Category Archives: Home Page Links

Annual Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo March 2nd

Golden Future Expos Inc. is pleased to announce a new and exciting change to the 8th Annual Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo. We have moved to the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center located at 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. This annual event has also moved to the month of March and will be held on Saturday, March 2nd 2019 from 10:00am – 2:30pm.

The expo will feature 60 vendors with products, services, and resources tailored for Baby Boomers, Seniors, Caregivers, and Friends/Family.

Highlights Include:

  • Free Admission & Free Parking
  • Health Screenings (Blood Pressure, Carotid Artery/Stroke, Blood Glucose, DNA Cancer Screenings, Pulse Oximeter & More)
  • Medicare and/or Financial Planning Advice
  • Makeovers
  • Entertainment
  • Great Speakers & Workshops
  • Hourly Door Prize Drawings & Giveaways
  • Mini Job & Volunteer Fair
  • Food Truck to Purchase Lunch
  • Bingo with Cash Prizes
  • DIY Arts & Crafts

The Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo connects local seniors, their families and caretakers with a variety of services and resources available to them. “This expo has become an important annual event for Ventura County,” states Toyia Moore Borrelli, Event Director. Visit www.goldenfutureseniorexpo.com for a complete schedule. Attendees can pre-register online or at the door.

Design in the Making: Ventura County Architecture

Cayetano School Wilson, Stroh, Wilson, AIA.

The Museum of Ventura County and the American Institute of Architects Ventura County (AIAVC) present Design in the Making, a community Architectural Exhibit exploring the dynamic role of architects and designers in affecting positive change in our community through the creative design process. Admission is Free for museum and AIA members, $5 for non-members. For more information, visit venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.

Design in the Making runs through May 19, 2019 and will feature the Museum of Ventura County’s architectural archives opened to the public for the very first time, and local built and un-built projects highlighting the evolving conversation inherent within the design process with a window into the future.

“Ventura County’s architectural diversity creates a landscape of historic relevance that defines the vernacular of our culture,” said Anna Bermudez, curator for the Museum. “The exhibit will present a cross-section of styles that reflect the influences of immigration and its cultural impact on housing and community buildings throughout the decades and throughout the county.

Accompanying the exhibition, programs throughout the duration of the exhibit include live interactive design charrettes where Designers-In-Residence and Community will come together to create solutions to local place making issues. The AIAVC will host a Scholarship Fundraiser to benefit students planning on pursuing careers in architecture, and to announce the 2019 Scholarship Recipients, Friday, May 3, 2019 from 6-9 p.m. followed by a free activity, “Kid Draw Architecture,” on Sunday, May 5, 2019 from 2-4pm. For more information visit AIAVC or call 805-749-6809.

This exhibit is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Ashley & Vance Engineering, Coast Reprographics, Mary Follenweider AIA, Neel Lighting, and Staples Construction. Additional support provided by the City of Ventura, Ventura County, and private funders.

Established in 1965, the AIAVC is a member-driven organization providing advocacy, leadership, and resources for architects.  Its mission is to promote personal and corporate growth, strength and sustainability of the membership as architects and citizens of Ventura County. This is done by Engaging, Encouraging and Educating the membership and the community at large. For more information visit AIAVC or call 805-749-6809.

For more information, visit venturamuseum.org.

CAPS Media and ECTV win ACM Wave awards

ECTV students Sienna Shaifer, Bella Welch, Mohamad Abdulah, Josh Brook, Eleana Newton, Gina Favazzo, Claire Villegas, Jessica Llamas, Keegan Pancretz and Jacob.

Congratulations to CAPS Media producers and students from El Camino High School for winning WAVE Awards at the recent ACM conference in Long Beach. The WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence) were presented at the recent Alliance for Community Media conference. The competition was open to residents in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico.

CAPS Media’s won for the “Thomas Fire Stories – Clark Tulberg, Thomas Aquinas College” story in the category of Community Issues. The ECTV students won three awards: “ECTV – Peace Corps and Amber Bassett” in the Educational Access category, “ECTV – Women’s Rights and Hijabs” in the Underserved Voices category and “ECTV Chicano Art and Mariachi” in the Community Event category.

This is the third year in a row that ECTV teams have won awards at the ACM Western Region conference. Students in the CAPS Media/El Camino media internship program master the skills and art of video production and digital storytelling. The ECTV topics and stories are selected, developed and produced by the El Camino team members. All of the ECTV programs are available on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/videos.

Happy 2nd Birthday! CAPS RADIO KPPQ 104.1FM

Two short years ago CAPS Media launched CAPS Radio – KPPQ-104.1 FM, Ventura’s public access radio station serving the community 24×7 from the CAPS Media Center.

