Editor:

The fellows at Under the Bed (UTB) want to give a shout-out to Lynn Mikelatos of The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood at the Ventura Harbor, thanking her for her role in collaborating with City Core to donate a piano to UTB, Ventura’s new DL production space for contributing artists to create, share and expand their personal vision through collective action. UTB is affiliated with Art City as an extension of the city’s cultural past, present, and future. Lynn’s kind thoughts and generosity actions are most appreciated.

Sophia Kidd-Ventura

Breeze

The streets, alleys and road markings in the city of Ventura leave something to be desired. It shouldn’t be a, take your life in your own hands kind of experience, each time you get behind the wheel.

Where did all the money go after two recent tax increases on gasoline?

I feel like I’m driving in a third world country, bouncing over ruts that could swallow an old VW. That’s why I drive a truck.

East Main Street between Ventura Avenue and Olive has so many ruts. It causes extreme shaking, rattling your brain and teeth, too.

Some oil companies made billions extracting oil in California only to file bankruptcy, leaving us, the tax-payers, to pick up the tab to clean their messes left behind. The man-made island and the oil wharf up on Highway 1 is one example. So now there’s little money left to take care of our much needed infrastructure repairs.

We can complain about higher gasoline prices in California, while Arizona has cheap gas, about a buck a gallon less. Want to move?

We have to rise up and demand that this sorry situation be remedied.

Begin to restripe the streets. That would be a start.

Bicycles?—don’t get me started. Please obey all traffic laws by riding on the right in single file and at night wear light clothing. Also, add a red blinking light at the rear and a white light up front— a bell helps warn unsuspecting walkers along the roar. The life you save will be your own.

James Francis Gray -Ventura

Hi Sheldon,

I just wanted to reach out and say thanks to you and your staff for running my event listings in the Breeze. I really appreciate that you get the details right and know how to make an events calendar look and sound appealing. As both a senior and an environmentalist I also appreciate the space you give to our concerns and I’m glad you gave David Goldstein’s important column a home.

Best,
Lanny Kaufer HerbWalks.com
www.facebook.com/HerbWalks

The bad news is that in our last issue we spelled her name wrong. It is Maria Castor, not Marcia Castor.

The good news is that her photo has now been in the Breeze two times.

A mistake repeated more than once is a decision.
~ Paulo Coelho

Breeze:

I’m not inspired, not because I think everything’s swell, just because I’ve given up all hope. Actually, I did manage a brief flirtation with optimism a couple of days ago, watching the Space X Falcon Heavy launch. And the Tesla Roadster heading toward Mars is a very groovy touch.

Alfred Lewis

Editor:

I attended the Thomas Fire Benefit concert held at Plaza Park. It was an amazing day, thoroughly enjoyable great music, food and people coming together and showing their love for each other. One thing that bothered me a little was the very long tribute to Kevin Costner’s movies by showing clips from many of his movies. Seemed this was more of a tribute to him then fundraising. I certainly do appreciate his attendance and realize that by him being there many more people attended and helped raise money for this wonderful cause.

Shirley Truddy Ventura

Shirley:

We have heard this comment from others and do understand your feelings. Also some of the scenes and words from the clips were inappropriate for the very young folks that attended the concert with their parents. We understand that he shows movie clips whenever he is in concert but maybe less appropriate when he is appearing at a fund raiser. The concert brought in over $1 million so all is forgiven.

Just my opinion –

It drives me crazy when I can’t find or can’t read a street sign. I know, I could just use GPS, but I really like to see a street sign, especially in residential neighborhoods. You know, for visual memory in case I want to find the street again sometime. Many areas have few street signs, or no light near the signs or low branches covering the signs. I would love to see street signs that light up when it gets dark. How about it, city planners?

Shirley Lorraine

In our last issue we had an article on Notes For Notes titled “Phil Gilley imagined a room full of musical instruments” that was not credited to the writer. The writer is Paul Peterson.

Look closely. The beautiful may be small.
~ Immanuel Kant

In our last issue we had an article about lovely debutantes. Headline said thirteen but there were only seven. Here are their names to salute all of them.

