Vol. 12 No. 2
Fall 2016
Celebrating You – VHC Picnic in the Park
Why We Volunteer
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Left to right: Our two granddaughters Marin Pearce, Reina Harris (they are cousins), our daughter (visiting from Seattle, Washington) Laura Bauleke Anhalt, Mary Jane and Richard Bauleke
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By Mary Jane and Richard Bauleke
everal years ago after the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy had acquired a portion of the Ventura river bottom they held a special tour for the public. The Surfrider Foundation and Friends of the Ventura River collaborated with VHC to provide guided tours. We were among the small groups of people who viewed the mounds of trash that had accumulated in the river caused by illegal encampments. There was also thick overgrowth of the invasive Arundo reed. Yes, we were dismayed with what we saw, yet hopeful when it was explained to us about the big plan to reclaim the river to it’s natural beauty. Well, it was on that day we decided we wanted to be a part of the big plan. For the majority of the time, volunteering every third Saturday morning of the
month fits into our schedule. Whether it is cutting Arundo or clearing trash we want to be helpful in maintaining and protecting the Ventura River and other natural preserves. We categorize volunteering as fun exercise! We enjoy the outdoors, camaraderie with like-minded people, and especially the good changes—the progress that has happened since the first Ventura River clean up at the Willoughby Preserve in 2012. Each month when we revisit the river bottom we are amazed at the difference the groups of volunteers have made. At the one of the tree planting parties held at the Big Rock Preserve our granddaughters got busy with us in planting trees and shrubs. It is a beautiful area and so alive with nature!
alling all VHC members and volunteers—you’re invited to “Picnic in the Park,” our annual member and volunteer appreciation celebration, on Saturday, October 8th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Foster Park. This free family-friendly fiesta will include a delicious Mexican food lunch, old-fashioned games, an update on VHC projects, volunteer awards and the chance to hike next door to our Big Rock Preserve and check on the 500 trees VHC volunteers planted last winter and spring. “Members and volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” said Adrienne Stephens, VHC Development Coordinator. “We want to show them some love by throwing a fun bash in a beautiful setting.” Over the past year, VHC has seen an uptick in volunteer activity. Continued on page 6
Continued on pages 9
FREE MOUNTAIN LION TALK ON NOVEMBER 2 — SEE PAGE 8 FOR DETAILS
President’s Message
Photo: VHC Staff
Clif® Mountains 2 Beach Marathon
Photo: VHC Staff
The VHS Global Warming Action Team and VHC volunteers show lots of spirit for the marathon
David Comden President, Board of Trustees 2
Monthly River Restoration River cleanups yield results!
Wildflower Walk Botanist Ken Niessen (center right) talks about the coastal sage scrub plant community
Photo: Diane Soule
Photo: David Comden
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fter five years of effort, the Ventura River Parkway is looking better than it has in the past fifty years, and we’re not done yet. After several planting workdays this winter and spring, we’ve installed over 500 trees in the parkway area of our Big Rock Preserve. And our monthly river restoration events continue all year long on the third Saturday of the month. Our sold-out Wild & Scenic Film Festival attracted an audience of 600 to Poinsettia Pavilion over two nights in March. This annual event always amazes and inspires with its nature-oriented short films. At the end of April we had a wonderful guided Wildflower Walk in conjunction with REI. This event gave a sneak peak at the Walker-Hearne hillside ranch, an exciting first for the Conservancy. May was a busy month for VHC! We had our first Monarch Madness event, described on page 9. Our free family Bike & Hike along the Ventura River Trail took place on May 21. And on Memorial Day weekend, VHC and the Ventura High School Global Warming Action Team worked to support the Clif ® Mountains 2 Beach Marathon & Half. The marathon started in Ojai and ended at Surfer’s Point, following the Ventura River Parkway trail for over ten miles. The event brought people young and old to Ventura from around the U.S. and beyond. It was encouraging to hear the many comments about how wonderful our city is from those who were new to the area. Through community involvement and events like these we are increasing our reach into the community, spreading the word on what we do and why it is Dedicated VHC volunteers (from L to R) James, important. Susan and Peter Watanabe will be checking in on Good things happen over the tree they planted for years to come time, and with coordinated effort through partnerships with the local business community and our members we are doing work that is making an immediate impact and will last for generations. Summer and fall are great times to be outdoors and there’s no better place to do so than in Ventura. Get involved and help make a difference for everyone!
