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VenturaNinja Academy Ventura Opens
Ventura's ninja scene just got a serious upgrade. Madelyn Scarpulla, who founded Los Angeles Ninja Academy two years ago, has opened a new location right here at 4450 Dupont Court — and it's a win for local families looking for something active, challenging, and genuinely fun for the kids. Scarpulla told the Ventura Breeze her goal was to grow the sport of ninja and the World Ninja League's presence on the west coast, and Ventura is now part of that plan. If you've got a kid who's climbed every doorframe in the house, this is worth a look. Local spots like this matter — they give our youth a place to burn energy, build confidence, and maybe discover a sport they'll love for years. Welcome to the 805, LA Ninja Academy!
VenturaNational Preparedness Month: Are You and Your Animals Ready?
If you're a pet parent in Ventura County, this one hits close to home. September is National Preparedness Month, and the Humane Society of Ventura County is asking a question worth sitting with: if you had to evacuate today, could you get all your animals out safely? Between wildfire season, earthquakes, and the occasional mudslide, we know better than most that "it won't happen here" isn't a plan. The Ventura Breeze recently shared the Humane Society's reminder that being ready means more than a go-bag for yourself — it's carriers, leashes, food, meds, and a buddy who can help if you're not home when the order comes. If you're not sure where to start, that's exactly the point of this month. Let's be ready together, 805. Make a plan this week, and check in on your neighbors who have animals too.
VenturaCARL Pooch Parade Celebrates 30 Years of Rescue
Thirty years of second chances — that's what the CARL Pooch Parade has really been celebrating all along. Hundreds of dog lovers and rescue groups gathered at 'olołkoy Beach Park in Oxnard on September 13 for the 26th annual parade, and this year marked a fresh chapter as the event moved from its longtime home. It's the kind of morning that reminds you why the 805 feels like a small town with a big heart. If you've ever adopted a shelter dog here on the Central Coast, you know the folks at Canine Adoption and Rescue League have been quietly matching pups with families for three decades. Events like this keep that mission visible and funded. Thanks to the Ventura Breeze for keeping us posted on the local details. Whether you're ready to adopt or just want to cheer from the sand, keep an eye out for next year's parade — it's a Ventura County tradition worth showing up for.
VenturaLPSC Meeting (formally Los Padres Ski and Social Club)
Our friends at the Los Padres Ski and Social Club may have traded the slopes for local history this month, but that's exactly the kind of curious, community-minded spirit that makes the 805 special. At their next meeting, guest speaker Annette Ayala from The Road to a Grateful Heart will share her archaeological work on Chumash burial sites and other significant places right here in our backyard. It's a rare chance to hear firsthand how that work helps protect and preserve the deep history of the people who have called this coast home for thousands of years. The group gathers at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Pierpont, and newcomers are always welcome — you don't need ski experience, just an interest in good company and good stories. Big thanks to the Ventura Breeze for keeping us posted on gatherings like this. For anyone who's ever looked at our hills and wondered who walked them before us, this one's worth circling on the calendar.
VenturaAssemblymember Bennett Secures $2 Million in State Funding for Ventura’s Main Street
Big news for downtown Ventura — Assemblymember Steve Bennett has locked in $2 million in state funding for Main Street Moves, the program that's kept Main Street between Figueroa and Fir, plus California Street between Main and Santa Clara, closed to cars since 2020. Love it or debate it, those closures turned our downtown into a walkable, lively gathering spot, and this funding helps keep that momentum going. As the Ventura Breeze first reported, this isn't just about pavement and planters — it's about local shops, restaurants, and weekend strolls with the family. State dollars mean the city can invest in making the space safer, prettier, and more permanent without leaning entirely on local taxpayers. So next time you're grabbing coffee or catching live music on Main, know that a little Sacramento support helped make it happen. Here's to a downtown that keeps putting people first.
VenturaVentura Unified Breaks Impasse and Presents Teachers With 6% Raise
Ventura teachers may finally be getting some good news. After two months of impasse, Ventura Unified has put a 6% raise on the table for our educators, along with health savings account contributions for those who qualify and a fairer split on rising health benefit costs. If you've got kids in VUSD schools — or you just care about the people shaping them — this matters. Two months of stalled talks is a long time for teachers to wait, and a deal like this signals the district is serious about keeping good educators in our classrooms rather than losing them to districts that pay more. The union still has to vote on it, so nothing's final yet. The Ventura Breeze has the full breakdown, and we'll be watching to see how VUEA members respond. Fingers crossed for a yes.
