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The Museum of Ventura County re-opens July 3rd

After 15 months of closure, and as California’s Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted, The Museum of Ventura County is re-opening both its Ventura location at 100 East Main Street and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula at 926 Railroad Avenue on July 1, 2021. Admission to the museums and parking are free for visitors for the remainder of 2021.

Beginning Thursday, July 1st, visiting hours for The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will be Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Research Library located on the Ventura campus will operate by appointment only, Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Following the lead of other educational institutions, masks are currently required for all indoor visitors and museum staff at this time. Vaccinated guests have the option to remove their face coverings when enjoying the museum’s outdoor spaces.

Debuting on opening weekend at The Museum of Ventura County is, “Huelga! Photographs from the Frontlines” by Jorge Corralejo. While the exhibit was originally scheduled to open in mid-March of 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it was postponed. Guests were able to view an online 3D version of the exhibit throughout 2020, but now are welcomed to experience the exhibit in person and are invited to attend a special opening reception on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, from 2-4pm. For more information about the reception, and future museum events, please visit: www.venturamuseum.org/events. In Santa Paula, the Agriculture Museum continues to showcase the region’s rich farming and ranching history.

“We are delighted to be welcoming visitors back into our community’s museums in both Ventura and Santa Paula,” commented Elena Brokaw, Executive Director, Museum of Ventura County. “We’ve missed the energy that is seen and felt as all patrons, young and old alike, take in both museum’s on-site exhibits and collections in person.” Brokaw reinforced that guest safety is of primary importance and the decision to require masks while inside museum buildings is to ensure that the most vulnerable guests, including children and seniors, can freely access all indoor services feeling safe and comfortable. Both the Museum of Ventura County and Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula have implemented best practices to maintain a clean and safe environment.

For guests that are unable or not ready to visit The Museum of Ventura County or Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula in person, virtual exhibits remain available online. For more information visit: www.venturamuseum.org.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – The main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California (805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – www.venturamuseum.org. Admission to both museum locations remains free for the remainder of 2021

Enroll your child in an amazing learning and exploration summer experience

The MERITO Foundation’s Marine Science Beach Camp is a program that engages children in hands-on ocean science and stewardship activities. Children will learn and experience a variety of marine science concepts, explore the coastal environment, and play with ocean-themed games. They will be introduced to scientific monitoring, and marine art and poetry in a safe and healthy environment.

Week of July 12-July 16, 2021. Theme: ‘Tidepools, Fish & Plankton’

Children will get to experience being a marine scientist for the week by learning about the life at the tidepools, will collect and identify plankton using scientific equipment like plankton nets and microscopes; will learn to catch, identify, and release fish, about the different fishing practices, and about our local marine protected areas.

Week of July 19 – 23, 2021. Theme: ‘Birds, Whales and Whales’

During this 2nd week, children will get to be ornithologists (bird biologists), learn about local seabird species, and identify them through binoculars! Children will switch up and become marine mammologists (those who study marine mammals) to learn about the whales, dolphins, and sea lions that live or pass through our coast and the Channel Islands, such as the blue whales! Will also learn about wetlands, help restore their local Kalorama wetland, participate in beach cleanups, marine art, and beach scavenger hunts.

Times: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
3 days/week (M, W, F)
Location: At Buenaventura State Beach south of Ventura Pier.
Ages: 8 – 12 years of age
Cost: $200/week per child
Discounts for siblings and/or two weeks registrations are available
Scholarships available based on needs.

More details at https://www.meritofoundation.org/beachcamp

For any questions email us [email protected], or call 805-765-6326

You can register your child or grandchild at https://www.meritofoundation.org/marine-science-registration

The Ventura Police and Fire Departments encourage residents to enjoy a “Safe and Sane” Fourth of July

There’s a lot more to the Fourth of July than just fireworks.

This year when celebrating America’s 245th birthday, Ventura police and fire are encouraging residents to explore safer ways to celebrate, such as finding an outdoor activity, taking a trip to the beach, or hosting a BBQ.

