Private Tabetha Solorio

2008 Fillmore High School Graduate Tabetha Solorio, 18 years, has graduated from the United States Marine Corps Boot Camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, South Carolina. Tabetha left for Parris Island on August 25, 2008 for a challenging thirteen weeks of military training and graduated on November 21, 2008. In addition to FHS Tabetha also attended Sespe Elementary and Fillmore Middle Schools and enjoyed playing basketball.
Private Tabetha Solorio is the daughter of Maria Barragan of Fillmore and Guillermo Solorio of Arizona. She is the granddaughter of Trinidad Barragan of Palmdale, California and the late Guadalupe Barragan. Private Tabetha Solorio has two brothers; Robert Solorio, 21 years, of Arizona, Adam Solorio, 20 years, of Fillmore and one sister Samantha Valdez, 22 years, of Fillmore. Her Cousin Monique, 2 years old, Fillmore misses her auntie very much and can’t wait to see her after her graduation. She also has seven uncles, 4 aunts and too many cousins to mention that all miss Private Tabetha Solorio very much and are extremely proud of her service.
Today I spoke to a very proud mother, Maria Barragan, and to Private Tabetha Solorio after she returned home from a well-deserved shopping trip to the mall with some of her friends. Private Tabetha Solorio told me she enjoyed Marine Boot Camp and she sounded very excited about her future training as a United States Marine. She is home on leave until December 2nd when she will leave Fillmore for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for Military Combat Training. She also will complete her Military Occupation Specialty Training (MOS) at Camp Lejeune in Supply and Accounting. Camp Lejeune is the home of "Expeditionary Forces in Readiness" for the past 65 years, and throughout the years, it has become the home base for the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and other combat units and support commands. Private Solorio anticipates that after her advance training she will be assigned to the East Coast and soon deployed to Afghanistan. CONTINUED »

Pictured (l-r) District Manager for Wells Fargo Bank Ernie Pineda, San Cayetano Principal Jan Marholin, and Branch Manager Eric Irie. Pineda and Irie were honored by the School Board for being part of the “Be The Change” program.
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The open session of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board meeting was held November 18, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Office. The Board presented "Be the Change" awards and Migrant Education awards. The Board decided to stand by its earlier decision to raise Public Use of Facilities fees.

Superintendent Jeff Sweeney reported that Fillmore High School (FHS) was well prepared for the WASC accreditation exit interview. He said that the FHS staff deserves to be proud of how it handled the accreditation process, and the District is waiting to hear from WASC how many years of accreditation have been awarded.

The Board and Tricia Gardias, Migrant Education Coordinator, presented Recognitions of Achievement for the Migrant Education Program. The Board Meeting Agenda listed the qualifications for each award, and Gardias described each person's accomplishments. Laura Quintana is Migrant Parent of the Year. That award goes to "parents who become involved in their children's education, strive to further their education and get involved in school and community". Quintana has served two years on the Migrant Advisory Council, attends English Learner Advisory Committee meetings, and has three children (an Eighth Grader, a Sixth Grader, and a toddler). Mayra Regalado is Migrant Student of the Year. That award goes to students who "exhibit exceptional leadership", maintain a GPA of at least 3.5, and "plan to continue their education and involvement in their school and community". She has a 4.33 GPA, is taking three Advanced Placement classes (Calculus, Physics, and Spanish), teaches Catechism at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and hopes to attend UC Davis or San Diego State University. She also plays soccer at FHS, and had to leave for practice after receiving the award. Homero Magaña is Migrant Alumnus of the Year. That award goes to "those students who become professionals, exhibit exceptional leadership, get involved in school/community activities and always strive to further their accomplishments". Magaña graduated from Moorpark College with Honors, earned a degree from UC Berkeley, has participated in State and National Conferences, and is a Counselor at Moorpark High School.

Garrett Reilley reported that the FHS Boosters and Associated Student Body are attempting to subsidize a bus rental so that students can afford to travel to 29 Palms to cheer the FHS football team as it plays in the semi-finals this Saturday.

San Cayetano Elementary School Principal Jan Marholin introduced Ernie Pineda, District Manger for Wells Fargo Bank, and Eric Irie, Branch Manger for Wells Fargo Bank. The Board honored Pineda and Irie as part of the "Be the Change" program. Marholin thanked Pineda and Irie for their help with the grant used for the fall harvest festival at San Cayetano. Marjolin reported that, due to extra publicity from newspaper articles and flyers, teachers at all four elementary schools received $85 each for classroom use. CONTINUED »

California Highway Patrol

On November 28, 2008 at approximately 2:34 a.m., a fatal collision involving a four-year-old passenger of a Ford Focus, occurred on SR-126 eastbound, just west of the 10th Street off-ramp. The collision caused the closure of SR-126 eastbound between Palm Avenue and 10th Street for over five hours.

