Mother Goose and Grimm
Crock
Hi and Lois
Rhymes With Orange
Green With Envy
All posts by admin
Do you know the way to San Jon? Ask a librarian.
By Gail Field
You probably already know the street named San Jon, but if you needed a map or any other information about Ventura, you could very well find it in the Research Library of the Museum of Ventura County.
Charles Johnson, the library director since 1989, makes the case for the library’s uniqueness. “With over 150,000 resources, our mission is to serve the public—to help them with whatever information they need. There is no place that has more resources about Ventura County than this library. We house over 300 linear feet of manuscripts, 50,000 positive photographs and twice that many negatives. We have 10,000 maps, 5,000 books, and over 700 architectural plans and drawings. We have an extensive ephemeral collection including such items as war bond booklets and gas ration coupons from the 1940s. In addition, our library volunteers have clipped and saved newspaper articles every day since 1977, when the library opened.”
This year the City of Ventura celebrates its 150th anniversary on April 2. The Research Library is working with the Museum Collections Department, preparing an exhibit entitled “Ventura @ 150: Celebrating the City of Good Fortune,” which will open on April 1 at the Museum and will include photographs, early documents and artifacts.
Johnson has seen many requests come to the library from local citizens, corporations, attorneys, land managers, and more. “We’ve had such a variety of inquiries—companies wanting information on agriculture, architects requesting plans for renovation projects, land use experts looking to see where the adobes were built and where the walls underneath those adobes still lay buried. Cal Trans recently contacted us about the possible impact of planned highway construction at the California Street off ramp on any important cultural resources. California fourth graders come to our library for their California mission projects. We’ve been able to give them what they need.”
If you have traveled on San Jon Road, you’ve probably noticed that the spelling of San Jon varies from map to street sign, and wondered, where did the name come from? The museum houses information on street names as well. No one is quite sure about the exact origins of this particular street name, but the Research Library copy of the Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly (winter 1972) devoted to Ventura County place names explains that the term comes from the Spanish word, “zanja, zanjon, or sanjon” meaning “ditch or channel.” The road follows the path of the Sanjon Barranca, which was exactly that—a “big ditch,” that often flooded during rainy seasons.
You already know the way to San Jon, and with the help of the Research Library, you can find a vast resource of even more fascinating facts on our own Ventura County.
The Research Library is housed in the Museum at 100 E. Main St. Phone: 653-0323, ext. 320 or [email protected]
Breeze publisher Sheldon appeared on “Girls On The Air”
On a recent Saturday Breeze publisher Sheldon appeared on “Girls On The Air”, a live community radio show every Saturday, heard at 1pm on local station KVTA AM1590. The show’s hosts are Traci Mahone, Liz Selleck, Karen Campbell and Deborah Delaney. They discuss all kinds of topics in a conversational style. Among other topics Sheldon explained how, and why the Ventura Breeze was launched 9-years ago with daughter Staci. He stated “I was possessed by an alien from a parallel universe.”
Tech Today with Ken May
What is Linux?
Sheldon sent in this request to me, and I think it might be useful for some of you out there that may have heard of Linux, and were wondering what it was all about. There are essentially two things needed to have a functioning computer: hardware and software. Hardware comprises all the physical components that you put together, and software is all the programs that you run to get work done. It used to be that you could only run certain kinds of programs on certain hardware, but that is mostly a concern of the past. These days, you can install whatever operating system you wish on most hardware, and have pretty good luck at getting it all working. The operating system is the underlying software the provides an environment and interface to make those programs run. Some common operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Apple’s OSX, and various different types of Linux.
The history of Linux began in 1991 with the commencement of a personal project by Finnish student Linus Torvalds to create a new, free operating system. This means anybody can download the code and install it on any hardware they want, without needing to pay for a software license. Because Linus shared the code under an open source license, anyone is free to make their own version, or to contribute fixes and enhancements.
There are thousands of different distributions of Linux, but only a few that have achieved mainstream popularity.
Ubuntu, which is built on the Debian platform, has easily been the most popular version, and is one of the easier to use variants. Before that, Red Hat, and OpenS– USE were quite popular. Right now, the most popular specific distribution, according to distrowatch.com, has been Linux Mint, itself a variation of Ubuntu.
