Category Archives: News and Notes

Brooks Institute Announces Closure After 70 Years

Soon there will be many unfinished offices in Ventura to lease.

by Richard Lieberman

Brooks Institute a visual and media arts school announced on August 12, it plans to shut down operations. The school has cancelled its fall semester and will cease all operations by October 31^st according to a letter sent to Brooks students.

The letter authored by Transition Officer Kristen Howard states, “Changes in economic regulatory conditions in recent years have had a significant, prolonged, negative impact on instruction, we have attempted to mitigate the problem through contraction, strategic planning and innovation, but with only limited success. Because we do not expect the adverse conditions to change in the foreseeable future, our only responsible course of action is to proceed to closure.”

The school also has announced it will continue to offer administrative student services, and support which will include transition services through October 31^st.

According to Kristen Howard, “We are working to identify other schools that may be able to take current on transfer, or to assist with a teach-out, so those who have not graduated as of Brooks’ closure will have the opportunity to complete their program or one similar to it. We will provide additional details regarding any transfer or teach-out opportunities as soon as such details become available. “

The school was originally founded as the Brooks Institute of Photography in 1945 by Earnest Brooks Sr. The original core curriculum was developed around economics, public speaking, and business management. Brooks Sr., turned over the operation of the school to his son Ernest Brooks II, who added portraiture, underwater and scientific photography, and motion picture production.

In 1999 the Brooks Institute of Photography was sold to Career Education Corporation (CEC). CEC expanded the school which included acquisition of an 8-acre site former movie production studio in Ventura in 2002, later becoming the Ventura Campus for consolidating the entire school. In 2011 Brooks Institute moved its programs and offices to the new Ventura Campus. In 2014 it moved to the Cota Street campus in Downtown Santa Barbara, before its final move to the Ventura Campus.

Brooks had been experiencing problems with declining student enrollment, accreditation and serious financial losses since CEC had taken over. Last year Brooks was acquired by Gphomestay which specializes in finding housing for students studying abroad.

The final decision to close was made last Wednesday, just one day after Brooks president Edward Clift was ousted. Additionally, a majority of Brooks Board of Directors members resigned last week.

City of Ventura officials, property owners, and downtown business owners had been anticipating the completion of Brooks move to 6 locations within the city. The school was in process of renovating the new locations and occupation of the sites was nearing, however late in July construction was halted.

Mark Watkins, Ventura City Manager commented “obviously on behalf of the city we were very disappointed on their decision to close we got word last week like everybody else so, everybody at the city was disappointed. Brooks has been a long time partner with the city, and we were looking forward to the opportunity for them moving downtown and bring to the community opportunities and we were disappointed. We haven’t heard back specifically from Brooks since their decision to close. They weren’t keeping us posted on their decision making process. That being said we do have a lease agreement with them for the space and it has many obligations that they must meet including rental amounts and also amounts for tenant improvements We put them on notice as soon as we heard that we fully expect them to meet all of their lease obligations. We fully expect them to meet all their obligations they have with the city.” Added Watkins.

Brooks currently owes the city more than $70,000 in back rent. They also have not paid a security deposit on the building behind city hall. That lease was executed last February.

Brooks had already begun renovations on the site and it will take substantial city resources in order to make the space rentable and once again available for lease.

Donna Granata, Founder/Executive Director of Focus on the Masters, who had to relocate to a different floor behind city hall told the Breeze, “The closing of Brooks Institute is heartbreaking on so many levels. The biggest catastrophe in all of this is the effect it will have on the faculty and the students. This event will reverberate for many years to come, not only in the hundreds of lives directly associated with the campus, but at a great cost to our community. Brooks decision to move the campus to downtown Ventura was a great idea in theory, but was so poorly executed without proper planning, financial viability and a lack of transparency. What was supposed to be an economic boon for the city of Ventura, became a financial disaster for all involved.”

Christy Weir, Councilmember, Ventura “We are extremely disappointed in the closing of Brooks. Their proposed move to downtown Ventura was highly anticipated to be an economic and cultural generator. Downtown property owners who were partnering with Brooks to create an urban campus will be impacted by their sudden closing. It is fortunate that we have a thriving, desirable downtown and we look forward to continuing to attract a variety of new and exciting long-term tenants in the future”

Marlyss Auster, Executive Director Ventura Visitor & Convention Bureau “I am so sad about the Brooks news, on so many levels. The excitement of having all the Brookies downtown in an urban campus our team embraced and celebrated. We remained hopeful when the construction was stalled, now the devastating news is all just sinking in.”

