January/February 2015


2014 Green School Award Goes to Lincoln Elementary School
L to R: Nan Drake (Government Affairs & PR Director, Harrison Industries, Karen Senesac (Principal, Lincoln Elementary School) and Bill Camarillo (CEO, Agromin) 
 
 

 

     In recognition and support of local environmental efforts, on Monday, December 15, 2014, Ventura Mayor Cheryl Hetimann, on behalf of the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division, Ventura Water, E.J. Harrison & Sons, and Agromin Premium Soil Products (Agromin), presented the 2014 Green School Award to Lincoln Elementary School, and the 2014 Watershed Hero Award to Loma Vista Elementary School.  

 

     For the past eight years, the Green School Award has been presented to a deserving Ventura school that has demonstrated exemplary efforts in helping to preserve the sustainability of our environment.

 

     "Both Lincoln Elementary and Loma Vista Elementary show commitment to our city, community and school district by continuing to preserve and enhance Ventura's beautiful and natural environment," said Mayor Heitmann.  "We're extremely grateful to our award sponsors, E.J. Harrison & Sons and Agromin Premium Soil Products as well as Ventura Water for supplying both schools with a $500 cash prize, and the beautifully crafted recycled glass awards to display at their schools."

 

2014 Green School Award Winner:  Lincoln Elementary School

      

     This year, Lincoln Elementary School was chosen for their active recycling efforts, which include a thriving CRVBeverage Container recycling collection program that raises funds for their school.  Additionally, they started composting food waste and a recycling program that helps keep waste out of the landfill. Other eco-friendly programs at Lincoln include a garden program, which, produces fruits, and vegetables that the students may take home.   READ MORE. 

 



2014 "Watershed Hero Award" Presented to Loma Vista Elementary School


L to R:  WATERSHED HERO AWARD: Marlene McMullen (Principal, Loma Vista Elementary School), Dan Long (Midtown Ventura Community Council) & Shana Epstein (GM, Ventura Water)


    

     The Watershed Hero Award was presented to Loma Vista Elementary for converting their school front entryway into a water wise Ocean Friendly Garden complete with a rainwater capture system, bioswales and drought tolerant California native plants.

 

     "We're so grateful for our 'Watershed Hero Award," said Marlene McMullen, Principal, Loma Vista Elementary School.  "Changing out the front area of our school with an Ocean Friendly Garden was truly a community effort.  We would also not have this gorgeous garden if it wasn't for all the help and support of the many sponsors and supporters.

 

     In early 2014, Loma Vista Elementary School was chosen as the recipients of Midtown Ventura Community Council's 2014 Adopt-A-School Project The Midtown Ventura Community Council, a non-profit organization formed by citizens of Midtown Ventura in 1997 to help improve our community.

 

     "We had an iconic 90-foot high diseased Monterey pine tree in our front yard that was dying," said McMullen. "We really needed to remove it, but because the tree was the focal point of the school, we knew if it was removed, the children would miss it.  At the same time, the Midtown Ventura Community Council told us that we were chosen as their 'Adopt-A-School Project for 2014.'  Everything just grew from there. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.  Working with the Council, it was decided that we'd do a comprehensive redesign and install a California Coastal Native and Ocean Friendly Garden that would be both water efficient in addition to being a special place that students and faculty could enjoy."

 

     Local landscape architect Brian Brodersen, designer of the OFG landscape for Will Rogers Elementary School, drew up plans for the Loma Vista redesign. Jesse Doty, Senior Project Manager for Clark Construction also volunteered his time, and contributed staff and equipment to help with the job.  READ MORE. 


2014 Environmental Excellence Award Winner: The Refill Shoppe 

  

     

     Every December, at the annual Poinsettia Awards luncheon hosted by the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, "the best" in business, education, public service, and community leaders are recognized. Nominations are sought from the community and through the City of Ventura and the Ventura Police and Fire Departments.

On December 11, 2014, Michelle Stevens, founder and owner of The Refill Shoppe, was presented with the 2014 Environmental Excellence Award. The Award identifies and honors a local business that is integrating environmental concerns into their business practices and philosophy.

 

     "To be included with such past business winners as Red Brick Pizza and Ohana Pet Hospital, is truly an honor," said Stevens upon receiving the award. "I just love living and working in a community that cares."

 

     The Refill Shoppe, located at 363 East Main Street in downtown Ventura, is an eco-conscious store offering quality bath, body, home, and cleaning liquids in bulk so that customers can fill and/or refill their own containers. Additionally, most of the shop's products are unscented so that customers can customize scents with over 100 essential oils and fragrances such as lavender, tea tree, lemon, wild orange, chamomile, sage, and many others.

 

     The Refill Shoppe products, which include such items as shampoo and hair conditioner, body lotion, bath gels and soaps, face care products, baby care products, laundry detergent, window and floor cleaners, are also made from natural ingredients that aren't harmful to the environment.  READ MORE. 



