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By Ari Larson — Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
 Portobello Pizza Grand Opening Saturday February 4, 2017. Co-Owners Jose Orea and Bernardino Orea (center). Enlarge Photo  FZ Tax Services Grand Opening February 4, 2017. Owner FZ Tax Services Frank Zamora (center). Enlarge Photo Written by Ari Larson, Board Director, Fillmore Chamber of Commerce A Grand opening for Portobello Pizza and a grand re-opening (in a new location) for FZ Tax Services were celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 with music, food samples and giveaways. Fillmore City Council member Tim Holmgren, The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce President Irma Magana, Vice President Martin Guerrero and Ari Larson (Public Relations and Marketing) were on hand for the ribbon-cutting. Also, in attendance were Miss Fillmore Natalie Johnston, 1st Princess Emily Armstrong and Miss Teen Fillmore Grace Garnica. Both businesses are located in the Super A shopping center on Highway 126. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
 February 14th, Fillmore Fire Foundation Fillmore along with Fillmore Police Department, donated 150 balls for Valentine’s day throughout both Fillmore and Piru School Districts. The balls were purchased through the Fillmore Fire Foundation. Pictured above are students from Rio Vista receiving their donation. Enlarge Photo |
 Photo of the Week, by Bob Crum; One end of a rainbow lands in Fillmore right in the middle of a home owner's back yard. I chased it but by the time I got there... it disappeared... along with the pot of gold. Were it not for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Nevertheless, ain't rainbows wonderful? Did you notice the steaks in the photo upper right? Rain! Particulars: manual mode, 16-300mm lens at 73mm, aperture f/14, 1/60 of a sec shutter speed, ISO 800. Enlarge Photo By Bob Crum — Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
Rainbows & Cameras
 Bob Crum Did everyone see the rainbow last Saturday? I'm so excited. I got some exquisite photos with my $45,000 Hasselblad camera. Sorry, I can't share them with you. I pushed a wrong button and poof... accidentally deleted them all. I probably should sell the clunker... you think? I was returning from Ventura when I saw it and knowing how fleeting rainbows can be, I stopped a few miles out of town and shot a few photos. Back in town I got a few photos from here and there with mixed results. Results don't always satisfy expectations because cameras don’t always fulfill intentions. That explains why lousy photos are... ahem... never my fault! Back to business. If you already have a respectable camera, dSLR or Point-&-Shoot, this week's column may, or may not be interesting but last week I said that I'd list my gear and why I use what I have. Must be done because a camera is an essential component of photography. Key word: Essential! Nikon, Pentax and others make great cameras. I prefer Canon. My prime camera is a Canon 7D Mark II. I bought this camera because of the awesome 65 all cross-type AutoFocus (AF) points for high precision AF at remarkable speed. I need that! Focus speed is not important when I'm shooting Sespe Creek mermaids but remember, as a photojournalist, my work entails shooting events. Fast and accurate focusing is very important. Otherwise, I don't get paid. That's not good. Are all the photos I shoot in focus? No! But isn't that what the delete button is for? Another important feature is the ability to record on two memory cards simultaneously: On an SD card and on a CompactFlash (CF) card. But I don't do that. I prefer to record RAW images on the SD card and the backup jpegs on the CF card. I also record video on the SD card because I can buy a larger capacity less costly SD card than CF cards. Now you know. The 7D2 is also sealed remarkably well against the elements. If I choose to, I can safely shoot crashing waves up close on the coast or desert tortoises on a windy day without concern. Lenses are a different matter. Among the many, those are the camera's main features. BTW, I still have my six-year old 7D that I take with me on assignments as a backup. Which brings me to this important point. There are several great camera brands. They all do marvelous things photographically speaking. But they also all have a quirk or two. If you are intending to purchase a new camera, specifically a dSLR any time soon, take your time and explore all the options. Go to a camera store and fondle the camera. Are the controls and menus intuitive and easy to understand? Most importantly, exam the specifications. Does the camera allow you to do what you require? You must chose very carefully because you don't just buy a dSLR camera... you will be buying a system: A Canon system, or a Nikon system or a Pentax system. The system is comprised of camera, lenses, flash units and accessories of all kinds. Most components are not interchangeable. Choose carefully! That's it for this week. Next week, the all important lenses. Also a brief overview of new crop of mirrorless cameras that are gaining in popularity. I'm even looking seriously at a couple of them. Ahem... just looking! Send comments, suggestions or questions to: bob@fillmoregazette.com |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
