Check out the refurbished information booth in Central Park! Thanks to Matthew Henschel, and his very supportive family, he will be earning his Eagle Scout rank under the Boy Scouts Organization. The Eagle Scout Service Project is the opportunity for a Boy Scout to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a project for the benefit of his community. Completing an Eagle Project is a requirement in order for Boy Scouts to attain the Eagle Scout rank. We are so grateful to Matthew and the Henschel family for their generosity to our community…we welcome anyone trying to come up with an Eagle Scout Project to complete, please reach out to the Parks and Recreation Department to discuss potential opportunities. Community postings: if you would like to post information in the booth, please contact Parks and Recreation department. 805-524-1500 ext 713 or email recreation@ci.fillmore.ca.us. Courtesy City of Fillmore Instagram.

Bob Crum

I previously introduced you to the new Canon Cliq+, a novel camera-and-printer-in-one. This week Canon introduced the EOS Rebel SL3, the smallest and lightest EOS dSLR camera to date. Yes, another new camera! Photography is alive and well!
Though cellphone camera technology continues to improve, forthright phonetographers will admit, albeit reluctantly, that cellphones frequently fail to capture challenging once-in-a-lifetime photos. Meanwhile, technical advantages of dedicated cameras empower a photographer to capture photos cellphones can't? Let's continue.

Available in traditional black or white, the EOS SL3 white model is cool and trendy, even au courant. Aha, got your attention, eh? It's physically compact but power-packed: 24.1 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor, powerful DIGIC 8 Processor, and Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus (AF). Best of all, selfie shooters will love the vari-angle LCD! And 4K video recording plus 4K time-lapse movies is the cat's purr.

Want more? The SL3 includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Create a great photo with the SL3 and Bluetooth it to your cellphone and text it or email it out on the Internet. You can even remotely control the SL3 with your cellphone. The cat's meow!

The SL3 camera is also budget friendly. Note that lens selection need not be the same brand as the camera body. Third party manufacturers (Tokina, Tamron & Sigma) make a plethora of lenses for Canon camera bodies. If you regularly read the photo of the week data you've noticed that I mostly use a Tamron 16-300mm lens. The range of this zoom lens meets most of my needs. Not having to swap lenses frequently eliminates dust on the sensor.

Three photo shoots past weekend. Even though I exercise my shutter-button finger three days a week, it was taxed to the limit at the third shoot.

The first assignment was at the Fillmore Middle School where Josh the Otter appeared. Josh the Otter is the water safety & awareness project to educate children with an important message: “Stay away from water unless accompanied by an adult.” Kids loved Josh!

On Saturday, the lovable, huggable Easter Bunny appeared at the Fillmore Recreation chalk art contest and a free-for-all Easter egg hunt. What a hoot! Kids being little, I decided to shoot from ground level. Miraculously, I survived, untrampled. Nevertheless, I'm reviewing my accident/health plan coverage.

Though shooting at ground level seemed best, kids running helter-skelter created an unexpected dilemma: Who and what to shoot with dozens of kids running every which way? I resigned to just pressing the focus back-button and prayed that at least a couple of photos showed some kids snatching eggs! Next time I plan to put the camera in burst mode – 10 photos/second - and fire away. BTW, it looked like every kid participating was pursued by, ahem, a phonetographer. Seriously?

Then it was on to the 100th famous, fabulous Fillmore Flower Show, a two-day extravaganza of eye candy. Like the proverbial fly on the wall, I watched people stop and stoop to sniff the roses. Perhaps an irresistible instinct? Must be. I can no more greet a dog without patting its head than pass a rose and not have a quick sniff. C'est la vie!

Highlight May 1 through May 5 on your calendar, the dates of Fillmore's first exciting Art and Photography Exhibit. Sponsored by the Fillmore Art Commission, the free event held in City Hall. Artwork and fine art photographs from 20 local artists will be on display for your enjoyment, and purchase! Enter a prize drawing by voting for your favorite artwork and or photo. Happy photoing!

