Fillmore, CA – Fillmore Unified School District will hold its first annual Reclassification Celebration on Tuesday, May 29 at 6pm in the District Office Auditorium at 627 Sespe Ave in Fillmore. This event is typically held at each school site on a much smaller scale and the decision was made to bring this special ceremony to the district office where each student in grades 3-12 would be recognized for their achievement over the 2011-2012 school year. Dr. Alan Nishino, Superintendent of Fillmore Unified, states that… “This is a very special evening to celebrate the students who are Reclassified Fluent English Proficient.”

In order for a student to be reclassified from an English Learner to Fluent English Proficient, they must show that they are proficient in English. In order to do so, they must be at the mid-point of Basic on the CST (California Standards Test) in English Language Arts and/or Pass the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam). In addition, they must score a minimum of Early Advanced on the CELDT (California English Language Development Test). Teacher and parent recommendation as well as grades are also taken into consideration before a final decision is made by the LAT (Language Appraisal Team).

This year, 138 students are being reclassified out of about 1,200 EL (English Learner) students district wide. “This is a major accomplishment and our goal is to have all of our EL students receive a certificate of accomplishment for their hard work” Dr. Nishino shared.

The reclassification celebration ceremony will feature Mr. Edward De La Rosa as the keynote speaker. Mr. De La Rosa holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego. He serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for the Yale School of Management where he was awarded the Dean’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2004. In addition, students and their families will enjoy hearing the 2012 Migrant State Speech winners, which include a student speaker from Piru School, Middle and High School. Each reclassified student will receive a certificate of achievement and a dictionary. After the ceremony, a brief reception will follow on the district office front lawn.

As the 2011-2012 Special Populations Student Support Coordinator, I couldn’t be more proud of these students and I look forward to recognizing their achievement at this special ceremony.

Contact:
Jennifer Weir, Special Populations Coordinator, jweir@fillmore.k12.ca.us (805) 524-8036

In collaboration with Fillmore & Western Railway, Bennett's Honey Farm is excited to present the first annual Honey Harvest Festival, occurring June 9th and 10th. This will be a weekend for families, friends, and honey
enthusiasts alike to gather for an educational and tasty experience.

Livingston Hospice conducts several adult bereavement support groups to help those who have experienced a loss. Explore and express feeling, understand the grief process and receive emotional support. Open to the public, free of charge, all are welcome. The groups are held:

Weekly: Wednesday; 3:00 – 4:30 pm @ The First Presbyterian Church, 850 Ivywood Drive, Oxnard
Weekly: Wednesday; 6:30 – 8:00 pm @ Livingston Memorial VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura
2nd & 4th Tuesdays; 10:30 – 12:00 @ Help of Ojai, 370 Baldwin Road, Ojai
Monthly: For the newly bereaved; 2nd Thursday; 6:00 – 7:30 pm @ Livingston Memorial VNA; 1996 Eastman Ave (#106), Ventura.

For more information call: 642-1608

Documentary Film and Discussion: Attend this free informative film “Consider the Conversation”, which examines how we view life’s final chapter and how talking about what we want, in advance, prevents unnecessary suffering. Sponsored by Livingston Memorial Hospice and Simi Valley Senior Center, the film will be shown on Wednesday, June 20, from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm @ the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi, Simi Valley.

A discussion will follow featuring Lanyard K. Dial, MD, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Medical Director. RSVP: (805) 583-6363

Adrian (AD) Robledo

A very musically talented young man won the Relay Idol competition this year at the Fillmore May Festival on Saturday, May 19, 2012. The event was sponsored by Relay for Life Fillmore-Piru (American Cancer Society). The winner was Adrian (AD) Robledo. He is 11 years-old and is in the 5th grade. Adrian sang It will Rain by Bruno Mars. Three judges deemed him the winner which not only won him a 1st place trophy, but will also have him singing the National Anthem at the starting ceremony of Relay for Life Fillmore-Piru on Saturday, September 15, 2012 to be held at Shiells Park in Fillmore. Adrian's family includes his father and mother Henry and Theresa Robledo and siblings, Leah and Christian all of Fillmore. When asked why he decided to enter the competition Adrian said, “Well, before my grandpa passed, he told me to find my talent and to do it with passion. Well, I did! I love to sing!”

