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They were Californios, Yaqui Tribesmen, Mission Indians, Chumash, Mexican Nationals, and a handful of Europeans

Their lances were taken away and replaced with carbines.

Many watched as a small parade went down dusty El Camino Real soon to be renamed Main St. in 1863. They were mounted cavalry, in blue, riding south from Santa Barbara to Fort Drum, in Wilmington for training.  They were armed with 11-foot lances, each one with a little pennant attached to the steel points. They were all local men, Company C of the First Native Cavalry Battalion of the Union Army riding south to join in the American Civil War that had raged for three years. As the name of the Unit implies, It was made up of Latinos born in California.

The Yankees didn’t know it, but it was a diverse group with only Spanish language and Roman Catholic faith uniting them. They were Californios, Yaqui Tribesmen, Mission Indians, Chumash, Mexican Nationals, and a handful of Europeans (Spanish and French) all together in the first bi-lingual unit in the US Army.   Two factors lead to the formation of this Battalion, A) a drought had caused many vaqueros to lose their jobs as cowboys as the great ranches turned to Sheep raising. and B) the need for more troops to help the Union cause in the Southwest.  So, they signed up for a two year enlistment leaving wives and family in what is today Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Their lances were taken away and replaced with a sharps carbines. Each trooper got a colt revolver, a sword, and the carbine.  They trained, learning to ride in formation, and charge on command before being sent to Fort Yuma, then across the Arizona deserts to Fort Mason, near the Mexican Border.

The Confederacy had long been driven out of Arizona Territory, but there was still an Apache uprising to quell and as internal problems in Mexico spilled over the border. France had occupied Mexico and installed the puppet Emperor Maximillian Hapsburg, deposing the legally elected President, Benito Juarez (His wife and ten children had fled to New York City and Juarez had met with Abraham Lincoln). Many in Mexico supported Juarez and fighting broke out between the two factions.

When the Civil War ended, they marched to Baja where a steamer took them to San Francisco to be mustered out and given back pay.  When they returned to Santa Barbara they were given a parade on State St. and a fiesta with fireworks and a bull fight.

It isn’t known what celebrations were given to the boys from San Buenaventura, but many returned home to their wives and children. Many of these Latinos who served in this unit rest at Ventura’s Cemetery Memorial Park.

Vol. 15, No. 16 – May 4 – May 17, 2022 – Opinion/Editorial

∙ On May 6 there will be a celebration at the Art City Studios (see ad in this issue). If you haven’t been to Art City, it is an amazing experience where you can spend hours walking around looking at the wonderful art and sculptures. The property has been sold, so if you haven’t been there this would a great time to visit. Hope to see you there.

∙I want to thank Councilmember Mike Johnson who is personally helping to clean up Ventura by inviting the community to come to clean up events with him. See page 5 for how to participate.

∙I have heard some Venturans say that there is a new water-usage mandate, stating that they can only water their lawns one day a week. This mandate, from the MWD, applies to communities dependent on the state water project, and does not apply to Ventura. Our water comes from local resources. In a future issue we will have an article explaining our water sources and what condition they are in.

∙Recently Naomi Judd passed away. I normally wouldn’t mention passing celebrities except for her daughter’s statement saying, “We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.” People do not die from mental illness. They might die by suicide brought on by their mental illness. I hope there can be a clarification to the cause of her death so that people don’t think mental illness is a killer. The clarification has been made. Naomi Judd, iconic country star and one-half of the mother-daughter duo took her own life on Saturday following a longtime battle with mental illness at 76 years old, multiple sources confirm.

∙A fundraising concert, where 100% of donations benefit UNICEF’s coordinated response to the crisis in Ukraine, will feature a diverse selection of classical music, spanning works by the Great Masters to Ukrainian folk songs.

All donations support UNICEF’s humanitarian response efforts directed towards children and families in Ukraine and neighboring countries offering a safe haven to those displaced. Tickets are free to the public and donations are encouraged. The event is Sunday, May 15, 6:00pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3290 Loma Vista Road, Ventura.

To donate or learn more about the organization, visit www.unicefusa.org.

