In observance of the Independence Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Thursday, July 4. As a result, in Fillmore the company will collect residential customers’ trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual that week – on Saturday, July 6, instead of on Fillmore’s usual Friday pickup day. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

Remember that residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Santa Clara Valley Disposal collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags and the bags should be tossed in the organics waste cart.

It’s important to recycle your food waste every week. In 2022, the state of California began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you should still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Lynn Ranch, Ojai Valley (Ventura River Valley), Oxnard Plain, Newbury Park, Piru, Pt. Mugu, Rancho Matilija, Rincon, Santa Rosa Valley, Somis, Santa Paula, Upper Ojai, Yerba Buena, and the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, plus the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; and Fillmore and surrounding unincorporated areas as Santa Clara Valley Disposal.

For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

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CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) will offer
additional Intercity bus service and roadside assistance to help visitors enjoy a smooth and easy
trip to X Games Ventura 2024 on June 28-30 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
VCTC strongly encourages people heading to the X Games to use public transit, walk, bike or
carpool to the event. Public transit options include VCTC Intercity and Gold Coast Transit
District bus service, as well as Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink rail service. For those who
must drive, VCTC’s Freeway Service Patrol will provide roadside assistance along a segment of
Highway 101 in Ventura.

VCTC Executive Director Martin Erickson said the X Games and similar community events
provide an opportunity for people to explore public transit options in Ventura County.
“People can take the bus or train, or both, to travel to the X Games and at the same time learn
how public transit can help them reach destinations in their everyday travel,” Erickson said.
More information about the travel options is available at goventura.org/xgames.

VCTC INTERCITY BUS SERVICE

VCTC’s Intercity bus service provides transportation throughout Ventura County, to Santa
Barbara and to Woodland Hills. Travelers to the X Games can use Highway 101, Highway 126
and Coastal Express routes to get to the fairgrounds.

The Highway 101 and 126 routes will be extended to Thompson Boulevard and Figueroa Street
in Ventura. The Coastal Express route will stop at Thompson and Figueroa instead of Santa
Clara and Oak streets. The Highway 101 route, which normally operates Monday to Saturday,
will be extended to Sunday for the X Games. More information is available at
goventura.org/xgames.

Information about fares is available at https://www.goventura.org/vctc-transit/fares-passes/.
Riders are encouraged to use VCbuspass, a contactless regional transit pass that is accepted
by all public transit operators in Ventura County. To get a pass, download the Umo Mobility app
on an Apple or Android phone. VCbuspass cards can also be purchased at
goventura.org/vcbuspass or by calling VCTC’s Regional Transit Information Center in advance
of the X Games at 800-438-1112.

VCTC buses are specially equipped with spaces to store bicycles. Most buses have either frontmounted bicycle racks and undercarriage compartments. E-bikes are allowed.

All VCTC buses are ADA-accessible and are equipped with lifts to assist riders who use
wheelchairs or have limited mobility.

FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL

To assist motorists, VCTC will temporarily extend its Freeway Service Patrol to a segment of
U.S. 101, from Johnson Drive to California Street, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 29 and 30.
The FSP program places roaming tow trucks along freeways with the goal of quickly getting
disabled vehicles moving again at no cost to the motorists. Drivers provide such services as
changing flat tires, providing a gallon of fuel and taping leaky hoses.

The program aims to reduce congestion and prevent secondary accidents. FSP trucks currently
operate along three segments of Ventura County highways during peak traffic periods Monday
through Friday.

For more information, visit https://www.goventura.org/getting-around/fsp/.
About the Ventura County Transportation Commission

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the regional transportation planning agency
committed to keeping Ventura County moving. Program information is available at
goventura.org and in Spanish at goventura/org/buena.

