If the economy continues to rebound and recover, Fillmore can expect to see a reasonable amount of growth and development. The market dictates what comes and what goes, but today positive things are moving in Fillmore's direction.

Fillmore is seeing a real surge in building, both commercial and residential. Many of the projects have been in the works for years, while some were put on hold due to the economic problems experienced in 2008, and others changed direction due to public concern.

In 2007 Fillmore residents rallied together to change the debated high housing density originally proposed at the North Fillmore Specific Plan. This resulted in a ballot measure that allowed the people to vote on the controversial Plan. Another project that garnered a great deal of public attention was the Chevron (Fillmore Works) Specific Plan. Concerns have been addressed in some cases, while others are still ongoing.

North Fillmore
North Fillmore Specific Plan (NFSP) is a 101 acre project originally slated for 700 residential units, but such a high density neighborhood did not sit well with many of Fillmore's residents. This resulted in Measure I, which was voted and approved in 2008 ballot, which required the density be reduced by half. Part of NFSP project acreages (30 acres) belongs to Suncal, who have since changed the name to NLA Community.

NLA Community is moving forward with development and preparing to grade their 30 acres of the original 101 acreage. Those 30 acres will have all the required infrastructure to build the 146 homes including utilities. Every lot is both street and alley adjacent and vary in size from the low 3,000 sq. ft. to over 7,000 sq. ft. The developer plans to sell the improved land to someone who will then construct the actual 146 houses. It will take NLA Community one year to grade the land due to the large amounts of boulders present in the area. The area discussed is located north of 7th St., West of Goodenough Rd. southeast of Sespe Creek, with B St. running through it.

The density of the remaining NFSP's 71 acres has also been reduced, due to the passing of Measure I, to 355 homes with no multi-dwellings lots available. This averages five housing units per acre, down from about 10 units per acre. Today there are no immediate plans in the works to develop the remaining 71 acres.

Edgewood Neighborhood
Santa Clarita based CONTINUED »

Don has long served his country and the community of Fillmore. This will detail just some of his contributions.
Don was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota. After graduating from Fargo Central High School, he was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship. He then attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison as a Midshipman, U.S. Naval Reserve. He graduated with Bachelors of Business Administration degree and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1957.

His service in the Navy and to the USA took him to many places around the country and world including Norfork, Virginia; Panama City, Florida; Hawaii; three deployments in Viet Nam; Washington DC; Norfork again; Mediterranean; Command at Sea – based in Charleston, SC; trip around South America; Port Hueneme; and the Pentagon.

In 1972, Don was awarded the Air Medal and Bronze Star Medal with combat “V”. He retired as a Navy Commander on February 1st, 1985 after his first wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. They moved to Fillmore in March 1985. Sadly, Don’s first wife passed away in February 1986.

This lady from Fillmore, “Ruthie” came into Don’s life and they married in 1987. In 1990 when two members of the City Council announced they would not run for reelection, Don took this opportunity to give something back to the community where he lived. This was not something he could easily do during his Navy career. Ruth agreed to help with the campaign and Don soon learned how deep Ruthie’s roots were in the City. The guy who “married Ruthie” rustled up enough votes to win a seat on the City Council. Don served on the Council for 12 years including a stint as mayor. The 1994 earthquake was probably one of the most challenging times for the City but Fillmore came out strong with hard work by Don, the other Council members, City staff, and City residents.

In April 1993, Don joined the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sunrisers and remains an active member of the merged Rotary Club of Fillmore. Don served the club as President (1997-98), secretary/treasurer & Foundation Chair to name a few. Being a Rotarian has provided Don with opportunities to do many projects both in Fillmore an even in international projects. Among Don’s favorite projects has been the provision of Student dictionaries to all third grade students in the Fillmore and Piru schools. Through the years Rotary has given out more than 4,000 dictionaries.

After leaving the City Council in 2002, Don became a member of the Board of Directors of the Fillmore Piru Veterans Memorial District in 2003. He served many years and helped the District obtain several grants enabling the District to pay for a number of repairs and improvements.

Don and Ruth continue to service the community through Rotary and Faith Community Church of which they were part of the funding group.

Don Gunderson is well deserving of Lifetime Achievement Citizen for his many, many, years of service to Fillmore and our country.

David Cadena

David Cadena is a senior at Fillmore High School. He is a student of excellent academic standing, the recipient of the Renaissance Award of achieving a 4.0 GPA or higher in two consecutive semesters. Enrolled in every AP class starting at Fillmore as a freshman, David is a student who seeks challenge.

David is an extraordinary student who possesses strong qualities to fulfill any leadership role. As an elected member of the Student Council, David demonstrates leadership on campus by developing and participating in school sponsored events that enhance the school climate and student body of Fillmore High School. He is reliable, honest, dedicated in his undertakings, well-spoken, generous with his time in helping others, competent in setting examples and a positive role model for others. Indeed, David is the vice-chairperson of the School Site Council; President and founding member of the Leo’s Club. In 2013-14, David received the Leo of the Year award. David is also a member of the Hall of Fame club.

In this capacity he reflects a positive image of the school as evidenced by what the students say and do, and by what people read and hear about FHS. His communication skills create goodwill among and throughout the school and community.

