Above and below, a military truck damaged by a 152 mm artillary shell in Afghanistan.
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I just watched the You Tube, “Do You Remember Me” video by Lizzie Palmer in this weeks online Fillmore Gazette. And, at the same time I received the below communication and photos from United States Army Staff Sergeant Gilbert Zavala who is serving in Afghanistan and soon to rotate home. Both the video and SSgt Gilbert Zavala’s email awakened me to how real it is that we have young men and women from both the communities of Fillmore and Piru serving so far away from home in some very dangerous places. Even though I write about these young men and women often for The Fillmore Gazette I too get lulled into the small town language of how we know them and who their family members are here at home. Their links to us back at home are interesting, but what they are doing away from home is should be much more important to all of us.

Not long ago I received another email from SSgt Gilbert Zavala that outlined a terrible firefight his unit had been in where two other soldiers had been killed, others wounded, and only SSgt Gilbert Zavala and one other soldier had survived unscathed. I chose not to write about it at that time because I felt it may be to disturbing. But, I now feel that it may be important for all us to be reminded that these young men and women from our community are in harms way daily while they serve our Country to hopefully protect all of us from the harm others are trying to place before us. We should always try to remember them, appreciate them and thank them and their families every opportunity we can for their service, and sacrifices they make for us. Their service is truly heroic! They are the true American Heroes in our lives and communities; not rap singers, sports, or Hollywood celebrities who seem to get so much more attention.

As you have noticed in each weeks Gazette there is a list of all the men and women known to me who are now serving in the military, in all branches of the military. Some I have written about and some I haven’t. If you know them, or a member of their family please take the time to thank them for their service and their sacrifices. I know they will appreciate knowing you care.

Also, you will soon be made aware of a program to honor these young men and women by our community: On Central Avenue their will be banners on the light poles with the names of those young men and women from the Fillmore/Piru communities currently serving in the military. This is an effort begun by Virginia de la Piedra, in conjunction with the City of Fillmore, Fillmore Unified School Board, Veterans of Foreign War and the Fillmore Sunrise Rotary as another way to say thank you and to honor those that are currently serving.

Here is the email I received from SSgt Gilbert Zavala:
“Hello Everybody, It's been a while since I last wrote so here's an update.
My replacements are now in country and should be at my location soon. Hopefully our transfer goes quickly so we can get out of here smoothly. We went on a mission yesterday and just got back a little while ago. We got into a firefight with the Taliban, got 4 enemy KIA and we suffered 1 Afghan police KIA and 1 Afghan security force soldier wounded. I worked on the gun shot wound victim with the medic since we were on the same truck, unfortunately the Afghan Police officer suffered a deep internal wound and we were unable to save him. The next
morning we didn't really fight at all; the Taliban just watched us and I think they didn't have enough ammunition. We later had a truck stuck in the mud and so we had to do recovery operations. When we trying to get the truck out, my truck broke the towing line. I got out and picked up the pieces and removed the pins. After that, the truck was going to move out of the way and I didn't get back in the truck and so it moved about 50 ft forward. When the truck was about to crest the little knoll it hit an IED, a 152 mm artillery shell and blew of the front passenger side tire and put a hole into the engine. No-one was injured, just bumps and bruises. There was another IED found about 15ft in front of the truck and to the left side (driver side) this time. It's pretty much my last mission so we went out with a bang I guess. That's pretty much it, same old stuff, different day.
Well talk to you all later.
Gilbert”

Thank you SSgt Gilbert Zavala for your service and sacrifices and thank you the family of SSgt Gilbert Zavala the sacrifices you have made and will continue to make. SSgt Gilbert Zavala is truly an American Hero!

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“Construction is coming along smoothly,” said Public Works Director Bert Rapp of Fillmore’s 80% completed Water Treatment Plant. The Gazette staff got a sneak peek at how it all works last week, and the plant will be open for public tours in March 2009.

Rapp pointed out that the most complicated part of the construction is starting up the plant. The plant must be working properly by September 9, 2009. In March, the plant will process clean water for a two or three week basic test of the system. In April or May, the plant will begin operating.

