Kenneth Fine’s book, "An Ancedotal History of Fillmore," is now back in print. The first printing in 2002 sold out and Marie Wren recently ordered a second printing. This book is full of stories about Fillmore from the early days until about 1958. Everyone who knew Booger Red Fine enjoyed his stories about growing up in Fillmore, the things all kids did, the things all grownups enjoyed in deer camp and opening day of fishing season, with a lot of other things thrown in for good measure. Kenneth Fine was a great storyteller.
If you enjoy local history, you will enjoy this book. It is sort of like sitting under a tree and listening to your own grandpa remember things while taking to his friends. This book is priced at $25 to cover the cost of printing. You may call Marie Wren for details, 524-4044.

 


 

Behind the Scenes:

Today we’d like to thank the Sheriff’s Special Services Crime Analyst Unit. Karen Brown supplies Farm Watch with all our crime data. Karen and others in the Unit work hard to keep our rural community safe. The Unit has included some new farm maps and charts in this email that include the entire county.

Farm Worker Alert:

This just happen last week: A group of four criminals stole money from Ventura County farm workers and Spanish speaking residents in a California lottery scam. Theses criminals single out Ventura County residents who use Spanish as their strongest language. They prefer female victims of adult or elderly age, but on occasion will prey on males.

They are excellent actors and you will never know that all four are connected. When you read the story, remember they change it up once a while mixing in fictitious IRS Agents, Fictitious Notaries and Fictitious Attorneys.

Here is the scene:

They hit while your farm workers are in a shopping center, parking lot, picking up kids from school or public building, they are approached by a Spanish-speaking female.

On occasion they use a male. The male or females are actors, and will tell the farm worker that he or she just found a State Lottery ticket and that they think it was the winning number.

Next, a passerby will approach as a random person and CONTINUED »

 


 

Rental Scams Issue Date: February 18, 2010 v1

Summary: Unscrupulous people find homes listed for sale and post those same homes on a community posting board, like CraigsList, for what seems like an incredibly reduced rental price. The posting may have statements that sound credible to a would-be renter (i.e. Last minute job relocation, Death in the family, etc.) and urge them to send their reduced price deposit and first month’s rent to a specified address or wired to a specified account - the lease agreement to be signed later. In exchange, the key to the home will be left where the would-be renters can find it. Would be renters then send the money thinking they have rented a home.

Occupied homes for sale: Homeowners may be faced with a stranger(s) showing up to move into their home.

Vacant homes for sale: Would-be renters may not realize they’ve been scammed until a potential buyer or real estate agent shows up to view the home they’ve “rented”. In some cases, neighbors or contractors may notice that someone is on the property that shouldn’t be there and law enforcement is called to investigate.

Homeowners and would-be renters are urged to contact local police to report the crime.

Homeowners are also encouraged to notify the community posting board (i.e. CraigsList) if there is an unauthorized posting of their home for rent. They will expediently remove any unauthorized or disputed posting.
Would-be renters are encouraged to review CraigsList information on Avoiding Scams & Fraud:
DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on craigslist. NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer. CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification" NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.) AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.

If you suspect that you, a family member, or friend has fallen victim to real estate fraud and don’t know where to turn, call Ventura County’s 2-1-1 hotline to get the referral you need to the appropriate agency. Cell phone users dial: 800-339-9597.

 

We Know You're Busy.....but make this month count by saving lives! This month marks National Volunteer Month. Please take a moment to volunteer your time to give blood. You'll not only save lives, but you'll see the true value of volunteering. Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.

Our Ventura Center is open Monday-Tuesday from 10am-6pm; Wednesday-Thursday 10am-7pm; Friday 8am-2pm and is located at 2223 Eastman, Suite A (Near McGrath St) in Ventura. Call 1-800-715-3699 today or make an appointment on-line at www.Blood4Life.org

"Discover why some of the richest people in the world are not millionaires, they are volunteers."

 
March 23rd from 5-7 p.m.

Have you missed the Peace Crane Workshops so far? Now you have another opportunity to learn to fold origami cranes and send on your wishes for peace at the same time. This Tuesday, March 23 from 5-7 p.m. at the Fillmore Library, crane-making will again be 'on the table.'

