On Dec.16 the Mucho Gusto Barber Shop, located at 1623 Thompson held their Ventura Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting.

Are you ready to become an entrepreneur, or expand your existing small business? Afraid to “go it alone,” or unsure how to proceed? WEV’s training programs guide you in taking the next step. Attend a free 1-hour orientation, where you’ll meet a WEV representative that will help you determine if SET, EXPLORE, or another WEV program is right for you!

Cost: free, but registration is required.

In Ventura: January 4, 6-7 pm, January 10, 12-1pm, January 16, 6-7 pm, January 24, 6-7 pm,January 30, 6-7 pm.

Orientation locations are subject to change. For more information, location and to register for an upcoming orientation, visit http://www.wevonline.org/orientations.

Women’s Economic Ventures is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV provides training, consulting and loans to help entrepreneurs start, grow and thrive in business. While WEV targets its services toward women, it serves men as well, and provides many services in English and Spanish.

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream , located at 607 E. Main St., have held their official ribbon cutting. Attending the ribbon cutting was City Councilmember Matt LaVere with his lovely daughter and Breeze Senior Account Executive Breezy Gledhill.

The new ice cream store which is located in the former Trufflehound’s Fine Chocolates space, allows guests to choose from classic premium custard, low-fat custard or yogurt, as well as lactose free, vegan and sugar free options for their product base.

On November 10th Wild Birds Unlimited held a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting celebration.

Wild Birds Unlimited feeders are made to fit your needs and those of your birds. They can also help you know where in your yard to put your feeders. Feeders with different seeds or seed blends can be placed throughout the yard at different levels to attract different types of birds.

Owner’s Frank & Cynthia DeMartino welcome you to visit their store.
Located at 4020 E. Main Wild Birds is open daily.

by Jennifer Tipton

There’s a new look at the harbor and not just the recent overall renovations. Located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Boatyard Pub has made quite a presentation with a menu that ranges from a selection of fresh fish (which one would expect to find when dining in the harbor), assorted tacos and a “Fisherman Rib Eye”.

Owner, Shawn Hall along with his business partner, Bob Burtosh acquired ownership last year and after renovation opened the doors just several months ago. The interior has beautiful stained wooden walls and there are six 55” flat screen TVs! There’s live music except on Sundays during football season when they subscribe to “Live Ticket” so their football loving patrons can watch live football.

Boatyard Pub includes an open kitchen, a beautiful bar, tons of seating and two outdoor patios, both dog friendly. There is a fireplace on the back patio for when the weather gets chilly. Overall, the ambience is quite inviting but the menu even more so…

The menu reads, “Expert navigation ends here” and rightly so because it’s not a straight course to a selection! Appetizers involve temptations such as “Spinnaker Hot Crab Dip” loaded with artichoke, crab, parmesan and served hot and bubbly with Parisian baguettes, along with “Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos”, “Thai Chili Shrimp” (but the shrimp aren’t shrimpy sized), and my favorite, the “Crispy Balsamic Brussel Sprouts” with feta and candied walnuts. Prices range from $8 – $13.

Customers can eat light or go big with entrees, there are tempting salads and several “Deep Sea Fry” selections with fish and chips, shrimp and chips or a “Captain’s Combo that has both. Prices $9 – $26.

“Signature Sandwiches” vary from a balsamic veggie wrap made with hummus, quinoa, spinach, sautéed veggies and a balsamic reduction in a spinach wrap (which I shared with a friend one day for lunch and we both loved it!) or a charbroiled pub burger that is %100 angus chuck and the size of a small cow. Despite this, my granddaughter, Hannah (who normally eats like a bird) made history of the whole thing! This burger can be served with bacon, shoestring onions and BBQ sauce which call “Ventucky” style. Prices $13 – $16.

I have been here several times, my all-time favorite is drum roll worthy but not for sissies – “Napalm Tuna” which is fresh ahi tuna, flash bomb stir fried with jalapeno peppers and fire sauce along with sticky rice and a heap of soy ginger slaw.

The menu offers generous portions with something for everybody, mushroom poblano tacos for the vegetarian and a special selection for kids.

Boatyard Pub serves breakfast, lunch & dinner 7 days a week.

Are you ready to become an entrepreneur, or expand your existing small business? Afraid to “go it alone,” or unsure how to proceed? WEV’s training programs guide you in taking the next step. Attend a free 1-hour orientation, where you’ll meet a WEV representative that will help you determine if SET, EXPLORE, or another WEV program is right for you!

WEV’s business training classes are offered in English and Spanish throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Free orientations are held throughout the year and are required for enrollment in a training program.

Exact locations given at registration

Free but registration is required. Tuesday, December 5th, 12-1 PM, Ventura

Orientation locations are subject to change. For more information, and to register for an upcoming orientation, visit WEV’s Web site at http://www.wevonline.org/orientations.

Photo and article by Richard Lieberman

Steve Burkharts Smokers and Grills is one of Ventura’s newest businesses. Open for business since last August Burkharts journey to retail sales is a long way from where he came. Their products are high end smokers and grills manufactured by Green Mountain Grill Company powered by pellets of varying flavors. Smokers are so popular at the moment, just read this how-to guide to see why they might be a great investment for you.

Burkhart originally from Chicago is a retired teacher/coach at Moorpark College where he coached men’s and women’s volley ball. After spending 24 years at the college Burkhart retired last May. “Opening a retail business was not in my retirement plans” said Burkhart. While on vacation Burkhart an avid barbecue cook met another with as much an avid interest in barbecue as him. They began to talk, and Burkhart learned about Green Mountain BBQ’s/smokers. He became excited at the possibility of an opportunity to do something far different than his original vocation, giving his customers the ability to use grill pellets for fish, steak and other delicious barbeque meals.