 City of Fillmore OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY November 10, 2016 The Honorable Diane McCall Re: Limits on Legalized Marijuana Dear Mayor McCall: Throughout California and in states that have legalized recreational marijuana, law enforcement has witnessed serious, violent crime surrounding marijuana enterprises, which are almost exclusively cash based. First responders also have noted significant driving under the influence issues, with dramatically increasing numbers of marijuana- related traffic fatalities. Drug addiction and overdose emergencies have also increased, especially among children, who are most vulnerable to the physiological and psychological harm the drug causes. Homelessness has increased, particularly among drug users drawn to areas that have legalized marijuana sales. Recently, the district attorney of Denver, Colorado, Mitchell R. Morrissey, noted a number of public health impacts that marijuana legalization has had in Colorado: Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado in 2013 traffic related marijuana deaths have increased 48%, marijuana related emergency room visits have increased 49%, and marijuana related calls to the poison center have increased 100%. Denver District Attorney Morrissey also described dramatic increases in violent crime, vehicle theft, and residential burglaries since marijuana was legalized. He also detailed a sharp rise in marijuana-related crime: Colorado has also seen a number of overdose deaths resulting from the ingestion of edible marijuana products. Of tremendous concern is the skyrocketing use of marijuana by youth. According to the Denver Post, reports of marijuana in the middle and high schools have soared since legalization. Youth marijuana use in Colorado is 74 percent higher than the national average and is the highest in the nation among youths aged 12 to 17. Colorado is also ranked first in the nation in marijuana use among adults aged 18 to 25. These numbers are particularly disturbing in light of medical studies showing the permanent brain damage that people under 25 suffer as a result of regular marijuana use. According to Ventura County Public Health Officer Robert Levin, M.D. Persistent cannabis use in adolescence is associated with significant neuropsychological decline’ 1.2.3.4.5 It is clear that the earlier the persistent use begins, the greater the damage. A regular marijuana user who begins in his teens will lose up to 8 IQ points by 25 years of age / An 8 points IQ loss drops someone who is at the 50th percentile for intelligence down to the 29th percentile. In a review article on working and verbal episodic memory, 11 out of 12 studies showed a loss of IQ points among chronic cannabis users,8 A number of cognitive impairments will also occurs. These include diminished executive function; impaired short-term memory; and decreased concentration, attention span, problem solving, processing speed, perceptual reasoning and verbal comprehension. Diminished motor control, coordination, judgment, reaction time, and tracking ability have been shown as well. These troubling developments are now directly implicated in decisions you will soon make concerning your own community. On November 8, 2016. California voters passed Proposition 64, legalizing personal, non-commercial cultivation, possession, and use of limited quantities of marijuana by adults over 21 years old. Proposition 64 also creates a structure for legalizing commercial marijuana activities from cultivation to retail sales. It is important to understand that while the proposition creates a path to legalization of commercial marijuana activities, it expressly authorizes cities and counties to prohibit or limit commercial and medical marijuana enterprises. The proposition does not affect federal law, under which all cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana is criminal. Proposition 64 creates state-level regulations for commercial cultivation, distribution, and sales of recreational marijuana. However, no commercial marijuana enterprise may lawfully operate in California without local governmental approval and a local business license. Under this key aspect of Proposition 64, your city retains the authority to prohibit or limit the following marijuana