Sarah Abramsf: Love Ventura. Photos by Patricia Schallert
On September 16, a Westside Fiesta was held at Kellogg Park located at Ventura Ave. & Kellogg St. The free family event and raffle was a fundraiser for the Westside Community of Ventura. It included food, music by Musica DJ Charlie and fun for all.
The last time Hokulea sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago.
Legendary Hawaiian canoe Hōkūleʻa, revered for reviving the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation, is currently docked in the picturesque coastal city of Monterey, California. The traditional double-hulled canoe has been sailing from Southeast Alaska down the Pacific Coast since June, 2023, when the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) launched the Moananuiākea Voyage and began its four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. Hōkūleʻa is set to make several stops in Southern California as part of this historic journey including Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Newport, Dana Point, and San Diego..
The last time Hokulea sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago in 1995. From October 17-24 it will dock at the Ventura Yacht Club where it can be viewed.
The Moananuiākea Voyage will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports. Led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), the Voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling. The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating earth towards a healthy, thriving future.
She is more than a voyaging canoe—she represents the common desire shared by the people of Hawaii, the Pacific, and the World to protect our most cherished values and places from disappearing. https://hokulea.com/voyaging-canoes/
Are you interested in becoming a CAPS Member?
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the CAPS Open House on October 5. Every CAPS Staff and Board Member enjoyed meeting our guests and showing off the CAPS resources with the hands-on demonstrations on videography, studio, radio and podcast production, live streaming, video editing and more.
Are you interested in becoming a CAPS Member or learning more about CAPS? Join us on Wednesday, November 8 from 4-8 pm for one of the Information Orientation sessions which includes membership sign-ups, programming and distribution information by Donald McConnell, the CAPS Operations Manager. There will be specific workshops with time to schedule future training classes with each department- videography, video editing, radio & podcast production and beginning production. Plus, guests will see all the CAPS gear that is available to members to use at no cost, including video cameras, tripods, sound gear, editing computers and more.
The informative Q&A sessions, scheduled at 4, 5, 6 and 7pm, are open to anyone to become a member or just learn more about CAPS. No reservations are needed, and everyone is invited to join us.
CAPS Membership is available for anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Ventura. The CAPS Creative Community includes families, teenagers, young adults, mid-career professionals, educators, storytellers, retirees, and more. Plus, nonprofits, faith-based groups and community service organizations throughout Ventura County can become CAPS Members.
The CAPS mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. CAPS needs you to help us continue to fulfill that mission by helping you unleash your creative talent and learn the skills to create and launch your own media projects.
Concurrently the CAPS creative team has been working on various projects to celebrate Ventura County’s 150 Anniversary. Go to VenturaCounty150.com and to VenturaMuseum.org to view and listen to them all. Additional projects include the Ventura County Fire Safe Council, the Ventura College Foundation 40th Celebration video and more.
The CAPS Media Center is located a 65 Day Road, between Loma Vista and Telegraph, on the east side of Ventura College directly across from Foothill High School.
CAPS is Ventura’s public access media center, managing Channel 6 (public) and Channel 15 (government and education), plus KPPQ radio at 104.1 with all channels and station streaming. CAPS crew members provide expertise and service to the City of Ventura by covering City Council and other meetings at City Hall, as well as producing informational public service videos more.
Join us on Wednesday, November 8 between 4-8pm for the Information Orientation sessions at 4, 5, 6 or 7pm. Discover a world of limitless creative possibilities at CAPS. You may be surprised and enjoy the people you’ll meet and what you’ll discover inside the CAPS Media Center.
Events by Ana Baker
The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820
Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.
The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.
Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30–10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.
Oct. 19: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report from Cmdr Brown and a presentation from the City of Ventura Manager, Mr. Bill Ayub.
Our newly appointed City Manager, Bill Ayub, wants to meet and connect with East Ventura community members. The City of Ventura announced the appointment of Bill Ayub as our new City Manager in August 2023.
Ms. Rollins, the City of Ventura’s Housing Services Manager, will speak on the Housing Services Division’s plan to host the East Ventura Housing Forum at Juanamaria Elementary School in November.
Oct. 25: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, email [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.
Oct. 25: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. CACC represents citizens in the area bounded by Mills Road on the west, Hill Road on the east, city limits on the hillsides on the north, and the 126 Freeway on the south. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.
Nov. 1: The Ventura County Garden Club celebrates its 100th Year Season in 2024. The Club is excited to offer our members a unique opportunity to tour the Ambritz Kingdom of Plants in Carpinteria. The tour begins at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Following the tour, we will enjoy an optional lunch at Garden Cafe, 3811 Santa Claus Lane, Carpinteria. VP Kathleen Cressy organized this event. We welcome new members. For more information, visit our website at VenturaCountyGardenClub.com.
