Ventura’s Music Scene see page 20! FREE Vol. Vol. 3, No.10, No.11 9 Published Every Other Published Wednesday Every Other Established Wednesday 2007 February 1 – February March 14, 201710 - 23, 2010 Mar-Y-Cel. The Team does more than hand out donations. Park Outreach Team The march began by the gazebo in Plaza Park. Photos by Breezy Gledhill. by Jill Forman March for Justice is a huge success Kaiser Permanente medical offices. Every Tuesday, rain or shine, they are Thousands gathered in downtown Department, an estimated 2,500 people at Plaza and Mission Parks. The Park Ventura on Saturday, Jan.21 for the attended the peaceful march. Speakers New building Outreach Team is there to make life a March for Justice, a protest organized included Ventura City Council member’s little better for those who often have no to coincide with the Women’s March on Matt LaVere and Cheryl Heitmann. projects home, who spend their days in the parks Washington and hundreds of similar After a performance of John Lennon’s and their nights…who knows where? A marches around the world. “Imagine” by Jade Hendrix, the march contribute good half of the Team has been in the According to the Ventura Police Continued on page 2 shoes of these folks, and knows what to diversify they need. They hand out wipes, socks, tarps, housing supply donated clothing, toiletries, female hygiene supplies. One man in Mission in Ventura Park only wants books; he gets those too. by City Staff What they don’t hand out is food. Even bottled water and granola bars are The City of Ventura Community now forbidden items for them to give out. Development Department is working When they first started, it was summer 3 hard to create a thriving, prosperous ½ years ago and temperatures had been community. This year we will see the over 90 degrees for three days in a row. completion of many major projects such Two individuals, Rob and Kathy, went as the new Kaiser Permanente medical around handing out water. Rob had been office building on Market and Valentine homeless and had recently inherited a Streets, and the new Volkswagen dealer- small amount of money, and he used ship at Perkin Avenue and King Drive. that to buy supplies. The Unitarian Uni- We are also looking forward to the versalist Church of Ventura adopted the construction and completion of new program under its Lift Up Your Voice, a residential projects, which continue to grassroots advocacy program dedicated make a comeback after the downfall in to serving the homeless. the economy. Should the Anacapa crane be replaced? Photo by Doug Mangum. Kathy, a member of the UU church, is Housing is a vital part of the way now the chair of the Team. She says she communities grow and is key to the does this work because her immediate Public comment solicited for social and economic sustainability of family is represented by the ones she the City. With Ventura being a desirable serves: the homeless, addicted, mentally place to live, the demand for housing ill, jobless, and disabled. “I do this for crane replacement project has increased and providing a range of others, because others have taken care of The National Park Service (NPS) of service for several years. dwelling types is important to meet the me and my family.” is seeking public input on a project to The project proposes to remove the, different needs of our residents. With Another stalwart of the team is Roy. replace the existing crane on Anacapa historic, stiff leg derrick crane and its everything Ventura has to offer, it’s no A native of Ventura, he was in Special Island within Channel Islands National concrete foundation and replace it with a wonder private economic investments are Education and never finished school. Park. two–crane system and a new foundation. being made here. Upcoming home and Disabled, he was homeless for seven The existing crane was determined One crane would be located on the upper mixed-use developments will provide a years while waiting for housing. He to be structurally unsafe, as a result of landing, adjacent to the historic derrick broad array of housing choices from the knows “everybody” in the parks, because prolonged exposure to the harsh marine building, and a second, smaller crane Westside to Downtown, and from the Continued on page 7 conditions on the island. It has been out Continued on page 2 Continued on page 9 2 February 1 – February 14, 2017 Ventura BREEZE Business Chamber new board members and officers Suzanne Scar, Nick Deitch, Michele Newell, Nan Drake, John Silva, Shannon Hillygus, Amy Towner, Charnell Smith and outgoing Board Chair James Perero. Photo by Bernie Goldstein. Our community faces daily challenges that create a greater need for the work we do at the Y and we need your help. A donation to Ventura Chamber installs the Y this February will provide scholarship dollars for: a child to have a life-changing new board experience at summer camp, The