Priscilla Holmes and Rob Schleef of Ventura display the Breeze to the unfinished Sagrada Familia, one of the seven wonders of the world in Barcelona, Spain.
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Vol. 17, No. 05 – Nov 29 – Dec 12, 2023 – Ventura Music Scene
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
There are a number of events lined up to get you into the holiday swing of things if Thanksgiving didn’t already do that. Let’s start with the Ventura Winter Wine Walk and Holiday Street Fair where at the corner of California and Main live music will abound with dancing in the street along with a “snowfall” which delights all attendees young and old. The street fair runs all day and is free to the public, but in order to participate in the wine walk, tickets should be purchased in advance as this one could sell out. Keep in mind all venues are open to the public at all times.
Then there is the 25th annual 4Kids 2Kids Toy Drive which will be held on Sunday afternoon, December 3, at Cantara Cellars in Camarillo with a stellar lineup including appearances from Nick St. Nicholas (Steppenwolf), Shawn Jones, Milo Sledge, RJ Mischo, Debbie Davies, Ray Jaurique Big Band, the Vonettes, Debbie Davies Steve and Sally Williams and more. The cost of admission is $10 and one unwrapped toy.
Doc the Halls, Holiday Blues at Namba is Saturday December 9 with electrifying blues tunes and soulful melodies which will include performances from Mint Dolphin, the Sea Hunters, Brasscals, Tom Collins, and the All-Star Blues Band featuring Fito De la Parra (Canned Heat), RJ Mischo, Rick Holstrum, and Hank Van Sykle…oh! And of course, the man himself, Doc Ventura!
The Majestic Ventura Theater’s 10th annual Holiday Sing-a-Long featuring Disney and holiday songs will be held on Sunday, December 10 from 3:30 – 6:30 pm with the price of admission as one new unwrapped toy per group.
And you may want to continue your celebration of Hanukkah this year on Sunday, December 10, with your family and friends downtown at California and Main from 4 – 6:30 pm where a night full of unity, light and community awaits along with live music from Cedars of Lebanon. This free event also includes dreidel fun and games, face painting and other activities for the kids along with a candle lighting ceremony.
Non-holiday type events include a night with Willie Porter who will perform at Namba on Sunday, December 3 (He will have performed the night before at the legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica). Porter is an American rock musician singer/songwriter who was inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame earlier this year. He’s currently touring in support of his 13th release, The Ravine.
On the same night, an amazing singer/songwriter, Sara Lee Guthrie performs at the new space at the Ojai Underground. If Guthrie sounds familiar, well it should! She is daughter to Arlo Guthrie and granddaughter of Woody Guthrie and she’s been out on tour wrapping up the year with this date in Ojai.
Quick Notes: there’s a West Coast Jazz Jam at Copa Cubana on Thursday, November 30; the rescheduled Brit Floyd, 50 Years of Dark Side of the Moon is Friday, December 1 at the Ventura Theater; Birdbrain, Bonnie Boy and Duncan and the Dragonslayers play early evening sets at Bombay’s on Saturday, December 2; The Struts play Ventura Music Hall on Tuesday, December 5; after recently opening for Yachtley Crew at the Ventura Theater, Casual Business will play Topa Topa Brewing (Downtown, Thompson Blvd. location) on Saturday, December 9; and Margarita Villa will be taking a winter hiatus from live music after the Sunday, December 3 performance from Déjà vu Three.
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows 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.
