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Vol. 17, No. 13 – Mar 20 – April 2, 2024 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

The Angry Ferret Brewery
11990 Hertz St., Moorpark
Sat 3/23: Charlie Baker

Aqua Beachfront Bar (Crowne Plaza)
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Wed 3/27: Big Adventure duo
Wed 4/3: Jerry Breiner
Sat 4/6: Colette Lovejoy Band

Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts
8585 N. Ojai Rd., Ojai
Sun 3/24: Shaoling & Shirley Xiao-Ling Wang w/ Hui Wu

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Thurs 4-9
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery (4 pm ); Bluegrass Jam (6:30 pm)
Fri 3/22: Epitome of Dreams
Sat 3/23: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Sun 2/24: Ken Devoe
Fri 3/29: Mack and D

Bombay Bar and Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
Thursdays: Ventura Blues Night

Café Fiore
66 S. California St., Ventura
Wed 3/20: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 3/22: Brittney and the B-Sides
Tues 3/26: Open mic and jam
Wed 3/27: Donna Greene & the Roadshow Daddies
Fri 3/29: Instone

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 3/22: Decadent Decades
Sat 3/23: Midlife Crisis
Fri 3/29: Sugar Ray Rayford
Sat 3/30: Runaway

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 3/22: The Mixxers
Sat 3/23: Herway to Hell
Fri 3/29: Heart & Soul
Sat 3/30: Und Cvr Spr Grp

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Fri 3/22: The Spires, Shy Fades, The Pretty Flowers
Sat 3/23: Particle Kid
Fri 3/29: The Chillz
Sat 3/30: Bart Budwing

Duke’s Beach Grill
1124 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura
Sat 3/23: Mark Cross
Sat 3/30: Vinny Berry

Feros Ferio Winery
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sun 3/31: Two Tossers

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Fri 3/22: Heathers on Fire

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Fri 3/22: Breaking Bored
Sat 3/23: We are the 80s
Fri 3/29: A Little Bit of Everything
Sat 3/30: What the Funk

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Wed 3/20: Sean Riddle Quartet
Thurs 3/21: Jun Lida
Fri 3/22: Dennis Mitcheltree
Sat 3/23: Flattop Tom (2 pm); Jonathan Stout & His Campus Five (8 pm)
Wed 3/27: Jim Fox Guitar Hang
Thurs 3/28: SicNarf
Fri 3/29: The Michael Falcone Quintet
Sat 3/30: Shawn Jones (2 pm); Doug Webb feat. Danny Carrey (TOOL)

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Sat 3/23: Magnificent Bastards
Sat 3/30: Breaking Bored

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 3/21: Charlotte Dickinson
Fri 3/22: Van Allen Twins
Sat 3/23: One People
Sun 3/24: Braden Waiters
Wed 3/27: Heavy Hitters
Thurs 3/28: Eliana Jansen Trio
Fri 3/29: Ellis Bryant
Sat 3/30: Keyth G & the Universouls
Sun 3/31: Whole Hog

Limon y Sal
598 E. Main St., Ventura
Music 1-4 pm
Sundays: In Stone

Lucky Fool’s Pub
75 E. High St., Moorpark
Fri 3/22: Mack and D
Sat 3/23: 24 Strings
Fri 3/29: Doc Rogers Band
Sat 3/30: Strummed Down

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 3/29: Trish Toledo

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Thursdays: Tom McMorran
Wed 3/20: Robert Van
Fri 3/22: Tour Support
Sat 3/23: Lisa Ritner
Wed 3/27: Warren Takahashi
Fri 3/29: Jeanne Tatum
Sat 3/30: Blue Moon Boys

Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri 3/22: Adrian Floy & THC
Sat 3/23: Crosscut 805
Sun 3/24: James Bros
Fri 3/29: Divebar Steve & Friends
Sat 3/30: Cinnamon Whiskey
Sun 3/31: Los Amigos

Moofish Café (Crowne Plaza)
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Fridays & Saturdays 8-10: Dueling Pianos
Thurs 3/21: Seth Andre Oster & Michael Velasques

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Wed 3/20: Leftover Crack, Informal Society, Spider Baby, Boilerman
Sun 3/24: Teresa Russell

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Sat 3/23: Shawn Jones
Fri 3/29: Chatterton feat. Milly and Friends
Sat 3/30: Michael Henszey & Friends

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Fri 3/22: Zoe Fitgerald Carter, Arielle Silver, Natalie Gelman, Jess Buss
Sat 3/23: Brothers Koren
Sat 3/30: Louis Goffin

