By Betty Berry, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Q: Spring is in the air, which usually means it must be time for organizations to put on fairs and expos. Do you know of anything being planned?
A: Yes. The Camarillo Council on Aging is planning a day full of fun and great information geared toward boomers, centenarians and everyone in between.
The Camarillo Senior Expo, “Living Life to its Fullest,” is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 4 at the Camarillo Community Center and Pleasant Valley Senior Center at the corner of Carmen Drive and Burnley Street.
More than 70 agencies and organizations will provide information and displays. The day also will feature entertainment, health screenings, arts and crafts exhibits, and lunch. Dancing will start at 1 p.m.
The Senior Expo will be held rain or shine. Come mix with friends and meet new people.
For more information, call 484-2046.
Q: We are constantly being reminded to be aware of our surroundings and know what is going on around us.
It is also suggested that if we see suspicious people or activities, we should report them.
I’m not sure I know what a suspicious person looks like.
A: There is no particular description of a suspicious person. Generally, anyone who seems out of place for an area or time of day could be considered suspicious. His presence might indicate present or future criminal activity.
An unknown person seen entering a neighbor’s side or backyard or peering into windows would appear to be out of place.
The occupant of a parked vehicle watching a house or business could be a lookout for criminal activity in progress. Also, vehicles slowly cruising through a neighborhood could be casing the area for future burglaries.
A door-to-door solicitor might be someone attempting to see if the residents are at home. While we have always been told to ignore such knocks on the door, we are now being advised to ask, always through a locked door, who it is and what she wants. An unanswered knock could result in an attempted break-in.
Abandoned vehicles might have been stolen, while those parked in remote areas could be connected to drug or alcohol usage.
A person switching vehicles, especially in a public place, might be dumping a stolen vehicle or one used while committing a crime.
Although some suspicious situations could result in innocent explanations, you should still report what you think might be criminal activity.
If you hear unusual noises such as gunshots, screaming or fighting, reported the disturbance immediately.
When you report suspicious activity, do your best to describe what happened, where and when it happened, and if anyone was injured.
If a vehicle is involved, a description of the vehicle and, if possible, the license number, should be included.
It’s also helpful to report how many people were in the vehicle and if they were male or female.
If you saw the vehicle leave the scene, noting the direction of travel would be helpful.
When reporting a suspicious person, describe the clothing worn and any unusual characteristics such as glasses, beard, jewelry, scars or tattoos.
Again, if the person has left the scene, report the direction of travel and mode of transportation if you have that information.
Quick action by a reporting citizen often helps save a life or stop a crime.
— Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; phone 495-6250 or e-mail betty@seniorconcerns.org (please include your telephone number). You are invited to submit questions on senior issues.
