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Yolanda helped to respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire

Chief Building Official to receive prestigious recognition.

Yolanda Bundy, Chief Building Official City of Ventura has been selected by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California as the Safer City Building Official of the Year because of her dedication to supporting a safer community and leadership within the building official community.

In selecting Bundy they stated “You have exhibited strong support for advancing structural engineering, and this is especially true during 2018 as you helped respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire. Moreover, your involvement of SEOASC and structural engineers in your work has strengthened the outcomes of your efforts.”

She is head of the Ventura Building and Safety Division, the office that issues building permits for construction projects in Ventura, such as new housing developments, commercial structures, small residential remodeling projects, or the installation of solar panels on a commercial or residential structure.

She was appointed as the City’s Chief Building Official in October, 2014 and has worked at the City of Ventura since February, 2008.

She will be presented her award at the Safer Cities Gala to be held on June 5th at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA along with other honorees from the public and private sector as part of their Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards celebration.

The Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) is one of the oldest structural engineering association in the world and is one of four regional structural engineering associations of the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). The individual members are civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers regularly engaged in the practice of structural engineering. SEAOSC also draws membership from related fields involved in design and construction, contractors, architects, and representatives from industry and government.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Dispatcher Megann Williams as the Dispatcher of the Year.

The week of April 14-20, 2019 is recognized as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” bringing recognition to public safety dispatchers who are a vital part of the public safety team. These very special people are the voices that assure rapid response during emergencies. They play a critical role in coordinating first responders and lifesaving efforts.

During this week the Ventura Police Department formally acknowledge the dispatchers for their dedicated service. In 2018, public safety dispatchers and supervisors at the Ventura Police Department responded to more than 210,000 calls including 53,180 9-1-1 calls and every year that number grows. Public safety dispatchers are the lifeline that ensures the continued protection of police officers and the community members we serve. Day in, and day out, people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of the dispatchers who work in public safety communications.

Dispatchers respond quickly and professionally, they play a crucial role in providing an invaluable connection between emergency services and the people who need them. We are very thankful for our team of Ventura Police Public Safety Dispatchers. These essential personnel play a crucial role in our ability to assist community members in times of crisis.

“The Ventura Police Department celebrates the valuable contributions that our public safety dispatchers make in serving Ventura. We are fortunate to have such talented and dedicated professionals who work so hard to support our community during times of crisis,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “This year we recognize Dispatcher Megann Williams as our Dispatcher of the Year. Her positive attitude and ability to adapt easily to change exemplifies the many skills and values worthy of this special award. She shows compassion and professionalism to callers during very difficult calls.”

Public safety dispatchers undergo a rigorous testing and background process before being hired. Once hired, dispatchers attend a Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Dispatcher Course. Their training then includes 6-12 months of on the job training. Even then, approximately 50 % of the dispatchers hired are not able to successfully complete the training program due to the unique demands and stress of the job. The ones that make it through the training program are unique in their ability to multi-task under stressful conditions.

Telecommunicators Week began in California in 1981 at the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and quickly grew to become a national week of recognition. In 1991, Congress officially designated the second week of April as a time to recognize the critical role that dispatchers play in keeping our communities safe.

NICO is coming to the U.S.A!

The musicians play from memory.

by Richard Newsham

Think music that takes classical masterpieces “off the beaten track” to reveal beauty with a new edge as the Lithuanian string ensemble known as NICO (for New Ideas Chamber Orchestra) turns 13 under the baton of its charismatic young composer Gediminas Gelgotas. The players–solo and group award winners of many international competitions–have appeared at the world’s leading venues while their albums and concert recordings ride the radio air waves of Europe.

And now NICO makes its U.S. debut in Ventura on Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m. as part of the Ventura Music Festival’s 25th season at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. The musicians play from memory, mixing classical with new music idioms and non-traditional techniques for a glorious and sublime fusion of sound that is captivating younger and new audiences for classical music wherever they go. Their concerts are a grooving postmodern jukebox featuring a newer generation of Baltic, British and German composers dedicated to reimagining the classics (Mozart, Vivaldi) to make them new and exploring myth and mystic visionaries (Hildegard von Bingen, St. Teresa of Avila, Goethe and Lithuania’s M.K. Čiurlionis) as pathways to compelling contemporary music full of color, dramatic melody and elemental peace.

Senior Nutrition Lunch Program

Ventura provides nutritious meals for older adults.

The Senior Nutrition Lunch Program (SNP) is a partnership between the City of Ventura and the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA).

The City of Ventura provides nutritious meals for older adults in Ventura County through the Senior Nutrition Program (SNP), which includes Congregate and Home-Delivered Meal (HDM) services.

All SNP meals are approved by our Registered Dietitian to meet U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and geared toward the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and Adequate Intake for vitamins and elements for older, frail adults. These meals provide a minimum of one-third of the DRI and accommodate diabetic and low-sodium diets.

The SNP program provides a nutritious lunch that includes a hot entrée, salad bar and fresh fruit & vegetables.

