The City of Fillmore Fire Department will hold its Fire Recruit Graduation Ceremony on May 30, 2010, 10:00AM at Fillmore Fire Station 91. The event celebrates the successful completion of the fire recruit training and transition to the position of Firefighter/EMT. Pictured are graduating cadets Daniel Mobley, Brian Mercado, Daniel Palmer, Jonathan Torrez, Ryan Kell, Anthony Ventura, and Rudolfo Cortez. The recruit academy lasts six weeks and consists of 168 hours of arduous training. The recruits become proficient in all basic firefighting skills and many advanced techniques including auto extrication and rescue systems. After having successfully passed a 660 hour California State Fire Marshall approved Firefighter academy, recruits are exposed to 168 hours of Fillmore specific training throughout the inhouse remedial academy. The media and the general public are invited to attend. Fillmore Fire Recruit Graduation, Sunday, May 30, 2010, 711 Sespe Place, Fillmore, CA 93015;
10:00AM – Graduation Ceremony, 11:00AM – Live Recruit Demonstration, 12:00 – Refreshments Served.

It’s a sacred day to all war veterans: None need to be reminded of the reason that Memorial Day must be commemorated. But what about the general public, and more important, future generations? Do most non-veterans really recognize the importance of the day honoring their fellow Americans killed in war?

Judging from what Memorial Day has become—simply another day off from work—the answer is a resounding no.

Perhaps a reminder is due, then. And it is the duty of each and every veteran to relay the message.

Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance. America’s collective consciousness demands that all citizens recall and be aware of the deaths of their fellow countrymen during wartime.

Far too often, the nation as a whole takes for granted the freedoms all Americans enjoy. Those freedoms were paid for with the lives of others few of us actually knew. That’s why they are all collectively remembered on one special day.

This should be regarded as a civic obligation. For this is a national debt that can only be truly repaid by individual Americans. By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice in the memories of future generations.

They came from all walks of life and regions of the country. But they all had one thing in common—love of and loyalty to country. This bond cemented ties between them in times of trials, allowing a diverse lot of Americans to achieve monumental ends.

We remember the loss of loved ones, a sense of loss that takes group form. In essence, America is commemorating those who made the greatest sacrifice possible—giving one’s own life on behalf of others.

Means of paying tribute vary. Pausing for a few moments of personal silence is available to everyone.
Attending commemorative ceremonies is the most visible way of demonstrating remembrance: Placing flags at gravesites, marching in parades, sponsoring patriotic programs, dedicating memorials and wearing Buddy Poppies are examples.

Whether done individually or collectively, it is the thought that counts. Personal as well as public acts of remembering are the ideal. Public displays of patriotism are essential if the notion of remembering war dead is to be instilled in youth.

As America’s older war veterans fast disappear from society’s landscape, there are fewer and fewer standard-bearers left to carry the torch of remembrance. Such traditions will live on only if there is a vibrant movement to which that torch can be passed.

Now, more than in recent years, the enduring relevance of Memorial Day should be clearly evident. With two wars under way, the public has no excuse not to remember.

This much is owed to the more than 5,400 Americans who have died thus far in Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Courtesey of VFW Magazine May 2010)

On May 12, the Fillmore Women’s Service Club welcomed the 2010-2011 Board of Directors at a special installation dinner held at the Senior Center. Club member Tobey Bowers presented outgoing president Jeanne Klittich with a beautiful scrapbook assembled by the club, showcasing a year’s worth of memories.

Before presenting the new officers, Bowers gave an account of the club’s history: in 1963, a group of young women formed the Fillmore Jr. Women's Club, which later became the Jr. Ebell Club. When the ladies reached 30 years of age, however, they could no longer belong and had to move on to the Ebell Club—but many of the members had bonded by then and did not want to leave their friends. Thus in 1979, they voted to become a service club.

Friendships run strong to this day in this organization that has worked to make a difference in the community through fundraisers to support scholarships, Senior Center programs, nursing and convalescence homes, the Red Cross, and other charitable efforts. The club also enjoys social events such as potlucks and local excursions.
The Fillmore Women’s Service Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 pm at the Senior Center. Ladies wishing to take part in serving the community are welcome to attend! For more information, please call the membership chairman Dorothy Hunt at 524-0767.

Visitors and employees can look forward to a relaxing and peaceful summer at Lake Piru. This will be the first alcohol-free summer at the Lake Piru Recreation Area where campers, boaters and picnickers come to enjoy the lake, taking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

On January 1, 2010, United Water Conservation District implemented a ban on the consumption of alcohol at the lake. The Water District’s Board of Directors approved the ban to curtail the increasingly disruptive behavior experienced at the lake that accompanied the irresponsible use of alcohol on the part of some visitors. According to Mary Lindley, administrative services manager for the Water District, “The abusive use of alcohol led to a number of boating accidents and camper injuries and had a negative impact on other visitors, hurting the lake’s reputation. The Board took the action to ban alcohol to return the lake to the family-friendly park it has historically been.” Clayton Strahan, supervising ranger at Lake Piru, reports that he has received a number of positive comments about the alcohol ban from visitors. “They appreciate the more relaxed atmosphere and quite evenings without the loud parties we experienced when alcohol was allowed.”

