All posts by admin

Visit Ventura finishes in the top three in U.S. Travel Association National Award 

Marlyss Auster Visit Ventura CEO & President and Cheryl Shallanberger Vice President of Sales & Marketing accepting the National Award.

Visit Ventura was chosen as a finalist for a prestigious ESTO Award, finishing in the top three in a nationwide competition between destination marketing organizations across the country in a contest sponsored by the United States Travel Association. 

“We are beyond thrilled and so very proud of our Visit Ventura team,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura President & CEO.  “Finishing in the top three in a contest of this scope is a first for us, and that makes us proud. But we’re proudest of the program itself, which helped support our local Ventura businesses during a very difficult time. Our aim has always been to do the next right thing to help our community, in both good times and harder times. ”

Winners were announced at ESTO’s Awards Dinner on Tuesday, August 17 in Los Angeles, California. Ventura placed in the top three for their entry “Love, via Beer, in the Time of Covid” in the Virtual Programming category. The entry showcased Visit Ventura’s “Thirsty Thursday” program, an innovative virtual program that, among other things, helped boost both business and morale in the Ventura community during the pandemic.  

The U.S. Travel Association is a national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry. As the united voice of the industry, U.S. Travel prioritizes high-impact issues that matter most, identifying both the travel industry’s biggest opportunities and challenges. ESTO is an acronym for “Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations.” 

Of late, of course, the biggest challenge has been the pandemic, and Visit Ventura’s “Thirsty Thursday” program addressed those challenges head-on. The program worked with happy simplicity. Each Thursday, a Ventura winery or brewery stepped up to the virtual counter to do a live virtual tasting on Facebook, the Visit Ventura team broadcasting the tasting to its 200,000-plus viewers and beyond. Viewers bought the beer and wine beforehand. During the tasting, the brewers and vintners explained the science-cum-magic behind the tastes while viewers happily sipped and asked questions via chat. The tastings strayed beyond beer and wine, into locally made chocolates and ice cream.

The program didn’t snowball; it galloped out of the gates. The total individual reaches of the live broadcasts ranged from 10,000 to 12,000 viewers. Brewers sold out of beer. The chocolatier sold 200 boxes of chocolates, earning roughly $10,000 at a time when sales were not quite, but very close to, hopeless. 

“We knew we wanted to help our community in the best way we could,” said Auster, who attended the Los Angeles awards ceremony with Visit Ventura Vice President of Sales & Marketing Cheryl Shallanberger. “Without visitors, our local businesses needed help. While we’re proud to be a finalist, what we’re truly proudest of is how the Ventura community stepped up to help keep our businesses in business.”

“It was a really fun program, but, on a serious note, it was something more,” added Shallanberger. “It may have just been beer and wine, but it was also a reminder of the things that matter. A positive attitude and caring. Invincible spirit. How good things always outlast the dark.”

Visit visitventuraca.com/contact/staff to learn more about the Visit Ventura team and how they contribute to driving Ventura’s economy through tourism. 

 

When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water—Benjamin Franklin

Deborah Jordan Ph.D. EPA Deputy Regional Administrator, City Manager Alex McIntyre, Councilman Joe Schroeder, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26th District), EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, and were part of the treatment facility presentation

by Sheli Ellsworth

The Sons of the Pioneers recorded the melodic song “Cool Water” in 1962: All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water, cool water . . . . Seventy-five years later, Ventura will face the same challenge. With the current system, demand will outpace the city’s water supply by 30% as early as 2035.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26th District) answered many questions about the future of water.

A recent press conference and tour of the Ventura Water Treatment Facility with Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-26th District) and EPA Administrator Michael Regan introduced Ventura Water’s plan for avoiding the upcoming water shortage. “It’s important to get out from behind the desk in Washington, D.C., and see what’s happening on the ground,” Regan said. “And looking at the innovation and the creativity it takes to develop these aged facilities in a way that can withstand some of the pressures we’re facing today.” Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, City Councilman Joe Schroeder and City Manager Alex McIntyre also attended the event.

The two-part plan includes: tapping into state water and recovering, treating and reusing water that is currently discharged into the Santa Clara River Estuary.

Sound simple? Ventura Water has been planning and researching for over a decade to make the city’s future water usage sustainable, environmentally friendly and regulatory compliant. They have met with over 25 legislators and lobbyist looking for funding. They have operated a demonstration facility for nine months and have made four annual trips to Washington, DC to meet with Congress members and Senators. They have reached out to the community through facility tours, open house events and received national EPA recognition for their efforts.

