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Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

Aqua Beachfront Bar (Crowne Plaza)
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Sat 7/29: Freddie & Friends

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Sundays 4-7
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 7/28: Mack and D
Sat 7/29: Bill Macpherson with friends
Sun 7/30: Ken Devoe
Wed 8/2: Frank Barajas
Fri 8/4: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

Café Fiore
66 California St., Ventura
Wed 7/26: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 7/28: Heathers on Fire
Sun 7/30: Babylon Rockers

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 7/28: Colette Lovejoy Band
Sat 7/29: Out of the Blue
Fri 8/4: NDR CVR SPR GRP
Sat 8/5: 805 Social Club

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Constitution Park
601 Carmen Dr., Camarillo
Sat 8/5: Garth Live!

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 7/28: The Mixxers Band
Sat 7/29: Brandon Ragan Project
Fri 8/4: Los Amigos
Sat 8/5: Red Hot Cholo Peppers

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Mondays: Glenn Bennett
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Sun 8/6: The House Arrest Band

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Sat 7/29: Daily Specials, Maya Lumen
Tues 8/1: Sam Burton
Sat 8/5: Rey Fresco

Enegren Brewing Co.
444 Zachary St., Moorpark, CA
Thursdays: Glenn Bennett
Fri 7/28: On Tap
Sun 7/30: the Eastside Five, Burnt Toast

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
(Fridays 6-8:30; Sundays 1-3:30)
Fri 7/28: Johnny and the Love Handles
Sun 7/30: Stu Forman
Fri 8/4: Ignition
Sun 8/6: Brenda Carsey

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Sat 7/28: Cinnamon Whiskey
Sun 7/29: Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Sin Chonies

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Wed Happy Hour: Monte Montgomery & Friends
Thurs Happy Hour: Tom Etchart & Friends
Friday Happy Hour: Fred Kaplan
Wed 7/26: Adam Clark Quartet featuring Doug Webb
Thurs 7/27: Rachel Flowers
Fri 7/28: Max Haymer
St 7/29: Lenny LaCroix (2 pm); Dreamland (8 pm)
Wed 8/2: WORK Quintet
Fri 8/4: Ronnie Foster Organ Trio
Sat 8/5: Midlife Crisis (2 pm); Barrelhouse Wailers (8 pm)
Sun 8/6: Doug Webb Group featuring Danny Carey (TOOL)

Harbor Cove Café
1867 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Saturdays 10 am: The Cool Hand Ukes
Sat 7/29: The Rincons
Sun 7/30: Warren Takahashi
Fri 8/4: Brittney Burchett & Friends
Sat 8/5: Unkle Monkey

Harbor View Park: Concerts by the Sea
3850 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard (4-6 pm)
Sat 7/29: Nautical Thrust
Sat 8/5: Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers

Heritage Square Summer Concert Series
715 S. A St., Oxnard
Fri 7/28: Los Xiquenos
Sat 8/4: The Reunion

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Fri 7/28: Ventu Park Band
Sat 7/29: The Balance

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 7/27: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
Fri 7/28: Mike Scully
Sat 7/29: Levi
Sun 7/30: Talking Tones
Fri 8/4: Maclovia
Sat 8/5: Bossman Music

Libbey Bowl
210 S. Signal St., Ojai
Wednesdays: Ojai Summer Band Concert
Sat 8/5: Which One’s Pink
Sun 8/6: Chris Isaak

Lucas Sellers Wine
330 Zachary St., Moorpark
Sat 8/5: Natalie Wattre

Lucky Fool’s Pub
75 E. High St., Moorpark
Fri 8/4: Milo Sledge Trio

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wed 7/26: Warren Takahashi
Fri 7/28: Tour Support
Sat 7/29: Jeanne Tatum

Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri & Sat 7-10; Sundays 5-8 pm
Fri 7/28: Jen Staves & the Bluzfish
Sat 7/29: Brittney & the B-Sides
Sun 7/30: CRV
Fri 8/4: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sat 8/5: Vinyl Gypsies
Sun 8/6: Doc Rogers Band

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 7/29: Fallen Saints (noon); Stalag 13, Sweet Reaper, Ardi, Small Package (8 pm)
Sun 7/30: Teresa Russell

Music Under the Stars
Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olvias Park Dr., Ventura
Sat 7/29: K-Tell All-Stars
Sat 8/5: Louie Cruz Beltran

