Ventana monthly October 2016 by Ventana Monthly Magazine

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THE ARTS ISSUE

CULTURAL DIFFUSION Art and ancestry flow together for silk artist Christine Leong ANCIENT RHYTHMS Veronica Valadez translates Aztec culture to canvas and stage

PHAT CAT

Award-winning jazz musician Gordon Goodwin

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CONTENTS

ventana VOL.10 NO.9

editor’s note

OCTOBER 2016

6 Thank You, Sandra

FE ATUR E S 11 Cultural Diffusion

cover story

Art and ancestry flow together in the silk paintings of Camarillo artist Christine Leong

14 Sandra Laby: 1937-2016

obituary

Ventura’s cultural world mourns the loss of one of its greatest philanthropists

17 Ancient Rhythms

profile

Veronica Valadez celebrates her Chicana ancestry through art, education and dance

26 Phat Cat

about town

Jazzman Gordon Goodwin brings a contemporary touch to big band music travel 36 The Quiet Revolution Cuba in the age of technology

D E PAR TME NTS

community

8 Channel Islands Gulls 40th Anniversary

Las Posas Country Club

short list

42 A preview of local happenings COVER: Christine Leong with her silk art: as beautiful to wear as it is to display. Photo by Michael Montano

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LABY FAMILY

EDITOR’S NOTE

THANK YOU, SANDRA

entura County recently suffered a tremendous loss. Sandra Laby died on Saturday, Sept. 24, leaving the arts community bereft of one of its greatest benefactors. The art collector and philanthropist left behind an unforgettable legacy, founding, nurturing and supporting some of our most beloved cultural institutions. The list of organizations that benefited from her philanthropy and guidance is long: the Ojai Music Festival, the Ventura Music Festival, New West Symphony, Focus on the Masters, the Museum of Ventura County, the Rubicon Theatre and many (oh, so many) more. She leaves behind enormous dancing shoes to fill. (Laby had a lifelong love of dance, flamenco in particular, and continued to practice tango and salsa well into her 70s.) Luckily, her husband Jordan — partner in life, love and philanthropy — will carry on their many good works. Even so, it’s hard to imagine the cultural landscape without Laby’s fierce energy and passion for all things artistic. Ventura County was made a richer, more beautiful place because of Sandra Laby, and all of us who love the arts are indebted to her. It’s fitting, then, that we can include Ivor Davis’ moving tribute to Laby in our arts issue. She helped foster an environment that artists have found both welcoming and inspiring. The creative spirits featured in these pages may not have directly benefited from Laby’s largesse, but her devotion to the arts contributed greatly to a cultural climate in which they’ve all thrived. Our cover story is on painter Christine Leong,

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originally from Hong Kong, who makes strikingly intricate works of art in her workspace at Studio Channel Islands. Her watercolors on silk and rice paper combine Eastern and Western influences, showing how past and present can flow together with extraordinary results. Heritage plays an important role in the work of Oxnard’s Veronica Valadez as well. This teacher, dancer and artist feels the pulse of her Mesoamerican ancestors in everything she does, acting as a selfdescribed “medium” who translates Chicana culture to canvas and stage. Ojai-based photographer William Hendricks is concerned with the loss of culture — specifically Cuban culture. In words and pictures he documents how a new generation raised with computers, smartphones and an influx of technology (often coming from the U.S. and Europe) is looking away from its homeland, possibly to leave the proud island nation behind. There’s a musician in this month’s mix, too. Jazzman Gordon Goodwin is something of a hidden treasure, quietly amassing Grammy and Emmy awards, recording music (including a new CD) and playing gigs with his Big Phat Band from his home in Thousand Oaks. These stories demonstrate the depth and breadth of artistic talent that lives within our county lines. That’s something for which Sandra and Jordan Laby can take considerable credit — and in which we, as a community, can take tremendous pride. – Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer nancy@ventanamonthly.com

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EDITOR IN CHIEF Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer ART DIRECTOR T Christian Gapen CONTRIBUTORS Ivor Davis Kate Edwards William Hendricks Michael Montano Chris O’Neal Marie Gregorio-Oviedo Leslie Westbrook Kateri Wozny GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Bret Hooper Tim Twaddle ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Kasey Black Warren Barrett Barbara Kroon Diane Newman Kelly Spargur Dave Stephens CIRCULATION Teresa Wann-Davis HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea Baker BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Lam ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie PUBLISHER David Comden

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W E K NOW BE AU T Y ®

COMMUNITY

1 CHANNEL ISLANDS GULLS 40TH ANNIVERSARY LAS POSAS COUNTRY CLUB The Channel Islands Gulls, a local women’s charity group, celebrated their 40th Anniversary during their monthly luncheon at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo on September 15. Founded in 1976, the organization today boasts over 145 members and annually donates $20,000 or more to several local charities, including the Girls Empowerment Center, Ventura County Children & Family Services, Ventura County Rescue Mission and Lighthouse for Women & Children.

2 1. The Razzmatappers step it up. 2. MaryAnn George, Denise Schriedel, Courtney Fredette and Norma Cunningham. 3. June Rawson and Gulls President Maxine Exler. 4. Ricki Parres.

The anniversary luncheon was well attended by over 130 members, and included live entertainment by dance troupe The Razzmatappers and singer Jerry Weisbecker, a raffle and a slide show of the Gulls over the past 40 years. Gulls member (and former VP) Denise Schriedel states, “I was thrilled to see so many lovely ladies in attendance, honoring a legendary group of generous women in our community.”

PHOTOS BY DOMINIC ZUNA

The Gulls meet the third Thursday every month at various locations in Ventura County. For more information, contact Denise Schriedel at (805) 490-5893 or email WineStar88@aol.com.

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COVER STORY

EAST MEETS WEST: While many of Leong’s paintings reflect a distinctly Asian sensibility, she doesn’t shy away from Western motifs when inspiration strikes.

CULTURAL DIFFUSION Art and ancestry flow together in the silk paintings of Camarillo artist Christine Leong. BY KATERI WOZNY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL MONTANO WHEN CAMARILLO ARTIST CHRISTINE LEONG PAINTS, she does it with soft elegance as she holds two bamboo brushes in one hand. One she uses for color; the other is for water to blend the color. Each brush has a different Chinese inscription. One is for “water,” the other means “moon.” “It’s all about how you use them,” she says. “It’s the technique, not the brush itself. I learned that from [my greatest inspiration, Hong Kong artist] Master Li Woon Ping.” Leong is a resident artist at the Studio Channel Islands Art Center and has been working with Chinese watercolor on rice paper for over 30 years. Her artwork combines Asian and Western painting techniques. “Rice paper is very versatile,” she says. “I can crumple rice paper to give my paintings texture or a wrinkled effect. I can also paint from behind the paper and allow the ink to go to the front.”

In those 30 years, she has created more than 500 pieces — both 2-D and 3-D — each signed by Leong herself. Her specialties are flowers and koi. “Nature has a unique language,” she says. “My paintings reflect my desire to capture the moment to be displayed and enjoyed in a traditional Asian manner.” Out of those 500, there is only one piece that Leong is completely satisfied with. “It’s called ‘Sheer Beauties.’ It’s my favorite because I can’t find anything to correct,” she says. “I used to be hard on myself when I painted because I wanted it to be perfect. Now I know I shouldn’t be.” When the recession hit in 2008, Leong became fascinated with painting wearable art on raw silk. Just like rice paper, raw silk is thin, fragile and absorbs the color fast. The design, however, must be simplified, as each section of color is enclosed with }}

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“Passion,” 2014. Painting on silk. 34 in. x 34 in.

“Fireworks,” 2016. Silk poncho. 26 in. x 45 in.

