Team 4414: HighTide is an industry-based robotics team located in Ventura.

After 2 canceled seasons due to COVID, competitive robotics is back, and with that, so is Team 4414: HighTide. They are riding high on back to back wins at Hueneme Port and Ventura County Regionals. Additionally, they earned awards in Quality and Autonomous.

Team 4414: HighTide is an industry-based robotics team located in Ventura. Student participants range from grades 9 – 12 and attend school at Buena, El Camino, Foothill or Ventura High. Students learn career-oriented skills in engineering, design, mathematics, computer science, and are inspired by industry professional mentors. Michael Sessa of Sessa MFG (where the team trains) said, “Team 4414 HighTide is so dedicated and driven to excellence in everything they do. We are so lucky to have such great students along with amazing mentors.”

This year’s Game sees two alliances competing to process cargo and score it into the hub. The match ends with robots racing to engage with their hangar to prepare for transport. Alliances are made up of 3 robot teams that work together to earn the highest score. While the competition is intense, it is built on the values of professionalism, cooperation, kindness, and more. 

Bryce Taylor said, “The team has put in countless hours of prototyping, design, manufacturing, coding and more. As a member of the drive team, the pressure to execute is even greater and I’m glad our practice paid off. We were able to perform at a high level and take full advantage of the robot’s potential.” Driver Zach Shew said of his experience, “Driving is exciting, fun and unpredictable,” while Aadhya Bavkar said, ““It was stressful at times, but it felt amazing to share a victory with the whole team and contribute to our overall success.”

Beside having a mechanically sound, well driven robot with excellent software, strong strategy and data collection is crucial to winning events. Anshul Bajaj said, “Understanding your opponent’s and most importantly, your teammate’s ability is essential to performing at the highest level. Using my semi-automated scouting app, Team 4414 students recorded and collected performance data for the teams we competed with. These metrics informed our strategy which elevated our overall competitiveness.”

Mentor JJ Sessa congratulated the team on their back to back wins and said, “Thank you to all our sponsors, friends and family for your support. We are looking forward to competing at Aerospace Valley and at the World competition in Houston next month.”

For more information: www.team4414.com

by Richard Lieberman

Angel City Sports, an organization that provides free, adaptive sports clinics and equipment for kids and adults with physical disabilities or visual impairment, hosted an event at the Ventura YMCA. The multi-sports day included wheelchair basketball, powerlifting, and blind soccer. “We are thrilled to host our first event in Ventura,” said Clayton Frech, CEO, and founder of Angel City Sports. “People are demanding more adaptive sports across the nation; it’s an honor and privilege to bring our platform to new communities,” added Frech.

Angel City Sports sponsors and provides free year-round adaptive sport clinics, equipment, and opportunities for adults and, kids with physical disabilities or visual impairments. The annual Angel City Games, the organizations “flagship event” sponsored by the Hartford Insurance Agency began in 2015 and is the largest multi-sport Paralympic competition in the United States. Some disabilities included in the competitions are individuals with limb differences and amputations, spinal cord injuries, quadriplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, blindness or visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and dwarfism. The groups’ goal is to create a community and sense of belonging for people with physical disabilities supporting them to reach their full potential.

Camille Mahlknecht, Associate Director of Angel City Sports “We are here to unite the community and give everyone a chance to try an adaptive sport”, Mahlknecht said. The group wants to increase its sport activities in Ventura partially because there is a demand for it and giving Ventura’s disabled community a chance to participate in sports activities not normally available to them. “There is a demand here and there isn’t as many opportunities here as there are in the Los Angeles area” she said. “So, whatever we can do to bring programming to areas that have a need for it we want to make it happen,” Mahlknecht added. Mahlknecht was a professional volleyball player and played with Katy Holloway two-time Paralympian medalist who introduced Camille to sitting volleyball.

Local resident Susana and her son Carmelo both voiced their support of the games and the opportunities to meet others with disabilities. “We really have a lot of fun as well,” she said.

You can learn more about the program at angelcitysports.org.

The winners from a previous year.

The Ventura County Fair is coming back and the Fair poster contest is now underway for the 2022 Fair.  The contest is open to young artists in grades 5 – 12 who reside in Ventura County. 

