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New West Symphony Harmony Project provides music instruction

Music students performed at Bell Arts and Sheridan Way School.

Students from the New West Symphony Harmony Project of Ventura County recently presented two concerts in Ventura.

On Dec. 10 they performed at Sheridan Way School, to a standing room only crowd. One-hundred students performed.

The second concert was on Dec. 12 at the Bell Arts Factory and featured 40 middle school students, mostly from De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts.

youth harmony project2The New West Symphony Harmony Project provides after-school music instruction to 140 underserved third through eighth grade children in West Ventura. Due to great interest, there is a waiting list.

Funded largely through individual donations and community and foundation grants, the program was founded in 2011 by Ventura arts philanthropists Sandra and Jordan Laby.

New students entering the program begin in a Musicianship Class where they learn fundamental music skills with the use of recorders, recycled percussion instruments, and singing.  All students in the Musicianship Class learn to read music, improvise, and perform. After satisfying the beginning class requirements students transition to orchestral instruments. They learn band, string ensemble, Son Jarocho ensemble, chamber groups, and Jazz/Improvisation.

To learn more about the New West Symphony, and the Harmony Project of Ventura County, visit newwestsymphony.org.

 

Lincoln’s orchard was started more than 14 years ago

youth Lincoln Elementary SchoolFourth and fifth graders working on “Gardens of the Dragons”

Ventura’s Lincoln Elementary School is a Title 1 school serving a diverse community including one of the largest homeless and home-insecure populations in the county. Its school garden, “Gardens of the Dragons,” is especially important, teaching fourth and fifth graders how to grow food.

Agromin donated mulch to the school for its garden and school orchard. Students placed the mulch in their vegetable garden barrels and around the trees in the orchard. They are seeing firsthand how mulch makes gardening easy and water-efficient. Instead of watering every other day, students now only water two times a week.

Kids are currently growing broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots, beans, kale, beets and onions. As the vegetables mature, the students harvest, wash, and prepare them for tasting. They will soon be harvesting kale. The students will taste the kale “raw,” and then in a prepared salad.

Lincoln’s orchard was started more than 14 years ago by a teacher and has been maintained by Ventura Unified School District staff and parent volunteers since then. It serves as an important resource to the entire school, providing fresh fruits to Lincoln families year-round.

 

The students hope to plant a mulberry tree this school year. While the barrel garden does not lend itself to plants that are slow growing, the orchard provides a great counterpoint for students–showing them what is possible with patience and care.

As a reward for their work with their garden (weeding, watering, raking and mulching), kids can go to the orchard for a taste treat. At the beginning of fall, they ate figs and guava. Currently, they are enjoying apples and oranges.

Way to go to all the students, staff and parents at Lincoln!

Vol. 9, No. 7 – January 6 – January 19, 2016 – Forever Homes Wanted

scamp to adopt VCASHi: I’m Killian. Shelter workers call me an “awesome boy!” Indeed, I am. A handsome guy and with a royal bearing. I prefer making the decisions on when I get attention and how much. Cat-lovers knows that’s the trait of a very confident cat. I will settle in nicely in any home where I am given the space I want, and allowed to “call the shots.” I’m friendly, neutered, and ready to come and rule your house. Ventura County Animal Services – Simi location – 670 W. Los Angeles Ave

scamp to adopt CARLHi: I’m Buddy an active 2 1/2 year old Pomeranian/Yorkie X who is in need of a new home where I can get lots of love and attention. My current owners have full time jobs and go to school too, so aren’t able to give me the attention I want to have.

 

I’m an extremely loving and happy little guy who loves to run, go on walks and be petted and cuddled up next to you. I know how to use a doggie door and I know some basic commands – come, sit, stay, crawl and lay down. I’m good with other small dogs (bigger dogs scare me) and I’m good with children. If you’re looking for an energetic little companion, look no further and come and meet me!

Elite Theatre Company presents one-act festival Jan. 15th – Feb. 7th

The Elite Theatre Company is proud to present its 7th Annual One-Act Play Festival, opening Friday, January 15th and playing to February 7th. The plays are a compilation of the winners of the 2015 One-Act Play Writing Competition chosen from nearly 100 submissions from North American playwrights.

The selections are both dramatic and comedic, and include a love story with a twist, a marriage on the rocks, and a lonely woman seeking contact with the outside world. The Elite Theatre Company is the only theater in Ventura County that regularly showcases new plays by both known and unknown playwrights, as part of our goal to produce and promote new works to our patrons.

All tickets are $15.00. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays 8.00pmand Sundays at 2.00pm.

The Elite Theatre is located in the Channel Island’s Fisherman’s Wharf at 2731 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard CA 93035. For more info please visit http://www.elitetheatre.org/ or call 483.5118.

Update on Sandbags

The City of Ventura Maintenance Yard parking lot at 336 Sanjon Rd will have sand, bags and shovels as supplies last and will continue to refill as possible. Supplies are currently NOT available at Fire Station #1 or #6. The Ventura County Fire Department is also providing sandbags the phone number for more information is 805-389-9710.

If residents observe mud/debris in city streets or other non-emergency flooding problems, they can call Ventura Public Works at 805-652-4252.