activities, among others: Local zoning authority is unaffected by Proposition 64 and your city may also impose reasonable regulations on personal indoor cultivation of marijuana. Many cities have been enticed by the promise of substantial tax revenue from commercial marijuana interests. Experience has shown this promise to be illusory. Accurate tax collection from marijuana industries has been exceptionally difficult to achieve, in part because nearly all business is conducted in cash. Also, because medical marijuana is exempted from many taxes, a large number of users have simply avoided the tax by purchasing marijuana with a medical marijuana identification card. Finally, the societal costs associated with the marijuana industry’s public health and criminal justice impacts have far exceeded the benefits of marijuana tax revenue. As a result, tax revenue has not met the promises made by commercial marijuana interests. To avoid the harms commercial marijuana causes to communities and residents, it is imperative that the marijuana industry not gain a foothold in Ventura County. 1 urge you to work with our fellow’ Ventura County governmental leaders to enact comprehensive and consistent regulations prohibiting the operation of commercial marijuana enterprises in our county. The health and safety of our residents depends upon it. I would he happy to discuss these matters with your council as it considers how to proceed regarding the marijuana industry. Very truly yours, |
 Fillmore High School sophomore Alina Herrera won first place in the Fillmore Lions Student Speaker Contest. Finalists in the annual contest included Chloe Stines, Connie Quintana, Jene Tarango, and Allison Recancaj. The winner received a $100 award; all other finalists received $25. Judging the contest were: Dr. Harvey Guthrie, Dr. Cynthia King, and Sue Cuttris. The next level of the contest for the winner to compete is Tuesday, March 7, Zone #8, 6:00 p.m. at the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
 Alina Herrera, 11th Grade won this year’s 2017 Fillmore Lions Club Student Speaker Contest. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
 Bank of the Sierra donates $4,000 to Fillmore Condors Cross Country. Accepting the check is treasure, Francisco Velazquez, President, Erika Arana, Coach Rafael Laureano and Condor athletes. Enlarge Photo Fillmore Condors Cross Country youth running club would like to thank Bank of the Sierra for their generous donation of $4,000. The Condors is a non-profit organization that is managed by volunteers. Some volunteers ran as youth through the program in the 1980’s. In 2004 it slowly made a comeback with the dedication of coach and former athlete Rafael Laureano, who continues today to have a love and passion for the sport. The 2016 season was the club’s 12th year and has recently merged with Heritage Valley Blazers Inc., the local track & field program. The purpose of the Condors club is to educate the youth with the fundamentals of the sport of cross country. The aim is to teach through the sport: sportsmanship, leadership, and bring local youth closer together through the love of the sport. Our organization is open to boys and girls ages 5-16 with all athletic abilities. The athletes compete on a course ranging from 2K to 4K depending on age. The club has been successful throughout the years in sending many talented local youth to compete at the National Junior Olympics. The donation will be used for, clinics, races, national’s, senior high school scholarships to continue their running careers collegially and to help aid athletes who cannot financially afford expenses associated with cross country. Fillmore Condor’s Cross Country appreciates all your support, THANK YOU Bank of the Sierra! For more information visit us at: fillmorecondors.org |
 Photo of the Week: "Rush Hour Traffic" by Bob Crum. Central Avenue rush hour traffic on a late Friday afternoon. I shot a similar photo a week earlier. However, the cloudless sky lacked drama creating a boring image. Light is a key element. A cloudless, blue sky exhibits a light of a particular color characteristic. That light didn’t suit a feeling that I wanted to impart in the image I envisioned. In this image, the cloudy sky not only helps me create an overall ‘mood’, it also adds a dimension. The particulars: lens set at 16mm, manual mode, f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO 1250. F/11 for depth of field, 1/200 sec because I was shooting hand held. ISO was set to ‘automatic’ to allow it to float for proper exposure given that the shutter speed and aperture were fixed values. Exposure compensation adjusted in post processing. Comments or questions? bob@fillmoregazette.com Enlarge Photo By Bob Crum — Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
The Camera!
