By Sue Zeider

On Monday, March 11, PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization) Fillmore Chapter GY installed their new officers for the 2019-2020 year in the Depot at the Fillmore Historical Museum. Installed were: Jan Lee, President; Mary Ford, Vice President; Carmen Zermeño, Recording Secretary; Susan Hopkins and Susan Cuttriss, co-Corresponding Secretaries; Martha Gentry, Treasurer; Barbara Peterson, Guard; and Bethany Carpenter, Chaplain.

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Written by Jan lee

This year, it will be 100 years since the Fillmore Flower Show began. However, there have not been 100 Flower Shows. There were a few years the show did not go on because of war. Another few years, there just weren’t enough workers to put the flower show together.

Linda Nunez shared the following information about how the Flower Show came back to life after a few years’ hiatus.

“In 2008, members of Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee began to talk about the Fillmore Flower Show which began around 1919 just after WWI had ended in November, 1918.

Some members knew that this long standing annual event had continued into the late 1990’s under the sponsorship of the Fillmore Garden Club, until leadership waned and expenses climbed.

The committee searched for people who had been involved, records and albums that would describe all the planning necessary, as well as props, banners and bottles for the cut flowers that were supposedly stored in local barns.

We discovered a treasure of information in the meticulously kept scrapbook belonging to Conway Spitler, who had been a chairman of the event, working years with his wife Tillie, to produce this valued community event with the Garden Club members. We learned that the event was so well thought of, that Sunset Magazine even sent a photographer and writer to gather information for an article that was published in their magazine. And we fostered a new “friendship” and enthusiasm with another former flower show chairman and former president of the Garden Club, Joanne King.

She had a beautiful scrapbook and left over ribbons and props in her barn! As the word spread, we had many others contact us with vases in their barns and a desire to help bring back this well loved event!

This gathering enthusiasm enabled us to collect bottles (thanks Cindy Klittich and the Boy Scouts who washed them), to obtain judges’ commitments, to create brochures which Patrick Maynard formatted, to secure the Senior Center (Active Adult Center) and to line up helpers for all the many tasks from publicity, to set up, and clean up. Otto & Sons Nursery provided rose bushes for decoration and for sale which gave us a donation for each sale. Asher Smith, a local student, added ambiance with lovely melodies on the violin and mandolin for the 2009 & 2010 shows.

Through these last years, hundreds of gardening enthusiasts, young and old, have enjoyed displaying the “fruit” of their labor and creative skills in arranging displays, bouquets, and carefully groomed single stem cut flowers at the flower show. Live music continues to add ambiance.

Vision 2020, Civic Pride Committee is proud to have revived this tradition that helps people learn the pleasures of gardening, the pride of entering a show and the sustaining power of valuing the beauty around us.“

As you walk around the Flower Show this year, notice everything that is in the room. There is a dedicated group of volunteers who store, clean, haul, set up, take down and just generally work to make sure everything is ready for people to bring their flowers, plants and other creations to share with the public. It is truly a labor of love. And it is not just the Flower Show. The Civic Pride Committee also makes sure the planters around town have plants. They try to coordinate with the City if there are areas that needs to be “spruced up”. Fillmore is a beautiful city for many reasons. We hope many of you will join your neighbors at the Fillmore Flower Show, April 13 and 14, 2019 at the Active Adult Center on Santa Clara Street. Go to fillmoreflowershow.org for rules, times, divisions and photos.

Bob Crum

After camera talk, time to delve into the idyllic delectation of philosophy. Fear not; it's much better than fruitcake!
I've previously written about 'photographer's eye,' the ability to 'see' beyond merely looking, even without eyewear! But there's another important aspect of photography that I have not yet addressed. So let's embark on a journey into the esoteric realm of 'Mindfulness Photography.'