Vol. 17, No. 05 – Nov 29 – Dec 12, 2023 – Music Calendar
For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com
Aqua Beachfront Bar (Crowne Plaza)
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Wednesdays: Déjà vu Too
Bellringer Brewing
472 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 12/8: Katie Leigh
Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Sundays 4-7
Tuesdays: Noah Thoresen
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery (4 pm ); Bluegrass Jam (6:30 pm)
Fri 12/1: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 12/2: Epitome of Dreams
Fri 12/8: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Sat 12/9: Flattop Tom
Bombay Bar and Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
Wednesdays: Blues Night
Sat 12/2: Duncan and theDragonslayers, Birdbrain, Bonnie Boy
Sun 12/3: The Trivle Omdobble
Café Fiore
66 S. California St., Ventura
Tues 12/12: Open Mic and Jam
Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 12/1: Katie Shorey
Sat 12/2: Boys of Summer
Sun 12/3: Milo Sledge, Shawn Jones, RJ Mischo, Steve and Sally Williams…
Fri 12/8: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 12/9: Bad Habit
The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi
Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Thurs 11/30: West Coast Jazz Jam
Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 12/2: Bonfire
Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Fri 12/1: Marty O’Reilly
Fri 12/8: Hard Shine
Sat 12/9: Karly Hartzman & MJ Lenderman
Downtown Stage
California & Main Streets, Ventura
Sun 12/10: Cedars of Lebanon
Enegren Brewing Co.
444 Zachary St., Moorpark
Fri 12/8: Vanise Terry Band
Feros Ferio Winery
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sat 12/2: Dianne Miller
Sun 12/3: Ashford Gordon & Eric Monteith
Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Fri 12/1: Ignition
Sun 12/3: Music with Stu
Sun 12/10: Cary Park
Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Fri 12/1: Robert Heft Band
Sat 12/9: Neon Blonde
The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Thurs 12/30: Dan Barrett & Friends feat. Robert Kyle
Fri 8/1: Josh Brown Sextet
Sat 8/2: The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble
Wed 12/6: Jim Fox Guitar Hang
Thurs 12/7: SicNarf
Fri 12/8: Plotz!
Sat 12/9: RJ Mischo (2 pm); Ernie Watts & Janis Mann (8 pm)
Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 11/30: Mike Beers
Fri 12/1: Devin Morrison and Family
Sat 12/2: Soul Majestic (2 pm); Brian D’Tremont (7 pm)
Sun 12/3: Shay Moulder
Thurs 12/7: Jacob Marquez
Fri 12/8: Maclovia
Sat 12/9: Heavy Rotation (2 pm); Boom Duo (7 pm)
Sun 12/10: Heartbreak over Petty
Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 12/1: Brit Floyd 50 Years of Dark Side of the Moon
Sat 12/2: Nekromantix
Wed 12/6: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Sun 12/10: 10th Annual Holiday Sing-a-Long
Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wed 11/29: Tom McMorran
Thurs 11/30: Tom McMorran
Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Sun 12/3: Déjà vu Three
Moofish Café (inside Crowne Plaza)
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 12/7: Seth Andre Oster & Michael Velasquez
Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sun 12/3: Teresa Russell
Sat 12/9: Ska Daddyz, Rising Son, Borderline, Teresa Russell
Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Sun 12/3: Willie Porter
Sat 12/9: Doc the Halls
Sun 12/10: Listening room Redux Open Mic
The Ojai Pub
914 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 12/1: Quinn Davis
Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Fri 12/1: Miss Emily
Sun 12/3: Sara Lee Guthrie
Sat 12/3: Dan Navarro & Waldo Bliss
Orozoco’s de Ventura
839 E. Front St., Ventura
Fridays: Soul 4 II
Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Rd., Ventura
Sun 12/3: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.
Poseidon Brewing Co.
