Category Archives: Home Page Links

Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival to be at Ventura Harbor Village

The iconic Ventura Harbor Village will once again serve as the seaside backdrop for the 8th annual Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival to benefit FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank.  On Saturday Sept. 10 and Sunday Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the waterfront promenade will be transformed into a working street art gallery and fine artisan marketplace.  The non-profit event which has donated over $32,000 to FOOD Share since 2011, is the only street painting festival in Ventura County and draws artists from across Southern California.

Considered by many to be a performance art, street painting draws attendees into the creation of the work by allowing them to experience the process with the artist as they paint.  The Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival will feature 40 such chalk artists creating vivid “living” murals.  50 fine artisan vendors such as painters, photographers, jewelry makers, potters and craft designers will also be displaying and selling their works throughout the weekend.

“People will be amazed at what they see on the sidewalk,” said Barbara Hinton, Founder and Executive Director of the festival.  “It is rare that the public sees the creative process take place, but at this event they get to be part of it.  Families can really make a whole day out at this event; watching the chalk artists, browsing the various booths, buying art and even taking a walk on the beach.”

Award winning chalk artist, Willie Zin, will make his return to the Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival to share his love of chalk drawings with event attendees.  Zin has been a Featured Artist at several festivals while earning numerous awards, including Best In Show.

Kids will also get a chance to show off their talent by creating beautiful works of art.  With the purchase of a box of chalk, each child will receive a square to create their own masterpiece.

A limited number of chalk art squares are available for sponsorship by companies or individuals and will feature the sponsor’s name. Sponsorships can be purchased through Ventura County Art Events.

The Ventura Harbor Village has free admission, complimentary parking, and over 30 seaside restaurants and boutiques and several local artist galleries to enjoy during the two day festival.  For artist application or sponsorship information, please contact Executive Director Barbara Hinton at  650-9858 or visit venturaartfestival.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Reyna Chavez, “Scrubs on the Run”

Reyna Chavez was working in the Emergency Room at VCMC.

by Jill Forman

2016 Business of the Year, Women’s Economic Ventures.

2015 Latino Business Award, Small Business Category, Pacific Coast Business Times.

These accolades were won by an Oxnard native with no business experience, who had never even thought of owning her own company until 2011.

Reyna Chavez was working in the Emergency Room at VCMC as Clerical Supervisor, and needed uniforms.  With a growing family and a full-time job, she had little time to shop; with $200 in her pocket she tried local stores but couldn’t find good quality at a reasonable price.

One day she drove back to her office and had a brainstorm: many local professionals must have the same problem.  Aha, she thought, someone could go out to the clinics, and have mobile uniform sales for the staff.  And she knew just the person to do it.

She called her husband, “I’m opening a business.”  She didn’t have capital or a business plan, but did have excellent credit, and started in January 2012.  Every month she took a vacation day and went to different clinics, loading bins of uniforms and folding racks into her SUV. She continually needed to bring more, as people asked for specific items and the inventory kept growing.

One day she was driving past an existing scrub store near the Ventura hospitals and saw a “Store Closing” sign.  She called the owner, bought all her fixtures and subsequently rented the location.  In September of 2012 she opened “Scrubs on the Run.”    Her biggest goal is “to work with the community:” clinics, schools, any local organization needing uniforms.

A year later, she needed more capital.  Traditional banks wouldn’t loan to her, so she turned to Women’s Economic Ventures(WEV), a nonprofit which gives loans to small businesses and helps with professional consultations.

Four years after opening Reyna won the WEV award and spoke at a ceremony with 300 people.  She has been interviewed on the radio as a local success story.

And speaking of success, she is expanding.  A second location, in Thousand Oaks, is opening with an anticipated date in October.

The store is bright and colorful, with so many choices it’s helpful to have experienced salespeople to.  On a recent afternoon, a very tall gentleman comes in, “Do you have anything for me?”  A woman says, “I want something in every color.”  Another woman is looking for something in OR green that is comfortable and “not unisex,” since she is in surgery all day and tired of in ill-filling scrubs.  Everybody found what they wanted.

