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New Economic Development Collaborative funding to double service area

The Economic Development Collaborative has been awarded $475,000 in new funding from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Small Business Development Center Network for the enhancement and expansion of its services and programs promoting business growth and sustainability. The funding doubles EDC’s Small Business Development Center’s capacity to serve the business communities of Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.

EDC will be rolling out new programs to help businesses navigate opportunities in global trade and assist early-stage firms seeking second-stage financing and equity investors. In addition, EDC will expand its role in helping businesses recover from disasters. EDC will deliver a training program to strengthen its SBDC advisors’ disaster response capacity and it will support disaster outreach and communication for a network of business recovery services across multiple jurisdictions. In addition, EDC will expand its capacity for assisting businesses that need debt financing. As part of its outreach, EDC will focus efforts on women, minority and veteran owned businesses, with a concentration in the disaster-declared regions.

“We are excited about this opportunity to double our outreach and service capacity,” said Bruce Stenslie, EDC president and CEO. “EDC’s Small Business Development Center is positioned to serve as one of the key resources in the region for economic vitality in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties, giving businesses, community partners and civic leaders the support and services they need to succeed.”

For more information about EDC programs and services, visit edcollaborative.com or call 805-384-1800.

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) serves as California’s single point of contact for economic development and job creation efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit: www.business.ca.gov

The SBDC is funded by the Small Business Association and provides professional business assistance at no cost to businesses. Participating businesses are required to follow a well-defined scope of work and report their economic successes. These SBA milestones are defined as job creation, increase in sales, capital investment, job retention and business started.

EDC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Small Business Development Center, loan programs, manufacturing outreach and international trade programs, or other services available to small businesses through EDC, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 24 or [email protected]. Or visit www.edcollaborative.com.

 

Helping our nation’s senior heroes

There are more than 1.3 million World War II veterans over the age of 85.

According to Census data, more than 20 million Americans are veterans of foreign wars. Roughly half of those veterans (9.2 million) are aged 65 and older, including more than 1.3 million World War II veterans over the age of 85.

Though our nation’s heroes may have the gift of longevity, with more years often comes a greater strain on financial resources. If you or a loved one is a veteran, read on to learn about the variety of public and private benefits that can help you afford to remain independent, healthy, and secure.

Types of veterans’ benefits

Veterans’ benefits come in many forms—from cash grants and education assistance to home and community-based services. Eligibility for many programs depends upon the length and type of service, whether you incurred any service-related disability, and your household income. Many of the programs described below are available to veterans of all ages who qualify.

Veterans’ pensions are administered by the Veterans Administration (VA) and provide a monthly cash benefit to those 65 years of age or older or who are disabled at any age. The amount you receive depends on your income, number of dependents, and the program’s pension rate for the year of your application.

Disability payments are available to veterans who suffered an injury/disease or worsening of such a condition while on active duty. Extra compensation is available if you have very severe disabilities or limb loss, dependents, and/or a seriously disabled spouse.

Financial aid for education is also available through the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) or Post-9/11 GI Bill to help pay for tuition, books, fees, examinations, and housing expenses for graduate and undergraduate degrees, and vocational and technical training.

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound benefits are two programs that provide financial help for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting. It also helps pay for care in assisted living facilities. This benefit is only available to those with a wartime service record (and their spouses) who are aged 65 and older and who also qualify for a VA basic pension.

The Choice Program can help you find health care services in your community, as an option to bypass waiting for appointments with the VA or traveling a long distance to get to a VA facility.

VA Blind Rehabilitation Services help you remain independent by providing services if you are blind or have low vision. The services can take place in an inpatient or outpatient facility or in your home, based on level of need.

Veterans’ home loans help members of the military secure mortgage loans to purchase a home. The VA administers a guaranteed mortgage loan through an approved lender. A VA loan will protect you if you end up having trouble paying your mortgage, as the VA will guarantee repayment of the loan to your lender.

Caregivers of veterans may also be eligible to receive help through programs such as:

Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) services, which enable the veteran to participate in supervised, safe activities outside of the home, giving the caregiver an opportunity to take time for self-care.

