The Death of America
“We will all now be subservient to the will of the judgments, I might say prejudicial decisions of a small minority.”
After suffering a debilitating illness for close to forty-five years it was announced today that America, once called beautiful, had been pronounced terminally deceased by the United States Supreme Court. She had been warned many times by her Founding Father that unless she changed her diet and began exercising the privileges she had been blessed with at her birth she would suffer the same fate as had many other world powers who became extinct at a lesser age. A multitude of relatives and close friends pleaded with her to change and many remained in prayer until the very end but those who had been given oversight as to her health failed miserably, many believe intentionally, to provide the proper antidote at the time of her last crisis.
America had been given three primary care providers to oversee her welfare, however, each one in devastating decisions contributed to her final demise. These entities are called the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of guardianship. As long ago as 1974 the Judicial Branch made an insidious decision that killed millions of young Americans who might well have provided sustenance for her failing economy. Then for a time of eight years during the nineteen-eighties it appeared that she might pull through as the Executive Branch along with some help from the Legislative Branch brought hope for a recovery. Then during the nineties up until the present the Legislative Branch began once again to feed her with a glutinous diet of raucous spending, unsustainable debt, and even came up with a new medication called ‘political correctness’ used to silence her cry of agony from the pain she was experiencing. Those assigned as guardians of America’s health, welfare and abundant provision had no desire to apply the original prescription for extending her life as a strong and powerful nation that brought blessing and freedom to all of the other nations of the world. The right prescription which is called the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights adhered to would have eventually brought her healing.
As America’s Father, her Creator and guardian was not ignorant of her plight and saw that the guardians HE had put in place to guide her path had become captive to worshiping the creation rather than responding to the Creator, HE sent many warning signals that the people should have been able to recognize. HE allowed the financial center to become a pile of debris and brought about the greatest fall in the history of the stock market. Our response came from the mouth of Tom Daschle in front of Congress, basically shaking his fist at God and stating that we would rebuild stronger than ever. Amazingly the words he spoke were remarkably similar to those prophesied by Isaiah, even though he had no idea what he was proclaiming. (Chap. 9:11)
The land of the free and the home of the brave is experiencing more devastation from unremitting and unaccustomed storm fury than in recorded history and those who are supposed to lead have been exposed as both incompetent and deceitful representatives of the welfare of our land.
While America was writhing in the turmoil of her poverty stricken the Executive Branch has given away millions, even billions of dollars to nations who have no greater desire than to see the demise of what they call their greatest enemy. Both this branch of our representatives and the Legislative Branch have reveled in what they assume to be executive privilege, filling their coffers with huge taxes levied on the American people they were elected to serve. As they are not unaware that sooner or later there will come a backlash from the people, they are attempting to remove any ability for the population to defend themselves against being ruled by a dictator.
Now today, the Judicial Branch has made the decision to drive a stake into the heart of a disabled America and kill any hope for a recovery by transgressing the Word of God regarding homosexual union while at the same time announcing to all who can hear that a change has been made in our rule of law. They have proclaimed an end to being servants of the people and have declared that America will no longer be governed by the vote of the people. We will all now be subservient to the will of the judgments, I might say prejudicial decisions of a small minority. The submission to judicial law rather than the removal of those defying the Constitution will very soon give way to martial law and everyone will be at risk of being singled out as an enemy of the Un-united States of a dissolved America.
With America’s last gasp of breath she was heard to whisper, ‘Dismantle the voting booths and kindle your fires with the ballot boxes. I provided for you freedom of choice to live as a prosperous sovereign people but your choice is to live under tyranny for the temporary pleasures promised you by thieves and liars, undeserved benefits bought and paid for dearly with sacrifice and blood by others’.
At long last when I declare “Long live America” and offer my prayer of “GOD BLESS AMERICA”, I can also add, ‘by bringing a just and long awaited righteous judgment on those who contributed to her death’.
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth…”
COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS
S. Mason

To the Editor:
I wish to send out a THANK YOU to all of my friends for the wonderful support you have given to me the last six weeks. I appreciate your sympathy cards, offers to help and kindness in every way. No wonder I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else! Now I can understand how people rally around others after a terrible disaster to help their friends, because you have done the same things for my family.
Sincerely
Marie Wren
Fillmore

To the Editor:
A few letters and some out spoken folks have voiced their opinions about Fillmore High English Teacher Jennifer Fitzpatrick's total disrespect she showed in stomping on the American Flag during one of her classes a couple of months ago.
Besides Reverend Lanier (his great letter last week) and me, no one else seems to want to get involved. Heck, I even wrote to VFW Commander in chief John Hamilton on June 3rd and he didn't want to get involved either. Makes me wonder what our million service personnel are fighting for? I always thought it was for God and Country (which our great American Flag represents).
But back to the main point and that is the despicable way Fitzpatrick disrespected our symbol of freedom and democracy.
And she won't even apologize to those she offended! Unbelievable that she just waltzes away with only a few people calling her to task for this outrageous display and lack of patriotism.
Charles Richardson
Fillmore

To the Editor:
Dear Ventura County,
The Girl Scout troops of Santa Paula and Fillmore are looking for ladies who were once Girl Scouts. To earn our silver badges we need to interact with the media. We have decided to make a book. In order to make it we must have stories. If you have a Girl Scout story and possibly a picture we could keep we would appreciate it if you would let us use your story/picture. We will try to place this book in the train depot and/or museum.
Sincerely, the Santa Paula and Fillmore troops
Please reply to kewkreeder@aol.com By Aug 1, 2013.

