Category Archives: Facebook

Spencer Makenzie’s 8th annual End of Summer Throw Down

Spencer Makenzie’s 8th annual End of Summer Throw Down took place from Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27. Friday’s activities included live music provided by popular local band Rey Fresco.

Now in its 8th year, the Cornhole Throw Down has continued to grow into a national event, hosting incredibly skilled players of all ages from states across the country. This year’s competition included teams from: Alabama; Arizona; Florida; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Michigan; Nevada; North Carolina; Ohio; Kentucky; Texas and Virginia – and of course, California.

This California-classic multi-day party also featured the eatery’s award-winning food, ice cold drinks and craft beer, and a free concert with rockin’ local bands on Saturday evening, as well as DJs spinning great music throughout the tournament for players and spectators alike.

Spencer Makenzie’s 8th annual End of Summer Throw Down

Ventura Chamber members compete for a great cause

“Hand me a towel”

The Ventura Chamber’s Young Professionals Group (YPG) and Ambassadors recently participated in the 4th annual YPG Challenge – a contest in which members compete to collect donations for local non-profits. This year’s “Pillow Fight” challenge directed thousands of linen donations to temporary and transitional housing organizations and crowned YPG as the winning team.

The Young Professionals Group is comprised of members between the ages of 21- 40 who are interested in creating positive changes in self and the community. As part of their commitment to giving back, the YPG challenge was created to encourage friendly competitions between the chamber members in the name of charity.

“The YPG challenge is a great way to give back to our community and bring people together for some fun competition,” said Shelby Bishop, Chair of the Young Professionals Group. “Events like these spice up the efforts and motivate us to make a difference where we live and work.”

Chamber members surveyed local non-profits and determined the most need was for linens in the form of bedding, pillows, pillowcases and towels. Support from various local hoteliers was crucial in the success of the challenge. DKN hotels, parent company of Ventura’s Pierpont Inn, donated thousands of linens and pillows. Comfort Inn Ventura Beach and Crowne Plaza also donated items to the challenge.

Thousands of linen items were collected and delivered to local non-profits including Turning Point Foundation, The City Center, Project Understanding and Tender Life Maternity Home, Ventura Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Casa Pacifica, Lighthouse for Women and Children, and Family Promise. The linens will be used at these facilities and will be given to families as they exit the programs and transition to permanent housing.

A benefit for Notes for Notes™

A benefit for Notes for Notes™ (N4N™) – Music Making for our Youth – this coming Friday at the Squashed Grapes:

Support a remarkable organization that brings music making to youth: Notes for Notes™ (N4N™) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that designs, equips, and staffs after-school recording studios inside Boys & Girls Clubs offering youth the opportunity to explore, create, and record music for FREE. N4N Studios are packed with professional instruments – guitars, basses, drums, keyboards/synths – and equipment – DJ gear, digital music workstations – and full recording facilities. Beyond providing access to equipment and resources, N4N educates youth about careers both on the stage and behind the scenes and is expanding throughout the country.

And we now have a Notes for Notes studio right here in Ventura as we continue to position ourselves in the forefront of music making! As they have done for years now – Adam Randall and Josh McNutt at the Squashed Grapes are making it happen. This time it’s partnering with Notes for Notes to bring this concept to Ventura and making a Notes for Notes studio a reality here.

So, join us at the Squashed Grapes for a benefit ($20 cover and more if you feel moved to do so) for a fun evening of good music to support this marvelous cause: It’s  Friday, August 25 at 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Music by Jazz Villains and Hans Ottsen Quartet.

Squashed Grapes 2351 E Main St. 643-7300

Kick off Step Up

A ribbon cutting ceremony by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce will kick off Step Up Ventura’s open house on Saturday, August 26 from 3pm-5 pm at 1767 E. Main St. In collaboration with Magic Carousel Preschool and Academy, Step Up Ventura’s program will offer supportive serves to homeless children 18 months to five years who will be attending Magic Carousel as preschool students.

As Magic Carousel provides full-time childcare and preschool to homeless children, Step Up Ventura’s attachment focused, trauma-informed services will help these children be successful academically, emotionally and socially.

