Ventura County Department of Public Health

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reminding Californians about the importance of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness while enjoying picnics, barbecues and other outdoor activities during the summer season. Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter are bacteria most commonly recognized for causing foodborne illness in the United States each year. Most of these cases are mild and cause symptoms for only a day or two, but some cases are more serious. However, there are some easy and effective steps you can take to help lessen your chance of contracting a foodborne illness. “You can protect yourself, your family and your friends from foodborne illness by following simple safety tips for properly preparing and handling food,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith.

Following these four “C’s” can prevent foodborne illnesses:

Chill:
* Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria can grow in foods kept in the temperature “danger zone” (41°F-135°F) / (5 °C-58 °C) for an extended period of time.
* Refrigerate leftovers to less than 41°F / 5 °C as soon as possible, but definitely within two hours.
* Use shallow pans and loosely cover while in the refrigerator to allow warm air to escape and facilitate cooling.
* Select cold foods at the grocery store last and put them away first when you get home to keep them cold.
* Refrigerated foods packaged in hermetically sealed or vacuum packaged containers should always be stored in the refrigerator. Storing these types of vacuum packaged products at room temperature could allow the production of Botulism toxin.
* Follow package instructions, especially when it comes to keeping foodsrefrigerated.
* Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or in a microwave immediately prior tocooking. Never thaw frozen foods on the counter.

Clean:
* Wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before andafter handling food. Humming “happy birthday” twice while washing hands is agood way to ensure you are washing long enough.
* Scrub cutting boards with hot, soapy water after preparing each item and beforemoving on to the next food. If your cutting board has deep grooves or cut marks,which make it difficult to clean, consider replacing it.
* Wash and thoroughly rinse utensils and cutting boards with soap and water.
Thoroughly cleaning them with a bleach solution (made of one tablespoon ofunscented liquid bleach diluted in one gallon of water) will provide effectivesanitation action.
* Cover any cuts or skin abrasions on your hands to avoid contaminating the food.
* Keep pets and household chemicals away from food preparation areas.
Prevent Cross Contamination:
* Keep raw and cooked foods separate.
* Use separate cutting boards and knives for chopping ready-to-eat produce andraw meats.
* Never rinse raw poultry because it spreads germs around the kitchen sink, whichcan serve as a source of contamination for other foods.
* Discard used marinades.
* Use clean utensils and plates to remove cooked foods from grills and pans. Never place cooked foods back into the dish that held the raw or uncookedfoods.
* Separate raw and uncooked meats from ready-to-eat items when shopping at thegrocery store. Place raw meats in disposable, plastic bags away from otherfoods.
* If you use reusable shopping bags for groceries, designate specific bags formeats to avoid cross-contamination. Wash and dry bags as they become soiled.
* Store bags used for groceries at home in a manner which protects them fromother sources of contamination such as pets, children, and chemicals.
* Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator in water-tight containers to prevent juicesfrom leaking onto ready-to-eat and cooked foods.

Cook:
* Use an accurate thermometer to measure the final internal temperature of meatand meat products. Color is an inaccurate way to determine if meat is sufficientlycooked.
* Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the food, ensuring thethermometer does not touch bone or the cooking pan which can give you aninaccurate reading.
* Wash thermometers after each use.
* Wait until foods are completely cooked before taste testing.
* When using a microwave to cook or reheat food, be sure to rotate or stir the foodto facilitate thorough heating.
* Additionally, some labels recommend a “resting time” for the food after cookingbefore it should be served. Those instructions should be followed in order toallow the heat to evenly distribute.
Visit CDPH’s Cooking Raw Meats webpage for additional information.
www.cdph.ca.gov

Soina Castillo, 44, Fillmore.

On 06/19/2018, Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s West County Narcotic’s Street Team concluded a month long narcotic investigation into Fillmore resident Sonia Castillo who was involved in the sales of methamphetamine to residents of Ventura County. The West County Street Team was assisted by deputies from the Fillmore Police Department.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., detectives executed a narcotic search warrant at Castillo’s residence located in the 1100 Block of El Paseo Street after Castillo had been arrested during a traffic stop for possessing methamphetamine for sales. During the search of the residence, detectives located and seized approximately 14 ounces of methamphetamine along with paraphernalia indicative of narcotics sales, and a large sum of cash deemed to be narcotic proceeds.

