Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Ventura Land Trust and Topa Topa Brewing Company announce $10,000 match campaign

Harmon Canyon Preserve. Photo by Rafael Ojeda

Ventura Land Trust and Topa Topa Brewing Company have joined together in the month of December to launch giving campaign Harmon for the Holidays. Topa Topa Brewing Company will match up to $10,000 in donations to Ventura Land Trust (VLT) in support the conservation of Harmon Canyon Preserve. Ventura Land Trust is proud to be one of Topa Topa Brewing Company’s local 1% for the Planet partners.

“We are proud to partner with VLT as one of our 1% for the Planet beneficiaries this year,” says Jack Dyer, founder and CEO of Topa Topa Brewing Company. “As stewards of our community, we are beyond excited about the great work VLT does to protect and steward the open spaces that make Ventura the wonderfully vibrant outdoor community that it is.”

Harmon Canyon Preserve was in development for 10 years before it opened in 2020. “This is our first real opportunity to invite the community to directly support the conservation of Harmon Canyon Preserve,” says Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “We really believe that connecting to the land and connecting to community go hand in hand, so we couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Topa Topa for this campaign.”

Topa Topa Brewing Company’s Harmon for the Holidays campaign will benefit Ventura Land Trust‘s work to protect and preserve Harmon Canyon Preserve forever. Across the preserve’s 2,123 acres, trails and dirt roads climb through coast live oak groves and stream crossings, up to expansive views of Southern California mountain ranges, coastlines, and Channel Islands National Park.

The preserve protects over 1,000 acres of coastal sage scrub, one of the most endangered habitats in North America, as well as a variety of other plant and animal species. Visitors can enjoy 10 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and enjoying nature. The preserve is open daily, dawn to dusk, for free.

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,123-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, opened in June 2020.

Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, our business members and individual members have given hundreds of millions of dollars to our approved nonprofit partners to date. Today, 1% for the Planet’s global network consists of thousands of businesses, individuals and environmental nonprofits working toward a better future for all.

Harrison turns 90 with an eye on the future

Ten members of Harrison were in attendance at Chamber breakfast.

Founded in 1932, the local trash and recycling hauler and processor will take recycling to the next level in 2022, when it introduces weekly residential food waste collection and recycling as well as a program to ramp up the commercial recycling of food and other organic waste.

Harrison officially kicked off its 90th anniversary on Friday, at the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Connection Breakfast, which Harrison hosted at Four Points Sheraton at Ventura Harbor. With 10 members of the Harrison team in attendance, the company used the opportunity to share news and literature about the big changes ahead.

“Food waste recycling is coming, and soon,” said Harrison’s Nan Drake, who addressed the more than 100 local businesspeople at the event. “It’s great news for the Earth, and it’s a great time for us all to become better recyclers.”

Harrison was well received at the event, with many attendees lavishing praise on the company that’s been a solid fixture in the community. “I can’t believe Harrison is turning 90,” said Ashley Pope, membership development manager for the Ventura Chamber. “I grew up in Ventura, so I’ve never known a time without those green trucks – and those awesome, incredible drivers. I have literally never seen an unsafe truck or an unreliable driver. … Here’s to another 90 years!”

Harrison unveiled a new two-minute video at the event; created to honor its milestone anniversary, the video noted Harrison’s deep roots and longtime philanthropy in the community but also looked ahead, to a consequential year that will affect all of its 90,000 customers in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, as residential customers are asked to start bagging their food waste and placing it in their yard waste carts for weekly curbside pickup.

The food waste recycling program complies with California Senate Bill 1383. A highly ambitious measure, SB 1383 aims to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions by greatly decreasing the landfilled organic waste that generates it. According to the bill, organic waste in 2025 must be cut to 75% of 2014 levels.

To accommodate the new law, Harrison has spent years working with its community partners Gold Coast Recycling and Agromin to build world-class facilities in Ventura County to process and reuse the food and other organic waste. “As we’ve always been, for 90 years now, we’re ready for what’s next,” Drake said at the Chamber event.

The Harrison team wrapped up the event with anniversary cake and a special gift to everyone in attendance: bags of organic potting soil from Agromin, delivered by company CEO Bill Camarillo.

Visit Harrison, Gold Coast and Agromin for more information on their services.

Caregiver Navigation Program in Ventura County

by Carol Leish, MA

Caring for one’s older parent, neighbor, or child is not an easy job. According to data from the 2020 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a sizeable proportion of family and friend caregivers in California are struggling financially, experiencing physical or mental health problems, and are receiving little, if any, financial support for their caregiving responsibilities. Also, more than 20% have reported that caring for a family member or a friend was “Somewhat or extremely financially stressful” for African American (28%), Asian (23.4%), and Latino adult caregivers (21.9%) compared to white adult caregivers (17.7%), who have reported their experiences.

In Ventura County three hospitals are responding to this Caregiver burden/need. The Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF), has funded Caregiver Navigators at three local hospitals: Community Memorial Health Systems (CMHS) in Ventura; St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard; and, Adventist Health, Simi Valley. Channel Islands State University has been providing data collection. Each hospital has its own unique program. At CMHS, a Caregiver Navigator is working specifically with families who are patients for the Centers for Family Health. Maureen Hodge, Program Manager of High-Risk Programs at Community Memorial Health Systems said, “Families are often overwhelmed or have no idea where resources are to help their loved one. Patients can be in any stage of life. We have a mom who is a caregiver to her 18-year-old bipolar, schizophrenic son; a grandma who is caregiver to her grandchild with a disability, and even an 85-year-old wife who is a caregiver to her 93-year-old husband.”