Bring a dollar donation for the Peace Pole, learn about the worldwide Peace Crane movement and have fun with your friends as well. Supplies and instructions will be provided. Call Claire or Janine at 524-2520 for further information.

 

Grad Nite Live’s “Sandwich Meals” fundraiser is almost finished. This Wednesday, March 31st is the last day to purchase tickets and/or have lunch at Central Station to help Grad Nite Live. Watch the papers for our next fundraiser which will be coming together soon. Also if you want to be a financial sponsor for a 2010 Senior call Mrs. Chaney at 524-4909 or 407-5759. The cost is $85. per student for their Harbor Cruise Graduation night.

 
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Enlarge Photo
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Enlarge Photo
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Enlarge Photo
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Enlarge Photo
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
Photo of the Week from the Gazette History Archives. Can you identify this photo or any of the people in it? If so, please help us by adding any information about this photograph in the comments section provided at the bottom of this posting. Thank You.
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Participating in the Smart Girls program are Yasmine Gil, Yulianna Magana, Alicia Olvera, Arianna Magana, Deedee Dun, Erika Murillo, Jackie Chavez, Jalynne Magana, Valerie Tobias, and Staff Clara Valdovinos.
Participating in the Smart Girls program are Yasmine Gil, Yulianna Magana, Alicia Olvera, Arianna Magana, Deedee Dun, Erika Murillo, Jackie Chavez, Jalynne Magana, Valerie Tobias, and Staff Clara Valdovinos.
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In response to the growing need to provide young women with the necessary skills to “say no” to drugs, alcohol and premature sexual activity at an early age, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley is introducing SMART Girls.

The goal of the SMART Girls program is to help girls develop healthy attitudes and lifestyles. To accomplish this, the program addresses health and social issues that are specific to female Club members. SMART Girls is designed for two age-group levels, 8 to 12 and 13 to 17, according to their physiological, mental and emotional needs. In addition, the program is intended to help girls make positive decisions at this critical stage in their development.

“SMART Girls is exactly the kind of program we’ve been looking for to reach our younger female members,” said Buddy Escoto, Site Director of the Boys & Girls of Santa Clara Valley, Fillmore Clubhouse. “We have a great deal of confidence in the effectiveness of SMART Girls because it’s based upon the award-winning SMART Moves program that has been developed and tested for many years by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and is currently in use in several of the Boys & Girls Clubs in Ventura County.”

SMART Girls takes the skills, mastery and resistance training concept even further by providing gender- and age-specific information to help young women develop the necessary skills to have a long and healthy life. The specific curriculum for SMART Girls teaches young women how to do the following:
• understand and appreciate the CONTINUED »

 
Artists Guild of Fillmore
Artists Guild of Fillmore
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The Artists Guild of Fillmore is presenting its first Show and Sale at Giessinger Winery located at 365 Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. The Show is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2010 and Sunday, March 28, 2010 from 11am – 4pm both days. Members of the Guild are all local artists and will be showing original art work selected from their respective repertoires. Visit the Guild’s website: ArtistsGuildofFillmore.org The Guild also has plans for future events that will support and focus on art and artists within our community. All are invited to come and enjoy the art work, meet the artists, and stroll the grounds of the Winery.

 

Grades 5 – 12 Invited to Illustrate “Western Nights and Carnival Lights”
The 2010 Ventura County Fair Poster Contest is accepting entries. The contest is open to young artists in grades 5 – 12, who reside in Ventura County. The deadline for entries is Wednesday, March 13.
The theme of the 2010 Fair is “Western Nights and Carnival Lights” and will serve as the guideline to the imagery. Artwork may be created in any medium but may not be 3 dimensional.
Rules, deadlines and other information can be found on the Fair website, www.venturacountyfair.org. For more information about the contest call 648-3376 x 110 or send an email to contest@venturacountyfair.org.
The Ventura County Fair will begin its annual 12-day run Wednesday August 4 and continue until Sunday, August 15.
For more information about the Fair, or the poster contest, please call the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 648-3376 x110 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

 
 
Beverly Haase with her gardener, Arnaldo Salazar receiving the Otto & Sons Gift certificate award from Committee member, Linda Nunes.
Beverly Haase with her gardener, Arnaldo Salazar receiving the Otto & Sons Gift certificate award from Committee member, Linda Nunes.
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Beverly Haase was pleased to receive the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee “Yard of the Month” award for March from Linda Nunes, committee member. She has lived in her home on Mallard for 10 years and only began removing the front yard and side yard grass two years ago with the help of her gardener, Arnaldo Salazar of Arnaldo Salazar Landscaping.

