Fillmore's Health and Wellness Center at 448 Santa Clara Street, right next door to the Lost and Found Depot, announces the start of a Beginning Yoga Class at 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. this Saturday, July 17. If you've never tried yoga, or you need to find a gentle way to stretch and get moving again, this is the class for you. Janine Rees leads the class through a series of slow, easy poses to help lengthen muscles, improve circulation and facilitate relaxation. All adults are welcome including senior citizens. Come in comfortable clothes with an empty stomach. All supplies will be provided and no preregistration is necessary. Cost is $5.00 for adults/$3.00 for seniors. Please call Janine at 524-4856 or 2520 with any questions.

Three positions on the Fillmore Unified School District Board of Education will be on the November 2, 2010 ballot. The terms of office for Board Members J. A. Prado, Liz Wilde and Michael Saviers will end December 2010. The new terms of office will run until December 2014. The current Board Members have the option of running again.

Candidates interested in running for the School Board should pick up filing materials from the County Clerk Elections Division or the Fillmore Unified School Districts Office beginning July 12, 2010 and must deliver the completed materials to the Ventura County Elections Office by 4:00 p.m. on normal business days, no later than Friday August 6, 2010.

If a candidate wishes to publish a statement in the sample ballot pamphlet, it will be the candidate’s responsibility to pay for the statement fee. However, once a candidate has properly filed a Declaration of Candidacy with Ventura County Elections Office and qualifies for the election, the Fillmore Unified School District will provide space in a local newspaper for candidates to publish a statement at no charge to the candidates. Statements published in the local newspaper will have to comply with the same rules that would apply had the candidate filed a statement with Ventura County Elections.

Questions may be addressed to the County Elections Division at 654-2664 or the District Superintendent’s Office at 524-6038. Anyone wishing to pick up materials from the School District Office at 627 Sespe Avenue should call first to be sure that either Cynthia Padilla or Susan Leon (524-6034) will be available to provide the filing materials and instructions.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee has selected Joe & Karin Diaz’s yard at 56 Rio Grande to be the recipient of the July “Yard of the Month” Award.

The Diaz family has lived in their home for 4 years and with the help of local landscaper, Joe Acosta, has created an inviting and welcoming front yard.

White tree roses from Otto & Sons follow the lines of flower beds on both sides of the entry to the front porch, creating a neutral background for the bright splashes of color at their base. Begonia varieties in both red flowering with burgundy foliage & white flowering with green foliage, along with marigolds, snapdragons & an orange daisy fill the flower beds, and pots near the front steps & around the Raewood Ash trees. Miniature bottle brush shrubs, edge the steps. Massive hanging baskets of petunias fill the front porch openings, giving balance to the structure and inviting one up to the entry.

The porch was festively decorated with patriotic hangings & flags for the 4th of July because that is also Joe’s birthday celebration.

Karin and son, Shawn, expressed appreciation for receiving the $25 gift certificate donated by Otto & Sons Nursery on Guiberson Road and they liked the sign which will remain in their yard for July.

Fillmore FFA members have been busy the past several weeks preparing for our First Annual Freedom Breakfast which was held the morning of the 4th of July. I am happy to say that all our hard work paid off! The pancake breakfast was well attended by our community. To honor of our veterans and active military, they were offered free admission. It was our hope as an organization to offer our community an opportunity to gather and visit in celebration of the 4th of July. The breakfast was held at the Veterans Memorial Building which was decorated in red, white and blue by the FFA members.

We had several sponsors who made the success of the breakfast possible. On behalf of the Fillmore FFA Chapter, I would like to thank Starbucks Coffee, Chase Brothers Dairy, Matt Davis and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Martin for their generous donations. I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Ron Mendez, Mr. Rigo Landeros, the FFA Boosters Club and parents for their time and hard work.

No rest for our FFA members! We will be hosting a Barn Dance on July 24th, at the school farm. So practice your moves and dust of your boots because we look forward to you seeing there! More information on ticket sales will follow soon.

