Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, there will be Bunco game nights at the Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial Building (located at 511 Second Street in Fillmore) from 6pm-8pm. It is $5 to play & you are encouraged to pre-register at Fillmore City Hall, you may buy-in on the night of each game night if there is player space available. There will be a cash bar available to purchase drinks (alcohol & non-alcoholic) along with shopping opportunities from approximately 10 vendors each game night.

This event is part of the “Raise the Roof” Fundraiser series benefitting the Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial Building’s efforts in raising money towards a new roof.

For more information please call 524-1500 ext 713.

Bob Crum

Alas, wet, juicy rain from on high. Except for a leaky umbrella, I'm not complaining. Nosireebob! The much-needed water is greatly appreciated. However, the dainty Sespe Creek mermaids don't enjoy frolicking in a muddy torrent. A text told me they left for calmer, and clearer, Ventura Harbor waters. But I digress.

Sespe Creek, with headwaters at Potrero Seco at 5,280 feet in the eastern Sierra Madre Mountain, is approximately 61 miles long. From beginning to end, more than thirty tributary streams of the Sierra Madre and Topatopa Mountains feed the unrestrained free-flowing Sespe.

The sprawling territory of the watershed encompasses 260 square miles. If my math is correct, that's 166,499.294 acres. That's a large area for rain to dump on and run down to the creek. Since hills are covered with soil, the runoff is, well, you know, muddy.

Streams, creeks and rivers - each with unique and fascinating personalities - are interesting bodies of water as well as exciting photo ops. From any vantage point, observe any flowing body of water at any time of the year and you will see unique characteristics. Two weeks later, from the same place, you'll often find that it's different. A month ago there wasn't a drop of water flowing in Sespe Creek. It's now a raging torrent.

During a break in the weather last Saturday afternoon, the Sespe beckoned. I first made several photos from the bank north of the railroad bridge. As dusk drew nigh, time for plan B: Sunset photo on the bank of the roaring Sespe. As you might guess, good photos don't just happen. They require four things: planning, composition, appropriate camera programming and some post-processing. Oh, and one other thing: Patience. Planning and composition meant I needed to skedaddle over to a location south of Old Telegraph road.

Now on the eastern bank (location!), I was greeted with an exposure dilemma. The sun was very bright. If I set exposure settings for the brightness, the muddy water was too dark. Expose for the dark muddy water and the sky was blown out. Bountiful clouds off on the horizon. Hmmm. I waited. And waited. Patience, remember? As hoped, the sun began dipping behind some clouds. Hallelujah! Now, with the right aperture and shutter speed, I could balance the light of the sky and on the water. Bingo! Whoa! Not one and done! It's never a good idea to merely make one photo and skadoo thinking that you've got the best possible photo! Varying the composition can produce entirely different images. Equally important, various combinations of aperture and shutter speed produce different exposures, one of which will ultimately be the best. As the sun steadily descended, and ISO on auto, I continued to shoot varying the aperture and shutter speed. The tally? A scant 38 photos. I hope that I was legally allowed to have so much fun!

In case you're wondering, I did consider shooting the scene in HDR (high dynamic range) mode, bracketing the exposure in 5 successive frames. But when the sun ducked behind the clouds, I was confident I could achieve a relatively balanced and correct exposure without HDR. HDR processing sometimes produces artifacts that degrade the image.

Later at home, I sorted the photos selecting one to post process. I further tweaked the exposure with my computer darkroom using Adobe Lightroom (LR). The graduated filter in LR is an awesome aid for fine-tuning exposure balance. I polished the image with NIK plugins in Photoshop Elements. Bingo! Photo of the week! Happy photoing!

Send comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

Exercise Citadel Shield / Solid Curtain 2019 (SC/SC-19) will be conducted on naval installations within the continental United States, 4 - 15 February, 2019.

This annual exercise is designed to enhance the training and readiness of Navy Security Forces. Exercise CS/SC-19 is not in response to any specific threat, but a regularly scheduled exercise.

Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise.

During the Citadel Shield / Solid Curtain 2019 exercise, the Visitor Control Center hours will remain the same; Monday-Friday 0645-1445.

For more information, follow us on Facebook @NavalBaseVenturaCounty, or call NBVC Public Affairs at 805-989-9234.

