Pictured (l-r) is owner Preston Andreini and General Manager Daniel Flores from Red Engine Brewing Company with Fillmore Rotary President Elect Scott Beylik. Photo credit Rotarian Martha Richardson.
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Preston Andreini and Daniel Flores, from Red Engine Brewing Company, were the speakers at Rotary. Preston has been a firefighter and paramedic for 17 years and is the owner of the brewing company. Daniel Flores was a Marine for four years and an EMT; he is the general manager. The Red Engine Brewing Company is on HWY 126. The beer will be brewed there on one side of the building and a restaurant on the other side. Initially they will have pizza and charcuterie boards with the goal of having a chef serving simple food from local produce. It will be a family environment with things for the kids. They will have non-alcoholic options also. They are hoping to open in a couple months.

Pictured above are Examples of Deceptive Mailers. Courtesy Ventura County District Attorneys’ Office.
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VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is warning the public about deceptive letters recently sent to residents. The letters threaten property owners with potential asset levies and/or property seizure. The letters attempt to create a sense of urgency and they include an (800) number to call. Examples of these deceptive correspondence letters are attached to this news release.

Ventura County property owners are reminded that if they have a question on the status of their property taxes, they should contact the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office. Legitimate letters from the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector will have a local address and a local telephone number. Residents may call the Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector at (805) 654-3744 or send an email to helpinghand@ventura.org.

If taxpayers have a question on the status of their state or federal tax liability, they should contact the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or their tax professional. “Unsolicited materials received in the mail are often marketing materials deceptively designed to cause the property owner to become concerned and call the number listed on the mailer,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Dominic Kardum.

In addition to deceptive mail solicitors, county residents are urged to be aware of scammers that seek victims through text messages, emails, and phone calls. These scammers use similar tactics:
• They often pretend to be government officials or legitimate businesses.
• They create a sense of urgency to get victims to respond quickly.
• They often demand immediate payment.
• They demand payment with pre-paid cards.
• They ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• They threaten arrest if immediate payment isn’t made.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has several specialized units that investigate fraud.

When appropriate, the Consumer Protection Unit will investigate consumer complaints. Any inquiries or referrals about potential violations of consumer laws can be made by calling (805) 662-1750.

Rancho Camulos Museum will host Michelle McKinley on Sunday, April 16 to talk about Piru history at the Rancho Camulos Museum, including the Mountain View Hotel. Photo Courtesy Rancho Camulos Museum.
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On Sunday, April 16 at 4p.m., Michele McKinley will present "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Piru History."

Join the local historian and Piru native as she shares the fascinating and diverse heritage of the Piru area. She will also share her collection of engaging historic photographs. Bring YOUR own family stories to share!

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the Rancho Camulos Museum’s historic buildings and gardens. Engage in a docent-led tour. Bring a picnic and immerse yourself in the ambiance as you step back in time “Where the History, Myth, and Romance of Old California still Linger…”

Guests can bring their favorite beverage and food for a picnic in the gardens.

Docent-led tours are at 1:00p.m., 2:00p.m., and 3:00p.m.The presentation is at 4:00p.m.

The suggested donation is $10. For more information about the Rancho Camulos Museum, visit Ranchocamulos.org.

Pictured (l-r) is District Governor Scott Phillips and Rotary Club President Dave Andersen. Photo credit Rotarian Martha Richardson.
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Margarita Eidson, our District Group Rep introduced Scott Phillips, the District Governor. He is a member of the Goleta Noontime Club and joined in 2013. The Rotary theme this year is Imagine Rotary. The overall goals of Rotary are to eradicate polio, give clean water to everyone, to free the world of disease and teach every child to read. There are 69 Clubs in our District and this year 93 new members joined. He reminded the Club

By David Goldstein

The official theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet,” according to Earthday.org, the largest organizer and coordinator of Earth Day events. In keeping with the theme, many of the organizations staffing booths at this year’s events will promote incentives for electric cars, solar panels, water-efficient appliances, and other investments. Local events will also provide education, information, and fun.
Since this year’s Earth Day, April 22, is on a Saturday, most local events will be held on the official day of commemoration. However, as usual, events all this month will celebrate Earth Day.

April 22, 10 AM to 1 PM, at Fillmore City Hall Plaza, 250 Central Avenue, the City of Fillmore will sponsor an Earth Day event with vendors, food, and two other elements putting environmental values into practice. First, a “chalk fest” sponsored by the Fillmore Arts Commission, will create a type of public art that requires no paint, canvas, or stone, and generates no waste. Second, the event will serve as the venue for a community yard sale, supporting the environmental value of reuse.

A “What’s Up in Fillmore” gathering nearby will showcase local nonprofits and groups in Fillmore looking to gain members for their organizations while advertising ways the public can get involved and help their community. Check out the city’s Facebook page for the event, at https://www.facebook.com/events/739145777717026/

Ventura County Public Works Agency Environmental Resource Analyst David Goldstein may be reached at (805) 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.