Climate change and the worsening drought bode poorly for the future of Ventura County. Ventura County is the “fastest-warming county” in the lower 48 states, Brownley said, referring to a 2019 survey by the Washington Post. August 19 maps from the U.S. Drought Monitor show most of Ventura County in exceptional drought—the most severe category.

Since 1971, the city of Ventura has owned the rights to a 10,000 acre foot a year of water (3.259 x109 gallons) via the California State Water Project. The proposed State Water Interconnection Project would improve the movement water from rainfall-rich Northern California to drier local areas. The seven-mile pipeline to deliver water from Calleguas Municipal Water District systems in Camarillo to the City of Ventura will cost approximately $50 million.

Judge water by its quality, not by its history—Ventura Water

he process of recovery, treatment and reusing water is a complex series of filtration. From sewage to potable water is forward-thinking leap of technology known as VenturaWaterPure. The proposed advanced water purification facility (AWPF) would: biofiltrate, ultrafiltrate, reverse osmose, UV and oxidate treat our wastewater then inject it into groundwater basins like the Oxnard Basin. Extractions would occur as needed and extracted water is “conditioned” before being released to the community at drinking water quality standards. Reuse at its best. The advanced water purification facility needs to be implemented in the next six years to meet water supply needs.

The current plant on Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor, which treats eight to nine million gallons of wastewater per day, was built in 1955 and had has undergone several improvements through the decades. Ventura Water General Manager Susan Rungren said construction on the new facility will begin in November 2023 at a price tag of about $260 million. The Senate-approved trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, which includes funding for water projects, may help fund the project if the House of Representatives passes the legislation.

According to a CNN article by Kieron Monks in 2015, toilet-to-tap is not new although the thought might disgust some. Orange County Water District (OCWD) recycles used water and returns it to the drinking supply and is expanding production to 100 million gallons per day, enough for a third of the population or 850,000 people.

The website southeastasiaglobe.com wrote in 2014 that Singapore began working on recycling water in 2003 and now a third of the waste water produced by its 5.7 million inhabitants is treated. Thirty miles of tunnels transports the sewage from residential areas to huge treatment facilities where about 72,345,000 gallons of “new water” is produced each day.

What about the taste? Researchers at the University of California, Riverside published a study of recycled wastewater in 2018 that focused on the taste. The UCR study asked 143 people to compare treated tap water (IDR) with conventional tap water and commercially bottled water. The waters were presented in similar cups and were unlabeled. After tasting the water, participants ranked the taste, texture, temperature and smell. Mary Gauvain, a professor of psychology at UC Riverside and co-author of the study reported that groundwater-based water was not as well liked as the indirect potable reuse (IDR) or bottled water. “We think that happened because IDR and bottled water go through remarkably similar treatment processes, so they have low levels of the types of tastes people tend to dislike.”

Water is essential for life on earth. Whether or not Ventura is blessed by rain, a sustainable, environmentally friendly way of reclaiming quality water is imperative for each and every citizen.

The time is now.

 

Assess your cancer risk at an online seminar on Aug. 26

Community Memorial Health System is hosting a free online seminar that can help you assess your risk for developing cancer. The free seminar, titled, “Genetic Testing: What it Can Tell You About Your Risk & Prevention of Cancer,” will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26.

While there is no sure way to prevent cancer, there are things everyone can do to help identify and decrease the risk of developing cancer. In some cases, evaluating your genetic makeup can provide valuable information to help estimate or predict your chance of getting cancer at some point in your lifetime.

To attend, please RSVP at www.cmhshealth.org/RSVP. This event is hosted by Community Memorial Health System as part of its 2021 Speaker Series Online. Leading this seminar are family medicine physician Dr. Allan Wagner and Ember Layton, a licensed and certified genetic counselor.

Ventura County Public Health issues new health order requiring masking indoors

Ventura County Public Health has issued a new health order requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. This order took effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2021. Businesses and other public entities had until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021, to comply. The order will be in effect until 11:59 pm on September 19, 2021, or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by the Health Officer.

“As of today, we reached a rate of 28 cases per 100,000, a 40% increase. I hope that this order will increase mask usage in Ventura County. I expect that this will have a beneficial effect on the increase in COVID-19 infections we are seeing,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin.

