Making Memories! Flight of a Lifetime!

Retired Fire Chief, David Hanson, 85, enjoying the moment. Photos by Janie Tran.

by Janie Tran

It was a privilege to sit down with four residents of The Palms as they recounted their incredible experience with Dream Flights on May 15, 2024. Don Renner (87), Bill Hughes (93), Les McCormick (81), and David Hanson (85) were still giddy and full of smiles as they shared their experience of a lifetime.

Former Navy Petty Officer and Policeman, Don Renner, 87, getting ready to fly.

Don Renner enjoyed sitting at the front of the plane. It was his first time on a biplane, checking off a bucket list item. He hopes to check off parachuting and sailing next. The feeling of getting off the ground was magical for Don. He served in the Navy as a Petty Officer for six years, served in the Police Force for 20 years, and was married to his wife, Dee, for 68 years before her recent passing. Don is also a past Resident Council Chairman and a talented artist.

Bill Hughes, a First Class Navy flight engineer who served for 20 years, including in Vietnam, is considered a “big ball of sunshine” at The Palms. He was very excited about this Dream Flight!

Les McCormick, a 3rd Class Petty Officer who served for four years in the Navy/United Nations Command in Korea, is new to The Palms but is social and enjoys their outings. He started their Man Cave Monday social gathering and loves meeting new friends. This was his first time on a biplane, checking off another bucket list item. The next item on his list is parachuting.

David Hanson, an 85-year-old retired Fire Chief of 30 years, is one of the Ambassadors at The Palms, where he lives with his wife, Nancy, and their Pug, Bella. For David, the flight was a flashback to the past.

Back Row – Left to Right: Andrea Maclean, Don Renner (87), David Hanson (85), Les
McCormick (81), and Bill Hughes (93). Front row left to right is Front Row – Left to
Right: Clint Cawly, John White, Brandy McCauly, Merilyn Chaffee.

It was heartwarming to see these four seniors thanked for their service with an experience of a lifetime. Thanks to Dream Flights, a nonprofit that takes military veterans and seniors up in a biplane once used to train WWII pilots. Staff from The Palms cheered them on as they took to the skies in Dream Flights’ Boeing Stearman biplane at Camarillo Airport.

The highlight for these residents was the care and compassion of the volunteers and staff. They all agreed that the flawless takeoff and landing made the experience memorable. Despite the cloudy day, once the flights took off, the skies cleared for great visibility. For a moment, all aches and limitations were forgotten, replaced by giddiness and freedom.

This experience was more than a memory; it was a reminder of their younger days, a connection to the past, and perhaps one of their last great adventures. Dream Flights makes dreams come true, one flight at a time.

A collaborative approach to addressing homelessness

On March 26, 2024, the Ventura City Council approved a five-year plan to address homelessness. This plan, developed through collaboration with the County of Ventura, City of Oxnard, and City of Thousand Oaks, outlines a strategy tailored to Ventura’s needs. LeSar Development Consultants played a crucial role by providing extensive research to inform the plan.

The Point in Time Count, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), serves as a crucial tool for communities seeking federal grants to address homelessness. Results from the 2024 Ventura County Homeless Point in Time Count, conducted by the Ventura County Continuum of Care, showed a significant change. The number of sheltered persons increased by 14.7% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 927 individuals, while the number of unsheltered persons decreased by 12.4% to 1,431.

Key action areas within Ventura highlight the need to create permanent housing and prevention solutions to break the cycle of homelessness. These efforts involve securing funding, integrating CalAIM’s Enhanced Care Management (ECM) services, fostering partnerships, and enhancing data tracking capabilities.

Mayor Joe Schroeder commented, “The approval of Ventura’s 5-year homelessness plan by the City Council is a testament to our City’s dedication to creating positive change. Through partnership and community input, we’re taking meaningful steps to support this important community issue.”

Drawing insights from the Navigating Homelessness: A Community Engagement Survey, with over 1,100 responses, the City has initiated impactful programs. Among these is the Homeless Prevention and Diversion Program, launched on February 14, 2024, providing critical rental assistance. Strengthening its street outreach, the City partnered with the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency to offer essential case management.

