by Dale Myers

The NALA, a boutique marketing agency headquartered in Ventura recently collected numerous Easter baskets for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation (TBCF) to assist families with children fighting cancer. TBCF is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization providing financial and emotional support to families of children with cancer living in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

“The Easter baskets were given to children with cancer, as well as their siblings,” said Tiffani Tendell, the NALA’s Press Manager and Charity Director. “Sometimes it is the smallest gesture that can bring the biggest joy.”

The vision of TBCF is to be the lead agency to instill resilience in families experiencing pediatric cancer. It provides programs that allow parents to be supported and to know they are not alone, and helps defray costs that are often overlooked. These include monthly bills (rent/mortgage, utilities, etc.), automobile and related transportation costs, and other similar expenses, as a parent usually has to take time off work or quit their job to spend quality time caring for their child in the hospital during their treatment.

Through its Charity Branding program, the NALA enables businesses to align with great causes, such as TBCF, to increase awareness and position them as a leader who cares about making the world a better place. Some of its other charity partners include USA Cares, which exists to help bear the burden of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need; The Greatest Generations Foundation, which is dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of veterans and ensuring that their legacies are recorded and retold in perpetuity to future generations; and Soles4Souls, a nonprofit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing.

For more information about the NALA, please visit www.thenala.com or call ​ 767-3238.

by Randal Beeman

In 1812 an epic tsunami inundated the Ventura area. The surge of water deposited a large sailing vessel floating in the harbor all the way inland to Santa Paula and residents of the Mission San Buenaventura spent the next two years living on the hillside in fear of another calamity.

Representatives of several state and local agencies hosted a meeting on Tsunami Preparedness at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Mar 28th attended by approximately 200 concerned citizens.

An elderly man who would only give his first name – Ray – stated that he was as uncertain as before the meeting regarding what he would do if a tsunami threatened his home in the Ventura Keys neighborhood. “They told us that we would have 15 minutes warning to get to high ground,” Ray noted, “and that we should walk or take our cars if we are elderly and infirm, but if everyone in the neighborhood tries to drive I am afraid there will be gridlock.” Speakers acknowledged past confusion as to the evacuation plans, and cautioned that the meeting was only one component of the first stage of revised plan.

Ventura neighborhoods in the “inundation zone” – the most vulnerable to a tsunami surge – are generally the areas on the seaward side of Highway 101, specifically the Ventura Keys, the Harbor, and the Pierpont neighborhoods. Unlike Japan and other tsunami vulnerable zones on the Pacific Rim, geologic conditions in the Ventura area would likely limit the wave (officially it is a “surge” but the scientist at the event consistently reverted to the term ”wave”) to a height of 15 to 20 feet. Nonetheless the potential for loss of life and immense property damage are present in Ventura, but with an anticipated 15-20 minute warning most Venturans can get to safety if they are alert and prepared.

Speakers urged the audience to make a family plan for a tsunami event much like they would in case of a fire or an earthquake. If an earthquake occurs and you are in a low lying area by the coast immediately seek higher ground. If you are at the beach and hear a louder than normal ocean roar, or if the sea floor is exposed, get to high ground or, if no high ground is near, go to the nearest sturdy structure to get above the surge, which is not just water but also a morass of debris and mud. The threat lasts longer than one wave and can be present for 24 hours after the precipitating event.

Visit www.vcemergency.com for more information and to go to www.vcalert.org or text VCALERT to 313131 to sign up for the free countywide emergency alert system, In the event of emergency locals can also tune into KTVA 1690, and the Emergency Alert System in place since the 1950s will also provide warning should a tsunami threaten Ventura.

​The Spring Fair is coming to town April 14-16 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The fun starts Friday night at the Carnival and keeps hopping til the big Sunday Rodeo and Concert.

Presale carnival ride tickets will be  available until Friday, April 14 at noon.

Visit the Spring Fair Bunny House, presented by Union Bank. Don’t forget to bring your camera to take a selfie with the Easter Bunny, he is waiting for you and your family to hop in and say hello!

The Spring Fair Carnival, presented by Pepsi, has rides and games for all ages. From the traditional rides like the  Merry-Go-Round and the Gondola Wheel to the exciting Drop Tower, Sea Dragon and Mega Loop, or the hilarious Fun House and Bumper Cars,  you are guaranteed to have a great time!

On your mark, get set, hunt for Easter eggs in the great Easter Egg Hunt, presented by Eco Spa. A time honored tradition, egg hunting will bring you joy as you make new memories to remember joyful family times like this.

The Spring Fair Entertainment Stage, presented by Bud Light will showcase local talent throughout the Spring Fair. Rock music, Dance, Singing and more are on tap for your enjoyment and relaxation as your family has a fun time at the Spring Fair.

