Courtesy City of Fillmore Facebook Page

Last month’s extreme winds broke numerous limbs and toppled entire trees on Fillmore City property. Staff was busy for several days mitigating the damage. This wind damaged was not limited to public property. There was major damage to trees, sheds, awnings and other items on private property. If downed trees and limbs in residential neighborhoods are left in place they will quickly dry out and soon pose a more significant fire hazard. Recognizing this potential fire hazard, the City will be hosting a tree and limb disposal day on February 20th from 9am to noon at City Well #4 located at 728 Goodenough Rd. Only tree trimmings and other vegetation will be accepted, no other trash or building material will be accepted. This free disposal day is in addition to the annual vegetation drop-off day in May; it does not replace it.

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Over the summer my former student and now President of the club, Emilia Magdaleno, approached me about starting a new club at Fillmore. Emilia is a junior at FHS and she is a wonderful student. Her idea was to form a club at FHS where students could make cards for people who are affected the most by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since September, 35-40 students have been meeting virtually online every week and have been making cards for the Fillmore community. The students have sent virtual cards to teachers, administrators and staff members of Fillmore High School as well as throughout Fillmore Unified School District to encourage and thank them during this challenging time. Club members have also made cards to encourage fellow students during the pandemic. Currently, club members are working on creating physical cards for the patients and staff members at the Greenfield Care Center in Fillmore. Currently they have made well over 200 cards and by the time I deliver cards to the Greenfield Care Center, that number will be closer to 400.

As a teacher at Fillmore High School and the advisor of the club, I am just endlessly impressed with and enormously inspired by the members of Flashes Cards 4 Kindness. During an incredibly difficult season, these students have decided to make time every week to create these cards and uplift others. They have busy schedules with distance learning and yet they keep showing up week after week.

Teachers have personally reached out to me to tell me how much receiving these cards has meant to them during distance learning when we have been unable to see our students face to face.

Here are the student leaders of the club:
President: Emilia V. Magdaleno
Vice President: Mckenna Taylor
Secretary: Olivia Palazuelos
Treasurer: Alexis Velasco
Head of Publicity: Aliyah Heredia and Aileen Lopez
Graphic Design Leader: Yzabella Rivero and Isabella Minjares

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Courtesy FHS Alumni Office

If you are a current Senior at Fillmore High School, and will be enrolled at a four year University, Community Collage, or Trade School in the fall of 2021, you may apply for the Fillmore High Alumni Scholarship starting Tuesday, February 16th by picking up an application at the High School in the main office. Deadline to hand in will be March 31st, 2021. You can hand in at the High School or by dropping off the application in the front door of the Alumni Office at 559 Sespe Ave. (Mail Slot on Front door)

The FHS Alumni Mission:
Since 1913, The Fillmore Alumni Association has been bringing people together to support education, students and the community of Fillmore. Our mission is to provide scholarships to seniors and any graduate seeking to continue their education. Join us today by becoming a member.

FHS Alumni office has help many of Fillmore Students obtain Scholarship money if they plan to attend a four year University, Community College or Trade school this years window to apply is February 16th to March 31st.

Above is the interior of the Artists’ Barn which opened in November 21, 1936.
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Pictured above is the Artists’ Wall today with a close up of local teacher, writer and artist, Harriet “Petey” Weaver’s square in the top right hand corner.
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Fifteen years ago, the tree split in two and it was advised to remove it. The current owners carefully nurtured a sprout coming up from the remaining roots, and here it is today.
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Art Lyceum 1937 Schedule which was a monthly event where speakers would come and speak about art.
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Courtesy Fillmore History Museum

One day in 1936, while visiting her in-laws, Ira and Kate Hinckley, Mildred Coombs Hinckley noticed a derelict barn, 50 feet long and 20 feet wide, on the two acres the Hinckley's owned off First St. The idea struck her that the barn could be converted into a home and studio. Her enthusiasm for the idea carried the day and Labor Day saw a family barn raising. One thing they didn’t immediately get was a new roof. The night of the first rain found the couple marshalling anything which could hold water to catch the water from all the leaks in the old barn’s roof.

