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Exotic Treasures

Is there gold buried under the mission?

by Richard Senate

Ventura County has some exotic treasure yarns that implies that treasures still are to be found here. These include the lost padre’s gold mine (at the headwaters of Piru Creek) to the lost Olivas Gold (buried on Red Mountain) But few realize that some treasures exist within the city limits of Ventura! This is a partial list of the lost gold rumored hidden beneath our feet. Now are these just stories or could they really exist? You be the judge. Have they been found but not reported? Perhaps but still, they are worth examination.

The Lost Mission Vault. The story is that the padre’s of Mission San Buenaventura operated a gold mine and formed the gold into crude ingots. They were taken down the Santa Clara River Valley and stored in a hidden vault at the mission Church. Once a year a black painted galleon of the Jesuit Order would come and take away the gold for the use of his Holiness the Pope in Rome. The galleons stopped coming with the Mexican War for Independence and the gold is still there! Some say it was within the thick walls of the church, others say it was under the Mission Padre’s Quarters, still others believe it is located in an underground room in the hill behind the church.

The iron bound chest at the Cross. In 1818 a pirate threatened California so the mission treasures were hidden and the settlement abandoned for several weeks. They saw the pirates as godless men who would be repelled by the cross–so they buried the contents at the foot of the cross on the hill. Native people saw them and curious dug up the goods, only to re-bury them on the hill. When they padres returned the treasure chest had vanished. The present site of the cross was not the original location. Maybe the rusted chest could be found with a metal detector?

The gangster’s loot. In prohibition times gangsters smuggled Canadian Whiskey into LA though Ventura. The ships would carry in the booze and fast boats would take it ashore, all the while avoiding the Coast Guard Cutters. The ship captains demanded to be paid in cash. So, the gangsters brought cash in suitcases to pay them. This was hidden in a tunnel under the city. But, before the ship came, an earthquake caved in the tunnel and buried the bag of cash. Those gold certificates would be worth a fortune today!

Crisis Now Program of Ventura County

Before coming to work in Ventura, Gilman was the
Behavioral Health Director for San Mateo County.

by Carol Leish, MA

“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains”—Anne Frank

Scott Gilman, who became the new director of Ventura County Behavioral Health Department in August, 2022, said, “We have an incredible opportunity to improve Ventura County mental health crisis services using the ‘Crisis Now’ Community Planning framework. Sevet Johnson, Ph.D., identified improving mental health crisis services as one of the county’s top priorities.”

Before coming to work in Ventura, Gilman was the Behavioral Health Director for San Mateo County. Gilman also served as CEO of a community mental health and substance use-health center in Michigan.

“The Crisis Now Planning Project,” according to Gilman, “would be funded by the Mental Health Services Act ([email protected]). We’ll be able to focus on coordinating current resources into four core elements. This will include: 1) A High-tech Crisis Call Center; 2) A 24/7 Mobile Crisis Team; 3) Commitment to evidenced-based safe care practices, such as Trauma-Informed Care and Zero Suicide principles; and, 4) A multidisciplinary approach to crisis resolutions.

“The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention in 2016 produced, ‘Crisis Now: Transforming Services is Within Our Reach,’ which has been documented to be a proven strategy to crisis response with the four core elements listed above.

“The Crisis Now model enables counties to assess community crisis care needs, enhance access to care, and realizes the overall cost savings.” (Crisis Now Multi-County Innovation Plan Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission.)”

Those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call: ‘988’ (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Or, locally, call the Ventura County Behavioral Health Crisis Team: ‘866-998-2343.’

“It’s important to get the help that you need in order to deal with a crisis in order to realize that you are not alone, and that your situation will improve. For further resources, visit: www.WellnessEveryDay.Org. “(‘Preventing Suicide: Connections & Community 7th Annual Forum’-‘Ventura Breeze’-September 21-October 4, 2022.)

According to Gilman, “The four phases of the Crisis Now Innovation Project are/have been: 1) (October-December, 2022) Identifying County data gathering for current crisis responses; 2) (January-February,2023) Stakeholder Engagements; 3) (February-March, 2023) Innovation Plan Project Design & Budget plan; and, 4) (April-May, 2023) Crisis Now Innovation Plan & Presentation to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission for ongoing funding.

“The county also has plans to expand upon crisis stabilization units, along with more crisis beds. Because no two individuals in crisis are the same, we need multiple levels of care that can respond to a variety of unique situations and are not necessarily dependent on law enforcement. Our system of mental health care must also address substance abuse challenges. We know that many individuals experiencing a mental health crisis also have substance use issues. Resolving the immediate crisis is only the beginning of the journey. To ensure individuals are successful, we must continue to build our community-based treatment system so that supports are in place when needed. I believe our community is ready to come together to make this happen.”

Follow-up articles will be done in order to show the progress and changes that have been made.

