Sandi Ward’s Train Stop was the festive and lively location of Soroptimist International of Fillmore’s Christmas party on Thursday, December 16th. Amidst the unique gifts and collectibles the ladies enjoyed a cozy, old-fashioned Christmas in the vintage train cars. Sandi Ward the owner has quite an array of packing crate labels, books, toys, ceramics and hand knit items. If you are a train fan you are sure to find something here. Sandi Ward’s Train Stop is located at 435D Santa Clara St. (on the train track in Central Park).Phone: 805.524.1752

Fillmore High Alumni Association

ATTENTION ALL FILLMORE HIGH ALUMNI MEMBERS!! A number of alumni members have received the following e-mail and the Fillmore High Alumni office wants everyone to know that it did not come from here. We do not do business this way, and the e-mail address that is given is not ours. It evidently is a way for someone to attempt to get money from people, so please do not respond to this message:

"FILLMORE ALUMNI: Our Fillmore Alumni site is not financially supported by the school. We are having our 2011 Membership Push to help cover costs. We're encouraging all members to upgrade to full access Lifetime Membership for a one-time fee of only $25 (normally $50) or become an annual supporter for $20 per year. Use the below link to upgrade today."

This is a good idea, and if we had everyone's e-mall address, we might try to contact alumni members this way, but we prefer to contact members about subscribing to the alumni newsletter, "Flashbacks"or becoming Life Members by way of the alumni website, the newsletter or by individual mailings. Also, our Life Memberships are not $25, but our annual subscription to the newsletter is $20. If anyone receives one of these bogus e-mails, please contact the alumni office at 805-524-0416 or staff@fillmorehighalumni.com. We hope no one has been scammed by this.

Individual and business taxpayers will no longer receive paper income tax packages in the mail from the IRS. These tax packages contained the forms, schedules and instructions for filing a paper income tax return.
"The IRS is taking this step due to the continued growth in e-filing, as well as to help reduce costs," said IRS Spokeswoman Anabel Marquez. "Only 8 percent of taxpayers who filed returns last year received tax packages in the mail."

In early October, the IRS sent a postcard to individuals who filed paper returns last year and did not use a tax preparer or tax software. The information explains how to get the tax forms and instructions they need for filing their tax year 2010 return. The forms and instructions will be available in early January 2011.
There are numerous free options available for taxpayers:

Taxpayers can still get the necessary forms and instructions online at IRS.gov, or by visiting local IRS offices or participating libraries and post offices.

Individuals making $49,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing.

Individuals aged 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly.

IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms plus free electronic filing. Everyone can use Free File to prepare a federal tax return. Taxpayers who make $58,000 or less can choose from approximately 20 commercial software providers. There’s no income limit for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, which also has free e-filing.

In 2010 to date, more than 96 million individual tax returns were e-filed, and an estimated 20 million paper returns were filed through paid preparers.

The Ventura County Garden Club will begin its’ spring season with a meeting at 1 p.m., Wednesday, February 2, 2011. The meeting will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 117 7th Street, Santa Paula.

Steve Sprinkel of The Farmer and the Cook in Ojai will present a program on organic farming and cooking.

An elegant tea will follow. Guests are welcome to attend. Membership fees for the spring session which continues through June are $10. For more information, call Louise at 805-933-9918 or Carolyn at 805-524-1252.

At its regular meeting on January 12, 2011, United Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors re-elected its 2010 slate of officers to again lead the District in 2011. Staying on as United’s President is Robert Eranio of Ventura; as Vice-President is Daniel C. Naumann of Oxnard; and as Secretary/Treasurer is Lynn Maulhardt of Oxnard.

In accepting the presidency for 2011, Mr. Eranio stated, “I appreciate the trust that the rest of our Board has shown in re-electing me as its president for 2011. We have some big challenges in front of us over the coming year, and I intend to ensure that we continue to work toward resolutions that make the best long-term sense for our District.”

Mr. Eranio represents United’s Division 3, which includes a portion of the City of Ventura. He first served on the Board of Directors from December 1998 to November 2000, representing Division 2, and he returned to the Board to represent Division 3, in December 2002. He has worked in hands-on positions in the California water industry since 1986, and holds numerous professional certifications including, California Water Treatment Operator 5 license, California Water Distribution Operator 5 license, AWWA Cross-Connection Specialist, and is a consultant to various small mutual water companies specializing in daily operations, maintenance, and financial administration. Mr. Eranio has participated in many local water-related projects, including the City of Port Hueneme’s Urban Water Management Plan and Hazardous Waste Collection Events, the City of Oxnard’s GREAT Program, and numerous capital improvement projects for Crestview Mutual Water Company in Camarillo, where has been General Manager since 1995.

