Looking Back at 2018, Page 2 Ventura Music Festival 25Th Season Expands
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Looking back at 2018, page 2 Vol. Vol. 3, 12, No. No. 11 7 Published Every Other Published Wednesday Every Other Established Wednesday 2007 January 3 – January March 15, 102019 - 23, 2010 Newly appointed Mayor Matt LaVere spoke during the event, recalled watching the devastation and wondering how the city could ever recover from the catastrophic event that leveled over 500 homes in Ventura. LaVere said, “But we sat down that next week and we were talking about the idea of Ventura strong and the amazing strength and resiliency of this community. We said our number one priority in 2018 has to get homes rebuilt and back into their homes. And here we are one year later, celebrating the first two homeowners who have rebuilt and are moving back into their homes and I think that is a momentous occasion.” Ribbon cutting for first two homes Ed Fuller is an avid singer and was at a rehearsal for his barbershop quartet in Camarillo when news of the spreading Helen always remained glamorous. rebuilt after the Thomas Fire Thomas Fire reached him. Fuller raced by Richard Lieberman back to his Ventura home, but like 500 VCF receives Ed and Sandy Fuller celebrated the Ventura city officials was held in front other Ventura families, his home would completion of their home rebuild after of the new home and another across the be destroyed. donation from the Thomas fire devastated their neigh- street at the newly completed residence On the morning of the ribbon borhood and reduced their beloved home of Michael and Sandra Gustafson who cutting ceremony, Ed and his barber Helen Yunker to ashes. A ribbon-cutting ceremony by also lost their home to the Thomas Fire. Continued on page 10 “the rock stars of chamber music.” Both estate events are set for the Ventura College The Ventura College Foundation has Performing Arts Center. Tickets for both received a $2 million donation from the events are on-sale now. Helen Yunker estate. Nuvi Mehta – VMF Janet & Mark Honoring Yunker’s request, the L. Goldenson Artistic Director – also donation will establish endowments for reported that a “major star” was set to the Ventura College Music Department close the year in November, but that the and the Opera and Musical Theatre artist’s name must remain a secret for program. The gift will be split evenly some months. “Wait till May,” he said; between the two. “You’ll love it.” “Helen has been a fixture in Ventura As to the July Festival, music lovers since moving here in 1958,” says Dr. only have to wait until Monday, January Damon Bell, president of Ventura 28th for the “Silver Anniversary Festival College. “She was a generous volunteer, Preview” from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at supporter and donor to many local or- the Museum of Ventura County. The ganizations in the areas of education, “The most exciting piano duo on the planet.” program includes artist previews of the medicine, youth, theater and the arts. We Festival’s July line-up along with live are very grateful to Helen for her contri- music and refreshments. There is no cost butions to our art, heritage and culture Ventura Music Festival to attend. at the college and in the community.” VMF Board president Richard Yunker, who died in July at age 96, 25th Season expands Reisman provided the endnote to the served on the Ventura College Founda- sponsor gathering by announcing that tion Board for 18 years. This past May, At a recent sponsor preview, the iconic Leading off the celebration on the VMF Board had voted unanimously the Foundation Board of Directors Ventura Music Festival announced plans February 9th are Anderson & Roe, to invest Miriam Schwab’s recent $1.3 honored her service and leadership by for an expanded silver anniversary cele- lauded as “the most exciting piano duo million bequest in a special endow- naming her as a Board Emeritus Ventura bration next year by bringing renowned on the planet.” Then in a special concert ment-like VMF Legacy Fund. “The College Member. Over the course of artists year-round in addition to its on May 10th NICO – the New Ideas Festival is celebrating its 25th Anniver Continued on page 18 regular two- week season in July. Chamber Orchestra - take center stage as Continued on page 23 I LOVE my apartment. I would buy it if they would let me! I love speaking with other folks here because they have been through the same things I have and this is Ocean & Mountain Views • Over 12 Lushly Landscaped Acres very important. I go to lunch and Spacious Standard & Remodeled Apartments and Villas sometimes don’t return to my apartment until three hours later Anytime Dining in our Sun-Drenched/Full Service Dining Room • Full Kitchens from all the talks I have with my Delicious Home Cooking by Pro Chefs & 5-Star Pastry Chef • Live Music & Events friends! And the staff here really • • Weekly Excursions All Day Transportation Pets Welcomed show they care. Call Now for a Visit! 