Sustainability Now News
by Maryann Ridini Spencer (@MaryannRidiniSpencer)

“I generally go to a friend’s for Thanksgiving, and one of my favorite tricks for keeping it sustainable is to bring my contribution dish in a container that doubles as a leftover box. This saves a dish from being washed and the host from loaning one of theirs,” said Michelle Stevens, Founder, The Refill Shoppe, a bath body home & clean store located in Downtown Ventura that promotes container reuse.

“Whenever I have friends and family over for Thanksgiving, I always use real plates, silverware, and napkins that I can wash and reuse,” said Kim Pagano, radio host of 1590 KVTA AM’s The Kim Pagano Show. “This helps us do our part to save water.”

“One way I keep sustainable at the holidays is to send electronic invites when I’m hosting an event,” said Diane de Mailly, local business owner, President of DDM Metering Systems and NAWBO Ventura. “This saves on paper and other natural resources.”

Waste in American households increases more than 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Below are additional ideas on how you can join local business owners and residents in helping to contribute to the sustainability of our community.

Make a list and check it twice

Take a tip from good ole Santa and always shop your cabinets and make a list before you leave the house for the market. Bring your reusable bags for grocery transport (and keep some extra in your car’s trunk in case you require additional bags).

Enjoy leftovers in soups, casseroles, smoothies, and other dishes

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the leftovers. “To stay sustainable, I think of creative ways to use leftovers. There is nothing worse than throwing out food,” said Ashley Pope, owner of Downtown Ventura’s Spice-Topia, a specialty spice and tea store. “Flavored olive oil and a nice spice blend can turn leftover meat and veggies into something completely new. There is a lot of great ideas on pinterest.com, too.”

To help avoid contributing to our crowded landfills, enjoy leftovers in sandwiches, omelets, smoothies, soups, and other recipes. You can also freeze items to use for a later date. Put single portions or amounts you know you will use in containers for easy use.

Compost your scraps

Since up to 50% of food in the U.S. goes to waste each year, when it becomes trash it releases methane gas and contributes to global warming. That’s why a viable solution for you and the environment is to compost your leftovers and scraps. Composting also increases the nutrient density of your soil. Compost bins are available in all sizes (to use in your kitchen or yard).

Fill your dishwasher and laundry machine

Run your dishwasher and laundry machines only when they are full. Be sure to scrape food residue (vs. rinse) off your plates before loading them in your machine. The EPA states that running the dishwasher when it’s full can eliminate one load of dishes per week and save the average family nearly 320 gallons of water annually.

Purchase organic goods from a local certified farmer’s market

By choosing locally grown organic foods, you are helping to prevent the usage of millions of pounds of poisonous pesticides and fertilizers and emission of greenhouse gas emissions. Eating fresh and local also tastes better.

by Vitalant

Our hearts go out to those impacted by the tragic shooting in the late hours of November 7th in Thousand Oaks. Vitalant was able to support the blood needs of patients early Thursday morning. There was a tremendous outpouring of support from the local community with potential donors lining up to give blood through the weekend and into the following week. Vitalant was able to extend donation center hours as well as add blood drives in the area to accommodate the community who wanted to donate in honor of those who lost their lives.

The staff at Vitalant remain in awe and thankful for the amazing support by each and every citizen who came out to ensure blood would be on hospitals shelves when needed. In normal circumstances our blood donors are inspiring. In this instance, with grief in their hearts and a major fire breaking out, the folks who donated remained undeterred from their mission of transforming the lives of others with their donation.

It is the blood already donated and tested waiting on hospital shelves that transforms lives. That’s why it’s crucial that donors help to constantly replenish the supply, so we remain ready for tragic situations. Vitalant saw 269 new Ventura County donors in 5 days, with a total of 684 red cell units donated from new and existing donors right here at home. There is a great need for those first-time donors to continue donating. Blood donations are declining nation-wide, with an even greater seasonal decline during the summer months and around holidays and flu season.

If you are interested in donating blood, please take time to search for a convenient blood drive at www.vitalant.org or stop by Vitalant’s donor center in Ventura at 2223 Eastman, Suite A. Walk-ins are welcome, however hours do vary, so appointments are strongly suggested. There are several area blood drives that might interest possible donors. On Tuesday, November 27th Ventura Orthopedics is hosting a blood drive from 11am until 3pm at 2221 Wankle Way in Oxnard. On Sunday, December 2nd Our Lady of the Assumption Church will serve as a donation location from 8:45am until 2:15pm at 3175 Telegraph Road in Ventura.

