In Brief

Visitor’s bureau wishes you were here
Venturans are being asked to get the word out on local tourism in a postcard campaign that ends this week.

“Wish You Were Here” is the tagline gracing postcards designed by local artist Hilda Kilpatrick, available at the Ventura Visitors and Convention Center. The local visitor’s bureau has urged people to pick up and mail out the postcards to their family and friends as part of the bureau’s part in National Tourism Week, until Monday, May 18. Both The postcards and postage are free.

The theme of “Travel Matters,” the press release said, is to emphasize Ventura’s place as a top spot for tourist travel, where the local travel industry employs more than 5,000 people and contributes more than $450 million to theeconomy.

The visitors center is located at 101 S. California St., Ventura, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  More info is available at ventura-usa.com.

“Green” party to raise AIDS awareness
A fundraising party in Oxnard this weekend is aimed at raising awareness and funding to helping people afflicted with AIDS and the HIV virus.

The “Paint the Town Green” party will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Topa Tower, 300 E. Esplanade Dr., Oxnard.

It’s being sponsored by the Ventura County AIDS Partnership in support of the local group’s ongoing programs. The party will feature live music, dancing and food.

Tickets for the event are $45 and available at vcaidspartnership.org or by calling 485-6288 x232.

Environmental group tackles passive design
Controlling indoor temperatures in the looming summer heat is the name of the game at the Ojai Valley Green Coalition’s next event exploring the facets of passive architectural design.

The May 27 event titled The Passive Design Revolution will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Chaparral High School Auditorium, 414 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai.

Part of the group’s Ecology and Community lecture series, the event is aimed at informing homeowners and sharing with them smart, time-tested heating and cooling strategies of architectural design as the new way to control indoor temperatures.

The presentation will feature a PowerPoint slide show and a question-and-answer period with presenter Wayne Pendrey, a member of the green coalition’s building and construction committee.

For further information about the event or the Ojai Valley Green Coalition, visit ojaivalleygreencoalition.org.

Nonprofit keeping Palestine in mind
Oppressed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are the focus behind a fundraising forum next week in Oxnard.

The Let Gaza Live event will be held May 22, 5 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 2300 W. Gonzales Road, Oxnard, and hosted by nonprofit Venturans for a Just Palestine (VJP).

The event begins with live Middle Eastern music and a dinner hosted by former Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, followed by a 7 p.m. discussion panel between other activists and leaders in the cause.

Advance tickets are $25, $30 at the door for dinner; forum only is $10.

Contact Cindy Piester for info, 641-9033, or e-mail ventura4ajustpalestine@gmail.com.

Downtown Ventura PBID passes
Members of the Downtown Ventura Organization (DVO) can breathe a sigh of relief — the bid for a PBID has the official endorsement of the local city council.

A unanimous vote Monday evening by the Ventura council supported adoption of the Property-Based Improvement District, proposed by the DVO last year to provide funding for economic development, safety and marketing of downtown businesses.

The PBID enacts self-imposed assessment fees, similar to a tax, charged to local properties owners that fall in the downtown region.  

Through the first quarter of this year, the  DVO canvassed downtown property owners and received a 53.94-percent vote in support of the PBID. Fifty-one percent was needed to start the special district.

Because the PBID passed, a new nonprofit organization, the Downtown Ventura Partnership will be formed to move forward.

At Monday’s meeting, Councilmember Jim Monahan initially cast the sole dissenting vote against adoption of the PBID, but changed his vote just moments before the adjournment in favor of
the measure.

PBID update: A press release from the city clerk on May 14 announced a correction to the PBID election results announced on Monday night.   

76 percent was the proper YES tally instead of the previously recorded 54 percent.
A glitch in the Excel spreadsheet used to count the ballots was the cause.  The city clerk's press release from also explains that 42 percent of the total YES tally was attributed to the private sector with the remaining 34 percent from the public sector, which included City Hall.

Also, the new organization will be called Downtown Ventura Partners, not the Downtown Ventura Partnership.