Pictured above is a tree from the 2023 Christmas Tree Decorating event. Fillmore Gazette stock photo.
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The Fillmore Civic Pride Volunteer Committee sponsors the Christmas trees on Central Avenue which will be decorated by schools & youth groups before the December 7th Lions Club Christmas Parade. BUT they are in need of more 8’+ artificial trees to make the display more uniform.

If you are replacing an old artificial 8’+ tree (lights don’t need to work), please call Steve McKeown at 805-904-5424 or James Nunes at 805-302-5398 to pick up.

November 12, 2024

Michelle Ascencion, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced the schedule for the One Percent Manual Tally audit of the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election. A mandated process under the California Elections Code (§15360), the One Percent Manual Tally audit is conducted during the 30-day Official Canvass period and involves a meticulous hand count of ballots from randomly selected batches of ballots that were electronically tabulated on Election Night. The manual tally counts are compared to the electronically tabulated results to confirm the machines are counting the ballots correctly.

The random selection of ballot batches will take place on November 13 at 10:00 AM. Using a random number generator, as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 2, §20313(2)(A), Elections staff will select one percent of the batches from in-person votes and vote-by-mail ballots, treating them as separate samples to ensure comprehensive coverage. In addition to the initial one percent batch selection, additional batches are drawn to ensure all 99 ballot contests are included in the audit, as specified in §15360(a)(2)(B)(iii).

The audit process will officially begin on November 15 at 9:00 AM and will continue on November 16, restarting on November 18 and extending through November 23, and beyond if necessary. Batches vary in size and the total ballots to be counted will easily encompass thousands. Members of the public and media are welcome to observe both the random batch selection and the manual tally audit itself.

“A ‘one percent’ count may sound like a minor figure but make no mistake – it requires long hours of repetitive, detail-sensitive work by everyone involved,” said Registrar Ascencion. “We do strive to find ways to make this task less arduous – we are providing larger print tally sheets and optimizing the number of teams to maintain a manageable noise level in the tally area. Both the One Percent Manual Tally and the Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Tests are important processes that ensure the safety, transparency, and efficiency of our local elections by ensuring every piece of equipment is functioning properly with 100% accuracy.”

Anyone interested in observing the One Percent Manual Tally audit can visit the Elections Division at the Ventura County Government Center (Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza), 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. For more information please call the Elections Division at 805-654-2664. The official notice for the audit can be found at VenturaVote.org
The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters is committed to “Preserving history and protecting democracy for the people of Ventura County, past, present, and future.” More information about the agency’s services is available 24/7 at www.VCClerkRecorder.org.

The Ventura County Garden Club announces the beginning of its 101st Season with its fourth meeting on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, located at 117 N. 7th St., Santa Paula. A Holiday potluck will be provided by all members. Plan to bring a dish to share and a white elephant/plant/gift to exchange. Also bring items to sell/gift on the plant table. followed by a luncheon at noon, provided by Fillmore/Piru Co-Directors/Organizer: President, Marcia Heerema. Board Meeting at 10:30 a.m. We welcome new members. For more information, email VenturaCountyGardenClub@yahoo.com, OR Facebook.com/VenturaCountyGardenClubVCGC.

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Does the name Joel Roberts Poinsett mean anything to you? It’s a pretty good guess that he had something to do with what is now a Christmas season staple – the poinsettia. Poinsett was from South Carolina and could definitely be considered a polymath - a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. He had traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and South America and was the confidant of many of the world’s leaders. He served in the South Carolina House of Representatives. As well as being a diplomat, he was also a physician and a botanist.

It was as a botanist where he became aware of and championed the plant with red and green leaves he saw growing in the wild in Mexico where it was called Flor de Nochebuena, Christmas Eve flower, or Catarina. Poinsett sent samples of the plant to his greenhouses in South Carolina and their popularity soon spread.

In the wild poinsettias are shrubs or small trees. We see that here in Fillmore with the shrubbery gracing the Wayfarer’s Chapel on Central and 3rd Street.

