On Nov.18, at 2:37pm the Ventura City Fire Department responded to a structure fire in a detached shed in the area of El Dorado and San Diego Avenue. The first arriving fire crew reported smoke and flames and extension into the garage of the adjacent residential home. Firefighters successfully knocked down the main body of the fire while checking for fire extension in the adjacent home. Although there was some damage to the eves of the adjacent home the fire did not spread any further.
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City of Ventura election results:
City Council winners:
Matt LaVere-most votes 16,607
Christy Weir -12,816
Cheryl Heitmann – 11,469
School Board winners:
Sabrina Rodriquez- 14,121
Jackie Moran- 9,734
MEASURE “N” – The selection of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor occur in even-number years following regular City Council elections, and eliminate the Ventura Unified School District’s election process from the City Charter, thus making them subject to state law, be approved? Passed 58.79%
MEASURE “O” – Establish a ½ cent sales tax for 25 years, providing approximately $10,800,000 annually, require independent audits, citizens oversight, and all funds used locally? Passed 57.23%
MEASURE “P” -Extending open-space, agriculture, and hillside land use changes by voter approval to 2050 be approved? Passed 71.99%
MEASURE “Q” – Term-limits for City Councilmembers to require that after serving three full four-year terms, a City Councilmember is not eligible to run for the City Council or to be appointed to a vacancy unless a period of four years has elapsed since their last service on the City Council, be approved? Passed 81.88%
The winners of the First Annual Ventura Breeze Photo Contest
| First place: James Hart “Eye on Ventura” |
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| Second place: Mike Abbrusco “Train Bridge” |
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| Third place: Sean Green “Busy Bee Café” |
Amateur non-professional photographers of all ages were invited to enter their best images celebrating our life in Ventura County. The Ventura County Camera Club judged the entries. Images were judged on artistic merit, originality, composition and technical excellence.
Winners received a one–year free membership in VCCC, their photos printed free at the Image Source in Ventura and a gift-certificate from The Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood Restaurant in the Harbor.
The winners of the First Annual Ventura Breeze Photo Contest
The winners of the First Annual Ventura Breeze Photo Contest (in conjunction with The Ventura County Camera Club) have been announced.
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First place: James Hart “Eye on Ventura” |
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Second place: Mike Abbrusco “Train Bridge” |
 |
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Third place: Sean Green “Busy Bee Café” |
Amateur non-professional photographers of all ages were invited to enter their best images celebrating our life in Ventura County. The Ventura County Camera Club judged the entries. Images were judged on artistic merit, originality, composition and technical excellence.
Winners received a one–year free membership in VCCC, their photos printed free at the Image Source in Ventura and a gift-certificate from The Greek Mediterranean Steak and Seafood Restaurant in the Harbor.
Public Works Director Tully Clifford, City of Ventura
What challenges does the City face in protecting Ventura’s rivers, beaches and coastline?
Maintaining Ventura’s beautiful coastline is critical to our economy and quality of life. Our beaches are precious, yet vulnerable, resources that we must protect.
The City of Ventura faces many expensive and complex challenges in keeping our beaches clean and our ocean free of pollution.
As a city that relies 100% on local water resources, water quality is a top priority and as a coastal community we share the cost of cleaning up litter dumped in riverbeds or washed downstream from neighboring inland communities. One of the biggest threats to our water quality is urban runoff that carries bacteria, metal, cigarette butts, motor oil residue, pesticides and pet waste into storm drains that flow into our oceans, rivers and local groundwater without any treatment.
Shoring up our aging storm drain systems is expensive and challenging as there is no utility revenue stream dedicated to this critical infrastructure. That work must be paid for with general fund dollars—dollars also needed to fund police, fire, parks, programs for seniors and youth and other critical services.
Our beachfront Promenade is a major attraction and an integral part of our city. It serves as a popular pedestrian corridor along the coast and has protected property along the beachfront from erosion. Built more than 40 years ago, the Promenade requires ongoing repair and investment to maintain it for future generations.
The coastline is also home to the historic Ventura Pier. Originally constructed in 1872, the Pier is the hallmark of our city and a symbol of the region’s rich history and natural resources. Like the rest of our City’s aging infrastructure, the Pier presents expensive challenges. Last winter, 20-foot high surf, caused damages costing $1.5 million to repair. High surf also erodes the shoreline and Promenade.
