The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today announced its Genetic Disease Screening Program (GDSP) will now screen babies for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a progressive neurological disease found in about 1 in 20,000 newborn boys.

“This new screening program will save children’s lives,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “Early diagnosis and treatment can halt the progression of the life-threatening form of the disease, which will have a profound impact on California families.”

Screening for adrenoleukodystrophy (pronounced ah-DREE-no-luke-oh-dis-trow-fee) will begin statewide today. CDPH will retroactively screen newborn blood samples that were received by the laboratory on or after February 16 of this year. The Department estimates that up to 100 California babies each year will be referred for follow-up services based on screening results. With early identification, the disease can be monitored before complications develop and appropriate treatment options can be made available to prevent serious and permanent health problems.

Some boys with ALD will develop a progressive, life-threatening form of the disease and can die without medical intervention within a short time after complications are recognized. ALD also causes adrenal gland dysfunction, which is characterized by weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, and life-threatening complications. ALD complications typically do not appear until after age 3.

In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1559, which mandated that CDPH add ALD to the state’s newborn screening panel once the disorder was added to the national guidelines for state newborn screening programs. ALD was added to the national guidelines in February 2016.

"For children born with ALD, the difference between an early diagnosis through infant screening and a late diagnosis when symptoms start showing up, could be life and death,” said Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and Senator representing the Sacramento region who authored AB 1559 in 2014. “I applaud CDPH on the launch of their screening program created through AB 1559 and I am thrilled that California children will suffer less and live longer as a result.”

Newborn screening is a public health service provided to all babies in California in order to identify many serious diseases. If not found and treated early, many of the diseases can cause serious and permanent health problems, developmental delay and even death. Since newborn screening began in 1966, more than 14,000 California babies have been found with various diseases and treated.

www.cdph.ca.gov

The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood and platelets this fall to help restock the shelves following a significant summer shortage to ensure an adequate blood supply for patients in need.

Through the first two weeks of September, the Red Cross is down more than 10,000 donations from what is needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for emergencies large and small. Declines in donations can lead to blood shortages and make it difficult to meet patient needs should a disaster or emergency occur.

“September is National Preparedness Month and we urge eligible donors to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets,” said Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services. “Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition like sickle cell disease, a routine surgery, a traumatic accident or a large-scale disaster, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives. Red Cross blood and platelet donors play an important role in helping communities be prepared for all kinds of emergencies.”

Donors of all blood types are needed as blood products continue to be distributed to hospitals almost as quickly as donations come in. To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities: Ventura County

Camarillo
9/30/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St Mary Magdalen Church, 25 N Las Posas Rd

Oxnard
10/5/2016: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Oxnard High School, 3400 W Gonzales Rd

Simi Valley
9/23/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
9/30/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
10/14/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave
10/15/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Simi Valley Rancho Santa Suzanna Community, 5005 E Los Angeles Ave

Thousand Oaks
9/26/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
10/3/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
10/7/2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sage Publication, 2455 Teller Road
10/12/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd

Ventura
9/27/2016: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., EP Foster Library, 651 E Main Street
9/29/2016: 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Ventura High School, 2 North Catalina

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The Fillmore City Council approved the construction and operation of a helicopter maintenance and repair business at Tuesday's meeting.

The applicant, Rotorcraft Support, Inc., submitted an application to develop a private heliport for a maintenance and repair facility for helicopters t be located within the Business Park Master Plan area on property owned by an affiliate of the Applicant. Two companies are proposed to locate at the site: Rotorcraft and The Guardian.

Rotocraft is a maintenance and repair helicopter business with 58 full time employees that will relocate from Van Nuys to Fillmore. The Guardian is a fire helicopter company that is contracted to fight forest fires and has approximately 15 full time employees. The Guardian helicopters will be at fire sites 9 months out of the year. When not attending to fires, the Guardian employees will be in Fillmore training. Both of these businesses would move to the property in Phase 1.

The project is to be constructed in two (2) phases. Phase 1 involves the construction a 67,872 SF hangar, parking spaces, retaining walls, public improvements on River St. and constructing the full width of the D St. extension (from River Street to 460 feet south of River Street). Phase 2 consists of constructing a 45,066 SF hangar for the future undetermined tenant.
The businesses would like to be allowed to operate from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays with allowance to perform work on Sundays during times of emergencies.

The project site is 10.52 acres and can accommodate one landing pad with eight (8) helicopter parking areas.

