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Echoes of a Recent Past

Echoes of a Recent Past
at the Museum of Ventura County
September 22 @ 5-8pm

Join us for a special evening celebrating the opening of our new Sculpture Garden and the space’s first installation by artist Paul Lindhard. Enjoy live music by Jason Brock’s rock band, post-Celtic music by Maya Lumen, aerial performances by Fly Time Fitness, and participate in a silent auction!

Who: The Museum of Ventura County in collaboration with artist Paul Lindhard of Art City Studios debuts museum’s new Santa Clara Street Garden Installation, Echoes of a Recent Past.

When: On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. join the Museum of Ventura County for a special celebration recognizing the recent installment of Echoes of a Recent Past. The celebration will include introductions, special announcements, and a short video of the site’s history. The event will be followed by light refreshments and musical performances by Jason Brock and his band, post-Celtic musician Maya Lumen, and aerial performances by Fly Time Fitness. Guests can also enjoy food from local food trucks along with beer and wine for purchase.

What: The Museum of Ventura County announces and welcomes guests to attend the first official Santa Clara Street Garden art space event, Echoes of a Recent Past, a long-term art installation that incorporates repurposed, and reinterpreted materials found on developed lots in downtown Ventura. The artistic idea is to imagine a cultivated land experience, by using and showcasing the usefulness of discarded materials, space, and history. Artist Paul Lindhard’s theme is to use both historic and familiar concepts that can be found in our natural human habitat — in past, present, and fanciful. “Echoes of a Recent Past was an evolution of historic possibilities that all harkens for me to a future interaction for the museum and the community for that space to evolve,” stated artist Paul Lindhard.

Where: The Museum of Ventura County

100 East Main Street, Ventura, California 93001

The event will take place inside the sculpture garden, located on the Santa Clara Street side.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving holds officer appreciation day

by Richard Lieberman

Mothers Against Drunk Driving sponsored an officer appreciation event to present officers from the Tri-Counties area with awards for the most drunk driving arrests in their individual departments. The event drew Law Enforcement from Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Maria CHP and Port Hueneme, among others. A lunch sponsored by Dukes Griddle and Grill restaurant in Ventura was offered to the gathered representatives. It was held on Thursday, August 26, at the Museum of Ventura County in Downtown Ventura.

Opening remarks at the event were given by Georgina Avilez, Program Manager for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). She thanked the officers for their diligence and commitment to get impaired drivers off the road. She emphasized MADD’s commitment to its mission “A nation without drunk and drugged driving.” She also talked about MADD’s mission “to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking.”

Following opening remarks by Avilez, Staci Brown, Program Specialist of MADD Tri-Counties, remarked to the gathered attendees, “I want to thank all of the law enforcement attendees for coming to receive awards for the most DUI arrests”. She added “Congratulations and good work to all the award recipients.” Brown also remarked to the attendees “We appreciate all that you do to keep our streets safe.” Brown went on to offer a special thanks to the Museum of Ventura County for hosting the event.

Over forty-five law enforcement officers representing eighteen departments were honored at the event. Each recipient received a certificate and had their photos taken with Staci Brown of MADD.

Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler also attended the event along with three members of the Ventura Police Department. “I think the MADD event is great, they do this every year; they recognize the public safety officials that are out there taking drunk drivers off the roadway whether it be alcohol impairment, drug impairment and or some other impairment.” Stated Chief Schindler.

“No one knows how many lives are saved by taking these impaired drivers off the road,” It’s great to recognize the officers who are doing this job,” he added. When asked about solutions and police enforcement approaches to solving the dilemma of impaired driving he offered several approaches that are being undertaken now to help get some of these drivers off the road. Drunk driving checkpoints are one approach regularly used by police. “It’s a deterrent in the scope of being proactive about it,”. Another approach Ventura police utilize is a partnership between police and the OTS (California Office of Traffic Safety). They supply police with equipment and additional funding. Another approach is police visiting bars and restaurants on weekend nights and approaching people as they are leaving and asking “how much they have had to drink” “We ask them if they are OK to drive and if they volunteer, we have them blow into a portable breathalyzer to show them their current blood alcohol level,” added Schindler.

