Category Archives: News and Notes

SCORE To Launch In-Person Workshop Series for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

In partnership with the City of Ventura and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, SCORE will launch a series of in-person no cost workshops that will help local entrepreneurs and business owners gain valuable and practical knowledge from subject matter experts on a wide range of business-related topics.

The workshop series will kick off on March 27 with the topic “Four Key Marketing Strategies to Attract More Customers”. The event will be held at the Ventura City Hall Community Meeting Room at 8:30AM. The workshop will be led by Steve James who is a Digital Marketing Consultant with the firm RevLocal. Topics covered will include how to enhance your Google ranking, how to harness the power of reviews and how to master paid advertising.

“How to attract more customers is one of the most challenging tasks that new and growing small business owners face,” says SCORE Ventura Chapter Co-Chair Danielle Malconian. “We put together the “Four Key Marketing Strategies to Attract More Customers” workshop to help answer their questions, so they can focus on other challenges and opportunities,” Malconian adds.

Other SCORE workshops that will be held in 2024 at the Ventura City Hall will cover topics ranging from starting a new business to how to incorporate Artificial Intelligence into your business. For workshop information, including how to register, go to https://www.score.org/ventura/local-workshops.

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources, and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at www.score.org.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, visit SCORE Ventura at www.score.org/ventura.

Community Memorial Hospital receives Outstanding Patient Experience Award

Community Memorial Healthcare is proud to announce that, for the second consecutive year, its Ventura hospital has received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. Healthgrades, a leader in hospital research and transparency, also awarded the hospital 5 Stars in several specialty care areas.

The Outstanding Patient Experience Award places Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura among the top 15% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience, according to Healthgrades. The patient experience measures reveal how patients felt about the care they received overall at the hospital and are based on patient survey data that Healthgrades obtains from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“Earning the Outstanding Patient Experience Award for the second year in a row underscores the dedication of our physicians, staff, and leadership to providing outstanding patient care on an ongoing basis,” said Mick Zdeblick, President & CEO, Community Memorial Healthcare. “As an independent community hospital, it’s an honor to be among the top 15% in the nation, and I am proud of our team for their commitment to maintaining this high level of care.”

To identify the top hospitals for patient experience, Healthgrades applies a scoring methodology to ten patient experience measures using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey data submitted by the hospital’s own patients. Survey questions focus on how patients viewed their hospital care, including cleanliness, noise levels, medication explanations, interactions with doctors and nurses, and hospital staff responsiveness. The measures also include whether a patient would recommend the hospital to friends or family and their overall rating of the hospital. For this annual analysis, Healthgrades evaluated more than 2,500 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from January 2022 to December 2022.

Healthgrades also awarded Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura the highest 5-star ratings in the treatment areas of heart failure (cardiac care), cranial neurosurgery, stroke treatment (neurosciences), treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, pulmonary), gastrointestinal bleeding (gastrointestinal care), and respiratory failure (critical care). These 5-star ratings distinguish Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura as a leading provider of care in these specialties, providing better-than-expected outcomes. For the specialty care ratings, Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for common conditions and procedures at thousands of hospitals nationwide to identify the top-performing hospitals for cardiac care, neurosciences, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and critical care.

Healthgrades is a top platform for finding a doctor and is a leader in healthcare transparency, helping millions of consumers find and schedule appointments with healthcare professionals. Consumers can visit healthgrades.com for more information on how Healthgrades measures hospital quality. Complete Healthgrades reports are available at https://www.healthgrades.com/quality/hospital-ratings-awards.

Serra Cross Park is now open

Serra Cross Park has been closed to car traffic for six weeks as major renovations were happening. It is now open. Please come enjoy the repaved parking lot, speed hump (yay) and landscape improvements. The side access road is now smooth asphalt, with bollards to keep vehicles off the lawn. New curbs and sidewalks and dog pathway. And no litter! Let’s keep it clean. The Serra Cross Conservancy is the property owner. It is not city property. The Conservancy paid for all of the work.
Submitted by Christy Weir

Fire units respond to structure fire inside occupied commercial strip mall

On March 14, at 5:18pm, fire units were dispatched to a reported structure fire inside an occupied commercial strip mall located at 7826 Telegraph. The fire was inside Clearwoods Dry Cleaning. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the exterior of the building. Firefighters made entry to make an aggressive attack to extinguish the fire. With the amount of smoke and fire showing throughout the strip mall a second alarm was requested.

