Category Archives: Community Events

Fall City of Ventura Classes

Fall City of Ventura Classes check out hundreds more on our web-site

Call 658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an account online, visit www.cityofventura.net

Classes/Events held the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted.

Bling and Everything In-Between Holiday Boutique
11/14 Sa 10 am-4 pm
Unique artists and vendors join together for a fabulous shopping experience! Come shop for one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list, and maybe find something special for you too!.

Drawing & Painting for Youth 8-14 years
11/12-12/17 Th 3:30-4:45 pm $64
Explore relevant artists and their styles to create your own acrylic paintings and pencil and charcoal drawings. No class 10/22 & 11/26. Instructor Catherine Broger. Course# 42140

Cityscape Holiday Journal Plein Air 18 years-adult
11/13 F 9:30 am-12:30 pm $40+$10 materials fee
We’ll sketch vintage downtown buildings and convert an old book into a journal capturing our year end thoughts and holidays using mixed media ephemera, acrylic, watercolors, chalkboard paint and crochet with a stop for self-paid lunch. Meet at Ventura City Hall Atrium, 501 Poli St.

Please wear sturdy shoes that lace. Bring water and sunscreen. Facilitator Alison Mytych. To register call 805-658-4726. Course# 42179

Young Creators: Stop Motion Animation Fun! 8-12 years
11/17-1/19 Tu 3:45-5 pm $120
Work with your favorite toys to create fun and original stop motion animations using such basic concepts as camera angles, storyboards, scripting elements and theme. Students will also do voiceover work for their animation. No class 12/22 & 12/29. Course# 42172

Primal Feat: a dance/movement intuitive experience 18 years-adult
11/22 Su 4-5:30 pm $15
Fun, spirited, surrendered dance and movement. We dance in our bare feet or soft dance shoes, comfy clothes to move in and no dance partner required. No dance experience necessary. The body is meant to move! facebook.com/primalfeat Instructor Liz Galvan. Classes at Cosmotion 2343 E Thompson Blvd #A.

Dance & Date Night at House of Dance 18 years-adult
11/29-1/10 Sundays Session 1 $69/person
Learn a new dance step every six weeks during one-hour sessions. Select the hour you want to attend and the dance step you want to learn (Tango, West Coast Swing, Cha Cha or Waltz) at www.pmhouseofdance.com. Then register here through the City using the session code# 42238. No class 12/27.

Get involved in Ventura’s 150th anniversary celebrations

The Breeze photographer almost got there too late for a piece of cake at the City Council meeting.

The City of Ventura is excited to celebrate Ventura’s 150th anniversary on April 2, 2016 and would love your help in making this celebration a success! There are many ways to participate and we encourage you to connect and get involved. Learn more at VisitVenturaCA.com/Ventura150. The celebration had its send off at the Nov.2 City Council meeting.

Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann is asking residents to give our beautiful city a gift by spreading kindness — one million acts of kindness — over the next few months as we prepare to celebrate our city’s birthday.

“If every city resident performs ten acts of kindness by then we will reach our goal,” said the Mayor. “Please spread the kindness and ‘pass it on’ by posting pictures, words and videos of your acts of kindness — big or small — or any that you see performed by others on our various #VenturaKindness social media platforms.”

www.facebook.com/venturakindness
twitter.com/VenturaKindness
instagram.com/venturakindness
venturakindness.tumblr.com/
www.pinterest.com/venturakindness/

To observe this milestone the city is working with community partners to present a series of special events, programs and activities over five months (150 days) celebrating the amazing span of Ventura history and culture reaching before and after the California State Senate approved “An Act to Incorporate the Town of San Buenaventura” on March 10, 1866 that took effect on April 2 – from the indigenous Chumash to the waves of Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, European, Yankee and today’s international immigrants who have enriched our city over the years.

On Nov.8 a special reception officially launched the city’s 150th anniversary celebration at the Museum of Ventura County.

Attendees enjoyed refreshments and special limited edition 150th anniversary souvenirs as they enjoyed stories by a panel of descendants of historic families (Chaffee, Harrison, Smith-Hobson, and Tumamait), a presentation on our local history and performances courtesy of the Ventura Music Festival.

A video created by (CAPS-TV) Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura introduced the Ventura Legacy project. Also on display were simulations of the 1860 census, finalists in the poster contest presented by the Boys and Girls Club, Friends of the Library and the Ventura Unified School District and the museum’s current “Portraits” exhibit featuring local historic photos.

