Category Archives: Featured News

Robotics stronghold competition held at Ventura College

Ventura High School team members getting ready to defeat all.

by Richard Lieberman

More than 1000 students from high schools in Southern California participated in a competition utilizing robotic technology to breach moats, shoot large balls, and capture castles during the Robotics Stronghold Competition held at Ventura College in March. Forty-two teams from Southern California and four from China competed in the medieval themed event.

Joshua Ceth Vida Gazone from Kearney High School San Diego gave the Breeze a tour of the “Pits” and explained the program in detail. “I started with Legos, putting them together, and taking them apart. Then I learned how to put Legos together so they could pick up other Legos.”  “It all started out with Legos, and when I came to San Diego and joined the Robotics Team at the high school it progressed from there.” Said Gazone. Currently studying Mechanical Engineering, and enrolled in the Engineering Innovation and Design program with a solid 4.0 grade average since the ninth grade. Student ambassador to the event Gazone “so I help out with media and others explaining the event and the program” he added. With a perfect 4.0 since 9th grade Gazone is hoping to apply and be admitted to SDU to major in Mechanical Engineering.

youth robots2“The goal of the competition is to use teamwork to solve engineering problems” said FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Southern California Director Steve Stark. Students in the program make their own parts, design their robots, and build them. The competition requires student machines to perform a series of tasks. Beginning with the first 15 seconds the robots must perform autonomously, then they are operated manually by students for the duration of the match.

The machines are required to breach an outer wall, hurl balls at the opposing team’s castle, and scoring points for every ball that lands in the castle. Scoring enough points the robot then can climb a wall and win the tournament.

The teams have six weeks to build, program and test the robots, and in addition to the building activities students will be presenting essays, safety and business plans, strategizing and scouting other teams for their strengths and weaknesses.

The winning regional teams will go on to St Louis to compete in the world competition. This year more than 5000 teams, amounting to 78,000 students world-wide will compete in the program. The students 13-18 will receive instruction from teachers and guidance from mentors. Mentors will aid the students in the fields of engineering, manufacturing, and business. They will help the students to build their robots, and to form their business plans.

The Ventura team “Circuit of Life” is supported by Haas Automation, Amgen, College of the Canyons, Sessa Manufacturing, Qualcomm, Ventura County Career Education, Ventura High, Foothill Technology High, Buena High and El Camino High.

The Ventura team “The Circuit of Life” won a spot on the World Championships held in St. Louis April 27th to April 30th. In St Louis they will face 600 teams from across the globe.

 

Buena High School Studio A Jazz Band showcases talents

Photo by Michael Gordon

On Sunday afternoon, April 17th,  Buena High School Studio A Jazz Band showcased their talents in a performance for Channel Islands Jazz Club at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club. This 17 member ensemble was accompanied by local vocalist Jade. Admission and donations benefited a student scholarship to a summer jazz camp in San Francisco that the Channel Islands Club sponsors. With tunes from Duke Ellington and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy a fun atmosphere filled the room. To learn more about the Buena High School Studio A Jazz Band, contact Music Director Andre Spence at Buena High School, [email protected].

 

Homeless Workshop draws interested parties

Homeless Workshop held at the Derby Club.

by Sheli Ellsworth

More than 250 people gathered for the City Council’s Community Homeless Workshop held at the Derby Club on April 18. Attendees worked in groups to complete exercises designed to define, understand and help the homeless community. Post-its were used to chronicle past efforts to help the homeless population and discussions focused on issues like mental illness, addiction, lack of affordable housing and the impact of homelessness on the community.

Attendee Dave Grau commented, “We seem to have the ‘have nots’ in every community and it is easy to forget about them because we don’t want to see it.” Behavioral Health Department Director Elaine Crandell has attended several homeless workshops and noted the economic impact of homelessness, “All the studies say that homelessness affects things like tourism and Ventura relies on tourism.”

Ventura is second only to Oxnard in the number of homeless in the community. According to research from the Ventura Community Development Department, Oxnard has about 600 homeless people while Ventura numbers 334 homeless. Simi Valley places third with about 200 homeless while Thousand Oaks has 83. Fillmore and Moorpark each have 7 homeless of record. The upshot is that the City of Ventura has 41 services available to help the homeless community while Oxnard has 31. According to county reports, 118 places in Ventura County offer homeless services like shelter, food, clothing, counseling, hygiene, medical care, transportation and others.

