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The Art Tales contest for writers inspired by art is now open

Previous Mayor Cheryl Heitmann addressing last year’s Art Tales at Foster Library

The City of Ventura is pleased to sponsor the eighth annual creative writing contest inspired by art, in partnership with E.P. Foster Library. Selections from the Public and Municipal Art Collections at Ventura City Hall are rotated annually to a special second floor exhibit space near the library’s rear (children’s) entrance in an effort to make them more accessible to the community.

Visit E. P. Foster Library or the links below and choose the artwork that inspires you to create and enter your own poem or short story, 500 words or less by April 4, 2016.

  • Free and open to all writers worldwide
  • Prizes in 3 age categories

“Artist Next Door/Our Local Story” is the Art Tales theme for 2016, celebrating Ventura’s 150th birthday in April, through four artists whose works in the Municipal and Public Art Collections tell our city’s unique story by depicting its classic neighborhoods, citrus orchards, proud history and hip downtown.”

Click the links below to view and download featured art, contest info and the required release form:

Teachers can contact Art Tales curator Tobie Roach at 658-4759 or [email protected] to request printed copies of materials for your classes and for further contest information.

More news about Art Tales can be found at http://www.cityofventura.net/arttales.

Ventura Key Club Sock Drive for homeless

Photo by Ranferi Perea

Ventura Key Club is a dedicated and passionate community service club at Ventura High School. Club members have been working for several weeks on collecting socks for their latest service project -a Sock Drive to donate socks to the homeless in Ventura to help them stay warm during the winter. Group members were able to collect 90 pairs of socks. The socks were donated to Community Action in Ventura, which is an organization that helps the homeless. Thanks to Key Club members, a little warmth was given to the less fortunate this holiday season.

Women’s Economic Ventures welcomes entrepreneurs to the WEV Family

WEV’s Ventura County Self-Employment Training graduates proudly display their certificates during ceremony.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) recently celebrated the accomplishments of 86 women and men who have successfully completed WEV’s Self-Employment Training program during a ceremony held at Montecito County Club.  Twenty-seven of the graduates are from Ventura County and three from Los Angeles County.

After 14 months of training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan, these graduates emerged with the necessary tools and support needed to expand or start their own business.

Graduates range from first-time business owners to those who have turned to WEV to help expand their existing businesses. Some businesses and business concepts include a natural skin care line, a craft store and a vintage pinball arcade.

During the ceremony, each graduate shared their new business venture through an “elevator pitch” that they have crafted and perfected through the course. The ceremony concluded with a reception and “business expo” where graduates showcased their businesses and shared their products with family and friends.

“After 14 weeks of commitment and hard work, these graduates emerge with the tools needed to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality, from brand new ventures to strategic growth of an established business, “said Marsha Bailey, CEO/Founder of WEV.  “We are honored to welcome them to the WEV family and look forwarding to seeing where their accomplishments take them.”

WEV’s 14-week Self-Employment Training course provides guidance on how to start, operate or expand a business. The program provides week-by-week training on topics including finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, and how to write a business plan.

The next Self-Employment Training (SET) course begins in February in Ventura County.  Orientation required to enroll. The next orientations will take place:

  • Wednesday, January 7 from 6-7 p.m. in Oxnard
  • Thursday, January 14 from 6-7 p.m. in Ventura
  • Thursday, January 21 from 12 -1 p.m. in Oxnard

Location will be given at time of RSVP and is subject to change. For more information or to register for the free orientation, call 456-2355 or visit the website at http://wevonline.org/orientations.

Howard Boroughs revisited

Former biochemist, Howard Boroughs, came to Ventura in 1979 with his beloved wife Evelyn and their canine companion, Daisy. Thanks to their generosity, we have The Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Library at Ventura College and the dog park at Camino Real Park that allows canines and their human companions to romp unleashed.

Behind the Museum of Ventura County is the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Children’s Garden with a 4 foot bronze turtle for the children to play on that Howard commissioned.

KODAK Digital Still Camera
KODAK Digital Still Camera

Howard Boroughs was the second Venturan painted by Johanna Spinks as part of the two year project “The Face Of Ventura” featured in the Ventura Breeze.

Johanna decided that he was so important to her that she would paint him again at the Ventura Townehouse where he is now living.

Regarding painting Howard one more time Johanna stated “ I was lucky enough to paint Howard for The Face of Ventura portrait project in the Ventura  Breeze. Howard was in fact my second sitter of 58. We became friends and kept in touch. His conversation is always stimulating and he is a very kind man. We had talked over the last few years of doing a larger portrait. When I saw Howard at the unveiling of his garden at the Museum of Ventura County (the inset photo), in his 102nd year, I knew it was time to paint the larger portrait. So that is what we did. It was painted in five life sittings of about 90 minutes each, via palette knife, at Howard’s home. A lovely time indeed. Thank you Howard.”