Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

The Museum of Ventura County Research Library digitizes early 20th Century footage

Made possible by a Schwemm Family Foundation grant, the Museum of Ventura County’s (MVC) Research Library has successfully digitized the Herman Keene film collection. It is now available for viewing in an online exhibit titled, “Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures,” venturamuseum.org/virtual-exhibits.

Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures follows Herman Balden Keene (1879-1965), a

lifelong Ventura County resident, and former student of Santa Paula High School. The early footage captures Santa Paula in ways that may still be recognizable to viewers today. An avid hunter, Keene recorded his journey from his Santa Paula ranch, through Ventura County’s steep mountain ranges by car, and into the backcountry where he set up camp. The footage includes weather challenges Keene endured along the way, and how he survived the backcountry wilderness on his quest to hunt fox, bear and mountain lions.

MVC’s Research Library Director, Deya Terrafranca shares the importance of the footage, and the impact it has on Ventura County’s rich history, “Herman Keene’s footage captures a rare moment in time in the history of Ventura County, and is the only backcountry footage we have in our collection. It captures the juncture of the early days of car exploration of the backcountry, and at the same time the use of horses and pack animals.”

The Schwemm Family Foundation’s funding allowed library staff to send the film to the University of Southern California’s film department for archival digitization and rehousing. Once digitized, the footage was cataloged and added to the Museum’s growing collection of online items.

MVC’s Research Library accepts submissions to their digital archives. Contributors can fill out a brief online form and upload digital images and/or documents by visiting, venturamuseum.org/library and clicking on, “Digital Photographs.”

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are both fully open and welcoming guests in-person. Admission to both locations is free for the duration of 2021. Masks are required for all visitors inside museum buildings, while vaccinated guests are welcomed to remove masks while enjoying the museums’ outdoor spaces. Please visit venturamuseum.org for more information, and to view Herman Keene’s and other online exhibits.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California (805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – venturamuseum.org.

Behavioral Health Services offered at Community Memorial Hospital

by Carol Leish

Maureen Hodge, LCSW, Program Manager of High-Risk Program at Community Memorial Health Systems says, “There are many outpatient programs provided by the hospital. And, we hope that the expansion of ambulatory behavioral health programs will enable our team to be able to better serve our community.”

There are three types of ambulatory services according to Hodge. “There is: 1) Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHI); 2) Caregiver Navigation Program; and, 3) Psychology.”

According to Hodge, “Recently our Center for Family Health started a Behavioral Health Integration Program which is directed towards those patients who have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or substance use disorder. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist meets individually with the patients to assess their level of stress, depression or other mental health issues and then connects them to services and resources. Also, they are called monthly to make sure that they are stable. In a short time, to this new program, our staff have helped to find psychiatrists, resources, or other programs that will help the patients to remain stable and feel that they can deal with life’s challenges.”

“The Caregiver Navigation Program (CGN),” according to Hodge, “is geared specifically to caregivers of patients who are facing a chronic illness or a debilitating diagnosis and is a caregiver for their child, spouse, neighbor, or loved one. A Licensed Clinical Professional provides support, resources, and weekly check ins to the caregiver in order to help the caregiver to remain stable. Three hospitals were funded by the Ventura County Community Foundation for a 3-year pilot program. At Community Memorial Health System, the program is offered to caregivers who have loved ones that are patients of the Centers for Family Health, which are the outpatient clinics of Community Memorial Health System. We have served nearly 100 caregivers and the results so far are showing that caregivers’ depression is decreasing and their resiliency is increasing just by having someone support them through their journey of being a caregiver.”

“We also have a psychologist who takes referrals for short term or crisis counseling,” according to Hodge. “The psychologist is available to help patients of the Centers for Family Health and is a resource to doctors and nurses who are working with patients who are in crises, stress, depression, anxiety, or may have substance use or other mental health issues.”

“In terms of the ultimate expansion of Ambulatory Behavior Health programs,” according to Hodge, “We would love to see our team be able to serve our community by providing 1:1 counseling, group therapy, addiction counseling and more. We look forward to making this happen in the future. We also want to expand services to our aging population, those with disabilities, teenagers, and adults who are struggling and need more support through our behavioral health wellness programs.

