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Sandra Laby will never be forgotten
Laby (78), died on September 24, 2016 at 8:05pm. She was in the company of her husband Jordan and two sons Phillip and Todd. Her passing was peaceful and short. Being the fighter she has always been, she outlived all predictions, over and over again. The family is grateful that she is no longer suffering.”
Sandra died at home from pancreatic cancer after a very short battle with illness.
Donna Granata, Executive Director of Focus on the Masters said, “The sad news has arrived. Our community has lost one of its brightest lights. Sandra Laby’s life was a beautiful life well spent. Her devotion to the arts will have a lasting impact for generations to come. Rest in peace dear friend. My love is with you Jordan, Todd, Phillip and your families.”
Sandra was born on October 10, 1937 in Brooklyn. In 1947 she moved to Los Angeles with her family and later attended Fairfax High School in West Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College and Cal State Los Angeles.
Sandra married Jordan Laby at Factors Hall in Los Angeles in 1960 and remained married for 56 years until her passing. In 1979, Jordan and Sandra Laby moved to Ventura after falling in love with Ventura’s beauty and arts. They made it their mission to unearth the artistic talents in Ventura which they did over and over again.
Sandra loved to dance and performed Flamenco, ballroom and other types of dancing in shows as a hobby.
The way Sandra saw it – art and life are intertwined. A local visionary, Sandra Laby helped keep that gift alive in Ventura through many gifts, and her time to the arts.
When asked what she liked most about living in Ventura, Sandra said, “It is all about the people, the location and the weather. It is such a relaxed place to live and raise a family. People are kind and caring and it gives one the feeling of a very small town. Every day I get to watch the ocean, the birds and the boats. That is not a bad way to live. The weather is balmy and sometimes very moody and exciting. I like it all.”.
Here are just a very few of her – and Jordan’s – incredible accomplishments:
- One of the ladies of the Rubicon’s “Hot Dames 2010 Calendar
- President of the National Council of Jewish Women Ventura County
- Honored for serving on the first foundation board of the California State University Channel Islands.
- Jewish Federation “Woman of Valor”
- Honored as the Mayors Arts Award,
- Ventura Music Festivals First Founders Award,
- Ventura Interfaith Ministerial Award as “Woman of Vision”
- Ventura Chamber of Commerce “Shining Stars”
- Ventura County Ballet Company “Partner in Dance Award”
- Oxnard Salsa Dance Contest Winner where she raised the most money for “Music in the Schools with Nuvi Mehta” in association with the Ventura Music Festival.
- Helped start the new “Harmony Project of Ventura County”
- Supported key cultural venues like Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura Music Festival, the bi-annual Arts Forum for City Council Candidates, and Focus on the Master Learning to See Series in the Ventura Schools, Working Artists Ventura WAV, California International Theatre Festival, Bell Arts Factory and the New West Symphony
- Was active as a board member and/or advisor of organizations such as the Ojai Music Festival, Ventura County Ballet, Ventura College Orchestra, ART City and Camerata Pacifica. Also supported the Ventura Film Society, Jewish Federation of Ventura County, Jewish Family Services, and FOOD Share.
- Founding member of the Ventura Botanical Gardens
- The San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts, which she and Jordan, founded in 1999.
- Sandra and Jordan gave scholarships through the “Phoenix Program” at the Ventura College Foundation.
- Museum of Ventura County an “Evening Of Note Celebrity Dinner” was held by the Ventura Music Festival honoring Sandra and Jordan Laby for their unending contributions to the arts in Ventura County and specifically in Ventura.
- Harmony Project of Ventura County Celebration Lunch “For The Love of Children, Community and Music” was held at the Marriott Ventura Beach. The lunch was presented by the New West Symphony League to award Sandra and Jordan Laby the 2016 Humanitarian Award of the Harmony Project.
When presenting the Laby’s with the 2016 Humanitarian Award, Peter Goldenring, a funding sponsor of the Harmony Project, stated, “We are all here honoring Jordan and Sandy for being bright lights and leaders in philanthropy and for making a huge difference in people’s lives. Some would call what Jordan and Sandy do quiet acts of generosity. When done they never know whether or not it will change a life, be something big or be small. It doesn’t matter.”