On 12/24/2018, at approximately 9:30 PM, deputies with the Fillmore Police Department responded to a shooting that occurred in the 800 block of4thStreet in Fillmore.Two adult male victims were shot by unknown suspect(s).The suspect(s) are believed to be associated with a white sedan. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect(s).If you have any information regardingthis crime, please contact DetectiveBeau Rodriguez at 805-384-4723 or at Beau.Rodriguez@ventura.org.Prepared by:Detective Beau Rodriguez #3591NewsRelease Date:01/30/2019Media Follow-Up Contact:Detective Beau Rodriguez805-290-0645/ Beau.Rodriguez@ventura.orgApproved by:Captain Jeff MillerVentura 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 call may remain anonymous. The caller is not recorded.
Call Crimestoppers at 888-222-8477.

The Sweetheart Hop is the first big occurrence in the "Raise the Roof" Fundraiser series with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Fillmore Post 9637 & the Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial District benefiting the Veterans Memorial Building!

Our wonderful community building needs a new roof & a few other renovations, so why not have fun while we "Raise the Roof" on February 16th 2019 at the Veterans Memorial Building.

Come out for a night of dinner, dessert & dancing... Music Performance by Studio C Band, Cash bar, photo-op + silent auction!
Ticket options are as follows:

5:30pm entrance:
- $45 a person , ticket includes dinner
- $350 8 person table, ticket includes dinner

7:00pm entrance:
- $25 a person, ticket does not include dinner

Purchase tickets at Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue downstairs at the finance window.

** To purchase an 8 person table, contact the Parks and Recreation department to see if a table is still available to reserve. 524-1500 ext 713 (upstairs, 2nd floor of City Hall)

*** To sponsor a table, call 524-1500 ext 713

Submitted by Sue Zeider On Tuesday, January 22, the Fillmore Historical Museum presented a program on the 155 years of Rancho Sespe to the Fillmore Middle School. In conjunction with the presentation, the students can participate in an essay contest on Rancho Sespe sponsored by the Museum. There are separate categories for fiction and non-fiction. Students are encouraged to interview friends and family who have memories of living or working at the Rancho.

Supervisor Kelly Long announced today she is accepting applications for volunteer positions on the Bardsdale Cemetery District Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees formulates rules, regulations and policies as well as management of the land, buildings and equipment necessary to run the Cemetery. Trustees must reside within the Cemetery District boundaries.

The Bardsdale Cemetery District serves the City of Fillmore and surrounding area. The Bardsdale Cemetery Association was formed in 1895 and operated as an association until 1914 when it became a public cemetery district. The District owns and operates a cemetery located in Bardsdale at 1698 South Sespe Street. The cemetery and related District owned property is approximately 14.4 acres in size. The District provides burial and related services to residents and property owners in the District boundaries.

The District’s operations are overseen by a five-member Board of Trustees serving four-year terms. The two vacant Trustee positions will fulfill a term that will expire on January 4th, 2021. The trustee positions are appointed at large by the Board of Supervisors upon recommendation of 3rd District Supervisor Kelly Long.

Public cemeteries in California are among the earliest and oldest public facilities in the state and were in existence prior to the enactment of the first public cemetery law in 1909. Today, there are 253 public cemetery districts in California, including three districts in Ventura County: Bardsdale Cemetery District, Piru Cemetery District & El Rancho Simi Cemetery District. Public cemetery districts are special districts that are legally separate from any other unit of local government. Each district’s board of trustees is solely responsible for all aspects of district operations. Trustees must reside within the cemetery district boundaries and be registered voters within the district.

For more information, please contact Manuel Minjares in Supervisor Kelly Long’s office at 805-654-2276.

Bob Crum

The phenomenal super blood wolf moon lunar eclipse was hyped as a must watch event. Many of you watched. Answering my query, I wasn't surprised to hear that many of you agreed that 'twas not spectacular. However, others asked: Where in the photo is the man-in-the-moon churning green cheese? Good grief, I need to get a 1,000mm lens.

The photo of the week is a revisit of part of Sespe Creek after the recent storm. The storm that produced a deluge of storm-water runoff throughout the Sespe Creek watershed causing Sespe Creek to 1) become extraordinarily muddy and 2) rise quickly to a raging torrent.

I witnessed many who stopped on the Old Telegraph Road bridge over the Creek's east branch (actually the so-called overflow) and shot an overview photo to capture a broad expanse of the creek. I also have that ho-hum image. But such photos don't convey any sense of the enormous power of the turbulent creek as it roars downstream to the Santa Clara River.

