Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

The Be the DD and Win campaign had its final night on July 15, 2016 in Ventura

 

The Be the DD and Win campaign will continue its message at large weekend festivals and holiday weekends.
The Be the DD and Win campaign will continue its message at large weekend festivals and holiday weekends.

In July 2011, Ventura County Behavioral Health, Project Safer and the Ventura Police Department collaborated to develop and implement a campaign to recognize and reward designated drivers. The campaign was known as, “Be the DD and Win”. The “DD” acronym is short for Designated Driver. During the campaign, local alcohol establishments in Downtown Ventura would provide wristbands for designated drivers and provide them with prizes.

Project Safer, a local prevention provider, spearheaded the campaign. According to Project Safer’s records, over $77,000 in prizes have been given away to designated drivers in Ventura County; all of which was donated by local businesses. Over 6,200 designated drivers were identified during the nights of the campaign. Over 16,000 people were driven home safely by the designated drivers .

The Be the DD and Win campaign not only set out to identify and reward designated drivers but to also change the perception that being the designated driver was “cool” and  “important”. Over the last five years thousands upon thousands have been reminded about the importance of the designated driver and not driving while impaired.

Although the campaign will not continue on a monthly basis, Project Safer and the Ventura Police Department will continue to encourage the public to plan ahead and have a safe ride when deciding to drink alcohol..

With summer in full swing and festivals each weekend throughout the county, it is important to remember, that although there are still folks who make the wrong decision to drink and drive, you still have time to make the right decision. You can be a designated driver.

The Ventura Police Department thanks all of the Downtown businesses that participated in the Be the DD and Win campaign over the last five years. Additional thanks to Ventura County Behavioral Health and Project Safer for their funding and commitment to the campaign.

 

Ribbon cutting to be held to celebrate opening of new graduate housing for the homeless

Executive Director Jim Duran and Dee Cox  the onsite manager will welcome you to the ribbon cutting.
Executive Director Jim Duran and Dee Cox  the onsite manager will welcome you to the ribbon cutting.

Graduates of The City Center’s transitional housing program now have a new place to call home. To celebrate and unveil the newly retrofitted graduate housing, a ribbon cutting event will be held on Friday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 to 7pm at The City Center, 837 East Thompson Boulevard.

“After months of construction and generous contributions from the community, we are so very pleased to offer this extension of our transitional housing program,” states Jim Duran, Executive Director of The City Center. “I am personally so proud of these graduates, all of whom have worked extremely hard to rebuild their lives and qualify for graduate housing. They are all employed, own a vehicle, have substantial savings and are no longer receiving government funding.”

Guests will have the opportunity to meet the program graduates, tour the Center, and meet additional residents, staff, board members and local dignitaries.  Guests of honor will include the graduate housing sponsors:  Trinity Lutheran Church, LOWE’S Ventura, Bill & Elise Kearney, Coast Water Solutions/Brian & Kathy Meyer, Pacific Western Bank, Shonda & Eric Vielbig, Diane Mancinni (In Honor of Paulino Romero), Lorie & Andre Nintcheff, Wendy Lawson-Leach (In Honor of Anna Laura Sann), and Home Depot.

Refreshments are being provided by Main Street Meats and Missy’s Cupcake Creations.

The City Center helps homeless families by providing a temporary, safe place to call home. During their residency, clients find stability so they can focus on getting their life under control and obtaining the help and necessary skills they need to get back on their feet.

The City Center’s transitional housing program includes a high level of accountability with the goal of transitioning clients into long-term housing within one year. Clients contribute 30% of their income for housing and services while 20% is saved for future financial stability. Clients must also be employed or actively engaged in seeking employment. Services include comprehensive professional case management, spiritual and life mentoring, job placement services, and other critical needs.

Guests can RSVP online at http://eightmorerooms.eventbrite.com.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Community Memorial Hospital’s Auxiliary Presents their Annual Maria Cavallow Scholarship  Awards

Gary Wilde, CEO CMH, Delyla Rivera, Casey O'Neil and Edie Marshall, Junior Coordinator at scholarship awards.
Gary Wilde, CEO CMH, Delyla Rivera, Casey O’Neil and Edie Marshall, Junior Coordinator at scholarship awards.

On June 13, two $2000.00 Maria Cavallo Scholarship awards were presented.  This awards one or more graduating high school seniors who has served at least 100 hours in the auxiliary, has maintained a 3.50 GPA or better, and who will be attending an accredited college or university and taking courses in the healthcare field.

Delyla Rivera joined the program in July, 2013, and has worked 362.5 hours in the Gift Shop.  While attending Buena High School she had a 3.77 cumulative GPA.  At Buena, she has played on the varsity tennis team, receiving the most valuable player award in 2015.  Additionally, she has been a member of the mock trial team as well as a Red Cross volunteer and a math tutor.  Delyla has been accepted at the University of California at Santa Barbara as a biology major.  Her career goal is to become a clinical pathologist.

