Pictured are Paul & Laura Ortega, longtime Piru residents who will be recognized at the Annual Piru Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at noon, with a festival at the Train Depot Park.
Enlarge Photo

This year’s Annual Piru Christmas Parade & Festival will take place Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 12pm and will begin at Piru Elementary School and route through Center Street. Immediately following the parade will the be the festival at the Train Depot Park with food, live music, performances, and more for all to enjoy. If you have any questions, call 805-814-6140 or email piruneighborhoodcouncilinc@yahoo.com.

Paul is a lifelong resident of Piru. Paul & Laura met 30 years ago, and Paul proposed to Laura during the Christmas festivities and Laura became a resident of Piru. They have since both been dedicated to our community and have grown their family here. The Ortegas have two children Anissa & Steven, a beautiful daughter-in-law Nikka, and they are expecting their first grandson in February 2025.

Paul has donned the Santa hat and played the jolly character for over thirty years in the Piru Christmas Parade & Festival. He would also be found riding Santa’s sleigh, known in Piru as Engine 28, handing out candy and gifts throughout the town. Paul enjoys bringing smiles and happiness to the children and families of Piru.
Laura has made her mark in her community as well. When her children were attending school, Laura dedicated her time to help start the Friends of Piru PTA group. She also taught catechism for five years at The San Salvador Mission. Laura has filled the role in the past as Piru Neighborhood Council’s Member at Large and she continues today to help with the annual Senior Graduation Dinner event, held at the Newhall Mansion.

Paul and Laura are always willing to help the Piru Neighborhood Council, and our community is blessed from their dedication and care to Piru. They are good examples of what Piru is all about: always ready to help anyone at any time.

Ventura Sheriff’s Office partners with Ventura County Fire Department in Spark of Love Holiday Toy Drive.
The Ventura Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Ventura County Fire Department in their holiday toy drive. Collection boxes will be located at all sheriff stations. This community campaign is to collect new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for underserved children and teens in Ventura County. In addition, this campaign is also to support Food Share, to help fight hunger in Ventura County. All non-perishable food and toys can be dropped off any time prior to December 16th.

In 2023, through generous donations from our communities, more than 33,000 local children and teens benefited from the kindness of our community members, businesses, and supporting sponsors. Food Share will also provide food for families served by the toy drive.

Prepared by: Captain Rob Yoos
News Release Date:11/19/2024

By Fillmore Fire Department

The Fillmore Fire Department in conjunction with the Fillmore Fire Foundation is kicking off the annual Holiday Toy Drive this week. Collection drop off boxes for new toys are available at the Fillmore Police and Fire Stations, City Hall and the Bank of the Sierra. As part of the Toy Drive, on Sunday, December 8th, the Fire Foundation will be holding the annual Chicken Dinner Fundraiser to collect donations that will used to purchase hundreds of toys for children in the Fillmore/Piru area. A complete chicken dinner meal is prepared for anyone wanting to donate fifteen dollars ($15) that will be used to purchase a new toy. All meals will be for take-out only and will be available via a drive-thru process, this year the dinner will be held at the Fillmore High School Cafeteria, enter via the Horseshoe entrance off First St. Dinner will be served from 5 -7 PM. In lieu of a $15 donation, a new toy valued at $15 or greater may be donated. The hundreds of toys purchased from this event will be combined with those that are donated by the Community and then distributed on Saturday, December 14, from 9AM-12 PM at a huge Community Holiday Giveaway event. If you would like to donate to the Toy Drive/Community Giveaway or would like to purchase tickets/drop off toys, please call 805-815-0328.

Posted on: November 14, 2024 courtesy https://www.fillmoreca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=165
City of Fillmore’s Annual Tree Lighting & Night Market – December 1st, 5:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with us in Downtown Fillmore! The City’s Annual Tree Lighting & Night Market is happening on Sunday, December 1st from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This family-friendly event will be filled with holiday fun, shopping, and new activities for all ages. Mark your calendars and bring your loved ones for a memorable night!

Event Highlights: Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
NEW! Fillmore Spirit Business Bingo: Pick up a Bingo Card starting Wednesday, November 27 at participating businesses or the City booth on event day.

How to Play: Visit each of the 9 participating businesses—La Fondita, Estrella Market, Fillmore Town Theater, Scented Path, Cielito Lindo Beauty Salon, Fillmore Family Store, Diamond Realty, and Los Altos Mexican Restaurant—and get your card marked.

Prizes: Turn in your completed card at the City booth for a holiday present! The first nine people to submit a completed card will win a special prize sponsored by our participating businesses.
Raffle: Completed cards also earn entry into our raffle at 6:15 p.m. near the tree lighting. Participants must be present to win.

Snow Play Area hosted by Lemon Tree Embroidery – perfect for kids and families to experience a little winter magic in Fillmore!

Santa Photo Booth: Snap a holiday photo under our ornament with Santa himself.
Live Music & Entertainment: Enjoy festive tunes and performances throughout the night.
Food Trucks and Local Vendors: Grab a bite to eat and explore unique holiday gifts.
Gather your family and friends, and don’t miss out on an enchanting evening in Fillmore! For more details, stay tuned to our website and social media.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, the Original Lowrider Legends presented Fillmore resident Sonia Chessani, member of Good Times Car Club, with the Mentorship Honor Award at the Petersen Museum.
Enlarge Photo

Above is Sonia Chessani with her son Alexz Chessani after receiving her award.
Enlarge Photo

On Friday the evening of Friday, November 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, California, at The Petersen Museum, over 450 people were in attendance, where 13 recipients and three car club dynasties were celebrated. Fillmore resident Sonia Chessani is the only female recognized that evening by Host and Master of Ceremonies Joe Ray. Sonia was presented with a ring and the Mentorship Honor Award.

