One Businesses with Heart partners that stands out is Reel Guppy Outdoors.
The holiday shopping season typically kicks off on Black Friday, but with shipping delays, global supply chain issues, and large crowds expected at big-name retailers, experts are urging shoppers to shop early and shop local. Although online shopping has become the norm for many during the pandemic, supporting neighborhood businesses is convenient, reduces your environmental impact, and strengthens the local economy. Shopping local this holiday season can also mean supporting children, youth and families in our community that need it most.
Over 50 businesses in Ventura County have joined Homes with Heart VC’s Businesses with Heart (BWH-VC) initiative to support our youth-in-care and help keep our families together. Because of these incredible businesses, children, youth and their families receive discounts on products and services. Many Businesses with Heart partners also provide teens, older youth and their family members with mentorship, guidance, and employment opportunities.
Businesses with Heart partners come from a diverse range of industries including automotive, education, food, real estate, retail, health and beauty, and more.
One Businesses with Heart partners that stands out is Reel Guppy Outdoors—a nonprofit that takes kids and families fishing for free (they’ve served over 3,000 youth)!
30 kids will be drafted into groups of 3 and paired with a Pacifica High School Fishing Club Student to net, identify, and track their catches. Kids will learn responsible angling, species identification and sustainable fishing practices.
To learn more about becoming a Businesses with Heart partner or to find a list of participating partners, please visit www.homeswithheartvc.org/bwh.
Kids & Families Together (K&FT), and Heart 2 Heart, invite you to participate in our annual Season of Giving in support of Ventura County foster/resource, kinship, adoptive and bio-families working in programs with Kids & Families Together. There are many ways to donate and many opportunities to volunteer … we hope you join us this holiday season!
The 12th annual Cozy Holiday Gift Away will provide holiday gifts, toys, blankets and pajamas to 150 foster/resource, kinship, adopted and bio children from families who are currently working in programs with Kids & Families Together.
Here’s how you can support Cozy Holiday 2021 …
To make a financial donation visit https://igfn.us/form/9066oA
Or text 21FAM to 91999
To purchase items directly off the Amazon Wish List please visit: https://a.co/eoggBUm
Donations may also be dropped off at our newest Community Partner, Ford of Ventura located at 3440 East Main Street in Ventura, Mon – Sat 9am – 6pm and Sun 10am – 5pm.
You can schedule a pick up by calling (805)643-1146 ext. 131 or by emailing [email protected]. Please donate only NEW items.
The Adopt-A-Family campaign is searching for donors (individuals, families, service groups, businesses, churches, temples, etc.) willing to adopt families caring for children who are not able to be at home. Ventura County foster & kinship families are needing your support this holidays season and we will match you with the right family needing this special care and connection.
Adopt a family by clicking on the link: Adopt-A-Family for the holidays: Adopt-A-Family Sponsorship Form 2021.
Upon matching you with a family: a wish list for the children and family will be sent to you (along with other pertinent information). We ask that you arrange with the family you are adopting for drop off your gifts on or before December 25th. Suggested gift amount: $70 per child with one larger gift, 1 smaller gift/stocking and a $50 minimum gift card for the family to enjoy a nice meal together. Thank you for your kind willingness to sponsor a KFT family for this holiday season! We are grateful for your generosity. You will be helping to make this holiday season cozy and joyful for children in care!
For more information visit: www.kidsandfamilies.org/giftaway-events For volunteer opportunities visit: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/seeking-volunteers/
Contact 805-643-1446
Jeni Futvoye ext. 108 Carrie McAuliffe Sandoval ext. 131 email: [email protected]
Kids & Families Together (K&FT) is a nonprofit that has been serving foster/resource, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County since 2000. K&FT works with children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT also works with caregivers who need specialized education, support, and strategies to help raise safe, healthy, nurtured children who thrive. For more information about K&FT please visit us at: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/
Do you know acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel? You should and now you can!
Eric Clapton flatly states he is “the world’s best guitarist.” And Steve Vai calls him “the most inspired acoustic guitar player I have ever seen.”
“Emmanuel needs to be seen maybe more than heard,” says one reviewer. The spectacle of Tommy Emmanuel live is “a true honor to experience.
“Every cell, every molecule in his body was born and designed to play guitar. He beams with pure pleasure while playing.”
His purity and grace is “quite possibly the finest demonstration of acoustic guitar playing I have ever seen.”
He’s performing on Thursday, January 20, 8 pm, at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (OPAC), 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard.
It’s the 2022 opener for the 27th “Onward!” season of Ventura Music Festival, co-presented by OPAC/Sterling Venue Ventures.
