Ventura Planning Commission Chair Dan Long has been creating sand art since he was in high school while other kids were playing in it. Now he lives right here by the sand. 
During the recent County Fair he was demonstrating his unusual art showing how he creates his wonderful sand art by manipulating and arranging sand of different color in glass bottles. Among his very sophisticated tools are no.2 wood pencils.
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Gayel Childress painting in permanent Ventura’s Municipal Art Collection
This painting, collage and acrylic by Gayel Childress can be seen in the permanent Ventura’s Municipal Art Collection in the corridors of the Ventura City Hall. The Municipal Art Acquisition Program was established in May, 1999. She is known for her innovative use of color and her energetic flair for experimentation. Her goal is to capture the spirit of a subject.
This is exactly why we need gun control… for chimpanzees ; )
Some African soldiers decide it’s a good idea to give a cute young chimpanzee an AK-47 rifle. Watch the video see the hilarious results – I especially love his victory dance at the end ; )
Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship award winners
The Ventura Police Officers Association (VPOA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 12th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships are to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.
In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA considered academic achievement, school and community service, financial needs, and the following requirements:
Applicants had to submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;
Submit an essay of 1000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;
Submit a letter of recommendation from a public servant.
2015 Scholarship Awards winners:
1st Place $5,000.00 Joshua Rance
2nd Place $3,500.00 Alex Brunk
3rd Place $2,000.00 Jordan Schindler
Honorable Mention(s) $500.00 Jonathan Richmond and Aaron Borkovec
The VPOA would like to thank all of the applicants and congratulate the 2015 winners of the Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship!
“Be honest, be safe, and look forward to each day.” –Sgt Dee Dowell www.venturapoa.com.
Home of America’s Canine Disaster Search Teams
Heroes, both dogs and fire fighters are training right around the corner.
On July 9, a milestone event at the National Training Center (Home of America’s Canine Disaster Search Teams) was held when the search teams deployed to Nepal were honored. The world looked on as TEAM USA joined first responders from around the world searching for survivors of the deadly Nepal earthquake. The Canine Disaster Search Teams who took part in the rescue operations are home now, already back in training for the next deployment.
The Search Dog Foundation (the nonprofit that trained six of these teams) is building a 125 acre National Training Center to give America’s Search Teams the advanced training needed for their most challenging deployments around the world and here at home. There will be a grand-opening next year.
The Center will be the first facility of its kind in the nation. A place where rescued dogs (yes, rescued dogs) become rescuers and where America’s Search Teams can practice on disaster simulation scenarios under the expert guidance of professional canine trainers. The setting is a beautiful rustic canyon located off of Foothill. The NTC will be a place where rescued dogs will learn to be rescuers and the dogs with their firefighter-handlers will get the advanced training they need for the most challenging deployments. It will be the only training facility in the U.S. dedicated solely to first responders and their canine partners who risk their lives to make sure no one is left behind in the wake of a disaster.
The “Disaster Training Zone” at the Center will include a simulated tornado stricken town, a collapsed freeway, a demolished hotel, huge rubble piles and a train wreck. Some of which are in construction.
The train cars were transported by rail from Fillmore to Santa Paula where they were lifted by cranes onto four trucks to bring the trains to the NTC. They were generously donated by Fillmore&Western Railroad.
They were then trucked from the bottom of the property to further up the canyon. Two cranes on either side of each truck lifted the trains and placed them in their final destination. At one spot on this very winding road the rear of a truck was actually lifted into the air to make the bend. Because the entrance to the facility was too small a neighbor gave the Foundation permission to build a road on an adjacent property to get the trains onto Foundation land.
On July 9th, the Petco Foundation announced a $2,500,000 “Pathway to Completion” Challenge Grant to help the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) build America’s first National Training Center. The 2.5 million donation takes the NTC campaign into its final phase of fundraising to be completed by the end of next year and will allow SDF to open the Training Center on September 24, 2016 during its 20th Anniversary year. The Petco Foundation Grant is the latest in a succession of generous gifts from SDF’s supporters , both companies and individuals across the nation who have donated a total of $23.5 million in support of the training Center project.
Besides honoring the six SDF trained search teams the Navy reservists, and Seabees who are helping to build the Center were honored as were the wonderful trainers that teach these dogs to overcome their fears in working in collapsing, burning and unstable buildings. And celebrated the delivery of the full-sized train cars that will be used as search “props.”
The campus is already a busy place. Sixteen search dog candidates (rescues dogs with the maniacal toy drive and extreme athleticism needed for disaster search) are training each day on the 10,000 sq. ft. Rubble Pile and in the expansive Covered Training Arena-learning the agility, direction control, obedience, and search skills they’ll need on deployments. They could be heard barking in the background. About 20% of the dogs are not accepted to the program. Your nice calm dog that doesn’t tear up the furniture would not be a good candidate.