The order directs that face coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose – regardless of vaccination status – in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces, including but not limited to offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference and event centers, and government offices serving the public.

Individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must:

  • Require all patrons to wear face coverings for all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status; and
  • Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to communicate the masking requirements to all patrons. Signage is provided by Ventura County Public Health at www.vcrecovers.org.

This health order aims to reduce community transmission of COVID-19. Health officials are concerned by the substantial levels of increased community transmission, especially among unvaccinated people. In part, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus

More information about COVID-19 available at: www.venturacountyrecovers.org.

City of Ventura encourages residents to prepare for the next emergency

Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Stay Informed

The City of Ventura joins the Ready Campaign during National Preparedness Month, an annual opportunity for families and communities to take a proactive approach in personal preparedness.

“Often, friends, and neighbors will be the first ones to take action after a disaster strikes and before first responders arrive,” said Mayor Sofia Rubalcava. “All groups in our community have a responsibility to be prepared. This includes our families, friends, schools, businesses, and community stakeholders.”

The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.” The national Ready Campaign offers a weekly focus and resources on various elements of preparedness, including financial preparedness, making a family emergency plan, building a go-kit, and teaching youth.

“National Preparedness Month is the good reminder for residents to think about emergency risks in Ventura and take meaningful action to ensure that their families and neighborhoods are disaster ready,” said Daniel Wall, Emergency Services Manager for the City of Ventura. “Taking steps to prepare now improves our ability to react, respond, and recover whenever and wherever a disaster occurs.”

The City of Ventura urges everyone to take three important action steps to get prepared:

Make a Plan: Talk with members of your household about what to do during emergencies. Plan what to do in case of separation and choose a two meeting places- one right outside your home in case of a sudden home emergency like a fire, and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.

Build a Kit: Assemble an easy-to-carry preparedness kit complete with water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, extra batteries, phone chargers, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit, and medications.

Stay Informed: Register for VC Alert, Ventura County’s Emergency Notification System. Call, text, or email to sign-up. Learn more at www.VCAlert.org.

During the month of September, the community is invited to join the City’s Office of Emergency Services at an upcoming Neighborhood Community Council meeting to learn different aspects of preparedness for individuals, families, and communities.

College Area Community Council: Wednesday, August 25, at 7:00 pm.

Westside Community Council: Wednesday, September 1, at 6:30 p.m.

Midtown Community Council: Thursday, September 9, at 7:00 p.m.

East Ventura Community Council: Thursday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m.

Pierpont Bay Community Council: Tuesday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m.

Downtown Ventura Partners: Thursday, September 22, at 8:30 a.m.

For more disaster preparedness information, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/EmergencyPreparedness or

www.ReadyVenturaCounty.org.

Try to keep up with this senior tennis player

Breeze publisher Sheldon (on the right) enjoys playing with John at the court at Portside Ventura Harbor. He hopes to beat him some day.

When not on the tennis courts, John B. Bennett has had a long career in motion picture and television production, and it’s still active in the profession.

He began his tennis career early, at just 10-years-old. He competed on his high school team and played in college for UCLA. John started playing senior tournaments in the 35 division a long time ago. John Bennett played, and won, plenty of tournaments. This is just a few of his most memorable wins and achievements.

2001: Number one ranking in Southern California.

2015: National grass and hardcourt third place in singles and doubles.

Has held a national ranking of number 2 in singles and number 3 in doubles.

Has held an SCTA ranking of number one in singles and number 2 in doubles.

Bennett has whipped juniors into shape in the SCTA Youth vs. Experience matches at the LA Tennis Club. He has also been a strong supporter of local tournament competition, and has been a participant in nearly every Senior Grand Prix championship over the past 33 years.

Marvelous Mug – take 2.

Foto: Why not get two mugs?

Since this is our second Marvelous Mug Marketplace why not get two mugs? The artists at the Ventura Pottery Gallery know how important morning rituals are – Keurig, pour-over, cold brew or green tea – and they are busy throwing or hand-building hundreds of mugs for you to choose your next favorite one. Mugs are lead-free, microwave and dishwasher safe. And if that isn’t enough, the first twenty purchases each day will receive a free cup of coffee from Top This Chocolate, just around the corner from the Gallery. 

