FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA – October 26, 2023– The Fillmore City Council unanimously approved the Hometown Heroes Military Banner program at its meeting on October 24. The City is proud to recognize Fillmore’s military heroes for their service through the City's Military Banner Program. Family members and loved ones may nominate duty service members from any branch of the United States Military to be honored with a street banner with the service member's name. The City will officially take over the program as of Monday, November 6.

Prior to commencement of this program, the creation of military banners was a joint effort between the City and the Fillmore Unified School District. For a coordinated and consistent program, the District and City determined that the City should administer the banner program on its own.

To qualify, honorees must meet the following requirements:

o Live within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries at the time of enlistment; and

o Be active-duty military personnel in any branch of the United States Military (Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, or Marine Corps), including active Reserves and active National Guard; or,

o Be inactive duty or retired military personnel that served in any branch of the United States Military; or,

o Be a fallen service member in any United States conflict.

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis and banners will be installed and removed quarterly, on the last Thursday of the last month of each quarter (January, April, July, October), weather, City Holidays and staffing permitting.

Applicants must pay the vendor directly for each banner, which costs $138. The City will pay for the banner brackets, installation, and removal.

The banner applications and program guidelines can be obtained from the City of Fillmore’s website at https://www.fillmoreca.gov/1318/Hometown-Heroes or you may contact the Public Works Department to have them emailed to you by contacting Shannon Godfrey at (805) 201-9623 or sgodfrey@fillmoreca.gov. Applications will also be available at City Hall, in the lobby and second floor offices, located at 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA.

The City is also soliciting volunteers to be Ambassadors for the Fillmore Hometown Heroes Military Banner program. Ambassadors will provide assistance with administering the program. Participation in the program by Ambassador volunteers is strictly voluntary and uncompensated. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Erika Herrera, Assistant City Manager at eherera@fillmoreca.gov / (805) 946-1712 or Jacky Magdaleno, Senior Management Analyst, at jherrera@fillmoreca.gov/ (805) 946-1295

Please visit www.fillmoreca.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

October 30, 2023 - As part of Ventura County’s 150-year celebration, ÁNIMO Theatre Company will premiere Los Braceros De Buena Vista- A Mariachi Opera at the historic Fillmore Towne Theatre on November 10, 2023.

The story of the Braceros is an important chapter in the history of Ventura County, whose fields and orchards received more of the laborers than in any other county in the United States.

In Ventura County today, thousands of families trace their roots to a bracero. Oxnard was home to the Buena Vista Bracero camp, the largest in the nation, which at its peak housed 5,000 workers.

Set in the 1950s at the height of the Bracero program, “Los Braceros De Buena Vista” is a dynamic one-act “Mariachi Opera” which fuses mariachi music, ballet folklorico, and powerful “opera” style set pieces. “Los Braceros De Buena Vista” highlights the challenges workers faced and is both a cultural and educational experience that honors the legacy of migrant workers.

”‘Los Braceros De Buena Vista’ poignantly expresses the struggles encountered by fieldworkers to the audiences and honors their great contributions to the U.S.,” says Miguel Orozco, writer and director of the show.

The Mariachi music in “Los Braceros De Buena Vista” is performed by Mariachi Águilas de J. Carlos Ozuna – one of the premiere mariachi ensembles in Southern California. Joining the production will be a special performance by the Inlakech Cultural Center.

Tickets for “Los Braceros De Buena Vista” are on sale at www.animotheatre.org and at Estrella Market at 317 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA. The play is presented in English and Spanish with subtitles.

I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude to my family, friends, and the communities of Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula for all your support, thoughts, and prayers during a most difficult time. The unexpected passing of Ernie left me and all who knew him saddened over the loss of someone who has been an icon in their lives and the community for more than half a century. He was the love of my life, husband of over 60 years, father of Jeff, Brian and Michelle, and grandfather of Gabriel, Stella, Luke, Finn, Sofia, and Cameron Joseph. The kindness, generosity, participation and assistance of family and friends during the funeral service was appreciated more than you know. It made an otherwise somber day more comfortable for me and your continued kindness and generosity is helping me find a new normal.

