In an effort to recharge the aquifer, dilute nitrates and neutralize sea water intrusion issues for Ventura County, United Water Conservation initiated an immense water release from its Santa Felicia Dam at Lake Piru on June 3, 2019. Normally, conserved water is released from Santa Felicia Dam in the fall of each year, but, due to the saturated conditions in the Santa Clara River and its tributaries, water release in June will assure maximum regional benefits. The release of water, the largest amount in decades, will help combat rising nitrate levels such as those recently seen in the El Rio community in May, which forced the shut-down of drinking water wells for 364 residential and business customers of Vineyard Avenue Acres Mutual Water. “This historical release of water at our Santa Felicia Dam will ultimately result in the diversion of high-quality water at our Freeman Diversion facility, helping to recharge the area’s aquifer still recovering from drought and helping to offset the increasing nitrate levels of wells within the immediate vicinity of El Rio. It will also help with sea water intrusion issues we continue seeing on the Oxnard Plain,” explains Mauricio Guardado, General Manager for United Water Conservation District. “The timing of the release is crucial in that we want to take advantage of the high saturation level of the Santa Clara River that exists right now with all of the rain we’ve had. This will allow us to make the most of the water release,” added Guardado. 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.

This June, I am taking part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer!

Why? Because right now, cancer is the biggest killer of children from disease in the United States. Over 15,700 children are diagnosed every year, and sadly, 38 children die of cancer every week.

Kids should be living life, not fighting for it.

So I am raising funds through my challenge to help these kids and support Children's Cancer Research Fund to allow them to continue their work to develop lifesaving treatments and find a cure for childhood cancer.

Please support me by making a donation to give these kids the brighter futures they deserve.

Your support will change little lives.

Thank you,
Larry Cassidy,
Fillmore

To donate, please visit https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/LarryCassidy

About The Great Cycle Challenge
Over the past 19 days, riders from every state across our great country have pedaled 2,496,885 miles, on all types of bikes and in all kinds of weather. It's been incredible to witness this fantastic event grow over the past 5 years, and the 2019 Great Cycle Challenge is set to break all the records.

Here are just some of the key stats so far this month:

80,209 riders are taking part from every state in the country.

144,292 individual donations have been received to support your efforts.

$7,489,619 has been raised (so far) making this year's event the biggest EVER in the global history of the challenge. WOW.

Together, we've logged 180,079 rides and ridden a total of 2,496,885 miles which is the equivalent of pedaling for 7,928 days (non-stop).

On the other side, over those 19 days you've been riding in the challenge:

817 American families have heard the painful words, "your child has cancer."

We've lost 95 children to this terrible disease.

At last night’s school board meeting Mary Ford spoke to the board her concerns regarding disruptive student conduct at the Fillmore Middle School.

Spring 2019 Sports Update for Fillmore High School
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Spring 2019 Sports Update. Fillmore High School Principal, John Wilber presented the information.

Spring 2019 Sports Medicine Report for Fillmore High School
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Spring 2019 Sports Medicine Report. Director of Sports Medicine, Breanna McLain presented the information.

Emergency Action Plan for Athletics 2019-2020
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Emergency Action Plan for Athletics 2019-2020. Director of Sports Medicine, Breanna McLain presented the information.

Local Control and Accountability Plan for 2019-2020 and the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget
The Governing Board approved the Local Control Accountability Plan for 2019-2020 and also approved the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget.

Approve Pre-Qualified Pool of Construction Project Management Firms for Various District Projects
The Governing Board approved a pool of pre-qualified Construction Project Management Firms for current and future Measure V Bond Projects. The following firms met the threshold and are approved:
1. Linik Corp. Builders Management
2. Pacifica Services Inc.
3. SiteLogIQ united with IES
4. TELACU Construction Management

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

Bob Crum

I previously mentioned that my readership is presently 2,397,602. Max Z. wrote to challenge the number. Max, here's the data: 276 readers in the U.K., 830 throughout Europe, seven in Hong Kong, five mermaids, the remaining 2,396,484, including Max, are Fillmore readers!

Also, in my previous column, I mentioned histograms and some got hysterical. Reader Larry A., emailed me telling me that I was rude introducing a technical term without an explanation. OK, I'll explain!

Photography is an art form and a digital image or print is the artistic expression. But a little camera technical know-how helps one create the desired photograph. One great aid is the camera's histogram. While deceptively simple at first glance, a histogram contains a wealth of image information. However, it will not tell you whether or not your composition is compelling or provide the Power Ball winning numbers!

