Local Ojai resident Karen Banfield will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, December 18, to talk about The Good Guys Calendar. Join Banfield as she shares photos and stories about the creation of the 2022 Good Guys Calendar and the local men who inspired it.
During the pandemic, Banfield decided to focus on the goodness around her, specifically the men who were showing up with a generosity of spirit and open hearts. She focused on men because the news had been full of negative role models, and she believes having positive role models is essential. To that end, Banfield interviewed 12 men from diverse backgrounds, wrote their stories, and took their photos. These men have touched many lives in small, often unnoticed ways, bringing compassion that made her smile and just as often brought her to tears.
The calendar is selling around the world because it is more than a place to record appointments—it is a way to feel good about life and the people in it.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.
Guy Martin and Jerry McWorter have joined together to promote local talent.
Ventura based Black Couch Studio and Hi Hat Entertainment have joined together in a creative collaboration with the singular focus of promoting the talents of Ventura’s musicians.
A list of 16 musicians were invited to contribute to a musical stew. The names of four drummers, four bass players and eight guitar players/singers were thrown in a hat and randomly drawn to assemble four bands. Next, a handful of classic rock ‘n’ roll song titles were thrown into a hat, one of which was drawn at random. Each band was given three hours in the studio to arrange, perform and secretly record that song. The randomly selected song was “Midnight Rambler.”
This is where the fun began. As the musicians entered the studio at their appointed time and date, none of them had any idea who they would be playing with or what song they would be recording. The musicians selected for this project represented a cross section of styles, ages and genres and were brought together to celebrate the artistry of making music. The results were amazing. The performances and creative ideas were fresh, inspired and totally different from one interpretation to another.
Most of all, this venture was a barrel of musical fun for all of the artists. It was a great opportunity for musicians to meet and work with fellow players from Ventura that they have never met before.
Now…the public is invited to listen to the results of this project and give their opinion and feedback. On November 19th two of the tracks were released on Black Couch Studio’s Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts for the world to hear. But… no names were released…just the music. Through comments on all of the social media, Black Couch will tally the votes and see which song is the favorite of round 1. The following week two more songs will be released and again the public votes will be counted and a favorite for round 2 will be announced. The final elimination will be a matchup of the two previous favorites and the public will vote for the final time.
Then…one of the bands will be crowned the first winner of The Black Couch Ventura Music Show Down.
Finally a music video will be released showing all of the musicians involved in the project with some great behind-the-scenes footage of exactly how much fun and music was had by all.
Every year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) kicks off their Season of Hope campaign by requesting various in-kind donations for Project Turkey, Project Christmas and Holiday Drive-Thru parties to spread cheer and needed resources to local families battling pediatric cancer.
TBCF has a goal to deliver meals and grocery gift cards to at least fifty families this year. “For families struggling with economic hardship due to a cancer diagnosis, or worse still, stuck in the hospital for treatment, this joyful time of year can sometimes become a nightmare.
Every year TBCF delivers Christmas, or a family’s chosen holiday in December, to over thirty families battling pediatric cancer in the tri-counties with presents for each child in the family and culturally appropriate décor and gift wrapping. The goal of Project Christmas is to alleviate the financial stress, as well as the time and energy associated with shopping for gifts. Often, it is simply not possible for parents to go shopping as they are under severe financial constraints and can’t leave their sick child; COVID-19 has only added to these stresses.
The TBCF Programs team invites the community to help bring hope and holiday cheer to the families by sponsoring a child for $100. Volunteers can shop for the child’s wish list directly or provide a monetary donation and have TBCF do the shopping. Additional donations (monetary or in-kind) are accepted for a family’s holiday tree, decorations, $50 gift cards for meals, and goodies like hot-cocoa and candy canes.
In partnership with Cottage Hospital, and through support of the Linden Family Foundation, TBCF aims to spread holiday cheer and provide a memorable event with their highly anticipated annual holiday party in December.
Donations of $25 gifts for ages 0-12 or $25 gift cards for teens are greatly appreciated to support TBCF’s holiday drive-thru events. TBCF aims to provide gifts to over two hundred children through the holiday drive-thru events.
To donate toys and gift cards valued at $25 each, community members can drop them off or ship them to: Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Attn: Holiday Party, 3892 State St, Ste. 220, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.
