Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Jazz vocalist helping community

Local Ventura jazz vocalist and social activist Toni Jannotta is on a mission.  As the recipient of two Ventura arts grants, Toni now believes that music is for the benefit of society in ways she hadn’t realized before. With her 2007 Cultural Arts Fellowship Grant from the City of Ventura, Toni merely finished her 3rd album.  But it was with her 2010 Artist in the Community Partnership Grant, awarded to her by the Ventura County Arts Council, that Toni found her groove and the meaning of music as a healing tool.

“Voices of the Homeless” was Toni’s first experience with producing music to help others.  It was a live storytelling concert performed at Working Artists Ventura (the WAV) on August 21, 2010.  “Voices of the Homeless” brought together jazz improvisers with members of our local homeless community.  It was a concert where the focus was on the homeless themselves educating the audience on who they really were.  At the same time this concert demonstrated the unique quality of improvisation.  All the music was made up on the spot as the musicians listened and responded to the stories they heard.  The performance later became a documentary.  It won Toni the 2012 Earth Charter and the Arts Award given to her by Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions.

Now Toni is ready to release another musical project in an effort to help and heal.  This project’s goal is to bring comfort to all those who have suffered abuse yet believe it was their fault.

The project is called “My Little Heart, Ruthie.”   It is a picture book and album, that tells the story of a little heart in isolation that must learn to free itself.  It is told as a children’s rhyme.  The illustrations are by artist Jennifer Mones.  Along with the book is a 22-minute jazz-inspired musical suite with narration, so that the reader can sit with the book, listen to the music, and be told a bedtime story.  The album features jazz harpist Carol Robbins, L.A. drummer Paul Tavenner, bassist Granville “Danny” Young, and our own multi-instrumental Venturan, Jon Crosse, who plays trumpet.

Toni’s hope is that this project soothes the middle school child who has been bullied or has witnessed things no child should have to, helps the adult still working through past traumas and wishes to feel alive again, and heals anybody, whether young or old, who would like to be held and told a simple little story of hope.  This project is for all those who need to be reminded that what they suffered was never their fault.

This project is in its finishing stages.  If you would like to help, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/ruthieheart.

 

For more information on Toni Jannotta, please visit:

https://www.tonijannotta.com

Lilac Festival in Pine Mountain Club May 20-21

by Mark Bailey President PMCCPOA

One of the best kept secrets in California remains the quaint “Aspen like” village of Pine Mountain Club (PMC). Located in the Los Padres National Forest at a little over one mile above sea level and nestled between Mt. Pinos and San Emegdio Mountain, Pine Mountain Club is remarkably easy to get to. Just a comfortable and scenic 90-minute drive from Ventura, about 50 minutes north of Magic Mountain. Those in the know often refer to PMC as “the nearby faraway place”.

The Villagers of PMC are already busy preparing for their 35th annual Lilac Festival set for the weekend of May 20th and 21st. It has been estimated that around five thousand visitors join the approximately three thousand locals for a weekend of arts, music, food, fun and family play. About 100 artisan vendors will begin displaying their unique works of art and creations both days starting at 10am. This is followed on Saturday, by acrobatic skydiving daredevils due to land at 11:00 am. This kicks off our yearly parade through the village center after the singing of our National Anthem by guest talented artists.

Throughout the weekend there will be entertainment for all ages including live music, plays, kiddie shows, golf and horseshoe tournaments, great food, and a large children’s play area with state of the art slides, inflatable bouncy houses, wall climbing etc. Most restaurants will be featuring live music on their outdoor patios.

Climatology wise, as with anyplace the weather in PMC can vary. Typically, in late spring, we can expect blue sunny skies during the day with temperatures in the mid 70’s and crisp clear star filled nights with temperatures in the 40’s.

To get to PMC, take the 126 East to Interstate 5 north and exit at Frazier Park. Go west 18 miles following the signs to the Pine Mountain Club Village.  For further information, including vendor applications, please go to our website at www.pmclilacfestival.com.

For fine wine enthusiasts considering visiting PMC, please visit our wine website www.wineinthepines.com for details on our world class wine tasting event taking place this June 10.

Catch some “Rising Stars”

“Rising Stars” is the Ventura Music Festival’s most popular free concert every year! Experience a mix of extraordinary young choral, classical and jazz performers at this free event open to everyone, thanks to generous underwriting by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Donations are welcome but no RSVP is required, just show up at the First United Methodist Church, 1338 E Santa Clara St.

Friday, May 12 @ 8pm – free The Rising Stars Concert includes the nimble and elite 15-member Ventura College Chamber Singers under the direction of Brent Wilson performing contemporary classic choral pieces.

Volunteers gathered for lunch at Aloha Steakhouse

School on Wheels has been celebrating with its volunteers throughout Southern California

April was National Volunteer Appreciation Month and local nonprofit School on Wheels has been celebrating with its volunteers throughout Southern California.  Recently 30+ volunteers from Ventura County gathered for a late lunch at Aloha Steakhouse on California Street where several volunteers received Presidential Service Awards for volunteering over 100 hours.