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To the Editor:
The following is a letter on the flag incident at the high school that I am submitting for your consideration:
Over the past couple of months there have been several letters in the Gazette and the Star regarding the actions of one of our Fillmore High School teachers, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, who dropped an American flag on floor of her classroom last spring, in the presence of her students, and stepped on it. Besides reading the letters, I have spoken to or corresponded with a number of people concerning the incident (including with Mrs. Fitzpatrick). Several arguments have been made in attempts to justify her actions, including the following:
1) It was her right under the First Amendment (freedom of speech) to do what she did,
2) Her contract under the teachers' union gives her academic freedom (including, evidently, the right to step on the flag, in class, if she chooses),
3) Her students chose our nation's flag as a topic for discussion, so she dropped the flag on the floor and stepped on it to teach them how the First Amendment protects that right.
4) Since she is a professional teacher, what she did was OK,
5) Since other violations of the flag code have occurred at the school (like the flag touching the ground when it is lowered), her stepping on the flag in class is no big deal.
Actually, it is a big deal. Intentionally dropping our nation's flag on the ground or floor and stepping on it is a universally recognized show of disrespect for our flag and for our country. There is no justification for a public school teacher, teaching in a public school classroom, doing this. If a classroom discussion includes First Amendment rights regarding the flag, one would think that a public school teacher would point out that desecration of our flag, while protected under the Bill of Rights, is not something that good citizens do. One would think that she would encourage her students to be good citizens and to respect our flag, because it's the symbol of our country, the greatest country on earth - not drop our flag on the floor and step on it.
The issue is not whether or not as an individual citizen Mrs. Fitzpatrick has the right to step on the flag. She also has the right under the First Amendment to use vulgar language and to view pornographic films - but not as a public school teacher, in class. Some words and actions are simply wrong, and intentionally dropping our flag on the floor and stepping on it is one of them. What kind of lesson does this teach her students? That you can show disrespect for our flag at will, because it's your right, regardless of who you offend? I would suggest a different sort of lesson. Why not hand out pictures in class of the Marines and Navy corpsman raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima? Why not explain why they raised it - to give moral support to the Marines and corpsmen fighting and dying on the island? Why not tell her students that those men risked their lives to raise that flag, and that only three of the six men who raised it made it off Iwo Jima alive? Why not have her students write a paper on that? On what may have been going through those men's minds, and on what went through the minds of the men below, as they saw their flag flying proudly in the breeze.
Many people in town are offended by Mrs. Fitzpatrick's actions, including the men at our local VFW chapter. A number of them witnessed casualties in combat - men killed and wounded fighting under our flag. Yet there has been not one word of apology from Mrs. Fitzpatrick. What's more important, her "rights" or their feelings? Her offense is only compounded by the fact that four Fillmore men, killed fighting in Viet Nam, are memorialized by plaques on the high school lawn. The school memorializes its fallen dead, while one of its teachers steps on the flag they fought and died for. What a lesson to be teaching our children.
If you find stepping on our flag unacceptable, you should let Mrs. Fitzpatrick, the high school principal, school district officials, and the school board members know. It's your school. You have a say in what's taught and done there. Hopefully, if enough people speak up, Mrs. Fitzpatrick will understand that she should apologize for what she has done.
Pastor Leslie R. Lanier
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
To our Son and Daughter,
Yes. Another letter. We are sending you off to a university that promotes the idea that "You have your truth and I have mine." Relativism seems to be what many college campuses are promoting in the classrooms, at the student center, and in the dorms. We believe it is, as they say, "the new stupid."So bare with us as we expound on the idea that, “the tree comes to me”and not the other way around.
The tree tells me what it is and how I can legitimately us it. If I am drunk and say the tree is a big green ostrich with no feet, that would be ridiculous because what I claim as truth has nothing to do with what is actually there. The rock bottom validity to anything is, “Where is your evidence?” And, once you have that evidence, be honest before the data.
You can change those words, “the tree comes to me” to almost anything. The rock comes to me: It tells me what it is and how I can legitimately use it. It has mass, weight, electrical charges, and it just sits there… inert. Caramel candy. Same thing. But it tells me I can eat one and not the other.
The Apple. The apple tells me what it is and how I can legitimately use it. All the properties of a rock but it can take in food, grow, and reproduce which is something no rock can do. Therefore it is objectively wrong to lob food around a cafeteria as if it had no more inert worth than a snowball.
A koala bear, a kitty cat, or a horse. These also tell me what they are and how they can be legitimately used. All the qualities of a rock and an apple, but they can feel, move around, sense danger. Another quantum step up. Therefore it is wrong to pour alcohol on a live koala bear, cat, or horse and set it ablaze the way you can a Creme Brule.
Mary, Susie, Peter, Joey. A human tells me what it is and how I can legitimately use it. All of the qualities of a rock, an apple, or a koala bear… but it's the only species we know which is self reflective, can anticipate the not yet real, like death. Another quantum step up. Humans are the only entities we know who suffer from conscience. No tiger goes into a village, gobbles up someone's child, mother, or neighbor, and then lumbers back into the woods moaning, “I did it again! I have got to get into counseling.” Humans do… at least good humans do. That's how you tell the difference.
We have heard it said, “Do not force your religious laws on me.” Yet, it is objectively wrong to treat or use human beings as if they had no more inherent value than a dog or a cabbage or stepping stone. That is called natural law not religious law. In the story of Cain and Able, it was wrong for Cain to kill his brother even though the Ten Commandments were thousands of years from publication. Laws have been made, and are being made for self centered people who resist the invitation to be more than mere animals. It was wrong back then to kill his brother because of the inconvenience his life caused. It is still wrong today. Truly, what is the difference between Cane (in Genesis) and a doctor (in L.A.) who performs abortions? As Mother Teresa said, “If abortion is not wrong, nothing is.”
My opinion is as good as anyone else’s. Nope. Not unless you've got the evidence and reasoning. Your opinion is not as good as Einstein’s.
Your father and I have been called “old fashioned or old school” and have been told “morality changes from age to age and culture to culture.” Not unless being human changes from age to age. If so, than Aristotle, Plato, Shakespeare, and Dickens have nothing significant to tell us about being human and libraries are a horrific waste of money.
Society decides what is moral. A student at Berkley, majoring in conflict resolution, actually insisted this. If it is true, then that Berkley student must claim that it was evil to hide Jews during Nazi Germany. Because society said so. The humanity of Jews, like the humanity of any human conceived in this world, is an objective fact and not something we get to vote on.
Carl Sagan writes: “The incompleteness of our understanding humbles us.” Not quite thoroughly enough, it seems.
So, “The tree comes to me.” Write those words up on your dorm-room wall. Carry them in your wallet. Say them aloud during your ethics class and chew on them during your philosophy class.
And please. Be honest and courageous before the data. Giving your education anything less, you will be cheating yourself and those whom you love.
Excerpts from William J. O'Malley

To the Editor:
I would like to say thanks to all of the following who so graciously donated time and effort with the 2013 May Festival Parade: to Sonshine Pre-School for electricity and space for the Judges to work; Eddie and Brenda Ortiz of Super Seal and Stripe for providing, delivering and picking up the flatbed truck for the Judges Stand; to Santa Paula Pilot’s Association for the Fly-over; to William L. Morris for all of the vehicles provided for the various parade entrants; to Evelyn Hasty and the Chamber for your help fielding phone calls, emails and applications; to Nikki Scott, Trevor Scott, Hellena Replogle, Lynn Cole and Tyler Stump for your help with line up, directions, running scores and info to judges, answering a multitude of questions and keeping everything running smooth; to Darlene Holmes and Amber Holmes for manning the sign in booth, making last minute changes, corrections, additions in such an organized fashion as well as answering many questions and offering directions; to Deputy Leo Vasquez and the Explorers for all of your help with traffic control and barricades; to Ron Smith who was always such a gracious, happy helper with whatever we needed and then some. From barricades, tables and chairs, directing traffic, helping with the line up, setting up and breaking down and taking down no parking signs. To EAG and your beautiful bride for use of the GEM car, it was much appreciated more than you can ever know! To Tyler Stump for help with the set up and break down of the equipment for the judges/announcers stand. Thank you to the Citizens of Fillmore for enduring the road closures, especially those who live on Shiells Drive and surrounding streets, for putting up with all of the traffic and no parking on parade day; to all of the parade entrants for your patience and cooperation. Last but not least, to RJ for announcing of the parade and for all of your help and support leading up to parade day. Our Fun Fillmore May Festival Parade would not be possible without any of you! Thank You So Very Much!!!
Sincerely,
Joni Stump

Following is a categorical listing of the parade winners:
Floats:
1st Place Little Miss Sweetheart Petite Miss Queen Selena Olivia Torres & Baby Miss Princess Sophia Grace Torres
2nd Place Today’s Raiders / Tomorrow’s Flashes
3rd Place Perce’s Kenpo Karate
Walking Groups:
1st Place Sonshine Pre-School
2nd Place Boys & Girls Club Santa Clara Valley
3rd Place Bardsdale 4-H
Cars:
1st Place Ventura County Model A Club
2nd Place Cinco De Mayo Court Senior Queen Sandra Rojos
3rd Place Cinco De Mayo Court Jr. Princess Andria Hernandez
Equestrian:
1st Place Charros De Paloma
2nd Place Wells Fargo
3rd Place Ventura County Sheriff’s Posse

For those of you who were unable to attend the awards ceremony immediately following the parade, your award may be picked up in the Chamber Office Monday thru Friday during normal business hours. Please give Evelyn a call and let her know when you will be coming by, (805) 524-0351.
Joni Stump

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To the Editor:
The flag is and always will be a piece of cloth that many of us fought for to keep flying. To treat it like a rag and abuse it is beyond my comprehension.
This flag stomping is something I cannot believe without some reason. Why would anyone walk into a room full of 14 year olds and throw the flag to the floor and stomp it?
These students chose the flag as a project. Jennifer Fitzpatrick teaches by challenging and making the student think. It required demonstrations of how the flag was used in so many ways. Question’s of why, when, where, how, and etc. The project was a huge success and I’m sure she is very proud of her students.
This teacher is a professional.
Forgive the spiteful they know not what they do.
Robert Hansen
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Recently we as individuals and as a nation observed Memorial Day. All across our nation millions of flags were flown. The most moving scenes were those of cemeteries where fields of flags flew over the graves of our brave service men and women, honoring those who served to protect and defend our freedoms.
One of those freedoms is the freedom of speech. The First Amendment.
It has been reported that in Fillmore High School one of the teachers exercised her freedom of speech by throwing the flag of the United Sates on the floor of her classroom and stomping on it. This happened in an English language arts class. What were they studying? Perhaps Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals?
The school board and district, along with their legal counsel, see no problem with her behavior. On the other hand, I do. I want the teacher to further exercise her freedom of speech and issue an apology and an explanation for her classroom behavior.
Marla DeSha
Camarillo

