“I love doing it; I really do,” says Flores.

by Tracy Marcynzsyn

Every weeknight from 5-7 p.m., a committed group of local youth gathers at Westpark Community Center in Ventura to work out and learn to box with Sal Flores, a Ventura businessperson and lifelong resident who works with the city Parks & Recreation Department to mentor at-risk kids, ages 6-18.

“It’s a really nice place to distract yourself instead of being at home; it’s good for you!” says participant Breana Hernandez, 13.

Many of the youth, like ninth grader Rafael Juarez, who started in third grade, look forward to boxing year after year.

“It gives me an outlet and helps me work out,” says Juarez. “It’s helped me build a lot of stamina and make friends; everybody has been like a family.”

Building relationships and connecting with the kids, as well as teaching them boxing skills and promoting physical fitness, drives Flores to dedicate his time to mentoring youth.

“I love doing it; I really do,” says Flores, now in his 12th year as a youth mentor. “I was one of these kids. I live by the code ‘kids don’t know how much you know until they know how much you care.’” Flores recalls spending time as a kid in the same community center where he now teaches.

As a troubled teenager with a tough family life, Flores struggled in his younger years, getting arrested and landing in jail before turning his life around with the help and encouragement of a local mentor in the police force.

“Use the bad experiences for good,” Flores advises. “I used to break into cars, now I own a locksmith company; I used to destroy things, and now I own Ideal Upholstery, where I fix and make things nice again,” says Flores, who founded a local Youth Activity League (YAL; formerly structured as a Police Activity League with the Ventura Police Foundation) to support, mentor and inspire at-risk youth.

Working with local school districts, Flores visits schools twice a week, every other Monday during lunch, to encourage and connect with kids through the Youth Activity League. Bringing lunch (Subway sandwiches this week) and guest speakers, such as probation officer Mark Varela and former WBC Welterweight boxer Victor Ortiz, Flores aims to inspire youth.

“We really try to guide these kids; we bring them lunch, talk about what matters,” says Flores. “We try to show we really care for them and that we’ve been in their shoes. We were stuck and thought we couldn’t be successful. Whatever these kids need, we guide them to resources. We want to teach the value of life lessons.”

Guest speaker Ortiz recently shared his story to encourage teens to overcome challenges. Referring to a broken jaw that impacted his boxing career as a “blessing in disguise,” Ortiz noted that “often adversity brings us blessings or change.”

“I came from a messed-up background,” shared Ortiz, who also participated in a PAL as a kid in Kansas. “I was just hanging on … then as a successful boxer, I learned money wasn’t where it was at. Hollywood wasn’t either. It’s what brings joy that counts. Now I have two boys—they’re what matters. I want to give the youth hope.”

“It’s the experience you give to others. When you have a story kids can relate to, and they see we’re so passionate about sharing our story, it matters,” says Flores, who also serves as a pastor at Redemption Church in Ojai.

Building trust and showing youth that people care can divert kids from turning to gangs when seeking to connect and belong, says Flores.

“They are a part of something,” he explains, pointing out several kids who show up to work out in the boxing program each night, year after year, on their own accord. “Some kids have been here for 5 years,” notes Flores.

Aldahir Benitez began boxing with Flores at Westpark at age 16 to “meet new friends and be with my cousins.” Today, Benitez is employed with the city Parks and Recreation afterschool program and volunteers in the boxing class after his shift.

“I like boxing and interacting with the kids,” says Benitez, noting that “Sal is a great person; he helps everyone that he can, whenever he can.”

Flores beamed watching the young boxers eagerly unwrap and try out a shipment of new boxing gloves recently donated by the city, noting the YAL is currently seeking donations for t-shirts.

“We want all of them to walk with pride,” says Flores. “They show up, committed; most of them have a tough family life.”

With some 58 kids participating in the weeknight boxing program and another 50 teens in the school lunch YAL, Flores is making an impact.

“It’s something we love to do,” says Flores, noting the YAL’s goal is to obtain a dedicated facility to expand programming and reach more kids. “We want to inspire youth.”

For more information, including how to donate to the Youth Activity League, contact Sal Flores at 805.651.8647.

The public is encouraged to be a part of the solution.

by Tracy Marcynzsyn

Braving hecklers and stormy weather, hundreds turned out to support women’s rights at the 8th annual Women’s Rally & March on Saturday, January 20th at Plaza Park.

Presented by Justice For All Ventura County and Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund, the event featured speakers and information booths by community organizations aimed to foster social justice.

“Women’s rights are human rights,” declared speaker Rabiah Rahman “Women’s rights are indistinguishable from environmental justice, from social justice, and racial justice. They can’t silence us, no matter how hard they try! They cannot take away our vote and they cannot take away our right to march.”

A spirited crowd comprising all genders and ages clapped and cheered as they gathered in solidarity to support women’s rights.

“Roe versus Wade and the banning of books” were the main reasons 24-year Ventura resident Kerry O’Connell named for coming to the march. “Some things just really matter,” says O’Connell, who forwent her cribbage tournament in San Diego to attend this year’s march for the 8th year running. “I can’t vote,” says the Australian citizen, “but I can show up in other ways.”

Noting that 2024 is a watershed year for the nation when voters will make decisions on critical issues about leadership, access to health care and social justice, local organizations like the League of Women Voters helmed information booths at the event in an effort to help attendees learn more about how they can participate in ongoing efforts to help the community.

“The state of women’s rights and reproductive rights may seem secure in California, but with national politics and politicians making decisions across the country looming, we can’t be content with the status quo,” says president of Justice for All Ventura County Shane Meserve. “Our progressive beliefs may mean nothing without the right people in office.” JFAVC’s mission is to “motivate, educate, connect and mobilize people to actively engage in their government and future in support of social justice” and the rally and march represents its first large community event of the year.

