December 2013

Happy Holidays from
Whisenhunt Communications

It's hard to believe, but Whisenhunt Communications celebrates our 25th anniversary in 2014. Pictured in our holiday card are current associates who have been with WC a combined 77 years.

From left are graphic artist/photographer Joan Phelps (13 years); writer/editor Amy Bentley (12 years); writer/editor/photographer John Cressy (13 years); founder Stan; graphic artist Cindy Daly (17 years); writer/editor Jake Finch (11 years); and editor Julie Price (11 years). All of us have forged strong ties to the communities we serve, the local media and to each other, and we believe this helps us to serve you better too.

As the New Year arrives, we wish all of our clients and friends the Happiest of Holidays and a successful and happy 2014.

All American Ballet Presents 'The Nutcracker' with Special Guest Dancer Haley Henderson Smith

All American Ballet (AAB) of Ventura will present its annual production of "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Ventura High School Auditorium, 6 N. Catalina St. in Ventura.

This year's production will highlight AAB alumna Haley Henderson Smith, a professional ballerina who will perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. She will partner with her husband Easton Smith who will dance the role of the Cavalier. Haley Smith is now with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, the company recently featured on television's "Breaking Pointe" series.

Haley grew up in Oxnard and trained with AAB's founder and Artistic Director Clarissa Boeriu. Haley's professional credits include dancing with world-class companies - the Royal Danish Ballet of Denmark and American Ballet Theatre of New York City. She met her husband while they were dancing principal roles at Ballet San Jose in 2007.

AAB's "Nutcracker" is directed by Clarissa Boeriu in conjunction with Denise Renaldi, director of Santa Barbara Festival Ballet. Dancing with Haley and Easton are other professional guest artists and pre-professional and student dancers from AAB and Santa Barbara Festival Ballet.

Tickets are $25, $20, $15 and $10 for children 10 and under. Senior and group discounts are available. For tickets, call (805) 650-6316 or visit www.aaballet.org.

Visit Ventura Harbor's Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace on Dec. 21

Sometimes it's a little hard to get into the Christmas season in Ventura County, where it never snows and could be 70 degrees in winter, but the Ventura Harbor is helping to bring out some holiday cheer for the community.

Visit Ventura Harbor Village for the Winter Wonderland & Holiday Marketplace festivities on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 1-5 p.m. Highlights include a faux snowfall every 15 minutes, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, Dickens carolers and much more. It's a great time of year to also enjoy a hot bowl of clam chowder at one of the many seafood restaurants. Parking and admission are free and you can also take the free trolley down to the Harbor for more family fun. Visit www.VenturaHarborVillage.com for details and to learn more about the trolley, visit www.venturatrolley.com or call the driver directly at 805-827-4444 for a location update.

Whisenhunt Communications works with the Ventura Port District to publish a newsletter three times a year (in print and online), called Harbor Views. Visit www.venturaharbor.com to read the latest issue online. The winter 2014 issue will publish in the Ventura Breeze newspaper on Jan. 22, 2014.

Island Packers Hosts Caroling, Holiday Parties and Whale Watching Cruises

Photo by Doug Mangum

Island Packers, providing scheduled service to the Channel Islands National Park, is hosting special holiday cruises and whale watching excursions in December and throughout the coming months. Taking a holiday caroling cruise is a great way to bring relatives and friends together and to see the decorated boats in the Ventura Harbor and the homes in the Keys.

Island Packers is offering many trips (For specific details and pricing, visit www.islandpackers.com or call 805-642-1393):

One hour caroling cruises - Passengers can sing along with the crew or relax and admire the decorated homes and boats.
Ventura Parade of Lights - Dec. 21. This annual cruise allows passengers to be a part of the boat parade ending with an onboard view of the fireworks display. Advanced reservations are recommended.
Private group holiday parties (great for company functions) - This cruise includes a buffet-style dinner, a no-host or host bar and optional entertainment. Reservations required.
Whale watching excursions - Dec. 26 through mid-April. Island Packers offers 3.5-hour trips as well as all day trips with landing on Anacapa or Santa Cruz Island for approximately four hours.

E.J. Harrison Family Youth
Center Opens in Saticoy

Jim Harrison (left), Ralph Harrison and Myron Harrison, in front of the new E.J. Harrison Family Youth Center.

The doors of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura's new Saticoy clubhouse - the E.J. Harrison Family Youth Center - officially swung open during a grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 14.

Over 200 community members and scores of Saticoy children attended the event that also honored the 120-plus donors of the new 4,000-square-foot facility. Ed Summers, board president of the B&GC of Greater Ventura, presided over the event that featured a dedication ceremony by members of the Saticoy Chumash community.

The club is named in honor of Harrison Industries, which matched the contribution the Ventura County Board of Supervisors made in 2010 to launch the $1.3 million project.

The new building features a separate technology area, teen room, learning center, kitchen, art room, office, lobby, multipurpose room and games room. It replaces the old 1,500-square-foot clubhouse in Saticoy Park - a dual-wide construction site trailer that the Ventura County Sheriff's Department donated to B&GCV after building the Todd Road Jail about 20 years ago.

Issue: 53

Don't miss the 37th Annual Ventura Harbor Holiday Parade of Lights & Fireworks Show

The Ventura Harbor and sailing community celebrate the season with the 37th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights & Fireworks Show. The theme honors Ventura Harbor's 50th Anniversary this year: "Seaside Tinsel Town, Commemorating 50 Years."

The parade and fireworks are Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. The two-day, fun-filled event includes seaside shopping and dining followed by the lighted boat parade and fireworks show in the evening. If you haven't seen this event of floating eye candy yet, you're in for a real treat!

The Downtown-Harbor trolley will be running until 11 p.m. both nights. For pickup and drop-off locations and times, call the driver directly at 805- 827-4444.

xmas tree

Harrison Industries Recycles Christmas Trees

Harrison Industries - which serves the cities of Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Ojai, Fillmore and Carpinteria as well as unincorporated areas of Ventura County - makes it easy for you to recycle your Christmas tree.

All you need to do is remove the ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, bows, nails and tree stand. Cut the tree into four-foot sections and place in your yard waste barrel on your scheduled pickup day.

And, for the first time this year, Harrison is accepting flocked Christmas trees for recycling.

Trees Harrison collects are processed into various sizes of mulch. The material is used by Agromin to make several products that benefit our farmlands, orchards, nurseries and our own gardens.

In addition, as a special holiday feature, Harrison customers may put out twice the amount of trash at no extra charge during the two weeks after December 25. Please make sure the trash is in bags alongside the trash bin. Harrison also collects extra recyclables, but make sure to flatten all boxes and place alongside the recycling bin as well.

Client News In This Issue

Happy Holidays from Whisenhunt Communicatons

All American Ballet

Ventura Harbor

Island Packers

Harrison Industries

Check Out WC's
Website

Visit Whisenhunt Communications' Website www.whizcomm.biz.

Whisenhunt Communications new website

Read about the company and its team of media and graphics experts.

Founded in 1990, Whisenhunt Communications specializes in helping businesses, school districts, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations reach targeted audiences.

The firm's many diverse clients make enormous contributions to the community and the public relations firm has been instrumental in helping them accomplish their goals.

All Whisenhunt associates have extensive experience with print and digital media.

Stan Whisenhunt
Whisenhunt Communications