Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Smiles and mouths full of food at the Strawberry Festival

Overflow crowds attended the Strawberry Festival at the Fairgrounds. Photos by Patricia Schallert and Yana Khiyod

Grace Thompson wife of festival co-chair Mike Thompson with what might be Mike.

Yummy treats, live music, rides and a great time was enjoyed at the California Strawberry Festival held on May 20 & 21 at Ventura County Fairgrounds celebrating its 37th year.

Attendees didn’t mind the long lines as the Festival was held after a three-year absence and at a new location.

Several local bands entertained the guests, some who danced while waiting to eat the many foods available. Much more than just strawberries.

The Red Hat Society ladies.

 

Have a proud and Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future.

In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

Life Stories Volunteer Program

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice is bringing back its beloved Life Story program. This program is designed to provide both community members and hospice patients the opportunity to record their personal memoirs. Helping one share their personal story, which might be lost if not passed along to the next generation, is a valuable gift that our Life Story volunteer provides.

Volunteers will get the opportunity to record and edit these stories that members of our community can share for years to come.

Volunteer training will take place at our Camarillo Grief & Bereavement Center on June 14th, from 6 – 7 p.m. To register, visit lmvna.org/lifestoriesform or call (805) 389-6870.

One-Night-Only at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura

Rubicon Theatre of Ventura presents the third event in the company’s Summer Concert series on Saturday, June 3 at 7 p.m. – “Mostly Broadway: An Evening With David Burnham.” Burnham is the star of Broadway shows such as the mega-hit musical Wicked, The Light in the Piazza and the National Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Fans of the award-winning singer and actor have reason to celebrate as the beloved performer takes the stage for a live concert event at Rubicon Theatre Company.

Known for his powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence, Burnham promises an unforgettable evening of music and entertainment. “Mostly Broadway” will be a special one-night-only live engagement p.m. at Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. Prices are $59.50 per person or $75.00 for VIP tickets (which include a post-show reception and a tax-deductible contribution to Rubicon). Special discounts are available for students. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.rubicontheatre.orgor call 805.667.2900.

Burnham was last seen on Broadway in the mega-hit musical Wicked playing Fiyero, the role he originated in the developmental workshops of the show. He is an original Broadway cast member of the musical The Light in the Piazza, performing both on the Tony Awards and the PBS telecast “Live from Lincoln Center.” He is the recipient of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Best Actor as well as the Best Actor Garland Award for his portrayal of Fabrizio in the National Tour of The Light in the Piazza.

Starting in Ventura and then in NYC, Burnham was an original cast member of Rubicon Theatre’s Drama Desk Award-winning Off-Broadway run of The Best is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call 805.667.2900.

Vol. 16, No. 18 – May 31 – June 13, 2023 – Community Events

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday each month. Men of all descriptions are always welcomed to stop in to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL sanctioned duplicate bridge games
every Tues., Wed., and Thurs. at 12:30. All levels of play and we
will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are
available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or
[email protected]. All Welcome.

June 3: Sespe Fly Fishers of Ventura will be conducting monthly “First Saturday” introductory Fly Rod Casting and Intro to Fly Fishing clinic. There is no charge and all are welcome.

Whether you are an experienced fly fisher or a complete novice we want to help you improve your casting and learn to enjoy this great sport. If you don’t yet have a fly rod, don’t worry, just come and use one of ours.
Chumash Park, Petit and Waco, 9:00 to 11:00 am, in East Ventura, off Telephone Rd.
For more information:
Casting Program Coordinator Thomas Hall
[email protected]
(805) 377-5249
www.sespeflyfishers.org

June 10: World Ocean Day Ventura
Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm. Harbor Cove Beach, Ventura. Make marine memories at a free, family-friendly beach event! World Ocean Day Ventura will be held at the Ventura Harbor during the Ventura Outrigger Challenge.

The day-long event will feature live music, games, ocean-oriented non-profits, and an incredible view of the Challenge’s exciting canoe races. Our partner event, the Ventura Outrigger Challenge, will also have food, a beer garden, and vendors’ booths to explore.

June 11: Olivas Adobe 11am- 3 pm free.
Weddings then and now. Explore weddings past and present.
Historian, Glenda Jackson will be sharing some items from her vast collection of Victorian clothing as well as sharing etiquette from the past .
Her lectures are at 11:30 am or 1 pm and they are free.  In the Rancho home wedding dresses will be displayed along with a little history about the bride and why they chose the Olivas Adobe for their special occasion.
Our volunteer docent gift shop will be open as well as the small adobe housing a new art exhibit by local artist Bob Engel. www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OlivasAdobeEvents

June 11: Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can join the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic.
Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation. 11am,  Campus Student Center of Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura. nawcc-ch190.com.

