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Category Archives: Featured News
Ventura Port District Maintenance Dredging and Beach Renourishment
An estimated 485,000 cubic yards of material has been removed from the entrance channel and placed upon the beaches.
With recent winter storms and high tides events having severely eroded areas of the California coastline and Ventura Harbor scenic beaches over the past few months, the Ventura Harbor’s annual dredging activities have significantly contributed to overall beach restoration.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), working with the Manson Construction Company, began dredging operations in Ventura Harbor on March 11. An estimated 485,000 cubic yards of material was dredged from the federal channel and sand traps to ensure that the Harbor entrance remain safe to navigate year-round for boaters and commercial fisherman, while then redispersing the sand back onto the harbor beaches.
Ventura Harbor’s beaches including Surfer’s Knoll Beach, South Beach, and popular Harbor Cove Beach (or Mother’s Beach as the locals call it) on Spinnaker Drive, have now being largely replenished, allowing the beaches to reopen and be available to the community.
“Maintaining a safe, navigable, and resilient harbor is one of the key guiding principles of the Ventura Port District,” states Brian Pendleton, General Manager of the Ventura Port District. “This crucial sand replacement, as a result of the dredging, also serves as an enormous benefit to residents, surfers, beach goers, and to wildlife, as the sand dunes and beaches provide critical nesting habitat for endangered species such as the Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern.”
The Corps pays for the annual Ventura Harbor entrance channel dredging activities.
In August 1968, the U.S. Congress approved Public Law 90-483, which among other things had the U.S. government acting through the Corps, assuming the maintenance responsibility for the navigation features at Ventura Harbor, subject to annual appropriations by the President and/or Congress. The features that the Corps is responsible to maintain include:
- The Entrance Channel
- Sand Trap
- 3 Jetties
- An offshore breakwater
- A groin
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, frequent navigation problems resulting from shoaling at the harbor entrance developed due to a lack of Congressional funding. In 1983, the Port District recognized the need to communicate more effectively with the Congress and the Corps and retained the services of a Washington advocate. Since that time, over $140 Million has been expended by the Corps in maintaining and improving the harbor entrance system.
The President’s 2024 Budget was released on March 9, 2023 and named the Ventura Harbor project for $8.471 million.
“With the support of Congress and the Senate, this will ensure that dredging will be completed again in early 2024 and provide additional funding for the Corps to update environmental studies and issue a new contract later in 2024,” states Todd Mitchell, Senior Business Operations Manager for the Ventura Port District. “We are enormously grateful for the efforts of Congressman Salud Carbajal and Congresswoman Julia Brownley to advocate for the President funding project in his 2024 budget.”
The District is responsible for permitting, funding, and contracting periodic dredging of the inner harbor (excluding the Ventura Keys). Performance of the dredging requires the District to maintain its own permits with the Corps, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, the Ventura County Air Quality Control Board, and the California Coastal Commission. The District’s permits not only allow for inner harbor dredging, but also to replicate the work conducted by the Corps in the event that there was an emergency and the work had to be performed by the District.
Because the inner harbor soil is primarily fine grain (silt), three of the District’s permits for inner harbor dredging have special conditions that require the Santa Clara river be flowing into the ocean in order for material placement to take place. In 2021 when navigating into channel into the Keys became a concern, the river condition was not met and the District and City of Ventura had to obtain emergency permits in order to perform the inner harbor dredging. Therefore, the District has been pursuing amendments to these permits so that inner harbor dredging can be performed when needed.
For more details on annual dredging activities in Ventura Harbor or information on Ventura Harbor beaches visit VentruaHarbor.com
El Camino High School ECTV crew wins WAVE awards
To learn more about CAPS, visit capsmedia.org.
The highly talented high school students at El Camino in the ECTV media program at CAPS, continue to receive accolades and win awards. The ECTV program was created by CAPS in partnership with the Ventura Unified School District. Students collaborate writing, producing, recording and editing their own programs.
