Category Archives: Home Page Links

Where to volunteer in and around Ventura

Volunteer Marla Randall and her two granddaughters with helping by walking a “dobie”.

by Mira Reverente

The Thomas Fire images are heartbreaking. The figures are staggering. The loss of property is astounding. At least 972 structures destroyed and 258 damaged. As of this writing, the fires have burned through 242,500 acres and is 30% contained.

Everyone processes these losses and destruction differently, but there are a few things that can be done. If you take a look below, you can help. You can make a difference in a small but impactful way. We found five places around town and volunteered at a couple. For sure, there are more not mentioned below that could use your help.

For some of these places, it’s highly recommended to visit their Facebook pages first for more updated info or to sign up quickly for volunteer shifts.

Take action and take your pick.

Source: http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1922

American Red Cross, Ventura

No matter what your interest or availability is, there’s bound to be an opportunity for you at the Red Cross donation center at 194 Junipero St. or at the shelter at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

The process to sign up online was easy. I also attended a two-hour volunteer orientation in Camarillo, prior to helping sort donations. The need for helping hands is great. You’ll meet a lot of friendly, big-hearted, like-minded folks. If you are a hands-on person, this is for you.

Greatest needs: volunteers to help sort donations and man the shelter

Website: www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer#step1

Dobies and Little Paws Rescue, Fillmore

Let’s not forget our furry friends who are also going through stress and anxiety during these uncertain times. When my group showed up, there were dozens of doggies that were evacuated and needed to be walked. My furry pal took a long time to get “warmed up” but then cozied up to me and didn’t want to leave my side after a 45-minute walk. Warning: if you are a dog lover, you will get attached.

Greatest needs: dog walkers, blankets, towels

Website: www.DobiesandLittlePawsRescue.org

Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC)

Over 100 dogs are also in dire need of walks at this no-kill shelter. Volunteer orientation is required. Call for the updated schedule. Again, animal lovers, be prepared to get those heartstrings tugged.

Greatest needs: dog walkers, blankets, towels

Website: santapaulaarc.org

World Central Kitchen, Ventura and Santa Barbara

This is ideal for those who like to be involved in mass meal preparation and delivery. When I clicked on the volunteer sign-up link from their Facebook page, several shifts were still open at their kitchens in Ventura and Santa Barbara. With over 2,000+ meals being prepped every day, they could use your help.

Greatest needs: volunteers to prepare, distribute and deliver meals to first responders, shelters and children at the Boys and Girls Clubs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldCentralKitchenThomasFire/

Website: www.worldcentralkitchen.org

Ventura Recovery Coalition

A new grassroots coalition of 20+ non-profit groups aimed at accommodating specific community needs and matching those with available resources. VRC is currently in the process of organizing a centralized volunteer network to assist in recovery efforts.

Fill out this form to volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUpSzxgjeq-DSRrSCnlWA0Bh2TGFV5jdKTW3iL1GlcBStkAg/viewform

Greatest needs: varies

Website: unknown

Also, for updated fire info and ongoing volunteer needs, search for and join Thomas Fire Info on Facebook.

Ventura Family YMCA increases free services to the community

In the aftermath of local fires, the Ventura Family YMCA will increase child care, membership and facility access to members in the community who need it. The Y offers firefighters and anyone who have lost their homes to the fire free membership until March 31. Those in need have free access to the Y until December 31. The YMCA will also continue to provide two hours of free child care for families in need, so parents can run errands outside of the Y.

 Until schools open, the Y will continue to offer full-time (7am – 6pm) child care services at Elmhurst Elementary. The services are free for families who have lost their home. For all others impacted in the community, the Y will offer child care for $30 per day. All other child care sites will remain closed.

 If interested in this care, families should contact [email protected] in order to guarantee a spot, to receive all of the registration paperwork needed, and to RSVP so the Y can secure staff as needed.

 In addition to these services, Red Cross staff and volunteers may shower at the Y. The staff will also stock locker rooms with toiletries until December 31. “We want the community to know that we are praying for everyone who has been affected,” Amy Bailey, Executive Director for the Ventura Family YMCA, said on behalf of everyone at the Ventura Y.

 For any updated information and open hours visit https://www.facebook.com/VenturaFamilyYMCA/ or contact Amy Bailey at 805.642.2131 ext. 24 or [email protected].

Ancient sea cow fossil discovered on the Channel Islands

Paleontologist Dr. Jonathan Hoffman led the team of volunteers.

