At Tuesday's regular City Council meeting a representative of the Ventura County Community College District announced a truly great new program. All Ventura County Community College students can ride for FREE ANYWHERE in Ventura County. Students can catch the bus for free for the 2018/19 school year. This service includes attendance in any college (Moorpark, Oxnard, or Ventura), study online, Associate and Transfer Degrees, Career Education and Dual Enrollment for high school students.

I think this is the first time the College District has offered such a generous program. This opens a huge variety of opportunities in business, child development, criminal justice, communication, English, health ed., mathematics, music, political science and sign language. This is a terrific chance to learn and move up. Hey, if I weren't such an old goat I would sign on myself! I could use a good dose of English. (I apologize for editorializing in a news space) but this is a great deal!

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Special recognition was given to John Heilman and David Miller for constructing the electric "F" on top of the mountain overlooking the city. The famous letter can now be seen at night thanks to the solar devices these men placed on the hill.

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A Fillmore resident explained the difficulty her group was having in its attempts to place their rebuttal statement to Measure "T" on the November Fillmore ballot. Measure T concerns voter approval in establishing indoor commercial marijuana buildings and businesses in Fillmore.

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A discussion was had concerning the swimming pool, its various uses and continued financial support. Mayor Manuel Minjares reminded everyone of the social importance of the pool despite the fact that it runs in the red every year.

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More complaints were expressed concerning Equestrian Center management. Efforts continue to try to resolve various problems.

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Agenda item 8-B consideration of funding SCE historical usage DATA and request and technical study with City of Santa Paula was held back for now.

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Consideration of an assignment and consent agreement to transfer the obligation to maintain the WATER RECYCLING PLANT from AMERICAN WATER to VEOLIA WATER NORTH AMERICAN OPERATING SERVICES LLC. was unanimously approved.

[This is a letter that was sent to Fillmore Middle School Families from Fillmore unified School District Superintendent Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D. written August 10, 2018]

Dear Fillmore Middle School Families,
We usually think about summer as a time of relaxation, sleeping a little later and gathering our strength for the next school year. However, this summer has been very busy around our school district. Our District team has been hard at work to conduct much needed repairs and improvements on our school campuses while classes were not in session. I’d like to bring you up to date on our facilities work plan this past summer and into the fall.

First, let me thank you again for voting to pass Measure V in 2016. Voters had confidence in our district to support $35 million in bonds that will be spent to repair and upgrade older classrooms and school facilities, including leaky roofs, deteriorating plumbing, electrical, heating/air conditioning systems, upgrade electrical wiring, fire alarms/emergency communication systems. The money also will be spent to improve vocational education facilities and to acquire and construct or repair classrooms.

We committed to identifying opportunities to seek state matching funds, and in spring 2018 the California Department of Education awarded Fillmore Unified with $3 million of matching funds for the Transportation pathway of our new Career Technical Education building. Our team is hard at work preparing an application to reapply for an additional $3 million in matching funds for the Agriculture pathway. Measure V and state funds will enable Fillmore Unified to realize the dream of creating the Career Technical Education facility that our students deserve.

Our team has been focused on preparing our school sites for the start of the school year and has accomplished the following:
- Painted the exterior of San Cayetano, Mountain Vista, and Fillmore Middle Schools. There’s nothing like a fresh paint job to make a facility feel new again and motivate our students.
- The addition of outdoor lighting at Fillmore Middle School to increase safety and security on our campuses.
- Slurry sealing and striping of parking lots and appropriate hardscapes.
- A new track at Fillmore High School.

