Christine Schieferle, Superintendent, Fillmore Unified School District

Released March 11, 2022

Dear FUSD Families,
I would like to thank you for your continued support and patience as we continue to adapt to state and local public health mandates. Together, we have prioritized student and staff safety while continuing to provide the best educational experiences for our students. The purpose of this letter is to provide updated information regarding the Mask Mandate for FUSD students and staff beginning March 14, 2022.

In alignment with Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) and the Executive Order issued by Governor Newsom, beginning March 14th, FUSD students and staff will no longer be required to wear masks indoors and on school busses regardless of their vaccination status. We will continue to strongly recommend indoor masking; however, students and staff will have the personal choice to wear a mask or not wear a mask. I understand that the anticipation of these changes will be a relief to some and a source of anxiety for others. We will continue to support both students and staff in making the individual decisions on whether to wear masks.

Responsibility for COVID Safety/Continuing Mitigation
- Students and staff prescreen and stay home when sick
- Surgical and N95 masks for students upon request in every school office
- Continued group contact tracing and notifications
- Frequent use of handwashing and sanitizing
- Enhanced classroom cleaning of high-touch areas daily
- Improved ventilation
- Expanded testing opportunities at our elementary school sites and at the FHS stadium
- VCPH pediatric vaccination clinics for families who wish to have their children vaccinated

FUSD will remain prepared to adjust with conditions of the virus and to all updated public health mandates

Respecting Personal Choice
- The state is providing personal choice for masking in schools with the expectation that individual choices are respected.
- One should not make assumptions regarding someone’s beliefs or health status based upon their choice to wear or not wear a mask, nor should they comment on them.
- If your child expresses any anxiety, please reach out to our school counselors for support

We look forward to this next phase and are very excited to see smiling faces and to take another step towards returning to normal operations and bringing back the activities we have all missed.

Sincerely,
Christine Schieferle, Superintendent
Fillmore Unified School District

Hulbert "Hub" Cloyd, Fillmore’s Mayor in 1985. Photos courtesy Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Ernie Morales, former Fillmore mayor, addressing a demonstration against the English as the Official Language Initiative. Ernie served as mayor in 1984.
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Gary Creagle, who served as a Fillmore City Councilman in 1985.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum
On Wednesday evening, March 9, the Fillmore Historical Museum presented a virtual screening of the 1986 documentary “Miles from the Border”. This was the first time that the documentary was shown in Fillmore. Over 50 people participated from around the U.S. Viewers varied in age from high school students to senior citizens.

“Miles From the Border” was created by Ellen Frankenstein as part of her master’s program at the University of Southern California. At the time she was doing research for a film company which was interested in doing documentaries. A headline, “English Language Rule Splits California City” in the August 18th, 1985, New York Times caught her eye. The Fillmore City Council has passed a resolution making English the official language for City business (the ordinance was repealed in 1999). A group of people called the ABC Committee objected to the schools requiring a period of bi-lingual education for all students. Mayor Hulbert “Hub” Cloyd was on record as saying a second language should be taught only at home on a voluntary basis. City Councilman Gary Creagle presented a one sentence resolution to the City Council stating that “The English Language is the official language of the City of Fillmore.” The passage of the resolution widened an existing division between Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents. People on both sides of the issue misunderstood the actual impact (official City business would only be conducted in English) and felt this was an “English Only” statute.

According to Ernie Morales who had served as Mayor of Fillmore in 1984 prior to the resolution’s enactment and led the opposition, “The resolution message was vague and cause for confusion as to what it meant outside of city hall business. Town folks became strangers, hostile comments were doled out by both sides of the issue, businesses were boycotted, some services were denied to minority residents, long-time social relationship were split, etc.”

Ellen was sent to Fillmore for one day to see if this was something that could be turned into a documentary. The company she was working for did not end up making the documentary on the resolution, but Ellen saw a possible topic for her Master’s thesis. “I really started thinking about the immigrant process, what it means to come to a new country.” Ellen explained that, “I'd met Manuela (Aparicio) and asked her and her brother Ben, if I could focus the film on them.”

“Miles From the Border” focused on the experience of the children of the Aparicio Family who had come to Fillmore in 1961 from a small village, Huejote, in Zacatecas arriving in Fillmore in 1965. Their father, Manuel Aparicio, picked oranges as did the children when they weren’t in school. It was Manuel’s dream for his children to become educated and prosper in the United States. The children were encouraged by their parents to excel academically and go on to college. This put the family at odds with some others in the Hispanic community. Manuela recalled being referred to as a ‘traitor” because she aspired do more than work in agriculture or the bra factory. The children of Manuel and Ines Aparicio lived in two worlds and that is reflected in the documentary.

After the screening, Manuela Aparicio and Ellen Frankenstein, joined by Thomas Luehrsen who had been the camera man for the documentary, reminisced about the making of the documentary and took questions from the viewers.

