Approximately 1,100 square feet of turf replaced with water wise landscape.

Ventura Water, in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden Group (OFG) and Ventura High School’s Greener World Action Team (GWAT), replaced approximately 1,100 square feet of turf with a water wise landscape at the corner of Main and Catalina streets. This student-led initiative will save water, prevent storm water pollution, and act as a demonstration garden for the public.

The OFG program applies “CPR” – conservation, permeability, and retention – to landscapes. Ocean Friendly Gardens support healthy soils, retain rainwater, and incorporate climate-appropriate plants. Landscape experts from Surfrider Foundation’s local OFG chapter worked collaboratively with the Ventura High School students to design the sustainable campus garden.

In April 2018, the City Council recognized Ventura High School as the 2017-2018 Watershed Hero Award winner for their efforts. Be sure to stop by and admire the hard work of a passionate group of students and volunteers.

Jason Meek, Turning Point Executive Director cutting the ribbon at Tuff Shed celebration. Photos by Michael Gordon

Twelve years ago, Turning Point Foundation took a group of people living along in the river bottom in tents and started them on the path to hope and the promise of better things to come: A new beginning at River Haven where they have been living in cleverly-designed Geodesic domes that have surpassed their lifespan of five years by many years.

On July 27, a ribbon cutting was held to celebrate the new small houses made by Tuff Sheds as a replacement for the domes. Tuff Sheds have a 30-year guarantee with their sheds for sale, however these are meant to help the homeless population. These could help to provide not only a place to live but give them the help they need to find their feet. With companies similar to Tuffs this begins with shed foundations which builds into a new home.
Funded by the community and Turning Point Foundation, River Haven has been helping homeless people turn their lives since 2006. Turning Point’s case managers help residents with securing a source of income, job training, medical attention, drug, alcohol and mental health services. In 2017 River Haven served 29 residents, and Turning Point’s case manager helped nine people to find permanent housing.

There are no obvious indications that such a community exists right near the entrance to the Ventura Harbor. The City of Ventura owns the over two-acre land while Turning Point Foundation, a non-profit mental health agency, runs the community.

At the cutting Nicholas Deitch,R.A. (Mainstreet Architects and Planners, Inc.) Turning Point Board of Director stated “River Haven is a great example of how we as a community can take collective action together, to help offer people a way out of homelessness. Look at all of the partners who have come together to help make this happen. Public, private, corporate and faith-based, all working together. We don’t need to feel powerless. We can work together to cause real changes in people’s lives.”

Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann said of the new backyard sheds “With many of the domes at River Haven failing, the city purchased a Tuff Shed to replace one of the domes and the community has stepped up to replace almost all the rest. One replacement was a cabin constructed by girls attending a summer camp hosted by the National Association of Women in Construction (reported in last Breeze). Many of these girls knew nothing about construction but found out they could develop new skills and construct a 120 square foot tiny home soon to be used by one of the residents at River Haven. One young woman told me she was now considering a career in construction.”

“ River Haven has proven to be a successful transitional living space for homeless individuals who need a safe place to start a path to more permanent housing. The city is committed to its success and is so appreciative of the partnership with many organizations and individuals in Ventura to help it continue with the new structures; providing its residents with a safer and more durable place to live.”

James Lockwood Fair Public Relations and Marketing Director congratulating the winners.

Ventura County children in grades 5-12 competed in the ninth Ventura County Fair Poster Contest with entries that illustrated the Fair’s 2018 Theme: “A Country Fair with Ocean Air.” Of 59 entries, three were chosen by a panel of judges as the winners of the 2018 Ventura County Fair Poster Contest.

First Prize went to Carys Garvey (15). Carys attends El Camino High School in Ventura, where she will be entering 10th grade in the fall. Carys has varied interests, including photography, music, running, science and math. Carys is also a founding member of STEMbassdors, a Ventura nonprofit company dedicated to teaching STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills in K-12 education. She enjoys having the opportunity to learn STEM skills such as CAD and engineering. Carys has been doing art since she was very young. Although she plans to pursue a science degree in college, she hopes she can continue integrating art and creativity into her future career. Carys is honored to have her artwork used for the 2018 Ventura County Fair poster.

Second place was won by Madison J. Lonis (18) a two-year AP artist at Buena High School. She enjoys painting her depiction of the world around her, and taking any artistic opportunities that come her way. She has been doing art for most of her life, and continually pushes herself further with every piece. In her future she wishes share more of her art with others and become a high school art teacher.

Third place was awarded to Katherine Curtis (13) of Simi Valley. She just completed 8th grade at Hillside Middle School, where she was a member of an award winning Mock Trial team and enjoyed the art classes offered there. These classes covered a variety of art mediums including drawing, painting, ceramics, and digital illustration. Her favorite mediums are pen and ink and her drawing tablet.

Katherine really enjoys spending her time drawing from life and coming up with her own (usually fantasy inspired) characters. In addition to drawing, she likes to spend her time reading and watching movies. She also has an interest in law, which she hopes to pursue along with art through future classes when she begins her Freshman year attending Santa Susana High School.

“Congratulations to the talented winners of this year’s contest,” said Barbara Quaid, Fair CEO, adding, “Every artist who entered can be very proud of your uniquely crafted contributions to our community. You have told us many personal Fair stories, each in your own talented way. We thank every child who participated and encourage all children to continue creating and making art to share with us at the annual Ventura County Fair.”

Cash prizes were awarded to the 3 winners by James Lockwood and their artwork will be used to promote the 2018 Ventura County Fair. All contest entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the Ventura County Fair,

For more information about the Ventura County Fair, and to see the winning designs, please visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

In our June 20 issue we had a contest that we thought would be difficult but our readers are too smart (of course). This minor league baseball team played at Seaside Park (the fairgrounds).

Pro baseball in Ventura lasted from 1947 to 1955. The New York Yankees were the first sponsoring the Ventura Yankees from 1947 to 1949. The Braves from 1950 to 1952. The Ventura Oilers played as an unaffiliated club in the California League in 1953.

Carol Ramirez, Jenifer Nyhuis, Jetta Zellner and Debbie English are all smiles at the opening of the outpatient facility.

by Jennifer Tipton

Before that fateful night when the Thomas Fire destroyed most of the Behavioral Health Hospital located at the top of the hill on Seneca Street, Vista del Mar provided ¾ of the total psychiatric inpatient beds in Ventura County and was the only facility to provide adolescent beds in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura County.

After the fire, reports of adolescent suicides were trending upward, “this is what was driving us, so twelve of us stayed together”, said Carol Ramirez Business Office Director for Vista del Mar. She added, “that AND our leadership – she fought for us!” referring to Chief Executive Officer Jenifer Nyhuis. CEO Nyhuis acknowledged, “because every day matters”.

The very afternoon the Thomas Fire struck, Carol Ramirez was able to secure a location for them to meet. “The Residence Inn by Marriott in Oxnard opened up a room and gave it to us for the entire month of December for free, we met there a couple times a week”, she said. Fact is, since the Thomas Fire, they never stopped meeting, after Residence Inn, they moved to the home of Jetta Zellner Director of Clinical Services.

And on the evening of June 19th, Vista Del Mar held an open house for their new outpatient services facility located at 801 South Victoria Avenue, Suite 301. “The outpatient services here will include adolescents, the services are for someone needing help greater than what traditional therapy provides”, informed Jetta.

The 5days/week program is called the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) focusing on active treatment for individuals with acute mental illness and/or addiction issues. Attendance is Monday through Friday 9:00am – 3:00pm for one to two weeks with opportunity for step-down and continued care with the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Patients participate in group therapy as well as educational and family group sessions. Treatment team includes psychiatrist, psychiatric nurses and licensed therapists. Transportation is provided at no cost within Ventura County and there’s a contract with Hill Street Café to provide lunch!

The 3days/week program (IOP) meets 3hours/day and provides extensive short treatment with flexible scheduling with program completion within two to four weeks. Groups focus on tools for symptom management and sustained recovery.

Both programs include medication consultation and management, and aftercare referrals.

In the past, our ladies each had their own office, now there are 4 desks squeezed into one small room. Carol showed me her “filing cabinet”, it was a box with her name on it. There is talk of expanding into the space next door and once the inpatient hospital is open, administrative offices will return there.

While at the open house, Debbie English RN Chief Nursing Officer teased, “don’t ever put a nurse at the switchboard!”, but as she took a crisis call, she did not hang up until the problem was resolved. “We just really want to get back into the community – there’s such a need”, she told me. Debbie has been with Vista del Mar for 11 years.

While the outpatient facility is currently open, the inpatient facility (back on Seneca), is under its final construction phase to correct the damage caused by the fire. Utilities are being restored which includes the pump house that was destroyed and extensive electrical work. It is expected to re-open in August. The ladies give special thanks to Assemblywoman Monique Limon who co-sponsored the bill allowing them to open the outpatient facility while the inpatient facility was still closed.

To learn more, or refer a patient Please call: (805) 653-6434 Or visit: www.vistadelmarhospital.com