November 2015

Harrison Reaches 'Zero Waste'
at Avocado Festival

Harrison's Christian Barnes is hard at
work recycling cardboard products.

The 29th annual California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria Oct. 2-4 was another successful "Zero Waste" event for Harrison Industries, as virtually all waste generated at the festival was recycled.

For the fifth year in a row, Harrison placed yellow-lid recycling barrels around the festival grounds specifically for disposed food waste and paper products. The materials were delivered to its strategic partner Agromin, which is undertaking a pilot food waste program.

Harrison's blue recycling bins line Linden Avenue during the California Avocado Festival.

The barrels with the blue lids were for recyclables such as aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic materials along with non-food trash. These materials were sorted at Harrison's other strategic partner, Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station.

Donald Sealund, Harrison Industries' food waste coordinator, reported that 2.53 tons of food waste, 1.8 tons of commercial recyclable cardboard and 5.87 tons of mixed recyclables were recycled. The numbers would have been higher had it not rained on Sunday, ending the festival hours earlier than scheduled.

Thanks go out from Harrison to the 80,000-plus festival-goers who did their part by placing materials in the correct barrels.

Bottom Left: City of Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya and Ventura Water GM Shana Epstein. Bottom Right: Dean Kubani (Sustainability Manager, Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Santa Monica) and Craig Jones, Ventura Water Management Analyst II.

Community Celebrates Kick Off of 4th Annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest

Heading into its fourth year, Ventura Water's Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest has joined with the city of Santa Monica as well as other new partners for the fourth annual contest to expand its reach and water conservation message.

"Our contest's theme this year is, 'Watch. Collaborate. Sustain.' It's all about working together for a sustainable water supply for the future," Ventura Water General Manager Shana Epstein said at the film contest launch party, held Oct. 14 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel.

A new partner in the contest this year is the city of Santa Monica and its Office of Sustainability and the Environment. "Water is probably the biggest environmental issue right now in California. We were really excited to hear about this Water: Take 1 contest. It's all about behavior change. We're trying to get people to live a sustainable lifestyle," said Dean Kubani, Santa Monica's sustainability manager.

About 100 community members attended the celebration to learn about the contest and other unique programs Ventura Water has initiated to promote water conservation, re-use and sustainability, including: ongoing, free water wise gardening classes; the new incentive program that encourages people to exchange thirsty lawns for native landscapes; last summer's "What's Your Shower Song" campaign that urged people to take shorter showers; and the new VenturaWaterPure potable reuse facility.

Water: Take 1 aims to elevate the value of water and create awareness of water as a valuable resource by inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit short films of five minutes or less in any genre - drama, documentary, comedy, animation, sci-fi or experimental - that address the topic of water. Last year, 51 films were entered from around the globe and winners receive prizes for a variety of awards.

Film submissions are now being accepted through Dec. 14. Winners will be announced at a final celebration event to be held in Ventura on March 24.

Click here to learn more and view winning films.

Island Packers Announces Cruises for Parade of Lights, Caroling, Holiday Parties, Whale Watching

Let Island Packers create a special holiday gathering by scheduling a Ventura Harbor holiday cruise or whale watching trip aboard a beautifully decorated 64-foot catamaran.

One-Hour Caroling Cruises: Passengers can sing along with the crew or just relax and admire the decorated homes and boats in the Ventura Keys. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Hot and cold beverages and items from the snack bar are available for purchase. (Passengers may not bring alcohol on board.) Cruises are December 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The fare is $16 per adult, $13 per senior (55+), and $10 per child.

Ventura Parade of Lights: Friday, December 18 & Saturday, December 19. Passengers can be a part of the boat parade ending with an onboard view of the fireworks display at 8 p.m. or just cruise and view the parade and fireworks. Hot and cold beverages from the snack bar are available for purchase. The fare is $34 per adult, $31 per senior (55+) and $24 per child (12 and under). Discount rates available for groups of 10+.

Whale Watching Excursions, December 26 through April marks the official start of the gray whale migration. Regular trips are scheduled through mid-April 2016. Departure times are listed daily on the Island Packers website.

Island Packers Gift Certificates are great stocking stuffers and gifts!