Recently the ECTV crew won 4 WAVE awards at the annual competition directed by the Alliance for Community Media Western Region (ACM West). (Standing) Phil Taggart, teacher/mentor, Arshan Barati, Sophia Johnson, Sarah Briggs, Luca Falvo, Mika Long, Seth Steiminger, Christopher Giordano, DeeDee Black, Aracely Soriano Perez, Hector Guerrero, Principal El Camino High School, and Saadiyah Islam. (Kneeling): Allison Laak, Kampton Carter, Alyx Golson and Shayan Barati.
Every year, adult and student media crews from throughout the western United States compete for WAVE awards, which stands for Western Access Video Excellence. This years’ trophies increase the ECTV collection to more than 30 regional and national awards won over the past few years. All of the ECTV programs can be viewed on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/ectv.
The Alliance for Community Media (ACM), founded in 1976, represents more than 3,000 Public, Education and Government access organizations and community media centers throughout the United States. ACM’s fundamental mission is to help democracy flourish in local communities by encouraging the public to be active participants in their local government and to foster free expressing and exchange of ideas.
CAPS is a proud member of ACM and is the only public access media center in Ventura. CAPS’ mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.
CAPS manages two television channels and one radio station in Ventura providing public programming on television, radio and online streaming 24/7 on all distribution outlets.
On Channel 6 and streaming online, CAPS presents programming created by and for the public including community information programs, faith-based services and more. On Channel 15 and streaming online, CAPS manages and presents government meetings at City Hall including city council, design review, general plan advisory committee, planning commission and more. In addition Channel 15 includes education and information programs produced by ECTV crews as well as fitness, science programs and more.
CAPS is the home of Radio KPPQ – Ventura’s only public access radio station. KPPQ features a dedicated and talented crew of local DJs producing unique and information programming. DJs include Pam Baumgardner, Kathleen Good, Mark, Nadine Piche, Kevin Wallace, and Dr. Q & Dr. C.
All of the KPPQ locally produced programs, as well as national and international shows, can be enjoyed 24/7 at 104.1 FM and streamed worldwide on myTuner Radio and on capsmedia.org. Many of the shows are available to listen on demand on the KPPQ podcast network found on the radio page of the CAPS website.
To learn more about CAPS, visit capsmedia.org. A video on the home page, CAPS Media City Council Presentation 2023, presents an overview of the organization. Additional information is on the CAPS website including links to programing and information regarding reopening of the CAPS Media center to the public.
“One for One” initiative dedicated to planting trees in California
Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara’s professional theatre company, has announced a partnership with “One Tree Planted,” a non-profit that aims to plant trees in California. For every ticket purchased for the upcoming play, The Children, Ensemble Theatre Company will plant one tree.
“Our upcoming play, The Children explores the effects of climate change on our planet and what one generation owes to the next,” said Scott DeVine, Ensemble Theatre Company’s managing director. “The mission of “One Tree Planted” complements the show’s storyline and this partnership expands the way in which Ensemble Theatre Company influences and impacts the community we serve. We believe there is no better way to honor the sentiment of The Children, while recognizing the ideal of Earth Month, than to help the environment by planting trees on behalf of our audience.”
The objectives of this new partnership include:
- Supporting reforestation efforts in California
- Empowering consumers with sustainable actions
- Raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration
Planting trees is consistently identified as one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat for over 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Trees also provide lasting social impact by providing jobs to over 1.6 billion people, empowering women in underdeveloped nations, and supporting communities that are devastated by environmental damage.
The partnership is designed to be a simple way for Ensemble Theatre Company’s audience to give back and get involved in reforestation right here in California. For every ticket sold to The Children, Ensemble Theatre Company will partner with “One Tree Planted” to plant one tree. The trees are planted by “One Tree Planted’s” local partner organizations and community volunteers in areas where deforestation has occurred in California.
About One Tree Planted One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on that is a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to restore forests that have been degraded or deforested, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity habitat. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The Children will begin previews on Thursday, April 6 at 7:30pm; opens on Saturday, April 8 at 8:00pm and runs through Sunday, April 23, 2023 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.