Insights from the Business Engagement Survey underscore the community’s commitment to addressing homelessness. Close to 90% of local business owners affirmed their presence in the community, identifying key areas for intervention, including affordable housing, behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs.

Currently, City staff are actively pursuing funding opportunities, recently applying for grants, and exploring avenues to expand ECM services. The City Council approved the homelessness plan and directed staff to implement Planning Commission’s suggestions, with updates to be provided quarterly. This approval fulfills a portion of the sixth cycle Housing Element. The City of Ventura aims to address homelessness with compassion and forward-thinking, with the County of Ventura’s homelessness plan aiding in this mission. The City Council prioritizes tenant protections, doubling foul weather shelter capacity, ensuring ADA accessibility for all shelter beds, and establishing an achievement timetable.

For more information on the City of Ventura’s Housing Services Division and its initiatives, visit cityofventura.ca.gov/HousingServices.

Rotary Presents Awards for Peace Perspectives

by Shirley Lorraine

Showcasing extraordinary works of art by high school seniors, the Downtown Rotary Club of Ventura awarded the 6th annual Perspectives on Peace Scholarship Awards on May 22.

A full house of Rotarians, awardees and family members, and guests attended the Poinsettia Pavilion to laud the stunning accomplishments of six Artists of Distinction. Sifting through 35 exemplary entries, judges admitted it was a challenge to single out just six outstanding works.

Now in its 6th year, the awards are given in memory of Rotarian Sarah Johnson Ingram, and are the only merit-based scholarships available for VUSD students. The works come in all forms of artistic expression, allowing students to present their feelings on what peace means to them in ways that are meaningful to them personally and will resonate with others.

Rotary International has always been a world peace focused organization. As moderator Ken Leandro stated, “Rotary creates environments where peace can happen. “Through this art-based initiative, students can use creative expressions to bring their messages to life.

Wylde Brandt, a senior at Ventura High School, was awarded for his digital art creation titled “The Abyss” featuring people bridging the gap to come together in peace. Wylde plans to pursue a career in film and animation.

A painting titled “Eyes of Peace” garnered an award for Jami Chambers of El Camino High. Her work was a visual compendium of perspectives from several views. Jami plans to go on to Fullerton College.

An illustrated, animated short video submitted by Sierra Engel from Buena High School earned her the title of Artist of Distinction. Her work was a means to convey “the feeling of serenity that can be found in nature.” Sierra will be attending UC Davis in the Fall.

Moia Kingsley’s mixed media piece titled “Peaceful Words, Peaceful Heart,” using photography layered with written words showed her views on achieving inner peace, acceptance and forgiveness for a better, more peaceful world. After graduating from Foothill Technology High School, Moia plans to attend college in Illinois.

Also from Buena High School, Kendall Nagaoka was awarded for her palette painting self-portrait. It featured myriad colors indicating the many moods one can experience in the ongoing journey to find peace. She, too, will be heading to UC Davis in the Fall.

All five of these students were given a $1000 scholarship to aid in their educational pursuits. The Grand Prize of a $5000 scholarship was presented to Emily Sehati of Ventura High School. Titled “The Promise,” her art piece was a combination of digital art and poetry. She plans to attend Stanford majoring in International Relations.

Ventura Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro congratulated all the Artists of Distinction, stating “the common themes we see through this artistic expression are those we need to focus on – peace, acceptance and more. Through this art you change us, and you change the world.”

Community Memorial Healthcare Earns Specialty Pharmacy Designation 

Community Memorial Healthcare is proud to announce that Community Memorial Pharmacy has received accreditation as a “Specialty Pharmacy” from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). This accreditation demonstrates that the pharmacy consistently meets high standards for providing comprehensive, high-quality care to patients who take complex, specialty medications.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our pharmacy does to support the patients in our community who are managing chronic or life-threatening illnesses,” said Mick Zdeblick, President & Chief Executive Officer of Community Memorial Healthcare. “This Specialty Pharmacy accreditation is another example of how our patients can expect more from the services we provide at Community Memorial.”

