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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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:
President: Emilia V. Magdaleno
Vice President: Mckenna Taylor
Secretary: Olivia Palazuelos
Treasurer: Alexis Velasco
Head of Publicity: Aliyah Heredia and Aileen Lopez
Graphic Design Leader: Yzabella Rivero and Isabella Minjares

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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:
Since 1913, The Fillmore Alumni Association has been bringing people together to support education, students and the community of Fillmore. Our mission is to provide scholarships to seniors and any graduate seeking to continue their education. Join us today by becoming a member.

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.

Above is the interior of the Artists’ Barn which opened in November 21, 1936.
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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.
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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.
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Art Lyceum 1937 Schedule which was a monthly event where speakers would come and speak about art.
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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.

A crew of catalytic converter thieves were apprehended after they stole from a Fillmore resident. Investigators suspect they might be involved in similar crimes occurring in the region.

In the early morning hours of February 8th, a Fillmore resident heard a loud noise coming from her vehicle that was parked nearby. Upon further examination, the victim discovered her catalytic converter had been removed from the vehicle and the suspects fled the area. The victim provided the vehicle information that was believed to be associated with the thieves. Deputies quickly responded to the area and noticed two vehicles fleeing. One was identified as a white Toyota Prius, containing three suspects and a yellow Chevrolet Camaro with two occupants.

Deputies coordinated a stop of both vehicles. Deputies immediately noticed the Prius had a catalytic converter that had been cut in the rear compartment. The deputies investigated deeper and located saws, a car jack and other items related to catalytic converter thefts.

All of the subjects associated in both vehicles were deemed to be working in concert to steal catalytic converters. They were arrested and transported to the Police Station.

As the investigation progressed, a second resident called and reported that the catalytic converter was stolen from her vehicle which was parked in the 900 block of Fourth Street. Investigators were able to link this theft with the suspects associated with the Prius and Camaro.

All five suspects were arrested and booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for the following charges:
• PC 487 (a) Grand Theft
• PC 182 (a)(1) Conspiracy to Commit Crime
• PC 466 Possession of Burglary Tools

The suspects in this case are currently in custody pending a court appearance on February 10, 2021 and $300,000 bail.

Catalytic converter crimes are on the rise throughout county. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with reducing these events. We encourage you to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood and help reduce your chances of becoming a victim by parking your vehicles in well-lit areas or secured garages.

Prepared by: Sergeant Vince Alvarez
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime
Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Daniel Gonzalez, 61, Santa Paula.

Santa Paula man arrested for possession of more than a ½ pound of methamphetamine.

During the past year, deputies received information regarding a local transient, Daniel Gonzalez, selling methamphetamine to area residents. This information came from multiple sources over a 13-month period.

On February 6th, deputies were conducting foot patrol of the district watershed area, in Santa Paula. While conducting their patrol, they contacted Gonzalez, who they suspected of trespassing. During their investigation, they determined Gonzalez was under the influence of a controlled substance and placed him under arrest. While conducting a search of Gonzalez’s personal belongings they discovered 246 grams (8.66 ounces) of methamphetamine.

The deputies arrested Gonzalez for violations HS 11550 Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance and HS 11379 Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Sales. Gonzalez remains in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility awaiting arraignment. Gonzalez’s bail has been set at $60,000.00 and he is due to appear in court February 9, 2021.

Nature of Incident: Suspect arrested with over ½ pound of methamphetamine
Report Number: 21-16845
Location: The Santa Clara River Watershed – Santa Paula
Date & Time: February 6, 2021 / 2:00 pm
Unit(s) Responsible: West County Patrol Services – Santa Clara Station
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
Daniel Gonzalez , 61, Santa Paula
Prepared by: Sergeant Daniel Blanck
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).