Remembering Sandra Ventura City Councilmember Cheryl Heittman said “Sandra will be missed by our entire community but particularly the arts community. She contributed her time, talent and treasure to all the arts in Ventura. My favorite memory is her winning the Oxnard Salsa Festival contest. Dancing and the arts were her passion and she has left our community a better place.”
Karyl Lynn Burns, Rubicon Theatre first met Sandra Laby more than twenty years ago. “I spoke to her on the phone my first day in Ventura as Executive Director of the fledgling Ventura Chamber Music Festival. The next day we met for lunch. She was a beacon of light – a force of nature – a beautiful bundle of passion and energy and enthusiasm. We met at Café Zack for lunch and stayed until the dinner dishes were done and they were ready to turn out the lights. In that 10-hour span of time, we had a new administrative and fundraising plan for the Festival; and I had a best friend, mentor and second mother (later a second father, too, in Jordan). Four years later, when my husband returned from the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar and we were ready to start Rubicon Theatre Company, Sandra and Jordan Laby provided seed funding so we could secure rights for the first show.”
“I know there are so many other arts dreamers in Ventura County with similar stories. She was always there at the beginning of the movement – leading the charge for the best and biggest and boldest idea.”
“Sandra and Jordan Laby have forever transformed Ventura County and the City of Ventura. In addition to her beloved sons Phillip and Todd and their wives and children, Sandra’s legacy is a vibrant, unique and special arts community.”
“Sandra Laby has forever changed and enriched my life. I miss her already and am sad beyond measure and beyond words. But I take some comfort knowing that she will be a part of every act, though and decision I make for the rest of my life. And, in the words of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?”
A funeral service was held at Temple Beth Torah, on Wednesday, September 28th at 10:30am. A private burial followed.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to New West Symphony Harmony Project. For more information, go to www.newwestsymphony.org.
New Midtown parking structure provides potential for economic growth
Dr. John Hill cutting the ribbon while Stephanie Caldwell, the Chamber’s President and CEO, Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann and others look on. Photo by John Ferritto
by City staff
Community Memorial Hospital’s new $13 million parking structure in Midtown is a win-win that provides economic growth opportunities along with increased parking spaces for the community, hospital visitors and customers visiting nearby businesses. Through a public-private partnership, the City of Ventura provided the land with a long-term lease agreement and CMH paid for building the new 571-space, five-level parking structure which opened in September. Of those 571 new parking spaces, 200 are allocated for CMH use, 172 spaces are for the public, and 199 spaces are available to serve further economic development in the area.
The parking structure consists of 180,000 square feet with an additional 1,400 square feet on the first floor dedicated to commercial and retail space for new businesses. Currently, motorists can access the new parking garage from Brent Street and there is no charge for parking. Soon, an additional parking entrance will be available from Main Street and parking limits (such as 2-hours free) for the 172 public spaces may be noted. Two Chargepoint Electric Vehicle charging stations were also installed at the new structure, bringing the total to 16 stations in Ventura available to EV drivers at city facilities and public parking spaces. A Vaportite Light has been fitted on each level to make access easier in the darker evenings.
Ventura’s Wellness District — anchored by Community Memorial Hospital and the Ventura County Medical Center – is bolstered by both organizations which have made a substantial commitment to the area by investing more than $500 million to re-build their medical centers. CMH’s new 350,000 square-foot hospital, adjacent to the new parking structure and current building, will have a larger emergency room, more operating rooms and private patient rooms. VCMC’s new hospital replacement wing project is slated for completion by fall of 2017, with 220,000 square-feet of acute care facilities.
Development of the Wellness District is part of the City’s Economic Development Strategy focusing on the health care and biomedical industry, one of the six key areas in the plan. The build out of the District will include medical offices, supportive services, restaurants and retail which help enhance economic activity by creating jobs and businesses. The new parking structure is a significant step to help attract new development and a fully realized Wellness District.
The City is also working to replace and improve infrastructure in the Wellness District so our underground systems have the capacity for present and future growth. The current sewer line project at Main and Brent Streets is replacing undersized and aged pipes that, in some cases, were installed between 1945 and 1991. Addressing the needs of our aging infrastructure is vital for long-term economic growth, business competitiveness, and to maintain the quality of life for Ventura residents and visitors.