CAPS Radio brings together a passionate group of deejays, personalities and producers. During the past two years the station has continued to expand its voice and has become an essential part of the fabric of Ventura’s conversation and entertainment.

Listen to KPPQ throughout the county @ 104.1FM, on the myTuner app or streaming on capsmedia.org. The program schedule and information is available at capsmedia.org/radio. Share all that Ventura has to offer by joining the crew and inviting your friends to listen to KPPQ.

For those who missed the initial screenings of The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story in December, two additional screenings are scheduled at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on Saturday, March 9th at 1pm & 3pm. This is a free event, open to the public, no reservations are required. Also, in response to requests from the community, the documentary is open for viewing on the CAPS Media website homepage – capsmedia.org.

Explore the possibilities at CAPS Media. If you have an interest in community television or radio production, or are just curious, drop by the CAPS Media Center on the first Thursday of the month and learn how to become a member of CAPS and join our community of enthusiastic and engaged member/producers. A CAPS Media staff member directs a tour of the television studio and radio station, demonstrates the equipment and resources that are available, and answers questions about the benefits of becoming a CAPS Media member for only $25 per year.

Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. Once certified, member/producers check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their project and craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 805-658-0500.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.

Ventura Music Festival announces Silver Anniversary lineup

Nuvi Mehta introduced the artists for the Silver Anniversary.

On Monday, January 28, a presentation was held at the Museum of Ventura County for the “Silver Anniversary Festival Preview” for the Ventura Music Festival new season. The program included artist previews of the Festival’s July line-up along with live music and refreshments.

Always informative and entertaining Nuvi Mehta – VMF Janet & Mark L. Goldenson Artistic Director, who presented the artists on a large screen, told the standing room only audience that a “major star” was set to close the year in November, but that the artist’s name must remain a secret for some months. “Wait till May,” he said; “you’ll love it.”

VMF Board president Richard Reisman provided the endnote to the sponsor gathering by announcing that the VMF Board had voted unanimously to invest Miriam Schwab’s recent $1.3 million bequest in a special endowment-like VMF Legacy Fund. “The Festival is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with an investment in our future,” Reisman said. “We’re stable financially with a prudent cash reserve. What we didn’t have was a fund to grow for the future. Now, thanks to Miriam, we have created a substantial Legacy Fund. Donors can join our Legacy Circle with a planned gift and be sponsors in perpetuity while the Fund – and the music – continue to grow.”

Leading off the year on February 9th were Anderson & Roe, lauded as “the most exciting piano duo on the planet.” Then in a special concert on May 10th NICO – the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra – take center stage as “the rock stars of chamber music.” Both events at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center.

Since 1994, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival has been to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist relationships, and enhance the joy of music through diverse programs for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.

renowned conductor and Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta, 25TH Annual Festival to Feature World-Class Artists, including The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6, Ranky Tanky, Calidore String Quartet and more this summer

(Ventura, CA) – Each year, the Ventura Music Festival fills venues across the city with top-tier music for two weekends of multi-genre music, dance performances and world-class culture. This summer, the festival is returning with a lineup that promises to be bigger and better than ever. Headlined by the one and only The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6 with support by world class acts such as classical guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening with extraordinary baritone Jubilant Sykes, the thrilling Rastrelli Cello Quartet and many others, the festival has something for every musical taste.

In the hands of the 2019 musical lineup consists of:

7/12: Festival headliners and acclaimed vocal groups are The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6 as the renowned groups join forces to wow audiences at the Oxnard PACC

7/13: Celebrated guitarist Christopher Parkening joins renowned baritone Jubilant Sykes in a recital ranging from classical and jazz to American spirituals at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center

7/14: Calidore String Quartet brings “synergistic brilliance and ferocious commitment” to the Ventura College Performing Arts Center

7/19: Youth jazz pianist star-on-the-rise and “brightest light” Joey Alexander at the Ventura College Performing Arts center

7/20: Ranky Tanky brings Gullah culture and “soulful honey for the ears” through a prism of African, gospel and R&B music at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center

7/22: Rastrelli Cello Quartet’s “simply infectious” musical sizzle at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center

Additionally, the festival will host a “Tea & Trumpets” at the Ventura Pierpont Inn, where guests will enjoy a four-course English tea with the Festival Brass Quintet’s hallmark wit, humor and fanfare on 7/11, as well as a free public concert with high octane Latin guitar ensemble Incendio at Mission Park in Ventura on 7/18. For times, updates and more details in the coming months, follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The 25th annual Ventura Music Festival will take place on July 11-15 and July 20-22, 2018 at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, located at 4700 Loma Vista Road, Ventura CA 93003 unless otherwise noted above. Tickets will range in price from $25-$50 (special student rates excepted) and will be available for purchase in April. For more information please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org or call (805) 648-3146.

