Jim Danza will lead discussion on protecting Ventura County’s rivers, creeks and streams.

On the evening of Thurs., April 19, Ventura Land Trust (VLT) will host a community environmental lecture entitled “A River Runs Through It – the Beauty, Benefits and Importance of Ventura County’s Waterways,” at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Beginning at 7 p.m., this second in VLT’s 2018 Environmental Speaker Series, will he led by Jim Danza, Asst. Professor of Geography at Oxnard College.

Jim Danza will highlight the importance of understanding, appreciating and protecting Ventura County’s rivers, creeks and streams and will discuss river water conservation, the importance of flood plains, the need for urban planning along watersheds, wildlife/urban interface and VLT’s ongoing restoration work along the Ventura River.

“I have spent the past 35 year advocating for the protection of rivers and watersheds,” said Danza. “To imagine Ventura County without it’s rivers, is to imagine our county without its agriculture or human settlement. Whether through the rivers’ flows or its interaction with groundwater or soil, rivers are a source of life.”

According to Danza, the numerous rivers, creeks and streams that run through Ventura County provide water for drinking, growing crops, manufacturing, energy and transport. They also help to prevent erosion, dispose of waste and provide natural protection from flooding.

Now in its third year, the Ventura Land Trust’s Environmental Speaker Series is one of many ways VLT works to educate the public about important environmental topics. The non-profit land trust’s Big Rock Preserve, where they lead free outdoor environmental field trips for local students and community groups, suffered significant damage in the Thomas Fire.

A suggested donation of $10 per person will be collected at the door to go toward fire restoration work at Big Rock Preserve. Space is limited and reservations are highly encouraged. RSVP at: http://www.venturalandtrust.org/environmental_lecture_20180419

James “Jim” Danza is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Oxnard College and President of the Friends of the Santa Clara River Board of Directors. Danza has 25 years of experience as a professional planner (urban, environmental, and water resources), adjunct professor, environmental leader, and wilderness skills educator. He has degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies and is a certified planner under the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). His professional experience includes water resources and environmental planning, including lead civil planner at Naval Base Ventura County for 21 years.

The Ventura Land Trust (formerly the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy) is dedicated to permanently preserving and protecting the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, the 501(C)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 600 members, local businesses and government partners. The land trust manages 90 acres of land along the Ventura River and is negotiating the purchase of its first hillside property. The Ventura Land Trust’s offices are located in the Poinsettia Pavilion. For more information, visit www.venturalandtrust.org.

Vintage passenger and dining cars date back as far as 1914.

On April 28th-29th prepare to be entertained and amazed by what can only be imagined as the “Renaissance of Railroading.” Steam Railfest 2018 is a celebration of the steam engine, railroading, antique tractors, vehicles and engines, vintage wares and oddities, unique performances, early transportation and culture mixed with a bit of Steampunk fun. There will be live steam locomotive train rides, a Citrus Packing House Caboose Ride Adventure, Dr. Solar’s Gypsy Wagon Medicine Man Show, Gene West “The Toymaker”, antique carousel rides, creative vendors & artisans, unique exhibits, model railroads, movie props, the Orchard Bluegrass Band, delicious food & more! Admission to the festival is free! There is no other family festival quite like this one. So mark your calendars for one of the biggest events in Ventura County’s little historic town of Fillmore, CA! Visit http://steamrailfestival.com for more info.

The Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society non-profit organization is hosting this one-of-a-kind event. Established in 1993, the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society’s mission is to assist in the preservation and restoration of the railroad corridor between Montalvo and Saugus, California. This railroad corridor, commonly referred to as the Southern Pacific’s Santa Paula Branch, is a unique and historic asset to the residents of the Santa Clara River Valley and surrounding areas. To maximize the economic, educational and recreational value of this asset, the organization will acquire, preserve, exhibit and operate historic railroad equipment; in addition, it will collect and display artifacts, photographs and operational documents unique to the region.

Sponsoring the event is Fillmore & Western Railway. This legendary railroad is home to vintage passenger and dining cars that date back as far as 1914. It’s also home to a 1913 fully restored and operating #14 Baldwin Steam Engine. Fillmore & Western is known as the “Home of the Movie Trains” that have been used in film productions such as Disney’s Lone Ranger, Water for Elephants, Sea Biscuit, Get Smart, Bedtime Stories, Race to Which Mountain, Tall Tail, Inception, Anger Management, Fear Factor, X-Files, Bones, Westworld, American Horror Story, Criminal Minds, CSI and many more. They welcome all production companies to visit and contract with them to film either on-site or on location throughout the United States. Additionally, they have a wide variety of train related props for use on sets.

