Catching Memories: Kevin Brannon and Reel Guppy Outdoors Inspire a Generation

“Catching Memories” is the mission of Reel Guppy Outdoors, a free youth fishing program founded by Kevin Brannon. Seeing a need in his community, Brannon realized many kids longed for someone to take them fishing, just as he had done with his own children. His inspiration came from his own childhood, growing up in a low-income, single-parent household after the loss of his father. Life became a cycle of foster homes and shelters, leaving Brannon with uncertainty and hardship.

Living near the Port Hueneme Pier, Brannon found solace in fishing, often using salvaged fishing lines and hooks. Armed with a tin can as his makeshift fishing pole and leftover bait from the pier, he became a modern-day Huck Finn, finding peace and escape in the ocean.

By the age of 9, Brannon began working aboard local party boats, assisting passengers with fishing. The boats gave him a sense of safety, purpose, and solitude, which further fueled his passion for the sport and helping others. These experiences eventually shaped the foundation of what would become Reel Guppy Outdoors.

More than 25 years later, Brannon produces Reel Anglers Fishing Show California, which includes the Reel Guppy Outdoors program. His goal is to pass along his connection with the ocean, using fishing as a tool to foster self-worth, leadership, and success in the youth he mentors. The same survival skills that once saved him are now helping a new generation thrive.

Brannon also created Ocean of Opportunity, a program that brings California’s marine ecosystems to students through interactive simulations. In these lessons, classrooms explore piers, lakes, rivers, and tide pools, with a particular focus on the nearby Channel Islands National Park. Using props, artificial lures, and displays, students learn about marine life, responsible fishing, and conservation. The program includes an in-class clinic and an outdoor fishing trip, where participants practice knot-tying, explore wildlife, and engage in team-building activities.

The Reel Guppy Learning Center expands on this with hands-on marine education, video production, and media skills, empowering young people to connect responsibly with their local waters. To date, the program has served over 7,000 children, all free of charge.

On September 7, 2024, the Port Hueneme City Council recognized Brannon as one of the 2024 Hueneme Heroes Award recipients, honoring his significant contributions to the community. This recognition, as a hometown hero, was perhaps Brannon’s most meaningful award.

For more information about Reel Guppy Outdoors, please visit: www.reelguppyoutdoors.com.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Mary Olson

Ventura Friends of the Library are holding a Books by the Bag Sale on Saturday, October 5, 10 am to 3 pm at the Vons at Telegraph & Victoria (6040 Telegraph Road). Buy a $5 bag and fill it up! Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Books, Young Adult Books, Teacher Resources.

Any day of the week, please drop in to 2nd Look Books, the Bookstore of Ventura Friends of the Library located in E.P. Foster Library. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm. We have non-fiction and fiction and a comprehensive children’s section. Other surprises may appear according to the donations we receive – currently we have some vintage sheet music, for example, 1934 “Love in Bloom” that Bing Crosby sang in the movie “She Loves Me Not”.

Ventura Friends of the Library will hold their Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, October 20, 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Topping Room of E.P. Foster Library. Our featured speaker will be Elizabeth Moore Kraus who will discuss her book 3 Sisters, 3 Weeks, 3 Countries (Still Talking). Our annual meetings are always open to guests who are interested in our organization or our guest speakers!

Ventura County Library aims to unite the Ventura County community around a common narrative with One County, One Book. This year’s community reading selection is: Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People by Tracy Kidder.

From the publisher’s description of Rough Sleepers, “Kidder tells the story of Dr. Jim O’Connell, a gifted man who invented a community of care for a city’s unhoused population, including those who sleep on the streets—the ‘rough sleepers.’ After Jim O’Connell graduated from Harvard Medical School and was nearing the end of his residency at Massachusetts General, the hospital’s chief of medicine made a proposal: Would he defer a prestigious fellowship and spend a year helping to create an organization to bring health care to homeless citizens? That year turned into O’Connell’s life’s calling. Tracy Kidder spent five years following Dr. O’Connell and his colleagues as they work with thousands of homeless patients, some of whom we meet in this illuminating book.”

Copies of Rough Sleepers are available to borrow at your local Ventura County Library branch. The Hill Road Library Book Club will discuss this book at their September meeting, Tuesday, September 24, 4:00 to 5:00 pm.

The culminating event will be the second annual Ventura County Celebration of Books on Saturday, October 12, on the campus of California State University, Channel Islands. This event is free and open to the public! Parking is free.

