The city of Fillmore held a special election Tuesday, hoping to raise its sales tax by 0.75 percent to 8 percent to generate monies for the city coffers. The tax revenue would have been less than $500,000 a year. But the 1,168 voters would went to the ballot box rejected the tax increase with 739 (63.27%) voting NO, and 429 (36.73%) voting YES.

The tax increase would have expired in 5-years, or sooner if Fillmore’s disagreement with the cities of Livermore and Industry over nearly $2 million sales tax revenue from Owens & Minor is settled in Fillmore’s favor.

On Thursday November 3rd, 2011, Chevron and EPA officials presented the history, cleanup, and future plans for the old Texaco “Fillmore Works” Oil Refinery property located on the east edge of town along Pole Creek. The site, now called the “Pacific Coast Pipeline Site” (PCPL) is planned for new development that will include commercial, industrial, open space and hiking trails. Two documents that help tell the history and future plans for the site are located here:

Future Plans for the Site: http://chevron.barnettcox.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Chevron_11x17_ActionPlanHandout_READER.pdf

History of the site: http://chevron.barnettcox.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Chevron_12PageBooklet_READER.pdf

Video of the November 3, 2011 presentation at San Cayetano Elementary:

The November 1, 2011 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting was attended by a number of Principals from schools throughout the District. The goal of the collaboration of faculty and administration was teamwork with an effort to attain a new standard that will leave behind a system that is failing. Today’s challenge for educators and administrators are the profound changes that are essential to assess 21st Century skills.

The major change being developed for FUSD is the Task Force Program (TFP). The TFP is a district wide nine member team that began gathering data at the beginning of the school year to analyze the relationship between cause variables, such as teaching practices, curriculum and assessments. The goal is to address the needs of students throughout the district and the factors that are most strongly associated with improved student achievement; and getting ready for the Common Core Standards (CCS) that will be implemented in all states throughout the country within the next 2 to 4 years.

Each member’s recommendations have been researched with updates on effective instruction through the use of collected data. The end result is gaining a system that supports school improvement with a goal of implementing high-impact educational strategies.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson referred to the work being applied as an online report card, stating, “It’s a major change that impacts what we do in the classroom…measures the students by what they’re required to know and our students will be prepared to graduate high school.” Johnson went on to say, “Some might ask, ‘Why do all these changes?’ because the old way isn’t working.”

Scott Carroll, Principal of Sespe Elementary, is the head of the Essential Standards and Benchmark Task Force. Carroll is tasked with completing field testing of the third trimester assessment for English Language Arts and the three trimester benchmark assessments for Mathematics. Carroll presented the Board with examples of the new TFP’s exam and assessments. Using strategies developed by Dr. Douglas Reeves, Carroll explained that these changes will allow teachers and administrators to take effective action now that will both improve performance on current state assessments and help prepare students and teachers for the CCS. Carroll stated that the questions one must ask when forming such tests and assessments is, “Does it have endurance? Does it have leverage? Does it develop student readiness for the next level?” He went on to say that subjects such as Algebra are started way before the 6th grade and is built upon each preceding year.

Sespe Elementary is 45% English as a second language (ESL) students, so it presents some great challenges to the schools teachers. Carroll stated that Sespe is five years behind where it should be and there’s a lot that needs to be accomplished to catch up, adding that methods are only part of the equation. “It’s the teachers that make the difference.”

FUSD Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino believes that what was administered 50 years ago is outdated today and that assessments must be open, not secret. Students must be given what they need to know and have it reinforced; not have to question what they need to know to take a test. He went on to state, “We need to question all ways of teaching…there is more than one way, and in the end the whole system benefits.”

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Bush informed the Board that the building of Rio Vista School is now being framed on the west and east sides and that the problem with the unwanted “residents” has been resolved and they have vacated.

Fillmore High School’s (FHS) Student Body President Sammy Martinez informed the Board that the blood drive for United Blood Services held on Tuesday was a great success with 55 participating; which include both adults and students.