“Our team is committed to being a bridge, resource and support for those who are facing mental health stressors, crises, or addiction. Depression and anxiety have increased greatly since COVID-19 started, and our community is in need of mental health service/resources more than ever. We look forward to seeing Community Memorial Health System become a resource for our patients for their mental health needs.”

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Jill Forman

Summer is ending, but the libraries are busier than ever.

Library book groups

Just a reminder – book groups are meeting in person in August and September, as of now. Here are the selections for the next meetings:

Hill Road Library – I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by MacNamara. Copies are available at the branch. August 31 at 5 p.m.

Foster Library – Hunter Moon by Caputo. September 4, 10 a.m. –noon.

Online Book Store

You can still buy gently-used books online at great prices. New offerings weekly with pickup at the Foster bookstore.

Summer Reading Program

As always, a big success: 1,061 kids and teens participated, and 237 adults. Prizes are being given out; pictures of the winners and their prizes can be seen on the library’s Facebook page.

Treasures in the bookstores

Of course, all books are treasures. But, at both the Foster and Hill Road sales sites there are amazing books up to 100+ years old. The bindings and illustrations are unusual, sometimes beautiful, and every book is like a history lesson. There are novels, travelogues, occasionally children’s books, every genre you can think of. They are in separate shelves labeled “Vintage,” and are reasonably priced.

September is library card sign-up month

So much opens up for someone who gets a library card. Books, both traditional and e-books. Laptops you can use at the branch. Access to all library services. And it’s FREE!

“A library card provides opportunity discovery and access to a rich and diverse world. It empowers you to make change and experience new stories.” Marley Dias, Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair.

State Ballot drop-off sites at libraries

In an effort to encourage participation in the election process, mailed ballots can be dropped off at many locations including the Avenue and Saticoy Libraries.

One County/One Book

In case you are not familiar with this event, here is a Wikipedia entry: “…a generic name for a community reading program that attempts to get everyone in an area to read and discuss the same book.”

The selection this year is Your House Will Pay by Cha, a gripping story of racial tensions, murder, families and revenge, based on a real 1991 event in Los Angeles.

Check Facebook for events

I can cover only a few of the programs and events offered by our libraries. The Facebook page Ventura County Library has them all. A quick glance today shows STEAM activity, Art Lessons, Storytime and Bilingual Storytime. Take a look!

Mask recommendations

Currently, the library is encouraging masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This could change at any time; ask the library staff at your branch.

Join the Ventura Friends of the Library

The Friends support Ventura’s libraries both financially and with volunteer hours. For over 50 years, we have been the face of the public in our care for the library system. Join us and help sustain this essential part of our community. Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Working Together to ‘Stuff the Bus’

Kayli Bates, Kylee Brown and Tiler de Long pitched in to help assemble and fill backpacks during Stuff the Bus.

by Amy Nielsen

A group of volunteers that included teens and family members from Aera Energy worked together recently with the United Way of Ventura County to assemble backpacks full of school supplies for homeless and underprivileged youth. The program, which began in 2010, is called Stuff the Bus, and received support in funding from Aera and community individuals for the purchase and donations of backpacks and supplies for K-12 students.  The volunteers worked in shifts in assembly lines to put together hundreds of backpacks filled with pens, pencils, binders and other important school supplies for the coming fall session.

Kylee Brown, a local 18-year-old who is about to head to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for her freshman year, volunteered with her father, Kevin, and some of her friends. “Contributing to an effort that would help kids that either don’t have a home, or don’t have money for school supplies felt good. I was really shocked when I heard that there are 6,000 homeless children in Ventura County. That’s a big number, and it shocked everyone working in the room,” she said. “You don’t really think about children being homeless, you think about what you see every day, usually adults. It gave us all a better purpose of being there, and made the work even more inspirational.”

The donated items are to be distributed from the Ventura County Office of Education to local school districts. More than 1,200 students are expected to receive these backpacks and supplies. “Every day I see what I have, versus what some others do, and it makes me more inclined to give back, because I know that not everyone has it as easy as some of us,” said Brown.

