Water Commission prepares for their difficult job ahead

city water commissionFoto: Mayor Heitmann, City Attorney Greg Diaz and Ventura Water General Manager Shana Epstein speaking at the first water commission meeting.

The city of Ventura’s Water Commission met on  Tuesday, June 23 for their first meeting at the  Avenue Water Treatment Plant at 5895 N. Ventura Ave.

A tour of the facility, which opened in 2007 and can treat up to 10 million gallons of water per day was the first order of business at the meeting. The facility treats water that comes from wells next to the Ventura River at Foster Park.

The commissioners are:

Bryan Bondy
Grant Burton, Alternate
Ted Cook
Christopher Cooper
Gerhardt Hubner
Parker Mann, Alternate
Don Mills
Scott McCarty
Suzanne McCombs

First order of business was Cynthia M. Rodriguez, City Clerk sworing in the new commissioners that were present.

Mayor Cheryl Heitmann then thanked them for volunteering, recognized the complexity of the issues that they will be dealing with  and how important their work will be in advising and guiding the City Council.  She acknowledged it would be a lot of work and that the Council looks forward to working with them and is available to guide them and answer any of their questions.

Shana Epstein, Ventura Water Manager also thanked them for their service to Ventura and gave a brief over view of our water situation in Ventura and answered their questions.

Greg Diaz, Ventura City Attorney gave an important  Brown Act (The Ralph M. Brown Act)presentation. The Brown act states that “the people insist, on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instructions they have drafted.” It applies to legislative bodies including council commissions. It was designed by the Legislature to ensure that the deliberations as well as the actions of local public agencies are performed at meetings open to the public and free from any veil of secrecy it states how open meetings must be run.

They closed by voting on a tentative agenda for the next six months. That agenda includes a discussion on “net zero” policies at the commission’s July 28 and subsequent meetings. Their work is about to begin.

As dictated by the Brown Act a brief public comment was made by one speaker.

 

At-risk students given a second chance

youth vista real - CopyFoto:  Keynote speaker Maureen Shea, with student speaker and graduate Jannini Lopez, shared a moment at the Vista Real ceremony.

On Thursday, June 25, Vista Real Charter High School held their Graduation Ceremony at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

This year, Vista Real graduated over 100 students through its independent study program throughout Ventura County. Many of these students, who found themselves “at-risk” at one point or another, were given a second chance at education.

The graduation speakers — Kevin Cogen, Enrique Hernandez, Jannini  Lopez and Esteban Gomez — all shared personal obstacles they had overcome and how Vista Real teachers helped them to achieve a high school diploma.

The keynote speaker was the notable boxer, Maureen Shea (the current International Boxing Association Featherweight Champion) who shared with the students that “life isn’t going to be easy, but you have to believe that you’re going to get ahead and get through whatever obstacles life throws at you.”

Vista Real is a non-profit accredited high school program that includes job training and wrap around services. Its goal is to help the students who are not currently enrolled or engaged in school to get back on track and graduate high school.  It does this by giving students a flexible schedule, personalized learning and Career Technical Education (CTE) experience, so they can graduate high school with confidence and job skills.

As stated by graduate Esteban Gomez, “It’s a place where teachers get to know their students and adapt to their learning methods.” These graduates are now ready to move forward and in the words of student speaker Kevin Cogen, now starts “the beginning of another adventure.”

In Ventura, Vista Real Charter High School is located at 5100 Telegraph Rd.They can reached at (877) 360-5327.

Vol. 8, No. 20 – July 8–July 21, 2015 – Professor Scamp

scamp SavanaFoto: “What time does this bar open?”

A friend of mine (who lives by the beach) lets his four year old kitty cat “Blackie” play in the sand by his house. Recently a Pierpont neighbor saw his cat killed by an off leash dog on the beach. So please keep your dog on a leash (which is also law) even if you think that they are very friendly and not a threat to other animals.

