Michael Gordon
For several years the Great Horned Owls did not return to the nest at the Olivas Adobe, they have now returned. I took my student out to the park and we climbed up the stairs and spent an hour or more photographing Olivia and her newest fledgling.
While at Thornhill Broome beach, near Point Mugu Bill Kuel (and wife) took this photo of hundreds of cairns (that’s what they are called) set up along the rocks at the beach.
On Thursday May 5th, approximately forty 7th-12th-grade students from Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) will be presenting their environmental business proposals to a panel of judges. Students had the option of choosing a project from 4 categories: water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction at their school campuses, or to inform their communities about the benefits of removing the relic Matilija Dam from the Ventura River. The event will take place at the Museum of Ventura County, in downtown Ventura, from 4 -7 pm. The keynote speaker for the event is Chipper Bro, Entrepreneur, Environmental Advocate, and professional Surfer.
The event will begin with the 50 finalist teams presenting to a panel of judges who will rank the proposals based on merit and cost effectiveness. After presentations, the Ventura Unified School District will award cash or in-kind prizes to the young authors with the top environmental business proposals in each category. The EECCOA Challenge Awards Ceremony is the culmination of the 9 month-long Ventura Action Network (V-RAN) Program administered by VUSD in partnership with the MERITO Foundation. The following schools are participating in the 2021-2022 V-RAN program: Buena High School, Anacapa Middle School, Ventura High School, Foothill High School; Balboa Middle School, Cabrillo Middle School; and Sunset K-8.
In addition to the EECCOA Challenge, the Ventura Action Network (V-RAN) Program provides professional development field training, webinars, science curriculum and stipends to science teachers, as well as, environmental monitoring experiences for their 600-750 middle and high school students at Ventura River watershed and the coast.
The MERITO Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization based in Ventura, CA, dedicated to protecting the ocean by facilitating education, conservation and scientific research opportunities to multicultural youth and their communities.
The EECCOA Challenge empowers students to be environmental entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools to understand climate change, ocean acidification, drought and wildfires and address these issues with money saving project proposals for their school campuses. Students are also given the option to develop awareness campaigns that inform and involve their communities.
by Anna Deavere Smith
Powerful, illuminating and moving, this “masterpiece” (Newsweek) looks at the L.A. Riots of 1992 (sometimes called the L.A. Uprising or Rebellion), through the eyes of 36 characters of different characters who shared their stories with creator Anna Deavere Smith. The production won Obie, Drama Desk, Theatre World and Outer Critics Circle Awards on Broadway. The production premieres on the 30th anniversary of the day the verdict was announced in an East Ventura County courtroom in the Rodney King Trial, triggering the LA. Riots – one of the largest social explosions of the 20th century. Twilight goes directly to the heart of issues of race and class and is equal parts meticulously researched reportage and a stirring cry for reform.
Starring Chris Butler
Directed by Chris Butler and Jenny Sullivan
Previews:
Wednesday, April 27 & Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Opens:
Friday, April 29 at 8:00 p.m. (the 30th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots)
Runs:
Friday, April 29– Sunday, May 15, 2022
Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Talkback following), Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Ticket Prices range from $30.00 – $79.50
Rubicon Theatre Company
1006 E. Main Street in Ventura (at Laurel)
For tickets – visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call (805) 667-290
The Ventura VFW Post serves all branches of the US Military, local veterans and community. The Post is a 501(c)(19) non-profit organizaNon. IRS #95-2425319.
Approximately 300 former Combat Veterans are members at the Ventura Post. “Friday Dinners” are served to members and guests every Friday 1730 – 1900 (5:30pm-7pm). Menus and prices change from week-to-week (Lasagna, Tri Tip, Rib Eye Steak & More) and start at only $12 for entree plate plus salad, dinner rolls and dessert. Full Bar offerings are also available.
Event Hall available to rent for a donation starting at $400 on up depending on activity:
Event Hall is 2,800sf for up to 250 guests 1,400sf Dining Room
Support your Local Vets by supporting Post 1679. All donations are welcome. For more information contact House Committee Chairman, Wally Valentine.
3801 Market Street, Ventura, (805) 642-2674. VFW1679.com [email protected].
On Friday, April 8, Community Memorial Health System Board of Trustees Chair Richard R. Rush, together with Gary K. Wilde, announced Wilde’s plans to retire from his role as President & CEO of the health system later this year.
“Gary is an outstanding individual whose vision has helped build an incredible foundation for the future of Community Memorial Health System,” said Rush. “His experience and compassion are unmatched, and while we are sad to see him go, we are exceedingly proud of the work he has done in his tenure at Community Memorial Health System.”
Wilde, who joined Community Memorial Health System as President & CEO in 2004, led the organization through some of its most significant milestones, including the merger of Community Memorial Hospital and Ojai Valley Community Hospital to form Community Memorial Health System in 2005. Since then, Wilde successfully oversaw the planning, funding and construction of the new 250-bed Community Memorial Hospital which opened in December 2018, as well as the Continuing Care Center – a 75-bed, state-of-the-art skilled nursing facility located on the campus of Ojai Valley Community Hospital thatopened in July 2020.
