Category Archives: News and Notes

FOTM fundraising dinner another huge success

VIP reception sponsors Sandra and Jordan Laby.
Photos by Naancy Heydorn

Four Points by Sheraton was the scene on Friday, September 18 of Focus on the Masters’ annual FUNdraising dinner presented by Cumulus Media.  The al fresco VIP pre-dinner reception was generously underwritten by Jordan and Sandra Laby, longtime supporters of FOTM.

The theme of this year’s event was Through A Child’s Eyes.  Aimee French, director of FOTM’s highly-praised Learning To See program, led guests through a collage-creating experience based on Ventura Artist Hiroko Yoshimoto’s Biodiversity series.  The same hands-on effort is one that Aimee takes to school children, using various scraps of fabric, paper, yarn, and wrapping paper affixed to masonite board with glue sticks and glue gun.

stuff FOTMChris Diaz of Union Bank with Focus on the Masters Founder & Executive Director Donna Granata.

Scott Miles, FOTM Board Member and Brooks Institute faculty member, and his wife noted weaver Regina Vorgang were the lucky winners of the evening’s raffle:  a watercolor study made by Hiroko Yoshimoto for her Biodiversity Series.

Volunteers Kim Galbraith and Elisabeth Berg raised funds for arts education by selling mystery Celebration Bags.  Each bag sold for $20 but the contents were valued at much more!

Kim Maxwell of Ojai’s Kim Maxwell Studio, was emcee for the evening, lending her special blend of enthusiasm as she led a “pledge auction” that raised money for Learning To See.

Rita Edmond, a jazz singer whose last CD reached the Top 50 on the Jazz Weekly Charts, created a festive atmosphere with her smooth, sultry voice.

The event was truly a Who’s Who of the community’s leading artists who were in attendance.

The evening was organized by FOTM staff, supporters and volunteers, including Chris Beirne, Cherie Brant, Meg Easton, Aimee French, Mary Galbraith, Nancy Heydorn, and Karen Hoffberg.

Focus on the Masters is a non-profit arts education organization and archive that documents and celebrates the lives and works of artists in our community.  The FOTM archive contains information on over 2000 artists and arts organizations.

For additional information about Focus on the Masters, please go to www.FocusOnTheMasters.com.

Project Understanding Shining Star Awards

stuff project understandingJann Huling shared Board Member of the Year award
By Veronica Johnson

The annual Project Understanding Shining Star Awards was held Thursday, September 17th, at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Awards are given out in recognition for outstanding community volunteers, partners, staff, and board for 2015.

Awards went out to Administration Volunteer Laura Moline, Tender Life Volunteer Dea Boehme, 1st Step Volunteer Pat Morris, Tutoring Volunteer Lee Weiss, House of Worship Trinity Lutheran Church, Business of the Year Angel Plumbers, Collaborating Partner of the Year Turning Point Foundation, Philanthropist of the Year National Charity League, Inc., Community Partner of the Year D’Augustine Foundation, Donor of the Year Tanner Rhodes, Board Member of the Year Frank Maggio and Jann Huling, Employee of the Year Gloria Lewis, Shining Star of the Year Reggie Watson, and the Shalom Award went out to Clyde Reynolds.

A special moment was when the Board of Director of the year, Jann Huling, was given her award from Cesar Morales, the father a child (Valentina Ava) that Huling was instrumental in helping with in the adoption process.

Special thanks were given to sponsors Ventura County Credit Union, those who donated appetizers and desserts, the Poinsettia Pavilion, Janine Dykstar and Wendy Wells.

Project Understanding provides hope by developing and directing resources for the purpose of transforming lives and community through justice, mercy, and compassion. Through collaboration, they assist people to reach their highest attainable level of independence.

GUEST COLUMNIST – Ventura hillside resident in favor of proposed Regent Properties Development

By Cris A. Sabo

Ventura Breeze guest columnist Mr. Robert Chianese in his article entitled: “New policies to keep Ventura number one” stated that the proposed Regent Properties development on Ventura Hillsides is somehow an “assault on the hills”, is “too risky” and would “destroy the character and environment of our hillsides panorama and blights the area”, among other nonsensical and inaccurate statements. Does he really believe that 55 high end luxury homes will destroy the character and environment of our Hillsides?

Mr. Chianese comments could not be further from the truth. Despite Mr. Chianese’s request for residents to support his petition against the development on the basis of keeping Ventura “identifiable” and “in character”, what he is actually soliciting others to support is his own self-interest, which is presumably not wanting any more cars driving past his house when these homes are built four years from now.

