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Vol. 15, No. 12 – Mar 9 – Mar 22, 2022 – Music Calendar

For more up-to-the-date listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

A Bar Called Country
211 E. Santa Clara Street, Ventura
Music 9 pm – 12:30 am
Thurs 3/18: Brother Earl and the Cousins, Jonathan Sheldon

Angry Ferret Brewing Co.
11990 Hertz Street, Moorpark
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 3/12: Dave Smith
Sat 3/19: Milo Sledge Trio

Azar’s
2215 Michael Drive, Newbury Park
Tuesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Sat 3/12: Tasty Thieves

The Blue Room
Upstairs next to Comedy Club, Ventura Harbor
Fri 3/18: RJ Mischo

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; then Bluegrass Jam
Fri 3/18: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer
Sat 3/19: Big Adventure Duo
Sun 3/20: CRV

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
DJs Friday – Sunday

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street, Ventura
Wed 3/9: Donna Greene
Fri 3/11: Otis Hayes
Wed 3/16: Donna Butler
Fri 3/18: Self Righteous Brothers

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Fri 3/11: John Nemeth
Sat 3/12: Brandon Ragan
Fri 3/18: Slogan Acoustic
Sat 3/19: Sandy Haley

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Bobby Apostol
Fridays & Saturdays: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Saturdays and Sundays: Kenny DeVoe
Sat 3/12: Teresa Russell
Sun 3/13: Buena Onda

Crown & Anchor
2891 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks
Fri 3/18: Studebaker Hawk

The Deer Lodge
2261 Maraicopa Hwy, Ojai
Sun 3/13: Willy Tea Taylor & the Fellership; the Turkey Buzzards
Mon 3/14: Vetiver w/ Scott Hirsch
Sat 3/19: The Sometimes Island

Fatty Vegan
325 S. Borchard Dr., Ventura
Fri 3/11: Kyle Smith

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Music Fridays 6-8 pm; Saturday 1 – 3:30 pm
Sat 3/12: Mark Masson Duo
Fri 3/18: Crosscut 805

The Grape
2833 E. Main Street, Ventura
Tuesdays Jazz Jam
Saturday afternoons Salsa with Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna (2 pm)
Wed 3/9: WeBBinney
Thurs 3/10: House Arrest feat. Freda Ramey & Colene Riffo
Fri 3/11: Fred Kaplan Trip; Max Haymer Trio
Sat 3/12: the Jerry Vivino Quartet
Thurs 3/17: Midlife Crisis

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Music 4-6 pm
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Ken Devoe

Keynote Lounge
10245 E Telephone Rd, Ventura
Thursdays: Open mic jam
Fri 3/11: DJ AVG
Sat 3/12: Whiskey Business
Fri 3/18: CRV
Sat 3/19: DJ Joe

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Music 6:30 – 8:30; Sundays 3-5
Thurs 3/10: Second Round
Fri 3/11: TC King
Sat 3/12: Heavy Rotation
Sun 3/13: Blown Over
Thurs 3/17: Nate Ward
Fri 3/18: Jayden Secor
Sat 3/19: The Sliders
Sun 3/20: Katie Leigh

Lookout & Grill
2800 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Wednesdays: Tommy Foytek’s Variety Show
Thursdays: Acoustic Open Mic

Lucas Sellers Wine
330 Zachary Street, Moorpark
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 12/3: Karen Eden w/ Bill Macpherson

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street, Ventura
Sun 3/13: Mikey Goode
Sat 3/19: Sour fin
Sun 3/20: Lindsey Marie

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street, Ventura
Wed 3/9: Kaleo
Fri 3/18: Kyle

Manhattan Restaurant
5800 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Wed 3/9: Robert Van
Fri 3/11: Tour Support
Sat 3/12: Jeanne Tatum
Thurs 3/17: CRV
Fri 3/18: Dynamic Duo Pam & Hollywood
Sat 3/19: Michael Falcone Trio

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor
Fri & Sat 7-10 pm; Sun 4-7 pm
Fri 3/11: Red Rhythm
Sat 3/12: Operation 90s
Sun 3/13: Crosscut 805
Sat 3/19: On Tap
Sun 3/20: Tossers