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Sat 12/2: Cary Park
Fri 12/8: CocoKnots
Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2209 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: Danny D
The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 7 pm; Sunday 2 pm
Fri 12/8: Looking West
Ric’s Restaurant Sports Lounge
2500 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support w/ Kurt & Bob
Rocks & Drams
14 S. California St., Ventura
Wednesdays: Katie Leigh
The Six
419 E. Main St., Ventura
Monday’s: Big Stuuuu’s Open Mic
Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sun 12/3: Doc Rogers Band
Sun 12/10: Vinyl Gypsies
Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery
Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Tues 12/12: Friendly Jam
Topa Topa Downtown
104 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sat 12/9: Casual Business
The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 12/1: Jacob Marquez (5:30 pm)
Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter, Lowered Expectations
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fri 11/17: Conjunto Zacamandu
Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 11/30: Steely Dead
Fri 12/1: Ray and Paul, Jacklen Ro, Field Daze, Dudley
Tues 12/5: The Struts
Fri 12/8: Los Yesterdays
Sat 12/9: Through the Roots
Mon 12/11: Cannons
Waterside
3500 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 12/9: Guy Thomas & Dave Blanchard
Sun 12/10: Teresa Russell
Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 3 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 11/30: Adam & Sam
Fri 12/1: Blown Over
Sat 12/2: Teresa Russell
Sun 12/3: Medicine Hat
Thurs 12/7: Frank Barajas
Fri 12/8: Heft & Wilson
Sat 12/9: Mark Masson Jam Grass Experience
Sun 12/10: Vanise Terry Band
1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B Street, Oxnard
Thurs 11/30: D.on Darox
Vol. 17, No. 05 – Nov 29 – Dec 12, 2023 – Community Events
Events by Ana Baker
The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820
Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011, Rose 805-659-9223, or [email protected]. All Welcome.
The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. More information can be found on the website https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.
Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.
Dec. 2, 3; 9,10: Dudley House Holiday Boutique. The 29th annual fundraiser for the 1892 historic house museum continues into December on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 – 5 p.m. Come celebrate the spirit of holidays past, where you’ll find quality crafts, home décor, antiques, and collectibles, plus a silent auction and bargain “basement.” An outdoor flea market is added on Sundays from 8 – 4 p.m. Located at 197 N. Ashwood. (805) 642-3345. Free.
Dec.2: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting our monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. There is no charge and all are welcome.
Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport.
Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd.
For more information:
Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall
[email protected]
(805) 377-5249
www.sespeflyfishers.org
Dec.3: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.
Sunday, 2-4 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free Parking. Open to the Public. For more information, call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA.
Dec. 5: Free documentary film about the Thomas Fire: “The Perfect Firestorm” at 7 pm at Poinsettia Pavilion. This event celebrates our city and working together to create stronger and more fire-safe neighborhoods. The documentary by CAPS Media highlights how our community pitched in to help each other during the disaster. Please join us in the celebration. Hosted by the Ondulando Firewise Community. For more info, email: [email protected]
Dec.6: The Ventura County Garden celebrates its 100th Year Season in 2024. The Club will hold its annual Holiday Potluck on Wednesday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 117 N. 7th St., Santa Paula. There will be Caroling, a White Elephant, Plant, and Gift Exchange, organized by President Marcia Heerema. We welcome new members. For more information, visit our website at VenturaCountyGardenClub.com.
Dec.9: Join us at Ventura Harbor at 6:30 p.m. for a festive Chanukah celebration! Witness our grand Menorah lighting and Havdalah ceremony under the stars. Enjoy an evening of arts and crafts, delicious donuts, and exciting dreidel games. Be captivated by the thrilling performance of a fire juggler! Pick up a menorah kit to extend your Chanukah festivities at home. For more details, visit chabadventura.com/hanukkah
Dec.10: Light Up Downtown: Chanukah Concert & Festival Join us on Sunday for an evening filled with the spirit and joy of Hanukkah. California & Main St, Downtown Ventura, 4 – 6:30 p.m. Free Admission for all. For more details, visit lightupdowntown.info.
Dec. 12: The San Buenaventura Women’s Club is holding a Holiday Tea on Tuesday. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road. There is no charge to attend and enjoy tea and sandwiches. However, this is a fundraising event, so there will be a cookie sale, opportunity baskets, a wine pull, and a live auction. Cash, checks, and Zelle will be accepted. Reservations are required for members and non-members alike. Contact Terri Davis at (805)320-2702 to ensure seating. Holiday attire is encouraged. There will be entertainment, and you will make new friends!