Conservation groups have scored a key courtroom victory for endangered Southern California steelhead harmed by operation of the Vern Freeman Dam on the Santa Clara River.

In a 152-page decision issued by Honorable Judge David O. Carter, the court found United Water Conservation District violated the federal Endangered Species Act by clearly causing past, ongoing, and future harm to steelhead as a result of the dam’s barrier to fish movement and diversion of water. Finding that United “dragged its feet” on critical solutions, and that “United has proved itself unable and unwilling to tackle the two key problems repeatedly identified as perpetuating harm to steelhead,” Judge Carter ordered measures needed to prevent the harm from continuing and to allow for steelhead recovery.

The 1,200-foot-wide, 25-foot-high Freeman Dam’s ineffective fish ladder, combined with United’s diversion of the Santa Clara River’s flow at the dam, prevent steelhead from returning to their prime upstream spawning habitat in the river and migrating to the ocean.

Southern California steelhead are a federally protected, endangered anadromous fish that mature in the ocean but return inland to spawn in freshwater upstream. The Santa Clara River historically supported thousands of steelhead and is critical for the recovery of steelhead throughout their range.

The court’s ruling requires United to immediately ensure the river has sufficient flows for steelhead to swim the 10.5-mile stretch of river to and from the ocean. In addition, by January 2020, the court’s ruling requires United to fully design both a 400-foot wide notch and a hardened ramp solution to allow fish to migrate past the dam, and to construct the fish passage option acceptable to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Filed in federal court in June 2016, the lawsuit was decided after an 11-day trial with testimony from some of the most esteemed steelhead and fish passage experts.

The groups were represented at trial by lead counsel Christopher Sproul of Environmental Advocates; Jason Weiner, senior attorney and general counsel of Wishtoyo Foundation; Geneva EB Thompson, staff attorney for Wishtoyo Foundation; and Heather Kryczka of Environmental Advocates.

The Wishtoyo Foundation is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with over 700 members consisting of Ventura County residents, Chumash Native Americans, and the general public that enjoys, depends on, and visits Ventura County’s inland and coastal waterbodies to protect, preserve, and restore the ecological integrity and water quality of Ventura County’s inland waterbodies, coastal waters, and watersheds. www.wishtoyo.org

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

by Mat Almaraz School Board

As a parent volunteer for the past 14 years, and as a 20-year volunteer for American Youth Soccer Organization in this community, I am invested in this School District.

My 2 brothers and 4 sisters had my same experience going thru the same schools I did. I have had the amazing experience of going thru this amazing school system thru Portola, Anacapa and Buena. My passion comes through my volunteer work, my 41-year residency, having attended VUSD schools myself, and for the education of my children, 14 nieces/nephews and my future grandchildren.

My investment in the community:

• Two term PTO President at Mound Elementary.  I assisted in creating a new science technology magnet for the school

• Member of Parent Advisory Committee for Mound Elementary and DATA Middle School

• Member and Membership Chair DATA Middle School PTSA

• School site student representative for Buena High School 1995 and School site member for Mound Elementary

• Member of Inaugural Foothill Technology High School Booster Club

My goal is to give parents a voice on the Board and in the classroom as well as continue the district’s innovative, unique great programs and support for all VUSD students. Also, to look at new ways to insure safety and security for our children.

My experiences through my life, the 9 different VUSD schools my children or my nieces and nephews have attended through VUSD, will guide me in continuing to steer VUSD to a great future. As my statement goes to all parents, Get involved, be involved and stay involved !!

Thank you and as Chris Prewitt would say. “Make it a great day”!!! Miss his inspiration and voice daily. But his love carries this district on. True hero.

Thank you,

Matt Almaraz Area 5 Board Member Trustee

[email protected].

This election cycle has brought an unprecedented number of firsts, not only was this the first district election, the winners represent the first city council female majority. In addition, Lorrie is the very first African American council member elected. These are statistics worth celebrating, however, this is not what got her elected.

Lorrie was elected because she galvanized support among a base of voters who have followed her and increased their support over the last five years. In 2013, she brought in approximately 6,883 votes and in 2016 about 10,000. This past November she won with 65% of the vote. She struck a chord with the voters and offered a fresh approach with balanced perspectives.

Brown explains her district as the NorthBank/Johnson Corridor because the district line begins at the 101 freeway and travels along the Northbank of the river on the east until it hits Rameli. Rameli takes it to Telephone, then cuts over to Montgomery. It is then topped at the 126, encompassing those who live around Kimball Park and the Government center. The district shares Victoria with District 2 on the West border and touches District 5 on the East border.