Respite care of up to 30 days per year to provide a break from their caregiving duties.

All the programs are included in BenefitsCheckUp.org, NCOA’s free and confidential online benefits screening tool.

Completing the BenefitsCheckUp® questionnaire will show whether you or a loved one are likely eligible for the programs, and provide information on where to get assistance with your application, including through the Veterans ON-line APPlication (also called VONAPP), a regional VA office, or the VA toll-free helpline at 1-800-827-1000.

Ventura City Fire Department units respond to structure fire involving storage shed and two vehicles

On Nov.12, at 3:07pm, the Ventura City Fire Department units responded to a reported structure fire in the 100 block W. Harrison Ave.. The first arriving crew found a storage shed and two vehicles on fire. Numerous calls were received as the smoke was visible for blocks. Crews initiated an immediate fire attack and achieved knock down very quickly. Firefighters completed overhaul and ruled out extension further into the uninvolved portion of the building and all adjacent structures.

Sharing caregiving responsibilities

African American Grandmother, Mother And Daughter Relaxing In Park

by the National Institute on Aging

Caring for an older family member often requires teamwork. While one sibling might be local and take on most of the everyday caregiving responsibilities, a long-distance caregiver can also have an important role.

First, try to define the caregiving responsibilities. You could start by setting up a family meeting and, if it makes sense, include the care recipient in the discussion. This is best done when there is not an emergency. A calm conversation about what kind of care is wanted and needed now, and what might be needed in the future, can help avoid a lot of confusion.

Decide who will be responsible for which tasks. Many families find the best first step is to name a primary caregiver, even if one is not needed immediately. That way the primary caregiver can step in if there is a crisis.

Agree in advance how each of your efforts can complement one another so that you can be an effective team. Ideally, each of you will be able to take on tasks best suited to your skills or interests.

When thinking about who should be responsible for what, start with your strengths. Consider what you are particularly good at and how those skills might help in the current situation: When thinking about who should be responsible for what, consider your limits.

A spouse or the sibling who lives closest to an aging parent often becomes the primary caregiver. Long-distance caregivers can help by providing emotional support and occasional respite to the primary caregiver. Ask the primary caregiver what you can do to help. Staying in contact with your parents by phone or email might also take some pressure off your parent or sibling. Just listening may not sound like much help, but often it is.

Long-distance caregivers can also play a part in arranging for professional caregivers, hiring home health and nursing aides, or locating care in an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Long-distance caregivers may find they can be helpful by handling things online—for example, researching health problems or medicines, paying bills, or keeping family and friends updated. Some long-distance caregivers help a parent pay for care; others step in to manage finances.

Offer to arrange for respite care. Respite care will give your parent a break from caregiving responsibilities. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days. Care can be provided in the family home, through an adult day services program, or at a skilled nursing facility.

Your parents may need more help from home-based care to continue to live in their own home. Some people find it hard to have paid caregivers in the house, but most also say that the assistance is invaluable.

In time, the person receiving care may have to move to assisted living or a nursing home. If that happens, the primary caregiver will need your support. You can help select a facility. The primary caregiver may need help adjusting to the person’s absence or to living alone at home. Just listening may not sound like much help, but often it is.

For More Information About Caregiving National Respite Locator Service www.archrespite.org/respitelocator

Two fires broke out in West Ventura just minutes of each other

The first fire involved a vagrant encampment adjacent to the Emma Wood group camp. The area of the fire was nestled deep into a clearing, surrounded by Arundel and local fauna, close to the river mouth.

A second fire broke out shortly thereafter in the vicinity of Foster Park that started at approximately 10:34am. The second fire was larger and moving uphill and was initially reported as being started accidentally by heavy equipment on the property. A total of 22 apparatus including engines, aircraft, and hand crews were part of the initial dispatch in attempt to quickly contain the blaze. The fire was reported to be an acre in size and was under the command of the Ventura County Fire Department, with Ventura City Fire units also assigned. An aggressive initial attack of the fire was successful in keeping the fire to a minimum.

