Sierra Ruiz, Renee Morales, Siobhan Westfall, Destynie Hogue-Villanueva, and Marimar Ilias sing “Hanukkah,” “Breath of Winter,” and “Underneath the Tree.”

On December 9th, students at Buena High School released Volume 5 of their annual Not-So-Silent Night CD album, after having to go on hiatus last year due to the pandemic. Utilizing their on-campus recording studio, the Buena High School Choir has selected various winter-themed songs (secular and holiday-oriented) to record and release for digital download. Over the past 6 years, their previous albums (Volumes 1-4) have been heard in dozens of countries across the world, from Iceland to Indonesia.

Choir director Kevin Downey states, “Students were devastated that they were not able to sing together in real-time during the pandemic. Since we have been back at school, you can really see students’ spirits being lifted as we sing together in harmony and record beautiful music again.”

Because streaming music only provides limited/miniscule compensation for artists, the album is being released as a physical CD and download exclusively, with streaming planned for a later release; therefore, everyone who buys this album is helping to keep the arts alive in our public schools, and to provide meaningful and authentic experiences for our students. Thanks to the charitable support of Yhr Ventura Education Partnership and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the BHS Choir has been able to create and sustain Buena’s recording studio and Not-So-Silent Night albums.

Junior choir student Sierra Ruiz, who also helped design some of the album artwork says, “At first, recording for an actual album was nerve-wracking, but we learned to have fun in the studio. It all brought us together and made us a lot closer.”

While it is difficult for most young artists to get started making music on their own, Buena students are using this special opportunity to create quality work. According to professional audio engineer Devon Hammond, “I’m really loving the album myself because it both has unique versions of classics, as well as plenty of songs I was unfamiliar with. It ends up feeling like listening to the radio during the holidays, but the DJ is playing a bunch of deep cuts. I’ve definitely got a few new holiday faves from working on this.”

Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to support the arts in our local, public schools, and fill your holidays with joy by downloading the Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 5 album. Just search “The Buena High School Choir” on iTunes or Amazon Music. The physical CD is available for sale in the school’s ASB store and library.

The Channel Islands National Park Headquarters is a great facility and resource.

Friends of Ventura Harbor, Inc. was incorporated with the California Secretary of State in January, 2020, by Dr. Vikki Brock, an international business consultant who lives at the harbor, and Jean Getchell; and it obtained 501 (c) (3) charitable status six months later.

This corporation is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for public benefit purposes. The exclusive public benefit purpose of the corporation is to operate a nonprofit organization to raise, provide, and maintain financial support for education, scientific research and development, and recreational activities at Ventura Harbor and other harbors in California for the benefit of the public; and to perform associated activities for program development and management.

The catalyst that finally nudged them into creating Friends was someone in Monterey County who used a bequest from an estate to take every eighth-grade student in the county to see “Hamilton” in San Francisco. (Yes, every eighth grader from King City to Elkhorn Slough!)

So, Jean wondered, why not do whatever we could to ensure that every eighth grader in Ventura got out to the Channel Islands to learn about its natural and cultural history?

Jean said “At the same time, we wanted to provide the opportunity for Ventura children to simply get to the Harbor. This was something that had been asked by several members of the City Council while I served as a Port Commissioner in 2018-19. So, getting children to the Harbor will be Friends’ first major undertaking. It plans to collaborate with groups that already serve children, organizations that already educate others about indigenous culture, science educators, and others.”

“We hope to work with existing entities to provide opportunities for hands-on experiences — learning to make pottery, learning about what various harbor business do, and learning about the work that is being done by the National Park Service on the islands.”

With the exception of the years she lived in Carmel (2000 – 2013), Jean has been living in Ventura since 1964. Only after she became an adult, however, did she become familiar with what the Harbor and the ocean had to offer. Visiting Santa Cruz Island with friends in the 1960s, sailing around the islands in the 1980s, scuba diving and kayaking were such wonderful experiences. “With these opportunities so close at hand, it only makes sense to try to do what’s needed for children to experience them. After all, they are the future stewards of this area.” This gives a sense of Friends’ values and what it hopes to do in the next few years. As it establishes relationships and creates cooperative work projects, there will be more to offer.”

One of their first events to reach Ventura children will be collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Ventura to provide a great opportunity to bring its members to the Harbor for recreational and educational activities. The Channel Islands National Park Headquarters is such a great facility and resource, as is Island Packers. In addition, the harbor businesses have indicated an interest in making young people aware of their work at the harbor.

The Parade of Lights will be a great introduction between the Club Members and Friends, and a great time to enjoy the festivities of the season. Friends has chartered a bus to bring them to the Harbor and will be hosting a dinner for them at the Water’s Edge Restaurant patio.

Also serving with Jean on the Friends Board are Rebecca Bogner and Alana Meiners.

Friends may be reached at [email protected]
Life is better on the water –

One gift per customer per day while supplies last.

The Ventura Pottery Gallery is pleased to announce their second annual ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Giving event. Not only is the gallery a great place to purchase your holiday gifts (no supply chain issues here), but they have a free gift for you when you spend $25.

Potters always accumulate extra pieces in their studios, and we love to clean our shelves. Our forty potters are donating  bowls, vases, mugs,  ornaments or ? as gifts to our cherished customers. We continue to have strong sales during the pandemic and we want to thank those who support our handmade, from our studios to your home, ceramic creations.

We invite you to stop by the Ventura Pottery Gallery to view work from local artists and potters. The gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor Village. The gallery is open from 11 – 6 seven days a week. We also have an online store at  www.venturapotteryonline.com and for more information please visit www.venturapottersguild.org.

