Category Archives: Featured News

Ed Summers announces candidacy for Ventura School Board

Summers has served Ventura for the past 26-years

Former Ventura City Councilmember, Ed Summers announces candidacy for Ventura School Board

Longtime resident and active community member, Ed Summers announced that he is running for a seat on the Ventura Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Having served this community for the past 26 years, including as a former City of Ventura Councilmember and financial services industry executive, Mr. Summers brings hands-on fiduciary experience, which will be valuable in balancing the needs and goals of the schools with the realities of a budget.

“I have worked with Ed for over 20 years. He always brings a wide range of resources and stakeholders to the table so that we can provide the students in our District with the best possible opportunities,” commented Debbie Golden, Ventura School Board member. “I am pleased to endorse Ed Summers for Ventura School Board.”

Mr. Summers lists among his priorities, developing relevant career and job skills education for students; growing connections and involvement between the business and educational communities; and establishing a supportive educational environment that encourages lifelong learning to grow and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

“To excel, students need to feel connected to the entire community,” stated Ed Summers, candidate for the Ventura School Board. “Connecting students to local business for instance, will help them think about and take charge of their future. Career ready means life ready,” he continued.

Ed Summers has spent countless hours working directly with organizations that support school-to career education while also working with students to help them gain valuable real-world job experience. He has a well-documented track record in building viable partnerships to support Ventura students and schools and is laser focused on career skills education, job creation and economic prosperity for our youth.

“Our local schools need to be the core of our community. We are all stakeholders in the education of our youth whether we have children in the District or not,” stated Ed Summers, candidate for the Ventura School Board. “Our future depends on it.”

To learn more about Ed Summers for Ventura School Board please visit, www.Summers4Schools.com.

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship award winners

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship winners must be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college.

The Ventura Police Officers Association (VPOA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 13th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships are to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA considered academic achievement, school and community service, financial needs, and the following requirements:

Applicants must submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;

Submit an essay of 1000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;

Submit a letter of reccommendation from a public servant.

2016 Scholarship Awards Winners:
1st Place $5,000.00 Samantha Givens
2nd Place $3,500.00 Hannah Drake
3rd Place $2,000.00 Emily Morostica
Honorable Mention $500.00 Connie Ochoa and Sabrina Urick

The VPOA would like to thank all of the applicants and congratulate the 2016 winners of the Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship!

“Be honest, be safe, and look forward to each day.” –Sgt Dee Dowell
www.venturapoa.com.

An interview with Ventura City Mayor Erik Nasarenko – part one

by Richard Lieberman

Ventura City Mayor Erik Naserenko was elected to the Ventura City Council in November 2013. He was appointed Mayor by the council in December 2015, and had served as Deputy Mayor for the first two years of his term.

Nasarenko, as well as serving as Mayor is a Ventura County Deputy District Attorney. He specializes in prosecuting child molestation and rape cases. Prior to his service as deputy prosecutor he worked in public education as chief deputy to the Los Angeles school board president, and as a communications director to the Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts.

Recently Breeze Staff Writer Richard Lieberman and Publisher Sheldon Brown met with Mayor Nasarenko for a working lunch to discuss some of the current issues facing Ventura voters and to discuss his first year as Mayor.

Breeze: When you were elected you called for a tax increase(will be on November ballot), are you still calling for an increase?

“I am committed to increasing the sales tax by half a cent, it would provide long term revenue for generations to come, and will help address shortcomings in public safety funding, in deteriorating infrastructure, and for cleaner beaches and rivers. My commitment has been to create a sustainable, long term funding source and I am convinced that that a modest half a penny increase will garner about 11 million dollars in our budget annually.”

Breeze: The council for years has denied allowing medical marijuana clinics to operate within city limits, and it appears there will be a statewide ballot initiative this year to legalize recreational marijuana. Where do you stand on that?

“As you know we do have a statewide initiative that would lead to legalize marijuana, I have been opposed to it. I believe cities should retain land use controls over controversial store fronts and dispensaries, and while it may garner more revenue for the city of Ventura the attendant problems with crime and with what is predominant in cash businesses, and the patchwork of regulations is still problematic. As part of new revenue for the city of Ventura I believe those who have illnesses should be able to utilize the compassionate care act to either grow their own, to utilize a caretaker to bring it to them or to go to nearby dispensaries in the San Fernando Valley.”

Breeze: Now that you are mayor, the immediate past mayor Cheryl Heitmann was known for attending virtually every, public event, store opening, beach cleanup and other public events how do you stand on that?