Specialty pharmacy accreditation is a voluntary process in which pharmacies are evaluated by the ACHC on their ability to meet rigorous standards in patient management, drug quality management, and regulatory compliance. Accreditation recognizes the pharmacy for being committed to delivering safe, effective, and coordinated care.

Specialty pharmacies dispense injectable, intravenous, or oral medications to patients’ homes, physicians’ offices, or clinics, and offer disease-specific clinical monitoring and help make sure patients take their medications as directed. Accredited specialty pharmacies must have organizational infrastructure in place to support these services, provide clinical management and benefits coordination, and implement continuous quality improvement.

“Obtaining our specialty pharmacy accreditation means we have access to limited-distribution medications that other pharmacies can’t get but that are vital for many patients,” said Jack Tretko, Pharm.D, Director of Outpatient Pharmacy & Pharmacy Purchasing at Community Memorial Healthcare. “It also gives us the ability to work with more insurance companies. These benefits of accreditation mean our patients have better access to a higher level of care.”

Community Memorial’s outpatient pharmacy is conveniently located at 2790 Loma Vista Road in Ventura. The pharmacy fills and refills retail and specialty medication prescriptions, and patients have the option to pick up their medications in person or have them delivered. Same-day delivery service is available in the cities of Camarillo, Carpinteria, Fillmore, Port Hueneme, Newbury Park, Ojai, Oak View, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Ventura. Delivery is free of charge to patients of the Community Memorial Health Centers of Community Memorial Hospitals in Ventura or Ojai. For more information, visit mycmh.org/pharmacy.

Vol. 17, No. 18 – May 29 – June 11, 2024 – Community Events

Ventura Events:

Spring 2024 Patchwork Show: Saturday, June 1, 11am- 5pm. Downtown.

The palm tree-lined downtown streets of Ventura features over 50 vendors at California and Main. https://dearhandmadelife.com/patchwork-show/ventura/

Mental Wellness Festival Ventura Event: Saturday: June 1, 10:30am – 4:30pm, Ventura Harbor Village Lawn. 2nd Annual Mental Wellness Festival Event. Art Show, Native Plant Exhibit, Live Music, Yoga & Meditation, Vendors & Info Booths. mentalwellnessfest.com

1892 Dudley Museum Open House Tours: Sunday, June 2, 1 – 4pm

We will also have a drop-in, drop-out “Plumerias 101” demonstration under the pergola given by professional plumeria grower Charlie Uvari. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information  call (805) 642-3345 or visit dudleyhouse.org.

Olivas Adobe House Tours: Sunday, June 2, 11am – 3pm.

The Olivas Adobe historic site features the original two-story adobe home of Don Raymundo Olivas built in 1847. Celebrating Ventura’s Rancho and Latino heritage. Tours are $5 for Adults and $3 for children and Seniors. Located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive, Ventura. More Information is available www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe-Historical-Park.

Olivas Adobe Brides & Bell Towers: Sunday, June 9, 11am – 3pm.

View wedding dresses through the ages! From Victorian to mid-century modern to 1970s, many donated by Ventura brides of all ages!  Also an artist exhibit featuring our own Olivas Adobe Bell Tower. Visitors can enjoy historic tours of the Olivas Adobe grounds and browse the site’s unique gift shop. More Information is available www.cityofventura.ca.gov/648/Olivas-Adobe-Historical-Park.

Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc: Sunday June 2, 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Poinsettia Pavilion.
Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking
Open to the Public. 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003. For more information
call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Kayaking and Protecting the Channel Islands Talk: Saturday, June 6th, 6:30pm. Pierpont Bay Yacht Club.

Los Padres Ski and Social Club will host a noted author, Chuck Graham, who will give a talk on kayaking the Channel Islands and conservation efforts to protect the island. The general public is invited as the Club’s guests. Pierpont Bay Yacht Club, 1363 Spinnaker Dr. Starts with a free BBQ followed by the presentation at 7:30pm. Guests are encouraged to bring a dish to share. You can learn more about Chuck Graham at  www.chuckgrahamphoto.com and Instagram @chuckgrahamphoto.

