Ventura’s Third Annual “Really Really Free Market”

Join the Ventura community in the sharing of thoughts and things at the Third Annual Really Really Free Market at Kellogg Park. Bring what you can, take what you need.

Members of the Westside and neighboring communities will participate in a true “gift economy” by sharing with neighbors unwanted stuff, games, talents, skills, services and entertainment. The mission is to give to others and receive the generous gifts others bring to give away. Absolutely, totally, really, really free!

On Sunday, November 8th, from 1-5pm community members will flock to Kellogg Park to share their goods and receive items from others. People can bring any usable items that they would like to give away and can take whatever they need – no barter, no trade, only free.

“This will be our third year hosting a Really Really Free Market in Ventura, and we are inspired every year by the energy at the event and the people that it benefits”, says event organizer, Ally Gialketsis. “Not only does the event bring people together in community and reduce the waste, it also supports members of our neighborhoods who do not have the means to buy new goods.”

In addition to physical items, people can share thoughts, ideas, skills, and knowledge at the event. There will be a wide variety of workshops for participants to take part in. People can learn how to knit or how to Timebank, about programs for military veterans and guerilla gardening. They can also participate in a collaborative art activity or host a workshop of their own! All are encouraged to bring a skill or bit of knowledge to share amongst neighbors and friends. Community members interested in hosting a workshop or looking for more information about the event, should go on Facebook at Ventura Really Really Free Market 2015 or contact Ally at 216-4621.

4th Annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest

Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya and Ventura Water General Manager Shanna Epstein enjoying the Take I kick-off

On Oct.14 Ventura Water celebrated the launch of the 4th installment of its annual Water Take 1 Online Short Film Contest with a kick-off reception emphasizing collaborative community efforts in water conservation and sustainability. The reception was held at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach and the contest, which highlights our relationship with water, through the powerful medium of film, draws attention to the growing challenges facing our water supply locally and internationally.

“This year Water: Take 1 is putting a focus on the importance of collaboration in achieving goals and solving problems in ways that are truly sustainable.” Said Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann. “The drought has been a great reminder to Californians that we must work together to resolve existing water shortages not only for today but for future generations. This is accomplished only through local government agencies partnering up, businesses and government cooperating with each other and communities working together to achieve integrated and sustainable outcomes.”

Guests at the Kick-Off Celebration were presented with an overview of several of the City’s most popular initiatives including the Water Wise Free Gardening Classes and Incentive Program, The Direct Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility and some fun and entertaining programs such as the ‘Hey Ventura, What’s Your Shower Song” Campaign.

Short film submissions, up to 5 minutes in length, are being accepted via direct upload at the contest site – www.watertake1.com – and must address the topic of water in any genre including drama, documentary, comedy, animation, sci-fi or experimental. Films are posted online and a jury of entertainment and environmental experts vote to award prizes in categories such as the Grand Jury Prize, Ventura Vision Award and Best Student Short Film.

The public is also encouraged to take part by voting online for their favorite film and awarding the Audience Choice Award. The deadline for film submissions is December 15, 2015 with voting for the Audience Choice Award open through January 14th. The winning films we be presented at an Awards Celebration in March of 2016 at the Downtown Ventura 10 Movie Theater.

Receivership used to clean-up deplorable Ventura property

The neighbors are delighted.

For the first time, the City of Ventura used its receivership abilities to take over a blighted property. A judge appointed a receiver to take control of four small houses located on one lot at W. Ramona Ave. Tenant conditions were deplorable. Cockroaches, rats and pit bulls resided at this property. A lack of water flow, or no water, was the norm. Plugged and rotted out sewer and water lines, little or no electrical service, rickety rotted wooden stairs, hand rails, and platforms, junk and trash lining the outside perimeter and many more people than bedrooms were found living inside, outside, and even under the houses. Open evidence of drug use was also found.

This was one of the worst (if not the worst) blighted parcels in Ventura.

The houses were remodeled and cleaned to comply with city codes. Water, sewer, electrical service, code violations, safety hazards have all been corrected. Interiors and exteriors have been freshly painted, new electrical and plumbing fixtures have been replaced as needed and each house has been provided with a new refrigerator and stove.

The property was sold to MTICapital Inc. They will be required to pay the City and the receiver’s costs that were spent to make the property livable. The receivership company assumes full control of the property, provides funds for the projects evicts tenants, hires contractors to correct the deficiencies and coordinates with the city to insure appropriate changes and corrections are completed to health and code standards. Any legal residents at a property are helped to find new living accommodations, but in this case there were only squatters.

The previous property owner was unable to correct the conditions and was reportedly in jail. To add to the dilemma, public records indicate that he was in default of his mortgage. Neighbors were thrilled that the City took this action.

Fall City of Ventura Classes, check out hundreds more at www.cityofventura.net

Call 658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an account online, visit www.cityofventura.net. Classes/Events held the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted.

