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CAPS/KPPQ – Spotlight on DJ of the Month – Pam Baumgardner

Pam launched VenturaRocks.com in 2009 to support Ventura’s music scene.

Pam Baumgardner is host/DJ/producer of the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour airing at 5pm on Tuesdays and Fridays and again on Sunday at noon on KPPQ 104.1 fm and streaming on myTuner. With a degree in radio and TV broadcasting from Fullerton, she began her career as Stephanie Rose at KEZY/KPZE out of Anaheim, then moved to Ventura in 1988 for a job at KZTR.  She earned her Program Director stripes converting KXBS radio (The Bus) from oldies to alternative rock. She worked at KHTY in Santa Barbara as well as at KBBY in Ventura.

She launched VenturaRocks.com in 2009 to support Ventura’s music scene and running a website to support local artists and writing the Music Scene column for the Ventura Breeze. Pam produced VenturaRocks at CAPS, a half hour music TV show highlighting local artists such as Crooked Eye Tommy, Medicine Hat, Shaky Feelin’ and others. When KPPQ launched she jumped onboard enthusiastically and created The Pam Baumgardner Music Hour, one of the first locally produced shows back in January of 2017 that highlights local artists out of the 805 as well as artists who come to our county to play. The show has many faithful listeners from across the county and the nation. She joined CAPS Media’s Board of Directors and continues to be a true champion of both community radio and tv.

Pam says, “It was my favorite thing in the whole wide world listening to my favorite artists and bands on the radio growing up, and to be able to do that over the span of almost forty years has certainly been a privilege.”

Pam joined the KPPQ crew with a wealth of experience that she has generously shared with other DJs at the station. In the past six years CAPS staff members, directed by Elizabeth Rodeno, have trained more than 100 local DJs and produced hundreds of hours of original programming on KPPQ. Unlike Pam, many of her fellow DJs had very little or no prior experience in creating radio programming. All the KPPQ DJs share Pam’s enthusiasm for the CAPS Media community of voices.

July marked the reopening of CAPS Media Center to current members. In the fall CAPS Media Center will expand training and access to members of the public who become new CAPS members. As a kickoff, in the coming months, the CAPS crew is planning an Open House, where the public will be invited to drop by and take a tour of the Center including the video studio, editing stations, and KPPQ radio station. The knowledgeable CAPS staff will give brief overviews and demonstrations on the multiple CAPS gear. At the daylong event, guests will learn the benefits of becoming a CAPS member and how to utilize the full extent of the CAPS Media resources and staff expertise. More information on the Open House will be provided in the coming weeks on the CAPS website at capsmedia.org, on KPPQ, on social media, and elsewhere.

CAPS Membership will be open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Ventura. The annual membership fees are currently $40 for an individual or $100 for a nonprofit organization.

The Rotary Club of Ventura issues $66,000 in grants

Each non-profit grant recipient is making a significant impact.

Twenty-one local non-profits attended the weekly Rotary meeting to extend their gratitude for $66,000 in grants issued through their Julius Guis Memorial Rotary Foundation (JGMRF). About half of the funding for the grants comes from the Rotary Club of Ventura 4th of July Fireworks held annually on the grounds of Ventura College. Grant applications are solicited throughout the city of Ventura in February each year. The JGMRF committee is comprised of five past presidents of the Rotary Club of Ventura. Each non-profit grant recipient is making a significant, positive impact that aligns with Rotary International’s focus to promote peace, fight disease, save mothers and children, support education, protect local economies, and protect the environment.

The Rotary Club of Ventura meets Wednesdays at Noon at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – locally and globally.

 

Help shape the future of walking and biking in Ventura

After more than two years of community participation, a draft Active Transportation Plan (ATP) is ready for the next public input phase for walking and biking improvements throughout the city.

The ATP aims to create a roadmap for priority projects and programs that will make walking, biking, and taking transit great choices for all residents, workers, and visitors.

The ATP Public Input Draft is now accessible online at www.ActivePlanVentura.com for community members to review and provide feedback until Sunday, August 20. Your input will play a vital role in shaping the future of active transportation in our city. Residents may also attend an upcoming event in-person at the following locations and times:

Friday, July 28

  • 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Transit Center at Pacific View Mall 
  • 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Main Street at California Street 

Saturday, July 29

  • 8:30-11:00 a.m. at the Ventura Downtown Farmers Market 
  • 12:00-2:00 p.m. at Ventura College Weekend Marketplace (Swap Meet) 

Sunday, July 30

  • 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the California Street Mall on the Ventura Promenade 

Help get Ventura moving and share your ideas online or in-person!

Ventura Fire Department and Foundation organize memorial stair climb honoring 9/11 first responders and fallen heroes

The Ventura Fire Department, in collaboration with the Ventura Fire Foundation, invites local first responders and community members to participate in a Memorial Stair Climb on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza.