Several attendees commented that increased coordination between the different agencies to include all private and faith-based organizations might improve the distribution of homeless services. Perhaps a central council or agency could coordinate efforts of the entire community?

Other discussions involved the types of homelessness. Homelessness due to the loss of a job may be different from the type of homelessness due to mental and physical challenges. According to the VCDD, “In 2015, City of Ventura had 239 unsheltered individuals. 56% or 134 were chronically homeless individuals, which is 41% greater than the national average.” Of those who are chronically homeless, I learned that 30% usually have a mental illness or substance abuse. Councilman Neal Andrews commented, “One thing I have come to know through the years is that many people who are homeless only want help on their own terms.”

Workshop attendees asked each other if this type of individualized help was feasible. “If a person is only willing to accept a certain kind of help so they can continue to be homeless, how far should a community go to accommodate them?” one person commented. “Does our moral obligation extend to people who embrace the homeless lifestyle?” Another attendee said that in her experience many homeless want be in a particular area.

One problem in sheltering Ventura’s homeless is that zoning does not allow overnight sheltering and other services at the same location. Time consuming and costly city permits also slow the availability of shelters.

At the conclusion of the Workshop Mayor Erik Nasarenko made a motion that would allow the city to forgo some of the zoning/permitting process. The motion passed 5-2. City Attorney Gregory Diaz said the motion does not change zoning, but allows the city staff to examine the issue further.

Councilman Mike Tracy made a motion that no changes occur until the community’s homeless workshop recommendations could be considered at the June council meeting. Tracy’s motion failed, 5-2. Mike Tracy and Jim Monahan voted against the motion since homeowners had not had the chance to weigh in.

Councilman Neal Andrews made a motion asking city staff to consider strategies developed by the council’s subcommittee on homelessness several years ago. Andrew’s motion failed, 6-1.  The City Council is hoping to have some of the workshop’s ideas and observations organized, ready for discussion at the June 13 City Council meeting.

Walk with NAMI Ventura County in the 12th Annual NAMI Ventura County Walk

Join last year’s NAMI walkers on April 30.               

The 12th Annual NAMI Ventura County Walk benefitting the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)will be on Saturday April 30 at the Ventura Promenade. Check in and registration will begin at 9:00 am with the start time for the 5k walk beginning at 10:30 am. The Walk will be held rain or shine. There will be a program from 10:00 am to 10:30 am which will feature speakers from the Ventura County community.

The Walk is a tradition that provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the facts of mental illness, to erase the stigma associated with mental illness, and to raise funds so that NAMI Ventura County can continue to offer all of their programs and services at no cost to persons who can be helped by those services. It gives everyone a chance to show their support for all of the efforts put forth by NAMI Ventura County.

NAMI bases their mission on the principles of support, education, and advocacy for persons impacted by mental illness. They provide classes for family members, providers, and persons with a lived experience of mental illness. They also present in schools, hold support groups for family members, and provide outreach to persons who come to see persons who are in the inpatient psychiatric units in Ventura County. NAMI Ventura County also has a Peer to Peer class for persons in recovery and a Connections support group for persons in recovery as well.

The Walk in Ventura County is a fun family event with activities for children and opportunities to socialize. It also provides our community with a way for us all to come together to show our support for needed services for all persons impacted by mental illness.

To register as an individual walker or to form a team and/or to find information about sponsorships please call 641.2426 or visit www.namiventura.org.

Ventura City Fire Department respond to mobile construction office fully involved in fire

On April 25, at 7:24pm, Ventura City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from behind a business in the 2400 block of Channel Drive.  Upon arrival firefighters found a mobile construction office fully involved in fire.  Firefighters worked to protect a boat and additional construction materials that were being impacted by the fire.  The fire was extinguished eight minutes after firefighters arrived on scene.  Power lines above the fire were damaged and began to arc while the wind was blowing.  Southern California Edison was called to the scene and shut off the power to the effected lines.

