Ventura County's first human case of acute West Nile Virus (WNV) was recently reported to officials of Ventura County Public Health’s Communicable Disease Program. (VCPH). According to Dr. Robert Levin, VCPH Public Health Officer, it was one of 8 reported cases in California last week and the first human case reported in Ventura County since the summer of 2007. To date in 2012, there have been 26 human cases reported in California.

A woman in her early 50’s suffered mosquito bites at her East Ventura County home. Approximately 1 week later she experienced flu-like symptoms and subsequently developed WNV neuroinvasive disease. She was hospitalized with meningitis which the California Department of Public Health has confirmed was caused by WNV. She has since been released from the hospital and continues to recover at home.

WNV is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquito bites. The mosquitos become infected by feeding on infected birds. The risk of serious illness to most people is low with less than 1 percent of those infected developing serious neurologic illnesses such as encephalitis or meningitis. Individuals 50 or older, or those with diabetes and/or hypertension have a higher chance of getting sick and are more likely to develop serious symptoms.

According to VCPH, the most effective way for individuals to prevent exposure to mosquito bites and WNV is to remember the “Three D’s”:

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Track access gate will be available to the public starting Tuesday, September 4th.

To get access to the track, you need to come to City Hall pay a $25 annual fee for the use of the track, fill out the required paperwork and sign out a scan card.

Available hours for public use of the track: Monday – Saturday: 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sundays: 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

For more information please call Annette Cardona at 524-1500 X216.

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WELCOME FARM WATCH READERS!

Agricultural Crimes Detective Ray Dominguez had the following update from his activities and investigations around Ventura County:

Here we go again…we’ve got a big holiday weekend just around the corner! With the Labor Day Weekend upon us, I want to remind everyone to please secure your equipment, materials, and anything of value associated with your home, farm or ranch. With many of you and your employees taking the weekend off to enjoy the holiday, this will inevitably provide opportunities for crooks to put in a little “Labor” of their own. Remember to keep valuable items out of sight and out of their minds.

A review of the latest reports indicates we have suffered a variety of losses including an old ATV from a ranch on Balcom Canyon Rd., the theft of a “Hogzilla” top grinder from the Somis area, a substantial theft of fertilizer in the Oxnard Plains, and vehicle burglaries at a ranch in Somis.

I want to comment on two of the thefts listed above. First the fertilizer theft, a victim farm in the Oxnard Plains area suffered the loss of an estimated 11 pallets worth of fertilizer they had planned to use in their strawberry growing operation (Refer to the attached flyer for further details). With berry growers prepping for the next round of plantings I have already seen thefts of fertilizer and drip tape being reported.

What concerns me is that often times these thefts are substantial in size and costly because of large orders that disappear soon after they get delivered. I hate to sound like a broken record, but please DO NOT LEAVE FERTILIZER OR OTHER PLANTING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT LEFT UNATTENDED IN FIELDS…THEY WILL GET STOLEN! I have discussed this in the past, but some folks are not heeding my warning and continue to suffer losses. At minimum, assign someone to stand guard overnight until you can get the product spread out in the fields. It’s a whole lot cheaper to pay for a security guard than to take a big hit with chemicals and fertilizers being stolen.

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In the 1939 "Copa de Oro" the Principal at the time, (Mr. J.M. Hawley) said that "one-sixth of our school population will join the ranks of the alumni. Its is hoped that when the accomplishments of this year are reviewed they will compare favorably with those of the past. How splendid it would be in these times of world-wide stress and misunderstanding if the Flashes were to be known far and wide as the Friendly School. May the bearers of the Blue and White ever strive for greater heights with one accord". Mr. Hawley seemed to have quite the school spirit. Some of the Faculty in 1939 were Mr. Donovan Main (Social Science), Edith M. Jarrett (Spanish), and Mr. Elbert J. Graham (English and Dramatics). In 1939, Fillmore Union High School had activities like, Senior Orchestra, Copa de Oro staff, Commissioners, C.S.F. No. 138, Girls Glee Club, and Band. In fact, the band was organized seven years prior under the direction of Mr. George W. Wright. At that time it consisted of eighteen players and a group of sour notes, but in 1939 it grew into a fifty-seven piece concert band which was the pride of Fillmore. In 1938 the band became one of the leading class "B" bands in the National District of California, Arizona, and Nevada when they entered the District and national contests in Los Angeles, and acquired a rating of "Superior". They repeated this performance when they entered again in 1939. In Athletics the Football and Basketball teams had some wins, and losses. The Baseball team did very well. The most spectacular baseball game of the season was the first league encounter with Santa Paula which Fillmore finally won after a tough 12-inning battle. The final score was 7-6. A quote from the annual...."This year the battery combination of Bob Huestis and Captain Bill Warring held the spotlight. Bob is one of the finest pitchers the Ventura County League has seen to date and it will be many a moon before Fillmore finds a better catcher than Captain Warring". Don't forget to save the date. Saturday, June 15th, 2013, the Fillmore High Alumni Association will be celebrating 100 years of supporting our Alumni at the annual Alumni Dinner. This annual dinner is for all Alumni and Friends of Fillmore High. The evening promises to be a night to remember, and their may even be a few surprises!. Please mark your Calendar. F.H.S. Alumni Assoc - "Onword and Upword"!!

