Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 7, 2020, detectives with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and Fillmore Patrol Station concluded a narcotics sales investigation and arrested three Fillmore residents for various narcotics and firearms violations.

During the month of March 2020, detectives began an investigation involving Cary Roberts who was suspected of selling narcotics to residents in Ventura County. Detectives conducted surveillance and were able to gather enough evidence of Roberts’ involvement in methamphetamine sales. Based on the investigation, detectives were able to obtain search warrants for Roberts’ residence located in the 700 Block of 4th Street in Fillmore and a business associated to him located in the 700 Block of Santa Maria Street in Santa Paula.

On April 7, 2020, detectives executed search warrants at both locations associated with Roberts. Detectives contacted and arrested Roberts at his residence in Fillmore. While at the residence, detectives also contacted Billy Howard and Dana Baysinger. Both Howard and Baysinger reside at the residence and were arrested for misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, respectively. Detectives searched the residence and found methamphetamine, money, scales and packaging consistent with narcotics sales.

During a search of Roberts’ business, detectives located additional methamphetamine, a loaded firearm, ammunition and illegally possessed prescription medication. In all, detectives seized approximately 383 grams of methamphetamine and over 2,700 Oxycodone pills. Roberts’ past criminal history prohibit him from owning and or possessing any firearms or ammunition. Roberts and Howard were both subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for a variety of charges. Baysinger was cited and released for misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

Prescription medications are contributors to both fatal and non-fatal overdoses taking place in Ventura County. The Narcotics Unit is committed to aggressively target narcotics sales and help combat opiate overdoses in Ventura County through aggressive narcotic enforcement.

Nature of Incident: Narcotics and Firearm Arrest
Report Number: 20-48357
Location: 700 Block of 4th Street, City of Fillmore 700 Block of Santa Maria Street, City of Santa Paula
Date & Time: April 7, 2020 @ 4:20 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Narcotics Street Team Sheriff’s Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit City of Fillmore Patrol Station
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age (S)
Cary Roberts (S) Fillmore 50
Billy Howard (S) Fillmore 59
Dana Baysinger Fillmore 49
Prepared by: Sergeant Eduardo Malagon
Approved by: Captain Brian Slominski

Last week the FHS Alumni Board of Directors held an emergency meeting where they made the difficult decision to cancel the June 13th 2020 Alumni Dinner, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic outbreak. Without a vaccine, they are very uncomfortable bringing together a large group of people in a confined area. They will be reaching out to everyone who has prepaid for this year’s dinner and inform them of their refund options. That will probably take place within the next two to three weeks. Thank you for understanding, and continued support of the FHS Scholarship Foundation. Pictured are this year’s scholarship recipients.

Mark Ortega ’79, FHS Alumni President

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are in the midst of difficult and unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has brought worry, uncertainty and has totally disrupted life as we knew it. The one thing that hasn’t changed is our Mission at The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. Our Mission is “To enable young people, especially those who need us the most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” Our youth are the most vulnerable and even though they cannot physically be with us each day, we have not stopped planning for them.

Our Site Directors have been using our green screen technology and creating virtual instructional and informational videos and posting them on various social media platforms for our youth. They are awesome videos and we are proud of our staff for the quality of these short presentations. Our Site Directors are now working diligently on summer programs, and know they must insert an academic curriculum that will deliver a direct impact on our youth. This will to help close the gap of the learning loss from the closure of school this Spring. We want our youth to go back to school in the Fall with resources and skills to help them achieve success.

We are asking for your support and partnership. We have had to cancel or postpone fundraising events greatly reducing one of our key revenue streams. We are asking for more individual donor partnerships at this time. Thank you for your consideration and for investing in the young people of the Santa Clara Valley.

We can hardly wait to open our doors and see our youth again!

Please Donate Now

Thank you for your continuous support!