Photo: VHC Staff
Planting the Seeds of Progress
Monarch Madness Alicia Carman, designer of the VHC logo, prepares to plant milkweed
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Fall 2016
Stewardship – What It Means to VHC
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By Brooke Ashworth, VHC Land Committee Chair that land far into the future. This means that each property must come with earmarked funding for the Stewardship Endowment to assure that VHC can meet the projected stewardship costs for the land. It would be irresponsible of the Conservancy to take on land it cannot properly care for now and forever.
o date the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy owns 26 acres of land and is working on the purchase of significantly more. Twenty-six acres seems like a relatively small amount compared to our goals, but with each acre we acquire comes tremendous responsibility—the responsibility to care for that land forever. For this reason, the VHC Board of Trustees established a Stewardship Endowment. Money in the endowment is set aside to earn interest that is used to manage VHC’s properties in perpetuity.
How does VHC fund the Stewardship Endowment?
Photo: Adrienne Stephens
The initial Stewardship Endowment principal was set What do we mean by aside from Ventura Hillsides stewardship? Music Festival revenue. Stewardship covers everything Additional funds come from involved in responsible land contributions VHC requests of ownership from a conservation landowners when negotiating perspective. Stewardship starts a land purchase or donation. with the basics such as insurance, the most important “The most important stewardship Ultimately, security, and maintenance and goes stewardship funding source will on to include ecosystem restoration funding source will be you, the be you, the community who and infrastructure—expenses like community who enjoys and uses enjoys and uses the Conservancy’s providing trails, signs and parking lands. that are needed for public access. the Conservancy’s lands.” Public and private grant VHC has a volunteer monies can help purchase and Stewardship Committee that works restore land, but they do not fund with the staff and board to define the ongoing management of it – which costs significantly stewardship costs and perform stewardship activities. For more when land is open to the public. These stewardship example, the Stewardship Committee has conducted a funds must come from local residents and businesses. In baseline census of the wildlife on each of the Conservancy fact, most granting agencies and foundations expect to see preserves, established protocols for safe removal of invasive this kind of community buy-in as a condition of awarding vegetation like Arundo on our Ventura River properties, land acquisition grants. and planned public trails on our Willoughby and Big Rock VHC’s Stewardship Endowment is the only Preserves. responsible way to make certain the Conservancy can Even before we get to the point of adding a property always care for its lands for the benefit of humans and to VHC’s portfolio, staff and the Stewardship Committee wildlife. Please consider donating to the Stewardship forecast the stewardship costs for the land. These shortEndowment today! term and long-term cost projections are based on industry Stewardship Endowment donations can be made at norms, experience in the field and use of special stewardship www.venturahillsides.org, by sending a check to VHC software called the Property Analysis Record (PAR). at P.O. Box 1284, Ventura, CA 93002 (please note In deciding whether to go forward with acquisition of Stewardship Endowment on your check), or by calling new lands for the Conservancy, the Board of Trustees must (805) 643-8044. determine whether VHC has sufficient resources to steward Fall 2016
