Pictured above Carolyn Mescher, with Ventura County Fairgrounds Publicity Dept., and Mayor Patti Walker displaying the VC Faire Poster 2010.
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City Attorney Ted Schneider reported that the City has won a legal dispute in which the owner of the El Dorado mobile home park sued the city for denying its application to convert to condominiums. The City maintained that the application was incomplete, and Judge Bysshe has ruled in its favor. Schneider noted that this is the first case of its kinds in the county, if not the state, in which a city has won such a suit. The City will wait for the application for conversion to be complete.

Presentations
Ventura County Fairground’s representative Carolyn Mescher presented the City Council with this year’s Ventura County Fair poster, which features an oil pastel illustration featuring a merry-go-round and Ferris wheel beneath a moonlit sky filled with fireworks. Mescher noted that 14-year old Kayalin Akens-Irby of Ventura’s artwork was chosen from over 80 entries poster contest submissions illustrating this year’s theme, “Western Nights and Carnival Lights.” The fair will run from August 4 to Sunday August 15. For more information visit www.venturacountyfair.org

Public Comments
Fillmore Resident Lynn Edmonds spoke on behalf of the Fillmore-Piru One Step, an after school program for teens that operates on an annual budget of $300,000 and employees six staff members. Edmonds noted One Step’s efforts to counter crime by providing teens with various mentoring and enrichment programs, and reported that the program is now also working with youths from juvenile justice. With 40-50 participants at the center, One Step has outgrown its current space and is looking for support to acquire a new location to continue its work. Acknowledging, “it’s a hard time,” Edmonds appealed for help, saying One Steps hopes to “look forward to some action.”

Special Projects Manager Linda Papas-Diaz announced an upcoming workshop in early August targeted to those involved or interested in home-based businesses. Papas-Diaz mentioned the success of the small business workshops organized through the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County, noting that Mimstar, a local personalized merchandise business, recently received a loan (see Gazette story). Papas-Diaz encourages the community’s participation to promote economic growth in Fillmore by networking and accessing untapped resources in the county.

Marie Wren from the CONTINUED »

City officials estimate that about 20,000 people ventured out to Fillmore on the 4th of July to attend the Sespe Creek Car Show & Festival, observe the horseshoe tournament, purchase safe and sane fireworks and stay for the annual spectacular fireworks display in the sky.

The car show attracted approximately 220 car entries this year, down about 30% from previous years, but still substantial enough to satisfy the car enthusiast. The following entrants took home a beautifully crafted blue glass-engraved trophy for winning in their selected category.

T Buckets—Tom Sheehan; Street Rods 1900-1932—Gary Larkins; Street Rods 1933-1936—Mark Pierce; Street Rods 1937-1941—Greg Chavez; Street Rods 1942-1948—Roy Tapia; Street Rods 1949-1963—Ralph Casallittas; Mustangs—Tony Rivas; 1955-1957 Chevy’s—Mike Wiener; Rat Rod—John Lynch; Rancheros—William Taylor; Corvettes—Kevin Warring; Thunderbirds—Gerald Lybolt; Sports Cars—Richard Faidley; Camaros—Gran Classics; El Camino—Jerry Jenkins; Truck-Pickyp—Kevin Warring; Stock Original 1900-1940—Pepe Gonzales; Stock Original 1941-1951—Ernie Trujillo Stock original 1952-1974—Joe Avila; Street Rod Open—Bob Boudreau; Street Rod Closed—Deuces Wild; Mild Modification—Albert Papu; Major Modification—Jerry Kransler; Muscle Cars—Eddie Arano; Most Likely to be Stopped—Nick Donwen; Under Construction—Manny Figuerea; Drag Cars—John O’Hare; Under 21—Roy Nava; Best Flames—Joe Freas.

Fillmore & Western Railway, CONTINUED »

It must have seemed like a nice day for a drive, Sunday, July 11, when Codi Love, 18 of Fillmore, drove down the 800 Block of Edison Lane. Unfortunately, when a Sheriff’s cruiser attempted to stop her vehicle, Love fled, driving less than a mile, hitting a curb and tree. Then she stopped. Love was arrested for evading and hit-and-run. No one was injured.

Mimstar, a manufacturer and seller of one-of-a-kind photo items made from its customers’ photos and original artwork, has created keepsakes for countless customers since 2006. Now the Fillmore business located inside Mirage women’s clothing shop has its own keepsake, thanks to Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County.

At a check passing ceremony on June 24, Mimstar owner Karen Thayer received an $85,000 loan to be used for debt restructuring and working capital that will enable Thayer to increase her staff and the company’s production.

EDC-VC is a community-based lender, and the loan is the largest it has made to a Fillmore company to date.
F
illmore Mayor Patti Walker and Supervisor Kathy Long, both EDC-VC board members, presented the check to Thayer on behalf of EDC-VC and the county.

“EDC-VC has given me wings to fly,” said Thayer. “Fillmore has been hit pretty hard with the economy, yet Mimstar is growing so much that it’s a challenge to keep up with demand.

I owe a great deal of our success to EDC-VC, because they educated me about business strategies specific to my company before we even entered into the loan process. My business is my passion, and now I have the business skills to match.”

Mimstar is a digital customizing business whose primary production is that of transferring customer photographs onto a multitude of items using dye sublimation, which uses special dyes and 400 degree heat to create photo-quality replications of all types of photographs on various objects. Mimstar also offers vinyl application and a digital transfer process called Chromoblast.

EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Business Enhancement Program, the Revolving Loan Fund and other services available to small businesses through the EDC-VC, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 21 or bruce.stenslie@edc-vc.com.