Henry Mata, 67, Fillmore.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Henry Mata (DOB 6/13/51), of Fillmore, was convicted of molesting four children under the age of 14. Specifically, Mata was convicted of one count of oral copulation on a minor under age 10, one count of digital penetration on a child under age 10, seven counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14, five counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child under age 14, and one count of annoying or molesting a child. Additionally, the jury found true a special allegation that Mata committed lewd acts involving substantial sexual conduct upon multiple victims.

In April 2016, the first of four victims came forward to Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives stating Mata committed numerous lewd acts upon her in his Fillmore home when she was eight years old. After investigating, detectives arrested Mata and the District Attorney’s Office filed formal charges. Shortly thereafter, three additional victims came forward with information that Mata molested them numerous times between 2004 and 2014 while they were between the ages of 6 and 12. Two additional uncharged victims testified at trial that Mata committed lewd acts upon them while living in Santa Paula in the 1980s when they were between the ages of seven and ten years old. All victims were related to Mata.

Sentencing for Mata is scheduled May 15, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 23 of the Ventura Superior Court, County of Ventura. Mata faces a maximum possible sentence of over 300 years to life in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

City of Fillmore

Fire Chief Keith Gurrola spoke to the Council concerning fire prevention measures and trash removal. He cautioned about the heavier than normal weed growth expected following this year’s exceptional rainfall. Chipper Day was announced for May 4 when the City will pick up hazardous materials, including palm fronds. Strong efforts should be made to clean-up fire-hazard growths before July 4.

City Council approved the adoption of Ordinance 19-908 to add Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 11.13 to regulate Small Cell Wireless Facilities (SWF) in the public right-of-way, and determine the project is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.

TOWNE THEATRE
Staff has recommended that the City Council/Successor Agency Board authorize staff solicit offers from private parties to purchase the Towne Theatre. Council chose to wait until all Council members were present before making a decision on this matter.

8-C.
Staff’s recommendation that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 19-3698 declaring its intention to levy the annual assessment, approve the preliminary Annual Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2019/20, and set a Public Hearing for May 14, 2019 to receive public comments on the proposal to increase the assessments, was approved.

HOSPICE
8-G. Staff’s request that the City Council approve a new real property agreement for the use of the Store Front located at 642 Lemon Way by Santa Clara Valley Hospice was approved.

The Packinghouse Creative (341 A Street Fillmore) will be one of two Fillmore locations featured on the 34th Annual Barn Tour on Saturday April 27, 2019. Packinghouse Creative founder, David Storrs, likes to think outside the box. He came to Fillmore and fell in love with the town about five years ago. He purchased the one-time orange packinghouse facility and converted it into a creative space for luthiers and other skilled artisans. A portion of the 8,000 square foot facility currently houses an array of private collection items celebrating Americana culture. Unique vintage items include cars, hundreds of antiques, movie props, old signs, and full-size vignettes of days gone by. The facility is seldom open to the public. The other four locations on the Barn Tour include: The Bunny Hill Farm (2206 Grand Ave. Fillmore); The Agriculture Museum (c. 1888) (926 Railroad Ave. Santa Paula); Ranch Rodoro (c. 1870) (14732 W. Telegraph Rd. Santa Paula); and The Fig Tree Farm (c. 1919) (1372 1W. Telegraph Rd. Santa Paula). Tickets are $25 per person and include lunch (12 and under are $5 per person). Hours are 10am-3pm. The event will benefit the Santa Clara Valley Hospice/The Home Support Group Inc. To purchase tickets in advance please call 805.330.0093, or visit the Sana Clara Valley Hospice/The Home Support Group Inc. at 217 10th St., Santa Paula. Tickets will also be sold on the day of the event at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. Hospice is pleased to announce that they will be better serving the Fillmore and Piru communities when they open their satellite office in Fillmore. The grand opening is scheduled for May 15, 2019.

