At last night’s school board meeting Mary Ford spoke to the board her concerns regarding disruptive student conduct at the Fillmore Middle School.

Spring 2019 Sports Update for Fillmore High School
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Spring 2019 Sports Update. Fillmore High School Principal, John Wilber presented the information.

Spring 2019 Sports Medicine Report for Fillmore High School
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Spring 2019 Sports Medicine Report. Director of Sports Medicine, Breanna McLain presented the information.

Emergency Action Plan for Athletics 2019-2020
The Governing Board received a presentation on the Emergency Action Plan for Athletics 2019-2020. Director of Sports Medicine, Breanna McLain presented the information.

Local Control and Accountability Plan for 2019-2020 and the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget
The Governing Board approved the Local Control Accountability Plan for 2019-2020 and also approved the 2019-2020 Proposed Budget.

Approve Pre-Qualified Pool of Construction Project Management Firms for Various District Projects
The Governing Board approved a pool of pre-qualified Construction Project Management Firms for current and future Measure V Bond Projects. The following firms met the threshold and are approved:
1. Linik Corp. Builders Management
2. Pacifica Services Inc.
3. SiteLogIQ united with IES
4. TELACU Construction Management

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

Bob Crum

I previously mentioned that my readership is presently 2,397,602. Max Z. wrote to challenge the number. Max, here's the data: 276 readers in the U.K., 830 throughout Europe, seven in Hong Kong, five mermaids, the remaining 2,396,484, including Max, are Fillmore readers!

Also, in my previous column, I mentioned histograms and some got hysterical. Reader Larry A., emailed me telling me that I was rude introducing a technical term without an explanation. OK, I'll explain!

Photography is an art form and a digital image or print is the artistic expression. But a little camera technical know-how helps one create the desired photograph. One great aid is the camera's histogram. While deceptively simple at first glance, a histogram contains a wealth of image information. However, it will not tell you whether or not your composition is compelling or provide the Power Ball winning numbers!

A. Make a photo and chimp the shot. (remember chimping from last week?) B. Push your camera's “Info” button. Voila, the histogram! It quickly tells you the light levels of the exposure in graph form. The histogram plots light (luminosity) levels from black – the left end (wall) of the histogram – to pure white – the right side (wall) of the graph.

A perfect histogram rises gently from the left cresting in the midsection and gradually drops to the right, indicating a full range of tones from C# to B-flat. Oops, I mean luminosity tones. By not hitting either wall, the histogram indicates that there's no loss of detail in shadows or in the highlights. Celebrate! Your exposure is sweet.

A histogram bunched up at the right wall is a high-key image. Spikes at the right wall indicates burned-out (clipped) highlights, i.e., no detail in the highlights. Not good. But note that the sun is so bright that it will spike at the right wall. A histogram hitting the left wall indicates underexposure with blacks clipped, meaning no detail in the shadows. Not good. Mostly. Now revel in your new histogram expertise.

Roger M. wrote insisting that the ISO of 10000 of last week's photo of the week is a typo. It's not! However, he's right to question the number. An ISO that high is almost always unacceptably degraded. Generally speaking, an ISO higher than about 1500 will begin to show noise. Image noise appears as random specks and when excessive, significantly degrades image quality. At 10000, there should be so much digital noise that it should look like it was snowing.

At an ISO of 10000, why isn't there noise apparent in the photo? The secret is deft post-processing (editing). With two computer software programs and and two plugins, I utilize a three-step process to eliminate as much noise (image specks) as possible. But the process requires patience because noise reduction typically decreases image sharpness and tends to dull detail. The process is like a do-si-do dance, a delicate balance of noise reduction while maintaining image detail and contrast. Not always easily accomplished. Get it all right and voila, a magnificent image sans noise.

Even in problematic event light, I can usually maintain a shutter speed sufficient to compensate for camera shake, and hold the aperture at f/8 through f/11 for depth of field and not worry about how high in ISO auto mode it has to go for a proper exposure because I'm can usually salvage the image from excessive noise in post-processing. Keyword: Usually. It doesn't always work.

Photo of the week is steam engine #14 heading for the Santa Clara Valley Railroad Historical Society's turntable during a media photo op. Happy photoing!

Send comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotgraphy@earthlink.net

At last night’s city council meeting William Foley, Director of Ventura County Health Care Agency, spoke concerning the assistance needed to continue operations of Santa Paula Hospital, and its importance to the communities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Piru.

Councilmembers Manuel Minjares and Mark Austin were appointed to serve on the Santa Paula Hospital Steering Committee.

