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With your support we are creating more affordable housing in Ventura County
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s 5th Annual Compassion Campaign – Unlocking Affordable Living is quickly approaching on Thursday, May 9th. Now is the time to secure your seat! Join community leaders and affordable housing advocates for a memorable evening of reimagining and reshaping the vision for the future of affordable housing in Ventura County.
As a guest you will learn about innovative housing solutions from guest speakers, including Mark Stivers, Director of Advocacy for the California Housing Partnership, a private nonprofit organization created by the State Legislature in 1988 to help provide housing that is sustainable and affordable for working families, homeless, veterans, seniors and disabled individuals. Alex Russell, CEO of Homes & Hope and Chair of the Housing Land Trust VC, will also speak on leveraging public land for housing affordability. We’ll showcase two case studies from the developers at Mesa in Ojai who are focused on supporting transitional age young adults at risk of homelessness, and The Villages at Westview developed by the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura. Westview replaces the city’s oldest and largest public housing complex.
Guests will be invited to stroll through a path of innovations, including observing the ingenuity of using energy-efficient structural insulated panel (SIP) walls allowing for quick and cost-effective onsite assembly. An oversize map will showcase the many developments funded in part by Housing Trust Fund VC across the County since 2013. Each guest will receive a key to “unlock affordable living” with three lucky winners receiving special prizes.
Purchase tickets at https://www.housingtrustfundvc.org/compassioncampaign2024.html
Vol. 17, No. 16 – May 1 – May 14, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter
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Wednes 4/10 |
3:16pm, received request for information about the research vessel “Danny C” working on pipelines near the Patrol Dock. Officers advised they were diving on pipelines running from Marina Park to the Port District parking lot. |
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Thursday 4/11 |
2:30pm, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers checking on a commercial vessel taking on water in the past during rain events. No issues found. |
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Friday 4/12 |
11:01am, officers aboard Fireboat conducting traffic control for Manson Construction removing equipment from the main channel.
11:33am, received report of a small vessel near the Ventura Pier with no POB’s. Lifeguards observed someone paddle away from the vessel. Officers responded, found the vessel anchored and the surfer returned during investigation. |
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Saturday 4/13 |
2:50am, received report of a sealion pup on the promenade near the Greek restaurant. Advised to leave alone, officers will monitor, contact CIMWI.
7:15am, investigating sealion pup on promenade, contacted CIMWI (channel islands marine wildlife institute). Representative arrived, officers assisted with capturing and loading the mammal into the rescue crate and vehicle. |
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Sunday 4/14 |
10:15am, patrol officer supervisors training with online video modules.
3:30pm, received report of a capsized sailboat near the Ventura Pier from an individual walking around the Botanical Gardens on hill in Ventura. Officers responded in the Fireboat to investigate. Nothing was found, only a SUP surfer. 9:05pm, received request to search all electric boats operating in Ventura Harbor because the caller believes their iPhone is on one of them. To the callers’ chagrin, advised to call back later in the week to see if the phone is turned in. |
| Wednes 4/17 | 3:53pm, while on patrol in the vehicle, officers observed a large tire near the Santa Clara Rivermouth. It was picked up and placed in the roll-out dumpster. |
| Thursday 4/18 | 3:42am, dispatched to 1215 Anchors Way for a 79 y/o female with severe pain. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with the patient.
2:45pm, received a request for an annual parking permit for the Launch Ramp. Officers returned from patrol and assisted the individual with issuing a permit. |
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Friday 4/19 |
7:40am, officers in RB19 providing traffic control for Manson construction pulling sand replenishment pipe off the beach and towing to Oceanside harbor. |
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Saturday 4/20 |
9:33am, received report of an overdue 42 ft Beneteau sailboat, officers advised the reporting party to contact US coast guard for such calls.
10:30am, received request from US coast guard to check the slip of the overdue 42ft sailboat. Officers responded in vehicle, checked the slip, no vessel in the slip, contacted US coast guard and they advised the vessel was located at smugglers cove Santa Cruz Island safely anchored and in no distress. |
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Sunday 4/21 |
6:35am, received a request for a tow from a disabled vessel at the harbor entrance. Officers responded, towed the vessel to the launch ramp.
2:20pm, dispatched to Ocean Rescue four swimmers in distress near the South Jetty. Officers responded by land and sea to the call. The officers in the vehicle assisted three swimmers near shoreline, began assessments for aspirated sea water with AMR/VFD. Officers aboard Rescue B19 deployed a rescue swimmer to pull an unconscious victim from the water, later transported to hospital by AMR for further evaluation. 8:30pm, received report that the South Jetty red aid-to-navigation (ATON) light is extinguished. Officers contacted US coast guard and advised of the hazard. |
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Monday 4/22 |
8:40am, officers replacing ATON buoys P, #8, #13 and #14 on station with Fireboat 1 after Manson Construction replenishment dredging completed.