Livin' Green: Be GREEN in 2015!
Five Eco-Friendly Tips for the New Year
      

     It's everyone's responsibility to keep Ventura clean, beautiful and sustainable.  Here are FIVE simple GREEN tips to be sure to follow in the New Year.  

 

1) Bring Your Reusable Bag

      

     Beginning July 1, 2015, large grocery stores and pharmacies in California will no longer be able to distribute single-use plastic carryout bags due to Senate Bill 270, which was signed into law by Governor Brown in September 2014. So, if you don't bring your own bags, be advised that stores must charge 10-cents for each paper or reusable bag used. The money from the sale of paper bags will be used by the stores to offset costs associated with compliance and customer education. 

 

     Ventura City residents can obtain a complimentary reusable bag by contacting the City's Environmental Sustainability Division at (805) 652-4525.  READ MORE. 


Green Business Profile: Ava Anderson's Alison Carlson

    

 

     "I had no idea about all the toxic chemicals that are allowed to be put in products that we use on our bodies and in our homes," said Alison Carlson. "Then I met with Ava Anderson Non Toxic, which makes personal care and home products without any harmful chemicals or contaminants."

Alison Carlson,
Ava Anderson Consultant

 

     "I am a cancer survivor," continued Carlson. "I had no idea I was risking a recurrence by using products with ingredients linked to cancer. So, I researched the Ava Anderson company as well as the products I was using at the time, and found out there was true danger there."

 

     "People think that if something is sold at a store in this country, that it is safe. I used to think that, but this is definitely not the case by a long shot," said Carlson.  

 

     After studying up on Ava Anderson's non-toxic products, Carlson was so impressed; she became a product devotee, and then even decided to spread the word as an Ava Anderson consultant herself.

 

     "When you do your homework and research, you'll learn that many women's personal care products have from 8 to 12 harmful ingredients," said Carlson. "Combine that with all the toxins found in most name brand home care products, and the  

numbers are staggering."  READ MORE.

Environmental Sustainability Events

Harvest Rainwater - Print out Your Coupon Today! 

SAVE WATER!  Install a rain barrel in your landscape and redirect downspouts into your garden. A rain barrel discount program for City of Ventura residents is now available through Environmental Sustainability and Ventura Water, while supplies last. Working in cooperation with Smith Pipe and Supply at 3060 Sherwin Avenue in Ventura, the Channel/Bushman 60-gallon rain barrel with a retail value of $85 will be available for $52 plus tax at the store with Rain Barrel Discount Voucher. For more water wise tips, visit:  CityofVentura.net/water/landscape
 

December 11 - Ventura Chamber of Commerce's Annual Poinsettia Award Luncheon

Kudos to all the 2014 Poinsettia Award winners! City of Ventura Environmental Specialist Courtney Lindberg was presented with a Poinsettia Award as "Employee of the Year" and The Refill Shoppe's Michelle Stevens is presented with the 2014 Environmental Excellence Award.  READ MORE.

        
 
NOVEMBER  

November 15, 2014
FREE WATER WISE CLASS: "Turf Replacement with Water Wise Plants" 

 

At the November 15th "Turf Replacement with Water Wise Plants" FREE Class, attendees learned how to remove turf naturally and replace it with native or climate-appropriate plants, convert pop-up spray irrigation to drip irrigation, and re-wild their garden habitats to bring back birds, bees and butterflies.

  

 

  
Water: Take 1  
Water: Take 1 "Leading By Example" Reception at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
 

November 20, 2014 
Water: Take 1 Film Contest Community Cocktail Reception "Leading By Example" 
 

On Thursday, November 20, 2014, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, Ventura Water, in part
nership with their sponsors, invited members of the community to attend this year's special "Leading by Example" presentation and cocktail reception at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel.  Watch the Sustainable Ventura News segment! 
 
SAVE THE DATE  

Join us for the Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest Awards,
Thursday, March 19, 2015, 6:00 pm at Century 10 Downtown Movie Theatre,
555 East Main Street.  For more details, visit: watertake1.com 
 
 
 
Cool Green News





Events
 
 
Stay Tuned! FREE Water Wise Series starting in March 2015, visit: CityofVentura.net/water/landscape   
 
Programs, News & Events       
              
        Green Certification       Watch SV News            Free Classes               Text "Tips"        Free Sustainability Kits

STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our videos on YouTube  Visit our blog  
Rain Barrel Discount
Rain Barrel Discount program for City of Ventura residents is available through Environmental Sustainability and Ventura Water.  Working in cooperation with Smith Pipe and Supply at 3060 Sherwin Avenue in Ventura, the Channel/Bushman 60-gallon rain barrel (with a retail value of $85.00), will be available for $42.00 plus tax at their store with a Rain Barrel Discount Voucher.  Two rain barrel discounts are available per residential address with the voucher. READ MORE.

$85.00 Rain Barrel available for $42.00 plus tax with Discount Voucher