Category Archives: Featured News

Ventura Chamber Honors Harrison

Jim, Nan, Amy Fonzo, Stephanie Caldwell and County Supervisor Matt LaVere at the presentation.

A special evening was held at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Board Installation.

The event is held each year in January to provide “a time to focus on the chamber, celebrating our accomplishments from the previous year and looking forward to the goals and strategic direction selected by the incoming Board of Directors for the new year.” Longtime members are recognized, retiring directors are thanked and new officers are installed.

At this year’s meeting, held Jan. 17 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, E.J. Harrison & Sons received a plaque honoring its 50 years as a chamber member.

The chamber also recognized outgoing chair Dena Rogers and installed new chair Aaron Gaston. It was a fantastic networking reception featuring signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Seasons Catering.

St. Junipero Serra statue has arrived at a new home at the Mission

St. Junipero Serra has returned.

by Patrcia Schallert

The St. Junipero Serra statue has found a new home! On February 29th, 2024, the bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, previously situated in front of San Buenaventura City Hall, was gracefully relocated to its new residence at the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura (211 E Main St.)

St. Junípero Serra, an esteemed  Roman Catholic Spanish priest and friar of the Franciscan Order, is renowned for establishing nine Spanish missions in Alta California. Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015, he holds a special place in history.  On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Mission San Buenaventura, his final mission, was founded on a site now known as downtown Ventura.

Fr. Tom Elewaut, the dedicated pastor of the Mission Basilica, warmly welcomed the return of the bronze likeness of St. Junipero Serra. Speaking on the historic significance of the land belonging to the Chumash people, Fr. Tom Elewaut emphasizes Serra’s role as a spiritual father to the indigenous community what was then known as  Alta California. He highlights Serra’s unwavering defense of their dignity and rights before the Spanish magistrate. “The statue acts as a catalyst for peaceful and open dialogue surrounding the indigenous history, the Mission era, Spanish conquest, Mexican occupation, the Gold Rush, and the eventual attainment of California statehood within the United States of America. All of these events have profoundly influenced and shaped the narrative of this land.”

In July, 2020, the Ventura City Council made the decision to relocate two statues during a special public meeting. This choice paved the way for the  landmark bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, situated on public property in front of City Hall, to be temporarily stored with the ultimate intention of transferring it to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura.

In achieving a peaceful resolution, former Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, former Chair Julie Tumamait of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash), and Father Tom Elewaut collaborated to respectfully address community concerns and create an inclusive environment that respected and appreciated all community voices. The goal was to honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and pay tribute to its earliest inhabitants.

In February, work commenced on the concrete base of the statue, diligently carried out by Bryan Cooke of Cooks Crating, who spearheaded the delivery and installation process. The bronze cast, crafted to replace the original 1936 concrete statue, was unveiled in a momentous ceremony at Ventura City Hall on October 20, 1989. This striking 9’3″, 1250-pound masterpiece had since stood proudly overlooking downtown Ventura and the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder expresses the historical significance of the statue and mission for the city, affirming that the relocation to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura symbolizes their commitment to preserving the rich history of the community and honoring the legacy of its earliest residents.

The decision-making process involved extensive public input, the invaluable contributions of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, and the collaboration with Mission. It is a testament to their dedication to inclusivity and unity while celebrating Ventura’s diverse heritage.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, lovingly named after Saint Bonaventure, who was a Cardinal and Doctor of the Church during the years 1221-1274, is aptly known as the “Mission by the Sea.” Guided by a mission statement that upholds the values of prayer and service, the mission endeavors to foster unity among various faith communities as it continues to move “always forward.”

Editor: From a previous Ventura Breeze “A demonstration was held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, to demand that the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall be taken down on grounds that he had committed atrocities against Native Americans, including the local Chumash.”

An afternoon of giving

VHP Board Treasurer, Dave Schmutte; Webmaster and Vice President, John Sanders Jones; Secretary, Debora Schreiber; Ventura Social Services Task Force Chair Judy Alexandre; Client Outreach officer, Adele Fergusson, and President and Board Chair, Sue Brinkmeyer.

Matt LaVere

On February 24, the Ventura Homeless Prevention (VHP) held an afternoon at an “Keeping People Housed:That’s Amore” and auction to raise rental assistance funds for Ventura Homeless Prevention.

It included outstanding Italian food, drinks, entertainment and presentations. It was held in the hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston.

The Ventura Homeless Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents homelessness in the City of Ventura by keeping people in their homes.

Every penny donated goes directly to pay rent for households who have been stably housed but are suddenly unable to meet the current month’s rent because of a one-time event like a car repair, medical bill, or loss of pay due to illness or temporary lay off.