Nov. 14: Ventura County author Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo will visit the Hill Road Library to discuss her recent book, Threads of Awakening, which details her years practicing traditional Tibetan textile art. Through her remarkable journey, she discovered that a path is made by walking, and some of the best paths are made by walking off course. In this talk, Leslie will reveal the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduce the Buddhist deities it depicts, and share the extraordinary possibilities they embody. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Linda Cherry, Librarian, at (805) 677-7180.
The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Road. Service hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 – 6 p.m., Thursday, 2 – 6 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 10 – 2 p.m.
Nov.18: Group: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online AND Live at our temporary location, Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. All CIPCUG events may be attended online. Due to limited space, live attendance is reserved for members. Details for connecting to online events are emailed before the event. To receive connection instructions, please sign up on our website at www.cipcug.org
On October 8, a Victorian Halloween was held at the Olivas Adobe. Tours of the Adobe were held where folks learned about the chilling customs and traditions of the time.
Year 2016, Cirith Ungol in front of Ventura City Hall after receiving Proclamation thanking, congratulating and celebrating the band.
Cirith Ungol will be winding down their careers on a high note this next year.
Ventura is full of musicians who live and breath music. It’s one of the reasons I love this town so much. One of those bands is Cirith Ungol whose history sounds like a rock opera, and if I didn’t know Robert Garven (drummer) personally, I would have laid money that their story was pure fiction.
From practicing in a bedroom here in Ventura in the 70s to playing arena festivals in Europe, it truly is an inspiring story. And though the point of this article isn’t to provide their history (I hope a book and/or movie will be in the works), the point is to pay homage to Cirith Ungol who will be winding down their careers on a high note this next year.
In 1992, after releasing four albums, a number of band personnel changes, and frustrations with the industry, the stress took its toll, and the band officially called it quits. Then in 1998, co-founder, Jerry Fogle died of liver failure. There would be calls for the band to reunite, requests for interviews, and a growing fan base in Europe, but the two remaining core members, Garven and Tim Baker had become “civilians” working their normal jobs and living uncomplicated lives for just about twenty-five years. Then in 2015, Garven, Baker, former guitarists Greg Lindstrom and Jimmy Barraza got together and started to play in a rehearsal space where I’m told, the magic was rediscovered. After bassist Flint declined to rejoin, Jarvis Leatherby of Night Demon (huge fan of the band), stepped in.
Then 2016 Cirith Ungol headlined the Frost and Fire II festival at the Majestic Ventura Theater. I was there that night and the packed house of metal fans from around the world cheered and welcomed back the band with open arms. In Garven’s words, “When the ancient stars aligned, Cirith Ungol crawled out of its ancient slumber, to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting world.” Two days later, the City of Ventura declared October 10, 2016 to be Cirith Ungol Day.
Fast forward to today, after playing metal festivals in Europe to packed stadiums and venues, Cirith Ungol has announced they will retire from live performances at the end of 2024.
Cirith Ungol will release their sixth full-length album, Dark Parade this month via Metal Blade Records and will play a special record release show on October 20 at the Roxy in West Hollywood. Not only will this be the bands first Los Angeles live performance in thirty-five years, but it will commemorate The Roxy’s 50th anniversary with the band playing their new release in its entirety followed by a full set of their classic material.
I can’t imagine what a thrill it has been since reuniting and playing to packed crowds, but it couldn’t have happened to a better group of guys. Congratulations Cirith Ungol!
Ashford Gordon, Blues Guitarist and Vocalist will appear at Feros Ferio Winery, 310 E Ojai Ave, Saturday, October 21, 4-6 PM, featuring Eric Monteith on Bass Guitar for 2 sets of Classic, Standard and Original Blues. No cover charge!
California Coastal Horse Rescue (CCHR) in Ojai, will host its Octoberfest Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ranch at 600 West Lomita Avenue in Ojai.
The community is invited to this event, which includes a beer and wine garden, live Bluegrass band, vendors, pony cart rides, food trucks, crafts for children, and, of course, the stars of the day – the CCHR horses. Suggestion donation is $10 per person; children 10 and under are free.
An all-volunteer, non-profit organization, CCHR’s mission is to rescue abandoned, abused, neglected and slaughter-bound horses and provide them with a second chance at living healthy, happy and productive lives.
