Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

A Night to Remember, a free prom for students with special needs

Dancing it up at last year’s prom.

Over 450 students with special needs, 700 students from local high schools and over 1,000 volunteers are expected to celebrate together on this special night the eighth annual Night to Remember. A free prom for students with special needs (ages 12-25) at Ventura County Fairgrounds

The night includes dresses and tuxedos, hairstyling, makeup and corsages or boutonnieres, limo rides and a walk down a red carpet cheered on by paparazzi. Each guest is accompanied by a student host from the community, given a formal photo, special food and treats and a night of dancing with a professional DJ.

Friday, May 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Ventura Family returns after four-year sailing adventure

In 2010 the Rigneys bought a boat.

by Richard Lieberman

On Saturday, May 19, the Kandu a forty-two-foot sailing vessel returned to the Ventura Yacht Club at Ventura Harbor after a four-year journey around the world. The trip for the Rigney family began at the Yacht Club and ended on Saturday at the place where it began just over four years ago.

Asked about what it is like to live on a boat for four years Eric Rigney said “It’s a very big adjustment, we actually moved onto the boat a year before we left” said Rigney.” We started learning lessons right away because you don’t quite know what it is you own until you pack it away, we let a lot of things go and the cathartic thing that happened is that when you let possessions go there is a free feeling that happens that I didn’t expect.”

“The dream started for me when I was fourteen, I was sitting with my uncle and he started me on this journey when he built a boat in his backyard here in Ventura, once completed he put it in the water and that was in 1974 and he decided to sail it to Hawaii with me and on the way back I felt so much more mature and I felt I had grown up so much more with all the responsibility of navigation and the like.” He said.

“I met Leslie my wife in 1989 and in 1990 I sailed my uncle’s boat to Polynesia on the way back stopping in Hawaii I asked Leslie to join us and she sailed with my brother and a friend all the way to California and at the end of that I said if you are willing to do this and sail around the world then we can stay together if not then we need to go our separate ways. She said yes. It was sort of a pre-nuptial agreement that we sail around the world. All of our decisions were focused on making this happen.”

In 2010 the Rigneys bought a boat and began refitting and preparing it for their upcoming around the world adventure. “We weren’t escaping” added Rigney. “We were going to have an adventure together and so my sons grew up knowing this would happen their entire lives.” He said. “They never knew otherwise, they knew someday this would happen.”

His wife Leslie left a 12-year career as an opera singer and Eric left his job of more than 20 years as post-production executive with Sony Pictures. Their sons Trent and Bryce dropped out of school for the duration of the voyage. They were homeschooled during the voyage in subjects like science and math, Spanish, French, history geography, and more.

During the voyage, the family slept in shifts so someone was always manning the cockpit and watching out for any possible difficulties.

As far as provisioning the ship Leslie Rigney was in charge “ As things go away I write a list of what we have consumed and I wherever we are going I know what generally is available and I wanted to get the local food and experience that and learn how to cook it” She said.

“We ended up spending two years in French Polynesia and another year in the Marquesas. We enrolled the boys in school there. We became certified residents and we became involved in the community, it was very rewarding,” said Eric.

“Our boys were the first Americans to attend school in Marquesas, and both have learned fluent French” he added. “We had so many wonderful experiences that were beyond our expectations.”

Now that they are home the Rigneys are going to re-boot their careers and get their boys back on the school track. “Were both super excited about what comes next?”

Bryce, the oldest at 17, was asked upon returning what he would have done differently and he contemplated the question for a minute and said: “I would not change a thing I loved every minute of it.”

Ventura local unites with family through 23andMe

Carrie and Betty were united though saliva test.

by Maryssa Rillo

Ventura local, Carrie Adams and her family tried 23andme and were not only informed of their heritage, but they were united with family they never knew they had.

According to 23andMe.com, 23andMe is a company that gives people the opportunity to test their DNA at home with their saliva. The process is done in three steps which include ordering a saliva kit, spitting in a tube to register the saliva and logging onto the website after 3-5 weeks to see the results of the DNA testing.

Adams said she was introduced to the company by her sister-in-law who was curious about her ancestry.

