Category Archives: Featured News

Climate Geeks Solution – Art & Tech Expo!!

Climate Geeks Solution – Art & Tech Expo!!
Sunday, Oct 11th 2015 at
The WAV Gallery – West Ventura
Noon to 6pm

FREE & AIR-CONDITIONED!
175 S. Ventura Avenue x Thompson
805.641.0400   /   http://www.wavartists.com
**Parking & Refreshment details at bottom

FBook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/837570999675062/

Hosted by:  Arts for Earth Foundation / http://www.artsforearth.org
As a part of October’s Earth Spirit Art Exhibit
https://www.facebook.com/events/166472650361236/

Exhibitors and Program (Subject to Change)
NOON: Meet ‘n’ Greet
1:00: Welcome, Ron Whitehurst
1: 05 Arts for Earth! Michelle Nosco: “A Walk Through the Earth Spirit Exhibit”
1:30  VCCOOL, Ventura Climate Care Options Organized Locally, Rachel Morris: “Spirituality – At the Heart of Climate Protection”.
1:45 Transition Ventura County, Kendra Gonzales: “The Transition Towns Movement Talk & Playshop”.
2:15 Urban Planner Evan Evangelopoulos:  “Sustainable Communities & Urban Policies”.
2:30 Solar Ovens and Solar Cookery, Pat Browne
2:45 Channel Islands Energy Choice -TBA
3:00 Clean Energy Century, Dan Karpf: “Sustainable Social Evolution”.
3:30 Co-Founder VCCool & consultant to So.Cal Edison, John Howard:

“Lighting & Moving our Way into a Bright Green Future”
3:45 Local Climate Activism–Policy and Protest, Tomás Rebecchi, VC Climate HUB, Food & Water Watch, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas (CFROG), LULAC, Stewards of the Earth, and more
4:15 Ground Operations, Rob Barnett: “Responding to the Climate With Our Food Shed”
4:45 Greywater -TBA
5:00 Green Transit -TBA
5:15 Home Efficiency / emPower -TBA
5:30 Green Building -TBA

Parking:
Lot across the street – but usually full, or behind / west of The WAV – Garden St. under the 101, or lot at Thompson & Juniper just east of The WAV, or Museum lot just off Santa Clara & Ventura Ave.

Refreshments:

We are not allowed food, but Food Truck at Topa Topa 1 block east on Thompson. We are working on being allowed cold drinks…you may want to bring your own.

There will most likely be a “smoothies truck” cruising around.

Plz call Kendra at 805-628-3198 with questions

The 2015 Ventura Paddle Surfing Championships are just 3 days away!

Come join us October 9th & 10th at the Point at C Street, Ventura!

This event is OPEN to International competitors and will result in naming a new US Open Champion, as well as the new US Waveski National Champion, Sign up now, as the Waveski Open event may be limited to 32 competitors. Other waveski divisions include the various age divisions, a women’s division, and of course the Freestyle/Finless division. A high performance surf kayak class will also be included.

Heats will be 15 or 20 minutes in length, and scores will be based on the best 2 or 3 waves depending upon conditions. The format will follow World Waveski Surfing Association rules and include repercharge rounds insuring that everyone surfs at least twice in the open division. Judges will be ASP certified.

About the surf break: C-Street is a world renown point break that works from 1’ to 10’ plus and can offer rides in excess of a quarter mile! Quality waves are found at multiple peaks along this mile long cobble point. This allows more rides per surf session. The actual contest site will be located ‘Up top’ at the Point just east of the Ventura River mouth.

This year’s event is featuring a fully sponsored adaptive surfing class in the competition for those with mobility-limiting injuries such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries. Supported by High FIves Foundation and Cojo Bay Advisors, to showcase the power of positivity out in the ocean. For more information please contact Tyler Lausten, [email protected]

Thanks to Kirby Subaru, we will have cash prizes for the top 4 finalists in both the SUP open and Waveski open events! We are also pleased to announce that Macskisurfgear.com will be giving away a $1700 custom waveski at this years event to the waveski competitor selected as the most promising.

Together We Can End Homelessness

Informing, Motivating, and Mobilizing the Community
Thursday, October 8, 2015
6:30-9:00 pm Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura

The Faith Subcommittee of the Ventura Social Services Task Force is sponsoring a workshop to proactively address the need for a community-wide effort to end homelessness.

PATH, a provider of housing throughout California, will share what they have accomplished in other communities. PATH ends homelessness and improves communities through housing, supportive services, and community engagement.

We invite representatives from houses of faith, the business community, government, and the public — All who want to help are welcome at this event.

