Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center is excited to name Heidi Ortiz to the position of Deputy Manager. Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds, having worked as an Executive Assistant to the CEO for 14 years. She also served as a Junior Fair Board advisor for five years.

“I enjoy working with the team, my Fair family, to put on events for the community’s enjoyment,” said Ortiz. “I love seeing the excitement, joy, and smiles on everyone’s face, making the hard work worth it!”

Ortiz has played a pivotal role in her work and in the community, having forged important relationships between the Fairgrounds, local businesses, organizations, and fairgoers. As Deputy Manager, Ortiz will continue to strengthen the bond between the community and the Fairgrounds, while also taking on an extended leadership role, overseeing staff and projects.

“Heidi is often referred to as the glue that keeps us all together,” said Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO Jen McGuire. “We are all so proud to have her as our Deputy Manager. Heidi has put her heart and soul into our Fairgrounds and it shows. Her continued commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Ortiz is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned her Bachelors in Animal Science. She excelled in academics and athletics, having played four years of collegiate soccer; a two-year team captain. When she’s not at the Fairgrounds, Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

The Ventura County Fair is celebrating 150 years in 2024! The fun starts now, with monthly events and contests leading up to the annual Fair this July 31 through August 11, 2024. This year’s Ventura County Fair will include new celebrations and pay homage to past traditions.

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities.

Join us for good green fun celebrating Earth Day Ventura Charter School is excited to once again present Ventura EcoFest, an Earth Day celebration of our planet for the community of Ventura. This family-friendly free event welcomes the community to enjoy good green fun in the form of live performances, a silent auction, a raffle, local vendors and nonprofits, food trucks, eco arts and crafts and educational games on Sunday, April 28th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ventura Charter School campus, 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura.

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities, with more expected for this year’s event. In support of Earth-friendly practices Ventura Charter School’s EcoFest welcomes the community to head to the campus utilizing a variety of transportation options. Bicycle to event and receive bike valet services sponsored by Bike Ventura County. Through Gold Coast Transit District’s Youth Ride Free Program, students and children 18 and under ride free with no identification required. There will be a variety of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including a kid zone, an EV car exhibit, live music and dance and plenty more. Guests can bid in a silent auction, benefiting Ventura Charter School’s many diverse and inclusive academic programs. Among the items available for in-person bidding are outdoor gear, tickets for local entertainment, yoga class passes, whale watching passes, local restaurant gift cards and much more.

In addition to the silent auction, the event will feature a raffle. Pre-sale raffle tickets can be purchased from families of Ventura Charter School students or at the event. All tickets are $1. The grand prize is $1,000 in Disney Cash. The raffle will be pulled each hour, with the grand prize drawing at 4:00 p.m. Winners need not be present. Sponsors include Kirby Auto Group of Ventura, UNPaste, Bamieh & De Smeth, Amigos Party Rental, Brooklyn Charm, Bodhi Salt Yoga, Bella Luna Gardens, Edible Ojai and Ventura County, and Mission Bank.

“We are excited to continue this important annual tradition for our community, and our students,” said Lisa Hildebrand, Executive Director of Ventura Charter School, “Our students look forward to this event for the fun but it’s also an important reminder for them and for us that we are stewards for our planet and change starts with our own choices.” Proceeds from this event benefit Ventura Charter School, a tuition-free nonprofit school that serves 450 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. During school hours, Ventura EcoFest encourages students to take a closer look at their personal habits to see how they affect the planet and make changes, such as a student-led campaign to reduce disposable utensils on campus.

Along with the EcoFest celebration, students experience an involved project-based curriculum centered upon empowerment through critical thinking, empathy, research, and action to benefit the spaces they occupy throughout their lives with inclusion and equity. To learn more about Ventura EcoFest or enrollment at Ventura Charter School, please visit, https://earthdayventura.org. Ventura Charter School – Starting as Open Classroom in the 1970’s, Ventura Charter School of Global Arts & Education launched in 2006 as a tuition-free public charter school within the Ventura County Office of Education.

The school currently serves over 400 K-8 th grade students on its campus located within the larger DATA middle school property. Ventura Charter School is an expeditionary learning school in partnership with EL Education. It is guided by 10 founding principles and its mission to, “engage every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.”

Visit Ventura staff is proud of their award.

Visit Ventura is extremely proud to announce that it was selected as the winner in the Best Strategic Partnership category at the Visit California Poppy Awards Gala, one of the most prestigious award ceremonies in the California travel and tourism industry.

