City of Calabasas to Host Delegation of Special Olympics Athletes in 2015

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The City of Calabasas will serve as a host city for a delegation of Special Olympics athletes before the opening of the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles.

About 7,000 participants from 170 nations will compete in more than 20 sports between July 25 and Aug. 2 next year at arenas including USC and UCLA. Among the competitions are aquatics, gymnastics, kayaking, basketball and soccer.

Calabasas will be one of 100 Southern California cities participating in a four-day pre-games celebration— hailing athletes from around the globe.

Host towns are responsible for providing accommodations, meals, activities and local transportation for the athletes and their sponsors.

Visit www.cityofcalabasas.com/special-olympics.html to find information about volunteering and  sponsorship opportunities.

Straight Up Ventura County 2014 Youth Drug and Alcohol Awareness Video Contest

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Straight Up Ventura County announces return of youth video contest; seeks videos from young people ages 12-25; focus on drug and alcohol awareness 

Straight Up, the Ventura County-wide youth advocacy project, has opened its most recent video contest for submissions from young people in Ventura County.

Entrants can choose from topics on underage and binge drinking, impaired driving, prescription drug abuse (and the links to heroin use) and the impact to the adolescent brain with marijuana use. 

2011-2012 California Healthy Kids Survey results showed that Ventura County youth continue to abuse prescription drugs and use heroin and marijuana. For example, 20% of 11th graders and 14% of 9th graders have used prescription pain medications to get high. Marijuana use doubled for 5th graders between 2009 and 2012. Heroin continues to be an escalating problem -- several young people in Simi Valley and elsewhere have fatally overdosed in recent years. Often, the problem starts with prescription drug abuse with the user "graduating" to heroin for similar effects. 

Alcohol use and impaired driving also continue to be a local issue. In Ventura County, alcohol use is highest among 18- to 20-year-olds not old enough to legally purchase it, and is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes.

The contest is open to Ventura County young people 12-25 years of age who live or go to school within Ventura County. Short videos (30-90 seconds) are preferred, but longer videos are welcome as well. A grand prize of $500 will be awarded, as well as several runner-up prizes. Entries must be received by Friday, May 16, 2014. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 30.

Downloadable rules and guidelines can be found at www.straightupvc.org/contest. Information sessions, training and equipment lending can be made available. Call 805.647.4622 with any questions.

Straight Up Ventura County (a project of Ventura County Behavioral Health Department Alcohol and Drug Programs) works closely with young people to raise awareness and create change around the issues of alcohol and drug abuse. Advocacy training, reality improv workshops and video projects are some of the way youth can get engaged and become empowered.

Winner of the 2013 contest:

 

Team VFD to Participate in Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle on March 9th

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Team VFD is a group of ten Ventura City Fire Department members determined to make a difference. Team VFD is preparing to participate in the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb in Seattle, a timed race up the stairs at the Columbia Center in Downtown Seattle.  They will dress in full fire gear and self contained breathing apparatus as they climb 69 flights of stairs, 1,311 steps and 788 feet of vertical elevation. The group is climbing to support two causes – The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) and 11 year old Ventura resident Emma Bowles.

LLS is dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds research in the Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo county areas. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community

Honoree Emma BowlesEmma Bowles was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in August 2013. Emma is a very enthusiastic and positive girl who always looks at the glass as half full. Her favorite color is pink and for the last year she has been taking classical guitar lessons. Together with your help and participation Team VFD will climb for a cure and help Emma and her family in this difficult time.

To learn more and to donate to the cause, visit www.teamvfd.com. Team VFD will be hosting a fundraising event at Barrelhouse 101 in Ventura on March 1st and is selling wristbands and T shirts to support Emma. See video below to learn a bit more about Emma. Donate at www.teamvfd.com/donate.

Building Dedication of the Cal & Marje Johnston Boys & Girls Club at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks Today

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Today was the dedication of the new Cal & Marje Johnston Boys & Girls Club at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks. The program was kicked off by Board Chairman Gary Stephani, who welcomed Master of Ceremonies, Bob Eubanks, who in turn introduced other speakers, including County of Ventura Supervisor Linda Parks, Thousand Oaks Mayor Claudia Bill-de la Peña, Conejo Valley USD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Baarstad, representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Julie Brownley, Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblyman Jeff Gorell and other local leaders, as well as Cal Johnston himself.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley was formed to serve the more than 30,000 young people of our communities, providing them with excellent, time-tested programs that offer leadership training, character development, and programs in the arts, sports and fitness.