You know, the device that consists of a computer with a lens for producing photographs. A must have! But if you're shooting photos with anything less than a $45,000.00 100MP Hasselblad H5D-200c camera you'll never get great photos! So move along...nothing here to help you. (grin) A frequent comment: You must have a great camera. Of course, I respond, and because I have a really great oven, all my pies are the best in the world! Whether photos or pies, quality ingredients and a little know-how are far more important than the device. Last week I emphasized the importance of “composition”. If the “composition” (photo) is compelling, the exposure correct and the subject is in focus you have just incorporated the necessary quality ingredients for a great photo. Kudos! Obviously a camera and lens are essential for photography. But it doesn't have to be an expensive dSLR camera with a detachable lens. Many good photos are shot with a respectable point-and-shoot camera. Some cell phones have respectable cameras. But Fillmore residents beware: Phonetography is prohibited by ordinance 17, section 2.5, paragraph 9. Tourists are exempted. Just kidding. It's often said that the best camera is the one that you have with you when you need it. Sort of. Like most things, you get what you pay for. Low cost consumer cameras lack quality sensors which are the heart of a digital camera. Accurate colors suffer in low cost point-and-shoot cameras and the lenses lack quality for the most part. But will aunt Martha notice any lens distortion in the photos of Jimmy's birthday party? If your goal is to produce technically good images, there are quantifiable advantages to having better cameras. But that doesn't mean limiting out a credit card. Review your goals and needs then decide. Some delightful photos have been shot on inexpensive cameras but it's not the rule. If you're thinking about a new camera, plan for the future. As your photography experience and knowledge increase, you will want a camera that responds to your dictates. It's very frustrating to see the potential for a magnificent photo and discover that the camera is incapable of adequately capturing it. I know the feeling! Which is why every time I think about the $45,000.00 100MP Hasselblad H5D-200c camera, I drool. And buy lotto tickets. No matter the kind of photography, it all starts with a camera. Or... ahem... a cell phone. Next week I'll tell you what I have and why. Happy shooting. Write me at bob@fillmoregazette.com and tell me your thoughts. Name the column contest is over. For now, I decided on plain ole Photography Know-How, with a subtitle describing the column topic. But I'll still treat all of you who participated in the “name the column” contest to a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream Friday night, Feb 10, 7 PM at the B/R store. |
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By Ari Larson — Wednesday, February 1st, 2017
Congratulations to all the 2016 Annual Community Awards recipients
 (center) Lifetime Achievement Citizen of the Year Captain Dave Wareham. The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce hosted the Community Award Dinner and Installation of Chamber Board Members on Friday, January 27th. The Master of Ceremonies was Ernie Villegas, Dinner was provided by El Pescador, dessert was provided by La Michoacana and music by Danny Cancino DJ aka DC. In attendance to present the honorees with certificates were: District 37th Assembly Member Monique Limon, Ventura County Supervisor 3rd District: Kelly Long, Fillmore City Mayor Carrie Broggie and Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean. Installing the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce Board Directors was Supervisor Kelly Long. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 1st, 2017
City of Fillmore A Public Hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Fillmore on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at 6:30 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, California, to consider the establishment of personal cultivation fee. This fee is intended to be used to pay for the processing of the Personal Cultivation Permit with the Planning Department, Building Department and Fire Department and reflect the actual cost or providing such services that include application review, construction plan review and inspections. Interested persons are invited to attend and be heard at the Public Hearing. Testimony may be presented in person or submitted in written form prior to the hearing and made a part of the hearing record. If you require special assistance in order to attend the meeting, including needs addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify the City at least 3 days prior to the meeting by calling (805) 524-3701. Copies of the proposed fee schedule and further information on this subject may be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 1st, 2017
