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Senior Spring Prom at the Palms at Bonaventure
The Senior Spring Prom at the Palms at Bonaventure this year was held on Friday, May 20. The theme was Tale as Old as Time. Residents, families and friends from the community enjoyed the live music and dancing with delicious chef-prepared hors d’oeuvres. The dessert table was overflowing with peanut butter chocolate cookies, chocolate cup custard, fruits, and Arnold Palmer iced tea.
Everyone was dressing up to look gorgeous for the special event. The dining room turn into Cinderella’s Ball Room with the Cinderella Carriage photo booth. Sumi and Hank were the prom Queen and King this year. Hank was the King for the second consecutive year. They danced the whole afternoon until the music stopped. Residents and visitors had a great afternoon of dancing, live music and socialization at the Palms.
Can you sing?
The Master Chorale Children’s Choir is auditioning now for the fall session. Classical children’s concert choir. Rehearsal groups graded for ages 6 -18.
Award winning choir with concerts at the historic San Buenaventura Mission, tours, and competition festivals, and much more. Please call for an audition held in Somis, 796-1951 and check their website at www.mastercc.org.
Vista Real Charter High School Class of 2016
by Sheri Long – Vista Real Charter High School Community Liaison
Vista Real Charter High School held its 11th annual graduation on May 24. Eighty-three graduates took to the stage in full cap and gown to receive their hard earned diploma. Many of these students accepted their diploma as the first in their family to graduate from high school or in the face of daily obstacles. In many cases, these students never dreamed of graduating in spite of homelessness, health problems, the need to support a family, or having become young parents themselves.
The Vista Real Guitar club played the traditional processional of Pomp and Circumstance and the evening’s keynote speaker was Frankie Guzman, staff attorney from the National Center for Youth Law. Mr. Guzman shared his personal obstacles with the graduating class in stating that “life is ten percent of what happens to you, and ninety percent how you react to it.” Along with Mr. Guzman, three student speakers, Serina Garcia, Andrew Zendejas, and Dana Nininger-Erck shared their own stories of what lead them to high school completion at Vista Real from the need to care for an ill parent to a pregnancy at age 17.
The Choices in Learning Scholarship was granted to Patricia Ramirez who will be attending a program in the hopes of becoming a dental hygienist. With personalized learning, scheduling flexibility, one-on-one attention and workforce readiness programs, Vista Real has prepared these graduates for future endeavors. While some choose to attend college through the mentorship and application assistance provided by Vista Real, others will be moving into the workforce to become productive members of the local community.
We commend these students for their perseverance and willingness to work toward their future and wherever it may take them in a positive direction. While student speaker Zendejas plans to join the U.S. Coast Guard and Nininger-Erck will be starting college in the fall, Serina Garcia spoke for every student when she stated, “there is always a way to reach out and grab your dream.”
For more information on Vista Real and any of the six resource centers located throughout Ventura County please visit us online at VRCHS.org or call 437-9332.
Rubicon announces upcoming 2016 summer programs
Director Brian McDonald works with the students from Rubicon’s Theatre Camp. Photo courtesy of Rubicon Theatre Company
by Richard Lieberman
Brian McDonald Director, and acting instructor at the Rubicon Theatre Company has announced a new season of performance camps and intensives, master classes and workshops. McDonald founder and program director of Rubicon’s Summer Youth Program has appeared in national tours of Miss Saigon and Forever Plaid.
The program designed for youth from 5 years to 19 plus years, gives participants an opportunity to “play, explore and create in a professional environment, “McDonald said. “Our program is a place for students to take a risk, stretching beyond their comfort zone.”
Classes are held at Rubicon Theatre Company located at 1006 East main Street in the heart of Ventura’s Cultural Arts District. The program offers students an opportunity to study with trained, experienced instructors, who are working theatre arts professionals.
McDonald who has spent the past 15 years at the Rubicon said, “we focus on making our programs the best they can be.” “I think throughout my life I have been a creative person,” he added. Creative from an early age he shared a memory of his early creative talent “I remember when I was 8 or 9 years old, my bicycle was stolen, and I got some neighborhood kids together, and I set up a mock trial, and we all played parts like a real trial.”
The 2016 summer programs offered by the Rubicon Theatre Company this season include The Stinky Feet Theatre Workshop designed for youth from 5-12, Theatre Camp, Ages 11-14, The Fearless Shakespeare Intensive from ages 15-23, and The Musical Theatre Intensive, Ages 15-23.
These programs offer students of all ages the opportunity to develop performance and personal skills in a challenging yet nurturing professional environment with top theatre artists and instructors. For more information on these summer programs email to [email protected] or check the Rubicon website at rubicontheatre.org.
Vol. 9, No. 18 – June 8 – June 21, 2016 – Professor Scamp
• The Humane Society of Ventura County is having an open house. See page 8 for all of the details.
• June – August summer adoption specials at Ventura County Animal Services(VCAS)
Mondays: Mixed-Breed Mondays $30
Tuesday: Twenty Dollar Tuesdays $20
Wednesdays: Wabbit Wednesdays $40 (white rabbits) $70 (bonded pairs)
Thursdays: Throwback Thursdays – 1992 rates $22
Fridays: Fifteen Dollar Feline Fridays $15
Saturdays: Super-Size Saturdays – Large Breeds ($25
Sundays: Senior Sundays – Humans 55+ or Pets 5+ $25
Please visit www.vcas.us for information and exclusions.
