Category Archives: News and Notes

Ventura PD honors Erin Burdine during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

During the second week of April, the Ventura Police Department (VPD) celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, shedding light on the indispensable first responders who operate behind the scenes, bridging the gap between the public and emergency services during critical moments.

“This year we recognize Erin Burdine as our Dispatcher of the Year,” shared Communications Center Supervisor, Sergeant Tim Ferrill. “Erin is incredibly knowledgeable, leans in to offer help, and has served as an exemplary leader in our center. She is a reassuring voice for residents and a skilled dispatcher that our officers trust deeply.”

Handling 191,900 total calls in 2023 alone, including over 50,000 9-1-1 calls, Ventura Police public safety dispatchers play a pivotal role in coordinating emergency responses for the city.

“I take immense pride in our dedicated team of dispatchers, whose pivotal role in serving Ventura cannot be overstated,” said Police Chief Darin Schindler. “Our 17 dispatchers display professionalism at every turn and their swift and precise actions lay the foundation for effective crisis management, providing vital support to both callers and police officers.”

Erin started with VPD as a police cadet in 2005. During her time as a cadet, she explored various law enforcement career options and was hired as a dispatch trainee in 2007 and has faithfully served Ventura since.

As the demand for skilled dispatchers continues to grow, the Ventura Police Department invites qualified individuals to join their team. Learn more and apply online at CityofVentura.ca.gov/PoliceJobs.

With your support we are creating more affordable housing in Ventura County

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s 5th Annual Compassion Campaign – Unlocking Affordable Living is quickly approaching on Thursday, May 9th. Now is the time to secure your seat! Join community leaders and affordable housing advocates for a memorable evening of reimagining and reshaping the vision for the future of affordable housing in Ventura County.

As a guest you will learn about innovative housing solutions from guest speakers, including Mark Stivers, Director of Advocacy for the California Housing Partnership, a private nonprofit organization created by the State Legislature in 1988 to help provide housing that is sustainable and affordable for working families, homeless, veterans, seniors and disabled individuals. Alex Russell, CEO of Homes & Hope and Chair of the Housing Land Trust VC, will also speak on leveraging public land for housing affordability. We’ll showcase two case studies from the developers at Mesa in Ojai who are focused on supporting transitional age young adults at risk of homelessness, and The Villages at Westview developed by the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura. Westview replaces the city’s oldest and largest public housing complex.

Guests will be invited to stroll through a path of innovations, including observing the ingenuity of using energy-efficient structural insulated panel (SIP) walls allowing for quick and cost-effective onsite assembly. An oversize map will showcase the many developments funded in part by Housing Trust Fund VC across the County since 2013. Each guest will receive a key to “unlock affordable living” with three lucky winners receiving special prizes.

Purchase tickets at https://www.housingtrustfundvc.org/compassioncampaign2024.html

The Murphy Auto Museum is Closing

The Murphy Auto Museum will be permanently closing. The last day for public admittance will be Sunday, July 7, 2024. The museum will use the remaining month of July to sell furniture, fixtures, chattels and ephemera as they begin the de-accession of the contents. The building will be turned over to the landlord on July 31st.

The museum will keep its regular operating hours from now through July 7th, which is every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am till 4:00pm; the last admission is at 3:00pm since it takes about an hour to view the museum’s collection. Admission is $10.00 for guests 13 years old and older, free to guests younger than 12 years old, and free to active military with identification.

The museum’s board has been trying for several years to find a sustainable path to keep the museum viable and part of the community. However, economic realities have forced the decision to close the museum in conjunction with the end of the present lease agreement. The Murphy Auto Museum has been a part of Ventura County since 2005 and sees an average of 10,000 visitors per year. The museum, at any given time, has over 40 antique and vintage cars on display, as well as Americana, an HO scale model railroad, a large slot car raceway, vintage trailer town, diecast car collection, a monthly car show and more.

“We’ve been embedded in Ventura County since 2005,” said David Neel, Executive Director of the foundation. “I took over the running of the foundation from Dan Murphy, the museum’s founder in January of 2014 because it was in danger of closing then. It is sad that Oxnard has had two fantastic car museums for many years, ourselves and the Mullin, and that the Mullin has closed and the Murphy will be closing.”

