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.

Ventura author Sheila Lowe has released her long-awaited memoir, Growing From the Ashes: Learning from my daughter’s murder about life after earth.

In 2000, as a forensic handwriting examiner for many years, Sheila was alarmed to see the red flags for pathological behavior in the handwriting of her daughter’s boyfriend, Tom Schnaible. An officer in federal law enforcement, Tom was an explosion waiting to happen. And when that explosion detonated less than a year later, it resulted in the murder of twenty-seven-year-old Jennifer Lowe.

This book, 23 years in the making, follows the author’s spiritual path from a strict fundamentalist religion that bars any belief in a world of spirit, to the freedom of knowing that there is no death, only life after earth.

Growing From the Ashes can be ordered from any bookstore and online retailers. The audiobook will be available soon. www.sheilalowebooks.com

Grand Parlor Salon and Shave, LLC is serving Ladies and Gents in Ventura East!

Terra Aldrich is the owner and operator of Grand Parlor Salon and Shave, LLC located at 1795 S Victoria Ave, Suite 102-B.

Ms. Aldrich, aka “@t_thebarber68″ on Instagram, is a fourth generation Ventura County Native and is licensed in both barbering and cosmetology. Terra acquired her master stylist level skills while serving in the industry for nearly 18 years working in both barbershops and salons. During this time Terra also had the opportunity to observe and learn about what it takes to provide a professional, friendly and convenient, customer service based business.

Terra’s professional experiences and personal life goals gave her the vision of starting a woman owned, modern barbershop / salon that would transcend the customer’s expectations and would welcome all genders alike, and to build a team of style experts, curating a high-quality experience.

Through this vision and much determination and hard work Grand Parlor Salon and Shave, LLC is delighted to celebrate their 1st year anniversary which is on Mother’s Day! You are invited to come celebrate and enjoy a free cut with a paid color service or free beard trim with paid cut from now until May 14th!

Terra stated” I am thrilled to be a part of Ventura’s small business community and I adore the people of Ventura County! I am very proud to offer employment opportunities and I thank my family, friends, and guests for all the support throughout our first year! I really want to build a brand that is consistent and affordable as we welcome the whole family to our barbershop / salon! My goal is to build a talented team that our guests can trust as we encourage same day appointments and walk-ins! I know it’s hard to get an appointment most places, especially with busy schedules! -Come check us out, we can’t wait to serve you!”

The Ventura Tree Alliance, the City of Ventura’s Urban Forestry staff and community members teamed up to plant fifteen trees to help shade and beautify Barranca Vista Park for a family-friendly tree planting day on Earth Day, Friday, April 21.

The funds for this event were provided by generous donations from the community: people from all walks of life that see the value of trees and want to take part in cooling the air, providing habitat, reducing water run-off, muting traffic noise and mitigating Co2 emissions. You can make a difference by donating at VenturaTreeAlliance.com/donate.

The Ventura Tree Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit public-benefit corporation that brings community members, educators, and business professionals together to enhance the urban tree canopy in the city of Ventura.

The mission is to “plant trees to augment Ventura’s urban forest, beautifying Ventura and counteracting climate change. Our goals are to inspire, engage and support Venturans in planting and caring for trees through education, advocacy, volunteerism, and fundraising.”

To find out more, visit www.VenturaTreeAlliance.com.

by Mary Olson

Do you enjoy learning new things, exploring interesting places, and meeting people who share a love of adventure? Hill Road Library will host a discussion of the many programs offered by Road Scholar on Thursday, May 4th, at 5:00 pm. Road Scholar is the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults, offering nearly 5,500 affordable programs each year in about 150 countries worldwide. These programs offer a chance to expand your mind while being in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the
best parts of life.

Hill Road Library hosts a timely program on Wildfire Preparedness: Protect Your Home Against the Threat of Wildfires. On Tuesday, May 16th, 5 to 6 pm, The Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council will present a workshop for the local community. The Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council is a local, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting residents in fire-vulnerable areas of Ventura County. This workshop will deliver a brief overview of
wildfire history and behavior, provide steps you can take to protect your home and families, and give resources for emergency preparedness. Events at Hill Road Library are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Linda Cherry, Librarian, at (805) 677-7180.

Local Oxnard author Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo will visit the Ojai Library at 2 pm on Saturday, May 13, to talk about her new book, Threads of Awakening: An American Woman’s Journey into Tibet’s Sacred Textile Art. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo is a textile artist, teacher, and author. A California girl who bought a one-way ticket to India and landed in a Tibetan sewing workshop next door to the Dalai Lama, she became one of few nonTibetans to master the Buddhist art of silk appliqué thangka. Trained by two of the finest living Tibetan appliqué artists, Leslie learned to stitch bits of silk into elaborate figurative mosaics that bring the transformative images of Buddhist meditation to life. Her artwork has been exhibited internationally and featured in the documentary Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas. You can learn more about her work and book online at www.threadsofawakening.com. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

There are still some events to come in Ventura County Library’s series of family-friendly sustainability-themed programs. English/Spanish interpretation services and children’s activities will be available for all the programs at the Piru and Saticoy Library branches. The upcoming topics are:

Home Weatherization 101
Thursday, May 4, 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Saticoy Library (1292 Los Angeles Avenue, Ventura) 805 671-5148

How to Get Green Business Certified
Thursday, May 11, 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Piru Library (3811 Center Street, Piru) 805 521-1753
Wednesday, May 17, 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Saticoy Library – rescheduled from May 18 .

Ventura Friends of the Library Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays, 1:30 to 4:00 pm.
You can also shop at our online store at https://venturafol-107753.square.site/s/shop and pick up your purchase at the store in E.P. Foster. In addition to books, both venues offer audiobooks and jigsaw puzzles.