Courtesy Public Information Officer Karin Grennan, Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Agency

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is issuing an Air Quality Alert because unhealthy conditions are forecast for Monday, June 17.
Smoke from the Post Fire is expected to cause the Air Quality Index (AQI) to fall in the unhealthy range for everyone. Measured levels of PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, have reached unhealthy for sensitive groups in the Simi Valley area with the potential to reach unhealthy levels for all in the overnight and morning hours. While the largest smoke impact remains near the northeastern portions of Ventura County, elevated levels of PM 2.5 are anticipated to increase in all locations during the Sunday overnight hours and into Monday morning.
Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles that can harm the lungs and heart.
The district issues Air Quality Alerts when the AQI has reached or is forecast to reach an unhealthy level for all. A lower AQI can affect sensitive groups. This includes children, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.
The alert is in effect until conditions improve.
When air quality reaches an unhealthy level for you or when you see or smell smoke, Ventura County Public Health recommends that you:
• Stay indoors as much as possible, preferably in a “clean room” with an indoor air filtration device where you can avoid cooking or burning candles.
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside unless it is extremely hot.
• Operate home and car air conditioners in recycle or recirculation mode. Close the fresh air intake and replace dirty filters.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must work outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask.
An AQI forecast for PM2.5 reflects what is possible for a 24-hour day. At times, air quality is likely to be better or worse than what is indicated for the entire period. Levels of smoke and particles and the areas affected will vary over time. Conditions can change rapidly depending on winds.
For real-time data on air quality, check the AirNow NowCast AQI at www.airnow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. AirNow uses hourly data from the district’s five monitoring stations throughout the county to provide air quality information for the surrounding regions.
Ventura County farmworkers can receive text and audio alerts when wildfire smoke increases the AQI to unhealthy and hazardous levels. To sign up, text “SMOKE” for English or “HUMO” for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.
People can get Daily Air Quality Reports from the district by signing up to receive emails at vcapcd.org or by following the district on the social platform

As Independence Day approaches, excitement builds in Fillmore for our spectacular annual fireworks show. Fillmore stands out as the only jurisdiction in Ventura County that allows the use of safe and sane fireworks, making our celebration truly unique. Join us on July 3rd for a night of dazzling lights, festive fun, and strong community spirit.

However, while we enjoy this tradition, it’s essential to prioritize safety and proper disposal of fireworks. Fillmore’s fireworks show is a highlight of the summer, bringing families and friends together to enjoy a brilliant display that lights up the night sky. This year, the event promises to be even more spectacular, with a variety of fireworks that will captivate audiences of all ages. As we prepare for the celebration, we encourage everyone to adhere to the guidelines that ensure a safe and enjoyable event for all. Remember to use fireworks only in designated areas to prevent accidents and fires. Setting off fireworks in unauthorized areas can pose significant risks to both people and property. Additionally, once the festivities are over, please dispose of used fireworks in the containers provided at local parks. This helps keep our community clean and reduces the risk of fire hazards.

When using fireworks, always adhere to designated areas to prevent accidents and fires. Setting off fireworks in unauthorized locations can pose significant risks to both people and property. It’s vital to use fireworks responsibly, keeping a safe distance from structures, dry grass, and other flammable materials. After the excitement of the fireworks, proper disposal is crucial. Used fireworks should be fully extinguished before disposal. Use the containers provided at local parks for discarding spent fireworks. This helps keep our community clean and reduces the risk of fire hazards.
Safety extends beyond fireworks to include the disposal of food waste, especially following state guidelines like California’s SB 1383. This legislation aims to reduce organic waste in landfills to combat climate change. Proper disposal of food waste is essential, particularly during celebrations and gatherings. Fillmore residents are encouraged to sort their waste and use designated bins for food scraps and other organic materials. By doing so, we support the city’s commitment to sustainability and comply with regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By incorporating these safety measures and waste disposal practices, we can all contribute to a safer, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly Fillmore. Whether celebrating with fireworks or enjoying a meal with loved ones, remember that responsible disposal and eco-friendly choices make a significant difference. Let’s celebrate responsibly, keeping our community safe and beautiful for everyone.

Happy celebrations, Fillmore! Together, we can ensure a joyous and safe experience for all.
This safety and informational article was funded by CalRecycle, for additional information regarding SB1383, please visit https://www.Fillmoreca.gov/236/Cal-Recycle.

