Lily Tomlin (wearing the Jewelia diamond necklace), Jonell McLain, Patti Channer and Jane Fonda sharing the love. Photograph provided by Patti Channer

by Maryssa Rillo

When living in a culture that defines a person by what they have and what they don’t, how do we spread and share our luxuries? Jonell McLain, Ventura resident, pondered this question often. To share her luxury, in 2004, she gathered 12 of her friends and together they purchased a 15 ½-karat diamond necklace. From there, the women set out on a journey to share their wealth and provide aid to others.

McLain was first challenged with this question when she was 30-years old and living in New York City. She heard Buckminster Fuller speak and he posed this idea.

“I heard him speak and he said ‘there’s enough to go around in the planet if everyone shares and some people don’t have to have so much more.”

This thought sat in McLain’s mind for years. When she returned to California, she saw a necklace at Van Gundy Jewelers in the Ventura mall. The diamond necklace had 118 diamonds, 15 ½-karats and was priced at $37,000. At the time, McLain was a single mom with two children and was raising money for coats to give to the kids on the Avenue.

“I thought really, someone paid $37,000 for a necklace that I could buy 1,000 Patagonia coats for these kids. Like really, this is what we do with our money. So, I gave it back to them,” McLain said.

A couple weeks passed, and she went back to Van Gundy with her mother. The necklace was still there but there was now a promotion going on where you could bid on jewelry. She rounded up 12 of her friends who each contributed $1,000 to purchase the diamond necklace that they could all share.

The group collaboratively came up with the name Women of Jewelia after Julia Child. In November of 2004, the ladies had their first meeting at Patti Channer’s house, who is one of the women of the group.

“The intent was to always do something for somebody. Make a difference. Nobody bought into this for the diamonds,” Channer said

The women have been sharing this necklace for 15 years and together they have made donations, provided aid to those in need and have helped many non-profits.

Their most profound accomplishment started in 2004, when the women were introduced to a homeless woman. Collaboratively, the women helped her find a place to stay, got her a cell phone, a bus pass and fixed her teeth. After a year and a half of helping her, the women were able to reunite her with her son who she gave up for adoption when she was a 13-years-old.

“I firmly believe that with every fiber in my body that if every faith-based communities, all the service organizations within Ventura County, everybody’s got an issue with homelessness. If they were to create an advocacy group around a homeless person who wants to get out of homelessness it could be done here in the city,” Channer said.

The Women of Jewelia have created such an inspirational story and have gained nationwide attention. They’ve done interviews with People Magazine, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America and many more. They even have a book written about their journey called, The Necklace, by Cheryl Jarvis.

The women are still active in their philanthropic work and are currently raising money for Kids and Families Together that provides assistance to families in foster care. You can learn more about it on their website, www.kidsandfamilies.org.

“It is possible to share luxury; it does demystify it. This is only a diamond necklace, it’s not anything else, but people attach so much meaning to wealth and all it is, is just diamonds but look what this has done,” said McLain.

Members of Buena’s football and baseball teams made an altar in honor of late teammate Patrick Graham.

by Amy Brown

It’s 7:00pm, on October 23 at Buena High, and a young girl with skeleton and flowered face paint runs through the crowd with her parents. They race past a giant tree—vivid with colored paper flowers from root to branch and dramatic up-lights—on their way to the Aztec dancing performance. It’s the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration at the school, a huge community event for this popular cultural celebration of life. The Day of the Dead is a truly vibrant festival honoring those who have passed away, celebrating their time on the planet with ornate and beautiful multi-level altars. Hosted by Buena’s Spanish teachers and students, it featured student artwork and projects, food, music and dancing with participants from Oxnard High, De Anza, Anacapa, Cabrillo and many other schools and local organizations.

“My number one favorite thing about the event is the students’ enthusiasm,” said Emily Bradvica, a Buena Spanish teacher and Buena alum who has participated in each event since its inception seven years ago. “They blow me out of the water with their altars and creativity, and everything they come up with, it’s remarkable.” Bradvica shared that some students created traditional altars, while others created an interactive activity or game based on research that would teach participants about Dia de los Muertos.

“It’s such a fun event, “said Lexy Almora, a junior. “And the people are really interested in the altars, especially, it’s so meaningful—when you’ve lost someone you cared about and can honor them.” In fact, in March of this year, Buena lost one of its beloved students to Burkett’s Lymphoma. Patrick Graham was just 16, and passed away after an eight month fight. His fellow baseball and football teammates worked together to create a huge and elaborate altar commemorating him. “This year, our season in baseball and football, it’s all for him. We’re playing for Patrick,” said Kaiden Brunkan, a 10th grader on Buena’s JV football team. “He made us a family. Our teachers let us all be a group and do this special thing because we loved him so much.”

Nathan Silva, a sophomore on Buena’s varsity baseball team, reflected that despite Graham’s illness, he always looked out for his teammates. “He put a smile on everyone’s face, and made sure everyone else was happy and ok, even when he was sick in the hospital and in pain.” Graham’s altar was surrounded by huge groups of students the entire night.

While many of the altars were for family members and friends, 10th grader Everett Luna and his classmates created an intricate altar honoring the late Dr. Seuss, which even included a bowl with two live goldfish in it—on homage to the famed book ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’. “He made a really big impact on us with his books, and we wanted to honor his contributions,” said Luna.