By the fall, the newlyweds had a new home (with a new roof) and Fillmore had an art gallery, the Artists’ Barn. The gallery opened on November 21, 1936 and would be a landmark on Bard Street in Fillmore until 1961. Opening day saw exhibition of not only Hinckley’s work but Jesse and Cornelis Botke, Robert Clunie and Douglas Shively, all of Santa Paula. Also included from the beginning were wares of local craftsmen. The couple had expected a few dozen guests for the opening. Instead, they had over three hundred. Instituted the first year was the Art Lyceum, a monthly event with a speaker on something related to the art world. The cost? $5 per event. No one knew what sort of audience this would draw in the rural community, but like the opening event, it was soon had a waiting list for tickets.

When it opened, the Artists’ Barn was the only art gallery in the county. It became a meeting place for the community and for the art world. The Hinckleys drew artists from throughout the United States to the small community. The community became more knowledgeable and interested in art as a result. Besides artists, the Barn drew tourist buses as it made a good place to break the long drive between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. It was estimated that in the first five years it was open; it had an attendance of 20,000 people.

Eventually, the Hinckleys had to enlarge the home to accommodate the art studio and gallery. One aspect of the home was the Artists’ Wall where visiting artists would leave signed works that became a permanent part of the home.

Things slowed down during World War II and Lawrence went to work at Douglas Aircraft making charts for the Air Corps. The Hinckleys moved to Los Angeles, renting the Barn to Beatrice Albright, a schoolteacher. Agnes Ashby kept the gift shop running in their absence.

After the war ended, they returned to the Barn and began a new phase, ceramics. They made figures and kitchen items such as spoon rests (the first of its kind), match holders and funnels. Lawrence insisted that anything they produced be of the best quality and quickly disposed of flawed items. The current owners tell of when gardening finding unbroken ceramics buried in the dirt – Lawrence’s rejects.

Also, immensely popular were the classes that were held at the Artists’ Barn. Many residents remember taking classes there.

Their ceramics line was phased out as imports began to flood the market. In 1961, the Hinckleys closed the Artists’ Barn, converting it back to a private home. Lawrence continued to paint and Mildred, now Dr. Mildred Hinckley, a Doctor of Theology, became the minister at the Church of Religious Science in Fillmore.

In 1981 the Barn and the massive pepper tree in the garden were both declared Ventura County Historic Landmarks. Lawrence Hinckley passed away in 1987 and Mildred in 1995.

A crew of catalytic converter thieves were apprehended after they stole from a Fillmore resident. Investigators suspect they might be involved in similar crimes occurring in the region.

In the early morning hours of February 8th, a Fillmore resident heard a loud noise coming from her vehicle that was parked nearby. Upon further examination, the victim discovered her catalytic converter had been removed from the vehicle and the suspects fled the area. The victim provided the vehicle information that was believed to be associated with the thieves. Deputies quickly responded to the area and noticed two vehicles fleeing. One was identified as a white Toyota Prius, containing three suspects and a yellow Chevrolet Camaro with two occupants.

Deputies coordinated a stop of both vehicles. Deputies immediately noticed the Prius had a catalytic converter that had been cut in the rear compartment. The deputies investigated deeper and located saws, a car jack and other items related to catalytic converter thefts.

All of the subjects associated in both vehicles were deemed to be working in concert to steal catalytic converters. They were arrested and transported to the Police Station.

As the investigation progressed, a second resident called and reported that the catalytic converter was stolen from her vehicle which was parked in the 900 block of Fourth Street. Investigators were able to link this theft with the suspects associated with the Prius and Camaro.