Fillmore’s AYSO 242 is celebrating 45 years of service to the community with close to 700 athletes playing soccer last year. It is one of the oldest non-profits in North America. This year they will begin the fall 2024 season, August 17; register by June 30th at www.AYSO242.org. Read the article for full details. Above action photos from past AYSO seasons. Photo credit AYSO archives.
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This fall Fillmore AYSO Region 242 will host its 45th year of service to the community here in Fillmore. Photo credit AYSO archives.
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Article by Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez

AYSO Region 242 is in preparation to celebrate a huge milestone this year, their 45th season of serving the youth in Fillmore, which kicks off on Saturday, August 17th.

Fillmore AYSO 242 is the largest youth sports organization in Fillmore, with close to 700 athletes playing soccer last year, and has served thousands of youths in over four decades; it is part of North America’s oldest non-profit soccer organization, AYSO, American Youth Soccer Organization. Fillmore AYSO 242 thrives on the power of volunteers; every coach, referee, and board member involved is a volunteer, dedicating countless hours of year-round hard work to the success of this 10-week soccer program.

Arnold Munoz, who had all four of his children participate in the program, has been bringing the community together for the last nine years as Regional Commissioner. Arnold’s goal as RC is to “create a fun, family-friendly environment for the athletes to develop their social and leadership skills, while their families enjoy watching them on the field!’
Fillmore AYSO 242 continues to grow and introduce new programs, including its most recent addition, EPIC, Everyone Plays in Our Community, a soccer program designed to adapt and support each athlete’s needs with the help of buddies on the field. The program is set to start its third season this year and is something truly special in our town, “it brings happiness to our children to be a part of a team and participate in learning new skills. It’s what inclusion is all about,” said coach Tania Melgoza, who has a child that participates in the EPIC program.

Fillmore AYSO 242’s 45th season is dedicated to all those who have committed their time to our youth, if it wasn’t for the thousands of volunteers we’ve had throughout the years, Fillmore AYSO 242 wouldn’t be as strong and far-reaching as it is today, and for that Fillmore AYSO 242 is forever GRATEFUL!

If you’re interested in registering your child for the fall 2024 season, please do so by June 30th at www.AYSO242.org. Anyone registering after the cut-off date will be placed on a waitlist.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with 7-Eleven, Inc. in the 29th consecutive year of “Operation Chill®.” The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and 7-Eleven want to reward local kids through the company’s community outreach program.
This summer, as our deputies’ patrol neighborhoods, they will keep an eye out for youth doing great things. Some acts include kids wearing safety helmets while riding a bike or skateboard, kids observing safety rules while crossing the street, kids participating in positive activities, kids holding the door open for someone, kids picking up trash, or kids helping someone in need. If observed, our deputies and professional staff, at any of our stations in the county, will make a positive contact with the youth and issue an Operation Chill coupon. The coupons can be redeemed for a free small Slurpee drink at any participating 7-Eleven®, Speedway®, or Stripes® store.

This year, 7-Eleven will issue nearly 550,000 coupons to more than 1,300 participating law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to recognizing the good deeds being done daily by the youth in our communities. We have a lot of great kids in our communities and we have a lot of Slurpee coupons to hand out to keep encouraging them to become great citizens. This program allows us to continue to build trust and relationships with the communities we serve. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

Prepared by: Sergeant Thomas Miller
News Release Date: 06/03/2024
Approved by: Captain Jason Hendren

For immediate release May 28, 2024

Santa Clara Valley Disposal will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organic waste collection schedule in the city of Fillmore during the week of Juneteenth, June 16-22. The holiday is on Wednesday, June 19.

Remember that Santa Clara Valley Disposal residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as the company collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags and the bags should be tossed in the organics waste cart.

It’s important to recycle your food waste every week. In 2022, the state of California began to require the diversion of food waste from landfills, and your efforts are needed. Even if you only have food waste bags and no yard waste, you should still put the food waste bags in your organics waste cart and take it to the curb every week for pickup.
Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Lynn Ranch, Ojai Valley (Ventura River Valley), Oxnard Plain, Newbury Park, Piru, Pt. Mugu, Rancho Matilija, Rincon, Santa Rosa Valley, Somis, Santa Paula, Upper Ojai, Yerba Buena, and the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District, plus the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; and Fillmore and surrounding unincorporated areas as Santa Clara Valley Disposal.
For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

All Items passed 4-0

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2024 - 6:30 PM CITY HALL

AGENDA

1. CALL TO ORDER

2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

5. PRESENTATIONS

5.A VENTURA COUNTY HEALTH CARE AGENCY - UPDATES ON THE SANTA PAULA HOSPITAL

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS

7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COMMENTS

8. CONSENT CALENDAR RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM

8A. THROUGH 8F. IS TO APPROVE BY VOICE VOTE.

