Stage 2 of the tour last year was just a prelude to this year’s bigger and better cycling spectacle.

by Mira Reverente

Expect to see a lot of fast bikes in the next few days when the 2019 Amgen Tour of California makes a comeback to our sunny, coastal city.

In 2018, the tour started Stage 2 at the picturesque Ventura Pier, in what can be described as an enticing prelude to this year’s bigger cycling spectacle. This year, both the men’s and women’s races will finish stages at the celebrated Ventura County Fairgrounds.

There’s so much to look forward to for the tour’s 14th year – 19 men’s teams, 13 women’s teams, five returning champions, potential 2020 Tokyo-bound Olympians and even local sisters competing in the women’s race.

“The tour was passing through Ventura in 2016 and we made this video featuring students from Cabrillo Middle School that had so much online engagement,” says Marlyss Auster, president and CEO, Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau.

“The organizers were impressed with Ventura, and that started the whole discussion,” says Auster, describing the long process of being designated a host city.

This year promises to be bigger and better with ballet folklorico dancers, mariachis, cowbells galore for spectators and still-to-be announced surprises to regale the crowds and cycling aficionados.

Says Auster, “We are eager to showcase Ventura pride while having the international spotlight.”

While the local organizing committee is tending to planning, logistics and marketing, a pair of volunteer coordinators are busy recruiting and coordinating volunteers for the big day on Thursday, May 16.

Kate Faulkner, president of the Channel Islands Bicycle Club, is co-coordinator with Leslie Ogden. Together, the duo have their sights on recruiting approximately 300 volunteers to help local police with crowd control and the safety of both riders and spectators.

“It’s very exciting finding all these groups who want to get involved in putting together a world-class event,” says Faulkner, a Ventura local and bike safety advocate.

Volunteers usually come from local schools, service groups, bike clubs and non-profit organizations. “With the women’s race starting at 12:10 pm, we’re hoping some students will be let out early to volunteer,” says Faulkner.

Aside from the intense volunteer involvement, another source of pride for Venturans is the participation of sisters Alexis and Kendall Ryan.

“I used to see them riding their bikes around town when they were kids,” says Faulkner. “They rode everywhere together.”

Kendall, 26, who rides for TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank, won Stage 1 of the women’s race last year. Alexis, 24, rides for Canyon-SRAM.

If you want to catch a glimpse of the Ryan sisters, there is a free, special presentation sponsored by the Channel Islands Bicycle Club at the Ventura County Museum, on Wednesday, May 8. Doors open at 6:00 pm but the program starts at 7:00 pm.

Otherwise, head to the Ventura County Fairgrounds before noon on Thursday, May 16 to catch the start of the women’s race. Expect the men to get to the Fairgrounds sometime after 3:00 pm, from Pismo Beach where Stage 5 starts.

Both the men’s and women’s races will conclude in Pasadena on Saturday, May 18.

Kevin Clerici, chairperson of the local organizing committee states, “We want the world to see that we are a bike-friendly community. People will hopefully come and stay, and bike here in the future.”

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/host-cities/ventura.

During his career at the Port District, Peña has been extremely active in the community.

After serving a distinguished career with the Ventura Port District General Manager Oscar F. Peña officially retired on April 30, 2019.  Peña has been at the helm of Ventura Harbor for 20 years. The Ventura Port District employs 35 full-time employees and generates $8 million in annual revenue.

Ventura Port District Board Chairman Chris Stephens stated, “Under Peña’s leadership the Port District has grown into an economically diverse and fiscally sound community asset in which the City can be proud.”

A Ventura resident for 27 years, Peña cites several key accomplishments during his 20-year employment. With Peña at the helm, the commercial fishing industry in the harbor now houses more than forty purse seine vessels which export California Market Squid to a global market. This commercial fishing industry creates 215 jobs in the Ventura region and can generate approximately $20 million annually into the Ventura County economy. 

Ventura Council Member Cheryl Heitmann shares “As the City’s liaison to the Port District for many years, Mr. Peña has established effective working relationships with public agencies, the private sector and tenants throughout the harbor.” 

As a former commercial real estate executive in the private sector for 20 years, Peña contracted with the Port District to provide property management and leasing services at Ventura Harbor Village in 1992 and improved occupancy levels from an initial 60 percent to nearly 96 percent today.

After seven years of providing property management and leasing services to the District, the Ventura Port District hired Peña as the new General Manager of Ventura Harbor in July ,1999.

Past member and Board Chair of the Ventura Port District, Ed McCombs states, “Mr. Peña has led the Port District from bankruptcy to its current solid financial state, positioning the Ventura Harbor as a major asset of the City.” 

In 2001, Peña was instrumental in encouraging Island Packers, the primary concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, to relocate their business to a more prominent location, significantly enhancing the visibility and charters to the Channel Islands National Park.

“I’ve greatly enjoyed working with tenants in the harbor and a dedicated staff that has contributed to the District’s success over the years.  Needless to say, many volunteer board members have provided the leadership needed to make the Ventura Harbor what it is today,” states Peña. 

Peña has been extremely active in the community serving with both the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and Ventura Conference & Visitor Bureau boards.  Under a new short-term agreement, Peña’s expertise will be utilized as the Business Operations Manager for the Port District, where he will oversee real estate transactions and special projects until a complete transition is made.

Upon retirement, Peña will focus on rebuilding his home which was destroyed in the Thomas Fire, remaining active in the community and spending time with family.

Brian Pendleton, currently the Deputy General Manager for the Ventura Port District, was appointed at the April 18^th Board of Commissioners Meeting as the next General Manager for the Ventura Port District. 

Chuck Cecil at his home studio in Ventura.

by Richard Lieberman

Chuck Ceci,l whose radio show “The Swinging Years” had run for more than 50 years has died at age 97. He died on April 30th still broadcasting his syndicated radio show. In 1942 he briefly hosted his first radio show for a small radio station. Shortly after he was drafted and served in WWII, where he worked in pilot training.

After the war, Cecil settled down in Oregon and re-started his radio career. He became the announcer for “Baldy’s Band” a popular band. He married the group’s vocalist, Edna Brown, in 1947. In 1952 he joined Los Angeles radio station KFI and he worked at KFI from 1952 until 1973.

Cecil joined Los Angeles radio station KGIL-Am and KPRZ and worked at the station from the 1960s through the 1980s. At the same time, Cecil hosted the “Big Band Countdown” for Armed Forces Radio which spread his love for jazz around the world.

During the same period, he launched the show he was most known for “The Swinging Years” in 1956 while still at KFI. He retired, hanging up his earphones in 2016. At its peak, the show was aired on hundreds of radio stations nationwide.

The Breeze interviewed Cecil at his home in Ventura a few years back. He described to the Breeze how his show “The Swinging Years” was now produced at his home utilizing a vast library of recorded jazz titles which at one time held more than 30,000 78, 45 and 33-RPM records. He also had amassed a library of over 356 interviews with band leaders, singers, and band members.

The show has continued in syndication until his passing. In recent years Cecil had discovered a new audience of jazz lovers via streaming media.

Here at the Breeze we will miss our dear friend and will always remember his contributions to the world of jazz. Our heartfelt condolences to his widow Edna Brown and family. Goodbye, Chuck, we know we will hear from you again.