Just before 11am on Friday morning April 7, a single story residence caught fire in the 2000 Block Anthony Dr. Neighbors reported heavy smoke coming from the attic and no one home. Crews battled the blaze and searched the building. Sadly fire rescue crews located a large dog and performed K9 CPR, however, they were unsuccessful in resuscitation efforts.
Athletes and dignitaries kicked-off the 2017 Corporate Games at Ventura Community Park. Photo by Michael Gordon
To kick-off the 2017 Corporate Games, company employees, families and friends attended an opening ceremony at Ventura Community Park on Saturday, March 25.
The festivities included a business and health fair, music, demonstrations, jolly jumpers and interactive games, arts and crafts, food trucks and more.
To help, the celebration the Aquatics Center was open to the public for free.
Nearly 80 businesses throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties are preparing for the five weeks of friendly competition, which begins Saturday, April 1 with beach volleyball, surfing, MB2 Racing, and soccer. Teams compete in four different divisions – based on company size – for gold, silver and bronze medals and a chance to be crowned Overall Team Champion during the Closing Ceremonies at Ventura Harbor on May 6.
Corporate Games is a fun way to develop team-building, plus it provides great health benefits. This year’s theme is “Play for the Fun of It!” With a proven track record of building camaraderie through teamwork and lasting relationships among company employees, the games offer a wide variety of events so companies can tailor participation based on staff interests.
Corporate Games is hosted by the City of Ventura and many wonderful sponsors.
Schedule and information is available at www.cityofventura.net/corporategames or call 658-4738.
Will a homeless shelter reduce the amount of homeless in Ventura? Photo by George Robertson
by Randal Beeman
Advocates who have spent upwards of two decades lobbying the City of Ventura for a permanent emergency homeless shelter will have to wait another month for a final vote authorizing the project. After making several small changes Council members will reconsider the revised ordinance at their April 20th meeting.
At their Monday, March 20th meeting, Council members heard from a number of local advocates for the homeless, including representatives of the faith community and social service providers who explained that a full time shelter would save the City money in addition to being an ethical imperative. Several audience members related personal testimonies on the plight of our homeless population.
While there is no proposal, site, or operator for the potential shelter, the City has designated a non-residential area – the Arundell neighborhood – for the facility. Council members discussed the language for an Emergency Shelter Zoning Ordinance and Map Amendment to shape the eventual size, scope, and operational guidelines. Councilmember Matt LaVere thanked audience members for their diligence on the issue, which has been a major humanitarian and quality of life concern in the community for many years.
Presently, the proposed law calls for a shelter with a capacity of 55 beds, and any potential operator would have to conform to a number of requirements including having a plan to provide security, to offering a variety of social services on site. There seemed to be a consensus among council members that this facility is needed and is long overdue, noting that any operator would be functioning under a conditional permit that would be periodically reviewed by the Council. The shelter is intended for short-term emergencies and will serve as a conduit for social services intended to keep people from returning to the streets.
Audience members who addressed the Council were overwhelmingly supportive of the idea. Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and member of the Stakeholders Task Force on the homeless, presented a power point on the homeless problem, noting “it is more costly to keep the status quo than to house people.”
Other speakers lamented the high rental rates in the City that exacerbate the homelessness problem. John Jones, advocate for farmworker housing, noted that affordable housing had become the biggest issue in the state with some 130 bills on the issue currently being considered in Sacramento.
Other speakers implored the City to consider allowing space for pets. Cappi Patterson, representing Buddy Nation, promised that if pets would be allowed her organization would cover the cost of feeding and caring for the animals, including veterinary care. Patterson enjoined that pet ownership promotes “reliability, responsibility, and dignity.”
Another speaker spoke of innovative “Navigation Centers” that focus on getting people into housing first, then addressing issues like substance abuse and a lack of state issued ID cards after getting folks off the street, an idea that has seen success in other cities and countries.
Councilmember Christy Weir admonished that any shelter should offer some sense of privacy and dignity, instead of warehousing people in large rooms full of cots and bunk beds. After making several changes in the language and scope of the ordinance, Council members delayed taking a vote on the ordinance until the April 20th meeting in order for the public to review the changes.
