Fillmore Blue & White Night Has Large Turnout
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
On Thursday, October 19th, 2023, the Fillmore High Alumni Association hosted their 2023 Blue & White Night as a standing tradition with Fillmore High School in celebration of their Homecoming Game. The festivities began at 5pm and the annual parade started at 6pm. Central Avenue was filled with folks watching the parade & enjoying the many food truck selections. This year’s Grand Marshals were FHS Athletic Director Kim Tafoya and John Heilman. Pictured above is an FHS float.
On Thursday, October 19th, 2023, the Fillmore High Alumni Association hosted their 2023 Blue & White Night as a standing tradition with Fillmore High School in celebration of their Homecoming Game. The festivities began at 5pm and the annual parade started at 6pm. Central Avenue was filled with folks watching the parade & enjoying the many food truck selections. This year’s Grand Marshals were FHS Athletic Director Kim Tafoya and John Heilman. Pictured above is an FHS float.
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NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
By Gazette Staff Writers — Tuesday, October 24th, 2023
 


 
Fire Destroys Home on Grand Avenue
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
On Monday, October 16th, 2023, at 2:47 p.m., Fillmore City Fire Dept. and Ventura County & City Fire Depts. were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue, unincorporated area west of Fillmore. The one-story cinder-block home was fully engulfed when crews arrived. The location of the home, surrounded by orchards, presented fire crews with the challenge of difficult access. Several trees and farm equipment near the home were also scorched. Additionally, downed power lines caused concern, along with the collapsing roof and side walls of the home. There was a fire hydrant nearby and Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola stated they were able to knock down the main fire “pretty fast” with the number of agencies on-scene. “But there was a lot of exterior storage that the fire had already spread into, so it was taking a lot of time to put out that fire,” said Gurrola. The owner of the home was present at the time of the fire but was not inside the structure when it started. It is not clear whether the downed power lines had fallen as a result of the fire or had been on the ground beforehand. The structure and the majority of its contents appeared to be a total loss. No one was injured. Cause of the fire is under investigation and its starting point and cost of damage are yet to be determined. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
On Monday, October 16th, 2023, at 2:47 p.m., Fillmore City Fire Dept. and Ventura County & City Fire Depts. were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue, unincorporated area west of Fillmore. The one-story cinder-block home was fully engulfed when crews arrived. The location of the home, surrounded by orchards, presented fire crews with the challenge of difficult access. Several trees and farm equipment near the home were also scorched. Additionally, downed power lines caused concern, along with the collapsing roof and side walls of the home. There was a fire hydrant nearby and Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola stated they were able to knock down the main fire “pretty fast” with the number of agencies on-scene. “But there was a lot of exterior storage that the fire had already spread into, so it was taking a lot of time to put out that fire,” said Gurrola. The owner of the home was present at the time of the fire but was not inside the structure when it started. It is not clear whether the downed power lines had fallen as a result of the fire or had been on the ground beforehand. The structure and the majority of its contents appeared to be a total loss. No one was injured. Cause of the fire is under investigation and its starting point and cost of damage are yet to be determined. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
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Request for Public Assistance / Attempt to Identify Prowler Suspect.
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Thursday, October 19th, 2023

The Fillmore Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a prowling suspect.
On October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:00 PM and on July 20, 2023, at approximately 12:16 AM, the Fillmore Police Department received reports of a prowler in the 900 block of Wileman Street in the city of Fillmore. Both incidents were captured on RING cameras. Photographs of the suspect are attached.

The suspect is identified as a Hispanic male, approximately 5”8” in height, approximately 45-55 years of age, with short gray facial hair and dark brown hair.

Nature of Incident: Request for Public Assistance / Attempt to Identify Prowler Suspect
Report Number: RB # 23-131109
Location: 900 Block Wileman Street Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: October 11, 2023 @ 11:00 PM
July 20, 2023 @ 12:16 AM

Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services / Fillmore Detectives

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
Hispanic male Age-45-55

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
 
One Arrested After DUI Collision Sends Two to Hospital
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
On Tuesday, October 10th, at 9:11pm, Fillmore Police, Fillmore Fire Department, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported injury traffic collision at the intersection of First Street & A Street, Fillmore. Arriving firefighters found two vehicles involved with moderate-heavy damage. Two ambulances were requested to respond to the scene for two injured patients. While deputies were investigating, the driver of the involved vehicle (gray Honda) was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for felony DUI causing injury. It was also known that the subject involved was on probation for two previous DUI arrests/convictions and his driver’s license was suspended. The occupant of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. The arrestee was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with his bail set at $55,000. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Fillmore Police Department. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
On Tuesday, October 10th, at 9:11pm, Fillmore Police, Fillmore Fire Department, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported injury traffic collision at the intersection of First Street & A Street, Fillmore. Arriving firefighters found two vehicles involved with moderate-heavy damage. Two ambulances were requested to respond to the scene for two injured patients. While deputies were investigating, the driver of the involved vehicle (gray Honda) was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for felony DUI causing injury. It was also known that the subject involved was on probation for two previous DUI arrests/convictions and his driver’s license was suspended. The occupant of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. The arrestee was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with his bail set at $55,000. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Fillmore Police Department. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.
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Transition of At-Large to District-Based Elections Draws Criticism
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
See More Letters to the Editor on the Redistricting Lawsuit on Page 2

Courtesy Tim Holmgren

As a recently ex-Fillmore citizen, Item 9A - CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE TO DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS on last week’s agenda is of great concern to me. Once Fillmore is divided into voting districts, it will become a relatively simple matter for the negative influences that have been creeping into Fillmore politics to take over the town and destroy its small-town character and charm forever.

