by Suzanne McCombs

Rarely do we think about the value of water. We turn on the faucet to fill a glass without considering everything that is required to bring safe, reliable water to our homes: 385 miles of water lines, 290 miles of sewer lines; nineteen pump stations, eleven lift stations, ten wells or all the treatment processes required. We hop in the shower without a thought about where the wastewater goes when it enters the drain or how it is cleaned before being released to the environment.

Ventura’s water and wastewater systems are vital to our community’s health and well-being and allow our local economy to thrive.

Approximately every five years, the City must evaluate water and wastewater rates to ensure rates that are fair for all City users and to generate sufficient revenue to maintain and operate our existing systems and invest in improvements and new facilities. The Water Commission plays a key role in this process on behalf of the residents of the City, working with City staff and outside consultants to consider key assumptions in the rate study and evaluating how proposed rates will affect our residents and businesses. Ultimately, City Council must decide on whether or not to proceed with rate increases based upon the analysis presented.

Results of the most recent rate study being finalized show that an annual rate increase of seven percent for water service and six percent for wastewater service is needed in each of the next five years to secure our water supply, replace and repair aging infrastructure, improve water quality, and meet legal and environmental regulations.

For an average homeowner, this increase will be a monthly increase of $7.76 on an average basis in each of the next five years.

While this may seem expensive, we have been fortunate that it has been more than three years since the last increase in water rates. Ventura rates are lower than the average in nearby communities and will continue to be even if the proposed increases are implemented.

We can no longer afford to defer critical investment to maintain our water and wastewater infrastructure, as it puts us at risk for loss of service and more expensive “repairs” in the future. Responsible investment now allows Ventura Water to address needed projects proactively, not reactively—and keep the cost of water affordable for current and future customers.

Setting rates is a lengthy process with a clear goal: keep rates fair while ensuring safe and reliable services. As a City we need to invest in the right solutions at the right time. The City is currently facing many challenges such as increasingly demanding environmental regulations, new legal mandates, aging infrastructure and vulnerable water sources.

In the next six years, Ventura Water has more than fifty water and wastewater improvement projects planned to address these challenges and requirements, including ambitious initiatives such as the State Water Interconnection Project and VenturaWaterPure Project.

Through the rate study, City staff and an experienced financial consultant, establish how to fund and finance capital improvement projects, routine maintenance and operational needs. Alternatives are presented to Water Commission for review and evaluation. We consider how to best meet the objectives of fair water rates for all customer classes, drought surcharges, and wastewater charges so that total projected revenue will recover costs.

Over the past year, the Water Commission has extensively reviewed and evaluated the data provided by City staff and the financial consultant. We believe that the current proposed rate increases are needed to meet our community’s needs to have safe, reliable drinking water and to responsibly clean and recycle its wastewater.

My colleagues and I have asked hard questions, explored various scenarios, and considered input from the public. We have carefully considered the impacts of rate increases on low-income residents, our business community, high and low water users; all while seeking solutions that are fair to all customers.

The Water Commission has worked diligently to make responsible policy recommendations. I hope you will join me in supporting necessary investments in our water and wastewater future.

Learn more about proposed rate changes at www.VenturaWaterRates.net.

by Richard Senate

Cats have been part of the Mission story from the days of the Spanish Padres. Mission San Fernando had little doors cut in the wooden doors so cats could move from one room to another to catch mice.  At Mission San Antonia de Padua, near King City, many cats call this place home.  One all black kitten lived their and unlike the others he would go into the church and listen to the Mass being sung.

The Franciscan Fathers fed the animal, but this stray seemed different, then, in 2007 they had a funeral for a young man who had lost his life in a tragic accident. The mother of the young man was in the front pew, crying, during the funeral Mass. The black cat sat next to her for a time, then jumped down and rushed past the priest and casket into the sacristy. In moments, the feline returned with a rosary in its mouth. He ran to the mother and presented the item to the woman, sat on her lap to comfort her. From that day on the cat was called Rosario.

Another cat, Sulla, an all-white cat became attached to the Mission San Juan Baptista a few years ago. Like Rosario he would attend Mass and at each service he would select one of the attendees   to give them comfort, they were always someone undergoing some personal pain. Some whispered that Sulla was an angelic agent of St. Francis. One burly man was selected by the cat. In his troubled and abused youth he had taken his rage out on small animals. In adulthood he regretted what he had done.  The cat sought him out and sat on his lap, driving him to tears. He saw it as a sign that he was forgiven for his awful  acts he did as a child and teenager.

San Buenaventura has it’s own cat stories, In the 19th Century, Fr. Francisco Uria had four cats as pets. He named them after saints; San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara and Santa Ines. They followed him where ever he went, they even dinned together, played together and slept with him at the old mission. Every visitor wrote of the priest with the pet cats, and many played with the felines. The felines  would stay at the church at Mass and follow him as he performed his many religious duties. At last the good padre went to his reward and the four cats attended his funeral. At the end of the funeral Mass, the four cats ran to the back of the church, they jumped up on the bell rope, digging in their claws and together their combined  weight, tolled the bell, for their fallen master.

