One critic amusingly described Ivor Davis as “a combination of Zelig and Forrest Gump.” Find out what that means at the Ojai Film Festival on Sunday, November 7 at 7 pm. A special screening of the film “I Was There – A Reporter’s Story,” chronicling Davis’ life, takes place in the Ojai Art Center courtyard.

Ivor Davis reported on various turbulent, historic, and iconic stories of the last century. During his tenure as a foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express and the Times of London he wrote a weekly column for the New York Times Syndicate. He made Rock and Roll history when he traveled with The Beatles when they invaded America in l964. He became the only newspaper reporter to witness the historic meeting of Elvis and The Beatles. Author/journalist Davis dodged sniper bullets while covering the Watts Riots. He sneaked on the University of Mississippi campus as bloody riots unfolded after James Meredith became the first black student to enroll. On the night Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Robert Kennedy Davis stood in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel. He took a front-row seat at some of the most famous trials of the 20th century. He was one of the “Boys on the Bus” when B-movie actor Ronald Reagan won the White House.

Acclaimed Ventura County director and filmmaker John Zilles produced “I Was There – A Reporter’s Story,” a short, intimate documentary about Davis’s charmed life. Following the screening the audience is invited to join an up-close personal conversation with director Zilles and Davis. They will discuss how this short film came about along with some of Davis’ extraordinary adventures as an eyewitness to history.

When asked why he made the short documentary, Zilles said, “As I move through life, I always seek people who have an interesting story to tell…Ivor is one of those people.”

John Zilles grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. After 22 years of snowy winters, he graduated from Marquette University and headed west with a head full of dreams. After stumbling into the film industry by accident, Zilles worked as a cinematographer for over 20 years. Recently he started making his own films. “I Was There” is his third effort. He operates out of his headquarters in Ventura County.

Ivor Davis, a British transplant, has lived and worked in Southern California since the 1960s. In addition to his journalism career, he authored four books, including the first book ever written on the Manson Murders, “Five to Die,” and “Manson Exposed-A Reporter’s 50 Year Journey into Madness and Murder,” released on the fiftieth anniversary of the Tate-LaBianca Murders. He released his award-winning “The Beatles and Me on Tour” on the fiftieth anniversary of The Beatles 1964 summer tour. Davis also wrote a children’s book inspired by The Beatles, “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Penguins.”

Tickets for the special presentation November 7 at 7 pm in the Ojai Art Center courtyard are $15.

The novel’s cautionary tale looks at technology’s toll upon learning, relationships, safety, and wellbeing. A mix of narrative elements makes it an engaging read. This colorful human-interest story is set in a public high school, depicting demands upon educators, pre-pandemic. A motivated new teacher raises awareness about screen use inside her Reflective Writing classroom, but she doesn’t realize there’s danger lurking. Contemporary communication dramatically impacts the diverse student characters. When an intimate act is shared over social media, an inciting incident demonstrates that the potential in our pockets could be lethal.

By providing understanding to those who grew up before and after current trends, this insightful book helps to build rapport among members from different schools of thought. A variety of people will relate to feelings of digital distraction, electronic accountability, and online exposure. The story is suited for mature readers ages sixteen and up.

For further details about the adult fiction, please refer to despitethebuzz.com. The novel was artfully designed by Ojai Digital, published by Blue Jay Ink, and is distributed by Ingram Spark. The paperback can be ordered online where books are sold and found at Timbre Books in Ventura, Barnes and Noble in Ventura, Poppies Art and Gifts in Ojai, Pixie’s General Store in Ojai, and Tecolote Book Shop in Montecito.

The next book club meeting will be held outside at Love Social Cafe in Ojai on Sunday, Nov.14 at 3:30. Tamara will be selling novels at Ojai’s First Friday (Mini Makers Market) event located outside Love Social Cafe (next to Pixie’s General Store) on Nov.5 from 5:00-7:30.

Local author Tamara Miller Davis is a fire-wife, mother of two, dance enthusiast, and U.S. Coast Guard veteran from Michigan. After earning degrees from Ventura College and Cal State Channel Islands, she began working as a substitute teacher, summer-camp ESL instructor, and tutor. A lifelong writer, Tamara has published articles, participated in poetry readings, won a countywide inspirational essay contest, presented penned pieces at dance exhibits, spoken on The Confident Healer podcast, and performed on stage via The Ventura County Star and USA Today’s Storytellers Project.

Ventura College computer science major Angela Duran is one of 11 students statewide to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Chief Information Systems Officers Association (CISOA), a nonprofit organization supporting technology leadership in the California Community College System. Duran was one of the more than 150 applicants from 31 community college districts who applied for the 2021 CISOA Student Scholarship. 

Duran has been supported in her educational goals through the college’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program, whose mission is to help underserved and underrepresented students be successful in STEM studies and careers. 

“Having MESA on campus and the support of CISOA go a long way in helping students like Angela gain access to STEM careers,” said Ventura College President Kim Hoffmans. “Through the work of these organizations, along with the encouragement of the college’s professors, students are inspired to reach higher in their academic goals.” 

