The letter below was sent to “Club Parents” on November 24, 2009
“Dear Club Parents, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley will be ending daily programming at Santa Paula Clubhouse, North Fillmore (Neil C. Schmidt Clubhouse), Fillmore Clubhouse, Rancho Sespe Clubhouse, and Las Piedras Clubhouse effective Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley regrets this action very much because our goals are to serve children and provide them with positive programs and activities. Club leaders are aggressively studying the best way to reevaluate our efforts in the Heritage Valley Community.
Thank you for your understanding of this difficult situation. We are hopeful that this will be a temporary closure as Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley has every intention of providing services to our communities' youth in the future.
Sincerely, Doug Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer, The Place For Kids”
No explanation was given for the surprise closing. A source has told the Gazette that a meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss the closure.

The Gazette received word from The Boys & Girls club on Wednesday afternoon that the Boys & Girls Clubs will be in operation on Monday, November 30th, 2009. Why the letter was sent out and what the future ramifications will be are unknown.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

22 year old (Victim)Sergio Juarez of Santa Paula said he had been in front of La Unica market on Old Telegraph at about 11pm Saturday, he was alone.
A male suspect approached him and demanded money.
Juarez turned to run off and the suspect attacked him with a knife.
Juarez ran away and the suspect fled.
Juarez went to Santa Paula hospital for knife wounds. He was listed in good condition.
The suspect is a Hispanic male, young looking / late teens to early twenties, short, with a shaved head.

City of Fillmore

Last Wednesday, November 11, 2009, a settlement agreement was signed between the City of Fillmore and Richard McKee, President Californias Aware, ending McKee’s lawsuit against the city. The Agreement contains the three items McKee demanded:

1. A public admission of the City Council's "errors;"

2. A 2-hour Brown Act retraining for the City Council offered by the City Attorney and McKee at a special meeting before the end of the year; and

3. Payment of McKee’s attorney fees and costs, totaling $6,000.

In return, McKee will dismiss the lawsuit.

McKee brought suit claiming the Fillmore City Council violated the Brown Act. Under the settlement, the city will issue a written statement admitting that Brown Act violations were committed at the August 25 council meeting.

The Ventura District Attorney’s office investigated CONTINUED »

Principals of four elementary schools updated the Fillmore Unified School District Board of Trustees on the academic progress of their schools Tuesday evening, November 17, 2009.

Talking about academic achievement, Piru Principal Leticia Ramos reported that their California State testing went up 52 points and they exceeded the statewide target for 2009. She noted that students are using computer lab time and she said there is a migrant homework assistance program, run by a teacher and a staff member which helps 10-to-20 students. She also talked about after school tutoring and professional development for teachers. “I'm putting together some assessments and benchmarks,” she added. “It's wonderful to work with such a wonderful staff.”

Ramos discussed parent involvement. She said they've had great feedback and participation on the School Site Council and the school farm now has three goats. They are planning a school farm day and a school beautification day. Parents are offering roses and other plants for the campus.

Jan Marholin, principal of San Cayetano School said CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

There are many risks associated with storing prescription drugs that are not part of a current drug therapy. The prescriptions may be outdated and not effectively treating the symptoms. In addition, if prescription drugs are being stored and no longer needed, there is possibility that the drugs could be stolen or mistakenly taken by others.

The Fillmore Police Department works in conjunction with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to dispose of your unwanted medications in a safe manner. The program is free to our residents.

If you have prescription drugs that are outdated, no longer needed or you just do not know how to dispose of, please bring them by the Police Station, Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.

“The Fillmore Police Department’s goal is to make households safer by reducing the likelihood of accidental ingestion of old medications and do our part to help our city maintain a high quality of recycled water."

Sespe 4-H announced a Sock-Box collection for homeless, battered and needy women. Boxed will be located around town in different business. Watch for locations to be announed in the Gazette.
Enlarge Photo

Councilman Steve Conaway makes a cash donation to a Sock-Box, sponsored by Sespe 4-H.
Enlarge Photo

Fillmore City Council and Fillmore Redevelopment Agency met Tuesday night.

Oral Communications began with Fillmore Police Capt. Tim Hagel announcing a prescription drug turn-in program. Unwanted, unused and expired prescriptions can be dropped into a receptacle at the sheriff’s station, Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM. They will be disposed of at the crime lab free of charge. One benefit will be that the drugs will not affect the city’s sewage recycling center, said Hagel. He thanked Sgt. Dave Wareham for his work in bringing the program to Fillmore.

Ray Harper and Michele Morgan of RDF Communities gave a brief update on the Business Park. Harper said they are importing dirt to raise level of the park, which will provide1,300 construction jobs, and 2,600 long term jobs, doubling the employment base in Fillmore, according to Harper. Morgan stated that they worked with Caltrans and the Sheriffs Department to mitigate any problems.

Sespe 4-H President Toni Ruiz announced community service, “Sespe Socks” -- a sock collection program to benefit battered and homeless and needy women. The group will provide sock-drop boxes around town for collection of new socks. Box locations will be announced in the Gazette. Councilmember Steve Conaway suggested cash donations also, making a donation along with several others. Sespe 4-H leader Sue Maynard thanked council for the opportunity to announce the program.

Proclamations were presented to several business owners and representatives for their CONTINUED »