Legs are run in conjunction with various members of law enforcement.
The Special Olympics Flame of Hope was carried through Ventura on June 6! The Special Olympics Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is comprised of nine different “legs” ranging from San Luis Obispo to the California-Mexico border. Legs are run in conjunction with various members of law enforcement agencies from throughout the region and Special Olympic Athletes. The Flame of Hope was carried by various agencies all the way to Cal State Long Beach to light the cauldron for the 2019 Special Olympics Summer Games!
The LETR is an international fundraising and public awareness campaign for the Special Olympics and is comprised of the Torch Run, Tip-A-Cop, and other fundraising events. For over twenty-five years, Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been raising tens of thousands of dollars annually to benefit Special Olympics of Ventura County. The money helps Ventura County Special Olympics to offer free, year-round, sports training and competition to over 600 individuals with intellectual disabilities ages eight years and up, who participate in seventeen sports at forty-five training sites throughout Ventura County.
The $60 million first phase replaces 72 deteriorated public housing units.
Housing Authority City of San Buenaventura completes phase one of redevelopment
Ventura, Calif.—Residents have begun moving into the newly constructed Westview Village apartments as the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB), a public housing authority dedicated to promoting quality of life through affordable, healthy housing and community-based development, completes phase one of a four-phase redevelopment effort.
The $60 million first phase of construction broke ground in 2017 and replaces 72 deteriorated public housing units with 131 modern affordable one- to four-bedroom apartments. When all four phases of development are complete, the community will provide 320 LEED‐certified new construction homes, including 50 homes for seniors and 34 for-sale homes. The HACSB anticipates that the redeveloped Westview Village community will be the first LEED‐Neighborhood Development certified community in Ventura County.
The HACSB is working in partnership with San Francisco-based nonprofit developer BRIDGE Housing Corp., to redevelop the Westview Village site through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. Driven by 10 years of planning and community outreach, the redevelopment effort aims to revitalize and expand housing opportunities for Ventura residents by delivering affordability and improved infrastructure and amenities while achieving modern, current design and construction standards that better meet the needs of families and seniors.
“Our mission goes beyond building housing. We’re working to build healthy communities that connect resources with needs and create partnerships to enhance the quality of life for our residents,” said HACSB Chief Executive Officer Denise M. Wise.
Beyond the physical attributes of the project, the HACSB Community Services Department works to develop community partnerships to help residents achieve personal goals related to literacy and education, health and wellness, job training and employment. “Our housing authority is more than shade and shelter. We work to support residents’ personal growth and economic self‐sufficiency,” said Wise.
The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is the developer, services coordinator and property manager. Mainstreet Architects + Planners Inc. is the Executive Architect and Cannon Constructors South is the General Contractor for the Phase I project.
Westview Village is the city of Ventura’s oldest and largest public housing complex.
The Housing Authority of the City Of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, currently managing 295 public housing units, 705 nonprofit affordable rental units, and more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers. The agency is actively working to increase the supply of affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for hundreds more of the low-income residents of the City of Ventura.
Event included a large career day booth for youth and the public.
5th Annual educational event adds themed stations, kinesthetic learning, and careers benefitting the environment
Over 60 years ago, John F. Kennedy started National Public Works Day to educate the public on the departments that run the water, sewer, building, watershed, transportation, recycling and refuse industries in the U.S. today.
In what is becoming a favorite educational experience- more than 1,000 Ventura County school children, teachers, parents and guests were in attendance at this year’s enhanced event that featured more than 23 heavy equipment demonstrations and 35 interactive booths, including a large career day booth for youth and the public.
This free event was located in Ventura County’s Government Center Parking Lot G where attendees had the opportunity to learn about the most recent innovations in safety, science and environmental sustainability. The newly created thematic zoned stations featured booths on Native Drought Resistant Plants, the County’s Raptor Program, building and safety, engineering STEM, and technology in public transportation to the always-popular live demonstrations of heavy equipment in action that highlighted the five departments of VCPWA.
In addition to careers in public works, General Services Agency (GSA) and County Human Resources arranged an expanded career booth where employees provided information to students as well as attendees looking to explore county and public works career paths.
VCPWA’s National Public Works Week (NPWW) event has grown tremendously since launching in 2012 with more than 700 students in attendance of last year’s event.
Surfrider Ventura’s “Plastic Free Ventura” campaign launched on Earth Day in 2018 as a response to the amount of EPS and single-use plastic and bioplastic foodware litter found at local beach cleanups. The most common items collected include expanded polystyrene foam (“EPS”, TM “Styrofoam”), and plastic and bioplastic straws, lids, cups, plates, condiment cups and utensils.