Now you can share a bit of history with your own poinsettia purchased from the Fillmore Historical Museum. The Museum has been selling poinsettias as a fundraiser for over a decade. This year is no exception. You can order beautiful red poinsettias for $15 each and be able to pick them up at the Museum on December 7. Use the form below and mail or drop off at the Museum or order on our Website at https://www.fillmorehistoricalmuseum.org/poinsettia-sale.

VENTURA, Calif. – In recent weeks, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has received reports of county residents being targeted by a specific email scam. The scam is unnerving because the email begins by listing the victim’s name, phone number, home address, and may even include a photo of the victim’s home. The scammers use this tactic to make the victims feel that they have been singled out and to create fear.

The scammers then claim to have hacked into the victim’s computer or smartphone and to be actively monitoring the victim’s browsing habits and websites visited, with references to “porn websites.” The scam email typically threatens, “With just a single click, I can send this filth to all your contacts.” The scammers do this to make the victims feel embarrassed and to create a sense of urgency.

The scammers close the email with an extortion attempt. They present two alternatives to the victim. The scammers claim that if the victim “disregards this email” that they will send embarrassing information “to all your contacts.” The scammers then offer to “wipe everything clean once you come through with a payment.” The payment demand is typically about $2000, payable with “Bitcoins only.”

This current scam uses similar tactics to other sextortion scams that threaten to release embarrassing images or videos unless a payment demand is met. This is a widespread scam using boilerplate language and targeting victims throughout the country. The scammers likely obtained the victims’ personal identifying information from a large-scale data breach, not by hacking the victims’ devices. Images of victims’ homes are easily obtained through open-source searches such as Google Street View, Zillow, or other similar websites. The scammers are often located outside the United States.

“It can be very rattling for an unsuspecting victim to receive one of these threatening emails,” said Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “The best defense against these scammers is being aware of their tactics and taking practical steps to avoid becoming a victim.”

Practical steps to protect yourself include:

• Like any other scam, it is important not to reply to the suspects. Communicating with the suspects increases the chances of accidentally disclosing personal information the suspect did not have.

• Never click on attachments or links that come from unknown sources.

• Do not readily share personal identifying information such as your full name, address, or social security number online.

• Use two-factor authentication for all accounts that offer it. This adds an extra layer of security.

• Monitor your online social media, email, and banking accounts for suspicious activity.

• Change your passwords regularly and use a unique password for each account.

• If you paid the extortion, notify your bank or financial institutions. Promptly report any unauthorized transactions so they can block or reverse the payments. Report the crime to your local law enforcement.

• Victims can also report scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov). This is a user-friendly, FBI-run website for reporting cyber-enabled crime.

Special Board of Directors Meeting, Thursday, November 7, 2024, 4:00 p.m. at City of Fillmore City Hall, Council Chambers 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015

To participate in the Board of Directors meeting via Zoom, please access: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89456179606?pwd=EKJ3aKqs3ZgNqHyY74JhvBXWqEPK7F...

Meeting ID:

894 5617 9606

Passcode: Special

To hear just the audio portion of the meeting, phone into: Toll-free number: 877 853 5247 Meeting ID: 894 5617 9606