I too am a Ventura Hillside resident, but fully support the proposed Regent Properties limited scope, luxury homes development. I have no axe to grind, or financial interest in the matter. I support sensible, smart growth policies that benefits Ventura and the Community as a whole.

The 215 acres above Hillcrest Drive has been zoned for single family homes for many decades and is currently a no trespassing area without any legal public access. The Regent Properties proposed development includes the clustering of 55, architecturally-diversified luxury homes over only 40 acres, directly above Hillcrest Drive, with legal open space planned for the remaining 175 acres including easy public access to nature and walking trails, so that everyone in the Community can enjoy the remarkable ocean views.

The Regent Properties plan includes a sensible buffer between existing Hillside homes and the new development, with improvements to water / flood runoff and geotechnical conditions and limited impact to existing traffic. The proposed development will also help reduce fire hazards in the Hillside area, managing overgrowth, establishing appropriate fire breaks and most importantly, increasing quality graded road access to the area, which is crucial to contain any fire threats that may develop above it, or down the side canyons threatening other Hillside homes.

The Regent Properties development creates an opportunity the City of Ventura and Community needs, will help bring in income and wealth to the Community, increase nearby home values, help create local jobs, help protect and secure the local environment, all the while provide increased public access to our Hillsides.

The proposed development effort is a small, yet important step to help Ventura truly become a better place to live and grow a family.

 

 

CMHS offers patients many things

Community Memorial Hospital is now performing a procedure that implants a new, miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor to manage heart failure. The CardioMEMS HF System is the first and only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage heart failure.

The CardioMEMS HF System features a sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery during a non-surgical procedure to directly measure PA pressure. The new system allows patients to transmit daily sensor readings wirelessly from their homes to their health care providers .

Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s demands. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 5.1 million Americans have heart failure, with 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

The CardioMEMS sensor is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and doesn’t require batteries. Once implanted, the wireless sensor sends pressure readings to a secure internet site that the physician can visit to review readings. There is no pain or sensation for the patient during the readings.

Data from a clinical trial showed that the CardioMEMS technology reduces heart failure hospital admissions by up to 37 percent.

For more information or to be referred to a physician authorized to perform the procedure please call the CMH Cath Lab at 652-3031.

The Cancer Program at Community Memorial Hospital is seeking individuals interested in becoming certified Reiki practitioners.  Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “Life force energy” is low, then we are more susceptible to illness and stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The next training is scheduled for September 21st from 9am to 5pm at the Cancer Resource Center at Community Memorial Hospital.

Lunch will be provided. Cost is $18 per person for materials and needs to be paid at the start of the training.  Also seeking trained and certified Reiki practitioners and Reflexologists willing to volunteer at the cancer center.

If you have an interest in volunteering please contact the CRC at 652-5459. They request that interested individuals be able to volunteer 4 hours per month for at least a year long commitment.

 

 

Vita Art Center presents Catherine Tirr

art VitaCatherine Tirr was born in England and studied fine art at Chelsea School of Art and design in London  She was awarded the Stowells Trophy at London’s Royal Academy of Art, in London. She relocated to the U.S. on a scholarship to Cranbrook Art Academy, Michigan.  Her move to New York City was followed by two shows at The Drawing Center in SoHo. She was granted awards by The New York Foundation of The Arts and Materials For The Arts in 1991. Since her move to Los Angeles, her work has been included in exhibitions at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Armand Hammer Museum.

Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment. Vita Art Center, located in the Bell Arts Factory 432 N. Ventura Ave. Studio 30, www.vitaartcenter.com

 

FOOD Share launches “Spoon FULL a Day” pledge in recognition of Hunger Action Month in September

Every little bit helps.  With just a “Spoon Full a Day,” every business, individual, and family has the capacity to help close the hunger gap in Ventura County.  During the month of September, FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank, asks everyone to observe Hunger Action Month by taking the “Spoon Full a Day” pledge and doing just one simple task a day to raise awareness of the nearly 86,240 people who experience food insecurity in Ventura County every month.

The “Spoon Full a Day” pledge inspires Ventura County residents to look within themselves, their homes and their neighborhoods for ways to help solve the hunger problem and build stronger communities.  The initiative launches with “Spoon Selfie” Day on Tuesday, Sept. 1.  Individuals, families, and local businesses are encouraged to a take selfies with brightly colored spoons and post them to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using #aspoonfulladay.  If everyone participates in one small way every day, the “Spoon Full a Day” campaign will mobilize Ventura County to take action on the issue of hunger, and get everyone involved with the movement to solve it.