The Search Dog foundation – National Train Center is located way up 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road in Santa Paula even though it seems to be Ventura.
See our Facebook for many more photos
Vol. 8, No. 22 – August 5 – August 18, 2015 – Harbor Patrol Blotter
| 7-20 | 12:24pm, Harbor Patrol officers were dispatched to a traffic collision at the intersection of Schooner and Harbor Blvd. All of the parties involved were treated at the scene and released. The entry feature to the launch ramp overflow parking lot was severely damaged in the accident. |
| 7-20 | 4:32pm, officers received a report of a stingray sting at Surfers Knoll. They responded and treated the patient with hot water. The patient believed he was attacked by a shark, but the nature of the injury suggested otherwise. The patient was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for further treatment. |
| 7-22 | 10:35pm, while on patrol in the truck, officers contacted several different recreational vehicles parked throughout the harbor for violating no camping ordinances. |
| 7-23 | 5:31pm, officers received a call from an individual complaining of shortness of breath aboard his vessel in Ventura West marina. Patrol notified fire dispatch and a full response was activated. After fire and ambulance responded and treated the individual he was transported to local hospital. |
| 7-23 | 6:50pm, patrol received a report of a disabled vessel at Harbor Cove. When they arrived on scene, 3 persons were in the water and 4 persons were onboard the disabled vessel. All persons and the vessel were rescued and released without incident. |
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7-23 |
9:01pm, patrol was dispatched to a 44 year old female who fell at the Four Points Sheraton lobby. The patient was unsure what happened but appeared intoxicated. She was treated for minor injuries then transported to a local hospital. |
| 7-24 | 7:55am, officers received a report that a local transient was erratically and recklessly driving his van nearly ran over another local transient who was exiting the launch ramp restrooms. The incident is being investigated. |
| 7-24 | 5:03pm, patrol received a report from a concerned person that two dogs were in a vehicle at the village, possibly suffering from heat stroke. Officers responded and ascertained that the vehicle was likely too hot for the dogs. VC animal control was summoned and they concurred with patrol and the owner of the dogs was issued a stern written warning for the violation. |
| 7-25 | 7:55am, officers received a report of a disabled vessel at the fuel dock. The fishing vessel was towed and released to its slip in Ventura Harbor Village. |
Cute Grandkid
After visiting their son and family in La Pine, Oregon Lynn and Thomas Pratt think that their 6-month old granddaughter, Orianthi Raylynn is as cute as they get. She is adorable, as you can see, with sparkling eyes and an incredible smile. She is one happy little girl and we are looking forward to our next visit! Her daddy lived in Ventura before relocating to Oregon.
Do you have a grandkid that you think is even cuter? If so send their photo to [email protected]
Trust for Public Land seeking qualified artist for Ventura’s Kellogg Park
The Trust for Public Land, a national, nonprofit land conservation and park development organization, is seeking to commission an artist for public art mosaic design and fabrication for Kellogg Park in the city of Ventura. The site of the future Kellogg Park is a 2.41-acre vacant lot on Kellogg Street and Ventura Avenue.
The selected artist or artist team will be awarded a $40,000 contract. The commission includes artist honorarium, design, fabrication, materials, installation, insurance, travel expenses, contingency and any incidental costs. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 10th, at 5:00 pm. The request for qualifications is available online at: www.cityofventura.net/kelloggpark.
Artists will work in collaboration with the landscape architect, The Trust for Public Land, the City of Ventura and the Westside community to create place-based and unique mosaics to be incorporated throughout the park. Artists living in Santa Barbara or Ventura counties with experience in public art and a passion for community involvement are encouraged to apply.
Ventura’s Public Art Program was enacted in 1991 and since then has incorporated an artist’s vision to capital improvement projects providing visitors and residents alike with a new understanding of urban design in Ventura. Recognizing the substantial economic and social benefits gained through an aesthetic treatment of public spaces and consequent increased retail activity, the city established an ordinance allocating 2% of eligible city capital improvement project costs for the commissioning of artist design services and artwork integrated in the construction of public works.
For more information contact Trust for Public Land Field Representative Diane Silva at 323.223.0441 ext. 23 or by email: [email protected], or Ventura’s Community Partnerships Manager Denise Sindelar at 658-4793, [email protected].
Finance & Technology Department receives GFOA Recognition & Certificate of Achievement
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of San Buenaventura by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR. “Our goal is to serve the community in a fiscally responsible and transparent manner. This is a great achievement that shows our commitment to transparency and excellent work on behalf of our City staff,” said Mayor Cheryl Heitmann.
The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945. The goal is to encourage and assist governments to go beyond the minimum accepted accounting principles and prepare CAFR’s of the highest quality according to a stringent set of guidelines; and to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, DC.
The City of Ventura CAFR is available online at www.cityofventura.net/ft and select “2013-2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report”.