Sometimes even the most friendly dog will run after a cat if it is running. And how will you know if your dog poops if it is far way on the beach?

The Foothill Food Truck Fest takes place on the first Tuesday of each month at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion from 5-9pm. Dining options range from their fresh maine lobster delivery, to grilled cheese sandwiches to homemade desserts. Beer, wine and margarita sales are available and diners have the option to dine indoors or eat outdoors while watching the sunset over Ventura.

Proceeds from the free monthly Foothill Food Truck Fest fundraisers, which have grown in size and popularity since being launched in 2014, help fund much-needed capital improvement projects at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Established in 1954, the facility is one of the oldest public venues in Ventura. It serves the local nonprofit community by providing affordable meeting and event space to non-profit and charitable. The historic venue, which includes a panoramic view of the city and Channel Islands, is available for public or private events. For more information, call 648-1143.

On Tuesday, July 7 the Poinsettia Pavilion combined the array of food trucks with the opportunity to adopt a new furry family member at their monthly Foothill Food Truck Fest event. The event included on-site dog adoptions hosted by several local animal rescue organizations that included the Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.), Paw Works and the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, Inc. (SPARC).

“Our hope is that Foothill Food Truck Fest attendees will stop by to enjoy a delicious meal with us and also decide to open their hearts and homes to a homeless animal patiently waiting to be adopted,” said Carol Shiells, Poinsettia Pavilion Executive Director.

On June 20th Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) launched its new ‘Pit Crew’ Program and website, at the Ventura Harley Davidson, located in Camarillo.

Ventura Harley Davidson stepped up as a “Powered By” sponsor for the Pit Crew, which educates the public on responsible pit bull ownership and the many fallacies that surround this breed. The partnership with Harley Davidson seemed a natural one to Animal Services Director Tara Diller.

The new website www. VCASPitCrew.com is a resource for pit bull pet family members.

The Pit Crew Mission is to re-brand the pit bull in our community. By informing the public and dispelling commons myths, promoting spay and neuter, as well as sharing responsible ownership facts, area residents are given the opportunity to make informed choices when choosing their next forever family member.

In 2013 an orange house cat by the name of Kevin went missing from Anderson, South Carolina. Very recently he was united with his buddies and found his way home! After hitching a ride on a U-Haul trailer to Riverside County Kevin was found hiding in the trailer during a regular routine inspection at the Arizona border. Once found, the very dehydrated tabby was taken to the Blythe Animal Shelter, and then animal-control officials were able to track down the owner, Cheryl Walls. She told animal control that Kevin had been an outdoor cat and one day he didn’t come home. She said that she is looking forward to Kevin’s return.

It’s so nice to hear a beautiful story like this. Savana was very happy when I told her. We’re all so happy that Kevin finally found his way back home!

by Victoria Usher

Paw’s Corner by Sam Mazzotta

Dear Paw’s Corner: You recently put out a notice about a new strain of dog flu that was affecting dogs in Chicago. Now I’m hearing about it everywhere. Can you update us on this virus? — Jane in New York City

Dear Jane: This strain of flu, classified as H3N2, has now spread to at least 10 other states in the continental U.S. How concerned should dog owners be? Well, they should certainly stay alert, but it is not a cause to panic or to drastically change your dog’s daily routine. For example, some media outlets are recommending that owners stay away from dog parks. That isn’t exactly practical advice for urban dwellers, as no one knows how long this outbreak will last. Instead, let common sense rule. If your dog is healthy, by all means take it to the dog park. Keep an eye on the other dogs, and if one seems unhealthy, don’t let your dog near it. If you have a puppy or a senior dog, you already know that they don’t have strong immune systems. So visits with strange pets or other situations where they can be exposed to illness — not just canine flu but other infections, too — should be off the table anyway.

Monitor your pet for signs that it may be getting ill. A cough, sneezing and runny nose are typical symptoms of H3N2. Consult your vet right away if these symptoms show up, or if your dog has a fever or other symptoms like a lack of appetite, lethargy or weakness. (c) 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.