In addition to the more relaxed atmosphere, visitors to the Lake Piru Recreation Area will be greeted with improved boating, camping and day use facilities. The marina has new boat docks, with 84 boat slips, 18 more than the previous docks, expanding private boat slip rental opportunities. Other recreation area improvements include a nine-hole Frisbee golf course, a recently upgraded and expanded menu at the Condor Point Snack Bar offering visitors variety of “east coast” food items, including fresh cut fries, Philly cheese steak, Italian sausage and pepper hoagies, as well as choose from a selection of vegetarian items.

The swim beach at the Juan Fernandez Boat Launch area is currently undergoing enhancement to enlarge the size of the beach, providing visitors more room to enjoy the sand, sun and water. Evening and day fishing tournaments have also been added to the list of activities at the lake. These tournaments include prizes and are open to the public.

Lake Piru Reservoir was created in 1955 when the Santa Felicia Dam was constructed north of the community of Piru. The lake has the capacity to store more than 84,000 acre-feet of winter runoff from Piru Creek and its tributaries. The water retained in the lake is released each fall to replenish groundwater aquifers along the Santa Clara River from Piru to the Oxnard Plain. Lake Piru hosts overnight camping, a day use picnic area, a marina and boat docks and a five-lane launch ramp. Boats are also available for rental.

Lake Piru is open all year. For additional information about hours, amenities and reservations at Lake Piru, please call 521-1500 or visit www.lake-piru.org.

The Fillmore Ebell Club presents a $1,000.00 donation to the Fillmore Band Boosters towards the purchase of ten new high school band uniform jackets.

According to the Fillmore Band Boosters current president, Debra Galarza, Fillmore High School students, alumni and parents are actively fundraising for new band uniforms to replace the current severely worn 25 year old uniforms. 2010 marks the 100th year anniversary of Fillmore high school. The boosters' goal is to raise about $36,000.00 for the purchase of the new uniforms. To make a donation, please contact Fillmore band boosters president, Debra Galarza, at 805-524-0228, or vice president, Debbie Sanchez, at 805-524-1061. You may also mail donations to the Fillmore Band Boosters, Post Office 1008, Fillmore, CA 93016.

Greg Godfrey, the Fillmore Middle and High School Bands director, and Fillmore Band Boosters president Debra Galarza, and vice president Debbie Sanchez, are seen here accepting the donation from Fillmore Ebell Club president, Fay Swanson.

Anyone interested in more information about becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Melodie Stich, at 805-521-1400.

The Fillmore Ebell Club has installed its 2010-2011 Board of Directors. At the Fillmore Ebell Club's final meeting of their 2009-2010 season, Installation Officer, Janet Howarth, presented the following new Board Members: President, Fay Swanson, First Vice President, Kathy Marsden (Programs), Second Vice Presidents, Anita Bailey and Charlene Smith (Special Activities), Third Vice President, Melodie Stich (Membership), Fourth Vice Presidents, Marlene Schreffler and Venita Bloxham (Meeting Coordinators), Recording Secretary, Pat Alto, Corresponding Secretary, Lavonne Deeter, Treasurer, Mary Ford, Parliamentarian, Beverly Brisby, 2010-11 Nominating Committee: Chairman, Trisha Armstrong; member, Venita Bloxham; member Neva Picketts; member, Jann Duchacek; and member, Kathy Marsden. Out-going President, Mary Ford, was also honored for her service to the Fillmore Ebell Club for the past two years. Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Melodie Stich, 805-531-1400.

Fillmore Library will be starting the popular summer reading program early this year. On Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 3:30 the next session will begin. Students of all ages can sign up to participate and earn special prizes for total hours of reading. Weekly drawings will also be held. The Swazzle Puppeteers will perform a lively puppet show at the first session. Support for this free program is provided by the Fillmore Friends of the Library. For further information, phone 524-3355.

The Fillmore Unified Elementary Band and Fillmore Middle School Bands will be performing on June 2, 2010 at Fillmore Middle School Gymnasium. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. All four district elementary schools will be represented: Piru, San Cayetano, Sespe, and Mountain View Elementary. Juliette Resor will direct the approximately 225 band students who participate in the elementary band program. The FMS bands, directed by Greg Godfrey will also perform several selections. Solos, duets, and a “mass” band performance will also highlight the evening. Please come and support the local music programs.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is seeking volunteers to help with the on-going operation of its Ojai animal shelter as well as to assist the private nonprofit organization with its off-site fund-raising activities.

