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By Anonymous — Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021
Courtesy Fillmore History Museum Fillmore has many church buildings. Some are old. Some are modern. Some are no longer used as churches. Over several articles, we are going look at the history of some of them. One of the older church buildings in Fillmore hasn’t been in town all than long. Trinity Episcopal, known affectionately as “the Chocolate Church,” was built in 1901 in Hueneme, on the east side of Ventura Road (formerly Fourth Street) between Pleasant Valley Road and Clara Street, by Senator Thomas Bard for his wife, Molly. Senator Bard was Presbyterian and was active in the Presbyterian Church in Hueneme. His wife, Mary Gerberding Bard, was a devout Episcopalian. The small, “English gingerbread, Craftsman style” church was built for her worship. There had been an Episcopal contingent in Fillmore as early as 1892. A traveling minister or the minister at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Santa Paula would hold services in rented space or private homes. Frequently this would be in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stephens, a prominent businessman. By the early 1930’s the congregation decided it was time for a church of their own. By then the little church in Hueneme was no longer in use and had fallen in disrepair. Mrs. Bard, a widow since 1915, had refused several offers to purchase the building, but when she was approached by Rev. George MacDougall, who was the current minister in Santa Paula, she agreed to donate the building to the congregation in Fillmore. She also donated the altar, a communion service, a chest of linens, the font and other furnishings, a generous gift indeed. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens donated the land on the northeast corner of Second and Saratoga. Now the only problem was getting the building from Hueneme to Fillmore, about thirty (30) miles, and then rebuilding it. A local builder, Bill Yeakle, was awarded the contract to move and rebuild the Church.Under his supervision, Ed Rice, helped by a Mr. Seichert, dismantled the church in Hueneme. Each piece was numbered and brought to Fillmore by pickup trucks. The trucks were so heavily laden that they took back roads to avoid being ticketed for being overloaded. It is estimated that there was close to one million separate, numbered pieces. It was not unlike doing a jig-saw puzzle to reconstruct the building in Fillmore. Eventually the job was done and on Sunday, December 17, 1933, the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles, Rt. Rev. W. Bertrand Stevens, assisted by Rev. Macdougall, consecrated the little church. The night before the consecration, the first wedding was held in the church. Helen Price and Thomas Powell were married by Reverend MacDougall, the first of many weddings, baptisms, and unfortunately, funerals. Trinity Episcopal has continued to this very day, although due to Covid there are no in person services. The altar and font used by the congregation are the ones donated by Mrs. Bard in 1933. In 2014, Joanna Bard Newton, the granddaughter of Senator and Mary Bard, visited the church. She was baptized in the church when it was in Hueneme in 1917, although she admitted she didn’t remember the occasion. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
 Guy Olvera, 40, Santa Paula. A Santa Paula man was arrested for attempted murder after stabbing another man on 2/17/2021. On 2/17/2021, deputies from the Sheriff’s Fillmore Patrol Station responded to a call of a stabbing victim in the 14000 block of Foothill Road, in the unincorporated area near Santa Paula. Upon their arrival, deputies located a 31-year-old male victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim was transported via ambulance to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau and Gang Unit responded to assist with the investigation. They determined that (S) Guy Olvera stabbed the victim several times over what is believed to be an ongoing dispute between the two men. Additional evidence revealed that Olvera fled the scene in a vehicle that was associated with an address in the 500 Block of 13th Street in Santa Paula. Later in the night, Olvera was contacted at the Santa Paula address when he arrived alone in the suspect vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident. Olvera was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for one count of PC 664/187(a) - Attempted Murder. He remains in custody on $515,000.00 bail and is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on 2/19/2021. Investigators are seeking additional witnesses or information pertaining to the crime. If anyone has information, please contact Detective Douglas at 805-384-4732. Nature of Incident: Suspect Arrested for Attempted Murder |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
 On Sunday, February 21st at 2:36pm, a head-on collision occurred at East Pyle Road and Highway 126, killing two. A 2013 BMW Sedan, driven by Eric Anthony Carrillo, 27, of Oxnard, was traveling westbound when Carrillo crossed the double yellow line into eastbound traffic, impacting head-on into a 2008 Smart Fortwo, driven by Susanna Angeles, 34, of Fowler. Both were declared dead at the scene and required extrication. Three other people were injured, one critically; a 25-year-old Fresno man in the passenger seat was thrown from the Smart car. He was transported by ambulance to VC Medical Center. The BMW then continued westbound in the eastbound lanes and hit a third car head-on; a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck that had been traveling eastbound directly behind Angeles’ car. A 62-year-old Santa Clarita woman driving the Avalanche and her passenger, a 57-year old man from Acton, were treated at the scene for minor injuries. All five were wearing seatbelts. Highway 126 was closed in both directions, reopening by 9:30pm. Cause of the crash is under investigation. Photos Courtesy Angel Esquivel—AE News. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