∙The Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division), in coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), is issuing a warning about the annual quarantine of mussels taken by recreational shellfish harvesters. This quarantine is due to hazardous levels of toxin causing paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The quarantine applies to all species of mussels taken by the public anywhere on the California coast including all bays, harbors, and estuaries. Commercially harvested shellfish are not included in the quarantine. In addition, consumers are advised not to eat recreationally harvested bivalve shellfish (such as mussels, clams or whole scallops) from Ventura County. Dangerous levels of domoic acid have been detected in mussels sampled from Ventura County, making them unsafe to eat.

∙A report by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service found that while spring 2021 was cooler than average, the summer months were marked by “severe and long-lasting heatwaves” that saw numerous new temperature records, including an unprecedented 119.8 degrees Fahrenheit measured in Sicily last August. Maybe if we call this climate change and not globing warming all people will start believing it.

∙A New York judge is holding Donald Trump in civil contempt after the state’s attorney general’s office said he did not comply with a subpoena for documents as part of its investigation into the former President’s companies.

Judge Arthur Engoron said Trump failed to abide by his order to comply with the subpoena, and that his attorneys failed to show how a search of materials held by Trump was conducted. Engoron said Trump would be fined $10,000 a day until he complies.

The judge stated, “Mr. Trump, I know you take your business seriously and I take mine seriously. I hereby hold you in civil contempt and fine you $10,000 per day until you purge that contempt.”

∙ Guns In the News

Gunfire erupted at the Mississippi Mudbug Festival in Jackson. One person died and five others were hurt. The person who died may have been shot by an officer after “there was an exchange of gunfire between at least 2 to 3 individuals in and around a vehicle.”

The possible suspect in the fatal shooting of the owner and two employees of a Mississippi Gulf Coast motel and subsequent death of a person shot during a carjacking was found dead after a standoff with police.

A man arrested following a South Carolina mall shooting in which nine people were wounded had opened fire in self-defense in a confrontation with other shooters, his lawyer said. Investigators believe a fight between people who knew one another led to the gunfire, and that “at least three suspects displayed firearms inside the mall.”

At least four major shootings broke out across the United States over the Easter weekend, including one at a party in Pittsburgh that left two teenagers dead and several others injured early Sunday.

Two teens were killed, and several other people were injured in a shooting that stemmed from a large party in Pittsburgh according to police. Investigators are searching for multiple suspects in the shooting, which occurred early Sunday in the city’s East Allegheny neighborhood at a property that was rented through short-term rental company Airbnb. The teens who were killed were both 17-year-old males.

Authorities received multiple calls reporting gunshots heard inside the Mall of Victor Valley with a reported juvenile gunshot victim. Police identified that the suspect was the co-owner of Sole Addicts store. Cockrell was reportedly chasing two shoplifters out of his store during the incident. According to police, Cockrell fired multiple shots at the shoplifters, but the shots missed the individuals and instead hit a 9-year-old female victim, luckily it did not kill her.

Gunfire took the life of a 16-year-old girl outside a Bronx high school when she and two other teens were hit by bullets fired in a dispute between “brazen criminals.”

Police in Sacramento say six people are dead and 10 injured after a shooting in the city’s downtown area.

Two people were killed and two injured in a shooting that occurred in broad daylight near a children’s playground in San Francisco’s Crocker Amazon neighborhood.

∙From a Ventura police report about those who continue to commit crimes; “Lindsay has an extensive criminal history and has prior arrests including Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, Possession for Sales of Narcotics, Drug and Paraphernalia Possession, Felony Evading, Conspiracy, Domestic Violence, Vandalism, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Driving Under the Influence and Providing False Information to a Police Officer. Hartin has prior arrests including Burglary, Conspiracy, Robbery, Criminal Threats, Theft, Forgery, Identity Theft, Domestic Battery, Child Endangerment and Drug Possession. Both suspects were out on bail at the time of their arrest.”

What were these two horrible people doing out on bail so that they could commit more crimes? We hope to get an answer to this in a future issue.

