To the Editor:
Half Truths and Disinformation
Before I begin I need to make it clear, I am not speaking for the School Board or the District only as one Board Member of five.
Mr. Ashim and Mrs. Ashim, over the past few months have been writing in the Gazzette half truths and disinformation and have not been challenged. In his last diatribe this man is asking for an apology from me. In reality this man and that woman should be asking the Fillmore community for forgiveness. They have managed to recklessly damage the reputation of Mr. Mesfun the high school Principal, they have maligned the school board, they have distorted Dr. Nishino"s past and present record as a superintendent and they have brought embarrassment to the Fillmore Unified School District, shame on them! In his last letter to the editor, Mr. Ashim stated half truths about the board meeting which he was recording. This man accused me of not allowing his wife to address the Board. That fact is she had a request to address the Board and as acting President I was required to do so. There was never any attempt to deny her that opportunity. The mistake I made was to tell her not to make any speeches or comments, she could only ask questions to the Board.
When she began to ask her questions about the high school accreditation I stopped her and asked if she had put these questions to the Principal? Her reply was no. I told her that it would be more appropriate if she ran these questions to Mr. Mesfun before coming to the Board. In my estimation this woman was attempting to discredit Mr. Mesfun. At that moment Mr. Mefun asked to respond to this woman's questions. Part of his response was about a parent committee and his desire to ask parents to serve. At that moment Mrs. Wright, a high school parent spoke up that she had not been asked. That is when I asked her if she wanted to be asked. She said yes. So I told Mr. Mefun there you have a parent for your committee. If you read Mr. Ashim's version of what happened at the Board meeting , the reader would get half truths and a distorted version of what took place.
In past issues of the Gazzette this man and this woman have launched wholly unfounded inflammatory accusations, aimed at distorting Mr. Mefun's leadership of Fillmore High School. At best this woman has subjected Mr. Mesfun to character assassination or as some would say a "high tech lynching", shame on her! This woman has accused the Principal of showing a lack leadership when it comes to the accreditation process when in reality she failed Fillmore High School's Accreditation process six years ago. At that time she was a counselor and volunteered to lead the Accreditation Team. She accepted the position knowing there was another position of assistant principal available at the High School. When Mr. Wilbur, the principal, declined her request to be appointed assistant principal she also refused to continue as Accreditation Team leader. The High School, because of this woman's ego, was forced to ask for a one year delay on Accreditation. Lucky for the High School when they hired Ellen Green as Assistant Principal. She picked up the pieces left by this woman and wrote a report that gave the High School a six year Accreditation.
For some time this woman, Karim Ashim, has been referred as the "Gate Keeper", the counselor who decides which students will have the opportunity to take Advance Placement courses, Honors courses, College Prep courses or general courses. Many times this woman had denied students the opportunity to challenge themselves. Many times parents had to demand their high school student be given an opportunity to take the more demanding courses. Imagine the parents who allowed this woman to deprive their sons and daughters of a better education. This woman's belief was to graduate as many students as possible to keep the graduation rate high and the drop -out rate low. The excuse is some students do not have the skills to function in those higher level courses, but too often teachers want the best of the best in those higher level courses, in essence depriving opportunity, especially minority students and the advocate for those students should be the counselor. I have had parents speak to me about the "Gate Keeper" and their negative experiences and my response has always been do not give up! Unfortunately many Mexican parents rely on the integrity of the this women who on too many occassions has failed them.
I could go on and on about this woman and describe my own personal experiences when my children were in high school, maybe another day. I have no interest in a verbal battle with these two caricatures, but I will set the record straight. An apology no, unsolicited advise, it is time for the two of them to stay out of Fillmore, take your criticism to your home town of Thousand Oaks, make the best of your retirement and enjoy life!
Tony Prado
School Board Member

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To The Editor:
Re: Dr. G. Sanchez & Wonderfull Staff, C,M,M,M,and P.
It's always a pleasure to come in and see All..Weather it's for a pleasure visit or dental visit. You all have known me for a short time and I hope you know me as a person who is enjoying life.With that said..Dr.G.Sanchez and Wonderfull Staff, really knocked my sock,s off. Never in my old life have I been moved to shear happiness as I was by your thoughtfulness and kindness shown to me on that day, My Birthday. Words can't begin to express how your surprise set my day an spirits as one of the better days in my old life.I am humbled that you should hold me in such a place as to do this surprise for me. From the bottom of my old heart ,I can only say " Thank You All".Sincerely,
Raul M.Torres
El Dorado Estate.
Fillmore, Cal

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To The Editor:
In the last week I have seen the bridge over the Santa Clara River referred to as the “A” St. Bridge (the article regarding the dog attack and shooting) and the Grimes Canyon Bridge (article on the fire). Since 1909 that bridge has been known as the Bardsdale Bridge. Those of us who live in Bardsdale and cross it sometimes multiple times in a day would like to see it referred to by its correct name in the future.
Sincerely,
Martha Gentry
Bardsdale Resident

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To the Editor:
Fillmore High School Sports Hall-of-Fame would like to express our gratitude to the people and businesses that helped make this year’s golf tournament a success. Our corporate sponsors, Harrison Industries, Lexicon, Wm. L. Morris and Kevin Gross. Our tee sponsors Matt & Corina Mozley, Fillmore High School Alumni Association, Fillmore-Piru Citrus, Curnett Investigations, Steve Dann, Fillmore Rentals, City National Bank, CTP Solutions, Laird’s Butcher Shop, Cookie Lee Jewelry (Ari Larson) and Edmonds Ranch. Those that donated raffle prizes, Mike Marostica, El Pescador, Kevin Gross, Starbucks, Carl’s Jr., Elkins Ranch Golf Course, Attractions Spa, Lexicon, Jiffy Lube and Fillmore High School Pep Squad. Lastly to the business/individuals that sponsored players and/or teams, Elkins Ranch Golf Course, First Baptist Church, Bob’s Radiator & Repair, Inc., Vest Electric, Ace Pump and Quality Ag.
Fillmore High School Sports Hall-of-Fame Board Members