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
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Members of the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy
ARE YOU A MEMBER? HELP US PRESERVE WHAT MAKES VENTURA BEAUTIFUL — JOIN VHC TODAY $5000+ TRAILBLAZER Flemming Bertelsen Malinda Chouinard Yvon Chouinard $1000+ GUARDIAN Brooke & Everard Ashworth Karen & Gary Bednorz Tina & David Comden Theresa & John Darling Nancy & Richard Francis Kellie & Paul Meehan Drs. Linda & James Peddie Stefanie & Myron Roth Dr. Michael Vivian Kerry & Tom Weisel Rosanne & Andrew Welcher $500+ CHAMPION Lynda Blue & Chuck Vinson Jean & Paul Finnegan M. Bruce FitzGerald Robin & Ward Flowers Gerhardt Hubner Jennifer & Aquiles J. Montoya Melanie & Jens Redemann Suzy & Chris Reinhart Denise Stennette Dana & Mike Stoneking Janice Turner $250+ STEWARD Jenny & Dr. Jeff Baarstad Betsy Bachman & Robert Tallyn Susan & Gregory Brown MarLynn & Dr. Lamar Bushnell Craig Carlyle Jeffrey Clark Deborah & Charles Clark Cheryl & Todd Collart Laura & Michael Cook Marila & Jeffrey Cook Nathaniel Cox Thomas Dimock Lori & Greg Frank Daniel Glassman Carol Reed Glow John Hankins Kevin Hartigan & Terrence Foley Craig Ichinose Jamie King Andi & Ed Kish Kate Larramendy Mindy Lawrence & Steve Svete Renee Longan & Norman Schiele Megan & Kevin Marble Ken Merideth Paul Mithra Rebecca & Peter Percy Daniel Richards Marlayn Riley Robin & Greg Rose Kent Schmidt Hank Stoutz James Strong Janice & Jim Susha Robert Tallyn
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Mike Watling Dani & Mel Willis $100 PATRON Dr. Frank Alvarez Gavin Arnold John Baker Lynn Bartosh Maureen & Philip Basile Beatrice Battier Mary Jane & Richard Bauleke Donna & Jerry Beatty Ellen & Jon Becker Laura, Peter & Matthew Berson Robin & Richard Birney Barbara Bissett Caroline Blakemore & Lawrence Gust Lori Bliss & Michael Gialketsis Kathy C. Bremer Gary W. Brummet Lori Bruno Patricia Bullough Debra Cavaletto & Michael Nonnast Elisabeth Charas Carolyn & Doug Chase Lora & Philip Clarke John Collins Elzbet Diaz de Leon & Joe Connet Michelle Contois & Larry Heinlein David Cook John Cook Mindy Cooper-Smith & Robert James Barbara & Mike Coulson Joann D. Cunningham Robert Curtis Terri Davis & James Capito Marlene Dempster Steve Doll Diane & Peter Dowler Johnny Alan Dresser Nancy L. Dressler Anika Dunkell Diane Ellis Lynda & Fred Evans Ben Faber Kate & Bill Faulkner Stacy Fausset Jill Forman Terri French Sarah Gallagher Susan Garrard Kay Giles & Michael Mariani Anne Ginchereau Dr. Joel Goldenberg Christina Gray Kristine & Ed Guzman Linda Hadlen Rebecca Hanson Barbara & Richard Harison Cara Hill Victoria Holzapfel Karen & Michael Houston Bruce Hunter Ann & Jon Ives Florence & Ramsey Jay Patti Verdugo-Johnson & Scott Johnson Ruth O. Johnson
Rose Ann & Thomas Jones Melvin Kilpatrick Mark Kirwin Kyle & Joe Kreutz Cora Lanzisero Anne Larsen & Steve Offerman Alicia & Matthew Lavere Pamela & David Lee Geri Levine Loe Cindy & David Luff Miriam Mack Hayley Marcus Alison McCormick Kellie Meehan Teresa Mehr Krista & Mark Mendelsohn Dena Mercer Donald F. Mills Kathi Mottram Sally & Tom Mueller Sherry & Bob O’Hollaren Mark O’Keefe Steven Oppenheimer Fred Ortiz Wayne Overton Claire & David Oxtoby Diane & Pat Perkins Derek Poultney Roanna & Ted Prell Michael Putman Jamie Rens Siri & Mark Rochin Lynn Rockney & Kenneth Finger Hilary & David Romero Tessa Roper