Fillmore hosted Bunco game night on Tuesday, March 12th at Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial Building. This event is part of the “Raise the Roof” Fundraiser series benefitting the Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial Building’s efforts in raising money towards a new roof. For more information please call 524-1500 ext 713. If you are thinking about joining the next Bunco game night try to be on time, 6 p.m. on the dot is when Bunco begins. It’s only $5 to play. Bunco is held the 2nd Tuesday of every month, the next one will be April 9th. If you’ve never played but are interested in playing a pre-Bunco practice game come join us this Saturday, March 16th. Mini rounds of Bunco are $1. Come by the Parks & Recreation booth to play a round! Meet us in Central Park from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Photo courtesy City of Fillmore Instagram.

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Submitted by Jan Lee

As you know, the annual Fillmore Flower Show is fast approaching. April 13th and 14th at the Active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore. Bring your flowers, plants, dish gardens and potted plants between 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. on Saturday the 13th. Then come back between 1 and 4 p.m. to see how many ribbons you have won, each with a special gold sticker to remind you this is the 100th year since the flower show began!

There are several places around town where you can see a display of flower shows over the years. The Fillmore library, Patterson’s Hardware store, the glass display upstairs at Fillmore City Hall and the Fillmore Historical Museum all have photos and interesting things to see on display. Patterson’s, established in 1919, the year of the first Flower Show, and is on Central Avenue. Almost all second grade students in Fillmore Unified School District have been on a field trip to the Fillmore Historical Museum as part of their study of history in school. They can guide you to the museum that is behind City Hall. While you take a look at household items used 100 years ago, also see photos of the flower show. Fillmore City Hall is another fun place to visit. Take the elevator in the lobby up to the second floor to see another display. You can see your city government in action at the same time. Finally, a visit to the public library is never wasted. Take some time to enjoy the flower show displays and possibly get some ideas for your entries for this year.

Then, in April, bring an entry and visit the Fillmore Flower Show. It will be even better than usual this year because we are “Celebrating 100 Years of Flowers.” The weather is beautiful. So many colors of flowers! Participate in the activities in Fillmore. Who knows, 100 years from now your photo of a prize winning rose or iris may be on display for the 200th year of the flower show.

Bob Crum

I'm reasonably sure that y'all recently saw or heard the news about the poppy superbloom out in the Lake Elsinore area. As much as I enjoy photographing poppies, I was not about to participant in that melee.

Last week I got word that the Antelope Valley (AV) poppy bloom was in full glory. This is good news! The AV poppy bloom was sparse to nonexistent the past several years from the drought.

Off I went and got my poppy itch scratched last Sunday. Almost perfect weather, 70° with a slight breeze blowing in bursts with calm sessions between mild bursts. Wind bursts annoying but tolerable. In one particular area, I saw a nice batch of poppies. No sooner did I lift the camera, whoosh, the wind increased tossing the poppies around. Wait a little and the air was again calm. During the calm spells, I made many photos. Patience rules the day.

This year I was bewildered. I've been photographing those delightful wildflowers for many years. In years past, there were vast fields where a gazillion poppies bloomed but nothing there this year. Further down the road, poppies where I had never seen them before. Nevertheless, there were plenty of new areas in which to photograph these golden delights and away from most of the mob. I avoided the tourist-packed Poppy Reserve off Lancaster Road. Of course, 90% of the people were phonetographers taking “snapshots”! They were like ants at a party featuring Reese's peanut butter cups.

Once plentiful in the AV, Joshua trees-also called izote de desierto (Spanish for desert dagger)-some still exist in a few areas in the AV. I recognize that most people are ambivalent about Joshua trees. However, their unusual growth patterns make them very photogenic. To my surprise and delight, my favorite little Joshua tree grove is in full bloom.

Having scouted the area, and surmising that the poppies will still be blooming for another week, I will conduct a field trip/photography workshop for the poppies and Joshua trees on Sunday, 3/31, contingent on the weather. Workshop fee: $25.00, cash only paid on Sunday. No phonetographers! Participants must have a camera and must know how to use it. Auto mode is OK. Bring a polarizing filter for your lens. The workshop is about 'seeing' and making compelling compositions with proper exposure, not about how to use your camera. If the weather on scene turns nasty, fees paid promptly refunded. I'm in no hurry to buy a yacht!

