The New Year is a great time to join CAPS Media, where Member/Producers can explore any subject that interests them and CAPS will broadcast the story on television and stream it online.

CAPS Media is a public access television and radio center that fulfills a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment. As a free society, the public has the right to have personal opinions published in the newspaper and on the the airwaves. CAPS Media provides Member/Producers the vehicle to express themselves on TV, radio and online.

The highly professional and friendly staff trains members how to master the use of cameras and editing equipment to produce their own story. CAPS provide them with all the tools and support they need to produce it. All this for an annual membership fee of only $25.

The first step of membership is to attend an orientation meeting which includes a tour of the CAPS Media Center and an open question and answer discussion of membership expectations and benefits. Orientation meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6pm. The next steps are HD videography/camera classes which are held on the 2nd Thursday and Final Cut postproduction editing classes held on the 3rd Thursday. Trained member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and use our postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell.

The CAPS Media Center also includes CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1), a low power public service radio station. Radio training is on the 4th week of the month on Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6pm. CAPS Radio requires an additional annual fee of $50 for DJs.

ECTV continues to rack up award nominations. The recognition for the El Camino High School students in the CAPS Media ECTV program continues with the crew’s five nominations as finalists for the 2019 Alliance for Community Media WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence). The ECTV categories include Underserved Voices, Community Issues, Educational Access, Culture, and Informational Talk Shows. The ECTV nominations are part of an impressive ten nominations for the entire CAPS Media Member/Producers.

The Ventura Police Department is working with CAPS Media producing community updates. Hosted by Ashley Bautista, VPD Civic Engagement Specialist, and VPD officers, the series includes public awareness tips, weekly crime statistics, and other information vital to the community. The reports are posted on Ventura City and Police websites, social media and broadcast and streamed on CAPS Channel 6 & 15, capsmedia.org and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.5 FM.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Join our community of enthusiastic member/producers. To find out more go to capsmedia.org or call 805.658.0500.

Find out how at the next Informational Session at court appointed special advocates (“CASA”) for foster children.

Today, there are nearly 1,000 children in the Ventura County Dependency Court System who are victims of abuse and neglect. With a string of people, often including their own parents, in and out of their lives, these children are in desperate need of a stable adult. A CASA Volunteer becomes that adult. The one adult who stands up for them. A CASA Volunteer commits to advocating for the child until he/she is placed in a safe, permanent home.

CASA needs more volunteers! Please consider attending the next CASA Informational Session on Tuesday, January 22nd, to learn how you can make a difference in the life of a child in our community.

For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Rebecca at (805) 389-3120 or [email protected]. Address will be provided upon registration.

What are those large blue pipes in the empty lot at Seaward and Harbor?

Veronica Usher

As always (When possible) we ask the experts.

Veronica:
These are 36” PVC sewer pipes that will go in Harbor Blvd. from the Arundell Barranca (near the Harbor) to San Pedro. The existing lines will be abandoned and these will go into new ditches. The bid was given to Toro Enterprises in Oxnard for a base price of $8,538,334. Occasionally unforeseen conditions are found that could result in costs above the base bid. Ground water will be encountered but this was included in the bid. The construction is scheduled to be completed in 270 calendar days.

Thank you,

John Ilasin Ventura Senior Civil Engineer

Have a question send to [email protected] and we will try to get you an answer?

The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The program features well-loved children’s songs, traditional Spirituals and Gospel favorites. Performances support African Children’s Choir programs, such as education, care and relief and development.

Music for Life (The parent organization for The African Children’s Choir) works in the African countries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. MFL has educated over 52,000 children and impacted the lives of over 100,000 people through its relief and development programs during its history. MFL purpose is
to help create new leadership for tomorrow’s Africa, by focusing on
education.

The African Children’s Choir has had the privilege to perform before
presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England,
Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee. The Choir has also had
the honor of singing alongside artists such as Paul McCartney, Annie
Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith, and other
inspirational performers!

Promotional support of this community concert is greatly appreciated.

The African Children’s Choir is a nonprofit humanitarian and relief
organization dedicated to helping Africa’s most vulnerable children
today so they can help Africa tomorrow.

No tickets. Donations appreciated.

Hosted by the Oxnard Musical Youth Theater at the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church,3175 Telegraph Road on Saturday, February 2, 7:15 PM.
(805) 642-7966‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬, www.africanchildrenschoir.com .

Circle of Friends, a non-profit social organization for active retired women, is welcoming new members. Please join them for lunch on Wednesday, February 6 at the Courtyard by Marriott, 600 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard to see what they are all about. The monthly luncheons feature a program and there are special interest groups that meet monthly. These groups include cooking, Scrabble, card games, walks, movies and day trips. Circle of Friends is celebrating its 23^rd anniversary in June; members live in Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai and Santa Paula.