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Fri 7/28: The Listening Room Redux
Sat 7/29: May Bruns

Oceanview Pavilion Performing Arts Theater
575 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Sat 8/5: Fair Warning, Dressed to Kiss, AeroRocks, Mood Lifter

Ojai Great Goods
114 N. Padre Juan Ave., Ojai
Sat 8/5: Daily Specials, Maya Lumen

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant St., Ojai
Fri 7/28: Milo Sledge Trio
Sat 7/29: Dan Grimm
Fri 8/4: Buena Onda
Sat 8/5: Mark Masson

The Ojai Underground
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Fri 7/28: Perla Batalla
Sat 7/29: Birds & Arrows
Sat 8/5: James Lee Stanley

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Fri 7/28: Jack Keough
Sat 7/29: Vinny Berry

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Sat 7/29: Warren G., DJ Quick, Mack 10, Suga Free…

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Rd., Ventura
Sun 8/6: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Association

Poseidon Brewing
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Fri 7/28: Vinny Berry
Fri 8/4: CocoKnots

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 8 pm; Sunday 2 pm
Fri 7/28: Red Rhythm
Sat 7/29: Rewind
Sun 7/30: Smokey & Friends
Sat 8/5: Teresa Russell

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 7/28: Brandon Ragan Sax (4 pm); CRV (8 pm)
Sat 7/29: Check Point
Sun 7/30: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples

The Six
419 W. Main St., Ventura
Mon 7/31: Stuuuu’s Open Mic

The Sportsman Restaurant
4426 Central Ave., Camarillo
Sun 7/30: Swing Shift

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sat 7/29: Bar Fly
Sun 7/30: Renegades

Surfers Point Café
204 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sat 7/29: Andrew DeVries

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Tony’s Pizzeria
186 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Wed 7/26: Pull the Trigger
Thurs 7/27: Ska-One People
Sun 7/30: Heart & Soul

Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Sun 7/30: The Trivle Omdobble

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd. Camarillo
Sat 7/29: Jim Darin Band

The Twist
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 7/28: Brobots
Sat 7/29: Jam Fest with Mark Masson
Sun 7/30: Emily Coupe, Dylan Brehm, Cyamak Ashtiani

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Conjunto Zacamandu
Sat 7/28: All-a-Blur, Spider, The Robot Uprising, Plot (9 pm)

Ventura County Fair
10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Grandstand Stage
Wed 8/2: Midland
Thurs 8/3: Patti Labelle
Fri 8/4: Collective Soul
Sat 8/5: Ashanti
Sun 8/6: Dia de la Familia
Mon 8/7: Trace Adkins
Tues 8/8: 38 Special

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Wed 7/26: Yussef Dayes
Thurs 7/27: Guster
Fri 7/28: Save Ferris, The Aquadolls
Sat 7/29: Josh Meloy, Brother Earl and the Cousins
Thurs 8/3: Cory Henry
Fri 8/4: Fortunate Youth

Waterside Restaurant & Wine Bar
3500 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Thurs 7/27: Dave Blanchard
Sat 7/29: Bob Bishop Band
Sun 7/30: Sean Wiggins

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 3 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 7/27: Karen Eden & Billy Mac
Fri 7/28: Nautical Thrust
Sat 7/29: Brittney & Ben
Sun 7/30: Midlife Crisis
Tues 8/1: Open mic w/ Jenna Rose
Thurs 8/3: Angelic Noise
Fri 8/4: Bobby Hart & Friends
Sat 8/5: Steve and Sally Williams
Sun 8/6: The Bomb

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B St., Oxnard
Fri 7/28: Teresa Russell, Stephen Geyers
Sat 8/5: RJ Mischo

Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Community Events

Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers, BCNN is a group for women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.  It has dozens of small group of shoots from sports activities, to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups and more.  (www.bcnnwomensgroup.org). The meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the Ventura Yacht Club.  1755 Spinnaker Dr

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30pm. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Come meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30am. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Funfor the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water

July 10- July 31: Bereavement counseling can offer the support you need to help you through your grief. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program offers both individual (one-on-one) counseling with trained bereavement counselors/therapists and group counseling.

All support groups are free for the community. (Camarillo in-person). For reservations contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

July 26: The College Area Community Council iwill be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesda at 7pm. Gina Dorrington, from the Ventura Water Dept., will be discussing the pipeline project that will soon be under construction. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development.

Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

July 29: Seniors Craft Shoppe on 429 E. Main St.celebrates 45th birthday party.
from 3-5. We will have finger foods, punch, kids crafts, door prizes, and a drawing for three gift baskets for three lucky winners. The items in the gift baskets are all donated by the seniors who work in the shoppe.

August 5: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. There is no charge and all are welcome. Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve .If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours. Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd. Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall [email protected] (805) 377-5249

August 6: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Aug. 26: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at Computers, 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email and the Internet, social media brokers such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, and Yahoo. Events begin at 9:30am. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed prior to the event.

August 1: Ventura Senior Mens Group. Any man who considers himself in the senior category (and many who don’t) might benefit from a visit to the group at the Poinsettia Pavillion the first and third Tuesday of the month. Your first lunch is free! We talk about everything except religion and politics. Eligible to all men age 55 plus. .11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.. Speaker will be Kristin Decas, Port Hueneme CEO.

August 6: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.
Sunday 2:00-4:00 pm
Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd.
Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking
Open to the Public. For more information
call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Sept. 9: Relay for Life of Ventura. 10-10 p.m. at the Ventura County Credit Union, 2575 Vista Del Mar. The largest, most inspiring, and supportive cancer fundraising event on the planet. www.facebook.com/relayforlifeofventura

Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday 7/4

 10:01am, dispatched to possible Ocean Rescue at the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in Rescue B19 and Fireboat to assist VPD with an individual who jumped the locked fence at the base of the closed pier. Officers stood by in case the individual jumped off the pier. VPD was able to arrest him without incident.

2:19pm, dispatched to overdose at the launch ramp restrooms. Officers responded with VPD/AMR to a 24 y/o male who ran, but was arrested by VPD.

5:57pm, received report of a boat operating erratically near the launch ramp, having issues docking. Officers responded and contacted the operator, who refused to talk. He retrieved his vessel and left the scene without incident.

Wednes 7/5

 4:33pm, received report of a vessel operating recklessly in the surfline near Surfers Knoll jetty. Officers responded in Fireboat, contacted skipper of “lake-style” boat for violation and moved the vessel to safer water.

Thursday 7/6

 5:30am, observed NWS issued Small Craft Advisory, raised warning pennant.

9:39am, received report of a diesel spill near the Ventura Boat Yard. Officers responded in the Fireboat to assist TowBoat US with containment of the spill. A boom was deployed around a commercial fishing vessel that spilled 10 gallons. The spill was contained, absorbent pads deployed. OES investigating incident.

11:35am, received report of an individual pressure washing growth off the bottom of his sailboat at the launch ramp washdown. Officers responded and found a lot of mussels/growth clogging up the drainage system. The skipper was advised of the violation, agreed to clean it up. Maintenance able to unclog drain.

4:10pm, received request to tow a 42ft sailboat from boatyard to its slip. Officers responded in Rescue B19, towed the vessel to its slip in VIM D-dock.

Friday 7/7

 9:30am, received request to monitor the JG Pier Swim. Officers en route to the Ventura Pier aboard the Fireboat for the State Parks junior lifeguard swim.

12:03pm, dispatched to a fall victim in the Portside complex. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to male fall victim. No injuries, just helped up.

Saturday 7/8

 1:41pm, observed Ocean Rescue, three persons in the water, fell off electric boat in Pierpont Basin. Officers responded with Fireboat and Rescue Water Craft, pulled persons out of the water and assisted back onto rental electric boat.

6:35pm, observed a small sailboat sail into and beset in kelp bed at clingers point. Before patrol could get to the vessel, the skipper had swam his sabot out and into Harbor Cove. Officers picked up the skipper and transported to L/R.

9:10pm, received report of heavy redtide conditions at VWM D-dock. Officers have been using the Fireboats monitor to aerate the water, with no effect.

Sunday 7/9

 8:32am, dispatched to fall victim in Ventura Marina Community, non injury call.

5:26pm, dispatched to sick person in Ventura Marina Community, patient transported by AMR for hip pain after assistance to gurney.

