Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Buena High School choir releases brand new holiday album

Buena High School student and recording artist, William Boyd singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Students at Buena High School have been learning the ins and outs of the music recording industry with their Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 4 project. Utilizing their on-campus recording studio, the Buena High School Choir has selected various secular, holiday, and winter-themed songs to record and release for digital download, available across the world. This past year, their previous albums (Volumes 1-3) have been heard in 42 different countries, from the Netherlands to Qatar.

“It amazes me that our songs get heard so far away,” says junior Paige Goldman.

The fantastic thing is this happening at a time in the music industry when artists continue to struggle to make a living. Due to the increased popularity of streaming music, and the minimal payout artists receive per stream, which can be less than one-tenth of a penny per stream, depending on the platform. The best way you can support your favorite artists is by actually buying and downloading their music, rather than merely streaming it for “free.” When their patrons support artists, they can continue making the art and music that their audience loves.

Choir director, Kevin Downey, states, “I am so proud that our students are getting this opportunity to release their music and learn about the recording industry when it is almost impossible to make a living beyond minimum wage as a musician, even if you get signed with a record label and experience some minor success.”

According to Tim Frantz, Buena’s Audio Engineer from Mountain Dog Musicworks “This album is excellent. This is college-level stuff.”

Do not miss a great opportunity to support the arts in our local public schools, and fill your holidays with joy by downloading the Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 4 album. Just search “The Buena High School Choir” on iTunes, Amazon, or Google Play Store. If you prefer live music, though, you can also watch the students perform live at their benefit concert on December 19, in the Buena High School Library Media Center from 6-7:30 pm, located at 5670 Telegraph Road.

For more information, contact Buena’s choir director Kevin Downey at [email protected], follow their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts @buenahschoir, or visit their website at www.bitly.com/buenahschoir.

E. P. Foster Library events

Thursday Jan 2
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.

Tuesday Jan 7
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.

Thursday Jan 9
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.

Monday Jan 13
7:00 – 10 pm
Ukulele Jam – Join folks of all ages and experience levels to jam out on your ukulele! Beginners welcome, every 2nd and 4th Monday.

Tuesday Jan 14
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.

Thursday Jan 16
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.

Tuesday Jan 21
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.

Thursday Jan 23
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.

Monday Jan 27
7:00 – 10 pm
Ukulele Jam – Join folks of all ages and experience levels to jam out on your ukulele! Beginners welcome, every 2nd and 4th Monday.

Tuesday Jan 28
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.

Thursday Jan 30
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.

Friday Jan 31
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Opera Santa Barbara – Come enjoy a free noontime concert presented by members of Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artist Program. One of our most popular events. See you in the Topping Room!

Closures This Month January 1 New Years Day January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In this New Year, taking measure Ventura-style

by Visit Ventura

Every New Year we take measure. This is a good thing. It sees us slow down, think things through, see beyond the daily blur that sometimes constitutes our days. The underlying question is both simple and grand. What do we want to do with the time we have?

This is an important question for a simple reason. The time we have is limited.

If we are very lucky, we have choices regarding how we spend the time we have. And where. If you are reading this from your home, and your home is touched by the sea, then it may be that you are so very lucky to call Ventura home. If you are lucky enough to be visiting Ventura, well, that is lucky enough.

Our town is something very special. This is not a sales pitch. It’s just the truth. We have improbable amounts of sun and warmth, and pretty rolling hills, and a glittering sea that doesn’t serve as a backdrop at all; it’s a world-class playground, and we should all play as much as possible. Right. Because the time we have is limited.

But Ventura is not just about meteorology and geography. If you are lucky enough to live here, you know this. If you are visiting, you will discover this in short order. The smiles you see are genuine, the kind that aren’t just a stretch of the face, but rise up from some deep, warm place. The kindnesses bestowed — an elaborate set of directions, a Samaritan who walks you to the restaurant and then comes in to introduce you to the owner — those kindnesses come from the same deep, warm place. The easy acceptance? You be You has been adopted as a slogan by our Visitors Bureau, but slogans, without the truth behind them, are pointless. Let’s be honest. It can be a divisive world. Not everyone is helpful, pleasant and accepting. Not even in Ventura.

But it is also true to say that, in Ventura, acceptance triumphs over the narrow-minded, and pleasantness smothers discord.

This is a very special place. Venturans walk through their days carrying this knowledge in their heads and their hearts. It hangs in the sunshine, almost as real as the salt-laden air. Venturans care. Again, not all — but most. We have seen this caring in good times, and, more telling, in bad. Ours is a town that looks out for each other. Sometimes fiercely. There is also strength in the warmth deep down inside.

