Vol. 12, No. 18 – June 5 – June 18, 2019 – Music Calendar

Music Calendar
For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Bank of Books
748 E. Main Street
Music 6:30 – 8 pm
Sat 6/8: Lasso the Moon, Crawdads, Trypanosome

Black Angus
4718 Telephone Road
Music 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Thursdays: Mark David Undercover

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

The Blue Room
Ventura Harbor Village
(Next to Comedy Club)
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Monday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Mondays: Milo Sledge
Tuesdays: Jason Ho/Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Bluegrass Jam
Sun 6/9: RJ Mischo
Wed 6/12: Karen Eden w/ Cary Park

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays: DJs

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
Wed 6/5: Bryan McCann
Fri 6/7: Holger’s Heroes
Sat 6/8: Jason Bourne
Sun 6/9: Jangala Roots
Tues 6/11: Donna Greene
Wed 6/12: Donna Butler
Fri 6/14: The Collectives
Tues 6/18: Freda & the Sixtgh

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

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music 7 pm; Sundays 4 pm
Saturdays: Ruben Estrada & The Martinez Brothers
Tuesdays: The Jerry McWorter Trio
Wed 5/22: Al Macias Open Mic
Fri 6/7: Nuestro Band
Sun 6/9: House Arrest
Fri 6/14: Native Vibe
Sun 6/16: Brandon Ragan Project

Dargan’s Irish Rub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
Sun 6/16: The Sunday Drivers (4 pm)

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Thurs 6/6: Jordan T with After the Smoke
Fri 6/7: Andre Nickatina, J. Lately
Sat 6/8: Spazmatics
Sun 6/9: Sgt. Pepper
Tues 6/11: Alejandro Escovedo
Wed 6/12: Dustland Fairytale
Thurs 6/13: The Question
Fri 6/14: Shaky Feelin’
Sat 6/15: Caile to the Baile, Sonora Explosiva, Efektivos de Arranke

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

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Music 6 – 8:30 pm
Fri 6/7: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Fri 6/14: Déjà vu Too

Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Sat 6/8: The Robot Uprising, Death Ride, Last Point, Alternative Clique

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke
Fri 6/14: Dad Brains Album release party

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic
Thursdays 7 pm: Open Jazz Jam

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed & Thurs 6 pm; Fri & Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm
Thurs 6/6: Joey Billingiere with The Session
Sun 6/9: The Tossers

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Wed 6/5: Civil Conflict, NNN, Bare Minimum, Operation Oxnard
Thursdays: Karaoke
Fri 6/7: How to Live with Robots, Astreyas
Sat 6/8: La Imagen Nortena
Sun 6/9: Del Franklin

Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
Fri 6/7: Funkronicity
Sat 6/8: Old School
Fri 6/14: DJ-AVG
Sat 6/15: What the Funk

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Tues: Open Mic, The Listening Room
Thurs 6/6: DJ Professor

Limon y Sal
598 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ
Sundays: Instone (1-4 pm)

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 6 pm; Sat 4 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 6/6: Alec Ledbetter
Sat 6/8: Ben Schneid
Sun 6/9: 50 Sticks of Dynamite
Thurs 6/13: Mark Masson
Sat 6/15: The Mystos
Sun 6/16: Alec Ledbetter

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Sat 6/8: Bone Maggots, The Deveros, The Guitar and Whiskey Club, SixPackofDoom, Samoan Take-Out, Stronger than Machines

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri 6/7: Crosican Brothers
Sat 6/8: Kryptonites
Sun 6/9: Mark Masson
Fri 6/14: Operation 90s
Sat 6/15: Bob Bishop Band
Sun 6/16: Mike Martinez

Namba
47 S. Oak Street
Sat 6/8: RJ Mischo

Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Sundays: Sing Time Karoke
Tuesdays: Beers Brothers Open Mic
Wednesdays: Big Adventure
Thurs 6/6: Mark Masson & Friends
Fri 6/7: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 6/8: Ric Ash, Pull the Trigger
Sun 6/9: Dr. Sucio
Mon 6/10: Silver & Gold, Ferriswheels, Blossum, Pretty Well
Thurs 6/13: Beers Brothers Showcase
Fri 6/14: Diego
Sat 6/15: Vanise Terry Band

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 6/9: Johnny and the Love Handles

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D.

