Publisher’s Opinion by Martin Farrell

The loss of wildlife in Ventura County’s forest areas has been attributed to toxic residue from illegal marijuana grows deep into the wilderness. “Sheep, foxes, bears found dead after marijuana raids in Los Padres, other state forests”. (Cheri Carlson, Ventura County Star). Criminal growers use many different pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, etc, and leave containers behind after harvesting the crop. These chemicals pollute the streams, poison the wildlife, and remain toxic for years. It’s the job of the U.S. Forrest Service to discover the illegal grow sites, make arrests if possible, and do what they can to find and remove the toxic chemicals, irrigation debris, and camp trash. Access to these remote forest grow sites can usually be achieved by helicopter. This destruction of our forests is another result of America’s newly professed love affair with marijuana and the billions of dollars, and crime, it produces. We can be sure that many of the drug dealers flowing through our now open borders will have no trouble finding work in the virtually defenseless great American wilderness.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The 4th of July holiday is a time to enjoy firework shows and show country pride, but is also traditionally one of the more dangerous times on the road.

To keep families safe this Independence Day, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will have extra patrol resources deployed. Their focus will be on impaired driving during the 4th of July holiday.

According to preliminary data from the California Highway Patrol, seven people were killed and 73 injured in alcohol-related crashes statewide on fourth of July last year. Every deadly crash involved a driver who had been drinking.

“Drinking and driving is a bad combination,” says Captain Shane Matthews. “There is no excuse for making such a reckless choice given all the other options available. Calling a friend or family member for a ride, calling a taxi, or using a ride share application…these options are available to everyone. Please be smart and make this 4th of July holiday a fun and memorable one.”

If you are headed to 4th of July parties, designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening. If you are hosting a party, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. See people leaving who have been drinking? Check how they are getting home. Offer to let them stay the night if a sober driver is not available to take them home.

The average cost of a DUI arrest is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office also reminds residents that prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana can all be impairing and land you a DUI, especially in combination with alcohol and/or other drugs.

Fillmore Fire Department

Courtesy of Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola & The Fillmore Fire Department

• Never allow young children to handle fireworks.

• Older Children should use fireworks only under close adult supervision.

• Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

• Do not hold lighted fireworks in your hand.

• Never light them indoors.

• Only use fireworks away from homes, vehicles, people and flammable material.

• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

• Do not ignite fireworks in containers.

• Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.

• Do not put hot fireworks into garbage receptacles.

• Keep a bucket of water nearby to soak spent fireworks for disposal or in case of fire.

• Report any unsafe acts or illegal fireworks activity.

Bob Crum

On Saturday morning, June 22, I jumped out of bed excited and full of vim and vigor. It was day one of the Fillmore Honey Harvest Festival. I decided to ride the 11:05 a.m. train to Bennett's Honey Farm. Arriving downtown, I was surprised to find a parking space without having to drive around town for 30 minutes. Love miracles!

The Honey Harvest Express left right on time. Oh how I love fun-filled assignments. However, as a long-time photojournalist, I've learned to expect the unexpected so every shoot is a challenge. As expected, it was.

As in years past, there are beehives and workers somewhere on the route. A great photo op. The train usually slows down at the area of the hives, but it's still not as smooth as a drive down Central Avenue in my Rolls Royce Phantom. So, I set a shutter speed of 1/500 second to compensate for the rollicking ride and the aperture at f/10 for depth-of-field. I was ready! We arrived at the designated area and flew by at track speed. Arrrgh! I managed to capture only a couple of so-so photos. Bummer! Not to fret I was told. It was scheduled to run by slowly on the return trip to Fillmore. We'll see.

At Bennett's Honey Farm, we toured the facility. Lots of changes from years past. Starting in the warehouse, we saw worker bees (employees) make beeswax candles and honeycomb trays. Then on to the extractor and the honey filter. After filtering, honey is piped to the highly mechanized bottling room. Then on to the best part: Taste testing! Oh my, so many flavors - buckwheat, red clover, blackberry, avocado, orange blossom, sage, eucalyptus, wildflower and more! Buckwheat is my usual favorite. This year I bought blackberry honey. Soo yummy!

