November 2nd you will be able to vote for THREE School Board candidates

Question #9: A big issue has been access to the new football field’s track. What is your position on allowing the public to use the track?

Lucy Rangel: When our voters passed our last school bond, they were told that they would be allowed to use the track. After the district decided to make the investment of an all-weather track, they should have done a better job of communicating to the public all the advantages of having such modern facilities; and the reasons the track and football field would have to be secured. With the vandalism that had existed, along with soaring costs of repairs, and safety and liability issues, I can understand why our district has been reluctant to allow the public to use this facility. However, the fact remains that many community members, including myself, feel that responsible individuals who are avid runners should be allowed more use of our modern track.
Since the school bond is paying for some of this project, the district has made an effort to allow some of our local runners to pilot a program which was established as a running club. A subcommittee was formed with representatives from our Parks and Recreation Department, our school district, and the public. Although there are concerns that still need to be addressed, members of the subcommittee are working together to try and implement more public use of our track. Those of you interested in providing positive input, or who have creative ideas of how to manage this issue, should attend the subcommittee’s next meeting on Nov. 10th, at 6:00 P.M. at our City Hall. See you there.

Kimberly Rivers: I fully support the Community having access to the track. In providing a benefit to the public the District will demonstrate to students the vital and varied role schools play in our community. We as adults must model true community involvement to motivate students to do the same, as they become adults. When elected I pledge to get to the bottom of whatever is preventing public access to the track so it available for public use. The fact that this issue remains unresolved demonstrates the Districts distance from the community, and the lack of leadership within the Board to respond to the needs of the community it serves.
In this final week of campaigning, I again thank those community members, who have spoken out, letting their family, friends, even clients know the importance of this election for FUSD. Our students cannot wait. It will take the entire community to improve our schools, but it begins with leadership on the Board. And if you have questions for me, ask me, I am honestly happy to answer your questions. Remember you get the most accurate info going straight to the source. Would you prefer to make decisions based on rumors or on facts? Do you think we adults should spread gossip or truth? For me an important quality in a Board member is dedication to toss gossip aside and to gather the unslanted facts in order to make a decision. Have all candidates demonstrated this dedication? I’ll let voters decide.
I've put all of my responses to the 9 weeks of questions from the paper on one page. Here's the link: http://electkimrivers.blogspot.com/p/issues-my-responses.html. Makes for easy reading and learning where I stand on the issues, www.votekimrivers.com.

Mark Austin: The voters within the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) boundaries, in approving Measure E, were under the impression that full public access and use of the track would be provided. This was one of the selling points in order to gain the approval and issuance of a general obligation bond. Currently, there is very limited public access and use of the track. It is my position that the FUSD should figure out a way to allow full public access and use of the track. Please visit my website at www.votemarkaustin.com.

Dave Wilde: Somehow a time needs to be set aside so that interested community members have access to the track. Once a time has been established the next step is to set up guidelines to ensure against or deal with possible damage. This process is occurring at this time. Unfortunately it seems to be moving at a snail's pace.
I am concerned about open access while students are on the field. A number of years ago while teams were practicing people could been seen walking the track and there was no concern about student safety. The past three years we have had some damage done to player's vehicles on Wednesday nights while they were practicing. As a result I have some worries about those same people having access to the track and students being injured. I know that may seem unusual, but it has happened. I feel parents should know the high school is doing all they can to ensure the safety of their children while they are at any athletic event. If I were a coach and I had that guarantee I would have no problem with people walking or running the track during practice. Not only would it allow public access, but foster public support.

Tony Prado: The track and the football field were built to meet the needs of the students participating in P.E. and Sports at Fillmore High School. The students have first priority. Without any doubt the community should have access to the track and field when students are not using the facility. It is not a good idea for the community and students to use the facility at the same time because of safety issues. Young adults and older high school students is not a good mix. Use of the facility before school and after 6 pm most evennings can be a possibility.
Presently there is a committee meeting to discuss the use of the facility. Some major concerns are safety, security, and damage. Damage to the track or field is very expensive to repair, it is not the same as when the track was just dirt and the field was grass. But , yes the community must have fair and equitable use of this magnificent facility. Remember to vote for Tony Prado.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On October 24, 2010 at approximately 9:35 PM, a 35-year-old woman and her family were driving westbound in the 18000 block of South Mountain Road near Santa Paula. A large white unknown make / model pickup truck was traveling eastbound on South Mountain Road and passed the victim’s vehicle. As the white truck passed, the victim heard an object impact her vehicle on the driver’s side. The victim believed that a rock had been displaced from the tire of the passing white truck and impacted the victim’s vehicle. When the victim reached her destination in Santa Paula, she found a hole in her driver side door. The victim reported the incident to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. The victim and her passengers were not injured in this incident.