The public is encouraged to be a part of the solution by attending events, sharing information, donating to offset expenses and volunteering to further the cause. Learn more at www.JusticeForAllVC.org.

Mayor Joe Schroeder presenting the Ventura High School Girls Cross Country team.

On January 9, the City Council recognized the Ventura High School Girls Cross Country team for their recent State Championship victory.

City Council also recognized their coach, Josh Spiker, and Sadie Engelhardt who won the individual title as well as breaking the Division ll course record with a time of 16:40.7.

After 19 years, the state titles are back in the hands of VHS Girls Cross Country

On Saturday, Nov. 25 in Fresno, VHS Girls Cross Country crossed the finish line with the new title of Division ll CIF State Cross Country Championship winners.

Ventura won its third state championship that day in Woodward Park, Fresno. The team won with a score of 85 points by a 29-point margin over Whitney High School, who placed second.

Gaggle creates a safer school environment.

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) announced an impactful collaboration with the school safety technology company Gaggle. This partnership aims to launch a SpeakUp for Safety tipline, enabling students to report threats of violence, instances of bullying, peers in crisis, and other imminent concerns affecting students’ well-being and security in a simple and confidential manner.

Gaggle’s team of safety professionals will diligently monitor the SpeakUp for Safety tipline 24/7 during the regular school year and summer school sessions. Non-life-threatening tips will be swiftly directed to designated school or district staff members. In more severe situations, district-appointed contacts will be promptly notified to take necessary action. In cases of immediate danger to a student when Gaggle cannot reach a district-appointed contact, law enforcement will be alerted for immediate intervention.

“Our district chose to implement Gaggle SpeakUp as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment for our students. By partnering with Gaggle, we aim to enhance and cultivate a culture where students feel empowered to speak up and feel heard, supported, and protected within our school community,” stated Maria Elizarraras, Director of Student Support Services.

For further information about VUSD’s Gaggle implementation, please contact Marieanne Quiroz, Public Information Officer at VUSD, via email at [email protected].

Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using an effective combination of artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts across the country avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability. For more information, visit www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12.

The District is made up of an early childhood education program, 26 elementary, middle, and high schools, with more than 16,000 school-age students, an adult education center, 2,000 staff, and a wealth of parents and community members who all strive to help our children find their passion—academically and personally.

For more information, visit www.venturausd.org or call 805-641-5000.

Erik Nasarenko, James Fryhoff, Salud Carabajal, Dr. Sevet Johnson, John Savrnoch and Bill Brown addressed the Fentanyl epidemic. Photos by Richard Lieberman

by Richard Lieberman

Headed to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed the Carabajal-Bice bill part of defense policy legislation contains a measure affirming illicit drug trafficking as a national security threat which will increase federal attention on this deadly opioid. Passage of this bill will provide more resources and aid to help in fighting this out-of-control epidemic.

Eric Nasarenko, Ventura County District Attorney and Santa Barbara District Attorney John Savrnoch, along with Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, and Ventura County CEO Dr. Sevet Johnson joined forces to address the epidemic and slow down the flow of fentanyl from Mexico to the U.S. The bill is currently awaiting signature from President Joe Biden and is titled the “Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act” the legislation leverages the tools of the Department of Defense and involves Mexico as an active partner in disrupting drug cartel and trafficking activities.

Top law enforcement officials of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties emphasized the impact that fentanyl has had on the central coast. “This fentanyl scourge that we are facing requires a full court press,” said Ventura County Sheriff James Fryhoff. The bipartisan measure, co authored by Congressman Salud Carbajai D-Santa Barbara is part of a $886 billion defense policy plan that has been approved by the House and Senate and is waiting to be signed by President Joe Biden. The bill emphasizes the fentanyl crisis as a national security threat and calls on the U.S Department of Defense to produce strategies to target and disrupt trafficking of synthetic opioids. “The details of the plan are not formulated, and there will be limits,” Carbajal said. The first draft of the bill concentrated on surveillance and efforts to interrupt the flow of fentanyl from Mexico to the U.S. The bill in its final form calls for more coordination and cooperation between the U.S. military and Mexico in disrupting criminal organizations involved in the illicit import of the opioid into the United States.

“The Central Coast of California has been devastated by the scourge of Fentanyl on our streets, with some areas seeing a 700% spike in overdose deaths in recent years”. Said Carbajal. Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans Aged 18-45 and an estimated 196 Americans are dying every day due to the opioid. This new act will strengthen efforts by law enforcement to combat the problem. Specifically, the act will declare fentanyl trafficking a national security threat stemming from cartels and smugglers, directing the pentagon to develop a fentanyl specific counter-drug strategy, requiring the secretary of defense to increase security cooperation with the Mexican military and address coordination efforts between the military and federal law enforcement agencies.

In a press briefing with Carbajal on Wednesday December 20th law enforcement leaders from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties conveyed hope for the plan to slow down the flow of the drug from China and Mexico into the central coast.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stated, “More than three individuals die each and every week in Ventura County.” He added Fentanyl crime has exploded too with 676 filings by prosecutors this year.” He also noted that in 2019 there were eighteen incidents involving fentanyl.”

The press briefing also stressed that dosage levels vary dramatically from pill to pill in the same supply becoming a lethal dose quickly. Other drugs are frequently spiked with fentanyl, and drug users often are unaware that their drug of choice has been spiked with fentanyl and could be lethal.

“The days when people could convince themselves that a recreational drug is safe are long gone,” said Fryhoff. Anything can contain fentanyl, he added “One pill can kill.”