Adams is a child of six and her mother passed away when she was 63. Her mother was born in 1923, but since her parents were unwed, she was given up for adoption. Because of this, she and her kids never knew where they came from.

In January 2019, Adams sent in her saliva kit and on February 14, 2019 her results were in. Her results informed her that she was 1/3-Portuguese, 1/3-French and 1/3-English. The results also revealed that she had an aunt on her mother’s side that she never knew she had.

“Once we did that and the results came back, there she appeared, my aunt,” Adams said. “As long as your relatives do it, they pop up. Right there it said, ‘100% this is your aunt.’”

Once Adams found out about her aunt, she reached out to her via email.

“She’s 96 years old. She lives up in Washington close to Seattle and has four children. I sent her an email and said I think you’re my aunt. I went on to tell her about my mom and everything and so she wrote back, and she was so happy,” Adams said.

Three weeks went by and her aunt, Betty Compton, flew into California with her daughter Melanie and Melanie’s husband to meet the family.

“These all were just the happiest people, seriously,” Adams said. “She’s just lovely and she clung onto me and now she calls me her auntie mom. I can’t explain, once we found them it was like we’ve always been looking for them secretly and we just wanted to know where we came from.”

Compton registered her DNA with 23andMe when her birth certificate revealed her mother had another live birth that she did not know about. After asking her mother about the situation and receiving no answers she began 23andMe in hopes to find her brother/sister one day.

“It was always a big secret. She didn’t even know if it was a sister. She said she looked everywhere at everybody thinking that could be my sister,” Adams said.

While Compton and her daughter were in town, Adams and her siblings threw a big party of about 30 family members.

“We brought them into the family, and it was like they’ve been there forever,” Adams said.

Adams said she and Compton still email each other every day.

“It’s just amazing it turned out so pleasant and that I’m 70 and she’s 96 and she’s still alive so I can ask her things,” Adams said. “We just have little things to say. She’s like the mom I didn’t have because mine left so early.”

According to Adams, Compton is grateful for the experience and is happy she found out about her sister and family.

“She said when she finally found out about my mom, she said, ‘you know what that’s the coolest thing because when I die now, I’m going to go get to meet my sister,’” Adams said.

Adams recommends everyone to register their DNA with 23andMe.

“I would really recommend for people to do this, it’s just amazing really. It was the nicest most wonderful thing,” Adams said.

22nd annual Pooch Parade at Ventura Beach Promenade Park

On May 5,dogs (and people) of all colors, shapes and sizes attended the 22nd annual Pooch Parade held at the Ventura Beach Promenade Park. The event featured food trucks, dog adoptions, the dog parade, live music by Kelli’s Lot, contests, many vendors (including the Ventura Breeze) and a silent auction was held to benefit Canine Adoption and Rescue League ( C.A.R.L.)

For more information about the nonprofit visit https://poochparade.org  or https://carldogs.org.

Photos by Richard Lieberman and Bill Green

Answer in a Breeze

Breeze:

I would like yourself and your readers to urge the Ventura City Management to do something effective about the old Union Bank building at 250 S. Mills. It has become possibly the most shameful building in Ventura. Not because it is defaced, virtually all the windows broken and boarded up, covered with graffiti and surrounded by broken glass. Not because it has become a haven for vagrants and drug users. But because the people who originally bought it were stopped from fixing it up because someone in city hall got the idea to declare it a historical structure, or something like that, and because of that this “historical structure” has become a decaying tenement that, evidently, is untouchable. The city either needs to take care of this building, get it sold or demolished.

Dave Cintron Ventura

Dave: When possible we ask the city to comment to this type of question. We asked Tim Rosenstein, Associate Planner, Ventura Community Development Department to help with this. Because they are short-handed and very busy some cases are being given to outside consultants. Barbara Burkhart at Rincon Consultants is handling this project. This is her explanation.

