The McCune Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the One Step Center in Fillmore to support the community organizing work of its teen members. The grant will support youth committees working to expand the community’s voice for social change to address transportation needs, clean-up of the Superfund site, and restorative justice responses by law enforcement.

The Foundation, based in Ventura, awarded a total of $360,000 to community organizing groups throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. A press release announcing the grants is attached. Please feel free to call with any questions.

Claudia Armann
Executive Director

McCune Foundation Announces Community Organizing Grants

The McCune Foundation has awarded more than $360,000 for community organizing and social justice initiatives in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Sixteen groups received grants in November to organize residents in voicing their concerns and solutions to improve public transportation, immigration policies, services for homeless families, and other vital issues.

“The goal of our grantmaking is to build leadership and power for those who haven’t traditionally had a voice in decisionmaking,” said Sara Miller McCune, the Foundation’s president and co-founder. “Grassroots groups supported by the Foundation are training and mobilizing youth, farmworkers, parents, and others.”

Grant dollars provided CONTINUED »

Last weekend Dec. 1, 2012 our Fillmore Condors Youth Cross Country team took 13 out of 32 of their athletes to compete at the AAU Cross Country Nationals in Rock Hill, South Carolina. A combination of the top 8 athletes of our conference in each division was put together to make one team that would represent as California Comets at Nationals. The best of the best were united as one to try and bring home the Gold Cup for the 3rd year in a row. Did the California Comets succeed? They sure did! They not only brought home GOLD but dominated in each division taking 1st place as a team were, Gremlin Girls, Gremlin Boys, Bantam Girls and Midget Girls. The rest of our divisions stood on the podium as well either taking 2nd or 3rd place. Overall scores were calculated and the California Comets came through as the #1 team overall. Coordinators, coaches, parents and the athletes all chanting "THREE-PEAT" as they ran to the podium to receive their Gold Cup! California Comets are the team to watch out for every year and this is known the minute they step on that course. We are proud that Fillmore has such talent to represent with the help of their coaches that mold and prepare them all season long.

We would like to thank those who sponsored our Fillmore Youth Condors Cross Country athletes either by donating or attended our fundraisers. You all contributed in helping them get all the way to South Carolina. It was an experience our athletes will remember for the rest of their lives. Thank you for being a part of it. GO CONDORS!

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

The rapidly approaching Christmas season brings forth a wealth of family traditions. Traditions as faithful as gravity. Hanging Christmas stockings. Putting out milk and cookies for Santa. The night on the town singing Christmas carols. Wrapping gifts to put under the lavishly decorated tree. Wait. Stop right there! The TREE! The all important TREE. The center piece of the Christmas holiday decorations. Its procurement deserves some serious consideration. Read on.

Of course... lots of tree lots sell nice trees. But have you thought about selecting and cutting your very own, personal Christmas tree? Aha... most likely you haven't. And most likely you're passing up an awesome opportunity to establish a new family tradition... presuming that it does not presently exist. Choosing and cutting your personal Christmas tree might become a tradition, youngsters and oldsters alike will talk about and treasure for ages.

People from all over Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties come to Fillmore to continue - or begin - their established Christmas tree tradition. Why shouldn't Fillmore families participate also? This fabulous tradition begins right here in Fillmore with a train ride on the Fillmore & Western Railway Christmas tree train. At the tree farm... everybody heads out into the field checking this tree or that tree until... THIS ONE!... the perfect Christmas tree is discovered. Sometimes a family vote may be appropriate to insure that indeed the perfect tree is found. Then the sawing begins. After the cutting... it's put on a tractor-drawn wagon to be taken to the shaking and wrapping stations and put aboard the train for the tip back to Fillmore. From there it promptly goes into the designated spot in your home.

Let's review. You go to the drugstore and buy a Christmas tree to take home to decorate. Whoa! How exciting is that? Now picture this: The kids are frolicking to and fro in a field of gorgeous, vibrant trees... seeking the ONE! And there... right there!... is YOUR special, delightful tree. Depending on the age of the kids... they might participate in the cutting. Otherwise dad or granddad gets involved. Maybe everybody gets involved because... after all... it's a family project. The tree is finally cut... and put on the wagon to be taken to the train for the ride home. In addition to the satisfaction of finding and cutting your very one Christmas tree... imagine the thrill and enjoyment everyone will experience by riding on the train. Imagine indeed!

