The Fillmore High Alumni Association presents Blue & White Night 2023, Thursday evening, October 19th. They will host a Classic Car Show on Central Avenue between First Street and Sespe Avenue. All activities start at 5 PM, Parade starts at 6:00pm. Let’s go Flashes!! If you’ve ever wondered, who’s idea it was to light up our beloved “F” on the hill above Fillmore, look no further. His name is John Heilman, FHS class of ‘53! He will be in this year‘s homecoming parade. For more details visit https://www.facebook.com/FillmoreHighSchoolAlumniAssociation.

Fillmore Civic Pride named their 2023 Fall/Halloween “Yard of the Month” award to the Dr. Warren Peacock family on Oriole Circle. They received a $50 gift card from Otto & Sons Nursery as their prize. They have two 12-foot Inferno skeletons overlooking several “Oogie Boogie” figures, lit-up pumpkins, a giant spider in its lair and more.
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By Linda Nunes

Civic Pride Volunteers have selected the home of the Dr. Warren Peacock family at 1125 Oriole Circle to receive the Fall/Halloween “Yard of the Month” award. The family moved to Fillmore about 8 years ago from Arizona. They all get involved in the process of design, & installation & each year there are more additions as it continues to evolve.
The yard has two, 12-foot Inferno skeletons overlooking several “Oogie Boogie” figures, lit-up pumpkins, a giant spider in its lair, a giant skeleton on the roof with timed lights, many different sized skeletons scampering onto the roof, a giant Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town in the 1993 movie, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Adding more atmosphere, are fog machines & colored lights & ghostly faces among the trees.

Dr. Peacock said all the family were “camera shy”, but as I described the $50 gift card from Otto & Sons Nursery (the reason we are able to give these awards), and all the amazing grounds to explore with ponds and places to picnic, trees, vegetables, perennials, and a massive selection of roses available for sale, he said his wife would especially be excited to visit the nursery. The family will be in for a real treat, having never been there before.

It was a difficult choice because there were many great displays! Take a ride around town to see 502 Stonehedge, 787 & 869 Burlington, 937 Sante Fe, 79 Reading, 408 Edgewood, 366 Bridalwood, 755 A St. and 1149, 1163, 1120 Shady Lane. We keep track of the award winners & try to spread the awards around the community.

A suspect has been identified and arrested for stealing a 25-foot custom flatbed utility trailer from the 1300 block of Cliff Avenue in the unincorporated area of Ventura County / Fillmore. The stolen trailer was quickly recovered in the San Fernando Valley and returned to the owner/victim.

On October 5, 2023, the victim returned home and discovered his custom trailer had been stolen from his driveway during the same day. Patrol deputies assigned to the Santa Clara Valley Station responded and began a stolen vehicle investigation.

The investigation revealed information that a possible suspect was attempting to sell the trailer on social media. Detectives assigned to the Santa Clara Valley Station continued with the investigation where they utilized several law enforcement databases and identified the suspect as Santa Clarita resident Albino Carrera Marcos.

On October 6, 2023, at approximately 12:45 AM, Marcos was contacted in the 18000 block of Soledad Canyon Road and placed under arrest without incident for violation of VC 10851(a)- Unlawful Taking of a Vehicle.

Marcos was in possession of additional incriminating evidence linking him to the theft and the location of the stolen trailer. Detectives were then able to locate and recover the stolen trailer in the 10000 block of Lemona Avenue in the San Fernando Valley.

Marcos was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he remains in custody with his bail set at $20,000.00.

Nature of Incident: Suspect arrested for theft of a flatbed custom utility trailer
Report Number: 23-128469
Location:1300 Block Cliff Avenue, Unincorporated area of Ventura County / Fillmore
Date & Time: October 5, 2023 @ 11:00 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Santa Clara Valley Station Patrol, Santa Clara Valley Station Detectives

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

(S) Albino Carrera Marcos Santa Clarita 26

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon, Fillmore Police Chief

Search and Rescue team member Scott Gillis (left) gave a presentation to city council at Tuesday’s regular meeting.
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Items approved 5-0 except for Item 9.A which was approved 4-1.

9.A RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve Resolution 23-3964, a resolution of intent to transition from atlarge to district-based elections pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010 and authorizing the appropriation of $42,000 from general fund reserves to account number 101-4103-0021-245 – City Clerk- Contract Services.

9.B RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council: i) approve a contract with National Demographics Corporation (NDC), in a form approved by the City Attorney, for professional demographer services to assist with the City’s transition to by-district City Council elections, in an amount not to exceed $42,000; and ii) authorize the City Manager to execute the contract.
9.C APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF EQUESTRIAN CENTER PROPERTY (308 CHAMBERSBURG ROAD.)

REQUEST: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the First Amendment to Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Property and Joint Escrow Instructions (“First Amendment”) between the City as seller and Mario Robledo and Vanessa Garcia (jointly as “Buyers”).

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute the First Amendment.
9.D CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR A THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE PROPERTY REMEDIATION AGREEMENT FOR 461 CENTRAL AVENUE (DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 21-02 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 21-02)

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that City Council: 1) Approve the Third Amendment to Property Remediation Agreement with 461 Central, LLC to extend the Conditions of Approval completion deadline to October 20, 2024.

“Fillmore Freedom Flyers” group toured the Smithsonian Museum where they saw the Fillmore Citrus Association Bass Drum on display. Pictured is a photo of the drum taken this month, October 2023. Photo credit Lady Jo Becerra, article credit Fillmore Historical Museum. Above is Antonio Gomez with the Fillmore Mexican Band drum in 2018. Antonio’s father, J. Loreto Gomez Cortez, was one of the trumpet players for the band at the Mexican Independence Day celebration in Guadalupe, CA, September 16, 1929. Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Above is the Mexican Independence Day celebration, Guadalupe, CA, September 16, 1929. Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

Brandy Lengning recently sent us some photos taken while in Washington with Jennifer Beal’s group “Fillmore Freedom Flyers” who had been touring the Smithsonian Museum. Brandy and the entire group were surprised to see Fillmore represented in a display. It was the bass drum from the Fillmore Citrus Association Mexican Band. We wish we could say it came from our collection, but instead it has been well taken care of by the Museum of Ventura County. But we do have some back story on the drum.

We have recounted the history of the band before, especially in our profile of Frank Erskine, Manager of the Fillmore Citrus Association and founder of the band. There were actually two bands the “American” band and the “Mexican” band but frequently they were combined into one group.
In 2018, Antonio Gomez and family members visited our Museum looking for the bass drum. At that time he presented us with a picture of Mexican Independence Day Celebration in Guadalupe, CA, Sept 16, 1929. Picture features the Fillmore Citrus Assn Band with the bass drum front and center. Antonio’s father, J. Loreto Gomez Cortez is one of the trumpet players in the band.

We did not have the drum, but Executive Director Martha Gentry, suspected the Museum of Ventura County might have it. She called and was told they did have it; in fact, they were in the process of crating it up to send to the Smithsonian. Antonio left immediately for Ventura and later sent us a picture of himself and the drum.
Our thanks to Jennifer Beal for leading the trip to Washington, DC, to Lady Jo Becerra for the picture of the display, and to Brandy Lengning for the news. Special thanks to the Museum of Ventura County for caring for the drum all these years.