Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Person To Person

by Amy Brown

Question: How did the more than year-long need to sequester affect you?

Fred Yasukochi
Retired

The year of Covid forced cancellation of trips to Africa and Yellowstone. It gave me situational depression, and gained weight! New skills included how to make bacon at home.

How did things change once the shutdown was over? Standing in line for the Covid vaccine was thrilling. Like when I felt after voting for our first Black president: excitement and hope.

What have you changed in your life or perspective since? We are still cautious when out. My life today is much more about appreciation and less about acquisition now.

Kelly McCauley:
Hair Stylist at Shear View Salon

I’ll say it affected me not mentally, because I got used to being alone for a while, our shop was closed, I lost a few clients, some were scared to come back. I had a lot of projects! I was a rock painter for a little while.

How did things change once the shutdown was over? I love it! It feels normal. I actually went to Long Beach last weekend, although it was supposed to be mandated, no one was really wearing masks. I’ve been vaccinated, so I’m not really nervous to be around people. I believe if I am vaccinated, take vitamins and stay healthy, I will be ok.

What have you changed in your life or perspective since? It hasn’t changed my life; it makes me appreciate life differently–we should live for today, as tomorrow’s not promised to any of us.

Tiler de long
Busser at Aloha Steakhouse

It was actually very depressing being stuck at my house, all day, with all my siblings. Plus, my restaurant was shut down for months. I was never really scared of the worst of the pandemic, but it was hard being shut down.

How did things change once the shutdown was over? It made me happy, I got my life back to normal, instead of feeling so restricted. It’s way more busy at work, now that everyone can go out again.

What have you changed in your life or perspective since? This has made me appreciate the little things. And now it’s made me go out more than I ever did before. I realized how hard it was to be unable to go out for so long.

Javier Mendoza
Production Manager, BIRNS, Inc.

I don’t think I ever noticed how much of a social creature I was until being told I couldn’t go anywhere! Only then I realized how much I miss camaraderie with even total strangers. Even at bars, the DMV—during Covid no one could be near one another.

How did things change once the shutdown was over? It feels fantastic. I’m almost purposely trying to interact with more people, it’s something people missed, sparking up conversations at the grocery store—more so than ever, being able to talk to random strangers again. It feels good.

What have you changed in your life or perspective since? Definitely—I find the need to be more outgoing, I’ve always felt like I always was, even more so. We have a very limited time here anyways. We’ve sequestered for 1.5 years, and as scary as that was, during that time, being able to have people go back out again, it feels good to get to know new people and try new things. Less embarrassed trying new things, since being locked up for so long!

DIY Home Energy Savings Toolkit available

You can check out a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Home Energy Savings Toolkit at participating Ventura County libraries. Ventura County Library is partnering with Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA), and 3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network) to launch the DIY Energy Savings Toolkits. The DIY toolkits include instruction guidebooks in both English and Spanish and will help provide the knowledge, tools, and equipment needed to improve your home’s energy and water usage with easy upgrades. These simple DIY home improvements can help increase the energy efficiency of your home, making it more comfortable, affordable, resilient, and better for the planet. 

The DIY toolkits include useful tips and free items like LED lightbulbs, low-flow showerheads, weather stripping, and aerators for you to install at home. Also included are measuring devices like a Kill-a-Watt meter, infrared laser thermometer, and flow rate bag to help to save energy, water, and money. Use the tools and supplies in the kit to complete your DIY projects. When you’re finished, return the kit to your local library and enjoy your new and improved home! 

Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Linda Parks, stated “With this handy DIY toolkit, you can measure your home’s energy and water usage and make a few quick home upgrades to save money and help the planet. Involve the kids and make it a fun learning opportunity.” 

To learn more about the toolkits, visit 3C-REN’s Home Energy Savings webpage at www.3c-ren.org/diy-toolkit/. To find a kit near you, visit Ventura County Library’s website at www.vencolibrary.org/DIY.

A Monument to a Disaster

by Richard Senate

On the night of March 12, 1928, at exactly 11:57pm, the newly constructed St. Francis Dam failed. The six-hundred-foot-long concrete structure was filled to the top with the runoff of a great rain storm. The dam had been leaking hours before it burst. No witnesses survived the dam break that sent twelve billion gallons of water roaring down the Santa Clara River Valley. It smashed into power plant number two then devastated a construction camp at Saugus. Out of the work crew only six bodies were recovered.