Vol. 15, No. 16 – May 4 – May 17, 2022 – Mailbox

Hi there!,
 I read the article about the owls and just to inform you about the return of them. They “were” there last year and Olivia the owl actually had a broad of three! I was fortunate enough to take pics of them over a three month period.
This is my screen saver in my phone. Anyway, hope you enjoy! If you would like anymore pics or know someone else that does, just let me know!

Best,
Kori Ventura

Editor:

Show Big Oil they cannot spend millions to buy elections in Ventura County.

In 2020, in the interest of public health and safety, our duly elected Board of Supervisors voted to require antiquated oil leaseholders to review the environmental impacts new drilling or fracking could cause to surrounding communities and our resources.

Not taking “NO” for an answer, Big Oil has spent millions on fancy signature collectors, fancy mailers, and fancy yard signs to convince VC voters that oil companies need not consider the damage that new drilling or fracking on these old leases (3000 in the county) would cause.

Let’s show Big Oil what their obscene profits cannot buy here. Let’s show them some VC grassroots determination. Grab your kids or grandkids, grab some poster board and crayons, and let’s show them some not-so-fancy “YES on A & B – FOR OUR KIDS” car-window and yard signs.

You can’t drink oil – protect our water, protect our environment, and protect our kids.

Big Oil might not know it, but YES WE CAN defeat them.

On June 7, vote YES on Measures A & B – for our kids.

Diane Underhill

Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.
~ Bill Watterson

 

 

 

Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Geomorphic: The Living Earth“

The Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Geomorphic: The Living Earth,“ an exhibition of 42 abstract paintings inspired by nature by Ventura artist Kay Zetlmaier. The artist will be on hand on Saturday, May 14, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is $5.00 for SPAM members, and $10.00 for non-members. “Geomorphic: A Living Earth” will be on view May 14, 2022, to September 11, 2022.

Kay Zetlmaier has been making art her entire life. Some of Zetlmaier’s paintings contain over a dozen layers of paint. 

She was a high school art teacher for 30 years, at St. Bonaventure High School and then Ventura High School. She is a member of Buenaventura Art Association.

Interview with Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko

Nasarenko served two terms as a Ventura City Councilmember.

by Richard Lieberman

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko has served as District Attorney since being appointed in January, 2021. Appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors with a vote of 5-0, Nasarenko is looking to continue his time in office running for the office for the first time.

Prior to his appointment as Ventura County District Attorney Nasarenko served two terms as a Ventura City Councilmember and served as Ventura City Mayor. He also served as Senior Deputy District Attorney.

“Among my top priorities to ensure that the new family justice center for victims is implemented in the county. We now have three million dollars in which to make that intake and service center a success. We also want to implement successfully the new domestic violence shelter here in Ventura which will be right next to the existing family justice center thanks to the Ventura Community Foundation. We will have fourteen beds with stays of up to fifteen days and this is part of breaking the cycle of abuse, he said. “We also begin a cold case sexual assault unit that will allow us to go back in time and analyze cold cases and literally take the files off of shelves from the storage lockers and begin the process of analyzing for DNA evidence. We will upload them to state and national databases to see if they cross reference to other unsolved crimes and if cases are within the statutes if there is a victim who would like to move forward we will file the appropriate charges, the objective here is to hold these offenders accountable”, said Nasarenko.

Nasarenko also added that another priority is “getting the wheels of justice to back up to par after the fits and starts of the last two years. We receive on an annual basis approximately 25,000 potential cases. So, when the court is closed Covid related emergencies make the cases back up, we are now moving on full cylinders, trials are being conducted, courtrooms are active, jurors’ are back in the jury assembly room, but one of the challenges in the months ahead is continuing to keep court operations moving. Also continuing to be a community-oriented prosecutor, I speak to Rotary’s, city councils, law enforcement, chambers of commerce and social justice organizations. He added, “I joined a number of DA’s in opposing literally suing the state to block the early release of some of these violent inmates and here we find that one of the individuals involved in the Sacramento mass shooting incident was indeed released early. Whatever I can do to use this office and our legal power to make sure that when someone is convicted they serve their full term. This will continue to be a priority.”

