Artists Guild of Fillmore is a new organization of artists, all living in Fillmore. They are currently presenting their first show at the Fillmore Public Library located at Second Street and Central Avenue. These local artists agreed to provide one piece of artwork per member as an example of what they do. They invite everyone to come into the Library for a closer look at the art wall during the open hours on Monday and Tuesday 2-7; Wednesday 10-5; Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12-5. Closed Sunday.

Ventura County, CA - Valley Care IPA, an Independent Physician Association comprised of physicians in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Ventura communities recently received the highest score for patient satisfaction with a grade of “Excellent” reported by the California Office of the Patient Advocate. The annual report card was recently released providing information how HMO groups are meeting National Standards of Care. Six of the physicians groups in Ventura County were graded and Valley Care IPA received the excellent rating.

The National Standards of Care is a criterion where each medical group’s patient records are compared to a set of national standards for quality of care. This criterion ranges from asthma, cancer screening, chlamydia screening, diabetes, heart care and others. Each medical group is graded on patient care and patient service including how well they communicate with their patients, the coordination of patient care, helpfulness of the office staff, timeliness of care and service, and health and wellness promotion.

“When Valley Care IPA was founded in 1993, our goal was CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

Mountain View Street between Main Street and Santa Clara Street will be closed beginning Tuesday, February 16th at 7:00 a.m. and will reopen to traffic on Friday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m.

To allow the railroad crossing to be repaired in the fastest possible manner and reduce inconvenience to residents who use this as their primary route, a full road closure has been planned. This full closure will allow the work to be conducted rapidly and will reduce safety hazards to motorists and their vehicles. Detour signs will be posted to direct residents and visitors to alternate routes while the work will be conducted by the Fillmore and Western Railroad with oversight by the City of Fillmore, and Ventura County Transportation Commission.

All emergency public service providers including the Fillmore Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, American Medical Response, Fillmore Area Transit, VISTA, and the Fillmore Unified School District have also been made aware of the closure.

For further information please call the City’s Public Works Director, Bert Rapp, at (805) 524-1500, extension 231

Applications for the Miss Fillmore/Miss Teen Fillmore Pageant are available. The “First Practice” will take place at the Memorial Building on Wednesday, February 24th beginning at 6:30PM. Refreshments will be provided. Questions and answers will also be addressed at that time. Miss Contestants must be a Junior or Senior girl in good standing. Teen Contestants must be a girl between the ages of 13 (by January 1st) and 17 in good standing, but not a Junior or Senior. All contestants must reside within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries. Applications are available at Fillmore High Schools Student Store, the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce or by contacting Pageant Director Lori McLain at #524-4432.

“Wrapped Trees” by Carmelita Miranda.
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“The Look” by Charles Morris.
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Two photographs by KSSP Photographic Studios have received merit awards at the annual print competition held by the Professional Photographers of California held in early February and one at the Channel Islands Professional Photography Association (CIPPA) on February 15. CIPPA is a local affiliate of the Professional Photographers of California. Carmelita Miranda won a merit award for her print entitled “Say a Prayer” in the Studio Portrait classification at the State competition and for “Wrapped Trees” in the local competition in the Landscape Category. Charles Morris won in State competition in the Studio Portrait classification for a portrait of former Miss California Teen USA, Taylor Atkins, entitled “The Look.” The State merits that were won represent 2 of only about 125 prints that won merits state-wide.

Professional photographers compete in print competitions to see how they compare with other photographers, to improve their techniques and the quality of their photography. This is a form of on-going education that top photographers participate in. Merit judging at the State level is performed by six independent judges from outside of California. At the local level, three judges are used. The judges do not know who took the photographs being judged. Only about 1 in 5 prints earn a merit award.

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in portrait, wedding and quinceanera photography (and video). KSSP is the Fillmore High School photographer and is the photographer for the upcoming Greater Ventura County Pageant in March.
For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com.

Fillmore Women's Service Club - Annual Spaghetti Dinner. Theme this year: "The Spaghetti Train" - February 20th, 2010, Memorial Building - Second & Central Ave - Fillmore, Calif. Social Hour 5PM - Dinner 6PM to 7:30PM Take Outs OK, Silent and Live Auction - Lot of Fun for All, Adults $13 & Children under ten $8., For Tickets call Donna Voelker 805-524-1036. ALL ABOARD!!

Soroptimist International of Fillmore continues their support for the American Cancer Society 2010 Daffodil Days. To order your spring daffodils for only $10 a bunch, call Terri Aguirre, 524-2096 by February 26th. The flowers will be delivered in a few weeks.

Last year, this program brought in over $2.6 million. Nationally, over 20,000 Gifts of Hope of the daffodil bouquets were delivered to cancer patients and the money sustained the many free programs and services provided to those affected by cancer in California. Every one in Fillmore is invited to join in this effort.

Sespe Players Auditions for Alice in Wonderland to be held Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 4:30-6:30P.M., Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 7:00-9:00P.M., Wednesday, February 24, 2010 from 7:00-9:00P.M., with call backs on Thursday, February 25,2010 starting at 7:00P.M.

Auditions will be held at The Historical Train Depot located at 350 Main Street, Fillmore. Any questions please call Janet Foy at 217-2402 or Sara Glauser at 524-6960.

Looking forward to seeing you at the auditions.

Also, Sespe Players presents Beginning Acting Workshop hosted by acting coach Stephen Burhoe, Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 2:00-4:00P.M. at The Historical Train Depot 350 Main Street Fillmore. This class is free for anyone who would like to learn about acting, wants to be an actor, or simply looking to polish their interviewing skills. After ward, Sespe Players will begin Auditions for their spring production of Alice in Wonderland from 4:30-6:30P.M. for all those interested.

