Home Care In Fillmore, IN

Fillmore Street’s Clay Theatre opened in 1913 as the Regent Theater, a nickelodeon-style cinema showing Mary Pickford flicks. Over the ensuing decades, it would go on to become The Avalon, The Clay International, and in our day, simply The Clay. But it was San Francisco’s first dedicated foreign-film movie theater, one of the city’s oldest single-screen movie houses, and has been deemed architecturally significant for its front façade’s shaped parapets and plaster ornamentation.

None of that helped the place stay open. As Fillmore District and Pacific Heights residents know, the Clay Theatre showed its last movie on January 26, 2020 (fittingly, a midnight screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show), and has been dark since.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Henry Phong (@other_henry)

But there’s a light (“over at the Frankenstein place,” in Rocky Horror parlance). On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to grant landmark status to the Clay Theatre, an effort that the district’s supervisor Catherine Stefani initiated last July.

Getting that landmark designation required a rigorous historical review by the SF Historic Preservation Commission, which did debunk some of the long-standing local lore about The Clay. It did not open in 1910 as we had always believed, but instead in 1913. It did not show San Francisco’s first-ever midnight movie screening with Pink Flamingos in 1972, as had been apocryphally believed — a claim that even director John Waters himself repeated. The commission found that the first SF midnight movies dated back to 1911, and moreover, Pink Flamingos had midnight screenings at several other local theaters before premiering at The Clay in 1974.

But the commission did verify "The Clay-International [opened] in 1935, is significant as the first dedicated foreign film theater in San Francisco and as an important exhibitor of foreign and independent art-house films through the late 1980s," and thus, landmark status was justified.

This does not mean The Clay will ever operate as a theater again. The building is still for sale, and the Chronicle reported in March 2020 that a $3.5 million offer for the building from the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation was rejected. As seen above, SF Planning Commission documents show that the cosmetics chain Glossier requested a permit to take it over in October 2021, but withdrew its request shortly after.

San Francisco’s landmarking legislation intends “to protect, preserve, enhance and encourage continued utilization, rehabilitation and, where necessary, adaptive use of significant cultural resources.” It cannot force the owner to keep it a movie theater, it can only provide incentives for the owner to keep it The Clay Theatre (or keep its distinctive architectural elements intact). That would require an owner that wants to keep it a theater, and that is not currently the case. But the property has been on the market for more than two years, so the possibility does remain.

So the Clay Theatre is now a San Francisco landmark. Which is ironic, because the place had been acquired by the Landmark Theatres chain in 1991, and was known as the Landmark Clay Theatre.

Landmark Theatres, which previously operated multiple movie-houses in SF, now solely operates the Opera Plaza cinema complex. The beloved Landmark Theatres Embarcadero Center Cinema closed for good in February.

National Grid Renewables has announced the commencement of significant onsite construction for two solar ventures situated in southern Minnesota. The Fillmore County Solar project, generating 45 megawatts (MW) and located in Fillmore County, alongside the 50 MW Louise Solar project in Mower County, mark pivotal developments within the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market.

Joe Ibrahim, Vice President of Construction and Engineering at National Grid Renewables, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “As a company rooted in Minnesota, it’s truly gratifying to witness this surge in renewable energy right in our own community. These projects not only promise additional tax revenue and employment opportunities for locals but also affirm our commitment to fostering positive relationships with residents both locally and statewide.”

Both Fillmore and Louise have secured power purchase agreements with Xcel Energy, renowned for its efforts in carbon emission reduction while ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy delivery across its extensive service area. Bria Shea, Regional Vice President of Planning and Policy for Xcel Energy–Minnesota, affirmed, “As pioneers in the transition to clean energy, we remain steadfast in our endeavor to amplify the presence of carbon-free electricity within our energy portfolio for Minnesota customers. We eagerly welcome the renewable energy contributions from the Fillmore and Louise solar projects as we progress towards a cleaner energy future.”