On average they have prevented homelessness for one household per week since they began their work in 2007 — over 1,300 people so far, 40% of them children.

Sue Brinkmeyer

VHP is an all-volunteer organization operating in donated space, and the Board pays for the few administrative costs, so every penny donated or granted goes directly to pay rent and keep people housed.

Sue Brinkmeyer, President and Board Chair of VHP stated “Ventura Homeless Prevention helps residents of the City of Ventura avoid the double traumas of eviction and homelessness by sending a check for part or all of their rent to their landlord when a temporary loss of income or a major expense leaves them teetering on the brink, and they’ll be able to resume paying their own rent after this one-time assistance.”

“Thanks to the generosity of many local houses of faith and individuals, this non-profit is able to help an average of 6-7 families a month.  And thanks, in part, to the additional expertise provided by case managers at Project Understanding or the Salvation Army, over 90% of the people assisted are still housed one-year later.  Ventura Homeless Prevention can help any Ventura resident, without restriction due to income, immigration status, or type of residence, and it costs, on average, just $500 per person or $1,200 per household to keep people housed.  Both donations and referrals are welcome. More information is available on the website venturahomelessprevention.org.”

Leona Rollins Ventura Housing Services Manager continued “The Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund has been doing amazing work in our community since 2007. By providing one-time financial assistance, the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund can assist individuals and families in remaining in their homes, avoiding eviction and the possibility of homelessness. There are currently 644 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community and we need to continue to work together to see that number decrease, not increase. With more than 60% of renters in the City being “rent burdened” meaning that they are paying more than 30% of their income towards their housing costs, they are unable to save for a rainy day. Without an emergency fund, individuals and families will find themselves unable to pay their rent and facing threats of eviction when that rainy day arrives. This is why it is important for us to continue to support programs like the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund.”

Matt LaVere, Supervisor, Ventura County Board of Supervisors explained “Despite the hard work of so many wonderful, dedicated people, we still have 2,500 unhoused individuals in Ventura County. But what this figure does not show is that there are over 14,000 individuals teetering on the edge of homelessness. These are people who are one missed paycheck, one lost job, one car repair, one hospital bill, one “bad break” in life from ending up on the streets. It is exponentially easier and more cost-effective to address homelessness if we can prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. And that is why the work being done by the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund is so critically important. Their efforts to keep people housed and connect them with necessary services truly changes the direction of people’s lives.”

Musical entertainment was provided by Sus Corez on guitar and Artie Perez on accordion with Sue Brinkmeyer singing along. Presentations were made by Gabrielle White, Talia le Duff and Jeremy Beaumont.

Pacifica High School earned college scholarships

Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills,

Talented teens from Pacifica High School earned college scholarships at the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2024 ProStart Cup presented by Wienerschnitzel, a culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition held on February 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills, crafting three-course meals and presenting restaurant concepts to industry pros. Pacifica High School’s team secured third place in the BJ’s Restaurants Culinary Competition, with each student awarded scholarships to esteemed institutions like The Culinary Institute of America, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State University, Johnson & Wales University and more.

Additionally, the California Restaurant Foundation identified Pacifica High School ProStart teacher, Kristen Collins, as its “CA ProStart Educator of the Year.” Kristen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her time in the restaurant industry to the classroom, and in her eight years, has solidified Pacifica High School as one of the state’s top high school culinary programs. With her mantra to ‘never stop learning,’ Kristen has built skills in gardening, dry-aging meat and pancetta making, which she weaves into classroom instruction and uses to fuel her students’ success in the ProStart Cup competition and beyond.

In addition to vying for The James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year, a national award and $10,000 prize awarded by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Kristen will be part of the newly established ProStart Educator Fellows program, a year-long engagement opportunity culminating with a gathering of all the fellows from across the county in October.

Visit Ventura Honored With Platinum, President, Gold, and Silver HSMAI Adrian Awards

Visit Ventura President & CEO Marlyss Auster and Director of Marketing Mike Laan represented the organization at an awards ceremony.

Visit Ventura was recently honored for travel marketing excellence by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at their 67th annual Adrian Awards Celebration, the world’s largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. Visit Ventura was awarded a whopping total of four Adrian Awards at the in-person ceremony in New York City.

Over 800 entries were submitted this year and Visit Ventura’s work was judged to be exceptional by experts in hospitality, travel, tourism, and media. All four awards recognized Visit Ventura for their leadership in bringing the X Games to Ventura and its creative community integration supporting the event.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to receive four HSMAI Adrian Awards this year,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura’s President and CEO. “To be in a room with industry leaders and recognized for our work in marketing that our small team does in-house makes me so proud. Each aspect of the story that we told —from the full-page ads to the YouTube videos—we rolled up our sleeves and put our entire heart into it.”

