Fillmore City attorney Ted Schneider conducted a 90-minute Brown Act Workshop Tuesday night, instructing Council in the essentials of the law. The Workshop was part of the lawsuit settlement brought by Rich McKee, seated left with his attorney Kelly Aviles.
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Tuesday night’s City Council meeting was dominated by a 90 minute Brown Act Workshop, conducted by city attorney Theodore Schneider, in response to a lawsuit settlement brought by Rich McKee, of Californians Aware, for three times violating the Brown Act in August. The suit settled with the city admitting the council’s “errors”, a 2-hour Brown Act retraining, and payment of McKee’s attorney fees in the amount of $6,000. The matter was filed with the court by the City Attorney’s Office on November 16, 2009.

On December 3, 2009 McKee sent a Brown Act Demand for Correction to the Fillmore City Council regarding an item on the November 24, 2009 Agenda concerning “Existing Litigation…Richard P McKee v. City of Fillmore; Ventura County Superior Court...” The same description remained when an amended agenda was posted on November 20, 2009. No such litigation existed on November 24, 2009. In his Demand, McKee sought two remedies at the December 8th council meeting: first, the council was to announce that it violated the Brown Act on November 24, 2009, by agendizing and holding a closed session pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(a) – Existing Litigation, when in fact the litigation identified did not exist; and second, disclosure of the entire discussion had in that improperly held closed session.

Kicking off the council meeting, Schneider announced CONTINUED »

By Carole Power
The Board of Directors at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley got a special reminder Thursday, December 3rd, of just why they work so hard to keep the Club open. Las Piedras site director Maricela Juarez wrote the following in an email that was forwarded to each Board member. “We have set up a coin jar in our club labeled "Every cent makes a difference" to raise funds in order to help keep the Boys & Girls Club open. With the recent events involving the Club, staff and Club members have been brain storming ideas to help keep the doors open... Club members have taken to heart the words "EVERY CENT makes a difference" and have collected every spare penny as a way to contribute to THEIR club. As Club Member Giovanni Vargas “Be Happy and smile, the Club is open!"

What a heartwarming, and at the same time disheartening story. It is heartwarming to learn that the Club’s kids are concerned enough that ‘their’ place was in jeopardy and they want to do what they can to help, and disheartening that these precious young people have to be concerned about the finances of their “Positive Place for Kids.” It is unfortunate that the Club’s situation had to come to these children’s attention, but they rallied and are doing what they can.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley provide CONTINUED »

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Last Thursday, December 3rd, at the 200 block of Blaine Ave. - Citizens called 911 and reported 3 male juveniles moving about the yard of a vacant residence. The suspects fled on foot when deputies arrived. 18 year old Rudy Mora was found hiding in the garage of a neighboring residence and 24 year old Albert Dominguez was found on a nearby street. Although a crime could not be established regarding the originally reported circumstances, Mora was arrested for illegally entering the garage in which he was found. Dominguez was arrested for 11550 H&S (drug influence), 11364 H&S (drug equipment) 12020 P.C. Felony weapons-Brass knuckles, and an outstanding felony warrant for parole violation.

Newbury Park Bank Robbery Suspect Photo #2
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Newbury Park Bank Robbery Suspect Photo #3
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Location: 541 S. Reino Road, Newbury Park, CA, 91320.
Date & Time/R.B.#: December 5, 2009 @ 2:35 p.m. / 09-29876
Unit Responsible: East County Sheriff’s Major Crimes / Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age-----------------------
(S) White Male Unknown Late 50’s to early 60’s

The suspect robbed a branch of US Bank located inside an Albertson’s Market on South Reino Road on Saturday afternoon. No employees or customers were injured during the robbery. The suspect fled the bank within minutes carrying an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen, but the suspect alluded to being armed.

The investigation is being handled by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes unit in conjunction with the FBI. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Jon Smith at (805) 494-8201, or Special Agent Pat Conley of the FBI at (310) 629-9553. See the attached three images of the suspect that were retrieved from the bank’s surveillance cameras.

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). The FBI is also offering a one-time reward under the same conditions.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Claudio Jean Negrea.
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Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Date & Time/ RB#: ongoing investigation / 09-27690
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Forgery/Fraud Investigations Unit

Buying a car online can be a hazardous process, especially if you’re willing to part with your money without examining the merchandise in person.

Take the recent case of Claudio Jean Negrea, who was arrested last month on several burglary and fraud charges. Negrea, who told investigators he was a Swedish national named Marvi Hult, had advertised two vehicles on the Internet.

