Category Archives: Featured News

What is a VPD VIP?

Jerry Mendelson and Paul Magie will do vacation checks on your home while you’re away.

by Jerry Mendelsohn

Ventura Police Department Volunteer

What is a VIP? Well, other than a shortcut to a definition of Very Important Person, the Ventura Police Department uses the abbreviation to identify a successful program it implemented over a decade ago–Volunteers In Policing.

Who are these people, and what do they do? Having been one for almost 7 years, allow me to simply say that each person is someone who wants to “pay it forward” by giving back to the community, has some time to volunteer, and believes in the merits of law and order.

Both men and women participate. Though most are retired, their backgrounds show talents as teachers , school administrators, corporate positions, business owners, law enforcement, and so on. Stringent background checks precede an invitation to a police “aca demy, ” and, upon graduation, it is suggested that a volunteer attempt to give a minimum of 16 hours or more of service per month .

You have probably seen VIPs around town in marked white vehicles, either vans or SUVs. They are radio-e quipped so VIPs can be in touch with the police station’s “comcenter”- -dispatch–and vice versa, for assignments and anything else with which VIPs can help. VIPs typically patrol in pairs.

The primary purpose of the VIP is to be a “visible presence” in the community and to aid the regular , sworn officers as needed, primarily to relieve them of some of the duties that might occupy their time when they could be better utilized as crime fighters involved with more serious issues that , unfortunately, impact every community .

VIPs commonly do traffic control when needed. They are permitted to issue some citations for non-moving violations, such as parking illegally, etc . Indeed , Ventura had a fairly frequent problem of people parking in designated handicapped spots but with no displayed placard.

Partially through a concerted, continual effort by the VIPs, handicapped parking violations have diminished dramatically .

VIPs often will take written reports of non-injury accidents, interacting with the victims, calling for back-up of an officer if needed, and then entering said reports into the police system, typically for insurance companies. Further, VIPs will assist officers with transportation of personal property of vagrants and others who the officers may need to take to a hospital or jail.

VIPs are called to residences to, again, take written reports on home and auto burglaries. While city resident s are invited to file online reports, many do not or are uncomfortable with doing so, so VIPs assist .

As a community service, VIPs will do vacation checks on your home while you’re away, walking

your property to verify doors and windows are secure, that there appears to be no break-in attempts, and

that your property seems OK until you return. Visible signs of an owner being away, such as door-hangers and newspapers, or trash cans left out, may be picked up and/or put away as is feasible.

The VIP may patrol school zones, with a keen eye out for suspicious loiterers or people perhaps sitting in cars who don’t belong there or are acting strangely.

Other tasks also fill up VIP shifts, but I’ve tried to identify some of the more frequent ones. Should you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you may contact the Ventura Police Department Civic Engagement Specialist at 339-4317.

Ventura City Fire Department respond to fire and extinguish in seventeen minutes

On Oct.5, at 9:22pm Ventura City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke and fire in a residential home in the 200 Block of N Ventura Ave.  Upon arrival fire crews found a fire burning underneath of a raised foundation house and extending into the interior of the home.  Firefighters extinguished the fire seventeen minutes after arrival. The home, which had burned a year earlier, was unoccupied at the time of the fire.  The cause of the fire is suspicious and remains under investigation.  No firefighters were injured as a result of this incident.

Phase 2 of the project will be developed as funds are raised.

Lots to do at Kellogg Park already.

The newest member of the City of Ventura’s Parks, Recreation and Community Partnerships division, Kellogg Park, is currently in its first phase of construction. Kellogg Park began as a community driven project to increase park area on the Westside of Ventura, and although there were no available funds to build the park, the City and its partners secured $3.5 of the $4.5 of the funds needed to construct the park through grants and donations. The first phase of the 2.41 acre park will feature community gathering spaces, an amphitheater, playground area, outdoor exercise equipment, and a perimeter walking path.

