Applications for the Miss Fillmore/Miss Teen Fillmore Pageant are available. The Parent Tea and First Practice will take place at the Memorial Building on Wednesday, February 24th beginning at 6:30PM. 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. Flyers will be available at Fillmore High School and Fillmore Middle School or by contacting Pageant Director Lori McLain at #524-4432.

Chief Rigo Landeros

[PO Box correction] The Fillmore Women's Service Club has lost a friend with the passing of Fire Chief Rigo Landeros. We got to know Chief Landeros over the years working on the Fireworks Booth, and at other community projects. An exemplary example of a City Official, he was always understanding, helpful, and made a point to be available to answer questions by phone. Chief Landeros contributed so much to the community of Fillmore and will be missed by all.

The FWSC Club members send their thoughts and prayers to Rigo's family, extended family and friends.

The Club members voted to present a Scholarship honoring Chief Rigo Landeros, in his name to a graduating High School Student in June.

Anyone wishing to make a tax deductable donation to this Community Scholarship can do so by sending a check to the FWSC, P.O. Box 151, Fillmore, 93016. Please write Rigo Landeros in Memo. Any questions or more information call Susan Banks at 524-2020.

There is a saying that when we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways –either by losing hope, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Suicide is one of the most tragic events a family and community can experience. The moment a spotlight is put on this difficult, and extremely tragic experience we naturally ask: why did this occur?

The love and respect that the Fillmore community held for Chief Rigo Landeros is one that we will never lose. It is a part of us. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family.

As we seek to try to understand the unfathomable, we have to acknowledge the complexity of suicide. Suicide is one of the most serious public health issues facing our nation. There is no easy single explanation to the story; but there is help, and there is hope.

We get to decide how to move forward and how we will heal from this experience. It is an opportunity to focus on suicide as a tragedy; recognizing that in our grief, we are not alone. We will find strength by supporting one another.

The County of Ventura is expanding outreach for residents in the City of Fillmore, who are searching for understanding and healing. We all have a role in the healing. Ventura County Behavioral Health can assist with this endeavor. One of the priorities of the County Behavioral Health services is to reduce stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment, helping people become familiar with some of the treatments and resources that are available. The Fillmore Community Health Center is available to assist.

Additionally, on March 19, 2016, Ventura County Behavioral Health will be sponsoring a Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Fair at the Active Adult Center to take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This Fair provides a unique opportunity to join together as individuals, families, and a community to become informed and aware about depression and suicide, and also to provide comfort to one another during the grieving process.

If you, or know of anyone affected by this or similar tragedies, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Crisis Team is available 24/7 to provide assistance to residents experiencing a mental health emergency. The Ventura County Suicide Hotline is 1-877-727-4747, or for community members seeking support coping, the Ventura County Crisis Team may be reached at 1-866-998-2243. Together, we can begin the healing.

Kathy I. Long, Ventura County Supervisor

Happy Valentine’ s Day! Happy Valentine’s Day everybody. I hope you already chose who is gonna be your Valentine this day. You can have a lot of ideas to do like make a Happy Valentine’s Day card, have a Valentine’s Day party, Valentine’s games you have a lot of ideas you can do. You can probably date your Valentine, that would be a good idea. You can do a lot of things for Valentine’s Day. Like maybe you can make a Valentine’s Day cake, anything you can think of will be great. As long as it’s a Valentine’s Day theme. If its your mom or dad or brother or sister or cousin or uncle or aunt or grandmother or grandfather, anyone you love you can draw a picture of a heart and you and that other person in it, they’ll love that. Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day and I hope you have a great day.

Heather Furness, 2nd Grade, Gazette Cub Reporter

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The Fillmore Women's Service Club brightened the lives of some of the residents in Fillmore this holiday season. “There are so many people in need it was nice to know that we could make a difference for some”, Susan Banks, President said.

The Fillmore Women's Service Club gave two Food Baskets at Thanksgiving and five Holiday Baskets at Christmas to families in need. The Holiday baskets contained food items, gift card to Super A and a certificate for gift purchases.

The Fillmore Women's Service Club also collected toys and items for teenagers for Ventura County Foster kids. We also donated canned food to One Step a la Vez food drive.

At Lynn Edmunds retirement dinner from One Step de la Vez, Teresa Reese, representing the Fillmore Women's Service Club, presented her with a certificate of appreciation for her dedication and hard work establishing the One Step for the youth of Fillmore. A donation in her name for $200 was also presented to One Step from FWSC.