AGENDA

1.CALL TO ORDER
1A. Pledge of Allegiance 1B. Directors Roll Call
1C. Public Comments
Fillmore and Piru Basins Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Agency) will accept public comment concerning agenda items at the time the item is considered and on any non-agenda item within the jurisdiction of the Board during the agendized Public Comment period. No action will be taken by the Board on any non-agenda item. In accordance with Government Code § 54954.3(b)(1), public comment will be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker per issue.
1D. Approval of Agenda
Motion
2.EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION
2A. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), one case.
3.CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine by the Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Board member pulls an item from the Calendar. Pulled items will be discussed and acted on separately by the Board. Members of the public who want to comment on a Consent Calendar item should do so under Public Comments. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED)
3A. Approval of Minutes
The Board will consider approving the Minutes from the Board of Directors meeting of September 26, 2024, Special Board meeting.
3B. Approval of Warrants
The Board will consider approving payment of outstanding vendor invoices:
UWCD
$36,503.78
Stillwater Sciences
$10,556.12
Aleshire & Wynder LLP
$4,295.10
DBS&A
$2,458.50
County of Ventura IT Services
$1,293.20
Loree Snyder
$130.41
3C. Monthly Financial Report
The Board will receive the monthly financial report for the Agency.
4.INFORMATION ITEMS
4A.Termination of Executive Orders Requirement for Groundwater Sustainability Agency Well Permit Reviews
Information
The Board will receive a presentation from staff and legal counsel on the Governor’s termination of the drought-related requirement for well permitting agencies to consult with groundwater sustainability agencies prior to the issuance of well permits.
5. FUTURE TOPICS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION
6. ADJOURNMENT
The Board will adjourn to the next Special Board Meeting on Thursday, December 12, 2024, or call of the Chair.
Materials, which are non-exempt public records and are provided to the Board of Directors to be used in consideration of the above agenda items, including any documents provided subsequent to the publishing of this agenda, are available for inspection at UWCD’s offices at 1701
N. Lombard Street in Oxnard during normal business hours.
The Americans with Disabilities Act provides that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, the District’s services, programs or activities because of any disability. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, or if you require agenda materials in an alternative format, please contact the UWCD Office at (805) 525-4431 or the City of Fillmore at (805) 524- 1500. Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make appropriate arrangements.

Approved:

Board Chair Kelly Long
Posted: (date) November 5, 2024, at: https://www.FPBGSA.org, (time) 4:30 p.m., (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) November 5, 2024, At: https://www.facebook.com/FPBGSA, (time) 4:25 p.m., (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) November 5, 2024, at: UWCD, 1701 N. Lombard Street, Oxnard, (time) 4:35 p.m., (attest) Eva Ibarra
Posted: (date) November 5, 2024, at: Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA, (time) 4:45 p.m., (attest) Eva Ibarra

Written by Carina Montoya

Fillmore Historical Museum hosted its first “Courtyard Art Exhibition” on Saturday, October 26. Several local artists exhibited original works that included oil paintings, glass engraving, photography, infrared photography, ceramics, art on beach towels, novelty art creations, including bags, children’s books, journals, and more. Tony Recendez provided music for the event, and a nice crowd of out-of-town guests and locals came to browse the art creations of our local talent. Our youngest exhibitor was Andrea Recendez who featured her photography and sold many of her prints. The event was the beginning of what the museum hopes to become Fillmore’s art center where local artists can gather, exhibit original art, and sell their creations. The museum’s next Courtyard Art Exhibition will be on Saturday, November 16, 10:00-2:00 p.m.

Due to limited space in the paper we have only published candidates’ statements. We have posted the candidate endorsement letters online at our website www.FillmoreGazette.com.

Fillmore Unified Candidate Statements below:

Olivia Palacio,

FUSD, Area 3

My name is Olivia Palacio. I am running for re-election for the Fillmore Unified School District School Board, Area 3.
I have been married for 40 years and parent of two Fillmore High School graduates. My experience spans over 30 years in education. I have worked for Rio School District and Fillmore Unified School District. I have been a Health Clerk, Special Education Instructional Aide, and Career Center Technician.

After earning my master’s degree in counseling, I was hired by the UCSB Early Academic Outreach Program. As the FHS site representative, I assisted students planning for their post high school education, college applications, SAT prep, directed a Summer Algebra Academy, and parent workshops. I am well qualified to understand the needs of the students attending our FUSD schools.

As a current FUSD board member, I have served as Board Clerk and two years as School Board President. Striving for educational improvements, the board created strategic goals, and implemented them, which led to academic improvements:
Fillmore High School was awarded a California Distinguished School.
San Cayetano School was recognized as a Promising Practices Pr-ofessional Learning Com-munity at Work for its success in raising student achievement.

