Joining Sheldon Brown, Publisher of The Ventura Breeze (holding the first and latest Ventura Breeze) on the set are the show’s production team Juan Macera, Robin Sanford, Michelle Hoover, Christine Mary Bellestero and Host Sandra Siepak.

Our Ventura TV is an award-winning weekly talk show series broadcast on Ventura cable channel 6 TV and also published on the OurVentura.com website and social media networks. The series has been on the air for over a decade and as of last December over 1000 productions have been created, all available on OurVentura.com.

Anyone who contributes to the theme of “People doing good things in Ventura County” and the surrounding area is eligible to be on the show.

There are no fees for nonprofit or noncommercial messages. However, for commercial messages, there are standard production fees. Visit SkyworksMarketing.com (sponsor of Our Ventura TV) for more information.

Our Ventura TV programs are broadcast on Ventura cable channel 6 on Sundays at 2:00 pm, Tuesdays at 9:00 pm and Saturdays at noon, as well as additional floating times. Every week there is a new show and each program is broadcast at least three times per week (often 5 times per week).

George Alger, producer of Our Ventura TV states: “We welcome anyone who is contributing to the community to become a guest and tell part of their story.”

Here are a few of the upcoming shows that will be broadcast on Ventura Channel 6 in the coming weeks (as well as posted on the OurVentura.com website).

* MB Hanrahan will interview Rachael Watkins about the Ventura County Family Justice Center.

* Monique Nowlin will speak with Kiran Sahota and Peter Schreiner about the Ventura County Behavioral Health Department.

* Sandra Siepak will talk with Sheldon Brown, founder and publisher-editor of the Ventura Breeze.

* Monique Nowlin will speak with Toni Olson about the Advisory Council of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

* Sandra Siepak will interview Amy Towner about the Health Care Foundation of Ventura County.

* Multi-Talented Poet, LaVette Cherie, will join us in the studio for a performance of some of her work, accompanied by Grammy-winning guitarist, Bob Tucker.

Much of the Our Ventura TV series is recorded at CAPS Media Center, right next to Ventura College. However, for more information about the Our Ventura TV programs, visit OurVentura.com, since Our Ventura TV is a wholly independent TV series produced for the Ventura County community at the CAPS Media Center facility and CAPS Media staff are not our employees.

The show’s director, Michelle Hoover, notes that “Our friendly production team will help you enjoy your visit.” Assistant Director, Robin Sanford, will often greet you first, before returning to the control room to help Michelle manage the cameras and audio. Floor Manager, Christine Mary Ballestero, will help to get the microphones placed on your clothing and get you seated properly at the table. Juan Mancera will position each of the cameras and refine the lighting to present you well.

To be scheduled as a guest on Our Ventura TV for a 15-minute segment, visit OurVentura.com and click “Contact.” Keep in mind that we are often scheduled many weeks in advance.

The Ventura City Fire Department, in a collaborative effort with the Ventura Unified School District, hosted a two-day Fire Safety event on March 3rd and 4th at the Ventura City Fire Training Grounds, located at 765 S. Seaward Ave. Since 2011 together they have educated approximately 10,200 children on fire safety. Their first few classes have now graduated high school and gone onto college.

Over 1,300 fourth graders within the VUSD traveled to the Fire Training Grounds to participate in the Annual “4th Grade Fire Safety Days.” Students, parents, and school staff observed live demonstrations of Ventura City Firefighters performing multiple tasks associated with a career in firefighting and paramedicine and fire prevention.

Students traveled in groups around the site to multiple teaching stations. The stations

included such topics as engine company operations, fire safety education, ladder and power tool demonstrations, and a grand finale involving the City Fire Department’s “hook and ladder” truck.

Firefighters served as both instructors and participants in each of the learning stations. The Firefighters focused not only on the tasks they are responsible to perform during emergencies, but on the importance of education and its relation to the job.

The instructors explained how an education in chemistry is an essential element of becoming a member of the Hazardous Materials Team. They saw how a fire engine also contains a virtual emergency room that is brought to the scene of an emergency, necessitating a firefighter to also understand anatomy and physiology as a core skill in performing emergency medical procedures.

Students learned what to do in case of a fire or natural disaster and how important it is to have a plan at home with their families.

The VUSD will also participate in post event activities, including an essay writing contest among the attendees, with the winning school receiving the “Fire Hydrant Award.” This trophy will be awarded to the winning school, where it will remain until the following year’s winner takes possession of it.