I recently ventured to a secret destination on the coast. The Fillmore sky looked promising for a glorious sunset. Off I go camera in tow. Phooey! Excessive cloud cover on the horizon prevented the sun from lighting up the sky. Another conspiracy! Though a glorious sunset was not in the offering, I nevertheless made a few hundred photos. Like always, to the story there's more so let's explore.

Regardless of the destination, a mindfulness phenomenon is unavoidable.

Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of the surroundings on a moment-to-moment basis. Said otherwise, mindfulness is awareness while resisting the adverse instinctive normalcy of conceptualizing.

John Suler presents his interpretation in his essay ~Photographic Psychology: Image and Psyche. “Even though they may not specifically use the word “mindfulness,” many of the great masters talk about photography as awareness of the present moment in which we forget ourselves. We let go of the goals, desires, expectations, techniques, and anxieties that make up who we are in order to immerse ourselves into the experience of seeing more fully. We open up our receptive awareness to what the world offers us. Rather than being some objective observer trying to capture something, we become the being that is in communion with the environment, that is IN the world. We’re not looking for anything in particular. We’re not going anywhere in particular. We’re not expecting or trying to control anything in particular. Instead, we’re wandering, perhaps rather aimlessly, without a goal or purpose. We’re fully and naively open to the possibility of the unexpected, the unique, the moment when things come together… to the flow of life. Under these conditions, when we let go of the self, “it” appears to us. We don’t find and take the picture. The photograph finds us. It takes itself. We unite with the scene not so we can see a shot we want, but rather what the scene offers. The experience comes to us, and the photograph is simply the icing on the cake.”

That's what I experience, and enjoy, when I'm engaged in recreational photography. I don't flirt with superfluous goals. I prefer to be open to the exciting possibility of the unexpected because the unexpected always happens anyway. (Think weather!) Communion with the environment (sans gnats) is ecstasy! Easier to understand once experienced.

With patience, awareness and serendipity, photos inevitably find me. (The hawk!) I need only show up! The only mental interloper allowed is the intellect required to program the camera. Enough for now. Watch this space for more on this exciting topic.

The feature photo is another example of 'seeing' with a photographer's eye. The instant I saw it, I immediately recognized a photo op. I made this photo on a recent outing right here in Fillmore. It took several positional changes to get the right perspective. Care to guess how I made this photo? Contest! The first email I receive with the correct information about how I shot the photo or correctly describes the photo wins a single-scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream. Clue: Think perspective! Hurry! I'll be watching my inbox! Happy photoing.

Sent questions, suggestions or comments to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

Eric Manzano, 32, of Fillmore.

On March 2nd, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives from the Fillmore Police Department identified and arrested 32-year old Eric Manzano after determining he was responsible for setting at least one fire in the city of Fillmore.

During the last three months, the city of Fillmore has experienced a rash of fires to trash cans, porta potties, a shopping cart and three structures. These incidents occurred during the late night and early morning hours. The incidents were deemed to be suspicious in nature and all resulted in minor damage.

In the early morning hours on March 2nd, another fire was reported to a building at the Fillmore Historical Society, located at 350 Main Street. Detectives responded to investigate and discovered video footage captured a subject approach the building at approximately 3:30 AM. The images captured the suspect’s face and distinctive attire. Additionally, the surveillance video captured the suspect’s attempt to light a fire in several places on the building.

The surveillance video was shared with patrol deputies assigned to the Fillmore Police Department. Later that evening, an observant deputy saw Manzano in a public place and noticed he appeared to match the description of the suspect in the video. The deputy initiated a conversation with Manzano and detectives who were in the area investigating the arsons responded to assist in the contact and confirmed Manzano was the subject captured in the video. Furthermore, a search of Manzano found him in possession of items that linked him to the crime. Deputies also noticed that he displayed signs of drug use and they determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arrested for arson and drug related charges.

The investigation into the previous arsons is ongoing and Manzano remains a suspect in these crimes. The Fillmore Police Department is seeking the public’s help with information concerning the fires that occurred throughout the city between December and March.

