FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA – April 4, 2023 – The City of Fillmore has launched a new Homelessness Services and Information Hub webpage, now available at https://www.fillmoreca.com/1295/Homelessness. The webpage was developed in an effort to provide a one-stop-shop of resources and information for the public and to offer a more open and transparent platform regarding homelessness in Fillmore. The webpage serves as a multifaceted information and resource hub for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Fillmore and as a localized platform where all community members can learn more about the City’s efforts to combat homelessness.

According to City Manager, David W. Rowlands, “This new webpage is a resource hub for everyone and will provide information to our residents about the ongoing efforts and measures the City is currently partaking in to address homelessness in Fillmore. The new webpage features an array of critical information for those seeking services”.

The easy-to-navigate webpage is categorized into five sections for easy readability and organization:

1.Homelessness Resources
2. Food Pantries, Other Services, and Utility Assistance
3.Why Handouts Harm
4.Understanding Homelessness
5.Homelessness Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Ventura County 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count revealed five people were identified as experiencing homelessness.

The City is committed to addressing the complexity and challenges of homelessness to the best of its abilities. Future plans include community education, leveraging social media, seeking opportunities for regional cooperation, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Please visit the new website at www.fillmoreca.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to wish Sergeant Kevin Vaden and Senior Deputy Cesar Salas a very happy and well-deserved retirement. Kevin and Cesar are both ending their law enforcement career at the Fillmore/Santa Clara Valley station. Kevin will be exploring new trails after 35 years of dedicated service to the law enforcement profession, and Cesar will be off to new adventures after 29 years of service. Kevin and Cesar, congratulations on your retirement and thank you both for your service! Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

DON AGUILAR
Interim Chief of Police

PRESS RELEASE

March 27, 2023

Student Arrested for Possession of a Handgun

Santa Paula, Calif. – A 16-year-old student was arrested on campus of Santa Paula High School on March 24, 2023, for possession of a handgun and was placed into the Juvenile Justice Center.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, a school resource officer (SRO) followed up on information discovered on social media regarding a student possibly in possession of a firearm. Although there was no information or statements of a threat, the SRO used an abundance of caution. Through investigation, the SRO was able to identify the student and worked with school administration, security staff, and additional police officers to swiftly locate the student and removed him from the classroom. After the student and backpack were removed from the classroom, the police officers conducted a search of his backpack.

A handgun, ammunition, and an ammunition magazine were located in the student’s backpack. No other weapons or ammunition were found on his person or in his locker. A message was sent to parents through the Santa Paula Unified School District shortly after the student was arrested and removed from the campus. In addition to the arrest, the student also faces an administrative review.

This serious matter is a reminder for parents and/or guardians to monitor the contents of backpacks and other items brought on campus. Please regularly monitor/evaluate student’s use of social media, cell phones, and computers/laptops. Remind students if they see something, say something to parents/guardians, teachers, school staff, or SRO’s.
If anyone has information regarding weapons on school campuses, please notify the
Santa Paula Police Department immediately by dialing 911.

Tips can be reported anonymously to WeTip by calling (800) 782- 7463 or visiting:
https://mobile.catapultems.com/santa-paula-usd/Sites

Agency Responsible: Santa Paula Police Department

Press Release Prepared by: Interim Police Chief Don Aguilar

Join us on Twitter @SP_Police, Instagram @SantaPaulaPoliceDepartment, FaceBook – Santa Paula Police Department and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety
alerts and advisories.

On March 20, 2023 Fillmore City Council Member Lynn Edmounds was given the “California Woman Making Herstory Award’’ at the State Capitol in Sacramento by Assemblyman Steve Bennett pictured above is her with the proclamation.
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On March 20, 2023, Lynn Edmonds received the prestigious “California Woman Making Herstory Award” in the State Capitol by Assemblyman Steve Bennett. Lynn Edmonds Honored in Sacramento as “Ventura County Woman of the Year” is joined in this honor by the countless extraordinary women who have shaped our state and country’s collective past. Each of the 69 California Counties was given the opportunity to recognize a woman who has made significant contributions to that county. Lynn Edmonds was cofounder of the Fillmore youth nonprofit One Step a la Vez, has been an exceptional advocate, continuously working to expand opportunities to her community’s youth and families. In her time as an educator, nonprofit leader and council member, Lynn dedicated herself to ensuring access to services to the entire Fillmore Community. Lynn served on many local organizations in the Fillmore and in the Santa Clarita Valley, including the founding board of the Fillmore Boys and Girls Club, founder of the Fillmore/Piru Big Brothers Sister Program and co-founder of the One Step a la Vez Program. She also was on the county wide committees Ventura Transportation Commission, Air Pollution Control Board, Regional Sanitation Control Board, Heritage Valley Transportation Committee and Heritage Valley Tourism Board. From 2018-2022, Lynn served on the Fillmore City Council where she was focused on prioritizing bilingual English and Spanish communication between the city and residents, increase affordable housing, protecting the environment and community economic revitalization.