Ventura Harbor Village celebrates all things pirate

event pirate daysFoto: This pirate is not as scary as he looks.
Phot by Bernie Goldstein

Gather your crew and head to Ventura “Aarghbor” Village for swashbuckling fun at the 10th Annual Pirate Days Festival on Saturday & Sunday, July 18 & 19, from 11:00am – 4:00pm. Ventura Harbor Pirate Days is one of Ventura’s most popular public festivals that attracts “pirates” of all ages for buccaneering and other piratey pursuits.

This year’s theme is “X Marks the Spot: A Decade of Pirates” in celebration of the festival’s 10th year. Exciting new elements include strolling sea shanties by Sisters of the Coast, pirate bubble shows, chalk painting by artist Lysa Ashley,  exotic birds, all new professional pirate shows, dockside tours and two sails daily aboard The Schooner Bill of Rights historic Tall Ship and performances of “Peter Pan 2: Hook’s Revenge” by Fairy Tales in the Park. Back by popular demand are festival favorites- Lunch with the Pirates at The Greek Mediterranean Grill & Lounge at 11:45am (both days), the Reece Ryan Kids’ On-Land Pirate Ship, Tinker Bell (look-a-like) meet and greet, and pictures with mermaids.

Festivalgoers will meet enchanting mermaids and famous pirate re-enactors, including Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook.  Mateys strolling through the Pirate Marketplace can spend time at Port Royal Privateers’ historical encampment, visit unique vendor booths for face painting and henna body art or find precious wares, such as woodcrafts, pirate attire, jewelry, handcrafted glass and metal gifts and nautical-themed loot.

The fun continues throughout Ventura Harbor Village where children, tweens and adults dressed to impress can strut their stuff in the daily costume contests at 2:30pm (Kids 0-7 yrs.),  2:45pm (Tweens 8-15 yrs.), and 3:30pm (Adults 16+ yrs.) for a chance to win theme park tickets.  On Saturday at 3pm piratey pets will vie for $50 in Ventura Harbor gift certificates.

Wee ones will enjoy the Mermaid Treasure Hunt ($2) and free craft activities provided by Macaroni Kid and Village galleries.  Treasure seekers can find pirate merchandise, pirate hats, swords, gifts, eye patches, flags, and gear at seaside shops. For grog and grub, Village restaurants offer a variety of cuisine for hungry crews; including roasted turkey legs and rum drink specials. Live music and entertainment provided by Ship of Fools strolling pirate band and Pirates for Hire (daily professional pirate shows).

For pirates who seek adventure on the water, The Schooner Bill of Rights Tall Ship will be offering sails at 9:00am and 4:00pm and dockside tours from 11:00am to 3:30pm and on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. Sails cost $25 for children (14 years and under) and $35 for adults (15 years and up). For more information and to purchase sail tickets, visit SchoonerBillofRights.com and click on “Tickets.”

Admission, parking and shuttle buses are free. Pirate Days shuttle parking is located at Schooner Drive and Harbor Blvd. or Schooner Drive and Anchors Way Drive both Saturday and Sunday from Noon – 5pm or catch the Downtown – Harbor Trolley for a free ride to the festival.

For a list of shopping and dining specials and entertainment schedule please visit VenturaHarborVillage.com/PirateDays , or call  477-0470.   The 2015 Pirate Days is supported by Gold Coast Broadcasting, Cumulus Broadcasting, VC Reporter, The Ventura County Star, and the Ventura Breeze.

22nd ArtWalk Ventura the weekend of July 18-19th

art ArtWalkFoto: MB Hanrahan, Pedro Pulido and five of the many students from Vita Art Center are working on the several murals for ArtWalk

The streets of the city of Ventura’s historic Downtown and Westside Cultural District will transform into a mecca of artistic expression, and bring Cuban culture and history during the 22nd ArtWalk Ventura the weekend of July 18-19th. ArtWalk will present something unique this year by bringing “From Havana to Ventura,” which is an inspiring tale about abiding friendship, torn barriers, artistic collaboration, determination, and a series of special events and exhibits, including a collaborative public mural.

