The First Responders for Mental Health (FRMH) initiative was a huge success, and we are excited to invite past and new supporters to come together to make an even bigger impact for mental health awareness in our county.

Last year the FRMH initiative brought together over 30 organizations across the county that raised approximately $68,000, hosted 15 events and participated in a county-wide PSA to raise awareness. The impact this initiative had on our community was tremendous. Fillmore City Councilmember shares, "I am super proud that the City of Fillmore participated in this initiative and have since moved forward with the first ever annual Mental Health Resource Fair."

Your support is vital. Port Hueneme Councilmember Misty Perez and co-founder of the initiative shares, "This initiative brought awareness to the issues our first responders have to deal with every day and showed the holes in the system and the need for more programs, partnerships and funding." Your support not only helps us provide services for over 5000 individuals annually it also allows us to advocate for such issues.

This is a countywide campaign to educate, fundraise, and raise awareness in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Port Hueneme Councilmember Misty Perez and Oxnard Assistant Chief of Police Denise Shadinger will be this year's FRMH Ambassadors and NAMI Ventura County Walk Honorary Chairs. We are excited to announce that this year the walk will return to an in person walk hosted by the City of Port Hueneme. The NAMI Ventura County Kick-off and 40-year anniversary will be held March 19 and the Walk will be held May 21. In addition to the walk there are many ways to help raise awareness across our county.

For more information & questions email Maya Zumaya at M.zumaya7@live.com or call 805-767-7569.

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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

During the 1950s and 1960s many families in Fillmore would keep a small green jar with an orange label in their medicine cabinets. The jar contained Hydrosulphosol ointment. Not only was it very effective for treating minor burns – it was also a hometown product manufactured by the E. C. Lientz Company in North Fillmore.

So, what was hydrosulphosol? It was developed by Earl Hill Wilson in the 1930s. In 1935 a piece of steel penetrated the eye of Betty Lientz, then age 12. The steel was removed with a magnet, but the eye did not heal but continued to hemorrhage. Betty’s parents, Elizabeth and Oliver Lientz, were told the best treatment would be to remove the eye. Oliver Lientz was reluctant to do this since he had his right eye removed in 1926 due to complications from a childhood injury, so he looked for alternative treatments. In 1936, just two weeks before Betty was due for the surgery to remove her eye, the Mr. and Mrs. Lientz met with Earl Hill Wilson. His formula was given to a professor of chemistry at Occidental College to test. Based on the test results it was decided it was safe for Betty to take hydrosulphosol internally. Both Betty and her father began in April 1936 to take the medicine. When Betty was examined by the ophthalmologist prior to the planned surgery, no new hemorrhaging was found for the first time in nine months. The surgery was cancelled, and Betty kept her eye.

During World War II hydrosulphosol was used successfully to treat burns on the battlefield and also for burns suffered by welders. The Lientzes formed a company called E. C. Lientz & Co to manufacture and market Hydrosulphosol. E. C. being the initials of Elizabeth Lientz. In 1946 a manufacturing plant was built in North Fillmore. Oliver Lientz concentrated on the medical/scientific aspects, Elizabeth concentrated upon the financial/accounting aspects, and Betty was involved with the manufacturing and packaging of Hydrosulphosol.

Numerous articles were written in the 1940s and 1950s on the effectiveness of the ointment for burns. Articles appeared in the Los Angeles Times and Time magazine. Art Linkletter, a popular TV personality of the day, had several shows spot lighting the success of the ointment.

In a 1988 letter by Betty Lientz to Dorothy Haase, “The publicity happened during a time when it was totally unacceptable to presume to tread upon the sanctity of the medical profession. In other words, the deep core of medical politics viewed this publicity as advertising, as if a small company could influence so many news agencies to publish or broadcast medical news for the purpose of promoting the sale of a specific product.”