I am most grateful to Father Jim Stehly who officiated at the funeral held at St. Francis of Assisi on September 29. Father Stehly was a close family friend, so it was special that he blessed the day and joined us in quiet sadness as he bid his friend farewell. I would also like to thank the Knights of Columbus St. Francis of Assisi Council 8800 for their support of one of their brothers. It was Ernie’s pride and joy to be part of the brotherhood since its founding in Fillmore. There are so many of you that I want to thank individually, and I will, eventually, when I see you.

Again, I thank you all sincerely for everything everyone did for me, especially your generous donations to Fillmore High School’s Mariachi Los Rayos in Ernie’s honor. Ernie would have liked that.
Becky Sosa Morales

CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) joins other local
transit operators in honoring U.S. military veterans and active-duty service members with free
bus rides on Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of Veterans Day.

Operators will provide free rides on fixed routes during normal service hours.
Participating operators are Camarillo Area Transit, Gold Coast Transit District, Moorpark City
Transit, Ojai Trolley, Simi Valley Transit, Thousand Oaks Transit, Valley Express, and Ventura
County Transportation Commission (VCTC) Intercity.

Camarillo Area Transit, East County Transit Alliance (ECTA), Moorpark City Transit and Valley
Express will provide free on-demand dial-a-ride services to veterans and active-duty service
members on Nov. 10.

Eligible riders can show their valid identification to the bus driver upon boarding any
participating fixed-route service. Valid forms of identification include U.S. military ID, Common
Access Card (CAC), Veterans Affairs (VA) card, veteran designation on a California driver’s
license, DD214, and Retired Military ID. Riders without proper ID are asked to share their
branch, dates and location of service with the bus driver.

VCTC started the Veterans Ride Free program in 2016.

“This is our way of saying thank you to the brave men and women of Ventura County who have
served our country in the past and are serving now,” said VCTC Executive Director Martin
Erickson. “We are honored to welcome them aboard our buses.”
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.

Santa Clara Valley Disposal will maintain its regular trash, recycling and yard/organic waste collection schedule in Fillmore during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 5-11.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of Newbury Park, El Rio, Somis, Ojai Valley, the Channel Islands beach communities and the city of Carpinteria as E.J. Harrison & Sons; Fillmore and surrounding unincorporated areas as Santa Clara Valley Disposal.

For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

Tuesday City Council Report - Council voted as follows:

7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 8.C, 8.E, 8.F, - All approved 5-0.

8.D - Approved 4-0 (One Council Member had a conflict.)

8.B - Approved 4-1

8.A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF A DISTRICT-BASED ELECTION SYSTEM. SR - (CVRA) FIRST PUBLIC HEARING.pdf – Thursday, October 26th, 6:30pm.

RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1. Receive public input and discuss the Hometown Hero Banner Program.
8.B FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LARRY WALKER ASSOCIATES FOR SUPPORT FOR RENEWAL OF THE WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS PERMIT FOR THE FILLMORE WATER RECYCLING PLANT. SR- 1ST AMENDMENT- LARRY WALKER.PDF.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1. Authorize the reallocation of $166,414 from the Sewer Operating Fund Balance to the Sewer Enterprise Account – 301-4638-0021-245; and 2. Approve the First Amendment to the Contract Services Agreement for Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) services with Larry Walker Associates (LWA).

8.C APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN POSITIONS AND EMPLOYEES TO APPROVE LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND DEPOSIT OR WITHDRAWAL TRANSACTIONS
RECOMMENDATION: Staff is requesting that City Council of the City of Fillmore and the Successor Agency of the Redevelopment Agency update the City’s current list authorized positions and people to be added to the City’s Local Agency Investment Fund account.

8.D UPDATED HOMETOWN HERO BANNER PROGRAM AND CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF PROGRAM GUIDELINES. SR - HOMETOWN HERO.pdf
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1. Receive public input and discuss the Hometown Hero Banner Program; and 2. Adopt the Hometown Hero Banner Program Policies and Guidelines.
8.E INTRODUCE BY FIRST READING ORDINANCE NO. 23-955 TO AMEND FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 7.12 AND 11.20 SR - SIDEWALK VENDING.pdf

RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests that the City Council: 1. Approve the new marketing toolkit; and 2. Adoption the usage policy for the marketing toolkit set forth below.
RECOMMENDATION That the City Council introduce first reading of Ordinance 23-955, amending the penalty provisions of Fillmore Municipal Code (“FMC”) Chapters 7.12 and 11.20 as they apply to sidewalk vendors to bring such provisions into compliance with State law.

