The trustees of the Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation recently awarded a total of $551,000 in grants to 15 local non-profit organizations providing services to youth and adolescents. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, and were allocated to fund children’s services in the coming year, including:

Local recipients were:

Academic assistance in math, reading, and language by the Boys and Girls Club of Moorpark and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme

Teenage volunteers providing in-home senior support services by CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly

Volunteer recruitment, screening, and training to assist foster youth in Delinquency Court by CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) of Ventura County

Scholarships, youth programs, and childcare services for 300 children, including foster children and children with incarcerated parents, by Channel Islands YMCA

Youth and teen grief counseling by Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice

Grants are awarded in the spring and fall of each year. The deadline for letters of interest for fall 2019 grants is March 31, 2019. For more information about the Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation, including instructions on how to apply for a grant, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.samuelssonfoundation.org.

The Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation was established in 2005 upon the death of Harriet H. Samuelsson, an Oxnard philanthropist, at age 96.  The Foundation awards over $1 million in grants each year to organizations providing services for the health, education, guidance, or welfare of children under the age of 18 residing in Ventura County, or to organizations conducting cancer research.

Three physicians in Ventura’s Woodburn family, along with Community Memorial Health System Board Member Jeffrey D. Paul, will be honored at the Community Memorial Hospital Foundation’s 47th Benefactors’ Ball, which takes place on Saturday, April 13 at the Ventura Beach Marriott.

The public is welcome to attend and tickets are available online at www.benefactorsball.org or by calling 805-667-2881.

The Ball will feature craft cocktails and gourmet cuisine as well as live entertainment and a DJ for after-dinner dancing. The proceeds from the Benefactors’ Ball will be used to purchase equipment for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the new Community Memorial Hospital and to support the CMH Surgery Department.

Honored this year with the Cephas Bard Awards as CMH Physicians of the Year are brothers Dr. Douglas A. Woodburn and Dr. James D. Woodburn III. Honored as the Retired CMH Physician of the Year is their father, James D. Woodburn II. The three surgeons have cared for thousands of patients at Community Memorial Hospital for decades and share a legacy of service to the community.

Jeffrey D. Paul, a Ventura native and the executive vice president/director of Commercial Banking for Montecito Bank & Trust, was named the Community Leader of the Year. He is deeply rooted in the community banking landscape, with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Paul currently serves on the Community Memorial Health System Board of Trustees and is a past CMHS board chair.

The Benefactors’ Ball begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and dancing and music at 8 p.m. For tickets and sponsorship information, please visit www.benefactorsball.org, call 805-667-2881, or email [email protected].

On March 24, the Ventura Breeze presented a self-publishing seminar at Mimi’s Café. It featured presentations by four Breeze contributing writers Mira Reverente, Maryann Ridini Spencer, James Francis Gray and Sheli Ellsworth. It was moderated by Breeze publisher-editor Sheldon Brown. After the presentations the crowd of over 30 asked many important questions that were answered by the presenters.

There were 76 parade entries. The parade theme was “Memories of the Past.”  The Grand Marshal was a nod to the past honoring the Grand Marshals of all the past parades, led by Jim Monahan.

The winners are:

Color Guard: Oxnard High School Air Force Junior ROTC

Bands

High School Band: (Tie) Marching Swarm of Oxnard High School,  Buena High School Marching Band

Junior High School Band: Ocean View Jr. High Seahawk Marching Band

Adult Band: Pacific Coast Highlanders Pipe Band

Families: The McGrath Family

Equestrian: El Brilliante II & My Good Silver (2 single horses)

Clubs and Organizations:

Adult: Ventura Hot Rodders

Youth: Thousand Oaks High School Cheer and Stunt Team

Non-Profit: Totally Local VC

Vehicles:

Antique: Ventura County Model “A” Ford Club

Special Interest: Ventura County Corvette Club

Commercial:

Rabobank

Media: (tie)

Cumulus Media, Gold Coast Broadcasting

Novelty: Surf Rodeo

Walking Entries: Billy Clower Dance Studio

Most Irish: Claddagh School of Irish Dance

Environmental Green Theme: Servpro Ventura

Restaurants and Pubs: O’Leary’s Tavern

Government Agencies: Ventura City Firefighters

Mayor’s Trophy: Surf Rodeo

Best in Parade (Arnold Hubbard Perpetual Trophy): O’Leary’s Tavern

Judges for the parade were Roger Rice, Ventura Unified School District; Robyn Daniels, Rabobank; Celina Zacarias, California State University Channel Islands; James Lockwood, Ventura County Fairgrounds and Connie Stahl, Elk’s Lodge #1430.

United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) is proud to announce it has appointed Mitchel Sloan as Vice President of Resource Development & Marketing. He brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and fundraising.

Sloan most recently served as Vice President of Development & Communications at the Alzheimer’s Association California Central Coast Chapter, where he successfully led a team to increase fundraising revenue and organize philanthropic events, such as the Swing to Remember Golf Tournament. In his new role, Sloan will design and lead UWVC’s fundraising campaigns and build on relationships with the community.

“Mitchel has proven time and again that he cares deeply about people and is driven to help those in need,” said Eric Harrison, CEO of United Way of Ventura County. “We’re looking forward to putting his skills toward assisting in the challenges many face in our unique community.”

Sloan earned his bachelor’s at the University of Southern California. He worked locally as the Director of Development at the California State University Channel Islands, as well as in Colorado as Senior Executive Consultant for The Kellogg Organization. Sloan resides in Oxnard and enjoys watersports, reading, grilling and hiking.