Not long ago our Visit Ventura team attended the Ventura Chamber’s annual Poinsettia Awards. Every town (hopefully) has similar awards. The Poinsettia Awards are given to the givers, the people who work to make the world better. One by one, the award winners came to the stage. It was their moment in the sun. Without exception, each stood at the podium and spoke of others. Teachers who changed their lives. Mentors who provided help and example. Parents who gave everything.

The message was clear.

See the gifts we’ve been given. Then give them to others.

What to do with the time we have? The decision is yours.

And that in itself is a very lucky place to be.

Happy New Year from all of us here at Visit Ventura…

Volunteers needed to assist in annual homeless count in Ventura County

Community volunteers are needed for the annual count and survey of homeless persons in Ventura County. The 2020 Ventura County Homeless Count has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 29.

The annual Homeless Count is coordinated by the Ventura County Continuum of Care and County of Ventura, in partnership with community partners and cities.  The survey data will be collected through a mobile app called “Counting Us” by Simtech Solutions.  This data provides a Point-In-Time (PIT) “snapshot” as to what the homeless population in Ventura County looks like during a single day to help community leaders better understand who is homeless, why and for how long. The survey data helps our community gain access to state and federal funding, as well as determine the greatest priorities to prevent and end homelessness in Ventura County.

In order to conduct a full and accurate count, the Ventura County Continuum of Care is seeking 500 volunteers.  Volunteers are required to attend a training in their community in mid-January 2020 and will be paired up with another volunteer on the morning of the count to canvass areas seeking persons to survey.  Volunteers will be asked to download the free “Counting Us” app to their mobile device for data collection. Download the mobile app here: http://pointintime.info/.  Interested volunteers can register online at https://ventura.pointintime.info/.

For more information on volunteering, please contact Jennifer Harkey at 805-658-4342. For general inquiries on the Continuum of Care, contact Tara Carruth at 805-654-3838.

 

Ventura Unified School District embracing its families this holiday season

The Cheers for Children campaign, which is entering its 67th year, is designed to help children and families of the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD). Cheers for Children began in 1952 when teachers and an administrator identified a student and his family in need of food over the holidays. Cheers for Children has grown to a community campaign to assist 350 families over the holidays and assist with additional needs, as they are identified throughout the year. The Ventura Unified School District is requesting the community’s help with this year’s campaign. There are three ways interested parties of all ages may participate; through donations of canned food or money, assisting with the sorting and boxing of holiday food boxes, and participating in the Cheers for Children Silent Auction.

All VUSD schools are currently collecting canned and dry goods for holiday food boxes. A list of items can be found at www.venturausd.org. These items can be delivered to any of our VUSD schools or the District offices located at 255 W. Stanley Ave. until December 19. The District is also accepting monetary donations, which will assist in the purchase of holiday hams and will go towards additional family needs throughout the year. Checks may be made payable to Cheers for Children and mailed to Ventura Unified School District, Education Service Center, c/o Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent, 255 West Stanley Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, CA, 93001. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes on “behind the scenes” to make this event a reality. The community is invited to help with sorting and boxing the food drive items for distribution. Bring your friends and family on Friday, December 20, from 2-5 pm to Balboa Middle School, located at 247 Hill Road in Ventura. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

If silent auctions are more your speed, the District will be hosting its Annual Cheers for Children Silent Auction. This silent auction is open to the public and is being held at the Education Service Center at 255 W. Stanley Ave.

“It is our hope that through the Cheers for Children campaign we can bring joy, through a warm meal, to our students most in need. We hope you will consider assisting us as we embrace our VUSD families this holiday season,” stated Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent.

For more information, contact the VUSD Superintendent’s office at 805-641-5000.

Answer In A Breeze

Q: There has been an extremely long freight train sitting for weeks on the track next to Vista Del Mar. Do you know why?

Charles Moore

A: Charles:

We asked Ventura City Manager Alex McIntyre to help with this. This is his response. Odd though that this has never happened before. By the way these cars are for transporting vehicles.

Sheldon

We spoke with the folks from UP and shared with them our concerns. They’re fully aware of the situation.

We are told it is a capacity issue within the overall rail system. It has to do with the overwhelming amount of freight moving through southern California.

We don’t yet have a date on when they plan to move the freight train.

I hope this helps.

Alex

Have a question, send it to [email protected] and we will try to get you an answer?

Ninth Annual Thanksgiving Outreach Dinner

by Jill Forman

It started as a family dinner…

Jeri and Joe Bendot, the residential caretakers of Community Presbyterian Church, had a Thanksgiving dinner for their family in the Fellowship Hall ten years ago.

The following year, they asked their friends from the park to join them.

The next year, the park folks asked their friends.

And so the tradition was started.

This year, close to 700 meals were served to anyone who came. Almost 100 volunteers set up, served, bussed tables, washed dishes, socialized with the diners and did whatever else needed doing. Other church and community members had donated money, made tons of food, worked for two days previously as prep cooks, all the many tasks that go into such an ambitious feast. Many churches are involved, and Community Presbyterian sponsors the dinner

And a feast it was: turkey and its trimmings, ham, potatoes, yams, vegetables of every type, salads, rolls, coffee, and lots of pies.

Greeting the diners was a lovely lady named Jean, who has been doing that job for years.

City Council Member Christy Weir enjoying Thanksgiving with Jean.

Adding to the joyful atmosphere was a versatile musician named Chris Stockdill who played the piano, guitar, flute and a melodious drum-like instrument “made out of a propane tank.” He also sang a few songs. His volume was perfect, everyone could hear him and still talk.

Jeri Bendot was everywhere: overseeing the food distribution, helping wash dishes, sitting and chatting with several tables of guests, greeting, still smiling despite what had to be an exhausting week. Joe, in a colorful tie-die, was a genial host. They even did an impromptu dance that got cheers.

Aera Energy employees team up with Ventura City staff and students to feed hungry families

VUSD students help to feed hungry families.

Aera Energy teamed up with staff from the City of Ventura to put the “giving” in Thanksgiving by providing 140 families from the  City of Ventura a full Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

For years the staff at the City of Ventura and students from the Ventura Unified school district. have collected canned goods, side items and monetary donations to purchase food for the Thanksgiving meals distributed at Westpark Community Center. This year however, Aera Energy stepped forward and offered to purchase more than 140 turkeys to complete the meals.

“The families benefitting from these donations are in great need and wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving at all if it weren’t for these donations,” explained Anita Diaz, Westpark Coordinator. “The City staff and the Teen Voice students have been collecting food and gifting Thanksgiving food baskets for years. This year, with Aera’s help, we are able to serve even more families.”

Teams of City staff, students and Aera employees gathered at Westpark to pack the brightly colored Aera bags with canned goods and other Thanksgiving items in preparation for Tuesday when they personally hand over the bags and a large turkey to top it off. The effort results from Aera’s long-time partnership with the City’s Westpark Community Center.

“We are part of this community and Westpark is the hub of Ventura’s westside which is right in our backyard,” says Michele Newell, Aera Public Affairs. “It is through our partnership that we have created opportunities to really make a difference in people’s lives. This work makes our community a better place to live because we invest in it as a company and as individuals. We look forward to continuing working with them to help our neighbors throughout the holidays.”

       

Visit Ventura is giving away a host of generous gifts

Foto: The Elf Giveaway is something bigger than the holidays.

nby Visit Ventura

Tis the season to think Elf! As in Visit Ventura’s Elf Giveaway, yes. But also as in mischievous fun, lips-sealed secrets, and the magical Big Picture too.

Now through Christmas Day, Visit Ventura is giving away a host of generous gifts, kindly donated by Ventura’s fun-loving and community-caring businesses. The giveaway works simply. Follow Visit Ventura on Instagram (@VisitVentura) and tag a friend and you’re entered to win two prizes — one for each of you. Winners will be randomly chosen that day. Enter as many times as you want. Elves don’t care much for rules.

And nope, the Visit Ventura Elf won’t tell you what the gifts are, because what elf blabs away secrets? And we should all enjoy a sense of mystery. But, as a holiday gift of sorts, the Visit Ventura Elf will tell you that, in the final happy runup to the finale, she will be giving away two one-night stays at Four Points Sheraton Ventura Beach (December 23), Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach (December 24), and the Ventura Beach Marriott (December 25 — Merry Christmas!)

It’s a fun contest for visitors and residents alike, and the chance to try out new businesses or revisit timeless favorites. Many Visitor Bureaus strictly target, well, visitors. Not Visit Ventura. Ventura’s gifts — Elf and otherwise — belong to residents too. Which is why Visit Ventura sees the Elf Giveaway as something bigger than the holidays, bigger even than elves. It’s a chance to bring a community together. And there can never be enough of that, in any season.