January 5: Ventura Audubon Christmas Bird Count – Leader: Frank DeMartino 856-906-8733 or you may call one of the Section Leaders listed on website.

Birders of all skill levels are encouraged to participate. The more participants we have, the more areas we can cover and we can cover them more thoroughly. Sector Leaders usually start at 8:00 or 8:30 although some of the more ambitious leaders may start earlier!

January 6: 8:00 a.m. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area – Work day Leader: Sandy Hedrick 805-340-0478.

Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. Work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves and sun protection.

January 8: 7:30 p.m. VAS Monthly Program: Ventura Seabird Restoration on the California Islands… with Annie Little (USFWS) at the Poinsettia Pavillion – 3451 Foothill Road.The presentation will highlight restoration efforts for seabirds on the Channel Islands and Baja California Pacific Islands, including invasive species removal, habitat restoration, and social attraction.

January 12: 8:30 a.m. Ormond Beach Leaders: Cynthia Hartley 805-795-4115 & Adele Fergusson 805-415-4304. Join us at this excellent coastal location, where we will look for a variety of waterfowl, such as Willets, Whimbrels, Black necked Stilts, Black bellied Plovers and other interesting birds. We will also look for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Peregrine Falcon, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers. Please bring a scope if you have one.

January 19: 8:30 a.m. Soule Park Leader: Linda Easter 818-519-2833

Situated in east Ojai, this large park offers grasslands, large deciduous trees and riparian habitat that bring out winter feeding flocks of sparrows, bluebirds, and warblers and year round habitat for thrashers, woodpeckers, raptors and more.

January 27: 8:30 a.m. Canada Larga Leader: David Torfeh 805-794-5334

Meet near the beginning of the road off Hwy 33. We will carpool from that location as we walk and drive this long county road. Target species will include Barn Owl, Western Bluebirds, Lark Sparrow, Roadrunner, Phainopepla and various species of swallows.

“First we pray, then we act for justice.” So the Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford opened the Interfaith Prayer Vigil at the “Sunday of Solidarity with Refugee Families” in Ventura on December 9th. It was held at the corner of Victoria and Telephone at the Ventura County Government Center.

Dr. Stapleford is a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Paula and co-chair of Ventura County Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE-Ventura County), convener of the event.

Dr. Stapleford welcomed the large crowd present and continued, “On this Sunday of Solidarity we have gathered to draw strength from each other and from those who have traveled so far, only to languish at our Southern border but with the hope of claiming asylum in the United States.”

Anne Ward, a member of the North Oxnard United Methodist Church and part of the organizing committee, said, “People of faith are frustrated. We cannot accept the fact that those seeking asylum are being treated so poorly and our asylum laws are not being followed. We cannot allow such cruelty to continue in our name.”

“Judeo-Christian scripture tells us repeatedly to welcome the stranger,” said event co-chair the Rev. Melissa Campbell-Langdell, pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church in Oxnard.

Stories of some of the migrant asylum seekers were read. Prayers were said for the migrants and for the people there to strengthen their resolve to call for changes to policies now hurting would-be asylum seekers. The vigil concluded with a call to action emphasized by the blowing of the Shofar, the Jewish ceremonial ram’s horn, by Rabbi Lisa Hochberg- Miller of Temple Beth Torah in Ventura.

Those present were charged with taking actions to ameliorate the situation at the border: contacting elected representatives, serving at the border, and donating to organizations that are supporting the migrants.

Event co-sponsors included:  Indivisible Ventura, Democratic Moms of Camarillo, Indivisible Ojai, Buen Vecino, and Coastal Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CA– USE).

CLUE-Ventura County is on the web at www.cluevc.org and can be reached via email at [email protected].

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by Jolene Bibian

I’m part of a committee planning a local 5k in Ventura scheduled for January 12^th, 2019.

This event is our first attempt at our goal of raising $10k to get a Children’s Dream Racer Car built for VCMC Pediatrics unit. These cars are built by Mark ‘Smitty’ Smith who worked on NASCARs in the 90’s. He sold his shop in 2008 to use his talents in building Children’s Dream Racer cars for children in hospitals receiving care. They are designed to help ease the anxiety of children going through treatment and help them “just” be kids in an otherwise scary situation.

