March 2014    
March 2014 NewsFlash header
Special Edition of Focus on Education Highlights Programs & Workshops Provided by the VCOE
 
VCOE Focus on Education special edition The Ventura County Office of Education will release a special edition magazine for Focus on Education this Wednesday, March 19. The purpose of this publication is to highlight the many wonderful programs, workshops and offerings provided by the VCOE. The VCOE is instrumental in supporting the county's 21 school districts, as well as teachers, administrators and special population students. The VCOE provides Internet and other technology connectivity to the school districts, as well as accounting services.

The VCOE, under the leadership of Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth, has become renown in recent years for its staff's expert involvement in state-level changes in education and policy. Many of those efforts are also featured in this special edition of Focus on Education.

Focus on Education is distributed by the Ventura County Star, and a downloadable PDF will be available on the VCOE website, www.vcoe.org.

2015 Federal Budget Includes Additional Funds to Dredge Ventura Harbor; A Full Dredging is Expected Next Winter 

 

Dredging The Ventura Port District, a Whisenhunt Communications client, recently had some good news: For the first time since 2008, the Ventura Harbor is likely to be completely dredged next winter thanks to additional funding proposed in the President's 2015 budget, released Tuesday, March 4. Dredging is essential to remove sediment buildup and keep the Ventura Harbor open and safe for vessels.

Released along with the President's proposed 2015 budget is a work plan modification for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees dredging, for the current year. The plan designates $7.071 million for dredging, but about $4 million of that was spent on the dredging work done this February and March by Manson Construction. The remaining funds can't be spent now because it's too late, however, about $3 million will roll over and can be added to the $3.54 million the President's proposed 2015 budget designates for dredging next year. That should pay for a complete dredging.

In recent years, federal budget cuts have made it a major challenge for the Ventura Port District to ensure that enough federal dollars will come in to dredge each winter. This winter, there was 900,000 cubic yards of accumulated material and half of it was dredged.

To secure funding for dredging, Ventura Port District officials have led a huge effort over the past two years to demonstrate the importance of annual dredging at Ventura Harbor. Whisenhunt Communications has helped spread this and other news about the Port District and Harbor Village to local residents and the larger boating community through print newsletters, e-blasts and other means.

VC Star Readers Recognize Primary Medical for Excellent Physicians

 
Primary Medical logo Congratulations go out to Primary Medical and its physicians, which won recognition in the Ventura County Star Reader's Choice Awards for "Best Doctors."

Star Reader's Choice logo The practice specializes in Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Primary Medical's physicians and staff help patients at five offices in Ventura and Oxnard, including the newest office located at 2772 Johnson Drive, Suite 200. Whisenhunt Communications has assisted Primary Medical with the creation and placement of ads, press releases, a highway banner and other marketing efforts since last year. Visit www.primarymedical.net.

CMH Auxiliary Honors
Volunteers' Years of Service 
   

 

cmhs photo
CMHS President & CEO Gary Wilde receives a $105,000 donation check from CMH Auxiliary Treasurer Carol Torsney.
Community Memorial Hospital and nearly all of its Auxiliary members honored 63 women and men who together have donated thousands of hours of service to hospital patients and their families.


Volunteers who have reached levels ranging from 100 hours to 40 years over the course of their years of service for CMH were celebrated at the annual Auxiliary meeting and awards luncheon in February at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Ventura. This year's theme was "Volunteering Lights Up My Life."

The Auxiliary members at CMH, including teens in the Junior Volunteers Program, perform a variety of tasks such as discharging patients; stocking supplies; delivering books, flowers, mail and medications; staffing the front and back desks; assisting in Maternity, Pharmacy, the Emergency Department, Same Day Surgery, Ambulatory Services and Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, and cuddling premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.


Auxiliary members also raise money from souvenir birth certificate sales, fundraisers and gift shop sales. At this year's luncheon, the Auxiliary presented CMHS President and CEO Gary Wilde with a check for $105,000 from earnings in the last year. Since 1962 the Auxiliary at CMH has donated $3,375,164.89.


