 On Friday, September 20th Fillmore Rotary and Soroptimist International of Fillmore hosted International Peace Day at Fillmore’s City Park. This year they honored FHS student Hanna Fairall, who was award Peacemaker of the Year. Pictured left to right: Cathy Krushell, president of Soroptimist International of Fillmore, Hannah Fairall, Peacemaker Award recipient, Richelle Piechowski, assistant principal of Fillmore High School, Katharine McDowell, Peace Chair for Rotary Club of Fillmore and Soroptimist International of Fillmore, and Ari Larson, president of Rotary Club of Fillmore and District Director 1 for Soroptimist Camino Real Region. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
Rotary Club of Fillmore and Soroptimist International of Fillmore collaborated to celebrate International Day of Peace on Friday, September 20th, 2019 at the City Park in Fillmore. A Peacemaker award was presented to a student at Fillmore High School who exemplified the spirit of peace and giving. The honoree was Hannah Fairall. She was selected by FHS principal John Wilber and staff. The award was presented to Hannah by FHS assistant principal Richelle Piechowski. The history of the peace crane was read and a meditation was led by Renee Swenson of ReGen Haus Yoga. Every attendee received an origami peace crane as a symbol of being mindful of striving for peace in the community. Katharine McDowell, Peace Chair for both Rotary Club of Fillmore and Soroptimist International of Fillmore thanked the guests for attending and invited the group to a small reception at ReGen Haus Yoga. A special thank you to Roan Mills Bakery. If you are interested in learning more about Rotary Club of Fillmore or Soroptimist International of Fillmore contact Ari Larson 805.794.7590 or petenari55@hotmail.com |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
 The KB Homes Citrus Grove Development located behind the Vons Shopping Center on River Street seems to be making some progress. In the past few weeks at least two 3-story condo units are nearly complete, and workers seem nearly ready to add the roofs. These are just two of the 104 units set to be built on the property, to house 375 residences. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
 Last Thursday, September 26th at 6:30 p.m., crowds of people lined up down Central Avenue as the Fillmore Alumni Association hosted their annual Blue & White Night and Fillmore High School’s 2019 Homecoming Parade. Pictured above is the Fillmore High Mascot the “Flashman”, as he rides in on his horse waving to the crowd, getting them pumped up for Friday night’s game against Carpinteria. Photos courtesy Mark Ortega of FHS Alumni President. Enlarge Photo  The FHS Homecoming Parade took place and as tradition would have it the students from each class created a float to represent their class. This year’s theme was “Flash Through the Decades.” Pictured above is the Senior Class float which reads “The Fabulous 50’s.” Photo courtesy Mark Ortega, FHS Alumni President. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
Saturday, October 5th is Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Appointments are required; call 805-658-4323 to make your appointment! Fillmore Residents and small business owners can drop off hazardous waste materials that are not accepted in general trash/recycling bins. Drop off location is at Fillmore’s Public Works Department yard at the Corner of A Street and Landeros Lane (Sespe Ave). Accepting waste and oil based paints, electronics, pool and photo chemicals, cleaning solvents, batteries of all kinds, etc. See photo for list of items NOT being accepted. This is FREE for Fillmore residents; you will be required to show valid ID and a copy of a bill demonstrating your household address proving validity of Fillmore residency such as a trash bill, water bill, etc. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
October 31st Trunk or Treat – Downtown Fillmore (Central Avenue between Sespe Ave & Main Street!) 5pm-8pm FREE trick or treating fun on Halloween night in Fillmore! Come dressed in your best costumes to show off & show out this Hollow’s Eve & vote on your most favorite decorated trunk at the event! Free family fun. If interested in being a registered “trunk” to decorate your car/tent & hand out treats or host games for the trick-or treaters, call 805-524-1500 ext 713 or email recreation@fillmoreca.goc for more info! FB event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2508489405904461/ |
