by Christy Weir

Arbor Day is a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. California celebrates Arbor Day between March 7-14, this year on Saturday, March 12.

The city of Ventura has a fascinating tree history. One of the oldest trees in town is a designated historic landmark. The Moreton Bay Fig tree in downtown’s Plaza Park was planted in 1874 and, with a span of 150 feet, is one of the largest of its species. At 148 years of age, it is older than most of our buildings.

The two great Norfolk Island pines next to the Mission are estimated to be well over 100 years old. They reputedly were planted by a sailing captain in the hope that they would eventually provide a supply of ship masts.

In the 18th century, many species were introduced to Ventura, notably palms, eucalyptus and citrus. In 1898, thirteen Big Blue Gum Eucalyptus saplings were planted on a hilltop above Ventura. Over time, all have been lost to vandalism, fire, drought and disease. Two Trees, the much-loved symbol of our city, have not survived and replacements have been planted.

In 1922, several tall palm trees near the Mission were the inspiration for the name and logo of Las Palmas brand enchilada sauce, created by a talented Ventura cook named Rosa Ramirez. You’ll still see the Las Palmas label with distinctive Ventura palms on store shelves worldwide.

Thousands of acres of fertile land east of Seaward Avenue flourished with walnut, citrus and avocado orchards for most of the twentieth century, growing Ventura’s economy and enhancing the postcard-perfect landscape.

Ventura’s urban forest of over 30,000 trees is one of the most vital pieces of our city’s infrastructure, providing numerous benefits for our residents. Tree-lined streets retain large volumes of rainfall, reducing and cleansing runoff. They also increase property values, encourage shopping and business, reduce air pollution, calm traffic and lower noise levels. And trees reduce erosion and stabilize our hilly terrain. There are currently over 10,000 empty tree wells in Ventura, where street trees have been lost to drought, wind, fire and disease. Recently, the Ventura Tree Alliance non-profit organization was formed to help replace those street trees.

You can celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in your own yard, a living and lasting gift to our community.

by Jill Forman

Just scheduled – Friends of the Library Book Sale!

Saturday March 19 at Vons, corner of Telegraph and Victoria.

Times and details to be determined. Information: venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Libraries are open!

Not everyone is aware of this. They are open, same hours as pre-closure. Library activities are transitioning to in-person or possible a combination of Zoom and in-person. Check your branch’s website for schedules and formats, or talk to the staff.

Foster Library Bookstore is open!

Tuesdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Every genre, hundreds of good-quality books, very reasonable prices. Staffed by Friends volunteers who love to talk about books and libraries.

Hill Road book sale shelves are open!

Have been completely restocked. Adults, kids, CD’s and DVD’s also. Available whenever the branch is open, honor payment system.

Online Bookstore is always open! With a sale!

Children’s books, Youth Fiction and Youth Non-Fiction on sale in March for $1. Venturafriendsoftheibrary.org, tab for “Online Store.” Pick-up will be at the Foster bookstore; purchasers will get an email when their order is ready.

Support your libraries with Amazon Smile

Every purchase you make with Amazon Smile goes to the charity of your choice. To set up, go to smile.amazon.com; there is an option to set up your recipient. Of course, we encourage you to pick “San Buenaventura Friends of the Library.”

Goodbye to Dolly Knight, Ventura Senior City Librarian

Dolly has brought enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the libraries. She will be missed.

Book Groups

Foster Library Saturday morning book group is on hold until April.

Hill Road book group meets the last Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. March’s book is The Rose Code by Kate Quinn.

New book group at Hill Road: Linda Cherry, Librarian at Hill, is starting a group focusing on children’s books for adults. The group will be called The Wise Owls Book Club (Little Books for Big People); the first meeting will be Tuesday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m., to discuss When the Sea Turned To Silver by Grace Lin. To be added to the mailing list, find out about forthcoming title selections and meeting dates, email [email protected].

New members wanted for a Friends of the Library book group. Not your everyday book group, this one does not discuss one book a month. Every member describes and discusses books they have read in the past month. We frequently exchange books also. Members enjoy learning about books they might never have been exposed to. We have been meeting via Zoom for the past couple of years, but anticipate in-person monthly meetings soon. For information, contact [email protected].

What Else is Going on?

So many things! Here’s a sample:

Zip Books – Request books you’d like the library to buy.

Brainfuse HelpNow – eLearning for all ages and levels.

Minecraft Mondays – Every Monday 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Storytimes – In person and on Facebook.

Bilingual Bedtime Stories – Tuesdays, 7:00 to 7:30 pm on Facebook.

