Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Ventura Police Community Foundation Recognizes Community Heroes at 2nd Annual Event

The Board of Directors of the Ventura Police Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 2019 Heroes Among Us Award Recipients: Ken Sharp, Art Pillado, Jackie Pearce, Jim Duran, Alex Wulff and Sal Flores. These community heroes have displayed selflessness, dedication and compassion, making a positive impact in Ventura and beyond.

Jackie Pearce

Jackie Pearce is the Westside Community Development Corporation Director. She has tirelessly worked to improve the quality of life for all in Ventura especially on the Westside. She is the co-creator of the global non-profit Laundry Love. It is a neighboring movement that partners with individuals, groups and laundromats to care for the vulnerable and marginalized throughout the US. She has committed her life to making a difference in our community. She is also the co-creator of two Westside school gardens and a driving force behind the Westside’s newest and first ever community driven Kellogg Park.

Jim Duran

Jim Duran is the Executive Director of The City Center Transitional Living and the Manager of Tender Life Maternity Home. He is also the Lead Pastor of the River Community Church. He has a passion for our community and has dedicated his life to helping others. He serves as the co-ministerial Chair for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Walk and serves on many other committees and task forces.

Alex Wulff

Alex Wulff is a middle school teacher at De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts. He created the STEMbassadors program with a founding group of 8 students. The program aims to change the way schools integrate manufacturing technologies like 3D printers and laser engravers in all curricular areas. With his enthusiasm, volunteer spirit and leadership he will tell you that it is the students who have made the program successful and that student led learning is the future of education. His passion and vision bring value and inspiration to our local students.

Sal Flores

Sal Flores owns Ideal Upholstery. He has dedicated his life to giving back to local youth especially at-risk youth on the Westside of Ventura. He mentors local youth at the Westpark Fitness Center. Sal knows firsthand what it’s like to be a troubled teen. He turned his life around and has spent his adult life making a difference in our community. He is passionate about working with community members on the Youth Committee to raise funds for youth programs and events.

Ken Sharp is a WWII Veteran, Retired Ventura City Assistant Fire Chief and past Kiwanis Club President. He established the Civil Defense Program for Ventura City. He has dedicated his life to serving our community.

Art Pillado

Art Pillado has been committed to youth sports in our community helping to improve the lives of local youth. He provides opportunities for at risk youth and those that don’t have the means to pay for the expenses that come with youth sports. He provides an environment for kids to learn how to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

The community heroes will be recognized at the second annual Heroes Among Us Gala presented by the Trade Desk and Players Casino. The event will take place on November 2, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel. The evening will include a silent auction, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres reception followed by dinner, ceremony and dancing. Tickets and event information can be found at www.venturapolicefoundation.org or by calling 805-339-4317.

Heroes were selected through a nomination process. Heroes are community members who have done extraordinary things to make Ventura a better place! Join us as we recognize those who are making a lasting impact in our community.

The mission of the Ventura Police Community Foundation is to foster and support programs and initiatives that strengthen a safe community and enhance the quality of life in Ventura.

Cliff Walker: Firefighter on a Mission

Cliff Walker will once again push his personal limits by donning full firefighter gear at the Ventura Half-Marathon.

by Mira Reverente

Crossing the finish line of any race is considered a feat by many. Add some bulky gear and it’s double the challenge.

Federal firefighter Cliff Walker is not new to challenges. He will once again push his personal limits by donning full firefighter gear when he toes the start line of the Ventura Half-Marathon on October 20. “Imagine running with an extra 70 to 80 lbs. of gear on top of my body weight of 185 lbs.,” says Walker of Huntington Beach.

Walker’s mission is to break the current Guinness World Record of 3 hours and 30 minutes in finishing a half-marathon with all his gear including his helmet, fire-retardant hood and pants, boots and breathing apparatus, which in itself already weighs a whopping 45 lbs.

Call it a contradiction of sorts, but according to the 52-year-old Walker, “the same gear that keeps us from getting burned, that protects us from the elements is also the same gear that isn’t allowing heat to escape. So it could be fatal too since there’s nowhere for sweat to go.”

He won’t be alone in his world record quest. Ventura resident Dan Cicileo, a fellow Ironman finisher, will be pacing him. Fellow firefighter Kirk Tanner, will also be part of his support crew, making sure Walker eats and hydrates at regular intervals. Austen Alexander, from an active duty Navy Boat Patrol unit in Seal Beach, will be filming the trio.

