On July 17, 2010 at 9:12 p.m., the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department / Fillmore Police Department responded to a call of an ambulance follow-up for a male victim, Christian Giusti, 24 of Fillmore, who had been shot in the 300 block of Bard Street in the city of Fillmore. Prior to the arrival of deputies, the suspect(s) fled the scene. An extensive search for the suspect(s) was conducted with negative results. The victim received a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to the Ventura Star Giusti had known gang affiliations. his most recent arrest was in September 2009 for possession of a handgun and bullets, a violation of his probation as a convicted felon. The ammunition charge was later dismissed, but he pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Giusti was due back in court last week in relation to the case, but failed to appear. A judge revoked his probation and issued a warrant for his arrest.

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).

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The Fillmore City Council voted to accept modifications to City Council-approved conditions for four Business Park projects to allow development to proceed before FEMA establishes a revised flood plain in 2015. The developers requested to change the language of condition #E5 in order for the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to apply when the applicants submit construction plans for plan checking.

Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney explained that except for a small part of the Coe property along the Santa Clara River, the projects currently are not within the 100-year flood plain. Three months after the Business Park Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified, on May 8, 2008 FEMA released a draft of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) that indicated the Business Park would fall within the 100-year flood plain if the maps were adopted. In response, the City of Fillmore issued a formal document stating its disagreement with the flood zones on the preliminary maps.

On July 8, 2008, the City Council adopted an Addendum to the Business Park EIR acknowledging that because the draft FIRMs are undergoing revisions, the City could not conclude that the severity of an environmental impact had increased. The City is not required to administer the draft map nor an applicant required to abide by it unless the draft FEMA map becomes official.

If FEMA determines the CONTINUED »

Pictured above Carolyn Mescher, with Ventura County Fairgrounds Publicity Dept., and Mayor Patti Walker displaying the VC Faire Poster 2010.
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City Attorney Ted Schneider reported that the City has won a legal dispute in which the owner of the El Dorado mobile home park sued the city for denying its application to convert to condominiums. The City maintained that the application was incomplete, and Judge Bysshe has ruled in its favor. Schneider noted that this is the first case of its kinds in the county, if not the state, in which a city has won such a suit. The City will wait for the application for conversion to be complete.

Presentations
Ventura County Fairground’s representative Carolyn Mescher presented the City Council with this year’s Ventura County Fair poster, which features an oil pastel illustration featuring a merry-go-round and Ferris wheel beneath a moonlit sky filled with fireworks. Mescher noted that 14-year old Kayalin Akens-Irby of Ventura’s artwork was chosen from over 80 entries poster contest submissions illustrating this year’s theme, “Western Nights and Carnival Lights.” The fair will run from August 4 to Sunday August 15. For more information visit www.venturacountyfair.org

Public Comments
Fillmore Resident Lynn Edmonds spoke on behalf of the Fillmore-Piru One Step, an after school program for teens that operates on an annual budget of $300,000 and employees six staff members. Edmonds noted One Step’s efforts to counter crime by providing teens with various mentoring and enrichment programs, and reported that the program is now also working with youths from juvenile justice. With 40-50 participants at the center, One Step has outgrown its current space and is looking for support to acquire a new location to continue its work. Acknowledging, “it’s a hard time,” Edmonds appealed for help, saying One Steps hopes to “look forward to some action.”

Special Projects Manager Linda Papas-Diaz announced an upcoming workshop in early August targeted to those involved or interested in home-based businesses. Papas-Diaz mentioned the success of the small business workshops organized through the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County, noting that Mimstar, a local personalized merchandise business, recently received a loan (see Gazette story). Papas-Diaz encourages the community’s participation to promote economic growth in Fillmore by networking and accessing untapped resources in the county.

Marie Wren from the CONTINUED »

City officials estimate that about 20,000 people ventured out to Fillmore on the 4th of July to attend the Sespe Creek Car Show & Festival, observe the horseshoe tournament, purchase safe and sane fireworks and stay for the annual spectacular fireworks display in the sky.

The car show attracted approximately 220 car entries this year, down about 30% from previous years, but still substantial enough to satisfy the car enthusiast. The following entrants took home a beautifully crafted blue glass-engraved trophy for winning in their selected category.

T Buckets—Tom Sheehan; Street Rods 1900-1932—Gary Larkins; Street Rods 1933-1936—Mark Pierce; Street Rods 1937-1941—Greg Chavez; Street Rods 1942-1948—Roy Tapia; Street Rods 1949-1963—Ralph Casallittas; Mustangs—Tony Rivas; 1955-1957 Chevy’s—Mike Wiener; Rat Rod—John Lynch; Rancheros—William Taylor; Corvettes—Kevin Warring; Thunderbirds—Gerald Lybolt; Sports Cars—Richard Faidley; Camaros—Gran Classics; El Camino—Jerry Jenkins; Truck-Pickyp—Kevin Warring; Stock Original 1900-1940—Pepe Gonzales; Stock Original 1941-1951—Ernie Trujillo Stock original 1952-1974—Joe Avila; Street Rod Open—Bob Boudreau; Street Rod Closed—Deuces Wild; Mild Modification—Albert Papu; Major Modification—Jerry Kransler; Muscle Cars—Eddie Arano; Most Likely to be Stopped—Nick Donwen; Under Construction—Manny Figuerea; Drag Cars—John O’Hare; Under 21—Roy Nava; Best Flames—Joe Freas.

Fillmore & Western Railway, CONTINUED »