Casey O’Neil became a Junior Volunteer in September 2013 and served 241 hours as a Desk Receptionist/Flyer.  She has been active at Foothill High School as a member of the Bioscience Academy, and has been on its leadership team which coordinates several bioscience events.  She has been a Renaissance student every semester.  She is a member of the National Honors Society and the Society of Women Engineers.  She will graduate with a 3.8 cumulative GPA.  While active in her church, she gone on a mission to an orphanage in Nicaragua and served as a volunteer at Vacation Bible School every summer.  Casey has had the unique experience of working at Coastal Marine Biolabs, which is a graduate level research facility.  She has been accepted at the University of Portland in Oregon where she will major in biology.  Upon the completion of her education, she plans to become an Occupational Therapist.

On July 11 Ameet Rahane received his $2000.00 award.  He joined the Junior program in July 2013.  Ameet has served over 417 hours both in the Critical Care Unit and as a Desk Receptionist/Flyer.  He attended Foothill High School where he has a 3.9 cumulative GPA.  As member of the Bioscience Academy he served on its leadership team.  He is the founder and president of the school’s programming club.  Ameet has volunteered in the school library, has played in the jazz band, and participated on the swimming and water polo teams.  He is a member of the California Scholarship Foundation and is a member of the  National Honor Society.  Ameet speaks four languages and has trained himself in multiple programming languages.  he has held a Navy engineering internship and has worked at the Ventura County Medical Center, Ventura County Library and Abednego Book Shoppe  Ameet will attend the University of California  Berkeley where he will major in molecular and cellular biology.  He plans to become a neurosurgeon.

Media gather for good news

Channel Island foxes are no longer endangered. Photos by Richard Lieberman
(for more photos visit www.venturabreeze.com)

by Sheli Ellsworth

On a pristine Southern California morning, August 11, blue skies and calm waters welcomed dozens of invited guests to the Channel Islands National Park to celebrate.

Joining the press conference were members of the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservatory and the media. What was the big event? An endangered species, once numbering as low as 70, is now back in full force. The Channel Island fox population was officially removed from the endangered species list and in record time.

stuff fox insetThe Channel Island foxes are the only carnivore unique to California. Their decline was chronicled in the 2011 T. C. Boyle novel, When the Killing’s Done. First the black rats came, then the non-native feral pigs and finally the golden eagles that preyed on the baby pigs and the foxes. The subspecies of fox on Santa Catalina, decimated by an outbreak of canine distemper, remains threatened.

Removing the invasive species became a controversial issue. In 2001 and 2002, the National Park Service poisoned Anacapa Island’s non-native black rats. In March of 2004, four of the Channel Islands’ subspecies were placed on the federal endangered species list. Then the park service and other government agencies collaborated with the Nature Conservancy to eradicate (shoot) the feral pigs, relocate the golden eagles and reintroduce the native bald eagles wiped-out by the use of DDT. The agencies spent $20 million donated by public and private sources on the environmental project. Through captive breeding and rearing, native foxes number in the thousands as of 2015. There are 700 on San Miguel; 1,200 on Santa Rosa and 2,100 on Santa Cruz.

A National Park Service boat ferried the group to Prisoner’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island to observe the routine health checks that insure the population’s survival and to hear welcoming speeches. Collar monitoring for some foxes and vaccines for canine distemper will continue.

Smaller than a housecat, the reddish foxes that eat certain plants, deer mice, crickets, grasshoppers and ground nesting birds may be descendants of the gray fox that was brought to the islands by man about 6,000 years ago. The 4-5 pound foxes inhabit six of the eight Channel Islands and live up to 15 years. They mate in the spring and usually have litters that number from 1-5.

The three species of Channel Island fox are in a list of 37 species removed from the endangered species list since the Endangered Species Act passed in 1973. California currently has 119 animals on the endangered species list according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website.

Channel Island foxes

2016 Fair closed with record numbers of attendees in all categories

2016 Ventura County Fair closes with brilliance. Photo by John Ferritto

The Ventura County Fair’s Board of Directors, management, and staff are proud to report that the 2016 Fair was a success. Celebrating the finest from throughout Ventura County, the 141st edition closed with record numbers in all categories. Visitors came from near and far to enjoy “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” during the 12-day run, August 3 through August 14.

The Ventura County Fair’s mission is to preserve, promote, and showcase agriculture and the traditions of Ventura County, this was accomplished with competitive livestock and horse shows, agricultural exhibits and baking contests. Fairgoers were greeted with an abundance of new attractions, which included Star Child Stilt Circus, who delighted young and old as they strolled through the Fair. Adding to the attraction were exciting new carnival rides, including the Flipper and the F-80. Tasty new food offerings like Deep Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly and Birthday Cake Crepes pleased the taste for summer treats.