Scrubs on the Run
2542 East Main Street
652-2175
scrubsontherununiforms.com

 

 

 

Museum of Ventura County names Elena M. Brokaw to important positions

Sandra Laby, Cheryl Heitmann, Jordan Laby and Elena smiling for the camera at a Ventura 150th anniversary celebration held in April.

The Board of Directors of the Museum of Ventura County is pleased to announce that Elena Brokaw will serve as Consultant to the Museum and Interim Executive Director over the next six months. This will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Museum’s CEO Pattie Mullins, who has accepted a position as CEO with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties.

Ms. Brokaw will lead the organization, overseeing the operation of its two locations—in historic downtown Ventura and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula—and conducting a strategic planning process with the board and staff.  Ms. Brokaw has enjoyed a successful and accomplished career in the public sector, most recently serving as Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships for the City of Ventura from 2004 through 2016. Remarkably, her first job in the arts was a summer internship between her junior and senior years at Harvard University in the Museum’s research library.

Board Chair John Orr stated, “We are so fortunate that Elena is available to step in at this time. Her extensive background in the arts and with public cultural organizations is just what we need to strengthen our commitment to our 103-year-old mission, while serving present and future audiences.”

According to Ms. Brokaw, “I am very thankful and excited to get to work with the Museum of Ventura County. The Museum is the touchstone for our community; the repository of our history, our memories, and our culture. I look forward to working with the stellar board and staff to set the museum up for another century of success.”

Ms. Brokaw is an independent consultant, specializing in strategic planning and fundraising for government agencies, non-profits, and for-profit businesses.

Ms. Brokaw earned her bachelor’s degree in art history at Harvard University. She has worked extensively as a cultural consultant for communities as well as organizations. As a lead consultant for the firm Jerry Allen and Associates, she completed cultural plans for the cities of Reno, Nevada; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Capitola, California.

In these broad-based community cultural planning efforts, Ms. Brokaw facilitated campaigns that brought representatives of disparate and diverse community groups together, and led arts advocacy campaigns on a local level. Working with large groups, she succeeded in bringing seemingly competing interests to consensus, resulting in successful and actionable cultural planning efforts.

 

Melissa Baffa selected as Lead Science Communication Fellow for 2016

Melissa is a former science educator and research associate. As part of her fellowship, Baffa returned to the E/V Nautilus.

Melissa Baffa, Vice President of Program and Volunteer Services for Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast (GSCCC), has been selected as Lead Science Communication Fellow for 2016 for the second consecutive year. As part of her fellowship, Baffa returned to Dr. Robert Ballard’s E/V Nautilus August 1- 14, to help promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) based research to the public, including nearly 11,000 girls belonging to GSCCC. As a part of Baffa’s expedition, members of the Corps of Exploration searched the deep sea off the coast of Southern California, encountering rare sea creatures, investigating a series of seismic faults that pose a potential threat of earthquakes and tsunamis to Southern California, and possibly even discovering deep-sea volcanic vents.

“It is thrilling to have an opportunity to return to sea aboard the E/V Nautilus, and to continue to highlight the STEM careers that make ocean exploration possible,” says Baffa. “It was a tremendous honor to participate in last year’s expedition, which took me to the Galápagos Islands, where we explored the same hydrothermal vents discovered by Dr. Ballard in 1977. And now we will be exploring the ocean right in my own backyard, which is just as exciting!”

Seventeen educators and twenty-two students from around the world have been selected from a competitive pool of applicants by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) founded by Dr. Robert Ballard, to participate at sea during the 2016 Nautilus expedition. Dr. Ballard is most known for the discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1985.

“According to recent findings by Girl Scouts of the USA, growth in STEM jobs has outpaced others 3-to-1 over the past decade, and women are underrepresented in this sector,” says Gina Jaeger, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast.

These newly developed STEM activities will benefit thousands of current Girl Scout members, as well as potential new members, to learn about marine biology, the environment and nautical careers. Baffa will also collaborate with institutions and program partners up and down the California coast to develop programming that will introduce public audiences to Nautilus’s discoveries.

