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In one day flat they  produced a remarkable music video

Guitarist Laurence Juber, Harmony Project young musicians and Jordan Laby at the sleek blue bus. Photo by Bernie Goldstein

The Lennon Bus has provided hundreds of thousands of students and educators with opportunities to tour the bus and get hands on experience with the equipment found on board.  Tours give students an overview of what really goes on in a recording or video production facility and are led by the Lennon staff.  Visitors learn about the history of the Bus, and are introduced to the various production skills needed to produce projects on the bus.

Recently the bus was at Sheridan Way Elementary School and Cabrillo Middle School working with students who are part of the Harmony Group which was formed five years ago by Jordan Laby, and his late wife Sandra.

The Harmony Group, working with the New West Symphony—includes students who were provided with musical instruments and music tuition.

Gabe Smith (Lennon Bus), Brian Vincik (Securematics), Laurence Juber (Lead Guitarist for Paul McCartney’s Wings)

On the bus, Grammy winning guitarist Laurence Juber , from Los Angeles came to coach the youngsters. In one day flat they  produced a remarkable music video featuring the young Harmony students who attend several Ventura schools.  Their video was premiered at Harmony Group’s Feb. 12 fundraiser at the Marriott Ventura Beach..

Ivor Davis (writer of The Beatles And Me On Tour) told the Breeze “John Lennon has been dead for 36 years—but his irrepressible spirit lives on in Ventura County  in the shape of a   $6 million bus—the best mobile recording studio in the world. The John Lennon Educational Bus—a living legacy to the late Beatles life– came to Ventura as part of its mission as Yoko Ono puts it,  ‘to give young people a chance to express themselves through music, video and broadcast productions.’ The original purpose in getting the bus to come to Ventura, was to publicize the Laby’s  magnificent efforts in launching the Harmony Group here. But alas, Sandra didn’t live long enough to see it herself.”

Retired Ventura County Superior Court judge kills girlfriend and himself

Herbert Curtis was appointed to the Superior Court in 1998.

On Feb. 5, at 11PM, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a resident in the 5500 block of Dorsey St. reporting that her neighbors were involved in a very loud and contentious verbal domestic argument.

When officers arrived on the scene they attempted to make contact with the individuals inside the residence. When they heard multiple gunshots they moved to a safer location and set up a perimeter around the residence.

In the residence was former Ventura County Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis III, 69, and Patricia Payne, 54. Herbert Curtis was the nephew of boxing promoter Don King and was Ventura County Superior Court’s first black judge.

Hostage negotiators made contact by phone with Curtis, who indicated he was armed with a gun, but he refused to surrender. Payne’s condition was not known at this time. Ventura SWAT officers were notified and arrived a short time later.

Negotiations continued for about two hours until the SWAT team deployed a listening device into the residence and heard Payne indicating she had been shot. When additional gunshots were heard, SWAT team members immediately entered the residence to try to rescue Payne.

As they made entry, Curtis shot and killed himself. Payne was brought to a waiting ambulance and was transported to VCMC for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds where she later died.

Ventura Police Commander Sam Arroyo said police had been called to the residence several times previously and that Payne had been arrested for misdemeanor public intoxication and other infractions. She was scheduled to be arraigned on March 17.

At the time of his death, Curtis was a partner at the Oxnard law firm of Gutierrez, Curtis and Gutierrez.

 

Rodie Award Breast Fest

Suz Montgomery told the story of Rodie the Wonder Dog at the monthly “Breast Fest”.

by John Hankins

A local cancer survivors’ group has literally gone to the dogs – and cats – in honoring the animals who give their ‘owners’ emotional support during the life-threatening disease.

It happened during Ribbons of Life’s monthly “Breast Fest” gathering at Mimi’s Café in Ventura, and was inspired by a dog named Rodie, said Ribbons Founder Lisa Barreto, a three-time “survivor-thriver.” Check out this advocacy and support foundation at: www.ribbonsventura.org

Rodie, a Bichon-Frise, “diagnosed my cancer and never left my side throughout every chemo and every radiation treatment,” said Suz Montgomery, noting that his name came from Auguste Rodin as he liked to create “sculptures” in the back yard.

Rodie knew Suz had cancer by licking her arm where the lymph nodes were packed with cancer cells. “He showed me what love and support animals can be.”

This first annual “Rodie Award” featured a dozen cancer survivors (out of the over 30 attending) who told the stories of their own animals during the Feb. 11 event. Each one received a special card with the pet’s picture and the owners’ comments, designed by graphic artist Karen Brown, a past president of Ribbons. They included:

~ “Rocky and Lulu (Cockapoo and Shih Tzu) work as a support team. The two would guard over Bob and me, alternating between bedrooms while I recovered from surgery and chemotherapy … they share our journey.”

~ “Oz, the good dog (Yellow Lab), lived to please. He was enormous therapy as he joined Bill and my journey.”