The construction at Kellogg Park is moving along quickly. People walking by can now see that play and exercise equipment have been installed, as well as, new cobble seat walls surrounding the play areas. Work has also begun on beautiful pebble mosaics. Park staff are set for an April 2018 expected completion date, of the first phase of this park. The first phase of the 2.41 acre park will feature community gathering spaces, an amphitheater, playground area, outdoor exercise equipment, and a perimeter walking path. For more information, photos and videos please visit the Kellogg Park website https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/521/Kellogg-Park.

City schedules open discussion on pot regulations

How should the city approach the new pending marijuana regulations?

by Paul Peterson- Pat 1 of 2

The city of Ventura has just announced it will host a community meeting for all Venturans to offer input as to how the city should approach the new pending marijuana regulations. The meeting will be held Thursday, September 28th at 6pm in the Community Meeting Room at City Hall, 501 Poli Street. The public will be asked to weigh in on issues such as marijuana store fronts, delivery services, cultivation, taxes, zoning and other related issues. The input will then be given to the city council at another public meeting on October 9th, also at 6pm in council chambers. Those who can’t attend are encouraged to email their input to [email protected]. This is a real opportunity for the people to speak out on this subject.

On January 1st, 2018 marijuana becomes legal to consume and cultivate for Californians over age 21, many enjoying strains similar to blue venom. The supporting cannabis industry has been gearing up for legalization with a series of pot industry conventions and confabs throughout Southern California. The level of business acumen and innovation is surprising. More details on these gatherings along with input from the September 28 meeting will follow in a second installment for The Breeze. The CBD industry is set to skyrocket too with many businesses looking for a CBD manufacturing company from whom they can purchase private label products to sell under their brands.

Recent polls have shown national support for medical marijuana now tops 90% while support for legalization for all is now over 60%. It seems to be the will of the people. Ventura has remained on the sidelines so far as to whether the new law will be approached as a problem or an opportunity.

There has been enormous financial success for Colorado since enacting their law. Gross sales will surpass one and a half billion dollars this year resulting in tax revenues of over 116 million dollars for Coloradoans. Additionally, new business ventures have been able to grow into the sector to help promote it in their regions, such as Avidon Marketing Group to name one example. California’s gross sales are expected to top 8 billion in a few short years.

How Ventura will fare in this coming tax and licensing windfall lies in the policies developed going forward.

It should be noted that at all the aforementioned cannabis confabs, optimism is very high and opportunities for cannabis jobs and starting new businesses were everywhere. Many women were seen as leading entrepreneurs in these new businesses, especially in food infusion and minorities seek to be equally represented as shop owners and distributors. There seems to be new opportunities for many.

January is right around the corner and Ventura’s opportunity to take advantage of a whole new industry and is on the line. It appears to be the biggest new revenue source in decades for city coffers. Opposing progress might be akin to being the last dry town in a wet state, to use a prohibition example. Illustrating this, the town of Milliken, Colorado is now approving pot shop licenses to two new businesses because the nearby town of Garden City now credits pot taxes and license fees for bringing in half of their $1.3 million dollar budget. Imagine doubling a city’s income and being able to fund new projects and complete existing ones. That may be the opportunity before our city council. Citizens have a chance to express responsible views at the upcoming events September 28 and again October 9th. City funding and jobs are at stake.

The plan is to evaluate the one way conversion in six months

Were you surprised to see this?

by Jeff Hereford, City of Ventura Civil Engineer

Harbor Boulevard west of Figueroa (adjacent to the Amtrak station) has been permanently converted to an eastbound one way street. Note that the section of Harbor Boulevard east of Garden Street (adjacent to the fairgrounds) is already an eastbound one way street.

