Category Archives: Featured News

St patrick’s day parade years gone by

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Ventura! This year everyone’s favorite St. Patrick’s Day Parade is sadly, yet understandably cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. However the clever CAPS Crews and the Ventura Elks Elves have conjured up something special to fill the Saturday morning celebration. Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Years Gone By is a fun-filled, festive trip down memory lane (in place of Main Street). The hour long program will feature great moments from past and recent St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Ventura County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Years Gone By will premiere on Saturday, March 13 at 10AM on CAPS Channel 6 and repeat multiple times throughout the month. The program will also stream on the CAPS Media website – capsmedia.org. and air on CAPS Radio – KPPQ 104.1 FM. We hope everyone settles in with a bag of popcorn and a set of streamers to enjoy the show.

All of the CAPS Media board of directors, staff and members are excited to welcome Ventura’s newest Councilmember, Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios as the District 4 representative. We look forward to working with Ms. Sanchez-Palacios on all the city projects and initiatives, and especially on those that are of greatest interest to her.

Speaking of City Council collaborations, recently CAPS had the pleasure of collaborating with City Councilmember Lorrie Brown on an historic initiative to have the Ventura City Council proclaim February as Black History Month in Ventura.

Working in coordination with Ms. Brown and city staff, CAPS produced a special video in support of the city proclamation. The video premiered at a recent City Council meeting and has been featured on the city website and in social media and has been shown on all CAPS Media platforms including Channel 6, Channel 15, KPPQ 104.1 FM, and streaming online and on social media.

March/April is the time of year for annual staff recognitions and CAPS Media is working with numerous governmental agencies to pay tribute to their dedicated employees. CAPS is producing video profiles for the Ventura County Fire Department’s annual awards program honoring inspiring firefighters and support staff as well as outstanding citizen volunteers. CAPS is also working with the City of Ventura directors to create a series of profiles recognizing the city’s outstanding Employees and Supervisors of the Year. And since March 30th is National Doctor’s Day, CAPS is collaborating with the creative folks at VCMC to produce a special Thank You, shout-out to the compassionate and passionate doctors.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency the CAPS Media Center remains closed to Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM.

Every week CAPS Crews record and broadcast the County COVID updates at the County government center and locations throughout the community. These reports provide the public with the latest, accurate information on the crisis and the relentless efforts by government and health officials to keep us safe and help all of us through the pandemic.

All of us at CAPS Media hope everyone stays Safe, Strong, Distant and Healthy during these very challenging times.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura installs new lighting and sound systems

The lighting project was envisioned five years ago.

by Fr. Tom Elewaut

With gratitude to our parishioners who continue to support our Called to Renew capital campaign, the Basilica lighting is now a reality! As Lent began, an extensive new lighting upgrade that highlights the sacred art and liturgical appointments for parishioners, pilgrims, and tourists is completed. The state-of-the-art lighting system replaces a 1980s era system with LED energy efficient theatrical enhancements that create a spirituality uplifting appreciation of the sacred paintings, statues, and tapestry, some of which predate the completion of the 1809 church. Each appointment is separately illuminated with sufficient congregational lighting.

A new sound system was installed as well. The new speakers offer clearer fidelity for both proclamation of the Word, and the liturgy of the Eucharist and the uplifting voices of the cantors and musicians. This project was gifted by Bill Simon, Jr. and parishioner donations to our building fund.

The lighting project was envisioned five years ago and is the second major project funded by the capital campaign by parishioners. The first campaign project remodeled restrooms in the garden utilized by parishioners and guests visiting the historic downtown Mission. Additionally, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles funded the exterior painting of the rectory, the Gift Shop building, wood flooring refinished in the rectory and a new roof on the Gift Shop building.

In June 2020 Pope Francis elevated Mission San Buenaventura to a minor basilica in the Catholic church, becoming the seventh Minor Basilica in California. The new lighting is befitting a basilica and now highlights the oil paintings of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) painted in New Spain approximately forty years prior to the completion of the present church. Statues of patron San Buenaventura, St. Mary, and St. Joseph behind the main altar are strikingly visible as is the tabernacle, altar, and ambo (pulpit) among several other statues and a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Many of the eighteenth-century statues have been restored in the past decade by the South Coast Fine Arts Conservancy funded by the California Missions Foundation and the Nicholas and Margaret Carlozzi Charitable Foundation and private donors.

The seven-week lighting installation project was engineered by John Maloney, P.E., designed by Mar-Vista Lighting and Chauvet Professional, and installed by Taft Electric.

MERITO restoring an iconic site in the City of Ventura

The Ventura based MERITO Foundation is working with California State Parks Channel District with the support of State Coastal Conservancy and Wetland Recovery Project to restore an iconic site in the City of Ventura known as Kalorama. The site is in San Buenaventura State Beach south of the Ventura pier at the bottom of the watershed, and it used to be a large wetland area that served as natural flood control and habitat for many species before the construction of Harbor Blvd. and Highway 101. Currently, invasive plant species have been taking over the site threatening the native species, and if you ever drive or bike nearby on or after a rainy day you will see how the site easily floods.