Whale watching gift certificate, ranging from $37-$79 per adult
An half-day island wildlife cruise, $37 per adult
An island day hike, $59 up to $82 per adult
A camping trip to one of the five northern Channel Islands, $79-$114 per adult
A harbor dinner cruise aboard our 64-foot catamaran, $56 per adult
Or purchase a certificate in a specific amount.

Info, reservations & gift certificates: www.islandpackers.com * 805-642-1393 * 1691 Spinnaker Dr., Suite 105B, in Ventura Harbor Village.

CMHS to host 'TEDMED Live' Simulcast on Nov. 19

Community Memorial Health System is sponsoring a free live simulcast of "TEDMED Live 2015," an annual conference focusing on health and medicine, on Thursday, Nov. 19. TEDMED Live will be held in four sessions, from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street in Ventura.

The conference has been described as "a gathering of geniuses" that brings together some of the most innovative, thoughtful pioneers of healthcare technology, media and entertainment to learn from one another and mix people up from different disciplines and industries to solve big problems in healthcare.

Sessions are:

8:30 to 10 a.m.: "Mind Matters" explores the secrets and wonders of the brain, wisdom of the cerebral cortex to the mind's invisible wounds and dysfunctions; from the latest neuroscience to the vast remaining mysteries of the most inscrutable organ.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: "Catalyzing Great Science." Rsk-taking researchers reveal new ways to disrupt the scientific paradigm, break through barriers between academia and industry, link seemingly unrelated fields, and meet demands from patient activists.
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: "Back to Basics" focuses on creating a culture of health that often depends on factors that reach far beyond healthcare. The session explores solutions with wise and determined change-makers who stand - and fight - at the frontlines of innovation.
5:30 to 7 pm.: "Food Fix" explores insights into the impact of food on health.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. To register, visit www.cmhshealth.org/tedmed or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

Ventura Yacht Club Honors
Harbor Patrol

Guest article by Sue Van Gemert

On a recent prime rib night in October, the Ventura Yacht Club was pleased to host the members of the Ventura Harbor Patrol and their wives for dinner. Also hosted were Port District Commissioner Everard Ashworth and District General Manager Oscar Pe�a.

Harbormaster John Higgins introduced his crew of seven fulltime patrolmen: Pat Hummer, Bobby Crane (who was unable to attend), George Kabris, Jon Freeman, Ryan Sutherland, Tim Burrows and Brad Chisholm. VYC wanted to thank these loyal protectors of our Ventura waters and to get to know them.

Ventura Harbormaster John Higgins thanks Ventura Yacht Club Commodore Sue Van Gemert for the club hosting harbor patrolmen and their wives at the club's Harbor Patrol Appreciation Night.

VYC members were surprised to learn that just the previous weekend (the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11), the Harbor Patrol had made 25 rescues, contacted over 200 people about unsafe surf conditions and put out a structure fire (all with some assistance from other area law enforcement agencies). VYC members learned that Harbormaster Higgins has worked in the Ventura Harbor for 18 years and most of the crewmembers have been here for 10 or more years. In addition to the fulltime patrolmen, there are five part-timers: Erik Bear, Tom Dore, Kavika Taitai, Adam Yox and Taylor Garrett.

Our yacht club members were delighted to welcome our local Harbor Patrol members and to have an opportunity to meet them in an informal setting. It was such an enjoyable evening for all that VYC plans to make this an annual event.

CMHS Seminar to Focus on Physician, Patient Boundaries

Physician and patient boundaries - Should your doctor be your friend? - will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Thursday Nov. 12 as part of the 2015 Ethics in Healthcare Series.

James Hornstein, M.D., chairman of the Bioethics Committee at Community Memorial Hospital, will moderate the seminar that will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Museum of Ventura County, located at 100 E. Main St. in Ventura.

The seminar will explore some of the historical boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship that are meant to protect patient confidentiality, trust in the profession and avoid compromised clinical judgment.

