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12th Annual Summerfest full of healthy family fun

Friendly, low-key runs encourage youth to start the day with a little physical activity. Photo by Jessica Miranda Photography

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Mark your calendar to attend Summerfest on Saturday, June 3. You won’t want to miss this 12th annual free family fun celebration of healthy living. Presented by Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) and the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) in alliance with the City of Ventura, Summerfest will be held at Ventura Unified School District’s Education Service Center, 255 West Stanley Avenue from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The day kicks off with a 3,000 Meter race and 1-Mile run/walk. These friendly, low-key runs encourage elementary and middle school youth and their parents to start the day with a little physical activity. Details and registration forms will be available soon at www.VenturaEducationPartnership.org.

All activities at this day long, family-friendly event focus on encouraging attendees to have a fit, active and healthy lifestyle. Among the experiences offered at the many community and health-related booths are sports clinics, a Fun Zone, hands-on craft activities, a rock climbing wall, healthy food, garden tastings and so much more! Summerfest is also bringing back its popular Star Athlete’s Selfie Station and is pleased to announce that former Buena High School student and Indianapolis Colts NFL linebacker Freddy Keiaho and pro-surfer Mary Osborne have both confirmed their attendance to sign autographs, pose for pictures and answer questions from our local youth athletes.

Our committee works very hard to bring this healthy living event to the community each year,” stated Ann Marie Bidlingmaier, Summerfest event chair and coordinator of health and prevention programs for VUSD. “We are able to keep Summerfest free due to the generous ongoing support of our sponsors, especially Clif Bar Mountains2Beach Marathon, which has once again committed a minimum of $20,000 to Ventura Education Partnership for the continued promotion of health and wellness in our local schools.” To become a sponsor or secure a booth for Summerfest 2017, which draws 3,500+ attendees, contact Kay Giles or Ivone Quintero-Cagnacci at [email protected].

The mission of the Ventura Education Partnership (VEP), a community-based, non-profit, non-political association, is to support and enrich education in the Ventura Unified School District through community partnerships. This all-volunteer group fosters community recognition of the work of district teachers and staff and enlists the participation of parents, businesses and community members in the education of our District’s children.

It’s an opportunity to ask questions about the state of the press

Breeze publisher Sheldon will be one of the presenters at “Meet the Press”.

The public can “Meet the Press” for questions, comments, and learn about how the local media puts it all together, thanks to the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS). Afterward, you are invited to eat with the press.

“It’s an opportunity to ask questions about the state of the press in Ventura County and voice wishes and expectations to those providing our news services,” said Suz Montgomery, chair of the VCS, which is sponsoring the panel. The event host is the Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE) arm of the Ventura Unified School District. The barbecue lunch is free, complements of the Downtown Ventura Rotary.

It begins at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 27 at VACE headquarters, 5200 Valentine Rd. Please RSVP at 648-3035 to ensure enough food.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Tim Gallagher, former editor of the Ventura County Star and features four journalists, representing four print news outlets with a nod to radio and TV affiliations. They are:

Ventura County’s daily newspaper, Ventura County Star, featuring its new news director, Darrin Peschka, recently promoted due to the retirement of John Moore.

Peschka knows Ventura intimately, serving as a Star editor for 14 years, overseeing community news, business, and city and county government.  She has a journalism degree from the University of Kansas and is now working on a master’s degree in public policy at California Lutheran University.

Ventura County Reporter, a weekly edited since 2008 by Michael Sullivan, who began her journalism career in 2006 at the Business Journal in Fresno, covering four counties in the Central Valley. She graduated from CSU-Northridge with a BA in journalism after earning an AA in journalism from Oxnard College.

Her style is “to keep it interesting, honest and informative.”

The bi-monthly Ventura Breeze was created by Sheldon Brown and his daughter, Staci, in 2007 with the simple task “to inform Venturans regarding events, happenings and news,” he said, “despite having absolutely no knowledge of the newspaper business we launched the paper.”

An architect by profession who has taught extension classes at Ventura College, Brown now knows a bit more of the news business during his golden years, venturing further into his own radio show on the new CAPS live-stream KPPQ-FM at 104.1.