An investigation by the responding deputies determined that a bullet had been fired at the victim’s vehicle, impacting the driver’s door and causing the hole.

Anyone with information regarding this incident, or similar incidents, is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department Fillmore Police Station and speak to Detective Darin Hendren @ 805-524-2233. Courtesy of Fillmore Police Department.

Deputy Jerry Peterson received the “Students First” award during Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

On Tuesday October 19th the Fillmore School Board met for a regularly scheduled meeting at the Fillmore Unified District Office. Members in attendance were Board President Tony Prado, Board Clerk Liz Wilde and Board Member Mike Saviers. Following a public comment period with no speakers the Board recognized Deputy Jerry Peterson with a “Students First” award for this role in past years as School Resource Officer for the District. This seemed to prompt Prado to comment on an item that was not included in the evening’s agenda. Prado stated “[there are issues being raised] with the Board elections”. He went on to say that “the issue is that we have a high crime rate in our schools, that we have problems in our schools, and I just need to clarify”. Prado then instructed “some of the candidates” to meet with the “head guy” to learn that “we don’t sweep things under the rug in Fillmore… we take care of the situation.” He clarified that District staff are following Board instructions to “carry through with any law breaking that is taking place…we want to take care of the situation immediately… Jerry has done that, the principals have done that.” Prado continued his clarification stating “it may appear that we have a higher rate of discipline problems or maybe arrests but I know how they handle it in other districts.” He concluded by thanking Peterson and the principals for not “hiding” the situation.

Student Rep Sean Chandler reminded the Board that there was no school last week, and that the High School is starting a new quarter and new “tutorial session” so that students who have been recognized as needing the “extended lunch break” can get the extra help they need. He announced the upcoming football game against Nordoff on Friday, as well as the approaching Senior Ball on Saturday. On Thursday the Seniors will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from different colleges they may be interested in attending. Chandler concluded with a reminder about the 100th Fillmore vs. Santa Paula football game that is taking place in November.

During Board reports CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On October 18, 2010 at about 1:30 p.m., deputies assigned to the Fillmore Station arrested a 21-year-old Fillmore resident, Gildardo Sebastian Sanchez, for misdemeanor hit and run resulting in property damage to the Fillmore Historical Museum and for driving without a license.

On the same date at about 10:30 a.m., deputies were sent to investigate property damage caused overnight to the Fillmore Historical Museum located at 360 Main St., Fillmore. The building sustained damage to the front wall and block foundation. When deputies arrived, they found evidence at the scene that indicated a vehicle had crashed into the front of the building and the driver had fled the scene.

A Fillmore City Motor Officer and station investigators consulted auto experts to narrow down the suspect vehicle make and year. Three hours later, a Fillmore patrol deputy located the vehicle involved. It was a Chevy Blazer SUV, parked in the 600 Block of Fillmore St. The vehicle had major front-end damage and evidence directly linked to the crime.

Further interviews led to the arrest of Sanchez. He was issued an arrest appearance citation for the misdemeanor violations, and released on his own recognizance.

Location: Fillmore Historical Museum, 360 Main St. Fillmore, Ca. 93015
Date & Time/ RB#: October 18, 2010 @ 1:30 p.m. / 10-25396
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Patrol Units
Arrested: Age City
Gildardo Sebastian Sanchez 21 Fillmore

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Taurino Almazan
Follow-up Contact: Deputy Tony Biter (805) 524-2233
Date of Release: October 18, 2010
Approved By: Captain Tim Hagel

November 2nd you will be able to vote for TWO City Council candidates

Question #8: Members of the council don’t always agree. How will you deal with inter-council disagreements, criticism from the community and scrutiny from the media?

