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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.

Couple honors Ventura Music Festival

“Mark and I are proud and happy to underwrite the artistic director position”

The Ventura Music Festival is pleased to announce that a distinguished philanthropic couple has agreed to “name” the position long held by Nuvi Mehta. Henceforth the director and the position will be known as: “Nuvi Mehta, the Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Artistic Director of the Ventura Music Festival.”

According to Mrs. Goldenson, “Mark and I are proud and happy to underwrite the artistic director position of a Festival that has long brought the joy of world-class music to the community along with wonderful education programs. Through the years we’ve grown to know Nuvi and there could not be a more deserving person for us to support.”

Commenting on the gift, Executive Director Susan Scott said “the Goldensons’ generous gift comes at a particularly exciting time for us. Planning is underway not only for a 2018 Festival that matches or exceeds this year’s wonderful success, but we’ve also started planning for a special year-long, community-wide celebration of our 25thanniversary in 2019. These next two years are a big deal, and Janet and Mark’s gift adds to the momentum beautifully.”

Founded in 1994, the Ventura Music Festival is one of Ventura County’s signature arts events, presenting a genre-spanning mix of world-class music in an annual July Festival, and an array of programs year-round, including a Student Jazz Competition in January and Rising Stars concert in May.

“Teaming Up Against Domestic Violence”

A powerful evening was held at the City Center’s domestic violence event.

It was an amazing night at The City Center’s 3rd Annual Domestic Violence event – “Teaming Up Against Domestic Violence” held in The River Community’s main auditorium.

The evening was filled with heartfelt music by Kris Simeon, Jermarie Dizon, Monse Casmiro, Charleen Morla and Unko Henry.

Words of support from dignitaries and local celebrities included Ventura City Councilmember Mike Tracy, Ventura County Assistant Sheriff William Ayub and KVTA radio celebrity Tom Spence.

There were powerful testimonies by domestic violence survivors and City Center residents Andrea Farfan, Trisha Willard, and Maria Lopez and Special Guest Erica King

Master of Ceremony’s Jim Duran and Jeanne Benitez thanked the event sponsors: Title Sponsor Oxnard Monday Club, Event Sponsors: Community Presbyterian Church, Jill Olivares Insurance, Aloha Steakhouse, Missy’s Cupcake Creations and The River Community Church

The City Center Mentor Coordinators Rick and Cheri Carney stated “Thank you to all of you that were able to attend the “Team Up Against Domestic Violence” event. It was a very powerful, moving evening with several of our residents speaking and sharing. It brought to light many of the horrors of domestic violence, but it also highlighted the courage, strength and hope that many of our residents possess. Just surviving and being able to move away from their abusers is a tremendous step in their recovery.”

The City Center Transitional Living
837 E. Thompson Blvd. 628-9035

Kids & Families Together celebrating new center with ribbon cutting

The new center houses children’s therapy rooms, training facilities and room to grow.

Kids & Families Together and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce celebrate the opening of their new center with a ribbon cutting and open house at 864 Santa Clara St. This celebration is on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4:00-5:30 pm.

In addition to the headquarters for Kids & Families Together operations, the new center houses children’s therapy rooms, training facilities and room to grow. Some of the services offered by Kids & Families Together include support groups, individual and family therapy, workshops, training, therapeutic visitation and kinship care. With this extra space, Kids & Families Together will be able to expand their programs and serve more families.

Kids & Families Together is a not-for-profit support, education and counseling resource center that provides services for individuals and families in foster care, kinship care and adoption, for the preservation of families and the physical, emotional and mental health of children. Kids & Families Together provides services through its collaboration with the Ventura County Human Services Agency and Ventura Behavioral Health Agency as well as other family serving organizations throughout Ventura County.

Their mission is to strengthen relationships by providing safe, supportive help that keeps family members emotionally connected to one another. Parents and caregivers need specialized education, and support that will enhance their ability to raise safe, and healthy children.

In addition to the new Santa Clara Center, Kids & Families Together has a Training Center in Camarillo and a Therapeutic Visitation Center in Ventura.

The celebration will also include tours of the center. Wine and appetizers will be served.

For more information about how to get involved with Kids & Families Together or utilize their services please contact: David Friedlander, President/CEO & Co-founder (818) 643-1446 x 100 or email [email protected].