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Sat 6/8: All-a-Blur, Plot, F– USE, Birdbrain, One Minute Run

Rubicon Theater
1006 E. Main Street
Sat 6/8: Amanda McBroom – Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues
Sun 6/9: Amanda McBroom – Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues
Fri 6/14: The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters
Sat 6/15: The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters
Sun 6/16: The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sun 6/9: Steve Greenwood

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke w/ Brian Parra
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 6/7: Sin Chonies
Sat 6/8: Outlaw In-Laws
Sat 6/15: Medicine Hat, Aunt Cynthia’s Cabin

The Shores Restaurant
1031 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Thursdays: Karaoke
Fri 6/7: Karen Eden w/ Bill Macpherson
Sat 6/8: Vanise Terry Band
Sun 6/9: Savannah Bruce
Fri 6/14: RayRay
Sat 6/15: Sin Chonies
Sun 6/16: Two’s Company

The Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 6/7: The Gift Horse
Sat 6/8: Morganfield Burnett Band
Fri 6/14: Reign
Sat 6/15: Power Syndicate

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Tuesdays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Get Right DJ

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai
Music Saturdays: 5-7; Sundays 4-6
Sat 6/8: National Cat
Sun 6/9: Cindy Kalmenson
Sat 6/15: Boogie Woogie Band
Sun 6/16: Patricia Avis Trio

Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker Drive
Music 1-4 pm
Sat 6/15: Surfer Joe
Sun 6/16: Cash Cats

Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Fri 6/7: Blues Bullet (unplugged)
Sat 6/8: The Tossers (unplugged)
Sun 6/9: Crooked Eye Crossroads
Fri 6/14: National Cat
Sat 6/15: Karyn 805
Sun 6/16: The Heckle and Jeckle Show

1901 Speakeasy
649 South B Street, Oxnard
Fri 6/7: Rich Sheldon
Sat 6/8: Salty Suites
Fri 6/14: Tex Pistols
Sat 6/15: Karen Eden w/ Bill Macpherson

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Music at 11 am – 1 pm Fri & Saturday
4-7 pm Saturday
Saturdays: Kenny Devoe
Sundays: Kenny Devoe

Ventura College Foundation announces recipients of 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards

Molly Gallagher, Declan Feeney (Helen Yunker’s great nephew) and his mother Amy Feeney (niece of Helen Yunker) presenting the Music Scholarship.

The Ventura College Foundation presented scholarships to 140 students during its 32nd Annual Scholarship Awards luncheon and ceremony, Saturday, May 4 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach.

Ventura College students received $326,529 in scholarship funds. Some earned multiple scholarships. “I’ve had the opportunity to observe and interact with hundreds of scholarship recipients,” says Dr. Ruth Hemming, the vice chair of the VC Foundation Board and the chair of the Scholarships & Grants committee.

Speaking at the luncheon was Ventura College student, Erick Pina, 31, winner of the Martinez y Ewens Anasazi Scholarship, and the Niamatullah SA and A-Ishah MA Memorial Scholarship. This is the second year that Pina has received scholarships for his high level of academic work.

Attending Ventura College has made a big impact on Pina’s life. Addiction to drugs had set him back. Once clean, he enrolled in Ventura College hoping to, at most, earn Cs in his classes. The now straight A student and a campus Circle Kiwanis International board member, Pina graduated this spring with a AA in sociology, and will have earned two more degrees in social behavioral science and in criminal justice next spring. He was selected to be a First Year Experience Peer Leader for Ventura College and a Ventura College Foundation Student Ambassador for the coming fall semester. “Being awarded the scholarships means someone out there believes in me,” says Pina. “Donors can see that I can truly overcome obstacles in my life.”

Honored in memoriam during the luncheon were endowed scholarship creators who have left a lasting legacy to the school. Honored were Helen Yunker, George Tillquist, Miriam Schwab, Michael A. Ewens and Frank Cavola.