Edward Rose Elizabeth Rose Veronica Ruiz Steven Sandifer Donna Santo & Misty Romero Mary & Salvatore Saputo David Satnick Joyce & Bruce Schoppe Julie Scorsatto & Joseph Weyers Kevin Seelos Marshall Sheridan Martin Silvern Rose & Bill Smith Carrol Ann Smith Marjorie Staley Patricia & Mark Stanifer Adrienne & Chris Stephens Billye & Bill Thieman Liz & Rob Thomaier Kathy & Joe Vaughan Laverne L. Venus Karen & Kirk Waln Katherine Warner & Peter Dibble Susan, James & Peter Watanabe Jinny Webber Valerie & Ed Wehan James Whitney Sara & Blair Winner Gary Wiseman Carolyn Wood Jackie Worden Rebecca Wulff
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Patricia & Scott Wynn Dinny & George Zinckgraf Wendy & Mark Zierbel $50+ DONOR Joanne & James Abing Jane Advani Peter Anderson Henry Ashworth Russ Bishop Jodi Bogart Linda Bogart Linda & Frank Boross MaryLee & Robert Bragulla Grace Brandt Terry Brenner-Farrel The Bruton Family Deborah & Robert Burns Randall Butler Deborah & John Bylo Paula & Robert Chianese Gilbert Clarin Stephen Clark Donna Cole Tim Comstock Caroline & Donald Cook Janet & Dan Crotty Mary Ann & Terrel Cryer Carol F. Davies Debbie Diamond & Wolf Breiman Jane & Dennis Dwire Carol Ecklund & Jim Heller Cheryl Endo Velma Everton Celeste & Richard Field Scott Fish Karen Flock & Dan Long Rose & Patrick Forrest Sharon & Mark Franck Rodney E. Frykholm Dierdre & Robert Gallagher The Gallagher Family Janeen Gaul Jack Goethel Cinamon & Ted Good Tina Gorelik Jennifer Guy Debra, Jenna & James Harmon Cheryl & Dennis Heitmann R.J. and Wendy Henchy Paul Hilbun The Hongola Family Debbie Hyde & Jay Ansama Estelle Ichino & John Connor Joanne & Monroe Kaplan Patti & Robin Kirsch Angela Kirwin Nancy LaBella Connie & David Lantrip Lilith C.D. Lindberg Anne Little Joyce Lombard Brenda & James Loree Joyce Macias Krista Magallon David Martinsson
Fall 2016
Sharon McGahan Luke Metz Margaret & Calvin Meuser Janna Minsk & Carl Morehouse Jane & Curt Montague Donna Hamer Moore Nancy Ogle & Andre Dunkell Maureen & Lee Ormsby Judith Owen Susan & Albert Owens Vera Pampalone Laura Powell William Raymond Marla Burg & Gary Reeder Scott Ripple Marjory & Gaylord Rose Sandra Rush Nancy & Carl Schorsch Dr. Robert Shakman Gwyer Schuyler & Phil Simon Brittany Slaughter Mary Staten Kim Charnofsky & Robin Sturgeon Ed Summers Benjamin Tapia Laura L. Thomas Deby Tygell Diane Underhill & Ross Nideffer Jenise Wagar Julie Ward Kathleen & Jeff Wiens Victoria & Robert Wilard Tanya Will Eleanor M. Wilson $35+ MEMBER Betty Ann Anear Claudia & Kurt Armann Owen Bailey Marion Baranowski Debra Barringer Jean & Wayne Bartel Sheldon Brown Suzette Brown Ellen Bunde Melinda & Steve Burkhart Patricia Butler Karen Clench Sean Cole Minnie Collier Sue & Gary Conklin Joan Cook Todd Copeland Dorene Cowart Margarita Aragon-Cruz & Joseph Cruz Arthur C. Darin Jacqueline Davis Dennis Donley Lavonne Driver Kimbrough Ernest Judith Farrell Martha Fast Shelly Foote Donna Foster Val Franco & Richard Wardle Victoria Gagnon Muriel Garcia Jessica & David Goldstein Delia Gorey & Lawrence Manson Linda Groberg Gloria Hamblin
Fall 2016
