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I really enjoyed the city, mainly because of its cleanness and people.

youth LuciaBy Lucia Salemme Vicente

I´m a high school student from Mar del Plata, a coastal city in central Argentina. As I am in my summer break I´ve been visiting Ventura for the last week and I have had a great time! I really enjoyed the city, mainly because of its cleanness and people. Every person I met was very nice to me and interested about where I come from. As I kept on saying in my answers one of the biggest differences was the weather, Ventura is definitely much warmer and less windy if you can believe that!

I was awed by the sunsets on the beach. Each of them was unique and gave an amazing show with its different colors. It was weird at the beginning given I am used to seeing the sun come out of the sea, instead of going down into it. Another thing I liked was biking along the seaside bike lane. There were lots of people walking, running, bike riding or even just resting and playing the guitar; it was a calm atmosphere, relaxing and in many ways enjoyable. Even though I come from a coastal city I was even impressed by the surfing, which I thought was very good. Moreover, the kite surfers were a good plus at the beach and in the photographs I take with me back home.

One of the highlights of my visit was the invitation to visit the Ventura High School’s robotics class. It was so much fun that I asked to participate a second night. During the two nights I got to know a great group of people who were working very hard in order to make a robot for the First Stronghold robotics competition.  The First Team 3925, Circuit of Life – that represents six schools in the area—was composed by about 70 students and mentors, everyone is very committed with their work and tasks. However, they never forgot it was a team work and helped each other solve problems that came their way, even looking for donations for money fundraising. I would like to thank all of them for being so kind and patient with me!

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in Ventura and I can´t wait to come back again to visit my family and make the most of the views and the experience of meeting new and wonderful people.

 

YMCA hopes to raise $170,000 in one-month

The Ventura Family YMCA launched its Annual Campaign on Friday, February 5 at the Y, which included over 60 campaign volunteers tasked with raising $170,000 in one-month. Board Chair, Danielle Brinkman-Vera, gave a speech about the importance of campaign and raising funds to support the disadvantaged in the community.  Speaking from her personal experience as a former Open Doors scholarship recipient, Danielle understands and feels passionate about the Y working towards building a stronger community. The Y provided her with financial assistance in the past. Now she is a CPA, a Partner at Faber Hass Hurley, LLP, and gives back to the Y as the volunteer Board Chair.

Danielle explains,  “It is important for everyone in our community to have the opportunity to be a part of the Y, no matter what their financial circumstances are.  We have so many members who are part of the Open Doors program and then later become donors because they see the value in what they received.  Our goal it help as many people in our community as possible!”

All of the Annual Campaign donations received will directly help children, individuals, and seniors within the community. The Open Doors scholarship fund ensures that nobody is turned away from the Y due to their inability to pay.  In addition to direct scholarships the Y also provides free programs for the community. English as a Second Language(ESL) classes are run by a certified ESL instructor every six weeks.  The Y acknowledges the importance of  practicing safe swimming. Statistics show that children who do not learn how to swim by the 3rd grade most likely will never learn how to swim.

Every dollar raised in the annual campaign is used to benefit kids and families in need.  Last year’s 2014-2015 combined total of donations and Y given support totaled $282,809.

Join the Y’s cause by donating in-person or via mail at the Ventura Family YMCA, 3760 Telegraph Rd. Or by calling 642.2131 or visiting ciymca.org/ventura.

The Ventura Family YMCA thanks their volunteers, donors, and Board of Directors for their support: Danielle Vera (Board Chair), Jim Duran (Past Chair), Todd Beguelin, Peter Berson, Pattie Braga, Rich Favor, Randy George, Rafael Gonzalez, Coral T. Hansen, Jeff Hata, Rick Jeffery, Dan Lyon, Doug Miller, Paul Mistele, Doug Moe, Tom Nevins, Ric Ruffinelli, Cherie St. Jean, Gema Walk, Jim White, and Kay Woodburn.

 

Vol. 9, No. 10 – February 17 – March 2, 2016 – Forever Homes Wanted

scamp to adopt VCASI’m Gordo my family brought me to the shelter to be euthanized because of injuries I sustained after being attacked by a dog. But thank goodness I landed at a No-Kill shelter! The medical staff at VCAS decided they could fix me up. I’m healed and adoptable now. I am so sweet that some of the volunteers used me as a model to show other volunteers how to handle doggies who are not so sweet. I was perfectly behaved and rested comfortable in one of the volunteer’s arms while they finished the class. I like walks and am also happy to sit on your lap or just hang out with you. Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive.

scamp to adopt CARLHi: I’m Sulley an almost 2 year old gregarious Boston Terrier who enjoys playing ball, running around and antlers are my favorite thing to chew on. I’m in need of a new home because my owners say I fight with unfamiliar dogs I initially meet and have become a liability. Once I get to know the other dog I’m fine. As you can see in my picture I have a cherry eye that they don’t want to pay to have fixed. They’ve given me 30 days to find a new home.