 Matthew Hammond, Fillmore High School 2016 graduate, just completed his first semester at The Citadel, a Senior Military College in Charleston, SC. Not only did he move across the country, but is excelling in his coursework making the Dean’s List this first semester. “Congratulations, Matthew!” from the whole family. Enlarge Photo |
 Photo of the Week: Sespe Creek after the triple rain storms a week ago. Though could have been shot various ways, my 'artistic' intent was to shoot at sundown for some warm color on the hilltop. Notice the bushes in the creek are all sharp while the water is blurry? I set the camera mode dial to shutter priority. Image particulars: lens at 24mm, aperture at f/10, shutter speed 1/15 sec., ISO 500. (Mighty Trinity of Exposure) Camera handheld, not tripod mounted. To include some foreground, perspective, I shot the photo from the water's edge. Questions/comments welcome. Enlarge Photo By Bob Crum — Wednesday, February 1st, 2017
Photography Tips & Techniques
Bob Crum By way of last week's autobiography, most of you know that I have been a photojournalist and writer for a few decades. Also note that photography is not just something I greatly enjoy doing, it's a passion. Photography is seriously awesome! While photojournalism has been a vocation of sorts, wildflowers, landscapes, waterscapes and wildlife are all irresistible to photograph. My favorite, if you must know, is Mermaid boudoir photography. A camera captures a moment of time and light. The result, the digital file, the camera creates is my canvas upon which I take artistic license. Computer software serves as my instrument with which to create an image as I envision. The finished photograph... either a print or a digital file for the Internet is my artistic rendering. The question I am asked the most is: How do I take better photographs? Well, I don't know! Just kidding! There are many intangibles to capturing an eye-grabbing photo. But the most important component is composition, a key aspect of a compelling photograph. Composition cannot be overemphasized and from what I observe it is the biggest mistake many photographers make. I'll discuss composition a lot. I often take day trips here and there just for the purpose of shooting landscapes or wildlife. So, where I go and what I shoot will also be featured and discussed. All in all, I hope that you will be entertained as well as educated. Til next week, it might serve you well to memorize the following: The name the column contest remains open one more week. Prize is upped to two scoops of Baskin Robbins ice cream! BTW, yes, the name does need to apply to photography. |
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By Ari Larson — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
 2016 Citizen of the Year Laura Bartels. (l-r) Laura Bartels, Irma Magana and Ari Larson. Enlarge Photo  2016 Paramedic of the Year Robert Scott. (l-r) Martin Guerrero, Robert Scott, Irma Magana, Al Huerta & Ari Larson. Enlarge Photo  2016 Firefighter of the Year Michael Salazar. (l-r) Martin Guerrero, Michael Salazar, Irma Magana, Al Huerta & Ari Larson. Enlarge Photo Congratulations to the 2016 Firefighter of the Year: Michael Salazar and 2016 Paramedic of the Year: Robert Scott. They will be honored at the Fillmore Community Award Dinner on Friday, January 27th. Also being honored that evening will be: Deputy Erik Hernandez (2016 Office of the Year), Fillmore Explorers Post #2958 (2016 Non-Profit of the Year), Fillmore So Cal Bears (2016 Youth Sports Group of the Year), Ameci’s Pizza-Erik Landis (2016 New Outstanding Business of the Year), Edward Jones-Kyle Wilson (2016 Outstanding Business of the Year), Skillin-Carroll Mortuary (2016 Lifetime Achievement Business of the Year), Laura Bartels (2016 Citizen of the Year), Police Captain David Wareham (2016 Lifetime Achievement Citizen of the Year), Dr. Hakansson (2016 Outstanding Community Service of the Year), Efrain Perez (2016 Explorer of the Year), John Wilber (2016 School District Administrator of the Year), Luke Myers (2016 Student of the Year), Lisa Cook (2016 Classified Employee of the Year) and Jenny Bortins (2016 Certificated Employee of the Year). Social Hour: 5:30pm-6:30pm, Dinner/Ceremony 6:30pm. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Building (511 Second St.) Attire: 50’s theme (highly encouraged), Tickets $35 |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
 Dave Wareham Fillmore’s Police Chief, Dave Wareham, told City Council crime was significantly down from last year. Fillmore continues to be among nation’s safest cities. Recreational marijuana is still a concern. Chief Wareham explained some complexities involved with the recent approval of recreational marijuana. Many questions remain about how to implement regulations on the growth and use of marijuana within city limits. These concern safeguarding the plant from children, protection from theft, and dealing with odors. Wareham explained that many new issues will arise as the case law develops. |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