Her father Kevin has been with Aera for 13 years and serves as a Process Specialist. He shared that it was especially meaningful to participate in this effort with his daughter and her friends. “The kids did a really great job, and it helped provide us all with a real sense of community, and a chance to help other people out that are less fortunate than they are. You never know if you or someone you love might be in the same situation,” said Brown. “It’s really cool, we provide a lot of support for the community, we’re not a big company like Chevron or Shell, but Aera is a huge leader in supporting the area; we’re always doing community events, like the Day of Caring, supporting schools, and homeless facilities, and food drives every year.”

“It’s always so great to have young people volunteer, and Aera’s support has been phenomenal, and really made the entire project possible.” said Susan Englund, Vice President, Community Impact for the United Way of Ventura County.

Kayli Bates is also heading off for her first year of college, to Cal State San Marcos. She had an even more personal connection to the volunteer work, as she’d been temporarily classified as a homeless youth when her family’s home burned down in the Thomas Fire. “It felt good to be helping young people who were in that same kind of category,” she said. “The community was definitely there to support our family back then, and it felt wonderful to give back and help others in the community with this, and especially with my friends.” She said it was the first time she’d volunteered for anything like that. “It felt good in my soul to do this,” said Bates.

Ventura Land Trust announces 12th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films. Photo by Dan Holmes

Ventura Land Trust is pleased to bring back a live experience for its 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour on Saturday, August 28th on the campus of Ventura County Credit Union headquarters from 5:00 to 10:00 pm.

This signature fundraising event raises $50,000 each year to support Ventura Land Trust’s mission to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.

For Ventura Land Trust, the festival fosters a deeper understanding of the connection we share with the planet and our role as stewards to keep it healthy.
The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films, food from local food trucks, and a raffle. Beer from Topa Topa Brewing Company, Rincon Brewery, and Leashless Brewing will be available for sale, as well as wine from Riboli Family Wines. Live music will be played by the band Nautical Thrust. In the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, small bites from Himalaya Cuisine, Peirano’s, Aloha Steakhouse, and others will be complemented by a custom cocktail by Ventura Spirits.

A general admission film festival ticket is $35, with children’s tickets available for $5. VIP tickets, which include special gift items and admission to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, are $125.

“Protecting and preserving our open spaces is more important than ever,” says Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “We saw how important they were to our wellbeing during the past year’s pandemic shutdowns. Place like Harmon Canyon Preserve and Big Rock Preserve have become part of the fabric of Ventura, and they are part of our story of resilience. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is an opportunity to see how Ventura Land Trust fits into the work individuals and organizations around the world are doing to protect the earth.”

Visitors to Ventura Land Trust’s preserves can explore and learn on 4,000 acres of permanently conserved land in Ventura County. Preserves are open to the public daily, for free.

Visit www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2021 for tickets. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Development Director Leslie Velez at [email protected] for more information.

International Day of Friendship

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael McCurtis of the Total Life Christian Center of Ventura.

On August 7th, from 1pm – 3pm, the Church of Scientology Ventura held an open house special presentation to Commemorate the International Day of Friendship.

Rev. Luther McCurtis from Face Of Ventura by Johanna Spinks

The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2011 with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. It is a day about promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity.

“Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.” United Nations

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael McCurtis of the Total Life Christian Center of Ventura, who’s father, Rev. Luther McCurtis founded the Center over 50 years ago when he saw a need for a ministry that extended beyond the four walls to help those in need.

The wreck of the SS Winfield Scott

 The ship was slowly sinking.

by Richard Senate

An event happened on Anacapa Island that was the cause of the construction of a light house on the Island.  It was a dark foggy night, December 4th, 1853, when the steamship ” Winfield Scott” went into the rocks off Frenchies Cove, Anacapa Island. The three-year-old 1,291 ton paddle steamer was carrying 250 rich miners from San Francisco to Panama on the first leg home to their families in the United States. Each one carried gold, and the ship also held two million of gold bullion being sent east.

The master of the ship was Captain Blunt who had successfully sailed the ship around the horn from New York to California. He had heard that the Santa Barbara Channel would cut hours, even days, off his trip. Most sea captains at that time avoided this rout preferring to sail far off the coast.  Knowing the stiff competition from other lines, he elected to sail though the channel. It was a mistake.