Visit Ventura received four Adrian Awards: Gold for its winning entry in the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, President’s Award —which is the highest score in its budget range— in the Advertising-Brand Campaign category, Platinum —which is one of this year’s highest honors— for the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, and Silver in the Brand Campaign category.

Visit Ventura was also a finalist alongside entries from Tourism Australia and Destination Canada, among other large destinations, for Best in Show. This is Visit Ventura’s first time receiving the President’s Award, Platinum Adrian Award, and a Best in Show honor.

Most notably, Visit Ventura was one of the smallest destinations to receive multiple awards. As an international awards celebration, destinations and brands like IGH Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Atlantis Paradise Island, and Visit Honduras were among some of the winners. To see Visit Ventura, where a small team does all marketing in house, among the list of international winners is a true showing of hometown pride.

“The Adrian Awards celebrate the innovation and ingenuity that fuel our success and recognize the marketing leaders whose extraordinary efforts literally ‘open the doors’ to exploration and excitement,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Their work inspired the world to get out and create memories through travel, and HSMAI is proud to honor them.”

City of Ventura names Rachel Dimond as new Community Development Director

Dimond joined the City of Ventura in May 2023

Following an extensive recruitment process, Rachel Dimond has been appointed as the Community Development Director, effective February 17, 2024. Dimond has been serving in the interim director role since the end of 2023.

Ms. Dimond joined the City of Ventura in May 2023 as the Interim Assistant Community Development Director and has since demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing various planning projects including major hotel, mixed-use, and residential developments.

“Drawing from a diverse planning background that extends from the State of Colorado to Southern California, Rachel brings over 20 years of industry insight and a wealth of knowledge to the role,” stated Ventura City Manager Bill Ayub. “Her expertise in urban planning, addressing both long-term strategies and immediate objectives, will be instrumental in fulfilling the City’s developmental requirements for residents, businesses, and community collaborators.”

Prior to joining the City, Ms. Dimond held the position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Compton and played senior planning roles in the City of West Hollywood. Dimond holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Master of Urban Planning degree from New York University.

Over the past three years, the Community Development Department has made significant contributions to several important City Council goals. This includes drafting the 2021-2029 Housing Element, updating the Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance, establishing an expanded Permit Services Division and Housing Services Division, supporting commercial cannabis applications, enhancing the historic preservation process, and initiating the General Plan Update process.

The Community Development Department is responsible for planning and zoning, building and safety, code enforcement, housing, and redevelopment for the City of Ventura. It ensures that new construction and additions to existing structures meet the policies and guidelines established for public safety, zoning, and development.

With 45 full-time employees and an annual operating budget of over $15.4 million, the department also works closely with various City commissions and committees that help guide and advise the City Council regarding development in Ventura.

For more information about the City’s Community Development Department, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CD.

 

The Power of Love

Founders, the Friedlanders.

On Saturday, February 10th, over 150 guests both young and old were carried back-in-time to the decade of the boom box, the mix-tape, the Walkman, and totally awesome dance music at Kids & Families Together’s fifth annual fundraising event. This year’s theme, The Power of Love ~ an 80’s themed FUN-raising dance, truly captured the essence that is at the heart of K&FT as an organization and the critical work they provide to families in our communities. As the 1985 song by Huey Lewis & The News states, love truly is “the power that makes the world go ’round”.

Guests that gathered at Poinsettia Pavilion enjoyed a fantastic evening including a fun and nostalgic 80’s-themed menu prepared by Food Affairs by Stacey, live music and dancing, silent auction featuring 60 different items, a game zone showcasing some of the popular table and hand-held games of the 1980’s, along with two arcade machines that were part of the evening’s live auction. Prior to the opening of the event’s program, winners of the 80’s Trivia Game were included in a drawing for items such as a Walkman-style tape player and a boombox! Raffle tickets were also sold for the chance to win a diamond and rose gold bracelet valued at $2,000 which was generously donated by Fox Fine Jewelry.

Live music at the event was provided by We Are The 80’s Band. Steve Roth Founder/C.E.O. (Chief Entertainment Officer)/drummer stated “We were proud to support the fantastic work that K&FT provides to the families in Ventura County, and the critical services that they offer to foster and adopted children. It’s always a privilege for us to contribute our talents to a worthwhile cause.”