8.A CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER - JUNE 11, 2024 CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-JUNE 11, 2024.PDF

8.B 2024 CITYWIDE CALSSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION STUDY SR 2024COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY.PDF

8.C APPROVAL OF CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR 2024-25 ENGINEERING CONSULTANT SERVICES WITH DAVID BURKHART SR DAVID BURKHART CONTRACT FY 2024-2025.PDF

8.D ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 7.10 YARD AND GARAGE SALES REGARDING THE FREQUECY OF GARAGE AND YARD SALES ALLOWED IN A MONTH/YEAR AND ADOPTION OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA

SR- SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7.10 (YARD AND GARAGE SALES) (986908.1).PDF

8.E ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 24-972 (ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 23-02) TO UPDATE THE CITYS REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF-STORAGE AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE CITY AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA

SR-2024_SELF -STORAGE ORDINANCE 2ND READING.PDF

8.F ADOPTION OF CITY RESOLUTION 24-4006 ESTABLISIHING THE GANN APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR FY 2024-25

SR GANN APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FY 2024-25.PDF

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.A PUBLIC HEARING: FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 6053 FOR THE CREATION OF 134 PARCELS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 20-04 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 134 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (CREEKSIDE), 16 OF WHICH WILL CONTAIN AN ATTACHED ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND TWO PARCELS WILL CONTAIN ONE DETACHED ADU EACH, AND AN EXEMPTION FROM CEQA

SR- CREEKSIDE DP NO. 20-04 AND TTM NO. 6053 - SECOND COUNCIL HEARING.PDF

EXH A - ARCHITECTURE.PDF

EXH B - TTM NO. 6053 INCL CIVIL IMPROVEMENTS.PDF EXH C - BIKE PATH AND OPEN SPACE CIRCULATION.PDF EXH D - FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS.PDF

EXH E - CURB EXTENSIONS AND BULB OUTS.PDF EXH F - FIRE PROTECTION SETBACK.PDF

EXH G - LANDSCAPE PLAN.PDF

EXH H - PARCEL D1 BIKE PATH DEDICATION.PDF EXH I - B STREET TRANSFER.PDF

EXH J - HOUSE SETBACK AND DRIVEWAY LOCATION.PDF

EXH K- INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION PHASING PLAN.PDF EXH L - PARKING AND TURNING RADIUS.PDF

EXH M - AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLOTS.PDF

9.B CITY COUNCIL TERMINATING THE CITY OF FILLMORE LOCAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION RESULTING FROM SEVERE WINTER STORMS IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2024

SR - BIKE PATH -TERMINATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY.PDF

9.C CONSIDERATION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 24-4013, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE NOVEMBER 5, 2024, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION; AND RESOLUTION NO. 24-4014, REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL GENERAL ELECTION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY OF VENTURA THE SAME DAY

STAFF REPORT - CALLING OF ELECTION 2024.PDF

9.D RESOLUTION NO. 24-4008 APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 PROJECT LIST TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017

SR - 2024 SB1 RMRA FUNDS.PDF

9.E REJECT ALL BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT SPEC NO. 19-01: MOUNTAIN VIEW SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE COMBINING THIS PROJECT WITH CITY HALL PLAZA RESTORATION PROJECT (SPEC NO 22-03) TO READVERTISE

SR - MOUNTAIN VIEW SIDEWALK EXTENSION. REJECT BIDS FOR PROJECT

SPEC NO. 19-01.PDF

9.F COUNTY ROW USE AGREEMENT TO INSTALL AND INTERCONNECT CONDUIT AND FIBER OPTIC CABLE NETWORK

SR COUNTY ROW USE AGREEMENT- FIBER OPTIC CABLE NETWORK.PDF

9.G APPROVAL OF PROPOSED YEAR-END BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR END 2023-24

