by Karen Leslie, writer with heart

Ventura’s best kept secret isn’t a secret anymore! The Ventura Choraliers, a choir with heart, sings their souls out to inspire and give musical pleasure to retirement communities. These second half of lifers from 40 to 90 + years young are a unique blend of savvy, gumption and talent! The choir member’s gift of voice and song raises spirits, brings fun to the moment, plucks the heartstrings and brings out the best in people. During performances, audiences tap their feet and are reminded of a time when they danced to the melody and tune of their lives so long ago. The classic songs from Rag Time to Patriotic to Show Tunes and Christmas Carols put smiles on faces from ear to ear and evoke the light of remembering… The–Good-Old-Days!

Pianist, choir master and original director of the Ventura Choraliers, Barbara Reed, tickles the ivories and you’re fancy like nobody’s business! She shares, “My love of music has always guided me! I enjoy directing and singing and wanted a group that would not only sing but have a feeling of love and fellowship. While performing, I love the joy I see in people’s eyes and the joy we give to others. Music is especially “medicinal” when we perform for our “memory care” audiences. I can see their eyes light up as soon as we start to play.”

The history of the Ventura Choraliers is an inspiring one; it started in the spring of 2004 with Mrs. Orianna Povar’s vision and great desire to form a chorus in Ventura that would not only sing and perform, but also would have a feeling of love for each other. Several years ago, the chorus was honored and awarded at the Ventura City Hall for their extensive volunteering. In 2007, they took part in two musicals, “The Big River” and “My Fair Lady” and now have become a part of VACE (Ventura Adult and Continuing Education) where they rehearse every Tuesday.

Grace Gary, 100 years shares, “Music is so healing and I enjoy the “working together” morale!

Original member Betty White shares, “I like to sing so I attended the first day when the choir was called “The Sing Thing” and enjoyed it so much I decided to continue. It has been a pleasure and joy to entertain many people at churches, clubs and senior facilities.”

Jim Fisk shares, “After not singing for 5+ years, joining the Choraliers reignited my interest once again. It is fun, good company and I find at 80+ years, I still have good vocal production.”

Bob Crandell cheerfully says, “I like to sing! Sometimes my cats and dogs go crazy! I came to the Choraliers to learn to do better.”

Event Scheduler and Organizer Kevin Doyle shares, “While looking and not finding a vocal coach, I found a flyer on my kitchen table about a singing group that said they rehearsed from 2:00pm-4:30-pm. OMG, it was 3pm and I thought what the heck! I drove over and never stopped going back. That was 4 years ago. I was looking for something for myself and I ended up in a group that never stops giving to others.”

Elaine Keller enthusiastically says, “VC is lots of fun, lots of laughter and is the greatest therapy!”

New member Delores Ramerez shares, “The Choraliers are the highlight of my week! I like that we bring music to groups and rest homes and best of all I’ve gained about 20 new friends. Who could ask for more!

Sing on Choraliers! New members are welcomed!

Late in May Arthur O. Spaulding of Ojai received an invitation to participate in the Memorial Day Parade in Washington D. C., along with a dozen other former members of World War II armed forces. The purpose of their presence in the Parade was to remind onlookers and those watching on TV that these men and women were typical of those who preserved the freedom of the United States. Spaulding served several years in the Army, was in charge of a 4.2 inch mortar in the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent battles, and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in combat and a Bronze Star for gallantry in action. It is estimated that more than 300,000 watched the Parade in Washington.

Arthur can be seen hanging out at the Secret Garden in Ventura with a group of very active “senior”musicians sharing life stories and music.

by Ivor Davis

The Museum of Ventura County, is a gem in downtown Ventura.

And happily more and more (still not enough) people are discovering the diverse pleasures of what the Museum has to offer.

Under the energetic guidance of executive director Elena Brokaw, program director Denise Sindelar, curator Anna Bermudez and a lively staff, the Museum has become re-energized revitalized—a delightful hotbed of art, history, culture, music, literature, fashion and so much more.

The other day I showed up at the Museum—and took the crowd of over 200 on what I can only describe as bizarre trip in time——back exactly 50 years!

That journey into the dark past to the mid-20th Century offered locals a glimpse a period in history that I fervently wish had never ever happened.

The destination was to the notorious kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles where I saw what happened to presidential frontrunner Senator Robert Kennedy. That year “Bobby” was tipped to follow his late brother JFK into the White House. President Lyndon Baines Johnson had become something of a pariah as a result of his gross mishandling of the escalating Vietnam War, and had pulled out of the election.

For America, 1968 was a memorable year—but for all the horribly wrong reasons: An unwinnable war, that had divided the nation and gun violence that destroyed the lives of two of the country’s most famous men, who offered hope, dramatic change, civil rights and a brighter more peaceful future.

As I described seeing the wounded Robert Kennedy bleeding on the kitchen floor in the arms of his pregnant wife Ethel, there was total silence.

I was on the spot as a foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express assigned to cover Bobby’s Californian campaign.

As a speaker you always worry that you will show up—but no one else will. Fortunately it was a packed house with many having to stand at the back or sit on the floor. Others unfortunately, turned away for lack of seats.

My evening at the Museum was rewarding in a strange kind of way because many in the audience also wanted to take that sad journey back in time.

Museum librarian archivist and researcher Charles Johnson, had dug up a series of fascinating black and white photographs which showed Bobby and his pregnant wife Ethel campaigning in Ventura and Oxnard.