This will be Walker’s second time running the race in Ventura, although it’s the half-marathon this time. When he ran the marathon in 2016 on 9/11, it was to honor the fallen first responders. This coastal town is near and dear to his heart. “I lived in Ventura before joining the Navy,” he says. “It’s also a beautiful and relatively flat course – perfect for breaking world records.”

The fitness fanatic is not new to breaking records, personal or otherwise. He ran 12 marathons in 12 months back in 2016, including Ventura. He has completed several full and half Ironman triathlons under his belt, plus over 30 marathons, a dozen half-marathons and many other fitness challenges completed in between.

He also manages a mobile fitness outfit called California Fire Fit which trains individuals and groups wherever they are. “Online training is really popular right now, plus we train them in the mental aspect of fitness too,” he says.

Always on-the-go, the father of three claims that fitness is also his decompression secret. He bikes, swims, runs, lifts weights, practices Jujitsu, trains other people and runs after his kids literally and figuratively. He says, “Fitness is a way of life for me. I incorporate it in my daily life, even in being a dad or being a businessman.”

Three days after his potential world record feat in Ventura, Walker will take his place in a competitive five-man relay team. His team hopes to shatter the world record in the Firefighter Combat Challenge in Montgomery, Alabama. The challenge involves typical firefighter everyday “stunts” like climbing up and down flights of stairs and rappelling in full gear.

Walker believes that one must be physically and mentally ready for anything in life. He says, “There’s really no excuse not to do something that will help you when the time comes. Train uncomfortable to be comfortable when it matters most.”

The Ojai Film Festival celebrates twenty years

Sergio Aragones will present the newly christened Sergio Aragones Award.

Opening weekend features a throwback tribute to the days of big studios and contract players.

The Ojai Film Festival celebrates twenty years of bringing film to Ojai. This year the festival runs October 31 through November 10 and pays tribute to vintage Hollywood with Lifetime Achievement Awards honoring actors Pat Boone and Eva Marie Saint.

Opening weekend features a throwback tribute to the days of big studios and contract players. Pat Boone will attend the screening of his 1962 movie State Fair on Saturday November 2, at 7 pm, followed by a reception at 9 pm. On Sunday, November 3, at 4 pm, veteran director/producer Hawk Koch will screen his 1973 classic movie The Way We Were, starring Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand, with a Q&A and signing for his new book following.

Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Eva Marie Saint will screen her Academy Award nominated 1959 film North by Northwest on Sunday, November 3, at 7 pm, followed by a reception in the Ojai Art Center Gallery.

Sunday morning’s Awards Brunch on November 3 at 10 am honors Lifetime Achievement recipients, and awards filmmakers of the top films screened at the festival, as well as best screenplay.

For the first time the festival added a Gold Coast Award for the winning local film to the program this year. Local Ojai artist and legendary Mad Magazine illustrator Sergio Aragones will present the newly christened Sergio Aragones Award for Best Animation.

After the brunch, professional actors perform a Live Table Read of the winning screenplay at 1 pm. This year’s winner is a quirky journey of discovery titled A Place Called Knock, written by Colleen Craig of Los Osos, CA. Actor-director Will Wallace will helm the live read.

“We added a screenplay competition to the festival in order to celebrate the very starting point of the creative process — the story,” said Bruce Novotny, Screenplay Competition chairman

The Gold Coast Film Series on November 4, 1 to 10 pm, features films and shorts from local filmmakers in the Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.

Women in Film presents their Legacy Series on Saturday, November 9 at 4 pm, highlighting the career and legacy of women in film. This year they will present a retrospective on the career of the late, great, Penny Marshall.

The kickoff of the twentieth annual festival falls on Halloween this year, and will screen a sing-a- long version of Tim Burton’s cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas.

A Halloween Fun Faire and Pre-Show dubbed “Carnivale!” precedes the movie.

Admission to the Faire is free and includes fun for all ages with face painting, pumpkin art, fortunetelling, and a wheel of fortune to win prizes and free tickets to the film festival.

A second free community screening offers The Red Turtle on Wednesday, November 6. https://ojaifilmfestival.com

Seaside Highland Games at Ventura Fairgrounds Oct. 12-13

Dance to the music at the Highland Games.

Highland Festival must have a good representation of Scottish Clans and Societies

The Seaside Highland Games, Ventura’s very own Scottish/Celtic Festival, will return to their home on California’s Central Coast October 12 & 13. The Ventura County Fairgrounds is the ideal spot for this many-faceted Festival. Every Games activity from bagpipe bands to sheepdog demos is within easy access of the Fairgrounds’ Main Street—our “Clan Row.”

