The F.H.S. Alumni Dinner is Saturday June 6th at the Veterans Memorial Building. Pre Sale Tickets is the way to go. $30.00 (for Alumni Newsletter Subscribers), $35.00 (for non Alumni Newsletter Subscribers) $40.00 for anyone who wants to pay at the Door. You can get your reservation form by going to www.fillmorehighalumni.com Click on Alumni Dinner, then click on Reservations. From here you can print out the Form. Mail your dinner payment(s) to F.H.S. Alumni Office., P.O. Box 385., Fillmore, CA. 93016-0385. (Note-You will want to mail in your Reservation Form in by June 2nd to be sure to get to the Alumni Office before June 6th). Any questions pertaining to the Alumni Dinner or Reservations, please direct them to the Alumni Office at 524-0416 or email Mark Ortega, mrkoinsdca@sbcglobal.net or call him at 805-856-8949. GO FLASHES!

Fillmore High Alumni Association

The May issue of the alumni newsletter, Flashbacks, was mailed on Monday, so you should have received your copy by the time you read this, if you are a paid up member to the alumni association. Remember, being a member, either a life member or a yearly dues paying member, part of your membership is to receive the Flashbacks every three months. Once again we have a great issue, thanks to Kathleen McCreary for putting in all the news that was sent in by alumni members and to Joyce Basolo, Joleen Stethem, Em Wendel, Maxine Merry and Linda Jackson for labeling, stamping and getting the Flashbacks ready to mail. They do a great job and we could not get this done without their help. If you have not recieved your copy, please contact the alumni office at 805-524-0416 or by e-mail at staff@FillmoreHighAlumni.com. Also, check on our website, www.fillmorehighalumni.com, for up to date information on what is happening within the alumni association.
On the back page of this issue of Flashbacks is a reservation form for the alumni dinner. Please fill it out and return it, with your check, to the alumni office. We hope to have another great dinner back at the Memorial Building. The classes of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959 and 1969 will be holding their class reunions at the alumni dinner on June 6. The class of 1964 is having their reunion on Saturday, June 13 at Jerry and Linda Edmonds home. The combined class reunion for the class of 1978 and 1979 has been changed from July 11 to September 26, hoping to tie it in with Homecoming. The class of 1989 is planning a class reunion for September 5th, and Martha Gentry is starting to make plans for her class's 50th reunion next year, as is Linda Jackson who is starting work on the class reunion for the class of 1965.
The alumni is still asking for donations from you talented folks who have or would like to donate some of your handy work as door prizes for the alumni dinner. Please contact the alumni office if you have something you would like to contribute.

Conway Spitler

Ten top jobs today did not exist in 2004!
One of eight couples married met on line!
31 billion searches on Google every month. In 2006 2.7 billion to Goggle.
Audience of 50 million -- four years it took TV 23 years and radio 20 years!
There are 54,000 words of English, five times as many as when Shakespeare was here!
Two million are registered on My Space.
One out of four employees have been with employer less than four years.
2008 million My Space subscribers--one million in 1992.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore honored seven Fillmore High School seniors with Scholarships on Thursday, May 20. The winners were: Natalie Garnica $1,000, Brina Suttle $1,000, Jillian Wilber $1,000, Rebeca Herrera $750, David Watson $500, Michael Watson $500 and Karli Chessani $500. These funds were made possible because of the Club's fireworks booth.
The Club also celebrated it's 85th Anniversary. The Rotary Club of Fillmore was chartered on May 19, 1924. Fergus Fairbanks was the first President and the Club met at the Veteran's Memorial Building until 2005 when they moved to the cafe. A party is planned for later in the summer.