Dec.12: Ventura Audubon Society’s December Program “It’s Christmas Bird Count season!” Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion and streaming via Zoom: For over 100 years, Audubon chapters from around the country have conducted an annual census of birds known as the Christmas Bird Count. We will also look at some local trends we’ve observed over the past 43 years. www.venturaaudubon.org/speakers.
Dec. 16: Group: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Saturday at 9:30 a.m. online and live at our temporary location in Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space, live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed before the event. To receive connection instructions, please sign up on our website at http://www.cipcug.org
Aloha Steakhouse – The Spirit of Thanksgiving
This was not your typical Thanksgiving feeding in a large warehouse .
This past Thanksgiving, residents at Tender Life Maternity Home and The City Center Transitional Living, as well as some under-resourced families served by The River Community Church, were extremely blessed with a free Thanksgiving meal. This was not your typical Thanksgiving feeding in a large warehouse where everyone knows the people who are in need. No, this was a fine dining experience starting with making your own reservation and ending with your check being comped by the owners of the Aloha Steakhouse, Jim, Jose and Charnell.
Dining at a restaurant with a phone-in reservation and amidst the public provides a sense of dignity to low-income residents or those in transitional living. It allows them to participate in a shared social experience, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of inclusivity. This contrasts with a special dinner, emphasizing equality and the importance of shared spaces in promoting a sense of community.
Aloha Steakhouse in Ventura has become a true blessing to the community by generously offering over 150 free meals to residents at transitional living facilities and the underserved population the week of Thanksgiving. Their commitment to serving not only delicious food but also fostering a sense of community and support demonstrates the positive impact businesses can have on those in need. This initiative showcases the restaurant’s dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, embodying the spirit of aloha beyond its culinary offerings.
“Our heart goes out to families in need, and we wanted to bless them with a wonderful meal that they could enjoy together. It fills our heart with joy to see these beautiful children enjoying their food as they dine in our restaurant. We know that these families are working hard to get back on their feet, so we wanted to reward them for their efforts,” says Charnell Smith, one of the owners of Aloha Steakhouse.
“Aloha Steakhouse has been blessing the community for years and I am so grateful for their generosity. The families being served do not currently have the resources to take their children out to a restaurant, let alone a fine quality steakhouse. So, this is truly a gift for each and every one of them “, says Jim Duran, Executive Director of The City Center, Tender Life and Pastor of The River Community Church.
Providing education to students experiencing homelessness in Ventura County
by Carol Leish, MA
The Homeless Education Program of the Ventura County Office of Education, according to Cathi Nye, MA, the County Coordinator, “support all 20 school districts and 12 charter schools in Ventura County. This is accomplished through providing technical assistance, support, and managing the grants.”
“Over 6,800 students have been identified to receive assistance in the program. That number includes children living in double households (more than one family sharing a single-family home), which is over 80% of who we serve. 10% of students that we serve are living in cars and RV’s and motels or hotels, or in a shelter or transitional housing. We do offer resources to the local housing authority for families to get information needed to help their housing situations.”
Children and youth experiencing homelessness face unique challenges in accessing and succeeding in school. The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which passed in 1987, and Title 1 Part A, provide students experiencing homelessness with protections and services to ensure that they can enroll in and attend school, complete their high school education, and continue to higher education.
The ’Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015’ (ESSA), strengthen and improves these programs and the education of over 1.3 million children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood (HeadStart), through high school graduation. It makes sure that every student has access to a quality public education regardless of where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make.
Your child may be eligible for extra services at school. This would include: 1) Keeping your child in the last school he or she attended even if that school is in another district, since it is your decision to determine what is in your child’s best interest and, 2) Providing free school meals. Two other services would be: 1) Identifying transportation needs and working with the parent/guardian to ensure that those needs are met would be another extra service provided and 2) Providing school uniforms, supplies, and access to all school activities would be another service that your child may be eligible for.
