Kids at Mound Elementary participated with enthusiasm in learning about many of the foods grown in the community. Photos by Bernie Goldstein

As part of its new Ventura County Child Wellness Initiative, Students for Eco-Education & Agriculture (SEEAG) is hitting the road in its new “Farm Fresh Mobile Classroom,” visiting schools throughout Ventura County this school year and bringing its message of healthy eating, proper nutrition and daily exercise.

The 30-foot-long cargo van made its debut on Friday, September 13 at Mound Elementary School in Ventura. Third graders learned about locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables through hands-on activities. They prepared healthy snacks and received recipes that they can make at home as well as nutritional information to share with family members. The van will visit 120 schools and reach 10,000 Ventura County students by 2021.

As part of the van’s debut, five students created dishes from locally grown produce for judging.

“We want kids to get excited whenever they see our brightly colored van pull up at their school,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “Our goal is to cultivate a deeper appreciation for our local agriculture, and healthy eating and wellness practices that will stay with these young students throughout their life,”

Mobile Classroom Sponsors are Sprouts Community Foundation, Gills Onions, AGQ Lab, YCE Engineering, Pyramid Flowers. Wells Fargo, Montecito Bank & Trust and Crimson Pipeline.

For more about SEEAG’s Farm Fresh Mobile Classroom, visit www.SEEAG.org

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this program, over 25,000 elementary school students in Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. SEEAG also hosts annual Farm Days—Santa Barbara County Farm Day, September 28, 2019 and Ventura County Farm Day, November 9, 2019. For more information, visit www.seeag.org.

Ashley Bautista selected by the International Association of Police Chiefs for the 40 Under 40 Award.

Ashley Bautista has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the California Peace Officers’ Association for her community outreach efforts with the Ventura Police Department. Ashley is a Senior Community Outreach Specialist with the department. She is also the

police liaison for the Ventura Police Community Foundation spearheading fundraising efforts for police equipment and community crime prevention programs. In June 2019, she took on an additional role as the Acting Communications Manager for the City of Ventura.

In August, she was selected by the International Association of Police Chiefs for the 40 Under 40 Award. The award recognizes 40 law enforcement professionals under the age of 40 from around the world who demonstrate leadership and exemplify commitment to their profession. The award will be presented in Chicago in October. In August, she was the recipient of the California Peace Officers’ Association’s (CPOA) Inaugural 12 under 12 Award. She was selected for Region VII which covers San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. The award recognizes 12 individuals from the 12 CPOA regions with 12 or less years of service who represent the future of the law enforcement profession.

“In a time where the national narrative of policing in America is challenged, new and innovative approaches to bring together communities and law enforcement are as important as they have ever been. Ashley Bautista has transformed this narrative in our community,” said Police Chief Ken Corney.

Ashley joined the Ventura Police Department in July 2014. She previously served as an Associate at Paladin Principal, LLC a regional public affairs firm. She represented the Gold Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the World Affairs Council Central Coast Chapter as the Executive Director of both organizations. She also assisted in crisis communication for a variety of government, nonprofit and business clients during her time with Paladin.

“As the owner of Cole Pro Media, one of the leading firms across the country in helping law

enforcement tell their own stories using social media, there is no better partner than Ashley in this

process. She gets it, she cares, and she’s the real deal. She gives her life every day to the community of Ventura and to this great profession that protects all of us 365 days a year,” said Laura Cole, Cole Pro Media President. Since her time with the Police Department she has increased the following on social media to over 80,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor combined. Her innovative social media campaigns have been featured on the national level. She provides presentations to community groups and high school groups on crime prevention, traffic safety and cyber safety. She also hosts the police department’s annual citizen’s academy providing an opportunity for residents to learn about police operations. She has become a resource for governmental agencies in providing community outreach strategies. She is passionate in her efforts to create a strong sense of connectivity between the police department and the community.

“I appreciate Ashley’s hard work, dedication, passion and responsiveness. She is a significant part of the

heart, compassion and devotion of our police force,” said Ventura community member Lori Steinhauer.

She was awarded the Ventura Police Support Crime Fighter of the Year in December 2016. She was nominated for employee of the year for the City of Ventura in January 2017 and January 2019. She was selected for the cover of the Ventana magazine as a “Woman of Substance” in March 2016. She has also been recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times, a tri-county central coast publication, as the “Top 50 Women in Business”, “Top 40 under 40” and “Who’s Who in Civic Leadership”. She holds a bachelor’s degree of Political Science from the University of San Diego a minor in Media Studies and her master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. She is also a graduate of the 2019 Ventura County Leadership Academy. The academy brings leaders together from various professions to address complex issues county-wide.

