Supervisor Kathy Long was the guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers on May 13th at El Pescador Restaurant. Supervisor Long gave an overview of county government activities and how they affect Fillmore and surrounding areas.
The Sun Risers are sponsoring the Heritage Valley 5k-10k Run & Fitness Walk on Saturday, May 17th. The race begins at 8:00am at Delores Day Park; registration begins at 7:00am. If you don’t feel like running or walking, come enjoy the free Health Fair at the Park! All proceeds from the run/walk will benefit Fillmore school fitness programs.
The Fillmore Rotary Sun Risers will have their fireworks booth again this year in the parking lot of McDonald’s. All funds raised go to Community and International projects.
Upcoming speakers include: May 20th – Kay Hodges, CEO, Letters from Home; May 27th – Jeff Gorell, partner Paladin Principle, Clearwater Port Update.
The Fillmore Rotary Sun Risers meet weekly at El Pescador Restaurant, 1305 Ventura Street (Hwy 126) at 6:45am every Tuesday. For more information, call 906-4114.

In conjunction with the Fillmore May Festival, the Sunrisers Rotary Club will be hosting the Annual 5/10K Run & Fitness Walk on Saturday, May 17, starting at Delores Day Park. Registration is set for 7:00am and the race promptly begins at 8:00am. Proceeds for the event will be donated to the local school fitness programs.
According to Event Director Joe Aguirre, “The 5-10K run is a tradition we want to keep alive in Fillmore as we have many contestants from all over the county who participate and it sends a positive message to our kids and their parents to come together as a family and have a lot of fun and be healthy at the same time.”
For further information, please contact Joe Aguirre at (805) 524-2096 or visit the Rotary website at www.rotaryfillmoresunrisers.org .
Schedule and Registration Information:
Delores Day Park – 870 Goodenough Rd. Fillmore CA
7:00am – Registration
8:00am – 5/10K Run/Walk
8:15am – 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk (all kids 8 and under receive ribbons)
Free Health Fair open to the public
Registration Fees:
5/10K Run - $30
1 Mile Fun Run/Walk - $10

Fillmore Fire Department

The City of Fillmore Fire Department in conjunction with Grad Nite Live of Fillmore will be hosting a BBQ Chicken Dinner Sunday May 18, 2008. Dinner will be served between 5:00PM - 7:00PM at Fillmore Fire Station 91 located at 711 Sespe Place, Fillmore. Drive through service as well as seated service within the fire station will be available to those who attend; a donation of $10.00 per dinner is requested. Dinner will include World Famous BBQ chicken cooked by the City of Fillmore's Finest Firefighters, chili beans, salad, and a dinner roll. All proceeds benefit the Grad Nite Live organization. This fundraising event is one of several planned events by organizers of Grad Nite Live to generate the approximate $23,000 required annually to support this organizations needs.
Grad Nite Live was established to keep graduating seniors of Fillmore High School off the roads following graduation and in a safe, alcohol and drug free environment following their commencement.
Moments after graduation and a few minutes of quick visiting with family and friends, participating seniors are loaded onto a charter bus and transported to Long Beach Harbor where the beautiful vessel "The Entertainer" awaits them. On board they enjoy great food, dancing, and entertainment throughout the night and morning. The graduates are then returned to Fillmore the following day exhausted from the previous night's celebration and are fed breakfast. Finally graduates are returned home to catch up on much needed sleep following the safe celebration of their twelve years of achievements.
Those persons and/or organizations who would like to donate to Grad Nite Live may call Shirley Spitler at 805-524-2131 or Raelene Chaney at 805-524-4909.

The Fillmore Senior Center is holding a meeting on Monday, May 19th at 10am to discuss appointment of Board members and take suggestions from the community concerning the Center. The public is invited.

Are you interested in serving the community of Fillmore seniors? The Fillmore Senior Center has two positions open on its Board. The Board of five meets once a month and applicants must be at least 55 years of age. Applications are now available until May 30th from Laurie Nunez at the Center, 533 Santa Clara St., Monday-Friday, 9am to 1pm; or from Annette Cardona at Fillmore City Hall, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. The two positions will be decided by the existing Board members.