Back on the train, away we go, track speed to Fillmore. I reprogrammed my camera to be ready for the hives in the orchard. As we approached the area, the train began to slow down, slightly. Wait, going too fast! SLOW DOWN!, I yelled, as if the engineer could hear me. Again only a couple of so-so shots. Not happy!

Back in town, I stopped by the Rotary Club's BBQ for a late lunch. Made a few photos of the happy vendors and then back on the next train. But first I yelled up at the engineer to slow down at the beehives! He yelled back; it's up to the conductor. OK!

Off we go. Before long, the conductor came by. Ah, excuse me, but it would be much appreciated if you would have the engineer really slow down at the designated area. He smiled and nodded. At the designated area, the train passed the beekeepers slow enough for me to photograph them and the gazillion bees. A rare successful do over! Did you know that honey bees flutter their wings 200 times per second flying a speedy 15 mph? Harder to photograph than an F-14! The little brown spots in the photo of the week are honey bees!

Back in town, no time to rest. The Fillmore Recreation department's Great American Camp Out was taking place at Two Rivers Park. Oh what fun!!! Tents everywhere. At sundown, Fillmore firemen lit a campfire. With the fire roaring, out came the (flammable) marshmallows and hot dogs. Remember s'mores? Sooo good! Campfire, s'mores, tents, sleeping bags, now that's living. Wait, there's more. As the campfire dwindled, campers gathered to watch an outdoor movie on a giant blow-up screen. Afterward, everyone tucked in their sleeping bags, the Sandman made his rounds but, not until the cow jumped over the moon. Sweet dreams!

Send comments, suggestion or questions to: focusonphotgraphy@earthlink.net

Happy children hug their loved ones goodbye each morning, entrusting drivers with the safety of their parents and grandparents as they maintain the state’s highway system. Today Caltrans, along with the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), California Highway Patrol (CHP), and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), announces the new “Be Work Zone Alert” public awareness campaign to remind drivers to slow down when passing highway workers.

“Our children depend on your safe driving all day, every day,” said Elissa Konove, Undersecretary of the California State Transportation Agency. “This campaign aims to protect highway workers who work inches from traffic daily to maintain our state’s transportation system.”

The department’s work to maintain and improve the system that empowers Californians to move around their state relies on these brave Californians’ service. But public servant is only their secondary job—many are also moms, dads, and grandparents. As the department and our partners strive Toward Zero Deaths, Caltrans aims to reduce deaths of workers in the line of duty. Billboards and radio spots will spread across California, to put a face to the families that depend on an alert traveling public.

“Being a transportation worker is one of the most hazardous professions in the nation” said Laurie Berman, Director of Caltrans. “We hope this campaign will move every Californian to consider the dangers the brave men and women of the Department face every single day and slow down.”

Your mindfulness is the key to reuniting these families every single day. Not just these highway workers’ lives are on the line—games of tag, catch, hide and seek, and years of happiness and memories are too. To view the new radio and TV spots, visit BeWorkZoneAlert.com/campaign.html.

“Mere seconds of inattention or distraction can be destructive to the lives of so many people,” said Warren Stanley, Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). “The CHP is a proud partner of Caltrans and hopes efforts like this one reduce the risks to everyone on our roadways.”

California’s “Move Over” law requires all drivers to move over a lane if safe to do so, or slow down when they see amber flashing lights on Caltrans vehicles, or other emergency vehicles and tow trucks. Highway construction is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, and this law is a crucial tool to protect those on the road. In 2018, more than 7,000 work-zone collisions occurred on California roadways. About 2,300 resulted in injuries, and 46 involved a fatality. Nationally drivers and passengers account for 85 percent of the people who are killed in work zones.

Since 1921, 189 Caltrans employees have been killed on the job, and one of the biggest hazards to them and anyone working on the roads is from motorists who do not exercise caution. Those 189 employees represent scores of families torn apart.

“We live in a fast-paced world, but need to slow down on the road, particularly when highway workers are out trying to do their job,” OTS Director Rhonda Craft said. “This campaign is intended to remind drivers of the dangers highway workers face every day and be mindful of their presence.”

The campaign is funded with highway maintenance funds and a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.