Catherine Meek (Pictured third from the right), Executive Director and also a  Ventura Volunteer Tutor stated “Volunteers are the tailwinds for our homeless students, we tend to think about the obstacles our homeless students have to overcome but by having a School on Wheels tutor these students have a much better chance to do well and succeed in school.  Homeless students need extra time and attention and we need more volunteers, just like you, to help these kids who are experiencing trauma and instability at such a young age.”

 

Catherine impressed upon the volunteers that they need to talk about homeless children, why they need our help and how they as volunteer tutors are making a difference in Ventura County.  Volunteers tend to be a modest lot, but in these uncertain times, we all need to talk about what we are doing to make a difference in our community and the need for others to do the same.  To find out more about School on Wheels you can visit their website, www.schoolonwheels.org.  The next introductory tutor training for Ventura County Volunteers is on Thursday, May 11th from 5.30 pm at the VCCF Nonprofit center in Camarillo.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month

The Ventura Police Department and law enforcement through the country will be conducting special motorcycle safety enforcement operations throughout the month of May for Motorcycle Safety Month. In addition, the California Motorcyclist Safety Program is offering special, low cost rider training classes during the month of May. This could also be a useful time to review your motorcycle safety equipment such as your helmet. If you are in the situation where you require a new helmet, you can have a look at helmets such as the Caberg Stunt to see if it suits your needs.

Ventura PD will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations throughout the month in an effort to lower deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur. If you have been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault then you might want to check out law websites like this one here to see if you are entitled to compensation. Recovering from an accident is expensive so you shouldn’t have to suffer financially because of someone else’s mistake. If you don’t have enough money to get high-quality medical help then recovery will take even longer which will put you through more suffering. Getting a personal injury lawyer will help relieve the financial pressures, allowing for a better recovery. Officers will be looking for violations made by drivers and riders alike that can lead to motorcycle crashes. They will be cracking down on both those operating regular vehicles and motorcyclists who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, making illegal turns, or any other dangerous violation.

The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) training program is offering a “Total Control Refresher Training” course during the month of May. This four-hour riding class is for experienced riders with a current motorcycle license. Riders will use their own street-legal motorcycle during the class taught by CMSP-certified Instructors at a cost of only $95. Log onto the CMSP website http://cmsp.msi5.com to register at a location near you.

California motorcycle fatalities saw a phenomenal drop of 37 percent from 2008 to 2010, but then rose 31 percent by 2015. Efforts like these are aimed at curbing any more rises in motorcycle deaths and sending the numbers back downward.

New Riders are urged to get basic training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com/ or 1-877 RIDE 411 (1-877-743-3411).

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The message to all drivers and motorcyclists is: share in the responsibility and do your part by safely “sharing the road.”

A Night to Remember: A prom for students with special needs

Mission Church is set to sponsor the sixth annual A Night to Remember, a free prom for students with special needs, to be held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Friday, May 19th beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“Right now, there are over 400 special needs guests (ages 12-25) registered for the night, and each will be accompanied by a host for dinner and dancing,” explained Mike Hickerson, Lead Pastor at Mission Church. “More than 1500 volunteers will ensure that it is indeed, a night to remember.”

The night includes dresses and tuxes (provided ahead of time), hairstyling, makeup and corsages or boutonnieres. There is also a limo ride using professional services similar to what you’d find in limo anaheim ca followed by a walk down a red carpet cheered on by paparazzi.

Professional prom photos will be taken and given to the guests at the dance. There will be catered hors d’oeuvres followed by an evening of dancing and fun with music provided by a live DJ.

Vol. 10, No. 16 – May 10 – May 23, 2017 – Person to Person

by Jennifer Tipton

I asked 6 Ventura resident moms:
What’s your favorite way to spend Mother’s Day?

Joy Matthews
age 67
Homemaker
“With my family, we have nurses, fireman and cops so their schedules are all different and some are out of state. It’s just so nice to get everyone together.”
Joy is mom to 4 children and grandmother to 10

Erin Glynn
age 43
Works at On Duty a local family owned business
“We always go to lunch or dinner together, we’re boring like that because we see each other every day – we work together!”
Erin is mom to 15-year-old Bryce

 

Jessica Meramble
age 32
Dietician at CMH
“A day at the beach with family, the weather is perfect here and Kennedy loves to play in the sand and dig holes.”
Jessica is mom to 22-month-old Kennedy

 

Claire Rauley
age 48
Economics teacher at Buena H.S.
“Most likely go to the beach with the kids and either walk on the beach or just hang out. I love the water and sun even more, it’s very calming. It’s my happy place, I can’t imagine moving away from it.”
Claire is the mom of 2 boys and identical twin girls

 

Julie Robinson
age 59
Physical Therapist with Livingston Memorial
“I like to spend it with my children they made me a mother and as they’re getting older they all have their own lives so it’s great when I get to see them all at the same time.”
Julie is mom to 2 boys and 1 girl

 

Joyce Weight
age 87
Retired banker
“I like to spend it with all my children and grandchildren going out to eat and relaxing, just having family time together.”
Joyce is mom to 4, grandmother to 7 and great-grandmother to 1

 

 

City of Ventura names 2016-2017 Green School Award winners

Juanamaria Elementary School honored by Ventura City Council. Photo by Michael Gordon.

