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Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Investment Group is meeting in the rear room of Denny’s Restaurant at the corner of Telegraph and Ashwood each Monday at 10:30 a.m. All people interested in investment are welcome.

Looking for some outdoor fun? Try Lawn Bowling! It is great fun and terrific low-impact exercise. You get to play on a beautiful green with free club equipment and free lessons. Also included are friendly people and social activities. Located at 350 N. C St. Oxnard 93030. Nine to Noon, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All are welcome.

Jan.26: The College Area Community Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussions on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. State Assemblymember Steve Bennett will review state policies that affect Ventura County. Brandon Kaysen will explain the new Ventura food waste recycling program. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ caccVentura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”

Feb.3: Join UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Celebrated Violin Virtuoso Joshua Bell, violin and Peter Dugan, piano on Thursday at 7 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. Named Musical America’s 2010 Instrumentalist of the Year and an Indiana Living Legend, Bell serves as music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He appears in recital with Peter Dugan, the “fearlessly athletic” (San Francisco Chronicle) pianist and host of NPR’s From the Top.

Feb. 6. Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum—with COVID protocols—will take place on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Tour group size will be limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at Loma Vista and Ashwood street (197 N. Ashwood). For information, please call 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Feb.19: The Ventura County Genealogical Society presents free Family History presentations

online with Zoom on Saturday 1to 4 p.m.

1:00 p.m. Presenter: Drew Smith “AncestryDNA Today” VCGS General Meeting Lecture sponsored by the DNA SIG. AncestryDNA continues to add new tools to help match other testers, categorize the matches into groups, and discover the right relationships. This presentation focuses on using the latest AncestryDNA tools (ThruLines, groups, etc.) to identify relatives near

and distant. https://venturacogensoc.org/this-month/

Drew Smith has been a librarian in the Academic Services department at

the University of South Florida (USF) Tampa Library since 2007.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Mailbox

Breeze:

First I would like to say how much I like the Breeze for local information. I moved to Ventura in 2005 and subscribed to the Star for local information and goings on until they kept cutting back on local info. I stopped my subscription when the Star had the same info as the LA Times. But then I found you. I retired here to be in a small town and was interested in everything Ventura. Keep up the good work!

In that vein I would like to offer two suggestions for improvement to your most recent Editorial.  The paragraph on Julia Brownley begs the question if she lost the cities of Ventura and Ojai who is going to represent them?  If it is still to be determined why not say so? And secondly in the paragraph on permits and approvals, if you do not like the huge amount of multi-unit projects on Thompson a sentence or two to say why would be informative.

Keep up your good work. I look forward to each informative edition.

Dennis Watson

Dennis: Regarding Julia Brownley her term here will end in January, 2023 so still with us for a year. At that time Salud Carbajal will take over.

Regarding the proliferation of very expensive condos ($800,000 and up) I’m concerned about the additional cars and the gentrification of Ventura to exclude folks that need to work here but can’t afford to live here and the diversity of our population.

Breeze:
This Covid sickness is like nothing I have ever had before. Lots of body pains (mostly lower back). Coughing and aches. Hard to sleep. I feel weak as a kitten. Last night was the worst. It keeps changing on you. But, I am going to rest as much as I can. Going to let it run its way though me.
Richard Senate

Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstance.
~ John Barton

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Forever Homes Wanted

Rascal is a 2-year-old Shepherd mix who was rescued from a high-kill shelter. He has been going off site lately and has shown his true love for walks and car rides. He has worked on long leash walks and has done great. Rascal would make a great companion for someone who is willing to take the time to get to know him. If you’re looking for a guy that would make a great walk or hiking buddy, who you can toss the ball around with, Rascal is your guy.

Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Fred is a handsome 8-year-old domestic medium hair neutered male. He has been lucky enough to spend time in a foster home. He loves to be brushed and be pampered and is mellow gentleman and would love a household that matches his vibe. If you’re interested in meeting Fred, please reach out to our Feline Care Coordinator at [email protected]!

Animal ID: A785937

Adoption Sign-up and Process: www.vcas.us/adoptionprocess

Black Bear Diner opens in Ventura

Photo by Patricia Schallert

Black Bear Diner has opened its 2nd Ventura County location at 2401 E. Harbor Blvd in Ventura. The first Black Bear Diner in Ventura County opened in Simi Valley on May 28, 2019.