Firefighters extinguished the fire with a coordinated effort of vertical and horizontal ventilation to keep the fire from spreading to adjoining businesses. The fire was knocked down 27 minutes after the initial 911 call. Ventura City Fire units were assisted by Ventura County Fire Department, Oxnard Fire Department, as well as Ventura Police Department.

Ventura Chamber Honors Harrison

Jim, Nan, Amy Fonzo, Stephanie Caldwell and County Supervisor Matt LaVere at the presentation.

A special evening was held at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Annual Meeting & Board Installation.

The event is held each year in January to provide “a time to focus on the chamber, celebrating our accomplishments from the previous year and looking forward to the goals and strategic direction selected by the incoming Board of Directors for the new year.” Longtime members are recognized, retiring directors are thanked and new officers are installed.

At this year’s meeting, held Jan. 17 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, E.J. Harrison & Sons received a plaque honoring its 50 years as a chamber member.

The chamber also recognized outgoing chair Dena Rogers and installed new chair Aaron Gaston. It was a fantastic networking reception featuring signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from Seasons Catering.

St. Junipero Serra statue has arrived at a new home at the Mission

St. Junipero Serra has returned.

by Patrcia Schallert

The St. Junipero Serra statue has found a new home! On February 29th, 2024, the bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, previously situated in front of San Buenaventura City Hall, was gracefully relocated to its new residence at the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura (211 E Main St.)

St. Junípero Serra, an esteemed  Roman Catholic Spanish priest and friar of the Franciscan Order, is renowned for establishing nine Spanish missions in Alta California. Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015, he holds a special place in history.  On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1782, Mission San Buenaventura, his final mission, was founded on a site now known as downtown Ventura.

Fr. Tom Elewaut, the dedicated pastor of the Mission Basilica, warmly welcomed the return of the bronze likeness of St. Junipero Serra. Speaking on the historic significance of the land belonging to the Chumash people, Fr. Tom Elewaut emphasizes Serra’s role as a spiritual father to the indigenous community what was then known as  Alta California. He highlights Serra’s unwavering defense of their dignity and rights before the Spanish magistrate. “The statue acts as a catalyst for peaceful and open dialogue surrounding the indigenous history, the Mission era, Spanish conquest, Mexican occupation, the Gold Rush, and the eventual attainment of California statehood within the United States of America. All of these events have profoundly influenced and shaped the narrative of this land.”

In July, 2020, the Ventura City Council made the decision to relocate two statues during a special public meeting. This choice paved the way for the  landmark bronze statue of St. Junipero Serra, situated on public property in front of City Hall, to be temporarily stored with the ultimate intention of transferring it to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura.

In achieving a peaceful resolution, former Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, former Chair Julie Tumamait of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash), and Father Tom Elewaut collaborated to respectfully address community concerns and create an inclusive environment that respected and appreciated all community voices. The goal was to honor the cultural heritage of Ventura and pay tribute to its earliest inhabitants.

In February, work commenced on the concrete base of the statue, diligently carried out by Bryan Cooke of Cooks Crating, who spearheaded the delivery and installation process. The bronze cast, crafted to replace the original 1936 concrete statue, was unveiled in a momentous ceremony at Ventura City Hall on October 20, 1989. This striking 9’3″, 1250-pound masterpiece had since stood proudly overlooking downtown Ventura and the majestic Pacific Ocean.

Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder expresses the historical significance of the statue and mission for the city, affirming that the relocation to Mission Basilica San Buenaventura symbolizes their commitment to preserving the rich history of the community and honoring the legacy of its earliest residents.

The decision-making process involved extensive public input, the invaluable contributions of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians, and the collaboration with Mission. It is a testament to their dedication to inclusivity and unity while celebrating Ventura’s diverse heritage.

Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, lovingly named after Saint Bonaventure, who was a Cardinal and Doctor of the Church during the years 1221-1274, is aptly known as the “Mission by the Sea.” Guided by a mission statement that upholds the values of prayer and service, the mission endeavors to foster unity among various faith communities as it continues to move “always forward.”

Editor: From a previous Ventura Breeze “A demonstration was held on Saturday, June 20, 2020, to demand that the statue of Father Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall be taken down on grounds that he had committed atrocities against Native Americans, including the local Chumash.”

An afternoon of giving

VHP Board Treasurer, Dave Schmutte; Webmaster and Vice President, John Sanders Jones; Secretary, Debora Schreiber; Ventura Social Services Task Force Chair Judy Alexandre; Client Outreach officer, Adele Fergusson, and President and Board Chair, Sue Brinkmeyer.