Hi Sheldon:

Thanks for reaching out regarding the 250 S. Mills Road site. The City has been actively engaged with the property owner regarding an adaptive reuse of this building, which include updates to the landscaping and the addition of a mezzanine within the building, as well as other interior modifications to accommodate future tenants. We have recently received a resubmittal and both Planning and Building & Safety are ready to issue permits in the very near future. The property has been subject to vandalism and the property owner has been regularly cleaning / boarding up the building. They’ve also hired a security company to monitor the building to help minimize the vandalism.

If you wish to read the history of the property, it is summarized in our Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) staff reports https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15024/2018-12-17_Item-2

The HPC reviewed the project three times in 2018; April 25, May 23, and December 17. For your convenience, below is the motion made by the HPC on December 17.

Forward a recommendation to the Community Development Director with the following comments:

1. Project shall conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s (SOI) Standards;

2. Have a historic architect participate in the schematic, design development phase and public hearing stages, and provide ongoing historic preservation input to help identify standards compliant treatments, approaches, and strategies for ensuring maximum retention of character defining features;

3. All modifications shall be reversible, meaning not damaging any of the original materials or that can be repaired with matching materials.

4. Mezzanine shall not touch any of the walls;

5. Terminate the ends of the mezzanine so that it aligns with the adjacent window bays;

6. Ideally the windows should be restored to original non-mullion glazing; otherwise the bottom of the finished mezzanine shall be in line with the window mullions;

7. The elevator shall be clear on three sides and if possible all four sides;

8. The restrooms shall be placed in an unobtrusive location(s);

9. The HPC prefers Option 1e, 3, and 4 in no particular order;

10. A Phase II Historic Resources Report to inform staff’s analysis of the design;

11. The HPC STRONGLY recommends the following:

a. Apply for local landmark status and Mills Act

b. Consider locating the mezzanine in the center of the upper floor and maintain the two-story volume over the existing staircase;

c. Consider Option 3 in a manner that satisfies the structural engineer.

Boys & Girls Club celebrates new ten passenger van

 

Photo by Bernie Goldstein

On Wednesday, May 15, at the Robert Addison Clubhouse a celebration was held for the unveiling of the Boys & Girls Club new ten passenger van. Generously matched by Aera Energy, this van will provide a safe path from school to the Club.

Robert Addison Boys & Girls Club, 1440 North Olive Street, Ventura.

Congratulations 2019 Grads!

Ventura College Graduates featured on CAPS Media

Believe it or not, it’s graduation season and CAPS Media recorded and facilitated live-streaming of the Ventura College graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17. Next up are El Camino High School on Friday, June 7 and Foothill High School on Thursday, June 13. All of the graduation ceremonies will be recorded and broadcast on CAPS Channel 6 in the weeks following the events. Congratulations to all the Grads!

Recently CAPS Media hosted a media workshop for Public Information Officers (PIOs) from throughout Ventura County at the CAPS Media Center. The group included PIOs from Ventura County, various cities, schools and other institutions and agencies in the region. The quarterly meeting provided the media professionals with suggestions for media production (video, radio and online), an overview and tour of the CAPS Media Center to allow them to more fully appreciate the resources available, plus time to network with colleagues with similar objectives.

The CAPS Media Family Treasures Workshop is coming on Thursday, May 30 at 4pm at the CAPS Media Center. If you’ve thought about documenting your family history this is a great opportunity to learn how to using family stories, interviews, photos, keepsakes, memorabilia and more to create a personalized and professional Family Treasures video. Every family has wonderful stories and memories that should be recorded and then shared with family members and passed along to generations. CAPS can help you move your family history project from the “I wish I’d done that” column to the “I’m glad I did it” column. The Free Family Treasures workshop is the place to share ideas on what to gather and learn about resources available to create your family treasure. The workshop will be held at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road in Ventura. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 805.658.0500.

CAPS Media is collaborating with Community Council organizations throughout Ventura to record, broadcast and stream their neighborhood meetings. CAPS covered the East Ventura Community Council meeting on May 16 and is scheduled to record, broadcast and stream the Westside Community Council meeting on Wednesday evening, June 5th. If other community council groups want CAPS Media to record their meeting they should contact CAPS at [email protected] or call 805-658-0500.

