Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

California Connections Academy accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year

Equipped with expertise in full-time online learning, TK-12 families across California now welcome to apply for enrollment in trusted online public school.

California Connections Academy, a network of tuition-free, online public schools serving students in grades TK-12 across 32 counties, is now accepting applications for new students for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. First established in 2004, the schools were specifically designed for a full-time virtual environment and currently serve more than 6,800 students statewide across six regionally established schools – California Connections Academy Central Valley, California Connections Academy Central Coast, California Connections Academy Monterey Bay, California Connections Academy North Bay, California Connections Academy Ripon and California Connections Academy Southern California.

As an accredited, online public school with 17 years of expertise, California Connections Academy provides students with the continuous support of highly-skilled, state-credentialed teachers and curriculum that focuses on both academics and social-emotional learning. The school’s teachers are specially trained to bring their skills and personality to the virtual classroom and emphasize the importance of fostering meaningful connections with students and their families. A student’s daily learning activities are flexible to meet their needs and families can decide in which order to complete the assigned work.

California Connections Academy students represent a diversity of backgrounds and education histories, ranging from those who are academically ahead or struggling in a traditional school setting to those who experience health challenges or bullying. At California Connections Academy, students have access to advanced courses, extracurricular activities and flexible scheduling that helps them to take ownership of their own educational journey. Students who choose to enroll in the school join a collaborative community of their fellow students and educators that provides a welcoming, distraction-free learning environment.

According to the results of the school’s 2020 Parent Satisfaction survey, 95 percent of parents agree their children are satisfied with the program. Furthermore, 96 percent of parents agree that the school’s technology tools improve their child’s learning experience, and 95 percent agree that the curriculum is high quality.

In addition to the best-in-class curriculum at California Connections Academy, the network of virtual schools offers diverse and modern courses including foreign languages, STEM electives and game design.

Families who are interested in the school can learn more and begin the process for enrolling in the 2021-22 school year by visiting www.CaliforniaConnectionsAcademy.com or calling 800-221-2720.

California Connections Academy is a network of six tuition-free, online public schools, serving students in grades TK-12 throughout 32 counties. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for For more information, call 1-800-221-2720 or visit the school’s website.

Editor: The Breeze is not endorsing the California Connections Academy but printing this for you to determine if you might have interest in this program.

From an earlier issue of the Ventura Breeze regarding the book Fighting Chance by Alicia Doyle.

“Boxing is more than just an escape from the chaos of the streets or the baggage of what’s behind to those who find their way into the gym, and ultimately, the ring. Boxing can be the road – and has been for many over the generations in hard scrabble America – to the way in life. “

“That’s the story shared by Ventura resident Alicia Doyle in her nonfiction memoir Fighting Chance, chronicling the young journalist’s unlikely emancipation from her life’s hardships through immersion into the “sweet science” of boxing.”

We are happy to report that Alicia Doyle has won the Best of Los Angeles Award – “Best Autobiographical Book – 2021”, according to Aurora DeRose, award coordinator for the Best of Los Angeles Award community.

The “Best of Los Angeles Award” community was formed five years ago and consists of over 7,400 professional members living and working in Southern California. It celebrates the best people, places, and things in Los Angeles with the slogan “No Ads. No B.S. Only the Best.”

“The mission of the community is to celebrate the best of Los Angeles, and allow its community members to connect with other members who share the highest standards of quality and integrity,” expresses DeRose. “We’re honored to include Alicia Doyle into our BoLAA family.”

In the 1990s, Alicia Doyle went on an assignment at a boxing gym for at-risk youth known as Kid Gloves. It was during that assignment that she discovered boxing at age twenty-eight. She simultaneously worked as a newspaper reporter while training and competing as a boxer for two whole years. She became one of a few hundred women who infiltrated a male-dominated sport in America.

Alicia Doyle ended up winning two Golden Gloves championship titles. In 2000, she had her pro debut, which was named The California Female Fight of the Year. Her book, “Fighting Chance”, offers insight into her journey, and a peek into one of the toughest sports out there.

Community support urgently needed for additional shelter homes and resource families in Ventura County   

Homes with Heart VC encourages experienced families to come forward as resource families and emergency shelter homes for children and youth in care.

While Ventura County is helping families stay together whenever possible, a child or children may still need to be temporarily placed in out of home care at any time, day or night, to ensure their overall safety. Homes with Heart VC, a program of Ventura County Children and Family Services, is encouraging families to step up as resource families or to provide a safe Emergency Shelter Home (ESH) for children and youth who are temporarily placed in out of home care and may experience trauma and need an immediate place to go. Currently, there is a limited number of Emergency Shelter families who help make that transition as smooth as possible for the children. The county is in immediate need of these special resource families and Shelter Homes.