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor
Music at Noon
Sun 3/13: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak Street, Ventura
Fri 3/11: Alex Lucero & the Live Again Band
Sat 3/12: The F.A.T. trio
Fri 3/18: The Pipes (Brid Simon & Gary Best)

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl Street, Ojai
Sat 3/19: Shawn Jones

Onyx Bistro (formerly Relm)
2390 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Fri 3/11: Gianna Bella
Sat 3/12: the Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 3/18: Scott Rausch
Sat 3/19: Sam Stacy

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Sat 3/12: Buddy Guy, Ally Venable

Paddy’s Cocktails
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Pedals & Pints
156 W. Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks
Sat 3/12: 805 Social Club
Tuesday 3/15: Open Mic
Thurs 3/17: Whole Hog
Fri 3/18: Shay Moulder

Peirano’s on the Terrazza
204 E. Main Street, Ventura
Fri 3/11: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio

Prime Restaurant
2209 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: Danny D

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Music at 7-10 pm
Fri 3/11: Brittney Burchett
Sat 3/12: Jayden Secor
Thurs 3/17: The Remedies
Fri 3/18: Jetlemons
Sat 3/19: Sean Wiggins

Ric’s Restaurant
2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support with Kurt Griffey & Bob DeLellis

Rock & Roll Pizza
305 Arneil Road, Camarillo
Tuesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Fri 3/11: Just Dave Band
Sat 3/12: Ozzy Bloody Ozzy, Hollywood Crue
Thurs 3/17: Gary Ballen
Fri 3/18: Stay in Your Lane
Sat 3/19: Kerosene Kings & Craig Adams
Sun 3/20: Irie Nationz International

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut Street, Ventura
Fri 3/11: Sin Chonies
Sat 3/12: No Consent, Los Bonedrivers, RAW

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 3/11: CRV

The Six Chow House
419 E Main Street, Ventura
Fri 3/11: Aaron Orbit, Rubberneck Lions, Carlism
Sat 3/12: The Rod Show
Wed 3/16: Anuhea with Jordan T
Thurs: 3/17: Thin Emerald
Fri 3/18: Cosolive
Sat 3/19: Funky Hippeez / Sweet Pea

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sat 3/12: Kevin James O’Brien

Sunland Vintage Winery
1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks
Thursdays: Dave & Kevin
Fri 3/11: Teresa Russell

Taqueria Jalisco Restaurant
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Music 5-8 pm
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sat 3/12: Brenda Carsey

Topa Topa Brewing
341 Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sat 3/12: Buck Moon
Fri 3/18: Kellen van Allen
Sat 3/19: Sam Kulchin

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main Street, Ventura
Wednesdays: Classic Country w/ Jesse Harris
Fri 3/11: Crosscut 805
Sat 3/12: BombaFiya; Out of the Blue
Sun 3/13: Steve and Sally Williams
Thurs 3/17: LA Jazz Connection
Fri 3/18: Soul Machine
Sat 3/19: Bob Bishop; Divebar Messiahs
Sun 3/20: Joe Delia

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays The Sea Hunters
Thursdays: Delta by the Beach

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sundays: Fire on the Mountain
Saturdays: Smitty and Julija and Friends
Fri 3/12: Corey Highberg
Fri 3/18: David Gorospe
Sun 3/20: Toni Jonnatta Jazz

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 3/10: Brandon Ragan
Fri 3/11: Steve and Sally Williams
Sun 3/13: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Tues 3/15: Open mic w/ Jenna Rose
Thurs 3/17: Big Adventure
Fri 3/18: Mark Masson
Sun 3/20: Duncan & the Dragonslayers

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B Street, Oxnard
Sat 3/12: Steve and Sally Williams

Vol. 15, No. 12 – Mar 9 – Mar 22, 2022 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Cheers to 20 years. St. Bonaventure High School Class of 2000 reunion.
Saturday, June 4, at 6 pm. Contact Julia Wouk for further information at 619-888-7956.

The Ventura Investment Group has reconvened and 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.

