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Wine – Brew & Chews!

The 3rd annual Taste of Local Festival announces its new workshops, music and more. What better way to learn about local food and drinks than to experience it firsthand?

The Taste of Local Festival is about bringing together farmers, chefs, purveyors and community to celebrate our local harvest and the diversity of great food we have right here in Ventura County.

Over 60 area chefs, farmers, purveyors, wineries, breweries and distilleries are expected to showcase their culinary expertise. This year, they have expanding the event space, added more food tasting booths, workshops and more all geared to highlight our local food scene.

Don’t Miss the Totally Local Educational Workshops. Attendees can learn about everything form Hombre wing, Mixology to Fermenting for health as well as cooking demons and more. All this for the price of your admission.

Back by Popular demand the popular Local Homebrew Challenge as local home- brewers compete for the title of Grand Champion of Local Homebrewing.

And it would not be a Totally Local event without our local musicians this year’s music line up will feature The Dan Grimm Band, Bryan C Titus Band and The Ventura County Bluegrass Association. Special guests to also be announced.

The Taste of Local Festival takes place on Sept. 24th at the historic Olivas Adobe in Ventura located at 4200 Olivas Park Dr.

General admission: $45.00 in advance, $55.00 at the door; VIP admission: $65.00 in advance, $75.00 at the door All food and samples are included in the admission price. This is a 21 and older event.

All this and the event gives back. Proceeds front the event will go to Project Understanding and Totally Local VC’s Educational programs.

For tickets and more information go to TotallyLocalVC.com.

City of Ventura appoints new Ventura Water General Manager

Mr. Brown has more than 28 years of public sector experience.

Ventura City Manager Mark Watkins has announced that Kevin Brown has been appointed to the position of Ventura Water General Manager. Mr. Brown recently served as Chairman for Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Laydown Assessment in Washington, DC developing the Navy’s $9B annual infrastructure investment plan. He was selected through an open recruitment process and will join the City of Ventura on September 18.

Mr. Brown has more than 28 years of public sector experience as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer with a focus on customer satisfaction, environmental compliance, planning, budgeting, design, construction and facilities maintenance programs. He managed 10 unique water and sanitation districts negotiating interagency agreements, establishing water standards, maintaining systems and building new capacity.

“Kevin brings a wealth of experience and understands the intricacies of water resource management and inter-agency cooperation,” said City Manager Mark Watkins.

During his employment with the federal government, Brown worked internationally as well as locally; he served as the Commanding Officer, Civil Engineering Corps Officer School and the Executive Officer (CFO/COO) Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center, in Port Hueneme, California. His work experience also includes leading workforces of up to 1,400 personnel.

“I’m thrilled in this opportunity to join the Ventura Water team and serve the citizens of Ventura,” said Kevin Brown.

Brown is a licensed Professional Engineer with professional affiliations including the Society of American Military Engineers and the American Public Works Association. He is a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University Advanced Executive Program. He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, and a Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.

Mr. Brown will manage Ventura’s water and wastewater division that accounts for more than $94.5M in annual revenue serving more than 28,000 customers with a staff of 90.

Ventura Visitor Guide wins award

Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau (VVCB) proudly announced that the 2017 Ventura Visitor Guide has won an Award for Publication Excellence in the “One-of-a-Kind Publications” category.

The 29th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) which recognize excellence in publishing by professional communicators were based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry — in the opinion of the judges — in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence. The panel of judges for APEX 2017 included John De Lellis, Concepts Editor & Publisher, Ken Turtoro, noted publishing executive and senior APEX judge, Christine Turner, Contributing Editor of the Writing That Works Archives and Bill Londino, Consulting Editor of Writer’s Web Watch.

1,361 entries were evaluated including 60 in the “One-of-a-Kind Publications” category. VVCB was honored that the Ventura Visitor Guide was chosen among 23 same-category winners.

VVCB hopes to continue a tradition of publication excellence in Ventura’s 2018 Visitor Guide currently in progress. Similar to the 2017 Visitor Guide, it will focus on advertorial content that tells the Ventura story through local writers and photographers. The 2018 Visitor Guide will be published before the end of the year.

Ventura College in the news

by Veronica Johnson

Ventura College Foundation is pleased to announce the appointments of Mike Orman, Patty Wendt and Leslie Herrera to its board of directors.

Orman embarked on a career in banking following his graduation from the University of Southern California. Orman is currently EVP and COO of Ojai Community Bank, and will become Market President upon completion of the bank’s acquisition by Bank of the Sierra.

Wendt is a counselor at the Ventura College’s Educational Assistance Center. She’s an advocate support services and community resources for students with disabilities, and teaches the class, “Strategies for Success in College and Life.”

Herrera, a student at Ventura College, is the 2017/18 President of the Associated Students of Ventura College. She brings an expertise in communications, where she will serve as student representative.

The Ventura County Community College District and Ventura College have established a transfer agreement with Bellevue University, which grants Ventura College students, who meet the qualifying criteria, guaranteed admission into Bellevue University’s online bachelor’s degree programs.

Bellevue University is recognized nationally as a leader in preparing students with career-relevant knowledge and skills for lifelong success.

Ventura College students transferring with an associate’s degree will receive credit for all coursework in their degree program and enter Bellevue University with junior status.

Bellevue University also offers a one-time Fellowship Grant to community college employees based on their employment status.

To learn more about the Ventura College and Bellevue University partnership, contact Bellevue University Relationship Manager Spellman Cunningham at 289-6559 or [email protected] to schedule an office visit.