What: Family Octoberfest
Where: California Coastal Horse Rescue; 600 West Lomita Avenue, Ojai
When: Sunday, October 22, 2023; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Admission: $10 per person; kids 10 and under free. Parking Free
The Ventura County Creative Artists will hold their semi-annual art exhibit, Nov. 4 and Nov. 5 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at Bert Collin’s West Hills Gallery at 1545 Cuyama Rd., Ojai. The multi-media show, “Fur, Fin & Feathers” will highlight animal art among other subjects. This will be an art and fun-filled afternoon. Meet many of the artists in person, and watch demonstrations of some of the techniques and materials used. Pastels, oil, acrylic, encaustic and watercolor will be among the varied mediums exhibited at the show. Many of the artists are talented in pet portraits, not to mention humans. With holidays around the corner this is a good place to shop and also plan a portrait (pet or human) commission.
Photos by Patricia Schallert and Yana Khiyod
Ventura’s premier food and beverage tasting benefit for the historic Ventura pier, Pier Under the Stars was held on October 7. It was held on the beachfront promenade near the pier. Great food, music and drinks
by Mary Olson
Ventura Friends of the Library are sponsoring 2 events as part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Ventura County.
In the 1950’s, Ventura County had its own version of the Trial of the Century. We are welcoming Deborah Holt Larkin back to town to speak about her memoir: A Lovely Girl: The Tragedy of Olga Duncan and the Trial of One of California’s Most Notorious Killers. Both events are free and open to the public.
Deborah Holt Larkin was ten years old when her father, the court reporter for the Ventura County Star-Free Press, was immersed in the trial of Olga Duncan’s killers taking place at the Ventura County Courthouse (now Ventura City Hall). Larkin’s memoir tells the story of this stranger-than-fiction murder case and the influence of her reporter father’s work in her early life.
On Saturday, November 4, 10 am to noon at the Atrium at City Hall, you can hear all about this true crime saga from Deborah Holt Larkin. She tells us, “In between the carefully researched true crime procedural chapters, the thread of the story winds back to chapters of my coming-of-age memoir about our quirky family life and my dawning realization that sometimes terrible things can happen to good girls. That evil can hide behind a mask of
normalcy.”
Please park behind the City Hall. Books will be available for purchase and book signing will follow the talk.
Then, on Sunday, November 5, Deborah Larkin will be the guest speaker at Ventura Friends of the Library Annual Membership Meeting at 2:00 pm in the Topping Room in E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St. Some of our members will remember her father, Bob Holt, whose deadline reporting and whimsical columns appeared over the course of 34 years in the Ventura Star-Free Press. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
A brief business meeting for Ventura Friends of the Library will follow the talk.
Hill Road Library will also host a 150th Anniversary event.
Living History at the Library on Sunday, October 22, 12 to 1 pm.
History comes alive through the performance of Connie Korenstein’s historical figures of Ventura County! Miriam Knox Dudley, of the Dudley House in Ventura, one of the last pioneer farm houses within the city limits, pays a visit to attendees to tell the story of growing up in a farming family in 1892. This event is sponsored by the Ventura County Library Foundation and is free and open to the public. For additional information please,
contact Timothy Furgal, Regional Librarian, at (805) 486-5460 or [email protected].
And on Monday, October 23, 4:30 to 5:30 pm at Hill Road Library Angelina Leaños, 2021-2022 Ventura County Youth Poet Laureate, will host a workshop for youth ages 10-17 to
develop and craft poems celebrating life in Ventura County. Participants are encouraged to bring their notebooks and favorite pens; supplies will also be available at the event. Poems from this workshop will have the opportunity to be shared during the county’s 150th Anniversary celebrations. (Participation in the celebration events is not required to attend the workshop.)
Rachel Bazdarich was the keynote speaker.
On October 6th, Portside Ventura Harbor held the annual Pink Party hosted by People Helping People in support of the American Cancer Association and Breast Cancer Awareness. It was an evening attended by hundreds featuring a raffle, silent auction, amazing prizes, delectable food, music by the Bobby Hart Band, drinks and many speakers highlighted by a special keynote speech by Portside’s Community Manager, Rachel Bazdarich.
Rachel, and other speakers of those fighting cancer touched the hearts of all those enjoying the evening.
In parting Rachel stated “In closing, I stand before you today not just as a cancer survivor but as someone who has grown through adversity, laughed in the face of challenges, and emerged stronger on the other side. I hope my story serves as a reminder that even in the face of life’s greatest challenges, there is hope, strength, and the possibility of a brighter future. Thank you for listening to my story, and I encourage each of you to take charge of your health, trust your instincts, embrace life’s surprises, and find laughter even in the toughest times. Together, we can overcome the most unexpected of obstacles and emerge with smiles on our faces. Most importantly though, thank you so much to all of you for your support. To you…cheers!!!”
Among the speakers and event planners were the following. Several spoke about their experiences with cancer. Adam Lopez co-host, Maria Cortez-event coordinator, Martine Cortez-co-host, Gigi Quijano, Christina Brophy, Marie Quintanilla, Jessica Guzman and Mayra Mateo-event coordinator.