The Fillmore Women's Service Club presented a check for $200 to Laura Bartels for the Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid for their Winter Coat Drive. This year the coat drive was held at the Fillmore Fire Station on December 19th.

Did you see us in the Fillmore Christmas Parade this year ?? Susan Banks said “the Christmas Parade was a lot of fun for the members to participate in and it was wonderful to meet so many new people as well as old friends”

The Fillmore Women's Service Club meets every second Weds (except May, July, Aug and Dec.) in the Fillmore Active Adult Center at 7 p.m. If you would like more information about our Club and it's activities, call Teresa Reese, membership chair, at 818-645-4626, or President Susan Banks at 805-524-2020.

Come and be a part of this charitable organization and don't forget we need your support at our 4th July Fireworks Booth !!! So look for Fillmore Women's Service Club.

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Seneca Resources Employees and local Fillmore residents Joey Salazar and Luke Faith present a check for $7,000 to Boys & Girls Club CEO Jan Marholin and Piru Club Youth at their Piru site. The donation is due to Seneca Resources being Lead STEM Sponsor at the newly opened Piru Site. Seneca Resources is the exploration and production segment of National Fuel Gas Company, explores for, develops, and purchases national gas and oil reserves in California and Appalachia. The company has a facility in Fillmore, California. “We appreciate the continued support from Seneca Resources and value their commitment to supporting STEM programs for our youth,” stated CEO Jan Marholin.

Community bank gave back in 2015 by donating $175,000 to local non-profits through its Sierra Grant Program
PORTERVILLE, CA — Bank of the Sierra announced that 2015 saw over $175,000 distributed to a variety of non-profit organizations throughout the 6 counties it serves. Each quarter the Bank awarded approximately 15 organizations with a grant, the amount of which was determined individually by the specific needs of the organization. Most organizations received a grant of $1,000 to $5,000.

The grant program partners with traditional non-profits, public school districts, and other local organizations. The types of projects that benefitted from the grants ranged widely, including initiatives to help underprivileged children and the elderly, housing and community building projects, cultural and educational initiatives, and environmental preservation efforts.

Kevin McPhaill, Bank President and CEO, explained his appreciation for the grant program and the organizations that benefit from it: “The Sierra Grant program has been an important part of how Bank of the Sierra engages with the areas it serves. We’re happy to assist with the projects these organizations introduce, and we’re always grateful to hear of the many ways community members are making a difference.”

About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over a million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank’s web site at www.bankofthesierra.com/resources/sierra_grant_program.

About Bank of the Sierra
Since its founding in 1977, Bank of the Sierra has grown to become the largest independent bank in the southern San Joaquin Valley, with approximately $1.8 billion in assets. The Bank is a multi-community financial institution that offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services, employing over 400 people at 29 locations, including an online branch, a real estate industries center, and an ag credit center. Offering more than just financial services, Bank of the Sierra is committed to providing the benefits of local banking with a focus on improving the communities in which it serves.

A message from Detective Chip Cadman:
Farm Watch readers, There have been several reports of avocado theft throughout the county. The thefts have ranged from persons pulling onto the shoulders of a roadway and stealing a handful of avocados hanging over fence lines, to additional reports of large thefts from properties. The large thefts involve suspects leaving fruit on the exterior avocado tree line and harvesting fruit from interior avocado trees. If you have been unable to contract labor crews to harvest, please take the time to walk through your properties and ensure thieves are not harvesting fruit from your property. Direct employees to contact the Sheriff’s Office when persons are contacted stealing fruit from the shoulder of a roadway or trespassing onto your properties looking to steal.

Recently two reports of stolen Utility Carts and one stolen Skid Steer have been made from local properties. I have received information from Fresno County regarding similar farm vehicle and trailer thefts. Please remember to mark your equipment with your OAN. Investigators throughout the state have access to the OAN system and can use this in the recovery of stolen equipment. If you have been the victim of a theft, please contact Sheriff’s Dispatch and request a deputy respond to your location to take a crime report.

The following advice is always wise if you suspect illegal activity on your property:
• Call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 911.
• Be a good witness, note suspect descriptions such as age, height, weight, facial hair, clothing, and shoe type.
• Use your cellular telephone to take pictures if possible.
• If a vehicle is involved, obtain a license plate number and note vehicle color, body damage, bumper stickers, camper shell, after market tires and wheels, etc.
• Provide the dispatcher with information about the time and last known direction of travel.

