Category Archives: News and Notes

Hardship Assistance Applications for United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund available

United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) has approved $281,172 for individual hardship assistance from the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund. This is part of the $1.5 million made available in the current round of assistance funding, with applications for those remaining funds open through April 30.

“Being able to get the funds in the hands of those who need it has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re so grateful to be working with our responsive partners to make the process as simple as possible,” said Eric Harrison, UWVC President & CEO. “We’re looking forward to hearing from more residents to continue dispersing these funds.”

Applications – offered in English and Spanish – and a list of partnering agencies where they can be submitted are available at vcunitedway.org.

Before submitting an application, victims should gather any documentation to substantiate needs, such as rental agreements, campground rental fees, costs replace trade tools (could be prices from online or physical stores) or insurance invoices in preparation of speaking with a case manager.

Eligible applicants are Ventura County residents, and household income limits are determined by family size of 120% AMI or less.

The United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund has grown to more than $4 million. The next phase in disbursements will focus on long-term recovery. To contribute, visit unitedwaythomasfirefund.org.

For more information about United Way of Ventura County, visit www.vcunitedway.org.

Ventura Water and MERITO Foundation Partnership Program receives first place honorary award

Happy recipients of the Project of the Year Award.

Ventura Water and MERITO Foundation Education Outreach Partnership has been selected as the First place recipient of the Community Engagement and Outreach Project of the Year Award (small budget) by California Water Environment Association (CWEA). The program brings hundreds of students from Ventura Unified School District per year to the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility for a day of hands-on science based learning that include activities the students conduct. The students also interact with professionals from a variety of STEM fields. Ventura Water staff will receive the honor award at CWEA’s Annual Conference being held at the Sacramento Convention Center, April 17-20.

These students contributed to ongoing scientific research by collecting valuable observations and data on sea bird populations, water quality of creeks, estuaries and other waterways, marine debris at our beaches, and health of our sand beach and rocky intertidal habitats.

The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) took place March 12-16 in San Diego, sponsored by NOAA Marine Debris Program and United Nations Environmental Programme. In one week, over 700 individuals from more than 50 different countries gathered for the first time in seven years as a global marine debris community.

The MERITO Foundation took part in this very important gathering to learn, network and share lessons learned. Rocío Lozano-Knowlton, Executive Director of the MERITO Foundation shared data collected by students over past 3 years and strategies on how to build to empower youth to reduce marine debris at its source, and how to monitor it on our beaches.

The MERITO Foundation received $75,000 from Arcturus Manufacturing Corporation as settlement agreement filed in federal court by Wishtoyo Foundation.

The resolution of the lawsuit filed in March 2017 by Wishtoyo Foundation for the discharge of pollutants into the waterways resulted in Arcturus implementing pollution prevention and control measures at its 10-acre Oxnard metal components and products manufacturing facility and providing $75,000 as a Supplemental Environmental Project (“SEP”) for CA– USE Inc. and to MERITO Foundation.

The MERITO Foundation is implementing needed experiential science education and conservation programs and community outreach for economically unprivileged and STEM underrepresented youth who live near the affected area. MERITO Foundation’s programs and projects analyze, reduce, prevent, and mitigate the ecological effects of stormwater discharges and utilize the SEP funds to serve over 1200 students between March 2018 and February 2019 at Ormond Beach Wetlands, Mugu Lagoon, and the Santa Barbara Channel.

For more information regarding this education program for Ventura youth, contact [email protected]

Santa Cruz Island suffers fire and slight earthquake

Smoke from the fire could be seen from the mainland.

A fire that broke out on March 27, at about 2:30 pm on Santa Cruz Island is now fully contained. The fire, driven by moderately strong winds, grew from just 20 to 100 acres in the first three hours.

The fire escaped from a prescribed small burn pile fire that had been set earlier this week. It started near the main ranch on The Nature Conservancy property.

The Los Padres National Forest dispatched four air tankers that arrived at the island shortly after 4:30 pm the first day. They were aided on the ground by 11 National Park Service hot shot fire fighters. Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest also sent out two crews of firefighters.

The ground crew effort was increased with additional firefighters, including a hotshot crew from Tonto National Forest in Arizona and teams from Sequoia and Sierra National Forests in California.

