Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Ventura Botanical Gardens announces re-opening with new hours

With the re-opening, new COVID protocols are in play.

The Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG) recently announced the COVID reopening date of Saturday, June 6. The Gardens have been closed due to both the pandemic and subsequent new construction including sponsorship sites and entrance development.

With the re-opening, new COVID protocols are in play. The Merewether Welcome Center entrance is now set up for non-contact social distancing. The exit has been moved to the back of the education structure—signs will point the way. There will be a limited entry of 50 visitors in the entirety of the Gardens. These protocols are based on National Public Gardens guidelines and are subject to change.

The Gardens are open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays and temporarily on Tuesdays). Entrance is free on Fridays (formerly on Tuesdays)—the change was made in part to facilitate opportunities for long weekends. Admission is $7 per person. Visitors can same day pay online at vbgpay.com, or pay at the door. Non-contact credit card payment is preferred over cash, but not required. Members are free. Children under 18 are free. EBT cardholders are free. The upper gardens north of Summit Drive are free and open to pedestrians when Grant Park is open. The upper gardens are accessible by walking from Summit Drive, Brakey Road, or Ferro Drive. Leashed dogs are welcome on Fridays and Wednesdays. The Gardens will also be open and free to the public on International Climate Change Day, June 21.

Aside from these public health and safety guidelines, visitors will be treated to a new entrance walkway. Local architects, Noah Greer and Martha Picciotti, designed the entrance. Halter-Encinas Landscaping did the construction.

“It was a real challenge starting with a long, steep asphalt driveway. We used redwood pickets set on stepped walls to add texture and frame the entry,” said Noah, lead designer. “Those pickets will soon enclose the new nursery, so visitors will be able to look into the heart of the gardens as they walk by.”

Additionally, both the Fynbos Garden and the Karoo Gardens, located near Summit Plateau, are showing substantial changes. In the Fynbos Garden, the protea are enjoying a full bloom of reds, yellows and oranges and in the Karoo Garden, the young aloe trees are beginning to mature.

For more information or to learn more about the Gardens, please visit our website, Facebook or Instagram pages.

The nonprofit organization has a 40-year Master Plan dedicated to creating a botanical garden celebrating the Mediterranean climate regions. The setting is a world-class site with spectacular views of the California coastline, verdant agricultural vistas, the Channel Islands and Ojai’s Topa Topa peak. VBG will continue to create new outdoor opportunities for training, research, and educational programs ranging from horticulture and botany to sustainability.

We stand and kneel together

Ethan Messecar and Phil Taggart getting ready to roll camera at the VUSD graduation.

Citizens all across the nation are letting their voices be heard in peaceful protest, condemning the reprehensible actions of police officers in Minneapolis that resulted in the horrific death of George Floyd.  All of us at CAPS Media were sickened and saddened by what we saw.   We do not condone racism, discrimination, inequality, or violence towards anyone.  We stand in solidarity with our community and support everyone in exercising their first amendment right to assemble and to petition government to redress grievances.

CAPS Media is a Community Public Access Center that offers everyone in our community a  place to share your voice and be heard on television, radio and online.  CAPS Board and staff members are committed to encouraging and ensuring every one’s opinion can be expressed freely and openly to the public. We respect and thank those who have stood up for justice and knelt in solidarity during peaceful demonstrations.  We stand and kneel together.

Congratulations 2020 Grads! Recently CAPS Media crews joined the celebration of 2020 high school graduates from Buena, El Camino, Foothill Technology, Pacific and Ventura high schools. The two-day extravaganza was held in front of City Hall where more than 1,000 grads, dressed in cap and gowns, walked up the steps to receive their diploma while family members cheered from the street below. The massive event was coordinated by Ventura Unified School District in collaboration with the City and Ventura City Police. CAPS crews were on-hand from sunup to sundown on Saturday and Sunday to document the parade of graduates. The nearly twenty hours of video will be archived by VUSD.