Matt LaVere

On February 24, the Ventura Homeless Prevention (VHP) held an afternoon at an “Keeping People Housed:That’s Amore” and auction to raise rental assistance funds for Ventura Homeless Prevention.

It included outstanding Italian food, drinks, entertainment and presentations. It was held in the hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura at 5654 Ralston.

The Ventura Homeless Prevention is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that prevents homelessness in the City of Ventura by keeping people in their homes.

Every penny donated goes directly to pay rent for households who have been stably housed but are suddenly unable to meet the current month’s rent because of a one-time event like a car repair, medical bill, or loss of pay due to illness or temporary lay off.

On average they have prevented homelessness for one household per week since they began their work in 2007 — over 1,300 people so far, 40% of them children.

Sue Brinkmeyer

VHP is an all-volunteer organization operating in donated space, and the Board pays for the few administrative costs, so every penny donated or granted goes directly to pay rent and keep people housed.

Sue Brinkmeyer, President and Board Chair of VHP stated “Ventura Homeless Prevention helps residents of the City of Ventura avoid the double traumas of eviction and homelessness by sending a check for part or all of their rent to their landlord when a temporary loss of income or a major expense leaves them teetering on the brink, and they’ll be able to resume paying their own rent after this one-time assistance.”

“Thanks to the generosity of many local houses of faith and individuals, this non-profit is able to help an average of 6-7 families a month.  And thanks, in part, to the additional expertise provided by case managers at Project Understanding or the Salvation Army, over 90% of the people assisted are still housed one-year later.  Ventura Homeless Prevention can help any Ventura resident, without restriction due to income, immigration status, or type of residence, and it costs, on average, just $500 per person or $1,200 per household to keep people housed.  Both donations and referrals are welcome. More information is available on the website venturahomelessprevention.org.”

Leona Rollins Ventura Housing Services Manager continued “The Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund has been doing amazing work in our community since 2007. By providing one-time financial assistance, the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund can assist individuals and families in remaining in their homes, avoiding eviction and the possibility of homelessness. There are currently 644 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the community and we need to continue to work together to see that number decrease, not increase. With more than 60% of renters in the City being “rent burdened” meaning that they are paying more than 30% of their income towards their housing costs, they are unable to save for a rainy day. Without an emergency fund, individuals and families will find themselves unable to pay their rent and facing threats of eviction when that rainy day arrives. This is why it is important for us to continue to support programs like the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund.”

Matt LaVere, Supervisor, Ventura County Board of Supervisors explained “Despite the hard work of so many wonderful, dedicated people, we still have 2,500 unhoused individuals in Ventura County. But what this figure does not show is that there are over 14,000 individuals teetering on the edge of homelessness. These are people who are one missed paycheck, one lost job, one car repair, one hospital bill, one “bad break” in life from ending up on the streets. It is exponentially easier and more cost-effective to address homelessness if we can prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. And that is why the work being done by the Ventura Homeless Prevention Fund is so critically important. Their efforts to keep people housed and connect them with necessary services truly changes the direction of people’s lives.”

Musical entertainment was provided by Sus Corez on guitar and Artie Perez on accordion with Sue Brinkmeyer singing along. Presentations were made by Gabrielle White, Talia le Duff and Jeremy Beaumont.

Visit Ventura Honored With Platinum, President, Gold, and Silver HSMAI Adrian Awards

Visit Ventura President & CEO Marlyss Auster and Director of Marketing Mike Laan represented the organization at an awards ceremony.

Visit Ventura was recently honored for travel marketing excellence by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at their 67th annual Adrian Awards Celebration, the world’s largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition. Visit Ventura was awarded a whopping total of four Adrian Awards at the in-person ceremony in New York City.

Over 800 entries were submitted this year and Visit Ventura’s work was judged to be exceptional by experts in hospitality, travel, tourism, and media. All four awards recognized Visit Ventura for their leadership in bringing the X Games to Ventura and its creative community integration supporting the event.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to receive four HSMAI Adrian Awards this year,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura’s President and CEO. “To be in a room with industry leaders and recognized for our work in marketing that our small team does in-house makes me so proud. Each aspect of the story that we told —from the full-page ads to the YouTube videos—we rolled up our sleeves and put our entire heart into it.”

Visit Ventura received four Adrian Awards: Gold for its winning entry in the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, President’s Award —which is the highest score in its budget range— in the Advertising-Brand Campaign category, Platinum —which is one of this year’s highest honors— for the Public Relations/Communications-Special Event category, and Silver in the Brand Campaign category.

