In Brief
08/07/2008
Foreclosures hurting shelter
The Humane Society of Ventura County’s no-kill shelter in Ojai is now beyond capacity due to the increasing rate of home foreclosures in Ventura County. The shelter, which during a typical summer, would have several of its 48 dog runs unoccupied, currently has 63 dogs and 40 cats. During the last weeks of July, the rate of pet surrenders skyrocketed.
“[Staff members] are getting sometimes six to 10 calls a day from people who have lost their homes and have had to give up their animals,” said shelter director Jolene Hoffman. “It’s just really tragic. We have no room.”
Hoffman notes that shelters around the community are facing the same overcrowding issues. The cost to care for these animals is about $10 a day for a dog and $5 a day for a cat, according to Hoffman.
In a July 31 press release, the Humane Society requested donations from the community to help support the increased needs of the shelter. Additionally, Hoffman would like to “push that people go to our Web site and look at animals online.”
For more information, visit www.humanesocietyvc.org or call 646-6505.
— Lauren Sittel
Magician sets the stage
Jason Latimer, master magician/illusionist, gave away nearly 200 tickets to local youth support organizations for his performance at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Fred Kavli Theater, on August 10 at 7:00 p.m.
The 27-year-old world champion magician worked with his team partner, the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, to make the donation.
“[Latimer] gave tickets to Casa Pacific[sic], Big Brothers and Sisters, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and the YMCAs,” said David Klein, Kiwanis Event PR chair and friend of Latimer.
Proceeds from the show will benefit the youth organizations through the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Charitable Foundation, the press release said.
Additional tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Kavli Theater box office, or the Kiwanis Web site. Visit www.Latimeronline.com for further information.
— Lauren Julian
Downtown Ventura PBID Meetings
The board of directors for the Downtown Ventura Organization is rallying local property owners to discuss the possible establishment of a Property-Based Business Improvement District (PBID) to further fund improvements downtown. A future PBID would also pay for heightened security; cleaner sidewalks, streets and parks; cohesive marketing and advertising to draw more consumers; and advocacy activities that would help increase property values and business volume.
The city of Ventura’s Redevelopment Agency agreed to fund the organization for three years, with 10 months to go. Local property owners would like to establish a PBID that would continue the improvements made by the organization. “Our downtown needs a stable organization and a stable source of funding,” said Rob Edwards, Executive Director of the organization. “Short of going back to [the] City Council, there is no other funding source beyond a PBID. I spend 65 hours a week competing and marketing against other downtowns that have this organizational setup. Without it, we would be unable to compete with like visitors and shopping destinations.”
Through a PBID, the property owners will vote to assess themselves a small amount of money each year to fund the organization which will be collected by the County and passed through to the downtown organization. A PBID gives property owners local control over how the money is raised and spent on improving the area.
The organization reps will hold three town hall meeting:
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2:30 p.m. at Jonathan’s, 204 E. Main St.
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. at the E.P. Foster Library, Topping Room, 651 E Main St.
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m. at Affinity Bank, Santa Clara and Chestnut streets
— Michael Sullivan
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