Martinez also added the many activities coming up; Santa Paula Week celebrating the rival football game on Friday and a rally on Wednesday October 9th in the FHS gym; Noontime Activities everyday next week; Sophomore class Carwash fundraiser for the Sadie Hawkins Dance; Class officers are doing a fundraiser by selling blankets they’ve made for $25; Carrier Day at the Memorial Building Friday November 4th; Junior Class will be planning the Junior or Senior Prom to be held at the Saticoy Country Club and Seniors are ordering the announcements for graduation.

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The North Fillmore Police Storefront has accomplished a great deal since its beginnings over 16 years ago, from saving a child’s life to turning Christmas into a time of joy for many children; it has been a great asset to the residents of Fillmore.

Established September 10, 1995 through a COPS More Program Grant applied for by Lt. Dick Purnell along with an $18,000 Family Preservation Grant received in early 1996, the Storefront began with three positions: DARE office, Special Enforcement Deputy, Community Resource Officer.

The Storefront sits on property contracted by the City of Fillmore with a leased price of one dollar per month, which includes a child’s park. Today it is primarily run under the guidance of retired Sheriffs Officer Max Pina who serves as the Community Resource Officer.

Pina’s long carrier with law enforcement started in January 1965 as a Reservist with the Santa Paula Police Department and joined Fillmore Police in August of 1971. Later in 1986, when the City of Fillmore contracted with the VCSD, Pina signed on with the Sheriffs and retired in November of 1999 after 34 years of service.
The Storefront has been a dependable resource for many low income residents, serving the needs of citizens throughout Fillmore, the unincorporated community of Piru and occasionally Santa Paula, Oxnard and Ventura residents who travel to the Storefront for Legal Aid.

With a goal to educate the public and promote the importance of formal education thus benefiting society as a whole, the Storefront has its priorities heading in the right direction. While overseeing a wide breadth of programs throughout the years, it has provided the community with over 40 services; everything from emergency food, citizenship classes, child gun safety classes, computer classes, crisis intervention and CPR classes, to name a few. Yearly 14,585 people receive assistance with an average of 20 to 130 people helped on any given day. Since 1995 over 197,264 Fillmore and Piru residents have received help and services.

One of the most rewarding CONTINUED »

As families prepare for what has become an increasingly popular holiday, CAL FIRE would like to remind everyone to take a few simple safety precautions in order to ensure a fun and safe Halloween.

For kids, Halloween is an exciting holiday, but if precautions are not taken, scary things can happen. Candle decorations combined with flowing costumes create an increased risk of fire. Candle fires are one of the leading causes of home fires and occur more frequently on Halloween according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

CAL FIRE urges the public to follow these tips for a safe Halloween:

Trick-or-treating

· Children should always go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult

· Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks to carry for lighting and visibility

· Review how to cross a street with your child. Look left, right, and left again to be sure no cars are approaching before crossing the street

· Remind children to stay together as a group when walking from house to house

Costumes

· Purchase costumes made of flame resistant or flame retardant material. Fire resistant does not mean fireproof!

· Apply reflective tape to Halloween costumes

· Masks can obstruct vision – consider using make-up instead

· Avoid loose, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts

· Keep hemlines short enough to prevent tripping

Decorations

· Keep decorations well away from all open flames and heat sources, including light bulbs and heaters

· Keep exits clear of decorations so nothing blocks escape routes

· Remove objects from the yard that could present a tripping hazard (garden tools, hoses, etc.)

Remember to closely inspect all candy before allowing children to eat it, discarding any unwrapped treats from a stranger. If in doubt, throw it out!

CAL FIRE wishes everyone a safe and fun Halloween! For more Halloween safety ideas or other fire safety tips, please visit our web site at www.fire.ca.gov.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - “Into the Fragile: New Photographic Works by Brian Stethem” will be on exhibit from Saturday, Nov. 19, through Thursday, Jan. 26, at California Lutheran University.