Founded in 1995, Black Bear Diner is a fast-growing family restaurant with over 110 locations. Breakfast is served all day. Learn more at blackbeardiner.com

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Jill Forman

What’s going on?

As I write this, the facilities of the City and County of Ventura are closed to the public. Emergency and essential services continue to function.

Having misplaced my crystal ball…the original reopening date for the libraries was January 26 but no updates have been posted. The City has extended its closure until January 31.

The libraries are functioning with their normal hours. Readers can reserve their books online and pick them up at the branches. Computer kits are available. Storytimes have been held outdoors at Foster, online at other locations.

The Ukulele Jam took January off. Open Mike continues in a virtual format.

Carts of books for patrons to browse and check out are outdoors at Foster. Hill Road has books displayed in their window and another display of “Books About Books.”

The Mobile Library is still making stops; their schedule is available on the library web site.

Speaking of the website, it is vencolibrary.org.

Book groups (online?:)

Hill Road – Tues Feb 22nd at 5 p.m. The Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelley

Foster – On hiatus until April.

Ventura Friends of the Library News

Our financial reports have come in for the end of the year. Considering that our physical sale venues were closed for half the year, the numbers are impressive.

Book sales totaled at $31,000 (all figures rounded off:)

Foster Bookstore – $10,300

Hill Road shelves – $1100

Amazon sales – $9400

EBay sales – $500

Bulk sales (at warehouse) – 1000

Warehouse sales (to book dealers) – $2700

In-person book sales – $3700

Online Bookstore – $2200

Other income comes from donations, investments and Memberships. Showing how much the community supports the libraries, donations and grants came in to the tune of $12,000 and memberships totaled $14,200. As a result of hard work, flexibility and perseverance the Friends were able to give the libraries the gift of $53,500 last year!

Book Donations – Donation bins are outdoors during curbside hours at Foster and Hill Road. Please, just one bag of books at a time. The warehouse continues to accept donations on Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Due to the huge amounts of donated books we are receiving, we can still use volunteers at the warehouse.

Books, and our libraries, have helped many of us through the last two years. The Ventura Friends of the Library have supported all these efforts with time, money, and a lot of work. So…here’s my blurb of the day: Join Ventura Friends of the Library. Student: $10; Individual: $25; Family: $35. Download application to become a member, join online, or make a donation: Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

What makes whale watching a great activity?

Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, has daily departures to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor Village and is now offering Winter Whale Watching excursions. Book your spot today to view these magnificent mammals at www.islandpackers.com.

A winter Whale Watch is a perfect way to gather with family and friends to view Pacific Gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Baja. Pacific Gray Whales are normally sighted in the National Marine Sanctuary near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island continues through April 23, 2022. This mammoth migration of over 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles twice a year remains a major attraction in Southern California.

Sightings of the southern migration began in December for Pacific Gray Whales, and we also saw Humpback Whales, Fin whales, and occasionally Orcas. Common Dolphin are enjoyed year-round, delighting passengers as they frolic with the boat, and ride the bow and stern waves. For our most recent sightings visit www.islandpackers.com or find us on Twitter.

The half-day Winter Whale Watch Cruise provides stunning views of the Ventura coastline or the Channel Islands; depending on where the whales may be sighted. Winter Whale Watch excursions are available now thru mid-April from Ventura and/ or

Channel Islands Harbor departing at 9:30 a.m. and/or 1:30 p.m. Rates for half-day trips are $42 for adults, $38 for seniors, and $30 for children 3-12. Children 2 years old and younger ride free. All-day trips with landings and camping trips to Anacapa and

Santa Cruz Island are also available year-round. On Santa Cruz, both Scorpion Anchorage and Prisoner’s Harbor are now open. All-day trips run from $ 63.00 to $ 120.00 per adult.

