The following students participated in the 5TH Annual Navy SEAL Invitational Tournament in Coronado, April 25, 2015 (l-r) David Vargas, Daniel Flores, Tereck Morales, and Michael Castro, with Anna Morielli center. Not present: Chad Petuoglu, Derek Flores, Ricardo Lomeli, Angel Velez, Matthew Hammond, Chaperones Bob and Lisa Hammond. The Spirit of the Gut Award, held by Morielli, was presented to the team who participated in the 4th Annual Navy SEAL Invitational Tournament, May 2014 for displaying the most spirit, heart, inspiration to continue the course despite the challenges.
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Over fifty people attended the May 5, 2015 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting. Some had come to see the Fillmore High School (FHS) students who competed in the U.S. Navy Seal Challenge at the U.S. Naval Base in Coronado, California, but most had come to support an FUSD employee up for termination.

Sixteen Public Speakers cards were turned in, with five of them forfeiting their time to Louann Brock, who read a statement from Bob Sube. Public comment lasted about an hour. The item that had drawn such interest and filled the room to overflow capacity was the termination of Fillmore's School Farm Tech Wayne Noblitt.

First to speak was Brock. She addressed the Board from a written statement saying, "On Friday, March 6, 2015 Mr. Noblitt was placed on paid administrative leave due to the fact that he discharged a firearm on the school farm (grounds) when he shot a vicious dog (1 of 2) who had attacked and killed one student's goat and was going after another. The dogs ran off into the river and have not been seen since. Mr. Noblitt truthfully and immediately reported the incident to Mr. Joe Richards, a practice that has been the standard for as many years as we have owned the School Farm. Mr. Noblitt had absolutely no idea that having done what was expected of him would in turn result in a termination recommendation. Not only has he been faced with possible termination, but the District also requested that the local Sheriff's department get involved and alluded to the possible need for criminal charges.......I have spent weeks on the phone talking to community members who have expressed complete disbelief that Mr. Noblitt, while attempting to safeguard our students animals, was being recommended for termination, when no written policy exists and the only verbal policy is that he did exactly as instructed (which was) if you discharge a firearm to report it, as he did, and then don't discuss it, end of story.....To have placed an employee on paid administrative leave without notifying me as the President, while not illegal, is certainly not conducive to open, honest communication and concern for an employee and their rights."

Brock ended by CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

03/06/15
Brandishing
400 Blk. Hume Dr.
Theft Identity
400 Blk. Mockingbird Ln.
Disturbance Music/Noise
Central Ave. / Sespe Ave.
03/07/15
Narcotics Violation
700 Blk. Sespe Place.
Theft
600 Blk. Ventura St.
Hit & Run
700 Blk. Ventura St.
Keep the Peace
600 Blk. Santa Clara St.
03/08/15
Search Warrant
200 Blk. Cottonwood Ln. CONTINUED »

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Come and Get it!! Please join us for the 102nd Alumni Dinner on Saturday, June 13th, 2015. The Day starts out with Social time from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. You will be escorted out to the beautiful lawn area of the Veterans Memorial Building under the Alumni Party Tent, for light snacks, a cool drink and laughter with friends and Alumni from all over the country, and our community.

Dinner is served at 6:00pm and the Menu includes: Wood Fired Prime Angus Tri-Tip of Beef, Served au Jus with Creamed Horseradish, BBQ Sauce & Fresh Salsa, Tequila Lime Chicken Breast, Boneless & Skinless Breast with a Creamy Tequila Citrus Sauce, Three Cheese Macaroni & Cheese, With Sharp Cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan Cheeses, Pacifica Salad, Select Baby Greens with Sliced Local Strawberries, Caramelized Pecans, & Crumbled Feta Cheese with Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing, Wood Fired Asparagus & Zucchini, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, & Grilled Plum, Tomatoes, Assortment of Freshly Baked Rolls, With Butter, Dessert: Fudge Brownie Sundae, Vanilla Ice Cream with Homemade Fudge Brownie, Topped with Hot Fudge and Whipped Cream.

Seats are filling up fast! You can pick-up a reservation form at Patterson Hardware (and pay there if you like), or print out a form from the Alumni website at:

http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54f508fde4b02043de880cdf/t/54f546a...

See you all there!