A reception will be held at 7 p.m. on opening day in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture.

The exhibit is an examination of the fleeting, ephemeral nature of our short lives, as well as a testament to the resilience we possess. The photographs portray people’s sacred side, and imagine their lives interchanged with the lives of other creatures including insects and turtles.

The Fillmore artist photographs everyday things in a way that reveals quiet narratives and overlooked meanings. A 1984 CLU graduate who earned a master’s degree in fine arts from California Institute of the Arts in 1994, Stethem has traveled throughout the world documenting diverse places through the lens of his camera. His photographs have been featured in many galleries including the Ventura County Museum of History and Art, Watts Towers Arts Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He teaches photography at CLU and works as a commercial photographer.

Admission is free. The Kwan Fong Gallery, located in Soiland Humanities Center on the south side of Memorial Parkway, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is available in the lot on Mountclef Boulevard.

For more information, contact Michael Pearce at 805-444-7716 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu.

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It has been 22 years since we can say this Fillmore; we have one of our own playing Division One Football! Nathan Largen, son of Mike and Julie Largen of Fillmore is playing football for the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Not since Greg Baldwin, playing for the Florida Gators, had Fillmore had anybody play at this level.

Nathan is in his last year of Football that started here in Fillmore playing for the Youth Raiders program, then to the Fillmore Flashes High School team. When I asked Nathan what his biggest moment at Fillmore was he said, "The Santa Paula game. It was the first game on TV we had. In Santa Paula we won the game, I ran the ball for over 200 yards, and three touchdowns."

Nathan then went on to play at Moorpark J.C. for two years. He played H-Back, Fullback for the Raiders. In 2007 he was also part of the Western Conference Championship team, which won the American Bowl. The 2008 year at Moorpark Nathan was awarded The Coaches Award at Moorpark College. More importantly,he also received more important an Associates Degree.

When asked what was his greatest moment at Moorpark, he said, "When we beat El Camino College in the play-offs 43-42 in overtime. And when I got my first college touchdown against Fullerton J.C. And of course my degree."
After Moorpark a few schools showed interest in Nathan. Humboldt State, South West Oklahoma wanted him to play. "Since I was a young boy in Fillmore all I wanted to do was play Division One big time football,'' said Nathan. "University of Tulsa offered me a preferred walk-on spot so I went there."

Nathan red shirted his first year at Tulsa, but that did not stop him being awarded the Pride Friday Player of the Year for the team.

In Nathan's second year at Tulsa in 2010 the team had a huge win in South Bend to beat Notre Dame, 28-27. The team also went 10-3, and won the Hawaii Bowl that year.

Nathan did not see much playing time that year, but that didn’t upset him. "I just kept working hard in practice and the weight room, working hard for my chance."

That hard work paid off out for Nathan. This last spring he earned a full scholarship and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Exercise Sports Science. "That is what it is all about. Hard work and dreams do come true."
This year Nathan is a Starter on all of Tulsa's special teams. He is also seeing some time at H-Back and T.E. Anybody who knows the game of football will tell you how important a good special team football player is for you. "I got my first start for Tulsa on the Kick-Off team. And I went down the field and made the first tackle of the year."

Let me tell you folks, that was not just some regular game that day. It was against the number one team in the nation at the time, the Sooners of Oklahoma." The most exciting thing since I have been at Tulsa is getting my first start at Norman Oklahoma," said Nathan. "To play the Sooners, the number one team in the nation, and to make the first tackle of the game in front of 85,000 people was great!"

What was even greater was to have his family and friends at the game. ''It especially meant a lot for me to have my family at the game, as well as some close friends from Fillmore; Levi Holladay, Matt Gomez, and Steve Micarelli."

Nathan has earned Special Team Player of the Week against Boise State, and North Texas. Tulsa has played three top ten teams this year, number one team Oklahoma, number four Boise State, and number eight team Oklahoma State University. What a big thrill for a young man from Fillmore.