Beginning in 2002, the Organizers have held that a proper Highland Festival must have as its backbone a good representation of Scottish Clans and Societies. True to this day, you will find over seventy (70) such Societies ready and able to discuss their wee foothold on the true Scottish soil. And to welcome you as either a newcomer or old friend—or direct you to someone best able to help you trace your family lineage.

Perhaps you just came for the music. Well, do not dismay my friend. We are so pleased to offer a fine array of artists starting with the internationally renowned “Seven Nations” making a rare West Coast appearance and the always fine music of Sligo Rags–taking a break from Disneyland appearances. Highland Way lead artists Paul Castellanos and Brian Caldwell will keep your toes tapping as will newcomers Cockswain and fine tunes from Nerea, the Fiddler. All for the price of your admission ticket!

Dancing has always been a huge part of Seaside’s stage presentations from youthful Scottish Highland Dance to the more mature Scottish Country Dance (and, yes, you can most certainly join in)! And did I mention the lively Ventucky Cloggers who will amaze you with their rapid-fire heel and toe moves?!

But no Festival is complete without the amazing Scottish Heavy Athletes. Look to Morgan Arena for these talented fellas and gals tossing, throwing, heaving impossibly heavy implements to new height and distance records! And, yes, the long pole-like cabers are there to be turned as well. That event, like the stage shows, continues nonstop throughout the weekend.

If you can’t do without bagpipes—and which of us can—you are in the right place! Plan your weekend to arrive at Saturday’s Noon Grand Parade and Opening Ceremonies which will dazzle your eyes, ears and cellphone cameras!!

If you don’t have your very own kilt or tartan garb, look no further than the many high-quality vendors to find exactly what you need. And while there, why not sample some delicious Welsh Cakes or the wonderful Scottish meat pies or fish & chips and so much more…perhaps a Scottish Cerveza??!!

Many of these young folks will be competing for prize money and honors in dance, piping & drumming and athletics. Be there to cheer them on as we grant them well-earned prizes!

Classes in genealogy, Gaelic speaking, Scottish history and Scotch! So much to be learnt!

Friday night before the big weekend is a lively evening you are welcome to enjoy including a great Single Malt Tasting followed by a fine buffet supper and Scottish Fashion Show! These events—A Scottish Evening—kick off the weekend at the beautiful Four Points Sheraton and are not to be missed!

Fun in the Sun at the 34th Annual C Street Classic Surf Contest

Melina Seider is all smiles after competing in her heat.

by Amy Brown

Ventura is known for its beautiful beaches, its active lifestyle, and its sense of community. These attributes were wonderfully combined in the recent 34th Annual C Street Classic surf contest. The weather was perfect, the waves were good, and 146 competitors participated in 15 different divisions, for both bragging rights and prizes. It was all for a great cause, as approximately $5,000 was raised in the event, and will be donated to local surf, marine and environmental non-profit organizations.

The contest has become the longest running officially organized longboard contest in the country, according to the Ventura Surf Club, host of the event. Andy Sassen has been a member of the Ventura Surf Club for 11 years and has served as its President for nine. “The contest is a fun way to raise money for local ocean related charities. I’ve been doing it for a lot of years and never even surfed it. It‘s great just volunteering at a nice day at the beach, and watching really good surfers,” said Sassen, who shared that, of course, the contest can be greatly influenced by the quality of the surf conditions. “We’re at the mercy of Mother Nature, but we do the best we can. The contest was great success, the waves and weather cooperated, and the best part was all the smiles!”

The competition began at 6:30 am and went through the late afternoon, and included a wide range of ages, with divisions aligned with the standard gender and age groups of the Coalition of Surfing Clubs, according to Bruce Douglass, a founding member of the Ventura Surf Club, and the announcer for the event. Melina Seider, an 11-year-old, competed in the shortboard finals for girls ages 15 and under. The event was her first official surf contest, although she started participating in the sport at the tender age of three, riding on the front of her dad’s board. “I was pretty excited to paddle out today, although I was almost more nervous about the rocks than the competition,” she shared. Her parents and brother were in the audience, cheering her on. “I could hear my parents, telling me to go out further if there was a set coming in, and that helped, too.”

Ming Hui Brown has been surfing since she was 9 years old, and, like Seider, started competing at age 11. The C Street Classic was one of the events that started her competitive surfing career. She now competes in women’s longboard divisions (ages 18-35), and placed first in her division for the third year in a row at the C Street Classic. She also served as a judge for the other divisions at the event. The competition featured 15-minute heats, with each surfer allowed a total of six waves judged—on style, wave selection, length of ride and controlled functional maneuvers. To keep things safer, the event had “Predator Patrols” out on jet skis beyond the break, to be on the lookout for any aquatic animal friends that might interfere with the competition going as smoothly as possible.