Cemetery Park Tour teen-adult
11/1 Su 8-10 pm $20
We’ll explore the stories of our city’s pioneers at rest (and some at unrest) in Memorial Park as well as Ventura’s Day of the Dead traditions. Meet at the cemetery parking lot off Poli St near Crimea St. Course# 41828

Basic Guitar 9 years-adult
11/3-12/8 Tu 7-8:30 pm $55
Learn folk and pop strums, patterns and chord progressions. Students provide own acoustic or electric guitars. At Dudley House, 197 N Ashwood St. Instructor Randy Covington. Course# 42158

Mixed Media Art Creations 8-18 years
11/4-1/13 W 4-5:30 pm $70+$20 supply fee
Create a variety of fun art projects with household found objects and art supplies including art cards, mini paintings, sketchbooks and more. We will develop a variety of skills that can be applied to other art projects. No class 11/25, 12/23 & 12/30. Instructor Jen Livia. At Red Brick Art, 4601 Telephone Rd #112. Course# 42146

Sewing by Hand 9-12 years
11/6-12/18 F 4-5:15 pm $60
Learn hand-sewing skills to make dolls, folk pictures, purses and more Perfect for holiday gifts. Instructor Judee Hauer. No class 11/27. Course# 42267

Dance-tastic! Dance Boot Camp 9-16 years
11/6-12/11 F 7:15-9:15 pm $70
A dance boot camp for all levels exploring tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop! The first hour will focus on technique; the second on performance choreography. Wear comfortable clothes and dance or tennis shoes. Bring a snack and water. No class 11/ 27. Instructor Cindy Bassett. Course# 42270

Clay for the Holidays 7-10 years
11/9-12/14 M 6:15-7:30 pm $67
Kids create from their imagination and learn to build projects out of clay. We will make individual projects to keep and thoughtful gifts for others to give for the holidays. Instructor Michelle Solorio. Course# 42136

Bling and Everything In-Between Holiday Boutique
11/14 Sa 10 am-4 pm
Unique artists and vendors join together for a fabulous shopping experience! Come shop for one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list, and maybe find something special for you too!

CAPS Chat – El Camino High School in an internship program

By Elizabeth Rodeno

CAPS has the great opportunity to work with students from El Camino High School in an internship program. The students are producing their own television news show. They have learned the fine art of studio production. It is great to see them focused on building the set, checking the lighting and researching and interviewing guests. The El Camino News Channel will be airing soon on CAPS. Check out our website or on Facebook where we keep you up to date on programming.

Our Assets program is wrapping up at Ventura High School. The group of 12 students have written and storyboarded their videos. After learning the use of our pro gear they took to the task of filming their stories influenced by Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” They are furiously editing, composing music and effects. The reveal is near. All this in seven 2 hour sessions after school. Of course, they are clamouring for more so we hope to see them at our next program at Ventura High. You’ll get to see their films on CAPS very soon. More and more to come.

The staff at CAPS devotes their energy and time to the Every 15 Minutes productions that are held every other year. The dozen students, who we train to produce the program, have learned to film, have gone on location to the Ventura County court house and Ventura Police Department and have returned to edit their scenes in preparation for the big event in late November culminating in an extensive four camera production live at the school. These students know very little about video production. This collaboration with Foothill High School, City and County Emergency Services and CAPS provides powerful education of the issues of drunk and distracted driving.

Our October studio class was packed and we hope to see those trained back producing shows. Our members have taken to Final Cut X like fish to water. Our new upgraded systems are in use by members, students and staff. We are inviting bands to play at CAPS which is a lot of fun. Rumors of a radio station in the works are true. Keep your ears open for more information.

CAPS Media is the non-profit membership organization that is here to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. A yearly membership at CAPS is only $25 and includes training, equipment, use of our studio and edit suites. Share our history with over 20,000 Ventura residents on channel 6 and 15. For more information go to our website, www.CAPSTV.org or stop by CAPS Media Center on 65 Day Road and schedule a tour.

WEV trollies around Ventura

Reyna Chavez (far right) with her team of employees and Marsha Bailey (second from the right), CEO/Founder of Women’s Economic Ventures

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) recently hosted a reception and trolley tour of WEV client businesses located in downtown Ventura. The evening began at the Watermark on Main as guests mingled with local business owners who are currently enrolled in WEV’s Thrive in Five® program which focuses on the growth of existing businesses. Following the reception, guests boarded a trolley that toured local businesses through Ventura that have been assisted by WEV’s programs, including Self-Employment Training (SET) course, the WEV Loan program and Thrive in Five®.

Guests on the trolley tour were able to see firsthand the impact their support for WEV has on the community. The tour stopped to meet various WEV clients at their businesses including Julie Teron at Sauna Studio, Reyna Chavez at Scrubs on the Run, Angela Rosales at Very Ventura Gift Shop and Gallery, and Adriana Perez at Skincare by Adriana. Each business owner shared their entrepreneurial journey and outlined how WEV’s programs have supported the startup and growth of their business.

Since 1991, WEV has served over 13,000 clients, made over $4 million in microloans, and helped start or sustain an estimated 3,000 businesses supporting more than 4,000 local jobs throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

“WEV started almost 25 years ago to fill a need,” says Marsha Bailey, WEV’s Founder and CEO “While the number of woman-owned businesses in the U.S. is growing rapidly, women often lack the training, support and capital they need to grow and thrive. WEV provides that support.”

