Topic: “Liberty and Justice for All”—What Does it Mean to You?
2015-2016 Sponsored by Lions International, Multiple District Four, California Lions

The Fillmore Lions Club has announced that this year’s contest will be held on Monday, February 1, 2016 at the Fillmore Scout House located at the end of Sespe Avenue by Pole Creek. The Topic will be “Liberty and Justice for All”—What Does it Mean to You?

This topic is very appropriate and interesting in light of our present political climate and many controversies. Chair Bill Edmonds states that the total prize money will be over $21,000 with the Fillmore winner receiving $100 and the runner-ups $25. We can have no more than six speakers to get your application in early. The winner will go on to compete against other winners. All Fillmore high school age youth who live within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries regardless of school may enter including home-schooled students, foreign exchange students and students of other high schools may enter.

Students who wish to enter may contact Mr. Edmonds at 524-4839 or Principal Tom Ito at FHS. Edmonds emphasizes that this public speaking competition will be very worthwhile to the students and very interesting to their parents and to the community. Public speaking competition will also look very good on college applications and resumes. Students should get started early because it takes time to develop and practice a good speech.

Heather Furness is The Gazette's Cub Reporter

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving this year. Make sure to invite friends and families to your feast. I think they will bring food for your feast. I hope you make great food for your feast and your friends and families will love it. I wonder what you are going to make, but I think you should make turkey because thats the main thing on Thanksgiving. I want to make sure you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. I want to say something to you very quick about this Thanksgiving:) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!

Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, established in 1990 to help local cities, including Fillmore, and the County of Ventura meet state mandates to cut the amount of trash they send to landfills in half, held a 25th anniversary celebration on Nov. 19.

Gold Coast Recycling and business partner Harrison Industries honored the cities they serve – also including Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ojai and Carpinteria – as well the County of Ventura with Certificates of Appreciation during the event at the 75,000-square-foot facility in Ventura.

George Harrison, general manager of Gold Coast Recycling, presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of the cities, chambers and communities Harrison serves for helping the communities exceed the trash diversion goals of California Assembly Bill 939, passed in 1989.

“We couldn’t have reached these state goals without the extraordinary commitment of the citizens, businesses and institutions of all of the jurisdictions, and for that we thank them also,” Harrison said.

Working in conjunction with Harrison Industries, GCR established a three-barrel curbside program for trash, recycling and green waste for residents and a white recycling bin program for businesses as well as roll-off and Construction & Demolition programs for both businesses and residents, GCR processes over 90,000 tons of recyclable materials each year.

Government officials presenting GCR with certificates of congratulations included State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy and Fillmore City Councilwoman Diane McCall. Representatives of the offices of Congresswoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblyman Das Williams also presented certificates of congratulations.

In the future Harrison Industries and GCR will be adding green and food waste recycling bins for its business customers, in compliance with California Assembly Bill 1826, which takes effect in 2016. AB 1826 is designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and create a source of green energy.

Community Memorial Health System is offering a free support group delving into emotional freedom techniques, also known as EFT, during December.

The support group will meet Dec. 1, Dec. 15 and Dec. 29, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the CMHS HealthAware office now located at 2580 East Main Street, Suite 103.

Emotional freedom techniques is a healing tool that can provide results for physical, emotional and performance issues. It is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments, but without the invasiveness of needles.

Instead, simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while participants think about their specific problem – whether it is a traumatic event, an addiction and pain – and voice positive affirmations.

Virginia Matsuda, who is certified in EFT and hypnotherapy, will lead the support group, facilitated by Evelyn Scott, R.N., of CMHS’s HealthAware program.

“I’ve done it myself and at first did not know what to think of it,” Scott said. “But at the end I felt relaxed with a sense of power over the issue I was dealing with.”

For and more information, contact the HealthAware program healthaware@cmhshealth.org or call 805/667-2818.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

SANTA CLARITA, CA – Bank of the Sierra announced a grant in the amount of $5,000 to the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project. The grant funds will be used to support the Education and Counseling Program for Youth, which implements free, highly-accessible individual and group counseling, as well as other campus-based strategies to help teens and their families in the community.

Bank President and CEO Kevin McPhaill commended the work that the organization does for Santa Clara’s teens, adding, “Bank of the Sierra is more than happy to promote the cause of the SCV Youth Project. The work they do is necessary, and we hope the grant goes far toward helping them achieve their mission.”

Serving a dozen middle, junior, and high schools in the Santa Clarita area, the SCV Youth Project started in 2000, and actively ministers to hundreds of at-risk youths at any given time.

About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over a million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. The grants go toward fostering community services, park preservation, and educational programs. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank’s web site at www.bankofthesierra.com/resources/sierra_grant_program.

About Bank of the Sierra
Since opening its doors in 1977, Bank of the Sierra has grown to become the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley with assets totaling $1.7 billion. The company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 28 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center, and an agricultural credit center.

