Street renaming to honor veterans
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Camarillo will soon have a street honoring the country's veterans.

At last Wednesday's meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to support changing the name of a blocklong segment of Nellora Street to Veterans Way.

The street name change will be Camarillo's first in seven years. In 2000, the city changed Springville Road to Southfield Road.

The American Legion's Camarillo Post 741 submitted a request for the change to the city Aug. 7, and the resolution took effect at the council's Sept. 26 meeting. The portion of Nellora Street to be renamed runs between the 101 Freeway and Ventura Boulevard.

"Everybody down here is elated and very happy the city went along with it," said Post 741 commander Dick Fitch.

The American Legion has the only address on Nellora Street, which is bisected by the 101 Freeway. The addresses of the other buildings on that portion of the street, which is about 182 feet long, are on Ventura Boulevard.

The street is expected to officially be known as Veterans Way by Veterans Day, Sun., Nov. 11, when the American Legion will host its annual 11 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at Constitution Park. Fitch said he hopes the dedication of Veterans Way can be added to the traditional ceremony at the park.

Changing the name of the street not only honors the country's military veterans, it will also eliminate some confusion for visitors to the American Legion post. "This will help avoid the confusion of two streets with the same name," said Robert Burrow, director of community development for Camarillo.

"There needs to be some compelling reason to make a change," Burrow said. "Obviously we're naming new streets all the time . . . but a street name change is very infrequent."

During the transition period, the city will notify utility companies, the post office, fire department and other agencies, and change maps and other official data. Then stylized street name signs will be installed, part of the ongoing effort to improve Old Town Camarillo.

Although the resolution passed without a hitch, members of the council said they wished Veterans Way could be a main thoroughfare.

"It's a shame it's going to be so short," Vice Mayor Charlotte Craven said at the meeting.

Mayor Jan McDonald said she sympathized with Craven, but acknowledged the importance of the change as "a symbolic gesture."