Sincerely,
Jan Marholin, CEO
Pearl Galvan, Director of Operations
Helen McGrath, Board President

Bob Crum

The call came at 2:30 PM one day last August. No sooner had I uttered howdy when Johnny G. blurted, "I'm ready." I was not surprised. It began when Johnny tagged along with me to the Ventura Harbor. A photographer friend, Arnold, commissioned to shoot a commercial project at the Harbor, was coming up from San Diego. I was delighted for the opportunity to reconnect with Arnold, a friend I miss. He was a great excuse to visit Ojai, his previous homestead.

Arnold's photoshoot involved a commercial fishing boat recently refurbished in a nearby boatyard. The company, proud of its workmanship, and the happy captain, needed photos for a new company brochure touting the company's staff and competency. We left Arnold to do his work. Back in the Village, my photoshoot began. As in any harbor replete with ships of all stripes, it's a treasure chest of photo ops to shoot. Selectivity becomes key. Some subjects are naturally photogenic, while others are just interesting. And of course, all manner of wildlife has to be photographed-it's a law-so to speak.

As we were walking along, I was photoing several subjects. Not so much for Johnny. Curious, I asked why he was taking so few photos? Let's get a drink he suggested. With two tall glasses of refreshing ice tea before us, Johnny began his tale of woe.

"I notice that you take an inordinate amount of time composing a photo. I also notice that you also take several photos of the same subject using various exposures. And you vary the format, some vertical and some horizontal photos. All of which makes my iPhone inadequate. I frame the subject I'm shooting, push the button and done. It doesn't feel like I even took a photo." I empathized but Johnny did capture some interesting photos.

As Johnny spoke in a subdued monotone voice, I empathized. As our discussion continued, I also learned that Johnny was developing a better understanding of photography as a creative exercise. He also began to realize that phonetography did not scratch his creative itch. The kind of creativity he saw me exercising during our walk. The phone call announcing that Johnny was 'ready' meant that he was ready to buy a camera.

I suggested Johnny first outline and define his photographic intentions and desires. When finished, distill it further to its essence. The distilled list will help determine the best system to consider.

It was immediately apparent that he needed more than a point and shoot. Briefly considered were all-in-one bridge cameras with dSLR's ergonomics, a superzoom lens and compact convenience. Furthermore, bridge cameras sell at bargain prices. But without the ability to change lenses, this didn't fulfill Johnny's needs either. Johnny was ready for a prosumer dSLR camera. With the category defined, he could concentrate on specifics: brand, model and price.

Update. Johnny understood that one does not just buy a dSLR camera - you buy into a system: lenses and a host of accessories. Canon was his decision. No arm twisting on my part. Due in stores soon, he pre-ordered a Canon EOS Rebel T8i. He also bought a Tamron 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD MACRO, but not because it's my favorite lens. Johnny made his decisions without any persuasion on my part. Seriously!

From the archives, the photo of the week is one I made at the Ventura Harbor during the photo walk described above. Pay especial attention to the tower on the building on the left. It plays a "star" role next. Happy photoing!

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

Fillmore Unified School District

There are meal bags available for students on Wednesday, April 15th, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, at Mountain Vista only. Supplies are limited and all meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please bring your FUSD meal service post cards.

Distribución adicional de alimentos el miércoles 15 de abril
Hay bolsas de comida disponibles para los estudiantes el miércoles 15 de abril, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, solo en la escuela Mountain Vista. Las bolsas de comida son limitadas y todas las comidas se distribuirán por orden de llegada.
Por favor, traiga sus tarjetas postales de servicio de comidas del Distrito escolar unificado de Fillmore.

Fillmore Unified School District

A revised meal service plan will go into effect starting on Monday, April 13.

FUSD Students will be prioritized by using Student ID number/bar code on post cards that have been mailed to Fillmore student homes for meal distribution. Post cards for students living in Piru will be available for pick-up at the food distribution sites.

Please bring this card with you each week to one of our 3 sites: Fillmore Middle School, Mountain Vista Elementary School, and Piru Boys and Girls Club Parking Lot from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. every Monday starting on April 13.