8.F APPROVAL REQUEST FOR NEW MARKETING TOOLKIT AND ADOPTION OF USAGE POLICY.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests that the City Council: 1. Approve the new marketing toolkit; and 2. Adoption the usage policy for the marketing toolkit set forth below.

Join the spooktacular fun at City of Fillmore’s Annual Trunk or Treat 2023! On Tuesday, October 31st, 2023, 6pm-8pm on Central Avenue, Downtown Fillmore from 6pm – 8pm. Local business, clubs, and more gather with their decorated trunks and pass out candy. Prizes and more to trick or treaters, while they cast their votes for a Peoples Choice award. Costumes encouraged!! Come out and have some fun for more details visit https://www.facebook.com/cityoffillmore.

Written by Lisa Givan

In the sultry heart of Georgia, amid the whispers of Spanish moss-laden trees and abundant fields of tobacco, a murder mystery play like no other is set to unfold. "Death and Nicotine," set in the 1930s.
This tantalizing production, conceived by local playwright Josh Overton, is a thrilling tale of secrets, deceit, and, of course, murder. The plot revolves around a mysterious death at the home of the elite Herrington family. The twist? The victim lies dead from nicotine poisoning without a cigarette in sight.

Overton, who drew inspiration from the tobacco plantations of the south and classic literary masterpieces, skillfully weaves together a plot where each character harbors dark secrets, and motives lie hidden in the shadowy corners of the Herrington Mansion. The actors bring their characters to life with finesse and flair.
The genteel hypochondriac Constance Herrington, portrayed by the captivating Jo Becerra, is the show's matriarch. The investigation into the poisoning death is led by a sharp-witted detective, Celine Winslet, portrayed masterfully by Brandy Lengning. Winslet's relentless pursuit of the truth keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Lengning's charisma and wit add depth to this unforgettable character.

Vincent, portrayed by newcomer Layne Allen takes center stage as the enigmatic victim who ignites the web of intrigue, secrecy, and suspicion that weaves throughout the plot.
Supporting characters played by Diana Martinez, Adriana Limon, David Becerra, Isabella Liu, Fidel Escoto, Alex Becerra and Mable Lengning round out a phenomenally talented cast of suspects.

Audiences are not mere spectators but part of the experience, invited to deduce the identity of the murderer. As the play progresses, it becomes a race against time to solve the perplexing crime.

Throughout the play, the characters are forced to confront their own connections to Vincent, unearthing long-buried secrets, hidden agendas, and potential motives for his untimely demise. As the audience is drawn deeper into the intrigue, it becomes apparent that everyone at "Herrington Mansion" has a reason to want Vincent silenced.

If you're looking for a night of intrigue, passion, and a dash of danger, be sure to secure your seat at the Sespe Auditorium.

Brought to you by director team Jessica and Lisa Givan and assisted by Hannah Faith, "Death and Nicotine" promises a night to remember, bringing the intrigue and allure of the 1930s back to life.

Opening on October 20 at 7:00 p.m., "Death and Nicotine" runs for two weekends. October 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 at 7:00p.m. Sunday matinee on October 22 at 2:00 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. The theatre is located at the Sespe Auditorium, 627 Sespe Ave. Fillmore.

Tickets $10 adult, $7 senior/student. Tickets are available online at www.sespeplayers.org

Pictured above is the Fairbanks family. Back row: Richard and Helen Murphey Fairbanks holding William, with Elizabeth. Front row: Constance and Fergus “Ted” Fairbanks holding John, with Helen, Katherine and Robert, c. 1920. Photo courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.
Enlarge Photo

- Above is Ted Fairbanks with his siblings: standing is Winifred Fairbanks. Left to right: Fergus Fairbanks, Ellen Nellie Fairbanks, Charles Fairbanks and Louis Fairbanks, c. 1885. Photo courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.
Enlarge Photo

Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

In 1907, Judge Felix Ewing, president of the two-year-old Fillmore State Bank, offered the job of cashier to a man from Hueneme (pronounced Wy-neh-meh). The bank’s cashier would be in charge of most of the day-to-day operation of the bank. Ewing told the prospective cashier that, “We want you to go out there and take charge of the bank and wake that town up because it's absolutely dead." Fergus “Ted” Fairbanks, who had been cashier at the Bank of Hueneme, was not so sure he wanted the job. “I told him that I wouldn't go and undertake to do anything with the place unless they would back me up in getting a newspaper. Because a place of that size was really not in shape to grow [without a newspaper].” Judge Ewing agreed and on August 1, 1907, Fergus Fairbanks began work at the bank. Significantly, by December of 1907, the Fillmore Herald began under the management of H. G. Comfort. The town was beginning to be woken up.

Fergus Fairbanks was born in Table Rock Nebraska in 1876 to Elijah and Martha Linn Fairbanks. At the age of four months, he moved with his parents and older brother, Charles, to Ventura where some Linn relatives had already settled. His father held many jobs in the first few years including driving a wagon to Newhall to pick up supplies for the residents of Ventura. For about a year he worked for the More brothers on Santa Rosa Island overseeing a crew of men building a wharf on the island.
In 1881, Elijah Fairbanks was hired by A. J. Salisbury to manage the wharf at Hueneme, a position he held for 25 years. A year later, young Fergus, or Ted as he was known, started school in Hueneme. In 1891, he entered Ventura High School, living with his grandmother during the school year, graduating in 1894. Much to his surprise he received a scholarship to Occidental College and was able to attend for one year. He then received a letter offering him a position with the Bank of Hueneme which had been founded in 1889. In 1901 he was promoted to cashier who in those days oversaw much of the day-to-day operation of the bank.

In 1898, Fairbanks married Lula Hooper, a high school classmate. Unfortunately, in 1901, Lula died while giving birth to their daughter, Constance. In 1903 Ted Fairbanks and Helen Murphey were married. This marriage would have seven children, six of whom grew to adulthood.

Fifty years later, Fairbanks described what Fillmore was like when he first settled there, “You can judge the size of Fillmore, when I tell you that there were two teachers in the elementary school and no High School. The only cement sidewalk was on the two streets adjoining the bank and on the bank property. From the present location of the Bank of America (Central and Main St.) to the intersection of Sespe and Central Streets, the sidewalk, when there was one, was of boards. There were three stores, two which had general merchandise as well as groceries. The town site proper was one block wide on each side of the railroad. Other than that, there were not two dozen houses in town, most of them the residences of the owners of the orchards which surrounded them.”

One of the first initiatives Fairbanks became involved in was the formation of the Board of Trade, the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. Fairbanks was president of the Board of Trade when late in 1908; the Board decided Fillmore should have its own high school. At that time, any student wishing to go past grammar school had to travel to Santa Paula to go to high school. After some legal issue were resolved Fillmore could secede from the Santa Paula Unified High School, and then a bond election was held. The bond passed with only three votes opposed. The first High School board consisted of George King as President, Ted Fairbanks as secretary, William Shiells and E. A. Case. While with the Bank of Hueneme, Fairbanks had been appointed Chair of the Oxnard Union High School for three years, so he was familiar with running a high school. George King and Fairbanks collaborated with an architect on the plans for a high school building. When the plans were submitted to the County Superintendent of Schools, James E. Reynolds, he refused to approve them saying it was too large and wouldn’t be filled in twenty years. Finding the Fillmore board to be very determined he allowed the building to be built as first proposed. By 1924 a larger building was needed. The first class consisting of 4 students, three women and one man, graduated in 1911.

By 1912 incorporation had been a point of dissension in the community for more than 2 years. Letters had been sent to the cities of San Fernando and Bishop asking about their experiences with incorporation. Those cities hailed the positive results.

The biggest issues were taxes! Taxes were being assessed by the county in the unincorporated areas. But the benefits were not being returned to those areas. The representatives of San Fernando presented the benefits of incorporation which included improved fire protection. That city now had an organized fire dept with “two high class chemical engines” and a hook and ladder company with five ladders. It gave that community a “feeling of security never before felt.” Fillmore still had a volunteer fire extinguisher and bucket brigade.