Send comments, questions or suggestions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

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Raelene Chaney, a long-time resident of Fillmore, passed away April 7th in her home surrounded by loved ones at the age of 90. After a short battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma, she has now joined her beloved husband Robert Chaney in Heaven.

Raelene was born in 1929 in Yelm, WA and was a graduate of Big Bear High School. Although she had a full and busy life, her life didn’t truly begin until 1964, when a big city girl moved to a small town called Fillmore. Robert & Raelene then adopted two beautiful girls, Chris-Anne in 1966 and Susan in 1969, to bring more light and joy into their lives. Raelene worked for the school district in many different capacities but was best known for being a campus supervisor. You could hear her yelling, “Don’t make me write you up, get to class NOW!” She did this for about nine years and then became the supervisor for In-School Suspensions for another five years. Even though she was a tough cookie, she loved her students like they were her children.

From the moment she stepped foot in Fillmore, Raelene was involved in many community projects and groups, including the Ebell & Optimist clubs, just to name a few. She helped start the FHS Soccer Club, raised money for her daughters' softball team, and even helped one of her students go to the Fiji Islands to run Cross Country. She participated in the annual Flower shows, bike rodeos and over the last few years volunteered at the Wednesday Food Share program.

After the towns devastating loss of a high school senior on graduation night, Raelene co-founded Grad Nite Live in 1990. Raelene and her husband Bob along with several Fillmore residents, worked with local businesses for donations. In later years, the Grad Nite Live Thanksgiving pie sale was born. Seniors sold pies to pay for a dinner cruise so they could have a safe, sober, and fun graduation night experience.

She was best known for driving around in her “Put Put” yelling, “Did you order your pies?” (therefore becoming “The Pie Lady”) which we’re sure you can hear even now. From an overnight dinner cruise to an early morning breakfast at Carl’s Jr., great memories were had by all.

Raelene also received the Making a Difference for Women & Citizen of the Year awards. Then in May of 2018, she was bestowed with Fillmore’s highest honor by receiving Fillmore’s “Lifetime Achievement, Citizen of the Year” award.

She has impacted so many people throughout her long life because she was always the life of the party and loved by everyone who met her.

Raelene’s greatest pride and joy were her six grandchildren, of whom she loved to no end. All of the kids helped her in some way with Grad Nite Live.

She attended all their sports games, picked them up from school, helped them with homework, and taught them to drive in her “Put Put” car.

Raelene leaves behind: Chris-Anne Barker, Susan (Patrick) Golson and Grandchildren: Tenea, Brandon, Zach, Johnny, Samantha, and Tyler. She leaves behind an incredible legacy that her family is proud of. She was a phenomenal woman who will be truly missed but will forever live on in our hearts.

A very special thank you to our Angels at Los Robles Hospice. We would have been lost without you.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, April 18th 10a.m. at Faith Community Church: 355 D St., Fillmore, followed by a graveside service at Bardsdale Cemetery: 1698 S Sespe St., Bardsdale. Reception to follow and will be announced at service.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked to make donations to Grad Nite Live or FHS Soccer Club in her honor.
Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Family Owned & Operated ROBERT REY GARCIA JR FUNERAL SERVICES, Santa Paula, CA 805.229.7054.

A teacher’s aide from Fillmore High School was arrested for child annoying and contributing to a delinquency of a minor after it was reported that he was sending inappropriate messages to a student on a social media site and providing marijuana products to a minor.

At the end of the school day on 04/05/19, Fillmore Unified School District employees were notified of potentially inappropriate messages shared between a teacher’s aide and a student at the High School. Upon hearing about the allegations, the School District immediately notified the Fillmore Police Department and an investigation ensued.

Deputies responded to the high school to investigate the teacher’s aide, and found he had conversations with a student on the social media application, “Snap Chat.” The dialogue was improper and had sexual overtures. Deputies completed the investigation and concluded the employee, Ricardo Negrete, was annoying the student by sending multiple messages at various times of the day and night. Additionally, detectives discovered that Negrete sold a marijuana cartridge used in vape pens to a second minor not involved in the aforementioned incident.

