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Ventura Land Trust seeks new executive director

The Ventura Land Trust is searching for a new executive director as Derek Poultney, the current director, is stepping into the Conservation Director role. Poultney recently recommended this change to the Board of Directors as a way to build and optimize organizational capacity during this phase of tremendous organizational growth.

During Poultney’s 11 years of leadership (five as Executive Director), the trust grew significantly. From two acres and two staff in 2010, Ventura Land Trust now manages 4000 acres and has 24 employees. “It is an incredibly exciting time for Ventura and Ventura Land Trust and there is more growth on the horizon, says Mark Watkins, the trust’s newly appointed President of the Board. With five years of environmental consulting and field biology work and five years as Conservation Director at the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) prior to his current tenure at Ventura Land Trust, Poultney remains dedicated to preserving nature and public access to nature for the community.

Poultney is excited about this new opportunity because “I will be able to get back to doing what I love doing the most and what I’m most effective doing, and I’m looking forward to having a new mentor who can usher us into our next period of growth.” Watkins has worked closely with Poultney in his time at the Trust and is looking forward to bringing in additional resources with this change. “We looked at the next five years from a strategic planning perspective and mutually agreed that Derek would best serve the Trust in the Conservation Director role. He has been a great leader for this organization and he really shines when able to focus on securing the resources needed to complete acquisition and habitat restoration projects.”

The last year has particularly proven the benefit the Land Trust brings to the community. When much of the city was shut down to the public, its nature preserves provided solace and comfort. In 2020, the Land Trust established the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve which has been well-received by hikers, runners and cyclists. This is the largest acquisition for the Trust to date and has attracted attention throughout Ventura County and from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles.

Looking toward the future, the Land Trust is focused on connecting with more people throughout Ventura County and southern California. One of the many goals along these lines is to provide opportunities for students interested in nature. Since 2004, the Land Trust has worked with thousands of students, ranging from elementary school to graduate level, to educate them on the importance of preserving and restoring natural lands in Ventura. Most recently, they have significantly increased this capacity by teaming up with the popular local outdoor environmental education programs: Once Upon a Watershed and Ventura Wild.
“When you reach more students, parents, and schools,” Derek said, “you build a stronger and lasting relationship in the community. You’re building your next group of stakeholders and land stewards.”

https://www.venturalandtrust.org/

New leadership at Salvation Army

Captains Patricia and Juan Torres of the Salvation Army Ventura Corps in the facility’s food pantry.

by Amy Brown

When Captains Patricia and Juan Torres came to lead the Ventura Salvation Army Corp, the married couple had their work cut out for them. It was July of 2020, and the pandemic was in full swing, and like most things in this crisis, established programs and the development of any new ones required some new strategies. The Torres’s had been involved with Salvation Army for more than 15 years, having previously served in downtown Los Angeles working with the homeless and youth efforts, so they were no strangers to developing creative solutions for challenging issues. However, joining a new community during a pandemic did not make transitioning to the new roles easy. “We are very happy here, it’s such a wonderful community and we’ve been welcomed very lovingly, but it’s been very difficult to get to know the community in general, since a lot of meetings and groups that the Ventura Corp is part of is all now done by Zoom,” said Captain Patricia Torres. “That being said, it was an opportunity for us to think outside the box.”

Torres shared that during the holidays, the well-known donation kettles usually seen and heard outside local establishments had to be shifted to operating about 95% online. “It really took an army (no pun intended) to get that accomplished,” she said. “We can’t thank our advisory board and donors enough, they really stepped in at a time when we were new, and they got the online program going.” Since then, the Torres’s have being overseeing the food pantry, and facilitated opening that service two extra days a week to support the community in need; it is now available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They continue to provide rental assistance support and have launched a new utility program with Southern California Edison’s Energy Assistance Fund (EAF), offering support of $100, or $200 for all electric accounts, verified by Edison, with applicants eligible for assistance once every 12 months. There is also a program available for any household affected by Covid-19, with the option to apply for assistance up to $200, with EAF households eligible for up to $300.