Plastics and bioplastics are not marine biodegradable. Instead, they photo degrade into tiny pieces of plastic causing pollution that is virtually impossible to remediate. When plastic enters our waterways, it adsorbs toxic chemicals such DDT, PCBs, PAHs, and flame-retardants found in our waterways, polluting our ocean, waves and beaches and harming marine and wildlife. Alarmingly, scientists estimate that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by volume – unless we act now!
California AB 1884, which took effect on January 1, 2019, requires that plastic straws at full service dine-in restaurants be provided only upon request. While this is a step in the right direction, most EPS, plastic and bioplastic debris we find at beach cleanups come from take-out and other food establishments.
There are 120 cities in California that have local legislation aimed at reducing EPS and single use plastic and bioplastic foodware litter. Surfrider will soon be asking Ventura City Council to pass a comprehensive Ordinance to ban EPS, plastic and bioplastic single use foodware. A copy of our proposed Ordinance will be made available on Surfrider Ventura’s Plastic Free Ventura webpage later in the year (https://ventura.surfrider.org/programs-and-campaigns/plastic-free- ventura/).
If you would like to help us with this Campaign, please visit the Plastic Free Ventura webpage.
Lamber is very happy with his new position in Oxnard.
by Richard Lieberman
Director of Community Development Jeffrey Lambert has left Ventura for a post with the city of Oxnard. Lambert was offered and accepted the position of Community Development Director for the City of Oxnard. He runs a department of approximately 65 people.
“One of the proudest moments of my whole career at Ventura City was the way we handled the rebuilding part of the Thomas fire. We made this rebuild process as easy as we could. Sixty-one percent of the homes are either in reconstruction or plan check,” said Lambert. “It’s not higher because some of the people have not begun the process,” added Lambert.
He also added it was important to find that balance of respecting neighbors and at the same time giving people flexibility in building their dream home. “ I am incredibly proud of our efforts to make this happen.” He said.
There was, and still is a tremendous amount of work to be done. Lambert and his staff worked tirelessly to make victims of this catastrophe whole again. This included meeting with homeowners at their homes and working weekends for months at a time.
Rebuilding after the Thomas fire is a process that those who have not gone through it just don’t understand. Most of the homeowners who have begun or even completed rebuilding are people who never wanted to go through the process of rebuilding. The first homeowners to complete their rebuild, Sandy and Ed Fuller were more prepared. They had recently gone through a complete remodel and therefore had plans that were up-to-date. “
“Last Friday on my day off I drove around the fire zone just because it made me feel good to see all the construction happening” he added.
When asked about the difference in compensation between Ventura and Oxnard Lambert said: “ I took a good bump to come here.” Another reason he mentioned was being stripped of the economic development department in Ventura. “I thought that was a mistake,” he added.
Adding to his accomplishments in Ventura Lambert cited the continuing revitalization of downtown as one of his proudest accomplishments for the City. “I am proud that over my term there my staff were much more focused on being facilitators than regulators to help people through the process,” he said.
“After nearly 10 years with the City of Ventura with many proud moments and accomplishments, I left Ventura for Oxnard to be part of a highly professional and visionary leadership team. Oxnard is clearly open for business and supportive of progress and meeting the demands of its citizens and economic prosperity through public and private economic investments. I believe the future of Oxnard is bright and I am thrilled to be part of that future. I am very happy with my decision. I still live in the Ventura and call it my home, and I wish the City well, particularly the Community Development staff I left behind who are dedicated and talented professionals doing the best they can.”
“Hygiene restores dignity and restores hope” says Deanna Handel, describing the shower component of the Ventura Health Care Agency’s program for the homeless, which is an “opportunity to extend the front door of the health care system out into the community. This is cutting edge work, a pilot program; not many communities deliver health care this way.”
Handel, manager of the program called Whole Person Care, speaks with passion about the its mission. And she is quick to point out that her outlook is shared by the entire staff. “They need to be welcoming and engaging; invite the clients in.”
Whole Person Care has been delivered by One Stop, weekly outreach events with multiple agencies offering assistance in areas such as housing, mental health services, medical referrals, drug and alcohol counseling, lunches, and so on. Many persons in the community have numerous service needs and barriers to getting those needs met, for example disability, mental health issues, or lack of transportation. By having services in one place, the hope is that they can connect with agencies and individuals to assist them. One Stop has many locations throughout the county. Showers are the latest component in offering more complete assistance.