10:45am, received report of vessel accident, commercial FV colliding with the fish offloading pier. Officers responded and are investigating the incident. 1:50pm, dispatched to a K9 swept across the Santa Clara River breech. Officers responded, deployed rescue swimmer, rescued then returned dog to owner. |
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Tuesday 4/23 |
11:42am, dispatched to medical in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to the call to assist with 79 y/o female.
4:07pm, dispatched to an ill person near 1431 Spinnaker Dr. Officers responded with VFD Squad 2/AMR to assist with the patient. |
“The doubles sweep was huge”
Ventura College men’s tennis team had a picture-perfect ending. Photo by Larry Gleeson
On a picture-perfect day for tennis, the Ventura College men’s tennis team had a picture-perfect ending to their 2024 season with a 5-0 sweep over American River College from Sacramento in the 3C2A State Championship at the VC Tennis Center. Julian Tellez clinched the winner for the Pirates (18-6) in No. 4 singles after Rafael Matias had recorded a love and love win in the No. 2 slot. The title is the third for VC under longtime head coach Nelson Emery, their first since 2010.
The match was much closer that the final score indicated, especially in doubles play.
ARC’s No. 2 doubles pair held a 3-2 advantage over Matias and Tellez and their contest was tied 5-5 before the Pirates rallied to win three straight games to capture the first point of the championship, 8-5.
Court 3 was tied 2-2 before VC’s Robinson Pelluault and Edgar Ploquin took over by winning the next four games. Ventura won the contest 8-3 to go ahead 2-0.
Cody Ray Emery and Lucas Abreu took a 4-1 lead in the No. 1 doubles match for the Pirates before the Beaver’s duo came storming back to tie the score at 4-4. Both teams held serve until Ventura broke for a 7-5 advantage. ARC held on their next serve before Emery and Abreu posted the 8-6 victory to put the Pirates comfortably ahead, 3-0.
“The doubles sweep was huge,” said VC’s coach Emery. “I thought if we could get two doubles, we could split singles. We won all three.”
Buoyed by their sweep in doubles, the Pirates took full control in singles play as they won the first set in all six matches. Matias was the first to finish singles with his 6-0, 6-0 victory in the No. 2 slot to put VC on the precipice of the title. Soon thereafter, Tellez watch an ARC shot sail long as he completed his 6-2, 6-0 triumph at No. 4, clinching the crown for Ventura.
“This is why I’m here,” said Tellez, a product of Taft High School in Woodland Hills. “This is what I’ve been working for. It was state title time.”
The championship was extra special for Cody Ray, Ventura’s No. 1 player and the son the VC head coach.
“It feels awesome to win, especially with my dad,” said the younger Emery. “It’s crazy how things worked out.”
Coach Emery echoed the sentiments of his players.
“We played, we battled, (we’re a) bunch of fighters,” said Coach Emery, who has led VC to 12 State Final Fours in his 26 years at the helm of the Pirates’ ship. “We’ve had more talented teams, but this team had the toughness.”
The Pigs of the SS Kalorama
The smell of barbecues filled ventura.
by Richard Senate
In the days before the coming of the railroad, and paved roads, the only dependable means of transportation in Ventura was by sea. The Ventura Pier was built in 1872 so ships could land here to take on cargo and passengers. But, the plan was to have breakwater to make landing at the pier safe but the breakwater was never built (too expensive). Ships had to come in at their own risk, especially in the winter months when tides could change and storms come in fast off the Channel Islands.
On February 25th, 1876, the coastal steamer SS Kalorama came in to take on a cargo of pigs. As she was leaving the pier, an errant wave hit the ship and sent her into the beach. Here the pounding waves slowly broke the ship apart. Her cargo of frightened pigs escaped, leaping into the water and swimming for shore. and then into the community! The crew of the stricken ship tried to recapture the animals but only a few were caught. The rest ran up California Street and into all neighborhoods of Ventura.
People came out of their houses to catch the pigs, rich and poor, all took part in the wild adventure. The escaping porkers were rounded up only to vanish into barns and back yards, never to be returned to their rightful owners. It is said that when summer came, the smell of barbecues filled the town and most citizens feasted on pork ribs. It was a festive July 4th that year.
Some enterprising Venturans risked their lives by going out to the wreck and pulling off souvenirs and mementos from the wrecked ship. The Ventura County Museum of Art and History has some of the artifacts from the SS Kalorama in its collection. One of the downtown streets was named Kalorama for the lost ship. Two other streets are named for ships that were beached here and lost, the schooner Ann and steamer Crimea.
