All posts by admin

Chamber presented educators at annual luncheon

Stephanie Caldwell, Joseph Richards Jr., Greg Gillespie, Ph.D., Kimberly Hoffmans, Ph.D., Erika D. Beck, Ph.D. and John Silva at the State of Education Luncheon. Photo by Angela Brinkhoff

On Thursday, April 26, the Ventura Chamber of commerce presented their Annual State of Education Luncheon “Safety Today Security Tomorrow: Adapting to Societal and Economic Change” at the Wright Event Center at Ventura College.

Opening remarks were made by Stephanie Caldwell, Ventura Chamber President & CEO and John Silva, Ventura Chamber Chair Board of Directors.

Reports were presented by four leaders from local education sectors (Ventura Unified School District, Ventura College and California State University Channel Islands) who explained how they are adapting to the rapidly changing environment. The event included an excellent buffet lunch.

The presenters were:

Erika D. Beck, Ph.D., President, California State University Channel Islands

Erika beck began her tenure as President of California State University Channel Islands in August 2016. Prior to her appointment, she served as Provost and Executive Vice President at Nevada State College. A native Californian, President Beck holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego; M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University; and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of California, San Diego where she also served as a faculty fellow.

“CSU Channel Islands expects a record number of graduates this May and received a record number of applications for the 2019 fall semester, according to CSUCI’s Chief of Staff, Genevieve Evans Taylor, Ed.D. The university provides a top-quality, affordable education to a student population largely from the local region and the first in their family to attend college. CSUCI offers immersive, hands-on learning experiences that allow its graduates to thrive in the 21st century workforce. Many of the university’s degree offerings, such as nursing, teaching and computer science, were developed in partnership with, and to meet the needs of, local employers” said Beck.

Greg Gillespie, Ph.D., Chancellor, Ventura County Community College District

Dr. Greg Gillespie serves as the Chancellor for the Ventura County Community College District. The District includes Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura Colleges that serve over 33,000 students each year. Dr. Gillespie served as the President of Ventura College for four years before moving into the Chancellor position in July 2017. Dr. Gillespie is focused on supporting the colleges in providing student-centered access to quality and relevant educational programs and support services. He works with employer, education, and governmental partners to address shared educational and community priorities.

Greg Gillespie stated “The three Ventura County Community College District colleges, Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura, serve approximately 33,000 student each year. The colleges provide classes and programs to prepare students for the workforce and transfer to baccalaureate degree program. Career education is an important priority across the VCCCD and successful program implementation requires communication and collaboration between employers and the colleges. These partnerships have resulted in programs training our community college students for high demand jobs in our county. These efforts help to meet workforce needs and support economic development. The VCCCD also actively conducts training and education opportunities to help students and employees respond appropriately to emergency situations. Response decisions at Ventura College and across the VCCCD to the recent Thomas fire incident were prioritized to address health and safety needs and to minimize the impact of college closures on student progress and achievement.”

Kimberly Hoffmans, Ph.D., Vice President, Ventura County Community College District

Dr. Kim Hoffmans has served in the Ventura County Community College District for the last 24 years as a nursing faculty member, coordinator, dean, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Ventura College. Through her past experiences as a nurse and an educator, Dr. Hoffmans has had the opportunity to work with colleagues and students with diverse academic, social, economic, physical, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds and finds the diverse climate of community colleges rewarding, challenging, and full of opportunities.

Joseph Richards Jr., Deputy Superintendent, Ventura Unified School District

Mr. Joseph Richards Jr., Deputy Superintendent, Business Services for the Ventura Unified School District. Mr. Richards has worked in the field of business for approximately 43 years, eight years in financial institutions and over 35 years in school business. Mr. Richards is a firm believer in giving back to the community he lives and works in, thus has served in various organizations in the Ventura County community for many years.

Pastel class at VC Arts Collective Studio May 26

Pastel class on May 26th from 1:30 to 4:30 taught by Tasia Erickson.

Draw a lovely sea life painting . Sea plants, a beautiful turtle and fish with gorgeous colors! It is so much fun. Cost is $64.00 including materials. Can pay by paypal, credit card, cash or check.

Email [email protected] Or call to reserve a spot at 676-1540. Only 8 spots are available.

The VC Arts Collective Studio in Pacific View Mall – 2nd floor just outside Sears.

Face of Ventura 016 – Parkinsons

Bob Jenkins, Patti Jenkins and Christina Malone

      FaceofVentura016_Parkinsons

Face of Ventura 015 – Thomas Fire Victims

Karl Zaid, Lisa Zaid and Dawn Reily
Part 1

      FaceofVentura015_FireVictims1

Part 2
      FaceofVentura015_FireVictims2

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group to host The Michael J. Fox Foundation

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group invites their members and care-partners, visitors and new friends who find themselves navigating Parkinson’s disease to join them on Wednesday, May 9 from 1 to 3PM for a special presentation. The presentation will be held at Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St.

Advancement Officer Mary McQuillen of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) will present on the following topics: an overview of MJFF’s mission; an update on promising Parkinson’s disease research; the latest legislation that impacts the lives of people with Parkinson‘s; priority areas for Parkinson’s policy work; and information on how to get involved with clinical research through Fox Trial Finder and Fox Insight.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today. Since inception in 2000, 89 cents of every dollar spent by MJFF has gone straight to grants and initiatives to speed a cure for Parkinson’s. To date, the Foundation has funded more than $800 million in research to bring an end to Parkinson’s disease. For more information, visit www.michaeljfox.org.

For those interested in attending the event, there is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington building. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot. Reservations are not required. Attendees are invited to check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. For more information, call Patty at 766-6070.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is an independent and volunteer-organized group, not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, they host their meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3PM.

Dab Art is pleased to present PROTO_POP.

As a younger generation of contemporary artists begins to emerge, they seemingly follow a less poetic and more pragmatic approach to their work. PROTO_POP is an exhibition that embraces spontaneity and directness in equal measure to the processes of reflection, capitulation, and disguise. The presence of a subject, no matter how enclosed, indirect, or fragmentary, exist in in the heart of each piece exhibited.

Photography, Kinetic sculpture, colorful screen prints, geometric landscapes, light installation, and complex collages embrace the pop art esthetic.

PROTO_POP will be held at H Gallery + Studios 1793 East Main St. The show runs until May 27th. The show is curated by Dab Art. Gallery hours are 1-5pm.

Older Americans Month 2018

“You’re paying correct?”

Every May, the Administration on Aging, part of the Administration for Community Living, leads our nation’s observance of Older American’s Month. The 2018 theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes that you are never too old (or young) to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in our communities.

Participating in activities that promote mental and physical wellness, offering your wisdom and experience to the next generation, seeking the mentorship of someone with more life experience than you—those are just a few examples of what being engaged can mean. No matter where you are in your life, there is no better time than now to start. We hope you will join in and Engage at Every Age!

Help celebrate by taking an older American (like Breeze Publisher Brown) to lunch!

6th Annual Water Take 1 Film Festival

Craig Jones Management Analyst and Susan Rungren Resource Manager for Ventura Water enjoying the films.

by Jennifer Tipton

Originally scheduled for March 22nd, Water Take 1 was postponed to April 12th due to the forecasted rain, an amusing paradox if you ask me, but Ventura Water thoughtfully stated it was “in consideration of our community’s safety”.

Free to the public with RSVP, the event took place at the Ventura Beach Club with about 150 in attendance. Preceding the presentation, attendees lined up for a complementary taco bar catered by “famous taco bar”, while live acoustic music was provided by Jason Ho. Attendance was limited to adults only, each was given a ticket for an (adult) beverage and everyone was sent home with a souvenir Ventura Water glass.

Opposed to last year’s event where over 50 short films were submitted from around the globe, this year Ventura Water chose to honor water heroes from our own community. Water Resource Manager for the City of Ventura, Susan Rungren told me, “it’s totally different this year, more local”.

Deputy Mayor Matt LaVere announced the screening of the three short films Ventura Water put together to honor the recipients of this year’s awards. Each award winner was later presented with a plaque and a $500 gift card.

The first award went to Ventura’s Jim Ackerman, a retired firefighter who received the Community Member Award for his water conservation efforts. Jim uses Ventura Water’s Residential Recycled Water Mobile Reuse Program and it is estimated he has saved over 10,000 gallons of water! He generously chose to give his $500 to charity.

The second award went to the Wyland Foundation, receiving the National Foundation Award. The famous marine life artist, Wyland founded the nonprofit in 1993 and has done numerous paintings to honor ocean life including 100 murals that took 27 years to complete. The Wyland World Water Pledge was created in 2017 to inspire 7.5 billion people for sustainable use of global water resources.

The third award went to Ventura Land Trust receiving the Community Organization Award. Formerly known as Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, this community-based nonprofit was founded in 2003 with the goal of preserving and protecting the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of Ventura for us and future generations. This short film told us that volunteers for the Ventura Land Trust successfully replanted 1000 trees that were lost in the Thomas Fires – there was huge applause!

As Ventura Water’s General Manager, Kevin Brown stated, “it’s been an exciting six months since I’ve been on the job!”

And as Ventura Water had promised, at the end of the evening, City of Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya presented Vicki Raven (with United Way of Ventura County), a check from event sponsor contributions to support the Thomas Fire and Flood fund.

The sponsors for the 6th annual Water Take 1 were Corollo Engineers, Nossaman LLP, Hopkins Groundwater Consultants and Kennedy Jenks Consultants.

For more information: www.venturawater.net