What makes whale watching a great activity:

Affordable family fun – half day excursions start at $42 for adults; $30 for kids

Flexible – winter trips depart twice a day, almost daily (weather permitting) until mid-April

Educational – crew aboard the whale watching cruises have many years of experience sighting whales on the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel and will narrate and inform guests about all the varieties or marine mammals seen on your cruise

Get in touch with nature – it is not just whales that make the area so special; you may also see sea birds, sea lions, and the coastline of the offshore islands while onboard

Safety protocols keeping visitors to the Channel Islands safe and comfortable include:

  • Passenger loads are limited to under 75% capacity to better facilitate social distancing
  • Island Packer employees are health screened before every shift.
  • Eating and drinking permitted outside cabin area
  • Passengers are required to wear face covering on board vessels.
  • Office and boat crew wear appropriate PPE when in contact with the public.

For more information about Island Packers, call 805-642-1393 or book or visit online at www.Islandpackers.com

City of Ventura continues temporary closure of facilities

The City of Ventura has extended its temporary closure of facilities and suspension of most in-person recreational programming until Monday, January 31, 2022, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases countywide.

The City will continue to monitor cases at the end of January and reevaluate dates for safely reopening facilities.

“The extension of the City’s temporary closure is a precautionary measure that allows critical services and operations to continue while minimizing opportunities where transmission may be possible,” said Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre. “The health and safety of our community and City employees continues to be our top priority.”

Temporary facility closures include Ventura City Hall, the lobby at Fire and Police Headquarters, Sanjon Maintenance Yard, Ventura Avenue Adult Center, Barranca Vista Center, Westpark Community Center, Ortega Adobe, and the Olivas Adobe. Senior nutrition meals are available for pickup on-site at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center.

Most in-person sports, recreation, and community service programs are canceled until further notice. For questions about upcoming parks and recreation services, call (805) 658-4726 or visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/ParksRec.

Facilities that remain open with safety protocols include the Ventura Aquatic Center, Buenaventura Golf Course, and the Olivas Links Golf Course. Ventura City Council, Commission, and Committee meetings will continue to meet virtually during regularly scheduled times.

City staff remains available online or by phone during regular business hours. In addition, all public safety services will continue regular 24/7 operations. For Ventura Water questions, visit www.venturawater.net or call customer care at (805) 667-6500. For a water emergency, contact (805) 650-8010.

For information about how to get vaccinated, visit www.vaccines.gov or make an appointment directly at MyTurn.CA.gov. The Public Health clinic schedule is available at www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine. Additionally, there are 14 no-cost state testing sites in Ventura County. Visit www.vcrecovers.org/testing for more information about testing.

For additional information on City of Ventura services, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov.

Department of Education awards VCCCD colleges grants of nearly $10 Million

Two Ventura County Community College District colleges have received multi-million-dollar federal grants to support STEM programs targeting underrepresented students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and math-related fields. A grant for Oxnard College totals $4,901,245, and the grant for Ventura College is $5 million. Both grants are for the period of Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2026.

“For the third consecutive time, the U.S. Department of Education has recognized Oxnard College’s leading work in STEM education through the Hispanic-Serving Institution STEM grant,” shared Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. “This grant’s renewal will infuse additional resources and staffing into our academic programs, expanding career pathways in STEM for countless Ventura County students and their families. We relish the opportunity to continue this life-changing work for our community.”

Oxnard College’s grant supports the college’s Guided Pathways to STEM Careers project, which is grounded in published research and modeled after programs that produce intended outcomes in STEM.

Ventura College will use its grant for its Servingness: Aspiration, Identity, and Learning (S:AIL) in STEM project for students attending its main campus in Ventura and Ventura College East Campus in Santa Paula. This project aims to increase access and participation in STEM degrees/careers, provide more equitable degree and career outcomes and increase transfer rates to STEM programs in the California State University and University of California systems.

“The college degree pipeline for Hispanic students most often starts at the community college level, but there are many barriers to educational attainment and transfer, particularly in STEM. This grant will help close the achievement gap for Ventura College students from underrepresented communities by providing them with resources to ensure their success in coursework at our college and later at a four-year college or university,” said Dr. Kim Hoffmans, president of Ventura College.

Through the grant, Ventura College students will receive enhanced tutoring, counseling and service programs created to improve their academic success. This includes innovative and customized instruction in gateway English and math courses to retain students and accelerate program completion and transfer rates to four-year higher education institutions. The grant will also address the gaps in the community college to university pipeline by fostering flexible and affordable paths to obtaining knowledge and skills. This will occur through students’ participation in experiential and work-based learning.