A fossil of an extinct species of sea cow was discovered on Santa Rosa Island, a new find for the Channel Islands and conceivably one of the oldest of its kind on the west coast of North America with an estimated age between 20-25 million years ago.

Scientists think that the fossilized remains of a skull and partially articulated rib cage may represent a new species of sea cow, an ancient relative of dugongs known as sirenians. They anticipate this to be confirmed when the skull is analyzed by Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe, a marine mammal taxonomic expert at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

The discovery was made by United States Geologic Survey (USGS) scientists Scott Minor and Kevin Schmidt as they were mapping faults on the island on July 17, 2017.

A team of volunteers led by paleontologist Dr. Jonathan Hoffman with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History are protecting the specimen for the upcoming winter and planning for an excavation next spring or early summer.

“This sea cow may have only been exposed the past few years after being buried for millions of years,” said Hoffman. “It came from a different place and a different time period.”

Scientists believe the sea cow lived in shallow seas when the island’s coastal landscape was situated hundreds of miles south of its current location. The remnants of at least four other sea cow fossils from different individuals were also found in the near vicinity.

The scientific team plans to analyze the sea cow’s skull shape and features to identify its relationship to other sirenians. They hope to find teeth remains, pay dirt used to detect the diet and age of the specimen.

To refine the era in which the sea cow lived, the team has collected marine microfauna fossils (snails, clam shells, and crustacea) within the surrounding rock strata for USGS experts to study.

Sirenians or sea cows are torpedo-shaped aquatic mammals that live in shallow waters and grow to be massive in size, up to 10 feet in length. In some parts of the world their fossil records date back to 50 million years ago.

At one time there were over a dozen different genera of sirenians, a name derived from the mermaids of Greek mythology. The cause of their decline is unclear but may be linked to changes in food availability and environmental and oceanographic conditions.

Their modern relatives include three manatee species and the one remaining direct relative, the dugong, found in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean and the east coast of Africa. The last remaining dugong on the west coast of North America, the Stellar’s sea cow, was hunted to extinction by humans in the 1760s

Seabin project, floating debris interception device, at Ventura Harbor

The Seabin project, a floating debris interception device has come to Ventura Harbor. Installed at the Ventura Isle Marina the device is designed to be installed in the water partially submerged. The device will work in any calm marine environment like marinas, yacht clubs, and ports. The device is placed in specific parts of marinas and ports that are prone to debris problems. The partially submerged device literally vacuums the surface and collects debris and stores the debris in a large capture bag that normally needs to be cleaned twice daily.

The device is designed to make the marina environment cleaner and more environmentally sound by capturing cigarette butts, plastic particles and food wrappers. Each installed Seabin can capture a half ton of debris yearly.

Mayor for A Moment honors VUSD 5th graders

Aaron Cortez films Allison Cabeza from Citrus Glen Elementary with assistance from Principal Susan Martinez.

The City’s Mayor for A Moment series continues with 5th graders Vivian Ryan, from Will Rogers (November) and Allison Cabeza, from Citrus Glen (December). The Mayor for A Moment program is a collaboration with the City, Ventura Unified School District and CAPS Media. Each month teachers and faculty identify an outstanding 5th grader to represent the school. CAPS Media produces an on site profile of the student which includes the young mayor directing a tour of the school. Each Mayor for A Moment presents an original essay at a City council meeting on a topic of importance (caring, kindness, integrity, etc.) and receives recognition from the council including a key to the City. The program continues with a second, more extensive video presented at a VUSD board meeting during the “Good News” segment, and additional recognition of the young mayor and school by the district.

Pacific High School’s AIM project (Ancestry, Immigration and Memories) is in full production at the CAPS Media Center. Working in teams, Pacific students conduct interviews with family members to record and document personal stories and memories. The studio production crews are all Pacific students, operating cameras, audio and lighting gear, and the control room equipment. Coordinated by Pacific High teacher Jesse Barnett, and mentored by CAPS Media educator/instructor Phil Taggart, more than 30 Pacific high students are engaged in the immersive experience of broadcast journalism and media production. The AIM program, similar to the El Camino High School Digital Media Education program at CAPS Media, enables students to receive hands-on instruction in all aspects of studio production and post production, as well develop communication skills including research, storyboarding, writing and interviewing.

