Stock Photo: Angel Esquivel-AE News

As we continue to enjoy this Independence Day weekend, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office/Fillmore Police Department would like to remind our community members to do so with due regard for the safety of others. Public safety is our number one concern, and we want to make sure our community members are safe and celebrate responsibly.

During these celebrations, we want to remind our community members that the discharge of firearms in a celebratory fashion is extremely dangerous and against the law. Anyone who willfully discharges a firearm in a grossly negligent manner will be subject to arrest. Discharging firearms in such a manner can lead to great bodily injury or the death of an individual. Although one might think that firing rounds in the air is safe, it is negligent and dangerous. Those rounds will come down and they have the potential to injure people. In addition to being subject to arrest, anyone who willfully discharges a firearm in a gross and negligent manner will be subject to having their firearms and ammunition seized, as well as face other law violations depending on the circumstances.

Differentiating between the sounds of fireworks and gunshots can be difficult, especially during the Fourth of July weekend. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately call our dispatch center at 805-654-9511 or 911 if they observe anyone discharging firearms. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their ongoing support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Pictured above is Brinley’s Blacksmith shop where, in 1907, several men took two 150-pound anvils and placed one upside down, filled the cavity with black powder, put the second one on top of the first and set it off by touching the powder with a red hot 15-foot iron rod. It woke the entire town to start the celebration of 4th of July. Photo courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.
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Above is Fillmore’s July 4 barbecue back in 1900. Inset, removing meat from BBQ pit. Photos courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum. More photos online at www.FillmoreGazette.com.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum
It started with a bang which woke nearly everyone in Fillmore! Several very strong men had taken two 150 pound anvils from Brinley’s blacksmith shop, placed one upside down, filled the cavity with black powder, put the second one right side up on top of the first and set it off by touching the power with a red hot 15 foot iron rod. It was 5 a.m. July 4th in 1907.
Thirty five years earlier, in 1872, the festivities were much more sedate. A vote of the legislature in Sacramento on March 22, 1872, had approved the separation of Ventura from Santa Barbara County effective on January 1, 1873. So the 3500 county residents not only were celebrating the 4th but also the formation of the new Ventura County.
According to the “Ventura Signal” of July 19, 1872, the festivities were held at the “Hercynian” grove in “Spraguesville”. The location was most probably on the property (Now called Kenney Grove) owned by F .A. Sprague who would soon be elected a justice of the peace in the new county. A trio of ladies, Mrs. Guiberson, Mrs. Marple and Mrs. Haskins sang the Star Spangled Banner. Sprague read the Declaration of Independence and everyone present sang “America”. There were more patriotic speeches and songs followed by dinner prepared by the Sespe Ladies.
Eight years later, 1882, the 104th anniversary of American Independence would be celebrated in the “Hercynian” Oak grove then known as “Kenny’s” Grove. That year the celebration was on the 3rd of July as the 4th fell on a Sunday. Once again the festivities began with the singing of The “Star Spangled Banner” by the Sespe Glee Club. The Scienega choir followed with “Independence Day” sung in a very patriotic manner. Orations were made by the Honorable J.D. Hines. “Darius Green and his Flying Machine” was read by Miss Mattie E. Bain. (Look for the poem online.)
The eight years from 1872 to 1880 had seen an increase in the local population and the construction of school houses at Willow Grove south of the river and Sespe on the north, as well as increases in the population of Scienega and Sespe. The crowd enjoyed a barbecue of beef, pork, mutton, goat and venison. The deer had been killed the day before by Mrs. Ari Hopper. The bountiful dinner was followed by a baseball game between St. Julians and the Electric Lights. After two innings the crowd moved to the dance floor where the young people enjoyed some dancing and Ari Hopper gave a patriotic speech. In the evening all moved to the Sespe Schoolhouse where the “young people tripped the light fantastic” til midnight. On the night of the 4th everyone enjoyed fireworks at Santa Paula.
The arrival of the railroad in late 1887 allowed 4h of July celebration participants a faster trip to “Kenney” Grove. They did, however, have to walk from the Sespe or Brownstone stations to the grove. According to Edith Jarrett every livery stable owner probably met the train with a 16 passenger “tallyho” to ferry party goers to the event. But train passengers had to make the 4:30 train for home so most probably came in their own buggies.
The McNabs sycamore tree on the corner of First St and Saratoga was the location for the 1906 4th of July celebration. There were speeches and a band concert on a platform made of apricot pitting trays and apricot boxes. Blanche Guiberson sang the “Star Spangled Banner” accompanied by the Harmonson and Rood orchestra.
The 4th of July is today celebrated with safe and sane fireworks purchased at one of the 20 fireworks stands located in Fillmore and manned by members and friends of local nonprofit groups. This year the city will provide a fireworks show on the evening of the 3rd. But I’m sure community members will provide their own spectacular show on the 4th.
The manner and events of the day may have changed over time but the sentiment as we honor our flag and country is the same as it has been since horse and buggy days. So have a wonderful day, eat some barbeque and enjoy the show.