As I write this on Monday, I see that 6-9 knot wind is forecast. That's about like last Sunday. If we got there at the right time, we might have a good photo shoot before it got too windy. Timing is tricky. No need to be on the scene too early because poppies don't open until the sun warms them up a little. Too windy and they don't open. The optimum time is from about 9:30 am to 2 pm. That's a substantial photographic window of opportunity.

Please note that I require a minimum of five participants and no more than ten. If five photographers don't show up at departure time, it's a no go! If you're interested, please email me by 6 pm Saturday 3/30/19 and consider your email a commitment. I can take one person in my Ford F-350 pickup. Email me with your questions.

The photo of the week is, of course, California poppies I recently photographed in the Antelope Valley. See the photo in color at: fillmoregazette.com. Happy photoing.

Sent comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotography.com

California –District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Gale Hartman (DOB 03/14/1938), was sentenced after pleading no contest to four felony counts of grand theft. Judge Bruce Young sentenced Hartman to 365 days in the Ventura County jail, with 60 months formal probation, and ordered him to pay $119,660 in victim restitution.

Hartman, while Treasurer of the Ventura Police Community Foundation and a civilian employee of the Ventura Police Department, stole approximately $119,660 from the Foundation by making systematic cash withdrawals over four years, using the Foundation’s debit card.

This fraud was discovered by the Ventura Police Department and submitted for investigation to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Investigation.

Submitted by Coach Cindy Blatt

FHS Swim Team hosted its first home meet on Wednesday, March 13th. Varsity Girls were defeated by Malibu – 109-56. Kat Furness swam to a win in the 200 yd. individual medley in a time of 2:18.29, and a win in the 100 yd. butterfly in a time of 1:02.59. Both times are new school records and CIF Div. 3 Consideration times. Karen Trujillo placed second in the 100 yd. backstroke in a time of 1:22.27.

Varsity Boys were defeated by Malibu – 123-29. Sam Guzman had two second place finishes in the 100 yd. butterfly and 100 yd. backstroke. Eddy Rodriguez placed second in the 50 yd. freestyle with a PR time of 26.08.

Jr. Varsity Girls defeated Malibu – 89-29. Olivia Palazuelos was a two time winner in the 200 yd. freestyle and the 100 yd. freestyle – both were personal records. Isabela Regalado won the 50 yd. backstroke. Zoe Avila won the 50 yd. breaststroke.

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United Water Conservation District and its contractor, Parks Management Company, are happy to report Lake Piru is at its highest level in over a decade. United Water’s Lake Piru is now at 73% full, compared to only 15% full last October.

The Reasoner Cove launch area at Lake Piru has now been reopened. The Juan Fernandez Day Use Area and launch area will also reopen by May 1, 2019, with sand being brought in to develop a quality swim beach.

“This is great news for recreation and water enthusiasts. We encourage people to come and enjoy the day, boating, fishing water skiing, jet skiing, swimming and evenings under the stars camping at Lake Piru,” commented Mauricio Guardado, General Manager for United Water Conservation District.

Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made for pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks and paddle boards, which are available for full-day or half-day rentals.

Please reserve online at: www.campone.com or www.camplakepiru.com, or by calling Lake Piru Recreation Area at 805-521-1500. Lake Piru is located at: 4780 Piru Canyon Road, Piru, CA 93040.

About the United Water Conservation District
Who we are, what we do and why it matters:
Since 1927 United Water Conservation District has served as a leader among water agencies by managing, protecting, enhancing and securing the water resources of the Santa Clara River and Oxnard Coastal Plain. The District works to protect the environment’s natural attributes and conserves runoff from all major tributaries of the Santa Clara River including Piru, Hopper, Sespe and Santa Paula Creeks.
United Water Conservation District is committed to managing the area’s water supplies through groundwater replenishment and construction and operation of efficient water supply and delivery systems. The District serves as the conservator of groundwater resources that are utilized by the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore, as well as several mutual water districts, farms and individual pumpers. United Water also provides surface water for agricultural irrigation and treated drinking water to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. UnitedWater.org.