In 2010 the Rigneys bought a boat.

by Richard Lieberman

On Saturday, May 19, the Kandu a forty-two-foot sailing vessel returned to the Ventura Yacht Club at Ventura Harbor after a four-year journey around the world. The trip for the Rigney family began at the Yacht Club and ended on Saturday at the place where it began just over four years ago.

Asked about what it is like to live on a boat for four years Eric Rigney said “It’s a very big adjustment, we actually moved onto the boat a year before we left” said Rigney.” We started learning lessons right away because you don’t quite know what it is you own until you pack it away, we let a lot of things go and the cathartic thing that happened is that when you let possessions go there is a free feeling that happens that I didn’t expect.”

“The dream started for me when I was fourteen, I was sitting with my uncle and he started me on this journey when he built a boat in his backyard here in Ventura, once completed he put it in the water and that was in 1974 and he decided to sail it to Hawaii with me and on the way back I felt so much more mature and I felt I had grown up so much more with all the responsibility of navigation and the like.” He said.

“I met Leslie my wife in 1989 and in 1990 I sailed my uncle’s boat to Polynesia on the way back stopping in Hawaii I asked Leslie to join us and she sailed with my brother and a friend all the way to California and at the end of that I said if you are willing to do this and sail around the world then we can stay together if not then we need to go our separate ways. She said yes. It was sort of a pre-nuptial agreement that we sail around the world. All of our decisions were focused on making this happen.”

In 2010 the Rigneys bought a boat and began refitting and preparing it for their upcoming around the world adventure. “We weren’t escaping” added Rigney. “We were going to have an adventure together and so my sons grew up knowing this would happen their entire lives.” He said. “They never knew otherwise, they knew someday this would happen.”

His wife Leslie left a 12-year career as an opera singer and Eric left his job of more than 20 years as post-production executive with Sony Pictures. Their sons Trent and Bryce dropped out of school for the duration of the voyage. They were homeschooled during the voyage in subjects like science and math, Spanish, French, history geography, and more.

During the voyage, the family slept in shifts so someone was always manning the cockpit and watching out for any possible difficulties.

As far as provisioning the ship Leslie Rigney was in charge “ As things go away I write a list of what we have consumed and I wherever we are going I know what generally is available and I wanted to get the local food and experience that and learn how to cook it” She said.

“We ended up spending two years in French Polynesia and another year in the Marquesas. We enrolled the boys in school there. We became certified residents and we became involved in the community, it was very rewarding,” said Eric.

“Our boys were the first Americans to attend school in Marquesas, and both have learned fluent French” he added. “We had so many wonderful experiences that were beyond our expectations.”

Now that they are home the Rigneys are going to re-boot their careers and get their boys back on the school track. “Were both super excited about what comes next?”

Bryce, the oldest at 17, was asked upon returning what he would have done differently and he contemplated the question for a minute and said: “I would not change a thing I loved every minute of it.”

Carrie and Betty were united though saliva test.

by Maryssa Rillo

Ventura local, Carrie Adams and her family tried 23andme and were not only informed of their heritage, but they were united with family they never knew they had.

According to 23andMe.com, 23andMe is a company that gives people the opportunity to test their DNA at home with their saliva. The process is done in three steps which include ordering a saliva kit, spitting in a tube to register the saliva and logging onto the website after 3-5 weeks to see the results of the DNA testing.

Adams said she was introduced to the company by her sister-in-law who was curious about her ancestry.

Adams is a child of six and her mother passed away when she was 63. Her mother was born in 1923, but since her parents were unwed, she was given up for adoption. Because of this, she and her kids never knew where they came from.

In January 2019, Adams sent in her saliva kit and on February 14, 2019 her results were in. Her results informed her that she was 1/3-Portuguese, 1/3-French and 1/3-English. The results also revealed that she had an aunt on her mother’s side that she never knew she had.

“Once we did that and the results came back, there she appeared, my aunt,” Adams said. “As long as your relatives do it, they pop up. Right there it said, ‘100% this is your aunt.’”

Once Adams found out about her aunt, she reached out to her via email.

“She’s 96 years old. She lives up in Washington close to Seattle and has four children. I sent her an email and said I think you’re my aunt. I went on to tell her about my mom and everything and so she wrote back, and she was so happy,” Adams said.

Three weeks went by and her aunt, Betty Compton, flew into California with her daughter Melanie and Melanie’s husband to meet the family.

“These all were just the happiest people, seriously,” Adams said. “She’s just lovely and she clung onto me and now she calls me her auntie mom. I can’t explain, once we found them it was like we’ve always been looking for them secretly and we just wanted to know where we came from.”