“Melody,” 2014. Painting on silk. 34 in. x 34 in. 12

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a resist to keep the silk dyes in place. Leong says the dyes also spread uncontrollably on the silk, which makes it more fun. “My rice paper paintings were selling very well and then [business] got quiet. I saw that women loved to buy things for themselves, so I decided to put my art on wearable silk so that women would become more interested [in purchasing],” she says. To make her work even more fun, Leong listens to rock ’n’ roll music to motivate her creativity. “It’s the beat that cheers you on,” she says with a laugh. Leong is a firm believer in the Chinese system of balance, otherwise known as feng shui, and always uses two, three, six, eight or nine subjects. “It’s considered to be good luck among the Chinese. A five means no and is considered bad luck,” she says. Originally from Hong Kong, Leong never formally attended art school; her talent came naturally. As a child, she loved to sketch clothes and cartoon characters. “My parents would bring me to church and wanted me to sit still, so they would give me a pencil and sketch pad and I would sketch until the service was completed,” she says. After taking secretarial courses in Hong Kong, Leong’s next-door neighbor encouraged her to take Chinese art classes. Twelve years later, Leong made the journey to Camarillo in 2002 after meeting her husband, photographer Bryan McCall, online. The two share a love of art and photography. “She promotes the Chinese culture and her talent is pretty rare in Ventura County,” says McCall. “I like to show off her work to other people.” Leong’s one-of-a-kind paintings have been seen in shows, festivals and art walks throughout California, including the Ventura Music Festival (which featured a tapestry, hope chest and screen chair), Vita Art Center, Bell Arts Factory, Ventura ArtWalk, Santa Barbara Art Association and the Camarillo Art Center, where she formerly served as president. She has also exhibited around the world. In 2008, Leong was one of two U.S. artists selected to display her artwork at the Beijing Art Museum (“Nine Kois” was the chosen piece). The art exhibition, Salute Beijing Olympics and Display Chinese Civilization, was later featured during the 2008 Olympic Culture Festival, which assembled 100 emerging Chinese artists worldwide to showcase the Chinese culture and visual arts. “It was an honor and I was excited to be a part of it,” she says. Leong has also won many prestigious awards, including first place at the 2004, 2008 and 2010 Ventura County Fair’s Professional Watercolor Division and Award of Excellence at the 2007 California State Fair in Sacramento. Her work is highly collectible as well. “Customers have told me that they have their paintings insured in their house. That’s how much they value my art,” she says. Price often depends on the intricacy of the design and the amount of material used, but larger and more elaborate pieces have sold for thousands of dollars. For those who want to explore the art themselves, Leong also teaches Chinese watercolor and silk art classes at her studio. Beyond technique, she says the most important thing she teaches her students is to enjoy the moment. “I also give individual attention. One student said, ‘It’s better than going to therapy,’ ” Leong says with a laugh. v

‘‘

I used to be hard on myself when I painted because I wanted it to be perfect. Now I know I shouldn’t be.” — Christine Leong

Join Christine Leong for one of her art classes, held in Room 5 at Studio Channel Islands, 2222 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo. CHINESE WATERCOLOR CLASSES Friday mornings 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Supplies included. Drop-ins welcome SILK ART: ONE DAY, ONE TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP First Saturday of every month 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Materials included For prices and more information call (805) 312-2208, email ChristineLeong2008@gmail.com or visit www. ArtofChristineLeong.com.

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PHOTO BY GASZTON GAL

SANDRA LABY: 1937-2016

Ventura’s cultural world mourns the loss of one of its greatest philanthropists. BY IVOR DAVIS

entura County recently lost a remarkable woman. Sandra Laby — as in Sandra and Jordan Laby — has gone, leaving her devoted husband of almost 60 years to carry on the legacy they created after almost half a century in our community. The packed room at Temple Beth Torah heard Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller deliver a passionate and emotional eulogy to Sandra. And let me tell you right now: Sandra would have loved that her funeral was SRO. Not a seat left in the house. She would have loved to have been there, sitting front row. Of course. That was the kind of lady she was. Feisty. Opinionated. (Boy, was she opinionated.) But with a giant heart. Those of us privileged to know and love her can tell you the truth. Sandra spoke her mind — and never was one to hide her light behind a bushel. Sandra, I believe, also felt that she was put on this earth to keep restau-

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rant chefs on their toes! Dine with her and you got the message. But let me be serious. Sandra never saw an artistic endeavor she would not support. Here goes: the Ventura Music Festival, the New West Symphony and, in particular, the Harmony Project, inspired by L.A. Philharmonic and kick-started in our county by Sandra and Jordan. They raised funds to provide musical instruments for underserved kids in Ventura. And the joy in her face when she saw those kids perform in concert was palpable. You can also visit the Laby Lobby downstairs at our gem of a Rubicon Theatre — another target of the Labys’ largesse. She sponsored movies for the Ventura County Jewish Film Festival. She gave and gave again to Camerata Pacifica, the Ventura County Ballet Company, Focus on the Masters, the Ojai Music Festival. On and on. She encouraged the savvy Jordan to start the San Buenaventura Foundation for the Arts in 1999. Their dream was to build an art and theater center in Downtown Ventura. Years of effort

and expenditure were eventually thwarted by an economic downturn. Undeterred, she and Jordan pressed on. Along the way she relished dancing for charity, winning tango and flamenco dance contests. She was one of our local beauties who appeared on the “Hot Dames 2010 Calendar.” (Keep your copy, it’s already worth a fortune on eBay.) If she’d lived in Great Britain her generosity and philanthropy would undoubtedly have been recognized by the Queen. I can see it at Buckingham Palace: “Arise, Lady Sandra, the Bountiful.” She would have liked that. But the nicest story I know about Sandra and Jordan is this. As she battled bravely to defeat the insidious pancreatic cancer, I recall Jordan, always gently smiling at the memory of the first time he set eyes on teacher Sandra across a crowded playground at Beachy Avenue Elementary School in Pacoima. Jordan, an engineer and inventor, spotted the vivacious Sandra Goldstein and he was a goner. “I knew I wanted to marry her the minute I saw her,” said Jordan. And wed her he did. v

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Hey Ventura County, we think you’re the best too! NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO for Date:_______________________________ Thank you voting us the #1 Pizza inPlEasE Ventura County the 9th year! NOTICE: FaxforThIs PrOOF TO Signature:___________________________ (805) 648-2245 asaP This_proof_is_to_check_for_accuracy_and_is_not_ VC Reporter “Best Of Ventura (805) County 2016” Readers’ Poll: 648-2245 asaP intended_to_show_quality_of_reproduction. First Place: Best Pizza First Place: Kid Friendly

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PROFILE

ANCIENT RHYTHMS Veronica Valadez’s Chicana ancestry is the beating heart of her art, education and dance.