Ventura City Fire Department personnel and apparatus respond to structure fire

On April 21, at 1:37pm, Ventura City Fire Department personnel and apparatus responded to a reported structure fire located in the 100 block of Prospect St. The initial arriving units found a 20′ length of wooden property fence, multiple trash cans, and other misc. materials burning in between two residences and impinging on the eaves of an another adjacent residence. The fire was quickly knocked down, and then the affected structure was investigated and ventilated to rule out possible extension into the attic. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Apply Now to Serve on Ventura City Council Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees

Ventura residents can apply for an exciting opportunity to support their community by serving as a volunteer on one of the City Council Advisory Boards, Commissions or Committees that advise the City Council on an array of issues.  There are open positions on 12 multi-member Council Advisory groups that examine issues and help shape Ventura. The semi-annual recruitment process is now open and applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory or from the City Clerk’s Office, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. The application deadline is 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2016.

Qualified applicants will undergo interviews with the City Council Appointments Recommendation Committee in May. The recommended appointees will be considered by the City Council and confirmed in June. Volunteers must be willing to serve two to four-year terms; some positions require special qualifications.

Applications are being accepted for vacancies on the following Council Advisory groups:

  • Cultural Affairs Commission
  • Design Review Committee
  • Downtown Parking Advisory Committee
  • Historic Preservation Committee
  • Housing Authority Board
  • Library Advisory Commission
  • Mobile Home Rent Review Board
  • Parks and Recreation Commission
  • Planning Commission
  • Public Art Commission
  • Tree Advisory Committee
  • Ventura Port District

Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 658-4787.

City of Ventura Special Event Grants applications are due May 12

Applications are due May 12 for the City of Ventura “Special Event Permit Fund” – a grant program open to event organizers staging cultural festivals and special events in Ventura that activate public space and increase visitor spending.

Applicants must be a Ventura based nonprofit or an agency partnering with a Ventura based nonprofit planning an event occurring between July 2016 and June 2017. The maximum amount of an award is $2,000. Grants are to be used to cover all or part of the special event permit fees levied by the City of Ventura for special events occurring on public property.

Applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/permits or by contacting Special Event Coordinator Michelle Godoy-Morales at 654-7749 or [email protected].

“The purpose of these City of Ventura grants is to champion community celebrations that attract residents and visitors, strengthen Ventura’s cultural identity and economic vitality, and promote entrepreneurial spirt and innovative partnerships between private sector and public agencies,” said Community Partnerships Manager Denise Sindelar.

Ventura City and County Fire Departments respond to traffic collision with vehicle into building

On April 16, at 3:36pm Ventura City and County  Fire Departments responded to a traffic collision with a vehicle into a building located in the 9200 block of Telephone Rd.. Upon arrival, crews discovered a vehicle into an occupied restaurant. The driver and solo-occupant was extricated from the vehicle.  First arriving Firefighters quickly assessed the driver and building occupants for injuries while others assessed the structural integrity of the building. No injuries were reported.

Ventura Police Department provided traffic and scene control. This incident is under investigation by law enforcement.

 

 

 

Ventura College hosting grand opening celebration and building dedication of new state-of-the-art Applied Science Center April 21

Ventura College will host a grand opening celebration and building dedication of its new state-of-the-art Applied Science Center on Thursday, April 21, from 3-4 p.m. at the campus located at 4667 Telegraph Road. The event will include tours, a short presentation and remarks by school administrators, Chancellor Bernard Luskin and Board of Trustees Larry Kennedy, Chair. Established in 1925, Ventura College is one of three colleges in the Ventura County Community College District that include Moorpark College and Oxnard College

“Imagine students welding with a computer instead of a blowtorch and fixing the brakes on a car without touching a vehicle,” said Ventura College President Greg Gillespie. “This is the future of learning in the brand-new, state-of-the-art Applied Science Center at Ventura College.”

The 20,000 square foot center opens to students for the summer 2016 term. The facility is the brainchild of Vice Chancellor of Business and Administrative Services Dave Keebler, and features three types of learning to ensure a deep understanding of a concept or skill: traditional textbook learning, virtual simulator experiences and a hands-on simulation lab where students work with smaller versions of the real project without fear of making costly mistakes.

Features of the center include large glass windows so that passersby can watch students and robots inside the classrooms at work; virtual simulators that provide a 3-D video model that can rotate items; and an Imax projection screen that can be used by college staff, students and the community for training, web conferencing and teleconferencing.

“We are pleased to invite members of our community to the dedication of the Applied Science Center on Thursday, April 21st,” said District Chancellor Bernard Luskin. “The center curriculum was designed to train students for high-demand positions within the manufacturing industry, where demand exceeds the supply,” said Larry Kennedy, Chair, Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees.