Lynn Edmonds, CEO of One Step A La Vez received the Hope and Healing Award for her continued support of youth in recovery at Palmer Drug Abuse Programs annual celebration of Hope and Healing. Lynn is a retired educator of 36 years - teacher, librarian, media specialist, resource teacher, program director and principal of both elementary and middle school. After retiring in 2000, Lynn began the Fillmore/Piru mentor program. She began the One Step A La Vez Youth Drop-In and Resource Center, which opened in 2008 in Fillmore, and worked with the One Step Youth Board of Directors to bring services to the youth and families of Fillmore/Piru. She has worked closely with Ventura County Sheriff Department Fillmore/Piru substation as well as Ventura County Probation Department to provide support systems for youth who are already in or are at risk of being in the juvenile justice system. Lynn has been active in many organizations, including Ventura County Behavioral Health Circle of Care, the City of Fillmore Wellness Coalition and Soroptimist International. She is instrumental in starting a coalition of service groups and CBOs to provide coordinated community-wide services for Fillmore/Piru. Congratulations Lynn! We are proud of you!

Your story unfolds, that was the theme for the 84th Annual California State FFA Leadership Conference. Fifteen students from the Fillmore FFA where among the nearly 5000 guests that participated in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops and a career show and expo held at the convention.

At the opening session Melvin Adams, former Harlem Globetrotter and motivational speaker entertained us with his energy and humor while delivering his message to always try no matter how hard the task might seem. Entertaining us also was the State FFA band. Fillmore FFA was proud to have one of our own selected to be in the band this year. Hailee Smith auditioned and was chosen as a member playing the bass clarinet. An important part of the state convention is voting on amendments as well as electing the six individuals to represent California FFA the following year as State Officers. Each chapter throughout California must send two delegates. Alexus Galassi 13' and Brandon Pina 12' undertook this serious responsibility and served as Fillmore FFA delegates. At the convention the proficiency awards were announced. The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor members who through their SAE's have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Brooke Aguirre 13' was the State winner for the Agricultural Communication Proficiency Award and will now have the opportunity to compete at the National level. Brooke also was a member of the State Press Corp during the convention. At the closing session retiring State President Nicole Billington, encouraged the members to open their eyes to all the possibilities of life and to not dwell on mistakes made. The convention ended with the election of the new State FFA officer team as blue and gold streamers shot into the air. Fillmore FFA members would like to thank Mr. Ricards, Alishia Duncan, Kathleen Aguirre and Denise Berrington for driving and chaperoning. Also a big thank you to the Fillmore FFA Boosters for their support. Fillmore FFA would like to invite the community to join us this Saturday from 7:00 -10:00 am for a pancake breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Building . Tickets sold at the door $5.00 Sausage, eggs, OJ, coffee and all you can eat pancakes.

<1>Brooke Aguirre is Fillmore FFA's Chapter Reporter

Let me start this story with a little bit of common sense. None of us would be reading this story without our Mothers. I know you have heard this from your Mother and God knows I have too, "Hey kid I brought you in this world, and I am the one who can take you out of it!" The one thing in this world you never want to mess with is a woman with her kids. I have known some Mothers who act like a angry Momma Bear around her cubs. This is all a good thing. The love I have seen with Mothers and their children is the deepest love in the world.

One of Fillmore's greatest Mothers is Mrs. Dann. She had ten kids. How she made that work is one of the greatest work of arts there is in the world. She had a child almost every year for ten years. Imagine the work load this woman had. Her kids still come to her for advice, along with her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren (and she is the only one who can name every one of them).

We have some great single parent Mothers in this town I know who are going to see their kids graduate from high school this year. The love and hard work they have given is now paying off for their kids. Some will be going to college close to home. Some will be going in the Military. And some will be going on to bigger and better colleges in other cities and states. The Moms I know are upset to see their kids go. But they are very proud of them and say, "Go get it, you have earned it!" when they need to know that the kids could have never done it without the love and support of their Mothers.

One of the Mothers CONTINUED »

The Bardsdale Cemetery will hold it Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 28th at 11AM.

Featured speaker this year is Captain Tom Brovarone. He is the Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Engineering Duty Officer School on the base at Port Hueneme. He previous command tour was at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida. He began his career as a submariner; serving at sea on two attach submarines before he went into the business of building of fixing submarines. He has held engineering and maintenance positions on the staffs of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington DC, US pacific Fleet and Pacific Fleet Submarine Force in Pearl Harbor. Captain Brovarone also did a tour in Baghdad Iraq as the Director for Reconstruction for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Captain Brovarone is originally from New Jersey but is no stranger to California having attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey and Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo.

The Rev. Bob Hammond will give the Memorial Service, special music will be provided by the Bardsdale Methodist Church Choir.

Also assisting in the ceremony will be Supervisor Kathy Long, VFW Post 9637, Boy Scout Troop 406, Cub Scout Troop 3400 and Bob Thompson. The Boy Scouts will put out the flags on Friday, May 25th and they will be picked up by the Bardsdale 4H on Tuesday, May 29th.

The Board of Trustees of the Cemetery District: Scott Lee, President, Lynda Edmonds, Secretary Rita Rudkin, Gabriel Asenas and Dick Diaz would like to invite the community to this special event.

Fillmore FFA members are holding the May Festival Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning May 19th at the Memorial Building. From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. you can enjoy sausage, scrambled eggs, coffee, orange juice, and all –you-can-eat pancakes for only a $5 donation per person. Tickets can be purchased from any FFA member or at the door. Come to enjoy a great breakfast before the parade and thanks for supporting the Fillmore FFA.

The Fillmore Ebell Club has made a donation of $250 to the Pride In America program at Fillmore Middle School. Science teacher, Laurie Merrill, who organizes the Pride In America Day Program each year, was very grateful for the Ebell Club’s donation and said that it would be used for supplies for the program and to help provide lunches for the veterans after the assembly.

Pride in America Day at Fillmore Middle School is a day entirely devoted to celebrating America with the whole school participating. It is held on the Friday before Memorial Day in order to enforce its message. Students begin the day by focusing on important aspects of America’s history and traditions in their classrooms. They are given a list of pertinent questions and teachers help with ideas and answers. The students then attend an assembly that is opened with a formal posting of colors by a military honor guard. Awards for patriotic poetry are presented to deserving students. The assembly ends with a tribute to veterans. It is followed by an American style picnic. Fillmore Middle School is proud to have inspired thousands of students to be patriotic Americans because of this special program.

Fillmore Middle School invites the public, especially veterans, to attend this celebration of America. It will be held Friday, May 25. The assembly is at 10:00 in the school’s gym. The theme for this year’s program is “Freedom For All: Freedom to learn, Freedom to serve, Freedom to dream”. Mrs. Merrill would like to include any veterans in the school’s “Tribute to Veterans” and lunch. Please call the school at 524-6055 if you are a vet and would like to be included.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore and the Sun Rise Rotary have been meeting together this month in anticipation of joining together as one club.

Last Wednesday, the Fillmore Rotary scholarship winners were honored. This years winners are: Anachristina and Ashley Morino, Jaynessa Lopez, Johnny Wilber, Robert Munoz, Westley Fairall, Vanessa Villa, Katherine Stewart and Troy Rice. Each if these students will be awarded $1,000.

Norma Perez-Sandford, Counselor and Isela Larin, Computer Technician, of Fillmore High School were presented with Certificates of Appreciation for their assistance to the seniors and thus the success of the Rotary Scholarship Program.

SUMMARY
It is well documented that the direct costs associated with the crime of graffiti vandalism are increasing not only within the ten Cities of Ventura County (Cities) but across the country.

The 2011-2012 Ventura County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) decided to examine the current direct cost impact on the Cities based on the numerous incidences of graffiti occurring in these communities.

All Cities, with the exception of the City of Ojai (Ojai), reported graffiti as a significant source of financial impact on their city budget. The eight Cities reporting direct costs for their graffiti programs spent over $1.5 million in the 2010/2011 Fiscal Year (FY). The Cities continue year after year to develop programs to prevent and abate this unwanted impact to their communities. Increasing sums of tax dollars are invested in graffiti abatement.

The Ventura Council of CONTINUED »

CAMARILLO, CA - The Ventura County Community Foundation will honor the service of four individuals and two organizations at the third annual Community Leadership Awards luncheon at the Museum of Ventura County on May 23.
These awards spotlight the exemplary volunteer work of residents, businesses and nonprofits that strive to build community in Ventura County.

"We at the Community Foundation have been fortunate enough to partner with all of them during our almost 25 years in existence, allowing us to do more together than any of us could have accomplished alone," said VCCF President and CEO Hugh Ralston. "They have given of their time, talent and money with the dream of improving the quality of life in Ventura County."

Dorothy Loebl of Ojai will receive the Philanthropist Award. Loebl began volunteering at public and private educational institutions in Ojai, and then expanded her efforts to include financial support and leadership for countywide programs and causes. A former VCCF board member and past chair of the Interface Children & Family Services board, Loebl focuses on health care, education and social services.

