Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Harmon Canyon is now open

After a lengthy closure, Harmon Canyon Preserve re-opened to the public on Friday, April 7.

This is a partial re-opening. The preserve will be open up to the 1.5 mile mark. The upper canyon of the preserve will remain closed for repairs. Here are a few important reminders as you return to the preserve:

Please stay on roads and trails. Off-trail travel to look at those beautiful wildflowers degrades sensitive habitat.

Do not walk in creek channels except at designated crossings. Please do not build rock bridges in the creeks or move or throw rocks. Exercise caution when crossing creeks.

Dogs are allowed, and must be on-leash.

No e-bikes are allowed at Harmon Canyon Preserve. All cyclists must wear a helmet.

Leave extra time for parking. We expect the preserve to be busy. Overflow parking is available on Kimball Road.

VLT’s conservation of Harmon Canyon Preserve and all of our protected open spaces is based on thoughtful, sustainable stewardship.

We appreciate your trust and support of our work to protect these cherished natural landscapes, and your patience while we made repairs to public access infrastructure.

Support is still needed while we restore roads and trails in Harmon Canyon Preserve. Give to the Repair & Recovery Fund today.

Ventura pier storm damage remains

Photo by Yana Khiyod

Months after severe rain caused much damage the Ventura pier the major part of it remains closed. Damage to some support pilings were major. The required repairs are estimated to cost at least $650,000 and take till the end of the year. The front of the pier remains open for access to the restaurants.

Once a ship of sin was moored off Ventura!

A gambling ship for Venturans.

by Richard Senate

In 1929 the good people of Ventura woke to find a gambling ship moored beyond the three-mile limit off our coast! It was the Johanna Smith, a 257-foot wooden lumber schooner, converted into a floating gambling palace. As it was beyond the legal limit it could legally operate without fear of local or state laws. The craft had restaurants, entertainment and, naturally gambling tables and slot machines. What would be seen as tame today was viewed as the epitome of sin and degradation in 1929. The ship had operated off Long Beach before she pulled up anchor and moved to more profitable waters, as other gambling ships set up shop at her area. It was hoped she could attract new customers in Ventura County and in that she was correct. Large advertisements appeared in all the local newspapers announcing the arrival of the “amusement steamer” with a grill, cabaret, music and dancing. They even advertised a three-course meal for only a dollar, fifty!

To Visit the ship one had only to take a a speed boat called a “water taxi” from the end of the pier out to the moored vessel. The trip was a thrilling ride bouncing over the waves and many said that was the high point of the adventure. It cost only a quarter for the trip. At the ship visitors were greeted by Hawaiian singers and musicians and hula girls in grass skirts. Lots of people came to Ventura to see the ship and leave their money on the gambling tables and slot machines. People came up from LA, and down from Santa Barbara to enjoy the pleasures of the palace of the seas. But, its popularity proved its undoing. People parked all over, filling the streets, blocking driveways, and becoming a nuisance. Not only that people came home from a night on the steamer, drunk, singing and making noise, waking people up at all hours.. The benefits were outweighed by the headaches caused by the gambling ship. Besides that, the profits all went to the gangsters who operated the craft.

Church leaders warned of sin and corruption brought by the ship. Newspapers editorialized against the evils of the thing, even political people spoke out to force the craft away from Ventura. Soon laws were passed and the water taxis forbidden to operate off our pier. At last the ship moved on, back to Long Beach where she was moored and operated till 1932. But for a few months, Ventura was a bit like Las Vegas. Perhaps, to balance the state budget, the gambling ships should be brought back. A ride on a high-speed water taxi sounds rather fun, and it would be a lot closer than the Chumash Casino.

El Camino High School ECTV crew wins WAVE awards

To learn more about CAPS, visit capsmedia.org.

The highly talented high school students at El Camino in the ECTV media program at CAPS, continue to receive accolades and win awards. The ECTV program was created by CAPS in partnership with the Ventura Unified School District. Students collaborate writing, producing, recording and editing their own programs.