Josh D. makes it look easy at AWOW’s event. Photo by Peter Snell.
by Amy Brown
“The first wave I ever caught, I felt like a mermaid—and I was flying!” said 14-year-old Grace Gerenser, with a giant grin, describing the first time she tried surfing with A Walk On Water (AWOW). She’d just finished her session at the recent AWOW event at Surfer’s Point, catching wave after wave with an instructor on the board with her. AWOW provides surf therapy—guided surf instruction–to children with unique needs. This is Gerenser’s eighth year participating in the event, and she had some solid advice for any young people considering trying it out. “I caught a lot of waves this time—they were massive and huge!” she said. (She was right.) “Don’t be nervous, though, just stick with me, you can practice on the sand first, and just be sure to listen to your instructor.”
Grace Gerenser and ‘Uncle Lippy’ celebrate at the awards ceremony. Photo by Peter Snell
Grace’s mother Tammy was thrilled with the event and how the program has positively impacted their lives. “Her first time with AWOW, we were like ‘Ok, so she doesn’t really know how to swim…’ and her now long-time instructor, Steven Lippman, one of the founders (whom Grace calls ‘Uncle Lippy’) just said ‘I’ve got this. She’s going to be fine,’ and frankly, we haven’t looked back since.” She shared how strong and protective the surf instructors are that take the kids out on the boards with them. “They are amazing, they have such strength and skill, and we know she is completely safe with them. And she gets to do something she wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”
Lippman said that while giving back is a primary AWOW objective, making meaningful connections with the kids and their families is key. “AWOW is a family, and we strive to create these relationships with these families over years, and creating that bond, developing trust is what gives these athletes the experience, and the parents get to witness a pretty amazing moment in time for their children.” said Lippman. “We treat them like they’re our own. Each of these athletes is a hero.”
About 50 families signed up for the event, including some from as far as Utah and from Northern California—like 9-year-old Josh D. and his parents Angie and Lee. “He had so much fun! There’s a reason why we drive so far, we usually go to the ones in Northern California, but we just couldn’t stand waiting any longer. We all had a great time, and he was just floating on air, and couldn’t wait to go back to school and tell his friends about it,” said Angie, who shared that her family has participated in the events for the last four years.
According to Angie, the entire experience provides fun and confidence to the kids far beyond the exhilaration of riding the waves. “It’s more just the camaraderie, being around people who believe in him, and that’s something AWOW brings. You’re not being treated like you have a disability out there–you just do it, that’s the greatest thing, as well as the confidence of actually of catching a wave.” She reported that Josh came running up to them as soon as he’d surfed in the event, grinning ear to ear, shouting, ‘I did it!’
Kim Murphy is the Director of Volunteer Engagement for the organization and reported that it was particularly meaningful to end this 2021 season in Ventura. She and her husband are well known for their surfing dogs, the late, great Haole Boy, who was honored at the end of the event, and his younger brother Pancho, who is just starting to surf. “The smiles seen all day on the beach leave me with the absolute purest form of happiness,” said Murphy.
Anna Izaguirr and Mark Whitley of ESSC (in the upper left photo) celebrated the ribbon cutting at Easterseals. Photos by Patricia Schallert
On Nov. 3 an open house celebration and ribbon cutting was held at Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) located at 10730 Henderson Rd. in Ventura. ESSC which assists more than 15,000 people with disabilities or from underserved communities and their families throughout SoCal celebrated the renovation and expansion of its Child Development Center in Ventura.
The center serves 168 kids ages from 6-weeks to 5 with Early Head Start and other pre-school services that are free to income-eligible families. Children who participate in Easterseals Child Development Services come from the local communities of Fillmore, Oxnard, Saticoy, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula and Ventura.
The newly renovated space features the innovative Garden of Eatin’ which includes:
Outdoor learning spaces with unique curriculums.
A garden and green house where kids learn to grow their own organic fruits, vegetables and plants.
An outdoor kitchen for hands-on food preparation, learning healthy eating habits and an appreciation for the taste of natural foods.
A reading gazebo, stage for music and plays and several playgrounds for exploration and more.