BY KATE EDWARDS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIE GREGORIO-OVIEDO

any artists create simply to express themselves. Ventura’s Veronica Xochitl Valadez goes beyond that. This visual artist, teacher, community activist and Aztec dancer uses her art to educate herself and others about Mesoamerican history and culture as well as to give voice to her own indigenous ancestors. To Valadez, her dancing and art are self-expression, but they also serve to communicate with the past as well as teach in the present. That Valadez is a passionate teacher and activist is a testament to the transformative power of education. Born and raised in Santa Maria, she says, “I grew up on the very poorest side of town and in a migrant farmworking family. My parents came from Mexico — we lived in poverty.” In her younger years, she had no interest

in education. What she did care about was art. Her older siblings were involved in the local lowrider culture and Valadez saw the cars as artistic creations. “The murals they would paint on the cars, the designs, the paint jobs . . . even the way they would move with hydraulics. Everything about it was art. They even made the cars dance!” Fascinated, she devoured her siblings’ lowrider magazines — particularly the sections containing readers’ pencil drawings. “I loved it because it was all pencil art — that’s all the supplies that poor people have, right?” she explains. “So I started to try and imitate that kind of artwork, because that’s all I was exposed to.” It was a teen pregnancy that led her to enroll in the local community college to get the skills she needed to support herself and her son. In her very first semester, she took a Mesoamerican art }}

OCTOBER 2016

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history class. It blew her away . . . and created a lot of questions. “Why is this the first time I’m ever seeing this? And what, you said it’s from Mexico, where my family is from? It was just so mind-blowing to me,” she recalls. “The architecture and the carvings and the murals, just so sophisticated and complex!” But it was an on-campus performance by Aztec dancers that really spoke to Valadez’s heart. “That was a pivotal moment in my life because I felt as if something inside of me woke up.” She describes discovering her heritage as similar to finding out she had been adopted. “You thought you knew who you were, but in reality you don’t know who you are as you begin to learn about all these things that were not taught to you in school — even though it is part of American history.” With labels like “Latino” or “Hispanic,” she explains, “We are always made to think as if we are foreigners . . . [but] we’re indigenous! We are native to this continent!” Watching the dancers tell ancient stories with their bodies while the drums pounded rhythmically stunned Valadez. She says,“I felt like I found my long-lost family.” Eventually transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara, Valadez became the first person in her family to attend university. As a single mother and a woman of color, the transition was hard. She says now that she succeeded because she constantly reminded herself of the struggles of her ancestors: “Others have struggled, their struggles were harder than [yours], so just keep going. There is a greater purpose than you, so just keep going.” After graduating at the top of her class, Valadez moved to Ventura in 2000 and established the local Danza Azteca/ Mexica group and began working as a bilingual and multicultural educator in the Ventura school district. She was also painting, but mostly for herself. That changed when she met Xavier Montes, the driving force behind the De Colores Art Show, a local event begun in 1996 to showcase works celebrating Latino heritage, history and iconography. (This year’s show runs from October 22, 2016, through January 29, 2017, at the Santa Paula Art Museum.) Montes was impressed with Valadez’s work and asked her to paint something for the next show. It was very well received, and she now tries to create a new work for each De Colores show. Of course, each new canvas is an opportunity for Valadez to maintain her connection to her ancestors. She does so by taking inspiration from the

LEFT: Valadez in her studio. Mesoamerican art and culture figure largely in her work, which helps her stay connected to her ancestors. ABOVE: Skateboard decks painted with Aztec art are a big draw for teenagers at art festivals and similar events. Valadez encourages their interest, to help young Chicanas and Chicanos “embrace and feel proud about who they are and where they come from — and have a really cool skateboard too!” Photo courtesty of Veronica Valadez.

}}

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‘‘

I draw from the codices of my ancestors. They speak through me — they decide what goes on the canvas. I’m just the medium.” — Veronica Valadez

vivid illustrations of ancient Aztec manuscripts. She says, “I draw from the codices of my ancestors. They speak through me — they decide what goes on the canvas. I’m just the medium.” Valadez includes descriptive information (including symbolism and iconography) with every piece of art she creates, whether that is a new canvas, a pair of earrings or the skateboard decks she paints. When she goes to an event, the decks always attract teenagers to her booth. She treats their interest as an opportunity to teach. “They’re at that pivotal age. They’re looking for something. We can either give them and help them understand their identity, or they can find that identity on the streets.” She wants them to, “embrace and feel proud about who they are and where they come from — and have a really cool skateboard too!” When Valadez talks about her dancing, art and teaching, she says she feels her ancestors have led her here to ensure that the ancient traditions and heritage do not fade away. She takes this task on with a ferocious energy, and uses every tool she has to succeed. As a Chicana/o studies teacher at California State University, Channel Islands, she urges her students to study the past, examine the present and think critically about what they learn. As a dancer who has earned the titles of cabeza and maestra, she is passing along the ancient rites to the university and local Danza Azteca/Mexica troupes. As an artist using ancient codices to tell stories, she is illustrating her collective heritage. In all she does, Valadez creates a conduit to the past and builds a better tomorrow for those who will call her an ancestor in future centuries. v Veronica Valadez is a lecturer at CSUCI www.arteyolteotl.com

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: As a lecturer in Chicano Studies at CSUCI, Valadez hopes to do more than merely educate students in the history and culture of Mexican and Latin American communities. Her goal: to build a sense of cultural identity and pride.

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Thank You for 22 Successful Years in Ventura County For the past 22 years, since 1994, Primary Medical has served patients in 5 family-friendly offices located conveniently

Attention Medicare Beneficiaries: Medicare Advantage open enrollment begins October 15 and lasts until December 7th. throughout Ventura and Oxnard. Our mission is to deliver the best high quality medical care available in a caring, Enroll with Primary Medical today! We accept Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans through SeaView IPA. compassionate and welcoming environment. Our physicians and healthcare providers pay special attention to preventive care Please call Primary Medical for more information at 805-642-1430 ext 149.

and regularly monitor patients with chronic illnesses.

Readers of the VC Reporter selected Dr. Edward Banman as thecare Bestsince Family Physician Ventura County Dr. Carolyn Primary Medical has been specializing in primary medical 1994 and hasinfive offices locatedand conveniently throughout Ventura andwinner Oxnard. physicians and31st healthcare providers pay special to preventive care and Chase as the second-place in Our the VC Reporterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Best of Ventura Countyattention Awards. These awards serve as a patients with chronic illnesses. Letand Primary Medical be your healthcare provider! reminder toregularly us of ourmonitor long-standing commitment to our patients community!

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to the community of Ventura since 1983. We treat acute and chronic illness as well as provide health screenings and vaccinations. Our onsite services include splinting and casting, laceration repairs, x-rays, electrocardiograms, phlebotomy, and more. We also treat work related injuries and can work with your employer to get you back at work as soon as possible. 5725 Ralston Street, Suite 101 (Victoria Village), Ventura. (805) 658-2273. F I N E

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PHAT CAT Award-winning jazzman Gordon Goodwin brings a contemporary touch to big band music. BY LESLIE A. WESTBROOK | PHOTO BY REX BULLINGTON

Gordon Goodwin is one hep cat. And a helluva nice one, who seemingly works nonstop. If you groove to a jazzy, bluesy, big-band sound of beautifully arranged and composed original tunes and standards, then you should definitely run out for a copy of An Elusive Man, Goodwin’s newly released CD. It’s album no. 7 for the Ventura County-based pianist, saxophonist, trombone player, composer, arranger and conductor — and with it he shows a brand-new vision for his musical pursuits: the sevenpiece Little Phat Band. “We are not your father’s big band,” Gordon notes of his two ensembles, the Big and Little Phat Bands. “We are contemporary with contemporary influences. I fell in love with this music in seventh grade and it brought a balance to my life. This is me.”

SMALL BUT MIGHTY: Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band is a scaled-down version of his large, 18-member ensemble. Back row (l. to r.): Eric Marienthal (sax), Goodwin (piano, tenor sax), Wayne Bergeron (trumpet), Bernie Dresel (drums) and Rick Shaw (bass). Front: Andy Martin (left; trombone) and Andrew Synowiec (guitar).

