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Summer Fitness Fun

Image by Freepik

Summertime is an excellent time to set goals and instill new routines. If you feel like you’ve been hibernating indoors, now is a great time to get outside, exercise, and enjoy a little sunshine. Exercise is key to improving your fitness. Taking in some sun will boost your vitamin D production, which is critical for good health. Exercising outdoors can put you in a happy mood and is essential for a healthy lifestyle, especially for seniors.

Whether you’re a golfer, swimmer, hiker, runner, tennis player, or pickleball player, you need to take precautions to prepare for the heat and elements that come with this time of year. Here are a few healthy tips for summertime workouts:

  • Stay hydrated. You should have a bottle of water on hand, especially as temperatures rise this summer. Drink before, during, and after you exercise. Over 70 percent of our body is made up of water. Not allowing yourself to get dehydrated is key. Fruits and other foods that contain water can also be a good choice to keep you hydrated.
  • Prepare for the heat and sun. Always apply sunscreen and try to exercise earlier in the day or in the evening when temperatures are not as intense. Dress in lightweight clothing and wear proper footwear. Visors and hats are also a good idea.
  • Include all the elements of fitness. Your workouts should include aerobics, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Warm-up and cool-down movements are important to prepare and calm your muscles. Pace yourself and do not get overheated.

As you age, it is natural for your body processes to slow down a little. For instance, your body will take a little longer to adjust to changes in temperature. You’ll also want to try to mix up your workouts and activities to take advantage of the good weather.

  • Try taking a different route on your usual walk or hike. Go to the beach, a trail, or somewhere new in your community or neighborhood. This can be even more fun with family and friends.
  • Do an aqua swim class or just swim laps in a pool. Even wading in water and moving your arms and legs is good exercise.
  • Take a day trip to a nearby hiking spot or scenic area with beautiful views and environment. Soak in the sun and positive vibes of nature.
  • Join a group dance or fitness class. Find one that works your whole body and fits your needs. Try out different class types and stick with the one you enjoy most.
  • Spend time with family, friends, and grandkids. Try to do activities that make you all feel good and energized.
  • Join an athletic club, senior community center, or organization that promotes physical fitness and has a variety of classes, equipment, and a positive environment.
  • Take on new hobbies or activities that you have always wanted to try. You’re never too old to start something new or continue with something that you truly love and enjoy.

This summer, make it your goal to get fit and active! Be sure to take the necessary precautions to stay hydrated and safe in the warm weather. Variety is the spice of life, and hopefully, you are ready to get outside and take advantage of all that this season has to offer!

About the Author

Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for forty-five years. You can watch For the Young at Heart by visiting her YouTube Channel or on TVSB. She also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. For more information contact Leslie at [email protected] 805-312-8089 or visit the website: www.LeslieSokolsDance.com.

CAPS Media’s Busy June: X Games Forums, Graduation Coverage, and Awards

by Elizabeth Rodeno

June was a demanding month for CAPS Media, with crews tackling a wide range of projects. Activities included recording and editing ten 30-minute X Games Panel Forums in a single day before the event began, providing live coverage and streaming for all VUSD high school graduations, and celebrating two Hometown Media Awards from the Alliance for Community Media.

The day-long X Games Forums took place on June 27 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The forums brought together leaders in sports and youth culture to discuss the current and future state of action sports. Panelists, including top athletes like Hannah Roberts and industry figures such as Marlyss Auster and Brandon Graham, explored topics like Women Driving Innovation and the Impact of X Games on Communities.

Capturing these discussions was a monumental task for the CAPS team, who spent three intense days preparing and executing the recordings. Pre-production on Wednesday involved equipment setup and a behind-the-scenes look at athletes preparing for the main event. On Thursday, CAPS deployed two crews and four cameras to capture sessions and backstage moments, with editor Gary Roll simultaneously piecing together footage. The team worked tirelessly from early morning well into the next day, delivering ten 20-30 minute programs promptly posted online by X Games.

