Category Archives: News and Notes

Apply Now to Serve on Ventura City Council Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees

Ventura residents can apply for an exciting opportunity to support their community by serving as a volunteer on one of the City Council Advisory Boards, Commissions or Committees that advise the City Council on an array of issues.  There are open positions on 12 multi-member Council Advisory groups that examine issues and help shape Ventura. The semi-annual recruitment process is now open and applications are available online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory or from the City Clerk’s Office, Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 204. The application deadline is 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2016.

Qualified applicants will undergo interviews with the City Council Appointments Recommendation Committee in May. The recommended appointees will be considered by the City Council and confirmed in June. Volunteers must be willing to serve two to four-year terms; some positions require special qualifications.

Applications are being accepted for vacancies on the following Council Advisory groups:

  • Cultural Affairs Commission
  • Design Review Committee
  • Downtown Parking Advisory Committee
  • Historic Preservation Committee
  • Housing Authority Board
  • Library Advisory Commission
  • Mobile Home Rent Review Board
  • Parks and Recreation Commission
  • Planning Commission
  • Public Art Commission
  • Tree Advisory Committee
  • Ventura Port District

Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], by fax to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 641-1046, by mail to the City Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 99, Ventura, CA 93002, or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall.

For more information call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 658-4787.

Ventura City and County Fire Departments respond to traffic collision with vehicle into building

On April 16, at 3:36pm Ventura City and County  Fire Departments responded to a traffic collision with a vehicle into a building located in the 9200 block of Telephone Rd.. Upon arrival, crews discovered a vehicle into an occupied restaurant. The driver and solo-occupant was extricated from the vehicle.  First arriving Firefighters quickly assessed the driver and building occupants for injuries while others assessed the structural integrity of the building. No injuries were reported.

Ventura Police Department provided traffic and scene control. This incident is under investigation by law enforcement.

 

 

 

Ventura City Fire personnel respond to grass fire along 101 freeway adjacent to railroad tracks

On April 20, at 2:30pm Ventura City Fire personnel responded to a reported grass fire along the 101 freeway adjacent to railroad tracks and an auto mall. Initial arriving units found a wind driven fire, approx 50’x50′, burning quickly through light to medium fuels, and moving South along the right shoulder of the Southbound 101 freeway. Engine company and hand crew personnel worked steadily to fully contain and extinguish the fire, using hand tools and hose lines, while apparatus shuttled tanks of water from hydrants in a nearby industrial area back up onto the freeway. Traffic on the Southbound 101 was heavily impacted, due to both heavy smoke and multiple fire apparatus operating, however railroad activity was not affected. The estimated final size of the area burned was approximately 1/4 acre, with no infrastructure or property being reported damaged. The origin of the fire was adjacent to a homeless encampment, however the exact cause is still undetermined.

Parents get needed help

Two agencies are working in tandem to give parents the extra help required to overcome challenges.

By Gail Field

When a family has trouble creating a safe place for their children because of drug use, trauma, neglect, or other serious causes, they have a place to turn to for help in Ventura County. As it stands, there’s already an open issue with the parent to child communication. Various schools across the USA have turned to alternatives to make parents more proactive and increase their engagement with their young ones. As an example, School Status has been rolled out in hundreds of schools to increase communication between the parents and teachers to better improve their educational qualities. Along with School Status and Children & Family Services of Ventura County they are working to close this barrier.

Two agencies, Children & Family Services of Ventura County and the non-profit Kids & Families Together are working in tandem to give parents the extra help they need through the Therapeutic Visitation Center, which opened in Ventura in 2014.

The work at the Visitation Center focuses on helping families who have suffered incidents of trauma and abuse by providing counseling and strategies for overcoming these challenges. Both the County and Kids & Families Together recognize that children who have suffered abuse and neglect can ultimately thrive in the care of their parents, as long as their parents work diligently to overcome issues that can create unsafe conditions.

In cases where the courts order that a child be removed from the home, the child is placed in the care of a relative or a foster family for their safety. The Therapeutic Visitation Center plays a key role in working toward the reunification of the family.

Children separated from their parents can experience a high level of anxiety, and regular visitation with the parents can be very important. At the Therapeutic Visitation Center parents can participate in a program designed to help bring harmony into the family relationships.

Family Support Specialist Savannah Eden explains: “The therapist meets with parents and children together at the Visitation Center where children are able to play with toys in the room during a session. In real time, the therapist provides counseling for the parents and models effective parenting behavior with the child. For example, children who have suffered family trauma generally do not respond to traditional ways of punishment and reward. When a clinician demonstrates respect for the child in the tone of voice and words used, the parent can see models of alternative ways to engage with the child and learn from such examples during their sessions at the Center.”

In many cases, the parent has experienced family trauma in his or her childhood as well and counseling is provided to address these issues as well. Clients are encouraged to tell the truth if they backslide or fail to meet milestones of improvement. “Here at the Therapeutic Visitation Center we give support to get the parent back on the right track,” says Eden. “It is not uncommon for parents in the therapeutic process to make mistakes along the way. We understand this, and consistently tell the clients that they must tell the truth and face their mistakes so that they may be corrected. The most successful cases are ones in which parents acknowledge their mistakes and have the courage and intent to make corrections with the help of the counselor. For example, a client may slide in their attempt to get off drugs and instead begin using them again. By telling the counselor the truth, they face up to the challenge, and the therapist can support them, helping the client to get back on track.”