To restore Kalorama wetland, MERITO Foundation has been involving youth ages 9-12 and their families since September 2020 during Marine Science After-school Beach Camps with COVID-19 protocols approved by Ventura County Health. For 3 afternoons of each week until March 12,  students work in designated pods of 6 students per instructor 6 feet apart to remove invasive and plant native species, monitor birds, water quality, learn about wetland ecology, and other marine science topics such as invertebrates, plankton, explore, clean up and study the beach. Their family members are also welcomed each Friday to take part in this restoration effort.

This project benefits the City of Ventura’s coast by enriching its biodiversity and increasing flood control, and benefits youths’ education and physical-emotional well being. Exposure to nature enhances youths’ cognitive functioning, character development, reduces stress, and increases physical activity, especially during these times.

MERITO stands for Multicultural Education for Resource Issues Threatening Oceans, and it is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization based in Ventura, CA, dedicated to protecting the ocean by empowering multicultural youth to think, live and act in environmentally sustainable manners by exposing them to high quality marine science education, hands-on resource conservation and participation in scientific research.

More details at www.meritofoundation.org/kalorama and at www.meritofoundation.org/afterschoolbeachcamp

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Community donates 1,750 diverse books to VUSD schools

Balboa MS Librarian Mike Cromie and Assistant Principal Tomas Gaeta are happy to receive the donated books.

Ventura Education Partnership thanks the community for their generous support of Diverse Books for Kids which brought a MiniGrant program for new, diverse books to VUSD educators. Forty VUSD educators applied for and received books for their classrooms or programs. Joel Levin, Buena High School’s Library Media Teacher said, “It is vital that we provide literature for students that validates and honors their life experiences. This is amplified exponentially for our students (including our LGBTQ+ community) who face discrimination on a daily basis. They need to see heroes and protagonists like them – characters who face the same struggles and journeys towards self-love and self-actualization.”

For VEP President, Madhu Bajaj, reading and books are her passion. She believes that bringing diverse, contemporary books to students is crucial. Bajaj said, “Students need access to books that feel relevant to them, where they can see themselves, their peers, deepen their understanding of themselves while also learning about others. We are grateful that our community agreed and supported this effort that brought 1,750 new, diverse books to VUSD schools.”

Each year, Ventura Education Partnership offers VEPGrants to VUSD teachers who apply for funding for an innovative project. Innovation fosters real world problem solving, lifelong learning, collaboration and more ~ skills that connect students to school now and are essential for future success. And while innovation is continually happening in education during COVID challenges, the usual VEPGrants program was not feasible.

This challenge allowed for the Diverse Books for Kids MiniGrants to come to life. Books were delivered to campuses early February and brought smiles to teachers’ faces as they shared their plans for bringing books to students. Kathy Asher, VEP’s Co-VP of Grants said, “Through this program, VUSD staff showed their passion and commitment to diversity by selecting a vast array of age-appropriate literature and helping students think critically about cultural differences in our world. Debbie Golden, also Co-VP of Grants believes the Diverse Books for Kids project “contributes toward transformative change, that it inspires students to think critically about how we engage with and promote social justice.”

For more information, visit venturaeducationpartnership.org/Diverse-Books or contact [email protected] (805) 754-9861.

Bike MS: Los Angeles Coastal Challenge 2021 returns to Ventura

To participate in Bike MS you can ride in person or choose to participate virtually.

Celebrating 75 years of progress in their movement to change the world for people affected by MS, the National MS Society will be hosting Bike MS Los Angeles Coastal Challenge on May 15th in Ventura. The ride will start and end at the San Buenaventura State Beach Park, featuring beautiful ocean views for a 20 or 40-mile relaxing route along the Pacific. Or cyclist can choose to take on the 75-mile route. Each scenic route will feature fully supported rest stops and highlight the mission and the local businesses supporting the event. This year’s Coastal Challenge is the perfect ride for all experience levels.

This event raises critical funds to provide services, fund research, and advocate for those living with Multiple Sclerosis an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Nearly 1 million people are living with MS in the United States.