Each year, the winning school and student’s name will be inscribed on a perpetual plaque on the front of the trophy. The Fire Chief and the school’s local firefighters will deliver the trophy once the winner is determined.

David Endaya, Fire Chief Ventura Fire Department told the Breeze “It is truly one of the best partnerships we have, and we are lucky to have the support and backing of the VUSD and Superintendent Dr. Rice.  The event really focuses on education and its relevance to the career of firefighting, rescue, and paramedicine.  Each of the learning stations provides an opportunity for the students and chaperones alike to hear, see, and experience the realities of the firefighting profession.  Our grand finale is always a crowd favorite, where the attendees get to witness a large fire response in real time and listen to live fireground communications as the simulated incident unfolds.  We look forward to providing a better event with every year that goes by.  Quality and improvement is our goal, and we look forward to continuing to provide this amazing experience in collaboration with the VUSD.”

“Mermaid Parade” gives lovers of the sea a chance to dress up.

Channel your inner mermaid and rub fins with fellow merfolk – mermaids and mermen – as these mystical aquatic creatures take center stage at Ventura Harbor Village’s 5th Annual Mermaid Month spanning throughout the month of March with something for the entire family with themed events on March 21 from 1-4 p.m.

Capturing human imagination for ages, the word “mermaid” dates back to the 14th Century and it is goes without saying why the famous underwater sirens of the sea are celebrated worldwide.

Locals and visitors across all oceans can delve into discovery with a myriad of mermaid activities. Lovers of the sea can meet a live mermaid at the Harbor’s “Mermaid Meet & Greet” (March 21 from 1-4 p.m., take a photo with a live mermaid, listen to live entertainment, try a fun scavenger hunt, and get artistic at craft stations.

Visitors can engage in seaside selfie stations, and can catch the newest installation for a selfie inspiration with a 20-foot plus sign made of metal lettering announcing, “I (heart) the SEA” on Ventura Harbor Village’s Promenade.

Ventura Harbor Village’s annual “Mermaid Parade” on March 21 at 1 p.m. gives lovers of the sea a chance to dress up (and all month long) as their favorite sea-themed mermaid or merman and walk throughout the Village. Parade participants are requested to meet at the Kelp Corridor near the Village Arcade & Carousel for a 30-minute walking parade around Harbor Village that is complemented by oversized colorful flowers, banners, ribbons, and bubbles.

As part of the month-long festivities, visitors enjoy complimentary giveaways and special savings by select retailers and can browse the shops for coastal mermaid inspired treasures in a pedestrian-friendly coastal setting. Here shoppers can purchase a dazzling array of more than 150 mermaid-themed items that include artwork, pottery, nautical finds, coastal décor, ocean-inspired apparel and accessories. What’s more Ventura Harbor Village’s bars and restaurants are serving up culinary “sea-sonal” themed cocktails, delicious freshly caught seafood and Ventura Harbor Village welcomes locals and visitors from across all oceans!

To learn more about Ventura Harbor Village Mermaid Month, visit https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/event/march-is-mermaid-month-2020/

For visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village at 805-477-0470, online at www.VenturaHarborVillage.com. Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Dr. Post, share, and like #VenturaHarbor.

Jen Rodriguez, Nursery Manager and employee Laurie Cash were hard at work at the nursery.

by Jill Forman

Growing Works is a non-profit wholesale nursery in Camarillo, and much more. It is a training ground for Behavioral Health clients, a partnership with Turning Point Foundation, an opportunity for local businesses and organizations to be involved, and a state-of-the-art facility with native and drought-tolerant plants.

And it is a dream come true for many. “There is a place for everybody,” says Nursery Manager Jen Rodriguez as she works swiftly, filling “…our biggest orders ever.” Employees and volunteers water, select and trim plants. These workers have experienced mental health challenges, and have been through classes on life and work skills as well as hours of volunteering at the nursery.

Jason Meek, Executive Director of Turning Point, emphasizes the benefits, “One can easily see that Growing Works provides individuals experiencing mental illness with an opportunity to attain employment in an environment rich in support, care, and free from stigmatization.” It is part of their journey, he says “… to wellness and self-empowerment.”

Supervisor Linda Parks was the driving force behind this project, from the concept to finding the site, pitching the project to organizations and government, obtaining funding, even getting down and dirty cleaning out the on-site structure. As she says, “It was a multi-year labor of love.”

Dennis Perry, the Nursery Director recruited by Parks, laughs as he tells how he got involved. “Come to a meeting, they said…” Perry is a volunteer active with NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) and “…grew up in the nursery business.” So, he was a natural fit for this task.

