Learn what you can do to break the chain of human trafficking at a special movie screening and question-and-answer session with the maker of “Break the Chain,” winner of the best documentary feature at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival.

The movie, “Break the Chain,” will be shown Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main St., Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the film starts at 6:30 p.m. The event is free.

Organizers say that Ventura County has a role in the global human trafficking issue. Young people forced into the human trafficking system are often housed in local hotels, away from the glare of Los Angeles.

Following the film there will be a panel discussion including:

• Laura E. Swanson, producer and co-director of the film;
• April de Pretis of the Ventura County Coalition Against Human Trafficking;
• Michael Munn, Ventura County district attorney’s office investigator;
• Christian Perez of Interface Child and Family Services;
• Junemarie Justus, founder of The Acorn Project, and
• Cheryl Heitmann, Ventura City Council member.

The talented ECTV crew from El Camino High School recently interviewed City Fire Chief David Endaya , City Police Chief Ken Corney and Councilmember Erik Nasarenko in the CAPS Media Studio. The production was profiled in an extensive weekend feature article in the VC Star. The interviews are part of ECTV’s ongoing series of programs on the Thomas Fire. Throughout the year the students will explore a wide range of stories featuring people impacted by the fire.

The recognition for the ECTV students continue with the crew’s unprecedented five nominations as finalists for the Alliance for Community Media WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence). Categories include Community Issues, Informational Culture, Informational Lifestyle, Informational Talk Show and Educational Access. The ECTV nominations are part of an impressive twelve nominations for the entire CAPS Media producers. The ECTV and CAPS Media producers are in competition with video producers from across the western United States.

CAPS Media is collaborating with the Ventura City Fire and Police, Ventura County Fire and Sheriff, the Museum of Ventura County, other community agencies on the Thomas Fire Stories Project. The project will feature personal stories of individuals and families whose lives were dramatically changed the night of December 4th and include extraordinary accounts of heroism, sacrifice, tragedy and healing.

CAPS Media is recording interviews with members of the public, fire fighters, first responders, officials and others who want to share their story. Everyone in the community impacted by the fire is invited to contribute to the archive of our common experience. Radio and television interviews will be conducted in Santa Paula, Ventura’s Westside, Northside and Ojai. Each interview is expected to last 15-20 minutes and will be conducted by CAPS Media producers. Selected stories will air on CAPS Television and Radio KPPQ 104.1 FM, and 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.

CAPS Media has set up an easy process for the public to share stories, photos and video for the historic project. Go to the CAPS Media website homepage (capsmedia.org), on the Thomas Fires Stories image click on the Read More arrow in the lower right corner. 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 tell or a tribute or thank you to share, send an email to [email protected] or call the CAPS Media Center at 658.0500.

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 on the 4th 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.

Diagnosing and treating back pain, along with the causes, will be the focus of a free seminar on Wednesday, Feb. 21, “Ouch! My Aching Back.” Community Memorial Health System is hosting the seminar as part of its 2018 Speaker Series.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Antulio Aroche, an orthopedic spinal surgeon. Dr. Aroche will discuss what causes back pain and how joint and bone problems have become a leading cause of disability that affects how people walk, run, lift, bend and play. He will review ways to diagnose back pain as well as treatment and rehabilitation options for patients.

Dr. Aroche is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery. He was dual fellowship trained in orthopedic and neurosurgical spinal surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. Dr. Aroche completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and several honor societies. Dr. Aroche is an active staff member at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura and Ojai Valley Community Hospital.

The Feb. 21 seminar will begin at 6 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St. Registration is free but reservations are required. For reservations, visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

by Rosie Ornelas

On Saturday, January 27th, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye was the guest of honor at the Ventura County Women’s Political Council Annual Meeting and Breakfast at Ventura’s Pierpont Inn.  Speaking to a sold-out crowd of elected officials, judges, lawyers, students, and members of the organization, the Chief Justice described her journey as the daughter of immigrants, raised by a single mother. She entertained the guests with her witty, charismatic style, relaying lessons she learned as a waitress and a blackjack dealer, jobs she held during college and law school.

Answering questions from the President of the Ventura County Women’s Political Council, Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, Cantil-Sakauye explained why she decided to write a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions objecting to his policy allowing immigration enforcement to take place in courtrooms.

Chief Justice also explained why she decided to commission a task force to study the bail setting process in our judicial system, a process which she believes is based on economic status rather than the risk to the community. She has become a leading national advocate on reforming our bail system.

She is the 28th chief justice of the State of California. She is the first Asian-Filipina American and only the second woman to serve as the state’s chief justice. In her capacity of Chief Justice, Cantil-Sakauye chairs the Judicial Council of California, the administrative policymaking body of state courts, and the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

“It was inspiring to have the Chief Justice of California come before our group” said Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, VCWPC President. “Being only the second woman appointed to her position, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye is a prime example of what women can accomplish through tenacity and determination.”

Among those who attended the event, top elected officials included Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Assemblymember Monique Limón, Presiding Judge Patricia Murphy, Judge Fred Bysshe and many other local elected officials from throughout the county.

The Ventura County Women’s Political Council is a multi-partisan organization whose objective is to achieve equality for all women. It is the only organization in Ventura County dedicated to educating, training, and supporting women to run for office so that candidates can bring women’s perspectives to every issue, foremost including reproductive health as well as social, educational, environmental and economic justice.

To coincide with the Historic Tall Ship Dockside Tours of Lady Washington on February 25 from 10 AM – 1 PM, Ventura Harbor Village restaurants are saluting both National Clam Chowder Day and beautiful Tall Ships by offering a Chowder Taste on Sunday, February 25 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Select Harbor waterfront restaurants will ladle out a delectable variety of handcrafted chowders in celebration of the fruit of the sea. Seafood lovers can take a leisurely stroll and stimulate their taste buds while sampling delicious clam chowders amid stunning views of harbor.

Tickets are priced at $5 for 7 tastes and will be on sale from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (pending availability) on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Ventura Harbor Village promenade visitor booth in front of the Village Arcade & Carousel. Each ticket is good for one, four-ounce taste of clam chowder per restaurant. Tickets and wrist bands are provided to ticket holders.

Ventura Harbor Village restaurants participating are: 805 Bar & Grilled Cheese; Andria’s Seafood Restaurant & Market; Baja Bay Fish & Taco; Boatyard Pub; Brophy Bros. Restaurant & Clam Bar; Le Petit Café & Bakery; The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood. All ticket holders will be entered to win 2 tickets aboard an Island Packers excursion to the Channel Islands National Park, a 4-pack of Coastal Cone Ice Cream gift certificates, and a Ventura Harbor sweatshirt.