When: Monday-Friday from 11:30am-12:30pm

Where: Ventura Avenue Adult Center (VAAC); 550 N. Ventura Ave

Additional Information: Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. A suggested donation of $3 per meal for people 60 years and over and a fee of $6.75 per meal for people under 60 years.

For more information about the Senior Nutrition Program, including Home Delivered Meals, please call 805-648-3035.

Family Treasures Video Workshop @ CAPS Media

Do you have a family treasure to share?

Community members are invited to learn how to create their very own personalized and professional Family Treasures video – using family member stories, interviews, photos and memorabilia. Come to the FREE workshop on Thursday, May 30, 4pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road in Ventura. Space is limited; reserve your spot today by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 805.658.0500.

During the 1-hour workshop, CAPS staff will help guide participants with step-by-step instructions on making their own video. Attendees will learn how to gather special family stories, get tips for interviewing relatives (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, children, etc.), scan precious photos, and include sentimental memorabilia to enhance the family video keepsake.

Once storytellers are ready to create their video, a $25 annual CAPS Media producer/membership fee will allow them to use the CAPS cameras, editing facility, and production studio all year long to record their family story. Throughout the process CAPS staff will assist the family in combing all the elements into their own compelling Family Treasures video.

Interested but not able to join us on May 30th? Contact us to get on the Family Treasures Workshop interest list for upcoming events!

ECTV students win another national ACM Hometown Award. Students in the CAPS Media/El Camino High School media internship program won another national award for outstanding journalism. The ECTV episode entitled “Artists – Gayel, Shamsia & Jab” was selected from among hundreds of entries all across the country in the category of Entertainment & Arts. The Alliance for Community Media Hometown Media Awards honors community media and local cable programs that are distributed on Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access channels. Entries are evaluated by a team of qualified judges and recognized at the Hometown Media Awards Celebration at the Annual Conference in July.

Community organizations – consider using CAPS Media to help you share your message. Organizations in Ventura are encouraged to join the CAPS Media family and have your events air on CAPS Media. Its easy to do. To learn more, drop by the CAPS Media Center or send us a note to [email protected] or give us a call at 805.658.0500.

The CAPS Media Center belongs to the community of Ventura. Our mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. What does that mean to you? All of the training and resources at the CAPS Media Center are available to you, and If you have a story to tell or a message or information you want to share, we will help you share your story.

To find out more go to capsmedia.org/events, sign up for the next orientation class on the first Thursday of the month and discover that for a low annual membership fee of $25 you can receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production (additional fee required) and more. Then you will have access to CAPS Media’s state-of-the-art facilities including video cameras, editing systems, the fully equipped television and radio studios. Don’t miss out. All of the information is online at capsmedia.org, or you can call 805-658-0500 to get complete information.

Women Beyond Borders

Zilah Mendoza is one of the stars of Women Beyond Borders.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues the 2019 “Coming of Age” season with the World Premiere of Women Beyond Borders, a play inspired by and loosely based on the remarkable journey of Lorraine Serena and a dynamic group of California-based artists who founded the non-profit Women Beyond Borders (WBB).

Determined to “make art as if the world matters,” Serena and associates fell upon the idea of box as metaphor: hope chest, treasure chest, womb, coffin, etc. They replicated miniature wooden boxes no bigger than a human heart and sent them to curators and friends in other countries with the goal of encouraging dialogue, collaboration and community among women and honoring creativity. The founders of WBB were astonished at what came back to them – eloquent expressions of the enormous depth and variety, but also the universality, of women’s experiences throughout the world. The boxes were accompanied by equally astonishing artists’ statements, in the form of letters, poems and stories asking about transcending barriers: geographical, social, racial, economic, emotional, gender-related, spiritual, etc. The play interweaves the journey of the organization and the artist’s statements. Actors (including Tony, Obie and Emmy Award-Winners) will rotate weekly and the script will be read at music stands in the style of Love, Loss and What I Wore or The Vagina Monologues. Jenny Sullivan directs.

Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District
1006 E. Main St.
Box Office (for single and group tickets): 805.667.2900

Ticket Range: $20 – $55 ($150 for opening night including post-show party at Water’s Edge
Previews: $20-$40
Prices above do not include a $4 ticket service fee
Discounts Available for Groups of 10+
Discounts for Seniors 65 and over, Students, Teachers and active Military available

Chasing Tail Fishing event

Big Ross, John Fuller, John Williams and Bob Loaselle presented the Chasing Tail Fishing event which was held on April 14, on the Ventura Pier. Cassidy Weddle was excited at her great catch.

Every year they do a kid’s day on the Ventura pier. Parents bring their children and they teach them how to fish and hopefully catch their first fish. They get donations and try and get enough fishing poles so every kid can take a fishing pole home. This will be their 5th year doing this event.

For more information please phone 805-258-2031 or email [email protected].

Photos by Bernie Goldstein

A packed room celebrated this year’s theme Women Elevated

Outstanding women in business honored. Photo by Nicole Wise Photography

On a beautiful Spring day in mid-April, The Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO VC) honored nine outstanding women in business and leadership at its 20th Annual BRAVO Awards luncheon. With Camarillo’s picturesque Serra Center serving as the backdrop, honorees were awarded for their achievements in industries that include solar energy storage, cybersecurity, health and fitness, retail, law, construction, and the nonprofit sectors.

