Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Ventura County Ag Week March 20-26

Take a morning trip through the farmers market with Kat Merrick of Totally LocalVC. From the Face Of Ventura by Johanna Spinks.

Ventura County Ag Week is a time to reflect on the importance of Ventura County farmers and ranchers and the county’s agriculture industry. It will take place March 20th -26.

Ventura County farmers and ranchers are truly stewards of the land; they are raising more on fewer acres and competing in a challenging global marketplace.  While also working to protect Ventura Counties precious soil and water resources.

The agriculture industry is essential to our economy and the way of life in Ventura County. Agriculture has been attracting farmers since the 1800’s and continues to be the number one employer in our county. Many of our founding farm families still remain today with the current generations carrying on their families’ legacy.

Ventura County students will have an opportunity to hear firsthand from local farmers, and chefs as they visit schools throughout the county during Ventura County Ag week.

Ventura County Ag Weeks goal is to highlight the important role agriculture plays not only to our county but the world.

Many events are planned:

March 21, Ventura County Ag Week Awards Luncheon and National Ag Day celebration.  Farmers, ranchers, chefs and ag educators will be honored at the 2017 Ventura County Ag Day Awards Luncheon, held at the Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula. The festivities will kick off with an opening speech by Henry Gonzales our Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner.

Thursday March 23rd – 5:30pm- 8:00pm- Free event.

Grapes and Hops 454 E Main St. There will be a free Meet the Farmer Mixer.  Close Des Amis, Ojai Vineyards, Surf Brewery and Topa Topa Brewing  will be on hand providing samplings of their locally produced libations. Come out and mix mingle with local farmers and taste the flavors of Ventura County.

Farm to Fork Cooking Class. Take a morning trip through the farmers market with a local Chef and our very own Kat Merrick of Totally Local. As they walk you through all the in’s and out of local sourcing. Saturday March 25th 9:30am – 11:30. $65 per person .

Guests will experience first-hand the connection from farm to fork at the Totally Local Ventura County Ag Week Farm Tour.

March 26th – 9:00 am – 2pm
Cost $85 includes lunch and tasting

Eat Local ~ Hug a farmer all week long

Local restaurants, wineries, brewers and purveyors will be highlighting their locally created weeklong specials.

Further information at TotallyLocalVC.com or [email protected].

 

Ventura College state champions inducted into hall of fame

Fifteen of the original alumnae attended the event

The Ventura College 1996 and 1997 women’s basketball state champions were formally inducted into the Ventura College Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony recently held at the Athletic Event Center at Ventura College. As part of their 20th anniversary reunion, the teams were the first in school history to be inducted into the Ventura College Athletics Hall of Fame.

The honorees travelled from around the world, including Washington, Tennessee and Paris, France, to return to the campus and proudly accept their honors.  Out of the 17 team members, 15 of the original alumnae attended the event.  The 1996 and 1997 women’s basketball teams earned the first two state championships for the Ventura College women’s basketball program.

Leading to the state championships between 1995 and 1997, the Ventura College women’s basketball team was nearly undefeated winning 71 out of 72 games. They outscored their opponents by an average margin of 35.7 points. “To look back at the accomplishments of these young women is very inspiring,” remarked VCCCD Trustee Stephen Blum.  “We will forever cherish the memory of their success and the pride of team spirit they contributed to the campus environment at Ventura College during that era,” added Blum.

The 1995-96 team finished 35-0, beating all opponents accept three by double figures, while the 1996-97 team finished 36-1, ferociously responding to an 81-75 loss to San Jose City in the final of the Gilcrest Invitational at College of the Sequoias; snapping a 42-game winning streak. Thereafter they didn’t just win their final 29 games, they put up 100 or more points a school-record seven times.

“The legacy that these women have left on sports at Ventura College is monumental. The team’s spirit of excellence and dedication exemplifies Ventura College athletics” shared Coach Ned Mircetic. The team members were presented awards by Ventura College President Greg Gillespie, Ventura County Community College District Trustee Stephen Blum, retired Ventura College assistant coach and team mentor David Breslin and coaching staff from 20 years ago, including head coach Ned Mircetic and assistants Tara McLean Emery and Maria Christine.

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Award

Alex Brunk was a 2015 scholarship winner who received $3,500 from the VPOA.