Dr. Roger Rice, VUSD Superintendent was seen walking through the displays with a big smile on his face, and greeting families. His take? “The community here, and the art, creativity, music, families, and the culture—this is all just amazing.”

Ventura High players celebrating their rivalry win.

by Maryssa Rillo

The Ventura High School Cougars took on the Buena High School Bulldogs on Friday, October 25th at Larrabee Stadium in their annual rivalry football game. The cougars have consistently defeated the bulldogs the past nine years. After Friday night’s win with a 49-28 score, Ventura High accumulated a decade worth of winning streaks against Buena.

“They’re very happy because they know there is a lot of tradition in beating Buena and they don’t want to let down the guys before them,” AB Marin, Ventura High School’s Secondary Coach said.

With slick handoffs by junior wide receiver, Cade Ledesma to senior wide receiver, Zack Rodriguez and rushes for touchdowns by senior half back, Jadon Cline, the Cougars were able to set up a 14-0 lead against the Bulldogs.

“My personal performance was, I know I could have done better, but other than that I felt very accomplished. I felt very happy and I couldn’t have done it without my guys,” Ventura wide receiver, Zack Rodriguez said.

Though, Ventura came into the game ready to win, Buena came in hungry and ready to fight. The bulldogs were led by their senior running back, Bruce Powell-Mathis who had two touchdowns against the cougars.

“I think we gave up too many points to Buena, but I am very happy with the way our offense played. They actually kept us in the game and kept us ahead,” Curt Garner Ventura’s Defensive Coordinator said.

Senior running back for the Cougars, Dane Kapler, was also able to find multiple pockets where he could rush the ball. Kapler had a touchdown on 16 carries Friday night.

“I’m excited. I’m excited for our guys. I feel like they came out and prepared all week to perform on Friday night, tonight, and they did that,” Ventura’s Head Coach, Tim Garcia said.

Friday night wasn’t only a big night for the Cougars because of the rivalry tradition, but it was also senior night. Friday night was the last rivalry football game and last league game at home for 24 Ventura High School seniors.

“I am very happy for the seniors. No one wants to be the class that loses to Buena, so they really want to keep it going. They haven’t lost to Buena,” said Coach Garner.

At the end of the game, Ventura High flooded the field with black and yellow as the team celebrated their victory with the Suzanne Brown Memorial Trophy while chanting, “ten more years.”

“It feels amazing. Team effort, everything was energetic, it was all outstanding. Ten years in a row. Big ole smile on my face,” Rodriguez said. “It added way more motivation. These next few years, these kids are going to grind their butts off to get another 10 years.”

Though this victory is huge, the season isn’t over yet. The Ventura Cougars take on the Channel Islands Raiders, away on Friday, November 1st. The team needs this last victory in order to make playoffs.

“Next week we are going to do the same thing. We are going to dominate we’re going to penetrate and we’re going to take a W,” Rodriguez said.

The Rubicon’s Broadway Juniors entertained at the library.

by Jill Forman

“Libraries were my salvation!” That statement was made by local author and speaker Ivor Davis.

In that spirit, knowing that a flourishing library system is vital to so many in the community, in 1969 a small group of Ventura citizens formed what they then called the Friends of the San Buenaventura Library. Fifty years later the current Friends group celebrated the original organization’s members and the accomplishments of the Friends with a big party at the Hill Road Library, which the Friends partially funded.

Around 100 people showed up to the event: Friends, their guests, local dignitaries and helpers. They were greeted by balloons, music, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes and displays. The new Mobile Library/Bookmobile was parked outside for tours and information. A PowerPoint was playing on the library’s giant flat-screen with photos, documents, letters, newspaper articles and so on from the Friends’ archives. The original documents were displayed in scrapbooks that had been loving assembled for 50 years. One of the original Friends, Hazel Clymer, was on hand and enjoyed seeing a news photo of herself from the early days.

Hill Road Café furnished finger food on the patio; Ivor Davis served up drinks along with good cheer and smiles. Guitarist John Bardi strummed lovely, relaxing music. Guests checked in, chatted with Board members and local folks such as Councilmember Christy Weir, Mayor Matt LaVere, Library Director Nancy Schram, Senior City Librarian Irma Morales, and each other. Door prizes displayed were oohed and ahhed over as guests decided which one to put their tickets toward.

And then it was time for the show. Mark Lager, Library Technology Manager, served as Master of Ceremonies. After a welcome, he introduced the Broadway Juniors, directed by Miriam Arichea. These seven teens sang songs picked especially for the occasion to honor the Friends, such as “Thank You for Being a Friend” and “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The partygoers loved it.

Mayor LaVere spoke about the importance of a vibrant library system to a community. The emphasized that libraries are not a thing of the past, that all are welcome and all have access. He stated he is proud to be the mayor of a community that values and utilizes its libraries.

Director Schram thanked the Friends for their hard work and dedication; she said that Hill Road could not have opened without their financial contribution, over $200,000. The Friends also pay for the Summer Reading programs, and many other programs. She gave Mary Olson, Friends President, a certificate from the County library system of thanks for 50 years of service and advocacy.

Olson gave a brief overview of the history of the Friends. She emphasized that libraries are dynamic, offer more services than most people realize, and that everyone is welcome.

Door prizes were eagerly awaited, and local celebrity Ivor Davis made the ticket-drawing fun. There were wine and cheese baskets, a beautiful hand-made wooden salad bowl, tickets to theater and music events, books, etc.