Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Cabrillo announces Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship recipients

Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarships.

This year, Cabrillo received 24 applications, and $12,500 has been awarded to 14 recipients. Edison International provided a $10,000 grant to be divided among STEM recipients, and another $2,500 was distributed among recipients of all majors.

Recipients received their awards during a CEDC Board meeting July 25 at Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation.

The Ventura scholarship recipients:

·         Angellica Ayala-Ibarra, a Ventura High School graduate, who will attend California Lutheran University as an environmental science and accounting major

·         Denise Castro, a Foothill Technology High School graduate, who will attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, as a global studies and education major

·         Yuliana Ceja, a Pacifica High School graduate, who will attend Ventura College studying applied mathematics

·         Dominique Delgadillo, a Ventura High School graduate, who will attend Ventura College as a Zoology major

·         Julio Martinez Fernandez, a Pacifica High School graduate, who will attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an Earth sciences major with an emphasis in geophysics

·         Devin Ruiz, a Ventura High School graduate, who will be attending California State University, Channel Islands, as a mathematics major

The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship Program, created in 2011, honors the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo’s founder and Executive Director for 30 years (1981–2011). The Scholarship continues Fernandez’s legacy of community building by cultivating the leadership of residents to attain their goals and empower themselves to take action to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to provide comprehensive housing services and community economic development activities through a community-building approach that facilitates self-sufficiency for individuals and families who are most lacking in opportunity in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Summer at CAPS

Children, adults, their bicycles, and little red wagons dressed up and paraded down Main Street for the annual Pushem Pullem Parade. Photo by Kenneth Roency

CAPS Media was there on the street for the 44th annual 4th of July Street Fair and Pushem Pullem Parade. The kids, families and pets paraded down Main Street in their Independence Day best. It always fun to be a part of Ventura’s festivals and parades. The Ventura Police and Fire as well as California State Parks Lifeguards worked hard to keep us safe during the 4th of July fireworks. Thanks to our public servants for what they do.

The CAPS Media board of directors has openings for a couple of new board members. In the next few weeks CAPS Media Member/Producers will elect members to fill positions for board members who have moved out of the community or whose terms of office have expired. This is a great opportunity to get involved in the continuing development and future of CAPS Media. All CAPS community members are eligible to join the board of directors. Any CAPS member interested in joining the board needs to complete and submit a statement of interest/nomination form which is available at the CAPS Media Center. Forms are due by August 1st with appointment of Board members at the Annual meeting in October.

KPPQ-LP, CAPS Community radio station, broadcasting at 104.1fm and streaming online, has been hosting local non-profits to record public service announcements about their organizations and upcoming events. Do you want to get your message out? Radio is a great way to do it. Non-profits are always welcome. Contact Elizabeth at [email protected] to schedule a time to come in and record a spot.

CAPS Media continues to record local community council meetings throughout the city. All air on CAPS Media Channel 6 and stream on capsmedia.org. Live coverage of city meetings can be found on channel 15. Go to the schedule tab on the CAPSMedia.org website for dates and times.

Visit the CAPS Media Center located at 65 Day Road on the Ventura College campus, directly across the street from Foothill high school. Everyone is welcome to drop by and tour the center. Any community group including nonprofit, faith-based organizations, youth groups, service clubs can arrange a tour. The CAPS Media Center conference room, which accommodates up to 30 people, is available to nonprofit and educational groups for community meetings. Contact CAPS at [email protected] or call 805-658-0500.

Membership and privileges are available to anyone who lives, works or attends school in Ventura and available to members of nonprofit organizations throughout Ventura County. To find out more go to capsmedia.org/events, sign up for the next orientation class on the first Thursday of the month and discover how easy it is to become a producer at CAPS. Receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production (additional fee required) and more. Go to capsmedia.org, or you can call 805-658-0500 to get complete information.

Assess your lung cancer risk

One in 16 people will develop lung cancer in their lifetime. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer – higher than breast, colon or prostate cancer. The good news is that lung cancer can now be found earlier and treated with less invasive methods. By finding and treating lung cancer earlier, patients are surviving lung cancer and living longer and healthier lives.

Learn more about lung cancer, your risk and new treatment methods at a free seminar on July 31 called, “Are You at Risk for Lung Cancer? Surprising Facts About How Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer Has Changed.”

The presenter is CMH’s new lung and heart surgery specialist Dr. Jennifer Wan, one of only 300 board certified women cardiothoracic surgeons in the nation. In addition to cardiac surgery, Dr. Wan specializes in minimally invasive approaches to lung cancer, esophageal cancer and benign foregut disease. She performs thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer and mediastinal masses, as well as laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures. She also founded and co-chaired a thoracic tumor board and high-risk lung nodule committee, and helped implement a lung cancer screening program.

The free seminar begins at 6 p.m. on July 31 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. For reservations, visit http://www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, the Centers for Family Health, and various outpatient centers serving communities located within Ventura County, California.

Dudley House Speaker’s Bureau

The Dudley House Speaker’s Bureau, along with historic presenter Connie Korenstein and the Talespinners of History, now offer over twenty living history talks for school classes and community groups in need of outside speakers.  Topics include twentieth-century games and toys, Victorian courting customs, the confessions of a displaced southern belle and the women’s suffrage movement.  New topics have been added to celebrate the life and fashions for Downton Abbey fans.  The talks are offered free although donations are encouraged and a mileage fee is sometimes requested.  Please call 805/641-3563 for the complete list.

Girl Scouts love state parks

by Kaylie Luedke

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast encourages girls to have outdoor experiences along the Central Coast along with thousands of girls in hundreds of state parks across the United States.

The Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced their first-ever Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend July 13–14 for girls to experience the great outdoors, an integral part of the organization’s all-girl leadership program. Join Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and thousands of girls in hundreds of state parks across the United States to find adventure, explore nature, and learn what Girl Scouts is all about.

The legacy of Girl Scouts and the outdoors is profound. Studies show that 71 percent of girl members ages 8–14 tried their first outdoor activity through the organization and half would not have had access to outdoor activities and programming if not for Girl Scouts. GSUSA’s cutting- edge environmental conservation; camping; and outdoor science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming is rooted in a passion for adventure and healthy risk-taking combined with taking action to protect the environment for present and future generations. Girl Scouts wants to get even more girls outside through Girl Scouts Love State Parks.

In collaboration with the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD), Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will hold multiple events to get girls outdoors. From July 13th – July 14th at McGrath State Beach, troops will camp overnight, hear from Park Interpreters about local bird conservation efforts and Chumash history, and do a beach clean-up service project.

“We are so excited to celebrate the love Girl Scouts has for the outdoors”, said Tammie Helmuth, GSCCC CEO. “Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast offers amazing outdoor experiences for girls, including outdoor opportunities at our very own Camp Arnaz Program Center. We are so happy to be able to expand girls’ opportunities to explore the outdoors at our local state parks in the Central Coast.”

Participants can also purchase an exclusive Girl Scouts Love State Parks patch and other related merchandise from the Girl Scout Shop.

Contact Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast at 800-822-2427, or email [email protected] to learn more about Girl Scouts Love State Parks events in the Central Coast.

Discover the best of Ventura Harbor Village’s Sea-Sational Leisure Activities

As if the stunning backdrop of majestic yachts and idyllic sunsets were not enough to entice you when shopping and dining seaside, add to the mix live weekend entertainment, summertime fun of Seaside Kids Club and water sports. The Ventura Harbor Village is the ideal midweek or weekend summer sojourn.

On tap for summer, is Waterfront Wednesdays boasting a host of seaside boutiques/shops, dive and drink specials, liven a mid-summer weekday with the return of this annual favorite from every Wednesday in July and August including live steel drum from noon -3 pm weekly. With something for everyone, families delight in a free Kid’s Scavenger Hunt (complete with prizes,) and get a chance to send a Ventura postcard to friends for free from Noon to 3 p.m.

Check out specials from numerous retailers and boutiques only on Waterfront Wednesdays. Experience “must-seas” play specials offered Wednesdays only including Channel Island National Park Visitor Center for the Marine Sanctuary’s Live Dive program webcast, the Ultimate Escape Rooms, Ventura Boat Rentals, and Ventura Comedy Club.

Leading the pack in what’s hot for kids summertime fun in Ventura, Harbor Village is a sure bet for children with the announcement of the return of its 4rd Annual Seaside Kids Club to be held Thursdays until August 8, from 11 a.m. – noon on the waterfront. Children, ages 3-10, stay busy all summer with a seaside visit where they can explore beyond the classroom with ocean -themed activities, entertainment, bubbles, and crafts boasting materials from Lakeshore Learning. Cost is $5 per child , or become a Seaside Kids Club Member for only $15 for all 5 with special perks. (space is limited weekly.) Sign-in begins at 10:30 AM at the Kelp Corridor outside the Village Carousel & Arcade.

Steel Drum Saturdays features an upbeat tropical vibe, celebrate the return of this popular live steel drum performance each Saturday in July and August from 1-4 p.m. at the seaside Promenade Stage.

Make a day of it arriving early to shop, relax, and dine or stop by of the Village’s top-rated restaurants for dinner with fresh seafood and refreshing hand-crafted cocktails. Live Summer Music Sundays comprises of a variety of duos and trios from 1-4 p.m. on the oceanfront Promenade Stage. Dine, sip and relax as live music spills out throughout the Village with an option to sit back and listen to music on the scenic patios, or on the water aboard a kayak, SUP, electric boat, and paddle boats for the best floating seats in the harbor. Celebrate SEA-sational summertime with these top events and activities at Ventura Harbor Village. For a complete calendar listing visit- VenturaHarborVillage.com

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Award winners

2019 Scholarship Award Winners Annika Kinnaman, Bryce Weinell and Labiba Sardar.

The Ventura Police Officers’ Association (VPOA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 16th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships are to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA considered academic achievement, school and community service, financial needs, and the following requirements:

Applicants must:

  • Be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college;

  • Plan a course of study related to the field of public service;

  • Ventura resident or have graduated from a high school in Ventura within the past three years, or a Ventura Police Department employee or employee’s child.

  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0 system);

  • Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better if selected as a recipient;

  • Submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;

  • Submit an essay of 1000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;

  • Submit a letter of reccommendation from a public servant.

1st Place $5,000.00 Annika Kinnaman

2nd Place $3,500.00 Bryce Weinell

3rd Place $2,000.00 Labiba Sardar

The VPOA would like to thank all of the applicants and congratulate the 2019 winners of the Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship!

“Be honest, be safe, and look forward to each day.” –Sgt Dee Dowell

Activism and action on International Surfing Day

Surf instructor Anthony Corral shares a wave with Natalie Fruit at the International Surf Day event. Photo by Joshua Berman

by Amy Brown

The Surfrider Foundation Ventura County recently hosted a day on the beach at Surfer’s Point for the 15th annual International Surfing Day event. The focus was raising awareness of the importance of clean oceans, and celebrating the love of surfing. This global event was founded by the Surfrider Foundation, and brings communities together to enjoy coastal recreation and raise awareness of urgent threats to the coasts. The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful network.

Founded in 1984 by a group of surfers in Malibu, the Surfrider Foundation today has more than a million supporters, activists and members. “We chose this day to celebrate what we protect all year round,” said Laura Oergel, Chapter Chair of the Ventura County Surfrider Foundation. “We’re environmental activists; we work hard to support our community, and this is a day for fun and outreach for our grassroots, volunteer-run national organization.” The Ventura event included yoga on the beach, a paddle out, surfing lessons from Pure Stoke, and a raffle for a free wetsuit donated by Patagonia, with tickets available for anyone bringing in a wetsuit to be recycled by Suga, a company that converts donated wetsuits into yoga mats.

Oergel reported that the local Surfrider chapter has been serving the community since 1991, helping protect the environment in a variety of ongoing ways. Since 2016, the chapter has installed over 100 ashcans with “Hold Onto Your Butts” emblazoned on them, which serve dual purposes—keeping cigarette butts disposed of and then actually recycled, as a company called Terracycle makes things like benches out of them. One such green bench can be seen on the promenade near the Ventura pier playground. The Surfrider members also participate in water quality testing with the Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer-run, water testing, education and advocacy program which measure bacteria levels at both marine and freshwater beaches and compare them to federal water quality standards established by the EPA to protect public health in recreational waters.

This year, the Surfrider Foundation partnered with local non-profit pure Stoke Surf Club to raise awareness of environmental responsibility while enjoying and respecting the ocean. Zora Wolter is the founder of the organization, and she and her team of volunteers were busy during the event, offering tandem surfing lessons for kids. The organization develops free, year-round community surf programs for kids with diverse backgrounds and abilities, including underserved communities. Wolter shared that in the past she had been involved with other surf therapy organizations, and recalled that during one of them, a participant was so jubilant that he told her ‘This is the best day of my year!’ She said “That made me so sad! We should definitely be out here far more often offering this to kids.” So, she launched the pure Stoke club in Ventura in 2018, and since then, they have offered nearly 500 monthly surf lessons to kids at C street, as well as a location in Rosarito, Mexico, all taught by local surfers.

Ventura Moments: We Are All So Very (Very) Lucky

Ventura is an almost implausible mix of the magical and the mundane. Photo by Bernie Goldstein

by Visit Ventura.

Imagine a town tousled by sea breezes, a town that drifts, well, sea breeze easy under the radar, a place where the days end with the sun slipping behind purpling islands, a place where play matters (greatly), and the happy din of art galleries, boutique shops, breweries and restaurants really is happy.

If you live in Ventura, you already know you can save your imagination for something else.

Ventura is an almost implausible mix of the magical and the mundane. Pump your gas at certain gas stations and you can gaze out to Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands as you squeegee your windshield. It comes as no surprise that many holiday-goers decide to head out to the beautiful destination of Santa Cruz to enjoy a fun-filled break. Who wouldn’t? They may even decide to have a look at something like these Surf City Rentals vacation rentals to use during their stay. It would be a great way to start their vacation off right. And maybe that’s the trick, the sleight of hand that sees some of us forget that we live in a place where folks vacation. It could be argued that our lives are a vacation, with work, chores and errands thrown in. It’s a nice feeling. A happy contentment that brings a smile at unexpected times. Bhutan coined the term gross national happiness, but Venturans don’t need it defined.

Visitors are drawn to this. Not just our town’s obvious largesse — surf, sun, kaleidoscopic culture, and simple pleasures like a good laugh over a cold beer — but also, less visible, this sense of contentment and even unshakeable confidence. Ventura is a very special place.

Regarding the matter of visitors, they are important to our town. Critical. Why does tourism matter? Well, there are scrolling reams of financial figures illustrating the benefits of tourism — 2.7 million visitors spent 289 million dollars in Ventura in 2017 and generated $8.4 million in local tax revenue — but honestly, though figures matter, you’ve probably forgotten these three already. What you haven’t forgotten is the warm smile of the local coffee shop owner who might not be smiling across the counter at you were it not for the visitors who also line up for their turn at a flaky croissant. Tourism creates roughly 2,600 jobs in Ventura. And the spillover effects of tourism seep into almost everything in our town; our agriculture, our fire and police, our roads, our schools. It doesn’t take an MBA to know that these things matter. Safe to say that tourism hums quietly behind many scenes.

And, from a resident’s standpoint, the best thing about tourism can’t be notched as a figure. Tourism keeps us as we are. Visit Ventura, charged with promoting our town, targets the kind of visitor Ventura wants; visitors who care about Ventura, who appreciate the beauty of Ventura, and, here’s the important part, people who want to see Ventura stay the special place it is.

Promoting Ventura as a vacation destination might seem an easy job, like offering honey to Pooh, but the truth is it’s a competitive world. There are over 100 tourism offices in California alone, and we lucky Venturans know many of the beauties and charms they offer. Los Angeles, On paper Visit Ventura is a nonprofit funded by the city, tasked with promoting Ventura’s charms to the world beyond Ventura County. In real life, Visit Ventura is eight people (not including energetic volunteers) who live here and carry the town in their hearts. Which is where the things that matter reside.

Life is about moments — even a squeegee counts — and there are only so many. Ventura is a very special place, and all of us, residents and visitors, are lucky to have a moment here.