The Ventura Police Officers Association (VPOA) is accepting applications for the 14th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships will be presented in May to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA will consider academic achievement, school and community service, and financial needs. Applications must contain all required information and be returned no later than April 14. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scholarship Awards:

  • 1st Place $5,000
  • 2nd Place $3,500
  • 3rd Place $2,000
  • Honorable Mention(s) $500

Applicants must:

  • Be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college;
  • Plan a course of study related to the field of public service;
  • Be a Ventura resident or have graduated from a high school in Ventura within the past three years, or a Ventura Police Department employee or employee’s child.
  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0 system);
  • Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better if selected as a recipient;
  • Submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;
  • Submit a typed essay of 1,000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;
  • Submit a letter of recommendation from a public servant.

For additional information, please contact Cpl. Cameron Goettsche at 339-4400 or email at [email protected].  Applications are available at the front desk of the Ventura Police Department located at 1425 Dowell Dr. – named after Sergeant Dowell.

Ventura County’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Ventura County’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on March 11 on Main St.

The large crowd lining the street enjoyed a gorgeous Ventura day. The Parade is sponsored by Elks Lodge No. 1430 and featured marching bands, horses, music, wonderful cars and much more.

Judges for the parade were Connie Stahl, Elks Lodge #1430; Richard Rush, California State University Channel Islands; Erika Beck, California State University Channel Islands; Sue Georgino, Georgino Development and James Lockwood, Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Ventura County’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2017

What is Altrusa International? 

Altrusa is an acronym.  Amity – Loyalty – Talent – Reciprocity – Unity – Service – Achievement.

Altrusa is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization where all their services, scholarships and fund-raising projects go to the local community.

Fundraising efforts include an annual luncheon and entertainment function; annual member brunch and donations from local businesses. Altrusa’s primary service projects include nursing scholarships at Ventura College and CSUCI, Family to Family, Books for Teens at Blanchard Community Library, Project Understanding Tutor Centers, West Park after school programs, Literacy, Cal-Vet Ventura Library and Khepera House.

Many of the people who benefit have families with young children. Many of the children in the programs Altrusa supports are underprivileged and their efforts make a difference in these children’s’ future successes.

Altrusa is a club first founded by Mamie L. Bass in Nashville Tennessee on April 11, 1917. This means Altrusa International is celebrating 100 years of service and Altrusa  of San Buenaventura is celebrating 69 years.

Altrusa International, Inc. has clubs in eight countries. The clubs in the United States are divided into 12 geographical districts. The Ventura club belongs to District 11.

Altrusa’s mission statement is”Our country is as great as we, it’s citizens make it. Therefore, we pledge our loyalty to its ideas and it’s endeavors for the welfare of mankind. We strive to fulfill our civic obligations.”

Altrusa offers to the business and professional people of the community an opportunity to touch each other’s lives and be broadened by an interchange of interests and by a sympathetic consideration of the viewpoints of others.

If you’d like to make a difference in your community and see what Altrusa is doing and how you can help attend a meeting. Business meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 11:30am at Main Street Steakhouse and Restaurant in Ventura. Dinner meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month, at 6pm. These locations vary.

For more information please contact Barbara Lindquist at 795-2704 or email her at [email protected].

Be sure to look for the ad in this issue for an upcoming Altrusa fundraiser on April 1st, featuring world renowned magician, Shawn McMaster!

Vol. 10, No. 12 – March 15 – March 28, 2017 – CAPS

You can watch the Parade on CAPS website. Photo by Michael Gordon

Radio classes commence
by Elizabeth Rodeno

CAPS Media held a successful Radio KPPQ Membership Training earlier this month! It was a full studio and an excited group of 12 new radio members on March 1st and 2nd. Staff helped folks find their footing and their radio voice. The first session covers Membership Program Information and Preliminary Training and the second session is a Radio Presentation and Performance Practicum. Classes are being held every month at the CAPS Media Center for Member/Producers to learn how to host their own programs and share the information and stories the public are eager to hear.

Did you miss the St Patrick’s Day Parade? You can see our coverage of it, hosted by Tim O’Neil and Jerry Breiner and filmed by the CAPS staff and Interns, on our website (www.capsmedia.org), where you can find all our other great programs to stream anytime, day or night.

At the beginning of this month, CAPS Media completed a major upgrade of the Digital video studio to full HD capability.  The upgrade includes new cameras, pedestals, teleprompters, monitors and more in the studio and control room. We invite you to stop by and check out all the great new equipment!

