Three CMH Auxiliary Junior Volunteers were this year’s scholarship award winners. Each of these graduating high school seniors received $1000 toward their future education.

Troy Braun received the Maria Cavallo Scholarship awarded to those pursuing a career in the medical field. Troy accumulated 243 hours of volunteer work while also maintaining a 4.42 unweighted GPA. In addition, he served as a worship team leader for his youth group and was a Tae Kwon Do studio volunteer. He won the Renaissance Award for Academic Achievement and a National Honor Society Award. He worked as a supervisor at Chick-fil-A and was named a Chick-fil-A scholar.

Troy will be attending Pepperdine University and will major in Psychology/PreMed in preparation for a career in Pediatric Oncology.

Zachary Leppaluoto and Hannah Miller were both recipients of the Audrey Woodburn Scholarship for students pursuing a career in nursing.

Zachary served 263 volunteer hours and earned a 3.74 unweighted GPA. He was involved in Boy Scouts and received his Eagle Scout Award in 2019. He also ran cross country and track and was an Academic Decathlon member. He is an AP Scholar with Honors, a Renaissance Academic Achievement recipient for 3 years, and accomplished all of this while also working as a Starbucks barista for the last year. He will be attending the University of Portland, majoring in nursing with a goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Hannah Miller volunteered for 234 hours and achieved an unweighted GPA of 4.09. She was team captain for Buena’s girls’ softball, a Dia De Los Muertos filmmaker, and assisted with Relay for Life and the Salvation Army’s Adopt a Family program. In addition to achieving the Highest Batting Award for softball, she was awarded the Renaissance Academic Achievement for all 4 years of high school, and the Integrity Award. She also worked as a snack bar cashier, and at Two Trees Escape as well as being a sought-after babysitter. She will attend Loyola Marymount University, pursuing her goal of a Doctorate in Nursing Practice.

by Mary Olson

The Ventura County Library’s Summer Reading Program, “Read Beyond the Beaten Path”, continues through August 14. There’s still time to log your summer reading at https://vencolibrary.beanstack.org and pick up Grab and Go STEAM kits at any library branch.

Visit E.P. Foster Library (805 648-2716) for the Maker Lab on Tuesdays, July 19 & 26, 4 to 6 pm. Lego Play is back every other Friday (July 15 & 29 & August 12), 2 to 4 pm. On alternate Fridays (July 22 & August 5, 2 to 4 pm) kids and teens can drop in for Game Days with Nintendo Switch, Wii U and board games.

On Wednesday, July 20, 3 to 4 pm, learn what we know and what we imagine about Dinosaurs at Paul’s Prehistoric Park Presentation at E.P. Foster. See how drawing simple shapes can lead to creating these fantastic beasts from millions of years ago.

E.P. Foster will host Bilingual Musician/Singer Nathalia on Monday, July 25, 11 am to noon with songs in both Spanish and English for children of all ages! This event will be held outside on Main Street.

On Tuesday, August 9, 3 to 5 pm, make and launch a Paper Model Rocket outdoors on Main Street in front of the library.

Enjoy a FREE Kona Ice to celebrate the end of summer reading at E. P. Foster on Monday, August 15, 4 to 5 pm.

At Hill Road Library (805 677-7180) , Maker Camp continues Thursdays, July 14, 21 & 28, and August 4, 3:30 to 5 pm offering STEAM projects designed for children 7-18 . On Tuesdays, July 19 & 26, 3:30 to 5 pm, drop in for Art Camp. Children 3 to 7 are invited to explore STEAM through play with their caregivers at Little Lab at Hill Road Library Tuesdays, July 19 & 26 and August 2 & 9, 10:30 am to noon.

On Tuesday, August 9, 3 to 5 pm, celebrate the end of Summer Reading at Hill Road Library with a Summer Snow Day with Kona Ice!

Don’t forget –
Ventura Friends of the Library Book Sale
at the Vons at Telegraph & Victoria
Saturday, July 16, 10 am to 3 pm

Pick up some quality used books at bargain prices. Your purchases help support the Summer Reading Program and other library activities and add books to the library’s collection!

