by Tom Johnston

The following weather report is based on weather stations data located near Ventura College campus beginning 1964 or 57 years of record. The weather events during this December 2021 have for the most part been beneficial and interesting to study. There were 15 days of measurable rainfall for a total of

10.2 inches. Two days each had two inches of rainfall. This month’s rainfall was

the highest December amount on record.

With all of this rain a person would think the current drought is over. Yes it

was beneficial. The demand for irrigation has decreased somewhat but the lakes, the water aquifers (ground water), wells and springs will need several years of above normal rainfall to fully replenish. Another subject is how much of this heavy rainfall is due to climate change. Probably some but I will let the experts answer that one.

The meteorologists with the National Weather Service located

in Oxnard have done an outstanding job of forecasting this weather. Their warnings of hazardous conditions on the highways, on the waters, sky and snow has saved the injury and even death of a number of persons and, yes, animals.

As for the air temperatures the daytime temperatures were

several degrees below normal due to thick clouds blocking

the sunrays. The average daytime temperature was 61

degrees while the average night time lows was 44.5 degrees. The

highest monthly temperature was 69, night 38 degrees.

Other weather-related events you may have missed. Depending

on where you were located you may have seen snow on the Topa

Topa mountain range north of Ojai. On the night of December 24

a weak thunderstorm made it presence known by brief thunder

and lightning. At colder inland locations a few mornings had light frost. As for the wind there were 5 windy days with highest gust 34 mph.

Tom Johnston became interested in the weather at age twelve.

He is now a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Ventura County’s community colleges are among 150 institutions nationwide eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges are now eligible for the 2023 prize, known as the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes colleges with robust student outcomes in equity, teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer rates and bachelor’s degree attainment and workforce success. 

Only 15% of the approximately 1,000 community colleges the Aspen Institute evaluates across the U.S. are selected to contend for the esteemed honor. This is the first time that all three Ventura County Community College District colleges have been eligible for the Aspen Prize at the same time. Ventura College was previously eligible in 2017, 2019 and 2021; and Moorpark College in 2019.  

The 150 eligible colleges have been invited to submit data and narratives as next steps in an intensive data and practice review process. The top 10 finalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize will be announced in spring/summer 2022.

A jury of notable leaders will select a winner, finalists with distinction and institutions that have significantly improved their practices known as “Rising Stars” in late spring 2023. 

Following the announcement of being named eligible for the prize, the VCCCD board and college presidents expressed their appreciation of the honor: 

“The fact that each of our colleges is eligible for this prize serves as a testament to the District’s commitment to equity and high-quality education that yields professional and personal success for our diverse students,” said VCCCD Board Chair Joshua Chancer.  

“Ventura College is honored to be recognized multiple times. It reflects Ventura College’s educational opportunities and academic success as an accredited two-year institution of higher education,” said Dr. Kim Hoffmans, president of Ventura College. “This distinction illustrates the dedication of our faculty, classified professionals and administrators and their commitment to the success of all Ventura College students.” 

For the list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/. The Aspen Prize is made possible by generous support from Ascendium and the Joyce Foundation. 

The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices and leadership that significantly improve student learning, completion, and employment after college, especially for the growing population of students of color and low-income students on American campuses. For more information, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are happy to announce that the new Adventurefuls cookie will join the nationwide lineup for the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie season. An indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt, Adventurefuls take cookie lovers on a delicious taste adventure just like Girl Scouts go on their own amazing adventures through the program. Girl Scouts in the California Central Coast area and across the United States will offer the Adventurefuls cookie next season alongside favorites like Thin Mints® and Caramel deLites®.

Every purchase of Adventurefuls, and the whole portfolio of iconic cookies, during cookie season, fuels local Girl Scouts’ adventures throughout the year: exploring what interests them, discovering their passions, and taking action on issues they care about. Whether they’re using their STEM skills to solve a problem, changing a law to help their community, having a courageous outdoor experience, or starting an innovative nonprofit, Girl Scouts build a better future for themselves and the world. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, not only do girls become entrepreneurs as they gain hands-on experience running their own small business, but they also earn money to fuel their Girl Scout adventures, which catapult them where they want to go.

Also new this year, GSUSA recently announced new Cookie Business badges that help girls think like entrepreneurs as they run their own cookie businesses and incorporate online sales via the Smart Cookies platform. The badges progress from goal setting and effective sales- pitching in person and online to using market research, creating business plans, and implementing digital marketing campaigns.

The Cookie program is set to kick off on January 29 in the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. Girl Scout booths will begin to appear council-wide on February 11.

Available nationwide, every bite of Adventurefuls is full of indulgent brownie-inspired flavor with a combination of chocolatey and caramel flavors, and smooth and crispy textures, for an incredible taste of adventure in every bite.

United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) announced that President and CEO Eric Harrison has notified the Board of Directors of his decision to resign from his role in order to accept the CEO position with United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.

Harrison joined UWVC in December 2014.

“Eric has provided creative and meaningful leadership to our United Way,” said UWVC Board Chair Greg Gillespie.

During his time with UWVC, Harrison led the organization with a focus on innovation and results, launching and revitalizing several community initiatives, including Building

Healthy Smiles, which has helped 3,000 local children receive oral health assessments; the Thomas Fire and Flood Fund, which provided assistance to over 1,800 households affected by natural disasters; and the Landlord Engagement Program, which supports individuals, families, seniors, and veterans experiencing homelessness. In less than two years, the program has housed more than 100 individuals and families.