“My hours are more limited. I attend events during my lunch hour, weekends, or after 5:00 pm weekdays. I have to maintain my commitment to the state and the county to serve as a deputy district attorney, while at the same time attending events, all the meetings and just reaching out to take the pulse of the community.”

Breeze: Since you have been mayor what are the challenges facing you?

“The demands on my time can be very difficult. There are far more events that I am invited to attend than I can actually make. There are far more meetings people would like to have with me that by virtue of my time constraints I have to delegate to someone else. So that is an ongoing juggling act. I am very pleased with the progress made in addressing homelessness, just this last Monday to have a seven-zero unanimous vote to move forward with a potential shelter that would have wrap-around services in an industrial area of our city is a significant accomplishment. I have also learned as mayor there is a time to lead, then there is a time to let your colleagues exercise leadership, and I saw from the dais recently how articulate and common sense oriented the council was on this matter.”

Brooks Institute moving to Downtown Ventura

The construction for the Brooks Institute location behind City Hall is progressing nicely.

From their current campus location on Ventura Ave. Brooks Institute is becoming an integral part of Ventura with several planned locations in the downtown area.

Brooks has several locations that are now being renovated spread out Downtown that will be their classrooms, studios and offices.

In February the City Council approved a five-year lease for the for-profit school to move into the top two floors of 505 Poli St. located being City Hall. The 20,000 square feet will house offices, a conference room, student services and photography studios.

Among their other locations will be the Erle Stanley Gardner Building and a portion of the downtown building that houses Pacific Western Bank.

These locations will allow students, instructors and staff to eat, drink and purchase merchandise downtown or take a casual walk to the beach or grab the trolley to the Harbor from their urban campus. And some will be living in Ventura.

The move has already sparked new interest in attending Brooks. Approximately 175 new students have enrolled to start in September which will bring their student count to about 350.

Parking will become an issue at all of their new locations and the City is working with them for ways to mitigate the parking situation.

“We want to thank the City of Ventura for offering a new home to Brooks Institute,” said Edward Clift, President of Brooks Institute. “We are excited about the many possibilities this relocation will bring, including partnering with Ventura to become an increasingly vibrant arts and media hub in the region. It is a bold step and true testament to the innovative spirit of this city. We are looking forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship.”

Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko stated “We welcome Brooks to Downtown Ventura and recognize the value that this move will have in stimulating the local economy of our historic downtown. Not only is this a unique collaboration between public and private institutions, it also marks a significant accomplishment for the City of Ventura in terms of business attraction. Bringing more than 340 students and 80 faculty members into Downtown Ventura on a daily basis will stimulate the local economy and our city as a whole.”

Brooks Institute is celebrates 70 years of educating students in the visual and media arts. Brooks offers bachelor’s degrees in fields including Professional Photography, Graphic Design, Film and Visual Journalism, a Master of Science in Scientific and Technological Imaging and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. For more information about Brooks Institute and the school’s programs, visit www.brooks.edu or call 585-8000.

Former Mayor and current City Councilmember Heitmann has announced she will run for reelection

During her first term in office, Cheryl was elected by her fellow Councilmembers to the post of Deputy Mayor and two years later was elected Mayor for 2013-15. In those posts, Cheryl initiated numerous programs that emphasized her commitment to listening to residents’ needs and implementing policy to achieve community-wide goals.

Cheryl ensured that residents had greater access to decision-making through programs like the off-site Council meetings and “coffee with the mayor” gatherings, where she met with individuals to hear about their personal concerns.

She serves as Chair of the Economic Development Committee and steered the five-year Economic Development Strategy. Several key projects have begun during the last 5 years, including Kaiser Permanente’s decision to build a 55,000 square foot office building(now under construction), Brooks Institute moving to downtown Ventura and a proposed four Star Hilton Hotel on Harbor Blvd.

She proposed and advocated for the Downtown Ambassadors Program, to keep our downtown clean and safe for residents and. She had a key role in numerous public/private partnerships like the development of Kellogg Park. As a council member she has advocated for a number of community improvements like new play equipment in parks, street improvements and a moratorium on additional massage parlors. She is proud of the balanced budget the city has been able to deliver in spite of lean economic times and has served on the finance subcommittee all 5 years. She chaired the city’s 150th birthday celebration and established Ventura’s first Sister City relationship with Loreto, Mexico.

