September 2015

Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest Kick-Off Reception is
Oct. 14 in Ventura

Ventura Water invites you to celebrate the launch of the Fourth Annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest at a cocktail reception on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Ventura Beach Crowne Plaza Hotel, Top of the Harbor room.

The event is FREE to the public with an RSVP. Please click here to RSVP.

Mingle and enjoy light refreshments as Ventura Water showcases the community's combined efforts in water conservation and sustainability. A short video presentation will highlight some of the City of Ventura's innovative programs such as the Water Wise incentives and classes, the new VenturaWaterPure Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility, and the "Hey Ventura, What's Your Shower Song?" campaign. Projects from the city's new partner, the City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment, will also be presented.

The Water: Take 1 online film contest highlights our relationship with water: how we look at it, how we use it and how we share it. Contestants come from all over the globe and winners receive great prizes.

Film submissions are being accepted now. Submissions must address the topic of water in less than five minutes and may be in any genre: documentary, drama, comedy, animation, sci-fi or experimental.

Go to www.watertake1.com for details about the contest or call 805-652-4587.

Subscribe to Ventura Water's monthly e-newsletter, Pipeline, prepared with assistance from graphic designer Cindy Daly and writer Amy Bentley of Whisenhunt Communications, here.

Breast Cancer is the Focus of CMHS Symposium on Oct. 3

Breast cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, will be the focus of a free symposium Community Memorial Health System is holding on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd.

The symposium, which provides the latest information on breast cancer detection, imaging and the latest concepts on treatment options and support for breast cancer patients, runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a light continental breakfast offered at 7:30 a.m. Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.

Local physicians and specialists will discuss the following topics:

Genetic counseling for breast cancer, by Danielle Sharaga, M.S.
Breast cancer surgery - the latest advancements and techniques, Constanze Rayhrer, M.D.
Lymphedema therapy, by Claudia Steele-Major, P.T.
Breast reconstruction, by Michael Pickart, M.D.
Radiation therapy for breast cancer, by Thomas Fogel, M.D.
Immunotherapy for breast cancer, by Kevin Chang, M.D.
Diagnostic imaging for breast cancer, by Winifred Leung, M.D.

Nikos Valance Appointed to Ventura Port District Board

The Ventura City Council has appointed Nikos Valance, a local attorney, economist and lecturer at California State University Channel Islands, to his first four-year term on the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners.

Valance, a New York native, also is a board member of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy and he previously served as member of the Manhattan Community Board in New York. He moved to Ventura in August 2014.

Valance said he applied for the Port District Board as a way to share his skills and experience with the community. His term expires on June 30, 2019.

"In New York I was always very active in civic affairs and community projects. Once I settled in Ventura, I wanted to be more active and also give to the community," he said. "I'm really thrilled about living in Ventura and enthusiastic about the potential of the Harbor."

Valance has several areas of interest and specialties in his work, including: business and human rights; domestic and international water policy; local and regional sustainable economic development; systems of local and regional governance development; natural resource development; and the rights of indigenous people domestically and internationally. He is fluent in Spanish.

Valance is excited to be teaching economics for the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics at California State University Channel Islands. Previously in New York, he was an adjunct lecturer at several universities over a span of about 20 years, teaching both undergraduate and graduate-level economics courses.

Visit www.venturaharbor.com.

All American Ballet School Announces Closure after 14 Years in Ventura County

All American Ballet School & Company (AAB) in Ventura, which provided the community with 14 years of high quality, full-length Nutcracker shows and spring ballet concerts, has ceased operations with the retirement of senior management. AAB's Board of Directors closed its classical ballet school and performance company last month.

"We felt that our organization has reached the end of its natural life span and are blessed we could serve this community for 14 years," said Camille Wallace, AAB Board President.

The organization was founded in 2002 by Artistic Director Clarissa Boeriu. AAB operated a classical ballet school that offered young ballet students ages 3-19 the highest standards of teaching in technique and professionalism. Many AAB students received scholarships from professional ballet companies, as well as college and career acceptances.

AAB staged a top-quality full-length Nutcracker show each winter and a concert each spring with original choreography, skilled student dancers and accomplished guest artists. The school enjoyed serving Ventura County's elementary schools with an outreach program to spread a love of ballet. For its paid public performances, the dance company provided free and discounted tickets to low-income families. AAB School also gave low-income students financial assistance for tuition.

AAB closed the company and school in good financial standing. From remaining assets, AAB will make donations to area non-profits.

Check Out Business Outlook at VCEDA Conference on Oct. 23

Learn about Ventura County's business outlook at a conference the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA) is holding in Camarillo on Friday, Oct. 23.

Harrison Industries is a Bronze Sponsor of the conference, "Ventura County Workforce: the Road to Success" that will be held from 8 to 11:15 a.m. at the Ventura County Office of Education's Conference Center, 5100 Adolfo Road.