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To the Editor:
I want to recognize and thank Mr. William L. “Chappy” Morris, at Morris Chevrolet in Fillmore for “making it right.”
A few years ago (from a different dealer) I bought a cute little Chevy Aveo that was great on mileage. The not-so-cute part was that it kept leaving me stranded everywhere. Since the factory warranty was still in place Mr. Morris’ Chevrolet repair shop repaired it, twice. After having it stall while driving in the fast lane of the 405 freeway and after being left stranded at the top of Grimes Canyon in the late afternoon, my husband and I had had enough with the little car. My beloved mother had recently passed away as well and this lemon of a car was adding to our stress.
As I walked to retrieve some personal items from the car as it waited to be repaired yet again, I bumped into Chappy. He must have seen the look on my face and asked what was going on. At the end of our conversation (and half a box of Kleenex), he told me that he was going to “make this right.”
I want you all to know that all the horrors and stress with my little car have now been erased my memory banks. Chappy had his patient, attentive salesman, Anthony Hernandez, show me the cars on the lot that same afternoon. Let me tell you, my husband Art and I got a wonderful, wonderful deal. We could not be happier with our brand new 2013 Chevy Cruze. It’s a beautiful car, rides super smooth, gets great mileage and has just been the answer to our prayers. Did I tell you it was a wonderful, wonderful deal? You would not believe it if I put it in this newspaper – but catch us on the street and you too will be headed to this Fillmore dealership immediately!
Thank you, Chappy, you restored my faith in the auto business. May you and your family always be blessed and your good heart be rewarded for your kindness and compassion to me on that terrible, terrible day.
Norma Pérez-Sandford

To the Editor:
The Injustice of our Justice System
Recently the Ventura Star carried an article concerning the sentencing of a young Fillmore man, Fernando Ferrer, for vehicular manslaughter that occurred in August 2012. Fernando fell asleep while driving and caused an accident that killed a woman passenger in another car. He was sentenced to four months in jail, 5 years probation and monetary restitution to the victims. There were no traces of alcohol or other substances in his system. Fernando is an upstanding, hard working, law abiding citizen as are the other members of his family. They give more than they take from the community and anyone would be proud to have them as friends and neighbors.
Contrast this to an incident that happened in December 2011 when another young man, Michael Cedarland, suffered a seizure while driving on highway 126 and smashed into a Starbucks in Fillmore killing Sergio Mendez, a decorated Iraqi war veteran, as he sat enjoying his coffee and talking to his mother on the phone. Mr. Cedarland was not charged even though he had suffered seizures prior to the accident and thus had a known, pre-existing condition. In fact, his driver's license had been suspended but re-instated.
No doubt both incidents are heart wrenching and traumatic for the victims and their families and caused mental anguish that will never totally go away. However you be the judge; which individual is more to blame - Mr. Ferrer or Mr. Cedarland? One fell asleep while driving and the other had a seizure due to a known, pre-existing condition. One is treated as a criminal while the other goes scot free. Oh, I forgot to mention; Mr. Cedarland is a Deputy Sheriff.
Dave Anderson

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To the Editor:
Resident Charles Richardson statement to the Fillmore Unified District Board meeting, Tuesday, May 28, 2013:
“My name is Charles Richardson and I reside at the El Dorado Mobile Home Park.
My primary reason for addressing you tonight is over the Flag stomping issue which occurred at Fillmore High School a couple of months ago.
The act was perpetrated by Sophomore English Teacher Jennifer Fitzpactrick as she was teaching her class. The act was supposedly to teach
about our U.S. Constitution, 1 Amendment, and saying how that amendment gives her the right as a freedom of expression. Hence the flag stomping to show her rights. She might be legally right as far as the Constitution is concerned but not only is she
morally wrong she is also wrong as far as the U.S. Code covering the American Flag is concerned.
Please allow me to enlighten you about the Code as it pertains to the use of the
American Flag. The Code was revised by the House of Representatives on 1/03/2012.
It reads as follows: READ CODE PENALTIES:
Now, are you going to allow Jennifer Fitzpactrick to get away with performing this
desecration of our American Flag and allow her to go unpunished for this act like she
did especially on school property which we own is this what Fillmore High
School has come to stand for?
However, as I have read to you under the U.S. Code Titles 4 & 18, Chapter 1 and
Section 700 (Crimes and Criminal Procedure) she and you School Board
Members need to read this Code and take appropriate action.
Technically, she may think she has the right to cite that what she did is allowed under the 1st amendment. However, the U.S. Code as adopted by the House of Representatives say she cannot. And her punishment is dear.
And even if there wasn’t a Code regarding the Flag, Jennifer Fitzpactrick was dead wrong to commit this act. Thank God for the Code!
What she did was to denigrate every person who has ever fought under this great banner. She has preformed a tremendous disservice and has shown a total lack of judgment and respect for what the American Flag represents. I am offended! Hence, my addressing you tonight. By the way, I spoke with and followed up that conversation with a letter to Fillmore High School Principal Russom Mesfun on March 27. No response.
Let me ask you this, what if she would have used the KORAN or Mexican flag? Do you think there would be only a few people here tonight raising their voice against that outrage? Here’s what we want you to do. Suspend Jennifer Fitzpactrick. The House of Representatives says you can and she could even go to Jail! The very least you should do is to reprimand her with a letter in her file that will follow her to wherever she tries to teach in the future.
Also, I want her to public apologize for this outrageous act and show contrition. School Board, take an action tonight. What Jennifer Fitzpactrick did in showing disrespect to our Great American Flag, the symbol of freedom around the world, was despicable!
My final comment is on the hideous color scheme that was chosen for the new Rio Elementary School. Not only is the black color bad, the fact that it looks like a prison is atrocious as well.
Thanks for your service and time I listening to me. Now take some action.”
Charles Richardson

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To the Editor:
At the May 14, 2013 meeting of the Board of Education, Board members and District administration listened carefully when three community members exercised their public comment rights to criticize the act of a District teacher who stepped on an American flag during a class lesson.
It has been stated that the Fillmore USD teacher should be dismissed, alluding to a reported instance where a South Carolina teacher who stepped on a flag was terminated. If media reports of that incident are reliable, there was apparently a significant settlement paid by the school district in that matter to resolve pending litigation by the teacher. Moreover, Fillmore USD must observe the rights and obligations of its teachers under the California Education Code, not South Carolina law.
Following receipt of a parent complaint in February 2013 about this action, the Fillmore USD investigated the conduct and its context. It found that the teacher conducted a class demonstration concerning certain rights and obligations of American citizenship. The lesson addressed Constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression, study of the Flag Code, and court cases concerning the treatment of the flag.
Although this act is understandably offensive to many, what some may construe as inappropriate treatment of the American flag has been addressed by the United Sates Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson 491 U.S. 397 (1989). Justice Brennan wrote: "And, precisely because it is our flag that is involved, one's response to the flag burner may exploit the uniquely persuasive power of the flag itself. We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than waving one's own, no better way to counter a flag burner's message than by saluting the flag that burns, no surer method of protecting the dignity even of the flag that burned than by--as one witness here did--according its remains a respectful burial. We do not consecrate the flag by punishing its desecration, for in doing so we dilute the freedom that this cherished emblem represents."
The District respects the rights of all of its students to learn about the freedoms and responsibilities that Americans enjoy, including our protected right to disagree with one another.
Earl Davis
Interim Asst. Suprintendent
Business & Admin. Services

