January 2015    

Applicants Sought for New Ventura Water Commission

Application Deadline is February 23

 

City of Ventura Logo

The Ventura City Council is seeking qualified applicants to serve on the city's newly created advisory Water Commission. Water Commission applications are available now at the City Clerk's office at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, or online at www.cityofventura.net/involved/advisory. They will be accepted through February 23, 2015.

 

The new Water Commission is part of Ventura Water's ongoing public outreach and education effort. The commission's seven-member group will review and make advisory recommendations regarding water rates, water resource infrastructure projects, dedication and in-lieu fee requirements, water supply options and other resources issues.

 

Four water industry experts or professionals and three general representatives who are interested in, or have knowledge of water issues will serve on the commission. Since water professionals may not be able or willing to commit to four-year terms, these members will be appointed for two-year terms; the three general members will be offered four-year terms. The water professionals are not required to live in the city of Ventura or the Ventura Water service area. The three general members do not have to live in Ventura, but they must live in Ventura Water's service area.

 

The Water Commission will meet monthly, with the first meeting to be held this spring. All meetings are open to the public.

 

Whisenhunt Communications assists Ventura Water with helping spread the word about its water conservation plans and a range of other important water issues facing Ventura.

Celebrate Valentine's Day by Cruising with Island Packers 

 

Island Packers cruise

Island Packers is offering a unique and special way to celebrate this Valentine's Day. Enjoy a Valentine's Day Evening Harbor Cruise around Ventura Harbor and the Ventura Keys on our 64-foot catamaran.


This special cruise is from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. Enjoy live music aboard by local guitarist Steven Sunnarborg. Snack on cheese, crackers and enjoy one complimentary beverage of choice. A no-host beer and wine bar will be available for purchase. Guests should dress casually in warm layers for the trip. Make it even better and enjoy a nice dinner afterward at one of the many restaurants at Ventura Harbor or Ventura Harbor Village.

 

The Valentine's Day Evening Harbor Cruise is $24 for adults and $21 for kids 12 and under. Advance reservations are recommended. Call 805-642-1393 or book the cruise online at www.islandpackers.com


Whisenhunt Communications writer Amy Bentley periodically prepares and/or distributes press releases for Island Packers.

Country singer Lacy J. Dalton
to perform at SPARC benefit
on Feb.  13

 

American country singer and songwriter Lacy J. Dalton will perform a benefit concert for the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Discovery Ventura nightclub, 1888 E. Thompson Blvd, Ventura.

 

Dalton, who had a number of hits in the 1980s, including "Taking It Easy," "Crazy Blue Eyes" and "16th Avenue," will be joined by Nashville recording artist Ryan Hinkle.

 

Doors open for "A SPARC of Love" concert at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $35. VIP tickets are available at $55 but seating is limited. VIP tickets include early admission at 6:30 p.m. and guaranteed seating in the VIP area as well as a performance meet and greet. Proceeds from the event benefit the animals of SPARC, a private, non-profit organization that is the first and only no-kill animal shelter in Ventura County. SPARC relies solely on private donations.

 

For information, reservations and ticket sales call (805) 889-4800 or contact [email protected].

 

Whisenhunt Communications writes and distributes press releases for SPARC.

Harrison and Agromin's Food Waste Program Continues to Grow

 

Harrison and Agromin Food Waste collage In April 2012, Harrison Industries and strategic partner Agromin Premium Soil Products undertook a pilot food waste program to divert food scraps from local landfills. The program has grown from a handful of businesses to include about 75 commercial customers, mostly restaurants and supermarkets but also hospitals and schools, in Ventura, Camarillo, Carpinteria, Ojai and Fillmore.

 

In under three years, approximately 3,800 tons - that's 7,618,000 pounds - fruit and vegetable skins, unused dairy products and other biodegradable food scraps collected from Harrison trucks have been diverted from landfills and have been transported by Harrison trucks to Agromin, which employs a Covered Aerated Static Pile System to mix them with yard waste to create enriched compost.


In addition, Harrison collected food waste in 2014 at the Ventura County Fair, California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria and Casa Pacifica Wine Festival in Camarillo.


As a result of the food waste program and other innovative residential and recycling programs Harrison Industries instituted with its client cities and the County of Ventura, all are on track to meet Assembly Bill 341's 75 percent recycling goal.

Attorney Dennis LaRochelle Featured in Front-Page Article in the Daily Journal

 

The Daily Journal, a widely read legal industry print and online publication, recently featured local attorney Dennis LaRochelle in a front-page article entitled, "New CAL-ABOTA President to Push Merits of Jury Service, Civility." LaRochelle is a partner in the Oxnard law firm of  Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP (A to Z Law).

 

The article covered LaRochelle's installation as the new president of CAL-ABOTA, the state chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of plaintiff and defense jury trial lawyers working to preserve the right to a jury trial in civil cases and to enhance civility, integrity and dignity among litigators. Members include judges and an equal number of attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants. CAL-ABOTA has about 1,700 members. 

