Do you know someone who has moved, touched, or inspired you by their optimism? Do you know someone who encourages you to be your best self? Do you know someone who sees hope and makes a positive difference in the lives of others? The second annual Most Optimistic Community Member nominations are now being accepted by the Sunrise Optimist Club until June 1, 2023. Last year, Todd Taylor was recognized as the 2022 Most Optimistic Community Member at the club’s annual fall awards gathering.

The Sunrise Optimist Club is a service club that provides support and scholarships to youth in Ventura. The basis of the club is The Optimist Creed. The Club has been active in Ventura since 1960 and is affiliated with Optimist International. The primary purpose is to “bring out the best in kids” as well as promoting optimism as a way of life.

To access the nomination form, go to the Club’s website at www.venturasunriseoptimist.org. For more information about the nomination process for the 2023 Most Optimistic Community Member or about the Sunrise Optimist Club of Ventura contact MOCM.[email protected] or visit the club website: http://www.venturasunriseoptimist.org/

In 2023, Passover runs from the evening of April 5, 2023, to the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Passover is a festival of freedom.

It commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom. Passover or Pesach is an important, biblically derived Jewish holiday. The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses. It commemorates the story of the Exodus in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Passover commences on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for either seven

days (in Israel and for Reform Jews and other progressive Jews around the world who adhere to the Biblical commandment) or eight days for Orthodox, Hasidic, and most Conservative Jews.

A day commences at dusk and lasts until the following dusk, thus the first day of Passover begins after dusk. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.

The rituals unique to the Passover celebrations commence with the Passover Seder.

In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape from their slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the ancient Egyptians before the Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the death of the Egyptian first-born.

The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to “pass over” the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holiday.

When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise (leaven). In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten.

Calling all violinists and violists! The Henry Schwab Violin & Viola Competition is returning to Ventura College this summer: The application deadline is Sunday, April 23; preliminary rounds are April 29 & 30. Finalists will play a selection of their choice accompanied by the full Schwab Summer Orchestra to cap off the final weekend of this summer’s Schwab Academy on July 22 & 23, 2023. In addition to providing contestants the opportunity to shine in front of a live audience and nationally renowned guest judges, the first-place winner will be awarded a top prize of $2000. Learn more and apply online at www.venturacollege.edu/schwab

An enduring gift from Miriam Schwab, the inaugural Henry Schwab Violin and Viola Competition debuted in 2006. In addition to her career as a highly successful real estate agent, Miriam was passionate about music and a longtime member of the Ventura College Symphony.

The 13th Annual Henry Schwab Violin & Viola Competition Finals will take place on Saturday, July 22 (7:30 PM) and Sunday, July 23 (2:30 PM) at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. Preliminary Rounds will take place on April 29 & 30, and the application deadline is Sunday, April 23, 2023. The Competition is split into two categories; finalists in Category B (1st prize, $1000) will perform a movement from a concerto while Category A finalists (1st prize, $2000) will perform a complete concerto. All performances in the final round will be accompanied by the Schwab Academy Orchestra.

The Violin & Viola Competition was the original piece of what is now the Ventura College Schwab Academy. In 2017, Miriam Schwab wanted to expand her legacy, and create an endowment to build an academy for instrumental music where talented students would have the opportunity to study and perform alongside an acclaimed faculty and guest artists.

Upon her death on December 24, 2017, Miriam left more than ten million dollars to the Ventura College Music Department to inaugurate The Miriam and Henry Schwab Academy of Instrumental Music. The Violin & Viola Competition is one of the Academy’s three main components: her bequest also created an intensive three-week Summer Academy, and an Extension Program during the Spring and Fall.

The Summer Academy offers programs in Chamber Music and Symphony Orchestra. In this intensive three-week summer institute, which debuted in 2019, all students receive classes each weekday from the Academy’s nationally-recognized faculty and present public performances each weekend, where they rehearse and perform alongside faculty and professional guest musicians.

“Having students play alongside a professional at every rehearsal and performance is very special” says Festival Director Robert Lawson, “The students and faculty become a family, working together daily to develop their skills and to reach the highest standard of music making.” Academy student Sophia Holdorf adds, “It’s an opportunity to push yourself and learn in an open environment; we welcome each other’s experience, cheer each other on, and we build connections we’d never have any other way.”

“Music education teaches more than just music,” says Ashley Walters, music director and conductor. “It teaches students to develop a strong work ethic, how to work as a team player to meet goals, and provides students of all ages with an incredible community that can offer support and guidance as they discover and pursue their own dreams.”

Lawson and Walters have big plans for the Academy’s future. While initially geared towards students in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Lawson sees the Schwab Academy expanding their footprint throughout the state and beyond.

by Richard Senate

In the early weeks of January, 1847 California was a scene of battle. The US had sent west a well connected and ambitious military man to California and the west in hopes of concocting a rebellion among American Settlers in the Mexican Territory of Alta California. Col. John C. Fremont lead an “exploratory expedition” with Kit Carson as his guide. This attempt to steal California was unneeded when war was declared after the Battle of Palo Alta in Texas. But he came and gave birth to the so called California Republic (where we get the Bear Flag from).

California fell to the Americans but then went into rebellion focused on Los Angeles and government of General Flores (California Governor Pio Pico having fled with the treasury for Old Mexico) . Fremont formed the “California Battalion” of old Mountain Men and settlers and marched south to seize Los Angeles from forces still loyal to Mexico. They were being attacked from the south by troops from US held San Diego. General Flores, with help from Native America Tribes loyal to Mexico, had all the US forces under constant surveillance, and sent a small force to Ventura County to try to stop, or at least delay, Fremont. A ragtag company of militia were formed, mostly vaqueros armed with eleven foot long lances, and a motley collection of arms . They gathered at the Sanchez Adobe in Saticoy. Fremont slowly marched along the beach south from Santa Barbara after ‘capturing’ the town.

There was no opposition in what is today Ventura, and they seized the mission. They raised the US flag, spent the night in the Mission orchard and then marched down the beach to the Santa Clara River. There they turned inland following the river and in so doing passed by the Olivas Adobe, constructed six years before. Fremont didn’t mention the site in his report and may have missed it in the windy dust storm that hampered their travel.

Not far from the adobe, the Americans were opposed by the Mexican militia on horseback, arrayed for battle. A few insults were exchanged and a few shots that missed their targets. Fremont, fearing this was only part of a larger force waiting to fall on his flank. He stopped the advance as the Mexican Lancers galloped around, performing equestrian feats on horseback. Fremont had two cannons, and four hundred and fifty men. The Militia had only about sixty and few firearms. Having delayed Fremont for an hour, they wisely retired from the field. When Fremont advanced, he found an old matchlock musket dropped by the Mexicans. It was perhaps four hundred years old at the time and dated back to the time of Cortez and the Conquest of Mexico. He kept the piece as a relic. The skirmish, if you could call the bloodless exchange that, was perhaps the last military action in California in the Mexican-American War. I always wonder what happened to that ancient musket that Fremont picked up. Perhaps a historical search could be made to locate the piece?