2018 is almost here. Consider closing out 2017 or starting the new year by becoming a Member/Producer at CAPS Media. If you are interested or just curious, orientation meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month. HD videography/camera classes are on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing classes are on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) holds 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, member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and then book postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell. Details of training and signups are on the website at capsmedia.org/events.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Go to capsmedia.org to see programming schedules, search the archives for past programs, get general info and sign up for classes. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura may become a Member/Producer. Annual membership fees are only $25 for an individual and $75 for a non-profit organization. CAPS Radio DJs require an additional annual fee of $50. For complete information go to capsmedia.org.

Nancy Schram named as new County Library Director

New County Library Director at the opening of the new Hill St. Library. Photo by Michael Gordon

By a unanimous vote the Board of Supervisors concurred with the recommendation of County Executive Officer Mike Powers to name Nancy Schram as Director of the Ventura County Library System.

“Nancy was selected after a nationwide search that resulted in more than 85 applicants,” said Powers. “Nancy’s collaborative style of management, her tremendous enthusiasm for the role of libraries in our communities and her professional experience showed Nancy was the right choice for the position. Representatives of our local city library partners also participated in the selection process and noted Nancy’s innovative and collaborative approach in supporting her appointment.”

Schram joined the Ventura County Library System as the Deputy Library Director in 2016. Prior to that, she served as the Deputy Library Director for the City of Thousand Oaks for nine years after having worked for the County of Los Angeles Public Library for 10 years. She has a master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and is a member of two professional library associations.

“I’m excited to take a leadership role in County government and to serve our residents with superior library services,” said Schram. “I envision a thriving, sustainable, relevant and collaborative library system that will meet the needs of all our communities far into the future.”

Schram will succeed Jackie Griffin who is retiring in December after 15 years in the Ventura County Library System. Under Griffin’s direction, the library system added the Ventura County Library Foundation, internet connectivity, 3-D printers, laptop computers that can be checked out, innovative reading programs and activities for all ages, and many other accomplishments.

Schram will begin her new duties on December 17, 2017, at an annual salary of $176,766.

Since joining the County, Schram has implemented innovative technology at the soon-to-open Hill Road Library. The technology will empower patrons and provide services on demand, while increasing by up to 70 percent the hours the library is open to the public. She also initiated a Library Staff Training Academy and a program to work with homeless patrons at the E.P. Foster Library.

To learn more about the Ventura County Library System, visit: https://www.vencolibrary.org/.

Museum of Ventura County and California Resources Corp. host “Moment of Gratitude”

Elena Brokaw and Board Chair Kate McLean accepting a donation Amy Fonzo.

The Museum of Ventura County and California Resources Corporation (CRC) hosted a “Moment of Gratitude,” on Thursday, Nov. 9, to thank city and county officials and community members for their support throughout the Museum’s fiscal challenge. In a special presentation, CRC’s Amy Fonzo, manager, external relations, gave the museum a check for $5,000 to seed the museum’s new corporate giving program, and encouraged other corporations to ‘meet us or beat us’ in their support of the museum.

Ventura County Community Foundations Director Vanessa Bechtel, in attendance at the event, responded by committing VCCF to a Corporate Platinum Membership of $2,500.

In addition, Elena Brokaw, who recently accepted the permanent position as executive director, introduced the Museum’s new board of directors and shared an update on the museum’s progress over the past four months, including the securing of $1.675 million in corporate and individual gifts, and the procurement of one main location in Camarillo to be used to catalog and store the museum’s extensive collection . Brokaw credited TOLD Corporation’s Rod Gilbert, who is a special advisor to the Museum with being instrumental in securing the new storage location.

“The museum has so many treasures that for years have been packed away in storage,” said Brokaw. “We are eager to begin a formal process of identifying and cataloging the entire collection, and expanding our programming to incorporate all of the pieces of history currently in our care.”

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library. Located at 100 East Main St., the Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Visit venturamuseum.org or call 653.0323 for more information.

Information and education at CAPS Media

Students from Pacific High School on CAPS set.

Pacific High School students are getting involved at the CAPS Media Center by producing a series for their AIM program exploring Ancestry, Immigration and Memories. CAPS Media staff will provide the training and support for the Pacific teams of six conducting interviews with family members. The CAPS Media component provides the students with a hands-on introduction into the world of multimedia, a vital skill in today’s world. The Pacific project, along with the award winning CAPS Media/ECTV program with El Camino High School students, demonstrates CAPS Media’s commitment to engage and support Ventura’s students.

Representative districting is moving quickly in Ventura and every resident is encouraged to get involved in the determination of the district mapping for the city council representatives. Go to www.CityofVentura.CA.Gov/districtelections to get meeting information for December as the process moves forward culminating in early January.