The Australian native, now an American citizen situated in Nashville, received his first guitar at the age of 4—beginning his journey to become one of the globe’s most talented guitarists, accoladed with two Grammy nominations and a closing performance at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Inspired by guitar legend Chet Atkins—who anointed him one of only five CGPs (certified guitar players)—Emmanuel knows how to coax the most expressive melodies, rhythms and array of sounds out of his guitar.
Creating an orchestra out of his ten fingers and single six-stringed instrument.
Exploring a galaxy of genres—jazz, blues, classical, Latin, rock, country and folk.
And projecting a profound sense of joy in performance and provoking delightfully humorous interactions with his audiences.
Don’t miss “one of the best solo acoustic players to ever touch strings.”
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster, or save fees by calling the box office directly at (888) 645-5006 for will-call-only tickets.
Lots more info and music videos at VenturaMusicFestival.org.
Local Ojai resident Karen Banfield will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, December 18, to talk about The Good Guys Calendar. Join Banfield as she shares photos and stories about the creation of the 2022 Good Guys Calendar and the local men who inspired it.
During the pandemic, Banfield decided to focus on the goodness around her, specifically the men who were showing up with a generosity of spirit and open hearts. She focused on men because the news had been full of negative role models, and she believes having positive role models is essential. To that end, Banfield interviewed 12 men from diverse backgrounds, wrote their stories, and took their photos. These men have touched many lives in small, often unnoticed ways, bringing compassion that made her smile and just as often brought her to tears.
The calendar is selling around the world because it is more than a place to record appointments—it is a way to feel good about life and the people in it.
This event is free and open to the public.
The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.
Guy Martin and Jerry McWorter have joined together to promote local talent.
Ventura based Black Couch Studio and Hi Hat Entertainment have joined together in a creative collaboration with the singular focus of promoting the talents of Ventura’s musicians.
A list of 16 musicians were invited to contribute to a musical stew. The names of four drummers, four bass players and eight guitar players/singers were thrown in a hat and randomly drawn to assemble four bands. Next, a handful of classic rock ‘n’ roll song titles were thrown into a hat, one of which was drawn at random. Each band was given three hours in the studio to arrange, perform and secretly record that song. The randomly selected song was “Midnight Rambler.”
This is where the fun began. As the musicians entered the studio at their appointed time and date, none of them had any idea who they would be playing with or what song they would be recording. The musicians selected for this project represented a cross section of styles, ages and genres and were brought together to celebrate the artistry of making music. The results were amazing. The performances and creative ideas were fresh, inspired and totally different from one interpretation to another.
Most of all, this venture was a barrel of musical fun for all of the artists. It was a great opportunity for musicians to meet and work with fellow players from Ventura that they have never met before.
Now…the public is invited to listen to the results of this project and give their opinion and feedback. On November 19th two of the tracks were released on Black Couch Studio’s Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts for the world to hear. But… no names were released…just the music. Through comments on all of the social media, Black Couch will tally the votes and see which song is the favorite of round 1. The following week two more songs will be released and again the public votes will be counted and a favorite for round 2 will be announced. The final elimination will be a matchup of the two previous favorites and the public will vote for the final time.
Then…one of the bands will be crowned the first winner of The Black Couch Ventura Music Show Down.
Finally a music video will be released showing all of the musicians involved in the project with some great behind-the-scenes footage of exactly how much fun and music was had by all.
Every year, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) kicks off their Season of Hope campaign by requesting various in-kind donations for Project Turkey, Project Christmas and Holiday Drive-Thru parties to spread cheer and needed resources to local families battling pediatric cancer.
TBCF has a goal to deliver meals and grocery gift cards to at least fifty families this year. “For families struggling with economic hardship due to a cancer diagnosis, or worse still, stuck in the hospital for treatment, this joyful time of year can sometimes become a nightmare.
Every year TBCF delivers Christmas, or a family’s chosen holiday in December, to over thirty families battling pediatric cancer in the tri-counties with presents for each child in the family and culturally appropriate décor and gift wrapping. The goal of Project Christmas is to alleviate the financial stress, as well as the time and energy associated with shopping for gifts. Often, it is simply not possible for parents to go shopping as they are under severe financial constraints and can’t leave their sick child; COVID-19 has only added to these stresses.
The TBCF Programs team invites the community to help bring hope and holiday cheer to the families by sponsoring a child for $100. Volunteers can shop for the child’s wish list directly or provide a monetary donation and have TBCF do the shopping. Additional donations (monetary or in-kind) are accepted for a family’s holiday tree, decorations, $50 gift cards for meals, and goodies like hot-cocoa and candy canes.
In partnership with Cottage Hospital, and through support of the Linden Family Foundation, TBCF aims to spread holiday cheer and provide a memorable event with their highly anticipated annual holiday party in December.