For more information and to make lunch reservations please call Peggy Dolan at 805-630-5139. Price for the luncheon is $25; annual membership is $50.

The Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG) broke visitor records recently, with over 1400 visitors on New Year’s Day, and over 600 on Christmas Day. After being closed for nearly a year after the Thomas Fire, visitors were enthusiastic about revisiting the Gardens to see how the fire affected it, as well as the dramatic physical changes made since then.

“On New Year’s we learned a lot about handling the logistics of so many visitors. Next New Years’, we hope to expand the tradition and make it more of an event, certainly with added restrooms, more parking facilities, and more docent led tours,” states Joe Cahill, Executive Director.

“We were touched by the tremendous visitor attendance and that they have shown an outpouring of financial and expressive support,” Tracy Long, President, follows up. “Our visitors are joining our membership ranks rapidly, as a way of showing their ongoing support for this gem on the hillside. With over 3,000 plants, new stone walls and steps, things have changed beautifully. And, while the plants are still small, getting many of them in the ground this time of year will give them a strong start for their future growth. With winter rains, this spring should have a spectacular showing of blooms. “

Visitors had questions about the new membership policies. The annual fee of $45 (about $3.75 per month) continues to be the most popular for locals. Membership has reached over 1,000 members.

“The family annual membership is even more affordable, at $75 for two adults in the same household—children 18 and under are always free.” Joe Cahill explains, Student groups and their adult leaders are free and can schedule free docent tours. Tuesdays are free for all visitors. Most major holidays are free. There are free scheduled guided tours offered on different days throughout the month for anyone interested in learning more. EBT cardholders are free. Membership includes free access to the gardens, discounts at local vendors, and other benefits. Each member gets several one-time free passes every year for family and friends. For non-members, the one-time only admission fee is $7.

“We are grateful to our partner, the City of Ventura, and their plans to reopen Grant Park soon,” states Barbara Brown, board member. “Visitors will be able to access the park and cross through Summit and Ferro at no charge. For hikers, runners, and walkers, Brakey Road is being considered for pedestrian-only access. Brakey provides shorter more direct access from City Hall and downtown for connectivity to Serra Cross and to over a mile of free pathways in the Ramble garden which features a growing California Native plant collection and native plant habitat restoration experiments. Visitors can look forward to the Ramble garden and pathways continuing to expand over the next 35 years. The Ramble is the largest garden of the VBG master plan.”

Free parking is available in the lots at the base of Brakey Rd in front of City Hall and off upper California Street and, of course, in the VBG parking lot. Both Grant Park and VBG will close for rain

The Channel Islands Gulls are pleased to announce another record year of fundraising for 11 Ventura County nonprofit organizations:

California Coastal Horse Rescue; Camarillo Hospice; Caregivers, Volunteers Assisting the Elderly; The Lighthouse for Women and Children; Many Meals of Camarillo; National Alliance on Mental Illness; Project Understanding; Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation; St. Vincent De Paul (Santa Paula); and Ventura County City Center. Additionally the Gulls made a substantial donation to the Camarillo Cares fundraiser benefitting the Borderline Bar & Grill employees, Ventura County Animal Shelter and the Hill Fire victims.

“We are absolutely astounded by the generosity of our members,” said Channel Islands Gulls president Julia Marshall. “Last year we broke our previous fundraising record, and in 2018 we raised even more money for our charities. In addition to the money we raise, we hold several drives throughout the year for our charities, providing literally thousands of dollars’ worth of food, clothing and personal items.” Marshall explained that the non-profit organizations the Gulls donate to do not receive federal funding. “We support a variety of grassroots organizations that make a difference for literally thousands of individuals living in Ventura County.”

The Channel Islands Gulls funds at their monthly luncheons and unique fundraising activities throughout the year. For more information: www.channelislandsgulls.org.

Established in 1976, the Channel Islands Gulls is a Ventura County non-profit organization whose mission is to raise money for Ventura County non-profit organizations while providing social and emotional support to its members.

Assisted Hospice, in Ventura, was fortunate again this year to distribute approximately 145 Christmas Blankets to their Hospice Patients. The timing was perfect as the temperatures are hitting an all-time low. Assisted started this campaign approximately five years ago, thanks to one of the wonderful volunteers who visited a local facility where there were no signs of Christmas for the patients and it tugged at her heart. Each year Assisted distributes Christmas Blankets in honor of the “Will Anyone Remember Me” campaign. This wouldn’t be possible without the continued support of Michael Boyko from Joseph P. Reardon’s in Ventura. Staff has as much fun distributing these blankets as the patients do receiving them. This truly puts everyone in the Holiday Spirit.

Anyone interested in Volunteering with Assisted Hospice, please contact Marianne Cody, Volunteer Coordinator, at (805) 677-7405.