Over 100 military veterans ride San Francisco to Los Angeles to benefit veterans and first responders

Photo by Murray Robertson

More than 100 military veterans road from San Francisco to Los Angeles during the 2017 United Healthcare California Challenge, benefiting veterans and first responders with PTSD and other injuries. Veterans, community leaders, supporters cheered cyclists during the sixth-day ride features including a 72-mile route from Solvang to Ventura.

The California Challenge is a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project Hero, a national nonprofit organization that helps veterans and first responders affected by injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives.

After spending the night in Ventura on Saturday, Oct. 21 they continued their ride from Ventura to Los Angeles.

Ventura College helping our veterans

Ventura County Community College District Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Rick Post, VCCCD Chancellor Greg Gillespie, 26th District of California Congressmember Julia Brownley, and VCCCD Vice Chair Arturo Hernández at Student Veteran Expo.

Twenty-sixth District of California Congressmember Julia Brownley, member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, recently joined Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Greg Gillespie, VCCCD Board Vice Chair Arturo Hernández, and Ventura College President David Keebler for the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo held at Ventura College.

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The event was hosted by Ventura College and the California Transition Assistance Program (CalTap), Veterans Services Division, CalVet.

For more information on the organizations that participated in the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo, please contact Ventura College Veterans Resource Center Program Advisor Bruce McFadden at 289-6060 or [email protected].

In an effort to improve the college-going rate among veterans and active duty military in Ventura County, the Ventura College Foundation is helping Ventura College students who are U.S. veteran and U.S. active duty military offset the cost of tuition through the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program. For the 2017/2018 academic year, the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program will award approximately $1,200 to 16 veterans. Applications are accepted until Oct. 31.

Designed to eliminate economic barriers to higher education, the Promise grant encourages students to further their education and reach their academic goals.

In addition, the Veterans Resource Center at Ventura College offers a supportive environment and a welcoming campus culture for all veteran students.

For more information, contact Anne King at 289-6160 or [email protected], or visit www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.

Family to Family to honor pioneer Pat McLean

Pat established Family to Family to provide meals to needy families.

Pioneer Pat McLean will be honored for her 35-years of service to Family To Family. Funders Leanne McSorley and Pat McLean initially established Family to Family to provide meals to needy families at Mission San Buenaventura in 1983. Today Family To Family is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, all volunteer organization that serves five meals weekly (48,000 meals annually) supported by faith communities and other organizations throughout the greater Ventura area. This must attend event is scheduled for Friday, October 27 at the Poinsettia Pavilion.

Family to Family is a unique collaboration of many churches, temples, clubs and friends coming together to serve the neediest of Ventura. Family to Family is a shining example of the community in action. Family To Family depends solely on gifts of food, time and monetary contributions from individuals, churches and organization. Each meal is prepared and served at 303 N. Ventura Ave., in the Catholic Charities Community Center Building, Suite G.

To learn more or make a reservation or if you are unable to attend and would like support to Family To Family please visit www.vcfamilytofamily.org.

Three Ventura clubs join forces to sponsor Rotary Plaza at Ventura Botanical Gardens

Over thirty conference-goers took a lunch excursion to the Ventura Botanical Gardens.

Recently the City of Ventura hosted representatives from 73 Rotary clubs in the organization’s Central California district. Ventura’s three clubs are part of Central coast.

“It was a great opportunity to showcase Ventura as a place for business and pleasure”, said Mario De La Piedra, the event organizer and Past President of Downtown Rotary.

Under sunny, clear skies, over thirty conference-goers took a lunch excursion to Ventura Botanical Gardens above City Hall. Bruce McGee, past President of Ventura East Rotary Club, arranged the trip.

“We wanted to share the unique joint investment our three Ventura clubs are making in the Gardens, a spectacular viewpoint to be called Rotary Plaza. It is situated at the heart of VBG, where the trail crosses Summit Drive. Rotary parks dot 200 towns across the U.S., but we have none in Ventura. We wanted to deliver something of lasting impact to the community and we knew this was the right project for us.”

Visitors learned about Rotary’s values, history, global and local projects, and membership information via the mobile app that VBG is installing.

Bruce added, “Rotary Plaza is our public endorsement of Ventura Botanical Gardens, a decades-long project that has the power to transform our city. This world-class destination in the making for Ventura County is expected to bring millions in new tourist revenue for hotels, restaurants, and other services. We are proud to be among their first large investors, raising $250,000 to build Rotary Plaza. We are past the halfway mark and are looking for additional Rotarians or other donors who believe in this legacy project. Groundbreaking for Rotary Plaza is anticipated next spring with completion by year end 2018.”