by Mira Reverente

For some very fortunate Ventura children, Santa arrived a bit early this year.

Upon the recommendation of the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD), 22 school-aged children from local schools recently participated in the annual “Shop With a Cop” sponsored by the Ventura Police Department (VPD) at Wal-Mart on Victoria Avenue.

Among the participants was Jasmine, 8, who had a small notebook with her, complete with a wish list and notes from her mother. “I’m going to get my mom size 9 slippers and some arts and crafts supplies. She really wanted those,” said the second-grader.

Jasmine’s 14-year-old sister Arielle specifically asked for perfume, lotion and some belts. Grandma, who also wears a size 9, wanted shoes. “I think that’s it plus maybe something for my furry brother – our dog and some clothes for me,” said Jasmine, smiling widely and giving her list a once-over before turning to Officer Taylor Beacham.

Beacham, a three-year veteran at VPD, volunteered for the event for the first time and was paired with Jasmine. The pair hit it off right away, going over Jasmine’s shopping list, and checking it twice and were bantering like old friends before the evening was over.

Chief of Police Darin Schindler was pleased with that evening’s turn-out. “I know we’ve been doing this event for at least 10 years now, even before I became chief. I’m really proud of how much it has grown and how many officers and staff volunteer on their own time,” said Schindler, a 27-year veteran at VPD.

According to the chief, the size of this annual event largely depends on the department budget and involvement of the community. This year, donations poured in from the Police Community Foundation, the Optimist Club and other service clubs who are passionate about supporting youth in the community.

“Typically, we have 20 to 30 children participating every year, except last year due to Covid concerns,” said Emily Graves, community outreach specialist of the City of Ventura, Police and Fire Departments. “However, VPD officers still “played” Santa last year and delivered toys and gift cards to families in need.”

This year, every child was given a $175 “budget” to spend as they wish at Wal-mart. “Sometimes, the officers even pitch in when their shopping buddy goes over a bit,” said Chief Schindler.

Treats and snacks like cookies and hot cocoa were abundant as the children, officers and support staff assembled and “strategized” before hitting the aisles. Some officers and staff came with their spouses or significant others and tag-teamed as they shopped and helped wrap presents before sending the children home.

For children like Jasmine, the joy of shopping, wrapping and giving presents to their loved ones was sheer happiness and something they’ll never forget. Santa does come early in some parts of the world.

Using the traveling couch has definitely changed Shaun’s mindset.

by Carol Leish, MA

What is the best way to travel around the city if you have problems with mobility?

Shaun Wahl, who is nine years old, is able to travel in style on both a powered lawn chair at the beach, and on a motorized couch around Ventura, and other places, thanks to his parents’ ingenuity.

“After a stranger recently posted on NextDoor, ‘I have just seen a brown couch traveling down the street here in Ventura,’” according to Shaun’s mom, Jennifer, “we realized the impact that Shaun’s motorized couch has had on people. It’s been exciting to see peoples’ comments and expressions concerning our family traveling around Ventura on the couch. By traveling around on the couch, people don’t see Shaun as a little kid in a wheelchair who has cerebral palsy. Instead, they see him as a cool kid.”

“This has also been a good outreach to others,” according to Shaun’s dad, Frank. “Others are able to sit in a powered wheelchair, or on the motorized couch in order to realize the challenges that others have with issues related to mobility challenges. This makes others more empathetic toward people with challenges.”

“We built the first power wheelchair in early 2019,” according to Frank. “In May of 2020, we built the power couch. We thought that we would get a few good laughs about it. Neither my wife or I thought that we’d be taking it around Ventura, or other places. During the week of Christmas in 2020, we took the power couch along Main St. in Ventura, and along the pier. We also took it along the pier in Port Hueneme. We wanted to take it places with a wide sidewalk.

“It’s been amusing to see peoples’ reactions, since they probably don’t know what to think about what they’ve seen. They also honk at us, or they say, “That’s cool.”

Frank said, “We started building mobility devices with old wheelchair parts, since getting a new electric wheelchair would have been too expensive. When a neighbor put a couch out in the front yard to give away, we realized that we could make a power couch that we could all enjoy traveling on at the same time.”

Both Wendy and Frank say that using the traveling couch has definitely changed Shaun’s mindset. They said, “Now he sees what he can do instead of what he can’t do, which is very encouraging! He doesn’t feel angry about his situation. He realizes what fun things he can do with his buddies. This has definitely taken the barrier (mobility issues), away from how others might view him if he was just using a wheelchair.”

“We’ve made 13 powered recliners, along with making powered lawn chairs for use at the beach,” according to Frank. He also said, “If you know of someone who may need a helping hand in modifying/making something to ease mobility issues for someone they know, please contact either Jennifer or me at: [email protected].  ‘Follow Shaun on Facebook at:  ‘Determin-Shaun.

On Dec. 10, millions (it seemed like) food cans looking like holiday trees filled Figueroa Plaza in downtown. The trees are part of Food Share’s 10th annual CAN-tree Drive in order to feed hungry people need this winter. Volunteers from schools, community groups and local businesses were there stacking cans into tree shapes, some as high as 15 feet.

You can still help canned goods can be dropped off at Food Share’s warehouse in Oxnard at 4156 Southbank Road. For information on donating or volunteering, go to foodshare.com or call 805-983-7100

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.