Alex Mollkoy: As your Councilman, I will stand my ground on the issues that are in the best interest of the Citizens. I will work hard to acknowledge and understand the differences of each council member. We must communicate with respect, in order to conduct civic business in the best interest of the public. I will ask that we all use common sense in our review of each and every item that comes before the City Council.
I welcome all criticism from the community, as this is the beginning of a healthy dialogue with all the citizens of Fillmore. We as individuals will have different points of view; I will listen to everyone and communicate in a timely and effective manner. I will work diligently to resolve our differences on the important issues before us. I have no hidden agendas or ties to City Hall. I will not give up or hide from any criticism. I will address it head on with honesty and integrity.
Scrutiny from the media is vital to Democracy. The media’s job is to disseminate the news without distorting the facts. The media is here to watch over us for the good of the people. When there is scrutiny from the media, there may possibly be something wrong. I will propose that any issues are addressed appropriately and without delay. I will further strive to facilitate civility between City Hall and the Media. Please write-in my name ALEX MOLLKOY on your Ballot. I will not disappoint you!
Respectfully,

Patti Walker: The City has an adopted Rules of Decorum that dictate how council members treat one another as well as the public. Council members should not dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of another member. They should not utter words that are offensive. The Council is to provide an atmosphere where debate of the issues occurs rather than engaging in a discussion of another’s character or showing disrespect to the City.
It is the responsibility of the Council to thoroughly debate and deliberate the issues at hand. It is there, in the Council Chambers, that public discourse and give-and-take on the issues is to be held.
During this campaign those who participated in a debate were observed by those in attendance or who watched on TV. And those candidates who have answered the seven previous questions have been accessed by the community as well as the media. It is part of the territory for all elected officials.
In reality, I do not believe there is any candidate who has not had a disagreement with or who has not faced criticism from a co-worker, friend or family member. I believe each and every candidate is an adult and will handle those who disapprove of their thoughts or find fault with their votes with grace, polite behavior, and respect for their position.

David Lugo: There will always be disagreements that is why there is an odd number of council-persons but you must always remember you represent the community and keep it professional and respectful to one another. Criticism will never go away that is a way of people getting their point across, you must stand firm in your decision and give explanations to the community and media for your decision for them to understand your decision not just blow them off. I believe you earn respect and appreciation that way and avoid scrutiny from them. "Your Voice"

Brian Sipes: City Council members are elected to make good sound policy for the community at large. I welcome peaceful disagreements between Council members as I feel that in order to make good sound policy, all opinions and facts must be considered and debated. If entrusted to be a Council member, I will not be one that maligns other Council members to further their personal political agendas. Working together doesn't mean agreeing 100% of the time, but conducting City business on behalf of the citizens is first and foremost my priority and should be of those seated at the dais.
To be an effective, efficient, and independent City Council member, all criticism from constituents must be welcomed, not ignored. This is the people's City Hall...period. Criticism from the media isn't anything new. The media is there to report facts so the people can become educated on City issues at hand. I have no problem with newspaper or tabloid outlets scrutinizing my decisions. Everyone, including editorial boards are entitled to their own opinions, NOT their own facts.

November 2nd you will be able to vote for THREE School Board candidates

Question #8: Several Ventura District schools are offering a dual-language, two-way immersion, where students are learning in and speaking Spanish for 90 percent of the school day and English for the remaining 10 percent. What is your opinion of this type of program? Do you support total immersion or two-way immersion? Explain why.

Mark Austin: In this rapidly changing world, students need all the tools that can be provided to them for success. Proficiency in a second language is just one of these important tools. In my opinion, a dual-language immersion program could be an important component of a student’s education. Two-way immersion (TWI) appears to be the best method to obtain proficiency in a second language. A TWI program is not intended to replace English with another language, but rather to provide a student the chance to gain another language. In the TWI method, English speaking students starting in kindergarten are taught in Spanish for 90 percent of the time and in English for 10 percent of the time, with the ratio of Spanish to English gradually evening out. By the time the student reaches sixth grade, they are being instructed 50 percent in Spanish and 50 percent in English. Of course, if the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) were to implement a TWI program, student participation would need to be at the discretion of the parent.

Dave Wilde: Offering dual immersion programs at some of our school sites would be one of those great ways to offer parents a choice in their child's education. We have a couple of unified district employees who have experience with this program and speak in its favor. When discussing this program with educators and parents you get mixed feedback. The one concern I hear the most is that normal academic learning may be inhibited. I have not seen any studies, or data that support this fear. So, if this is not the case what a great opportunity it would be for young students to learn and become proficient in two languages. In my professional world the ability to speak two languages is definitely a huge asset. It would certainly provide more opportunities for our graduates when entering the world after schools.