June 26, 2012, Camarillo, Ca – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County has matched kids and teens with volunteers who take an interest in their lives by serving as a mentor and role model since 1970. Our volunteer mentors transform the lives of our young people through rewarding, enriching relationships that often last a lifetime. One segment of the population that is most at-risk is youth in our foster care system. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County is a national leader to offer an innovative mentoring program that directly targets the foster youth population in our community.

“Many of our foster youth are engaging in risky behaviors that lead down the wrong path in life. The facts speak for themselves and it becomes a vicious cycle for many of our youth to see that the choices they make today will impact their entire life,” said Kelly Dooley, the organization’s foster youth mentoring program manager. “That’s why our work is so critical! By providing foster youth with a mentor now, we can help guide and shape their future for the better.”

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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 (#112), 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

August 2012 — It’s been a busy summer for Chevron at the former Pacific Coast Pipeline property (67 E. Telegraph Road), where we are continuing site clean-up, overseen and inspected by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), State of California, and Ventura County.

Water spraying, wind monitoring, air sampling, and other measures are used to minimize and control dust as we work. We appreciate community interest in the five site tours hosted this year by the EPA and Chevron and we hope to schedule additional tours before year-end. Watch our website for updates and information: www.fillmoreworks.com

We are on schedule to meet the following milestones by mid-October:

• 32 concrete foundations removed

• 8,000 tons of concrete crushed and recycled

• 11 miles of pipeline excavated and removed

Learn more at: www.FillmoreWorks.com

A free community event. Saturday, September 8th from 10 am – 2 pm in conjunction with National Preparedness Month. We are hoping to provide the community with a range of preparedness and emergency planning information that will be helpful in the lives of our community members. We will be hosting a mobile blood drive, having local experts speak on different topics, and cover a variety of important topics. It will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 1017 First Street in Fillmore.

The Ventura County Sheriff's department is warning residents of on-going telephone scams that have been targeting elderly residents or other susceptible victims. Thousand Oaks Police have seen an increasing number of telephone scams where the criminal calls a resident and informs them that their family member is in jail in another country. The criminal pretends to be a law enforcement official and advises the victim that they need to act quickly or their loved ones safety may be in jeopardy. Officials have seen a majority of these fraudulent telephone calls originating from Canadian telephone area codes. The fraudulent official requests that money by “wired” via a major money wire transfer company (i.e. Western Union or MoneyGram) to an overseas location (in particular, Latin American countries.) Within a short period of time, the funds can be paid out to the person receiving the wire transfer and the victim will have suffered a financial loss as a result of this telephone scam.

Ventura County residents can protect themselves from this type of telephone scam by not proceeding with the transaction until you have personally confirmed an emergency situation (i.e. family member in jail.) This can easily be done by calling the family member and checking on their welfare. If the affected family member is unavailable then reach out to other family members or individuals who can assist you in this situation.

Location: West Oxnard Job & Career Center
635 S. Ventura Road, Oxnard
805-204-5171

Wednesday, September 12 - Resumes that Sell, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon - Workshop providing hands-on assistance in completing a resume, cover and thank-you letters. Walk away with a portfolio that shows off professional skills and experience. Career Shops are offered at no cost to Job Seekers. Space is limited. Prior registration required by calling the West Oxnard Job & Career Center at 805-204-5171 to enroll.