We invite you to stop by during the Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival, Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 from  11–6  each day. Over 30 ceramic artists will be featured in a special outdoor exhibit of just mugs. Throwing and hand-building demonstrations will take place all weekend outside the gallery. Step inside to see a Gallery bursting with functional and sculptural ceramics. 

The Ventura Pottery Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor. The gallery is open seven days a week from 11-6.

The Ventura County Potters’ Guild is non-profit and was founded in 1957 and continues its mission of promoting ceramic arts through the Gallery, workshops, and monthly meetings. The monthly meetings are open to the public and feature ceramic demonstrations or presentations. More information can be found at www.venturapottersguild.org. Can’t make it to the gallery? Please visit our Online Store at www.venturapotteryonline.com.

Petanque anyone?

Patty Berry, Kerry Leiman, Steve Mac, Bob Berry and Sheila Leiman jouer Petanque.

The women’s club, BCNN (the Beachcities Neighbors & Newcomer’s Club for Women in Ventura, Oxnard and Pt. Hueneme- they also have activities with men) play Petanque. It  is one of our many activities (we have over 30 different types of activities in the Club).

We are Pétanque enthusiasts who play at two different times. For the general public – 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at Portside Park at Portside Ventura Harbor at 2:30 p.m. (located off Harbor, Spinnaker to Navigator.) We play on the side walkways of the Volleyball court area.

Also, a BCNN ladies group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Portside Park.

Ventura Petanque was started in September, 2018. We give free lessons (you can borrow our “boules”) and then you can obtain your own “boules” online at very reasonable prices.

Petanque is a French equivalent to the Italian Bocce Ball game (it uses small metal

Balls.)

This game is suitable to any age because of the small sized metal balls which are played on dirt surfaces between 20 feet and 30 feet distance.  The object is for a team to get the closest to the target ball “cochenet” (little pig).

For more information https://coastalpatty.wixsite.com/venturapetanque

or https://www.venturapetanque.net/

Vol. 14, No. 24 – Aug 25 – Sept 7, 2021 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wednes
8/04

 11:15am, received a request to check the well being of a dog in a locked vehicle in the village. Officers responded and were able to ensure the dog was safe.

12:01pm, received report of a panga aground near oil piers from US coast guard.

Thursday
8/05

 2:33pm, dispatched to an unconscious person at 1559 Spinnaker Dr. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to the call. Patient was assessed then transported.

5:20pm, dispatched to a fall victim at Ventura Isle Marina promenade, a 94 y/o female. Patient was assisted and refused any further treatment.

5:35pm, dispatched to person not breathing in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded, found a patient long deceased, no resuscitation possible.

Friday
8/06

 3:40pm, received report of 4 swimmers stranded on the detached breakwall. Officers responded with State Parks and safely returned the group to shore.

Saturday
8/07

 1:25pm, observed two PWC’s inbound at a high rate of speed. Officers contacted the operators, and one had a medical emergency. The pair were escorted to the launch ramp and the patient refused treatment, self-transported.

5:50pm, received report of suspicious person parked in a vehicle near 1691 Spinnaker Dr. wearing a masquerade mask and acting strangely. Officers responded and were able to remove the individual from the parking lot.

Sunday
8/08

 6:06pm, received report of a StandUp paddle board aground near Seaward Ave with no one around. Officers responded in Fireboat and after brief investigation the operator of the vessel had ditched the board earlier and was rescued.

10:31pm, received request for escort to the harbor due to thick fog from a motor vessel 5 miles offshore. Officers responded, found the vessel and using radar were able to safely guide the lost craft back to the harbor in dense fog.

Tuesday
8/10

 11:23pm, while on patrol in vehicle, officers observed a large group of skunks crossing the street near the Ventura Boat Yard into the settling ponds. Provided traffic control for the group to safely cross Spinnaker drive.

Wednes
8/11

 11:59pm, monitored VPD responding to report of shots fired near the Launch ramp. Officers advised of fireworks ignited at Marina Park. VPD confirmed that no shots were fired as reported and that fireworks were mistaken for gunfire.

Thursday
8/12

 10:03pm, contacted about an intoxicated transient in his vehicle attempting to drive. Officers made contact and after several attempts were able to convince him otherwise. His keys were taken and he was advised they would be returned.

Friday
8/13

 8:50am, officers heading to the pier in the Fireboat to monitor the State Parks Junior Lifeguard swim around the pier.