The Santa Barbara Channel can be treacherous, especial in the Winter months.  When they were off Santa Barbara they were enveloped in a thick pea soup fog. Blinded in the days before radar Captain Blunt was forced to reduce speed and proceed using dead reckoning.  As they progressed nervously on the bridge, the unknowing passengers partied, played cards and gambled.  Somehow, perhaps it was only a small error, they strayed off course. At two a.m. when they were almost though the Channel, the big ship rammed into the rocks. Everyone was tossed from their beds and went on deck into the fog. Some panicked in fear, others steeled by their time in the rough gold camps, remained calm.  They knew they were not far from land, they could hear the sound of the surf.

The ship was slowly sinking, her twin 350 horsepower engines had wedged her between two rocks.  A long boat was lowered and they found the beach not far away.  The crew and passengers were taken to the beach with all their goods and valuables.  They had time to take supplies and water as well as the gold bullion under armed guard.   They wisely salvaged a small cannon.   Tents were set up and when dawn came the ship was gone and Frenchies Cove was all they saw.  A rocky island without fresh water.

The Captain order his sailors to take the longboat and try to row to Santa Barbara for help. They set off but it took days for them to make the trip. Eight days being stranded came to an end when the ship “Californian” drew near and they fired the cannon to signal for help.  She was heading for Panama too and took the miners and bullion with her.

Now the wreck is under the protection of the National Parks Service and it is illegal to take artifacts from the sunken hull. She rests in 30 feet of water just 50 feel offshore. The ship, being made mostly of wood is badly deteriorated, only a few ribs and her iron boilers and paddlewheels are left.  It is an ideal place for SCUBA diving and the National Parks encourage photography. To visit the site contact the Channel Islands National Monument at the Ventura Harbor or contact the Island Packers in the harbor that offers tours of Anacapa and the wreck site.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

The Ventura Friends of the Library had a sale at the Dudley House.

by Jill Forman

Thanks for a successful book sale!

On July 31 and August 1, the Ventura Friends of the Library had a sale at the Dudley House. The weather was perfect, the local plant society was there with plants for sale, and the Lions had a barbecue. There were free tours of the Dudley House. Hundreds of Ventura folks came out to socialize, browse books and plants, eat hot dogs, and take a tour.

So many people to thank. First of all to the volunteers of the Friends of the Library, organized and directed by our Fearless Leader Sandy Greenberg, who worked for four days to transport, set up and take down, and sell our gently-used books. Special shout-out to Clyde Hofflund who was there every day with his trusty truck and strong back! Then to the Dudley House people, especially Lynn Weitzel and Jan Hunter, who helped coordinate as well as working with the Friends. And Charley “the plant man,” whose good cheer and efforts for both the plant sale and the Dudley House made it fun. The Ventura Downtown Lions contributed delicious barbecue aromas and hot dog lunches. Boy Scout Troop 179 helped with unloading and moving boxes of books. Ventura East Rotary transported and also moved boxes.

And most of all, to the people of Ventura who came out and supported us. We made over $1200, plus memberships. Every dollar goes to the libraries, for books and equipment and programs. And as one board member said, “The joy of seeing someone excited about their purchase, talking to buyers about books we love, is why we do this work.”

Hill Road donation bin
Reminder to please only drop off one bag of donated books at a time. The bin (and the volunteers’ backs!) are overwhelmed. If you have a large donation, please take it out to the warehouse. Information on hours and location can be found at the Friends of the Library web page, venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Volunteers wanted
If you saw how much we enjoyed the book sale, if you’re a booklover with some spare time, if you want to give back to the community, we would love to have you join us! We have jobs in the bookstore, in the warehouse, behind the scenes at the bookstore, during our sales, whatever you prefer. Contact us at [email protected].

Ventura County Library announces a new mobile app, MyVCLibrary (from press release)
The MyVCLibrary app helps library customers continue to access Ventura County Library collections and services in a user-friendly way. Users may access a digital library card, search for materials, place or cancel holds, manage their account, renew items, and even self-check, all from their mobile device…. “We’re really excited that our new and improved app brings the library to life in the hands of our users. We’re happy to be able to extend our reach into the community and provide customers convenient access to our collections and services, wherever they are, whenever they’d like,” says Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director.