Another Sad Chapter
There have been many unfortunate changes in the Fillmore Unified School District in the past few years that have sadly impacted the staff and students to their detriment. Good principals and teachers have been harassed and degraded while incompetence and rudeness in others seem to be encouraged. Possible corruption in administrators goes unchecked. This lack of competence is further evidenced by the fact that after a teacher at Fillmore High School disrespected the American flag by throwing it on the floor and stomping on it, there has been only silence from the administration and the Board. Why are they protecting her? I think that the regular attendees at the Fillmore Unified Teachers’ Association meetings could tell you why.
The Education Code of California states that a patriotic exercise shall be conducted daily and suggests the Pledge of Allegiance. Was stomping on the flag this teacher’s idea of an appropriate patriotic activity? Was she attempting to incorporate Anarchy 101 into her Language Arts lesson? As an employee of the Fillmore Unified School District, her classroom conduct is subject to the Education Code of the State of California regardless of her political opinions or personal lack of patriotism. The fact that the 1st Amendment to the Constitution gives her the right to express repugnant views does not mean she has the right to do so in a classroom of our young people.
Perhaps the Board should request that this teacher demonstrate her lesson at a public board meeting and explain the objectives she was attempting to teach and what California Education Standards were addressed.
The administrators involved, and the Fillmore Unified School Board, have been privately and publicly requested to issue an apology. This request has thus far been arrogantly ignored. The people of Fillmore deserve more respect. This offense demands an apology. Yes, another sad chapter for the Fillmore Unified School District.
By the way, if the administration has a problem with me or my opinions, they should personally address them to me. They should not harass my friends, colleagues, associates and fellow citizens interested in good quality education in Fillmore. Vindictiveness like that is truly cowardly.
Mary Ford

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To the Editor:
Recently it was reported and a letter to the editor was published in the Star stating that a local High School teacher had exercised her 1st amendment right to disgrace the American flag. She was teaching her students to use constructive reasoning?
This teacher should read :
United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag section 8.
She would see that it is against the code to use the flag in this manner and that no disrespect should ever be shown to the flag. Maybe our school board and superintendent should read this code also. When you show disrespect to our flag you show disrespect to hundreds of thousands of American men and women who have given their lives for if, yes we fought for our flag, our nation. A flag represents the nation and the people of that nation, it is not “just a meaningless symbol”.
Our nation is rapidly breaking down because of the attitudes of our leaders, our teachers, and our parents. If you don’t know what we have here go and talk to an immigrant and see how they lived before giving up everything they had to move here.
Michael Steel
Fillmore

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Fillmore City Councilmember Brian Sipes Letter of Resignation
May 15, 2013
Community of Fillmore
City Council
Fillmore City Hall
2S0 Central Avenue
Fillmore, CA 93015
Dear Fillmore City Council,
It is with great regret that I have decided to resign from the Fillmore City Council, effective immediately.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my service to the people of Fillmore since 12/15/2010 and I would prefer that I not resign. I sincerely apologize for not completing my term and I know I am disappointing many people.
At tills point in time, my professional career requires my full attention as well as frequent travel. Prohibiting me the proper energy and time for public service at the level I feel the community of Fillmore deserves.
I would also like to take this opportunity to voice my opinion on what I feel is a lack of Integrity and transparency and urge the new City Council majority to continue to focus on feasible solutions to ease the colossal sewer rates through the Sewer Subcommittee. I would also wish that the council reconsiders an essential need to make these committee meetings public and that a ‘Request for Proposal’ or ‘Request for Information’ is completed. I found it unfortunate that my leadership was cut short with the Sewer Subcommittee and hope that the focus continues to find cost cutting solutions to the operation and maintenance of the sewer plant in cooperation with American Water for the people of Fillmore.
I wish to thank the Community of Fillmore for their trust and confidence granted to me to be your representative. I am proud of my contributions and it’s my hope that my legacy will be one of integrity, monetary equality for the ratepayers, and I be known as a leader with a conscience.
Fillmore will always be my hometown and I am very proud to say so.
Sincerely,
Brian Sipes
[Editor’s Note: Re; “I...wish that the council reconsiders an essential need to make these committee meetings public...” At the 02/13/13 council meeting, Sipes voiced the same fancy, to which Mayor Rick Neal and City Attorney Tiffany Israel informed him that the public CANNOT be involved in contract negotiations, which is what the City is involved in. A lack of comprehension has been a hallmark of the Katzenjammers, of which Mr. Sipes is the last of the species.]

To the Editor:
Just a quick note to thank you for printing the articles about RailFest and Day Out With Thomas. In cooperation with the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society, RailFest attracts many rail fans both locally and from the southern California region. We appreciate your coverage in the Fillmore Gazette and for publishing in the paper and many more on the fillmoregazette.com website, all the amazing photos taken by Bob Crum. He is truly an asset to the community with photographic coverage of events in Fillmore. In addition, he brings the events to life with his words. If I hadn’t been at each of these events personally, after reading about his perspective of them, it would make me want to attend.
Thank you again, and we look forward to seeing coverage of the many upcoming events during the remainder of the year.
With sincere regards,
Kathleen McCreary
Fillmore & Western Railway

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To the Editor:
My name is Kevin Genovese and I am the Director of Operations for the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum located at 926 Railroad Avenue in Santa Paula, California. I am writing this email in regards to the possible closing of the Santa Paula Branch line that the Ventura County Transportation Commission will be deciding upon. I do not claim to know the current plans of the railroad or that of the Ventura County Transportation Commission in their decision making process. I am writing this email to let the individuals who are responsible for deciding the fate of the Santa Paula branch line and of Fillmore & Western Railway Company how the railroad and the business of Fillmore & Western Railway affect our museum. The Agriculture Museum is located right next to the historic depot in downtown Santa Paula is the stopping area for Fillmore and Western’s train that bring in large amount of tourist on Saturdays, and Sundays when they are running. We average anywhere from 500 to 1000 visitors per month many of them train passengers that decide to hop off the train during its stop to visit our museum. We also have a store (The Best of Ventura County Marketplace) located inside the museum that thrives from the tourist that want to quickly shop while the train is stopped. I am deeply concerned for our museum if the Santa Paula Branch line was closed and Fillmore & Western Railway ended train operations preventing hundreds if not thousands of tourist from visiting Santa Paula and the Santa Clara Valley. These tourist not only come for the train and small town feel, but they come to shop, eat, visit the historic sites and the museums. Many businesses in the area are greatly affected by the Santa Paula Branch line and closing that line will have a large economic affect on many of these businesses as well as local non-profits like us. In wanting to keep this message and email short, please consider all options in the decision making process in regards to closing the Santa Paula Branch line and thank you for taking the time to read this message.
Kevin Genovese
Director of Operations
Agriculture Museum

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To the Editor:
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC)’s mission is to provide affordable homes and implement economic development activities that serve low-income communities. CEDC is grounded in the belief that we don’t just build homes – we build communities in Ventura County. Since 1981, we have provided thousands of individuals and families throughout Ventura County with quality and affordable homes. But we go beyond just building homes, we work with our residents by creating leadership development opportunities, opening doors to social and educational resources so that our residents and community members shape their future and address self-identified needs and issues in their community.
CEDC’s Community Engagement and Property Management divisions are working with CEDC residents to establish a Youth Leadership Anti-Bullying Flash Mob and Advocacy Project to stop bullying in all Ventura County schools by 2015. Our projects objectives are: 1. To provide community engagement training to the anti-bullying committees at CEDC properties and its local schools to encourage and excite participation, specifically around bullying and cyber-bullying. 2. Begin an anti-bullying advocacy campaign that will help advance the implementation of anti-bullying programs in all Ventura County schools by creating partnerships with the school districts, parents and students to mutually assess current anti-bullying policies and/or programs. 3. Anti-bullying committees will study current policy and revise implementation strategies to develop comprehensive and feasible anti-bullying program in schools. 4. CEDC youth leaders and other Ventura County youth along with their parents will increase leadership skills through civic engagement by advocating to local city councils, county supervisors, and school districts/administrations.
We are starting to launch a county wide campaign and we have organized several events in Ventura County On May 18, 2013 we will be hosting a Citywide Anti-Bullying Flash Mob at the biggest event in our city. These will be the kick off event for our anti-bullying advocacy campaign. When statistics state that 77% of students in school are bullied and half of suicides among youth are related to bullying, its time to mobilize communities and bring awareness on this issues as much as possible. You can contact me directly at 805-218-6180 or mcampos@cabrilloedc.org.
Best regards,
Monica Campos
Community Building Organizer
Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation

To the Editor:
Dear VCTC Commissioners,
As a concerned resident of Fillmore, an employee of Fillmore & Western Railway and a ten year board member of the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau, I’m asking you to commit to learn everything you can and accept suggestions made for keeping the Santa Paula Branch Line a viable, workable rail line. I understand that the key issue is having the SPBL generate revenues for VCTC, equal to the point that it costs to maintain the line.
My career expertise is in the travel and tourism marketing industry, the first 6 years in hospitality/hotel sales and the last 14 years for Ventura County’s tourist railroad and as a destination marketer for the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau. I have seen first-hand what tourism spending has done for the communities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Simi Valley and in Fillmore and Santa Paula. I’ve been very involved as a partner with the Ventura, Oxnard and Santa Clarita tourism bureaus in various ways.
To “mothball” the Santa Paula Branch Line would obviously force Fillmore & Western Railway to close it’s doors. The Railway attracts 50,000-70,000 visitors every year for train rides, events, festivals, not only in Fillmore, but also in Santa Paula and Piru. These tourists stay in hotels, eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores, buy their gasoline at our service stations, in other words, they come, spend their money and go home. Tourism is the # 1 industry in Los Angeles. For the first time, there was over $102.3 Billion dollars in direct travel-related consumer spending in the state of California in 2011. Figures are not in yet for 2012, but the state tourism office forecasts that $107 billion total travel-related consumer spending will take place this year. The Heritage Valley depends on travel and tourism dollars, not only the railroad, but the antique and collectible stores, the restaurants, the lodging establishments, not counting the people employed in these travel-related industries. To force the largest tourism driver in this area to go out of business, is blatantly proclaiming that it isn’t of value or important to the commissioners of VCTC. If the Railroad closes its doors because of a VCTC decision, it would devastate the economy of the Heritage Valley.
The owner and consultant of Fillmore & Western have made suggestions to staff of VCTC for the last three years on ways to generate more revenue, it has fallen on deaf ears, and I believe the information was not passed on to the commissioners. How can you make informed decisions, if VCTC staff does not give you the information that will educate you on the subject?
The railroad has had opportunities to haul freight on the line, and is willing to give a portion of the revenue from that to VCTC, but was told by Union Pacific that VCTC staff told them specifically not to allow Fillmore & Western to haul freight. Were you informed of the decision, unilaterally made? When the Weyerhauser Plant was still operating in Santa Paula, Union Pacific made deliveries of supplies to and from that business, they did not contribute any monies from their profits to VCTC, nor did they pay any maintenance on the tracks that they hauled the freight on from Montalvo to Santa Paula.
The right of way along the railway, is 50 feet from the center line of the track, mostly agriculture farmland and commercial nurseries operate along the line, outside of city limits. This right of way belongs to VCTC. Fillmore & Western has recommended many times over the last several years, that leases be generated with the farm and ranch owners if they want to “use the right of way” for their employee parking and equipment movement. It has fallen on deaf ears. Has VCTC staff ever informed you of this possibility to generate revenue along the Santa Paula Branch Line?
Getting politically involved is not what I do, but I feel as if I have no choice but to speak out and put forth some of the deliberate machinations that are being levied with a bias and malicious intent by VCTC staff towards Fillmore & Western Railway. My livelihood, my job and the jobs of my fellow employees, are in jeopardy if the commissioners make the decision to abandon the branch line, or if Fillmore & Western is not allowed to haul freight on the line.
The originators of the agreement between VCTC and Fillmore & Western, generated the agreement with a long term vision, and Fillmore & Western has certainly operated in good faith with a commitment to stay in it for the long haul. We maintain the line, repair and replace crossing arms when motorists knock them down or a rancher’s hired help bends the rails with tractors, all with the expectation that VCTC shares in the responsibility to pay a fair wage to those employees that do the work.
Recently, when invoices have been sent to VCTC from Fillmore & Western, we get word back that they (VCTC) have changed their bookkeeping practices and now the invoice has to be accompanied by new information, yet delaying payment further. It often takes many invoices and many phone calls to get payment that is morally and ethically due the railroad.
I hope that this information has given you reason to pause and ponder the serious situation of honoring the original lease agreement, or willingness to renegotiate the lease in a fair and transparent manner, keeping in mind, that many jobs and the local economy depend on your informed vote.
Thank you for time and consideration.
Respectfully,
Kathleen McCreary
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Do you remember when you graduated from high school? It all seemed like so much fun! But little did we know how much our parents were sitting home, worried sick, knowing that we were out all night at the after parties to all hours. They prayed until the door opened and you were safely in bed. The things we put our parents threw!
Now! For the big one!! You are the parent sitting at home, your child is getting ready to graduate. They have been invited to a party, which will go on all night! You have heard of the car accidents that have happened in the year since you have graduated, and you think about how lucky you where, and you start to worry about your child. Will they be as lucky as you?
The answer is YES!!! It is called Grad Nite Live! Let us take them for the night. But we need your HELP!! It takes money to rent the buses and the boat. Grad Nite Live is having its yearly Yard Sale this Saturday May 11, 2013. It starts at 8:00am & goes to 3:00pm. We need stuff, and more stuff to sale, we also need people to help! People to help set up, please be at the Fillmore District Office on Sespe Ave at 6:00am.
If your child is a senior you really should be there! If your child is not yet a senior, come help so you will learn what to do when it’s your turn. If your child has grown, then we know at some time you will be a grandparent!!!
GRAD NITE LIVE is for the SENIORS
Please call me if you can help,
Thank you,
Terrie Metzler
805-625-2935

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To the Editor:
Several years ago I made an inquiry as to the rough railroad crossings in Fillmore. The reply I got was that it was not the city or the railroads responsibility. Since then they have improved 4 of the crossings. The last one being on A street when they made the overlay. I noticed that they are going to overlay Sespe between A Street and Old Telegraph road. Surely we can find enough money to fix this crossing also. By the way, who in the h*** is responsible for fixing these crossings? It would be nice to know.
I would like to get a reply from the City and Railroad about what their plans are.
Ernie King

