The Board of Directors of the alumni association is going all out to encourage alumni members who are not subscribers to the "Flashbacks" newsletter or are not Life Members to please consider becoming a part of the alumni association that helps keep the association doing the many things that we have done in the past 30 years.  Tricia Gracias sent out letters and reservation forms to all the graduates of Fillmore High who are employees of the Fillmore Unified School District encouraging them to subscribe to the newsletter or become a Life Member.  Letters are also being sent to the many scholarship winners asking them to become subscribers or Life Members. 

     Both of these financial assists to the alumni association allow us to carry on the many activities that we have done in the past, as well as what we plan to do in the future.  This year we have re-started the Shasta Daisy project to have flowers for the arches for graduation, purchased two banners for the gym which have the words to the Alma Mater and the school fight song, are working with the committee that is planning the 100th footbal game with Santa Paula, and continue to award scholarships to graduating seniors and Continuation Grants to graduates who are already in college.

     Support from alumni members makes it possible for the alumni association to continue to be an outstanding program for Fillmore High School.  Subscription and Life Member forms can be obtained by clicking on to the Fundrasing icon on the left panel of this page.

     To keep you up to date on what is happening or going to happen within the workings of the Fillmore High Alumni, here is the latest information for your perusal:

     The February issue of "Flashbacks" was put in the mail today, February 12 and should be arriving at your mailing address soon.  Those of you who's subscription ran out in December will be receiving a "pink slip" requesting that you please renew so we can continue to send you each issue of the alumni newsletter.  This subscription not only provides you with "Flashbacks" but it also helps fund other activities of the association. 

     Reunions are in the planning for the classes of 1945, 1950, 1960 and 1970.

Class of 1945 will meet at the IHOP restaurant in Fillmore on Saturday, June 12, starting at 11 a.m.  Natalie Harthorn Milota is organizing this event, and she asks that you let her know if you are planning on attending, and also to send in your reservations for the alumni dinner to the alumni office. Contact Natalie at 805-642-4283 or nharthornm@hotmail.com. A dinner reservation form is on the back page of this issue of Flashbacks.

     Class of 1950 is planning for their 60th class reunion, and they have set the date of June 12, with a luncheon at the home of Jerry and Linda Edmonds, beginning at 11:30.  More information will be coming from Lavonne Deeter and her committee.

     Class of 1960, fifty year reunion, June 11.  For information:  Contact: Margaret Graham Blankenship at 805-525-2790 or e-mail: missmae@roadrunnr.com. 

     Linda Durand and her committee are planning a 45th year reunion on Friday, June 11 at the home of Larry Stewart, with a follow-up meeting at the alumni dinner on June 12. 

     Class of 1970:  Dave Morales tells the alumni office that they are still in the planning stage, but they have set a date of August 7, 2010. More information will be presented as soon as they hear back from classmates as to where and what they want to do for their 40th reunion.

     Janice Krska Hawley is searching for some replacement copies of her annuals that were lost in the flood, as well as some of the elementary school pictures.  If anyone has copies of the following Copa de Oros and grade school pictures that they would be willing to give to Janice, she would greatly appreciate:  Copa de Oros:  From 1975 through 1980, and any grade school pictures from 1968 through 1974.

     The Fillmore Performing Arts Program is looking for pictures from previous stage productions that go back to the Sespe Players and up to the recent plays that have been staged on by Ken Mittan.  Anyone with pictures, please contact Lucy Rangel as they are hoping to put a display in the Fillmore Historical Museum.  Contact Lucy at 805-524-2981 or rangelfan@roadrunner.com.

     IT'S NOT JUST A RIVLARY......IT'S A FAMILY TRADITION

     On Friday, November 12, 2010 a "Historic Event" will take place at the football stadium of Fillmore High School as the "Flashes" play host to the "Cardinals" of Santa Paula High School.  This momentous occasion will be the 100th meeting between the "Flashes" and "Cardinals", which played their first game with each other in 1924.  This famous rivalry ranks #1 in Ventura County and is listed among the best high school rivalries of all-time within the State of California, based on the number of games played.

     Rest assured neither coach will downplay the significance of this rivalry.  In 2009, Fillmore clinched its first solo league title since 1977 by defeating the Cardinals in the last 3 minutes of the game.  In 2008, Santa Paula guaranteed its first league championship since 2001 by toppling its staunchest rival.  For the 2010 season, both teams have been moved up to the Tri-Valley League.  This 100th meeting will be important for both schools.  November 12th will be the last league game of the season, so a lot could be at stake for these two teams.  Not just the city vs. city bragging rights, but another league title for either school could be in the mix as well.  Getting ready for this rivalry game, both Fillmore and Santa Paula will overcome injuries, physical exhaustion and do whatever it takes for the showdown.  It's a time when both towns unite and become one for the football battle-of-the-year.