Cindy & Tim Hansen Lori & Greg Harris Pamela S. Hazard Roger Henggeler Kim Herren Jim Houp Ronald J. Hudoba Nona Belle Jensen Steve Kennedy Marty Kinsey Sue & Marc Landgraf Ellen Lewis Lynn & Thomas Luneau Charlotte Marchetti Janet & Jim Marcoux Karen Marks Karen McMahon Kelly & Timothy Nicely Jessica Nikolai Laura Ochoa Tania & Tobias Parker Farion Pearce Carol Pedersen Jenifer & Charlie Peterson Deby Quandt Judith Refsland Russell Richardson Laurie & Joseph Richardson Catherine Rossbach Jason Rowley Karen Ruiz Ann Salahuddin Carmen & Victor Sanchez Thesesa & Alan Satterfield Joyce Sattler Donna Schuepbach Judy Scott Robert Selder Edwin Slowik Sherry Smith Diane Soule Lori Steinhauer Inge & Steve Stoll Hillegonda Stouthamer Debra Kelley Swedlow Barrie Todd Mary Travis Daniel Uhlar Louise Vien Stacey Warmuth Brian Watnick Melina Watts Robin & Guy Weber Mary & Gregory Wood Marcia Wright Neil Ziegler $20 STUDENT/SENIOR Amelia Ayala Chloe Bergman Sarah Florez Tessa Gallagher Kathy & Alan Hammerand Waverly LaTourette Christopher Leslie Janet Loeshelder Sophia Manning Valentina Pfeifer Lauren Powell Susanna Corez Regalado Peyton Reynolds
Raphaella Rosales Sicilia Smith Stephanie Steger Robert Trentham Micah Wilcox Matty Wilson
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS $10,000: Two Tree Sponsors Patagonia REI Ventura County Credit Union $5,000 - $7,500: Foothills Sponsors IMG Action Sports SoCalGas Co. Mountains 2 Beach Marathon $2,500: River Estuary Sponsors J.H. Biotech, Inc. $1,000: Barranca Sponsors Ball Horticultural Co. Rabobank Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLP $500: Wildflower Sponsors City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability County Commerce Bank Law Offices of Richard L. Francis Philip J. Kroll, DDS Toad & Co. Ventura Water $250: Acorn Sponsors Girl Scouts of the Central Coast Troop 60385 Cathy Kroll, Travel Advisor The Refill Shoppe $100: Community Sponsors Sierra Club - Los Padres Chapter Ventura Audubon Society Ventura Botanical Gardens Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation Ventura Surfrider Foundation Ventura Wild IN KIND DONORS Big Productions Castoro Cellars Steve Cook Creminelli Fine Meats Cummins Pacific, LLC Judy Fairchild, Realtor Firestone Walker Brewing Co. For Your Home Furniture Great Pacific Iron Works Christina Rose Grey
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Iron and Resin Latitudes Fine Art Lori’s Lemonade Megan Marble Matilija Nursery Ojai Raptor Center Paradise Pantry Patagonia Pete’s Breakfast House Poseidon Brewing Co. REI Rincon Consultants Kyle Sparks Photography Sticky Fingers Bakery The Open Blossom Trader Joe’s Two Trees Brewing Co. VC Reporter Ventura Rental Center Ventura Water Store Westside Boards Whole Foods Market Jackie Worden
VHC Donations Make the Perfect Gift! VHC donations not only make great birthday, wedding and retirement gifts, they also are a wonderful and lasting way to honor the memory of a loved one who has passed away. Because the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. On your next gift-giving occasion, consider giving or suggesting something lasting, meaningful and beautiful—donate to VHC and give the gift of open space preservation! To make honorary or memorial donations to VHC, call Adrienne Stephens, (805) 643-8044 or go to https:// venturahillsides.nationbuilder. com/donate. P.O. Box 1284 Ventura, CA 93002
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The Marvelous Monarch Butterfly
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Individuals, families, scouting troops, high school clubs and military organizations have all stepped up to plant trees, clear invasive Arundo and clean up trash on VHC’s properties. “We have a few dedicated volunteers (you know who you are!) who literally come out every month to lend a helping hand,” said Derek Poultney, Executive Director. “We are grateful to each person who pays annual dues, volunteers at events or helps us spread the VHC message. We owe our success to each of you!” To RSVP for Picnic in the Park, visit www.venturahillsides.org/events and click on the RSVP button.