Cheryl Heitmann, Councilmember commented “I met a young Brooks student today who told me he had only one semester left before graduation. And I think that is part of the disappointment I feel about Brooks closing. To make this decision so close to the start of classes seems so unfair to their students. Of course, it is a loss for our downtown. I think the vision of a downtown campus had real merit, especially for an arts school. “

The school has indicated that this week students will receive more information on the school’s closure, including Brooks’ obligations to their students. The school is opening a transition office to meet individually with each of the 350 current students to help them with the next steps in their education goals.

Help for students is also available from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education which can offer information on similar programs, information on federal loan forgiveness, and the tuition recovery program. The recovery program will reimburse students if their school closes before they have graduated.

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 150^th 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.

Brian Brennan appointed to Ventura Port District Board

Former Ventura Mayor Brian Brennan has been appointed to the Ventura Port District Board of Commissioners. He succeeds another former Ventura Mayor, Greg Carson, whose term has expired. The Port District operates Ventura Harbor.

Still another former Ventura Mayor, Jim Friedman, who serves as chair of the Port District Commission, welcomed Brennan’s appointment.

“Having worked with Brian for six years as a member of the Ventura City Council, I’m excited to work with him again on the Port Commission,” Friedman said. “I could always count on Brian to be well informed and make fair, unbiased decisions.”

Brennan, 64, served on the Ventura City Council for 16 years, two as mayor. He also served four years on the California Coastal Commission and he is a former chair of the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau.

“I am still active on coastal issues and climate change concerns,” Brennan said.

Brennan is senior executive aide to Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett and is pro bono executive director of BEACON, an organization concerned with beach access and erosion issues.

Brennan moved to Ventura in 1992 after running restaurants and a hotel in the Caribbean for 10 years. Brennan did a lot of sailing in the Caribbean and often crews on racing sailboats at Ventura Harbor on Wet Wednesdays.

His term on the Port District board is for four years.

Grand Theft Investigation and Arrest

Reprinted from a previous issue of the Ventura Breeze

In May the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit began an investigation into reports that two victims’ diamonds had been switched for fake stones by the suspect at his jewelry store.

The suspect, identified as 54 year old West Hills resident Ara Ghazarian, is the owner operator of Jewelry Unlimited in 4700 block of Telephone Rd.

One victim noticed something was wrong with her wedding ring after she had a new setting made by Ghazarian. The victim had this ring inspected at a different jewelry store and discovered that the original diamond from her wedding had been replaced with a “Moissanite” stone .The second victim took a family heirloom ring with a unique style of diamond into Ghazarian’s business to have minor repair performed. She also discovered that the diamond from her ring had been switched out with a Moissanite stone.

Based on Ghazarian’s actions and additional evidence discovered during this investigation detectives determined that he intentionally switched the victims’ real diamonds with fake stones with an estimated total loss of over $8,000.00.

On June 16, 2016 Ventura Police Department Street Crimes detectives served a search warrant at Ghazarian’s business and took him into custody on two counts of Grand Theft.

On June 28 Ghazarian committed suicide in a home owned by a relative in Tarzana by hanging himself.

Ventura City Fire personnel respond to incident involving natural gas leak

On July 13, at 11am Ventura City Fire personnel responded to a Hazardous Condition incident involving leaking natural gas and operating heavy equipment in the 200 block of S. Mills Rd. The first arriving company found a commercial boom/bucket lift vehicle, which had been performing work on the exterior of a business and had broken through an access door located in the sidewalk. When the heavy equipment broke through it damaged underground natural gas equipment and piping which resulted in an active leak.

The immediate area was evacuated, and the gas leak successfully mitigated by closing adjacent valves. Both a USAR and a truck/support company were requested. Engine company personnel stood by with hose lines while the vehicle was removed from the hole using a heavy wrecker. After removal, the gas company began repairing the damaged equipment and piping.

Shooting leaves one dead

On June 29, at 4:15pm , the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a shooting that had just occurred in the 4000 block of East Main Street.

When Ventura patrol officers arrived on the scene they located Cameron Miller ,25 year old Oxnard resident who had been shot and Smith a 21 year old male Oxnard resident who had also been shot.

Miller was pronounced dead at the scene and Smith was transported to VCMC for treatment.

Ventura PD Major Crimes Detectives and Ventura County DA Investigators responded to the scene to take over the investigation. The investigation revealed that there were three verbal altercations between the suspects and victims that occurred before the shooting. The first occurred near Del Taco in the 4300 block of East Main Street. The second occurred in the parking lot of Lassen’s on East Main Street. The last occurred in the parking lot west of Sizzler’s in the same area.

