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Elmhurst Elementary gets ReLeaf

It took a group effort to plant the trees at Elmhurst Elementary School. Photos by Audrey Bancroft

by Shirley Lorraine

A gathering of local dignitaries, school personnel and others took place on March 28 at Elmhurst Elementary School. They were there to celebrate, with the students, the planting of 15 trees in the school yard. Grants from several sources such as CalFire, the Coalition for Clean Air, Southern California Edison and ReLeaf have made this possible.

The Ventura Tree Alliance has been busy advocating for the reforestation of Ventura’s tree canopy only since 2021. Already they have been proven to effect great change in the community. Their goal statement reads “The Ventura Tree Alliance works to enhance Ventura’s urban canopy, to beautify Ventura and contribute to counteracting climate change. Our goals are to inspire, engage and support Venturans in planting and caring for trees through education, advocacy, volunteerism and fundraising.”

Elmhurst Elementary has quite a large uncovered grassy area. By planting trees at strategic spots around the grounds, as they grow, the trees will supply much needed shade and a healthier environment for the students.

At this celebration, 15 trees were planted. Individual classes adopted trees, named them and helped plant them. Many classes painted rocks for placement around the base of the trees. The students were excited to get their hands in the dirt, artfully place their rocks and proudly display signs sporting the names chosen for their trees.

One tree in particular, a stately magnolia, was named Zephyr- in honor of a student who passed away recently.

Former Mayor and Alliance co-founder Christy Weir, along with co-founder Barbara Brown, Ventura County Board of Supervisors Matt Lavere, school board member Sabrena Rodriguez, and volunteers from the Tree Alliance lifted their shovels for the cause.

159 Trees have already been planted in Ventura because of the Alliance’s efforts, with many more planned. Bike trails, city parks and schools have and will receive new plantings to maintain the landscape we enjoy. To learn more, volunteer or support the Alliance, visit their website at www.VenturaTreeAlliance.com. They would love to have you take part.

Ventura County Fairgrounds Names Deputy Manager

Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center is excited to name Heidi Ortiz to the position of Deputy Manager. Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds, having worked as an Executive Assistant to the CEO for 14 years. She also served as a Junior Fair Board advisor for five years.

“I enjoy working with the team, my Fair family, to put on events for the community’s enjoyment,” said Ortiz. “I love seeing the excitement, joy, and smiles on everyone’s face, making the hard work worth it!”

Ortiz has played a pivotal role in her work and in the community, having forged important relationships between the Fairgrounds, local businesses, organizations, and fairgoers. As Deputy Manager, Ortiz will continue to strengthen the bond between the community and the Fairgrounds, while also taking on an extended leadership role, overseeing staff and projects.

“Heidi is often referred to as the glue that keeps us all together,” said Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO Jen McGuire. “We are all so proud to have her as our Deputy Manager. Heidi has put her heart and soul into our Fairgrounds and it shows. Her continued commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Ortiz is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned her Bachelors in Animal Science. She excelled in academics and athletics, having played four years of collegiate soccer; a two-year team captain. When she’s not at the Fairgrounds, Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

The Ventura County Fair is celebrating 150 years in 2024! The fun starts now, with monthly events and contests leading up to the annual Fair this July 31 through August 11, 2024. This year’s Ventura County Fair will include new celebrations and pay homage to past traditions.

Foothill Technology High School wins three prestigious journalism awards

Everyone in the publication puts in an equal amount of work.

Foothill Technology High School (FTHS), part of the Ventura Unified School District, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning three major national high school journalism awards. The FTHS journalism program stands out as the sole High School program in California to accomplish this achievement this year, possibly since the inception of the of all three awards in 2016. The FTHS Dragons were honored with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Crown Award, the SNO Distinguished Sites Award and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Pacemaker Finalist Award for 2024 recognizing the excellence of The Foothill Dragon Press.

