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Armed with a B.A. in Social Ecology, I spent more than forty years working alongside my family in our Santa Monica automotive business and am now happily retired.

After purchasing property in Ventura County and building my current home, I recognized that several existing elements on the land held significant historical value. Working with a neighboring property owner and the County of Ventura, I helped establish a Historic District preserving a remarkable collection of Tony Duquette structures and follies.

Many decades ago, I met Grandma Tressa Prisbrey and fell in love with her Bottle Village—and with the extraordinary example of what one woman could create with her own hands, imagination, and determination.

Over the years, I have supported Bottle Village financially, served in every role on its Board, and continue to enjoy giving monthly docent tours.

I remain deeply fond of Bottle Village and humbled by my time there.

This next chapter is our assurance of a bright and lasting future for Bottle Village—and, by far, the most exciting one yet!

After a ten year career in the insurance industry, Katherine Weisman earned a bachelor’s degree In liberal arts, and  in 1987, started a small business in the field of culinary arts which continues at present.
Katherine has been a committed volunteer with Bottle Village for over 20 years, serving in a wide range of areas, including, but not limited to executive board member positions and offices, special projects coordination, administrative duties, hospitality, acquisitions and loans, community outreach, and groundskeeping.

With a background in interior design and more than a decade working within the design trade, Drew Kennedy has restored and sourced vintage accessories for commercial design teams and contributed to distinctive installations for amusement parks and themed restaurants.

Drew’s connection to Bottle Village began more than 20 years ago while searching for a creative and meaningful community project for her Girl Scout troop. What began as community service and Girl Scout badge work grew into a lasting commitment to preserving this extraordinary folk-art environment.

Today, Drew continues as a passionate volunteer and docent, lending her antique restoration expertise to the preservation and care of Tressa “Grandma” Prisbrey’s extensive folk-art collection, mosaic walkways, whimsical sculptures, and gardens, while also supporting visitor tours.

“Bottle Village offers a unique place where people can slow down, not take themselves too seriously, and experience the magic of one woman’s unwavering commitment to creating an extraordinary environment from 20th-century cast-offs. Grandma Prisbrey created it for her own enjoyment, but in doing so, she created that same experience for visitors from Simi Valley and around the world.”

— Drew Kennedy

Debbie has spent several decades in education, teaching in public schools as well as homeschooling for nearly 20 years. She holds a B.A. in English, an M.A. in Education, and teaching credentials in English and special education. Outside the classroom, she enjoys gardening and adventures with friends.

Bottle Village has been part of Debbie’s life since she was young. Her mother, Helen Dennert, served on the Preserve Bottle Village board and as its president, and as a teenager Debbie often volunteered at the site—from participating in the Simi Valley Days Parade to helping maintain the grounds.

For nearly two decades, Debbie has continued that family connection as a PBV board member and docent. She is passionate about educating the public, leading tours, and helping preserve Bottle Village for future generations. She looks forward to seeing the site restored, strengthened, and recognized as one of Simi Valley’s truly distinctive cultural treasures.

Artist and illustrator Jeff Wack has been closely connected to Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village for more than fifty years. A close personal friend and assistant to Tressa “Grandma” Prisbrey, he worked alongside her at Bottle Village and accompanied her to exhibitions and events throughout California. In 1979, Wack became a founding member of the nonprofit Preserve Bottle Village Committee, returning a few years ago and renewing a commitment to preserving Grandma’s remarkable artistic legacy. (savingplaces.org)