Thursday, October 8, 2015 Poinsettia Pavilion
6:30 – Welcome from MC Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller
6:45 – “Housing First” video
7:00 – PATH presentation
8:00 – Panel
8:45 – Closing comments
Refreshments and literature will be available throughout.

Our Moderator

Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller has been the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Torah since 1997. In April, 2015, Rabbi Lisa was named one of the nation’s most inspiring Rabbis for her work to end homelessness.

Our Panelists
Peter Brown, Community
Services Manager, City of Ventura
Katie Hill, Chief Operating Officer, PATH
Kate Mills, Program
Administrator at Ventura County One Stop Program
Karol Schulkin, Program
Coordinator Homeless Services
Program, County of Ventura Human Services Agency
Dave Schulze, Minister at Ventura Church of Christ

The purpose of this event is to share, to learn, and to understand

  1. what other communities are doing to address the issues of housing and homelessness;
  2. what action steps are needed to end homelessness in Ventura; and
  3. what the faith community, the business community, social service providers, government, and individuals can do to end homelessness in Ventura.

Our goal is to inform, motivate, and mobilize the community so that together we can end homelessness in Ventura.

What is PATH?

PATH is People Assisting the Homeless, and its mission is “to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities.” Ever since it was founded in 1984, PATH has pioneered bold and effective approaches that bring communities together to assist people experiencing homelessness.

PATH finds funding, builds housing, and provides services that move people into housing and help them stay there. PATH  is working in many communities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.

At this workshop we will explore together which options will work best to end homelessness in Ventura.

For information on PATH see www.epath.org

 

 

Presented by the Faith  Subcommittee of the  Ventura Social Services Task Force www.vsstf.org

 

Is paid parking coming to the Downton parking structure?

city parking structureUsers would be given a 90-minute free period.
Photo by Daniel Ingram

The City of Ventura is proposing to convert the multi-story parking structure on Santa Clara St. to a paid structure, beginning in January 2016.

Automated parking arms and equipment would be installed at the entrance. All users would be given a 90-minute free period, then pay $1 an hour, 7 days a week.

The City is considering parking permits for Downtown employees and nearby residents allowing parking on the upper floors, likely at a small monthly charge.

Free parking could be provided on special event days.

Security improvements to be considered include upgraded lighting, and additional security cameras.

A Parking Ambassador would also be on-site.

The City wants to implement the change now to avoid costly litigation. An existing agreement with the Century 10 Downtown movie would allow the theater to provide free validation to any theater patron.

If approved by the City Council, the purchase of new equipment would be funded by the City’s general fund. Downtown and Parking District budgets would not be affected. The Downtown Parking Advisory Committee has opposed the change.

Your opinions are being sought. Please email comments to [email protected].

Or you can share your comments directly with the City Council and City Manager at [email protected]. Each council member will receive a copy. If you use this email address, copy [email protected].

CAPS Media Center open house to honor member/producers.

stuff CAPSPatrick Davidson is celebrating his one-year anniversary as Executive Director of CAPS.

On Thursday, October 8, CAPS Media is hosting an Open House from 6-9PM at the CAPS Media Center, located at 65 Day Road directly across from Foothill High School.  The free event is an opportunity to recognize outstanding Member/Producers, participate in an informal discussion on the direction of CAPS, and get a preview of productions and concepts for the coming months.

October marks Patrick Davidson’s one-year anniversary as Executive Director of CAPS Media.  Patrick is an award winning 25-year entertainment industry producer and executive, and the former CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura.  Ventura Breeze invited Patrick to share a few thoughts about his first year at CAPS Media.

Patrick said, “This year has flown by – and it has been a great ride.  Everyone associated with CAPS Media – including the staff, Member/Producers, board members, City and VUSD school district officials, and all of CAPS’ other partners have been extremely supportive.”

“Over the past year, CAPS has broadcast hundreds of hours of original programming produced by Member/Producers, covered and broadcast dozens of Ventura City Council and City meetings, Ventura Unified School Board meetings, and numerous City related events and stories.  I look forward to continually increasing our roster of individual Member/Producers and member organizations.”

“On the tech side, the CAPS Media Center directed major upgrades of broadcast equipment, playback systems, post production editing equipment and software and related resources.  The upgrades and expansion solidify CAPS Media as the most comprehensive and well-equipped community access facility and media programming service in Ventura County.”

“Everyone who visits the CAPS Media Center is amazed. The resources available to the public, the City, our partners and agencies in Ventura are remarkable.  As a former studio executive and network producer I can attest to the fact that the equipment, tools and talent at the CAPS Media Center match or exceed those in network affiliate stations in hundreds of markets across the country. At CAPS, all of the tools are available to the public and supported by our extremely knowledge staff.”