“It is an honor to be able to judge my peers in the surfing community, and seeing them perform is extremely entertaining,” said Brown. “Having to judge multiple surfers on different waves and in different areas is another challenging part of judging a surf competition. Having fluidity and grace when transitioning through tricks on a wave is an important aspect I keep in mind when judging.”

Any relevant non-profits interested in being considered for a grant from the Ventura Surf Club’s funds raised by the event can contact the club at [email protected].

Joshua Bell and “The Huberman Violin”

Experience Joshua Bell playing his glorious Huberman Violin. Photo by Phillip Knott

Joshua Bell’s violin is believed to be one of very few made in 1713 by Antonio Stradivari in Cremona, Italy. While it has belonged to many, its connection to Bronislaw Huberman is what Bell finds fascinating. Huberman was a Jewish Polish violinist who lived from 1882-1947: a child prodigy who by 11 was already touring Europe as a virtuoso. At 13, he performed Brahms violin concerto in the presence of the composer himself. According to Brahms’ biographer: “As soon as Brahms heard the Andante, he wiped his eyes, and after the Finale he went into the green room, embraced the young violinist and stroked his cheeks. When Huberman complained that the public applauded after the cadenza, breaking into the lovely Cantilena, Brahms replied, “You should not have played the cadenza so beautifully.”

Huberman became one of the most celebrated musicians of his time and in 1929 began an effort that would add “humanitarian” to his accomplishments. He dreamed of forming a Palestinian Orchestra and began auditioning Jewish musicians throughout Europe, with those selected receiving contracts and impossible-to-get exit visas. To raise money for this new orchestra, Huberman partnered with Albert Einstein on a U.S. fundraising tour featuring Huberman and sixty top-rate players.

Though a great success financially, Huberman suffered a major setback in 1936 when his beloved Stradivarius was stolen from Carnegie Hall. While the heartbroken Huberman would never see his Strad again, his Palestine Orchestra debuted in December 1936 with the legendary Toscanini conducting. Of this special evening, Joshua Bell writes: “I like to imagine my own relatives might have been in the audience, as my grandfather was born there and my great grandfather was part of the first ‘Aliyah’ of Russian Jewish immigrants to Palestine in 1882.”

As to the stolen violin, it was in the hands of young violinist Julian Altman for over fifty years until he made a deathbed confession to his wife in 1985 and she eventually returned it to Lloyd’s of London.

Fast forward to 2001. The Huberman Violin is in the hands of the preeminent London business

J & A Beare Ltd when Joshua Bell enters to buy strings. They place the Stradivarius in his hands where it has pretty much stayed ever since. “ I fell in love with it,” he says, “and when I perform with the Israel Philharmonic, I think how many of the orchestra and audience members are direct descendants of the musicians Huberman saved from the Holocaust – with funds raised by concerts performed on the very same instrument I play every day.”

The Ventura Music Festival and New West Symphony invite you to experience Joshua Bell playing his glorious Huberman Violin on Sunday, November 3rd, 3pm in the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Ticket prices $30 to $96. A VIP ticket option at $225 features premium seating along with a meet and greet with Mr. Bell, and catered dinner. Tickets online: NewWestSymphony.org/Joshua-bell – or call the NWS box office at 866-776-8400.

CAPS Media’s Perfect Firestorm selected for Ojai Film Festival

The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story will be screened at the Ojai Film Festival on Sunday November 3rd at 1pm and Friday November 8th at 1pm at the Sane Living Center at 316 E Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023. CAPS Media’s documentary chronicles the extraordinary personal stories of survival and healing during and following the devastating Thomas Fire.

“The Perfect Firestorm is an amazing achievement that has had a tremendous impact on so many people in and around this community.  Being recognized by the Ojai Film Festival is well-deserved.  Thank you to CAPS Media for capturing this historic event in such a meaningful way.”   David Endaya, Ventura City Fire Chief

The film was produced by CAPS MEDIA in collaboration with the Museum of Ventura County, Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire, Sheriff’s, Office of Emergency Services and other agencies. Based on dozens of engaging first-person interviews with fire fighters, first responders, residents and others impacted by the tragedy. In addition to sharing their heartfelt, inspiring and at times tragic stories, the citizens throughout Ventura County provided CAPS Media with hundreds of personal photos and videos that were critical to the story.

CAPS Media continues the productive collaboration with Ventura City’s Community Service department producing a series of productions and individual profiles designed to provide the public with behind the scenes persecptives and information on how the city government works and who the people are who provide the vast collection of city services. The videos appear on the City’s website, various social media platforms and on CAPS’s television channels.