Recall the many instances when I stated that a photo that tells a story without words is not only photojournalism, it's usually a more stimulating photo. A roaring Sespe Creek is exciting, but something else is quite extraordinary if one would look with photographer's eyes. (Remember that topic?) Stop and take a few minutes to watch the roaring torrent. Besides the loud din-and it was quite loud-you'll see the roaring creek became a contortionist at various locations.

Over decades of torrential rains, large boulders have ended up in many parts of the creek bed. After a storm, the water rises and the flow rate increases. When it hits an unmovable boulder, the water protests as it's forced to go around and/or over it. In the process, it contorts in numerous ways. Like snowflakes, no two splashes identical. Look closely at these areas of hyperactivity and you'll see many fabulous photo ops.

There's a massive boulder in the creek just north of the railroad bridge. It causes an enormous upheaval of the water distorting it in interesting and spectacular ways creating an exciting display.

After the perfunctory overview waterscape photos, I watched the chocolate milk for several minutes and envisioned the photo I wanted to make. With the onset of dusk, I needed to act quickly. ISO of 5000 was required to compensate for the low light at an f/11 aperture. Selecting the shutter speed was a quandary. Ultimately I selected 1/200th of a second to show some blur indicating fast flowing water. The result is the photo of the week.

The point is to demonstrate that by understanding the relationship between ISO, aperture and shutter speed, the photographer can create a photo for a specific purpose. I wanted to capture the enormous forces at play. BAM! Water slams into the boulder! BOOM! Unmovable boulder says not today H²O! Water heaves and screams in agony! My challenge: Capture the forces of nature. And of course, regular readers know how much I relish a photographic challenge.

Another purpose of this exercise is to illustrate, again, the benefits of acquiring photography eyes. Take time to look around. Observe! 'See' and engage the right hemisphere of your brain that performs tasks related to creativity and the arts. After all, photography is about creating photos!

I created the photo of the week as intended, i.e., a photo illustrating dynamic hydraulic forces. Did I succeed? That's up to you to decide. Happy photoing.

Send comments, suggestions and/or questions to: focusonphotography!@earthlink.net

At last nights meeting the city council reappointed two members of the Public Arts Commissions, voted on subdivision improvement agreements with Hearthstone.

At the Fillmore City Council regular Tuesday meeting, the following actions took place:

RECOMMENDATION: SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT WITH HEARTHSTONE FOR TRACT MA 5520
The City Council approved the Subdivision Improvement Agreement and authorized the Mayor to sign the agreement.

REQUEST
The City Council to appoint two members to the Public Arts Commission. Both appointments are for a term ending in January 2023. The city council approved the reappointment of Joe Beebe and Robert (Bob) Crum to the Fillmore Public Arts Commission. Crum is presently serving as chairman of the Arts Commission, and chairman of the Active Adult Commission.

By unanimous vote, the city council approved a subdivision improvement agreement with Hearthstone for tract map 5520. The property involved is situated behind and to the east of El Dorado Estates south of highway 126. Development to occur in two phases... five tracts in phase 1, the remaining two tracts in phase two.

At the public hearing for new business 7B regarding the development impact fee amounts, two speakers addressed the Council stating that present development impact fees is a detriment to any future construction of low-income housing in Fillmore. After addressing their concerns, city manager David Rowlands requested Resolution No. 16-3676 regarding the issue of development impact fees be postponed to the February 26, 2019 council meeting to give staff additional time to revisit the topic and have better numbers to present for consideration. Motion to postpone passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned to closed session.

Bob Crum

I was ready! Knowing that the moon will be in constant motion, I installed my camera on a fluid video head on a tripod to facilitate tracking the moon easier than if on a conventional ball head. I was excited as I anticipated the big, bright full moon rising in the eastern sky. The excitement quickly dissipated as I realized that the sky hooks I put up to prevent clouds from obscuring the eclipse weren't working. At 6:30 pm, clouds filled the sky. Depressing but must persevere.

I patiently waited, optimistic that the clouds would disappear in time to reveal the grand event. At 7 pm, still cloudy! At 8 pm, still cloudy! Finally, intermittent clouds permitted brief glimpses of the moon.

For a while, clouds came and went, dancing in the sky, teasing us by showing glimpses of the lunar eclipse in progress. Alas, about 45 minutes before the full eclipse, the cloud cover cleared revealing the full glory of the moon. Except for seven readers of this column (you know who you are), 2,396,381 of my readers watched in awe.

