The Ventura Family YMCA has received a grant from Autism Speaks which will provide funding for Water Safety & Swim Lessons for children and adults with Autism.

“Learning to swim and safety around water are necessary life skills. We are grateful to Autism Speaks for their financial support and are pleased to partner with them to provide these important lessons and safety tips,” said Mrs. Eads, Support Services and Development Director of the Ventura Family YMCA.

These free lessons are one-on-one and available on a first come, first served basis. Membership is not necessary to qualify. For more information Nicole Eads at [email protected] or 642.2131 x 11.

The YMCA Board of Managers has announced the election of Pattie Braga as its new Board Chair for a 2-year term. Pattie has served as a member of the Y’s Board for four years and Chair Elect for one year.

“I was born and raised in Ventura and have a strong sense of ownership for our wonderful community,” said Ms. Braga.

As Board Chair, Braga will lead a board of 21 volunteers and work closely with the Executive Director on many strategic endevors.

The YMCA held a celebration to honor Board Members who have reached milestones in their service on the board.

Ric Ruffinelli was recognized for serving 15 years as a board member and Dan Lyon was recognized for serving on the board for 20 years while Pattie Braga and Cherie St. Jean were both recognized for serving on the board for 5 years.

In addition to honoring these outstanding long term volunteers, the Ventura Family YMCA celebrated outgoing Board Chair, Danielle Brinkman who served 3 years as the Ventura Family YMCA’s Board Chair.

For more information about the Ventura Family YMCA, visit http://www.ciymca.org/ventura/ or call 642-2131.

by Jennifer Tipton

A Rhumb Line is the course of a ship that keeps a constant compass direction, good name for a restaurant that delivers consistently great food and service!

Also called “The Sunset Restaurant”, Rhumb Line is located where the old Scotch and Sirloin used to be in the Ventura Harbor. If you haven’t lived in Ventura for long, you probably have no idea where this is – 1510 Anchors Way Drive. With plenty of parking, the location provides beautiful views of the harbor just about anywhere you sit, there are indoor bistro type tables, a more formal dining area, bar seating that faces the harbor and a dog friendly outdoor patio also overlooking the harbor.

Everyone knows the best way to advertise (only second to running an ad in the Ventura Breeze) is word of mouth, so when a friend shared his experience at Rhumb Line, we all went to see for ourselves and what we found was indeed notable!

A Happy Hour is about the “tapas” or “small plates”, the adult beverages and great company, Rhumb Line delivered just that with the beauty of the boats and water as an added bonus.

The menu includes items you may not find anywhere else such as Blackened Ahi Sliders, Beef Sliders with bacon and blue cheese, a variety of Flatbread Pizzas and Oysters. These range from $5 to $10 each. The adult beverages selection offers the usual well drinks, beers and house wine for $5 and specialty cocktails such as Fresh Margaritas and one called a Rubedo (that sounded pretty tasty) for only $8 each.

The clever way to do happy hour is with a group so that each can choose a different selection and then share to taste a variety of tapas. We shared the Baby Back Riblets with a Szechuan glaze, the Ahi Poke served on large fried wontons with a sauce that again was delectable, the Shrimp/Chicken Quesadillas with pepper jack cheese, spinach and Pico de Gallo, Fried Calamari with a lemon aioli, Shrimp Bruschetta Bites with an aged balsamic glaze and the Lamb Sliders with arugula, tomato jam and goat cheese served with shoestring fries! The portions were not small, the flavors were fabulous and not one of us could choose a favorite, two of us even said, “wow, that calamari was good, and I don’t even like calamari!”

Service was good although we were missing a place setting and waited on a glass of water, but our plates were replaced with fresh ones for each dish which I thought was a nice touch and our server was very personable and kind.

A big shout out to Tommy Alizotis who we had a chance to meet, he is one of the 3 new owners that took over Rhumb Line about a year ago and is also the General Manager and Kitchen Manager – very impressive!

