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Tickets on sale for “Pier Under the Stars”

Restaurants, cafes, wineries and breweries serve their signature dishes.

Tickets are now on sale for Pier Under the Stars—the 25th annual benefit for the historic Ventura Pier on Saturday, October 7th, from 5-8pm. Each year more than 600 residents and visitors attend this beachfront culinary fair adjacent to the pier to sample the county’s best food and spirits provided by over 40 area businesses. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Ventura’s premier beverage and food event.

Restaurants, cafes, wineries and breweries serve their signature dishes and beverages from tented booths along the seaside Promenade while guests enjoy live music by The Colette Lovejoy Band & dancing under the stars and an amazing silent auction. It’s a community celebration to honor the City’s 145 year old pier.

The sell-out event hosted by Pier into the Future–-a non-profit organization- “is a much anticipated community gathering of friends that raises funds for our beloved Pier”, said Pier Into the Future Executive Director Jenise Wagar-Hernandez. The organization was founded by a group of dedicated community leaders, in partnership with the City of Ventura, to establish an endowment fund to maintain and enhance the historic Ventura Pier for future generations to enjoy. The organization has contributed over $769,000 to the City of Ventura over the last 25 years to enhance the Pier.

General admission tickets are $75.00 and include food and beverage tasting and a commemorative Pier wine glass. A limited number of VIP tickets are offered at $150.00 each. VIP tickets include all of the benefits associated with General Admission, plus early entrance to the event at 4:30 pm and a reserved seat at a VIP table along the promenade.

Tickets are available on line at www.brownpapertickets.com or by calling 800.838.3006. Visit www.pierintothefuture.org for more information.

Elections, Education and Art

Councilmember Christy Weir enjoying the CAPS and Ventura Breeze tiles on Michael O’Kelly’s mural.

by Elizabeth Rodeno

Over the next few weeks CAPS Media will work with city officials and election organizations throughout the community to encourage voter participation, provide voter information on ballot initiatives and help explain the district election process for electing City Council members and Ventura Unified School board members.

CAPS will offer candidates the chance to share their campaign platforms with the community via our Video Voter program. CAPS has been producing Video Voter for over 10 years and we continue to fulfill for mission to create an informed and educated community through electronic media

The candidate statements for Ventura City Council and VUSD board will be recorded and broadcast on CAPS Channel 6 and streaming online at capsmedia.org. CAPS Media continues its coverage of various candidate forums held by the League of Women throughout the city. CAPS Media is also producing informative videos for the County of Ventura on election related issues.  Look for us out in the community in our big white truck with CAPS Media on the side and our enthusiastic volunteers and students bringing all of this to the community. The programs will be found on Channel 6 in the City of Ventura and online at capsmedia.org.

For details on the City district elections go to the City of Ventura website for comprehensive information at cityofventura.gov. For information on the new school district areas go to VenturaUSD.org. Log in to the County of Ventura’s website and go to the County Clerk’s webpage for all the information on how the election process works and to register to vote.

The award winning ECTV program, the collaboration between CAPS Media and El Camino High School, returns for its 3rd year.

Former students have honed their skills with many off to college, pursuing their dreams. Returning and new students are looking forward to exploring new issues, meeting interesting people and using their skills to create thoughtful and engaging video journalism. Last year ECTV featured stories about The Thomas Fires, the Peace Corp, Chicano music, filmmakers and women’s rights to name a few. We can’t wait to see what topics they discuss this year.

CAPS is proud to be part of Michael O’Kelly’s mural beautifully crafted with glazed tile. It’s great to see all the folks, locations, businesses and organizations included in this work of love to the community of Ventura. Planning began in 2015 and it was unveiled earlier this year. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth a visit. It’s just outside the mission on Main Street. What a great addition to city of Ventura and big thanks to the city and community members who made it happen.

View our ongoing series Thomas Fire Story projects every Friday at 6pm, get your election information on Channel 6 and get orientation and training class information on CAPSMedia.org. Get engaged, share your story on TV or Radio and become a member of CAPS Media Center.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Of Ventura kicks off 2018 Campaign

Paul Hardy, Josh Damigo, and Dr. Ron Atanay  attended the kickoff event and will be at the walk at Harbor Cove Beach.

An open house reception was held at the Four Points Sheraton Ventura on Thursday, August 9th for this year’s Kickoff Celebration “Younited For a Cure”. The evening’s festivities included pink themed appetizers, raffle prizes, socializing, and informational speakers.