To the Editor:
Apparently the current Director of the Transportation Commission of the County of Ventura has unilaterally decided that the railroad occupying the former Santa Paula Branch of the Southern Pacific RR is to be sacrificed, and long-term plans for expanding MetroLink service to Santa Paula and Fillmore, and perhaps eventually rebuilding the rail link from Ventura to Santa Clarita - the primary reasons the County bought the branch in the first place - are to be scuttled:
Per TRAINS magazine’s online News Wire:
“Darren Kettle, executive director of the {County of Ventura Transportation Commission}, tells Trains News Wire that the county purchased the branch from the Southern Pacific in the mid-1990’s to build a multi-use trail ...“
MR. KETTLE’S STATEMENT IS PATENTLY FALSE. As a County of Ventura resident who advocated strongly in the early 1990’s for saving the Santa Paula Branch, I am very well aware that the PRIMARY reason for purchase of the branch was its long-term preservation as a railroad corridor in anticipation of the future need to expand MetroLink service to Santa Paula and Fillmore and eventual re-connection of the line to the Saugus station in Santa Clarita. A secondary consideration was the continued operation of the railroad, not only to provide freight service to existing and possible future customers, but also to enhance the economy of the region by attracting both tourism and motion picture filming to the area. The establishment of bike, pedestrian and possibly equestrian trails alongside the railroad was discussed only as a possible ancillary use of the corridor, along with existing and planned water & oil pipelines and fiber-optic cables, etc.
The inch-thick Ventura - Santa Clarita Rail Corridor Study, delivered to the Transportation Commissions of both Ventura County and Los Angeles County in January, 1993, states on page 12-2 (emphasis mine):
“The right-of-way could be adapted, in part or in whole, for a reasonable capital investment. Indeed, preliminary indications are that the entire route could be acquired, and rebuilt for passenger service, for a small fraction of the cost of equivalent expansion of highway capacity, and with far less land being required.”
…and on page 13-1:
• The Santa Paula Branch right-of-way is worth preserving between Montalvo, Piru and Saugus, since much of its potential transportation value depends on its having access to the Santa Clarita area at the east end.
• For the estimated cost, purchase of the [Southern Pacific]-owned portion of the right-of-way appears to be an effective expenditure of public funds, even if the existing rail line is not immediately to be upgraded for heavy-duty rail passenger service…
• In the early stages, relatively less dense service, including freight service, can be provided. This service can include expanded recreational rail service, as well as development of other recreational potential along the right-of-way…
The 1995 Comprehensive Rail Plan, prepared for the Ventura County Transportation Commission and the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, states on page 2 (emphasis mine):
“VCTC is negotiating to purchase the Santa Paula Branch between Montalvo and Piru. The segment between Piru and Santa Clarita has been abandoned, but the current owner [Newhall Land & Farming] has expressed willingness to keep the route intact. Their latest development plans show commuter rail service in this corridor.”
and on page 7:
“Operation of excursion service on the Santa Paula Branch would keep the branch in operating condition, which would make it easier to eventually add regular passenger feeder service in the long term.”
In the total of approximately 500 pages in the two reports, there are only a few paragraphs devoted to the possibility of bicycle, pedestrian and perhaps equestrian trails being developed alongside the railroad, as has already been done in both Fillmore and Santa Paula.
Is Mr. Kettle utterly ignorant of the history behind the County of Ventura’s Ten Million Dollar purchase of the Santa Paula Branch - INEXCUSABLE FOR A PERSON IN HIS POSITION - or is he deliberately attempting to mislead the public and members of the Transportation Commission for reasons of his own?
Representatives of the Fillmore & Western RR will attend the regular meeting of the Santa Paula Branch Line Advisory Committee to discuss the future of the railroad on Friday, May 10, 2013. This meeting is open to the public; it will begin at 9:00 am at the Camarillo City Hall, located a few blocks north of Highway 101 at 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo, CA. Please attend if you possibly can and show your support for continued operation of the railroad!
Russell B. Sperry

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To the Editor:
Grad Nite Live is getting ready for our Giant Yard Sale that will be in front of the School District Office on Sespe Ave., May 11th, 8AM to 3PM. We are hoping this fundraiser will be very successful as it has been in the past. Donations from organizations, friends and supporters of Grad Nite Live have been very slow in coming. We need $20,000 for this class and we only have $10,000 in the bank. I can't help but wonder if the people of Fillmore and the parents of the students aren't interested in keeping Grad Nite Live going. We don’t want the students to go back to planning parties where alcohol or drugs are available. Last year we took 155 students out of 235 in the class. Times change we understand that, however we need to hear from you. I would like to know how many are planning to go on the Harbor Cruise and maybe even the ones that won't go and why. Please help us and thanks for your support for the 22 years we have been successful.
Raelene Chaney, President, Grad Nite Live- 524-4909 and 407-5759

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To the Editor:
Sespe School would like to formally say thank you to Mr. Nick Jimenez for his generous donation to assist our 4th grade student fieldtrip to Fort Tejon! Our students look forward to this fieldtrip for years prior to entering 4th grade and remember the trip their entire lives.
The Fort Tejon fieldtrip is a valuable learning experience for our students and it is also an opportunity for students to understand that learning can be exciting, rewarding, and hands-on. Your donation is very much appreciated by the students, staff, and 4th grade families at Sespe School. Thank you once again for your donation and for playing a positive role in shaping our students and community.
Sincerely,
The students and staff of Sespe Elementary School

To The Editor:
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who contributed to the success of Fillmore High School's fifteenth annual arts show “Open Your Eyes to Art”. It takes a lot of people and a lot of hard work, dedication and talent to coordinate an event such as this. Thank you to Fillmore Ebell Club, Fillmore Lions Club, Fillmore Women’s Service Club, Soroptomist International of Fillmore, Fillmore Rotary Club and Fillmore High School ASB for your donations which help to make this event possible. Thank you to Lucy Quezada-Romero for your donations and for being a patron of this event. To the staff and teachers at FHS who supported the student’s efforts and allowed students to take part in hanging the show…To the custodial staff- thanks for your help. Thank you to Max and Susan Pina, Daniel Felix, Sr. and to the students who stayed late to break down the show and clean up after the event. I am so appreciative of your help.
Special thanks to Greg Godfrey and the fantastic members of the Fillmore High School Concert Band who played at the event- the musical concert helped to make the evening a resounding success… To Mary Ellen Wortham and FHS photo department and Mr. Henry Beltran and the woodshop classes for your artwork- your students work, under your guidance ,was outstanding … To Josh Overton and the drama department for their wonderful performances…to Karen Wiksell and the Secondary Education classes for your beautiful quilts. Thank you to the parents and the community who attended the show and helped to make this a special night for the students. Last, but not least, to all the student artists, photographers, actors, poets, and musicians who put in numerous hours preparing for this event, hosting and cleaning up after a long day and night- especially my Art students and former students who came back to help- thank you- without you there couldn't be a show. I am very proud of all of you.
Rosalind Mitzenmacher
Fillmore High School Art Department

To the Editor:
My name is Mark Trimble, I am a resident in the ‘Traditions’ housing track off of Goodenough Road and a retired law enforcement professional.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the Emergency Services Professionals who responded to the Goodenough Road Fire Incident on March 8th.
It was a tremendous display of skill and coordination between the responding fire departments, law enforcement agencies and other emergency services first responders.
The fire coupled with 40 mph winds created a scenario that could have easily destroyed dozens of homes and created conditions that threatened the lives of residents and the responding firefighters.
Considering the combination of the fire and high winds, the firefighting professionals had the fire contained in an extremely short period of time. The law enforcement officers from Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol were extremely helpful and professional in assisting the residents whose properties were involved in the evacuation.
Thank you again for your extraordinary efforts and skills.
Commander Mark A. Trimble (Ret.)

To the Editor:
I would like to thank the members of Soroptomist International of Fillmore for their generous donation to help with this year Arts Show. The donation will go towards the expenses of putting on this years’ event “Open Your Eyes to Art” scheduled for Thursday April 11th at the Memorial Building.
On behalf of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Fillmore High School, thank you!
Rosalind Mitzenmacher
Fillmore High School
Visual Arts Dept.

[Recently Fillmore High School AVID students participated in a series of writing lessons which culminated in writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper of their choice. This was intended not only to improve their writing skills and give them a writing project that they cared about and had a personal stake in, but also to help them see the power and importance of writing and the press for our society. The project was under the supervision UCSB’s Early Academic Outreach Program. Following are four submitted letters.]