At their biennial Poppy Awards, held March 12 in Greater Palm Springs, Visit California honored tourism destinations and attractions across California for excellence, creativity, and effectiveness in tourism marketing and destination stewardship.

Among hundreds of submissions, a panel of industry marketing experts selected Visit Ventura as the destination winner for the Best Strategic Partnership category, recognizing the organization’s leadership in bringing together a first-of-its-kind city, county, and state partnership to bring the X Games to Ventura last summer.

“Receiving a Poppy Award is a dream come true! It’s a win not only for our small but mighty Visit Ventura team but also for the entire community,” said Marlyss Auster, president and CEO of Visit Ventura. “We brought together local business owners, our local transportation partners, city and state officials, leaders from the Chumash tribe, and so many more to make the summer of 2023 a summer no one will forget. I am so proud of our community for dreaming big and collaborating to make it all happen!”

A phone call in 2019 that began the journey of a partnership between the X Games and Visit Ventura blossomed into a partnership that brought together partners from all corners of the industry to put on a larger-than-life event to drive visitation and worldwide recognition to Ventura.

A transportation partnership with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Ventura County Transportation Commission, and a local bike and skate shop resulted in a successful holistic transportation plan with 2,000 cars off the roads and 2,000 bikes and skateboards utilizing the free skateboard and bike valet. Collaboration between Ventura Fire and Police Departments created a safe event for families of all ages. A partnership with local Chumash tribe leaders made the X Games’ first land acknowledgment possible in front of the media and athletes. And as you walked through the streets of Ventura, you saw the strategic partnership in action on nearly every corner as local businesses embraced the X with special X Games offerings.

Visit Ventura helped facilitate all these conversations, making space for ideas and collaboration to make the summer 2023 X Games an event the Ventura community could be proud of.

“The past two years have seen tremendous growth, resilience and innovation from California’s travel industry,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California. “This year’s Poppy Award-winning campaigns inspired visitors from around the world to rediscover California, highlighting our state’s welcoming spirit and abundance of world-class experiences.”

Beteta, alongside Visit California’s board officers, presented the 2024 Poppy Awards during the 16th annual Visit California Outlook Forum, held March 11-12 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa. This year’s Outlook Forum celebrated record attendance, welcoming more than 800 attendees.

XG California 2023 changed the landscape of Ventura’s business community and city at large, now and for years to come. Most of all, our community is proud of what took place on a sunny summer weekend in their hometown. And that’s what it’s all about.

St. Junipero Serra has returned.

by Patrcia Schallert

The St. Junipero Serra statue has found a new home! On February 29th, 2024, the bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, previously situated in front of San Buenaventura City Hall, was gracefully relocated to its new residence at the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura (211 E Main St.)

St. Junípero Serra, an esteemed  Roman Catholic Spanish priest and friar of the Franciscan Order, is renowned for establishing nine Spanish missions in Alta California. Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015, he holds a special place in history.  On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Mission San Buenaventura, his final mission, was founded on a site now known as downtown Ventura.

Fr. Tom Elewaut, the dedicated pastor of the Mission Basilica, warmly welcomed the return of the bronze likeness of St. Junipero Serra. Speaking on the historic significance of the land belonging to the Chumash people, Fr. Tom Elewaut emphasizes Serra’s role as a spiritual father to the indigenous community what was then known as  Alta California. He highlights Serra’s unwavering defense of their dignity and rights before the Spanish magistrate. “The statue acts as a catalyst for peaceful and open dialogue surrounding the indigenous history, the Mission era, Spanish conquest, Mexican occupation, the Gold Rush, and the eventual attainment of California statehood within the United States of America. All of these events have profoundly influenced and shaped the narrative of this land.”

In July, 2020, the Ventura City Council made the decision to relocate two statues during a special public meeting. This choice paved the way for the  landmark bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, situated on public property in front of City Hall, to be temporarily stored with the ultimate intention of transferring it to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura.

In achieving a peaceful resolution, former Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, former Chair Julie Tumamait of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash), and Father Tom Elewaut collaborated to respectfully address community concerns and create an inclusive environment that respected and appreciated all community voices. The goal was to honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and pay tribute to its earliest inhabitants.