All five suspects were arrested and booked at the Pre-Trail Detention Facility for the following charges:
• PC 487 (a) Grand Theft
• PC 182 (a)(1) Conspiracy to Commit Crime
• PC 466 Possession of Burglary Tools

The suspects in this case are currently in custody pending a court appearance on February 10, 2021 and $300,000 bail.

Catalytic converter crimes are on the rise throughout county. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with reducing these events. We encourage you to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood and help reduce your chances of becoming a victim by parking your vehicles in well-lit areas or secured garages.

Prepared by: Sergeant Vince Alvarez
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

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).

Daniel Gonzalez, 61, Santa Paula.

Santa Paula man arrested for possession of more than a ½ pound of methamphetamine.

During the past year, deputies received information regarding a local transient, Daniel Gonzalez, selling methamphetamine to area residents. This information came from multiple sources over a 13-month period.

On February 6th, deputies were conducting foot patrol of the district watershed area, in Santa Paula. While conducting their patrol, they contacted Gonzalez, who they suspected of trespassing. During their investigation, they determined Gonzalez was under the influence of a controlled substance and placed him under arrest. While conducting a search of Gonzalez’s personal belongings they discovered 246 grams (8.66 ounces) of methamphetamine.

The deputies arrested Gonzalez for violations HS 11550 Being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance and HS 11379 Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Sales. Gonzalez remains in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility awaiting arraignment. Gonzalez’s bail has been set at $60,000.00 and he is due to appear in court February 9, 2021.

Nature of Incident: Suspect arrested with over ½ pound of methamphetamine
Report Number: 21-16845
Location: The Santa Clara River Watershed – Santa Paula
Date & Time: February 6, 2021 / 2:00 pm
Unit(s) Responsible: West County Patrol Services – Santa Clara Station
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
Daniel Gonzalez , 61, Santa Paula
Prepared by: Sergeant Daniel Blanck
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

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).

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services is in the process of updating the Ventura County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The EOP addresses the County’s planned response to emergency situations and natural, human caused or technological disasters, and requires reviewing and updating every three years.

We believe that emergency preparedness is a shared “whole community” responsibility, involving a broad spectrum of community interests, including individual members, businesses, faith-based and other community organizations, academia as well as the media and all levels of government. The public is invited to review the draft EOP and can download a copy by visiting www.ReadyVenturaCounty.org, www.VCEmergency.com or www.VenturaCountyRecovers.org and click on the 2021 EOP Update link at the top of the page.

Nature of Incident: Ventura County Emergency Operations Plan
Date & Time: February 2, 2021
Unit(s) Responsible: Office of Emergency Services
Prepared by: Bill Boyd, OES Emergency Manager
Approved by: Patrick Maynard, OES Director

The Canon circa 1935.
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The Veterans Service Club formed in 1927 in Fillmore, and in July 1928 the Veterans Service Club ordered a cannon as a gift to Fillmore from the Rartian Arsenal in New Jersey. Pictured above is Len Hawthorn firing the Howitzer in 1979.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

The Fillmore cannon? Well, actually, it’s not. It’s a howitzer, probably of French manufacture based on German plans. So how did it get to Fillmore?

In January 1927, a group of Fillmore veterans formed the Veteran’s Service Club. Membership was open to “all men who honorably served in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States or her allies as well as those who have served this country in former conflicts.” The first president of the organization was R. A. Fremlin, who served in the British armed forces during World War I. The American Legion accepted only those who had served in the US military.

The Club grew from a charter membership of 35 to 134 by the end of 1927. The group was active in the improvement of Fillmore, taking on sponsorship of the city park which be created near the Southern Pacific Depot between Main and Santa Clara Streets.

As a gift to the town the VSC ordered a “cannon” from the Raritan Arsenal in New Jersey. As it was war surplus, the “cannon” itself cost them nothing, but they had to pay $150 in for shipping. In July 1928, the “cannon”, a 150mm howitzer arrived was installed in the City Park which at the time was the area in front of the current City Hall.