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In the jazz world, Oscar Peterson, Thad Jones, Count Basie, Cannonball Adderley.” The nostalgic “In a Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington (1935), with Gordon tickling the ivories, is a sure-fire romance igniter if ever there was one. If I hadn’t sprained my ankle in a nasty spill just a few days before I planned to drive to Thousand Oaks to interview Gordon in person, I would have been salsa dancing all over my house to the great beats of “Garaje Gato” (Garage Cat). Stand-out horn players get their groove on, as well as bandleader Gordon on piano and a solo tenor sax run. I love the word play used by Goodwin and asked him about some of his song titles. For instance, how about the last smokin’ jazzy track “Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” among others? “The titles represent our worldview. We want to have fun and show this to our audiences.” He added conspiratorially, referring to the title of the new CD, “An Elusive Man does relate to a person I know. He really does hide behind a shield. I just liked the sound of the name. But it is not me. It’s kind of like that Carly Simon song ‘You’re So Vain,’ where we’re not really sure who she is talking about!” This versatile musician, who wrote his first chart in seventh grade, cannot live by Big Phat Bands alone. His Emmys were for his whimsical cartoon-style Animaniacs soundtracks and he was nominated for “Sylvester and Tweety,” which should give you an inkling of his musical antics, which feature fun musical references from the classics and beyond. Gordon says he learned about melodies through writing cartoon scores at Warner Brothers. Composing for the Walt Disney Company and video games, which have “healthy budgets,” helps support his jazz habit. Outreach to young aspiring players is part of his raison d’être and Gordon creates challenging music charts for his tunes for high school musicians. Keep an eye out for Gordon and his band performances around So Cal and beyond. We are lucky to have them in the ’hood. Or tune your radio or Internet dial to KJAZZ out of Long Beach: The knowledgeable musician also hosts Phat Tracks with Gordon Goodwin. He also supports young student musicians on the air by playing their performances and holding competitions. One has to wonder if the man ever sleeps. And if so, what does he dream about? “My dreams are nostalgic,” Gordon told me over a Sunday breakfast meeting, “They are evocative of taking a test in school I’m not ready for!” Which seems ironic for this hardworking musician who seems, to all appearances, to be exceptionally prepared for all tests that life throws his way. v

ABOUT TOWN

The Big Phat Band is composed of 18 top-notch, busy studio musicians who are all great sight-readers (and two crew members, when they are on the road). Little Phat is a subset, a more mobile group of seven musicians, including sax, trombone and trumpet players; a drummer and guitarist; bass player; and Gordon himself, on piano and tenor sax. As Gordon notes of his fellow players on the band website: “They are masters of any style of music, from swing to pop to classical. And they are all complete knuckleheads, with quick minds and lively senses of humor. And finally . . . they have an optimistic view on life and are mindful of what a gift it is to play music. It is this last that permeates everything we play and we try never to take it for granted.” Gordon reiterated the importance of this during one of our conversations — and what a big part this plays in motivating him to keep on keepin’ on. The three-time Emmy and four-time Grammy winner (a native of Wichita, Kansas, he lives in Thousand Oaks now) keeps his awards on his piano lid or home hearth, and said he started to frame the nomination certificates until they grew to some twenty nods. “The band has paid off in different ways. It’s not a big money maker,” he admitted, adding that it’s costly to produce the CDs. “More important than the Grammys and Emmys are the young kids who have hooked on to our music and are learning to love music through our band.” Case in point. Gordon received an email from a woman about her son Jesse, who fought cancer off and on from the age of 4. She wanted him to know what an effect their music had had on her son’s life. When Jesse was in middle school he discovered the Big Phat Band and became a huge fan. Prior to chemotherapy, she told Gordon, he would listen to the band to get his strength up. Sadly, Jesse died at 15 years young (in 2009). In honor of him, the Big Phat Band performed at the Oakland jazz club Yoshi’s and set up a Jesse ChowSmith Memorial Music Scholarship for middle and high school kids in Oakland. “That was the most rewarding and memorable thing for all of us. Nothing tops that!” Gordon noted. The title track of the new CD is a little bit funky and a little bit foot-stompin’ country-bluesy (surprise!) with hints of Blood, Sweat and Tears’ “Spinning Wheel.” Then there’s the really lovely “Walkin’ ” with all the oomph and prettiness and peaks and valleys heard in earlier big band-era recordings. Think Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. Speaking of which, I asked Gordon to name his heroes. “Terrible question!” he replied, asking, “How many pages do we have? I could narrow it down to John Williams, compositionally. And Quincy Jones.

Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band www.bigphatband.com

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THE QUIET REVOLUTION Cuba in the age of technology. STORY AND PHOTOS BY WILLIAM HENDRICKS

}}

TRAVEL

s a frequent traveler to Castro’s Island Nation for the last 23 years, friends and family often asked, “Is Cuba changing?” With the infusion of new electronic media into the Cuban culture, the younger generation (12 to 25) is moving its gaze away from their neighbor’s morning greeting to the continual swipe of the latest device, most likely sent by their neighbors from the north. “What we are seeing is not globalization,” says Cuban writer Orlando Hernandez, “but the erasing of culture.” The expiration date on the reality that ignited the revolution of Fidel and Che has passed. Cuba is in the midst of Revolucion de la Sociego (the Quiet Revolution). Unlike the past, we are seeing no blood and no one is getting hurt. In observing this revolution, however, you notice a new identity being formed and shaped and propelled along by technology. It’s as if the old reality has slowly disappeared and then reappeared. While the waves of technology are finding their place in homes and on the streets, also permeating the air is a level of dissatisfaction and frustration. During my most recent visit to Havana, I personally saw or knew of 10 people who left the country. They traveled from Havana to Mexico by air, and from there drove to Laredo. After crossing the Texas border, they flew to Miami. These were artists, computer engineers, art historians and people working in the tourist and travel business. They all had good jobs and close families, but saw greater opportunities away from home. In May, I met Leo, a young artist who started an artist collective space where 2-D and 3-D artists are invited to share an area where they can create for two months. He told me, “This country has to change fast, or we’re all going to find a new residence and new opportunities elsewhere.” I asked, “What do you want, in the near future?” He squared up to me and replied, “The ceiling is too low and we are always on our knees.” The bearded revolution created a system where education was free to anyone who had a pulse and could get out of bed to don the uniform. This created a highly educated and motivated population that is always seeking more. Today, the more of the past is not enough. Younger Cubans want and demand more technology, which in turn creates more opportunity. If they don’t receive it, they are prepared to leave their families and country behind. With that said, I had dinner in the home of a 23-year-old artist and her family. Her father is a professor of languages at the University of Havana; her mother is a well-respected author of Cuban, Italian and French literature. This thoughtful, creative and intelligent young person said with complete sincerity, “I am not political. I choose to live in a bubble.” She is keenly aware of her cultural environment, as all Cubans are, but chooses to focus her energy on her passion for music and creating art. She sat at the dinner table closely connected to her phone, but simultaneously found great pleasure and significance in being connected with her family and friends. STREET TECH: A well-heeled woman searches for a WiFi signal. Like many

young women in Cuba, she is strong, beautiful and alone . . . but always obsessively connected. OCTOBER 2016

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The following day, I invited Miguelito, the 21-year-old son of an old family friend, to have lunch. When I asked him how technology has shaped his life in the last two years he was eager to answer. “We need the Internet along with the Americans, because the U.S. is the most developed country in the world.” As Americans come to Cuba, are the people more influenced by Western culture? “Yes, most definitely. In particular, we enjoy Chris Brown and rap music. We love everything about Beyoncé, and the girls especially like the aesthetic of Taylor Swift.” “Here, you wake up every morning with technology in your head. It’s easy, and anyone with money can do it. To read a book you have to build a habit that must be consistent. Whereas with technology you can pick it up anytime and be on top of it instantly.” He thinks, however, that once technology is everywhere in Cuba, his country will experience a big shock that will cause internal alienation. “I grew up in Centro Havana always hearing that you [meaning Americans] are the enemy. At the same time, I saw the Cuban government go abroad and enjoy a good life while we struggled in the jungle. Americans would come to visit my neighborhood and my family. They would bring me toys to play with and shoes that would light up when I walked down the street. I heard the American Dream in my head all the time, never feeling connected to Cuba. In fact, my friends say I am better at hip-hop than salsa.” “For us,” Miguelito continued, “technology is a drug that keeps us wanting more and more. I am not addicted, but when I don’t have my phone I’m disconnected and I feel bad.” Ranier, an electrical engineer, explained to me that in response to the needs of the Cuban people, the Cuban government set up five hot spots that went online in July 2015. Almost a year later, Havana boasts a total of 17 locations, with 30 more planned to be launched by the end of this year. For Cuba and the Cuban people, this infusion of technology has ignited a movement, a new state of existence for the human experience. For young and old alike, this language is both an intimate and a collective commitment, one that requires adjustment, growth and the eventual molding of a new identity. As its citizens dig deep into the cultural well of curiosity, this once-isolated nation is quickly becoming a participant in its own siuation makeover. This is truly a 21st-century transformation, where the edge is becoming the center, and the interactions of the people are not touched by the contact of the flesh, but emotionally tied to the objects that adorn their bodies. v William Hendricks is a professor of photography at Ventura College. www.hendricks-studios.com bill@hendricks-studios.com