The NSPA Pacemaker Finalist Award is bestowed upon the cream of the crop in high school journalism programs across the United States, with only 24 high schools earning this prestigious recognition this year. The CSPA Crown Award acknowledges overall excellence in either print or digital student publications. “I am constantly amazed at my student journalists and how they operate in a professional manner, but also their togetherness and family vibes in the classroom is what sets them apart from other programs. Journalism here is student run and their success is student earned; my hope is that they have learned that we are better as a society when we work together, when we learn together, and when we strive to understand each other,” stated Journalism Adviser, Yiu Hung Li. Established in 2009, the Foothill Dragon Press is an online-only publication committed to providing the Foothill community with accurate, responsible, thought provoking, and timely journalism. “Clear communication and collaboration played a major role in our publication’s success this year.

Everyone in the publication puts in an equal amount of work: the staffers always come up with stories to portray, the editors oversee and send those stories to the editors-in-chief, and the editors-in-chief publish the stories for everyone to see. If our journalism program did not function in this process, our journalism program would not have achieved such recognition,” stated Isheeta Pal, Student Writing Section Assignment Editor. “To all aspiring journalism students, let your voice be heard! Whether through art, photography, writing, or even videography, journalism is a platform to express yourself and make an impact on thousands of people around the world,” stated Co-Editor-In Chief, Olivia Mowad.

Ventura Charter School hosts 13th annual EcoFest

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities.

Join us for good green fun celebrating Earth Day Ventura Charter School is excited to once again present Ventura EcoFest, an Earth Day celebration of our planet for the community of Ventura. This family-friendly free event welcomes the community to enjoy good green fun in the form of live performances, a silent auction, a raffle, local vendors and nonprofits, food trucks, eco arts and crafts and educational games on Sunday, April 28th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ventura Charter School campus, 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura.

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities, with more expected for this year’s event. In support of Earth-friendly practices Ventura Charter School’s EcoFest welcomes the community to head to the campus utilizing a variety of transportation options. Bicycle to event and receive bike valet services sponsored by Bike Ventura County. Through Gold Coast Transit District’s Youth Ride Free Program, students and children 18 and under ride free with no identification required. There will be a variety of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including a kid zone, an EV car exhibit, live music and dance and plenty more. Guests can bid in a silent auction, benefiting Ventura Charter School’s many diverse and inclusive academic programs. Among the items available for in-person bidding are outdoor gear, tickets for local entertainment, yoga class passes, whale watching passes, local restaurant gift cards and much more.

In addition to the silent auction, the event will feature a raffle. Pre-sale raffle tickets can be purchased from families of Ventura Charter School students or at the event. All tickets are $1. The grand prize is $1,000 in Disney Cash. The raffle will be pulled each hour, with the grand prize drawing at 4:00 p.m. Winners need not be present. Sponsors include Kirby Auto Group of Ventura, UNPaste, Bamieh & De Smeth, Amigos Party Rental, Brooklyn Charm, Bodhi Salt Yoga, Bella Luna Gardens, Edible Ojai and Ventura County, and Mission Bank.

“We are excited to continue this important annual tradition for our community, and our students,” said Lisa Hildebrand, Executive Director of Ventura Charter School, “Our students look forward to this event for the fun but it’s also an important reminder for them and for us that we are stewards for our planet and change starts with our own choices.” Proceeds from this event benefit Ventura Charter School, a tuition-free nonprofit school that serves 450 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. During school hours, Ventura EcoFest encourages students to take a closer look at their personal habits to see how they affect the planet and make changes, such as a student-led campaign to reduce disposable utensils on campus.

Along with the EcoFest celebration, students experience an involved project-based curriculum centered upon empowerment through critical thinking, empathy, research, and action to benefit the spaces they occupy throughout their lives with inclusion and equity. To learn more about Ventura EcoFest or enrollment at Ventura Charter School, please visit, https://earthdayventura.org. Ventura Charter School – Starting as Open Classroom in the 1970’s, Ventura Charter School of Global Arts & Education launched in 2006 as a tuition-free public charter school within the Ventura County Office of Education.