In addition to his role as President & CEO of Community Memorial Health System, Wilde served as Chair of the California Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees in 2020, playing an instrumental role in the COVID-19 pandemic response at the city, county, and state levels.
“It has been an honor to work with the dedicated physicians and staff at Community Memorial Health System for these past 18 years and I am incredibly grateful for the support from our community over the years,” said Wilde. “While I will continue to lead the organization over the next several months, I am looking forward to possibly teaching, going on humanitarian missions, and spending more time with my family.”
The Community Memorial Health System Board of Trustees has hired the nationally recognized recruiting firm, Witt Kieffer, to lead the search for, and consideration of, internal and external candidates to succeed Wilde as President & CEO. Wilde intends to continue leading the health system until a successor is selected and on-boarded. This process is expected to be complete by Fall 2022.
by Yana Khiyod
It’s hard to imagine that Ventura had a flourishing Chinese settlement in the early 1880’s. The largest concentration of activity, known as China Alley, was just down Main Street on Figueroa Street south of the Mission San Buenaventura.
In the early 1880’s, a flourishing Chinese settlement made up of merchants, laborers, and families settled in an area along Figueroa Street between Main and Santa Clara Streets. The largest concentration of activity was in an area that became known as China Alley, which ran perpendicular to Figueroa Street. The Chinese immigrants lived in clusters of wooden shanties that were built behind storefronts and home that were on Main Street.
The Chinese community grew and sold food, and provided a place of worship for the incoming Chinese immigrants. Artisans, vegetable gardeners and fishermen piled their trade to the local settlers of Ventura. They were laborers, farmers ,cooks, laundry men, gardeners and and servants. Their many businesses included rooming houses, a barber shop and laundry services. They maintained their language, traditional customs and rituals and found security in the small community they established.
Local Merchants exported marine products and imported Chinese goods across the county. Other contributions of the Chinese immigrants to the local Ventura community included a water flume above the San Buenaventura Aqueduct along Ventura Avenue.
Out of necessity, The Chinese formed the first Fire Brigade in Ventura and it served China Alley and the surrounding neighborhoods. Although there were a few other local Fire brigades, the Chinese Brigade was always the first to arrive and was instrumental in saving many structures in the down town China Alley area. Discrimination was an issue among local residents of Ventura. It is believed that volunteer residents of local fired brigades refused to put out fires in Ventura’s Chinatown area, which necessitate the need for a Chinese fire brigade. Although isolate by the local community, the Chinese fire bridge responded willingly to put out fires in other parts of the county and were more often than not, the first to arrive..
During the early days of immigration, the people of San Buenaventura welcomed their new Chinese neighbors as an inexpensive source of labor. However, with the incorporation of strict national immigration laws in the early 20th century, a hostile environment forced the residents of China Alley to relocate to other areas.
The population of the Chinese community began to decline in the early days of the 20th century as a result. Discrimination and new immigration laws forced many to go back to their homeland or move further south and east. One discrimination law forbade Chinese American children from attending public schools.
Oxnard was offering employment opportunities for many Chinese workers. As the Chinese settlement of China Alley eventually closed down, many of their homes were razed and store fronts on Main street became modernized.
The early Chinese pioneers to San Buenaventura made great contributions to the growth of Ventura especially in the agricultural industry.
China town disappeared from San Buenaventura in the 1920’s.
Many of the Chinese residents moved down to Oxnard and worked in the sugarbeet factory.
In 2004, Chinese artist Qi Pang and Gun Song You painted a mural in China Alley, honoring Ventura’s Chinese and was unveiled on 2004 with over 250 local Ventura residents attending.
Wikipedia
Ventura museum archives
San Buena Ventura mission archives
Photos by lots of people Patricia Schallert, Richard Lieberman, Trent Steven, Jenny Cooper and Kathy Navarro.
On Saturday, March 26, Mayor Rubalcava joined the Westside Community Development Corporation welcomed a large gathering to celebrate and honor the 57 artists who brought to life a 600-foot mural called Pura Avenida.
It featured a Chumash blessing, photo opportunities, and lowriders.
The Pura Avenida mural features images and icons celebrating beloved features of life on the Avenue in the Westside area of Ventura. The project stretches across a 600-foot public wall that runs along Wall Street, a well-known street located between and parallel to Ventura Avenue and Cedar Street in Ventura.
“Pura Avenida was brought to life thanks to the many established artists, mural makers, and youth who worked together every step of the way. From washing the wall to priming, sketching, painting, and sealing the mural, community members were involved in all aspects of the project,” said WCDC Director Jackie Pearce. “The Pura Avenida mural was led by a team of talented artists who also worked with at-risk youth to engage them in the project. They learned new skills and contributed to a community project designed to create something far more than they expected. It was so great to see.”
The project was conceived by the WCDC and artists Cynthia Polk, Vince Felix, Onofre Banderas, Juan Martinez, Dain Acevedo, and Patzy Salazar. Fifty-seven artists and over a dozen community members were involved in realizing the project. The mural design was developed by Cynthia Polk and begins with the image of a young girl, masked in traditional Día de los Muertos face paint, who is blowing bubbles that flow down the wall. Each bubble celebrates elements of the Avenue that are appreciated by residents and visitors alike. There are natural features such as the hillsides and “the point” surf spot, vintage cars, popular landmarks and iconic buildings, cultural images, foods, Chumash heritage, recreational features and more! The mural incorporates different graphic styles realized through both hand painting and spray paint techniques.
