The Ventura Breeze is looking for a person to write architectural reviews of buildings in Ventura. Does not need to be a licensed architect but should have a degree in architecture or a related field. You would not get paid but would become world famous. Contact [email protected] if interested.
Category Archives: This ‘n’ That
Grand Jury reports on Ventura’s Freedom of Information Act
Is the City of San Buenaventura responding to public requests for information? The Freedom of Information Act, established in 1967, is a law that gives every citizen the right to obtain information from the federal government. This law allows for the full or partial disclosure of information from the federal government. The California Public Record Act extends the public’s right to obtain records from state and local agencies. The 2004- 2005 Ventura County Grand Jury reported on the implementation of the California Public Record Act within Ventura County. Eleven years later the 2015-2016 Ventura County Grand Jury, acting on complaints from the public about the City of San Buenaventura’s (Ventura) refusal to comply with the law, looked into the processes, procedures, and execution of the California Public Record Act.
The Grand Jury found that Ventura has outsourced the process to a third party allowing state of the art tracking and distribution of requests. The process for requests for information has been extended to the internet via a customer portal allowing for requests to be made from virtually anywhere. Although Ventura’s goal is to attain 100% compliance with the California Public Records Act, the Grand Jury found that its execution had been low at first, but improved over-time to currently 92%. The Grand Jury found that not all requests for information are tracked through Ventura’s electronic system allowing for a margin of error in the actual performance report provided.
The Grand Jury made a series of recommendations for policy enhancements that would: capture all requests without regard to origin; make statistics more accurate; develop a process to better capture ongoing correspondence between the requester and city officials; and time/date stamp policy reviews and changes on Ventura’s online portals.
The complete report may be accessed at www.ventura.org/grand-jury; click on the Annual Reports tab and consult “Fiscal Year 2015-2016.”
HACSB completes $28.8 million acquisition and rehabilitation for 101 units
Homecomings, Inc., the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura’s (HACSB) associated non-profit, is announcing the completion of the comprehensive $28.8 million acquisition and rehabilitation project that fully renovated 101 existing apartment units for extremely low income seniors and disabled persons in the City of Ventura. Through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, the HACSB is providing long-term project-based voucher rental assistance subsidy to finance the acquisition and construction and ensure long-term affordability to those earning less than thirty percent of the area median income.
The work involved extensive infrastructure, energy and water efficiency improvements and upgrades and interior restoration work at the HACSB’s properties in East Ventura. Construction was completed in March, 2016. The HACSB partnered with Union Bank, Ashwood Construction Company, Recap Real Estate Advisors, Amador Whittle Architects, and Healthy Homes 4 U to create a renewed, energy efficient, accessible, and affordable housing development to preserve the city’s dwindling stock of deeply affordable housing.
Together, the HACSB and its non-profit are the largest residential landlord in the City of Ventura, with 467 public housing units, more than 1,500 Section 8 vouchers, and 395 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.
Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Tech Today with Ken May
Tesla Unveils new Model 3
On April 1st, when Global Equities Research projected more than 300,000 reservations for the Tesla Model 3 electric car by the start of this week, that number seemed outlandish. Well, by the end of that weekend, the global total had reached 276,000, according to a tweet by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
And that clearly caught even Tesla off guard, with Musk tweeting that the company would have to rethink its production plans for the 215-mile range, $35,000 (before tax credits) electric car that won’t hit the roads for almost two years under a best-case scenario.
Not all of those reservations will convert to actual orders, of course. But even if only half of them do, 150,000 Model 3s would amount to more plug-in electric cars than General Motors, Toyota, Ford, BMW, or VW Group has sold in more than five years. Only Nissan has sold more (slightly over 200,000 as of last month).
The response over the weekend to the Model 3 totals was predictable but nevertheless fascinating to watch. Tesla fans and investors were ecstatic, proclaiming that the Model 3 was the breakthrough vehicle that electric cars had required to enter the mainstream market. Faster, quieter, and more modern, it appeals to everything the market wants.
Tesla still must complete the Model 3 design, test and validate the car, get it certified by dozens of different regulators around the world, and tool up its factories for production levels 10 times as high as its best to date. It must also bring its massive battery Gigafactory online not only to assemble battery packs from imported cells, as it does now, but to fabricate and produce the actual cells themselves in the highest-volume battery plant in the U.S. If the company is to meet its recently confirmed deadline of starting Model 3 production by the end of next year, it has to do all that in 18 months.
Finally, many financial analysts suggest that Tesla will have to raise additional capital, especially if it believes it needs to boost its Model 3 production volume beyond what it expected to build before the surge of post-debut orders. It customarily costs $200 million to $500 million to equip a high-volume production line, one capable of building 150,000 cars a year.