Since 1994, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival has been to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist relationships, and enhance the joy of music through diverse programs for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music.

Ventura Police Officers’ Association presents extreme mud challenge

The Ventura Police Officers’ Association presents the 6th annual Ventura Eco Extreme Mud Challenge hosted by the Ventura Land Trust on April 27, 2019. The event will take place at a new location at Harmon Canyon which is located off Foothill Road and Kimball Road in East Ventura.

The event features a 5k mud challenge that kicks off at 10:30 am. Registration is $50 and includes a goody bag, event t-shirt, finishers medal and event timing. A 1k kids mud challenge is also offered with a 9:30 start time and $20 registration fee.

Some of the challenging and exciting obstacles will include mud pits, hurdles, low crawls, tube tunnel crawls, tire runs and lots of mud!

The goal of this event is to create a fun and challenging adventure while raising scholarship funds for the Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. Sergeant Dowell is the only Ventura Police Officer killed in the line of duty 40 years ago. The Dee Dowell Scholarship Fund was created in 2002 and has provided over $109,000 in financial assistance to 96 college-bound students.

Facebook Event https://p-upload.facebook.com/events/344024646442272/

Registration is now open! Sponsorships are also welcome. www.VenturaEcoX.com

Join the Hokuloa Feb. 23

Join the Hokuloa on Feb.23, 10am-2pm for an Open House on the Beach. An introduction for youth and adult Outrigger Paddling in a 6-man canoe. Provided will be a paddle, a short lesson and practice on the water at Ventura Harbor at the end of Spinnaker Dr. For more information Hokuloaoutrigger.com.

Hokuloa is celebrating 30 years as an Outrigger Canoe Club in Ventura. They are a competitive club that participates in races along the Southern California coast. From San Diego all the way to Santa Barbara. They host their annual Ventura Challenge race in June.

Adventure, lore and more await visitors at Ventura Harbor

A Majestic sight – tall ships sail into Ventura Harbor.

It’s time to plan an adventure to Ventura Harbor Village as the majestic Tall Ships are voyaging back into town just in time for Valentine’s Day and the Presidential Weekends! Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington will commence their annual journey along the California coast to sail into Ventura Harbor on February 12th at noon until March 5th. The ships will dock in front of Ventura Harbor Village’s waterfront promenade and their stay coincides with additional seaside activities for the whole family!

During select times, visitors have the opportunity to take a step back in history and hop onboard for a tour of a Tall Ship or better yet, book a spot for a special sail to see the ship in action. Tickets are now on sale! Please note: sail dates and tour times are weather pending and schedule may be subject to change. Please check VenturaHarborVillage.com for latest updates.

Seeking more excitement? Three-Hour Battle Sails or Two-Hour Adventure Sails, complete with firing cannons and hoisting of the main sails are just the ticket! Battle Sails feature a recreation of a naval skirmish with close quarter maneuvers. Adventure Sails take place out in the channel to experience life on the high seas. For Battle and Adventure Sail ticket reservations call 800-200-5239 or visit www.historicalseaport.org.

New in 2019 is the Natural History Sail on March 3 from 2pm to 4pm (on Lady Washington). Returning will be the Grand Arrival on February 12 at approximately noon (followed by tours), the Valentine’s Day Sweethearts Sail on February 14 from 4pm to 6pm, and the ships will be open on President’s Day, February 18, 2019.

The Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington travel down the West Coast stopping in ports and harbors for historical and educational visits. These ships host over 8,000 school children a year. Educators should contact the Historical Seaport education office, 1-800-200-5239 to arrange dockside, or on-the-water programming while here in Ventura Harbor February 12 through March 5, 2019.

Rich in history and seaside lure, the visiting ships, Hawaiian Chieftain was built in Hawaii in 1988 and originally designed for cargo trade among the Hawaiian Islands. Launched in 1989, Lady Washington is a full-scale reproduction of the original Lady Washington, which was built in 1750s and was one of the first U.S. flagged ships to explore the west coast of North America.

Share your Tall Ships photos by using #SeaTallShips and tag @VenturaHarbor on Instagram! For more Tall Ship information, please visit www.venturaharborvillage.com or Ventura Harbor’s Facebook Page. Admission and parking are free at Ventura Harbor Village daily. For a complete schedule: www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239.