I’m the president-elect of “Ventura County Association of Health Underwriters”. We are not underwriters, but rather healthcare advocates. VCAHU proudly serves our community with a vision of providing access to private sector solutions for health insurance through the unbiased advice of local agents and brokers.

Incoming presidents of the local association are encouraged to lead an event within the association prior to their term as president. Typically, these are aimed at our own industry by way of professional development. This time around, we decided to do an event that was community facing. If we meet our goal, and get that car to the kids, we will be the first west coast chapter of our national association to do so! We would love for our VCMC kids to have one of these cars and for our community to be a part of making that happen! The power of play is a vital resource for the healing process.

Registration is open for the 5k and readers of the Breeze can use a promo code BREEZE to receive a discount.

We encourage registering before Dec 12th to help in planning efforts.

People can donate and register online: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Ventura/VCAHU5k

We are also actively looking for community members to fill our sponsorship spots or include their raffles prizes for the morning of the 5k.

The Museum of Ventura County has announced Deya Terrafranca as its new library and archives director. Terrafranca will be responsible for managing all aspects of the regional special collection and historical research library, including collection development and supervision of more than 20 volunteers.

Terrafranca’s appointment follows the retirement of Charles Johnson, who came to Ventura County nearly 30 years ago to take the position as librarian and became the Museum’s longest serving staff member.

The library houses more than 170,000 items relating to Ventura County’s history including maps, photographs, newspapers, books, periodicals, manuscripts, oral histories and video tapes, including many rare and one-of-a-kind, articles of incorporation and other county records.

“One of the Museum’s goals is to increase the public’s accessibility to the full breadth of the incredible library collection that has been amassed under the leadership of Charles, the Museum’s Accessions Committee and its many volunteers,” said Elena Brokaw, the Museum’s Barbara Barnard Smith executive director. “Deya’s experience working with Charles on this goal will help maintain continuity in moving it forward.”

In addition, Terrafranca will spearhead the Museum’s commitment to ensure that all at-risk collections are conserved and properly cared for, and that the entire collection is housed in one consolidated, climate controlled and ADA-compliant space that allows discovery, instruction, research, and collaboration.

Terrafranca has worked at the Museum for nearly two years in a variety of positions from visitors’ services and administrative support staff to advancement director, responsible for cultivating corporate and individual donor opportunities, increasing membership and developing and promoting the museum’s diverse programming, events and exhibits. Terrafranca holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and a bachelor’s degree in sculpture and political science from Concord University in Athens, West Virginia.

In her library experience Terrafranca has worked in administration, cataloguing, reference, research, circulation, and programming. She has served as programs coordinator, supervising city librarian and assistant director of library systems in Ventura and West Virginia. In those roles she launched library renovations and new programs including collections reorganizations and building renovations.

“As a librarian, my experiences in libraries have ingrained a deep respect for a sense of place; I believe our history can help us connect to that sense of place and create a sense of belonging. I think belonging is critical to active engagement in our community’s life and future. The first-year plan for the library is to increase the public’s access to the full breadth of the incredible library collection which has been amassed under the leadership of former librarian Charles Johnson, the Museum’s Accessions Committee, and many additional volunteers. My goal is to ensure that all at risk collections are conserved and properly cared for, and that the entire collection is housed in one consolidated, climate controlled, and ADA compliant space that allows discovery, instruction, research, and collaboration. That goal is several years out but we are getting jump start on it! The community’s access to this rich cultural history has to be expanded and that will take place through a consolidated catalog, online access to the collection contents, and digitization of items like maps and photographs.”

“We are thrilled to have someone with Deya’s qualifications take over the role of library and archives director,” said Kate McLean, the Museum’s board chair. “Her extensive knowledge and library expertise, coupled with her first-hand experience with the Museum, makes her an ideal person to step into the role. We will support her efforts in every way possible.”

The Ventura Film Society 2.0 hosted a reception at the Museum of Ventura County on December 7th to preview its 2019 season. Commentary from past VFS members and introductions from past VFS director Lorenzo Destefano, along with new Executive Director Mike Miller were presented.

The Ventura Film Society is about to be reborn. Founded by Ventura-based filmmaker Lorenzo DeStefano in 2008, the VFS brought over 400 films to discerning audiences before going on hiatus in 2016 so that Lorenzo could produce and direct his film, Hearing is Believing. He has just completed his play Shipment Day which opened in Hawaii.