All the resources and training at the CAPS Media Center are available to the entire Ventura community. 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 that for a low annual membership fee of $25 you can receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production (additional fee required) and more. Member/Producers have access to CAPS Media’s state-of-the-art facilities including video cameras, editing systems, the fully equipped television and radio studios. Don’t miss out. Go to capsmedia.org, or call 805-658-0500 for information.

Celebrating 15 Years of Footworks Youth Ballet Performances

Coppélia is where brilliant classical dance meets a delightfully comic narrative. Photo by Todd Lechtick

This year marks the 15th year of full-scale, live ballet stage productions by Ventura’s Footworks Youth Ballet, where students and audiences alike experience the utmost in classical ballet. Students fill lead roles whenever possible in productions like The Nutcracker every December, or other classics like Snow White, Swan Lake, or Peter and the Wolf every spring. And this spring, they bring the timeless and comedic Coppélia to the Ventura College Performing Arts Center on June 1st (2 pm and 7 pm) and June 2nd (2 pm).

“We are excited to be bringing Coppélia to Ventura this spring,” says Artistic Director Kirsten Oakley. “One of the few comedic ballets in the classical ballet repertoire, Coppélia is the perfect story ballet for all audiences.”

Coppélia is where brilliant classical dance meets a delightfully comic narrative. The three-act ballet tells the lighthearted story of how Franz, a village boy engaged to Swanhilda, becomes infatuated with a life-like doll created by the eccentric inventor, Dr. Coppelius. Hilarity ensues over love and mistaken identity.

Originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon, Coppélia premiered in Paris in 1870. Saint-Léon’s interest in folk dancing figures prominently in the ballet, and is also reflected in the lush symphonic music by French composer Léo Delibes. With its tuneful and romantic music, Coppélia stands alongside such classics as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker as the best-loved and most enduring ballets of all time.

Based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, Coppélia introduced automatons, dolls and marionettes to ballet productions. Because of its success with audiences, ballets like The Nutcracker followed suit with dolls and toys that come to life. Coincidentally, The Nutcracker is also based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffman.

A delightful performance of ballet fun for families and children of all ages, The New York Times calls Coppélia “one of the happiest ballets in existence.”

Footworks Youth Ballet is a nonprofit ballet company located in Ventura, California, whose purpose is to provide educational opportunities to young people and the community through the art of ballet. Oakley Ballet Center is the official school of Footworks Youth Ballet.

Ventura College Performing Arts Center – Coppélia
June 1st: 2 pm and 7 pm
June 2nd: 2 pm
Tickets: $22
For info/tickets:  www.footworksyouthballet.org

Happy 10 Year Anniversary to The Ladies Luncheon, Ventura!

Laurie Ann Meyer knows how to ‘Eat, Meet & Greet.’

by Carol Leish

How does ten years go by so quickly for The Ladies Luncheon, Ventura?

The Ladies Luncheon, Ventura, was started in June, 2009 by, Laurie Ann Meyer. She said, “I’ve always had a passion for mentoring and bringing women together because of the energy that’s created, and the ability that the women have when they come together to give each other moral support.” As the owner, Laurie also said, “I realize the importance of being open and conscientious of the needs of the women as they grow and change.

With a desire to be able to create a venue and opportunity for women to be able to join a club without paying dues or an annual membership, Laurie realized the importance of creating a group in which ladies could come when they were able to. She said, “There are multiple categories for businesses. Thus, there would be no limitation in how many realtors or insurance agents come to any meeting.” And, according to her, “Instead of competing with each other, with having no limits of the number from many different categories, we’re supporting each other.

When The Ladies Luncheon started in, June, 2009, the first group of six women met at the former, My Florist & Bakery, which was in downtown Ventura. “By the third luncheon,” according to Laurie, “we had 25 women. Thus, for the fourth luncheon we needed a bigger venue.” She said that, “Of the initial four that met in June, Jessica Maxwell, Martha Jaffe, and myself are still coming!”

Laurie said that the fourth luncheon was at the Pierpont Inn. “We were there for many years. Then, when they went through renovations, we were at the Le Petit Café, in the Ventura Harbor for about a year. Then, we went back to meeting at the Pierpont. Now, we’ve met/continue to meet at the Poinsettia Pavilion since 2017.”