Lucia Cardoza, 24 years of age from Fillmore, was driving her 2005 Ford Focus on SR-126 eastbound at an unknown speed, west of the 10th street off-ramp. At the time, her two children, ages one and four, were in the backseat of the vehicle. For unknown reasons, Cardoza’s vehicle swerved out of control across the traffic lanes toward the right shoulder. The left side of her vehicle then collided into a metal guard rail. The impact then caused her vehicle to rotate back into the traffic lanes. The Ford Focus was subsequently struck by a 1998 Town and Country van, which was traveling eastbound on SR-126. Following the second collision, both vehicles came to rest within the traffic lanes.

At some point during the incidents, Cardoza’s four-year-old child was ejected from the vehicle. He was found laying in the center median by emergency personnel who responded to the area, but was later pronounced deceased at the scene. Cardoza, along with her other child, was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where she was placed under arrest by CHP officers for DUI. She was admitted into the hospital and was expected to undergo surgery for her injuries. The extent of injuries to the one-year-old child is unknown at this time.

Maria Rangel, the driver of the van, along with her three passengers, was transported to Santa Paula Hospital. They were later released with only minor injuries. The incident is still under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Matthew R. Cobos

2007 Fillmore High School Graduate Matthew R. Cobos, 20 years old, is serving in the United States Navy in Bahrain. Bahrain, which means “two seas,” is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Matthew R. Cobos is Master at Arms Petty Officer Third Class (MA3) with an Anti Terrorism Task Force. In addition to FHS Matthew attended Saint Sebastian Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School. He was active in Raiders Youth Football, Fillmore Little League, and FHS Varsity Football where he wore the #40 jersey, and FHS Track.

Matthew’s Mother is Rebecca Lewis, of Fillmore. His siblings are Madison A. Cobos, 22 years, a student at San Francisco State and Meghan A. Cobos, 17 years, a senior at Fillmore High School. His Maternal Grandmother is Aggi Oschin and Step-Grandfather Michael Grossman of the Santa Clarita Valley. Maternal Grandfather is Earl Lewis and Step-Grandmother Shirlee Lewis of the Santa Clarita Valley. His Paternal Grandparents are Tillie Cobos and the late Rudy Cobos, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Grandfather Earl Lewis served in the United States Navy and Grandfather Rudy Cobos served in the United States Air Force.

MA3 Matthew R. Cobos entered United States Navy Recruit Training on September 12, 2007 and graduated on November 9, 2007 from the Naval Station Great Lakes, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. At Recruit Graduation Matthew was hand picked along with a few others to perform in the Honor Guard at the Recruit Graduation Ceremony. Having attended that graduation ceremony I know that this is quite an honor.

MA3 Matthew R. Cobos completed Master at Arms “A” School on January 24, 2008. A Master at Arms provides Navy Ships and commands with force protection and is an antiterrorism specialist who assists in maintaining good order and discipline, performs law enforcement, and physical security duties. MA's enforce appropriate military orders and regulations, make apprehensions, conduct investigations and interrogations and prepare required records and reports. Due to the unique functions and trust inherent in the MA rating, the quality of personnel selected is of paramount importance and requires strict adherence to eligibility criteria. An MA is responsible to enforce military rules and regulations to maintain military discipline. An MA will also perform physical security duties and conduct preliminary investigations, provide Anti-terrorism Force Protection (ATFP), organize and train personnel assigned to security, perform overseas shore patrol duties, conduct crime prevention programs, operate brigs (jails), assist in crowd control and confrontation situations, handle and care for dogs that detect narcotics and explosives. In very simple terms the MA is the law enforcement arm onboard a Naval Ship or at a Naval Station.

To perform his duties MA3 Matthew R. Cobos is trained to use: M16 Assault Rifle, M9 semiautomatic 9 mm pistol, M500 shotgun, M60 machine gun and he is non-lethal weapon qualified. MA3 Matthew R. Cobos completed Naval Security Force Indoctrination for Naval Security Force in Bahrain. In Bahrain, he is involved in anti-terrorism force protection. He also completed Police Special Forces Tactics from Special Security Force Command of the Ministry of the Interior from the Kingdom of Bahrain. From the Naval Criminal Investigation Service, he completed Security First Responder and also completed Surveillance Detection & Counter Surveillance training. MA3 Matthew R. Cobos has also trained with Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Companies in close quarters combat.