~ “Zoey (Beagle mix) is youthful and wise and has a gentleness about her that makes me calm and content. She is my constant companion, my healer, my wonder pup and my best friend.”

~ “Mr. R (Chocolate Lab) is a loyal and loving companion. He is always happy to see Dave and I, even happier when we are ready for a walk.”

~  Guigui (Blue Russian cat): With beauty, grace and a slight tease, a velvet coat and infinite gaze, I know your Majestic reign has only brought comfort and joy to our humble kingdom.”

~ “Wubbies (Tuxedo cat) is a gentle giant and a cutie who likes to exercise her sandpaper tongue. She is there for me as I go through my journey. Thank you my special friend.”

~ “Angie (Pomeranian) was Cindy and Steve’s guardian angel before they met her in 1999. She gave them so much comfort … they are together in Heaven now.”

Apply now for Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee

“We need to make sure that the City Council is spending this money wisely”

Residents of the city of Ventura are encouraged to apply for volunteer positions on the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The Committee’s responsibilities include review of the projected revenues and recommended expenditures for the funds generated by Measure O and to make recommendations to the City Council as part of the City’s budget process.  After a review of the independent audit, the Committee shall provide findings to the City Council.

The seven members of the Committee are restricted to residents and registered voters of the city of Ventura at the time of their appointment and during their term of office.  Members may not be an elected official or employee of the City of Ventura, or a dependent of either an elected official or employee.

The terms of members first appointed to the committee shall be staggered. Four members will serve a 1-year term and three members will serve 3-year terms. Succeeding members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years.  Committee members will be required to file a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) disclosing all reportable interests held at the time of appointment, and are required to attend ethics training every two years.

Ventura voters approved Measure O—a half-cent sales tax increase for 25-years—in November 2016. This new local funding mechanism is estimated to generate $10.8 million a year.

The new sales tax rate is effective beginning on April 1, 2017 (essential purchases like groceries and medicine are exempt). Voters approved the sales tax measure with strict accountability requirements–annual independent financial audits, a Citizens’ Oversight Committee to ensure all funds are properly spent and public review of expenditures.

Applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory or from the City Clerk’s Office, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2017, and may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at  641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at  658-4787.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month

Bessie Smith would go on to inspire Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin

The Devil’s Music: The Life And Blues Of Bessie Smith, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times).

The Devil’s Music: The Life And Blues Of Bessie Smith is conceived and directed by Joe Brancato of Penguin Rep, and written by Angelo Parra. Set in 1937 in Memphis, Bessie and her musicians have been turned away from performing at a “Whites-Only” theatre, then finding a hospitable gin joint where Bessie recounts her incredible journey from an impoverished childhood in Chattanooga, to her fortuitous rise as a show-stopping singer. Laughter, pathos and music all come together to deliver an electric, entertaining and surprisingly touching evening.

Bessie Smith would go on to inspire Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin. Tragically, Bessie’s career was cut short in a car crash when she was only 43. Her funeral was held in Philadelphia a week later, with over 7,000 mourners paying their respects. In this play the singer recounts her highs and lows in music and love with raucous humor and mirthful regret tinged with an unshakable foreboding.

Braden is joined by musicians Gerard Gibbs on Piano, Anthony Nelson Jr. on Sax and James Hankins on Bass. Gibbs also plays Pickle, who serves as narrator and guide at times, while coaxing Bessie to tell her story.

Bessie Smith opens in Ventura on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a post-show party with cast, crew and local VIPs at NOW Ventura. Low-priced previews are February 22-24. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through March 12. For tickets, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call  667-2900.

 

Ventura County Fair wins top awards

Fair was honored at Convention & Trade Show. Photo by Bernie Goldstein

The Ventura County Fair was honored at the Western Fairs Association’s Convention & Trade Show, in which roughly 125 fairs from throughout the Western United States attend to gather new ideas, attend seminars and participate in the annual Achievement Awards.

The Achievement Awards recognize the very best efforts that a fair puts forth for its community. This year, Ventura County Fair received 10​ Achievement Awards recognizing everything from the Fair’s advertising to its Social Media Campaign.

“I am proud of our staff’s representation of our Fair and our community at the Western Fairs Association Achievement Awards.” said Barbara Quaid, CEO, Ventura County Fair. “Our awards speak to the quality of our overall marketing efforts and programs.”

At the WFA Achievement awards ceremony, Ventura County Fair collected a total of five 1st place, four 2nd place and one 3rd place awards. The First-Place Awards:

  • Newspaper Ad
  • Sponsorship collaboration
  • Interim Events
  • Guest Services
  • Television Advertisement Series

 

 

 

Cut the craft

Carrillo has been paper crafting for over a decade

by Sheli Ellsworth

Crafting taken to new heights! How would you like to have your own crafting space? One of a Kind Design Studio invites crafters at all levels to come in and explore their creative side. Located at 4915 Verdugo Way in Camarillo, the studio offers workshops, classes, supplies and equipment for the inspired craftsperson.