Brooke Aguirre is the Fillmore FFA Chapter Reporter

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KSSP Photographers Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris photographed the 2010 Miss & Teen Regional California USA Pageant held at the Robert Q. Valles Performing Arts Center in Oxnard on June 27. This year's winners were Natasha Martinez in the Miss division and Greer Grammer in the Teen division. Titleholders have the option of competing at the State pageant later in the year.

The pageant is produced by Toay Productions, which also produces the Miss & Teen Greater Ventura County USA Pageant held in March and the Miss & Teen Los Angeles Pageant to be held this year on September 19th. Fillmore High School graduate Taylor Atkins won the the 2008 Greater Ventura County Teen USA Pageant and went on to become the 2008 Miss California Teen USA. Taylor was one of the emcees at the pageant. Further information about upcoming pageants and becoming a contestant can be found at http://toayproductions.com.

KSSP not only covers each of these pageants for Toay Productions, each titleholder is given a glamour photo shoot at the KSSP studio

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in portrait, wedding and quinceanera photography (and video). KSSP Photographic Studios is the school photographer for Fillmore High School and is the photographer for the upcoming Miss Los Angeles Pageant to be held on September 19. For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com.

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The Fillmore Peace Pole is in the last planning stages and is projected to be installed in the City Park in front of Fillmore City Hall by the September 21st International Day of Peace. The Soroptimist International of Fillmore and the Fillmore High School “S” Club are sponsoring the pole in order to have a permanent area in Fillmore to focus on the need for international and local peace. The Peace Pole will be seven sided and each side will be inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in seven languages.

There is still an opportunity to donate toward the Peace Pole. Those persons or organizations donating $100 will be given the opportunity to have an inscription on a plaque at the base of the Peace Pole. If you are interested in donating toward this worthy project, please contact Sarah Hansen at 524-0132 or Oralia Herrera at magnoliares@sbcglobal.net.

Patty Harrison, 2010-2011 Board President, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley.

(Santa Paula, CA July 30, 2010) The Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is pleased to announce its newly elected President of the Board, Patty Harrison. A lifelong resident of Santa Paula, Patty is pleased to lead the Boys & Girls Club on its journey as a leading after school child development organization. “Our Board of Directors is made up of dedicated, professional, and exceptionally talented people. I am excited to work with each person on our Board, using all of our gifts and talents to support this organization. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Santa Clara Valley will be here to provide the valuable support through our after-school and summer programs, homework assistance, mentoring and fun activities. Look for the Santa Clara Valley Boys and Girls Clubs to benefit each community we serve through innovative programs and strong leadership. It is the ‘Positive Place for Kids!’” says Patty.

The Board is also happy to announce its newest member. Cynthia Dunbar, Troop Real Estate, was voted onto the Board at the Board’s June meeting. The balance of the Board is made up of members: Mike Hause, Immediate Past President, Deborah Jurgensen, Vice President, Tracy Grove, Secretary, Mike Mobley, Treasurer and Past President, Tammy Hobson, John Kulwiec, Steve MacKinnon, Tom McGrath, Earl McPhail, Gary Nasalroad, Past President, and Tony Soriano, Past President.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley provides after school and Summer Camp programs for children ages 5 to 18, at the Club’s two locations; 1400 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula and 565 First St., Fillmore. Club members pay a $25 annual fee to attend the Club, and no child is turned away for their inability to pay the membership fee. The actual cost to the Club is $560 per child annually to provide services for its members. The obvious gap between cost of services and membership is bridged by generous donations from local businesses, private donors and local and national grants. Donors interested in providing financial assistance to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley are encouraged to contact the Club at 805-525-7910. All donations, regardless of amount, are gratefully appreciated.

(Santa Paula, California) Community Memorial Health System’s Healthy Women’s Program is hosting a Community Outreach Day which offers free mammograms and healthcare education to the first 35 women who qualify. This event will take place at the Center for Family Health in Santa Paula on Saturday, July 24.

