A pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 126 Sunday, December 27th. The accident happened at 5:20pm near the Sespe Creek Bridge, west of Fillmore. According to the CHP Maria Velasquez, 45, ran across the busy highway from the north side and was struck by a car traveling eastbound. Velasquez, a transient, was taken to VCMC where she was pronounced dead.

Francis Casillas

Traffic collisions, especially around the holidays, are traumatic events that can often be avoided. In the past four days, the California Highway Patrol has investigated two fatal traffic collisions just outside the city of Fillmore, and at about 12:25am, December 30th, the Fillmore Police Department responded to a single-vehicle collision in the area of Ventura St. and D St., Fillmore. They found that Francis Casillas, 21 of Oxnard, had been driving at a high rate of speed, westbound on Ventura St., when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with a power pole. They determined she had been driving under the influence of alcohol, arrested her for 23152(a) VC – DUI, and booked her into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Southern California Edison responded to replace the power pole, which was sheared off in the collision, and the immediate area suffered a power outage for several hours. The Fillmore Police Department encourages all motorists to avoid driving while under the influence of alcohol this holiday season. Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Fires are universally feared for their destructive and unpredictable nature and can destroy entire neighborhoods if not controlled. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, just before midnight, deputies from the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to an alarm call at the Planned Parenthood office. Deputies discovered a fire had been set inside the building. Members of the Ventura County Fire Department responded and quickly extinguished the fire. Much of the first floor of the business sustained significant water damage from the building’s overhead fire sprinkler system; which played a significant part in putting out the fire.

Investigators from Ventura County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Bureau, along with Arson Investigators from the Ventura County Fire Department began an investigation. Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau obtained information which led them to Oxnard resident Alvaro Perez as a suspect in the arson. Through various investigative methods and techniques, detectives developed overwhelming evidence that Perez had carried out the arson at Planned Parenthood. On Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, Major Crimes Detectives arrested Perez for the Planned Parenthood arson.

Perez is currently an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility / Main jail on other cases wherein he is suspected of committing the following criminal acts: battery, vandalism, violation of a domestic restraining order, domestic-spousal battery and possession of a firearm. His bail for the arson arrest is $50,000; however, Perez has several open cases, one of which he is currently awaiting sentencing on and there is no bail associated with it.

Under California Penal Code Section 451 P.C., maliciously setting a fire is a serious felony that can result in a lengthy prison sentence. Arson is the crime of intentionally, deliberately and maliciously setting fire to buildings, wild land areas, dumpsters, vehicles or other property with the intent to cause damage.

In California, a conviction for arson of property that is not your own is a felony punishable by up to three years in state prison. Aggravated arson, which carries the most severe punishment for arson, is punishable by 10 years to life in state prison.

Throughout the investigation, detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau maintained constant communication and sustained collaborative efforts with the FBI, U.S. Marshalls Office, as well as Homeland Security.

Investigators are confident that the criminal acts perpetrated against Planned Parenthood by Perez stemmed from an on-going domestic feud and at no point fell into the category of extremism.

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Planned Parenthood Arson Suspect
Report Number: 15-2044743
Location: 122 W. Hillcrest Dr. Thousand Oaks, CA
Date & Time: 9/30/15 11:22 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau; East County Patrol Services; East County Investigations; Ventura County Fire Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Alvaro Perez Oxnard 24
Prepared by: Sergeant Dean Worthy / Major Crimes Bureau
News Release Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Dean Worthy, 805-384-4730, dean.worthy@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith / Major Crimes Bureau

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).

[Gina Potthoff is a Staff Writer at Noozhawk]

The Los Padres National Forest is partnering with a national conservation group to award $11 million in grants to those with plans to restore watersheds impacted years ago by the Zaca and Piru Fires.

In a first-time partnership, Los Padres is coordinating with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to issue the funds over the next five years, with the first deadline for grantees coming up at 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2016.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said partnering with NFWF takes some work off the national forestry’s plate to figure out how to spend the money gained from settlements with parties responsible for those forest fires.

The Zaca Fire that burned in the Santa Ynez Valley in 2007 and the Piru Fire that charred Ventura County acreage in 2003 significantly impacted Los Padres National Forest — burning a combined 280,000-plus acres of national forest land and devastating landscapes, watersheds and ecosystems of the region.

Madsen said an investigation found the Zaca Fire was sparked by a work crew using a grinding machine to repair a water line on private land near Zaca Lake, north of Los Olivos.

