What corner in Ventura is this (hint it’s on the west side)?
The winner wins 2 tickets to RESCUECON, a convention like no other, where the human-animal bond takes center stage on February 23-24, 2019. See the Pet Page this issue for all of the details. Answer to [email protected].
ECTV students Sienna Shaifer, Bella Welch, Mohamad Abdulah, Josh Brook, Eleana Newton, Gina Favazzo, Claire Villegas, Jessica Llamas, Keegan Pancretz and Jacob.
Congratulations to CAPS Media producers and students from El Camino High School for winning WAVE Awards at the recent ACM conference in Long Beach. The WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence) were presented at the recent Alliance for Community Media conference. The competition was open to residents in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico.
CAPS Media’s won for the “Thomas Fire Stories – Clark Tulberg, Thomas Aquinas College” story in the category of Community Issues. The ECTV students won three awards: “ECTV – Peace Corps and Amber Bassett” in the Educational Access category, “ECTV – Women’s Rights and Hijabs” in the Underserved Voices category and “ECTV Chicano Art and Mariachi” in the Community Event category.
This is the third year in a row that ECTV teams have won awards at the ACM Western Region conference. Students in the CAPS Media/El Camino media internship program master the skills and art of video production and digital storytelling. The ECTV topics and stories are selected, developed and produced by the El Camino team members. All of the ECTV programs are available on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/videos.
Happy 2nd Birthday! CAPS RADIO KPPQ 104.1FM
Two short years ago CAPS Media launched CAPS Radio – KPPQ-104.1 FM, Ventura’s public access radio station serving the community 24×7 from the CAPS Media Center.
CAPS Radio brings together a passionate group of deejays, personalities and producers. During the past two years the station has continued to expand its voice and has become an essential part of the fabric of Ventura’s conversation and entertainment.
Listen to KPPQ throughout the county @ 104.1FM, on the myTuner app or streaming on capsmedia.org. The program schedule and information is available at capsmedia.org/radio. Share all that Ventura has to offer by joining the crew and inviting your friends to listen to KPPQ.
For those who missed the initial screenings of The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story in December, two additional screenings are scheduled at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula on Saturday, March 9th at 1pm & 3pm. This is a free event, open to the public, no reservations are required. Also, in response to requests from the community, the documentary is open for viewing on the CAPS Media website homepage – capsmedia.org.
Explore the possibilities at CAPS Media. If you have an interest in community television or radio production, or are just curious, drop by the CAPS Media Center on the first Thursday of the month and learn how to become a member of CAPS and join our community of enthusiastic and engaged member/producers. A CAPS Media staff member directs a tour of the television studio and radio station, demonstrates the equipment and resources that are available, and answers questions about the benefits of becoming a CAPS Media member for only $25 per year.
Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. Once certified, member/producers check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their project and craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 805-658-0500.
CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.
Nuvi Mehta introduced the artists for the Silver Anniversary.
On Monday, January 28, a presentation was held at the Museum of Ventura County for the “Silver Anniversary Festival Preview” for the Ventura Music Festival new season. The program included artist previews of the Festival’s July line-up along with live music and refreshments.
Always informative and entertaining Nuvi Mehta – VMF Janet & Mark L. Goldenson Artistic Director, who presented the artists on a large screen, told the standing room only audience that a “major star” was set to close the year in November, but that the artist’s name must remain a secret for some months. “Wait till May,” he said; “you’ll love it.”
VMF Board president Richard Reisman provided the endnote to the sponsor gathering by announcing that the VMF Board had voted unanimously to invest Miriam Schwab’s recent $1.3 million bequest in a special endowment-like VMF Legacy Fund. “The Festival is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with an investment in our future,” Reisman said. “We’re stable financially with a prudent cash reserve. What we didn’t have was a fund to grow for the future. Now, thanks to Miriam, we have created a substantial Legacy Fund. Donors can join our Legacy Circle with a planned gift and be sponsors in perpetuity while the Fund – and the music – continue to grow.”
Leading off the year on February 9th were Anderson & Roe, lauded as “the most exciting piano duo on the planet.” Then in a special concert on May 10th NICO – the New Ideas Chamber Orchestra – take center stage as “the rock stars of chamber music.” Both events at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center.
