A truly inspirational lady.

Bekkah Doyle is a Ventura County local living in Ventura. She used a personal tragedy to inspire her to help people in need.

She told us how she got into demo derbies as a way to raise money. “I was actually involved in a bad car accident in 2019. A car rear ended me on the 101 at 50mph freeway while I was stopped in traffic, which left me with very crippling PTSD in cars. Now I drive in demo derbies as my way of overcoming my PTSD and becoming comfortable in cars again. My mom took me to the Ventura Raceway demo derby at a very young age and it became a lifelong dream for me to drive in it one day. Now that I have finally made that dream a reality. I use my demo derby cars to help others.”

Bekkah went on to say “On Oct 9th I will be driving in an all Women’s Demolition Derby for Cancer at Irwindale Speedway, the derby is composed of female drivers from all over Southern California representing their hometowns. I’m the lone representative so far for Ventura County (I actually just drove at the recent demo derby at Ventura Raceway as the only female driver). I want to raise as much money as I possibly can so I’ve decided to sell spots on my car for people to put the names of loved one they have lost to cancer or in support of those currently battle cancel. 50% of all proceeds will be donated directly to charity. I’d love to be able to raise a significant amount to donate while also giving people a way to honor their loved ones.”

If you would like to donate to the cause and get the names of their loved ones on the vehicle, they can email Bekkah directly at [email protected].

The food will go to families struggling with food needs from Ventura County.

Last week, a truck carrying over 40,000 pounds of food – from cases of canned salsa, peaches, peanut butter, and more – arrived at Project Understanding in Ventura to help with the organization’s efforts to feed hundreds of families in Ventura County over the next few months.

This donation was organized from the Ventura Stake (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to assist with the needs of those in Ventura County. One of four large food deliveries to Southern California this week, this donation is a small part of the efforts of the congregations who contribute to a Humanitarian fund that helps with crucial needs around the world such as providing shelter and supplies to victims of the Haiti earthquake, assisting Afghan refugees with shelter, food, and supplies and, like this week’s project, supporting local needs such as food inequality through organizations such as Project Understanding.

The food will go to families struggling with food needs from Ventura County. Project Understand has helped families with food insecurity with their food pantry since 1977, and many may not be aware they also help with many other community programs such as their Homeless to Home program and the successful Tutoring program with centers around the county. They are always open to having volunteers help at the food pantry as well and will be having a golf tournament on November 8th to raise funds for their crucial programs. ProjectUGolf.givesmart.com

Raising funds for Pier Into The Future.

Chip in for Charity is a non-competitive golfing event where participants chip their balls towards sponsored targets located within the driving range to raise funds and support local non-profit efforts. This year we are raising funds for Pier Into The Future, that is preserving and maintaining the Ventura Pier.

Each target is sponsored by a local business that has donated to our non-profit beneficiary. All sponsor donations and tickets sold through the event are donated directly to the event’s current non-profit beneficiary. As participants chip towards the sponsored targets, raffle sponsors will also be raffling off prizes for participants to win.

In addition, all participants will receive a complimentary food and drink voucher with the ability to purchase additional buckets of golf balls, and raffle tickets.

In our first year we partnered with Clean International to help them provide clean water and sanitation to underserved communities. With over 80 participants enjoying local food, drinks and hitting nearly 450 balls into the sponsored targets, we raised $6,000 which helped Clean International provided over 1,100 families with clean water and sanitation.

September 25 from 1-5pm

Location: Olivas Links Driving Range, 3750 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura.

Website ChipinForCharity805.com

Patty Berry, Kerry Leiman, Steve Mac, Bob Berry and Sheila Leiman jouer Petanque.

The women’s club, BCNN (the Beachcities Neighbors & Newcomer’s Club for Women in Ventura, Oxnard and Pt. Hueneme- they also have activities with men) play Petanque. It  is one of our many activities (we have over 30 different types of activities in the Club).

We are Pétanque enthusiasts who play at two different times. For the general public – 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at Portside Park at Portside Ventura Harbor at 2:30 p.m. (located off Harbor, Spinnaker to Navigator.) We play on the side walkways of the Volleyball court area.

Also, a BCNN ladies group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at Portside Park.

Ventura Petanque was started in September, 2018. We give free lessons (you can borrow our “boules”) and then you can obtain your own “boules” online at very reasonable prices.

Petanque is a French equivalent to the Italian Bocce Ball game (it uses small metal

Balls.)

This game is suitable to any age because of the small sized metal balls which are played on dirt surfaces between 20 feet and 30 feet distance.  The object is for a team to get the closest to the target ball “cochenet” (little pig).

For more information https://coastalpatty.wixsite.com/venturapetanque

or https://www.venturapetanque.net/

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael McCurtis of the Total Life Christian Center of Ventura.

On August 7^th, from 1pm – 3pm, the Church of Scientology Ventura held an open house special presentation to Commemorate the International Day of Friendship.

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2011 with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. It is a day about promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity.

“Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.” United Nations

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael McCurtis of the Total Life Christian Center of Ventura, who’s father, Rev. Luther McCurtis founded the Center over 50 years ago when he saw a need for a ministry that extended beyond the four walls to help those in need.

The Ventura Friends of the Library had a sale at the Dudley House.

by Jill Forman

Thanks for a successful book sale!

On July 31 and August 1, the Ventura Friends of the Library had a sale at the Dudley House. The weather was perfect, the local plant society was there with plants for sale, and the Lions had a barbecue. There were free tours of the Dudley House. Hundreds of Ventura folks came out to socialize, browse books and plants, eat hot dogs, and take a tour.

So many people to thank. First of all to the volunteers of the Friends of the Library, organized and directed by our Fearless Leader Sandy Greenberg, who worked for four days to transport, set up and take down, and sell our gently-used books. Special shout-out to Clyde Hofflund who was there every day with his trusty truck and strong back! Then to the Dudley House people, especially Lynn Weitzel and Jan Hunter, who helped coordinate as well as working with the Friends. And Charley “the plant man,” whose good cheer and efforts for both the plant sale and the Dudley House made it fun. The Ventura Downtown Lions contributed delicious barbecue aromas and hot dog lunches. Boy Scout Troop 179 helped with unloading and moving boxes of books. Ventura East Rotary transported and also moved boxes.

And most of all, to the people of Ventura who came out and supported us. We made over $1200, plus memberships. Every dollar goes to the libraries, for books and equipment and programs. And as one board member said, “The joy of seeing someone excited about their purchase, talking to buyers about books we love, is why we do this work.”

Hill Road donation bin
Reminder to please only drop off one bag of donated books at a time. The bin (and the volunteers’ backs!) are overwhelmed. If you have a large donation, please take it out to the warehouse. Information on hours and location can be found at the Friends of the Library web page, venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Volunteers wanted
If you saw how much we enjoyed the book sale, if you’re a booklover with some spare time, if you want to give back to the community, we would love to have you join us! We have jobs in the bookstore, in the warehouse, behind the scenes at the bookstore, during our sales, whatever you prefer. Contact us at [email protected].

Ventura County Library announces a new mobile app, MyVCLibrary (from press release)
The MyVCLibrary app helps library customers continue to access Ventura County Library collections and services in a user-friendly way. Users may access a digital library card, search for materials, place or cancel holds, manage their account, renew items, and even self-check, all from their mobile device…. “We’re really excited that our new and improved app brings the library to life in the hands of our users. We’re happy to be able to extend our reach into the community and provide customers convenient access to our collections and services, wherever they are, whenever they’d like,” says Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director.