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Work continues on the streets of Fillmore after a major sewer line collapse on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The line failure originated in west Fillmore, near El Paseo Street (above) and Village Square at C Street. Ventura County Environmental Health Division was notified, and a major repair undertaking began. Manholes are inspected every three years, but recent heavy rains may have contributed to the issue. On Tuesday, March 21, the City of Fillmore held a special meeting to address a declaration of local emergency resulting from the sewer line collapse. City Manager David Rowlands introduced the item, and Municipal Services Director/Utilities Engineer Troy Spayd provided a presentation and update to the City Council at that time stating repairs could take weeks or months. An emergency declaration allows the city to avoid bid procedures that could take months, according to Spayd. It could also make possible state and federal funding. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.

The Civic Pride volunteers announce Ray and Lupe Hoover’s residence as the April “Yard of the Month.” Pictured is Ray with his dog Chloe enjoying a beautiful day in the yard, receiving the $50 gift certificate for Otto & Sons Nursery. Photo credit Linda Nunes
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By Linda Nunes

Civic Pride Volunteers have selected Ray & Lupe Hoover’s yard at 818 Fine St. as the April “Yard of the Month.” The Hoovers moved into their home in 1989 with only some ground cover plants present. Lupe loves Birch trees, so they planted 3 as focal points in the main yard & one more to the right of the driveway. Ray said Lupe told him where to plant them & he dug the holes! In the open spaces, they placed a few Sespe Brownstone boulders with red Salvias- “Hot Lips” variety as the next level of interest. On the ground are colorful Gazanias, & other daisylike bloomers. Tufts of ornamental grasses wave gently in the breeze & have spread to other areas. Pots of blooming flowers line the entryway. Lupe was busy running her business of 43 yearsHairatage Salon on Sespe St., so Ray graciously posed with their little dog, Chloe. When asked what they would like to say about their yard, they both commented that they wanted a low maintenance & low water use yard with drip irrigation, but also, one that was colorful, that would attract hummingbirds & butterflies. While I was there, a Monarch butterfly drifted through. Ray & Lupe work together to maintain the beautiful display & were very excited to receive the $50 gift certificate to Otto & Sons Nursery. Ray said they go there often! We thank Otto & Sons Nursery for supporting this award through all the years.

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Fillmore Police Station coordinated with the K-9 and Mounted Unit of the Ventura County Sheriffs Office to host an Easter Egg-stravaganza for the community members of Fillmore. It was a beautiful day that resulted in lots of fun and laughs for all who attended. A community Easter egg-hunt and a variety of games were planned for everyone who wished to participate; patrol deputies and cadets joined in all the fun as well! A big thank you to each and every one of the community members who attended and showed support. VCSD is looking forward to hosting more events that focus on bringing members of law enforcement and members of the community together. Have a happy and safe Easter! Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.

On Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16, the 2023 Fillmore Flower Show will take place at the Fillmore active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara St., Fillmore. Above are winners from a previous flower show. Photo credit Jan Lee.
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By Jan Lee

Are you ready to share your “Garden Treasures” with your friends and neighbors? The most popular divisions at the flower show are Divisions I, II and III Single Stem Cut Flowers. Do you have Roses? Iris? Any other flower? Bring them to the flower show. That means cut a single stem from the plant with at least one leaf attached, bring it to the Active Adult Center Saturday morning between 7:30a.m. and 10a.m. We will supply the vase. You might win! Every year the variety of flowers is amazing. Be sure to come by between 1 and 4 o’clock either Saturday or Sunday to view the entries and see what you won. Even if you are not entering a bloom or plant this year, come anyway. Admission is FREE. And there will be live music, a plant boutique, a café and a table for the kids to make something. The Fillmore Flower Show is a really fun event! For a little more detail, roses have several competitive categories: Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Miniature Rose, Any other Unlisted Rose, and Novelty Rose, most fragrant and largest bloom. There are also several categories of Other Single Stem Cut Flowers: Orchids, Lilies, Delphinium, Geranium and Any Other Unlisted Flower. Bottom line: If you have grown a flower, bring it to the Fillmore Flower Show. If you enter once, you’ll be back year after year. See you there. For complete information go to: fillmoreflowershow.org.

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On Wednesday, March 29, at 1:10pm, road authorities were on-scene directing traffic on W. Guiberson Road / SR23 when a dump truck lost its load of dirt in the eastbound lane-Guiberson. The road was cleared and open to traffic. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.

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The most recent Fillmore Rotary speaker was Jim Wisdom, from the Westlake Village Rotary. The program title was “How to Successfully Exit Your Business.” Exit planning is a good business strategy starting early on in the business. Plan ahead about how long you want to be in business and what you want to do when you retire. Is your business transferable or will you sell the business? Various things will change over the years, but if you have a plan, you’ll be prepared to handle them. Pictured (l-r) is Rotary President Dave Andersen with guest speaker Jim Wisdom. Courtesy Rotarian Martha Richardson.