Panelists at the conference will provide attendees - managers, business owners, decision makers, community leaders and others - with a forward-looking view of current trends and the future of the workforce, as well as strategies and perspectives on how to attract, develop, motivate and retain valuable employees within their organizations, according to Nan Drake, director of Governmental Affairs & Public Relations for Harrison Industries.

Tickets are $75 for VCEDA members and $100 for non-members. After Oct. 16, the cost is $125 for non-members. Questions? Email Info@VCEDA.org.

Carey & Hanna Tax and Wealth Management Firm Moving
to Oxnard

Carey & Hanna Tax and Wealth Planners, established in Ventura in 1985, is expanding and relocating to a larger office in Oxnard on Oct. 1.

The firm is moving into the former Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton building near The Collection at 1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 200. Carey & Hanna will hold a grand opening at the new office for clients and the general public on Oct. 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Davin Carey, financial advisor and mortgage broker for Carey & Hanna, said the move was necessitated by the company's rapid growth. Carey & Hanna has purchased four tax firms in the past two years and is adding to its staff of 14 employees. The firm has been located at 1445 Donlon Road, Suite 6, in Ventura since 1988.

The firm's practice areas are: Investment Management, Cash Flow & Debt Management, Family Risk Management, Retirement Planning, Education Planning, Legacy Planning, Business Planning, and Special Education Planning.

In 2014, Carey & Hanna was recognized by HD Vest at its Premier Advisors' Forum as one of HD Vest's 75 most successful advisors nationwide. Based in Dallas, HD Vest is a leading independent broker-dealer focused on wealth management solutions. Carey & Hanna also has won the Readers' Choice Award for financial planning for five consecutive years by readers of the Ventura County Star (2011-2015).

To learn more about Carey & Hanna Tax and Wealth Planners call 644-0697 or visit www.taxwealthplan.com.

Schedule a Free Tour of the New VenturaWaterPure Demonstration Facility Today

Learn how advanced water purification technology is part of Ventura Water's sustainable future by taking a free tour of Ventura's new VenturaWaterPure Potable Reuse Demonstration Facility. Tours are held every Saturday from 9-11 a.m. for up to 20 people per tour.

Ventura Water can also accommodate private groups (such as service clubs, groups of employees, student or school groups, etc.) interested in weekday tours with advanced notice. Sign up for a tour by clicking here or call (805) 677-4131.

VenturaWaterPure is a pilot project for the City of Ventura, which is investing in safe and sustainable ways to meet long-term water supply demands by expanding the use of recycled water. Ventura currently provides recycled water from the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility to two golf courses and landscape irrigation in the Ventura Harbor and Olivas Drive areas. Adding "potable reuse" purification technologies at the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility will extend Ventura's use of local water sources - a proven, drought-resistant, locally developed and reliable way to be smart about water use.

Learn more about water re-use in Ventura here.

Issue: 73

Watch Out for Email Hackers & 'Phishing' Scams

If you're checking your email and receive a message from your email service provider, pay attention. Occasionally they will send legitimate messages to account holders but if the email asks for your password, it's a scam.

Email providers do not ask for your password. No matter how legitimate the message appears, it's a hacker scam called "phishing." Cyber criminals are seeking to take over people's email accounts or other secure accounts to acquire information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications claiming to be from social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or email administrators are commonly used to lure the unsuspecting public.

Email hackers may send out bogus emails to those in your contacts list saying you are in trouble in some foreign country without money. They ask your contacts to send money right away. Then they keep the contacts and target them, trying to get into their accounts later on.

If your email gets hacked, change your password immediately! Make sure you create a complicated and secure password that has lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols in it. Do not use your name in a password and if you are asked to set up security questions, make sure they aren't about something anyone could easily answer.

Other tips:

Never give out your account or email passwords, Social Security number, username or bank account information to anyone that solicits you via email, text message, instant message or phone call.

Don't share passwords and account information with friends or even family members.

Do not give out personal information in the body of an email.

Back up your computer and contacts somewhere else on your computer or mobile device, or in the cloud.

Protect your computer with antivirus software and check out the email provider's security measures. Websites like Facebook and Apple will allow you to receive emails or notifications if anyone signs on to your account from a mobile device or computer - in case it's not you.

If your computer is wireless or does not use any antivirus software and is used by others and not just you, your email address and password are at risk. Wireless networks can be hacked. If you have a wireless network at home, make sure it's locked, and avoid going on unsecured public wireless networks at places like a public courthouse. If you have no other choice, make sure you have a more secure WPA key on your wireless Internet connection.

Client News In This Issue

Ventura Water

Community Memorial Health System (CMHS)

Ventura Port District

All American Ballet

Harrison Industries & VCEDA

Carey & Hanna Tax and Wealth Planners

Ventura Water

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