“The MESA program at Ventura College is filled with other ambitious students and caring staff. April Montes, MESA director, and Angelica Ramos, student services assistant, have been like second parents to me, helping me through the ups and downs of my academic journey,” said Duran. “The MESA program has helped me persevere through hardships and take risks that will springboard me to success. Without MESA’s motivational push, I likely would not have applied to as many scholarships as I have so far.”  

Learning she was a CISOA scholarship recipient, Duran’s first reaction was pride that her efforts had been recognized. “Affording college has been my most difficult obstacle to tackle. With less financial burden, my stress has been relieved, allowing me to better focus my attention on my studies,” said Duran, who is also a computer science and math tutor at Ventura College. 

“As a MESA member, Angela has demonstrated passion and determination to pursue her degree in computer science. She is bright, energetic, compassionate and genuinely well-rounded. Angela has taken advantage of many opportunities at Ventura College to grow academically and professionally by applying to internships and attending community events and workshops. She is a go-getter!” said Montes. 

For the CISOA application, students were required to be currently enrolled in college at least part-time (6 units per term) with a 3.0 GPA or higher and have declared a major in an Information Technology-related field of study (computer networking, management information system (MIS), computer science, cyber security and electronics). Each applicant provided a personal statement outlining their educational goals and plan for using the scholarship funds. 

For more information about MESA at Ventura College, contact Montes at (805) 289-6538 or [email protected] or visit About MESA | Ventura College. 

Doug Trapp has joined the Board of Trustees for the Ventura Land Trust. Trapp, a Ventura resident, is a Project Manager with Staples Construction.

Doug Trapp grew up in the West San Fernando Valley, where he often explored local hills that had no official public access. That experience fueled his desire to support responsible public access to open spaces.

“The dedication shown by VLT staff and volunteers that I have witnessed since joining the Stewardship Committee in 2019 inspired be to become more involved,” says Trapp. “Ventura is a special place that VLT is working to protect and enhance. I look forward to actively supporting our mission.”

As a member of VLT’s Stewardship Committee, Trapp was part of the development of public access infrastructure and trails at Harmon Canyon Preserve.

Ventura Land Trust Preserve Director Dan Hulst is pleased to increase the depth of technical knowledge and experience on VLT’s board. “The addition of Doug to our Board of Trustees is exciting not only because of Doug’s passion for conservation, but because of his experience of managing complex projects.”

“Doug was instrumental in the successful opening of Harmon Canyon Preserve last year, and he has made a long-lasting impact with his work on the construction of the preserve trailhead closure. Enlisting this type of talent at the board level ensures that VLT continues to grow in the right direction,” says Hulst.

Trapp has a degree in Speech Communication from Humboldt State University and has been a volunteer and paid host for public radio. He began his full-time career in construction in Seattle in 1990. In 2013, he married his long-time friend and schoolmate Mary and moved to Ventura.

When not working or volunteering, you will find Doug tinkering on the house or boat, picking on a mandolin, spending time with family and friends on the beach and on the water, or exploring the Sierras or local hills.

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, which opened in June 2020. Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. In addition to these major holdings the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.

Canopy trees help channel rainwater into the ground. The leaves and branches carry water to the trunk, and the moisture runs down and is absorbed into the ground. Rain on pavement runs off into the ocean via gutters and storm drains, and does not replenish groundwater. As underground aquifer levels are decreasing due to drought and urban runoff, the contributions of trees are more important than ever for the sustainability of our region’s water supply.

www.venturatreeallliance.com

The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees installed Bryan Rodriguez as Student Trustee for the 2021-22 academic year at its Oct. 12 meeting. A Ventura College student, Rodriguez was selected through a districtwide special student election in Sept. He joins the District’s elected board consisting of Chair Joshua Chancer, Vice Chair Dianne B. McKay and Trustees Stan Mantooth, Bernardo M. Perez and Gabriela Torres.

As the Student Trustee, Rodriguez will represent and advocate for the District’s approximately 31,000 students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges at monthly Board of Trustees’ meetings and other constituent meetings across the District. He will also participate in professional development conferences and assist the board in advocating for the District, both statewide and nationally.

“I am thrilled to once again have a student trustee serve with our full board, one who understands the many academic and personal challenges college students face,” said Chair Chancer. “Through sharing his perspective as a first-generation college student, he can help inform the conversations around enhancing the student experience at the District’s colleges.”

“Having attended previous board meetings and establishing relationships with members, Bryan is knowledgeable about the responsibility of being a student trustee. The board and I look forward to his input and collaborating with him,” added Chancellor Greg Gillespie.

A political science major, Rodriguez serves as president of M.E.Ch.A. (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx De Aztlán). He is also an active member of the Political Science Club at Ventura College, which focuses on the interests of students aspiring to enter politics.

Rodriguez gained hands-on experience in his major by working as an intern at the office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. This year, he interned with the California Latinx Capitol Foundation Association and attended conferences and training sessions hosted by the Community College League of California and the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.

Some of his policy positions include increasing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that benefit students on campus and in their communities and addressing the impact of financial insecurity within the student population. In addition, he advocates for a more flexible curriculum and creating a culture of community and student engagement at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges and Ventura College East Campus.

The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 116-campus California Community College system and serves approximately 31,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges—Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura—offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu.