In the face of a significant increase in the numbers of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) in mainland China and other Countries, many Ventura County residents are understandably worried and fearful. The Ventura County Department of Public Health (Public Health), out of an abundance of caution, is seeking to solidify the County's readiness should the COVID-19 virus be found here or in a nearby county.

Public Health is urging agencies, businesses, school districts, organizations and health care providers throughout the County to develop and/or update a plan for social distancing. “These groups are being asked to accomplish this within 24 to 48 hours,” said Dr. Robert Levin, Health Officer. “The discovery of community transmission elsewhere in the State makes me feel that COVIO-19 could arrive in our County at any time and we want to be prepared.” Community transmission means person-to-person spread. “Our first level of Protection comes from the quarantine and isolation of certain individuals,” said Dr. Levin. Levin stressed that these plans will not be put into effect immediately. “Once cases of COVID-19 are found in the community, it’s time to implement social distancing plans.” Social distancing means lessening contact between individuals throughout the County. Businesses, for instance, would review their staffing and identify workers who could work from home. This results in fewer people and less contact between people at the workplace as well. Members of the public should speak with their employer about whether they can still fulfill responsibilities of their jobs while working from home.

A population that is at particular risk from the COVID-19 is the elderly. Extended Care Facilities are being asked to write or update their plans for protecting their residents from interaction with those from outside their place of residence.

While children seem to be faring better than other groups with COVID-19, schools have made significant advances in their planning for possible temporary closure. Some schools were closed for weeks during the HAN1 pandemic ten years ago. It is important that schools and childcare facilities have a plan in place and are communicating with parents.

Primary care medical sites are being asked to implement plans to communicate with patients via Skype, FaceTime and over the phone. Many patient visits can be dealt with distantly thus avoiding crowding of clinics and the resulting increased risk of close contact which might further spread COVID-19.

There is little evidence that pregnant women are at particularly increased risk from this virus, but special care should still be taken to decrease their social contacts.

Gatherings such as regular religious services might consider live streaming their service so that congregants can view the service from home, or they may consider modifying their service so that there can be at least two spaces between each congregant.

“The cancelation of large, non-essential gatherings is a possibility down the line,” said Dr. Levin, “implementation of social distancing plans should be handled with creativity, flexibility and sensitivity.”

Above all, people who are starting to feel ill or who are ill, should stay away from others and not go into crowded settings.

People should continue to practice the same habits they perform to prevent themselves from getting the flu.
They should wash their hands frequently, elbow or fist bump one another instead of shaking hands or hugging, sneeze or cough into the crook of their elbow and maintain a six foot or greater distance between themselves and anyone who looks ill, Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Get a flu immunization to prevent influenza if you have not done so this season. The only two needs for face masks are the wearing of a surgical mask if you are ill and going out in public, such as going to the doctor's office or if you are a health care worker, wearing an N9S mask when you ae interacting with patients.

Preparedness information and up to date information about the situation in the County of ventura can be found at www.vcemergency.com. Updates will also continue to be provided on County of Ventura social media Facebook: @countyofventura, Twitter: @CountyVentura Nextdoor @County of Ventura Instagram: @Venutra_County_news

For the most up to date information regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus on the national level, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and PreventiWQon at https://www.cdc gov/corenavirus/2019-ncov/index html.

Ari Larson, 2019 Citizen of the Year.

The Fillmore Community Awards Committee is proud to announce Ari Larson as the 2019 Citizen of the Year!

“Ari’s passion to serve in whatever capacity for the benefit of our community and Ventura County is nothing short of breathtaking” exclaimed former Fillmore Mayor Ernie Villegas. She sees the community as a whole and tries to help different organizations including those that help children, senior citizens, and those who face serious health issues. She is also involved with youth organizations, business advocacy, veterans, and our agricultural community.

Ari belongs to many local and county-wide organizations and serves in a leadership position including chair, and the executive board. Currently she is President of Fillmore Rotary, Region District Director for the Soroptimist International Camino Real Division, Board Member and Past President of the Boys & Girl’s Club of the Santa Clara Valley. She also sits on the boards of the Fillmore Association of Businesses, Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau, Santa Clara Valley Hospice (Vice President), is the City’s Representative on the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging. Ms. Larson also volunteers her time on various committees including the Fillmore Veteran’s Parade, Relay for Life, St. Francis Dam 90th Commemorative Committee, and the California Women for Agriculture Ventura County Chapter just to name a few.

Ari is currently working in Public Relations for Diamond Realty and is a consultant to some local small businesses. She is married to Peter Larson and they have two Chihuahua dogs named Penelope and Cleo. In her spare time, she sleeps.

The Community Awards will take place on Saturday, April 11, 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Fillmore-Piru Memorial Building. More information to follow.

Fillmore High School is proud to announce that senior student Isabella Palazuelos has been recognized as a National Merit Scholar.

The National Merit Scholar Program annually recognizes 16,000 students out of 1.6 million eligible students nationwide as semifinalists based on student performance for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude exam. Of those 16,000 students, only 15,000 are selected to receive a Certificate of Merit as a finalist. Finally, only 7,500 students out of the 15,000 finalists are granted scholarships that may include full college tuition. Miss Palazuelos was presented a Certificate of Merit from her high school principal on February 5, 2020 at Fillmore High School. Fillmore High School has not had a National Merit Scholar in recent memory.

Miss Palazuelos has applied to several prestigious universities, both in and out of California, and is expecting to receive notification of acceptance this spring. Isabella Palazuelos is a well-rounded student as she participates in several activities at Fillmore High School, which include: the Advanced Placement program; a medalist as part of the award winning 2020 Fillmore High School Academic Decathlon team; a three sport athlete (volleyball, water polo and swimming); the leader of the Fillmore High School Mock Trial team; Band and Jazz Ensemble; the Interact Club; MEChA; the Chess Club; and the Mentor Program.