Fillmore High Alumni Association

The February issue of the alumni newsletter, "Flashbacks" was put in the mail last Friday, so all of you subscribers should have received your copy by now. If not, please contact the alumni office at 524-0416 or staff@fillmorehighalumni.com. Also, if you have changed your mailing address, please let us know so we can keep up to date on our mailing list.

Class reunions for this year are taking shape with six classes sending in information regarding their class gatherings. The class of 1945 will meet for a lunch at IHOP in Fillmore on Saturday, June 12, starting at 11:00 a.m. Contact Natalie Harthorn Milota at 805-641-4283 or at nharthornm@hotmail.com for more information or to make a reservation for the lunch. Reservations for the alumni dinner should be made directly to the alumni office. The class of 1950, under the guidance of Lavonne Deeter is planning a get-together prior to the alumni dinner on June 12. More information will be sent out as more plans are firmed up. The class of 1960 is having their 50 year reunion on Friday, June 11. For more information, contact Margaret Graham Blankenship at 805-525-2790 or at missmae@roadrunnr.com. Linda Durand and her committee are planning a reunion for the class of 1965 on Friday, June 11 at Larry Stewart's home. You can contact LInda for more information. David Morales informed the alumni office that they are still in the planning stage for their reunion for the class of 1970, but they definitely will have one this year. More information will be released as it is received. Fernando Cervantez, class of 1990 has a group planning their 20th reunion for this year.

Janice Krska Hawley, class of 1980, has CONTINUED »

Many people in Fillmore do not know that any veteran’s name can be added to the wall at the Memorial Building. If you are interested in having a deceased family member or friend added, get a permission letter from the family, attach a check for $125 to cover the cost of the name plate, and deliver both to Annette Cardona at the City Hall. Since these name plates are cast in bronze, it takes several months. This is a fitting memorial for anyone who has served in the military. Our WW2 veterans are passing away quickly now and often we forget there is a place for their name to be included on the Memorial wall.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers is sponsoring an essay contest based on the Rotary 4-Way Test. Enter your essay for cash prizes at the Rotary Club level - 1st Place - $75, 2nd place - $50, 3rd place - $25. First Place will advance to District level for more cash prize opportunities.

Rotary 4-Way Test of Thing We Think, Say or Do. 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build good will and better friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Write a 250 word essay on how the principles of the test impact our daily lives. Entries due by March 15th. Open to all high school (9-12) students in the FUSD boundries. For more information contact Cindy Blatt 906-4114 cindy@swimmingblatts.net

Attached is the application submitted for the APWA project of the year award. It's an excellent summary of the Water Recycling Project.

Paul Harris Award recipients (l-r) Bill Shiells, District Governor Luz Maria, and Dave Wilkinson.
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(l-r) New member Rigo Landeros with President Dave Wareham.
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The Rotary Club of Fillmore was visited by District Governor, Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith. During her visit she presented two Paul Harris Awards to very deserving members Bill Shiells and Dave Wilkinson. She also inducted one new member, Rigo Landeros. All of the spouses were present for the celebration.

The Club recently enjoyed programs by Scott Lee, board member on the Bardsdale Cemetery District Board, Tresa Saviers, Art Consultant from Mountain Vista School, and Larry Emrich, a Ventura Rotarian, involved with polio Eradication.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore meets every Thursday, at noon, in the dining car of the Fillmore & Western Railroad.

The Piru Cemetery District Board of Trustees meets the Third Thursday of each month. The next meeting is set for Thursday, February 18, 2010, 6 pm at the Piru Community Center located in Warring Park at 802 Orchard Street.

A detailed agenda will be posted at Piru Post Office bulletin board the Monday before meeting. Some of the tentative items for inclusion include: status of expanding board from three to five members; update on cemetery improvements; begin discussions for 2010 Memorial Day event; budget report; plans for volunteer clean up and community outreach; feedback on opening auto gates for weekend visits.

Applications are also available from the Board for persons wishing to apply for one of the new appointments.
For more information please contact 805-521-1554.

Fillmore Unified School District

The Fillmore Unified School District is seeking qualified candidates for a provisional appointment to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education through November of 2010.

Legal Qualifications: Must be 18 years of age, a registered voter, and reside within the school district boundaries.

Helpful Qualifications: Candidates should be able to commit to attend two to three meetings per month, be familiar with current issues in public education, have prior experience serving on or reporting to a government board, and have knowledge in the areas of finance and budgets.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and include contact information, reason for applying, confirmation of Legal Qualifications, confirmation of Helpful Qualifications, if any, resume or curriculum vitae, and any other background information the candidate may wish to include, by 4: 30 p.m., Monday, March 1, 2010. Materials may be emailed to cpadilla@fillmore.k12.ca.us, faxed to 805-524-6660, or delivered to 627 Sespe Ave., Fillmore, CA 93015, Attn: Superintendent.

A committee of the Board of Education will review all materials for compliance with Legal Qualifications, and the Board of Education will conduct interviews in public of legally qualified applicants on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office. Public discussion of candidates and provisional appointment will occur on March 23, 2010. The appointee will be seated on the Board immediately.

For further information, please contact the Office of the Superintendent at 805-524-6038

Valentine’s weekend bring your special someone to Rancho Camulos Museum National Historic Landmark to experience "Romance at the Rancho". Docent-led tours will focus on the love stories of couples associated with Camulos. Bring a picnic and blanket and spend some quality time with each other enjoying the beautiful setting. A special tasty treat will also be provided. The suggested donation for this romantic stimulus package is $14 per couple. Call 805-521-1501 to make a reservation. Rancho Camulos is on Highway 126, 2 miles East of Piru and 10 miles west of the I-5 at Santa Clarita and will be open for Romance at the Rancho as well as our regular tours, 1- 4 , Saturday, February 13 and Sunday February 14.