Juan Jose Fustero was born on the Temescal Ranch near the mouth of Piru Canyon in 1841. He was a member of the Piru Indian Tribe. The Piru were originally called Pi'idhuku after the reed from which they created their baskets. There his tribe operated their temescals, or sweat houses, and many of the Indians from the coastal villages came there for the healing powers believed associated with temescals.
Juan Jose’s great-grandfather was the last chief of the Piru Tribe. Tribal members died off rapidly after the white man arrived with his diseases and crimes against the Indians which accounts for the assumption that Juan Jose was “the Last of the Piru Indians.”
When Juan was sixteen he and his father and mother packed up their belongings and drove a herd of horses up Piru Canyon to set up a homestead. The horses had been obtained from the herd of Don Ygnacio del Valle at Rancho Camulos as payment for ancestral land that had been deeded over to del Valle. Intent on grazing his stock on the ample grass along Piru Creek, de Valle convinced Juan’s and other families to move upstream.
Juan’s father, Old Juan Jose, had never taken a last name up to and including the day he died at the age of ninety. At that time Juan loaded his father's body up on his horse and transported it to the five-acre plot (that today is under Lake Piru) which served as the family burial grounds. His mother subsequently relocated to Newhall where she made her living doing laundry. It is told that she was often seen there carrying large bundles of laundry on her head.
Juan Jose remained on the homestead in Piru Canyon which had been granted to him by a U.S. patent in January of 1885. The grant was very important to Juan Jose because it allowed him to apply for U.S. citizen and thereby the right to vote.
Fergus Fairbanks, a longtime resident of Fillmore, told the story of when Juan Jose appeared in the Superior Court at Ventura for naturalization purposes and was asked by the judge his name. He said, “Juan.”
“But don’t you have another name?” asked the judge.
“Jose” said Juan. “Why should any man want more than two names.”
“What did your father do?” asked the judge.
“He made saddle trees (fustos),” was the answer.
So the judge gave him the name Fustero, and told him that hereafter his name was Juan Fustero.
Juan Fustero made his living by farming in the years with ample rain. In the dry years he would resort to raising livestock. But he was best known for making horsehair bridles and lariats.
Juan Fustero became as famous for the stories and legends associated with his gold. Whether his gold came from some secret mine or from the waters of Piru Creek, nobody ever knew although the treasure seekers often tracked him in an effort to find out. A number of claims were filed along Piru Creek by those who thought they had discovered the source of Fustero's gold. But he carried his secret to his grave if, after all, there was a gold mine to be secretive about in the first place.
Juan Fustero was stocky muscular man who was well built and weighed over 200 pounds. He had long hair and wore a beard and an oversized handlebar mustache which was unusual for most Indians. He had a superstition about the removal of ticks and usually carried a number of these companions on his weather-beaten neck.
He was identifiable by his wide-brimmed hat and large midsection. In his later years he weighed well over 250 pounds and was a heavy drinker. He spoke little English when sober; but after a number of drinks his colorful language would put a sailor to shame!
Wallace Smith recalled, “The final hours came on a hot summer day in 1921 and he died, at 80, of nephritis. It was Bill Whittaker who helped Santa Paula Undertaker, Earnest French stuff Indian Juan's massive body into an undersized casket. The weather was scorching and Juan had been dead for two days. French's ambulance broke down before he reached Piru Canyon, so a call went out for a wagon. Dale King and ten other men spelled off each other carrying the body from the house to the grave.
Once at the graveside, French found he had forgotten his casket harness. So Juan was lowered into the hole with two of his own reatas. There was no ceremony as he was laid to rest, facing east according to Indian custom, under an oak at the foot of the hill about 300 yards from the nearest wagon road.”

Don Snyder, Cabaret Entertainer

Cabaret Entertainer Don Snyder will be entertaining the Fillmore Ebell Club on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 12:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial building.

Mr. Snyder is known as one of the premier Cabaret entertainers in the business. Whether accompanying himself on the piano or working with his musical director or band, his ability to transport an audience back to a more romantic, gentle and sophisticated era is unmatched.