Did you know Fillmore has three successful female athletes, Valerie Tobias (Soccer), Jessie Fontes and Cielo Meza (Softball), who are playing Soccer and Softball at the Division 1 Pac12 level? This week we will feature Fillmore’s Jessie Fontes who is currently a Freshman Pitcher for the University of Arizona Wildcats, a Division 1 NCAA Pac12 Softball team. High School Highlights: Personal Notes: Stay tuned for next week’s feature of Cielo Meza. Player profile courtesy of the team website https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/softball/roster/jessie-fontes/11192 |
 Fillmore High Cross Country Team competed along with three other teams this past Saturday. Pictured above is the FHS Cross Country team. (l-r) Andrea Laureano, Daisy Guerrero, Alianna Tapia, Michael Camilo Torres, Erick Gutierrez, Kobe Lizarraga, Matthew Munoz, Diego Ramirez, and Fabian Del Villar. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the team has not competed since November 2020, but with some special arrangements by all they were able to still be successful. Photos Courtesy of Michael Torres. Enlarge Photo By Epi Torres — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
 FHS Junior Alianna Tapia had the fastest time of the day for the girls with a mark of 21:35.42. Enlarge Photo On Saturday, February 20th, the Fillmore High School Cross Country teams toed the line as one of four teams competing for the first time since November of 2020. The teams competed over a 3-mile course in and around the Nordhoff High School campus. Other teams competing throughout the day in the first Citrus Coast League meet were Santa Paula, Nordhoff, and Hueneme. Carpinteria and Malibu were unable to compete since they did not fall under the umbrella of Ventura County Schools. To minimize any possibility of COVID transmission, and ensure a safe race, the teams followed practices and procedures agreed to prior to race day. Each team had a separate arrival time and a separate race start time. Each team lined up at the starting line 3 across or less and started 15 seconds apart. Each athlete competed or ran against only their team members. Teams were required to leave the site before the next team arrived. Each team could field a cohort of 14 runners in each race division. A leader board posted online allowed teams to measure themselves against the other 3 teams. Camilo Torres and Fabian Del Villar and Matt Munoz were the first three Fillmore runners off the line with Camilo posting the fastest time of the day for all competitors, with an early season mark of 16:38.36. Fabi posted the second-best time on the day of 17:32.30, and Matt Munoz posted a time of 20:12.62. They were followed off the line at approximately 15 second intervals by Alianna Tapia and Erick Gutierrez. Alianna followed her teammate’s lead by also posting the fastest time of the day for all girls with a mark of 21:35.42. Erick ran a time of 18:26.96. They were followed by freshman Diego Ramirez 21:26.47 and first-time competitor Kobe Lizarraga in 24:37.03. The final two off the line were Andrea Laureano in 28:37.96 and Daisy Guerrero in 32.12.76. Even though this was not a head-to-head team competition, the boys team had the best team placement among all teams that competed, while the girls did not score, since they did not field the minimum number of 5 team competitors. The Fillmore coaching staff was excited to have our athletes compete in this modified cross country meet and proud of our athlete’s performances. It took a lot of work, coordination, and compromise to make the 3-meet season a reality for a much deserving group of athletes. All precautions were taken to assure safety for all those involved. We want to thank all those involved (too many to list). We hope that this first step will be the first of many for our athletes, community, and staff to return to a safe and planned daily routine. Next Saturday, Fillmore High School will host the second meet of the series of three at our school farm. The meet will start at 9 a.m. Our Fillmore event will be closed to the public and spectators at this time. We appreciate the support and look forward to having friends and family cheer us on soon. Epi Torres is FHS Cross Country Coach |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
 Fillmore Unified School District Friday, February 19, 2021 Dear Fillmore USD Families, The purpose of this communication is to provide information to District families about current actions to support District students and the status of future reopening of Fillmore USD schools. BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROVIDES' DIRECTION During the school Board meeting on February 16, 2021, the Board was given an update about the effects of COVID-19 on the District and deliberated regarding potential options for our schools. Asa result, the Fillmore Unified School - Transitional Kindergarten (TK) — 5th grade SDC and Moderate/Severe (small group cohorts) will continue in-person learning. - For students in TK — 5th grade, an in-person learning option will be made available for those families who select in-person instruction if the County of Ventura reaches an adjusted Coronavirus infection rate at or below 25 per 100,000 population per day for at least five consecutive days. - Students in 6th – 12th grades will remain in distance learning through March 26, 2021. District administration will continue to explore potential for return to in-person learning option if, and only if, the County of Ventura reaches the red tier. The County of Ventura has not provided a timetable as to