Photographing the eclipse was not without some frustration. I was reminded again that often there are better tools for a given task than those on hand. My gear consisted of a Tamron 300mm lens coupled to a Tamron 1.4X teleconverter mounted on my Canon 7D Mark II camera. I installed the camera on a Manfrotto MHXPro-2W fluid video head mounted on a Manfrotto 290Extra tripod. I also used a cable shutter release. Furthermore, to minimize camera vibration, I enabled mirror lockup in the camera. All the while, I longed for a 6oomm lens. (sigh!)

As you might expect, I made a bunch of photos. Afterward, I remained perplexed. What was I thinking? The main feature of the eclipse was the moon going dark in the full shadow of the earth, right? So what's the point of photographing a dark moon in a black sky if you can't see the moon in the photo? Good grief. Furthermore, the darkness will drive ISO higher than the moon which causes maximum digital noise! Regardless, I have an exquisite photo of a dark moon traveling 2,288 miles per hour across a black sky.

Instead of the exquisite invisible moon photo, the photo of the week is a bright, colorful moon during the eclipse. Touted as a super blood wolf moon, a photo showing some color makes more sense. Not sure how the photo will appear in the newspaper in black & white, but look closely and hopefully you'll see little white dots: Stars! I love serendipity! How many stars do you count? Did you find eight? See the photo in color at fillmoregazette.com. But first, look again. In the moon's upper right quadrant see the never before photographed moonworkers making scrumptious lunar green cheese and, of course, astronomically smoooth moonshine! Both remain tariff-free so buy some soon!

Though I enjoyed the super blood wolf moon eclipse experience, I can't say that I was thrilled. In my opinion, it didn't seem to match the hyperbole. Sure, seeing the change from a bright, white moon to a reddish/orange orb and then go dark in the earth's shadow was interesting but not exciting. Thrilling would be watching the infamous cow chase a wolf over the blood moon. Maybe next year!

Please take a minute and email me your thoughts about your super blood wolf moon eclipse experience. Was it anticlimactic or were you thrilled?

BTW, there are many reports about hearing loud serendipitous howling. Well, ahem, did you really think that I could resist?

Send comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for California residents to assist in the disaster recovery effort in the aftermath of the Camp, Hill and Woolsey Wildfires in Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

California residents who wish to apply for a job with FEMA should create a profile at USAjobs.gov. Many jobs will be opening in the coming weeks and months. Jobs will be posted for seven days only. Search key words: “FEMA Local Hire” and location: “California.”

FEMA officials suggest visiting the USAJOBS site often to view the most jobs available at any given time.

Some of the jobs needed include: Engineer, Floodplain Management Specialist, Geospatial Information Systems Specialist, Administrative Support Assistant, Insurance Specialist, Emergency Management Specialist, Equal Rights Advisor, Customer Service Representative, Analysts, Voluntary Agency Liaison, Resource Manager, Media Relations Specialist, Digital Communications Specialist, Mass Care Specialist, Applicant Services Specialist, Housing Coordinator and Reports Writer.

It is FEMA’s policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants in every aspect of their employment and working conditions. FEMA supports the concept of affirmative employment to ensure that personnel policies and practices provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information or retaliation/reprisal.

Those hired will join a recovery team already in place, composed of local and federal workers, voluntary agencies, and community organizations. Through temporary local employees, FEMA gains valuable community insights, provides jobs, and allows Californians to be on the front lines working in assisting in the state’s recovery.

A bouquet by Judy Dunst thanking our first responders.
Enlarge Photo

Submitted by Jan Lee

Many of us have already made and broken our 2019 New Year’s resolutions. However, this is the year to keep a resolution to participate in the Fillmore Flower Show April 13 and 14 of this year. 2019 marks 100 years since the Flower Show became a tradition in Fillmore. The committee has special plans for the show this year. Our theme is “100 Years Celebrating Flowers.”

Originally, the flower show was a May Day celebration. To quote from an article in the Fillmore Herald from many years ago,” The idea for a flower show originated around 1913 when elementary schools offered a large framed print of George Washington (called the traveling award) to the school with the best display of wild flowers at the annual May Day Festival.” According to the article, San Cayetano Grammar School was awarded the print in 1913, Fillmore Grammar School in 1914 and Sespe Grammar School in 1915. The picture of GW then disappeared for a few years until Mountain View School was torn down and Carl Myers found the picture in the rubble. It was donated to the Fillmore Museum where is remains today.

Whether you are new in town or your family has been here for generations, don’t miss the Fillmore Flower Show this year. Nurture those plants, grow those flowers. Join your neighbors for a display of Fillmore’s beauty, both the flowers and the people.