Birthday bash held at Museum for Helen Yunker
In the new Helen Yunker Alcove Suz Montgomery interviewed Helen for posterity. Eric Howes designed the alcove and artist Ryan Carr painted the outside murals. Photos by John Hankins
On Sept.17 a 95th birthday celebration was held for Helen Yunker at the Museum of Ventura County. At the celebration the Helen Yunker Lobby was dedicated which will be a part of the remodeling of the Museum which is scheduled to be completed in January, 2017.
Hundreds of her friends enjoyed the sounds of the VJO Sextet (featuring the vocals of Donna Green), food and congratulating Helen who, as usual looked beautiful in her wonderful attire.
Helen stated “I am so sorry for any omissions on the invitation list for my 95th birthday and bequest celebration held at the Ventura County Museum. My vision is greatly impaired, so I was not able to review the invitation list to ensure that everyone was included. “
“Though the time was very short for planning the party, it was a great success. Special thanks are due to Betsy Chess and Elena Brokaw for an outstanding job. “
“If you were there, I know you had a great time, and I thank you for the thoughtful mementoes and cards that I received. My purpose for the celebration was to bring the community’s attention to the great need to financially support this very important and major institution. Our museum needs your help now!”
“Our museum is the largest treasure chest of Ventura’s lives and stories told through art and artifacts that exists anywhere. Our museum offers invaluable opportunities to educate our children and stimulate their interest in history. Our museum attracts 50,000 visitors a year to the heart of our city. This contributes extra dollars for our local businesses along with more sales tax for our city. Our museum provides an amazing research library and archives that contain over 170,000 items unavailable elsewhere.”
“To launch this urgently needed fund drive, I have personally donated $25,000 and hope this starts the ball rolling.”
“An institution of this importance and magnitude needs financial giving from the entire community that it serves. I hope you will step up and join me and know you are helping to preserve our past and ensure the future of our museum. Please go to http://venturamuseum.org/donate-now/”
At age 95, Helen Yunker can look back over an incredible life of achievement and service to her community. Her philosophy is simple – “In helping and sharing with others, you multiply your own blessings many times.”
Helen arrived in 1948 in California, from Chicago, where she was born in 1921. After 10-years in direct sales, Helen fulfilled her dream of living at the seashore when she moved to Ventura’s Pierpont Bay area in 1958. A retired realtor in 1971 she founded Helen Yunker Realty.
Her 58 years in Ventura is a virtual kaleidoscope of ongoing community engagement. She has been recognized over the years for her many contributions, by numerous service organizations in the areas of educational, medical, civic, youth, theater, and arts.
Her recognition and contributions over the years are too many to list. But we are all blessed and grateful her contributions to our art, heritage and culture.
When her portrait was painted by Johanna Spinks as part of The Face of Ventura series in the Ventura Breeze Helen stated “Having grown up in Chicago, Ventura, with its 25,000 population in 1958, its climate, location and overall ambiance, was a true panacea and fertile ground for my life’s goals. Today, after 54 years of service, my greatest blessing is the thanks and recognition I receive, also fully aware of my intense struggles, as well as accomplishments. Where else, but in Ventura, can one be embraced like a family member, and be gifted a feeling of belonging?”
New West Symphony opens its exciting 22nd Season on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1
The New West Symphony opens its exciting 22nd Season on Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1 with Danzón, a concert featuring works teeming with exhilarating rhythms and fiery musical flourishes, as well as the lyrical melodies of one of the best-loved works of 20th Century American music. Guest conductor Tania Miller leads the orchestra in a program honoring national Hispanic Heritage Month .
Tickets priced from $30 – $120 are available online at www.newwestsymphony.org, by phone at 866-776-8400, or at the respective box offices. Special family packages for parents with children ages 7-13 are available (advance purchase only) through the orchestra’s VIP Family Club, and discounted tickets for high school and college students are available through its Connect Club.
The first performance will take place on Friday at 8:00 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA 93030. The concert will be repeated on Saturday at 8:00 pm at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. An entertaining and informative, 30-minute pre-concert talk by noted musicologist Thomas Neenan begins at 7:00 pm in each venue.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, a Mexican fiesta will be available for Oxnard concertgoers beginning at 6:30 pm, with food and beverages available for purchase in the concert venue’s courtyard.