MA3 Matthew R. Cobos is required to have a security clearance in order to perform his military duties as a Master at Arms. This is necessary because the military possesses information and technology which could be helpful to our enemies. The unauthorized release of this information can compromise our nation's national security. Unauthorized release can cause battles and wars to be lost, missions to be ineffective, and can result in the death or injury of military and civilian personnel. To obtain this clearance an extensive investigation must be conducted. A security clearance investigation is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible for access to national security information. The investigation focuses on an individual’s character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, criminal activity, emotional stability, and other similar and pertinent areas. All investigations consist of checks of national records and credit checks; some investigations also include interviews with individuals who know the candidate for the clearance as well as the candidate himself. Having received this security clearance is a great testament to MA3 Matthew R. Cobos character.

We here in the communities of Fillmore and Piru wish MA3 Matthew R. Cobos a fruitful career in the United States Navy, safe travel and thank him and his family for their sacrifices now and sacrifices in the future to keep our Country strong. MA3 Matthew R. Cobos is truly an American Hero.

El Dorado Mobile Home Estates held its own Shake Out earthquake drill Thursday, November 13. The HOA and park management coordinated the disaster preparedness event. Two block captains were assigned to each of 6 sections and the entire park was covered by the captains in half-an-hour, which in a disaster translates to excellent time. Twelve captains participated; under normal circumstances there are four block captains assigned to each section. Pictured are, Park Manager Helen Rosette. HOA President Paul Schifanelli, and Relief Manager Karen Torres.
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A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Southern California resulting in extreme shaking and non-functioning electricity and phone lines throughout the Santa Clara Valley at 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2008! Well, not really, it was just a statewide drill billed as the Great Southern California Shakeout. We all recognize that natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and fires will occur as they have throughout our valley’s history, along with the possibility of others too scary to mention. El Dorado Mobile Home Estates is in the midst of preparing for just such an emergency, thanks to Voice of El Dorado Homeowner’s Association’s president, Paul Schifanelli; Patrick Maynard, Disaster Coordinator for the City of Fillmore; on-site park manager Helen Rosette, and the participants of the HOA’s Emergency Block Captain Program. Many participants are graduates of invaluable CERT training, a seven-week course presented by Deputy Chief, Special Operations of the Fillmore Fire Department, Royce Davis.

During the drill, twelve members of the Emergency Block Captain Program, under the direction of Rosette and relief manager Karen Torres, assembled into teams of two. Each team searched one of six sectors for possible emergency scenarios, placed in envelopes in selected mail tubes by the Fillmore Fire Department. Team members immediately reported to home base with walkie-talkies, where and when a depicted situation was discovered, and if it needed critical or additional attention. At home base, a large map with the layout of the park, provided by Maynard served to pinpoint and mark problematic locations. In the event of a real disaster, this program could save time and lives. The entire operation took less than an hour and deemed very successful by all for a first run. Officer Tony Biter acted as liaison to the park, home to hundreds of seniors.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept, developed and implemented in 1985 by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), addresses the likelihood that citizens will be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. The Department recognized that basic emergency training of citizens, including disaster survival and rescue skills could help improve early survival statistics until responders or other assistance could arrive. CONTINUED »

From left, Roger Campbell and Zahid Shah asked for, and received, council approval of Mr. Shah’s development at E Street and Highway 126.

Fillmore City Council met November 25 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The Council approved a business development near E St. on the north side of Highway 126, prioritized Water DIF spending, heard an update on the Water Recycling Program, and provided for Zoning changes.

Fire Chief Bill Herrera announced that the annual toy drive at the Fillmore Fire Dept. has started. The Fire Station is accepting toys from now through December 14th, when a chicken dinner will be provided to donors for each toy delivered during the drive. The dinner will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., take-out or eat-in.

The Council held a public hearing regarding Zahid Shah's business property at 1515 Ventura St. The business involves towing, impound, and auto repair. Shah had asked that Development Impact Fees (DIF) be deferred until Certificate of Occupancy rather than be due when the building permits are issued. Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney said that the DIF was approximately $167,000. According to the agenda item memo, the Finance Subcommittee wanted the project to become permanent before approving deferment. The Planning Commission denied Shah's request for the proposed project to be modified from a temporary five year approval to a permanent approval at a public hearing on October 22, 2008, and Shah appealed that decision at the November 25th public hearing.