A. Make a photo and chimp the shot. (remember chimping from last week?) B. Push your camera's “Info” button. Voila, the histogram! It quickly tells you the light levels of the exposure in graph form. The histogram plots light (luminosity) levels from black – the left end (wall) of the histogram – to pure white – the right side (wall) of the graph.

A perfect histogram rises gently from the left cresting in the midsection and gradually drops to the right, indicating a full range of tones from C# to B-flat. Oops, I mean luminosity tones. By not hitting either wall, the histogram indicates that there's no loss of detail in shadows or in the highlights. Celebrate! Your exposure is sweet.

A histogram bunched up at the right wall is a high-key image. Spikes at the right wall indicates burned-out (clipped) highlights, i.e., no detail in the highlights. Not good. But note that the sun is so bright that it will spike at the right wall. A histogram hitting the left wall indicates underexposure with blacks clipped, meaning no detail in the shadows. Not good. Mostly. Now revel in your new histogram expertise.

Roger M. wrote insisting that the ISO of 10000 of last week's photo of the week is a typo. It's not! However, he's right to question the number. An ISO that high is almost always unacceptably degraded. Generally speaking, an ISO higher than about 1500 will begin to show noise. Image noise appears as random specks and when excessive, significantly degrades image quality. At 10000, there should be so much digital noise that it should look like it was snowing.

At an ISO of 10000, why isn't there noise apparent in the photo? The secret is deft post-processing (editing). With two computer software programs and and two plugins, I utilize a three-step process to eliminate as much noise (image specks) as possible. But the process requires patience because noise reduction typically decreases image sharpness and tends to dull detail. The process is like a do-si-do dance, a delicate balance of noise reduction while maintaining image detail and contrast. Not always easily accomplished. Get it all right and voila, a magnificent image sans noise.

Even in problematic event light, I can usually maintain a shutter speed sufficient to compensate for camera shake, and hold the aperture at f/8 through f/11 for depth of field and not worry about how high in ISO auto mode it has to go for a proper exposure because I'm can usually salvage the image from excessive noise in post-processing. Keyword: Usually. It doesn't always work.

Photo of the week is steam engine #14 heading for the Santa Clara Valley Railroad Historical Society's turntable during a media photo op. Happy photoing!

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

At last night’s city council meeting William Foley, Director of Ventura County Health Care Agency, spoke concerning the assistance needed to continue operations of Santa Paula Hospital, and its importance to the communities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Piru.

Councilmembers Manuel Minjares and Mark Austin were appointed to serve on the Santa Paula Hospital Steering Committee.

A presentation was given to Council by William Foley, Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) Director, concerning assistance needed to continue operations of the Santa Paula Hospital.

Several Fillmore residents spoke to the Council concerning the importance of the Santa Paula Hospital. The Hospital was said to be running $9 million in the red this past year. It is recognized as a critically important medical facility for Fillmore, Piru, and Santa Paula.

Council approved the award of contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc. for the construction of the Neighborhood Street Resurfacing and Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Repair Spec No. 18-04 as reduced to eliminate slurry seal work by deleting bid item nos. 9 and 10.

City Council amended the existing three-year contract to expire on June 30, 2020, to increase the not-to-exceed amount of $2,460,000 to Willdan Engineering, Inc. for City Engineering Services, as an alternative to the staff recommendation.

Council agreed to receive the proposed addition of the Small Wireless Facility fees to the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services; Conduct a public hearing and obtain public comments concerning the proposed new SWF fees to the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services. After receiving public comments, close the Public Hearing and commence City Council discussions; and Adopt City Council Resolution 19-3723 to approve the new SWF fees to be added to Exhibit E of the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services.

8-E PUBLIC HEARING: RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
TO ADOPT AND APPROVE: 1) INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE, ALLEYWAY
VACATION, LOT MERGER AND LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT, DENSITY BONUS, AND
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 77 AFFORDABLE
WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF MOUNTAIN
VIEW STREET AND HWY 126 AND LAND USE AND 2) CITY-REQUESTED ZONING
RE-DESIGNATIONS FOR ADJACENT PROPERTIES were approved.
8-F The first reading to introduce Ordinance 19-912 amending and adding FMC sections under Chapter 15.25 regarding graffiti enforcement and cost recovery and finding of exemption from CEQA was completed.
8-G City Council approved a request to increase the budget to provide interpretation services at City Council meetings. The increased cost, to the original $4,200, is $3,300.
8-H Council approved Ventura County Animal Services contract.
8-I Council approved the amendment to the contract with Kimley Horn and authorized Mayor Diane McCall to sign this contract.