 

Linda Elder of Ventura, esteemed sculptor and educator, has died

Linda Elder in her Studio by Donna Granata FOTM Portrait Series 2000

Linda Elder (1942 – 2016)

Throughout her life, Linda exemplified strength and courage. Much of her work expressed an appreciation of woman’s strength and triumphant qualities, traits Linda displayed in her own life.  She conquered debilitating injuries sustained in an auto accident and again, was the victor in her fight with breast cancer.  Her bright spirit will be missed.

Linda was first introduced to her favorite art form when an art teacher in high school allowed her to do sculpture in the back of the class while the rest of the class worked on drawing projects. But she didn’t return to explore art again until after her three sons started grammar school, and she entered college a second time.

After extensive study and work in painting and drawing, she found two-dimensionality too limiting. The three-dimensional and multimedia options available to sculptors were far more challenging and in complete harmony with her own sensibilities.

A highly respected teacher, Linda taught privately and at the university level. She taught figurative sculpture and mold making with her husband, sculptor David Elder, at California State University Northridge for over 20 years and at the University of California Santa Barbara, where she taught for nine years. She shared her talent with the community, teaching for the Boys and Girls Clubs and for Focus on the Masters, reaching children in our local schools as her way of giving back.

She began teaching privately at her Crystal Hawk Studio in Ventura in 1988 and continued to teach up to two months prior to her passing when her illness impaired her ability.

Those who travel Highway 101 near Seaward are familiar with Linda Elder’s “Xochitl,” a carving of a Chumash woman that stands near the home that she and her husband, David, hand built on ground that had been the site of a Chumash meeting ground.

Describing her work, Linda says: “With each piece of figurative sculpture I create, the piece must go beyond the mere physical appearance and be able to capture both the emotions and inner spirit of the work.  Without this energy the sculpture will not reach out to the viewer, will not share its essence.”

Linda died peacefully at home after a courageous battle with brain cancer.  She is survived by her husband, sculptor David Elder and sons Sean Johnson, Kyle Lachman, Jacob Lachman and Eric Elder and their families.

To learn more about Linda Elder please visit the artist’s website www.CrystalHawkStudio.com.

Linda Elder was extensively documented by Focus on the Masters in 1999. The FOTM Archive contains extensive information about this artist. For more information about FOTM please visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com.

 

Ventura Avenue $1.9M paving project improves safety

Citywide, there are many streets throughout our neighborhoods that are in need of repair. Photo by Breezy Gledhill

by City staff

The City of Ventura is making significant improvements to Ventura Avenue, from Santa Clara Street to Dakota Drive. By the end of the summer, the work will be completed and Ventura Avenue will have two miles of new street pavement surface, paint striping and repairs to the sidewalk, curb and gutters. The restriping of the roadway will also include bike “sharrows” to improve bike safety, as well as green bike lanes and bike box treatments. In addition to the street re-paving, 95 access ramps will be replaced and/or retrofitted bringing them up to ADA compliance.

The much-needed Ventura Avenue paving project is already drawing praise from residents, businesses and commuters by providing safety improvements that help move traffic along the Avenue with greater ease. It can also improve the appearance of the area as well, especially if the current paving has seen its fair share of wear and tear. Companies similar to Calvac Paving will be able to help give your concrete maintenance the due care and attention it requires to help make the roads safer for everyone again. Maintenance for this core infrastructure that helps us carry out our daily routines comes with a hefty price tag, to the tune of $1.9M for this project.

Why does it cost so much to maintain our streets? The cost of pavement repairs has substantially increased over the years due to increased cost of materials and labor to perform the work. In the past, the City relied on a combination of state, and Federal gas tax funding to pay for road maintenance. However, statewide funding through bond measures and Federal gas tax that has been available in the past for maintaining the City’s sidewalks and roads has been reduced over time.

The City now only receives its local share of State gas tax funds at about $2.3M per year. In addition to gas tax funds, the City provides $1.2M for street maintenance out of the General Fund (the same fund that pays for police, fire, parks, programs for seniors and youth, and other critical services) for a total of $3.5M in annual funding. However, the City needs $10.4M per year to maintain its roads at their current level.