Mr. Naumann represents Division 6, the Pleasant Valley area of the District, to the south and east of Oxnard. He holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He is a member of the board of the USDA Farm Service Agency, and he serves as an alternate for the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency. His family established farming operations on the Oxnard Plain in the 1890s, and he is currently farming various vegetable row crops. Mr. Naumann's uncle, Robert Naumann, served on United's Board in the 1950s. Continuing the family tradition, Mr. Naumann has been a member of the Board since 1991 and previously served as United’s Secretary/Treasurer in 1994-96 and 2008-2009. He also served as its Vice President in 1997-99 and as President in 2000-01.

Mr. Maulhardt represents Division 4, northeast of the City of Oxnard. His family has been farming since 1869, and he is a managing partner of a Ventura County farm. Mr. Maulhardt is active in community water activities and has served as chairman of Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency since 1987. He received a B.S. in Physics from Loyola University, Los Angeles, and a M.A. in Management and Human Relations from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Vietnam War Veteran and is a commercial airline pilot for a major U.S. airline. Mr. Maulhardt has been a member of the Board since 1985 and served as President from January 1987 to December 1993.

Also serving on United’s Board of Directors are:

• Sheldon G. Berger, Division 7 - representing portions of the City of Oxnard, the City of Port Hueneme, CBC Port Hueneme Navy Base and several unincorporated beach communities
• Bruce Dandy, Division 5 – representing Northwest Oxnard
• Roger E. Orr, Division 2 – representing the unincorporated area between Santa Paula and Ventura, the towns of Saticoy and El Rio, and portions of east Ventura.
• F.W. (Dick) Richardson, Division 1 - representing Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula.

About UWCD
UWCD is a public water agency responsible for conserving and protecting groundwater resources in Ventura County. In addition to the district’s Lake Piru Recreation Area, United Water’s facilities include: Santa Felicia Dam; spreading grounds in Saticoy, El Rio and Piru; an agricultural water delivery system; a wholesale municipal water delivery system; and the Freeman Diversion facility. The district provides wholesale water to the City of Oxnard, the Port Hueneme Water Agency (which includes the CBC and Point Mugu naval bases), Pleasant Valley County Water District, and several small mutual water companies. A seven-member elected board of directors directs the district’s policy and activities.

SACRAMENTO, CA – While most people are working on their 2010 state tax returns, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today announced that it is contacting more than 900,000 people who did not file a 2009 state income tax return.

FTB finds nonfilers by using more than 400 million income records it receives each year from third parties such as the IRS, banks, employers, state departments, and other sources. In addition, FTB uses occupational licenses and mortgage interest payment information to detect others who may also have a requirement to file a state tax return. FTB then contacts those who earned California income, but did not file a return for the 2009 filing year.

Last year, FTB collected more than $550 million through these efforts.

Since the 1950s, FTB has contacted people who may have a filing requirement, but have not filed a tax return. Individuals contacted have 30 days to file their state tax return or show why one is not due. When a required return is not filed, FTB issues a tax assessment using income records to estimate the amount of state tax due. The assessment includes interest, fees, and penalties of up to 50 percent.

FTB provides more information for those receiving notices at ftb.ca.gov. From the home page, select the Bills and Notices tab, and then under the Tax Debt Section, select: Respond to request or demand for tax return. Taxpayerscan request more time to respond, retrieve information that can assist them in filing a tax return, request tax forms, learn about payment options, sign up to receive an email reminder to file, and access other services. Individuals can also call FTB at 866.204.7902 to get information.

The City of Thousand Oaks and the Thousand Oaks Police Department have a mutual interest with the community in ensuring that children reach their scholastic and personal growth potential. In today’s society, children are confronted by several obstacles, bad influences, and distractions. Raising children is not easy. Children sometimes engage in harmful behaviors fueled by negative influences including alcohol, gangs, and peer pressure.

In furtherance of our commitment to the community, the Thousand Oaks Police Department will be offering a parenting class on Monday evenings for ten weeks starting on January 24. Parents with difficult, defiant, or problematic children are encouraged to attend; however, all parents of middle and high school students will also benefit from this course. Our goal is to give parents guidance and to develop more successful children. We are excited to offer these sessions and truly wish to support parents and offer strategies to deal with difficult children.