Discover Science – Talk to library staff for schedule.

Your libraries offer activities and help for everyone.

Outgoing treasurer, Norma Taylor, presented a check from the Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary to Gary Wilde, who accepted on behalf of the hospital. The money was raised from donations, bequests, and fund-raising activities by Auxiliary members and will be used toward future needs of the hospital.

Fund-raising is just one facet to the activities of the CMH Auxiliary. From the front desk to the emergency room, the gift shop, and most other areas of the hospital, members may be seen in their navy and white uniforms, lending a hand to patients and staff alike. These volunteers assist in many ways and contribute to the smooth running of the various departments.

Question: On our daily walk, we walk the square around Ventura College. Both Loma Vista and Telegraph Rd have potholes and chunks of asphalt that fly into the gutters and even onto the sidewalk caused by vehicles traveling at 40 to 50 mph.

I live on Johnson Drive in Ventura where road repairs were made awhile back. I couldn’t be more pleased to see how nice and clean and safe our neighborhood is after years of ugly, falling apart streets.

Now back to Loma Vista and Telegraph, a very nice area where property values are important. Too bad about their ugly, falling apart streets. A pretty simple plea.

Sincerely, Diane Ryan

Answer: We turned to Ventura City for an answer.

We are pleased to hear you are enjoying the recent repair of Johnson Drive. Thank you for inquiring about those sections on Loma Vista Road and Telegraph Road.

Loma Vista Road between Day Road and Ashwood Avenue will receive repairs via slurry seal anticipated for this summer. Road repairs typically are completed in summer months as fair-weather conditions are needed for effective asphalt pavement applications. Both those stretches of road were repaired sometime between 2009-2011, according to our Pavement Management Plan, which was completed in July 2016. The section of Telegraph Road, however, has a planned pipeline project that is currently being designed and will have to wait until the pipeline is in place prior to the paving repair.

The City of Ventura has over 700 lane miles and our Public Works Department repairs 40 miles on average each year with current funding availability. To view the nearly $200M in streets and infrastructure capital improvement projects planned in the next five years, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/Construction to view the FY 2023-27 Capital Improvement Program.

To report pothole repair needs, call the City hotline at (805) 652-4590.

Barry Wolfman has been appointed President and CEO of Dignity Health St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) in Oxnard, Calif. and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo in Camarillo, Calif. Wolfman, has been serving as interim president since November 1.

“It gives me great pleasure to share that Barry will continue to lead St. John’s Hospitals,” says Julie J. Sprengel, President and CEO of Dignity Health’s Southern California Division. “In his interim role, Barry has been instrumental in facing staffing challenges and navigating the most recent surge of COVID cases while prioritizing the well-being of our St. John’s team at both campuses. I am confident that Barry’s commitment coupled with his invaluable experience, will be instrumental to the growth and success of both hospitals.”

Wolfman brings more than 30 years of hospital operations and healthcare management experience. He has worked in academic, for-profit, and faith-based, non-profit health systems, giving him unique leadership qualities. Additionally, Wolfman has provided leadership development and exploration of two joint ventures for personalized genomic medicine as an international consultant with Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I am excited for the opportunity to continue leading St. John’s Hospitals,” said Barry Wolfman, President and CEO of Dignity Health-St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo. “Both hospitals have wonderful and skilled people doing exceptional work, day in and day out. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead and create a vision for both hospitals that enhances the delivery of care in communities we serve, well into the future.”

Wolfman is known for creating cohesive teams by engaging employees and collaborating with board members and key stakeholders. He has a strong commitment to building physician relationships that align with growth opportunities and strategic organizational goals.

Hospital to operate more effectively in the competitive market of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. While serving as CEO, he initiated a collaboration with the medical school for physician relationships, obtained Level 1 trauma designation, opened the GW Cancer Institute, and started kidney and liver transplant programs. He previously held regional senior executive roles for Kaiser Permanente and Tenet Healthcare and served as CEO for Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

Dignity Health-St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo in Camarillo comprise the largest non-profit acute care provider in Ventura County. Founded more than 100 years ago, St. John’s Hospitals are nationally recognized for quality care, safety and service. Both hospitals are supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to support new programs and services, as well as to advance the community’s access to health care. Learn more at

DignityHealth.org/StJohnsRegional or DignityHealth.org/StJohnsHospitalCamarillo.

Calling all Mermaids and Mermen…Mermaid Month has officially returned to Ventura Harbor Village! It’s the perfect time to head seaside as these mystical aquatic creatures take center stage all month long. Special themed events and live mermaid sightings are scheduled for select Sundays, March 13th and March 20th from 1-4 PM.

Locals and visitors across all oceans are encouraged to make a splash and delve into a myriad of mermaid activities. Kicking off Mermaid Month is a Kid’s Free Scavenger Hunt, which runs from March 5th to March 31st. Pick up the scavenger hunt sheets at the Mermaid Gallery in Ventura Harbor Village and return for prizes. On Saturdays in March, bask in the sunshine with sounds of the steel drum (March 12th, 19th and 26th from 1 – 4 PM) along the Village’s Seaside Promenade.

Lovers of the sea can meet a live mermaid at the Harbor’s “Mermaid Meet & Greet” on two Sundays, March 13th and March 20th from 1 – 4 PM (weather permitting). Festivities feature photos with a live mermaid, entertainment, colorful face paintings, spectacular exotic birds, scavenger hunts, and mermaid fashion.

On Sunday, March 13th extra activities are a live mermaid chalk art demonstration by artist Lysa Ashley, free craft stations courtesy of Macaroni Kid, and new this year- a Mer-mazing Dance Party with DJ Darla. Come dressed up for a family-fun dance party featuring music from under the sea, bubbles, wands, and flowers galore!

On Sunday, March 20th festivities will feature a new Pop-Up Mermaid Market from 12 – 4 PM in the Channel Islands Courtyard in the Harbor Village. The Harbor’s own talented artisans and makers will display their handmade nautical treasures and treats!

All month long, visitors can also engage in seaside selfie stations, including large mermaid shells and the 20-foot plus sign feature that reads “I Love the SEA” on Ventura Harbor Village’s Promenade.

Enjoy complimentary giveaways and month-long special savings by select Ventura Harbor Village retailers all month long including: Mermaid Gallery artisan Tina O’Brien is giving a free starfish or bag of shells with every $25+ purchase. PLUS, get a free shell bracelet if you come in and say “I’m really a mermaid” (while supplies last); Top This Chocolate has chocolate mermaid pops, chocolate mermaid tails, chocolate seashell pops and $1 chocolate seashells. Ventura Swimwear is offering a free gift with $50 purchase (while supplies last); Sugar Lab Bake Shop has discounted the reusable Mermaid Straws, mermaid drinks, and much more.

Shoppers can purchase a dazzling array of more than 100 mermaid-themed items that include artwork, soaps, jewelry, pottery, nautical finds, coastal décor, ocean-inspired apparel, and mermaid-themed accessories. What’s more. Ventura Harbor Village’s bars and restaurants are serving up “sea-sonal” themed cocktails, sweat mermaid treats, and delicious freshly caught seafood and Ventura Harbor Village welcomes locals and visitors from across all oceans!

Those seeking to get on the water with ease can rent a kayak, SUP paddle board, electric boats or popular themed swan, duck or dragon peddle boats daily with Ventura Boat Rentals. And to catch a real live mermaid or just a large fish (bragging rights included), they can aboard a vessel from Ventura Sportfishing or get a possible glimpse of the illusive mermaid swimming with the whales on an Island Packers Winter Whale Watch excursion.

To learn more about Ventura Harbor Village Mermaid Month, visit venturaharborvillage.com/mermaidmonth-2022

This is a series of emails that help explain the problems of dealing with the mentally ill homeless (about 1/3 of the homeless).

Sheldon: 

What is the deal with the guy sitting on Main & Kalorama bus bench in front of Locksmiths for weeks with bedding, etc.   

Same question for the woman who is on Thompson by Borchard Vons there for months with just a spell when she was missing 

Do they spend nights there too, use bathroom?  Eat?  Social services try to intervene? 

Thanks, 

Mike Merewether

Sheldon: Will try to find out from city.

Sadly, problem is it is not illegal to be homeless. If police decide mentally ill could possibly put them on 72-hour hold and maybe go to Hillmont. But most mentally ill will not accept help.

Always a problem that is tough to solve.

From the city:

Hi Mike and Sheldon, 

The most up to date information (at the time this was written) on Chantal and Ricky. They both have been difficult cases for years. I can tell you that from my time with Safe & Clean both are reached out to by our outreach team at least once a week, are offered services, have been contacted by the County’s crisis team multiple times, and the Patrol Task Force makes frequent contact. Both are service resistant, but the teams continue to connect with them with hopes that they can continue to build trust and they will hopefully say yes to help. We wish it could be a quicker process and they could get the help they so desperately need, but they have to be willing participants.

Meredith  Hart