In her next term, Cheryl aims to continue to bolster Ventura’s economic base, provide more services for our community’s senior population, boost public safety including sustainable funding for all fire stations, develop a safe and sustainable water supply, work on protecting our beaches for the enjoyment of our residents and tourists, continue to establish a supported housing opportunity for veterans, and ensure that the City’s infrastructure is maintained and improved.

Cheryl is currently a board member on the Ventura Visitors and Convention bureau, Downtown Ventura Organization and the Vice Chair of the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County (EDCVC). She is also a member of the Rotary club of Ventura and the Pierpont Community Council. In addition, Heitmann serves as a board member on the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance, is the alternate member to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board and is the city council liaison to the Ventura Port District.

She is presently the Vice Chair of the Women’s Caucus of the California League of Cities. Her work has led to numerous honors: Top 50 Women in Business (Pacific Coast Business Times), 2008; Top Non-profit Leaders, Pacific Coast Business Times, 2010; and Outstanding Citizen Gold Award from the California Teachers’ Association, among others.

Ms. Heitmann is married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. A licensed clinical social worker, she served as the executive director of the Ventura Music Festival 2006-2012.

To learn more or get involved, email [email protected] or follow Facebook at Re-elect Cheryl Heitmann, Ventura City Council.

City buys Harbor Community Church for $2.3 million

Harbor Church will be leaving this location after one year.

Quoting from a previous article in the Ventura Breeze written by Rebecca Wicks:

“Harbor Community Church has filed a lawsuit against the City of Ventura signaling the start of the next round in the fight over the church’s controversial homeless program. The program, which provides meals, showers and religious worship to a primarily homeless population, has been accused of being the source of a significant uprising in criminal activity in a once quiet residential neighborhood.”

“The City’s Planning Commission denied the church a conditional-use permit citing the program, called Operation Embrace, was not appropriate for its location next to an elementary school, park and day care facility. The City Council deadlocked in a 2-2 vote with Mayor Christy Weir on medical leave and councilmembers Eric Nasarenko and Jim Monahan recusing themselves because of statements they made previously in opposition of the program during their election campaigns for city council. The church needed an overriding vote, leaving the denial of permit intact.”

“On May 14, two days after the City Council meeting, the church closed Operation Embrace. On May 15, temporary City Attorney Juli Scott reported Harbor Church pastor Sam Gallucci sent her an email stating he was going to consult with church elders to decide whether the church would sue. The following day the church filed a lawsuit and restarted its services. “

“The suit argues the church’s First Amendment freedom of religion rights have been violated and also cites the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.”

In a very controversial agreement, the City has agreed to pay $2.3 million to buy the property at 3100 Preble Ave. with Harbor Community Church agreeing to leave Ventura.

Resolving this controversy took almost two years of intense negotiations between the City and the church.

Both parties agreed that the property’s value is only $ 1.6 million but the $2.3 million includes the costs of moving the church.

Harbor Church pastor Sam Gallucci stated that he was pleased with the settlement and agreed to drop the lawsuit against the City..

The agreement won’t settle whether the church was within its legal rights under religious freedom laws to run their homeless program in a residential neighborhood. Many nearby residents complained that the program brought in crime to the neighborhood and to the nearby school and city park.

In the meantime, the church will lease back the property for a year at $3,000 per month while it looks for a new location in a different city. It may continue to hold its church services there.

The money to buy the building is coming from the city’s public liability fund. The city will eventually sell the property to a developer to recoup some of the expense.

Ventura County Fair Poster Contest winners

A formal presentation was made to the Ventura County Fair Poster Contest winners at the Fair offices. The contest was open to County youth in grades 5 – 12.

Pictured are first place winner Madison Lomis, 16 years old Ventura, Barbara Quaid CEO Ventura County Fairgrounds, second place winner Anna Sorensen, 12 years old Simi Valley, James Lockwood Fairgrounds Public Relations and Marketing Director and third place winner Carys Garvey, 13 years old Ventura.

The Contest was held in the spring and the winners were chosen from an entry pool of 38 works of art. All of the Poster Contest entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the 2016 Ventura County Fair. All of the children who entered the contest received 2 tickets to the fair and will be invited to ride on a float in the Ventura County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 6.

Learn about visiting Ventura’s sister city – Loreto, Mexico

Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula.

For the first time since former Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann officially exchanged keys to the city with Loreto, Mexico, in 2015, the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee is inviting Venturans to travel with them to explore their sister city.

