Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Run to the Pines Auto Show in Pine Mountain Club

Trophies are awarded for classes such as the Best Hot Rod.

by Mark Bailey

From the coast to the mountains in just 90 scenic minutes. Come and visit us in the beautiful, picturesque village of Pine Mountain Club; an area surrounded with pine trees, unique shops, a general store, gas station, hotels and restaurants. The valley lies between two mountain ranges, with peaks soaring well above 8000 feet. Remember, this is the mountain; if you linger into the evening after the show is over it can cool off quickly once the sun goes down. But chances are, blue skies, a few clouds, and crisp, pine – scented air will make for a most enjoyable late summer day! This is our 19th annual Run to the Pines Car Show!

Saturday August 12th is the event. Registration starts at 7:30am, with the event beginning at 9 a.m. and the awards presentation taking place around 3:30 p.m. Admission and parking to attend the event are free!  Trophies are awarded for classes such as Best Truck, Best Mustang, Best Hot Rod, Best Muscle Car, Best Foreign Car, Best in Show, Best Motorcycle, and more. Weather in August is mild compared to 100+ in the valleys. Take a short drive for a great day of food, fun, and live music while browsing beautiful vehicles! To participate in the event, download applications from www.runtothepinesautoshow.com and mail in. Pre-registration is $25 and $30 at the gate the day of the event. Email questions to – [email protected]. The event is located at 16200 Mil Potrero Hwy, Pine Mountain Club, 93222. Great for all car lovers! See You There!

Youth Surfari

Twelve teens ages 12-14 visited Ventura for Mary Osborne’s teen overnight “Surfari”. A six day week of surf, adventure, education, motivational celebrity speakers and friendships. The girls were from San Francisco, Orange County, Valencia, Nevada and other cities.

Mary stated “ After teaching all ages of youth and adult programs, I realized we are lacking a program on our coastline specialized for females teens. I wanted to create a place where teens could not only learn about the ocean and surf, but to also feel safe, overcome fears and just “be” themselves. My Teen Surfari’s programs are an amazing active week of self-discovery, growth, and health.”

Tender Life Maternity Home reopens

Applicants need to interview to be accepted to the program.

by Jennifer Tipton

Tender Life, a program of Project Understanding never really closed, but has been empty with the program “on hold” for the last few months.

After extensive restructuring, Tender Life has reopened its doors to continue to provide services to expectant young mothers who might otherwise be without a home.

Located at 871 E. Thompson Blvd, the Tender Life Maternity Home sits right next door to City Center (the transitional living center to help the homeless), so it certainly makes sense that Pastor Jim Duran of City Center will oversee the program!

Lauren Stockton is now the live-in house manager and case manager. Lauren was a resident at Tender Life nearly 20 years ago and now she is helping others who are where she once was. “Her life has come full circle”, says Pastor Jim.

Pastor Jim also stated, “women who move in are pregnant, it’s not a disability, it’s a part of life” and explains some of the changes to the program such as, now residents are expected to work. He realizes most have no experience with job interviews so residents are provided with a mentor to guide them, assist with transportation and are also given parenting classes. Much like City Center, Tender Life is grooming these women to be independent.

Applicants do need to interview to be accepted to the program and where 6 months of sobriety was the previous requirement, restructuring allows a much more flexible standard with 90 days now being the minimum.

The home can take 8 residents, 2 are scheduled to move in on August 4th with 2 others interviewing that same week. The plan is to have the house full by the end of August.

In addition to the house, there’s a small “granny flat” on the property which has now been rented to a City Center graduate and her family, again allowing an opportunity for one success story to mentor another just starting on that path.

Originally set up to allow Tender Life residents to stay just 90 days after the baby, the restructuring makes it much easier for mamas and babies to transition into a room at City Center.

Tender Life Maternity Home receives no grants or government assistance, it is funded by churches and private donors. The biggest fund raiser is the “Walk for Tender Life” event taking place each March, but there is also “The Baby Bottle Drive” ongoing throughout the year. Both welcome all participants!

For more information call Tender Life at 653-7474.

Vol. 10, No. 21 – July 19 – Aug 1, 2017 – Person to Person

by Jennifer Tipton

I asked vacationers “why are you vacationing in Ventura?”
Asked at the Crowne Plaza.

Renuka Narayan
age 56
from San Francisco vacationing with her sister Karen Ratlen age 50 (originally from the Fiji Islands)
“My sister hasn’t been to Ventura and Ventura’s really nice, especially the surf today. There are picturesque sunsets, the ocean, we like to swim and watch the surfers.” (And to read the Breeze of course)

Debbie Asadurian
age 62
from Moorpark vacationing with her grandkids Carl and Audrian
“We come up here because it’s so nice! We have the pier, the beach, the pool and all the great food!”

 

Kelly Miller and Dan Miller
both age 57 from Bakersfield
“To escape the heat, we like to take a week and relax, fish, walk the dog on the beach and shop in the Harbor”

 

 

Ginger Plumley
soon to be 15 from Redding, Ca.
vacationing with her grandmother and friends
“I just love the beach and coming here, everyone’s so nice! The weather here is much nicer and the ocean is my favorite!”

