Courtesy Jan Lee

April 15 and 16, 2023 are the dates for the Fillmore Flower Show for 2023. The theme is “Garden Treasures”. It should be a beautiful event again this year. Plan to enter some of the lovely treasures growing in your yard. If you go to fillmoreflowershow.org you will see all the rules to enter as well as the many divisions of plants and flowers.

The Flower Show committee, a group of volunteers who appreciate the garden treasures growing in the yards of the Fillmore community, has broadened the eligibility for youth this year. We want to encourage young people to go outside and discover the fun of growing, arranging and displaying plants and flowers. There are three divisions specifically for youth: Division IX Youth Arrangements, Division X Youth Composition and Division XI Youth Art, which is a non-competitive division. Ordinarily, youth must live within the boundaries of the Fillmore Unified School District to enter. But, starting this year, any youth may enter no matter where they live. Youth are age 3 up through 12th grade. All youth entries are FREE. Of course, youth may compete with the adults in any division.

At the Flower Show there will be a plant boutique where you can get some plants to grow in your garden. There will also be a table where children can participate in a gardening activity. While strolling around looking at the displays, you will be entertained by live music. From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the Flower Show will be open to the public. Admission is free. See you there!

Enlarge Photo

On Monday, February 27, at 10:15am, California Highway Patrol, Ventura County Fire Department and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported head-on collision on WB SR-126 / Cavin Road, Fillmore. While firefighters were enroute to the location the call was
upgraded to a heavy rescue, with one of the vehicles involved in fire. Arriving firefighters found two vehicles with major damage; a silver Mercury and a white BMW. Firefighters began treating the patients at the scene; one person was pronounced deceased onsite, and two more additional patients were airlifted by copter and taken to Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC). Westbound and eastbound lanes were shut down until the scene was cleared; the crash is under investigation. According to the California Highway Patrol, “A 64-year-old man driving a 2000 Mercury was found trapped and his passenger, a 66-year-old woman, was unresponsive. Both are from Palmdale”, the CHP said. The woman died at the scene. Her name was not immediately released
pending notification of family. The man was transported to VCMC with major injuries. Both were wearing seatbelts. Initial CHP reports indicate the 64-year-old driver was headed eastbound on Highway 126 when, for unknown reasons, his vehicle drifted into oncoming westbound traffic. Officers noted weather was rainy, wet and cool and said the man was driving at an undetermined “high rate of speed” for the wet conditions. The Mercury hit a westbound 2013 BMW head-on. The CHP reported a 24-year-old Valencia woman driving the BMW was pulled from her vehicle, treated at the scene and also transported to the county medical center with major injuries. The crash closed the highway for about an hour as officers investigated, with traffic then alternating along eastbound lanes for a time. No arrests were made. It was not immediately known whether drugs or alcohol played a role, the CHP said in a release. Ventura County Fire responded and helped put out the vehicle fire. Any witnesses who haven’t already provided a statement are asked to call the CHP’s Moorpark-area office at 805-553-0800. Photo credit Gazette photographer Angel Esquivel-AE News.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 02/08/2023, detectives with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau arrested (S1) Rotherie Foster for the robbery at La Unica Mini Market.

On 07/03/2022, at approximately 07:42 AM, deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to a robbery that occurred at La Unica Mini Market, located along the 500-block of Old Telegraph Road in the City of Fillmore. Deputies learned that two unknown male suspects entered the market and brandished their firearms at the store’s employees while demanding money. The suspects took an undisclosed amount of money and fled the store. Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau responded to assist with the investigation.

During the investigation, detectives identified one of the robbery suspects as (A)-Rotherie Foster. On 02/08/2023, detectives contacted Foster at the Todd Road Jail, where he was incarcerated for an unrelated case. Foster was arrested and supple mentally booked for PC 211-Robbery.

On 02/08/2023, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of second-degree robbery against Foster. Foster remains in custody and his next court date is scheduled for 04/12/2023.

This is an on-going investigation. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the second suspect. If anyone has information that would be helpful in this case, please contact Detective Corey Stump at (805) 384-4745 or by email at Corey.Stump@Ventura.Org.

Nature of Incident: Robbery Arrest / Request for Public Assistance
Report Number: 22-87452
Location: 500-block of Old Telegraph Road
Date & Time: 07/03/2022 at 07:42 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol, Fillmore Police Department Investigation Unit, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S1) Rotherie Foster, 37, Camarillo
(S2) Unknown
Prepared by: Sergeant Francisco Jauregui
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

