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Ventura Chamber Honors Harrison

Jim, Nan, Amy Fonzo, Stephanie Caldwell and County Supervisor Matt LaVere at the presentation.

A special evening was held at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Board Installation.

The event is held each year in January to provide “a time to focus on the chamber, celebrating our accomplishments from the previous year and looking forward to the goals and strategic direction selected by the incoming Board of Directors for the new year.” Longtime members are recognized, retiring directors are thanked and new officers are installed.

At this year’s meeting, held Jan. 17 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, E.J. Harrison & Sons received a plaque honoring its 50 years as a chamber member.

The chamber also recognized outgoing chair Dena Rogers and installed new chair Aaron Gaston. It was a fantastic networking reception featuring signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Seasons Catering.

St. Junipero Serra statue has arrived at a new home at the Mission

St. Junipero Serra has returned.

by Patrcia Schallert

The St. Junipero Serra statue has found a new home! On February 29th, 2024, the bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, previously situated in front of San Buenaventura City Hall, was gracefully relocated to its new residence at the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura (211 E Main St.)

St. Junípero Serra, an esteemed  Roman Catholic Spanish priest and friar of the Franciscan Order, is renowned for establishing nine Spanish missions in Alta California. Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015, he holds a special place in history.  On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Mission San Buenaventura, his final mission, was founded on a site now known as downtown Ventura.

Fr. Tom Elewaut, the dedicated pastor of the Mission Basilica, warmly welcomed the return of the bronze likeness of St. Junipero Serra. Speaking on the historic significance of the land belonging to the Chumash people, Fr. Tom Elewaut emphasizes Serra’s role as a spiritual father to the indigenous community what was then known as  Alta California. He highlights Serra’s unwavering defense of their dignity and rights before the Spanish magistrate. “The statue acts as a catalyst for peaceful and open dialogue surrounding the indigenous history, the Mission era, Spanish conquest, Mexican occupation, the Gold Rush, and the eventual attainment of California statehood within the United States of America. All of these events have profoundly influenced and shaped the narrative of this land.”

In July, 2020, the Ventura City Council made the decision to relocate two statues during a special public meeting. This choice paved the way for the  landmark bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, situated on public property in front of City Hall, to be temporarily stored with the ultimate intention of transferring it to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura.

In achieving a peaceful resolution, former Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, former Chair Julie Tumamait of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash), and Father Tom Elewaut collaborated to respectfully address community concerns and create an inclusive environment that respected and appreciated all community voices. The goal was to honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and pay tribute to its earliest inhabitants.

In February, work commenced on the concrete base of the statue, diligently carried out by Bryan Cooke of Cooks Crating, who spearheaded the delivery and installation process. The bronze cast, crafted to replace the original 1936 concrete statue, was unveiled in a momentous ceremony at Ventura City Hall on October 20, 1989. This striking 9’3″, 1250-pound masterpiece had since stood proudly overlooking downtown Ventura and the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder expresses the historical significance of the statue and mission for the city, affirming that the relocation to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura symbolizes their commitment to preserving the rich history of the community and honoring the legacy of its earliest residents.

The decision-making process involved extensive public input, the invaluable contributions of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, and the collaboration with Mission. It is a testament to their dedication to inclusivity and unity while celebrating Ventura’s diverse heritage.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, lovingly named after Saint Bonaventure, who was a Cardinal and Doctor of the Church during the years 1221-1274, is aptly known as the “Mission by the Sea.” Guided by a mission statement that upholds the values of prayer and service, the mission endeavors to foster unity among various faith communities as it continues to move “always forward.”

Editor: From a previous Ventura Breeze “A demonstration was held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, to demand that the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall be taken down on grounds that he had committed atrocities against Native Americans, including the local Chumash.”

An afternoon of giving

VHP Board Treasurer, Dave Schmutte; Webmaster and Vice President, John Sanders Jones; Secretary, Debora Schreiber; Ventura Social Services Task Force Chair Judy Alexandre; Client Outreach officer, Adele Fergusson, and President and Board Chair, Sue Brinkmeyer.

Matt LaVere

On February 24, the Ventura Homeless Prevention (VHP) held an afternoon at an “Keeping People Housed:That’s Amore” and auction to raise rental assistance funds for Ventura Homeless Prevention.

It included outstanding Italian food, drinks, entertainment and presentations. It was held in the hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston.

The Ventura Homeless Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents homelessness in the City of Ventura by keeping people in their homes.