John Hankins is a career journalist who owned a news bureau and clipping service covering the tri-counties from 1970 until 2000, when he opted to jump over deadlines into semi-retirement. He learned the art of reporting on the job during the turbulent 60s, working for the Oakland Tribune, L.A. Times and Time Magazine. He has a BA degree in English from UC-Santa Barbara.

He continues to edit, write and design the Sierra Club’s Condor Call, which covers environmental news and outdoor activity for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

A Tale of Two Trees

Everyone present had the opportunity to grab a shovel and be a part of history.   Which Staci Brown and the writer did but Staci thought that she was going to a dance.

by Jennifer Tipton

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Ventura are the two trees standing together on top of the hillside, they can be seen throughout most of our town and are a beacon to Ventura.

There are many different stories about the actual history of two trees, with actual not necessarily being factual. For instance, I had always heard that there were originally 5 trees planted by an unknown gentleman, one tree for each of his five daughters, fun story but not true…

Some say the trees were planted as a beacon for sea going ships and that on certain sailing charts you can still see the trees on the hill marking Ventura, interesting and kind of romantic, but again, don’t know if this is true…

Truth be told, in 1898 just 32 years after Ventura city limits were incorporated, a horticulturist by the name of Joseph Sexton planted in fact 13 Blue Gum Eucalyptus saplings atop the hill simply for the beauty and to mark the western boundary between his land and that of the Lloyd Ranch (no, he did not have thirteen daughters and I don’t believe he was a sailor.)

Joseph Sexton was noted in history books for his work with walnuts, avocados and the introduction of pampas grass, he hired his neighbor Owen Marron to do the planting and caretaking of the sapling trees which were not even native to California but originate from Australia. Owen Marron was joined by many volunteers to maintain the trees, one of whom was E.P. Foster.

In those days, caring for the trees was quite challenging because the water had to be hauled by horseback or burro up the steep hillside, but the 13 trees survived for five years until 1903 when sadly a wildfire burned 8 to the ground.

In 1940, shortly after WWII with 5 trees remaining, a group of Halloween pranksters cut 3 down (not so funny.)

In 1956, these were replanted and 5 trees once again stood together until 1958 when vandals hit again and chopped one down leaving 4.

In 1961 one of the 3 fell and died, leaving one of the original trees planted in 1898 and one replacement from the 1950’s.

In 1966, the Ventura Junior Women’s Club made it their project to bring back the 5 trees but unfortunately failed.

In 2005, all of Ventura watched as flames swept across the hillside and over the ridgeline toward our beloved two trees, thankfully, but they were not harmed.

A fun fact is that one year Ventura High School moved an entire classroom of desks to the hillside where two trees stand, as a senior prank, oh these jokesters, at least it wasn’t malicious!

Today, the eastern most tree is thought to be one of the original 13 trees and where in their native Australian climate Blue Gum trees can live 400-500 years, here in California their life expectancy is only 100-200 years. The eastern most tree has indeed been reported to be “deader than a doornail.”

On Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) Rancho San Buenaventura Conservation Trust which protects the hillsides along with Richard Atmore who has worked the land owned by Lloyd Properties since 1979 and Baron Bros. Nursery who provided a new sapling to replace the eastern most tree, did just that.

Many folks in town said they saw a lot of activity up there and wondered what was going on! The event shuttled nearly one hundred up the steep hillside on a one-way road and about 40 participants chose to hike, although the event was supposed to be private and by invitation only, they turned no one away. Beautifully coordinated by Richard Atmore and his lovely wife Bonnie Atmore, they served wine and hors d’oeuvres at the top of the hill while our very own and very talented Shawn Jones played acoustic guitar.

After saying a prayer for the young tree, it was placed gently between the two remaining and everyone present had the opportunity to be a part by lining up to grab a shovel and be a part of the history taking place.

The future plan is to open the area up to the public and share the history, tell the tale of Two Trees – the beacon on the hill.

Vol. 10, No. 15 – April 26 – May 9, 2017 – Scamp Club

Dear Scamp:

I’m very sad to hear you’re feeling so poorly of late, however I understand you’re comfortable and getting lots of love and much deserved pampering.

I saw the “Join Scamp Club” notice in the Ventura Breeze recently, and I’d sure be honored to be a member. Of course I’d like to be featured in the Breeze and become world famous too!

Paws crossed you’re feeling better very soon.