By video Lorenzo congratulated the new VFS Team of Mike Miller, Braedon Freeland, Gina Nemo, John-Arthur Ingram and Justin Viar as they embark on the next generation of bringing independent films and filmmakers to Ventura. He also thanked all who have supported the Society and asked for their financial support as well.

“Please support their efforts in the coming months as they continue on their own path of celebrating Film as Public Art and bringing people together in the dark.” stated Lorenzo Destefano, Founder & Former Director, Ventura Film Society.

The Ventura Film Society’s mission is to provide a foundation for our community to grow and thrive through the art of film with imaginative and compelling cinematic experiences in our city.

Most hospitals in Ventura County have one thing in common, they receive blood from Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services. Who donates this much needed blood? Citizens of Ventura County just like you, who have realized the importance of keeping a healthy blood supply in our community. Ready at a moment’s notice, many units of blood are used for emergency situations, but what many people don’t realize is there are units that are transfused to local patients on a daily basis.

Each year, during the holiday season, Vitalant experiences the “perfect storm” where the blood supply declines, but holiday usage increases.

Here are 5 reasons why your holiday blood donation is so important and impactful:

1)    It’s cold and flu season. When blood donors get sick, they are unable to donate, leaving a gap in regular donations. During this time of year, anyone who is healthy and is able to donate is needed to help make up for those who are under the weather.

2)    So many of us are really busy with travel and holiday plans and regular blood donations get put on the back burner. The blood supply is especially reliant on new donors and those who donate only a couple of times a year to help see it through the holiday slump.

3)    Inclement weather. It really is mostly gorgeous here in Ventura County, but when it rains, it tends to change the number of donors we get through the doors this time of year.

4)    Local colleges take a break. When Ventura County’s collegiate population decreases, so does the blood supply. Colleges have traditionally been a reliable source for volunteer blood donors, and their absence is truly felt.

5)    Traffic. Increased traffic, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can trigger more trauma situations where the number of mass transfusions increases. The blood supply, must always be at ample levels to handle these types of situations, it’s the blood on hospital shelves that saves lives, and during the holidays, keeping those shelves full can be a challenge.

There is no substitute for human blood, and each unit that’s transfused has an awesome blood donor behind it. Imagine waking up to a text saying your blood is on its way to the hospital to be transfused to a patient. What a feeling of awe to be able to participate in transforming another human life.

Give blood Dec. 17 – Jan. 2 in Ventura at 2223 Eastman Ave, STE A and receive a $20 movie certificate through Vitalant’s Donor Rewards Store. Potential donors can search for a convenient blood drive at www.vitalant.org or call 1.805.543.4290. Walk-ins are welcome.

The Executive Director of Adventure Cycling Association (ACA), Jim Sayer, will speak about bicycle travel and tourism; the why, what, where, and how of getting on a bike and exploring. He will share how communities coast-to-coast are attracting more bike tourists and how those bike tourists are revitalizing small town America. Jim Sayer will discuss ACA initiatives to make cycling safer and more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Sayer will highlight the importance of bicycle-friendly cities and businesses; as well as the current efforts of CIBike, Cycle California Coast, and other local organizations to increasing bicycle tourism in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Sayer’s visit to Ventura will be the first of more than 40 cities across the United States that ACA staff will visit in 2019. Sayer joined ACA in 2004 and also serves on the board of America Bikes.

ACA is the largest bicycle-travel (touring/camping) organization in North America with more than 40 years of experience and 53,000 members. ACA, a non-profit organization, produces widely-used U.S. cycling maps, offers guided bicycle tours, promotes bike tourism, produces how-to tutorials for beginning cyclists, and supports print and online media featuring the best in bike touring gear and know-how.

All who are interested in bicycle travel, or just want to learn more about cycling, are welcome to attend.

Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. Wednesday, January 9. Doors open at 6:30pm with refreshments. The program starts at 7:00pm.

The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike), established in 1990, is Ventura County’s largest recreational cycling club. CIBike shares the benefits of bicycling for health, recreation, sport, and transportation through regularly scheduled group bike rides, events and a free public program on the second Wednesday of each month at the Museum of Ventura County.

Adventure Cycling: adventurecycling.org/

Cycle California Coast: cyclecalcoast.com

Channel Islands Bicycle Club: cibike.org

Contact: Bill Faulkner, Grants Director, [email protected].