“There has been an impressive interagency effort to fight this fire: U.S. National Forest Service and National Park Service sites; Vandenberg Air Force Station; Santa Barbara County Fire; Santa Barbara City Fire; and Montecito Fire,” said Channel Islands National Park Service Superintendent Russel Galipeau. “Together, they are managing the logistical challenges of fighting fires on our remote islands and are making incredible headway. The fire appears to have not impacted any historic or cultural resources or native wildlife such as the island fox, bald eagle, or island scrub jay. We are very grateful for impressive work of all the firefighting and incident teams who worked on the Santa Cruz Fire.”

“Fire is not new to Santa Cruz Island,” said The Nature Conservancy’s California Islands Program Director Eamon O’Byrne. “We have learned over time that the island ecosystem is resilient and we are so appreciative of the hard work of the fire crews in protecting it.”

The fire burned approximately 71% nonnative species and 26% native species within its perimeter. The nonnative species included fennel, grasses, and eucalyptus logs.

“The fire appears to have not impacted any historic or cultural resources or native wildlife such as the island fox, bald eagle, or island scrub jay,” said Channel Islands National Park Service Superintendent Russel Galipeau. “We are thankful for the swift and impressive actions of our firefighting teams.”

The recent 5.3 earthquake, 57 miles south west of Channel Islands caused a slight earth slide on the island but caused no significant damage. It did scare the Bald Eagle and her new 3 chicks.

Santa Cruz Island, at 96 square miles is the largest in the chain of eight California Channel Islands. The Nature Conservancy owns 76 % of Santa Cruz Island and the National Park Service owns 24 %. Together, they cooperatively manage this island as one ecological unit.

Local youths stands up and speaks out

Charlotte, Hannah and Audrey are outstanding young ladies serving the community.

by Jennifer Tipton

Hannah Yale age 15, Charlotte Steiger age 16 and Audrey Feist age 15 attended the City Council meeting March 26th with the invitation of Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann.

Heitmann along with Mayor Erik Nasarenko and Councilmember Matt LaVere planned to propose a policy to support stronger federal gun control legislation and to provide the Centers for Disease Control (C.D.C.) with freedom and funds to research gun violence.

Hannah, Charlotte and Audrey, all students at Foothill Technology High spoke at the City Council meeting that evening and after interviewing them it was apparent that these sophomores really did their homework!

Hannah tells me the C.D.C is currently prohibited from researching anything that could promote gun control since 1996 because of the “Dickey Amendment”. She goes on to describe the policy they proposed, “it will oppose legislation that weakens California’s ability to propose and enforce gun legislation separate from the federal level”. And not originally on the policy, but added after Hannah’s presentation at City Hall, it will raise the minimum age of gun ownership to 21 instead of 18 and yes, Hannah agrees she will consider a career in politics.

Councilmembers approved the policy unanimously, now the City Manager will communicate to state and federal representatives and from there it goes to California lawmakers.

Audrey said, “it’s very empowering to finally get a chance to speak out! I’m interested in gun control because I see these videos of kids and adults affected by gun violence and it personally resonates with me”. She describes how scary it was when students at Foothill heard of a shooter at the Starbucks just around the corner.

The girls said they used to do earthquake drills at school and practice getting under their desks, but now they are having gun lockdown drills where they are taught to hide and find a shield.

Charlotte tells me, “I’m interested in gun control because I’m from Chicago where there are a lot of gangs, shootings and police brutality, I don’t want to see my second hometown (Ventura) destroyed by guns”.

I asked the girls what their solution is to gun violence and Hannah quickly spoke, “it’s not taking away guns or to repeal the second amendment, that’s a big misconception! We don’t want to take the guns away, just regulate them.”

Charlotte added, “The first step is bigger restrictions, the second step is background checks and healthcare issues, especially mental health, it’s been very neglected in this country.”

Lastly, I asked them why they think gun violence has become much more rampant despite lesser restrictions from years past – what has changed?

Charlotte responded without hesitation, “society has changed!” Audrey added, “and guns have evolved!”

The three have coordinated a walkout on April 20th, students from Foothill High will leave their classrooms at 10 am and walk to City Hall, there they will thank council members and the community for their support. “We want to raise awareness and encourage people to be active in making a change”, said Hannah. Plans are for microphones and bullhorns. Free pizza will be provided by Pizza Saves and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson will be one of the speakers.

