Category Archives: Featured News

Brooks Institute chooses Downtown Ventura to launch new urban campus

City Hall North will house Brooks Institute.

Brooks Institute and the City of Ventura have announced a strategic partnership that will result in a new home for the campus and a catalytic boost to the local economy of Downtown Ventura. All campus functions will relocate to Downtown Ventura by the end of 2016. Brooks Institute is currently located off Highway 33 in unincorporated Ventura County.

This relocation, which is part of Brooks Institute’s strategic plan, supports the school’s evolution from a respected photography school to a national and international resource for today’s creative global economy. As Brooks prepares its students for careers in the visual arts and media, the relocation to Downtown Ventura will offer new opportunities for students and for Brooks to become a cornerstone of arts and culture activities in the Downtown area.

The Brooks campus transition to an urban setting will provide a safe and walkable campus environment with access to restaurants, arts, culture, recreation, shopping, housing and public transportation. All classes and student support services will also be located in the Downtown area.

“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.”

“We welcome Brooks to Downtown Ventura and recognize the value that this move will have in stimulating the local economy of our historic downtown,” said Mayor Erik Nasarenko. “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 will begin moving key offices and classes to Downtown Ventura this spring, occupying the first and second floors of the historic Erle Stanley Gardner Building, located at 21 California Street, and the building known as City Hall North, located at 505 Poli Street, which is immediately adjacent to Ventura’s historic City Hall. The Gardner Building will serve as the new welcome center for Brooks’ prospective students and their families. This historic building will also be the location of the Brooks Institute’s 70th anniversary celebration this year. The building will open mid-2016.

Non-profits now located in the City Hall North floors that Brooks’ will occupy will either locate to a different floor or will have to seek new locations, perhaps in Ventura.

For more information about Brooks Institute and the school’s programs, visit www.brooks.edu or call 585-8000.

U.S. Navy Seabee Museum Brown-bag Luncheon Learning Series Mar. 4

The U.S. Navy Seabee Museum will hold a Brown-bag Luncheon Learning Series on Friday (March 4th) at noon.  The topic is “More than just roads and commodes:  The history of the Naval Shore Establishment 1800-1941, Part One.”  Join museum archivist Gina Nichols for the first installment of a two-part series on the history of the Bureau of Yards and Docks.  This event is FREE and open to the public.  No RSVP required.  Feel free to roam the galleries as well and learn about Seabee history.

Ventura City Firefighters respond to ¼ acre fire in Ventura River

On Feb.25 , at 1:45am Ventura City Firefighters responded into to the Ventura River Friday morning for a ¼ acre fire that was the result of an unattended vagrant encampment fire. The fire spread through the brush and consumed vegetation surrounding the waterfront and burned towards the train trestle. Firefighters contained the fire in an hour and a half. Firefighters discovered numerous encampments filled with trash and various debris. No suspect was located. The fire was located in the State Parks and is within the State jurisdiction.

March is American Red Cross Month

The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton and is the United States premier emergency response organization. The American Red Cross is part of a worldwide organization which offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war.

The American Red Cross is not funded by the government. They rely on donations of time, money and blood to keep the organization running.

Over the years, the American Red Cross has expanded its services. These include:

Disaster Services – The Red Cross responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, ranging from home fires that affect a single family to hurricanes that affect tens of thousands, to earthquakes that impact millions. In these events, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet

Blood Services – In the United States around 4 million people give blood to the Red Cross, making this organization the largest supplier of blood and products in the country. The American Red Cross serves more than three thousand hospitals throughout the United States

Communications between Military Members and Families – the American Red Cross facilities communications between those serving in the Armed Forces in important events around the world and their family members back home.

Health and Safety Services – these include health and safety training in wide range of areas. From CPR and blood borne pathogens training to HIV/AID education. From swimming and life guarding to American Red Cross Preparedness programs which help people lead healthier and safer lives.

International Services – these include helping vulnerable people worldwide to prevent, prepare for and respond to:

Disasters, life-threatening health conditions, complex humanitarian emergencies

Volunteer Services – there are various opportunities to help the American Red Cross.

Youth Services – The Red Cross have been partners with the Junior Red Cross since it was founded in 1917.

Nursing – over 30 000 nurses are involved in paid and volunteer capacities at all levels and in all service areas throughout the American Red Cross.

Ventura County Chapter 836 Calle Plano, Camarillo, CA, 93012    (805) 987-1514 http://www.redcross.org

Learn about “twice as nice” volunteers Eleanor and Richard Guzik , who don’t  just spend their time volunteering for the American Red Cross.  In 2000, when Richard’s mother received hospice care from Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, they were so taken with the level of compassion and love; they decided to become hospice volunteers themselves.