Kimberly Rivers: All students would benefit from being “bi-literate” in today’s global economy and diverse communities. I support “dual” immersion programs that incorporate high levels of staff and parental input. Because these programs require staff to teach in a different way and close collaboration with parents to ensure that students have adequate support out of class, buy-in from staff and parents is vital to their success. In addition I feel the District has the role of being proactive in bringing programs before the community that will improve and broaden the education provided to students.
The community served by FUSD has a high proportion of Spanish speaking families sending children to school. This should be recognized and acknowledged as a positive symbol of the increasing diversity in which we all live, work and play. How can we better prepare ALL of our kids for successful lives in this evolving environment? We can start by molding their education to provide as many opportunities as possible in the global workplace. Being able to communicate fully with more people on earth can only benefit our students. Studies show early immersion students (age 5 or 6) are better overall at learning in all subject areas and eventually outperform their “monolingual peers”. I believe our skilled and dedicated staff can lead our students to achieving bi-literacy. This possibility presents a wonderful opportunity for our educational community to come together, find out what we want and what we need to do to make it happen. www.votekimrivers.com

Tony Prado: Dual immersion or two way immersion is the political correct term for bi-lingual education, and total immersion is simply English only in the classroom. Recent research shows that either program works. To implement a two way immersion program the school site must have a well trained and dedicated staff to make it work. Two way immersion requires more work on the part of teachers than the regular teaching staff. Most often these teachers are paid more than the regular teachers and this can cause some problems. Also, two way immersion programs will cost more money for materials and supplies. The benefit is students at an early age will learn two languages and have a career advantage in an inter-dependent global society.
Non-English or limited Englilsh speaking students in a total immersion or English only classroom will struggle for two to three years learning a new language. What is important to understand is how old is the student entering school and how much education has the student had in their home country! When these students go home, their parents will speak to them in their home language, usually Spanish. Remember, these students will be tested in English and will score poorly the first few years.
I support a dialog between parents, teachers and administrators on which method to utilize. Remember, Vote for Tony Prado for school board.

Lucy Rangel: Several Ventura District schools are initiating a program whose goals are to promote bilingualism, grade level academic achievement, and positive cross-cultural attitudes and behavior of all children. Two-way immersion is a form of dual language instruction that brings together students from two native language groups for language literacy, and academic content instruction through two languages. In my opinion, a two-way immersion program would be much more beneficial than a program of total immersion. Immersion programs use a foreign language to teach the entire curriculum.
However, I think that a district that can offer parents a choice in programs for their children’s education can be quite successful. A program like two-way immersion can attract families who feel it is important enough for their children to learn a new language. In today’s society, and in the future, there are numerous benefits for children to become bilingual. Being bilingual can open the door to career opportunities and especially have communication and employment benefits. I would support a two-way immersion program, because studies have shown that with our current population, it would be more successful.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat sport-harvested shellfish or some parts of crustaceans or small finfish from offshore the Channel Islands. Elevated levels of the toxin, domoic acid, has been detected in recent samples of mussels, clams, scallops, and the viscera of lobster and crab. Domoic acid can be harmful to people.

This warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops or oysters. State law only permits state-certified commercial shellfish harvester or dealer to sell these products. Shellfish sold by certified harvesters and dealers are subject to frequent mandatory testing.

No cases of human poisoning from domoic acid are known to have occurred in California.

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 difficulty breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory, coma and death.

To receive updated information about shellfish poisoning and quarantines, call CDPH toll-free “Shellfish Information Line” at (800) 553-4133. You may also receive additional information from the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov

Wm. L. Morris Chevrolet teams up with Fillmore AYSO to help raise thousands of dollars for youth soccer program.

In the spirit of teamwork taught by youth sports, Wm. L. Morris Chevrolet is teaming up with Fillmore AYSO to provide their players and coaches with soccer kits filled with equipment bags, soccer balls, sport cones, practice jerseys and t-shirts, a monetary donation and an opportunity to help them raise funds.

Fillmore AYSO will have the opportunity to raise as much as $20,000 through a fundraising opportunity where one lucky recipient will win his or her choice of a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox or Malibu. Another lucky winner will receive a Home Entertainment Package.

Wm. L. Morris Chevrolet the exclusive sponsor in Ventura County, and other Los Angeles-area Chevrolet dealerships are donating these prizes to participating leagues in the area. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go directly to the leagues, and they can use the funds in any way they choose.

Some leagues plan to grant scholarships to families who cannot afford to enroll their children in the league, while others will use the funds to improve fields and equipment.