The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra is coming
The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra (HJO), which has performed in premier L.A. Jazz venues like Catalina’s and LACMA, is bringing their eclectic mix of new and relevant music to Ventura for the first time. The 18-piece Orchestra is led by conductor, composer, arranger Charley Harrison, who has also directed UCLA Jazz Orchestra since 2004. Over the years, Harrison has had compositions and arrangements performed by jazz greats like Kurt Elling, Marcus Miller, Cedar Walton, Joe Williams and The Count Basie Orchestra.
“I’m excited for the upcoming HJO performance at The Grape as it provides an opportunity to showcase the virtuosity and versatility of the HJO musicians” says Harrison. “We will be featuring new music from our composers and arrangers that highlight the breadth of the HJO repertoire”
The nucleus of HJO were members of the Buddy Collette Big Band formed in the mid-2000’s during the saxophone legend’s later years. After rejoining forces with many new performers in 2022, the new Orchestra (featuring many younger members) made it’s debut at Catalina’s in Hollywood and later headlined at LACMA and the Rochester International Jazz Festival in New York. Its arrangers include Harrison, Tom Garling, Nick DePinna, Conrad Herwig and Bob Mintzer. Among its storied, in-demand musicians: Justo Almario, Gerry Pinter, Clayton Cameron, Les Benedict, Ian Vo, Randall Willis, Anne King, Ann Patterson and Brian O’Rourke.
Until recently a resident of Ventura, David Payne, HJO’s Executive Director, says “We’ve played sold out concerts at important traditional venues but we’re looking to bring the orchestra to venues where big bands seldom play. We’re trying to change the public perception of big band concerts.
Tickets for the Thursday May 23 concert are on sale now: $20 online at theGrapeventura.com; $25 at the door. The Grape’s mid-town address: 2733 E. Main St.
High School Student Volunteers needed to help local seniors
Debbie Lasley (Volunteer Engagement Coordinator),Angie Archer (Student Engagement Coordinator),Paris W. (Student),Kathy Lea (Adult volunteer) and Tikva K (Student).
by Amanda Knight, Volunteer, vccaregivers.org
High school student volunteers are needed to work in supervised teams to provide companionship, household cleaning, yard maintenance and home organization to homebound seniors in Ventura County.
This opportunity is made possible through the Building Bridges Intergenerational Program at CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly which is now marking a 40-year milestone to support older neighbors aging in place with the helping hands of volunteers.
One of those volunteer opportunities is designed for high school students. “We identify an adult volunteer Team Leader who will provide transportation, supervision and serve as a mentor during home visits to the seniors we serve,” said Angie Archer, student engagement coordinator at CAREGIVERS Volunteers. “We need new high school student volunteers as much as we need adult Team Leaders to assist in providing this program to the community.”
Scheduling is generally flexible and coordinated around the needs of the senior and the availability of the Building Bridge team. Ideally, Building Bridge teams are scheduled weekly in two hour blocks of time which includes travel time and one hour to do chores at the senior’s home. “We rotate visits to the same seniors over the course of the month to ensure that everyone gets a little help,” Archer said, adding that one of the greatest gifts of volunteering are the friendships people build. “We now have student volunteers who are growing up and taking on the role of adult volunteers. Most of all, we have people from all walks of life, spanning the generations–and building intergenerational bridges–that last a lifetime.”
Regular monthly visits to the same homebound senior give everyone an opportunity to get to know each other over time. During the visit, student volunteers are able to tackle light household chores such as changing the bedsheets, putting heavy wet laundry in the dryer, changing a lightbulb and running the vacuum–tasks that someone who uses a walker may struggle to do.
“This program allows college bound high school juniors and seniors to gain life skills that will be helpful in their academic and professional careers as well as their personal development,” Archer said, noting that high school volunteers receive impressive invitations to colleges throughout the country.
Ventura County was one of the original pilot locations for the launch of volunteer caregiving in the United States. Over the last 40 years, CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly has supported thousands of people aging in place with the helping hands of volunteers. Services are provided at no cost to the people who need it most thanks to the generosity of corporate, foundation and individual donors who contribute.
For more information, email [email protected] or call (805) 658-8530.
Bringing people from different generations together for neighborly service allows the development of empathy and compassion – building a stronger sense of community for all involved.Ventura County is one of the largest aging populations in the Nation and Caregivers happily serves hundreds of seniors in need of community support. To sign up, refer a student, refer a senior, donate or learn more call (805) 658-8530, email [email protected] or visit the website vccaregivers.org
Vol. 17, No. 16 – May 1 – May 14, 2024 – Forever Homes Wanted
Hi: I’m Paxton, a friendly 4-month-old Terrier X rescued from Kern County in my hour of need. I’m thankful to my sponsors who enabled me to come into CARL’s adoption program.
