Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

The River Community Church hosted a launch day

A big question for many today is, “How relevant is the church?” and what are they doing to serve the community. On Sunday, March 4, after a year of strategic planning The River Community Church hosted a launch day for its 2018 Strategic Initiative. They have partnered with the Downtown Ventura Partners as a support team for them. They will be volunteering at events, providing lunches for the staff, taking surveys, manning booths, etc.

There was live music, special recognitions, Team T-Shirts and a catered lunch by Main Street Meats and the unveiling of a commemorative piece of art from Latitudes Fine Art Gallery .

Attendees heard from Kevin Clerici and Meredith Hart from the Downtown Ventura Partners, Ventura Deputy Mayor Matt LaVere and CEO and President of The Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Stephanie Caldwell.

Matt LaVere in part stated “I could not be more excited about the this new partnership between DVP and the River Community Church. I have a world of respect for both Pastor Jim Duran and Kevin Clerici, and I know that these two teams working together will produce incredible results for Downtown Ventura.”

Stephanie Caldwell President and CEO, Ventura Chamber of Commerce welcomed all “Good morning, it is my pleasure to be with you for this incredible event today. The River Community Church has long been an active member and supporter of our Chamber. Pastor Jim Duran serves on the Chamber Board, is a former Board Chair and former Chair of our Political Action Committee. “

“I applaud your efforts and thank you for the leadership role that you are taking to serve our community. The Chamber remains committed to working with you to support your efforts as we all want to make this the best place to live, work, worship, raise a family and do business. Thank you.”

Lead Pastor Jim Duran, who was instrumental in making this happen said “The River Community Church is very excited to serve the Downtown Ventura Partners. The DVP does many great things in our community and we are committed to this partnership in order to better serve our city. Our congregation understands the importance of living outside the four walls of the church building and our goal is to make a difference in our community. We feel extremely blessed to be able to serve at such a time as this.”

The River Community Foursquare Church, 859 E. Santa Clara St.
648-7955, www.TheRiverCommunity.org

A Country Fair with Springtime Flair

Ventura County Fairgrounds Spring Fair is coming to town March 30 – April 1.

The fun starts Friday night at the Carnival and keeps hopping until Easter Sunday.

Visit the Spring Fair Bunny House. Don’t forget to bring your camera to take a selfie with the Easter Bunny. He is waiting for you and your family to hop in and say hello! On your mark, get set, hunt for Easter eggs in the great Easter Egg Hunt. A time honored tradition, egg hunting will bring you joy as you make new memories to remember joyful family times like this.

The Spring Fair Carnival has rides and games for all ages. From the traditional rides, like the Merry-Go-Round and the Gondola Wheel to the exciting Drop Tower, Sea Dragon and Mega Loop, or the hilarious Fun House and Bumper Cars. You are guaranteed to have a great time!

The Petting Zoo offers your children the opportunity to meet adorable young animals up close and personal. The children will love to hug and feed the animals, and you will love collecting memorable photos.

The Spring Fair Entertainment Stage will showcase local talent. Rock music, dance, singing and more are on tap for your enjoyment and relaxation for your family.

And what Fair is complete without Adventures in Shopping? There will be an assortment of vendors and exhibitors for your perusal. Clothing, jewelry, dolls, toys, stained glass, candles and more will be on sale for your Easter shopping pleasure.

Visit Ag Ventureland for a myriad of fun for the kids. They will be amused and entertained for hours as they learn about agriculture in a fun setting. The kids’ area with agricultural and educational activities includes: Milk a Cow, Steer Roping, Go Fishing, Pedal Tractors, Pooper Scooper, Station Saddle, Bridle, & Grooming Station, Ag-Music, Bean Box, Corn Box, Build a Scarecrow, Eggs to Market, Craft Station & Face Painting…& More

Spring Fair Hours: Friday, March 30, 5-9 PM; Saturday, March 31, 12 noon – 9 PM; Sunday, April 1, 12 noon – 6 PM.

$6 Admission includes a $5 “Springback” discount on a full price admission to the 2018 Ventura County Fair which runs from August 1-12.

Discounted Pre-sale Ride tickets are available at the Ventura County Fairgrounds until March 30 at noon

40 tickets for $20. Each ride requires 3-6 tickets

On site ticket prices are 40 for $30.

Visit www.venturacountyfair.org or call 648-3376 for more information.

