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SENIORS : Timely Assistance : As April 15 draws near, volunteers for many organizations offer older people free help dealing with IRS forms.

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Here’s good news for seniors scrambling to meet the April 15th deadline to file income tax returns.

Seniors over age 55 can receive free assistance from trained volunteers to prepare their state and federal tax forms. People with disabilities, individuals who earn less than $25,000 annually, and couples who together earn less than $32,000 also qualify for the service.

Tax assistance services sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (Vita-Tax) Program and the American Assn. of Retired Persons’ (AARP) Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), are available through April 15 at several sites around Ventura County.

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First-time customer Vera Gattoni, 75, of Newbury Park was satisfied with the help that she received from volunteer Joseph Ruh. “The gentleman was very nice, and he explained everything very well. I was pleased with his manner and his knowledge,” Gattoni said.

Ruh, 73, has been a volunteer in both tax programs for three years. He emphasized that volunteers only prepare simple tax returns. They also take an oath of confidentiality. “We’re supposed to forget everything we know about these people, and we never keep any paperwork,” he said.

The following is a list of service sites in Ventura County offering free tax help through April 15. Entries with phone numbers require an appointment. The remaining sites provide assistance for those who walk in.

CAMARILLO: Camarillo Library, 3100 Ponderosa Drive, Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon; Camarillo Senior Center, 1605 E. Burnley St., Mondays 10 a.m. to noon; Security Pacific Bank Community Room, 5800 Santa Rosa Road, Fridays 1 to 4 p.m.

MOORPARK: Catholic Charities Office, 77 1st St., Thursdays 10 to noon, walk-in and appointment, (805) 529-0720.

OAK VIEW: Oak View Nutrition Site, 195 Mahoney St., Fridays 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

OJAI: Little House Senior Center, 111 W. Santa Ana St., Tuesdays and Fridays 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., (805) 646-7787; Whispering Oaks Senior Area Housing, 999 E. Ojai Ave., Tuesdays 9 to 11 a.m. Service for shut-ins. Walk-in or appointment, (805) 646-5809.

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OXNARD: Our Lady of Guadalupe School, 530 N. Juanita Ave., Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m.; Oxnard Community Center, 800 Hobson Way, Wednesdays 10 a.m. to noon; Oxnard Library, 214 South C St., Wednesdays and Thursdays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Wilson Senior Center Library, 310 North C St., Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Ventura County Council on Aging Senior Recreation Center, 4917 Rose Ave., Mondays 9 a.m. to noon.

PORT HUENEME: Port Hueneme Community Center, 555 Park Ave., Tuesdays 1 to 3 p.m.; Port Hueneme-Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Tuesdays 6:30 to 9 p.m.

SANTA PAULA: Santa Paula Community Center, 530 Main St., Mondays 1 to 4 p.m.

SIMI VALLEY: Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, (805) 526-9237; Simi Valley Public Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For additional locations, call your local senior center.

THOUSAND OAKS: Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon; Conejo Valley Retired Senior Volunteer Program Building, 110 S. Conejo School Road, Thursdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Human Services Center, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Room 218, Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon.

VENTURA: Santa Clara Senior Center, 429 Santa Clara St., Tuesdays and Saturdays 1 to 3 p.m. through April 9; Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Ave., Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon; East Ventura Senior Center, 9050 Telephone Road, Wednesdays 9 to 11 a.m.; Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6300 Telephone Road, Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (805) 642-5387.

SENIORS ACTIVITIES

The following is a list of programs and services available for senior citizens in Ventura County:

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* The Goebel Senior Center, 110 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks, will offer an “AARP 55 Alive” mature-driving instruction class form 1 to 5 p.m. today and Friday. Attendance of both sessions is required. Fee is $8. Make reservations by calling 527-9339.

* The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program monitors the quality of care in nursing homes and advises nursing-home residents of civil and personal rights. The program also offers counseling and support for families of people who are facing nursing-home placement. Call 656-1986 or 373-7371 for free, confidential service.

* The Esplanade, 195 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard, offers the Energizers Mall Walk from 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The program provides a clean and air-conditioned environment in which to develop cardiovascular fitness. Participants meet at center court to receive blood pressure and pulse checks before and after the walk. Call 485-1146 or 988-1518.

* Seniors can have their blood pressure taken free from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursdays at the Goebel Senior Center, 110 S. Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. Call 497-1639 for information.

* Walk for Life takes place 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Buenaventura Plaza, 363 S. Mills Road, Ventura. Participants meet at the food court and have their blood pressure and pulse taken before and after the walk. Call 652-5095 for information.

* The Senior Nutrition Program offers a hot, nutritious noontime meal for people 60 and older Mondays through Fridays at 15 locations in Ventura County. Low-sodium and diabetic diets are available upon request. There is a suggested donation of $1.75. Meals can be delivered to the home. An extra 35-cent donation is requested. Call 388-4323.

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* The Meals on Wheels program provides home-delivered meals for elderly people who are homebound because of health problems and have no other assistance. Call 643-5653.

* The Senior Information and Referral program is a free service offered to people in need of help or support for any type of problem, including social, housing and medical concerns. Call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 653-5594.

* The Camarillo Health Care District is a nonprofit group offering an adult day center. The program offers games, arts and crafts, field trips, hot lunches and snacks, musical programs and more. The services are free or at a low cost. Call 388-1952 for more information.

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