At this time one of the suspects fired at least 3 shots at the victims striking Miller 2 times and the second victim once. The suspects got into a waiting vehicle that was driven by a juvenile female and they fled the area traveling onto the eastbound 126 Freeway.

Shortly after a Ventura PD Corporal patrolling in the area of Victoria Ave. and Telephone Rd. saw the suspect vehicle traveling northbound in that area. The suspect vehicle was followed to the area of Telegraph Rd. and Hill St. and a stop was initiated. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The suspect vehicle traveled eastbound on Telegraph Rd. at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour. Ventura PD Officers pursued the suspect vehicle to the area of Telegraph Rd. and Cambria Ave. where it crashed into a tree.

Three occupants of the vehicle were immediately taken into custody. The driver, Richard Hernandez, fled from the vehicle into a nearby orchard. Ventura PD Units with assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Air Unit searched for Hernandez and he was located approximately 2 hours later.

The suspects are:
Richard Hernandez, 20 yrs., Oxnard Resident
Alex Ramirez, 20 yrs., Ventura Resident
Luis Aguilar, 19 yrs., Oxnard Resident
Female juvenile, 16 yrs., Oxnard Resident

Hernandez and Ramirez were booked at Ventura County Jail for murder, attempted murder, and various street gang enhancements. Hernandez was also booked for hit and run causing injury and felony evading. Aguilar and the juvenile were admitted to VCMC to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. Upon release Aguilar was booked at Ventura County Jail for murder, attempt murder, and gang crime enhancements. The juvenile was booked at Juvenile Hall for the same charges.

The Ventura Police Department is asking anyone who may have seen any of the altercations leading up to the shooting to please contact Sgt. Matt Cain at 339-4488.

Meet some of the candidates for City Council

Lorrie Brown

Lorrie Brown, a local mother, with a local perspective and an invested interest in local issues has announced that she plans a second run for Ventura City Council. Lorrie grew up playing at Barranca Vista Park and graduated from Buena High. She brings a diverse perspective and looks forward to being a strong voice for Ventura families.

Lorrie expressed that it is important that as a council member she remain accountable for every vote and proactive in her leadership. Lorrie Brown still has a heart for people, a mind for business and the resolve to work with the City of Ventura.

Brown said, “The current council has done a good job of keeping the City of Ventura above crisis. As we move forward our future council must engage a council led approach. Tempered with constructive discussion: all the while being present for every decision and every vote.”

Matt LaVere

Matt LaVere, a native Venturan, has announced that he will be seeking a seat on the Ventura City Council this coming November. His official campaign launched on Saturday, June 25 at the Mini-Park on Main Street in Downtown Ventura. His wife Alicia and daughter Lucia were there to help get his campaign going.

“Having been born and raised here in Ventura, and now raising my own family here, I have a unique perspective and awareness of the issues we face in this community. I understand the need to balance the respect for Ventura’s historic past, with the need to chart a future for Ventura that maintains our quality of life while also ensuring our City remains a safe, prosperous place for our children and those generations yet to come.” stated LaVere.

There were kid’s activities, live music, and food from NOW Ventura.

Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios

Dedicated public servant and seasoned community organizer Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios has launched her upcoming campaign with a Campaign Kickoff BBQ held on Saturday, July 2 at Westpark Community Center.

Among others she was joined by State Assembly member, Das Williams, County Supervisor Candidate, Carla Castilla, City Council Candidate, Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios of course, State Senator ,Hannah-Beth Jackson, State Assembly Candidate, Monique Limon, Assembly member, Jacqui Irwin,Democratic Chairperson Shawn Terris, S.B. and County Supervisor Salud Carbajal.

She stated “For more than ten years, I have built a reputation as an effective leader and trusted advisor for several of Ventura County’s most prominent progressive leaders and non-profit organizations. I am raising my family in Ventura and have cultivated a personal knowledge of the community with a clear vision for how it can be improved.”

Photo by Bernie Goldstein

Oil spill travels into Hall Canyon

Spilled crude oil stopped before reaching the ocean.

On June 23, at 5:30am, a crude oil spill was reported in the northwestern part of Ventura. The spill traveled a half mile from the Prince Barranca into Hall Canyon. Early reports (including the LA Times) greatly exaggerated the amount of the oil spilled. It was eventually confirmed to be about 700 barrels (29,400 gallons) of crude oil. The pump station where the leak occurred was quickly shut down to keep the spill to a minimum. The flow traveled about a half mile and ended up in a catch basin in the Prince Barranca and did not flow out to the ocean.