Live In the Moment
Just being aware of how you are sitting or standing can lead to better posture.
by Leslie Sokol
Maintaining a sense of purpose is important for a healthy lifestyle. If you find yourself retired and in a different stage of life, it’s a great time to indulge yourself and try new things. How about those hobbies that you always wanted to do but never had the time for? Now you can engage in positive activities that spark that magic from within. Keeping your mind and body active is crucial to a healthy lifestyle.
Research shows that negative stereotypes about aging are internalized over a person’s lifespan. These thoughts can harm your physical and cognitive health as you grow older. Developing an awareness of these messages can help you understand how they influence you. Aging does not have to be a negative or declining time in your life. With a positive and healthy attitude, you can accomplish many of the things you’ve always dreamed of doing.
Don’t forget – age is just a number! Perhaps it is not the number of years we live but how we age that matters most. It’s never too late and you are never too old to explore new interests. Living in the moment is crucial. Be active – join a club, do volunteer work, get involved in your retirement community, socialize with your neighbors, friends and family. You can also dance, exercise, paint, play board games or try whatever piques your interest and keeps you engaged.
Be sure to also make the time to work on staying physically active. Small changes can lead to big health benefits. How we stand and sit affects all parts of the body. Good posture increases energy, improves balance, lessens the chance of injuries, helps minimize back issues and so much more.
To start, sit or stand with your back straight, shoulders down, chin up, chest out, and your stomach pulled in. By keeping your core muscles tight and strong, you will stay centered and balanced.
When walking (either on your own or with a walker), keep your body weight centered, placing one foot in front of the other while looking straight ahead and focusing on what’s in front of you (be sure to double check that your path is clear first!)
There are also several stretches you can do to improve your posture:
1) While seated or standing, stretch your arms up slowly over your head, pulling your stomach in and bringing your shoulders down. Inhale slowly as you raise your arms and then exhale while lowering your arms and leaning forward from the waist. Try keeping your back flat and stretch outward with your chin and chest. Repeat four to six times.
2) From a seated position, bend forward from the waist with your arms bent and elbows facing forward. As you lean forward, try and get as close to your knees as possible and then slowly raise yourself back to the starting position. Repeat 8-15 times. Add more repetitions as you get comfortable with the movement.
Just being aware of how you are sitting or standing can lead to better posture, which in turn leads to better health. This is what living in the moment is all about!
Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for forty-five years. You can watch For the Young at Heart by visiting her YouTube Channel or on TVSB. She also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
For more information contact Leslie at [email protected] 805-312-8089
or visit the website: www.LeslieSokolDance.com
Meet the Ventura County Leadership Academy Journey to Leadership 2023 Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Elena Brokaw has devoted her career to creating stronger communities.
Elena Brokaw earned her bachelor’s degree in art history at Harvard University. She has worked extensively as a cultural consultant for communities as well as organizations. As a lead consultant for the firm Jerry Allen and Associates, she completed cultural plans for the cities of Reno, Nevada, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Capitola, California. She has also facilitated public art planning processes for San Diego, California, Reno, and Minneapolis.
In her professional career, she has served as fundraising and development director for multiple organizations including the American Film Institute, was the director of the Parks and Recreation Department in Ventura, California for over a decade, and currently serves as The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director at the Museum of Ventura County.
Elena has served on many regional boards, including Women’s Economic Ventures, Ventura County Social Justice Fund, and the Ventura College Community Foundation. She is a member of the Harvard Selection Committee and is on the faculty of the Cal Lutheran University Center for Nonprofit Leadership, providing instruction in organizational development and leadership.
Channel Islands National Park announces award to provide year-round boat transportation service
Island Packers to continue service to the islands. Photo by Kevon Bailey
The National Park Service (NPS) announced today a 10-year concession contract award to Island Packers to provide year-round boat transportation service from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Barbara Island within Channel Islands National Park.
Island Packers is a new company that will be formed from the merger of the current concession, Island Packers Corporation and Superboat Incorporated. The Island Packers Corporation has held the current concession contract since 2011. The new contract will begin on January 1, 2024.
“We are pleased to announce that Island Packers will continue to provide transportation services for park visitors to Channel Islands National Park,” said Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “Island Packers has provided excellent service to the public for over 50 years, and we look forward to another decade of safe and enjoyable visitor access to Channel Islands National Park.”