 

Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights

Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights

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Photos by Patricia Schallert.

On December 16 & 17 the Ventura Harbor held the Parade of Lights “Out of This World.” The boat parade was ended with a beautiful display of fireworks.

Ventura Police Department continues education and engagement with the next Community Academy

The Community Academy is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community partnerships.

The Ventura Police Department is now accepting applications for the next Community Academy open to Ventura residents and business owners. The academy can accommodate 30 participants and the deadline to apply is Saturday, December 31, 2021.

The Community Academy is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community partnerships and increase transparency. This free program will take participants on a patrol ride-along, provide interactive trainings, showcase hands-on activities that provide an inside look at local policing, and much more. Each night features a new topic with different speakers, demonstrations, and discussions.

“The feedback provided by residents after our most recent Community Academy was overwhelmingly positive,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “They advocated for an annual program and we’ve listened. It’s my hope that we continue to listen, learn, and collaborate to make Ventura even safer.”

The Community Academy, set to begin on March 1, 2023, will be held on 10 consecutive Wednesday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with a final class and graduation on May 3, 2023. Nine classes will be held at the Ventura Police Department. The session on March 22, 2023, will be held at the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center in Camarillo.

To be eligible for the Ventura Police Community Academy applicants must:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years old
  • Live or own a business in the City of Ventura
  • Pass a criminal background check with no misdemeanor convictions in the past two years and no felony convictions
  • Participate in an in-person interview process
  • Commit to attending all sessions

Interviews are expected to occur in late January and those accepted will be notified in early February.

To learn more or apply for the 2023 Ventura Police Community Academy, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/CommunityAcademy.

Winner of Tony, Drama Desk and Theatre World Awards for Best Musical!

It’s 1930’s Harlem, and the joint is jumpin.

Ain’t Misbehavin at the Rubicon Theatre Company closes on December 18.

It’s 1930’s Harlem, and the joint is jumpin’! Nightclubs like the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom are the playgrounds of high society, and dive bars on Lenox Avenue pulse with piano players banging out new tunes that are a wild mix of raucous, rowdy, and mournful. At home on the keyboard is Thomas “Fats” Waller – the big-hearted, bigger-than-life impresario and international jazz pianist who helped create and define American swing. Ain’t Misbehavin’ is a musical tribute to Waller’s passion for pleasure and play. The revue features a five-person, triple-threat cast performing hit songs like “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” “Black and Blue,” “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Right Myself a Letter,” “The Jitterbug Waltz,” and the title song.

“The high-stepping swing music tickles and teases, taunts and tantalizes.”

– L.A. Times

Realtor group raises $7,900 to give to Boys and Girls Club

YPN members solicited donations from local merchants to give to the Boys and Girls Club.

The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Ventura provides comprehensive after-school and summer-break services to hundreds of low-income children for just a small fee that is a fraction of the actual costs to pay for staff and facilities. As Executive Director Patti Birmingham puts it, the club couldn’t exist without generous community support.

Which is why the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) selected the club as its designated charity for the annual YPN Month of Giving this year, said YPN Chair Vanessa Rice, a sales executive with Fidelity Home Warranty.

“We wanted to choose a local organization and one that helped children,” she explained. So the group of younger real estate professionals – Realtors and affiliated members who work for title companies, lenders, escrow companies and others involved in residential real estate transactions – hosted a fundraiser at Peirano’s restaurant in downtown Ventura which raised $7,900 for the Boys and Girls Club.

YPN members solicited donations from local merchants to be auctioned off at the event, and Peirano’s generously offered the space for the event at no charge.

“That was huge,” Rice noted. “If you have to pay for the venue, that takes a lot out of what you can give back.”

Birmingham said the clubs only charge a $25 a year membership fee for after-school programs and $50 a week for summer programs, while it costs about $2,400 per child for after-school programs and $3,600 for year-round participation.

“Donations like this mean everything for us. They make all the difference in serving these kids, and they are families who need support,” she said.

Ashley Anderson, VCCAR’s 2022 president, said the Association is proud to support community organizations like the Boys and Girls Club.

“Realtors know their communities and their needs well and believe in strengthening those communities,” Anderson said. “Realtors and their companies give back in many ways throughout the year, and as an Association we are proud to contribute as well.”

The California Association of Realtors launched the Young Professional Network Month of Giving program in 2015 to give back to local communities. Each local chapter selects its charity of choice and plans fundraising efforts.

Ventura College’s Veterinary Technology Program accredited

Students receive a veterinary assistant Certificate of Achievement.

Ventura College’s veterinary technology program is less than two years old and already has been granted initial accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This recognition signifies the success and rigor of the young program, as graduates will now be qualified to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become Registered Veterinary Technicians.

The accreditation process involves detailed evaluations by the AVMA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) and is designed to ensure veterinary technology programs produce practice-ready graduates. Students are required to demonstrate competency in over 300 essential skills that span all sectors of veterinary medicine and involve hands-on skills working with over 10 species of domestic animals.