PLUGGED IN: Young people in Havana cluster around WiFi centers that have spread like wildfire across the city. Being connected to the world at large is everything for this generation, whose gaze is turning away from friends, neighbors and Cuban culture, and towards handheld devices and the promise of opportunity they represent. Even at the family dinner table (center) young Cubanos are never far from their phones. “For us, technology is a drug that keeps us wanting more and more,” says 21-year-old Miguelito. “I am not addicted, but when I don’t have my phone I’m disconnected and I feel bad.”

FROM THE LOW $1 MILLIONS

A New View of Ventura. MOVE-IN READY HOMES AVAILABLE NOW One visit and La Barranca will change your view of Ventura living. These Mediterranean-designed homes present modern, open floorplans encouraging indoor-outdoor living with panoramic-style doors. Each is highly finished with price-included features like GE Monogram appliances, marble master baths with custom detail, hardwood flooring, and so much more. Come visit with us this weekend. We know you’ll love your new view of Ventura living!

805.223.9353

Open House Thursday - Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm or shown by appointment.

New Luxury Homes From $1.17 million 3,061 to 3,586 Sq. Ft. 4 Bedrooms & 3.5 to 4.5 Baths Ensuite First-Floor Bedroom Generous Great Rooms • Gourmet Kitchens Office/Study & Lofts Loggias, Covered Porches & Decks Elevated homesites with countryside, city light or ocean views (per location) Acclaimed School District

BROKERS WELCOME • 2.5% CO-OP

labarranca@williamshomes.com • 5533 Foothill Road • Ventura, 93003

Prices effective date of publication, subject to prior sale and availability. Square footage is approximate. Interiors shown are of builder’s decorated model home. Williams Homes, Inc. is a California Broker, License no. 01449126.

s_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: sEpt 2016 ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bot

Hands-on

ProPerty management We focus on providing our clients & tenants with the personal attention they deserve.

PUT YOUR BUSINESS IN GOOD HANDS.

I use Malkin Properties to manage all of my investment properties – and I couldn’t be happier!!

It’s your business. Let me help protect it. When your business relies on your vehicles, you put your reputation on the road. Make sure you have the quality protection of Allstate Business Insurance. At Allstate, we understand each business has its own unique needs. That’s why we offer products with a broad range of coverage for all types of businesses. Don’t wait - make sure you’re covered. Call me today.

Ronald Sobol Call Us anytime

(805) 279-1141

Jill Olivares 805-649-6090

Malkin Properties

370 Ventura Ave. Oak View jillolivares@allstate.com

CA Insurance Agent #: 0728682 Client: Anne Williamson

F I N E

_is_not_ ion.

L I V I N G

I N

V E N T U R A

C O U N T Y

Sydney Malkin - Broker & Owner

Real Estate Services, Property Management & Real Estate Investments Ad

m o n t h l y

Sydney Malkin Broker & Owner

Proof

Properties, Inc. Ad Executive:Malkin Barbara Kroon (805) 648-2244 Real Estate Services, Property Management & Real Estate Investments.

184701

Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_Proofs,_ 3639 HARBOR BOULEVARD LICENSE: #01957507 226 Ojai ave., Suite #101-545 terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Northbrook MalkinPropertiesInc.com WEB SITE: MalkinPropertiesllc.com ad WIllSubject ruNtoas Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. #201 SUITEW. IssuE: oCtoBEr 2016 EMAIL:

MalkinSydney@gmail.com

O jai, CalifOrnia , CALIFORNIA 93001 VENTURA

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Date:______

Signature:__

october 2016

Date:_______________________________

Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_ Proofs,_ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: oCt 2016

Great Coastal Living!

cr S E In

Spanish Style Estate This_dramatically_designed_Spanish_styled_estate_in_secluded_Mandalay_Beach_is_steps_to_ pristine_sand._This_3_+_4_home_is_newly_built_with_exceptional_quality_and_attention_to_ the_finest_of_details._The_gourmet_kitchen_boasts_alderwood_cabinets,_along_with_quartz_ countertops_in_neutral_tones._all_Thermador_appliances,_including_a_six_burner_gas_stove._ adding_to_the_grandeur_of_this_home_is_a_butler’s_pantry_with_full_cabinetry,_prep_counter_ and_ its_ own_ separate_ indoor_ laundry._ The_ wood_ beamed_ ceiling_ and_ custom_ fireplace_ mantle,_along_with_custom_wrought_iron_craftsmanship_including_a_sweeping_staircase._ The_upstairs_awe_inspiring_master_suite_includes_sitting_room_and_en_suite_bath_and_walkin_closet_with_full_organizers._each_of_the_other_two_bedrooms_have_their_own_en-suite_ bath_with_views_of_the_water_or_Topa_Topa_mountains._Parking_will_be_uncomplicated_ with_a_full_two_car_garage_at_the_rear_of_the_home_along_with_a_full_two_car_driveway_ with_stamped_and_stained_concrete._ $1,275,000

Oxnard Shores Beauty

F I N E

L I V I N G

I N

Charming_ beach_ bungalow_ of_ exquisite_ quality_ construction_ rarely_ found_ in_ Mandalay_ beach._ Custom_designed._Master_craftsmanship_in_all_the_ finishes,_workmanship_&_ design_show_in_the_smallest_of_detail:_The_gourmet_kitchen_ with_designer_appliances._The_master_suite_with_its_own_ intimate_ sitting_ room_ with_ fireplace_ and_ balcony._ The_ 4_ Br_ each_ with_ their_ own_ ensuite_ bathrooms;_ one_ on_ the_ main_floor_for_guest_privacy._ $1,290,000

V E N T U R A

C O U N T Y

m o n t h l y

Client: Fred Evans

Open Concept with Great Views

SOLD

awesome_4_+_3._amazing_outside_ decks_with_views._Three_car_garage_ with_ driveway._ This_ home_ is_ a_ one_ of_ a_ kind_ and_ priced_ to_ sell. _ $1,085,000

Ad Proof

Ad Executive: David Comden

(805) 648-2244

Please_check_this_proof_over_carefully_and_indicate_all_corrections_clearly.__You_will_have_a_“1st_Proof”,_“2nd_Proof”,_and_“Final_Proof”.__If_we_receive_no_proof_after_the_1st_or_2nd_ Dmcguire@BHHSCalHomes.com Proofs,_ad WIll ruN as Is.__If_this_proof_meets_your_approval_on_the_1st_proof,_check_off_“FInal_ProoF_(aPProveD)”_box,_date_and_sign_at_the_bottom. IssuE: oCt 2016

Donna McGuire

(805) 616-3671

Bre_#01920352

EXPERIENCE THE FRED EVANS TEAM Date: NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO

Fred and his team have been the Top 100 RE/MAX team in the U.S., 16 years in a row. Out of over 60,000 agents in the U.S. Signature:___________________________ (805) 648-2245 asaP

This_proof_is_to_check_for_accuracy_and_is_not_ intended_to_show_quality_of_reproduction.