By Juliana Danaus, edited by Jessica Nikolai
he monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is symbolic for many people. Some believe that monarchs represent rebirth of themselves or a loved one, or that they bring messages from those who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The monarch is a species of resilience too, known for its long distance migrations to winter in warmer areas. There are two migratory groups of monarchs. The Eastern Migration winters in Mexico, often traveling thousands of miles from summer habitat in the northern US. The Western Migration winters along the California coast, having migrated from areas west of the Rockies. The four stages of a monarch’s life cycle are egg, larva (known as a caterpillar), pupa, and adult. A female
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy David Comden, President Paul Meehan Vice-President Jennifer Montoya, Secretary Karen Bednorz Richard Francis Gerhardt Hubner Jens Redemann — OUR MISSION — To preserve the hillsides, canyons, and open space that contribute to the unique character and natural environment of the City of Ventura and the surrounding region for the benefit of present and future generations
VHC is a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance — www.lta.org and the California Council of Land Trusts — www.callandtrusts.org
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Photo: David Comden
Board of Trustees
A monarch caterpillar munching through milkweed
lays her eggs on milkweed, and 3-5 days later a caterpillar will chew its way out of the eggshell. A caterpillar will molt (or shed) a total of five times as it continues growing. Once the caterpillar is ready to pupate (transform into an adult butterfly), it may crawl up to 100 feet away from the milkweed and blow out a silk pad with a silk button and attach itself to a location to pupate. The pupating larva (called a chrysalis) will hang for about 10-14 days before the butterfly emerges. An adult butterfly may live anywhere from Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Rights free photo borrowed from Google Images
VHC Picnic in Park
An adult monarch shows its colors
2 weeks to 10 months, depending on its living conditions and its place in migration. (Generally monarchs flying north reproduce on the way with the next generation completing the journey; monarchs flying south do not reproduce on route.) Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is essential to monarchs because it is the sole food source for monarch caterpillars. Milkweed contains cardenolides, toxic steroid compounds, which monarch larva store in their bodies to use as a bitter-tasting defense. There are over 200 species of milkweed on the planet; in Ventura our only native species is narrowleaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). It is crucial for wintering and migrating butterflies that coastal California residents offer healthy milkweed to sustain the monarch population. Besides adult monarchs of the Western Migration overwintering here, our Ventura coastline also hosts residential monarchs who will not range more than a few miles away to find milkweed for reproduction. Planting milkweed and late season blooming nectar plants benefits monarchs. Milkweed is most essential in helping monarchs reproduce, and late blooming nectar plants serve as nourishment for adult butterflies, sustaining them in their overwintering habitats. So long as monarchs have the plants that they require, in the wild or in cultivated gardens, they’ll thrive, not just survive! Help a monarch, plant a milkweed today! Fall 2016
OUR BUSINESS SPONSORS:
Commitment to the Environment
The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is honored to have the ongoing support of these local businesses. Patagonia
Ventura County Credit Union
“For us at Patagonia, a love of wild and beautiful places demands participation in the fight to save them, and to help reverse the steep decline in the overall environmental health of our planet. We donate our time, services and at least 1% of our sales to hundreds of grassroots environmental groups all over the world who work to help reverse the tide.”
Banking may be their business, but the Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) is not just a credit union. In addition to helping their neighbors find solutions for personal accounts, business accounts and investing, VCCU is passionate about community involvement and this drive often takes them well beyond the office doors of their Ventura County branches.
Since the very beginning, Patagonia has staunchly supported the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. In 2003, when VHC was first formed, Patagonia provided the seed money that purchased the organization’s first reams of letterhead. Over the past 13 years, Patagonia and its employees have generously given money, time, talent and passion, helping to further VHC’s mission and directly contributing to the protection and preservation of Ventura’s beautiful natural environment.