 The county’s new $9-million fire station at River Street and C Street is developing on time. Pictured here, the architect, project manager, and owner-contractor, checking things out. The rain has caused some time loss, but no one would dare complain about that. Construction should be completed by the end of the year. All steel workers are local. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
 Wednesday January 25th, workers were seen striping the new Highway 126 and Mountain View. The new traffic light is still needs to be synchronized with the other traffic lights along Highway 126. Enlarge Photo |
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By Bob Crum — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
Photos by Bob Crum
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By Bob Crum — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
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By Bob Crum — Thursday, January 26th, 2017
Bob Crum Gazette readers... hark! As long as Sespe Creek has been dry... you've waited for this. Your patience is hereby rewarded. I'm not talking about water flowing again in the creek, which is nice to see. No, instead, a new column here in the Gazette by yours truly to tickle your literary bones. It's true. I recently caught the publisher by surprise and before he came to his senses, the contract was signed. You know, 10 years, six figures, the usual. My agent is the greatest. My intention is to present all manner of things Fillmore. Special events, business grand openings, activities at various venues and the like. Occasionally weigh in on City Council happenings. And of course, discuss subjects of great importance to the Gazette readership and residents at large. Please note, that it's going to be a work in progress... evolving as the readership provides input about the column and your preferences. Now the difficult part. Publisher Martin insisted that I present a little background info. Back in the early 60s I joined the U. S. Air Force where I was promptly assigned to an airborne reconnaissance wing (spy planes) at Kadina AF base in Okinawa, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base. On leave to Japan, I bought my first camera, a Konika range finder. Konica's single lens reflex cameras pioneered auto-exposure in cameras with focal-plane shutters. For one, I could not resist shooting the 12,388 feet Mt. Fuji, aka “Fuji-san” as well as other Japanese iconic landmarks. Upon my honorable discharge, I returned to civilian life in south Florida. Established a residence with my family outside of Miami. My first day job was with WTVJ, channel 4 Miami as video tape editor and operator. During free time, I became an active explorer of the vast wilderness known as the Everglades and the great cypress tree swamp and upland range of Big Cypress. So much grandeur in all that wildness. After leaving TV production, I held various jobs throughout the next 10 years or so, including, installation of electronic equipment in hotels for Totell Systems, Picker X-Ray and electronic tech for an aerospace contractor. These positions paid the bills for my growing family of three children but getting burned out on electronic work. All the while, I continued to spend as much free time as available out in the Everglades and Big Cypress. I not only learned the territory, by observation I learned the ways and means of the varied wildlife of the area. Captured as much as I could but with a newer camera. Along with photos, I was keeping a journal of my observations. And also spent a good deal of time fishing. Why not, I learned where all the lunkers lurked! Having acquired many photos of flora and fauna, I began, as a freelance photojournalist, to submit them to various publications around Florida. Many were published. In time, I was getting assignments. About this time, I again made another career move: joining the Florida Fish & Game Commission (as it was know back then) as a Reserve Officer. Besides routine patrols, I also served as the regional information officer. Eventually, the hazards of the position wore on me. So, again time to rethink about what to do. Became a fishing guide... fresh and saltwater. In all the intervening years, I had not only knowledge of the Everglades, but of many of fisheries from Lake Okeechobee to the St. John's River. I also fished the offshore Gulfstream for all manner of saltwater fish. But first, obtained my Captain's license required by the Coast Guard when taking aboard paying customers. At this point, my photojournalism took a new turn based on boating and fishing. Again, getting published was easy because the photos were fresh... of places not normally seen. And I began to write about such places, travel writer of sorts. I began to write short travel snippets about the location accompanied with photos. But as one might suspect, work as a fishing guide is weather dependent and to a large degree, seasonal. This can wreck havoc on one's budget. All of my published work throughout Florida did not escape the notice of the Southern Star magazine publisher. One day, visiting the owner of a tackle store in Ft. Lauderdale, I was approached by the magazine editor with a