The Therapeutic Visitation Center serves as the champion of the clients, encouraging them and giving them tools to get off drugs, to improve their parenting skills, and to better their relationships within the family.

By working with parents in 26 therapeutic sessions, the program helps them better understand their parenting strengths, as well as any family patterns that work against a safe family environment.

Program Manager Crystal Cummings recognizes the positive impact that family counseling and visitation can have. “With strong communication and parenting skills as well as renewed commitment, families can be happier, more stable, and mutually supportive. This stability fosters strong responsible citizens, which in turn strengthens the community as a whole.”

Emmet Cullen a Ventura hero

Bronze Star Medal winner honored at Buena High. Photos by Michael Gordon

On April 7 Buena High School social studies teacher Emmet Cullen received the Bronze Star Medal at a ceremony held at Buena High School. Military veteran and high school teacher Emmet Cullen was awarded the prestigious Bronze Star Medal for recognition of his service in the U.S. Army  before his family, hundreds of students and dignitaries. He fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a sergeant.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (26th congressional district) bestowed Emmet Cullen with the Bronze Star Medal after a musical presentation by the award winning Buena High School Marching Band. She was “Was humbled and honored to be able to be at the awarding of this Bronze Star.”

In accepting the medal Emmet told the large gathering.

“Dear Students, Staff, and Special Guest Congresswoman Julia Brownley,

stuff culen insetThank you so much for joining my family and I in accepting this great honor. I would like to begin by thanking the uniformed service personnel present for their dedication, sacrifice and devotion to our country in this ongoing time of the global war on terror.

Thank you also Congresswoman Julia Brownley, for your offices outstanding service in helping to process this award through the Department of the Army some 9 whole years after it was initially lost. An extra special thanks to the Congresswoman for coming to Buena High School to highlight and bear witness to our many award winning programs!

It means so much to me to be able to gather here with my family, friends, colleagues, and of course the students of Buena High School. I began my teaching career with this year’s graduating class of seniors as a young-faced and frightened student teacher not 5 years ago. Imagine that, a decorated combat veteran afraid of a class of 8th graders? But there I was, terrified. Luckily, I had you, our graduating class, to train me. We have come a long way together these past years, and I could not be more proud to watch each of you walk this coming June.

I have enjoyed getting to know this year’s freshman class, and experienced your loss right along your side. We are all a family here at Buena High School, and we will continue to grow and prosper as a family over these coming years.

Thank you.”

Proud Principal Bobbi Powers said “The entire Buena community is so proud to have a hero amongst us, and we are grateful to have Mr. Cullen as a teacher serving our students.”

 

Firefighters respond to gas line rupture

On April 12, just before 9am, a private contractor was performing work on a driveway on Inspiration Way (just above Poli Street) when he inadvertently broke through a 2” main gas line that feeds 6 complexes with a backhoe. Firefighters arrived and evacuated a total of four homes and sheltered-in–place a total of 14 other homes. Ventura Police responded in addition to the Ventura Street department and closed Poli between Ann St. and Kalorama.

A specialized team from the Gas Company arrived and had to breach a new section of concrete in an attempt to gain access to the gas main from the supply side. Fire personnel shut all utilities down on the block and extended hose protection lines for fear of the gas source igniting.

The gas line was accessed and successfully shut down.

Ventura City Fire personnel respond to garage fire

On April 9, at 1:11pm, Ventura City Fire personnel responded to a reported garage fire in the 700 block of Alverstone Ave. The first arriving unit reported a fully involved garage extending into the attic above, unknown if occupants present. Due to a partial collapse of the ceiling inside the garage, attack crews were forced to delay their interior attack through the side access door, until the metal garage overhead door could be cut open by Support Company personnel using rotary saws.

image2A family dog was rescued by Fire personnel from the structure, and ultimately delivered unharmed to the residents who were located nearby. The entire contents of the garage, including a vehicle, were completely destroyed. While some smoke damage to the into the remainder of the structure could not be prevented, fire extension was successfully halted, thus saving the remainder of the occupant’s belongings. Thorough overhaul of the garage and attic was accomplished after removing debris and portions of the collapsed ceiling, ensuring that all smoldering and/or hidden fire was extinguished. The main portion of the residence remained tenable following completion of suppression operations, with the garage being yellow-tagged pending further evaluation. No civilian or Fire personnel injuries were reported at the time of this

release.

Public Health Investigating Cases of Cardiomyopathy in Ventura County

Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) has been investigating 12 patients with cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart begins to work with decreased efficiency, and is marked by fatigue and shortness of breath. The patients who have recently been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in the county range in age from 19 to 78 years of age. Two people have died ‒ one in March, and another in mid-December. Public Health included the death that occurred in mid-December on review of that patient’s medical records earlier this week.

Lab tests so far have not identified a cause of the cardiomyopathy. Public Health is working closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to identify the cause of this disease.

There is absolutely no evidence linking this outbreak to either H1N1 or the Zika virus.

“We believe that whatever is causing this illness is not highly contagious because none of the contacts of any of these patients have developed serious illness,” said Dr. Levin. The Health Department is following all contacts of these cases and there has not been any hospital employee that cared for one of these patients, nor family member nor friend who has developed a serious illness.

If a member of the public experiences fatigue and shortness of breath, they are encouraged to see their primary care physician for evaluation.