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By Kimberly Rivers — Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
 Fillmore Unified School District Recently the non profit organization Californians Aware performed a “statewide public information audit” of several school districts in California. They were analyzing how those districts responded to requests for public information. In November 2010 Fillmore Unified School District was sent an email requesting publicly available information. FUSD received not only an “F” in this audit, but also a zero score for its complete lack of response to the written request. When asked to comment on the “F” grade FUSD Superintendent Jeff Sweeney indicated that he was contacted by a reporter for the Ventura County Star in late February to let him know that she was writing about the audit (“School District Public Access Rating a mixed bag” Cheri Carlson, Feb. 24 2011). “I was surprised to hear that we were given an “F” by the Californians Aware organization. I recounted our process, one that we had always used, and thought we had met the measure of our responsibility.” FUSD has required anyone requesting information to fill out a simple form in order for the District to process that request. District staff reviewed their emails and located the one from CalAware in November 2010. The emails indicate that staff followed the District policy of asking the requestor to complete the Districts form in order to receive information. Sweeney reports “We followed our normal process and sent the individual a request for public records form on December 13, 2009. We asked the individual to complete the form so that we could comply with the request. When we did not hear back from the individual, we assumed that she did not wish for the requested information.” Sweeney goes on to explain “As a follow up, I contacted our attorney to verify that we had followed proper protocol. She told me we had not. She told me that the requestor’s email sufficed for a written request. As a result, I have informed all of my staff that from this point forward, we are to honor email requests for public records.” |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
 Mayor Gayle Washburn presented outgoing Planning Commissioner Diane McCall with a proclamation for her service at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Enlarge Photo The March 8, 2011 City Council came with both good and bad news. On the Council’s agenda was an unexpected savings to the residents of Fillmore, but on the Redevelopment Agency’s (RDA) agenda the City may take a large financial hit. Agenda items included updates on the proposed community garden and dog park, extension of the employment position for Linda Pappas (Diaz), the second reading of the moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries for one year and the contract for street sweeping. The RDA items were a proposed revised Storefront Rehabilitation Program (SRP) criteria and the disposition of RDA property. The Council again, similar to the last meeting, addressed a loss to the RDA on property the agency extended financial backing. The question at this meeting was what to do with the property at 401 Arundell Circle, Unit 14 which the City now owns and wants sold. At the February 22, 2011 meeting the Councils asked that an update of the disposition of the property be presented at the next Council Meeting. On October 5, 2010 the RDA granted authorization for the property’s sale to a qualified household or an affordable housing developer. As of today the RDA has a total investment of $162,710 which includes the original down payment assistance loan of $40,000, acquisition cost of $106,500, rehabilitation and repair costs of $9,220 and payment of Homeowner Association dues from August 2009 through February, 2011. On October 27, 2010 a market value appraisal of $152,000 was given on the property, which is almost $11,000 less than the City has invested to date. The main factor preventing the sale is lack of available funding in the current economic climate. The property is part of a 26 unit project which is currently reported to be less than 51% owner occupied. Consequently, FHA and other federally funded loan instruments are not available to a potential buyer due to the low percentage of owners. City Manager Yvonne Quiring informed CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
 A minor accident occurred Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Central Avenue and Main Street. The cause of the incident was not available. No physical injuries were reported. Enlarge Photo |
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By Kimberly Rivers — Wednesday, March 9th, 2011