Storm and high surf advisory for Ventura Tuesday-Thursday

The National Weather Service advises that a series of three storms is expected to make landfall in Ventura County beginning Tuesday, January 5. The first storm system is forecasted to hit Ventura County early Tuesday morning into the evening and may bring 1.4 – 2.5 inches of rain to the area. Rainfall rates up to .25 inches per hour are possible in some areas raising concern for post-fire debris flow. The second and third storms are expected to make landfall Wednesday into Friday with the potential of significant rainfall of 2 to 4 inches.

Residents are advised to use caution as possible impacts include mud/debris flows in recent burn areas, slick roadways, urban flooding, gusty winds and winter storm conditions in the high mountains with heavy snow.

Sand and sandbags are available to Ventura residents, at the following locations (please bring your own shovel):

City of Ventura, Maintenance Yard, 336 Sanjon Road. Ventura City Fire Station #1, 717 N. Ventura Avenue. Ventura City Fire Station #6, 10797 Darling Road.

Please contact Chris Palmieri, Public Works Supervisor, for more information on sand bags, 805.652.4521, [email protected]

High Surf

High surf advisory remains in effect until 10 pm PST Thursday, January 7, 2016. Surf is anticipated to build to 5 to 8 feet with sets to 10 feet by Tuesday. The highest surf is anticipated on west facing beaches. As a larger swell arrives by midweek surf will build to 8 to 12 feet on Wednesday and 10 to 15 feet on Thursday. Higher sets will be possible near Ventura Harbor. Large powerful waves and strong currents will create a risk of ocean drowning. Sneaker waves can suddenly overrun previously dry beaches and jetties. Flooding of low lying beach parking lots, harbor walkways and beach campgrounds will be possible especially during the middle of the week. High tides will be large enough by midweek to increase the risk of coastal flooding. A high surf advisory means that high surf and rip currents will make entering the water or climbing on rock jetties dangerous. Remember if caught in a rip current swim parallel to shore until you are free of the powerful current.

The Ventura Pier remains closed.

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy invites volunteers to plant trees January 16 & 18

Ventura Hillsides Conservancy invites volunteers to plant trees on January 16 & 18

On Sat., Jan. 16 and Mon., Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host community tree planting events at the Big Rock Preserve near Foster Park. VHC invites volunteers of all ages to join them from 9 a.m. – 12 noon along the Ventura River Parkway to help plant oaks, cottonwoods and sycamore trees on property owned and managed by VHC.

VHC, a local non-profit land trust organization, was awarded grant funding by the County of Ventura’s Resource Management Agency for the purchase and planting of 500 trees.  In late 2015, they planted the first 250 trees and in the coming months, will plant the remaining 250.  On Monday, Jan 19, VHC will plant 86 trees on what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.’s 86th birthday.

“We welcome old friends and new volunteers to help us beautify our preserve” said Derek Poultney, VHC executive director. “We are hoping to get the trees firmly established before the big rains come.”

The 17- acre Big Rock Preserve is a collection of five properties owned by VHC. The name Big Rock comes from a once-popular swimming hole on the property that was home to a large boulder before floods swept it away. Though the boulder is gone, the water remains. Due to the unique geology of the area, the Big Rock preserve is one of the only places along the Ventura River that has year-round water. The area is home to endangered steelhead trout, as well as western pond turtles, herons, deer, red-legged frogs and bobcats.

To RSVP for either tree planting event, visit www.venturahillsides.org and click on the Events tab. For more information, call VHC at 643-8044.

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and providing access to Ventura’s hillsides and the Ventura River.  Founded in 2003, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 400 members, local business and government partners.  The land trust currently owns 26 acres of land but is actively purchasing hillside property on the Walker-Hearne Ranch in east Ventura. Further information about the Conservancy is at: www.venturahillsides.org.

 

Sand and sandbags available to Ventura residents

Sand and sandbags available to Ventura residents, at the following locations:

  • City of Ventura, Sanjon Mainentance Yard: 336 Sanjon Road
  • Ventura City Fire Station #1: 717 N. Ventura Avenue
  • Ventura City Fire Station #6: 10797 Darling Road (near Wells Road, across from Saticoy Golf Course)

In preparation of expected heavy rain, the City of Ventura is providing residents sand and sandbags. Please bring your own shovel to any of these temporary locations.

Contact Chris Palmieri, Public Works Supervisor for more information, 805-652-4521, cpalmieri@cityofventura.net or Rick Guzman, Environmental Services Division Secretary at 805-652-4525, rguzman@cityofventura.net.

If you observe mud / debris in city streets or other non-emergency flooding problems, call Ventura Public Works at 805-652-4525 during regular business hours. On-call Public Works staff are also prepared to respond to emergency flooding situations outside normal work hours.

Electrical fire damages home

On Dec.30, at 5:20 pm, a resident of Cabrillo Village, 1515 S. Saticoy Ave. arrived home to find smoke and flames coming out of a front window and lapping at the eaves above the entrance to her home.  Firefighters arrived on scene to find the residence completely charged with smoke.  As they advanced into the building they discovered a television and other electronics burning in the living room.  Firefighters shut off the electricity and gas to the building and extinguished the fire with hose lines.

Extensive smoke damage was found throughout the entire residence.  Two adults were displaced from their home and were assisted with temporary relocation by the American Red Cross.  No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.  The fire cause was determined to be an electrical malfunction.