Patrick Davidson is celebrating his one-year anniversary as Executive Director of CAPS.

On Thursday, October 8, CAPS Media is hosting an Open House from 6-9PM at the CAPS Media Center, located at 65 Day Road directly across from Foothill High School.  The free event is an opportunity to recognize outstanding Member/Producers, participate in an informal discussion on the direction of CAPS, and get a preview of productions and concepts for the coming months.

October marks Patrick Davidson’s one-year anniversary as Executive Director of CAPS Media.  Patrick is an award winning 25-year entertainment industry producer and executive, and the former CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura.  Ventura Breeze invited Patrick to share a few thoughts about his first year at CAPS Media.

Patrick said, “This year has flown by – and it has been a great ride.  Everyone associated with CAPS Media – including the staff, Member/Producers, board members, City and VUSD school district officials, and all of CAPS’ other partners have been extremely supportive.”

“Over the past year, CAPS has broadcast hundreds of hours of original programming produced by Member/Producers, covered and broadcast dozens of Ventura City Council and City meetings, Ventura Unified School Board meetings, and numerous City related events and stories.  I look forward to continually increasing our roster of individual Member/Producers and member organizations.”

“On the tech side, the CAPS Media Center directed major upgrades of broadcast equipment, playback systems, post production editing equipment and software and related resources.  The upgrades and expansion solidify CAPS Media as the most comprehensive and well-equipped community access facility and media programming service in Ventura County.”

“Everyone who visits the CAPS Media Center is amazed. The resources available to the public, the City, our partners and agencies in Ventura are remarkable.  As a former studio executive and network producer I can attest to the fact that the equipment, tools and talent at the CAPS Media Center match or exceed those in network affiliate stations in hundreds of markets across the country. At CAPS, all of the tools are available to the public and supported by our extremely knowledge staff.”

“I suppose that CAPS’ greatest weakness is also our greatest opportunity.  Many people in Ventura don’t realize the resources that CAPS offers to everyone in the community.  The CAPS Media mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.  In order to fulfill our mission we want to get more people in Ventura involved and engaged at CAPS.”

“The past year was challenging and rewarding, and 2016 promises to be even better.  I look forward to meeting everyone at the Open House on October 8, getting community input and sharing our story.”

For additional information about CAPS, visit www.capstv.com.

Alberto Perusset, a.k.a. Barefoot Alberto of Malibu, finished the 3rd annual Ventura Marathon, his 100th marathon, wearing bib #100.

By Mira Reverente

The sweltering heat, quite unusual for Ventura this time of year, did not prevent blazing fast times from being set at the 3rd annual Ventura Marathon and Beach Party held the weekend of September 12 and 13 at the Ventura Pier.

Garret Drogosch, 24, of Lake Sherwood, California, dominated the men’s field in the marathon with a winning time of 2:34. Michelle Hamilton, 34, of San Luis Obispo, prevailed over the women with a finish time of 3:10.

The flat and fast marathon course took runners and walkers alike from the Ventura Pier to the Port Hueneme Pier and back. The half-marathon course was predominantly ran on the same course, turning half-marathoners around earlier, just before the 5th Street and Harbor Boulevard intersection.

In the half-marathon, 25-year-old Ventura native Isidore Herrera won with a blazing time of 1:05, showing everyone who’s boss in his home turf. Among the women, 36-year-old Jennifer Santa Maria of San Diego blazed by with a time of 1:17.

Following Herrera’s footsteps, another local, 26-year-old Brittany Oliver prevailed in the women’s 5K with a winning time of 20:02. Sean Kelly, 29, of Yucca Valley, won the men’s 5K, coming in at 17:44.

A combined total of approximately 3,000 participants completed the kids’ run and bike rides on Saturday and the three road races (marathon, half-marathon and 5K) on Sunday.

“We were really excited about the event as a whole and attracted a lot of out of town competitors – 70% of race participants were from outside of Ventura County representing 38 states and eight countries,” says Josh Spiker, race director.

“Although the weather was abnormally hot and humid we still had lots of fast times and Boston Marathon Qualifiers,” he said.

This year, about 40,000 free race photos were made available through Facebook which was a big hit for the runners, according to Spiker. Photos of interesting finishers such as Malibu resident Alberto Persusset, a.k.a. Barefoot Alberto. This was his 100th marathon.

At the beach party, local and upcoming bands regaled the crowd all-weekend long with rock n roll, reggae, soul, blues and country music. A beer garden, health expo and kids’ activities were all part of the weekend extravaganza at the Ventura Pier.

The much-awaited Ventura Marathon is fast becoming a favorite Boston Marathon-qualifier, being the last marathon in the second half of the year to fall within the qualifying window of the prestigious and elite “king of road races.”

Since 2013, the Ventura Marathon has encouraged volunteerism and the participation of local schools, cross-country teams and non-profit groups across its many weekend events. Over $80,000 has been raised for local philanthropy.

For more information or to check on results, visit www.venturamarathon.com.