Molly Gallagher, 20, was one of the recipients of the Helen Yunker Music Scholarship. Gallagher plays the viola. She aspires to be a professional musician and to teach the next generation of musicians. Yunker, who passed away in 2018, was passionate about music. Over almost three decades, Yunker awarded numerous scholarships and donated more than $945,000. Upon her passing, the VC Foundation received $2 million from her estate to establish endowments for the Ventura College Music Department and the Opera and Musical Theatre program.

Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace; an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or [email protected] or visit www.VCgiving.org.

 

 

 

 

Vol. 12, No. 18 – June 5 – June 18, 2019 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

5-16 6:59pm, dispatched to a water rescue, capsized boat near VIM. Officers responded in the vehicle with VFD/AMR. Officers found the victim out of the water and in no distress or in need of medical attention.
5-18 9:30pm, received a walk-in request for medical attention. Officers responded from the operations center and assisted VFD/AMR with a 26-year-old female complaining of seizures. She was transported to local hospital for further help.
5-19 6:30am, harbor patrol and marine safety officers with the Port District assisting State Parks/AMR with the Breath-of-Life triathlon at Harbor Cove.
5-21 12:35pm, Beach Hazard conditions: 3-5ft Southwest swell with strong West winds 25 to 35 knots. Winds are expected to increase throughout the night.
5-22 5:35pm, dispatched to a medical in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with an 82-year-old female.
5-27 9:00am, Ventura County Fire rescue swimmers conducting a class with Ventura Harbor Patrol & Marine Safety Officers. Participants practiced Rescue Water Craft operations and rescue procedures.

6:20pm, Beach Hazard Assessment: large crowds with favorable weather all throughout the beaches. 3-5ft Southwest Swell with many strong rip currents in all the usual areas: Surfers Knoll groin, South Jetty and the breech in the Santa Clara Rivermouth.

7:38pm, while manning the operations center, officers observed a broken transmission on VHF 16. Then they observed a vessel in distress at the Harbor Entrance, with the 3 Persons onboard using paddles to return to the Harbor. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and safely towed the disabled vessel to the launch ramp where it was released.

Vol. 12, No. 18 – June 5 – June 18, 2019 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

If nothing else, Ventura is known as a community that loves to give back; case in point, the Ventura Theater will be hosting a Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser on Saturday, June 8, with lots of favorite local bands being given the opportunity to play the big stage. The genres range from hard rock to metal with Bone Maggots, The Deveros, The Guitar and Whiskey Club, SixPackofDoom, Samoan Take-Out and Stronger Than Machines. This one is all ages and will be over by 11 pm. Tickets are only $10.00.

The Rubicon Theater has a number of music related events the next couple of weeks. First over the weekend of June 8 and 9 it’s Amanda McBroom performing “Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues” and the following weekend, June 14 – 16, you won’t want to miss the iconic doo-wop sounds of the 50s and 60s with The Drifters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters playing two shows daily. You can find ticket information at RubiconTheatre.org.

The Hong Kong Inn has live music once again with quite the eclectic mix of genres. They’ll have punk shows on Wednesday, June 5, with Civil Conflict, NNN, Bare Minimum and Operation Oxnard, and then again on Friday, June 7 with How to Live with Robots and Astreyas; then it’s Latin fun with La Imagen Nortena on Saturday June 8, and smooth jazz on Sunday June 9 with Del Franklin.

Quick Notes: there will be a free, all-ages show, at Bank of Books on Saturday, June 8, with Lasso the Moon (Compton), Crawdads and Trypanosome; more punk with All-a-Blur, Plot, F– USE, Birdbrain and One Minute Run at the Red Cove on Saturday, June 8; Plan B Wine Cellars offers Johnny and the Love Handles for your Sunday early evening, June 9 (4:30 – 7 pm); Silver & Gold out of Greeley, Colorado will be making a stop on their tour for a special show at Oak and Main on Monday, June 10, along with Ferriswheels, Blossum and Pretty Well; Dad Brains is holding their album release party at Gigi’s Cocktails on Friday, June 14; the Ventura Harbor Village is once again providing live music over the weekend from 1-4 pm with Surfer Joe on June 15, and Cash Cats on June 16; and finally, good to know that the open jazz jam is gaining some traction on Thursdays at Golden China.