Just in time for the holidays the Ojai Art Center Theater brings audiences a magical musical created with new cutting-edge technology sure to become a new holiday tradition. The World Premiere of Estella Scrooge: A Christmas Carol with a Twist! The production streams through the holidays until January 31. Purchase tickets at https://ojaiact.org/estellascrooge. As special gift from Ojai ACT save $5 off tickets for the next three days by entering the discount code ESTELLA72.

The story follows Estella Scrooge, a modern-day Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio defaulted on his mortgage and Estella fancies the idea of lowering the boom personally. Arriving at Harthouse on Christmas Eve, Estella discovers the defaulting party is her childhood friend Pip Nickleby (Duncan). A good and generous soul, Pip transformed the property into a refuge for the sick, dispossessed and homeless. A freak snowstorm forces Estella to take refuge. That night, just as it happened to her ancestor Ebenezer, she is haunted by three visitations…and oh, what uninvited houseguests they are!

A modern day take on Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, Estella Scrooge also wittily incorporates characters and plot lines from Dickens’ other great novels, Great Expectations, Little Dorrit and Bleak House, among others.

The production features a cast of 24 award-winning Broadway notables, and is the creation of John Caird, (the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Misérables and Nicholas Nickleby), and Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice). Caird and Gordon also paired to create Daddy Long Legs, which played at numerous regional theatres throughout the country and in four countries before enjoying a successful Off-Broadway run where Caird received a Drama Desk.

It was originally developed over two holiday seasons at Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura (Karyl Lynn Burns and James O’Neil, Artistic Directors), with further development and support from Rhinebeck Writers’ Retreat.

Tickets are $29.99 for 72-hour viewing for each household, or $44.99 for a VIP Premium Theatre Experience, which includes unlimited viewings, a download of the CD and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. Once purchased, audience members receive a promo code for viewing which they enter, along with their e-mail address.

Hasan has a long history of being involved in the community. Since 1974, he has served in many nonprofit organizations in the county; he was the centennial president of the Ventura East Rotary, president of Ventura Trade Club, Consult-net and the Villa Seville HOA. He served on the boards of Tri County Easter Seals, Focus on the Masters, Ventura Youth Employment and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and as a committee member of Ventura Boys &Girls Club, Waterproofing Kids, and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

He was a judge at the Ventura County Science Fair, and California Migrant Education regional debate and speech tournament. Just this month, he served as a judge for college engineering of the University of Iowa virtual research open house. Hasan is the founder and instructor of free Longevity classes held in Ventura. He is a volunteer at Catholic Charities food distribution, and the Ventura County Fair. He currently serves as the vice president on the board of El Concilio FS, which serves the underserved community of farm workers and those in need of assistance for immigration and citizenship services. Hasan also serves on the board of the Ventura based environmental organization, Merito Foundation. All the local newspapers have published an article or two about his passion for contribution to the community.

Hasan is the principal engineer and owner of the civil and environmental firm Hasan Consultants in Ventura. He was an engineer with the Ventura Regional Sanitation District, and the utilities superintendent of the city of Oxnard. He earned two master’s degrees from the University of Iowa. He is a fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a leadership fellow of the American Public Works Association, and a distinguished life member of the American Water Works Association. Further information about his company is available at hasanconsultants.com. Hasan has taught water science classes at the Ventura community college.

Hasan is a co-founder of OceanForesters, Inc., with offices in Ventura. OceanForesters helps coastal communities build and manage their own flexible floating fishing reefs.  The complete ecosystem on the reefs restores ocean bounty and biodiversity. More information about the organization is available at OceanForesters.org. Previously, he served as the chief engineer and general manager of the bio-energy startup company, PODenergy. Here he helped develop theories for the reduction of global carbon dioxide via ocean afforestation.

Rotary International has honored him as a Paul Harris fellow. Hasan is a 46-year resident of Ventura.

The United Water Conservation District boundary encompasses Piru to Ventura Harbor along the Santa Clara River valley, and the Oxnard coastal plain. The cities of Santa Paula, Fillmore, Oxnard and Port Hueneme and the very eastern part of the city of Ventura are part of the District.

Community Memorial Health System is dedicated to providing the best screening and imaging technologies to all women in the community. Early detection and awareness of breast cancer saves lives. Call now to schedule your mammogram!

CMHS is proud to participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by offering low-cost breast imaging to all women who schedule a screening for the month of October at the Breast Center at the new Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura or at Ojai Valley Community Hospital.

During October at the Breast Center, Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) is available for dense breast patients for $150. Automatic Whole Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) is FDA-approved and used in combination with mammography for those who have dense breast tissue. Also at the Breast Center in October, 3D Breast Tomosynthesis is available for $90. Digital tomosynthesis creates a 3-dimensional picture of the breast using X-rays and is the latest breast imaging technology approved by the FDA. At Ojai Valley Community Hospital during October, traditional 2D mammography is available for $65. (These discounted rates are the cash price paid at the time of service.)

