July 7, 2011

Hi, Alicia! Thank you so much for the beautiful article about Honest Course.  Ismail and I are both thrilled with it!  We have received compliments from members who saw the article and thought it was “awesome.”  We agree!  Thank you again for your support and your wonderful article, and for continuing to be “the writer specializing in good news.”  As members of the Honest Course administrative team, we’re not eligible to nominate or vote for an “Honorable Heart,” but as far as we’re concerned, you are definitely a true “Honorable Heart”! 

Ismail and Cheryl

September 13, 2010

It is with sincere appreciation that I extend my gratitude to you Alicia, for the wonderful article you published about my memoir, Little Madhouse on the Prairie: A True-Life Story of Overcoming Abuse and Healing the Spirit. I would like to commend you, in two different ways.  First, your style of writing is clear and concise, and you were able to relay in a very professional manner the important emotional element of the material. Secondly, and I think more importantly, I want to thank you for taking the time to grasp what this work is really about – focusing attention on the issue of childhood mistreatment, so that we can create a better world for all children. There are many journalists who are able to write wonderful articles.  There are a lot fewer who reach a full emotional understanding of the material they are writing about.  You are definitely included in the latter.

Marion Witte, Author and Child Advocate, Founder, The Angel Heart Foundation

June 10, 2010
To paraphrase a famous journalist, Mark Twain: "Reports of the death of newspapers are greatly exaggerated." Call me old-fashioned but I still read them, in print and online, too. Contrary to what some are saying these days about the effect of the Internet on newspaper readership, my own experience has been that every time the Ventura County Star's Alicia Doyle writes an article about one of my native plant walks, I get a huge turnout. My efforts to publicize my walks on Facebook pale in comparison. On that note, when it comes to political news reporting and editorials, I'm surprised at how easy it is for bloggers to get people's attention standing on their virtual soapboxes. In my book, there's still a lot to be said for trained journalists who know how to verify their facts, vet their sources and present the news with some degree of objectivity. I have no idea what percentage of your readership is online, but I hope that in the apparent switch from paper to virtual news that "real" newspapers like The Star are able to keep paying the professionals.

October 15, 2009

Every so often I run into wonderful people who bring hope and trust in a world of despair, frustration and anger. You do it with your good news writing - not the doom and gloom nor the horrible violence but the sheer encouragement  and positive acceptance of reality. My hat's off to you. We need to clone you for more!

December 18, 2009

As always, Alicia, you always capture the heart of the person or the story you are writing about. I do not have to worry about misquotes or something being made up for a story. Thank you for using the gift in which you have to spotlight the good that is going on in this world, when there is so much negative happening. All the MJ Fans appreciate your heart to understand their love for Michael Jackson as well as their dedication to give in his memory and that this is a mission to make a difference. Toys are coming in and we thank you for your story.

October 18, 2007
My goodness! What an amazing article you wrote about Karen shaving her head! Everyone has told me it brought tears to their eyes - including the guys! Your writing technique and layout perfectly described our mission to our community and I can't thank you enough! We have already buzzed a new clients' hair and she felt safe to come to us. 

Rochelle Scott, owner
Godiva's Secret Wigs

May 2, 2008
Thank you so much for the excellent coverage of our group in the Ventura County Star. We received many inquiries and many more individuals have become involved with us as a result.  Everyone who has read the article has remarked on how good it was. I greatly appreciate your contribution to our efforts to help more people suffering with depression.

Vincent F. Caimano,Ph.D.
Conejo Valley Depression Support Group

January 24, 2008
Really liked the recent article on the Writers Group (heard it was a full house), and of course, thanks so much from the museum for today's piece on art collecting!! You really captured the idea that it's fun, personal, and affordable. You've encouraged people to not only try collecting, but buying and supporting local artists.

SusanGerrard,
Museum of Ventura County

May 20, 2008
I just wanted to thank you so much for running the wonderful article onmy program that came out on Mother's Day in the Arts & Living section. The response I got was so amazing that I was able to startup another class of 11 women! I received about 20 calls from that article & I can't thank you enough!! It was the best feedback I've ever got from any form of advertising that I've done in the past!

Shana Daniels
  Body & Life Makeover

August 31, 2007
I want to let you know how much I appreciated your article. The article may have grabbed the attention of a goodly (is that word used anymore?) number of readers. I've been bombarded with people, some of whom I hardly know and none of whom knew an article about me was coming out.They all exclaimed about how good it was.

Robert West, Author
Star-Fighters of Murphy Street

November 8, 2007
The Auction Committee just met and were thrilled with your wonderful coverage of our upcoming event. Thankyou for your time, energy and writing talent in showcasing the Boys &Girls Club of Ventura. You are greatly appreciated!

Nancy Gregg,
Boys & Girls of Ventura

April 9, 2008
Thank you Thank you Thank you! You wrote a wonderful article. I am so pleased. We have had a real need for some press lately and this really fits the bill. Your writing is excellent and you have no idea what this will do for us. I hope you can write for us again. You are top notch reporter.

Bill Benson
Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras

April 30, 2008
I continue to receive phone calls and positive comments regarding your fine article printed last Monday. Again, thank you very much.