In February, work commenced on the concrete base of the statue, diligently carried out by Bryan Cooke of Cooks Crating, who spearheaded the delivery and installation process. The bronze cast, crafted to replace the original 1936 concrete statue, was unveiled in a momentous ceremony at Ventura City Hall on October 20, 1989. This striking 9’3″, 1250-pound masterpiece had since stood proudly overlooking downtown Ventura and the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder expresses the historical significance of the statue and mission for the city, affirming that the relocation to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura symbolizes their commitment to preserving the rich history of the community and honoring the legacy of its earliest residents.

The decision-making process involved extensive public input, the invaluable contributions of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, and the collaboration with Mission. It is a testament to their dedication to inclusivity and unity while celebrating Ventura’s diverse heritage.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, lovingly named after Saint Bonaventure, who was a Cardinal and Doctor of the Church during the years 1221-1274, is aptly known as the “Mission by the Sea.” Guided by a mission statement that upholds the values of prayer and service, the mission endeavors to foster unity among various faith communities as it continues to move “always forward.”

Editor: From a previous Ventura Breeze “A demonstration was held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, to demand that the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall be taken down on grounds that he had committed atrocities against Native Americans, including the local Chumash.”

VHP Board Treasurer, Dave Schmutte; Webmaster and Vice President, John Sanders Jones; Secretary, Debora Schreiber; Ventura Social Services Task Force Chair Judy Alexandre; Client Outreach officer, Adele Fergusson, and President and Board Chair, Sue Brinkmeyer.

On February 24, the Ventura Homeless Prevention (VHP) held an afternoon at an “Keeping People Housed:That’s Amore” and auction to raise rental assistance funds for Ventura Homeless Prevention.

It included outstanding Italian food, drinks, entertainment and presentations. It was held in the hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston.

The Ventura Homeless Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents homelessness in the City of Ventura by keeping people in their homes.

Every penny donated goes directly to pay rent for households who have been stably housed but are suddenly unable to meet the current month’s rent because of a one-time event like a car repair, medical bill, or loss of pay due to illness or temporary lay off.

On average they have prevented homelessness for one household per week since they began their work in 2007 — over 1,300 people so far, 40% of them children.

VHP is an all-volunteer organization operating in donated space, and the Board pays for the few administrative costs, so every penny donated or granted goes directly to pay rent and keep people housed.

Sue Brinkmeyer, President and Board Chair of VHP stated “Ventura Homeless Prevention helps residents of the City of Ventura avoid the double traumas of eviction and homelessness by sending a check for part or all of their rent to their landlord when a temporary loss of income or a major expense leaves them teetering on the brink, and they’ll be able to resume paying their own rent after this one-time assistance.”

“Thanks to the generosity of many local houses of faith and individuals, this non-profit is able to help an average of 6-7 families a month.  And thanks, in part, to the additional expertise provided by case managers at Project Understanding or the Salvation Army, over 90% of the people assisted are still housed one-year later.  Ventura Homeless Prevention can help any Ventura resident, without restriction due to income, immigration status, or type of residence, and it costs, on average, just $500 per person or $1,200 per household to keep people housed.  Both donations and referrals are welcome. More information is available on the website venturahomelessprevention.org.”

Leona Rollins Ventura Housing Services Manager continued “The Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund has been doing amazing work in our community since 2007. By providing one-time financial assistance, the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund can assist individuals and families in remaining in their homes, avoiding eviction and the possibility of homelessness. There are currently 644 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community and we need to continue to work together to see that number decrease, not increase. With more than 60% of renters in the City being “rent burdened” meaning that they are paying more than 30% of their income towards their housing costs, they are unable to save for a rainy day. Without an emergency fund, individuals and families will find themselves unable to pay their rent and facing threats of eviction when that rainy day arrives. This is why it is important for us to continue to support programs like the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund.”

Matt LaVere, Supervisor, Ventura County Board of Supervisors explained “Despite the hard work of so many wonderful, dedicated people, we still have 2,500 unhoused individuals in Ventura County. But what this figure does not show is that there are over 14,000 individuals teetering on the edge of homelessness. These are people who are one missed paycheck, one lost job, one car repair, one hospital bill, one “bad break” in life from ending up on the streets. It is exponentially easier and more cost-effective to address homelessness if we can prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. And that is why the work being done by the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund is so critically important. Their efforts to keep people housed and connect them with necessary services truly changes the direction of people’s lives.”

Musical entertainment was provided by Sus Corez on guitar and Artie Perez on accordion with Sue Brinkmeyer singing along. Presentations were made by Gabrielle White, Talia le Duff and Jeremy Beaumont.