The women will arrive early at the CFH office at 242 East Harvard Boulevard, Suite C where they check in and are then transported to The Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, and then back to the Centers office.

In 2009, an estimated 194,280 new cases of breast cancer occurred in the United States, and early detection and awareness is the key to fighting this life-threatening disease. The Healthy Women’s Program provided through Community Memorial Health System benefits women in the community who are uninsured, under-insured or lack funds to pay for mammograms and follow-up treatment, if necessary.

“These women have nowhere else in the county to go to get these services; that’s why they come to us,” said Petra Luna, education manager for Centers for Family Health.

The Healthy Women’s Program is made possible through funds raised by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s annual Gold Dust Gala, along with the generous support of the Wallis Foundation.

To find out if you qualify for this program, call 805/651-2661. For more information on the Healthy Women’s Program visit www.cmhshealth.org/healthywomen.

Community Memorial Health System is 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.

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While hunting White Tail in Kansas in minus 10 below zero, with a wind chill of minus 27, it occurred to me all the above is related.

You see during this Octobers’ D13 California Deer Hunt in the Hopper mountain area a “United States Fish and Wildlife Service” employee apparently “illegally” prevented the recovery of a legally taken deer by a local hunter? The purpose was to supposedly autopsy the deer for lead contamination? The same hunter then found his dead deer in the field two weeks later, rotted? The local Sheriffs were involved several weeks later after being called to assist in removing accused hunter trespassers by the same UFWS biologist. These hunters were on United States Forest Service property, leased from the BLM by oil companies. These oil companies post private property signs and gate USFS land and roads. The local Department of Fish and Game (DFG) officer has requested to keep his comments off the record on this issue! And in California, October the weather is hot, hot, hot!

So lead bullets and Copper bullets how could they be so controversial? Heck the copper bullets I have used have worked great! Hornadys’ (www.hornady.com) GMX in a 270WSM slams Deer dead! Barnes’ (www.barnesbullets.com) 140grain TSX in a 7mm Remington Magnum does the same! (Nossler also, (www.nosler.com) has a good non lead bullet that should be tried). End of story for these two calibers and bullets. Do they work on other game? Probably so, but I have not had a chance to try them on other than Deer, so I will wait to personally confirm. Yep they cost more. Yep some rifles don’t like them in regards to accuracy; but some rifles just don’t like anything. My personal rifles shoot these bullets to ¾ inch or better at 100 yards, one of the rifles being a Ruger M77 270WSM and the other an ‘ol Remington 700 classic in 7mm Remington magnum. There is an excellent article written by Mr. John Barsness in the National Rilfe Associations’ (www.americanrifleman.org) “American Rifleman” October 09 issue on bullet accuracy and rifle barrels. I concur with Mr. Barsnes’ article given my own records and experience with firearms for over forty years. This article would be very valuable reading, as it discusses, in detail how the interior of a barrels’ “landscape” affects bullet accuracy. Ruger M70 270 WSM, w/ Barnes 110gr. TTSX at 270 yards. 2009 KS.

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Lion President Bill Dewey (left) presents a gift to installing PCC Bill Dunlevy.
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Story Courtesy Lion Jim Austin

On Monday evening, the 21st of June, we began our annual installation celebration with introductions and welcoming on the beautiful, quiet Elkins Golf Course patio. The Fillmore Lions Club members along with their spouses shared dinner with several guests in attendance, among them IPCC, PDG Bill Dunlevy and wife Margaret. IPCC refers to Lion Bill serving on the council of governors at the multi-district level. PDG is another stat referring to Lion Bill being a Past District Governor of our local 4A3 district.