Before the X Games, CAPS crews were also busy covering back-to-back graduations across Ventura. Utilizing their mobile production truck equipped with four cameras and drone capabilities, CAPS provided comprehensive live coverage of ceremonies starting as early as 6 AM. The team documented graduations from multiple schools, ensuring each event received thorough coverage.

In addition to these operational feats, CAPS celebrated recognition from the Alliance for Community Media. KPPQ 104.1fm producer and host Nadine Piche received an award for her program on Pride Ventura County 2023, while El Camino Television won Best Informational Series for an episode featuring Ventura County District Attorney Eric Naserenko.

To learn more about CAPS Media and its offerings, interested individuals are invited to attend monthly orientation meetings held on the first Monday of each month at 6 PM. The sessions include studio tours, details on membership benefits, and insights into the creative process of media production. More information can be found at https://capsmedia.org.

KB Home offers personalized new townhomes in a prime Ventura location

KB Home recently announced the opening of Seaview at Midtown, a new community of personalized townhomes in a desirable Ventura location. These new homes are designed for the way people live today, with popular interior features like modern kitchens overlooking great rooms, bedroom suites with walk-in closets, and ample storage space. Additionally, homebuyers can personalize their new home by selecting from a wide range of design choices that fit their style and their budget. The community’s two- and three-story floor plans feature up to four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. Homeowners will appreciate the community’s planned outdoor dining area as well as the close proximity to award-winning schools and the beach.

What sets KB Home apart is the company’s focus on building strong, personal relationships with every customer, so they have a real partner in the homebuying process. Every KB home is uniquely built for each customer, so no two KB homes are the same. Their home comes to life in the KB Home Design Studio, a one-of-a-kind experience where customers get expert advice on how to personalize their new home. Reflecting the company’s commitment to creating an exceptional homebuying experience, KB Home is the #1 customer-ranked national homebuilder based on homebuyer satisfaction surveys from a leading third-party review site.

“We are pleased to offer area homebuyers a rare opportunity to own a personalized, new townhome in Ventura that fits their lifestyle,” said Keltie Cole, President of KB Home’s Los Angeles and Ventura Counties division. “Seaview at Midtown is nestled near Ventura’s historic downtown and thriving cultural scene as well as a diverse number of local restaurants, microbreweries and the beach.”

Innovative design plays an essential role in every home KB builds. The company’s floor plans inspire contemporary living, with a focus on roomy, light-filled spaces. KB homes are engineered to be highly energy and water efficient and include features that support healthier indoor environments. They are also designed to be ENERGY STAR® certified — a standard that fewer than 10% of new homes nationwide meet — offering greater comfort, well-being and utility cost savings than new homes without certification.

For more information, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit kbhome.com.

The Collage Lab – Exhibiting @ Studio 99, July 5 – Aug. 31

These artists give papers pictorial permanence

Artists in The Collage Lab, a Buenaventura Art Association offshoot started in 2014 to experiment in collage and mixed media, will show new works in “Ephemera,” a July 5-Aug. 31 exhibition in Studio 99 at Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., #99, Ventura.

Participating members — Janet Black, Karen Hoffberg, Darlene Roker, Wendy Winet, Janna Valenzuela, Karen L. Brown, Joyce Lombard, Dorothea Heger and Tasia Erickson — will be on hand for First Friday receptions from 6-9 p.m. July 5 and Aug. 2. The group meets monthly to set creative challenges, share ideas and results, demonstrate techniques, and occasionally to visit galleries.

Collage is from the French verb coller, to glue — a pictorial art form that can include paper and many other materials. Ephemera is defined as “items of memorabilia, often written or printed on paper, originally meant to be discarded after use but that have become collectibles.”

The displayed works will incorporate many such items, including postage stamps, handwritten letters, packaging and wrapping paper. Obviously, collectibility is in the eye of the collage artist.

Many group members are not primarily collage artists, but accomplished printmakers, painters, quilters, photographers, weavers, graphic designers, encaustic painters and watercolorists. Some pieces in the exhibit result from challenges by individual members to use a particular material, color, theme, size, etc.; others are works independently created by the artists. Subject matters vary widely, as do techniques.