We are also conducting mold abatement in the Fillmore Middle School boy’s locker room, boy’s locker room coach’s office, and stage area of the gymnasium building. It does not appear that the spores associated with the mold pose a health hazard, but we are taking measures to repair the damage. The roof was repaired in 2013, but a recent inspection revealed that conditions existed which require us to address them immediately. Fillmore Unified hired an environmental firm located in Ventura County to test for potential health hazards. The results did not indicate an exposure risk to our students and staff; however, we believe in being proactive and dealing with the issue head-on. Their inspection revealed that many ceiling tiles are missing or damaged and mold is present in the drywall attic space over the boy’s locker room, storage room, coach’s shower/restroom and over the stage area within the gym. There will be extensive abatement, scrubbing the air with filtration systems, intensive cleaning of the walls and ceiling, and reconstruction in some of the most affected areas. As a result, the areas that are being addressed will not be accessible to students or staff until the work has been completed. School administration has identified alternate spaces for students while the work is completed.

Our school district has many exciting projects ahead, all designed to enhance the education experience of our students. We want to create opportunities for them to have the best education and greatest chance of success in their lives. Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,
Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D., Superintendent of Fillmore Unified School District

Bob Crum

My affair with the Fair this year is over. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms have begun but my feet are delighted.

The exciting Jr. Livestock Auction was last Friday. A few hundred giggly buyers purchased various animals. One such buyer bid $1,200 for three roasting chickens. Were I that buyer, every bite would take so long the meal would last five hours as I savored every juicy morsel. I digress.

Photographing the junior livestock auction is never without anxiety. There are no retakes. No second chances. The goal of photojournalism is to capture a photo that in itself tells a story. Multiple elements – participant, animal, auctioneer – all animated, make timing of the photo capture critical. I'm also constantly moving in order to line up the elements for the composition. Stress redefined.

Light in the Judge William P. Clark Pavilion adds more angst. Outdoor light from three large openings combined with overhead fluorescent lights create white balance funk. Visualize a pink pig with a green tint.

Auction shoot done, it was on to the interviews with the kids whose animals were awarded special merit. Another round of anxiety. Some kids are naturally talkative making the task easy. Some require tons of coaxing to say something, anything! After all, their story is my whole story. (see separate auction story)

Auction photos and interviews done, my stomach was growling. The cheddar bratwurst with a side of German-style potato salad quieted the grumbling. For the moment.

Digital photography – not phonetography – entices, even encourages experimentation. Observe any ride on the midway and you quickly realize that it can be photographed a hundred ways by various combinations of shutter speed, aperture and ISO depending on desired result. Simply delete crappy photos and shoot again. The Fair is a great venue to grasp an understanding of the ISO, shutter speed and aperture relationship. The paramount pair: Practice and Patience.

For example, the Sea Dragon and the Midway Big O. I noticed that at certain times, the swinging motion of the Sea Dragon would take the mouth up to the top of the loop of the ride behind it. When the planets and rides align perfectly, the Dragon appears to gobble up a rider on the Big O. However, when the Big O was running, the Dragon was not. When the Dragon was swinging, the Big O was not running. Stand and wait. And wait. Whoa!, both are running. Bingo! Umm... not yet. The Dragon's mouth too high. Wait... wait... Bingo! Not yet. Dragon too far below the Big O riders. Wait... wait... nailed it! Exposure, composition and timing perfect. Success equals ecstasy! A reason that photography is so delightfully addictive! By the way, I'm legally allowed to have such fun!

Attended the rodeo on Saturday which is another action-packed fun event to photograph. Again, no retakes. Get the shot or endure woe! But sometimes there's a perfect excuse for a missed shot: I was too engaged in watching the action to remember to press the shutter button! Lousy excuse, I know. Nevertheless, the rodeo is fun to watch.

Next event: Wings Over Camarillo air show this weekend at the Camarillo Airport. Besides aerobatics and World War II warplanes in action, the show includes an awesome ground display. Stroll among the magnificent planes of all types. Plentiful, tantalizing photo ops! The ground display combined with fabulous flying machines makes for a fun air show to attend.

Photo of the week is my all time favorite Fair event: Alaskan Racing Pigs.

Send comments, questions and/or suggestions to: photography@earthlink.net

Ventura County Department of Public Health

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed variant influenza A (H1N2v) infections in two persons. The individuals were exposed to a pig at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, California that was infected with influenza. The individuals have recovered after experiencing brief illnesses.

