Category Archives: Featured News

Student run non-profit, STEMbassadors, unites with community to make face shields

Maia Wulff and Alex Wulff working on face shields.

by Thea Wulff- Foothill Technology High School

Through STEMbassadors, middle and high school students from the Ventura Unified School District have been working closely with the community to manufacture and donate hundreds of 3D printed face shields to local hospitals. Under the guidance of Alex Wulff, a middle school teacher at DeAnza Academy of Technology and the Arts, this project has taken off, with capacity increasing steadily to over 100 units per day. ER doctors and nurses are thrilled by the shields and have already put them to use.

This is a grassroots effort supported by students, teachers, community members and several local businesses. The naval base and CSUCI have played key roles in supporting the massive 3D printing effort. Every day, supporters numbering in the hundreds make donations, 3D printed parts, and help to assemble shields for our hospital staff.

Local businesses have worked selflessly, contributing supplies, materials and expertise. Hundreds of donations from the community have been pouring in to www.stembassadors.net which has been set up to fund the COVID-19 fight. American Plastics, owned by Robert Washington has donated materials to make thousands of face shields. Fastsigns of Ventura has helped to procure additional materials, and Dave’s Signs has dedicated their CNC router to cutting polycarbonate lenses. The level of selflessness and support among community members has been an inspiration to everyone involved.

The STEMbassadors network of makers now extends from Santa Barbara in the North, and down to Los Angeles and inland to Ojai and Simi Valley.

“A week ago, I never would have dreamed we’d have kids making protective gear for hospital workers,” Wulff said. “Now here we are, an entire community has stepped up to help protect the heroes on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight.”

“We are proud of the work that Mr. Wulff and our students are doing to help our community. This project highlights our need for Career and Technical Education to solve immediate problems in our community. I am happy that our District is dedicated to the growth of this area as we move forward together,” stated Dr. Roger Rice, VUSD Superintendent.

STEMbassadors will continue to work with community members to maximize face shield donations to hospitals. They are open for donations on their website, stembassadors.net and are looking for more makers with 3D printers to join the project.

If people would like to contribute to STEMbassadors, they can visit our website at stembassadors.net. Here they can contact us, read more about our vision, and donate.

 

From Steve Bennett

Steve Bennett “The outpouring of generosity in our community has been inspiring.”

Dear fellow Ventura County residents

Today, we stand on the verge of a monumental challenge. Will we as a community effectively implement the Stay Well at Home order? Will we keep our local hospitals from becoming overloaded? Will our collective efforts be relentless enough to save the lives of many of our family members and/or neighbors?

Our medical care providers and essential service workers courageously stand on the front lines and deserve our utmost support. We need to honor their efforts by decreasing the risks they are taking every day. We do that by doing all we can to slow the spread of this virus.

Each of us needs to put the health of our community ahead of our own comfort and desires.

Some of us must do better at following the Stay Well at Home order, and all of us must avoid letting our guard down early. That could reverse the benefits of our sacrifices to date right when we are at a critical stage in this battle.

This is our time to shine and readily make our personal sacrifices, show extra kindness to each other, help where we safely can, and overall make our maximum individual contribution to this great community struggle.

County government has worked hard with federal, state, and other local governments as well as many non-profit organizations to respond to the crisis. County resources are being used to meet the challenge as we procure supplies and materials, assist the most vulnerable, and improve our medical capabilities. You can visit vcemergency.com for overall information and guidance.

Our public and private health care providers are heroically dealing directly with contagious COVID-19 patients. They are ramping up their care capabilities with speed and ingenuity. Nevertheless, their ability to absorb seriously ill patients is not unlimited. We must each do our part to slow the spread and avoid overwhelming our health care system. If that happens, we will face needless deaths in Ventura County.

The outpouring of generosity in our community has been inspiring and heartwarming. People are donating from their own supplies of protective equipment and making generous financial contributions. College students are organizing online tutoring and volunteers are delivering food to homebound seniors. There is help and kindness pouring forth in Ventura County.

Anne Frank and 7 others hid in a 450 square foot attic for 761 days. We can do this folks!

Thank you,

Steve Bennett Ventura County Supervisor

City of Ventura names new Communications Manager

“We are excited to welcome Heather Sumagaysay to the City of Ventura.”

Following a nationwide recruitment that garnered over 132 applicants, the City of Ventura is pleased to announce the hiring of Heather Sumagaysay as its new Communications Manager. The position reports directly to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager.

“We are excited to welcome Heather Sumagaysay to the City of Ventura,” commented Alex McIntyre, City Manager. “She brings a diverse range of professional experience to the job and will be instrumental in developing engaging communication programs. This next year, we want to better share information about City programs and services while connecting with our residents, local businesses, community organizations, and media partners.”