On Friday, February 24, at 12:04pm, Ventura County Fire Dept., AMR Paramedics, and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident on SR126 / Pyle Road, Fillmore. Arriving deputies found good Samaritans helping extricate one patient from a grey Durango SUV by breaking the windshield. Below, second vehicle involved was a black Honda Civic, with one female patient trapped. Firefighters used Jaws of Life to extract the unconscious driver from the Honda Civic, and crews began CPR. Firefighters pronounced the patient deceased on-scene. Westbound SR-126 was shut down until police cleared the scene before 3pm. All traffic was diverted onto Old Telegraph Road. According to the California Highway Patrol, “A 48-year-old woman from Valencia was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 126 west of Fillmore, Friday afternoon. “A 30-year-old Santa Paula woman had been driving eastbound on the highway in a 2014 Dodge Durango SUV when the vehicle spun out of control,” said Sgt. Michael Untalan of the CHP’s Ventura-area office. The Durango hit an oncoming 2017 Honda Civic driven by the Valencia woman, whose name was not released at the time pending notification of relatives. Untalan said the impact was similar to a T-bone accident, with the Durango hitting the front driver’s side of the Civic. The Civic came to rest in traffic lanes while the Durango ended up on its side on an embankment. Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles after the crash, authorities said. The driver of the Civic was pronounced dead at the scene. The Durango driver was taken to Ventura County Medical Center with major injuries but was expected to survive. Neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor, patrol investigators found. On Monday afternoon, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the driver who died as Delia Price. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call the Ventura CHP at 805-
662-2640. Photo credit Gazette photographer Angel Esquivel-AE News.

At last night’s council meeting Fire Chief Keith Gurrola sought approval to purchase a thermal imaging camera, part of a FEMA Grant, to help firefighters detect heat behind walls before entering a building or room.

Presentation
7-A Ventura County Behavioral Health Director Scott Gilman addressed the Council regarding local homeless challenges and facilities available.

All items approved 5-0
8.A HOMELESSNESS
Fire Chief Gurrola and Police Chief Malagon provided an update on the people experiencing homelessness who are living in the Santa Clara River bottom and the recent court decisions which have limited the City’s abilities to address the homeless while allowing the City to support and protect concerned residents. In addition, Scott Gillman, Ventura County Behavioral Health Director, explained what services are available for the homeless.

8-B AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE SANTA CLARA RIVER WATERSHED BACTERIA MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
REQUEST: That the City Council approve Amendment No. 3 to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among the cities of Fillmore, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Ventura, the County of Ventura, and Ventura County Watershed Protection District to provide equal cost sharing for the Santa Clara River Bacteria Monitoring and Reporting Program to extend the program for an additional 24 months.

8-C REQUEST: Staff is requesting that the City Council accept two separate FEMA grants awarded to the regional fire services: one for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the second for FY 2021 AFG
APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF 2 FEMA GRANTS, FOR PORTABLE RADIOS AND THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS

8.D CONTINGENT DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WILLDAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR WATER METER EFFICIENCY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSIDERATION OF A FUNDING PLAN Smart Meter Program Willdan Energy Solutions.
All items approved 5 -5-0.

ADJOURNMENT - MAYOR MARK AUSTIN ADJOURNS TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, CITY HALL, 250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CA 93015.

Scott Beylik, Program Chair, introduced speakers District Superintendent of Schools Christine Schieferle, FHS Principal Keith Derrick and FUSD Facilities and Bond Manager Chris Kline. Their presentation provided an overview of the upcoming construction of the new Fillmore High School athletic complex. Mrs. Schieferle talked about the input from community meetings, P.E. teachers, coaches, students, and visiting other high schools in preparation for what was needed in the new building. Mr. Derrick and Mr.
Kline each gave interesting descriptions from the presentation boards on location of the building, as well as the interior
and parking lot. The passing of Measure G is what has made this possible. It is a big project, and the anticipated completion date is Summer of 2025. Measure V facilities projects will continue with future upgrades to the FHS Library, Cafeteria, College & Career Center and new windows and air conditioning in the Arts Building. Additional projects across the district will include additional shade structures at school sites and air conditioning in the San Cayetano and Piru cafeterias.

Fillmore City Council meeting; Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023; 6:30 pm
Agenda Item 8A
Fire Chief Gurrola and Police Chief Malagon will provide an update on the people experiencing homelessness who are living in the Santa Clara River bottom and the recent court decisions which have limited the City's abilities to address the homeless while allowing the City to support and protect concerned residents. In addition, Scott Gillman, the Ventura County Behavioral Health Director, will explain what services are available for the homeless.

Scott Lee began the Fillmore Rotary meeting with the Lions Club history. The Fillmore Lions Club started in 1927, and the motto is “We Serve”. The original Lions Club started in Chicago in 1917. At their first convention Helen Keller was the speaker and from there the “Knights of the Light” began. Lions sponsor a guide dog training program and aid with blindness and diabetes around the world. They also have a Disability Park in Concord. Locally the Lions are in charge of our parades and have a fireworks booth to earn money for their projects. They also give scholarships and support the community in many other ways. This year they are sponsoring the 86th Annual Lions Club Student Speaker Contest. Steve McKeown spoke on another aspect of the Lions Club, the Scout House, located on Sespe Avenue, where they meet, as well as the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Fillmore Rotary is a charter member of the Cub Scouts, an active group. The Boy Scouts have a small number and are trying to recruit more members. The Rotary Club motto is “Service Above Self”. Both Clubs are working together to serve the youth and adults of Fillmore.