Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

 HACSB celebrates second annual scholarship program recipients

stuff HACSB
Brad Hudson of Congresswoman Julia Brownley’s office, Luz Ruiz, Mikaela McCowan, Daisy Sumaya and Michael McDonald of CA Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson’s office celebrating scholarship program.

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) is pleased to announce the award of scholarships to Section 8 tenants or tenants of rental properties owned or affiliated with the Housing Authority through its second Annual Scholarship Program competition. The HACSB Annual Scholarship Program is the result of a partnership with Pacific Western Bank, awarding two $2,000 scholarships for students attending four year institutions and two $750 scholarships for students attending two year institutions. HACSB received and evaluated scholarship applications from among the HACSB’s Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher participants in an open, competitive selection process. The selected recipients are currently attending area institutions or are recent graduates of local schools with plans to continue their studies.

The HACSB hosted its second Annual Scholarship event at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, June 21 with this year’s recipients Luz Ruiz, Bridget Mayanez, Mikaela McCowan, and Daisy Sumaya.

The event brought together the scholarship recipients and their families along with a few of their school teachers, counselors, and mentors to celebrate educational goals with HACSB staff, partner agency representatives, and representatives of local legislators.

“Education creates a path to change the world and it is an honor to celebrate the commitment these young women have made to furthering their future,” said Denise Wise, the HACSB CEO. “Education is the key to success, and the Housing Authority, its employees, and partners are extremely proud to support them in achieving their goals.”

In order to continue the Annual Scholarship program into future years, the HACSB is hosting its first Scholarship Fundraiser, the HACSB 2016 Haunted Housing Run. This year’s inaugural Haunted Housing Run event features a 5k, 10k and Kid’s 1 mile fun run on Saturday, October 29th at the Ventura Pier. All donations and proceeds from the Haunted Housing Run directly support the Scholarship Program. To sign up, volunteer, or donate, visit the event website at www.hauntedhousingrun.com.

The HACSB is the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, with 471 public housing units, more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers, and over 350 non-profit affordable rental units. The agency is actively working to increase the supply of affordable housing and to improve the quality of life for hundreds more of the low-income residents throughout the City of Ventura.

 

Packed house at The City Center’s Champions of Change

Jim Duran offered special thanks to Rick and Cherry Carney who serve as Mentor Coordinators for the City Center. 
Jim Duran offered special thanks to Rick and Cherry Carney who serve as Mentor Coordinators for the City Center.

Photos and article by Charllen Morla

On Tuesday, June 28, The City Center Transitional Living (TCC) held an informational meeting “Champions of Change” at The River Community Church in Ventura.

The evening program included various special guests including Lisa Higginbotham of Thrivent Financial – Event Sponsor. Also among the line up was Ventura Deputy Mayor Neal Andrews, County Supervisor Steve Bennett and Championship Boxer Maureen Shea – all great supporters of The City Center’s mission. Also present were City Councilmembers Christy  Weir and Cheryl Heitmann,

Testimonies were given by current residents of TCC including Greg and Tawney Hartney, a young couple who recently found The City Center after living their lives of being “hopeless, addicted,  and helpless.” With the help of on-site case managers they have been able to learn how to save money and be responsible. Greg and Tawney have been able to secure jobs and buy a minivan. Their ultimate goal now is to be reunited with their daughter full-time.

Caitlin Sonni, TCC Resident also shared her testimony on her journey to finding TCC. Having been in an abusive relationship and back and forth from home to homes, she became homeless, stating, “It can happen to anyone…”. In finding The City Center, Caitlin has now found relief and is able to say, “For the first time in my life, I can say I’m safe. For the first time in my life I can say I’m not alone.”

Jennifer Valadez presented her testimony sharing her experience of being caught up and addicted to substances and finally her family decided to relocate with no invitation to her. She ended up becoming homeless. She soon found TCC and has been sober for three years, makes enough money to support her kids and pay rent at TCC.

stuff city center insetChampions of Change also recognized the sponsor for the final eight rooms that were being built this past year. Churches, organizations and individual donors donated $7,500 to complete construction and furnish a room.

Plaques of appreciation and Partnership Awards were presented to Rick and Cherry Carney who established their ministry in an effort to help end homelessness in Ventura by serving as Mentors and Mentor Coordinators for the City Center; Alethia Alvarez, Dance Instructor of Ritmo El Pasion who was very instrumental as Jim Duran, TCC Executive Director’s dance partner and trainer in his participation in the 2015 Salsa Festival – a fundraising event which raised $33,500 for TCC; and the Ventura Family YMCA for their partnership with TCC in helping the residents through their “Operation Ventura” program.

The evening ended with an amazing inspirational song sung by local recording artist Lisa Houston and a final closing by Jeanne Benitez, TCC Board Member.

For more information on The City Center, please visit www.thecitycenter.org.

 

 Oil industry and the agricultural industry was focus at Chamber breakfast

Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber speaking at the Economic Outlook Breakfast. Photos by Richard Lieberman
Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber speaking at the Economic Outlook Breakfast. Photos by Richard Lieberman

On Thursday, June 23rd at the Ventura Beach Marriott, the Economic Outlook Breakfast  “Our Past, Present and Future” for was held. This year’s breakfast primarily focused on two of the most vital industries to the City of Ventura: the oil industry and the agricultural industry.

