Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko  holds the ribbon while Alissa and children  cut it.

On March 31 a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the City Center located at 837 E. Thompson to celebrate the opening of the Purple Room to house Alissa and her children.

In welcoming the large gathering Board Member Jim Duran, and Lead Pastor of The River Community Church in Ventura stated “In October of last year the City Center brought awareness to Domestic Violence.  Through that event, we were able to raise $10,000 to designate one of our rooms specifically to domestic violence victims and survivors.  The Oxnard Monday Club ponied up $7,500 of the $10,000 raised.  We are thrilled to be  giving the keys to the Purple Room to a mother and her two children that are currently involved in a domestic violence situation. We are moving Alissa and her children, Isaiah and Noah into the City Center in order to keep them safe and get them on the road to recover and self-sufficiency.”

Said Charleen Morla, OMC Board Member “The Oxnard Monday Club is honored and blessed to be part of the City Center’s history in sponsoring The Purple Room, a room in honor of domestic violence survivors. Our members are excited to witness the progress of the lives who come will come into the Purple Room over the years to heal, recover and succeed. Thank you to The City Center staff and board on the amazing job they do in serving these families and to the new family of The Purple Room. Welcome Home”.

Members of the Filipino Community of Ventura County, Inc.(FCVCI) partnered with the Oxnard Monday Club  to paint the Purple Room.

Stephanie Caldwell Ventura Chamber President & CEO stated “As Ventura’s only transitional housing center that does not receive government funding, the City Center is changing lives and making a difference every day.”

“Each resident who walks through the doors of the City Center will be touched in ways that many of us will never understand.  On behalf of our 650 member companies and our 24 member Board of Directors, it is my honor to recognize the leadership of Jim Duran and his team at the City Center for the monumental work that you are doing.”

“Congratulations Jim on the opening of the Purple Room, this newest addition to the incredible wrap-around support and services that you provide for our community, with a specific focus on victims of domestic violence.  We are proud to have you as a part of the Ventura Chamber family and blessed to have you as a part of our community.”

In helping with the cutting Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko told the gathering “Last October, The City Center held a fundraiser and public awareness dinner to assist victims of domestic violence.  I, and a number of you in the audience this evening, attended that event, where $10,000 was raised, including a $7,500 donation from the Oxnard Monday Club.  Tonight marks the fulfillment of that collaborative effort as we dedicate “The Purple Room” to domestic violence victims and their families.  As many of you know, the City Center provides hope, opportunity and basic necessities to those in need of housing, with its children and adults staying in this former motel space anywhere between three months and two years.  Upon leaving the City Center, participants go out into the world with a savings account, a job, and a car.  More importantly, they graduate with resolve, strength and dignity.  It is a pleasure to join all of you in the cutting of the ribbon tonight, and my thanks on behalf of the City of Ventura to the City Center for its ongoing and successful efforts to positively transform the lives of Ventura residents.”

Amber Stevens, Director of Aquatics and Youth Programs at the Ventura Family YMCA who presented Isaiah and Noah with Y swimming lessons said “We’re going to make sure the kids are water safe and we’re going to get them free swim lessons.  The Y has also made a promise and that promise is to strengthen communities. And to help you in your next step, in the next chapter of your life, we’re giving you a six month membership to the Y. Where you can come, where the kids can swim, where you can work out, or they can be in the children’s area. And you guys can just have fun with us in our community.”

Also representing the YMCA were Amy Bailey Jurewicz, Executive Director at the Ventura Family YMCA and Alicia Cattoni, Marketing and Communication Director .

A pie eating contest featuring former and current Ventura mayors was held at the recent 150^th anniversary party at Plaza Park. Jim Monahan, Greg Carson, Jack Tingstrom, Jim Friedman, Sandy Smith, Brian Brennan, Carl Morehouse, Christy Weir, Bill Fulton, Ray DiGulio, Cheryl Heitmann and current mayor Erik Nasarenko were the combatants.

Mayor Erik Nasarenko was the runaway winner while former mayor Cheryl Heitmann looked cute with a mustache she didn’t fair very well.

City dignitaries from the City Council and Recreation & Parks and other employees and well-wishers  dig Kellogg Park.

On March 12 Kellogg Park held a groundbreaking ceremony that included a Chumash Blessing for the land, music from local middle school DeAnza Academy of Technology and the Arts, Mariachi Los Halcones, brightly colored Aztec Dancers and martial arts and boxing demonstrations.

The event presented by the Westside Community Council, and sponsored by SoCalGas included a traditional groundbreaking ceremony with the flavor of the Historic Westside.

Activities included community booths with activities including a mosaic play-station with Kevin Carman, the artist designing a public art piece for Kellogg Park, seedling planting, button making, carnival games, bubbles, interactive art activities, fish bean bag river toss, walking beams, hula hoops, bracelet making, book crafts, and more.