The District is pleased to announce that Karin Just and Mike Wise will be serving in new roles as Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Principals for the 2019-2010 school year. Mr. Wise will take over as the Principal of Loma Vista Elementary School and Mrs. Just will assume stewardship of Citrus Glen Elementary.

“After a rigorous interview process, Mrs. Just and Mr. Wise both stood out, demonstrating strong leadership skills and success in the field of education. We are fortunate to have exceptional staff within VUSD who are ready to progress into the role of Principal,” stated Dr. Jeff Davis, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

Mrs. Just has 18 years of experiences as a professional bilingual educator, including 15 years as a classroom teacher. She has also assisted the VUSD elementary school sites as a Language Arts and Multi-tiered Systems of Support Teacher on Special Assignment for VUSD.

Mr. Wise is completing his twelfth year in the field, and his seventh year as a school site administrator. Mr. Wise currently serves as an Assistant Principal at Buena High School and previously served as an Assistant Principal at Monte Vista Middle School in Camarillo.

“Both professional educators bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise with them. We are excited for them to start this new chapter in their careers and build upon the excellent work that Mrs. McMullen and Dr. Martinez have provided to both schools,” stated Superintendent Dr. Roger Rice

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Education has voted to restructure current positions and vacancies providing for new job descriptions that will focus on three priority areas.  At the May 14, Board of Education meeting, it was announced that Rebecca Chandler will serve in the new role of Chief Innovation Officer; Cheryl Burns will assume the role of Assistant Director of Student Support Services and Hector Guerrero will serve as Director of Educational Options. 

Rebecca Chandler will focus her attention on promoting new and compelling career education programs and pathways; fostering innovation across the District and programs, and raising funds through grant-writing and business partnerships. 

Cheryl Burns is currently serving as principal of El Camino High School will now focus her attention on the social and emotional learning initiatives presently taking place in the schools.

Hector Guerrero, the new Director of Educational Options, currently serves as Principal of DATA Middle School in VUSD and will now serve as site leader at El Camino High School.

Ms. Marissa Cervantes will serve as the new Principal of DeAnza (DATA) Middle School. 

Ms. Cervantes has 15 years of experience in the field of education. 

Ms. Cervantes, who is bilingual in English and Spanish, holds a B.A. in Sociology, an M.S. in School Counseling, and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University, Northridge, as well as, an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, Channel Islands. She also received the Association of California School Administrators Region XIII Co-Secondary Administrator Award in 2015.

For more information visit www.venturausd.org or call 805-641-5000.

by Kevin O’Connor

Termites are usually the biggest pest issue a household will have to deal with. They can take Pest Control Phoenix measures to exterminate the bugs but they might not be found until a lot of damage is done to the wood in a home. Termite damage can destroy furniture and weaken a house’s structure so it’s important to catch the issue early. However, it’s not just households that are vulnerable to termites, many trees can be destroyed by them too – especially if a foreign bug attacks a native tree. California is a long way from Florida, but it was a study in Florida that gave me some insights about the destructive reach of termites on California trees.

According to researchers, Asian subterranean termites can kill pine trees and hollow out the trunk of many other trees, including oaks, making them structurally unsound and vulnerable to hurricanes.

Because we have both pine and oak in California, it worried me when I read this: “Our beloved native slash pine is lethally stressed by this termite, which is unexpected,” said Thomas Chouvenc, who published a study in the journal Florida Entomologist. In California, this would make trees more susceptible to fires, if not storms.

“Our results suggest Asian subterranean termites have the potential to kill pine trees and severely damage oak trees in the urban canopy,” said Chouvenc. The termite damage in pine trees is unique and never observed before, as the damage acts as a girdle to the trees, killing them slowly, researchers said.

“The rate of infestation in pine and other types of trees by this termite may be critical in the near future for the overall survival of a diverse urban tree canopy which is in the process of being irreversibly altered,” he said. – Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science.

Unfortunately, termites are in plague proportions in parts of southern California, particularly in the urban areas of Fresno, Salinas, Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Riverside, Orange County, San Bernardino, Long Beach, Santa Ana and San Diego regions.

The Western dry wood termite is found in the southwestern states, as far north as Sacramento, with heavier incidence along the coastal areas.