• Miss Sophie Buffo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Buffo. She attends Newbury Park High School.
• Miss Anna Casillas, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Casillas. She attends Oak Park High School.
• Miss Hannah George, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James George. She attends Oaks Christian High School.
• Miss Madeline Kelly, daughter of Ms. Suzanne Kelly. She attends La Reina High School.
• Miss Jacqueline King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph King. She attends Buena High School.
• Miss Sadie McCormick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack McCormick. She attends St. Bonaventure High School.
• Miss Lauren Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Powell. She attends Ventura High School.

Hi Sheldon:
I want to personally thank your help at the City of Ventura Planning Office. I have been there on own several times over the years trying to make sense of some work previously done on my house. Thank you for helping me get some straightforward answers, and a little bit of clarity on how to move forward. Thank you also for the Ventura Breeze. It’s wonderful having our own hometown newspaper to keep us informed on local events that concern us all.

Once again, many thanks!
Morrie Wills Westside Resident

City of Ventura
Citation Processing Center
P. O. Box 10479
Newport Beach, CA 92658-0479

RE: Citation No. V060012582

WOW! What a way to spoil a lovely Saturday evening in downtown Ventura by getting a parking ticket at the free parking structure. Yes, 4 Hour Parking is conspicuously posted everywhere, so “my bad”.

But, my friend and I went to the movie and then to dinner. Arrived at 2:50 for a 3:10 movie, exited the movie at 5:30, sat down to dinner at 6:00 (had to wait for a table), then exited the restaurant at 8:10. So, after spending well over $100 in downtown Ventura, we each got a $40 parking ticket.

We had a choice to see the same movie at Riverpark Cinema where there are many restaurants, but we chose downtown. Perhaps next time we will go to Riverpark.

I have paid the parking citation.

Sadly,
Sally Bodine-Ventura

Sally: What a shame perhaps 4-hour free parking is not enough and should possibly be 6-hours.

I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.
~ John Cage

Opinion:

I loved the last Breeze. I kept one for myself and sent one to my mom in Thailand so she could read about the Thomas Fire and all the related community stories! Great job!

Siree Franks, Director

Ventura Music Together

In a previous Mailbox we had a letter that stated in part “In 1999 Councilman Monahan asked Msgr. Patrick O’Brien, pastor of the Old Mission, to be the Grand Marshal for the 1999 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.” Jim has assured us that he did not ask Msgr. O’Brien this.

Breeze:

I want to thank you again so very much for another year of “supporting the support group” – Thanks to the Ventura Breeze, The Venture Parkinson’s Disease Support Group has been able to help many folks in 2017 who would not have found us otherwise. I just got a call this week from a home-health care provider looking for a group for her client who has PD; that is how she found us, in one of your articles!

Yours very truly,

Patty Jenkins Volunteer Coordinator Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group

Ooooopsy

Editor :

I was just reading your newspaper and on the front page you have a story about the Winter Warming Shelter and the department providing TB clearance is from Public Health a Division of The Ventura County Health Care Agency and the article says “Environmental Health Dept.”

Johnny Gomez

Sheldon:

Just a quick “thank you” to you and your staff for producing an issue that shows once again why the Breeze is our local “national treasure”.

Heartwarming (and heart-tugging) stories of the fire, plus the always excellent community resources and articles put the Breeze in a class by itself and made this a very special issue.

Thank you,

Kurt Triffet, Triffet Design Group

How I hate those who are dedicated to producing conformity.
~ William S. Burroughs

Hi Sheldon,

Thank you for the Thomas Fire coverage about the Ventura Botanical Gardens. There was so much loss in our City. The stories you shared about VBG generated an outpouring of support. Right now, the Gardens are closed; we’re assessing the damage and developing our next steps plan. The trails and plantings look recoverable but hydroseeding before the rains come, is our top priority. Erosion is a major concern. And, as our community learns of this critical need, many have turned to our website or Facebook to donate funds for assisting with that process. This support is very encouraging. Together, we’ll make the Gardens grow.