Citywide, there are many streets throughout our neighborhoods that are in need of repair. The cost of fixing a road is determined by its condition, and the longer we wait to fix them the more they cost. Our Pavement Condition Index, which is used to indicate the condition of a specific section of road pavement, is currently 69 and is expected to drop to 61 by the year 2021.

Well-maintained streets are among the most important public assets and maintenance must be done regularly. The City utilizes available funding for street maintenance in the most cost effective manner for the greatest long term value. Continuing to take good care of our local roads enhances economic development competitiveness, provides safe mobility and improves quality of life for Ventura residents and visitors.

 

Farm Day Sneak Peek

The historic Faulkner House, built in 1894, is part of Hansen Research Center

by Sheli Ellsworth

On July 21, Ventura County farmers and Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture hosted a media preview of the November 5, Fourth Annual Ventura County Farm Day. Over a dozen journalist and other interested parties braved the sweltering July heat to visit a few of the over-twenty agricultural facilities participating in Farm Day.

The McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo kicked off the tour by serving lemon-lavender scones, coffee and fresh squeezed juice. Phil McGrath whose family has been farming the coast of California for five generations explained, “There are five Mediterranean climates in the world and Ventura County is one of them.” The McGrath Family Farm is certified organic and most of the fruit and vegetables raised goes to local restaurants and farmer’s markets, but their roadside market is open daily from 9-6. Depending on what’s in season, McGrath’s offers strawberries, Lima beans, broccoli, squash, pumpkins, heirloom tomatoes and more, including the you-pick-‘em option. McGrath’s is also home to several farm animals including a few chickens who refused to comment.

Chris Sayer of Petty Farms emceed the day’s events, “In 1893 there was a newspaper article that claimed that agriculture was going by the wayside. Ventura County is one of the top ten agricultural counties in the country and in California only Napa Valley does more dollars per acre.” Sayer reminded his audience that the upcoming November election may have a significant impact on local farming. Sayer says it is important for people to become educated about what farmers face and how the four SOAR issues will impact Ventura’s farm industry. SOAR is a series of voter initiatives that will require a vote of the people before privately owned agricultural or open space land can be rezoned for development.

The tour visited Houweling’s Tomatoes in Camarillo where over 100 million pounds of tomatoes and cucumbers are grown in 120 acres of greenhouses every year. President/CEO Canadian entrepreneur Chris Houweling, self-described “weird guy who thinks dumb things,” directed the tour. Houweling says he made “a lot of mistakes, but wanted to leave something for the next generation.” He strives to make the facility energy efficient as well as environmentally sound. The cutting-edge facility makes its own energy and recaptures its own heat and CO2 with “the least amount of environmental impact possible.”

Gills Onions, a Camarillo processor, also hosted the group and explained how three to four million pounds of onions are peeled, diced and sliced every week. Like Houweling’s, the plant strives to be energy and environmentally responsible. The plant uses an advanced energy recovery system and utilizes onion waste/juice in fuel cells. A miniature version of the bioreactor will be available for viewing on Farm Day in November.

Farm-to-Table chef Tim Kiloyne served the group a delicious lunch on the grounds of the historic Faulkner House at the University of California Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Santa Paula even though it seems like Ventura. Tour guide Jose De Soto explained that farming is a dynamic undertaking. The center is always researching different crops and watering methods. They also grow native trees they hope to export to the park system. Current concerns about Bagrata bugs and mealy bugs are being addressed as well as soil improvement alternatives. The Center hosts classroom tours, adult gardening classes and after school gardening programs for children.

Before returning to the McGrath Farm, the tour swung by Chris Sayer’s family farm in Saticoy. Sayer is the fifth generation to farm the Petty Ranch. Sayer agrees that farming requires change. He says he is always experimenting with cover crops like sugar beets, sunflowers and Daikon radishes to enrich the soil. Sayer, who is mainly a citrus grower, is currently parenting ten varieties of figs that seem more like a hobby than a crop. “Figs are drought friendly and what any farmer wants is a crop with minimal impact on the environment and benefits as broad as possible.”