 Photo of the Week "Bee to flower – permission to land!" by Bob Crum. Photo data: Canon XSi, Canon 35-250mm lens @229 mm; Exposure, ISO 400, aperture f/5.6, shutter speed 1/2000 of a second. Enlarge Photo By Bob Crum — Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019
A Bee, a Bully & a PhotoWalk
 Bob Crum A friend who took up residency in Truckee was visiting relatives in Ventura. Accordingly, he called to say that he'd like us to meet to catch up on happenings. Sure, why not? Camera in hand, I departed expecting an enjoyable reunion with a friend I haven't seen in a few years. I should have camouflaged my camera. Don't we all know that parking at the Ventura Harbor Village is about like finding a parking space on Central Avenue between Sespe and Main Street? After touring the parking lot for an hour - actually only about 15 minutes which seems like an hour due to the monotonous activity of seeking a parking space - alas, a vehicle leaving. Parked and camera in hand, I departed for the rendezvous. I no sooner walked 30 feet towards the Village when a couple approached, and the lady spoke. "We just got engaged, and we see that you have a camera and would like you to take our photo." OK, I said, but why would I want to take a photo of two strangers? I should have thought it through before speaking. Her fiancée, all six-foot-two of him, said: "JUST TAKE OUR PHOTO!" he commanded, as he put his arm around his lady and smiled. OK, if you insist. As I moved back a few steps, a car came along, the perfect escape shield. I backed up further to let the car get between me and the couple. Ducking low alongside the car, I asked the driver to drive slowly, explaining that I needed to hide from a zany couple. When I felt I was far enough along, I darted between the cars in the parking lot making a beeline for the Village. Escape accomplished! After greeting my photography friend, we moseyed over to the Coastal Cone ice cream parlor where I warned him: Don't engage me in conversation with an Oreo tsunami shake in my hand. After enjoying the subsequent conversation, he said, "glad to see that you brought your camera. I'm job hunting and need a good headshot." Good grief. Anyone who has been to the VH Village knows it's not a place for portraits. I took him across the street where by standing on top of a dune, I could use the sky and fluffy clouds as a backdrop. In my previous column, I announced that I'm leading a Fillmore PhotoWalk in conjunction with KelbyOne. KelbyOne produces an annual PhotoWalk on the first Saturday of October each year. Photographers and photography enthusiasts around the world meet at a designated location in their town to walk around and take photographs, socialize and make new friends. I signed up to lead a photo walk here in Fillmore. Go to the website: https://worldwidephotowalk.com/locations/ and in the box: "Find Location," type Fillmore and sign up. To date, no one has signed up. What's up with that, Fillmore? Where are all the photographers? Though not a workshop, it's a great opportunity for phonetography novices. PhotoWalk happens on October 5, 2019. Meet at 5 p.m. at the fountain in city hall park. I scheduled it for late afternoon to miss harsh midday light. Photographing is permissible in any area within walking distance of city hall. At 7 p.m., we'll rejoin at Central Station for a review of the experience. Besides signing up at the KelbyOne website, send me an email telling me that you'll be participating. Yes, phonetographers are welcome! Photo of the week: Honeybee to flower - here I come! Ah, the joys of photography! And honey! Send comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotograhy@earthlink.net |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, October 1st, 2019
Fillmore educators and community will picket school board meeting over lagging salaries, benefits, and harm to teacher retention in the district.