Don cultivated his skills at a young age touring with his own act. Soon he was performing in summer stock and eventually began working in productions with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera. He has worked with such luminaries as Robert Goulet, Carol Lawrence, Milton Berle and Michael Crawford and performed leading roles in productions from Carousel to Desert Song.

For over 20 years Don has been providing shows incorporating the talented friends he has met along the way. His personal performances proved a warm, beautiful and somewhat humorous look into the popular music that shaped the 20th century and uplifted us all.

Anyone interested in more information, or becoming a member of the Fillmore Ebell Club, may call Trisha Armstrong at 524-3471.

Come visit our thrift store on Mon. and Wed. mornings from 9:00-11:00.
Bingo on Tuesday mornings from 9:00-1:00.
Mondays – Puzzle Day
Thursdays- Game Day
Brown Bag every Wednesday morning 9:00-11:30.
Commodities every 3rd Thursday 9:00- 11:30.
Yoga class beginning June 1st at 8:00 a.m.

For more Information call 524-4533.

Adventures in Agriculture is coming to the Ventura County Fairgrounds! The free event will be an educational and informative agricultural festival Saturday, May 31; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Adventures in Agriculture will be the Fairgrounds’ second annual showcase of the agricultural community and industry. Antique Farm Equipment, Hot Air Balloon, Open Air Farmer’s Market, Children’s Activities, Entertainment, and more are on tap with a goal of educating visitors about the productive fields and agricultural assets here in our own back yard. A tortoise show will highlight the preview of the Fair's new Fishes & Friends Building.

Fine Art and Music are important features of Adventures in Agriculture. Gail Pidduck and John Nichols, acclaimed artists whose work has become well associated with agriculture in Ventura County, will show their artwork in the Fairgrounds’ Callahan Art Gallery. Ventura County’s favorite songsters “The Tune Bandits” and “The Iron Mountain Boys” will provide musical entertainment

Professional Bull Riding (America’s original extreme sport) will round out the day in the Grandstand arena. The show starts at 2pm and tickets for this special attraction are only $15.

Wyndham Hotels, Toyota and many other generous sponsors make Adventures in Agriculture possible. Stop by the Wyndham booth and ask how you can get a free hot dog and drink!

“Agriculture is Ventura County’s most valuable resource. We are happy that we can bring it to the community so that everyone can see the processes, and learn the values and opportunities it brings to us all,” said Barbara Quaid, CEO of the Ventura County Fairgrounds. “We have mixed in some fun and we hope that our neighbors and friends will enjoy what we have to offer.”

For more information please call 648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce has relocated its office to 557 Ventura St.
across the street from Burger King.
PRESALE CARNIVAL TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE at our new location
Starting May 5th through May 13th Price $ 15.00 for a sheet of 24.
Call 805-524-0351 for information.

Ventura, Calif. -- Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), stores in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, are gearing up to raise dough for the American Cancer Society. In addition, Domino's will be donating hundreds of Pizzas to the American Cancer Society’s Walk for Life Relay sites around Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

From May 12 - 18, 2008, the fifteen stores owned by Hishmeh Enterprises, Inc. will be asking customers to add two dollars to their orders to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. For each donation they will receive a FREE ORDER OF BREADSTICKS.

“The American Cancer Society’s goal is to prevent cancer, save lives, and diminish suffering from cancer,” said Sam Hishmeh, president of Hishmeh Enterprises, a Domino’s Pizza franchise. “By holding this fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, we at Domino’s are helping them meet this goal and improve the quality of life the people the society serves.”

“The goal of this fundraiser is to raise $2,500. We will be asking our customers to donate

2 with their orders, and all of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society,” said Hishmeh.

Participating stores include:
· Ventura Stores
· 5100 Telegraph Road, 805-658-0080
· 1017 N. Ventura Avenue, 805-648-1100
· 2950 Johnson Drive, 805-658-9911
· Santa Paula Store - 431 N. Ojai Road, 805-933-2771
· Oxnard Stores
· 2581 E. Vineyard Avenue, 805-988-1544
· 1259 Saviors Road, 805-487-5363
· 460 Pleasant Valley Road, 805-488-8101
· Ojai Store – 105 E. El Roblar, 805-640-0080
· Port Hueneme Store - 475 Channel Islands Blvd., 805-984-4344
· Fillmore Store – 529 Ventura Street, 805-524-1600
· Camarillo Store – 3661 Las Posas Road, 805-383-6666
· Santa Barbara Stores
· 1808 Cliff Drive, 805-564-4303
· 3006 State Street, 805-898-0606
· 617 N. Milpas, 805-966-6163
. Goleta Store – 185 S. Patterson, 805-683-1155