Auxiliary Awards Luncheon

Genevieve Basso, award recipient and Gary Wilde, CEO at “Volunteers Make the World a Brighter Place.” Photo by Pierre Silva

by Marilyn Beal / Auxiliary Publication’s Chair

On February 2, Community Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary held their annual awards luncheon at the Four Points Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort. The theme of the luncheon was “Volunteers Make the World a Brighter Place.” Linda McNutt and her committee selected a perfect theme which was evident as volunteers received their hours and service awards.

Fifty four volunteers received “Hours Awards” ranging from 100 hours to 12,000 hours. Judy Miller’s years of commitment were evident in the 22,000 hours award she received. Six volunteers received 20 year “Service Awards.” Judith Eldeb has served 30 years, Pat Utter 45 years, and Genevieve Basso received an award for her 50 years of service. The world is indeed a brighter place because of the dedication shown by these volunteers.

CMH’s Auxiliary not only gives of its time and talents, it also gives a yearly monetary donation to the hospital. At this year’s luncheon, president Edie Marshall and treasurer Norma Nick Taylor presented a check for $90,000 to CMH’s CEO, Gary Wilde to be used to help with the completion of the new hospital.

Auxiliary president, Edie Marshall stated, “I am very proud of all of our Auxiliary members. They serve the hospital in many ways and in many areas, and do so because they love helping others who need care while in the hospital. We would welcome any others who would like to join us in serving CMH as an Auxiliary member.”

Home Upgrade Program rebates are once again available

Utility rebates that have assisted many homeowners in replacing old, inefficient heaters, install proper insulation and other overlooked, home energy efficiency projects are once again available for 2018. Companies like Greener offer solutions to homeowners looking to improve the overall energy efficiency in their house like insulation, double glazing and more. It is advised that you seek out quotes from companies like this one with a commitment to energy efficiency if this is the kind of service you desire. Not only will you receive guidance on what your home could benefit from, but they will help get you in touch with a company who can supply you with things like a windows replacement to get you on the right track.

Ventura County’s emPower program is partnering with local utility companies to offer the Home Upgrade Program rebates, along with access to qualified local contractors, free home energy consultations and low-interest, unsecured financing that starts at 3.9%.

“The utilities have been an amazing partner in helping put many great projects within the grasp of homeowners,” said Leigh Lain Walker, emPower Program Specialist. “While they are limited, reserving a rebate is pretty simple and it’s among the first steps on the road to creating a more comfortable home that wastes fewer resources.”

Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Gas Company and Southern California Edison exhausted their Home Upgrade Program rebates earlier than expected in 2017 but are now offering a limited amount of rebates for 2018. The rebates are designed to reduce the cost of home energy efficiency projects and help local homeowner’s complete energy-efficiency projects that include heating, cooling, windows, water or insulation.

emPower financing is available to homeowners that access the utility rebates and is typically less expensive than other types of financing. emPower loans can be spread out over 15 years. By combining rebates and low-interest financing, homeowners can not only reduce upfront costs but also keep monthly loan payments low. The result from these types of projects are more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable homes.

Homeowners can find out more about available rebates of up to $5,500 and how to reserve them by contacting emPower Central Coast (https://www.empowersbc.org/contact-us-get-started) and scheduling a free home energy consultation with an emPower Energy Coach. A home consultation is also an opportunity to learn about a home’s energy efficiency needs, get access to qualified local contractors to complete projects and hear about available low-interest unsecured financing.

The emPower program offers voluntary incentives, financing and other services to help single-family homeowners in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties make home energy upgrades easier and more affordable. emPower was established by the County of Santa Barbara to help the community preserve the environment by helping to lower energy consumption and stimulate the economy by creating jobs through innovative, voluntary solutions to support a sustainable building performance market.

Thomas Fire stories

Do you have a story to share?

CAPS Media is recording Thomas Fire Stories with the public, fire fighters, first responders and others who want to share their story. The extensive documentary project is a collaboration with Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire, Sheriff, Office of Emergency Response and the Museum of Ventura County. The year-long, comprehensive project includes an ongoing series of television and radio archival interviews and recordings with first responders, individuals and families whose lives were dramatically changed the night of December 4th.

Recordings of Thomas Fire Stories are being scheduled at locations throughout the county including the Museum of Ventura County, EP Foster Library, the Ojai Museum, the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula and CAPS Media Center in Ventura. The public is invited and encouraged to share their story. Each recording will be conducted by CAPS Media producers and is expected to last 15-20 minutes. Selected stories will air on CAPS Television and CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1 FM, and will stream on capsmedia.org. Visit capsmedia.org to find a convenient day and time to record your story and add it to the museum’s historic archive.