It is almost surely hyperbole to proclaim that the Tesla Model 3 poses an “existential crisis for the auto industry”, yet all of the current auto companies, which often speak about the ultimate decision-making power of the market and providing the cars that buyers are willing to pay for, are likely to do some hard thinking about the mix of qualities that make the Model 3 and Tesla Motors attractive enough for that many people to risk a four-figure sum on faith in a car they don’t know that much about.
Except, of course, for those carmakers, fewer and fewer in number, who continue to dismiss Tesla as an unsustainable and short-term phenomenon that will inevitably crash and burn. But it seems a little clearer today that a reasonably priced battery-electric car, with 200 miles of range or more, can find buyers if it’s good-looking and performs well. Perhaps the final piece of the puzzle is that the fast, good-looking, affordable 200-mile electric car is also accompanied by a free, fast-growing nationwide network of DC fast-charging sites.
It may be a week of pondering among the car companies of the world.
Local author releases new book
Back again with a new book, author Tim Pompey has delved this time into the genres of war and magical realism. How these two fit together makes up the story for his new novel “Dream-scape.”
“The medic part of the story came to me as I read an article about a wounded Army medic and her recovery in the States,” said Pompey. “I added the dream portions as a way of exploring how a damaged body and mind could connect to something beyond themselves that was universally positive and healing.”
Pompey took on the challenge of writing the main character, Army Medic Sarah Perse, who is both heroic and hopeless. Brave in her service in the Iraq War, she is also badly burned from an IED and traumatized by her war experiences. As a result, she suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder compounded by alcoholism and painkiller abuse.
Her dreams begin when she meets 12-year-old Suzy one night while Perse is sprawled drunk in the street. Suzy whispers in her ear, “I know magic,” and Perse is intrigued. How she connects emotionally to this young girl is one of the unique elements of the story.
At 250+ pages, this book is shorter than most of his novels. “That was deliberate,” said Pompey. “I wanted to write a small book in the fashion of ‘Catcher in the Rye,’ only more forceful, a book that would take off from page one and be interesting till the end.”
He also feels that the Iraq War offers some very rich writing material. “I researched some experiences from people, both civilian and military, who dealt directly with the war and its aftermath,” he stated. “It’s not a pretty picture and the lingering fallout will haunt American families for many generations.”
Pompey has penned nine other books, some of them having local connections to Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, and Ojai. His current book takes place in northern Idaho.
For more information on Pompey’s new novel, including a “Look Inside” option, or to read more about his other books, visit his author website at www.amazon.com/author/booksbytimpompey. For book signings or other book related events, email him at [email protected].
San Miguel Island re-opened to the public
![San Miguel Island, view of Cuyler Harbor and Prince Island. Photo by Doug Mangum.](http://venturabreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/stuff-san-miguel-300x200.jpg)
The U.S. Navy (Navy) and National Park Service (NPS) announced that San Miguel Island is now open to the public.
In April 2014, the Navy closed the island in the interest of public safety due to concerns of possible unexploded ordnance. San Miguel Island was an active bombing range during WWII through the 1970s.
Over the past two years, the Navy has conducted surveys for possible unexploded ordnance and developed plans to ensure public safety.
The surveys were conducted over 18 miles of marked trails and high-use areas and included a search for surface and subsurface unexploded ordnance.
To visit San Miguel Island visitors must now sign an access permit and liability waiver. Access permits are available at the boat and air concession offices and at a self-registration station at the Nidever Canyon trailhead on San Miguel Island.
The longtime practices of escorting all visitors beyond the ranger station and limiting visitors to the established trail system will remain.
Visitors may now fly to San Miguel Island via Channel Islands Aviation located in the Camarillo Airport. Channel Islands Aviation is authorized to fly visitors to the island on a trial basis.
Serving and training with solar energy
![Happy family and installation crew are all smiles with new solar power installed.](http://venturabreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/stuff-solar.jpg)
by Gail Field
“I couldn’t wait to get up on that roof.” Angela Carradine laughs as she recalls her first glimpse into the world of solar panels on a roof–a fact that would change her career and feed her desire to do good work for the environment. “This is my dream job,” says Angela. “I have always loved the planet we are lucky enough to inhabit and wanted to do whatever I could to make a difference. Working in the solar industry gave me that chance.”
Now Angela is the Ventura County Program Coordinator for GRID Alternatives, a non-profit that provides clean energy for families who might not otherwise have access to it by installing solar electric systems on a low- or no-cost basis. The long-term vision of GRID Alternatives is to work toward a sustainable future by moving to a renewable energy future that includes everyone. Funding resources come from grants from state and federal agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission, as well as donations from corporations and individuals.