SR YEAR - END BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FY 2023-24(987255.1) UPDATED FINAL (987255.PDF

9.H CONSIDERATION OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FILLMORE AND INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 501 FOR THE TERMS OF SUCCESSOR MOU COVERING THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2024, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027, AND ADOPTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR CERTAIN CLASSIFICATIONS

FILLMORE - SR UNION TA AGREEMENT 2025-2027.PDF

9.I ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 24-4012 FIXING THE COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF NON-REPRESENTED MANAGEMENT/ MIDMANAGEMENT, CONFIDENTIAL, AND PART TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF FILLMORE EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024

SR MGMT MID MGMT CONF COMP AND BENEFITS.PDF

9.J FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE 2023 CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF FILLMORE & DAVID WAYNE ROWLANDS

_FILLMORE SR_FIRST_AMENDMENT_TO_2023_CITY_MANAGER_EMPLOYM

10. COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, AND BOARD REPORTS

11. CITY MANAGER

CITY MANAGER VERBAL REPORT

12. CLOSED SESSION

12.A JUNE 11, 2024 - CLOSED SESSION JUNE 11, 2024 - CLOSED SESSION.PDF

13. ADJOURNMENT

MAYOR CARRIE BROGGIE ADJOURNS TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2024, CITY HALL, 250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CA 93015.

State Senator Mike Morrell (retired) will meet with the Ventura GOP in Thousand Oaks on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

State Senator Mike Morrell (retired) will be speaking at the June meeting of the Ventura County Republican Party on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7 pm at the Best Western Thousand Oaks Inn, located at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

Senator Morrell will be speaking about his book The Road to Restoring the Family.

This event is free and open to the public.

At 5:30 pm the same evening, the Ventura County Republican Party will host a Meet & Greet Reception for Senator Morrell. This is a great opportunity to meet him in a less formal environment.

Admission to the reception is free for all Ventura GOP Chairman’s Club members. For non-members, tickets for the reception cost $50.00 and food will be served. A cash bar will also be available. Anyone wishing to attend the reception may purchase tickets on the Ventura GOP website.

The Redgrave Research Forensic services (redgraveresearch.com) has partnered with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office to identify Piru Jane Doe via Forensic Genetic Genealogy. She was found deceased in Piru, CA in 1981. You can read more about this case and see forensic art (done by NCMEC) and some additional links at https://redgraveresearch.com/index.php/cases/piru-jane-doe.

On January 27, 1981, the body of an unidentified Hispanic female was found in a citrus orchard near Torrey Canyon Road and Guiberson Road in an unincorporated area of Ventura County, California. It is suspected she had been deceased for several days. The Jane Doe is believed to have been between 18 and 30 years of age. She was 5’1” and weighed approximately 195 lbs. She had brown hair and brown eyes. The Jane Doe was found wearing a red, green, yellow, blue and white plaid shirt (size 36) over a blue tank top. She was also wearing a white strapless bra (size 38C), a gray knit skirt with black and maroon stripes in a "V" pattern, a black half-slip with lace with trim and blue "strappy" sandals. She was wearing a gold band ring on her left little finger and a gold ring with a clear stone on her left ring finger. She was also wearing a gold chain necklace with a cross and gold stud earrings. Two blue hair clips as well as a plain metal hair clip were found in the immediate area. Anyone with information should contact the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office, reference case number 132-81 or the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, reference case number 81-01698.

Fillmore Civic Pride volunteers named the June 2024 Yard of the Month winner Matilde Laureano, pictured above with her granddaughter Emma Torres in her yard at 724 A Street. It is filled with bushes and small Rose trees in various colors. Photo credit Linda Nunes.
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By Linda Nunes

On June 2, 2024, Civic Pride volunteers selected the home of Matilde Laureano at 724 A Street, for the June “Yard of the Month”. Matilde and her late-husband, Geronimo, who passed this year, purchased their home in 1996, after the Northridge Earthquake in 1994.

The front yard was bare dirt and she and Geronimo began planting her favorite flower, the Rose. The entire yard is filled with bushed and small Rose trees in various colors. A healthy Naval Orange tree stands by the front entry and Matilde says it produces many delicious oranges.

Walking around the yard, you can see a cactus, a Rosemary bush, Geraniums with pink flowers, California Poppies and several different herbs like Mint, which she uses in tea.

Her son, also named Geronimo, does the gardening now, with her direction.

When asked if there was anything else she would like to say, she replied that every morning she goes into the yard and talks with her flowers and she thinks that is why they grow so well. She said this is her therapy.
Civic Pride volunteers were happy to present Matilde with a gift card to Otto & Sons Nursery. The group is very appreciative of their generous support for this project over the years.

Historians love obituaries and articles written about the deceased at their time of passing. Now days, unless you are a celebrity, obituaries are usually written by a member of the family, and the Fillmore Historical Museum wanted to share some with readers. Above is Mahala Stone outside her home on Central Avenue, c 1910. Photo credit Fillmore Historical Museum. Inset, Nate Stone on hunting trip, c 1896. Photo by Sam Edwards. See more photos online at www.FillmoreGazette.com.
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Photo credit Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Photo credit Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Photo credit Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

The late comedian, George Burns, has been quoted as saying, “I get up every morning and read the obituary column. If my name's not there, I eat breakfast.” Mr. Burns got to enjoy many breakfasts before he passed away at the age of 100.
Historians and other researchers love obituaries and other articles written about the deceased at their time of death. They can be a treasure trove of information. Today, unless you are a celebrity, obituaries are usually written by a member of the family, so are somewhat biased, but even so they can give information about a person that was previously unknown.

When Nathan Stone died in 1932 at the age of 78, an anonymous writer penned a lengthy obituary. We don’t know for sure who the author was, but it may have been Charles Jarrett who at that time was writing profiles of pioneers of the area such as Hugh Warring and Buck Atmore. In the obituary appears all the expected information: when he died, how he died, when the funeral service would be. Nate’s pall bearers was truly a who’s who of Fillmore: Willis Burson, Jasper Horton, O. S. White, Sam Akers, Frank Atmore and Earl Goodenough. Nate was survived by his mother, Mahala Azbell Stone, age 94 – the oldest resident of Fillmore, two sisters, and his brother Alfred.

After a few paragraphs, the writer launched into the story of the Stone family in general. This was excellent background information for the researcher. Nate’s mother, Mahala Azbell, then age 10, came with her family to California in 1848. During the long trip west, Mahala’s sister, who was the mother of twins, two of her brothers and her father all succumbed to cholera. Mahala ended up caring for the twins. The surviving members of the family settled in Yuba City,
Nate Stone’s father, Joseph Stone, had died three decades previously. According to Nate’s obituary, Joseph had fought in the Seminole Wars in 1836 and then in the Mexican American War in 1848. Interestingly, he used the assumed name, George H. Taylor, and had fought on the Mexican side.

After coming to Fillmore in the 1870s, the family farmed “on the mountain north of Fillmore.” Nate and his younger brother, Alfred, hunted the game available in the area. The meat would be sold to the local residents. The family also kept bees.
Mahala had built a home on Central Avenue, approximately where Central Market now is. By 1910, Central had become the commercial “hub” of Fillmore. Mrs. Stone moved house and all to Mountain View and 2nd street.
All of the above was taken from Nate Stone’s obituary.

The next year the obituary of another early settler ran in the Fillmore Herald. Fillmore’s first physician, John P. Hinckley passed away. The usual “just the facts” obituary ran, but there also appeared an article on Dr. Hinckley written by his colleague, Dr. David W. Mott of Santa Paula. Dr. Mott had been practicing in Santa Paula and also served the growing community of Fillmore. In 1890 a new physician put out his shingle, Dr. John Powell Hinckley. At that time, he was only one of ten physicians in the county and became one of the charter members of the County medical society. Other doctors had come and gone and often of dubious training and experience.

The ”dean” of Ventura County’s physicians was Dr. Cephas Bard, brother of Thomas Bard. Dr. Bard was pleased to get a report from Dr. Mott that Hinckley had trained at the University of Vermont and had done post-graduate work at Bellevue College in New York City. Over the half century Dr. Hinckley practiced he was often the one other doctors consulted if they needed assistance.