The museum invites the public from near and far to visit the museum before it is gone. “We’re a little gem in the big city of Oxnard, and we bring a lot of smiles to people’s faces. We want everyone to come visit the museum one last time and make a lasting memory.”

The museum is located at 1930 Eastman Avenue in Oxnard. For additional information, the public can email the executive director [email protected], call the museum at (805) 487-4333, or visit us on the web at www.MurphyAutoMuseum.org.

Firefighters respond to reported structure fire

On April 22, fire units were dispatched to a reported structure fire at Main and Ann St.. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a single-family residence with smoke showing. Firefighters deployed hose lines into the home and were able to locate and extinguish a fire in the kitchen within 10 minutes. One civilian was treated for smoke inhalation by firefighter/paramedics and taken to Community Memorial Hospital by AMR for further treatment. Ventura City Fire units were assisted by Ventura County Fire Department, AMR and Ventura Police Department.

Brush management deadline is June 1, 2024

Despite recent heavy rainfall, Ventura residents are urged to remain vigilant as the threat of wildfires persists. The Ventura Fire Department stresses the importance of creating defensible space by maintaining flammable grass, trees, and shrubs surrounding vulnerable structures.

Over 6,200 parcels will receive notices in mid-April as part of the Fire Hazard Reduction Program (FHRP). Property owners are required to complete 100 feet of vegetation management from structures or to the property line by June 1, 2024.

“Defensible space isn’t solely about protecting property; it’s about protecting lives,” said Ventura Fire Marshal Brett Reed. “Neglecting vegetation management can lead to hazardous conditions during wildfires. Acting promptly, residents can greatly diminish wildfire risks and help contribute to our community’s safety.”

The FHRP aims to reduce fire danger by managing the density and placement of flammable vegetation. The required defensible space varies based on an area’s terrain and vegetation type. This approach is critical for slowing or stopping the spread of wildfire and shielding structures from ignition by direct flames, radiant heat, or airborne embers.

Inspections of vulnerable properties will begin in early June.

For more information on the Fire Hazard Reduction Program, visit CityofVentura.ca.gov/FHRP or call the Fire Prevention Division at 805-658-4717.

Firefighters respond to report of large explosion and power poles on fire

On April 15, fire units were dispatched to an electrical hazard with multiple callers stating there was a large explosion and power poles are on fire near Foothill Rd / N. Kimball Rd. while en-route, fire units received updates that this was a vehicle that hit a power pole. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a vehicle that had left the roadway and hit a major transmission power pole carrying over 60,000 volts of electricity. The solo occupant of the vehicle was treated and released to Ventura PD. Southern California Edison arrived and ensured all power lines were safe and no longer energized. Ventura City Fire units were assisted by the Ventura Police Department and Southern California Edison.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

As April marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Ventura Police Department is increasing its efforts to combat the dangers posed by distracted driving. In alignment with this nationwide initiative, the department will conduct enforcement operations focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ventura Tree Alliance Build a Sense of Community by Planting Trees

Barbara Brown, Christy Weir, and Nancy O’Rode are happy planting trees.

Every year, Californians celebrate Arbor Week by planting trees in their communities. This year the Ventura Tree

Alliance (VTA) is planting 15 trees at Elmhurst School and another 20 trees at Montalvo Hill Park. VTA has planted trees every year during Arbor Week since we began in 2021. Our goal is to increase awareness of the benefits of trees.

California is a place where trees are a part of our daily lives. Tree planting here is at an all-time high after significant losses statewide since 2018. Last year, in California nearly 195,000 trees were planted during Arbor Week. By the end of 2024, the Ventura Tree Alliance will have planted nearly 200 trees in Ventura.

Community, business and non-profit leaders from all fields understand that trees are important for practical and aesthetic reasons. Trees cool the air, reducing the need for air conditioning. Trees add property value to homes and businesses. Tree filled communities tend to be safer, more sociable and healthier.