In other Council business, the City accepted a grant from the National Police Dog Foundation, with Police Chief Ken Corney offering thanks to Suzanna Underwood for initiating the process along with assistance from the Wood-Claeyssen Foundation.
There was also a budget workshop presented by City of Ventura Finance and Technology Director Gilbert Garcia and staff. Garcia provided a summary of the City’s financial picture and the potential problems with pension costs and maintaining a City-owned golf course. While discussing potential use of Measure O money, (Measure O was passed by voters last November to raise the sales tax in Ventura), Councilmember Mike Tracy suggested that discussion of how that money is budgeted should be guided by the citizens advisory panel, which has yet been appointed.
Check out hundreds more on web-site.
Call 658-4726 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net
Classes held at the Barranca Vista Center, 7050 E Ralston St in Ventura unless noted.
Registration begins on April 3rd for The City of Ventura’s Summer full and half day camps in cooking, theatre, dance, circus, Rock & Roll, fine arts, Legos, science and so much more. To see a whole menu of summer offerings visit cityofventura.net. To have a summer camp brochure mailed to you call 658-4726
City of Ventura classes. Check out hundreds more on web-site.
Call 658-4726 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net
Classes held at the Barranca Vista Center, 7050 E Ralston St in Ventura unless noted.
Registration begins on April 3rd for The City of Ventura’s Summer full and half day camps in cooking, theatre, dance, circus, Rock & Roll, fine arts, Legos, science and so much more. To see a whole menu of summer offerings visit cityofventura.net. To have a summer camp brochure mailed to you call 658-4726
Cartooning 8-12 years
4/10-5/15 M 4-5 pm $50
Draw wonderful characters with Mr. Scott, a cartoon master. Mr. Scott’s Chess Club 8-12 years
4/10-5/15 M 5-6 pm $50
Improve skills and gain new strategies with a National Championship Coach. Family Clay Fun 5-11 years and adult
4/10-5/15 M 6:15-7:30 pm $75
Parent and child work together to create hand-built projects in clay. $35 for additional child or adult. Parent & Me Creative Dance 2.5-4 years with adult
4/12-5/31 W 10-10:45 am $60
Explore all the ways you can partner and move with your child using imaginative play, music and props. Wear comfortable clothes for easy moves. Big City Inspirations 18 years-adult
4/12-5/10 W 10-11:30 am $85
Use wood, paint, fabric and found objects to create skylines, people and interiors inspired by the world’s big cities.
Adult Ballet 18 years-adult
4/12-5/31 W 7:30-8:30 pm $60
Release stress as you tone, strengthen and increase flexibility. Wear comfortable clothes for easy movement.
Flamenco Dance 18 years-adult
4/12-5/3 W 7:30-8:30 pm $75
Learn Spain’s passionate gypsy dance form and its cultural significance as you build up your flexibility, grace, fitness and confidence. Classes held at Namba, 47 S Oak St. in Ventura.
Shana Epstein, Ventura Water’s general manager for almost six years, is leaving her job to work as the Public Works Director for the City of Beverly Hills. Joe McDermott, currently Ventura Water’s assistant general manager, will serve as the interim general manager.
“I have tremendous appreciation and gratitude for Ventura Water’s customers and its staff who trusted me as its first general manager to create a sustainable water organization,” Epstein said.
“We have worked hard and I know as I move on to other career opportunities that the team at Ventura Water will continue to strive to provide vitality to its customers. So with a bittersweet farewell, I want to thank you – our customers – for being partners with us in achieving these goals.”
Under her leadership, Ventura Water promised its customers to be “a trusted life source for generations.” To that end, Epstein and her team have launched a number of projects that are underway this year to assist in achieving that promise. They include: State Water Project Interconnect, Potable Reuse, Automated Meter Infrastructure, pipeline replacement programs, and Water Wise 2.0.
“These projects, complimented with the day-to-day quality control and operations of Ventura Water, will create new water supply, promote efficiency for demand side management, and meet or exceed water quality standards. All these accomplishments ensure our customers a reliable water future,” Epstein said.