To the Editor:
Re: Fillmore Movie Theater
On April 18th, 2011, Fillmore’s only theater was closed down for good because it was not procuring the amount of money required. When it was open, things were not going so well. It was only open a few days a week and the prices were ridiculously high. However, on Mondays, I recall, they had discounts for “Family Night.” Despite the setbacks, the theater was our town’s prized possession. I believe that we should bring back this beloved theater.
If we bring back the theater, we can learn from our mistakes. We can start by staying open all week – or at least 6 out of 7 days. We can lower the ticket prices at least by a dollar from Santa Paula Regency Theater fees. As long as they are not as high as before, I think we should be fine. I also think that the idea of a Family Night was a great idea and should continue to be.
Our theater closed down in the first place because of high prices. Once we fix these problems, everything should be fine. When it was open, this place was not just a movie theater – it was a place to get away from home and have fun with your friends. Now that it is closed, there is not much else to do, especially since everything else is closing down, too. If we bring back this theater, it will create more jobs and more entertainment for the community. No longer will we of Fillmore and Piru have to drive all the way to Santa Paula to see a new movie, therefore gas is also saved. If we bring back the theater, it could potentially open up other stores, too, because everyone loves to go out to eat after a good movie with friends. To bring back the theater is to bring back the joy to this town.
Thank you for your consideration,
Eriyana Linder
A concerned Fillmore High School student

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To the Editor:
Respect used to be a moral standard in society. In today’s world this is not the case. I believe that respect is being lost. Respect has become an antique and an old relic that only few people posses today. The cause of the loss of respect can be traced to the increase of technology, booming social networks and infamous massacres that have occurred in the recent years.
Technology has provided advances in medicine and our standard of living but it has also made society take a few steps back morally. This is because of the new era of communicating, texting. Texting gives people the power to not confront problems or situations more bluntly. According to dosomething.org over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly. Instead of giving someone a call people would much rather “text it out”. This gives people the sense of ex communication, and everyone is in their own world. It eliminates the necessity of confronting things head on in life.
Another major cause of the loss of respect is the rapid increase of social networks. With social networks people can now be anonymous. People can now opine freely without having to deal with major repercussions. This usually can lead to harassment and one may feel abused in a way. This is not taking into account of how people may react to opinions and in some cases people get severely depressed and commit suicide.
Lastly one of the highest degrees of loss of respect can be linked to the recent in famous murders. More and more have taken place today than any other time in the history of the US. An example is the Batman movie premiere murder where Holmes, a seemingly innocent citizen of Colorado killed 12 and injured 58. The batman premiere was an example of how people can turn deadly in an instant how people state of mind has changed. This man Holmes thought of this plan meticulously and saw the opportunity and captured it, resulting in the loss of innocent lives. These are ideas that perhaps were never even conceived in recent years, but now we must be on a constant state of alert because of these recent grim events.
Respect is an ideal that needs to be resurrected and practiced more often. If people took one another into consideration more often, then our human culture would benefit and would make living more livable and less of a burden.
Bryan Rosas
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Lyndon LaRouche and the Glass-Steagall Act
America: land of the free, home of the brave. In the Bill of Rights, as stated in the First Amendment, we as American citizens have been granted the guaranteed right to our freedom of speech as well as freedom of petition. Various campaigns have demonstrated these rights and expressed their opinions pertaining to the matter at hand. One Campaign for instance, the LaRouche Pac, a political action committee, lead by Lyndon LaRouche promoting his candidacy for office, the removal of President Barack Obama, as well as the re-enactment of the Glass-Steagall Act or more formally known as the Banking Act of 1933 that prohibits the interference of commercial banks with the investment business. "If Glass-Steagall is not re-enacted, you're dead." Lyndon LaRouche said, expressing his radical opinion. The Glass-Steagall Act is NOT the cause or the reparation for the financial crisis as explained in a LaRouche Pac article, "If Hyperinflation hits, you're dead!"
In a closer examination of the leader and economist, Lyndon LaRouche, I've encountered many questioning aspects of the three-time nominated candidate for president. In the mid-40's, Lyndon considered himself a socialist following the ideas of Marxism for a decade before drastically changing into an extremely conservative Republican. Similar characteristics to the infamous Jonestown, Lyndon is the tyrannous leader of a cult-like group of subservient followers. It has been reported that ex-members have confessed to his outrageously controlling leadership, forcing his followers to strip themselves of their right to privacy exposing their secrets; from their personal beliefs to their sex life. Extreme measures have been taken to prevent any consequences due to their leave of the cult, they live in constant fear of his power. In his current town, he has bought many acres of land where he plans to move his followers to force them to work for extended periods of time with relatively small wages. Supposed "violent attacks" have been cast against the Glass-Steagall supporters as said in an LaRouche article, "Thug tactics and dirty tricks are being deployed against Glass-Steagall supporters." Although, Lyndon hypocritically has been caught executing vicious attacks. In 1973-1974 operation "Mop-up" was performed against communist enforcing an ultimatum of either joining their cult or suffering the punishment. Again, in 1975 he was caught attaining illegal weapons and ammunition in a plot to bring harm to any non-supporters; more than 40 fights have been reported. Conspirators say he attempted to assassinate Vice President Rockefeller. He manipulates naive people, bullying them into joining him. At the PAC weekly report on February 9th he had said, "Anyone who opposes Glass-Steagall is actually criminally insane" as well as calling anyone who disagrees with his opinions as "subhuman", ultimately using the same "Thug tactics" that were supposedly used on his followers. Lyndon and his followers infer Obama to be the next Adolf Hitler, although in comparison, Lyndon's methods and ideals resemble Hitler far more.
In 1933 when the Glass-Steagall Act was enacted, at the end of the Great Depression, it was assumed to be the salvation that the economy was looking for as well as the cause of the financial crisis of 2008 when is was repealed, but was it really? In 1999 the Glass Steagall Act was not revoked as most people ignorantly believe. Gramm-Leach Bliley (GLB) was passed by President Clinton to repeal section 20 of the Glass-Steagall Act, which prohibited banks from associating with investment banks, and made bank branching illegal, this was the only thing that was discontinued. Following the repeal, the myth of Glass-Steagalls repeal being the cause of the 2008 crisis came to be, although there is no concrete evidence supporting this theory. President Obama, himself even stated, “There is no evidence that having Glass-Steagall in place would somehow change the dynamic." This was also supported by articles published in Vanity Fair which complies with the irrelevance of resuming to the previous act first enacted in 1933. The actual cause of the downfall of the economy was the real estate lending, not only was the United States apart of but as well as other countries around the world. Another factor was the banks which lost money giving out loans irresponsibly, not because of the repeal. In an interview, Andrew Ross Sorkin grilled Glass-Steagall supporter and Senatorial Candidate, Elizabeth Warren on whether the crisis of 2008 or the JPMorgan Chase loss would have been solved if the Glass-Steagal Act had been re-enacted before their collapse and her response was, "The answer is probably 'No' to both". The banks that had apparently failed due to the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act's protection are absolutely false. The only companies that had failed were subprime lenders which are neither commercial nor investment banks at all. Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Indy Mac, Washington Mutual, Merrill Lynch, Freddie Mac, and AIG weren’t under the restrictions of the act and don’t pertain to Lyndon's accusations whatsoever.
In many of LaRouche's biased articles and Lyndon's speeches it is apparent that he relies on emotional appeal to provoke the public into following him. He deliberately misuses his power and promotes his opinions using sensationalism and yellow journalism. The opposing side that consists of Wall Street, Obama supporters, as well as Europe who are supporting the prevention of the act has been targeted as enemy number one. Supporters of this controversial act believed that if commercial and investment banks were separated they'd prosper and restore the fallen economy, although even after the act fell into place and they had no involvement with each other, they still failed separately. Glass-Steagall would have been the trigger for the decline in the economy for this reason; it would have made banks prone to withdrawing even more loans resulting in even more bankruptcies and repossessions which would ultimately lead to the fall of stocks as well as banks. In contrast, the concerns the Glass-Steagall supporters are stressing is without the level playing field between commercial and investment banks would have with the act, the Federal Reserve of the United States would buy bonds. This would lead to the quantum easing, resulting in hyperinflation. Although, the flaw to this concern is the fact that the excess bills printed would be saved in many peoples bank accounts which would be equivalent to not having printed those bills in the first place, prolonging the inflation momentarily. Another concern is as hyperinflation is initiated, prices will rise to unbelievable prices forcing the withdrawal of money from people’s bank accounts to buy necessary products while the prices are still low. The third concern would be the problematic easiness for commercial banks to access depositors investment money, these all being valid points.
I've been told that when the economy has an incline in efficiency, the current president is well liked and appreciated, on the other hand, when an economy has a decline the president at the time of the downfall, despite his efforts and wholesomeness, he is hated and is blamed for any political problems. Lyndon LaRouche's effort to remove Obama from office is simply his disability to change the problems, so he needs someone or something to point his finger at to blame. The Glass-Steagall Act has been factually proven to be useless in our current economy’s dilemma.
Jessica Reyes
Period 5
Avid