They were riveted by the series of black and white pictures of the campaigning Kennedy.

But what was most rewarding, was that in the audience we had an eclectic group. Ventura based Suzan Cooper, wife of one of the first astronauts Gordon “Gordie” Cooper whose husband had been very close to Bobby’s brother John. Richard Drescher, who was a young man working in the Kennedy campaign on the night he was shot. He told his own dramatic story of that fateful moment in history. Surfer Frank, from the Pierpont Racquet Club presented me with two old newspapers—which bore blazing headlines about Bobby’s death. And there were others, some mere children when Kennedy stopped off at the San Buenaventura Shopping Center and La Colonia in Oxnard. Their memories were vivid and so dramatic.

For me just their presence made my night at the Museum such a memorable one. And I hope the audience felt the same.

Editor’s note: Ivor Davis, a 38-year resident of Ventura is a former foreign correspondent and author of books about The Sharon Tate Murder, and a memoir entitled, “The Beatles and Me on Tour.”

Rotary Club of Ventura proudly presents the 24th Ventura Fireworks Show celebrating family, community and country on the 4th of July at the Ventura College fields. Gates open at 5 pm with a spectacular fireworks show at 9 pm. The evening also includes live music, robotics demonstration, giveaways, food vendors, and a Kids Fun Zone with bounce houses, inflatable attractions and organized games. Discounted Family Packs are available at venturafireworks.com now through July 4th at 5 pm.

For parking information, event map, tickets and more go to venturafireworks.com.

Harrison Industries retains its Climate Registered™ status for the ninth consecutive year, by successfully measuring its carbon footprint according to The Climate Registry’s best-in-class program, then having it third-party verified and reporting the data on The Registry’s website.

Harrison is among a diverse group of about 300 leading organizations across North America that have adopted a truly sustainable approach to doing business and reported it for verification and inclusion on the nonprofit registry.

Measuring its carbon footprint with The Registry allows Harrison to prepare for future regulation, identify inefficiencies and potential for cost savings, and provide real and meaningful data to its customers and shareholders about its environmental performance. It is the first step toward reducing energy usage, costs and carbon emissions.

“With our work revolving around proper waste disposal, we have special incentives to maintain our place on The Registry,” said Harrison’s Nan Drake. “It’s a great gauge for us to know we’re succeeding in our efforts to reduce waste in every possible way.”

Said David Rosenheim, Executive Director of The Climate Registry. “Harrison is a prized, longtime member of a powerful community of Climate Registered organizations, with substantive data guiding and supporting its sustainable activities.”

The Climate Registry helps hundreds of public and private organizations measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with integrity. For more information, visit www.theclimateregistry.org.

The County of Ventura Human Resources Department will be hosting a job and career fair on Thursday, June 21, 2018. The event is open to the public and there is no charge for entrance or parking.

The career fair will be held in the main courtyard of the Ventura County Government Center, between the Hall of Administration and the Hall of Justice. The fair will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“The County hires talented people for a wide range of exciting and mission-driven occupations; from public safety and social services to Public Works,” said Shawn Atin, Human Resources Director. “We have opportunities for accountants, analysts, health professionals and many other careers. All of our County agencies and departments will be represented at the fair, so it’s a great opportunity to find a perfect career fit.”

Attendees can learn about careers in administration and support; engineering; environmental protection; planning; agriculture; health care; law enforcement; public safety; public works; recreational services; technology and much more.

More information on County jobs can be found at hr.ventura.org.

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 time, the festival is getting a head start on the summer with a special multi-media presentation at the Museum of Ventura County to celebrate the life and works of Leonard Bernstein during what would have been the 100^th year of his life.

Presented by the Janet & Mark L. Goldenson Artistic Director of the Ventura Music Festival Nuvi Mehta, the presentation will feature excerpts of Bernstein’s music alongside an in-depth lecture delving into the immeasurable impact his life’s work had on the musical landscape, both during his life and extending far beyond it into the present day. Having both learned from and played with Bernstein himself, Mehta is in a unique position to impart knowledge on the legacy of this iconic figure in musical history. “Bernstein’s ability to unfold an entire musical journey in a single gesture astonished us – astonished everyone – and made him beloved from L.A. to N.Y. to Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, Tokyo and everywhere music is loved,” says Mehta.

A true visionary who defied convention at every turn, Bernstein’s politics and music both revolved around the idea of inclusivity. His work steadfastly insisted on bringing all types of music together – including American jazz, pop and esoteric genres, in a time where American music wasn’t even on the radar of the world’s musical stage. “Bernstein changed the way American music was perceived,” Mehta continues. “What goes on in a concert hall [today] is influenced by Leonard Bernstein.” In a very real sense, his work became symbolic of America and of his time, as he dedicated himself to connecting dots between the musical, the social and the political, and spent much of his later years passing his ethos and knowledge on to the next generation of young musicians.

The presentation will run for approximately 90 minutes and will take place on Sunday, June 24, at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main St. Refreshments will be served at 3:00 PM, and the program will begin at 4:00 PM. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at http://venturamusicfestival.org/bernstein-at-100/.

As an extended celebration of 100 Years of Bernstein, the celebrated Akropolis Reed Quintet will be playing a Bernstein tribute during their live set during the Ventura Music Festival in July. For dates, the full lineup and ticketing info, please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org. The 24^th annual Ventura Music Festival will take place on July 12-15 and July 20-22, 2018 at various locations across Ventura and Oxnard. For a full list of locations, please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org/schedule.

For more information, please visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.