Castillo was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for two counts of possessing methamphetamine for sales. Her bail was set at $100,000 and her next scheduled court appearance is set for 6/21/18 at 1:30 pm.

The West County Street Narcotics Street Team is comprised of narcotic detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, the Oxnard Police Department, and the Port Hueneme Police Department.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Guy Moody
Approved by: Captain Robert Thomas

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Three Fillmore juveniles were arrested early Sunday morning after they stole a bicycle from a residence in the 700 block of Third Street in Fillmore. Additional investigation by Fillmore deputies and detectives revealed that two of the juveniles were also involved in a separate commercial burglary and an attempted commercial burglary that happened during the prior week.

On the morning of 6/13/18, Fillmore deputies responded to a commercial burglary at a business in the 400 block of Central Avenue. Deputies and detectives discovered that during overnight hours, unknown suspects broke a window at the business and made entry through the broken window, stealing cash and merchandise.

On the morning of 6/16/18, Fillmore deputies responded to an attempted commercial burglary at a business in the 1300 block of Ventura Street.

Deputies and detectives discovered that during the overnight hours, unknown suspects broke a skylight to the business but were not successful making entry down into the business, so nothing was stolen.

Deputies and detectives obtained several leads in both of the commercial burglaries and were continuing with their investigation when, on the morning of 6/17/18, at approximately 5:30 AM, Fillmore deputies responded to a call of a theft of a bicycle in the 700 block of Third Street with three males running from the area. Deputies quickly responded to the area, located the three juveniles, and, following their investigation, arrested them for conspiracy to commit petty theft.

Deputies and detectives later identified two of the juveniles as the suspects who attempted to break into the business on Ventura Street the previous morning, and evidence found during subsequent probation searches linked the two juveniles to the crime. Additional evidence was found that linked them to the commercial burglary that occurred on 6/13/18 at the business on Central Avenue. In addition to the arrests of the three juveniles for conspiracy to commit theft, two of the juveniles were also arrested for attempted burglary, burglary, and being in possession of stolen property. All three juveniles were lodged at Juvenile Hall.

Prepared by: Detective Danielle Delpit
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

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 Fillmore Police and Fire Departments want to ensure the citizens of Fillmore enjoy a safe Fourth of July week. Citizens are reminded that Safe and Sane fireworks sold in Fillmore are legal in Fillmore between June 28th at 12 PM through July 5th at 12 PM.

The use of any non-approved fireworks that explode or launch into the air are illegal and will result in criminal charges and/or a $1,000 fine. If you witness any illegal activity, please report it. Please call the Fillmore Police Department at 805-524-2233 to report illegal activity.

Below are several safety tips to ensure you and your family enjoy a safe Independence Day celebration.

- If you witness a crime or fire in progress involving illegal fireworks, call your local authorities by dialing 9-1-1.
- Only Safe and Sane fireworks bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal are legal in the city of Fillmore. All other fireworks, including altered Safe and Sane fireworks and those that explode or leave the ground are illegal.
- Children should not play with fireworks. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces.
- Always have a bucket of water on hand to dispose of fireworks and a hose connected to water available in case of fire. Do not dispose of fireworks in trash containers.
- Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns and can cause blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. Teach your children “stop, drop and roll” in the event their clothing catches fire, and make sure they know how to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

Prepared by: Sergeant Kevin Vaden
News Release Date: June 21st, 2018
Approved by: Captain Eric Tennessen

The CIF Victory Parade honoring the 2018 CIF Champion Baseball Team and CIF Champion Swimmer Katrionna Furness will be held on July 6th at 6pm. It will end in downtown Fillmore. There will be autograph signing by the CIF winners, food trucks, vendors and entertainment for the whole family until 9pm.So far the following food vendors have confirmed: Nothing Bundt Cake, Raspado House, Oh My Gosh Hot Dogs, and Central Station –tacos. Thank you Fillmore Womens Soccer League for sponsoring the parade!

Bob Crum

This is column number 79 and much to my delight, readership has gone from snowball size to an avalanche if you'll kindly allow me a little hyperbole.

For the past 78 weeks I've met many of you while out and about. Many continue to read the column because I don't go too deep into the technical weeds... so to speak. Many of you now understand that creating photographs is what makes photography extremely gratifying.

