Monday, Oct. 1, 7:00 - 7:50 PM at Fillmore City Council Chambers, 250 Central Avenue.

Candidates Forum for Fillmore City Council (3 candidates).

For more information or questions, please contact David Maron at 805-469-4900 or davidm@maronsoftware.com.

Jessica Largey, a 2004 graduate of Fillmore High School, is now the starred Chef at Simone- a new restaurant opening Thursday night, September 20, 2018. Simone, named after legendary singer Nina Simone, partnered with film director Joe Russo (Avengers: Infinity Wars) and Bruno Bagbeni (Fraiche and Bastide). Food and Wine describes Simone as “a stunner.” Located in the Arts District in Los Angeles, it is billed as one of the most anticipated Los Angeles restaurant openings in years. Jessica was trained at the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena and honed her skills in fine dining restaurants, such as Providence on Melrose in Los Angeles under the mentorship of Chef Michael Cimarusti; Bastide in West Hollywood; world famous The Fat Duck in England, and as chef de cuisine at 3 Michelin Star Manresa in Los Gatos, CA under head chef David Kinch. After Manressa, Jessica collaborated on a joint menu at the rotating chef restaurant Intro in Chicago.

In 2013, Zagat named Jessica as one of their "30 under 30" for San Francisco, as well as winning the title of Rising Star Chef from StarChefs.com and Eater.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Largey - cite_note-intro-2 In 2015, at the Lincoln Center in New York City, Jessica was presented with the James Beard Foundation Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year - dubbed the culinary “Oscar” because there is no higher culinary award.

On Wednesday CONTINUED »

A drive-by shooting took place on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 4:37 p.m. in the area of Clay and Bard Street, Fillmore. Approximately a half hour later a victim with a gunshot wound was admitted to Santa Paula Hospital. It was not confirmed whether the victim and the Fillmore incident were related. The victim’s wound was non-life-threatening. Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau is investigating.

Bob Crum

It was so exciting I hardly know where to begin but begin I must. Last Sunday, aboard Island Packer's ship the Islander, I sailed to Fry's Harbor at Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park. So many photo ops. So much frustration!

The trip from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz Island requires crossing the Santa Barbara channel. Though not a travel column, a little background info is pertinent.

The Santa Barbara Channel, extending from Point Conception to Cape Colnett, Baja, CA, is an incredibly diverse and biologically productive ecosystem. Flowing between two land masses creates a transition zone. This transition zone promotes large concentrations of both biomass and species diversity. The upwelling provides unusually high levels of nutrients, especially macrozooplankton, which are one of the primary driving forces behind the Channel’s biological productivity and diversity. Thus it's a vast cafeteria for many predators including dolphin which on average need to eat 20-50 pounds of fish/day. And the munchies are plentiful in the Channel.

On the way to the island, we first encountered a pod of relatively rare Risso dolphins. First time seeing these cetaceans. As described by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, “Risso dolphins, like a battered boxer, the bulky, blunt-headed Risso's dolphin bear lots of scars. Its Latin species name griseus refers to the skin's ghostly gray-white mottling—an effect enhanced with age by extensive scarring made by the teeth of its own kind or by beaks and tentacles of squid, its preferred prey.” It was not a large pod. Difficult to photograph because they were not leaping, only cruising. Dorsal fins themselves are not exciting.

Closer to the island, we encountered a huge pod of the more common bottle-nose dolphin. I confess I need more experience photographing these frolicking animals. So many dolphins over a large area it's nearly impossible to know where to point the camera. Point over there, and they leap over here. Point here, and many suddenly leap over there. An exasperating guessing game. Luck also comes to mind. It's much more challenging to accomplish than one might imagine.

On to Fry's Harbor. But first a side trip up to the Painted Cave. Oh my, what a treat! Captain Luke took the big ship a little way into the cave. Interesting! Then back to Fry's Harbor. The Islander anchors 100 yards from shore. A small motorized skiff transports us six at a time to the beach. On the way, I got a photo of an osprey up on a cliff.

On the island, a naturalist led a hike through a dense oak grove through which a small creek flowed fed by a natural spring. Two species of oaks, the imported species from the mainland with sprawling limbs being the most photogenic. In the shade, an 1860's campground used by islanders of yore.

After many island photos, time to return. A few miles later, another huge pod of bottle-nose dolphin. After another exhaustive attempt to get the 'wowza' dolphin photo, I put the camera aside and just gleefully watched the fascinating creatures. If only I had a boat!

Photographically, because of adverse glare, I used a circular polarizing filter on the lens. Also, because the boat is in constant motion, and the dolphin always moving fast, I used a fast shutter speed. Proper exposure accomplished by adjusting aperture with ISO on auto.

So many exciting photographs from which to choose, it was difficult selecting just one for the photo of the week. Ultimately I selected a photo of the bottle-nose dolphin. I need to go again!

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

Career Technical Education Facilities Program Application for Agriscience and Agricultural Mechanics for Fillmore High School
-Information was presented to the Governing Board by Superintendent, Dr. Adrian Palazuelos and Director of Special Programs, Tom Chan

Approve Resolution 18-19-4 for Approval of Administrators Week: October 8-14, 2018
-Resolution was approved by the Governing Board

Approve Career Technical Education Facilities Program Application for Agriscience and Agricultural Mechanics for Fillmore High School
-The Governing Board approved the application for CTEFP Agriscience and Agricultural Mechanics

Personnel Recommendations
-The Governing Board approved all personnel recommendations including new hires, promotions, resignations, retirements, and leaves.

Brandon Lloyd, 23, Fillmore

On September 12, 2018, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit concluded a two month long investigation into the unlawful firearm activity of Brandon Lloyd with the execution of a search warrant at his residence and his arrest for firearm violations.

On September 12, 2018, Lloyd was detained pursuant to a signed search warrant, while simultaneously executing the search warrant at his residence in Fillmore, California. After a search of the residence, detectives located and seized a handgun, two handgun manufacturing kits, two AK-47 manufacturing kits, ammunition, and further evidence to substantiate Lloyd manufacturing firearms.

Due to Lloyd’s previous criminal convictions, he is prohibited from owning and possessing firearms and ammunition. Lloyd was arrested and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for unlawfully possessing the firearm, firearm manufacturing kits, and ammunition. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed four felony counts for unlawfully possessing the firearm, firearm manufacturing kits, and ammunition.

Prepared by: Detective Jeff Jacobs
Approved by: Captain Todd Inglis

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Jose Manuel Rojas, 34, Santa Paula

On 9-13-18, a male transient from Santa Paula was arrested for assaulting a Fillmore transient in Fillmore during the evening of 9-11-18.

On 9-12-18 at approximately 8:00 AM, deputies from the Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s station responded to a call of a male covered in blood and with injuries to his face staggering on the sidewalk on A Street near Santa Clara Street. Deputies responded along with the Fillmore Fire Department and found a 49-year old male transient suffering from significant facial injuries that appeared to be the result of an assault. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted for treatment of facial fractures and wounds to his neck.

Deputies and detectives from the Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit responded and began investigating. With assistance from the Sheriff’s Advanced Real Time Information Center (ARTIC), Jose Manual Rojas, a transient from the Santa Paula area, was identified as a suspect. Deputies spent the next twenty-four hours searching homeless encampments in and around the Santa Paula area before locating Rojas in a tent near Mill Park. Evidence from the assault was located in Rojas’ tent. Rojas was arrested without incident, and he was booked at the Main Jail for assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious bodily injury. His bail was set at $500,000 and he remains in custody. The motive for the assault is still under investigation.

Anyone who might have information on the assault are encouraged to call Detective Bill Meixner.

Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).