The organization was founded by Cal Johnston, a local resident and community leader, and Chairman of The Johnston Group, in Calabasas. Johnston is a national trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and saw the need for Clubs in the Conejo and Las Virgenes area.

Master of Ceremonies Bob Eubanks kept the crowd entertained while introducing dignataries.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley currently operates Clubs at Los Cerritos Middle School, Colina Middle School and Redwood Middle School in Thousand Oaks, Sequoia Middle School in Newbury Park, Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas and Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills. For more information, visit www.bgcconejo.org.

Cal Johnston sharing his passion for the Boys & Girils Clubs with hsi wife Marje and Eubanks looking on.

 

Hundreds of California Conservation Corps Crew Battle Forest Fires Across the State

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Hundreds of California Conservation Corps Crew Members Battle Forest Fires Across State

More than 400 young men and women of the California Conservation Corps are working 16-hour shifts supporting firefighters throughout California, according to the CCC Foundation.

At the request of CalFire and the U.S. Fire Service (USFS), 35 crews currently are assigned to eight different fires between Humboldt and Tuolumne counties. Crews typically comprise ten-to-fifteen corps members and work 14 consecutive days without a break. Most of the CCC crews are battling the fire behind the front lines of attack. They work to make sure needed supplies arrive on time, maintain the fire camps and equipment and help to ensure that the logistics chain operates smoothly. Two crews at the Corral Complex blaze in Humboldt County are firefighting units.

“We are extremely proud of these dedicated and hard-working men and women,” said Tom Riley, President of the CCC Foundation. “Many come to the Corps to plant trees, restore fish habitats and build mountain trails. Others respond to natural emergencies. All are paid minimum wage, put in long hours and often live in pretty rugged conditions. But for 37 years they’ve been coming through for California when called upon.” Crews of 18-25 year-old corps members typically are shipped to locations throughout California. For example, crews from Fresno, Monterey Bay, and Ukiah are working the huge Rim Fire in Tuolumne County at the edge of Yosemite.

In July, corps members provided 40,000 hours of fire response work from one end of California to the other, including work on major fires in Riverside and San Diego counties. At the request of CalFire and USFS, CCC crews currently are the Corral Complex Fire (Humboldt County), Butler Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou counties), Forks Complex Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou counties), Butler Fire (Humboldt/Siskiyou counties), Hough Complex Fire (Plumas County), Deer Fire (Tehama County), American Fire (Placer County), Fish Fire (Tulare County), and Rim Fire (Tuolumne County).

Once fire season winds down, corps members will still be hard at work. On Saturday, October 19, hundreds of corps members will join community and corporate volunteers for Volunteer

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Join the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program to Stay Active in the Local Community

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Studies show that seniors who volunteer live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. The Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) helps seniors stay active and involved. If you are 55 or over, you can join over 1,000 local men and women who serve as volunteers in our community.

CSVP volunteers do just about everything: They tutor students, plant gardens, serve as volunteer police and program computers. CSVP volunteers meet community needs and make a lasting difference. Your life experience is your best qualification! You’ll receive the support you need to put your know-how to work for others or learn new skills. You become part of a family of caring volunteers supporting our community.

And like most CSVP volunteers, you’ll find that by helping others you help yourself. Conejo Recreation and Park District sponsors the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program. We have been promoting volunteerism in the Conejo Valley since 1972. Call CSVP for a free brochure with exciting volunteer opportunities at (805) 381-2742, visit www.crpd.org/csvp or in person at the Goebel Adult Community Center.

CSVP is located in the Goebel Adult Community Center at 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County to Receive Grant From Verizon FiOS SoCal

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Verizon FiOS SoCal Partnering with Habitat for Humanity to Influence Change

Habitat receiving $5,000 grant; Employees providing A Brush with Kindness!  

Verizon FiOS SoCal and local communities are teaming up to support local non-profits. In phase one of Verizon’s SoCal Experience, more than $20,000 was donated to non-profit organizations in Palm Springs, Inland Valley and Victor Valley. In phase two, Verizon is donating to another three non-profits.  Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County will receive a $5,000 grant from Verizon, and a team of Verizon employees will volunteer their time to provide a ‘hand-up’ to a family in need of home repairs.

