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Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library receives California Arts Council Grants!

Donna Granata interviewing Porfirio Gutierrez for his oral history which is preserved in the archives.

Focus on the Masters (FOTM) is thrilled to announce that California Arts Council is supporting our work through two separate grants: their Impact Projects Award and Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief.

FOTM’s Impact Projects Award partners Learning to See Outreach with Diversity Collective, Ocean View School District and Black Lives Matter to facilitate the design and exhibition of large-scale art installations that celebrate diversity and unity. As with all our Learning to See (LTS) endeavors, this program stems from the inspiration of the artwork and life stories of FOTM documented artists from our community. Four artists, who identify with the community participants, will lead the creative processes, providing present day role models who have exceled in pursuit of their passions.

The Arts & Cultural Organizations General Operating Relief will assist with FOTM’s Arts Archive & Library’s general support systems such as computers, software, and the preservation of our unique collection of primary source material. The archive is the foundation of the organization and requires ongoing care and preservation regardless of the pandemic.

FOTM’s public programing was suspended during the pandemic and adapted to on-line programing wherever possible. This greatly reduced earned and contributed income from monthly events, in-school classes/tuition, annual fundraising gala, and smaller fundraising activity normally held throughout the year. With the limited resources available, FOTM prioritized its LTS outreach to assist the schools with the challenges of a virtual classroom.

FOTM is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), art appreciation program that documents, preserves, and presents the works and lives of accomplished contemporary artists.

Lenny and Susan LaCroix Trio

On Saturday, October 2, the Lenny and Susan LaCroix Trio entertained visitors to the Ventura Harbor playing by the carousel building. Susan is the President of the Channel Cities Jazz Club that presents monthly concerts at The House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen Ave.

The next concert will be on Sunday, October 17th, from 1-4 pm, featuring The Barrelhouse Wailers.

Vol. 15, No. 01 – Oct 6 – Oct 19, 2021 – Music Calendar

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com

Azars
2215 Michael Dr., Newbury Park
Tuesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Sat 10/9: Mini Driver Band
Sat 10/16: The Replay

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor
Thursdays: Jim Friery; then Bluegrass Jam
Sat 10/16: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

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

Café Fiore
66 S. California St., Ventura
Wed 10/6: Bryan McCann
Fri 10/8: Self Righteous Brothers
Sun 10/10: Free Love Project
Wed 10/13: Edgar Thatcher Duo
Fri 10/15: Otis Hayes

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 10/18: Delgado Brothers
Sat 10/9: Ray Jarique & the Uptown Brothers
Thurs 10/14: Canned Heat

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

The Collection at Riverpark
2751 Park View Court, Oxnard
Wed 10/13: Queen Nation (6:30 pm)

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: McWorter, Berghoff & Jones (7 pm)
Sat 10/9: Teresa Russell

Downtown Ventura
California & Main Stage
Wednesdays: Warren Takahashi (5:30 pm)
Fri 10/8: Christy P. Klotz (6 pm)
Sat 10/9: Michelle Meadow Love (11 am); Sepiatone & Peter Boles (5:30 pm)
Sat 10/16: Simi Rat Pack (11 am); VCMA 5:30 pm

Four Brix
2290 Eastman, Ventura
Music 6-8 pm on Fridays, Sat & Sun 1 – 3:30 pm
Sun 10/10: On Tap
Fri 10/15: Caught Red Handed

The Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Wednesdays: Blue Wednesday Blues Jam

Grapes and Hops with a Twist
454 E Main St., Ventura
Music 8 pm unless other noted
Thursdays: LA Jazz Experience (7 pm)
Fri 10/8: Tex Pistols
Sat 10/9: Salty Suites
Sun 10/10: Danny McGaw (2 pm)
Fri 10/15: Shawn Jones
Sat 10/16: Blue Motel Room (2 pm); Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 10/17: Dave Parsonage (2 pm)

Keynote Lounge
10245 E Telephone Rd, Ventura
Fri 10/8: Pull the Trigger
Fri 10/15: Reign
Sat 10/16: Vinyl Gypsies