The MS Society representatives are members of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, and have been working with local hotels and businesses like In N Out, Trek, UCLA Health and Visit Ventura “We are thrilled that BikeMS is returning to Ventura. First and foremost, we’re proud to be part of an event that raises awareness and funds for such an important cause. Though we’re admittedly biased, we also feel there’s no more beautiful venue for a ride than our town. A lot of Venturans are already excited about being in the event, including one of our own Visit Ventura board members. Heartfelt thanks, BikeMS, for teaming with our town!” ­- Marlyss Auster, President/CEO for Visit Ventura 

The organization is also dedicated to creating a safe event – with masks, social distancing and other measures and protocols in place, putting safety and health at the forefront – while still offering the experience to ride in person “At Bike MS events, I have witnessed the power of community, of coming together and supporting each other. We know how far we’ve come not just as cyclists but as people actively working for a cure.” Shemar Moore; Bike MS Presenting Sponsor, CEO of Baby Girl clothing company; Bike MS team captain, and star of CBS’s S.W.A.T. 

Co-Chair of the event, Gordon, went on to say, “The Ventura area has some of the most scenic and beautiful, yet very challenging, routes in California.  Additionally, the support and enthusiasm we receive from the community of Ventura made it an easy choice.  Obviously, in planning for an in-person event our number one priority is for the safety of our riders and volunteers.”

To participate in Bike MS Los Angeles Coastal Challenge, visit www.bikemslosangeles.org to sign up – you can ride in person or choose to participate virtually. volunteers. For more information, contact JJ Hoffman [email protected].

Activists and nurses host car caravan demanding guaranteed health care in California

City of Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava joined the car caravan.

Local health care advocates working with the California Nurses Association hosted a local car caravan recently urging state legislators to pass California Guaranteed Health Care for All (CalCare), similar to Medicare for All on the national level.

Activists and nurses hosted car caravans in 23 cities across the state as part of the nurses’ kickoff day of action, highlighting the need for universal health care during the Covid-19 health care crisis. At least 2.7 million Californians currently lack health insurance.

CalCare would guarantee health care as a human right in the state of California by providing comprehensive, high quality health care to all. The California Nurses Association has been leading the fight for guaranteed health care for decades and is actively working to introduce a new single-payer bill in the state legislature.

“CalCare has fully comprehensive benefits: medical, dental, hearing, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, long term care, and more,” said event organizer, Jude Wilson.

According to CNA president Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, “The nation has long looked to California for inspiration and guidance in the national fight for universal health care. We’ve come closer than any other state in history to passing guaranteed health care for all our residents. The nurses will always do what it takes to protect our patients, and we know CalCare will save lives.”

Ventura Botanical Gardens in the time of COVID

Enjoy a free day at the Gardens.

by Barbara Brown

As fascinating as sitting in front of our computer screens is, sometimes we just have to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the day. If you are looking for a place to go where you can socially distance comfortably, the Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG) is offering free admission on President’s Day, Monday, February 15.

Visiting now, after the rains and as spring approaches, you’ll begin to see bursts of color. In the South African Gardens, the Fynbos plantings are starting to bloom with a wide range of Leucadendrons and Leucospermums (including the red pincushion protea that looks much like Fourth of July fireworks). Also the Karoo Garden, located behind Summit Plateau, is in full bloom. This garden boasts an abundance of aloe, which blossoms brightly in reds and oranges, and provides the silky substance that is part of the hand sanitizer we use every day during this pandemic. From here, you can see an expansive view of the Santa Monica Mountains, the California coastline and the Channel Islands.

While you are visiting the Gardens, you may want to search out the Chilean Soap bark tree. This tree provides the adjuvant, a chemical compound affecting immunity, which is part of the shingles and COVID-19 vaccines. Near the Soap bark tree are several Chilean Wine Palms, a protected species once used as a part of wine making in Chile. They can grow to nearly 80 feet tall and live over 1500 years. These trees are an important component in the conservation mission of VBG.

In the Mediterranean Gardens above Rotary Plaza, you’ll notice 130 newly planted olive tree saplings. In no time, this grove will grow to create a quiet place to sit and contemplate nature. These 40 cultivars will also provide an opportunity for conservation and research for an agricultural resource that humans have developed over millennia and will enable us to examine what cultivars do well in regional agriculture as our climate changes.

Located at Grant Park in the City of Ventura, the Ventura Botanical Gardens’ goals include encouraging visitors to strengthen their connection to nature. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm — closed on Mondays. Admission is $7 but members are free, children 18 and under are free, and EBT cardholders are free. Fridays are free. Leashed dogs are welcome on Wednesdays and Fridays. COVID protocols are in play. Masks are required for entrance and must be worn within 6 feet of others. During the pandemic, restrooms are closed.

For more information, visit www.VenturaBotanicalGardens.com. To stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the Gardens, join us on Facebook.

Up close and personal… with the multi talented Miriam Arichea

Miriam and Ivor enjoy some time at our wonderful beach.

by Ivor Davis

I have lived in Ventura County for 40 years and am delighted to report that, as most already know, our community is rich and overflowing with creative talent.

Ventura has become a Valhalla of culture, music and literature: Ventura Music Festival, The Rubicon Theatre, New West Symphony, Focus on the Masters, Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra,(CHICO), Camerata Pacifica and the NAMBA Performing Arts venue in downtown to list but a few.