With more than 13 years of public sector experience, Sumagaysay previously worked for the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) as its lead Public Information and Marketing Officer since 2015. Here, she was responsible for creating and managing day-to-day public information programs, social media outreach, community engagement, media relations, and internal communication programs.

She also managed crisis communication and community outreach efforts in coordination with Ventura County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) during the 2017 Thomas Fire, 2018 Woolsey Fire, and 2019 Conception Boat Fire in Santa Cruz. Prior to coming to VCFD, Sumagaysay worked at the cities of Santa Clarita and Beverly Hills.

Sumagaysay earned a master’s degree in strategic communications from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. and has several affiliations with regional and national communications organizations. In 2018, she was recognized by the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce as a “40 under Forty” award honoree.

“Heather is an energetic, well-qualified communications professional,” said Barry Fisher, Deputy City Manager. “She demonstrates a strong desire to bring people together and take the city’s communications, marketing, social media, and public outreach to the next level.”

As the City’s Communications Manager, Sumagaysay will be responsible for developing a communications strategy to build public awareness of City initiatives and enhancing public engagement efforts in City affairs. She will serve as the City’s day-to-day media spokesperson and work with other departments, like the City’s Emergency Operations Center, to assist with public information activities during emergencies.

Sumagaysay began her new role on March 30, and will work out of the City Manager’s Office in Ventura. She can be reached by email at [email protected] .

City of Ventura closes parks and beaches in response to COVID-19

In support of the “Stay Well at Home” order, issued by the Ventura County Public Health Officer, all parks and beaches in the City of Ventura will be closed until further notice in order to support the urgent need for physical distancing during the COVID-19 emergency period. This includes the Promenade, Pier, and Wastewater Treatment Plant wildlife ponds.

The County’s modified Stay Well at Home order asks community members to stay inside their homes, limiting all outside movement beyond what is necessary to take care of essential needs and ordering all non-essential businesses to close. Those orders also include restrictions against non-essential travel and gatherings.

“Closures like this are difficult to hear and hard to share as we navigate through significant changes brought on by COVID-19. Our beaches and parks are an integral part of our community and provide many resources for healthy activities,” said City Manager Alex McIntyre. “As a City, we need to take extra precautionary steps to help protect the health and safety of our community members, first responders, and public health workers. The efforts and sacrifices we make now will help save the lives of people we know and love in the future.”

In response to recent public health orders, the City of Ventura has taken a series of emergency actions in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, including proclaiming a “State of Emergency” on March 15, 2020. This proclamation included social distancing practices, cancellations of public events, closures of City facilities, and restrictions placed on bars, nightclubs, restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, and fitness centers.

Community members are reminded to follow the advice of County Public Health officials and stay home, wash your hands frequently, and practice social and physical distancing of 6-feet or more when conducting essential tasks.

For the latest updates on impacts to the City of Ventura, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/COVID19.

For public health information and updates happening in Ventura County, visit www.VCEmergency.com.

Community Memorial Health System seeks donations of COVID-19 medical supplies

As Community Memorial Health System prepares for the challenges treating a growing number of patients with Coronavirus (COVID-19), increasing demands on the health system may eventually lead to shortages of supplies and important personal protective equipment needed to protect patients, physicians, and staff. Based on current supply, projected usage, and market demand and supply availability, Community Memorial Hospital anticipates it may face supply shortages of protective masks, protective gowns, face shields, and medical goggles.

For those who would like to donate to Community Memorial Health System, CMHS is accepting donations of the following items only: face and/or eye shields (single use or non-disposable), N95 masks, N99 masks, P95 masks, Standard Procedure masks, isolation gowns, Standard Procedure gowns, coveralls, respirator hoods or hazmat hoods, and reusable P100/N95 respirators and cartridges/filters.

CMHS is not accepting cloth masks. Supplies in original, unopened packaging are particularly useful and appreciated.

The CMHS Donation Drop-Off Center opened on Wednesday, March 25, at the park in front of the new Community Memorial Hospital. Please look for the white tent adjacent to the grass area to bring your donations. Community Memorial Hospital is located at 147 N. Brent Street.

The Donation Drop-Off Center will be open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CMHS appreciates the support of the individuals and organizations who have reached out wanting to support CMHS with donations of medical supplies.

For more information and updates on Coronavirus at Community Memorial Health System, visit cmhshealth.org.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, the Centers for Family Health, and various outpatient centers serving communities located within Ventura County, California.

 

Ventura Breeze photo contest winners

Michael Hoffman

The Ventura Breeze photo contest has been completed. Thanks to all who submitted their wonderful photographs. The six Breeze staff members who selected the winners had an extremely hard time with their selections because of the high quality of the submissions

In the color category:

First place went to Michael Hoffman. Two of his photos were tied for first so we selected both of them for first.

