On Oct.5, at 9:22pm Ventura City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke and fire in a residential home in the 200 Block of N Ventura Ave. Upon arrival fire crews found a fire burning underneath of a raised foundation house and extending into the interior of the home. Firefighters extinguished the fire seventeen minutes after arrival. The home, which had burned a year earlier, was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is suspicious and remains under investigation. No firefighters were injured as a result of this incident.
Category Archives: News and Notes
City schedules open discussion on pot regulations
How should the city approach the new pending marijuana regulations?
by Paul Peterson- Pat 1 of 2
The city of Ventura has just announced it will host a community meeting for all Venturans to offer input as to how the city should approach the new pending marijuana regulations. The meeting will be held Thursday, September 28th at 6pm in the Community Meeting Room at City Hall, 501 Poli Street. The public will be asked to weigh in on issues such as marijuana store fronts, delivery services, cultivation, taxes, zoning and other related issues. The input will then be given to the city council at another public meeting on October 9th, also at 6pm in council chambers. Those who can’t attend are encouraged to email their input to [email protected]. This is a real opportunity for the people to speak out on this subject.
On January 1st, 2018 marijuana becomes legal to consume and cultivate for Californians over age 21, many enjoying strains similar to blue venom. The supporting cannabis industry has been gearing up for legalization with a series of pot industry conventions and confabs throughout Southern California. The level of business acumen and innovation is surprising. More details on these gatherings along with input from the September 28 meeting will follow in a second installment for The Breeze. The CBD industry is set to skyrocket too with many businesses looking for a CBD manufacturing company from whom they can purchase private label products to sell under their brands.
Recent polls have shown national support for medical marijuana now tops 90% while support for legalization for all is now over 60%. It seems to be the will of the people. Ventura has remained on the sidelines so far as to whether the new law will be approached as a problem or an opportunity.
There has been enormous financial success for Colorado since enacting their law. Gross sales will surpass one and a half billion dollars this year resulting in tax revenues of over 116 million dollars for Coloradoans. Additionally, new business ventures have been able to grow into the sector to help promote it in their regions, such as Avidon Marketing Group to name one example. California’s gross sales are expected to top 8 billion in a few short years.
How Ventura will fare in this coming tax and licensing windfall lies in the policies developed going forward.
It should be noted that at all the aforementioned cannabis confabs, optimism is very high and opportunities for cannabis jobs and starting new businesses were everywhere. Many women were seen as leading entrepreneurs in these new businesses, especially in food infusion and minorities seek to be equally represented as shop owners and distributors. There seems to be new opportunities for many.
January is right around the corner and Ventura’s opportunity to take advantage of a whole new industry and is on the line. It appears to be the biggest new revenue source in decades for city coffers. Opposing progress might be akin to being the last dry town in a wet state, to use a prohibition example. Illustrating this, the town of Milliken, Colorado is now approving pot shop licenses to two new businesses because the nearby town of Garden City now credits pot taxes and license fees for bringing in half of their $1.3 million dollar budget. Imagine doubling a city’s income and being able to fund new projects and complete existing ones. That may be the opportunity before our city council. Citizens have a chance to express responsible views at the upcoming events September 28 and again October 9th. City funding and jobs are at stake.
Fire Foundation seeks funds to help local firefighter
The Ventura Fire Foundation has launched a crowdfunding campaign in support of recently retired Fire Captain John Van Mannekes.
Van Mannekes was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in July 2016. He retired from the Ventura City Fire Department last month due to his illness.
After 21 years as a Ventura City Firefighter, John is no longer able to do the job he loves to do.
The Ventura Fire Foundation is sponsoring a crowdfunding campaign to help raise money to support John and his family. With the mounting medical bills due to his ALS diagnosis and with treatments, which are primarily experimental and not covered by medical insurance, his medical bills are multiplying.
Throughout his career, John helped countless members of our Ventura community. It’s now our turn to help John and his family including his wife Rebecca and two teenage sons, Johnny and Jamie.
Being a firefighter has meant the world to John, although the journey getting there wasn’t easy. After becoming a fire explorer, where he realized his calling was to a life in the fire service, John tested with over 40 fire departments across California, some more than once. He put himself through the fire academy, then paramedic school. Finally, in July of 1996, after a year working with a private ambulance company, he received the offer he’d been hoping for: Ventura City Fire Department.
Almost as soon as his probation ended, John became a relief driver. He earned his certification as a Fire Officer. He went to HAZMAT school. After only four years as a firefighter-paramedic, John received a promotion to Engineer Fireman. And then, even more quickly, he earned the title of Fire Captain – a position John held in Ventura for over 14 years.
“ As a Fire Captain, you lead by example,” John says. “You are in charge of and responsible for the engineer and the fireman at the station on that shift. You kind of set the tone… It’s a lot more responsibility.”