For more information about joining the CMH Auxiliary go to www.cmhshealth.org/volunteer, call 805-652-5043, or pick up an application form at the front desk of CMH, located at 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura.


Whisenhunt Communications congratulates all the volunteers for their service and generosity.
WC Creates Event Postcards for Rose Society Show in Temecula  
  
TVRS postcard Temecula Valley residents and flower enthusiasts are invited to come and enjoy hundreds of beautiful locally grown roses, floral arrangements and art at the 2014 Annual Rose & Art Show, hosted by the Temecula Valley Rose Society.

The free event is Saturday April 26, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visitors will enjoy elegant table settings and artworks, learn about rose care and cultivation, enjoy light refreshments, shop at the plant sale, and judge entries of roses and art contributed by Rose Society and community members. The show takes place at the Assistance League in Temecula, 28720 Via Montezuma.

Whisenhunt Communications writer Amy Bentley and graphic designer Cindy Daly crafted a colorful postcard with all the details for the Rose Society to share with members and the public.

Amy, Cindy and graphic designer Joan Phelps have created many attractive marketing pieces for the club over the past several years, from fliers and postcards promoting Rose Society events to a general brochure about the Rose Society and a brochure about its educational Youth Gardening program. Please let us know if you'd like to see some samples and we will send you a PDF.

Celebrate Earth Day with
the City of Oxnard on April 5  


City of Oxnard Earth Day ad Celebrate the planet and honor Earth Day this spring with the City of Oxnard, which along with several media partners is hosting a fun, family-oriented festival at Plaza Park in Oxnard.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 5 and will feature live music, great food, activities for kids and community displays. Admission is free and the entire family is welcome. Whisenhunt Communications' graphic designer, Cindy Daly, assisted the city with the creation and placement of print ads in the media promoting the event.

Visit www.cityofoxnard.org/earthday for more information.

Fun for all at the Ventura
St. Patrick's Day Parade 

   
Issue: 56
whisenhunt logo
Joan & Gary Phelps
Jake Finch
Two Whisenhunt Communications Associates are Moving On 
        
Two longtime associates, Joan Phelps and Jake Finch, will be moving on to other endeavors. It's good news for Joan and Jake, of course, but we will miss them and the many talents they have shared with our clients.

After nearly 30 years as a professional graphic designer and creative director, Joan is retiring to spend more time creating her own art, hiking with husband Gary (who also is retired), and to spend more time with daughters Candice and Alex, as well as their two grandchildren.

Jake, a writer, editor and photographer, is moving on to take a full-time job as the Public Relations Specialist and Resource Development Coordinator for the Simi Valley Unified School District. Jake begins her new job on March 17.

Joan has worked with many past and current clients during her 13 years with Whisenhunt Communications, including Ventura Water, Community Memorial Health System, All American Ballet and the Ventura County Office of Education. Joan also created marketing materials, newsletters and other products for the Casitas Municipal Water District, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Carey's Baby Care and Sheeler Moving and Storage. Specializing in marketing and graphic design, she has developed brochures, logos, annual reports, electronic and print newsletters, advertising campaigns, package designs, websites, web marketing and social media for clients across the county.

Jake is a writer, editor and public relations consultant who also founded and publishes Generation Q Magazine, a bimonthly quilting magazine. Jake has been with Whisenhunt Communications for 11 years and served as editor for Focus on Education, a color magazine published three times a year in the Ventura County Star newspaper, by the Ventura County Office of Education. Jake also worked on numerous projects for public school districts throughout Ventura County, and she helped other clients including Community Memorial Hospital.

Whisenhunt associates Amy Bentley and Julie Price will take over as co-editors of Focus on Education, working with writer John Cressy and graphic designer Cindy Daly. Cindy will assist Joan's clients with their graphic design needs.

We wish both Joan and Jake all the best.

-- "The rest" of the Whisenhunt Team 
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Client News In This Issue
Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE)
Ventura Harbor
Primary Medical
Community Memorial Health System (CMHS)
Temecula Valley Rose Society
City of Oxnard
Ventura St. Patrick's Day Parade
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