Barbara Brown
Ventura Botanical Gardens, President
www.venturabotanicalgardens.com

In 1999 Councilman Monahan asked Msgr. Patrick O’Brien, pastor of the Old Mission, to be the Grand Marshal for the 1999 St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Msgr. kept refusing because it just wasn’t his “thing”. However, he finally gave in to the request on the one condition that the “pig” not be used any more. Msgr. explained that the pig is a negative symbol to the Irish. Mr. Monahan agreed. However, it is evident he went back on his word!!

The day of Msgr. O’Brien ‘s funeral, going to the cemetery, it just happened that I was assigned to the same car with the then mayor of Ventura. (Sorry, I don’t remember his name.) Somehow, the topic of the pig came up. I spoke up and told the others in the car about the promise made to Msgr. O’Brien when he agreed to be the Grand Marshall. To my surprise, the mayor spoke up and said it was true. He was there when Mr. Monahan made this promise!!!

I’m celebrating the demise of that pig as I’m sure Msgr. O’Brien is doing from heaven!

Kath Wurts

Kath
Don’t celebrate for too long the pig shall return. (And, by the way these facts have not been verified.)

Where was the water when we needed it most?

by Nick Bonge Co-founder Neighbors for the Ventura Hillside

Amid many reports of fire hydrants running dry as hillside homes burned and much speculation about what happened, I had a conversation with Kevin Brown, Ventura Water General Manager. Those of you who know me know that I am not always completely supportive of City staff. However, to my surprise, I was very impressed with Mr. Brown’s technical background and his grasp of the problems with our Water Department. He was hired about 4 months ago and, based on this conversation, I believe we have the right person in the job.

Mr. Brown acknowledged that large parts of the City’s pumping system, that replenishes hillside tanks, went down due to the power outage, seriously impeding our firefighters’ ability to save homes. He said that the City has 23 pumping stations, only a few of which have back-up generators.

When I asked if he believed that we should install back-up generators at all stations, he stated that even after the City got portable generators to the pumps, they could not replenish the tanks adequately, in part because the fire took out numerous home irrigation systems causing a major hemorrhage of water.

Teams of technicians were deployed to manually shut off more than 100 valves before any real progress could be made in refilling our tanks. That took 2 days. In short, he stated that we have an old water system that has grown in a piecemeal fashion with City development. The system has become non-centralized with overly complicated interconnections. Fixing it will require a monumental effort which must be based on a well thought out plan which could be modeled on one of many possible approaches. For that, Mr. Brown had several fascinating ideas and was open to additional ideas and input from the public.

I came away with the opinion that this was not really a matter of someone being asleep at the switch but, that the City has never seriously considered this kind of disaster scenario and was totally unprepared at all levels. Avoiding this kind of situation in the future will take real leadership and a tremendous amount of commitment, ingenuity, time and cash.

Sheldon,

Let me try to enlighten you on how designated districts would help the under represented in this city.

First you have to admit there are under represented areas. At least looking at the possibility , would be a start. Thats usually referred to as having an open mind.

For years I’ve noticed the Ventura Avenue area as a run down area, with a largely hispanic community living there. Most people that reside in Ventura would agree that for years, this was the poor part of town, and looked it. It was an overlooked area with not a lot of voice.

Though promised a pool years ago, the west side still does not have one. The east end does. Starting to get the picture ? Getting a new very limited west side park doesn’t make up for some of these forgotten real issues.

Concerns of affordable housing that fits the need, and more useful and contemporary facilities , are just a couple of west side area concerns.

Having a resident from that district might help matters with that areas personal needs. ( living midtown with an oceanview should not qualify as an Avenue area representative). Each area is very unique and should be treated as such.

The fact that you personally have not noticed any bias does not mean it doesn’t exist.

How can a person living in an area that doesn’t concern them, not be bias ? Missing or not giving importance to local district issues is not a rarity.

Being disconnected is a very prominent condition under our current leadership.

It’s time to take those rose colored glasses off.