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura
Music 6:30 pm except Sundays at 3 pm
Thurs 10/7: Singular Nature
Fri 10/8: Illunis
Sat 10/9: Like the Morning
Sun 10/10: Ryan Dietz
Fri 10/15: TC King

Libbey Bowl
210 Signal St., Ojai
Sat 10/9: Topa Mountain Music Fest headlining The White Buffalo
Sun 10/19: Ojai Pops Orchestra

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

Lucas Sellers Wine
330 Zachary Street, Moorpark
Sat 10/16: Katie Shorey (2 pm); Hannah Rose (6 pm)

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Wed 10/6: Social Distortion
Thurs 10/7: Pennywise, Dead Kennedys
Fri 10/8: Pennywise, Strung Out
Fri 10/15: Elefante, Inspector

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Music Mon -Thurs 6-9, Fri & Sat 7-10; Sundays 5-8
Fri 10/8: Colette Lovejoy Band
Sat 10/9: Champagne Sunday
Sun 10/10: CRV
Fri 10/15: Whiskey Business
Sat 10/16: Corsican Brothers
Sun 10/17: Doc Rogers Band

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor
Sun 10/10: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer (Noon)

Namba
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Sat 10/16: The Honey Whiskey Trio

Ocean Pavilion Performing Arts Theater
575 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme
Fri 10/8: Uptown Funk

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Fri 10/15: Phil Salazar & the Kin Folk

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Sundays: The House Arrest Band (1-4 pm)
Fri 10/8: Sly slick & Wicked, Aalon, Miriah Avilah

Periano’s on the Terrazzo
204 E. Main Street
Music 5 – 8:30 pm
Fri 10/8: Gator Souffle
Sat 10/9: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio

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

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Music at 8 – 11 pm
Fri 10/8: Brittney Burchett
Sat 10/9: HE
Fri 10/15: Jetlemons
Sat 10/16: All Access

Relm
2390 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Music at 5:30 pm
Fri 10/8: Daniela Cardillo
Sat 10/9: Nate Latta
Fri 10/15: Leeann Skoda
Sat 10/16: Gianna Bella

Ric’s Restaurant
2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support with Kurt Griffey & Bob DeLellis
Sun 10/17: Teresa Russell (2:30 pm)

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 10/8: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples (7 pm)

The Six Chow House
419 E. Main St., Ventura
Thurs 10/7: Shawn Jones (8:30 pm)

Surf ‘n’ Suds
San Buenaventura State Beach
Sat 10/9: Jacob Marquez and the Good Vibes

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street, Ventura
Sat 10/9: Reign

Steckelstock
Steckel Park, Santa Paula
Sat 10/10: Sisterook, No Biggie, Tommy Foytek Band, Charles Law Band, Black Dragon, Whiskey Business

Surfers Point Live
Ventura Fairgrounds Parking Lot
10 W. Harbor Blvd
Sat 10/9: Sublime w/ Rome, dirty Heads, Rey Fresco, Free Love Project

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sun 10/10: the Salty Suites (Noon)

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thursdays: Delta by the Beach (5 pm)
Sundays: 805AllStarz (1 pm)

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sundays: Fire on the Mountain (2 pm)
Sat 10/16: Smitty and Julija and Friends (7 pm)

Waterside
3500 S. Channel Island Blvd., Oxnard
Wed 9/22: Teresa Russell

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 10/7: Preston Smith
Fri 10/8: James Broz Band
Sun 10/10: The Tossers
Thurs 10/14: Will Breman
Fri 10/15: Jon Gindick Trio
Sun 10/17: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples

1901 Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fri 10/8: Jen Staves & Bill Macpherson
Sat 10/9: The Swillys

Vol. 15, No. 01 – Oct 6 – Oct 19, 2021 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice offers ongoing Adult Bereavement Support Groups for anyone who has lost a loved one. The groups are free and open to the community. All classes held online through zoom:

  • Mondays 3 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesdays 10:30 – Noon
  • Wednesdays 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  • Thursdays 6 -7:30 p.m.