The business's neighbors were unhappy with the property's appearance, and fought against permanent approval. McSweeney pointed out that the property is currently under construction and Shah is willing to accommodate neighbors' concerns. Neighbors Kathy Yeats and Bill Zellmer spoke. Dick Sliger read a letter from Trudy and Steve Garner. Significant concerns included the compatibility of that type of business with a residential area, traffic, and the view that the property would present not only to neighbors, but to all people approaching Fillmore from the west on Highway 126. Shah, represented by Roger Campbell, presented an artist's rendering of the proposed permanent buildings. The picture included a Railroad-Craftsman style building with a two-story section and a one-story section, adjacent to a residential garage and house. The house and garage already exist, and are located in a commercial zone. The exterior of the garage would be updated to blend in with the new building and the neighborhood. An impound lot, used car sales, and towed cars would be located behind the new building and blocked from sight by fences. Permanent approval requires the widening of E St., and additional street lights. There are plans for the eventual installation of a traffic signal at E St. and 126 to accommodate the anticipated Business Park on the other side of 126. CONTINUED »

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Fillmore was on high alert Thursday, November 13th, as the State of California declared a mock state-wide emergency with a hypothetical magnitude 7.8 earthquake, ie: The Great Southern California Shake Out of 2008.
The drill was ready for Fillmore, but was Fillmore as ready as it could be for the drill? Logistics for the drill were complex, with “victims” at the Veterans Memorial building segregated on different colored triage tarps indicating levels of injury; green was “walking wounded”, yellow was “delayed”, and red was “immediate.” Approximately 35 volunteer citizens, 12 police officers, 15 firefighters, and city staff participated.

A series of hands-on exercises geared toward potential damage scenarios took place throughout the day. Ventura County Office of Emergency Services Officials activated their emergency operations center for approximately 48 hours and simulated similar scenarios. An increased number of City of Fillmore Fire Department and Ventura County Sheriffs Department personnel were visible city-wide.

The state-wide drill was considered the largest in U.S. history, with approximately 5 million people participating at different levels. In Ventura County public agencies, schools, residents and emergency responders were involved.

Scientists spent over a year creating the realistic scenario which would more than likely take place along the San Andreas Fault. The drill was estimated to cost $2 million to organize and execute state-wide. The USGS and its partners received financial support from corporate sponsors including the Home Depot Inc., Tyco Electronics, and State Farm Insurance Co.

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Sespe School Cafeteria Manager “Grandma” Lou Hoover was presented the “Be the Change” award.

Board Member Liz Wilde chaired the open session of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board meeting November 18, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Office. The Board heard updates from the Sespe Elementary School and Piru Elementary School Principals, and honored Lou Hoover. The Board approved field trips, math textbooks, and a Use of Facilities Agreement with Ventura College.

The Board honored Sespe Elementary School’s Cafeteria Manager, Lou Hoover, for exemplifying the District’s motto: “Be the Change”. Principal Geri Lunde introduced the honoree, and said that she provided not only great food, but also great care of the cafeteria, staff, and students. The students call her “Grandma Lou”.

Sespe Principal Geri Lunde and Piru Principal Richard Durborow provided updates on plans to improve student academic achievement and parent outreach.

Lunde emphasized her successful attempts to increase parent involvement. The school has reached out to English Learners' parents by holding English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) meetings monthly at 8 a.m. The meetings include information on how parents can help their children learn. At past meetings, parents have received handouts on how to read aloud to their children and how to help children be responsible. Recent meetings have had a turnout of approximately twenty parents. The next ELAC meeting at Sespe will be in January. School Site Council meetings have also provided education for parents.

Sespe teachers have been trained in using ADEPT to test English Learners, so that they can acquire current information about their students’ English proficiency and meet students' needs now rather than waiting a year for CELDT test results.

Durborow presented three strategies that Piru Elementary School is using to improve student learning: data teams, rubrics and exemplars, and identifying academic terms in math. Durborow noted that his third strategy is intended to improve scores on standardized math tests. He said that students who lack math vocabulary often have difficulty understanding and answering math questions even if they know how to solve the problems.

Piru teachers are collaborating in data teams. They use the allocated time to discuss student achievement data, review best practices, share ideas, and develop new strategies.