Big news!!! Be sure to listen to episode #84 of The Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM for the world premiere release of the brand-new Crooked Eye Tommy Album! Episode #84 also includes an interview with Tommy Marsh which airs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 pm and Sundays at noon for two weeks. You can also listen with the MyTuner app for your phone or online at CapsMedia.org.

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. 12, No. 18 – June 5 – June 18, 2019 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura  Police Department and are not the opinions of  the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned  are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty  in a court of law.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle Arrests

On May 20, at approximately 7:30pm, a detective with the Ventura Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit was in the 300 block of Hillmont Ave., when he observed a parked vehicle that he knew to be a reported stolen vehicle out of Ventura. The vehicle was occupied by several subjects, so the detective requested additional officers respond to assist him. Once the officers arrived on scene, the three suspects later identified as 25-year-old Oxnard resident Matthew Matthew Yanez, 20-year-old Ventura resident Dillon Webb, and 28-year-old Ventura resident Jeannette Beltran, were ordered out of the vehicle and detained.

At the conclusion of the investigation, all three suspects were arrested. Yanez was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and an out of county warrant. Dillion was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and Beltran was arrested for several warrants.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Yanez has prior convictions for petty theft, possession of stolen property, giving false information to an officer, and vandalism. It also showed that Webb has several convictions for resisting arrest, giving false information to an officer, and possession of a controlled substance and Beltran has several pending cases for petty theft, possession of a controlled substance, and for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Stolen Vehicle Arrest

On May 22, at approximately 11:30am, patrol officers responded to Crown Dodge regarding a stolen vehicle. The investigation revealed the suspect had walked onto the sales lot, entered an unlocked vehicle with the keys inside and drove away. A dealer installed tracking device in the truck showed its last location to be in Oxnard near Victoria Avenue and Gumtree.

Ventura Police Detectives worked with Oxnard Police detectives who drove to the area and found the vehicle and the suspect, 23-year-old Ventura resident Elizabeth Fine. The suspect was arrested and the vehicle was returned to Crown Dodge.

Robbery Arrests

On May 22, at approximately 12pm, officers responded to a robbery that had just occurred. The two suspects had fled after committing the robbery, and when officers arrived in the area, the suspects, 22-year-old Angelique Pharms and 24-year-old Darnique Bynoe, were found and detained. The investigation confirmed they were responsible for the robbery and revealed the victim had arranged to meet with the suspects via an online dating app. As soon as the victim met with Pharms at the hotel room, the second suspect, Bynoe, attacked him with a bat, striking him on the head. The suspects took money from the victim and fled on foot.

Assault with a deadly weapon on an officer (it should have been a donut)

On May 23, at approximately 7:30pm, a Ventura PD patrol officer was driving in the area of Telephone Rd and Clinton Ave when the suspect threw a full Gatorade bottle at the officer’s moving patrol car. The Gatorade bottle was frozen solid and struck the roof of the patrol car. The officer was in standard uniform and operating a marked black and white patrol vehicle.

The officer turned around to contact the suspect., 42-year-old Ventura resident Zachary Robinson. Upon approaching the suspect, the suspect threw a full, unopened beer can toward the officer. Fortunately, the beer can missed the officer and the patrol car.

The officer then contacted and the suspect and took him into custody without incident. No force was used and there was no injury to the officer or suspect.

The suspect was booked into Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and throwing an object at a vehicle occupant, both felony offenses.

Armed Robbery and Conspiracy Arrests

On May 25, at approximately 9pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a 26-year-old male victim reporting that he had just been robbed by two suspects, one armed with a knife, and his bicycle was taken. He reported the suspects were last seen fleeing from Plaza Park westbound on Thompson Blvd. Officers responding to the call saw the suspects within a block from the park and detained them near the corner of California St. and Thompson Blvd.