Since 1994, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival has been to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist relationships, and enhance the joy of music through diverse programs for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.
renowned conductor and Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta, 25TH Annual Festival to Feature World-Class Artists, including The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6, Ranky Tanky, Calidore String Quartet and more this summer
(Ventura, CA) – Each year, the Ventura Music Festival fills venues across the city with top-tier music for two weekends of multi-genre music, dance performances and world-class culture. This summer, the festival is returning with a lineup that promises to be bigger and better than ever. Headlined by the one and only The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6 with support by world class acts such as classical guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening with extraordinary baritone Jubilant Sykes, the thrilling Rastrelli Cello Quartet and many others, the festival has something for every musical taste.
In the hands of the 2019 musical lineup consists of:
7/12: Festival headliners and acclaimed vocal groups are The Summit: Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6 as the renowned groups join forces to wow audiences at the Oxnard PACC
7/13: Celebrated guitarist Christopher Parkening joins renowned baritone Jubilant Sykes in a recital ranging from classical and jazz to American spirituals at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center
7/14: Calidore String Quartet brings “synergistic brilliance and ferocious commitment” to the Ventura College Performing Arts Center
7/19: Youth jazz pianist star-on-the-rise and “brightest light” Joey Alexander at the Ventura College Performing Arts center
7/20: Ranky Tanky brings Gullah culture and “soulful honey for the ears” through a prism of African, gospel and R&B music at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center
7/22: Rastrelli Cello Quartet’s “simply infectious” musical sizzle at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center
Additionally, the festival will host a “Tea & Trumpets” at the Ventura Pierpont Inn, where guests will enjoy a four-course English tea with the Festival Brass Quintet’s hallmark wit, humor and fanfare on 7/11, as well as a free public concert with high octane Latin guitar ensemble Incendio at Mission Park in Ventura on 7/18. For times, updates and more details in the coming months, follow the festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The 25th annual Ventura Music Festival will take place on July 11-15 and July 20-22, 2018 at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center, located at 4700 Loma Vista Road, Ventura CA 93003 unless otherwise noted above. Tickets will range in price from $25-$50 (special student rates excepted) and will be available for purchase in April. For more information please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org or call (805) 648-3146.
Since 1994, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival has been to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist relationships, and enhance the joy of music through diverse programs for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music.
Third graders working on their mural “Spread Peace and Love.”
Third graders of Ventura Charter School of Global Arts and Education (VCS) have been taking part in a project created by their teachers called, “Moment of Peace.” Days start with a read-aloud story or hands-on activity in the theme of teaching peace. Sometimes students greet their day outside and take part in teambuilding games. Other mornings take a moment for students to relate to characters in books dealing with challenges in the life of a child. These books raise meaningful and relatable discussions. Writing and acting out peaceful solutions is lifelong learning for these students. The culminating event of this project is a collaborative mural created by the VCS third graders. The mural reading “Spread Peace and Love” was created with the intent to be a roving art piece around our city.
Quotes from VCS third-grade artists explaining their mural process and purpose:
“We made the mural to spread kindness and to make people realize that you can change someone’s whole entire day by being kind. We are doing this to spread peace and love. We also made this for ourselves as a reminder that you have to love yourself so that you can be kind, confident, and spread kindness and love to others. We made a mural to help and remind others that they are never alone.
“Our teachers coordinated fifty students and parent helpers to create this work of art. It took lots of communication and care to share the painting work so it didn’t turn into a mess. It’s a six-foot square peace mural that reads, “Spread Peace and Love”. We want to spread peace because we want to teach kindness.
“At VCS we practice NVC (Nonviolent Communication) to learn about listening, being honest, kind, and peaceful. This is the message of our mural. We worked on it as a family. We want to bring the community together so that the community can feel more like a family too. Everyone has a kind heart inside. Everyone can be kind. We made some mistakes on our mural but we learned that mistakes are valuable and no one is perfect. This is a city-wide piece of hope for more love in the world. One smudge of paint can make an entire flower bloom.”
The Eye Clinic is currently looking for an optometrist that would like to help others in our community by performing eye exams and vision test. This is a paid position for once a week at about 4 hours.
The Ventura Rotary Club, Ventura Downtown Lions Club and the Salvation Army of Ventura have partnered to bring the community a free Eye Clinic. The goal and vision is to provide free eye glasses for those in need. Patients are seen each Thursday from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM except holidays.