 

Tom and June Hartnell
both age 52
from Hawthorne vacationing in Ventura celebrating their 30th anniversary!
“We like it here because it’s right on the beach, nice views, nice breeze and we love looking at the ocean!” Romantic indeed! Happy Anniversary to The Hartnells!

 

Brandon Bailey
age 42
from Harrisburg, Pa. vacationing with Beth Seitz age 33 and Parker Seitz age 14
“Brandon’s here for two days on business so we figured we would stay 7 days and vacation. We plan to spend a lot of time at the beach, we love the Ventura beach and the sunny weather!”

 

 

 

Consortium Media + Public Relations announces delicious new client

Consortium Media + Public Relations (CM+PR) announces its new client, Churro Stix, will debut in Ventura County as the first franchise site, and second location, in the company’s plan to expand as “the go-to dessert place in every mall.” Churro Stix opened in 2014 in Canoga Park, California and will host their Ventura grand opening in the Pacific View Mall in late summer.

“We’re excited to introduce the up-and-coming brand Churro Stix to Ventura as the company’s very first franchise, and support their business growth through our agency’s social media marketing expertise,” said CM + PR President and CEO Denise Bean-White. “The success of the Ventura site is important for long-range expansion goals of the company and CM + PR is delighted to be their agency of record.”

Consortium Media is a renowned, award-winning firm known for its expertise through its Five Pillars of Marketing Success©, which strategically combines advertising, events & promotions, public relations, complementing web strategies, social media and creative design to build successful brands. Among Consortium Media’s most notable clients: statewide non-profit Aspiranet, Foster VC Kids a program of Ventura County Children and Family Services, The Collection at RiverPark, Southland Sod Farms, Ventura County Public Works Agency, PODS® in many major U.S. markets, and others.

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CAPS Media wants your story

There’s more than video happening at the CAPS Media Center.

Everyone has a great story to tell and CAPS Media is the place for you to share it. All types of storytellers are invited to get into the fun: videographers, documentarians, radio DJs, journalists, musicians, photographers and more are all encouraged, trained and supported at the CAPS Media Center at 65 Day Road in Ventura. Member/Producers are guided by the very knowledgeable and friendly CAPS Media staff in the art and fun of media production with hands-on training in videography, video editing, radio production and more. Once trained member/producers 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 stories they want to tell.

There’s more than video happening at the CAPS Media Center. The recently launched and highly successful CAPS Radio station (KPPQ-LP, FM 104.1) gives Member/Producers a dedicated and professionally equipped studio to record and produce the radio programs they want to share with the community. Experienced and aspiring DJs are trained by the talented CAPS Media staff in all aspects of radio production. After a few hours of instruction Member Producers are ready to produce their own radio programs. The program formats, topics, guest lists and more are all up to the desires and direction of the individual CAPS Radio Producer/Members.

In a few short months FM 104.1 is already alive with locally created and produced programs in talk, music, information, education and more. Check out CAPS Radio on FM 104.1. Radio orientation and training classes will be held July 26 & 27 at 6pm at the CAPS Media Center. The two-part class provides Member/Producers with the tools needed to produce original radio shows.

On the video side, upcoming CAPS Media Member/Producer video classes include: new member orientation, August 3, HD videography/camera, August 10 and postproduction editing, August 17. Go to www.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.

Recent CAPS Media productions included programs on the Two Trees planting, the groundbreaking of the new Gold Coast Transit Center, and the Mayor for a Moment Class of 2016-2017 compilation video featuring 5th graders from elementary schools throughout the city.

Upcoming CAPS Media productions include live coverage of the annual Ventura County Fair Parade on Saturday, August 5. The festive event with floats, horses, marching bands and more will kick off at 10AM and CAPS Media will be on the scene at the corner of Main and California broadcasting live on Channel 6. If you are in the parade, give us and the community watching at home a big wave.

Tune in to Channel 6 for CAPS Media Member/Producer original programming throughout the day including the latest episodes of ECTV, Mayor for a Moment and Ventura Legacies. And to see what’s happening at the city, county and school government centers check out Channel 15.

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.

Community Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary presents annual scholarship awards

Rosemary Icardo and Ann Howard, Junior Coordinators, Gary Wilde, CEO CMH, Audrey Carman, recipient and Edie Marshall, Auxiliary President at awards ceremony.

On June 12, Audrey L. Carman was presented with the Maria Cavallo Scholarship for $2,000 and the Audrey Woodburn Scholarship for $2,000. These awards are given to a graduating Junior Volunteer who has served at least 100 hours in the CMH Auxiliary, has maintained a 3.50 GPA or better, and will be attending an accredited college or university. The recipient must also be planning to pursue a healthcare career such as becoming a physician, nurse, physical therapist, pharmacist, etc.