The Organization Award goes to Verizon CONTINUED »

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Monday, May 28. As a result, Fillmore city residential customers will have their trash and green waste collected on Saturday, June 2, one day later than usual.

The regular Friday collection schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

“Who knows what is happening on May 17th-20th?” asked Chairman of the Fillmore May Festival Shawn Diaz. “The fair!,” yelled the crowd of approximately 30 children, including the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley and neighborhood kids who gathered at the Fillmore Library to participate in the very popular Success through Reading program on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Shawn proceeded to read the book Night at the Fair by Donald Crews and also gave the children the latest and greatest about changes to the fair this year like more rides for the young people. Bracelets where made to remind them about the fair. Two books donated by the Fillmore Friends of the Library were given away as door prizes. Then Shawn surprised the children with a free entrance bracelet good for the first day of the fair! For more information on the Fillmore May Festival please go to their website: www.http://fillmoremayfestival.com/

The Success through Reading program is put on by Soroptimist International of Fillmore in conjunction with the Fillmore Friends of the Library and in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. For more information on the program please contact Ari Larson, 805.794.7590 or petenari55@hotmail.com

Ventura, CA — After rigorous two-day surveys, Community Memorial Health System has announced that both Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura and Ojai Valley Community Hospital in Ojai has achieved national accreditation from DNV Healthcare, a Cincinnati-based hospital accreditation organization.

CMHS made the decision to pursue DNV accreditation to further its commitment to continually improve the quality of care it provides. According to Gary Wilde, CMHS president and chief executive officer, DNV hospital accreditation addresses the demands of quality-driven hospitals that are dedicated to patient-centered care.

“Earning national accreditation through a program such as DNV shows CMHS’s commitment to quality, process improvement and providing excellent healthcare,” Wilde said. “Partnering with DNV helps us identify our strengths so we can continue to excel in those areas and assist us in finding opportunities to improve.”

DNV Healthcare’s hospital CONTINUED »

Job seekers mark your calendars! The Ventura County Job & Resource Fair is coming to Ventura on Wednesday, May 23rd from 10am to 3pm at the Crowne Plaza, located at 450 E. Harbor Blvd in Ventura.

The job fair will provide an opportunity for veterans and local job seekers to meet with local employers and be introduced to a variety of available job positions. With more than 60 employers set to attend, including Vons, Time Warner Cable, Quest Diagnostics, CACI Technologies and a host of federal agencies, this fair is not to be missed!

“SBBCollege is proud to sponsor this great event,” says College President, Matthew Johnston. “We’ve been able to engage many of the local employers we work with and create a win-win for Ventura County veterans, job hunters and businesses.”

The Ventura County CONTINUED »

A yard with pleasant surprises at every turn was chosen as the Fillmore Civic Pride/Vision 2020 Yard of the Month for the month of May.

Mike and Deirdre Van De Mheen the owners of 457 Mountain View have built a fun yard that is enjoyed by their two sons Scott 13 and Matthew 10 along with neighbors Adrian 9 and Isaiah 6 Hernandez.
The house was built in 1929 with the Van De Mheens remodeling it since 1992. The front porch was redone after the earthquake. The upkeep of the yard is a family affair with the Van De Mheen boys helping out with mowing the lawn and participation in each project.

A three trunk white birch tree sits on one side of the yard boasting a tree house, swing and ladder. The tree house was made using the wood from the white birch which they purchased from Otto & Sons Nursery. The Van De Mheens say that their favorite part of the yard is the pond and the front porch. The swinging two seater with the lovely vines growing overhead by the pond is also very nice. Some of the plants include plumeria, marigolds, pansies and roses. Deirdre says that they have always worked hard to keep their yard in good standing.
The Van De Mheens received a certificate donated by Otto & Sons Nursery in the amount of $25.

Fillmore Civic Pride/Vision 2020 whose vision statement is “to foster a thriving small-town atmosphere in which civic pride, personal well-being and a balanced economy are nurtured and protected” meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Fillmore City Hall (2nd floor conference room) at 1:30pm. Please call 805.524.3841 for more information.

Livingston Visiting Nurse Association will hold Diabetes Classes to introduce basic information regarding diet, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, new developments and common problems. Open to the public and free of charge, the classes are held the first Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 2:30 pm @Livingston VNA, 1996 Eastman Ave, #101, Ventura. No registration is necessary; for information call Linda Hampson, RN, MSN @ 805-642-0239,ext 723.