The Ventura River fire involved an area approximately 100X100 feet. A total of 16 personnel were assigned; providing water shuttles and establishing significant hose lays deep into the river bottom to fully extinguish the fire. The incident is under investigation as being purposefully set, and the situation is being handled by law enforcement.

Both fires were fully controlled as of 1:00pm.

You’re Invited to Clearwater’s Santa Photo & Charity Event

CARL will be onsite with adoptable dogs!

Bring your family and pets, and support CARL (Canine Adoption and Rescue League).

$10 donation or bring an item from CARL’s wish list: Carldogs.org/wishlist.

Donation gets you 2 poses with Santa and the digital rights to order your photos after the event.

CARL will be onsite with adoptable dogs!

Saturday, December 1st from 12pm-3p, 750 Clyde River Place, Oxnard.

Holiday treats will be served!

FIRST 5 Ventura County selects Interface Children & Family Services as new place-based service provider

First 5 Ventura County (F5VC) is pleased to announce its new strategic partnership with Interface Children & Family Services, to provide essential programs and services for Ventura County’s nearly 60,000 children prenatal – 5 and their families. Families seeking resources and more information may visit www.first5ventura.org

“Since our inception nearly 20 years ago, First 5 Ventura County Neighborhoods for Learning (NfLs) have been a cornerstone in the community, providing early childhood education, health and family support services.” said First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Petra Puls. “We are excited to partner with Interface Children & Family Services to ensure that families have the support they need to give their young children prenatal to age 5 a strong foundation for success in school and life.”

Interface Children & Family Services was selected through a comprehensive review process to implement F5VC’s redesigned place-based Neighborhood for Learning (NfL) initiative. The expanded partnership with Interface Children & Family Services allows F5VC to continue making a positive impact on the lives of Ventura County children and families through valuable programs, resources and community partnerships that support early childhood development.

Interface will be responsible for providing Parent and Child Together Classes and Family Support Services such as case management and Triple P Parent Education, throughout Ventura County. Interface plans to partner with the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) to address the needs of Mixtec families and New Dawn for the Triple P Positive Parenting Program. “We’re delighted to have First 5 Ventura’s confidence to implement the redesigned place-based NfL model. We’re looking forward to the partnership – we share an intense passion for improving futures for young families and their little ones. We are honored to partner with NfL’s, to learn from their trusted and successful histories in their local communities, and to do our part to bring everyone together for the critical work of strengthening young children and families,” said Interface Executive Director Erik Sternad.

First 5’s primary revenue source is from California’s Proposition 10 tobacco tax, which is distributed to county First 5 Commissions to fund early childhood programs. In light of revenues continuing to decrease annually with Californians smoking less, the F5VC Commission has carefully contemplated how to best utilize its limited funds. The redesigned Neighborhoods for Learning initiative gives F5VC the ability to implement a cost-efficient model that meets the needs of the local community and relies on sustainable investments and innovative partnerships. “We recognize that we must work differently moving forward to achieve maximum impact with limited dollars,” said Puls.

The campaign is behind us and now the hard work begins

Freidman returns after 15-years.

by Jim Freidman

I am thrilled and honored to have been elected to the Ventura City Council after a 15-year hiatus. Having previously served as mayor and council member from 1995-2003, I can say that this campaign was very different from previous ones where candidates ran for city council seats “at large.” I found that campaigning in a district required a more grass roots approach and resulted in a greater opportunity to meet with voters face-to-face.

My priorities were straight-forward; enhancing public safety, increasing city revenues through economic development (not higher taxes and fees), repairing our crumbling infrastructure and addressing our water and homeless issues. I rang doorbells in over 2,000 homes and spoke to hundreds of people. I was encouraged to find that my priorities we pretty much in line with that of the residents I spoke with. For the most part, people seemed genuinely appreciative that a city council candidate took the time to come to their front door. Sure, there were a few people who were bothered by the interruption, but that was a very small minority of the people I met.

