During a beautiful October 13 Ventura evening, one of the Ventura Chamber’s most popular events, TASTE of Ventura was held at the Museum of Ventura County (outside and inside). Partnering with “very” local restaurants, wineries, breweries, and bakeries/confectioners, guests enjoyed the very best Ventura has to offer in a festive, casual atmosphere. Live music under the stars was also enjoyed.
Museum of Ventura County announces the addition of two members to their Board of Directors, longtime Ventura County supporter Greg Monterrosa and Immigration Attorney Gabriella Navarro-Busch. The Museum’s 13-member board helps to guide the collections, exhibits, and educational programs, which collectively celebrate the rich history, art and culture of Ventura County.
Greg Monterrosa joins the Museum of Ventura County board with a history of dedicated work in supporting and advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in Ventura County.
Gabriella Navarro-Busch comes to the Museum’s board of directors with extensive experience as an immigration attorney. She also is a former president of the Ventura County chapter of the MexicanAmerican Bar Association, recipient of the 2004 State Bar of California President’s Pro Bono Service
To learn more about the Museum of Ventura County’s 2021-2022 Board of Directors, please visit: venturamuseum.org/board-and-committees
The Museum of Ventura County has received a grant from the National Archives’ National Historical Publications and Records Commission to make collections accessible to the public, one of just 37 grants awarded nationwide. This month marks the start of the Museum’s National Archives grant-funded project. The $95,000 grant will allow the museum to catalog the Martin & Associates collection, representing institutional records of one of the county’s longest-serving civil engineering firms. It includes records created by six civil engineers and their staff over nearly a century.
“The Robert Martin and Associates Collection represents 89 years of civil engineering in Ventura County,” said Research Library and Archives Director Deya Terrafranca.
The collection began with the Waud and Ramelli firm in 1924. J.B. Waud was one of the earliest surveyors and civil engineers in Ventura County. He is responsible for much of the County’s early infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Milton Ramelli, born in 1893, worked for Waud in the county surveyor’s office before they started the company Waud & Ramelli in 1924. In 1928, Ramelli set up shop separately as M.E. Ramelli, until 1956, when he went into business with Robert Martin. Ramelli passed away in 1960 and in 1962, the firm became Robert Martin and Associates.
Bill Hale purchased the firm from Robert Martin in 1991. After his passing, his widow sold the company to Ventura resident Ed Campbell, who renamed the firm U.S.A. Architects.
The collection includes engineering and architectural drawings, maps, and planning files for residential, commercial, and government buildings from the 1920s to 2013. With the help of the grant, the Museum will be able to catalog 431 cubic feet of materials and digitize at least 1,000 items, including oversized maps and civil engineering plans.
The grant will also be used to offer paid internships, a critical accessibility initiative that makes internships and work experience available to students who would not otherwise be able to afford unpaid internship hours. Students will be paid the City of Ventura’s living wage. This initiative aims to help address a need in the archive’s community for more diverse students to gain experience in the field.
Rudd has to clear out Bank of Books by the end of the month. Photo by Patricia Schallert
It was in June 1974. that Clarey Rudd, age 22, first opened a bookstore in Ventura called Rudds. A second store for the family business. He grew up working in his parents’ bookstore in Oxnard. During Rudd’s time at CSUF, he was invited by the owner to work at one of the largest independent bookstores in the nation. A year later, after his Junior year at Biola University, he became manager of their bookstore. Being part of the staff, he had to complete his marketing and management degree back at CSUF. At that time, he decided he was going to open a bookstore in Ventura.
The family bookstores expanded to Ventura, Camarillo and Santa Paula. When his dad had an accident, he became responsible for the Ventura and Santa Paula bookstores. He then expanded to Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara and Bellflower. He did workshops and wrote for a trade magazine.
All of the family bookstores had been sold and Clarey bought Second Time Around bookstore in downtown Ventura. Rooted in 60 years of downtown Ventura’s history, he sold on the internet and became a vendor with Amazon. Second Time Around was renamed Bank of Books. Part of the books are from the 1700’s and 1800’s with many originally signed books.
Clarey became the founding chairman of the Downtown Ventura Organization (DVO) overseeing the goals of downtown Ventura. Bank of Books became a famous International Bookstore getting world travelers to the bookstore to buy books. Bank of Books has been voted number 1 independent bookstore for 19 years.