Every penny donated goes directly to pay rent for households who have been stably housed but are suddenly unable to meet the current month’s rent because of a one-time event like a car repair, medical bill, or loss of pay due to illness or temporary lay off.

On average they have prevented homelessness for one household per week since they began their work in 2007 — over 1,300 people so far, 40% of them children.

Sue Brinkmeyer

VHP is an all-volunteer organization operating in donated space, and the Board pays for the few administrative costs, so every penny donated or granted goes directly to pay rent and keep people housed.

Sue Brinkmeyer, President and Board Chair of VHP stated “Ventura Homeless Prevention helps residents of the City of Ventura avoid the double traumas of eviction and homelessness by sending a check for part or all of their rent to their landlord when a temporary loss of income or a major expense leaves them teetering on the brink, and they’ll be able to resume paying their own rent after this one-time assistance.”

“Thanks to the generosity of many local houses of faith and individuals, this non-profit is able to help an average of 6-7 families a month.  And thanks, in part, to the additional expertise provided by case managers at Project Understanding or the Salvation Army, over 90% of the people assisted are still housed one-year later.  Ventura Homeless Prevention can help any Ventura resident, without restriction due to income, immigration status, or type of residence, and it costs, on average, just $500 per person or $1,200 per household to keep people housed.  Both donations and referrals are welcome. More information is available on the website venturahomelessprevention.org.”

Leona Rollins Ventura Housing Services Manager continued “The Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund has been doing amazing work in our community since 2007. By providing one-time financial assistance, the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund can assist individuals and families in remaining in their homes, avoiding eviction and the possibility of homelessness. There are currently 644 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community and we need to continue to work together to see that number decrease, not increase. With more than 60% of renters in the City being “rent burdened” meaning that they are paying more than 30% of their income towards their housing costs, they are unable to save for a rainy day. Without an emergency fund, individuals and families will find themselves unable to pay their rent and facing threats of eviction when that rainy day arrives. This is why it is important for us to continue to support programs like the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund.”

Matt LaVere, Supervisor, Ventura County Board of Supervisors explained “Despite the hard work of so many wonderful, dedicated people, we still have 2,500 unhoused individuals in Ventura County. But what this figure does not show is that there are over 14,000 individuals teetering on the edge of homelessness. These are people who are one missed paycheck, one lost job, one car repair, one hospital bill, one “bad break” in life from ending up on the streets. It is exponentially easier and more cost-effective to address homelessness if we can prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. And that is why the work being done by the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund is so critically important. Their efforts to keep people housed and connect them with necessary services truly changes the direction of people’s lives.”

Musical entertainment was provided by Sus Corez on guitar and Artie Perez on accordion with Sue Brinkmeyer singing along. Presentations were made by Gabrielle White, Talia le Duff and Jeremy Beaumont.

Pacifica High School earned college scholarships

Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills,

Talented teens from Pacifica High School earned college scholarships at the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2024 ProStart Cup presented by Wienerschnitzel, a culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition held on February 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills, crafting three-course meals and presenting restaurant concepts to industry pros. Pacifica High School’s team secured third place in the BJ’s Restaurants Culinary Competition, with each student awarded scholarships to esteemed institutions like The Culinary Institute of America, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State University, Johnson & Wales University and more.

Additionally, the California Restaurant Foundation identified Pacifica High School ProStart teacher, Kristen Collins, as its “CA ProStart Educator of the Year.” Kristen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her time in the restaurant industry to the classroom, and in her eight years, has solidified Pacifica High School as one of the state’s top high school culinary programs. With her mantra to ‘never stop learning,’ Kristen has built skills in gardening, dry-aging meat and pancetta making, which she weaves into classroom instruction and uses to fuel her students’ success in the ProStart Cup competition and beyond.

In addition to vying for The James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year, a national award and $10,000 prize awarded by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Kristen will be part of the newly established ProStart Educator Fellows program, a year-long engagement opportunity culminating with a gathering of all the fellows from across the county in October.

Visit Ventura Honored With Platinum, President, Gold, and Silver HSMAI Adrian Awards

Visit Ventura President & CEO Marlyss Auster and Director of Marketing Mike Laan represented the organization at an awards ceremony.

Visit Ventura was recently honored for travel marketing excellence by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at their 67th annual Adrian Awards Celebration, the world’s largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. Visit Ventura was awarded a whopping total of four Adrian Awards at the in-person ceremony in New York City.

