The Fillmore Police Department Encourages Residents to Participate
in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024.

Fillmore community members are invited to participate in National Night Out, on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. This is an opportunity to engage in relationship building with deputies, firefighters, and members of various units from the Sheriff’s Office.

National Night Out is an annual crime prevention event and community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie that make our neighborhoods safer all year round. The event will include representatives from several specialized units, including SWAT, K-9 Unit, Bomb Unit, Search and Rescue, Explorers, and Volunteers in Policing. Crumble Cookie and Fillmore Starbucks have been kind enough to donate snacks for this event.

“National Night Out is a great opportunity for local residents to meet and greet different team members assigned to various Sheriff’s Specialized Units for an evening of activities,” said Fillmore Police Chief Eduardo Malagon. “Community partnered policing is more critical than ever before. It’s important for our community members to engage with our team in a positive environment and know that we are truly here to serve them and keep them safe.”

The City of Fillmore, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continuing community partnerships.

The Fillmore Police Department invites the community to come out and ask questions, get crime prevention advice, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. Together, we are making communities safer, more caring places to live.

This event will be held at the Fillmore Police Station on Tuesday August 6th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00PM. To learn more about National Night Out in the City of Fillmore, contact Sergeant Jarrod Foote at the Fillmore Police Department, 805-524-2233.

Nature of Incident: National Night Out Event

Location: Fillmore Police Station
524 Sespe Avenue
Fillmore CA, 93015

Date & Time: August 6th, 2024, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department/Fillmore Fire Department

Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Pictured (l-r) are Rotary President Anna Reilley and guest speakers Danny Golson, John Munoz, Jane Munoz and Ernie Villages. Photo credit Martha Richardson.
Enlarge Photo

At last week’s Rotary Club of Fillmore meeting Ernie Villegas was the main Rotary speaker who spoke about the Los Veterans of Fillmore and Piru Organization. Many in the group were in Vietnam and came home to anything but a positive welcome. Most didn’t tell anyone they were there and never talked about the experience. They kept it all inside which cause some to get into drugs, alcohol and worse. John Munoz said the main reason for the organization is to bring Vets together to share their experiences. John said in the beginning there were only about 12-13 members who came and today there are 70. It is a time to share and realize they are not alone. They need to share their stories and don’t have to keep it inside anymore. Danny Golson is also in American Vets of America and spoke of helping Vets with benefits and direction. Ernie said they meet for lunch once a month and host a dinner dance once a year. He is also the head of the Veteran’s Day Celebration and parade where Vets ride in classic cars and afterwards have a luncheon. Each branch of the service is represented.

Posted on: July 10, 2024, courtesy https://www.fillmoreca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=127
Fantastic News, Fillmore! We’re thrilled to announce that the Two Rivers Dog Park is NOW OPEN! Bring your furry friends for a day of fun, play, and tail-wagging excitement. With plenty of space to run, a new installation of a drinking fountain, shaded areas for you and your pup to relax, it’s the paw-fect spot for your four-legged family members.
The Two Rivers Dog Park is designed to make every dog’s day brighter. Come explore and meet new furry friends, and enjoy a community built around our love for dogs. Whether your pup loves a good game of fetch or just wants to sniff around, there’s something for everyone. Hours of Operation: Sunrise to Sunset.

On Friday, July 12th, Fillmore Library hosted Ventura County Search & Rescue K9 Team (VCSARK9) Members Lisa Hammond and Virginia Feyh (and her K9 Huck) as they spoke with the kids enrolled in the Summer Reading Program about “Hug A Tree and Survive”. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-Firephoto_91.

On Friday, July 12th, as part of the Summer Reading Program at the Fillmore Library, Team Members Lisa Hammond and Virginia Feyh (and her K9 Huck) of the Ventura County Search & Rescue K9 Team (VCSARK9), came to talk to the kids (and adults) about the program “Hug A Tree and Survive”. VCSARK9 is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, training and deployment of high performance, volunteer canine teams which will in turn effectively assist in the search and rescue or search and recovery of missing persons.

Hug-A-Tree and Survive was developed in the United States following the search for Jimmy Beveridge in 1981 and was first adapted for Canadian use by the RCMP. It was updated by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) and the SAR Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) in 2015 with new videos and activities to support program delivery. Hug-a-Tree and Survive is an AdventureSmart program that helps lost children survive in the woods. It teaches children how not to become lost in the woods, and what to do should they become lost. If a child should become lost in the woods, hugging a tree can help them stay safe, and be found. Staying near a tree offers some protection from the elements, and keeps lost children in the same place, which makes it easier for searchers to find them. The presentation included a short video presentation, discussion about the 4 rules to help keep children safe, and a demonstration with one of the dogs training to be on the VCSARK9 Team, Huck, a Redbone [!@#$] Hound.

The Hug-a-Tree Rules

Hug-A-Tree and Survive emphasizes four key rules to keeping children safe:
Always tell your parents, or another trusted adult where you are going, who you are going with, and when you will be back. You can do this in person, over the phone, through a text message, or by leaving a note in a place they will see it.
HUG-A-TREE” AND STAY PUT

A tree can help protect you from the elements while you’re outdoors, and most importantly, keep you in one place. Depending on where you are, there may not always be a tree. Perhaps your tree” can be a large rock or bench at a park, or a sales counter at a mall. No matter what your landmark is, it is important to stay put, in order to stay safe.
KEEP WARM AND DRY

Temperatures change throughout the day and can drop at night. Even if you are warm during the day, keep your jacket handy for nighttime. If you get cold, put on an extra layer, pull up your hood or put on your hat if you have one, tuck your shirt in, tuck pant legs into your socks, and zip up your jacket. You can also keep warm by building a nest to keep you off the ground, or by using an emergency shelter.

Whether searchers are parents, police officers, or SAR volunteers, remember they just want to get you home safely. Answer back to their calls by making noise and signaling (remember that whistle!), so you can be heard and seen. Make sure to leave lots of footprints and clues, so searchers can follow your tracks to find you.

While designed for the outdoors, these rules are easily transferable to other places including sporting events, shopping malls, public parks, urban areas, and much more! Together, these core points work to ensure kids have the knowledge and training needed to safely enjoy the outdoors, and their communities.

For more information about the “Hug A Tree and Survive” program go to https://www.adventuresmart.ca/programs/hug-a-tree-and-survive/.

For more information about VCSARK9 go to www.vcsark9.org. This presentation was funded by a grant from the California Fire Foundation https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-grant-seekers.