Harrison Industries Partners with Ventura Water

Harrison Industries is happy to sponsor the Audience Choice Award, which recognizes the most popular water awareness film through a contest held by Ventura Water.

The second year of the "Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest" kicked off March 19 at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel.  

"In its first year, Water: Take 1 drew 35 film submissions and thousands of viewers from around the world," said Ventura Mayor Mike Tracy at a kick-off event attended by 200 community leaders and stakeholders. "By expanding this contest in 2013, we hope to spark actions that will lead to sustainable solutions to the serious local, national and global issues facing our water resources."

Representing Harrison Industries at the function were General Manager Lynn Harrison and his wife, Patty. 

I encourage you to visit www.watertake1.com where you can vote online for your favorite entry.
 The film with the most votes will receive Harrison's Audience Choice Award.

Ventura Water, the City of Ventura's water department, provides high quality drinking water and water reclamation services to residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Ventura Named National Green City Finalist

Congratulations to the City of Ventura for being one of the greenest cities in the United States!

Says who? No less than "Waste & Recycling News," a national trade publication for U.S. trash and recycling haulers, that's who.

Ventura was one of three finalists in the medium-sized community division (100,001 to 500,000 residents) recognized for their innovative programs to reduce waste and boost recycling at W&RN's Residential Recycling Conference in Chicago on March 19-21. Eugene, Ore., was selected the division's Green City of the Year. The other city in contention was Gainesville, Fla.

Harrison Industries, with help from Whisenhunt Communications, nominated Ventura for the honor. While Ventura didn't win the big prize, as Harrison Vice President Myron Harrison so aptly put it, being one of three cities in the nation to top the list is a win in itself!

Jim Harrison, the company's other vice president, and I attended the conference and brought home a wonderful framed certificate from Waste & Recycling News that we will present to Ventura at an upcoming City Council meeting.

It's been a pleasure working with Ray Olson and his staff in Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division - Joe Yahner, Christine Wied and Courtney Lindberg. Together, and with the help of the citizens of Ventura and our strategic partners Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station and Agromin, Ventura has one of the highest recycling rates in California at 74 percent.

Fillmore Chamber Honors Heroes of 'The Last Best Small Town'

The Fillmore Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Awards & Installation Dinner on March 28. Billed as a Hollywood Gala "Celebrating the Stars of Fillmore," it was held at the Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building. The awards honored the heroes of "The Last Best Small Town," as the citizens fondly call their community.

This year's "Stars of Fillmore" are:

• Lifetime Achievement Business of the Year: Otto & Sons Nursery
• Lifetime Achievement Citizen of the Year: Myrna Taylor
• Officer of the Year: Deputy Russell Grand
• Firefighter of the Year: Joseph Palacio
• Citizen of the Year: RJ Stump
• Business of the Year: Fillmore Western & Railway
• Non-Profit of the Year: Fillmore Rotary Club
• Explorer of the Year: Tyler Hackworth
• Teacher of the Year: Laura Tobis
• Student of the Year: Sammy Martinez

As a sponsor of the event, Harrison Industries wishes hearty congratulations to all the winners. You make your community as wonderful as it is!

Kids Will Have a Ball at Ventura Seaside Basketball Tournament

The annual Ventura Seaside Basketball Tournament turns Sweet 16 this year.  

Co-sponsored by the East Ventura and Sunrise Optimist Clubs of Ventura, the tournament, set for April 19-21, draws teams from throughout Ventura County and other parts of the state.

Harrison Industries is an enthusiastic sponsor of this tournament. The tournament draws so many teams that almost every college, high school and middle school gymnasium in Ventura is needed to host them. Last year, more than 100 teams participated in the tournament, including boys and girls from third through 12th grade. That's more than 1,000 players, plus their coaches and assistant coaches, parents, family and friends.

All profits go back to the community's youths, with the schools that provide the gyms sharing in the tournament income. Over the past 15 years, the tournament has distributed more than $300,000. Besides the school donations, the Optimist Clubs sponsor scholarships, essay and speech contests, Student of the Month presentations, holiday donations to needy families and other assistance to children and their families.

Join in the fun by taking in a game or two and supporting the boys and girls of our community! For more information call 647-3447.

Making Pac Biz Times' Top 50 Women List Always a Big Honor

I am truly honored to be named as one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the "Pacific Coast Business Times" for the sixth year. 

Being the governmental affairs and public relations director for Harrison Industries, Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station and Agromin is already an award. I love working for a company that always looks ahead for new ways to reduce waste and help the environment. 

Harrison Industries' tireless commitment to recycling has made Ventura County the most lauded and praised county in California. All of our client cities - Ventura, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Ojai, Fillmore and Carpinteria - have consistently surpassed the state's strict waste diversion goals. 

I was proud to be a member of the Ventura City Council when Ventura established the first citywide recycling program in the county in 1990 and am thrilled to be still heavily involved in the current "Zero Waste" movement. These days I serve on the executive board of the Ventura County Economic Development Association as well as on the board of directors of the Economic Development Cooperative, Ventura County, and the Ventura and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce. 

On the fun side, I also co-chair the Ventura St. Patrick's Day Parade committee with Ventura City Councilmen Jim Monahan and Brian Brennan.

Yes, I have a full plate. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Relaxing just isn't in my DNA!

Ventura's St. Patrick's Day Parade Called a Great Success

You didn't have to be Irish to enjoy the 25th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Ventura on March 16. As the co-chair of the parade with Ventura's top Irishmen, City Councilmen Jim Monahan and Brian Brennan, I can report it was one of the biggest and best ever!

Few things give me more pleasure than seeing families lined up along Main Street enjoying all the marching bands, dancers, acrobats, clowns, horses and floats. Harrison Industries is a sponsor for the parade, and it's always a thrill to see one of our new LNG trucks roll down the parade route. There were more than 80 entries in all.  

This year's Grand Marshals were the McGrath family. The McGrath family is well known for their commitment to preserving Ventura County's farmlands and for their love of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Maybe they had the luck of the Irish that day when they won the Arnold Hubbard Memorial Trophy in the "Best-in-Parade" category.

To see more on this year's parade, visit www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com. And mark your calendars. Next year's parade is Saturday, March 15. See you then, and, as always, remember to wear green!