Photo by Michael Gordon
Rowan Boutique held a ribbon cutting at their new Ventura location located at 1058 S. Seaward Ave. They are a beachside women’s clothing boutique embodying the quintessential California lifestyle. The girl is a lover of all things beachy, furry, and bubbly with salty hair and skin, sunrise to sunset.
Phone: (805) 628-3194
The Ventura County Fair’s Board of Directors, management, and staff are proud to report that the 2022 Fair was a success. Celebrating the finest from throughout Ventura County, the 147th year picked up where it left off three years ago when the pandemic hit. “Bringing the County’s only legacy event back and ensuring that it will continue to serve the community for generations to come was the goal of our staff as we endured three years of difficult uncertainty,” said CEO Barbara Quaid, “dedicated staff stepped to the plate creatively and with passion to keep the doors open and make sure the Fair gates opened this year.” Visitors came from near and far to enjoy “A Country Fair with Ocean Air” during the 12-day run, August 3 through August 14.
The Ventura County Fair’s mission is to preserve, promote, and showcase agriculture and the traditions of Ventura County, this was accomplished with competitive livestock and horse shows, agricultural exhibits and baking contests. The Junior Livestock Auction, held on Friday, August 12 was the culmination of yearlong livestock production projects for Ventura County Youth. Proceeds from the Auction are used to further their educations and the agriculture industry in Ventura County. At this year’s auction 291 lots were sold for a total of $1,500,000.
Total Attendance for 2022 was strong at 270, 486; a difference of -10.67% from 2019’s attendance of 302,783.
“For us the focus is never about the numbers of people coming into the gates, but about the quality of the experience our guests have and about the number of smiles we see as Fair visitors head home,” said CEO Barbara Quaid, adding “We are grateful to have finally been able to bring the Fair back to our deserving community. We are committed to offering a clean, safe and fun experience that will create cherished memories that will last forever.”
Besides being a fun time, the Fair benefits the community in many ways. This year at our “Feed the Need” food drive for Food Share, we collected a total of 2,810 pounds of food and some cash donations, which will be used to purchase meals. Through these donations they will be able to provide a total of 2,401 (1.2lbs = 1 meal / $1 = 3 meals) meals to those experiencing food insecurity in Ventura County.
As is the case every year, overall success would not be possible without the tremendous support of the sponsors and the community. While the gates have closed on the 2022 Ventura County Fair, planning is already underway for the 2023 Fair.
The Taste of Local is Back!
Totally Local VC the Farm to Fork experts invites you to join them at this years
4th Annual Taste of Local event on Sunday, Sept 11, at the beautiful lawns of Ventura County Credit Unions Corporate office in Ventura. All food and samples are included in the admission price.
The Taste of Local is about bringing together farmers, chefs and community to celebrate our local harvest and the diversity of great food we have right here in Ventura County. It’s sure to be the epicurean event of the year! Over 60 area chefs, wineries, brewers, farmers and purveyors are expected to showcase their expertise during the 4th annual Taste of Local event.
Ventura County agriculture helps to feed our community and the world.
Ventura County is one of the top agricultural producers in the world and that translates into one of the best cuisine scenes that Californian has to offer. Locally grown, locally produced and locally owned are some of the key ingredients at the Taste of Local Festival. Guests have an opportunity to meet and chat with chefs, farmers and purveyors as they taste and learn about the bounty that is Ventura County.
Stop in to booths like the locally grown build your own strawberry short cake bar. Sponsored by the California Strawberry commission, Limoneira lemonade stand and our locally sourced grazing stations.
Taste, sample and sit back and enjoy the sounds of the Rose Valley Thorns and Spencer the Gardener
The Taste of Local showcases local brewers at its “Home Brew Challenge”. Guests sample and vote for there favorites as local brewers compete for top awards for the best home brews in the county.