I’m good with older children, but it’s unknown how I am around small children or cats. I will run out an open gate or door, but this can also be corrected with some training. I’m house and crate trained and know how to use a doggie door.

I just want to be a cherished member of a loving family with people who really want me and are willing to work with me. I’m willing and able to learn if you’re willing to take the time to teach me. Could that be you?

 

 

 

Vol. 9, No. 10 – February 17 – March 2, 2016 – Mailbox

Letter to Editor,

At a 4 ½ hour City Council meeting on Saturday, Jan. 30, a majority of the conversation was how to increase taxes on the citizens of Ventura. No real time was spent on how to improve the economic vitality of Ventura. If the local commercial vacancies were occupied by businesses and new local jobs came to town, there would be more property and sales taxes without increasing taxes for Venturans.

There are funds to repair the pier. Also, with water rates increased by 34% over the last 2 years, our water system will be maintained. The City of Ventura has a balanced budget.

Mayor Nasarenko’s 2013 campaign promised to pay for streets, public safety, water resources, attracting new business, parks, schools and city services “By growing the economy… the city must attract and retain businesses that will increase its sales tax base.”  When asked about the city role to attract a better economic vitality he said: “The city can bring economic vitality to Ventura by keeping it safe and clean, creating a business-friendly culture at city hall, making sensible, cost-effective loans to businesses, and by promoting trade and tourism both locally and globally”. He said nothing about increasing taxes upon the citizens.

On Jan. 1, 2016, Medicare tax increased from 1.45% to 2.35%. Income Tax rate increased from 35% to 39.6%. Payroll tax increased from 37.4% to 52.2% Capital gain tax increased from 15% to 28%. Dividend tax increased from 15% to 39.6%. Estate taxes increased from 0% to 55% and a Real Estate transaction tax of 3.5% was added.

Now the Council spent $118,000 to hire a consultant to tell the City Council how to educate the Ventura voters so Ventura will vote to tax ourselves another $340 a year per household. It is time to just say no.

Robert Alviani
Ventura-VREG Chair

 

Editor:

As a parent at Pierpont Elementary School, I’m also concerned that as the vacation rentals go up, there’s a decrease in the number of actual families that reside in the Pierpont area.  As a result, the attendance of actual residential families has decreased steadily over the years.  The school has one of the lowest enrollments I’ve seen in the 5 years I’ve been there.  We had a high of 312 kids a few years ago and now we are down to 250 children.  I would hate to see this community lose this school in future years due to lack of families in the area.

Kim Castro

Ventura Breeze

Regarding “Homeless Prevention Fund”

Homelessness is a symptom of America’s living standards equalizing with the world’s living standards created by “Free Trade Doctrines” (something none of the politicians seem to want to talk about)

Obviously there are other reasons: housing crisis, drugs & alcohol abuse and mental illness, but the loss of good paying blue collar jobs is the crux of the problem… The stratospheric rise in the cost of buying a home as well as renting a home… Never mind the high cost of owning and operating an automobile these days! College..? Forget about it for most high school graduates now due the cost.

The idea that we can “bring (good paying) jobs back” is so much political pablum that the country wants to hear, but the real systemic problem is all of us want “stuff” that is cheap.

Not even Bernie Sanders can end this nightmare.

Dave Gunall, Brookings, Oregon

 

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.
~ Aesop

 

New West Symphony music director Marcelo Lehninger leads orchestra in Masterpiece Series concert

New West Symphony music director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the orchestra in a Masterpiece Series concert featuring the music of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.   Cellist Andrew Janss returns to the orchestra to  perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s Concerto No. 1 in C Major for Cello & Orchestra. The program also includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture to Il re pastore, K. 208 and the Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Opus 60 of Ludwig van Beethoven. Mr. Janss last appeared with the Orchestra during the 2011/2012 season.