“We are proud to CONTINUED »

Jane David and Soroptimist International of Fillmore President Ari Larson received a proclamation declaring October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” from Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Washburn.
Enlarge Photo

With Mayor Patti Walker and councilpersons Steve Conaway and Laurie Hernandez not in attendance at Tuesday night’s Council meeting, not much was accomplished. Only Councilmembers Gail Washburn and Jamey Brooks were in attendance along with Fillmore City Attorney Ted Schneider and Fillmore City Manager Yvonne Quiring. With only two councilmembers present a quorum could not be reached and as a result, nothing on the agenda could be approved or moved forward.

The meeting started off with a joint proclamation to Soroptimists International declaring October “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” with the theme “Color Me Pink” and November “End Domestic Violence Month” with the theme “Color Me Purple.”

The Public Comments section started off with Alex Mollcoy announcing his candidacy for City Council as a write-in. Mollcoy stated he would like to see more jobs come to Fillmore and his desire for smart responsible growth which he sees in the proposed Business Park.

Marie Wren spoke to the Council in rebuttal to the last council meeting where the City Staff’s letter of no confidence in regards to City Manager Yvonne Quiring was read. Wren defended Quiring by stating Quiring always gave her time and attention when asked and even though they didn’t always agree on everything “she saw that things got done.”

Fillmore resident Raelene Chaney, who for years has volunteered her time and effort toward seeing that Fillmore High School Seniors have a safe and fun graduation celebration, came to remind the council it was time for the “Grad Night Live” pie sale. The proceeds from the sale of the pies will help raise the $21,500 needed for the 275 students expected to attend the 2011 Graduation Celebration. The Marie Calendar pies are selling for $11 each and arrive in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The pies are available in both regular and sugar free.
One of the original items on the council’s agenda was the recommendation from the ad hoc Pool Committee about proposed closure of the Aquatics Center from October 18th, 2010 through February 7th, 2011 and proposed fee increases for recreation swim, lap swim, and swim lessons. The Council’s recommendations being considered were to close during the winter to realize an estimated savings of approximately $25,000 to $30,000, and also to raise the fee for recreation swim from $2 to $3, lap swim from $4 to $5 and swim lessons from $50 to $60.
Coming to address the council on the winter closing item was Christine Hurst. Hurst spoke of her disappointment with such action and stated that because “there’s no public information as to the Aquatics Center” and that if the Aquatics Center had been better advertised there would be more participation. Hurst informed the council that the only way to get any information about the center was to do a Google search. Hurst suggested possibly posting flyers.

The Heritage Valley Aquatics CONTINUED »

Alex Mollkoy, write-in candidate for City Council.

"Let’s restore common sense to City Hall. We must bring back a sense of unity to all the people of this great little town we all call home. We can make this a better place. Let us continue on with the traditions and good values we all cherish for our small town community. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors and our visitors."

Who am I?
I am the Guy at the pet store on Central Avenue. I am running for City Council as a write-in Candidate. I am here to help this town get back on track. Only with your help can we do it. Let’s all work together.

I grew up in a small town of eight square miles called Fountain Valley, California. In the 1960’s this small town in Orange County was first a farming community next to the Santa Ana River. I remember sand bagging the river banks during storm season before the city had built the levees. As I grew up there I watched it grow into one housing tract after another; they called them planned communities. By the time I graduated High School the entire eight square miles except for “Mile Square Park”, became planned communities with strip malls. Let’s not have that happen here in Fillmore.

I believe in smart responsible growth for any community. There must be a healthy balance of housing, recreation and business within any city. Competition is not only good for business, it makes for a fair playing field for all and we become the beneficiaries of our free market system. I am in support of our business park going forward without any undo delays. We need more jobs in our community soon.

I moved to Fillmore in 2000, looking to recapture life in the slow lane, where people still strive to know one another and treat their neighbors with kindness. Fillmore is the last best small town in America. It is my goal to keep it that way!

I hope that I can earn your vote this November 2nd 2010. You will need to write-in my name, ALEX MOLLKOY on your ballot.

Thank you,
Alex Mollkoy

November 2nd you will be able to vote for TWO City Council candidates

Question #7: The Cities of Bell, Maywood and Oxnard have been under scrutiny recently. What measurers can the city council take to avoid corrupt practices in city government?