VENTURA, Calif, June 1, 2023 – Dignity Health Medical Foundation (DHMF) announced today that Valley Care Independent Physician Association, a Medical Group (VCIPA), will now operate as part of Dignity Health Medical Network – Ventura (DHMN – Ventura), an affiliate of DHMF. VCIPA was established in 1994, with the goal to provide local families with a choice of physicians practicing in Santa Paula and Fillmore. They have since expanded their service area throughout Ventura County.

The agreement, which keeps the physicians independent and local, is expected to bring about additional benefits to the community, including more integrated and affordable services for patients, access to a state-wide network of care, additional support for independent physicians, and increased physician recruitment to serve the community’s health care needs.

As part of the agreement, DHMF has acquired VCIPA’s HMO health plan administrative functions and their HMO physician network. As part of the agreement, Camarillo-based Identity Management Services Organization (IdMSO) which provides practice and medical management services for the VCIPA independent provider practices is joining the Dignity Health family and will continue to support the Ventura medical network.

“I am excited for Dignity's acquisition of Valley Care IPA and anticipate that our patients and physicians will see enhanced quality and level of service as their footprint grows.” said Dr. Micah Dickey, Regional Medical Director, Dignity Health Medical Foundation.

There is no action for Valley Care IPA members (patients) to take today as a result of this change. If they have questions, they are encouraged to call Valley Care IPA’s Customer Service Representatives at 805-604-3332. Members may continue to see their same primary and specialty care providers and do not need to change health plans. Members will continue to experience the same quality services and local customer service. There will be a period of co-branding between Valley Care IPA and Dignity Health Medical Network as the new name is introduced to the community. Members may see either name listed on their insurance card depending on their insurance provider as part of this transition. Both names give members the same access to the network and their provider of choice.

"By partnering with Valley Care IPA Affiliate, the members of our community will now have a greater selection of locally based, independent physicians to choose from, while having access to the resources here at our St. John's hospitals," says Barry Wolfman, President and CEO, St. John's hospitals. "This is an excellent opportunity for the families we serve, as they will have more options available to them through the Dignity Health Medical Network - Ventura.

DHMN is Dignity Health Medical Foundation’s managed care health plan contracting entity for independent physician associations (IPAs) in California, providing the support and resources to help IPAs better serve their managed care patients. It partners with providers, hospitals, and health care delivery systems to create networks that deliver value for the communities they serve.

“Our long-standing partnership with Dignity Health and Dignity Health Medical Foundation has been successful for both our providers and our valued patients,” said Sonya Araiza, Chief Executive Officer of IdMSO. “This affiliation builds on our existing collaboration and allows us to better serve our community, while remaining independent.”

“Valley Care IPA has been an essential health care partner for our Ventura County communities,” said Anthony Quan, vice president of operations, Dignity Health Medical Foundation, Southern and Central California. “We look forward to this newly formed relationship, as we partner to broaden our services and strengthen our delivery of high quality and affordable health care choices to the community.”

DHMF supports physician medical groups, independent physician associations, and network providers, representing 1,500 employed and independent providers across California. This includes Dignity Health Medical Group — Ventura, with 11 locations in Ventura County, serving the health care needs of Camarillo, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Ventura. They offer an integrated care delivery system that provides high-quality, compassionate care in family medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology.

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About Dignity Health Medical Foundation
Dignity Health Medical Foundation, established in 1990, is a not-for-profit organization providing award-winning and patient-centered ambulatory services in a variety of areas including primary and specialty care, diagnostic imaging, vision, occupational health, urgent care, and behavioral health. Dignity Health Medical Foundation collaborates with physician medical groups, Independent Physician Associations (IPAs), and network providers representing 1,500 employed and independent providers across California. For more information on Dignity Health Medical Foundation and the wide range of services it provides, please visit www.dhmf.org

About Valley Care IPA
When Valley Care IPA was established in 1994, its goal was to provide local families with a choice of physicians practicing in Santa Paula and Fillmore. Since that time, we have expanded our service throughout Ventura County. Valley Care IPA is comprised of physicians who have cared for members of our community for many years and have joined together to better serve the needs of area residents. Our physicians are dedicated to providing health care of the highest quality, delivered with care and compassion., please visit https://valleycareipa.com/

VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko advises Ventura County real estate professionals of a rise in fraud by perpetrators who access a property owner’s personal identifying information (PIN), such as name, birthday, address, and social security number. After obtaining this information perpetrators list the property for sale, then steal the proceeds.

This fraud is accomplished in multiple steps, usually by individuals operating outside the United States. Perpetrators first utilize public records to identify real property, usually vacant land with no outstanding liens. Next, using the PIN of the true property owner, the perpetrator contacts a local real estate agent to list the property for sale. Early in the fraud to avoid revealing their identity, the perpetrator insists on communicating with the agent and escrow solely by email or text message. Typically, the perpetrator directs the agent to list the property for sale below fair market value and find an ‘all-cash’ buyer. After the agent secures an offer, documents required to close escrow are executed remotely at the request of the perpetrator while impersonating the victim. During the transaction, multiple signatures of the true property owner and notary are forged by the perpetrator, so documents needed to close escrow appear authentic. Unaware of this complex fraud, the escrow company closes the transaction and wires the proceeds to an account controlled by the perpetrator. The funds are then quickly dispersed to accounts outside the United States and are often unrecoverable.

