Oxnard's city-wide cleanup effort rattles leaves, slims hedges

Small piles of leaves built up around the back of the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center Saturday morning as a neighborhood cleanup was underway.

About a half-dozen volunteers wielded rakes and weed wackers as they spruced up the grounds of the city-owned facility at 800 Hobson Way. They were one of possibly dozens of similar groups who met up around the city for the so-called Neighborhood Pride Weekend planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Work at the performing arts center was led by Jack Villa, who chairs the Hobson Park East neighborhood council. While he might have hoped for a larger turnout, Villa said the effort would continue Sunday and cleanup goals would be met.

"It looks like we're going to do what we set out to do," he said. The group's work included raking leaves, trimming hedges and clearing out weeds in the planted areas around the center's back parking lot.

Oxnard is broken up into nearly 50 small neighborhoods. The councils provide a framework for residents to work with each other and with city officials to tackle trash, graffiti, crime and other issues. The weekend cleanup event was organized by residents Marvin Boos and Michael Mercurio.

'Today I am a volunteer'

Most of the volunteers working with Villa at the performing arts center had a connection to the city.

Daniel Sanchez, who works for the water division in the city's Public Works Department, got to the site at 8 a.m.

"I've just seen my city looking a little beat down and wanted to give a helping hand," Sanchez said.

City Councilmember Bryan MacDonald was helping out nearby. He also showed up at 8 a.m.

"It's nice to be able to do something that benefits my neighborhood," MacDonald said. He was working 10 minutes at a time between rest breaks due to a bad knee. During one break, an Oxnard Fire Department engine pulled up to drop off a box of Krispy Kreme donuts for the volunteers.

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Scott Brewer, the city's emergency services director, was busy across the parking lot.

"Today, I'm a volunteer," Brewer said, noting that with the coronavirus pandemic afoot, some residents are looking for ways to help out. "This is something we can actually get out and do."

Villa said he planned to show up at 8 a.m. Sunday to continue work at the rear of the performing arts center, with the effort expected to last until about 11 a.m.

Other neighborhood councils have different schedules. If you want to help on Sunday, contact your neighborhood council chair for details. If you don't know what neighborhood you live in, check the online map at https://www.oxnard.org/neighborhoods or call Michael Mercurio at 702-460-8224.

Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.

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