During the investigation officers learned that the victim and the two suspects, later identified as 20-year-old Ventrua resident Dillon Webb and 25-year-old vagrant Colton Braga, were sitting together in the park when for unknown reasons Webb suddenly punched the victim and attempted to take his bike. As the two struggled for possession of the bike, Webb removed a knife and threatened the victim. Braga then took the bike from the victim.

Webb and Braga were positively identified by the victim and arrested for robbery and conspiracy. Braga had an additional charge of a parole violation.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Webb has several convictions for resisting arrest, giving false information to an officer, and possession of a controlled substance. Braga is on parole and shows to have a prior conviction in 2017 for battery.

Burglary Arrest and Arrest of Wanted Subject

On May 22, at 3:30pm, an unknown suspect threw a brick through the victim’s glass door and entered the residence, stole property and fled the area. Ventura Police Patrol arrived on scene and located evidence of the burglary.

Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit began investigating and using evidence that was located at the scene as well as surveillance security cameras from neighbors, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 39-year-old Nicolas Johnson. Detectives located Johnson on May 30 in the 1800 block of Potomac Ave. While surveilling Johnson, detectives also saw a wanted subject, 34-year-old Anthony Frederico, at the same residence as Johnson. Once Johnson left the residence he was arrested for Residential Burglary. Johnson has been arrested previously for residential burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, and numerous narcotic charges.

After taking Johnson into custody, SCU Detectives along with Ventura Police K9 and Ventura Police SET Detectives returned to the residence and took Anthony Frederico into custody for his warrants.

Attempt Robbery Arrest

On May 29, at approximately 5:30pm, a suspect, later determined to be 33-year-old Ross Treusdell, stepped inside the front door of a liquor store located in the 300 block of Thompson Blvd. and demanded money from the clerk. Treusdell was holding a knife and was about 40 feet away from the clerk. The clerk told Treusdell “no” and that he was going to call the police. As the clerk picked up the phone to call the police, Treusdell ran out of the business in an unknown direction. Patrol units searched the area for Treusdell but were unable to locate him.

On May 30, at approximately 2pm, a Ventura PD patrol officer was looking for a missing juvenile at the Bus Depot located at 3330 Telegraph Rd. While in the area, he saw Treusdell and knew he was the suspect of the attempted robbery from the day before. The officer stopped his vehicle and went to make contact with the Treusdell, but before the officer was able to reach him, Treusdell started running away. After a short foot chase, the officer caught Treusdell as he was attempting to go inside Staples and took him to the ground. Treusdell was taken into custody, and no one was injured during the arrest.

Performances added to VC Fair Grandstand Entertainment lineup

The VC Fair has added 3 performances to the 2019 Grandstand Entertainment Series, rounding out the diverse schedule of concerts to the fair.

Adding a concert on opening night, July 31, the 2019 VC Fair will now present 11 free concerts. This year’s list of Fair entertainers will satisfy Ventura County music lovers with every unique performance:

All Grandstand Concerts are free with Fair admission!

·     Wednesday, July 31 @7:30: Styx

·     Thursday, August 1 @7:30: Martina McBride

·     Friday, August 2 @7:30:  Melissa Etheridge

·     Saturday, August 3 @7:30: The Ohio Players with special guests The Emotions and Evelyn “Champagne” King

·     Sunday, August 4 @3:00: Banda Carnaval, Luis Coronel, Cuarto de Milla

·     Monday, August 5 @7:30: X Ambassadors

·     Tuesday, August 6 @1:00: Tommy James and the Shondells (matinee only)

·     Tuesday, August 6 @7:30: Brothers Osborne

·     Wednesday, August 7 @7:30: Daughtry

·     Thursday, August 8 @7:30: George Thorogood and the Destroyers “Good to be Bad Tour – 45 Years of Rock”

·     Friday, August 9 @7:30 : Collective Soul

·     Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 will bring the fair to an end with Western style Rodeos, free with paid fair admission.