The Breeze asked the DA what difficulties he finds with balancing the responsibilities of the office and family life especially during an election cycle. “You have to recognize that during a finite period of time you will be out of bounds and equilibrium. When this campaign began last summer I sat down with my wife and kids and I said dads going to be out of the house a lot, its not forever, we have about ten or eleven months and it’s important that dad just work really hard and do everything he can to keep this job and I am not saying it does not come with sacrifice.”

Nasarenko’s family is from Ukraine and his parents emigrated to the United States in 1950 after surviving World War II living in refugee camps for five years. He stated, “I feel a sense of helplessness right now.”

When asked what a typical day is like for him he replied “every day is different than the day before, you are receiving input from the chiefs about legislation, what should be our position if we are going to oppose or if we are going to support it and how do we communicate that support. Are we going to file a case a certain way or should we consider different charges?

Most importantly I am in touch and communicating with the entire office. I will routinely go to jury trials to watch opening statements, closing arguments and I like to walk the halls and interact with the deputy DA’s. I want to have my ear to the ground and be in a position to understand who is on trial. I am very mindful about the potential to become isolated and to lose touch of the overall office, so I am conscious and deliberate with a very hands-on active way,”

Encouraged by his parent’s support Nasarenko applied to the district attorney’s office and got the job.

He, and his wife, and daughter visited Ventura and fell in love with the city and the county and has made his home here ever since their first visit.

Editor note: On June 7 John Barrick and Erik Nasarenko will be running for the position of Ventura County District Attorney.

 

For Ukraine with Love

Alec Benke created a custom pedestal, including scales, for the mermaid sculpture on Spinnaker drive.

by Amy Brown

For many years there have been two iconic bronze mermaid statues, each gracing a separate entrance to the Ventura harbor. One has a plaque reading “From Russia with Love,” but today they both wear Ukrainian flower crowns in yellow and blue. Their donor, Alec Benke, is no stranger to the mysticism and idea of mermaids. A native of the former Soviet Union, starting in 1987 he served for three years as a sonar technician on submarines near Vietnam, and spent countless hours on watch, differentiating between friends (fishing barges lumbering past) and foes, which included at that time the 6th Fleet of the U.S. Navy. Other unexpected friends were heard during those lonely assignments, which Benke is sure were mermaids. “I know it sounds crazy,” he laughs. He never saw these fabled sirens, but shares that he heard and felt them, and the idea of their presence filled him with calmness and quiet joy. Later during his service he was surprised when he came to realize that Americans are just regular people, like his own countrymen. “You should not underestimate the power of Soviet propaganda about Americans at that time,” said Benke.

Benke was living in Kazakhstan when the Iron Curtain fell. “Suddenly, I was not welcome there anymore and I wasn’t welcome in Russia anymore; I was a foreigner. It was shocking,” said Benke, who soon attended a marine academy, and met his wife Tatyana. The two travelled to Kodiak, Alaska and since they already had visas, they went to the US embassy and eventually became citizens.

Each mermaid wears a traditional Ukrainian flower crown today.

The couple moved to Ventura in 2000, and Alec began a construction company, focused on rock formations and mosaics. During his travel for the business, he drove to and from San Diego, and along that route he first saw glorious 15’ tall mermaid sculptures, which reminded him viscerally of his experiences as a submariner, so he pulled off the highway to investigate. “It was because like I fell in love with them, and I would stop and visit them on every trip,” he said.

Benke eventually was able to buy them, maxing out his credit cards, and brought them back to Ventura. “By that time I had a small house, but what am I going to do with them? My wife finally had had enough of them lying in our little backyard, so I decided to give them to the city. They’re still mine, in my heart, but I decided to build everything for them.”

Alec Benke poses with the mermaid sculpture at Soter Point.

His love for his new country, the ocean and these beautiful mermaids dovetailed with other labors of love, when Benke met Sam Povar and Andy Soter. Povar was a community activist committed to private-public art projects, and sought to honor his late wife, Oriana and Soter was working on a project to upgrade paths in Marina Park to memorialize the loss of her daughter Andrea to cancer. “We came the three of us together and worked on this project. It was amazing. All three of us, different ages, but we were like old friends immediately.” The project was creating symbols of love with the donation of the two mermaid statues, on custom stone ten-foot-tall pedestals created by Benke. One plays the flute and is on what is now called Soter Point, and the other, playing a cello, is across the harbor on Spinnaker.

Today Benke’s personal labor of love includes raising awareness and activism to support the citizens of Ukraine. He shared that his support of Ukraine has cost him relationships with his parents and friends in Russia. “I decorated the mermaids with the traditional Ukrainian flower wreath as a sign of support and admiration for the fearless Ukrainian people,” said Benke. His partner in the project applauds Benke’s sentiments. “It is a great expression of love and fondness for Ukrainian people and joy to be an American citizen,” said Soter.

Benke encourages others to support the Ukrainians and petition legislators during this time by visiting the site www.protectukrainenow.com. “The world as we know it has been changed forever,” said Benke.

 

 

Up Close and Personal with Bob Eubanks

Bob Eubanks is best known for hosting the Newlywed Game.

Museum of Ventura County presents “Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal with Bob Eubanks”

April 28, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at 100 E Main Street in Ventura and via Zoom

Bob Eubanks is best known for hosting the explosively popular, “The Newlywed Game.” Guests are welcomed in-person at the Museum’s Ventura campus on 100 E Main St., and virtually through Zoom. For more information and registration, please visit: venturamuseum.org.

Reporter Ivor Davis continues his interview series at the Museum, Ivor Davis: Up Close and Personal, with Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award recipient Bob Eubanks. Davis introduces guests to how Eubanks’ legendary career began by meeting The Beatles and then persuading a bank to secure a large loan against his home to bring the singing sensation to the Hollywood Bowl. This bold move ultimately changed the trajectory of Bob Eubanks’ career, becoming a legend in his own right.

“We are thrilled that Ivor Davis is once again bringing an exciting and distinguished guest to our community,” says The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director, Elena Brokaw, “Spending the evening with Bob Eubanks is sure to be a fascinating exploration into his life and career. I’m looking forward to his many stories.”

For guests attending in-person, proof of vaccination will be required on arrival and masks will be optional. Masks will be available upon request. This event is free for members, $10 for non-members in person, and $5 for nonmembers attending via Zoom. For more information, please visit: venturamuseum.org.

Jenna Wolverton honored as Dispatcher of the Year

Jenna started with VPD in March of 2015 as a police cadet.

Each year during the second week of April, the Ventura Police Department (VPD) recognizes National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, bringing well deserved attention and recognition to the first responders who are a vital part of the public safety team.

“This year we recognize Jenna Wolverton as our Dispatcher of the Year! Jenna is the epitome of a team player, handles high priority calls with ease, and is a skilled Communications Training Officer (CTO) who demonstrates patience and a desire to effectively train and mentor,” said Communications Center Supervisor, Sergeant Tim Ferrill. “She is a true asset to our agency and is a worthy recipient of this award.”

Jenna started with VPD in March of 2015 as a police cadet and during her time as a cadet, explored various law enforcement career options. She was hired as a dispatch trainee in May 2016 and has faithfully served Ventura since.

“I am extremely proud of our team of dispatchers who play a key role in serving Ventura,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “They are highly trained professionals who provide life-saving instruction, calm callers in dangerous situations, multi-task under stressful conditions, and keep our officers apprised of vital information. Emergency response is truly a team effort that starts when a call is answered.”

VPD is the first answering point in the community for all emergency calls, including police, fire, and emergency medical services. In 2021, Ventura Police public safety dispatchers received 68,000 911 calls, which is about 240 calls for service each day. Additionally, VPD dispatchers generated 86,000 calls for service, and dispatched over 135,000-unit responses ranging from life-threatening priority calls to disturbance and investigative calls.

In the last year, VPD received grant funding to provide a new community service called “Text to 911,” which allows the community to send a text when they’re unable to make a phone call.

Currently, VPD has 17 public safety dispatchers who have completed a rigorous 6–12-month academy, with an additional two people in training.

In 2020, public safety dispatchers were reclassified as “first responders,” further recognizing their crucial work in providing emergency assistance to the community they serve.