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant St., Ojai
Thurs 3/21: The Mercers
Fri 3/22: Daniela Cardillo
Sat 3/23: Beau Red & the Tailor Maide
Fri 3/29: Pi Jacobs
Sat 3/30: Damaged Goods, David Franz

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Fri 3/22: Vinny Berry
Sat 3/23: Smokey & Friends
Fri 3/29: Steve and Sally Williams
Sat 3/30: Natalie Wattre

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Sun 3/24: X

Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2209 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: Danny D

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 7 pm; Sundays 2 pm
Fri 3/22: CRV
Sat 3/23: Unkle Monkey
Sun 3/24: Alphabet Astronauts
Fri 3/29: Rewind
Sat 3/30: Doc Rogers Band
Sun 3/31: Morrison Drive

Ric’s Restaurant Sports Lounge
2500 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support
Wed 3/20: Rick Whitfield
Sat 3/23: Acoustic DNA

Rincon Brewery
4100 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
Fri 3/29: Looking West

Sam’s Place
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 3/22: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio
Sat 3/23: TD Lind and the Aviators

Santa Paula Theater Center
125 S. 7th St., Santa Paula
Sat 3/30: Honeysuckle Possums

The Six
419 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 3/22: Bloodshot
Sat 3/23: Adrian Floy & THC
Fri 3/29: Vinyl Gypsies

The Sportsman
4426 Central Ave., Camarillo
Sun 3/24: Swing Shift

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Fri 3/23: Ignition
Sun 3/24: Brandon Ragan Project

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Tierra Rejada Golf Club
15187 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Fri 3/23: The Sonic Boomers

Tony’s Pizzeria
186 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 3/21: Rising Son
Sat 3/23: Aaron Burch’s Teen Collective
Sun 3/24: Blue Moon Boys
Thurs 3/28: The Heavy Hitters
Fri 3/29: Shaky Feelin’
Sun 3/31: Heart & Soul

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Tuesdays: Tuesday Blues Day w/ Hot Roux & guests
3/20: Dueling Pianos
Sat 3/23: Dave Blanchard (1 pm); Tyler B ( 4 pm) Shaky Feelin’ (8 pm)
Sun 3/24: Mark Masson
Sat 3/30: Sue Laws (1 pm) Joe Delia (4 pm) Ashiani (8 pm)

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter, Lowered Expectations
Wednesdays: The Jelly Jam Band
Sat 3/30: RAW, Plot, The Hong Kong Frenzy

Ventura Harbor Village stage
1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri 3/23: Kenny Devoe
Sat 3/24: Tony Lee and Forbidden Fruit
Sat 3/30: Casey Jones
Sun 3/31: Jumpin’ Joz Band

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 3/21: Kalan.FrFr
Fri 3/22: Tornillo, Dharius
Sat 3/23: Nick Shoulders and the Okay Crawdad
Fri 3/29: Kim Gordon

Waterside
3500 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sun 3/31: Teresa Russell

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 3 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 3/21: T-Ranch
Fri 3/22: Heft & Wilson
Sat 3/23: Teresa Russell
Sun 3/24: Doc Rogers Band
Thurs 3/28: Joe Delia
Fri 3/29: The Van Allen Twins
Sat 3/30: Bobby Hart & Friends

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B Street, Oxnard
Fri 3/22: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

Vol. 17, No. 13 – Mar 20 – April 2, 2024 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Jasper, a very sweet 6-year-old Pit Bull X, who was found abandoned in a field. I wasn’t in very good shape and needed medical care, probably why I got dumped.
I’ve been seen by a veterinarian and through CARL’s care I’ve been getting better. CARL raised the funds needed for my TECA-BO surgeries. If you’re not ready to adopt, I wouldn’t mind being in a foster home. Please fill out an online application  if you’re interested in meeting me. www.carldogs.org/how-to-help/foster/
CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
www.carldogs.org/

 

Meet Molly, one of our playful shepherd ladies needing a home! This 3-year-old still has lots of puppy energy and wants nothing more than to chase a tennis ball around the yard. She knows sit and down and has the best airplane ears.

If you’d like to meet Molly, schedule an appointment at www.vcas.us/adopt or come down to the shelter during normal Adoption Hours of 1:00pm – 6:00pm Tuesday – Sunday. If you have questions, please contact us at (805) 388-4341 or [email protected].