The wastewater enters the plant through underground pipes and is split into two channels. The wastewater goes through a coarse screen which removes larger pieces of junk. The junk goes into dumpsters. All of the dumpsters are expected to be emptied weekly. The plant is designed to take advantage of the electric company's varying rates. The plant must run constantly to maintain operational bacteria levels, but equalization basin storage will allow the plant to store some wastewater to be processed when the electric company's rates are lowest. After going through a coarse screen, the water is either stored or continues the process. The concrete basin in which the water is stored is coated with a yellow protective material that will protect the concrete for 20 to 30 years.

The hydrogen sulfide gas is kept out of the water to minimize corrosion. Every portion of the processing plant which has the potential to stink will not release odors because the air will be suctioned away by blowers to a biofilter containing wood chips which will remove the sulfides and any other odor-producing materials from the air. The blower room is noisy, so it vents out noise toward the highway. There are three beds of deodorizing wood chips. The wastewater then goes to a grit classifier, which is a seven or eight foot deep cone. Gravity and the shape of the cone cause the water to spin. Sand and other grit collects in the bottom and is pumped into a dumpster. The wastewater passes through fine screens. The screens are self-cleaning and can capture materials even as small as hair.

After passing through fine screens, the water enters the headworks for the oxidation ditches, which remove nutrients. The oxidation ditches include three different types of bacteria in different sections: anaerobic (without oxygen), hybrid, and aerobic. Air-flow pipes in the bottom of the aerobic section ensure that the bacteria have plenty of oxygen. The wastewater passes through membranes to a screw-press for dewatering. The biosolids are converted into pellets off-site by Toland.

The treated water goes into a water holding tank, and is distributed for public irrigation of schools and parks, or percolated back into the ground. Unlike the current water treatment plant, this plant will not discharge any water into the river. Not having river discharge avoids costly complications.

Besides plant buildings, the site contains a maintenance building, and an office building with a lab.

Central Avenue in downtown Fillmore was under construction this year from March 10th through October. Downtown store owners who patiently struggled through the year are hopeful despite a tough economy.

On October 17, 2008, the Fillmore City Council held a special meeting, at the request of downtown merchants, to explore options for increasing business in downtown Fillmore. Business owners described their struggles, complained about the construction on Central, and asked for help in the form of increased signage and a "shop local" campaign. At that meeting, the Council decided to adhere to the previously agreed upon construction blackout period, which started in November and is scheduled to continue for the rest of 2008. Since then, the City has provided directional banners on the sidewalk between the railroad and City Hall, decorated Central with red banners and lights, and is in the process of placing large signs near Highway 126 that would direct passersby to "Historic Downtown: antiques; specialties; museum; restaurants; winery; train rides; gun shop; services; ice cream; toys." The City has also aired “shop local” commercials on Channel 10, and printed up “shop local” decals. Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels commented that a citywide vision is needed for long term improvement.

Mirage and Mimstar, both located on the corner of Central Ave. and Santa Clara St., possibly suffered the most from construction. Not only were they affected when their portion of Central was closed, but construction equipment was parked in a lot next to theirs on Santa Clara St. Shirley Wright, owner of Mirage, said that business was the worst she had seen in 25 years, but that Christmas shoppers and an open road have helped. Wright and Karen Thayer, owner of Mimstar, explained that many of their customers were unable to walk far, and customers feared that cars parked near the corner would be hit by construction equipment or towed. Some customers thought that the building had been closed during construction, and many were unwilling to navigate through construction obstacles, according to Thayer. Wright said that the construction was so noisy that shoppers could feel the vibrations, and it ruined the shopping experience for customers who had braved the conditions. Thayer said that things started to turn around for Mimstar after Thanksgiving. Because she provides less expensive more personal gifts, her store is very popular in these tighter economic times. Some of her customers have told her that they are not going to the mall this holiday season.

Andrew Whaley, owner of Coffeeboy, expressed frustration but is incredibly optimistic about the potential of downtown Fillmore. The construction on Central started soon after he opened his coffee shop. Besides construction, he blames the seemingly uninhabited properties from Highway 126 up the initial block of Central, which obscure the entrance to downtown. He noted that many Fillmore residents who commute to jobs outside Fillmore visit downtown too infrequently to have any awareness of shopping opportunities here. He believes that Fillmore should learn how to grow more successful downtown business from other small towns that have thrived. Whaley has seen a slight increase in customers coming in off the highway since October, the last month of construction before the blackout period. CONTINUED »