Step Up Ventura’s program for the homeless students at Magic Carousel includes services rich with one-on-one time, expressive arts, pre-literacy, self-management and problem solving. Parent coaching and parent-child relationship building will give children and their families a safe, nurturing place to connect, heal and learn.

There are about 3,000 homeless children aged zero to five in Ventura County. This includes children living in temporary/transitional housing, shelters, over-crowded/uninhabitable places, and on the street.

By age five, many of these children are emotionally stressed, developmentally delayed and/or unready for kindergarten. They are at risk for acute illnesses, mental health difficulties and learning problems. These high risk factors can lead to unstable relationships, school failure and other problems. Step Up Ventura’s therapeutic program coordinated with Magic Carousel’s preschool hopes to change that.

Applications for Step Up Ventura’s program at Magic Carousel began August 14. These all day, year round services are made possible with funding from private donors, grants, faith-based organizations, businesses and the City of Ventura. People interested in donating, volunteering or having a child attend Magic Carousel and participate in Step Up Ventura’s program can contact Step Up Ventura at [email protected] or 665-3385.

Step Up Ventura is a local non-profit whose mission is to promote family stability and school success by providing accessible therapeutic services to homeless children ages zero to five.

Environmental activists groups Stand Together to save our national heritage

Activists in Ventura County are standing together to support the end of the current administration’s policies on National Monuments, the environment, and climate change. The demonstration will take place at the Ventura County Government Center located at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road on Friday, August 18, at 6pm.

The Stand Together has been planned jointly by a number of local environmental groups, foremost among them. the Los Padres Chapter of Sierra Club. In commenting about the reason for the event, Jim Hines, Chapter Chair and member of the Sierra Club National Public Lands Team stated, “An attack by the Trump Administration on America’s national public lands is an attack on America itself.”

Local groups also joining in the Stand Together include Ventura Climate Hub/Ventura 350, the Justice for All Coalition, Indivisible Ventura, CFROG (Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas), and GrassrootsVentura.

The event is in reaction to the presidential order which would shrink or rescind National Monuments to. Only five of the monuments under review have been declared safe, and those five do not have resources which can be exploited. The Trump administration’s move to dismantle and degrade our public lands is hugely unpopular. Not only are National Monuments, public lands, ocean shelters and wildlife threatened — the very agencies charged with protecting our environment are being shunted aside so that clean air and water regulations will be negated.

Organizers invite the public to stand together to support the preservation of this country’s natural heritage, the environment, and also to protect the climate which allows for the natural world to be maintained. Participants should bring their signs and flags, wear comfortable shoes, and park legally parking lots or side streets adjacent to the Ventura County Government Center. America is in danger of losing our country’s wild places, and this event is a time to show voice your dissent to this trend.

Ventura Emergency crews respond to house fire rescuing family pet and rendering medical attention to occupant and neighbor

A single story residence was involved in a structure fire shortly after 3:30pm on Friday, August 11 in East Ventura in the 10000 Block Darling Avenue. The resident of the home was taking a nap and awoke to the smell of smoke, fire alarms sounding, and a neighbor who was pounding on the front door. The
occupant of the home and the neighbor attempted to contain the blaze, but both were quickly overcome with smoke and retreated outside. Firefighters arrived quickly thereafter and initiated an attack on the fire. It was quickly identified that the resident and neighbor would need medical attention. Additional engine companies arrived and were informed by a family member that a pet was still inside.

Rescue crews searched the building and found the family pet in a bedroom and removed the animal to safety. Paramedics assessed the victims of the fire. The truck company performed vertical ventilation of the structure in coordination with the fire attack company. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the garage. Assigned firefighters were also tasked to limit the smoke damage to the interior of the residence. The damage was extensive throughout the garage, and the house was yellow tagged for only temporary habitation. One firefighter sustained a minor injury. The preliminary fire investigation revealed that a faulty electrical appliance started the fire. The resident and the neighbor were assessed and treated on scene and did not need to be transported to the hospital.

Fun at the Super Run

Photo by George Robertson

Almost 600 attended the Super Run 5K Run in San Buenaventura State Beach Park and on the bike path up to the pier held on Saturday, April 22. The Super Run 5k is a superhero themed run where you become a real life superhero! The Super Run included music, festivities and more. Every participant got an authentic event Superhero Cape and collectible run bib. The finishers get a super finishers medal!