The theme of the 2022 Poster Contest is “VC Fair Rides Again” and will serve as the guideline to the imagery.

Artwork may be created in any medium but may not include the use of glitter, metallic paint, or 3 dimensional objects attached to the artwork.

Poster designs will be judged on theme, originality, composition and skill.  Entries will be accepted until the entry deadline, Friday, April 15. Entries can be brought to the Fairgrounds administration office at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, Monday through Friday from 8AM until 5PM.

Rules, deadlines and other information can be found on the Fair website, www.venturacountyfair.org.  For more information about the contest send an email to [email protected]. (Please put “Poster Contest” in the subject line)

Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries, First prize: $500, Second Prize: $250, Third Prize: $100.

The winning design will be used to advertise the Fair on Fair posters, souvenirs, advertisements and other applications. Second and third place winners will also be used in various applications. All contestants’ entries will be displayed in the Youth Expo at the Ventura County Fair.

The Ventura County Fair will begin its annual 12-day run Wednesday, August 3 and continue until Sunday, August 14.

For more information about the Fair, or the poster contest, please visit the Ventura County Fairgrounds at www.venturacountyfair.org. Keep up to date when you Like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Proud members of the community at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (see end of article). Photo by Patricia Schallert

On Wednesday, February 16, board members of the Pierpont Bay Community Council held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the community’s new monument sign, which will greet residents and visitors at the entrance to South Seaward Blvd.

“We are very thankful and grateful to the city of Ventura for its ongoing support of this project,” PBCC South Seaward Beautification Committee Chair Dan Roundtree stated. He cited Parks and Recreation Director Nancy O’Connor as being especially helpful in ushering the project through the long approval process, which met with significant delays due to the City’s focus on the Thomas Fire tragedy and ongoing COVID crisis.

Fundraising began early in 2019 when Roundtree, on behalf of the PBCC, applied for a $10,000 Measure O grant that was awarded the following year. Funds were released in July, 2021, after the design for the 8-foot tall sign received final approval from the City. Construction began in January, 2022. The completed sign reflects “the community’s special identity and historical significance as an original Southern California Surf City,” Roundtree said.

“This monument sign is an example of what an effective community council can do for their neighbors,” said Deputy Mayor Joe Schroeder, who officiated at the event. “The PBCC listens to needs of the community, raises funds and finds a way to accomplish projects. I’m sure they are planning to get even more done.”

One of seven volunteer community councils recognized by the City of Ventura, the PBCC serves residents of all District 7 coastal neighborhoods. Funds are currently being raised for the group’s Light Up South Seaward campaign to provide decorative lighting along both sides of South Seaward Boulevard, similar to that seen on Main St. in downtown Ventura. The group hosts a monthly Beach Cleanup Day at the end of South Seaward as well as an annual community-wide holiday event. Monthly meetings are currently held on Zoom. More information can be found at www.pierpontcouncil.org

Photo: The little girls on the left are Ellie and Molly, Events Committee Chair Lauren Almeida’s daughters. After Lauren, left to right: Beach Committee Chair Robin Birney, VP Kate Gullickson, Secretary Howard Stern. On other side of the sign is South Seaward Beautification Chair Dan Roundtree, the Deputy Mayor and our Treasurer Terry Foley.

One of Ventura County’s favorite family events is returning to the streets of Ventura and CAPS Media will cover the festivities. As the Irish saying tells us: “May The Road Rise Up to Meet You.” The road is rising on Saturday, March 12th when the County of Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade will once again be rolling on Main Street in Ventura. This year’s theme is “One World, One Air, We All Share” – A Salute to Our Environment, with 2022 Grand Marshal Nan Drake leading the merriment. Marching bands, drill teams, festive floats, classic cars, the 2022 Irish Belle and her court, and much more will all join in the celebration.

CAPS Media crews will cover the Saturday morning extravaganza and premiere the complete St. Patrick’s Day Parade the same evening at 6pm on CAPS Media Channel 6 and stream on capsmedia.org.