The Piru Fire was likewise sparked by construction crews from two Ventura-based contractors, who were using a cutting tool near Piru Lake, he said.

“In the case of Zaca and Piru, that legal process plays out over years and years,” Madsen said of finally receiving settlements in both cases. “The purpose of the money is to rehabilitate.”

NFWF, which has helped award restoration grants in other federal forests, hosted an open house for potential applicants this week at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren Hall.

Through this program, NFWF will invest in projects that provide sustainable and lasting ecological benefits, promote ecological resilience to future wildfires and improve the forest’s capacity to identify and address resource management issues.

Manzana Creek, a tributary to the Sisquoc River in the Zaca Fire boundary, has been identified as a primary focal area for the initial stages of the program, Madsen said.

Possible projects would improve forest health through invasive species eradication, re-vegetation or by targeting the restoration and protection of species like the steelhead trout, California condor and bigcone Douglas-fir tree.

“One of the things that NFWF does very well is leverage the funds we manage with matching funds in order to increase the impact and value of our conservation projects,” said Jim Bond, manager of NFWF’s Southern California Forest office.

“Potential grantees are required to contribute a certain amount of matching value to their proposed projects but it need not necessarily be via donated funds. In-kind services can also count toward match. In that way, groups may fulfill their requirements using the value of time, equipment or labor. This is particularly useful for smaller non-profit groups and other organizations that may have limited operating budgets.”

Bond said biologists, botanists, steelhead experts, trail crews, local nonprofits and more turned out for the open house.

All grant applicants must submit material online through the NFWF website by clicking here.

The first round of awards will be announced May 9, 2016, when approximately $1.5 million will be distributed. Grants will range in size from $25,000 to $500,000 per project, although more funding could be allocated for projects with large benefits or multi-year projects.

According to NFWF, single project grants will typically be awarded to projects that can be completed within 18 months.

[ Original story published by permission available at http://www.noozhawk.com/article/los_padres_national_forest_fire_watershe... ]

SACRAMENTO - The health advisory regarding Dungeness and rock crabs caught along the coast between the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Line and Latitude 35° 40' N (near Piedras Blancas Light Station, in San Luis Obispo County) is being lifted along the coasts of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith updated the advisory today because recent tests show that levels of domoic acid have declined to low or undetectable levels in crabs caught in these areas.

The advisory remains in effect for state waters around Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel Islands and areas north of Latitude 35° 40' N due to continued elevated levels of domoic acid in crabs caught in those areas. Consumers should not eat Dungeness or rock crabs from those areas. The advisory will be lifted in those areas once ongoing monitoring by CDPH determines crabs from those areas are safe to consume.

CDPH and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concur that crabs caught along the coast south of Latitude 35° 40' N are safe to consume. However, as a precaution, consumers are advised not eat the viscera (internal organs, also known as “butter” or “guts”) of crabs. The viscera usually contain much higher levels of domoic acid than crab body meat. When whole crabs are cooked in liquid, domoic acid may leach from the viscera into the cooking liquid. Water or broth used to cook whole crabs should be discarded and not used to prepare dishes such as sauces, broths, soups or stews (for example, cioppino or gumbo), stocks, roux, dressings or dips.

The best ways to reduce risk are:

1) Remove the crab viscera and rinse out the body cavity prior to cooking, or
2) Boil or steam whole crabs, instead of frying or broiling, and discard cooking liquids.
Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory (a condition known as Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning), coma or death. There have been no reported illnesses associated with this year’s domoic acid event.

Domoic acid accumulation in seafood is a natural occurrence that is related to a “bloom” of a particular single-celled plant. The conditions that support the growth of this plant are impossible to predict. While the bloom that occurred earlier this year has dissipated, it takes a period of time for the organisms feeding on the phytoplankton to eliminate the domoic acid from their bodies.

CDPH will continue to coordinate its efforts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the fishing community to collect crab samples from the central and northern California coast until the domoic acid levels have dissipated.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, visit CDPH’s Natural Marine Toxins: PSP and Domoic Acid Web page and CDPH’s Domoic Acid health information Web page.

Ventura County Supervisors are up-in-arms over a project impacting the County that has many officials complaining about discussions in a somewhat secretive deal-making process. The issue is a project that would have 43,000 one-way truckloads of sand, driven five days a week through numerous towns all across Ventura County, to a beach in Malibu.