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To the Editor:
School Shootings
In the United States, school violence has had an effect on everyone’s life at one point in time. The first recorded school shooting in the United States occurred in 1764, the Enoch Brown School Massacre, where a teacher and nine students were killed. Since that day in 1764, dozens of school shootings have occurred in the United States. School violence does not just affect one single state, it ranges throughout many states, whether it be Texas, Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, and even California.
One of the most recognized school shootings in the history of our country is the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999. Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold were outcasts of their high school, who went into school one day and shot & killed 12 students and 1 teacher before killing themselves. Although most people believe that this act of violence was a split decision by the two high school boys, Harris & Klebold had been plotting this massacre for at least a year prior to its occurrence. The first shots were fired at 11:21 AM, and were quickly followed by a massacre of 12 students and 1 teacher throughout the High School’s Cafeteria and Library. One of the most moving pictures from that fateful day in April is one of a victim climbing out of a window of the library to the safe haven brought by the SWAT Team and Paramedics in the parking lot beneath him. Although it has been almost 14 years since the incident, gun control laws have been argued numerous times, and the mental stability of the shooters has been questioned. Harris & Klebold had been outcasts, judged by classmates, teachers, and even parents as to their mental state at the time of the shooting. The two shooters had been bullied throughout their school years, and had learned of guns and which ones to use through violent video games. On the 5th anniversary of the Columbine Massacre, researchers concluded that Harris was a clinical psychopath, and Klebold was Depressed. Harris was believed to be the mastermind behind the entire idea, Klebold had gone along with the idea to avoid losing his best friend. The shooting is believed to have been anything but a lack of impulse control. According to statistics given by researchers, nearly two-thirds of all premeditated school shootings are linked to bullying.
Many people also remember the Virginia Tech University Shooting which occurred in 2007, just 6 months after a gunman killed 5 Amish girls before turning the gun on himself. The shooter killed 33 people, including himself, throughout the Virginia Tech massacre. The shooting occurred at 2 different times, around 7:15 AM in a dormitory building, and about 2 and a half hours later across campus in a classroom building. The University did not evacuate the campus after hearing of the first attack, and instead sent an email out warning of an apparent gunman on campus, but students did not seem to be worried about the possible threat on campus. After the shooting occurred, officers determined that the shooter had turned the gun on himself after killing his victims. At an early age, the shooter was diagnosed with severe depression, as well as selective mutism. These psychological problems had a very large impact on the shooter’s life, and most likely added to the shooter’s mental instability. Between the first and second attacks on the University, the shooter was seen at a nearby post office, where he sent a manifesto, and many digitally recorded videos of himself to NBC News. These recordings were later used in a newscast about the incident by NBC.
A more recent example of how school shootings have had a lasting effect on our country, is the Newtown Connecticut shooting which occurred on December 14th, 2012. Adam Lanza, the shooter, first shot his mother at her home in Newtown, then headed to Sandy Hook Elementary School, where he shot his way into the building, and began his rampage. Lanza shot 20 children who attended the school in numerous classrooms, and 6 teachers who worked at the school. Many teachers hid their students in cabinets and cupboards to protect them from the shooter, instructing them to stay quiet and that it would all be okay. After shooting numerous rounds throughout the school, Lanza turned the gun on himself, and committed suicide after noticing 2 Newtown police officers who had walked into the building during his rampage. The total number of people killed, including the perpetrator, was 28, 27 at the school, and Lanza’s mother at her home. The Newtown Connecticut shooting is considered to be the second deadliest mass murder at an American elementary school, following the Bath School Bombings in Michigan which occurred in 1927. Lanza was believed to be somewhat autistic, and have a personality disorder. Friends of Lanza’s mother reported that he had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Maggie Carrillo
Fillmore

To the Editor:
In the late morning of February 27, 2013 we came home from camping at the beach for several days with full holding tanks only to find the dump station at our Waste Water Treatment Facility plugged up and with sewage in the street. We called City Hall and reported this and with in minutes the people operating the facility were there to unplug the drain Mr. Tom Peterson the manager of the facility was very courteous and apologetic for the inconvenience which was caused in no way by them. It took some time to open the drain so we left and went back later to dump. We would like to thank the city and American Water ( Tom Peterson and crew ) which operate the facility for their quick response and thank former city engineer Burt Rapp for having the foresight to install the dump station when the WWTF was built.
This dump station is a great convenience to the people of Fillmore who have Recreational Vehicles and hopefully is appreciated and will not be abused. If you should have a problem please call City Hall 524-1500 and report it.
Sincerely
Mike & Judy Hope
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
I would like to thank the members of the Rotary Club of Fillmore for their generous donation to help with this year Arts Show. The donation will go towards the expense of putting on this years’ event “Open Your Eyes to Art” scheduled for Thursday April 11th at the Memorial Building.
On behalf of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Fillmore High School, thank you!
Rosalind Mitzenmacher
Fillmore High School
Visual Arts Dept.
"ars longa, vita brevis"

To the Editor:
I would like to thank the members of the Fillmore Women’s Service Club for their generous donation of $300 to help with this year Arts Show. I would also like to thank the members of the Lions Club of Fillmore for their generous donation of $250. The donations will go towards the expenses of putting on this years’ event “Open Your Eyes to Art” scheduled for Thursday April 11th at the Memorial Building.
On behalf of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Fillmore High School, thank you!
Rosalind Mitzenmacher
Fillmore High School
Visual Arts Dept. Chair

To the Editor:
Just wanted to thank Dick Diaz on the GREAT story about Elton Wagner! I wanted to let Dick know that my Grandmother, Ethel (Everson) Berrington, is also a graduate from the Class of ’38 and she is still living in the Fillmore Convalescent Home. Unfortunately, she suffers from Alzheimer’s, so her memory is not as good as Mr. Wagner’s.
Our family (Berrington’s) have been ranching on Guiberson Road in Fillmore for 110 years (since 1903). My brother (Jeff), sister (Missy Bowen), Uncle (Bob Berrington), cousin (John Berrington), and Great Aunt and Uncle (Jim & Mary Ann) all still live in Fillmore. I try to get down there a couple of times a year to visit and am planning to come down within the next month to celebrate my Grandma’s 93rd birthday in March.
Keep up the great work; I read the paper online every week!
Mike Berrington, PG, CEM
Principal Geologist
RDM Environmental, Inc.

To the Editor:
Sespe School would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Ms. Paula Phillips for her on-going work with our students. Paula has visited our school multiple times this year, most recently working with all of our 3rd grade students on February 1st. The positive message that she delivers has a tremendous influence on our students and our campus. Sespe School would like to say a big “Thank You” to Paula from the students and staff at Sespe School.
Thanks
Scott Carroll
Principal, Sespe Elementary
SCarroll@fillmore.k12.ca.us

To the Editor:
City of Fillmore
Re: Water and Sewage Bill
January 25, 2013
Dear Sirs,
I have been paying my water for ten years now and have only been late once in that time by a day. This month due to the fact that you cannot send out your service bills on a timely manner, you have given me a past due bill for $7.85, being one day late.
I do my bills on the 26th of every month and have been for ten years. Because, you have problems sending out your bills on a timely manner should mean that I get a chance to bill you for being late in your duties. But I am sure that won’t happen.
Dave Callens
Fillmore Resident

To The Editor:
I would like to take the time to especially thank Jesus “Chuy” Ortiz owner of Pescadore Restaurant in Fillmore, California for hosting our wedding reception on November 23, 2012. This was a very special day for both my husband, Francisco Ocampo and I. Mr. Ortiz went above and beyond to make our day a very special day. We were extremely impressed with all of the staff’s professionalism and hospitality. The decorations and food were done by his daughter Maribel Ramos and her husband Fernando Ramos and every detail was perfect. I encourage all of the residents of Fillmore to visit Pescadore Restaurant and if you have any wedding plans, the best place in town is Pescadore! Thanks again Chuy, Maribel and Fernando!
Priscilla