After a long year of hardships caused by COVID-19, Ventura County is finally starting to gain the upper hand in the pandemic. And during EMS Week, American Medical Response (AMR), America’s leading provider of ground medical transportation services, is thanking its team for all they did to help keep the community safe and healthy.

Since May 2020, AMR and its subsidiary, Gold Coast Ambulance, have contributed more than 36,300 hours to transporting COVID-19 patients, assisting with COVID-19 testing and helping provide vaccinations. During this time, AMR administered a total of 594,064 COVID-19 tests. In addition, as a whole, Ventura County has administered more than 766,480 vaccines — an accomplishment AMR’s support helped to make possible.

“The health of our community is our top priority, and throughout the pandemic, we have committed to doing everything in our power to help Ventura County fight back against COVID-19,” said Jeremey Shumaker, Regional Director for AMR parent company, Global Medical Response. “Overcoming the pandemic requires teamwork, and as local efforts continue, we will be there to provide support in every way we can.”

EMS Week recognizes the lifesaving contributions of emergency medical services personnel. In celebration of its team, AMR is providing lunches and snacks each day this week for its employees throughout the county. In addition, the company provided personalized thank you gifts to recognize the outstanding efforts made over the past year and beyond.

AMR has served the Ventura County community for more than 50 years, providing emergency and non-emergency medical transport services. AMR Ventura County employs approximately 200 paramedics and EMTs and handles an average of 64,000 calls each year. In addition, in the past five years, AMR has trained more than 40,000 Ventura County residents in hands-only CPR.

About American Medical Response (AMR)
American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.

AMR is part of the Global Medical Response family of companies. Global Medical Response, Inc. is the industry-leading air, ground, specialty and residential fire services, and managed medical transportation organization. With more than 38,000 employees, GMR delivers compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services in the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.globalmedicalresponse.com.

Special Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, May 6, 2021
5:00 p.m.

In accordance with the California Governor’s Executive Stay at Home Order and the County of Ventura Health Officer Declared Local Health Emergency and Be Well at Home Order resulting from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Fillmore City Hall is closed to the public. Therefore, the FPB GSA will be holding its Regular Board of Directors meeting virtually using the ZOOM video conferencing application.

To participate in the Board of Directors meeting via Zoom, please access:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86187337848?pwd=WmcraXp4SnNrU1ZMYkliSFdUdTUvdz... Meeting ID: 861 8733 7848 Password: 167502

To hear just the audio portion of the meeting, phone into the toll-free number 877 853 5247 Meeting ID: 861 8733 7848

A sample of the cards made from FC4K team.
Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Since September of last year, 35-40 students from Fillmore High Schools’ Flashes Cards 4 Kindness Club, where students make cards for people who are affected the most by the Covid-19 pandemic, have been busy creating cards for teachers, administrators and staff members of Fillmore High School as well as throughout Fillmore Unified School District to encourage and thank them during this challenging time. The club has been meeting virtually online every week to make the Thank You cards. On Friday, February 26th club members delivered over 150 cards for the patients and staff members at the Greenfield Care Center in Fillmore.

Flashes Cards 4 Kindness member Quote: "Flashes Cards 4 Kindness has taught me that cards attain a very endearing and tender meaning to them and that we as students can learn so much about empathy while creating them. " *Quote credit to Jimena Cortes

Students who participated in Flashes Cards 4 Kindness:
Emilia V. Magdaleno
Andrea Arias
Angel Laureano
Guadalupe Rodriguez
Osana Charupe
Carolina Velgara
Janely Valle
Alianna Tapia
Janelle McCall
Gustavo Martinez
Aliyah Heredia
Giselle Moreno
Amanda Driver
McKenna Taylor
Jovany Perez
Aileen Lopez
Jacqueline Arevalo
Alexis Sanchez
Angelica Herrera
Karina Gallo
Emma Myers
Paola Ruiz De Lara
Nathalia Magana
Miranda Zendejas
Sofia Cardenas
Evelyn Santa Rosa
Viririana Carrillo Garcia
Graciela Herrera
Michael Camilo Torres
Brianna Camacho
Olivia Palazuelos
Mauricio Barajas
Bennedy Ferrer
Yzabella Rivero
Jimena Cortes
Citlalli Manzo Mojarro
Alexis Velasco
Destiny Carrillo

The Fillmore and Piru Basins Groundwater Sustainability Agency (FPBGSA) invites you to participate in its:
Groundwater Sustainability Plan: Sustainable Management Criteria Stakeholder Workshop This workshop will be part of the FPBGSA Board Meeting on March 18, 2021.

Board Meeting begins at 5:00 pm; Workshop begins at 5:30 pm

Via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82477092074?pwd=SkJoa2hhZk5pUG1wZzJLa3V5dGZsQT...
To join by telephone (audio only)
669-900-6833 or 888-788-0099 (Toll Free)
Webinar ID: 824 7709 2074 Passcode: FPBGSA

The FPBGSA encourages stakeholder input to help develop Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) for the Basins. The GSPs will ensure the future sustainability of groundwater use in the Basins. Sustainability Management Criteria (SMC) are key components of the GSPs. The FPBGSA has developed draft SMCs at prior Board meetings (December 2020, January, and February 2021) and is seeking further input from stakeholders and interested parties on these criteria. The workshop agenda will include:
• Presentation of Draft Sustainable Management Criteria
o Groundwater levels
o Groundwater storage
o Land subsidence
o Surface water depletion and consideration of groundwater dependent ecosystems
o Water quality
• Presentation of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Technical Memorandum
• Stakeholder Feedback and Discussion
o Ask questions
o Share your ideas and opinions

Videos of prior Board meetings, including presentations and discussion of SMCs, are available at https://www.fpbgsa.org/public-meetings/gsa-board-of-directors-meetings/a.... For further information please contact Eva Ibarra at evai@unitedwater.org or 805-525-4431.

The Americans with Disabilities Act provides that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, this activity because of any disability. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, or if you require agenda materials in an alternative format, please contact Eva Ibarra at the United Water Conservation District’s Office (805-525-4431). Notification of at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make appropriate arrangement.

Congratulations to Rene and Yesenia Perez. Their yard was selected as the Holiday Yard of the month of December, located at 910 Sespe Ave. They will receive a gift certificate from Otto & Sons Nursery for $40. Ari Larson from Fillmore Civic Pride and Fillmore City Council Member was on hand to surprise and congratulate Rene. He said they have never won anything before, and he was very grateful and excited to receive the honor.

They have lived in Fillmore since 2005, and they began to decorate about ten years ago. They try to add to their décor every year. There is a large Santa, a large Christmas tree, a nativity, penguins, polar bears, and lots of both white and colorful bulbs to give the home a festive atmosphere.

Rene said that because of COVID it was more important than ever to decorate and give families something bright and fun to take their mind off everyday worries. They enjoy seeing children smile and point at the décor.

The Perez’ family brings their inspiration from Mexico where family’s use this time of the year to visit with family via a tradition called Las Posadas.

Rene and Yesenia are passionate about their yard all year long and enjoy working outdoors as a team when deciding what to add and how to arrange the decorations.

The public is encouraged to take a ride and look at the house and the many others that have been decorated around town.

If you have any questions about Fillmore Civic Pride please contact Ari Larson 805.794.7590.