MY ACHING BACK: A survey of 1,301...

MY ACHING BACK: A survey of 1,301 Camarillo residents by the Chamber of Commerce revealed that a pain in the back is their biggest health concern. Other topics residents care about: first aid, heart disease and proper exercise . . . The big surprise: People want an overeaters support group. . . . But why does the chamber care if people have sore backs? Said Carol Nordahl, survey coordinator: “Having a healthy community gives you healthy employees, so businesses thrive.”

WASTE NOT: Rather than throw out unused medical supplies, nurses in Ventura County are urged to donate to health care programs overseas. . . . Ventura County Solid Waste is sponsoring the Materials Exchange Program and counting on people such as Carolina Aspe, a nursing supervisor at Simi Valley Hospital. Said Aspe: “The nurses are willing to go the extra mile to help the community, the country and overseas.”

BABES AND BUSINESS: Employees are more productive when they’re happy; and they’re happy when their small children are close by with on-site day care. . . . So goes the philosophy at Amgen of Thousand Oaks, which won a spot on Working Mothers magazine’s list of 100 best companies (D9A). The program gives new mom Michele Berlin peace of mind to concentrate on work. “It’s hard to leave Kyle,” she said. “But having the facility here helps ease any concern I might have.”

DOGGIE DADDY: And for those concerned about the well-being of their four-legged children (as some consider their pets), there’s a two-mile run or a one-mile walk with your companion Oct. 1 at Ventura’s Camino Real Park. . . . Dog Day Afternoon includes a dog talent show, pet / owner look-alike contest and dog wash, with proceeds to Special Olympics. . . . A paramedic will stand by in case scraps arise over the chocolate-dipped biscuits handed out. But no skirmishes are expected. Said coordinator Malia Spratt: “We didn’t give out a single Band-Aid last year.”