Category Archives: Featured News

Pacifica High School earned college scholarships

Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills,

Talented teens from Pacifica High School earned college scholarships at the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2024 ProStart Cup presented by Wienerschnitzel, a culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition held on February 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills, crafting three-course meals and presenting restaurant concepts to industry pros. Pacifica High School’s team secured third place in the BJ’s Restaurants Culinary Competition, with each student awarded scholarships to esteemed institutions like The Culinary Institute of America, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State University, Johnson & Wales University and more.

Additionally, the California Restaurant Foundation identified Pacifica High School ProStart teacher, Kristen Collins, as its “CA ProStart Educator of the Year.” Kristen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her time in the restaurant industry to the classroom, and in her eight years, has solidified Pacifica High School as one of the state’s top high school culinary programs. With her mantra to ‘never stop learning,’ Kristen has built skills in gardening, dry-aging meat and pancetta making, which she weaves into classroom instruction and uses to fuel her students’ success in the ProStart Cup competition and beyond.

In addition to vying for The James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year, a national award and $10,000 prize awarded by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Kristen will be part of the newly established ProStart Educator Fellows program, a year-long engagement opportunity culminating with a gathering of all the fellows from across the county in October.

Visit Ventura Honored With Platinum, President, Gold, and Silver HSMAI Adrian Awards

Visit Ventura President & CEO Marlyss Auster and Director of Marketing Mike Laan represented the organization at an awards ceremony.

Visit Ventura was recently honored for travel marketing excellence by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at their 67th annual Adrian Awards Celebration, the world’s largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. Visit Ventura was awarded a whopping total of four Adrian Awards at the in-person ceremony in New York City.

Over 800 entries were submitted this year and Visit Ventura’s work was judged to be exceptional by experts in hospitality, travel, tourism, and media. All four awards recognized Visit Ventura for their leadership in bringing the X Games to Ventura and its creative community integration supporting the event.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to receive four HSMAI Adrian Awards this year,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura’s President and CEO. “To be in a room with industry leaders and recognized for our work in marketing that our small team does in-house makes me so proud. Each aspect of the story that we told —from the full-page ads to the YouTube videos—we rolled up our sleeves and put our entire heart into it.”

Visit Ventura received four Adrian Awards: Gold for its winning entry in the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, President’s Award —which is the highest score in its budget range— in the Advertising-Brand Campaign category, Platinum —which is one of this year’s highest honors— for the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, and Silver in the Brand Campaign category.

Visit Ventura was also a finalist alongside entries from Tourism Australia and Destination Canada, among other large destinations, for Best in Show. This is Visit Ventura’s first time receiving the President’s Award, Platinum Adrian Award, and a Best in Show honor.

Most notably, Visit Ventura was one of the smallest destinations to receive multiple awards. As an international awards celebration, destinations and brands like IGH Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Atlantis Paradise Island, and Visit Honduras were among some of the winners. To see Visit Ventura, where a small team does all marketing in house, among the list of international winners is a true showing of hometown pride.

“The Adrian Awards celebrate the innovation and ingenuity that fuel our success and recognize the marketing leaders whose extraordinary efforts literally ‘open the doors’ to exploration and excitement,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Their work inspired the world to get out and create memories through travel, and HSMAI is proud to honor them.”

City of Ventura names Rachel Dimond as new Community Development Director

Dimond joined the City of Ventura in May 2023

Following an extensive recruitment process, Rachel Dimond has been appointed as the Community Development Director, effective February 17, 2024. Dimond has been serving in the interim director role since the end of 2023.

Ms. Dimond joined the City of Ventura in May 2023 as the Interim Assistant Community Development Director and has since demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing various planning projects including major hotel, mixed-use, and residential developments.

“Drawing from a diverse planning background that extends from the State of Colorado to Southern California, Rachel brings over 20 years of industry insight and a wealth of knowledge to the role,” stated Ventura City Manager Bill Ayub. “Her expertise in urban planning, addressing both long-term strategies and immediate objectives, will be instrumental in fulfilling the City’s developmental requirements for residents, businesses, and community collaborators.”

Prior to joining the City, Ms. Dimond held the position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Compton and played senior planning roles in the City of West Hollywood. Dimond holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a Master of Urban Planning degree from New York University.