How do the teachers feel about them leaving school?

There is a lot of division they said, one teacher said she’d walk out with them (if she wouldn’t get fired) and another is assigning an essay, so her students can’t go.

Southern Californians Should Stay in Touch With FEMA

Southern California homeowners and renters who have registered for disaster assistance with FEMA following the December wildfires and January mudslides and flooding, are encouraged to stay in touch as their applications are processed.

Financial help for home repair, temporary rental assistance, personal property loss and other losses or damage not covered by insurance may be available to applicants in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Applicants can track their application and should notify FEMA of changes to their mailing address, phone number, email address or if they receive an insurance settlement. Any necessary documents can also be uploaded directly by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants can also call the helpline at 800-621-3362; TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week.

As of close of business March 27, 691 households have received more than $4.2 million in assistance from FEMA. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved 381 loans for businesses, homeowners and renters for more than $40.4 million.

Significant efforts have been made with the removal of debris from basins and creeks in Santa Barbara County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed 326,908 cubic yards of debris from 11 basins that provide protection to downstream neighborhoods and properties in Santa Barbara County. USACE is also assisting Santa Barbara County clear debris from nine creeks. Work is complete in eight of nine creeks, for a total of 47,306 cubic yards removed.

CalRecyle has been working in Ventura County to remove debris from private property and conduct soil sampling. So far CalRecyle is 71 percent complete with private property debris removal in Ventura County and expect to be complete by mid-April.

Debris removal is critical to reopening roadways and facilitating further recovery, but is also essential to helping communities prepare for increased flood risks that follow major fires for several years. All residents of Southern California who live near burned areas should be carefully monitor the weather and follow local emergency recommendations. Residents can increase their financial protection by buying insurance now. Click here for information on flood risks after fire, go to or visit California Department of Water Resources for more information.

For more additional updates on California recovery, visit the disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4353, Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/femaregion9 and WildfireRecovery.org.

Ground broken on the Rancho Verde Apartments

The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura. Photo by Michael Gordon

On Wednesday, Mar. 28, ground was broken on the Rancho Verde Apartments, the first USDA Section 514 rental housing property to be developed by the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB). It will be the first net zero energy multifamily residential property in the City of Ventura.

In this new development, 24 USDA Rural Housing units will be constructed as a multi-family site for farmworker households. Rancho Verde Ventura LP, a limited partnership affiliated with the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, is the owner and the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura will be property manager. It is located at S. Saticoy Avenue and Blackburn Rd.

The project has been designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Platinum Certification. The landscaping will be irrigated by an onsite greywater facility. The architect is Mainstreet Architects + Planners, Inc., and the general contractor is Ashwood Construction, Inc.

Helping with the first shovel full were Denise Wise, Chief Executive Officer HACSB,Jim White, Vice Chair, HACSB Board of Commissioners,Bret Helgren, Multi-Family Housing Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture,John Polanskey, Chair, HACSB Board of Commissioners,Veronica Garcia, Deputy Director of Real Estate Development, HACSB and Christian M. von Merkatz, Vice President – Relationship Manager, Community Lending & Investment, Wells Fargo.

The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, with over 300 public housing units, more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers, and over 500 non-profit affordable rental units. 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 throughout the City of Ventura.

Emergency crews respond to three vehicle collision

On April 3 at 7:30pm, three vehicles collided in the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Telegraph Road. The collision involved two pick-up trucks and an SUV. All three vehicles had a single driver in the car and all vehicles had moderate to significant damage.

First on scene fire paramedics secured both vehicles and provided medical care. Medic Truck 5 used the Jaws-of-Life to cut and pry through the vehicle and gently removed the passenger who was transported to Ventura County Medical Center in stable condition. A second patient who suffered moderate injuries was also treated and transported, with the third victim being assessed and released on scene.

Ventura Police Department and Ventura Unified School District partnering in Hi-Tech Presentations

by Ashley Bautista, Community Outreach Specialist

The Ventura Police Department and the Ventura Unified School District have partnered with Motivational Multimedia Assemblies (MMA) for inspirational presentations for local students at local elementary, middle and high schools during the month of April. MMA aims to both challenge and inspire young people to develop strategies to help them reach their true potential so that their life choices will not be diminished through avoidable, reckless and harmful behaviors.