Monday 7/10

 9:39am, dispatched to Ocean Rescue, search for a downed aircraft. Multiple agencies and assets responded, but were unable to find reported distressed vessel

3:00pm, received report of Dreamer Rental peddle boat, “Blue Duck” in distress in the keys, caught in the wind. Officers towed the vessel back to the rental dock

Celebration for our veterans at Olivas Adobe

On July 9 a celebration for our veterans, past and present, was held at the Olivas Adobe. It featured a salute to arms, old guns and do it yourself photo booth and docent-led tours.

The Olivas Adobe historic site features the home of Don Raymundo Olivas. Built in 1847, this Monterey-style adobe home, Historical Landmark No. 115 from the Rancho-era, celebrates Ventura’s Rancho and Latino heritage.

Veterans Celebration at Olivas Adobe

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Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Residential Burglary Arrest

On July 15, at approximately 7:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call from a resident who had arrived home to find the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old vagrant Angelita Reynosa, inside the house. When the homeowner entered the house, Reynosa exited and fled on foot. Arriving officers located Reynosa on Telegraph Rd. Reynosa had removed a screen from an open window and ransacked the home before fleeing with the victim’s property.

Reynosa was arrested and booked for First Degree Residential Burglary at the Ventura County Jail.

Stabbing-Homicide
UPDATE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED

Update: The Ventura Police Department has concluded a three-month investigation into the stabbing death of Jose Contreras. The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Ventura resident Dillon Mansell. He is currently in federal custody for a violation of federal probation. He now has a warrant for his arrest and will be returned to Ventura to face charges of murder and commission of a crime as a gang member.

Mansell has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, gang involvement, assault on a police officer, drug charges and weapons violations.

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On April 16, at approximately 1:00 an, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a stabbing that just occurred in the 200 block of East McFarlane Dr. Responding officers located one male adultsuffering froma stab wound to his upper extremities. The victim, Jose Contreras 31 years of Ventura, was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Ventura Police Department Major Crimes Detectives are currently investigating this incident. The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspect and victim knew each other and were at a gathering at a residence on East McFarlane. An argument ensued resulting in the victim being stabbed. Thisinvestigation is ongoing and may be gang related. At this time there are no suspects in custody.

Anyone with any information who may have witnessed this event is asked to call Detective Nuñez at 805-339-4328.

I See You by Helena Pasquarella at At Studio 99

I See You by Helena Pasquarella

At Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory The Artful Lens
Runs until August 26.
Next First Friday Reception, August 4, 6 – 9pm
Juror: Michael Corrigan Mishou

The Artful Lens is a photography exhibit featuring the works of BAA members and non-members. Congratulations to our Merit Award winners Lindsay Thomson, David Orias, Gerry Wilson, Daniel Gold, and Helena Pasquarella!

The entrance to Studio 99 is around the back of the Bell Arts Factory building, off of Wall St. Public hours are Friday and Saturday, noon – 4pm

Local area birds test positive for West Nile Virus

On July 7, 2023, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health of the first detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Ventura County. The virus was detected in wild birds collected by the Division, for the State’s dead bird surveillance program, during the third week of June from the cities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

WNV is established in Ventura County and additional WNV positives are expected. The Division monitors and controls mosquito breeding sources throughout Ventura County. All mosquito breeding sources in the area where the birds were collected will be inspected and treated if evidence of mosquito breeding is observed.

The Division also advises the public to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to WNV: Eliminate standing water from your property; make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes; when outdoors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and limit activity especially at dawn and dusk, when outdoors apply insect repellent.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or skin rash that can last for several days to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death. If residents feel they are experiencing symptoms, it is strongly recommended to consult their primary care physician.

WNV can not only affect humans but can also affect horses. For information on WNV in horses, owners should contact their veterinarian. To report any potential mosquito breeding sources in Ventura County the public can call the mosquito complaint HOTLINE at (805) 658-4310. The Division also provides mosquito eating fish to the public to use in non-maintained swimming pools, ornamental ponds and similar water features. To request mosquito-eating fish call (805) 662-6582. To report wild birds that have died recently call the California Department of Public Health at (877) WNV-Bird (877-968-2473). To obtain information about mosquito control and surveillance efforts in Ventura County please visit the Division’s website: https://vcrma.org/vector-control-program # # #

History Is Now, 2023 photography and art exhibition at County of Ventura Government Center

History Is Now, 2023 is an extensive selection of photographs by FOTM Founder Donna Granata

The County of Ventura and Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library (FOTM) are presenting the History Is Now, 2023 photography and art exhibition at the County of Ventura Government Center – Hall of Administration, Atrium Gallery, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Open now through September 5, 2023 as a part of the County’s 150th Anniversary events, the exhibit celebrates the many artists who have made an impact in Ventura County over the past 150 years.