They also assembled $10 make-your-own-collage packets, for those who’d like to try the fascinating medium. The packets include several kinds of ephemera in different combinations collected by Collage Lab artists.

A collection of the group members’ previous collage artworks is available online for $10.50 at https://www.blurb.com/b/11624966-the-collage-lab and some will be at the gallery.

Buenaventura Art Association, this year celebrating the 70th anniversary of its 1954 founding, operates Studio 99 at 432 N. Ventura Ave., which is open noon-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and has an outlet at Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts and a display at SpiceTopia, a Ventura retail store.

Harbor Village Gallery & Gifts, at 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 106, in Ventura Harbor, is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week. SpiceTopia, at 576 E. Main St., is also open daily, but its hours vary.

To learn more about BAA and its programs, call the gallery at 805-648-1235 or visit buenaventuraartassociation.org.

NAWBO® Installs Two Local Women Business Owners to 2024-2025 Board of Directors

Dr. Janis Shinkawa, Medical Director and Founding Partner of Ventura-based Ohana Pet Hospital, has been installed as Chair of the 2024-2025 NAWBO National Board of Directors by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Amber Wallace, President and CEO of Santa Barbara-based Dowitcher Designs Inc., was also installed as a Director.

NAWBO represents 13 million women business owners across America, encompassing diverse business sizes, sectors, communities served, stages of development, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, geographic areas, and political perspectives influencing policy views.

Locally, NAWBO members are both business leaders and community servants dedicated to positive local impact. Nationally, NAWBO advocates for women business owners, informing lawmakers about their challenges and proposing solutions through the leadership of the NAWBO National Board.

“NAWBO remains steadfast in our commitment to advocacy, leadership, and education,” said Dr. Janis Shinkawa, NAWBO National Board Chair. “Our organization understands that when women succeed, economies thrive. With a focus on microbusiness owners, who comprise over 90% of NAWBO’s women-owned businesses, we aim to provide resources that foster growth and enhance wealth in underserved populations.”

Dr. Janis Shinkawa founded Ohana Pet Hospital in 2012 and has since expanded with partnerships in three veterinary startups across Ventura County. She also launched VETLevelUP, a startup software company serving the veterinary industry, and initiated Ventura College’s Associate’s Degree program in Veterinary Technology.

Amber Wallace leads Dowitcher Designs Inc., an award-winning marketing agency specializing in supporting purpose-driven organizations and public agencies. She brings extensive experience in marketing and digital technologies from her tenure teaching at UC Santa Barbara and serving on various boards.

“NAWBO began in a humble office in DC and has evolved into a nationwide organization supporting women business owners in diverse urban and rural settings,” noted Amber Wallace, NAWBO National Board Member. “I am honored to contribute to NAWBO’s ongoing mission as we prepare for our 50th anniversary celebration in 2025.”

The 2024-2025 NAWBO Board of Directors includes Dr. Janis Shinkawa as Chair, Lisa Coppola as Immediate Past Chair, Megan Patton as Chair Elect, Thresette Briggs as Treasurer, Lesa Seibert as Secretary, and members Sandra Clitter, Krista Martinez, Victoria Stevenson, Amber Wallace, and Brenda Harris as Chair of the Presidents Assembly Steering Committee.

NAWBO conducted the board installation in June ahead of their NAWBO Days national event in Washington, D.C. Plans are underway for the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration scheduled for June 5-8, 2025. For more information, visit www.nawbo.org.

X Games Ventura Brings Opportunities for Local Businesses 

Photo by Michael Gordon

Summer Event Spurs Community Involvement and Economic Growth

Visit Ventura, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing visitor expenditures, tourism revenues, and local employment through promoting Ventura as a travel destination, has announced that this year’s X Games will celebrate Ventura even more than last year. Multiple local businesses, vendors, and contractors will participate in the world’s leading action sports competition. This year’s X Games Ventura event takes place from Friday, June 28, 2024, to Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Local businesses, including Spencer Makenzie’s, Happy Place Eatery, and Rocket Fizz, will serve as food vendors on-site, giving thousands of fans the chance to taste Ventura favorites. Over 20 local businesses with special X Games offerings will be featured in the X Games Ventura spectator guide given to every attendee.