Sunday Spring Fair Special Feature: Rodeo and Concert with Ramon Ayala and Ezequiel Peña. Rodeo/Concert ticket is required in addition to Spring Fair admission.

Children 5 and under free.

What Fair is complete without Adventures in Shopping? We offer an assortment of vendors and exhibitors for your perusal. Clothing, jewelry, dolls, toys, stained glass, candles and more will be on sale for your Easter shopping pleasure.

Visit with Santa Clara School of Performing Arts, the Ventura County Star, System Pavers, Renewal by Anderson, California Deluxe Windows, Frontier Communications and Farm Fresh To You. They will be available to answer your questions and share their experiences with you.

The Petting Zoo will amuse and educate your children as they rub elbows with baby animals like kangaroo, goat, deer and lamb. Feed the animals and fill your memory book with adorable photos of the youngsters.

Cooking Show: Everything that Matters in the Kitchen!  Specializing in homemade farm-fresh recipes and using her funny and entertaining personality to demonstrate the preparation of extremely healthy and simple 10-minute recipes, Dianne inspires her audience to use local products and produce. With love of home and family as her foundation, she reaches out to America to come back to the kitchen table and start cooking again!

Visit Ag Ventureland for a myriad of fun for the kids. They will be amused and entertained for hours as they learn about agriculture in a fun setting. Our kids’ area with agricultural and educational activities

Spring Fair Hours: Friday, April 14:  5-9 PM; Saturday, April 15: 12 noon – 9 PM; Sunday, April 16: 12 noon – 6 PM.

$6 Admission includes a $5 “Springback” discount on a full price admission to the 2017 Ventura County Fair, August 2-13.

Call  648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org for information.

Laubach Literacy of Ventura County is offering a free workshop to help volunteers learn to become English as Second Language (ESL) tutors of adults.

The workshop will be on Sat., April 29 (from 9am to 4pm); lunch will be provided.  At Barrister Executive Suites directions will be given upon registration.

Various methods and materials for teaching English to adults will be demonstrated and taught during the workshop, enabling the new tutor to begin ESL tutoring right away.  Neither teaching experience nor the ability to speak a foreign language is necessary.  Open a world to an adult non-fluent English speaker with the gift of learning how to skillfully read, write, and speak English.

To register and information 385-9584, www.laubachventura.org.

April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In California, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Ventura Police Department, California Highway Patrol and community partners throughout the state are working together to make the roads safer by highlighting the dangers of being distracted while driving, especially by cell phones. It can take something as small as trying to retrieve your phone to cause a serious crash. We should all understand that our priority should be our safety, so you shouldn’t let phones distract you. From car accidents in Brooksville, car accidents in France or even ones that happen in the UK, concentration is key to avoid situations like this happening.

“Police officers would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS and everything else before you hit the street.”

Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a growing problem among California’s motorists. Truck drivers also have found to have this issue with there being many Common truck driver distractions in Gainesville and the United States. Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect on January 1, requiring all drivers in California to keep their cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle. Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is properly mounted or not being held in a driver’s hand. Specific information on the new law can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

The Office of Traffic Safety will begin a new public awareness campaign throughout the state in April emphasizing how the new law makes virtually all hand-held cell phone activity illegal – talking, texting, and using apps The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers. The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April but year-round. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year. If you’ve been involved in a car accident that was caused by a distracted driver then it might be a good idea to get a lawyer involved. Why not check out someone like this St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer to help you win your case. Getting a lawyer involved is very useful, particularly if you have been injured in your car accident.

The Ventura Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the county and state to provide educational experiences as well as zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving. Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. The goal is to gain voluntary compliance by drivers, but sometimes citations are necessary for motorists to better understand the importance of driving distraction free.

The Ventura Police Department is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded resources throughout the month of April in city locations with higher numbers of traffic collisions. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders. This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The sixth annual Owl Festival will occur at Olivas Adobe Historical Park on Sunday, April 23, 11 – 3 p.m.  This free afternoon of family-friendly fun will include kids’ arts and crafts, an owl info table, and photos of Olivia, the Adobe’s frequent visitor owl who has nested in the eucalyptus tree bordering the courtyard.  The Ojai Raptor Center will be giving a 1-hour presentation at I p.m. and will be bringing various birds to learn about and view.

Local artists will display handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, paintings and plants for sale.  Wildlife photographer Hal Epstein will display his owl series of photos.  The Audubon Society will share bird watching tips and Leif Engeswick will be playing music on his unique “Book Organ.”  Pizza Man Dan’s food truck will have snacks available for purchase.  The Olivas Adobe is located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive.  For more information  310-746-8021 or www.olivasadobe.org.