Homes with Heart VC, provides children, youth, and families with a foundation of respect and support, including resource family services from special people who can support children and youth with trauma and provide Shelter Homes.

“All you have to do honestly, is have your baskets full of fruit and vegetables, the fridge with ham, bread…just have more food,” said Natalie Torres, ESH parent. She added that “if there is anyone out there that has extra time, I would just love to see those parents that have already raised children and were great at it be parents for these kids that really need them, I think that would just be amazing.”

The initiative is in need of highly qualified families to serve as resource Shelter Homes for children and youth who need immediate, short term care ranging anywhere from 1-60 days. The unique demands require a special set of skills and circumstances that include patience and consistency.

Important qualifications for becoming an Emergency Shelter Home

Complete the Resource Family training program learning about children and youth in trauma.
Be empathetic and supportive to both birth parents and the extended family of a child.
Have flexible schedules and have time available to be with a child.
Be available 24/7 for placement referrals.
Be organized, calm and understanding.
Have experience parenting children.
Have a stable, nurturing home.
Own reliable transportation.
Have good verbal and written communication skills, bilingual is so helpful.
Be a member of the professional team of support available to you.
Must reside within Ventura County.

“Emergency Shelter Homes provide a safe environment for our children at such a critical time in their lives and this is a very meaningful way to step up and help our community, help our families, and help our children and youth,” said Jaci Johnson, Program Coordinator III in Recruitment at Ventura County Children and Family Services.

Learn more at shelterhomes.homeswithheartvc.org

Recognized as a best practice leader statewide in the family recruitment and support component of child welfare, Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Homes with Heart VC, previously known as Foster VC Kids, was developed to increase the amount of loving resource families who are ready to take in children in need in Ventura County. This initiative provides resource families with ongoing support services, trauma-informed training, and mentorship to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being of Ventura County’s youth and families.  Learn how Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Homes with Heart VC is making a difference throughout Ventura County, www.homeswithheartvc.org

You might find this of interest

Submitted by Richard Senate

1860–all nine  eligible voters cast their votes for Abraham Lincoln at the Valdez Adobe. (One had to own land to vote–that would have included Raymundo Olivas). San Buenaventura liked Old Abe. No votes for Bell or Douglas.
In The 1860 township of San Buenaventura were the following:

Total Population                      377
Men        208
Women  169

California Born  309
Yankee Americans  3  (New York born)
Europeans             13     Spain, Italy, France & Prussia
Mexicans                17
South Americans      2  (Chile)
Indians 12  (Number could be off, perhaps greater)

Professions
Merchants    7
Stock raisers 13
Laborers        13   (Cowboys?)
Farmers           6
Saloon Keepers  2
Servants ?          9
Painters  1
Midwives 1
Cigar Maker  1
Hotel Keeper  1
Justice (Lawyer?)  1

Unlisted  is a Priest, (the Mission had one assigned). and a stable keeper (Peter Constancia) and a blacksmith (Figueroa).    Most likely two saloons, one hotel, seven stores selling a number of things, one tobacconist  with One Lawyer.

People had to vote.

St. John’s Regional Medical Center earns clean facility certificate

St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC), a member of Dignity Health, is proud to announce it has earned the Clean Facility Certificate from the Association for the Health Care Environment (AHE), the recognized authority in health care environmental services, and professional membership group of the American Hospital Association. AHE released the Pathways to Clean Certificate Program as a resource for members and the environmental services community at large in response to COVID-19.

“We are proud of our Environmental Services team’s commitment to maintaining a clean and safe environment for our staff and patients,” said Darren W. Lee, President and CEO of St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital. “This certification acknowledges our exceptional practices to maintain a sanitary environment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

To receive the Clean Facility Certificate, SJRMC completed the Pathways to Clean Program, including training and education related to COVID-19, infection prevention strategies, cleaning, disinfection, sanitation, emerging pathogens, and preparedness for biological events. SJRMC affirmed its commitment to hospital-grade cleanliness and assuring patients, staff, and guests that their facility is clean and safe.

The Environmental Services team at St. John’s Regional Medical Center works tirelessly to ensure a safe, comfortable, and clean hospital environment. Their efforts have been integral to the safety of staff and patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

St. John’s Regional Medical Center is a 265-bed acute care, award-winning facility. Serving Ventura County for more than one hundred years, St. John’s is the first and only Certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center in Ventura County and a recipient of the American Heart Association’s, Get with the Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. Designated as a STEMI Receiving Center, St. John’s is highly recognized in the community for excellence in cardiac care. Our Cancer Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, and our Integrated Breast Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. SJRMC houses a comprehensive Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, providing specialized care to the tiniest patients as well as a Beacon Award-Winning Intensive Care Unit. St. John’s is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. Learn more at dignityhealth.org/stjohnsregional.

