Our next solo exhibitions in Studio 99, Buenaventura Art Association’s gallery and headquarters at Bell Arts Factory in Ventura, will feature two artists’ viewpoints on the wonder—and increasing volatility—of humanity’s relationship to our world.
Eva Montealegre will present oil paintings on canvas she says draw from “ancient charts and cave drawings and tribal characterizations” to explore “our life’s blood connection to all that is.” “Blood Mandala” is what Montealegre names her show.
Carrie Bezler, who signs her work REY, will display selected pastel drawings in “Returned to the Sea,” a title alluding to her recent California return after a dozen years in Germany. The show will include pieces from her “ocean-inspired … mostly realistic” Sea Creatures series, she said.
Art lovers can meet and talk with the artists during First Friday open gallery receptions from 6-9 p.m. April 5. Exhibit Runs until April 27, 2024.
On February 20, at 11:44am, fire units were dispatched to a reported boat fire in the Harbor. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a boat on fire with multiple boats surrounding the dock. Firefighters made an aggressive attack to extinguish the fire by deploying hoses down a long dock.
Firefighters extinguished the fire with a coordinated effort of horizontal ventilation. The boats exposed to the fire were untied and safely removed by fire personnel with the assistance of Harbor Patrol. The fire was controlled 17 minutes after units arrived on scene and the boat was confirmed to have no victims inside. Ventura City was assisted by Oxnard Fire, Ventura County Fire, and Ventura Harbor patrol.
On March 23, at 1pm, Ventura “historian” and author Ivor Davis will introduce his new 60th anniversary “Beatles and Me On Tour” book—and promises to reveal all– despite the consequences. The true story behind the story. The presentation will be at the Portside Ventura Harbor located at 1196 Portside and Schooner Dr. His presentation is free (when presented at the museum it cost $20.00).
Sixty years ago an unlikely quartet from England—Liverpool to be precise—invaded America—and conquered the nation in what turned out to be a bloodless revolution.
We are talking, of course, about 1964, the historic year that John Paul George and Ringo showed up in America—and without spilling a drop of blood were triumphant as they re-wrote rock and roll history. And in doing so, thousands of young women—from sea to shining sea– fell at their feet as the Beatles offered to hold their hand!
Ivor Davis had an exclusive front row seat as this invasion exploded. Embedded with the raiders, he will reveal behind the scenes details of this astonishing coup.
How the USA surrendered to these four lads from Britain, without a single shot being fired!
Breeze publisher Sheldon Brown will be the moderator for the presentation and would love to have you attend. There will be a Q&A after. And wine and snacks will be served.
The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), also known as Proposition 63, is a major source of funding for mental health services across the state, including Ventura County. The spending of these tax revenues is divided between five distinct categories: 1) Community Services and Support; 2) Prevention and Early Intervention; 3) Innovation; 4) Capital facilities and Technological Needs; and 5) Workforce Education and Training.
The community planning process is an important and continuous part of the Mental Health Services Act. Ventura County Behavioral Health is currently in the annual update phase of its Three-Year Plan that covers the 2023-2026 period. This update considers the implementation, evaluation, and budget allocations, and outlines Ventura County Behavioral Health’s goals, programs, and spending for the remainder of the current three-year plan.
This annual update also mentioned that if Proposition 1 is passed by voters during the March 5th midterm election this year, there are potential impacts on Behavioral Health services across the state, including in Ventura County. If passed, the following are potential changes as outlined within the legislation: 1) A 30% housing component will be established, with a ‘housing first’ requirement. 2) Ventura County Behavioral Health will be established as a source of funding for substance use disorders (SUD) Services. 3) A new and comprehensive structure for planning, data gathering, and reporting will occur. 4) Their will be an overhaul of the adult and children’s system of care statutes. 5) Their will be an elimination of the county-based control over prevention funding. 6) Their will be an establishment of new service requirements.
The current community planning process continues to build on the results of a broader needs assessment which outlines solutions in five categories: 1) Housing (i.e., buildings, services, and units); 2) Expanded Types of Services and Treatment Types (i.e., buildings, services, and units); 3) Access (i.e., timeliness of services); 4) Outreach and Education (i.e., knowing when, where, and how to access services); and 5) Alternatives to Ventura County Behavioral Health (i.e., care for persons with mild-to-moderate mental illness and service partners).
Any proposed updates to the current Three-year-Plan will undergo an annual review process which includes: 1) presentations of proposed changes to stakeholders and the broader community; 2) a period where community feedback is collected; 3) a 30-day public posting of the revised plan to allow for review; and, 4) a public hearing. The finalized plan is subject to the approval of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.
Again, community feedback is important and helps inform and enhance planning. There are two years remaining to allocate and spend funding for the 2023-2026 period. In light of potential changes to the Mental Health Services Act, much of the current funding is being planned as a one-time allotment with an emphasis being placed on infrastructure, time-limited expansion, and various programs and trainings.
Residents within Ventura County are encouraged to express their thoughts and suggestions during this feedback period. Feedback can be given through March 29th, 2024. Then, the report will be posted to the public and opened for a public review period from April-May, 2024. The Public Hearing for the Mental Health Services Act Three-year Plan annual update is tentatively planned for Monay, May 20th from 1:00pm-3:30pm. For further information about the Three-year Plan, go to www.vcbh.org. To submit feedback and/or to get questions/concerns answered, email the Ventura County Behavioral Health about the Mental Health Services at: [email protected].
Ms. Saxton is also the President of Women Leading Government.
Carlene Saxton has been selected as the new Assistant City Manager after an extensive national recruitment process, with her start date set for April 15, 2024. Ms. Saxton brings diverse experience in private and public sectors, focusing on community planning and economic development.
Ms. Saxton joins the City of Ventura after serving as the City of Moorpark’s Community Development Director. She was previously the Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Palmdale.
“We are excited to bring a dynamic leader to our executive team with a demonstrated commitment to fostering positive relationships and understanding the pulse of communities,” shared City Manager Bill Ayub. “Ms. Saxton has a proven track record for streamlining government processes and bolstering economic vitality, which we believe will help contribute to the City’s sustainable growth and long-term needs. Additionally, her extensive experience in community development further strengthens our team’s ability to address housing and development.”
Ms. Saxton holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Valparaiso University and a master’s in development and planning from University College London. Spearheading groundbreaking initiatives, including comprehensive General Plan Updates, Zoning Code Revisions, and pivotal large-scale development projects, Ms. Saxton also instigated district establishment for tourism and enhanced infrastructure financing.
Ms. Saxton is also the President of Women Leading Government, helping women succeed in public service by enhancing career-building models that develop leadership skills and networking professional women in government.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve the City of Ventura as its Assistant City Manager,” said Saxton. “I am deeply passionate about public service and empowering connections with our community to collaborate and drive positive change for the future and our residents.”
The Assistant City Manager will support daily operations and manage highly complex administrative support for the City Manager’s Office and City Council members. Learn more about the City’s leadership team at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Leadership.
New Art City Theatre’s (NACT) inaugural playwrights’ festival will be held April 25 – 28, 2024 at the Museum of Ventura County. NACT is dedicated to the development of new theatrical works.
Festival ’24 is free to the community. “Too often, professional theatre is out of reach of people who’d love to see it. Keeping the festival free is critical to our mission,” adds NACT cofounder Beverly Ward.
For the festival, 175 works were submitted from all over the country. From a careful screening process, four plays were selected. The selected writers will engage in a week-long residency, collaborating with professional directors, actors, and dramaturges The plays will be cast and rehearsed with equity actors.
Each show will have two staged reading performances (matinee and evening). All works will be presented to live audiences who will provide structured feedback to the writer.
SWIMMING UP THE SUN – April 25, 1 & 7 PM
Written by Nicole Burton
A warm-hearted and inspiring journey into the heart of an adopted woman’s experience with relinquishment and the rollercoaster ride of a family reunion. Adapted from the author’s memoir.
RECONCILIATION – April 26, 1 & 7 PM
Written by Dan Noonan
In the face of triumph and tragedy, Tim struggles with faith. His surprisingly funny, achingly beautiful story will leave you breathlessly praying for his salvation
DROWNED CATS – April 27, 1 & 7 PM
Written by Greg LoProto
A regular family is living their regular lives when a devastating storm brings them together and helps them forge deeper connections. Powerful yet intimate, this is a story for now.
BLOWHOLE – April 28, 1 & 5 PM
Written by Aly Kantor
A nautical, radical, silly, scintillating, laugh-out-loud adaptation of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, set in a struggling whaling village during the doldrums of the American suffrage movement. A lark!
Audiences will have the unique and exciting opportunity to peek behind the curtain and witness the birth of theatre in the making. This program has been made possible in part through the sponsorship of The Field, and with funding provided by the generous donors who support the mission and vision of NACT.
New Art City Theatre (NACT) is a groundbreaking theatre company based in Ventura. Founded in 2023 by Kirby and Beverly Ward, renowned theatre professionals, the company is dedicated to the development of new works and offers a platform for emerging playwrights to showcase their talents. By giving equal access to diverse voices and inviting a broader audience to participate, NACT aspires to elevate all that is compelling about original theatre. For more information, visit www.newartcitytheatre.org, email [email protected] or connect on Facebook or Instagram.
It can be said that when it rains in Ventura, it pours. This rainy season has given us another set of challenges here at Ventura Water. Water and wastewater crews worked 24-hour shifts responding to broken water lines and increased flows in the sewer system. Thanks to one concerned resident, we were alerted to an exposed water line and were able to isolate the line without service interruption. We also lent support to our Public Works coworkers, cleaning debris, and pumping down flooded areas. The best part is you probably didn’t even know it. This is the goal, so that our customers rarely experience disruptions. No matter what obstacles we encounter, Ventura Water’s purpose stays the same; to provide local, reliable, and quality service for all generations.
