The Ventura County Writers Club is proud to announce the winners of its 18th annual short story contest. “We received some of the best stories in the youth category we have ever had,” says VCWC President Rhonda Noda. First place winner, in the high school category, Lauryn Trimmer (17) won $100 for her story Shooting Stars. Ms. Trimmer hopes to work in the publishing industry after college. Second place in the high school category went to San Jose sophomore Elaine Zhai for her story Snatched. She frequently writes for her school newspaper and for Harker DECA, a leadership program. Third place in the high school category is El Camino High School student Danielle Shew for The Candy Stalker.

The first place prize of $500 in the adult category went to long-time Westlake resident, artist and published author, Kathleen Auth for her story Todd O’Brian. The second-place winning story The Cat is by Camarillo resident, author, editor Sheli Ellsworth. Psychologist Glenn Rowe of Moorpark placed third for his story Déjà vu.

Adult honorable mentions were Venturans Woody Woodburn for Full House, Empty House and The Guardian of the Gorge by Charlotte Rossler.

High school honorable mentions include Shattered Glass by Danielle Shew and Sir Maxwell’s Great Escape by El Camino High School student Annabella Page (16).

The club, established in 1933, was organized to encourage the draft of writing. Go to venturacountywriters.com for information.

In the last year of her 40-year teaching career, Karen Blackwell shares what a Foster VC Kids student taught her and encourages other community members to help at-risk youth.

Karen Blackwell has dedicated 40 years of her life to teaching middle school and high school students. For the last 25 years she taught at Ventura High School where, in August 2017, she first met Keanna, a senior in her English class. As a high school English teacher, Blackwell explained that sometimes her students would share their personal situations through their writing assignments. It was through her student’s writing that Blackwell learned about the challenges faced by some of the foster youth in her class.

Keanna wrote what her definition of family is: “A family is not defined by the relation of blood, but by the connection in heart.” Blackwell’s reaction to her student’s profound quote, “That gives me chills. Keanna has so much talent and ability. With the right support and opportunities, she can do a lot.”

Keanna was in Blackwell’s class only for a short time before the youth was placed in a new foster home in another city. When that placement didn’t work out, Keanna returned to Ventura and to Ventura High School. Upon her return, Keanna was encouraged by her friends to audition for the school talent show – something she was very shy about doing. Blackwell was the talent show organizer and recalls Keanna’s hesitant yet stunning audition. “I cried at her talent,” shared Blackwell. “Keanna is completely self-taught on how to play the piano, and she played beautifully with a song she composed herself. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Through her connection with Keanna and others, Blackwell says she learned personally how foster youth “have more challenges than other kids who live in a loving, nurturing environment. The cards are stacked against them.” Yet, Blackwell adds, “I’m impressed by how well they do despite these challenges. They are resilient.”

Blackwell believes it’s important for all children, especially foster youth, to explore and develop what they’re good at doing. “Every kid has a special talent and needs an opportunity to try something,” said Blackwell. She encourages community members to step up and provide youth with music or art lessons, sports activities or other extracurriculars.

Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Foster VC Kids works with community members and partners to ensure children have a safe and stable home environment while strengthening the families around them, so the youth feel supported, encouraged and loved.

Jaci Johnson, Program Coordinator/Resource Family Recruitment, Development & Support for Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Foster VC Kids says, “Karen’s story is a testament to how vital it is for our at-risk youth to have guidance, encouragement and a safe, stable adult in their life – both at home and at school. And, we have an opportunity to be inspired by the resiliency of these amazing youth.”

Learn more about becoming a resource parent or a mentor to let a foster child know there are people in our community who believe in them, visit FosterVCKids.org.

Recognized as a best practice leader statewide in the family recruitment and support component of child welfare, Foster VC Kids provides resource families with ongoing support services, trauma-informed training, and mentorship to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being of Ventura County’s youth and families. Learn how Foster VC Kids is making a difference throughout Ventura County, www.fostervckids.org.

This is a Golden Year for Ventura Friends of the Library, the dedicated volunteers who help support Ventura’s four branch libraries, (Avenue Library, E.P. Foster Library, Hill Road Library and Saticoy Library), manage the bookshop in E.P. Foster Library and organize regular book sales to raise funds for the libraries’ various requirements, from books, to furniture, computers and new creative programs.

The active non-profit group will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a quartet of festive events through the year, beginning with a kick off birthday party on Saturday March 2 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Adult Center, 550 N Ventura Avenue, and continuing at the nearby Avenue Library at 606 N. Ventura Avenue. The actual library is an appropriate venue for this landmark historic library event. The red brick apartment building Casa de Anza, which houses the library at street level, was built in 1929, and is designated an architectural landmark by the Ventura Historic Preservation Committee.

“We encourage friends and families to join us for a festive afternoon,” says FOL President Mary Olson. “There will be music, refreshments and other surprises.” We invite parents to bring their children to hear best-selling bi-lingual author Amada Perez read from her latest book, “Nana’s Big Surprise.” Noted creative artist Judee Hauer will be on hand to help children create folk art dolls from clothes pins. Inlakech Cultural Arts will add Mariachi music to the festivities.

