May 1st marked the official opening of Portside Yoga located at 947 Schooner Drive – Unit 211 in Ventura. This beautiful second-floor studio directly overlooks the harbor and captures a perfect view of sailboats, wildlife, and a perfectly framed postcard sunset every evening.

Yoga classes for all levels, all bodies, and all abilities will be offered, as well as Barre Sculpt and Cardio Barre. Special Events will occur several times a month on the weekends, with Portside Yoga’s first Open House occurring May 6 at 7:30pm .

Portside Yoga’s owner Donna DiMeo Sorce, has been a professional Yoga Instructor for 23 years in the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.

Donna is also a Master’s Level Reiki practitioner. For the past 8 years, Donna has led yoga classes at The Ranch Malibu, a world-renowned luxury fitness, health, and wellness retreat in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Prior to her “second career” diving deep into yoga, Donna was a Professional Dancer on Broadway. Donna traveled the world appearing in many noteworthy productions. Donna’s most memorable gigs included her run in the original cast of

Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and then a wild two seasons as a Weekend Update

Dancer on Saturday Night Live. Donna also toured with National and

International companies in the musical, West Side Story and appeared on the Tony Awards several times.

Donna is a proud Brooklyn-born New York City native who makes regular trips back East to see family, friends, and old dance partners. But these days, Donna is thrilled to finally call beautiful Portside Ventura Harbor her home, where she shares an apartment, and a 45’ classic yacht, with her fiancé, Michael – who she met in the Portside Hot Tub – no kidding!

Yoga has created a community for Donna no matter where her journeys lead her. She believes, “Once we’re on the mat, we all speak the same language!” Her intention for all her students and clients is to create a sacred space where a connection to our bodies and breath can occur. She strives to create space where everyone can unplug from distractions, find balance, and always feel a little better when they depart than when they arrived. Donna enjoys sharing her love and enthusiasm for the practice of yoga, and is fulfilled by every “aah-ha” moment that blesses her studio.

Events occurring monthly will include Sound Baths, Reiki/Restorative Yoga, Special Workshops, and Sunset and Full Moon gatherings and waterfront meditation.

by Richard Senate

He was the rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ventura but  he was much more than a religious leader in the community. He was a fixture in town, always speaking up for the underdog on local radio and newspapers. Anyone who  attended his sermons will recall his dry humor and booming voice.  He had once been trained as an actor, even appearing in films in that era, before movies could talk.

That was before he received the call to the pulpit.   He was serving as a prison chaplain at Walla Walla, Washington State Penitentiary when he learned one of the convicts, Clarence Boggie, confessed he was innocent of the murder of a man that had seen him sentenced to life in prison.  He believed the man and took up the cause of reopening the case to see if his account of what happened was true. At that time mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner had written that he was going to start a group to investigate people wrongly convicted of major crimes. He called it the “Count of Last Resort”.

Argosy Magazine saw it as a public relations stunt, but Garner believed it could make a real difference.  Reverend Gilbert made the long drive from Walla Walla to Temecula  where Gardner had his home then. He presented the facts of the Boggie case to the mystery author.  The two men became fast friends.  Investigators  were called in, the new lie detector used, and it was found that Mr. Boggie wasn’t even in the same town when the murder took place.

Gardner wrote up the findings in the magazine and the case was reopened, leading to the release of Clarence Boggie with a full pardon. It became the first of many cases that saw 100 men and women investigated with over half released.

It is interesting to note that not one of the released convicts ever went back to a life of crime.  Mr. Boggie himself, married his childhood sweetheart, built a cabin and then died of a massive heart attack three months after his release–but he died a free man.

When Gardner learned that a position was open for a new rector in Ventura, where he had once lived, he told Rev. Gilbert to apply. William got the job and moved his family to Ventura. He would continue to help with the Court of Last Resort and built the new church that still stands on Loma Vista. The two men worked together for many years, and when Erle Gardner passed away, Rev. Bill Gilbert gave the eulogy at this funeral service. After his retirement, and when Rev. Gilbert passed on to his reward, as was his wish, he was buried at the church he loved, a truly remarkable man.