“Fireworks are simply too dangerous and unpredictable to be used safely,” said Fire Marshal Joe Morelli. “While we will never be able to eliminate accidents, the public needs to understand how easily fireworks can start a fire or cause serious injury.”

With dry brush surrounding Ventura’s hillsides, fireworks can pose great danger to community members and neighborhoods. It is illegal to possess, store, sell, use, or handle fireworks in the City of Ventura. If you’ve purchased fireworks not knowing they are illegal, safely surrender them by calling the Ventura Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division at 805-658-4717.

In 2018, the Ventura City Council adopted a Fireworks Social Host Ordinance stating that any homeowner, renter, or person in charge of a private property who knows, or should know, of the sale, use, or possession of any fireworks are subject to a civil penalty.

Commander Sarah Starr added, “The fun associated with the Fourth of July celebration can instantly turn tragic for those who fail to make safety a priority.”

Additionally, the holiday is also one of the most dangerous of the year for DUI-related incidents and fatalities. The Ventura Police Department encourages community members to stay off the road after consuming alcohol, marijuana, or prescription medications. With so many options for a safe and sober ride home, including rideshare services, there is no excuse for driving under the influence.

Take the following steps to help partner in making it a safe Fourth of July for all:

  • Enjoy one of the many professional firework displays in Ventura County. While there are no public displays in the City of Ventura this year, community members can find safe alternatives in Camarillo, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks.
  • If you see an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 immediately.
  • If you see a neighbor lighting fireworks, call 9-1-1 if the activity is in-progress or poses and immediate threat to yourself or others.
  • If there is no immediate threat, please keep 9-1-1 lines open by calling the 24/7 non-emergency line at 805-650-8010. Be prepared to provide a location of the activity and/or a description of those involved.

Anyone found in possession of fireworks, or caught using them, could be fined up to $1,000 and/or receive a jail term of up to a year

For more information on staying safe this Fourth of July, please visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Fireworks

Visit Ventura is awarded “Best Place to Work” for the fourth year in a row

Visit visitventuraca.com/contact/staff to learn more about the Visit Ventura team.

The Pacific Coast Business Times has once again honored Visit Ventura with their “Central Coast Best Place to Work” award.

This marks the fourth year in a row that Visit Ventura has been selected as a “Best Place to Work,” but, suffice to say, 2020 was not a conventional work year.

“It was a year of adjusting and readjusting, again and again,” said Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura President & CEO. “There were some stressful times, but through it all our team maintained the same upbeat attitude they’ve always had. And we never lost sight of our overall mission to do the next right thing to help our community. Thank you, Pacific Coast Business Times, for kindly honoring us. And thank you, wonderful Ventura, for working alongside us to do that next right thing.”

Through creative thinking and various award-winning campaigns, Visit Ventura helps spearhead a tourism effort that generates close to $300 million in annual visitor spending and, equally important, creates roughly 2,600 jobs in Ventura. Perhaps less known, tourism’s dollars help bolster Ventura’s General Fund, which, among other things, helps fund the city’s fire and police forces, build the city’s roads, and finance the city’s schools. Now more than ever, tourism will play a critical role in the recovery of the economy — from the national front to local hometowns.

“We all know how hard the pandemic has been on Ventura’s economy,” said Auster. “And tourism will be the economic driver that not only sees Ventura to its feet, but sees Ventura thrive. Our amazing team will continue to work hard to see that happen.”

The “Best Place to Work” awards began in 2016. They represent feedback across an organizational structure and were quickly embraced by the community thus increasing their prestige. Workplace factors such as compensation, paid time off, community involvement, and overall corporate culture are considered.

Ventura College Foundation receives nearly $185,000 gift from Aurora Loss Estate

Aurora Loss with scholarship winner Vanessa Apodaca.

Ventura College Foundation, which provides financial support to students and programs of Ventura College, received $184,105 from the estate of long-time Ventura College supporter Aurora Loss who passed away in April 2020 at age 102. Loss has a 20-year history of giving to Ventura College Foundation to fund scholarships for Ventura College nursing students. 