Coming up in April we have our regularly scheduled classes. If you become a member this month, you can sign up for our April Orientation Class, happening Thursday, April 6th at 6:00 PM. We will also be offering HD Camera Class on Thursday, April 13th at 6:00 PM and Final Cut X Edit Class on Thursday, April 20th at 6:00 PM. These training classes for CAPS Media Member/Producers to learn how to operate video cameras, edit, run the studio and produce radio programs are scheduled on the CAPS Media website at http://www.capsmedia.org/events. Registration for all classes begins April 1st.

Looking for a place to hold a club or community meeting?  The CAPS Media Center conference room is available for nonprofit and other organizations to hold meetings for up to 30 people. We will include a tour of the CAPS Media Center. Another amazing perk? You’re surrounded by multimedia professionals when that pesky Powerpoint doesn’t work! Call us for availability and scheduling 658-0500.

As always, you can watch Channel 6 to hear what the public has to say and watch Channel 15 to experience the city’s vision to provide the best and clearest information for all. And now you can tune into KPPQ at 104.1 FM to hear some great radio! All programs are also available to the public via streaming service on our website. Go to www.capsmedia.org to see what our members are creating for you and sign up to be part of the story. A full year’s membership is just $25 for a TV membership and $75 for a TV and Radio membership. For more information, contact us at [email protected].

Benefactors’ Ball announces 2017 Cephas Bard Award Honorees

Don and Bonnie Carlton are Community Leaders of the Year.

The Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation is holding its 44th Benefactors’ Ball on Saturday, April 22, with proceeds benefiting the new Community Memorial Hospital.

At this event, four notable individuals will be recognized with the prestigious Cephas Bard Award, named after the founder of the first Community Memorial Hospital. The Cephas Bard award honors those who enhance the reputation and quality of Community Memorial Hospital.

Awardees to be recognized at this event are  Community Leaders of the Year – Don and Bonnie Carlton, CMH Physician of the Year – Dr. Dominic J. Tedesco and  CMH Retired Physician of the Year – Dr. Siegfried O. Storz.

To begin the festivities to celebrate the opening of the new hospital, this year’s Benefactors’ Ball will be held “Under the Stars” at the new Community Memorial Hospital.

Tickets can be bought individually or by table of eight. Sponsorship package opportunities are also available. For ticket or sponsorship information, visit www.benefactorsball.org, or call the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation at 667-2881.

Market Match and Cal-Fresh (SNAP) programs prove successful

Both shoppers and California farmers are benefitting from the Market Match and the Cal-Fresh (SNAP) food programs offered by the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFM).  Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program, which uses grant dollars to match or double a portion of the customers’ federal nutrition assistance benefits, like Cal-Fresh (SNAP), for the exclusive purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables at their certified farmers’ market.

The Market Match program is available at three Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Markets:  the Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pacific View Mall, the Downtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon held in the City Parking Lot, at Santa Clara & Palm Streets and the Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers’ Market held at The Oaks Shopping Center, east end parking lot at Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Blvd. from 1:30pm to 6:00pm.

The VCCFM received their first grant last year which will end in Spring 2017 and is applying for another grant which will begin in July to extend their Market Match program for two more years.  “This is a win-win for both our farmers and shoppers who benefit from this program,” stated Karen Schott, Operations Manager for the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association.  “We have seen over a 100% increase in program utilization since we started offering Market Match and we are delighted to join together in this public health partnership,” she continued.

According to VCCFM officials, Market Match has helped the VCCFM markets by alerting Cal-Fresh/SNAP recipients that they can utilize their benefits at a farmers’ market while providing greater affordability for their families with the added grant benefits.  VCCFM notes that California farmers are benefitting by the increasing market sales and the opportunity to introduce new customers to the benefits of purchasing fresh, local produce.  All Cal-Fresh/SNAP and Market Match benefits are administered through a token system available at the VCCFM Market Information Booths. The markets also accept the WIC (Women, Infants and Child) food programs at each of their locations, although there is not an established matching grant program for the WIC recipients at this time. “Expanding the WIC program will be our next goal in the process,” added Schott.

For more information on the Market Match Program or on the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association call 529-6266 or visit www.vccfarmersmarkets.com.

County Grand Jury has commended VCMC

The Ventura County 2016-2017 Grand Jury has issued a report on the accreditation status of the Ventura County Medical Center.  At the Joint Commission’s last full survey in June, 2014 the hospital was approved for 3 years, the maximum allowed. Subsequent follow-up reports have demonstrated satisfactory performance.

The Grand Jury report commended the Ventura County Medical Center for its performance and dedication to improving the quality of patient care.