David Lugo: I believe the City Council should adopt a Code of Ethics policy if one is not already in place that would give parameters on what is expected of each Council person and explain the consequences if they should not comply with those codes. Second on matters where outside bids are taken for certain projects in the City of Fillmore and one has business partners or friends in that company or has worked for that company in the past they should be excluded from that process. We as a small city for the most part have very honest people serving our community and that is what makes Fillmore a great place to live but we can not ever under estimate the things that are going on around us so we must police ourselves every now and then and not be afraid to question on things we don't feel right about, community involvement is the best way to prevent corruption also I think. "Your Voice"

Alex Mollkoy: I believe that the city council must continue to work jointly with the city departments to make public information more open and accessible to the citizens of Fillmore. We need to continue with internal and external audits in order to keep our system of checks and balances in working order. More than ever before, information is available online at the city’s website and at City Hall. I commend everyone involved with disseminating the information on-line and at City Hall. I believe that we can still increase the flow of available information and make it more easily accessible to all. The city council must continue to encourage the citizens to become more proactive in the processes of city government; this too is part of our checks and balances system. In order to avoid corrupt practices in city government; we must as the city council strive to work together with one another and all the city departments to create an honest open environment with which we can all co-operate for and in the best interest of the public.

Brian Sipes: To prevent corrupt practices it is critical that the community stay vigilant to ensure our tax dollars are spent wisely. It is also important to have trust in your City Council members and know who is funding their campaigns. I encourage all to contact the City Clerk’s office to view campaign finance reports to determine who their candidate is working for. This is the people’s government, not special interests.
I have been a proponent of having the municipal budget online for public review. This is now possible and I urge all citizens to review the budget and salaries of employees and elected officials. If elected I would go further in empowering the citizens. I would create a citizen task force committee to go through the budget. This process would give our community the ability to offer solutions for potential cost savings in difficult economic conditions.
As a private citizen, I have attended all public budget meetings and workshops. For many years I have been an advocate for accountability and transparency. If elected, I will continue to support allowing five full minutes for oral communications. I would also like to propose an annual “Town Hall Forum" that would be primarily focused on a Q&A session with our elected officials and City staff members. The public would have the opportunity to express their concerns and suggestions pertaining to City issues.
If entrusted to be a City Council member, I will never forget who my employers are. They are the voters and taxpayers.

Adrian Grimaldo: Everybody needs to vote. Each and every individual has to take responsibility for his or her actions. To lay lame and forget about this process only makes it easier to pass unethical agendas. It's through the peoples' vote that makes all the difference. A better future starts with a better understanding of city issues, processes, and development. Bell occurred because the community gave up their civic duty to vote. If you care about your future, then you will register to vote and do what is right.
I propose having a new website built for Fillmore residents. Imagine hopping onto your computer and being able to instant message council members or city employees on the fly. This network will list a schedule of passed agenda's, future city events and current developments. This system will be an open source network where people can blog solutions. Every department will be responsible in addressing blogs on their development keeping the community informed. We will then be able to keep e-files updated and hopefully give the people a better understanding of what's to come. It's time to tear down any communication barriers that are left. Bell happened because people of power abused their privileges. The only way to stop this from happening again is to get involved. Make a difference this November and do your civic duty and vote!

Patti Walker: The cities of Bell, Maywood and Oxnard have been under scrutiny recently. What measures can the city council take to avoid corrupt practices in city government?
It’s important not to do business behind closed doors. For instance, a builder requests moving his buildings closer together so more units can be built, which is an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance. The request needs to come before the Council to debate in public the pros and cons of the amendment. Staff implements policy measures set by the council; staff does not make policy.
Making policy available for the public use is important. As I’ve seen in similar sized cities, I’d like the planning guidelines displayed in pamphlet form for easy access and made available through the City’s website. These guidelines outline the various department’s required expectations. Making them available precludes problems and questions from delaying a project. Having the information available allows someone looking to build a porch for instance, to be able to walk up to the display, find the packet of information relating to porches and get on with the project.
It’s extremely necessary to have legal counsel that’s informed on not only the law, but fully engaged with the matters being debated under City Hall’s roof. A city attorney cannot be asleep at the wheel. Their presence is required to assure the goals of the council are legally meet. The attorney needs to have a solid working relationship with the manager who is the one individual charged with bringing the policies forward.
Close examination of City Hall should not be feared but welcomed. Each one of us, regardless of position, needs to follow the law.