The 144th Ventura County Fair, “A Country Fair with Ocean Air”, begins Wednesday, July 31 and runs through to Sunday August 11. For more information please call (805) 648 -3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.

 

Recognized as a best practice leader statewide in family recruitment

Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Foster VC Kids has been one of the most innovative initiatives in the state of California, serving predominantly as a recruitment tool in Ventura County. In addition to the successful Foster VC Kids Initiative, there are a plethora of valuable initiatives that support and provide for resource families and the youth they care for.

When the Businesses with Heart (BWH) Initiative began it was to provide discounts from local merchants for families entrusted with helping the resource families with needs for their children.  The resource families and now birth parents using “BWH Cards” have made the program one of the most beneficial for resource and biological families in Ventura County. By providing discounts on products and services, mentorship and job opportunities, resource families have access to support in order to empower and encourage the youth and children they care for.

What wasn’t realized was the impact the BWH Initiative, over 40 businesses strong, would have on other key elements for youth 18+ that have come through foster care during their lives.  Many of the BWH entrepreneurs – have begun to do much more for our Ventura County youth in care.  As the business owners have learned more about the need of the youth – they have additionally begun providing mentorship and even better, jobs!

Chipotle Mexican Grill, which had been around for over 25 years, has been pivotal in the success of youth in care in Ventura County.

Youth in care are at risk the minute they set out on their own and it is crucial that they receive the support and encouragement from their community. Within the first five years of being emancipated, more than 50% of youth in foster care become a statistic of unemployment. Without jobs, most of these youth become homeless, 40-50% to be exact! (2007) Our Children: Emancipating Foster Youth. Retrieved from http://www.thesoh.org/about-us/foster-youth-statistics-need/

Jaci Johnson, Program Coordinator/Resource Family Recruitment, Development & Support for Ventura County Children and Family Services said, “I think what makes our youth so resilient is that they always hang on to hope. They know there’s something bigger and better out there for themselves and they believe in themselves no matter how difficult it is, through their ups and their downs. You talk to these kids and they themselves are able to dig so deep into their inner strength and it’s just that hope, it’s never give up on themselves.”

Recognized as a best practice leader statewide in the family recruitment and support component of child welfare, Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Foster VC Kids was developed to increase the amount of loving resource families who are ready to take in children in need in Ventura County. This initiative provides resource families with ongoing support services, trauma-informed training, and mentorship to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being of Ventura County’s youth and families.  Learn how Ventura County Children and Family Services’ Foster VC Kids is making a difference throughout Ventura County, www.fostervckids.org.

Vol. 12, No. 18 – June 5 – June 18, 2019 – Ojai News & Events

Local author John Darling will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019, to present a special talk, Inside the Mind of an Author. Darling has been writing since the 1970s, and has published numerous short stories, poems, and magazine articles.

During this talk, Darling will share a bit of his own background and why he writes across multiple genres. He will also share his sources of inspiration. There will also be a chance to play “Stump the Author,” where participants can test his ability to spin a story out of only a few words for a chance to win a small prize!

Darling’s first publication was a short story which appeared in the Journal of Mental Health. His lone play, Stage Directions, has been produced in the United States, Canada, and England. A complete list of his books and more information can be found on his author website, http://johndarlingauthor.com/.

Local author F.D. Cameron will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2019, to present his newest novel, Kingdom of the Black Narcissus. F. D. Cameron has been a magazine editor and writer in Los Angeles, and a counseling psychologist and lead faculty at Regis University in Denver. He is also the author of The River Told, published in 2016. This event will include a reading of passages from the book.

Kingdom of the Black Narcissus is a gender-bending love story and historical adventure that chronicles the exploits of Morgan Booth, a young globe-trotting American grappling with his sexual identity. When he travels to Cairo, Egypt, a chance rendezvous reunites him with a former college friend from Germany and his African-American girlfriend. Together they embark on an adventure.

Cameron’s latest novel has been called “a compelling immersion in another world.” This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Join Lanny Kaufer on Saturday, June 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a Nature Hike to Potrero John Camp, deep in the Sespe Wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest.

