To the Editor:
Fillmore Embraces the Memory of Toby Gritz with Style!
Three brothers and more than 120 loving people participated in a poignant event on August 18, 2012 to honor the memory of 1st Lt. Toby R. Gritz, USMC, a 1962 graduate of Fillmore High. Many more sent their kind regards. 1st Lt. Gritz was killed in Vietnam on March 25, 1970. Following his tragic death admirers erected a plaque and planted a redwood tree in his memory on the grounds of Toby’s beloved Fillmore High School.
Over the years the redwood tree matured and the associated plaque and curbing were damaged. Enter Roberto Munoz, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop 406, who took on the refurbishment of Toby’s memorial -- and an adjacent memorial for Scott Ipswitch -- as his Eagle Scout culminating project. Harold Foy, owner of Fillmore Building Supply, selfishly donated materials and hundreds of hours of technical assistance to the project. Bob Gritz MacKenzie, of Tumwater, Washington and Toby’s brother, served as family coordinator.
“The entire project was a two-year long effort,” said MacKenzie. “Robbie, the Munoz family and Harold Foy persevered through obstacles and set- backs to make this wonderful project a reality.”
Fillmore showed its legendary character on August 18th at an event commemorating the project and rekindling the memory of a beloved Marine and graduate of Fillmore High School. A family-provided, state-of-the-art plaque was unveiled, installed on a cement bench near the redwood tree. The City of Fillmore proclaimed August 18th as “1st Lt. Toby Gritz, USMAC Day.” Mayor pro tem Jamie Brooks read the proclamation and provided uplifting comments during the event.
Family members participating in the event included Toby’s brother Colonel Tom Gritz MacKenzie, USAR (Ret); Toby’s brother Rocky and wife MaryBeth and daughter Kimmie ; Major Bob Gritz MacKenzie , USA (ret), and his wife Anita Ideker; sister-in-law Gloria Gritz, and another generation…Paige and Toby Gritz, Two other brothers, twins John and Paul, were unable to attend the event.
The event included a Marine Corps Color Guard and honors to the nation, Marine Corps and Scouts, songs, personal remembrances and more. Refreshments were served immediately after at the Movie Train Café.
“Only in Fillmore could so much support and love endure and be rekindled more than 50 years after Toby graduated,” said Tom Gritz-MacKenzie. “We are humbled by the outpouring and want to express our profound appreciation for keeping Toby’s memory alive. God Bless you all.”
Bob MacKenzie

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To the Editor:
Re: No, Christine. There is no Santa Claus
My family moved to Santa Paula in 1967 when my father acquired a position with Limoneira Company. My parents, Dan and Joan were both very active in the Santa Paula schools, community and political arena.
I purchased my home from my parents in 1987 and raised my three children there as my parents had raised their four.
In 2005, I lost my job due to several health issues including a fractured ankle that resulted in contracting RSD/CRPS, an insidious nerve disorder. I was also legally blind for several years until I had lens replacement surgery.
The past several years have been very emotionally and financially difficult, culminating in an inability to make my mortgage payment after having exhausted my retirement and savings accounts.
In November 2011, I was able to reach a modification agreement with my mortgage company. The first payment under the terms of the modification was due on December 01, 2011. I made the payment, the bank accepted the payment. They sold my house the same day.
Selling as many of my possessions as possible, I was able to raise enough money to purchase a beat up 1983 motor home to avoid being completely homeless.
A wonderfully compassionate gentleman in North of Santa Maria provided me a secure place with hook ups in his yard for several months. Unfortunately, personal issues on his part necessitated me returning to Santa Paula.
I visited a friend in Ventura for a couple of days, staying in the guest room. I received a ticket, although there was no signage in place, for parking an oversized vehicle on the street.
I came to Santa Paula and parked on a side street for the night where upon two officers from Santa Paula Police Department informed me I couldn’t do that and there were no streets in Santa Paula where I could park. The officer I spoke with was very courteous and professional and suggested I use the truck stop in East Area 1 saying “No one will bother you there”.
I was grateful for this information and proceeded to spend the night at the truck stop.
Upon awaking the next morning, I discovered a warning ticket from Limoneira Security stating if I parked there again, my vehicle would be towed.
A couple of years ago, Ventura had a pilot program allowing homeless people to sleep in church parking lots. Santa Barbara opens parking lots for homeless women to sleep in their cars or RV’s and then locks the gate to provide security and a feeling of safety.
I understand no one wants to see the homeless people. No one wants to have an area turn into a shanty town. But the homeless person could very well be your neighbor, uncle, sister, yourself, or like me, a Mom of three and a Grandma of two with zero income and nowhere to turn. I have nowhere to go. That’s a very vulnerable and despondent fact.
Please, tell me, what am I supposed to do?
Thank you for your time,
Christine Murray Pulido