“While FOOD Share, its partners and its volunteers work year-round to secure the food necessary to continuously supply our 194 pantry partners across the county, Hunger Action Month is an opportunity for us to raise community-wide awareness of how much more needs to be done.  Solving hunger involves more than handing out food,” said Bonnie Atmore, President and CEO of FOOD Share.  “We must not just feed our unstable neighborhoods; we must also lead and strengthen them by giving them the tools and resources they need to stabilize themselves.”  This year, FOOD Share will launch its Collaborating for Clients initiative to empower communities to sustain themselves-one neighborhood at a time.

How to Take Action for Hunger Action Month:

Download and print the “Spoon Full a Day” calendar from www.foodshare.com and take the pledge to do one simple thing every day to fight local hunger.

Announce your pledge on social media by taking a “Spoon Selfie” and posting it using #aspoonfulladay on Sept. 1.

Attend the Ventura County Agricultural Summit on Friday Sept.11 and learn how Ventura County’s local farms help fight hunger in our communities.

Visit the Ventura Art and Street Painting Festival at the Ventura Harbor Village Saturday and Sunday Sept. 12-13, from 10am-5pm.  The signature FOOD Share event features vivid chalk art and more than 50 regional sculptors, painters, photographers, and potters.  All net proceeds will benefit FOOD Share.

Show support against hunger:  Attend Hunger Action Month proclamation with FOOD Share and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. in the Ventura County Government Center’s Hall of Administration.

For more information on Ventura County’s hunger alleviation efforts, FOOD Share’s C4C initiative, and upcoming events, visit www.foodshare.com.

 

FACE OF VENTURA AWARDS – Ventura’s Unsung Heroes sponsored by Jordan and Sandra Laby and painted by Johanna Spinks

Audrey Nicholson
Portrait by Johanna Spinks

Audrey Nicholson, 33, a Ventura mother of three, had the humbling and frightening experience of a lifetime in the ocean waters
off the Ventura County’s Rincon coast on February 16. Because of her actions, two children survived a near drowning and, she was nominated for a Gold Lifesaving Medal.

Nicholson is credited with saving the lives of two young girls at Bates Beach when a strong rip current pulled the girls out to sea.

Noting that she still doesn’t know the names of the girls and has not spoken to them since the incident, Nicolson said her three young children were at the Rincon beach when she noticed people on shore acting alarmed and shouting at two young girls in the water.

“As I approached the water’s edge, I knew immediately the girls were in danger and panicking. The mother of one of the girls was attempting to swim out but was quickly overcome by the strong current and began pleading for my help.”

Nicholson assured the mother and dove into the surf and began the swim through a strong rip tide to the girls.

“I could only see their faces, no arms, no signs of strength, they were barely treading water. Each wave that hit them I feared would be the one that would exhaust their wills to keep afloat.”

Nicholson describes herself as a decent swimmer and credits an active lifestyle of yoga and dance to help remain physically and mentally capable and calm.

Still, without consistent ocean swimming experience, the power of the current and the constant pounding surf exhausted her instantly.

“Immediately I was humbled by the ocean the second I felt it. When I reached the first child, she frantically wrapped her arms around me and we both sank instantly. All I could think about was my own three children standing on the shore. I knew I had to get us all back safe.”

She regained her composure and she reiterated the importance of calming down and breathing deeply through the sets of waves as they swam.
After returning the first child to her mother, Nicholson scanned the shore for help. “I was so tired and had swallowed a lot of water already and was so worried to go back in feeling so out of breath. I was very concerned about whether I could get to the second girl,” Nicholson said. “She had been going under a number of times and she was barely staying afloat. “

Nicholson again placed the second girl in her arms and simply began swimming as best she could to get to shore. A young man on a boogie board had made his way over to help put the girl on his board and help Nicholson to the sand. “That helped greatly because by that point, it was all I could do to get myself in, he was so calm and kind, it was a relief to have him there.” Nicholson said.

By the time the second child made it to shore, paramedics were at the scene, treated both girls, and took them to the hospital to have them checked for signs of secondary drowning.

She was nominated for the Gold Lifesaving Medal by Jim David.

“A friend of mine who was there told me about what happened,” said Jim David, a retired Navy commander and a search-and-rescue pilot who performed a number of water rescues during his service. “I couldn’t believe the story when I heard it. The second
girl was in the second stage of drowning; that’s when you can’t stay afloat and you’re swallowing a lot of water. After that, death
becomes a very real possibility.”

David said there are two levels of lifesaving medals, and the gold is extremely rare.

“It’s given to someone who risks their life to save someone else,” David said. “It’s fair to say that Audrey risked her life by going out a second time to get the second victim.”