Mike Art

Mike: Researching the pool item but most of Ventura doesn’t have a pool. Jim Monahan has always been concerned about the “Avenue” so we can only wait and see how districting works. See the approved district map in this issue. Voting for District1 ( the Avenue) will be this year. And, by the way if my mind was more open a bird could fly threw it (I’m such a good straight man).

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
~ Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–68)

Dear Mayor Andrews, Deputy Mayor LaVere, Chief Corney and Council Members:

My home is on Brodiea Ave., my neighbor’s also on Brodiea Ave., and a home on Lupin around the corner from us were looted during the mandatory fire evacuation. We also had no electrical power at the time we were ordered to evacuate so we could not set our burglar alarm. I am told there are other looted homes as well but I have not personally spoken to other homeowners.

I read where you were going to be working on future disaster planning so I thought I would share our experience for future consideration.

At our home the thieves broke over the back fence and smashed in the door to our garden house. They were unsuccessful kicking in the side garage door so they threw a large concrete block through our back sliding glass door. It was double paned glass and this caused an explosion of shattered glass throughout the kitchen and dining area as well as glass tracked throughout the house. They took our TV and all our family jewelry and keepsakes. When they left, they left the front door open which caused ash from the fire to blow into our house throughout the night. In the morning the open door is what caused someone to alert Ventura Police. Officer Anthony Reginato called us home and took our report as well as those of our neighbors.

It is too late for us, and I realize so many others have lost so much more. However, fire sometimes cannot be stopped, but looting can be prevented

When you call for a future mandatory evacuation you should have in place a cadre of police personnel, cadets, and police volunteers to block off and restrict all access points to evacuated areas. They should be checking identifications of anyone entering or exiting the area.

Public safety is the number one priority in any community and I realize this fire disaster was greater than any emergency we have ever faced. Moreover, I have the utmost praise for all of our police and fire personnel. I will be forever grateful for their help. Heroes all.

However, I respectfully ask that each of you and Chief Corney develop a plan to protect neighborhoods from looters during future disaster evacuations. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Marianne Coffey

Dear Breeze:

At our North Ventura Avenue business, the loss of electricity and internet was worse than evacuating from the fire. Our insects and biological pest control products are shipped by UPS who came every day during the ordeal. We wrote waybills by hand. With a gas-fired generator, air filters, respirators, battery lights and headlamps we kept perishable inventory refrigerated and coworkers safe to do what was needed in production and shipping. However, customers and vendors could not reach us for four business days–a sales setback at year-end.

Our decision this year to switch to a phone system that depends on internet now seems like bad one. We pay for support from the phone service provider, but they are based in Ventura, also without power and connectivity.

We need more resilient systems from energy, broadband and VOIP phone providers so negative economic impacts are less widespread and prolonged. One positive step: Ventura County Supervisors and Ventura City Council are discussing joining Los Angeles Community Choice Energy (LACCE). Besides cheaper, cleaner electricity, profits will eventually be invested in the participating jurisdictions rather than going to shareholders and the inefficiencies of scale of a monopoly investor owned utility. We will have input about the type and siting of projects in a transparent, democratic planning process. For example, locally distributed solar generation including battery storage and eventually wind-wave support can be designed to be more reliable as well as more economical than the current grid. Local interconnected distributed generation facilities may sustain damage, but would not be affected from power lines going down many miles away. They will be designed with work-arounds when a microgrid is damaged.

If the Governor is right about this being the new normal, we appreciate leaders with the foresight to take more control over our energy to assure resilience.

Jan Dietrick, President Rincon-Vitova Insectaries

Hi. The spread of the fire is not yet over… It can blow up again. It takes just small blowing hot glowing cinder to glow up and burn down more vegetation. Why does Ventura not construct “water masts”, 150ft. high that have a sprinkling system, much the same as sprinkling systems used in agriculture. Such masts can jetison water around in a very wide perimeter as natural rain does. The “fire prevention masts” can use salt water from the ocean, mixed with fresh water. Salt does not harm the earth or vegetation. I wonder if the manner by which the fire department combats fire by hosing water directly into it at ground level, is not as effective as it would be if the firemen aimed their hoses upwards and let the water come down as rain down does, instead. The construction of a “water mast sprinkling” system might be something to consider… to protect homes.