The “cannon” was not the only thing the VSC were doing in 1928 (although some of their plans were interrupted by the sudden collapse of the St. Francis Dam on March 12/13). They were the sponsor of the spring and fall flower shows, they put on several stage plays. To complete the year, they donated and installed the neon “Fillmore” sign that still can be seen on Central.

The “cannon” was a “mobile” piece and on at least two occasions traveled. One story is that in the early 1950s, some fun-loving Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) moved it to the Wm L. Morris lot, then on Central and Santa Clara. No damage was done and the cannon was returned to its home in the park.

It was a different story in 1974 when a “local prankster” hooked the howitzer up to his pick up and towed down the street. The wheels of the venerable gun broke under the strain. Retired cabinet make Fred Barger was commissioned to repair the wheels, which he did at no charge. The City Works department placed it on the southwest corner of the City Park so visitors were greeted by the “cannon” as the drove up Central Avenue.

The 1994 Earthquake changed many things and so it was with the “cannon”. With the construction of the new City Hall, the “cannon” lost its home. It was also in need of some TLC. Ralph Rees and Basil Dalsem undertook the job of restoring the cannon and when finished, it found its new home at the Veteran’s Memorial Building on 2nd Street where it remains.

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On January 27, 2021, the Ventura Sheriff’s Office, and all the cities that contract police services with the Sheriff’s Office, hosted a gun turn-in. This was an opportunity for citizens to turn in unwanted firearms, replica firearms and ammunition for destruction.

As a result, 60 guns were turned in for destruction as well as 7 replica BB guns and approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Nature of Incident: Gun Turn-In Results
Location: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Thousand Oaks Police Department, Moorpark Police Department, Camarillo Police Department, Fillmore Police Department and the Ojai Police Department
Date & Time: 1/28/2021
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Mike Baker
Approved by: Captain Shane Matthews

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).

Free application webinars offered daily in several languages.

Courtesy City of Fillmore website https://www.fillmoreca.com/Home/Components/News/News/3324/18

Sacramento, CA – California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), today announced that Round 2 of the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is open.

The $500 million program is intended for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Grants range in size from $5,000 to $25,000. Approximately half of the available funds were awarded in Round 1, with disbursement beginning January 22, and the remainder will be awarded to eligible businesses in this second round. The application portal opened at 8:00 a.m. today and will remain open through 6:00 p.m. February 8. Eligible applicants who submitted all necessary documents in Round 1, but did not receive a grant, will be rolled over for consideration in this second round – there is no need to reapply.

"What we are seeing is an unprecedented, urgent need,"said Dee Dee Myers, Director of GO-Biz. "Millions of hardworking Californians, who provide jobs to millions more, need help. Inclusive, equitable relief is fundamental to the small business support this state is providing. Surveys find that without additional funding, more than one in three small business owners will not survive past the next three months, including an astounding 32% of Latinx-owned and 41% of Black-owned businesses. This grant program serves to address an immediate need, but there is so much more that needs to be done. We look forward to the additional grants and loans proposed by the Biden Administration."

California’s small businesses employ nearly half of the state’s private sector workforce and create two-thirds of new jobs. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies showed small businesses were facing low cash flow levels – estimating nearly half of all small businesses had only two weeks of cash flow pre-pandemic.

CalOSBA is pleased to share preliminary data from the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program's first round of recipients:
• 77% of selected applicants went to underserved & disadvantaged small businesses, which are businesses owned by minority, women, veteran, or businesses located in rural, low-to-moderate income (LMI), low-wealth, and rural communities (applicant may fit into more than one category).
o 53% of selected applicants are minority-owned businesses,
o 49% of selected applicants are women-owned businesses,
o 14% of selected applicants are business owners in rural areas, and
o 58% of selected applicants are business owners in low-to-moderate income areas.
• 61% of selected applicants are business owners in highly impacted industries including personal care, restaurant & other eating places, child daycare services, retail clothing stores, & specialty foods.
• Small businesses or non-profits in all 58 counties received awards.
The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant is administered by CalOSBA through a competitive bid award to its intermediary, Lendistry, and its statewide network of community-based lenders and partners. Many of the State-supported small business centers, which prioritize the expansion of technical assistance to underserved business groups, are also available to help small businesses with the application process in multiple languages and formats.