Dr. Mott also told of the long hours Dr. Hinckley put in, even at the end of his career, having progressed from a horse and carriage to a “comfortable Cadillac” or his “speedy Ford.” Dr. Mott’s remembrance of his friend and colleague was high praise.

Two things we have learned about Dr. Hinckley which weren’t mentioned in Mott’s piece. From his arrival in Fillmore, some young boys had the middle name of “Hinckley” undoubtably in thanks for the treatment of mother and child. On a sadder note, during the “Influenza” pandemic of 1918 and the next few years, Dr. Hinckley was called on to tend to many of victims. One of those victims was his own daughter, Vinnie.

The last “obituary” to be profiled here is probably not an obituary in the usual meaning of the word, but one man’s opinion of the deceased, Alexander More brother to T. Wallace More who had owned Rancho Sespe and was murdered.
It appeared in the San Francisco “Call” on October 22, 1893, the day after Alexander More died in Illinois. It was printed on page 2 with no byline. The title was simply “Alex More Dead.” It is only as you read the article do you realize this is not the usual obituary. What catches your attention are sentences like this:

“Possibly Alex More may have begun life with all the generous impulses common to youth. If he did they fell from him, for in his old age he was hard, stern, cold — a demoniac in his hate and seemingly animated by a detestation of his kind.”
The writer talks about the vast amount of land the More Brothers acquired, especially in what would become Ventura County. The Ventura County holdings “came to be known as "From Sunrise to Sunset Rancho," He told the story of Alex’s drive to punish those he believed were responsible for his brother, Tom’s, death and how it completely drove the people of the area to despise him (if they hadn’t before).

The story of Alex’s killing his cook on Santa Rosa Island was related. The Chinese cook wished to go to the mainland to see his family, although it was at the height of the shearing season. Alex took a rifle to the pier on the island and shot the cook. The county of Santa Barbara did press charges and bring him to trial, but his attorneys (and possibly Alex’s money) argued successfully that since the crime was committed on the pier, it was on the “high seas” where Maritime law had jurisdiction, not the county.

Again, all of the above and more, was in this one article – a researcher’s dream. Not because it told the whole story, but because it provided more threads to follow. Links to the actual articles will be on our website, but it is clear that if you want people to remember you as you see yourself – write your obituary in advance.

If you care about the future of your local Hospital and would like to see services remain open and available to you and your families at Santa Paula Hospital please share and sign the petition link below: https://www.change.org/p/save-santa-paula-hospital-services?cs_

On May 14, Ventura County Board of Supervisors agreed to shut down Santa Paula Hospital’s
Intensive Care Unit and Obstetrics Unit, according to a report given to the Board by Barry Zimmerman, chief deputy director the Ventura Conty Health Care Agency. This will not only displace many nurses and healthcare staff, but it will also take away critical care access for the growing communities of Santa Clara Valley. If a patient arrives to the Emergency Room and needs critical care, they will no longer be able to stay at Santa Paula Hospital ICU unit; the plan would be to transfer them out to Ventura County Medical Center. If a woman arrives in labor, there will not be any services available to deliver her baby, she will need to be transferred out to VCMC as well.

Please act now and sign the petition to keep services available for our growing community. The next Board of Supervisors meeting will be held on June 4th, when this petition can be presented. Santa Paula Hospital administrators want to move forward with their plan to close services effective August 2024. By signing this petition, you are agreeing that the community deserves better. We deserve to have local critical care access available for our families when they are sick and in need of a higher level of care. Women in labor should also have the choice to deliver their babies locally and not have to be transferred to Ventura because of lack of services.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for vacation Bible School Camp Firelight: A Summer Camp

Adventure with God! Register now through June 16th $30 per child/ $50 per family (2 or more)
Late Registration June 17th-24 $40 per child $60 per family (2 or more). Our adventure will take place from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on June 24 – June 28. VBS is open to children from K – 5th grade and includes daily snacks, crafts, science, games songs, Bible story dramas and more! Pick up a registration form at Bardsdale UMC (805) 524-2070. Hope to see you there!