A packed room of close to 200 business owners, community leaders and active members of the business community, celebrated this year’s theme, Women Elevated! Celebrating the fearless pursuit of success. Compelling videos told each honoree’s story of success which was followed with the presentation of beautifully artistic awards.

2019 BRAVO Honorees

  • Woman Business Owner of the Year – Catherine Von Burg, SimpliPhi Power, Oxnard
  • Innovator of the Year – Michelle Wilner, VIRTIS, Newbury Park
  • Rising Star of the Year – Breanne Cochran, The Vent Human Performance Center, Ventura
  • Community Advocate of the Year – Christina Shaffer, The Law Office of Christina Shaffer, Thousand Oaks
  • Education Advocate of the Year – Lisa Barreto, Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation, Ventura
  • Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – Alison Kenis, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, Ventura
  • NAWBO-VC Member of the Year – Brenda Terzian, Doug Terzian Construction, Camarillo
  • Leadership in Public Policy Award – Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, 19th District and Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, Berkhemer Clayton Inc.

BRAVO 2019 is the signature event of NAWBO Ventura County and would not be possible without the generous support of its sponsors and partners, including Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Montecito Bank & Trust, Meyers, Widders, Gibson, Jones and Feingold, LLP, Southern California Edison, and BNY Mellon Wealth Management, among many other supporters.

Learn more at www.nawbovc.org.

Vol. 12, No. 15 – Apr 24 – May 7, 2019 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

It’s always a treat when Noel Paul Stookey from the iconic folk trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, performs at the Rubicon Theatre. Stookey brings his dry wit and love of humankind in a show called “In These Times” on Sunday, April 28. His appearances always sell out, and this one did as well, so I’m happy to report there will be a second concert on Monday, April 29. I wonder what he’ll talk about. Hmmm.

The local crew from Army of Freshmen have new music available this month, it’s an EP called “At the End of the Day” featuring acoustic tunes. That one drops April 26; the next day, they’ll perform “unplugged” up in Goleta at The Imperial sharing the stage with Nerf Herder.

Eco Fest not only provides over 80 exhibitors, green education ideas with helpful tips, and children’s activities, but they also offer great music throughout the day. This year they’ll have two stages of music with D.on Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers, Ventucky String Band, Anchor & Bear, Shay Moulder, the Midtones and more. The annual event will be held at Plaza Park (Santa Clara and Chestnut) on April 27 from 10 am to 4 pm. Eco Fest is free to the pubic with a bike valet available for those doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint.

Gigi’s will be hosting a couple of shows featuring bands from out of the area. First on Monday, April 29, it’s Radio Active (Tokyo, Japan), The Wankys (Leicester, UK), Eel (Pittsburgh, PA) and No Divide (Santa Barbara); and then on Friday, May 3, they’ll have MOB 47 (Sweden), along with Phobia, Wichaven and Zoloa. I’m glad to see promoters taking advantage of this space again for live music.

Quick Notes: Amber Olive of Amber & Smoke has a new side gig with the band Mini Driver; Margarita Villa has live music every weekend now, Friday through Sunday; Ray Jaurique and friends play The Blue Room on Wednesdays in the Harbor; Show Me the Body from New York play with Enemy on Thursday, April 25, at the Tavern; Norman Baker out of Seattle plays Namba on Friday, April 26; playing the Sewer for the first time, it’s The Guitar & Whiskey Club on Saturday, April 27; The Popravinas perform Saturday, May 4, at Dargans; Club 805 hosts The Darkside (Cosplay) on May 4; and Robin Trower plays the Ventura Theater on Sunday, May 5.

Congratulations to Adam and Josh for getting the Planning Commissions unanimous approval during their public hearing April 10. It was a standing room only crowd with so many people speaking in support of opening The Grape Jazz Club. Now, a little construction upgrades and hopefully the next time I write about the Grape will be to give their opening date. Well done boys!

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

First 5 encourages parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing with young children

2019 marks First 5 Ventura County’s 20th Anniversary of helping young children and families in our local community. On Friday, On May 3 at 10 a.m., more than 55 celebrity readers will be reading to young children throughout Ventura County to kick off the fourth annual Take 5 and Read to Kids campaign, a partnership between the Ventura County Star and First 5 Ventura County to raise awareness about the importance of early childhood literacy.

“We know that the first five years of life lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning. For young children, early exposure to books – including being read aloud to each day – is critical for long-term academic success,” said First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Petra Puls. “Reading aloud, telling stories, and singing actually build the pathways in the brain that will later be used to learn letters and to read and think critically,” Puls adds.

First 5 encourages parents and caregivers to talk, read, and sing with young children ages 0-5 to support their early language and literacy development. Studies have proven that when you talk, read and sing to children from birth on, you promote and support early language and literacy development. 90% of a child’s brain is developed by age 5, and children are affected by experiences from early on, even before birth.

In Ventura it will be held at the Ventura Police Department, 1425 Dowell Drive.