Returning to the Classroom

9th grader Sierra Golden has enjoyed her time at home, but is ready for in person learning. Katie Gordon is a senior and plays softball for Foothill, posing here at a recent game in Thousand Oaks.

by Amy Brown
Part 1 of 2

When local schools closed down in March of 2020, it happened fast, and it was expected by most to last for a few weeks. Then VUSD announced that Fall 2020 would be 100% distance learning, with the hope to bring back students to the classroom in January 2021. Due in part to recent changes in social distancing guidelines from the CDC and health departments, the Board of Education met on March 28th, 2021 and voted in favor of a model that will allow students currently assigned to a hybrid learning model to return more fully to an in-person experience starting April 12. Students in grades 6-12 beginning on April 26th will return to a full time in-person five days a week schedule through the end of the school year, according to the district. Elementary schools, which have already been open to hybrid learning, will return to a full-time in-person model five days a week on April 12.

How do the students, with a year of not being in the classroom, feel about the news? Sierra Golden had been excited about being in high school much of her young life. “All my friends and I would talk about from kindergarten to 8th grade was looking forward to being in high school,” said the current freshman at Ventura High. Instead, her high school experience started in her bedroom, via computer. “Of course, all of us were excited because we thought we would get to go back quickly, but when reality hit, I was super bummed,” said Golden. “But I’m a homebody; I love being home. But then mental health started becoming a thing,” she said. Golden reports that she realized that some friends started changing–they were getting sad, and not wanting to get out of bed, and that’s when she realized how important it really was to socialize. She says she’s excited about in-person learning. “I haven’t had a chance to be a high schooler, and I’m excited about seeing friends, and I already love all of my teachers.”

Some students had issues keeping their grades up during the past year and can’t wait to get back in the classroom on a normal schedule. Avery Almora is an 8th grader at Balboa Middle School, and said that she struggles with ADD, and that the most difficult part of distance learning is staying focused. “My grades were always good until quarantine happened, and I’m really happy to get back in class and get back on track,” said Almora. “It’s going to be a little difficult, obviously it’s a big change; it’s been a long time since we’ve been in school.  A lot of people didn’t really learn anything, if they weren’t paying attention.” She has been doing a small group twice weekly study hall on campus at Balboa in the meantime that she said has really helped, too.

12th graders lost most of their junior year and all of their senior year so far. No Homecoming, no prom, no face to face with teachers. “I feel really bad for the teachers because it’s so much work on their part,” said Katie Gordon, a senior at Foothill “They’ve had it so rough! No one turns on their cameras, the teachers now have to do both online teaching and in person, but at least they won’t just be talking to blank screens.” Gordon plays center field for Foothill’s softball team, with a truncated season more restricted than other high schools, since they use Ventura College’s fields. That means very few spectators allowed. “It sucks that our parents can’t come to home games,” said Gordon, who plans to major in Political Science and possibly become a lawyer after college.  She says she looks forward to returning to in person learning for what’s left of her senior year. “I feel like if I miss this opportunity, I’d regret it.”

Visit Ventura welcomes new team member Briana Diamond

Briana is a happy person who has melded work with joy.

Visit Ventura welcomes their new, talented, light-up-the-room Digital Marketing Assistant, Briana Diamond to the Visit Ventura team. Yes, Diamond has a resume — but she isn’t confined by one. She graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography and Film with a bachelor’s in Visual Journalism in 2014. Which, not coincidentally, is the perfect pairing for a life of trail running, surfing, rock climbing, swimming, horseback riding, and, yes, photography.

“We are so thrilled to have a local photographer join the team,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura President & CEO. “We had worked with Briana on other projects, so we already knew that her outside-the-box creativity and passion for Ventura was a natural fit for the Visit Ventura team.”

As for Diamond, she is the happy person who has melded work with joy.

“My goal with photo and video is to capture the true beauty and connection nature brings us daily and to get outside,” she said. “I picked up my first camera when I was 7 years old and immediately knew this is what I want to do forever.”

Visit Ventura is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues, and local employment opportunities by promoting Ventura as a travel destination. During the pandemic they have turned their efforts toward doing the next right thing; including helping local businesses stay in business through various creative programs that emphasize supporting local.

El Camino High School students interview Mayor Sofia Rubalcava

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava shared with the team that she is a native Venturan.

ECTV Students in the award-winning El Camino High School media program recently interviewed Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava in the CAPS Media studio. The discussion covered a variety of topics with particular emphasis on racism. Ms. Rubalcava shared with the team that she is a native Venturan who attended Sheridan Way Elementary, De Anza Middle School and Ventura High School, and continued her education at UC Santa Barbara. Raised on the west side of Ventura, Ms. Rubalcava the first Latinx mayor of the city.

