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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
November 26th
 Dustin Anderson Dustin Anderson, a 29 year old Fillmore native and executive chef at Rabalais Bistro and Bakery of Santa Paula, will be competing on the holiday baking edition of "Food Rush." The show will air on 8:30pm on November 26th on the Disney-ABC Television Group’s Live Well Network hosted by “Top Chef” alumni, Ryan Scott. Anderson was invited to compete on the show after an interview. "It was exciting to find out they were interested in me, but I’m not one to get my hopes up right away," said Anderson. "After I found out about the show, it felt like I was taking the first step to what I want to do later in life and I was happy to tell my family and friends." Dustin flew to San Francisco for a week of filming. Although the shooting schedule started early and often went late, the long days never bothered him. "I felt rejuvenated because I was living the dream that I had made up in my head, and by the end of the week, I didn’t want it to end." While in San Francisco, Anderson had the chance to meet with some renown chefs including celebrity chef Tyler Florence, owner of the Wayfair Tavern. New to being in front of the cameras, Anderson said he eased his nerves with his sense of humor. "I was able to joke around on camera and with the people so it loosened me up quite a bit but the hardest part was not looking at the camera. It’s hard to ignore when it’s right in your face." Anderson felt the CONTINUED » |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
 Karen Ashim, Retired Fillmore High School Head Counselor, with 27 years of teaching, spoke of the problems associated with CCS and her desire to address them with the Board. This Tuesday's Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting focused on the implementation of the Common Core Standards (CCS) that 45 states throughout the country must have up and working by 2014. The meeting had two presentations; A Three-Year Common Core State Standard Implementation Plan by Educational Service Staff and K-5 Common Core Curriculum Map Presentation by Carol Barringer. The approach the District is using to roll out CCS was started last year and is broken down into three stages: Awareness, Transition and Implementation. All the information and money needed to move to the Transition and Implementation stages has been slow in coming. One example is the State just approved the math framework November 6 and there is still a question of having the money for the technology needed. California is using a state-led consortium to generate assessments to measure student progress called The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) paid for by the U.S. Department of Education that will align with the CCS. Schools throughout the state are required to conform to the SBAC as schools move away from paper and pencil testing and begin taking tests online. Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson explained that once a student answers a problem/question their answer will go directly to the State testing bank and be graded correct or incorrect immediately. This will require all schools have both the computers necessary for each student and the bandwidth to meet the increased demand such testing will require. The cost will be high for FUSD and those school districts without sufficient computer to meet student needs or the bandwidth. Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino told the Board one way to save money is to considering using a computer lab with its own local server instead of using wireless applications. The District also needs to upgrade its software to Windows 7 to be compatible with CCS testing. There is also CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
 The City of Fillmore’s Police Department parking located at 524 Sespe Avenue and the adjacent City lot began being re-paved on Tuesday, November 12th and was completed at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15th. Access to the parking lot behind the United States Post Office and the west alley of Central Avenue north of Main Street between Main Street and Sespe Avenue was limited to the public. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 20th, 2013
11/12/2013 – 11/18/2013
 City of Fillmore 11/12/2013 |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
 At about 10 a.m. Wednesday the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for help at a residence on Toland Road near Highway 126. According to Sheriff’s Sergeant Jason Hendren, the suspect, Caucasian male appearing to be in his mid 20s, had crashed his vehicle through the main gate of a private residence to gain entrance. The Sheriff’s Dept. quickly responded with approximately 6 units including a K-9 unit. A Sheriff’s helicopter assisted in securing the house and orchard area. The suspect was arrested in the southern part of an adjacent avocado orchard after being tracked by the K-9 unit. The name of the suspect and additional details were not available at press time. Enlarge Photo |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