The new contract will usher in service and sustainability improvements for the concession operation. Visitors will have access to a greater variety of convenience items for sale onboard the vessels, including hats, sunscreen, lip balm, water, and pre-packaged food items, and will have the option to purchase a pre-made boxed lunch when purchasing their boat transportation ticket in advance. Under the new contract, the concessioner will be making several environmentally sustainable upgrades to vessels, including conversion of the fleet to diesel/electric hybrid transmissions with solar charged batteries.
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Open house held at the Grand Jury
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko was among those at the open house. Photos by Patricia Schallert
The Ventura County Grand Jury invited the public to its annual Open House on Thursday, February 23, at the Grand Jury Chambers located at 646 County Square Dr.
The Grand Jury is a panel of 19 Ventura County citizens who conduct investigations into the operations of local governmental entities within the county. Investigations originate either from a public complaint or from within the Grand Jury.
Visitors were able to tour the Grand Jury Chambers and offices, meet current Grand Jurors, learn about Grand Jury functions and the application process. They also enjoyed the food table that we available.
The primary function of the Jury is civil oversight accomplished through on-site or protocol visits, interviews, briefings, investigations and research.
The Jury publishes reports on its conclusions from their investigations and may make recommendations.
Jurors are paid $25.00 per meeting plus mileage. Therefore, they serve as a service to the communities they serve in Ventura County.
Juror Lori Macdonald told the Breeze why she became a juror.
“Early in my retirement I felt the need to do something meaningful. I already volunteered in a number of ways in our community but I wanted something that would be challenging for me and make a difference. I read that the Ventura County Grand Jury was looking for jurors and decided to apply. I strongly believe that the work that happens within the Grand Jury is important. It is a way for the citizens to voice their concerns and feel heard. It is the intrinsic rewards of knowing that what we do matters that make this experience valuable.”
If you are interested in applying for the Grand Jury or want more information, please visit the Grand Jury website at: https://www.ventura.org/grand-jury/
For questions, please email [email protected]
Complaint forms are available at ventura.org/grand-jury/forms.
Ventura gang invades Cuba
Ivor Davis with John Lennon
by Ivor Davis
Visiting Cuba has been on my bucket list for all my life and thanks to Ventura College retired Professor Bill Hendricks—I finally—accompanied by a group of Ventura’s notable local yokels—we recently made it to that beleaguered Caribbean country.
So let me keep it short and sweet: Twas a memorable, eye-opener visiting this country of absolute contradictions. And ineffable charm. Don’t forget Cuba is a mere hop skip and jump from America–90 miles from Key West!
Along for the journey were California Appeals court Justice Steven Perren, Long time locals Clark, Diane and Grey Hubbard, as well as Scott Williams, who packed a bagful of baseball balls to give-away to delighted kids on the street. Real estate broker Karen Hoffberg who merrily danced on the streets of Havana and assorted Ventura College students who somehow managed to spend eight days in Cuba without sleep! For them it was a “Hard Day’s Night!”
Apologies for not mentioning some of the other local dignitaries who cha-chaad their way through Cuba—but all that rum and the cigars and late night carousing has dimmed my memory.
But what remains vivid and memorable is this:
A visit to the John Lennon Park in Havana—where a bronze statue of the late Beatle sprawls for all to see. I have had a passing acquaintance with Mr. Lennon so I was happy to learn the story about John—told to me by Fidel’s personal photographer Roberto Chile–and why it was the Liverpool Lennon—and not the Leningrad Vladimir Lenin—who was such a tourist attraction in Cuba.
First John and the Beatles music was banned by Fidel as being part of the cliched “corrupt Western decadence.” Then when Lennon went to war with the Nixon regime during the peak of the anti-Vietnam War movement, Fidel suddenly recognized him as a fellow revolutionary.
And thus in December 2000, a park was born with Fidel unveiling the bronze as, “All You Need Is Love” blared over loudspeakers.
For me the highlights included the fabulous food, visiting Havana’s main synagogue which was generously unlocked for me, and where I noted that Steven Spielberg also got a personal tour a few years ago.