Also Read Erthos, Inc. Strikes Master Agreement with Sky Community Solar for 180-MW Solar Portfolio in Texas

Over their initial 20-year operational span, Fillmore and Louise are projected to inject more than $30 million in direct economic impact into the region. This includes over $4 million in fresh tax revenue for local municipalities and counties, as well as the creation of 300 construction jobs. Additionally, the projects will allocate a combined $475,000 through dedicated charitable funds over the same period, showcasing National Grid Renewables’ commitment to community stewardship.

Berry Construction Company, Inc. (Berry) will oversee the construction of both projects, employing Series 6 Plus bifacial solar modules provided by First Solar, Inc. Dean Bryant, President of Berry’s Renewable Energy Division, remarked on the fruitful partnership with National Grid Renewables, highlighting their joint effort to meet the escalating demand for renewable energy sources in Minnesota.

Dana Kennard, Director of Business Development at First Solar, emphasized the company’s pride in supporting National Grid Renewables’ endeavors with American-made solar technology. Kennard noted the excitement in aiding valued partners in advancing the regional renewable energy market with domestically manufactured solutions.

Cleantech Solar, a leading provider of renewable energy solutions to corporations in India and Southeast Asia, is delighted to announce the commissioning of open access solar PV projects totalling 24 MWp at its state-of-the-art solar park in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. Power from these projects is being procured by leading corporates on a captive basis to meet energy needs for their manufacturing operations in the state. These projects cater to customers across automotive, pharmaceutical, cement, industrial equipment and chemical sectors.

These projects have been developed using single-axis trackers for increased generation and efficiency. The trackers make use of sensors and control systems to continuously adjust the tilt and orientation of solar panels to track the sun’s path from sunrise to sunset. They can thus optimise the angle of incidence of sunlight by following the sun’s trajectory, maximising energy production.

The long-term partnerships between Cleantech Solar and the leading Commercial & Industrial (C&I) customers are estimated to generate more than 911 GWh of clean energy during project lifetime, leading to a reduction of approximately 833 kilotonnes of CO₂ emissions. These partnerships reiterate Cleantech Solar’s commitment to providing quality renewable energy solutions and strengthen its position as the premier solar developer in Maharashtra with over 15 blue-chip customers. This takes the total portfolio size in Maharashtra to over 300 MWp across operations and construction stages, consisting of solar, wind and hybrid power projects. Cleantech Solar’s focus on expanding its C&I portfolio, currently at 1.2 GWp, aligns with its commitment to sustainable growth.

Also Read Singapore, UK and Mauritius Lead Domestic Solar Investments with USD 3,860 Crore Over Three Years, Says MNRE Minister

Mr. Sachin Jain, Chief Executive Officer of Cleantech Solar, said:

“It gives me immense pleasure to announce the commissioning of these projects for top-tier corporate customers. Our state-of-the art solar parks in Maharashtra leverage the latest and best-in-class technology to provide high-quality and stable renewable power to our clients, helping them diversify their energy sources and manufacture sustainably whilst reducing energy costs significantly.”

About Cleantech Solar (www.cleantechsolar.com):

Cleantech Solar is a pan-Asia supplier of renewable energy to corporates, combining the capabilities of a global player with responsiveness and agility. Headquartered in Singapore, Cleantech Solar has numerous solar and wind hybrid projects across India and Southeast Asia, covering approximately 1.2 GWp of assets in operations, construction and development stages. This includes installations in India, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The company is backed by long-term strategic shareholders – Keppel Ltd., Keppel Asia Infrastructure Fund and Shell Singapore Pte. Ltd.

On Camarillo's very first play from scrimmage on its new turf field inside its renovated stadium, Fletcher Gravel ran for a 65-yard touchdown to set the tone for the Scorpions in a 42-19 victory over Hueneme on Friday evening.

Gravel finished with 153 rushing yards on 17 carries, sophomore quarterback Brody Meyers completed 10 of 13 passes for 97 yards and three touchdowns and Jack Bowers returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore Jack Maulhardt scored two touchdowns, one on a pass reception and another on an 85-yard kickoff return. Marcos Jaquez, the younger brother of basketball star Jaime, notched a pair of sacks.