Submitted By Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola

Annual notices to abatement hazardous weeds and brush are being mailed out this week and next by the Fillmore Fire Department. The last date to remove the weeds is June 1st but the Fire Department encourages everyone to have their weeds removed as soon as possible due to the dry conditions that have persisted this past month. Heavy rainfall this last winter has contributed to a bumper crop of weeds throughout the region; some properties in the city have had weeds grow as tall as shoulder high. When clearing dry brush and weeds take precautions to ensure accidental fires are not started by hot exhaust from weed eaters and lawn mowers. The Fire Department suggests that weed clearing occur in the mornings when humidity's are higher and temperatures are cooler. Dead wood from trees and brush should be removed. Dead palm fronds are also encouraged to be removed. To help facilitate early hazardous weed and brush removal, the City with help from Harrison Industries and the local Fire Safe Council, is hosting a free "Yard Waste Disposal Day" on May 4 (see announcement in the Gazette). There will also be a Weed Abatement Question and Answer session on Tuesday April 30 from 5 - 7 PM on the steps of City Hall. Fire Department personnel will be available to answer questions in both English and Spanish.

Submitted by Fillmore Historical Museum

Prior to 1887, Royce Surdam and Thomas Bard were developing the property south of the Santa Clara River. The development included lots for a church, school, college, stores and, of course, a post office. Royce Surdam was appointed the first postmaster in May, 1887, and it was probably located in the store he built in Bardsdale. However, by then, the Southern Pacific Railroad had laid track on the north side of the river. Surdam would come to the depot, pick up the mail sack and return to Bardsdale. Often he would have to return with mail for the few residents in Fillmore in his coat pocket. It is believed that the Bardsdale post office remained in the Surdam store when James R. McKee became postmaster in February, 1891, and when Mrs. Elizabeth “Grandma” Chadsey took the post in December, 1891.

This little building may have been built by William Dorman sometime between 1887 and 1897 and, according to Harold Dorman his son, was located somewhere between the Bardsdale church and Owen St. It certainly was ready for business when Mr. Dorman was appointed postmaster in December 1897. Mail was stacked neatly on a table and given out from there. The building remained in use through several more postmasters including George Cutler, George Hoagland, Nathan Huff and Amanda Sherrard until 1906 when it was discontinued and mail was distributed through the Fillmore post office.

Over the years, the little building was moved several times and served as a storage shed, wood shed, garage, and chicken coop finally ending up on the corner of Bardsdale and Sespe Avenues. In 1988, Harold Dorman, founder of the Fillmore Historical Society, approached the owners of the building, Don and Jesse Wileman, who donated the building to the Fillmore Historical Museum. Mr. Dorman provided the funds to move and restored the building. The little post office now stands on the grounds of the Fillmore Historical Museum due to the efforts of Harold Dorman.

The Bardsdale post office and all the buildings at the Fillmore Historical Museum will be open this weekend, April 27th and 28th for Railfest.

Bob Crum

Gene is a photography friend whose company I missed since he moved to Portland, OR. While in Santa Barbara for a client shoot, we got together for lunch to catch up on our respective photographic activities.

Previously a photojournalist, he's now primarily a commercial photographer who was a Nikon shooter. (Notice past tense.) Like all of us steeped in photography, over time we buy a lot of gear - cameras, lenses, flash units, batteries, remote triggers, etc. Gene calculated that he bought about $7,200 worth of photographic stuff.

Because we have so much money invested in our gear, it's catastrophic to switch brands on a whim. Selling all of our existing equipment, no matter how good it may be, results in a substantial financial hit. This is what keeps most of us locked into our gear status quo.

On a recent shoot, Gene found his gear lacking. There is the first sign it's time to reevaluate. His cameras are five years ancient. In today's world of continually evolving camera technology, five years is a very long time. My Canon 7DMKII is approaching four years of age; my older 7D is almost nine years old. But even my ancient 7D still works like new! Same with my 7DMKII. But older gear lacks the advantages of technically advanced cameras.

He determined it was time to look for a new system. Not an easy task considering the various physical formats, i.e., dSLR, mirrorless ILCs, full frame, APS-C, and micro-four-thirds sensors. Regarding cameras, so many advancements including improved autofocus, enhanced camera stabilization, increased dynamic range, better noise reduction at high ISO, and a variety of resolution options from 16MP to 50MP make gear purchase decisions challenging.

Another photography friend who shoots air shows sold all his Canon gear last year and bought into the Sony system. (Remember, you don't just buy a camera, you buy a system: camera, lenses, accessories, etc.) At last years Wings over Camarillo air show he did everything short of threatening me with a charging rhinoceros to do likewise. Didn't work. Perhaps if he had employed a mermaid to do the persuading, I might now be shooting with a Sony camera.

