The Sales Tax Ballot Measure Informational Presentation, held Wednesday, October 5, addressed the City Tax Initiative, which will be voted on November 8, 2011. City Manager Yvonne Quiring gave a presentation on where the City stands financially and what impact the tax increase will have if passed and what to expect if it doesn’t. About 15 people attended the meeting, many with questions for the Council.

The presentation began with explaining the sources of revenue used to supply the General Fund. Quiring gave a breakdown: Property Taxes ($1.9m), Sales Tax ($670k), Fees for Services $468k (approx. $200k development related), Franchise Fees ($331k) License and Permits ($147k), Grants ($99k), TOT ($65k), Fines and Forfeitures ($62,500).

Next was what services are provided by the General Fund: Police ($3.1m), Fire ($785k), Parks ($100-$150k), Recreation and Pool subsidy ($71 pool $29 rec.), Finance/City Attorney/City Manager/City Council, Community Development (Planning), Public Works (streets, trees, sidewalks).

Quiring explained that over the past couple of years the cost of housing has gone down and with that so have property taxes, cutting into some of the revenue the City once received. Adding to the problem are increases in the cost of both pension and Sheriffs services. Quiring remarked “We went into the year with literally nothing.” The city has cut $2.9 million in costs and used its reserves over the last two years to balance the budget which decreased the General Fund 40%.

On June 1, 2011 Fillmore cut CONTINUED »

Bobby Castenada and Diane Volker

With the Local Fillmore Economy looming, many resources have been DRAMATICALLY depleted. A Recreational Resource that comes to mind is our own Fillmore Senior Center. Many Seniors have already adjusted to living on a fixed income. They look forward to enjoying their "Golden Years" in having fun, being active with friends. On October 7th, 2011 the local Carnales Motorcycle Club- East County Chapter, donated a $600 Check to the Fillmore Senior Center. By holding an Annual Fundraiser they were able to raise this money in hopes of helping out the Senior Center. Support Your Local Carnales Motorcycle Club! Pictured above Bobby Castenada and Diane Volker.

(l-r) Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino and School Board Member Virginia De La Piedra.

Changes are coming to the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) and to schools throughout the country. These changes were discussed at the October 4, 2011 school board meeting by Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson and will be implemented in all California schools. They are a new standard in teaching that the California State Board of Education adopted on August 2, 2010. The new Standards for English-language arts and mathematics called the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and will be phased in over the next 2 to 4 years. The CCSS are changes for kindergarten through 12th grade that establish clear and consistent education standards along with a common method to measure and report the performances of all students with a common understanding of what students are expected to learn. The Standards are not a curriculum. They are a clear set of shared goals and expectations and were developed in collaboration with teachers and school administrations with the goal to better prepare students for success in college, career, and the competitive global economy.

Presently each state has its own set of standards, and consequently, what students are expected to learn varies from state to state. Most states, with the exception of Texas, Alaska, Montana, Nebraska, Minnesota and Virginia have adopted the Standards with an explicit agreement that no state would be required to lower its standards.
Local teachers, principals, superintendents and others will decide how the Standards are to be met. Teachers will continue to devise lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms.

Chrissy Schieferle, Principal of Mt. Vista Elementary, explained to the FUSD School Board that the standards also vary within the FUSD schools. She mentioned three students who recently changed schools within the district and upon entering the new classroom were completely out of sink with the lessons being taught. To address this, Schieferle along with Mary-Allyn Garcia, 5th grade teacher also from Mt. Vista, gave a presentation of the Pacing Guides Task Force.

The purpose of the Task Force is to develop a district-wide system of teaching and a core curriculum that works to identify the state standard requirements and provided each student the instruction needed to advance to the next level. The curriculum is presented in a calendar format and describes what the students should learn from each lesson: grammar, word analysis, reading comprehension, English structure. Each grade k-6 throughout the district receives the same lessons; with the lesson reinforced through review and building on what has already been taught.

The Task Force will have all the FUSD schools working together and will consist of 24 teachers, one teacher from every k-6 grade level throughout the district. Data will be collected and annualized to find which practices work best.

At the end of the presentation Dr. Alan Nishino, FUSD Superintendent, spoke to the board and the faculty about the need to get the students involved in their learning and not just have passive students, but the goal of having students who aggressively work at learning.

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Mr. and Mrs. Salomon Barajas celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary by a special Mass on Saturday October 1, 2011, officiated by Father Salvador and Deacon Ramon Rodriguez at Saint Francis of Assisi Church. Accompanied by family and friends the couple renewed their wedding vows, followed by a reception at the Veterans Memorial Building with plenty to eat and drink and dancing to the music of a local band, approximately 400 individuals attended the event.

Salomon Barajas was born in Michoacan, Mexico on January 8, 1916 and Eloisa Hurtado Barajas in Piru, Ca. on May 22, 1921. On one of those trips that Eloisa's parents made to Mexico, the couple met and soon after married on February 9, 1937. Out of this union came eight children: Angel, Maria Elena, Margarita, Pedro, Juana, Evaristo, Jose Luis and Ricardo. They also have 18 Grandchildren, 19 Great Grandchildren and one Great Great Grandchild.
The entire family immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in 1963, resided in Piru for about a year and then moved to Fillmore in 1964.

Salomon worked at Tips Restaurant in Castaic for over twenty years and at the time of his retirement was employed by P.P.G. Industries in Valencia. Eloisa was always a stay at home Mom and kept very busy raising their eight children.

The couple stated that their secret of a lasting relationship has been love and mutual respect, never fight to win an argument, instead learn how to compromise.

God bless our family and all those that have supported us for so many years. Thanks for all the memories you shall be in our hearts forever.

Curtis and Corey Cole are attending Concordia College in Minneapolis - St. Paul Minnesota together this year on athletic scholarships. With academics first on their minds, the two young from Fillmore also are playing Football for the Golden Bears.

Curtis is in his second year at Concordia, studying to be a teacher and a football coach. Last year, as a starting guard on the Offensive line, he found great success for the Golden Bears. He was named O-Lineman of the Week two times last year with the team going to the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs Missouri.

I asked if he likes going to Concordia. “Oh yeah, it is a great place to go to school, until it snows. I hate the snow! The people are nice here.” He is also hoping that the team will win the conference this year. “That is the number one goal for me this year; then getting to the playoffs.” I asked if he had any personal goals for himself. “I would like to make All-Conference this year, but I want the team to do good first.”

Curtis is in his senior year of College this year, and will graduate in May. Out of Fillmore High School in 2007, Curtis went to Arizona State, and Redshirted from the Sun Devils his first year there. Then he made a bold move to come back to Fillmore to transfer to Ventura College, where he made an instant impact on the Football Team. He was All-Northern Conference, Ventura J.C. Lineman of the year in 2008 and 2009, J.C. Rookie of the year in 2008, played in the Orange Coast Bowl in 2009, and most important of all he made The Dean’s List in 2009.

Curtis and Corey are CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

Monday, October 3rd – 7:00 p.m. Lions Scout House, 128 Sespe Avenue.

Wednesday, October 5th – 6:30 p.m. Town Hall Meeting – City Council Chambers, 250 Central Ave.

Tuesday, October 11th – 10:00 a.m. El Dorado Estates 250 E. Telegraph Road - Community Room

Tuesday, October 11th – 12:30 p.m. Fillmore Senior Center - 533 Santa Clara Avenue

For further information or questions, please call 524-1500.