Ventura College and the California Transition Assistance Program (CalTap), Veterans Services Division, CalVet, will present the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo, Friday, September 15, 9 a.m., at Ventura College Applied Science Center, Lecture Hall ASC-150. The expo is free and open to student veterans throughout the Ventura County Community College District. Register online at the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo website located at https://goo.gl/Fg8q3U.

The expo is designed to connect student veterans with services and benefits. Representatives from CalVet, College of the Canyons Small Business Development Center, Support Services Veterans Families (SSVF) Salvation Army, and others are scheduled to attend and present valuable information to help student veterans.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees. Parking is free in the east parking lot of the campus during the expo. For more information, please contact Bruce McFadden at 289-6060 or [email protected] or visit https://goo.gl/Fg8q3U.

Ventura Unified School District high school countdown(there are 5 of them – can you name them all?)

Buena even offers law pathway classes for a career in criminal justice.

by Jennifer Tipton

First up – Buena High!

Located at 5670 Telegraph Rd., Buena High School opened in 1961. Providing grades 9 – 12, student enrollment is currently 1,895 and Buena is recognized as a California Distinguished School.

22% of Buena grads go directly to a 4-year university and another 47% attend junior college or something similar.

In her 7th year at Buena, principal Bobbi Powers is proud of “the fantastic music and drama programs and the unique AP (advanced placement) classes in science.” Buena even offers law pathway classes for a career in criminal justice.

Everyone knows the mascot is the Buena Bulldog, and when asked about the school’s bragging rights for sports competition I am told that just last year the girls’ softball team won the CIF championship, the girls’ basketball team got their thousandth win – first one in the state to accomplish this! There’s also a lot of wrestling championships.

And how about students that became famous? Well we know Kevin Costner attended Buena (but did not actually graduate from there as clarified in an earlier Breeze update). There’s Freddy Keiaho, a star athlete who played football at Buena and went on to be part of the Super Bowl XLI victory! There’s also Zac Levi the actor, Robert Weiss the screen writer for Shrek and Buena has a physical education teacher John Siman who was himself a former Olympian!

When asked about the amount of homework the students are given, principal Bobbi Powers states, “I do think our teachers are very aware the students have outside interests and a life, they don’t just give busy work, the homework they are given is to enhance the learning that’s happening in the classroom.”

For more information venturausd.org/Buena/HOME.aspx.

SEEAG seeks donations to fund School-to-Farm Field Trips

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is gearing up to teach thousands of schoolchildren about the farm origins of their food during the new school year. Part of the program brings elementary students to SEEAG’s Farm Lab at Petty Ranch in Saticoy where they experience a real working citrus, fig and avocado ranch. SEEAG is currently seeking donations to help offset field trip transportation costs.

All SEEAG programs are free to students and schools. While at Petty Ranch, SEEAG educators guide students through five stations equipped with STEM-integrated learning objectives designed to give students a hands-on understanding of the agricultural industry and an appreciation of where their food comes from.

One bus can transport up to 60 students at a cost of approximately $250. Throughout the school year, more than 50 buses transport over 3,000 students to Saticoy from Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

“We’ve expanded the number of students who take part in our program so our transportation costs have increased,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “We are grateful for any size donation.”

Tax-deductible contributions can be made by mail SEEAG, P.O. Box 1461, Ojai, Calif., 93024 or online at www.SEEAG.org.

Teen Challenge announces “Walk For Recovery”

Ventura Teen Challenge was established in 1972 and serves the tri-county region of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. In 1999 Ventura Teen Challenge moved from a two-story house on Ventura Avenue to a 143-acre property located in the Ventura foothills. They call this property “Miracle Mountain”.

Walk For Recovery will be Saturday, September 30th. This will be a beautiful sunset 5K walk/run supporting addiction recovery. They need walkers and sponsors to help raise money to keep the doors open for this amazing non-profit, 12-month, residential recovery program that helps save people from destructive lifestyles of drug and alcohol abuse.

Thousands of individuals with life controlling problems have found freedom from a life of despair through the help of Teen Challenge. You can help by sponsoring a Teen Challenge student for the walk or asking your family and friends to sponsor you to walk.

The walk starts at Ventura Crown Plaza promenade. You can register at www.tcwalks.com or text TCwalks1712 to 71777

For more information call Julie Sullivan at 585-4033 .

McGrath State Beach campground reopened

McGrath State Beach campground recently reopened after nearly three years of being closed because of flooding. 40 of the old 150 sites were opened. Normally the berm that allows the water to drain to the ocean breaks on its own during the rainy season. During a drought it does not break on its own and it is illegal to manually break it resulting in the flooding.

After the flooding dried out in spring, California State Parks crews and volunteers went to work cleaning the campground. Campsites cost $35 a night and each has a picnic table and a fire pit. No hookups are provide but the restrooms and showers are open.

Photos by Murray Robertson

How Cute is That! Consignment Boutique

How Cute is That! Consignment Boutique had their official Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting on Wednesday, September 6th. Owner, Ellyn Ostrove, many of her friends, Chamber members, family and community supporters joined her for this special occasion.

How Cute is That! offers pre-loved, women’s upscale designer and name brand clothing, accessories and household decor, handpicked and curated by Ellyn herself.

Her mission is to provide the look of a high end Boutique with the feel and comfort of classic Ventura.

Boutique hours are Tues-Sat 11am – 6pm, (closed Sun/Mon) and is located at 2122 East Thompson Blvd. 628-9419 www.howcuteisthatboutique.com