There are many camera brands and models all with different attributes. Selecting the right one is easier by first defining the primary use. Also essential to review the lens options for a given camera. Excepting point-and-shoot cameras, lenses are a vitally important component. In Gene's case, commercial photography is primary, but he also shoots sports events. Those two genres require different technological requirements challenging to reconcile. Ultimately he bought the recently introduced Olympus OM-D E M1X which, based on specifications, met his needs best. Surprised? I'm not.

Again, be sure to highlight May 1-5, dates of Fillmore's first and exciting Art & Photography exhibition in the city hall council chamber. It's free to attend. Twenty-one great hometown artists are exhibiting over 50 beautiful works of art of various genres. Meet & chat with the artists at the reception Friday, 5/3, 5-7 pm.

Exhibit hours: 5/1 & 5/2, 10 am to 5 pm; 5/3, noon to 7 pm; 5/4, noon to 5 pm and 5/5, noon to 4 pm.

Attend and vote. The People's Choice ballot is on the back of the entry ticket. Tickets available at several Fillmore stores and the exhibition. Submit your ballot by 3 pm Sunday 5/5/19 for a $100.00 drawing.
Photo of the week: Another photo of the ever so delightful California poppies. Happy photoing.

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

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that an infant from Orange County has died from pertussis, better known as whooping cough. This is the first confirmed infant death from the disease since 2018.

CDPH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that expectant mothers receive the whooping cough booster shot (also called Tdap, or tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine) at the earliest opportunity between 27 and 36 weeks of every pregnancy, even if previously immunized. Getting immunized during pregnancy boosts the mother, who then passes some of her protective antibodies on to the fetus. This helps protect newborns until they are old enough to begin receiving their own whooping cough immunizations at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

“To give babies the best protection, I urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated against whooping cough as early as possible during the third trimester of every pregnancy,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “The best way to prevent whooping cough is by getting vaccinated.”

The symptoms of whooping cough vary by age. For children, whooping cough typically starts with a runny nose and cough for one to two weeks. The cough then worsens and often results in rapid coughing spells that end with a whooping sound. Young infants may not have typical whooping cough symptoms and may have no apparent cough. Parents may describe episodes in which breathing briefly stops and the infant’s face turns red or purple. For adults, whooping cough may be a cough illness that lasts for several weeks.

Most health plans cover Tdap immunizations, and many pharmacies offer it. Medi-Cal members may be able to get their Tdap shots at the pharmacy where they usually pick up their prescriptions. Call your health plan to learn more. If you do not have health insurance, call your local health department to find a low- or no-cost location.

More information about pertussis is available on CDPH’s website.

www.cdph.ca.gov

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Submitted by Jan Lee

One hundred years ago, Fillmore residents brought their lovely blooms to a flower show. To celebrate 100 years of flowers, neighbors again showed off their garden beauties at the Fillmore Flower Show. It was a wonderful success, as anyone who attended can confirm. There was lots of talk about what was and was not blooming in each respective garden. A stem of cymbidiums in a dusty rose color grown by Joanne King was the best of show.

Our Fillmore youth had a variety of arrangements and compositions. We are so proud of their enthusiasm and accomplishments the music, Saturday by Becky Morales and Sunday by Barry Cooper, added to the friendly and colorful event. The plant boutique and cafe was enjoyed by visitors. Many children planted succulents and seeds at the youth table. There were photos of flower shows from long ago which brought smiles to many faces. If you missed it this year, plan to attend next year. I’ll remind you!

Without the hard work of the Civic Pride Committee volunteers and the support of our sponsors, this fun exhibit would not happen. We would like to thank the following businesses: Ari Larson, Armstrong Nursery, Chivas Skin Care, Diamond Realty & Investments, El Pescador Restaurant, Estela Homegoods, Genmai Sushi, Green Thumb Nursery, International, Hair Gallery, King & King Ranch, La Michoacana Bakery, Otto and Sons Nursery, Roan Mills, Sandi Ward’s Train Stop, The Treasure Station, Vallarta Restaurant, Yanni’s Best. These businesses give a lot to our community, make sure you thank them the next time you buy something from them.

Thank you people of Fillmore! You made this show a success. An event like this builds community, tradition, love of beauty and respect for nature. It is one of those intergenerational occasions that remind us how lucky we are to live in this gorgeous valley surrounded by so many caring neighbors.

Watch our website in the coming days, fillmoreflowershow.org, for photos of the show (thank you Scott Duckett).