The Fillmore Ebell Club has installed its 2009-2010 Board of Directors.
Installation Officer, Pat Murray, presented Second-Term President, Mary Ford; 1st Vice President (Program Chair), Beverly Brisby and Melodie Stich (interim); 2nd Vice President (Special Activities Chair), Anita Bailey and Lorraine Finch; 3rd Vice President (Membership Chair), Gloria Henderson; 4th Vice President (Meeting Coordinator), Charlene Smith and Marlene Schreffler; Recording Secretary, Pat Rees; Corresponding Secretary, Trisha Armstrong and Venita Bloxham; Treasurer, Fay Swanson; and Parliamentarian, Margaret Haskell.
2009-10 Yearbook Chairs are Wanda Haynes and Jean Mullen. 2009-10 Nominating Committee: Trisha Armstrong; Anita Bailey; Lorraine Finch; Margaret Haskell; and Fay Swanson.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Gloria Henderson at 805-524-3632.

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Colors Youth Community Art Studio is celebrating its new larger location at 412 Orchard st. in Fillmore with a Student Gallery Exhibit and Open House on Saturday May 30th between 4:00 to 8:00pm. In addition to the more space, we have two new art instructors, Penny Henschel who will be teaching the computer graphics class and Elizabeth Kemp the toddler art class instructor. Classes are available for ages 3 to adult. Summer sessions sign ups are now available which start June 8th and continue until August 8th. Colors is also happy to announce we are now sponsored by a Non Profit “Children’s Art Village”. The sponsorship allows us to raise money for scholarships for art lessons and supplies to those who want lessons but are unable to due to income. We want to thank the community and all those who have supported the art studio in making it a great success and a positive experience for all who participate. Fro more information call 524-2200.

On Saturday, June 6, 2009, Ventura County’s Friday Night Live Youth Advisory Council will hold a press conference to reveal and highlight their year-long efforts in the “Numbers Don’t Lie” underage and binge-drinking media campaign.

The Council, which consists of Ventura County youth from Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Paula, and Fillmore, has created this poster-advertisement campaign in an effort to create youth, adult, and community awareness about the often-overlooked dangers associated with alcohol and underage binge-drinking.

This press conference will be held on the evening of Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Plaza Park in Oxnard (the corner of 5th Street and B Street). Members of the press and public are invited to attend.

Memories to Memoirs Workshop- June 13
Learn how to write effectively about your life experiences and preserve them for the future, when Libby Atwater, professional personal historian, conducts a Saturday, June 13 workshop entitled Memories to Memoirs. The workshop is from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Museum of Ventura County. Cost is $10 for the general public and free to Museum of Ventura County members. Space is limited; RSVP to 653-0323 x 10.

Artists’ Books: Personal Visions - Free Panel Discussion– June 20
Not all stories are told with words and not all books have pages. Artists Donna Barna, Inés Monguió, and Luis Pérez share their hand-made art books and discuss this expanding art form in a free panel discussion on Saturday, June 20, at 2:00 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County. For reservations, please call 805-653-0323 x 10.

The museum is at 89 South California Street, Ventura. Open Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission, except for some events. (805) 653-0323 or go to http://www.venturamuseum.org.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County has announced a Request for Proposals. A total of $50,000 will be available in the Fund’s third annual grants program.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County seeks to strengthen social justice in Ventura County by providing financial grants and other support to grassroots efforts that address root causes of injustice and remove structural and institutional barriers to social, economic and environmental equity.

Grant proposals in any amount up to $10,000 will be considered. The Social Justice Fund’s Giving Circle expects to make a number of small grants (under $3,000) and a few larger grants. Proposals are due by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2009.

Grants this year will focus exclusively on community organizing towards systemic social change in Ventura County. SJF defines “community organizing toward systemic change” as a values-based process by which people absent from decision-making tables come together to jointly bring about positive community-level social change. The Giving Circle seeks proposals that include elements of best and promising community organizing strategies: leadership development, advocacy, and transformational learning. CONTINUED »

The 25th Annual Ojai Peddler's Fair is being held from 9am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday, June 20 & 21, 2009. Located in the Chaparral Auditorium at 414 E. Ojai Ave., in downtown Ojai CA. Parking is free in the adjacent Municipal parking lot, and admission is always free.

Held rain or shine, the Peddler's Fair is chock-full of quality antiques, collectibles, handcrafts and international crafts.