Rhumb Line’s Happy Hour is open every day from 3-7pm with all these tempting tapas and refreshing beverages, but bring your own great company (although the staff is very friendly). You could even invite me to join you.

by James Francis Gray

World traveler Andi Epstein, also known as Andi Girl, is the creator of Hoop Habit Teacher Training. Her mission is to instruct practitioners of energy and therapy. This movement brings the fun of hooping to a new level, offering a bio spiritual life tool that helps you guide your own path.

She just returned in July from Ireland where she was teaching Energy workshops, Tantra Fusion and offered a Hoop Yourself Well retreat at Creacon Wellness Centre. https//www.creaconwellnessretreat.com/.

She also takes a week long training session to refresh her credentials with her teacher. Ireland is truly a magical place where healing is found for everyone. Andi loves offering this yearly event on the Emerald Isle.

She, in her mid-thirties, began in the autumn of 2005, putting the “Cutie with the Bootie on the Move” into action, shedding her dress size from 20 to 12 in six short months. Talk about hard work. Her motto, “Feed the Craving,” works for her and it can work for you.

This added skill brought a new addition to her 30-year career as a Certified Life Coach, specializing with hands-on holistic training.

Andi’s energy is off the charts with her passion where Hooping fun meets functionality. She shows her clients where they are now, using their own currency grid, or energy system. Then she helps remove boundaries, navigating limited beliefs to free up movement. You can heal yourself into a new reality—the one you’ve always dreamed of, and more!

In 2009, Andi-girl was called a ‘Modern Goddess of the Boardroom’ fusing the alternative Healing Systems of Tantra Fusion, Rising Star Hoop Habit ™, the Healing Habit into Corporate Wellness programs. These programs are committed to raising global consciousness through healing and applying practical tools for healthy living.

This fall, Andi will be touring the east coast of the U.S. She’ll also give weekend retreats in the Midwest.

Web page: Welcome to www.HOOPHABIT ™.com!

Hoop Habit … is a one-stop source in play therapy and motivational movement.

For contact information [email protected].

The CAPS Media Crew will record, broadcast and stream the 2017 Ventura County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 5^th on Channel 6 live at 10AM. This year’s theme is Rooted in Tradition and the annual parade festivities including marching bands, floats, horses, vintage cars, tractors and more. The CAPS Media crew of staff members and volunteers will set up on the corner of Main and California to cover all the fun. If you are in the parade give us (and your friends watching at home) a big wave when you pass by. The parade will rebroadcast and stream throughout the week on CAPS Media Channel 6.

Congratulations and welcome to CAPS Media partners David Creswell, the new superintendent of the Ventura Unified School district and to David Keebler the interim president of Ventura College. VUSD and the college are valued collaborators and have representatives on the CAPS Media board of directors.

There’s always something new happening at the CAPS Media Center. 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 2^nd Thursday, Final Cut postproduction editing classes are on the 3^rd Thursday, and CAPS Radio (KPPQ, FM 104.1) training is on the 4^th 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.

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.

In addition to offering Member/Producers training, support and production equipment CAPS Media also provides professional production services to outside partners and agencies throughout Ventura County. Recent productions include instructional videos for Ventura College microbiology, a series of public information videos for the Ventura Shellfish Enterprise, ground breaking ceremonies for a new headquarters for Gold Coast Transit, an ongoing series of public information programs for the Ventura County News Channel, monthly staff updates for the Ventura County Fire Department, and the recently completed 2016 Video Annual Report for VCFD.

Go to capsmedia.org to see a schedule of upcoming programs on Channel 6 & 15, search the archives for past programs, get info on upcoming video and radio classes and much more.

Every member of the community is welcome and encouraged to visit the CAPS Media Center to take a tour and consider becoming a Member/Producer. CAPS Media is a nonprofit, membership organization located at 65 Day Road on the east side of Ventura College. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura is eligible to become a Member/Producer at CAPS Media. Annual fees are only $25 for an individual and $75 for a non-profit organization. CAPS Radio is an additional annual fee of $50 for DJs. For complete information go to capsmedia.org.