Torres reports that the Ventura Salvation Army is now also receiving donations of new clothing for the community, which is a new offering. “We are in the works of trying to get a temporary building to have a clothes closet,” says Torres. “In the meantime, if someone needs clothing, men, women and children, we have many donations.”

Asked how local community members can best contribute and make a difference in the Salvation Army’s current efforts, Captain Juan Torres replied, “We will accept non-perishable food, and hygiene kits (toothbrush, toothpaste, trial-size soap, shampoo, condition, lotion). These items are so important and inexpensive. It can make a huge difference in the lives of those we serve.”

 

A message from Mike Powers

Dear Ventura County Community Members, 

We are grieving with the Asian American community and all of the victims of the horrific shootings in Atlanta Tuesday night that took eight lives, six of whom were women of Asian descent. This is the latest in a series of heinous attacks against Asian Americans across this nation, and sadly, these are not isolated events. Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen a disturbing rise in inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric, harassment, and violence against Asian American communities. 

We will continue to ensure that our county is a place where all people are welcome and our diversity is celebrated. We stand in solidarity with members of the Asian American community and those facing discrimination, hate incidents, fear, and intimidation. We must do everything in our power to make their safety a priority and to stand against all forms of injustice. 

There is never justification for such violence and there is no truth to any account that blames any particular group for COVID-19 or any of its variants. 

We must do our part by continuing to encourage ongoing discussions around topics of race, and the longstanding history of racism in our country, to break down the barriers that separate us, no matter how uncomfortable these topics may be. Engaging in dialogue about these topics does not create divisiveness. Divisiveness already exists in our society, but through dialogue, even when uncomfortable, healing and change can begin.

We ask all to stand in solidarity with members of our community who are experiencing this and other forms of racism and xenophobia. We must remain vigilant and continue working as a community to identify effective and actionable ways to address this and all forms of prejudice, stigmatization, and racism. 

Sincerely,

Mike Powers
County Executive Officer

Fire response dispatched to large trash truck on fire

On March 19, at 3:20pm, the Ventura County Fire Communication Center received a report
of a large vehicle fire in the 300 block of Tioga Dr. A fire response was dispatched to the area and the first fire resource on scene reported a large trash truck on fire. Fire resources initiated a quick and aggressive fire attack using hose lines and ground ladders, which kept the fire to the area of origin.

The American Rescue Plan includes important provisions that will help older adults

“Thank you, is it okay if I give a little of the milk to the cat?”

by Howard Bedlin Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy at NCOA

The American Rescue Plan includes important provisions that will help older adults get the supports they need at home and boost their financial security.

The $1.9 trillion relief package also includes health care improvements that will make it easier for adults aged 55 to 65 to afford care.

NCOA has championed many key provisions in the bill to increase funding, including for nutrition programs and community services.

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden on March 11, includes critical relief to older adults in need as the nation continues to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 30 million Americans have contracted COVID-19, with the death toll now surpassing 532,000. Eight in 10 deaths reported are adults aged 65+.

The $1.9 trillion relief package is a step forward in ensuring resources are targeted to the most vulnerable. The law is expected to contribute to greater economic stability—potentially reducing the adult poverty rate by more than a quarter and the child poverty rate by half. Below you’ll find a summary of the final package, including several of NCOA’s priorities.

More than 11 million older adults and their caregivers rely on Older Americans Act (OAA) programs to stay independent. These include senior centers, healthy aging programs, nutrition, in-home services, transportation, caregiver support, and elder abuse protections. The law earmarks $1.43 billion for OAA programs, including:

Nutrition services such as home-delivered meals ($750 million)

Supportive services, including COVID-19 vaccination outreach and efforts to address social isolation ($460 million)

The National Family Caregiver Support Program, which provides caregiver counseling, support groups, training, and respite care ($145 million)

Evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs, including for falls prevention and chronic diseases ($44 million)

Nutrition and supportive services for Native American communities ($25 million)

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which advocates on behalf of individuals living in nursing homes ($10 million)

Medicaid Home Care Services

The law invests $276 million per year in the Elder Justice Act over the next two years. This will support programs to combat elder abuse, promote elder justice research and innovation, enhance Adult Protective Services, and provide protections for residents of long-term care facilities.