23rd ArtWalk Ventura event Oct. 1-2
The public is invited to the “ArtWalk Ventura Collectors Reception,” a special benefit celebration of art, poetry, music and food on Thursday, September 29, 6:30-9:30 pm, at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street. Purchase tickets for $20 at www.artwalkventura.org or for $25 at the door.
Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko will welcome this year’s visiting “2016 Global Artist of Distinction,” painter Rolando Sigüenza, from Oaxaca, Mexico. The mayor will also honor MB Hanrahan as the 2016 ArtWalk Artist of Distinction and introduce Phil Taggart, Ventura County Poet Laureate, who will read his poem “Ventura.” Enjoy music performed by a quartet from the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, a no-host cocktail bar by Beverlee’s Bartending and hors d’oeuvres by Seasons Catering.
Tour the city’s nationally renowned Municipal Art Collection of almost 100 works by 73 of Ventura County’s best contemporary artists.
The streets of the city of Ventura’s historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District will transform into a mecca of artistic expression for the 23rd ArtWalk Ventura event the weekend of Oct. 1-2.
The two-day Southern California art tradition will highlight the diverse works of more than 500 regional artists, exhibiting paintings to sculpture to performance art. This year’s Artist of Distinction is MB Hanrahan. This year’s Global Artist of Distinction is Rolando Siguenza from Oaxaca, Mexico. Ventura College is this year’s premier sponsor.
Nominated by her peers, Hanrahan was named this year’s Artists of Distinction. A renowned muralist, painter and sculptor, MB is a working California artist and arts advocate.
For more information about ArtWalk Ventura, visit http://artwalkventura.org/.
ArtWalk is a free, self-guided tour over more than two dozen high-end art galleries, pop-up stores and studios, as well as the return of 25 PODS® Containers transformed into mini art galleries. Attendees also may take advantage of a free shuttle service, which connects venues along Ventura Avenue to Main Street.
New to the exciting event this year is a series of special performances on the main stage at California Street, sponsored by Ventura College. Performances will feature VC students and professionals.
Also new, off Ventura Avenue, the Bell Arts Factory and its year-round studios will present a moving collecting of art from over a dozen artists visiting for the first time from Oaxaca, Mexico. Leading the effort is Siguenza, a celebrated deaf painter and muralist who will be collaborating with muralists Hanrahan and Uriel Leon to create a vibrant mural on the corner of Ventura Ave and Harrison Street.
Students must apply by Sept. 30 for the YMCA Youth and Government program
High school students interested in a six-month hands-on experience in democracy are encouraged to apply to the Ventura Family YMCA Youth and Government program. Registration closes on Sept. 30.
Participants experience first-hand how state government works; fine-tune public speaking, conflict resolution and debating skills; become a leader in the democratic process and increase civic literacy awareness. The program also provides an opportunity to have fun with friends during weekly meetings, group building activities and road trips to Fresno and Sacramento.
As a delegation, youth create bills about pertinent issues, research and practice court cases, develop public speaking and networking skills, and attend three annual Model Legislature & Court conferences.
Teens meet weekly, each Monday at 6:00 p.m., at the YMCA to discuss and debate issues that affect citizens of their state and to propose legislation. The program culminates with teens serving as delegates at their state conference, debating bills on the floor of the legislature with 3,000 fellow students from 45 California High Schools in the State Capital in Sacramento.
To support this program or to learn how to participate in the 2016-2017 delegation, please contact Julie O’Brien at 642-2131 ext. 23 or by email at [email protected]. Interested students do not have to be members of the YMCA to join.
Like all Y programs, Youth and Government is open to all with financial assistance available. The Youth & Government program is offered at the Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Stuart C. Gildred, and Ventura branches of the Channel Islands YMCA.
California YMCA Youth & Government’s Model Legislature & Court (MLC) has been the state’s premier youth leadership and civic development program since 1948. This program provides them with the opportunity to experience government first-hand through a unique “youth-run, youth-led” model. Visit the California YMCA Youth & Government website for more information.