Influenza viruses that are spread among pigs are occasionally transmitted to people who have close contact with pigs. When this happens, the infections in humans are called variant influenza virus infections. Variant influenza virus infections are usually mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal influenza. However, like seasonal influenza, serious illness is possible. Person-to-person transmission of variant influenza viruses is not common, and people cannot get it by eating pork.

In recent years, variant influenza virus infections have occurred each summer in the United States, and most infections have been linked to exposure to pigs at agricultural events. With the county fair season still in full swing in California, these cases of variant influenza virus infections serve as a reminder to take steps to prevent illness when visiting events where pigs and other animals are on exhibit.

“Visiting animals can be one of the highlights of the fair,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “It is important to remember to practice good hygiene when working with or visiting animals.”

There are steps you can take to protect you and your family at the fair, zoo, petting zoo or other settings where pigs are present.

• Wash your hands with soap and running water after any exposure to animals.

• Don’t eat, drink, or put anything in your mouth while in an area where animals are housed or exhibited.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth until you have exited the animal area and washed your hands with soap and running water.

• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers or similar items into animal areas.

• Avoid contact with animals that look or act ill.

• People in high-risk groups should take extra care around animals. These include senior citizens, children under five, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system or chronic health conditions.

Persons who have influenza symptoms after recent contact with pigs should tell their healthcare provider about their exposure. Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and may also include vomiting or diarrhea. People at greater risk of serious influenza-related complications (children under five, adults 65 and over, pregnant women, persons with a weakened immune system or certain chronic medical conditions) should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible. The same medications used to treat people with seasonal influenza can also be used for variant influenza virus infections.

If variant influenza is suspected in a patient, healthcare providers should contact their local health department to coordinate appropriate testing. For local health department contact information, visit CDPH’s website.

For more information about variant influenza viruses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

www.cdph.ca.gov

Ventura, Santa Paula – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced plans to close a lane and multiple ramps in both directions of State Route 126 (Santa Paula Freeway) next week.

From Monday, August 13 to Friday, August 17, the following closures will be in place in the cities of Ventura and Santa Paula between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.:

Eastbound:

• One lane from US-101 to Hallock Drive
• Tenth Street on and off-ramp

Westbound:

• One lane from Hallock Drive to Wells Road
• Palm Avenue on and off-ramp
• Tenth Street off-ramp

Some closures may start and end later. All closures are weather permitting and subject to change. On and off-ramps will not be closed consecutively in each direction.

Motorists should expect delays and are strongly advised to use alternate routes or avoid the area. Additionally, motorists can check traffic conditions before they leave by visiting the Caltrans Quickmap.

The closures are part of two separate projects for road repaving and storm water mitigation. C.A. Rasmussen Inc. of Valencia, CA is the contractor on these projects.

Caltrans reminds drivers to be “Work Zone Alert” and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.”

Submitted by Coach Cesar Camacho.

Fillmore’s 12B Lady Reapers started their season in July at the Santa Barbara Summer Blast Tournament where they place second. They then competed in the 2018 NSA Southern California State Championship where they won the championship, which qualified them for the World Series. This past weekend the team competed in the 2018 NSA Southwest World Series which was held in Lancaster. Facing teams from throughout California, the team advanced to the championship round finishing in second place.

On behalf of the players, coaching staff and parents, we would like to thank our community for your support. We would like to recognize the following businesses and community members. Maher Insurance Agency, Oxnard Peace Officers Association, Grimes Rock, BM Labor County Inc, Vallarta Restaurant, Clinicas Del Camion Real Ventura, Ventura County Professional Peace Officers Association, Ventura County Deputy Association, Grupo Bryndis, Ay Chihuahua, El Pescador, Mr. & Mrs. Posada Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Posada Jr., Emma Posadas, Carmen Escamilla, Toni Rosales, Ms. Tello, Keith Gurrola and an anonymous donor.