The team has a 4-3 record so far this year with a big win over Rice last week. "I feel at home here right now," said Nathan. "I was homesick at first, now after three years here it feels like home."

I asked him what he missed most about Fillmore. "The small town feeling of knowing everybody. I miss my family and close friends."

I asked Nathan what is next for you. "I will be back home in December. I want to get my Masters Degree, go into Strength and Conditioning or Firefighter."

When asked if he had anything else he wanted to add Nathan said, "I am living my dream! This is a chance in a lifetime. If you work hard, just follow your dreams."

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FILLMORE, CA - On 10/20/2011 at 5:30pm the City of Fillmore Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 900 Block of Blaine Ave. in the City of Fillmore.

Upon arriving on scene, firefighters observed smoke and fire coming from the back portion of the residence. Fire Personnel were able to launch an aggressive attack on the fire. Firefighters had to pull dry wall to extinguish fire that had traveled into the walls of the laundry room. Fillmore Firefighters did a tremendous job keeping the fire in the one room and no other damage to the rest of the structure.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Monday morning, October 24, 2011, at approximately 7:58 a.m. a male juvenile was crossing “A” Street when he was hit by a white Nissan Altima sedan traveling southbound on “A” Street. Deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to the scene with the Fillmore Fire Department.

The collision happened on “A” Street between First Street and Sespe Avenue. Both of these intersections are controlled by stop signs. Both have painted school crosswalks and both locations were staffed with on-duty adult school crossing guards.

The preliminary investigation has established that the youth had recently exited his parent’s car on “A” Street between the two intersections. Instead of using the adjacent sidewalk and walking to the nearest intersection, the youth was crossing “A” Street from the east side to the west mid block when he was hit by Carrillo’s Nissan Altima going south on “A” Street at approximately 10 mph. According to witnesses, the northbound traffic on “A” Street was backed up from the stop sign at First Street and the youth emerged between a pair of stopped cars into the Altima’s path.

The youth was knocked to the pavement and lost an upper tooth as a result of the fall. He also sustained some minor abrasions to a knee and a forearm. Paramedics from AMR Ambulance transported the minor to Santa Paula Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Carrillo was not injured. There is no evidence that alcohol or cell phone usage was a factor in the collision.

The Fillmore Police Department wants to encourage parents to emphasize to their children the dangers of crossing streets at places other than at a crosswalk. Please stress to your children to use crosswalks where provided and to follow the directions of adult school crossing guards.

Report Number: RB# 11-24169
Location: “A” Street and First Street, Fillmore
Date & Time: October 24, 2011 7:58 a.m.
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Department / Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Male Juvenile
Carrillo, Suzette Fillmore
Fillmore 11
51
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Craig Smith, Sergeant
Media Release Date: October 24, 2011
Follow-Up Contact: Craig Smith, Sergeant
Approved by: Captain Monica McGrath

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Yesterday a couple was contacted by an imposter posing as an agent for the “FBI” stating that they were entitled to a large sum of money and that a local law enforcement official would be contacting them to make arrangements for delivery of the money - all they had to do was wire a sum of money to receive their funds.

This morning another imposter, posing as Sheriff Dean, called them confirming it was a legitimate deal and he had all the paperwork necessary to complete the transaction. They were told to meet the Sheriff at his office at 1:00 p.m. to receive the required paperwork. They showed up here for their appointment, which is how we found out about this scam.

Remember if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. No Law Enforcement Officer will EVER notify you of any winnings, lottery or other inheritance. If you have any questions or have been victimized by this scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency as soon as possible.