Topics to be discussed with featured speakers will be:

Did Friendship Kill Michael Jackson?, by Alon Steinberg, M.D., cardiologist
Should Patients and Doctors Have Sex?, by Sarah Shah, M.D., psychiatrist
L.A. vs. West Ventura - Small Town Medicine is More Personal, by Tom McBreen, M.D., family practice

Registration is free but reservations are required. Call 1-800-838-3006, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Robert Kwong

Maria Capritto

Congratulations

to Our Clients

Whisenhunt Communications wishes to congratulate attorneys Maria Capritto and Robert Kwong from the A to Z Law firm in Oxnard and attorney/investment

Russ Charvonia

advisor Russ Charvonia from Channel Islands Group.

All three were named in the Pacific Coast Business Times' 2015 issue, "Who's Who in Professional Services."

Congratulations also go out to Dr. Carolyn Chase and Dr. Ed Banman from Primary Medical in Ventura. Readers of the VC Reporter named Dr. Chase "Best Family Physician" in the Reporter's annual Best of Ventura County Awards for 2015.

Dr. Ed Banman

Dr. Carolyn Chase

Dr. Banman came in second place as "Best Family Physician." What an honor for both physicians! Primary Medical was further honored this fall as "Best Family Doctor" in the 2015 Ventura County Star Readers' Choice Awards.

CMHS Participates in Local Skilled Nursing Facility Training

Improving patient respiratory care in local skilled nursing facilities was the goal of a two-day training program in which Community Memorial Health System nurses and other staff members participated on Sept. 22-23.

Nurses and staff members of the following local skilled nursing facilities also participated in the program, held in CMHS's computer training center: Victoria Care Center, Coastal View Healthcare Center, Ventura Convalescent Hospital, Camarillo Healthcare Center, Ojai Continuing Care Center, Glenwood Care Center, Providence Ojai Gardens and Shoreline Care Center.

Training concentrated on creating standardized procedures and competencies in five areas of respiratory treatment common in these facilities: head-to-toe assessment, chest pain, shortness of breath, dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and increased respiratory rates, said Claudia Lis, N.R., nursing liaison for CMHS in the Skilled Nursing Facility Alliance. Lis added that several who participated in the training also volunteered to share what they learned with peers at their respective facilities.

"We hope that by doing this we can improve teamwork and collaboration between the acute care hospitals and the skilled nursing facilities as well as begin to change the public's view of what a skilled nursing facility nurse does," Lis said.

Issue: 74

Giving Thanks for a Great Staff

at Whisenhunt Communications

Most businesses are only as good as their employees. With that in mind and Thanksgiving approaching, I'd like to give thanks to being supported by some
very talented associates.

Graphic artist Cindy Daly has worked with Whisenhunt Communications for 19 years. She is not only creative and efficient but a joy to be around. I have heard nothing but outstanding feedback from clients she has worked with.

Writer John Cressy has been with Whisenhunt Communications for 14 years. He has had countless press releases published for Community Memorial Hospital, Harrison Industries and other clients. I'm especially thankful at this time with that John seems to be winning a yearlong war against cancer of the esophagus and liver. What a trooper he has been to carry on doing writing assignments for clients he serves while battling this horrible disease.

Writer/editor Amy Bentley has been working with me for 14 years. Like John, she had previously worked for the Ventura County Star. Her talent as a writer is matched only by her talent as an editor.

Photographer Kyle Sallee is in his second year working with Whisenhunt Communications. Kyle completed the photography program at Ventura College and received the Future Award, which the college gives to one photography student each year who shows promise toward a successful career in photography. I hope we can keep him busier in the coming year.

And finally, I need to thank my longtime cohort and friend, Nan Drake. She isn't part of Whisenhunt Communications but we've been working together for 25 years serving Harrison Industries, Gold Coast Recycling and other clients. Nan is more like a beloved sister than a co-worker. It has been a joy working with her all these years, even though my phone often starts ringing before even the roosters get up. That's Nan, hard at work.

Blessings and many thanks from all of us at Whisenhunt Communications to all of

you this Thanksgiving.

~ Stan Whisenhunt

Client News In This Issue

Harrison Industries

Ventura Water

Island Packers

Community Memorial Health System (CMHS)

Ventura Yacht Club

Community Memorial Health System (CMHS)

A to Z Law, Channel Islands Group & Primary Medical

Community Memorial Health System (CMHS)

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