pretty bad, requiring the assistance of emergency medical services.

Interestingly, there are no flagmen or signs warning motorists of sudden semi trucks blocking the freeway. This seems quite unbelievable. In making numerous phone calls to the California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans, it seems that nothing is planned for safety. All public agencies called report that either there is no increase in accidents OR that the state takes every step to ensure public safety. Yeah, right.

This writer was almost killed recently when a piggy-back semi concrete mixer pulled across the freeway suddenly and without warning.

All motorists are encouraged to call Cal Trans, CHP, and local government offices to demand increased safety measures. Since this is a major route for recent high school graduates traveling to Moorpark College, it is quite likely the next person to be involved in a fatal accident could be a young member of one of our families. Discussing this after something tragic happens does nothing. The CHP office is in Moorpark and the watch commander is Sergeant Moriarty. Sargeant Moriarty indicated that motorists should be aware of the situation even without any signs. This appears to be an unacceptable response. Young drivers make mistakes, and in this section of the freeway currently, mistakes could be fatal. Please let your local officials hear from you.
CHP Moorpark: 610 Spring Road, Moorpark. Sergeant Moriarty 805.553. 0800
CalTrans: District Director Douglas Failing 213.897.3656
CalTrans Project Contact Yessica Jovel 213.897.1876
CalTrans Chief of Staff in Sacraments Srikanth Balasubramanian 916.654.5266

Notary Public