Dr. Jim O’Connell, the subject of Rough Sleepers, will be the featured speaker from 2:00 – 3:00 pm in the Grand Salon, followed by a book signing with Dr. O’Connell. Paperback books will be available for purchase or bring your own. Limit of two copies signed per person. There will also be a panel discussion in the Grand Salon from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm on The State of Homelessness in Ventura County: A Conversation with the Professionals. See https://www.vclibraryfoundation.org/events/ for more details.

Exhibits by local organizations and Friends of the Library groups will be open to the public on the North Quad from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. CSUCI Early Childhood Studies & Ventura County Library will offer children’s activities. Bring your own lunch to picnic on the lawn or enjoy food from a local food truck from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

 

 

 

 

Vol. 17, No. 26 – Sept 18 – Oct 1, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday 9/3

 10:35am, Harbor Patrol Officers conducting training of new Marine Safety Officers with emergency boat towing.

6:30pm, while on patrol in the truck, contacted by an individual reporting a offroad vehicle operating in the riverbottom. Advised we would investigate.

Wednes 9/4

 5:35am, observed NWS issued Small Craft Advisory, raised warning pennant.

2:40pm, received complaint of dogs off leash and playing ruff with a dog on a leash. Officers responded and contacted the RP gathered description; after searching the village and surrounding marina, the culprit(s) were not found.

11:50pm, dispatched to an unconscious person in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist the patient.

Thursday 9/5

 5:30am, observed NWS issued Small Craft Advisory, raised warning pennant.

9:45am, received request to investigate a vessel operating erratically in the mid area of the harbor. Officers responded, the vessel was conducting sea trial, testing new shafts and in no need of assistance.

Friday 9/6

 6:03am, once again observed NWS issued Small Craft, raised warning pennant.

11:30am, officers training with rescue swimmer deployment from Rescue B-19 outside the surfzone near the Surfers Knoll Jetty.

3:52pm, dispatched to chest pain in the HarborTown point timeshare. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist the patient with treatment.

Saturday 9/7

 6:33am, again, Small Craft Advisory issued, warning pennant still raised.

10:50pm, dispatched to sick person at Holiday Inn express. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with treatment of the patient.

2:03pm, received request for a tow from the skipper of a disabled electric boat near the patrol dock. Officers boarded the Fireboat and took the vessel en tow. Observed a small electrical fire near the engine, officers donned turnouts, extinguished the fire and the vessel safely towed to the Dreamer Rental dock.

5:58pm, dispatched to heat stroke patient on Island Packers Boat. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with the patient treatment.

Sunday 9/8

 5:12am, dispatched to a sick person in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with patient care and transport prep.

6:23am, NWS issued Small Craft Advisory for strong winds, pennant still up.

11:45am, new Marine Safety Officers receiving training in rescue watercraft operation and rescue swimmer operations from the Fireboat, outside harbor.

3:45pm, received request to contact the skipper of a personal watercraft for speed in restricted area from State Parks Lifeguards. Issued warning to skipper.

Monday 9/9

 6:30am, observed NWS issued Small Craft Advisory, raised warning pennant.

2:02pm, received report of a rental electric boat on the rip/rap near Portside. Officers responded, took the disabled vessel en tow to the dreamer rental dock.

Tuesday 9/10

 1:15am, dispatched to a female screaming and throwing rocks at vehicles in the village parking lot. Officers responded with VPD, searched the area but the perpetrator had fled the area into the riverbottom.

B-29 Doc History Restored Tour to Land in Camarillo in October

One of Two Remaining B-29 Aircraft Still Flying

Hosted by the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF SoCal), the B-29 Doc History Restored Tour will land at the Camarillo Airport from Oct. 3-6.

B-29 Doc, one of 1,644 B-29 Superfortress aircraft built by the Boeing Company in Wichita, KS, during World War II, is one of only two remaining B-29 aircraft still airworthy and flying today. The historic warbird will be available for ground and cockpit tours and B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides.

“Camarillo has a rich history of World War II and Cold War-era aviation that contributed greatly to the defense of our nation,” said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director. “That history is kept alive by the CAF Southern California Wing thanks to the dedication of its members, who keep a large collection of WWII and post-war-era aircraft alive to showcase the history of our nation and honor those who fought to defend freedom at home and abroad. The B-29 Doc History Restored Tour is all about: Honor. Educate. Connect. Bringing B-29 Doc to Camarillo to partner with the CAF SoCal mission means furthering our joint-ability to keep history alive and flying for generations to come by giving people a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with history.”

B-29 Doc will arrive at Camarillo Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will be available for ground and cockpit tours Thursday, Oct. 3, and Friday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides will be available on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5 and 6, at 9 and 11 a.m. both days, followed by ground and cockpit tour access from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. While the aircraft is on the ground, visitors can climb inside the cockpit through the forward bomb bay to look inside one of only two B-29 Superfortresses still airworthy and flying today.