The school currently serves over 400 K-8 th grade students on its campus located within the larger DATA middle school property. Ventura Charter School is an expeditionary learning school in partnership with EL Education. It is guided by 10 founding principles and its mission to, “engage every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.”

Strawberry Festival winning poster design

Eleven-year-old engineering wiz Gio Basile created the winning poster design for the 38th Annual California Strawberry Festival.

This is the first California Strawberry Festival poster design contest since 2020 when the festival was canceled due to the pandemic. Gio’s generative art design was one of 154 entries from around the country. He takes home the $2,000 grand prize and VIP tickets to the festival.

Gio lives in Upland with his parents and sister. “Thank you for the opportunity to enter the contest,” says Gio. “I want to share my work and hopefully inspire others to be creative.”

Ventura Harbor celebrates $8.4M in dredging

Dredging of Ventura Harbor. Photos by Patrcia Schallert

The Ventura Port District proudly announces the commencement of the annual dredging for Ventura Harbor’s entrance channel, an annual program that is critical to the harbor community and made possible through the dedicated efforts of Congressman Salud Carbajal, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and their contractor, Manson Construction.

This significant undertaking underscores the recognition of Ventura Harbor’s importance as California’s largest commercial fishing harbor most years. The annual dredging of the federal navigation channel is an essential action that ensures the harbor remains navigable, safe, and prosperous for the industries and boaters that rely on our harbor’s working waterfront.

“The annual dredging project not only facilitates safer maritime navigation in the Ventura Harbor but is essential to maintain the economic vitality of commercial fishing, recreational boating, tourism, and all of our waterfront business partners,” shares Brian Pendleton, Ventura Port District General Manager.

Congressman Carbajal‘s efforts on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget have secured $8,471,000 for the Corps to perform Ventura Harbor’s dredging program which will commence in the next few weeks. Further, his advocacy has seen the President’s Budget request include $8,796,000 for Ventura Harbor in Fiscal Year 2025, which puts Ventura in a very strong position for next year’s dredging as well.

“The Central Coast’s harbors and ports are central to our community’s livelihood and lifestyle. Whether it’s the family enjoying a Saturday sail or a fisherman collecting their daily catch, having safe and operational channels and waterfronts are crucial to our region,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud to have secured these important funds for the Central Coast in the negotiations over this year’s budget agreement, and I will continue to work with our local officials to ensure their needs are met as we face more extreme weather patterns and other abnormal threats to the Central Coast’s harbors and ports.”

Michael Blumenberg, Chair of the Ventura Port District’s Board of Port Commissioners, said “Congressman Salud Carbajal continues to play a vital role in securing the federal funding necessary for our Harbor dredging project each year. His efforts have been crucial in ensuring federal recognition and support for the harbor’s economic and public benefit to the region”.

The collaboration, between the Ventura Port District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and their contractor, Manson Construction, continues to demonstrate the best in federal and local partnerships. Along with keeping the harbor navigable, the dredge efforts provide high-quality sand used to nourish the public beaches in the Ventura Harbor for beach goers.

“As we recognize the importance of this dredging project, we extend our deepest gratitude to Congressman Salud Carbajal for his unwavering support and dedication. His advocacy continues to contribute to the success and dependability of our working waterfront,” Blumenberg said.

The Ventura Port District invites the community to come and see the renourished beaches at the conclusion of the project. In the meantime, the public is asked to be mindful of the construction activities in the water and on the beach and to respect the presence of protected species including the Western Snowy Plover, Least Terns, and California Grunion and their essential habitat, which benefits from the responsibly managed sand placement of this project.

For any questions regarding the project, please contact Ventura Harbor Harbormaster John Higgins at [email protected] (navigation), Sr. Business Operations Manager Todd Mitchell at [email protected] (dredging), or for emergencies, contact Harbor Patrol through 9-1-1 dispatch services or on marine radio channel 16. For information on Ventura Harbor and Ventura Port District programs, beaches, and boater amenities visit VenturaHarbor.com.