Do not be fooled by these scam artists, they are very good at what they do. Always protect your hard earned assets.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Report Number: Pending
Location: City of Ojai
Date & Time: October 19, 2011 9:30 P.M.
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Administration
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Captain Mike Aranda
Media Release Date: October 20, 2011
Follow-Up Contact: Captain Mike Aranda (805) 654-2417

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at 11:57 p.m., deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to a solo motorcycle accident at the intersection of Wendy Drive and Peppermint Street. Accident investigators determined that Maxwell Carpenter was riding his motorcycle southbound on Wendy Drive when he lost control of the motorcycle in the area of Peppermint Street and collided with the west curb and a street sign.

Carpenter was treated at the scene and then transported by ambulance to Los Robles Hospital. Shortly after arrival at the hospital, Carpenter was pronounced deceased due to injuries he sustained during the accident.

The cause of this collision is still being investigated.

Report Number: 11-23854
Location: Wendy Drive @ Peppermint Street, Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: October 19, 2011 @ 11:57 p.m.
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Traffic Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Carpenter, Maxwell Martin Oxnard 23
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sgt. Rick Harwood
Media Release Date: October 20, 2011
Follow-Up Contact: Sgt. Rick Harwood / (805) 494-8271
Approved by: Capt. Bill Ayub

California Department of Fish and Game

A city and two nonprofit groups’ combined commitments more than double the reward offered for information on a brutal mountain lion killing. The City of Calabasas in eastern Los Angeles County has matched the $5,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of poachers who killed a mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains last month. Two other groups put up an additional $1,700 for a total reward of $11,700.

“Our community is stunned that someone would intentionally kill one of our rare mountain lions,” said Calabasas City Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer. “We are determined to do everything we can to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

The CalTIP Foundation (Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters) offered the initial $2,500, followed by the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, who matched that amount.

The Ventura County based Animal Rescue Team, Inc. pledged $1,500 and San Diego’s Mountain Lion Foundation added the additional $200.

The CalTIP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity that supports anti-poaching and anti-pollution enforcement efforts in California. Tax-deductible donations to support the CalTIP Foundation can be sent to CalTIP Inc., PMB #125, 417 Mace Blvd., Suite J, Davis, CA 95618.

The lion was discovered on Sept. 11, 2011 after DFG and the National Park Service received a call of a dead mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. DFG game wardens determined that the lion did not die of natural causes and opened an investigation.

Mountain lions are designated as a “specially protected mammal” in California, and it is illegal to hunt or trap them.

DFG and the National Park Service are seeking information related to the lion death and the parties responsible. Anyone with any information regarding this case should call the CalTIP hotline at 1-888-334-2258.

There were two presentations given at the October 18, 2011 Fillmore Unified School Districts (FUSD) Board Meeting which revealed part of the new objective of the District. FUSD is setting high goals and looking to different avenues in an effort to connect with the students. Exploring updated methods of teaching, shared data and incorporating new technology are part of the new directions being applied to achieve those high goals. Newly formed Task Force Committees that were established at the beginning of the school year are showing results. San Cayetano and Piru Elementary Schools each gave presentation on what has been accomplished so far and what they expect to achieve in the future.

Michael Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of FUSD, explained the objective of the new direction as, “A nine (9) Task Forces the Superintendent has formed to help create district-wide systems (K-12) that would help enhance teaching and learning in FUSD. The task forces are at various stages in accomplishing their objectives; however, our goal is to complete their work on or before the end of this current school year, submit for approval their recommendations to the School Board, orient and in-service the staff on those recommendations, and implement next school year the Task Forces’ board approved recommendations.”

Heading the Task Force are; Report Card Task Force, Jan Marholin, Principal, San Cayetano; Lead Facilitator with the task of developing an essential standards report card with appropriate rubrics.

Pacing Guides Task Force, Chrissy Schieferle, Principal, Mountain Vista who heads the task of developing a trimester English Language Arts pacing guides to include timelines, benchmark assessments, re-teaching/intervention opportunities and a list of resources for classroom teachers.