I emphasize this because it makes my assignment for the Museum of Ventura County—to feature some of the most outstanding talents in the County– an even more fruitful one. The program, “Ivor Davis Up Close and Personal With…” draws several hundred viewers but above all it allows us to shine the spotlight on these local gems.

My first two guests were local legends: Musician Chris Hillman and actor Malcom McDowell. My third program on Feb 25th at 6:30 pm., features a lively conversation with local hero–Ventura County Renaissance Woman: Miriam Arichea. The program is free and open to the public by just registering at Museum of Ventura County.

Miriam is a musician, a lawyer, a teacher—and above all a mother. She began piano lessons at the age of five in the Philippines where she grew up. “My mom Ruth was a voice teacher,” she recalled, “So at a very young age I would sit with her students and clink out music on the piano.”

Realizing the difficulties of making a living as a musician, she moved to the United States with her parents and recalls, “I wanted to become an investigative reporter for the New York Times.” Instead she got her law degrees at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

In the Summer of l996 she moved to Ventura and quickly made her mark. She handles criminal appeals as a court-appointed attorney with the California Appellate Project. She also coaches and coordinates the Ventura High School mock trial and academic decathlon teams.

In 2014 she was the recipient of the 2014 Ventura Mayor’s Arts Award for Arts Educator.

I first met Miriam several years ago when I participated in a hugely successful Beatles acapella concert to benefit the Rubicon Theatre which utilized the talents of the Rubicon’s impressive Harmonix student choir. I was impressed with her utter dedication and the long hours she invested in rehearsals in search of perfection.

In May 2018 at the Museum, Miriam along with actor- producer Brian McDonald , staged a moving concert “Out of the Ashes: Healing in Story and Song” …which combined the drama, the poignancy and the passion in the aftermath of the devastating Thomas Fire.

For many years I have also enjoyed Miriam’s piano playing which greatly enhances services at Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah as well as attending concerts for Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra concerts under the direction of conductor Dr. Kuanfen Liu.

Miriam and her cardiologist husband Dr. Jeffrey Brackett have three talented children –Josh, Arielle, and Daniel.

To watch my live conversation with Miriam, log onto the Museum of Ventura County website—and register for the program which is free to the public. Viewers are encouraged to join the museum or make donations.

Share your thoughts with the Museum

The Children’s Garden at the Museum of Ventura County.

The Museum of Ventura County seeks your help by sharing your thoughts about how we, and museums broadly, can better support and engage you in 2021.

Why this survey? We at the Museum of Ventura County care deeply about creating meaningful connections between you and our region’s history, culture, and art.

But we need your help. In these tumultuous times, we need to understand how we can best engage you virtually, when our audiences will be ready to return to the museum in person, and how we can aid the rebuilding of our community after the pandemic wanes.

“In a valuable partnership with the American Alliance of Museums, the Museum of Ventura County is seeking your input on how we can best serve our community in this time of upheaval and global pandemic,” says Denise Sindelar, Deputy Director of the Museum of Ventura County. “Please help us by taking a few minutes to share your thoughts and insights through this important survey.”

The online survey takes about 9 minutes to complete, and as a thank you for participating, there will be weekly drawings until Sunday, March 15, 2021, awarding one of the following three prizes:

$45 Value — MVC Swag Bag (2 mugs, 4 FREE passes, 4-pack notecards from our Research Library Image Archives, MVC Logo Lapel Pin)

$50 Value – Autographed copy of local legend Chris Hillman’s new memoir “Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother, and Beyond”

$60 Value — FREE Individual/Family Museum Membership, OR, if you’re already a Member, an upgrade to our Associate Level Membership (includes North American Reciprocal Museums membership)

Survey

https://bit.ly/MVC2021Survey

To learn more about how visitors like you engage with us, we are participating in a national survey of museum-goers, sponsored by the American Alliance of Museums. This survey will help us more effectively share our work with the communities we serve. To learn more about the Museum of Ventura County, visit www.VenturaMuseum.org.

Ventura Land Trust believes in equitable access to open space

Volunteers planted 25 trees.

The Ventura Land Trust celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with the MLK National Day of Service. Ventura Land Trust staff and a small group of volunteers spent the morning at Harmon Canyon Preserve planting 25 coast live oak and sycamore trees at the trailhead and around the parking area. These trees will grow on the preserve as symbols of their commitment to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of equity and equality in society. Ventura Land Trust believes in equitable access to open space, which is why the preserves are open daily to the public, dawn to dusk, for free.

There are ways for everyone to roll up your sleeves to improve the community every day: learn about issues around conservation and environmental justice, plant a native plant garden at home, pick up trash on our beaches, (wear gloves or use a grabber tool!), or support Ventura Land Trust or another organization with membership or a donation.