The WCDC is a local nonprofit and HUD-certified Community Based Development Organization that applies for and receives HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to bring economic development opportunities and revitalization to the Westside Community. For the past five years the WCDC has overseen five Westside mural beautification projects to deter graffiti and eliminate blight, celebrate the importance of the local creative economy, and increase community pride and engagement.
To learn more, visit www.westsideventura.org/pura-avenida or contact Pura Avenida Program Manager Onofre Banderas at [email protected]. To take a virtual tour of other Westside murals, visit www.westsideventura.org/mural-tour.
Don and Marcy Ornales, Kenny Slaught: Dream Foundation’s Board Chair
And Eva Rhodes Board Member. Photo by Patricia Schallert
On March 28, Ventura local Marcy Ornelas, her husband Donald and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Shoshanna were off to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveand, Ohio, on a final dream family trip thanks to the Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults.
Music has always been a positive constant in Marcy’s life. “I can leave somewhere in a terrible mood, put my radio on as I drive, and after a few songs, my stress melts off and I can go home feeling good and can be a better wife and mother. Music has always been there for me.”
Rock & Roll is Marcy’s favorite. She is often up late at night watching one of her favorite concerts and even falls asleep to the comforting sounds of the guitar and snare drum. While Marcy doesn’t sing or play and instrument, she always tells people that she “plays a mean radio”.
Diagnosed with end-stage breast cancer that has recently spread to her organs, Marcy asked the Dream Foundation to help with a special family trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Donald and Shoshanna will join Marcy on a train trip from Ventura, California to Cleveland, Ohio.
“I love trains. You can look at each other face to face, play games and talk.” The Dream Foundation also gave Marcy and her family a basket full of goodies for the train and they have dinners available while they travel.
Hosts from AirBnB have generously donated a two-night stay in the city for the family and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will welcomed the family on April 6. It was a day which will inevitable create memories that will last a lifetime for the family.
Kenny Laugh, Dream Foundation’s Board Chair and Eve Rhodes, one of the foundation’s newest Board Members hosted the Dream Delivery on March 28 at Marcy’s home in Ventura to celebrate her life and presented her everything for the family’s trip, including a rental car, a scooter while at the Hall of Fame, t-shirts, snacks for the train and dark chocolate.
The Dream Foundation , the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults fulfills final dreams that provide inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organizations and committed donors.
Dream Foundation has given life to more than 33,000 final dreams since being founded in 1994. Dream Foundation receives no state or federal funding and relies solely on private donations. To support the mission of the Dream Foundation, please visit DreamFoundation.org/donate.
Community Memorial Health System is proud to welcome Jamie Maites, a seasoned healthcare executive from Northern California, as its new Vice President, Marketing & Development. Maites brings the health system nearly 20 years of healthcare marketing experience.
“I’m thrilled to join this innovative and influential organization. I look forward to advancing our vision – to be an indispensable community treasure – and am grateful to my predecessor, Michael Ellingson, for the work he and the team accomplished over the years,” said Maites, of Ventura.
Previously, Maites served as Vice President of Marketing & Communications at MarinHealth, an independent healthcare system in the San Francisco Bay area comprised of a 327-bed hospital, 40+ clinics staffed by more than 150 physicians, and a philanthropic foundation that supports the healthcare system. During her tenure there, she oversaw brand strategy as well as internal and external communications. Maites led marketing efforts to regain community preference for the hospital, pass a $394 million bond initiative, and prepare for and support the grand opening of a new hospital. She also drove a full-scale rebranding effort when the hospital, medical network, and foundation combined under a single umbrella brand with a seamless system offering.
Most recently, Maites showed strong leadership throughout the pandemic. Her team used a full range of communications tools including broadcast, print, digital media, social media, direct mail, and email to keep physicians, staff, patients, and the community informed about changing policies, testing, treatment, and more.
Prior to joining MarinHealth, Maites worked at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA, where she supported marketing, community relations and planning objectives.
In her free time, Maites enjoys staying active both indoors and outside. Her passions include cooking, traveling, hiking, and scuba diving. She is also the proud owner of a “pandemic puppy,” a Havanese/toy poodle that she adopted in September 2020. Maites earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management Economics from UC Santa Cruz in 2004 and studied abroad for a year with the UC Education Abroad Program at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
“We are excited to welcome Jamie to our organization. Her dynamic skill set and breadth of experience in healthcare marketing and communications will bring a fresh perspective and energy to the community,” said Gary Wilde, President & CEO of Community Memorial Health System.
Community Memorial Health System’s former Vice President, Marketing & Development, Michael Ellingson, retired in 2021 after 16 years of service to the organization. “Michael led our efforts to become the regional healthcare system of choice, and in exceeding our capital campaign goal of $25 million to support the construction of our new hospital. The impact he had will long be remembered,” said Wilde.