David said he met Nicholson and, after speaking with her, researched the lifesaving medals and nominated her for one of the Nation’s most prestigious. The Gold Lifesaving Award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Coast Guard and one that’s
rarer than the Medal of Valor.

Audrey stated, “I am very honored to receive the nomination and to be selected as a Ventura Breeze unsung hero. The highest
reward was the saved lives, the grateful nod to life’s ultimate challenges be they big or small that restore the faith in one’s own
spirit and the lessons that this powerful earth and it’s elements have to teach us. For that I am humbled and happy.”

 

Heropic2

Helping Audrey celebrate were her family. Daughters Laurel (7) and Stella (10), mom Kim
Johnson, aunt Judy Johnson, sister Hayley Garr, niece Rowynn Garr (3) and son Mose (4).
On August 22 a luncheon was held at Rhumb Line-The Sunset Restaurant to present Audrey
Nicholson with her Unsung Hero portrait painted by Johanna Spinks. Attending the presentation
were her family, Breeze Publisher Sheldon Brown, Johanna Spinks and the series sponsors Jordon and Sandra Laby.
We asked Audrey how it was having her portrait painted she answered “Having my portrait painted
by Johanna was a really unique experience. I love the arts and it was a wonderful experience to talk with Johanna about her life of pursuing it. I was not nervous because it felt like a treat to be painted!”

 stuff hero Audrey lunch

Audrey Nicholson accepting her portrait from Johanna, Sandra and Jordan at the presentation
luncheon.

          stuff chapmanstuff Cozzins

This new series of portraits (Unsung Heros) will be painted by Johanna Spinks and presented in the Ventura Breeze. Johanna stated “It was an absolute privilege to paint my portrait series The Face of Ventura, and then an extra honor for those 58 portraits to
end up in the permanent collection of the Museum of Ventura County. I am very excited to see The Face of Ventura kept alive in this new award series, graciously sponsored by Sandra and Jordan Laby.” Do you know a Ventura Good Deed Doer that you have read about in the Breeze, or elsewhere, that you would like to nominate for the Face Of Ventura Awards?
If you do please send your nomination, and why you think that they deserve the Award to [email protected]. We look forward to your nominations.

There are stories all around us

stuff CAPSCAPS is working with teacher Suz Montgomery and her class of seniors.

By Elizabeth Rodeno

It’s back to school, whether it be Ventura College, Foothill High School or El Camino High, our neighbors here on Day Road. We invite those students, in fact all Ventura’s students, to come by, sign up to volunteer and learn to make movies.  These skills will help you to create powerful and impactful reports and projects. After all, we live in the world of media, why not integrate it into your class work?  It’s an opportunity for anyone, young or old to share their story.

Our staff spent last Saturday at the Camarillo Airshow. It brought home how valuable these planes are to our history. Even more important were those servicemen and women who contributed to these historical events. Their history and their stories will be gone before we know it and we can’t let that go. That is where the students, and all of us, come into the picture. Why not help tell their stories? Share it with Ventura and beyond and chronical it for their families. There are so many great stories to be told; budding artists, musicians, technicians and those committed to community service. We provide the tools and you provide with subjects and together we honor them.

We have begun working with teacher Suz Montgomery and her class of seniors, generously funded through a grant, to share their stories and train students to record and curate there legacy.  It’s the team work and shared commitment that educators and employers look for.

There are stories all around us. This is why CAPS Media is so important to the community. Our staff only wishes we could cover every event and record every story. Our mission is to teach you to do it, to teach you to film. It’s rewarding for you and rewarding for us.

CAPS Media is the non-profit membership organization that is here to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. A yearly membership at CAPS is only $25 and includes training, equipment, use of our studio and edit suites. Share our history with over 20,000 Ventura residents on channel 6 and 15. Share it with your teachers, your friends and share it for history. Go to our website, www.CAPSTV.org or stop by CAPS Media Center on 65 Day Road and schedule a tour.

Ventura County Fair closes with attendance increase

stuff fairThe Unforgettables Big Band had the standing room only crowd dancing the afternoon away.

The Ventura County Fair’s Board of Directors, management, and staff are proud to report a successful 2015 Fair. Celebrating the best of the best from throughout Ventura County, the 140th edition closed with strong numbers in all categories. Visitors came from near and far to enjoy “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” during the 12-day run, August 5 through August 16.

More than 2000 volunteers and a workforce of hundreds opened the gates with tremendous teamwork in the days leading up to the Fair.