As you can see, I am a 3-legged pup. My front right leg was amputated and I know some people will see this as a flaw, but I think it makes me special. I’m still an active pup and I’m looking forward to spending a future full of love and adventures with my special someone. They don’t know what happened to me, but suspect I was hit by a vehicle.
Since I’m just a puppy, children in the home must be at least 6 years of age. I know I’m cute and everyone will want me, but please be sure you’re ready to take on a puppy as it’s similar to having a newborn (2-legged kind) in the home. It’s a lifetime commitment, not a temporary one where the love and attention wears off after I’m grown.
If you’re ready and able to give me a lifetime of love and wonderful memories, please fill out an application to meet me. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. https://carldogs.org/
CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
Meet 5 year old Coffee! He recently went on a field trip outside of the shelter, and did amazing meeting adults and children. He loves rolling around with his stuffie toy and perks up at the sight of treats! Ready to add a shot of joy to your mornings? Come meet Coffee and let him espresso his love for you.
Coffee has had mixed experiences with other dogs. Slow intros and dog meet and greets always recommended!
If you’d like to meet Coffee, 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].
Ventura Sunrise Optimist Club’s Most Optimistic Community Member
Do you know someone who has inspired you by their optimism? Do you know someone who encourages you to be your best self? Do you know someone who makes a positive difference in the lives of others?
The third annual Most Optimistic Community Member nominations are now being accepted by the Sunrise Optimist Club until June 15, 2024.
Recognized last year were Faith Friedlander of Kids and Families Together and Jennifer Thompson of Cassie’s Cats both non-profit organizations that benefit foster children and rescue cats respectively. The awards were given at the club’s annual awards gathering.
“Faith Friedlander is and always has been, one of the most optimistic people that I have had the pleasure of being around. Faith’s constant dedication to all of the programs Kids & Families Together offer and the people that work with (and for) her have kept all of us hopeful and positive through a pandemic that made the future not seem so bright–her optimism and hopefulness helped us weather that storm and prepare us for anything the future holds for us.” Faith was nominated by Kim Becker.
“Not only is Jennifer Thompson of Cassie’s Cats loved by the donors, volunteers, sponsors, adopters and community, she is adored by the cats and kittens in the lounge. These discerning creatures gravitate to her–they understand and reciprocate her unconditional love. They trust her and she honors that trust by making sure every adoption is a good fit for the animal and the prospective adopters. Jennifer was nominated by Shannon Evans and Donna Nicholson.
The Sunrise Optimist Club is a service club that provides support and scholarships to youth in Ventura. The cornerstone 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 of Optimist Clubs is to “bring out the best in kids” as well as promoting optimism as a way of life for all people.
To access the nomination form go to the Club’s website at www.venturasunriseoptimist.org. For more information about the nomination process or to receive a nomination form for the 2024 Most Optimistic Community Member email [email protected] or visit the club’s website: www.venturasunriseoptimist.org
The Murphy Auto Museum is Closing
The Murphy Auto Museum will be permanently closing. The last day for public admittance will be Sunday, July 7, 2024. The museum will use the remaining month of July to sell furniture, fixtures, chattels and ephemera as they begin the de-accession of the contents. The building will be turned over to the landlord on July 31st.
The museum will keep its regular operating hours from now through July 7th, which is every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am till 4:00pm; the last admission is at 3:00pm since it takes about an hour to view the museum’s collection. Admission is $10.00 for guests 13 years old and older, free to guests younger than 12 years old, and free to active military with identification.
The museum’s board has been trying for several years to find a sustainable path to keep the museum viable and part of the community. However, economic realities have forced the decision to close the museum in conjunction with the end of the present lease agreement. The Murphy Auto Museum has been a part of Ventura County since 2005 and sees an average of 10,000 visitors per year. The museum, at any given time, has over 40 antique and vintage cars on display, as well as Americana, an HO scale model railroad, a large slot car raceway, vintage trailer town, diecast car collection, a monthly car show and more.
“We’ve been embedded in Ventura County since 2005,” said David Neel, Executive Director of the foundation. “I took over the running of the foundation from Dan Murphy, the museum’s founder in January of 2014 because it was in danger of closing then. It is sad that Oxnard has had two fantastic car museums for many years, ourselves and the Mullin, and that the Mullin has closed and the Murphy will be closing.”
The museum invites the public from near and far to visit the museum before it is gone. “We’re a little gem in the big city of Oxnard, and we bring a lot of smiles to people’s faces. We want everyone to come visit the museum one last time and make a lasting memory.”
The museum is located at 1930 Eastman Avenue in Oxnard. For additional information, the public can email the executive director [email protected], call the museum at (805) 487-4333, or visit us on the web at www.MurphyAutoMuseum.org.