Durborow explained Piru's use of rubrics and exemplars. Rubrics are systematic lists that correlate score levels with detailed descriptions of (or standards for) work at each level. Rubrics provide a standard scoring method that allows for comparison of student progress. In the example Durborow gave, a Score of 2.5 is associated with the description, "There are no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes, and partial knowledge of the more complex ideas and processes." Rubrics are sometimes used to provide objectivity when grading essays, short answers, classroom participation, etc. Piru teachers are collaborating to develop their own rubrics. Exemplars are samples of student work that help people to understand the descriptions in a rubric. Rubrics with exemplars clarify expectations, and promote good communication between teachers and students. Durborow explained, "Examples of student work are placed in the classroom and act as guides to facilitate independent work habits and the successful completion of assignments at higher levels of proficiency." Durborow said that self-assessment is a powerful way to improve student learning. Teachers at all grade levels at Piru are using rubrics and exemplars, and Durborow expects all Piru teachers to be using them soon.

Durborow mentioned that school safety is much improved from when he started working at Piru years ago. He also mentioned that a Piru teacher wants to teach English to English Learners' parents; the administration is setting up a night class. CONTINUED »

The Fillmore Middle School Basketball Program was in need of funds for referees so the program could get underway. Boys Basketball coach, Joe Alcantar asked the Piru Petroleum Club if they could help with this and the Club funded the referees for the season. Youth activities and high school scholarships are a large part of the Club's donations to the community.

Piru Petroleum Club has a membership of about 80 people from various areas of the County. Membership is open to anyone and the dues are $40 per year. Lunches are the 2nd & 4th Fridays of each month and Family Night Dinners are the 3rd Thursday of each month. There are no meetings in December. The New Year will begin with lunch the 2nd Friday of January.

A New Year's Eve Dinner-Dance will be held at the Club with a steak dinner, drinks, and dance to the music ofDJ Paul Vaiz. Tickets are available from Board members @ $45 per person. Board members are: President, Gil Escoto, Vice-President, Pat Casas, Secretary-Treasurer, Lynda Edmonds, Richard Arias, Greg Taylor, Rob Frost, Jerry Edmonds, George Real, Tim Lovelace, Vie Piche, Don Downey, Jim Rogers and Bill George.

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Santa Paula Hospital, the “Hospital on the Hill” has many friends and supporters, but none more dedicated than the Santa Paula Hospital Auxiliary Sewing Committee. Three dedicated women, Carolyn Laskey, Jane Duchacek and Marilyn Marson, all of Fillmore, meet every Monday morning for three hours in the conference room of the hospital’s James Knight Administration Building, to create wonderful gift items for SPH patients and their families.

Laskey, began volunteering twenty-five years ago when the hospital was known as Santa Paula Memorial Hospital. She currently volunteers at the front desk on Thursdays. Marson volunteers at the front desk on Friday mornings while Duchacek works in the gift shop. The ambitious core group, brought together by Marson in May 2008 produce soft, stuffed creatures including teddy bears, fish, kittens, ducks and other endearing creatures for child patients, as well as knitted caps and flannel blankets with whimsical patterns for newborns. With help from Friends of the Auxiliary, they completed 93 cuddly animals, 36 blankets, 4 afghans, 21 pillows, 25 NICU pillows, 72 caps, 7 Christmas stockings, and a wonderful fundraiser quilt.

During Christmas week, newborns will receive an extra special gift, hand made “stocking type boots”. The ladies are also working on white, stretchy, loomed beanie caps with green and red tassels to be given to the newborn babes throughout December.

Laskey, Duchacek and Marson also take projects home in order to keep up with the demand. The work keeps growing as SPH, a satellite campus of Ventura County Medical Center expands its service, and they are looking for additional volunteers for this worthwhile endeavor.

To help raise funds for materials and supplies, the industrious trio held an opportunity drawing for a beautiful bunny quilt. Supportive hospital staff and employees helped raise $275 through ticket donations, earmarked for a new batch of precious creations. The drawing was held on November 12. Marivel Avila, Fillmore resident and an employee at VCMC’s main campus, was the lucky winner.

You do not need to know how to sew if you would like to volunteer your time. Stuffers and pattern cutters are welcomed. Donations of fabrics, thread, baby yarn and other related items are always appreciated as well. Join the Santa Paula Hospital Auxiliary Sewing Committee and you will find that their motto is true, “A Stitch in Time Saves the Mind”. As a bonus, your efforts will make others feel good too.