Over the past three years, the Community Development Department has made significant contributions to several important City Council goals. This includes drafting the 2021-2029 Housing Element, updating the Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance, establishing an expanded Permit Services Division and Housing Services Division, supporting commercial cannabis applications, enhancing the historic preservation process, and initiating the General Plan Update process.

The Community Development Department is responsible for planning and zoning, building and safety, code enforcement, housing, and redevelopment for the City of Ventura. It ensures that new construction and additions to existing structures meet the policies and guidelines established for public safety, zoning, and development.

With 45 full-time employees and an annual operating budget of over $15.4 million, the department also works closely with various City commissions and committees that help guide and advise the City Council regarding development in Ventura.

For more information about the City’s Community Development Department, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CD.

 

The Power of Love

Founders, the Friedlanders.

On Saturday, February 10th, over 150 guests both young and old were carried back-in-time to the decade of the boom box, the mix-tape, the Walkman, and totally awesome dance music at Kids & Families Together’s fifth annual fundraising event. This year’s theme, The Power of Love ~ an 80’s themed FUN-raising dance, truly captured the essence that is at the heart of K&FT as an organization and the critical work they provide to families in our communities. As the 1985 song by Huey Lewis & The News states, love truly is “the power that makes the world go ’round”.

Guests that gathered at Poinsettia Pavilion enjoyed a fantastic evening including a fun and nostalgic 80’s-themed menu prepared by Food Affairs by Stacey, live music and dancing, silent auction featuring 60 different items, a game zone showcasing some of the popular table and hand-held games of the 1980’s, along with two arcade machines that were part of the evening’s live auction. Prior to the opening of the event’s program, winners of the 80’s Trivia Game were included in a drawing for items such as a Walkman-style tape player and a boombox! Raffle tickets were also sold for the chance to win a diamond and rose gold bracelet valued at $2,000 which was generously donated by Fox Fine Jewelry.

Live music at the event was provided by We Are The 80’s Band. Steve Roth Founder/C.E.O. (Chief Entertainment Officer)/drummer stated “We were proud to support the fantastic work that K&FT provides to the families in Ventura County, and the critical services that they offer to foster and adopted children. It’s always a privilege for us to contribute our talents to a worthwhile cause.”

Founded in January 2000, Kids & Families Together serves foster, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County. For over two decades has been the leader in providing critical services and support to children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT is unique in that we provide education, support, and strategies to connect caregivers and parents to the children in their care. We wrap our arms around the entire family allowing them to use the strategies they have learned, along with “The Power of Love”, to raise healthy, nurtured children who thrive!

Kids & Families Together’s mission is to strengthen relationships by providing safe, supportive help that keeps family members emotionally connected to one another. K&FT’s programs help families by building relationships, strengthening families, and enhancing attachments.

K&FT provides families with much needed mental health counseling, support, and education that brings direct and meaningful results right into the home. Here is what one kinship caregiver said about their experience working with K&FT.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate working with Kids & Families Together. My therapist helped me explain the current situation more fully and thoughtfully to my 7-year old grandson. This has completely altered the dynamics within our home and my relationship with my grandson. Thank You!”

Charles, the K&FT therapy dog

Both sponsors and guests of this event were integral parts of K&FT’s annual celebration supporting Ventura County foster/resource, kinship and adoptive families. K&FT needs this support in order to continue to offer these types of one-on-one connections, supporting children and their families who often find themselves in crisis situations.

K&FT would like to express gratitude to event sponsors: Aqua~Flo Supply, Generous Anonymous Donor, Marianne Bloom, Sharon Watts Woolley, Controlled Elements, Community Memorial Health Care, US Bank, Robert & Jean Bonar, The Gene Haas Foundation, Ventura Pet Barn, Mary Galvin, Vivian Mullett, Damascus Gear, Anne Paul King, and Kyle & Crystal Cummings.

To learn more about K&FT visit … https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/

 

Join the parade, on March 16!

Surf Rodeo float riders waving to the crowd. Photo by Brendan Daly/WhizCom Marketing

If you’d like to roll down Main Street in the 2024 County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the time to sign up is now. Entry deadline is Thursday, March 7.

