On Friday, September 22 The Lexington hosted their 3rd annual special luncheon for our first responders to salute the men and women who serve our community every day. Those attending included the Ventura Police Department, Ventura Fire Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and ambulance companies. Enjoying their company were Lexington residents and guests. Lunch was enjoyed by all. The Lexington is located at 5440 Ralston Street. For more information call 644–6710.
All posts by admin
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – Mailbox
Sheldon
You thought the three-strike law (sic) prevents this scenario? Really? An editor who can’t distinguish between arrests and convictions?
Fred Pierce
Fred: Worse even I’m the publisher-editor. Thanks for the clarification. That is what you were doing correct?
Dear Editor:
I have something I must say… Why don’t people call or talk to each other anymore? There are many folks these days that appear to be so attached to their devices that social skills have fallen by the wayside! Between social media and texting there is an apparent disconnect of humankind. I have called friends only to get a text message back and others have told me they only text and won’t answer their phone or return voice mails. It seems so impersonal and robotic. I asked one friend (in a text) – “why don’t people talk to each other anymore?” (hint hint) and she responded with yet another text so long she could probably have published it as a short novel. Texting contains no inflection of the words sent, therefore interpretation is up to the recipient. I have observed entire families dining out and instead of talking with one another, they are each on their individual devices, except for the young ones who appear so lonely and lost, the eyes pleading for human interaction. It’s so sad!
Jennifer Tipton Ventura
Jennifer: Couldn’t agree more. Recently I was having lunch and a couple was sitting next to me with 2 teen age kids and all 4 staring at their phones the entire time while eating. How sad for the lack of communicating.
Sheldon
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
~ Bertrand Russell
Congratulations to the Ventura Breeze
I want to thank all of these folks for the kind words celebrating our ten years. Congratulations certainly need to include all of the wonderful Breeze staff over the years who made this all possible.
Sheldon
If there is anything worth noting in town Sheldon is there with his signature blue cap and camera. The Breeze is the go to paper for what’s happening in town- thank you Sheldon!!! Happy Birthday!
Michael and Angela- Very Ventura
Very Ventura
Sheldon is . . .
Approachable, but prefers not to approach.
One who speaks his mind.
A lover of writing, responding and conversing.
The last one to leave a conversation.
Dedicated and softly determined.
Proof of the impact one person can have on a community.
Thank you Sheldon!
Debbie Fox Fox -Fine Jewelry
Hearty and heartfelt congratulations on 10 years of publishing the Ventura Breeze! The Breeze has truly become a treasure to the city of Ventura. It wouldn’t be possible without your wonderful dedication, guidance, and caring for the audience you serve so well. To you and all your staff, congratulations and keep up the great work!
Your friends at Cypress Place Senior Living
Mike Macke -Senior Director of Sales & Marketing
Wow. Ten years already? Congrats Sheldon! You and the Breeze newspaper are part of what makes Ventura a great community.
Best regards,
Lysa Urban
Have always loved reading the Breeze. The local coverage is so important to our community. Let’s us all keep up on what is going on in Ventura!
Cheryl Heitmann -Ventura City Council
I am so grateful to have The Breeze in our community. I look forward to reading it cover to cover every couple weeks. Thank you Sheldon and Breezy for bringing us the best newspaper in Ventura!
Ashley Pope -SpiceTopia
Congratulations Sheldon and thank you Ventura Breeze for 10 years of reporting on important local issues and fostering a stronger community through information that is accessible to all citizens.
Mark Watkins -Ventura City Manager
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! The Ventura Breeze is the perfect Hometown Newspaper! Grateful for you Sheldon and the Breeze team.
Adela Trainor- Berkshire Hathaway
Golden Future Expos sends a huge congratulations to the Ventura Breeze Newspaper on their 10 years of success! You are a tremendous asset and source of information to the community … here’s to 10 more!”
Toyia Moore- Event Director
When my husband and I moved to Ventura years ago, the Ventura Breeze was my go-to paper to discover the ins and outs of this sweet town. We’ve come to love this beachside gem and the wonderful people who live here! Thank you Sheldon for making us feel so quickly part of this awesome community.