Please stop by to shop and learn about the Friends of the Library. We are always looking for new volunteers – right now we especially need volunteers to help sort and categorize our incoming book donations. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to help.

by Mary Olson

Avenue and Saticoy library branches are participating in Lunch at the Library June 20 through July 28. Ventura County Library, in partnership with Ventura Unified School District through the USDA Summer Food Service Program, is making free lunches available at these locations for children and teens 18 years and under. You do not need to sign-up, show identification, or make an application. Lunch will be served on a first come, first served basis.

This program feeds minds and bodies by serving lunches, promoting literacy and preventing the learning loss that can occur when children are out of school during the summer months. Librarians will be taking the opportunity to introduce visitors to library resources and activities relating to nutrition, food waste and farm-to-table and will provide take-home STEAM kits for kids to explore science, math and technology concepts.

Lunch is served
Avenue Library, 606 N. Ventura Ave., M TU W TH, 11am-12pm
Saticoy Library, 1292 Los Angeles Ave., M TU W TH, 12pm-1pm

Hill Road Library has initiated a quarterly book club for adults who appreciate children’s literature. The second meeting of the Wise Owls Book Club will be Tuesday, July 12, at 5 pm. The book to be discussed is Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson. In this book, the Hart family of Portland, Oregon, faces many setbacks after Ryan’s father loses his job, but no matter what, Ryan tries to bring sunshine to her loved ones. Visit the Hill Road Library to pick up the latest Wise Owls Book Club selection.

E.P. Foster will host Bilingual Musician/Singer Nathalia on Monday, July 25, 11 am to noon. Bilingual singer Nathalia is a wonderful performer who will sing in both Spanish and English for children of all ages! This event will be held outside on Main Street.

Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a book sale on Saturday, July 16, 10 am to 3 pm at the Vons at Telegraph and Victoria (6040 Telegraph Rd.) As always, your purchase of quality used books at bargain prices benefits the libraries of the city of Ventura by providing funds for book collections and programs!

The Friends have received an unusual book donation – a collection of more than 700 volumes concerning the Civil War. These include documents from the Union and the Confederacy, memoirs of generals and published academic and popular histories. None of these will be on offer at the July book sale. We are in the process of researching the items in an effort to assure that they are appropriately offered for sale or donated to libraries or academic institutions. If anyone with expertise in vintage or antiquarian books would like to assist in this project, please email [email protected].

by Kylee Brown 

Whether a teacher has twenty years of experience in the classroom or two months, most are now required to add a new subject to their academic planning in the current school environment: educators are working to plan for safety in schools in the event of a live shooter, and calming worried students afraid their school could be next. This unthinkable idea has increasingly become a grim reality across the U.S.

Lauren Lanski has been with the Ventura Unified School District for 15 years, the last five as a Health Education, Career Technical Education, and PE teacher at Buena High. She said that with the recent increase in school shootings, she’s seen that more of her students have been affected. “After the last major shooting in Texas I’ve noticed that some of my students were scared, and a few didn’t come to school,” said Lanksi. “I validated their feelings, and at the same time, tried to reassure them that I felt safe and that we’d be ok.” However, she shared that she has been on heightened alert for several years. “In the last few weeks with the increase of school shootings, I am constantly staring at everyone on campus to make sure there’s a reason that they should be here,” she said.

She does not believe teachers should have to be armed. “I personally do not want to be armed with a gun at school. If I truly felt that afraid that I should have to carry a gun, I’d have to personally reconsider what I’m doing,” said Lanski. 

Some teachers feel it should be up to individuals to decide if they want to carry a firearm in the classroom. Lawren Agnew is a new preschool teacher and a high school cheer coach. She said she is confident in her school’s active shooter protocols but nervous in the presence of guns. When asked if teachers should be armed in the future, she responded, “If they feel comfortable enough to be armed, then yes, I feel like it would be up to the teachers if they feel comfortable doing it or not.” Agnew said that if schools allowed teachers to carry on campus, the school should be responsible for paying for proper training. Amidst the gun violence in schools nationwide, she still feels safe. “You do what you’ve got to do to protect yourself and keep those kids safe.” she said.

It also falls to the teachers to reassure, prepare, and protect students. Marcia Amegadzie has taught PE and Health at Buena for the last ten years. Amegadzie takes an open and strategic role in starting the conversation with her students for tactics to stay safe. “I tell them, ‘don’t ever be sitting ducks.’ I say I would be the first line of defense, and they should look around the classroom to see what they could pick up to use as a weapon,” she said. “My approach is, again, if we see a clear path, let’s get the heck out of here.”

She believes in taking strategic action, but she is very much against teachers carrying on campus. “I feel like that is just a massive disaster waiting to happen if teachers are armed,” said Amegadzie. “If a teacher ever feels threatened by a student, what are they going to do? They could say ‘I felt my life was in danger,’ and the student could possibly be innocent, but it’s that teacher’s viewpoint of the student and situation. I just think that’s a really, really terrible idea.”

Amegadzie suggested that more significant investments should be made on campus security instead of focusing money on arming teachers. “In general, schools just need to be more aware, more alert,” she said.

Editor: If you are a teacher, student or parent we would love to hear from you about teacher’s being armed. [email protected].

After a two-year absence due to COVID restrictions and challenges, The Rotary Club of Ventura is bringing back the annual 4th of July Fireworks Show and Family Picnic at the Ventura College athletic fields. This year, the event will be held on Sunday, July 3rd with gates opening at 5 pm and the fireworks show beginning at approximately 9 pm.

Mr. Ken Leandro, Rotary event chairperson, explains, “When we contacted the pyrotechnic companies at the start of year, they could not guarantee that they would have an experienced operator available on July 4th. Their business, like many others, imploded the past two years and is facing staffing challenges. Since the dates fall on Sunday/Monday this year, we decided to hold event on Sunday, July 3rd to ensure we have an expert pyrotechnic operator and a world-class fireworks show. We’re so excited to bring the event back, and this year’s show will be awesome!”

The event almost didn’t come back because of funding challenges too. Mr. Rob Van Nieuwburg, president of Ventura Rotary, explains, “Costs to put the event on have skyrocketed, and our biggest sponsor in past years was not able to return at that level. A couple months ago we were facing a bleak outlook.” Thankfully, two local companies have stepped up as major new sponsors ensuring the event is held. “We’re so grateful that The Trade Desk is supporting the event. This dynamic company was launched within a technology incubator program at Ventura’s City Hall and their support is indicative of their roots and commitment here,” says Van Nieuwburg.

Ventura Rotary also gives big thanks to major new sponsor Wheelhouse.

Ventura Rotary is also grateful for the businesses and organizations that have continued to support the event including the Ventura Auto Center, Hofer Properties, Community Memorial Health Systems, EJ Harrison, and the Crown Plaza Ventura Beach.

Says Van Nieuwburg, “All proceeds from this event directly support the local charity work that Rotary does year-round including programs like Coats for Kids, 3rd grade dictionaries, Perspectives on Peace college scholarships, essay contests, holiday events for underprivileged kids, weekly free eye clinics and much more.” Leandro adds, “So when a family buys a ticket to the event, or a business supports through sponsorship, they really are contributing to their own community.”

As in past years, the event is family-focused with a Kids Zone featuring many bounce houses and organized games like potato sack races and water balloon toss. This year, thanks to sponsors, fun on the bounce houses is included with child’s admission!

Families can bring a picnic, a blanket and soft low back folding chairs, and there will also be tasty food available from several Food Trucks. The main stage will have live music and fun giveaways. (No glass. No alcohol. No pets.)

Tickets are available for online purchase at www.VenturaFireworks.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate (cash only at the gate). For more information, please visit www.VenturaFireworks.com where details are updated regularly.

Note: The VPD wants to remind you that fireworks are illegal in the City of Ventura.

Fourth of July is synonymous with sun, fun, barbequing, and fireworks. The Ventura Police and Fire Departments encourage community members to enjoy a safe and sane Fourth of July and do their part to help prevent fires and injuries caused by illegal fireworks.

During the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Ventura Police Department will deploy as many police resources as possible to help catch fireworks violators. If you see a neighbor lighting fireworks, call 9-1-1 if the activity is in-progress or poses an immediate threat to yourself or others.

Anyone found in possession of fireworks, or caught using them, could be fined up to $1,000 and/or receive a jail term of up to a year.