For information, to donate or to volunteer, please call:
Debbie Hill, Director of Volunteer Services, (805)652-6695

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Anna Maldonado, 15, has a big heart—and a lot of hair. On Tuesday, Nov. 18th, Anna took her grandmother and grandfather, Esther and Juan Jacinto, her teacher A Cut Above Stacia Helmer and her Fillmore High School Special Education class to Terri’s Beauty Salon to watch her get her hair cut for Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Salonist Debra Burhoe, a cancer survivor, cut Anna’s hair while everyone watched. “That was very special,” stated Burhoe, who is now cancer-free, after being treated for the disease in 2004-05. “I am free as we speak.” Terri’s Salon & Boutique is owned
by Terri Hastings and Patricia Padilla. The hair is prepared by being bound with a rubber-band and bagged immediately after being cut. The Gazette thanks Anna for her generous act!

Gilbert Zavala
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I have received frequent emails from United States Army Staff Sergeant Gilbert Zavala since he deployed to Afghanistan and I recently asked him to write an update on his experiences there to include some recent pictures that he could share with the people of the communities of Fillmore and Piru. Below is what he sent me for publishing in the Fillmore Gazette. We all here back at home wish United States Army Staff Sergeant Gilbert Zavala safe travel while in Afghanistan and on his return trip home and thank him and his family for their sacrifices they have made during his service. Staff Sergeant Gilbert Zavala is truly an American Hero!-Dick Diaz

By United States Army Staff Sergeant Gilbert Zavala in Afghanistan:
After High School many people often wonder what they want to do when they graduate. As for me I wanted to be a soldier like my father, grandfather, uncles and other relatives had been. After 14 yrs in the Army I sometimes feel like a kid again, getting to do things that few of my friends or family have done or seen. When I was a boy I played Army like many other kids and had fun doing it with all my friends, pretending I was shooting a gun and blowing things up, thinking how cool it was. One never realizes at that time and place how what you pretend to do or want to do is so far from the truth.

After just passing six months on my 4th deployment, I find myself in the Helmand Province which is the most hostile place in all of Afghanistan. So for our small operational force, we often have several missions where we have to live out of a rucksack, sleep next to our trucks in hostile areas for several days with limited food, water, ammunition and few basic amenities that we are able to carry with us. Camping and hunting with my father and brother in the Sierras comes close, but then again there wasn’t Taliban hunting us. Since we arrived 6 months ago, my team and I have been in at least 12 major engagements all of which have been in the past 4 months. Several days ago our small element came under an attack from fighters in the area next to the Helmand River. The Taliban had fired first but we soon gained the upper hand with our constant air support. The Taliban had gathered several fighters with rocket propelled grenades and Russian PKM machine guns in an open area. Almost immediately after, a small force of fighters attacked from the right side and for the next 45 minutes in one of the most intense firefights, which at one time was roughly no more than 30 yards away as we fought through the hail of bullets. With all the fighting that ensued, no American or our Afghan soldiers that were with us received any injuries. CONTINUED »

Measure H and Measure I both passed on November 4, 2008. City employees believe that Fillmore could be sued as a result. Land owners' opinions are extremely varied.

For development to occur, sometimes the land owner submits a building proposal to the City. More usually a developer purchases an option to buy from the landowner, submits a building proposal to the City, and waits until the City has approved the proposal before buying the property. The City has to review the proposal to ensure that it meets City and State codes, including environmental regulations. Changes can be made and the proposal resubmitted as necessary. Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney stated that only one development in North Fillmore had been approved before the election: the Reider development. That development approval was rescinded by Measure H. The Reider development had been under review for more than five years before the City was satisfied.

Measure I modifies the North Fillmore Specific Plan (NFSP) to set a maximum of 350 housing units in North Fillmore instead of a maximum of 700. It also reduces the potential density of development. Measure I modifies the Land Use Element of Fillmore's General Plan. The State requires those two plans to comply with Fillmore's Housing Element. The Housing Element must be and has been approved by State agencies. The State requires Fillmore to have plans allowing for 985 new housing units by 2014. The Fillmore Redevelopment Agency requires that 15% of the new homes built within its domain be affordable. The City's Housing Element is updated every five years. The current update is under development, and a public workshop is scheduled for November 18th. The latest draft of the Housing Element is available on the City's website at http://www.fillmoreca.com/planning_download.htm#he