 At this Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting a new fire truck was approved along with funds for the City's 100-year celebration, a new pump track bike park, a request to help fund a new Watershed Coordination position, and a wave of a Temporary Use Permit by the Lions Club. The Council approved going forward with the installation of a new pump track/bike park at Two Rivers Park. Jose Ibarra, Park and Recreation Commissioner, put together a volunteer group to build the pump track, which includes a donation for the cost of professional designs. The track is a mixture of compacted clay and dirt and takes a few days to build. The volunteer work crew will be supervised by a pump track/bike park professional to meet specific requirement and limit the City's liability/risk. It will require yearly maintenance and be an unsupervised ride at your own risk park. The cost is expected to be around $9,500 to build and require 8 to 10 hours maintenance yearly. The City will be applying for a $10,000 grant on December 1, 2013 to help cover costs. It will first be set up as temporary but it was suggested by a Council Member that they consider making it permanent. Ibarra stated that the closest pump park is in Fresno, and Mark Langton, of CORBA, the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (the local chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association), informed the Council that the County of Los Angeles is on track to build three pump tracks very soon. Ibarra was asked who would take care of any weeds and he responded that the users often maintain the track similar to how the skate park is swept by those skating there. The desire for the new sport track has grown out of mountain bike racing and is something both parents and children of all ages do together. A pump track is a continuous circuit of dirt rollers, berms and jumps that loop back on itself as the riders propel themselves by shifting their body weight; similar to one shifting their weight on a swing to propel higher. The pumping allows the rider to propel forward without having to pedal. As the bike moves up and down and sideways the rider's goal is to keep the torso, the center of the body's mass, in as straight of a line as possible and as quickly and fluidly as possible. Pump track riding challenges the participant and requires a great deal of energy and exercise in a short amount of time. Council Member Diane CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
A Grand Opening ceremony was held at Piru Town Square Skate Park on November 7, 2013 officially opening the new skate park. Supervisor Kathy Long praised the hard work of all involved with the project. The County asked the residents of the Piru many years ago, what recreation improvement they would like and the skate park was at the top of the list. Funding finally became available through many sources to fund the $1.1 million project. For more information about the Ventura County Parks, please call (805) 654-3822 or visit the website at http//:gsa.countyofventura.org/parks or send an email to county.parks@ventura.org. PIRU SKATE PARK FACT SHEET Planning Timeline Funding Amounts and Sources Total Costs Contractor’s Name Consultant Names Civil Engineer: Structural Engineer: Geotechnical Engineer Survey & Drainage Engineer PWA staff: |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
A Fillmore resident was found wandering on Grimes Canyon Road Tuesday, after his family reported him missing. Identity of the 70-year old man, suffering from dementia, was not released. Sheriffs Deputies responded to a reported sighting of an elderly man, walking with a cane, over the canyon road at 6:30pm. He was found in good condition and returned to his family. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 13th, 2013
11/05/2013 to 11/11/13
City of Fillmore 11/05/2013 |
 The runners participating in this event are: Commander Randy Pentis, Commander Tim Hagel, Captain Paul Higgason, Captain Dave Kenney, and Sergeant Frank Underlin. Also pictured is Sergeant Joe Devorick who did not make the Mayanmar run but has run in the past. Enlarge Photo By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department As Myanmar, formerly Burma, slowly emerges from the cloud of civil war and military control, there is an air of optimism in the Southeast Asian country of 60 million people. Things are getting better there, although much work remains to be done. For the members of Cops Running For Charity, Myanmar presents itself as an opportunity in the form of a marathon that traverses an area boasting more than 2,000 temples that have been closed to westerners for the past 50 years. In their quest to find worthy running courses in exotic locales, the CRFC have found another place featuring spectacular scenery and rich cultural traditions. The team will run the Bagan Temple Marathon on November 2nd. The course travels through villages on dirt trails that will combine with high temperatures and humidity to provide plenty of challenges for the runners, who have trained locally for many years and competed in numerous running events. The group has run hundreds of miles in preparation for, and during, marathons. They also have raised more than $250,000 for the benefit of those among us who need it the most. They have a commitment to their community and to physical fitness that has spanned decades. All of the runners pay for their own expenses, including the cost of travel. That leaves behind every dollar they raise for the charities they have chosen. This year, the team hopes to raise $50,000 for medical charities that include: Children’s Hospital, ALS, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Hospice of