Representing the oil industry at the breakfast was Bob Poole, who is currently the Vice President with the Western States Petroleum Association.

His presentation covered a wide variety of different issues related to the oil industry in Ventura.  Mr. Poole stated that the City of Ventura has been producing oil for over 100 years, that Californians use 2 million barrels of oil a day (and we only produce 38% of that), also 26% of what we pay per gallon at the pump are taxes, and  that the oil industry in Ventura County generates 12,469 jobs.

stuff chamber insetRepresenting the Agricultural Industry was Edgar Terry with Terry Farms, Inc. who is engaged in Ventura County’s agricultural community with his family company Terry Farms, Inc., which produces various vegetable and strawberry crops on 2,000 acres. He is also Senior Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University where he teaches corporate finance in the Degree for Professionals Evening Program and the Master of Business Administration Program.

He explained that agriculture makes up 4% of the economy in Ventura County, that Ventura County ranks in the top 15 highest producing agricultural counties in the country. He hopes that more young people will go into the agriculture industry because of the opportunities that are available today

“As our City celebrates its sesquicentennial, we thought it only fitting to explore our rich history and examine the legacy of our agricultural and oil roots that were the catalyst in growing our community and our region,” said Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber.

 

 

The CAPS Media Center

Students from CAPS Digital Storytelling producing one of their shows.
Students from CAPS Digital Storytelling producing one of their shows.

by Elizabeth Rodeno

CAPS, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, is seeking nominees for CAPS Media Board of Directors. This year there are three–at large seats available; two seats for two (2) year terms and one seat for a one (1) year term. Elections will be held in October 2016.

We encourage the community at-large and all our members to become involved with the election process by becoming a candidate, encouraging a nominee, and by voting. Contact CAPS for more information.

Enjoy the summer and send your now-bored kids to CAPS for our youth program. There are a few spaces remaining in the final week which begins August 1st.  Phil, Nick, Ethan and Grace are ready to teach the finer aspects of three camera production in our studio. Location filming is soon to follow. Take a look at past Digital Storytelling shows to see the range of creations.

CAPS Media Center is proud to have so many enthusiastic members. Our members embrace the educational courses we provide every month and use our top of the line camera and lighting equipment. The edit bays featuring Mac Pros and Final Cut X are getting a workout but there is always space for you. The studio is getting a lot of use by series producers and performers from all walks of life as well as by our ECTV and Digital Storytelling students. Let us know if you are interested in a particular aspect of filmmaking and we will look for ways to support your interests. Always check our schedule online to see what series are playing.

Is your business interested in learning about and using CAPS Media to provide media training and services? Please contact us. Our executive director, Patrick Davidson, will be happy to come to your office or attend your meeting and share the CAPS story. We have a lot to offer the non-profit and business communities.

Keep an eye out for more information on CAPS Radio. We have a lot of people who are prepping their shows and tapping their toes waiting for the station to be built. We can not build it without your help. Please share what ever you can to help make CAPS radio great.

Go to our website for more information. We always appreciate more likes on all social media including Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube. View it all on our frequently updated website. Don’t forget the training classes and professional gear we offer. A yearly membership at CAPS is only $25. Go to www.capsmedia.org or call 805-658-0500 for more information.

Brooks Institute moving to Downtown Ventura

The construction for the Brooks Institute location behind City Hall is progressing nicely.
The construction for the Brooks Institute location behind City Hall is progressing nicely.

From their current campus location on Ventura Ave. Brooks Institute is becoming an integral part of Ventura with several planned locations in the downtown area.

Brooks has several  locations that are now being renovated spread out Downtown that will be their classrooms, studios and offices.

In  February the City Council approved a five-year lease for the for-profit school to move into the top two floors of 505 Poli St. located being City Hall. The 20,000 square feet will house offices, a conference room, student services and photography studios.

Among their other locations will be the Erle Stanley Gardner Building and  a portion of the downtown building that houses Pacific Western Bank.

These locations will allow students, instructors and staff to  eat, drink and purchase merchandise downtown or take a casual walk to the beach or grab the trolley to the Harbor from their urban campus. And some will be living in Ventura.

The move has already sparked new interest in attending Brooks. Approximately 175 new students have enrolled to start in September which will bring their student count to about 350.

Parking will become an issue at all of their new locations and the City is working with them for ways to mitigate the parking situation.

“We want to thank the City of Ventura for offering a new home to Brooks Institute,” said Edward Clift, President of Brooks Institute. “We are excited about the many possibilities this relocation will bring, including partnering with Ventura to become an increasingly vibrant arts and media hub in the region. It is a bold step and true testament to the innovative spirit of this city. We are looking forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship.”

Ventura  Mayor Erik Nasarenko stated “We welcome Brooks to Downtown Ventura and recognize the value that this move will have in stimulating the local economy of our historic downtown. Not only is this a unique collaboration between public and private institutions, it also marks a significant accomplishment for the City of Ventura in terms of business attraction. Bringing more than 340 students and 80 faculty members into Downtown Ventura on a daily basis will stimulate the local economy and our city as a whole.”

