Bob Crum

My affair with the Fair this year is over. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms have begun but my feet are delighted.

The exciting Jr. Livestock Auction was last Friday. A few hundred giggly buyers purchased various animals. One such buyer bid $1,200 for three roasting chickens. Were I that buyer, every bite would take so long the meal would last five hours as I savored every juicy morsel. I digress.

Photographing the junior livestock auction is never without anxiety. There are no retakes. No second chances. The goal of photojournalism is to capture a photo that in itself tells a story. Multiple elements – participant, animal, auctioneer – all animated, make timing of the photo capture critical. I'm also constantly moving in order to line up the elements for the composition. Stress redefined.

Light in the Judge William P. Clark Pavilion adds more angst. Outdoor light from three large openings combined with overhead fluorescent lights create white balance funk. Visualize a pink pig with a green tint.

Auction shoot done, it was on to the interviews with the kids whose animals were awarded special merit. Another round of anxiety. Some kids are naturally talkative making the task easy. Some require tons of coaxing to say something, anything! After all, their story is my whole story. (see separate auction story)

Auction photos and interviews done, my stomach was growling. The cheddar bratwurst with a side of German-style potato salad quieted the grumbling. For the moment.

Digital photography – not phonetography – entices, even encourages experimentation. Observe any ride on the midway and you quickly realize that it can be photographed a hundred ways by various combinations of shutter speed, aperture and ISO depending on desired result. Simply delete crappy photos and shoot again. The Fair is a great venue to grasp an understanding of the ISO, shutter speed and aperture relationship. The paramount pair: Practice and Patience.

For example, the Sea Dragon and the Midway Big O. I noticed that at certain times, the swinging motion of the Sea Dragon would take the mouth up to the top of the loop of the ride behind it. When the planets and rides align perfectly, the Dragon appears to gobble up a rider on the Big O. However, when the Big O was running, the Dragon was not. When the Dragon was swinging, the Big O was not running. Stand and wait. And wait. Whoa!, both are running. Bingo! Umm... not yet. The Dragon's mouth too high. Wait... wait... Bingo! Not yet. Dragon too far below the Big O riders. Wait... wait... nailed it! Exposure, composition and timing perfect. Success equals ecstasy! A reason that photography is so delightfully addictive! By the way, I'm legally allowed to have such fun!

Attended the rodeo on Saturday which is another action-packed fun event to photograph. Again, no retakes. Get the shot or endure woe! But sometimes there's a perfect excuse for a missed shot: I was too engaged in watching the action to remember to press the shutter button! Lousy excuse, I know. Nevertheless, the rodeo is fun to watch.

Next event: Wings Over Camarillo air show this weekend at the Camarillo Airport. Besides aerobatics and World War II warplanes in action, the show includes an awesome ground display. Stroll among the magnificent planes of all types. Plentiful, tantalizing photo ops! The ground display combined with fabulous flying machines makes for a fun air show to attend.

Photo of the week is my all time favorite Fair event: Alaskan Racing Pigs.

Send comments, questions and/or suggestions to: photography@earthlink.net

Ventura County Department of Public Health

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), in collaboration with the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has confirmed variant influenza A (H1N2v) infections in two persons. The individuals were exposed to a pig at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, California that was infected with influenza. The individuals have recovered after experiencing brief illnesses.

Influenza viruses that are spread among pigs are occasionally transmitted to people who have close contact with pigs. When this happens, the infections in humans are called variant influenza virus infections. Variant influenza virus infections are usually mild, with symptoms similar to those of seasonal influenza. However, like seasonal influenza, serious illness is possible. Person-to-person transmission of variant influenza viruses is not common, and people cannot get it by eating pork.

In recent years, variant influenza virus infections have occurred each summer in the United States, and most infections have been linked to exposure to pigs at agricultural events. With the county fair season still in full swing in California, these cases of variant influenza virus infections serve as a reminder to take steps to prevent illness when visiting events where pigs and other animals are on exhibit.

“Visiting animals can be one of the highlights of the fair,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. “It is important to remember to practice good hygiene when working with or visiting animals.”

There are steps you can take to protect you and your family at the fair, zoo, petting zoo or other settings where pigs are present.

• Wash your hands with soap and running water after any exposure to animals.

• Don’t eat, drink, or put anything in your mouth while in an area where animals are housed or exhibited.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth until you have exited the animal area and washed your hands with soap and running water.

• Don’t take toys, pacifiers, cups, baby bottles, strollers or similar items into animal areas.

• Avoid contact with animals that look or act ill.

• People in high-risk groups should take extra care around animals. These include senior citizens, children under five, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system or chronic health conditions.