More:High school football scores from the first full weekend of Spring season

More:Ventura High has memorable opening night in win over Rio Mesa

More:Simi Valley routs rival Royal in an unprecedented season opener

Among Hueneme's top performers were wide receiver/defensive back Drew Lopez and two-way lineman Cesar Rangel.

OXNARD 41, CHANNEL ISLANDS 0

Senior Jadon Franco ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and senior Hunter Rapp ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on eight carries as the Yellowjackets rolled at home.

Making his first start at quarterback, senior Jonjon Vasquez threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Daniel Sinohui and a 30-yard scoring strike to senior Marcus Bustillos.

Senior Tytus Hutchinson had a 6-yard TD run and sophomore Cervando Tapia had a 19-yard TD run for Oxnard, which led 27-0 at the half.

“We came out strong,” Oxnard coach Jaime Moreno said. “CI wasn’t a pushover.”

Defensive lineman Trust Hunt had three sacks and senior linebacker Anthony Lopez had a team high in tackles to help the Yellowjackets defense complete the shutout.

“Our defense was stellar,” Moreno said. “Offense is coming along. With this shortened season, we don’t have a lot of time to fix anything. We just need to keep moving along.”

Channel Islands (0-1) had four interceptions defensively, including two by junior cornerback Hector Navarro.

“Our guys never wavered,” Channel Islands coach Gary Porter said. “They fought the whole way. I liked playing Oxnard. It showed our players a high-quality opponent..”

Frank Washington and Gabe Campos also had interceptions for the Raiders.

“Our guys fought the whole way through,” Porter said. “We really wanted to score at the end. We would actually sustain drives for a little while, but we would stall.”

PACIFICA 23, BUENA 17

Pacifica turned a halftime tie into a season-opening win in its first game as defending CIF State Division 2-A champion.

Senior Christian Hernandez’s 14-yard touchdown with 5:53 left in the third quarter held up for the deciding points as the Tritons held off the visiting Bulldogs.

“Our boys played very hard,” Pacifica head coach Mike Moon said. “The fact that we’re playing is really what it’s all about.”

Buena took a 7-0 lead on junior Jack Chavarria’s 16-yard run and a 14-6 lead on Chavarria’s 24-yard touchdown pass to senior Zac Babcock.

Pacifica responded on senior Tyler Diaz’s 39-yard scoring strike to junior Aiden Herrera and Diaz’s 9-yard touchdown run, which was capped by a Niko Barez conversion run.

Pacifica capitalized on an errant Buena punt snap to take a 16-14 lead on a safety in the third quarter.

“We just made too many mistakes,” said Buena coach Ryan Bolland. “They played hard. I don’t think we had effort tissues.”

After Hernandez’s run, Buena senior Taylin Butterbaugh made it a one-score game with a 20-yard field goal. But Pacifica was able to close out the win.

FILLMORE 14, DOS PUEBLOS 13

Sophomore running back Anthony Chessani rushed for 170 yards on 24 carries and caught three passes for 15 yards and seniors Nick Jimenez and Justice Rodriguez each scored rushing touchdowns to key the win on the road.

The Flashes piled up over 220 yards on the ground.

Fillmore made two big stops in the red zone to thwart scoring drives. Ty Wyand came up with a clutch interception.

Sophomore wide receivers Nathan Delagadillo and Jarod Uridel helped the Flashes total 112 yards through the air.

The effort delivered the first win for Fillmore first-year head coach Charlie Weis.

“Extremely physical game,” said Weis. “So proud of our team. That school is significantly larger than we are and in a higher division but our team never quit.”

Dos Pueblos, a Division 6 team, was seven divisions higher than Fillmore in the 2018 season.

NORDHOFF 48, SANTA PAULA 0

Leeram Stoneman threw for a career-high four touchdowns and ran for another and Zac Sheets notched 17 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups to key the Citrus Coast League victory.

