Friday January 27, 2012
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Toastmasters Club of Santa Clara Valley
Barbara Kroon speaking during the opening meeting last Monday night on the importance of communication in business.
January 21, 2012
On Monday, January 16, 2012, at 7 p.m. the Santa Clara Valley Toastmasters Club held their Kick-Off meeting at The Depot in Santa Paula. The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and after introductions the meeting continued with prepared speeches to show the different aspects of regular meetings and how they are conducted.
The first speaker was Lt. Carlos Juarez (Ret.) of the Santa Paula Police Department who spoke on his years before and after joining the police service. Several other speeches followed. Each speech was timed by a designated timer and evaluated by a person designated as an evaluator who pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of each speaker. Each of these steps is taken in order to improve the abilities of the speaker in communication, in content and in delivery.
After the speaking portion was over the meeting continued with picking officers for the new club so the gathering could gain recognition by Toastmasters International. SCV Toastmasters Club is sponsored by Los Amigos and Toastmasters XL Clubs, Mark Lager and Edith Pham along with Ken Brookes, Barbara Kroon of Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce. With club founder Gloria Davidson. The mission of the club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.
Toastmasters International was established in 1924 in Santa Ana, CA. by Dr. Ralph Smedley. The International membership has over 270,000 members in about 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. In 1973 membership privileges were extended to women. Since its inception, Toastmasters has assisted over four million men and women in becoming more acute listeners, quick thinkers, and better speakers. The various programs and seminars develop all facets of communication and leadership skills.
The new club meets on Monday nights at 7 p.m. at The Depot, 200 N. Tenth St., Santa Paula. Meetings are open and all visitors are welcome. This is a Santa Clara Valley Club and available to anyone in the area. Go to learn, to speak, and learn to speak well.
Fillmore Lions Club Gave Four Teachers $500 Gift Cards To Help With Supplies
From left is Lions Victor Gongora, Jan Lee, San Cayetano; Diana Vides, Piru School; Cynthia Frutos, Sierra High School, Scott Carroll, Sespe School; Lions Jack Stethem, and Lions President Bill Dewey. The Lions Club donated a $500 gift card from Office Depot, to each of the elementary schools for the teachers to purchase supplies, on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the School District Offices. Each teacher was very pleased with the gift.
Watershed Protection District Held Meeting To Update Sespe Levee Work
Director of Watershed Protection District Norma Camacho opened the meeting and introduced several members of her staff and engineering contractors working on the project along with Martin Hernandez from Kathy Long's office attending the meeting.
Display containing the project location and the possible choices for the work that is to be performed when the choice is approved.
January 23, 2012
The Watershed Protection District held a public meeting at the Faith Church on D Street on Thursday, January 19, 2012, to bring the residents up to date on the Sespe Creek Levee Project. The presentation started around 7 p.m. with introductions and the Pledge of Allegiance by Norma Camacho, Director of the Watershed District. After a short preliminary overview the meeting was taken over by Bruce Phillips, an engineer from Pace Water Engineering located in Fountain Valley, California.
Phillips related the history of the Sespe floods and the history of the levee construction. The levee was constructed in 1984 to the present standards by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was approved the same year and turned over to Water Protection District for maintenance.
Then Katrina happened. After the storm changes were made to the requirements and designs of levees. After a recent inspection the Corps found that the levee was deficient as to the latest requirements by FEMA. An effort was made by the county and the city to certify the northern portion of the levee to Old Telegraph Road which was successful and the homes previously in the flood zone were removed. However the southern portion, from Old Telegraph to the 126 bridge, was not certified as it was deemed too low. The new standard states that the levee has to give three feet of protection above a 100 year storm which this section does not provide and that left the homes south of Old Telegraph Road in the flood zone and required modification to the levee.