Persons who have influenza symptoms after recent contact with pigs should tell their healthcare provider about their exposure. Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and may also include vomiting or diarrhea. People at greater risk of serious influenza-related complications (children under five, adults 65 and over, pregnant women, persons with a weakened immune system or certain chronic medical conditions) should contact their healthcare provider as soon as possible. The same medications used to treat people with seasonal influenza can also be used for variant influenza virus infections.

If variant influenza is suspected in a patient, healthcare providers should contact their local health department to coordinate appropriate testing. For local health department contact information, visit CDPH’s website.

For more information about variant influenza viruses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

www.cdph.ca.gov

Ventura, Santa Paula – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced plans to close a lane and multiple ramps in both directions of State Route 126 (Santa Paula Freeway) next week.

From Monday, August 13 to Friday, August 17, the following closures will be in place in the cities of Ventura and Santa Paula between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.:

Eastbound:

• One lane from US-101 to Hallock Drive
• Tenth Street on and off-ramp

Westbound:

• One lane from Hallock Drive to Wells Road
• Palm Avenue on and off-ramp
• Tenth Street off-ramp

Some closures may start and end later. All closures are weather permitting and subject to change. On and off-ramps will not be closed consecutively in each direction.

Motorists should expect delays and are strongly advised to use alternate routes or avoid the area. Additionally, motorists can check traffic conditions before they leave by visiting the Caltrans Quickmap.

The closures are part of two separate projects for road repaving and storm water mitigation. C.A. Rasmussen Inc. of Valencia, CA is the contractor on these projects.

Caltrans reminds drivers to be “Work Zone Alert” and to “Slow for the Cone Zone.”

Submitted by Coach Cesar Camacho.

Fillmore’s 12B Lady Reapers started their season in July at the Santa Barbara Summer Blast Tournament where they place second. They then competed in the 2018 NSA Southern California State Championship where they won the championship, which qualified them for the World Series. This past weekend the team competed in the 2018 NSA Southwest World Series which was held in Lancaster. Facing teams from throughout California, the team advanced to the championship round finishing in second place.

On behalf of the players, coaching staff and parents, we would like to thank our community for your support. We would like to recognize the following businesses and community members. Maher Insurance Agency, Oxnard Peace Officers Association, Grimes Rock, BM Labor County Inc, Vallarta Restaurant, Clinicas Del Camion Real Ventura, Ventura County Professional Peace Officers Association, Ventura County Deputy Association, Grupo Bryndis, Ay Chihuahua, El Pescador, Mr. & Mrs. Posada Sr., Mr. & Mrs. Posada Jr., Emma Posadas, Carmen Escamilla, Toni Rosales, Ms. Tello, Keith Gurrola and an anonymous donor.

Fillmore Unified School District

[A letter was mailed out August 1st from Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D., FUSD Superintendent, to the FUSD Community announcing administrative changes for the upcoming school year.]

Dear Fillmore Unified District Community,

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of administrative changes for the 2018-2019 school year at Fillmore High School, Fillmore Middle School, and Sierra High School. The three administrative changes will take effect on Monday, August 6, 2018. The new site leaders will be communicating with their respective school communities prior to the start of school.

Fillmore High School
Mr. John Wilber has been appointed as the Principal of Fillmore High School. Mr. Wilber has been a professional educator in the Fillmore Unified School District his entire career serving as a classroom teacher at the secondary level and as a school administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. He is leaving his current position as the Principal of Fillmore Middle School where he has served the Fillmore Unified School District community for the last two years.

Fillmore Middle School
Mr. Pablo Leanos has been appointed as the Principal of Fillmore Middle School. Mr. Leanos is a professional educator who has worked at the middle and high school levels with experiences as a classroom teacher, counselor, and administrator. He is leaving his current position as the Principal of Sierra High School where he has served the Fillmore Unified School District community for the last two years.

Sierra High School
Ms. Trina Tafoya has been appointed as the Interim Principal of Sierra High School. Ms. Tafoya is a professional educator who has worked at the high school level with experiences as a classroom teacher, Teacher on Special Assignment, and most recently as an Assistant Principal at Fillmore High School 1 for the last two years.

I am confident that our new leaders will provide exceptional leadership and support to their new school sites. Each of our school leaders has demonstrated through their actions a strong commitment to supporting all students and work tirelessly to promote academic success. We look forward to an exceptional school year and thank you in advance for your continued support of Fillmore Unified Schools.

Sincerely, Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D., FUSD Superintendent

Fillmore Unified School District

Higher Education Needs and Priorities for Fillmore and Piru
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Dr. Greg Gillespie, Chancellor, Ventura County Community College District.

45-Day Budget Update
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill.

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Test Results, Spring 2018
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Assistant Superintendent, Micheline G. Miglis. The presentation contained preliminary data subject to further review by the California Department of Education (CDE) and will be released once CDE has made the report available to the public.

Spring 2018 Advanced Placement (AP) Program Test Results
Information was presented to the Governing Board by Assistant Superintendent, Micheline G. Miglis.

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