The second part of the celebration, taking place in Avenue Library itself, includes the awarding of raffle prizes and 50 complimentary signed copies of Amada Perez’ book. Dates have been floated for the other trio of birthday parties: E.P Foster in the summer, Saticoy in September and a grand finale drumroll at Hill Road in October with the popular Harmonix Singers and their artistic director Miriam Arichea.

In 1969, the year FOL was founded, membership totaled 82 and book sales amounted to $470. Over the past decade, Ventura Friends of the Library has contributed more than a million dollars to Ventura’s libraries, including $200,700 contributed to the opening of the Hill Road branch in 2018. Surely a local success story and a notable achievement in the field of education and communication.

From twilight hikes, to festive launch parties and campouts, thousands of Scouts, parents, and volunteers celebrated nationwide as the Boy Scouts of America welcomed for the first time both young women and young men ages 11-17 into its most iconic program.

Members of Troop 1176 from Ventura were on hand at the Scout Service Center in Camarillo to help kick off the festivities. The girls turned in their official charter paperwork, before performing their first official duty as members of Scouts BSA, raising the American flag at the Scout Center.

For more than five decades, the Boy Scouts of America has been welcoming young women into its Venturing, Exploring, Sea Scouts and STEM Scouts programs. And today, the BSA is further expanding that legacy by welcoming young women into Scouts BSA. By welcoming boys and girls into these iconic Scouting programs, the Boy Scouts of America is responding to the requests of families who, for years, have sought these opportunities for every member of their family.

Through participation in all-girl troops, young women that join Scouts BSA will learn from the same program, earn the same merit badges and achieve the same advancements that boys have earned for nearly 109 years in the Boy Scout program.

For more than 100 years, the pinnacle of the Scouting experience for some has been achieving the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Starting today, young women can begin the journey toward that goal, and the BSA will ensure that all new Scouts BSA members have a fair opportunity to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. The BSA will celebrate their inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts in 2020.To learn more or join, visit www.Scouting.org/ScoutsBSA.

Do you like your chowders creamy and rich or with a tangy tomato-base? Chowder is a common food staple among seaside communities, with 10 varieties of this heartwarming dish served seaside at Ventura Harbor Village restaurants. Discover your favorite rendition of Clam Chowder at the 2nd Annual Chowder Taste in Ventura Harbor Village on Sunday, February 24 from 11am to 3pm. In celebration of an annual National Clam Chowder Day (which is February 25, 2019) visitors are encouraged to stroll the waterfront for a taste of seven sensational chowders for only $10 a ticket the day before on February 24.

The event coincides with the historical Tall Ships, Lady Washington & Hawaiian Chieftain, docked in Ventura Harbor Village until March 5th. Guests will be able to arrive early to board the ship for a Dockside Tour from 10am to 1pm, browse coastal shops and galleries, bask in the sunshine with live music, and partake in the delish Chowder Taste options from 11am to 3pm.

The Seaside Promenade Stage boasts the Carrillo Trio all afternoon and Chowder Taste tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis at the Village Visitor Booth nearby. Guests should arrive early and come prepared with $10 cash per person. Chowder Taste tickets will be sold until 2:30pm (pending availability).

New this year, chowder enthusiasts will have the opportunity to guarantee a spot for the experience ahead of time. Eager guests can head to Ventura Harbor Village to purchase Chowder Taste pre-sale tickets on select dates prior to the event (weather pending). Dates for presale tickets are February 16th from 10am to 1pm, February 17th from 2pm to 5pm, & February 23rd from 10am to 1pm (all weather pending) on the Village Promenade at the Village Visitor Booth. Those who buy pre-sale must bring a Valid ID to redeem a Taste Card and wristband the day of the event.

by Mark Stienecker

In correlation with his Museum of Ventura County historical exhibit, “Chris Hillman: Time Between”, Chris Hillman, along with his longtime musical collaborator, Herb Pedersen, performed before a standing room only crowd in the Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Pavilion.

The longtime Ventura resident has written and performed his songs with some of histories more storied bands: The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas and The Desert Rose Band.

Before performing a few of his well-known songs, Mr. Hillman entertained the crowd with some funny and decades old stories, including life on the road around the world with “The Byrds” after their number one hit, “Mr. Tambourine Man” was an international hit.

Other stories included his early fascination with Kentucky Bluegrass Music, his meeting up with Steven Stills to form the band, Manassas, and how The Flying Burrito Brothers came to fruition. His last tear jerker story entailed his collaboration with Tom Petty on his 2017 hit album, “Bidin My Time”. Chris and Tom, along with some of the Heartbreakers, David Crosby and Roger Mcguinn, wrote and performed songs together, the last musical project for Tom, who passed away unexpectedly, months later.

The “Chris Hillman: Time Between” exhibit is on display from now until March 31st. May of the musical artifacts include some of Chris’s guitars/mandolin, a few of his flashy outfits worn on stage over the years, many gold and platinum records from albums by each of his bands and many, many framed pictures and posters from a career not many have lived.

Speaking about the exhibit, Chris stated, “I am very honored to be a part of the Museum of Ventura County’s exhibit on my life in music. I feel so blessed to have been able to seek out and accomplish all that I dreamed of as a young man”.

The Museum of Ventura County is open to the public, Tuesday thru Sunday. For more information: call 805-653-0323 or visit their website at: Venturamuseum.org