Compton registered her DNA with 23andMe when her birth certificate revealed her mother had another live birth that she did not know about. After asking her mother about the situation and receiving no answers she began 23andMe in hopes to find her brother/sister one day.

“It was always a big secret. She didn’t even know if it was a sister. She said she looked everywhere at everybody thinking that could be my sister,” Adams said.

While Compton and her daughter were in town, Adams and her siblings threw a big party of about 30 family members.

“We brought them into the family, and it was like they’ve been there forever,” Adams said.

Adams said she and Compton still email each other every day.

“It’s just amazing it turned out so pleasant and that I’m 70 and she’s 96 and she’s still alive so I can ask her things,” Adams said. “We just have little things to say. She’s like the mom I didn’t have because mine left so early.”

According to Adams, Compton is grateful for the experience and is happy she found out about her sister and family.

“She said when she finally found out about my mom, she said, ‘you know what that’s the coolest thing because when I die now, I’m going to go get to meet my sister,’” Adams said.

Adams recommends everyone to register their DNA with 23andMe.

“I would really recommend for people to do this, it’s just amazing really. It was the nicest most wonderful thing,” Adams said.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Ventura College Foundation’s Phoenix Scholarship program awarded scholarships to 29 students at a ceremony held Thursday, April 18 at the college’s Wright Event Center.

Scholarships were given to re-entry students based on their applications, essays, and recommendations from counselors, faculty and employers. Over $68,000 was handed out to students at the ceremony.

One of the recipients was Anna Heaton, 25. She began attending college right out of high school but decided to leave to join the military. Heaton is now taking advanced math and science-based courses at Ventura College and plans to transfer to UC Davis next year. She has her sights on medical school. “I’m fascinated with neuroscience,” says Heaton. “I would love to be a surgeon as well as do neuroscience research.”

When Heaton first returned to school, she says she didn’t realize scholarships were available. “Receiving the support from the foundation, the Veterans Resource Center and professors keeps me motivated. I know people believe in me,” says Heaton. “Scholarships provide a tremendous sense of security. I’m grateful and honored.”

The Phoenix Scholarship Program was established in 1999 by Ventura College Foundation board members to support Ventura College re-entry students. Phoenix Scholarships are designed to assist students who have minimal or no resources to pay for their education and have chosen to return to school after a break in education or to learn new skills. The recipients are selected based on each student’s academic goals and progress, together with their financial need.

“Students re-entering college face many challenges including family and work commitments. It’s sometimes difficult to stay focused,” says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. “Even with all they have going on with their lives, they shine academically.”

This year’s scholarship winners are Jennifer Anderson, Courtney Carlos, Eric Chagolla, Kelly Chow, Kevin Cross, Michael DiNardo, Thomas Galindo, Sandra Grotsky, Amber Hansen, Anna Heaton, Meagan Hill, Michelle Jacobs, Jessica Maciel, Angelica Magdaleno, Juan Montecinos, Christina Montrose, Melissa Obille, Jessica Orozco, Francisco Ramos, Crystal Richardson, Suzanne Rodriguez, Kristina Romero, Patrick Rose, Valerie Salazar, Paola Sanchez de Acosta, Mayra Smith, Clare Tobias, Jonathan Waters and Evelyn Wembakpete.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or [email protected] or visit www.VCgiving.org.

The dinner events also involve Ag students from Ventura High School.

Sustainability Now News
by Maryann Ridini Spencer (@MaryannRidiniSpencer)

Thursday, May 16th kicks off the 11th annual Totally Local VC’s “2019 Farm-to-Fork Dinner Series.” The celebrated, always sold-out dining event, takes place at unique Ventura County locations combine culinary creations featuring in-season produce from some of the area’s top chefs, local wines and brew, and other fares.

“We’ve been a sell-out from the very first event,” said Totally Local VC’s Kat Merrick. “Additionally, no two events are ever alike. We choose different agriculturally related farms and locations throughout the county, and that adds to the uniqueness of each dinner,” said Totally Local VC’s Kat Merrick.

The dinner events, which feature local chefs, farmers, and purveyors also involve Ag students from Ventura High School. Assisting with the dinner series serves to give the students a hands-on opportunity into their desired career choice and what it’s like working in the kitchen, as servers, and assisting with the event set-up.

For this year’s dinner located at Wicked Wire Ranch, Chef Michelle Keeney of La Dolce Vita will be preparing delectable dishes made with seasonal, local fare to be paired with local wines from Strey Cellars and libations including a signature cocktail from Mixologist Jared Krupp of 1901 Speakeasy. Rincon Brewery, Channel Islands Distillery, and Beacon Coffee provide additional libation.