Prior to arriving at work on 4/08/19, Negrete was arrested and booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for Penal Code 647.6 (a)(1)- Child Annoying and Penal Code 272 - Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

The Fillmore Police Department and the Fillmore Unified School District work together very closely and this cooperative relationship led to the quick identification and arrest of Negrete.

Prepared by: Sergeant Vince Alvarez
Approved: Captain Eric Tennessen

Fillmore Unified School District

April 9, 2019

A classified instructional assistant assigned to Fillmore High School was taken into custody on April 8, 2019 following a timely Fillmore Unified School District report of possible inappropriate conduct with a student. The District continues to work with law enforcement to investigate, as student safety and wellbeing are the Board’s top priorities. Parents that have any information that may assist authorities are encouraged to contact: Ventura County Sherriff’s Office, Detective Bill Meixner, (805) 947-9391.

At last night’s city council meeting Adrian Bonilla was recognized for promoting sportsmanship and placing 8th in the 2019 Boys Southern California Masters Wrestling Tournament CIF Championship and advancing to the State Tournament.
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Picture is Mayor Diane McCall (center) presenting Joanne King (left) and Linda Nunez with a recognition of the Fillmore Flower Show, celebrating 100 years of showcasing flowers to the Fillmore community.
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At the regular Tuesday meeting of the Fillmore City Council a proclamation was presented to Fillmore High School wrestler Adrian Bonilla, honoring him for his historic first of advancing to the State Wrestling Tournament in Bakersfield. Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber reported this award in February: “Fillmore High School wrestler Adrian Bonilla, has advanced to the State Wrestling Tournament. Adrian is a Fillmore High School senior, 195 pound wrestler, who was also the Citrus Coastal League Champion in his weight class. He placed 5th in the Southern Section California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Finals two weeks ago which earned him a trip to the CIF Masters Wrestling Tournament last weekend. At the Masters Tournament Adrian was 3-2 after two days of wrestling which was good for an 8th place, qualifying him for the State Tournament. Adrian is the first Fillmore High wrestler to advance to the State Tournament since the wrestling program started at Fillmore High School in 1987.”

Fillmore is celebrating the 100-year of its Flower Show. Joanne King and Linda Nunez received a City Proclamation recognizing the achievement.

Patterson Hardware was also recognized for its 100th-year as an essential part of Fillmore business. Mayor Diane McCall commented that it’s very nice to be able to purchase such a variety of hardware items from a home-owned business such as Patterson Hardware.

The organization, Donate For Life, was recognized with a City Proclamation for its work in seeking donations to provide physical organ replacements to critically ill recipients.

Council also recognized Fair Housing Month.

A presentation was made reminding citizens of the importance of the coming 2020 census.

The City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance 19-907, Ordinance 19-908, and Resolution 19-3691 to adopt a City Council Policy to establish design standards applicable to small wireless facilities within the public right of way and directed staff to bring back an amendment to the master fee schedule to establish application and related fees.

The City Council approved the introduction and first reading of an ordinance amending Fillmore Municipal Code 14.40.100 to include banning heavy truck traffic on River Street between A Street and C Street, except for certain deliveries, and authorizing staff to order, install and maintain signs advising of this prohibition.

Council approved the continuance of the public hearing associated with changes to CFD No 5 Improvement Area B and continue it to April 23, 2019.

Council approved a motion to conduct a Public Hearing to consider adopting Resolution No 19-3690 to approve an update to the Development Impact Fees and Finding of Exemption from CEQA.

City Council discussed and considered contributing $25,000 to the Ventura County Library (VCL) for collections and Fillmore Library building expansion. Council followed Staff recommends that the Council not contribute to the collections of the VCL. The extremely tight fiscal budget weighed heavily on the decision.

City Council adopted Ordinance 889 on May 8, 2018, amending the Fillmore Municipal Code to allow murals. Murals are not identified as one of the City Council goals. Council followed staff recommendations that the following actions be taken:1.Interpret the proposed request of a mural to determine that this mural complies with Fillmore Municipal Code Section 6.04.3940.1 as the building is a mixed-use building and not an apartment, per the code.