Mark Ortega,
Fillmore High Alumni President

Cal Fire

Sacramento – As drought conditions continue to significantly elevate California’s fire danger, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has declared May 3-9, 2015 as “Wildfire Awareness Week”. During Wildfire Awareness Week, CAL FIRE is reminding all Californians of the role they play in preparing for and preventing wildfires.

“With a record dry and warm winter Californian’s fire activity has been nearly double what it normally is for this time of year,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “Our firefighters continue to meet the challenges posed by California’s historic drought, but we all must do our part to ensure our homes are prepared for wildfire and that residents and visitors to our state take extreme caution to avoid sparking a wildfire.”

On May 1, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that California’s snowpack water content was only 3 percent of normal. The lack of snow and overall rainfall has led to conditions being much drier than normal, lending themselves to the quick spread of wildfire. Between January 1 and May 2, CAL FIRE has responded to over 1,100 wildfires that have charred over 4,200 acres. In an average year for the same time period, CAL FIRE would typically respond to fewer than 650 wildfires burning approximately 1,500 acres.

During Wildfire Awareness Week, CAL FIRE is reminding Californians that when it comes to wildfires, remember “Ready, Set, Go!”. Being Ready for a wildfire starts by maintaining 100 feet of Defensible Space and hardening homes with fire resistant building materials. During this drought CAL FIRE is highly recommending residents landscape their yards with drought tolerant and fire resistant plants. Being Set includes have an evacuation plan and an emergency supply kit. Lastly, when a wildfires strikes, residents are urged to Go! and evacuate early.
CAL FIRE is also urging all Californians during Wildfire Awareness Week to learn the steps to prevent sparking a wildfire. Over 90 percent of the wildfires in California are sparked by the activity of people, so CAL FIRE has joined local and federal fire agencies in the “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire” campaign in hopes of getting the public to practice fire safety outdoors and prevent sparking a wildfire.

Residents looking for additional information on how to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfire can visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. The site offers tips for residents to make their homes more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their families are ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes.
For more than two years, California has been dealing with the effects of drought. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit drought.ca.gov.

Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at SaveOurWater.com.

Jose Martin Herrera

On April, 23, 2015, deputies with the Fillmore Police Department were working a gang suppression detail under a CalGRIP (California Gang Reduction Intervention Program) grant. At approximately 7:15 PM, they contacted two men in the 600 block of Ventura St. in Fillmore. During the contact, the deputies found Fillmore resident Jose Martin Herrera in possession of a loaded handgun. Herrera was quickly and safely taken into custody and no one was injured during the arrest. The handgun had been reported stolen during a residential burglary in Piru in April 2014. Herrera, a documented gang member, was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on the following charges:

25850(a) PC – Carrying a loaded firearm in public (Felony)
25400(a)(2) PC – Carrying a concealed firearm (Felony)
29800(a)(1) PC – Convicted felon in possession of a firearm (Felony)
30305(a)(1) PC – Convicted felon in possession of ammunition (Felony)
27545 PC PC – Illegal transfer of a firearm (Felony)
186.22(b)(1) PC – Participation in a criminal street gang (Felony)

Nature of Incident: Gang Member Arrested for Firearms Charges
Report Number: 150009248
Location: 600 Block of Ventura St., Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: 4/23/15 @ 7:15 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence
(S) Herrera, Jose Martin Fillmore
Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden
News Release Date: 4/24/15
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Mario Aguilar (805-524-2233) mario.aguilar@ventura.org
Approved by:
Captain Mark Franke

Responsibility for Military Banners will be shared by the City and School Board.

For years meetings between the City Council and Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) have stalled. The April 28, 2015 Fillmore City Council meeting was the first joint meeting with the School Board in three years. According to Board Member John Garnica their last joint meeting was in 2011, at which time they had held meetings quarterly. "Other priorities came into play" Garnica stated, that prevented the meetings from continuing.

The joint meeting's agenda contained the Military Banner Program, City's Mobile App and a Joint Use Agreement.
The City Council/Successor Agency Meeting proceeded the FUSD joint session. It contained an adoption of a joint resolution for operation of the Senior Center and development of the adjacent vacant lot.

The City of Fillmore and FUSD Board established a Military Banner program in 2008 to recognize Fillmore and Piru residents serving in the military. Virginia De La Piedra, with the help of David Smallwood, have continuously operated the program, which includes fundraising through the non-profit United Parents of Education.