More congratulations are in order for the talented media students at ECTV – El Camino Television, who won two awards at the National Community Media Hometown Awards. The Creative Community 2.0 Series won for the Best of Entertainment & Arts Series and the ECTV episode featuring Ventura Deputy Mayor, Sofia Rubalcava won for the best show in the Community Events category. Kudos to the entire ECTV team as well as instructor and mentor, Phil Taggart

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis the CAPS Media crews have continuously provided extensive communication services to the City and County to help inform the public. CAPS produces updates by City officials and CAPS continues to direct the broadcast and streaming of City Council meetings and other committee meetings with remote participation by board members, committee members and city staff. CAPS Crews record the live County COVID-19 updates at the County government center and then edit/format the updates with titles and subtitles in Spanish. In addition, CAPS crews continue to produce numerous videos for Ventura County Fire, Public Health and other agencies

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis the CAPS Media Center continues to remain closed to Members 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. Upcoming Orientation, Camera, Editing, Studio and Radio classes will be posted on the website.

2020 CMH Auxiliary Junior Volunteer Scholarship Awards

Trudy Cook-President, Mary Hajjar, Natalie Ortiz, Marilyn Beal the Junior Chair, Tom Bartel and Tyler Castro in front of CMH (Esmeralda Saucedo not shown).

On June 11, five Junior Volunteers received scholarship in the park in front of CMH. Each of the following Junior Volunteers received a scholarship in the amount of $1,500.

Tom Bartel:

Tom volunteered at the front desk as a receptionist and a flyer for four years, with a total of 294.50 hours of service. While maintaining a 3.77 unweighted GPA at Foothill Technology High School, Tom was active in the school’s Bioscience Academy. He received the Platinum Award for Community Service at FTHS and will graduate Summa Cum Laude. In addition to his outstanding years of service, the attributes that make Tom a worthy recipient of the Maria Cavallo Scholarship are his strong work ethic, effective collaboration, and high personal integrity. Tom will be attending UC Santa Barbara in the fall where he will major in biology in pursuit of a career as a physician’s assistant.

Tyler Castro:

Tyler’s time of service, like all our Junior Volunteers, was cut short by Covid-19, but he was able accumulate 179 hours as he worked at the front desk as a receptionist and flyer. Tyler effectively balanced volunteering with academics and sports. He maintained a 3.91 unweighted GPA while playing varsity baseball at St. Bonaventure High School. His awards include four years of First Academic Honors, Bilingual Seal bearer, and Defensive Player of the Year for baseball. Tyler has the unique ability to be both competitive and compassionate, attributes that will serve him well as he pursues a career as an orthopedic surgeon. Tyler will be attending UC San Diego in the fall.

Mary Hajjar:

Mary was a volunteer in the critical care unit at CMH for nearly two years with 221 hours of service. Her strong work ethic is clear as Mary maintained a 3.83 unweighted GPA at Buena High School while volunteering and working. Mary’s volunteer activities extended beyond CMH to include the ALS Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS, Ventura County Story Fest and St. George’s youth organization. Fluent in three languages, Mary is an effective communicator, capable of overcoming challenges, and wears her heart on her sleeve. Ventura College is Mary’s destination for the fall where she will major in biology in preparation for her career as a hematologist.

Esmeralda Saucedo:

Esmeralda began her time as a Junior Volunteer at CMH when she was just a freshman at Foothill Technology High School. She began as a volunteer at the front desk, then, to broaden her experience, she transferred to the emergency department. With both services combined, Esmeralda has served 366 hours. Academics were a priority for Esmeralda which is evident by her 3.79 unweighted GPA, four years in Renaissance, and being awarded AVID Student of the Quarter her senior year. This highly capable, determined, goal-oriented young lady will be the first in her family to attend a university. She has been accepted at Cal Lutheran University where she will be a biology/pre-med major to prepare for her goal of being a general surgeon.