Biggest surprise: I went to the Cuban government cigar factory and shop—and much to my chagrin (would you believe) they refused to take their own Cuban currency! Dollars, Si. But sorry no credit cards!
For a nation under duress, the Cubans were warm and welcoming.
Particularly after we all unloaded suitcases laden with band-aids, clothes, toothpaste and children’s clothing at the local church. And baseballs–of course!
The food was fabulous, the internet was non existent–and our tour guide Alex was top notch with a great sense of humor.
Bill Hendricks is planning another “cultural trip” to Cuba later this year.
Go if you can. It’s something you will never forget. And maybe the Breeze will publish your adventures!!
Looking Back—and Ahead–with Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler (Part one of two)
Chief Darin Schindler has led the Ventura Police Department since April 2020. The Patrol Task Force is responsible for restorative policing while also offering support to people experiencing homelessness. Photos courtesy of the Ventura Police Department
by Amy Brown
Chief Darin Schindler is a career law enforcement professional, having started with the Port Hueneme Police Department in 1989, and then serving in a wide range of roles in the Ventura department since 1995, culminating in taking the reins as Chief of Police in 2020. When asked what drew him to a career in policing, he shared that he’d grown up watching shows like Adam-12 and Starsky and Hutch, and that in the 1980s, when crime rates were soaring, he wanted to choose a career where he could make a difference. “I liked the idea of doing good things that would benefit the community, putting bad guys in jail and helping people,” said Schindler.
Today in Ventura, certain types of crime are on the decline, according to Schindler. Ventura’s annual crime statistics are based on the FBI’s National Uniform Crime Reporting Program, defined as the number of crimes committed per 1,000 residents. The crimes are broken down into categories, and the report comes out each spring for the previous year. Schindler reports that preliminary numbers indicate that 2022 had some of the lowest reported crimes in 30 years. “That being said, it doesn’t tell the whole story,” said Schindler. “What we see so far is a reduction in Part I crimes which include burglary, theft, robbery, homicide, sexual assault, larceny and arson. What we’ve seen happening over the last few years, however, is a more visible increase in quality of life issues.” Many of these issues are directly related to homelessness, which rose by 25% during the pandemic, according to the county’s Point in Time Count in 2022.
Schindler emphasized that homelessness is not a crime—however, some behaviors that can be affiliated with it are. “We focus on the behavior, not the homelessness. Sometimes these behaviors are criminal in nature, and when they are, it’s usually lower level crimes like trespassing, sleeping in public, and a lot of the crimes that you would attribute to vagrancy,” he said. “We do everything we can to do to help the homeless.” The police department has a range of resources to help address the public health and safety impact of homelessness issues in the area, with a more holistic approach that partners with Behavioral Health and local organizations to provide outreach, support and advocacy. The department has a Patrol Task Force which is responsible for both restorative policing, and is focused on engaging to provide connections to services and outreach. Schindler said has the Patrol Task Force officers have relationships with nearly all unhoused individuals in the area. “We always try to offer assistance first. Sometimes we can’t because they’ve committed a crime, and sometimes you have to offer assistance 20, 30, 40 or even 50 times before they’re ready for it,” said Schindler. One resource is the Community Intervention Court, which is focused on providing possible solutions for those caught in a cycle of arrests, and provides defendants charged with repeated vagrancy-related crimes the opportunity to participate in treatment and social service programs. According to Schindler, his officers frequently encounter the same people, often with mental health and/or alcohol or drug issues, who repeatedly come to the department’s attention because of lower level crimes. “We will take enforcement action, but we understand that arresting somebody because of an alcohol problem and perhaps urinating in public, when they have nowhere to stay, doesn’t solve the problem. It may solve it for that day but not long term. We’re hoping to come up with a better long term strategy to deal with the issue.”
Through the program with the court system, individuals can agree to a structured plan for assistance—for example if they need recovery treatment, they can opt for that instead. “They’ll come up with the plan, and the idea is the person has to be willing to do it, and if they successfully complete the program, their charges can be dismissed. That can give them the opportunity to start fresh, while helping themselves get back to where they want to be,” said Schindler.