Jorge Hernandez has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for causing a collision that killed two local disc jockeys in September 2009.

Hernandez, 24, was driving under the influence of alcohol on the wrong side of Highway 118 near Rose Avenue at 5:36 a.m.

Killed were David Garcia, 33, formerly of Fillmore, and Alex Estrada, 33, of Ventura. Garcia’s wife, Sonia, 26, was critically injured and remained in a coma for a month.

The two popular disc jockeys had attended and just left a Relay for Life cancer walk in Fillmore, when the collision occurred.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, had no criminal record and accepted responsibility early, which Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie took into account in sentencing. Hernandez was also ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution.

Hernandez has two children, a 3-year old and a baby, who was born when he was in jail.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp explained to city council that Two Rivers Park will need sod to replace the failed hydroseed.

Two Rivers Sod
“This is not an easy item,” said Public Works Director Bert Rapp on Tuesday night, asking council to approve the installation of sod at Two Rivers Park, where hydroseeding has failed. The grass, hydroseeded in September 2009 (10 acres), is not growing as anticipated.

“It has not grown as it should have grown,” stated Rapp, citing improper care by the contractor after seeding.
Negotiations have been going on with the contractor to rectify the problem “on his nickel” according to Rapp. This approach yields the Change Order price of $156,000 to upgrade to sod.

He made it clear that the contractor was “absorbing [the] pain of the problem” financially. The contractor will pay $3,000 per day after April 15th if the sod is not “mowable” at one inch. Motion for sod passed 3-0.

Two Boys & Girls Club sites close
Interim Chief Professional Officer Sheila Tate began Tuesday’s council meeting by announcing the closing of three Boys & Girls Club sites, two in Fillmore. As of January 31st the North Fillmore and Rancho Sespe Clubhouses will close due to financial pressures. Tate said the organization is consolidating and reorganizing, and hopes the closings will be temporary. Displaced members are encouraged to attend the First Street Boys & Girls Club.

Tate thanked Santa Clara Valley Disposal, Big Brothers and Sisters, American Girl Scouts and the Fillmore School District for their involvement in helping the Club. She also announced that actor/activist Martin Sheen will be the keynote speaker at the Breakfast of Champions on Feb. 26. Anyone with questions or suggestion can contact Tate at 805-525-7910.

Take Your Family to Dinner for the Club CONTINUED »

Monday, February 1 will be the Fillmore Lions Student Speaker contest. So now is the last chance t( enter and win $75 for winning and $25 for entering. The topic is "UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE-HOW WILL IT AFFECT US?" The outcome of this debate will affect all of us for years to come.

The winner of the Fillmore contest Feb. 1 will move on and compete for $21,325 in prize money and scholarships. Call Bill Edmonds at 524-4839 or see Mr. Josh Overton at the high school. All high school age youth who reside within the Fillmore High School District boundaries are eligible to compete. This includes home taught students as well as Fillmore residents who attend other high schools. This also includes foreign exchange students.

Students who wish to enter may contact Bill Edmonds at 524-4839 or Josh Overton at the Fillmore High School drama room. Edmonds emphasized that this public speaking competition will be very worthwhile to the students and interesting to their parents and to the community. Public speaking competition will also look very good on college applications and resumes.

Time is drawing short and students should start at once. It takes time to develop and practice a good speech. Act now. The contest will take place Monday, Feb. 1 beginning at 7:00pm at the Scout House at the end of Sespe.

The Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley has been working on a reorganization and revitalization strategy the last 3 months that has brought needed change and enhanced communication and partnerships throughout both communities of Fillmore and Santa Paula. In order to strengthen service delivery and to ensure stability, the Board has decided to temporarily suspend services at 3 sites effective January 31, 2010 and will continue operations at 2 sites in Fillmore and Santa Paula.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley are encouraging parents to send their children to the Clubhouses that will remain open: FILLMORE - Fillmore Clubhouse, 565 First St., 524-0456. SANTA PAULA - Las Piedras Clubhouse, 431 13th St., 933-3676.

In order to cut expenses, the Santa Paula Clubhouse at 1400 Harvard Blvd. will be closed temporarily. This will also make room for a renovation project that has been funded through grants and collaboration with the City of Santa Paula. Construction includes a rebuild of the public restrooms on the outside of the building, a remodel and enlargement of the entry to the Clubhouse, updated wiring, and installation of heating and air conditioning.

The 2 other closures at Rancho Sespe, CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Fillmore Unified School District Trustees have learned that the district needs $2.2 million dollars to break even next year.

Mike Bush, Assistant Superintendent for Business told the board at this weeks meeting that “We're dead with less.” He went on to say that it's expected that the state will take away at least $2.1 million dollars to help make up for the state budget deficit. Bush added that if the state takes the additional money, that means that the state will have cut the Fillmore school budget by 20 percent over the past three years. This equals $3.6 million dollars. Bush said the state budget is $19.9 billion dollars “Out of whack.”

Board member John Garnica noted that California has the lowest credit rating in the country and he pointed out that California has dropped to last place in spending per pupil for education.

Bush also brought to the board the issue of insurance costs for district employees. The district now pays all the costs of the HMO Blue Shield Access Plus and the staff members may choose to purchase a Blue Cross PPO plan. He suggested the district switch from the Access Plus plan to Blue Shield Net Value. This plan would save the school district $150 per month per employee. Bush said the plan has the same basic benefits and the same doctors as the Access Plus. The savings to the district would be over $500,000 dollars, Bush added.

Human Resources Consultant Bev Jones said CONTINUED »

Will Piru Charter School offer a true educational alternative? The answer is a resounding yes!

Piru Charter School supports the Educating the Whole Child approach to learning that includes: using researched-based instructional strategies to increase student achievement, using a social-emotional development program that impacts the attitudes of children in a positive and profound way, and using aerobic exercise to focus, motivate, and invigorate students. This powerful three-step recipe for student success is a true educational alternative and will be the only school in Ventura to offer it!

Lower class size in grades 4-6 to 24 students will mean that all students will receive more of the individual attention they need to successfully enter middle school, high school, and college. As educational material in mathematics, language arts, and the content areas becomes more complex, and as some parents are less able to help their students at home, it is educationally unsound to increase class size to THIRTY-TWO students in grades 4-6. Piru Charter School will be the only school in FUSD to offer this exciting and important student to teacher ratio!

Keeping struggling students in core instruction, rather than having them sent to CONTINUED »