Vol. 17, No. 13 – Mar 20 – April 2, 2024 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
American Fiction – MGM & Rent or Buy

4 out of 4 palm trees

American Fiction” is the story of well-educated black college professor and author Monk Ellison (Jeffery Wright) who was frustrated and challenged by a world around him that continued to support the outrageous stereotypes of black culture in American. Even the books he had written were shelved in the African American section of the bookstore, though the only black thing about most of them was the ink. Following a couple of incidents where Monk crushed the sensitivities of some students in his class of Literature of the American South, he was given some mandatory time off and through a string of unexpected events became the popular center of all he despised.

During Monk’s time off, he had already been scheduled to attend a writers conference in Boston, where he was part of a panel of authors that was meagerly attended due to the presence of another black author Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), who had just written a bestseller called “We’s Lives in Da Ghetto” filled with black stereotypes and ethnic language. Boston was also where his family resided and though Monk didn’t generally spend much time with them he took advantage of connecting with them while he was there.

Unfortunately, his sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross) had a heart attack while they were at lunch and passed away shortly thereafter in the hospital. Lisa had tried to tell Monk that their mother Agnes (Leslie Uggams) was suffering from memory loss, and the point was driven home after Lisa’s funeral when their mom flooded the house while sitting in front of a bathtub of running water. Monk took his mom in for tests that revealed she had medical indications of early Alzheimer and that her situation would only deteriorate, recommending that the family seek a care facility soon.

With his sister gone and his brother on the verge of divorce, it was up to Monk to find and finance his mother’s care. Due to his mounting family issues and seeming frustration over Sintara’s success, Monk had a few strong drinks and decided to write his own book of black stereotypes filled with drugs, guns, deadbeat dads and gang violence, and called it “My Pafology” under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh. He sent it to his manager who said it would never get published, but Monk said he wrote it as a joke and didn’t care and wanted it submitted to publishers.

To both their shock and surprise not only did a reputable publisher want to publish the book, they wanted to offer Monk $750,000 believing that it would definitely be a bestseller. To see how far he could push the publishers, he insisted that the book be renamed to “F**K”, to which they excitedly agreed. “F**K” became a bestseller and Monk didn’t disclose to anyone that he was actually Stagg R. Leigh, not his girlfriend or any family, and was eventually chosen to be a judge for the annual Literary Award for which “F**K” was in consideration for though Monk did not support it.

Monk was again shocked that three out of the five judges voted for “F**K”, leaving Monk and Sintara on the losing side, and so it was decided by popular vote that the book won. Side stories were being circulated that Stagg was a wanted fugitive and the FBI even contacted Monk’s manager, though he didn’t reveal the true details. Riding on the wave of bestselling success and constant publicity, Monk was eventually offered millions to make a movie from the book. At this point, all Monk could do was concede to the tremendous success of what he considered a joke.

American Fiction” received five Academy Award Nominations, including for Best Picture and for Best Actor-Jeffrey Wright, and ended up winning one Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Runtime: 1h 57m

Vol. 17, No. 13 – Mar 20 – April 2, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday 2/27

2:00pm, received report of an RC sailboat caught in a dock near Marina Park. Officers responded, were able to rescue the RC sailboat, returned to owner.

10:24pm, dispatched to pregnancy issue at restrooms in the Village. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist a 20 y/o homeless female have labor pains. The patient refused treatment and/or any assistance from responders.

Wednes 2/28

6:30am, dispatched to injured ankle in riverbottom south of Surfers Knoll. Officers responded with AMR/VFD and transported medics to the scene in Patrol truck. The patient was treated and transported to local hospital

6:30pm, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers contacted several vessels engaged in hoop net fishing. All fishermen followed ordinances.

Thursday 2/29

10:30am, Patrol Officers training new Marine Safety Officers on duties as deckhands on rescue vessels and other duties for MSO’s.

Friday 3/1

4:40pm, dispatched to traumatic injuries on commercial vessel Island Explorer. Officers responded to VHV I-dock, assisted with moving the patient to a gurney.

Saturday 3/2

9:40am, new patrol officers undertaking the USCG license application, after passing all testing. Seasoned patrol officers assisting with the lengthy process.

Sunday 3/3

8:33am, officers raised Gale warning pennants for winds gusting to 35kts later.

11:13am, dispatched to a fall patient at the VYC. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with a 98 y/o patient who fell on the dock.

6:57pm, dispatched to difficulty breathing at VYC. Officers responded with AMR/VFD and assisted the patient, who was eventually transported to hospital.

Thursday 3/7 8:31am, dispatched to a traffic accident on Spinnaker Dr. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist a patient with neck/hip pain. Patient transported.

7:44pm, dispatched to an ill person in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist the patient who was transported to hospital.

