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Organic recycling company and other Ventura County organizations receive research grant

Agromin, along with several other local agricultural stakeholders, is participating in study funded by a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to demonstrate the benefits of soil health and “carbon farming” practices in Ventura County.

Agromin will use the grant to work alongside the Ventura County Resource Conservation District, Limoneira Company, Community Environmental Council (CEC) and UC Cooperative Extension on a research project designed to help build regional agricultural resilience in the face of climate extremes.

To conduct the study, researchers will apply mulch and compost to a young citrus orchard owned by Limoneira, and then diligently monitor soil metrics, water use, plant health and greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the project is to better understand how mulch and compost can improve soil health, reduce atmospheric carbon and support the local agricultural economy.

“We know organic soil has the ability to make a significant impact when it comes to conserving water, supporting plant growth and fighting climate change,” said Rick Wilson, Agromin’s chief technology officer. “This study will help us clearly quantify those benefits and work together as a community to advance the use of compost and mulch, helping to protect our planet through sustainable agricultural practices.”

The work for this research grant will span three years and is expected to begin in late summer or early fall of 2019. Throughout the project, educational field days will be held for the general public, policymakers, and local farmers and ranchers, to provide opportunities for regional stakeholders to observe the benefits of organic soil firsthand. The Limoneira site will also be part of the 2019 Ventura County Farm Day, during which the general public is invited to visit the site, ask questions and learn more.

This project is one of many similar studies supported by the California Healthy Soils Program. For more information, visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/DemonstrationProjects.html.

To learn more about Agromin and its sustainable organic soil products, visit https://www.agromin.com.

Vol. 12, No. 25 – Sept 11 – Sept 24, 2019 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Monday 8-19

 11:23pm, while on patrol officers observed a transient with various items and a small inflatable. Contacted the individual and he advised he was planning to paddle up the coast. Officers attempted to dissuade the boater from his journey due to the time of night and the bad weather. After a futile attempt the paddler terminated his voyage.

Tueday 8-20

 5:50pm, observed a Small Craft Advisory posted by National Weather Service

Wednes 8-21

 9:28am, dispatched to a gunshot victim in the 2700 block of SeaHorse. Officers responded and assisted Ventura Fire / AMR with the call.

3:53pm, received a report of a stingray strike at tower 3, Harbor Cove. Officers responded and assisted State Parks with the call. The wound was treated with hot water and the patient was later released at the scene.

9:45pm, dispatched to an unconscious person at the Comedy Club in the village. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the call. The patient was treated and transported to local hospital for further evaluation. There was fear that he could die laughing.

Thursday 8-22

 1:00pm, received a report of a motor vessel in the surfline near the Santa Clara Rivermouth. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and contacted the skipper and moved the vessel out of the surfline and into safer water, just before a set of waves threatened to swamp and ground the vessel.

Friday 8-23

 11:34am, received a report of a stingray strike at tower 3, Harbor Cove from State Parks. Officers responded and assisted lifeguards with the patient. Hot water was applied to the wound and the patient was released after treatment.

Saturday 8-24

 11:31am, received a report of a person-in-the-water near the breakwall. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and discovered a kayaker in the water and his kayak taking on water. Officers took the person on board and dewatered the kayak. The victim was taken to his slip in the harbor.

Friday 8-30

 9:10am, officers proctoring a qualifying 500-meter swim for Ventura Fire water rescue swimmers in the Pierpont Basin swim course.

5:50pm, received report of an ocean rescue, kite surfer in distress near the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and assisted with the call.

Saturday 8-31

 1:43pm, dispatched to two separate stingray strikes at Harbor Cove. Officers responded with hot water to assist State Parks lifeguards with the medical(s). The two patients, 11-year-old male and a 35-year-old female, were treated at the scene and released after hot water treatment was performed.

5:40pm, received a report of a transient disturbing customers in the Harbor Village. Officers responded and contacted the male who was pan handling with his guitar. He was informed of the ordinance violation and moved along.

Sunday 9-1

 8:30am, received a report of a stingray strike at Harbor Cove from an open water swimming group. The patient self-treated and was being self-transported

12:53pm, received report of tar balls on the beach and in the water near Surfers Knoll. Officers responded with State Parks and investigated the report. The water was brownish from a light red tide event and there were no more than normal tar accumulations on the beach.

2:20pm, received report of a disabled sailboat in the South Basin. Officers responded, found the sailboat, took them into a short tow holding them on station and transferred the tow to Towboat US to complete.

