The new foundation board chair is Ellyn Dembowski, a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway in Ventura. She has been on the foundation board for 12 years. “As we get closer to Ventura College’s 100th anniversary in 2025, I’d like to see us take the opportunity to educate the community about what the foundation does,” says Dembowski. “We want to get the word out that students can attend Ventura College tuition-free. The foundation helps with a critical book lending program and provides scholarships to pay for other school and living expenses. We help students and their families build for the future.”

Vice-chair is Nicole Kreutz, vice-president/credit officer at Citizens Business Bank. Born and raised in Ventura, she is a Ventura College alumni. Kreutz has served on the foundation’s board for about five years, most recently as treasurer. “The foundation impacts students every day. We offer scholarships and other financial assistance that takes the financial burden off students’ shoulders. It’s one less thing they have to worry about. They can stay focused on their studies.”

Joining the board are Dr. Robert “Bob” Beilin and Ed Summers. Beilin, a licensed marital family therapist in Ventura County, previously served on the board for five years. “I wanted to come back to continue my commitment to making higher education accessible to students who otherwise could not attend college, especially members of underserved populations,” says Beilin. He hopes to create a diversity committee made up of students and community members of underrepresented groups to assist the board with becoming more diverse and developing inclusive programs.

Summers comes to the board with 30 years of experience in banking and community involvement. He served as a board member for such business organizations as the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA) and the Economic Development Collaborative- Ventura County (EDC-VC) and was a city council member for the City of Ventura. “I would like to help spearhead stronger relationships between industry and the college,” says Summers. “A study showed that 50 percent of the workforce is going to need an advanced technical education experience. Community colleges will play a vital role in offering the technical training that will prepare our future workforce.”

Rob van Nieuwburg, the outgoing board chair, expects a bright future for the foundation and Ventura College. “I’ve seen firsthand how the foundation and its donors have been able to change lives of students as they pursue their education,” says van Nieuwburg, who was board chair for five years. “It’s what keeps us motivated.”

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and operates financially independent from Ventura College. It transforms students’ lives through education by providing innovative and vital resources and financial support. The Foundation collaborates with Ventura College to enhance human potential, civic engagement, careers and academic success of students enabling their effective impact and legacy on the college, local workforce, and our community. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus in the East Lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or [email protected] or visit www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org.

by Jill Forman

Update from Dolly Knight, Ventura Senior City Librarian

As of the end of September, the majority of events are still virtual. Some are transitioning to outdoor venues at the libraries. The Foster Ukulele Jam is meeting out in front of the library, to the great joy of passers-by. Storytimes at Hill Road will be moving out to the patio. Hill Road’s book club will also meet on the patio.

Always, check with your branch as things change!

One County, One Book (from library press release)

The Ventura County Library is proud to announce its fourth annual One County, One Book community reading program in October. One County, One Book aims to unite the Ventura County community around a common narrative, spreading interest in and facilitating discussions about the selected book. This year’s One County, One Book selection is Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha; per its official web site, the book is “A powerful and taut novel about racial tensions in L. A., following two families—one Korean-American, one African-American—grappling with the effects of a decades-old crime.” It is also based on a real event.
I have read this book and found it mesmerizing.

Book Author talk and Q&A will take place virtually via Zoom at 2pm on October 30, 2021. A Faculty Panel Discussion presented by California Lutheran University, will be at 6pm on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Be sure to register for these events (information below.)

To participate in One County, One Book, pick up a copy of Your House Will Pay from one of our 12 library branches or our Mobile Library. In addition to our regular holdings, beginning in September each library will have an Honor Book Shelf set up with additional copies. You can take one of these special copies to read and return it when you are done—or pass it on to a friend. You can even donate a new copy for others!

Once you have read the book you will be ready for our October events. Visit our website at www.vencolibrary.org/library-events for more information as programs are scheduled.
All events associated with One County, One Book are free and open to the public.

Note from Online Bookstore Manager Leslie Bellmore

If you can’t find what you are looking for at Ventura Friends of the Library’s Foster Bookstore, try our Online Bookstore at venturafriendsofthelibrary.org! The Online Bookstore began during the closures as a way to get good books out to those of you who needed them, but now that things are open again volunteers are finding it is a great way to offer materials that don’t fit at Foster Bookstore.  You will now find Graphic Novels, Comic Books, and Vintage book selections online!  Of course, you will still also find great quality reading selections in both fiction and non-fiction for youth and adults, puzzles and audiobooks as well. Just order and pick up at Foster in as little as two days.

The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program recognized 16 global shipping companies for reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Southern California Region in 2020.

The voluntary program is an initiative to cut air pollution, protect endangered whales, and reduce underwater noise. The 2020 program ran from May 15, 2020 through November 15, 2020.

Three award tiers and financial incentives recognize participating companies, based on the percent of distance their fleet traveled through the Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones at speeds of 10 knots or less. Credit was only given if the average speed of a transit through an entire VSR Zone did not exceed 12 knots.

“We are delighted to be able to set an industry example by voluntarily reducing vessel speeds in areas where endangered whale species regularly feed, helping us improve the way we do business, while continuing to deeply care for our environment,” said Stanley Kwiaton, MSC General Manager of Port Operations – West Coast.

MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, Yang Ming, and MOL ACE notably achieved the Sapphire tier in the large company category (greater than 30 transits) by slowing down more than 800 transits, combined. Swire Shipping achieved the Sapphire tier in the small company category (less than 30 transits). For their outstanding commitment, all five of these companies earned the Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Whale Tail award.