Owner and 30-year Ventura County resident Lorraine Carrillo says, “I love it when people bring in an original idea and I can help them turn it into a finished product! Usually a customer finds a sample on Etsy or Pinterest and shows me photos.  We come up with a design, the customer can cut and assemble, or I cut the materials and they take them home to assemble or I do all of it.”

The studio has a state of the art Cricut Machine capable of die cutting custom invitations, announcements, scrapbooks, etc. “DIY crafters can walk in and rent a workstation equipped with a computer and Cricut machine which can cut vinyl, iron on, paper and poster board.”

Carrillo has been paper crafting for over a decade. She managed an annual awards celebration for a fortune 500 corporation for over five years. “I knew these annual events were a success by the comments and appreciation that I received from the participants. They would come to me and say ‘this is your calling.’”

Workshops in glass etching, paper projects, making wooden signs and home décor are also offered and the costs include materials. “Glass etching for special occasions can be done with customized templates to commemorate military service, anniversaries, retirements and other personalization.” Carrillo says wooden signs are also popular right now. “They can be painted or custom vinyl with quotes, themes, etc. can be applied.”

The studio welcomes walk-ins, but Carrillo has extended hours for consultations, parties and special events. “I offer craft parties for kids and adults. I come up with projects that can be assembled by them or with family and friends.“ With 12 brothers and sisters, two children of her own and four grandchildren, Carrillo has plenty of kids to mine for inspiration and ideas. “We hope to offer bridal workshops in the near future where the bridal party can come and create invitations, banners and decorations.”

Carrillo who is originally from Albuquerque, NM says, “I love living here. The weather is fabulous and I like the beach. I’m jealous of people walking their dogs. I’ve had three English bull dogs but right now I am too busy for a dog, but there is probably one in my future.”

The next time inspiration strikes, call 586.3885 and ask for Lorraine or go to 1ofakinddesignstudio.com.

 

“The Comeback of the California Condor” proves popular with public

Vince Gerwe, Jill Forman and Martin Fletcher, reprentatives from Friends of the California Condor Wild and Free, educated a captivated audience at the lecture.

On the evening of Thursday, Jan. 26, more than 40 people joined the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) for free community lecture entitled “The Comeback of the California Condor.” Experts from Friends of the California Condor Wild and Free discussed how in the early 1980’s this majestic bird was almost wiped off the face of the earth. Thanks to coordinated human intervention efforts, today there are 450 California Condors, 240 of which are flying wild and free over the mountains of California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California.

The free community lecture is a part of VHC’s ongoing Environmental Speaker Series. The next installment in the series will take place on Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Angela Rockett Kirwin, Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, will present “The Ethnobiology of Local Native Plants,” a discussion of how California’s indigenous people used many of the native plants found in Ventura’s hillsides for food, cultural practices and environmental stewardship. To RSVP, go to: www.venturahillsides.org/events.

 

Changes in leadership at Gold Coast Transit District

Can Cheryl Heitmann now give bus passes to Sheldon?

Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), Ventura County’s largest provider of public transit, has announced several changes in its Board of Directors and senior management team.

The City of Port Hueneme has appointed Councilmember Jim Hensley and the City of Ventura has appointed Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann to the Gold Coast Transit District Board of Directors.

Cheryl Heitmann replaces Ventura Councilmember Carl  Morehouse who did not run for reelection last year after serving 18 years on the Ventura City Council and 5 years on the GCTD Board of Directors.

Cheryl told the Breeze “I am excited to join the Board of Directors of the Gold Coast Transit District.  Public transit is an important resource for Ventura and I look forward to working with the Board and staff to continue to look for even better ways to serve the public transit needs of our community.”

“We are thankful for the input and perspective our outgoing Directors have given us over the years. With several major projects on the horizon, including construction of our new facility, we look forward to engaging and working closely with our entire Board to address the opportunities GCTD will face this year,” commented Steve Brown, Gold Coast Transit District’s General Manager.

The five-member Board of Directors represent nearly 4 million annual passengers who utilize GCTD’s fixed route and paratransit services in the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura and the County of Ventura.

Festival of Talent

Ventura Education Partnership invites members of the community to the 16th annual Festival of Talent to be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7pm at the Ventura High School auditorium.  The theme for the annual All-VUSD talent showcase will be “Rock the World”.  “This year’s theme will celebrate our community’s incredible diversity, as well as our strength and unity,” stated Festival Director Brian McDonald, of the Rubicon Theatre.

Ventura Education Partnership produces the event in conjunction with Ventura Unified School District and the Ventura Kiwanis Club.  Festival of Talent raises funds for VEPGrants, a grant program for VUSD teachers that has a big impact on learning.

In addition to the show, tickets are available for a pre-concert pasta dinner from 5:00 to 6:30pm hosted by the Ventura Unified Leadership Council.