A presentation was given to Council by William Foley, Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) Director, concerning assistance needed to continue operations of the Santa Paula Hospital.

Several Fillmore residents spoke to the Council concerning the importance of the Santa Paula Hospital. The Hospital was said to be running $9 million in the red this past year. It is recognized as a critically important medical facility for Fillmore, Piru, and Santa Paula.

Council approved the award of contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc. for the construction of the Neighborhood Street Resurfacing and Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Repair Spec No. 18-04 as reduced to eliminate slurry seal work by deleting bid item nos. 9 and 10.

City Council amended the existing three-year contract to expire on June 30, 2020, to increase the not-to-exceed amount of $2,460,000 to Willdan Engineering, Inc. for City Engineering Services, as an alternative to the staff recommendation.

Council agreed to receive the proposed addition of the Small Wireless Facility fees to the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services; Conduct a public hearing and obtain public comments concerning the proposed new SWF fees to the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services. After receiving public comments, close the Public Hearing and commence City Council discussions; and Adopt City Council Resolution 19-3723 to approve the new SWF fees to be added to Exhibit E of the Schedule of Fees and Charges for City Services.

8-E PUBLIC HEARING: RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
TO ADOPT AND APPROVE: 1) INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE, ALLEYWAY
VACATION, LOT MERGER AND LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT, DENSITY BONUS, AND
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 77 AFFORDABLE
WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF MOUNTAIN
VIEW STREET AND HWY 126 AND LAND USE AND 2) CITY-REQUESTED ZONING
RE-DESIGNATIONS FOR ADJACENT PROPERTIES were approved.
8-F The first reading to introduce Ordinance 19-912 amending and adding FMC sections under Chapter 15.25 regarding graffiti enforcement and cost recovery and finding of exemption from CEQA was completed.
8-G City Council approved a request to increase the budget to provide interpretation services at City Council meetings. The increased cost, to the original $4,200, is $3,300.
8-H Council approved Ventura County Animal Services contract.
8-I Council approved the amendment to the contract with Kimley Horn and authorized Mayor Diane McCall to sign this contract.

Nova Storage has completed its construction and is holding a Grand (Re)Opening on Thursday, June 20, 2019, from 12pm to 2 pm. Ribbon cutting ceremony will be followed by delicious food, fun photo booth and fabulous prizes, including gift cards, Dodger tickets, FREE Storage and much more! Come join the fun!! Nova was founded in 1978 when San Fernando native Larry Layne opened North Valley Storage in Mission Hills beside the I-5 Freeway. Nova’s second property opened in the mid-1980’s, in Sylmar on Foothill Blvd. The company later expanded into new locations in Downey, South Gate, Lynwood and Gardena. Throughout its 38 years of operating in diverse communities in Los Angeles County, Nova has made a commitment to investing in the communities it serves by supporting local schools, chambers of commerce, hospitals, and service organizations through sponsorship, referral programs, membership, charitable donations, and volunteer efforts. Last year Nova sponsored the boys CIF soccer champs and continues to support the Fillmore High School sports programs. Nova Storage Fillmore is their seventh facility. Nova now has over 5,000 tenants who can make online reservations and pay their bill on NovaStorage.com, and enjoy individually alarmed units, tenant protection and now, at some facilities, individual text alerts for unit entry. To learn more about Nova Storage, visit www.NovaStorage.com

Former Fillmore City Budget Consultant John Wooner

[Courtesy ABC News, Bakersfield]

MCFARLAND, CA - May 14th is when McFarland City Manager John Wooner's wife reported Wooner missing. Wooner was last seen driving a city issued Dodge Durango. Family says he was last seen visiting his father's grave at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bakersfield.

Last week the City Council voted Janet Davis the interim City Manager.

“You can imagine this is a very difficult time for the family," said Davis. "It’s a very difficult time for the employees that worked with Mr. Wooner on a daily basis and in his absence we are leading the way he would like us to lead and taking care of the community, and taking care of the citizens.”

On Tuesday evening, the McFarland City Council called a special closed session meeting. Wooner's position as City manager was on the agenda and who will continue managing his responsibilities.

“The City Council hasn’t made any decisions about going forward with a City Manager," said Davis. "I’m still the interim City Manager and we’re staying on top of city business. It’s a very busy time of the year for us.”

The Bakersfield Police are still handling the investigation into Wooner's disappearance. As of Tuesday, they say he is still classified as missing.

If you have any information on Wooner's whereabouts you're encouraged to call BPD at 327-7111.