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 »

Cooper’s Hawk
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Hands up, all who knew there is a real nature preserve right in our own backyard! The Hedrick Ranch Nature Area (HRNA) is a 223-acre property on the south bank of the Santa Clara River between Fillmore and Santa Paula, off of South Mountain Road. Sanger Hedrick’s father bought the property in 1940, and the family has farmed it until recently. In 2001, he sold the property to the California State Coastal Conservancy which then granted it to the Friends of the Santa Clara River (FSCR), a non-profit environmental group. The mission of FSCR is to “protect, enhance and manage resources of the Santa Clara River.” They believe it is critical to protect and preserve floodplains and riparian areas and to address watershed issues. The HRNA is a living workshop where habitat restoration takes place, including weed abatement, seed collection, native plant propagation, and planting.

Volunteers meet once a month on alternate first Saturdays or Sundays for a morning’s work. On a recent Saturday morning, several eager workers with loppers in hand tackled an overgrown path. All agreed that working with friends, seeing a variety of birds and wildlife, including coyotes and bobcats (and the occasional rattlesnake), and doing their part to help the environment were all benefits of volunteering at HRNA. A highlight of today’s workday was seeing regular HRNA and Ojai Raptor Center volunteer Pete Triem release three Cooper’s Hawks into the wild. A group of teenagers with City Corps of Ventura were also on hand to plant 1,200 native plants grown right on the property.

In addition to volunteers, the HRNA is supported by grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and from the State Water Resources Control Board. The FSCR also contracts with Coastal Restoration Consultants for technical advice on implementing the habitat restoration plan. John True, Project Coordinator, discussed how the goal of removing non-native, invasive plant species and reintroducing native species was being achieved. The property had most recently been used as pasture for cattle when FSCR received it, and heavy rains in 2005 causing flooding had deposited about one foot of silt and sediment on the property. Native grasses, shrubs, and trees were planted, and now most plants used in restoration here are propagated in a small nursery on site from seeds and cuttings collected on the preserve. There are about 11,000 plants growing in their “low-tech” nursery, and they are continually starting plants throughout the year, using frames covered with plastic to protect vulnerable plants from the cold in winter months. Plants are watered from a well and rain. According to John, as a greater variety of native species are planted, biodiversity increases, resulting in higher populations of insects, birds, and other wildlife. The Least Bell’s Vireo, an endangered species of bird, is present in the area.

The restoration of the Hedrick Ranch Nature Area is helping to meet the larger goal of protecting endangered species and returning the Santa Clara River to a more native state. More volunteers are always welcome at workdays! The next workday is Sunday, January 11, 2009 (weather permitting). Wear long pants, boots, and sun protection, and bring water and gloves. They have tools, but you can bring your own. If you have been looking for a way to help the environment while making new friends, enjoying nature, and getting a little exercise, then these workdays fit the bill. Jackie Bowland Worden of Bowland & Associates (Biological and Environmental Consulting Services), the restoration manager for HRNA, coordinates the workdays. Contact her at jbworden7@gmail.com.

Kailey Andrews, United States Air Force.
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Life-long Fillmore resident, Kailey Andrews, 19 years, a graduate of Fillmore High School (FHS) Class 2007, was home for the Thanksgiving Holiday with her family after she completed eight weeks of Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) in Wichita Falls, Texas and six weeks at Keesler AFB near Biloxi, Mississippi. At Keesler AFB she trained in the operating room of the base hospital as a surgical apprentice. Kailey attended Los Nogales Elementary and Camarillo Heights Elementary Schools, and Los Altos Middle School in Camarillo before attending FHS. After graduation from FHS Kailey attended Ventura College before enlisting into the United States Air Force. Kailey was an avid softball player since she was 4 yrs. old and played year-round softball through high school at both second base and center field. Kailey enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 2007.

Airman Kailey Andrews left on November 29th for Eglin AFB located about sixty miles from Pensacola, Florida. Eglin will be her new duty station with the Air Forces 96th Medical Group as a Surgical Technician. As a Surgical Technician she assists professional staff in providing patient care for surgical patients before, during, and after surgery. Airman Kailey Andrews will perform scrub and circulating duties in the operating room (OR). Additionally she will assist with post-anesthesia recovery of patients. The 96th Medical Group manages and provides comprehensive, cost-effective health care for 83,000 eligible beneficiaries who include active duty men and women, their dependents and military retirees. It operates a community-based teaching hospital with graduate level programs in family practice, general dentistry and other medical disciplines. It deploys and expands to provide responsive health services in any contingency. CONTINUED »