City and State plans relied upon the ability of North Fillmore to contain 700 housing units, including an appropriate number of affordable housing units. McSweeney said that the housing units which would qualify to be built in the North Fillmore area under Measure I are less likely to be affordable to moderate or low income households. The density level described in Measure I goes beyond what Fillmore usually designates as "Residential Low Density". As the Housing Element reads, "This designation provides for low-density neighborhoods with detached single-family dwellings with private yards at a density of up to 7 units per acre." Measure I sets the maximum density level at 5 units per acre. The City will have to find an alternate plan for constructing 52 affordable units previously allocated to North Fillmore. McSweeney mentioned that rezoning other areas in Fillmore is a possibility. According to Fillmore's Housing Element: "On January 17, 2002, the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a City Urban Restriction Boundary (CURB). The purpose of this ordinance is to establish an urban boundary for the City of Fillmore that accommodates a reasonable amount of future growth for the City of Fillmore, but limits additional urbanization outside of the CURB line without a vote of the citizens of Fillmore." Jamey Brooks, a proponent of Measure I, said that building outside the CURB line would have been a better idea than allocating so many units to North Fillmore, but, as McSweeney noted, a vote is required for that to happen. CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

Fillmore, though not yet an organized town, was already a very productive area in the early 1870s. Sheep and cattle roamed the fields and hillsides, and in a few years’ time, the lucrative business of agriculture would rule the glorious valley. As young families settled into the area, the demand for formal education was realized in 1875, with the opening of the first schoolhouse, a wooden structure measuring 20 X 30 feet. Eventually relocated in town on Central Avenue, the building served students in grades one through eight. As the town expanded, Mountain View School, with a principle and eight classrooms replaced it. Sespe School opened in 1922 with eight classrooms, an office and storage space, basement, kitchen, auditorium, and the first kindergarten in the area. Many parents living outside the school district sent their young children to Fillmore’s renowned kindergarten until non-residential attendance was prohibited three years later.

The first Fillmore High School, built in 1911, celebrated the first four graduates that year. That building, destroyed by fire in 1937, became the first junior high school in 1924, when the city erected a larger high school on Second Street and Central Avenue. The standard of excellence in schooling, attained in part by parental involvement and control, student pride and minimal distractions, continued throughout the 1950s. A new high school swimming pool and upgrades at all schools were achieved during that period.

Today, in addition to two private schools, Fillmore’s youth attend one high, one junior high, and three elementary public schools, where many make the most of contemporary teaching techniques, testing and dedicated staff, and perform to the highest of standards. Encouraging our youths to excel, several physical elements in all public schools have been refurbished or replaced. A much needed all-weather track and field complex, new swimming pool, and a modern science building are some of the recent additions at the high school. Nevertheless, inadequate funding, distractions such as cell phones and internet etc., language difficulties due to changing demographics and immigration, behavioral and drug issues necessitating the need for school resource officers, and relaxed societal mores are amongst the myriad of problems plaguing the school scene today.

School resource officers were not necessary in the early 1900’s. Nevertheless, with growth, resident night watchmen and city marshals, all under Ventura County’s jurisdiction, maintained law enforcement needs. The first City Marshall took his post in June 1914 and the Fillmore Police Department, a one-man force formed in 1925. Later on in FY (June 30) 1957-58, the Department made 17 felony and 206 misdemeanor arrests, and ticketed 297 traffic violations. An auxiliary police group of citizens was ready to respond to disasters, rescue and special events.

The city contracted with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services in June 1987, closing the book on local law enforcement. Currently, twenty-seven officers serve in various capacities including, one K-9, two gang, three detectives, plus two traffic cadets, an office manager/dispatcher, and the Chief, all committed to protecting Fillmore’s citizens. Arrests include gang and tagging activities, drug production and use, domestic violence, homicide, burglary, theft, extortion, robbery, rape, assault, driving under the influence and traffic violations. It appears that crime everywhere is increasingly violent in nature. Arrests from March 2007 through March 2008 include 221 felony arrests, 1,269 misdemeanor arrests and 2,046 traffic citations, encompassing a population three times the size of a half century ago. In the last thirty years, changes in commerce transportation from rail to trucking, expanded work related commuting distances, and two or three cars per household have all contributed to heavy traffic activity. The Department’s effectiveness and ability for rapid response lets Fillmore remain one of the safest cities in the county and the state overall.

