It gives the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce a great deal of pleasure to announce the recipients of the community awards for 2009. The Chamber feels it is an honor to recognize these hard working individuals for their time and efforts, which help to make Fillmore “The last best Small Town in Southern California.”

For her dedication, volunteerism, contribution to our city, the community has selected Sarah Hansen Citizens of the Year.

Due to his their hard work, dedication, and all the contributions to the City of Fillmore, Otto and Sons Nursery has been selected as Business of the Year.

The Fillmore Unified School District has selected Amanda Hernandez, as Student of the Year, due to her high level of personal motivation.

As a result of their outstanding service to the community of Fillmore, Brian Hackworth has been chosen, by the Sheriff’s Department for Officer of the year.

Billy Gabriel has been selected by the Fire Department for Firefighter of the Year.

The Chamber of Commerce, wishes to invite the community to attend the Annual Awards Banquet to be held at the El Pescador Restaurant 1305 Ventura St ( Hwy 126) Thursday April 29, 2010 starting at 6:00 PM. Tickets are available at Chamber office 557 Ventura St. at $ 20.00 each. Evelyn can be reached at 524-0351.

The Gazette will be delivered one day late next week, April 29th edition. So look for it on the stands Thursday evening and in your mailbox Friday afternoon!

Trustees of the Fillmore Unified School District have awarded the bid for improving the flooring at the new Sierra High School site to Green Polishing Solutions. They will be leveling and polishing the existing concrete floors and all finished flooring as a portion of the building rehabilitation and modernization at the school, at 615 Shiells Drive.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mike Bush said that, “This floor is more durable and less expensive than carpet. It is similar to Terrazzo tile and very safe.”

The board also approved the construction agreement between Griffin Homebuilding Group, LLC and HVP Residential Development Company and Hearthstone Multi-Asset Entity CLP which will put in the roads and sidewalks for the new Rio Vista Elementary School. The District has $6 million dollars for the project, but the money will not be released until the work is completed.

A major item of the evening was a facilities update for Piru Elementary School. Rita Avila, a Charter petitioner, addressed the board. She wants the board to publish spending records for Piru School.
At the last board meeting another proponent of the Charter School effort, Adrianne Thiesing told the trustees that she had sent an appeal packet to the State Board of Education in Sacramento claiming there were multiple violations of the Williams Act at the Piru School. Board members discussed in depth the attention that had been given to the fire alarm system, the intercom system and the playing field. Board President Tony Prado said he walked the field to observe the condition. The complaint filed with the State said there were gopher holes in the field. “I think playgrounds are up to par,” Prado said. “I didn't feel endanged. Our kindergarten playground equipment looked nice to me. In comparison to Moorpark and Santa Paula fields ours look very nice.” A consultant hired by the County Schools Office had earlier reported to the FUSD that an inspection of Piru School found that “The condition of the facilities does not pose an emergency or urgent threat to the health and safety of pupils or staff.” Prado added, “Every board member is concerned about the safety of every child and staff members in every school.”

Thiesing thanked the board for CONTINUED »

On April 17, 2010 at about 8:54 pm, a major injury traffic collision involving a Ventura County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle and a GMC pickup truck occurred on SR-126 west of Timber Canyon Rd.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy William Meixner and his partner Deputy Beau Rodriguez had just completed a traffic stop on eastbound SR-126 near Willard Rd. The deputies were traveling eastbound west of Timber Canyon Rd. when a red GMC pickup truck made a sudden left turn out of a driveway directly into the path of the patrol vehicle. Deputy Meixner attempted to avoid a collision with the GMC by applying his brakes and steering to the left. Deputy Meixner was unable to avoid the collision and the front end of the patrol vehicle struck the left side of the GMC. The GMC overturned ejecting the driver, Mayra Tellez age 22 of Santa Paula. The GMC came to rest on its left side in the two way turn lane on SR-126. The patrol vehicle traveled northbound across SR-126 and struck a guardrail. The patrol vehicle came to rest on the westbound right shoulder. Tellez’s boyfriend, Jose Velasquez Diaz age 27 of Santa Paula, was the passenger and was able to climb out of the vehicle after the collision. The two deputies were trapped in the patrol vehicle and had to be extricated by the fire department.

Both deputies and Tellez sustained major injuries in the collision were transported by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center. Diaz was transported to Community Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

SR-126 was closed from Hallock Dr. to E St. in Fillmore while the CHP investigated the collision. Traffic was detoured to South Mountain Rd. The roadway was opened at 2:20 am. The collision is still under investigation.

Mark Pilkington, White, Male, 5'8", 180, 60 years old, brown and gray hair in a mullet style, brown eyes.

On April 18, 2010 at approximately 8:00 p.m., members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team searched an area of the Santa Rosa Valley with the use of their K-9s. The Search and Rescue Team’s K-9s are trained in the detection of human remains. During the search, a body was located and was positively identified as Mark Pilkington. Mark Pilkington’s body was found in an open space of land west of Orions Flight Way in the Santa Rosa Valley.

A preliminary finding revealed Mark Pilkington committed suicide by a single gunshot to the head. Mark Pilkington’s body was taken by personnel from the Ventura County Coroner’s Office, and an official cause of death has not been determined pending the autopsy.

Mark Pilkington’s next of kin was notified as well as the adult female victim of this past Friday’s incident.

Location: Open space west of Orions Flight Way within the gated community of Santa Rosa Highlands, Camarillo, Ca. 93021.