60 FT bOaT dOCk hOmE IN WEsTPOrT aT ChaNNEl IslaNds marINa VENTura COuNTy. on_ the_ main_ channel._ Boat_ dock_ directly_behind_property._only_one_of_two_custom_homes_in_this_ community._ 3_ Br,_ 6_ Ba’s_ ._ over_ 4300_ sq_ ft_ w/_ custom_ elevator._ Unobstructed_ south_ facing_ views._ _ extensively_ rebuilt_ in_ 2007.__ OFFErEd aT $3,000,000 aDa_accessible_throughout._ WWW.4420ChEsaPEakEdrIVE.COm

CamarIllO las POsas EsTaTEs. Brand new construction. Single level Craftsman style home.__ about_ 3000_ sq._ ft._ (per_ seller)_ w/_ 3+3_ ½_ _ &_ family_ room_w/_over_600_sq._ft._attic.__Gourmet_kitchen._3_car_ garage.__Cul-de-sac_lot_w/_over_25,000_sq._ft._ rEduCEd $200k. sEllEr WaNTs OFFEr. Now listed for $1,495,000 WWW.1563CallEaurOra.COm

saNTa Paula’s hIsTOrICal mCkEVETT hEIGhTs EsTaTE. 1925_ Spanish_ revival_ on_ nearly_ a_ full_ acre.__ originaly_ built_ for_ Senator_ Walter_ Duval._ 4+4_ ½_ w/_ over_ 3200_ sq_ ft._ 400_ sq_ ft_ gazebo_ w/_ kitchen.__ Hardwood_ floors._ Covered_ veranda_ overlooking_ fabulous_gardens_&_Koi_pond._ lIsTEd FOr $1,495,000 WWW.19mCkEVETT.COm

PaNOramIC OCEaN VIEWs, bEauTIFully rEsTOrEd dOWNTOWN VENTura. 1920’s_Spanish_tri-level_w/_over_ 2500_sq._ft._Featuring_4_Br_+3_½_Ba_plus_office_area.__new_ electrical_ work_ completed._ Close_ to_ downtown_ shops,_ theatres,_restaurants,_ventura_Pier_&_beach. NOW OFFErEd aT $1,145,000 WWW.335POlI.COm

GaTEd sTErlING hIlls GOlF COursE VIEW & POOl hOmE IN CamarIllO. Beautiful_ 4_ Br,_ 3_ ½_ Ba_ home_ w/_ over_3700_sq._ft._Two_fireplaces._Master_suite_w/_spa-like_bath_ &_views._Downstairs_guest_suite_w/_private_entry.__Therapeutic_ Salt_Water_Pool._MoTIvaTeD_Seller!_reduced $130k. Now listed for $1,019,000 WWW.769sTErlINGhIlls.COm

VENTura mEdITErraNEaN sTylE hOmE ON bluFF OVErlOOkING PaCIFIC OCEaN. Quality_ built_custom_home.__Featuring_3_Br.,_2_½__Ba_plus_loft.__ Gourmet_kitchen,_upstairs_master_suite_w/_sitting_area_ &_ocean_view_solarium._Indoor_laundry_room._ lIsTEd FOr $979,000 WWW.1998VIsTadElmar.COm

Fred Sells Ventura County To The World For 31 Years! RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors

www.fredevans.com www.global.remax.com Translated in over 38 languages.

For Virtual tour scan Here

Buying or selling? Call the Fred Evans team: 805.339.3502 october 2016

NOTICE: PlEasE Fax ThIs PrOOF TO

Date:

ventana

SHORT LIST SANTA PAULA GHOSTWALK

Oct. 7–23 | Santa Paula Theater Center GhostWalk brings participants historical and entertaining stories, “real and imagined,” during each hour-long tour. During the 22nd season, the theme centers around French filmmaker and producer Gaston Méliès, who managed the Santa Paula branch of his brother Georges’ Star Film Company. Participants will meet Gaston, some of his company and Santa Paula notables on their travels through time with additional surprise activities lined up. It’s spooky (and educational!) fun for the whole family. Tickets range from $8 (children 12 and younger) to $15 for adults. 125 S. Seventh St., Santa Paula. For more information, visit www.ghostwalk.com.

OJAI STUDIO ARTISTS TOUR

Oct. 7–10 | Ojai Studio Artists The theme for this year’s reception on Friday, Oct. 7, is the “Pink Moment Gala,” and is free and open to all tour artists and ticketholders. The event features raffle baskets filled with original art and fine local products such as Ojai honey, olive oil and lavender. On Saturday and Sunday, 50 artist studios throughout the Ojai Valley will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, preceded by a special pre-tour program at 7 p.m. on Friday for locals and early arrivals. Tickets: $15 to $35. 323 E. Matilija St., Suite 110-243, Ojai. For more information, visit www. ojaistudioartists.org.

BIG WAVE SURF FILM NIGHT

Oct. 8 | Ojai Valley Grange Learn all about surf pioneer Sarah Gerhardt at this event featuring a screening of the award-winning documentary One Winter Story, which offers a glimpse into the maledominated world of big-wave surfing from a woman’s perspective. Filmmaker Elizabeth Pepin Silva and surf legend Frosty Hesson will be in attendance, and the star, Gerhardt, will speak following the screening. Part of ticket sales will benefit the Ojai Valley Grange. Tickets: $5-12. 381 Cruzero St., Ojai. For more information, visit www.onewinterstory. brownpapertickets.com.

MURPHY AUTO MUSEUM MEMORIAL CAR RALLY

Oct. 8 |Oxnard A memorial car rally honoring the late Jerry Magnuson, founder of Magnuson Products, will feature a 100-mile journey around Ventura County benefiting the Murphy Auto Museum and the American Cancer Society. The museum also recently opened Pickups and Station Wagons, featuring special vehicles dating back as far as 1937. An after-party will include a tour of the 30,000-square-foot museum. After-party tickets: $50. The rally is open to 50 entrants, and sponsorships range from $500 to $2,500 per entry. 2230 Statham Blvd., Oxnard. For more information, visit www.murphyautomuseum.org.

SEASIDE HIGHLAND GAMES

Oct. 8–9 | Ventura County Fairgrounds Scottish fun awaits you at the annual Seaside Games, including massed bands and parades, Celtic vendors, sheepdog demos, Celtic music, 80+ clan societies and more! Don’t forget to try the traditional haggis while you’re taking in all that Scotland has to offer. Tickets: $5-15. 10 Harbor Blvd., Ventura. For more information, visit www.seaside-games. com.

“THE UFFIZI FLOOD”

Oct. 13 | California State University, Channel Islands Distinguished Scholar in Residence Giovanna Giusti, art historian and veteran curator of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, will keynote this multidisciplinary panel that includes representatives from CSUCI; CSU, Long Beach; and Oxnard College. Giusti will speak of the great flood of 1966 and the damage it caused to the museum’s collection of art, including

ventana

OCTOBER 2016

works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael and Caravaggio. The event takes place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Martin V. Smith Center for Integrative Decision-Making, 1 University Drive, Camarillo. For more information, visit www. csuci.edu.

OCTOBER 7-23

SANTA PAULA THEATER CENTER

STEP UP VENTURA MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

Oct. 14 | Pierpont Inn Step Up Ventura’s vision is a community where all children have a chance to form healthy relationships and have access to early childhood education. It will host its first benefit Murder Mystery Dinner at the Wyndham Garden Ventura Pierpont Inn on Friday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 10 p.m. Participants become a part of the scene as they enjoy dinner and an evening of fun and fantasy. Who knows — the person sitting next to you could be a stone-cold killer! Tickets start at $75 and include a three-course dinner, beverage and seat inside the “crime scene.” For more information, visit www.stepupventura.org.