Event Chair Brenda Dearborn opened with the event overview, followed by Kickoff Chair Kerri Berntsen with sponsor thank yous going out to the National Presenting Sponsor, Avon, 2018 Presenting Sponsor UCLA Health, the National Survivor Ambassador Zeta Tau Alpha, as well as to our Platinum Sponsors, $2,500 Sponsors, and Media Sponsors. A very special thanks, along with an award of appreciation, was given to Tim and Kathy Mayeda with the U.S. Bowling Congress for 10 years of support in the fight against breast cancer.

Guest speakers included Camilla Conaway with Avon; Becky Fielder, Making Strides Survivor Tent Chair and 5 year Breast Cancer Survivor; and Bill Harris of Thousand Oaks, who spoke of his own battle with breast cancer and breast cancer survivorship.

Matthew Shrope spoke about where the money raised by Making Strides is used within Ventura County. He then introduced one of the highlights of the evening, the Three Pink Musketeers: Dr. Ronald Atanay, DDS, Josh Damigo and Paul Hardy. Dr. Atanay led the audience in a chant of “All for One, and One for All!” They were joined on stage by Dr. Shawn Steen and Oxnard Police Department Sargent Jeff McGreevy. These dedicated men have each committed to wearing the color Pink every day in October and raise $2,500+ for the Real Men Wear Pink campaign.

Bernie Glenn and Tammy Bauer spoke of their experiences with the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) and the importance of lobbying for critically needed funding for programs and cancer research. Ric Maddox, ACS Community Development Manager, closed out the presentation with information about signing up as a team leader, Social Media, the fundraising app, and event info.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Harbor Cove Beach, 1878 Spinnaker Dr. Registration begins at 7:30 am and the walk is at 9:00 am. Sign up your team at makingstrideswalk.org/Ventura and walk with us!

VCCDC has created a disaster recovery assistance grant program.

VCCDC offers disaster recovery grants for Thomas Fire Victims.

Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC), a local non-profit community economic development organization, has created a disaster recovery assistance grant program for Ventura and Santa Barbara County residents who were affected by the Thomas Fire and/or Montecito Mudslides. The funds come from an $800,000 commitment made by Wells Fargo to assist with economic recovery for those affected by the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide. The initial $300,000 in grant funds were awarded to five local non-profits, including VCCDC, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF), Red Cross and Food Share, Inc. The remaining $500,000 will be distributed to nonprofits in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties over the course of the year, as plans and programs are developed to address current and emerging community needs.

VCCDC plans to use the funds it was awarded through this grant to provide individual grants of up to $1,000 for households affected by the disasters. Applicants must be residents of Ventura or Santa Barbara County and must demonstrate a financial loss due to the fire and/or mudslides. The funds will be given directly to the applicant to be used for existing needs ranging anywhere from housing to living expense needs caused by loss of wages or business losses caused by disasters. There are no income or household size limits. One grant per eligible household or business will be awarded. Additional criteria and requirements apply.

“Although eight months have passed since the Thomas Fire began its destructive path in Ventura County and attention has shifted, the need for financial assistance for those affected is still very much present. We are grateful to our community partner, Wells Fargo, for stepping up to show their support for our community during the recovery period. Our hope is that through these small individual grants we can lessen the financial burden that the affected families are still feeling,” says VCCDC Executive Director, Bertha Garcia.

Full application, document requirements, eligibility criteria, and submission details can be found at www.vccdc.org/wfgrant starting on Monday, August 27th at 10am. Applications will be accepted until all qualified recipients have been identified.

Since it was founded in 2001 as a local non-profit organization, VCCDC has worked to increase homeownership and economic stability in underserved communities of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. VCCDC is dedicated to ensuring that homebuyers are prepared for homeownership with the support of certified professionals who provide education and guidance, assisting with planning and problem solving. All VCCDC staff is bilingual, proudly serving the community. VCCDC accomplishes its work in partnership with other community organizations, and is financially supported by private and public funds. Visit at www.vccdc.org and www.facebook.com/vccdc

For questions please contact Keily Victoria, Administration Support Manager for VCCDC, at 805-273-7800 or [email protected].

From Foothill High to Germany

Annika Fedde represented USA at Laser Radial Youth World Championships.

Annika Fedde, senior at Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, headed to Europe to train prior to competing in the Laser Radial Youth World Championships in Kiel, Germany held August 18-25.

Annika qualified for the 2018 Worlds through her 2017 results, ending the year ranked 3rd youth girl in North America.

“I am super excited to have the opportunity to be one of four American girls among the 101 competitors from 29 countries in the girls division”, Annika said. “I am really looking forward to getting to know and racing against the top girl single-handed sailors from all over the world”.

The Laser is a very physical boat with the sailor using their body to “hike out” in a plank position while sailing upwind to offset the wind’s pressure against the sail. To prepare for the athletic challenge of the long races on the Olympic style courses, Annika commenced a sailing specific workout program at Mavericks Gym after school under the guidance of 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe.