Fondly, Bighead Jazzpaws

Pismo

Ventura Family YMCA Raises $186,382 in Annual Campaign

The Ventura Family YMCA concluded its 2017 Annual Campaign by victoriously reaching their fundraising goal.

The Ventura Family YMCA set a goal of $185,000 for this year’s Annual Campaign, and raised $186,382 to date with donations still streaming in to the Y. Due to an ever increasing need for the services the YMCA provides to the community, the goal was increased from last year’s $170,000.

The campaign was  chaired by Danielle Brinkman-Vera, also the Y’s current Board Chair.

Every dollar raised in the annual campaign is applied to placing kids and families in need into YMCA programs such as summer day camp, teen development, senior fitness, sports, afterschool care, the LIVESTRONG cancer survivor program, and memberships.

“All Y services are provided to everyone in the community, including those who may need them most, but are unable to afford them.” said Amy Bailey “This is how the Y strengthens the community of Ventura, providing services to everyone.”

During the celebration, the Y recognized top fundraisers for the branch. The Bauer Family Foundations, LinkedIn, Community Memorial Health Systems, Rotary East and Belles Family Fund are among the Y’s top donors for 2017.

In 2016, the Ventura Family YMCA provided approximately $190,000 in direct financial assistance to more than 2,500 individuals; and more than $130,000 in program subsidy to keep child care, youth sports, teen, and family programs affordable and accessible to all.

The Ventura Family YMCA is still accepting donations for its Annual Campaign fund. Donations to the YMCA can be made in-person or via mail at the Ventura Family YMCA, 3760 Telegraph Road, 93003 or by calling 805-642-2131. For more information on the annual campaign or to make an online donation, visit giveciymca.org.

About the Channel Islands YMCA

Established in 1887, the Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including: Camarillo Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, Ventura Family YMCA, and Youth and Family Services YMCA which operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, the St. George Family Youth Center and My Home.

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.  The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information about the Ventura Family YMCA, visit http://www.ciymca.org/ventura or 805-642-2131.

A Conversation with Mikael Jorgensen April 30

A Conversation with Mikael Jorgensen Sunday, April 30, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Oxnard’s Levity Live at The Collection

Mikael Jorgensen is a keyboard player in the Grammy Award winning rock group Wilco. The intersection of technology and music is of paramount interest to Jorgensen. In 1998 he relocated to Chicago from New Jersey and helped build SOMA Electronic Music Studios where he honed advanced production techniques utilizing modular synthesizers and specialized music software Jorgensen’s newest project Quindar is an electronic music and video duo where he and art historian James Merle Thomas remix the NASA audio and film archive. Jorgensen has performed on six albums and in concerts around the world. Mikael and his wife Cassandra C. Jones (an extensively documented FOTM artist) live with their two children in Oak View.

RSVP: www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or 653.2501.  $10 for the general public, $5 for students and seniors, and free to Focus on the Masters Members.  Not a member?  Sign up today at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com. To learn about Mikael Jorgensen visit www.MikaelJorgensen.com

The Artist Spotlight is open to students attending as a class assignment free of charge.  Faculty and students are requested to make a reservation at www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 653.2501.

VCCCD Board of Trustees promotes

Gillespie has demonstrated his commitment to providing student-centered access to quality and relevant education.

Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Greg Gillespie as chancellor.  Gillespie, now president of Ventura College for nearly four years, brings more than 23 years of higher education experience to the position, including his current role in the District.

Prior to joining the District in 2013, Gillespie was vice president for instruction and student services at Yavapai College, Prescott, Arizona.  He has held various positions including faculty, director, dean, vice president and president at community colleges in Arizona, California and Washington.

The unanimous decision to select Gillespie was made after the trustees entered early negotiations with another candidate, but rescinded the offer quickly after further taking into consideration the best interest of the students and the community at large.  “These searches are always a challenge, especially since selecting the right person to lead the three-college, 31,000-plus student district is such an important decision,” stated VCCCD Board Chair Bernardo Perez. “The Board worked cohesively to reach an agreement, however, and we are pleased with our decision to appoint Dr. Gillespie in the position of Chancellor,” added Perez.

