ATTENTION COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE OWNERS
The City of Fillmore and the Fillmore Police Department wish to inform owners of commercial and recreational vehicles that, effective March 1, 2018, the following municipal code sections will be enforced throughout the city. While these ordinances have been the law for many years, required signs have only recently been installed. Refer to the Fillmore Municipal Code for complete information. If you have any questions, you may contact the police department at (805) 524-2233.

ATENCIÓN PROPIETARIOS DE VEHÍCULOS COMERCIALES Y RECREACIONALES
La Ciudad de Fillmore y el Departamento de Policía de Fillmore desean informar a los propietarios de vehículos comerciales y vehículos recreacionales que, a partir del 1 de marzo de 2018, se aplicarán las siguientes secciones de códigos municipales. Estas ordenanzas han sido la ley durante muchos años, las señales requeridas se han instalado recientemente. Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede comunicarse con el departamento de policía al (805) 524-2233.

 


 
Fillmore High School’s Academic Decathlon team received 16 medals in 7 categories at the Ventura County Academic Decathlon that was held this past weekend. On Monday, February 5th the team attended the Awards Ceremony where they received 4th place out of 11 total schools. Top Row l-r: Adrian Meraz 12th, Francisco “J” Jimenez 12th, Eddie Razo 12th, Nicholas Jimenez 9th, Joseph Zelenka 12th, Sebastian Lidikay 11th, Ramona Dalgarn 10th, Fatima Bazurto 11th, Erin Overton 10th, Wendy Carrillo Garcia 11th Bottom Row l-r: Coach Kellsie McLain, Jason Martinez 10th, Nada Jacinto 11th, Briana Lopez 11th, Anthony Campos 10th, Priscilla Rivero 10th, Faith De Ruchie 11th, Daniela Ruiz 9th, Mariam Bazurto 9th, Brianna Morfin 10th, Ariana Gabriel 11th.
Fillmore High School’s Academic Decathlon team received 16 medals in 7 categories at the Ventura County Academic Decathlon that was held this past weekend. On Monday, February 5th the team attended the Awards Ceremony where they received 4th place out of 11 total schools. Top Row l-r: Adrian Meraz 12th, Francisco “J” Jimenez 12th, Eddie Razo 12th, Nicholas Jimenez 9th, Joseph Zelenka 12th, Sebastian Lidikay 11th, Ramona Dalgarn 10th, Fatima Bazurto 11th, Erin Overton 10th, Wendy Carrillo Garcia 11th Bottom Row l-r: Coach Kellsie McLain, Jason Martinez 10th, Nada Jacinto 11th, Briana Lopez 11th, Anthony Campos 10th, Priscilla Rivero 10th, Faith De Ruchie 11th, Daniela Ruiz 9th, Mariam Bazurto 9th, Brianna Morfin 10th, Ariana Gabriel 11th.
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On Monday, February 5th the Fillmore Lion’s Club held their 81st Lion’s Club Student Speaker Contest. This year’s topic was “Integrity and Civility Play What Role in Today’s Society?” Pictured (l-r) is Lion’s Club President Bill Edmunds presenting awards to Runner-up Jesus Cortez 12th Grade, 1st Place Winner Aliana Jailene Herrera 12th Grade, and Runner-up Jennifer Orozco 9th Grade all from Fillmore High School. Runner-ups received $25 and 1st place received $100 and will move on to compete at the Zone 8 contest in early March 6th at the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club. This year’s judges were Sue Curtis, Kate English and Dr. Cynthia King.
On Monday, February 5th the Fillmore Lion’s Club held their 81st Lion’s Club Student Speaker Contest. This year’s topic was “Integrity and Civility Play What Role in Today’s Society?” Pictured (l-r) is Lion’s Club President Bill Edmunds presenting awards to Runner-up Jesus Cortez 12th Grade, 1st Place Winner Aliana Jailene Herrera 12th Grade, and Runner-up Jennifer Orozco 9th Grade all from Fillmore High School. Runner-ups received $25 and 1st place received $100 and will move on to compete at the Zone 8 contest in early March 6th at the Camarillo Boys and Girls Club. This year’s judges were Sue Curtis, Kate English and Dr. Cynthia King.
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Pictured is State Farm Insurance Team (l-r) Debbie Sanchez, Bill Herrera and Mrs. Herrera as they smile for a photo after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Business of the Year 2017 by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy Ari Larson.
Pictured is State Farm Insurance Team (l-r) Debbie Sanchez, Bill Herrera and Mrs. Herrera as they smile for a photo after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Business of the Year 2017 by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy Ari Larson.
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The Nova Storage Team, Ralph Jimenez, Larry Layne, Irma Magana and Andrew Rankin, smile for a photo after receiving the 2017 Business of the Year Award by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy Ari Larson.
The Nova Storage Team, Ralph Jimenez, Larry Layne, Irma Magana and Andrew Rankin, smile for a photo after receiving the 2017 Business of the Year Award by the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy Ari Larson.
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Tuesday, January 30th Fillmore’s Webelo Scout Troop 3400 toured Fillmore’s Packinghouse Creative. Picture above is the troop listening to Bruce Johnson, one of the craftsmen, teaching scouts about how he uses each tool in the guitar making process.
Tuesday, January 30th Fillmore’s Webelo Scout Troop 3400 toured Fillmore’s Packinghouse Creative. Picture above is the troop listening to Bruce Johnson, one of the craftsmen, teaching scouts about how he uses each tool in the guitar making process.
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Fillmore’s Webelo Scout Troop 3400 toured the workshops at Fillmore’s Packinghouse Creative on the evening of Tuesday January 30th. The Packinghouse Creative is a collection of craftspeople working out of the citrus packing house located at 341 A Street in Fillmore.