Agricultural Crimes Detective Chip Cadman
E-mail: greg.cadman@ventura.org
Office: 805-384-4726
Work Cell: 805-797-6424

Sheriff’s Office Dispatch 805-654-9511

Be alert and stay safe!
Chip

Geoff Dean – Sheriff
Gary Pentis - Undersheriff
Steve DeCesari - Assistant Sheriff
Guy Stewart - Assistant Sheriff

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is holding its 43rd Benefactors’ Ball on Saturday, April 16, with proceeds benefitting the new Community Memorial Hospital.

At this event, three notable individuals will be recognized with the prestigious Cephas Bard Award, named after the founder of the first Community Memorial Hospital. Awardees to be recognized at this event are: CMH Physician – Dr. Thomas F. Golden, CMH Retired Physician – Dr. William L. Hart, and Community Member of the Year – Barbara Meister.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. at O’Brien Hall at Historic Mission San Buenaventura. Dinner is set for 7 p.m., with dancing and music at 8 p.m. The evening is black tie optional.

The event represents an opportunity for residents to support community-based healthcare. The new Community Memorial Hospital will feature advanced medical technology, all private rooms and a considerably larger emergency department.

For information, tickets or sponsorship, visit www.benefactorsball.org, or call the foundation office at 805-667-2881.

Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

Helen Hunt Jackson
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On Sunday, January 31, at 1:00 PM, experience author Helen Hunt Jackson's January 23, 1882 visit to Rancho Camulos, which inspired the setting for her bestselling novel Ramona. Re-enactors will engage and delight you as they portray this event which forever changed the peaceful life at Rancho Camulos. "A Woman with a Mission - Ramona a Heroine for a Gilded Age", a presentation on the life of HHJ by author Patricia Clark Doerner will follow the reenactment. Suggested donation $5.

This National Historic Landmark is located on Highway 126, 10 miles west of the I-5 freeway near Piru.

Moorpark College invites students and parents to attend its CASH FOR COLLEGE WORKSHOP on Saturday, February 20, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Fountain Hall (7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, CA). The Financial Aid staff will assist students and parents with the 2016/2017 FAFSA application, the California Dream application, and the Chafee Application.

Participants should bring the following list of required documents:

1. Student/Parent Tax information for 2015
2. Social Security Numbers for Students/Parents
3. Other income information for Students/Parents
4. Student/Parent W2s (for taxes not yet filed) 2015.

The workshop is FREE and open to the public. Free parking is available in Lot A.

For additional information, please call the Moorpark College Financial Aid Office at 805-378-1462.

Back Stacks Books sponsored by the Friends of the Blanchard Community Library in Santa Paula is a great place to find just the right books.

The Back Stacks 1st Saturday sale February 6, from 10 AM to 2 PM, will feature 1,000’s of used books from 50 cents to $2, as well as collectible books from $4 and up. The February specials include multi-volume sets, already marked with low prices, now at 50% off. Also, mass market paperbacks, usually $.50, will be $.25 or 5 for $1.00!

Located at 119 North 8th Street, Santa Paula, enter via the north parking lot, thru the roll-up door in the back. Normal weekday hours also continue: Wed. 12-4, Thu. & Fri. 12-2. For more information, spfotl@gmail.com.

Hello Friends,

I will be offering a three hour dream workshop on Saturday, January 30 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at our Wellness Center on Santa Clara. There is a flyer (pdf) attached to this email.

We will use various simple methods to explore and illuminate the wisdom and insight that comes to us in our dreams. I have been engaged in dream work with individuals and groups for over 40 years and yet the value of working with dreams continues to delight and impress me. I look forward to sharing this with those of you who are interested in exploring what Freud called "the royal road to the unconscious".

I am offering a $10 discount if you bring a friend who has not previously enrolled in my groups or classes.

Call me at 805-705-0405 to pre-register as there is both a minimum and a maximum enrollment for the workshop.

Wishing you well,
Valerie Rose Brinton

Bank of the Sierra, the banking subsidiary of Sierra Bancorp, (NASDAQ: BSRR), announced that it has entered into an agreement with Citizens Business Bank, the banking subsidiary of CVB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CVBF), to acquire the deposits and certain loan assets of a branch of Citizens Business Bank located in Porterville, California. Pending regulatory approval, Sierra’s assumption of approximately $22 million in deposits and approximately $1 million in loans is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2016.

Bank of the Sierra President and CEO Kevin McPhaill welcomed the acquisition, stating, “We are happy to welcome the Porterville customers of Citizens Business Bank into the Bank of the Sierra family, and we are committed to ensuring that the transition goes smoothly for them. We are confident that they will enjoy access to Bank of the Sierra’s broad range of financial products and personalized customer service.” Sierra plans to retain the current employees working at the Porterville Branch, which will be absorbed into Sierra’s Porterville Branch located at 90 North Main Street in Porterville.