Local integration and support in this year’s event take many forms. From contracting with Ventura-based labor crew I Am The Phoenix Labor and Production to teaming up with local PR representatives for regional marketing efforts, Ventura businesses are working behind the scenes to make X Games Ventura a success. Bike Ventura and Revolution Skateshop will again run the free, first-come, first-serve bike and skateboard check at the venue.

“A global event like the X Games brings unparalleled excitement and energy to Ventura while showcasing a strong commitment to our local community,” said Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder. “The X Games, Visit Ventura, and our community partners recognize that our local restaurants, shops, and vendors capture the unique flavor and spirit of Ventura. Hosting such an event is a collective effort, and we are thrilled to see it come together. The infusion of this energy into our local economy allows everyone to share in its benefits.”

“Feel-good events like the Ventura Land Trust and Surfrider community clean-ups next week demonstrate that the X Games is not just an event coming to town, but a celebration of our shared values and spirit,” said Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura. “I am so excited to see so many partners and community members involved. Home pride is once again beaming!”

Event Schedule:

  • Wednesday, June 26: Ventura Harbor Village Seaside Summer Kickoff — Waterfront Wednesdays at the Ventura Harbor start with a special X Games celebration. Fans and visitors can enjoy an X Games ticket giveaway, a Big Lawn Concert, and the FIRST-EVER Visit Ventura Drone Show at Ventura Harbor.
  • Wednesday, June 26: EXtreme Boogie Night — Get moving for X Games Ventura with a special Boogie Nights 5k run along the beautiful Ventura Promenade.
  • Wednesday, June 26: Ventura Roller Disco — Tap into nostalgia under a dazzling disco ball at Ventura’s FIRST-EVER Roller Disco, presented by Ventura Coast Brewing Company. Bring your skates or rent on-site for an introduction to skates workshop, a guided dance lesson, live DJ sets, skate community vendors, and more.
  • Thursday, June 27: Ventura Skate Jam — Downtown Ventura and the City of Ventura present the second annual, all-ages free Ventura Skate Jam to kick off X Games Ventura. Local skate shop BlackHole Skate Shop will host and bring the setup for both young and old to show their skills on the ramps. Young skaters can join in on the fun at Skate & Create, taking place during the Skate Jam, where they can skate a mini park, make their own t-shirts, and more.
  • Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Visit Ventura Drone Show — Visit Ventura is proud to announce the return of the Visit Ventura Drone Show, an eco-friendly display of 500 drones to celebrate X Games Ventura. Two shows have been added this year, making a total of five shows to dazzle and delight.

“The Visit Ventura Drone Show will be a fantastic kickoff to the summer season here at Ventura Harbor,” said Brian Pendleton, the Port District’s general manager. “It will draw visitors to Ventura Harbor midweek in support of our local merchants, including restaurants, retail, entertainment, and boating, and will also showcase Ventura Harbor Village as the vibrant seaside shopping destination it is.”

For more information about community events for X GAmes Ventura, check out the Visit Ventura Blog at www.VisitVentura.com.

Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura Grand Opening of next phase of Westview Village

Pictured left to right: Jim Duran, Councilmember; Sandy Sanchez, Senior Developer; Mike Johnson, Councilmember; Jim White, Vice Chair; Jeffrey Lambert, Chief Executive Officer; Joe Schroeder, Mayor, Salud Carbajal, Congressman; John Polanskey, Board Chair; Sierra Atilano, Executive Vice President of Development, Bridge Housing; Katherine Simonson, Commissioner; Marcia Vega, HUD Regional Public Housing Director Region 9 & 10; Barbara Keller, Commissioner, Diana Sparagna, Commissioner. Courtesy of Jessie Carmody

Housing Complex is largest in the City of Ventura and Furthers the Vision for the Entire Westview Village Development

Westview Village, 11, a 50-unit affordable rental development. Courtesy of Patricia Schallert

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) and nonprofit BRIDGE Housing hosted the Grand Opening of Westview Village II, a 50-unit affordable rental development which broke ground in the spring of 2022. 

