The Ventura Board of Port Commissioners has new leadership and a new member.

Commissioner Chris Stephens is now chairman of the five-member board, taking the reins from Commissioner Everard Ashworth, and Commissioner Jean Getchell takes over as board secretary. Commissioner Brian Brennan continues as vice chairman.

New to the board is local attorney Jackie Gardina. Confirmed on March 4 by the Ventura City Council, Gardina fills the post vacated by former Commissioner Jim Friedman, who left to join the Ventura City Council after he won that election in November.

With the personnel now in place, the board is set to get down to the task of enhancing life, leisure and business at Ventura Harbor.

There is much to be done, said Port District General Manager Oscar Pena. “Among many other things, in recent years, the staff has been working with the board to make infrastructure improvements throughout the harbor and Harbor Village.”

“The Harbor District is ready for the busy year ahead of it,” said new Chairman Stephens, a port commissioner since 2017 and retired director of the Ventura County Resource Management Agency. “We look forward to the opening of the first units at the new Portside Ventura Harbor, as well as the expanded Holiday Inn Express. In addition, we will continue our efforts to bolster the commercial fishing industry with our pursuit of the Ventura Shellfish Enterprise project, and we will be freshening up the Harbor Village to provide an improved visitor experience.”

“The future of the harbor is very much going to be intertwined with climate change and making sure that we’re creating a resilient coast and a sustainable harbor,” Gardina said. “Coastal communities must address climate change not just for the next five years but thinking ahead, to 10, 20, 25 years from now and beyond.”

A Ventura resident, Gardina is dean and chief academic officer of the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. A philanthropist by nature, she has served on multiple professional and nonprofit boards, including with the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

The District oversees the management and operations of the Ventura Harbor, a 274-acre multiple-use recreational and commercial fishing small-craft harbor, with the goal of providing a rewarding and vibrant coastal marine experience.

The Ventura Police Department has announced that it is joining the Neighbors app by Ring (available via iOS/Android here: https://download.ring.com/venturapd) to provide the Ventura community with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.

Residents can download the free Neighbors app, join their neighborhood, and use the app to monitor neighborhood activity; share crime and safety-related videos, photos and text-based posts; and receive real-time safety alerts from their neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team.

“The free Neighbors app by Ring will be a valuable tool in our efforts to fight crime in our city.  We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Ring and our community through this technology,” said Police Chief Ken Corney.

Jamie Siminoff, Chief Inventor and Founder of Ring said: “We’re excited to have the Ventura Police Department join Neighbors to keep their community up-to-date on local crime and safety information. Over the past few years we have learned that, when neighbors, the Ring team and law enforcement all work together, we can create safer communities.”

Download the Neighbors app on iOS and Android at https://download.ring.com/venturapd or by texting venturapd to 555888 from your smartphone.Opt-in to join your neighborhood.

Customize the geographic area you want to receive notifications for (users must verify where they are located and cannot participate in other neighborhoods).

Receive real-time alerts from your neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team that inform of crime and safety alerts as they happen.

View local crime and safety posts via a live feed or interactive map.

Share text updates, photos and videos taken on any device, including Ring’s home security devices.

Work with your community to make neighborhoods safer.

Neighbors is a neighborhood watch app that provides real-time, local crime and safety information. Download the free Neighbors app (iOS/Android), join your neighborhood, and use the app to: monitor neighborhood activity; share crime and safety-related videos, photos and text-based posts; and receive real-time safety alerts from your neighbors, local law enforcement and the Ring team. Download Neighbors (iOS/Android) today to join your digital neighborhood watch. For more information visit www.ring.com/neighbors.

Ring’s mission is to reduce crime in neighborhoods by creating a Ring of Security around homes and communities. Ring is an Amazon company. For more information, visit www.ring.com.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by millions across the country, often culminating in parties where drinking is involved. Sadly, this leads to tragedies on our roadways because of drivers who choose to leave parties impaired.

During the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 16-17, 2019 the Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on patrol ready to stop and arrest drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

According to data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one person was killed, and 48 others were injured in DUI crashes on St. Patrick’s Day last year. In 2017, 59 people were killed nationwide in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (March 16-March 18), accounting for 37 % of all traffic deaths.

Due to St. Patrick’s Day becoming a dangerous holiday on our roads, the Ventura Police Department encourages everyone to plan ahead and use a designated sober driver, ride-share or public transportation. Even one drink can be one too many.

“Don’t even put yourself in a position where you need to ask whether you are okay to drive,” Ventura Police Sergeant Mike Brown said. “If you feel the slightest hint of a buzz, you should not be driving.”

The Ventura Police Department also wants to remind everyone that a “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana can all be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.

“We all know the dangers about driving impaired,” Ventura Police Commander Rick Murray said. “Let’s all be responsible adults and help each other get where we need to go safely.”

Funding for St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

by Alison Oatman

It was standing room only at the Women’s Day Proclamation held at the Ventura City Council meeting on Monday, March 4th. After an historic election, four female council members—Sofia Rubalcava, Lorrie Brown, Cheryl Heitmann, and Christy Weir—are now on the city council, making the council the first majority female one in Ventura’s history.

Ventura Deputy Mayor Rubalcava encouraged the mostly female audience—who was dressed in onion-like layers of white in honor of the suffragettes that fought for women’s voting rights—to run for office, join groups and get involved in their communities.

International Women’s Day on March 8th is a global day that celebrates the advancement of women and stands up against gender discrimination.

Women’s rights activist and UU Church of Ventura member Diana Goodrow was on the scene at City Hall on Monday night.

“I came because it was an historic evening and I didn’t want to miss it,” she said. “I have been involved in addressing women’s equality issues for a very, very long time, and last night was special to me.”However, this is hardly the time to give up the fight for women’s rights and declare victory. “This is only a very small step in addressing women’s equality concerns,” Goodrow concluded, “but it is a beginning.”

Ventura County residents have an opportunity to provide a valuable community service while learning about local government by serving on the Ventura County Grand Jury. Applications are now available for the 2019-2020 Grand Jury at https://www.ventura.org/grand-jury. The Grand Jury offices are located at 646 County Square Drive, 3rd Floor, Ventura.

The Grand Jury is a panel of 19 volunteers who investigate issues and citizen complaints and make recommendations to improve the operation of local government. The jury’s work is presented in a published final report.

The Grand Jury may examine all aspects of Ventura County government, the 10 city governments as well as special districts and other agencies funded by tax dollars.

To become a Grand Juror, you must be 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen and a Ventura County resident for at least one year. A complete list of requirements and the application form can be found at: https://www.ventura.org/grand- jury/become-a-grand-juror.

All eligible residents of Ventura County are encouraged to apply. Applications can be completed online but must be printed, signed and returned by mail to Jury Services at Hall of Justice, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. CA 93009.

Applications may also be requested by calling Jury Services at (805) 289-8661. Applications will be accepted until April 12, 2019.