This year's theme for Relay for Life is Don't Gamble With Your Health! The community is invited to participate in Paint the Town Purple on Friday, June 1st and Saturday, June 2nd where purple ribbons are distributed around Fillmore and Piru to help bring awareness to the fight against cancer. For more information on Paint the Town Purple or on how to be a part of Relay for Life please contact Josie Real 805.524.0149.

Police officers from across the county will staff a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, May 26, in Ventura to mark Avoid the 14’s Memorial Day weekend crackdown.

The officers, from police departments including Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura, will begin the enforcement event at 7 p.m. and end it at 3 a.m. Sunday.

“Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and our tradition of multi-jurisdictional enforcement allow us to run this checkpoint,” said Sgt. Randy Latimer of the Oxnard police, Avoid the 14 coordinator.

DUI saturation patrols in Moorpark, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks are also on the enforcement schedule.

All available California CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in a Job & Resource Fair Wednesday May 23rd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ventura. Representatives from the Sheriff’s Office will be on hand, announcing job openings for Deputy Sheriff Trainee and professional staff positions. The event hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Other local area employers will be also be present at the event. There is no cost to attend the public is also welcome.

Job seekers are highly encouraged to bring a resume and be professionally dressed.

Veteran Job Seeker Registration: 10:00 a.m.
Veteran Job Seekers: 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Open to the Public: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Nature of Incident: Ventura County Sheriff’s Job & Resource Fair Event for Veterans & the Public
Report Number: N/A
Location: Crown Plaza Hotel -Ventura Beach, 450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Date & Time: May 23, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Administration
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
N/A N/A N/A
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Captain Don Aguilar
Media Release Date: May 21, 2012
Follow-Up Contact: Captain Don Aguilar (805) 797-7349
Approved by: Captain Ross Bonfiglio

Come one, come all to our alumni dinner held this year at the Memorial Building on Saturday, June 9th 2012. Happy time starts at 4:00pm, and Dinner will be at 6:00pm. Did you know that the Alumni Assoc has been putting this dinner on for 99 years? The Alumni Assoc has all the year books dating back to 1913, and it can be verified that they have been doing this dinner, the first Saturday after Graduation honoring the newly graduating class and their scholarship winners. Gary Laird (Fillmore High Grad 1976) of Larids Butchers Shop in Santa Paula will serve up his special Fillmore High Alumni meal. Of course it will include his famous homemade sausages that everyone raves about every year. Here's all the low down on the dinner details. If you subscribe to the Alumni Newsletter (Flashbacks), the cost is $30.00. If your not a subscriber, (and you should be)the cost is $35.00. If you want to pay at the door, the cost will be $40.00. You can down load an app by going to www.fillmorehighalumni.com , look under "applications and forms" and print out your reservation form, or call the Alumni Office and we'll mail one out to you. See you all on June 9th!

Jan Faulkner, left, has just mounted the labels for the paintings on the Fillmore Library wall and both she and Luanne Perez looks pretty happy about the current presentation.
Enlarge Photo

It was a Saturday morning and they stood outside the Fillmore Library before it opened, each artist holding one painting to redecorate the north wall inside the Library. Now completed, the next time you are there, go up close and take a good look. Titles include Carriage House, a Giclee, by Joanne King; Across the Valley by Virginia Neuman; Secret Garden by Jan Faulkner; Low Tide by Judy Dressler; Postal by Karen Browdy; Alice Studying by Lois Freeman-Fox; Solitude by Wana Klasen; It's Good Farming and Back on the Farm by Luanne Perez. Fillmore Library is open M,T 2-7; W 2-7; Th,F,Sat 12-5; Sun closed.

Ventura County Garden Club will hold it's next meeting on June 6th at the "La Dolce Vita" restaurant, 740 So. B Street, Oxnard's Heritage Square. This will be the installation luncheon to welcome in the new board and the last meeting of the 2011-2012 year.

