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.

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.

Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center is excited to name Heidi Ortiz to the position of Deputy Manager. Ortiz has an extensive history with the Fairgrounds, having worked as an Executive Assistant to the CEO for 14 years. She also served as a Junior Fair Board advisor for five years.

“I enjoy working with the team, my Fair family, to put on events for the community’s enjoyment,” said Ortiz. “I love seeing the excitement, joy, and smiles on everyone’s face, making the hard work worth it!”

Ortiz has played a pivotal role in her work and in the community, having forged important relationships between the Fairgrounds, local businesses, organizations, and fairgoers. As Deputy Manager, Ortiz will continue to strengthen the bond between the community and the Fairgrounds, while also taking on an extended leadership role, overseeing staff and projects.

“Heidi is often referred to as the glue that keeps us all together,” said Ventura County Fairgrounds CEO Jen McGuire. “We are all so proud to have her as our Deputy Manager. Heidi has put her heart and soul into our Fairgrounds and it shows. Her continued commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Ortiz is a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she earned her Bachelors in Animal Science. She excelled in academics and athletics, having played four years of collegiate soccer; a two-year team captain. When she’s not at the Fairgrounds, Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

The Ventura County Fair is celebrating 150 years in 2024! The fun starts now, with monthly events and contests leading up to the annual Fair this July 31 through August 11, 2024. This year’s Ventura County Fair will include new celebrations and pay homage to past traditions.

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities.

Join us for good green fun celebrating Earth Day Ventura Charter School is excited to once again present Ventura EcoFest, an Earth Day celebration of our planet for the community of Ventura. This family-friendly free event welcomes the community to enjoy good green fun in the form of live performances, a silent auction, a raffle, local vendors and nonprofits, food trucks, eco arts and crafts and educational games on Sunday, April 28th, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ventura Charter School campus, 2060 Cameron Street, Ventura.

In 2023 more than 2500 attendees enjoyed the Earth Day festivities, with more expected for this year’s event. In support of Earth-friendly practices Ventura Charter School’s EcoFest welcomes the community to head to the campus utilizing a variety of transportation options. Bicycle to event and receive bike valet services sponsored by Bike Ventura County. Through Gold Coast Transit District’s Youth Ride Free Program, students and children 18 and under ride free with no identification required. There will be a variety of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including a kid zone, an EV car exhibit, live music and dance and plenty more. Guests can bid in a silent auction, benefiting Ventura Charter School’s many diverse and inclusive academic programs. Among the items available for in-person bidding are outdoor gear, tickets for local entertainment, yoga class passes, whale watching passes, local restaurant gift cards and much more.

In addition to the silent auction, the event will feature a raffle. Pre-sale raffle tickets can be purchased from families of Ventura Charter School students or at the event. All tickets are $1. The grand prize is $1,000 in Disney Cash. The raffle will be pulled each hour, with the grand prize drawing at 4:00 p.m. Winners need not be present. Sponsors include Kirby Auto Group of Ventura, UNPaste, Bamieh & De Smeth, Amigos Party Rental, Brooklyn Charm, Bodhi Salt Yoga, Bella Luna Gardens, Edible Ojai and Ventura County, and Mission Bank.

“We are excited to continue this important annual tradition for our community, and our students,” said Lisa Hildebrand, Executive Director of Ventura Charter School, “Our students look forward to this event for the fun but it’s also an important reminder for them and for us that we are stewards for our planet and change starts with our own choices.” Proceeds from this event benefit Ventura Charter School, a tuition-free nonprofit school that serves 450 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. During school hours, Ventura EcoFest encourages students to take a closer look at their personal habits to see how they affect the planet and make changes, such as a student-led campaign to reduce disposable utensils on campus.

Along with the EcoFest celebration, students experience an involved project-based curriculum centered upon empowerment through critical thinking, empathy, research, and action to benefit the spaces they occupy throughout their lives with inclusion and equity. To learn more about Ventura EcoFest or enrollment at Ventura Charter School, please visit, https://earthdayventura.org. Ventura Charter School – Starting as Open Classroom in the 1970’s, Ventura Charter School of Global Arts & Education launched in 2006 as a tuition-free public charter school within the Ventura County Office of Education.

The school currently serves over 400 K-8 th grade students on its campus located within the larger DATA middle school property. Ventura Charter School is an expeditionary learning school in partnership with EL Education. It is guided by 10 founding principles and its mission to, “engage every student in meaningful and supportive learning experiences to grow resilient, educated, and socially intelligent human beings.”