Participants will climb the equivalent of 110 stories, the height of the fallen World Trade Center towers. The stair climb is not a timed race and participants can climb at a level that suits their needs.

“More than two decades after the tragedy on September 11, 2001, we continue to honor the courage of the first responders who selflessly rushed into chaos and mourn the fallen heroes who lost their lives that day,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “This memorial stair climb is a small way we can reignite the indomitable spirit that unites us and shows our support locally.”

Space is limited to 100 climbers, and those interested in participating are encouraged to register at www.VenturaFireFoundation.org. Residents who prefer not to climb can show their support by donating and attending as spectators.

The memorial stair climb pays homage to the 343 New York City Fire Department firefighters who lost their lives during the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, as well as the 60 other emergency personnel who responded that day. Additionally, the event honors the 200 firefighters who have since succumbed to illnesses related to the attack.

By supporting the Ventura Fire Foundation’s mission to improve the lives of firefighters and their families, the Ventura Fire Department demonstrates its commitment to the cause.

For more information about the Ventura Fire Foundation and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, please visit www.VenturaFireFoundation.org.

Vol. 16, No. 22 – July 26 – Aug 8, 2023 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Raddish, a handsome 4 year old Siberian Husky who was rescued from an OC Shelter where I was found as a stray. A group of people have stepped up to sponsor me so I can be a part of the CARL program and find my forever home.

I love to play in water, walk well on leash, not dog aggressive and enjoy using my voice to let you know how excited I am. The CARL volunteers say I’m a sweetheart and well tempered..

If you’re interested in meeting me, please fill out an online application.

Home


CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Meet Macadamia, a 1-year-old husky! Macadamia is a petite girl weighing just 40 lbs. She knows, sit, shake, down, and walks well on leash! Here at the shelter, she’s played best with other female dogs of a similar size and temperament. Her gentle demeanor will make her the perfect new best friend!

If you’d like to meet Macadamia, schedule an appointment at https://www.vcas.us/adopt or come down to the shelter during normal Adoption Hours of 1:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday – Sunday.  If you have questions, please contact us at (805) 388-4341 or [email protected].

VenturaWaterPure Ocean Outfall Project

Senior Community Outreach Specialist Jennifer Buckley

Regarding the mention of the WaterPure project in the latest edition of the Breeze I want to share some additional resources and information for your readers.

The parking lot is the location of temporary boat storage which will be in place throughout the upcoming VenturaWaterPure Ocean Outfall Project.

The Ocean Outfall Project is anticipated to start after Labor Day 2023 through summer 2024. The outfall will be constructed through a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) process to limit community impacts. The HDD will push a pipe through a hole starting in Marina Park and emerge approximately 2000- 4000 feet offshore.

The project will support the VenturaWaterPure Program, a purified recycled water project that will recover, treat, and reuse water that is currently discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary. This project will divert treated water from Ventura’s wastewater treatment facility to a new Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF), where the water will be treated to drinking water standards and then injected into a local groundwater basin for storage, and later extracted and delivered to customers.

Residents can learn more and sign up to receive construction updates on the project at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OceanOutfall

I hope this information is helpful for your readers and be on the lookout for a press release as we get closure to starting the Ocean Outfall construction in the coming weeks.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Mary Olson

Ventura County Library Summer Reading Program continues with Kyle Tiernan, Draw Along Art Kyle, a Visual Educator, will teach everyone (kids and grown-ups alike!) how to draw pictures in a hilariously fun and entertaining show. This free event is sponsored by the Ventura Friends of the Library and is open to the public.
Thursday, August 3rd at Saticoy Library, 1:30 pm
Thursday, August 3rd at Avenue Library, 4:00 pm
Friday, August 4th at Hill Road Library, 11:00 am
Friday, August 4th at E.P. Foster Library, 2:00 pm
For more information, contact Sienna Sydlaske, Youth Librarian Specialist, at (805) 648-2716.

Find Your Voice! Family Musicals Film Fest and Coloring at Hill Road Library final film of the summer:Tuesday, August 1, 3:00 to 5:00 pm: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

End of Summer Party
You completed the Summer Reading Challenge, so visit the library for an end of summer celebration with Kona Ice!
Free for kids and teens!
Wednesday, August 2nd at Avenue Library, 3:00 pm
Thursday, August 3rd at Hill Road Library, 3:00 pm
Tuesday, August 8th at Saticoy Library 3:00 pm
Tuesday, August 15th at E.P. Foster Library, 4:00 pm

Filmmakers Robin Rosenthal and Bill Yahraus will visit the Albert H. Soliz Library (2820 Jourdan Street in Oxnard) at 7:30 pm on Saturday, August 12, for a screening of their film Mariposas del Campo. The film will be shown outdoors in the library’s parking lot; limited seating will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating as well if they wish. Mariposas del Campo shares the stories of indigenous Mixtec, Zapotec, and Purépecha teenagers from Mexico striving to change their families’ destinies in the strawberry fields of Oxnard. This screening is being put on as part of Ventura County’s celebration of its 150th Anniversary.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at
(805) 218-9146 or [email protected]