Street lighting was also an issue. Fillmore had only a few lights which had been installed by local merchants. The question, of course, was whether the merchants on Central would pay for lighting on their own or whether the entire citizenry would pay through taxation to benefit the entire community.

The essence of the anti-incorporation argument was that matters of this import to the city should be left in the hands of the pioneer founders of the city and not in the hands of the “floaters who are here today and gone tomorrow.” The antis were primarily early pioneers such as C.C. Elkins and his son, John McNab, of Sespe Land and Water Co., George Tighe, J. W. Baldeschweiler, and A. C. Wilcox.

By 1914 Fillmore had been a township for 27 years and had a population of about 1000. On May 8, 1914, a delegation from Fillmore Township presented the Board of Supervisors with a petition to call for an election to vote on the question of incorporation. The petition appeared in the Herald with the names of signers; Fergus Fairbanks, J K L Schwartz, Louis Antonio Carillo, and 65 others including the publishers of the Herald.

The election was held on June 29, 1914, there were 417 votes cast (one ballot was not voted for or against and 15 were thrown out for irregularity – they had marked the box with a pencil instead of a pen. Of the 15 irregulars, 12 were for and 3 against). Fillmore became a city of the 6th class by just 15 votes - 208 for and 193 against. Fillmore had woken up.
Ted Fairbanks had not planned on a career in banking. He, with his childhood friend, Charles Blackstock, had always planned to open a law practice together. Blackstock was already a lawyer and encouraged his friend to go into law. Fairbanks resigned from the Fillmore State Bank in the fall of 1919 and began to prepare to take the bar examination. He rented a room upstairs in the Bank’s new building on the corner of Central and Main, adjoining the office of John A. Galvin, the city attorney, He was admitted to practice after taking the examination on the 20th day of September 1920.

For many years there were only three attorneys in Fillmore, John Galvin, Ted Fairbanks and Art Taylor, all of whom had offices in the same building. They often found themselves on opposite sides of cases, but generally had cordial relationships. All three of them were early members of the Fillmore Rotary Club with Fairbanks being its first president.
March of 1928 presented Fairbanks with one of the most complex cases he had yet to encounter. On the night of March 12/13, the St. Francis Dam failed killing more than 400 people and devastating the farmland of the Santa Clara River Valley. One of Fairbank’s clients was the Perry Ranch Company whose property was located at the mouth of the Sespe on the Santa Clara River. The Perry Ranch was owned by a group of Japanese and was named after Commodore Matthew Perry who had opened Japan to the west. They had formed the company and purchased the land in 1910 before the Alien Exclusion act had been enacted which banned Japanese from purchasing land. One worker from the ranch had been killed in the flood and much of the orchards had been destroyed with large holes being left. Because the owners of the Perry Ranch were Japanese, there were several hurdles to clear before payment was finally made, but eventually the owners did receive a cash settlement from the City of Los Angeles.

Fairbanks continued to represent the Perry Ranch through the 1930s and into the 1940s. After Pearl Harbor, all people of Japanese descent on the west coast were subject to relocation. Foreseeing this, the Perry Ranch Company gave Ted Fairbanks power of attorney to operate the ranch. With the assistance of Carlos Alamillo, who became the ranch manager, the Perry Ranch was not only maintained but actually prospered during the war years. After the war, the Perry Ranch stockholders returned to their ranch.

Fairbank’s connection with the ranch continued until his retirement in 1963 at which time his son, Robert, took over as the ranch’s attorney.

After retirement in 1963, Ted Fairbanks remained active in the Rotary as well as the Ventura County Historical society writing several articles. He had served on the school board for 27 years. He was dedicated to his adopted hometown of Fillmore and shaped it in many ways.

Ted Fairbanks passed away in 1971 at the age of 95. Judge Ewing picked the right man to “wake up” Fillmore.
Much of this article is based on over fifteen hours of interviews done by Carl Wolf with Ted Fairbanks in 1965 and 1966. The tapes of these interviews were given to the Museum by Anita Fairbanks Palmberg, granddaughter of Ted Fairbanks. The booklet, “Perry Ranch 1910 to 1995,” was another resource for this article.