Oxnard and Ventura colleges are Hispanic-Serving Institutions, meaning they meet certain eligibility requirements as institutions of higher education, and the student population has at least 25% Hispanic students at the end of an award year immediately preceding the date of a grant application. Oxnard College counts 76% of its students as Hispanic, and Ventura College, 61%.

Major gifts help secure the future of Rubicon Theatre Company

Building photo by Patricia Schallert

Nancy Allen and Karyn Jackson had been attending Rubicon productions for more than twenty years.

Rubicon Theatre has received an extraordinary donation and a commitment for a future legacy gift that will help ensure a bright future for the organization. As a result of the generosity of Karyn Jackson of Arcadia (a former Ventura resident), her sister Nancy Allen of Ventura, and Nancy’s husband Leo Allen, Rubicon has been able to purchase a four-unit property on Poli Street which will be used to house visiting artists. Additionally, the company has also received a pledge for a future legacy gift which will mean a new name for the building that houses the company at Main and Laurel in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District.

Founded in 1998, Rubicon is regarded as Ventura’s premier non-profit professional theatre company and has served more than 480,000 residents and visitors with award-winning productions.

According to Board President Doug Halter (member of the Ventura City Council), “This is the largest single gift in Rubicon’s 23-year-history. It is a remarkable tribute to the world-class artistry that has been a hallmark of Rubicon productions, and a vote of confidence in the future. We could not be more touched by the largesse of these special friends, or more grateful to them for making sure that Rubicon is here for future generations.”

Adds Karyl Lynn Burns, Rubicon Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director, “I truly feel that this was divine providence. From the moment we met, we all felt that this was ‘meant to be.’ It was difficult at first to know just how, but Karyn and Nancy’s passion for the theatre and for the artists who do the work is so moving. Their joy in life has been making memories for others. It’s the way they have lived their life and a practice modeled for them by their father.”

Burns was initially approached about the Poli property by two members of Rubicon’s Board of Advisors during the run of Shrek, Jr. at Villanova this summer, Rich Stewart and Harriet Clune. The two were volunteering as ushers for Rubicon’s outdoor education performances with fellow members of the Ventura East Rotary Club. Rich had served on the facilities committee for the theatre some years before and recalled that Rubicon spent $100,000 to $150,000 a year on artist housing. Stewart and Clune’s neighbor Karen Heyrend, had told them about a property within walking distance of the theatre that had four-units and five-rooms. The couple put Heyrend and Burns together.

When Heyrend took Burns, Rubicon Co-Founder James O’Neil and Director of Outreach Beverly Ward to see the Poli property, it was love at first sight. “It was beautiful and perfectly kept-up,” says Burns, “just the kind of place we try to rent for artists so that they get a sense of Ventura’s history and feel at home and comfortable.”

“We had just refinanced the mainstage theatre through Brian Donovan, Market Manager at Montecito Bank & Trust,” says Halter. “We knew we could make the Poli payments in terms of cash flow and that it would reduce overall production costs.”

Russ Charvonia, a wealth advisor and charitable planning attorney, donated his time to explore the possibility of a win-win scenario and Heyrend facilitated a meeting with the Allen’s and Karyn Jackson, who had owned the property at one time and had a passion for the community and the theatre.

With help and advice from Brian Donovan at Montecito Bank & Trust, Rubicon was able to secure the loan for Poli. Karyn Jackson decided not only to donate enough for the down payment, but also to make a legacy gift to rename the theatre.

“Karyn is such a humble person,” says Halter. “She often gives anonymously.” She and Nancy and Leo join the Meister and Laby families in being major cornerstone contributors to theatre and the arts in our region.”

In February the theatre building will be renamed Rubicon Theatre Company at The Karyn Jackson Theatre. The name of the company will remain the same. The Poli visiting artist property will be named in Nancy Allen’s honor, with a Plexiglas wall display telling the “Tale of Two Sisters”.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to Rubicon Theatre Company as the company prepared to open, or to learn more about underwriting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Beverly Ward at (805) 667-2912, ext. 280, or [email protected]. For information about upcoming Rubicon events and programming, or to receive e-news from Rubicon, go to www.rubicontheatre.org, or call Guest Services at (805) 667-2900.