“I have put my heart into what I do because I am motivated to make Ventura a better place for my four sons. I am motivated to prevent crime; motivated to help apprehend suspects, who continue to victimize the most vulnerable; and motivated to change the negative perceptions about police officers. The men and women who serve our community are remarkable people and it’s an honor to be their advocate. Building the bridge between the police and the community has been an incredible

experience,” said Community Outreach Specialist Bautista.

California Coast Classic coming to Ventura.

The Arthritis Foundation’s largest fundraising ride, the 19th Annual California Coast Classic presented by Amgen, a 525-mile eight-day bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles will be rolling into Ventura on September 27.

One in every four Americans is living with arthritis — that’s more than breast cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and autism combined. It’s the number one cause of disability and a growing health crisis affecting more than 54 million adults and 300,000 children. The Arthritis Foundation is leading the fight to conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science, and community connections.

250 bicyclists, both with and without arthritis, from California, other parts of the United States and internationally ranging in age from 18 to 70-plus. Each rider is required to raise a minimum of $3,500 to participate in the CCC.

A 525-mile eight-day bicycle tour from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise $1 million for the Arthritis Foundation. Funds raised help to bring life-changing tools and resources to those with arthritis, their family and friends; provides support to the 300,000 kids and teens with arthritis through the national Juvenile Arthritis Conference, JA Camps, and other educational activities; to accelerate the path to better treatments and a cure; and to break down barriers to optimal arthritis care.

The route follows California’s beautiful coastline from San Francisco to Los Angeles. During the 8-day ride, participants will overnight in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur, Cambria, Oceano, Buellton, Ventura, and finish in Los Angeles. At each overnight stop, the majority of the riders camp out, some will stay at a hotel, and at the campground a hearty meal is served and riders share memories from the day, participate in a raffle for donated prizes, and honor a different person each night who is living with and surviving arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science, and community connections. The Arthritis Foundation’s goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life – and making each day another stride towards a cure (arthritis.org).

The California Coast Classic Bike Tour is the winner of the 2019 Best Charity Bike Tour Award by Gran Fondo Guide. It began in 2001 and is the flagship fundraising bike tour of the Arthritis Foundation, raising over $1 million dollars annually. The money provides educational resources for adults and children, supports advocacy, funds kids’ camps, and much more. Beginner and experienced cyclists are welcome and encouraged to join the journey down the coast of California.

The Tour will arrive in Ventura on Friday afternoon around 2-3 p.m., September 27, Day 7 of the 8-day tour. The riders will be staying at the San Buenaventura State Beach.

Here’s the schedule for that Friday night

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm        CCC Social Hour

6:00 pm                         Daily Announcements

6:30 pm                         Dinner

Here’s the schedule for that Saturday morning before they start to trickle out on their way to Los Angeles.

6:30 am – 8:30 am        Breakfast

Ventura City Fire Department receives a pickup and a sports utility vehicle.

Santa Barbara based Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by emergencies, is equipping many of California’s first responder agencies to help save lives. After the devastation of the Thomas Fire and Montecito mud & debris flows, the organization recognized the need of local agencies for additional emergency response vehicles and equipment. The organization has since donated life-saving equipment to several Southern California emergency service providers, including Ventura City Fire Department.

“Given the overwhelming scale and tragedies of debris flow and fires in California, Direct Relief was looking to help in anyway it could both in the immediate aftermath and for the future, and while outside our normal course of support, the benefit of being in a position to help our local Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) first responders with a purpose built vehicle was clear,” said Andrew MacCalla, Vice President Direct Relief, Emergency Response.

Direct Relief recently donated both a pickup and a sports utility vehicle to Ventura City Fire Department to help support emergency response efforts in Ventura, and for the greater operational response area of Ventura County. The Ford F-150 4×4 pickup will be used for surf & ocean rescues, as well as supporting wildland fire, flooding, and urban search & rescue operations. The pickup has been outfitted with storage compartments, overhead racks, an air compressor system, Opticom traffic preemption (to change traffic signals during emergency response), a mobile data computer (for GPS location/regional dispatching), dual sirens, LED response & scene lighting, and two-way mobile & portable radios. The Ford Explorer SUV is outfitted as an additional command vehicle. It will be used by the Training Battalion Chief as a secondary mobile incident command post to respond when the primary on-duty Battalion Chief is already committed to another incident, or when an incident is so large that it requires multiple chief officers to be in place to take command of various geographic local areas, as occurred during both the Thomas & Woolsey Fires.