Teryn Bonime -Keller Williams Realty
I want to say Congratulations to the Breeze on 10 years. Your information and entertainment is essential to Ventura. We love the Breeze!
Christine Cardoso-Moore- RE Broker KW West Ventura County
I love the Breeze not only as a reader to catch up on lighthearted local news, but also as an advertiser, it represents what Ventura is… a friendly, small town with a heart.
Melody O’Leary-Namikas -Berkshire Hathaway
Thank you for the shout outs that help our nonprofit spay and neuter hundreds of animals. Your pet page is a big hit! I was reading it long before we started placing ads with Breezy. You keep us informed on what is happening in Ventura. Big Thanks!
Valerie Bereman – SPAN Thrift Store
The Breeze is the most honored Newspaper. Not because it reports, but it reports for others!
The Breeze is a Great Local Newspaper. It networks for all local shoppers!
Susie Lamey -Heritage Honey
I can’t believe it has been 10 years that you have been published! I am so incredibly proud of you. What an accomplishment!! Who would have thought that with the help of your “wonderful daughter”, your idea would manifest into an essential platform for this community!
I thank the staff that has continuously supported you and many thanks to the community who “loves” and supports the Ventura Breeze! It just goes to show, that if anyone has an idea-go for it!
Staci Brown- Publisher Emeritus and “wonderful daughter”
Congratulations on your 10 year anniversary! We all love the Breeze newspaper!!!!
Cherryl Connally -Island Packers
I can’t believe it has already been 10 years since the Breeze has published its 1st paper. From the moment I met you, I was impressed with your vision, tenacity and passion for the City of Ventura. The Breeze has proven to be Ventura’s hometown paper. From the beginning, you were determine to get Ventura news in our homes and that is exactly what has happened. Because of you, we can celebrate the happenings taking place in our city. You include the items that are important to us and for this I am very grateful. I could not image the city of Ventura without The Breeze. Thank you for your incredible contribution to our community.
Blessings,
Pastor Jim Duran
Happy 10th Birthday Ventura Breeze!! 10 years is pretty miraculous for any paper – especially one that is free! I am extremely grateful to be a part of this unique, local paper. This is a community effort and I’d like to express my gratitude to all our supporters, advertisers, readers, everybody involved in the making of each issue, as there are so many, and of course Scamp (RIP), Sheldon and Diane. You’re making history!
Breezy Gledhill -Senior Account Executive
We smaller clubs and organizations thank you for always posting local activities, speakers, and continuing growth programs available to our community. Our American Contract Bridge League Unit offers games and classes for every level of bridge enthusiast. Sheldon, maybe we can get you to the tables soon !! Thank you as always.
Susan Lang
Sheldon’s sense of humor always puts me in a better mood-never know
what he is going to do or say like a box of chocolate, never know what you’re going to get 🙂
Connie De La Rosa- Contributing Writer
Congratulations Sheldon on achieving this significant milestone! In the past ten years, you have done a wonderful job growing your organization and covering the news in our community. It is always such a pleasure reading the Breeze and getting up-to-date on the who-what-when-where and why of Ventura. I also want to thank you for your community support of the non-profits here. Your generous coverage makes a big difference. Here’s to the next ten years!
Warmest regards,
Barbara Brown -BBM&D Strategic Branding,
Wow ten years of pure excellence! Happy Anniversary Sheldon. Thanks for your commitment to provide excellence in your articles about our community. I am humbled by your dedication to the nonprofit community as you continue to report the importance of each.
Congratulations my friend and here’s is too another ten!
Be kind to one another
Jann Huling
Happy 10th Anniversary Ventura Breeze! Thank you for your coverage of local events and happenings. A special thank you for always including some news about the Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival. Congratulations to Sheldon and staff for all of your efforts. I am looking forward to the next 10 years!
Barbara Hinton -Founder and Director Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival
My wife, Trisha and I were having lunch with friends at Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Company on Thompson in Ventura way back then. We were reading the first issue of the Ventura Breeze newspaper. Congratulations on giving us a great local newspaper. Wow, ten years, where did the time go? Hats off for you and Staci. Your wife has to be a Saint, too.