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Last week, the Fillmore Rotary Club presented a check for $500 to the FHS Swim Team. Pictured (l-r) are Hannah Faith, Special Ed teacher, and Co-coach Joaquin Holladay, Sienna Dalgarn, Alexis Pina, Coach Cindy Blatt, and Alejandro Lanza. Courtesy Rotarian Martha Richardson.

By David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency

With recent rains and cold weather, it may feel like winter, but spring officially started last week. Are you ready for spring cleaning? For those wanting to “green” their clean, cleaning is not just a matter of removing material such as dirt, grime, crumbs, skin cells or pet hair from surfaces and crevices. Cleaning also does not just mean disinfection. Instead, the meaning of “clean” can include removing pollutants and cutting waste. Killing germs is important, but battling biological enemies does not have to come at the cost of tolerating chemical pollutants and creating waste.
The Ventura County General Services Agency’s 2023 Earth Day guide, distributed in preparation for next month’s Earth Day facility tour, describes several green methods and products custodial crews at County facilities use to clean facilities serving thousands of people per day. The guide emphasizes the products and methods selected are evaluated not just on the basis of cost and efficacy, but also with consideration for “recycled content, landfill and water impacts, and chemical content.”
“Green soap dispensers” are one simple success highlighted in the guide. The agency reports replacing 96 percent of soap dispensers in the buildings served by County custodians. “The new foaming soap is not only bio-based, but it is also Green Seal Certified,” reports the guide. Impressively, mainly by dispensing as a foam from a compressed source, rather than transferring liquid soaps from a wall-mounted container to a customer’s hands, the new system has reduced soap costs by 50 percent, according to the guide.
Such soaps are also available for residential use. A search at Amazon.com for “non-toxic foaming soaps” generated 430 results. Many of these come with refillable soap dispensers, so buyers can buy refills in large bottles, saving money and cutting waste.
The soap’s Green Seal certification mentioned in the guide refers to a non-profit organization which has been certifying products for more than three decades. Other non-profit organizations, as well as the public agencies, also manage certification programs; however, Green Seal was an innovator and is known for its rigorous health, sustainability, and performance standards. At www.greenseal.org, consumers can find certified products and services to “make healthier, greener choices” for home, school, or workplace.
If you do not see Green Seal certified options when buying cleaning products, you can still make greener choices by avoiding products labeled with the words “danger,” poison,” “caution,” or “warning.” You might also avoid toxic products and excessive packaging by creating your own cleaning, polishing, and deodorizing products from non-toxic ingredients such as baking soda, cornstarch, toothpaste, lemon juice, vegetable-based liquid soap, vinegar, and borax.
Recipes for 10 “all natural, homemade cleaning solutions” are available at www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/natural-cleaning-recipes. Many of these recipes start with plant-based cleaners, and there are even plant-based disinfectants. The most common of these is vinegar, which is a great cleaner, but not as powerful as bleach or alcohol.
If a plant-based solution does not work as quickly or effectively as chemical-based cleaners and disinfectants, the difference can often be overcome with the addition of another ingredient – elbow grease. When applying these cleaners, start with less abrasive tools, such as nylon scrubbers, and then work your way up to toothbrushes, pencil erasers, steel wool, pumice bars, or single-edge razor blades if you need to really scrape and scrub.
Basic, chemical-based cleaning products can be used in less environmentally taxing ways. For example, bleach solution, according to the label, may be mixed from a bulk container at a rate of one-third cup per one gallon of water. This reduces the consumption of individually packaged, bleach-based products. Just do not mix bleach with ammonia when making your own cleaning products. Doing so produces a toxic gas.
The General Services Agency Earth Day Tour will take place April 21. Meet at the Hall of Administration Fountain at noon. Register in advance by using the QRTY code at
https://www.ventura.org/general-services-agency/earthday/
David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with the Ventura County Public Works Agency, may be reached at (805) 658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org

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Carolyn Boucher, from the Simi Sunset Rotary, was one of the speakers at a recent Fillmore Rotary meeting. She told the Club about Simi Sunset’s Kidney Donation Program. Rocky Rhodes, another Rotarian, spoke about his decision to donate a kidney. Tony Falato was the recipient of the kidney and continued the story of how thankful he is to Rocky for saving his life. The Simi
Sunset Club is now promoting kidney donation through a website: www.TeamGinny NeedsYOU.com, and Email:TeamGinny1@gmail.com. Ginny Donnelly is in critical need of a kidney transplant! If this is something you’d consider, go to these sites and find out more. You don’t have to be a blood match like you do for other transplants like liver. Photo credit Rotarian Martha Richardson.

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The Fillmore Rotary speaker was Alondra Gaytan, Director of Strategic Relations from EconomicDevelopment Collaborative (EDC). She told the Club the EDC is the region’s largest economic development public-private partnership. It provides access to capital and direct business advising to over a thousand businesses a year. Pictured (l-r) is Alondra Gaytan with Rotary President Dave Anderson. Photo credit Martha
Richardson.