ArtWalk will welcome renowned Cuban sculptor and painter, Pedro Pulido and Cuban historian Victor Pina, a former aeronautical engineer. Both are Cuban creatives who have built a close relationship with prominent artists in Ventura resulting in their upcoming visit and participation in ArtWalk.

The “Havana to Ventura Mural Project,” is a highly anticipated artistic collaboration between local muralist MB Hanrahan and visiting artist, Pulido. The mural will reflect the styles of both community painters, and contain elements shared by both Ventura and Cuban culture. The mural is at 50 W. Main Street and visible from Main Street, under the generous sponsorship of the building owner, Josh Addison and the Addison family.

Vita Art Center will be a hosting two, weeklong mural workshops, starting June 29, through its Summer Teen Program, which will be a great opportunity for young aspiring artists to work on a large-scale public art project in Ventura County.

ArtWalk is a free, self-guided tour of more than two dozen high-end art galleries, pop-up stores and studios, as well as the return of 15 PODS® Containers transformed into mini art galleries. The PODS Containers were generously provided by PODS of Tri-Counties owner Steve Yapp. Attendees also may take advantage of the free shuttle service, which connects venues along Ventura Avenue and Main Street.

“We’re thrilled with the growth ArtWalk Ventura has experienced over the past two decades, and especially excited for the Havana to Ventura artistic collaboration,” said Mary Perez, ArtWalk Ventura organizer and owner of Vita Art Center.

“Yosemite to the Central Coast” at the Harbor Village Gallery

art AmundsonA collection of 25 plein air watercolors by artist Lorna Amundson will be on exhibit during a show called “Yosemite to the Central Coast” at the Harbor Village Gallery throughout the month of July. Amundson will be hosting the gallery 2:30-6:00 most weekends (Friday, Sat. Sunday) except the weekend of July 10. Light refreshments will be served when she is present.

Harbor Village Gallery in the Ventura Harbor
1591 Spinnaker Dr.
Gallery hours: 11am – 6pm, Tuesday through Sunday

Vol. 8, No. 16 – May 13– May 26, 2015 – Events

Events by Ana Baker

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club meets every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin, mixers and line dancing. Members $9, non-members $11, first time dancers are free. Call 407-9971 for more information.
Free admission stage show, 2p.m. to 4p.m. First Sunday of every month.  Old Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Poinsettia Pavilion. For more Information call 517-1131.

DBSA Ventura, the local chapter of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) hosts two regular, confidential, peer-led, self-help support groups. The evening meeting takes place every Tuesday from 6:30p.m. to 8p.m. Hope for recovery at Bible Fellowship Church,6950 Ralston Street in Room 301 of Building 300. Attendees should enter the parking lot off Johnson Drive. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 253-3289 for more information.
The daytime meeting is from 1p.m. to 3p.m. at the New Visions Center on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Turning Point Foundation’s New Vision Center is located at 1065 E. Main Street. Email [email protected], visit facebook.com/DBSA.Ventura or call 746-3106 for more information.

May 14: Population changes of seal and sea lion species at the Channel Islands, including the recent high abandonment rate of California sea lion pups, will be discussed by marine biologist Dr. Brent Stewart during the From Shore to Sea lecture. Stewart is a Senior Research Scientist at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute. At 7p.m. on the second Thursday of May, September, October, and November at the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, 1901 Spinnaker Dr. The programs are free and open to the public.

May 16: Families and children invited to free Kids Swap Meet, at Barranca Vista Park 7050 Ralston St. Shop for gently used games, toys, clothes, bikes and books at the City of Ventura’s annual Kids Swap Meet. Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The swap meet “for kids by kids” up to 18 years of age encourages them to clean out their closets or garages of items to sell or trade. Some children, service and church groups have used their booths to raise money for camps, mission trips and charity causes such as breast cancer, MS or disaster victims.