     Fillmore High School promises this game to be a celebration to remember, as these two schools continue their journey into the next century of competition, as they honor the past, present and future.  During the celebration, football players from each school collectively that made CIF Playoffs, Won League Titles, players that have been selected All-State, All-CIF, All-County, League MVP's and those that hold records for each of the schools, respectively will be honored.

CALLING ALL F.H.S. ALUMNI CHEERLEADERS AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS..........

Everyone and anyone interested in participating or making donations towards this event, please contact the following people:

Celebration Coordinator:  Lynn Hasty Cole (FHS '85) lcole@fillmore.k12.ca.us

Cheerleaders Contact:  Michelle Farrar Pina (FHS '87) 4pinas@sbcglobal.net

Football Players Contact:  Joe Woods (FHS '79) lcole@fillmore.k12.ca.us

     (Submitted by Michelle Pina)

     The following note was sent to the alumni office by Carol Pearson, wife of Bill Pearson who graduated from Fillmore High School in 1942:

     Bill has been at the New Mexico State Veterans' Home for five months.  He is getting excellent care and it is a beautiful facility, but it is very hard on us all.  I just wanted to tell you that everyone at the home knows about Fillmore, because that is the place he calls home, and though, due to his dementia, he is very lost.  His memories of life and growing up in Fillmore are crystal clear.  In Bill's name, we are enclosing a donation to the Scholarship Fund or wherever there is a need.

     Scott Beylik, class of '87 and Mike Richardson, class of '91 have been selected to participate in the California Ag. Leadership Program (CALP), one of the premier agricultural leadership opportunities in the United States.  Their class, the 40th selected in the program's history, was recently inaugurated in

Sacramento.

     The priorities for CALP are to create leaders who can make change for the long-term viability of California agriculture, are able to engage and positively influence society, and can participate in communication networks that enhance California agriculture.  It has been in operation since 1969 and has more than 1,000 alumni from all over California.

     Scott is the third generation farmer of Beylik Family Farms, established in 1971.  He is co-owner with his father, who retired from the farm in 2005.  Beylik Family Farms markets 100 percent of its produce at local farmers markets--20 markets weekly, year-round--serving Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.  The main production of the 21 acre farm is greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers.  Squash, peppers, melons, artichokes, basil and avocados are produced seasonally.  Scott was active in the Fillmore FFA, earning many awards, served as President, was also on the Jr. Fair Board, and graduated in 1987.  He attended Ventura College, then Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, graduating in 1991.

     Mike is the CEO of a citrus and avocado ranch management corporation in Fillmore that he co-owns with his wife, Heather.   Quality Ag. was started 10 years ago as a citrus ranch management operation.  As commodities began shifting toward avocado production, so did Quality Ag.  His operation manages 300 acres of citrus and avocados, including about 100 acres that he owns or leases.  Mike has diversified and Quality Ag. now has 45 employees in four divisions including ranch management, irrigation installation, weed abatement and agricultural construction.  Mike graduated from Fillmore High in 1991, after many accomplishments in the FFA program, and enrolled at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as an Agricultural Business Management major with a minor in Plant Protection, graduating in 1996.

     This program will include seminars, leadership skills, communications and public speaking.  They will participate in a 10-day national seminar during their first year and a 15-day international seminar during the second year.

     This is a tremendous honor for these two successful agricultural businessmen.

     Andy Klittich, class of 2008, and an alumni scholarship recipient, competed in three events at the annual Professional Landscape Network's PLANET 33rd Annual Student Career Days at Cal Poly, Pomona.  Sixty one college teams, including a total of 798 students, participated in 26 individual and team competitions, including tree climbing, paver installation, wood construction, plant identification, irrigation troubleshooting, skid steer and equipment operation, just to name a few.

     Andy, who attends Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a Horticulture major, placed first in the national competition for Skid Steer Operation and his team placed fourth in Irrigation Assembly.  The Skid Steer event involved a safety test and pre-operation of the tractor, driving a slalom course with a 5 gallon bucket of water strapped to a pallet.  The course involved a slalom, a 90 degree turn and then a 360 degree rotation and then over to another area where Andy had to raise the boom to full height and then do the entire course again back to the start.  The event was judged for time and a measurement of how much water was left in the bucket at the end of the run.

     Next year's competition will be held at Chattachoochee Technical College, North Metro Campus in Atlanta Georgia, and Andy will compete in 5 events:  Truck and Trailer Operation, Compact Excavator Operation, Compact Utility Loader Operation, Irrigation Assembly and Skid Steer Operation.  Good luck to Andy.