March 13: Olivas Adobe 4200 Olivas Park Drive Sunday from 11- 3 p.m. Spring Flora & Local Landscapes exhibit. Artists Lisa Mahony and Laura Jespersen explore spring flora and local landscapes in this new exhibit coming to the small Adobe. “Meet the Artists” reception from 1-3 p.m. with light refreshments. Any art purchased on opening day is eligible for 10% off the price. Plein-air artists are welcome! The historic Olivas home will be open for docent lead tours, and the alfresco gift shop will be available.
March 13: Do you like to garden? Plan events? Love music? Or dress up to bring history to life? Join us at the Olivas Adobe Historical Park on Sunday at 1 p.m. to learn about all our volunteer opportunities.
March 17: You are invited to a St. Patrick’s Day happy hour from 4- 6 p.m. at the Regency Palms Senior Living at 1020 Bismark way in Oxnard. We will be serving appetizers and refreshments and be raffling a basket, and having goodie bags for each guest RSVP to 805-406-6626.

March 17: In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, Ojai author and native plant guide Lanny Kaufer will lead a Green Full Moon Sunset Nature Hike on Thursday evening, from 5:30 – 7:45 p.m. Returning to the trailhead between 7:45 – 8 p.m. The cost for the hike is $35/person. Senior, student, and child discounts are available by request. HerbWalks.com, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 805-646-6281.
March 17: At the next virtual meeting of the East Ventura Community Council on Thursday, City of Ventura Civil Engineer Cody Stults will present an update on the city’s street paving program. Arepresentative from County Supervisor Matt LaVere’s office will report on the newly formed Saticoy Municipal Advisory Committee. Area crime statistics will be shared by Commander Weeks. Other topics may be added to the agenda, so be sure to check the group’s Facebook page for additions.
The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application at 7 p.m. The Zoom link can also be accessed at the website, www.eastventura.org. For those unable to attend the meeting in real-time, it can be accessed later at the website. For more information, contact EVCC Chairperson, John McNally, at [email protected].
March 19: “Being Richard Greene”, tenth in NAMBA’s Women’s Voices Series written and performed by Lynne Jassem at 7 p.m.; NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 S. Oak St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at NambaArts.com.  Lynne will also teach a Mime workshop on March 17th at NAMBA.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at NambaArts.com

March 19: Dudley House Museum Saturday, 8 – 2 p.m. Plants and collectibles sale. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale along with a variety of collectibles. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805-746-4317 for details. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood). Free.

March 23: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. This month we will be learning Kunihimo Braiding. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.

March 26: Author Book Signing Event – Hannah Nicole Duran “Written on Walls”
Sat. 1-3 pm, Bank of Books, 748 E. Main St.
Throughout Hannah’s path to find justice for herself and heal from trauma, she learns she must live to have her voice be heard. And by being heard, Hannah can begin to recover from anorexia, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorder.

April 3: The Ventura County Concert Band will open its 56th season on Sunday, at 3 p.m. at Ventura High School. Plenty of street parking. Dr. Julie Judd is the conductor. The concert is free.

April 3: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m. along with a celebration of Ventura’s 156th birthday. Special exhibits in the Community Room will include an Historic Photo Timeline of Ventura consisting of 16 panels of photos from the past. Also on display will be a “Celebrate the Century” stamp exhibit including artifacts from each decade. Admission is free. Located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood). For information please call (805) 642-3345 or dudleyhouse.org.

Allyn Beth Brown’s Art Gallery and Studio called “Art is Passion”

Allyn Beth Brown recently moved to Ventura from Los Angles and opened her Art Gallery and Studio called “Art is Passion” which focuses on art that motivates others and brings light to positive change. She fell in love with the warm Ventura community and discovered there are many incredible artists who love to share their gifts and passions for art similar to her own. 

Beth grew up in the Bay area and received a bachelor’s degree from the Art Institute of California-San Francisco. After over a decade of working as a Web Designer and Developer, the events of 2020 gave her the courage to transition into a full-time artist.

Beth’s art gallery and studio features rotating exhibits by various local artists. 

Studio services include residential and commercial mural painting, graphic design, print design, canvas art commissions, custom vinyl apparel and more. 