For the past couple years Harbor Boulevard west of Figueroa has been converted to eastbound one way as a part of the VC Fair traffic control set up. Since the conversion was made VPD has indicated a significant improvement to traffic flow during the 10 days of the fair, particularly when fairgoers exit the fairgrounds in the late evening. A significant amount of work has to be done each year to make this conversion which includes re-striping the roadway. The removal of the striping has an impact to the condition of the pavement and over time will require additional maintenance. In addition, there is a significant cost in making these changes each year.

With the growing number of special events at the Fairgrounds and the amount of work it takes to convert to one way each year prior to the fair, it would be beneficial to just make the one way permanent. People wanting to go to the Amtrak station will need to traverse through the fairgrounds parking lot. New signage has been installed as a part of the permanent conversion to guide motorists to the station. The fairgrounds will accommodate access to the station through their parking lot. The fairgrounds already has an agreement with the City to provide 22 parking spaces in their lot for long term parking for Amtrak passengers. In addition to coordinating with the fairgrounds we have also coordinated with the DVP (Downtown Ventura Partners)trolley. The trolley will also need to traverse through the fairgrounds parking lot. This has been discussed and there doesn’t seem to be any issues.

The plan is to evaluate the one way conversion in six months to see if there are any major issues that arise. The City, Fairgrounds, VPD, Fire, and DVP will all be involved in the evaluation. Since the striping has been done in paint rather than a more permanent striping material it can be changed back to the original layout fairly easy.

Rubicon Theatre conducts search for executive director

Company moves into 20th anniversary season.

Rubicon Theatre seeks to hire an experienced and energetic, hands-on Executive Director (ED) to take the organization to the next level. According to the Chair of the Search Committee Walt Wood, “We are especially looking for someone with a proven record of success in board and committee development, fundraising, financial management, and administration.”

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED will work closely with founding artistic directors Karyl Lynn Burns and James O’Neil to support and carry out the mission of the company. The ED will have responsibility for a “Capital and Comprehensive” campaign, make and manage donor solicitations, and oversee facility renovations and expansion during and after the campaign. Exceptional verbal and written skills are a necessity.

Rubicon Theatre, founded in 1998, is about to embark on its 20th Season as one of the premiere nonprofit professional theatre companies in Southern California. Rubicon Theatre Company has served more than 440,000 audience members and 45,000 students in an intimate 185-seat renovated former church built in the 1920s. Rubicon began as an actors’ and directors’ company and is committed to creating a nurturing environment for artists and creating an atmosphere where experimentation and exploration are encouraged and supported. As a result, a number of notable artists have graced the Rubicon stage, including Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe and Obie Award-winners.

Annual programming consists of a season of 5-8 diverse shows (dramas, comedies and musicals); a Broadway concert series; festivals; special events; and education and outreach programs. The company has presented numerous World Premieres and has launched national and international tours. Last year, three Rubicon-originated or developed productions played Off-Broadway. The company has been the recipient of multiple Ovation and Indy Awards, an NAACP Award, the L.A. Drama Critics Margaret Harford Award for “Sustained Excellence,” and the N.Y. Drama Desk Award.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Search Committee, Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura, CA 93001. Fax 667-2904. Or e-mail: [email protected]. No phone calls please. EOE. For complete details http://siteline.vendini.com/site/rubicontheatre.org/job-opportunity-executive-director.

Help to clean up our beaches

Bring your own bag, bucket and gloves.

Be one of the 60,000 people across all of California in the upcoming 33rd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, on September 16! Volunteer to remove debris from beaches, creeks, rivers, and lakes all around California to protect wildlife from harm while taking care of our environment.

Last year, nearly 3,000 dedicated volunteers from Ventura County collected close to 10,000 pounds of trash and recyclables.

Volunteers are encouraged to attend their local cleanup site and bring their own bucket or used grocery bag, gloves, and a reusable water bottle to lessen the amount of trash created during the event.

The California Coastal Commission and the Ventura County Coalition for Coastal and Inland Waterways will once again coordinate this regional cleanup event made possible by our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers.