Volunteer Coordinator Maddy Hazard states, “When I thank them for all they do on top of their other commitments their response is always that being Livingston Hospice/Bereavement volunteers will always remain a priority because they feel it is just that important.  Such commitment is at the heart of our wonderful volunteers and we are grateful beyond words.”

Learn more at http://www.lmvna.org/about/team-livingston/eleanor-richard-guzik.html

In Good Health,

Gloria Forgea, RN, MBA   Director of Community and Professional Relations

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association

Ventura County Community College District holding Public Policy Hearing on Accreditation Mar 2

The Ventura County Community College District plans to hold a Public Policy Hearing on Accreditation at the Ventura County Office of Education (5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo, CA), Wednesday, March 2.  The three colleges in the District (Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura) are preparing required self-study documents in anticipation of their accreditation site visits from the Association of California Community and Junior Colleges planned for late September/early October.

 

The invitation is extended to members of the Citizens Advisory Council, students, college constituents, and the general public. All are welcome. The hearing will cover the current ACCJC accreditation standards, reports from members of the VCCCD District Council on Accreditation and Planning, and public discussion on the District’s service to the respective communities.  A brief reception is planned for 5:30 p.m. and the public hearing will follow at 6:00 p.m.  Light refreshments will be served.

 

“This invitation is extended to the public, because the District values the opportunity to share the accreditation process and timelines with our community stakeholders,” said Larry Kennedy, Board Chair.  “We want to provide important information on how we are meeting the accreditation standards to maximize service to our students and the community.”

 

“The District’s Accreditation Committee (DCAP) Co-Chairs and their teams have been working diligently to ensure the District is in good standing and each college is prepared for its accreditation visit,” said Bernard Luskin, Chancellor.  “We look forward to a robust and productive discussion that includes members of our Citizens Advisory Committee, staff and students.”

 

The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 113-campus California Community College system, and serves more than 50,000 students annually.  The District’s three colleges- Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura- offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities.  For more information, please visit www.vcccd.edu.

 

Harbor Waterways Entrance Now Open

Harbor Waterways Entrance Now OpenThe Ventura Harbor waterways entry is open for normal boating traffic as of Friday, February 19 at 2 p.m.

The dredging at Ventura Harbor will remain in and around the harbor for the next month to continue efforts to remove hazards in the harbor entrance.  Boaters should be aware and carefully navigate around the dredge and its equipment.

The modified Safety Zone will remain in effect to warn boaters of the hazards associated with the dredge and its pipes, but otherwise allow for boaters to maneuver through the entrance with caution.  The dredge can be contacted on Marine Channels 16 & 67 for questions or passing instructions.  Information on the Safety Zone can be locatedatwww.venturaharbor.com  under News.

Ventura Harbor businesses are fully operational in the Harbor including all boatyards, fuel docks, restaurants, shops, activities, hotels, excursions, and onsite events. Inner Harbor boating and paddle craft traffic is allowed.

On February 9, 2016,  the District was advised by Congresswoman Julia Brownley that the 2016 FY U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan includes an additional $2.5 million for the dredging project currently underway. This brings the total dredging allocation for this year to $7.3 million.

Manson Construction, who was contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, began mobilizing their equipment in the Ventura Harbor the week of January 25, 2016 and is currently dredging in the harbor entrance. Once Manson completes the dredging in the main channel, the Safety Zone initiated by the U.S. Coast Guard will be lifted. The second phase will include dredging of the sand trap. Dredging is a 24hr. operation (weather permitting) and will continue for approximately thirty days.

The District is grateful to Congresswoman Brownley and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their efforts to secure the supplemental funding to adequately dredge the channel entrance and sand trap.

Harbormaster John Higgins states three factors which have led to making the entrance very dangerous — unusually large waves and swells from the El Nino condition, shoaling and a strong current running along the inside of the breakwater.

Dredging Manager Richard Parsons and Ventura Port District Commissioners Everard Ashworth and Greg Carson have met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who are responsible for the dredging of the harbor, that helped secure the additional $2 million for dredging.

The depth of the entrance channel, normally about 40 feet, was as shallow as 14 feet and narrow to the point that two boats could not safely pass one another in the entrance, said Higgins.  The district estimates there were 900,000 cubic yards of sand in the harbor sand trap and entrance.