Fillmore Police 2010 Report: Captain Tim Hagel with the Ventura County Sheriff’s office comments “[We] will be challenged in 2011 as we strive to deliver the same level of public services [amidst statewide cuts]… we [continue] to rely on the community [to help] us.” According to Hagel Fillmore police responded to almost “6,000 calls for service… during 2010.” This includes a slight increase in actual crimes, 690 in 2010 compared to 688 in 2009, both of those years down from 743 crimes in 2008. Hagel reports “The biggest increase in crime categories [in 2010] were assaults due to gang activity and family issues.” He continues that the largest “decrease in crimes were in robberies, forgery and vandalism.” 2010 saw 182 counts of vandalism, nearly all graffiti. Hagel reports that there were two homicides in 2010, “one was gang related (gang on gang) and the other was a family dispute.” Hagel states “Our emphasis in 2010 and 2011 has been early gang intervention with teens and young children in the city. We have established a strong teen mentoring program with three local organizations; One Step A La Vez, Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters. We could not do our job without these organizations supporting our combined efforts with the Fillmore School District.” Fillmore’s Crime stats for 2010: Fillmore Fire 2010 Report: According to Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros “2010 was a very busy year for Fillmore Fire Department.” In addition to responding to 1017 calls for service, daily training on “basic [and advanced] life support skills”, and daily fire suppression skills practice, the firehouse restarted their High School Cadet program and implemented a brand new Fire Academy. Landeros states “This [Cadet] program offers high school students hands on experience [in a fire department].” Cadets work with “fire hoses, power tools, claim ladder, breathing apparatuses” as well as learning responsibility and “good work habits.” According to Landeros “[The Academy for new volunteer firefighters] is a more structured training program that we put our new recruits through before they… start working on an engine.” Landeros reports “Fillmore fire has started training with other fire Departments around the County (Santa Paula Fire, Oxnard Fire and Ventura County Fire).” Training with other departments provides a better environment for effective collaboration should Fillmore Fire be called to help another city or if another department is called to help in Fillmore. Landeros comments “As part of Fillmore Fire’s ongoing commitment to provide excellent customer service to the citizens [and businesses] of Fillmore…we send our Training Captain Billy Gabriel to…outside training… so he can come back and train [the entire] Department on the skills and techniques [mandated by the] State Fire Marshall.” Emergency Preparedness; Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard is responsible for updating and maintaining Fillmore’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC). Part of Maynard’s duties is to “keep up to date on …disaster programs [throughout the County] that will help Fillmore [in the event of a disaster].” Landeros reports “Fillmore Fire has officers training monthly to insure that when an emergency happens [officers are well prepared].” Some of the training involves; MCI (Mutable Casualty Incident, structure fire operations, and Hazmat. Landeros emphasized the importance of community involvement with helping in the event of an emergency. “We are continuing to provide our citizens with … valuable [CERT, Community Emergency Response Training].” The next training should begin in April. He encourages community members to get involved in “this great training.” |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, March 7th, 2011
Sheriff's department asks public for information
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On March 6, 2011, at about 1010 hrs, the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center received an anonymous call reference a reported cockfighting event taking place at 1766 Grimes Canyon Rd. in the unincorporated area near Fillmore. When deputies responded to the area, suspects fled on foot leaving their gamecocks and several vehicles abandoned at the location. Upon further inspection of the area, deputies found two (2) makeshift cockfighting arenas constructed of wood with blood stained panels and feathers strewn about the arena, indicative of recent cockfighting activity. Deputies also found approximately seventy (70) live gamecocks housed individually in cardboard transport boxes, and sixteen (16) dead gamecocks with obvious injuries consistent with being fought. The dead gamecocks found at the location were killed by suspects engaged in the illegal cockfighting event and in violation of Penal Code Section 597(a) – Animal Cruelty, a felony. Major Crimes Detectives and Fillmore Area Station Detectives responded to the rural area to conduct further investigation, and found various items of cockfighting paraphernalia that were seized as evidence. Among the evidence found at the location were razor sharp fighting blades, a scale used to weigh the gamecocks, and paperwork indicative of illegal gambling activity. Due to the aggressive nature of the gamecocks found at the location, Ventura County Animal Services was called to seize the gamecocks as evidence. Many of the live gamecocks had injuries consistent with being fought, and had to be humanely euthanized. An inspection of the gamecock carcasses revealed they suffered mortal wounds and still had fighting blades affixed to their legs. No suspects were arrested at the scene. This is an on-going investigation and persons with information are asked to call Ventura County Crime Stoppers. 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 this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Location: 1766 Grimes Canyon Rd., Fillmore |
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By Kimberly Rivers — Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