From its beginning CONTINUED »

One thing I just love about living here in Fillmore is the way its residents share information about the events occurring in their lives. As many of you know a chance meeting in the grocery store, bank, or even while on a recreational walk on the bicycle trail, or in your neighborhood, can bring neighbors closer together by this sharing of information. A few years back I met Lynda Kagel, a neighbor and exercise partner of Jean Dempsey as they walked by my home on Grand Ave. I was out front watching my dogs do their business when we met over the fence. Over the many years since I have heard the story of Lynda's Grandmother, “GMA” as she is referred to by Family. Most of these stories were around GMA reaching another milestone birthday. GMA lives independently with neighbors and family checking in on her. She is a longtime Lakers Fan proudly flying Laker's pennants on her car until she stopped driving at age 104! Although her driving was self-restricted primarily to going to the beauty parlor once a week and picking up a few groceries she is amazingly independent and worked until she was 76 years old! By the time I met GMA, just after her 108th Birthday, she had already reached celebrity status in my home with the stories I enthusiastically listened to in amazement as Lynda shared them!

On Wednesday, April 22, 2015 family and friends gathered in Fillmore, at the home of Lynda Kagel, Granddaughter of Gertrude Ness “GMA”, of Glendale, CA, who celebrated her 109th birthday on April 22nd. Also at the celebration were Lynda's husband Dean Glassburn, Gertrude's Daughters, Dianne DeGeer of Dallas, Texas and Jo Ness from Montrose, Ca. Granddaughter Susan Kagel, of Montrose, CA, nephew Ralph Ness of Minneapolis, Minnesota, step-great granddaughter Stacy Fontana, of Thousand Oaks, CA. and close friend Jean Dempsey, of Fillmore. Not able to attend were Granddaughter Amy DeGeer, Great-Grandson Bryson Nolly and Great Granddaughter Ayiana Turner, all of Dallas, Texas and Step Great-Grandson Danny Glassburn of Thousand Oaks, CA.

On April 18, 1906, just five days before Gertrude Ness was born in Bemidji, Minnesota, a small farming town some 2,100 miles east of San Francisco, the devastating 7.8 magnitude San Francisco Earthquake rattled San Francisco killing 3,000 people! When GMA was born Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States and she would see eighteen other Presidents serve the United States of America! The RMS Titanic sank when when she was not yet six years old. Gertrude has seen the horrors of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the many other conflicts that have occurred since her birth. Man has landed on the Moon, invented the computer and made the earth a smaller planet with faster modes of travel.

Gertrude, one of six children, was born on April 22, 1906 in Bemidji, MN to Noble and Eliza Sherwood. She married Peder Ness in 1933 and they raised two girls, Diane and Jo. Prior to marrying, Gertrude taught elementary school Band. As the Drum Major, the young Gertrude and her young students traveled and entered many parades. When Gertrude married Peder, he was in banking. But after she married the 27 year old teacher was no longer permitted to teach because female teachers were not permitted to teach once married. One account was that teachers held positions of authority and married women were not permitted in that authority role! This prohibition continued until 1919 when the “Sexual Disqualification Removal Act” was passed allowing married women to teach in the classroom. But, because of the Depression of 1920 women were frowned upon for working because so many men were out of work that teaching still was not a woman’s permitted area of work.

Gertrude and Peder moved to Glendale, CA in July 1941. Gertrude worked at Lockheed, in Burbank assembling bomber doors to support the War effort. After the war she developed the day care system in the Glendale School District for single Moms. She opened multiple nursery schools. At the end of her career, at 76, she was in Administration with the Glendale School District. Peder continued in banking. Peder passed away of cancer in July 1991. They were married for 58 years.

Gertrude continues to live in Glendale, CA in the house that she, and Peder rented when they arrived in CA and later purchased. Gertrude remains an avid Lakers Fan. Gertrude lives independently, with help from neighbors and visiting nurses a few times a week. Gertrude continues to visit the hair salon once a week to have her hair and nails done!

Gertrude has many awards from City of Glendale for her work in the school district and Glendale Beautiful as well as recognition from many other organizations. When asked, and she is asked frequently,”What is your secret to long life?” GMA's only answer is, “Growing up on a farm.” From that I take it that farm life was hard and everyone had to learn to work hard to support the family in order for the family to survive. GMA surely has worked hard all her life which could be the key to her longevity! From me, and from the Community of Fillmore, we would like to wish you Happy Birthday Gertrude! You Rock!