Ventura Chamber of Commerce continuing its efforts to work with the City held its Annual Meeting and Board Instal- of Ventura to improve the development a teen to participate in one of our lation on Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Pierpont process, recruit high growth entrepreneurs many afterschool programs, Inn. The event was attended by business to the City, track progress of business members, city officials and dignitaries sustainability and increase membership and a single dad trying to spend more including Assembly member Monique that is representative of the entire business quality time with his kids. Limón and Ventura Councilmembers community. Cheryl Heitmann and Christy Weir. Some Ventura Chamber businesses These are real Y members. Outgoing Board Chair James Perero also were recognized for being long-time Your gift will help these and so many more! presented an overview of the Chamber’s members, including Kaiser Permanente, many programs and accomplishments member for 50 years, and 25-year members over the past year, thanking the Chamber Buena Lanes, Casitas Municipal Water For a better you. For a better community. members, board members, and staff for District, Employer’s Depot, Office Depot, For a better country. their support and contributions. and Pacific Coast Business Times. Highlights included selecting new and The event was generously sponsored by dynamic board members and officers for Ventura Auto Center, Aera Energy, Crowne VENTURA FAMILY YMCA 3760 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003 the coming year, and involvement with the Plaza Ventura Beach, Gold Coast Acura, 805.736.3483 • ciymca.org/ventura new initiative, the City of Ventura Home- Kaiser Permanente, MortgageCouch, lessness Stakeholders Group. This joint Ventura County Star, CAPS Media, Gold effort between local community advocates, Coast Broadcasting, Luners Production providers, and agencies within the city and Services, Pacific Coast Business Times, county is continuing to develop, and new VC Reporter, Ventura Breeze, and Ventura and innovative approaches to homelessness County Camera Club. in Ventura are being explored. The Ventura Chamber of Commerce Nan Drake, incoming Board Chair, is a membership based organization presented her vision and the Chamber’s that advocates on behalf of the business theme for 2017 - “Creating a Strong community. With 700 members, represent- Business Environment for Ventura.” Drake ing more than 25,000 employees locally, the outlined the focal points of the Chamber Chamber engages on a variety of issues that as she addressed the goals for the coming help to drive a strong local economy as The year. Drake’s plan includes the Chamber Voice of Business. concerns. The comment period is open Lighthouse through Feb. 24, 2017. Comments may be submitted online, at https://parkplan- ning.nps.gov/anacapacrane, or mailed to Fitness the following address: On Feb.18, at 11am Colin Jenkins Channel Islands National Park will be holding a Grand Opening Event 1901 Spinnaker Drive for her new fitness gym/studio “Light- Ventura, CA 93001 house Fitness” located at 2128 Knoll Attn: Anacapa Crane Replacement Drive. Unit F. Project Colin owned a CrossFit facility here in Ventura for 6 years, before selling it a few years ago, and just recently decided March for justice to open a new gym that takes the same Continued from page 1 concept of CrossFit, but with changes proceeded down Thompson Boulevard. to make it a more effective and safe The Breeze’s Breezy Gledhill attended program for the every-day person. and stated, “The events are being held to celebrate the qualities of a diverse and inclusive America. I’m glad that I was able Public comment solicited to participate.” Continued from page 1 Ventura doctor Kathleen Shore, one of would be located on a lower landing. the march organizers, was thrilled with the The project is expected to begin in late turn out and said, summer 2018. “The March- by the numbers! It looks like A newsletter that provides an overview we had upwards of 2,500 people. Former of the planning and compliance process, mayor says the park holds 3,000- we over- explains the proposed action, and flowed it! Justice for all booth collected provides information on how to submit $484! Justice for all joiners 287 people. public comment. It is available at https:// Signed up to “Meet a Muslim,” 83 people. parkplanning.nps.gov/anacapacrane. Signatures for decriminalizing homeless, The public is invited to provide input 126 people.” on the scope of the project, environmental “Thanks to all of you for your hard issues and impacts, alternatives, or other work! Go team!” Ventura BREEZE February 1 – February 14, 2017 3 City News Your tax dollars at work was further maximized for other beneficial uses such as residential landscape irrigation and construction site dust control mitigation City of Ventura measures.