Contacting the Green Mountain Company to see if he could find an opportunity selling their products. One of Green Mountains conditions to becoming a dealer was that he have a retail space to show Green Mountain grills and smokers. Burkhart now needed a retail space to even get started. A longtime friend who owns a catering company in Ventura Scooter Catering offered Burkhart some space at their location 2646 Palma Suite 200 in Ventura. Here is available to the public an opportunity to view and discover Green Mountain grills.

Burkhart has also placed a smoker in the Main Street Market in Ventura where the public can see and taste the difference that these grills/smokers make in cooking meats.

The company has also catered a surfer beach event “where I cooked for 45-50 people” added Burkhart showing off the superior nature of his products.

“It isn’t like I need to do this, I am comfortable in my retirement, but I just love to grill, and these grills changed my thinking what Barbecue is all about” Burkhart added. “I love this so much it is just like a hobby to me” he said.

Burkhart is planning some marketing opportunities in the city. He intends to have space at many of Ventura’s regular events, and is even thinking about space at the fair next year. His first marketing idea was to advertise in the Ventura Breeze. “The Breeze is very interesting to me” said Burkhart.

The Pellets that are used for these unique smokers will be a big part of the business, and he carries four different types of pellets each giving a unique taste to cooked meats.

We at the Breeze welcome this new business to the community. Demonstrations and smoker views are available by appointment and you can give Steve a call at 258-1781.

Greg Ryan Glass, LMT, is a licensed massage therapist, here in Ventura, with nearly two decades of experience in naturopathic health care. Glass studied at 15 different schools of natural medicine and the focus of his private practice is in Traditional Thai Massage.

Thai Massage (known as Nuad Phaen Boran in Thailand) is a therapeutic form of bodywork and yoga therapy that is a part of Traditional Thai Medicine that was developed over thousands of years ago. Credit is given to an Ayurvedic doctor named Jivaka Kumar Bhacca (who is believed to have been the Buddha’s physician). Dr. Jivaka is revered in Thailand as the “father of medicine” and therapists in Thailand offer prayers to Dr. Jivaka before starting any massage sessions.

Glass spent several months in Thailand receiving one-on-one training under several world-renowned teachers of Thai massage. As an Ayurvedic naturopath, Glass focuses on comprehensive wellness, working to heal the mind, body and spirit. He personalizes programs to fit each individual’s needs.

“Through all of my years of research and experience, I’ve found that every individual’s journey to health is unique,” said Glass. “Regardless of who they are –– their age, body type or flexibility –– my goal is to have them leave here feeling better than they came.”

Thai massage is truly an art and Thai massage therapists understand that the flowing transitions between positions and the state of mind of the therapist are as important as the techniques themselves. Thai massage is a deep, focused and meditative full body treatment. Also known as Thai-Yoga Massage, it includes therapeutic stretching, rhythmic deep tissue compression (using mostly palms, forearms, knees and feet) and acupressure. Additionally some practitioners like to incorporate essential oils, such as ylang ylang oil, although this is not always the case. It is often called “lazy man’s yoga” because the client is passive and completely supported in all positions by the therapist.

Thai Massage is done in 4 positions (supine, prone, side and seated) and fully clothed on a traditional Thai floor mattress. Usually the session starts with the client on their back (supine) with the practitioner starting at the feet, and spending a lot of time working on the clients legs and hips. Working with the legs, Thai therapists bring proper alignment and flexibility to the hip area, and indirectly to the spine. The condition of the spine is so crucial for ones health. In the west it is seen as the home of the central nervous system and in the Thai and Ayurvedic traditions it is the home of Sushumna Nadi and the 7 Chakras.

The most important aspect of Thai massage, is promoting the smooth flow of life force energy (known as prana or qi) through the 10 major energy channels known as the Sen Sib. As your muscles are massaged and stretched, this life force energy can flow freely where it was once stagnant or blocked. Holding tension in our bodies caused by physical and emotional stress constricts Prana.

The body, mind and emotions are all connected and affect one another. This is the essence of Thai Massage. These ten life energy paths (lines) are the heart of Thai massage and the basis of therapeutic Thai massage throughout the history of Thailand.

Sessions usually last 90 minutes to 3 hours and can be a profoundly relaxing and transformative experience for the client. Thai massage can help with stress, pain, range of motion limitations, poor circulation, respiratory problems, sleep issues, anxiety, immune system problems and adrenal burnout.

Traditional Thai Massage sessions are available in Ventura and done by Greg Ryan Glass, LMT at A Place of Peace Wellness Center on Sperry Ave. (831)331-7759, www.thaimassageventura.com

Sailor & Friends Pet Supply had their official Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting on Saturday, November 4th. Owner, Marnie Bond-Harrison, many furry and human friends, family, Chamber Members, and community supporters, joined her for this special occasion. This was also a fundraiser for CARL(The Canine Adoption & Rescue League).

Sailor & Friends Pet Supply got its name from Marnie’s own dog, Sailor and his sidekick, Skipper- hence “Friends”! She just opened in August of this year and is passionate about providing the community and her own fur family with healthy, natural and raw pet foods and treats. Sailor & Friends is a family friendly, organic pet supply store that caters to the individual needs of our furry friends.

Store hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30am-6:30pm and Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm (closed Sundays) and is located at 142 N. Ashwood Ave., in Ventura. 642-8555.