Michael Hoffman

Second place went to Karen Ruff

Karen Ruff

Third place went to Dr. Mark Babbitt.

Dr. Mark Babbitt

For black and white only first place was selected: Aubrey Jenson.

Aubrey Jenson

Bartering is alive and well in Ventura (first of two parts)

The Calhoun girls modeling the homemade masks they’ve received through the group.

by Mira Reverente

When a friend recently added me to a new group on Facebook, I thought, “Oh no. Another group.” I couldn’t bear the thought of contributing to another toxic taxidermists’ tribe, peachy pandemic-related pack or lonely-during-lockdown singles group.

But my initial trepidation slowly turned into amusement and then delight. The Ventura Free Barter and Trade group turned out to be an inspiring and community-oriented group, more than any other group I’ve ever belonged to.

Just like most newbies, I looked, I lurked and looked some more, before writing my first post. The free avocados caught my attention but I wasn’t sure what to offer. Then I remembered I had boxes of protein bars. Thankfully, this gentleman named Scotty Gray was interested and the deal was sealed via porch pick-up. I never even saw Gray. Welcome to social distancing!

Gray, a facility operations specialist at Point Mugu, is one of the group’s four moderators and I am one of many recipients of his homegrown avocados. I was hooked. Reached by phone, one of Gray’s first questions was, “Do you need more?” I said, “Yes, but let me get through my stash first.”

That’s just how the group is – generous and genuine, without much expectation of anything in return. Since the avocado exchange, I have also been the grateful recipient of banana muffins, a tomato sapling, seedlings and a coffee grinder. In return, I have offered cases of water, wine, baking ingredients and even that partial propane tank that’s been hiding in my garage since the last camping season.

Flashback to a little over two weeks ago (a lifetime during these times) – right around when the lockdown order was implemented, Tammy Calhoun found herself in a store, increasingly bothered by the massive amount of hoarding and hysteria around her. A born leader and community organizer, Calhoun sprang into action right when she got home and founded the group on Facebook.

“I wanted to do something to help. I wanted to connect people without pride or shame getting in the way,” says Calhoun, a real estate broker. “I also wanted a simple system of give and take where it’s not necessarily dollar-to-dollar.”

The online community has grown to over 2,400 members in less than two weeks. Gray and Calhoun have added friends from work, church, social circles, their neighborhoods, their children’s schools, youth sports where they volunteer and it has dramatically snowballed.

The feel-good and genuine connection stories just keep increasing by leaps and bounds.

Next issue: Bartering Ventura-Style (second of two parts)

For more information or to join: www.facebook.com/groups, search for Ventura Free Barter & Trade

City of Ventura declares local health emergency in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Police Officers are prepared to respond as needed.

It is with careful thought and planning that the City has declared a local Health Emergency in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The declaration allows critical services and operations to continue while reinforcing best practices identified by the CDC and County Health Officials.

This declaration does not relate to any illness within City limits, it is simply a tool to enable the City to coordinate an effective response and allow for access to state and federal funds.

Based on recent recommendations from the State and local health officials, we want to provide you with the following updates connected with City services.

Emergency Services

  • Police and Fire services continue uninterrupted. Police Officers and Fire Fighters are prepared to respond as needed.

Food Services

  • Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is providing drive-up and walk-up meal service for children ages 1-18 at six locations throughout the District. More information can be found on VUSD’s website at: www.venturausd.org.
  • Congregate and home delivered meal services offered through the Ventura Avenue Adult Center will be modified to ensure social distancing practices are followed. More information regarding these modifications will be provided early next week.
  • The City will also be engaging with our local community partners on how to address the needs of those most vulnerable in our community.

Business Interruptions

Regarding the current guidance from Governor Newsom and the CDC, Mayor Matt LaVere said, “The severity of the impacts to our everyday lives due to the coronavirus is felt by all. These measures reduce potential spreading and help protect our City’s most vulnerable residents. We will be working with all of our community partners to figure out how to best provide the services our residents depend on.”

Social distancing practices are being implemented at City facilities that remain open. Community members seeking City services are encouraged to use email, online, or telephone methods to communicate their need for services.

For the latest updates on impacts to City of Ventura services and facilities, please visit: www.cityofventura.ca.gov.

For the latest updates on the situation in Ventura County, please visit www.vcemergency.com.