Epstein has been an innovative leader who led Ventura Water to achieve many important accomplishments, rising to the challenge posed by five years of drought.
In 2014, Epstein oversaw the Water Shortage Task Force as this volunteer group of citizens balanced the need to price water fairly, promote conservation and maintain infrastructure reinvestment when Ventura Water overhauled water rates and pricing as a result of the drought.
Under Epstein’s leadership, Ventura Water created and led many successful citywide outreach efforts to empower Ventura customers to conserve water. The “Dirty Car” campaign was the subject of a complimentary article in the Wall Street Journal in September 2014 and it was acknowledged by the state Save Our Water campaign. Her success included leading Ventura Water customers to exceed the state’s 16 percent conservation mandated in 2015, which led to Ventura Water being featured in a positive Los Angeles Times article in November 2015 on the state’s biggest and most creative water savers. In addition, the state and federal government awarded $2 million in efficiency grants towards Ventura’s efforts. Other
public engagement conservation campaigns have included “Hey Ventura, What’s Your Shower Song?,” to encourage residents to take shorter showers, Capture Conservation, a photo contest encouraging customers to share their photos of saving water on Ventura Water’s social media, and the annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Festival that uses short films as a medium to promote local and global water conservation awareness.
Another important and successful initiative that Epstein launched is the VenturaWaterPure Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility, which tested potable reuse as a renewable resource that will provide a cost-effective and sustainable supply of high quality water, and allow Ventura to diversify its water supply. As a result, VenturaWaterPure is poised to be one of the first Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) facilities to be implemented in California.
by City staff
Some of the most well-known companies such as Amazon, Disney and Harley Davidson USA all started in a garage. Which goes to show that small businesses don’t always stay small, and more importantly those home-based businesses are a critical component in strengthening the local economy. Every business starts somewhere. No matter how small you are or how much of an established business you are part of, there are always ways that you can help grow your business. The digital age has allowed home businesses just as much of an opportunity to grow as brick-and-mortar businesses. If they choose the best proxy providers for web scraping projects to gather vital data for their business, or market themselves appropriately, or gain loyal customers that keep coming back then they will be able to continue to grow and succeed. There used to be a stigma around starting a home business because the chances of success were so low, but now they are a major driving force of the local economy.
No matter what industry you work within, you’ll see how important the relationship between the customers and the company is. It is important to track this relationship in some way whilst also finding a way to track sales management. Some small businesses are put off embracing this sort of software as they feel they are not ready for it or “they are too small”. This couldn’t be further from the truth as you want to utilize resources that will grow with you. Without customer feedback and reviews on sites like TrustRadius.com, it would be even harder for businesses to make a decision on what piece of enterprise technology they should invest in. Customers do play a large part in any business.
In the city of Ventura there are nearly 3,000 active, licensed home-based businesses which represent 24 percent of all business licenses in our community. Ventura home-based businesses include everything from contractors and real estate agents to alpaca breeders and cottage bakers. Just think-your neighbor could be a chocolate confectioner or a tutor for local students. On a national level, four industries make up the largest share of home-based businesses: professional, scientific and technical services (19 percent); construction (16 percent); retail trade (11 percent); and other services, such as personal services, repair and maintenance (10 percent), according to the U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Business Owners.
Communities benefit from a healthy supply of local and home-based businesses. Local businesses tend to use local businesses, such as contractors, financial assistance, technical services, cleaning services, etc. The economy gets a boost because more money spent at a local business stays in the local area. Local dollars are re-spent as payroll, goods/services purchased from area businesses and even as donations to community charities. Private research firm Civic Economics has been studying the economic multiplier effect of local independent businesses for many years and has shown that on average “48 percent of each purchase at local independent businesses was recirculated locally, compared to less than 14 percent of purchases at chain stores.”