“The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) SoCal is thrilled to welcome the iconic B-29 Superfortress, “Doc,” to our ramp,” said Lucien Pillai, public information officer for the Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing. “It’s a true privilege to host such a remarkable piece of living history, and we’re excited to share this beautiful aircraft with our community. While guests tour “Doc,” they are also invited to explore our WWII Aviation Museum and view our collection of restored aircraft and other artifacts. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Doc’s Friends for bringing this historic treasure to Camarillo, allowing us to experience and honor this incredible chapter of aviation history”.

Admission for ground and cockpit tour access will be $20 per person or $30 per family, which includes access to the renowned CAF SoCal Museum. Tickets for museum, ground, and cockpit tour access can be purchased at the door on the days of the event. B-29 Doc Flight Experience tickets are on sale now at www.b29doc.com/rides. For more information about the CAF SoCal Wing, visit www.cafsocal.com.

 

Ventura Art & Chalk Festival

Artists transformed the Ventura Harbor Village promenade during last weekend’s Ventura Art & Chalk Festival. This year’s festival was dedicated to co-founder Randy Hinton of Ventura, who passed away last year after battling cancer. Proceeds from the event support local charities, free art programs, and scholarships. venturaartfestival.com. Photo by Sheldon Brown.

Ventura Seeks Community Input on Updated Land Use Designation Map for General Plan Update

The City of Ventura is inviting community members to review and provide feedback on the updated Land Use Designation Map as part of the ongoing General Plan Update. This 25-year blueprint will guide Ventura’s future growth and development. Residents can participate in the survey until Monday, October 21, 2024, and additional opportunities for engagement will be available.

The updated map outlines residential, commercial, and industrial changes, including detailed adjustments to specific parcels. To assist residents in understanding these updates, the City has provided an online survey, downloadable documents, and an interactive map highlighting key changes. In addition to the survey, community members are encouraged to attend public meetings and take part in office hours with city staff to offer their input.

“Updating our General Plan and Land Use Designation Map is essential for Ventura’s future,” said Mayor Joe Schroeder. “This plan helps us manage growth, protect resources, and enhance the quality of life for all. By planning thoughtfully, we can support economic growth, attract investment, and ensure Ventura remains a vibrant place to live and work for future generations.”

The updated map aims to better reflect current zoning standards and integrate community feedback. These land use designations are critical as they define allowable uses, building heights, and development intensity for every parcel of land in the city.

“Over the past three years, we’ve worked closely with the City Council, the 22-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), the Planning Commission, and hundreds of residents to carefully assess land use across the city,” said Rachel Dimond, Ventura’s Community Development Director. “We received nearly 200 responses to the previous land use map and are eager to share an updated version that incorporates public input.”

Public Participation Events:

  • Community Council Meetings:
    • Eastside Community Council: Thursday, September 19
    • Pierpont Community Council: Thursday, September 19
    • College Area Community Council: Wednesday, September 25
    • Montalvo Community Council: Tuesday, October 1
    • Westside Community Council: Wednesday, October 2
    • Midtown Community Council: Thursday, October 10
  • Office Hours at City Hall (Room 133):
    • Tuesday, September 17, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
    • Tuesday, September 24, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
      Additional appointments are available by email.

After gathering feedback, staff will review the input and present recommendations to the GPAC. The Draft General Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are expected to be released for further review in late 2024 or early 2025.

To take the survey, view the updated map, and explore resources, visit www.planventura.com.

High Holidays on the Horizon: A Time for Peace and Unity

by Tracy Marcynzsyn

As we embark on the upcoming holiday season, uniting as a community is paramount, says Rabbi Ben Goldstein of Ventura’s Congregation Am Hayam.

“A lot of people feel more drawn to be more a part of a community now than they have in years past,” says Goldstein, named Congregation Am Hayam’s new rabbi in July.

In light of the current events in Israel, “we’ve seen the need to gather together as Jews,” he notes, adding, “It’s more important than it has been in a long time … when significant historical events, like 9/11, or 0ctober 7 occur, we tend to focus on what’s important in life.”

Goldstein discovered what matters most in his own life while studying to be an actor in his younger years.

“I came to the West Coast from Rochester, New York, in 2000. I wanted to be an actor … I was in the unions and did some work here and there, but it was not meant to be,” Goldstein says.

Rather than waiting tables between auditions like many fellow hopeful actors, Goldstein took a different path.

“I had a very strong Jewish education growing up, so instead of being a waiter, I decided to teach Hebrew school and ended up finding it so fulfilling,” he explains.

