 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 |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
Courtesy City of Fillmore Facebook Page Last month’s extreme winds broke numerous limbs and toppled entire trees on Fillmore City property. Staff was busy for several days mitigating the damage. This wind damaged was not limited to public property. There was major damage to trees, sheds, awnings and other items on private property. If downed trees and limbs in residential neighborhoods are left in place they will quickly dry out and soon pose a more significant fire hazard. Recognizing this potential fire hazard, the City will be hosting a tree and limb disposal day on February 20th from 9am to noon at City Well #4 located at 728 Goodenough Rd. Only tree trimmings and other vegetation will be accepted, no other trash or building material will be accepted. This free disposal day is in addition to the annual vegetation drop-off day in May; it does not replace it. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
Over the summer my former student and now President of the club, Emilia Magdaleno, approached me about starting a new club at Fillmore. Emilia is a junior at FHS and she is a wonderful student. Her idea was to form a club at FHS where students could make cards for people who are affected the most by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since September, 35-40 students have been meeting virtually online every week and have been making cards for the Fillmore community. The students have sent virtual cards to teachers, administrators and staff members of Fillmore High School as well as throughout Fillmore Unified School District to encourage and thank them during this challenging time. Club members have also made cards to encourage fellow students during the pandemic. Currently, club members are working on creating physical cards for the patients and staff members at the Greenfield Care Center in Fillmore. Currently they have made well over 200 cards and by the time I deliver cards to the Greenfield Care Center, that number will be closer to 400. As a teacher at Fillmore High School and the advisor of the club, I am just endlessly impressed with and enormously inspired by the members of Flashes Cards 4 Kindness. During an incredibly difficult season, these students have decided to make time every week to create these cards and uplift others. They have busy schedules with distance learning and yet they keep showing up week after week. Teachers have personally reached out to me to tell me how much receiving these cards has meant to them during distance learning when we have been unable to see our students face to face. Here are the student leaders of the club: |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
Courtesy FHS Alumni Office If you are a current Senior at Fillmore High School, and will be enrolled at a four year University, Community Collage, or Trade School in the fall of 2021, you may apply for the Fillmore High Alumni Scholarship starting Tuesday, February 16th by picking up an application at the High School in the main office. Deadline to hand in will be March 31st, 2021. You can hand in at the High School or by dropping off the application in the front door of the Alumni Office at 559 Sespe Ave. (Mail Slot on Front door) The FHS Alumni Mission: FHS Alumni office has help many of Fillmore Students obtain Scholarship money if they plan to attend a four year University, Community College or Trade school this years window to apply is February 16th to March 31st. |
 A group gathered for tea under the Pepper tree in 1940. Photos courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 17th, 2021
 Pictured above is the Artists’ Wall today with a close up of local teacher, writer and artist, Harriet “Petey” Weaver’s square in the top right hand corner. Enlarge Photo  Fifteen years ago, the tree split in two and it was advised to remove it. The current owners carefully nurtured a sprout coming up from the remaining roots, and here it is today. Enlarge Photo  Art Lyceum 1937 Schedule which was a monthly event where speakers would come and speak about art. Enlarge Photo Courtesy Fillmore History Museum One day in 1936, while visiting her in-laws, Ira and Kate Hinckley, Mildred Coombs Hinckley noticed a derelict barn, 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, on the two acres the Hinckley's owned off First St. The idea struck her that the barn could be converted into a home and studio. Her enthusiasm for the idea carried the day and Labor Day saw a family barn raising. One thing they didn’t immediately get was a new roof. The night of the first rain found the couple marshalling anything which could hold water to catch the water from all the leaks in the old barn’s roof. By the fall, the newlyweds had a new home (with a new roof) and Fillmore had an art gallery, the Artists’ Barn. The gallery opened on November 21, 1936 and would be a landmark on Bard Street in Fillmore until 1961. Opening day saw exhibition of not only Hinckley’s work but Jesse and Cornelis Botke, Robert Clunie and Douglas Shively, all of Santa Paula. Also included from the beginning were wares of local craftsmen. The couple had expected a few dozen guests for the opening. Instead, they had over three hundred. Instituted the first year was the Art Lyceum, a monthly event with a speaker on something related to the art world. The cost? $5 per event. No one knew what sort of audience this would draw in the rural community, but like the opening event, it was soon had a waiting list for tickets. When it opened, the Artists’ Barn was the only art gallery in the county. It became a meeting place for the community and for the art world. The Hinckleys drew artists from throughout the United States to the small community. The community became more knowledgeable and interested in art as a result. Besides artists, the Barn drew tourist buses as it made a good place to break the long drive between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. It was estimated that in the first five years it was open; it had an attendance of 20,000 people. Eventually, the Hinckleys had to enlarge the home to accommodate the art studio and gallery. One aspect of the home was the Artists’ Wall where visiting artists would leave signed works that became a permanent part of the home. Things slowed down during World War II and Lawrence went to work at Douglas Aircraft making charts for the Air Corps. The Hinckleys moved to Los Angeles, renting the Barn to Beatrice Albright, a schoolteacher. Agnes Ashby kept the gift shop running in their absence. After the war ended, they returned to the Barn and began a new phase, ceramics. They made figures and kitchen items such as spoon rests (the first of its kind), match holders and funnels. Lawrence insisted that anything they produced be of the best quality and quickly disposed of flawed items. The current owners tell of when gardening finding unbroken ceramics buried in the dirt – Lawrence’s rejects. Also, immensely popular were the classes that were held at the Artists’ Barn. Many residents remember taking classes there. Their ceramics line was phased out as imports began to flood the market. In 1961, the Hinckleys closed the Artists’ Barn, converting it back to a private home. Lawrence continued to paint and Mildred, now Dr. Mildred Hinckley, a Doctor of Theology, became the minister at the Church of Religious Science in Fillmore. In 1981 the Barn and the massive pepper tree in the garden were both declared Ventura County Historic Landmarks. Lawrence Hinckley passed away in 1987 and Mildred in 1995. |
