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Last week, the Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club in partner with Channel Islands Bike Club secured grant funds to help purchase equipment for the kids to utilize. Pictured left to right: Kurt Wilkinson and Val Gordon of representatives from CI Bike Club, Jan Marholin, Maricela Soriano, and Melissa Hermosillo. Photo credit Michael Durazo, SCV B & G Club Special Events Coordinator. Local Boys & Girls Club Directors have been working with Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) which received grants for four Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Clubs. Grant funds will be used to purchase a bicycle rack for each site and locks, lights, helmets, and reflectors for the youth that cycle to and from these Boys & Girls Club locations, including Fillmore and many mansions Piru sites. The Boys & Girls Clubs and CIBike’s purpose is to help these youth be safer while commuting by bicycle. CIBike Mission Statement: The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) is an inclusive, non-profit organization that promotes bicycling for recreation, health, sport, and transportation in Ventura County and beyond. CiBike is committed to increasing awareness, skills, and safety for cyclists through worthy programs, grants, and partnering with agencies that share our vision of fun and safe cycling.

Courtesy Fillmore Unified School District Blog https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/fillmore-unified-school-district-blog/2...
On Sunday, March 3rd, 2024, Fillmore High School students David Jimenez and Sergio Torres were inducted into the National Football Foundation’s Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, California.
Fillmore High Head Football Coach Charlie Weis said, “I’m extremely proud of David Jimenez and Sergio Torres for being the first Flashes ever, in over 100 years of Flashes football, to be inducted into the National Football Foundation (NFF) Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame. David and Sergio are breaking barriers for future generations of athletes in our community to be recognized for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements.”

Jimenez and Torres were selected based on their exemplary scholarship, citizenship, leadership, and competitive excellence in football. They received HFF rings, certificates, and their names will be forever enshrined in the NFF Hall of Fame in Atlanta Georgia.

FUSD Superintendent Christine Schieferle said, “Please join the entire Fillmore Unified School District in congratulating David and Sergio for being the first Flashes ever inducted in the National Football Foundation’s Hall of Fame. We are all proud of you!”

Courtesy https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/fillmore-unified-school-district-blog/2...

On February 29, 2024, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced 293 middle schools and high schools have been selected for the prestigious 2024 California Distinguished Schools Program, California’s program that recognizes two categories of exceptional schools: those closing the achievement gap and those demonstrating exceptional student performance.
Fillmore Unified School District Superintendent Christine Schieferle said, “On behalf of the Fillmore Unified School District Governing Board, I would like to congratulate Fillmore High School for being named a 2024 California Distinguished School.”
Since its inception in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the state’s most important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students.

Superintendent Schieferle said, “Thank you to all classified, certificated, and administrative staff for the support and dedication you provide to our outstanding students. Congratulations to all students for your hard work and commitment to your education. Thank you to all families for supporting your students and the community.”
More information about the California Distinguished Schools program may be found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr24/yr24rel09.asp

During the month of March 2024, the Fillmore Police Department will be conducting extra traffic enforcement in the city of Fillmore and the surrounding unincorporated areas focusing on drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence.

The Fillmore Police Department would like to remind drivers, “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get arrested for DUI. Marijuana can also cause impairment, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can also result in being arrested for a DUI.

Today, getting home safely can be inexpensive, but being arrested for DUI is not. Drivers suspected of driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension, and other expenses in addition to possible jail time.

Everyday approximately 28 people in the United States die in DUI related crashes. That result statistic averages out to be one person every 52 minutes.

The Fillmore Police Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab, or public transportation to get home.
See someone who is clearly impaired trying to drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.

Report drunk drivers – Call 911
Hosting a party? Offer non-alcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.

Funding for this extra DUI enforcement is provided to the Fillmore Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nature of Incident: DUI Enforcment
Report Number: N/A
Location: Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: March 2024
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Serivces

Courtesy Brandy Hollis

Sandra Butts officially retired from Fillmore Unified School District, after 24 years, earlier this month. Sandra was also a longstanding and beloved member of Fillmore Women’s Service Club, which said goodbye to her as she and her husband Gary move to Arizona.

Sandra has a spunk and zest for life I personally adore. We joked about finding a way to house her during 4th of July so she can help in the club’s fireworks booth, the reason she first joined the club, according to her. I’m not sure if she was serious or not. Maybe she just loves to light them—said with a smile on my face.
Fillmore Women’s Service Club members wish them the best of luck in their future home, and hope retirement is blissful! Sandra, not only from the FWSC, but all of Fillmore and the lives you have touched, we wish you all the best and thank you for being of service to our community, which speaks volumes about your character. You will do well wherever you go, and will be sorely missed.

On a very personal note, you were my son’s 5th grade teacher at Mountain Vista for half a year. He came home at 10-years-old cracking up that his teacher’s name was Sandy Butts--such a great icebreaker! Thank you for caring for our kids. Thank you for teaching my son!

Though this article only touches on a small part of your impact on me and this community, I hope you enjoy it.
Note: Please follow Fillmore Women’s Service Club on social media. The club meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Send us a message and we can get you more information!