That's good to know because I have repeatedly tried to convey what I consider the most significant aspect of photography: Creativity. This entails much more than merely setting shutter speed or lens aperture.

Some technical details are necessary. Unless you are able to control your camera, executing your vision is hampered. But if you're the creative type it's hard to beat photography. If you're the adventurous type, simply do as I do! It's fun! Of course I know all the so-called rules pertaining to compositions: Rule of thirds, balanced elements, leading lines, symmetry and patterns, viewpoint, background, depth etc. However, in my opinion the only rule in photography is that there are no rules. Just some guidelines to improve your photos. But I've been a rogue photographer for so long I can't remember when I worried about applying 'leading lines' or patterns. When I see an interesting subject, I mentally visualize the end result, program the camera accordingly and shoot! More times than not, I win! Then again, circumstances sometimes dictate... ahem... failure. So depressing. But I digress.

Consider how many times you've been to a special place and thought: Wow, I have to photograph this. This is the time to execute your creative potential. Stop and take a minute to consider your options. Then, as you mentally visualize the photo, program the camera and shoot. Here is an abbreviated explanation of the process of creating an award-winning photo. Imagine approaching a spectacular waterfall. Move to find the best perspective, program your camera for proper exposure and the kind of image you want to create, check the focus on the mermaid sunning on the ledge and press the shutter button. Congrats! You have just created a fine-art photo!

I'm learning and realizing that many of you seem to benefit more from my explaining the various creative aspects of photography than the heavy technical details. But some tech stuff is important so you'll still get some. While you may think it's like bad-tasting medicine, you know it's good for you.

Now... what if? Because I'm considering shifting the column emphasis to my experiences and the creative nature of photography, maybe it's time to change the column name from Photography Know-How to Focus on Photography. What do you think? Any other ideas? Please take a moment and tell me your thoughts about the proposed name change. Thank you.

I was in Ashland Oregon recently for my granddaughter's graduation from Southern Oregon University. GO KATIE! While up in that neck of the woods, I checked out some wineries and the surrounding countryside. Photo of the week is a photo I made while taking a walk along the north shore of Lake Emigrant. Notice the play of late afternoon sunlight in the serene Oak grove. You know I can't resist a sunstar photo op. BTW, the star effect is done in camera, not added during post processing. The importance of knowing some... ahem... tech stuff. Just sayin'.

Note that because of some email issues, I have to temporarily change the email address. Send your comments, suggestion and/or questions to: photography@earthlink.net

Happy photoing.

Fillmore Unified School District

Board meeting highlights:

Recognitions
The Governing Board recognized the Fillmore High School Baseball team on their 2018 CIF Southern Section Division 7 Championship.

The Governing Board also recognized the students and staff of the Fillmore Unified Migrant Program for their accomplishments during the 2017-2018 school year.

2018 Summer Construction Projects
The Governing Board received a presentation on the 2018 Summer Construction Projects. Assistant Superintendent, Andrea McNeill presented the information.

Local Control and Accountability Plan for 2018-2019 and the 2018-2019 Proposed Budget
The Governing Board approved the Local Control Accountability Plan for 2018-2019 and also approved the 2018-2019 Proposed Budget.

Approve Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Fillmore for School Resource Officer
The Governing Board approved a Memorandum of Agreement for a School Resource Officer. The term of the agreement is for three years beginning July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.

Award of Bids for Site Wide Painting at Fillmore Middle School, San Cayetano Elementary, and Mountain Vista Elementary
The Governing Board awarded separate bids for site wide painting at the aforementioned schools. Painting to take place during summer 2018.

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

The following inductees were recognized at the 2018 Fillmore High School Open House as the inaugural class of the Fillmore High School Academic & Career Hall of Fame. We are currently accepting nominations for the next class of inductees:

1. Jamie Arundell Latshaw – Class of 1993, Westpoint Graduate, Recognized by Inc. Magazine and Goldman Sachs as a top national company.

2. John Garnica – Class of 1984, Westpoint graduate – Class of 1988 with a degree in Computer Science, John was first FHS graduate to graduate from Westpoint.

3. Dorothy Wilson LeLand – Class of 1966, B.A., M.A., Ph.D – Purdue University, Chancellor – University of California, Merced since 2011.

4. Jeff Morales – Class of 1982, B.A. University of Notre Dame – Class of 1986, National Geographic TV-4 National Emmy Awards.