Ventura loves trees, but in many communities, people are indifferent. But they shouldn’t be. Studies show urban greenery improves public health: 40 percent fewer people are overweight or obese, residents are three times as likely to be physically

active, children have reduced symptoms of attention deficit disorder, hypertension and asthma, and stress levels are lower.

If the intangible benefits to trees in our environment aren’t enough evidence, what about the dollars and cents? A study done in the Inland Valley showed that one large tree will provide over $2,700 in environmental and other benefits over its lifetime. That’s a 333-percent return on investment. For 100 large public trees, communities can save over $190,000 in 40 years.

While VTA does what we can locally, California ReLeaf is leading the statewide effort. Last year, they funded 33 projects with local organizations resulting in over 23,000 trees planted, and the creation or retention of nearly 200 jobs and job training for young people over the next two years. Because of our partnership with California ReLeaf, when you celebrate California Arbor Week locally, you’ll be celebrating with the rest of the state as well.

This California Arbor Week and in the future, we need your support. Neighbors can come together and help each other plant trees on their property. Volunteers can donate materials or their time to plant trees at parks or in schoolyards. Communities that work together to plant trees forge bonds that cannot be measured through the tons of carbon dioxide removed from the air or gallons of rainwater collected by trees. These are the relationships that lead to a greater understanding amongst neighbors and the inner peace that comes from living in a greener community.

Join Us!

Volunteers are needed to help plant trees on Thursday, April 25, 10am at Montalvo Hill Park. Bring a shovel or rake (with your name on it), a sun hat, sunscreen and water… and have a great day outdoors making a difference in Ventura.

Second Annual Mental Health Wellness Festival

by Carol Leish, MA

The Ventura County Mental Wellness Festival returns to Ventura Harbor. The organizer is local non-profit, Turning Point Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for adults experiencing serious mental illness, addiction, lack of housing and inadequate physical health care. The festival’s objective is to raise awareness about mental health and share mental wellness pathways that support, maintain and/or improve peoples’ mental health. This annual event celebrates the completion of National Mental Health Awareness Month (May).

Folks can visit Ventura Harbor Village (lawn area) at 1583 Spinnaker Dr. The event will be from 10:30am – 4:30pm on Saturday, June 1st 2024. Come relax with yoga and sound meditation, hosted by Meditation Mount. Enjoy live music from the Orchard Bluegrass Band. This band has been entertaining audiences of all ages throughout Southern California for many years. Two of the venues they have performed at include the Reagan Library and Ventura County Fair.

View the Mental Health Art Exhibit, which displays a variety of artwork submitted by Turning Point’s wellness program clients. Also, shop a variety of native plants and talk to horticulture experts at the Growing Works Garden Exhibit. Growing Works is an innovative wholesale plant nursery that serves as one of Turning Point’s mental wellness programs. It provides job training, employment, volunteer opportunities, recovery services and hands-on horticulture work experience to people experiencing mental health challenges.

Participate in an arts and crafts activity by Ronald McDonald House Charities (SoCal) Camp Good Times! RMHC’s Camp Good Times provides a cost-free multi-day sleep over experience for kids battling cancer and their families. Ronald McDonald House-Charities of Southern California’s mission is to create a positive, long-lasting impact on children with cancer and their families by providing fun-filled medically supervised cost-free year-round programs in tandem with seven houses spread through Southern California. This includes the newest “Family Room” at Ventura County Medical Center.

Event exhibitor and activity sponsors include: Ventura County Behavioral Health; Meditation Mount; Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times; Tinyplants; Growing Works; Oxnard Wellness Center; 1Health Right 360; Autism Society-Ventura County; California Lutheran University; Ventura Breeze; New Talk 1590-KVTA; VC Reporter; Nate’s Places Wellness & Recovery Center and Rotary Ventura South.

Contact: [email protected] to become a sponsor and/or vendor!

Special thanks to Ventura Harbor Village as the venue! Join us at the grass lawn. Also, explore the wonderful array of shops, restaurants, boat rides and more.

Event Website: mentalwellnessfest.com

Get a 10% off at participating Ventura Harbor restaurants & shops by going to: https://mentalwellnessfest.com/venturaharborvillagefestivaldiscount.html