David has a natural talent in developing and building friendly relations with students, faculty, administration, and the community. He is a member of FLASHES.

Excellence in academics, community service and public relations, David also demonstrates effort and commitment to his sports (golf for four years, football for one year), earning recognition and standing including but not limited to: Captain of the Wrestling team for 3 years; on the varsity team for four years. His awards include: TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE CHAMPION, 106 lbs., Varsity Wrestling 2013-14, MVP – LOWER WEIGHT DIVISION Varsity Wrestling 2012-13, MOST IMPROVED JV Wrestling 201-12.

David sets high standards for himself, fosters conflict resolution when the need arises, handles difficult situations with confidence and ease. He is not afraid to ask for help when pressing for results. He is a team player, always willing to learn.

David Cadena is a superstar!

Alfonso Martinez

Mr. Martinez has been employed by FUSD for nine years. He has worked at San Cayetano and currently works at Fillmore Middle School. He is a Fillmore High School gaduate, coaches soccer at and has been involved in AYSO for many years. He is married with two children and his wife works at Sierra High School.

Affonso has provided inspired service as a custodian and works daily to create a positive environment for students and staff. He is respected by his peers and has excellent repport with students. Alfonso makes a positive impact on his school community and is an asset to our district.

Congratulations Alfonso.
 

Mary-Allyn Garcia

Mary Allyn Garcia has been a teacher for ten years in the Fillmore Unified School District and is currently a fifth grade teacher at Rio Vista Elementary School. Mrs. Garcia has previously taught at Sespe, Mountain Vista, and San Cayetano Elementary schools.

From an early age, Mary.Allyn had a calling toward teaching and service. She grew up in a military family and moved frequently as a child. Fillmore was a quaint town and community and Mary-Allyn loved the idea of living and raising her family in a small, close-knit town. Mrs. Garcia is married to Randy, who is also a teacher, and they have four children who all have attended Fillmore schools, two of which graduated form Fillmore High School and have attended California State Universities. She prides herself in representing Fillmore where she has the pleasure to live and educate her neighbors.

Mrs. Garcia has a Masters Degree and Preliminary Administrative Credential in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and services as an administrative designee, grade level lead, and ASB advisor at Rio Vista Elementary. Furthermore, she is a part of the district curriculum committee where she has been actively involved with the creation of the units for the district. In addition, Mrs. Garcia currently participates in an Educational Leadership Cohort through the Ventura County Officer of Education to help enhance her leadership skills.

Fillmore Unified School District

Diana Vides was born on November 15, 1970 in Kingsburg, CA. and is the eldest of five children born to an immigrant from Abasolo, Guanajuato, and a Texan father. She was raised in Orosi, California, a small rural community between Dinuba and Visalia, California. Orosi is an agricultural town that cultivates a myriad of crops including grapes, oranges, and peaches.

As a child she has very fond memories of working alongside her parents in the fields. Most memorable of these is picking olives in October right before the Fresno Fair and wrapping up her summers by picking table grapes, or better know as "la tabla". She worked in the packing house in high school and cleaned apartments in college. Working difficult jobs has molded her into the person she has become. She knows the value of hard work and understands the struggles that it takes to get ahead.

Coupled with these valuable lessons was the privilege she had to count on nurturing parents that showered her with love and support. She was always given an opportunity to focus on education. She enjoyed competing with other students in high school and thrived on receiving report cards with straight A's. Consequently, she finished as salutatorian in her graduating high school class.

A graduate of UC Davis with a Bachelors in Spanish, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1993 to enter the credential program at CSUN. She worked as a bilingual teacher in an LA Unified school and taught for 7 years. She has been an intervention teacher, ELL/ Title I coordinator, literacy coach, LEAD intern and assistant principal.

She has the honor of being the principal at Piru Elementary school, her little paradise. She is extremely honored to be the recipient of the ConnectED Apple award. This grant will give equity and access to her community at large and create a change in teaching and learning through the use of devices. Every Piru student will receive an iPad and every credentialed teacher will receive a MacBook. She is ecstatic at the possibilities it presents her students and the prospects that it gives her create an institution that embraces technology through transformational learning.

Fillmore also presented her with the honor of becoming the coordinator for the migrant program. This program supported her as I a child and now supports children that travel the same path she once followed. Every day she has the opportunity to give back to the community all the support and resources that were given to her. She is an example of how hard work, motivation and determination can get you anywhere you want to go in life.

March 17, 2015 - The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during National Volunteer Month this April and make a difference in the lives of patients in need.

The Red Cross salutes the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who help fulfill its lifesaving mission and encourages others to join their ranks as volunteer blood donors. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those in need of transfusions.

Donors of all blood types - especially those with types O negative, A negative and B negative - are needed to help ensure blood is available for patients this spring. Those who are unable to give blood can support blood donations and invite others to make a lifesaving donation by creating a SleevesUp virtual blood drive at redcrossblood.org/SleevesUp.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center

American Red Cross Woodland Hills Donation Center
6338 Variel Ave.
Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Thousand Oaks
4/1/2015: 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/6/2015: 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd
4/8/2015: 1 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W Thousand Oaks Blvd

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.