In 2012 Broad Beach homeowners created an assessment district, the Broad Beach Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD) to tax themselves $31 million. The money is needed to replenish and create an expansive public beach in front of their Malibu homes. But getting the proper sand needed became a huge problem. After years of searching, GHAD found it in Ventura County rock quarries.

A problem arose when it was discovered that the selected route to deliver the sand from Grimes Canyon rock quarry to Malibu was not made public before being agreed upon. The project would have thousands of truckloads of sand traveling north through Fillmore, instead of a more direct route through Moorpark.

Two months ago, CONTINUED »

David W. Rowlands

2015 was a memorable year in Fillmore. The Mayor and City Council continued to right size the City after years of bad financial news. They added $1.2M to the city’s reserve fund now at $3.9M. Just two years ago the same fund had approximately $500,000. As I travel throughout Ventura County and meet people when I tell them I work for Fillmore I am often asked “you guys have done a tremendous job, how did you do it?” My response is “with great leadership from the Mayor and Council, dedicated employees and residents who care about their city.” Our economy is improving and will continue to grow well into 2016. Several new stores opened and home construction continues.

One of the biggest success stories from this past year is the re-opening of the Active Adult and Community Center. Re-opened in August, the AAC was brought back to life. You can feel the excitement, warmth and welcoming atmosphere. The AAC is offering more programs and activities than ever before. The positive comments the city has received since taking over the AAC has been tremendous.

Moving forward the City is looking to having its first business in the Business Park, continue to grow our reserve fund, a traffic signal at the intersection of Mountain View and Highway 126, new amenities at our parks and new home construction to stay strong. 2016 is looking to be another positive year. Fillmore…. The Last Best Small Town.

Adrian Palazuelos

It has been over a year now since I accepted the opportunity to lead the Fillmore Unified School District as your Superintendent. In the summer of 2014 our family made the transition from our home in Sacramento to join the Fillmore community. Our family, my wife Julie and four children, have flourished in this community and I have learned first-hand of the generosity and warmth that is uniquely Fillmore. Our family has three school aged children attending San Cayetano Elementary and Fillmore Middle schools in our public school district. I firmly believe in the promise of public education and could not conceive of a different experience for my children. Public education has transformed my life and has the potential to continue to impact the lives of future generations. Over the last twelve months our district has made significant investments in teaching and learning, supporting the arts and activities, and improvement of facilities. I am proud to share some of our accomplishments in the aforementioned areas.

The investments in teaching and learning over the last year are evident in all schools and are a continued area of focus. Our elementary teaching staff has invested numerous hours in applying the Common Core State Standards into their teaching. Included in this work are the approaches to the development of literacy with our youngest learners which will translate into increased opportunities as they transition to our secondary schools. As for the secondary level, we currently have 7th and 8th grade mathematics teachers piloting Common Core aligned mathematics materials. All secondary staff members are being trained on cooperative learning and the high school staff is envisioning the introduction of an expository reading and writing course for high school students. Additionally, we have provided access to Advanced Placement (AP) training for staff aligned to those courses and will be introducing new AP courses in fall 2016. We will have over 15 AP courses available for students as of fall 2016.

In the area of arts and activities our district is continuing to expand offerings resulting in increased numbers of participating students from elementary to high school. Our district added two additional music teachers this past summer to provide expanded music offerings at the elementary level and to have full-time music teachers at the middle and high school. We have been mindful of the resources needed and have created funding to support the district music program. Our high school introduced Girl’s Water Polo to its athletic program and, for the first time in school history, is fielding a team for the highly respected Academic Decathlon scholastic competition.

Safe and orderly learning environments are a priority. In fall 2014 we were awarded over $3 million in Emergency Repair Program funds to support facility improvements at Piru and San Cayetano Elementary schools. The much needed resources enabled us to install new roofs, new paving, and other facility needs at both of the schools. Facilities improvements and maintenance are part of our desired future. Beginning in December of 2015, our district embarked in a robust analysis of our district facilities via a Facilities Master Plan (FMP). The FMP will provide our district with information about the condition of our facilities and establish priorities for addressing facility needs in the future.

In closing, I am certain that none of this work could be accomplished without the support and leadership of our district Board of Trustees and the dedicated staff of the Fillmore Unified School District. It is an honor to serve this community as your Superintendent and I look forward to a successful 2016 for the students, staff, and community of Fillmore Unified. On behalf of the Board of Trustees I extend a heartfelt “Happy New Year” to our community.