805.642.3263 Mary Honore, Resident www.venturatownehouse.com • 4900 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003 Get More Fun & Amenities for your Money! CA LIC# 565801810 2 January 3 – January 15, 2019 Ventura BREEZE Looking Back at 2018 up for the CalRecycle program, or the of Snapdragon Place Apartments, at 10 County’s local program, face the possi- a.m., Thursday, April 5, at Snapdragon bility of having their property abated by Place Apartments, 11094 Snapdragon the County and the cost added to their Street, Ventura. property tax bill. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with The CalRecycle program operates at a reception in the Community Room no direct cost to homeowners. Under the at Snapdragon Place Apartments. The program, properties are cleared down program will include a welcome address to clean soil and the debris is taken to a from Cabrillo and its project partners. landfill. But homeowners must sign up Following the program, attendees will for the program. Almost 700 properties walk to the building site for the ground- have been approved for the CalRecycle breaking ceremony and photos. program and approximately 50 proper- ties have already been cleared. March 14th marked the one-month anniversary since seventeen lives were CFROG (Citizens for responsible oil senselessly taken by a shooter at Marjory and gas) held a protest march in Ventura. Stoneman Douglas High School in The environmental group is working to Parkland, Florida on February 14th. stop the federal government’s plan to open the coastline to more oil and gas Declared “National Walkout Day”, drilling. Since the 1980’s offshore oil students from 2,800 schools across the and gas leases have virtually been put on U.S. showed solidarity for the victims in hold. This past January the Department Florida. of the Interior released a proposal to sell oil and gas leases in federal U.S. waters, Here in Ventura, students at Ventura including off the coast of California. High School took part as well, marching and carrying signs that read, “Students As the largest wildfire in the state’s Take Action!”, “Enough! Keep Us Safe!” history, the Thomas Fire generated some and my favorite, “Fear Has No Place in staggering statistics. It burned 281,893 Our Schools!”. As they marched, the acres (440 square miles). At its most students chanted, “end the violence! no devastating, it was being fought by an more silence!” and in one of the videos army of firefighters more than 8,000 taken, you can hear a student say, “this strong. More than 1,000 structures were is way more organized than I thought it destroyed. And the fire’s most-sobering would be!”. statistic is the 23 fatalities – including one firefighter – which resulted from the With the video being captured by a fire and its associated debris flow. drone, the students at Cabrillo Middle School sent out a message of love by The County of Ventura, in cooper- standing together on their field and ation with the cities of Ventura, Santa forming a heart. Paula, Ojai and Fillmore, initiated a In the final evaluation, valid maps fire recovery process weeks before the On Wednesday, Mar. 28, ground Re-printed had to meet key requirements of the fire was even declared contained. The was broken on the Rancho Verde Apart- Federal Voting Rights Act (FVRA) and Ventura County Recovers website was ments, the first USDA Section 514 rental from the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). launched on December 10, 2017, six days housing property to be developed by the after the fire started. Since then it has Housing Authority of the City of San The Thomas Fire Benefit Festival had more than 45,000 unique visitors Buenaventura (HACSB). It will be the Ventura Breeze will be held at Plaza Park on Saturday, and about 200,000 page views. first net zero energy multifamily resi- February 3, and will kick off with a VIP dential property in the City of Ventura. issues, 2018 Chef Experience followed with live music Community members visited Arroyo After more than 20 years as an active featuring Kevin Costner and Modern Verde Park on Friday, February 16 to In this new development, 24 USDA businessman and community volunteer West; Olivia Newton John (on her own celebrate its partial reopening. The park, Rural Housing units will be constructed in Ventura, Neal Andrews was encour- recovery tour after second bout with located at Foothill and Day Roads, was as a multi-family site for farmworker aged by many citizens of Ventura to breast cancer); three-time platinum hip closed for approximately 10-weeks to households.