“We appreciate the generous support of Direct Relief in supporting our first responders and our community. This specialized equipment is critical for protecting life during a serious disaster,” said Mayor Matt LaVere.

On Tuesday, September 3rd, the City of Ventura, Councilmember Lorrie Brown, the Ventura Botanical Gardens, the Serra Cross Conservancy and California Lutheran University partnered with more than 500 college students to improve the hillside area of Grant Park which was damaged during the Thomas Fire.

Steven De Fratus, Community Partnerships Supervisor coordinated the project with Councilmember Brown.

“We raked mulch in the area impacted by the fire. It was a creative way for us new freshmen to really get to know each other and help out our community. Helping our community is important to me and I think this is a great way to do it,” said freshman Erica Weis.

The students spread mulch, removed debris and cleaned areas surrounding the trails. For the past 12 years Volunteer Ventura has partnered with Cal Lutheran for the “You’ve Got Served” volunteer effort to improve various areas of Ventura.

“I am an alumna of CLU and it was great to work alongside CLU students to help improve our community during this important service project,” said Councilmember Lorrie Brown. “The more we can work together the better our community will be. The students worked so hard during this project. They truly helped to make a difference in Ventura.”

Ventura Botanical Gardens Board President Tracy Long was also on hand helping to pitch in.

Previously Cal Lutheran’s students and city staff have removed arundo and invasive ice plant in the Ventura Harbor Wetlands located off of Spinnaker in the Harbor.

The Gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members get in free (with $45 annual membership) and others pay $7. On Tuesdays, admission is free. Dogs are welcome Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Ivers has been involved in public works for over 27 years.

Mary Joyce Ivers, Deputy Public Works Director with the City of Ventura has been elected as the President-Elect of the American Public Works Association (APWA). Ivers will lead a 17-member Board of Directors who serve more than 30,000 public works professionals throughout North America. APWA aims to enhance the visibility and awareness of public works, to give voice to the issues surrounding infrastructure on local and national levels, and to equip public works professionals with quality educational opportunities and resources so that they can more effectively work to improve the quality of life for all.

“The Public Works Department is very proud and excited for Mary Joyce Ivers and this outstanding opportunity. She has served the City of Ventura so well. She will do an amazing job at the national level,” said Public Works Director Phillip Nelson.

Ivers has been involved in public works for over 27 years. She was recently promoted to Deputy Public Works Director overseeing the Operations activities within the Public Works Department. The Public Works department oversees $100 million with a team of 91 public works “First Responders” who continue to rebuild the community after the Thomas Fire. Prior to serving as Interim Public Works Director, she spent 17 years as the Fleet and Facilities Manager for the City of Ventura. In this position she managed a $10 million operating budget, managed 25 employees and interacted daily with City departments and the residents of Ventura. In 2017, she was recognized as the National Government Fleet Manager of the Year and was inducted to the Public Fleet Hall of Fame in 2018.

The City of Ventura Public Works Department received the prestigious American Public Works Association Accreditation Award and became the 92nd Agency out of 38,142 cities, towns and counties throughout the United States to receive this honor in 2014. This award recognizes Public Works Departments for implementing nationally recognized best practices, state-of-the-art operations, and the most efficient use of public resources. The City of Ventura Public Works Department is the 11th city in California to be accredited. Worldwide there are 95 agencies accredited – 93 in the US and 2 in Canada.

The City of Ventura Public Works mission is to build and maintain vital infrastructure and protect the environment for the safety, enjoyment and prosperity of future generations. The City’s 2018-2024 Adopted Capital Improvement Plan contains 140 capital improvement projects with a total of $695 million. A total of $60.3 million is planned in capital improvements for the new fiscal year. The department designs, constructs, inspects, improves and maintains the City’s infrastructure, including traffic, lights, sidewalks, streetlights, roadways, land development, solid waste, storm water and parking operations.

Chris Prewitt, husband, and father was out training for a marathon.

On the morning of April 7, 2014, Chris Prewitt, husband, and father was out training for a marathon when he was hit by a driver under the influence and passed away. Chris’ students described him as inspiring, with an ever-present smile and welcoming attitude. Two organizations will honor his spirit this month.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recently hosted the Ventura County Walk Like MADD 5K in his honor, and the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) awarded the Chris Prewitt Eternal Optimist Award at a District-wide meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2019.