Competing Ventura County bartenders will craft drinks from local grown ingredients. Attendees will sip (sample size) cocktails made from local farm-fresh ingredients and vote for their favorite. The winning cocktail will be crowned Ventura Counties signature cocktail and be featured at local restaurants throughout Ventura County.Edible Ojai, Ventura County magazine hosts the Farm to Fork Education Tent!
Don’t miss the workshops hosted by some of very own local experts!
We always offer a diverse selection of workshops at the event such as Brewing 101, Coffee Bean to Cup and cooking demos by Sweet Arleen’s.
Ventura County is known as one of the top agricultural producers in the world and that translates into one of the best cuisine scenes that California has to offer. Locally grown, locally produced and locally owned are some of the key ingredients in this year’s Taste of Local event.
More information on the Taste of Local:
https://totallylocalvc.com/taste-of-local-festival About Totally Local VC’s Agricultural Education Foundation.
Wings Over Camarillo was much more than airplanes. Photos by Yana Khiyod and Patricia Schallert
The premier air show on the central coast of California, Wings Over Camarillo, returned for its 41st year on Saturday, August 20, and Sunday, August 21. This aviation-themed, highly entertaining, and educational event featured aerobatic performances, parachute teams, military aircraft, helicopter rides, classic car show, STEM pavilion and food and drink. Held at the Camarillo Airport it celebrated Women in Aviation. It was presented by the Oxnard Auto Center.
A “Notable Women in Aviation” exhibit, that will remain permanently on display in the Commemorative Air Force Hangar, was introduced this year. The display includes a timeline of women’s firsts in aviation history, beginning with Jeanne Labrosse of France, the first woman to pilot any aircraft solo—a balloon—in 1798, and ending with Jessica Watkins, the first African American female astronaut at the International Space Station 2022.
Wings Over Camarillo is presented by Camarillo Wings Association(CWA) that promotes aviation and its heritage, while inspiring youth with aviation related programs, education and leadership opportunities.
CWA has donated over $521,000 in the past 11 years to local non-profits, promoting youth in science and aviation. “I want everybody to have fun,” said Bill Thomas, Wings Over Camarillo air boss. Two distinguished local aviators lead the event as grand marshals: CDR Colette Lazenka and Martha Phillips.
Photos by Patricia Schallert
A Ventura Chamber Ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 11th at Annie’s Portside Boutique, located in a Live/Work space in the Portside Ventura Harbor community at 864 Schooner Ave. # 107 Ventura, 93001. Annie’s love for fashion and design, along with a desire to be part of the Ventura Community, led her to open “Annie’s Portside”. “Annie’s Portside” has a boutique atmosphere where you can enjoy personal shopping with friends while trying on comfy/cozy clothes, jewelry and items for your home along with unique gifts. The Original Pizza Chief, located on Main Street in Ventura provided food and refreshments for the ribbon cutting event.
About Libraries and Friends
by Mary Olson
The Ventura County Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Read Beyond the Beaten Path”, concluded in August with well-attended wrap parties. After visiting over the summer, patrons, young and older, are all eager for more library programs to come in the Fall.
Storytime will continue at E.P. Foster Library, indoors on the 2nd Floor, on Mondays at 10:30 am and at Hill Road Library, indoors in the Children’s area, on Wednesdays at 10:30 am. For storytimes at the other branches, and to check for updates, visit Ventura County Library website’s Storytime page: https://vencolibrary.org/storytime
Paws for Reading continues at E.P. Foster (Thursdays, 4:00 – 6:00), Hill Road (Wednesdays, 3:30 to 5:00), and Ojai Library (Wednesdays, 1:30 – 2:30).
Paws for Reading is a reading program designed to help improve a child’s reading skills through reading aloud to a registered therapy dog. Join PAWS dogs for one-on-one reading sessions. Arrive at the library early to choose a book and get in line to read to a special pooch. Children of all ages are welcome!