Total Attendance for 2016 was a record 332,262; up 4.5% from 2015’s attendance of 318,113. The previous record Fair attendance was set in 2013 with 329,061 Fair visitors.

“We go all out to bring Ventura County a better Fair every year,” said CEO Barbara Quaid. “For us the focus is not about the numbers of people coming through the gates, but about the quality of the experience our guests have at the Fair.  We are committed to offering a clean, safe and fun experience that will create cherished memories”

As is the case every year, overall success would not be possible without the tremendous support of the sponsors and the community. While the gates have closed on the 2016 Ventura County Fair, planning is already underway for the 2017 Fair.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds consists of a 62.5-acre parcel and operates as a multi-purpose, multi-functional, year-round facility accommodating a variety of events.  Regarded as a premier rental facility, the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center attracts some of the most popular shows and attractions in the county throughout the year, including livestock shows, dog shows, horse shows, home and recreation shows, concerts, dances, business expos, weddings and receptions, motorcycle and automobile shows, camping groups, swap meets and much more.

The Ventura County Fair entertained thousands of guests and employs up to 700 seasonal staff during the annual 12-day event. With annual attendance of over 300,000 visitors to the Fair, the communities throughout Ventura County share in the economic vitality derived from the Ventura County Fair. The Fair brings economic, social, educational, and cultural resources and provides lasting impressions on Fairgoers. While agriculture is the heart of the Fair, it’s the diverse entertainment that typically draws Fairgoers through the gates. Known for free top name concerts, we take pride in the overall dynamics and diversity of the entertainment, the esthetics and cleanliness of the grounds, as well as the vast educational and innovative exhibits that are showcased throughout the Fair each year.

 

Randall Richman is running for Ventura Council

I will eliminate wasteful and wrongful spending. Photo by Dina Pielaet

Ventura City Council candidates-first in a series “written” by the candidates

Randall RichmanTwenty-five year Ventura resident and record producer Randall Richman is running for Ventura Council on the November 8th ballot.

Randall is probably best known for his fight against the downtown parking meters in 2011 along with Carla Bonney and Gary Parker who believed the meters would hurt businesses by sending patrons to the mall and Oxnard. In retrospect, he may have been right as even many die-hard businesses and Venturans would like them removed. Going back to 2-hour or 90 or 75 minute times makes more sense. This is the Santa Barbara method.

Randall’s campaign platform includes the following:

  1. Eliminate wasteful and wrongful spending amounting to millions in the last 15 years. See his sources, Watchdog Ventura and Venturans for Responsible and Effective Government, VREG for more information.
  1. Find and develop real affordable housing starting at $300 for singles to $1500 for families in the next 3 years. He can help do this as a developer-consultant.
  1. Create the proper business climate for jobs’ development focusing on small business growth and luring larger employers/businesses through tax savings.
  1. Eliminate the chronic cronyism which has existed here for at least the last 10-15 years by electing new and independent Council members.
  1. Defeat Measure O which is a regressive tax increase hurting the poor and people on lower fixed incomes. Consider lowering our sales tax rate half a point to generate even more sales and sales’ taxes.

Randall believes if we achieve these things, almost every other problem we face will improve here. His slogan is “making Ventura even greater!”

His resume and bio are listed on his Facebook page “Randall Richman” as well as his Facebook campaign page “Venturans for Randall.”

Randall looks forward to a positive campaign. Vote #4 Randall Richman on your ballot.

Send him questions/comments to his email [email protected]

Visit his website is www.randallrichman.com

 

Refuse collection delayed one day for Labor Day

 

In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, employees of Harrison Industries will be taking the day off on Monday, Sept. 5. As a result, Harrison will collect trash and recycling or green waste in Ventura and Ojai one day later than usual during the week of Sept. 4-10.

The regular schedule will resume the following week.

For more information, call 647-1414.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Offerman announces candidacy for the Ventura Unified School Board

 

Offerman is a past President of the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura.
Offerman is a past President of the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura.

Steve Offerman is well known in the community for being County Supervisor Steve Bennett’s assistant for the past 16 years.

Supervisor Steve Bennett said: “Steve Offerman has been instrumental to the success of our office, He knows our community and knows how to get things done in government.  I regularly rely on his knowledge and skills to serve the people of Ventura County, and Steve will make an outstanding addition to the Ventura Unified School District board.”

Steve was a nine-year Board member and past President of the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura, and was instrumental in founding the Saticoy and Oak View clubhouses.

Steve Offerman is the father of two daughters who have attended Ventura Unified schools for the last 15 years, and Steve has actively volunteered in school PTOs and boosters organizations.  Steve has been a volunteer grant writer for school and nonprofit arts organizations for many years. Steve looks forward to helping the school district improve educational offerings and meet the needs of students entering evolving career fields and increasingly competitive college admissions.

More information on Steve Offerman’s campaign for Ventura Unified School District Board can be found at www.steveofferman.com