“STAND UP FOR KIDS” GALA DINNER & AUCTION

Oct. 22 | Four Seasons Hotel, Westlake Village Evening highlights include a silent and live auction, gourmet dining, entertainment and dancing. This is the main fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley and helps support over 4,000 children with before- and after-school programs, sports leagues and summer camps. 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village. For more information, visit www. bgcconejo.org.

OCTOBER 8

OJAI VALLEY GRANGE

WESTERN FOUNDATION OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY FALL OPEN HOUSE

Oct. 22 | WFVZ, Camarillo Test your knowledge of raptors and other avians at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology’s fall open house. Tour the Foundation’s extensive bird, nest and egg collections, and browse an art exhibit showcasing professional and amateur artists’ bird-themed creations. Egg blowing and other demonstrations will be held, and prizes will be raffled off throughout the day. Admission is $3 per person and $5 per family. 439 Calle San Pablo, Camarillo. For more information, visit www.wfvz.org.

ADOLFO CAMARILLO BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Oct. 23 | Camarillo Ranch Spend an afternoon helping the city of Camarillo celebrate Adolfo Camarillo’s birthday. Enjoy fun, food, music, shopping and history, and learn about the city’s pioneer during this celebration. A variety of activities will be held, including a performance by the Adolfo Camarillo High School Band. Pet the Camarillo white horses, listen to fun mariachi music, enjoy the grace and beauty of folklorico dancers and more. Free. 201 Camarillo Ranch Road, Camarillo. For more information, visit www.camarilloranch.org.

ON THE HORIZON VENTURA COUNTY FARM DAY

Nov. 4–5 | Ventura County Celebrate all things homegrown at this annual event that puts farmers in the spotlight. Festivities begin on Friday at downtown Ventura’s Mission Park with a local grassroots Film and Farm Festival featuring food trucks, four short films and a feature film for kids. On Saturday, tour a number of Ventura County farms and end the day with a locally sourced barbecue featuring farm-fresh food, cocktails and desserts. Friday, free admission; Saturday barbecue $15-40. For more information, visit www.venturacountyfarmday.com.

OCTOBER 23

CAMARILLO RANCH

VENTANA HOME SALES INDEX

➡

AVERAGE PRICE

➡

HOMES SOLD

Ventura Exclusive Hidden Valley Estates Ocean View Home

+7.1%

-13.9%

SEPTEMBER 2015 VS. 2016 TREND

CAMARILLO

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

SEP ‘15

SEP ‘16

91 $630,700

84 $592,400

10 $365,500

6 $425,200

44 $651,200

29 $752,300

47 $668,900

38 $678,600

FILLMORE

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE NEWBURY PARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE MOORPARK

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE OJAI

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

19 $834,700

16 $963,400

135 $502,200

104 $552,600

20 $301,800

35 $349,100

24 $354,700

14 $537,900

131 $553,100

119 $527,600

93 $667,600

76 $661,600

87 $561,700

82 $536,600

701

603

OXNARD

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE PORT HUENEME

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE SANTA PAULA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE

Offered at $2,299,000 6037 Bridgeview dr., Ventura rarely on the market, one of only 30 homes located in the private exclusive enclave of homes known as Upper Hidden valley estates. This wonderful 4 Br, 4.5 bath remodeled home has 4,047 feet of gracious living area. Situated pleasantly on a gated, elevated lot with ocean, island and mountain views. The home is reminiscent of a Kansas farmhouse and has an enchanting mix of modern convenience and vintage charm including large covered veranda. open floor plan with high ceilings and large windows, a gorgeous professional grade kitchen that opens to an expansive great room with hard wood floors and built-in cabinetry. There are ocean and mountain views from most rooms in the home including the formal dining room and a sun room which has floor to ceiling windows and french doors that open onto the veranda. one bedroom suite is on the ground level. Upstairs is there are 3 bedrooms including one the most luxurious and exquisite master suites and bathrooms that you will ever see. This is one of those remarkable homes in which words cannot express all that it offers or convey it’s graciousness. You must see and feel the serenity and privacy.

SIMI VALLEY

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE THOUSAND OAKS

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE VENTURA

# HOMES SOLD AVERAGE PRICE TOTAL # OF SALES

Melody O’Leary-Namikas Office: 805.218.5035 melody4realestate@gmail.com melodylovesrealestate.com Cal Bre: 01299611

Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index is presented each month as part of the real estate section. The figures are sourced from sales reported to MLS for the period of 8/31/16 to 9/29 /16. Ventana Monthly Home Sales Index © Ventana Monthly, 2016.

october 2016

ventana

Thank you for voting us among the Best Realtors in Ventura County for the seventh consecutive year!

® Realtors Exceptional Real Estate from the Beaches to the Hillside

New pr

1511 Mandalay Beach Road, Mandalay Shores

Award-winning, contemporary beachfront home with dramatic ocean and island views. Renovated in 2015 and 2016. 4,000 sq. ft. with beachfront master suite, spectacular views from the kitchen, dining, family and living rooms and self-contained guest quarters. $3,695,000

3561 Ocean Drive, Hollywood Beach

1920s beach cottage with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and superb views. Beachfront location plus permanent beach access to the North means open space and more view! Extra large oceanfront deck, spacious living room with high coved ceilings and fireplace. $2,000,000

st N ew L i

104 La Brea Street, Hollywood Beach

Ocean Views from this New Construction Cape Cod-style home! 3-levels with gorgeous views from the great room deck, master suite and one of the secondary bedrooms. Gourmet kitchen. 3+4. $1,595,000

i New pr

ing!

ice!

85 Los Altos, Hollywood Beach

Oceanfront 3+3 townhome on the sand. End unit next to permanent beach access. Great light, beach patio, secondfloor balcony, 2 fireplaces, private 2-car garage. $1,900,000

N ew P r

309 Sunset Drive, Hollywood By The Sea

A quick walk to the water’s edge to paddle board or launch your kayak. Entertain on the private enclosed large front patio. The first floor has a large family room, wet bar with built-in cabinets, a bedroom and a full bath. This would make ideal guest quarters. Up the beautiful bamboo steps is a large living room with a raised hearth fireplace, high ceilings, and fabulous gourmet kitchen, plus two bedrooms and two bathrooms. 3 +3. $859,000

ice!

1312 Mandalay Beach Road, Mandalay Shores

Fantastic ocean and island views from the top deck; great for entertaining! Nice ocean view from the family room too! Welllocated and spacious townhome where Mandalay Beach Road meets Neptune Square! 3+2.5. New flooring in the kitchen and dining rooms and new paint throughout. $769,995

w! escro n i

ce!

5507 Hollings Street, Ventura

398 Otono Court, Camarillo

Mid-century neighborhood with 21st-century updates! Beautiful, private backyard with two decks, great curb appeal, expanded chef’s kitchen that opens to great room with gorgeous fireplace. Oak floors, newer windows, and more! $639,000

Spectacular upgrades! Mission Oaks 4BR+2BA single story home. Incredible gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances, custom cabinets, gorgeous granite. More than $150,000 was spent to renovate this home. Air conditioning, custom stonework fireplace, new laminate flooring, new landscaping and irrigation and much more. $619,000

3021 Kelp Lane, Oxnard Beautiful townhome minutes from the beach and harbor! End-unit. Granite kitchen surfaces, custom fireplace and designer flooring. Private rear patio yard that leads to a 2-car garage. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1042 square feet. $329,000

www.ArielandKaren.com (805) 746-2070 • (805) 824-2004 Ariel Palmieri CalBre #01501968

Karen Stein CalBre #01505059

Full Service Real Estate From The Coast To The Hillside

Near Water’s Edge

Hollywood By The Sea santa rosa Valley

Estate on four acres This beautiful Tuscan estate sits on over four usable acres of property with approximately two hundred lovely avocado trees! There’s even a green house with water and electric. The outdoors

features a refreshing salt water pool and a spa with impressive tile work; round that out with a patio complete with a BBQ Center and outdoor fireplace. Contact Judy Fairchild, Keller Williams