Sir Anthony Hopkins wrote “best bookstore I have ever been in, and I am a book geek” Over the years 300,000 books have been given away. Rudd has served on the International Board of Mission without Border for 32 years and ran for city council in 2021. Clarey organized all of the independent bookstores in Ventura to seek city council to declare Ventura an international book city.
Recently, Rudd expanded to Santa Paula which would have made three bookstores except for the unfortunate closing of Bank of Books due to a severe rent increase.
Rudd has to clear out Bank of Books by the end of the month. He and the bookstore are Ventura icons, and he has done a lot for this community. Please go to Bank of Books and buy some books for 60-90% off before they close and be sure to visit Abednego and Bank of Books Santa Paula.
Bank of Books is located at 748 E. Main.
by Richard Senate
The State of California has two official Haunted Houses, sanctioned by the State Legislature; The Whaley House in Old Town San Diego and the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. The Winchester Mansion, built by Spiritualist Sarah Winchester (of the Winchester firearms fortune) is more an attraction than anything else . I spoke with workers there and they have seen the shade of Mrs. Winchester wandering the elaborate pile, so it is haunted.
But, I contend that after years of research the historic 1841 Olivas Adobe in Ventura should be recognized as number three haunted house for our state. Why? Because visitors and staff have repeatedly encounter ghosts at the two-story adobe home of Don Raymundo Olivas.
The wealthy Don is never seen but a number of phantom women are–they are now joined by ghostly children. When the site opened as a historic house museum in 1972 people began to see a phantom woman in a black dress looking out the windows and walking on the balconies of the casa. They called her “The Lady in Black” and it was thought she was the specter of Mrs. Teodora Lopez Olivas, the wife of the builder and the mother of his twenty-one children (Thirteen boys, eight girls).
As the years passed other ghostly women were seen by visitors and staff, a woman with a gray skirt and apron, A young woman in a white wedding dress, as well as the Lady in black who was seen now on the grounds and first floor. Years ago a new apparition was added to the phantom population; that of a little girl in a white nightgown. She was seen by well over one hundred visitors over a period of two years–then she simply stopped showing up. Now a little boy in short pants, jacket, tie and leather shoes has been seen. At least the ghost girl has someone to play with. They have been joined by a ghost dog, a black hound with white forepaws.
Besides seeing the haunts, people have heard their footsteps, as well as voices and singing! One ghost hunting group even recorded the strains of a song being sang by a little girl. The number of events documented indicates that this site is one of the more haunted places in the Golden State and should be recognized by the state assembly as truly a haunted house. People have even photographed apparitions at the site and felt touched by unseen hands. Not everyone who visits sees or hears a ghost but, many do. As the Halloween season approaches us in Ventura its natural to turn to the supernatural and places rumored to be haunted. What are ghosts? No one knows for certain but in the words of Mark Twain: “I don’t believe in ghosts but I am scared of them all the same.”
This is always smiling Breeze (her given name) Barajas who works at Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea located at 2470 E Main St.
We figured anyone with the name Breeze deserves to be in the Breeze.
Photos by Patricia Schallert
On Saturday, October 15, Timbre Books celebrated their 2-year anniversary. It opened on Oct. 17, 2020 by Kyle and Megan Murai who stated “Thank you for supporting your friendly neighborhood bookshop. Here’s to another year.”. The celebration included live music, raffles, kids’ story times. A portion of the proceeds of the day went to the Planet Foundation.
Timbre Books
1924 E. Main St.
(805) 628-3370
Photo by Michael Gordon
The Skin Queue Aesthetics Medical Spa is revolutionizing injectables like Botox and natural skin fillers. 3140 Telegraph Rd. Suite C. Ventura
The reigning USL League 2 champion Ventura County Fusion has selected Ventura Orthopedic as its official youth training kit partner. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Ventura Orthopedics’ logo will be featured on the front of youth team training jerseys.
Ventura Orthopedics is the Fusion’s first youth training kit partner. It has been the Official Medical Care Provider for the Fusion’s USL 2 team since 2011.
“We could not be happier to extend our relationship with Ventura Orthopedics,” said Ventura County Fusion president Ranbir Shergill. “They are an established, trusted community member that is committed to improving the lives of individuals by providing exceptional care and treatment with facilities throughout Ventura County.”
The Fusion, which competes in the USL 2 southwestern division, offers an extensive youth program with teams for children born between 2002 and 2014. It also fields a full roster of competitive teams that participate at the highest levels of US youth soccer including MLS Next and USL Academy.
“Both of our organizations are dedicated to serving this amazing county, so it is a natural fit for us to continue our support into the youth levels of the Ventura County Fusion,” said Andy Conli, business development manager for Ventura Orthopedics.
For more information about Ventura County Fusion, please visit VCFusion.com or call (805) 830-8027.
by Mary Olson
The California State Library has announced a new free service supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library
Services under the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Connected California: Digital Navigators
Digital navigators can help you find free or low-cost internet service; free or low-cost devices, such as computers, tablets
or smartphones; learn basic computer skills, such as how to use the internet or set up email and find and use online
resources for things such as taking courses or applying for jobs.
You can contact a navigator by voicemail at 1-800-790-5319; by text at 1-626-873-8390;
by email at [email protected] or through their website: https://connectedca.org/
A navigator will respond within 24 hours of your inquiry, Monday through Friday. Your navigator will work with you oneon-one by phone, in English or Spanish, to discuss your needs and help you get connected to the internet and online
resources.
October is the month of One County, One Book. This month, Ventura County is reading Taste Makers: Seven
Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen. One County, One Book culminates with a special author event with Mayukh Sen at 2 pm on Saturday, November 12 at California State University, Channel Islands’ Grand Salon. For more information and to register for the author event, go to
https://vencolibrary.org/i-want/one-county-one-book.
Ventura Friends of the Library have two big events in the next couple of weeks. If you are interested in what the
Friends of the Library do to support our local libraries and literacy in our community, please drop by —
Ventura Friends of the Library Book Sale
Saturday, October 22, 10 am to 3 pm
at the Vons at Telegraph and Victoria
Quality used books at bargain prices. Music on CD and Vinyl and Audiobooks.
Ventura Friends of the Library Annual Membership Meeting
Sunday, October 30
2:00 to 4:00 pm
E.P. Foster Library Topping Room
In keeping with the Taste Makers theme of this year’s One County One Book selection,we have invited Emily Tan
from SpiceTopia to spice up our meeting with a flavorful tale. SpiceTopia is a purveyor of teas and spices, including
their very own Tastes of Ventura blends. The shop is located at 576 E. Main Street.
All are invited to attend!
Her presentation will be followed by a brief business meeting for members to receive the Treasurer’s report, elect the
Officers for 2023 and vote on a bylaw change.
For more information about Friends’ events, visit our website: https://venturafriendsofthelibrary.org or email
[email protected]
A new exhibition, Ojai Day Mandalas, opens at the Ojai Valley Museum. The pop-up exhibit will only be on view for four weeks. It runs through November 6.
The annual Ojai Day Mandala is a long-time tradition. Started by local artist River Sauvageau, she continues to lead a small group of women who plan the design and lead the community painting. The exhibition explores making the yearly Mandala through drawings, photographs, and videos provided by the self-titled Mandala Mavens.
In addition to Ojai Day Mandalas, small exhibitions on a range of topics related to the history of the valley, and a diorama of the Sespe Wilderness, are always on view at the museum.
The Ojai Film Festival spotlights filmmaking in the Ojai Valley, and surrounding areas, with the Gold Coast series which ties up the four days of in-person screenings on Monday, November 7. This year’s Bill Paxton Award goes to Travis Greer, whose narrative feature “Time Capsule” will screen that evening at 7 p.m.
Honorees, including Greer, will receive their awards at a brunch on Sunday morning, November 6, in the Ojai Art Center courtyard. Gold Coast screenings happen at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. on Monday, November 7, also at the Ojai Art Center.
The Ojai City Council declined to deal with the decision to allow up to three cannabis lounges in the city. Council members decided to hold off on the item until a new City Council is installed in January.
A cannabis lounge allows cannabis smoking, vaping or consumption of edibles on-site. Port Hueneme is expected to open the first cannabis lounge in Ventura County this fall.