November 2nd you will be able to vote for THREE School Board candidates

Question #7: With academic performance so low, and one campus in jeopardy of being taken over by the state, how do you plan to increase student performance?

Kimberly Rivers: To improve student achievement there is no quick fix or single thing that will work for all. Improvement will come with incremental and important changes that begin with the culture of expectations. First, I think the District must ensure that 100% of the staff expects ALL students to succeed. Second, we need to keep what works, and change what doesn’t. According to current stated policies “ultimate accountability [rests] with the Board” for all of the Districts programs and operations. The role of the Board is to evaluate and approve programs it supports or suspend and remove those failing to meet Board expectations. This is why it is vital to student achievement that the Board has the leadership and courage to examine and evaluate all departments and programs to assess what is working. Where a deficiency is found, the Board must lead the way in providing support and development to that area or if needed make a change. Any evaluation must include input from the entire community. Third, encourage new ideas and QUESTIONS. Every staff member, student, parent and community member must know that they can ask any question, bring any idea to ANY member of the Board or District staff and they will be valued. This District’s greatest resource is people. The Community. Imagine if everyone was on the look out for new ideas for our students, if everyone knew they would be welcomed in providing input and help. Imagine that. www.votekimrivers.com.

Tony Prado: Students throughout California are subjected to yearly testing. We have API, the Academic Performance Index, AYP, the Academic Yearly Progress report, and PI. Program Improvement. These state and federal titles are designed to give the community are designed to give the community an accountability report on the progress of students in the District. The manner in which they measure succsess or failure has become very controversial as to whether it really gives an accurate measurement. When non-English or limited English students are forced to test in English-what would you expect the outcome to be? FUSD has a high percentage of these students who bring down our scores. The goal is to make these students proficient in English but not at the expense of other students who are highly successful at FUSD. Just look at our graduation rate and those going on to higher education.
Increasing student performance is my number one goal. Three of our schools have gone through a "Curriculum Audit". This report, completed by the County Schools Superintendent"s Office reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the schools. These schools are in the process of implementing the recommendations. The schools are showing tremendous improvement.
Consider: - every student would have an individual learning plan so no student will remain unattended as they go from grade to grade with below-basic skills. - instructional coaches and Master Teachers to regularly observe classroom practices and work with teachers to improve their skills. - schools would start an hour later to allow time for a before school intervention class for Reading and Math improvement. - increase outreach and counseling for families whose child has below basic skills.

Lucy Rangel: With academic performance so low, and our Middle School in jeopardy of being taken over by the State, there are some ways to increase student achievement. Some of these are: 1. Improve attendance. Students can't learn if they aren't in school. Recognize or reward students for good attendance.
Counselors and administrators need to work with the families of frequently suspended students to keep them in school. 2. Create a link for each teacher on the school's web site. Teachers can post homework, due dates for projects, information on field trips, fundraisers, etc. This is an excellent way to communicate with parents. 3. If a student turns in late work, accept it. It is better to have a student learn from completing an assignment and earning an F than not turning it in and getting a zero. 4.
Since secondary teachers can have 170 or more student contacts each day, each teacher could become a "coach" to a homeroom team of about 30-35 students. They would motivate, inspire, and build self esteem and rapport with these students for the entire year. 5. The principals can collaborate with the administrators from Mountain Vista and San Cayetano Schools where teachers and staff are committed to character education.
I strongly believe that a student's character development and citizenship are equally as essential as their academic performance. If students feel good about themselves, and they know that you care, you will be amazed by the performance and effort they give you!

Dave Wilde: School performance is the responsibility of the site administrator and ultimately the district superintendent. There are lots of ideas being put into place around the country that have proved to be
successful. Principals and superintendents should be constantly searching for those strategies that may fit the needs of our students. No one in the district should be shy about making changes to instruction when needed.
The past six years I've had the luxury of working with Teacher Support Services at the Ventura County Office of Education, and we constantly hear what research says about student learning.
The number one constant with student learning is teacher effectiveness. We should ensure that all site administrators are properly trained to assess teacher effectiveness during classroom instruction, and when adjustments are needed be able to make that happen.
Site principals and the district administrative staff must continue to encourage teacher collaboration. Department, and grade level teachers must continue to identify deficiencies in student learning, assist colleague who are experiencing difficulty, make adjustments in instructional practices, and encourage parent participation to promote student learning. We have a lot of great teachers in this district that have the ability to make that happen.
Fillmore school sites are now looking at a program that will allow parents to check on theirs child's academic progress at any time on the internet. I think this practice would be a great step towards fostering parent awareness and involvement. Many districts already have this program in place.