To schedule a mammogram or screening, call the Breast Center at 805-948-5093 or call Ojai Valley Community Hospital at 805-640-2250. Visit the Breast Center at bc.cmhshealth.org to learn more about the services and screenings offered. The Breast Center is the first medical facility in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties to be a designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology. The Breast Center is located at 168 N. Brent St., suite 401 in Ventura.

Most East Venturans won’t be able to vote for City Council and School Board races this fall, but what happens on these two elected bodies affects all Venturans. Ventura City Council Districts 2, 3 and 7 and Ventura Unified School District 3 will be on the ballot for the November election.

All the candidates are invited to come speak to the East Ventura Community Council on Thursday, September 17th.

The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82081849391?pwd=TmFqSHA2eUFjeFUwZXhSb0tvek9QQT09

You will first need to download the Zoom app on your desktop or smart phone. You do not need an account. If you miss the meeting, you can always view later on the website www.eastventura.org.

The meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m.

For more information, contact EVCC Chair Marie Lakin at [email protected]

Rosh Hashanah for the year 2020 starts on the evening of Friday, September 18th ending the 2-day celebration at sundown on Sunday, September 20. For the Jewish calendar night begins before day, thus the holiday or festival begins on the sunset of the previous day.

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the Jewish New Year for Jewish Americans. Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. The Day of Remembrance or the Day of Blowing the Shofar are other names for this holiday. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are the two most important days of atonement that most practicing Jews will observe in the calendar year.

Why do Jewish holidays start at nighttime? According to the Torah, the story of creation in Genesis says “And it was evening, and it was morning day one”, “And it was evening, and it was morning; the second day”, thus night comes before day. So, for the Jewish calendar all days begin at nightfall and end the next day at nightfall including holidays.

Days to the start of Rosh Hashanah 2020. Saturday, September 19th is day number 263 of the 2020 calendar year with 12 days until the start of the 2 day celebration/ observance of Rosh Hashanah 2020.

With summer upon us, Island Packers is happy to announce that Summer Whale Watching excursions have been added to their existing scheduled trips to the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary.

Visitors to Ventura Harbor Village, Ventura’s top seaside attraction, can now board an Island Packers whale watching vessel and travel from Ventura Harbor through the Southern California waters off Santa Barbara Channel, known for their marine mammal diversity, to see breathtaking mammals that cavort in waters off of the Channel Islands.

Summer whale watching is available through August 30,2020. Cost is: Adults (12-54 years) $68, Seniors (55 years and older) $62, and Children (3-12 years) $55. https://islandpackers.com/blue-humback-whale-watching/

Passengers aboard non-landing Whale Watching trips may view several summer seasonal species include Blue Whales, Fin Whales and Humpbacks, as well as year-round residents such as Common Dolphin, seals and sea lions.

Historically, over 28 species of whales and dolphins have been identified within the waters of the Marine Sanctuary. A day spent on the ocean in the company of these creatures can be awe-inspiring and truly memorable.

While Whale Watching trips do not offer time ashore, they generally include a brief, narrated cruise along the shoreline of one of the Channel Islands. The boat departs at 10:00 a.m. and returns approximately 4 p.m. This trip provides further opportunities to view and photograph sea birds, seals and sea lions along with the beautiful backdrop of the Channel Islands. See this marine sighting link: https://islandpackers.com/marine-mammal-sightings/

If a 6 hour trip doesn’t fit your schedule, Island Packers also offers 3½ hour non-landing Wildlife Cruises along the shoreline of Anacapa. Passengers on this trip will see the famous Arch Rock that is the landmark for the Park as well as the seals and sea lions that make their home on the shore beneath the high cliffs. Visitors can also view the working lighthouse atop the island, and see numerous sea bird species that use the island as critical nesting territory. Common Dolphin and the occasional whale sighting may round out a prefect half-day excursion.

As the official concessionaire to Channel Islands National Park, Island Packers has been providing island transportation and wildlife viewing in the Santa Barbara Channel for over 52 years. Captains and crews aboard all trips have many years of experience finding and viewing wildlife. Their thoughtful narration informs guests about the history, human impact, and unique characteristics of the channel and wildlife encountered. Advance reservations are recommended. View the website for schedules and rates or book online at www.islandpackers.com or call 805-642.1393.

April and Marley are both 2-years old. They love going on walks twice a day and playing in the back yard on trampolines.

By a unanimous vote on June 8, the Board of Supervisors concurred with the recommendation of County Executive Officer Mike Powers to appoint Melissa Livingston as the Director of the Human Services Agency.

Melissa Livingston has been with the County of Ventura since 1980, starting as a student worker for the Public Social Services Agency.

Livingston has held numerous leadership roles with the Agency and has contributed significantly to countywide programs and initiatives.

She said “It has been an honor to work along- side the Human Services Agency team and the County Family these past 40 years- as well as our collective partners- inclusive of cities, schools, businesses, philanthropy, community-based organizations, and non-profits.”

The Human Services Agency provides services and support to over 225,000 individuals representing nearly a quarter of the County’s residents. The mission of the Agency is to strengthen families, promote self-sufficiency, and support safety, health and well-being.