Camarillo, Dr. Darrell Davey Foundation, The Steve Gleason Foundation, and The Blazeman Foundation. The runners participating in this event are: Commander Randy Pentis, Commander Tim Hagel, Captain Paul Higgason, Captain Dave Kenney, and Sergeant Frank Underlin. Anyone interested in more information about CRFC can contact Commander Randy Pentis at (805)947-8067 or by e-mail at randy.pentis@ventura.org. The website is www.copsrunningforcharity.com Nature of Incident: Cops Running For Charity To Run Marathon In Myanmar |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On August 19, 2013 deputies from the Fillmore Police Department received calls of graffiti vandalism to city owned and privately owned property including a church in the city. The graffiti was spray painted at 7 different locations around the city. All of this graffiti was associated with a particular tagging crew. The deputies began an investigation and conducted a probation search at Fillmore resident Jose Vasquez’ residence. Deputies found evidence linking him to the graffiti vandalism cases that were under investigation. Deputies arrested Vasquez for vandalism and other unrelated charges and booked into the Ventura County Jail on August 20, 2013. On October 24, 2013 Vasquez pled guilty to Felony Vandalism in Ventura County Superior Court, and received a sentence of 16 months in county jail and his driver’s license was suspended for one year. WHAT IS THE CITY DOING ABOUT GRAFFITI? GRAFFITI TRACKING PROGRAM Tracking graffiti helps to identify graffiti hot spots and targets specific incidents. When a vandal is prosecuted the cost of removal for each incident he/she is responsible for can be more easily identified allowing the City to recover the costs. PARENTAL CIVIL LIABILITY Nature of Incident: Graffiti Arrest / Prosecution 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). |
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By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
 Fillmore Unified School District The short November 5, 2013 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting was very somber as Education Services employee Gary Mayeda along with last year’s Teacher of the Year Raina Arellano, now a Teacher on Special Assignment, gave a Common Core State Standards Update presentation titled "A Systemic Approach to Writing Strategies Districtwide." The presentations main focus was on the relationship of FUSD's Task Force Program (TFP) that began gathering study plan data district wide the beginning of the 2011 school year and where the TFP is today with the implementation of Common Core Standards Language Arts that is scheduled to begin statewide in 2014. The three main text that TFP will use in English Language Arts are: information/explanatory, opinion/argumentative and narrative. These texts have been in use at Fillmore High School since last year with Fillmore Middle School and the elementary schools starting this year. Examples of the TFP progress included such things as "anchor papers." These anchor papers will originate by gathering all student writings throughout the district and then each class level's work is compared. Those papers that are considered examples of the writing quality all students are expected to achieve are set aside and used as guides for other students in that grade level. A great deal of emphasis is put on teacher input and teachers are playing a major role development and that it will be teacher driven. FUSD Board Member CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
 Diamond Realty held its grand opening last week. The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce was on hand for the ribbon cutting, as were some of the Fillmore High School Homecoming Court. Their motto? “It is our goal as a boutique real estate company to provide you with Superior service at all times. Our areas of expertise consist of Ventura County with emphasis on the Heritage Valley. We have partnered with many Realtors® and Brokers out of our area for referral services nationally and internationally to better serve our clients needs.” Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
10/29/2013 – 11/04/2013
City of Fillmore 10/29/2013 |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
 On behalf of the City of Fillmore, the Fillmore Volunteer Firefighters Foundation and its members, we would like to thank Chevron USA for their donation of $3,000. Chevron has been a great supporter for the City of Fillmore and many of the organizations within the City. This donation will be used to fund training, education, and to purchase and replace much needed equipment. We would like to offer a special thank you to Leslie Klinchuch, shown shaking hands with Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros, for her continued support of the residence of Fillmore. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