The wave of water then hit Santa Paula flooding some ten thousand acres of fruit orchards and farmlands under six feet of water. The terrible wave took an estimated four hundred and fifty lives that night and that is only an estimate. The great flood of 1928 would be listed as the second worst disaster to ever hit California (The first being the earthquake and fire that destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906 taking three thousand lives). After the waters receded only two hundred and seventy-three bodies were recovered. Many badly battered and nude, the surging waters made many bodies unrecognizable.  The majority were believed to have been buried in the mud of the Santa Clara or washed out to sea.  Some of the recovered dead were discovered at the mouth of the Santa Clara River in Ventura. Only a few were identified and buried at ivy Lawn Cemetery. Many were buried in an unmarked mass grave. Today no marker exists to tell the tale of this terrible night of horror.

Only one monument stands today in Santa Paula. It depicts, in statuary form, two motorcycle policemen who risked their lives to race ahead of the raging waters to warn people of the coming disaster, saving hundreds of lives.  The unmarked graves at Ivy Lawn should be marked to tell of this awful event and the lives lost that night so long ago.   Maybe a statue should be made and put up at the mouth of the Santa Clara River, or at the Ventura Harbor. It should be some inspirational form with a descriptive plaque to tell of this event for the edification of future generations. This event shouldn’t be forgotten.

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava supported the Ventura Really Really Free Market

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava reading a story to young West Ventura resident, Cosmo, while Shannon López looks on.

City of Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava participated in the Ventura Really Really Free Market (RRFM) on the 4th of July, 9 am-1 pm at Kellogg Park in West Ventura.  Organized by the Ventura County chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSAVC), the event brought the community together to share their talents and lightly used items with one another.  Rubalcava shared her talents for Spanish translation and children’s storytelling.  Other community members offered free workshops: yoga instruction with Sarah Aspell, a Privilege Walk with Nicollete Walker of Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a Medicare For All talk with RN & activist Gina Currie.

“RRFMs are a chance to reimagine sharing in our community. Be it home goods, backyard veggies, or knowledge of gardening or knitting, we all have something to share and we all have something to gain,” said Event Organizer, Alyson Warner.

Other talents shared included a collaborative art station with John Caravello, professional chair massage from Allen Chinn, a Tea Ceremony with Taylor Buck and Julie Marie, seed plantings with Shannon & Tomás López, and more.

This event was made possible with support from the Ventura chapter of Black Lives Matters, Bike Ventura, Westside Community Development Corporation, Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Ventura Tenants Union, and the Diversity Collective.

For more information on Ventura RRFM, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RRFMventura.

 

VMF’s live July 25th concert presents Guitar Competition Gold Medalist Andrea Roberto

This wunderkind’s fingers have been on a guitar since age 4.

by Richard Newsham, VMF consultant

25-year-old guitar prodigy Andrea Roberto from Foggia (in Southern Italy’s Apulia)—the Gold Medalist at the fifth quadrennial Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2019—returns to California to demonstrate the musicianship that won him this coveted title for the world’s preeminent guitar competition during the 2021 Ventura Music Festival live concert on Sunday, July 25, at 3 pm, at the Pacifica High School’s Performing Arts Center at, 600 E Gonzales Rd, in Oxnard.

This wunderkind’s fingers have been on a guitar since age 4, under his father’s tutelage, followed by admission at 9 and graduation at 14 from the Conservatorio di Musica Umberto Giordano under Sandro Torlontano. Andrea then followed teacher Aniello Desiderio from Naples to the International Academy of Koblenz in Germany. The young guitarist completed his studies at the Conservatory of Maastricht (Netherlands) with the teacher Carlo Marchione.

His artistic career includes performances throughout Europe, Mexico, South America and the United States, including the 14-guitar-festival tour of the European Euro String Project, radio broadcasts and first prizes at eight international competitions. In 2017 he recorded his first CD “El Viaje de la guitarra italiana” (JSG Records).

His ambitious and wide ranging VMF program opens with 19th century Italian guitar virtuoso Mauro Giuliani’s dazzling “Grande Ouverture, Op. 61” followed by five “Suite in D” dances from German Renaissance composer Michael Praetorius’ 300 piece collection “Terpsichore”; and three virtuosic dance tunes by Renaissance composer and lutenist John Dowland: “The Frog Galliard”—inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s last official suitor for marriage, the small pox disfigured but excellent dancer Duc d’Alençon—“Sir John Smith His Almain” and “Allemande” from “Pleasures of their Company” (Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening). Sublime transcriptions of Bach’s “Chaccone”—“one of the greatest pieces of music ever written” (says violinist Joshua Bell) and chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” precede intermission followed by Spanish-inspired classical guitar repertoire masterpieces by Joaquin Rodrigo “Fandango,” Isaac Albéniz “Córdoba” and “Sevilla,” Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco “Escarraman” selections and Francisco Tárrega “Variations on Paganini’s The Carnival of Venice.”

Don’t miss this rare “rapt music” performance by a young guitar genius at the Ventura Music Festival’s Sunday matinee finale!