Three notable authors will be speaking and sharing stories

Assistance League® of Ventura County is delighted to announce the authors that will be featured at the 25th Annual Authors Luncheon Celebration, which will be held on October 5, at Four Points by Sheraton in the Ventura Harbor. This annual fundraiser is held to raise money for the philanthropic programs B.U.F.F.Y. Bear, Operation School Bell®, Girls Club/Teen Club, and the Assistance League School.

Three notable authors from different genres will be speaking and sharing stories about their lives and their craft. Peter Sexton, Jane Sweetland, and Frans Vischer.

Peter Sexton: An award-winning writer and musician, and a life-long fan of the short story form, he can usually be found at one of his favorite coffee joints, writing a new story freehand, or in his office working on his next novel.

Books: Shelter from the Storm and Fatally Haunted

Jane Sweetland: A former Dean and Associate Vice President at California State University, Channel Islands, she has achieved a veritable bouquet of degrees. An avid reader, relentless researcher, and unrepentant eavesdropper, she marvels at the stories that make up our lives.

Books: Boxcar Diplomacy: Two Trains that Crossed an Ocean and Sons at War

Frans Vischer: Born in Holland, he immigrated to America with his family when he was eleven years old. Speaking no English, his drawings helped him communicate. As an adult, he was hired by the Walt Disney Company, where he worked on many animated feature films. Telling his kids silly bedtime stories inspired Frans to write and illustrate children’s books.

Books: Fuddles, A Very Fuddles Christmas, Fuddles and Puddles, and Jimmy Dabble

For more information or to purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://assistanceleagueventuracounty.org/events/rsvp or call 805-643-2458. With your support, Assistance League is “Transforming Lives, Strengthening Community.”

For more information about Assistance League of Ventura County, please contact 805-643-2458 or [email protected]. www.assistanceleagueventuracounty.org as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

Ventura City Fire Department offering Community Emergency Response Training

As residents, you serve a critical role in emergency response operations whether it is preserving lives, protecting property, or providing other essential services to the community. The Ventura City Fire Department would like to invite you to join their Community Emergency Response Training Program (CERT)beginning Tuesday, October 1, 2019. The training sessions provide an excellent opportunity to meet and work with other city staff and members of the community.

With the use of grant monies, the department was fortunate to hire an experienced outside trainer who makes the classes fun and informative. The topics covered include:

        Disaster/emergency preparedness

        Fire safety and suppression

        Disaster medical (treatment and triage evaluation)

        Light search and rescue

        Organizing/managing a CERT team

        Disaster psychology

        Terrorism and CERT

Training is limited to 60 people and will be held on 6 consecutive Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and all classes will be held at Police/Fire Headquarters, 1425 Dowell Drive, Ventura. A final exercise will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019, providing students the opportunity to work in multiple groups on common disaster problems.

Please submit your application online at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CERT. Contact Kris Edwards at 805-658-4717 or [email protected] with any questions. Hope to see you there!

Free heart symposium explores the latest treatments in heart care

The latest treatments in heart care as well as women’s heart health issues and tips to prevent heart disease will be the focus of a free seminar on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Ventura.

Community Memorial Health System is hosting the free Heart Symposium as part of its 2019 Speaker Series. The symposium begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the Ventua Beach Marriott, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd. This event is designed to be an educational resource for those with concerns about heart health and disease.

The symposium begins at 8 a.m. with presentations by physicians about heart disease treatments, including the Watchman procedure and reducing the risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation; controlling atrial fibrillation without medications and cardiac ablation; what women should know about heart disease; what’s new in cardiac surgery at the new CMH; TAVR, the latest minimally invasive aortic valve replacement procedure; and tips to prevent heart disease. The symposium will wrap up with a Q-and-A panel discussion before concluding by noon.

Registration is free but reservations are required. For reservations, visit http://www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

The 2019 California Coastal Cleanup Day is Ventura County’s premier coastal cleanup activity of the year. It is anticipated that the event will bring thousands of residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations together to collect trash and debris from Ventura County’s beaches and inland areas to keep it out of our oceans and waterways. Held on Saturday, September 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00.

Last year, over 3,000 dedicated volunteers from Ventura County collected close to 13,000 pounds of trash and recyclables. Statewide over 71,000 volunteers joined together to collect over 800,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the California shorelines and inland waterways.

Bring Your Own Bag or Bucket, Gloves, and Water Bottle! Volunteers are again encouraged to attend their local cleanup site and bring their own bucket or used grocery bag, gloves, and a reusable water bottle to lessen the amount of trash created during the event.