The Los Padres Ski Club is a four-season sport and social club that plans snow ski trips and many year-round activities including happy hours, outings to local attractions, nature walks/hikes and other parties. Learn more about the Club at https://lospadresskiclub.net

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast Annual Food, Wine & Beer Festival: Saturday June 8th, 3:00 – 7:00pm. Camp Arnaz.

An evening of culinary delights, exquisite wines, and craft beers. Nestled in the heart of nature, Camp Arnaz provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of indulgence. Immerse yourself in a world of flavors as you sample gourmet dishes, sip on fine wines, and savor craft beers. With a capacity for 300 people, this event promises an intimate and delightful experience for all. Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast is partnering with Rotary Club of Ventura-East to host the third annual event to aid the Monarch butterfly population. Proceeds of this festival will aid in the establishment of the Monarch Breeding and Research Institute at Camp Arnaz which will promote the replenishment of the monarch population. 155 Sulphur Canyon Rd. www.girlscoutsccc.org/en/discover/activities/special-events.html

“Arbol de la Vida”: Saturday, June 15th, 1, 1:25, 3 and 3:25 pm. Downtown Ventura.

Follow dancers through new pathways and engage with the rich history of Ventura. This traveling performance will take the audience on a short walk through several iconic landmarks of Ventura. Free all-ages event. Donations are strongly encouraged to support the artists. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Mission Park, 211 E Main St. Meet by the tile mural on Main Street in front of the San Buenaventura Mission. Please leave your furry friends at home. RSVP and Donate: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arbol-de-la-vida-dance-performance-tickets-894686460287

Ongoing:

Ventura Senior Men’s Group – First and Third Tuesdays each month: 11:30am – 1:30pm – Poinsettia Pavilion.

Any man who considers himself in the “senior” category (and many who don’t) might benefit from a visit to the Ventura Senior Men’s Group.  Buffet luncheon with interesting speakers and good friends. Your first lunch is free. We talk about everything except religion and politics. Eligible to all men 50 plus. Call Tom at 805-657-1071 for more information or visit VSMG.net to find out who our speakers will be.

Play Bridge: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – 12:30pm.

ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Tuesday, Wed and Thursday games are held at Temple Beth Torah, Foothill & Kimball Rd, Ventura. Every Saturday at the Ventura Townhouse.  For additional info visit our website at www.vcbridge.org. Contact Rose at [email protected].

Ventura County Philatelic Society: First and third Monday’s each month – 7:30pm.

Church of the Foothills, Ventura. For more information, visit https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Beach Cleanup: First Saturday of every month – 8:30 -10:30am.

Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St). Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided – BYO water.

Out & About

Ojai:

Forestwatch’s 16th Annual Ojai WILD! Benefit: Sunday, June 2, 4 – 7:30pm. Thacher School’s beautiful Pavilion Lawn.

The benefit event celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Los Padres ForestWatch and raises critical funds for the protection of wild lands and wildlife in the Los Padres National Forest. Ojai WILD! is Ventura County’s longest-running fundraiser for land and wildlife conservation. Open to the public. More than 300 conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and community leaders will enjoy a fun afternoon with local wines, craft brews, delicious dinner and dessert, and exciting silent and live auctions. Tickets are $200, and tables for eight can be reserved for $1,600. Reservations may be made at OjaiWild.org, or call Camden at 805-617-4610 ext 4.

Ventura County Pottery Guild’s Annual Ojai Pottery Market: Saturday June 8, 10am – 6pm and Sunday, June 9, 10am – 5pm. Libbey Park.

The Ventura County Potters’ Guild invites the public to its annual Ojai Pottery Market at Libbey Park. This marks the 66th year of the event along with the incredible Ojai Music Festival. Over 30 local potters will display handmade functional and decorative work. \ The Pottery Market is family friendly and free to the public. The Guild is a non-profit organization \, and this is a major fundraiser, supporting ceramic education and venues for local artists. Work can also be seen year-round at the gallery store in Ventura Harbor at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105, or online at www.venturapotteryonline.com. More information can be found at www.vcpg.org.