About Hishmeh Enterprises:
Hishmeh Enterprises, Inc. is locally owned and operated, with fifteen Domino’s Pizza stores in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

About the American Cancer Society:
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

The Ventura County Library has two new web-based resources that make it easier for you to trace your family tree. HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry Library Edition allow you to start exploring your roots by searching a surname.
Anyone with a Ventura County Library card can access the databases through the Library’s website at www.vencolibrary.org. Once you arrive at the website, click on either “Databases” or “Research.” There you will find the Library’s electronic resources collection arranged by subject and listed alphabetically. The links for HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry Library Edition are under “Genealogy.” HeritageQuest Online can be searched from home as well as from within the Library.
This database is an essential collection of material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s. Besides U.S. federal censuses, it offers family and local histories, Revolutionary War records, and other information.
Ancestry Library Edition can be accessed from the Library’s Internet workstations, available at 14 locations. Once connected to Ancestry Library Edition, you’ll find a friendly opening screen that asks for the name of the person to be searched. Key in the name, click on “Search” and Ancestry Library Edition scans its vast selection of U.S. census data, birth, marriage, and death records, World War I draft registration information, Social Security death records, and immigration lists. There is also an extensive collection of information from the United Kingdom.
HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry Library Edition each provide unique resources that complement one another and provide more information than either used alone. To find out more about how you can access the databases, contact your local Ventura County Library branch or visit the Library on the web at www.vencolibrary.org.

Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive will be Saturday May 10. Help stamp out huger and place your non-perishable donation in a bag by your mailbox. We’ll deliver to St. Vincent De Paul food pantry.

Learning to ride a horse, like learning to swim, is one of those lifetime skills many children and adults have yet to master. According to experts at Goodenough Farms Horse Spa, safety around horses, like safety around water, is an important skill to have. It’s also a great way to enjoy the outdoors in Southern California and the beauty of the Ventura County countryside.
“It’s not fun getting kicked by a horse or coming off on a trail ride. We hear a lot of stories of families on vacation, the kids want to ride a horse and somebody gets injured.
We provide a basic introduction to horses to improve the chances you or your loved ones will have a safe and enjoyable ride,” said Jeff Peters, a well-known horse trainer and resident trainer at Goodenough Farms Horse Spa. Mr. Peters is well-known throughout California for training riders in the Olympic sport of Three Day Eventing, including dressage, show jumping and cross country riding of horses over logs, ditches, ponds and other natural obstacles.
The free, Intro to Horses sessions will be held from 10 AM to 12 noon on Saturday, May 10,
May 17 and May 31. Class size will be limited to the first 16 children and adults reserving for each session, and all participants must be in moderate to good physical health and sign a release form. Long pants and boots covering the ankle with a small heal are recommended, such as cowboy, riding or hiking boots.
The first hour of the sessions will cover safety around horses, grooming, feeding and caring for horses. The second hour will feature a short mounted session where all participants will be able to ride a horse. That session will be followed by a demonstration ride over jumps and fences in the arenas and cross country course at the beautiful Goodenough Farms Horse Spa by future Olympic riders intent on reaching the Summer Olympics in London in 2012.
“This should be a fun morning for kids and families that haven’t had the chance to spend much time around horses. By getting off the couch and on a horse we hope some of these kids discover the joy of riding, like our kids did,” said John Lockhart, owner of Goodenough Farms and a member of the US Eventing Association’s Marketing Committee. “Who knows, we may discover a future Olympian at one of these sessions.” To reserve your spot in one of the sessions on Saturdays May 10, 17 or 31 please write info@goodenoughfarms.com or call (805) 524-2444. Goodenough Farms is located just one hour from Los Angeles, 20 minutes from Valencia and 30 minutes from Oxnard and Ventura. For more information visit www.goodenoughfarms.com