Sincerely,
James Francis Gray -Contributing Writer
The comment I hear the most about The Ventura Breeze is that it’s truly Our Hometown Newspaper. I always answer back, “The very Soul of Ventura”.
Karen Helen- Distribution
When I first heard about the Breeze, I said, That dude is crazy!
And I was right, but that’s not a bad thing.
The Breeze is a joy to read, and a real hometown paper.
Sheldon is even crazy enough to let me write for him occasionally, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
Jill Forman -Contributing Writer
Congratulations to you and the entire Ventura Breeze team — 10 years is an incredible run! Thanks for your service to this community in covering local news, big and small, and for making sure important issues were covered in a fair and impartial manner. I always look forward to picking up my copy of the Breeze and seeing what’s on the Publisher’s mind!
Matt LaVere -Ventura City Council
The Breeze is truly a hometown newspaper. Sheldon and his team have a pulse on what is important to Venturans and they produce a publication that speaks to us as locals; even if for some, we haven’t been here for generations.
Jeffrey Lambert, AICP -Ventura Community Development Director
Sheldon Brown is handsome, wonderful and brilliant. I love drawing for the Breeze for 10 years.
Bill Green- editorial cartoonist (remember I’m being funny about handsome, wonderful and brilliant)
Sheldon is amazing and wonderful and a joy to work with, he is much too old to be doing this.
Richard Lieberman- rather old himself Contributing Writer
10 years is a wow! Sheldon is amazing and a joy to work for…! But in my own words: So proud to be a part of the Ventura Breeze! As a registered nurse for many years, being given the opportunity to explore new horizons and to pursue a passion for writing combined with my passion for people and my hometown? Priceless! Happy 10th anniversary Sheldon! It’s been such a privilege-best boss ever!
Jennifer Tipton –contributing writer
Bob Barker had just retired and the O.C. and the Sopranos had just ended. Unfortunately for all, Keeping up with the Kardashians had just premiered and Donald Trump and Vince McMahon were going head-to-head on WWE’s WrestleMania 23 “The Battle of the Billionaires”. Media was a shambles, thus 2007 was known as the “great void”. Sheldon knew he had to do something to fill it…thus the Ventura Breeze was born. Instantly his enterprise was named Small Business of the Year. And the great void was filled. Amen.
Murray Robertson
Sheldon Brown is the quintessential Man About Town, keeping local Venturans informed on what is happening politically, socially, and culturally. He is at every event in town, keeping tabs on the pulse of VTA, and happy to engage with anyone who approaches him. Thank you for your excellent journalism and for offering us a free paper! One more quick note of appreciation: your unabashed opinion section that is infused with hearty doses of Sheldon humor! Keep it coming!
Beth Morris -(who wishes she could beat Sheldon on the tennis court)
I’ve been reading the Breeze since it was an infant, a toddler and now a precocious pre-teen, which means ‘talented’, ‘articulate’, and “having mature qualities at an unusually early age.”
All this and more from a talented, articulate and mature senior named Sheldon. Can hardly wait what the Breeze will be like as a smartphoned, pierced and tattooed teenager.
John Hankins- journalist
In this age of digital media and shrinking community news, it’s been a pleasure having the Breeze in Ventura the past decade. Happy anniversary, and please keep the ink flowing.
Erik Nasarenko -Ventura Mayor
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – Cartoons
Baby Blues
Moose and Molly
Arctic Circle
Between Friends
Hi and Lois
Blondie
Mother Goose and Grimm
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – Movie Review
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Review 1.5 Palms out of 4
by Manuel Reynoso
Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a 2017 action film produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Vaughn and Jane Goldman. Sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), based on the comic book series Kingsman, created by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar. Starring Colin Firth, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Edward Holcroft, Sophie Cookson, and Hanna Alström reprising their roles from the first film, with Julianne Moore, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Elton John, Channing Tatum, and Jeff Bridges joining the cast
When the Kingsmen are successfully attacked from all sides, the remaining Kingsmen must team up with the American based Statesman organization to tackle a new world threat.
I love a good action movie from time to time, but I am definitely picky. I like ’em lean, I like ‘em mean, and I like ‘em real clean. Now when I say lean, I don’t necessarily mean short. I just don’t want the film bogged down by a superfluous amount of plot. Give me the backstory, create a strong setting, hit the inciting event in just over 10 minutes, and then run wild. Once we’re running, I want it to be mean. PG-13 action flicks just don’t have the same kick as a gruesome rated R slugfest. Lastly, I want to see some clean visuals and tight fight choreography.
Now Kingsman: the Golden Circle is certainly mean. It has great, over-the-top action scenes that absolutely made me giddy. The fight choreography itself is also pretty clean, and avoids overuse of quick cuts and shaky cam ridden scenes. However, It’s unfortunately rather difficult to recommend Kingsman: the Golden Circle when the film is just way to painstakingly long.
It’s an absolute slog to get through the non-action scenes. The few tasty morsels are hidden in a stew of boring exposition and needless backstory. Kingsman: the Golden Circle has no excuse being 2 hours and 20 minutes. It feels completely padded and just brings down the overall quality of the film. 40 minutes could be trimmed from the film and the film would be substantially better. Especially that awful, awful music festival scene. Axe that, with a literal axe, please.
Sound mixing as well was a bit hit and miss in my opinion. Some scenes are obnoxiously loud with, at least according to my taste, ill-fitting music leading the scene. Quite a shame considering the first theatrical trailer was absolutely amazing. Hearing Frank Sinatra’s My Way lead me to believe they’d keep up with this style, but was disappointed by the soundtrack they chose.
The acting on the other hand is great. The new Statesman characters juxtapose really well with the Kingsman, but with so many new characters, the film finds it very difficult to give each character ample screen time to really develop them into something great. The biggest travesty it’s how much of Channing Tatum’s character is just robbed of screen time. Pacing yet again is to blame with the lack of sufficient character development.
Now I really enjoyed about 45 minutes worth of the film. Which wouldn’t be a problem if there was another hour and a half tacked right on to it. An action movie with heroes based on British and American caricatures is such a strong gimmick. It’s goofy and fun but unless the potential sequel can be more focused, I don’t see the Kingsman series being worth any sort of special praise. Rated R 2h 21m
Foundation supports merger of two beloved hospice organizations
The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) has awarded Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association (Livingston) a $105,000 grant to cover the costs of its merger with Camarillo Hospice.
Vanessa Bechtel, President/CEO of VCCF said of the gift, “The Foundation’s commitment to strategic grant making could not be better represented than through this $105,000 grant to Livingston from the Ruth Daily Livingston Fund. The recent merger between Livingston and Camarillo Hospice not only provides a seamless and more effective provision of services to terminally ill patients and their loved ones but also utilizes precious financial resources in a more impactful manner. The Ruth Daily Livingston Fund was created with the specific purpose of supporting health care services in Ventura County and is a fitting tribute to the memory of her husband, Dr. W.R. Livingston, an esteemed pioneer physician of Ventura County.”
Lanyard Dial, MD, President/CEO and Medical Director of Livingston called VCCF’s generous gift, “welcome recognition from Ventura’s philanthropic heart that it takes a strong web of community support to provide care and bereavement services for the terminally ill and their love ones.”
For information on Livingston’s home healthcare, hospice or in-home assistance programs visit lmvna.org or call 642-0239.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association provides healthcare in the home for the sick, handicapped, elderly and homebound. Livingston is a community-supported non-profit agency, which provides professional, licensed home health and hospice care. Livingston is sensitive to the financial circumstances of its patients and provides needed services, including those at reduced or no charge to indigent patients.
Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation focuses on building philanthropy in Ventura County by stewarding legacies through careful management of charitable capital. VCCF honors donor intent by protecting endowments and specializing in connecting philanthropic resources with community needs. VCCF invests in the future through scholarships, grant making, and collaborative partnerships.
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – Opinion/Editorial
• WOW, WOW and WOW! Pinch me – it can’t be true that we just completed our tenth year of publication. Our first issue, on Oct.24, 2007, is shown on this cover.