For Details contact:
Bob McClelland
Director, Public Information
(818) 225-8212
[email protected]

June 17: On Saturday the Ventura County Genealogical Society will present its monthly program online via Zoom, from 1:00 until 3:00 pm, featuring Curt Witcher, speaking on “Using Periodicals and PERSI (Periodical Source Index) to Take Your Research to the Next Level.” Participants will hear about the various types of genealogy and local history magazines and journals, and how PERSI can help one find articles to further their research.
Non-members may request a Zoom invitation at https://venturacogensoc.org/request-invitation-to-lecture/.

June 24: the VCGS DNA Special Interest Group meets at 10:30 am via Zoom, with the challenge “Ask Me Anything,” by Angie Bush from the National Genealogical Society, chair of its Genetic Genealogy committee. Contact the webmaster at [email protected] to request an invitation.
All VCGS workshops are free and open to members and the public.
For information about the society: https://www.venturacogensoc.org.

Doorway is a map at Mission San Buenaventura

Is this a map? Photo by Patricia Schallert

by Richard Senate

The side door of the church that leads into the courtyard has an interesting design that looks Moorish but it is, said to be, a map of sorts, to show Native Converts how to find their way back to the Mission if they should travel away from the Mission San Buenaventura.

The line at the top represent the flat topped hill, where the cross stands today, the lines on each side of the statue of the virgin are the two rivers on each side of the Mission, the Ventura and the Santa Clara River.

The statue represents the mission community. The simple map was to show how to get back to the Mission when they travel away. Yes, Native Converts were given vacation time and could leave for extended visits at other villages. This was done so they could encourage new converts to join. It also spread such things as corn cultivation and European ideas. Sadly, it also spread accidently the European diseases that took many lives among those who refused to accept the new religion and new life style.

Practice Greenhealth honored with the Partner for Change Award

Dignity Health – St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo (SJHC) were honored by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in healthcare, with the Partner for Change Award. This recognition is given to organizations that demonstrate superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities, as well as those that have made substantive progress on mercury elimination.

Vets have been honored at The Vent on Memorial Day in Ventura

 A work out known as the “Murph.”

by Patricia Schallert

Every year on Memorial Day, athletes from around the world, gather at Crossfit affiliates, military bases, and local parks to do a work out known as the “Murph” and as they work out, they remember those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This Memorial Day tradition found many local Ventura athletes joining for their 7th year, at the Vent, located in Ventura to honor and support the Vent’s long-standing relationship with the military.

The tradition was born out of CrossFit ‘s Hero workouts, which were created in honor of men and women who have died in the line of action, or while serving their country or local community.

Perhaps the most well-known CrossFit hero work out is the “Murph workout”, named after Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan, in 2005, while serving his country. The work out is long and grueling, but you won’t hear athletes complain. Instead, the athletes show up to pay their respects and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Joe Saenz is a 72 local athlete Veteran, a grandfather and great grandfather who honors his friends lost in the Viet Nam war. He commented that “this workout on Memorial Day is his way of remembering them and keeping then in his heart.”

Shelly Hurguy believes that the “Murph” workout is like “ a wave and about the community.” When she thinks about what Memorial Day is all about, she feels “motivated and then pushes herself harder without complaining”.

The “Murph” work out specifies that athletes can “partition the pull ups, push-ups, and squats as needed“. This presents a rare element in a CrossFit workout as most athletes are required to finish all repetition of an exercise before moving onto the next one. In “Murph”, the run portions must be done as a sandwich around the reps, and athletes may break up the pull ups, push-ups, and squats, however they like.

Spending a bit of time thinking through a rep scheme, helps both the newbie athlete and veteran athlete succeed in this workout. For a beginner athlete, this workout helps them feel confident as they attempt a work out that on paper, looks intimidating, but when broken down can be quite manageable. For the veteran athlete, it can help them learn about pacing and strategy to get the best possible times.

For seven years, Ventura Community Athletes of all ages have come together on Memorial Day to the Vent, to participate in one of Michael Murphy’s favorite workouts, known as “Body Armor”. With the sole purpose to honor this focused warrior, and great American, who wanted nothing more in life that serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Bree Cochran the sole owner of the Vent comments that she “supports the older athletes who need some modifications and younger athletes who need challenges that hard workouts bring. She is committed to the workouts for all , especially on Memorial Day where the community can come together as a group and spend time honoring the men and women who have died in the line of action or while serving their county or local community.

Additional information http://www.Sugarwod.com

Breeze Q&A

Large mixed-use project under construction. Photo by Joseph Seemayer

Question: What is the very large building under construction at N. Banks?
Fred Taylor

Answer:
It is a 306-unit apartment mixed use complex located at Johnson and North Bank drives.
It will have 13 buildings varying from 2 to 4 stories by developer Beverly Hills-based G.H. Palmer Associates. It will contain 19 affordable units and 5,000 square feet of commercial rental space. It is named the Willows.
The first phase of the project should be completed in early September. The project is located in councilman Jim Duran’s District 6, which includes the Montalvo area. It was approved prior to him being on the council. The City Council voted 5-2 in 2018, to approve a zone change necessary for the project to continue. At the time Christy Weir and Neal Andrews voted against the zone change.