Ventura has a lot of future potential. One thing for sure Ventura needs is a “desalination and filtration” plant. Creating a desalination system does not require huge expenditure, if small desalination plant entities are constructed, as on Santa Catalina Island where such a plant was constructed for only $3 million. One such plant serves hundreds if not thousands of homes and businesses, desalinating thousands of gallons salt water every day. Why not invest and buy a used desalinating system from a decommissioned cruise or large military ship. Those systems are able to produce thousands of gallons of fresh water.

Frank Reyna (Sweden)

I see with ever great clarity that our spiritual well-being depends not on religion, but on our innate human nature.
~ Tenzin Gyatso Dalai Lama

Ventura Breeze

Visiting our daughter in Ventura I picked up a copy of the Breeze. What caught my attention was the above the fold front page coverage of the pending City council vote on changing from “at large” to “district” voting of your council member. I commend the paper for notifying your readers of the upcoming public hearings. I respectfully disagree with the Editorial statement on page 4 that the state has mandated this pending change. What is driving this effort to create more diversity is an attorney from Malibu who is threatening cities throughout the state. It is not a mandate of the CA Voting Rights Act.

In Mission Viejo, where we live, we had 2 of the 5 council members serving together from 2000 through 2008. They were members of the “protected class,” which only represents 17% of our 95,000 residents. Between them John Paul Ledesma and Gail Reavis campaigned five times and won every time. In fact they were each selected by their non-Latino council peers to serve as mayor and mayor pro tem while they were in office. We do not have a Bario in our city nor do we engage in any form of racism.

Larry Gilbert Mission Viejo

Editor, Ventura Breeze

I’ve been an admirer of yours for having started Ventura’s own Newspaper.

But what you printed in your last editorial about dropping the National Anthem at football games lost me.

The National Anthem is played and our Pledge of Allegiance is recited to remind us Americans how fortunate it is that we live in this great Country of ours. To capitulate to those who wish to promote their personal issues by minimizing our pride in our country is an action that one should not support. We should all be appreciative of being citizens of this great Country and be able to express it by all means possible.

Yours truly,

CDR Ronald Wong USN (ret)

CDR Wong: Thank you very much for this response and for serving our great country. I completely agree with you about why the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance is important to us. I’m just not sure why sporting events are the venue to recite them. I certainly do respect those that don’t agree with this.

Sheldon

Editor:

In regards to the City Council limiting marijuana….

What I don’t get is why, after the voters of the county passed this by 64%, are we not having a discussion about what to do with the millions of dollars in tax revenue the city is throwing away?

Why didn’t Eric N. or Matt L. come to the December 2016 city council meeting with a spending plan?

The city claims to have no money.

The state, and voters, is/are allowing cities and counties to print money by allowing retail business.

Watch what happens in Port Hueneme…..

Tim Hansen

Ventura

In a recent issue we had the following opinion. We decided to follow up with this and found that Sarah was completely correct. Ticket them or remove them.

Breeze:

Something that really bugs me is pedestrians completely ignoring the red “don’t cross” signals that are downtown. Pedestrians ignoring them is the same as cars going through red lights. I assume that they are for safety but are actually very dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. Drivers making right turns assuming there is no one in the crosswalk(see photo that I took) very dangerous and lots of yelling (and other things)at each other.

The city should either “remove” them or start writing tickets for breaking the law. Would bring in lots of money and keep people from doing this.

Thanks Sarah Blum Ventura

The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.
~ Albert Einstein

Ventura Breeze:

This will be our last regular concert in the Poinsettia Pavilion (on Dec.3). We will take the band “on the road” for 2018; and I will not be requesting monthly announcements for that period. All of us at the Old-Time Country Music Association want to thank you for your advertising support during this past year.