Audrey Woodburn Scholarship Recipient: Awarded $2,000.

Natalie Ortiz:

Natalie volunteered at CMH for three years and has 275 hours of service. She began volunteering in the Maternity A program and after two years, she switched to the emergency department. Natalie excelled academically at Foothill Technology High School earning a 3.75 unweighted GPA. Natalie’s activities included athletics, soccer, cross country, and track and field, along with being on ASB and Senior Council at FTHS. She received the Platinum Volunteer Award, is a Bilingual State Seal bearer, and received the CFS’s Exceptional Achievement award. This vibrant, empathetic, tenacious young lady will begin her journey to becoming a registered nurse at Ventura College in the fall.

Angel Escandon, unsung hero of our community.

Without Angel Escandon there wouldn’t be a Ventura.

by Richard Senate

He was born in Spain in 1833 and settled in Peru where he earned a degree in Law.  He came to what is today Ventura in 1854 where he married Francesca Sanchez receiving as part of her dowry a large building on Main Street and Valdez Alley. This large adobe he used as a saloon and billiard hall.

This was the time when Ventura was a wild cow town and served the needs of the many thirsty cowboys from the local ranches.   A supporter of President Lincoln, he had a small Mission Era Cannon that he fired off when he heard reports of a Union Victory in the Civil War. In 1863 he was elected to the California State Assembly  and was part of the group that formed Ventura as a city in 1866.

More and more the people of this area, then part of Santa Barbara County, grew to dislike their treatment from Santa Barbara. Many felt that, what is today Ventura County was being ignored and longed to form their own county. In 1870 Assemblyman Escandon put forth bill AB 442 for an independent county to be called Richland County. The Bill failed.  He rewrote the bill and resubmitted it. It passed and what was now called Ventura County, came into existence on January 1st, 1873.

Escandon was part of the commission that set up the county government and elections for these offices.  He later was elected Mayor of the City in 1875 and after his term, he served for many years on the City Council.

Rumors suggest that, as a saloon owner, he was a bit too fond of his own wares. Alcoholism was a serious problem in 19th Century America.  On Thanksgiving Day 1884 he was playing cards at the Tico Adobe on the corner of Main and the Avenue (where Burger King now stands). He complained of not feeling well and asked to lay down in the back room.  Hours later he was found dead. He was 51 years of age.  For all that he did to form Ventura County and city, for his years of service, a statue should be put up to honor his memory. A case could be made that without Angel Escandon there wouldn’t be a Ventura as we know it today.

Island Packer Cruises opens for public transportation

Island Packers, authorized transportation concessioner to Channel Islands National Park, is pleased to announce resumption of limited public transportation to the Channel Islands effective June 1, 2020 of all landing and non- landing trips.

On June 1st, Island Packers plans resumed limited service to Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Anacapa Islands for both day visitors and campers from Ventura and Oxnard harbors. In addition to three-hour island wildlife trips and six-hour whale watching trips. Although this date is considered credible, and reservations are being accepted, current conditions necessitate that all transportation plans must be subject to change.

In response to legitimate health concerns, Island Packers has revised several procedural protocols designed to keep visitors to the Channel Islands safe and comfortable. These revisions to our office and vessel operations, include:

  • Passenger loads will be limited to under 40% capacity to better facilitate social distancing
  • All Island Packer employees will be health screened before every shift
  • Passengers will be given a health inquiry before being allowed access to office or boats and require to wear face covering on board vessels
  • Office and boat crew will wear appropriate PPE when in contact with the public
  • Check-in lines will promote social distancing and appropriate hygiene
  • Vessels will be sanitized during stops and between runs
  • Updated cargo transport protocols limiting exposure of passenger gear

Island Packers will continue to monitor the directives from health officials and to al- ways prioritize the safety and well-being of our customers and crew. Staff look for- ward to having the public on board and back in operation.