Annika’s event schedule on the way to the World Championships began in January at the Atlantic Coast Championships in Florida and included the US Youth Championship in North Carolina, and Laser National Championships in Texas, Laser North Americans in California, and Pacific Coast Championships at the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon in early August.

Annika learned to sail at the Ventura Yacht Club summer sailing program where she first discovered her love for the water, wind and waves. She started competing in California events when she was 8 years old, then advanced to national and international events in the Optimist Dinghy, before moving into the Laser Radial class.

The Laser is the most popular sailing dinghy in the world with over 215,000 produced and has been the Olympic single-handed boat for men since 1996 and the Laser Radial for women since 2008. The Radial is also the top youth single-handed boat for boys and girls as they grow out of smaller entry level youth boats. Event information can be found at: http://laserworlds2018.com/

Visit Fillmore and Santa Paula while riding on vintage “movie trains!”

Fillmore & Western’s mission is to preserve and offer a unique part of American heritage. Photo by Nicholas Martinez

Fillmore & Western Railway has announced two new train excursions this summer.  Enjoy the “Hot August Nights – Beer, Wine & Blues Train” departing from Fillmore’s Train Depot.  Then on Labor Day weekend enjoy Fillmore & Western’s “Return to Santa Paula” with 1-hour antique steam engine train rides, for the first time, out of Santa Paula’s historic train depot.

Hot August Nights is an exciting new train that offers beer tasting from Santa Clarita’s Wolf Creek Brewery and wine + hard cider tasting from Reyes Winery. Appetizers are available for pairing and can be purchased while onboard.  Passengers also have the opportunity to dance & mingle on beautifully lit outdoor flatcars while a live band performs into the night.  The last chance to try this popular new excursion is on Aug 24th & 25th.

Return to Santa Paula is a celebration of Fillmore & Western’s arrival back at Santa Paula’s historic 1887 Southern Pacific Railroad Depot after over a year. Thanks to the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce the railroad will be open for business at the Santa Paula Depot and are running one hour train rides with their 1913 2-8-0 Consolidation steam engine built by Baldwin Locomotive Works.  1-hour rides will be offered 3 times a day on Sept 1st & 2nd from the Santa Paula Depot.  On Sept 3rd a special vintage diesel train ride will depart from Fillmore at 8:30 am and head to Santa Paula for passengers to see their traditional Labor Day Parade or visit the Ventura County Agricultural Museum Tractor Festival.

Marketing Director & Webmaster, Josh Carsman shared that “Fillmore & Western’s mission is to preserve and offer a unique part of American heritage for all generations to enjoy. So many train adventures to choose from all year long. Its step back in time riding on vintage passenger and dining cars through the scenic Santa Clara River Valley (aka Heritage Valley).  Not more then 30 – 40 minutes from Ventura on Hwy 126.”

Visit fwry.com for information or call 805-524-2546

Well-known restaurant owner dies

A nice memorial has been set-up outside the site of the restaurant.

Chingchai “Chang” Liampetchakul, former owner of Tipps Thai Cuisine has passed on at age 60.

Chang’s life has taken a turn for the worse the last several years.

In Feb., 2017 Chang Liampetchakul suffered a stroke while at the restaurant. He was cooking up some ribs for Super Bowl, when some friends came to pick him up. When they arrived he crawled to the front door to unlock it. Tipps was one of Ventura County’s first Thai restaurants when it opened at 512 E. Main St.

After his stroke Tipps restaurant closed its doors after serving Thai food to Ventura locals and visitors since 1983. The lovable Chang was a kind and generous person, often providing trays of food to families in need and always ready with a great yarn.

In April, 2017 a fire erupted in the two story portion of the building on Main St. which housed Tipps on the ground floor and the Odd Fellows on the top floor.

Ventura Fire and Ventura Police investigated and found evidence that pointed to Liampetchakul as having started the fire. On May 10, 2017, Liampetchakul was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire. A motive was never determined. His case was still pending.

Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 18 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Vietnam Memorial Hosted at Ventura County Government Center

Vietnam vet Bruce Lockhart points out names of 3 of his friends.

by Richard Lieberman

A half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. was setup next to the Ventura County Government Center at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road in Ventura. The replica wall was illuminated at night and the wall was available to all visitors around the clock.

The replica wall has visited Ventura County seven times in the past 33 years. This past July marked the third time it has been hosted at the Ventura County Government Center.

Joseph Richardson, a founding member of the Vietnam Vets of Ventura County invited the public to “Come, Honor, Remember and Respect” he said. Richardson started his work with the replica monument in 1985 during its first visit to Ventura. “One of the things we really tried this year we took the Department of Defense listing of 111 casualties from Ventura, we created a brochure with their names on it, by city, alphabetical and by town, so there are 72 panels that have Ventura County casualties and their name and line number right there on the wall” added Richardson. Drafted into the Marine Corps in 1966 Richardson served 18 months in Vietnam.