Over 800 entries were submitted this year and Visit Ventura’s work was judged to be exceptional by experts in hospitality, travel, tourism, and media. All four awards recognized Visit Ventura for their leadership in bringing the X Games to Ventura and its creative community integration supporting the event.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to receive four HSMAI Adrian Awards this year,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura’s President and CEO. “To be in a room with industry leaders and recognized for our work in marketing that our small team does in-house makes me so proud. Each aspect of the story that we told —from the full-page ads to the YouTube videos—we rolled up our sleeves and put our entire heart into it.”

Visit Ventura received four Adrian Awards: Gold for its winning entry in the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, President’s Award —which is the highest score in its budget range— in the Advertising-Brand Campaign category, Platinum —which is one of this year’s highest honors— for the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, and Silver in the Brand Campaign category.

Visit Ventura was also a finalist alongside entries from Tourism Australia and Destination Canada, among other large destinations, for Best in Show. This is Visit Ventura’s first time receiving the President’s Award, Platinum Adrian Award, and a Best in Show honor.

Most notably, Visit Ventura was one of the smallest destinations to receive multiple awards. As an international awards celebration, destinations and brands like IGH Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Atlantis Paradise Island, and Visit Honduras were among some of the winners. To see Visit Ventura, where a small team does all marketing in house, among the list of international winners is a true showing of hometown pride.

“The Adrian Awards celebrate the innovation and ingenuity that fuel our success and recognize the marketing leaders whose extraordinary efforts literally ‘open the doors’ to exploration and excitement,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Their work inspired the world to get out and create memories through travel, and HSMAI is proud to honor them.”

Retiree has a Passion for Glass Art 

Her work is inspired by nature.

by Juliette Nasarenko

Pamela Klebaum found a new passion during her retirement years in Ventura. She found a love for glass art and created the art in the heart of her home. Her work is inspired by nature and her latest work deals with climate change and its effect on our earth. She is working on a new piece that references plastics in the ocean.

When Pamela was 55 years old, she was looking through old boxes and came across a diary that belonged to her dad. Her father was in the navy while on a voyage to Greenland and the diary described his journey, the icebergs, and life at sea. This was when she decided to start making art based on the diary. In order to take on this project Pamela attended Ventura College and took an art class each semester to learn life drawing and life painting. She wanted to learn the basic principles of art since she never had any formal instruction when she was young.

Pamela retired in 2010 and after she redid her kitchen she wanted to put glass figurines inside the cabinets. At the stain glass store, she found a new process and started studying all over the country taking workshops. She was invited to do residencies and fell in love with the process. In 2018, she was also invited to attend a professional artists’ residency on the northeastern shore of Scotland. It was only nine artists with two mentors, and she was able to feel at peace with nature as she fell “back in that time”.

According to Pamela, it takes 6 to 8 weeks to make glass art. It takes multiple firings and when it comes out of the kiln it is very rough and must be finished with a chemical polish to bring out the shine. After the Thomas Fire destroyed several homes in her neighborhood, she felt compelled to create Project Phoenix which is a small glass house for each neighbor who needed to rebuild their home. Each glass house was different as well as unique and she wrote in a note to each returning family, “…to hope that the glass house would bring beautiful light into your beautiful new home.” In August of 2023, she finished her final Project Phoenix house which was number 112! Out of all her beautiful art pieces her favorite is called Glaciers Disappearing which shows the ice melting. She says, “You can see through her work what we are doing to the earth.”

Pamela loves to keep herself busy and started playing soccer for the first 3 years of her retirement. She also continues to study the piano since starting retirement. She enjoys walking around her neighborhood and staying active. One piece of wisdom that Pamela always likes to think about is gratitude as it “becomes a way of our life.” She loves to think about smaller graces every day and people spreading kindness to each other. She loves to go to Yosemite every year for her and her husband Nohl’s anniversary. She loves to read and started reading the Pulitzer Award winner The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. She said it was a very compelling story and similar to her dad’s diary illustrating life on a ship and how intimate it can be. My conversation with Pamela was compelling and fascinating as she has so much ambition and passion for what she does. I loved listening to her story and journey as she has a big heart to help others and make the world a better place.

Editor: If you are a senior (over 70-years), or know of one, who would like to share their retirement, or job, with us please let us know at [email protected].

 

Art Based Scholarship for VUSD 12th Graders Due March 27

Rotary Club of Ventura is excited to offer the Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarship for Ventura Unified 12th graders who will be pursuing higher education and/or career training. In the 6th year, the scholarship asks students to provide an artistic response for their thoughts on peace.