Using music videos, movie and TV program clips, MMA creates a powerful impression viewed on 11 foot by 43 foot screens, conveying age-appropriate messages that encourage positive life choices. The program aims to educate students on the prevention of destructive decisions and behaviors such as drinking and driving and texting and driving. The themes include positive decision making, conflict resolution, drug abuse prevention, traffic safety and personal excellence.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens. Fortunately, teen motor vehicle crashes are preventable, and proven strategies can improve the safety of young drivers on the road. Presentations like MMA promotes awareness and encourages good choices.

There are many facts that show how dangerous distracted driving can be:

In 2016, a survey showed that more than 44% of Californians said that texting while driving is the most serious distraction for drivers.
In 2016, more than 54% of California drivers surveyed said they had been hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking or texting on cell phone.
In 2016, nearly 40% of drivers admitted to making a mistake while talking on a cell phone.
Nationally, 3,154 people were killed and an estimated 424,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2013.
10 percent of drivers of all ages under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of crash.
Engaging in visual-manual subtasks, such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting, increases the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
5 seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.

Despite the alarming facts, fatal crashes involving distracted driving can be prevented. Eliminating the distractions while driving can help keep everyone safe on the road:

  • Never text and drive.
  • Turn off your phone before you get behind the wheel.
  • Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving.
  • Do not eat or drink while driving.
  • Do not program your GPS, MP3 player or other devices while driving.
  • If a phone call is necessary or you need reroute your map, pull over to a safe parking spot.
  • Do not groom.
  • Do not read.
  • Do not watch videos.
  • Try not to get too involved with passengers in your car.
  • Finally, if something falls to the floor, pull over to a safe parking spot before trying to reach it.

For more information about safe driving please visit www.ots.ca.gov.

Gun violence protests

Venturan’s at Government Center saying enough is enough.

by Jennifer Tipton

March 14th marked the one-month anniversary since seventeen lives were senselessly taken by a shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14th.

Declared “National Walkout Day”, students from 2,800 schools across the U.S. showed solidarity for the victims in Florida by leaving their classrooms at 10am on the morning of March 14th. Many of these demonstrations lasted seventeen minutes to represent each one of the lives lost in the recent tragedy.

In Parkland, at the very scene of the shooting, students gathered on the football field and chanted, “we want change!”, rejecting requests from administrators to return to their classrooms. They then joined students from a nearby middle school to solemnly walk two miles to the memorials that had been set up to commemorate the victims.

Here in Ventura, students at Ventura High School took part as well, marching and carrying signs that read, “Students Take Action!”, “Enough! Keep Us Safe!” and my favorite, “Fear Has No Place in Our Schools!”. As they marched, the students chanted, “end the violence! no more silence!” and in one of the videos taken, you can hear a student say, “this is way more organized than I thought it would be!”.

With the video being captured by a drone, the students at Cabrillo Middle School sent out a message of love by standing together on their field and forming a heart.

Later in the day on March 14th, many other Venturans (men, women and children alike) stood on the corner of Telephone Rd. and Victoria Ave. at the Government Center making their statement about gun violence … “enough” seemed to be the word of the day.

Applications for assistance still available

The application deadline for $1.5 million in assistance from the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund for those impacted by the recent disasters has been extended to April 30.

The application for individual hardship assistance is available now at vcunitedway.org in English and Spanish. The United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund will support residents in expenses related to housing, livelihood/income and habitability of their homes.

Applicants can submit a completed form to one of the partnering agencies listed at vcunitedway.org to speak with a case manager. Victims should gather any documentation to substantiate needs, such as rental agreements, campground rental fees, costs replace trade tools (could be prices from online or physical stores) or insurance invoices.

Eligible applicants are Ventura County residents, and household income limits are determined by family size of 120% AMI or less.

The United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund has grown to more than $4 million. The next phase in disbursements will center on long-term recovery. To contribute, visit unitedwaythomasfirefund.org.

Since 1945, United Way of Ventura County has advanced the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Our focus is on education, income and health, because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life. We support local services and programs that are more than just ‘stop gap’ measures, but rather solutions that help create lasting change. We invite everyone to be part of the change by giving, advocating and volunteering. When we work together in common purpose, we LIVE UNITED. For more information about United Way of Ventura County, visit www.vcunitedway.org.