Her studio gallery is located at 864 Schooner Dr. Unit 103, in Portside Ventura Harbor.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm and Sunday  and Monday by appointment only. Beth reported that she started “Art is Passion” to “spread love, happiness and creativity.”

Art is Passion
Art and Studio Gallery
864 Schooner Dr Unit 103
Ventura 93001
[email protected]

Seaside enclave salutes Sirens of the Sea

Calling all Mermaids and Mermen…Mermaid Month has officially returned to Ventura Harbor Village! It’s the perfect time to head seaside as these mystical aquatic creatures take center stage all month long. Special themed events and live mermaid sightings are scheduled for select Sundays, March 13th and March 20th from 1-4 PM.

Locals and visitors across all oceans are encouraged to make a splash and delve into a myriad of mermaid activities. Kicking off Mermaid Month is a Kid’s Free Scavenger Hunt, which runs from March 5th to March 31st. Pick up the scavenger hunt sheets at the Mermaid Gallery in Ventura Harbor Village and return for prizes. On Saturdays in March, bask in the sunshine with sounds of the steel drum (March 12th, 19th and 26th from 1 – 4 PM) along the Village’s Seaside Promenade.

Lovers of the sea can meet a live mermaid at the Harbor’s “Mermaid Meet & Greet” on two Sundays, March 13th and March 20th from 1 – 4 PM (weather permitting). Festivities feature photos with a live mermaid, entertainment, colorful face paintings, spectacular exotic birds, scavenger hunts, and mermaid fashion.

On Sunday, March 13th extra activities are a live mermaid chalk art demonstration by artist Lysa Ashley, free craft stations courtesy of Macaroni Kid, and new this year- a Mer-mazing Dance Party with DJ Darla. Come dressed up for a family-fun dance party featuring music from under the sea, bubbles, wands, and flowers galore!

On Sunday, March 20th festivities will feature a new Pop-Up Mermaid Market from 12 – 4 PM in the Channel Islands Courtyard in the Harbor Village. The Harbor’s own talented artisans and makers will display their handmade nautical treasures and treats!

All month long, visitors can also engage in seaside selfie stations, including large mermaid shells and the 20-foot plus sign feature that reads “I Love the SEA” on Ventura Harbor Village’s Promenade.

Enjoy complimentary giveaways and month-long special savings by select Ventura Harbor Village retailers all month long including: Mermaid Gallery artisan Tina O’Brien is giving a free starfish or bag of shells with every $25+ purchase. PLUS, get a free shell bracelet if you come in and say “I’m really a mermaid” (while supplies last); Top This Chocolate has chocolate mermaid pops, chocolate mermaid tails, chocolate seashell pops and $1 chocolate seashells. Ventura Swimwear is offering a free gift with $50 purchase (while supplies last); Sugar Lab Bake Shop has discounted the reusable Mermaid Straws, mermaid drinks, and much more.

Shoppers can purchase a dazzling array of more than 100 mermaid-themed items that include artwork, soaps, jewelry, pottery, nautical finds, coastal décor, ocean-inspired apparel, and mermaid-themed accessories. What’s more. Ventura Harbor Village’s bars and restaurants are serving up “sea-sonal” themed cocktails, sweat mermaid treats, and delicious freshly caught seafood and Ventura Harbor Village welcomes locals and visitors from across all oceans!

Those seeking to get on the water with ease can rent a kayak, SUP paddle board, electric boats or popular themed swan, duck or dragon peddle boats daily with Ventura Boat Rentals. And to catch a real live mermaid or just a large fish (bragging rights included), they can aboard a vessel from Ventura Sportfishing or get a possible glimpse of the illusive mermaid swimming with the whales on an Island Packers Winter Whale Watch excursion.

To learn more about Ventura Harbor Village Mermaid Month, visit venturaharborvillage.com/mermaidmonth-2022

Michelle Nosco is the Artist of the Month at the Harbor Village Gallery, part of the Buenaventura Art Association

“My passion is to create compassion for life though art!”
Michelle paints portraits of people and pets, sea and sky creatures.

She accepts commissions and is a muralist, leading workshops with local
environmental groups through the Arts For Earth Foundation a nonprofit
educational arts organization.