Volunteers are needed for the following tasks:

 Participating in animal yard checks in cities throughout Ventura County (applicants must first go through training with Humane Society officers);
 Setting up and manning HSVC informational booths at local community events;
 Collecting cash donation boxes for the HSVC on routes in Ventura County. Drivers needed mostly in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Moorpark.

Sherry Brockus, Executive Director of the HSVC, said volunteers are vital to the organization’s mission to promote the health, safety, welfare, compassionate care and protection of animals through education and community outreach programs.

“Our services and events we provide through the shelter have grown,” Brockus said. “We are very grateful for all the wonderful volunteers we currently have, but our needs have increased. We service the entire county and now we are reaching out to those other areas of Ventura County by asking for more support. We look forward to new, energized volunteers willing to help us.”

Applications are available at the HSVC shelter, located at 402 Bryant St. in Ojai, or online at www.humanesocietyvc.org. Click the “Get Involved” icon for the application. For more information, call Volunteer Coordinator Kate Nelson at 666-5031 or 646-6505.

For the last 20 years of my 36 year teaching career I taught at Fillmore High School. I always taught in the shop programs since I always valued interaction with individual students. The challenge of fitting shop tasks with individual student interests and strengths while covering the prescribed curriculum was always fun and rewarding. I always loved my students and the shop environments in which we worked. After teaching many years in wood shop programs and metal/machine/welding shops, I was interested in giving auto shop a try since I’ve always loved restoring old cars. When the current auto shop instructor retired and the shop facility fell into disrepair, I approached the principal Mrs. Lynn Johnson, with my idea of teaching an auto restoration program which would include the teaching of skills found in all shop areas of study. Mrs. Johnson was enthused when I wrote up the ideas with the incentives for student learning and we began the Fillmore Auto Restoration Program in the 1998/99 school year. The incentives for students learning included the completion of required projects in welding, sheet metal fabrication, and many exercises in mechanical tasks prior to the students being allowed to work on the class car restoration project. The car was built from just pieces bought at swapmeets or contributed by our old car friends. The car for the 1999 school year was a 1930 Model “A” pickup. While the car was being built we entered it in the History Channel’s Great Race. “The Great Race” was an idea by a Mr. Tom McCrae, who was concerned about all the folks who had an old car languishing in their garage, and an itch to drive it somewhere in America in a timed-endurance rally-type contest.

Started in 1982, Tom ran these rallies across America each year on different courses so that the beauty of America would be fully enjoyed. In the 1999 race, we started in Marietta, Georgia and ended in Anaheim, California, traveling over beautiful two-lane roads often on Hwy 66, covering over 3,000 miles. I think we were 4th or 5th in our class (The X Cup), and the cash we earned by our placing so well went to scholarships for our team members. The hardest part of this whole effort was choosing five team members (students) form over 100 kids, who were in my classes both semesters and had a part in building the car. We built three different cars, one each year for the three years we competed and they are all three here today. The 1999 car was bought (after the race we had to sell each car to help raise funds to cover the $30,000 needed to finance each year) by a gentleman from the Topanga area. Since, however, we “put Fillmore on the map” it got a lot of folks excited and generated a lot of press, Mr. Scott Lee who has served on every BOARD, COMMITTEE, AND COUNCIL KNOWN TO MANKING IN Fillmore, asked who bought the car. Well, I don’t know what kind of song & dance Scott did, but he talked the gentleman into cutting his price for buying the car in half and donating the car back to the Fillmore Historical Society. Now the car that made Fillmore famous can be enjoyed by all of us and future generations as we relive its exploits while viewing it here in its new garage home thanks to the efforts of many supporters at the Fillmore Historical Society Museum.

[The car was dedicated on Saturday, May 15th, to the Fillmore Historical Museum]
Lin Thomas
Fillmore

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Story and Photos by Bob Crum

At first sight... wonderment. Hearing her all-to-familiar-sounding whistle ignites nostalgia. Awe... as the first blast of steam enters her massive 20X28 cylinders. With boiler pressure of 180 pounds... her eight 48-inch steel driving wheels apply a whopping 35,700 pounds of tractive force. With a belch of smoke from her majestic stack... she struts down the rails with attitude. And a big smile knowing that she's about to once again enjoy showgirl status. Life is good.

Known as #18, she was built in 1914 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA, McCloud River Railroad purchased the 2-8-2 steam locomotive for $16,871.79. She enjoyed a brief career as a showgirl before getting down to business on the McCloud primarily hauling logs and lumber.