The Perspectives on Peace Scholarship embraces a broad spectrum of artistic expression, inviting students to submit entries in various formats such as video, photography, dance, music, poetry, digital art, industrial art, paintings, sketches, multimedia work, and more. According to Ken Leandro, Youth Services Director for the Club, “Past submissions have showcased the diverse talents and innovative approaches of students in envisioning and advocating for peace.”

This year, the first place award is $5,000 scholarship with 5 additional Artist of Distinction Awards available at $1000 each.

Applications for the Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarship are open now through March 27, 2024. For application and more information please visit perspectivesonpeace.org.

 

SEEAG’s “Bus Bucks” Fundraiser For Student Farm Field Trips

For each Farm Lab field trip, SEEAG gives schools $300 for bus expenses.

Each year, elementary school students travel by bus to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture’s (SEEAG) free Farm Lab program at Petty Ranch in Ventura and Allan Hancock College’s Demonstration Orchard in Santa Maria. While at the farms, students learn about the farm origins of their food. Funds raised through SEEAG’s current “Bus Bucks” fundraiser will help offset school bus expenses so that field trips remain entirely cost-free to students, teachers and schools.

For each Farm Lab field trip, SEEAG gives schools $300 for bus expenses. Currently, SEEAG is scheduled to host 70 field trips in 2024. To ensure there are enough funds to pay for transportation, the Bus Bucks’ goal is to raise $20,000.

“High transportation costs often prevent schools from offering field trips,” says Mary Maranville, founder and CEO of SEEAG. “We don’t want transportation to be an obstacle. If we receive enough donations during the Bus Bucks campaign, thousands of Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara county students will be able to travel from their schools to one of SEEAG’s Farm Lab locations.”

In the 2022/23 school year, SEEAG educated 7,547 students from 21 school districts about local agriculture during 58 field trips to its two Farm Labs. That number is projected to increase to 10,600 students from 83 school districts in the 2023/24 school year. Most students have never been to a farm. Many who attend are low-income, Title 1 students.

To make a Bus Bucks donation, go to https://www.seeag.org/bus-bucks. For more about SEEAG’s ag education programs, go to www.seeag.org. To watch a video about how donations are used, go here.

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 100,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

2024 Oscar Winners & Nominations

 

96th Annual Academy Awards

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel
Sunday, March 10 on ABC
Dolby Theatre, Hollywood

 


2024 Oscar Nominations

Most Nominated Categories:
Oppenheimer
7 Oscars – 13 nominations
Poor Things
4 Oscars 11 nominations
Killers of the Flower Moon
0 Oscars 10 nominations
Barbie
1 Oscar 8 nominations
American Fiction
1 Oscar 5 nominations

Best Picture
Oppenheimer
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Best Actress
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Annette Bening, Nyad
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
(*1st Native American woman ever nominated for Best Actress)
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan, Maestro

Best Actor
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Best Supporting Actress
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
America Ferrera, Barbie
Jodie Foster, Nyad

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things

Best Director
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall
Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest

Best Original Song
“What Was I Made For?” Barbie
(Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell)
“The Fire Inside,” Flamin’ Hot
“I’m Just Ken,” Barbie
“It Never Went Away,” American Symphony
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People),” Killers of the Flower Moon

Best International Feature
The Zone of Interest
Io Capitano
Perfect Days
Society of the Snow
The Teachers’ Lounge

Best Animated Feature
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best Animated Short
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
Letter to a Pig
Ninety-Five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme

Best Live-Action Short
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
The After
Invincible
Knight of Fortune
Red, White and Blue

Best Documentary Feature
20 Days in Mariupol
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
The Eternal Memory
Four Daughters
To Kill a Tiger

Best Documentary Short
The Last Repair Shop
The ABCs of Book Banning
The Barber of Little Rock
Island in Between
Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó

***Additional Categories not listed in print issue

Best Original Screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall
(Justine Triet and Arthur Harari)

The Holdovers
Maestro
May December
Past Lives

Best Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction
(Cord Jefferson)

Barbie
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Best Cinematography
Oppenheimer
(Hoyte van Hoytema)

El Conde
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Poor Things

Best Original Score
Oppenheimer
(Ludwig Göransson)

American Fiction
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things

Best Editing
Oppenheimer
(Jennifer Lame)
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things

Best Production Design
Poor Things
(James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek)
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer

Best Costume Design
Poor Things
(Holly Waddington)
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Poor Things
(Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston)

Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Society of the Snow

Best Sound
The Zone of Interest
(Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn)
The Creator
Maestro
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer

Best Visual Effects
Godzilla Minus One
(Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima)
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon


2024 Oscar Nominations Trailers
To view full playlist, click on the playlist icon in the right top corner below