Donations of $25 gifts for ages 0-12 or $25 gift cards for teens are greatly appreciated to support TBCF’s holiday drive-thru events. TBCF aims to provide gifts to over two hundred children through the holiday drive-thru events.
To donate toys and gift cards valued at $25 each, community members can drop them off or ship them to: Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Attn: Holiday Party, 3892 State St, Ste. 220, Santa Barbara, CA 93105.
Josh D. makes it look easy at AWOW’s event. Photo by Peter Snell.
by Amy Brown
“The first wave I ever caught, I felt like a mermaid—and I was flying!” said 14-year-old Grace Gerenser, with a giant grin, describing the first time she tried surfing with A Walk On Water (AWOW). She’d just finished her session at the recent AWOW event at Surfer’s Point, catching wave after wave with an instructor on the board with her. AWOW provides surf therapy—guided surf instruction–to children with unique needs. This is Gerenser’s eighth year participating in the event, and she had some solid advice for any young people considering trying it out. “I caught a lot of waves this time—they were massive and huge!” she said. (She was right.) “Don’t be nervous, though, just stick with me, you can practice on the sand first, and just be sure to listen to your instructor.”
Grace Gerenser and ‘Uncle Lippy’ celebrate at the awards ceremony. Photo by Peter Snell
Grace’s mother Tammy was thrilled with the event and how the program has positively impacted their lives. “Her first time with AWOW, we were like ‘Ok, so she doesn’t really know how to swim…’ and her now long-time instructor, Steven Lippman, one of the founders (whom Grace calls ‘Uncle Lippy’) just said ‘I’ve got this. She’s going to be fine,’ and frankly, we haven’t looked back since.” She shared how strong and protective the surf instructors are that take the kids out on the boards with them. “They are amazing, they have such strength and skill, and we know she is completely safe with them. And she gets to do something she wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”
Lippman said that while giving back is a primary AWOW objective, making meaningful connections with the kids and their families is key. “AWOW is a family, and we strive to create these relationships with these families over years, and creating that bond, developing trust is what gives these athletes the experience, and the parents get to witness a pretty amazing moment in time for their children.” said Lippman. “We treat them like they’re our own. Each of these athletes is a hero.”
About 50 families signed up for the event, including some from as far as Utah and from Northern California—like 9-year-old Josh D. and his parents Angie and Lee. “He had so much fun! There’s a reason why we drive so far, we usually go to the ones in Northern California, but we just couldn’t stand waiting any longer. We all had a great time, and he was just floating on air, and couldn’t wait to go back to school and tell his friends about it,” said Angie, who shared that her family has participated in the events for the last four years.
According to Angie, the entire experience provides fun and confidence to the kids far beyond the exhilaration of riding the waves. “It’s more just the camaraderie, being around people who believe in him, and that’s something AWOW brings. You’re not being treated like you have a disability out there–you just do it, that’s the greatest thing, as well as the confidence of actually of catching a wave.” She reported that Josh came running up to them as soon as he’d surfed in the event, grinning ear to ear, shouting, ‘I did it!’
Kim Murphy is the Director of Volunteer Engagement for the organization and reported that it was particularly meaningful to end this 2021 season in Ventura. She and her husband are well known for their surfing dogs, the late, great Haole Boy, who was honored at the end of the event, and his younger brother Pancho, who is just starting to surf. “The smiles seen all day on the beach leave me with the absolute purest form of happiness,” said Murphy.
Anna Izaguirr and Mark Whitley of ESSC (in the upper left photo) celebrated the ribbon cutting at Easterseals. Photos by Patricia Schallert
On Nov. 3 an open house celebration and ribbon cutting was held at Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) located at 10730 Henderson Rd. in Ventura. ESSC which assists more than 15,000 people with disabilities or from underserved communities and their families throughout SoCal celebrated the renovation and expansion of its Child Development Center in Ventura.
The center serves 168 kids ages from 6-weeks to 5 with Early Head Start and other pre-school services that are free to income-eligible families. Children who participate in Easterseals Child Development Services come from the local communities of Fillmore, Oxnard, Saticoy, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula and Ventura.
The newly renovated space features the innovative Garden of Eatin’ which includes:
Outdoor learning spaces with unique curriculums.
A garden and green house where kids learn to grow their own organic fruits, vegetables and plants.
An outdoor kitchen for hands-on food preparation, learning healthy eating habits and an appreciation for the taste of natural foods.
A reading gazebo, stage for music and plays and several playgrounds for exploration and more.
“Children receive rich learning experiences that are meaningful and culturally relevant,” said Regional Director, Anna Izaguirre. “Our outdoor learning environment exposes children to Science, Technology, Reading/Relationships, Engineering, Arts and Math (STREAM). We work with our local community and are able to provide enrichment classes including music, dance, cooking, gardening, pottery and healthy eating. The learning that happens indoors is also enhanced outdoors in a fun and engaging manner.”