Santa Clara Valley Hospice Home Support Group Inc. Light up a Life Memorials and Honors.
A light will be shining on the Fillmore/Piru Hospice Tree at the Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 28, at 5:30 pm at the Central Park Plaza in Fillmore, for names of loved ones received, October 10 to November 16, 2015.

for Fillmore in MEMORY OF:
Ed Preston
Betty Preston
Ked Creed
Roberta Creed
Ruth Musgrave
Gerald Davis
Hazel Davis
Lois Main
Bill Haynes
Olen Core
Sue Core
Elmira Morales
Cornelius V. Morales
Adrian Morales
Claude and Mary R. Lee
Rufus and Hazle Hiebert
Clev Cunningham
Jeff Lowe
Logan Floyd Lowe
Bill Dezavala
Bernice Michels
Frank and Sophie Norris
Susan Taylor
Derek DeJarnette
Amy DeJarnette
Ruben Ramirez
Robert Ortega
Pete Cervantes
Mary Beyerl
Joe Beyerl
Julian Rangel
Past Soroptomist Members
Eric (Rick) Godfrey
Bret Godfrey
Vena Godfrey
Louis and Grace Meehi
Terry Meehl
Kathy Black
Diane Dudley
Lori Anne Hawthorne
Robert Stephen Hawthorne
Jean Griffin
Pat Dixon
Jean Griffin
Bob Hoy
Freda Hoy
Patti Gorski
Isabel Luna
Juan Sanchez
Daniel Sanchez
Melvin and Jeffrey Lloyd
Modesto Cardona
Madeline Davis
Ruby Riesgo
Benjie Ledesma
Patrick Holley
Bernard Holley
Boyce “Cotton” Taylor
Stanley Merry

for PIRU IN MEMORY OF
Zeke (Granpa) Hernandez
Lucy (Nana) Gonzalez
Dino Lovato
Paul A. Perez
Robert Perez

The Fillmore Historical Museum is pleased to have received a donation of $750 from the Fillmore Lions Club. We are very grateful for their continuing support for the Museum and its programs. Currently the museum has a special display of vintage books of historical and local significance. We also have continuing displays of photos, artifacts and memorabilia relating to Fillmore, Sespe, Bardsdale and Piru. November also brings our annual poinsettia sale. Anyone interested in purchasing poinsettias for delivery Dec. 5th can call the museum at 524-0948.

Celiac disease – a chronic condition and autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten found in food containing wheat, rye and barley – will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Dec. 1.

Helen John-Kelly, M.D., who specializes in pediatric gastroenterology, will lead the seminar that will run from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura.

Celiac disease can occur at any stage of life, is commonly inherited and can be especially threatening to children. Dr. John-Kelly will cover the symptoms of celiac disease, how it is diagnosed and what the treatment is for children. She also will discuss how patients can live optimally healthy lives.

Dr. John-Kelly received her medical degree from Madras Medical College in India and completed a pediatric medicine residency at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York as well as a three-year pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She is a member of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. Dr. John-Kelly is a member of the Community Memorial Hospital medical staff.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

Ventura County, CA – A new resource is available to Ventura county homeowners to address common questions relating mortgage refinancing. The information from this workshop will help families understand the refinance process, key factors to consider before refinancing, the difference between an FHA Streamline and a Conventional Loan, how refinancing affects homeowners who received down payment assistance loan or grant, among other topics. The workshop will be held Tuesday, November 17th, 2015 at 6pm in English and Spanish. It is offered free of charge by Ventura County Community Development Corporation, located at 2231 Sturgis Road, Suite A in Oxnard, CA.
Alex Vega, VCCDC Director of Lending Services, who will be one of the speakers, says “Contrary to popular belief, a refinance is not for everyone. Homeowners have to evaluate their current situation to determine if refinancing is right for them at any given point in time. We hope to educate homeowners in our community by giving them the necessary information they need to make an educated decision.”

To reserve a seat for the workshop please call VCCDC at (805) 273-7800 or email ContactUs@vccdc.org.
About VCCDC

The VCCDC Home Ownership Center is a one-stop-shop where a full circle of services and resources is available to prospective home buyers and homeowners, including: HUD approved pre-purchase education and counseling, post-home purchase workshops, realty, and lending services that include down payment assistance programs and more. VCCDC is a certified Community Financial Development Institution and the only nonprofit organization in Ventura County offering affordable loan products and down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

Since it was founded in 2001 as a local non-profit organization, VCCDC has worked to increase homeownership and economic stability in underserved communities of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. VCCDC is dedicated to ensuring that homebuyers are prepared for homeownership with the support of certified professionals who provide education and guidance, assisting with planning and problem solving. All VCCDC staff is bilingual, proudly serving the community. VCCDC accomplishes its work in partnership with other community organizations, and is financially supported by private and public funds. Visit us at www.vccdc.org and www.facebook.com/vccdc

Edmonds setting up an altar for Dia de los Muertos
Enlarge Photo

Saturday, November 14th 2015, One Step a la Vez will host a reception from 4-6pm to recognize their volunteers, donors and supporters. One Step invites the entire community to attend the event.

Special recognition will be paid to One Step founder Lynn Edmonds. Edmonds has stepped into semi-retirement: she will continue as the Grant Writer for the organization, and she will be named Director Emerita at this event. This honor is in recognition of her significant contributions to the organization, the Fillmore community, and to multiple generations of Fillmore youth.

Bank of the Sierra is pleased to announce the future opening of a new branch in Sanger, California. The vacant building, located at 1500 Seventh Street, was previously occupied by Citibank. The Sanger branch is scheduled to open in early 2016, following a variety of interior and exterior renovations.

“Bank of the Sierra’s expansion will bring the benefits of community banking to the Sanger market,” stated Kevin McPhaill, Bank of the Sierra President and CEO. “The bank will offer a full suite of financial products and services, as well as the lost art of personalized customer service. In an effort to maintain a convenient network of branches throughout Central California, we continually evaluate branch growth opportunities and feel Sanger is a perfect fit within our footprint,” McPhaill added.

Sanger is a city in Fresno County, California, 13 miles east-southeast of the City of Fresno. The 2010 census estimated Sanger’s population at 24,270.

Bank of the Sierra (www.bankofthesierra.com) is in its 38th year of operations, and at $1.7 billion in assets is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The Company has over 400 employees and conducts business through 28 branch offices, an online branch, a real estate industries center, and an agricultural credit center.