Older adults are eligible for direct COVID relief under the act. Individuals earning $75,000 per year and couples earning $150,000 will receive the full $1,400 per person stimulus check. These amounts are gradually reduced and then phased out for individuals earning over $80,000 and couples earning over $160,000.

Roughly 5 million low-income adults aged 60+ rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to afford food. Many older adults need more than the average $121 per month SNAP benefit, especially as COVID restrictions make it harder to access food.

Dredging is required to ensure that vessel traffic can safely access the harbor

The harbor entrance can become unsafe for vessel navigation.

The Ventura Harbor entrance channel and sand trap (the area behind the offshore breakwater) require annual maintenance dredging in order to ensure that vessel traffic can safely access the harbor and its maritime support facilities. This effort is a responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps usually accomplishes the dredging in the first quarter of each calendar year provided that Congress has included funding for the effort in their current federal budget.

The need for the maintenance dredging results from the down coast movement of an average of about 600,000 cubic yards of sandy material each year which is deposited by littoral processes in the sand trap and entrance channel. If this material is not dredged and deposited on the down-coast beaches, the harbor entrance can become unsafe for vessel navigation. Securing the necessary Congressional funding for the dredging effort, given the continual budgetary difficulties confronting the Congress, is an ongoing challenge that the Port District works diligently to facilitate. For this reason, the District must devote considerable effort to regular coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers with their District office in Los Angeles, the Division office in San Francisco, and their Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The District is also blessed to receive strong support from Rep. Julia Brownley’s office as well as from Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris in its quest each year for $5 to $7 million in dredging funds.

The Port District is responsible for permitting, funding and contracting the periodic maintenance dredging of all navigation channels within the inner harbor and harbor entrance. Cooperatively, the City of Ventura works with the District to maintain access to the Ventura Keys. In order to assure that funds are available to fulfill its obligation, the District has established a $3 Million dredging reserve. During the current dredging program, the District and City plan to dredge the Ventura Keys stub channel, provided the environmental conditions for dredging are met

The Manson Construction Company will be dredging the entrance to Ventura Harbor as well as the sand trap, located to the West of the channel, as well as the inner harbor stub channel to the Ventura Keys.

The Ventura Harbor Master stated that vessels are currently experiencing soft groundings in the Stub Channel within Ventura Harbor on a frequency of 3-4 times per month with increasing frequency and about 4-7 hard groundings have occurred over the last 6- 9 months that have caused damage to vessels and/or required towing assistance from the Harbor Patrol or tow boat to safely free the vessels.

Ventura Pottery Gallery celebrates 10 years at Ventura Harbor

Brian Pendleton, Ellen Wohlstadter, Chris Stephens, Drew Lurie, Wyn Matthews, and Mike Blumenberg at the Gallery.

What started as a three-month summer project to open a ceramic gallery at Ventura Harbor, grew to ten years and is still going strong. We thank the Ventura Port District Commissioners for awarding us a Ten Year Plaque.

Cecile Gurrola-Faulconer led the charge to open the Gallery and rallied eight intrepid potters to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in something other than clay. Cecile now states, “It has been such a joy to see the Ventura Potters’ Gallery artists and their ceramics rise to be seen as a premier art form in our community. Our members shine with both sculptural and functional items reflecting their own individual personalities. We are here to stay!”

Within the first month of being open the number grew to 15 participating artists. Over the ten years, 64 artists have traveled through the Gallery and there currently are 44 affiliated artists. Most have permanent displays, but consignment artists are encouraged to exhibit a few pieces each month.