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To the Editor:
Los Angeles-San Francisco connections that do absolutely nothing for Ventura County seem to be the norm this election cycle.
And that’s not including the costly high-speed rail system that will snake its way around the 26th district.
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, convenient new resident of Oak Park, is another conduit to San Francisco and Los Angeles that the constituents of Ventura County just don’t need this November.
The handpicked candidate of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Julia Brownley is seeking to advance a leftwing, Washington-backed agenda that just doesn’t mesh with Ventura County’s moderate character.
Brownley voted to cut “Healthy Families,” an affordable healthcare program for the working poor and their children, to help fund the rail system that will sap $800 million annually from California’s coffers over the next 30 years.
Not only is this rail line a boondoggle our state just can’t afford, it’s also being bankrolled by denying 800,000 children, many of them right here in Ventura County, access to healthcare.
Tony Strickland, longtime Ventura County resident and public servant, co-authored SB 301 which seeks to reinstate the “Healthy Families Program.”
Ventura County needs a candidate with strong ties to our community who understands what voters actually need. Not a Pelosi-backed liberal who cuts insurance programs for children.
Kyle Lykins
Simi Valley

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To the Editor:
Mr. Martin Farrell,
It has come to my attention that you published comments in the Gazette on June 20, 2012, that are false, intentionally malicious and defamatory. The specific comments were …
1. "Mayor Bans City Attorney from Council"
2. "Last Monday Washburn called the city attorney’s office, informing a member of that firm that Fillmore’s City Attorney, Ted Schneider, was no longer to attend any city meetings..”
3. "It is alleged that her justification for banning Schneider was based on accusations that he has had a relationship with a former city employee."
4. “We are, as a city, bankrupt due to the policies and practices of a mostly inexperienced, emotionally unstable, and stubbornly incompetent council majority. Their motto may as well be: Cling to mistakes, never admit fault, and slander all knowledgeable opposition.”
5. "Nearly all professional, experienced, knowledgeable employees have been fired…"
6. "In what is one of the most bizarre tactics I’ve witnessed from a council member in the past 25 years, appointed Mayor Gayle Washburn has colluded with our City Manager Yvonne Quiring, to oust Mr. Schneider. She did this by calling his law firm and demanding that Schneider not return to city hall."
7. "Washburn has denied that this happened. Washburn, had she been under oath, would have perjured herself. "
8. "The council majority continues to ignore sound legal advice, guided instead by emotion and a peculiar personal vendeta (sic) against Schneider."
And again, on July 18th, 2012…
9. "In mid-June Mayor Gayle Washburn called Schneider’s law firm and told a senior partner Schneider was not allowed to attend council meetings anymore."
These are many incorrect statements you are publishing as facts. They are blatantly false and defamatory and deliberately malicious.
You were physically present and heard statements made by me, and acknowledged in your articles, that I said this did not occur. You have chosen to disregard those statements and deliberately publish information totally contrary to what actually occurred.
You have published this information with a reckless disregard for the truth. The statements have been published in the Gazette with deliberate malice and intent causing irreparable harm to my character and professional standing.
Demand is hereby made that you immediately publish a correction of these false, defamatory and malicious statements in order to mitigate the damage you have done. The correction must be published in the same degree and repetition as the original statements and subject to my prior approval of its content. I am also requesting a retraction and apology for the damage you have done.
The correction must be published by September 7, 2012.
Failure to respond by that date will be deemed a refusal to make any effort to mitigate the damage you have caused.
Sincerely,
Gayle Washburn