It is now our responsibility to set the tone and support John, his wife, and his sons through this difficult time. You can ease the significant financial burden of his care. You can give access to essential therapies to delay his symptoms and buy precious time as critical research evolves. You can change lives, the same way John changed lives throughout his firefighting career.
The Ventura Fire Foundation was established in 2014 to enhance the lives of our community members and enhance local charity and community activism within the Ventura Community. We are also focused on establishing a healthy benevolent fund to be used during times of crisis when one of our members becomes ill or injured in the line of duty.
Donations can be made by going to venturafirefoundation.org.
Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road
Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko addressing the students. Photos by Bernie Goldstein
On September 1, a virtual reality 360° driving experience showing the potentially deadly consequences of smartphone distracted driving was held at Buena High School, 5670 Telegraph Road.
The event included a simulator car, virtual reality gear, signage and a digital education display. The It Can Wait simulator was accompanied by AT&T It Can Wait campaign ambassadors. This is similar in some ways to how 360 provides VR training for workplace safety purposes, except this time the focus is entirely on the driving.
AT&T partnered with the Ventura Police Department and Buena High School to bring awareness about the dangers of smartphone distracted driving with its virtual reality simulator. This is a great idea as the number of people hiring a car accident attorney is rising dramatically and one of the predicted reasons is the increase in people texting and driving.
Ventura Mayor Nasarenko told the students, “Six thousand individuals die every year because of distracted driving. That would be like the entire student body of Buena High School vanishing along with two other high schools of the same size. So don’t send that text, answer the phone, or put mouse whiskers on the Snapchat photo while you’re driving. Remember, It can wait.” This really puts the problem into perspective; those injured by a careless driver may want to pursue legal action against them through the likes of Virginia Car Accident Attorneys.
The students learned that:
Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road or hands off the steering wheel -especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. Who’s doing it? Most drivers. It has been estimated that, at any one time, over 10 percent of drivers are using a mobile device. This also includes truck drivers with most truck accidents being caused by distracted driving. Truck accidents rarely have a happy ending and those who have been in such accidents ending up in the hospital for a lengthy amount of time. If you have found yourself in such a situation, you might want to get in touch with a law firm similar to these Tate Law Offices who might be able to help with getting compensation for your accident.
According to the California Office of Traffic and Safety:
- 80 percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention.
- Up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
- Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of driver distractions.
- Texting takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, far enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph. Most crashes happen with less than 3 seconds reaction time.
What can a driver do? They can obey the law. They can also work to eliminate distractions:
- Never text and drive.
- Turn off the phone when you get behind the wheel.
- Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
- Make a pact with family, spouse, and caregivers never to use the phone in the car.
- No eating or drinking while driving.
- Don’t program your GPS, MP3 player or other devices while driving.
- Pull over and stop to read maps.
- No grooming, no reading, no watching videos.
- If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it.
The Annual California Coast Classic (CCC) Bike Tour
Join the riders at San Buenaventura State Beach. Photo by Murray Robertson from 2016
The Annual California Coast Classic Bike Tour is one of the Arthritis Foundation’s top fundraising events, whose goal is to raise over $1.2 million. Funds raised support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to conquer the disease by spreading awareness and raising money for research. Arthritis affects over 50 million adults, or one out of five, and 300,000 children nationwide.
The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour is a scenic bike ride that takes place over 8 days and is estimated to cover an additional 45 miles over 2016 and 2700’ of elevation over the course of the tour. The Tour starts in San Francisco and ends in Pacific Palisades with a stop in Ventura.
The Tour will be coming through Ventura and you’re invited to meet the riders, volunteers and staff. Join the riders at San Buenaventura State Beach Day 7, Friday, Sept. 15.
Where they will camp out. Festivities include CCC Social Hour (4-6 p.m.), dinner (6:30 p.m.) where there will be great opportunities to interview riders and tour staff.
The next day, Saturday, Sept. 16, the last day of the tour cyclist will have breakfast (6:30-8:30 am) and then ride 55 miles and climb 1,800 feet of rolling hills along the gorgeous coast into Malibu, and cross the finish line at 2 p.m. as a group in Pacific Palisades to fanfare and an emotional welcome.
For more information on the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, visit californiacoastclassic.org.
Remember! Pedestrians don’t have armor
The California Office of Traffic Safety announced that September is “California Pedestrian Safety Month” which began last year in response to the rising number of pedestrians being killed and injured on California roadways.
The Ventura Police Department will be joining with other law enforcement agencies, pedestrian advocates and walking clubs to promote public awareness aimed at both drivers and pedestrians alike to always be aware of each other and share the road responsibly.
This month draws attention to the 892 pedestrians who were killed on California roadways in 2016, accounting for over 24 percent of all roadways deaths in the state, up from 17% just a decade ago. The number of pedestrians killed or injured on Ventura roadways has increased over the past two years. In 2015 there were 55 incidents and in 2016 there were 62 incidents.