37th Annual Ojai Wine Festival: Saturday, June 15th, 12 – 4 pm. Lake Casitas.

Organized by the Rotary Club of Ojai West Foundation, Inc., this event has grown to become a cornerstone fundraiser, attracting over 2,000 attendees from across Southern California each year. Lake Casitas Recreation Area, 11311 Santa Ana Rd, Ventura. https://ojaiwinefestival.com.

Oxnard:

Redbird’s 2024 Children of Many Colors Native American Powwow: Friday – Sunday, June 7 – 9, 2024. Oxnard College Gymnasium Field (outdoors, on the grass).

Friday evening 6 PM Open flute circle and vendor preview (All wind instruments and their players welcome, open mic, all experience levels welcome).

Free admission, free parking, everyone welcome. Native American singing, dancing, arts, crafts and food. Saturday 11am – 8pm Native American Powwow. Sunday 11am – 6pm Native American Powwow. (Veteran’s Honoring Sunday 11:30 AM approximate, all Veterans welcome). Visit www.RedbirdsVisions.org.

Santa Barbara:

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara (ETC): Thursday, May 30 – Sunday, June 16.

Santa Barbara’s only professional theatre company is proud to announce the capstone production of its 45th season, the world premiere musical, ALICE, FORMERLY OF WONDERLAND, written by seven-time Emmy Award winning writer Mark Saltzman (Romeo and Bernadette) and directed by Jim Fall (Trick), with musical arrangements by Jack Lipson.   This enchanting new musical tells the true story of the secret romance between the real-life Alice, and Prince Leopold, son of Queen Victoria and great-granduncle of Prince Harry. As a child, Alice was Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for the girl who fell down the rabbit hole, but now Alice is falling in love, despite the furious objections of the Queen. To honor the a cappella traditions at Oxford, the music of ALICE, FORMERLY OF WONDERLAND is performed without accompaniment. The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria Street. www.Ensembletheatre.com

Ventura County Grand Jury Announces Release of its Report “Linking First Responders: Ventura County Regional Radio System”

The ability of first responders to communicate on a common radio system is critical when coordinating a response to a major event. The lives of first responders and the people they serve may be at risk if first responders are unable to call for assistance.

The 2023-2024 Grand Jury researched the readiness, interoperability and use of the radio communication systems first responders employ in the event of emergencies affecting Ventura County.

The Grand Jury learned that significant improvements have been made in the ability of first responders to communicate with each other. This report highlights those improvements as well as the remaining challenges.

The Grand Jury finds that:

  • Portions of some systems currently in use lack upgraded features, cannot penetrate some buildings, have reception issues in some areas and are not able to provide encryption as needed.
  • Without integrated training, inaccurate or incomplete information could be transmitted.
  • Two cities have not completed nor presented a Memorandum of Understanding to their city councils to adopt the Ventura County Regional Radio System.
  • One city can only communicate with other Ventura County agencies’ dispatch using a “patching” system, rather than by direct communication.
  • All county and city fire departments have adopted common technology, providing interoperability regardless of city boundaries. The Ventura County Regional Radio System can communicate with all fire departments.

The Grand Jury makes recommendations to remedy these deficiencies and to continue the work toward optimal implementation of the Ventura County Regional Radio System.

To read the entire report, please go to https://www.ventura.org/grand-jury/fiscal-year-2023-2024/

The Ventura County Civil Grand Jury is a panel of 19 local citizens established to investigate public complaints about county, city or special districts management, policies, practices and processes. More information about the Grand Jury can be found at: https://www.ventura.org/grand-jury/

Vol. 17, No. 18 – May 29 – June 11, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday, 5/14
12:26pm – Briefing with Fish & Wildlife officers regarding their vessel at the
patrol dock. The vessel is taking on water, working to mitigate the source.

Wednesday, 5/15
3:27pm – Officers checking in on Rescue Boat 19 at the Ventura Boatyard. The
vessel was taken out of service because of a strong odor of gasoline in the bilges.
A new gas tank was recently put in and mechanics were inspecting the work.