Another amazing part of this railroad is the opportunity to ride the movie trains! All year long they offer train tours such as Weekend Scenic adventures, Murder Mystery Comedy Lunch & Dinner trains, Holiday trains, Special Event trains, Steam train rides, School trains & privately chartered Group trains. Visit fwry.com or call 524-2546 for more details.

The Ventura Breeze is holding an “un-official” Name The Green Pig Contest for the pig that was back in the St. Pats Parade. Send you suggestions to [email protected]. They will be submitted to the pig committee for consideration. The Breeze will select our winner and the lucky person will win ham and eggs at their favorite restaurant.

Patty Jenkins sent her suggestions even before the contest started. “ShamHock” or HamSchock.

Photo by Michael Gordon

Phil Taggart, Ethan Messecar and Annabelle Augustine, representing the ECTV student producers proudly show off their 3 WAVE awards.

Congratulations to the El Camino High School ECTV Crew for winning a series of WAVE Awards at the Alliance for Community Media Western States Regional Conference in Sacramento. Annabelle Augustine and Ethan Messecar represented the ECTV crew at the event along with Phil Taggart, director and mentor of the CAPS Media/El Camino High School media program. ECTV won first place awards in three categories: Informational Talk Show, Youth Division, for ECTV: Spocabulary, Halloween and Digital Citizenship; Informational Lifestyle, Youth Division, for ECTV: California Islands; and Informational Culture, Youth Division, for ECTV: Travel & Photography.

The ECTV program is a collaboration with Ventura Unified School District, El Camino High School, VC Innovates and CAPS Media. As a career pathways education program, students receive hands-on instruction to master video cameras, audio, lighting, studio production and postproduction editing. In addition, the ECTV members develop Digital Storytelling skills including conceptualizing, storyboarding, writing, producing, on-camera reporting, interviewing, directing, and production management.

Mentored by Taggart and unitizing the extensive production facilities at the CAPS Media Center, the El Camino students create magazine-style programs on topics of interest and concern to themselves including drug abuse, discrimination, gun control and more. The ECTV programs air on CAPS Media television and are archived and stream at capsmedia.org.

The Thomas Fire Stories Project has begun and is a major success. The extensive undertaking is a collaboration with Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire, Sheriff, and Office of Emergency Response and the Museum of Ventura County. The year-long, comprehensive project includes an ongoing series of television and radio archival recordings with those whose lives were dramatically changed the night of December 4^th.

Members of the public, fire fighters and first responders and others are sharing remarkable first-person stories at recording sessions throughout the county. Selected stories will air and stream on CAPS radio (KPPQ 104.1 FM) and on CAPS Media television, stream on capsmedia.org, and may be included in the comprehensive Thomas Fire documentary. All of the recordings will be included in the historic archival project at the Museum of Ventura County.  

During the past few weeks Thomas Fire audio recording sessions took place at the Ojai Valley Museum and Ojai Library and they continue on Saturday, March 31 from 11am-4pm at the CAPS Media Center; on Monday, April 2^nd at the EP Foster Library from 5-7pm, and on Saturday April 14^th at the Avenue Library from 10am-2pm. More audio recording sessions will continue at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on Sunday April 22^nd from 11am-3pm and at the Museum of Ventura County on May 20^th from 11am-3pm.

Everyone with a story to tell is invited to participate. The audio recording process is simple and enjoyable and typically lasts 10-15 minutes.  CAPS Media staff and volunteers help the storytellers share their experience in their own words. The result is unscripted, unrehearsed, engaging and compelling first person stories. If you have a Thomas Fire Story to share or know someone who has a great story to tell, drop by and record the experience. Visit capsmedia.org to find a convenient day and time to record your story and add it to the museum’s historic archive.

If you have photos or video to contribute to the archive, go to capsmedia.org for instructions on how to contribute photos, video and other media. If you have a story to share, email [email protected] or call the CAPS Media Center at 658.0500.

Chef Jose Andres returned to Ventura.

by Jennifer Tipton

Due to the recent heavy rains, many were required once again to evacuate their homes and on March 21st Chef Jose Andres of World Central Kitchen returned to Ventura. Our very own Chef Jason Collis said, “Chef Andres said he wouldn’t stop until the last person in need is fed in Ventura and he meant it!”

The numbers of evacuees grew slowly with thirty on March 22nd and increased to forty on the 23rd however, with numbers this low there was no need to mobilize the Mission Kitchen. Chef Collis stated, “looks like we will go unscathed with this storm which is great news for all of us in Ventura!” When news got out that Chef Collis and World Central Kitchen were once again at evacuation centers providing meals, many of our Ventura neighbors wasted no time offering to help out.

Chef Andres thanked Collis by saying, “On behalf of World Central Kitchen, thank you for the amazing job you are doing for the people of Ventura. You are amazing people, you are the heroes, and we love you”.