An Opinion
by Alex Garcia, Community Organizer with CAUSE

As a community organizer I regularly talk to longtime residents about the countless sacrifices they make year after year to keep up with rising rents. I recently met Maria O. in her home where she has lived for the past 11 years with her husband and 3 kids located on the Avenue. I was shocked to hear that in 2016 the new property owner who bought her building raised everyone’s rent $600 dollars extra per month. When I asked how they were able to cope with such a significant rent increase she said, “the only option was to leave or find a renter to sublease a room in our apartment. “ She mentioned that even subletting a room hasn’t solved the issue because the rent keeps rising – they just received another rent increase of $250 earlier this year which has forced them into even harder financial times. To make ends meet they have accrued a lot of credit card debt, have had to ask relatives for loans, and they’ve even had to start difficult conversations with their kids about the possibility of moving out of state where housing is cheaper.

There are thousands of families in similar situations because the 10% state rent cap is simply not enough to keep families in their homes. This is why the Ventura City Council needs to make rent stabilization and other tenant protections a priority this year.

Renters have been raising concerns about the housing crisis, rising rents, and unjust evictions for years. In early 2021, tenants brought forward the need for stronger tenant protections, but ultimately city council decided not to take action. In 2022, renters called on the city council to act once again and they decided to push the conversation for another year. Ventura tenants have been holding their breath hoping this year the city would adopt local laws to protect them from unjust evictions and drastic rent increases, but instead the city council remains apathetic and refuses to make this issue a priority this year and plans to delay once again.

Ventura residents need strong and bold leadership like we’ve seen in Ojai recently. In March, the Ojai City Council listened and acted on the pleas of already displaced tenants and families at the brink of being priced out due to crushing rent prices by passing an ordinance to provide stability to renters with a 4% annual rent cap and relocation assistance of two months or $5,000 for no-fault evictions. Ojai council member Andrew Whitman expressed his support for the ordinance explaining that it provides tenants with some security that their rent is not going to continue to rise dramatically, and that stability will help hundreds of residents stay in their home. Mayor Betsy Stix has described this as a moral responsibility to protect the residents of Ojai since housing prices have continued to increase while wages have not. This is the type of leadership that is desperately needed in the City of Ventura.

The Ventura City Council needs to stop making excuses that there isn’t enough staff capacity to bring forward these protections. If they really wanted to get it done, they would shift their priorities to reflect the will of the people. In reality there’s very little political will in the current council because they are siding with the financial interests of the property owners – in other words they are putting profits over people.

How much more do working families need to suffer before Ventura City Council gets the courage to act on protecting their constituents?

by Patricia Schallert

Michel Peterson, sponsored  by “ Friends of Ventura Harbor”, presented her life as a shepherdess on Santa Cruz Island on April 19th at the Greek Restaurant in the Ventura Harbor. Her book titled “Once Upon an Island”, is a story of her love affair with Santa Cruz Island located 31 miles off the coast of Ventura.

She arrived on Santa Cruz Island in 1979 when her future husband to be, was looking for a cook and William Peterson was looking to operate his sheep venture on the island.

Landing on a dirt airplane strip, she and the group she was traveling with, piled into a Dodge truck and descended into Smugglers Cove with its’ spectacular beaches and the isolated sheep ranch know as Scorpion Ranch.

In the beginning, it was difficult for Michel, where there were  hazards, rough conditions on an isolated sheep ranch and no electricity.

Being from London, she writes that “this adventure became more of a personal journey” for her. The Island was not friendly to women but Michell developed skills not only as a ranch cook but also learned  sufficient skills to become the islands head shepherdess. Long hours of physical labor alongside  “Pete” and despite their 32 year difference in age, William “Pete” Peterson married Michel Ravenscroft.

In her oral presentation, she mentioned a little history of Scorpion Ranch where she lived. It was constructed in 1886 and was in full operation by 1885. Scorpion Ranch was where Michel would begin her  journey. The ranch  was nestled in the shadows of the southern facing slopes and beneath the cliffs of Santa Cruz Island.

The rocky beach was a stone’s throw away from the ranch, which was a mixture of old and ancient. Santa Cruz Island, she wrote, is  known for “it’s diverse landscape and extraordinary range of flora and fauna.” and at time of her journey, it included wild pigs, foxes, sheep, cattle and wild horses.