Brooks Institute is celebrates 70 years of educating students in the visual and media arts. Brooks offers bachelor’s degrees in fields including Professional Photography, Graphic Design, Film and Visual Journalism, a Master of Science in Scientific and Technological Imaging and a Master of Fine Arts in Photography. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. For more information about Brooks Institute and the school’s programs, visit www.brooks.edu or call 585-8000.

 

Restoring Bird Habitat on the Channel Islands

stuff bird habitatOn Thursday, July 14 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologist Annie Little will describe the work that has been done since 2002 to help populations of birds on the Channel Islands recover from loss of habitat and the adverse effects of the pesticide DDT, during the July From Shore to Sea lecture.

DDT was a pesticide discharged into the ocean that worked its way up the food chain and eventually accumulated in birds, like seabirds, falcons, and eagles. The DDT caused their eggshells to be too thin to withstand incubation in the nest, and populations of these birds declined.

Little will describe the various restoration efforts that Montrose Settlements Restoration Program (MSRP) has created to help these populations, including the bald eagle reintroduction program, habitat restoration and social attraction for seabirds on Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara Islands, feral cat removal on San Nicolas Island, and seabird restoration on the Baja California Pacific Islands.

The From Shore to Sea lecture series is sponsored by Channel Islands National Park to further the understanding of current research on the Channel Islands and surrounding marine waters. The series takes place at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, January through December, at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor.

This lecture can also be viewed live online at http://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/live-programs.htm.

CMHS seminar and other health news

The effects of sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint disorder – TMJ – on chronic headaches will be focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, July 19.

Brigitte Lovell, D.M.D., who specializes in headache and orofacial pain, will lead the seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St.

Dr. Lovell will discuss the warning signs, diagnosis and treatment of TMJ, which can cause pain to the head, jaw, neck and shoulders. She also will cover TMJ pain night guards, devices and injections, as well as sleep apnea/snoring custom-made alternative dental devices that are available.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.

Interventional cardiologists at Community Memorial Hospital are the first in Ventura County to treat patients with breakthrough drug-eluting stents approved in October, 2015 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

A cardiac stent restores blood flow in diseased blood vessels. Unlike traditional drug-eluting stents, Boston Scientific’s latest Synergy stent utilizes a bio-absorbable polymer on the surface of the stent that breaks down and is cleared by the body after the drug it contains is released, leaving behind a bare platinum-chromium stent.

Acclaimed actress Kathy Bates has played a variety of roles during her distinguished 40-year film, television and stage career. Recently, however, Bates has taken on a new, more important role as the spokeswoman for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). After surviving ovarian and breast cancer, she’s currently struggling with a chronic condition that resulted from her double mastectomy four years ago – lymphedema. Lymphedema is an abnormal swelling in an arm or leg that may occur after surgeons have removed lymph nodes during cancer treatment. Without the lymph nodes, lymph fluid does not drain properly.

While lymphedema by itself is not fatal, it can be disfiguring and debilitating and can cause long-term physical, psychological and social problems for patients.

Treatment of lymphedema is one of a number of services provided by Community Memorial Health System’s Cancer Resource Center (CRC) in Ventura in cooperation with the Rehabilitation Department of Ventura County. Complete Decongestive Therapy is provided, which includes manual lymph drainage, multilayered compression bandaging by certified fitters, therapeutic exercises, skin care and patient education in self-care.

In addition to treatment, the CRC offers a screening clinic for lymphedema and a support group for those diagnosed with the condition. Both the screening and support groups are held the third Tuesday of each month.

For more information on the Cancer Resource Center’s lymphedema treatment program, call 652-5459.

 

 

Orientation being held July 7th to learn about visiting Ventura’s sister city – Loreto, Mexico

Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula.

For the first time since former Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann officially exchanged keys to the city with Loreto, Mexico, in 2015, the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee is inviting Venturans to travel with them to explore their sister city.

Planning is underway for biannual visits to Loreto including hotel and non-stop flights from LAX. These trips are meant to promote and strengthen the sister city relationship between the cities, and the cost of the trip includes a donation to support the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee whose objectives include collaboration on tourism, culture, education, environment, and business initiatives.

Loreto is a small city of approximately 17,000 people that sits on the east coast of Baja California, facing the Sea of Cortez. It was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula and is the starting point for the historic El Camino Real corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions.

Loreto is also home to Loreto Bay National Park where Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina Islands are home to over 800 species of marine life. With breathtaking cliffs, spectacular beaches and dramatic rock formations, these islands are a perfect landscape for the ecologically-minded or those who delight in a vast array of marine life.

The public is invited on July 7 at O’Brien Hall, San Buenaventura Mission, at 6:00PM. For more information, visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity. Trip inquiries should be directed to Stephen Joyce with Ventura Travel Professionals at 218-1962.

For more information on, or to join the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee contact Fiorella Calderoni at [email protected] or visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity.