Happy Holidays from CAPS Media

Standing Caps staff Jamie Cawelti, Jorge Godinez, Elizabeth Rodeno, Patrick Davidson, Evan Carpenter, Gary Roll and Alex Uvari. Seated Cliff Rodrigues, Donald McConnell, Manny Reynoso and Phil Taggart.

Best wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and Festive New Year from your CAPS crew. 2019 has been a terrific year at CAPS and we look forward to more great work in 2020.

On Monday, December 9, CAPS Media met with the Ventura City Council to discuss a new contract for 2020 and the future. We thank the Council Members for the thoroughness of their deliberation in reviewing our request. The resolution was to give CAPS a one-month extension, until the end of January, 2020.

Everyone at CAPS greatly appreciates the overwhelming outpouring of support by Friends of CAPS who sent letters, emails and made calls to council members and city staff expressing your support for CAPS and the services we provide to the community. Your support provided the council with a much better appreciation for CAPS’ value and was instrumental in helping us continue.

However, we are asking that the letter writing, emailing and calling continue – keep up the campaign and share our story with others. Also we are adding a companion video and audio component to our efforts.

We offer Friends of CAPS an opportunity to speak directly to City Council Members and staff – on television, radio and through social media, expressing their support of CAPS.

Community supporters can record a message on their smart phone or computer and email it to CAPS at [email protected]. We will air the messages on channel 6, CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1fm and post them on social media.   For those who prefer to record their message at CAPS, we are scheduling production time in the CAPS studio for our friends to come and record a short message. To schedule a time in the studio send an email to [email protected] and we will contact you to schedule a convenient time.

Last week the CAPS crew had the opportunity to record the last in a series of meetings held by the Senior Strategic Ad-Hoc Committee. The Senior Strategic Plan – Community Vision meeting was held at Avenue Adult Senior Center. With a standing room only crowd, the community shared their ideas and concerns about how to enhance senior recreation services to the consultant hired to explore the programing and gather information to assess the needs of the community. Topics included what types of recreation are available, does the city need another senior center and how to promote and provide information on programs available to the community. With this information collected, a draft of the Strategic plan will be presented to city council in January.

All of us at CAPS look forward to continue to collaborate with our members to create engaging and informative programs for Ventura. Again, best wishes this holiday season from your friends at CAPS Media.

Ventura Unified School District expanding educational options

An expanded K-8 option will be available at Blanche Reynolds Elementary.

At a Special Board Study Session on Mon., Dec. 2, the Ventura Unified School District Board of Education approved staff moving forward with a new secondary level program to serve students who require additional flexibility in their lives and therefore need an online based program. Additionally, the Board approved moving forward with expanding the K-8 offerings in the District to include both a midtown and east end option for families.

“In an environment of declining enrollment, the Board and District staff are working hard to offer options to serve the diverse needs of all its students.  At the same time we need to attract and retain students in the District,” stated Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent.

The secondary level program is scheduled to open next Fall on the El Camino High School (ECHS) campus. Traditionally, VUSD loses more than 100 students per year to schools with the limited classroom model. A vigorous marketing effort will occur to ensure the community is clear on whom the program is intended to serve and to ensure that the existing ECHS program retains all of its excellence and remains a robust and attractive option for the students it currently serves.

The two expanded K-8 options are slated to open in the Fall of 2021. The midtown option is being planned for Blanche Reynolds Elementary and the process for determining an east end location is just beginning. The new K-8 offerings will also serve the District’s efforts to attract and retain students and families who want smaller learning communities as an option to the larger, more traditional middle school setting. A TK program already exists at Blanche Reynolds making this a TK-8 option. Waiting until the Fall of 2021 will provide the District additional time to develop program components and an educational focus, which could include thematic programs and re-branding.

“We are very excited about these new options for students,” stated Board President Sabrena Rodriguez. “VUSD listened to feedback from students, families, and staff. These new options will allow us to provide modern options for the ever-changing educational needs of our community.”

For more information, contact Hector Guerrero, Director of Educational Options at [email protected] or 805-289-1955.

Senior Strategic Plan findings and visioning session

The sessions were led by Dr. Teresa Penbrooke of GreenPlay.

by Jill Forman

On December 9th and 10th Ventura’s Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Department held Community Meetings to reveal and discuss the results of surveys from the community.

The sessions were led by Dr. Teresa Penbrooke of GreenPlay, a consulting firm specializing in parks, recreation and open space. Her firm designed, administered and analyzed the surveys and will be making recommendations, what she termed “…a road map for the next 25 years.”

Surveys were available in many venues and formats, 680 citizens completed them. Their purpose was to identify goals for Senior Services by involving the seniors with meetings as well as surveys; to assess the city’s capacity and recommendations for improvement.

A key point in senior programs, which Penbrooke emphasized, is to nurture body, mind and spirit.

Respondents list the city’s strengths as: high quality programs, senior nutrition, wonderful staff, the MyVentura guide, and existing community partnerships. Weakness are: lack of affordable housing, insufficient public transportation, and fewer programs on the East side. (Victoria is chosen as separation between the parts of the city.) Recommendations are: better communication, increased lifelong learning opportunities, multigenerational programs, safer street, more community partnerships, and better opportunities and support systems for “aging in place.”

Attendees at the meeting on December 9 verbalized increasing concern about the population of homeless seniors; Penbrooke acknowledged this along with the isolation of many seniors, the need to expanding senior nutrition and Senior Services staff. She also mentioned the possibility of increasing partnerships by drawing in houses of worship, private organizations, libraries and so on.

Barriers to using Senior Services were also discussed: lack of knowledge, lack of transportation and personal mobility, insufficient programming throughout the city.

When asked to prioritize needs, the desperate need of affordable housing for seniors was number one. Seniors are often on a fixed income and housing is increasingly expensive. This is a quality of life issue that affects the entire community. The other priorities listed were: increased public transportation, more nutritional services, social services and care services.

Penbrooke pointed out that these concerns are not limited to seniors but are system-wide. There is no master plan addressing these needs for the entire population. She said that it is necessary to develop a strategic plan of action to encompass all areas: spaces and facilities, programs and services, staff and customer service, gaps and potential partners to help fill those gaps.

Which brought her to the question that is the core of what the surveys and meetings and assessments and plans are trying to confront and solve: How do we develop and meet current and future needs?

Catch the “ELF on the GO” Holiday Bus at a stop near you

GCTD Board Chair City Council member Cheryl Heitmann cuts the ribbon to officially launch “Elf on the GO” for the 2019 Holiday season.

Ride Gold Coast Transit District’s decorated holiday bus until January 4.

Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD), with support from Montecito Bank and Trust and Rubberneck Signs, is excited to announce the fourth annual appearance of its popular “Elf on the GO” holiday bus.

This year’s “Elf on the GO” holiday bus design is especially timely given the recent snow we are enjoying in the nearby mountains. The snowy “Elf on the GO” village is bustling with activity as jolly elves are happily building toys, wrapping presents and playing in the snow. Onlookers are sure to smile as they see the elves peering out the bus windows as they await the next stop to exit. On board, passengers are embraced with festive decorations and holiday music for a truly memorable experience.

GCTD’s 40-foot holiday bus will appear throughout GCTD’s service area. Passengers are encouraged to take pictures, tag #ElfontheGO and post to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for a chance to win goodies and prizes.

“We are thrilled to once again do our part to spread holiday cheer throughout the communities we serve”, said GCTD General Manager, Steven P. Brown. “It’s something we look forward to each year as it brings joy to the passengers who board and smiles to passersby.”

Sightings of the “Elf on the GO” bus can be tracked by searching #ElfontheGO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or by visiting www.GoldCoastTransit.org.

CBD Store of Ventura ribbon cutting held

“Our mission is to raise awareness for all-natural healing remedies. Our promise is to only offer high quality ingredients and never compromise on anything but that. Our vision is to create a “safe place” where everyone is welcome. We care about your past, your presence and your future. Our goal is to help educate you and stand by you on your health journey.We have refined our methods of cultivating whole-plant extraction and formulation into a product you can trust to provide your body with amazing benefits.”

4255 E. Main St #15 805-765-6130

Photo by Michael Gordon

Vol. 13, No. 6 – Dec 18 – Dec 31, 2019 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

It’s the final weeks of the year with a handful of holiday shows and a whole lot of New Year’s Eve parties, so let’s get right to it.

On Thursday, December 19, Buena High School hosts their 7th annual Not-So-Silent-Night benefit concert in the Library Media Center. The following day, Friday, December 20, the Ventura Theater presents their 8th annual Holiday Sing-along featuring Disney hits and holidays tunes with the price of admission a new unwrapped child’s toy or pet supplies.

Topa Mountain Winery has three events lined up starting on Friday evening at 7 pm with an Ojai holiday concert featuring Smitty & Julia and Friends; then they’re back to their regularly scheduled afternoon live music 3-5 on Saturday with Patricia Avis Family Christmas and Sunday featuring the Hopeful Quartet Holiday Jazz ensemble.

Along with the final weeks of the musical “Forever Plaid” Plaid Tidings” at the Rubicon, there will be a Tiny Tots Holiday Concert featuring the Broadway Juniors on Saturday, December 21, at 10 am.

While we’re still on the subject of Christmas and music, I’d like to give one final plug for “the Local Love Project Holiday Album, The Spirit of Giving” which features over a dozen artists out of the 805 including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Charles Law and Jagged, Towse, Boom Duo and more. The proceeds from the sales stay in the community going to the Local Love Project which helps those who have been affected by a disaster here in the 805. It’s available at CD Baby, Amazon, and locally at most every record store in town. It is the perfect stocking stuffer!

Now on to New Year’s Eve parties starting with live music: FIDO plays until 9 pm with an east coast style NYE party at Leashless Brewing; the Brandon Ragan Project will keep you dancing at the Copa Cubana in the Ventura Harbor; it’s 80’s Invasion at the Crown Plaza at the top of the harbor overlooking the ocean and our fair city; the Shores in Oxnard has Teresa Russell & Friends; Grapes and Hops has the Diane Miller Band; the Self Righteous Brothers play Café Fiore; it’s an all-white party (meaning wear white) at Cantina 31 with Instone; Blues Bullet will keep it lively at Winchesters; it’s classic rock with Arockalypse Now at the Star Lounge; Yachtley Crew with their yacht rock will keep it festive at Discovery while Mandex will keep you rockin’ at Oak and Main downtown.

Venues with DJs and full party plans include Bombay’s, Paddy’s, El Rey Cantina, the Tavern, the Garage, the Keynote Lounge and Sans Souci. There will be cover charges most everywhere and some will sell out, so I highly recommend calling and making reservations now, and don’t forget to arrange for a safe ride home!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected]. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Vol. 13, No. 6 – Dec 18 – Dec 31, 2019 – Music Calendar

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

Blue Agave
185 E. Santa Clara
Fridays: Mariachi Band; DJ
Saturdays: DJ

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Thursdays: Jim Friery, Bluegrass Jam
Wed 12/18: Karen Eden
Fri 12/20: Frank Barajas
Sat 12/21: Jon Gindick Duo
Tues 12/24: Shorebreak
Fri 12/27: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 12/28: Shorebreak

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays: DJs
Tues 12/31: NYE Party DJs Cam, Erok & Lil Wicked.

Buena High School
5670 Telegraph Road
Library Media Center
Thurs 12/19: Not-so-Silent-Night benefit concert

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
Wed 12/18: Big Adventure
Fri 12/20: Instone
Sat 12/21: Otis Hayes
Fri 12/27: Jason Bourne
Sat 12/28: Little Alice
Tues 12/31: Self-Righteous Bros; DJ Juan in the Treehouse

Cantara Cellars
126 Wood Road, Suite 104
Camarillo, CA
Thursdays: Karaoke

Cantina 31
Limon y Sal
598 E. Main Street
Saturdays: DJ
Sundays 1-4: Instone
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ DJ Honey, DJ Cue & Alex Barajas

Casa Bella
391 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Danny D.
Tues 12/24: Doc Rogers
Sat 12/28: Doc Rogers

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Weds & Saturdays: Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Concrete Jungle Brewing
4561 Market Street
Sun 12/22: Informal Society, Dead Babies, False Patriots

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music 7 pm; Sat 11 am ; Sundays 4 pm
Saturdays: & Sundays: Kenny Devoe (11 am – 1 pm)
Tuesdays: The Jerry McWorter Trio
Sun 12/22: Karen Eden
Tues 12/31: NYE Party with Brandon Ragan Project

Crown Plaza
Top of the Harbor
450 E. Harbor Blvd
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ 80’s Invasion

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Sat 12/21: Queen Nation
Fri 12/27: After the Smoke
Sat 12/28: Heavy Petty
Tues 12/31: NYE with Yachtley Crew

Duke’s Griddle n Grill
1124 S. Seaward
Wednesdays: Karaoke

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays & Saturdays: DJ
Tues 12/31: NYE w/ guest DJ

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Music 6 – 8:30 pm Friday
Fri 12/20: Johnny & the Love Handles

The Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Fri 12/20: Dying to be Dead, Gravetitan, Cetus, Avolition
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ DJ Also

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed 6-9, Fri & Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm
Wed 12/18: Gypsy Jazz Jam
Fri 12/20: Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers
Sat 12/21: The Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 12/22: Los Dudes
Fri 12/27: Morganfield Burnett & da Blues
Sat 12/28: Tex Pistols
Sun 12/29: The Salty Suites
Tues 12/31: NYE Party with Diane Miller Band

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor Village
Music: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Mon, Thur & Fri: Kenny Devoe

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Wed 12/18: The Get Down Jam

Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
Fri 12/20: Pull the Trigger
Sat 12/21: Crosscut 805
Fri 12/27: The Riffs
Sat 12/28: What the Funk
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ DJ AVG

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Tues: Open Mic, The Listening Room
Sat 12/21: Boom Duo
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ FIDO (7-9 pm)

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 6 pm; Sat 4 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 12/19: Peter Blackwelder
Sat 12/21: Fire Mist
Sun 12/22: Milo Sledge Trio

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Fri 12/20: 8th Annual Holiday Sing-along
Tues 12/31: Donavon Frankenreiter, Tom Curren

Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Tuesdays: Beer Bros. Open Mic
Thurs 12/19: Kevin Kinsella, Man Like Dvin
Fri 12/20: Honey County
Sat 12/28: New Doubt, Safety Orange
Tue 12/31: NYE Party w/ Mandex

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke

Orozco’s de Ventura
839 E. Front Street
Fri & Sat 5 pm: Victor and Artis

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ 2 DJs

Peirano’s Delicatessen
204 E. Main Street
Music: 6-8, Sundays Noon – 2
Sat 12/21: Tommy & Paddy Marsh
Sun 12/22: The Swillys

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
Mon 12/30: Wyatt Haupt

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D.

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Fri 12/20: Bombafiya, The Deaf Pilots, Spacedragon

Rubicon Theater
1006 E. Main Street
Wed 12/11 – Sun 12/22: Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings Musical
Sat 12/22 10 am: Tiny Tots Holiday Concert

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 12/21: Casual Water

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke w/ Brian Parra
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 12/20: DJ Pistolero
Sat 12/21: Black Starr
Fri 12/27: Sin Chonies
Sat 12/28: Stevie Char
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ DJ Pistolero & Friends

The Shores Restaurant
1031 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Thursdays: Karaoke
Fri 12/20: Troy Edwards
Sat 12/21: 805 Allstarz
Fri 12/27: Ray Ray and the Posse
Sat 12/28: Johnny and the Love Handles
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ Teresa Russell & Friends

The Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Thursdays: DJ Terry
Fri 12/20: Shawn Jones Trio
Sat 12/21: CRV
Fri 12/27: Stone Grove
Sat 12/28: Mini Driver Band
Tues 12/31: NYE party w/ Arockalypse Now

The Sushi House
1127 S Seaward Avenue
Music 1 – 3:30 pm
Saturdays: Gary Ballen

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Thursdays: Get Right College Night w/ DJ Nick Dean
Fri 12/20: Goodnight Kiss
Sat 12/28: The Black Stripes
Tues 12/31: NYE Party w/ DJ Aycer & special guests

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai
Music: 3-5 pm, unless otherwise noted
Fri 12/20: Smitty & Julie and Friends (7 pm)
Sat 12/21: Patricia Avis Family Christmas
Sun 12/22: Hopeful Quartet Holiday Jazz ensemble
Sat 12/28: Shawn Jones Trio
Sun 12/29: Nathan McEuen

Ventura Beach Club
281 W. Main Street
Fri 12/20: Kelly’s Lot 25th Anniversary Celebration

Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Fri 12/20: Crooked Eye Tommy
Sat 12/21: Frank & Andy
Sun 12/22: Meghan, Alex & Saint Pierre
Fri 12/27: Acoustic DNA
Sat 12/28: Masters of the Past
Sun 12/29: Shawn Jones
Tues 12/31: NYE bash w/ Blues Bullet

The Winery Ventura
4756 Market Street
Thurs – Sat 7-10; Sundays 5-8
Fri 12/20: The Patrick Martin Band
Sat 12/21: Coleen & Co.

1901
Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Fri 12/20: The Salty Suites
Sat 12/21: Karen Eden
Fri 12/27: Shawn Jones
Sat 12/28: Milo Sledge