Courtesy Jane Lee

Spring is here! It’s time for the annual Fillmore Flower Show. Plan to attend to see what local gardeners have cultivated. It is always a spectacular display. The theme this year is “Flower Power”. What an opportunity to demonstrate creativity and a green thumb. Don’t miss it!

Come to the Active Adult Center at 533 Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. This is where you bring your flowers, dish gardens, potted plants to exhibit for your friends and neighbors to see. Flowers, etc. must be entered on Saturday, April 6, between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. There is only one entry fee for each adult exhibitor of $5, no matter how many entries. All youth entries are FREE. Expert judges will rate the entries. You might take home a blue ribbon!

Then from 1:00-4:00p.m. Saturday and Sunday the Flower Show is open to the public. Everyone is invited to view the flowers and plants. But that is not all there is. There will be live music both days. There is a plant and garden boutique with excellent prices. There are sweets and juice. There is an activity table for youth. There are gardeners who will talk to you about plants. You can learn a lot and enjoy the beauty of nature.

The most popular categories are single stem cut flowers. Whether it is a rose, an iris or any other single stem flower, the entries are beautiful! Everyone should have at least one stem of a flower to bring. So, bring a single stem flower, a bouquet, an arrangement, a potted plant, a dish garden or a mini arrangement. Help make the Fillmore Flower Show a success. Meet some new people. Enjoy blooms, plants, music and sweets. See you at the Flower Show.

For more information go to: fillmoreflowershow.org

Fillmore’s California United FC 2008 Boys Soccer was named Cal South State Champs last weekend. Pictured top (l-r): José Valdez (Assistant Coach) Alonso Arellano, Jovani Huerta, Giovani Valdez, Julio Ballesteros, Julian Medina, Hector Hernandez, Jose Zaragoza, Juan Medina, Juan Lizarraga, and Christian Ramirez. Bottom (l-r): Toni Hernandez (Assistant Coach) Javier Cisneros, Abe De La Cruz, Nathaniel Negrete, Angel Garza, Toni Hernandez Jr, Saul Magana, Julian Huerta, Luis Vigil, and Juan Hernandez (Head Coach). Not pictured: Xavier Lara and Jesus Canchola. Photo credit Erika Arana.
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Last weekend Fillmore’s California United FC 2008 Boys Soccer was named Cal South State Champions for the first time ever. Above is the team celebrating after their victory, holding up their trophy. Photo credit Erika Arana. Full story begins on page 1. Above is one of Fillmore’s California United FC 2008 Boys Soccer players as he tries to keep his opponent from taking the ball.
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By Erika Arana

For the first time ever, a Fillmore team has won the Cal South State Cup! The last two weekends, March 16th, 17th, and 23rd, Fillmore’s Competitive Soccer Club, California United FC, was crowned the 2008 Boys State Cup Champions!
This was a mentally tough and physical tournament filled with rain in every game, long road trips and injuries. Every player was critical in this championship run and deserving of our congratulations.

Goal keepers Julian Medina (co-captain) and Jose Zaragoza only allowed 3 goals all 7 games with co-captain Hector Hernandez leading the defense as well as creating for the offense. The defensive backline of Javier Cisneros and Saul Magana with Giovani Valdez made it a tough outing for opposing offenses resulting in an overall tournament goal difference of 22-3.
The middle was controlled by Christian Ramirez, Julio Ballesteros, and Juan Medina along with wingers Julian Huerta, Jesus Canchola, Xavier Lara, Angel Garza, and Nathaniel Negrete. The adjustments and touch on the ball as the tournament progressed was impressive and goes to show the hard work the players and Coaches Juan Hernandez and Jose Valdez put in.
Up front was Abe De La Cruz, Jovani Huerta, Luis Vigil, and Antonio Hernandez, III who consistently pressured the defenses, attacked the goal and made the plays when needed, with all-utility player Juan Lizarraga ready to fill in on defense, middle, and forward as needed.

Leading scorers for the tournament were Abe De La Cruz with 6 goals followed by Jovani Huerta with 5. Assist leaders are Julio Ballesteros and Christian Ramirez with 4 followed by Hector Hernandez with 3.
This was truly an all-team effort with ups and downs, plenty of travel and parent support. The future of Fillmore High School soccer looks bright with these up coming players. California United Fútbol Club is proud of the team, coaches and parents for their hard work and dedication. We hope this motivates the younger CU teams to follow in their footsteps and bring more championships to the club and community. California United. Building Champions!
State Cup - CU 2008 Boys

Game 1: CU 5 - 1 Necaxa USA
Goals: Hector Hernandez 2, Abe De La Cruz 1, Xavier Lara 1, Nathaniel Negrete 1
Assist: Hector Hernandez 2, Xavier Lara 1, Christian Ramirez 1, Julio Ballesteros 1, Christian Ramirez.
Overall Record : 4-0-0

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Game 2: CU 1 - 0 Olímpico
Goals: Christian Ramirez 1 PK
Overall Record: 5-0-0

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SEMI FINAL: CU 1 - 0 Premier Elite
Goals: Christian Ramirez
Assist: Julio Ballesteros
Shutout: Julian Medina
Overall Record 6-0-0

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FINAL: CU 5 - 1 Toritos
Goals: Jovani Huerta 2, Abe De La Cruz 1, Jesus Canchola 1, Javier Cisneros 1
Assist Coach: Christian Ramirez 1, Hector Hernandez 1, Jesus Canchola 1
Overall Record: 7-0-0
California United 2008 Boys Cal State Champions.