“I’m tremendously proud of everything that this organization has accomplished during the past seven years,” said Harrison. “We’ve assembled a strong leadership team that is passionate about making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in Ventura County. I’m confident that the organization is in good hands and will continue its transformational work.”

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

by Tom Johnston

The following weather report is based on weather stations data located near Ventura College campus beginning 1964 or 57 years of record. The weather events during this December 2021 have for the most part been beneficial and interesting to study. There were 15 days of measurable rainfall for a total of 10.2 inches. Two days each had two inches of rainfall. This month’s rainfall was the highest December amount on record.

With all of this rain a person would think the current drought is over. Yes it was beneficial. The demand for irrigation has decreased somewhat but the lakes, the water aquifers (ground water), wells and springs will need several years of above normal rainfall to fully replenish. Another subject is how much of this heavy rainfall is due to climate change. Probably some but I will let the experts answer that one.

The meteorologists with the National Weather Service located in Oxnard have done an outstanding job of forecasting this weather. Their warnings of hazardous conditions on the highways, on the waters, sky and snow has saved the injury and even death of a number of persons and, yes, animals.

As for the air temperatures the daytime temperatures were several degrees below normal due to thick clouds blocking the sunrays. The average daytime temperature was 61 degrees while the average night time lows was 44.5 degrees. The highest monthly temperature was 69, night 38 degrees.

Other weather-related events you may have missed. Depending on where you were located you may have seen snow on the Topa Topa mountain range north of Ojai. On the night of December 24 a weak thunderstorm made it presence known by brief thunder and lightning. At colder inland locations a few mornings had light frost. As for the wind there were 5 windy days with highest gust 34 mph.

Tom Johnston became interested in the weather at age twelve.
He is now a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Beginning January 1, 2022 all recreational boaters 45 years of age or younger are required to obtain the California Boater Card. The card is issued by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways. All boat operators must take an approved boating safety course prior to applying for a Card. If you are interested in an exciting, in depth boating safety course approved by the State of California and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, check out the Boat America boating course taught online by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA).

The 8 -hour online conference course will be held on Saturday January 29, 2022, 8:30am. Boat America is a boating certificate class that offers an in-depth and interesting boating safety course, and provides the knowledge needed to obtain the Boater Card. Taught by certified instructors from the Ventura County division of the Auxiliary, the class covers

Introduction to Boating, Boating Law, Boat Safety Equipment, Safe Boating practices, Navigation, Common Boating Problems, Trailering, Storing and Protecting Your Boat, guidelines for Fishing, Water-skiing and River Boating.

Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete Boat America. The USCGA is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. The main mission of the Auxiliary is assisting in marine safety and environmental protection, recreational boating safety and education, while acting as a force multiplier in support of Coast Guard authorized missions. The January 29, 2022 class costs $25.00, which includes textbook and USCGA Certificate. For more information and to register contact Patrick Newburn, Flotilla Commander [email protected] or (818) 388-2796

by Jill Forman

What next?

In the last column, I talked about the challenges and accomplishments of the past year. My idea for this issue was to describe the plans for the coming year.

Ah yes…plans.

Update from VCLSA Director Nancy Schram:

Effective Wednesday January 5, 2022, Ventura County Library Branches and the Mobile Library will be closed for indoor library services, but will continue to provide curbside/walk up holds pick up to provide access to library materials including Computer Kits with internet access.  Online programs will continue to be available including a robust collection of e-books, databases, and virtual services such as live homework assistance, chat reference services, and more.  Wi-Fi will be available outside library facilities during normal hours of operation.

Over the next few days, we will work to update the website to reflect this change and notify customers, work with our Friends of the Library groups to cease indoor library sales inside the libraries, implement walk up holds pickup (and curbside where feasible by special request), provide telework opportunities for staff whenever possible and work with minimal staffing levels in library facilities, cease in-person meetings at the libraries, cease in-person programs and services in library facilities, and post updated signs that are clearly visible in both English and Spanish at all library facilities.  

The Ventura Friends of the Library may still distribute used books they have sold online outside the Hill Road Library, and staff should be able to continue to accept donations.   

Select library programs may continue in-person if they are held outside and with safety protocols in place. 

At this time, there will be no change to hours of operation at the library facilities. We may have to make adjustments moving forward.

The safety of our staff and customers remain the utmost priority.

Update from City Librarian Dolly Knight:

Currently all branches will continue their regular hours.

How does the Ventura Friends of the Library fit into this?

Good question. Since the situation is changing daily, we will once again be called on to be flexible and innovative. Fortunately, we have procedures in place that can be reinstituted while this state of affairs continues.

Online sales – Will be continued, with pickup re-established at Hill Road. As of now, pickup will be 10-12 a.m.

Foster Bookstore and Hill Road Shelves – Closed for at least three weeks.

Donations – Bins at Foster and Hill Road will be out during curbside pick-up hours. Please limit your donations to one bag at a time. The warehouse will continue to take donations on Fridays 9-11 a.m.+

Warehouse – COVID protocols can be reinstituted: Limited number of workers at a time, masks, checking temperatures if that is part of current practices, and whatever new requirements arise.

Proposed book sale January 22 – Postponed for now.

This is all just announced and may be completely changed before this issue goes to print. Regardless, The Friends will continue to serve the community and the Ventura Libraries; that is our mission and our passion.