For more information on grant requirements and eligibility, along with links to application tips and webinars, visit CAReliefGrant.com.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit,www.business.ca.gov.

About CalOSBA
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed. For more informationvisit the website.

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Courtesy City of Fillmore Facebook Page

Fillmore is the future home of Mountain View Apartments. Many Mansions partners with the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura to start construction on their very first affordable housing community in the City of Fillmore.

Mountain View Apartments design influence is inspired by Fillmore’s rich history in rail and agriculture and has a timeless agrarian craftsman style. This beautiful development will feature 42 townhome style units with attached garages and 35 flats and walk-ups for a total of 77 apartment homes. There will be 37 one-bedroom, 21 two-bedroom, and 19 three-bedroom apartments, built as workforce housing for very low- and extremely low-income families.

There are numerous on-site amenities including but not limited to a spacious community room that will host free after school programs for the resident children and family services such as food assistance and life skills training for the adults. Access to on-site County of Ventura library services will also be available for the tenants. This is a new partnership we look forward to bringing to more of our affordable housing communities.

“Many Mansions invests in more than just building apartment homes, we invest in the future of individuals, families and youth through comprehensive whole person support. We will continue to provide affordable housing and support so that everyone can achieve their life dreams.”
– Rick Schroeder, President

There will also be lots of outdoor activities such as a playground, outdoor activity center, barbecue/picnic area, community garden, and a bike and pedestrian paths connecting the property to beautiful downtown Fillmore. This development will be a shining example of a high-quality and well-designed affordable housing and a true community asset.

The following is a letter to the City of Fillmore from Yesenia and Alejandra Robles about their new Free Little Library.

Hello city of Fillmore,

Our names are Yesenia and Alejandra Robles and we are the proud owners of the new Little Free Library located at 853 Oliver Sr. in Fillmore. This Little Free Library was made by our friend, neighbor and local artist, Jack Stethem. We hope you enjoy reading as much as we do. You are welcome to read the books, the more you read the smarter you get. We want our Little Free Library to be for all ages, so come on take a book and leave a book. If you would like to donate books, they are welcomed, you can leave them inside the library or you can leave them in front of our house. And remember, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the places you’ll go.”

- Yesenia and Alejandra Robles

1978 Los Serenos.
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1978 Hwy 126 Fillmore entry.
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1914 remains of the Sespe RR crossing.
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1914 February 27 Bardsdale Bridge.
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1938 Damage to the Bardsdale bridge.
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1938 Hwy 23 south of the Bardsdale bridge.
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1969 March 2 dead crocodiles.
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1969 Sespe Bridge.
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1969 Sespe RR bridge approach.
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1969 Sewer Plant damage.
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2005 Equestrian Center damage.
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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

February! This is the time of year when we hope it will rain. When it does, we hope it will be enough and then we hope it won’t be too much.

History has shown us that, in Fillmore, it is often the unexpected quantity of rain or its lack that stands out. Local farmers keep exacting records of the date and amount of rain. Was it enough to not have to irrigate? Is the river or creek going to rage through the orchard? Will it interrupt our plans?

Over time many rainstorms have left indelible impressions both good and bad. One of the earliest storms mentioned in Ventura County history was the deluge of 1862. Rain was statewide and is referred to in the history books as the “Great California Flood of 1862.” Early photos show Sacramento inundated with flood waters up to the second stories of buildings. Author Yda Addis reported that, here in Ventura County, rain fell for 60 days leaving all the ground saturated and “reeking.” In San Buenaventura, “landslides were frequent” and “houses were submerged or carried away bodily.” Cattle, which were the main source of income in those times were starving. The overflow from the Ventura River was 3 feet deep on Ventura’s Main St.