Fillmore’s first Fire Chief, appointed in 1916, led the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department consisting of a handful of men. Through the decades, improvements in equipment, continual training and selfless human beings have created the finely tuned machine it is today, one of the best in the state. Its responsibilities include not only responding to fires of all types, including brush, home, automobile and industrial, but medical and disaster emergencies as well, 24/7. The Department’s activities are overseen by its Chief and coordinated by three Captains, all paid positions. The three-truck department retains sixty-eight total volunteers, including eighteen paramedics and twenty-six volunteers who reside in town. Firefighters today must undergo strenuous psychological and physical preparation, in addition to continual training in ever-changing firefighting, medical and a myriad of disaster response techniques.

The Fillmore Herald reported the comings and goings in Fillmore from 1907 for nearly one hundred years. The Sun reported from 1916 -1919, and the Fillmore American, published from 1925-1932. News articles of the mid-1950s relayed some national news, but primarily reported on the vibrant local, business and governmental activities of the town, school news and scholastic achievements of the young, social clubs and personal happenings, armed service updates and a healthy dose of advertising. Except in times of great disaster and depictions of heroic efforts and neighborly kindnesses, the news was mostly upbeat, reflecting splendid times in our magnificent small town.

The only remaining local newspaper in print today is this weekly publication, The Fillmore Gazette, releasing its first edition on September 15, 1989. The front-page headlines of recent years often announce crimes or arrests, or the failings of schools etc. Generous amounts of dissension fill the “Letters to the Editor” section. Still, we also often get glimpses of our youths’ successes, kind deeds, patriotism, history, and the aspirations and debates of our town’s leaders as they try to guide us through the 21st century. Spreading the word on line, a relatively new approach in our town are The Sespe Sun and The Fillmore Gazette. Nevertheless, is it not true that wherever you read or hear the news, it is in sharp contrast to what it once was?

“Fortune Favored Fillmore” coined by Fillmore Judge Merton Barnes, was the winning entry in a 1924 town slogan contest. There have been times in Fillmore’s history that the slogan seemed less than accurate. Freezes resulted in loss of millions of dollars, fires threatened homes and businesses and heavy rainfalls caused floods. Major floods, resulting in extensive damage and loss have been recorded in 1914, 1938, 1969 and 1978, but with the exception of the failure of the St. Francis Dam on March 23, 1928, the ’69 flood is considered the worst on record due to weather, with nearly 20 inches of rain falling during the month of January. Other disasters greatly affecting Fillmore included the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1917-1918; the stock market crash in 1929 followed by the Great Depression; loss of life from wars; brush, refinery, school and business fires, and major damage from earthquakes in 1952 and 1971. At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, Fillmore’s citizens awakened to the 6.7 magnitude Northridge quake and enormous destruction, including the Fillmore Historical Museum, where much of our town’s heritage is lovingly stored in safekeeping. Nevertheless, mirroring every past disaster, and years of rebuilding, Fillmore survived. Even today, the spirit of Fillmore lives on as her citizens battle the present economic crisis.

As you have read over the past two episodes and now this one, change touched Fillmore through its one hundred and twenty years of history in many forms, some inevitable, some unavoidable and some self-inflicted. Change is progress, or is it? Perhaps progress is change. You decide. Yet, one cannot deny, Fillmore is a work in progress.

*Research materials gathered from The Fillmore Historical Museum, the Fillmore Centennial Book, The Fillmore Herald and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Thank you to those individuals who generously contributed valuable information and lore of our town, Fillmore.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The flood control channel adjacent to Hwy 126 East of Wells Rd has been a source of illegal graffiti activity for some time. The gang and tagging crew graffiti is highly visible from the highway and has recently been the source of complaints from citizens.

On 11-6-08 at approximately 3:15 am, deputies from the Headquarters Patrol Station responded to the area for a call of possible criminal activity occurring in the area. Deputies responded to the location and detained three suspects while two others fled on foot. One of the subjects Aaron Pacheco, 23, of Fillmore, who fled as the deputies arrived was arrested a short time later and the investigation is continuing on the identification of the 5th suspect.

The three suspects, Andrew Dominic Gonzales II, 24, Rosa Linda Johnson, 23, and Kristina Elena Rosales, 20 all from Santa Paula, who were initially detained were later determined not to be involved in the actual vandalism and were cited and released for trespassing. The fourth suspect who fled on foot, Aaron Pacheco, was arrested for Felony Vandalism, resisting arrest, possession of graffiti tools, conspiracy to commit a crime and under the influence of a controlled substance. Pacheco was subsequently booked into the Ventura County Jail.