Presented annually by Ventura Elks Lodge No. 1430, the parade will commence this year at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16, along a three-quarter-mile route in the heart of Ventura. To enter, visit venturastpatricksdayparade.com. Entry fee is $50.

This year’s parade theme, “Shamrocks & Shenanigans,” gives entrants an invitation to embrace their inner leprechauns with whimsy and mischief in their creations.

One of the county’s most popular community events, the St. Patrick’s Day parade draws thousands each year to a route lined with happy families all dressed up in green. The 2024 parade will run the same midtown route it debuted in 2022, downhill along Main, from Lincoln Drive to Fir Street.

Parade entries are coming in strong this year and again include a solid musical contingent. Always a great entertainment, the parade last year drew more bands and other musicians than any previous year in the history of the decades-old event.

Parade entrants compete for awards presented by a panel of judges led by St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee member James Lockwood. Joining Lockwood on the panel will be Clint Garman from the office of Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere; Richard Rush, former president of California State University Channel Islands; Celina Zacarias, CSUCI’s director of community and government relations; and Elks Lodge representative Rhonda Catron.

Primary parade sponsors include California State University Channel Islands, Citizens Business Bank, E.J. Harrison & Sons, Rolls Scaffold, Runnin’ to Bunnin Chevrolet, and Union Bank. Major sponsors donating their time and services include CAPS Media, the Gaston Group, Ventura Rental Center, and WhizCom Marketing. Among the scores of others who contributed are a dozen media sponsors.

The parade grand marshal this year is the wonderful Elena Brokaw! Executive director of the Museum of Ventura County, Elena is a perennial Ventura County civic leader who before heading up the museum worked with the city of Ventura for 13 years, including as its community services director. In 2019, she was named Citizen of the Year, earning the top honor bestowed by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce in its annual prestigious Poinsettia Awards.

Elena grew up in Ventura County, the youngest of five. She lived in East Ventura till her family moved to an avocado ranch in Santa Paula when she was 8. Elena naturally gravitated toward arts and culture, spending her youth writing, singing and acting and going on to earn a degree in fine arts from Harvard. After short, post-college stints in Boulder, Colorado, and Los Angeles, Elena returned home to Ventura County for good.

She lives in Santa Paula with her husband, former Ventura Police Chief Pat Miller, and her son, Charlie – who turns 13 the day after St. Patrick’s Day!

The County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade is co-chaired by an esteemed group of former Ventura mayors and councilmembers – former grand marshals Jim Monahan and Nan Drake; and longtime event coordinator Brian Brennan – working in cooperation with a hardworking committee including members from Ventura Elks Lodge No. 1430, which has presented the parade since its beginnings in the 1980s.

For answers to parade entry questions, call Brennan at 805-746-5955 or committee member Aaron Gaston at 805-340-8217. For other parade info, call Monahan at 805-340-1356.

Portside Ventura Harbor Celebrates Milestones and Memorable Events

Portside Ventura Harbor celebrated a remarkable year in 2023, marked by significant milestones, community engagement, and memorable events that solidified its position as a vibrant hub in the Ventura area.

Portside Ventura Harbor celebrated their ribbon cutting ceremony with the Chamber of Commerce, symbolizing the dawn of a new era for Portside Ventura Harbor. Two of its esteemed retail businesses, Harbor Mart and Crave Gelato Kofi Bar, also joined the celebrations in 2023 with their own ribbon cuttings.

Harbor Mart, a beloved local favorite, boasts an impressive array of offerings, including an extensive wine collection, global snacks, and a mouthwatering Mediterranean deli. Additionally, they provide last-minute items, sundries, and necessities, catering to the diverse needs
of their local patrons.

Meanwhile, Crave Gelato Kofi Bar emerged as a modern, artisanal haven, delighting patrons with house-made gelato crafted from organic, sustainable ingredients, complemented by delectable handmade focaccia and pastries. The harbor also saw the rise of Vision Ventura Electric Boat Rentals, which made waves with its eco-friendly electric boats, prominently featured in the Parade of Lights 2023 parade. Offering the perfect backdrop for memorable outings with friends and family, their rentals added a unique charm to the Ventura Harbor.