Season three of the city’s Mayor for a Moment program features exceptional fifth graders who are selected by the faculty of elementary schools throughout the city. Each month a young mayor is introduced at a city council meeting by a CAPS Media produced video followed by the student banging the gavel and presenting an original essay.

Ventura’s Spotlight on Local Business recognition program is in full swing with CAPS Media producing informative videos on unique and interesting businesses in the area. The series exposes new businesses and their importance in the community to Ventura. In addition, CAPS Media continues to create videos and supporting media materials for vital services and agencies including Ventura police and fire. All these programs can be found on channel 15 or on the CAPS website.

The Ventura Police Department shares the city crime statistics and offers helpful hints to stay safe every day on KPPQ-LP at 104.1fm. KPPQ is a great place to share your non-profit’s story and events. Support your local community by volunteering. Learn engineering and radio production. The final radio training class of 2017 will be held Wednesday November 29th. Call or email us at [email protected] for all the information.

CAPS Radio, KPPQ 104.1 FM and CAPS Television (Channel 6 & 15) are streaming worldwide. Now everyone in and outside of Ventura can enjoy the diversified programming on CAPS Media on cable, on the radio airwaves and streaming on the web. Go to capsmedia.org.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Our goals are to Engage, Educate and Inform. Informational and instructional classes are conducted every month with orientation on the first Thursday, HD videography/camera instruction on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing classes on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) on the 4th week, all at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center. CAPS Media Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. Once trained member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras and other production equipment and book postproduction editing suites to craft the program they want to share. Details of training and signups are at capsmedia.org/events.

Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura may become a Member/Producer. Annual membership fees are only $25 for an individual and $75 for a non-profit organization. CAPS Radio DJs require an additional annual fee of $50. For complete information go to capsmedia.org.

Livin’ the dream: The sky’s no limit

It was her actual 94th birthday on the day of the jump.

by Mike Macke, Senior Director of Sales & Marketing Cypress Place Senior Living

Have you ever had a dream? Winifred “Winnie” Lester did. Winnie is a resident at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura. She resides in their Independent Living community, a specially designed community for active seniors.

One of the signature programs at the community is called Livin’ The Dream, the purpose being to provide residents with the opportunity to accomplish a goal or dream that they have always wanted to do.

Just shy of her 94th birthday, Winnie shared that her dream was to go skydiving. Asked why she wanted to skydive she replied, “When I was 80 I saw that George Bush Sr. jumped when he turned 90. If he can do it, I can do it,” she said.

When Cypress Place Senior Living Vibrant Life Director, Kathy Vernon-Cole, got wind of Winnie’s dream, Kathy and the staff at Cypress Place went to work to fulfill that dream. With the help of Winnie’s granddaughter, Christi Lester, and the staff at Skydive Coastal Camarillo Winnie made her first skydive, at the tender age of 94!

Since it was her actual 94th birthday on the day of the jump, residents and staff from Cypress Place, along with a large contingent of family and friends, were waiting for Winnie at the landing site with a birthday cake and candles, and monumental cheers.

“I loved it, I loved it, I loved it,” enthused Winnie in between trying to regain her equilibrium once on solid ground.

The adventure was nothing short of incredible according to Winnie. And having her family and friends, and neighbors from Cypress Place, there to greet here when she landed truly made it a memory-making, adventure of a lifetime for Winnie.

Cypress Place Senior Living is at 1200/1220 Cypress Point Lane. To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

Girls scouts help collect many items for the needy every year

Girl Scout Troop donates socks to the homeless before the cold season.

As the weather begins to cool down, local girl scouts teamed up with Ventura’s Hypno Comics Store to donate socks to homeless in need.

Girl Scout Troop 61686 annually sets aside a portion of proceeds from their fall product sales of nuts, candy, and magazines to support a service project to help “make the world a better place,” to honor the Girl Scout Law.

After considering a few different options, troop members voted to support the Los Angeles Dumbledore’s Army’s 2nd Annual Dobby’s Sock Drive in support of the Midnight Mission.

The troop was able to make a donation of $100.00 worth of men’s, women’s and children’s socks which will be distributed to the homeless before the cold season. Several troop members showed up on delivery day to personally deliver the socks to Hypno Comic’s owner George Chase. Chase was pleased to see such a big contribution be made to his location’s collection box.

This is one of three collection drives supported by the comic book store; later in the year the store also helps to collect food and toys. The troop is happy to support these kind of collections, as in previous years the girls have helped collect many items of need including children’s books, pajamas and birthday supplies for hospitalized children.