when the red tier could be attained. District staff will continue to monitor the case rates in the County of Ventura and provide information to the Board. Updates on the dates for the return to in-person learning, including health and safety requirements, will be provided to families in a future communication. TK — 5th GRADE SPECIAL DAY CLASS AND MODERATE/SEVERE STUDENTS CONTINUE IN-PERSON LEARNING FILLMORE USD TK — 5th GRADE STUDENTS COULD RESUME IN-PERSON LEARNING Public school districts in Ventura County will have the ability to open schools for in-person learning if they are in full compliance with guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health. The Fillmore Unified School District has been preparing for the potential to return to in-person learning. The District is providing information in a future communication to District families regarding the requirements to participate in in-person learning, process to confirm for your child(ren) to participate in in-person learning, and the potential return date for in-person instruction. SECONDARY STUDENTS IN GRADES 6th – 12th STAY IN DISTANCE LEARNING The Board of Trustees provided direction to District staff for students in 6th – 12th grades to remain in a distance learning model through March 26, 2021. Students and teachers will continue to work through the Microsoft Teams platform in synchronous learning, as well as utilize multiple curriculum and content providers to work during asynchronous time. The County of Ventura is reporting a decrease in the COVID-19 adjusted case rate which could potentially accelerate the county to transition from the purple (widespread) tier to the red (substantial) tier. District administration will continue to explore the potential for a return to in-person learning for students in grades 6th – 12th grades if, and only if, the County of Ventura reaches the Red tier. VENTURA COUNTY COVID-19 UPDATE On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, the County of Ventura reported a seven-day average case rate per 100,000 of 26.2. Over the past 14 days the City of Fillmore has had 83 positive cases, and the community of Piru has had 14 cases of COVID-19 reported for the past 14 days. We are seeing significant declines in the number of positive cases and need your help to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19. District families are urged to use face coverings, not gather with individuals outside of your household, practice social distancing, and test for COVID-19 if you are experiencing symptoms. On Thursday, February 25, 2021 the Ventura County Health Care Agency will be conducting COVID-19 testing at Fillmore Middle School from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The COVID-19 testing is provided at no cost and without an appointment. Our team is working with the health care agency to identify additional testing dates in the coming weeks for our community. In closing, it is imperative that our District community continues to do their part to stop the spread of COVID 19. We remain optimistic that COVID-19 rates will continue to decline in Ventura County and provide greater opportunities for Fillmore Unified to offer in-person instruction. Our District will be providing additional information in the coming week to those families with students enrolled in TK- 5th grades. Respectfully, |
 (above) A very early picnic at Kenny Grove Park. Fillmore’s first semiofficial park was Kenny Grove Park, named for Cyrus Kenny who homesteaded the property in 1870. Photos courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 24th, 2021
Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum There were few parks in Fillmore the early years. It was a small town and was located in the middle of orchards and at the foot of Sespe Canyon. There were plenty of places to visit the outdoors and have a picnic or a swim. Most of the children here grew up hiking the surrounding hills and swimming in the pool at Swallows Nest up the Sespe. Even earlier there was swimming at Wiley Lake at the top of the mountains to the south and for brave souls, a dip into the water at a variety of irrigation reservoirs in the area. The first semiofficial park in the area was Kenney Grove Park. It was named for Cyrus Kenney who, in 1870, homesteaded property just east of a natural oak grove on the north side of the valley. Once the railroad came through in 1887 the oak grove became a meeting place for celebrations of all sorts. In 1898, over 2,000 people came by train to the park to celebrate the 4th of July. Locals came by buggy, the rest by train and hiked or were ferried by buggy to the park. The property was originally part of Rancho Sespe and was purchased by Sespe Land and Water Co. from Martha Storke after the murder of her father, T.W. More. In 1929, Joseph McNab, founder of Sespe Land and Water Co., gave the 15 acre park to Ventura County. In 1957, the Sespe Loyal Friends, a women’s group descended from the membership of the Sespe Methodist Episcopal Church, donated funds to build the Kenney Grove Amphitheater. It has always been a gathering place for church groups, scout troops, picnics and outings. Many of the older members of the community will remember the “father powered” merry go round and the tall swings. There was also a BBQ pit used to prepare dinners for various groups in town and for the famous Fillmore Festival Pit BBQ lunches. Central Park was Fillmore City’s first public park in town. It is located on Central Ave and Main St. But there wasn’t always a park there. In the beginning there was empty space around the Southern Pacific Depot. The railroad track was laid through Fillmore in 1887 leaving nothing behind but a boxcar. Soon the depot was built. Early photos taken in 1905 show stores built on Main St., but not so much as a tree or blade of grass beside the