More information is available at our website, www.islandpackers.com or by calling Island Packers at 805-642-1393. The office will be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily for information and reservations.

Five local high school students earn scholarships for their artistic “Perspectives on Peace”

The Rotary Club of Ventura, which last year celebrated 100 years of service to the Ventura community, has announced the winners of the second year of its Perspectives on Peace Scholarship program. Five high school seniors are being awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships, based on their outstanding original art submissions around the theme of “Perspectives on Peace.”

“There are several other very good scholarship programs for Ventura’s high school seniors based on academic achievement or financial needs”, said Connie Young, current Rotary Club of Ventura president. “So, when we started this scholarship program last year, we sought to recognize and support the strong creativity and artistic talents of Ventura’s youth while encouraging self-reflection on a very important topic. These bright minds represent our collective future and what they accomplished represents incredible inspiration and hope.”

“The scholarship program’s theme of ‘Perspectives on Peace’ was chosen both because we were quite curious to learn what high schoolers today feel about the concept of peace, and because Rotary International has recently made promoting peace one of the focal purposes of the organization worldwide”, reports Staci Johnson, Rotary Club of Ventura member and co-chair of the scholarship effort. “Rotary, of course, has always been about peacebuilding but only recently started to really codify what that means both in our local communities and around the world. So, whether we’re serving local disadvantaged kids by providing a warm jacket or a backpack and school supplies – or we’re helping to support a skill-training center for vulnerable young girls in rural Zambia – we are in fact promoting peace.”

The Perspectives on Peace Scholarship received 35 entries of original artwork from high school seniors representing Buena, Foothill Tech, Ventura, and El Camino high schools. The submissions included paintings, drawings, mixed media, needlework, woodwork, photography, video and song. Ten judges reviewed each applicant’s artistic rendering of their personal perspective on peace along with their recommendation from teachers, guidance counselors, or mentors. “The creativity of these young adults is truly inspiring,” said Johnson, “and the judging process was a difficult one.”

The winners of the Rotary Club of Ventura 2020 Perspectives on Peace Scholarship are:

1st prize $5,000 scholarship: Meghan Carter (Foothill Tech High School)

2nd prize $2,500 scholarship: Sedrik Dedman (Buena High School)

3rd prize $1,500 scholarship: Audrey Abbe (Foothill Tech High School)

Honorable mention $500: Yalda Kotobi (Ventura High School)

Honorable mention $500: Lindsey Johnston (Buena High School)

“It is deeply moving to see the talent and artistic visions of these high school seniors and to help support them on their journey to higher education – and I’m proud to say that the Rotary Club of Ventura has committed to doing this scholarship program next year as well”, reports Young. “We’ve been putting ‘Service Above Self’ right here in Ventura for over 100 years now. Today, while we recognize our Club’s past, it’s our next 100 years that we’re most excited about.”

To view and experience the Rotary Club of Ventura 2020 Perspectives on Peace Scholarship winners, please visit the full digital presentation, here: http://perspectivesonpeace.org/2020-winners/

Rubicon offers new and expanded education programs

Broadway’s biggest and brightest stars join a new interview series.

Live Theatre. It’s an art form that, by its very nature, requires people to gather together to share an experience — a communal fear or a common hope. When you go to a theatre and sit in the dark with a few hundred fellow patrons, you laugh together, you cry together, and it has actually been proven by the University College London that, during a live performance, audiences’ hearts actually do beat as one. So what does a theatre do when the thing that defines them is taken away?

As COVID-19 sweeps the world, Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura County’s professional theatre company, has been looking for answers to that question. Just like many other theatres from Broadway to Boise, Rubicon’s goal has always been to bring people together and build a sense of community.