Date & Time/ RB#: April 18, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. / 10-9095

Unit Responsible: East County Major Crimes Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of Residence Age
(S) Pilkington, Mark Thornton Moorpark, Ca 60

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Jon R.Smith
Follow-up Contact: Detective Jon R. Smith (805) 494-8216
Date of Release: April 19, 2010
Approved By: Capt. Ron Nelson

Roger Keller, owner Nannette Keller Fashion.
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Fillmore Police Chief Tim Hagel praises the on-going program for properly disposing of all sorts of unused and unwanted drugs.
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Gary Creagle poses for the press.
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Gary Creagle gives his speaking time to Brian Sipes during Tuesday's council meeting.
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Public Forum
Fillmore City Council met Tuesday, April 13, 2010. It was highlighted with an emotional condemnation from Roger Keller, reiterating the damage Measures H & I have wreaked on his north Fillmore business, Nannette Keller Fashions. Keller deliberately addressed Measure supporters Mayor Patti Walker, Councilman Jamey Brooks and Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn, pointing his finger at them, saying the Measures rendered his property worthless.

Prescription Drug Turn-In Program
In only three months of operation, the Prescription Drug Turn-In program held at the Police Station has yielded 32 lbs of unwanted prescription drugs which it then properly disposes. With its no-questions-asked policy of accepting everything from baby aspirin to narcotics, the program helps to make households safer. “It’s been a huge success,” said Chief of Police Tim Hagel, thanking the City Council and citizens of Fillmore for their support.

Presentations
Brian Sipes of Market Mortgage presented the Senior Center with a $500 donation. Senior Center Board President Marie Wren accepted the gift, earmarking it for the Center’s salad bar program.

Senior Center Business and Discussion Items
Senior Center Board President Marie Wren spoke of the Center’s growth from serving 100 visitors per month at its inception two years ago to over 800 last March. Its salad bar is not part of the subsidized federal nutrition program. Wren had estimated it would cost about $25,000 annually, but the program has expanded to being held both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Funding comes from the Redevelopment Agency, and the Fillmore Women’s Service Club provides $100 monthly. Wren encouraged donations of avocados and spring garden vegetables to support the salad bar. Wren noted that the Senior Center, serving citizens over 55 and offering subsidized programs for citizens over 60, has only two paid employees and is otherwise run by volunteer efforts.

Wren also announced the need of various upgrades for the Fillmore Senior Center, including 50 new dining room chairs, restroom renovations, and especially automatic access doors for visitors with walkers and wheelchairs.
Senior Treasurer Dave Roegner announced that the Senior Center’s computer program has graduated 60 students thus far. Classes, held Mondays 10-11:30 am, include learning how to operate the computer, using the mouse, navigating the Internet, making and saving files, and keyboarding. He invites interested seniors to attend the “open class” held Thursday from 10:00 to 11:30 am for individual help. The lab now boasts a set of eight Mac computers, a projector, and laptop. Roegner is considering to put on a Paintshop Pro class and hopes to acquire more ergonomic individual computer desks.

City Council Business Items
Business License Fee Prorating
Transitional Finance Director Anita Lawrence recommended CONTINUED »

Members of the Fillmore Unified School District Board met jointly with the North Fillmore Neighborhood Committee Tuesday night in the FUSD board room.

District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney told the board that he attended the recent State Board of Education meeting in Sacramento where the Piru Charter School application was being heard. Sweeney said that parent support for keeping Piru School under FUSD control was overwhelming. He told the gathering that parents paid for buses to go to the hearing. He said Piru School is a neighborhood school and the center of the town. “A charter takes away local control,” Sweeney added.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush said the district would lose $7,500 per student if the Charter School is approved. “For those students who want to come here we will have to make investments to accommodate them,” Bush said. Tony Prado, President of the Board said, “Parents are upset because Charter supporters are saying that the Fillmore District is influencing parents, but we are not. If the majority of parents want the Charter, we will accept that.”

Superintendent Sweeney said they've reached an agreement with the certificated and classified employees. Both groups have agreed to work five fewer days next year. Class sizes will increase only by one student. He added that there will be a one-year delay in buying math books. Fillmore Unified School District Teachers' Association President Theresa Marvel told the board that the teachers had ratified the agreement and presented the board with a signed copy. “I thank you very much for supporting our students,” she added.

Under the Power of One agenda CONTINUED »

[Opinion Editorial by Mary Ford]
The Piru Charter Petition was approved 5-2 by the California Advisory Commission on Charter Schools at a hearing on April 6, 2010 in Sacramento. The Commission Chair, Beth Hunkapiller, explained that the legal duty of the Advisory Commission is to determine if the charter petition meets the sixteen required elements. The petition must contain an appropriate educational plan and a budget that is balanced. The charter petitioners and administrators of the Fillmore Unified School District then gave their presentations. Both presentations were followed by questions from the commissioners. Questions to the petitioners were mainly about enrollment and the budget. Questions to the Fillmore District administrators mainly focused on their denial of the charter. Superintendent Sweeney responded to many of the questions by saying, “Ask the parents; they will tell you.” It seems that Mr. Sweeney was oblivious to the fact that the commissioners wanted the superintendent’s professional assessment. In continuingly suggesting that the parents be asked their questions, he embarrassed himself. About fifty people, mostly opponents of the charter, addressed the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting. After public deliberation, the vote was taken. Except for the public comments, all proceedings were bilingual. The last step in converting Piru School to Piru Charter School will be the approval of the California Department of Education in May.

It is unfortunate that many Piru parents do not understand that they are being offered a wonderful gift. Piru Charter School will still be their school. It will be a better school with good programs and more money to spend for their children’s education. The petitioners are dedicated, wonderful teachers. Piru Charter petitioners are great with curriculum. When they began, Piru was a very low performing school. With a team of talented educators, they designed a curriculum for Piru that resulted in students succeeding and API scores soaring. The team that put together the Piru charter is the same group that developed alternative strategies that finally helped these students. There is no question that Piru Charter School will be a success.

The Fillmore Unified School District has waged an unrelenting mendacious CONTINUED »