Anyone with any information about these crimes is encouraged to contact Det. Meixner at (805)
947-9391.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for these crimes. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Prepared by: Sergeant Vince Alvarez
Approved: Captain Eric Tennessen

Jared Perez (Heritage Valley Blazers Track Club Rep) addressed the Fillmore Unified School District Board on Tuesday night regarding their decision to ban Easy-ups from sporting events. Easy-ups are standard equipment at outdoor events, providing shade relief from the sun, and weather relief from the rain. A first-aid station is also designated under an Easy-up canopy with ice, water, and medical supplies for treating heat exhaustion and other sport-induced injuries. FHS’s first swim meet of the season was cancelled on February 27th; timing sheets must remain dry, and Easy-ups were not allowed. Swimmers can compete in the rain providing lighting is not present.

Approve Amendment No. 2 to Employee Agreement with Dr. Adrian Palazuelos
The Governing Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Employee Agreement with Dr. Adrian Palazuelos.

Approve Second Interim Report through January 31, 2019, Including Amendments to the 2018-2019 Budget
The Governing Board received a presentation and approved the Second Interim Report through January 31, 2019. Presentation made by Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill.

Award Bid for Site-Wide Roofing Restoration at Mountain Vista Elementary School
The Governing Board awarded the bid as follows:
Project#: 2019-022
Project Description: Site-Wide Roof Restoration
Contractor: Midstate Sheetmetal, Inc.
Amount: $799,450

Adopt Resolution No. 18-19-11 to Approve Elimination of Classified Positions
The Governing Board adopted Resolution No. 18-19-11

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

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

In 2018, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office saw a 16-percent decrease in Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) crime statistics for Part 1 crimes (Homicide, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Theft and Arson) as compared to 2017. The data represents the information collected from the five contract cities and the unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff’s Office provides police services for the cities of Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks.

Only homicides had an increase from 2017 to 2018. This was due to the Borderline shooting where 12 people lost their lives at the hand of a lone gunman. The Sheriff’s Office had five reported homicides in 2017. However, that number rose to 18 in 2018.

Aggravated assaults had a 26-percent decrease, and there was a 24-percent decline in robberies. There were 236 aggravated assaults in 2018, which was down from 317 reported in 2017. Reported robberies fell from 117 in 2017 to 89 in 2018. Overall, violent crime across the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office jurisdictions saw a 21-percent decrease with a total number of 423 incidents, compared to 536 reported incidents in 2017.

Property crimes (Burglary, Theft, and Arson) continue to be our most common type of crime reported, and accounted for 89-percent of the reported crimes. In particular, there were 1578 reported petty thefts and 1017 reported grand thefts. Although both the reported grand and petty thefts number dropped from 2017, these reported crimes account for the greatest percentage of crime within our jurisdiction.

Grand theft was down 17 percent, and petty theft saw a 13-percent decrease in 2018. Arson had the greatest percentage decrease at 51 percent, with only 17 reported crimes compared to 35 in 2017.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents they can partner with us to reduce crime by reporting suspicious behavior or criminal activity by calling 9-1-1 or our non-emergency line at (805) 654-9511. We would also like to remind residents to lock their vehicles and not leave valuables visible inside.

For a copy of the full report go to https://www.venturasheriff.org/public-resources/crime-stats-public-info/

For questions on specific patrol area crime statistics, please contact:
Camarillo Police Department:
Commander Dave Murray: 805 388-5102
Fillmore Police Department:
Captain Eric Tennessen: 805 524-2233
Moorpark Police Department:
Captain John Reilly: 805 532-2705
Ojai Police Department:
Captain James Fryhoff: 805 646-1414
Thousand Oaks Police Department:
Commander Tim Hagel: 805 494-8265

Prepared by:
Captain Eric Hatlee
Approved by:
Assistant Sheriff Chris Dunn