Noah Koester caught a pair of touchdown passes and Kaden Monson and Jake Palmer each caught one touchdown throw. Eli Dvortcsak rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

BISHOP DIEGO 13,ST. BONAVENTURE 7

The matchup turned into a defensive slugfest, with quarterback Manny Rosales scoring the lone touchdown for the Seraphs on a scramble.

The St. Bonaventure defense limited Bishop Diego to 162 yards in offense and just 60 yards passing.

Bishop Diego scored the decisive touchdown on a pick-6 returned from its own goal line.

After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake the cannon was moved and now sits in front of the Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building on 2nd Street. The plaque reads “W.W.I Cannon Donated by the U. S. Govt. to the City of Fillmore in 1921. Dedicated to all the men and women who serve their country. W.F.W. 9637 – 2001”. Photos courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.

The Canon circa 1935.

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.

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.

The Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association in 1906. Photos courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum.

The Fillmore Citrus Association Lemon Packinghouse in the 1930s.

Building boxes for Sparr Fruit Company circa 1915, with two workers smiling while they stop building for a photo.

Sparr Fruit Company circa 1910.

Loading freight car, 1930.

Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum Agriculture was what built Fillmore and the surrounding communities. First it was dry land farming such as barley and lima beans. Then came orchards, especially apricot and walnuts. Soon some settlers started planting citrus trees, especially oranges. In 1889, C. C. Elkins planted the first commercial orange grove in the Fillmore area. With the growth of citrus in the valley, packinghouses were soon needed.

The Fillmore Citrus Association was formed in 1897 with David Felsenthal as president. In 1899, the Association bought property for $50 at Sespe Avenue and A Street and built its packinghouse on the site for $1,500.

Soon more packinghouses followed. Some were locally owned like the Fremlin-Walker Packinghouse off Santa Clara Street.

Others were owned by companies from elsewhere. One of the earliest of these was the Sparr Packinghouse. Sparr was a Riverside, California, company which opened a packinghouse in Fillmore in the first decade of the 20th century. The packinghouse was on the southwest corner of Main and Central. The first packinghouse burned in 1913 and was rebuilt. The later building burned in 1970.

By 1930, Mutual Orange Distributors, which had started in Redlands in 1910, had a packinghouse in Fillmore on Old Telegraph Road.

In 1913, Frank Erskine, who had been with a citrus association in Whittier, was hired as the manager of the Fillmore Citrus Association. Besides overseeing the construction of a new orange packinghouse in 1918 and a new lemon packinghouse in 1924, he also organized two bands made up of employees, the Fillmore Citrus Association American Band and the Fillmore Citrus Association Mexican Band. According to the business card of the bands, “Music for any occasion at reasonable rates. Either band separately or the two bands consolidated. Proper instrumentation in any number of men from sixteen to fifty.” The bands performed throughout the region as well as on the radio. Erskine left the Fillmore Citrus Association in 1929 to join the newly formed Ramona Savings and Loan.

As the citrus industry expanded in the area, more workers were needed. Jobs included not just picking the oranges, but loading field boxes weighing as much as ninety (90) pounds onto wagons and later trucks. Once the fruit was at the packinghouse it had to be unloaded and then washed. In 1916, mechanical washing machines were installed at the Fillmore Citrus Association orange packinghouse. The fruit had to be graded for size and quality, then packed into boxes by local women workers. The boxes again had to be loaded into trucks or train cars. Mechanics to work on the machinery of the packinghouse and truck drivers were needed.

To ease the labor shortage for pickers, in 1941 the Fillmore Citrus Association built a labor camp in Fillmore. In 1942, they contracted with the Villasenor family, who owned a local restaurant, to provide meals for those living at the camp. This evolved into the Villasenors managing the camp and, in 1979, buying the camp.

Finally, in 1946, the Fillmore Citrus Association built a second orange packinghouse. This building now houses Nova Storage which recognizes the building’s history with murals of citrus crate labels on the building.

Only one citrus packinghouse continues to operate in Fillmore, the Villa Park Orchards Association packinghouse at the former MOD location. The other buildings have been repurposed to avocado packinghouses, artist studios, and storage facilities. Whatever their use, they are a reminder of why Fillmore came to be.