proposition. I accepted his invitation to meet with the publisher... and in a blink, I was Associate Editor of the Southern Star fishing and boating section. A steady job but a challenging one as well. For all intent and purposes, I was initiating a whole new section. The Editor, Vic, was only writing about sailing. It began with my writing just three articles for the first edition. But, I was busy. All the fishing magazines in FL wrote about fishing last month. Boring. I scoured the state and finally had a group of 9 professional anglers from all parts of the state. But not feeding me last months activities, instead, predicting the fishing to be expected in the NEXT month. Never been done before. It quickly became a huge success. If someone had a week off and wanted to fish Lake George on the St. Johns River, they'd know what to expect by reading my fearless fishing forecast. Or maybe they'd plan to go wherever the fishing looked the most promising. Magazine sales jumped from an average of 12,000/month to 178,000/month-give or take-in five months and increasing. At the time magazine sales were increasing exponentially, I was writing 5 articles a month, covering tournaments all over south Florida and the Bahamas, the fearless fishing forecast and doing boat tests and writing about my reviews. Can you even imagine the challenge of writing and photographing all that every month? Deadlines were dreaded!!! And I lost weight! Sad to say, unfortunate circumstances befell and the Southern Star and it closed. Not long after that, Hurricane Andrew displaced me. My daughter graduated UCLA the following June and upon coming out here for the graduation ceremony, her then boyfriend suggested that I fly back home, drive my 27 ft. class C motorhome back to California and because of his being a state park ranger, I'd be camp host at Leo Carillo. That was 1995, I think. Exploring the territory as I like to do, I eventually discovered Fillmore, back when the green steel bridge spanned the Santa Clara river. Eventually I ended up in Fillmore, and discovered the Fillmore Gazette. And as many of you may remember, there was also the Fillmore Herald. I chose to begin as a Fillmore photojournalist with the Gazette simply because I immediately saw more professionalism in the Gazette publisher Martin Farrell. Been shooting for the Gazette now well over a decade. Well, that's a snippit of my background over several decades. As you see, I have done a good deal of writing and photography the last four decades or so. One more item! A weekly newspaper naturally can't afford (so I'm told) a full-time photojournalist so, to pay the bills, I needed some additional income. I discovered what was then A Street Self Storage. In exchange for providing customer service, I was able to park my 40ft 5th wheel RV on the property and work from it. Worked for A Street Storage for 12 years and many of you perhaps rented a storage unit from me or a place for your RV. Nova Storage bought the business and property in March of 2016 and retained me as their property manager. And that brings us to the present moment. Besides this column, we'll also be introducing another new feature: “Photo of the Week.” Why not? I'll begin and eventually invite residents to submit an image. The only condition, for now, is that the photo must relate to Fillmore, Bardsdale, Piru and the immediate surrounding area. Landscapes, architecture, waterscapes, wildlife and the like. Please, no photos of little Johnny blowing out the candles on his 5th birthday. Or your Auntie Bertha modeling her new Easter bonnet. You get the idea. By the way, if you haven't noticed, my writing style is colloquial... an informal conversational style without regard to strict set of rules. So, rather than take me to task for grammatical miscues (should there ever be one) or improper speling... er... spelling, remember: Compassion rules. Last but no less important. A contest. I purposefully didn't name the column so that you, the readership, can submit your suggestion. If I ultimately select your suggestion, you will win, at my expense, a scoop of Baskin-Robbins ice cream at the new Fillmore B-R store. Deal? Now, what's your suggestion? Cheers! |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
Saturday February 11th, 2017
Ortega Family House Fire Fundraiser Saturday February 11th, 2017 We the Ortega family want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and generous support given to our brother, uncle and cousins. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, January 18th, 2017
 On Friday the 13th a 3-car collision occurred at the intersection of Highway 126 and Central Avenue. All three vehicles suffered substantial damage. It was reported that one vehicle turned in front of an eastbound SUV and struck it on the passenger side. These two vehicles came to rest at the south side of Central Avenue. The third vehicle, crashed into signage in front of the corner store. No injuries were reported. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department handled the incident. Enlarge Photo |