The tour was organized by Packinghouse Creative member Bruce Johnson, Webelo Den Leader Chano Ibarra, and Assistant Cub Master Jaclyn Ibarra.

Den Leader Ibarra said, “The tour was part of our regular series of adventures designed to teach scouts lessons on a variety of topics. This particular tour focused on teaching scouts about tools and their use, about local history, and about learning what’s happening in their community.”

Bruce Johnson, a professional guitar maker (also known as a Luthier) said, “He had a great time hosting the scouts and teaching them about all the tools he uses to make a guitar from scratch.”

About The Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the largest scouting organizations in the United States of America and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers. Learn more at https://www.scouting.org

About Packinghouse Creative
The Packinghouse Creative is a collection of craftspeople working out of a converted citrus packing house located in Fillmore, California. The Packinghouse Creative is not open to the public does host events and open houses throughout the year. Learn more at https://www.packinghousecreative.com

 
Fillmore Gazette publisher’s comments: We have some good news concerning our two outside mail boxes. Fillmore City Manager David Rowlands has told me that the city staff will repair the concrete island behind the post office, and work with our Postmaster, William Thompson, for the re-installation of the boxes to that location. Steel bollards (pipes) will also be installed at each end of the location to protect the boxes. My sincere thanks to both David Rowlands and William Thompson for responding so quickly to this need. These postal boxes are not merely a convenience for patrons, they are an absolute necessity. In the last several weeks I have had (twice) to park in the extreme southern part of the rear lot and walk to the P.O., actually a 200 yard roundtrip. Glad it wasn’t raining (though I wish it would).
Fillmore Gazette publisher’s comments: We have some good news concerning our two outside mail boxes. Fillmore City Manager David Rowlands has told me that the city staff will repair the concrete island behind the post office, and work with our Postmaster, William Thompson, for the re-installation of the boxes to that location. Steel bollards (pipes) will also be installed at each end of the location to protect the boxes. My sincere thanks to both David Rowlands and William Thompson for responding so quickly to this need. These postal boxes are not merely a convenience for patrons, they are an absolute necessity. In the last several weeks I have had (twice) to park in the extreme southern part of the rear lot and walk to the P.O., actually a 200 yard roundtrip. Glad it wasn’t raining (though I wish it would).
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Photo of the week "Rare deer and fox in one composition" by Bob Crum. Photo data: ISO 3200, Canon EF-S 15-85mm lens @ 78mm, F/22, shutter speed 1/45 seconds.
Photo of the week "Rare deer and fox in one composition" by Bob Crum. Photo data: ISO 3200, Canon EF-S 15-85mm lens @ 78mm, F/22, shutter speed 1/45 seconds.
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Floating ISO
Bob Crum
Bob Crum

I have often mentioned that I capture photos while letting the ISO float. Along comes Doug K of Oxnard asking me to explain how I do that. I can do that. Just not this second. It's a secret.