So, he enrolled in American Jewish University in Los Angeles and became a rabbi in 2010.

As a rabbi, “I love being able to make meaningful connections and help people make their lives better,” he says.

At Congregation Am Hayam (Am Ha Yam in Hebrew means “People of the Sea”), Goldstein appreciates the welcoming community spirit.

“It’s a really nice, wonderful community—it’s more laid back than being closer to L.A., and it’s not as competitive,” says Goldstein, who hails from Woodland Hills.

He aims to promote hope and share peace during the High Holidays, which start with Rosh Hashanah on October 2-4 and conclude with Yom Kippur on Oct. 11 and 12. A full schedule of services offered throughout the season can be viewed online at congregationamhayam.com.

“My hope is for people to have a meaningful experience where they can balance the seriousness of the year with the hope of moving forward,” says Goldstein, adding, “on the Day of Atonement, we make our resolutions to be better people than we are today. I also hope for a year full of peace, where people come to the realization that we’re not different, independent beings, but we’re interdependent beings—we’re all in this together!”

He extends an invitation to anyone who wants to attend services and has not been to the synagogue to RSVP by email to him at [email protected].

Sidebar: Box off

Jewish New Year Services

Congregation Am HaYam services to welcome the Jewish New Year 5785 with Rabbi Ben Goldstein, the congregation’s new spiritual leader.

Congregation Am HaYam offers live streaming services the first full Shabbat of the month. Services on the third Shabbat of the month are both in-person and streaming.

“What I love most about Rabbi Goldstein is his engaging discussions with congregants during Torah services,” says Brenda Rich, Congregation Am HaYam’s president. “His services combine the rich traditions of our heritage with dignity, knowledge and humor.”

The Jewish High Holidays, also known as the Days of Awe, begin Wednesday evening, October 2 and continue on October 3 and 4. Kol Nidre is Friday night, October 11 followed by Yom Kippur services on Saturday, October 12.

Congregation Am HaYam welcomes the community and is offering membership free for the first year, which entitles new members to tickets for the high holiday services. For more information, please contact Brenda Rich at 805 644-2899 or email her at [email protected].

Opinion: Serving on City Council is like owning a boat. Don’t.

by City Councilmember Mike Johnson

Sure, there are people who buy a boat, and keep a boat, and when you inquire they reply why yes, they still have the boat. When you look a little taken aback – you do, you know – they’ll tell you it’s worth it. They’ll insist. We all know, though, there’s something broken deep inside these people. Especially if it’s a sailboat. Or the Ventura City Council.

I can make that joke, because I’m not running for re-election, and the Jimmy Buffet voters are somebody else’s concern. Also, I once owned a sailboat.

My term on Council has been extraordinarily rewarding and punishing. I’m most proud of my tiny but crucial role in turning the old La Quinta into 134 units of Permanent Supportive Housing. Not a shelter, it will be a permanent home for 134 people with disabilities or medical needs, who would otherwise be homeless.

It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t sandbagged the former City Manager in a Council meeting showdown over a million-dollar budget amendment he didn’t see coming. We went toe to toe, and the good guys won. That man was so opposed to any involvement in permanent supportive housing, he never wanted Council to know it was even an option.

People think he had to go because he was buying wine and expensive lunches on the taxpayer dime. That’s true, too, but that was just the petty and ignominious end to my two year battle with him. It was the only thing I had that four of my colleagues couldn’t countenance: the specter of bad press.

Bill Ayub is our new City Manager, and he’s doing a fantastic job. I’ve been poking my nose into city affairs since about 2012, so I’ve seen the gamut. Mr. Ayub’s the best. We need the best.

It will take years to undo the damage done before Mr. Ayub’s tenure. Our upcoming General Plan was supposed to be finished long ago. We have a Housing Element that was so rushed, so poorly vetted, Council was promised that if we adopted it, we’d fix it immediately.

The so-called Housing Element 2.0 never happened, and now state law requires us to follow what we committed to. It’s not a little thing, either. It’s how we’re supposed to address the Housing Crisis, Fair Housing, and homelessness.

Then there’s WaterPure. I was the leading resident advocate of the project for five years, defending it at Community Councils across the city. I attended nearly every Water Commission meeting, so I knew my stuff. And by 2020 I realized that every year, the timeline extended another year. Every year, the budget increased by about 25%.

It was originally supposed to be operating by the end of 2024 at a cost of $55 million. A few months ago, it was $670 million, with “program implementation” in 2030. The budget will continue to go up, and the timeline will continue to slip.