“Because VCCU believes in the beautification and preservation of our environment, we have generously supported the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy since 2011. Last year, we took our commitment to fostering goodwill and charitable giving in the communities we serve one step further and formed our own non-profit 501(c)(3), The Foundation of Ventura County Credit Union.” — Natalie Yanez, Director of Community Partnerships
REI
SoCalGas
Each year, REI provides millions of dollars in grants to select nonprofits that care for the outdoor places its members love to recreate in. Since 2013 REI has been proud to give the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy grant funding in support of their mission, programs and projects.
“At SoCalGas, we believe that sustainability and being a responsible environmental steward is a fundamental part of doing business. We support a wide array of environmental causes and organizations including the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. VHC is a quality environmental organization and we were proud to partner with them this year on Monarch Madness, a family-friendly milkweed planting event in the Ventura River estuary. We look forward to working with this great organization in the future as well.”
“The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is committed to restoring habitat as well as creating and enhancing public access along the Ventura River Parkway. REI funding undergirds these efforts at their Big Rock Preserve through trail building, extending and enhancing existing trails, planting native trees and plants, and encouraging the exploration and enjoyment of the Preserve through public outreach and multi-generational outdoor engagement.”
— Maria Ventura, Public Affairs Manager
— Sylvia Munoz Schnopp, REI Outreach Specialist To learn more about the Conservancy’s Business Sponsor program, contact Adrienne Stephens, Development Coordinator, at (805) 643-8044 or adrienne@venturahillsides.org or visit www.venturahillsides.org. Fall 2016
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A Heartfelt Thanks and Happy Trails
Photo: VHC Staff
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en Merideth was a founding member of the VHC Board of Trustees and has served as Treasurer since our beginning in 2003. An accountant by trade, he generously donated many hours of his time each month managing our books and investments, preparing our tax returns, and setting up our insurance policies and internal accounting procedures. But his generosity goes far beyond these important contributions. He always went the extra mile to share his expertise, serving as a mentor to the staff and board and patiently teaching us the basics of nonprofit accounting. He managed the finances at our music and film festivals and helped in so many ways at so many events throughout the years, taking on every task from mowing weeds to preparing the annual budgets. Thank you Ken, for all your time and help – and for being such a dedicated core supporter all these years. Your service to the community is much appreciated!
Dashiell Dunkell Rejoins Staff
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Photo: Saskia Nauenberg
e are happy to announce the return of Dashiell Dunkell to our staff. Dashiell has been promoted to VHC Conservation Director, managing VHC properties and guiding conservation activities. Dashiell spent the last year living in Cartagena, Colombia, learning Spanish and working as a project leader with the environmental non-profit Planeta Azul Caribe. He was also lucky enough to spend one month in central Chile volunteering on an island restoration project to enhance habitat for endangered Humboldt penguins. Dashiell returns to VHC with a renewed passion for preserving open space and connecting people to the natural world.
VHC Free Speaker Series “Coexisting with Coyotes” Will Be Followed by Mountain Lion Talk
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id you know that coyotes first came to California in the 1930s, spreading across the nation from their original home in the Great Plains? On June 30, VHC hosted biologist David Lee’s fascinating presentation about coyotes, their natural history and interactions with their human neighbors. The coyote presentation was so popular, we are following up with "Connecting Landscapes with Mountain Lions" on Wednesday, November 2, at 7:00 PM at Poinsettia Pavilion. Anthony Giordano, a conservation biologist and wildlife ecologist with experience managing big cat projects all over the world will share his expertise, focusing on our local big cat, the solitary and secretive mountain lion (Puma concolor). To reserve your spot at this and other VHC events, visit www.venturahillsides.org/events and click on the RSVP button.
AmazonSmile Makes Our Day Did you know you can shop online at Amazon and benefit VHC at the same time? It’s super easy—just use our AmazonSmile link: https://smile.amazon.com/ ch/01-0769456 and shop away! After your first use all you need to do is log on to smile.amazon.com and AmazonSmile will remember you are supporting VHC. For every eligible purchase made at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the purchase price to VHC. Now that’s truly a win-win!