The proposed construction area on the levee starts at the extension of the east curb of Mallard Street and runs south to the north curb extension of Blue Jay Street. There is a small portion also at the 126 bridges which needs work. The engineers arrived to seven possible ways to solve the problem:
1. Earth Fill on the land side, costs $3,299,000., three residences will lose part of back yards.
2. Retaining Wall on land side, cost $1,402,000, no losses.
3. Retaining Wall on water side, cost $2,245,000, one loss of part of a yard.
4. Retaining Wall edge of levee road land side, cost $1,465,000, no loss.
5. Earth fill on the water side, cost $1,817,000, no loss.
6. Retaining Wall each side of levee road, cost $1,933,000, no loss.
7. Hybrid of 1 and 2, cost $1,528,000, Faith Church loses part of their back yard and parking lot. Each of these choices also entails fill dirt to raise the level of the levee four feet.
The District and the engineers are considering number seven as the most advantageous choice at this time. As part of the rules a 15 foot zone has to be maintained on each side of the levee and vegetation has to be removed. Shiells Park will be losing the trees along the back fence do to the clearance.
After the presentation the public asked many questions which were answered depending on the seven possibilities. Drawings were posted on the back walls of all the chosen work and the areas affected. The meeting broke into smaller groups for more questions. In attendance were Martin Hernandez from Kathy Long’s office and several employees of the Watershed Protection District. The Sespe Sun paper only counted 28 people in the audience, which was very small, for such an important meeting. You can obtain more information on the subject by going online to: http://portal.countyofventura.org/portal/page/portal/PUBLIC_WORKS/Watershed_Protection_District/ What’s_New
Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper Announces His Retirement
January 25, 2012
Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper submitted paperwork today announcing his retirement effective March 30, 2012. Roper has served the citizens of Ventura County during a distinguished 32 ½ year fire service career. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1978 and worked his way through the ranks, achieving the Fire Chief appointment in May of 1997. Along the way, he has received numerous awards and accolades.
“I feel very fortunate to have served the people of Ventura County for more than three decades,” said Roper. “And I’m extremely proud to have had the opportunity to lead the incredible men and women of the Ventura County Fire Department. This group of dedicated professionals is truly committed to excellence.”
During his tenure as Fire Chief, Roper developed a strong public service culture and instituted successful planning processes that have placed the department in a very stable financial position and created an organization that is well-respected among local, state and federal fire agencies.
“I think my core achievement has been building relationships with our neighboring fire chiefs and advancing new technology so taxpayers receive the closest fire resource, regardless of jurisdictional lines,” said Roper.
Roper is looking forward to spending time with his family and finding new opportunities to continue his public service.
“The County will miss Bob Roper’s leadership as Fire Chief,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers, “but he leaves behind an organization that is well respected, fiscally sound and operationally effective.”
‘Great Train
Robbery’ Event To Support Boys & Girls Club Of Santa Clara Valley
January 25, 2012
Mark your calendar to save the date for the Great Train Robbery fundraising event, benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley. This special event train will board at 5:30 p.m. and is scheduled for departure at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2012. Upon boarding guests will first hustle through the BBQ buffet, provided by Laird’s Catering of Santa Paula, then claim a table in one of the four 1930-‘s-40’s dining cars. A full no-host bar is available onboard, provided by Fillmore & Western Railway.
Entertainment
includes a ‘shoot out’ and ‘train-jacking’ by local desperadoes,
played to the hilt by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Posse vs. the
Frontier Gunfighter group. Many arrests will occur during the trip
by Chief of Police Steve MacKinnon from Santa Paula and Fillmore
Chief of Police, Monica McGrath. Making
a return appearance will be Deputy Sheriff, Tim Hagel as “Hang ‘Em
High Hagel” and Ventura County Sheriff
Geoff Dean as “Make ‘Em
Dangle” Dean. Prisoners arrested, tried and sentenced will be
held in a special onboard ‘jail’. The arrestees can be ‘bailed out’
after an appearance before the ‘traveling judge’. Passengers will
also be encouraged to enjoy the music from a live band on the
open-air dance car.
The route runs
through the Heritage Valley departing Fillmore and traveling to
Santa Paula. The entire trip will last approximately 3 to 3-1/2
hours.
Boarding tickets
sell for $55 per person, and can be ordered by calling the Boys &
Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley at 805-525-7910. Advance
sales are encouraged as seating is limited.