Ventura County Sheriff's Department A Castaic woman visiting relatives in the city of Fillmore fell victim to a lottery ticket scam perpetrated by a team of suspects. The incident unfolded after the Castaic woman was walking home after having breakfast at a local restaurant. The male suspect approached her at an intersection and engaged her in conversation. A second female suspect approached the two and joined them pretending to be unrelated to the male suspect. The male suspect sought the women’s help in redeeming a winning lottery ticket he told them was worth several hundred thousand dollars. He told them he was unable to cash the ticket because of his illegal immigration status. The male suspect requested several thousand dollars from the victim as good faith money for trusting her with the winning ticket. He promised to double her money for her help. The victim was encouraged by the female suspect and agreed to help the male suspect. The two suspects drove the victim to a local bank where she withdrew $2,500.00 and gave the money to the male suspect. The suspects drove the victim to a residence and used a ruse to convince her to get out of the car and meet with the resident of the home. Once the victim walked to the front door, the suspects drove away with the victim’s money. The residents at the home were not involved in the scam. The public is being warned about this scam where the lottery ticket is a counterfeit. Suspects usually target elderly Spanish-speaking citizens in shopping center public parking lots, but have also been known to target citizens in neighborhood streets. Detectives are offering the following tips to protect the public from these scams: • US citizenship is not a requirement for winning a lottery prize. |
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By Bob Crum — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
Story and photos by Bob Crum
The stars high in the sky were ready to twinkle as the sun retrieved its dose of daily light. Down below... in the grasp of irrelevant reality... witches – their brooms in the repair shop – cheerfully boarded the Fillmore & Western train. It was either take the Pumpkin Liner to the fabled Ichabog or hope for a flying carpet. Hope gave way to riding the train with the likes of Roman soldiers, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and other surly characters of various sorts. Arriving at Ichabog, disembarking passengers were bathed in the light of the full moon. Ahead lie the stark eeriness of the corn maze. Upon hearing the screams of one lost in its bowels... no one dared to venture in. At the ready, marshals on horseback stood guard to protect the tractor-drawn wagons about to take brave souls for the ride beyond the dark recesses of the glen the locals call... the Christmas Tree farm. From within the shadows of the stalwart trees lurk many dastardly goblins and ghouls of all kinds. From the reaches beyond lurked the members of the Boo Hoo gang setting about to snare the head of the horseman in black. With the slightest tinge of imagination... one could visualize ghost bunnies rising in the clouds of dust created by the horses thundering past the wagons. Or were they real... ghosts... spirits rising from their graves. Out in the boondocks...past the saloon... and the undertaker... a briskly-burning campfire warmed two victims of the enraging battle between the marshals, the Boo Hoo gang and... the mysterious headless horseman clamoring about for his head. Around the next turn screeching zombies pounced from the darkness... as a human escaped their claws and paws and climbed into the wagon. In the nick of time... the wagon pulled away from the clamor. Then... in the clutches of the lower 40... the sound of thundering horses pounding the earth... approached the wagons. 'Twas the baddies of the Boo Hoo gang. Given the notion there's strength in numbers, the wagon riders huddled. As the horse riders past... the leader held high the head of the black-cloaked horseman yelling... the head... the HEAD! No sooner had the dust began to settle when the apparition appeared riding his majestic black steed. The headless mysterious figure slowly approached the wagon of riders... searching. The breathless figure reaching out in desperation... hoping. Disappearing as mysteriously as it appeared... riding off into the moonlight... and out of sight. Before long the marshals finally arrived. Upon hearing of the Boo Hoo's niddering deed... they rode off post haste on the trail of the hoodlums. The wagons resumed their travels interrupted once again on the trail by ghouls and zombies... recapturing the previous escapee carrying her off into the field kicking and screaming. To no avail of course. Not one wagon rider dared help fearing the zombies' wickedness. Then... beyond the clutches of the unreal and surreal... again the thundering hooves of the horses as the marshals approached the wagons. One of them holding high the majestic head of the black-cloaked headless horseman rescued from the hoodlums... gently presenting it to one of the wagon riders for safe keeping. Until... that is... the black-cloaked horseman returns. You will not know its presence until you feel the breath of his head... breathing once again... as he snatches it from your grasp. And your endless nightmares begin. Happy Halloweeeeeeeeen! |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
Part 2
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By Bob Crum — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
Part 3
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, October 30th, 2013
 GRAND MARSHALL: Crystal Gurrola, FRESHMAN PRINCESS: Ryan Nunez, FRESHMAN PRINCE: Colton Farrar, SOPHOMORE PRINCESS: Nichole Ramirez, SOPHOMORE PRINCE: Jorge Valdovinos, JUNIOR PRINCESS: Nayeli Baez, JUNIOR PRINCE: Jorge Andres Andrade, QUEEN & KING: Kayla Grove & Ismael Avila, 1ST PRINCESS & PRINCE: Kimberly Ramirez & George Orozco, 2ND PRINCESS & PRINCE: Kiana Hope & Erney Gomez Enlarge Photo |