Friday 3/8

9:58am, a sink hole was discovered near the entry feature at Spinnaker Dr. The City of Ventura is repairing sewer lines that have failed in the area.

8:43pm, while on patrol in the truck, officers observed that Navigator Dr. north bound lanes were closed due to the sink hole and sewer work by Ventura City.

Saturday 3/9

3:51pm, while on patrol in Fireboat, officers observed a large hat blown off a crew member of the dive boat Spectre. The hat was retrieved and returned.

8:00pm, while on patrol in vehicle, observed a large bon fire near Surfers Knoll. Officers contacted the youths, extinguished the fire. A large group was forming, parking in the village. Ventura PD was on scene, dispersing the crowd.

Sunday 3/10

5:15pm, received report of a suspicious person frightening customers at the Casa de Regalos in the village. Officers responded, contacted the individual who was under the influence of some sort of opioid. He eventually sped up his purchase after what seemed like forever to count his money and left without incident.

Monday 3/11

10:00am, officers conducting tow training with Fireboat and Rescue Boat 19.

11:50am, received a mayday call via cellphone from the skipper of a disabled motor vessel near the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 to assist the disabled vessel and towed to the launch ramp.

10:15pm, while returning from patrol in the vehicle, observed the power go out throughout the harbor. Fielding multiple calls for information on the outage. Relaying to inquiries that officers were in the dark about the cause.

10:17pm, dispatched to electric hazard near the National Parks building. Officers responded with VFD, unable to locate source, contacted Edison.

Tuesday 3/12

7:45pm, contacting several vessels hoop netting near the entrance. Most vessels were deficient in safety equipment. Issued warnings for violations.

 

Parkinson’s support group bingo and talent show to Ventura

Attendees enjoyed the thrill of bingo and talented performances.

by Patricia Schallert

Calendars were marked and the crowd arrived. The Parkinson’s Foundation and the Ventura County Neuro-fitness Center Bingo/Talent Show aimed at supporting the mission to improve care and advance research for Parkinson’s disease and to support fundraising efforts for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

On Friday, March 15th, from 7-9 pm, the Ventura Marina Community clubhouse came alive with over 250 attendees eager to participate in the Bingo/Talent Show extravaganza. The doors opened at 6:00pm, allowing everyone time to settle in before the bingo games that kicked off promptly at 7pm.

To join in the excitement, the entry fee was just $10 per person, with an additional $5 buy-in for bingo. Each of the five regular bingo games offered a minimum prize value of $100, in the form of Amazon or Wood Ranch gift cards. As a special treat, the talent show began at 8pm, showcasing the impressive talents of Ventura’s local community.

This event was open to the public, and 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards supporting the Parkinson’s Foundation. Dr. Vanessa White, owner/founder of the Ventura County Neurofitness Center and Director of the Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group, expressed her enthusiasm for this partnership and hopes to establish this as an annual event.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nervous system, leading to a range of motor and non-motor symptoms. Vanessa White added , “One of the most effective ways to manage and combat the symptoms of Parkinson’s is through regular physical exercise.” In recent years, a particular form of exercise known as “Neuroboxing” or “Neurofitness” has gained significant popularity for its positive impact on individuals living with Parkinson’s. “The success and popularity of neurofitness in managing Parkinson’s symptoms are evident by the growing number of specialized gyms and programs dedicated to offering these classes worldwide.” “These facilities provide safe and supportive environments where individuals with Parkinson’s can engage in regular exercise, improve their quality of life, and build a network with others who share similar experiences.” Bernice Detig, Foundation Development Manager.

For those who were unable to attend the The Parkinson’s Foundation and the Ventura County Neurofitness Center Bingo/Talent Show but would like to contribute, donations can be made directly through the Parkinson’s Foundation website via the A-Team page (Ventura County Moving Day – http://www3.parkinson.org/goto/ATeam_2024).

For more information, please visit vcneurofitness.com or reach out to Dr. Vanessa White at 805.300.7749 or [email protected]. This incredible evening, supported a worthy cause while attendees enjoyed the thrill of bingo and talented performances.

Vol. 17, No. 13 – Mar 20 – April 2, 2024 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. There are all levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact Richard 805-850-8011, Rose 805-659-9223, or [email protected]. All are Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society meets every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup: This is the first Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up near the beach at the end of Seward. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Paws for Reading brings together young readers and affectionate canine listeners to help boost the confidence of beginning readers. Hill Road Library, Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5 p.m. and

E.P. Foster Library, Thursdays, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Join PAWS dogs for one-on-one reading sessions. Arrive at the library early to choose a book and get in line to read to a special pooch. Children of all ages are welcome.