· One weekly meal bag will be provided per student ID Number/Bar Code; meal bags cannot be obtained at any other location. Staple items are based on availability. Supplies are limited and all meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

· Children without a student ID Number/Bar Code will be served after those with an ID Number/Bar Code if meals are still available. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required. For more information, please call Child Nutrition Services at 805-524-6164.

***

Un cambio de plan de servicio de comidas entrará en efecto a partir del lunes 13 de abril.

Los estudiantes de FUSD serán priorizados usando el número de identificación del estudiante / código de barra en las tarjetas postales que se han enviado por correo a los hogares de estudiantes de Fillmore para la distribución de comida. Las tarjetas postales para los estudiantes que viven en Piru estarán disponibles para recoger en los sitios de distribución de comida.

Por favor traiga esta tarjeta con usted cada semana a uno de nuestros 3 sitios: Fillmore Middle School, Mountain Vista Elementary School, y el estacionamiento de Piru Boys and Girls Club de 11:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. todos los lunes a partir del 13 de abril.

· Se proporcionará una bolsa de comida semanal por número de identificación del estudiante/código de barras; bolsas de comida no se pueden obtener en cualquier otro lugar. Las provisiones son limitadas y todas las comidas se distribuirán en el orden de llegada.

· Los niños sin un número de identificación de estudiante/código de barra serán servidos después de aquellos con un número de identificación/código de barra si las comidas todavía están disponibles. No se requiere identificación o prueba de inscripción escolar. Para obtener más información, llame a Servicios de Nutrición Infantil al 805-524-6164.

Ventura County Public Health Officer changes position on face masks, no longer advising against wearing them in public. Instead, he supports those residents who wish to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel to doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits. The face coverings should not be hospital grade at this time because there is a shortage and our health professionals need them. Masks should be homemade and cover the nose and mouth. There are numerous sites online which demonstrate or give patterns for how to make fabric masks. The Camarillo Sewing Brigade provides video instruction at the following link. Additional instruction at the following link. Fabric masks can be washed and used again.

For decades, Public Health officials nationwide and locally have said that wearing a mask for protection against the flu is unnecessary for the general public. Now, Ventura County Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin says circumstances have changed. “There is growing evidence that people can have COVID-19 without any symptoms and that they can pass it to others at this stage. Many people wear masks thinking it will protect them from a virus, and in certain cases it may. That may also be true for COVID-19 especially if accompanied by good hand hygiene and social distancing, but now there may be a better reason to wear a mask; it will decrease the chance of you spreading it to someone else if you have the infection asymptomatically.”

This is particularly important if decreasing spread means not infecting a senior or someone with other chronic conditions. “In light of building evidence, I support those who wish to wear a mask in public. I don’t think everyone must do so, but I look upon those who do as making a responsible decision. I never thought I’d say that.” It is imperative though, that the use of masks by members of the public not contribute to the shortage of personal protective equipment needed by first responders like health care workers. If someone chooses to wear a mask in public, it should be home made, at least until there is no more shortage. “I’m not ready to wear a mask yet but I will respect those who do. It’s going to be hard for me to not start wearing one,” said Doctor Levin. “Covering your face doesn’t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing, but it’s an extra layer of protection that I think is reasonable to add.”

The rationale for covering one’s face comes from the belief that transmission occurs primarily through droplets from an infected individual, which fabrics may filter. This not only helps to reduce the risk a well person can breathe those droplets in, but also protects others around someone with mild or no symptoms who may not yet realize they have the COVID-19 infection. Face coverings may be worn anytime a person is outside of their home, even in offices of essential businesses.

“We must work together to stop the spread and save lives in our County,” said Doctor Levin. “That means that flattening the curve may benefit from another layer of protection against the virus. Consider the additional step to cover your face.” Health officials continue to stress that frequent hand washing, social distancing and staying home are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Stay in your place, maintain your space and cover your face.