Priority one for Rubicon at this time of year is the Summer Youth Program. For 21 summers, the board and staff of Rubicon has created a tradition of opening the company’s doors to the young theatre artists of our area. In that time, more than 2,600 students between the ages of five and twenty-five have crossed the threshold to spend their summers in the worlds of make-believe, musical theatre, technical theatre and classical Shakespeare. This year, due to Coronavirus, that threshold is barred. Yet Rubicon remains committed to making it another memorable summer. With help from friends far and wide, the company is not only keeping the program going this year, but expanding the curriculum to engage students on a more personal level.

For 2020, Rubicon has made the inevitable decision to move the program entirely online. “It’s a challenging proposition,” says Kirby Ward, director of the program. “Not being able to have a normal rehearsal with the cast all in one place is going to feel unusual for the kids. So much of what makes the summer great for them is that sense of being part of a team – part of something bigger than themselves. When you work successfully on a play or musical you create the feeling of a close-knit family. The bonds that form during these shows can last a lifetime.”

In summers past, those bonds were formed during an intensive six-day-a-week schedule, with rehearsals lasting eight hours a day for up to four weeks. The kids put training into action on one of four fully produced plays, including three musicals and a Shakespearean piece.

After weeks of discussion among the staff and board, the Rubicon organization decided that the summer program would move forward in spite of the challenges presented by quarantine.

“Even if a final live performance isn’t possible, we feel we can still provide valuable training and an effective emotional outlet for young people that working on a show allows,” says Ward.

This year’s list of shows includes Annie, Journey of the Noble Gnarble and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. But there’s a wrinkle to the theatre’s plan; a bonus, if you will.

“Since we’ll be on the web,” says Ward, anyone from anywhere in the world can log in and be involved.” A full listing of artists and classes may be found at www.rubicontheatre.org.

Students also have personal weekly training sessions with voice teachers Rick Hilsabeck and Sarah Pfisterer, two past stars from the Broadway and National Tours of Hal Prince’s Phantom of the Opera.” The students will be rehearsing daily via Zoom and filming their scenes and songs in makeshift home studios.

In addition to the classes for young people, for the first time they have summer programs available for all ages. Adults will be able to audit the “Inside the Actor’s Process” for a fee. A class is also offered for aspiring stage manages taught by Rubicon’s Director of Production and Operations, Jessie Vacchiano,

Rubicon casting director Stephanie Coltrin and best-selling author Judy Kerr will be teaching classes in Audition Technique, both for stage and for film and television.

Full details and registration information for the summer programs is now open at www.rubicontheatre.org. For more information, call Kirby Ward at 805.667.2912, ext. 232, or contact him at [email protected].

Annual Ventura Unified Art Show goes online

Taylor Wilcox, “Couldn’t Care Less #2” Mixed-media

The Ventura Unified School District and Museum of Ventura County are proud to announce the premiere of the 3rd Annual VUSD Student Online Art Show. In the face of the pandemic, these partners are committed to the belief that the arts will survive, and young artists will be celebrated in Ventura. The show can now be found at https://venturamuseum.org/virtual-exhibits/3rd-annual-vusd-art-exhibit/.

Much has changed in our world since last year’s show. The pandemic has drastically changed life. It has caused cancellations and disappointment worldwide, and the 3rd Annual Ventura Unified School District Student Art Show was not immune. Before the school closure, VUSD art teachers had selected five high school students’ works for publicity posters and seventeen elementary students’ art pieces for the upcoming show. Unfortunately, the jurying selection for the remaining middle and high schools’ artwork was cancelled due to the school closures. This was followed by the museum closure and the show’s cancellation.

Artist: Juan Carrillo, “In A Fairytale” Photography

These challenges solidified the partnership between Ventura Unified School District, Museum of Ventura County and Ventura’s committed arts community. Together they have found a way to recognize these young artists virtually for their outstanding achievements through an online art show.

The 3rd Annual VUSD Student Online Art Show is made possible through the Ventura Arts Collaborative program, a cooperative program of Ventura Unified School District, the City of Ventura and the Ventura Education Partnership. “The Museum of Ventura County is proud to collaborate with and support VUSD and VEP in their ongoing efforts to elevate the arts in the lives of Ventura youth. These young artists deserve to have their work displayed for all to enjoy,” stated Denise Sindelar, Museum Deputy Director.