In celebration of Earth Day, the Ventura City Council presented the annual Green School Award for achievement in environmental excellence to students and staff from Juanamaria Elementary School and ATLAS Elementary School. 2017 Watershed Hero Award Winner! These prestigious Green School Awards) were presented on Monday, April 17th in front of the City Council in honor of Earth Day.

This year’s winners, Juanamaria Elementary School and ATLAS Elementary School, created programs and projects that increase recycling, build wildlife habitats and reduce waste and water consumption.

“Many public and private schools in Ventura have been working hard to demonstrate environmental leadership in our community,” said Haili Matsukawa Environmental Services Specialist at Ventura Water. “Every year since 2007 the City of Ventura has recognized and encouraged those school efforts through nominations and selection of a competitive annual ‘Green School’ award, presented in partnership with Agromin Premium Soil Products and EJ Harrison & Sons, Inc. who provide the annual $500 cash award.”

Students and staff at ATLAS Elementary School have demonstrated excellence in sustainability through their recycling, electronic waste and battery collection programs. Starting at a young age, students at ATLAS Elementary School are taught to be good stewards of the environment. In their Makerspace classroom, students engineer their own designs out of recyclable materials. In recognition of their efforts, the City will present them with the 2016-2017 Environmental Leadership Award.

Juanamaria Elementary School has made extraordinary efforts to conserve water by converting turfed areas into sustainable landscapes. Students of all ages were involved in mulching and planting of the school’s new Science Garden. In an upcoming project Juanamaria Elementary School has partnered with Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden group to design a water wise reading garden for students and teachers to enjoy nature. For this reason, Ventura Water will present them with the 2016-2017 Watershed Hero Award.

For more information about the City of Ventura’s Green School Awards program, visit www.cityofventura.net/greenschool or contact Brandon Kaysen, Environmental Sustainability at 652-4593 or Haili Matsukawa, Ventura Water at 652-4501.

 

Organization is dedicated to helping families who are battling all forms of cancer

Emanuel Franco and Cory Harper (musicians), Nathaniel Curran and Matt Coulter (Co-Founders of The Young and Brave Foundation), and Mike Morrison and Seth Gibson (Co-Founders of MadeWest Brewery) are supporters of The Young and Brave Foundation.

The Young and Brave Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping families who are battling all forms of cancer. From the beginning, the theme of the foundation has been Love. Co-founders Matt Coulter of Ventura and Nathaniel Curran of Oxnard grew up surfing the local beaches together. When a loved one was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, Coulter and Curran brought a community together to help fight this disease and to prove that love beats cancer. The nonprofit earned its 501(c)(3) status in March of 2011 and hit the ground running to help as many families as possible.

Once a person is diagnosed with cancer, they can apply to be a Warrior supported by The Young and Brave Foundation. The foundation supports its Warriors in overcoming their challenges by providing a streamlined fundraising platform, hosting events, raising awareness, and advocating for children and families who are dealing with cancer. Each Warrior is provided with a free online profile where they can share vital information, photos, and where they can fundraise. 100% of contributions raised through each profile goes straight to the Warrior and their fight for life.

The foundation operates many programs. One program, #LOVEbeatscancer, encourages cancer survivors to share their stories with the community to encourage others and to remind them that no one fights alone. #LOVEbeatscancer survivor stories are posted on the foundation’s website. Additionally, the foundation’s “Operation Turkey Day” happens every year in November and involves a full Thanksgiving meal served to patient families at several hospitals across the U.S.

Over the years, The Young and Brave Foundation has built partnerships with individuals, groups, and businesses around the world. Today, the reach of the foundation extends far beyond Ventura with Warrior families and supporters across the globe. “We are humbled and inspired by the incredible support we’ve received from so many people, all of them are part of our Young and Brave family” said Matt Coulter, Co-Founder and Executive Director.

With a robust social media presence, followers can stay connected with the Young and Brave cause and community. Follow @theyoungandbrave on Instagram and The Young and Brave Foundation on Facebook. Potential Warriors and their families can be nominated online at https://www.theyoungandbrave.com/donate/nominate-a-warrior/.

The Young and Brave Foundation is proud to have given away over a million dollars. Their flagship location is set to open in Ventura this summer.