Courtesy 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. As part of the Toy Drive, on Sunday, December 4th, 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. Because of on-going COVID-19 precautions, all meals will be for take-out only and will be available via a contactless drive-thru process, this year the dinner will be held at the Fillmore/Piru Veteran’s Memorial Building, 511 Second 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 17, from 9AM-12 PM at a huge 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.

On Friday, November 11th the boys and girls varsity teams competed on the challenging Mt. San Antonio Cross Country Course. The course consist of two flat loops that measure approximately one mile. After the first mile, there are three challenging climbs that will test the best of athletes. The boys and girls Division 4 competition featured three heats and several top individuals. The top five teams in each heat, and the next fastest team in the 3 heats qualified to CIF SS D4 Finals. The top 8 individuals in each heat not on a qualifying team also qualify qualified.

For the Flashes, the girls lined up in the third race of the day at 7:58 a.m. In this second heat 13 teams toed the line, and 7 individuals joined them. Niza Laureano led the girls by placing 12th in a time of 19:44. Niza was followed by Nataly Vigil 21st in 20:23.4, Andrea Laureano 29th in 21:00.8, Leah Barragan 39th in 21:32.9, Alexandra Martinez 43rd in 21:50.7, Diana Santa Rosa 45th in 21:57.7, and Monique Hurtado 68th in 23:40.2. As a result of good grouping, Fillmore placed 5th in a heat of 13, thus qualifying for CIF SS Division 4 Finals.

In the Boys Varsity race Eduardo Vigil led the boys with a 19th place finish in 16:38.6. He was followed by Nicholas Hurtado 39th n 17:25.0, Diego Ramirez 41st n 17:27.1, Joshua Estrada 46 th in 17:52.2, Angel Laureano 58th in 18:19.7, and Angel Garcia 65th in 18:32.9. In a heat of 15 teams Fillmore finished in 7th place, thus ending a good season for the boys.

Next week, on Saturday, the Fillmore Girls Cross Country will return to Mt. San Antonio College and compete against the top 16 CIF SS D4 teams. On the line is a chance to compete in the State Finals. To qualify for State Finals, they must finish among the top 7 teams. This race is scheduled to start at 7:45 a.m.

Written by Carina M. Montoya

It is true that big things come in small packages. When I met long-time Fillmore resident Barbara Filkins and learned that she is a pilot and has been flying planes for several decades, I wanted to know more about this accomplished petite lady. Originally from Connecticut, Barbara came to California in the early 1970s to study at Harvey Mudd Collegein Claremont, known for its curriculum that educates talented scientists, engineers and mathematicians. It was at Harvey Mudd where she learned to fly and earned her pilot’s license under the tutelage of Iris Cummings Critchell. Critchell served during World War II as a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). She also raced airplanes competitively during the 1950s and together with her husband, Howard Critchell, helped found the Bates Aeronautics program at Harvey Mudd College in 1962.

After Barbara obtained her degree in physics, she returned to the East Coast and began working for the aerospace industryin Upstate New York where she met her husband, Dale, who is also a pilot. Barbara’s career soared through the years as her talent and skills in the aerospace industry grew and were in demand within the industry and related industries. A job offer at an aerospace company on the West Coast brought Barbara back to California, where she and Dale decided to make Fillmore their permanent home. They both share a love of flying and have three planes. Dale built one of the planes, a Velocity V-Twin engine,which is a flagship model of the Velocity Aircraft line. Although both have had their share of flying solo, they have flown together many times coasttocoastand often fly somewhere out of town for a weekend getaway. Barbara now teaches aeronautics through distance learning, including flight instruction at the Oxnard and Camarillo airports.

In addition to Barbara’s busy daily schedule, she still finds the time for a passionate hobby in an equestrian sport called dressage, which is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition. It is also known as “the highest expression of horse training,” which involves the rider and horse to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.

But wait, there’s more . . .Barbara is a member of the Fillmore Rotary Club and gives of her time for community service by enriching the lives of others locally and around the world, which is at the core of the club’s mission.

Next time you see a plane flying above when you’re out and about in town, give it a wave because it just may be Barbara flying over the town.