A painter, filmmaker and violinist. Nosco spent her early career in
advertising as a designer, art director and producer.

She studied at CalARTs, University of Michigan, the Detroit
Institute of Art, Wayne State University and Cranbrook School of Art. She
received her masters in Directing Theater, Television, and Film (DTTF) at
CalARTs and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan.

You can contact Michelle through her website at: NoscoFineArt.com

Helping the mentally ill homeless is not easily done

This is a series of emails that help explain the problems of dealing with the mentally ill homeless (about 1/3 of the homeless).

Sheldon: 

What is the deal with the guy sitting on Main & Kalorama bus bench in front of Locksmiths for weeks with bedding, etc.   

Same question for the woman who is on Thompson by Borchard Vons there for months with just a spell when she was missing 

Do they spend nights there too, use bathroom?  Eat?  Social services try to intervene? 

Thanks, 

Mike Merewether

Sheldon: Will try to find out from city.

Sadly, problem is it is not illegal to be homeless. If police decide mentally ill could possibly put them on 72-hour hold and maybe go to Hillmont. But most mentally ill will not accept help.

Always a problem that is tough to solve.

From the city:

Hi Mike and Sheldon, 

The most up to date information (at the time this was written) on Chantal and Ricky. They both have been difficult cases for years. I can tell you that from my time with Safe & Clean both are reached out to by our outreach team at least once a week, are offered services, have been contacted by the County’s crisis team multiple times, and the Patrol Task Force makes frequent contact. Both are service resistant, but the teams continue to connect with them with hopes that they can continue to build trust and they will hopefully say yes to help. We wish it could be a quicker process and they could get the help they so desperately need, but they have to be willing participants.

 

Meredith  Hart

Ventura County Fair announces the return of Youth Poster Contest  

The winners from a previous year.

The Ventura County Fair is coming back and the Fair poster contest is now underway for the 2022 Fair.  The contest is open to young artists in grades 5 – 12 who reside in Ventura County. 

The theme of the 2022 Poster Contest is “VC Fair Rides Again” and will serve as the guideline to the imagery.

Artwork may be created in any medium but may not include the use of glitter, metallic paint, or 3 dimensional objects attached to the artwork.

Poster designs will be judged on theme, originality, composition and skill.  Entries will be accepted until the entry deadline, Friday, April 15. Entries can be brought to the Fairgrounds administration office at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, Monday through Friday from 8AM until 5PM.

Rules, deadlines and other information can be found on the Fair website, www.venturacountyfair.org.  For more information about the contest send an email to [email protected]. (Please put “Poster Contest” in the subject line)

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries, First prize: $500, Second Prize: $250, Third Prize: $100.

The winning design will be used to advertise the Fair on Fair posters, souvenirs, advertisements and other applications. Second and third place winners will also be used in various applications. All contestants’ entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the Ventura County Fair.

The Ventura County Fair will begin its annual 12-day run Wednesday, August 3 and continue until Sunday, August 14.

For more information about the Fair, or the poster contest, please visit the Ventura County Fairgrounds at www.venturacountyfair.org. Keep up to date when you Like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

After a 2-year hiatus, beloved community event returns on March 12

Parade entries are now being accepted for the Ventura Elks Club’s 2022 County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will commence at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 12, along Main Street in midtown Ventura. Among the county’s most popular annual community events, the parade was dark in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID, but it returns in full force this year, along a new and improved Main Street route, running downhill from Lincoln Drive to Fir Street.

Entry to join in the parade is easy: Prospective entrants can simply go to the parade website and follow the basic steps to submit their forms and pay via PayPal. Entry deadline is Thursday, March 3; only the first 100 entries will be accepted.

Leading the parade as its grand marshal will be Nan Drake.

Leading the parade as its grand marshal will be Nan Drake, longtime co-chair of the parade committee (along with Jim Monahan and Brian Brennan). Drake is the governmental affairs and public relations director for E.J. Harrison & Sons, a sponsor of the annual parade since its first year, in 1987. She’s proud of her work, she said, “because every day at Harrison, we improve the environment by recycling with the help of all of the residents and businesses in their service areas.” The parade theme is “One World, One Air, We All Share”

The 2020 Irish Belle will once again take part in the parade lineup and don’t forget our famous giant dirigible pig. Many entries that were on board in 2020 have confirmed for this year — so please join us for the fun and celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone is Irish.