 (l-r) Board President Virginia De La Piedra, F.H.S. Band Leader Greg Godfrey, and Toni Doktor. Doktor was presented the Students First Award for her generous donation of a Baldwin Grand Piano valued at $10,000 to the District’s Music Program. Enlarge Photo At the regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 1 the Fillmore Unified Board of Education in their nearly last order of business, followed Superintendent Jeff Sweeney’s recommendation to “create more flexibility [in the budget]” by learning more about the option of “embedding” health education at the high school and middle school into physical education classes. The Board requested to hear from secondary PE teachers at a future meeting, but made no inquiry into hearing from the high school Health teacher who was in attendance at the meeting. This item was listed on the meetings agenda as an “Information/Discussion” item called “Graduation Requirements”. Currently Fillmore High School mandates that all students take one semester of Health in order to graduate. The State does not require this. In March 2008 the California State Board of Education developed Health Education Standards aligned with the mission to “encourage the highest achievement of every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.” While clearly describing the health standards that should be taught at each level the bill, Assembly Bill 689, does not require schools to follow the standards. According to the California State Education Core Standards (online at www.cde.ca.gove/be/st/ss/) “Students need health education.” The description of the standards emphasizes, “Health Education… addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of health [and] teaches students how to maintain and improve their health…[skills which] foster academic achievement, increase attendance rates and improve behavior at school.” The statement goes on to say “Quality health education programs help students achieve their highest academic potential.” Some of the standards outlined by the State include; “Analyzing influences, Accessing valid information, Interpersonal communication, Decision Making, Goal Setting, Practicing Health enhancing behaviors” and so on. Aspects of these standards include education on healthy eating, reproductive health, sex education and other information geared at preventing teen pregnancy and drug use. Sweeney indicated that he would ask the PE teachers to come before the Board to report how they can incorporate the Health education standards into their classes. If the Board chooses to eliminate the separate Health classes, this will mean that the elective section will be eliminated, and thus approximately 160 students who currently take that class every day will need to be placed in other classes, further increasing class size. The Board is faced with daunting cuts in state funding and has reportedly issued “pink slips” to site administrators and is preparing to issue more to staff throughout the district although the public has yet to see any Board discussion or evaluation of District administrative positions, salaries, compensation plans or attorney fees. During public comment CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
 The Miss Hollywood USA Pageant, which occurred on February 19th, became an exciting night for Fillmore when our very own Fillmore High School Senior Chloe Keller won the title of Miss Hollywood Teen USA. Competing in both evening gown and swimsuit competition, Chloe was selected over 11 other contestants. She will now have the opportunity to compete in the Miss California Teen Pageant later in the year. Photo courtesy KSSP Photographic Studios, the official photographer of the Miss Hollywood USA Miss and Teen pageants. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
 A Toyota Tercel veered off Highway 126 near Cavin Road Wednesday about 10 o’clock. It appeared that the driver over corrected on the rain drenched road, swerved over the curb and landed in the middle of the berm. No one among the driver and two passengers was reported injured. Each was removed by Fillmore and County fire department personnel, with an elderly man carried to an awaiting ambulance by wheelchair. The vehicle was secured from further slippage and did not appear to suffer any significant damage. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011
 The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards dinner, Thursday, February 24. The event was well attended and was enjoyed by many. Pictured (l-r): Firefighter of the Year, Bob Scott; Officer of the Year, Deputy Leonardo “Leo” Vazquez; Citizen of the Year, Ron Smith; Student of the Year, Claire Faith; and Business of the Year, Anthony and Bill Stoessel of CoachCraft. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
 Ron Smith, Citizen of the Year Ron is a longtime resident of Fillmore and Piru. He spent a good portion of his youth with his Grandparents, Lloyd & Evelyn Hill in Piru where Evelyn was raised atop Torrey Mountain. He attended Fillmore High School graduating in the Class of 1984. Ron has two children, Alyssa 26 and Sean 24. Ron resides in Fillmore with his Common-Law wife of 16 years, Laura. Ron is very committed to his community, but when he does get free time he enjoys long drives, RVing, motorcycle riding and yard sales. BOY SCOUTS SCOUT HOUSE FOUNDATION LION'S CLUB CITIZEN'S PATROL |