Remember, ISO is one leg of the exposure triangle. In manual mode, each leg—aperture (Av), shutter speed (Tv) & ISO—are adjustable. They each affect exposure levels. Increasing ISO increases exposure—brightens the photo. Decreasing ISO darkens the photo with Av & Tv fixed. Beware: Fixed ISO often problematic.

As a photojournalist shooting events, time to make camera adjustments is nonexistent. Depending on creative decisions, I'll preprogram shutter speed and aperture. If DOF (Depth-of-Field) is paramount, I'll set aperture at f/11 or smaller. For depicting action, I'll create blur by slowing the shutter speed. In these cases, I'll let ISO float. Also note that I'm creating a desired image affect by camera settings! Creativity rules!

Photoing outdoor events is exasperating. Perhaps one second I'm facing the sun potentially overexposing the photos. Turn around and shadows drive the image dark. A fixed ISO at any value will most assuredly be wrong. No time to adjust ISO for every photo op. Belly dancing with mermaids likely easier!

Because I can't adjust ISO fast enough to assure correct exposure, I simply inhale some “He” (helium) and float it. I mean I put ISO on “automatic”. With ISO on 'auto', the camera's exposure meter will adjust (float) to whatever value it needs to be for correct exposure. Alas... my secret exposed.

However, floating ISO is not without consequences. If the camera's exposure meter takes the ISO value too high because of a fixed aperture and shutter speed, the result is excessive noise. Digital image noise looks like yesteryear's film grain. Analogous to static when turning the hi-fi audio to the maximum level.

Digital noise can be 'treated' in post processing but there are limitations. Even with the best program algorithm, sharpness is sacrificed when aggressively attempting to reduce visible noise. When shooting in low light, I float the ISO so much my digital world is full of noise requiring post processing compromises. The ISO of the wave splashing, previous photo of the week, was extremely high. See any noise in the image? Mission accomplished!

Setting aperture and shutter speed in manual mode not always best. Circumstances often dictate a better method. Flexibility rules. Many times semi-manual is best. If depth-of-field is more important, I'll set the aperture at f/11 (Av mode) and float shutter speed. If it's more important to have rock-solid photos I'll increase the shutter speed and float aperture. For event shooting, I usually float ISO when I fix both shutter speed and aperture. Got it Doug? Don't forget the helium.

The photo of the week is a rare (for me) image of a deer & fox in the same composition. I was previously shooting landscapes with my Canon EF-S 15-85mm lens telephoto lens. Driving, I saw the fox cross the road ahead. Braked at the crossing. Quietly exited the truck camera in hand. No time to change the lens because wildlife waits for no photographer. As I raised the camera and quickly focused on the fox, a deer bolted from out of the woods. Surprise! As the fox crossed in front of the deer 30 yards away, I had only one fleeting chance to capture the photo. In a blink the fox was out of sight & the deer retreated to the woods. I cherish such serendipity.

Happy photoing!

Send comments, questions or suggestions to bob@fillmoregazette.com

 

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury convicted Jesus Lopez (DOB 1/9/97), of Moorpark, on February 5, 2018, of one count of engaging in prostitution. The trial judge sentenced Lopez to one day in jail and 36 months of unsupervised probation.

On July 21, 2017, Lopez met a woman online and agreed to pay for sexual intercourse. The woman responded, then fled the residence after a disagreement. Lopez chased the woman, demanding a refund. He then called 911 to report that the woman would not refund his money. This case was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

The District Attorney's Office has a designated prosecutor who handles cases against sex purchasers as part of a coordinated effort to combat human trafficking by prosecuting those who contribute to the demand for prostitution and sexual exploitation.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is the public prosecutor for the county's 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.

 

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has released an amended version of its original press release regarding Anna Maria Ruiz. Here is the link to the Ventura County Star’s Website with the Amended Version: http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ojai/2018/02/01/ojai-...

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Anna Maria Ruiz (DOB 10/20/1981), of Ojai, pled guilty to 11 counts of Penal Code section 550(a)(1), felony insurance fraud. In addition, she admitted an excessive taking allegation for stealing over $65,000 and an aggravated white-collar crime special allegation for taking over $100,000. This case was the result of an investigation by the Valencia office of the California Department of Insurance.

Ruiz was employed at Identity Management Services Organization in Ventura. From January 2011 to September 2013, she used her knowledge of medical billing to submit 30 fraudulent insurance claims to victim American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. She received payments of $127,710 for these completely fabricated insurance claims.

Ruiz is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.