Perry says there were a number of challenges on the site, from sick trees to a warehouse full of furniture. He set up workdays with local students, the Carpenters’ Union, employees from companies such as Home Depot, and citizens who wanted to help. Everybody donated their time.

Parks gave the County a list of essential repairs to make the location functional and safe, and they set up a budget. She also organized donations of materials such as gravel, fencing, concrete blocks, etc.

Growing Works opened in 2019. In the first three months, 30-40 Behavioral Health clients came through for training and work. Tom Hayduk, Production Manager, chats while rooting plant cuttings; he says half of his job is to work with employees and members (trainees from Behavioral Health who may become employees.)

“Sales are good,” Hayduk says. “We need to cover our own expenses.” He wants to grow 75% of the plants from their own cuttings. Growing Works’ goal is to be self-sustaining both financially and environmentally.

Production is currently limited by water quality, but there is a brand-new water treatment apparatus on site, proudly shown off by Perry, that will soon be installed and functional so the nursery can expand. It was obtained through a grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Georgia, a NAMI activist who had a son with mental illness, talks about how important it was to him to have a job. “I am proud of Growing Works; it is a positive force. Employees are proud of themselves, are a part of society, have dignity, and find strengths. They get support on a hard day.” It is a success because of “…strong skills with strong partners.”

Growing Works is not open to the public. For information, to donate or volunteer go to www.GrowingWorks.org.

ECTV Crew Front row Ruby Intner, Jessica Llamas, and Sarah Enriquez. Back row – Hector Guerrero (El Camino Principal), Phil Taggart (ECTV Mentor), Lily Abbitt, Jacob Summer, Patrick Davidson (CAPS Media Executive Director), Olivia Roth, Matthew Bragulla, Anna Berezouskiy and Tera Shrum (El Camino Admin Assistant).

CAPS Media and ECTV crews were big winners at the recent Alliance for Community Media Western Conference in Monterey, CA with five W.A.V.E. Awards (Western Access Video Excellence). CAPS Media won in the ACM professional category for productions of the Central Ventura County Fire Safe Council promotional video (community event category), a Thomas Fire Stories episode featuring Vista Del Mar and Hawaiian Village (community issues category) and a Thomas Fire Stories episode featuring featuring Ventura Chiefs Scott Quirarte, Michael Weisenberg and Todd Leake (magazine show category)

Ventura Producer and CAPS Media member Lea Welles took home an award for “Travel Today with Lea”: Scotsfest Highland Games,” in the sports coverage/community producer category.

ECTV Crews, members of the El Camino High School/CAPS Media career pathways program, won awards for “Healing Through the Arts,” in the best arts and entertainment youth category, for a program featuring in-depth profiles with Ojai artist Gayel Childress, Afghanistan graffiti artist Shamsia Hassani and musician Jab Dlamini. The ECTV team won a second W.A.V.E award for a bi-lingual program focusing on Gracie Perkal’s socially aware art, and Michael O’Kelly’s historic mural at the Ventura Mission in the talk show youth category.

ECTV “grads” Eleana Newton, now attending UC Santa Cruz, and Josh Brooks, now attending Cal State Monterey Bay, along with ECTV mentor Phil Taggart attended the ceremony and accepted the awards for the ECTV Crew. This is the fourth year in a row that the ECTV crew has won W.A.V.E awards at the annual ACM West conference.

ACM – the Alliance for Community Media, is a network of more than 3000 community media centers throughout the country. The common mission is to promote free speech and greater civic engagement through community media. In order for democracy to flourish, people must be active participants in their government, educated to think critically and free to express themselves.

CAPS Media (Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura) has been a member of ACM since CAPS’ inception in 2001. CAPS is Ventura’s public access television and radio center that fulfills a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment. As a free society, the public has the right to have personal opinions published in the newspaper and on the airwaves. CAPS Media provides Member/Producers the vehicles to express themselves on television, radio and online. Some people refer to CAPS Media as Ventura’s electronic soapbox.

The highly professional and extremely friendly CAPS Media staff train members how to master the use of video cameras, editing equipment, production studio and radio station to produce their own story. Video production and training services are provided for an annual membership fee of only $40. Training and use of the CAPS Radio facility (KPPQ 104.1 FM) requires an additional annual DJ fee of $50.

New member orientation meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road in Ventura. Video camera, editing and radio classes are held on Thursday’s throughout the month. Go to capsmedia.org/events or all 805-658-0500 to learn how to register for upcoming classes and become a CAPS Media Member/Producer.