depot. By 1930 there were a couple of palm trees on the west side and the beginnings of a grassy area on the south side of the tracks. By 1948 grass and palms were well established. The park finally was formalized and officially named following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake and construction of the Fillmore City Hall. Delores Day Park located north of Old Telegraph Rd near Mountain Vista Elementary School is named for Delores Day, the first woman to win a Fillmore City Council seat. In 1946, she had come to Fillmore as the wife of Traver Day. They took over the “Sanitary Food Market”, which they renamed Day’s Market, located on Fourth and A St. and operated it for 25 years. In 1970, she was elected the first woman to serve as a Fillmore councilmember and eventually the first woman mayor, a title she held 5 times. Through her efforts ambulance service was brought to Fillmore. She also lobbied for and won EMT training recognition for the Volunteer Firemen and in 1976 pushed for the building of the Fillmore Convalescent Center. She was proud of the greenbelt that she co-sponsored with Eleanor Crouch of Santa Paula in 1979 and the construction of the concrete stairway up the steep hillside leading to the Jr. and Sr. High Schools. She retired from the Council in 1990. Shiells Park is named for the Shiells family who donated the land for the park as well as land for the Fillmore Library and Veterans’ Memorial Building. William Shiells and his brother, James, came to Fillmore in 1879. They purchased 1200 acres of property on Guiberson Road. In 1911 he leased 880 acres of hill property to Montebello Oil Co. which succeeded in drilling the first producing well on the south side of the Santa Clara River near Fillmore. In 1913, William was elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. The family was always civic minded and continued to support local churches and charitable agencies. There is a small “pocket” park on Foothill Rd. where the road splits and one side goes up south of the hill and comes around and down the steep side. There is today a sign at the park honoring Oscar DeFever one of Fillmore’s Fire Chiefs. But, many years ago the city named the park for John Galvin. Mr. Galvin was named Fillmore’s first city attorney in August, 1914, when the city incorporated. He retired in 1966 at the age of 77 with the distinction of being the longest serving city attorney in the State of California (52 years). When asked in 1964 how he achieved the respectable position so early in his life, he said with a twinkle in his eye “I had personality, obvious and unimpeachable character and I was the only attorney in town.” His family also was well known in the community. Many of you in Fillmore had his sister, Mary Galvin, as your kindergarten teacher. His sister, Leona Galvin Grady, served for 44 years in the post office. His brother Warren served as Fillmore’s first Fire Chief in 1916. Oscar DeFever was one of our best known Fire Chiefs. Oscar was born in Kentucky but came to Fillmore at the age of 1 and remained here for the rest of his life except for his time as a Marine during WWII when he served in the Pacific during the battle for Iwo Jima. In 1935 he became a dealer for Union Oil, opening his own service station in 1938 on the corner of Sespe and Central. He was a member of the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years and Chief from 1964 to 1979. According to his obituary, he was a “decent and honorable businessman, as public servant, as civic minded private citizen, and as just plain friend, he was an ongoing influence for good.” His remodeled station remains on the same corner today as an auto repair shop. It isn’t any wonder that this small park was named in honor of these two men. We are still growing and as new subdivisions are built we are seeing more parks. There is Rio Vista Park near the Santa Clara, Two Rivers Skate Park and a walkway along the Santa Clara similar to the walkway along the Sespe. We have plenty of outdoors to enjoy. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
 Valerie Tobias, #32 for the Oregon State University Beavers. Did you know Fillmore has three successful female athletes, Valerie Tobias (Soccer), Jessie Fontes and Cielo Meza (Softball), who are playing Soccer and Softball at the Division 1 Pac12 level? This week we will feature Fillmore High School graduate Valerie Tobias who is currently a Freshman Midfielder for Oregon State University Beavers, Division 1 NCAA Pac12 Soccer team. Below is her player profile courtesy of the team website - https://osubeavers.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/valerie-tobias/8047. Fillmore High School Highlights: Club Soccer Highlights: Personal Notes: Stay tuned for next week’s feature of Jessie Fontes. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
 A "fight" call went out Saturday night, February 13th around 8:30pm, in the 500 block of Saratoga. Three Sheriff's units responded to the disturbance, and after a brief search four suspects were located. Outcome of the incident was not made available. With the COVID-19 lockdown police calls for Disturbance Party, Fight, and Keep the Peace have increased. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
 Fillmore Heritage Grove Housing development is going full steam ahead, growing by the minute. The development is divided into three neighborhoods: Iron Horse, East Bridge and The Orchards. The Iron Horse neighborhood will have 2-5 bedrooms, 2.5 – 4.5 baths, and 2 – 3 car garages with pricing from the low $600,000. The East Bridge neighborhood homes will have 2-4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 2 car garage with pricing from the high $500,000. The Orchards will have 3 – 6 Bedrooms, 2.5 – 4.5 baths, 2 -4 car garage with pricing from the $700,000. Enlarge Photo |