Vol. 9, No. 26 – September 28 – October 11, 2016 – Cartoons
Rhymes With Orange
Arctic Circle
Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Crock
Hagar the Horrible
Moose and Molly
Vol. 9, No. 26 – September 28 – October 11, 2016 – Opinion/Editorial
• I’m very saddened by the passing of Sandra Laby as a friend, a spirit, an inspiration, a contributor to the arts and to the lives of so many. She will be very-very missed (Sometimes life sucks)
• With this issue, we have included statements from five (one was in last issue) of the ten City Council candidates. Hopefully we will be able to include statements from all candidates by election time. Please read them carefully, and if you can’t attend the forums being held you can find them on CAPSTV.
Speaking of the elections, the California voter’s information guide is more than 215 pages long, most of which covers the 17 propositions. I’m not a big fan of the initiative process
(an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote, sometimes called a plebiscite). I have a problem with the process because there are always a few absurd items that voters get to decide.
For instance, #60 “Adult Films. Condoms. Health Requirements” should be regulated by the industry not by a vote of the people. I think the initiative process should make it more difficult to place propositions on the ballot.
• The closing of ITT Technical schools makes the closing of Brooks seems like nothing. ITT’s closing left almost 40,000 students and 8,000 employees stranded. This certainly doesn’t make those affected by Brook’s closing any less tolerable, but it does appear that “for profit” schools such as ITT are on their way out.
• The construction of the new Community Memorial Hospital just keeps going on and on but at least the new 570 space parking structure is finished and had a ribbon cutting ceremony recently (see article in this issue). CMH’s scheduled completion is now set for next summer some six years after groundbreaking and about two years past the original completion date. A new driving entrance to the hospital will be available off of Main St.
The usual excuses of why it has been delayed almost two years (we only hope two years) have been made. It will take another several months after construction is completed for training, hiring, obtaining many approvals and making sure all of the new very sophisticated equipment works correctly.
In the meantime, businesses in the area are getting killed by the loss of customers due to lack of parking, noise and other distractions. Perhaps the new parking structure will solve some of their problems.
Of course, once completed it will be great for these businesses if they can remain open until then. Yolanda’s Mexican Café is going through a major remodeling and will now be completed before the hospital.
• I’m sorry to find out that the annual Ventura Kinetic Sculpture Race “where art and engineering collide” won’t be held this year. It was a fun and entertaining event that was well attended. And, it included a fundraiser for a worthy cause – the Turning Point Foundation.
The race, located at the Harbor, involved “bicycles” using people power to traverse over water, mud and sand. Over the years the number of participating vehicles has been dwindling. And, most participants came from out-of-town. A large amount of work and effort to build and ride the vehicles certainly reduced the number of entrants.
Since the race just wasn’t a very big moneymaker for Turning Point, the benefit to them didn’t justify the effort needed to make it happen.
Hopefully some donors will help bring the race/event back next year.
• The City Council did the right thing by taking back four acres in East Ventura that had originally been planned for Veteran support services .The property had been given over for another use. One of the motivations is that the City wants to get Proposition 41 funding which provides funds for housing and services for homeless veterans. The City will be looking for an affordable housing developer to build low-income housing for our homeless veterans (see, all developers aren’t “evil”).
• I am really confused by constant (at least it seems like) revisions that the City makes to zoning standards and to the General Plan. Which are often, by the way, in conflict with each other. It almost seems like there is a strategy of “let’s try this and if that doesn’t work let’s try something else.” A revolving door process.
A perfect example is Victoria Ave.
Victoria was planned to be a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare but it never really turned out that way and never would have been. The only place that pedestrians walk is downtown (I don’t consider folks in the Harbor to be pedestrians).
Victoria is the only street that can be driven from one end (Foothill) of Ventura all the way to the beach, so it will always remain a busy auto thoroughfare.
Because of this, the Ventura City Council has voted to change the zoning there to allow greater types of development in parts of the “Victoria corridor”.
The 7-0 vote means that zoning changes will allow one-story buildings, which were allowed at one time (with a Conditional Use Permit – CUP) and drive-thru businesses. I can’t imagine why one-story buildings weren’t recently allowed.
City Councilmember Christy Weir was concerned that making the change would result in generic, cookie-cutter projects, but isn’t that what our Design Review Committee (and Planning) is there for – to prevent poor design? She was happy, though, that a CUP is required. I would be happy if the DRC (and Planning) did their job.