The campaign is behind us and now the hard work begins. My main concern are the fiscal challenges we face as a city. Everything we want and need costs money. Just like your own household, we have to be able to pay our city bills. I do not believe we can tax and fee our city into prosperity, so we had better get very serious about enhanced economic (business) development. I will be pushing this agenda for the next four years and hope that my colleagues on the city council will see the merits of making economic development a top priority.

The benefits of economic development will not happen overnight, so it is possible that we will need to take a serious look at our budget priorities. I believe the city council should look into holding quarterly budget workshops where the council and public can roll up their sleeves and get an intimate understanding of how we are spending our money, and just as important, where our money is coming from. I sincerely hope that our residents will be engaged in this process. The more participation we have from our residents, the better and more transparent the budget process will be.

Campaigns are never easy. They can bring out the best and unfortunately, sometimes the worst in people. Now is the time to set aside our differences and work together to help make the city we love, the very best it can be. It’s not going to be easy but we should start working towards that goal right away. I want to thank all of my friends and supporters and all District 5 residents who took the time to vote in this, our first, district election.

Top 5 holiday celebrations in Ventura Harbor Village

This year Ventura Harbor Village has a dazzling array of holiday events, shopping and dining by the sea. Ventura Harbor is a one-stop destination for all things sparkling on the water:

Kids eyes are guaranteed to light up when they spot Santa cruising by on a paddle board! Old Saint Nick is temporarily trading in his sleigh for a paddle on Saturday, December 8 from 11 am-Noon in Ventura Harbor Village . The Santa Paddle is a family fun event that’s free to join in. If you are in need of rental equipment, it’s a good idea to arrive early to secure your rental needs. The starting point is Ventura Harbor Village bay, then on to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center and back (approximately 1 hour). A $40 Gift Card prize will be awarded to the most festive outfit. If paddling isn’t your thing, electric boats can be rented at Ventura Boat Rental to go alongside the paddle.

A burst of yuletide song captures the essence of the holidays aboard Island Packers Holiday Caroling Cruises. With a breeze in your hair and song on your lips (or not, feel free to just listen and enjoy), you’re sure to feel festive as the holidays are on their way! Invite friends and family for an evening on the water to view all the decorated homes along the water with a one hour Island Packers Caroling Cruise aboard a 64’ catamaran.

The 42nd Annual Parade of Lights and Fireworks on Friday and Saturday, December 14-15, sets the perfect mood for the holidays with brilliant displays of boat decorations and colorful lights sparkling at the seaside. This year’s 2018 theme is “Rocking on the DOCK Side of the Moon,” is a nautical play on words to the timeless Pink Floyd album, “Dark Side of the Moon.” The event will take your breath away with its spirit, beauty, and groovy vibes that pays homage to the 70’s. Anticipated schedule: 5pm – Kids Carnival Rides & Ferris Wheel, 6:30pm – Boat Parade of Lights, 8pm – Fireworks both Friday & Saturday evenings. Plus, Saturday only there will be a 70’s dance party in the Ventura Harbor Village at 5:15pm. Get your bellbottoms ready and get down to disco favorites before the closing night of the boat parade! Come early Saturday, December 15 for best parking and the Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace event from 1- 5 pm. Make your dinner reservations in the Harbor early.

This festive seaside event harks back to traditional celebrations with complimentary Santa and Mrs. Claus photos, Santa’s live reindeer, and faux snow fall, oh my! Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace at Ventura Harbor Village from 1-5pm on Saturday, December 15, 2018 offers all ages the perfect setting for shopping local this holiday season. Rediscover the joy of gift giving as you wander through the Harbor’s festive Village and visit more than a dozen boutiques. Every 15 minutes take a wintery selfie under the faux snowfall, visit with holiday characters, listen to Dickensian Carolers, participate in kid’s holiday crafts, reminisce with a Toy Soldier Band, and much more. The Annual 42nd Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights & Fireworks follows at 6:30 pm. Free entrance and parking. www.VenturaHarborVillage.com/events.