The course content consists of ways to address drugs, sex, gangs, poor grades, runaways and violence. Additional content includes guidance in gaining children’s compliance of house rules, how to never argue with your child again, and how to use other parents for support. Additional information can be reviewed at www.parentproject.com. This course is subject to enrollment. Interested parents are asked to call Senior Deputy Sliva or Senior Deputy DeSoto for further information.

Location: Thousand Oaks Police Station
2101 East Olsen Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Date & Time: Monday January 24, 2011 thru Monday April 4, 2011
All classes begin at 6pm

Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Crime Prevention Bureau

Officer Preparing Release: Senior Deputy Jim DeSoto

Follow-up Contact: Dennis Sliva 805-494-8267
Jim DeSoto 805-371-8362

Approved by: Captain Bill Ayub

Date of Release: January 14, 2011

Dear Editor of the Fillmore Gazette:

At the Ventura Family YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. Every day, we work side-by-side with community members to address the most pressing needs in Ventura, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Ojai and make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The Y has been a part of the community for 124 years, and our work in these areas has taught us that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. This begins with having full community support.

After her husband, Tom, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, Cherie Egbert felt her world was crumbling. In addition to the fear of losing her husband, the father of her year old son and twin six year old girls, she was overwhelmed by how her family’s finances would be affected. After cancelling any service the family could do without, the thought of no longer being a member of the Y brought Cherie to tears. It was then that she was encouraged by staff to pursue assistance from the Y.

Qualifying for a reduced rate, Cherie took her children to the Y as often as possible, to maintain her children’s mental and physical health as well as her own piece of mind. Cherie felt that the Y gave her family some normalcy despite the current crisis and gave her children a healthy means to continue excelling while Tom rested. Though it is still a long road to recovery for Tom, Cherie feels that the Y has given her family the strength and confidence to continue and believes that from her experience, the Y really does build strong families and communities.

The sobering reality is that there are many families like the Egberts who could desperately use a helping hand through challenging times. This is why we are launching our Campaign For Youth and Families. The campaign provides support for underprivileged kids to have a safe place to learn and build confidence after school; for struggling families to reconnect and grow together and for seniors in need to have access to arthritis classes and a healthy social environment; allowing each to reach their full potential.

We encourage everyone in the community to join our cause. When we all pitch in to help our neighbors, we make a meaningful, enduring impact in the lives of children and families and ultimately, strengthen our community.

To learn how you can support Campaign for Youth and Families or volunteer at the Ventura Family YMCA, please contact Amy Bailey Jurewicz by telephone at 805 642 2131 ext. 24 or by email at Amy.Bailey@ciymca.org.

Fillmore Ebell Club is starting the year off with an exciting and special presentation of "Eight Centuries of Music" with three very talented artists. Virginia Kron has a Master's degree and a prize in performance from USC as a Cellist. Playing as a soloist with the New West Symphony and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. She also teaches as a Cello instructor at Ventura College.

Jennifer Sayre performs as a soloist and ensemble musician throughout the United States and Europe. She has played as a soloist at the Lincoln Center in Washington DC. She has bachelor and master degrees in harp performance from Eastman School of Music and also played in several Symphony Orchestras and the Rochester Philharmonic. She currently is on the music faculty at Cal Poly University.

Soprano, Mary Rawcliff has sung music of eight centuries, appearing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and many other orchestras. She has taught voice for over ten years at Cal Poly University and recently retired after thirteen years on the faculty of the University of Southern California.

If you love great music please call for a reservation by Friday Jan 21st to Lavonne Deeter at 524-2090 . Our program meeting starts with lunch at 12:30 catered by Dustin Anderson and the program starts at 1:45pm. Cost for lunch and program is $12.00, Program only is $10.00

Our meeting is located at the Fillmore Memorial Building, 511 Second Street. If you are interested in becoming a member please call Melodie Stitch 551-4771.

Fillmore Ebell-Providing Arts And Entertainment For Your Pleasure.

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On LATE Friday night & Saturday night, "@radical.media" was shooting a Dodge Super bowl commercial. The shoot featured numerous background actors scurrying around town during a blizzard. Meanwhile, the all wheel drive Dodge vehicles are shown driving effortlessly through the snow...