A proven leader, Gillespie has demonstrated his commitment to providing student-centered access to quality and relevant educational programs and support services; he has established working relationships with District administrators, faculty, staff and community partners throughout Ventura County.  When he takes office as chancellor beginning July 1, he will be able to leverage this advantage and continue the momentum of moving the Board’s strategic plan forward.  “Our county is fortunate to have a District with three great community colleges.  I look forward to stepping into this role and supporting the Board, as well as working with the colleges and the District to expand opportunities for our students and communities throughout the county,” stated Gillespie.  He also added, “I am honored to have been selected for this position and I appreciate the support from the Board.”

Gillespie earned a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Agronomy (Crop Science) from North Dakota State University.  He attended Yakima Valley Community College and then transferred and received a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Washington State University.  He conducted agricultural research in the public and private sectors for ten years prior to beginning community college work as an agriculture faculty member.  Gillespie grew up near Yakima, Washington.  He and his wife Kristin live in Ventura.

Vol. 10, No. 15 – April 26 – May 9, 2017 – Mailbox

Hi Sheldon:

I just sent Breezy our Ventura Friends of the Library Ad for your May 10th issue.  The Friends are using this ad to express a heartfelt thank you to Supervisor Steve Bennett and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors for their approval of the new east side Hill Road Library in Ventura.  We are very grateful for their support of our libraries and especially for restoring east side library services to Ventura.

I am quoting Dr. Seuss in our ad: “You can find magic wherever you look.  Sit back and relax.  All you need is a book.”  And we have Supervisor Bennett and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors to thank for bringing the magic of libraries back to the east side of Ventura at last! There are many exciting things planned for this new

In addition, if one of these days (this is the day) you could mention The Ventura Friends of the Library are raising money for furnishings and other items for this new location it would be great.  Donations can be made at: https://squareup.com/store/VenturaFOL or P.O. Box 403, Ventura CA 93002.

Regards,
Marianne Coffey
Vice President
Ventura Friends of the Library

Ooops again. In a  recent front page NAWBO article outlining outstanding local business women of Ventura County Heidi Whitcomb, owner and CEO of Ventura Rental Party Center, Inc. was awarded the  NAWBO “Woman Business Owner of the Year 2017” and was not mentioned in the article.

Heidi Whitcomb is a second-generation owner of Ventura Rental Party Center Inc. who has been at the helm of the business since the mid 1980’s.  She has designed and coordinated thousands of events from intimate family gatherings to corporate. A firm believer in community involvement she has provided services for  the Ojai Music Festival, Community Memorial Health Systems events, Casa Pacifica Food & Wine Festival along with various other non-profit, corporate and private events.

In this photo, from our last issue, showing  the Women of the Year, as chosen by 19th District State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson the second from the left is Kim Stephenson (A last year winner) and not Kim Evans that we said it was who was a winner this  year. Our apology to the correct Kim who is always a winner.

 

Wherever the crowd goes, run the other direction. They’re always wrong.
~ Charles Bukowski

Vol. 10, No. 15 – April 26 – May 9, 2017 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Tidbit a 10 year old Chihuahua rescued from VCAS through C.A.R.L.’s Golden Oldies program. Learn more about that at http://carldogs.org/how-to-help/c-a-r-l-s-golden-oldies/!

I enjoy car rides and viewing the world from your lap. I hope it’s not long before I’m in my forever home. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. Call 644-7387 for more information.

 

 

 

I’m Peanut (A662024) a very nice Chihuahua. I will make a wonderful companion for some lucky person. Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive

Luther Gerlach at Vita Art Center May 5-28

Luther Gerlach opening Friday, May 5 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Exhibit dates May 5 thru May 28, 2017

Luther Gerlach  discovered his fascination for photography at an early age while traveling around the world with his anthropologist father. Over the last 30 years he has explored early photographic processes, concentrating on the processes used in the first fifty years of photography. Gerlach uses his extensive collection of antique cameras and lenses for his work, with a special focus on mammoth plate cameras.

Gerlach has done over 200 on site demonstrations, lectures and workshops since 2001 in photographic history, including wet plate collodion, albumen, platinum and photo gravure processes at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu. Gerlach’s  work has been featured in numerous publications including View Camera, American Photographer, Shutterbug and Architectural Digest. Gerlach’s work is currently hanging in the White House as part of President and Mrs. Obama’s art collection.

Vita Art Center, 432 North Ventura Ave. Studio 30
www.vitaartcenter.com
Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm
Sat. & Sun. by appointment