Thursday, 5/16
4:00pm- Dispatched to an Ocean Rescue, a kite surfer in distress at Surfers point.
Officers responded in the Fireboat to the call. Once on scene, officers assisted
two State Parks Lifeguards with transporting the victim to the shore.

4:55pm – Picked up Rescue Boat 19 at the boatyard. While conducting a sea trial
the engines stalled. Officers responded in the Fireboat to tow the vessel at the
Harbor Entrance, but the problem was corrected, and the vessel continued.

9:00pm – City and Ventura Pure Water construction will do major work at the
intersection of Schooner/Anchors Way to repair a broken water main.

11:55pm – While on patrol in the truck, observed a 15ft broken pier pilling that
was erected near the shore at Harbor Cove. Officers removed the hazard.

Friday, 5/17
8:00am – Observed a brown Suburban that normally parks in Surfers Knoll and is
the cause of daily complaints, driving erratically and dangerously on Spinnaker
Drive. Officers relayed information to Ventura PD dispatch.

2:58pm – Dispatched to an assault at Anchors Way/Schooner intersection.
Officers responded with VPD, patient refused assistance, VPD took over call.

5:26pm – Dispatched to chest pain in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers
responded with VFD/AMR to assist the patient with assessment.

Saturday, 5/18
7:46am – Dispatched to difficulty breathing at the Harbortown timeshare.
Officers responded on foot to the room. Treatment was provided to the patient.

8:33am – Officers creating temporary launch ramp parking permits for the United
States coast guard auxiliary to hand out to skippers willing to let them conduct
an informational safety inspection of their vessel before they depart.

9:52am – Dispatched to cardiac arrest initially in the water near VWM. Officers
responded in the truck and Fireboat. After arriving on scene, the victim had
fallen off their boat last night, and unfortunately resuscitation was not possible.

1:51pm – Observed a “boat club” vessel speeding/waking in the main channel of
the harbor. Contacted via VHF16, gained compliance for the violation.

2:05pm – Received request for a tow from a disabled motor vessel near the #4
buoy outside the harbor. Officers responded in Rescue B19, passed tow line and
towed the vessel into the harbor, where TowBoat US took over in a side-tie.

Sunday, 5/19
8:10am – Received request to open gate at end of Spinnaker for canoe club.

1:21pm -Dispatched to an unconscious person in the Ventura Marina
Community. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist with the patient.

Monday, 5/20
7:00am – Contracted company conducting sand removal at Harbor Cove after
Coastal Commission permit approved for the work.

Search Dog Foundation Named One of the Best Nonprofits to Work For 2024

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation announced it was recently selected as one of the 2024 Best Nonprofits to Work For. The NonProfit Times, the leading national business publication for nonprofit managers, has partnered with Best Companies Group to identify nonprofit organizations where leaders have excelled in creating quality workplaces.

Founded in 1996, Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization based in Santa Paula, CA. Its mission is to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. SDF pledges to support each of these teams through training and medical coverage for the entire life of each canine, all provided at no cost to their task forces and departments. The organization was founded by Wilma Melville, a retired schoolteacher who was deployed to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 with her FEMA-certified search dog, Murphy. Returning from the deployment, she was determined to do something about America’s severe shortage of canine disaster search teams and created SDF to address this problem. Since then, SDF has recruited hundreds of rescued dogs and trained over 180 certified search teams deployed to over 260 disasters and missing person searches.

The survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the 50 best employers in the nonprofit industry, benefiting the industry’s economy, workforce, and businesses. Nonprofits from across the United States entered the two-part survey process to determine the Best Nonprofits to Work For. The first part evaluated each nominated organization’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics and was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation.

The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top nonprofits and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process, analyzed the data, and determined the ranking.

For more information on The Nonprofit Times’ Best Nonprofits to Work For program, visit www.BestNonprofitstoWorkFor.com.