Essential Standards and Benchmark Task Force, Scott Carroll, Principal, of Sespe School is tasked with completing field testing of the third trimester assessment for English Language Arts and the three trimester benchmark assessments for Mathematics

Classroom Climate Task Force, Epi Torres, Vice Principal, Fillmore High is tasked to recommend five classroom expectations teachers have of our students and five expectations our students can have of our teachers.
Student Study Habits Task Force, Bobbi Roderick, Dean, Fillmore Middle is tasked to recommend two to three significant study habits our students need to have and to be reinforced (K-12) in order to be academically successful.

Teaching Strategies Task Force, Cynthia Frutos (just newly appointed), Principal, Sierra Alternative/Heritage Valley Independent Study is tasked to recommend five teaching strategies all teachers in the district will use in the classroom to help enhance student achievement.

Math Scope and Sequence Task Force, Dr. Ellen Green, Acting Principal, Fillmore Middle; is tasked to develop pacing guides based on essential standards in Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry (6-12).

Writing Scope and Sequence Task Force, John Wilber, Principal, Fillmore High, is tasked to develop a district-wide Writing Program scope and sequence (K-12).

English Language Development Task Force, Jennifer Weir, Coordinator, District Office is tasked with developing pacing guides for our ELD curriculum.

Piru Elementary Principal Diana Vides and teachers John Schaper and Kristina Silbey, also from Piru Elementary, gave a presentation updating the Board on their school’s student performance data. The percentage of students achieving at the proficient or advanced level (meeting or exceeding the state standards) over a three year comparison starting in 2008 till today has had some gains and some losses.

Gains were made in math with an averaged of all grades at 48.2% in 2008 and today averaging 53.5%. But a large loss was seen in Language Arts where in 2008 students averaged 46.2% and today are down to an average of 36.1%. In particular with needed improvement in English Language Arts were 3rd grade with a low of 15% and 6th grade at 14%. The gains in math were across the board with the exception of the 6th grade which averaged only 9% proficient.

In response to these lower levels of achievement Vides said students in grades k-6 will now have access to 4 hours of intervention 4 days a week in English Arts with an additional 2 hours of intervention 4 days a week for grades 4-6. Also, for students that are new to the country and speak another language other than English, a teacher has been hired to provide English Language Development intervention.

To bridge the Piru Elementary student’s families and their education, all home notices with be in both English and Spanish, translators for teacher/parent conferences will be available and parents will receive mid-trimester progress reports if the child is not progressing adequately. In addition parent workshops will be held monthly to educate parents on becoming partners in the education of their children.

Silbey stated, “Research shows success is attained from staffs that work collaboratively to reach a common goal. We feel we are on the right track to achieving success.”

Principal Jan Marholin presented the Board with their student’s achievements. Joining Marholin was kindergarten teacher Kristy Dunst. Marholin informed the Board that the English Language Arts have improved and 18 students at San Cayentano having progressed to being proficient in English at mid year. Marholin stated, “San Cayentano is a school of service with all classes giving back to the community” and that she looks forward to district wide parent involvement meetings.

Marholin expressed a concern with regards to safety at the school. San Cayetano is an open campus with fencing only provided for the special needs students. “We have people who will come over and use the picnic table who are not parents or students,” Marholin stated. FUSD Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino mentioned that Piru only has a portion of the school fencing also. Nishino informed everyone that some changes are coming and new rules are being written to control who can and cannot be on any of the District school campuses.

Nishino has been in contact with The Discovery Channel and Data Wise in an effort to expand the methods used to connect with students. The use of the Discovery Channel’s programming, particularly in science using electronic digital media would be a great asset in upgrading Fillmore’s student’s educational tools.

Established in 1983, the non-profit Data Wise provides online student assessment and data management solution to help educators connect the data points and improve student learning. Nishino is exploring the possibilities of online education as a next step in advancing instruction. “Not all kids can learn from the left side of the brain like me; some need to touch and feel it.” Nishino stated. Wilber said he likes the idea but is concerned about the cost.

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