Besides not knowing anything about the newspaper business when Staci Brown and I launched the Ventura Breeze, we didn’t know if Venturans would accept a very local newspaper, or if Ventura even needed one. It turns out both of these things turned out to be true. Ventura has embraced the Breeze and has come to love it. What I hear most from readers is, “We love reading the Breeze.”
There are so many people to thank, so I’m sure I will overlook some very deserving people. I want to thank our dedicated readers, our fabulous advertisers who keep us in business, our unbelievable dedicated staff, and our writers, photographers and distributors.
All of the “Breezers” deserve a hearty thank you.
A few of these people have been with us since the beginning:
- Staci Brown – who is now the Publisher Emeritus
- Professor Scamp – who almost made it to our 10th year issue
- Rebecca Wicks
- Suz Montgomery
- Studio Nothing (Alfred J. Lewis)
- Bill Green
A special thanks needs to go out to these people as well:
Alfred J. Lewis of Studio Nothing who does a great job laying out the paper and who also acts as my personal therapist by always telling me, “Don’t worry we will get the issue out, have we ever missed one?”
And a very sincere thank you to Senior Account Executive Breezy Gledhill whose perseverance in selling ads keeps us afloat. Without her, there wouldn’t be the Ventura Breeze for you to read. And, the best part, is that she loves doing it and our advertisers love her too.
Thanks also to Cindy Summers for making our website, and Facebook pages look outstanding, along with writing some of our articles.
And to Jaime and Ana Baker for going way beyond with their great support of the Breeze – from delivering papers, to writing articles and creating great caricatures, to setting-up our (actually their) Ventura Breeze booth at all of the events we attend.
Last, but not least, I want to give a special shout-out to my wife, Diane, who no longer says to me, “Are you nuts getting up to write at 3am, and is this still costing us money?” And, who puts up with me every day (well, some days maybe not so much).
Here are a few lows that we saw during our ten years.
We lost a few wonderful contributors and friends:
The passing of Jim Spencer, who, with wife Shirley, wrote our theater reviews. Wonderful Shirley is carrying on with their family tradition.
Nanci Cohen, a friend and contributing writer.
Professor Scamp, my buddy, who I miss dearly every day.
Lance Cole, who always had a joke to tell.
Alfred Lewis’ wonderful wife Cathi who kept Alfred focused and out of trouble (not an easy task) so he could work on the Breeze.
We also lost several Face of Ventura portrait sitters painted by Johanna Spinks. Not contributors, but they became a special part of the Breeze through their portraits and stories.
There have been many highlights, of course. Here are just a few:
Alfred, lying in a hospital bed at CMH, working on an issue on his large computer screen.
The Face of Ventura portrait series by Johanna Spinks, and the amazing party that we had at the Museum of Ventura County to celebrate it.
Winning several awards (I’m sure I’m missing some) including:
Turning Point Foundation’s Champions of Mental Health
Ventura County Area on Aging Optimal Aging Champion Award Age-Friendly Media Award
Ventura Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year
Sponsoring many non-profits and great events including Pier Under the Stars, CARL (Canine Adoption & Rescue League), and the City’s Music Under the Stars.
Appearing on radio station KVTA and CAPSTV and now having a weekly radio show on KPPQLP (that I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t publish the Breeze).
Getting into trouble with our April Fools’ Day issues –
Sharing just this one. We published a story about the City Council approving an absurd Walmart concept that included golf courses, ponds and bowling alleys. A gentleman who was shocked that the Council had approved this project appeared at a City Council meeting. After assuring him that it was a joke, ex-Councilmember Carl Morehouse looked at the CAP’S camera and said, “Sheldon, we love ya, but don’t do that again.” Just the incentive that I need!
The paper going to all color and increasing in size.
And, personally, just being a big part of our glorious city. The many people who come up to me (from 13 to 93 and above) to tell me how important the Breeze is to them, and to Ventura. This alone makes it all worthwhile, and rewarding. I thank you all again for supporting us.
Here’s to the next 10!
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – The Pet Page
• Scamp didn’t make it to this anniversary issue, but if he had we are sure this is what he would have said.