Recently Mike Powers, Ventura County CEO and Ashley Bautista were at CAPS.

Recently Mike Powers, Ventura County CEO and Ashley Bautista, County PIO held an impromptu workshop with El Camino High in the ECTV program at the CAPS Media Center. Mr. Powers and Ms. Bautista were in the CAPS Media studio to record a cross-country interview, which was observed by the ECTV students. Afterwards the pair took the time for an informal meeting with the ECTV team discussing journalism, social media, marketing, career paths and more. The students will follow up with a more formal on camera studio interview with Mr. Powers.

ECTV (El Camino Television) is part of the Ventura Unified School District’s Visual and Performing Arts career pathways initiative. In weekly immersive workshops students explore all aspects of media, journalism and storytelling production including television, radio, social media, podcasting and more. The students utilize all of the resources of the CAPS Media Center including cameras, editing computers, the studio soundstage and radio control room. The ECTV program is mentored by Phil Taggart (electronic journalism and storytelling) and Elizabeth Rodeno (radio and podcasting).

Out in the community CAPS Media crews continue to support the County’s efforts to spread the word on the vital necessity of COVID vaccinations. Most recently CAPS produced a series special videos featuring doctors and other media professionals encouraging families to have young children vaccinated in compliance with recent guidelines. The COVID Vaccinations for Kids videos are distributed on the County website and multiple social media outlets in English, Spanish, and Hindi.

The CAPS Media Board of Directors meet in November and reviewed a staff presentation that included a brief summary of the multiple projects produced and managed by CAPS Media staff between July and October of this year. The report referenced more than 70 separate video productions for the City of Ventura, County of Ventura and other agencies. The government agencies distribute the media on various platforms including websites and multiple social media outlets. In addition CAPS Media airs the information on channel 6 and/or 15 as well as streaming on the CAPS website and social media sites. The report also highlighted more than 200 hours of originally produced radio programs for CAPS Radio KPPQ.

In addition the staff report included information on a facet of CAPS Media efforts that are often overlooked or taken for granted. During the 4 month window (July – October) CAPS Media staff provided the ongoing responsibility and oversight to manage, record and distribute multiple meetings held in Ventura City Hall chambers. The diversity of meetings included City Council meetings, administrative public hearings, arts and culture commission, design review committee, historic preservation committee, parks and recreation committee and more. In total CAPS Media staff managed 36 separate meetings during the four months totaling more than 88 hours of community information.

As the COVID 19 emergency continues to shadow the Ventura community, the CAPS Media Center will continue to remain closed to Member/Producers and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM.
All of us at CAPS Media encourage everyone to get vaccinated. The sooner we are all vaccinated the sooner we can fully enjoy our very special community. We hope you all Stay Safe and Stay Strong during these challenging times.

WRITERS | Ventura is pleased to announce the first bi-annual Writers’ Festival, to be held at the E.P. Foster Library on Main St. This free community event will be on Saturday, December 11, 2021 and Sunday, December 12, 2021, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.

“Our goal at WRITERS | Ventura is to provide a platform for writers to connect with readers,” said Pamela Zero, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura. “There are so few ways that our vibrant community can interact. It’s time to get readers and writers together.”

The Writers’ Festival will bring together local writers with local readers, creating and reinforcing a community that loves books.

Local readers and writers will be able to:

Meet local authors, Discover new books to read, Enter on-the-spot giveaways and get swag,

Play word games, Attend workshops and be a part of the local literary scene

WRITERS | Ventura offers readers a chance to talk directly to writers. Find out how their favorite characters came to be born. Find out how all those wonderful scenarios of danger, intrigue, romance, challenges developed in the mind of a skilled storyteller,” said Robina Kerr, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura.

“We are extending that very writerly practice of having writing partners into having publishing partners,” said Danielle Ste. Just, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura. “We see ourselves and other writers as allies, not as competition.”

Admission to the Writers’ Festival is free of charge for all readers. The event will include writers, librarians, book cover artists, and local booksellers. This event would not be possible without the support of the E.P. Foster Library and Hayes Graphics.

Founded in 2021, WRITERS | Ventura is dedicated to bridging the gap between writers and readers.

Fair will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more. Photo by Richard Lieberman

The Board of Directors of the Ventura County Fair has announced that the dates of the 2022 Fair will be Wednesday, August 3 to Sunday, August 14. The announcement marks the anticipated return of the County’s premiere Summer Event after the forced closure due to COVID-19. It was the second closure of that duration in the Fair’s 146-year history, the first having been World War II.

“We are looking forward to bringing the Fair back after two years of unprecedented delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Fair CEO Barbara Quaid, adding “The Fair’s board of directors and staff are grateful to our beloved community for patiently standing by us during these difficult times and we hope the return of the Fair will mark a turning point for us all.”

The award-winning Ventura County Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage. The annual 12-day event will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more.

Although some aspects of the Fair will be different as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 Fair will strive to provide a diverse experience with many of the traditional Fair favorite features. For the sake of our visitors The VC Fair will follow all state and county health and safety guidelines.

The anticipated 300,000 returning visitors will benefit the community in many ways including significant economic contributions to restaurants, hotels, stores, service stations and more. The Fair brings temporary employment to hundreds of local residents and offers opportunities for the community to showcase their talents, hobbies, interests and passions as well as the opportunity to educate, inspire and entertain.

The VC Fairgrounds and Event Center had been unable to host many of the usual interim events in 2020 and 2021, but played a vital role in protecting our community by serving as a COVID-19 testing site and vaccination center.

“We are proud that the VC Fairgrounds and Event Center has been here for our community during this time of crisis,” said CEO Quaid, “We are now overjoyed that we can be here for you with the return of celebration.”