In the U.S. there are about 40 million unpaid family caregivers, which includes: older parents, spouses, aunts, uncles, and other adults who help loved ones to live independently at home. About 6.5 million family caregivers assist both adults and children as they deal with chronic illnesses, hospitalizations, and more. In Ventura County the highest diseases for our aging population are: Alzheimer’s/Dementia, heart disease, cancer, strokes, and diabetes. With these illnesses, or others, patients often also experience depression, anxiety, and/or substance use, too, which compounds their already challenging situation.

“When patients are sent home from the hospital with their spouse or a loved one,” according to Hodge, “this person doesn’t even consider themselves to be a caregiver. They are often in the dark about how to navigate patients’ chronic illnesses, find resources, or to stay in touch with the doctor. For Ventura County, these issues resonate, and the need to support family caregivers has been identified as a ‘critical health need’ in our county.”

By starting this Caregiving Navigation Program, the overall goals include: 1) Reducing hospital readmission and depression among care recipients; 2) Reducing caregiver burden of caregivers; and, 3) Integrating family caregivers into the care team in collaboration with primary care physicians. Kristine Supple, Director of Population Health at CMHS said, “CMHS’s partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF), has allowed us to explore the role of supporting the caregivers as they guide their loved ones through illness and disability. It’s a unique perspective to focus on the well-being of the caregiver as a way of improving the quality of life and outcome for the patient. We are grateful to VCCF for the opportunity to be one of the grant-funded hospitals in the Caregiver Navigator Initiative, collaborating to meet the needs of the caregiver.” The Caregiver Navigation is grant funded and the early results show that with the support of Clinical professionals to support and aid the caregiver has reduced depression and has increased their resilience. For more information, please reach out to Maureen Hodge, at CMHS at (805)948-2816; or Rosie Hernandez at St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard at (805) 988-2500 ext. 1684.

14th annual Santa to the Sea scheduled for December

After a year away, the 14th annual Santa to the Sea race will be held on Sunday, December 12, 2021. The race starts at 7: 30 a.m. and will include a half marathon, new this year is a quarter marathon, 5K, Kids 1K, and a Diaper Dash.

Santa to the Sea provides a fun, festive, and healthy event for the community to participate. The half marathon starts at the world’s largest Santa statue, winds the route through the City of Oxnard, and finishes at the beautiful Channel Islands Harbor.

Santa to the Sea supports the Nyeland Acres community through food distributions, a toy giveaway, and scholarships to Oxnard College.
Mike Barber, Founder of Santa to the Sea, states “Throughout Santa to the Sea, our runners have donated more than 30,000 since inception, provided funds to support almost $500,000 in scholarships, and provides almost $1,000,000 in economic impact each year.”
Registration is now open and sponsorships are available. For more information and to register in the race, visit www.SantatotheSea.com.

What started in 2003 as a toy drive to cel­e­brate the relo­ca­tion of the world’s largest Santa Claus from Carpinteria to Oxnard has grown into a robust run­ning event, toy drive, com­mu­nity fundraiser, and holiday season celebration. For more information, visit www.SantatotheSea.com .

Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors elects new President, Vice President.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds announced 2021 Board of Directors elections. Leah Lacayo will serve a 2-year term as president of the Board and Armando Lopez has been elected to the position of Vice President. The 2-year terms will include the return of the annual Ventura County Fair.

Lacayo is serving her 2nd appointment to the Ventura County Fairgrounds Board of Directors. She has previously served as Board President in 2005 and 2014. Lacayo also serves on the Board of Directors at California State University at Channel Islands and the Ventura County Community Foundation. Her community service includes the Ventura County Women’s Political Council, Congress of California Seniors Education & Research Fund and the Congress of California Seniors, the Destino Fund and the Jewish Labor Committee Advisory Board.

Lopez has served the Board of Directors since 2003 He serves as a liaison to the Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation. He is a partner in Plaza Development Partners LLP and currently serves on the Ventura County Family Justice Center and the Children’s Workshop. His community service also includes El Concilio de Condado de Ventura, the Ventura County Community Foundation and St. John’s Healthcare Foundation.

The Ventura County Fairgrounds is owned by the State of California and administered by the 31st District Agricultural Association under the direction of the Division of Fairs and Expositions, Department of Food and Agriculture. A nine-member Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor, oversees the Association. The 31st DAA is a self-supporting entity, receiving no tax dollars.

The Fairgrounds serves as a command center for first responders and provides evacuation accommodations during times of emergency.

The 2022 Ventura County Fair, “A Country Fair with Ocean Air,” will open Wednesday, August 3 and run through Sunday, August 15. More information can be found at www.venturacountyfair.org or by calling (805) 648-3376.

Second Annual ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Giving event at the Ventura Pottery Gallery

One gift per customer per day while supplies last.

The Ventura Pottery Gallery is pleased to announce their second annual ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Giving event. Not only is the gallery a great place to purchase your holiday gifts (no supply chain issues here), but they have a free gift for you when you spend $25.

Potters always accumulate extra pieces in their studios, and we love to clean our shelves. Our forty potters are donating  bowls, vases, mugs,  ornaments or ? as gifts to our cherished customers. We continue to have strong sales during the pandemic and we want to thank those who support our handmade, from our studios to your home, ceramic creations.

We invite you to stop by the Ventura Pottery Gallery to view work from local artists and potters. The gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor Village. The gallery is open from 11 – 6 seven days a week. We also have an online store at  www.venturapotteryonline.com and for more information please visit www.venturapottersguild.org.