I wrote for the Ventura Breeze for over nine years and enjoyed every minute of it. I was just a puppy when I started (about 30 years old in doggy years).
I want to thank my remarkable publisher-editor for giving me the opportunity to write for the Breeze after graduating from Furry State University in journalism. My mom wanted me to be a K9, but I felt that I was too small for the job.
Thanks to my great readers, Scampclub members, and Savana for leaving me alone while I was working at the computer. And for those of you that voted for me as President. Don’t you wish that I had won? And especially the advertisers that supported my page and continue to do so.
I am proud to have presented so many animals for adoption and for the many that were adopted.
My Scampclub members included dogs, cats, birds, a pig and even an elephant.
Doggy heaven is real nice. They feed us whatever we want, take us on long walks, and there are a lot of cute female French poodles for me to sniff. Fire hydrants are all over the place but I don’t use them.
I hope that you still enjoy reading the Pet Page but probably miss my funny little comments.
I miss you all and hope that you are doing well and am glad that the Pet Page continues in my memory.
• The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) opened the nation’s very first facility designed specifically for disaster search dogs and their handlers on September 23, 2017. Using 21 years of collective deployment experience gathered from canine disaster search teams and experts across the country, the National Training Center now gives former shelter dogs a place to call home while they transform into search dogs. It also provides search teams with experience in deployment simulations before they ever set foot at the site of a disaster.
Located in the foothills of Santa Paula (it seems like Ventura), the National Training Center provides unique training props, including: a large rubble pile that simulates debris similar to the World Trade Center; Search City, a mini urban “town” that allows teams to search inside and outside of damaged buildings; and even a train wreck consisting of three decommissioned train cars.
SDF recruits, trains and provides Search Dogs at no cost to Search and Rescue Task Forces. Ongoing Advanced Training support is also provided. SDF has a lifetime care commitment, assuring all SDF dogs, even those unable to complete training, will be provided a loving home throughout their lives.
Hawk wedding soars!
Photographer Karey Cottrell climbed a ladder onto the roof to get all guests into the photo!
by Jennifer Tipton
We’ve all had that invite to a wedding when it feels more like an obligation than an opportunity to attend, not this one!
A little history… at 59, Jim Hawk had married before, he and his two sons had been on their own for some time. Jim had dated but never met the “right” woman and Lisa at 53 had never married although she had the chance more than once.
The two met at a friend’s birthday party but it was “hit and miss” for some time, (I was really hoping to hear “love at first sight”- much more romantic). The first few dates were on the marginal side, but because of the advice of a friend, Bobbi Blum Palmer who is a dating and relationship coach for women over 40, Lisa stayed with it. The advice paid off when Lisa realized she missed Jim when they were apart and this was a first. Jim proposed to Lisa while vacationing in Paris, France in 2016 just two days after her birthday (now that’s romantic!).
On Saturday, September 16th Jim Hawk married Lisa Ross in a most exceptional ceremony and celebration to follow.
The ceremony took place at the couple’s home on the hillside in Ventura which they refer to as “Hawk’s Nest”. The wedding/reception was a beach theme since they share an affection for the beach, even Jim’s boutonniere was a starfish. They were married beneath a driftwood arch handcrafted by a friend, Rich LaJoie, with the view of the city behind them as Jim’s brother, Dave officiated the ceremony. Jim had lost his dad in February so it was very touching that it was his dad’s wedding band Lisa placed on Jim’s finger. Also touching was Lisa’s 91-year-old mother walking her only daughter down the aisle and the radiant look on Lisa’s face as she gazed at her soon to be husband.
At the house everything was spectacular, a large framed photo for guests to sign, a mimosa bar, a variety of beer, tempting appetizers such as an antipasto platter, bruschetta and caprese skewers. There was a large “Nothing Bundt Cake”, assorted small ones, and a most impressive cake that looked like an actual sand castle! But it gets so much better…
From here, the 150 guests were taken by shuttle to the Ventura Beach Club where the attendance was close to 400! Upon entering, there was a complementary whiskey and cigar area, a fun photo booth that served as a guestbook and of course, sea shells everywhere!