The demand for professional first responders can exceed availability

Local residents graduate from CERT training.

After over six weeks of emergency response training, 40 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) students participated in their final practical exercise, a simulated earthquake with multiple victims. They practices lifting vehicles, putting out fires, triaging the injured, and managing an incident.

In the aftermath of a major disaster, the demand for professional first responders can exceed availability. We are so grateful these Ventura and Santa Paula residents are more prepared and feel confident taking action.

This program equips residents with essential knowledge about potential local disasters and how to safely, swiftly, and responsibly respond. Participants will learn how to reduce fire hazards, set up medical treatment areas, assist responders, conduct light search and rescue, and more!

Completing the CERT program requires 24 hours of training and each graduate will receive a certificate of completion, a manual, and a CERT disaster start-up pack containing a helmet, gloves, vest, and safety goggles.

After several months of wild weather and natural disasters, the city of Ventura is re-instituting their program called the Community Emergency Response Team.

It’s a free program that trains civilians to respond to emergency situations before, or in place of, first responders, such as assessing the level of trauma, applying tourniquets, CPR, putting out fires and more. It’s the first time the C.E.R.T. course has been offered since COVID-19 shut it down.

Ventura Police Department Mac Douglas said they received 93 applications for the course, showing that the community wants this kind of education.

“The fact of the matter is when we have a major incident, our first responders, as good as they are, are going to be overwhelmed,” Douglas said. “So, the community needs to take more of a responsibility for their own preparedness and supporting themselves and their neighbors.”

Local Partnering Organizations Launch Free Mobile Vision Clinic

The Ventura Chamber held a Ribbon Cutting on March 20. Photo by Rich Ramos

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at expanding access to vision care for local underserved populations, leading community organizations Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, SEE International, Westminster Free Clinic, and The Salvation Army, announced the launch of a mobile vision clinic.

This innovative service made its debut with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 20, 2024, at 11:30 AM, located at 650 S Petit Ave, Ventura, where lunch was served to attendees. The event featured keynote speaker Matt Levere, County Supervisor, as well as words from different organizational representatives, such as Sandra Adelante, Optician Technician and Sabriana Marrufo, from the Spirit of Santa Paula along with some patient testimonies. Local KVTA radio personality Tom Spence was The Master of Ceremonies.

The need for mobile services became apparent following the organizations’ opening of three free vision clinics across the community. After opening the first clinic in Ventura in 2018, services were expanded through two more clinics, one opening in Oxnard in 2021, and another in Thousand Oaks in 2023. Despite these expansions, it was clear that transportation issues and other barriers prevented many community members from accessing the much-needed vision care services offered at these clinics. This led to the idea of a mobile clinic, capable of reaching patients directly in their areas.

Thanks to many generous donations and the support of the partnering organizations, a van was purchased and converted to accommodate medical equipment.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the mobile clinic began operations.

The mobile unit will replace the traditional brick-and-mortar setup at the Ventura walk-in and will be stationed outside the Salvation Army every Tuesday. It will also periodically offer services at the Swap Meet Justice in Oxnard, the Santa Paula Westminster Free Clinic, and many other local events throughout the Central Coast.

Together in partnership, Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, SEE International, Westminster Free Clinic, and The Salvation Army, are committed to providing vision care to underserved communities throughout the Central Coast. To make DONATIONS and/or to learn more about the mobile clinic, please visit https://ccfreevision.org/.

WEV hosted an Award Ceremony

Marisa Aj-Tobar delivering her acceptance speech.

On March 20th Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV, pronounced “weave”) hosted an Award Ceremony at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum to grant $412,500 to 55 Hispanic business owners from across Santa Barbara County. 83 entrepreneurs recently completed WEV’s “Emprendimiento” program, an eight-week business skills course taught entirely in Spanish.  Upon completion of the training, the business owners had the opportunity to submit a business plan in competition for the $7,500 grant to help grow their existing small business.