Recently the ECTV crew won 4 WAVE awards at the annual competition directed by the Alliance for Community Media Western Region (ACM West). (Standing) Phil Taggart, teacher/mentor, Arshan Barati, Sophia Johnson, Sarah Briggs, Luca Falvo, Mika Long, Seth Steiminger, Christopher Giordano, DeeDee Black, Aracely Soriano Perez, Hector Guerrero, Principal El Camino High School, and Saadiyah Islam. (Kneeling): Allison Laak, Kampton Carter, Alyx Golson and Shayan Barati.

Every year, adult and student media crews from throughout the western United States compete for WAVE awards, which stands for Western Access Video Excellence. This years’ trophies increase the ECTV collection to more than 30 regional and national awards won over the past few years. All of the ECTV programs can be viewed on the CAPS Media website at capsmedia.org/ectv.

The Alliance for Community Media (ACM), founded in 1976, represents more than 3,000 Public, Education and Government access organizations and community media centers throughout the United States. ACM’s fundamental mission is to help democracy flourish in local communities by encouraging the public to be active participants in their local government and to foster free expressing and exchange of ideas.

CAPS is a proud member of ACM and is the only public access media center in Ventura. CAPS’ mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.

CAPS manages two television channels and one radio station in Ventura providing public programming on television, radio and online streaming 24/7 on all distribution outlets.

On Channel 6 and streaming online, CAPS presents programming created by and for the public including community information programs, faith-based services and more. On Channel 15 and streaming online, CAPS manages and presents government meetings at City Hall including city council, design review, general plan advisory committee, planning commission and more. In addition Channel 15 includes education and information programs produced by ECTV crews as well as fitness, science programs and more.

CAPS is the home of Radio KPPQ – Ventura’s only public access radio station. KPPQ features a dedicated and talented crew of local DJs producing unique and information programming. DJs include Pam Baumgardner, Kathleen Good, Mark, Nadine Piche, Kevin Wallace, and Dr. Q & Dr. C.

All of the KPPQ locally produced programs, as well as national and international shows, can be enjoyed 24/7 at 104.1 FM and streamed worldwide on myTuner Radio and on capsmedia.org. Many of the shows are available to listen on demand on the KPPQ podcast network found on the radio page of the CAPS website.

To learn more about CAPS, visit capsmedia.org. A video on the home page, CAPS Media City Council Presentation 2023, presents an overview of the organization. Additional information is on the CAPS website including links to programing and information regarding reopening of the CAPS Media center to the public.

“One for One” initiative dedicated to planting trees in California

Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara’s professional theatre company, has announced a partnership with “One Tree Planted,” a non-profit that aims to plant trees in California. For every ticket purchased for the upcoming play, The Children, Ensemble Theatre Company will plant one tree.

“Our upcoming play, The Children explores the effects of climate change on our planet and what one generation owes to the next,” said Scott DeVine, Ensemble Theatre Company’s managing director. “The mission of “One Tree Planted” complements the show’s storyline and this partnership expands the way in which Ensemble Theatre Company influences and impacts the community we serve. We believe there is no better way to honor the sentiment of The Children, while recognizing the ideal of Earth Month, than to help the environment by planting trees on behalf of our audience.”

The objectives of this new partnership include:

  • Supporting reforestation efforts in California
  • Empowering consumers with sustainable actions
  • Raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration

Planting trees is consistently identified as one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat for over 80 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity. Trees also provide lasting social impact by providing jobs to over 1.6 billion people, empowering women in underdeveloped nations, and supporting communities that are devastated by environmental damage.

The partnership is designed to be a simple way for Ensemble Theatre Company’s audience to give back and get involved in reforestation right here in California. For every ticket sold to The Children, Ensemble Theatre Company will partner with “One Tree Planted” to plant one tree. The trees are planted by “One Tree Planted’s” local partner organizations and community volunteers in areas where deforestation has occurred in California.