I am running for re-election because I care about our schools. The decisions I have made have contributed to the improved academic achievement, and I want to see the improvements continue.
I ask you for your vote for Area 3. I believe we can all work together to make positive changes for our students.

***

Tricia Gradias,

FUSD, Area 4

Over 35 years of experience…I am a lifelong resident of Fillmore, a Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) graduate, and a proud FUSD Parent and Grandparent. I served as an FUSD teacher for 15 years and FUSD administrator for 20 years. I feel deeply connected to the continued success of Fillmore Schools, and I have a record that shows my commitment to positive student outcomes and responsible accountability.

More about me… I was raised by parents who were civic-minded and involved in our community of Fillmore. My father David was an immigrant from Mexico and his first goal after arriving to the United States was to learn English and become a U.S. citizen so that he could fully participate in our democracy. My dad enlisted in the army at the age of 19 and served on the front battle lines of the Korean War. My mom was the eldest of 9 children, and did not have the opportunity to finish her senior year at Fillmore High School because her father needed her to join him as a field worker so that she could pave the way for her younger siblings to finish their education. My parents’ sacrifices sparked my love for education and community engagement. I knew from an early age I wanted to become a teacher who in turn would instill a love of learning and encourage higher education opportunities for my students, many who came from families that often faced generational poverty. After a 35-year career in FUSD schools, an opportunity to run for school board presented itself in 2020, and I knew this would be one of the best ways I could continue to serve my community and the students of the Fillmore community after my retirement.
Education/Experience

BA in Liberal Studies with BCLAD authorization (Bilingual Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development), California State University- Northridge

M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, California State University-Northridge/California State University-Channel Islands

Teacher, San Cayetano Elementary (13 Years)

Assistant Principal, Fillmore Middle School (1 Year)

Principal, Fillmore Middle School (6 Years)

Migrant Education Director, FUSD (3 Years)

Teacher, Mountain Vista Elementary (2 Years)

Principal, San Cayetano Elementary (8 Years)

FUSD School Board -4 years/2 years serving as the Board President, and I am currently in my second term as Vice-President.
LET’S CONTINUE THE OUTSTANDING ACCOMMPLISHMENTS OF THE FUSD BOARD THESE LAST 4 YEARS BY VOTING TRICIA GRADIAS FOR SCHOOL BOARD-TRUSTEE AREA 4.

By Linda Nunez

The Fillmore Civic Pride Volunteers have selected the yard of the Cortez Family, Rafael & Rosa, sons Jafet, Jay & Jared, to receive the Fall/Halloween, “Yard of the Month” award at 1156 Shady Lane. They all worked together to create this “kid-friendly”, fun display with Scooby Doo & Mickey & Minnie Mouse as starring characters. Smiling pumpkins glow all over the yard with a bright orange border of lights.

The Cortez family moved to Fillmore from Hopper Canyon about three years ago.

Rafael & his family will enjoy going out to Otto & Sons Nursery to use their $40 gift card! Civic Pride Volunteers appreciate Otto & Sons Nursery for supporting this project all through the years.

There were many honorable mentions, so plan an evening out to see all the creativity: 1143 Shady Lane, 1160 Shady Lane, 1182 Shady Lane, 357 Third St., 733 Third St., 322 D St., 79 Reading, 60 Reading, 787 Burlington, 770 Riverside, 258 Sespe, 213 Market St., and 758 Galvin.

Bardsdale United Methodist Church and pastor Jaime Torres invite you to join them for the church’s 126th Anniversary Celebration, on Sunday, October 27. Worship begins at 10:00am.

This 126th year in ministry makes Bardsdale one of the oldest congregations in Fillmore. This anniversary celebration event also serves as a homecoming for anyone that has ever been connected to our church, and church programs. We will have tables out with scrapbooks, historical artifacts, and pictures from our many years of history. We have some items for you to see that date back to the 1898s.