We are guided by four quality standards: Safety, Reliability, Professionalism, and Stewardship. These are demonstrated routinely by the Ventura Water team, and it is an honor to work with them. One of our teams, the Sewer Collections Department, was honored this past month with the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Tri-Counties Section Collection System of the Year Award and has been nominated for the State level award. The dedication is so great with this team that when the awards ceremony was held, half of the team was out clearing debris from a pump station that had been inundated by high surf events.
Friendly and upbeat, Mike Christie can easily put strangers and acquaintances at ease with his ready smile and his repertoire of jokes.
He readily talks about his day and what brought him to Neuroboxing Fight Camp at Portside
Ventura Harbor. “A friend told me about these no-contact boxing classes for people with Parkinson’s, back in 2020. I was one of the first students ,” says Mike, 75.
More than three years later, he’s still attending classes five times a week, with one class solely devoted to strength training. The Camarillo resident looks forward to the classes and meeting like-minded people going through the same thing – Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and other neurological conditions.
He adds, “I no longer feel alone. Here I am surrounded by people who are in the same boat as I am and there’s so much support out there.” He even started attending monthly support groups where there is a lot of talking and sharing of coping mechanisms like Tai Chi.
Mike recalls being diagnosed in 2020 although the tremors started ten years prior. The tremors progressively got worse and he eventually sought and received a diagnosis from a neurologist at UCLA.
Pre-Parkinson’s, Mike was inspecting vehicles upon arrival at Port Hueneme, a job he had for 13 years. Prior to that, was managing a cabinet shop in Orange County. He retired at 62 and didn’t think another job was in the cards for him.
This Oregon transplant finds the SoCal coastline equally breathtaking and led to his fondness for collecting sea glass, which he finds immensely relaxing and satisfying in its simplicity. He says, “You walk amidst these rocks and you find these simple, beautiful pieces. You can get lost in the process and not notice that several hours have gone by.”
“It’s an outdoor activity I enjoy doing. I can spend hours or an entire day on a beach by the rock formations, just searching for sea glass,” he says of his decades-long hobby. He likes the local beaches like Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard but also looks forward to the pristine beaches of Maui, which he usually visits once or twice a year.
While he doesn’t do much with sea glass except to collect them for decorative purposes and careful storage, he has on occasion had the more vibrant pieces turned into necklaces and gifted them to close friends and family members.
His PD diagnosis hasn’t stopped him from traveling. Aside from Maui, he has visited Israel and Australia. “I still live life the way I want to and it hasn’t stopped me at all. I’ve gotten used to it that sometimes I no longer notice the tremors,,” says the father of one and grandfather of six. He does practice great care in navigating staircases and curbs, but very simple modifications. He also finds enjoyment in going out to dinner occasionally and not having to whip up home-cooked meals.
His neurologist in Oxnard was trying to convince him to do surgery when he was ready but he decided it wasn’t for him, after much thought. He credits his spirituality and his past stint as a pastor for his current mindset of acceptance and contentment.
When asked what he would tell folks who get a PD diagnosis, Mike put it simply – “If you experience the usual symptoms, try to get an early diagnosis so you have access to more treatment options. Don’t put it off and continue or start exercising to get a handle on it right away.”
It’s time to mark your calendars! The Parkinson’s Foundation and the Ventura County Neurofitness Center are hosting a Bingo/Talent Show to support fundraising efforts for the Parkinson’s Foundation. The event will be held Friday, March 15th from 7-9pm at the Ventura Marina Community Clubhouse located at 1215 Anchors Way in Ventura. The event will include 5 regular games of Bingo, a talent show, desserts, coffee & water.
Doors open at 6:00pm with regular bingo games starting promptly at 7pm. Entry fee is $10 per person plus $5 buy-in for bingo. Every game has a minimum $100 prize value (Amazon, Wood Ranch gift cards). Talent show starts at 8pm immediately following the bingo games and will feature the many talents of our local community.
This event is open to the public and 100% of the proceeds go directly to support the Parkinson’s Foundation and its mission to improve care and advance research toward a cure.
“We are partnering with the Parkinson’s Foundation to raise money for our relentless pursuit of a cure for Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Vanessa White, Director of the Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group. Dr. White added that she would love for you to be a part of this fun-filled night you won’t want to miss,” and she “hopes to make this an annual event” held in conjunction with the Foundation’s Moving Day event (scheduled for Saturday, April 13th this year from 9-11am at the Ventura County Fairgrounds).
Seats are limited to 200 attendees and this exciting event will fill up fast—please arrive early with your friends and family and the bingo fun will start promptly at 7pm—all for a good time and an even better cause. For those unable to attend this event, but would still like to support the Parkinson’s Foundation, please visit the A-Team page (on the Parkinson’s Foundation website—Ventura County Moving Day—http://www3.parkinson.org/goto/ATeam_2024) to make donations directly through the Parkinson’s Foundation website.