The second show that is shooting today (1/10/2011) is the TV show "Justified" that airs on the FX network. The prep work for this show included rebuilding the interior of the vacant bank building on the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue into a beautiful bank. Additionally, a bomb threat and coal miners strike was depicted at the steps of City Hall.

In case you haven't noticed, filming has been relatively active lately in Fillmore. It would be awesome if you could put a few lines within your story/cut lines reminding residents to please be patient during these activities. Filming not only provides Fillmore great exposure to the outside world... It also provides local property owners and businesses to benefit from the extra revenue generated by the activity.

Fillmore-area Curves locations ring in New Year with new Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness® classes; Fillmore-area residents can try it free for a week

Hold on to your sports bras –Curves® Circuit with Zumba Fitness® is here! Millions have lost weight and shaped up with Curves, the leader in women’s fitness, and Zumba, the dance-fitness experts. Now, the two have created the only 30-minute class that mixes the moves of Zumba with the proven strength training of Curves for one wildly effective workout. It’s definitely NOT your Mother’s workout—BUT even your Mother can do it!

Some have called it the perfect workout, but Curves gyms in the Fillmore area are willing to let you try it free for a week to find out for yourself.

"Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness is an amazing workout that will really help people stick to their New Year’s resolutions,” said Curves Director of Exercise and Research, Katie Mitchell. “It combines Curves’ proven strength-training program—where you can burn up to 500 calories in just 30 minutes—with the Latin and international inspired music and exhilarating, simple dance moves that have made Zumba so popular. We want you to experience it for yourself to see what an incredible workout it is, so we’re inviting Fillmore-area residents to try it free for one week.”

The benefits of Curves CONTINUED »

Bill Edmonds, chair of the 2011 Fillmore Lions Student Speaker contest announced that we are in the last days leading up to the Monday, February 7th contest. Fillmore High students need to enter soon and get started on their speech. The topic is " Enforcing Our Borders: State versus Federal Rights". The Fillmore winner receives $ 75.00 and a chance to compete for more than $21,000 in college scholarships. Runner-ups get $25. All high school age youth who live within the Fillmore Unified School District can enter. This includes home taught students and foreign exchange students as well as Fillmore residents who go to other high schools. Students who wish to enter may contact Bill Edmonds at 524-4839 or Josh Overton at Fillmore High School. Public speaking competition looks very good on college applications and resumes. But act now so you can compete. You need to start early to develop a good speech.

Santa Paula, CA - Members of Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley have been the grateful and proud recipients of logo’d tee shirts courtesy Mac’s Furniture located in Santa Paula and Fillmore. Over 300 children have been given tee shirts with the Boys & Girls Club logo printed on the front and Mac’s Furniture logo printed on the back.

Raquel and Tony Macarena, wife and son of Mac’s Furniture owner Sergio Macarena, delivered the tee shirts to the Santa Paula and Fillmore Club’s last week, to the delight of members at both sites. “Now we can take our members on field trips and we can see at a glance where our members are and if they’re all together in our group, just like schools and other youth groups!” said Santa Paula site director Mari Juarez. Raquel and Tony got the pleasure of watching the kids proudly display their new tee shirts to members waiting in line to get their own garments.

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley wants to express their gratitude to Mac’s Furniture for this wonderful gesture. “This thoughtful donation brought smiles to many young faces, and an additional sense of belonging and pride to the hearts of our members.” reports Club CEO Sheila Tate, “We can’t thank Mac’s Furniture enough for their gift.”

The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit funded in part by the generous donations of local businesses and community members who desire to make an impact on local youth. Donations are always appreciated and can be made by contacting the Club at 805-525-7910 or by mailing a check payable to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley to PO Box 152, Santa Paula, CA 93061-0152.

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On December 18, 2010, several members of Piru 4-H and their parents traveled to Harbor Community Church in Ventura to serve the Homeless their annual Xmas Dinner. At the December General Meeting, Piru 4-H had a winter clothing and sock drive. The members & their families generously donated over 120 pairs of socks and over 8 large boxes filled with coats, sweater, blankets, etc. Piru 4-H also provided Xmas dessert for over 100 guests which they baked and decorated the day before at their leader's house. Piru 4-H has been going to Harbor community Church since 2009, serving the Church's once a month dinner. The Church provides shower & laundry facilites, a food and clothing pantry and also a hot breakfast & lunch Monday thru Friday. They also provide transportation to and from their Church, going to parks or river bottoms to provide their guests a ridewww.theharbor.us

Ventura, CA. – Blood donors with rare blood types, such as O-Negative and A-Negative, are seriously needed to meet rising needs. United Blood Services is issuing a critical appeal for donors with these rare Rh negative blood types. This is a worsening situation as demand is very high for these two blood types, while the number of people that have these types is very few.