About One Tree Planted One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on that is a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to restore forests that have been degraded or deforested, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity habitat. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Children will begin previews on Thursday, April 6 at 7:30pm; opens on Saturday, April 8 at 8:00pm and runs through Sunday, April 23, 2023 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street in Santa Barbara.

SEEAG to host Earth Day Plantopia U Pick Transplant Fundraiser

You don’t need a green thumb to select your plants.

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) will host its first annual Plantopia U Pick Transplant Fundraiser to celebrate Earth Day. The event, held on Earth Day, April 22, will raise funds to support SEEAG’s agricultural education programs where students learn about the farm origins of their food, water resources, soil health, entomology and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Plantopia is from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at SEEAG’s Ventura County Farm Lab at Petty Ranch (11917 Darling Road, Saticoy). For a $35 donation, participants can pick a combination of 12 small plants to fill two six-pack containers with tomatoes, zucchini, squash, basil and peppers. The organic seedlings are from Plantel Nurseries. In addition, donors will receive free four-quart bags of Agromin’s potting soil. Tours of Petty Ranch will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

“April is the perfect time to start a backyard garden,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO. “Creating a garden and watching the vegetables grow is something the whole family can enjoy.”

For more information about SEEAG’s Plantopia, go to www.SEEAG.org/plantopia.

Playdate in the Children’s Garden April 7 with free admission

The Museum of Ventura County
Friday, April 7, 2023
2:30pm—4:30pm
Free Admission.

Join for a play date with old and new friends! Complete a scavenger hunt crossword puzzle and receive a patch. Explore our traditional Chumash ‘ap, play archeologist in the dig pit, practice skills at the creative building table, and explore the garden of sound. Diane Ippel will play the dulcimer (a stringed instrument played with a special hammer). Elementary school children of all ages welcome. Parent supervision is required.

Most optimistic community member nomination 2023

Do you know someone who has moved, touched, or inspired you by their optimism? Do you know someone who encourages you to be your best self? Do you know someone who sees hope and makes a positive difference in the lives of others? The second annual Most Optimistic Community Member nominations are now being accepted by the Sunrise Optimist Club until June 1, 2023. Last year, Todd Taylor was recognized as the 2022 Most Optimistic Community Member at the club’s annual fall awards gathering.

The Sunrise Optimist Club is a service club that provides support and scholarships to youth in Ventura. The basis of the club is The Optimist Creed. The Club has been active in Ventura since 1960 and is affiliated with Optimist International. The primary purpose is to “bring out the best in kids” as well as promoting optimism as a way of life.

To access the nomination form, go to the Club’s website at www.venturasunriseoptimist.org. For more information about the nomination process for the 2023 Most Optimistic Community Member or about the Sunrise Optimist Club of Ventura contact MOCM.[email protected] or visit the club website: http://www.venturasunriseoptimist.org/

When and what is Passover?

In 2023, Passover runs from the evening of April 5, 2023, to the evening of Thursday, April 13, 2023.

Passover is a festival of freedom.

It commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom. Passover or Pesach is an important, biblically derived Jewish holiday. The Jewish people celebrate Passover as a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses. It commemorates the story of the Exodus in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Passover commences on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nisan and lasts for either seven

days (in Israel and for Reform Jews and other progressive Jews around the world who adhere to the Biblical commandment) or eight days for Orthodox, Hasidic, and most Conservative Jews.

A day commences at dusk and lasts until the following dusk, thus the first day of Passover begins after dusk. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays.

The rituals unique to the Passover celebrations commence with the Passover Seder.

In the narrative of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God helped the Children of Israel escape from their slavery in Egypt by inflicting ten plagues upon the ancient Egyptians before the Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the death of the Egyptian first-born.

The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord knew to “pass over” the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holiday.

When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise (leaven). In commemoration, for the duration of Passover no leavened bread is eaten.