An in-person Minecraft program will be offered at the E.P. Foster, Hill Road, and Ray D. Prueter Libraries simultaneously on the same server. Computer availability is first come, first served. Arrive at the library early to get signed up. This program is limited to participants ages 5-17 years old.
Have Minecraft JAVA edition (for PC/MAC) and want to play from home? If so, please contact [email protected].
Email or visit the library’s Minecraft page for scheduling and more information: https://vencolibrary.org/minecraft
Ventura County Library is seeking volunteers! Please visit the teen volunteers page for more information: https://vencolibrary.org/teen-volunteers and contact [email protected] with your interest.
Ventura Friends of the Library is also seeking volunteers!
Currently, we could really use volunteers who would be interested in researching both the value and potential market for the large collection of Civil War books we recently received, as well as Cd’s and vinyl records.
We can always use more volunteers to sort and price donated books, work in the bookstore in E.P. Foster and work at our quarterly book sales.
You can see what we’re up to at our website: https://venturafriendsofthelibrary.org and find there, in the right sidebar, links to shop at our online store and to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter.
You can always contact us at [email protected] or stop by our bookstore in E.P. Foster Library, open 11 am to 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Channel Islands Choral Association (CICA) Is inviting CSUCI students, faculty/staff, alumni, community members, and, in a project called, Project: Lights On, area highschoolers to audition and participate in their 2022-23 concert season.
“Walk onto many area high school campuses and ask to see their choir room. I think you will get some strange looks,” says CICA President, Dean Butler. CICA is hoping that Project: Lights On will reenergize high school choral singing by giving highschoolers the opportunity to perform with the university and a professional orchestra.
Dr. KuanFen Liu, Associate Professor of Music at CSUCI, currently serves as CICA’s Artistic Director. “It was encouraging to see so many highschoolers sharing the stage with us at our Carnegie Hall performance” says Dr. Liu. “I believe that this was an extraordinary, positive experience for them.”
CICA has planned an multigenerational concert season. “De Colores, A Choral Celebration of Colors & Cultures,” a concert highlighting multicultural choral compositions, will be performed on December 2 and 4.
In April, CICA along with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, will present their annual Choral Spectacular! “I have chosen music for this performance with the young student voice in mind,” says Dr. Liu. “Highschoolers will be able to have their own chance to sing a prepared piece, a combined piece, and then a grand finale piece with the added excitement of a full symphonic orchestra.” Dates for the Choral Spectacular! are April 22 & 23, 2023. A full performance of Dan Forrest’s “Jubilate Deo” will be featured at the concert.
For non-registered CSUCI students, auditions are now underway. We especially encourage area high school students and CSUCI faculty, staff, alumni and community members to join us. For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact Dr. KuanFen Liu at [email protected] or visit cicachoir.org.
Kara Smith presents funds to Louise Oseguera, VCGC President, Jan and Bruce Hunter , Kara Smith and Christine Gallagher, VCGC Secretary.
Ventura’s Dudley Historic House Museum was happy to receive a generous check from Kara Smith of the Ventura County Garden Club. “The Ventura County Garden Club awards funds for a beautification project each year to one of the communities represented by its membership,” said Smith during the presentation on June 5th to Dudley House garden committee members Jan and Bruce Hunter.
This money will be used specifically for the “Miriam’s Garden” area of the grounds, named for the last Dudley House resident who, along with daughter Johanna, donated the historic 1892 residence to the City of Ventura in 1977 to function as a museum. Plans for the charming picket-fence-enclosed garden are the addition of plants and flowers as well as paver paths and benches.
Says Smith, “The Ventura County Garden Club is pleased to join the Dudley House in making our community beautiful together.”
The museum’s grounds are always open to the public who are invited to visit and watch the progress. It is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood). Museum tours are given every first Sunday 1-4 and for groups by appointment. For more information and a virtual tour visit www.dudleyhouse.org.
Menu from the Royace Maddox that was located on Main. Can you imagine the year? Photographed at the Museum Research Library by Patricia Schallert.