In other news, Podcasting is growing rapidly in Ventura. CAPS Media’s KPPQ Radio expertise is expanding to include Podcast production by CAPS Members, the public and students throughout the City and the County. El Camino High School students in the ECTV program are adding podcasting skills to their ever-expanding individual tool kits that include all aspects of media production: writing, directing, camera and audio recording, hosting and more. Recently CAPS Media staff members Elizabeth Rodeno, KPPQ director, Evan Carpenter, chief engineer, and Phil Taggart, ECTV director, guided the ECTV crew members through the skills needed to create effective and engaging podcasts.

At the same time Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is utilizing CAPS Media resources by producing a series of informative podcasts in the studio under the direction and expertise of Elizabeth. The county podcast series, titled “On The Line” is hosted by County Sheriff Commander Eric Buschow and includes engaging discussions with County Sheriff Bill Ayub and others in the department. The podcasts will air on the VCSO website at VenturaSheriff.org, on KPPQ on 104.1fm radio and will stream worldwide on myTuner Radio. For more information contact Elizabeth Rodeno, at [email protected] for information on release dates.

Recently in the CAPS Media television studio the ECTV crew produced a special series of programs in celebration of Black History Month with a Black Culture Show that included interviews with various local dignitaries including Ventura City Councilmember Lorrie Brown.

In January CAPS Media crews covered the arrival of the spectacular Mystic Cruzar to the Channel Islands Harbor adjoining the Ventura County Maritime Museum. The 83-foot-long, 110-foot-tall schooner is relocating from the east coast to its new permanent home in Ventura County. The ship will be part of the Maritime Museum’s education and outreach program allowing the public and especially young people the opportunity to tour the ship and learn about the history and science of sea trade. CAPS Media produced a special arrival video complete with interviews of museum educators, the programs generous benefactors and more.

All of us at CAPS Media encourage everyone to get vaccinated and remain vigilant. The sooner we are all vaccinated the sooner we can fully enjoy our beautiful community, and the sooner we can reopen the CAPS Media Center to our Members and the public. Our thanks to everyone for continuing to Stay Safe and Stay Strong during these challenging times.

Dimitri Poulos celebrates after winning the Rincon Classic. Photo by Cristy Poulos

by Amy Brown

Dimitri Poulos waited until the ripe old age of four to start surfing. However, he made up for lost time when he began surfing in local competitions at age ten. Since then, he has gone on to become a professional surfer, earning two gold medals at the Junior world championship level at age 17, and more recently, taking his first Pro title at the 40^th annual Rincon Classic with a total score of 15.43. 

The 19 year old Ventura native is sponsored by O’Neill, Red Bull, Roberts Surfboards, Pro-Lite, and Futures Fins, and his future looks exceptionally bright. He stays humble, however, and is focused on honing his craft and encouraging other young surfers. He is grateful for the folks that were there to encourage him when he was just starting out. “There wasn’t a huge surf culture of younger kids when I was young,” said Poulos. “There were obviously people who helped me, and I know some kids who’ve gotten some other help from older people, but I want really to be there for the younger kids. I just try to be nice to everyone and encourage them to be more psyched for surfing.”

Poulos shared that the best advice he ever received was to just have fun and not take it too seriously. He said that he is inspired by many, but that he really looks up to his father Peter and his coach Mike Lamm. “They just inspire me and have both taught me so much. I owe my surfing career to both of them, and my family obviously, since they got me into it and taught me what I know. Those two guys have pushed me the most, and of course I’m inspired by a lot of other professionals, the guys on the world tour.” Surfing is a family affair—in addition to his dad being a lifelong surfer, his 16-year-old sister Delaney won second place in the Wahines Under 17 division at Rincon, as well.

While Poulos had competed at the Rincon Classic several times in previous years, this was his first win. “It felt very good–I went in with no expectations, I haven’t competed in a pretty long time, with Covid all the contests were cancelled or postponed before, so I was a little nervous, with this first contest, maybe some rust, but it felt really good for it to work out in my favor.”

Asked what is still on his surfing bucket list, he replied, “I really want to get over to Indonesia for a contest, and would like to make the world tour.” He said that it’s the love of the sport that truly drives him. “I still have so much fun doing it, I don’t really think of it in terms of I have to do this or that, I’ll still surf with my friends, and then when it’s time for a contest, it’s time to switch gears and get ready to do this.”