Rich McKee, President of Californians Aware, is deciding whether to pursue the City of Fillmore for yet another alleged Brown Act violation. On December 3rd McKee presented the city with a letter for Demand for Correction for an alleged violation on the Council’s November 24th agenda concerning “Existing Litigation…Richard P. McKee v. City of Fillmore; Ventura County Superior Court…” No such litigation existed on November 24, 2009, according to McKee. The “pending litigation” referred to McKee’s lawsuit against the city for three previous Brown Act violations. McKee, and his attorney Kelly A. Aviles, contend that the litigation was no longer “pending”, having been settled on November 16, 2009.

In his Demand, McKee sought two remedies at the December 8th council meeting: first, the council was to announce that it violated the Brown Act on November 24, 2009, by agendizing and holding a closed session…when in fact the litigation identified did not exist; and second, disclosure of the entire discussion had in that improperly held closed session.

The City sees it differently. At the December 8th meeting City Attorney CONTINUED »

Sheila Tate

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley is pleased to announce the appointment of volunteer Sheila Tate as the Clubs Interim Chief Professional Officer. Sheila has generously volunteered to take this leadership role, with the goal of leading the Club, with its five Clubhouses and six after-school sites, as it moves forward in this challenging economic environment.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley has three Clubhouses serving Fillmore and Piru, the Neil C. Schmidt Clubhouse in North Fillmore, the Fillmore Clubhouse on First Street and the Rancho Sespe Clubhouse in the Rancho Sespe Apartments on Telegraph Rd., between Fillmore and Piru, the two Clubhouses in Santa Paula include the Las Piedras Clubhouse (sharing space with the Santa Paula Police Storefront on 13th St.) and the Harvard Clubhouse on Harvard Blvd. After-School sites are located at Barbara Webster Elementary, Thelma Bedell, Glen City School, McKevett School Blanchard School and Grace Thille School.

Sheila approached the board with her offer to help as a CONTINUED »

Scott Beylik and Mike Richardson, Fillmore community leaders in agriculture, have been selected to participate in the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), one of the premier agricultural leadership opportunities in the United States. Their class, the 40th selected in the program’s history, was recently inaugurated in Sacramento.

The priorities for CALP are to create leaders who can make change for the long-term viability of California agriculture, are able to engage and positively influence society, and can participate in communication networks that enhance California agriculture. It has been in operation since 1969 and has more than 1,000 alumni, including such leaders as U.S. Reps. Devin Nunes and George Radanovich, Secretary of Food and Agriculture A.G. Kawamura, Secretary for Natural Resources Mike Chrisman, state Sen. Abel Maldonado, Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, and Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam. Graduates are leaders in their communities and in the agriculture industry.

“The way to succeed in life is to know how to change with CONTINUED »

Gil Kohler

Our beloved husband and father Gilbert T. Koehler passed away peacefully at the age of 97, on Wednesday December 2, 2009. He was born in Anaheim, CA on August 17, 1912. He attended Anaheim Union High School, where he was active in drama and athletics and President of his Sophomore and Junior class. He attended Citrus Junior College and USC where he studied freight traffic management. He worked in this field for 38 years. In July 1937 he married Cleo Woodbury. They had two children Gilbert Jr. and Marcia.

Gil was Master of Anaheim Lodge 207, F&AM in 1954. In 1960 he and his wife move to South Lake Tahoe where he was the Terminal Manager for Western Gillette Truck Lines. Gil was active in that community and was instrumental in forming a Men’s Golf Club, where he served as President. He also served as Commodore of a Boat Club and was President of the Kiwanis Club.

Moving back to Anaheim in 1969, he continued his work in CONTINUED »

Fillmore City attorney Ted Schneider conducted a 90-minute Brown Act Workshop Tuesday night, instructing Council in the essentials of the law. The Workshop was part of the lawsuit settlement brought by Rich McKee, seated left with his attorney Kelly Aviles.
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Tuesday night’s City Council meeting was dominated by a 90 minute Brown Act Workshop, conducted by city attorney Theodore Schneider, in response to a lawsuit settlement brought by Rich McKee, of Californians Aware, for three times violating the Brown Act in August. The suit settled with the city admitting the council’s “errors”, a 2-hour Brown Act retraining, and payment of McKee’s attorney fees in the amount of $6,000. The matter was filed with the court by the City Attorney’s Office on November 16, 2009.

On December 3, 2009 McKee sent a Brown Act Demand for Correction to the Fillmore City Council regarding an item on the November 24, 2009 Agenda concerning “Existing Litigation…Richard P McKee v. City of Fillmore; Ventura County Superior Court...” The same description remained when an amended agenda was posted on November 20, 2009. No such litigation existed on November 24, 2009. In his Demand, McKee sought two remedies at the December 8th council meeting: first, the council was to announce that it violated the Brown Act on November 24, 2009, by agendizing and holding a closed session pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(a) – Existing Litigation, when in fact the litigation identified did not exist; and second, disclosure of the entire discussion had in that improperly held closed session.

Kicking off the council meeting, Schneider announced CONTINUED »

By Carole Power
The Board of Directors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley got a special reminder Thursday, December 3rd, of just why they work so hard to keep the Club open. Las Piedras site director Maricela Juarez wrote the following in an email that was forwarded to each Board member. “We have set up a coin jar in our club labeled "Every cent makes a difference" to raise funds in order to help keep the Boys & Girls Club open. With the recent events involving the Club, staff and Club members have been brain storming ideas to help keep the doors open... Club members have taken to heart the words "EVERY CENT makes a difference" and have collected every spare penny as a way to contribute to THEIR club. As Club Member Giovanni Vargas “Be Happy and smile, the Club is open!"

What a heartwarming, and at the same time disheartening story. It is heartwarming to learn that the Club’s kids are concerned enough that ‘their’ place was in jeopardy and they want to do what they can to help, and disheartening that these precious young people have to be concerned about the finances of their “Positive Place for Kids.” It is unfortunate that the Club’s situation had to come to these children’s attention, but they rallied and are doing what they can.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley provide CONTINUED »

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Last Thursday, December 3rd, at the 200 block of Blaine Ave. - Citizens called 911 and reported 3 male juveniles moving about the yard of a vacant residence. The suspects fled on foot when deputies arrived. 18 year old Rudy Mora was found hiding in the garage of a neighboring residence and 24 year old Albert Dominguez was found on a nearby street. Although a crime could not be established regarding the originally reported circumstances, Mora was arrested for illegally entering the garage in which he was found. Dominguez was arrested for 11550 H&S (drug influence), 11364 H&S (drug equipment) 12020 P.C. Felony weapons-Brass knuckles, and an outstanding felony warrant for parole violation.

Newbury Park Bank Robbery Suspect Photo #2
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Newbury Park Bank Robbery Suspect Photo #3
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Location: 541 S. Reino Road, Newbury Park, CA, 91320.
Date & Time/R.B.#: December 5, 2009 @ 2:35 p.m. / 09-29876
Unit Responsible: East County Sheriff’s Major Crimes / Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age-----------------------
(S) White Male Unknown Late 50’s to early 60’s

The suspect robbed a branch of US Bank located inside an Albertson’s Market on South Reino Road on Saturday afternoon. No employees or customers were injured during the robbery. The suspect fled the bank within minutes carrying an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen, but the suspect alluded to being armed.

The investigation is being handled by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes unit in conjunction with the FBI. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Jon Smith at (805) 494-8201, or Special Agent Pat Conley of the FBI at (310) 629-9553. See the attached three images of the suspect that were retrieved from the bank’s surveillance cameras.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). The FBI is also offering a one-time reward under the same conditions.