At a June 28 meeting, the Ventura College Foundation Board of Directors selected a new board chair and vice-chair and approved two new board members for the 2023-24 term.

The new foundation board chair is Nicole Kreutz, vice president, senior portfolio manager at Montecito Bank & Trust. She has been on the foundation board for five years and is a Ventura College alumnus. “I am excited to lead the foundation’s efforts to help students at Ventura College thrive and prosper,” says Kreutz. “As a foundation, we remain focused and vigilant on what we do best, providing our students with a way to open doors for the future and provide a bridge to higher education.”

Vice-chair is Rob van Nieuwburg, business relations director at Ventura Toyota. He served as foundation board chair for five years until 2021 and has been on the board for nearly 20 years. “It’s all about the students,” says van Nieuwburg. “Every day, we see how the foundation impacts lives and gives students a path forward.”

Joining the board is Lydia Morales, a retired Ventura College faculty member, former chair of the Math Department and Academic Faculty Senate president. Also joining the board is Mark Huff, the newly elected Associated Students of Ventura County (ASVC) president who will serve through the 2024 academic year. Part of the ASVC president’s duties is to serve on the foundation board and provide student input.

Ellyn Dembowski is Immediate Past Board Chair.

The Board of Trustees of Ventura Land Trust has experienced a major shift, with the recent addition of five new members and the departure of two, bringing the current total number of trustees to 13.

The new trustees include Kate Larramendy, past Director of Design & Sustainability at outdoor company Toad&Co and current board member of The Conservation Alliance; John Krist, who retired in 2022 as CEO of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County; The Trade Desk Assistant Corporate Controller Meridith Thompson; Thousand Oaks City Manager Andrew Powers; and retired Ventura City Fire Marshal Brian Clark.

Each new trustee brings great depth of experience and a drive to protect open spaces in Ventura County.

“VLT has proven itself to be the most effective, trusted and visionary force working to protect Ventura’s considerable natural resources,” says Trustee Kate Larramendy. “I’m honored to serve on the board to bring my passion for open spaces, wild places and access for all to outdoor recreation to further build on VLT’s mission and accomplishments. This is exciting work.”

Andrew Powers describes joining the Board of Trustees in this period of VLT’s evolution as an “exciting moment.”

“After two decades of commitment, I am convinced that some of the most important conservation, stewardship, and public access work in California is happening right here with the Ventura Land Trust,” says Powers. “For me, this opportunity blends a career in public service with a passion for the great outdoors. I look forward to contributing towards VLT’s essential mission.”

The makeup of the Board of Trustees is further shifting due to the departure of Don Wood and Dennis Kulzer, both of whom served two three-year terms on the board. Wood and Kulzer joined VLT in 2017; during their tenures, VLT completed the acquisition and opening of the 2,123-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, as well as the acquisition of 1,645-acre Mariano Rancho in the hills north of Ventura.

Wood was active in the organization’s financial management, governance, and community outreach efforts; Kulzer focused on VLT’s stewardship efforts, especially as the organization worked to get Harmon Canyon Preserve open to the public and expand its trail network. Both men supported the integration of outdoor education program Ventura Wild under the VLT umbrella. Wood and Kulzer will continue their service as members of the organization’s Advisory Council.

VLT Executive Director Melissa Baffa expressed a sense of poignant gratitude for the change in board composition she has seen. “When I joined VLT two years ago, we had nine strong, dedicated board members who had helped to guide VLT through a period of tremendous growth and achievement. Now, through the natural process of policy-defined attrition, we have seen nearly half those members term off the board, and added new Trustees as well.”

“These are some of the brightest and most dedicated members of our community, volunteering their time, treasure and talent to Ventura Land Trust. On behalf of the VLT staff, we are very thankful for their leadership and support, and deeply appreciate their partnership as we continue on the path of growth and development they set.”

Full bios for all trustees are available at www.venturalandtrust.org/board. Community members interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at VLT should visit www.venturalandtrust.org/volunteer and those interested in learning more about joining a VLT committee or the Board of Trustees should contact Executive Director Melissa Baffa at [email protected].

On July 7, 2023, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (Division) received confirmation from the California Department of Public Health of the first detection of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Ventura County. The virus was detected in wild birds collected by the Division, for the State’s dead bird surveillance program, during the third week of June from the cities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

WNV is established in Ventura County and additional WNV positives are expected. The Division monitors and controls mosquito breeding sources throughout Ventura County. All mosquito breeding sources in the area where the birds were collected will be inspected and treated if evidence of mosquito breeding is observed.

The Division also advises the public to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to WNV: Eliminate standing water from your property; make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without holes; when outdoors wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and limit activity especially at dawn and dusk, when outdoors apply insect repellent.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or skin rash that can last for several days to months. One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death. If residents feel they are experiencing symptoms, it is strongly recommended to consult their primary care physician.

WNV can not only affect humans but can also affect horses. For information on WNV in horses, owners should contact their veterinarian. To report any potential mosquito breeding sources in Ventura County the public can call the mosquito complaint HOTLINE at (805) 658-4310. The Division also provides mosquito eating fish to the public to use in non-maintained swimming pools, ornamental ponds and similar water features. To request mosquito-eating fish call (805) 662-6582. To report wild birds that have died recently call the California Department of Public Health at (877) WNV-Bird (877-968-2473). To obtain information about mosquito control and surveillance efforts in Ventura County please visit the Division’s website: https://vcrma.org/vector-control-program # # #

Recently 130 new trees were planted along the River Trail bike path on the Westside, between Park Row and Ramona St trail access. Native and drought-tolerant species were chosen, including five different oak species, two pine species and 40 Cercis Occidentalis (western redbud). A grant covers maintenance for one year, such as watering using Gator bags and stake repair. These trees will be a beautiful buffer between the freeway and the path, and help mitigate air pollution and noise.