CITY COUNCIL NEWS

8. NEW BUSINESS 8. A PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 21-04 TO AMEND FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 6.04.0417 TO UPDATE DENSITY BONUS STANDARDS FOR CONSISTENCY WITH STATE LAW AND FINDING OF CEQA EXEMPTION CC Stf Rpt 1st Reading - Density Bonus Ordinance 3-8-2022.pdf. 4-0 APPROVED.

8.B PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 22-01, ORDINANCE 22-937, TO PROHIBIT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN THE VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD ZONE AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA CC Staff Report 1st reading - ADUs in Very High Risk Fire Hazard Zones.pdf
Item CONTINUED.

8.C CREATION OF UTILITIES AD HOC COMMITTEE AND APPOINTMENT OF TWO COUNCILMEMBERS TO COMMITTEE Fillmore - staff report Council Utilities Ad Hoc Committee.pdf.
Diane McCall, Mayor and Christina Villasenor appointed to Utility Sub-Committee.

8.D REQUEST APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT WITH RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING SERVICES FOR NORTH FILLMORE SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT Fillmore - Rincon Contract for the NFSP SR FINAL.pdf.
APPROVED 4-0

Courtesy City of Fillmore
Facebook Page

This is the Annual City of Fillmore 5k Shamrock Color Fun Run/Walk! It’s all happening March 12, 2022, 8am to 11am, starting at Central Park, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015. Pre-registration is recommended at this link:
www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfFillmore/_5kshamrockcolorfunrunwalk2022. Day-of registration ends at 8:45am on Saturday, March 12th.

The 5K Color Fun Run/Walk starts at 9am in front of Central Park (this is an untimed event). Details:
- There will be 2 water stations along the route (subject to change).
- Bring/wear your own white tee/tank if you would like to participate in the color portion of the fun run/walk.
- Wear appropriate attire & shoes.
- Date is subject to change due to COVID regulations and/or weather related cause.
- No refunds are available as all funds are committed to the production, promotion, marketing and advertising of
the event.
- Digital registration/payments preferred. If submitting a paper copy registration form, please make checks payable to “City of Fillmore” & in the subject line write in “5k registration”.

** First 100 registrants will be receiving an event memento at the end of the 5k route, look for the City of Fillmore table & pop-up tent! Registration Fees: - 5k Run/Walk General $15 - K-12th Grade/Senior Citizen/U.S. Active Duty/Military Veteran $10. (Must show valid picture ID 6th-12th grades, senior citizens, U.S. Active Duty/Veterans for the discount).

The last day to apply is March 31, 2022! HousingIsKey.com is still accepting and reviewing applications for the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, which can help protect tenants from eviction through the end of March. Funds for rental reimbursement are prioritized based on the time of submission and the highest risk of eviction. Even if you aren’t sure if you are at the highest risk, you are still encouraged to apply to help protect yourself from eviction. Receive more information, check eligibility and apply at HousingIsKey.com today or call 833-430-2122. Courtesy https://www.facebook.com/CountyOfVentura.

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Calling all Fillmore High Alumni from the Great Class of 1982. Please confirm your reservations for this year’s Alumni Dinner happening in downtown Fillmore on Saturday, June 11th, 2022. The Class of ’82 has reserved a special area for this year’s Alumni Dinner event as they celebrate their 40-year class reunion. Their beautifully draped royal blue linen tables will surround their private cabana area enclosed by white picket fencing. They plan to come early to enjoy their special hors d’oeuvres table prepared exclusively for the Class of ’82. Wow! 40 years? Say it ain’t so. Fillmore Class of 1982 Celebrates 40 Year Reunion at FHS Alumni Dinner so..... If you are a Fillmore High Alumni, or from the class of ’82 and plan to attend this year’s Alumni Dinner, you can make your reservations now at www.fillmorehighalumni.com/events. Live band, and two DJ’s this year!

Judge Charles Whitney (C. W.) Harthorn.

Leon Harthorn driving Harthorn's entry in a local parade circa 1930.
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Harthorn's advertisement from January 1932.
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The Harthorn Family Christmas photo taken in 1924.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

The November 10, 1933 Fillmore Herald carried the story “Pioneer Store Closes Doors November 15.” The opening paragraph reads: “It is with considerable regret the Herald chronicles this week the retirement from active business of C. W. Harthorn, pioneer merchant, on November 15th.” It’s hard to imagine such concern today about a store’s closure, but this clearly marked the end of an era for Fillmore.

C. W. (Charles Whitney) Harthorn was born in Thomaston, Maine in 1870 to a seafaring family. He went to sea at age 10 and rose through the ranks to become captain of his own clipper ship. His obituary noted that he was never in a “real shipwreck” in his 15 years at sea but did have near misses. As he described his career:

“My seafaring life began in lime coasters plying between Thomaston, Rockland and New York and Boston. Later I was in the North Atlantic trade, deals from St. John and cotton from Norfolk to Liverpool, then came several deep-water trips. Liverpool to San Francisco and return, New York to San Francisco, back to Liverpool and around the Horn again; then lumber from Puget Sound to Australia and coal back to San Pedro. Finally, I drifted into the West Indies trade out of New York and Philadelphia with occasional South América and South Africa voyage. Failing health caused me to leave this trade and wander out to Honolulu, where I passed sometime in the inter-island boats. I returned to California in 1897 and have been in the southern part of the state ever since.”

C. W. Harthorn did not always go to sea alone, on some voyages his wife, Lottie, accompanied him. It was not always smooth sailing, while in the West Indies, Lottie contracted yellow fever and almost died. Being a seaman’s wife could be perilous.

Upon leaving the sea, Harthorn went to work as a conductor for the Los Angeles Railway which led to a job as superintendent of oil leases in Ventura County. He, his wife, Lottie, and their two oldest boys, Leon and Raymond, moved to Piru. Harthorn took charge of the Eureka Lease (under the Torrey Hill lease) and the Sunset and Ukiah leases in Hopper Canyon.

As the family grew and the children became old enough for high school, the family moved to Fillmore and Harthorn joined with Walter Cornelius, who had managed the Fillmore branch of the Ventura County Co-operative Store, to purchase partnership in Richard Stephens’ store on the northwest corner of Main and Central. In 1911 they bought the business from Stephens' and renamed the business “Cash Commercial.” By 1913, Harthorn had bought out Cornelius.

Stephens’ Store had been a general store carrying both dry goods and groceries, but Harthorn phased out the dry goods side of the business and focused on the grocery needs of his customers.

In 1927, the business moved to a new location at 360 Central. According to the Herald, “The Harthorn Building is one of the most modern structures in Fillmore and was built at a cost of about $20,000 together with the 60-foot frontage it occupies. It was built especially for the type of business Mr. Harthorn has conducted, with ample space for the meat market of A. T. Coleman, well arranged bakery, balcony and office.”

The business was renamed “Harthorn’s.” Eldest son, Leon, joined the business for a time but left to work for the Forest Service. Leon would go on to be Fillmore’s second City Manager, replacing Clarence Arrasmith in 1954.
The location did not stay vacant for long. Lindenfeld’s, which had been in the Harmonson Building at 322 Central, moved to the newer building. Nicholas J. Lindenfeld had come to Fillmore about the same time Harthorn had moved to Fillmore from Piru, to take over the management of the Ventura County Co-operative Association store which later became United Mercantile. In 1921 he started his own mercantile business. His son, Ray, joined the business in 1932 and took over as proprietor in 1933. Coming full circle, Ray Lindenfeld would serve on the Fillmore City Council alongside Leon Harthorn as City Manager in the late 1950s and 60s.

In 1928, the former Capt. C. W. Harthorn gained a new title – Justice of the Peace for Fillmore. He was not the first judge in the family line. An ancestor had presided over the Salem Witch Trials.

A story is told of a teen-age boy coming before the Judge for setting off dynamite in the river bottom. Instead of sentencing the youth to jail or fining him, the Judge’s sentence was for the boy to write three papers on explosives. Judge Hawthorn’s comment to his family was, “I have to hurry up and read up, also, so I can know what he is writing about.” The boy eventually became an explosives expert for a major oil company. Court was held in the balcony area of the Harthorn Building even after it became Lindenfeld’s.

C. W. Harthorn served Fillmore as Justice of the Peace until his death in 1945. He was survived by his wife, five daughters, four sons and sixteen grandchildren.

By Jan Lee

Last week you read about the divisions for single stem flowers. This week you will learn about potted plants and dish gardens.

Maybe your garden isn’t blooming. Maybe you just haven’t planted roses or iris or any other flowers yet. No worries! Perhaps you have a potted plant or a dish garden that you have been nurturing for years. Bring those to the Flower Show!

Division VII—Potted Plants
A single variety in a container that is not too heavy to be carried by the exhibitor. Some people have very large potted plants. We’d love for you to enter them, but we can’t carry it for you. The Classes in this division are: African violets, Orchids, Cacti and Succulents, Other. There have been some beautiful entries in this division over the years. Show us what you have grown.

Division VIII—Dish Gardens
As in the potted plants division, the exhibitor must be able to carry their dish garden in to the display area. You can be very creative in this category. Put as many different plants together as you think makes a great display. Succulents are popular. What container would express the theme of the flower show, “Farie Tales and Flowers”?

In case you forgot, The Fillmore Flower Show is April 9 and 10 at the Active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore. Entries are accepted from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Adults pay $5 no matter how many entries they have. All youth entries are FREE. Public viewing is from 1-4 p.m. both days. The judging begins at 10, so don’t be late in bringing your entry.

At a youth table, children will be able to plant a succulent to take home. This could be the beginning of a potted plant or dish garden for next year’s show! There will be many varieties for sale at the plant boutique.

Please plan to enter or at least view Fillmore Flower Show this year. It is really a fun event. For more information see: www.fillmoreflowershow.org