Fillmore Unified Teachers Association October 1, 2019 1930 Outlet Center Drive Oxnard, CA 93036 Contact: FUTA President Tammy Ferguson (805) 279-1214 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fillmore Teachers, Community to Picket Board Meeting Tonight Over Inadequate Contract Offers Teacher Recruitment and Retention Remain Issues as Educators Urge District to Put Students and Educators First Fillmore—Members of the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association along with parents and the community are planning to picket at the FUSD School Board Meeting this evening, Tuesday, October 1st. Speeches at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. will urge the school board to finally listen and give teachers a fair and equitable salary increase. The mediocre raise the District has proposed doesn’t even cover the loss of health benefit compensation from last year, let alone this year. The display of unity and community support shows educators are standing up to a school board that has given the Superintendent, administrators, and other employees $11,161 more in health benefit compensation than teachers. “We have been asking parents and community members to call school board members in support of better health benefits and compensation,” said FUTA president Tammy Ferguson. “FUSD’s salary proposal is simply not enough to keep up with the cost of living and to keep our teachers healthy.” The school district’s failure to respect the value of its staff has caused substantial staff turnover and left still unfilled teaching vacancies in important areas such as math and special education for this current school year. Fillmore teachers overwhelmingly voted down a mediated settlement earlier last month. WHAT: Fillmore educators and community will picket school board meeting over lagging salaries, benefits, and harm to teacher retention in the district. WHEN: Tuesday, October 1 at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. WHERE: 627 Sespe Ave, Fillmore The Fillmore Unified Teachers Association is affiliated with the 310,000-member CTA and the 3-million-member National Education Association. |
 On Wednesday, September 18th at 4 p.m. a crash occurred off of Highway 126 and Los Serenos Drive in Fillmore. Two male youths are accused of stealing a Fillmore Building Supply utility truck, then driving it into a ditch. There was evidence of alcohol. The two fled the scene; no injuries were reported. Police are looking for help identifying the suspects. Enlarge Photo By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
Stolen Utility Truck Found in Ditch
The Fillmore Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying two male suspects who stole a truck before crashing and fleeing on foot. On September 18th, 2019, at approximately 5:55 PM, a business owner in the 400 block of Main Street saw two male suspects driving off in his truck that had been parked by his business. The male suspect driving the truck lost control and collided into a vehicle parked nearby the victim’s business. The suspects continued driving the stolen truck through the city of Fillmore until the suspect driving lost control again and crashed into a drainage culvert in the 200 block of Los Serenos Drive. The two male suspects fled the disabled stolen truck into the surrounding residential neighborhood prior to the responding deputies’ arrival. An approximate two-hour extensive search was conducted, using multiple sheriff resources to locate the two suspects, with negative results. Fillmore Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the two suspects involved in this crime. [Editor's note: Two videos of the suspects are available on The Gazette's YouTube page located here https://youtu.be/MrQkSYrfnLI and here https://youtu.be/gPep4_m82fU. Anyone with information about these suspects are asked to contact Detective Bill Meixner at (805) 947-9391 or at the following email address: william.meixner@ventura.org. 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). Nature of Incident: Request for Public Assistance to Identify Vehicle Theft and Hit-and-Run Suspects |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
 Captain Garo Kuredjian. The city of Fillmore has selected Captain Garo Kuredjian as its next police chief. Kuredjian has been selected to replace outgoing chief Captain Eric Tennessen, after the announcement of his upcoming promotion to commander. Garo is a 25-year veteran of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he has worked patrol and custody, and has an extensive background in investigations which include assignments in the city of Thousand Oaks and Moorpark, as well as Internal Affairs. As a captain, Garo worked as a patrol watch commander, and he served as the Sheriff’s adjutant and public information officer. Most recently, he managed facility operations at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura. Garo brings a diverse background to his new position, including a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University at Northridge. He lives in Simi Valley with his family. Nature of Incident: City of Fillmore Selects New Police Chief |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
 Leonard Lopez, 48, of Fillmore On 09/07/2019, a female inmate disclosed to a jail staff member that she had been sexually assaulted by a deputy while she was housed at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility (PTDF). An investigation was immediately launched which identified Deputy Leonard Lopez as the potential suspect in this crime. Further investigation determined that Lopez entered the victim’s cell during the early morning hours of 09/06/2019 and touched the victim’s intimate body parts over her clothing. The crime was established by statements and video surveillance evidence. The victim had been housed in a segregated area of the facility, away from other general population inmates, and Lopez had been assigned to work as a security deputy in that specific area. PTDF management removed Lopez from this area immediately upon learning he had been named as a potential suspect. As the investigation identified inappropriate behavior, Sheriff’s management removed Lopez from active duty as a peace officer by placing him on administrative leave pending further investigation. On 09/22/2019, Lopez was arrested for one felony violation of Penal Code section 243.4(a) PC - Sexual Battery. He was booked into the jail and later released on $20,000.00 bail. Lopez is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on 10/08/2019. Nature of Incident: Deputy Arrested for Sexual Assault of an Inmate |