Entrepreneurs looking to start a company in Ventura have a wide variety of resources available to help launch their business. They can receive assistance with strategic planning, permitting, marketing, employee hiring, and financing. The City’s Business Assistance Program (BAP) offers three low-interest loan options designed to assist business owners in overcoming some of the hurdles to successful entrepreneurship. BAP loans can total up to $100,000 and may be used for façade and structural improvements, code compliance issues, and working capital needs. The City has issued approximately 90 loans over the last 15 years through the BAP, infusing $4.5 million into our economy to assist local business owners with starting or growing a business in Ventura. The impact of small businesses should not be underestimated and they should be aided in their growth. One of these aids could be SEO. You can learn more about search engines optimization uk online.
The City of Ventura Economic Development office should be your first stop. Economic Development Manager Leigh Eisen reminds business owners, “Your success is our success – we know that small businesses contribute greatly to our local economy and that’s why we are committed to making you our priority.”
The City’s Economic Development staff work closely with community partners such as the Economic Development Collaborative – Ventura County (EDC-VC), Service Corps of Retired Executives (better known as SCORE) and Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) to ensure that our local business owners receive the training and consulting they need to run a successful business at every stage, from start-ups to established businesses ready to expand to the next level. “Our goal is to facilitate connections and provide our business community with the resources they need to succeed, grow, and thrive in our beautiful city.”
For more information on how the City can help, please visit the Economic Development website www.venturaventures.org or call 677-3958.
The H.P. Wright Library on the Ventura College campus closed in 2009. Ever since folks living in East Ventura have desired a library closer to their homes. Ventura’s other two libraries are Foster in downtown and on Ventura Ave.
A previous Chinese restaurant located at 1050 S. Hill Rd., next to Kaiser will become our latest library.
At only about 5,000 square feet it is relatively small but welcomed by the many residents of East Ventura.
The county will pay around $9,500 per month in rent and available funding will allow the library to be open 24 hours a week.
The Ventura Police Department is teaching local teens, school administrators and others how to stay safe online by providing tools and information to help them use the Internet safely. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project study, 95% of teens (ages 12 – 17) are online. With access to almost unlimited information and the ability to connect with people from all over the world, children and teens are exposed to new risks including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate material, online predators and revealing too much personal information.
Even innocent use of the Internet can potentially put teens in an unsafe situation because they can become friends with complete strangers. And unfortunately, predators are everywhere.
Early this year, the Ventura Police Department teamed up with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ventura County Human Trafficking Enforcement Team to conduct a “Sexual Predator Sting” operation in the city of Ventura. During the operation, detectives entered various internet chat rooms primarily designed for teens, and posed as 14 and 15 year old girls. As the investigation unfolded, three adult male sexual predators entered the same chat room and contacted the officers, thinking they were young teenage girls. During the chat room conversations, each of the suspects engaged the officers in sexually explicit conversations. In each case, the suspect agreed to meet and pick up the teenaged girl at or near where they believed the girl resided. When each sexual predator arrived at the agreed-upon-location, they were arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail. This is definitely something that children need to be made aware of. It’s better that they learn about this sort of thing earlier on in their lives to ensure they can realize when someone is sexually harassing them. As people get older, the threat of sexual harassment remains in some offices and businesses. This is why there is still demand for a sexual harassment lawyer in many countries. It’s important to educate children to ensure they can keep themselves safe from harassers.
Many teens think what they do online is separate from their “real” lives. “We show students the impacts of their online choices, and how those actions matter offline too,” said Civic Engagement Specialist Ashley Bautista with the Ventura Police Department. “We also encourage students to create safe, positive on and offline environments at school and with friends by being careful about what they share, not cyberbullying or encouraging it, not asking or pressuring anyone into sharing inappropriate content and by reporting inappropriate online behavior. Most importantly, teens should communicate with trusted adults about online activity.”
Here are some tips for keeping teens safe online:
Begin conversations about Internet safety as soon as you allow your kids on the Internet.
Explain how to communicate appropriately and respectfully online.
Remind your teens that if something can get you in trouble offline, it can probably get you in trouble online too.
Strategize how to monitor and set rules for social networking, instant messaging, e-mailing, online gaming and using webcams, and consider monitoring cell phones, gaming devices, and laptops. While we’re on the ‘online gaming’ topic, there are a few games that are safe for your children to play and enjoy. This is thanks to a closely monitored community. For example, vanilla wow gold or, more commonly known as World of Warcraft Classic.