Foster Library’s Young Readers Book Club
For children ages 9-12 (4th or 5th grade reading level). E.P. Foster Library, Saturday, Aug. 26, 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Discuss The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin & create a character sheet (DND style)

Ventura Friends of the Library are able to fund summer reading program events through our sales of donated books.
We invite you to visit

Ventura Friends of the Library Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library
Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm
We have rows and rows of fiction, from $.25 paperbacks to current bestsellers and a comprehensive children’s section from board books for toddlers to novels for young adults. We have coffee table art books and vintage books, pre-1950, some much worn and beloved, and some with beautiful covers and gilt pages. Come and browse!
We also invite you to browse anytime at our Online Bookstore for local sales.
https://venturafol-107753.square.site/s/shop We are in the process of remodeling our online store, adding new categories such as Just Added! and Art, Architecture and Photography. Just order and pick up at the bookstore in E.P. Foster in as little as two days.

The Chamber held a ribbon cutting at the Harbor Mart located in Portside Ventura Harbor

Photos by Patrcia Schallert and Yana Khiyod

It all began in 2014, when the owners start running the Harbor Mart in Hollywood Beach (Channel Islands Harbor). Based on their experience and visits from different parts of the world it is a combination of Mediterranean and European food and fine wines and craft beers, as well as special spirits, and fresh, high-quality homemade food.

They decided to expand and opened the second store in Portside Ventura Harbor in Ventura. They are proud to be able to serve people in City of Ventura and City of Oxnard and enjoy serving the best quality of foods and drinks.

Community Memorial becomes first to implant new pacemaker

Community Memorial Healthcare is proud to announce that electrophysiologist Jonathan Dukes, MD recently became the first physician in the United States to implant the new Medtronics Micra AV2 implant — the latest, upgraded version of a dual-chamber sensing ventricular pacemaker.

The Micra AV2 is the newest and more efficient version of Medtronic’s minimally invasive treatment option for patients with heart block and/or slow heart rate. Once implanted, the device has an average lifespan of 16 years, meaning most patients only need one device for life. The procedure was performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura.

“This milestone achievement by Dr. Dukes and the Community Memorial Cath Lab team is another example of how we are bringing leading-edge technology to our community,” said Mick Zdeblick, Community Memorial President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud of our Heart & Vascular program for continuing to lead the region by offering a number of procedures typically only available at larger medical centers.”

The Community Memorial Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (also known as the Cath Lab) is equipped with highly specialized technology designed to diagnose and treat cardiac, neurological, and vascular diseases. Procedures performed in the Cath Lab range from diagnostic heart catheterizations and ablations to advanced structural heart procedures such as TAVR, Watchman™, and MitraClip™.

Dr. Dukes is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiac Electrophysiology, and Cardiovascular Medicine. Electrophysiology is the subspecialty of cardiology that diagnoses and manages electrical problems of the heart, including atrial fibrillation and cardiac rhythm abnormalities.

California Transportation Commission approves $74.8 million

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $74.8 million from the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program to support construction of four rail, active transportation and electric-vehicle charging projects in Ventura County.

The Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP) is a statewide, competitive program that provides funding to achieve a balanced set of transportation, environmental, and community access improvements to reduce congestion throughout the state. The program was created by the Road Repair Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1).

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) nominated the “US 101 Connected Communities Corridor Rail and Active Transportation Improvements” projects for SCCP funding. Applications were submitted in December 2022.

“This funding will bring many benefits to residents and commuters in Ventura County, whether they are traveling by rail, bicycle, on foot or in an electric vehicle. Once completed, these projects will reduce travel time for rail passengers, create a safe route for cyclists and pedestrians traveling for work or recreation, and provide support to EV drivers who wish to combine a vehicle and train trip,” said VCTC Chair and Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Bryan MacDonald, who represents VCTC and is vice chair of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency Board of Directors.

 

“VCTC is grateful to the California Transportation Commission for providing funding for these projects, as well as to Caltrans and our regional partners for their support of this application. The funding is a critical piece of the effort to create more multimodal transportation options for travelers in the Highway 101 corridor through Ventura County and beyond,” said VCTC Executive Director Martin Erickson.

Will fund the following in Ventura.

Six electric vehicle charging stations (two per station) at the Camarillo, Oxnard and East Ventura train stations, which will support California’s transition to zero-emission vehicles and provide more station amenities to rail passengers.

3.9 miles of a new Class I multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trail between the East Ventura train station and Wells Road along the Santa Paula Branch Line railroad in the City of Ventura and unincorporated Ventura County. Class I trails are physically separated from vehicle traffic. The trail will improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling for recreation or commuting to jobs and destinations like schools and grocery stores.