Bailey is an advocate for female entrepreneurs on a local and national level, serving as a member of the National Women’s Business Council and as the President of the Board of Directors of the national Association of Women’s Business Centers.

For more information about supporting WEV programs, contact Danelle Mangone, Development Manager at 456-2347 or [email protected].

Parts Unknown

Parts Unknown sales lady Karen Peacock and store manager Jennifer Kildee are waiting to give you an upscale shopping experience.
Photos by Richard Lieberman

by Victoria Usher

Parts Unknown is a clothing store located at the corner of Main Street and Oak Street in the heart of downtown Ventura. It’s a store that gives its shoppers an upscale shopping experience with an attitude toward adventure, travel, leisure, sports and the great outdoors.

Apparel and footwear for men and women are offered, as well as handbags and an assortment of leather accessories. The North Country, the Southwest, and the South Pacific are the three separate environments that are featured at the store venue. The vast array of both apparel and footwear are inspired by these three locales.

Some well-known brands that you can find at Parts Unknown include Brighton, Tommy Bahama, Nat Nast, Not Your Daughters jeans, Olukai, Born, Clark, Scully leather apparel and accessories, True Grit, Tori Richard and many others.

Dan Scully first opened the Ventura Parts Unknown store on the fourth of July, fourteen years ago. He and his family have been Ventura residents since 1976. Main Street was not always the desirable location for retail that it is today and so the decision was made not to open a store in Ventura. Over time, the street improved and then in 2001, Warner Brothers filmed the movie “Swordfish,” in the old Bank of Italy building. The owner then convinced Dan to open the third Parts Unknown location in that very building once the film was done shooting.

The Ventura store is the third location of their six-store Parts Unknown chain. The other stores are located in distinctive, upscale locations: Carmel, CA, Solvang, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Fredericksburg, TX, Eureka Springs, AR, and there will be a seventh store coming soon in Cambria, CA.

The Ventura Parts Unknown store is open daily. You can drop by anytime to visit their friendly and experienced staff that will assist you with all of your shopping needs from head to toe. Their phone number is 648-4654 and their website is www.partsunknown.com.

Arts For Earth Foundation “Earth Spirit” art exhibit

The beat goes on for the “Arts For Earth Foundation,” continuing weekends with their “Earth Spirit” art exhibit and presentations by environmental activists such as Sierra Club and Food Co-op. The final event is Sunday Oct 25, 12-6 pm with an Artists Panel, Ventura Poets, and closing ceremonies. Free to the public at WAV, 175 S. Ventura Ave. For details see www.artsforearth.org .

Paint Ventura’s Holiday Art Festival Nov 21

Paint Ventura’s Holiday Art Festival Nov 21, from 10am-4pm at the Telemark Plaza on the corner of Market and Telephone.

Get a jump on your holiday shopping and select original art pieces make by local artists.

Spend the day enjoying local arts and craft vendors as you watch them create in their artisan booths at the Telemark Plaza on the corner of Telephone and Market in Ventura. More than 100 fine artists and crafts persons display and sell their original work amid a street festival atmosphere filled with holiday flair and more. This is the first year of the holiday festival after 10 successful Spring events and we hope to make it the must see holiday event.

Coming from throughout the western portion of the country the Festival artists’ original works cover the gamut of creative visual categories including painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry, ceramics, folk craft, glass, leather, metalwork, wearable art, woodwork, mixed media (2 and 3 dimensional). Paint Ventura features only original work and our original artists are all present on-site to greet festival attendees.

Fun food trucks, holiday music and warm friends make this Saturday a fun day for everyone.

Watch as the artists create their work in their booths. Artists will be working to create paintings from scratch throughout the day, giving the public the opportunity to see who an artist bringing a blank canvas to life.

Bring your little ones and have them join in the fun and paint their own holiday card or ornament. Lots of fun patterns and ideas to start with.

Bring your new and used pet products (toys, beds, food and more) for our collection where you can help the dogs of CARL and CABOdogz.

Help build a can tree for FOOD Share. Any and all cans are great, bring one by the booth and get a free gift as a thank you for helping reach the goal of 400+ cans.

Paintings, Drawings, and Tapestries by John Nava at Vita Art Center

Paintings, Drawings, and Tapestries by John Nava at the Vita Art Center, 432 North Ventura Ave. Studio 30. www.vitaartcenter.com

Opening reception November 6 from 6-9 p.m. exhibit dates: November 6 – 30

Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment

A small selection of drawings, paintings and a tapestry done from the model. Few of the works on view have ever been shown previously, They reflect an ongoing effort to present and evoke the figure in all its humanity and in a most direct way without mythological or symbolic pretext.

John Nava studied art at UC Santa Barbara and did his graduate work in Florence, Italy. His work is found in numerous private, corporate and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Japan including the National Museum of American Art in Washington D.C.

Nava has done large-scale public works including projects for the Tokyo Grain Exchange in Japan, the Seattle Symphony Benaroya Hall and Westmont College. In 1999 Nava was commissioned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to create three major cycles of tapestries for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles.

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