By the early 1960s, the product had attracted the attention of regulatory bodies. One suit was brought which alleged, “The defendants conducted the interstate distribution of the article as a mail order business and promoted the business through the use of newspaper and magazine articles and radio and television programs the defendants sold the article direct to laymen for purposes of self-medication and also promoted sales to doctors, drug wholesalers, and retailers…” According to the complaint, “labeling of the article contained false and misleading representations that the article was adequate and effective for the treatment mitigation prevention and cure of corneal scars, opacities, corneal dystrophy, corneal ulcers, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, iritis, …. and other diseases and conditions of the eye that cause impaired vision.”

In 1962, the company agreed to stop shipping hydrosulphosol to the general public for internal use, but it could be prescribed by physicians for such use and still could be used as a topical ointment.

The company continued in business until 1971 but by that time the founders were ready to retire. Although there was hope that a pharmaceutical manufacturing company would purchase the business, none stepped forward and the enterprise was closed. Elizabeth Lientz died in 1975, and Oliver passed away in Fillmore in 1985. The Hydrosulphosol building still stands in North Fillmore and is a private home.

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The Great Class of 2002 will be celebrating their 20-year class reunion at the annual alumni dinner event in downtown Fillmore, on Saturday June 11th.

Awarding winning caterer, DJ's California Catering, will be serving up a delicious meal starting at 6:00pm. This year, 2 DJ's and live band (Juano and Friends) will highlight the evening, along with DJ Manuel Nunez Jr. Happy hour starts at 3:00pm.

Lots of surprises in store for this year's alumni dinner. Don't miss out. All Alumni are invited.

Make your reservations soon before it's too late.

Go to fillmorehighalumni.com and click on Events!

www.fillmorehighalumni.com/events.

Go Flashes!

Items:
Presentations:
5-A Bike Month Proclamation-May 2022.
5-B Mental Health Awareness Month - May, 2022.
5-C Police Week and Memorial Day Proclamation.
5-D Verbal housing Element Update by Staff.

New Business:
8-A- 3-2. Write letter in opposition 8-B - 8K - (5-0) That the City Council discuss whether to take a position for or
against, or no position on, California State Assembly Bill 2223. 8-B - 8-K - (5-0) Waive the $137 encroachment permit fee for the installation of six new Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in City right of way. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FY 2022-23 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF FILLMORE. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 22-3882 FIXING THE COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF NON-REPRESENTED MANAGEMENT/ MIDMANAGEMENT, CONFIDENTIAL, AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF FILLMORE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2022. The City Council conducted a performance and compensation review of Mr. Rowlands in closed session on April 26, 2022. At the conclusion of the closed session, the City Council gave the Mayor parameters and direction to negotiate a compensation increase with the City Manager. The negotiations concluded with an agreement that the City Manager will receive the following: • His annual base salary will be increased by three percent (3%) effective on the first day of the first full pay period in July 2022. The new annual salary will be $215,788.79. • A lump sum non-PERSable retention bonus of $5,000.00 to encourage City Manager’s continued retention under the terms of the Agreement, paid the first full pay period in July 2022. • A one-time credit of general leave of 40 hours, given the first full pay period in July 2022. • An increase in monthly car allowance from $100.00 to $250.00, for a total car and phone allowance of $350.00, beginning the first full pay period in July 2022. 8-I - Primary - Mark Austin Alternate - Erika Herrera. Item 8-G - Council authorized staff to go out for bids and will determine funding source after bids are received.

By David Lustig

Following on the heels of a successful freight photo train April 22, Sierra Northern Railway, Ventura Division operated a second train, this time with seven streamlined passenger cars between Fillmore and Santa Paula. The train was stopped numerous times for their company photographer to record the trip. Besides photography, the train was important for the onboard crew to continue to familiarize themselves with train handling on the many newly refurbished sections of the right-of-way. Sierra Northern Railway leases the line, which is owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

The railroad is planning to bring additional rolling stock onto the property to accommodate new freight customers and eventually excursion passenger trains, as well as supplying equipment for movie, television, and commercial productions.

The Sierra Northern Railway was formed in August 2003 through the merger of two Northern California short line railroads: the Sierra Railroad Company and the Yolo Short Line Railroad. They currently operate about 100 miles of track in Northern California, and 30 miles of track in the Santa Clara River Valley in Southern California.