“With a combination of federal, community and corporate funds, the site now boasts about $1 million in newly updated spaces indoors and outdoors as well as the furnishings for them.”
The center also features a computer lab for parents who may not have access to technology or the Internet, enabling them to research and apply for jobs or to fulfill other needs. Said ESSC Executive Vice President Carlene Holden, “We have a holistic approach with services that support both the child and parents. Our staff of quality teachers and support workers partner with families to prepare children for lifelong success.”
Commented Mark Whitley, president & CEO of ESSC, “Pre-school programs, such as those offered by Easterseals, are essential to raising healthy, happy kids and elevating entire communities. Widely available early education and childcare benefits kids both today and long-term. It allows children to be prepared for kindergarten and life beyond, while families build a strong economic foundation by pursuing additional education, job training or work.”
Ventura Councilmember Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios added.
“Thank you for inviting me to be here today to say a few words. It’s an honor to represent the 4th district and I am even more honored and fortunate to have Easterseals in my district. It sounds cliche but when we invest in our children we are investing in our future leaders. From the artists who contributed to the beautiful art at this facility, to the individuals who interact with them everyday, to those who helped set up this wonderful outdoor space, thank you for your commitment and collaboration. Thank you for having a vision and making this special place a reality. Our children are fortunate to have you and to have this space as they begin their journey in life.”
Fair will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more. Photo by Richard Lieberman
The Board of Directors of the Ventura County Fair has announced that the dates of the 2022 Fair will be Wednesday, August 3 to Sunday, August 14. The announcement marks the anticipated return of the County’s premiere Summer Event after the forced closure due to COVID-19. It was the second closure of that duration in the Fair’s 146-year history, the first having been World War II.
“We are looking forward to bringing the Fair back after two years of unprecedented delays brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Fair CEO Barbara Quaid, adding “The Fair’s board of directors and staff are grateful to our beloved community for patiently standing by us during these difficult times and we hope the return of the Fair will mark a turning point for us all.”
The award-winning Ventura County Fair represents a celebration of our community’s talent, interests, innovations, and rich agricultural and artistic heritage. The annual 12-day event will feature rides, games, food, exhibits, animals, entertainment and more.
Although some aspects of the Fair will be different as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 Fair will strive to provide a diverse experience with many of the traditional Fair favorite features. For the sake of our visitors The VC Fair will follow all state and county health and safety guidelines.
The anticipated 300,000 returning visitors will benefit the community in many ways including significant economic contributions to restaurants, hotels, stores, service stations and more. The Fair brings temporary employment to hundreds of local residents and offers opportunities for the community to showcase their talents, hobbies, interests and passions as well as the opportunity to educate, inspire and entertain.
The VC Fairgrounds and Event Center had been unable to host many of the usual interim events in 2020 and 2021, but played a vital role in protecting our community by serving as a COVID-19 testing site and vaccination center.
“We are proud that the VC Fairgrounds and Event Center has been here for our community during this time of crisis,” said CEO Quaid, “We are now overjoyed that we can be here for you with the return of celebration.”
Girl Scout showing her code bracelet made in one of the free STEM activities.
Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast (GSCCC) welcomed girls ages 5 – 18 to their second free EPIC Community event sponsored by SoCal Gas. On November 6, 2021, from 11 AM until 2PM, fun-filled games and activities were held at an EPIC Community Center.
Girls in kindergarten through high school engaged in exciting STEM learning activities, made crafts to take home, met new friends in their neighborhood, and won special Girl Scout swag. While girls played, learned, and made new friends, families enjoyed free tacos and ice cream at the La Poblanita and Mister Softee food trucks. Parents interested in learning more about the Girl Scout program also had the opportunity to speak to council staff and volunteers about how to get involved.
With family support, EPIC exists to build character in vulnerable youth and create everyday leaders throughout marginalized communities, using experimental learning and arts as the mediums to produce responsible citizens. EPIC offers a mentorship program as well as workshops for parents and kids to develop and unleash a child’s inner leader. Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast partnered with EPIC to support this effort and provide girls based in Ventura with fun activities that inspire the leader in them.
“SoCalGas is pleased to sponsor today’s event; we believe in investing in the communities where our employees live and work. As an advocate for advancing diversity and inclusion; which includes developing tomorrow’s women leaders, providing opportunities for all girls to reach their full potential is vital,” says GSCCC Board Member and SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager, Maria Ventura who was instrumental in bringing the two entities together to support the event.
Learn more about this event and Girl Scouts at www.girlscoutsccc.org or contact [email protected] for more information.