Mature White Birch trees, a fruitless pear, pink & yellow mature hibiscus were left to frame the xeriscape design and then the earth was mounded and surrounded with a mixture of fake boulders along with real river rock from a friend’s ranch to form a dry stream bed. A bridge over the “stream” was built by Arnaldo.

Decomposed granite with a barrier underneath covers the exposed areas and flagstone forms a small patio with inviting wooden bench to observe birds visiting a birdbath nearby. Large and small cacti specimens were obtained from a grower on Grand Avenue.

Bronze flax, purple Dutch Iris, pink & purple marguerites and lavender plants add bright touches of color.
Beverly says the landscaping has dramatically lowered her water bill to a minimum.

Otto & Sons Nursery has generously donated a $25 gift certificate to be enjoyed by the award recipient.

 

Local artist, Wana Klasen, will be exhibiting select pieces of art from her collection, EARTHSONG, at the Proverbs Coffee House during the month of March. The gallery is located at Peace Lutheran Church, 71 Loma Drive in Camarillo, and will be open Fridays and Saturdays of March from 1-4PM. Admission to the exhibit, entitled "Embellished Reflections", featuring the work of four artists, is free, and all are invited to the Opening Reception on Saturday,March 13, 2010 from 1-4PM.

 

Kindergarten registration will be held on March 22– April 1, 2009, at San Cayetano School, 524-6040, Sespe School, 524-6161, Mountain Vista, 524-8302 and Piru School, 521-1709. Piru residents may register at Piru School. Parents are to register at the school site within their boundaries.

In order to complete registration, parents must have birth certificate, verification of adequate immunization for their children, verification of address (such as utility bill or driver’s license).

Parents must provide documentation that their child has completed a Physical Examination; (physical need to be dated after March 1st, 2010), and Dental/Oral Examination. All four elementary schools have a supply of the physical examination forms and forms for the dentist.

Immunizations: Required doses of Polio, DPT, MMR, Hepatitis B and Varicella vaccines.

For additional questions, contact the elementary school sites, or M. E. Romero, R.N., District Health Coordinator at 524-6029.

 

All around town, people are asking, “So what happened to the Piru Charter Plan? Is it over? Is it gone?” The answer is no. The Piru Charter Petition is just where the petitioners expected it to be…awaiting review by the California Advisory Commission on Charter Schools, before heading to the State Board of Education for the authorization process. The Petition will be heard on April 6 before the Advisory Commission, and in May before the State Board of Education.

Will it be authorized? The petitioners do not know. What they do know is that all nine petitioners and former Principal Richard Durborow, working with dedicated parents and community members, have given their best this year to create a school that will make life better for the children of Piru and the surrounding areas. The Piru Charter Plan offers the community smaller class sizes for their children, local control of elementary learning, and an opportunity to have one of the most beautiful and highest achieving schools in Ventura County. Many in Piru hope the state chooses to authorize it!

There is a flier going around Piru that states CONTINUED »

 

1. There is no mandatory volunteer work.
2. There is no tuition to be paid.
3. Charters schools are eligible to receive all Federal and State funds that the District receives (such as Migrant Program, School Lunch Program, and the After School Program).
4. A temporary Board of Directors will be appointed.
5. The majority of the Board will consist of parents, community members and business owners.
6. Parents will not be responsible for cleaning restrooms, classrooms or maintaining the campus.
7. Transportation will be provided.
8. Teachers will not lose their jobs.

**Take action to improve your school. **

If you have any questions or concerns please call us at (805) 428-9473.
We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

***********************************************************************
Padres de Piru Charter School

1. No es CONTINUED »

 

The California State Board of Education will soon decide on whether to approve the Piru Charter School petition, converting Piru Elementary into an independent school of choice. This exciting change will bring much-needed educational reform to our community. Now is the time to express your support for the right of parents to choose where they send their children to school. We are asking you to take just a few minutes of your time and write a letter or email urging the State Board of Education to approve Piru Charter School.