5. Keith Gurrola – Class of 1974, BA – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Currently City of Fillmore Fire Chief.

6. Lucy Alcozar Rangel – Class of 1963, BA/Teaching Credential – California State University, Northridge, Over 50 years of service to the Fillmore Unified School District.

7. Brian DeCuir – Class of 1993, Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton, California. Optometrist, Moorpark CA.

8. Epi Torres – Class of 1969, Longtime teacher, coach and administrator at Fillmore High School, Coached several CIF Champion teams and individuals.

9. Conway Spitler – Class of 1938, BA – San Jose State University, MS – Stanford, Founded and developed the Fillmore High School Alumni Association.

10. Mark Ortega – Class of 1979, Expanded the scope of the Fillmore High School Alumni Association. Instrumental in linking Fillmore High School to the community.

Fillmore High School is currently accepting nominations for the Fillmore High School Academic & Career Hall of Fame (FHSACHOF). To nominate an individual, please email the following information to Barbara Lemons at blemons@fillmoreusd.org. You can find Fillmore High School Academic & Career Hall of Fame Nomination Forms below:

Bob Crum

I will readily admit that I've been putting off the inevitable: Answering the question--which camera should I buy? Y'all know that I've exalted dedicated cameras over smartphones forever. So perhaps the question is my comeuppance? So be it!
Obviously, some are ready to progress beyond phonetography. Congratulations! If you're still a part of the resistance, I'll give you another month to come around.

Selecting the best camera to buy is a daunting task. The brands/models available are mind boggling which makes my task equally daunting. Paraphrasing photo.net: With so many different cameras available and new models announced almost monthly it’s impossible to make specific recommendations on which camera is 'best'. “The term 'best' will depend on many factors unique to the user.” I couldn't say it better. Now let's look at some important factors to consider.

Your budget? These days, many good cameras are affordable given technology advancements. Naturally, the more you pay the more features you get and the better the lens. But no need to spend more than what you need from a camera.

Physical format/size? Size depends on how you intend to use the camera and what you intend to photograph. Sizes include pocket-sized point-and-shoots, bridge cameras, and standard and mirrorless ILCs (interchangeable lens cameras).

For ultra convenience when traveling, the pocket-sized cameras with zoom lenses are the cat's meow producing great photos. Bridge cameras utilize non-interchangeable zoom lens of various zoom ranges and many features and creative controls. DSLR and mirrorless ILC (Interchangeable Lens Cameras) allow exchanging lenses for specific purposes: macro, ultra-wide, walk-around, ultra-telephoto etc. Plus, these are full-featured cameras offering the ultimate in creative control for all manner of photography.

Pixel Count. If you only intend to post on social media, any camera-even your smartphone-with a minimum of 10MP (mega pixels) is fine. However, think about the largest print you intend to make or have made. For 13” X 19” prints (which I make regularly of mermaids) you need a camera sensor with at least 16MP at 250ppi (pixel per inch). My Canon 7D MKII captures 20MP RAW images @300ppi. (Visualize mermaids on billboards!)

Ability to quickly and accurately autofocus is very important! Many properties of a digital image are correctable in post processing but an out-of-focus image cannot be fixed!

Of course fast autofocus is extremely important for all action sports, air shows etc. Check autofocus tests at several professional review websites for a camera model that interests you.

Capture format. As a beginner, jpegs will perhaps suffice. If you want a camera to use for the foreseeable future as you gain expertise, RAW capture is important.

If you decide to buy a full-featured dSLR or mirrorless camera, think system. Lenses are important so look closely at the lens selection for each brand. The camera and lens make a system!

Upon determining your budget and photographic needs, check manufacturer's websites for specifics and accessories for your selected camera. Then check pro review websites for test results of the brand/model camera that meets your needs in your price range. When you come to a decision: BUY IT! Photography beckons!

The photo of the week is more or less about minimalism, i.e., less is more. Only a chair on the beach with the ocean as a backdrop. Minimalist photography can be an extremely simple but a dramatic way to capture images leaving interpretation up to the viewer's perception of the photo. Ah yes, I can imagine a mermaid relaxing in the chair with a strawberry margarita. Who do you visualize in the chair?

Happy photoing!

Send comments, suggestions and/or questions to admin@fillmoregazette.com