While on the Island, Michel learned to adapt to the difficulties of the isolated island life through self-reliance and by making due with what was available. It was “ exciting and also could be very lonely”.

The wooden bunkhouse, was home to ranch hands who tended the flocks of sheep, cattle and crops. The Scorpion and Smugglers Ranches were the bases that supplied much of the food and hay for island operations.

Michel mentioned that sheep ranching during her time there was for meat and wool. The descendants of the Gherini family ran the ranch on the eastern end of Santa Cruz between 1936 and 1984.

Her story of her love affair on Santa Cruz Island was riveting from the time she arrived in 1979 to when the last sheep were loaded aboard the barge Double Eagle at Scorpion Beach and ended when the “Double Eagle” off-loaded the last of the sheep at Port Hueneme.

The Gherini era ended in February 1987 when the National Park Service acquired the last interests from the family.

Today,  the National Park Service is preserving the historic area so visitors will have a chance to remember the unique part of the island’s past.

Michel became an artist after she left Santa Cruz Island and worked to create an art form that conveys some of the magnificence of nature. It is her way of expressing gratitude for the abundant natural wealth she received from Santa Cruz Island and if you wander around Ventura Harbor, Michel installed handmade ceramic tile mosaics of local marine wildlife which “expresses her dreams and vision from inception on Santa Cruz Island to its completion in a creative expression of nature and her love affair on Santa Cruz island. “

Her ceramic art, located in Ventura Harbor can be seen on page X.

Michel’s new book which is still in the works is called: “Santa Cruz island: The Last Shepherdess.”

Namba Performing Arts Space in downtown Ventura will be showcasing singer songwriters Halley Rose Neal, Shawn Jones and Kelly’s Lot during a weekend of celebration, creativity and heartfelt songs.

“Showcasing independent, unique, touring and local songwriters is a continuance of our mission to nurture talent in our community”, says Tamara Varney, Board Chair for Namba Performing Arts Space. “Our small Theatre invites our audience to experience a closeness with the performer that is both rare and engaging.”

Halley Neal is a Nashville based folk singer-songwriter. Influenced by artists like Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin, Halley’s sound combines inspirations of classic folk music and modern day singer-songwriters, while her live shows center on themes of positivity and peace. Halley just released her second album to critical acclaim and Namba is proud to support her tour.

Shawn Jones is an international touring Roots/Americana/Blues/Rock musician. Shawn’s skills as a seasoned songwriter, guitarist and vocalist make him one of the most dynamic and relevant artists on today’s Americana/Roots/Blues/Rock music scene. A local hero of sorts, Shawn has made Ventura his home. Between songs, he often shares the inspirations and personal experiences that paved his road to success in the music industry.

Kelly’s Lot was formed in 1994 by Kelly Zirbes, a folk singer/songwriter with a blues steeped heart. With 15 CDs and lots of touring in both the USA and Europe, Kelly’s Lot celebrates 28 years since they hit the stage at the Roxy in Hollywood. Kelly Z met guitar player and soundman, Perry Robertson in 1996, who added the southern rock and Texas influences that have helped shape the group’s sound. Kelly’s Lot and friends will generously set the stage at NAM BA for a fundraising concert on May 13th. Prepare for some great Blues, fantastic vocals, and room to dance!

Namba Performing Arts Space, 47 S. Oak Street, Ventura. Tickets for Halley Rose Neal or Shawn Jones are $20. Suggested donation for Kelly’s Lot is $20. Find more info, show dates and Tickets at NambaArts.com.

The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to announce the recent hiring of new Chief Curator, Carlos Ortega. Ortega brings two decades of museum experience to the Museum, where he will help connect the present and future through recognizing, exploring, and appreciating the past. Ortega officially started at the Museum of Ventura County on May 1st.

“Carlos brings broad multi-disciplinary experience to his role,” says the MVC’s Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw. “The Museum’s Board and I are excited to see his ideas come to life. As Chief Curator, Carlos will create thoughtfully curated exhibitions that reflect our community’s rich and diverse cultural history.”

Carlos Ortega has built an impressive 20 year career working in collections and curation for various Southern California museums.