History Is Now, 2023 an extensive selection of photographic portraits, by FOTM Founder Donna Granata, featuring artists from the organization’s extensive archives. From the cutting-edge work of Ojai artist Cassandra C. Jones to the weavings and tapestries of Zapotec weaver and textile artist Porfirio Gutíerrez, these portraits vividly demonstrate the depth and breadth of Ventura County’s arts community. Each image was created after in-depth documentation and study of the artist and their work as part of the Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library’s mission and programming.

Additionally, artwork from the FOTM’s Learning To See award-winning, in-school, cross-curricular program will be included in the exhibition allowing the public to see first-hand how FOTM integrates its research into lesson plans that emphasize critical thinking, innovation, and diversity.

Artists talks are scheduled for August 3, 2023, and August 17, 2023 and guided tours of the exhibition are available by appointment, with priority given to youth groups. General exhibition hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Jack Zoltan: 18-Year-Old Surfer On The Rise

Jack has a strong, determined attitude along with an almost businesslike work ethic.

by Joseph Seemayer

Jack Zoltan is an 18-year-old surfer who is a standout at Ventura County beaches including the Ventura Harbor and The Point to name a few. As a competitor, Jack is committed and focused. His goal is to continue to improve as an athlete while competing against some of the best in the nation. To help achieve this goal, Jack began working with a coach about two years ago. That coach is well known, former professional surfer and Ventura resident, Mike Lamm.

Mike Lamm competed on the US Bud Pro surfing tour in the 1980’s. His passion for coaching developed during his time as an amateur and professional. Today, some of Mike’s notable coaching achievements include world tour professional Lakey Peterson, who he has coached to two National titles, a U.S. Open Jr victory and a silver medal in the ISA surfing games. In addition to Lakey, Mike has coached professional surfer Tia Blanco, an ISA gold medalist and Nick Rozsa, who he coached to the number one position on USA team and US Open Pro Jr finalist.

Locally, Mike also coaches one Jack’s biggest role models and best friend, professional surfer and Ventura native, Dimitri Polous. Jack shares that Dimitri pushes him to be a better surfer and person every day.

Some of Jack’s strengths include his focus, determination and willingness to work hard. “Jack has made massive gains and improvements in his surfing skills during this last year”, Mike states with satisfaction. As Jack’s coach, Mike said it was evident that Jack has the natural athletic ability that a coach looks for in a new student. Mike explains that Jack possesses “the intangible X-factor that coaches look for to have to have students flourish”.

Jack has a strong, determined attitude along with an almost businesslike work ethic. Mike continued, “He’s there at the crack of dawn and on time. Jack would really listen and put in the maximum amount of effort into each of his sessions”, according to Mike. All traits that are necessary to help an athlete continue to grow and achieve competitive success.”

When Jack finishes his training in the water, he then continues with running and time at the gym. “Jack really puts in the work to consistently improve”, which is mandatory for Mike.

Mike continued with Jack’s improvement as a competitor, “Jack was the only Californian competitor, in an all-Hawaiian final at the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) US National championships this year.” Besides his finals appearance and eventual fourth place finish in National Championships, Jack finished this past season ranked 4th in the nation for the NSSA Explorer juniors division, 1st in the Gold Coast Explorer juniors division and 5th Southwest Open mens divisions. An impressive season finish for this young athlete.

Since 1978, the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) mission has been to encourage and assist its members in their interest to learn and develop the fundamentals and skills of surfing competition while competing in structured and quality events. Nationwide, there are more than 80 NSSA events that culminate with the annual National Championships, regarded as the highest profile youth surfing event in America.

The NSSA is one of the few national youth sports organizations that requires its participants to maintain academic standards in order to compete. Since the beginning of the NSSA program, the philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand in hand.

Under his coach’s guidance and with the assistance of his sponsors, Body Glove, Roberts Surfboards, Smilyn Wellness, On a Mission and A Frame Surf Shop, Jack plans on continuing competitive surfing professionally in the World Surf League (WSL) North American qualifying series.

In addition to Jack pursuing a promising professional surfing career, Jack will also be joining the Sundowners Wildland Fire Crew out of Lake Casitas.