Back home... the magical tree is put in its special place and decorated oh-so-beautifully. And an awesome Christmas family tradition is born. A treasure to behold for decades.

The Christmas tree trains run at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through December 16. No time to dilly-dally. Blink twice and Christmas will be here.

Another fun event for the kids... and tons of adults as well... is the North Pole Express. Riders on the Polar Express are encouraged to wear pajamas... yes P.J.'s... on the trip to the North Pole. You'll jump right into the Christmas spirit as carols are sung. Cookies and chocolate milk is served. And who do you think is waiting at the North Pole? Santa Claus! Oh what fun it is!!!

Details about the fun trains described and other trains are available at fwry.com or call 524-2546. And awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we gooooooo! Ho ho ho! (How could I resist?)

Girls Cross Country Team - Laura Garnica, Maria Villalobos, Kiana Hope, Jordyn Vassaur, Sofia Gallardo, Alexis Tafoya, Irma Torres, Briana Segoviano and Irma Trijillo.
Enlarge Photo

Coach Kimberly Tafoya received recognition from Board Member Garnica.
Enlarge Photo

Recognition was given at Tuesday’s school board meeting to Robert Munoz for his effort, along with a group of volunteers, in refurbishing the memorial to 1st Lt. USMC Toby R. Gritz, killed in Vietnam in 1970, and Scott Douglas Ipswitch, a Fillmore High School student who died of Hodgkin’s Disease in 1976. Mike and Janey Munoz accepted the recognition for Robert who is attending college in Iowa.
Enlarge Photo

“Fillmore is ahead of the curve” is a direct quote from Fillmore Unified School District’s Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino speaking at the December 4, 2012 School Board Meeting. Nishino was referring to a partnership with De Vry University and Carrington College California in offering FUSD campus classes that go beyond advanced placement courses. Also on the agenda, the 2012 Audit, Student Representative’s Report and recognition of Fillmore’s CIF State Champions Division IV Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country and Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson gave a presentation on FUSD University which is a partnership between FUSD and De Vry University and Carrington College California. Advanced academic fully accredited and UC approved course material will be taught at two FUSD campuses, Fillmore High and Sierra Continuation, starting next month. De Vry offers Associate, Bachelor and Master’s Degree programs and has recently added more liberal arts to its technology based studies, similar to what is now offered at the University of Phoenix. Carrington offers certificate and Associate Degree programs with studies in healthcare, legal and technical fields. Except for the courses with a lab, most of the studies will be online with resource centers on campus. Nishino told the Board that the goal is to have dual enrollment which will give students college credit for classes taken at FUSD along with the possibility of students doing internships to explore their future work opportunities. The Dual Enrollment Classes include: ENG 112 Composition, ENG 135 Advanced Composition, Math 114 College Algebra, Math 190 Calculus Other classes offered include: BUSN 115 Introduction to Business, CIS 115 Logic and Design, NETW 202 Introduction to Networking, COMP 100 Computer Applications to Business, HIT 110 Basic Medical Technology, PSYC 110 Psychology WGD 201 Visual Design Fundamentals. Courses offered through Carrington College are: accounting, business, computer technology, criminal justice, dental assisting, graphic design, healthcare administration, health information technology, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, paralegal studies, pharmacy technology, renewable energy, sales and marketing, and veterinary studies. Davis said the “seed” money to fund the project will start at $50,000 and be a reimbursement of direct expenses. That amount is expected to cover about five students to start.

Also, Proposition 30 was discussed, how happy everyone in attendance was with its passage and that FUSD would not have to cut the expected $1.6 million out of its budget. But Assistant Superintendent Earl Davis reminded everyone that Proposition 30 does not guarantee one cent more toward schools or education and that the goal of Proposition 30 is to stabilize the State budget and that school funding is dictated by the State budget not Proposition 30.

“Everyone should be CONTINUED »