Midtown Residents Group Plans Meeting

They have drawn up a list of issues, mapped out their boundaries and pounded on doors handing out dozens of fliers.

On Tuesday night, the Midtown Ventura Community Council will hold its first official Town Hall/General Membership Meeting at the Grace Baptist Church Cooper Hall, 65 Macmillan Ave., from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Lauri Flack, head of the Westside Community Council, will be on hand to facilitate the meeting.

Organizers are inviting anyone who lives, owns property or operates a business in the midtown Ventura area to attend.

They have defined midtown as the area bounded by the hillside to the north, the freeway to the south, Ash Street to the west and Mills Road to the east.

First brought together by concern for the vacant 1920s Washington School on Macmillan Avenue last summer, the group has expanded its interests and concerns.

Midtown resident Bill Barbee recently told the City Council that the group intends to focus on issues such as community spirit, crime, midtown school overcrowding, the school bond measure and Washington School.

A flier publicizing the event reads: “Emulating the very successful Westside Community Council, MVCC wants to identify concerns of midtown residents and businesses, organize positive solutions and then work with the city and other organizations to implement those solutions.”

Barbee said he expects more than 100 people to attend. Refreshments and a Spanish-language interpreter will be provided.

For more information, call Barbee at 652-2052.