Recognition Awards were bestowed on many Fillmore Lions. The coveted Melvin Jones Fellow was awarded to Lion Bill Dewey. A Melvin Jones Fellow is special honor, equated to the “hall of fame” for Lions. It’s the backbone of Lions Club International for recognition and humanitarian efforts. Lion of the Year was awarded to Lion Steve Gardner for his exemplary contributions. A Donald Snyder Fellow was awarded to Maggie Snyder in honor of her late husband PDG Donald Snyder, who was instrumental in establishing the Lions Club Student Speaker contests. Last but not least, if your name was “Bill” you were among the lucky indeed. Bill Edmonds, Bill Dewey and Bill Baumgartner all received awards for Perfect Attendance. Current and soon-to-be Immediate Past President Bill Edmonds passed out thank yous and gifts to the cabinet and fellow Lions that supported him this past year.

IPCC, PDG Bill Dunlevy continued the evening program by installing the new cabinet members for the 2010-2011 year. Installed were President Bill Dewey; 1st Vice, Jim Austin; 2nd Vice Jorge Herrera; 3rd Vice Victor Gongora; Secretary Scott Lee; Admin Treasurer Dorsey Smith; Project Treasurer Walter Gonzales; Lion Tamer Bill Baumgartner; Tail Twister Paul Schifanelli; Membership Chair Bill Edmonds; Board Directors Mary Tipps, Brett Chandler, Bob Klittich & Jack Stethem.

Immediate Past President Bill Edmonds was awarded a plaque for his service for the 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 years along with much appreciation.

Newly installed President Bill Dewey shared comments with the group referencing his goals, ideas, and hopes for the new year. His theme being the “Ginkgo Tree”, an old, solid tree of Chinese origin. Known for it’s endurance, stamina and referred to as “the living fossil”, I’m sure he wasn’t referring to the Lions members.
The evening had a casual flavor with colorful leis and Hawaiian shirts, good food and of course good company. It ended on the chilly side with the shadows of evening peacefully upon us. A big thank you to all who attended. If any of you are interested in contributing to a very worthy cause, both on our city front as well as the global service network, please feel free to contact any Fillmore Lions Club member, President Bill Dewey 524-4457, or Membership Chair Bill Edmonds 524-4839. Our motto is “We Serve” and it’s very rewarding to part of something so worthwhile.

Irma Rodriguez, President, Fillmore Sunrise Rotary. Picture taken by Eric Vigil of Timeless Images Photography.

Irma Rodriquez was installed as president of the Fillmore Sunrise Rotary Club on Monday evening. The group met a 6:00 pm for dinner. Reports wre given of the past year’s accomplishments by Joe Aguirre, outgoing president.

The club recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with many former members in attendance.

The first Rotary Club was formed in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois and became involved in international service over the years. In 1985 Rotary announced the PolioPlus program to immunize all children against Polio.

The club has several fud raisers each year. The current is the safe fireworks booth beginning June 28, Monday – Sunday, July 4.

The group meets every Tuesday morning at 7:00 am at the El Pescador Restaurant in Fillmore.

Other committee members: Sean Morris, President Elect and Club Service Chair, Tim Gurrola - Treasurer, Kyle Wilson – Secretary, Tim Hagel – Foundation. Don Gunderson – Grant Chairman, Community Service Chair -Bob Hammond, Vocational Service – Cindy Blatt, International Service – Joe Aguirre and Todd Gernhauser, Club District Hugger – Ruthe Gunderson, Interact Chair and Youth Act Chair – Irma Rodriguez, Song Leader – Joe Aguirre, Media Chairman – Eric Vigil, Club Awards – Bob Hammond, Public Relations – Marge Le Bard.

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Saturday, June 26th was the annual Melinda Bishop/Bruce Smith Memorial Horseshoe Tournament sponsored by the Piru Petroleum Club.

This is a major fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund. Competition started at noon with 21 teams and finished about 5PM. 1st place winners were Andrew Vaiz and Doug Harback; 2nd place went to Tory Cabral and Gene Cabral and 3rd place team was Stacy Gunter and Jeff Stevenson. Trophies were presented by Betty Bishop, mother of Melinda Bishop and Helen Smith, wife of Bruce Smith. There was a water slide for the kids.