As part of the Farm-to-Fork tradition, no menus are shared prior to the dinners. Pastry chef for the night is Anastasia Chavez of Ojai Beverage Company. Artist Frances Leon leads the music program, playing Latin Guitar. Ventura Rental Party Center supplies event furniture.

“We chose to host this event at Wicked Wire Ranch because it serves as a prime example of what beauty mother nature can bring from the ashes. My family lost our home and ranch in the Thomas Fire and watching the green grass and wildflowers take over the hillsides, and all the wildlife coming back gives hope that we will all be okay as we work toward recovery, said Merrick.”

Proceeds from this event will benefit Totally Local VC’s Love Project, also founded by Merrick, whose mission is to activate and organize members of the 805 community in the aftermath of a disaster to provide support and relief.

The Farm-to-Fork at Wicked Wire Ranch dinner commences on May 16th at 5:30 pm, costs $145.00 per person. Tickets are available at totallylocalvc.com.

The Buena Drumline performs its championship-winning piece ‘The Web We Weave.’ Photo by Damien Masterson.

by Amy Brown

Summer Elliott joined Buena High School’s Winter Drumline in 2017 as a freshman, and today he is one of its four Captains, playing the marimba, and serving as Front Ensemble Captain. “Even at the beginning of my first season, I knew that one day I wanted to be a captain, and this year that dream came true,” says Elliott.

Other dreams were recently realized for the entire group, fresh back from their championship first place win in the San Bernardino Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Championship finals competition. The 34-member Drumline competed against 49 Southern California schools at what is the largest percussion competition in the western United States. And they had the chance to perform their exciting, award-winning piece “The Web We Weave” one last time on their home turf at the Buena High School gym on April 30th to a large and enthusiastic crowd.

The Drumline’s Percussion Director Paul Curci, a Buena alum from 2003, shares that the last time the group won first place in the SCPA competition, he was a sophomore back in 2001. According to Curci, this year the Drumline has the fewest seniors of any year, so this season was expected to be a ‘rebuilding’ period, and the whole team, and especially the underclassmen, really stepped up. “This is an incredibly talented group of young people, with real drive,” says Curci. “It says really good things about Buena’s future.” Buena’s Drumline has been competing in championships every year. “The SCPA is one of the most competitive areas for this in the world. That is not hyperbole—it’s an actual statement. To advance to finals, which is the upper echelon of the groups, is an honor in and of itself,” he says.

Creating a championship, precision Drumline takes a profound level of talent, combined with commitment and hard work. Their season begins in early January and continues through April. Each week there were eight hours of scheduled rehearsals, and in addition to these mandatory hours, members were expected to put in their own practice time, outside of rehearsal. “The students’ work ethic is one of clearest factors that stands out, the entire team shows up to put in the work to see their vision, they know what that process is,” says Curci. “They take advantage of every moment to see that vision through. They come with their game face on, so to speak.” Curci shares that while it is a somewhat clichéd phrase, that it truly does ‘take a village’ for a group like this to succeed at this level. The Buena Music Association support, parents’ participation in the grueling work and performance schedules, and the drive and commitment of the musicians themselves all blended together for the winning formula.

“While it may be a huge commitment and exhausting at times, the hours that we put in build musical skills, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime,” says Elliott.

The musicians play from memory.

by Richard Newsham

Think music that takes classical masterpieces “off the beaten track” to reveal beauty with a new edge as the Lithuanian string ensemble known as NICO (for New Ideas Chamber Orchestra) turns 13 under the baton of its charismatic young composer Gediminas Gelgotas. The players–solo and group award winners of many international competitions–have appeared at the world’s leading venues while their albums and concert recordings ride the radio air waves of Europe.

And now NICO makes its U.S. debut in Ventura on Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m. as part of the Ventura Music Festival’s 25th season at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. The musicians play from memory, mixing classical with new music idioms and non-traditional techniques for a glorious and sublime fusion of sound that is captivating younger and new audiences for classical music wherever they go. Their concerts are a grooving postmodern jukebox featuring a newer generation of Baltic, British and German composers dedicated to reimagining the classics (Mozart, Vivaldi) to make them new and exploring myth and mystic visionaries (Hildegard von Bingen, St. Teresa of Avila, Goethe and Lithuania’s M.K. Čiurlionis) as pathways to compelling contemporary music full of color, dramatic melody and elemental peace.