Please send all messages of support to our mailing address or email address by Wednesday, March 17th.

By mail:
PCS
P.O. Box 555
Piru, CA 93040

Email:
pirucharterschool@earthlink.net

For questions, email us or contact the Piru Charter School Petitioning Group at:
Phone: 805 428-9473
Email: pirucharterschool@earthlink.net

 

We would like to invite you to a meeting. A group of Parents went to the Charter School Conference in Sacramento on Tuesday March 2, 2010. We would like to share with every parent all the great information we learned about what it is to be a Charter School. Please join us to learn more about how this could be a great opportunity for Piru School. If you have any concerns, questions, or issues you would like to address, this would be a great opportunity to have those answered.

Open your mind and heart to a new kind of education.

When: Monday March 15, 2010
Where: Piru Community Center
Time: 6:45 p.m. (Presentation starting @ 7:00p.m.)

Padres Apoyando Piru Charter School

Queremos invitarlos a una junta. Un CONTINUED »

 
Seabright Laboratories’ Yellow Panel Traps (shown attached to an Orange tree at the El Dorado) are used by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the US Department of Food & Agriculture, and numerous universities, researchers, and commercial growers to monitor for the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The Sharpshooter is native to North America (northeastern Mexico), but has spread into the United States, where it has become an agricultural pest, laying a mass of eggs on the underside of leaves. They feed on a wide variety of plants. Scientists estimate that host plants for this sharpshooter include over 70 different plant species. Among the hosts are grapes, citrus, almond, stone fruit, and oleanders. Because of the large number of hosts, glassy-winged sharpshooter populations are able to flourish in both agricultural and urban areas. They likely were introduced from the southeastern U.S. as eggs on nursery stock, and were first observed in Orange and Ventura counties in 1989. It has a large plant-host range and is especially abundant on citrus. Oleander is found in 20% of all home gardens in California, and is a mainstay of landscapes in shopping centers, parks and golf courses. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) maintains oleander in over 2,100 miles of freeway median. It is estimated that Caltrans alone stands to suffer at least a $52 million loss if oleander on highway plantings is lost.
Seabright Laboratories’ Yellow Panel Traps (shown attached to an Orange tree at the El Dorado) are used by the California Department of Food & Agriculture, the US Department of Food & Agriculture, and numerous universities, researchers, and commercial growers to monitor for the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The Sharpshooter is native to North America (northeastern Mexico), but has spread into the United States, where it has become an agricultural pest, laying a mass of eggs on the underside of leaves. They feed on a wide variety of plants. Scientists estimate that host plants for this sharpshooter include over 70 different plant species. Among the hosts are grapes, citrus, almond, stone fruit, and oleanders. Because of the large number of hosts, glassy-winged sharpshooter populations are able to flourish in both agricultural and urban areas. They likely were introduced from the southeastern U.S. as eggs on nursery stock, and were first observed in Orange and Ventura counties in 1989. It has a large plant-host range and is especially abundant on citrus. Oleander is found in 20% of all home gardens in California, and is a mainstay of landscapes in shopping centers, parks and golf courses. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) maintains oleander in over 2,100 miles of freeway median. It is estimated that Caltrans alone stands to suffer at least a $52 million loss if oleander on highway plantings is lost.
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Cindy Diaz-Telly of the Fillmore office of Troop Real Estate.
Cindy Diaz-Telly of the Fillmore office of Troop Real Estate.

“You can be passive. Or, you can be part of the solution.”

It’s a guidepost that has played a central role in bringing Cindy Diaz-Telly of the Fillmore office of Troop Real Estate, Inc. a successful residential real estate career. This was underlined recently with her designation as “REALTOR of the Year” for the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS.

The coveted designation also accents Diaz-Telly’s ongoing involvement in her profession and community, something she’s convinced enables her to better serve her clients. Previously, she served as president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals of Ventura County, and is a current member of the Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team (REFAT). Diaz-Telly also serves as the 2010 secretary/treasurer of VCCAR as well as being a member of several other committees.

“When I first became a REALTOR, my broker Bob Harrison (Troop’s West County Regional Manager) taught me the right way to do things. He showed me that the successful brokers were the ones that were informed as well as involved.

“I’ve made a point of serving my industry CONTINUED »