The sesquicentennial finale on April 2 will be a free community fair and picnic in downtown Ventura, followed by a concert in Mission Park by “hometown boys made good,” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, a partnership between the City and the Ventura Education Partnership to benefit arts in our schools.

The City’s 150th anniversary is made possible by the generous donations of the Ventura Auto Center Dealers and Ventura Townehouse; and this inaugural event is supported by EJ Harrison and Sons.

Volunteer on November 21 for National Family Volunteer Day — Spend a morning performing acts of kindness with your family and post them online.

Ventura County Ballet Company (VCB) will be presenting “The Nutcracker” this holiday season.

Photo by Michael Gordon

Prior to the winter performances, VCB, in partnership with the Ventura County Medical Center Pediatric Oncology Clinic performed excerpts of its annual production of the holiday classic on Nov.9. The dancers were in full costumes. The performance brought smiles and a little holiday magic to local Ventura County children battling and being treated for cancer and other chronic illnesses. stuff ballet VCMC inset

The Nutcracker to be performed locally by the VCB

Professional dancer and Australian native, Aaron Smyth and State Street Ballet Profession, Kate Kadow to be featured in The Nutcracker

Ventura County Ballet Company (VCB) will be presenting “The Nutcracker” this holiday season featuring some of the most elite professionals across the country. This will be their 17th year of production.

Coming back for his fifth year, is international superstar Aaron Smyth who will be dancing along some of VCB’s most up and coming pre-professionals.

In addition, VCB’s commitment to provide performance opportunities to pre-professional dancers, the ballet company has announced three new scholarships to dancers based in part on financial need and artistic merit. The scholarships include Ronald Noblin, M.D. Scholarship, the Micheline Sakharoff Scholarship and the Melodie Kleiman, Esq. Scholarship. Scholarships will support performance opportunities in VCB’s 2015 production of “The Nutcracker.” The scholarship program is funded this year due to generous contributions received after the recent passing of each above-named board member; however, funding has not yet been secured to ensure that scholarships can be offered each year in the future.

VCB will present “The Nutcracker” at 2 p.m. and 7p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 and at 2 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, and again on Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., Dec. 5 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, 4700 Loma Vista Rd.

Ticket can be purchased online at http://www.venturacountyballet.com.

Take A Hungry Person to Lunch Day

Everyone interested in the plight of those in our community who are experiencing homelessness is invited to join in “Take A Hungry Person to Lunch Day” on Thursday, November 19. This event provides a comfortable way for individuals from different walks of life to sit down together in fellowship and to get to know one another’s stories. Participants will meet at 10:30 am at the UU Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston for an orientation before lunch.

“By signing up as a host, you’ll provide a welcome moment of connection for someone who is currently without shelter. Although homelessness is a complex issue, and each person has a unique story, spending time with someone who is homeless is a wonderful, moving way to learn more about the issue,” says Lift Up Your Voice Interim Director Sue Brinkmeyer.

This event is being held as part of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which runs from November 14 to 22nd, and is sponsored by Lift Up Your Voice. For more information or to sign up to participate, contact Kathy Powell [email protected] or 910-8860 for details.

BRAVO seeking nominations for eight extraordinary women

BRAVO is the annual awards luncheon of the Ventura County Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-VC). To be held on Friday, April 1st, 2016 NAWBO shines the spotlight on outstanding business women of Ventura County, honoring them for their vision and perseverance, which is creating a brighter future for women business owners and women-led business ventures in our community.

NAWBO-VC is currently seeking nominations for nine local, outstanding women in the following categories:
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award (new in 2016)
Innovator of the Year
Rising Star of the Year
Community Advocate of the Year
Education Advocate of the Year
Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
NAWBO-VC Member of the Year
Corporate Leader/Partner of the Year (new in 2016)

“We’ve had some truly stellar women business owners and leaders nominated over the years,” stated Dr. Janis Shinkawa, President, NAWBO Ventura County and 2014 Bravo Rising Star of the Year. “We encourage nominations from throughout the county, whether the outstanding woman you know is a NAWBO member or not.”

To nominate an extraordinary woman, simply go to www.NAWBOVC.org and click on the 17th Annual Bravo Awards found under Events. Online, fax and email submissions are being accepted through Tuesday, November 24. Nominees need not be NAWBO members.

How to prepare your wood deck for a heavy winter season

Everyone wants their decking looking the best. This is why they use composite deck sealer to keep it looking good throughout the year. However, not many people tend to think about the safety of their decking. This is why the City of Ventura’s Building and Safety division is offering a free one hour deck construction guide and repair workshop to residents, including homeowners and contractors, Monday, Nov. 16 from 9am-10am at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Community Meeting Room.