“Biodiversity is an integral part of our sustainability strategy,” said Wolfram Guntermann, Director Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability at Hapag-Lloyd, calling the program a “remarkable initiative.”

Seven companies – COSCO Shipping Lines, Evergreen, GALI, “K” Line, Maersk, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, and Swire Shipping – generously declined their financial incentive payment. Those funds will be reinvested in the 2021 program.

The 10-knot target follows the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) and the United States Coast Guard’s request for all vessels (300 gross tons or larger) to slow down during the months of peak blue, humpback, and fin whale abundance to protect these endangered whales from deadly ship strikes.

Ship strikes continue to be a global threat to all large whale populations. Reducing fatal ship strikes is a major priority of NOAA’s, especially in NOAA’s West Coast national marine sanctuaries.

“One of Yang Ming’s priorities has been promoting the sustainability of the ocean and coastal environments,” said Leo Chiang, Vice President of Marine Operations. “That is why we take immense pride in being a volunteer in the Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program.”

Ocean-going vessels transiting the California coast generate nitrogen oxides (NOx, a precursor to smog), sulfur oxides (SOx), particle pollution, and greenhouse gases. These vessels account for more than 200 tons of NOx per day emitted off the coast of California, which affects ozone levels onshore in many regions of the state.

The VSR incentive program has expanded in scope and environmental benefits each year, including 2020, which marked the sixth year. The 2021 program began on May 15, 2021, and runs through November 15, 2021. Eighteen companies are currently enrolled in the 2021 program.

The Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program is a collaborative effort by Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District; Bay Area Air Quality Management District; Channel Islands, Greater Farallones, and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries; The Volgenau Foundation; California Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Greater Farallones Association; National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; and Environmental Defense Center.

For more information about the program, visit www.bluewhalesblueskies.org or www.ourair.org/air-pollution-marine-shipping.

Note: To get a close up view of the local whales (and dolphins) check out the Island Packers Cruises at islandpackers.com

by Richard Senate

HUTASH . Perhaps the first holiday was celebrated by the Chumash people, perhaps well over a thousand years ago. The Chumash had a very accurate calendar, and this harvest festival was celebrated on the 29th of September. It was the most important holiday of the Native Chumash people. It was a time of feasting and special dances with each of the brotherhood performing important religious dances. They would decorate and set up special feather poles, decorated with multicolored birds’ feathers. Between the two a line flew elaborate feather banger flow to the music and chanting. It was a time of games and song. The Spanish who came saw all of the Natives celebrating and, looking at their calendar’s and they saw that September 29th happens to fall on San Miguel Day, September 29th. So, the Spanish held their own events on that day too.

SAN MIGUEL DAY, Celebrates St. Michael the archangel who defeated Satan. This holiday had processions that went from the old Mission church to the chapel of San Miguel that once stood on the corner of Palm and Thompson streets, in Ventura. It started with a high Mass and went into that sport beloved by European and Chumash alike—horse racing (Many of the best jockeys were Chumash). They would line up along what is today Thompson and race in a straight away race. The betting was fast and furious and legends say whole ranchos could change ownership on the outcome of one race. It was also a time of feasting and, after sundown, large fandango was held. Later they added bullfighting to the day’s afternoon activities. They would fence off Main Street and the matadors would face the bull as locals watched. These were not true bullfights for, because bulls were expensive, they were never killed. The Yankees came and saw all the Latino people having fun and they set the start of the County Fair at September 29—that was done was for many years.

JUDAS DAY Good Friday, evening. This is perhaps the strangest holiday celebrated at the old Missions. On Holy Week, a wicker statue of Judas Iscariot was hung on a gibbet in front of the church and members of the congregation were encouraged to beat the image with a stick. The statue was stuffed full of fireworks. That night it would be set on fire and when the flames hit the fireworks it would go out in an explosion of rockets and bombs. This started Judas night when the spirit of Judas was released from Hell to walk the land and cause people to do sinful things like drink, party, and have a good time. It was not your fault—Judas made me do it. People played tricks and did pranks, a bit like our April Fools Day. One of the things people did was steal things—embarrassing things like underwear and such. When morning came Judas was returned to the underworld. The the revelers, now sober, would place all the items they took on the steps of the Old Mission where a crowd gathered to watch people collect their things to many rude comments and laughter. It was a bit of fun in the middle of Holy Week.

Maybe one of these holidays should be brought back and enjoyed today, well, maybe not Judas Day.

Betsy Blanchard Chess will speak about the history of agriculture in Ventura County and her new book, “Daughter of the Land.” Ms. Chess is fourth generation farming and ranching in the county. Her family started and still operates Limoneira, one of the leading distributors of lemons, avocados, and other produce throughout America and internationally. Ms. Chess is a longtime champion and friend of Ventura County agriculture.

The event will be at the Foster Library in on Sunday, October 24, and presented by the Friends of the Library. There will be a display of historical pictures and artifacts featured in the book. Ms. Chess begins speaking at 1:45 for twenty minutes, and then a Q&A will follow. Learn about the state of Foster Library during the Pandemic and how it continues to serve the community. This is a free event. Ms. Chess will have copies of the book for sale.

In “Daughter of the Land,” Betsy Chess presents captivating vignettes of her many relatives and their impact on Santa Paula and the verdant Santa Clara Valley of Ventura County. She provides insight into marginalized communities that for 125 years have constituted the majority of the workforce for the citrus capital of the world. Daughter of the Land sweeps readers through almost 200 years of a family’s history yet is grounded in hard work and delight of life on the ranch. It presents a unique view, in words and pictures, of a way of living that no longer exists.

For more information about the book, visit BetsyChess.com.