Please call (805) 389-6870 or visit lmvna.org/grief for details or to register.

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.

“Tiny Beautiful Things” runs at the Ojai Art Center Theater through Oct. 24, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. The play follows Sugar, an online advice columnist who uses her personal experiences to help the real-life readers who pour their hearts out to her. Lynn Van Emmerik stars as Sugar. Ashley Osler, Elektra Cohen, and Isabel Roth play letter writers. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors and Art Center members, available at https://ojaiact.org/tbt. In compliance with the Ojai Art Center, CDC and County of Ventura Masks and proof of vaccinations are required of all audience members.

October 12: Ventura County Writers Club is hosting renowned author Ken McAlpine at their next general meeting held at 1605 Burnley St. in Camarillo at 7p.m.

Everyone has an untold story and McAlpine will be speaking about “Why to be a writer. How to be a writer.” He will be sharing the wisdom, lessons learned during his 30 years’ long writing career and the valuable advice from writers. Ken McAlpine is the author of 10 books, both fiction and non-fiction. His three-book series (Juncture, Nexus, Departure), a tale part cerebral Jaws, part Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and part Warning, were recently optioned by Inspiration Media for either film or television development. Most important, he lives in Ventura with his lovely wife Kathy, who is far and away his better half.

Oct. 16: New West Symphony Presents Delights and Dances. Live, In-Person Performances Saturday, at 3pm at the Performing Arts Center at Ventura College.

After a yearlong, around-the-world virtual tour, the New West Symphony (NWS), with Grammy-winning conductor Michael Christie as Artistic and Music Director, returns to the stage to experience the joy of live classical music performances once again. “Delights and Dances” is a 70-minute program with no intermission. Proof of vaccination and masks are required at all venues. General Admission Tickets ($40) and Information www.newwestsymphony.org/delights-and-dances

The Channel Islands Chapter of Better Investing Model Club (a real working investment club that serves as an educational element for the Non-Profit national Better Investing® (501 c 3 organization) is again meeting in person in Ventura for a lunch meeting on the 3rd Wed of each month. New and prior members invited to enjoy “stock talk” and fellowship. To receive an invitation and directions to online or in person attendance, please contact our host: Arla at (805 987-2000 or [email protected].

Oct. 23: The first ever Sespe Flyfishers rummage sale will be Saturday, 9am to 3pm at Church of the Foothills, Ventura. There will be a bit of fur and feather from every creature that walks or flies, along with dubbing, threads, tinsels, tools, hooks, fly lines, ready tied flies, signature collector flies, and many rare and beautiful things. All at prices so low that you will want to bring your credit card! There will even be some things that are free! There may never be another event like this, don’t miss it. There will be no early admission. For more information, visit website at Sespeflyfishers.org or Contact [email protected].

Oct. 23: The Kiwanis Club of Ventura Suburban is proud to announce a unique wine – tasting event on Saturday, at the Ventura Elks Club, 2126 Knoll Drive from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. The event, called “Uncorked for Charity” features local home wine makers, a winemaking demonstration by Patrick Kelly, founder and owner of Cavaletti Vineyards, chances to win local and commercial wines, and a delicious spaghetti dinner. Tickets: $35 a person. To purchase tickets or for more information go to www.uncorkedforcharity.com; email [email protected]; or call 608-338-8062. Proceeds will go to support Kiwanis Club of Ventura Suburban Youth and Community Projects and scholarships.

Civil Grand Jury in session – public complaints welcome

The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury is a panel of 19 local citizen volunteers established to investigate complaints about government mismanagement, verify that public funds are properly accounted for and legally spent, and investigate the policies, practices and processes of county or city departments. Civil Grand Jury investigations can be generated from public complaints.

