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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
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. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
 One minute you’re at soccer practice having fun and the next minute you’re in the emergency room getting a cast on your leg. That’s what happened to this AYSO soccer player last week at Two Rivers Park when she stepped into one of the numerous potholes on the park’s sports field and broke her ankle. For several years complaints have been increasing about the poor condition of the playing fields at Two Rivers Park, along with complaints about the lack of night lighting (estimate $1 million in 2016) and sun covers for the play equipment, as installed at Rio Vista Park. The dog park section (original cost $64,000) also has issues, closing in 2020 due to ADA violations. In April 2023 the city received an estimate of $186,240 to fix the violations, which were “overlooked” when the park was built, according to City Manager Dave Rowlands in July 2020; that money will come from the city’s parkland development impact fees fund. From the beginning the underground drip system was a problem. Either the drip lines are too deep or the sod was planted too shallow, and the water doesn’t properly reach the roots of the grass, leaving brown patches. In contrast, after rain, standing water plagues the fields due to poor drainage caused by uneven terrain. Two Rivers Park is about 15 years old and measures 22 acres; it is Fillmore’s biggest park and the host to many of its youth sports activities. It has baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, a skate park, a BMX bike track, and a now unusable dog park. The family will be filing an incident report with the City/AYSO. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
 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. Enlarge Photo 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. 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. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 On Thursday, October 5th, at 3:46pm, Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore Fire Department, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a traffic collision at Central Avenue and 1st Street. Upon arrival deputies found a silver sedan flipped on its side with the female driver trapped inside. Fire personnel from Ventura County Fire and Fillmore City Fire extricated the uninjured female who was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. According to Police Chief Malagon, “The silver sedan was traveling southbound on Central Avenue approaching 1st Street. The black sedan was traveling eastbound on 1st Street and was stopped for a red traffic signal. The black sedan then made a right turn in order to travel southbound on Central Avenue and the collision occurred. Deputies did not suspect impairment by neither driver”. Photo credit Angel Esquivel- AE News. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 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 (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent (S) Albino Carrera Marcos Santa Clarita 26 Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 Search and Rescue team member Scott Gillis (left) gave a presentation to city council at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Enlarge Photo 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. 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. 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. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 Fillmore Rotary Club visited Piru Elementary 3rd graders and each student received a dictionary. Sheriff’s Deputies were also present to lend a helping hand. Thank you, Fillmore Rotary Club, for your continued support of Piru’s 3rd grade students! Photos credit https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/piru-elementary-condors-blog/2023/10/5/thank-you-rotary-club-amp-sheriff-deputies. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 “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. Enlarge Photo 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. 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. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 12th, 2023
 The City of Fillmore is trimming trees all over town. This photo was taken at the Riverwalk Bike Path, with a city worker trimming a tree from a cherry-picker bucket. A woodchipper was on-site to break the foliage down into small wood chips. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 5th, 2023
 On Saturday, September 30th, at approximately 4:00 a.m., in the 500 block of First Street, an arrest for drunk driving was made following the collision of that driver's vehicle with a pickup truck which was parked at the curb. Extensive damage was caused to the pickup, which was forced from the curb onto the adjacent lawn. The identity of the driver and a description of his vehicle were not available at press time. Enlarge Photo |