1:36pm, returned the keys that were impounded from the intoxicated male transient who was attempting to drive while under the influence. He was upset.

Saturday
8/14

 11:45am, received several reports of a sick/injured sea lion near Portside C-dock officers responded, and observed a sea lion “thermo-regulating” on the dock. No injuries or sickness observed, just a sealion sunbathing.

Sunday
8/15

 11:20am, received report of a sting ray strike at Harbor Cove from State Parks lifeguards, they are requesting hot water to treat the puncture wound. Officers responded in truck with hot water to treat the wound. Patient self-transported.

Tuesday
8/17

 5:18am, received a report of a disabled 16ft skiff near the breakwall. Officers responded in Rescue B-19 and towed the vessel safely back to the launch ramp.

3:40pm, dispatched to an unknown medical in the parking lot at 1559 Spinnaker. Officers responded and found the patient in a vehicle slumped over the steering wheel. The patient was just sleeping.

 

Vol. 14, No. 24 – Aug 25 – Sept 7, 2021 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura  Police Department and are not the opinions of  the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned  are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty  in a court of law.

Brandishing and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle Arrest

On August 10, at approximately 9:45 am, officers responded to a call of a subject brandishing a gun from the parking lot of Enterprise Rental Cars. An employee from the business advised the subject, later identified as 30 year old Port Hueneme resident Michael Guerrero, was pointing the weapon randomly at vehicles driving by. Several Ventura Police officers responded to the location.

Officers located Guerrero in the parking lot of Enterprise. He matched the description of the suspect and was detained. During the investigation, it was determined Guerrero was brandishing a taser at people and he had a loaded concealed 9mm handgun in his vehicle. Guerrero was told he was under arrest and began challenging officers to fight. Fortunately, officers were able to de- escalate the situation and took Guerrero into custody without incident.

Guerrero also had additional firearms located at his residence in Port Hueneme. Major Crimes detectives obtained a search warrant for the firearms to prevent Guerrero from using them to endanger the community again. Detectives located and seized eight additional guns, one of which was an assault rifle. Guerrero was booked in Ventura County Jail.

Narcotics Arrest

On August 12, at approximately 8:00 am, members of the Ventura Police Department SCU unit conducted a search warrant at the above address due to an investigation into narcotics sales and operating a drug house. Detectives using investigative tools were able to identify a primary suspect as Michael Nelson.

During the execution of the search warrant, investigators located evidence of narcotics use. Detectives also recovered several forms of narcotics, including heroin, methamphetamines, suboxone, and oxycodone.

As a result of the investigation, 41 year old Ventura resident Michael Nelson was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Travis Harkey, 37 year old Ventura resident, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Charlotte Bauer, 32 year old Ventura resident, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Michael Nelson has prior arrests for property crimes, narcotics violations, including arrests for possession for sales of a controlled substance. Travis Harkey has a previous arrest for public intoxication. Charlotte Bauer has prior arrests for resisting arrest, narcotics violations, identity theft, vehicle theft, theft, and burglary.

Sex Offender Compliance Sweep

On August 11, the Ventura Police Department in partnership with the Ventura County Probation and State Parole conducted a series of sex offender compliance checks within the City of Ventura. The offenders searched were on active CDCR State Parole and/or Probation in the County of Ventura. Compliance checks are done regularly to ensure high risk offenders are following their court ordered restrictions.

Officers visited 15 offenders’ residents and of those four arrests were made:.

  • James Robles, 51 years old, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of tear gas
  • Steven Perry, 54 years old, was arrested for a felony violation of parole
  • Joseph Hooton, 27 years old, was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and felony violation of parole.

  • Michael Lievre, 39 years old, was arrested for an outstanding warrant for lewd conduct and a felony parole warrant

Stolen Vehicle and Drug Sales Arrest

On August 17, at approximately 2:45 pm, a Ventura Police Department patrol officer saw a stolen vehicle in the area of Telegraph Rd. and Ashwood Ave. The officer followed the vehicle, stolen in Santa Barbara County on July 27, and initiated an enforcement stop. The vehicle yielded in a parking lot in the 5100 block of Telegraph Rd, and patrol officers took 29 year old Goleta resident Christian Juarez into custody without incident. Investigating officers searched the vehicle and located methamphetamine, heroin, and evidence of narcotics sales.

Juarez was arrested for unlawful taking of a vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of a controlled substance, and three outstanding warrants.