The Ventura County Fair’s mission is to preserve, promote, and showcase agriculture and the traditions of Ventura County, this was accomplished with competitive livestock and horse shows, agricultural exhibits and baking contests, Adding to the attraction were exciting carnival rides, tasty food concessions, and diverse entertainment. There was something for everyone, capturing the hearts of visitors and making lasting memories that will last forever. Fairgoers were greeted with an abundance of new attractions, which included the Fair’s first-ever chicken obstacle course, fresh new talents on the Station Stage, the latest in summer fad fair foods, baby Emus on display in the small livestock area and the first-ever stick pony barrel racing contest.

“We strive to bring a top quality fair to the community,” said CEO Barbara Quaid. “For us the focus is not so much about the numbers of people coming through the gates, but about the quality of the experience our guests have at the Fair. “

The overall success would not be possible without the tremendous support of the sponsors and the community. While the gates have closed on the 2015 Ventura County Fair, planning is already underway for the 2016 Fair.

Final numbers are:

Total Attendance                 2015   318,113                      2014  303,847                  increae    4.70%

The Ventura County Fairgrounds consists of a 62.5-acre parcel and operates as a multi-purpose, multi-functional, year-round facility accommodating a variety of events.  Regarded as a premier rental facility, the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center attracts some of the most popular shows and attractions in the county throughout the year, including livestock shows, dog shows, horse shows, home and recreation shows, concerts, dances, business expos, weddings and receptions, motorcycle and automobile shows, camping groups, and much more.

The Ventura County Fair entertained thousands of guests and employs up to 700 seasonal staff during the annual 12-day event. The Fair brings economic, social, educational, and cultural resources and provides lasting impressions on Fairgoers. While agriculture is the heart of the Fair, it’s the diverse entertainment that typically draws Fairgoers through the gates. Known for free top name concerts, we take pride in the overall dynamics and diversity of the entertainment, the esthetics and cleanliness of the grounds, as well as the vast educational and innovative exhibits that are showcased throughout the Fair each year.

The Board of Directors, management, and staff are very proud of our facility and the resources generated and contributed to the economic impact to Ventura County.

 

3-D printing limitless possibilities and available for free

stuff 3D printingArticle and photo by Richard Lieberman

The spotlight is on 3-D printing, a technology that has been emerging since engineers in the 1980’s produced working models, and since then the printers have undergone refinements and technological improvements that have brought the devices to the general public. Schools are getting 3-D printers, Small businesses are putting the devices to work, Libraries have discovered 3-D printers, there are even 3-D printer models designed for home use at affordable prices.

Ron Solorzano, Library Technician I at the E.P Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street, Ventura, has embraced the technology with a fervor that began nearly 2 years ago when the Library acquired its first 3-D printers. One of Mr. Solórzano’s goals is to introduce 3-D printing to schools, and school age children “it’s moving so fast, and the technology is getting better” said Solorzano. Solórzano added “We are giving the tools the community needs to effectively use, and embrace this technology.”

The library is offering workshops, every Wednesday to acquaint the public with 3-D printing techniques, use of the software needed, and the tools to accomplish 3-D modeling. The public is also welcome to find and share the modeling work of others. There are several websites for 3-D modelers that share work already done. Many of the models can be downloaded and brought to the library and printed.

3-D printing has enormous potential, and has been used to create things as small as a human cell and as large as a bridge.

The first steps in creating a 3-D image is to create an image of the item the user is attempting to create using various software suites. After designing and creating the image it is then sent to the printer. Production begins with a platform where the model will be built. The printer then lays down a very thin layer of material. The library lab is using PLA Filament as the basic material, and offers it to the public at 10 cents per gram.  Then the printer lays down layer after layer, until the designed item is built, building from the ground up.

The printers and the process is popular among manufacturers, and production facilities giving the facilities a solid 3-D prototype to examine. This process gives an advantage to many manufacturers by allowing the manufacturer to skip the costly, and intensive process of casting aluminum or other metals to create tooling. The 3-D printing process gives a manufacturer the opportunity to efficiently and inexpensively create castings and skip the long-term casting process.

Fully functional items are rarely produced. Items are made with many pieces that need to be assembled after coming off the printers. Some people believe that 3-D printers will ultimately change the way the world does business. Some believe that manufacturing will no longer be the province of large corporations with elaborate factories. Instead they will be replaced by rows of functioning 3-D printers printing anything from buttons to chocolate concoctions already being used by the Hershey Corporation.

Currently Solórzano has been promoted and will be leaving the E.P. Foster library to join the main library in Ojai. “We are currently cross training 4 staff members to take over the 3-D printer operations .” Added Solórzano.

An opportunity to try your hand at designing and using 3-D printing is available at the library. Call the library for the training schedule and to enroll in one of the offered classes (805) 648-3696.