• Across China and in the city of Yulin, thousands of dogs are being rounded up. Pets have been stolen, and strays are being snatched off the streets. Trucks and motorcycles are roaring into town with cages full of animals captured, some from thousands of miles away, others from nearby provinces… all in preparation for the annual Dog Meat Festival, just weeks away.
The dogs’ journey to this dreaded place—crammed on top of each other and transported for days without food or water—is only the beginning of their suffering.
Once they arrive, they’ll be beaten to death in front of each other; each one waiting, terrified and helpless, until it’s his turn to be pulled out by the neck with iron tongs and hit repeatedly on the head with a metal pole to stop him from fighting. Finally, his throat will be cut open to let the blood run out.
Please urge China to stop this cruelty towards animals now. With support from international and local animal advocates, media, celebrities and—the outraged and appalled—members of the Chinese and global public, momentum is building to stop this barbarity, which brings shame to Yulin and the rest of China.
• My friend Donna Iverson runs Walkabout Ventura. She provides all kinds of services for us dogs including park excursions, pet sitting (even for cats), pet taxi and much more. She can be reached at 766-8425 or [email protected]. Tell her I sent you and she will give me some good dog treats.
Vol. 9, No. 18 – June 8 – June 21, 2016 – Opinion/Editorial
• In our last issue I had the following comments regarding a Ventura’s Historical Preservation Committee‘s vote. I have more to say about this.
“On May 23 Ventura’s Historical Preservation Committee, by a 3-2 vote, decided that the building at 567 Sanjon (most recently Joes Crab Shack and previously the Chart House) is not historically significant. Several third party experts had determined that the building is “not historically significant” and I certainly agree. Just because it is old does not make it a significant building and its architecture certainly doesn’t warrant this designation.”
The proposed large project on this site does not include preserving the restaurant building.
The Preservation Committee was to determine whether the structure – built in 1981 – in the organic architecture style is “historically significant” per State and National guidelines.
According to separate historic assessments conducted by the firms Rincon Consultants, Inc., of Ventura, and Historic Resources Group of Pasadena, the building fails to meet any of the guidelines.
In part, Rincon Consultants stated, “Rincon finds that the building located at 567 San Jon Rd. does not appear eligible for historic designation at the National, State or local levels of historic significance. As such, the building located within the subject property is not considered a historical resource in accordance with CEQA.”
Perhaps the building was historical when originally constructed (some Committee members reluctantly voting no because they thought so) but that is not the point it needs to be evaluated as it now exists. There have been many, many revisions to the building including some previously approved by the City Council. Today it certainly does not meet any of the conditions to deem it historical.
“Yes” votes, to deem it historical, were cast by Sherry Schafer and Committee Chair Pamela Huckins. I believe (as do several at City Hall) that they were negligent and remise in their responsibility as members of the Committee in voting for this building to be historical based upon all of the guidelines and as it now sits. I feel that they voted with their hearts and not their brains.
• Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney has stated his opposition to a November ballot measure that seeks to legalize recreational marijuana use in California known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act – a statewide ballot measure to control and regulate the adult use of marijuana.
Chief Corney, along with the California Police Chiefs Association (he is president of the organization), are opposed to the Adult Use of Marijuana Act.
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and other supporters say the 62 page initiative will make it harder for those under 21 years old to obtain pot and easier for police to crack down on illicit sales (most police do not agree).
The November measure allows for possession of an ounce of marijuana as well as cultivation of six marijuana plants for those over age 21.
California voters defeated a 2010 marijuana legalization measure. A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 55% of likely California voters now support such a measure.
Corney said the measure is backed by big corporations, including those in the tobacco industry.
And that, unlike alcohol, there is no scientifically recognized test to administer to drivers by the police to determine whether people are under the influence of marijuana.
The following is a portion of a recent police report that has helped me with my thoughts regarding this issue:
“On the above date and time the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a report of a strong armed robbery that had just occurred in the 900 block of S Wells Rd. The victim, Edgar Aguilar, an employee of a medical marijuana delivery service in Paso Robles was in Ventura making a delivery to a medical marijuana patient.”
“However when Aguilar met with the patient on Wells Rd the patient and two other male suspects entered his vehicle, physically assaulted him, and demanded his property and all the marijuana that he was transporting.” By the way, the suspects were caught.
This is an issue that I have had a difficult time deciding what’s most appropriate, but as I study this more I now feel that the proposed State initiative should be passed (if the 62 page initiative is what I believe it to be) as it will include definite limitations on the growing and use of marijuana, but I am opposed to the “retail” industry now legal in many states and places.
As the Chief stated, big business, including the tobacco industry will take over this new industry and marijuana use will greatly increase. I think individuals should have the right to grow a small amount of marijuana and use it medicinally (or not), but it should not be a product that you can go to the local store and purchase. Folks who use marijuana for medical reasons (which I strongly support) can be taught how to prepare dishes for their use or can get assistance from friends.
• I need help from you intelligent Breeze readers. I assume that you know that recently a 4-year old boy fell into a gorilla’s enclosure at a zoo and it was decided that in order to save the child that the gorilla had to be shot and killed.
The mother of the child thanked the lord for saving her child. Why didn’t the lord also save the life of a 19-year old magnificent animal (and father) at the same time and why did the lord let the child fall in the enclosure in the first place?
I really hope to hear from you regarding this.