Founded in January 2000, Kids & Families Together serves foster, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County. For over two decades has been the leader in providing critical services and support to children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT is unique in that we provide education, support, and strategies to connect caregivers and parents to the children in their care. We wrap our arms around the entire family allowing them to use the strategies they have learned, along with “The Power of Love”, to raise healthy, nurtured children who thrive!

Kids & Families Together’s mission is to strengthen relationships by providing safe, supportive help that keeps family members emotionally connected to one another. K&FT’s programs help families by building relationships, strengthening families, and enhancing attachments.

K&FT provides families with much needed mental health counseling, support, and education that brings direct and meaningful results right into the home. Here is what one kinship caregiver said about their experience working with K&FT.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate working with Kids & Families Together. My therapist helped me explain the current situation more fully and thoughtfully to my 7-year old grandson. This has completely altered the dynamics within our home and my relationship with my grandson. Thank You!”

Charles, the K&FT therapy dog

Both sponsors and guests of this event were integral parts of K&FT’s annual celebration supporting Ventura County foster/resource, kinship and adoptive families. K&FT needs this support in order to continue to offer these types of one-on-one connections, supporting children and their families who often find themselves in crisis situations.

K&FT would like to express gratitude to event sponsors: Aqua~Flo Supply, Generous Anonymous Donor, Marianne Bloom, Sharon Watts Woolley, Controlled Elements, Community Memorial Health Care, US Bank, Robert & Jean Bonar, The Gene Haas Foundation, Ventura Pet Barn, Mary Galvin, Vivian Mullett, Damascus Gear, Anne Paul King, and Kyle & Crystal Cummings.

To learn more about K&FT visit … https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/

 

Join the parade, on March 16!

Surf Rodeo float riders waving to the crowd. Photo by Brendan Daly/WhizCom Marketing

If you’d like to roll down Main Street in the 2024 County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the time to sign up is now. Entry deadline is Thursday, March 7.

Presented annually by Ventura Elks Lodge No. 1430, the parade will commence this year at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, along a three-quarter-mile route in the heart of Ventura. To enter, visit venturastpatricksdayparade.com. Entry fee is $50.

This year’s parade theme, “Shamrocks & Shenanigans,” gives entrants an invitation to embrace their inner leprechauns with whimsy and mischief in their creations.

One of the county’s most popular community events, the St. Patrick’s Day parade draws thousands each year to a route lined with happy families all dressed up in green. The 2024 parade will run the same midtown route it debuted in 2022, downhill along Main, from Lincoln Drive to Fir Street.

Parade entries are coming in strong this year and again include a solid musical contingent. Always a great entertainment, the parade last year drew more bands and other musicians than any previous year in the history of the decades-old event.

Parade entrants compete for awards presented by a panel of judges led by St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee member James Lockwood. Joining Lockwood on the panel will be Clint Garman from the office of Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere; Richard Rush, former president of California State University Channel Islands; Celina Zacarias, CSUCI’s director of community and government relations; and Elks Lodge representative Rhonda Catron.

Primary parade sponsors include California State University Channel Islands, Citizens Business Bank, E.J. Harrison & Sons, Rolls Scaffold, Runnin’ to Bunnin Chevrolet, and Union Bank. Major sponsors donating their time and services include CAPS Media, the Gaston Group, Ventura Rental Center, and WhizCom Marketing. Among the scores of others who contributed are a dozen media sponsors.

The parade grand marshal this year is the wonderful Elena Brokaw! Executive director of the Museum of Ventura County, Elena is a perennial Ventura County civic leader who before heading up the museum worked with the city of Ventura for 13 years, including as its community services director. In 2019, she was named Citizen of the Year, earning the top honor bestowed by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce in its annual prestigious Poinsettia Awards.

Elena grew up in Ventura County, the youngest of five. She lived in East Ventura till her family moved to an avocado ranch in Santa Paula when she was 8. Elena naturally gravitated toward arts and culture, spending her youth writing, singing and acting and going on to earn a degree in fine arts from Harvard. After short, post-college stints in Boulder, Colorado, and Los Angeles, Elena returned home to Ventura County for good.

She lives in Santa Paula with her husband, former Ventura Police Chief Pat Miller, and her son, Charlie – who turns 13 the day after St. Patrick’s Day!

The County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade is co-chaired by an esteemed group of former Ventura mayors and councilmembers – former grand marshals Jim Monahan and Nan Drake; and longtime event coordinator Brian Brennan – working in cooperation with a hardworking committee including members from Ventura Elks Lodge No. 1430, which has presented the parade since its beginnings in the 1980s.

For answers to parade entry questions, call Brennan at 805-746-5955 or committee member Aaron Gaston at 805-340-8217. For other parade info, call Monahan at 805-340-1356.