With 23 years in the auto industry, 18 of those in the commercial truck and fleet end Hector Cristena-Cruz has decided to take on a new Location and has accepted a position as Commercial Fleet Account Manager at Paradise Chevrolet in Ventura.  Hector will be working with the same companies, cities, county agencies, school districts and individuals that  he’s  had in the Los Angeles area, And now is here to provide all Ventura County with the full line of Chevrolet trucks, custom utility vehicles, vans, SUV’s and automobiles for your fleet or personal use.

Treat your Valentine, or your entire family, to an evening of magical entertainment on Saturday, February 13.

That’s the date of the Poinsettia Pavilion’s second annual Evening of Magical Enchantment.  The event includes a stage show with three world class professional magicians.  In addition, there will be close up magicians performing in the audience.

The bill includes comedy magician Shawn McMaster, a native son of Ventura, whose unique brand of magic and mayhem have been featured in appearances on such TV shows as Masters of Illusion and America’s Got Talent.

He will be joined by Arthur Trace.  Known as The Artful Deceiver, Trace’s many awards include Stage Magician of the Year at the famous Magic Castle.  He’s also a past winner of an international award for magical entertainment that is equal to winning a medal at the entertainment Olympics

David Zirbel, another performer of global stature, will be presenting his trademark classic magic and illusions.  It will be one of his remaining appearances before he departs on another performance tour of Japan.

The entire event will be MC’ed by Ventura’s own Dan “Pizza Man Dan” Collier.

Prior to the stage show and during intermission, guests will be entertained by Ventura-based magicians who will be demonstrating close-up effects in the audience.  The local magi include Bob Lynn, Jim Spencer, and James Lantiegne, who is the resident magician with White Rabbit Entertainment which also operates the White Rabbit Magic Shop on Portola Street in Ventura.

In addition to the unparalleled magical entertainment, guests will be helping to enhance the Poinsettia Pavilion, since the event is a fund raiser to underwrite improvements at the Pavilion.

The doors open at 7 p.m.  Auction items, adult beverages and other refreshments will be available.  The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Advance purchase tickets for this magical experience are $30 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under  Tickets are available on line at http://pavetheway.bpt.me or at the Poinsettia Pavilion office.  Admission at the door is $35.  For information contact 648-1143.

by Victoria Usher

I think we can all agree that music is something very special that can change people’s lives in so many indescribable ways. It can turn strangers into friends or even bring happiness and comfort during times of sadness. When someone has a voice that has the ability to bring that type of joy to people’s lives then that is truly a gift that should be shared with the world. Nineteen year old April Davis has been gifted with a beautiful singing voice, one which she happily and passionately uses to touch the lives of people of all ages.

What makes April so unique and special is the fact that she is able to reach the elderly and the Veterans with her singing at such a young age. Listening to songs that she hears in old movies makes her want to learn how to sing them, and when she finally does she sings them so wonderfully.

Singing the old time songs that April loves has helped her to create a strong connection with the elderly in town including the Alzheimer/Dementia units at the Memory Care Unit at Cypress Place. She sings regularly at Oxnard Family Circle and Cypress Place, but she has also sung at local assisted living facilities such as The Bonaventure, The Lexington, The Palms, and The Gables.

April has shared her love for singing with many people; she was a winner of the 2014 La Estrella singing contest at the Pacific View Mall, a finalist for the 805’s Got Talent competition, she sang at the Ventura High Auditorium for the Festival of Talent, and she sang for an organization at the Fess Parker Doubletree in Santa Barbara. She has sung the National Anthem at Ventura College football stadium for various events, at her middle school, at her high school graduation, and before the political dignitaries at various Veteran events. And at the Pacific View Mall for Livingston Memorial VNA’s annual Light Up A Life.

Singing has been a very large part of April’s life since she was eight years old. There was an American Idol Contest at her after school program at Las Posas Child Care Center and she advanced to the final round, but April made the mature decision to sign up for vocal lessons instead even though she did win runner up.

April was first taught the Speech Leveling Singing method from her voice instructor Kathleen Kernohan. She now takes lessons with a vocal instructor Soli Geerling, he has helped her with her voice in many ways, including teaching her how to use her voice for operas as well as classical music.

Aside from singing, April will be attending Azusa Pacific this fall after she finishes up her second year at Ventura College. She will continue to work hard in school and she will also continue to bring happiness to people’s lives with her amazing voice. Music is a magical thing that can bring so many people together in ways that seem almost unreal at times, and to be gifted with a beautiful singing voice that can create that kind of magic is an unbelievable gift. I think that we are all looking forward to hopefully seeing much more of the talented April Davis in the future.

Barbara Quaid, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Ventura County Fairgrounds, has been elected as President of the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) Board of Directors. She was inaugurated at the Association’s annual conference in Anaheim.

Quaid will serve a one-year term as WFA President. She has served as 2015 Vice President and 2014 Treasurer.

As President of the 19 member elected Board, Quaid will represent the more than 800 WFA members and will work on their behalf for legislative advocacy, as well as govern the activities and policies of the association.

Barbara Quaid’s association with the Ventura County Fair began in 1972 as a volunteer in the exhibits department. Her career included many roles as a Fairgrounds staff member, earning the position of deputy manager. She currently serves as the Fairgrounds General Manager and CEO. Quaid serves on the Board of Directors of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the Ventura Visitors Bureau and is active in the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation.

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada. WFA serves fair-related businesses, fair management, fair board directors, festivals, and industry associations.

The 2016 Ventura County Fair, “A Country Fair with Ocean Air,” is August 3 – 14.

For information about the Ventura County Fairgrounds visit www.venturacountyfair.org or call 648-3376.