For more information on the parade and to enter, visit venturastpatricksdayparade.com.

If you have any entry questions, call parade committee member Aaron Gaston at 805-340-8217 or committee member Dan McGrath at 805-231-2779. For other parade information, contact Faye McDonald at [email protected] or 805-650-0825; or Jim Monahan at 805-340-1356.

Ventura Music Festival returns to Ventura

Photos by Yana Khiyid

On Feb.20, at The Museum of Ventura County Smith Pavilion, the artistic lineup of the 27th Ventura Music Festival was presented by Nuvi Mehta.

A social was held prior to the presentation featuring wine and folks meeting each other after a long absence because of COVID. It was wonderful to see a gathering sans masks.

“Live events are beginning to return to a semblance of what we love,” stated VMF Executive Director Susan Scott, “so we’re very excited about the artists and seven concerts planned for this summer, and maybe even more excited about unveiling them for a live audience on the 20th.” She introduced the Festival Board members and Nuvi Mehta.

As to the artist of the 27th Festival, “they’ve been described as a diverse musical feast,” said Scott, from contemporary world-fusion, to “le jazz hot” for the 21st century, to an electrifying saxophone sextet that bends all genres and a jazz phenom possessed of a “miraculous voice.”

All concerts will be presented at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Tickets go on sale April, 2022.

Nuvi Mehta(violin) and Bevan Manson (keyboards) entertained at the end of the event with their outstanding musical talent.

The mission of the Ventura Music Festival is to build community through live, world-class music, and create an

environment in which people see and hear themselves reflected in the music. In 1994 the Festival was created creating “an artistically focused music festival in the City’s historic downtown core.” It was called the Chamber Music Festival with Burns Taft as the first artistic director a position now held by Mehta.

Go to venturamusicfestival.org for more information and to purchase tickets in April.

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Monument sign will greet residents and visitors at the entrance to South Seaward Blvd.

Proud members of the community at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (see end of article). Photo by Patricia Schallert

On Wednesday, February 16, board members of the Pierpont Bay Community Council held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the community’s new monument sign, which will greet residents and visitors at the entrance to South Seaward Blvd.

“We are very thankful and grateful to the city of Ventura for its ongoing support of this project,” PBCC South Seaward Beautification Committee Chair Dan Roundtree stated. He cited Parks and Recreation Director Nancy O’Connor as being especially helpful in ushering the project through the long approval process, which met with significant delays due to the City’s focus on the Thomas Fire tragedy and ongoing COVID crisis.

Fundraising began early in 2019 when Roundtree, on behalf of the PBCC, applied for a $10,000 Measure O grant that was awarded the following year. Funds were released in July, 2021, after the design for the 8-foot tall sign received final approval from the City. Construction began in January, 2022. The completed sign reflects “the community’s special identity and historical significance as an original Southern California Surf City,” Roundtree said.

“This monument sign is an example of what an effective community council can do for their neighbors,” said Deputy Mayor Joe Schroeder, who officiated at the event. “The PBCC listens to needs of the community, raises funds and finds a way to accomplish projects. I’m sure they are planning to get even more done.”

One of seven volunteer community councils recognized by the City of Ventura, the PBCC serves residents of all District 7 coastal neighborhoods. Funds are currently being raised for the group’s Light Up South Seaward campaign to provide decorative lighting along both sides of South Seaward Boulevard, similar to that seen on Main St. in downtown Ventura. The group hosts a monthly Beach Cleanup Day at the end of South Seaward as well as an annual community-wide holiday event. Monthly meetings are currently held on Zoom. More information can be found at www.pierpontcouncil.org

Photo: The little girls on the left are Ellie and Molly, Events Committee Chair Lauren Almeida’s daughters. After Lauren, left to right: Beach Committee Chair Robin Birney, VP Kate Gullickson, Secretary Howard Stern. On other side of the sign is South Seaward Beautification Chair Dan Roundtree, the Deputy Mayor and our Treasurer Terry Foley.