This celebration will be of our rich history. It will be a time for people to fellowship like a big class reunion. But also, it will be a celebration of what God is presently doing within the church to continue Bardsdale UMC’s ministry for another 126 years.

Everybody is welcome to attend this Anniversary celebration, it will be a blessing greeting you.
Refreshments will be served after service.

Sincerely

Pastor: Jaime Torres

Photo courtesy of Fillmore Towne Theatre.
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Written by Carina Montoya

The Fillmore Town Theatre will be featuring its first annual Happy Fright Film Festival on Friday, October 18, and will run comedy horror shows on Saturday, October 19.

Friday at 8:00 p.m., a special screening of George A. Romero’s 1968 iconic film, Night of the Living Dead, presented in classic 16mm print, courtesy of Record Outlet in Thousand Oaks. On Saturday, the film festival will run from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will feature special screenings of “Night of the Missing” starring Gigi Gustin, Jenna Kanell (Terrifier), Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses) followed by a live cast and crew Q&A moderated by Mutant City Horror, along with a screening of award winning “Cannibal Comedian,” and a variety of horror shorts from independent film makers from around the country. There will also be stand up-comedy from Pancho Moler, and live music from psychobilly ghoul rock-band. There’s a 20% discount to the first 50 buyers. Use code HAPPYFRIGHT.

The event is made possible by Sean Haitz, Mutant City Horror, a filmmaker in Los Angeles whose genre is horror comedy. Sean said the old Filmore Town Theatre is the perfect setting to have a horror film festival.

The Fright Film Festival is a great kick off to Halloween. Come and join the horror, screams, and laughs while munching on popcorn made fresh by the theater’s new popcorn machine!

The Ventura County Garden Club announces the beginning of its 101st Season with its third meeting on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, followed by a luncheon at noon, provided by Fillmore/Piru Co-Directors/Organizers: Jeannie Westling and Michele Smith. Following lunch will be a discussion concerning Monarch Butterflies. Bring items to share/sell at the plant table. Board Meeting at 10:30 a.m. We welcome new members. For more information, email VenturaCountyGardenClub@yahoo.com, OR Facebook.com/VenturaCountyGardenClubVCGC/

Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara Long Beach

VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara (DOB 07/11/85), a priest in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles during the time of his crimes, pled no contest to one felony count of possession of child sexual abuse material. He also admitted all the charged special allegations, including that he possessed over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12.

A member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, Martinez-Guevara was associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oxnard.

“The defendant betrayed the law and the trust placed in him as a religious leader,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Child sexual abuse material preys on the most vulnerable members of our society, and we will continue to ensure that anyone who engages in such heinous crimes is held accountable, no matter their position or title.”

Martinez-Guevara became the focus of an investigation after dozens of reports were made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In April 2023, the Ventura County Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force (VC-CEHTTF) initiated an investigation of their own. Investigators determined Martinez-Guevara was in direct possession of over 600 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. He was arrested on September 13, 2023.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Fraud and Technology Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.

“I am grateful for the cooperation of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit,” Mr. Wise said. “I am hopeful that Mr. Martinez-Guevara's acceptance of guilt today will be the first step in healing the hurt caused by his actions.”

Martinez-Guevara is scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 48 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

VC-CEHTTF is comprised of investigators and prosecutors with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff's Office, Simi Valley Police Department, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, the FBI, and United States Attorney’s Office. The task force is committed to identifying, rescuing, and protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse through education, enforcement, and through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies.

Case: 2023024111
Defendant Information: Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara (DOB 07/11/85) Long Beach
Charges pled to:

PC 311.11(a) – Possession or control of child pornography
Special Allegations:

PC 311.11(c)(1) – Aggravated possession of child pornography, containing more than 600 images
CRC 4.421(a)(10) – The crime involved a large quantity of contraband
CRC 4.421(a)(3) – Victim was vulnerable
CRC 4.421(a)(8) – The manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, or professionalism