When the diesels arrived in 1948, the #18 was one of 14 steam locomotives on the property. The #18 was stored and offered for sale or scrap. Meanwhile, the neighboring Yreka Western Railroad was searching for heavier motive power. In 1956, the Yreka road bought two steam locomotives, the #19 (a near twin of the #18) and the #18. They were the primary power on the Yreka Western for only two years before the the Yreka purchased a used diesel.

The two steam locomotives operated frequently until 1964 when the #18 blew a cylinder head while double-heading a special passenger excursion with the #19. The YW lacked the money and expertise to repair the damage so the #18 sat under a tarp in the Yreka yards for many years... slowly rusting away. The owners of the YW finally put the railroad up for sale in early 1998 but the #18 was sold separately. An auction was held for the #18 and the successful bidder was... the McCloud Railway Company. The #18 returned home to McCloud in March of 1998.

In the McCloud shop, #18 underwent major restoration. Newspaper reports tell that the McCloud Railway paid $80,000 for the locomotive and spent an additional $350,000 restoring it. The #18 was finally placed back in service in February, 2001. However, in 2005 financial problems forced the sale of the #18 to the Virginia & Truckee Restoration Committee, which is rebuilding the former Virginia and Truckee railroad between Carson City and Virginia City, Nevada. The #18 ran it's last trip on the McCloud on Sunday, August 7, 2005.

Now... #18 is about to play a role in a feature film titled 'Water for Elephants' based on a novel by Sara Gruen. (ISBN-10: 1565124995) The story: “As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.

It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

The cast includes Robert Pattinson as Jacob Jankowski, the novel's protagonist. He is a “90, or 93”-year-old nursing home resident reminiscing on the time he spent as a circus veterinarian during the Great Depression. Reese Witherspoon as Marlena is a star performer with the circus. Marlena joined the circus after she ran away from home to marry August. She enjoys a special rapport with the horses and cares for them deeply. Christoph Waltz as August, Malena's husband, is the head animal trainer (Circus owner and Ring Master in the film). He is alternately charming and brutal, both to the humans and animals aboard the Benzini Brothers train.

Filming in the Fillmore/Piru area is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 20, 2010. http://waterforelephantsfilm.com/

FILLMORE WATER RECYCLING PLANT
SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2010
2:00 P.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
Visit Fillmore’s new Water Recycling Plant
GREAT PERSONALIZED TOURS
Learn how sewage is treated & the water recycled.
1580 RIVER STREET

(Ventura, California) To accommodate the pending construction of the new Community Memorial Hospital building, which is expected to begin this fall, the following CMH department offices are moving to a new location.

CMH departments that are affected by the move are the Business Office; Centers for Family Health Billing and Coding; Accounting; Accounts Payable; Payroll; and Information Systems. They will be relocating to 5855 Olivas Park Drive in Ventura. All existing phone numbers will remain the same.

The relocation begins on May 24 and will affect 116 Community Memorial Health System employees. The new facility will have a conference room with a Web cam for multi-person conferences. Some departments will have Web cams on their personal computers to facilitate one-on-one meetings. The goal of the new technology, according to CMHS Marketing Manager Mary McCormick, is to minimize the need for employees at the new facility to leave their offices to attend meetings at the main hospital.

Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and nine family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

The Fillmore VFW Post 9637 will be distributing Buddy Poppy’s on May 22, 2010, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in front of the Vons Store. VFW Buddy Poppy’s are assembled by disabled and needy Veterans. All donations are used to provide support for the disabled Veterans and widows and orphans of our nation’s Veterans.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is very pleased to announce the return, for the fifth year, of The Taste of the Valley, a food and wine tasting event held at the Courtyard of the Fillmore City Hall. The date for the event is Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The event features tastings from local food, wine, and beverage merchants as well as live entertainment by The Tune Bandits, a husband and wife band that plays and sings a variety of music from the 60’s to today’s popular hits. The event also invites guests to bid at the Silent Auction made up of a variety of donations from local businesses and individuals, such as computer tote bags, vacation houses on Rincon Beach, jewelry, dining gift certificates and much more.

Reservations for this event are $35 per person and can be obtained by calling the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley at 805-525-7910. Visa and MasterCard charges are welcome.

County Supervisor Kathy Long, 3rd District would like to announce to all residents of Ventura County that the next Santa Paula Tattoo Removal Clinic will be held on Saturday May 22, 2010 from 8:30 am – 12 noon, no appointments necessary. Orientation for first time participants will be at 9 am located at 1334 E. Main St. the Santa Paula Family Care Clinic. Due to overwhelming response, spaces will be limited.

County Supervisor Kathy Long spearheaded this clinic in collaboration with the following agencies: Ventura County Public Health, Ventura County Probation Agency, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Paula Family Care Clinic, Interface Children Family Services, and CalWORKS.

The clinic not only welcomes participants but volunteers to run the clinic. If you have any questions, or would like to find out how you can help, please call the Santa Paula Family Care Clinic at (805) 933-1242.