How the bats saved Mission San Buenaventura

by Richard Senate

Fr. Rubio was the rector of the old Mission in Ventura in the mid 19th Century. He saw it as his goal to modernize the church and make it up to date. There was even talk of demolishing the Mission Church and replacing it with a wooden Gothic monstrosity so beloved by Victorians. Fortunately for history, there wasn’t enough money for such an ambitious project.

So, Fr. Rubio, did his best to disguise the historic nature of the church. He took out the small windows in the chapel and replaced them with long stainedglass windows that did little to illuminate the interior. Then, he installed a wooded floor over the titles put in by the Chumash and painted out the designs the Native Converts used on the walls. The high ceiling was hidden by a false ceiling (to better heat the chapel). In all ways he tried to eliminate the humble beginnings of the church. When he demolished the fountain, some in Ventura protested that it should be preserved. The good father said, “Why? We have older things in Spain.”

The “modernized church” stood for many years in this way until a grant from the Hearst Foundation in 1952 permitted the church to be restored to something like the way it was in the days of Imperial Spain. When the wooden floors were removed, the old tiles were preserved where the Chumash prayed long ago. The stainedglass window removed and the spaces filled in. The renovation of the paintings of the Stations of the Cross, used all the allotted cash. They could do no more. But they did start to removed the false ceiling so that visitors could at least see the powerful beams that hold the roof. When they did, they discovered that bats had been roosting in the space! The false ceiling was filled with piles of bat droppings! As you may know, Guano, bat poop, is one of the richest of all fertilizers. The good ladies of the church made little cotton bags, stuffed in the guano and sold it! They made enough money to finish the restoration of the Mission Chapel. So, in a humble way, the bats help to restore the Mission.

Vol. 17, No. 18 – May 29 – June 11, 2024 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Beautiful Game – Netflix

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

“The Beautiful Game” is based on true events involving the Homeless World Cup, where homeless teams from around the world compete annually in a global street soccer tournament. Retired legendary professional football scout Mal Bradley (Bill Nighy) was the manager of England’s homeless football team for the twelve season and was training a group of five men to go to this year’s tournament in Rome, all expenses paid.

Through a chance encounter at a public park, Mal found ex-pro footballer Vinny Walker (Michael Ward) and hoped he could encourage Vinny to join the team. Vinny didn’t recognize Mal, but Mal recognized Vinny and had a connection to his past as well as knowing about his current life situation creating an ideal scenario for Vinny to join the team. Mal said it wasn’t about winning, that everyone cheered for everyone and that it was mainly about the individuals’ stories and second chances in life.

Mal invited Vinny to join them for some food and though a bit hesitant Vinny followed along. Mal was somewhat of a father figure to the five team members he chose to represent England, spending time with them eating at a local shelter and reminding them of basic things to keep their lives on track. Vinny felt joining the team could help get his life back on track with his wife and daughter, so headed to Rome with the rest of the team.

The 20th Homeless World Cup in Rome had teams from Mexico, Nigeria, Sweden, Germany, Kenya, Argentina, Austria, Greece, Brazil, Pakistan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Japan, USA, England, South Africa and Italy. Players could only play one year and were not only there to represent their individual countries, but to represent homeless people around the world and bring awareness to the global issue of homelessness and how hope can transform lives.

Due to South Africa not arriving by the start of the tournament, they had to forfeit giving England three points and putting them in the lead. The next team that England faced was Portugal and Mal reminded the team to play with dignity, sportsmanship and discipline, though Mal himself was quite hot tempered with the ref and ended up getting a red card, resulting in him having to leave the game and have Vinny coach. England ended up winning against Portugal, but graciously allowed South Africa back in the tournament and was beaten by them.

England’s next opponent was Japan, but they had to win by eight points or more to get into the quarterfinals, which they did, where they would face Mexico, then Italy. If England won both those matches, they would get a rematch with South Africa in the finals. Between matches all the team members were given opportunities to explore Rome’s famous tourist destinations, something that would normally have been impossible due to the extreme limitations of homeless life.

The 2024 Homeless World Cup will be held September 21-28 in Seoul, first time in an Asian country, and will include 50 countries and over 500 participants. For more information about the actual Homeless World Cup visit www.homelessworldcup.org

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