The department has mapped out locations over the past several years where pedestrian collisions have occurred along with the violations that led to those collisions. Traffic Officers working overtime and others on routine patrol will be focusing enforcement both on drivers as well as pedestrian who violate traffic laws.
Both drivers and walkers are cautioned to put down the cell phones, since electronic distractions are seen in increasing numbers of pedestrian crashes. Other factors for drivers include unsafe speed and failure to see and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and intersections. For pedestrians, the major dangers are jaywalking and thinking that they can be seen at night, especially while wearing dark clothing. To learn about the dangers of being a pedestrian, who is at risk and safety tips visit Pedestrian Safety.
Funding for this enforcement campaign is provided to the Ventura Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chris Stephens appointed new commissioner for Ventura Port District
Chris Stephens, director of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency, has been appointed as the new commissioner for the Ventura Port District. He replaces Commissioner Bruce Smith.
Stephens has served as the head of the Resource Management Agency since 2006. Previously he worked as Ventura County’s Planning Director and as the Deputy Executive Director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission and has served as a Hansen Agricultural Trust Advisory Board member, a member of the City of Ventura Visioning Committee and Charter Committee, and the Ventura County Planning Commission.
Commissioner Jim Friedman was reappointed to another four-year term, through 2021.
Research on flu viruses in marine mammals at the Channel Islands
For the September From Shore to Sea lecture Dr. Pamela Yochem will discuss the role and significance of marine mammals in spreading influenza viruses that may pose a risk to human health.
Yochem’s research has revealed that some of the marine mammals at the Channel Islands have been exposed to the same virus that caused the last global epidemic of influenza in humans.
The sudden appearance and rapid spread of this highly contagious virus in both humans and marine mammals is unprecedented according to Yochem.
Yochem is the Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute in San Diego. She is a USDA-accredited veterinarian and has studied the population biology, behavioral ecology, and health of marine vertebrates for 30 years.
The talk will be held on Thursday, September 14. The From Shore to Sea lecture series is sponsored by Channel Islands National Park. The 2017 lecture series will take place at 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month, January through December, at the Channel Islands National Park Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive, in Ventura Harbor. The programs are free and open to the public.
This lecture can also be viewed live online, at:Shore to Sea lecture series.
Lectures are recorded and posted at: http://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/photosmultimedia/from-shore-to-sea-lecture-videos.htm
Ventura Visitor Guide wins award
Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau (VVCB) proudly announced that the 2017 Ventura Visitor Guide has won an Award for Publication Excellence in the “One-of-a-Kind Publications” category.
The 29th Annual Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) which recognize excellence in publishing by professional communicators were based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry — in the opinion of the judges — in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence. The panel of judges for APEX 2017 included John De Lellis, Concepts Editor & Publisher, Ken Turtoro, noted publishing executive and senior APEX judge, Christine Turner, Contributing Editor of the Writing That Works Archives and Bill Londino, Consulting Editor of Writer’s Web Watch.
1,361 entries were evaluated including 60 in the “One-of-a-Kind Publications” category. VVCB was honored that the Ventura Visitor Guide was chosen among 23 same-category winners.
VVCB hopes to continue a tradition of publication excellence in Ventura’s 2018 Visitor Guide currently in progress. Similar to the 2017 Visitor Guide, it will focus on advertorial content that tells the Ventura story through local writers and photographers. The 2018 Visitor Guide will be published before the end of the year.
Officer Aaron Drake may be called as a witness at her trial
Wendy Di Rodio, a family therapist and author, was killed in 2009.
From a previous Breeze issue: “After a three-year investigation, the Ventura Police Department arrested Gina Drake, 45, for the murder of her aunt Wendy Di Rodio. Di Rodio, 61, was stabbed repeatedly in her room in her home in the Ventura Keys neighborhood on June 3, 2009.”
“Gina Drake is the former wife of VPD veteran Police Officer Aaron Drake, The Drakes were married at the time of the homicide, but Officer Drake had filed for divorce in June, 2009 (about the time of the murder) and they have since been divorced.”
Why is this important now?
In a suicide attempt, VPD patrol officer Aaron Drake, 47, shot himself around 1:30 p.m. on July 28 in the locker room of the Ventura Police Department headquarters located on Dowell Dr. (officer Dowell remains the only Ventura officer killed in the line of duty).
He was taken to Ventura County Medical Center and eventually to Kaiser Permanente hospital in Los Angeles where he is being treated.
Apparently Aaron Drake was very involved with the investigation in to his ex-wife’s case, even wearing a wire in a meeting with her. The investigation is being conducted by the Ventura Police Department and the Ventura County District Attorney Office.
Defense attorneys for Gina Drake, as well as prosecutors, want to call the officer as a witness during pretrial motions and for her future trial.
Activities have been delayed pending the condition of Aaron Drake and his ability to be a witness in the case.
It has not been determined if his involvement with Gina Drake’s pending trial predicated his attempted suicide.