Mark Austin: In order for student success and low achievement scores to be raised, students need to understand the importance of obtaining an education, be motivated and interested in the subject matter, and be held accountable by both their parents and the District. I believe that the issue of low achievement scores is not just the District's problem to resolve, but is a communitywide issue that is based on a multitude of things. My strategy, with assistance from other Board members, would be to look for ways to accomplish this task by forming a communitywide group consisting of all the major stakeholders.
These would include representatives from the City Council, business community, family and youth community groups, school board members, parents, classified and certified staff, and administrative staff. This communitywide group would be assigned to develop a strategy to solve our school performance issues and to design a method to ensure student success and increase achievement scores. votemarkaustin.com

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Mike Issa Grair

On October 10, 2008, Mike Issa Grair, 64, was found shot to death in his sport utility vehicle, which was parked behind a vacant building located on the northwest corner of Los Posas Road @ Lewis Road in the City of Camarillo, Ca. It is estimated that Mr. Grair was shot sometime between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

For the past two years the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau has aggressively investigated the murder of Mr. Grair. Detective’s have interviewed in excess of 100 persons and still have no solid leads.

In April of 2009, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department held a press conference in which Mr. Grair’s family offered a $100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Mr. Grair’s death.

October 10th marks the 2 year anniversary of Mr. Grair’s death. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and the Grair family desperately need you help to solve this senseless crime. The $100,000 reward is still available.

Please contact Detective Sergeant Todd Inglis, Detective Dan Hawes, or Crime Stoppers with any information regarding the death of Mike Grair.

Todd Inglis Desk – (805) 477-7032 Dan Hawes Desk – (805) 477-7042

Ventura County Crime Stoppers – 1-800-222- TIPS (8477)
http://www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org/index.aspx

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Recently we have had residents of Fillmore stop by the Police Station to make their Police Expo donation. There is only one problem. There is no such "Police Expo" and we would never call you at home to make a donation to the Sheriff or Police Departments.

This is the makings of a scam by some crooks in the area who preying on the kind nature of our Fillmore and Piru residents. These bad guys ask you for a modest donation in cash or check for police and they offer to pick up the checks at your home or you could even leave it under the"Mat." We often hear of residents giving their hard earned money and savings to bogus police charities. We want to make sure this does not happen to you!

The police department will investigate your tips on such bogus charities. Remember, do your research before you give money to any charity that you are not actively involved with. Make sure they are a federally registered non-profit. Don't just ask them, the Police Department will help verify for you. Email Sergeant Dave Wareham dave.wareham@ventura.org or Police Chief Tim Hagel tim.hagel@ventura.org and we will check for you. Please email us or call us at 805-524-2235 if you have received similar calls for "Police Charities."

Update:
We have found the organization doing the police donation phone calls. They are based out of Los Angeles. We are investigating their authenticity, regardless, our position still doesnt change and we do not recommend citizens giving money to them.

Fillmore City Manager Yvonne Quiring

In an effort to clear up the confusion surrounding the surprise (September 28) public reading of the city employees’ no confidence letter, comments were requested from Mayor Walker and four council members. Only Councilman Jamey Brooks refused to comment. Brooks’ refusal could be seen as a manifestation of his commitment to open government.

Due to a mix-up in phone and email efforts, the Gazette was unable to interview City Manager Yvonne Quiring directly. She did submit two comments as follows: In terms of Lathrop, “The Council conducted a thorough background process, including a trip to Lathrop and selected me to carry out their vision.”

And in terms of the letter [Vote of No Confidence] —“Right now we have budget challenges, labor negotiations and a class and comp study as well as an election cycle. Given the uncertainty, it is understandable that nerves are frayed and employees are worried. I remain committed to healing these divisions and working through these challenges.”

Fillmore Mayor Pro Tem Gayle Washburn commented that she “[may have] been the only one” to not know that this letter was coming. And even though she has heard comments from community members that the presentation of this letter could “be a political event… designed to discredit the Mayor and City Manager”, Washburn still recognizes that “these are serious allegations and concerns… which the Council needs to address as soon as possible.” Commenting on what is happening now she stated “as we speak, the Council is scheduling [a meeting] to determine the process” that will be used as the Council investigates the employee complaints.

Washburn went on to CONTINUED »