Jann Huling was born and raised in Ventura County. Graduating from Ventura High and UCLA. She is with ServiceMaster by Integrity in Oxnard as the business development manager .

Jann has one grown son Ian and has adopted his childhood best – friend Bobby. Bobby also works for ServiceMaster by Integrity. She has one granddaughter Meadow Lily.

Jann is the Vice-Chair of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. Serves on the board for The City Center Transitional Living Center and is on the Marketing Committee. She was awarded Volunteer of the year in 2013 from the Ventura Chamber Ambassador. She was also awarded Board Member of the year with Project Understanding 2016. She is the 2017 President of Project Understanding and won Ambassador of the year for Camarillo Chamber 2017. At Project Understanding she also serves on the Executive Committee and Operations.

She developed a program that she calls “I am not hopeless I am homeless” where she personally engages with homeless to hear their story. Put a name to the homeless…instead of that guy at the Victoria Shopping center or that lady at McDonalds. Jann stated “I believe in putting a name to every homeless neighbor I meet.”

It has been said that many people have more fear of public speaking than the fear of death

In 1924 Dr. Ralph Smedley created Toastmasters. The purpose was to provide a positive and mutual learning experience where people could practice and improve their communication and leadership skills.

The basic format of a Toastmaster meeting presents 5 to 7 minute speeches with 2 to 3 minute evaluations. There are 1 to 2 minute impromptu speeches called Table Topics. There are also contests for Humor and an annual International Speech Contest.

Originally women could not participate. Then in 1973 Helen Blanchard from San Diego joined. In order to participate she identified herself as Homer Blanchard (After the Greek Poet Homer). She got to be president of her club and Toastmasters International. Now women are welcome.

Today there are 325,000 Toastmasters in the world. There are 20,000 clubs in 142 nations including China. In 2017 the International Convention was held in August in Vancouver, Canada.

There are many Toastmaster clubs in this area. One Ventura club is Sandpipers. It meets every Wednesday 6:30 to 7:45am at the Ventura County Human Services Agency, 855 Partridge Dr.

The President is Dave Culton 983-1327. The Vice President for Membership is Wayne Choate at 750-3121 for more information.

After working with 6 year-old Yuleima Manriquez of Ventura, her family and Wish granters determined her true wish was to have a special tomato collapsible wheelchair. In having her own wheelchair, she would be able to go on family outings. Yuleima’s father explained how the tomato chair was a real blessing.

Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties collaborated with Merlin Medical Supply & Magic] in Camarillo to surprise Yuliema and present her with her custom fit tomato chair. Owner, Paul Dwork was passionate about serving and accommodating Yuleima’s family, and went above and beyond to ensure Yuleima’s comfort in her new chair.

Question: Why is the pedestrian bridge over the freeway closed?

Shelby Young

Answer: Being remodeled to meet standards of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). The over $750,000 budget will include new handrails and landings as necessary to meet the regulations for people with disabilities. It should be noted that ADA requirements have made life much easier for those with disabilities. Project taking much longer than planned.

Do you have a question? Send it to [email protected].

We asked Jeff Hereford, City of Ventura Transportation Engineer how the new signs on the Pierpont Lanes came to be “The story is very simple….a couple residents asked the City’s Transportation Division if we could install street name signs at the end of each of the lanes facing the beach. The reason for the signs is so that in an emergency situation someone can tell emergency personnel exactly where the incident is occurring along Pierpont beach. The City felt it was a good idea so we went ahead and purchased the street name signs and our crews installed them.”