Prewitt was a teacher at Foothill Technology High School (FTHS) from 2003-2012, after which he became an assistant principal at DeAnza Academy of Technology & the Arts (DATA).  He also coached the Buena High School girls water polo team for many years, where he began every practice with an inspirational quote to get the girls motivated and ready to work. FTHS teacher and close friend, Cameron Crouch, said that he could hardly process what happened when the accident occurred.

“My heart immediately broke over losing a best friend, a brother, my children’s amazing uncle, my son’s godfather. He was a friend of 17 years. We had many adventures and laughs together,” Crouch said. “His impact on the community of Ventura through his teaching, coaching, as assistant principal…he gave his all in each area of his life. The world lost an amazing man.”

Many VUSD staff and their friends and family walked in the Walk Like MADD event on August 10.  Ventura Unified School District Board President, Sabrena Rodriquez, led the “Do it for Pruitt” team, which had 35 walkers and raised funds which will go back to support MADD’s mission.

Attendance for 2019 Fair was up from last year.

The Ventura County Fair closed after another successful Fair. Celebrating the best of the best from throughout Ventura County, the 144th year closed with success. Visitors came from near and far to enjoy the 12-day Fair, July 31 through August 11.

The Ventura County Fair’s mission is to preserve, promote, and showcase agriculture and the traditions of Ventura County. This was accomplished with competitive livestock and horse shows, agricultural exhibits, baking contests, produce tastings, agricultural demonstrations and much more.

Fairgoers were greeted with many outstanding attractions, including The All Alaskan Racing Pigs who made audiences squeal with delight, Slim & Curly, the wise cracking cowboys who make people laugh everywhere they go, and Star Child Stilt Circus, who amused children of all ages as they strolled merrily, high above the crowds. Exciting new carnival rides, including the Insomniac and the thrilling Hyperloop joined the lineup of Carnival Midway favorites such as the Wave Swinger and the Giant Ferris Wheel. New food offerings included Deep Fried Philly Cheese Steaks and Dinosaur Nachos that fulfilled the curiosity for new summer treats while the mini donuts and turkey legs satisfied the traditional cravings of many Fairgoers.

Attendance for 2019 remained strong at 302,783, up 1.26%.  “We do everything we can to bring the people of Ventura County a better experience every year,” said CEO Barbara Quaid, sharing the Fair’s winning strategy, “For us the focus is not about the numbers of people coming through the gates, but about the quality of the experience our guests have at the Fair. We measure our success by the number of smiles are on the faces of the people at the Fair.  We are committed to offering a clean, safe and fun experience that people will remember forever.” To that end the Fair conducted a survey of visitors at the fair and continues to solicit and address public sentiment.

Nearly 16,000 County residents entered art, crafts, projects and other curiosities in the competitive exhibits, winning prize ribbons and sharing their inspiring talents with Fair visitors.

Free entertainment was one of the offerings that drew thousands to the Fair. Not only the top name Concerts including Styx, Melissa Etheridge and Brothers Osborne, but also local bands were a huge fan favorites. Revelers came out to enjoy and lend their support for Ventura County entertainers including KNS Rockstar, Juano and Friends, The Rockin’ Henrys, Twisted Gypsy, Doc Rogers Band, and many others.

As is the case every year, overall success would not be possible without the tremendous support of volunteers, sponsors and the community. While the gates have closed on the 2019 Ventura County Fair, planning is already underway for the 2020 Fair

The Ventura County Fair is the County’s original Social Network where thousands of neighbors and friends have gathered every year for generations. The Fair employs up to 700 seasonal staff during the annual 12-day event. With annual attendance of approximately 300,000 visitors to the Fair, the communities throughout Ventura County share in the economic vitality derived from the Ventura County Fair. The Fair brings economic, social, educational, and cultural resources and provides lasting impressions on Fairgoers.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds consists of a 62.5-acre parcel and operates as a multi-purpose, multi-functional, year-round facility accommodating a variety of events.  Regarded as a premier rental facility, the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center attracts some of the most popular shows and attractions in the county throughout the year, including livestock shows, dog shows, horse shows, home and recreation shows, concerts, dances, business expos, quinceañeras, weddings and receptions, motorcycle and automobile shows, camping groups, swap meets and much more.