Courtesy Mike Van De Mheen, Fillmore Air Conditioning & Heating

For those that haven’t heard my work van full of all the tools I use to make a living was stolen from in front of my home at 4:41 a.m., on 8-15-18. Having been in business for 23 years and surviving through tough times like the recession and new competitors, I knew I would make it through this.

What surprised me was how much support I would receive from this community. As soon as the news spread, I starting getting calls of support. People have offered to loan their work trucks, tools, money and a secured yard to store my truck. Several have offered a reward. Many have just said they would do whatever they can to help and are keeping an eye out for my van. Several neighbors offered security footage of the suspect’s car.

Thanks to Patrick Maynard for checking city video. The Sheriff’s Department has been great. Deputy Peterson was very thorough in taking the report. Detective Meixner has called daily with any updates. He seemed to have taken it personally since he had a family member who was in the construction business and knew how important the tools were to make a living.

At this point we have a very poor video of the suspect walking around my van and stealing it, as well as the suspect’s car making a U-turn at the corner of Mountain View and Second Street at 4:18 a.m. before he steals it. I know the tools are gone. It’s a waiting game to see if my van shows up and in what condition.

I have heard some people complain about the crime in this town. People have to realize that the population hasn’t grown that much compared to most cities but the amount of strangers driving past us on Hwy 126 has seemed to have gone up 500% in the last 10 years.

I have never been prouder to have Fillmore in large letters as my Logo.

If you have any information on this theft you can contact Detective Meixner at the Sheriff’s office 805-524-2233.

Thank you,
Mike Van De Mheen

UPDATE:
I originally wrote this last night and sent it to the Gazette and was going to have my wife post it today. At 8:45 this morning I was at my shop still numb and trying to figure out what to do for a van. Then I get a call from a 626 number and I crossed my fingers it was the call I have been waiting for since Wednesday morning. It was. The office manager from Assembly Automation called to inform me that a suspect drove around their parking lot with my van for around 10 minutes, parked after a few minutes and walked away. If it wasn’t for her and her co-workers paying attention to this suspicious activity and taking the time to call me there could have been more damage done to the van (unlocked and didn’t need a key anymore to start it). The investigation continues so hopefully they can catch the thief so maybe they won’t visit this little town we all love so much. Once again THANK YOU FILLMORE!
Mike Van De Mheen

Any information on this crime please Contact Detective Meixner at 805-524-2233

Superintendent Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D launched an enormous number of school improvements during the summer break. The synthetic track was resurfaced at a cost of $372,822. Site-wide exterior painting at Mountain Vista Elementary School and the Middle School was completed. Projects extended to paving, striping, carpeting, roofing, and renovation of bathrooms. A slide presentation of improvements was given by Andrea McNeill at Tuesday’s School Board meeting.

FUSD Summer Projects Update
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill.

FUSD Enrollment by Site
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill.

Approve Resolution No. 18-19-01 Assignments of Teachers Who Are Teaching Outside of Their Credential Authorization or on an Emergency Permit
The Governing Board approved Resolution No. 18-19-01.

Personnel Recommendations
The Governing Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, retirements, and leaves.

Soroptimist International of Fillmore installed Cathy Krushell as the new president on August 15, 2018. The 2018-2019 Officers also include: Vice President, Jane David, Recording Secretary, Marianne Crane, Correspondence Secretary, Betty Carpenter, Treasurer, Patti Walker and One Year Director, Darlene Lorenz. SI of Fillmore celebrated their 60th Anniversary this year. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that economically empowers women and girls by providing access to education, the single most effective anti-poverty intervention. If you would like more information on scholarships or would like to become a member please contact Membership Chair Darlene Lorenz at 805.524.9929 or email Languages33@aol.com

On Thursday, August 9th at approximately 3:40pm a crash occurred on Highway 126 outside of Piru killing a man from Bakersfield. Troy Jackson was driving a 2002 Jeep and it had been reported to CHP that the Jeep was swerving in and out of lanes. Shortly after CHP received calls reporting the Jeep had crashed into an avocado tree on the northbound side of the highway. The driver received fatal injuries. Cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Submitted by Ari Larson, President Elect

Scott’s program was on the Bardsdale Cemetery, which was formed by the people, in 1895. It is an independent Special District separate from the City or County, governed by a five member Board, of local residents, appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Scott stated that people are unprepared for what they want when they pass away. There are many options now for burial traditional, stacking, in-ground cremations and niche wall. Plots can also be purchased ahead of time.

Bardsdale Cemetery is not funded by the state, county or by the city of Fillmore, but is primarily funded through burial fees, which are declining and supplemented through a small portion of local property taxes and a special $5 annual parcel tax approved by the voters in 1981 and has never been increased. In order to continue operating and maintaining this cemetery, as it has in the past, the cemetery district considered proposing a new ballot measure, but prior to that a survey was taken, by voters within his district and a majority said they didn’t want a higher tax. So until this can happen the cemetery will continue on as best they can and people who complain about things there need to realize why it’s the way it is.

On Tuesday, August 4th, Saint Bonaventure High School football coach reported equipment was missing from the boys’ locker room. Police conducted an investigation and found that approximately $3,000 worth of football gear had been stolen. Between interviewed witnesses and surveillance footage police learned that three male suspects from Fillmore had scaled a fence in order to get on school grounds. Ventura police department was able to get two of the suspects’ faces on camera, contacted their parents, and on August 5th the two suspects returned the equipment and admitted to the burglary. By August 14th the two 16 year olds and the 14 year old were arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and conspiracy and were all released to their parents.