Care Pods, the shower element, has been in place since December of 2017. They are made from container units which can be put on a truck and taken to locations. Made of steel, they are resistant to damage or vandalism. Fully self-contained units, they hook to city water with a hose. At this time, they stay in one location and are opened on a regular schedule. They each contain four showers, including an ADA-approved unit for the disabled. The company is local, founded by Vernon Alstot, a retired Ventura Fire Department executive who not only had experience with showers for fire personnel, but also brought relationships with local cities and organizations that were helpful to the Health Care Agency.
Relationships with communities and law enforcement have been key to the implementation of the Whole Person concept, engaging cities and law enforcement, getting everyone one board to find an appropriate location. There needs to be “careful conversations” to include everyone’s perspective. The Health Care Agency relies on city staff and law enforcement to be ambassadors to their communities. Law enforcement works with these individuals every day and knows the barriers they face to getting appropriate services.
The two locations currently with Care Pods are River Haven in Ventura and at the El Buen Pastor Church in Santa Paula. The Ventura site currently serves an average of 25 persons on a weekly schedule, though it has been as many as 41 in a day, and has provided 1700 showers total. The Santa Paula site serves 20-30 persons a week and has provided 1400 showers. HCA is in talks to expand to two more locations; there is funding for six units.
The program recently won a statewide award from the California Association of Public Hospitals – Safety Net Institute, a statewide advocacy body. The Quality Leaders Award recognized their outstanding effort to administer team-based, right place-right time care. A highly competitive award, it was “a real honor.”
Handel is proud of the program and has high praise for the staff and volunteers. The philosophy is centered on friendly workers: community health, professionals, medical staff and volunteers who give care that is compassionate and non-stigmatizing. “All staff really care about the clients. They are amazing.”
ATLAS Elementary School teacher Therese Palmisano; Principal Jennifer Duston and teacher Sara Viscarra accepting the award.
In celebration of Earth Day, the City of Ventura has announced that Buena High School and ATLAS Elementary School have been named winners of this year’s Green School Awards. The recipients are recognized for their outstanding programs in sustainability and efforts to prepare the next generation of environmental leaders. The winners received an honorary certificate and a $500 cash prize sponsored by the City of Ventura, Agromin Premium Soil Products and E. J. Harrison & Sons, Inc.
“The annual Green School Award is an opportunity to celebrate students and staff who are improving and protecting natural resources through innovative projects. This year’s winners continue to be environmental leaders in our community” said Brandon Kaysen, Environmental Sustainability Supervisor.
Buena High School was presented the Environmental Leadership Award for reducing their environmental footprint and enhancing health and wellness opportunities for students. The school is in the process of renovating an abandoned garden to include fruit trees, vegetable planters, and space for native plant propagation. The new landscape will include rainwater capture features and a water efficient drip irrigation system. The school plans to use the renovated space to reduce food waste through composting.
ATLAS Elementary School was presented with the Watershed Hero Award from Ventura Water for implementing a water wise garden on campus. The garden conserves water, supports pollinators such as birds and bees and provides a beautiful space for students to engage with nature. This project was a collaboration between students, parents and volunteers from local Cub Scout Troops. “Our model of leadership at ATLAS empowers students to be the catalyst for the change they want to see in the world”, stated Sara Bergman Viscarra, teacher at ATLAS Elementary School.
For more than ten years, the City of Ventura Green School Award has supported environmental initiatives at local schools. Public and private schools are encouraged to apply for the annual award on the City’s website.
On May 23, a two-alarm fire consumed a Ventura radiator business located on Thompson.
Ventura Radiator and Auto Air Conditioning was badly damaged in the fire. The fire damaged a large portion the building garage which caused the roof to collapse and the exterior walls to buckle.
The estimated damage to the structure was approximately $500,000 and personal losses were estimated to be $100,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Wicked headwinds and the previous night’s sporadic rainfall did little to dampen the festive mood at the start of the women’s race and the finish of the men’s race at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Tejay van Garderen and Anna van der Breggen donned the yellow jerseys in Ventura, signifying current over-all race leadership. Photo by Amgen Tour of California
Anna van der Breggen of Boels Dolmans Cycling Team won stage 1 of the women’s race with a time of 2 hours 36 minutes and 4 seconds and donned the much-coveted yellow jersey and the sprint leader’s green jersey. The 2017 returning champion broke away from the pack and grabbed a solo victory during the final ascent to the finish.
Ventura sisters Alexis and Kendall Ryan finished 67th and 73rd respectively. At the women’s team presentation the night before the women’s race, Kendall talked about her home court advantage and comforting familiarity with the steep hills and sharp turns of her hometown’s roads.