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura and BRIDGE Housing partnered to redevelop Westview Village, the HACSB’s oldest public housing development, over four phases of development. All residents pay 30% of their income as rent. 

“The timing of this next phase of Westview Village is significant as it is our 75th Anniversary year and this was our first public housing project,” said Jeffrey Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, HACSB.  “The success of this particular project is emblematic of our successful housing programs across the City and we are very proud of it,” said Lambert.

Interior of a Westview Village II resident’s unit. Courtesy of Jessie Carmody

Westview Village Phase II replaced 10 public housing units with 50 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments. The property is located on a 2-acre site on the Westside of Ventura. The development includes 44 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments. Five of the units will be reserved for persons who are experiencing homelessness. 

Westview Village II will also include a state-of-the-art community center, a commercial kitchen, two early childhood development classrooms, multipurpose rooms, a rooftop community garden, and a public park. This will complete the third phase of the vision for the Westview Village redevelopment. There will be 286 new affordable rentals and this phase of development will be the hub for this new housing campus. 50% of the Westview II units are fully accessible (mobility accessibility features), and 2 units have audio/visual features for blind/deaf/hard of hearing tenants.

Westview Village I, completed in 2019, was the initial phase of the redevelopment which includes 131 apartments with one to four bedrooms, management offices, a community room, and a public park. Phase I is all electric and 50% net zero. It provides for greywater reuse in landscaping. All residents pay 30% of their income as rent. All residents were temporarily relocated during construction and had the right to return. As part of Phase I, a new street, Village Way, was designed and built to connect all phases of the redevelopment.

Westview Village III construction started in September 2020 and was completed in December 2022. Phase III includes 105 apartments with one to four bedrooms, a community room, and public park. Phase III is all electric and 100% net zero and makes a major contribution to addressing climate change including by reducing vehicle miles traveled. The project’s storm drain system allows for the capture and infiltration of storm water. Twenty-one apartments are set aside for families who are experiencing homelessness. 

Historical Significance As the oldest public housing development, housing units at this location were developed in two phases (100 units and 80 units), ten years apart in the 1952-1960s. This original development housed residents displaced from “Tortilla Flats,” a neighborhood that consisted of working-class families who were displaced when the 101 Freeway expanded north from Los Angeles through Oxnard and Ventura. The original 180 units are being replaced with 320 units by the time Phase IV is completed.

The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is to provide and develop quality affordable housing for eligible low-income residents of Ventura County and to establish strong partnerships necessary for HACSB customers to achieve personal goals related to, literacy and education, health and wellness, and job training and employment leading to personal growth and economic self-sufficiency.

Community Memorial Hospital Awards Scholarships to Student Volunteers

Left to Right: Marilyn Beal, junior coordinator, Linda Petit, Auxiliary president, Peter Nguyen, Leo Pankratz, Olivia Mowad, and Mick Zdeblick, CEO of CMH)

Three outstanding high school graduates were the 2024 recipients of scholarship awards given by the Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Each of the students had contributed more than 160 volunteer hours in the Critical Care Unit of the hospital and will continue their education in the medical field.

The Maria Cavallo Scholarship was awarded to both Peter Nguyen and Leo Pankratz. Peter Nguyen graduated from Buena High School where he maintained a 4.55 weighted GPA. High school activities included CSF, Buena Science League, Key Club treasurer, tennis team, and Navy League Cadet Corps. He was named an AP Scholar, Buena’s Platinum Renaissance, and was a Stanford University School of Medicine summer intern, and Port Hueneme’s Naval Base Pre-Engineering intern. Peter will attend U.C. Berkeley in the fall, majoring in Bioengineering with the goal of becoming an anesthesiologist.

Leo Pankratz attended Foothill Technology High School and earned a 4.23 weighted GPA. He volunteered in the school’s Wellness Center and in the medical tent for the Mountain 2 Beach Marathon, played baseball for 3 years, and was a memeber of HOSA, and president of NAMI. He was named a CSF-SS Scholar 2021-2023, and received the Ruby Award for more than 200 hours of community service. He worked for two summers at Loma Vista Endocrinology, Inc. He will attend the University of Nevada at Reno majoring in Neuroscience and hopes to become a doctor.