Tickets and details for this 100% vaccinated event at www.venturamusicfestival.org.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Walk on July 24

Please join Ventura locals Staci Brown and Angelique Suddock as we do our mini fundraising walk for Mothers Against Drunk Driving to take place on July 24th at 11:00 am in front of Aloha’s Steakhouse on the Ventura promenade. We have invited the Ventura Sheriff’s offices and expect to have some guests. We will be walking to the end of the riverbed which is only 2.25 miles. We will have snacks and a silent auction.

Every year over 1000 lives are lost in California due to substance impaired driving on our roadways. Drunk Driving remains the number one cause of death on US roads. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) works to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking (All services are free).

Your walk fees, or donations raise funds to prevent substance impaired driving crashes and educates thousands throughout the state of California. Walk Like MADD is the only large-scale community-based activity that allows those impacted by drunk driving to take steps to stop drunk driving in their communities.

Please register under “Team Brown & Suddock” it is $25. If you can’t walk with us, we would love if you can donate under the same name. Help save thousands of lives by sacrificing the price of a meal (well, an expensive meal). Please let me know if you have any questions or are having difficulty with registration by calling my work line at 714-838-6199 Ext. 6649.

I hope to see you there!! Optional lunch at Winchesters Grill (632 E. Main Street) after the walk. 5% of the proceeds will go directly back to MADD.

Gratefully,
Staci Brown

CAPS Media Productions for Mayor’s State of the City Message

Welcome to Summer. Here’s a roubust CAPS congratulations to all 2021 elementary, middle, high school and college graduates and their families throughout Ventura. CAPS Media was thrilled to be part of the celebrations by covering and livestreaming the ceremonies from Buena High, Ventura High, El Camino High, Foothill High, Pacific High and VACE. The extensive productions held in the Buena, Ventura and Ventura College football statiums required all-hands-on-deck efforts and long hours for all CAPS Crew members. Following the productions, CAPS received a kind note from Marieanne Quiroz, Communications Coordinator for VUSD, “Thanks to your CAPS team for the incredible work work in making our graduations so special! We could not have done it with out them!”

Immediately following the graduations the work continued when the entire CAPS Media crew pitched-in to produce a set of special videos for Mayor Sofia Rubalcava’s recent “State of the City” update. The videos included individual messages by the City’s seven Council Members (Sofia Rubalcava, Doug Halter, Mike Johnson, Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, Jim Friedman, Lorrie Brown and Joe Schroeder). The council member messages were recorded on location in their respective districts with each member sharing perspectives on the past, present and future of the city. A second video featured thirteen City department directors sharing personal messages on the past year’s unprecedented challenges and insights into plans for future for their respecrive departments.

“CAPS is a valued and appreciated partner. Thank you for your talents, and contributions in greatly enhancing the City’s ability to share its stories” convayed in a note from Heather Sumagaysay, Public Information Officer for the City of Ventura.

The complete presentation will be repeated (broadcast and streamed) on CAPS Media Channel 6 throughout the month and the individual videos with the City Council members and City Staff will air and stream interstititally on Channel 6 and 15 as well as included on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/videos/.

Recently the CAPS Media Executive Board met to discuss various issues including the question of when to reopen the CAPS Media Center to CAPS Members and the public. Due to the pandemic the CAPS Media Center has been closed for the past 16 months. The board members discussed numerous considerations including the encouraging vaccination rates in Ventura County, the State and County guidelines for public buildings, the recent emergence of the Delta variant, and potential surges and decided to continue with the cautious position of keeping the CAPS Media Center closed to the public for the next few months.

Despite the CAPS Media Center being closed to Members and the public, the CAPS Media staff continues to work throughout the pandemic shutdown. CAPS crews are in the community and in the CAPS studio every week recording and producing multiple informational and educational and supervise the broadcast of numerous meetings at City Hall including City Council meetings. The CAPS Crews have covered th County COVID updates as well as videos for County Fire, Health, Public Information and other departments.

At the same time CAPS Media Center staff continue to broadcast and stream television programming on Channel 6, Channel 15 and online. Plus, CAPS radio – KPPQ 104.1FM,continues broadcasting and streaming a vast variety of engaging original and acquired radio programs. Go to capsmedia.org for more information.

All of us at CAPS Media encourage everyone to get vaccinated. The sooner we are all vaccinated the sooner we can open the CAPS Media Center to our Members and the public. Our thanks to everyone for continuing to Stay Safe and Stay Strong during these challenging times.

Ventura College Foundation distributes over $640,000 in scholarships 

Scholarship recipient Jimena Pérez Arroyo came to the U.S. from Mexico.

