Photo by Patrish Schallert
Birds of all species can be seen at the Ventura Harbor Wetlands Ecological Reserve (The Ponds). Although this area is manmade for water treatment by the Ventura Water Treatment Plant, it is very important to both resident and migratory birds.
Photo by Jill Forman
Hundreds of dedicated runners turned out for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, at 7 a.m. in strong winds. The event took place at the Ventura Auto Center.
After a year away, the 14th annual Santa to the Sea race will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2021. The race starts at 7: 30 a.m. and will include a half marathon, new this year is a quarter marathon, 5K, Kids 1K, and a Diaper Dash.
Santa to the Sea provides a fun, festive, and healthy event for the community to participate. The half marathon starts at the world’s largest Santa statue, winds the route through the City of Oxnard, and finishes at the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor.
Santa to the Sea supports the Nyeland Acres community through food distributions, a toy giveaway, and scholarships to Oxnard College.
Mike Barber, Founder of Santa to the Sea, states “Throughout Santa to the Sea, our runners have donated more than 30,000 since inception, provided funds to support almost $500,000 in scholarships, and provides almost $1,000,000 in economic impact each year.”
Registration is now open and sponsorships are available. For more information and to register in the race, visit www.SantatotheSea.com.
What started in 2003 as a toy drive to celebrate the relocation of the world’s largest Santa Claus from Carpinteria to Oxnard has grown into a robust running event, toy drive, community fundraiser, and holiday season celebration. For more information, visit www.SantatotheSea.com .
The Ventura County Fairgrounds announced 2021 Board of Directors elections. Leah Lacayo will serve a 2-year term as president of the Board and Armando Lopez has been elected to the position of Vice President. The 2-year terms will include the return of the annual Ventura County Fair.
Lacayo is serving her 2nd appointment to the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors. She has previously served as Board President in 2005 and 2014. Lacayo also serves on the Board of Directors at California State University at Channel Islands and the Ventura County Community Foundation. Her community service includes the Ventura County Women’s Political Council, Congress of California Seniors Education & Research Fund and the Congress of California Seniors, the Destino Fund and the Jewish Labor Committee Advisory Board.
Lopez has served the Board of Directors since 2003 He serves as a liaison to the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation. He is a partner in Plaza Development Partners LLP and currently serves on the Ventura County Family Justice Center and the Children’s Workshop. His community service also includes El Concilio de Condado de Ventura, the Ventura County Community Foundation and St. John’s Healthcare Foundation.
The Ventura County Fairgrounds is owned by the State of California and administered by the 31st District Agricultural Association under the direction of the Division of Fairs and Expositions, Department of Food and Agriculture. A nine-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor, oversees the Association. The 31st DAA is a self-supporting entity, receiving no tax dollars.
The Fairgrounds serves as a command center for first responders and provides evacuation accommodations during times of emergency.
The 2022 Ventura County Fair, “A Country Fair with Ocean Air,” will open Wednesday, August 3 and run through Sunday, August 15. More information can be found at www.venturacountyfair.org or by calling (805) 648-3376.
One gift per customer per day while supplies last.
The Ventura Pottery Gallery is pleased to announce their second annual ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Giving event. Not only is the gallery a great place to purchase your holiday gifts (no supply chain issues here), but they have a free gift for you when you spend $25.
Potters always accumulate extra pieces in their studios, and we love to clean our shelves. Our forty potters are donating bowls, vases, mugs, ornaments or ? as gifts to our cherished customers. We continue to have strong sales during the pandemic and we want to thank those who support our handmade, from our studios to your home, ceramic creations.
We invite you to stop by the Ventura Pottery Gallery to view work from local artists and potters. The gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor Village. The gallery is open from 11 – 6 seven days a week. We also have an online store at www.venturapotteryonline.com and for more information please visit www.venturapottersguild.org.
Recently Mike Powers, Ventura County CEO and Ashley Bautista were at CAPS.
Recently Mike Powers, Ventura County CEO and Ashley Bautista, County PIO held an impromptu workshop with El Camino High in the ECTV program at the CAPS Media Center. Mr. Powers and Ms. Bautista were in the CAPS Media studio to record a cross-country interview, which was observed by the ECTV students. Afterwards the pair took the time for an informal meeting with the ECTV team discussing journalism, social media, marketing, career paths and more. The students will follow up with a more formal on camera studio interview with Mr. Powers.
ECTV (El Camino Television) is part of the Ventura Unified School District’s Visual and Performing Arts career pathways initiative. In weekly immersive workshops students explore all aspects of media, journalism and storytelling production including television, radio, social media, podcasting and more. The students utilize all of the resources of the CAPS Media Center including cameras, editing computers, the studio soundstage and radio control room. The ECTV program is mentored by Phil Taggart (electronic journalism and storytelling) and Elizabeth Rodeno (radio and podcasting).