May 16: A crowd will join hands forming a line across the beach in a local “Hands Across the Sand” gathering. This is one of hundreds of synchronized events globally to raise awareness about the dangers of dirty fuels and the need to speed the transition to available, affordable clean energy solutions.  Citizens from Ventura County will be joined by Surfrider Foundation and Ventura County Climate Hub at noon on Saturday, at Surfers Point Park.

May 16: Ventura County Genealogical Society Monthly Program
Saturday, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.
Ventura County Public Health Center, 3147 Loma Vista Rd.
The speaker will be Eric Seiss. Topics “Follow the Path to the Old Country with Emigration Records and the GPS (Genealogical Proof Standard)”

May 17:  “A History of A People: The LGBTQ Movement” at noon. This program will feature Michael Oliveira, archivist at ONE Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC on the history of the LGBTQ movement in the U.S., the role of the Archives, and preserving personal papers and photographs for research and future generations. Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston St. For more information, call 665-3323 or [email protected]. Presented by Interweave LGBTQ & Friends of Ventura UU Church.

May 17: The Jimmy McConnell 18 Piece Big Band is the feature band at the Channel Cities Jazz Club.  Bring your dancing shoes, your friends and be a part of the wonderful world of swing. Dancing starts at 1 p.m. to 4:30p.m. Sunday at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club2600 South Harbor Blvd. Oxnard. The Jazz club audience consists of all classes and ages from mature jazz fans to students, who are discovering this vital American roots music for the first time. Members $7 and General Public $10.  All meetings and events are open to the public

May 18: Channel Islands Parliamentarians will feature a lesson, “Let Me Interrupt,” presented by Sharon Hillbrant.  The meeting is held at 7p.m. at the Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main.  Those wishing to order food should arrive at 6p.m. Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year. For information call 390-4518.

May 19: Ventura Retired Men’s Group will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ventura Elks Lodge, 2126 Knoll Drive.  Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Steve Treanor, retired Southern California Division Chief of the Calif. State Park System, will tell about the CA State Parks and the Ronald Reagan Ranch. For more information on the Group & future events, visit http://www.VenturaRetiredMen.org/fp.html or call Gene Wink at 647-2513.

May 21: Mark your calendars for the Mayor’s reception with readings by the winners of the 2015 Art Tales contest. Reception and poetry readings will be held at the E.P. Foster Library second floor at 5:30 p.m. A record 104 poets and writers entered the contest.  Details will follow when winners are announced here in the next week to ten days. Winners also have the opportunity to participate in the Library’s Thursday night poetry series.

May 21: Circus Vargas, America’s favorite traveling Big Top circus continues to thrill and enchant children of all ages with their new and amazing 2015 edition, Arlequin.  Steeped in tradition and devoted to all things magnificent and happy, Circus Vargas presents an array of unparalleled artists and performers dedicated to captivate and astound you. A world of wonder and awe await you under the big top at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 21 thru 25.

May 24: The Ventura Tennis Club, in cooperation with the Ventura Recreation and Community Services, is hosting its bi-annual Ventura Tennis Day on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the Camino Real Tennis Park.
The event will include clinics for adults and kids from 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. with tennis pro Scott Burton and other staff. Then there will be racquet demos. After the clinics, there will be a barbecue lunch at noon followed by organized doubles play.
The Ventura Tennis Club is a non-profit community based club bringing tennis enthusiasts of all abilities together for social and competitive play.
Information: http://www.venturatennisclub.com

The classic fairy tale Snow White by the Footworks Youth Ballet by Elizabeth Manninen

event footworksFootworks Youth Ballet is proud to announce a unique production of the classic fairy tale Snow White with performances on May 30 and 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Snow White is not known as a traditional classical ballet but is often choreographed in the classical ballet tradition.