The California Coastal Commission and the Ventura County Coalition for Coastal and Inland Waterways will once again coordinate this regional cleanup event made possible by our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers.

Debris found on beaches and adjacent waterways throughout California include products such as cigarette filters, food wrappers, beverage bottles and cans, grocery and trash bags, and fishing line, nets and gear. Once these products enter local waterways they can travel thousands of miles on ocean currents, posing a threat to ocean ecosystems and wildlife along the way.

Thousands of marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in debris or from ingesting it. Marine debris can impact critical habitat, smothering sea grasses or dislodging or injuring corals. Debris can also pose human health and safety risks. Syringes, broken glass, and other hazardous items pose obvious dangers to barefooted beach goers. Grocery and trash bags, fishing line, nets, rope, and other debris can wrap around boat propellers and clog seawater intakes, causing costly damage and becoming a safety hazard.

Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers not only help improve our local beaches, they also improve their own understanding of nature and the positive impact people can have on the environment when we work together.

To find a site near you go to vccoastcleanup.org

For more information, please contact Ventura County Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator Kelly Hahs at (805) 658-4375 or [email protected], or Steering Committee member Kay Allen at (805) 583-6424 or [email protected].

Presidential Primary Election

County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters Mark A. Lunn announced that signatures-in-lieu of the filing fee petitions for the March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary Election may be obtained from the Ventura County Elections Division beginning Thursday, September 12, 2019, for the following offices:

Voter-Nominated Offices:

President of the United States

United States Representative in Congress: 24th, 25th, 26th, and 30th Congressional Districts

Member of the State Senate: 19th and 27th Senate Districts

Member of the State Assembly: 37th, 38th, 44th, and 45th Assembly Districts

Nonpartisan Offices:

Judge of the Superior Court

County of Ventura Supervisor: 1st, 3rd and 5th Supervisorial Districts

Lunn stated, “This is an important election and will have a significant future impact on our cities, county and state.” Lunn added, “Every registered voter in Ventura County is encouraged to take part in our democracy and ensure they cast their ballot in the March 3, 2020 election.”

Petitions for Signatures-In-Lieu of filing fee for all offices, including the office of Judge of the Superior Court, must be filed at the Ventura County Elections Division by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Information regarding filing for these offices and the filing fee amounts may be obtained by calling the Ventura County Elections Division at (805) 654-2664, or by visiting the Ventura County Elections Division website: http://www.venturavote.org.

Vol. 12, No. 25 – Sept 11 – Sept 24, 2019 – 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.

Officer Involved Shooting Update w/Arrest

On August 12 at approximately 11:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol dispatch reporting that a California Highway Patrol motor officer was involved in an officer involved shooting in the 200 block of Comstock Dr. and were requesting assistance by our officers. Several officers with the Ventura Police Department responded to the area and located the involved CHP officer.

During the investigation it was learned the CHP officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 101 for a moving violation when the vehicle exited onto the city streets. The driver of the vehicle attempted to evade the officer and drove onto Comstock St., which is a dead end street. After the driver made a U-turn, the driver drove at a high rate of speed towards the CHP officer and an officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect driver continued and fled the scene.

Approximately 2.5 hours later, the suspect vehicle was located unoccupied in the 2200 block of Katari Ave., which is approximately 2 miles from the scene of where the officer involved shooting occurred. There was evidence that confirmed the vehicle was involved in the incident. The suspect driver has not been located.

The California Highway Patrol officer was not injured.

VPD Detectives identified the suspect as 52 year old Santa Barbara resident Curt Carpenter due to evidence found in the vehicle and witnesses at the scene of the shooting. Carpenter is on Post Release Offender Supervision (PROS) in Santa Barbara County. VPD Detectives authored an arrest warrant for Carpenter and on 8/22/19; SBSO Detectives located Carpenter in Montecito and arrested him without incident. Carpenter was booked in the Santa Barbara County Jail for assault on a police officer and for violating his post release offender status, both felonies.

Prowling Arrest

On August 26, at approximately 3:00pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 3100 block of Armada Dr. reporting a subject seen looking into and entering the backyard of their residence. When the resident confronted the subject, later identified as 25 year old vagrant Sariah Cundiff, she left and got into an awaiting vehicle, which left the area. Officers responding to the call saw a vehicle matching the description several blocks away and conducted a traffic stop.