This partnership between Ventura Unified and the museum is a direct result of our community’s commitment to the Arts. With the passage of Measure Q and, later, Measure R, the citizens of Ventura made it very clear that they believe in the value of arts education in our public schools. As Sabrena Rodriguez, VUSD Board President and longtime Arts Collaborative member, stated, “We are very proud of the long history Ventura Unified, and our community has of supporting the Arts in our schools. Arts education is critical in helping all of our students be well-rounded citizens in the modern economy – one where creativity and technology interact in continually evolving ways.”

Juan Carrillo is a senior at Ventura High School and has been interested in taking photographs since he was in sixth grade.

Taylor Wilcox is a mixed media artist who recently started working with acrylic paints again. Sophomore at Foothill Technology High School.

VMF moves July 2020 Music Festival to 2021

With regret, the Ventura Music Festival announces the postponement of its 26th music festival, set for the last two weekends in July 2020. 

“We’re disappointed virus-related conditions necessitated this decision,” said VMF board President Richard Reisman. “We want supporters to know, however, that the 26th festival is deferred, not cancelled.  It has been moved to July 2021 with the expectation that most if not all this year’s artists will participate.  In the interim, we are considering offerings to present later this year and into 2021.” 

As to what those offerings might be, VMF chief executive Susan Scott says that “when the only certainty is uncertainty, creativity and innovation come to the fore along with the necessity to be nimble.  Assuming conditions permit 60 or more days’ readiness, we can present 3-4 live, fully staged concerts between Fall 2020 and June 2021, with distanced seating and other measures as required.” 

Also on the drawing board, according to Scott: larger events that can be staged outdoors, as well as more intimate programs set in homes and smaller venues.  New digital and virtual music offerings are in the mix, including for VMF’s elementary school audience.  And, she added, “We’re about to commence important conversations with key supporters whose ongoing input is critical to how we go forward in the months ahead. A ‘new normal’ is coming and we need to know what it is and what our audience wants.”

Now in its 26th season, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival is to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist relationships, and enhance the joy of music through offerings for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music. For more information visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.

 Older youth in care

ILP provides support to foster youth between the ages of 16 to 21.

As the county adjusts to the new normal, it is important to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one of our most vulnerable populations – older youth in care.  Homes with Heart VC believes it is essential to provide a network of support for older youth transitioning out of foster care.

Recently, an even more crucial emphasis has been placed on older youth without support such as those currently transitioning to self-sufficiency.  According to a recent article from the Chronicle of Social Change, Governor Newsom stated that approximately 200 young adults age out of foster care at age 21 every month in the state of California. The agency’s Independent Living Program (ILP) provides support to foster youth between the ages of 16 to 21 with the goal of helping them on their transition to a successful future, but due to the current circumstances, older youth, often without families, need additional community support now more than ever before.

Many local charities help children, youth, and families in very unique ways, more recently they are stepping up together to provide important resources and support to transitional youth in need now more than ever. This amazing group includes: Children Services Auxiliary, James Storehouse, Child Hope Services, RaisingHOPE, Women of Substance Men of Honor, and Shelter Care Resources. These organizations will be providing essentials such as food, clothing, transportation, rent and utility assistance for those youth in need of extra support.

“During this critical time, Homes with Heart VC are so fortunate to have resource partners that, despite the circumstances, can come together in support of our older transitional youth,” said Jaci Johnson, Program Coordinator III -  Recruitment for the County of Ventura, Human Services Agency. “It’s truly heartwarming to see the community’s involvement in the lives of our older youth that can easily struggle on their own without support.”

For more information about how you, your business or your family can get involved, visit http://homeswithheartvc.org/ILP

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.