Brown

I do enjoy and appreciate your local news–However, in the last issue, I take exception to your last two personal observations, to wit:

First, as to the 2nd. amendment, back in 1791, if one were guilty of a capital offense, they were executed, and it did not take over 20 years which is the norm today, if at all…..In this day, one needs more than a one shot weapon to defend oneself, but I will certainly agree that no one needs an assault weapon…

Secondly, as to Pros protesting—–they can protest until doomsday, but, they do not have any right to do so on the job. No employer has to condone this behavior in their business…You would not allow any of your employees to answer your phone or mail, etc. with any kind of protest…you would fire them immediately.

Let’s face it…the Pros are either phony or cheapskates—-it does not cost a dime to kneel or raise a fist, so why don’t these overly paid athletes use some of their money, time, or influence to help set up programs in the crime ridden neighborhoods, or appear on the many talk shows to voice their issues? The real reason is that they just do not care enough….

And, they certainly do not fool me with their useless actions….

Richard Pillow, Ventura

Richard: Thank you very much for your comments. Read my column regarding those who disagree with me. And, by the way many-many professional athletes do contribute their time and money helping their neighborhoods and society. Sheldon

Ventura Breeze:

Working with Sheldon and Breezy at this fine, local newspaper has been a great pleasure! Basically, they’ll bend over backwards to make your idea happen and smile the entire time!!! In all seriousness, this newspaper is an important part of the West Ventura County community fabric. The Ventura Breeze fills a void left by the daily papers and provides an authentic view into the people and businesses who call this part of the world home. Thank you so much for all you do and for being the quintessential hometown newspaper!

Mark Andrizzi Community Outreach Director Treacy Villa

Life is trying things to see if they work.
~ Ray Bradbury

Breeze:

I recently took the train to San Diego (nice trip by the way) but was shocked to see the amount of graffiti that the train passed as we went through Ventura. What an awful introduction to Ventura. Can’t something be done to get rid of it?

Sharon Gold

Sharon: This is a tough one because this is on private property and on Union Pacific easement the City graffiti removal department can’t do anything about it. The property owners can be sited and made to remove it but that just never happens and requires permission, etc. from Union Pacific. When you see graffiti on public property call the City of Ventura’s Graffiti Removal Hotline number at 654-7805, they are very good at taking care of it quickly.

Breeze:

I have many, but here’s a good one – I don’t think the stores should put out Christmas stuff in October, why can’t we just enjoy one holiday at a time?!?!?

Alfred Lewis

Opinions:

Some stores had Christmas up in September. How about a year-round Christmas store so the other stores could focus on the present holiday? It’s hard enough to find Thanksgiving things among the costumes and lit trees.

Fall decor went on clearance after what seemed like just a few weeks. I protest!

Shirley Lorraine

Ooops, this photo was in our last issue and credit was given to the wrong photographer it was taken by Bernie Goldstein, sorry Bernie.

Editor:

My opinion is that opinions are very opinionated.

Kenneth May

Kenneth: How esoteric. You are a great thinker.

Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied.
~ Dale Carnegie

Editor:

In this very confusing and hectic morning. The news coming from Las Vegas about major loss of life is heart breaking; as a result, the Ventura County Green Party Council would like to extend our love to victims and their family. We would like to remind everyone that mental illness is not an excuse for violence but if you know someone showing signs of instability, violent or not please seek help. National number 1-800-273-TALK

Local calls 211 to seek resources. And always 911 in a time of emergencies.

Love and Peace from Ventura GP to all.

Anthony Krzywicki

Sheldon:

Thank you Sheldon for a wonderful contribution to our community “THE VENTURA BREEZE “
10 years Wow outstanding !!

Sincerely,

Yolanda Bundy
Chief Building Official City of Ventura

Breeze:

Something that really bugs me is pedestrians completely ignoring the red “don’t cross” signals that are downtown. Pedestrians ignoring them is the same as cars going through red lights. I assume that they are for safety but are actually very dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. Drivers making right turns assuming there is no one in the crosswalk (see photo that I took) very dangerous and lots of yelling (and other things)at each other.

The city should either “remove” them or start writing tickets for breaking the law. Would bring in lots of money and keep people from doing this.

Thanks Sarah Blum Ventura

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.
~ Leo Tolstoy