He sold a recreational vehicle and a BMW sedan to a customer in Texas, and another in Oklahoma. He posted photographs of the vehicles online, but deflected requests to meet in person to showcase the vehicles.

Negrea’s advertised prices were well below what would have been customary for the types of vehicles he offered.

Ultimately, the buyers agreed to wire money to an escrow account, to which Negrea directed them. The website looked legitimate, but was fraudulent. Once the money was wired to the account, Negrea went to the bank and pulled the money out.

Fortunately, officials at a local bank in Thousand Oaks CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Every seat was filled in the board meeting room as people came out to support two Power of One honorees at Tuesday night's December 1 meeting of the Fillmore Unified School District Board.

Under the Power of One heading, the board recognized Amelia Ramirez and Dena Wyand for their service to the district. Sespe School Principal Rose Hibler introduced Ramirez. “Ramirez offers comfort to students, parents and staff with her positive attitude,” Hibler said. “She always asks what do we need to do to get it done. She is the pulse of the school.”

Wyand was introduced by Middle School Principal Todd Schieferle. He said she has been on campus since the opening of the school, where she started as a sixth grade teacher. Now she is a counselor. “She is very organized and she has a can do attitude,” he said. Assistant Principal Tricia Godfrey said, “She handles advisory and makes us better all the time.”

Superintendent Jeff Sweeney said he's received a letter from the County Board of Education concerning a public hearing on the proposed Charter School in Piru. The hearing is set tentatively for January 12 or 13 at 6:00 p.m. On January 25 at 6:00 p.m. the County Board will either grant or deny the petition for the Charter School.

Superintendent Sweeney asked Fillmore High School CONTINUED »

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Gerardo Resales Villa (DOB 6/11/76), of Fillmore, guilty of killing Miguel Gallardo while driving with gross negligence, and while under the influence of alcohol. The jury also found true the special allegations that Villa personally inflicted the great bodily injury which led to the deaths of Guillermo Aguiniga, Juan Gallardo, Raul Fletes, and Horacio Sanchez. Villa was also found guilty of driving with a suspended license due to a prior driving under the influence conviction.

The driving that led to the deaths of the five victims occurred during the early morning hours of September 13, 2008, on Guiberson Road, between Piru and Fillmore in Ventura County. While driving with approximately twice the legal limit of alcohol and with methamphetamine in his system, Villa drifted over the center line of the two-lane road and struck a utility pole, killing all of the occupants instantly while Villa survived virtually unharmed. Villa was determined to be the driver of the vehicle after a thorough investigation by members of the California Highway Patrol, Moorpark Office.

Sentencing is set for January 8,2010, at 8:30 a.m., in Division 25. Villa faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.

What a great tribute the “Military Banners Program” has become to the men and women of Fillmore currently serving in the military. The immensely popular Banners have now been placed on Central and Sespe Avenues and the available spaces have rapidly been filling with new Banners almost monthly. I, for one, almost daily go to town and rarely do I not take a trip by my son's Banner to acknowledge his service. I know of a few other parents and family that do the same with their loved ones Banner. I also make it a point to acknowledge the others as I travel past theirs and note that some of the young men and women have had Banners placed by their family, but have not had an article written about their service. Some of them I know and others I don't. I curiously wonder about what they do within their respective branches of the military, who their family are and maybe I wonder a little about this brave person who chose to serve all of us. If for some reason the family of those American Heroes and Fillmore/Piru son's and daughters felt it is to late to have an article put in the Fillmore Gazette, it isn't and I would be proud to gather the information and photograph and share their story with the rest of the community. My contact information runs weekly in the Fillmore Gazette.

On Monday, November 23, 2009 at 9:00 AM five more banners were CONTINUED »

Fillmore Fire Department

The Annual Toy Drive Sponsored by City of Fillmore Fire is underway! Unwrapped toy donations are currently being accepted at Fillmore Fire Station 91 located at 711 Sespe Place, Fillmore. All donors will receive a ticket for each toy donated good for one BBQ Chicken Dinner. The BBQ will take place on Sunday December 13th, 2009 between the hours of 5:00PM – 7:30PM. Dinner will be served at the Fire Station or you may take advantage of our drive thru service.

In addition to our chicken dinner, Fillmore Fire has teamed up with a few local merchants who offer incentives to those who donate to the toy drive.

Dr. Rubino of Healing Solutions Chiropractic is now offering new patients a FREE chiropractic adjustment when you bring a toy to his office valued at $20.00 or more! Please visit Dr. Rubino at his office located at 348 Santa Clara Avenue in Fillmore.

Curves for women is offering free CONTINUED »