“Children receive rich learning experiences that are meaningful and culturally relevant,” said Regional Director, Anna Izaguirre. “Our outdoor learning environment exposes children to Science, Technology, Reading/Relationships, Engineering, Arts and Math (STREAM). We work with our local community and are able to provide enrichment classes including music, dance, cooking, gardening, pottery and healthy eating. The learning that happens indoors is also enhanced outdoors in a fun and engaging manner.”
“With a combination of federal, community and corporate funds, the site now boasts about $1 million in newly updated spaces indoors and outdoors as well as the furnishings for them.”
The center also features a computer lab for parents who may not have access to technology or the Internet, enabling them to research and apply for jobs or to fulfill other needs. Said ESSC Executive Vice President Carlene Holden, “We have a holistic approach with services that support both the child and parents. Our staff of quality teachers and support workers partner with families to prepare children for lifelong success.”
Commented Mark Whitley, president & CEO of ESSC, “Pre-school programs, such as those offered by Easterseals, are essential to raising healthy, happy kids and elevating entire communities. Widely available early education and childcare benefits kids both today and long-term. It allows children to be prepared for kindergarten and life beyond, while families build a strong economic foundation by pursuing additional education, job training or work.”
Ventura Councilmember Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios added.
“Thank you for inviting me to be here today to say a few words. It’s an honor to represent the 4th district and I am even more honored and fortunate to have Easterseals in my district. It sounds cliche but when we invest in our children we are investing in our future leaders. From the artists who contributed to the beautiful art at this facility, to the individuals who interact with them everyday, to those who helped set up this wonderful outdoor space, thank you for your commitment and collaboration. Thank you for having a vision and making this special place a reality. Our children are fortunate to have you and to have this space as they begin their journey in life.”
Fair will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more. Photo by Richard Lieberman
The Board of Directors of the Ventura County Fair has announced that the dates of the 2022 Fair will be Wednesday, August 3 to Sunday, August 14. The announcement marks the anticipated return of the County’s premiere Summer Event after the forced closure due to COVID-19. It was the second closure of that duration in the Fair’s 146-year history, the first having been World War II.
“We are looking forward to bringing the Fair back after two years of unprecedented delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Fair CEO Barbara Quaid, adding “The Fair’s board of directors and staff are grateful to our beloved community for patiently standing by us during these difficult times and we hope the return of the Fair will mark a turning point for us all.”
The award-winning Ventura County Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage. The annual 12-day event will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more.
Although some aspects of the Fair will be different as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 Fair will strive to provide a diverse experience with many of the traditional Fair favorite features. For the sake of our visitors The VC Fair will follow all state and county health and safety guidelines.
The anticipated 300,000 returning visitors will benefit the community in many ways including significant economic contributions to restaurants, hotels, stores, service stations and more. The Fair brings temporary employment to hundreds of local residents and offers opportunities for the community to showcase their talents, hobbies, interests and passions as well as the opportunity to educate, inspire and entertain.
The VC Fairgrounds and Event Center had been unable to host many of the usual interim events in 2020 and 2021, but played a vital role in protecting our community by serving as a COVID-19 testing site and vaccination center.
“We are proud that the VC Fairgrounds and Event Center has been here for our community during this time of crisis,” said CEO Quaid, “We are now overjoyed that we can be here for you with the return of celebration.”
Girl Scout showing her code bracelet made in one of the free STEM activities.
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast (GSCCC) welcomed girls ages 5 – 18 to their second free EPIC Community event sponsored by SoCal Gas. On November 6, 2021, from 11 AM until 2PM, fun-filled games and activities were held at an EPIC Community Center.
Girls in kindergarten through high school engaged in exciting STEM learning activities, made crafts to take home, met new friends in their neighborhood, and won special Girl Scout swag. While girls played, learned, and made new friends, families enjoyed free tacos and ice cream at the La Poblanita and Mister Softee food trucks. Parents interested in learning more about the Girl Scout program also had the opportunity to speak to council staff and volunteers about how to get involved.
With family support, EPIC exists to build character in vulnerable youth and create everyday leaders throughout marginalized communities, using experimental learning and arts as the mediums to produce responsible citizens. EPIC offers a mentorship program as well as workshops for parents and kids to develop and unleash a child’s inner leader. Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast partnered with EPIC to support this effort and provide girls based in Ventura with fun activities that inspire the leader in them.