Meet Ventura’s future city leaders

Mayor for a Moment, season 4, is in full swing. The student recognition program is a collaboration with the City of Ventura, the Ventura Unified School District and CAPS Media. Each month an outstanding 5th grader is selected by the individual elementary schools. The “young mayor” is invited to gavel the start of a City Council meeting and present an essay on a leadership topic to the council and community. CAPS Media produces an onsite profile on each young mayor that is shown at the City council meeting and at the VUSD board meeting. Worthy honorees thus far this school year are Tyleigh Matheson (Loma Vista), Jazzmn Viot-Preciado (ATLAS), Alexa Swanson (E.P. Foster), Ammar Atiah (Elmhurst), and Darby Mussehl (Blanche Reynolds).

An addition screening of The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story will be held at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on Saturday, March 9th at 1pm and 3pm. This is a free event, open to the public, no reservations are required. Go to our website for information. The Perfect Firestorm is a tribute to our entire community of heroes who, in the face of an overwhelming crisis, responded with astonishing calm and then opened their hearts, hands and homes to rescue neighbors and strangers and together rebuild their lives. The film is also airing on CAPS Media, go to capsmedia.org/schedule to find days and time. And, in response to requests from the community, the film is open for viewing on the CAPS Media website homepage – capsmedia.org.

Explore the possibilities at CAPS Media. Have you ever wondered what’s inside the CAPS Media Center – that red, black and glass building on Day Road, across from Foothill High school? There’s a lot more inside than you can imagine including limitless creative opportunities waiting for you. To find out more come to orientation on the first Thursday of every month and learn how to become a member of CAPS and join our community of enthusiastic engaged member/producers. A CAPS Media staff member directs a tour of the television studio and radio station, displays and explains the equipment and resources that are available to Member/Producers, and answer questions about the benefits of becoming a CAPS Media member.

Member classes include a Production/Storytelling class on the 1st Thursday of the month, a HD videography/camera class held on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes on the 4th week. In every training session Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road. Once trained and certified, member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their project and then book postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 805-658-0500.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.

Wilderness course now in its eleventh year

WBC students resting at Sheep Camp monument in the snow. Photo by Michael Kuredjian

The local Sierra Club’s annual Wilderness Basics Course begins Feb 6, gathering local outdoor experts to teach and share tips on how to be safe and comfortable outdoors, enhancing day hikes to backpacking adventures.

Considering the number of people that do things like read this site and look for any help they can improving their wilderness skills, the Los Padres Chapter’s popular course is in its 11th year and typically sells out. It caters to all physical levels and ages from teen to seniors so would be great to learn more about surviving in your local area.

WBC includes evening hands-on classes and day and overnight adventures, including car camp. Camaraderie always comes along.

WBC has close ties with the Search and Rescue teams in both counties; in fact, some surplus funds from class fees are donated to them. Other “after-cost” funds have been donated for trail maintenance to the Los Padres Forest Assn. and the chapter for use in its free Outings, wildlife protection and trail access.

Volunteer leaders teach people the skills to enjoy the wilderness in 8 classroom sessions and guide the students on 4 exciting outings, sponsored by the Los Padres Chapter, Sierra Club.

Evening classes are held at Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura Feb. 6 to March 27. Day, overnight and car camps are held in both counties. The course serves people of all levels from beginners to seasoned hikers, teens to seniors and outings are student’s choice, ranked from easy, moderate or strenuous. Various discounts apply, and a few scholarships are available.

To register: http://bit.ly/LPWBC19
For information call (805) 524-7170 or [email protected].
www.facebook.com/lospadreswbc.

School on Wheels awarded grants by the Ojai Women’s Fund

On Thursday, January 17th, School on Wheels along with 12 other local nonprofits were awarded grants totaling $105,000 by the Ojai Women’s Fund.

School on Wheels is a local nonprofit that celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year providing educational assistance to children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Sinead Chilton, Director of Development and Marketing for School on Wheels, Anna Wagner OWF Co-Chair and Peggy Russell from OWF Steering Committee at the awards ceremony.

Their $10,000.00 grant from the Ojai Women’s Fund (OWF) is to continue and expand their program in the Ojai Valley by recruiting, training and matching volunteer tutors with students living in shelters, motels, cars, on the street and in group foster homes.  This funding will specifically support their program to a group foster home for sexually trafficked youth (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) ages 12-18.

Catherine Meek, Executive Director of School on Wheels is a resident of Ojai and also one of the newest members of the OWF.  In 2018 they provided one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to over 3,500 children.  Sinead Chilton, Director of Development and Marketing, accepted the award on their behalf and stated “Our hope with the funds you have given us is that we can recruit, train and match volunteers in Ojai that are willing to work with older students and be positive role models for kids that have experienced trauma that most of us cannot even begin to comprehend. “

To find out more about School on Wheels and to apply to be a volunteer tutor visit their website at www.schoolonwheels.org.