Ruben Patino, 27 of Fillmore, was killed Sunday, March 26, at approximately 7:30am, on Highway 126 east of Wells Road. Patino was driving westbound in a 2002 Saturn sedan when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree. His was the only car involved; CHP reported no dugs or alcohol were involved. Cause of the crash and speed of the vehicle are unknown. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the CHP’s Ventura Area Office at 805-662-2640.

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On Saturday, March 25, the Fillmore Fire Department honored several Fillmore firefighters with awards. A gathering of fire personnel, their families and friends assembled at the Fillmore Fire Station for the event. Ryan Cota (top left) was honored as the 2022 Fillmore Fire Department “Firefighter of the Year”. Also honored were firefighters Ken Harris (top right), Jarod Martinez, Engineers Evan Zellmer, Manny Perez (bottom right), Brian Carreon, Sylvester Alvarez, and Captain Chad Panke for having worked more than five years before they left the Fillmore Fire Department. Courtesy https://www.facebook.com/cityoffillmore.

Ventura County Animal Services provided a detailed discussion of its functions to City Council at Tuesday's regular meeting. The organization has more than 500 volunteers and provides critically important services for all county cities.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023
All items approved 5-0
8-G RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council: Approve the second reading to adopt Ordinance 23-944 entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fillmore, California, consolidating the City’s Arts Commission into the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission.
10.A REQUEST: That the City Council approve the 2023-2024 Service Level Request for Ventura County Animal Services to provide animal services to the City’s residents. DISCUSSION: The City of Fillmore contracts with the Ventura County Animal Services (“VCAS”) for VCAS to provide animal sheltering and field services, license processing, and related services for residents of the City. The VCAS animal care budget is determined by allocating the cost of providing services amongst all of the participating cities and the County using a weighted three (3) calendar year average of the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage.

10-B REQUEST: City Staff was requested by the City Council to bring forward an item for the discussion of whether to revise the composition of the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission to add the appointment of a non-voting Youth Sport Board Member to the Commission. DISCUSSION: At the March 14, 2023 regular City Council meeting, City Staff presented to City Council a request to adopt Ordinance No. 23-947 to consolidate two commissions by dissolving the Arts Commission by removing Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 6.18 and amending Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 2.28 (Parks and Recreation Commission) to add the duties previously assigned to the Arts Commission and to rename the commission as the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission.

10-C CONSIDERATION OF 2022 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE STATUS OF THE CITY GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT
REQUEST: City staff requests the City Council receive and file the 2022 Annual Progress Report on the Housing Element and direct staff to submit the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). DISCUSSION: Government Code section 65400 requires that each city and county prepare an annual progress report (APR) explaining the agency’s progress in implementing the housing element of its general plan. The APR is prepared using forms, tables, and definitions adopted by HCD.
All items approved 5-0

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On Thursday, March 23, Mountain Vista had special guests to start the day! The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department presented Coffee with Cops. Students were treated to donuts as they toured the SWAT vehicle and gave Hi-5’s to McGruff the Crime Dog. Parents were treated to coffee and conversation. Great way to start the day! https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/newblog/2023/3/23/ventura-county-sherif...

Above are Alma and Max Gabaldon and their dogs Jake, left, a Queensland Heeler mix and Keyonno, a German Shepherd, in front of the Artists’ Wall. Photo credit Carina Monica Montoya.
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Written by Carina Monica Montoya

One of Fillmore’s dynamic duo is Max and Alma Gabaldon. Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Alma’s family moved to San Diego where she went to high school and met Max, her husband-to-be. They’ve been married for 30 years and have four grown children. In 1994 they lived in Camarillo, but fell in love with Fillmore. They enjoyed riding the now defunct Fillmore & Western Railway that offered weekend scenic rides, and Murder Mystery entertainment. They would drive around town and through the neighborhoods, always seeming to circle back to an old near-dilapidated redwood barn on Bard Street west of Saratoga Street. Alma felt the barn was calling out to them.
One day they walked into a real estate office in Fillmore and saw a picture of the Bard Street barn for sale. Out of curiosity they inquired about it. The real estate agent discouraged them from considering it because it was old and needed a lot of work, especially after the devastating 1994 Northridge Earthquake that caused substantial damage to Fillmore and to the barn, but the more reasons the agent gave to discourage the sale, the more it piqued Alma’s interest to see it.
The 3,500-square-foot barn had been transformed into living quarters that was equipped with a bathroom, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a living and dining area. Alma fell in love with the barn and its 1/3 acre of land. She envisioned the barn as becoming their nostalgic house and together with Max’s expertise as a licensed contractor and Alma’s flare for design and decorating, the barn could be restored and become a novelty and unique home. Max and Alma bought the property and began restoration using modern sustainability standards, which were extensive and are ongoingbecause the barn is over 100 years old and is designated as one of Ventura County’s historic landmarks & points of interest. They were very careful in their restoration efforts by gently uncovering walls, wood, and other parts of the barn that could easily be mistaken for dirt, rot, or something unnecessary. To their surprise, the more they uncovered, fascinating and priceless treasures were found, including a wall filled with paintings on 10-inch squares by several professional artists from around the country who came to visit the barn. Alma researched the barn’s history and learned that it was once home and an art studio to local artist Lawrence Hinckley and his wife Mildred in the 1930s, and was the only art gallery in the county at the time.