by Veronica Johnson

Ventura College Foundation is pleased to announce the appointments of Mike Orman, Patty Wendt and Leslie Herrera to its board of directors.

Orman embarked on a career in banking following his graduation from the University of Southern California. Orman is currently EVP and COO of Ojai Community Bank, and will become Market President upon completion of the bank’s acquisition by Bank of the Sierra.

Wendt is a counselor at the Ventura College’s Educational Assistance Center. She’s an advocate support services and community resources for students with disabilities, and teaches the class, “Strategies for Success in College and Life.”

Herrera, a student at Ventura College, is the 2017/18 President of the Associated Students of Ventura College. She brings an expertise in communications, where she will serve as student representative.

The Ventura County Community College District and Ventura College have established a transfer agreement with Bellevue University, which grants Ventura College students, who meet the qualifying criteria, guaranteed admission into Bellevue University’s online bachelor’s degree programs.

Bellevue University is recognized nationally as a leader in preparing students with career-relevant knowledge and skills for lifelong success.

Ventura College students transferring with an associate’s degree will receive credit for all coursework in their degree program and enter Bellevue University with junior status.

Bellevue University also offers a one-time Fellowship Grant to community college employees based on their employment status.

To learn more about the Ventura College and Bellevue University partnership, contact Bellevue University Relationship Manager Spellman Cunningham at 289-6559 or [email protected] to schedule an office visit.

Ventura College and the California Transition Assistance Program (CalTap), Veterans Services Division, CalVet, will present the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo, Friday, September 15, 9 a.m., at Ventura College Applied Science Center, Lecture Hall ASC-150. The expo is free and open to student veterans throughout the Ventura County Community College District. Register online at the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo website located at https://goo.gl/Fg8q3U.

The expo is designed to connect student veterans with services and benefits. Representatives from CalVet, College of the Canyons Small Business Development Center, Support Services Veterans Families (SSVF) Salvation Army, and others are scheduled to attend and present valuable information to help student veterans.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided to attendees. Parking is free in the east parking lot of the campus during the expo. For more information, please contact Bruce McFadden at 289-6060 or [email protected] or visit https://goo.gl/Fg8q3U.

McGrath State Beach campground recently reopened after nearly three years of being closed because of flooding. 40 of the old 150 sites were opened. Normally the berm that allows the water to drain to the ocean breaks on its own during the rainy season. During a drought it does not break on its own and it is illegal to manually break it resulting in the flooding.

After the flooding dried out in spring, California State Parks crews and volunteers went to work cleaning the campground. Campsites cost $35 a night and each has a picnic table and a fire pit. No hookups are provide but the restrooms and showers are open.

Photos by Murray Robertson

The Annual California Coast Classic Bike Tour is one of the Arthritis Foundation’s top fundraising events, whose goal is to raise over $1.2 million. Funds raised support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to conquer the disease by spreading awareness and raising money for research. Arthritis affects over 50 million adults, or one out of five, and 300,000 children nationwide.

The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour is a scenic bike ride that takes place over 8 days and is estimated to cover an additional 45 miles over 2016 and 2700’ of elevation over the course of the tour. The Tour starts in San Francisco and ends in Pacific Palisades with a stop in Ventura.

The Tour will be coming through Ventura and you’re invited to meet the riders, volunteers and staff. Join the riders at San Buenaventura State Beach Day 7, Friday, Sept. 15.

Where they will camp out. Festivities include CCC Social Hour (4-6 p.m.), dinner (6:30 p.m.) where there will be great opportunities to interview riders and tour staff.

The next day, Saturday, Sept. 16, the last day of the tour cyclist will have breakfast (6:30-8:30 am) and then ride 55 miles and climb 1,800 feet of rolling hills along the gorgeous coast into Malibu, and cross the finish line at 2 p.m. as a group in Pacific Palisades to fanfare and an emotional welcome.

For more information on the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, visit californiacoastclassic.org.

Every month CAPS Media offers new member orientation meetings on the first Thursday at 6pm. The orientation includes a tour of the CAPS Media Center, a presentation by a CAPS Media staff member and an open Q&A. For CAPS Media Member/Producers instructional classes are scheduled every month. The HD videography/camera classes are held on 2nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing classes are on the 3rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) training is on the 4th Wednesday and Thursday of the month. 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.

CAPS is pleased to be working with the Ventura City and County Fire Departments and we appreciate all of their hard work in keeping citizens safe throughout the country. The Ventura Police Department will be coming into KPPQ CAPS Radio to provide the community with a weekly crime report and tips. Tune in to 104.1FM for local information and programming throughout the day. Is there something you want to ask or share? Please let us know. Call 658-0500 or email [email protected].

The ECTV students, over a dozen of them, are back at CAPS Media Center. Phil Taggart, supervising educator, is running the students through their paces. They are researching, contacting talent, fine tuning their scripts and getting the practical training necessary for producing excellent video programming and new this year, radio shows. This year should be a great one. The kids are ready. We are too.

CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) is hosting an open house and community information discussion on Wednesday October 4th at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road. Everyone interested in community radio is invited to tour the center and join the exchange of programming ideas and direction for the radio station.

Go to capsmedia.org to see a programming schedule, view programs, get general info about membership and classes. CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura is eligible to become a Member/Producer. Annual fees are only $25 for an individual and $75 for a non-profit organization. CAPS Radio DJs require an additional annual fee of $50. For complete information go to capsmedia.org.

These are some of the questions that Ventura’s residents will explore during three Community Conversations hosted by the Ventura County Library System. The first “Conversation” will take place at the E. P. Foster Library- Topping Assembly Room (9/13), followed by gatherings at the Bell Arts Factory – Community Room (9/27), and the Jose Flores Community Center in Saticoy (10/19). Each program will last from 6 to 8 p.m.

The questions in each “Conversation” were designed to help the library understand the vision people hold for Ventura, the concerns they have, and ideas they believe will make a difference in strengthening our community. Your participation is important.

These gatherings are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Irma Morales, Sr. City Librarian, at 648-2715 or 2716.

The E.P. Foster Library hours of service are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Bell Arts Factory is at 432 N. Ventura Ave.

Jose Flores Community Center 1168 Violeta St., Saticoy.