I want to thank the three of you who spoke strongly against this, what was appropriately called, extortion and bullying. It was entirely apparent during the discussion who was against this intentional destruction of the city and who was in favor of it; giving credence to my earlier point.

It’s a shame that political ideology is a higher priority than condemning a town to ruin regardless of which way this goes. I am encouraged by some of the comments some of you made last Tuesday evening and very encouraged by the comments of all of the Fillmore citizens who spoke to you on this issue that understand the gravity of what’s at stake.

I would encourage you to fight it. Resist this bully and extortioner. This would take great courage, which I know you all have. While it’s true the city will likely be sued, I would bet that, with the right national attention, more money than is needed to fight it will find its way to you from crowd funding and other expressions of support through a grateful country.
Remember…courage is not the lack of fear; it’s feeling the fear and doing what’s right anyway.
 
Boys & Girls Club of SCV Advocate for New Playground at Warring Park
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club CEO Jan Marholin, and Director of Operations Pearl Galvan attended the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting where their team advocated for building a new play structure at Warring Park for the Piru community which is much needed there! The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 in favor of the play structure. This is a huge win for the youth in the Piru area. Courtesy https://www.face book. com/bgclubscv.
Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club CEO Jan Marholin, and Director of Operations Pearl Galvan attended the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting where their team advocated for building a new play structure at Warring Park for the Piru community which is much needed there! The Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 in favor of the play structure. This is a huge win for the youth in the Piru area. Courtesy https://www.face book. com/bgclubscv.
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Jubile Music Festival!
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
 
Fillmore Celebrates Blue & White Night
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023

The Fillmore High Alumni Association presents Blue & White Night 2023, Thursday evening, October 19th. They will host a Classic Car Show on Central Avenue between First Street and Sespe Avenue. All activities start at 5 PM, Parade starts at 6:00pm. Let’s go Flashes!! If you’ve ever wondered, who’s idea it was to light up our beloved “F” on the hill above Fillmore, look no further. His name is John Heilman, FHS class of ‘53! He will be in this year‘s homecoming parade. For more details visit https://www.facebook.com/FillmoreHighSchoolAlumniAssociation.
 
Two Rivers Park Sports Field Proves Hazardous
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
One minute you’re at soccer practice having fun and the next minute you’re in the emergency room getting a cast on your leg. That’s what happened to this AYSO soccer player last week at Two Rivers Park when she stepped into one of the numerous potholes on the park’s sports field and broke her ankle. For several years complaints have been increasing about the poor condition of the playing fields at Two Rivers Park, along with complaints about the lack of night lighting (estimate $1 million in 2016) and sun covers for the play equipment, as installed at Rio Vista Park. The dog park section (original cost $64,000) also has issues, closing in 2020 due to ADA violations. In April 2023 the city received an estimate of $186,240 to fix the violations, which were “overlooked” when the park was built, according to City Manager Dave Rowlands in July 2020; that money will come from the city’s parkland development impact fees fund. From the beginning the underground drip system was a problem. Either the drip lines are too deep or the sod was planted too shallow, and the water doesn’t properly reach the roots of the grass, leaving brown patches. In contrast, after rain, standing water plagues the fields due to poor drainage caused by uneven terrain. Two Rivers Park is about 15 years old and measures 22 acres; it is Fillmore’s biggest park and the host to many of its youth sports activities. It has baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, a skate park, a BMX bike track, and a now unusable dog park. The family will be filing an incident report with the City/AYSO.
One minute you’re at soccer practice having fun and the next minute you’re in the emergency room getting a cast on your leg. That’s what happened to this AYSO soccer player last week at Two Rivers Park when she stepped into one of the numerous potholes on the park’s sports field and broke her ankle. For several years complaints have been increasing about the poor condition of the playing fields at Two Rivers Park, along with complaints about the lack of night lighting (estimate $1 million in 2016) and sun covers for the play equipment, as installed at Rio Vista Park. The dog park section (original cost $64,000) also has issues, closing in 2020 due to ADA violations. In April 2023 the city received an estimate of $186,240 to fix the violations, which were “overlooked” when the park was built, according to City Manager Dave Rowlands in July 2020; that money will come from the city’s parkland development impact fees fund. From the beginning the underground drip system was a problem. Either the drip lines are too deep or the sod was planted too shallow, and the water doesn’t properly reach the roots of the grass, leaving brown patches. In contrast, after rain, standing water plagues the fields due to poor drainage caused by uneven terrain. Two Rivers Park is about 15 years old and measures 22 acres; it is Fillmore’s biggest park and the host to many of its youth sports activities. It has baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, a skate park, a BMX bike track, and a now unusable dog park. The family will be filing an incident report with the City/AYSO.
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