Police agencies and MADD agree that one effective solution to the impaired driving epidemic is Sobriety Checkpoints. Checkpoints have reduced fatalities by 20 percent. Checkpoints are mandated to be publicized in advance and signs are posted at the approach to the checkpoints. Another law enforcement approach MADD supports is “Saturation Saturday” which designates the Saturday before Labor Day weekend a day to team up with law enforcement agencies nationwide to amplify the message that if you choose to drive impaired, you will get caught. Yet another method MADD supports comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”. Law enforcement departments have picked dangerous parts of the year, and keep a special eye out for drunk drivers on those days, letting potential impaired drivers know that law enforcement is out there looking for and pulling over impaired drivers.

September is Pedestrian Safety Month

“But officer I started out in the crosswalk.”

As part of Pedestrian Safety Month, the Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on patrol throughout September specifically looking for California Vehicle Code violations pertaining to drivers and pedestrians.

These violations include right-of-way at crosswalks, illegal turns, and not properly stopping for signs or signals, and speeding.

“A simple safety step can make a big difference. Look out for one another by slowing down when driving and stopping for pedestrians,” said Ventura Police Traffic Sergeant Mike Brown. “If you’re walking, be mindful of vehicle traffic, be predictable, and do not leave a curb or place of safety carelessly.”

Based on data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 2020 had the largest ever annual increase, 21 percent, in the rate at which drivers struck and killed pedestrians. In California, pedestrian deaths accounted for 27 percent of all traffic-related deaths in 2019.

The Ventura Police Department offers steps community members can take to reduce the risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions:

Pedestrians

Be predictable and use crosswalks.

Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. No vehicle can stop instantly. At 30 m.p.h., a driver needs at least 108 feet to make a complete stop.

Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you by wearing light colors and reflective material, and using flashlights for added visibility at dawn, dusk, or night.

Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with higher speed limits.

Always use the sidewalk when available and avoid walking in the street alongside traffic, especially during morning and evening hours.

Drivers

Do not drive distracted and never drive impaired.

Drive defensively, follow the speed limit, and slow down at intersections.

Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To learn more about the Office of Traffic Safety grant at ots.ca.gov.

The Women’s Club in Action

Volunteer members Mary Harrison, Anita Hensley, Ariel Cottrell, and Sandi Brown prepare books for the upcoming book sale/fundraiser.

by Shirley Lorraine

The San Buenaventura Women’s Club continues to find ways to contribute to the community. For over 80 years, the Club has been committed to fulfilling its mission of giving back to Ventura County. The Club annually supports arts in the high schools, the community concert band, Search and Rescue Dogs and groups offering housing and assistance to women and children in need to name a few. Fundraisers are held for the purpose of collecting money to be given back to chosen programs. Each May, at the end of the club’s fiscal year, checks are issued to the board-approved entities.

Despite this last year of no in-person meetings, members have continued to find creative ways to raise funds to fulfill their mission. Donations back to the community for 2020 were $9,550.00.

On September 25, 2021, the Club will be operating “Expanding Reading Horizons”, a drive-through grab-bag book extravaganza. Buyers are welcome to drive in from 12:30 – 4 p.m. at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Road, Ventura.

Volunteers have been collecting book donations for months and are now in the process of cleaning, sorting and filling the bags. Trader Joe’s generously donated the paper bags which will contain a mix of hardbacks & paperbacks covering assorted genres and interests to inspire and expand reader’s horizons.

For a $10 donation per bag, pre-filled and sealed bags are handed to you – no need to get out of the car! Also available are Bonus Bags for $15 which include a donated jigsaw puzzle.

Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month, September to May at the Poinsettia Pavilion (originally named the Women’s Club) 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. Reservations are required for the lunch, program and business meeting. Contact Business Manager Jennifer Enoch at (805) 844-9399.

www.sanbuenaventurawomensclub.org . Membership in the 501c (3) is open to all persons 18 and over (men welcome too!). The Club and the community welcomes your participation.

Local lady will be driving in an all Women’s Demolition Derby for Cancer

A truly inspirational lady.

Bekkah Doyle is a Ventura County local living in Ventura. She used a personal tragedy to inspire her to help people in need.

She told us how she got into demo derbies as a way to raise money. “I was actually involved in a bad car accident in 2019. A car rear ended me on the 101 at 50mph freeway while I was stopped in traffic, which left me with very crippling PTSD in cars. Now I drive in demo derbies as my way of overcoming my PTSD and becoming comfortable in cars again. My mom took me to the Ventura Raceway demo derby at a very young age and it became a lifelong dream for me to drive in it one day. Now that I have finally made that dream a reality. I use my demo derby cars to help others.”

Bekkah went on to say “On Oct 9th I will be driving in an all Women’s Demolition Derby for Cancer at Irwindale Speedway, the derby is composed of female drivers from all over Southern California representing their hometowns. I’m the lone representative so far for Ventura County (I actually just drove at the recent demo derby at Ventura Raceway as the only female driver). I want to raise as much money as I possibly can so I’ve decided to sell spots on my car for people to put the names of loved one they have lost to cancer or in support of those currently battle cancel. 50% of all proceeds will be donated directly to charity. I’d love to be able to raise a significant amount to donate while also giving people a way to honor their loved ones.”

If you would like to donate to the cause and get the names of their loved ones on the vehicle, they can email Bekkah directly at [email protected].

40,000 pounds of donated food arrives in Ventura

The food will go to families struggling with food needs from Ventura County.

Last week, a truck carrying over 40,000 pounds of food – from cases of canned salsa, peaches, peanut butter, and more – arrived at Project Understanding in Ventura to help with the organization’s efforts to feed hundreds of families in Ventura County over the next few months.

This donation was organized from the Ventura Stake (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to assist with the needs of those in Ventura County. One of four large food deliveries to Southern California this week, this donation is a small part of the efforts of the congregations who contribute to a Humanitarian fund that helps with crucial needs around the world such as providing shelter and supplies to victims of the Haiti earthquake, assisting Afghan refugees with shelter, food, and supplies and, like this week’s project, supporting local needs such as food inequality through organizations such as Project Understanding.

The food will go to families struggling with food needs from Ventura County. Project Understand has helped families with food insecurity with their food pantry since 1977, and many may not be aware they also help with many other community programs such as their Homeless to Home program and the successful Tutoring program with centers around the county. They are always open to having volunteers help at the food pantry as well and will be having a golf tournament on November 8th to raise funds for their crucial programs. ProjectUGolf.givesmart.com

Each target is sponsored by a local business

Raising funds for Pier Into The Future.

Chip in for Charity is a non-competitive golfing event where participants chip their balls towards sponsored targets located within the driving range to raise funds and support local non-profit efforts. This year we are raising funds for Pier Into The Future, that is preserving and maintaining the Ventura Pier.

Each target is sponsored by a local business that has donated to our non-profit beneficiary. All sponsor donations and tickets sold through the event are donated directly to the event’s current non-profit beneficiary. As participants chip towards the sponsored targets, raffle sponsors will also be raffling off prizes for participants to win.

In addition, all participants will receive a complimentary food and drink voucher with the ability to purchase additional buckets of golf balls, and raffle tickets.

In our first year we partnered with Clean International to help them provide clean water and sanitation to underserved communities. With over 80 participants enjoying local food, drinks and hitting nearly 450 balls into the sponsored targets, we raised $6,000 which helped Clean International provided over 1,100 families with clean water and sanitation.

September 25 from 1-5pm

Location: Olivas Links Driving Range, 3750 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura.

Website ChipinForCharity805.com