The blood center is especially seeking new donors, that perhaps don’t know their blood type, in an effort to identify more donors with these rare types. Those who have never donated are especially encouraged to come forward. One of the great extras to saving a life, is that donors learn their blood type!

This month also is recognized as National Blood Donor Month. Donations of all types are encouraged, however those with Type O- and A- are critically needed. Blood donors will not only save lives, but will be automatically entered in a drawing for a vacation getaway to Las Vegas! The grand prize Las Vegas package includes round trip air faire for two on Allegiant, two nights deluxe accommodations at the J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa, dinner for two and tickets to see Penn and Teller! All volunteer blood donors in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, who are age 21 and over, and give through February 13th, will be automatically entered to win. A second-place prize will be also awarded to a randomly selected donor for two round trip air tickets anywhere Allegiant flies.

Type O-Negative blood is found in just 7% of the population. Known as the “universal donor” this blood type can be transfused to anyone. It is often transfused in emergency and trauma situations, when there is little time to “type” a patient’s blood Patients often need multiple units, in some cases hundreds of units.

Likewise, a mere 6% of the population has Type A-Negative blood. As it can be safely transfused to any patient with Type A or AB blood (both positive and negative) it too is often needed. And again multiple units may be needed by any one patient.

Donations may be made at the UBS Center in Ventura at 2223 Eastman near McGrath. Visit www.Blood4Life.org for a list of blood drives in the area. Appointments are appreciated, but not necessary. Walk-ins are also welcome, and will be honored as our appointment schedule allows.

The Ventura Center hours are:
Monday and Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Pizza served 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday)
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You may donate blood if you are over age 16, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger. Donors are asked to make an appointment by contacting United Blood Services at 800-715-3699 or online at www.Blood4Life.org. Just click on “Donate Blood” and type in your zip code to find a list of drives nearby.

VENTURA & MONTEREY, CA — Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast Girl Scout Council today announced that local Girl Scouts will be offering customers a premium selection of the six best-selling Girl Scout Cookies of all time during this year’s Cookie Program starting January 15 — March 20, 2011. Girl Scout Cookie Rallies and Bake-Off events will be held throughout the council in celebration beginning this weekend.

“The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is America’s cookie sale,” said Sherry Sybesma, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast. “For girls, the cookie sale is an opportunity to have fun with friends, to be responsible for money, and to set goals to fund activities, travel and service projects.”

In recent years, the council has offered eight cookie varieties. However, cookie bakery research shows that nearly all Girl Scout Cookie customers have a favorite among these bestsellers, known as the

Super Six:
• Thin Mints
• Samoas®
• Tagalongs®
• Trefoils
• Do-si-dos®
• Lemon Chalet Cremes™

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a hands-on leadership and business program for girls. This cookie season, girls will also learn the business basics behind offering the Super Six. By focusing on America’s most beloved cookie favorites and streamlining delivery, the council is making the program easier for girls and busy volunteers.

“The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is the only event I know of in which a non-profit raises a significant part of the money it needs to fund its mission in a way that actually moves that mission forward,” Sybesma added. “Most fundraising happens outside the mission, but when consumers purchase Girl Scout Cookies, they are playing an active role in helping girls develop the skills and attitudes they need to become leaders in their own lives and the wider world.”

Through the annual Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls set goals, and girls decide how to use the money they earn. Many successful businesswomen and community leaders credit Girl Scout Cookies for teaching them the life skills they use today.

While Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will follow trends which indicate that the five core cookie varieties (Thin Mints, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Trefoils, and Do-si-dos®) appeal to more than 80 percent of cookie customers, based on local customer preferences, the council has also chosen to include a sixth cookie, Lemon Chalet Cremes™.

Girl Scout Cookie proceeds also help the council support volunteers, provide girl scholarships, and maintain program centers. Cookie boothing will be held February 25—March 20. To learn more about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, or to order cookies, call: 800-822-2427, or visit: www.girlscoutsccc.org. Register for Girl Scout Cookie Rallies at: www.girlscoutsccc.org.