Discuss the dangers of cyberbullying, revealing too much personal information and not knowing who you are really talking to (online predators.)
“With Internet access so readily available, cyber safety awareness is critical for adults as well as children and teens. Parents and guardians can help keep their family safe by making sure children and teens understand how online choices can, and often do, lead to ‘real’ life problems” said Sergeant Matt Cain, Ventura Police Department.
by Randal Beeman
Ventura is doing well at present, but “good times don’t last” stated Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko, as he discussed the ebb and flow of city government in a seamless breakfast presentation that lasted around 45 minutes at the Top of the Harbor Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on March 9th.
Hosted by Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Stephanie Caldwell, the elite of the city’s business and government listened as Caldwell spoke of the need for the Chamber to reach all areas of our diverse city, to recruit high growth industries to Ventura, to ease the business startup process for new companies, and to address the homeless situation.
Mayor Nasarenko began his address with a snapshot of municipal finances, noting that Ventura is enjoying a four-year budget surplus and previous draws on the cash reserves prior to 2012 are being repaid.
Under the stewardship of City Manager Mark Watkins, the city is prepared to fix streets damaged by recent storms, buckled sidewalks, clean up street medians and tree wells, and continue to fund Fire Station #4, which had previously been funded by a federal grant.
Nasarenko highlighted several new projects coming on-line, including the Community Memorial Hospital, the wing of the Ventura County Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente’s medical suites next to the 101 Freeway.
He stated that “Patagonia and the Trade Desk are both expanding their headquarters in Ventura, VW is building a new facility, and Portside Ventura Harbor remodeling is well under way including the addition of 220 new apartment units by 2019.”
On a cautionary note, Nasarenko spoke to the ‘fiscal pressures” on the city, including pension costs, the need to build cash reserves that meet regional standards, the ongoing discussion about affordable housing, and the dearth of water supplies, which have not disappeared with the recent rains.
Since the early 1900s local Chamber of Commerce organizations have worked as city boosters and to represent the interests of the business community in local government. Members pay dues and elect officers. Staff are hired to run programs that further the mission of the Chamber.
The Mayor was keen to praise the Chamber for their support of Measure O this past November, The measure increased the sales tax in Ventura from 7.25% to 7.75%, which is expected to bring an additional 11 million dollars to city coffers this fiscal year. The law requires all of the money is spent within the city.
Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Michael Babb has been fired by the school board. Babb had been superintendent since July 1, 2015 replacing longtime Superintendent Dr. Trudy Tuttle Arriaga after she retired. He will receive six months of his annual salary of $215,605.
The board voted 4-1 to fire Babb without cause. Trustee Sabrena Rodriguez voted against the firing. The decision was made at a special closed meeting.
The board emphasized that there are no alleged grievances or ongoing investigations into Babb but just felt that a new direction was necessary. Several members felt that his communication and leadership skills were not up to par.
Babb, who lives in Ventura, was previously superintendent of the much smaller Mesa Union School District. He was principal of E.P. Foster Elementary School for five years.
Deputy Superintendent Joe Richards, 60, will serve as interim superintendent until a replacement is hired by the board. Richards stated that he is not interested in filling the position permanently.
When hired Babb stated, “I came to Ventura Unified in 2001, when my own sons and daughter were small. I was a principal at E.P. Foster Elementary, and I brought my children to school with me each day. At the time, Ventura and fatherhood both were new to me, and, like all parents, I hoped and I worried. Would my kids be all right here? Would their teachers be kind? Would they be safe, make friends and learn and grow?”
“As a parent and as a leader, I have found the community and the schools in Ventura to be a rich resource, a comfort and support, a terrific place to work and to raise our children.”
“This is what I wish to preserve for us all, for you and for your children and for their children. I am certain that if we work together as partners, if we use our collective intelligence, creativity and inspiration, if we treat one another with dignity and work cooperatively, we can provide an ideal learning environment for each one of the students in our town. I look forward to discovering together what wonders we can create by working with our hands and our hearts for their benefit.”