The tour concluded back at McGrath Family Farms for drinks, hors d’oeuvres and one last chance to ask a chicken to go-on-record.

Find a smile and a pizza at Cordello’s Pizza

Writer Gail is ordering some fine Italian food from Fabiola at Cordello’s Pizza.

by Gail Field

If you’re looking for a smiling face, a warm greeting and something good to eat, a good bet is to find Fabiola at the counter of Cordello’s Pizza on Thompson Blvd.

Fabiola has a long history in the food service industry, but she didn’t start there.  As a girl growing up in Acapulco, she studied hard, wanting to make something of her life.  Her father left the family when Fabiola was young, and she made up her mind to be self-reliant.  No more depending on others. “After my father left I saved my earnings and helped my mother and sister.”  From that time on, she paid her way for everything–school books, clothes, food–so that her mother and sister would have a better life.

Across the street from her high school in Mexico was a gas station, and in the days before self-service, she pumped gas for extra change after school and on weekends.  It was her first job, and she carefully saved her earnings. Another employer saw her good attitude and hired her away to collect tolls on the highway near Acapulco.  She loved the work, and saw her savings grow.

When she was 18 years old Fabiola decided to set off for California and start her career here.

“Cordello’s is a family business,” she says.  “We all work together with Hugo and Julio Molina as the founders, but we didn’t always see eye to eye.  I left to make it on my own and worked in other restaurants.  After a few years, I came back to Cordello’s.  I invested in the business, and now I’m happy to see my investment paying off.”

“I’ve always loved learning and enjoyed working.  You have to work hard to be successful, and saving money is important.” She is raising her son with the same values that have made her content with her life: self-reliance, determination, and showing kindness to others.   “I believe that when you act from good intention, it all comes back to you.  The success of this restaurant comes because we provide service the best way we know how.”

Some of Cordello’s Pizza favorites are the vegetarian Margarita pizza and the Squashed Grapes Pizza named for the winery/jazz club on Main Street.  If that’s not enough, the restaurant serves salads, sandwiches, calzones, pasta and appetizers.  All the sauces are homemade, and the sandwiches are all hot.

You’ll find Cordello’s Pizza at 1700 E. Thompson Blvd.  For delivery call 648-1070.  Say hello to Fabiola.  She’ll give you a warm welcome.

 

Kids’ Art offers a free art program for children ages 5-14 taught by local artists

This surf board was painted by the young artists from “Kids’ Art (Growing Young Artists Since 1992). Kids’ Art offers a free, comprehensive art program for children ages 5-14 taught by local artists. Located in the Arc of Ventura’s Art Room. 295 S. Arcade Dr., Ventura. 628-9150. This surfboard was raffled off at Surf Rodeo to raise money for Kids’ Art.

 

Have a National Night Out at home with a police officer August 2

Registration is now open for National Night Out. Your neighborhood is invited to participate with many other neighborhoods across the country in celebration of National Night Out on Tuesday evening, August 2. Deadline for registration by phone at 339-4317 or email [email protected] is July 27.

National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event that is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Ventura Police Department. This year is the 33rd anniversary of National Night Out with over 38 million people across the country expected to participate. The evening provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together.

National Night Out is designed to:  Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts;  Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships; and  Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and watching out for one another.

From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on August 2 residents in neighborhoods throughout Ventura and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend an evening outside with neighbors and police. Neighborhoods, Community Groups and/or Community Councils are encouraged to come together to host a variety of events ranging from simple front yard neighborhood chats, small potlucks and BBQs to large neighborhood gatherings. Some additional event ideas include, but are not limited to, ice cream socials, disaster preparedness, games, contests, discussing neighborhood issues or setting neighborhood goals, food or clothing donations, plan a clean-up day, beautify a common area, discuss or plan a Neighborhood Watch Program. It is an opportunity to be creative, have fun and celebrate your neighborhood!

 

The Ventura Police Department is a nationally registered participant of National Night Out. Registration is free and gives the police department an opportunity to attend local events as time and circumstances permit. For more information and to register contact Civic Engagement Specialist Ashley Bautista at 339-4317 or [email protected].