“There is an annual event through United Way, ‘Stuff the Buss,’ which is a way to get needed backpacks and school supplies for the students in need,” according to Nye. “I also do a newsletter every other week. The one that I am currently working on focuses on how we can help brothers and sisters in the same home as the students already receiving services.”
“We just completed a coat drive. We are now looking for donated gift cards to give to students over the holidays, including kids in shelters. We will be grateful to receive gift cards up to $25 each, especially for fast food restaurants, Target, and Walmart. In the Springtime of 2024, we will be putting together hygiene kits for students. By giving, you are supporting an important cause to improve situations for these students, especially during the holiday season.”
For further information, please go to: https://www.vcoe.org/Special-Populations/Homeless-Education-Program. Contact Cathi Nye, MA, at either: [email protected] or by calling: 805-437-1559.
Thank you for caring enough to make a change for the better for these students.
39th Annual Memorial Program Light Up a Life
As the holiday season approaches, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice is preparing to host its cherished “Light Up a Life” events. These events offer comfort and a unique opportunity to celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed away. As the dates draw near, the community is invited to join in these heartwarming gatherings. This year’s “Light Up a Life” will take place at two beautiful locations:
Heritage Square, 715 South A Street, Oxnard Saturday, December 2nd from 4:30 pm – 5:30pm
Constitution Park, 1287 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo Saturday, December 9th from 4:30 pm – 5:30pm
We invite everyone to attend these free events! It’s a space for you to remember and celebrate the life of someone dear to you. The program includes readings, acts of remembrance, and the illumination of the Tree of Life.
You can dedicate a star in the name of your loved one with a tax-deductible donation of $25 or more. These stars will be featured in an online memory listing and in a special video tribute displayed at the events. Each contribution supports Livingston’s vital hospice and bereavement programs in Ventura County. Stars can be reserved at www.lmvna.org/LightUpALife.
Since 1947, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice has been providing home health, palliative care, hospice, non-medical home care, and grief and bereavement services to Ventura County residents. Committed to equitable and inclusive care, we ensure that all residents have access to essential services, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about the “Light Up a Life” events or to learn more about our services, please visit www.lmvna.org
Around Town
A good thing this sign is there or people would be parking on the sidewalk.
Ojai in the news
Ojai offers an enticing array of outdoor activities including golf, tennis, bicycling, camping, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking in Southern California.
The Ojai Valley Land Conservancy offers dozens of miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, all centrally located near downtown. Nearby Los Padres National Forest presents opportunities for hiking, climbing, camping, fishing and swimming.
Home to The Ojai, the oldest amateur tennis event of its kind in the United States, Ojai was recently named one of the best tennis towns in the United States. Enjoy a match or two at the Libbey Park tennis courts.
With beautiful weather year-round, it is no surprise that we are a golfer’s paradise. Visitors can tee off at either of the two Ojai golf courses at Ojai Valley Inn & Spa or Soule Park Golf Course.
A trip to Ojai wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Lake Casitas, where boating, fishing, camping, kayaking, and picnicking are popular pastimes. Just three miles from the town’s center, Lake Casitas was the site of the 1984 Olympics’ canoeing and rowing events! Ojai Angler provides private guided fishing trips. While swimming is prohibited in the Lake, the Casitas Water Adventure features waterfalls, slides, a lagoon and lazy river for summer family fun.
Ventura Police awarded $228,000
The Ventura Police Department proudly announces that it secured a $228,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to bolster life-saving enforcement and education-based activities. This grant allows officers to actively champion safe driving practices, empower cyclists and pedestrians to navigate roads with confidence, and deliver vital education on the significance of road sharing.
“Receiving this grant funding is critical to the success of our outreach programs and the safety of our community,” said Corporal David Curtis. “With this funding, we can continue to enforce important traffic safety laws, deter driving under the influence, and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling. We can truly save lives.”
Grant funds will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:
DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping impaired drivers.
High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”
The grant program will run through September 2024.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.