The backbone is the Ventura County Potters’ Guild, a local non-profit that oversees its master plan while Gallery members join committees for its day-to-day running. Not only do we pull from Ventura County, but the only limit to participation is the distance a member is willing to drive for sitting a shift.

Be sure to stop by the Ventura Potters’ Gallery to view work from 44 local artists and potters. The Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor and is open seven days a week from 11-6. Can’t make it in? Please visit our newly-launched Online Store at venturapotteryonline.com.

More information can be found at http://venturapottersguild.org.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast extends the Cookie Program

Help support the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

There is even more time to get your Girl Scout Cookie fix before they’re gone! Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast has officially extended this year’s Girl Scout Cookie Program from March 14, 2021, until April 18, 2021.

After reviewing the latest research and CDC guidelines, council has also decided to reopen traditional troop cookie booths. Loyal cookie customers will be delighted to see Girl Scouts selling cookies once again in locations such as outside of their local grocery and convenience stores. Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast is committed to the health and safety of its members, volunteers, and staff. Troops that elect to participate in in-person booths will follow guidelines such as a reduced amount of girls and volunteers, safety precautions including facemasks, and a focus on electronic payments.

By reviewing the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines for small group youth cohorts, council was able to come to this decision with the importance of reuniting our girls in mind. Isolation from their fellow troop members has no doubt resulted in a tough year for Girl Scouts, and girls have been working harder than ever to reach their goals in new and creative ways. The Girl Scout Cookie Program®, the largest annual investment in girls in the United States, challenges girls as they learn the important skills required to run a business and powers amazing experiences year-round. Troops often use their funds towards exciting experiences like a weekend at camp or towards innovative and impactful community service projects. With each delicious cookie purchase, consumers directly support the betterment of their neighborhoods!

Local business owners can now support Girl Scouts in reaching their cookie goals by allowing girls to set up a booth in front of their business! This free opportunity is an easy way to help local Girl Scouts achieve success in their cookie business while bringing new customers into yours!

In addition to cookie booths, customers will still be able to purchase their favorite treats directly from a Girl Scout virtually through their Digital Cookie platforms. Delivery options such as contact-free pickup and local delivery are available. Council retail locations across California’s Central Coast also have cookies for sale, with proceeds benefitting local troops. Additionally, customers can order Girl Scout Cookies and get them delivered the same day through a national collaboration with food ordering platform Grubhub. Orders can be placed on Grubhub.com or the Grubhub app, and all proceeds benefit Girl Scouts while providing another safe and innovative way to run the cookie program virtually.

Fans of the Girl Scout S’mores® cookies have until April 18, 2021 to pick up an extra box or two; we will be waving goodbye to this fudge-coated favorite after this season!

Help support the next generation of female entrepreneurs during the last month of our 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program! Visit www.girlscoutsccc.org/findcookies to find Girl Scout Cookies near you or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices.

Information about COVID-19 Vaccines for Older Adults

You can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting the vaccine when it is available. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness from COVID-19.

You can’t get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

Depending on the kind of COVID-19 vaccine you get, you might need a second shot 3 or 4 weeks after your first shot.

After getting the vaccine, some people have side effects. Common side effects include:

  • pain where the shot is given,
  • fever,
  • chills,
  • tiredness,
  • or a headache for 1-2 days.

These are normal signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19. Learn more about what to expect after getting your COVID-19 vaccine.

Even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you should still:

  • wear a well-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth when around others
  • stay at least 6 feet away from others
  • avoid crowds
  • avoid poorly ventilated spaces
  • wash your hands often

We still have more to learn about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions, so it is important to continue to follow all safety recommendations to help stop the pandemic.

The vaccine is free of charge to people living in the United States. However, your vaccination provider may bill your insurance for administering the vaccine. No one can be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay this cost.

Scam Alert: If anyone asks you to pay for access to vaccine, you can bet it’s a scam. Don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or emails you promising access to the vaccine for an extra fee.