This is a benefit for the Mira Monte PTO.

Vendors are sought.

For more information, please contact Pat at 805-964-8915.

Bill Shiells, Rotary President, recognizes Dave Wareham for his generous donation to Rotary Foundation Permanent Fund.
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The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International recognized Dave Wareham for becoming a Foundation benefactor. The funds in the Foundation are used for humanitarian and educational programs around the world.
The 4-Way Test Essay winners and their parents were honored during the Thursday meeting. Each participant read her essay to the Club.

Recently, Elizabeth Wareham and Franiska Scheifler presented a program on their experiences at RYLA. The Rotary Youth Leadership camp was held in Ojai in April. They enjoyed meeting new people and listening to enthusiastic speakers.

Fillmore artist Lois Freeman-Fox is pleased to announce her upcoming Paintings and Drawings show from May 26th through June 20th at the Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Gallery. The opening reception is May 30 from 4:00 to 7:00pm.
Freeman-Fox, an Emmy-award winning film editor, was one of the first in that industry to edit films digitally. Her approach to her art has been no less innovative.
“Historically, artists traditionally incorporate the latest technological advances or ideas into their artwork,” says Freeman-Fox. “The Renaissance introduced Perspective. Paint being available in tubes made art created by Impressionists more portable. And Pointillism encompassed scientific discoveries of the time relating to optical effects and the perception of color.”
Freeman-Fox’s Drawings and Paintings show, sponsored by the Buenaventura Art Association, unites Lois’ well-developed artistic skills with computer-enhanced techniques through the juxtaposition of photographic clarity and painterly self expression.
“I paint traditional subject matter, portraits and landscapes with modern tools while exploring the art of the masters creating dynamic tension between the old and the new" says Freeman-Fox.
Vintage portraits of family members are vividly brought to life in a colorful celebration of the artist’s past, while the environment Freeman-Fox calls home, the inspiring vistas of Ventura County’s glorious landscapes, serve as a natural backdrop of beauty as seen through the artist’s eyes.
Clearly, Lois Freeman-Fox’s Drawings and Paintings From The Undergrove is a show not to be missed.
Paintings and Drawings runs from May 26th through June 20th at the Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Gallery. The opening is May 30 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from Noon to 5PM and Saturdays from 11AM to 5PM. The Clophine Dooley Gallery at the Buenaventura Galley is located at 700 E. Santa Clara in Ventura.

Forty outstanding seniors applied for Alumni Scholarships, and after screening all forty by way of an autobiography, participation in community and school activities, and an oral interview, seventeen scholarships were awarded. Those receiving scholarships for this year are: Julianne Sandoval and Brina Suttle the John and Nit Lemley Scholarships; Natalie Garnica and Karli Chessani the Dulcie Arnold Memorial Scholarships; Jillian Wilber and Rebeca Herrera the Carl & Helen Siechert Memorial Scholarships; Aimee Orozco the Vernon & Arlene Nelson Memorial Scholarship; Michael Watson the Fillmore American Legion Post Scholarship; Bailey Pina the Wm. Brisby Science Scholarship; Jacob Zellmer the Fillmore Masonic Temple Scholarship, Miguel Angel Alonso the Piru Youth Scholarship; Kyla Hernandez the Stella Harthorn Scholarship, Gabriel Manzano the Ambros Myer Scholarship, Jonathan Escamilla the Richard Ortega Memorial Scholarship; Stephanie Bolanos the Valerie Zavala Wilson Memorial Scholarship; Nathan Liu the Fillmore Breakfast Club Scholarship; and Erica Rodriguez the Fillmore Alumni Business Scholarship. This is a most outstanding group of graduates who are leaving Fillmore High to further their education.
The May issue of the alumni newsletter will be coming out next week so be on the look out for it if you are a paid up member of the alumni association. Once again, Kathleen McCreary has put out an excellent edition with news from many graduates of Fillmore High. Also in this issue is a copy of the reservation form for the alumni dinner which is coming up on Saturday June 6 at the Memorial Building, beginning at 4:00 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:00, catered by Gary Laird, and visitations continuing until 11:00 p.m. Many out of towners have already sent in their reservations and they hope to see many of their local friends at the dinner, so get your reservation form in if you haven't already done so.
The alumni board will meet on Friday, May 22 to finalize all the plans for the dinner.