Walt Robbins,

Thursday, May 22, 2008
Thanks for the lovely article about Dorothea Phelan and the Victorian Strip; I learned some things Ididn't know about Dorothea. Aren't people wonderfully complicated and resilient! I also want to thank you so much for your special piece in April on Phil Taggart's exhibit re homelessness at the Artist's Union Gallery. I admire Phil's poetry, and your article reminded to go to his amazing exhibit.

Susan Gerrard
Museum of Ventura County

August 10, 2007

God works in mysterious ways, and one of those ways was Alicia Doyle. Because she cared enough to take the time to write an article about a store with care and devotion and much needed information, she was able to help one family and one special little girl named Kalista to have and keep that stubbornness, self confidence and happy attitude that she was born to have.

Juan Bernal, whose daughter, Kalista, lost all her hair by age three due to an uncommon disease with no known cause.

May 20, 2009
Just want you to know that your column has been incredible! God bless you for taking the time to listen. I can't tell you how many wonderful responses came for your words. Even sold some online! Just know that people read you. What a great writer you are! I'm going to send a note to your publisher and let him know how wonderful you are also, and that his paper makes a difference in the lives of others! I know... I was one of them!

February 12, 2008
We wanted to write and congratulate you on a terrific story featuring Jessica Molina, the winner of the Ventura Music Festival student jazz contest. We applaud your efforts in helping to make her time on stage with Poncho Sanchez so special! It was a pleasure to have worked with you. Your professionalism, thoroughness and courtesy are very much appreciated. On behalf of Jessica, her family, the Ventura Music Festival, and our firm, congratulations and thank you!

Tina Vervoorn
CMS Info Services

June 26, 2008
I just got off the phone with the folks at Junior Blind of America and they were thrilled with your profile of Joel Mueller and the Junior Blind Olympics. I just wanted to thank you for that wonderful story.

Emily Ruyle
The Rogers Group

February 20, 2008
I wanted to thank you for the wonderful article that was in today’s paper regarding Johnny Williams and the Ventura Family YMCA. It is so nice to have one of our lead volunteers recognized for the great work that he is doing. 

Amy Bailey
Ventura Family YMCA

June 29, 2008
In case there was ever any doubt in your minds, people do read the B-section of the Star. Counting two babies in backpacks, we had 50people show up for the native plant hike on Saturday!!! That's the largest turnout I've ever had. Thanks to Alicia for a well-written, accurate, obviously inviting article. They came from all over the county and the vast majority raised their hands when I asked how many had learned about it from the Star. Thanks so much for bringing everyone together for an outdoor activity and environmental cause that apparently was filling a need in Ventura County.

Lanny Kaufer

May 9, 2008
Congratulations on your two recent articles featuring Nicole Cabell. Both Nicole and her mother were thrilled upon reading them. In addition, your work was very well received by those involved with the City Council, School District, and Ventura Music Festival. Thank you once again for your professionalism. Each person you came in contact with (Cheryl Heitmann, Mayor Christy Weir, Nicole and our firm, among others) pass our congratulations and appreciation to you for helping to make this 14th season of the Ventura Music Festival one its most successful ever!

Tina Vervoorn
Consortium Media Services

January 4, 2009

That was a wonderful article you created for our program.  We received some promises of additional support and I personally was moved by some past students contacting me about the programs I have created at Sequoia and that they wanted to help.  Thank you so much for your effort and talent in creating a story about the TREE program and the VCF&G grant.  Happy New Year, and may your writing continue to move people to act and reflect.

April 14, 2009

Hello Alicia, I just wanted to share some exciting news with you. The Ventura County Arts Committee has awarded the grant for me to be able to do my project! I’m pretty much feel like jumping up and down on a bed like a little kid! I so much appreciate the story you ran and the positive journalism you contribute to the community. Thank you for your contribution to help those with little voice in the community have their stories told.

Katrina Maksimuk

ARTS Live

August 9, 2009

We at the shelter are over the moon because of the Star. Shellie was adopted Saturday by a man and his daughter. She seems to be knowledgeable about dogs and he realizes it will take a month or more to bring our girl around. T H A N K S, THANKS, thank you for making this adoption happen!!!!!!!! We are all doing a Snoopy dance over this wonderful happening.

Helen Hartel

Agoura Animal Shelter

April 23, 2009
Nice job! So glad you were able to get it published so quickly. Thank you for taking the time to get the facts right, and approach the story in such a sensitive way. Those girls deserve some recognition, and I appreciate your gentle touch with a tough subject.

August 10, 2009

I wish to thank you and Alicia Doyle for your support of volunteer efforts at the Agoura Animal Shelter. But mostly I wish to express my gratitude for the role you played in giving our beloved pooch Shellie hope for a new life. As you probably are aware, Shellie was adopted this week as a direct consequence of that article. She has resided at our shelter since last December, a term longer than any other dog in our current population and it was showing. She came to us frightened and withdrawn and only withdrew further into her shell (no pun intended) as time progressed. She shied away from potential adoptors and her chances seemed to diminish daily. Many of our volunteers saw something special in her and showered her with extra attention and affection... myself included. We all fell in love with her but she had difficulty bonding, trusting and accepting affection. It was almost like dealing with a lost autistic child. Now that she has a real home I pray that her adoptors will be patient and take the time to bring out that joyful inner pooch that we all know is inside Shellie. Thank you again from one very grateful VC Star reader/subscriber/Agoura Animal Shelter volunteer.

Walter Shepherd

Agoura Animal Shelter