The Western dry wood termite accounts for most of the dry wood termite damage in southern California. Dry wood termites are considered non-subterranean termites, as they do not live in the ground, require no ground contact, and do not build mud shelter tubes.

Dry wood termites eat across the wood grain and create chambers, called galleries, connected by tunnels. Their gallery and tunnel walls are velvety smooth without the presence of soil. These termites are often spread by people, who are moving infested furniture and wood to new locations.

Evidence of infestation includes swarmers, shed wings, piles of pellets, termite plugs that seal all openings in infested wood, and surface blisters caused by older, enlarged galleries very close to the wood surface.

Swarming dry wood termites fly into structures and infest wood directly. When swarming, they often re-infest the same structure. Initially they infest exposed wood by finding a protected crevice or other area, such as the joint between two pieces of wood, where shingles or paper overhang timber or moulding, and where they can attack the wood.

The only way to deal with termites is to seek professional help. Let the experts identify the type of termite involved. Let the people with experience in pest control use their scientific technology and experience to solve the termite problem. Call O’Connor Pest Control to save both your house and your trees. The safety and good health of your family are major goals for us. Never try to deal with termites on your own. Give us a call.

O’Connor Pest Control. 1-800-284-7985. oconnorpest.com

Avenue Library

Children & Family Events

Summer Reading Event – Kona Ice
8/1 Thursday @ 3-4pm

Join us for FREE Kona Ice to celebrate the end of summer reading and all the fun we had this summer at the library!

Bilingual Early Literacy Class

8/5, 12, 19, & 26 Mondays @ 5:30-6:30pm

Join us every Monday for storytelling, nursery rhymes, flannel board fun and more!

Lego Play

8/1, 8, 15, 22, & 29 Thursdays @ 3 –5pm

Play, build, and learn with Lego Play! Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs.

E.P. Foster Library

Adult Programs & Special Events

A California Native Plant Society Lecture

8/20 Tuesday @7-9pm

Please join us for an interesting and enlightening lecture series presented by the California Native Plant Society, Channel Islands Chapter. See you in the Topping Room!

Children’s Events

Summer Reading Event – Kona Ice

8/2 Friday @ 3pm

Join us for FREE Kona Ice to celebrate the end of summer reading and all the fun we had this summer at the library!

Early Literacy Class

8/6, 13, 20, & 27 Tuesdays & 8/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @ 10:30am

Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Virtual Reality

8/6, 13, 20, & 27 Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30pm

Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms during Summer Reading. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up including adults.

Makerspace Open Workshop

8/6 & 13 Tuesdays & 8/7 & 14 Wednesdays @ 3-6pm

For kids through adult. Free, drop-ins welcome, no prior experience needed.

Hill Road Library

Family & Children Events
Early Literacy Class

8/7, 14, 21, & 28 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun! Aimed at ages 0-5.

STEAM Lab
8/1 & 8 Thursdays @ 4pm
Join us for a special STEAM Lab to celebrate summer reading at the library. 8/1 Foil Boats 8/8 Paper Rockets.

Maker Lab

8/15, 22, & 29 Thursdays @ 4pm

Join us each week as we explore making stuff with the 3D printer, Legos, Little Bits, Dash & Dot Robots, or Squishy Circuits. Aimed at ages 10+

End of Summer Reading Party with Kona Ice

8/6 Tuesday @4-5pm

Join us for free Kona Ice to celebrate the end of summer reading and all the fun we had this summer at the library!

Adult Events
Book Club: Less

8/27 Tuesday @ 6-7pm

Join us for a discussion of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Fiction, Less, by Andrew Sean Greer.

Saticoy Library

Children & Family Events

Early Literacy Class

8/6, 13, 20, & 27 Tuesdays @ 10am

Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft & fun!

Lego Play

8/6, 13, 20, & 27 Tuesdays @ 3-5pm

Come with your friends or make new ones while building wonderful structures with our Lego collection.

Family Coloring and Games

8/3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 Saturdays @ 10:30am- 12pm

Games, Coloring and other art materials are available for drop-in participants to express their creativity. Children and Adults.

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.

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.

While enjoying Circus Vargas’ 50th anniversary extravaganza in Camarillo Michael Gordon took this photo of a flying daredevil.

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.

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.

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.