Local real estate professionals should take the following steps to detect this fraud before it occurs:

Verify the identity of the seller before accepting a listing by conducting an in-person or, at a minimum, virtual meeting with the seller.
Request to see an official government issued form of identification from the seller.
Title companies should be wary of sellers who insist on communicating solely by electronic means and claim to be unavailable or out of state throughout escrow.
A signature that is notarized outside the state of California when the seller and property are in Ventura County, should be strongly scrutinized.
The Ventura County Clerk Recorder’s Office offers multiple services to county residents to monitor the status of their property. These services include a title search database Self-Service (ventura.org) and also a Fraud Notify Alert service Self-Service: Fraud Guard (ventura.org). County residents can also monitor their property by using known websites like Zillow and Redfin.

Should you discover your real property was listed for sale or sold without your knowledge or permission, contact the District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit at (805) 662-1750.

In observance of the Independence Day holiday, employees of Santa Clara Valley Disposal will be taking the day off on Tuesday, July 4. As a result, the company will collect residential customers’ trash, recycling and yard/organic waste one day later than usual that week – on Saturday, July 8, in Fillmore. The regular schedule will resume the following week.

Remember that Harrison’s residential customers can place all three carts curbside every week, as Harrison collects all waste weekly – including food waste, which is now recyclable. All food waste should be placed in closed bags and the bags should be tossed or placed in the yard/organic waste cart.

Harrison Industries serves the cities and surrounding unincorporated areas of Ventura, Ojai and Camarillo as well as the unincorporated areas of 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; and the unincorporated areas of Newbury Park as Newbury Disposal.

For more information, visit www.ejharrison.com.

Fillmore Civic Pride Committee recognizes Otto and Sons Nursery (above) and Fillmore High Alumni building (inset) for their beautiful outdoor gardens. Photos courtesy Jan Lee.
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Courtesy Jan Lee

We had a month of “May Gray”, now we are into the “June Gloom”. But don’t let it get you down. Maybe it is time to stop and smell the roses, and other flowers too. Fillmore has many gardeners who make the town look beautiful. Here are two examples:
first, Otto and Sons Nursery—Garden Shop. They have a beautiful place, where you can smell the roses and admire many other lovely blossoms. It is a pretty place to hang out and just enjoy nature’s allure. While you are there, you might want to buy a fruit or vegetable plant for your yard. They are located at 1835 E. Guiberson Road, Fillmore.

Second, is the garden next to the Fillmore High Alumni building. Mark Ortega has created an impressive area filled with many types of flowers. There are benches and umbrellas where you can just take a little rest. Even on a gloomy day, it will lift your spirits. Remember to look, don’t pick the flowers. Leave it as clean as you found it. This garden is on Sespe Avenue.
Thank you, Mark Ortega and Otto and Sons, for making Fillmore beautiful. The Fillmore Civic Pride Committee gives a Yard of the Month Award to outdoor gardens in Fillmore. There are many yards where people have taken the time to plant and grow stunning gardens. Drive or walk around Fillmore and you will see them. Fillmore is a nice place to live. Instead of fretting over the June Gloom, go outside and notice the rainbow of colors growing all around you.

For a couple of years, the Vacation Bible School program at Bardsdale UMC and other local churches in our communities has been a tradition for the summer; in fact, for many years local families looked forward to seeing this program in full blast by this time of the year.

Unfortunately, the pandemic which began in 2020, put a halt on this program and other amazing events that were happening in our communities every year.

This year fortunately, many of us are resuming the tradition and opening our churches once again to K-6th graders in our communities.

Even though it is a faith-based program that touches on Bible stories and Bible verses, it is not an effort to convert, nor to recruit families for our own churches.

VBS is a wonderful program that brings children together from different denominations and communities of faith, through which participants learn important values such as ‘teamwork’, ‘sharing’; ‘friendship’, and ‘respect’, among other important concepts related to faith.

Themes are different every year, and during VBS participants rotate in groups through music, dance, drama, science, storytelling, and outdoor games, enjoying a whole week of fellowship and learning in a safe and structured environment.

My hope and my prayer this year is that you will encourage your children to participate in every single VBS provided by the different churches in our communities; and that you will volunteer to help.
Bring your children to VBS!

Together we can touch the lives of many children and impact their families towards a better life and wellbeing.
Pastora Lupita
Senior Pastor at BUMC

Bardsdale UMC will be holding VBS week from June 26th - June 30th
at 1498 Bardsdale Ave., Fillmore CA 93015
9:00 am – 12:00 noon with a healthy meal included.
Youth are encouraged to come and volunteer as guides and assistants.
REGISTRATION is currently open. For more information call 805-524-2070