The Ventura College Foundation awarded 400 scholarships to 228 students totaling $642,758 for the 2020/21 academic year. 

Students were notified this month of their scholarship awards. Scholarship amounts range from an average of nearly $2,400 for continuing students to an average of nearly $4,000 for students who are transferring to four-year universities in the fall. Over half of the winners received multiple scholarships. 

“Despite the challenges during the school year because of the pandemic and virtual learning, many Ventura College students were able to excel in their academic studies,” says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. 

Scholarships were awarded in all academic fields which included STEM, art, health and liberal arts. Recipients came from nearly every city in Ventura County including Ventura (75), Oxnard (65), Santa Paula (27), Camarillo (13), Fillmore (8) and Port Hueneme (6). 

A recipient of two scholarship awards this year, Bryan Rodriguez and his older sisters are the first in his family to attend college. His parents immigrated to America to provide a better life for their family.  

Scholarship recipient Jimena Pérez Arroyo, 18, came to the U.S. from Mexico at nine with her mom seeking a better future. “I was taught the value of education and hard work,” says Pérez Arroyo who attends Ventura College full time and works part time.

Pérez Arroyo knew she wanted to be a pilot since she was 12. She excelled in math and science throughout her schooling and is now studying engineering at Ventura College. 

Even though in-person award celebrations aren’t allowed due to COVID restrictions, the Ventura College Foundation is still virtually celebrated the 2021 scholarship awardees, the donors who made the awards possible, and the sponsors of the Scholarship Awarding Week of Celebration. Videos and the 2021 scholarship awards program can be viewed at https://venturacollegefoundation.org/awardevents2021/. 

The Ventura College Foundation is grateful for the continuing support of scholarship event sponsors. They include Edison International, Miracle Mile Advisors, Citizens Business Bank, Searle Creative and Bank of the Sierra. 

For more about scholarships and other support services provided by the Ventura College Foundation, go to www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org. 

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset.

Supporting those working with Kids & Families Together

At least 12 children learned how to ride a bike for the first time.

Do you remember learning how to ride a bike for the first time? The struggles, the frustrations suddenly turning into exhilaration, pride and joy as one achieves this childhood milestone! On Saturday, June 19th, at least 12 of the Ventura County foster, adopted and kinship children attending this Kids & Families Together and Heart 2 Heart event had never ridden a bike before. Within a few hours, they left the event with a bike, new helmet and the confidence that comes from learning a new skill!

K&FT is grateful to the event partners who made this day so memorable and successful for so many Ventura County children! “With their help, 80 children learned bike safety, enhanced their riding skills and at least 12 children learned how to ride a bike for the first time! Just in time for some Summer fun!” stated Jeni Futvoye, K&FT Community Resource Manager

The creation of this event was inspired by grandparents who were receiving support in some of K&FT’s programs. They were a kinship family and had their 7-year old granddaughter in their care. Their granddaughter really wanted to learn how to ride a bike, but neither of the grandparents felt that they were physically capable of safely helping her. The grandmother reached out to K&FT looking for help. That one phone call, sparked the idea for this event which first took place in May of 2019.

2021 Bike Rodeo partners and event sponsors donated helmets, bikes, coloring books, bike safety gear, and more! Thank you to Crosspointe Church Ventura for the wonderful location and storage. Thank you to Pastor Matt, Mark and Lewis! Thanks to Joey and Alex from Bike Ventura for their bike instruction, safety expertise, additional event volunteers, bike service, and the donation of 15 bikes. Thank you to CHP Ventura, Moorpark and San Luis Obispo, for their bike safety expertise, organization of the bike course, donation of helmets, coloring books, bike safety gear, and bringing additional volunteers to the event. Thank you, Officer Steve Lutzke and colleagues! Thanks also goes out to … The Gene Haas Foundation, Project Bicycle Love, Royal Family Camp, Camarillo Amber’s Light Lions Club, The Local Love Project, Open Air Bicycles in Ventura, Raising Hope, Left Coast Parrot Heads and individual donations that came from members of the local community.

These events are always a huge success due to many dedicated and amazing volunteers! 2021 Bike Rodeo volunteers included members of: Bike Ventura, CHP, Camarillo Amber’s Light Lions Club, Left Coast Parrot Heads and many local community members.

Kids & Families Together (K&FT) is a nonprofit that has been serving foster/resource, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County since 2000. K&FT works with children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT also works with caregivers who need specialized education, support, and strategies to help raise safe, healthy, nurtured children who thrive.

For more information about K&FT please visit us at: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/

To learn about all K&FT events supporting Ventura County Foster/Resource, Kinship, Adoptive, and Bio-families please visit: https://www.kidsandfamilies.org/giftaway-events/

 

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