VEP announces availability of $100,000 in grants for VUSD classrooms

Students learning at the farm.

Over the past 10 years, Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) has given over one million dollars to provide small grants to Ventura Unified School District teachers that make a big impact on learning. VEPGrants have touched every child in VUSD, and have a long-lasting impact on learning by incentivizing innovation in the classroom and incubating new programs district-wide.

Madhu Bajaj, President of the all-volunteer Ventura Education Partnership believes “VEPGrants is a powerful way for the community to support teachers and students because of the impact on increased student engagement and learning. Our teachers are amazingly resourceful. They bring innovation to their classroom on very limited budgets.”

“It is an honor and privilege for Ventura Education Partnership to serve the Ventura Unified School District community by offering VEPGrants. And, it’s exciting to share that this fall we will give over $100,000 in grants for the 2018/19 school year thanks to generous community members and businesses who support our youth, teachers and schools,” Bajaj said. Mountains 2 Beach Marathon, Aera Energy, Community Memorial Healthy System, MJP Technologies, Rotary Club of Ventura and many others make VEPGrants possible.

Recent Grant Recipient and VUSD Farm to School Operations Specialist, Chris Massa said of his grant, “The grant I received was literally the ‘seed’ money that allowed me to grow my program. It allowed me to buy tools, fruit trees, and seeds for my school farm.”

Cabrillo Middle School Principal, Lorelle Dawes shared that “my VEPGrant allowed me to work with our students and renowned artist M.B. Hanrahan to create a mural that will enhance our entire school. It’s been a beautiful process, and I am incredibly grateful to VEP for their support!”

Monica Lukins, Teacher at De Anza Middle School said “VEPGrants equipped me with necessary supplies that allow me to make history come alive in my classroom—from reenacting the Renaissance, traveling the trans-Saharan trade routes, and replicating Chinese inventions. ”

David Creswell, Superintendent, Ventura Unified School District said “Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) does so much to support education, encourage innovation and enrich the lives of literally all of our students. They are a catalyst for pulling us all together. VEP continues to make a huge impact on our schools and community, and I believe that this impact cannot be underestimated.”

For application information or to support VEPGrants with a donation visit www.venturaeducationpartnership.org or contact Madhu Bajaj (805) 754-9861.

Warped Tour gives back to Ventura via River Beautification Project

“They cleared out 8 tons of garbage”

by Adrienne Stephens

After twenty-four years of bringing punk and alternative bands plus thousands of enthusiastic music fans to the Ventura County Fairgrounds, the Warped Tour wrapped up its final stop in Ventura by undertaking a huge community service project working in collaboration with the Ventura Land Trust, the California State Parks and the City of Ventura in restoration efforts at the Ventura River estuary.

On Monday, June 25, the day after their final Ventura County concert, more than 250 musicians, roadies, vendors and community partners joined staff and volunteers from Ventura Land Trust and the City of Ventura to clear trash and invasive plants from the Ventura River estuary.

Matt LaVere, Deputy Mayor, helped to put the plan in place. “When I first met Kevin Lyman, founder of the Warped Tour, we were working together to produce last February’s Thomas Fire Benefit Concert,” said LaVere. “He told me that Ventura has always held a special place in his heart and very generously offered the services of the Warped Tour bands and crew members to help us clean up the beach and Ventura River bottom.”

Giving back to the communities and charities along the tour has been central to the Warped Tour’s mission since the very beginning. Twenty-five cents of every ticket sold goes to charity, nonprofits line the festival grounds, and in select cities, Warped Tour employees gather together to provide community service manpower. This year’s Ventura River restoration project, the 12th “Give Back Day” in the festival’s history, was a way for the Warped Tour to lend a helping hand after the Thomas Fire.

“It’s amazing what a difference the Warped Tour crew made for the environment in just one morning,” said Kate Furlong, Ventura Land Trust Stewardship Manager. “They cleared out 8 tons of garbage that would have otherwise ended up in the Ventura River and eventually in the Pacific Ocean.”

Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman helped kickoff the festivities by thanking his volunteers, reminding them that the hills behind Ventura had been black just six months ago and encouraging them to “pay it forward” to the city by visiting the pier, local restaurants and shopping in the downtown that “even includes a record store.” The small army of volunteers donned gloves and shovels and traversed the beach to Emma Wood State Park where they proceeded to collect and haul out hundreds of bags filled with trash. In a second location, they cleared invasive bamboo-like Arundo donax plants that invade wetlands, degrade wildlife habitat and increase fire risk.