The large dinner buffet was provided by a friend, Cathie Moreno who pulled off some very tasty food with no kitchen on site! A favorite feature was the candy “bar” where beach themed treats stood in fishbowls including gummy worms labeled “bait” and green licorice labeled “seaweed”. Guests were encouraged to fill a bag that read “Happily Ever After” to take home. There was a no host bar and music that was so good even those that don’t dance were on the dance floor. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, a complimentary hot dog cart arrived with all the goodies.
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – Harbor Patrol Blotter
|
9-27 |
10:21am, received a dispatch to a person not breathing south of Surfers Knoll. Officers responded with Ventura Fire, AMR and Ventura PD. The patient was an elderly male transient who was determined Dead On Arrival in a homeless encampment near the Santa Clara Rivermouth. The VC coroner and Ventura PD handled the call.
9:33pm, received several calls seeking information regarding bioluminescence from the red tide conditions in and around the Harbor. Officers explaining to the best of their ability the naturally occurring phenomena, which creates a bluish glow when waves break or vessels transit through the water. |
|
9-28 |
10:20am, while on patrol, officers observed a transient making an abode behind the entry feature to the Harbor on Spinnaker/Harbor. Contact was made with the individual and a warning issued for camping in the Harbor. |
|
9-29 |
6:45pm, while on patrol, received a dispatch to a fall victim near the Carousel in the village. Officers responded with Ventura Fire/AMR and assisted an 85 year old female who fell down a flight of stairs near the promenade and injured her hip. She was treated and transported to local hospital for further evaluation.
11:45pm, briefing with Fish and Wildlife officers about the lobster season opening beginning at 6am Saturday. 11:55pm, while on patrol officers observed two coyotes running westbound on Spinnaker drive and slide at full speed under a fence into the settling ponds for the water treatment plant near Angler court. |
|
9-30 |
11:10am, received a report of a disabled vessel in the A-Basin of the Harbor. Officers responded and assisted the vessel and safely towed them to their slip in the harbor at Ventura West Marina.
1:30pm, received a dispatch to a medical, stroke patient at 1559 Spinnaker Drive. Officers responded and assisted Ventura Fire and AMR with the call. 7:03pm, Officers conducting safety and equipment inspections of boaters fishing for lobster around the breakwall. 10 vessels were inspected and violations were either corrected or warnings were issued for minor infractions. One kayaker’s voyage was terminated for multiple violations including no fishing license, lobster report card or personal floatation device. |
|
10-01 |
10:56pm, received a report of a disabled vessel taking on water from an individual on a PWC. Officers responded and assisted the large vessel.
9:20pm, officers conducted safety and equipment inspections of vessels fishing for lobster around the breakwall. 3 boats were contacted and one issued a warning for placing a hoopnet in a closed area. |
|
10-02 |
9:51pm, received a dispatch to a fall victim in the marina mobile home park. Officers responded and assisted Ventura Fire/AMR with the call. |
|
10-03 |
10:40am, received a dispatch to a medical at the marina mobile home park. Officers responded and assisted Ventura Fire/AMR with a terminally ill patient. The patient was released at the scene. |
Vol. 11, No.1 – Oct 11 – Oct 24, 2017 – 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.
Armed Robbery
On September 25, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a female employee of the Goodwill Retail Store, reporting that an armed robbery had just occurred. The suspects, one armed with a handgun, were last seen fleeing in a silver van. The driver was a Hispanic male wearing beanie hat and all black clothing, no description of the second suspect was available.
During the investigation, officers learned the victim was exiting the store when the suspect called out to her from within the van. The victim approached the parked vehicle and was immediately confronted by the suspect who brandished a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. The victim complied with the request and relinquished a bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect took the bag and was last seen traveling west on Main Street.
Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. The victim was not injured as a result of this incident.