In her own words “First, I would like to thank everyone for their support of my campaign! When I walked the neighborhoods, residents seemed to be most concerned about sidewalks, trees, water rates and the Johnson Corridor and I have had these concerns myself for years. Montalvo needs sidewalks, residents want groceries not more convenience stores, Johnson drive needs revitalizing after the loss of Toys R Us and Kimball Park is still not finished.”

Lorrie as council woman elect has a big job ahead. She brings an unprecedented amount of experience to the council, bringing a decade of experience working in the public sector and a successful career in economic development, administrating public budgets for special district programs responsible for funding many city services.

She says, “I am ready for this job.”

The councilwoman elect has not only marched to victory but has demonstrated what it means to lead, even in the face of insurmountable odds, she remained a leader during tough circumstances and continued to move forward. As cited by the VC Star on November 7th, the third time proved to be a charm for Brown. This is the type of dedication the council needs.

Brown communicated that she plans to take action on the issues that matter most to her constituents and wants to: work to protect the integrity of the General Plan updates, including inclusionary housing, water infrastructure, traffic and transportation. She plans to be the voice for unpopular concerns and do everything she can to improve the city’s overall experience for merchants and residents on the Eastside and beyond. She feels this can be accomplished by seeking new ways to increase revenues.

Brown said “I believe it is very important to acknowledge that the current council has managed the tough job of keeping the City of Ventura relevant and as we move into our future we must find ways to continue to respect the natural habitat that surrounds us while identifying opportunities to be proactive, responsive and pragmatic. We need to continue to define ourselves independent of the current models that exist, which means moving Ventura’s vision forward.”

Brown would like to invite the community out to see the three new council members sworn in December 10th at 6p.m at the City Council meeting. Not only will there be three new council members there will be a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor sworn in.

by Elizabeth Rodeno

The holiday season is here. Sharing food with friends and family is an important community event and Ventura proved how important it is. Endless food, essentials and support have been generously provided to all in need this past year.

A One Year Thomas Fire Remembrance Event will be held Dec. 1st at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai. The event hosted by Totally Local VC will have 4 bands, food trucks and a artist’s market. There will be service organizations from around the county providing information and aid to continue to help those are recovering from the fires. It’s a good place to find resources in one place and support the community. We look forward to seeing you there. CAPS Media will continue to share our The Thomas Fire Stories with the community via video and radio in honor of those affected by the fire.

The Poinsettia Awards hosted by the Chamber honor local individuals and organizations for their service to the community and will be held December 6th at the Four Points Sheraton. These awards recognize the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals who make a difference in our community. The Mayor’s Art Awards recently held at the Museum featured local artists and supporters of the arts. CAPS is proud to count many Mayor’s Art Award recipients over the years as members.

The events over the past several weeks have been trying for many throughout the state of California and in our backyard. Many of our close neighbors and friends experienced horrors none of us could ever comprehend. The many community groups and organizations who rose up after the Thomas Fire have mobilized to assist those in need elsewhere. The generosity of these individuals and groups is inspiring and proves that everyday people can make a difference.

We welcome the Ventura City Council that convened with the new members elected from the first district wide elections in Ventura. Our coverage on channel 15 continues as we broadcast live the City Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Committee meetings. We also rebroadcast the County of Board of Supervisors meeting.

Don’t forget we continue to air Thomas Fire Stories project every Friday at 6 and 6:30pm on CAPS Channel 6. CAPS Radio – KPPQ-LP is broadcasting them regularly on 104.1fm and on the myTuner app available on your phone and smart speaker. Tune in Thursdays at 5:30pm on KCSB 91.1fm in Santa Barbara to hear them too. These stories are informative, honest and uplifting.

KPPQ continues to educate and inform listeners everywhere. Tune in and be surprised by your community programming. Support community radio by becoming a producer, engineer or programmer. Training classes will get you on your way. You can tell your friends that you have your own radio show.

Community Member engagement is CAPS Media Center mission. We are here to support members in creating an informed and educated community through electronic media. Become a member, take the Orientation, enroll in classes and create powerful and entertaining media to share with us. Orientation classes for media makers are held the first Thursday of every month. Go to capsmedia.org for more information.

A group of CSUCI students and teachers participated on an exciting exploration of Santa Rosa Island on October 20th. One of the students brought the Breeze along in case they got stranded and needed to pass the time and be informed.

Photo by Denise Wenger

Obviously a brilliant straight A student, move her to the head of the class.