The pipeline was carrying oil produced by Area Energy and is owned and operated by Crimson Pipeline.

Community members were sent the following VC Alert message, “The oil spill in Hall Canyon is currently contained in the Prince Barranca. Crews will be working around the area and residents are advised to avoid contact with the oil and take safeguards to protect pets and property. Residents may smell strong odors and at this time air quality monitoring is taking place. Further information will be released as it becomes available.” Residents may request VC Alert notifications by texting “VC Alert to “313131”.

Many Venturans and city officials are not happy with the response and information provided by Crimson.

Ventura resident Robert Louis Chianese stated, “Our City Manager Mark Watkins has subpoenaed the Crimson Pipeline company. It’s amazing because the State of California regulates pipe lines without local officials’ involvement. I think this time, the oil company reps and others at our public meeting last night were fooling with us the whole time, and we were very angry to find out in the morning that they had re-pressured the pipe and sent it flowing with oil. There are still pools of oil in the Barranca, and the clean-up could last weeks. Crimson has had 11 spills since 2006, and while this one allegedly involves a valve, the pipe itself is 75 years old.

“Manager Watkins did something about it. It is actually very moving in his concern for the citizens and those of us close to the spill. Watkins’ anger underlies much of it too. This ought to make the national news just for the uniqueness of it with a public servant pushing for a member of “big oil” to cease and desist with the pumping and come clean with all the information we need to know to determine what we should do with that pipeline.”

In his letter dated July 1, 2016 to Crimson Pipeline, Ventura City Manager Mark Watkins stated in part.

“On June 30, 2016 the Unified Command including Crimson Pipeline held a neighborhood meeting – hosted by the City – to provide a forum for residents to receive information and ask questions about the incident. A representative from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Crimson responded that before the line would be allowed to resume operations it would be approved by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and there was a process and protocol to be followed before that could happen.”

“Crimson Pipeline personnel that attended the meeting agreed on the process and status of the pipeline. It has since come to our attention that Crimson Pipeline was putting the pipeline into testing phase during the meeting and has since resumed use of the pipeline. It is evident that the information given to me and our residents during the neighborhood meeting was not transparent or forthcoming. The City and its residents deserve a reasonable notice prior to resuming use of the pipeline. “

“The City stands by its neighbors and requests that Crimson Pipeline LLC provide a full, accurate, and honest accounting of the facts to our residents. To this end, the City requests that Crimson Pipeline:”

Shut down the pipeline immediately.

Provide the City and its impacted residents with information about the safety, process and timeline of the pipeline in advance of its resuming operation.

Comply with the City’s legislative subpoena Provide the cause of the oil spill.

Report back the actions taken to repair the pipeline and/or valve.

Provide a summary of testing for the valve and/or pipeline.

Provide protocols and/or process for resuming use of the pipeline.”

Don Haskell passes on

On Tuesday, February 24, 2015 there was a truly meaningful event that took place at City Hall when Don Haskell was honored by the VUSD. Photo by John Ferritto

Don Haskell has died peacefully on June 25 at CMH from severe respiratory distress stemming from the progressive debilitating MS. He was a few days short of his 74^th birthday.

Don Haskell was a Ventura Unified School District teacher for thirty-six years and taught at Ventura High School. Of late he was known for being a member of the brilliant “seniors” participating in the Knowledge Bowl presented by Suz Montgomery between seniors and high school students.

In speaking to Don’s daughter Luisa Suz stated “Oh Luisa, I am devastated. On a conscious level I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that he is gone. But in my heart he’ll always be there and participating in our class making with me laugh and imparting his phenomenal memory for facts and antidotes. Don was a very big part of my life and will always be.”

“I am saving a copy of the latest Knowledge Bowl article from a couple of weeks ago in the Ventura Breeze with his ever present grin.”

Ventura City Fire and Police Departments respond to single vehicle accident

In the early morning hours of July 3rd, Ventura City Fire and Police Department responded to a report of a single vehicle accident with a trapped victim by Victoria and Ralston.

When fire crews arrived they discovered a passenger vehicle that had hit a traffic camera pole as well as a tree in the median of Victoria. Firefighters using hydraulic rescue tools to cut and pry the vehicle from the victim were able to free the trapped driver 45 minutes after their arrival. The extrication was complicated by the extensive damage to the vehicle which entangled the drivers’ legs under the dashboard. While the extrication was taking place, additional firefighters provided advanced life support to the driver and worked to suppress any fire potential from the vehicles’ leaking fluids.

Once extricated, one adult male was transported to a local trauma center with non-life- threatening injuries.

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