This year's tournament was well attended with many spectators. Scholarships are awarded every year to graduating Seniors. This year's recipients of $500 each were Elizabeth Wareham, St. Bonaventure High School, daughter of Dave & Diane Wareham; Tanner Carpenter, Fillmore High School, son of Shelly Carpenter Huerta, Brianna Martinez, Fillmore High School, daughter of Brenda Martinez and Jessica Palacio of Piru, Fillmore High School, daughter of Cynthia Chessani.

Piru Petroleum holds a lunch on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month and a Thursday night dinner which is open to the public on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Cost is $10 for food and drink.

Recently the Club also donated to the Fillmore Band Boosters Uniform Fund.

Piru Petroleum Club membership consists of people throughout Ventura County and welcomes new members. The next fundraiser will be a dinner-dance on Saturday, July 31st. A Fishing Tournament is scheduled for September 11th at Lake Piru and a Golf Tournament on October 29th at Elkins Ranch Golf Course.

Anyone interested in becoming a member or wanting information on upcoming events should call Gil @ 231-5817 or Lynda @ 340-0154.

Three candidates with the courage to make changes, the intelligence to learn how to run a successful school system, the willingness to stand up for the children and the staff of FUSD, and the belief that all children can succeed academically (not simply 25% of them!).

We need candidates who care for the children of Fillmore and are willing to clean up the substandard effort the current board has been allowing for too long. A district seemingly ruled by nepotism and pay backs, the present Board and administration has made FUSD famous not for achievement, but for its suspensions, expulsions, and dropout rate. In all of these categories, Fillmore is #1 in Ventura County!

Are you pleased with these results from the Board in place and with the present administration? How many more promotions, and high administrative salaries, and questionable spending will you accept from this culture of incompetence before acting? The time is Now. Please join Reform FUSD Now to identify the three best candidates for this November’s election!

Once a proud district with superior results, Fillmore can rise again, but we need true leaders. Please email us your ideas, suggestions or candidate names! We’ll invite you to our next meeting and communication circles! This is an SOS. We need Leaders NOW!

Email: iscs@sbcglobal.net or phone Marie at (805) 654-8774.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) is considering establishing a limit on the amount of bacteria allowed in the Santa Clara River. Meeting this requirement is going to touch almost every owner of a home or business in the valley. The cost will be significant and there is no funding source from the State to meet this new requirement. The full financial burden of compliance will likely not hit the property owners until we draw closer to the compliance deadlines in 2018 and 2024.

The regulatory process the Board would use to regulate bacteria is called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which would limit the concentrations of bacteria discharged into the river and the quantity of bacteria living in the river. Bacteria can come from many sources including sewage treatment plants discharging to the river, farm animals, horses, septic systems, wildlife and storm drains from urban areas.

The TMDL includes recommended strategies and treatment measures to control bacteria. The measures include picking up pet waste, increased street and storm drain cleaning, constructing vegetated filter strips, storm water planters/rain gardens, cisterns, treatment wetlands, media filters and diverting storm drain flow to sewage treatment plants. According to the TMDL Public and private properties would have to be retrofitted with these storm water treatment measures.

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We filled 4 buses, 187 students. Reports from the students were: "the pasta was great and lots of it, the Magician was terrific, definitely keep the Cruise going forever". We truly appreciate everyone that helped us this year and the last minute help and money we received paid for the 4th bus. Every student that wanted to go (even the 6 last minute students) had a seat. Class of 2011 next year will see some changes. Annette Arroyo Fox is retiring from Grad Nite Live after 13 yeas of dedicated and hard work. April Tipps Hastings and her husband Sean will be taking over and putting together their committees for the different fund raisers they are planning. They will be looking for parents and interested parties that want to help the sophomore, junior and senior classes. They can be contacted at 317-9002 or 317-9196. Mrs. Chaney will still be assisting them and can be contacted at 407-5759/524-4909