The Eye Clinic is located inside the Salvation Army Hope Center 155 S Oak St, Ventura.
Breeze
Wondering why City Hall seems to have added three super-bright spotlights facing directly behind on to the hillsides. Most County regulations discourage all but down-facing lights to reduce disturbance to wildlife.
Debra Barringer
Debra
We have spot lights to illuminate our parking lot for our visitors and employee safety at night to get to their cars. We will see if it is illuminating the Ventura Botanical Garden and hillside. We are aware of the “night sky” requirement. I know there has been very bright lights behind the hillside, but I am not aware of where the lighting is coming from.
Thank you,
Mary Joyce Ivers, CPFP Interim Public Works Director
Have a question? Send to [email protected] and we will try to get you an answer.
by Jill Forman
Banjo player, songwriter and singer Donna Lynn Caskey isn’t sure where the nickname “Banjo Gal” came from, but it suits her. “It just kind of stuck,” she says; “people forget my name.”
Growing up in Virginia, and at college in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she dreamed about banjos and got “weepy” when she heard them. “It had my name on it.” She loves music and the power of songs, “…spooky things that move me emotionally.”
Although she came from a musical family and actually had a banjo for a couple of years, she didn’t start playing until she was in her 20’s. She got a scholarship to the Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, an intensive week-long banjo class that left her with “bloody cuticles and shredded fingernails.” Immersing oneself into a new instrument is “…a good way to start…by the third day, it clicked.”
After working a variety of jobs in Virginia and a stint in Peru taking care of sick kids, she decided to come to Santa Barbara for grad school. She had just started with the banjo, so she brought her instrument, a backpack, and a suitcase. Within three months she had written her first song, “Gold in the Mud,” which has been used in several church services, talking about the worthiness of every person. She is passionate about the creative process. “Making things and sharing them is service. Encouraging people is also service.” Another of her songs includes the line, “Everyone is worthy…all are welcome at the table.”
Speaking of service, Donna Lynn works full-time as a social worker for the county. She sees creativity and service as the themes of her life and finds that the stability of a consistent job fuels her own creativity. Phrases and melodies come to her in dreams at times. As a child she would sing to herself “…when nobody could hear me.”
Folk music is “…the music of the people.” The first banjos, for instance, were made by enslaved peoples trying to recreate the instruments of West Africa in the mountains and flatlands of the American South. “Anybody can write a song…sing it to your dog. It’s a human birthright to be creative and do it your own way.”
In addition to songs, she makes art: drawing, painting and mixed media. Her college degree is in Art, and her home displays her work. Plus a large collection of banjos, a couple of guitars, and a fiddle!
Donna Lynn has two CD’s, “Nameless Heart” and “The Love Still Shows.” Both are entirely songs she wrote herself, in varied styles, “…not stereotyped.” Something has to strike her emotionally in order to make a song out of it. She performs in the L.A. area at times and is part of that music scene, but it is not financially rewarding. There are a few singer-songwriter showcases she is part of, a house concert in Oakland, some benefit concerts, churches and art spaces.
CD’s can be purchased directly, and her events calendar viewed, at http://www.donnalynncaskey.com or at shows. Another alternative to download or buy CD’s is https://store.cdbaby.com.
She doesn’t do a lot of local shows, but will be performing at NAMBA Performing Arts Space in Downtown Ventura on March 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets will be $20 at the door or can be bought at http://www.nambaarts.com.
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue describes the CMH Auxiliary Volunteer’s department new uniforms. Out with the old color of pink tops. Please visit the new hospital to see the hospital and the new uniforms. The volunteers are always looking for new male and female volunteers so talk to them about that when there.
Join the Hokuloa on Feb.23, 10am-2pm for an Open House on the Beach. An introduction for youth and adult Outrigger Paddling in a 6-man canoe. Provided will be a paddle, a short lesson and practice on the water at Ventura Harbor at the end of Spinnaker Dr. For more information Hokuloaoutrigger.com.
Hokuloa is celebrating 30 years as an Outrigger Canoe Club in Ventura. They are a competitive club that participates in races along the Southern California coast. From San Diego all the way to Santa Barbara. They host their annual Ventura Challenge race in June.