Planning is underway for biannual visits to Loreto including hotel and non-stop flights from LAX. These trips are meant to promote and strengthen the sister city relationship between the cities, and the cost of the trip includes a donation to support the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee whose objectives include collaboration on tourism, culture, education, environment, and business initiatives.

Loreto is a small city of approximately 17,000 people that sits on the east coast of Baja California, facing the Sea of Cortez. It was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula and is the starting point for the historic El Camino Real corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions.

Loreto is also home to Loreto Bay National Park where Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina Islands are home to over 800 species of marine life. With breathtaking cliffs, spectacular beaches and dramatic rock formations, these islands are a perfect landscape for the ecologically-minded or those who delight in a vast array of marine life.

For more information, visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity. Trip inquiries should be directed to Stephen Joyce with Ventura Travel Professionals at 805-218-1962.

For more information on, or to join the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee contact Fiorella Calderoni at [email protected] or visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity.

Ventura City Fire personnel respond to incident involving natural gas leak

On July 13, at 11am Ventura City Fire personnel responded to a Hazardous Condition incident involving leaking natural gas and operating heavy equipment in the 200 block of S. Mills Rd. The first arriving company found a commercial boom/bucket lift vehicle, which had been performing work on the exterior of a business and had broken through an access door located in the sidewalk. When the heavy equipment broke through it damaged underground natural gas equipment and piping which resulted in an active leak.

The immediate area was evacuated, and the gas leak successfully mitigated by closing adjacent valves. Both a USAR and a truck/support company were requested. Engine company personnel stood by with hose lines while the vehicle was removed from the hole using a heavy wrecker. After removal, the gas company began repairing the damaged equipment and piping.

Safeguard the Central Coast

by Jack Dyer, Steve Dunwoody, and Graciela Cabellos

The Central Coast is one of the most treasured landscapes in California, and for good reason. Three distinct ecosystems— grassland, semi-desert, and redwood forest—join together here to host more than 470 animal species, including more than 90 that are at risk of extinction. It’s one of the few places in the world where giant redwoods and desert species can be found growing next to one another. These extraordinary natural areas are one reason residents and visitors choose the Central Coast, and they are a magnet for business, recreation, and tourism. Making sure these public lands continue to succeed requires a commitment from all of us.

People connect to our local wild places in different ways and for different reasons. Active duty military personnel at Port Hueneme all the way up to Vandenberg Air Force Base find respite and recreation in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Many more veterans have chosen to retire here because of the quality of life and opportunity for recovery from overseas deployments that are offered by having access to public lands.

At the same time, public lands are an underutilized recreational resource for the millions of Latinos that live in and around the Central Coast. The Latino population is the fastest growing demographic in the United States and among the most underrepresented groups in conservation. The great irony is that a strong conservation ethic has been ingrained in Latino cultura for generations. Local advocates are coming together to protect public lands and recreational access to ensure we have places for Latinos to be present, to share their voices, and to showcase their deep appreciation for our natural heritage.

In June, we traveled to Washington, DC to share these messages with our elected officials and voice our support for the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which would safeguard important areas in the Los Padres and the Carrizo Plain. In addition to protecting 245,500 acres of wilderness, the legislation would create two scenic areas encompassing 34,500 acres, safeguard 159 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and establish the 400-mile-long Condor National Recreation Trail.

We need to be good stewards of this shared natural resource, so our area will be a good place to live and work for generations to come. Keeping in mind, too, that protecting these public lands is good for our economy.

Outdoor recreation in California generates $85.4 billion in consumer spending, supports 732,000 jobs, and contributes $6.7 billion in state and local taxes, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. In 2011, visitors to the Los Padres National Forest contributed $24.1 million dollars to the regional economy.

The legislation Rep. Lois Capps and Sen. Barbara Boxer crafted is the product of years of discussion and negotiation involving business leaders, conservationists, elected officials, ranchers, mountain bikers, and other stakeholders interested in the use and well-being of these iconic lands. That is why our communities support the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act and urge Congress to take the steps necessary to pass it.

We thank Rep. Capps and Sen.Boxer for their leadership and urge them to make this legislation a priority for the remainder of the Congress. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and the rest of the California delegation can help by co-sponsoring the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. Safeguarding outstanding natural areas in the Central Coast is essential to our region’s economic health and an irreplaceable legacy for future generations.

Jack Dyer is a co-founder of Topa Topa Brewing Company in Ventura CA., Steve Dunwoody is California Director of the Vet Voice Foundation, and Graciela Cabello is National Director of Latino Outdoors.

Jack Dyer / Co-Founder

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