NEW BUSINESS
8.A All items passed 5-0 last night. Please note that for item 7-E under consent there was a correction made to the staff report. Warranty bond is 25%, not 15% as indicated in the staff report.

CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 24-967 TO UPDATE PORTIONS OF FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.06 WHICH SETS FORTH REGULATIONS FOR STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT 9. COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, AND BOARD REPORTS 10. CITY MANAGER CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2024, 6:30 PM CITY HALL AGENDA RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM 7A. THROUGH 7E. IS TO APPROVE BY VOICE VOTE. CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-MARCH 26, 2024.PDF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 27,2024. PDF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - MARCH 12, 2024.PDF THIRD AMENDMENT TO GOVTEMPSUSA.PDF SR - ROTORCRAFT ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.PDF SR - STORMWATER ORDINANCE UPDATE. ORD NO.24-967. FINAL.PD

RECOMMENDATION That the City Council introduce first reading of Ordinance 24-967, updating various sections within Fillmore Municipal Code (“FMC”) Chapter 8.06 for compliance with State and Federal law pertaining to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (“NPDES”) program for municipal dischargers: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING PORTIONS OF THE CITY’S STORMWATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA.

Last week, the Rotary Club of Fillmore celebrated its 100 Anniversary on Saturday, March 23, at the Fillmore Museum Depot. There were 50 people present; many were past presidents going back to 1990. The two couples who traveled the farthest were Bob and Mary Taylor and Dave and Diane Wareham.

Our District Governor Marta Brown and District Governor Elect Sherry Sim presented the Club with a certificate from President R. Gordon R. McInally of Rotary International. During the event three members shared the Rotary history. Martha Richardson shared the Fillmore Rotary original Club history while Kyle Wilson shared the Fillmore Rotary Sunrisers history, and Sean Morris concluded with the merger of the two Clubs and how with more members and a unified group they are able to do more for the community and the world.

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Fillmore High School students were treated to the musical sounds of cumbia and boleros by Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.” Above is Councilmember Christina Villaseñor, Commissioner Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez, FHS student Emi Martinez, his mom, Ana Cardenas, Field Representative Manuel Minjares, and Special Education Teacher Mr. Rockney, who came out for the fun. Photo courtesy Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
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On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Fillmore High School students hosted Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.” Above are students and staff dancing and enjoying the music. Photo courtesy Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
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By Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez

On Thursday, March 21, Fillmore High School students were treated to the musical sounds of cumbia and boleros by Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia, all in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.”

This celebration brought together students, staff, city officials, and the perfect combination of history, culture, inclusion, and diversity through the power of song; Mr. Herrera, who teaches Spanish and forms part of the musical group “Hermanos Herrera,” has been very successful at using every opportunity to incorporate music into his lessons making the learning experience in his classroom an enjoyable one. La Santa Cecilia, a band that represents US bicultural identity, has a unique sound that captures their Latin American influences and Mexican heritage, music that resonates with many Fillmore students from all walks of life.

World Down Syndrome Day has been celebrated on this day every year since 2012, this year’s theme is End the Stereotypes. Mr. Rockney, a Special Education teacher at FHS, believes “students with Down Syndrome have hopes, dreams, and challenges much like any other child their age. They have a deep desire to connect with their peers and to engage in meaningful friendships. They want to show their teachers and friends what they know and what they can do.”

Supervisor Kelly Long, who had field representative Manuel Minjares present the band with a certificate of recognition, was honored to have her office present at the event, not only to celebrate Dia del Campesino “a day where we honor the immeasurable contributions from farm workers in our community,” but also to “recognize World Down Syndrome Day which seeks to bring awareness to the challenges faced by the Down Syndrome community and create change to improve their quality of life.”

Dia Del Campesino, or Farmworkers’ Day, is a celebration that was created by the Spanish Department this year. Mr. Luis Herrera and his team decided that with Cesar Chavez Day around the corner on March 31, it would be appropriate to focus on the significance of all farmworkers/campesinos as a whole. Mr. Herrera believes that “it’s important to recognize the history of struggle of campesinos and spotlight their importance within our community and society. Campesinos feed America, and their arduous work is often overlooked and dismissed.”

Councilmember Christina Villasenor, who acknowledged the band with a certificate of recognition from the City of Fillmore, is glad to see Fillmore High School students taking a moment “to show gratitude for our campesinos and celebrate them in our community.” She also agrees with Mr. Herrera, and believes farmworkers are “the backbone to our local economy, the backbone of our families and cultural fabric of our community, instilling the values of hope and hard work, perseverance and pride, strength and unity in all of us.”

Mr. Herrera has ten more musical events lined up for FHS this year, which also includes a week-long celebration for Cinco de Mayo; all festivities will have live music, including the school’s very own Mariachi Los Rayos and Johnny Tapia, who Mr. Herrera believes will be selling out arenas in the near future!

Community members and local businesses have jumped at the opportunity to support these FHS events, so a big thank you goes to Cultura Imports, Daniel’s Gourmet Foods, Lemon Tree Embroidery, Electric Remedy, Radio Lazer, The Candy Bar, La Fondita Restaurant, La Michoacana Bakery, Erika Sandoval, and Hermanos Herrera!

If any community member or local business would like to support any Fillmore High School events, please contact Mr. Luis Herrera via email at lherrera@fillmoreusd.org or through Instagram @hermanosherrera.