Artistic director and choreographer Kirsten Oakley from Oakley Ballet Center (the studio associated with Footworks Youth Ballet) has hand-selected classical music to accompany her original choreography to tell this enduring tale of good overcoming evil.

After spending hours researching and listening to different classical music, Oakley primarily landed upon the Russian composer Alexander Glazunov, a leading composer in the generation after Tchaikovsky (composer of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty). A Romanticist at heart, Glazunov’s music, puzzle-fit together by Oakley, became the inspiration for the characters to develop within the story of Snow White. By hand-selecting the music, Oakley could also create choreography to showcase her young dancers, their personalities and their individual abilities. Snow White is performed by Ariana Castillo (Saturday) and Katelyn Sanchez (Sunday), Mikaela Roth performs the Evil Queen, and the three mirrors—Envy, Vanity and Pride—are performed by Evelyn Augros/Katelyn Sanchez, Ariana Castillo/Grace Story and Maya Holbrook. Snow White’s sweet friend, the Bluebird, is performed by Tessa Gallagher and the lead Deer is performed by Grace Story/Evelyn Augros.

The remaining cast of 65 dancers, ranging in age from 6-18 years of age, represent the woodland animals that Snow White encounters and the ever-endearing Seven Dwarfs.

Aside from the usual humor that Oakley injects into her ballets, an aspect of particular interest is the drama of the Queen who, in Oakley’s interpretation, is plagued by her character flaws of Envy, Vanity and Pride. She tries to rid herself of these evil traits, but when she goes to the Mirror, they always rise up and take control of her.

True to their mission to provide educational opportunities to young people through the art of ballet, Footworks Youth Ballet employs classical ballet as a teaching tool for their students. Each year they perform two full-scale productions.

Footworks Youth Ballet also continues to reach to the community through Outreach Performance, providing access to school children who might otherwise not be able to attend. The Snow White Outreach Event is sold out and will reach over 3,000 students on May 29th at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

Family Educational Hour is held one hour prior to each show. Learn about this unique production, the costumes, ballet history and the original score of this enchanting forest fantasy.

Snow White , Saturday May 30th and Sunday May 31st  2 p.m.

Tickets at http://www.footworksyouthballet.org or  486-2424.

Circus Vargas at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 21-25!

event circus vargas-smCircus Vargas, America’s favorite traveling Big Top circus continues to thrill and enchant children of all ages with their new and amazing 2015 edition, Arlequin! Steeped in tradition and devoted to all things magnificent and happy, Circus Vargas presents an array of unparalleled artists and performers!

An amazing experience, built on tradition with vision and innovation, to create new and treasured memories for generations to come!

A world of wonder and awe await you under the big top at the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 21-25!

Citrus Sunday Ventura Neighborhood Harvest

On May 17th, dozens of volunteers will fan out across Ventura to harvest fresh surplus fruit from backyard fruit trees in the first annual Citrus Sunday, sponsored by Food Forward.  All of the harvest will be donated to local food pantries feeding our neighbors in need. Volunteers can either register for a pick organized by Food Forward or harvest their own trees in a Do It Yourself (DIY) pick using boxes and equipment provided by Food Forward.  After the event, Food Forward will host a picnic at their office at 77 N. California St. (Across from city hall)

“We are seeking fruit trees to harvest, and volunteers to participate,” said Jim Mangis, Food Forward’s Ventura County Branch Manager. “This will be a great day of food rescue, fellowship, and sharing. Citrus, kumquats, vegetables, are all perfect foods for our program. “

Volunteers, and fruit donors can sign up at foodforward.org or by calling 630-2728.   DIY(Do it Yourself) Pick participants can pick up boxes to fill with fruit prior to the event and then drop off once they have collected fruit. For more information, and pick up and drop off locations contact [email protected].

Food Forward is a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers to harvest fresh, local produce that would otherwise go to waste, connecting this abundance with people in need. 3,600 volunteers have harvested over 9,000,000 pounds of fruit since 2009.