Ventura College’s two-year vet tech program, launched February 2021, is a partnership with Ohana Pet Hospital. Classes are held at Ventura College East Campus in Santa Paula with students getting practical experience working with animals at off-campus animal care facilities throughout Ventura County. Students also participate in clinical externships at veterinary hospitals and clinics, where they gain valuable field experience. Upon completing their first year in the program, students receive a veterinary assistant Certificate of Achievement, which enables them to seek entry-level employment in the field of veterinary technology. Graduating students receive an Associate of Science degree in veterinary technology.

“In 2021, Ventura College’s East Campus welcomed its first cohort of 26 students in the program. We were the first in the Tri-County region to have a vet tech program, so receiving the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities stamp of approval is important for the program’s longevity and our students’ futures,” said Kim Hoffmans, president of Ventura College.

For more information about the vet tech program, visit https://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/veterinary-technician

Food Share Annual Can-Tree Food Drive Event

There are lots of ways to get involved.

Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, is bringing its most popular community event back for the holidays! The 11th Annual Can-tree food drive will take place in Figueroa Plaza from Thursday, December 1 when the trees will be built, through Sunday, December 4, 2022, when they will be dismantled.

The event, which brings thousands of individuals, families, and local businesses together to collect and build hundreds of canned food “trees” is Food Share’s biggest food and fund drive of the year and is a critical source of food for the thousands of people still struggling with food insecurity in Ventura County.

There are lots of ways to get involved. Participants can Collect & Build, Buy & Build, Raise & Build or Sponsor a Tree. There’s also a chance to win one of 13 coveted awards including the CAN Crusher, the People’s Choice, and the Mayor’s Choice, all of which will be featured on Food Share’s website, social media pages and newsletter.

Food Share is serving three times the number of people being served pre-pandemic. The latest figure (total for 2021) is a little over 190,000 unduplicated people based on FreshTrak data. However, this figure does not include people attending emergency drive-thru distributions, some of our programs, including Community Markets, or farmworkers receiving food at field distributions. The total number being served annually is @220,000.

For more information visit: foodshare.com/cantree or reach out to Jess Hug, at [email protected].

Santa to a Senior Program seeks holiday gifts for homebound seniors

Gift drop-off locations include Ventura City Hall.

The City of Ventura, in partnership with Home Instead, is seeking gift donations for this year’s Santa to a Senior program, hosted now through December 13. All donations are given to local seniors enrolled in the Ventura Avenue Adult Center’s Senior Nutrition Meal Program.

“This program has existed since 2018, and between 200 to 250 seniors benefit from it each year,” said City of Ventura Recreation Manager Emily Fox. “It’s a wonderful way to spread some holiday cheer, especially to the homebound seniors in our community.”

Gift ideas from the general wish list include blankets, books, crafting supplies, puzzles, robes, slippers, warm sweaters, bath towels, scarves, gloves, gift cards, flashlights, white noise machines, toiletries, and more. Please leave gifts unwrapped.

There are two ways to donate to the Santa to a Senior program:

1) Participants can visit the Santa to a Senior holiday display trees at City Hall near Room 226 or the Ventura Aquatic Center to choose a specific gift request directly from the tree.

2) Participants can purchase a gift from the general wish list and drop it off at one of the designated Santa to a Senior drop-off locations.

Gift drop-off locations include Ventura City Hall, Ventura Aquatics Center, Ventura Avenue Adult Center, and Barranca Vista Center.

Visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/SantaToASenior for full program details, including drop-off location times and general gift ideas.

City Manager put on administrative leave

Alex McIntyre has served as the City Manager of the City of Ventura since November 2018.

The Ventura City Council has announced that City Manager Alex D. McIntyre has been placed on administrative leave pending Council direction on a private personnel matter.

Even though the reason was not stated it is assumed that it is because in March some members of the City Council took a trip to Washington D.C. for legislative matters. Council members on the trip violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, by holding meetings without proper notification and agenda publication. In a separate September 2021 trip, McIntyre used his state-issued credit card to pay for dinner and wine for eight people during a business trip to Sacramento.

Alex McIntyre has served as the City Manager of the City of Ventura since November 2018. Prior to his position at Ventura, McIntyre served as the City Manager of Menlo Park from 2012-2018. He served as the City Manager of Lake Oswego in Oregon from 2008-2012. He also served as the Chief Assistant County Administrator with the County of Marin from 2006-2008, and before that he was Town manager of Tiburon from 2000-2006. He also served as Town Manager of Portola Valley from 1997-2000. Alex holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.

City Attorney Andy Heglund announced McIntyre’s status “pending council direction on a private personnel matter.”

Assistant City Manager Akbar Alikhan was selected to serve as the acting city manager.