“SoCalGas is pleased to sponsor today’s event; we believe in investing in the communities where our employees live and work. As an advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion; which includes developing tomorrow’s women leaders, providing opportunities for all girls to reach their full potential is vital,” says GSCCC Board Member and SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager, Maria Ventura who was instrumental in bringing the two entities together to support the event.
Learn more about this event and Girl Scouts at www.girlscoutsccc.org or contact [email protected] for more information.
David Young, husband of Breeze contributing writer Jill Forman, discusses blacksmithing during Farm Day, at the Oxnard Historic Farm Park on November 6.
Museum of Ventura County is now accepting applications for its Bonita C. McFarland Visual Arts Scholarship. The scholarship fund has a total of $17,500 to be awarded to eligible applicants who are high school seniors enrolling in college courses in fall semester of 2022 or any continuing visual arts college student who is a Ventura County resident. Requirements for submission are a completed application, 400 word essay about their art and career or education goals, a letter of recommendation and prior artwork or projects. Applications are due no later than February 28, 2022. Students are allowed to submit up to 10 bodies of work, and are encouraged to start early. For further details and to apply, visit: venturamuseum.org/bonita-c-mcfarland.
Funds for the scholarship are provided through an endowment of the scholarship’s namesake, Bonita C. McFarland, a generous supporter, and longtime donor to the arts of Ventura County. The funds are held, administered and awarded by the Museum of Ventura County, to individuals based on artistic merit, eligibility, and needs of the applicant. Past recipients have received over $500 each, after being carefully selected by a collaborative committee consisting of Museum of Ventura County personnel and members of the Museum’s Fine Arts Committee.
“It’s always an exciting time to see the creativity of these young, dedicated and hard-working artists flourish,” says chair of the Fine Arts committee Linda Edison, “Last year’s talent was truly outstanding. Each piece was filled with individuality and excellence. I can’t wait to see how students take this opportunity to represent our county this year.” Last year’s scholarship winners were Cal State University
Northridge students Yasemin Zografos (Thousand Oaks) and Amelia Compton (Camarillo), Moorpark College student Jullianne De La Cruz (Oxnard), and California Institute of the Arts student Amelia Compton (Camarillo).
The committee will review submissions in March of 2022, and scholarship winners will be announced in April. An awards reception at the Museum of Ventura will be scheduled in the Spring to celebrate the honorees accomplishments. Stay up to date with the scholarship awards process, by visiting the museum online at: venturamuseum.org.
The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura,
California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California
(805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – venturamuseum.org.
Opera Santa Barbara is thrilled to welcome two new members to its Board of Directors. Karen Knight and Gregory McMurrray were elected to the Board in October, 2021.
“Our Board of Directors bring a wealth of expertise and dedication to supporting our performing arts community,” said Opera SB Board Chair, Joan Rutkowski. “Karen and Greg are both very familiar with the company and we’re excited to channel their talents and energy into furthering Opera SB’s mission during this pivotal period in our history.”
Karen Knight is a longtime resident of Santa Barbara who returned two and a half years ago after a 16-year hiatus in the Temecula area. Since returning to the area, she has spent time volunteering for Opera Santa Barbara, Ensemble Theater Company, and United Way of Santa Barbara County. She also currently serves on the Board of Wood Glen Hall as Co-Chair of their Marketing Committee.
Ms. Knight retired after helping start City Commerce Bank in 1978 where she served nine years as the bank’s VP of Business Development, Marketing, and Training. In 1993 she rejoined the workforce in 1993 after raising her children to serve as the United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Major Gifts Officer and Coordinator of the Red Feather Ball.
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.) from the University of California, Los Angeles, Gregory McMurray earned his Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) at William and Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia. Mr. McMurray served as a Deputy Public Defender both in Kern County and in Ventura County where he handled misdemeanor, felony and juvenile cases. He has served as a Judge Pro-Tem in Santa Barbara and currently teaches community property law at the Southern California Institute of Law. He is a member of the California State Bar.
As a signature provider of professional musical theatre for California’s Central Coast since 1994, Opera Santa Barbara contributes to the cultural enrichment of our region by presenting compelling musical performances and community programs that celebrate the breadth and beauty of opera. The company’s annual main stage repertoire features opera favorites, lesser-known classics, and contemporary American works featuring nationally recognized performers as well as artists and craftspeople of our region.
