Thanksgiving came and went. Then Black Friday came... and went. Before I could say aye cheewawa... Cyber Monday! Whew... was there anything not on sale?

Anyway, how did you do photographing your Thanksgiving festivities? Perhaps a few photos leave a little to be desired? I know about the bummed-out feeling. I felt it back in the fifties when I tried to play photographer with a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye with the fabulous Meniscus lens and 1-speed rotary shutter. Processed film at Woolworths 5¢ and 10¢ store. A bit of history. But I digress.

Folks, Christmas means thousands of photo ops. Accordingly, writer Liesel Schillinger recently penned a piece titled: "Take a moment to write holiday cards." “With Thanksgiving 2017 done and over, how will you use this post-feast glut of leisure? Can there be any question? This is the moment to write holiday cards – sending loving messages to friend and family near and far, filling them in on the highlights of your year.”

Schillinger concludes: “For me, this tradition is a tribute to the singular endurance of communication on paper. These cards are artifacts of meaning. The pleasure of them is that they take time. The pleasure of them is that they are done specially. The pleasure of them is that each one is a memento of a fixed moment, and an expression of the year that produced it. I will give and receive many gifts in the coming month, but my favorites will be the ones that ring in at 49¢ each.”

How's that for a magnificent idea? In the age of Instagram and Facebook, millions upload a staggering gazillion photos. Photos here today... poof... gone tomorrow. Instead, why not celebrate the season with a family photo card? Show everyone that they're in your thoughts with a merry personalized greeting card. Traditional or modern, fancy or casual, create a beautiful photo Christmas card that will hold a place of pride on everyone's mantle.

It's not too late. Costco can have your photo Christmas cards ready in 5-10 days says their website. https://www.costcophotocenter.com/Greetings/Search/MerryChristmas. Other online card printers offer similar services.

You all know that I'm tasked with weaning you from the cell phone (phonetography) and making photos with a real camera. Regardless, even cell phone photos can be uploaded to Costco for inclusion in your personalized Christmas card. Also, if you posted a family photo on social media, you can use that photo to upload to Costco for your Christmas card. Can't get any easier!

This year... why not start a new family tradition: Personalized Photo Christmas Cards? Include a personal note and you will have created a treasured memento recipients will love and cherish.

It's not necessary to pose the kids and/or adults for the photo... candid photos are most often the best for your photo Christmas card. Or why not a selfie? Make & upload a photo! While waiting for the cards to arrive, prepare your mailing list. Imagine how shocked the millennials in your family will be upon receiving a physical Christmas card instead of an eCard!

Bulletin: Christmas parade Saturday 12/2/2017, 10 a.m. down central Avenue. Santa arrives on a fire truck. Afterward, Santa will be at the pagoda at the Historical Museum to listen to kids tell him that they have been very good all year. Sure! Then check out the Christmas Boutique at City Hall. Later Saturday night, about 8:30 p.m., Santa returns on the Fillmore & Western Christmas train stopping at Landeros Lane (Sespe Place) and Old Telegraph Road passing out candy canes. Ho... ho... ho!

Photo of the week is jolly ole Santa arriving in Fillmore last year. Happy photoing!

Send your comments, suggestions and/or questions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

December 16, 2017 Is The Date!!

Please support Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid's Coat Drive to raise enough money to put a coat on every child that comes through the line this Christmas in Fillmore.

This project idea started when I was watching the kids waiting with anticipation to see Santa at the North Fillmore Community Storefront for the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department toy giveaway. Looking at the line, none of the kids had on coats. My mind judged immediately “Did the children forget their coats? They knew it was cold and that the wait was long.” The line snaked as the little boy tucked into his mother and the realization hit me like the cold wind - The little boy didn’t forget his coat. He doesn’t have a coat.

Please join Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid’s Winter Coat Drive. In December we will be giving away brand-new warm winter coats to needy children of the Santa Clara Valley who are standing outside in line in Fillmore to receive their toy from Santa. There are no “administrative” costs. You send the money and our teams go and buy the coats.

As Marion Wright Edelman, the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund says:
“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

When you place a warm coat on cold little shoulders, you know that a warm coat makes a big difference.

Go to www.youcaring.com/CoatsForFillmoreKids.

Laura Bartels, Director
Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid

Hello, this is my daughter Carolina Garcia. She is 11 years old from Fillmore, a small town in Southern California. This is her 1st year in Cross Country. After all her hard work and determination, she has earned a spot to compete in the Junior Olympics in Tallahassee, Florida on the 9th of December in 2017. We want our daughter to experience the opportunities that we never had. Were asking for any donations to help fund her trip to Florida. We thank you in advance.

Visit https://www.gofundme.com/4qj97r4 to support Carolina.

Leslie Klinchuch, Project Manager for Chevron for the Santa Clara Valley, presents a check to the Santa Clara Elementary Principal Kari Skidmore for $1,000 to support the Music in the Classroom program with PTO President Amber McCalister and students in attendance. Photo & article courtesy Larissa Nelson.
Enlarge Photo

Photo & article courtesy Larissa Nelson.

Chevron is continually going above and beyond to support local programs in the Fillmore community. They have a goal to be committed to contributing to the social and economic development of our communities. They believe that providing community support, both through financial assistance and personal involvement, is their responsibility as a good neighbor. Their support in serving the students that attend Santa Clara Elementary demonstrates their desire to serve others and be an integral part of the neighborhood. This year they have generously supported the Fillmore and Santa Paula students at Santa Clara Elementary school, aka the “Little Red Schoolhouse”. This program will help infuse music and culture into the lives of many youth, affirm their value, nurture their skills and talents, help them realize their artistic value, and lead them to a greater understanding and appreciation for music and art.

Last week, this grant was awarded from the Chevron Environmental Management Company from Leslie Klinchuch, Project Manager for Chevron for the Santa Clara Valley, and presented to principal, Kari Skidmore for $1,000 to support the Music in the Classroom program. The community support of Chevron will help serve students K-6 by enriching their elementary education and assisting with bringing a music teacher to the classrooms to teach appreciation and understanding of music for students, teach instrument instruction to the students, assist with developing community involvement by inviting community members to participate in concert, and help with improvement of the student’s success on standardized tests based on skills learned through music.

If other members of the community would like to support similar programs at the school, they can reach out to PTO Vice President Larissa Nelson at happyarissa@gmail.com