Last winter severe wave erosion caused the loss of sand and beach threatening the trees, bike path and promenade. To balance the protection of public improvements with impact to the beach in a way that’s least harmful to the beach, the city provided shoreline protection through an emergency revetment repair project costing $400,000.
The first phase of the Surfers’ Point managed retreat project, completed in 2011, has provided a natural “barrier” from shoreline erosion, in addition to an improved storm drain system, new bike path and parking area. Future phases of the project will be built when additional funding becomes available.
We are a community that treasures our beaches and coastline. We must decide if we also are a community that will rise to the challenge of protecting this beautiful natural resource and all of the pride it brings to our city.
Learn more at www.cityofventura.net/water/stormwater.
Hear from a woman who taught school before becoming homeless
Take a hungry person to lunch at a participating downtown Ventura restaurant Thursday, Nov 17 10:30 am – 2 pm in recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: November 12-20.
Meet Thursday., Nov. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston.
Hear from a woman who taught school before becoming homeless and lived in the river bottom and the couple who took her to lunch. Hear how their meeting helped lead to her being housed once more. Hear about the many things people who are homeless hunger for besides food – a look in the eye, a friendly smile, a hot shower and clean clothes, a chance to feel normal, the treat of dining out. Learn about homelessness and its root causes.
Then meet the individual you (and a friend, if you like) will get to know over lunch in a comfortable environment at a local restaurant. Many of those who have participated in past years say it was a life-changing experience. National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week comes at a time we are all thinking about what we are thankful for. It is a perfect time to share our compassion with our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, and work toward a world where no one has to experience Hunger and Homelessness.
To eradicate homelessness, we must take action that has an impact on its causes. Come meet someone who is experiencing homelessness. Learn what you can do to improve policy, help service providers, and be an important part of the solution.
Come back to the UU Church for a follow-up session on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 9:30. It’s a chance to reflect on your experience, share with others who participated, and learn more about what you can do to be part of the solution.
Sponsored by Lift Up Your Voice, a ministry of the UU Church of Ventura.
Scores of dancing un-dead performed at Ventura Harbor Village as part of a worldwide record attempt
Photo by Richard Lieberman
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” album and video. On Oct. 26, thousands of dancing zombies across the globe took to the streets in unison in an attempt to break simultaneous worldwide Thriller dance records and gather donations for charity. In Ventura, scores of dancing un-dead performed at the Ventura Harbor Village as part of this worldwide record attempt.
2nd Annual Breast Cancer Spa Night
Guests were having fun with photo props and champagne while waiting for their spa treatments at the 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Spa Night October 26th The event was held at Jessica’s Nail and Spa in Ventura
Over 60 women who are breast cancer survivors and current fighters came out to receive a free manicure or pedicure, champagne, finger food and free goody bag.
The entire event was paid for by Assisted Home Health and Hospice
The community Liaisons who put on the event were Whitney LaBrie and Deanna Leslie.
Grand Jury Speakers Bureau
The County of Ventura Grand Jury is an all-volunteer group serving as an independent agent of the public to investigate complaints from the public pertaining to government agencies in our community. Is your organization interested in hearing about these investigative duties and procedures? The Grand Jury Speakers Bureau is available to educate the public in its endeavors as the “public watchdog” for Ventura County. To learn more or schedule a date for a presentation, please call the Grand Jury at 477-1600 or http://www.ventura.org/grand-jury.
Arts & Eats in downtown Ventura Nov. 19
Arts & Eats will be held in downtown Ventura on Saturday, November 19 from 6 – 8pm. Four galleries will hold art receptions, while restaurants and shops will offer complimentary tastes. The event is free to the public.
“Arts and Eats invites families and friends to a free and fun community event. Guests will enjoy local art, complimentary bites and live music,” says Debbie Fox, owner of Fox Fine Jewelry, one of the event galleries.
Arts & Eats Venues
Art Galleries
Buenaventura Art Association
Fox Fine Jewelry
Very Ventura Gift Shop and Gallery
Latitudes Fine Art Gallery
Restaurants and Shops
Jimmy’s Slice
SpiceTopia
Vom Fass
Saloon BBQ