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Vol. 10, No. 16 – May 10 – May 23, 2017 – Person to Person

by Jennifer Tipton

I asked 6 Ventura resident moms:
What’s your favorite way to spend Mother’s Day?

Joy Matthews
age 67
Homemaker
“With my family, we have nurses, fireman and cops so their schedules are all different and some are out of state. It’s just so nice to get everyone together.”
Joy is mom to 4 children and grandmother to 10

Erin Glynn
age 43
Works at On Duty a local family owned business
“We always go to lunch or dinner together, we’re boring like that because we see each other every day – we work together!”
Erin is mom to 15-year-old Bryce

 

Jessica Meramble
age 32
Dietician at CMH
“A day at the beach with family, the weather is perfect here and Kennedy loves to play in the sand and dig holes.”
Jessica is mom to 22-month-old Kennedy

 

Claire Rauley
age 48
Economics teacher at Buena H.S.
“Most likely go to the beach with the kids and either walk on the beach or just hang out. I love the water and sun even more, it’s very calming. It’s my happy place, I can’t imagine moving away from it.”
Claire is the mom of 2 boys and identical twin girls

 

Julie Robinson
age 59
Physical Therapist with Livingston Memorial
“I like to spend it with my children they made me a mother and as they’re getting older they all have their own lives so it’s great when I get to see them all at the same time.”
Julie is mom to 2 boys and 1 girl

 

Joyce Weight
age 87
Retired banker
“I like to spend it with all my children and grandchildren going out to eat and relaxing, just having family time together.”
Joyce is mom to 4, grandmother to 7 and great-grandmother to 1

 

 

Face of Ventura 003 – Karyl Lynn Burns & Brian McDonald (Rubicon)

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Face of Ventura 002 – Police Chief Ken Corney

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Joe McDermott has worked for the City of Ventura since 2002

Dear Valued Customer,

With great pleasure and enthusiasm, I would like to introduce myself as Ventura Water’s Acting General Manager. I am a registered engineer with over 20 years of experience in the Civil Engineering profession with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.

I have had the pleasure of working for the City of Ventura since 2002.  Some of my most accomplished achievements as Assistant General Manager for Ventura Water include the development and implementation of the VenturaWaterPure Demonstration Facility and launching demand management initiatives such as Ventura’s Water Wise Turf Removal Incentive Program and the Water Shortage Event Contingency Plan.

I have been working diligently with staff to plan and set the stage for constructing new water supply projects. These include potable reused water under the VenturaWaterPure Program, and a pipeline that will finally give Ventura access to the State Water Project.

With many great projects and challenges ahead, I am honored to serve Ventura Water as we continue to work toward a safe and sustainable future.

Sincerely,

Joe McDermott,
Ventura Water Acting General Manager

City of Ventura names 2016-2017 Green School Award winners

Juanamaria Elementary School honored by Ventura City Council. Photo by Michael Gordon.

In celebration of Earth Day, the Ventura City Council presented the annual Green School Award for achievement in environmental excellence to students and staff from Juanamaria Elementary School and ATLAS Elementary School. 2017 Watershed Hero Award Winner! These prestigious Green School Awards) were presented on Monday, April 17th in front of the City Council in honor of Earth Day.

This year’s winners, Juanamaria Elementary School and ATLAS Elementary School, created programs and projects that increase recycling, build wildlife habitats and reduce waste and water consumption.

“Many public and private schools in Ventura have been working hard to demonstrate environmental leadership in our community,” said Haili Matsukawa Environmental Services Specialist at Ventura Water. “Every year since 2007 the City of Ventura has recognized and encouraged those school efforts through nominations and selection of a competitive annual ‘Green School’ award, presented in partnership with Agromin Premium Soil Products and EJ Harrison & Sons, Inc. who provide the annual $500 cash award.”

Students and staff at ATLAS Elementary School have demonstrated excellence in sustainability through their recycling, electronic waste and battery collection programs. Starting at a young age, students at ATLAS Elementary School are taught to be good stewards of the environment. In their Makerspace classroom, students engineer their own designs out of recyclable materials. In recognition of their efforts, the City will present them with the 2016-2017 Environmental Leadership Award.

Juanamaria Elementary School has made extraordinary efforts to conserve water by converting turfed areas into sustainable landscapes. Students of all ages were involved in mulching and planting of the school’s new Science Garden. In an upcoming project Juanamaria Elementary School has partnered with Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden group to design a water wise reading garden for students and teachers to enjoy nature. For this reason, Ventura Water will present them with the 2016-2017 Watershed Hero Award.