Isabella is the daughter of Adrian and Julie Palazuelos and has three siblings in the Fillmore Unified School District: Olivia, grade 11; Nadia, grade 7; and Adrian Junior, Transitional Kindergarten.

Our sincere congratulations go out to Isabella Palazuelos!

Fillmore Unified School District

Public Hearing and Receipt of Initial Proposal
Public hearing and receipt of initial proposal of the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association (FUTA) to the Fillmore
Unified School District (FUSD) for reopener negotiations for the contract commencing on July 1, 2020 (Materials).

Network Infrastructure Update
The Governing Board received an update on the Fillmore USD network infrastructure.

Approval of the Second Interim Report through January 31, 2020, Including Amendments to the 2019-2020 Budget
The Governing Board approved the Second Interim Report.

Approval of Resolution No. 19-20-14 for Relief from Penalties for Piru Preschool Program Closure Due to Wear Main Repairs
The Governing Board approved Resolution 19-20-14.

Personnel Recommendations
The Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, and leaves.

Gerardo Uribe, 39, of Santa Paula.

On February 10, 2020 at approximately 1247 hours, the Santa Paula Police Department received a call of a robbery that just occurred at the Metro PCS store located at 328 E Harvard Blvd. Patrol Officers and Detectives responded to the scene. Through the investigation it was discovered a suspect had entered the store, brandished a weapon at the clerk and demand the register be emptied. The suspect then fled the location.

On February 18, 2020 at approximately 1010 hours, the Santa Paula Police Department received a call of a robbery that just occurred at the Metro PCS store located at 919 E Main St. SPPD Patrol Officers and Detectives responded to the scene. Through the investigation it was determined a suspect had entered the business, brandished a weapon, went behind the counter and took money from the register. The suspect then fled the location. Responding officers were able to obtain video of the robbery as well as the suspect fleeing the scene.

SPPD Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Gerardo Uribe of Santa Paula. On Thursday February 27th 2020, the SPPD Detective Bureau, Special Enforcement Unit and VCSO Fillmore Detectives executed a search warrant on Uribe’s residence related to the robberies. Uribe, who was already in custody for a commercial burglary that occurred in the City of Fillmore, was arrested for the robberies at the Ventura County Main Jail.

Anyone with information regarding the robberies is urged to contact Detective Dan McCarthy at (805) 525-4474 x282 or dmccarthy@spcity.org.

Bob Crum

So disappointed that no one correctly described how I made last week's photo of the week. No problem. I'll treat myself to the scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

One day I was fine, the next my health ambushed. It started a few weeks ago as a chest cold but men don't go to the doctor for a mere chest cold. But incessant chest congestion and coughing grew worse over time like a cat sneaking up on a mouse ready to pounce. On Tuesday, 2/25/20, gasping for breath, I left denial in the parking lot and drove to the Santa Paula Hospital, the Hilton on the hill. Parked the truck and s____l____w_____l____y walked into ER gasping. I didn't make it to the counter, collapsing on a chair in the ER lobby. CODE BLUE!

Medical staff whisked me into the ER room and began to execute their much-appreciated expertise: EKG, blood was drawn for lab testing, chest X-Ray, an IV placed in my right arm, and a face mask applied to force oxygen into my lungs. Diagnosis: A debilitating case of pneumonia on top of COPD on top of asthma - proof that I don't get half-way sick!

A week later, I returned home. Because COPD is a chronic disease, recovery, to whatever degree, is likely going to be a long slog. Run-and-gun photojournalism waylaid, I'm considering turtles as subjects to chase. Furthermore, compromised lungs mean that I need supplemental oxygen provided by oxygen concentrators at home and when out and about. Obviously, my grizzly bear wrestling career is doomed. But I have my doctor's permission to continue with my photographic specialty: Mermaid boudoir photography.

Ill health does not prevent me from being creative. Last week's photo of the week, starry night roses, was a creative project. To create the photo, I clipped a rose from one of my rose bushes, put it in a vase, and put the vase in front of my TV. When the TV is off, the screen is black. I turned on the room's overhead lights to create a shadow of the rose on the TV. Yes, the dark rose on the right is a shadow. But the shadow was too dark. So I programmed my Canon 7D MKII 'real' camera for HDR (High Dynamic Range), fixed aperture at f/ll, shooting seven brackets in 1/3 stops. I then elected to have the seven shots combined in-camera to create the HDR image. Viola!

During post-processing (editing), I lightened the shadow rose slightly and also brightened the background oh-so-slightly to accentuate the stars. You did notice the stars, right? Ahem, the stars are dust particles on the TV screen. Oh, 'tis so easy, and such fun, to fool the eye!

As a creative medium, photography is replete with a plethora of possibilities and options! Limitations exist only from a lack of imagination!

Recall a previous column whereby I discussed seeing an image in your mind before making the photo? Consider it a form of pre-visualization. Observe an object, in this case the rose, or scene and then experiment with various perspectives, always aligning the composition with your mind's image. It works, but it requires patience. Most photographers struggle with composition because they shoot too fast. Hence, they end up with so much crap that I call it 'shoot-to-delete' photography. Slow down and enjoy creating!

The photo of the week is another opportunity for a lucky reader to win two scoops of Baskin Robins ice cream. Yes, two scoops! Send an email naming the subject and how I made the photo. The first correct response wins! Hurry! Happy photoing!

Send comments, suggestions or questions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net