Her candid discussion with the teenagers about growing up in the area and discussing racism, part of an ongoing series, was highly informative and enlightening. “Mayor Rubalcava was friendly, open to our questions and made sure everyone was included in the discussion on racism,” said Ruby Intner, a senior in the ECTV program. “I learned a lot about her growing up in Ventura and her experiences on the Westside.” The mayor after spending time in deep discussion said “I’m so impressed with these students’ thoughtful courageous discussions about issues like racism. These are issues we didn’t discuss in high school. Seeing them with such knowledge and passion gives hope for the future.”

ECTV is part of the Ventura Unified School District’s Digital Broadcast Media program. The ECTV crew takes over the CAPS Media Center every week to write, produce, direct and edit video and audio programs covering topics of interest to themselves, other students and the community.

Mentor/Instructor/Media guru Phil Taggart is the wizard behind the socially-distanced curtain, directing the program. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the ECTV students have continued to produce programming utilizing all COVID protocols.

This is the fourth year of the VUSD/CAPS Media ECTV collaboration. Graduates of the program have gone on to study all aspects of media production in colleges throughout the state.

The wide-ranging and engaging interview with Mayor Rubalcava will air on CAPS Media, Channel 15 and on the CAPS Media website, capsmedia.org, as well as on the ECTV social media sites.

ECTV and CAPS Media producers gathered another set of well-deserved awards at the 2021 WAVE Awards. W.A.V.E. stands for Western Access Video Excellence. The awards contest is open to media cent

er members of California, Nevada, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico and Arizona.

This year’s WAVE Award winners from CAPS Media are ECTV (El Camino TV) for “ECTV – Mental Health” in the Community Issues Youth category, “ECTV at the Agricultural Museum” in the Culture and Lifestyle Youth category. ECTV for “ECTV – Confronting Cancer” in the Magazine Youth category, and CAPS MediaaCenter for “Ready for Wildfires 2020” in the Instructional/Training Videos Professional category. This year’s awards increase the CAPS Media members and staff collection of WAVE Awards to more than 50 over the past decade. Congratulations to all the honorees and winners for the outstanding productions.

Due to the COVID-19 emergency the CAPS Media Center is closed to Members and the public until further notice. We do not expect to reopen the facility to the public until after herd immunity is achieved. We encourage everyone to get the vaccine as soon as it is available to you.

During the shutdown, 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 hope everyone stays Safe, Strong, Socially Distant and Healthy during these very challenging times.

The Life & Times of Doug Halter

This is a book about Doug Halter’s fight to live with HIV, his family and his love for Ventura.

by Staci Brown

“You’d be expected to survive around 6 months, maybe a little longer if luck is on your side.” This was what Doug heard in 1987. Miraculously, with the help of Dr. Scott Hitt, he went on AIDs cocktails and continues to live today. Sadly, his boyfriend Randy Morrison wasn’t so lucky.

This is a book about Doug Halter’s fight to live with HIV, his family, his loves and his impressive careers leading up to purchasing and renovating homes and becoming a well-known landscaper. He got his first landscaping job at age 15 and eventually was able to do what he was passionate about. “I got an adrenaline rush as we neared completion and the original vision had come together”, he said after one of his first big jobs.

Although Doug had a rocky relationship with his father, Doug has demonstrated great warmth, kindness and honesty with the many, many friendships he has developed in life. He had a great mentor in Grandpa Salvatore who taught him all there was to know about plants, flowers, trees, seeds and gardening. He looked up to his grandfather and has very good memories of being with lots of family members at the Santa Cruz house where grandma and grandpa lived up until the earthquake. Doug ended up buying that house and rebuilding a new one where they have great family reunions. Doug met Randy Encinas coincidentally at the same place he met his previous Randy, and after a slow start, they became partners, eventually being able to marry in a grand ceremonial style at the Botanical Gardens in 2013 which is appropriate considering Doug was instrumental in the vision and opening of the gardens.

Doug stated “I wrote this book to share my life journey and all the unexpected challenges and triumphs; not unlike most others but the success I achieved through it all by having the courage to be the person God created me to be and knowing that every day is a gift to be used to make a difference and to develop and use our own unique potential to make the greatest contributions to our community and society.”

Read more in Doug’s book along with his plans for the city. I agree with every one of his plans and I am grateful that Doug has finally taken a well-deserved seat at the Ventura City Council. Congratulations!!

I hope these dreams come true. Doug has done so much for this city. Besides the Botanical Gardens vision, he bought the church that became the Rubicon Theater and brought exceptional theater to this town, and oh, so much more which you will find out about when you read his book.

And Doug has the greatest collection of photos in his book. You can see young Doug and how handsome he has remained, as well as both Randys’ as well as his brother, sister, grandparents, parents, family, houses, friends, landscaping and Ventura! It is a delight to look at this treasure, young and old.

I am very excited to see what the future holds and I am glad I got to know Doug better in this wonderful book.

You can purchase the book directly from Doug at [email protected].