Laurie is very thankful that Elaine O’Malia helps out by doing marketing for the group which includes maintaining The Ladies Luncheon website: www.theladiesluncheon.com for many years.

“By coming to The Ladies Luncheon,” according to the website: www.theladiesluncheon.com, “the meeting will inspire and encourage your entrepreneurship.” You’ll be able to, ‘Eat, Meet & Greet,’ which is the motto. Besides eating delicious food, you’ll be able to give a brief commercial of who you are/what you do. You’ll also be able to shop with various vendors at the meeting, such as different jewelry, books, and makeup, along with others.

Come join the fun with us as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the group on June 6, 2019 between 11:00am-1:00pm at the Poinsettia Pavilion, which is at: 3451 Foothill Rd. Please register at: www.theladiesluncheon.com. See you all very soon for a time of celebration! Special thanks to, Laurie Ann Meyer, for making this 10-year+ journey a fun one which will continue on for many more years!

Ventura Libraries Event Listing 

Avenue Library
Summer Reading Events

Juggler David Cousins
6/17 Monday @ 5-6pm
David Cousin, holder of five juggling world records, will amaze you!

Rockets
6/25 Tuesday @ 3-4pm
Learn about rockets and aerodynamics by launching paper rockets.

Jim Cogan Storyteller
6/26 Wednesday @ 3-4pm
For 25 years Jim Cogan has been inspiring and motivating children to jump into the joy of reading through a wealth of oral tales.

Children & Family Event
Bilingual Early Literacy Class
6/3, 10, 17, & 24 Mondays @ 5:30-6:30pm
Join us every Monday for storytelling, nursery rhymes, flannel board fun and more!

E.P. Foster Library 

Adult Programs & Special Events
A California Native Plant Society Lecture
6/18 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 Shows

Christopher T. Magician
6/20 Thursday @ 11am

Jim Cogan Storyteller
6/27 Thursday @ 11am
For 25 years Jim Cogan has been inspiring and motivating children to jump into the joy of reading through a wealth of oral tales.

Sub Zero Science
6/29 Saturday @ 3pm
Sub Zero will be a performing a delicious science show. One free ice cream ticket will be given out to the first 50 kids & teens.

Early Literacy Class
6/4, 11, 18, & 25 Tuesdays &
6/5, 12, 19, & 26 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Makerspace Open Workshop
6/18 &25 Tuesdays &
6/19& 26 Wednesdays @ 3-6pm
For All Ages, kids, teen, adult. Free, drop-ins welcome, no prior experience needed. Try out the New Maker Menu!

Hill Road Library
Family & Children’s Ongoing Events

Early Literacy Class
6/5, 12, 19, & 26 Wednesdays @ 10:30am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun! Aimed at ages 0-5.
Juggler David Cousin
6/3 Monday @ 5pm
David Cousin, holder of five juggling world records, will amaze you!
Musician Craig Newton
6/18 Tuesday @ 4pm
Get ready for foot stomping, toe tapping, hand clapping, sing-along fun with performer and singer-songwriter, Craig Newton.
Storyteller Jim Cogan
6/25 Tuesday @ 4pm
For 25 years Jim Cogan has been inspiring and motivating children to jump into the joy of reading through a wealth of oral tales.
Contraption Lab
6/27 Thursday @ 4pm
Kids can dream up crazy courses, then build and test them using this easy-to-construct hook and loop-like system.

Saticoy Library
Summer Reading Events

Nathalia, Bilingual Children’s Musician
6/17 Monday @ 3-4pm

Juggler David Cousins
6/22 Monday @ 11:30am-12:30pm
David Cousin, holder of five juggling world records, will amaze you!

Early Literacy Class
6/4, 11, 18, & 25 Tuesdays @ 10am
Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft & fun!

Adult Classes & Events
English Classes
6/3, 10, 17, & 24 Mondays &
6/5, 12, 19, & 26 Wednesdays @ 3- 5pm
One on one instruction in English hosted by Laubach Literacy of Ventura County

No Closures in June