The first performance will take place on Friday, February 26, 2016 at 8:00 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center located at 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard. The program will be repeated on *Saturday, February 27 at 4:00 and 8:00 pm at the Performing Arts Education Center on the campus of Agoura High School, located at 28545 W Driver Avenue in Agoura Hills and on  Sunday, February 28, 2016 at Barnum Hall in Santa Monica located at 600 Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica.

Tickets priced from $29 to $102 are available by phone, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday at 1-866-776-8400.  Tickets are also available in person at the New West Symphony office, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday and through the Symphony web site at newwestsymphony.org, 24/7.   Tickets are also available at the respective concert hall box offices.

Ask Event benefitting Step Up Ventura Feb. 19th

Come enjoy a little wine, a little cheese, a little chocolate,
And do a whole lot of good….
It’s an Ask Event benefiting Step Up Ventura

Take this opportunity to learn about an exciting new organization that provides homeless children and their families with much needed preschool and child care.

This is a fundraising event and your support is appreciated at any level you choose It’s being held on Friday, February 19th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at 499 Arnett Ave in Ventura.

Ventura City emergency personnel respond to mini-van with 5 victims into a building

On Feb. 9 Ventura City Fire Personnel responded to a reported vehicle into a building in the 300 block of Ferro Dr. The first arriving engine company found a mini-van that had left a hillside roadway, collided with exterior portions of a residence and a concrete pillar, coming to rest with the front left portion of the vehicle hanging over a steep embankment with other residences below, damaged electrical wires tangled in the undercarriage. A total of 5 victims were located and quickly triaged, three of which were children, one with facial trauma and one still inside the vehicle with a femur fracture. Utilities were controlled, the vehicle was stabilized and secured by the arriving truck company using heavy rescue rigging equipment. The severely injured child was stabilized and successfully extricated from the vehicle, all 5 patients were then transported to local area hospitals, requiring the use of 3 total ambulances.

Ventura firefighters respond to vagrant encampment fire below Union Pacific Train Trestle

A vagrant encampment fire that started in a confined space below the Union Pacific Train Trestle Sunday afternoon extended approximately 40 feet and significantly damaged a portion of the rail line on the bridge. Firefighters requested Union Pacific to stop all rail activities in order to make access to bridge. Ventura Police assisted by placing spotters up and down the rail line to warn firefighters if any trains were to about to cross the bridge.

Ventura Police located a subject, Joseph Duran (37 years-old), nearby who had been seen fleeing from the scene of the fire. Upon further investigation, it was learned that Duran is a vagrant who had set up camp in the river bottom.  He lit an illegal warming fire that quickly got out of control when the winds picked up.

The fire severely damaged nearly 20 wooden supports and engulfed an area under the trestle. The fire was deeply seated in the creosote lumber and was extinguished within 80 minutes. Union Pacific representatives estimate that structural damage would exceed $10,000– and fiber optic communications lines, housed in the under portion of the bridge, were being evaluated for damage. At the time of this press release it is unknown the extent of damages of the communication network and if train activity could safely resume, engineers are currently assessing the damage.

A makeshift living area in the catwalk under the bridge was consumed by fire. Union Pacific Rail officials had contacted the occupant numerous times over the past few months but had failed attempts to permanently remove the individual who eventually started this fire.  Joseph Duran was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for 452(c) PC – recklessly starting a fire.

 

 

Applications now being accepted for City of Ventura Planning Commission position

City of Ventura residents are encouraged to apply for a vacancy on the Planning Commission that advises the City Council on issues related to planning, development, and beautification of the City.  The special recruitment process is now open and applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory or from the City Clerk’s Office, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. The application deadline is 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 8.

Qualified applicants will undergo interviews with the City Council Appointments Recommendation Committee in February. The recommended appointee will be considered by the City Council and confirmed in late February. Volunteers must be willing to serve a four-year term.

Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at 641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at  658-4787.

Harbor entrance may open soon

According to Harbormaster John Higgins the Ventura Harbor entrance (closed because of high sand build –up) could reopen shortly if dredging can be performed to remove the sand build-up. The Harbor entrance was closed Jan.22 which meant that the tall ships had to be moved to the Channel Islands Harbor. Dredging equipment will hopefully be arriving in the next few days and if weather permits will start dredging work.

Both the fishing industry and merchants were hurt financially by the closure. Fishing boats couldn’t go out to fish and the Harbor merchants were hurt when the tall ships had to leave. The ships  bring a large amount of people to the Harbor visit the ships.

Financial assistance might become available for the losses suffered.