Out in the community CAPS Media crews continue to support the County’s efforts to spread the word on the vital necessity of COVID vaccinations. Most recently CAPS produced a series special videos featuring doctors and other media professionals encouraging families to have young children vaccinated in compliance with recent guidelines. The COVID Vaccinations for Kids videos are distributed on the County website and multiple social media outlets in English, Spanish, and Hindi.
The CAPS Media Board of Directors meet in November and reviewed a staff presentation that included a brief summary of the multiple projects produced and managed by CAPS Media staff between July and October of this year. The report referenced more than 70 separate video productions for the City of Ventura, County of Ventura and other agencies. The government agencies distribute the media on various platforms including websites and multiple social media outlets. In addition CAPS Media airs the information on channel 6 and/or 15 as well as streaming on the CAPS website and social media sites. The report also highlighted more than 200 hours of originally produced radio programs for CAPS Radio KPPQ.
In addition the staff report included information on a facet of CAPS Media efforts that are often overlooked or taken for granted. During the 4 month window (July – October) CAPS Media staff provided the ongoing responsibility and oversight to manage, record and distribute multiple meetings held in Ventura City Hall chambers. The diversity of meetings included City Council meetings, administrative public hearings, arts and culture commission, design review committee, historic preservation committee, parks and recreation committee and more. In total CAPS Media staff managed 36 separate meetings during the four months totaling more than 88 hours of community information.
As the COVID 19 emergency continues to shadow the Ventura community, the CAPS Media Center will continue to remain closed to Member/Producers and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM.
All of us at CAPS Media encourage everyone to get vaccinated. The sooner we are all vaccinated the sooner we can fully enjoy our very special community. We hope you all Stay Safe and Stay Strong during these challenging times.
WRITERS | Ventura is pleased to announce the first bi-annual Writers’ Festival, to be held at the E.P. Foster Library on Main St. This free community event will be on Saturday, December 11, 2021 and Sunday, December 12, 2021, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm each day.
“Our goal at WRITERS | Ventura is to provide a platform for writers to connect with readers,” said Pamela Zero, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura. “There are so few ways that our vibrant community can interact. It’s time to get readers and writers together.”
The Writers’ Festival will bring together local writers with local readers, creating and reinforcing a community that loves books.
Local readers and writers will be able to:
Meet local authors, Discover new books to read, Enter on-the-spot giveaways and get swag,
Play word games, Attend workshops and be a part of the local literary scene
WRITERS | Ventura offers readers a chance to talk directly to writers. Find out how their favorite characters came to be born. Find out how all those wonderful scenarios of danger, intrigue, romance, challenges developed in the mind of a skilled storyteller,” said Robina Kerr, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura.
“We are extending that very writerly practice of having writing partners into having publishing partners,” said Danielle Ste. Just, founding member of WRITERS | Ventura. “We see ourselves and other writers as allies, not as competition.”
Admission to the Writers’ Festival is free of charge for all readers. The event will include writers, librarians, book cover artists, and local booksellers. This event would not be possible without the support of the E.P. Foster Library and Hayes Graphics.
Founded in 2021, WRITERS | Ventura is dedicated to bridging the gap between writers and readers.
Five new Marina Strawberry trees were recently planted to beautify the intersection of Main Street and Emma St, in midtown Ventura.
The Midtown Community Council sponsored the landscape project along the edge of Main Street, paid for with a city beautification grant.
Many volunteers helped with the planting and staking and mulching, and Gator bags are being used to water with recycled water.
by Shirley Lorraine
Donate. Sell. Shop. Help get bikes for foster care kids. Support the Community Velo Swap.
Hypercat Cycleworks in Ventura is hosting a Community Velo Swap on Sunday, December 12 from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. All are welcome. Proceeds benefit Project Bicycle Love, a Ventura-based, non-profit that provides children in foster care with new helmets and bicycles. (https://www.bicycleslove.org)
Support the Velo Swap by donating your unwanted bike related parts and gear and/or selling your goods on site as well as shopping the swap! Donations accepted at Hypercat Cycleworks, 4160 Market St #13, Ventura, during business hours on Saturday, December 11. To reserve a space or for more details, email [email protected] with the subject Velo Swap. (805) 477-0353.
Hypercat Cycleworks has been in business for over 15 years providing quality services for all levels of biking needs. The shop was recently awarded the honor of Retailer of the Year by their peers and were named among America’s Best Bike Shops several years running.