Throughout the year, Portside Ventura Harbor welcomed over 1000 guests at more than 20 events, showcasing its commitment to fostering
community spirit and engagement. From the Pink Party supporting the American Cancer Society to the Playhouse Build for Habitat for Humanity, and the monthly Movie Night Under the Stars, the harbor buzzed with excitement and camaraderie.

In addition to its remarkable retail and culinary offerings, Portside Ventura Harbor is also home to an array of incredible small businesses, enhancing the vibrant atmosphere of its beautiful Plaza. Residents and visitors alike can explore an eclectic mix of services and shops, including Nourished Nails, Live N Dye Hair Salon, Portside Yoga, Vasquez Float Reiki, Focus SUP Hawaii Ventura, Mystic Relics Crystals and Jewelry, Q Studios, Inner Soulstice Wellness Pilates, Art is Passion, Tail of Success, Ambitious Beauty Studio, Mind Body Spirit Studios, Heart Theory Inc., and more coming soon! Whether you’re in need of pampering, spiritual healing, fitness, or a unique shopping experience, the Plaza at Portside Ventura Harbor offers something for everyone.

As 2024 unfolds, Portside Ventura Harbor continues its legacy of growth and innovation. The addition of NeuroBoxing, an organization dedicated to non-contact boxing exercises, further enriches the community’s offerings.

Looking ahead, Portside Ventura Harbor is gearing up for the Egg Hunt Festival on Saturday, March 30th, and is already collaborating with Habitat for Humanity for an expanded and enhanced Playhouse Build event on Saturday, August 24th.

With 2023 setting a high bar for success, Portside Ventura Harbor eagerly anticipates the opportunities and achievements that lie ahead in 2024. Stay tuned for another year of excitement, growth, and community at Portside Ventura Harbor.

Autumn Wassel | Lifestyle Director

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It’s the question we get asked almost daily: “Is the X Games coming back?”

X Games returning to Ventura.

Visit Ventura

Since X Games California 2023, we’ve been working tirelessly to have an answer to this question. We’ve had discussions with city, county, and state stakeholders, received feedback from partners and business owners, and imagined what 2024 could look like.

Needless to say, we’ve been asking ourselves “Is the X Games coming back” as much as you have.

After months of discussions, we’re excited to officially announce that the X Games is returning to Ventura this summer. X Games Ventura 2024 is coming this June.

Yep, you read that right. X Games Ventura 2024!

Looking back at last year’s X Games with over $58 million in media value, there’s a lot to be excited about. Namely, our city’s name next to an international brand. You don’t see that every day.

And there’s also a lot to learn from. We heard community members’ and local business owners’ feedback and valued each email and conversation. We are working with the X Games team to make X Games Ventura 2024 even better this year. As partners, we are excited to work closely with you to build on what we accomplished last year.

While we don’t have all the details yet (including fun partner activations that you can get involved in), we all get to roll up our sleeves with the XG team after the Winter Games.

We’re ready to make this year epic and we look forward to our continued collaboration and driving the economy of our Ventura together.

Stay tuned for a partner kick-off and more communication coming from our team!

We appreciate you — let’s do this!

With excitement,

Ventura County Fair asks the community to determine this year’s fair theme

The fair is celebrating 150 years of heritage, history, and community.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds is excited to announce the 2024 Ventura County Fair 150th Theme Contest .

The Ventura County Fair is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024, including a series of events and contests leading up to the annual Ventura County Fair July 31 through August 11, 2024.

The first in these events is the 150th Theme Contest where the community is asked to submit
their theme ideas for this year’s Fair. A judging panel will decide the top three themes, with cash prizes for first, second, and third place of $1,000, $750, and $500 respectively. Theme ideas should reference the Fair’s 150th anniversary or birthday or the year the Fair began (1874) in some direct or indirect way. Theme submissions should be 8 words or less. The public can submit their ideas online at VenturaCountyFair.org. The entry period ends on Friday, February 23rd with winners announced late February.

“We’re celebrating 150 years of heritage, history, and community. There isn’t a better way to
kick-off the fair season than with a community contest,” said Ventura County Fairgrounds and
Event Center CEO Jen McGuire. “We’re excited to involve our community with some of the
planning and ideas for the 2024 Ventura County Fair.”

Following the 150th Theme Contest, the Ventura County Fair will hold its annual Youth Poster
Contest, now with no entry fee and expanded to include all grades K-12.