The Ventura College Foundation is seeking sponsors for several Ventura College student scholarship award events scheduled for April and May.

The inaugural Allied Health Scholarship Awards ceremony will be held Saturday, April 13 at Ventura College’s Wright Event Center. This new scholarship event will honor Ventura College students interested in paramedic, nursing and other medical fields.

The 20th Annual Phoenix Scholarship Awards will be held Thursday, April 18 also at Ventura College’s Wright Event Center. The Phoenix Scholarship Program was established in 1999 by VC Foundation board members to support Ventura College re-entry students. Phoenix Scholarships are designed to assist students who have minimal or no resources to pay for their education and have chosen to return to school after a break in education.  The recipients are selected based on each student’s academic goals and progress, together with their financial need.

The 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards luncheon will be held Saturday, May 4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach. All currently enrolled Ventura College students have access to just under 300 different scholarships through the VC Foundation.

“These events are a way to show our students how much the community appreciates their commitment to their education,” says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. “Our sponsors’ support makes these events truly memorable for these students who have worked so hard to succeed despite sometimes daunting odds.”

Sponsorship opportunities range from Gold Chest sponsors ($500) to presenting Black Pearl sponsor ($10,000). For more information, contact Gerry Pantoja at 805-289-6158, [email protected].

Avenue Library

Children & Family Events

Bilingual Early Literacy Class
4/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Mondays @ 5:30-6:30pm
Join us for storytelling, nursery rhymes, flannel board fun and more!

Adult Classes & Events

Laubach Literacy English Classes in the Meeting Room
4/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Mondays @ 10:30-11:30am
4/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Tuesdays @ 9-10am & @ 10-11am
4/3, 10, 17, & 24 Wednesdays @ 11:30am -12:30pm
4/4, 11, 18, & 25 Thursdays @ 10-11am
Introductory English classes offered through Laubach Literacy. Make an appointment today, call (805) 385-9584

Pumarosa Drop-in ESL
4/3, 10, 17, & 24 Wednesdays @ 9-11am & @ 5-7pm
4/6, 13, 20, & 27 Saturdays @ 5-7pm
Drop-in ESL class for language instruction, internet, forms, and more.

E.P. Foster Library

Veterans and Families Resource Fair
4/13 Saturday @ 1-3pm
Join us to learn about resources for veterans and their families at our open house.

A California Native Plant Society Lecture
4/16 Tuesday, @ 7-9pm
Please join us for an enlightening lecture series presented by the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter.

Children’s Events

Dance Party!
4/19 & 27 Friday & Saturday @10-11am
Enjoy non-stop music and movement for children ages 2-5 and their grownups.

Early Literacy Class
4/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Tuesdays &
4/3, 10, 17, & 24 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Teen Happenings

Virtual Reality
4/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30pm
Explore the virtual world with 4 different VR platforms. ALL VR HEADSETS can only be used by those aged 13 and older, this event is for ages 13-17.

Hill Road Library

Family & Children’s Ongoing Events

Early Literacy Class
4/3, 10, 17, & 24 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun! Aimed at ages 0-5.

Discover Science
4/9 Tuesday @ 4pm
Join us for this monthly exploration of science concepts through hands-on experiments with Rachel Chang. Ages 8+

Adult Events

Medicare 101
4/18 Thursday @ 2:30pm
Join us for this workshop about the basics of Medicare. Learn how to sign up and file claims. Ask expert all your questions! For adults.

Book Club: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
4/30 Tuesday @ 6pm
Join us for a lively discussion of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Ask a staff member at Hill Road Library for a reserved copy. All are welcome who have read the book!

Saticoy Library

Children & Family Events

Early Literacy Class
4/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Tuesdays @ 10am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft & fun!

Paws for Reading
4/27 Saturday @ 12pm
Read aloud to registered therapy dogs. A reading program designed to help improve a child’s reading skills. To schedule an appointment, call 805-671-5148.

Adult Classes & Events

English Classes
4/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Mondays &
4/3, 10, 17, & 24 Wednesdays @ 3- 5pm
One on one instruction in English hosted by Laubach Literacy of Ventura County

April 6, 9 a.m. Work Day Hedrick Ranch Nature Area (HRNA) Spring Clean Up
Leader: Sandy Hedrick 805-340-0478
Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. This will be our Spring Clean Up we will work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves & sun protection.

April 9, 7:30 pm VAS Monthly Program: Feathers And Flight: A Journey To The New World Tropics
Presented by Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz at the Poinsettia Pavillion – 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura (Free to the Public)
Benny will share his dazzling photos, videos, and animated story-telling to bring a slice of the tropics to California. This media-rich journey will highlight some of the fascinating and unique birds that inhabit the new-world tropics.

April 14, 7:45 a.m. Matilija Creek
Leader: Jesse Grantham [email protected], 805-746-0975
This will be a combined walk with CVAS. Call or email for directions..

April 20, 8:00 a.m. Fillmore Fish Hatchery/Lake Piru
Leader: Tevin Schmitt 661-904-1563
At the Fillmore Fish Hatchery there are many herons/egrets and ducks outside the cages so we will be close to the birds. Then we will carpool to Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres Forest, stopping along the way as we see birds.

April 23, 8:30 a.m. Ventura Wildlife Ponds
Leader: Adele Fergusson 805-415-4304
Enjoy a morning of mostly waterfowl birding. Spotting scopes are always welcome.