Wednesday, October 26, 2011 was a day when Fillmore’s reputation as one of the “Last of the Best Small Towns” was reconfirmed. If anyone passed along Central Avenue between the hours of 4pm-7:30pm, you might have wondered about all the activity as enthusiastic young people & seniors & “in- betweeners” worked together to refurbish the planter pots with red, white & blue themed flowers to go with our military banners hung above the street.
This was a long hoped for, and well planned “grass roots” event. Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee was given permission by our city manager, Yvonne Quiring, to seek sponsor ships to refurbish the pots because of the city’s deficit & the landscaper’s request for more money to do the work.

The pots had long struggled with hard rocky dirt, poor quality watering systems and frequently exchanged small annuals which did not balance with the pot size.

When the “word” was put out seeking sponsorships, we began getting calls and Wednesday was our first planting event.

All the large diameter pots have been planted with a compact tree rose & the red & blue flowering plants, but there are still small pots needing sponsors. Information is available from Linda Nunes at 805-524-3021 or other Civic Pride committee members like Cindy Klittich & Sarah Hansen.

Sponsors can be “hands on” types, helping with the planting & care or donating type.

They will receive a small plaque attached to the pot & a certificate of appreciation, along with publicity in our newspapers.

Civic Pride would like to recognize our city fire chief, Rigo Landeros for his immense help in driving the skip loader & dump truck for old soil removal. He even helped with shoveling dirt & sweeping. Now how is that for community members working together to benefit our town!

Sponsors that have already become involved are: Otto & Sons Inc., Victoria Pace, Kennedy Smith, Janet Foy, Sespe 4H,, Grace Beer, DDS, Soroptimist International of Fillmore, Gayle Washburn and Patterson Hardware.