Cundiff, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was positively identified and arrested for prowling. The male driver of the vehicle was not arrested and released from the scene.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Cundiff has a prior conviction in 2018 for possession of a stolen vehicle and in 2017, she had eight convictions for charges of battery on a police officer, burglary, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, under the influence of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, identify theft, petty theft, trespassing and vandalism.

Stabbing

On Sept.7, at 5am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a passerby that a stabbing victim was sitting at a bus stop on the north side of Mission Park. Officers responded and located the 64-year-old male victim who was suffering from a non-life-threatening injury to his torso. The victim was transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment.

The victim reported that a woman he had seen in the park on previous occasions approached him for no apparent reason and started a verbal altercation with him. As the victim walked away, the woman stabbed him in his torso and fled. Using suspect information provided by witnesses and the victim, the suspect, Maria Robles was identified and located several blocks away. Robles was arrested and booked for Assault with a Deadly weapon and an outstanding misdemeanor narcotics possession warrant.

Ventura City Fire Department commemorate 18th Anniversary of 9/11

On Wednesday morning, September 11, 2019, all Ventura City Fire Department stations held a special remembrance ceremony for the first responders and civilians who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Fire Chief David Endaya stated, “It is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since September 11, 2001. Whenever we see the images and hear the sounds, it evokes painful emotions that are as strong as they were when, as an on-duty Firefighter/Paramedic, I watched everything unfolding on the news that fateful morning. We will never forget the heroic efforts of everyone – the firefighters, law enforcement officers, members of our U.S. Armed Forces, and the brave civilians – who gave their all to help others, many losing their lives that day.”

City officials, law enforcement personnel, and civilians attended Ventura City Fire Department stations to participate in the brief ceremony. All stations participated in the ceremony to ensure that all who perished that day are never forgotten.

Fire apparatus rolled out of the stations and was positioned on the station ramps as firefighters stood at attention and raised the U.S. flag ceremoniously to half-staff as silence was maintained.

A special tone was broadcast over the fire radio followed by four sets of five bells. The time coincides with the collapse of the World Trade Center South Tower, and the bells are traditionally used by the fire service to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Fire Officers then shared a brief narrative on the events of September 11, 2001.

Deputy Public Works Director elected as the President-Elect of the APWA

Ivers has been involved in public works for over 27 years.

Mary Joyce Ivers, Deputy Public Works Director with the City of Ventura has been elected as the President-Elect of the American Public Works Association (APWA). Ivers will lead a 17-member Board of Directors who serve more than 30,000 public works professionals throughout North America. APWA aims to enhance the visibility and awareness of public works, to give voice to the issues surrounding infrastructure on local and national levels, and to equip public works professionals with quality educational opportunities and resources so that they can more effectively work to improve the quality of life for all.

“The Public Works Department is very proud and excited for Mary Joyce Ivers and this outstanding opportunity. She has served the City of Ventura so well. She will do an amazing job at the national level,” said Public Works Director Phillip Nelson.

Ivers has been involved in public works for over 27 years. She was recently promoted to Deputy Public Works Director overseeing the Operations activities within the Public Works Department. The Public Works department oversees $100 million with a team of 91 public works “First Responders” who continue to rebuild the community after the Thomas Fire. Prior to serving as Interim Public Works Director, she spent 17 years as the Fleet and Facilities Manager for the City of Ventura. In this position she managed a $10 million operating budget, managed 25 employees and interacted daily with City departments and the residents of Ventura. In 2017, she was recognized as the National Government Fleet Manager of the Year and was inducted to the Public Fleet Hall of Fame in 2018.

The City of Ventura Public Works Department received the prestigious American Public Works Association Accreditation Award and became the 92nd Agency out of 38,142 cities, towns and counties throughout the United States to receive this honor in 2014. This award recognizes Public Works Departments for implementing nationally recognized best practices, state-of-the-art operations, and the most efficient use of public resources. The City of Ventura Public Works Department is the 11th city in California to be accredited. Worldwide there are 95 agencies accredited – 93 in the US and 2 in Canada.

The City of Ventura Public Works mission is to build and maintain vital infrastructure and protect the environment for the safety, enjoyment and prosperity of future generations. The City’s 2018-2024 Adopted Capital Improvement Plan contains 140 capital improvement projects with a total of $695 million. A total of $60.3 million is planned in capital improvements for the new fiscal year. The department designs, constructs, inspects, improves and maintains the City’s infrastructure, including traffic, lights, sidewalks, streetlights, roadways, land development, solid waste, storm water and parking operations.