Vol. 14, No. 13 – Mar 24 – April 6, 2021 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Spring has sprung and with warmer weather on the horizon, it will be a lot more comfortable supporting live music outdoors at such venues as Winchesters, Leashless and the brand new Vaquero y Mar (formerly the Hong Kong Inn). Along with the venues of course are the drive-in style concerts where you can stay in your car, or just outside on folding chairs. For all the latest listings please visit VenturaRocks.com for the daily updates.

And speaking of drive-in concerts, after a winter hiatus, both Concerts in Your Car (Ventura Fairgrounds) and the Canyon at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center are both ramping up with shows schedule in April. Concerts in Your Car has Don Pasquale from Opera Santa Barbara on April 10, Ziggy Marley on April 17 and Hippie Sabotage on April 24. Canyon Club dates are all tribute bands such as 4NR on April 2, Robert Plantation on April 3, Strange Days (Doors) on April 9 and Erotic City (Prince) on April 10.

Will calls the Central Coast home

Meanwhile, I caught up with Will Breman who appeared on NBC’s The Voice just before the pandemic hit where he made it all the way as a semifinalist on Season 17. Will calls the Central Coast home and is currently ramping up for post-pandemic shows.

Pam: What has been the biggest impact to you personally and professionally this past year during the pandemic?

Will Breman: The hardest part of the pandemic last year was cancelling all of my national tour dates. Especially after coming immediately off of a show like NBC’s The Voice, that hit hard. I had to figure out very quickly how to make up for a lot of lost income, as well as hold on to the wave I was riding from the show.

Cancelling a national tour had to be so hard! What else was put on hold?

Will Breman: I had to delay a lot of recording plans. I have a couple projects that I’ve been sitting on top of until recording them in a studio with a group was safer to do. Thankfully though I was fortunate enough to record one of the songs I did on The Voice last year in Nashville with some legitimate studio cats, so at least something got done.

What do you miss the most?

Will Breman: I miss hugging people a lot, especially my close family. I feel like people were a lot less anxious before the pandemic. I think what I miss the most however is being able to play regularly in front of people. Doing it on Zoom is just not the same.

How did you work during the past year (writing/performing/recording)?

Will Breman: I had to switch to a lot of virtual gigging. I’m thankful to have an amazing manager who set me up with a lot of awesome corporate gigs that I could record from home.

Anything good from the close down?

Will Breman: I was able to go back to school. I’m in my second year of my masters in vocal techniques/performance. Now if the whole singer-songwriter thing doesn’t pan out, at least I know I have a career somewhere in opera or teaching at a higher academic level.

What are you most looking forward to doing again?

Will Breman: I’m looking forward the most to seeing, and playing, some excellent live shows. I know coming up I’m working closely with Kristen Stills and a wonderful team at Autism Speaks in hopefully setting up a festival at the Greek Theater in LA sometime in the fall. I’m also slated to open for Paul Thorn at the Lobero around that time, as well as playing Topa Mountain Music Fest. Hopefully there’s more where that came from.

Do you have a game plan coming out of the pandemic?

Will Breman: I know I want to finish those recording projects I’ve been sitting on. I’ve been taking a break from social media lately, but I’m hoping soon to get back into creating some high-quality content for Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok specifically.

For more information on Will Breman go to WillBremanMusic.com or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WillBremanMusic. You can also look for Will on a future episode of the VenturaRockSpot.

Oh! By the way, the VenturaRockSpot is a monthly interview show where mostly local artists out of the 805 are interviewed and they share some of their music either live, or with pre-recorded videos. Will Breman is scheduled to be a guest soon. You can view all episodes to date at www.VenturaRockSpot.com where you can see bands/artists such as Star Goes Nova, Jayden Secor, Medicine Hat, Jodi Farrell and more (27 episodes to date).

And don’t forget to tune into the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP out of CAPS Media at 104.1 FM here in Ventura. My show airs Tuesdays at 5 pm with repeats on Fridays at 5 pm and Sundays at noon. You can also listen via the MyTuner app on your smart device or online at CapsMedia.org/radio.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.