Audrey has accumulated 330 volunteer hours at CMH, while maintaining a 4.0-4.33 GPA at Ventura High School. She is not only a California Scholarship Federation member, but she served as the CSF club’s president for three years. Her campus involvement also included membership in Key Club, International Volunteers Organization, and the Multi-Ethnic Club.

Dedication to academic excellence is evident in the many awards Audrey has received. She was named Ventura High School’s Cougar of the Month four times and was on the Honor Roll / Principal’s Honor Roll from 6th through 12th grades. She received UCLA’s Brain Research Institute’s Special Award. She placed 3rd in the senior’s division at the California State Science Fair and 2nd place in the senior’s division of Human Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Ventura County Science Fair. At graduation, Audrey received a multi-lingual diploma seal and cord.

Audrey will be attending Ventura College next year where she will pursue a career in nursing and health sciences.

Top notch happy hour at Rhumb Line

Just a few of the wonderful Happy Hour selections at Rhumb Line.

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.

Foundation delivers adventures for kids with special needs

Seth Shinden with a volunteer buddy of the Best Day Foundation.

by Rebecca Wicks

Seth Shinden, 13, is like other Balboa Middle School students. He enjoys live music, bowling, gymnastics, and just being outside. He has always loved the beach and ocean. Seth is however, autistic and epileptic, which at times makes some activities less accessible.

His parents have worked to keep him close to the sea, making regular visits. While he frequently enjoys time in the sand with his sisters and family, some of his most memorable moments are those surfing and kayaking. Many of these adventures have been made possible by the Best Day Foundation, where volunteers tandem surf or kayak with Seth. Last month, he surfed C-Street tandem-style with one of the Best Day Foundation volunteers, as part of a day organized by the group that works to host activity events for families that have children with special needs.

“Seth loves everything about surfing,” said Katie Shinden, Seth’s mother. “He first did it when he was 5. He was a little nervous at first, but the organization’s volunteer buddies that helped out were great about carrying him into the water and getting him comfortable.”

Nancy Pedersen first started working with the organization in 2010, helping out at events. Today she serves as the co-chair of the Ventura Chapter, and sits on the organization’s national advisory board. She explained how she has been drawn further into the organization, how making memories for kids, their families as well as volunteers – all in the span of one short day – is something she thinks is “cool.”

“I just love the community aspect of each event, the fact that the likes of surfers, high school kids, and seniors come together to make it happen,” Pedersen explained. “We start each event on an empty beach and then with the help of volunteers great stuff happens.”

Seth and thousands of other special needs children have enjoyed tandem surfing, body boarding, kayaking, stand up paddling, outrigger canoeing and more through the organization’s many events around the nation. The group conducts events in Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and five communities in California including Ventura. The Foundation has already held four events this year in Ventura and has four additional upcoming events which will take place at C-Street, on September 10, and Harbor Cove, on August 5, August 26, and October 7.

The Best Day Foundation was founded to share the knowledge and experience developed by Ride a Wave, a similar organization started in Santa Cruz. Each year the group’s event count grows, also adding new locations annually. This year the Foundation will hold upward of 50 events across the country.

Pedersen likes what the organization offers to people who don’t have a way to experience these sports on their own, and has witnessed first hand, their impact. She told of a particular father who was certain his son would not get in the water, who worried he would refuse to participate as he hadn’t shown interest in either water, or water sports in the past. Pedersen wonders if it was because the son never had the opportunity.

According to Pedersen, the son had a great time and the father relayed the following to her, “The dad said, the only limitations are the ones I put on him, and I need to stop doing that – we’re getting beach gear.”

 

Hillsides Conservancy serves up “Nature on Tap”

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) is teaming up with Topa Topa Brewing Company to host a series of environmental lectures entitled “Nature on Tap” this summer. The public is invited to join VHC staff once a month in July, August and September to learn about local environmental topics and VHC’s mission, projects and programs.

Monday, 7/24/17: Go with the Flow – The Health of the Ventura River: Listen and learn as Dash Dunkell, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s Conservation Director, highlights current projects in the Ventura River and discusses what is being done to protect this unique ecosystem.

Monday, 8/28/17: Our Wildlife Neighbors: From coyotes to crows, raccoon to rattlesnakes, opossums to osprey … Ventura has it all! Join Jessica West, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy biologist, to learn about the wildlife that lives on VHC properties, what is being done to preserve their habitat, and how the public can (and has!) become involved in studying our animal neighbors.

Thursday, 9/28/17: Preserving Ventura’s Open Space – Rivers, forest, and farmland: Dash Dunkell, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s Conservation Director, will discuss the past, present and future of open space preservation in and around Ventura.

Each free lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at Topa Topa Brewing Company, located at 104 E Thompson Blvd.

To RSVP, visit: http://www.venturahillsides.org/events and, for more information, call the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy 643-8044.

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and protecting Ventura’s hillsides, waterways and wildlife. Founded in 2003, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 500 members, local business and government partners. The land trust currently manages 80 acres of land along the Ventura River and is working toward the purchase of its first hillside property. Further information about the Conservancy is at: www.venturahillsides.org.