If you have photos or video to contribute to the legacy, CAPS Media has set up a simple process for the public to share recordings of the Thomas Fire for the historic project. Go to the CAPS Media website homepage (capsmedia.org) and click on the Read More arrow on the lower right corner of the Thomas Fires Stories image. The page presents more details on the project and step-by-step instructions on how to contribute photos, video and other media.

If you have a story to share, send an email to [email protected] or call the CAPS Media Center at 805.658.0500.

Season 3 of Mayor for a Moment is in full swing. The program is a collaboration with the City of Ventura, the Ventura Unified School District and CAPS Media. Each month an outstanding 5th grader is selected by the individual elementary schools. The “young mayor” is invited to gavel the start of a City Council meeting and present an essay on a leadership topic to the council and community. CAPS Media produces a profile on each young mayor that is shown at the council meeting and at the VUSD board meeting. Honorees thus far this school year are Braydon Rocco (Portola), Olivia Blomquist (Poinsettia), Allison Cabeza (Citrus Glen) and Isabella Coleman (Sunset). Congratulations to all the young mayors.

CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Join our community of enthusiastic engaged member/producers. To find out more come to orientation on the first Thursday of every month and learn how to become a member of CAPS. Member classes include HD videography/camera class held on the 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing class on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) two-part classes this month on the 5th week. In every training session Member/Producers receive hands-on instruction in videography, video editing, radio production and more. All classes begin at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center, 65 Day Road. Once trained, member/producers may check out CAPS Media’s video cameras, tripods, audio gear and other production equipment to record their story and then book postproduction editing suites to craft the story they want to tell. Go to capsmedia.org for information or call 658-0500.

United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund grows to more than $3.7 million

Eric Harrison, President & CEO of United Way of Ventura County was a recent guest on the radio show Face of Ventura on FM station KPPQLP hosted by Publisher Brown.

Disaster victims can apply for the next phase of relief funding through the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund, which has grown to more than $3.7 million. Through April 30, United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) will be releasing as much as $1.5 million from the fund for individual hardship assistance.

Until March 15, application forms for victims will be available at vcunitedway.org or 211ventura.org. Applicants can also call 2-1-1 or text “ThomasFire” to 898-211 to find out more. Local partnering agencies will assess each applicant’s needs and eligibility.

“The outpouring of support has been incredible, and we’re so proud to be able to get these funds out to help residents who have lost so much,” said Eric Harrison, President & CEO of United Way of Ventura County. “We have a long way to go to rebuild our community, but nobody is in it alone. Whether you lost a home, income, or have been impacted in another way, I encourage you to give 2-1-1 a call and learn more about the resources that are being extended.”

Eligible applicants for individual hardship assistance must be Ventura County residents.. Eligibility will be based on household income limits, determined by family size of 120% AMI or less. Funds will support residents in expenses related to housing, livelihood/income and habitability of their homes.

The United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund recently grew thanks to a $100,000 gift from AT&T and $150,000 from Bank of America. To provide immediate assistance in December from the fund, $500 prepaid credit cards went out to up to 1,000 residents whose homes were destroyed by the Thomas Fire.

United Way of Ventura County and United Way of Santa Barbara County formed a strategic partnership vital in helping the community recover from the Thomas Fire. The fund was later expanded to also assist flood victims and $500,000 was given for assistance in Santa Barbara County.

Further information and to donate:

Online at www.unitedwaythomasfirefund.org

By texting UWVC to 41444

By phone or mail: call 485-6288 or checks may be sent to the United Way office at 702 County Square Drive, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003. Please write “Thomas Fire Fund” in the memo.

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Award

Joshua Rance was a previous $5,000 scholorship recipient

The Ventura Police Officers Association (VPOA) is accepting applications for the 15th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships will be presented in May, 2018 to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA will consider academic achievement, school and community service, and financial needs. Applications must contain all required information and be returned no later than April 13. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scholarship Awards:

  • 1st Place $5,000.00
  • 2nd Place $3,500.00
  • 3rd Place $2,000.00
  • Honorable Mention(s) $500.00

Applicants must:

  • Be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college;
  • Plan a course of study related to the field of public service;
  • Ventura resident or have graduated from a high school in Ventura within the past three years, or a Ventura Police Department employee or employee’s child.
  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0 system);
  • Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better if selected as a recipient;
  • Submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;
  • Submit a typed essay of 1000 words or less on “Leadership, what it means to me”;
  • Submit a letter of recommendation from a public servant.

For additional information please contact Ofc. Mike Hibdon at 339-4443 or [email protected]. Applications are available at the front desk of the Ventura Police Department (located at 1425 Dowell Dr. named after Officer Dowell).