“No pressure really,” she said as the crowd erupted in laughter, when asked about her stage 1 prospects, the same stage she won last year.
Ventura resident Jeff Tillquist, is not just a big fan of the Ryan sisters, but of American cyclists in general. “I just love watching our American cyclists do so well here even if it’s really a predominantly European sport,” he said.
Wearing a chicken costume, Tillquist was also aptly toting an American flag while waiting at the finish line for his favorite teams including Rally UHC Cycling. It was his third time being a spectator.
In 2016, cyclists breezed through Ventura. Last year, stage 2 of the men’s race started next to the Ventura Pier. This year, the women’s 60-mile stage 1 started and finished next to the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The men’s 136-mile stage 5 started in Pismo Beach and ended in Ventura, a few minutes after the women.
It’s definitely bigger and better every year. “In 2016, we captured everyone’s attention when Cabrillo Middle School spelled out ‘Ventura’ in the fields,” said Marlyss Auster, president and CEO of the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau. “That got everyone’s attention and the engagement we received was tremendous.”
For Geerike Schreurs, a massage therapist who tours with the Trek-Segafredo team, it’s the abundant sunshine and the surfing prospects that got her attention. “I love how it’s so laidback here and the beach is right there,” she said, pointing for emphasis. “And all the locals seem to be excited about the tour. We feel so welcome.”
Yellow cow bells were in abundance and spectators rang them continuously as the riders started coming in. “I love coming to watch the Amgen Tour,” said Jerri Rousseau of Manhattan Beach. Rousseau and her husband have been following the tour around in their trailer from NorCal to SoCal and everywhere in between since 2006.
“There was that one year where they re-routed the course due to some snow and we were there,” she said. “Then one year we dressed up our puppies in yellow, green and polka dot jerseys.”
On the podium, Astana’s Blanca Liliana Moreno Canchon donned the polka dot jersey establishing her early dominance of the mountains. In the men’s race, Education First’s Tejay van Garderen retained the yellow jersey while Astana Pro Team’s Davide Ballerini showed everyone who was king of the mountains, donning the polka dot jersey. Bahrain-Merida’s Ivan Garcia Cortina won stage 5 of the men’s race.
Volunteers in bright orange shirts were posted at street intersections providing directional support and assisting local law enforcement with riders and spectator safety. Two-time volunteer Diane M. of Santa Barbara was one of about 220+ volunteers.
She got a front-row seat in her course marshal post along Ferro Drive, by Grant Memorial Park. “It was so worth it to take the day off and volunteer,” she said. “I just love being part of the cycling community.”
And in the end, it’s all about that. Said Auster, “It takes a committed and caring community to stage an event of this magnitude where Ventura is front and center.”
Who could not be happy accepting a $100,000 check?
On May 7, at the Ventura County Government Center, nonprofit Ventura County Library Foundation (VCLF), in partnership with the Ventura County Library launched their new mobile library at a ribbon-cutting.
The mobile library is a 26-foot vehicle stocked with many of the same services found in a traditional library, including popular materials in multiple formats. Professional library staff will share story time, schedule class visits, and provide computer and Wi-Fi access, printing, and more. The mobile library has been scheduled for many community events in the upcoming months, sure to gather attention with its bold graphic design and open doors.
VCLF raised more than $100,000 from individuals in the Ventura County community, as well as $50,000 from Premier America Credit Union and $5,000 for each of the next five years from the Oxnard Harbor District, to sponsor the mobile library. The $100,000 donation enabled the Ventura County Library System to receive a matching grant from the California State Library.
“We believe it’s incredibly important to provide an extension of the library to the citizens of Ventura County, especially those who are not able to visit the library,” said Sandy Berg, the foundation’s chair. “With this amazing resource, the library will be able to travel to underserved communities in our county, and will offer technology and print collections with materials for children, teens, adults and seniors in both English and Spanish. This is just the first of many literacy outreach programs that VCLF is supporting.”
Following a brief presentation by VCLF board members and donors convened in the outside to tour the mobile library and enjoy STEM activities and demonstrations on the services, such as 3D printing.
To learn more about VCLF and its other funding initiatives, including STEM Innovation Labs, Operation READ and READ Adult Literacy, please visit http://www.vclibraryfoundation.org.
The Ventura County Library Foundation is a nonprofit organization that enhances countywide access to quality library services, materials, and programming for children and adults by securing funding and other resources from private and public donors. Its vision is to create a community where all people are engaged, literate and empowered to participate in society. To learn more about VCLF, please visit http://www.vclibraryfoundation.org.