The rains of 1884 were deeply embedded in the memories of those who were living in the Santa Clara Valley at the time. Fillmore had not yet been founded but Santa Paula was a growing city and Ventura well established. According to Lowell Hardison, the rains began with small typical showers in October and November of 1883 allowing the withered grasses of summer to grow and turn the hills green. On January 24th of 1884 it began to rain and continued for 34 hours measuring 15”. From January 31 to Feb 8 it rained every night measuring 20”. Mr. Hardison, assuming that the rains had ended, set off for Los Angeles to purchase a wagon. On the trip home with the new wagon he found 4” of snow on the ground at Newhall and flooding throughout the valley. In a time with no bridges over the creeks and river, they had to leave the wagon and head home on the mules. They found the road up Santa Paula Canyon obliterated with rocks, boulders and debris everywhere. Arriving at home they found the family safe but the cabin nearly wrecked as the wind had forced the rain into the interior. There was debris everywhere, the interior of the cabin was drenched, and the creek behind the cabin was a raging torrent 14 feet deep. A fire was impossible as everything that might burn was wet. They spent the night huddled under blankets trying to stay warm.

The Santa Clara River was flooding bank to bank. Animals, buildings and people were caught in the flood. A dog was seen floating down the river on a mattress. One rescue boat was swamped and the survivors succeeded in climbing a tree and were then rescued. Nearly all the bridges in Southern California were swept away. According the newspapers Santa Paula received 40” and Ojai received 70” in just 60 days. Newspapers of the time called it the greatest rainfall ever recorded in the valley.

In more modern times, we have had our share of excessive rain and damage here in Fillmore. In 1914, shortly after construction of the bridges across the Sespe and Santa Clara, torrential rain caused them to wash out leaving Fillmore isolated. In 1938 the north approach to the Bardsdale Bridge was washed out. Access from Bardsdale was at first by boson’s chair and then by swinging bridge as a new section of the bridge was built.

1969 once again brought excess rain and flooding to our area with three major storms from January through March. The vulnerable approaches to the Sespe auto bridge and the railroad bridge failed. Landslides were common. The 9 hole golf course located where the school farm is now located was washed out. Los Serenos was flooded for the first time and Pole Creek flooded east of Mountain View as far as Main St. Tragedy struck when a group of Boy Scouts being rescued from the mountains above the Sespe were swept away and killed in the raging Sespe. The oddest result was the damage to Africa USA located above Guiberson Road near Piru. After the rain ended, two crocodiles were found along the Santa Clara and rapidly dispatched so as not to cause a panic should they disappear into the orchards.

Los Serenos took a hit again in 1978 when after several months of rainstorms a violent rainstorm sent the Sespe rampaging through the neighborhood when debris formed a dam under the Sespe Auto Bridge. One of our local heavy equipment operators took it upon himself to blow the bridge to release the backed up water. Better to solve the problem and ask forgiveness later. After the citizenry rose up in anger because of the damage, the U.S. Corp of Engineers finally agreed to build the levee which stands today.

Most recently, in 2005, heavy rain caused the Santa Clara River to run full from bank to bank. The Sherriff’s office closed the Bardsdale Bridge in midafternoon when the river threatened to wash out the south approach. The river broke through south of the equestrian center, flowed over Hwy23 and back out to the river. As often happened in these wet years there were storms from January through March creating a situation ripe for disaster when the final heavy storms hit.

It has now been 16 years since the last major flood event. We’d like our rains to be soft, gentle and enough to wash away the drought. It looks like that won’t happen this year. Just remember that in the case of rain storms, be they mild or heavy, history tends to repeat itself in the Santa Clara River Valley.