Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), Ventura County’s largest provider of public transit, broke ground recently on the future home of its new Operations and Maintenance facility that will support future transit needs for thousands of riders in Ventura County.

“This facility is an investment in both the future of transit serving Ventura County and the transit workers we depend on to keep a modern, efficient transit fleet in good working order,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

The new facility will replace an outdated and deteriorating bus garage located on a 3-acre site that was originally built in the 1970’s for a much smaller fleet. Once built, the new “green facility” will allow GCTD to maintain a future fleet of up to 125 buses and will include an administration and operations building, an eight-bay maintenance and repair building, a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel station and bus wash. Noted Darren Kettle, Executive Director of Ventura County Transportation Commission, “This is the largest transportation infrastructure project in the last 10 years.” The new facility is located at 1901 Auto Center Drive in Oxnard, and is expected to open in late 2018.

“We have to keep our buses, equipment and facilities in good shape so that people can rely on public transit to get to work, school and appointments,” said Steve Brown, General Manager.

With the May 11, 2017 announcement, Ventura joins a group of communities, in all 50 states, that are transforming their neighborhoods. There are now 416 communities nationwide currently recognized with a BFC award for their efforts to make biking better.

This is the first time that the City of Ventura has qualified as a Bicycle Friendly Community.  Local bicycle club and advocacy organization, Channel Islands Bicycle Club, assisted with the application and has supported the many improvements for cyclists in Ventura that resulted in this recognition.

“We applaud these communities for making improvements for people who bike in ways that build upon their existing strengths and are based upon their particular needs, whether that is infrastructure, education, or encouragement,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director at the League of American Bicyclists. “We are encouraged by the way that communities are using bicycling as a part of their solution to issues of health, job access, traffic safety, and the environment and using our program to make progress in those issues.”

The Bronze BFC award recognizes Ventura’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through investment in bicycling promotion, education programs, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies. The BFC program provides a benchmark for communities to evaluate these conditions and policies, while highlighting areas for improvement. The national scope of the program also promotes competition and comparison between communities.

Each community that applies for a BFC award receives a report card. The report cards for communities that receive an award are available in the League of American Bicyclists’ award database.

“We are very proud of the many recent infrastructure projects in Ventura, such as the clearly marked bike lanes and green ‘bike boxes’ at intersections, that help cyclists and motorists share the road in Ventura,” said Leslie Ogden, Government Liaison at Channel Islands Bicycle Club.  “We encourage new riders to sign up for a Street Skills class through the City of Ventura and learn the techniques for safe road cycling.”

The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.  The Bicycle Friendly Community program was created in 1995 and has processed more than 1,200 applications since 2002.

To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit:  www.bikeleague.org/BFA

About the Channel Islands Bicycle Club

The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) represents over 300 cyclists from Ventura County and beyond. The Club sponsors weekly road bike rides and co-sponsors the annual “Cool Breeze Century Ride” every August.  CIBike advocates for safe cycling facilities and provides grants to organizations that promote cycling for recreation, health, sport, and transportation.  CIBike is partnering with the City of Ventura to offer the Street Skills classes.

by Terri Stober.

My book entitled  A Road to Barcelona, A Mother’s Account has been recently published.  My e-book or paperback is listed on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online retailers.  Bank of Books in Ventura, also, has my book in paperback.

My book is a mother’s story of her two daughters leaving home at young ages to pursue gymnastics dreams to be Olympians.  The loneliness and longing to be with her daughters during their journey and the long separations were not easy to describe.  Maybe they didn’t make it to the Olympics, but there were decisions, successes, and experiences that I wanted to share.

A retired high school educator and Human Relations Specialist retirement has allowed me the time to hike, bike, volunteer at the Ventura Botanical Gardens and the San Buenaventura Mission, play bridge, travel, and now write my first book.

Terri and her husband raised their two daughters in Grass Valley in Northern California, where they found their passion for gymnastics. After the girls’ college graduations, Terri worked and lived internationally for five years in Egypt and Paris, France, then moved to Seattle where she lived for 11 years. She finally returned to her home state of California in 2013.

I will have my second book signing at Bank of Books, 748 E Main St.  from 1-3 pm on June 24. I hope to see you there. www.gymnasticsamothersacctbystober.com .

GUEST COLUMNIST
by Rob Petrin

Pierpont residents in Ventura took a stand as a community, in an effort to reject a proposal by Verizon wireless to erect an RF ( Radio Frequency) cell transmission tower at the Marina Village shopping center directly behind Vons market. This is only 70ft from the nearest residence. The hearing was at city hall in February. The public took turns speaking, voicing concerns. Residents were very concerned about the health risks living directly in front of an RF transmitter or in close range to it. The best thing they could do in this situation would be to follow EMF Protection guidelines including things like wearing specially designed protective Clothing, but they wanted to avoid the situation altogether.

Turns out the only argument the city was allowed to consider from the public is appearance. The Verizon proposal was eventually rejected by the city based on aesthetics. Being taken back by this and even shocked, I decided to research what was behind this seemingly absurd ruling.

The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) has managed to convince law makers to exclude health concerns of residents as an argument against cell tower placement. They have also introduced a law which cancels arguments against loss of property value in close proximity to cell towers.

Most of the current research on RF is being done with regards to cell phones themselves, the little siblings to the transmission towers. This comes as no surprise as there are somewhere in the area of 4 billion cellphone users around the world that could be affected if RF were not as safe as our government lets us believe.

The FCC states in their guidelines. “ there is no scientific evidence to date that proves wireless phone usage can lead to cancer or any variety of other health effects”. The FCC last updated its standards 20 years ago. They rely on agencies like the WHO (World Health Organization) for its standards, even though the WHO declared RF from cell phones as 2B ( possibly carcinogenic)?

I am not condoning the WHO either. Picking apart their 2B classification they set for cellphone RF is full of holes. They chose to ignore the critical data and rejected studies by one of the most knowledgeable scientists in the industry. Respected scientists from around the world are screaming out to the WHO and all other standard setting agencies to urgently review their position on RF safety.

Let’s face it, we all need and use our wireless devices, most all using RF communication. What I want and what I think most people want is to know what is really safe and what is not. It only makes sense to keep cell towers away from our homes and families until we can establish safe distances from their transmissions. With your cell phone you have a choice. Cell towers are not a choice.

Verizon has appealed the decision. Now we get to see how our community survives fighting with sticks and stones and against the cell industry armed with laws, lawyers and RF.

A delightful way to spend time with friends!  Grandes Dames High Tea Fundraiser & Auction on Tuesday, May 30, 11:30 am – 2 pm. Check-In  11 am.

At the beautiful Las Posas Country Club, 955 Fairway Drive,   Camarillo.

$75/person  includes luncheon, live entertainment, silent auction and prizes

RSVP to Lee Ann Luongo at 667.2912, ext. 249  or [email protected]

Join the family of Grandes Dames at the Rubicon! Attend festive quarterly luncheons, be treated to special sneak peeks of upcoming shows, be entertained by talented artists, and receive invitations to special events. Support Rubicon while having fun and making new friends!