The Corps contract calls for dredging 460,000 cubic yards of sand. And with the additional funding, 340,000 more cubic yards of sand is scheduled to be dredged.

The Harbor Patrol can also be reached on Marine Channels 16 and12 and at(805)-642-8618. Business assistance opportunities for those affected by the closure, please visitwww.venturaharbor.com  and click on the News article for thelink.

Trailer side swipes hydrant causing geyer and flooding

Pictures from , Tuesday, February 16, , near the Servants of the Father of Mercy, 1544 Morse Ave.
At about 2:30pm a trailer side swiped a fire hydrant near the corner of Callens and Market Street.  It set off a huge water geyser about two and a half stories high and flooding the street down Callens into the field at the Amtrak rail tracks.  Police arrived at 2:40 and Fire Department arrived at 2:45.
Photo and info courtesy
bro. gary joseph
Servants of the Father of Mercy

Additional funds received for Harbor dredging

Dredging at Harbor will remove almost a million cubic yards of dirt. Photo by George Robertson.

The government FY16 Work Plan has been released and Ventura Harbor received an additional $2.5 million for the dredging of the Harbor federal entrance channel. This brings the total available money for dredging this winter to $7.3 million, which will enable the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge about 850,000 cubic yards of sand. This will put the Harbor in great shape again so boats can safely navigate the Harbor entrance. Storms and strong ocean currents could delay the dredging, though this is not expected to occur.

Harbor merchants and commercial fishing vessels have been hurt financially by the closing of the Harbor entrance and pleasure boats have been inconvenienced.

The Ventura Harbor Patrol has been escorting some essential boats in and out of the Harbor, and some pleasure boats that shouldn’t have been sailing out of the Harbor have been escorted back in by the Patrol.

The Harbor entrance became un-passable when a large amount of sand blocked its entrance due to large swells. It was closed on January 22 as a result.

A network of pipes will carry the removed sand to some local beaches which were eroded by the same winter storms that closed the Harbor.

 

Construction to begin this month

Bridge to link promenade to downtown.

The City of Ventura’s California Street Bridge Pedestrian Project will begin construction this month. Enhancements include new lighting, decorative railings and sidewalk treatments which will create a safer environment for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists crossing the bridge and will help visually distinguish the California Street off-ramp as the entry to our historic downtown.

It will also make walking across to the promenade much safer and people friendly.

“This project connects two of Ventura’s greatest assets and economic drivers, our Historic Downtown and the Pacific Ocean. Creating a more walkable environment encourages pedestrians to explore Downtown and patronize businesses,” said Mayor Erik Nasarenko.

Construction is expected to be completed in August. Access may be restricted during construction work; detours will help guide pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists safely across the California Street Bridge through the project area. This project will require occasional northbound and/or southbound Hwy 101 night closures at the California Street Bridge; detours will route motorists around the construction. Every effort has been made by the construction company to make the work safe and efficient. There are numerous safety procedures and products being used, such as an modular aluminium trench box, to ensure that the utility workers are kept safe.

“Tens of thousands of people cross this highly visible pedestrian path between downtown and the beachfront every year,” said Kevin Clerici, director of the Downtown Ventura Partners business improvement district. “The taller railing, overhead lighting and art elements will go a long way to improve and beautify what is now a pretty inelegant walkway. We are grateful to see these long-awaited improvements completed.”

 

Auxiliary members donate their time and talent

Gary Wilde received a  donation from the CMH Auxiliary for $125,000.
Gary Wilde received a  donation from the CMH Auxiliary for $125,000. Photo by John Ferritto.

On Feb. 5, the Community Memorial Auxiliary held their annual awards lunch at the 4 Four Points Sheraton. At that meeting, Sandy Frandsen, Auxiliary President, and Norma Taylor, Treasurer, presented CMH President Gary Wilde a donation from the CMH Auxiliary for $125,000 to be used by the building fund.

Founded on a tradition of service, the CMH Auxiliary is an organization whose mission is to augment the programs and services of Community Memorial Hospital, a not-for-profit facility.

Auxiliary volunteers are men, women and students, from varied backgrounds, who share a common interest in helping others and providing comfort and assistance to patients and their families.

Auxiliary members donate their time and talents to many areas of the hospital. Their contributions, far-reaching and diverse, are vital for the efficient care of patients and guests. All auxiliary members commit to at least a year of service.

Profits from the gift shop, sales of souvenir birth certificates, and special events such as the book sale and fine jewelry sale, add to their annual monetary gift presented to the hospital.

New members receive individual training and complete a three-month probationary period.