Attempt Robbery
On September 27, at approximately 9:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call 911 call from the victim who was at 1130 south Victoria Ave, Bank of America (ATM). The victim indicated that a male suspect, later identified as 40 year old Thousand Oaks vagrant Scott Oppenheim, yelled at her and pushed her from the ATM as she was trying to withdraw money from the ATM. The suspect manipulated the ATM in order to withdraw money from the victim’s account. The victim began to yell and scream for help as several bystanders at a nearby gas station came to the victim’s aide. The bystanders fought with the suspect as the suspect was able to flee from them.
Officers arrived on scene and saw the suspect walking eastbound on Telephone Rd. from Victoria Ave. when he was stopped. The suspect did not follow any commands that officers were giving him. K9 Rover was sent and apprehended the suspect who was taken into custody.
The suspect was taken to VCMC where he was treated for his minor injuries sustained from the bystanders assisting the Victim and from the apprehension. No officers were injured as a result of this incident.
Aggravated Trespassing Arrest
On September 30 at 2:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call from a resident in the 200 block of Hoover Avenue who advised a male subject had just attempted to gain entry into their home. When officers arrived on scene they learned the victim had confronted the suspect to the front of their residence after he had attempted to enter through the front door. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival and he was not located at that time.
At approximately 3:15pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 100 block of San Mateo Avenue who advised a male subject had just illegally entered their home and was being detained by a family member. Responding officers recognized the suspect matched the description from the earlier call on Hoover Avenue.
As officers arrived on scene, they contacted the suspect, 19 year old Ojai resident Angel Esperanza, in the front yard and detained him without incident. During the investigation, officers determined Esperanza had attempted to enter the residence through the front door as he had previously done on Hoover Avenue. When he found the front door locked, he tried a locked garage door and eventually made entry into the house through an open side door. A resident confronted Esperanza just inside the entryway and demanded he leave. The resident physically detained Esperanza after he refused to exit and began to push his way further into the home.
Esperanza was placed under arrest and transported to VCMC where he was treated for minor injuries he received as a result of being detained by the victim. He was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for misdemeanor aggravated trespassing.
Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On October 1 at 2:15pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call from a victim who was reporting having just found his stolen utility trailer in the 1500 block of Goodyear Avenue. The victim indicated the trailer was stolen out of Oxnard on September 21.
As officers arrived on scene, they observed the suspect, 30 year old Ventura vagrant Brandon Beechum, attaching his vehicle to the trailer. Beechum was detained and evidence located on his person further linked him to the trailer.
Beechum was arrested and transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle. A female passenger was questioned and released at the scene.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On October 1 at 7:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of an audible burglary alarm at the Buena High School cafeteria located at 5670 Telegraph Road.
As officers arrived on scene they found an open exterior door and observed a male juvenile suspect inside. A perimeter was established around the cafeteria and the suspect was ordered to exit. He refused to comply with officers commands and retreated further into the cafeteria where officers lost sight of him.
A Ventura Police K9 was summoned to the scene to assist officers as they entered the cafeteria to search for the suspect. Within minutes, the K9 located the 17 year old juvenile hiding behind a counter inside the kitchen area. The suspect attempted to physically resist officers as he was taken into custody.
The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to Ventura County Juvenile Hall where he was booked for commercial burglary. The suspect was not injured during the arrest.
Brandishing a Replica Firearm in a Threatening Manner Arrest
On October 3, at approximately 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received separate 911 calls reporting two vagrants in a verbal argument in the 3000 block of E. Main St., near the intersection of Dos Caminos Ave. As the two subjects were still arguing, the callers reported one of them pulled out a gun and pointed it at the other subject. While the patrol units were still responding to the call, the subjects had separated and left the area in different directions. The subject with the gun, later identified as 42 year old vagrant David Olszewski, was last seen leaving the area on foot eastbound on Main St.
As he left the area, Olszewski then confronted the manager of the Bayshore Inn, a short distance away from the location of the original altercation, and pointed the gun at the manager in a threatening manner.
Units arrived on scene and took Olszewski into custody without incident. He had discarded the gun, but after a search of the area it was located and determined to be a replica firearm. (See attached).
Olszewski was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for brandishing a replica firearm in a threatening manner.
The first subject that was observed in the verbal altercation with Olszewski was last seen leaving on foot northbound on Dos Caminos Ave. and was not located.