CAPS Media or CAPS, an acronym for Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura, is a non-profit 501 3(C) corporation formed in 2000 with a goal of ensuring that the operation of a media center for community service is managed independently and without discrimination. CAPS’ mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.

The CAPS Media staff manages two television channels and a radio station (KPPQ 104.1FM) in Ventura. Channel 6 is Ventura’s public access channel airing programming submitted by local member from the community. Channel 15 airs educational and government programming produced by CAPS Media and the City of Ventura as well as Ventura Unified School Board meetings, County Supervisor meetings and other educational and government programs. CAPS Radio KPPQ-LP Ventura is a non-commercial radio station providing a venue and a voice for the citizens of Ventura to share stories, programming and topics of personal and public relevance. The station broadcasts on 104.1 FM and streams on the CAPS Media website and on the Mytuner app which is available on smart speakers and on smartphones.

CAPS Media continues to record, broadcast and stream local community council meetings throughout the city. In the coming weeks CAPS will cover East Ventura, MidTown, Ventura College, Westside, and Montalvo community councils. All programs air on CAPS Media Channel 6 and stream on capsmedia.org. Go to the schedule tab on the CAPSMedia.org website for dates and times.

Keep On Recycling!

Mixed messages about the tumultuous recycling industry may have confused people, but the folks at Harrison’s partner Gold Coast Recycling want everyone to get the message: Do not change the outstanding recycling habits you’ve formed over the past several decades.

Gold Coast continues to accept all curbside and commercial recycling – and the company has a brand new picking line and a new, advanced sorting system to ensure that all recyclable materials get processed efficiently.

“We are still recycling all acceptable materials that our residential and commercial customers put in their recycling containers,” said Harrison spokeswoman Nan Drake. “With the new equipment, our process is running more smoothly than ever.”

“The machinery is doing great,” Gold Coast General Manager George Harrison said of the new systems, which went online this year after a four-month-long installation/transition process.

“We can run the new system much faster and cleaner,” Harrison said. “As a result, our monthly average diversion is significantly better than before and the cleaner material is far more acceptable for the marketplace even though it is selling for far less money.”

After flourishing for decades, the recycling market in China is all but gone now, owing to extremely tight restrictions that took hold this year, but Gold Coast is cultivating other markets in Asia and around the world. Even in a down global market, recycling continues.

The bottom line is this: If you do your part and keep filling your blue barrels and white bins with recyclable paper, plastic, glass and metal at home and at work, you can rest assured that Gold Coast will do its part and recycle it.

Harvest Fest Gift Away for Foster/Resource, Kinship & Adopted Children

Kids & Families Together in partnership with Heart 2 Heart are hosting their 9th Annual Harvest Fest Gift Away event on Saturday, October 12, 2019 from 10am – 12pm at a park in Oxnard. They will be serving 125 children in the Ventura County community with a family fun event. Each child will be able to pick out a free coat and costume as well as other free donations and goods for the family!

This event is designed for the whole family and includes face painting, games, art activities, a reading area, music, pumpkin decorating, treats and more! We are very grateful to our business and community donors and our numerous volunteers who have helped make this event possible!

For those families who are foster/resource, kinship or adoptive, they are still accepting registrations by going to website link for English: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/harvest-fest-giftaway-registration/ or Spanish: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/harvest-fest-giftsolicitud-fuera/, participants can also call 805-643-1446 ext. 202 or 108.

If you would like to donate or volunteer please call 805-643-1446 ext. 108 or visit the website link for new/like new donations of coats/costumes or other: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/harvest-fest/ or to volunteer visit https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/volunteer-for-harvest-fest/.

Fall Festival at Mound

Mound Elementary School’s Outdoor Ed Committee will be hosting their first annual, Fall Festival on Saturday, October 19th, from 4pm -7pm geared towards primary school children and families. Tickets in advance for $10 per person until 10/16 or at the door for $12. Children 2 years of age and under are free and there are large-family discounts. 455 South Hill Rd.

Each ticket includes meal ticket, access to the Jumpy Slide, select games with candy prizes, scavenger hunt, and costume contest.

For additional fees will be Pumpkin Patch, root beer floats, hair feathers, henna tattoos, cake walk, avocado stand, silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

Payment Options: Venmo: @OutdoorEd-Mound Please Include your family name and the number of family members attending.

Check: Made payable to “Mound Outdoor Ed 2020” and mailed or delivered 455 South Hill Road, Ventura, CA 93003 by 10/16/19.