Complaint forms in English or Spanish may be downloaded from the Grand Jury website http://grandjury.countyofventura.org and submitted by fax to (805) 658-4523, or you can also mail your written complaint to:

Ventura County Grand Jury, 800 S. Victoria Ave. L#3751,Ventura, CA 93009

For more information about the Grand Jury and how it works for you https://ventura.org/grand-jury/

Vol. 15, No. 01 – Oct 6 – Oct 19, 2021 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi, I’m Jezebel, a sweet Shih Tzu X in need of a new home as my owner can no longer care for me. I love attention and getting puppy massages. Although I’m supposedly 16 years old, everyone who meets me doesn’t see it. I walk well and enjoy going for my strolls. The only health related issue is dry eye, but it’s nothing some drops can’t fix. I would do best in an adult only home. It’s unknown how I would do with other animals, but I have not shown any dog aggression while with C.A.R.L. If you’re looking to add a golden gal to your home, give me a chance.

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

My name is Zorro, I was found running the streets. I am a 12-year-old Pit Bull Terrier Mix male. I lived for a while with someone who found me, and although I wasn’t a fan of their cat, I did get along with their little pug! So, I may be happy living with a family who has dog! I love playing with stuffed toys, giving kisses, and getting petted by my favorite volunteers. Because I’m just a good boy!! Please visit me and help me make my great escape into a forever home. Kennel: 050

Shelter: Camarillo Animal Shelter 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo Animal ID: A774467

Fundraising event for Nasarenko’s campaign District Attorney

Photos by Richard Lieberman

On Sunday, September 26, a fundraising event for Eric Nasarenko’s campaign for Ventura County District Attorney was held at Café Ficelle in Ventura. A crowd of well wishers and Ventura officials gathered at the café to show their support for Nasarenko’s current campaign for District Attorney. Among those attending were ex- Ventura police chief Mike Tracy, Darin Schindler current police chief, Ken Corney ex-police chief and former city council member Christy Weir who all enjoyed the wonderful finger food provided.

 

City Council Member Jim Friedman on proposed opening of area behind Ventura Auto Center:

We asked City Council Member Jim Friedman (District 5)to comment on the proposed opening of the area behind the Ventura Auto Center:

After years of discussion, planning and deliberation going back to 2004, the Ventura City Council unanimously approved terms for a development agreement that would open up the area behind the Ventura Auto Center for future commercial development. This area, known as Focus Area One, has been confirmed and reconfirmed as an economic development priority by the city councils since 2005.

Slated for big-box retail and other compatible uses, Focus Area One is seen as an area for increased sales and property tax revenues. As city expenses increase, finding additional sources of revenue is critical if the city is to continue to provide the level of services that resident have come to expect.

The challenge with Focus Area One is that it is in a flood plain and in order to develop it, a levee along the Santa Clara River between Ventura and Oxnard must be built. Additionally, the long planned for extension of Olivas Park Drive needs to be constructed. On the city’s traffic circulation since the late ‘70s, the extension of Olivas Park Drive would improve traffic flow in the area and make retail investment in the area more attractive for retail developers.

This development agreement is a great example of a public private partnership. Essentially, the city will be responsible for the road construction and the land owners will be responsible for the construction of the levee. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $35 million dollars with the city being responsible for approximately two-thirds of the cost. City traffic mitigation fees which have been collected on development projects since the 1980’s will be used to fund the construction of the road extension. The landowners are dedicating land for the road extension at no cost to the city.

This agreement couldn’t have come at a better time as the city continues to be challenged with rising costs and employee retention. The city currently has 81 vacancies which makes providing services difficult at times. The city of Ventura competes with other cities for employees, so when revenues are insufficient to provide competitive salaries and benefits, service levels decline and residents are negatively affected.

This project can be a huge shot in the arm for city revenues, but it is clearly not enough. I believe city leaders must work to make doing business with the city of Ventura easier, not harder as some prior councils have done. The city of Ventura is fast becoming a retirement community that will ultimately not be able to provide adequate services to its residents.

The city must be more progressive when it comes to economic development. Short of raising taxes and fees, economic development is essential to helping the city deal with the challenges of losing its competitive edge with other cities and providing essential city services. Providing strong public safety services, smooth streets and sidewalks, parks and recreational amenities all cost money. Failure to step up economic development efforts will surely have a negative effect on the quality of life in Ventura.

Jim Friedman