Among the graduates were 25 childcare business owners through WEV’s partnership with Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County.  One such participant, Maria Equihua, Owner of “Tu Casita” family day center in Santa Maria shared during her graduation speech, “Every day I work as a chef, cleaning lady, teacher, nurse, choreographer, motivator, administrator, and psychologist- and now, thanks to this program, I can call myself an entrepreneur. This program prepared us to be smart business owners who focus on the growth and operations of our businesses, giving us valuable educational, administrative and financial tools.”

Another graduate, Marisa Aj Tobar, arrived in the United States from Guatemala in 2008 with what she describes as a “suitcase full of dreams and goals”.  She started out taking the bus to clean houses, worked her way up to supervisory positions on commercial cleaning sites which was what gave her the idea to start her own business.  Today Marisa runs her own small business, “Marisa’s Housekeeping Services” which has other employees and a waiting list.  Marisa said that “coming to WEV was about finding guidance, education, the advice to grow, but above all it was about finding the hope and reaffirmation that I could realize my dreams.  WEV is the life jacket I needed to jump into the water.  My goal is to grow my business so I can employ mothers who would benefit from a flexible schedule that will allow them to have time with their families.”

 

Ivor has lived in Ventura for the past 44 years

Ivor Davis shared his remarkable career.

On March 23, the Ventura Breeze presented Ivor Davis at Portside Ventura Harbor where he introduced his latest book 60th anniversary Beatles and Me On Tour. Breeze publisher Sheldon was the moderator for the event.

Ivor, who has lived in Ventura for the past 44 years entertained the approximately 50 in attendance sharing his remarkable career and wit. An entertaining Q&A followed his presentation.

Over more than half a century as a writer for the London Daily Express and the Times of London, British born Ivor covered major stories in North America. He penned a weekly entertainment column for the New York Times Syndicate for over 15 years, interviewing some of the biggest names in show business, from Cary Grant to Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton to Tom Cruise and Muhammad Ali.

In 1962 he was smuggled onto the campus of the riot-torn University of Mississippi when James Meredith became the first black student ever to be enrolled Three years later Davis was in the front lines as Los Angeles’ Watts riots erupted.

In l964, Davis was the only British daily newspaper correspondent to cover The Beatles’ first American tour from start to finish, given unparalleled access to John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Davis covered Robert Kennedy’s 1968 presidential bid and was in the kitchen in the Ambassador Hotel the night Senator Kennedy was assassinated. He was one of the Boys on the Bus chronicling the life of actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan, first in his campaign for governor of California, then for president. He always seemed to be at the right place at the right time.

He was a co-author of the 1969 political book Divided They Stand, which chronicled the Presidential election; and witnessed some of the biggest trials in American history: and, in 1976, he was in San Francisco to see heiress Patty Hearst convicted of robbery after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Over more than half a century as a writer for the London Daily Express and the Times of London, Ivor covered major events in North America. He penned a weekly entertainment column for the New York Times Syndicate for over 15 years.

Ivor’s first-hand, insider’s memoir, the award winning The Beatles and Me On Tour: 60th Anniversary Edition is a fascinating travel back in time where for the first time he chronicles, frankly and humorously, 34 days with the world’s most famous band on the road—at a critical moment in the history of rock and roll. His new book contains photographs from some of the world’s pre-eminent Beatle photographers–as well a wealth of fascinating new details about the Fab Four.

His new true crime book, “The Devil in My Friend: The Inside Story of a Malibu Murder.” It is an account of the famous Eighties trial of Malibu engineer Frederick George Roehler, who was convicted of the murder of his wife and young stepson after an almost year-long trial in the Santa Barbara Courthouse in May l982. The killings took place close by—at Santa Cruz Island. The book will be published on May 7th.