Why is it better? Linux Mint tries to ‘just work’ out of the box, and succeeds far better for the average user, than many distributions that came before it. Also, you really do not have to worry about viruses anywhere near the level you would on Windows, or even OSX.
What’s the catch? Linux does not run windows software. Not by itself. You can install a special program that can run some windows software under Linux, called “WINE,” but this can get complicated very quickly, and no software vendor will support this. Additionally, it will be like learning how to use a computer all over again, since nothing will be where you expect it, from years of using Windows or OSX. Also, please do not attempt to use Linux on your main computer, un less you know what you are doing. It can very easily wind up wiping out your data, if you aren’t careful. I would recommend trying it out on an old computer that can safely be erased.
That being said, there are often local groups that will help you get to know Linux, and how to use it.
If you would like to give Linux Mint a try, it can be downloaded from linuxmint.com. the default version is called the “Cinnamon” desktop.
Apartment project breaks ground
On Feb.11 a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new, 173-unit development in Ventura, Parklands Apartments at Wells Road & Telegraph Road. The estimated completed date is March, 2017.
In attendance were the developer, construction employees, interested neighbors and city dignitaries. Speaking to the gathered crowd were City of Ventura Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann and Community Development Director Jeffrey Lambert, as well as Trustee of the Gladys Daily Coffman Trust (Previous property owner) Laura McAvoy and Owner/Developer John Ashkar.
Residents will have access to various courtyards and an elevated deck overlooking the Brown Barranca, along with amenities including recreational facilities, barbeque areas, a pool and spa. Linear parks, bike pathways, and pocket parks in and around the project will provide residents with ample green space for outdoor recreational activities. Other amenities will include a full gym, lounge, conference room, and game room.
Future plans for the site call for over 200 single-family homes and other type housing. This will make it one of the biggest developments of its type in Ventura.
John Ashkar’s development company Westwood Communities Corp. has several other large apartment projects in the planning stage to be built in Ventura. With Ventura’s vacancy rate extremely low more units are very much needed.
Honor your family with an engraving in granite on the historic Ventura Pier
In celebration of the City of Ventura’s 150th Anniversary, Pier into the Future is offering deckhand engravings at a reduced price of $150 through March 1, 2016. This is a savings of $25 per engraving.
Commemorate that special loved one or honor your family with an engraving in granite on the historic Ventura Pier. The $150 donation includes your name, or the name of a loved one, engraved on a granite honor roll at the entrance to the pier, a plank “grant deed” suitable for framing and a collector’s edition lapel pin. A special memorial section is available for donations in memory of an individual. Orders received by March 1, 2016 will be engraved prior to the City of Ventura’s 150th Anniversary on April 2, 2016.
“This is the perfect time to have your name engraved in granite at the historic Ventura Pier, all while helping to raise funds to keep the Pier well maintained”, said Pier Into the Future Executive Director Jenise Wagar. The organization was founded by a group of dedicated community leaders, in partnership with the City of Ventura, to establish an endowment fund to maintain and enhance the historic Ventura Pier for future generations to enjoy. The organization has contributed over $500,000 to the City of Ventura over the last 23 years to enhance the Pier.
Engraving forms can be found at www.pierintothefuture.org or by calling 804.7735.
Ventura Music Festival appoints Susan Scott as Executive Director
The Board of the Ventura Music Festival has announced the appointment of Susan Scott as Executive Director. Scott served as consultant to the Festival last year and is well known to the arts and general nonprofit communities in Ventura County. Among her other accomplishments, Scott directed the three-year ArtsLIVE project of the Ventura County Community Foundation, served as Managing Director of Theater 150 in Ojai, and was founding Executive Director of the Bell Arts Factory in Ventura which is celebrating its ten year anniversary.
Boys & Girls Club fine art members shine
Sharon Fleur, Susie Lawson and Samuel Navarro (crouched down) are proud of the art of the members of the Boys & Girls Club. The National fine arts exhibit program encourages artistic expression among Club members ages 6-18 through nine different categories of visual arts including monochromatic and multi-colored drawing, oil painting and watercolor, printmaking, collage, mixed media, pastel and group projects while providing opportunities for members to create artwork for display in a local exhibit.
Shown here with their wonderful paintings and drawings.