The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley provides after school and Summer Camp programs for children ages 5 to 18, at the Club’s two locations; 1400 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula and 565 First St., Fillmore. Club members pay a $25 annual fee to attend the Club, and no child is turned away for their inability to pay the membership fee. It costs the Club $560 per child annually to provide services for its members. The obvious gap between cost of services and membership is bridged by generous donations from local businesses, private donors and local and national grants. Donors interested in providing financial assistance to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley are encouraged to contact the Club at 805-525-7910. All donations, regardless of amount, are gratefully appreciated.
Barbara Hoffmann Of Braille Institute Was Guest Speaker At Soroptimist Club International
Barbara Hoffmann gave a very informative talk to the women of the Fillmore Soroptimist Club International at the Wednesday, January 18, 2012 luncheon. Hoffmann handed out visual materials and talked about all the learning tools the Braille Institute does for the blind. She also informed everyone that those with very low vision all the way to those who have total blindness. How to learn Braille for reading and even being able to tell the time on watches which are also available for the blind. The meeting was very interesting and Hoffmann was able to explain all the services the institute does for those needing instructions. They provide mentors to the newly blind or low vision individuals to help them cope and become comfortable with the handicap. The meeting was held at El Pescador Restaurant in Fillmore.
Thousand Oaks Fatal Traffic Collision
On Monday, January 16, 2012, Floriene Hamel, 90, of Newbury Park, was driving her 1998 Nissan Altima southbound on Ventu Park Road at approximately 1:30 p.m. As she was making a left turn onto eastbound Lynn Road, her vehicle was struck by a 2000 Ford Expedition traveling westbound on Lynn Road. Hamel was transported to Los Robles Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the Expedition, Wendi Tovey, 43, also of Newbury Park was transporting seven nine-year-olds to Newbury Park after an event in Simi Valley. There were no significant injuries to any of the children. The collision is currently under investigation.
The members of the CRFC team are Captain Randy Pentis, Captain Dave Kenney, Captain Tim Hagel, Captain Paul Higgason, Sergeant Joe Devorick, and Sergeant Frank Underlin. All of the runners were present at the meeting as the money was awarded to the various foundations.
The meeting started out with Capt. Randy Pentis introducing Assistant Sheriff John Crombach and Assistant Sheriff Gary Pentis, the team advisor and Commander Stephen Decesari, Camarillo's Chief of Police.
The recipients were given checks individually.
Garage Fire In Fillmore Quickly Extinguished
January 19, 2012
On Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 3:21 p.m. the Fillmore Fire Department
received a report of smoke coming from a residence in the area of
Meadowlark Drive and First Street in the City of Fillmore.
Following the initial call, several
additional callers phoned 911 advising a garage was on fire in the
900 block of First Street. Approximately three minutes after
dispatch, fire personnel arrived on scene and observed what appeared
to be a couch fully engulfed in flames inside the garage at the
location. An aggressive fire attack was launched shielding
the adjacent residential occupancy from the smoke and flames and
preventing further damage of the residence. Due to their quick
efforts, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within six
minutes of arriving on scene. No injuries were reported at
the time of the incident. Heat and smoke damage is estimated
to be approximately $6,000. A male subject was at the location
at the time the fire was ignited and who indicated he had accidently
dropped a match while smoking on the couch just minutes before noticing
smoke coming from his garage.
Fillmore Women’s Service Club Reviews Projects In 2011
January 24, 2012
Fillmore Women’s Service Club is looking forward to 2012. The Club finished 2011 year with a special donation to Fillmore meals on wheels for Thanksgiving through the Senior Center. Then at the Fillmore Women’s Service Club annual Christmas party they gathered new toys for the Children’s Auxiliary Annual Toy Collection for the Foster Children’s Program. Club members Valerie Richards, Jeanne Klittich, and Mimi Burns, Club President, took the toys to the Ventura location for distribution. This past year the Club has given continual support to the Senior Center of Fillmore. On the horizon for 2012, Susan Banks, hopes to kick off the new Community Scholarship Program.
The Fillmore Women’s Service Club is always open to new members, we met at the Senior Center the second Wednesdays of each the month starting at 7 p.m., come and join us or if you want more information regarding club activities call Mimi Burns 208-4327 Happy and Healthy 2012 to all.