David W. Rowlands, Fillmore City Manager

Trunk or Treat Event
Wednesday, October 31 from 5 – 7 pm along Central Avenue between Sespe Avenue and Main Street the Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting our first Trunk or Treat Event. Trunk or Treaters will be spending the evening going from trunk to trunk, collecting candy and prizes from the participating spaces along our downtown city block. Public Safety will be displaying their equipment at both ends of the event.

“Trunkers” will be asked to decorate their trunk, tailgate or hatchback and provide treats (Teal Pumpkin Projects welcome) for the “Treaters”. There will be a Peoples’ Choice Award Decoration contest.

Teal Pumpkin Project is a safe way for kids with allergies to still enjoy the holidays with everyone else. It helps with those who have food allergies be able to still participate and have other options during trick or treating such as glow sticks or small toys.

Rotorcraft
Rotorcraft is anticipating opening their doors by the first of the year. Construction is nearly complete. We are looking forward to establishing a long-lasting relationship with them.

Community Pool Season Extend for Trial Lap Swim Program
City Council approved extending the pool season until November 31, 2018 to allow lap swimming to continue. The program participants pay a monthly fee to cover the cost of a lifeguard. This is a trial program brought forward by members of the Fillmore community.

Session I – September 17-September 28
Session II – October 1 – October 31 (pool closed Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day)
Session III – November 1 – November 30 (pool closed Thanksgiving and the day after.)

Let’s work together to keep Fillmore the “Best Last Small Town.”

Bob Crum

First, a repeat call for photographers. The Fillmore Art Commission is planning an Art & Photography exhibition next May 1–5, 2019. The exhibit presents an excellent opportunity for you to display your 'Fine Art' photographs. For planning purposes, it's important to hear from all Fillmore photographers who might be interested in participating. Reply to the email address below and write “I'm interested” in the subject line.

Moving along, for many years I've been photographing the Kern River from Brush Creek down to where the river exits the canyon below the powerhouse. Why you ask? First, rivers are fascinating. Rivers have unique personalities. Flow rates vary greatly. Sometimes a roaring torrent of water. Other times a lazy, slow-flowing river. Shoot it a hundred times, yet it's impossible to photograph the same river twice!

This stretch of river is replete with huge boulders in the river and on the banks. The topography of the river lends to magnificent, though often challenging, photo ops. The interaction of the water and the obstacles in the river is fascinating to watch and photograph.

Two reasons for a trip to the Kern. Shoot and create a photo essay of the Kern River at low flow stage. Second, I developed a sudden and unexplainable itch to drift the upper Kern from Brush Creek to Kernville in an inflatable kayak. Along the way shoot photos and video thereafter create a 'docujourney', a documentary of the journey. Being recently gifted with an inflatable kayak expedited the idea. Checking the charts, I noticed that the data indicates a flow rate of 150cfs (cubic feet per second). However, I couldn't relate the data to the actual volume flowing. Was the flow sufficient for navigating the river in a kayak? I had to go and see. Alas, the itch will have to wait to be scratched because 150cfs is woefully insufficient for making such a float trip practicable. C'est la vie.

Additionally, I needed to shoot some photos for future photography lessons. The river is another excellent subject for showing the difference between shooting rapids or waterfalls at a very slow shutter speed or at 1/500th of a second. A two-second exposure gives the water flow the appearance of silk or cotton candy. Conversely, a fast shutter speed stops the action showing the flow more realistically. The photographer has the option to create the image as desired.

I acknowledge that many photographers consider the silk look a more 'artistic' rendering of a waterfall. I'm not fond of that 'look.' I prefer a roaring waterfall captured to illustrate the full fury of the rushing water. However, I've discovered that most times rushing water is beautifully portrayed with a shutter speed between the two extremes.

Realistic photo or manipulated as a 'fine art' image, it's merely a matter of preference. More importantly, this ability to create as desired is what makes photography a tantalizing and very fulfilling medium. More importantly, having to make numerous creative decisions continually stimulates the mind keeping the brain healthy! I can't cite scientific studies to substantiate this declaration, but given the status of my exemplary and sound mind gives the theory a high degree of credence... IMHO.

Photo of the week: Another cow! (sigh) The photo was captured off Kern Canyon Road on the way home last Sunday. The... ahem... river 'cowflection' grabbed my attention. Another example of the power of observation! Saw her, stopped and captured the photo just in time. Five seconds later she disappeared behind some trees.