 

That’s what happens when Council signs a blank check. I voted no, I asked questions, I pointed out the problems, I voted no again, but it wasn’t enough. Watching this unfold from a seat on the dais kept me up nights.

Council can be downright parsimonious when we balance our general fund budget, but because we pass water and wastewater bills to future ratepayers, there’s no discipline. By the time the inevitable rate increases are squeezing people out of Ventura, forcing 10,000 residents to make tough paycheck choices every month, my colleagues and I will be beyond any recalls or ratepayer revolts.

Or maybe I will be there after all. I don’t know what I’ll be doing come January, but I may run for Council again some day. Maybe I’ll run for Supervisor. For all the sleepless nights after a hairy Council meeting, for all the slow-motion trainwrecks, it has been as rewarding as it has been challenging. Maybe more. Probably more. Ask me again in six months.

What I’ll miss most are my weekly meet & greet events. Thank you to everybody’s who ever joined us: you’re the fuel. Every event, I learn something important. That doesn’t make the job easier, but it means I can do the job better. I hope I’ve done right by you. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve District 3 and the City of Ventura. And I’m not going anywhere.

 

A Red Carpet Affair: Community Memorial Foundation  Announces 50th Benefactors’ Ball on October 19

Two local physicians and a leading community philanthropist will be honored at the Community Memorial Foundation’s 50th Benefactors’ Ball, taking place on Saturday, October 19 at the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Camarillo. The public is invited to support the provision of high-quality healthcare in Ventura County by attending this formal affair.

”We are thrilled to be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Benefactors’ Ball with such an extraordinary event,” said Patty Williams, Community Memorial Foundation Director of Development. “The evening will not only honor exceptional physicians and philanthropists in our community, but also pay tribute to the impact Community Memorial has had on our community over the last 50 years.”

Honored this year with the Cephas Bard, MD Award for Physician of the Year is Edward Banman, MD. A Saticoy resident since 1978, Dr. Banman has served as a family physician to two — going on three — generations of Ventura families. He is an original founder of Primary Medical Group, with offices in Ventura, Saticoy, Santa Paula, Oxnard, and Camarillo, and a long-standing supporter of the Community Memorial Foundation.

This year’s Cephas Bard, MD honoree for Retired Physician of the Year is Dr. Henry “Hank” Oster. By the time he retired, infectious disease specialist Henry “Hank” Oster had spent 52 years in the medical field. He and his family have thrived in Ventura since moving to the area in the late 1970s. Dr. Oster has been a Foundation supporter for many years and looks forward to traveling, cycling, and family time in retirement.

The Community Leader of the Year award goes to John Hofer – businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Hofer and his family played a significant role in the philanthropic campaign to build the new Community Memorial Hospital Ocean Tower and have been ongoing supporters of the Community Memorial Foundation ever since.

The Benefactors’ Ball begins at 5:00 pm with a cocktail reception, followed by a multi-course dinner at 6:30 pm, live music, dancing, a live auction, and awards presentations. The event will have a Hollywood/red carpet theme, complete with “celebrity” appearances by Marilyn Monroe, Tom Cruise, and a fly over by US Aviator Amelia Earhart in a 1930’s era Boeing Biplane!

Sponsorships and tickets are available at https://www.benefactorsball.org.

Tickets on Sale for “Pier Under the Stars” – benefit for the historic Ventura Pier

Tickets are now on sale for Pier Under the Stars – the 29th annual benefit for the historic Ventura Pier on Saturday, October 5th, from 4:30pm – 7pm. Each year more than 500 residents and visitors attend this beachfront culinary event adjacent to the pier to sample the county’s best food, wine and spirits provided by over 25 area businesses.

Restaurants, cafes, wineries and breweries serve their signature dishes and beverages from tented booths along the seaside Promenade while guests enjoy live music by Ignition & dancing under the stars and an amazing silent auction. The sell-out event hosted by Pier into the Future–-a non-profit organization “is a much-anticipated community gathering of friends that raises funds for our beloved Pier”, said Pier Into the Future Executive Director Jenise Wagar-Hernandez.

The organization was founded by a group of dedicated community leaders, in partnership with the City of Ventura, to establish an endowment fund to maintain and enhance the historic Ventura Pier for future generations to enjoy. The organization has contributed over $1,168,000 to the City of Ventura over the last 31 years to enhance the Pier.

General admission tickets are $95 and include food and beverage tasting and a commemorative Pier wine glass. A limited number of VIP tickets are offered at $185. VIP tickets include all of the benefits associated with General Admission, plus a reserved seat at a VIP table along the promenade and a special wine tasting in the VIP area with early entrance at 4pm. Tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com. Visit www.pierintothefuture.org for more information.