VC Women’s Day Festival

Festival committee members, representatives of Link, Incorporated and Vision 2020 promote awareness of the women’s suffrage movement in history.

by Amy Brown

The recent VC Women’s Day Festival, held on International Women’s Day, was a celebration of women’s social, political and economic contributions in Ventura County and the world, according to Junemarie Justus, founder of The Acorn Project, a local organization working to effect social change. “Hopefully this event will continue to foster dialogue between generations, and help shape the future that we all envision,” said Justus. The festival drew a huge crowd, and was held at the Museum of Ventura County and Mission Park, and featured speakers, a VC Women in Business and Leadership Showcase, film, art, musical performances, food and local brews, and yoga—all set against the beautiful backdrop of downtown.

Some of the festival’s speakers were presented in breakout Power Sessions, scheduled throughout the day, on topics ranging from “Speaking Up for Change” “Breaking Barriers” and “Leading While Female”. Dr. Trudy Tuttle Arriaga presented on the latter, which is also the title of her latest book, to a large audience. Arriaga was Ventura Unified School District’s first female school superintendent, a role in which she served for 14 years, and currently is an Associate Dean at California Lutheran University. Arriaga spoke about her 40 years as an educator, and the inequities faced during her career, from being evaluated on the way she dressed to being told to ‘act more like a man’ in order to succeed.

2020 is the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in the U.S., and the event featured exhibits sharing the diversity in the trajectory of women’s suffrage movement. VC Women’s Day Festival committee member Shanté Morgan and a team of representatives from the Channels Island Chapter of The Links, Incorporated had an exhibit table with literature about the history of African American suffragists and their important contributions and challenges in working to get women the right to vote. “What I hope came out of the festival was a sense of pride in what we have achieved and purpose in what we need to do next,” said Morgan. “I also hope we were able to exchange information and recognize the diversity of the women in the movement—when it started and today.”

Many of the presentations were interactive, including one put on by Girls On Board, a community of women empowering women of all ages through skateboarding. Mel McElhose shared that the organization tries to create a welcome space for girls and women in the mostly male dominated local skateboarding community. “If you are a beginner or a woman, it’s almost like you have two things working against you at the skate parks,” said McElhose. Members of Girls On Board gave a hands-on demonstration of skateboarding techniques, including an interactive class on the lawn so participants could try it themselves, on skateboard decks with no wheels.

Deya Terrafranca, Research Library & Archives Director at the museum also expressed appreciation for the inclusiveness and success of the event. “The most meaningful thing for me was the diversity of the crowd. It wasn’t just women, it was everyone,” said Terrafranca. “I was truly touched by a grandfather touring the galleries with his teenage granddaughter. Imagine that—a teenager going to a women’s day event with her grandpa on a Saturday. Everyone was there to celebrate the achievements and value of women in our society.”

Gene Haas Foundation donates $250,000 to Ventura College Foundation to support advanced manufacturing program

Jordan Whitfield, Haas Automation, Kurt Zierhut, Haas Automation, Peter Zierhut, Haas Automation, John Clark, Ventura College lead faculty, Manufacturing Technology, Dr. Kim Hoffmans, Ventura College president and Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director at the check donation.

The Gene Haas Foundation has made a $250,000 grant award to the Ventura College Foundation to support the Advanced Manufacturing program at Ventura College. These funds will be used to relocate the current manufacturing lab to the college’s Applied Science Center and renovate the new location into a modern manufacturing facility designed to promote manufacturing occupations and enhance student workforce manufacturing skills.

Once renovations are completed, the lab will be renamed the Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Lab. Ventura College plans to offer manufacturing courses in the lab’s new home starting in fall 2020.

In addition, Oxnard-based Haas Automation Inc., one of the world’s largest machine tool builders, will entrust the manufacturing program with a Haas ST-10 Series lathe. “The Manufacturing Technology Department offers the opportunity for students to excel by providing training in both lecture and laboratory settings. With the addition of the Haas lathe, students will now increase their hands-on experience with industry quality machinery, greatly improving their readiness for the workforce,” says John Clark, lead faculty with Ventura College’s Manufacturing Technology Department.

“Haas Automation and the Gene Haas Foundation are happy to help technical education excel throughout Ventura County,” says Kurt Zierhut, Gene Haas Foundation executive manager.

An undergraduate curriculum is available for students interested in working toward the completion of proficiency awards in CNC Operation and Manufacturing Applications. Students can also take transferable classes for university credit and general interest courses for returning students looking for skills improvement.

“Industry-education partnerships such as Haas Automation and Ventura College are critically important. There are over 800 manufacturers in Ventura County. Many have unfilled positions because of the difficulty in finding skilled workers,” says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. “Ventura College’s expanded program will help close the skills gap by providing local manufacturers with workers who have the capability to do what’s needed on day one of a new job. The program will attract more students who seek a career in a stimulating high-tech environment while earning a very good living wage.”

For information about the program, go to www.venturacollege.edu. For more on the Ventura College Foundation, go to www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org or call 805-289-6461.