Photos by Michael Gordon
Rotary hosts Bake Sale lunch at the Derby Club
Bake sale by VHS Interact raises $2,635
On Feb.10, the Rotary Club of Ventura Club#691 held their Annual Ventura High School Rotary Interact Bake Sale lunch at the Derby Club. The baked goods were prepared by members of the Ventura High School Interact Club, 42 strong and auctioned off at the event to raise money for their many activities.
The high school bakers showed off their pastries to the several hundred Rotarians and guests enjoying their lunches as they walked around the room with the delicious pastries. They raised $2635 from the auction.
Interact is a club for youth ages 12-18 who want to connect with others in their community or school. Interact club members have fun while carrying out service projects and learning about the world. Interact clubs organize at least two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding. While Interact clubs receive guidance from individual Rotary clubs, they govern and support themselves.
With all their combined activities The Rotary Interact Club of Ventura High School has contributed more than 1000 hours of community service.
As Interact moves forward in 2016 they will be hosting an on-site Valentine’s Day Dance at Ventura High School for children with special needs, participate with a joint Boys & Girls environmental project, Earth Day project by distributing grocery totes and the utility box in front of Ventura High School will soon be showcasing the artistic works of this Interact group.
Here is a short list of some of the events the VHS Rotary Interact youths participated in in 2015:
• Volunteered for the Breast Cancer walk as a joint project with Rotaract [10/10] and supplied about 20 volunteers
• Color Run-provided 25 volunteers
• Purchased 100 Thanksgiving meals for FOODShare
• Completed the VHS Food Fundraiser
• Planned a Special Needs social at VHS, a joint project with another VHS club
• Volunteered for the Turkey Trot and collected food for FOODShare
• Created homemade cards for the Seniors with Rotaract,
• Participated in the Foster Care kid Christmas gift wrapping with Rotaract
• Participated in the Rotary Children’s Holiday shopping
Kids Garden Brigade goes organic
Gerardo Gallegos and Chris Massa show the Brigade how to grow their own vegetables organically.
By Gail Field
Under a sunny afternoon sky, seven children crouch between the kale and Swiss chard, looking for aphids on the green leaves. Gerardo Gallegos smiles as his eyes scan the community garden, seeing everything. Nearby, white bunnies prick up their ears and chickens fluff their feathers. It’s a good job we got these patio furniture sets because they’re going to be exhausted soon!
The instructor, Chris Massa, coaches the kids. “Look closely.” he says. “We’ll hose off the aphids to dislodge them and keep them away from the plants.” One boy takes charge of the hose. Another opens the leaves. Still another peers into the cage to watch the white rabbits.
Gallegos, the founder of Kids Garden Brigade, has designed the program to show kids how to grow their own vegetables organically. He hopes that the children will take what they learn in the program and create gardens in their own yards, to be able to help feed their families, and even have enough left over to sell. Gallegos has a clear vision for the community garden. “Everything we do here allows us to grow food that is good for you, just like nature intended. As it was in the beginning, we use plants and processes coexisting naturally. The technical word is ‘permaculture,’ combining the best of edible gardening and natural landscaping. That’s where we’re going.” This vision includes plans for a new agroponic system that will feed water into a pond that might include Pond Pumps where fish and vegetable plants coexist.
The kids are guided in the process guided by Massa, an instructor in organic gardening and agriculture, formerly with the Food Corps. At the Kids Garden Brigade on Ventura Avenue, he shows the kids how to grow kale, Swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, spinach, Chinese cabbage, and more.
The garden floor is topped with redwood chips that hold in the moisture to sustain the plants, requiring less watering. They also prevent growth of weeds. The carpet of rich black soil below holds the water to nourish the vegetables that the children cultivate.
The office area, still under development, is a converted shipping container donated and refurbished by the Ventura-based Porta Stor, who created the practical and comfortable office by adding insulation dry wall, windows and a recycled wood floor.
Local kids gather once a week for the educational program, and on one Saturday a month, parents and groups are welcome to participate. Gallegos’ vision for the Kid’s Garden Brigade comes from his experience as a boy growing up in Ventura. “This was a tough neighborhood then,” he says. “My friends got into gangs and drugs. Some ended up in jail. I was fortunate to avoid this kind of life, but if those kids had had something like this garden—a place where they could learn something useful and important, they could have avoided that hard life. I want my kids to grow up with a sense of sharing and a commitment to their community.”
For more information on the Kids Garden Brigade, call 500-3028.
Gerardo Gallegos, Kids Garden Brigade