 

LaRochelle is the first statewide president from Ventura County since the local California Coast Chapter (which covers Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties) was formed in 1988. LaRochelle previously served as president of the California Coast chapter. His new term is for one year.

 

Congratulations to LaRochelle for the great coverage. A to Z Law is a client of Whisenhunt Communications. Visit www.atozlaw.com.

Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Goes into Effect on July 1

 

Plastic bags continued to be a hot-button issue for California's legislature in 2014. After four previous attempts to pass legislation banning single-use plastic carryout bags, Senate Bill 270 successfully passed through the State Assembly and Senate receiving Governor Brown's signature in September.

 

E.J. Harrison & Sons reminds the community that the new law will go into effect on July 1, 2015 at all large grocery stores and pharmacies. The ban will extend to all remaining small grocers, convenience and liquor stores effective January 1, 2016. Similar to the provisions in over 138 local ordinances throughout California cities and counties, SB 270 requires that stores providing recycled paper bags or reusable plastic bags would need to charge 10 cents at the point of sale.  

 

Following the governor's signing of SB 270, the plastic bag manufacturing trade group, American Progressive Bag Alliance, filed a referendum to repeal the law. According to the trade group, they have collected signatures and are awaiting the state's certification. In order for the referendum to qualify for the November 2016 ballot, 505,000 valid signatures are needed. Should the necessary signatures be verified, the plastic bag ban would be suspended until the November 2016 election. 

 

Stay tuned as this continues to be one of California's most talked-about environmental issues! 

 

E.J. Harrison & Sons is a longtime client of Whisenhunt Communications.

Read the Winter/Spring Issue of 'Harbor Views' and Learn What's Happening at Ventura Harbor

 

Visit the Ventura Harbor website, www.venturaharbor.com, and learn what's happening this winter and spring at the Ventura Harbor. To view the latest "Harbor Views" newsletter click here


This publication, which came out in print in the Ventura Breeze newspaper last month, contains news about the latest energy-efficiency upgrades at Ventura Harbor, the Junior Rangers Program at Channel Islands National Park, new sand volleyball courts for the public at Harbor Cove beach, and other news. A calendar of events on the back page keeps you up-to-date on activities at Ventura Harbor that you won't want to miss.

 

Whisenhunt Communications graphic designer Cindy Daly and writer/editor Amy Bentley work with Jennifer Talt-Lundin, marketing manager for the Port District and Ventura Harbor Village, to bring you all the latest news in this newsletter, which comes out twice a year. 

Issue: 65
whisenhunt logo
2015 Calendar
 
 
 
 

Avoid the Top 7 New Year's Resolution Mistakes 


Special to 

News Flash 
 By Erica Duran

 

New Year's Resolutions are not about proclaiming from the rooftops what you plan to do or accomplish in the next year. They are about making decisions on what you really want, then, on a daily basis, making lots of little right choices to get your desired results and achievements.

 

Here are some common mistakes I see clients making when they set up their goals or resolutions for the next year:

 

1. Relying On Willpower. Willpower is exhausting and should never be your "plan of attack." Instead of relying on willpower, think about the moments of weakness you've had in the past. What system can you set up to avoid this in the future? What support do you need? What new habits do you need to build on a daily or weekly basis? What tools do you need to have on hand to avoid temptation?

 

2. Recycling Resolutions. How long has this resolution been on your list? If you recycle your resolutions every year you are just setting yourself up for failure. Think of every year as a clean slate and reword or adjust goals so that they are more enticing to accomplish. 

 

3. Making A Resolution That Isn't Directly What You Want. 

 

4. Setting Goals That Are Too Big. Some goals are just not realistic. If a goal is too big it can zap your motivation and momentum. 

 

5. Setting Goals That Are Too Small. On the contrary to the mistake number 4 above, setting goals that are too small are not motivating or energizing either.

 

6. Listening to Your "Old Stories." A simple way to get over this mistake is when you hear those old stories coming out of your mouth, ask yourself "Why not?" Why not make enough in my side business to quit my job? 

 

7. Not Getting Professional Help. Getting a personal trainer or a coach with the expertise in the changes that you want to make is the most direct path I know to making instant shifts and changes in your knowledge in a particular subject and getting the results you desire. 

 

This post was originally published at EricaDuran.com on January 3, 2015. Erica Duran, a Freedom-Based Lifestyle Design Coach, Published Online Business Productivity Expert, Web Developer and SEO Expert, teaches "Escape Artist" entrepreneurs around the world lifestyle design, how to work less, earn more and live now! Visit EricaDuran.com to get your free "7 Steps To Lifestyle Freedom Guidebook."

 

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Client News In This Issue
City of Ventura & Ventura Water
Island Packers
Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC)
Harrison Industries & Agromin
A to Z Law
Harrison Industries
Ventura Port Distict
Check Out WC's
Website


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Stan Whisenhunt
Whisenhunt Communications