On Friday, June 14, Verizon FiOS SoCal employees will deliver A Brush with Kindness in El Rio (Oxnard).  For this special Home Preservation, we are proud to be serving a homeowner who also happens to be a two-time Veteran.  A Brush with Kindness is a Habitat for Humanity program that helps preserve homeownership by partnering with low-income homeowners struggling to restore and maintain a safe and decent place to live.  Depending on the home’s location, some low income families may qualify for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help purchase building materials.  Repairs include, but are not limited to landscaping, painting, and other minor repairs. 

About Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is a locally-run and locally-funded affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Over the past 30 years, 56 new home builds have provided homeownership opportunities for families in need and hundreds of homes have been repaired, providing a safe, clean, decent living environment for lower income homeowners. The Preserve a Home program, which began with a new focus only two years, ago is being embraced by several cities and the county

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5th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival Announces Top Tamales in 2012

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The 5th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival took place on a wet Saturday, December 1, 2012. This year's overall, and now two-time winner is BG's Cafe, 428 South A Street, Oxnard. If you're looking for a great tamale, BG's apparently is where it's at! Visit their website at www.bgscafe.com or call 805.487.0700. They are open 7 days a week.

BG's Cafe has been in business for over 40 years. Originally founded by Bill and Gloria Stuart (hmm, their initials are B and G, I wonder if that's a coincidence) in 1971 and was sold to Jose and Veronica Rodriguez in 2004, who have expanded the menu and added catering services.

Top 3 savory and sweet tamales at the event as determined by a panel of hungry judges:

Savory Tamale:

  • First Place; Frias Catering of Oxnard
  • Second Place; El Taco De Mexico of Ventura
  • Third Place; Panaderia La Mexicana Bakery of Oxnard

Sweet Tamale:

  • First Place; BG's Coffee Shop and Deli (aka BG's Cafe) of Downtown Oxnard
  • Second Place; Sugarbeets Restaurant & Bar of Downtown Oxnard
  • Third Place; Me Gusta Gourmet Tamales of Pacoima

This year's tamale tasting judges included: Hon. Steven Hintz, Ventura County Treasurer/Tax Collector, Catherine Hintz, Wife of Hon. Steven Hintz, Hon. Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk/Recorder,, Hon. Fred Bysshe, Ventura County Superior Court, Joe Mulrooney, Treasurer of Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs Association, John Ragan, ARC of Ventura County, Chef Gerard Turbush, Chef Paul Tavakoli, Nakita DiGuardi, Toni Valdez, Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Ventura County, Chef Henry Patey of the Oxnard College Culinary Arts Program and Terrel Harrison, Director of Oxnard Police Activities League.

Stay tuned for next year's 6th Annual Oxnard Tamale Festival at www.oxnardtamalefest.com or by following their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oxnardtamalefestival.

Proceeds from the Oxnard Tamale Festival supports local non-profits and recreation projects that benefit local youth. Community grants have supplemented programs for at-risk youth, veterans, prevention of homelessness, cancer research, food pantries, recreation centers and mentally disabled individuals. Past recipients have included Oxnard City Corps, Oxnard Police Activities League, Food Share of Ventura County, ARC of Ventura County, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts Troop #228, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Santa Clara Church, American Cancer Society, and Oxnard College Veterans Club.

Hilton Foundation Opens New Campus in Agoura Hills: Plans to Double in Size

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The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has formally moved into its new campus here in Agoura Hills! The structure has been carefully designed as a cutting-edge, environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient building to meet Platinum LEED-certified green standards.

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In 2007, the Foundation's board of directors decided in favor of building a permanent home for the organization to continue carrying out Conrad Hilton's legacy for generations to come. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is a family foundation established in 1944 by the man who started Hilton Hotels, which provides funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the world.

"This new home in Agoura Hills will prepare the Hilton Foundation for the time it will double in size and staff," said Hilton Foundation President and CEO, Steven M. Hilton. "My father, Barron Hilton, has pledged his intent to follow in the footsteps of his father, Conrad Hilton, and contribute 97% of his entire net worth at the time of his passing. This building is the first phase of a four-phase campus that will allow us to grow accordingly into the future."

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world's disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton's support for the work of Catholic Sisters. Following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants, distributing $82 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2011. The Foundation's current assets are approximately $2 billion.

Visit www.hiltonfoundation.org to learn more.

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