Community members are encouraged to attend this workshop to learn more about safe deck connections and railings to help prevent damage from heavy rains or earthquakes. Nearly 15% of all deck related injuries are from structural failure, 60% of structural failures are due to the deck connection to the house, and 33% of all structural failures are from deck railings. This shows how important it is to keep up with deck maintenance. Take a look at Austin Fence & Deck – Repair & Replacement if you’re needing to make your decking safer.

At this workshop, residents will learn about changes to the Prescriptive Residential Deck Construction Guidelines and repairs, and how to identify the minimum requirements for wood decks including wood members and fasteners.

For more information contact the City of Ventura’s building and Safety Division at 654-7869, or visit www.cityofventura.net/cd/buildsafe.

Dear Interested Parties of the LaViera Pre-screen

The LaViera Pre-screen has been confirmed for the November 30th City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m. The City Council protocols are different from those of the Planning Commission, so it is important that you understand these as we move toward this hearing. Staff will be releasing an “Advance Administrative Report” on November 16th; this report will include all correspondence received through November 12, 2015, by 5:00 p.m. All correspondence received from November 12th (after 5:00 p.m.), through Monday, November 30th, by 12:00 noon will be uploaded to the City’s website as a supplemental attachment to the report.

If mailing or hand delivering correspondence, please provide 11 copies as follows:

Mail:
City Council
City of Ventura
PO Box 99
Ventura, CA 93002-0099

Hand Delivered:
City of Ventura
City Council Office
501 Poli Street, Room 205
Ventura, CA 93001

If you prefer to email you comments, please do so at: [email protected]

Please note the City Council’s Protocols excerpt below related to submitting your written comments sufficiently in advance:

Section VI. Addressing the Council. 4.c. Presentations Submitted in Writing – Persons who anticipate oral presentations exceeding three (3) minutes are encouraged to submit comments in writing at the earliest possible time for distribution to the Council and other interested parties. Comments should be submitted sufficiently in advance of the scheduled meeting date to insure distribution to the Council prior to the meeting. Written submissions delivered to the Council prior to the meeting, or later than five (5) days before a Council meeting shall not be sufficient to exhaust administrative remedies and may be disregarded by the City Council.

Based on the above protocols, we encourage you to submit your comments no later than five (5) days before the Council meeting (Wednesday, November 25, 2015).

Thank you.

Jeffrey Lambert, AICP
Community Development Director

School students clean up Ventura in Trash-A-Thon Nov. 10th

SCHOOL STUDENTS CLEAN UP VENTURA IN TRASH-A-THON
Environmental Fundraiser to be held November 10, 2015

Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education will hold its eighth annual Trash-a-Thon on November 10th. Kindergarten through eighth grade students will collect pledges, and in cooperation with the City of Ventura’s Environmental Services division, work to clean up several litter “hot spots” throughout Ventura, chosen on the basis of need, student accessibility, and safety.

“Volunteer Ventura! is excited to celebrate the 8th anniversary of this unique fundraiser and City partnership. The Ventura Charter School Trash-a-Thon transforms a traditional fundraising concept by raising awareness of our impact on the environment and beautifying it at the same time. It’s a win-win for the School, the City, and the community at large!” said Rosie Ornelas, Volunteer Ventura! Coordinator.

For the event on Nov. 10th, the City will provide gloves, bags, litter sticks, rakes, and shovels. After the clean-up, the students will assemble back at the school campus to assess the amount of litter collected and to celebrate the efforts of everyone involved.

Ventura Charter School is a progressive, K-8 public school that created this unique fundraiser to promote the development of a strong sense of responsibility for protecting, preserving, and restoring the earth for future generations. Ventura Charter School provides an innovative curriculum which encourages students to think critically, collaborate, and to make connections between their classroom learning and the larger world around them.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are allowed to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. For more information, contact: Ventura Charter School of Arts and Global Education,(805)648-5503 or visit www.venturacharterschool.org

Veterans Day at Government Center Nov. 11th

November 11: Veterans Day at the Government Center this year commences at 11:00 AM. The location is outdoors at the corner of Telephone and Victoria Avenue in Ventura, near the flags that represent every branch of the military. Wreaths will be laid by friends and family members , one at each flag. This annual event is provided by the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation and a collaboration of city officials. Held or shine! In the event of rain it move indoors.

There is plenty of parking and we suggest arrival between 10:15-10:30 AM as we begin promptly at 11:00. The 11 o’clock hour represents the exact time the War ended.

Mayor Heitmann and many other dignitaries will attend. Lyn Fairly is Master of Ceremonies.

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