Dear Friends of Piru and Fillmore:
As you may have heard or read, Piru lost one of our young ones with this weekend’s tragic drowning of 9-year old Denise Arredondo at Lake Piru.
Denise, a fourth-grade student at Piru Elementary School, and her family were enjoying a day at the lake that ended in this terrible tragedy. As many of us have learned, out of tragedy can come strength and hope. This is especially true in our wonderful town of Piru.
So, the kids and parents of Piru have organized a recycling drive in order to gather funds needed for the Arredondo family. Working with Rodriguez Recycling, located next to Piru Market at 981 Main Street, we ask for the following donations: all monies raised from cans, bottles and plastic donated in Denise’s name beginning this Wednesday, May 20th will be donated to the Arendodo family for assistance during this time.
We appreciate your consideration of taking a bag, box or bucket of materials to the recycling center to help us raise immediate funds for the family.
Any questions should be directed to Juana Aguilar at 805-660-9095 or Lorena Cardenas at 805-558-5708.
Also a Bake Sale For Denise will be held Saturday, May 23 at 9 am, at the Piru Train Station Gazebo. Any donations are welcome.
The community is pulling together. The church paid for the plot. Friends of Piru and Piru council are taking huge lead on donations for funeral home. We had school psychologists out today and I met with all her teachers. Her parents came and talked to the school staff. Here is the low down: DENISE ARREDONDO

ROSARY: RELIGIOUS SERVICE
OPEN CASKET
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
2:00 -
Residence - Denise Arredondo
496 River Street
Piru, CA 93040

Funeral Service
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
9:00 AM
San Salvador Mission
4045 Center Street
Piru, CA 93040
Thank you and gracias por su ayuda!

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VENTURA, CA - The Ventura Family YMCA has received a $17,000 grant from an anonymous donor to perform much needed renovations in its child watch areas. All funds received will go directly towards upgrading the YMCA’s Children’s Corner, Adventure Zone and the Teen Center. “The grant couldn’t come at a better time with summer just around the corner” stated Jacob Munyon the Ventura Family YMCA Childcare Director. “The grant will cover three renovation projects and bring the facility new and exciting equipment for the youth.”

The YMCA Children’s Corner, will receive an expansion of its outside play area along with a with a brand new sun shade. Children’s Corner is available for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and allows parents the opportunity to have time by themselves to exercise or just relax within the facility. In addition to the new outside equipment, Children’s Corner will also receive all new play structures and basketball hoops.

The YMCA Adventure Zone, for children ages 5-13, is another place for children to play while they are at the YMCA. The Adventure Zone is comprised of a game area along with a two story play structure. The play structure will receive replacements for all worn out accessories, pads and netting. The grant has also allowed the YMCA to make a special call to a building safety inspector to ensure that everything is still up to code. CONTINUED »

Ventura, CA – Funding in the amount of $20,000 from the Santa Barbara Foundation along with funds from the Orfalea Foundation has provided Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast with funding to begin construction on a shower facility, that will add 8 more showers, for their Girl Scout Camp Arnaz. A total of eight showers will give Girl Scouts the opportunity to provide summer resident camp, as well as overnight program opportunities throughout the year.

A larger capacity camp will also enable Girl Scouts to introduce new camp programming such as surf and kayak camps, horse camps, and drama camps, as well as off-site excursions. Girl Scouts will be able to offer more intensive, multi-day programming such as educational retreats and high-adventure programs, outdoor education, sports, environmental awareness, art and science.

The construction of a shower facility will improve the nightly capacity of Camp Arnaz from 45 resident campers to 145 campers. Girls’ opportunities to benefit from the life-changing experience of camp are limited, simply because Girl Scout resident camps do not exist locally. CONTINUED »