“I suppose that CAPS’ greatest weakness is also our greatest opportunity.  Many people in Ventura don’t realize the resources that CAPS offers to everyone in the community.  The CAPS Media mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.  In order to fulfill our mission we want to get more people in Ventura involved and engaged at CAPS.”

“The past year was challenging and rewarding, and 2016 promises to be even better.  I look forward to meeting everyone at the Open House on October 8, getting community input and sharing our story.”

For additional information about CAPS, visit www.capstv.com.

Ventura Marathon: High temps, fast times by locals

stuff marathonAlberto Perusset, a.k.a. Barefoot Alberto of Malibu, finished the 3rd annual Ventura Marathon, his 100th marathon, wearing bib #100.

By Mira Reverente

The sweltering heat, quite unusual for Ventura this time of year, did not prevent blazing fast times from being set at the 3rd annual Ventura Marathon and Beach Party held the weekend of September 12 and 13 at the Ventura Pier.

Garret Drogosch, 24, of Lake Sherwood, California, dominated the men’s field in the marathon with a winning time of 2:34. Michelle Hamilton, 34, of San Luis Obispo, prevailed over the women with a finish time of 3:10.

The flat and fast marathon course took runners and walkers alike from the Ventura Pier to the Port Hueneme Pier and back. The half-marathon course was predominantly ran on the same course, turning half-marathoners around earlier, just before the 5th Street and Harbor Boulevard intersection.

In the half-marathon, 25-year-old Ventura native Isidore Herrera won with a blazing time of 1:05, showing everyone who’s boss in his home turf. Among the women, 36-year-old Jennifer Santa Maria of San Diego blazed by with a time of 1:17.

Following Herrera’s footsteps, another local, 26-year-old Brittany Oliver prevailed in the women’s 5K with a winning time of 20:02. Sean Kelly, 29, of Yucca Valley, won the men’s 5K, coming in at 17:44.

A combined total of approximately 3,000 participants completed the kids’ run and bike rides on Saturday and the three road races (marathon, half-marathon and 5K) on Sunday.

“We were really excited about the event as a whole and attracted a lot of out of town competitors – 70% of race participants were from outside of Ventura County representing 38 states and eight countries,” says Josh Spiker, race director.

“Although the weather was abnormally hot and humid we still had lots of fast times and Boston Marathon Qualifiers,” he said.

This year, about 40,000 free race photos were made available through Facebook which was a big hit for the runners, according to Spiker. Photos of interesting finishers such as Malibu resident Alberto Persusset, a.k.a. Barefoot Alberto. This was his 100th marathon.

At the beach party, local and upcoming bands regaled the crowd all-weekend long with rock n roll, reggae, soul, blues and country music. A beer garden, health expo and kids’ activities were all part of the weekend extravaganza at the Ventura Pier.

The much-awaited Ventura Marathon is fast becoming a favorite Boston Marathon-qualifier, being the last marathon in the second half of the year to fall within the qualifying window of the prestigious and elite “king of road races.”

Since 2013, the Ventura Marathon has encouraged volunteerism and the participation of local schools, cross-country teams and non-profit groups across its many weekend events. Over $80,000 has been raised for local philanthropy.

For more information or to check on results, visit www.venturamarathon.com.

Ventura City Fire Department respond to traffic collision with vehicle into building

On Sept.25, at 11:28pm Ventura City Fire Department responded to a traffic collision with a vehicle into a building at California south of Thompson with fire involved. Upon arrival, crews discovered a vehicle into an unoccupied retail occupancy. The driver and solo-occupant was out of the vehicle denying injury.

California 3First arriving Firefighters quickly attacked the fire while others assessed the structural integrity of the building and forced entry to investigate for extension of the flames to the interior. The rapid knock down of the fire kept the flames from advancing into the unoccupied building. Positive pressure ventilation was used to evacuate smoke from the interior of the building.

Ventura Police Department provided traffic and scene control. This incident is under investigation by law enforcement.California 2

Ventura City Fire Department respond to traffic collision with a vehicle on its side

On Sept. 25, at 11:40am Ventura City Fire Department responded to a reported traffic collision with a vehicle on its side at Ralston at Swift. The first arriving unit discovered a two vehicle collision with the solo occupant in one vehicle trapped and one occupant of the other vehicle denying injury. Firefighters worked to stabilize the vehicle and extricate the injured driver, initiating medical assessment and treatment in the vehicle. The driver was transported to a local trauma center. In situations like this, it might be worth checking with your local collision shops to see if they can do anything to repair your vehicle. Ventura Police Department was on scene handling the investigation and providing traffic control.