Residents who receive this service can see an immediate reduction in their utility bill, in amounts ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year. “Utilizing renewable energy is critical for the well-being of our environment, and at GRID, we want to help people in the community get access to this form of energy. To qualify for services through GRID Alternatives, families must meet income limits. Sensitive information such as social security number or credit checks are not required,” explains Angela.
In addition to the benefits provided to families, GRID provides for career opportunities as well as venues for volunteering. An additional mission for GRID Alternatives is to expand opportunities for volunteering and job training to veterans, tribal groups, women and people of color. “The field of solar energy is one of the fastest growing areas for careers,” Angela says. “In our programs we train volunteers to install the solar systems. I myself started by volunteering to get up on that roof and do the installing. It’s a job for people who love to be outdoors and at the same time do something helpful for the community.”
GRID Alternatives has 7 offices throughout California, as well as in Colorado, the Tri-state area and Washington D.C., and Nicaragua and is expanding to Nepal.
To inquire about eligibility, visit www.gridalternatives.org or call 310-579-9190.
For Spanish speaking help, call 213-213-5899.
Soroptimist International (SI) of Ventura celebrated their 85th anniversary
![Long-time SI members were honored in front of members and guests .](http://venturabreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/stuff-soroptimist.jpg)
On April 16 Soroptimist International honored longtime members and announced this year’s scholarship award winners at a luncheon attended by 84 members and guests. Its members raise funds throughout the year to provide two awards each spring and to provide additional grants to local community organizations serving women and girls.
At the event nine long-time members who have devoted thousands of hours of personal and professional time were honored. Including Dixie Adeniran (36 years), Arlene Briggle (35 years), Liz Heaton Brown (31 years), Garnet Carroll (54 years), Lynn Jacobs (35 years), Sandra Masiel (84 years), Donna Nelson (31 years), Dorothy Prairie (33 years) and Delores Taylor (34 years).
The Violet Richardson Award honors young women for their volunteer efforts in their school or community. It is awarded annually to a teen, ages 14-17, and her volunteer organization to recognize the inspiration and dedication it takes to be a volunteer making a difference in the lives of others. This year’s scholarship was awarded to Fidelity Ballmer , senior at Foothill Technology High School. Fidelity started the Girl Up club at Foothill. Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations, works to prioritize the health, safety, leadership and education of girls in developing countries. Fidelity’s mother, Shelly Ballmer, and Linda Kapala, Counselor at Foothill, accepted the $1500 award which is shared between Fidelity and the Girl Up club at Foothill.
The Woman’s Opportunity Award is dedicated to women who are heads of household and need to further their skills, education or training to upgrade their employment status. This year’s scholarship of $1,500 was awarded to Mary Kay Leon, a single mom of six children who is student and a business owner.
A special thanks was given to Ventura City Mayor Erik Nasarenko, Anna Gonzales, 2014 SIV Women’s Opportunity Award winner, event sponsors, the businesses and individuals that donated items to the silent auction and all of the individuals that helped make the 85th anniversary celebration/scholarship awards event a success! For more information about Soroptimist Ventura go to www.soroptimistventua.org.
Teachers honored as Teacher of the Month for April and May
The Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation (VCEF) recognized Linda Bergfeld, educator at Ventura High School (VHS), as April’s Teacher of the Month. On April 27 VCEF board member, Pattie Braga, joined elected representatives and members of the business community to present Bergfeld with a plaque commemorating the award.
The Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation (VCEF) honored Laura Nicholls, kindergarten instructor at Lincoln Elementary in Ventura as May’s Teacher of the Month. Elected representatives and members of the business community were present on Wednesday, May 4 to present Nicholls with a plaque commemorating the award.
Monarchs helped by planting milkweed
![Homeowner’s can also help raise monarchs.](http://venturabreeze.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/stuff-VHC-300x240.jpg)
On Sat., May 14, from 9 a.m. – noon, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) hosted “Monarch Madness” – a free family-friendly milkweed planting event at their Willoughby Preserve in the Ventura River estuary. This open-to-the-public event was made possible by funding provided by the Southern California Gas Company.
Monarch butterflies need milkweed plants to survive. Their caterpillars only eat milkweed and monarch mothers lay their eggs on the milkweed plant. The monarch is the only known butterfly to make a two-way migration like birds do. Milkweed habitat loss is the biggest short-term threat to the migration of monarch butterflies.
Attendees met at the Ventura River kiosk near Ventura’s Main Street Bridge at 9 a.m. to be escorted to the nearby planting area. VHC presented a brief monarch butterfly presentation and milkweed planting demonstration.