To her surprise weeks before actual presentation, Mr. Ray, previous 14-year Chief Editor of Lowrider Magazine and now Founder/Owner of Original Lowrider and Podcast Show, contacted Sonia to present her with accepting the Mentorship Honor award. After a brief conversation she accepted the honor, and said her first thought was, “Now I have to wear a dress!” Yet she was very grateful to be a recipient.
Sonia is happy she followed her teenage dreams of being in a car club, because when she started out in this passion, females were not easily embraced in the surrounding car club community; most rode with their significant other, or shotgun. Sonia said that she never tried to stand out as a female but wanted to be treated and respected as an equal. With determination and perseverance her dreams all came to favor. It all started when she was given membership and a plaque after her probation and acceptance with Nite Life Car Club of Santa Barbara in mid-80’s.

At present time Sonia has been an active member of Good Times Car Club based in East Los Angeles under Founder Paul Sanchez and Co. Founder late Jesse “Papo” Sanchez, belonging to the Southern California Chapter for 13 years under the direction of President Danny Jaime and Vice President Serafin “Pelon” Romero. Sonia has been heavily involved in the Lowrider Community for over 37 years, starting her passion in the mid 80’s. She commenced in the mini truck era when the Lowrider culture was at its low and evolved into the lowrider scene with her 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass.

Sonia has traveled over the years thru the States including California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Georgia this past year with relative Daniel Gonzalez of Daniels Kreations, as a support member to the Rick Ross Show while her car is currently under a full restoration, due to come out soon. Sonia is also Marketing Director of Lowrider Scene Magazine and is owner of her clothing line Lo Mio Apparel since 2020 which coincides with the Lowrider culture she represents.

Sonia has assisted working car shows over the years, placed in numerous shows, and been awarded several honors. In 2007 she was presented with an award at Long Beach Veterans Stadium “Ladies of Lowriding”. In 2014 Nite Life Ventura Co. Car Club presented her with an award for “Dedication & Commitment” in Ventura, Ca. In 2017 she was presented with an award of recognition by Pachuco Car Club in Oxnard, California at a show dedicated to “Women in Lowriding” for her involvement over the years; and for her 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass “Lowrider Girl” being featured back-to-back within months of each other in 2017 in Lowrider Magazine and Lowrider Scene Magazine, both published worldwide.

In 2017 at an awards banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada, Good Times Car Club Founder Paul Sanchez presented her with an “Excellence” award for magazine coverage, where she has been a member of Good Times Car Club since 2011. Sonia was also inducted into the National Lowrider Hall of Fame Class of 2019, and now recently chosen as a recipient “Lowrider Legends” Class of 2024.

Sonia says that her biggest honor is to follow in the Chessani Family’s car passion and only wishes her father, the late John Chessani, could be here watching her accomplishments, but is proud to have her mother, Adela, son “Freshh”, and so many friends and supporters who have stood by her side thru her journey over the years.

On Sunday, November 17, 2024, AYSO EPIC Fillmore program players attended the Section 10’s Bill Keene Memorial EPIC Festival, and Fillmore Region 242, participating for the first time with four EPIC teams in the festival; Lions, Minions, Orange Crush, and Blue. Above are some of this year’s participants. Photo credit Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
Enlarge Photo

Pictured above are some of the Blue Sonic Players smiling along with the Grinch as they take a photo to end their 2024 season. Photo credit Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
Enlarge Photo

By Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez

Hundreds of AYSO EPIC soccer players came together at Arroyo Vista Recreational Park for Section 10’s Bill Keene Memorial EPIC Festival hosted by AYSO Region 363, Moorpark, a day full of festivities, competition, camaraderie, games, music, food, and plenty of free activities for EPIC families.

EPIC (Everyone Plays In Our Community) is a program within AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) that provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams. The EPIC program, which has only been around for three seasons in Fillmore, wrapped up the regular season with over 40 players registered, including three players who played both EPIC and core. EPIC has continued to grow in the Fillmore community with the help of an AMAZING group of sponsors and volunteers, including coaches, referees, buddies, and parents.

The EPIC Festival, formerly known as VIP Festival, had been on hiatus since 2017, and was brought back on Sunday, November 17, with AYSO EPIC teams participating from all over Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, including: Woodland Hills, Palmdale, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Ventura, Fillmore, and more. Fillmore, Region 242, participated for the first time with four EPIC teams in the festival, Lions, Minions, Orange Crush, and Blue Sonics thanks to their amazing coaches Sandra Guerrero, Matthew Hernandez, Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez, Tania Melgoza, and Yvette Moore.

Among the amazing individuals and local businesses who have generously donated goods and services to the Bill Keene Memorial EPIC Festival, include Amazon Fresh (Moorpark), American Trophy, Angel City Football Club, City Auto Body, Costco (Simi Valley), DJ Joey Funk, DJ Ecto 1, Estrella Market, Everything Face Paint, LA Galaxy, Lemontree Embroidery, One Step A La Vez, Rainbow Connection, Simi Valley Challengers, Simi Valley Elks Lodge #2492, SouthWest Heating and Air Conditioning, Susie Q Photography, Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge #2477, Tri-Counties Regional Center, and Viva SuperHeroes Behavior Services.

For more information on EPIC Festival 2025 and the EPIC Fillmore program, visit the websites below, or contact Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez at aysoEPICfillmore@gmail.com.