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook Tel: 805-643-8044 P.O. Box 1284, Ventura, CA 93002 www.venturahillsides.org Brooke Ashworth, editor@venturahillsides.org Contributors: Annette Baldwin, David Comden, Juliana Danaus, Jessica Nikolai, Adrienne Stephens Layout/Design, Frank Boross Media Services
q Outlook is published semi-annually by the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy, a 501 (c) (3) California nonprofit organization. Story submissions and ideas welcomed. Copyright ©2016 Ventura Hillsides Conservancy. All rights reserved.
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Fall 2016
Photo: Diane Soule
Arianna Dultz mans the shovel while her aunt Diane Shirley (in purple) brings water for the new milkweed
Pilar Gallegos and Sequoyah Romero use teamwork to get the job done
Maria Ventura, SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager, and her family are ready to plant milkweed
Monarch Madness was such a rousing success that VHC hopes to make it an annual event!
Photo: Diane Soule
Photo: Diane Soule
“Monarch Madness,” a free VHC family-friendly event, was held on May 14 at VHC’s Willoughby Preserve in the Ventura River estuary. Made possible by generous grant funding from the SoCalGas, over 50 attendees learned all about the monarch butterfly and planted 100 milkweed plants to establish a monarch rest stop on the butterfly’s migration route. Besides planting milkweed plants, participants made milkweed seed balls (AKA seed bombs), got up close and personal with monarch caterpillars, enjoyed a nature walk with VHC Executive Director Derek Poultney, and learned all about monarch butterflies from Juliana Danaus, the founder of Monarch Arc, an Ojai-based organization dedicated to helping “monarchs thrive, not just survive.” (Check out her article about the amazing monarch butterfly on page 6.) Milkweed habitat loss is the biggest short-term threat to monarch butterflies, and the hope is that migrating monarchs will now stop at the Willoughby Preserve as they travel along their migration route.
Photo: Diane Soule
Ventura Goes Mad for Monarchs and Milkweed
Floyd Melson and his son Mark Melson dig in
Photo: Diane Soule
Why We Volunteer continued from page 1
VHC’s Willoughby Preserve, where the milkweed was planted, has improved dramatically through our restoration efforts
Fall 2016
We have happy thoughts knowing that years from now they will ride by and see big oak and tall sycamore trees lining the bike trail. And to think, it’s just up the road from downtown Ventura. Our Ventura Hillside Conservancy buddies thank us after each volunteer outing, but we are the ones leaving thankful for the opportunities given to us. We trust their expertise; they know what they are doing. Our plan is to continue having fun volunteering with this wonderful group. n n n
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www.venturahillsides.org • Printed on recycled paper.
Ventura Hillsides Conservancy PO Box 1284 • Ventura, CA 93002 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE — for up to the minute information facebook/venturahills
www.venturahillsides.org Special Acknowledgements Thank you to: • Ben DeWitt, organizer of the Clif® Mountains 2 Beach Marathon, for inviting VHC to serve beer and keep the profits AND to Firestone Walker Brewing Company for donating the beer that we served to the 6,000+ tired and thirsty runners • Mountains 2 Beach Marathon beer servers (who served the perfect head of foam on each glass): Jim Abing, Chuck Carter, David Comden, Linda Groberg, Nancy Francis, Richard Francis, Jennifer Montoya, Russell Richardson, Chris Stephens & Mike Watling • Paul Meehan, VHC Board Member, for donating three fast Dell computers • Kyle Sparks for donating his time, talent and expertise to take professional photos for VHC’s use • Scott Ripple for making and sharing videos of VHC events and activities • David Lee, wildlife biologist, for sharing his expertise at VHC’s “Coexisting with Coyotes” lecture and for placing his wildlife camera on our Big Rock Preserve. (Look for David’s wildlife videos on the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Facebook page!) • VHC River Patrol Partners Andre Casanave, Jill Foreman, Bruce Hunter, Chris Reinhart, Russell Richardson & Maria Villalobos for donating their time to help patrol our river properties with Jess Nikolai, VHC Stewardship Coordinator
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Ventura Hillsides Conservancy Outlook
Fall 2016