The flight paths will occur along the Santa Clara River with the helicopters approaching the site from a southerly direction. The flight paths will not be over the residential areas of Fillmore. Prior to flying helicopters from the property the applicant is required to obtain approvals from the FAA, Caltrans (the Division of Aeronautics (DOA) and The Airport Land Commission.

The project site is located at the southwest corner of River St. and D St.

To avoid the appearance of large hangars, the applicant selected to locate the building along D St. rather than Rover St. In this way the project complies with the Business Park Master Plan SP-1 as it will not include long monotonous buildings.

The project is providing a 10' concrete bike path on the south side of River St. in compliance with the Business Park Master Plan's requirement for bike paths. This bike path section represents another important part of the future bike path as a link to Two Rivers Park, Santa Clara River Bike Path. This section of the path helps to bridge the connection of the Sespe Creek Bike Path to the Santa Clara River Bike Path.

A noise Study was conducted which determined that the sounds anticipated to be generated by the project are at an acceptable level per the City Zoning Ordinance. Additionally, the Planning Commission recommended that a noise monitor be placed close to the helipad.

Two Rivers Park will be protected by a buffer zone with employees and customer parking along D ST. Also, the flight path is not over the park. Additionally the project includes the construction of a portion of the bike path along River St. which will greatly enhance recreational activity in the community.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office has released the name of the man who was killed in a solo vehicle crash near Santa Paula early Friday morning.

They say that 27-year-old Ismael Barrios-Ramirez of Fillmore died from injuries in the 5 AM crash in the 19900 block of South Mountain Road west of Balcom Canyon Road.

The CHP says Barrios-Ramirez was driving a 2000 silver Infiniti 130 westbound on South Mountain Road when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle.

They say the vehicle veered onto the north dirt shoulder and overturned.

The CHP says Barrios-Ramirez was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

The vehicle then hit a tree.

Barrios-Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was the only person involved in the crash.

On Friday September 9th, long-time Fillmore residents Pat and Linda Brewster were seriously injured in a small plane crash in Wickenburg, Arizona.

The Cessna 310 airplane they were in was taking off from Wickenburg airport when it crashed due to some type of mechanical problem.

All 4 occupants of the plane were extracted and airlifted to area hospitals.

Pat & Linda’s children told The Gazette that both Pat and Linda spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Linda suffered multiple back fractures, chipped teeth, cuts, bruises and swelling to her face and body. Pat, who was sitting in the front seat of the plane, received a compound leg fracture, a broken left elbow, the end of his tongue was cut along with multiple cuts, bruises and swelling to his face and body.

Pat and Linda are both expected to be in recovery and physical therapy for many weeks.

Pictures of the plane crash and a video news story may be found at azfamily.com by searching for “plane crashes near Wickenburg airport.” The direct link to the story is http://www.azfamily.com/story/33057728/plane-crashes-near-wickenburg-air...

Hello Fillmore! This Thursday evening the Alumni Assn will host "Blue & White" night in beautiful downtown Fillmore from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Remember those classic cars that use to cruse up and down central ave back in the 60's and 70's? Well, they will be parked on central ave between Main Street and Sespe for your viewing. And you can't have these beautiful cars parked on central without the 50's, 60's, and 70's music playing. The Alumni Association will also have food vendors ready to serve our community and it's for a good cause. As you all know, the community of Fillmore loves our "Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation." This Thursday evening is the night to show our appreciation. The Alumni Assn has asked the food vendors to donate a portion of their sales to our very own Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Fund and they have all agreed to support our community's great organization.

The Alumni Association will be parked out front of Central Station Bar & Grill, and you know Central Station will be cranking out their tri-tip sandwiches, and their awesome Pizza, so come on out for a stroll in our beautiful downtown this Thursday evening. The Association will have all their Blue and White Flashes wear available for the big game the next night when our Fillmore Flashes football team plays the Santa Paula Cardinals in the 106th meeting on the grid iron. Summer is coming to an end. Let's support our hometown football team and our Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation. See you all Thursday evening at 6:00pm! LET'S GO FLASHES!, BEAT SANTA PAULA!!!

Tickets will be sold to the General Public in the front office of FHS Monday thru Thursday (September 12th thru September 15th) from 7:30AM to 1:00PM. Students are to purchase their tickets through the Students Store. Ticket Prices are Adults $7, Students & Children $4 and Senior Citizens (55 & Older) $3.