Visit Ventura was also a finalist alongside entries from Tourism Australia and Destination Canada, among other large destinations, for Best in Show. This is Visit Ventura’s first time receiving the President’s Award, Platinum Adrian Award, and a Best in Show honor.

Most notably, Visit Ventura was one of the smallest destinations to receive multiple awards. As an international awards celebration, destinations and brands like IGH Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Atlantis Paradise Island, and Visit Honduras were among some of the winners. To see Visit Ventura, where a small team does all marketing in house, among the list of international winners is a true showing of hometown pride.

“The Adrian Awards celebrate the innovation and ingenuity that fuel our success and recognize the marketing leaders whose extraordinary efforts literally ‘open the doors’ to exploration and excitement,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. “Their work inspired the world to get out and create memories through travel, and HSMAI is proud to honor them.”

Fire units dispatched to reported boat fire in the Harbor

On February 20, at 11:44am, fire units were dispatched to a reported boat fire in the Harbor. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a boat on fire with multiple boats surrounding the dock. Firefighters made an aggressive attack to extinguish the fire by deploying hoses down a long dock.

Firefighters extinguished the fire with a coordinated effort of horizontal ventilation. The boats exposed to the fire were untied and safely removed by fire personnel with the assistance of Harbor Patrol. The fire was controlled 17 minutes after units arrived on scene and the boat was confirmed to have no victims inside. Ventura City was assisted by Oxnard Fire, Ventura County Fire, and Ventura Harbor patrol.

Mental Health Services Act’s continued priorities for 2023-2026

by Carol Leish, MA

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), also known as Proposition 63, is a major source of funding for mental health services across the state, including Ventura County. The spending of these tax revenues is divided between five distinct categories: 1) Community Services and Support; 2) Prevention and Early Intervention; 3) Innovation; 4) Capital facilities and Technological Needs; and 5) Workforce Education and Training.

The community planning process is an important and continuous part of the Mental Health Services Act. Ventura County Behavioral Health is currently in the annual update phase of its Three-Year Plan that covers the 2023-2026 period. This update considers the implementation, evaluation, and budget allocations, and outlines Ventura County Behavioral Health’s goals, programs, and spending for the remainder of the current three-year plan.

This annual update also mentioned that if Proposition 1 is passed by voters during the March 5th midterm election this year, there are potential impacts on Behavioral Health services across the state, including in Ventura County. If passed, the following are potential changes as outlined within the legislation: 1) A 30% housing component will be established, with a ‘housing first’ requirement. 2) Ventura County Behavioral Health will be established as a source of funding for substance use disorders (SUD) Services. 3) A new and comprehensive structure for planning, data gathering, and reporting will occur. 4) Their will be an overhaul of the adult and children’s system of care statutes. 5) Their will be an elimination of the county-based control over prevention funding. 6) Their will be an establishment of new service requirements.

The current community planning process continues to build on the results of a broader needs assessment which outlines solutions in five categories: 1) Housing (i.e., buildings, services, and units); 2) Expanded Types of Services and Treatment Types (i.e., buildings, services, and units); 3) Access (i.e., timeliness of services); 4) Outreach and Education (i.e., knowing when, where, and how to access services); and 5) Alternatives to Ventura County Behavioral Health (i.e., care for persons with mild-to-moderate mental illness and service partners).

Any proposed updates to the current Three-year-Plan will undergo an annual review process which includes: 1) presentations of proposed changes to stakeholders and the broader community; 2) a period where community feedback is collected; 3) a 30-day public posting of the revised plan to allow for review; and, 4) a public hearing. The finalized plan is subject to the approval of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

Again, community feedback is important and helps inform and enhance planning. There are two years remaining to allocate and spend funding for the 2023-2026 period. In light of potential changes to the Mental Health Services Act, much of the current funding is being planned as a one-time allotment with an emphasis being placed on infrastructure, time-limited expansion, and various programs and trainings.

Residents within Ventura County are encouraged to express their thoughts and suggestions during this feedback period. Feedback can be given through March 29th, 2024. Then, the report will be posted to the public and opened for a public review period from April-May, 2024. The Public Hearing for the Mental Health Services Act Three-year Plan annual update is tentatively planned for Monay, May 20th from 1:00pm-3:30pm. For further information about the Three-year Plan, go to www.vcbh.org. To submit feedback and/or to get questions/concerns answered, email the Ventura County Behavioral Health about the Mental Health Services at: [email protected].