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

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that as the first anniversary of the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting approaches on October 1, survivors who were present at the concert and their loved ones are encouraged to contact the District Attorney’s Office at (805) 654-3622 regarding services available through the Crime Victims’ Assistance Program. Victim advocates are continuing to provide local assistance to survivors in completing applications and providing other referrals for assistance.

Survivors of mass violence often have lasting effects, such as physical and emotional injuries, and a long and challenging recovery process. Anniversary dates and news coverage of a traumatic incident can be triggering events that may contribute to re-traumatization.

Anyone present at the concert that night may be eligible for assistance. No crime report is needed. The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) may be able to help pay for expenses resulting from the Route 91 Harvest Festival attack, such as counseling co-payments and medical bills. The District Attorney encourages all survivors to apply, even if survivors do not feel they need assistance now.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

The September 11 attacks were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the Tuesday morning in 2001. Four airliners were used to attack the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. The attacks killed 2,996 people, and injured over 6,000 others, causing at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. It is reported that over 1,000 people died of 9/11-related cancer and respiratory diseases in the months and years following the attacks. May we never forget.

Fillmore Fire’s new volunteer firefighters are shown signing their swearing-in certificates at the city hall brochure table.
Enlarge Photo

Tuesday's regular City County Council meeting opened with the swearing in of new volunteer firefighters. Fire Chief Keith Gurrola introduced the volunteers and discussed the importance of their presence to the community.

Scott Beylik addressed the Council concerning the good work accomplished by the Fire Foundation which was established in 2012. Mr. Beylik is a Fire Foundation board member. Through a Wood Claeyssens Foundation grant, for example, the Fire Foundation was able to purchase all breathing apparatus systems and fire radios in vehicles and handhelds for the Department.

The primary mission of the Fire Foundation is to enhance firefighter support and training services. For example: staging multiple training events and scholarships to firefighters attending annual FireHouse Conferences, Community Outreach and public Safety Education, purchase of fire safety coloring books, children's fire hats and stickers for elementary school tours and all community events when funds are available. The Foundation recently purchased a command vehicle from the City of Santa Paula.

Over the years the Foundation's revenue sources has been primarily fundraising efforts and donations, receiving a generous donation from Chevron earlier this week. The June 30 Rigo Landeros Memorial Golf Tournament raised over $33,000. Beylik thanked all golfers, and sponsors: Allied produce, Grimes Rock, Balden Ranches, and Union Bank.

Next year's golf tournament is set for Saturday, June 1, 2019.

A Proclamation honoring our United States Constitution was read, and its history was expounded upon.

The California Homeless Emergency Aid Program and Shelter Crisis Resolution was unanimously approved following an explanation and recommendation by City Manager David Rowlands.

Proposition 6, which would repeal Senate Bill 1, the Transportation Tax and Fee Bill adopted to fund the repair and upgrade the transportation infrastructure, was approved 4-1.

Unanimous approval was accorded Resolution 18-3664 in support of Proposition 3 (State Water Bond) on November 2018 ballot.
An extension of the 2018 pool season from September 2018 to November 30 for limited programs was unanimously approved.

The Pre-Screening of General Plan Amendment request to convert commercial highway property to residential high (15-35 units per acre) at 210-220 Santa Clara Street, was unanimously approved.

A contract with Main Street Architects to conduct an analysis of the Central Business District and surrounding area, and to provide direction for updating the Downtown Specific Plan, was unanimously approved. It was agreed that a fresh look and up-dating was in order for the town.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

From August 7th and September 3rd Ventura police say that 109 reports if vehicle burglaries in just 27 days. Thefts have included unlocked vehicles and forced entry, the thefts have occurred various days of the week and all hours of the day. Police want to remind people to make they lock their vehicles even for a quick errand in and out of the store. They remind you to not leave your keys in the vehicle, use your car alarms if you have them, and be sure you park in well-lighted areas. Also they suggest getting a service that tracks your vehicle if it is ever stolen. Please be sure to report any suspicious activity to the Ventura Police on the non-emergency number (805) 650–8010.

On Wednesday evening at approximately 6:50pm a fatal crash occurred involving an all-terrain off-road vehicle (ATV) near Hall Road, northeast of Fillmore. Forty-eight year old Chris Anthony Hernandez was riding the ATV when he crash into a dirt berm and was thrown from the ATV into a tree. Hernandez was taken to Ventura County Medical Center with unknown injuries and died later that night. The crash is still under investigation by CHP. They are seeking any information that can help with the investigation.