Social time starts at 11:30, lunch at 12:00 and a "Vintage Fashion Show" by Annette Petit, all included for $25:00

Guests and new members are always welcome! Reservations must be received by May 23, please call Dorothy Allee at 805-525-8400.

Lynn Edmonds, CEO of One Step A La Vez received the Hope and Healing Award for her continued support of youth in recovery at Palmer Drug Abuse Programs annual celebration of Hope and Healing. Lynn is a retired educator of 36 years - teacher, librarian, media specialist, resource teacher, program director and principal of both elementary and middle school. After retiring in 2000, Lynn began the Fillmore/Piru mentor program. She began the One Step A La Vez Youth Drop-In and Resource Center, which opened in 2008 in Fillmore, and worked with the One Step Youth Board of Directors to bring services to the youth and families of Fillmore/Piru. She has worked closely with Ventura County Sheriff Department Fillmore/Piru substation as well as Ventura County Probation Department to provide support systems for youth who are already in or are at risk of being in the juvenile justice system. Lynn has been active in many organizations, including Ventura County Behavioral Health Circle of Care, the City of Fillmore Wellness Coalition and Soroptimist International. She is instrumental in starting a coalition of service groups and CBOs to provide coordinated community-wide services for Fillmore/Piru. Congratulations Lynn! We are proud of you!

Your story unfolds, that was the theme for the 84th Annual California State FFA Leadership Conference. Fifteen students from the Fillmore FFA where among the nearly 5000 guests that participated in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops and a career show and expo held at the convention.

At the opening session Melvin Adams, former Harlem Globetrotter and motivational speaker entertained us with his energy and humor while delivering his message to always try no matter how hard the task might seem. Entertaining us also was the State FFA band. Fillmore FFA was proud to have one of our own selected to be in the band this year. Hailee Smith auditioned and was chosen as a member playing the bass clarinet. An important part of the state convention is voting on amendments as well as electing the six individuals to represent California FFA the following year as State Officers. Each chapter throughout California must send two delegates. Alexus Galassi 13' and Brandon Pina 12' undertook this serious responsibility and served as Fillmore FFA delegates. At the convention the proficiency awards were announced. The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor members who through their SAE's have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Brooke Aguirre 13' was the State winner for the Agricultural Communication Proficiency Award and will now have the opportunity to compete at the National level. Brooke also was a member of the State Press Corp during the convention. At the closing session retiring State President Nicole Billington, encouraged the members to open their eyes to all the possibilities of life and to not dwell on mistakes made. The convention ended with the election of the new State FFA officer team as blue and gold streamers shot into the air. Fillmore FFA members would like to thank Mr. Ricards, Alishia Duncan, Kathleen Aguirre and Denise Berrington for driving and chaperoning. Also a big thank you to the Fillmore FFA Boosters for their support. Fillmore FFA would like to invite the community to join us this Saturday from 7:00 -10:00 am for a pancake breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Building . Tickets sold at the door $5.00 Sausage, eggs, OJ, coffee and all you can eat pancakes.

<1>Brooke Aguirre is Fillmore FFA's Chapter Reporter

Let me start this story with a little bit of common sense. None of us would be reading this story without our Mothers. I know you have heard this from your Mother and God knows I have too, "Hey kid I brought you in this world, and I am the one who can take you out of it!" The one thing in this world you never want to mess with is a woman with her kids. I have known some Mothers who act like a angry Momma Bear around her cubs. This is all a good thing. The love I have seen with Mothers and their children is the deepest love in the world.

One of Fillmore's greatest Mothers is Mrs. Dann. She had ten kids. How she made that work is one of the greatest work of arts there is in the world. She had a child almost every year for ten years. Imagine the work load this woman had. Her kids still come to her for advice, along with her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren (and she is the only one who can name every one of them).

We have some great single parent Mothers in this town I know who are going to see their kids graduate from high school this year. The love and hard work they have given is now paying off for their kids. Some will be going to college close to home. Some will be going in the Military. And some will be going on to bigger and better colleges in other cities and states. The Moms I know are upset to see their kids go. But they are very proud of them and say, "Go get it, you have earned it!" when they need to know that the kids could have never done it without the love and support of their Mothers.

One of the Mothers CONTINUED »