A poetry reading event to raise money for the Ventura County Arts Council was held August 17, 2018 in the Fillmore office of Diamond Realty. Approximately 15 poets read original poetry, several about the theme of the event “Scuffed Diamonds.”

The event was sponsored by Diamond Realty and hosted by Fernando Albert Salinas, Ventura County Arts Council Board Member and professor at Brooks College. Fillmore Middle School art teacher Doris Nichols painted while poetry was in motion.

Contributors to the event included Vallartas Mexican Restaurant, Starbucks, Fidelity National Title, Stewart Title, First American Title, Lawyers Title & Nickelodeon. The amount raised exceeded expectations and will be used to fund the publishing of book containing a collection of student poetry.

Theresa Robledo, owner of Diamond Realty said, “It was an honor to host such a diverse group of poets from cities throughout Ventura County. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated, thank you to the businesses that contributed, and thank you to all the wonderful poets who created beautiful art from the power and beauty of spoken word.”

About The Ventura County Arts Council
The Ventura County Arts Council advocates for the arts and for increased arts instruction in schools. We foster community development through the arts, serving county artists, arts organizations and the general public through partnerships with arts supporters, businesses, foundations, and community leaders. We embrace the diversity of our county and strive to reach low income and minority communities with programs designed to engage these diverse populations. Learn more at http://vcartscouncil.org

About Diamond Realty
Diamond Realty is a full service real estate agency servicing Ventura and North Los Angeles Counties. Diamond Realty prides itself on establishing long term relationships based on mutual respect and trust with our clients, customers and agents. Diamond Realty is located at 460 Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. (805) 524-2121. https://www.diamondrealtyteam.com

Enlarge Photo

On Sunday, August 19, 2018 an open house was held at Beylik Family Farms in Fillmore. The event was held in appreciation of Beylik Family Farm’s farmer’s market customers throughout southern California.

The event included food, a farmer’s market style produce stand, and tours of the farm starting every half-hour. Attendees were treated to pulled pork BBQ, hot dogs, and Laura Beylik's world famous salsa.

If you would like to buy locally grown produce from Beylik Family Farms, you can visit any of the farmers market's they regularly attend listed on their website at www.beylikfarms.com/where-to-buy.

About Beylik Family Farms
Beylik Family Farms produces the highest quality hydroponically grown tomatoes, cucumbers & other produce sold exclusively through Certified Farmers Markets from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles since 1971. Please visit us at any of the Farmers Markets listed here https://www.beylikfarms.com/where-to-buy

Bob Crum

I'm tired of walking. Walked 35 miles at the County Fair... so it seemed. More walking at the Wings Over Camarillo (WOC) air show this past weekend. I'm considering buying a donkey as a service animal!

Tracking fast flying airplanes with a camera is more challenging than capturing a bronc rider tossed off a bucking horse. Besides tracking fast enough to get the plane properly composed, focus is also a huge issue. Learning ballet to replace photography is being considered.

I hereby declare, as usual, that experience and practice are invaluable. More so when shooting fast flying aircraft. Note also that if one practices a lot, one obtains experience. Funny how that works.

For example, last spring at the Los Angeles County air show I had just photographed a jet fighter demo. Thus my shutter speed was set at 1/1000th of a second. Fast shutter speeds help reduce slight blurs that, for me, normally results when tracking fast planes with a heavy telephoto lens. The jet fighter was followed by a prop plane and a jet flying together. It was thrilling to watch two warplanes of vastly different generations. I started shooting. The camera shutter speed was still 1/000th of a second. This is best for the jet but freezes the prop on the other plane. Scientific fact: Prop planes can't fly unless the props are turning. Lesson learned: Best not to get so involved in the event that you forget to properly program the camera.

I applied that lesson to the WOC photo shoot. First, I shot the entire air show in Tv mode. That does not mean I watched the show on a TV. Tv mode is shutter priority mode which means the shutter is adjusted according to circumstances. ISO and aperture left in auto mode. This all means that if I set the shutter speed at 1/60th of a second, the camera's exposure meter will adjust the aperture and the ISO for appropriate exposure.

The air show opened with an F-18 fighter jet. I quickly set shutter speed to 1/1250th of a second. Good grief, I had trouble turning my head fast enough to keep up with that speed demon let alone photography it. See it coming... poof... GONE!

That performance was followed by a jet and prop plane duo. Oh oh! Click... click... shutter speed reset to 125th of a second. Alas I got the prop action perfect and with lens stabilization on and holding the camera steady, tracking blur minimized. BINGO! No gotcha this time!

The process was the same throughout the show... adjusting only the shutter speed according to the plane flying at the time. Hint: The advantage of shooting in Tv mode is that shutter speed can be adjusted very quickly by the thumb-wheel on top of the camera. Aperture is unimportant because depth-of-field is irrelevant.

Photographing such fast moving aircraft makes composition a constant challenge. Some times I anticipated incorrectly and only got an image of the nose of the plane. Other times, I tracked too late and got only the the tail of the plane. I suppose I could put the two parts together in Photoshop, you know, digitally pin the tail on the nose. You wouldn't tell, right?

Photo of the week is my first photo of an F-18 fighter jet with a vapor cone. Conditions were perfect! A vapor cone is a visible cloud of condensed water which usually forms around an aircraft moving at high speed through moist air. Another bucket list shot done! Color me thrilled!

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