Q: I care for my parents and have been reviewing their finances. Whom can I contact about veterans benefits that my father may be entitled to receive? A: Ventura County Veterans Services has a staff of professional veterans claim officers who are accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The claims officers can provide information, referrals, help with claims preparation and submission and provide follow-up service to ensure veterans, their dependents and survivors receive benefits. The main office is at the Human Services Agency, 855 Partridge Drive in Ventura. Call 477-5155 with questions or to make an appointment with a claims officer. The agency also has field offices in Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. A claims officer is available from 1-4 p.m. Thursdays at the Veterans Home of Ventura, 10900 Telephone Road in Ventura. In Oxnard the claims officer is at the Oxnard College Job & Career Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays. Santa Paula has a claims officer available from 1-4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Santa Clara Valley Job & Career Center, 725 E. Main St. and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at the Santa Paula Senior Center, 530 W. Main St. Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks each have two locations. In Simi Valley, a claims officer is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at the East County Job & Career Center, 980 Enchanted Way and by appointment only from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Wednesday of the month at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. For an appointment, call the Senior Center at 583-6363. In Thousand Oaks, a claims officer is available from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at Supervisor Linda Parks ’ office, 625 W. Hillcrest Drive and from 1-4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Goebel Community Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road. All services are free. Q: I know there are organizations that dispose of flags in a dignified way. How can I get in touch with them? A: The Eric Hubert Post 11395 Veterans of Foreign Wars collects and oversees the proper disposal of old, worn, tattered, frayed or faded U.S. flags. There will be a flag burning ceremony at 10 a.m. June 14 under the oak tree in front of Thousand Oaks City Hall, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. People may bring worn flags to that event. People who cannot attend the ceremony may place worn flags in the VFW flag repository on the ground floor of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza/City Hall or the repository in front of Supervisor Linda Parks’ office at 625 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. HAPPENINGS: Sunday: Senior Concerns Love Run. Registration, 6:30 a.m., 3011 Townsgate Road, between Westlake Boulevard and Lakeview Canyon in Westlake Village; 7:45 a.m., 10K race; 8 a.m., 5K race; 9:15 a.m., one-mile walk/run. For information, call Senior Concerns at 497-0189 or email loverun@seniorconcerns.org . June 6: “Healthier Living” six-week program. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Goebel Community Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. For information and registration, call Brenda at 495-6250. June 12: Cheri Elson will present “Conservatorships” with a special emphasis on probate conservatorships. 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Ventura County Law Library, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. For information, call 642-8982. June 12: “Will You Pass Your Next Driving Test?” seminar. 1:30-3 p.m.; Westlake Village Civic Center, 31200 E. Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. For information, call 495-6250. Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Community Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, or call 495-6250 or email betty@seniorconcerns.org . Please include your telephone number. More …