Thousands of marine animals die each year from becoming entangled in debris or from ingesting it. Marine debris can impact critical habitat, smothering sea grasses or dislodging or injuring corals. Debris can also pose human health and safety risks. Syringes, broken glass, and other hazardous items pose obvious dangers to barefooted beach goers. Grocery and trash bags, fishing line, nets, rope, and other debris can wrap around boat propellers and clog seawater intakes, causing costly damage and becoming a safety hazard.

For more information visit VCCoastalcleanup.org.

Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road

Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko addressing the students. Photos by Bernie Goldstein

On September 1, a virtual reality 360° driving experience showing the potentially deadly consequences of smartphone distracted driving was held at Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Road.

The event included a simulator car, virtual reality gear, signage and a digital education display. The It Can Wait simulator was accompanied by AT&T It Can Wait campaign ambassadors. This is similar in some ways to how 360 provides VR training for workplace safety purposes, except this time the focus is entirely on the driving.

AT&T partnered with the Ventura Police Department and Buena High School to bring awareness about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving with its virtual reality simulator. This is a great idea as the number of people hiring a car accident attorney is rising dramatically and one of the predicted reasons is the increase in people texting and driving.

Ventura Mayor Nasarenko told the students, “Six thousand individuals die every year because of distracted driving. That would be like the entire student body of Buena High School vanishing along with two other high schools of the same size. So don’t send that text, answer the phone, or put mouse whiskers on the Snapchat photo while you’re driving. Remember, It can wait.” This really puts the problem into perspective; those injured by a careless driver may want to pursue legal action against them through the likes of Virginia Car Accident Attorneys.

Inset is 9th grader Armando Ontiveros being virtual.

The students learned that:

Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road or hands off the steering wheel -especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most drivers. It has been estimated that, at any one time, over 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device. This also includes truck drivers with most truck accidents being caused by distracted driving. Truck accidents rarely have a happy ending and those who have been in such accidents ending up in the hospital for a lengthy amount of time. If you have found yourself in such a situation, you might want to get in touch with a law firm similar to these Tate Law Offices who might be able to help with getting compensation for your accident.

According to the California Office of Traffic and Safety:

  • 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
  • Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
  • Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.
  • Texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, far enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than 3 seconds reaction time.

What can a driver do? They can obey the law. They can also work to eliminate distractions:

  • Never text and drive.
  • Turn off the phone when you get behind the wheel.
  • Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
  • Make a pact with family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone in the car.
  • No eating or drinking while driving.
  • Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player or other devices while driving.
  • Pull over and stop to read maps.
  • No grooming, no reading, no watching videos.
  • If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.

“From the Peace Corps to the Port” at Museum of Ventura County Sept. 12

“From the Peace Corps to the Port” is topic of September speaker series hosted by the Museum of Ventura County

Keynote speaker Will Berg, Port Hueneme City Council member, will present “From the Peace Corps to the Port” at the Sept. 12 “Speaking Of Ventura County” lecture series, 1–2:30 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main Street, Ventura. Berg will share the fascinating history of Richard Bard’s vision to build a port to serve the citizens of Ventura County, the port’s growth and its current position as one of America’s top ports for fresh fruit.

Berg is the former Director of Marketing and Public Information at the Port of Hueneme Oxnard Harbor District. A sitting member of the District Export Council’s Leadership Task Force of Southern California, a federal appointment, Berg serves many community organizations, including Cal State University Channel Islands Business Advisory Council and the university’s International Affairs Advisory Board, Outreach Committee of the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, the Ventura College Business Division Advisory Board and the Land Use and Business Development Committees of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce.

Admission to the event is free for MVC members; $5 for non-members. Light refreshments provided. For more information, visit www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.

The Museum’s “Speaking Of” series takes place at the Museum of Ventura County on the second Tuesday of the month, September through June. Major funding for this program is made possible in part by the City of San Buenaventura and the County of Ventura.