The Norma MacGregor Scholarship was awarded to Olivia Mowad of Foothill Technology High School. She achieved a weighted GPA of 4.75 while participating in the Blue Water Task Force, was a member and lab manager for the Bioscience program, a HOSA member, Editor-in-Chief of the Dragon Press, and played varsity basketball. She was a member of CSF, won the Pacemaker Journalism award, obtained certification in Basic Life Support, and was MVP and first team All-County and All-League in basketball. She will entering the School of Nursing at the University of Gonzaga in the fall and hopes to become a nurse anesthetist.

The Auxiliary members as well as hospital staff offer their congratulations and best wishes for continued success to these deserving students.

Digital Storytelling Returns in July  

CAPS Media’s popular Digital Storytelling program returns this summer with two, week-long sessions July 15-19 and July 29-August 2. The engaging and fun program is available for young video storytellers, ages 10-14 and is directed by experienced and talented videographers and film makers. In the program the young CAPS Crews work in teams of four to five to create their own video productions. The fast paced and creative program features hands-on, experiential learning in all aspects of media production including story development, scripting, casting, staging, directing, camera, video composition, lighting, remote and in-studio production, graphic design, editing and more.

Each weeklong session runs Monday – Friday, from 8:30am to 1:00pm with class sizes limited to 10-12 students. The Digital Storytelling program is held at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road in Ventura, between Loma Vista and Telegraph, on the eastside of Ventura College. The weekly fee is $250 per week and includes five 4-hour sessions, a one-year family membership at CAPS, a CAPS Crew Member shirt, graduation certificate and a special Friday film festival for friends and family. To learn more and sign up for the Digital Storytelling Program go to https://capsmedia.org/

CAPS Media’s special weekly series, ReCAPS, continues to entertain viewers with fascinating personal stories shared by local storytellers throughout Ventura County. ReCAPS premieres a new program every Monday night at 7pm on CAPS Channel 6 and streaming online. Recent ReCAPS storytellers include Ventura legend Moses Mora, sharing stories of Tortilla Flats; Adam Hart, director of Merrick,inary arts program at Oxnard College and chef Luis Sanchez, recreating recipes and sharing stories behind historic Ventura County menus; Jake and Jenny Dilbeck, Debbie Brokaw, Kat Merrick and County Fire Captain Chad Cook recounting their personal experiences during the Thomas Fire as survivors and firefighter.  In other episodes of ReCAPS, Museum of Ventura County Executive Director Elena Brokaw talks with Carlos Ortega, the museum’s Master curator, exploring the museum experience, and Julio Alcala, Lynda Braunschweiger, Marianne Parra, Robyne Redwater, Jim and John Proctor, and others share what the word “home” means to them, recorded for a special museum exhibit celebrating Ventura County’s 150th anniversary.

Other ReCAPS episodes feature famous Ventura families including the Dudley family, the E.J. and Myra Harrison family, the Foster family, and Jeff Smith sharing stories about the Smith, Hobson, and Pettit families. Future ReCAPS include fascinating interviews and artwork by the extraordinary local artists in the Museum of Ventura County’s new exhibit: InnoVision: Ventura County Artists to watch – Clark Song, Daniela Garcia Hamilton, Elisa Torres, Gladys Rodriguez, Jasmine Delgado, Luke Matjas, Maria Adela Diaz, Marianne McGrath, and Olguin Tapia,

Do you want to know about CAPS? Join them on Monday July 8th and the first Monday of the following month at 6pm for an informal introduction at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road. The evening includes a tour, information on CAPS membership benefits, a creative overview of media production and more. Everyone is encouraged to drop by and discover what CAPS has to offer.

CAPS Media manages and programs cable channels 6 (Public) and 15 (Education and Government), and CAPS Radio KPPQ in Ventura, and manages the CAPS Media Center, at 65 Day Road, which is open Tuesday – Thursday from 12p– 8pm. CAPS provides unlimited creative resources and expertise to everyone in Ventura.