For more information about the City of Ventura’s Green School Awards program, visit www.cityofventura.net/greenschool or contact Brandon Kaysen, Environmental Sustainability at 652-4593 or Haili Matsukawa, Ventura Water at 652-4501.

 

Organization is dedicated to helping families who are battling all forms of cancer

Emanuel Franco and Cory Harper (musicians), Nathaniel Curran and Matt Coulter (Co-Founders of The Young and Brave Foundation), and Mike Morrison and Seth Gibson (Co-Founders of MadeWest Brewery) are supporters of The Young and Brave Foundation.

The Young and Brave Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping families who are battling all forms of cancer. From the beginning, the theme of the foundation has been Love. Co-founders Matt Coulter of Ventura and Nathaniel Curran of Oxnard grew up surfing the local beaches together. When a loved one was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, Coulter and Curran brought a community together to help fight this disease and to prove that love beats cancer. The nonprofit earned its 501(c)(3) status in March of 2011 and hit the ground running to help as many families as possible.

Once a person is diagnosed with cancer, they can apply to be a Warrior supported by The Young and Brave Foundation. The foundation supports its Warriors in overcoming their challenges by providing a streamlined fundraising platform, hosting events, raising awareness, and advocating for children and families who are dealing with cancer. Each Warrior is provided with a free online profile where they can share vital information, photos, and where they can fundraise. 100% of contributions raised through each profile goes straight to the Warrior and their fight for life.

The foundation operates many programs. One program, #LOVEbeatscancer, encourages cancer survivors to share their stories with the community to encourage others and to remind them that no one fights alone. #LOVEbeatscancer survivor stories are posted on the foundation’s website. Additionally, the foundation’s “Operation Turkey Day” happens every year in November and involves a full Thanksgiving meal served to patient families at several hospitals across the U.S.

Over the years, The Young and Brave Foundation has built partnerships with individuals, groups, and businesses around the world. Today, the reach of the foundation extends far beyond Ventura with Warrior families and supporters across the globe. “We are humbled and inspired by the incredible support we’ve received from so many people, all of them are part of our Young and Brave family” said Matt Coulter, Co-Founder and Executive Director.

With a robust social media presence, followers can stay connected with the Young and Brave cause and community. Follow @theyoungandbrave on Instagram and The Young and Brave Foundation on Facebook. Potential Warriors and their families can be nominated online at https://www.theyoungandbrave.com/donate/nominate-a-warrior/.

The Young and Brave Foundation is proud to have given away over a million dollars. Their flagship location is set to open in Ventura this summer.

Walk with NAMI Ventura County in the 13th Annual NAMI Ventura County Walk

Last year’s NAMI Walk was attended by hundreds of concerned folks.  

by Jennifer Tipton

NAMI Ventura will be holding their annual walk on May 6. The NAMI Walk raises awareness about mental health issues and it is also a fundraiser for NAMI Ventura County. The funds raised from the Walk are what makes it possible for NAMI to offer all their classes, programs, and services at no cost to anyone. Please join in at 9  am at the Ventura promenade!

The Walk is a tradition that provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the facts of mental illness, to erase the stigma associated with mental illness, and to raise funds so that NAMI Ventura County can continue to offer all of their programs and services at no cost to persons who can be helped by those services. It gives everyone a chance to show their support for all of the efforts put forth by NAMI Ventura County.

NAMI bases their mission on the principles of support, education, and advocacy for persons impacted by mental illness. They provide classes for family members, providers, and persons with a lived experience of mental illness. They also present in schools, hold support groups for family members, and provide outreach to persons who come to see persons who are in the inpatient psychiatric units in Ventura County. NAMI Ventura County also has a Peer to Peer class for persons in recovery and a Connections support group for persons in recovery as well.

David Deutsch is a licensed clinical social worker and has worked in the field of mental health for about 13 years, as the executive director at NAMI, David is also a certified addiction treatment counselor and he states that often substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders go hand in hand. David reports, “we are an organization that doesn’t charge anything to anyone, the walk is our biggest fundraiser, it’s what makes it possible for all of our programs and services to be free.” According to David there were 1,500 people last year with 84 teams and over 1,300 walkers.

The Walk in Ventura County is a fun family event with activities for children and opportunities to socialize. It also provides our community with a way for us all to come together to show our support for needed services for all persons impacted by mental illness.

To register as an individual walker or to form a team and/or to find information about sponsorships please visit www.namiventura.org.