March 21: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link. The agenda includes the East Ventura police report and a presentation from Korinne Bell, Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner. Ms. Bell will brief us on the agricultural issues facing East Ventura.

March 23: The office of Senator Monique Limon alongside Assemblymember Steve Bennett will host a free tax preparation event. Eligible community members are invited to receive free tax filing services, claim the earned income tax credit (if applicable), enjoy free tacos, and learn about community resources. Services are available in both English and Spanish.

9 – 1 p.m. CLU Oxnard Campus 2201 Outlet Center Dr. #600 Oxnard. Schedule an appointment by dialing 21.

March 27: The College Area Community Council in Ventura will hold an in-person and Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Community council meetings include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest. Our meeting will take place in person at CAPS Media, 65 Day Rd., and by Zoom. Visit the CACC website at https://caccventura.com for more information, a Zoom link to the meeting, or to be added to the mailing list.

April 3: The Ventura County Garden Club celebrates its 100th Year Season in 2024.  The Fillmore members and the Fillmore Director/Organizer, Stephen McKeown, will provide the luncheon.  The Luncheon will be held at noon on Wednesday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located at 117 N. 7th Street, Santa Paula. We welcome new members. For more information, visit our website at VenturaCountyGardenClub.com.

April 3: Tammy Glenn, Executive Director of CAREGIVERS, will speak at BCNN’s April meeting. Caregivers was developed as a community-based model to meet the growing need for services for frail and homebound elderly people.

BCNN, Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers, meets the first Wednesday of the month from 9:30 to 11 a.m. It offers dozens of small group activities, from sports activities to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, and more. www.bcnnwomensclub.org. The meeting is at PCYC Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club, 2600 Harbor BLVD, Oxnard.

April 6: Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Book Sale at the Vons shopping center at Telegraph & Victoria from 10 to 3 p.m. Children’s books—buy one, get one Free (except graphic novels), puzzles, DVDs, and CDs—are $1.00 each. Books on CD are $1.50-$2.00 each.

April 27: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at our temporary location Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117. Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google.  Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. CIPCUG events may be attended online.  Due to limited space, live attendance is reserved for members.  To receive connection instructions, please sign up on our website at www.cipcug.org. (805) 289-3960.

Loneliness

Art in a class is a wonderful activity to overcome loneliness.

There are things you can do to help protect yourself or a loved one from the negative effects of loneliness and social isolation. First, it’s important to take care of yourself. Try exercising, eating healthy, getting enough sleep (7 to 9 hours), and pursuing activities you enjoy to help manage stress and stay as mentally and physically healthy as possible.

It’s also important to stay active and connect with others. People who engage in meaningful, productive activities they enjoy with others feel a sense of purpose and tend to live longer. For example, helping others through volunteering helps you feel less lonely and allows you to have a sense of mission and purpose in life, which is linked to better health. Studies show activities like these may help boost your mood and improve your well-being and cognitive function.

Find an activity that you enjoy, restart an old hobby, or take a class to learn something new. You might have fun and meet people with similar interests.

Schedule time each day to stay in touch with family, friends, and neighbors in person, by email, social media, voice call, or text. Talk with people you trust and share your feelings. Suggest an activity to help nurture and strengthen existing relationships. Sending letters or cards is another good way to keep up friendships.

Use communication technologies such as video chat, smart speakers, or even companion robots to help keep you engaged and connected.

If you’re not tech-savvy, sign up for an online or in-person class at your local public library or community center to help you learn how to use email or social media.Older adult holding a dog to combat loneliness and social isolation.

Consider adopting a pet if you are able to care for them. Animals can be a source of comfort and may also lower stress and blood pressure.

Stay physically active and include group exercise, such as joining a walking club or working out with a friend. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes (2 1/2 hours) of activity a week that makes you breathe hard.

Introduce yourself to your neighbors.

Find a faith-based organization where you can deepen your spirituality and engage with others in activities and events.

Check out resources and programs at your local social service agencies, community and senior centers, and public libraries.

Join a cause and get involved in your community.

If you or a loved one has dementia and lives alone, family members, friends, or other caregivers may be able to help in different ways.

Identify a person you trust, such as a neighbor, who can visit regularly in-person or via a video call and be an emergency contact.

Learn about home- and community-based support and services from social service agencies, local nonprofits, and Area Agencies on Aging.

Stay connected with family and friends through video chats, email, and social media. If you’re not tech savvy, ask for help to learn.