To the Editor:
I'm writing as a member of an important community in our small burg of Fillmore: the merchant/business community. We local merchants provide a face for the downtown area our storefronts are the welcoming decor for the main artery entering and leaving town. And in our own individual ways, we constantly strive to keep ourselves well-dressed.
This is for the benefit of all residents. We want to offer something that everyone can point to with pride and say, "this is MY downtown."
One of the businesses that never ceases to impress as it offers its color, style and panache to the downtown area is Mirage and Mimstar.
I'm sure many of you have enjoyed Shirley's wide variety of beautifully assembled window treatments or gotten inspiration for that perfect personalized gift from Karen's and Jean's mind-boggling assortment of items. These ladies are dedicated to offering highest quality products in a tasteful yet comfortable environment.
Yet there are always problems with operating a small business and right now seems to be a time of particularly thorny challenges for these three businesswomen. While the rest of us merchants have enjoyed a bit of a respite from loud and dusty storm drain work, Shirley, Jean and Karen continue to be surrounded with and barraged by heavy equipment, their constant comings and goings. It looks and feels like they exist in the middle of a construction zone. I realize this work is necessary and important for Fillmore's future functioning. What I'd like to stress is just this, Mirage and Mimstar are still open for business!
Parking is a challenge but remember there is plenty of parking at the Senior Center behind the bus stop and also behind City Hall. Santa Clara is accessible from both Mountain View and A Street off Highway 126. Once you cross the street and make you way into Mirage, it will feel more like an oasis - cool, inviting, enjoyable.
My hope is that Fillmorians see the value, both economic and aesthetic, that these two businesses offer to our town. Their businesses do far more to please the eye than would an empty building.
Please consider this when making your shopping decisions.
Sincerely,
Janine Rees
Owner, The Scented Path Apothecary
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To the Editor:
It is Friday, July 4, and I have just seen Fillmore Mayor Steve Conaway interviewed inside a fireworks booth on the NBC national news. The brief clip, where the mayor acknowledged the risks of fireworks but asserted they were safe when properly used, was included in the report of the growing fire in Goleta. While the cause of that fire has not yet been determined, the implication was clear: Selling fireworks is irresponsible when the fire hazard in our county and surrounding areas is so high. It is only a matter of time before the source of a deadly and destructive fire is traced back to fireworks sold in Fillmore. I appreciate that the lost revenue from fireworks sales will be difficult for civic groups to make up from other sources. In these tough economic times, some projects that have traditionally been funded by fireworks sales may have to be scaled back or even eliminated. Individual families may have to assume responsibility for supporting local sports or educational causes instead of relying on community groups' sales of fireworks. We may be surprised at what we can learn to live without. Let this be the last year the City of Fillmore allows sale of fireworks; otherwise, the next news story we see may be about a fire victim's lawsuit.
Marjie Bartels,
Fillmore
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To the Editor:
To Bill W the horseshoe man's friend who lost his cell phone on Central Ave:
Thank you for the reward money! I didn't look at it until a couple of hours later. You were very generous. I'm saving up for a CRF250X and this will help.
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Thomas Stehly,
Fillmore
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To the Editor:
Bret Dempsey, son of Bruce & Jean Dempsey recently graduated, with honors, from the Riverside County Sheriff's Training Academy. Bret was #1 academically in his class, as well as #1 in physical fitness! The daily morning jogging, with his dogs, and sports leagues have definitely helped keep him in shape! He has attained a goal in his life of being in law enforcement. Bret graduated from Fillmore High School in 1978 and Cal Poly, Pomona, in 1983. He plans to be employed either at Riverside Community College or Cal State Riverside, where he could help coach! Bret and his wife, Tracy, resides in Riverside.
Jean Dempsey,
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
[Mr. Heilman’s letter has been edit for length. It may be viewed in its entirety at www.fillmoregazette.com]
Hybrid cars (electric/fuel) are a step in the right direction although we need to get away from fuel altogether in our lighter cars. Most people don’t know that in a hybrid the electric motor cuts out after about thirty miles per hour and there are no savings after this speed.
I have heard it said, “Wouldn’t it be great if all the cars in America were Electric? Yes, this would be great for a lot of reasons; although I have yet to hear anyone ask, “What about all the tax money that would be lost per gallon of fuel that goes to the State and Federal governments? How could the government tax a car that plugs into an outlet at your house, or elsewhere, to recharge?
When electric cars are talked about usually nothing is mentioned about the cost of charging the batteries, etc. Electricity is not for free. It is estimated that the cost of operating and maintaining an electric vehicle is about 30% of one that runs on fuel; maybe less now that the cost of fuel is so much higher.
How would this impact the electric generating plants? Charging vehicles at night would be no problem as this is the time of least demand.
We have to think about the negatives caused by the positives, plan ahead and are prepared. (One case in point…..Iraq.)
As an added note: On the down side, how about replacing about $2000 worth of batteries every three or four years? Heating the car is a problem in very cold areas without a water cooled engine. Air conditioning would be a large drain on batteries.
On the upside, they will have no oil and filter changes; although they will still need lubing.
John Heilman,
73 year Fillmore native