Ventura3rd Annual Government & Disability Summit
Ventura County just wrapped up its 3rd Annual Government & Disability Summit, and this year's theme, "Access that Moves Us," says a lot about where we're headed as a community. Dani Anderson, the county's Disability Access Manager, put it well — the real progress comes when government, advocates, and neighbors actually sit down together and challenge each other to rethink what accessibility means. That's not just bureaucratic box-checking. For the thousands of residents across the 805 living with disabilities, decisions about sidewalks, transit, housing, and public spaces shape everyday life. Having a dedicated seat at the table — and a county that keeps showing up — matters. As the Ventura Breeze reported, this summit is now a yearly tradition. If you care about making our corner of the Central Coast work for everyone, it's worth following what comes out of these conversations.
VenturaForever Homes Wanted
Two sweet pups named Augie and Agnes are looking for their forever family here in Ventura, and honestly, they've already been through more than any dog should have to. The 1-year-old Labrador/Pit Bull mixes were left abandoned in front of a volunteer's home — a rough start that would break a lesser spirit. But according to the Ventura Breeze, these two haven't let it dim their playful energy or their love for people. They know how to sit and walk nicely on a leash, which means they're ready to slide right into someone's routine. If you've been thinking about adding a dog to the family, this is your sign. Ventura's shelter and rescue community works hard for animals like Augie and Agnes, and adoption is one of the easiest ways to make a real difference right here at home. Let's find these two the fresh start they deserve.
VenturaVentura Music Scene Sept 16 – Sept 29
Pull those boots out of the closet, Ventura — Boots & Brews is back at Plaza Park on Sunday, September 20, and if you're feeling a little déjà vu, you're not alone. Pam Baumgardner's latest Ventura Music Scene column in the Ventura Breeze clears up the confusion and lays out two full weeks of live tunes around town. There's something special about downtown Ventura when the music spills out of the bars and onto the sidewalks. Whether you're a country fan ready to two-step or just here for the local bands that make our scene feel like family, these next couple of weeks have plenty to offer. So grab a friend, support our local venues and musicians, and keep an eye on VenturaRocks.com for the full calendar. Our music community is one of the things that makes the 805 feel like home — go out and enjoy it.
VenturaA Candy Striper’s Search for Meaning
Retirement isn't always the golden handshake we imagine, and Dave Ramser's piece in the Ventura Breeze captures that uneasy feeling perfectly. He's a semi-retired volunteer who woke up one morning dreading the day — not because of a paycheck, but because purpose doesn't come automatically when the alarm clock stops mattering. It's a quiet, honest reflection that a lot of folks here in the 805 will recognize, whether they're newly retired, caregiving, or just rethinking what comes next. Ventura has no shortage of ways to plug in — from the Ventura Botanical Gardens to the Channel Islands, local food banks, and yes, even candy striper roles at our hospitals. What Ramser reminds us is that showing up is only half the battle; finding meaning in the showing up is the real work. If you've been feeling that same slippery-slope restlessness, his story is worth a read — and maybe a nudge to try something new this week.
VenturaFairgrounds Board Meeting – Global Stack Data Center Recap
Big news from the Fairgrounds this week, neighbors. At the September 15 Board of Directors meeting, the board voted 5–3 to prepare a notice telling Global Stack that any further movement on their current MOU will cease. That's a real shift in the long-running conversation about a data center on fairgrounds land. Why it matters here: the Fairgrounds sit right in the middle of our community, and whatever happens there touches traffic, open space, and the character of the neighborhood. A data center deal could have meant jobs and revenue, but also noise, power, and water questions that many of us have been asking about for months. Thanks to the Ventura Breeze for keeping tabs on this one — Scott McCarty's recap has the full rundown. If you've got thoughts, this is the moment to show up and be heard. We'll keep watching.
VenturaVentura Police Make Arrests in Threat Made Toward Students at Buena High School
Ventura neighbors, this one hits close to home. VPD says threatening videos targeting Buena High students circulated online, and arrests have now been made. According to the Ventura Breeze, the videos featured the Cat in the Hat character making ominous threats toward students and schools, and police got word the evening of September 14. It's a good reminder of how fast online threats can rattle a school community, and how seriously our local police and school staff take them. If your kids are at Buena, check in with them, and keep an eye on what's being shared in group chats. Thanks to the Ventura Breeze for staying on this. We'll share updates as they come.
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