About Sierra Bancorp & Bank of the Sierra
Sierra Bancorp (NASDAQ: BSRR) is a publicly-traded company with approximately $1.8 billion in assets. Headquartered in Porterville, California, the company operates primarily through Bank of the Sierra (the Bank). The Bank is a multi-community financial institution that offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services, primarily in the central and southern sections of the San Joaquin Valley. The Bank specializes in agricultural lending and works with many of the businesses in that region. Since opening for business in January 1978, the Bank has grown to be the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. More information about Sierra Bancorp and Bank of the Sierra can be found at the following websites:
www.sierrabancorp.com
www.bankofthesierra.com.

About CVB Financial Corp.
CVB Financial Corp. (“CVBF”) is the holding company for Citizens Business Bank. The Bank is the largest financial institution headquartered in the Inland Empire region of Southern California with assets of approximately $7.7 billion. CVBF recently earned the ranking of “Best Bank in America” according to Forbes’ America’s Best Banks 2016. Citizens Business Bank serves 44 cities with 40 Business Financial Centers, eight Commercial Banking Centers, and three trust office locations serving the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, and the Central Valley area of California.

Shares of CVB Financial Corp. common stock are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CVBF.” For investor information on CVB Financial Corp., visit the Citizens Business Bank website at www.cbbank.com and click on the “Investors” tab.

Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward looking statements. Actual results may differ from those projected. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the health of the national and local economies, the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled employees, customers' service expectations, the Company's ability to successfully deploy new technology, the success of branch expansion, changes in interest rates, loan portfolio performance, the Company’s ability to secure buyers for foreclosed properties, and other factors detailed in the Company’s SEC filings, including the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

Minimally-invasive cardiovascular care and common therapies for it will be the focus of a free seminar that Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Omid Fatemi, M.D., who specializes in interventional cardiology, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, located at 147 N. Brent St.

February is Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with 5 million Americans hospitalized each year with chest pain and 1.1 million suffering heart attacks. Dr. Fatemi will focus on the advances in cardiovascular care and how they have improved quality of life for people with heart disease. He also will cover cardiac catheterization, radial catheterization, peripheral vascular interventions and structural heart interventions such as aortic valve replacement.

Dr. Fatemi received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and his fellowship at Georgetown Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Dr. Fatemi is on the medical staffs of Community Memorial Hospital and Ojai Valley Community Hospital.

Registration is free but reservations are required. To secure your reservations please visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

Future scheduled educational seminars include: Advances in Cardiovascular Care on Feb. 27 at the Soule Park Golf Course banquet room; Hyperthyroidism on March 8 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Oxnard; and Innovative Management & Treatment of Urinary and Defecatory Disorders on March 15 at CMH.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

Sierra Bancorp (Nasdaq: BSRR), parent of Bank of the Sierra, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2015. Sierra Bancorp recognized net income of $18.067 million for the year in 2015, an improvement of $2.827 million, or 19%, relative to net income in 2014. The increase over the prior year is the result of substantially higher net interest income driven by higher interest-earning assets and an increase in non-recurring interest income, a growing level of non-interest income, and a reduced loan loss provision, partially offset by a higher tax accrual and, for the annual comparison, higher overhead expense. The Company’s return on average assets was 1.07% in 2015, up from 1.03% in 2014. The Company’s return on average equity also increased to 9.59% in 2015 from 8.18% in 2014, and diluted earnings per share increased to $1.33 in 2015 from $1.08 in 2014. For the fourth quarter of 2015 Sierra Bancorp had net income of $5.363 million, an annualized return on average equity of 11.25%, and a return on average assets of 1.24%.

Total assets were up $159 million, or 10%, during 2015 due to net growth of $162 million, or 17%, in gross loan balances that was partially offset by slightly lower levels of cash and investments. Loan growth was favorably impacted by increased utilization on mortgage warehouse lines, the purchase of $28 million in residential mortgage loans in March, and strong organic growth. Total nonperforming assets, including nonperforming loans and foreclosed assets, were reduced by almost $12 million, or 48%, during 2015. Total deposits were up $98 million, or 7%, for the year due primarily to a $96 million organic increase in core non-maturity deposits. Non-deposit borrowings were increased by $55 million in 2015 in order to meet the funding requirements created by strong loan demand.

“Never mistake motion for action.” – Ernest Hemingway

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