West, 805-827-2399. Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Price:

$1,600,000

Take a quick walk to the water’s edge to paddle board or launch your kayak and head into the Pacific. Entertain on the private enclosed large front patio which is just perfect for dining alfresco. The first floor has a large family room featuring a wet bar with built-in cabinets. There is also a bedroom and a full bath on the first floor which would make an excellent nanny or in-law quarters. It is also perfect for long-term guests. Up

the beautiful bamboo steps is a large living room with a raised hearth fireplace, high ceilings, and fabulous newer gourmet kitchen, plus two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Contact Ariel & Karen, Coldwell Banker, 805-746-2070. Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Price:

$859,000

Tropically Inspired the pinnacle of ventura living

la barranca’s move-in ready home in a naturally terraced setting This exquisite California Hacienda is nestled in the Ventura foothills on a large 9,650 square foot homesite. Taking its styling from Spanish Colonial architecture, the home incorporates classic details such as custom crafted wrought iron balcony enclosures and a tile roof coupled with the numerous advantages of fine new home construction. Many aspects of this home connect indooroutdoor living – from an intimate family room with expansive bi-fold doors opening to the loggia, to a relaxing fireplace in the

study adjacent to the outdoor patio. The chef’s delight kitchen has hand-crafted cabinets, GE Monogram stainless appliances, a large kitchen island, granite counters with custom tile work backsplash, and a large pantry. Expertly designed interiors are highlighted by hardwood flooring in first-floor living areas, hand-crafted wood staircase with hardwood railings and wrought iron balusters, tall designerselected baseboards throughout, integrated art and media niches, and a multi-zoned

central heating and air conditioning system. The property is one of just nine homes in an exclusive neighborhood nestled on a hillside offering dramatic views. Contact Cynthia Kerr, (Cal BRE #00897815) of Williams Homes, 805.258.3560. Bedrooms: Bathrooms: Price:

4 3.5

$1,300,000

Exclusive Ventura Heights This single story home offers rare, 180 degree, unobstructed ocean, islands, and city lights views. Newer construction which was recently remodeled features an open concept living and dining area with a fireplace and a gourmet kitchen. The den features vaulted ceilngs and a second fireplace plus a built in salt water aquarium. The Master Suite has dual walk-in closets; French doors lead to a medidation garden, and the master bath boasts floating sinks, a claw foot tub that

fills from the ceiling and a marble shower with body-sprayers. An ocean view lanai plus a 2 story tikibar complete the property. www. 2033Foster.com gives you a tour. Contact Blake Mashburn, Century 21 Troop Real Estate , 805-368-0202. Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Price:

october 2016

$1,350,000 |

ventana

We Love Selling Paradise!

Bob Ridgway • Judy Fairchild Tina Comden • Teryn Bonime • Jen Ridgway

2720 Redondo, Santa Rosa Valley

4 BR, 5 BTH Beautiful Tuscan estate on over four usable acres with approx. 200 avocado trees, green house w/water & electric, refreshing salt water pool/spa w/impressive tile work, BBQ Center, outdoor fireplace & patio. Contact Judy Fairchild for a private tour. 805-827-2399 $1,600,000

oon

s ing

com

A Mid vailab Oct le obe r!

144 Shamrock Drive, Ventura

2 BR, 1 BTH Great location for this lovely home in one of the most sought after areas in mid-town Ventura. Be one of the first to see this cute home. Call Bob Ridgway for an appointment to see it before it is on the market. 805-320-1811

Call today to find your paradise

1109 Bangor Lane, Pierpont

3 BR, 2 BTH Only one house in from the beach!!! Without question one of the best choices for beach living currently on the market. Over 1700 square feet of living space featuring ocean views! A must see! Call Tina Comden for a private tour. 805-218-5926

805-643-3337

2831 N. Ventura Rd., Oxnard 1071 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura CalBRE#01060428

Better Call Blake ! UNOBSTRUCTED, 180 DEGREE OCEAN, ISLANDS & CITY LIGHT VIEWS!

l Tropically inspired 1-story home, perched in exclusive w e n Ventura Heights! Open-concept living & dining areas boast a handsome fireplace, crown moldings & gleaming bamboo flooring & flow wide-open to the gourmet kitchen, featuring custom cabinetry, granite counters, center island & top-o-the-line appliances! The den or 3rd BR conversion features vaulted ceilings, 2nd fireplace & built-in salt-water aquarium! The master-suite offers dual walk-in closets & French doors that lead to a meditation garden, while the master-bath WOWS with dual, floating sinks, a claw-foot tub that fills from the ceiling & a massive, marble shower with body-sprayers! The 2nd BR features a built-in armoire for your A/V equip, plus builtin desk, while the guest-bath is a work of art! There’s an open-air lanai, as well as a 2-story tiki-bar with BBQ, sink, refrig. & view deck! Recently remodeled to the studs! Visit www.2033Foster.com then schedule your own private viewing!

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Offered at $1,350,000

FOR RESULTS LIKE THIS, BETTER CALL BLAKE!

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Custom constructed in 2015 & never before occupied, this quality constructed water-front home is ideally located just across from the main channel with an impressive 45’ water-frontage, 36’ private boat dock & preferred west exposure for sparkling water & sunset views! Featuring 3 en suite bedrooms, the open living area flows to the waterfront entertaining deck through 10’ floor to ceiling multi-sliding doors, providing an indoor-outdoor living experience we so enjoy here in temperate Ventura, California! Enjoy boating, kayaking, stand-up boarding, swimming & more, right from your own back yard! Truly a rare opportunity! www.3059SeaviewAve.com Priced at $2,399,000

FOR RESULTS LIKE THIS, FOR RESULTS LIKE THIS, BETTER CALL BLAKE! BETTER CALL BLAKE!

Formal entry! Open concept living/dining areas! Gourmet kitchen! Spacious master-suite with dual closets & zoned minisplit A/C & amazing masterbath! Interior laundry! Dual-pane windows! Upgraded flooring! Recessed lighting! Newer Furnace & A/C ready! Newer electrical panel & solar electrical! Tankless water-heaters! Water softener! Newly painted exterior! Newer artificial turf & drought-tolerant landscape with spa! RV parking! $575,000

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Features 2000+ square feet of In living space on 2-floors with downstairs bedroom & 3/4 bath! Living room! Family Room! Fireplace! Newer dualpane windows & sliders! Newer furnace! Interior laundry! 2-car garage! HUGE 9424 square foot lot!

Priced to reflect need for cosmetic improvements at only $489,000 Call NOW!

Coming Soon! Mid-Town, Spanish Duplex! Better Call Blake! CalB.R.E. #01065624

College Area on 1/4 Acre Lot! Better Call Blake!

805-368-0202

www.BlakeMashburn.com Your #1 Choice for Ventura County Real Estate... since 1990!

LJ S

INSIDE OUT! In sculpture, a shape where a curved surface is closing around its axis is called a "synclast". A rubber car tire is a synclast. An "anticlast" is the curved shape you would get if you turned a tire inside out. An anticlast is a very light and strong form and I've found a way to make quite smooth and catch-free. This ring is an experiment in design using an anticlastic form. It could be used to set a number of shapes of gems in many different ways. Shown with Paraiba Tourmaline and Diamond in Gold.

Please come by and let’s explore! There is no charge to consult and find what direction will make you happy and what it will cost to do the job.

For more information, please see “This Month in Ventana” on our website

Lynn’s Jewelry Studio 4572 Telephone Road, #906 Ventura, CA 93003

www.LynnsJewelry.com

805.642.5500

All of our custom designs have been made from 100% recycled gold for more than 40 years. Respect for the Earth is not a new idea at Lynn’s.