The hike will take place on Potrero John Creek, 20 miles north of Ojai. The group will cover 1.7 miles each way on a gradually ascending but mostly level trail with some elevation gain through chaparral and riparian settings, beginning at 3700 feet.

The cost is $25 for adults,  $20 for seniors 62 and older, and $15 for students 13-17.  Kids 5-12 can go free, one per adult, by prior arrangement. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Toddlers must be in a carrier.

Register at HerbWalks.com or by calling 805-646-6281. Registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info. No pre-payment is required.

The Ojai Photography Community (OPC) will host Santa Barbara based photographer, Chuck Place, presenting “Drone Photography – It’s All About Altitude,” on June 18 at 7 p.m. in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana St. The OPC invites the public to attend this free event.

In his presentation Place will cover the exciting new field of drone photography. He will share his experiences and the expertise he has achieved in shooting aerial photographs for hospitality, construction and real estate clients. His illustrated talk will feature a selection of the stunning images he has created utilizing a drone. He will discuss the unique advantages of drones as well as their safety issues

Take to the sea with Island Packers new dinner cruises

With summer fast approaching, visitors to Ventura Harbor Village, Ventura’s top seaside attraction, can now enjoy the warmer days ahead on a two-hour Island Packers boat dinner cruise where they will experience delicious cuisine paired to live entertainment from June through September, 2019.

Beginning in June, and operating on selected Saturdays through September cruise the protected waters of Ventura Harbor and enjoy a savory meal, and listen to quality music aboard a comfortable motor catamaran. Cuisine on these limited capacity ships is catered by the Ventura’s top restaurants, including Anacapa Brewery, The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood, and Margarita Villa. A variety of beers, wines produced by local wineries, as well as non-alcoholic beverages, are also available for purchase.

Guests will enjoy live music featuring blues, jazz, rock, country, bluegrass and more. With seating available inside the lower and upper cabins, passengers have several comfortable seating options as they cruise through Ventura Harbor and the waterfront homes of the Ventura Keys.

Dinner Cruises $ 60 Adult, $ 56 Senior (55+), $ 45 Child (age 12 and under)

Includes: Harbor Cruise from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., live music, one appetizer, dinner, dessert and one free beverage of choice.

Island Packers is the authorized concessionaire servicing the Channel Islands National Park and has been family-owned and operated since 1968. For information, reservations or to purchase gift certificates: Visit www.islandpackers.com, call 805-642-1393, or visit Island Packers at 1691 Spinnaker Dr., Suite 105B, in Ventura Harbor Village.

Opera Santa Barbara embarks on First Youth Opera Summer Program

Opera Santa Barbara is excited to embark on its first Santa Barbara Youth Opera summer camp. From June 10-23, the talented group of young singers will be producing, rehearsing, and then performing Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke’s Odyssey (commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival) at the Alhecama Theatre.

The Santa Barbara Youth Opera provides young singers with tuition-free instruction and performance opportunities in a fun, rewarding and artistically challenging environment. Students enjoy unparalleled exposure to the workings of a professional opera company.

Camp schedule consists of morning workshops with our production team—the same costume manager, stage manager, prop designer, and hair/wigs/makeup designer that work locally throughout the year for all main stage production. Afternoons will be spent staging the production, music rehearsals, and dance.

Performances will be held on Friday, June 21st at 7:30pm and on Sunday, June 23rd at 2:30pm. There will be a special preview performance at The Solstice Festival Youth Stage on Saturday, June 22nd at 1:30pm. Leadership includes Stage Director, Layna Chianakas of San Jose Opera, Music Director, Erin McKibben of the Santa Barbara Revels, and Program Director, Lex Benes, Education and Outreach Manager for Opera Santa Barbara.

There are still spots open for the summer camp! Please email our Education and Outreach Manager for more info: [email protected].

Santa Barbara Youth Opera provides young singers with tuition-free instruction and performance opportunities in a fun, rewarding and artistically challenging environment. Young singers will also enjoy unparalleled exposure to the workings of a professional opera company. For additional information on the Santa Barbara Youth Opera, email [email protected] or call 805-898-3890.