Thursday, September 13 - Winning Interviews, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon - Supplies the tools to make a lasting first impression when interviewing. Career Shops are offered at no cost to Job Seekers. Space is limited. Prior registration required by calling the West Oxnard Job & Career Center at 805-204-5171 to enroll.

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On Monday, August 20, the Fillmore Lions Club graciously awarded $14,450 to local Fillmore organizations. The groups were invited to a special dinner and were recognized for their commitment to and involvement in the city of Fillmore. The Lions were honored to be able to support their activities. Boys and Girls Club $1000, One Step A la Vez $1000, F.H.S. Athletic Boosters $500, Friends of the Fillmore Library $500, American Cancer Society – Relay for UTE $250, Fillmore Band Booster $1000, S.C.V. Hospice $750, Fillmore Senior Center $1000, Kelly Bullard - Eagle Scout $100, Sean Chandler - Eagle Scout $100, Fillmore Force Basketball $250, Fillmore Lions Boy Scout Foundation $5000. Scholarship awards for June 2012: Eddie Baez $500, Jenna Wilber $500, Gonzalo Gutierrez $500, and Jaynessa Lopez $1500.

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Oxnard, CA — On Saturday, September 15, Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County will celebrate the completion of its 55th and 56th new homes. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. with introductions and opening remarks, followed by a formal house dedication and blessing, house tour, photos, and refreshments. The homes are located at 271 and 281 W. Stroube Street, Oxnard CA, 93036 (corner of Stroube Street and Detroit Drive).

Habitat offers a “hand up”. At Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone everywhere deserves a decent place to live, and we empower families who are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams of homeownership. First-time homeowners, Blanca Cuellar and Maria Deciga have worked hard to achieve homeownership and stability for their children, each completing more than 250 hours building their home and attending financial management and home maintenance workshops.

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'Purple Corridor of Mystery' by Carmelita Miranda
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The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) just completed their 2012 International Image Competition and KSSP Photographic Studios' photographer Carmelita Miranda was honored by having her image, entitled 'Window Dressing,' selected for the PPA's General Collection. In this competition, one does not compete against other photographers, but rather against a standard of excellent set by the PPA and its judges. Being selected in such a competition gives the photographer a merit towards becoming a Master Photographer.

Carmelita was also named Architecture Photographer of the Year for 2011 by the Channel Islands Professional Photographers Association (CIPPA). Her image, Purple Corridor of Mystery, was one of eight CIPPA images that won first place in the recent Professional Photographers of California Affiliate Display Competition.

Carmelita also has award winning images of high school seniors and other subjects.

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris, who is a Certified Professional Photographer. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in high school senior, family, children and pet photography. KSSP Photographic Studios is the school photographer for Fillmore High School. For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com

Fillmore High Alumni Association

Nine graduates of Fillmore High who are continuing their education at colleges and universities throughout California will each receive $1000 Continuation grants from the Alumni Scholarship Foundation for the 2012-2013 school year. The recipients are:

Sean Chandler, '11 who is attending U. C. San Diego, majoring in History, also is interested in flying, and through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, he hopes to be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force upon graduating from college.

Karlie Chessani '09 is in her last year at U. C. Berkeley where she has majored in Ethnic Studies with a minor in Education. She is working as a tutor to teach K-8 students how to read and improve their reading skills.

Amy De La Piedra '93 continues to pursue her dream of becoming a registered nurse. She is attending Moorpark College in their Registered Nursing program.

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In observance of the Labor Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 3. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, Sept. 8, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

Cal Fire

Sacramento, CA - California’s increased fire activity, coupled with the current weather forecast for continued heightened fire danger, has prompted CAL FIRE to suspend all burning permits and open fire within the State Responsibility Area of California. The Burn Ban suspends all residential burn permits, forest management, hazard abatement, and other industrial-type permitted burning within the 31 million acres of State Responsibility Area.

“Over 8,000 CAL FIRE, local and federal firefighters are on the frontlines of nearly a dozen major wildfires that are burning across California,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. “With conditions being so dry, we need to take every step possible to prevent new wildfires from starting.”

Campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property are allowed if they are in a designated campfire site that prevents fire from spreading outside the site. The burning suspension will remain in effect until there is a significant change in weather conditions or until the end of fire season.

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