Loss’ donation is divided equally with $92,052 designated for the establishment of the Aurora Loss Scholarship Fund endowment and $92,052 to the college’s nursing department for the purchase of medical training equipment. The scholarships will be managed and awarded through the Ventura College Foundation. 

Loss grew up on a farm in a mining town in Montana. An independent and career-driven woman, she attended Billings Business College and soon was employed in the engineering industry and as a government administrator during WWII.

Her career included working at the Pentagon. While in Washington D.C., she became ill and was hospitalized. Doctors minimalized her symptoms but she received the support of a nurse who advocated for her. Loss believed the nurse helped save her life. She never forgot the nurse’s kindness. When Loss eventually relocated to California, she found an opportunity to reciprocate by supporting Ventura College’s nursing students with scholarships and program support.

Dr. Sandra Melton, director of the college’s School of Nursing & Allied Health, had the opportunity to have lunch with Loss on several occasions and to take her on a tour of the nursing school.

Currently, 151 students are enrolled in the Ventura College two-year nursing program. The program normally enrolls up to 200 students, but the pandemic temporarily limited the number of enrollments. The students use life-like manikins (also known as patient simulators) in the learning process. These manikins are computer controlled and simulate breathing, life-like sounds, heartbeats, pulse and other bodily functions. As a tribute to Loss’ generosity, one of the manikins is being named, “Auntie LaLa” in her memory. 

“The manikins allow students to use their critical thinking skills to perform patient assessments and administer patient interventions in a safe environment,” says Melton. 

Melton says her department currently uses three high fidelity adult, pediatric and birthing simulators and is considering adding a more advanced wireless child simulator with Loss’ donation. The department will also purchase additional medical equipment with the funds. “It’s important that students have access to practice with the same equipment that they will use in local hospitals,” she says. “We’re always updating our program with the latest technology.” 

The nursing program is one of the most expensive on campus. Students must purchase textbooks, uniforms and medical supplies such as stethoscopes, and pay for drug testing, CPR certification and licensing exams. “Scholarships help offset some of these costs,” says Anne Paul King, Ventura College Foundation executive director. 

The Ventura College nursing program enjoys a 100% hiring rate for those graduates seeking employment with the majority of graduating students accepting positions locally. “The generous donations from Aurora Loss will support the degree completion of our nursing students,” says Ventura College President Kim Hoffmans who is also a registered nurse. 

For more information about scholarships and other support services provided by the Ventura College Foundation, go to www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org.

 

Third graders at Ventura Charter School hold month long school-supply-drive

Kids & Families Together on the campus of Ventura Charter School

June 7, 2021, was the culmination of a year-long project by the 3rd grade classes at Ventura Charter School of Arts & Global Education (VCS). Teachers, Flow Hansmeier and Emily Noel worked with their students on a year-long “Peace Project”. During the first half of the year, students interviewed (via Zoom) various individuals from organizations within the community asking the question, “How do you bring peace into the world?”

As part of this project, the students interviewed Kids & Families Together (K&FT)’s Co-Founder Faith Friedlander, LMFT in October of last year. Faith, an adoptee herself, explained how K&FT helps children, many who are adopted or in foster care, along with their families, though counseling programs and support services and various resource events during the year.

As a way to wrap up the school year, the students wanted to find a way to give back and help others in the community so they selected one of the individuals/organizations they had interviewed during the year. The students chose to support K&FT’s annual school supply event hosted for Ventura County Foster/Resource, Kinship and Adoptive Families who are working in programs with K&FT.

During the month of May, the 3rd graders at VCS established a “School Supply Drive” and promoted the event throughout the entire K – 8 campus by making posters and talking with the other classes. On Monday June 7th, Carrie McAuliffe, Heart 2 Heart Program Manager, and Amy Huot, Outreach Manager, with K&FT paid a visit to the school’s campus, to thank them and celebrate their amazing success! Students helped to load all the school supplies that were collected into vehicles to be taken back to the K&FT offices in preparation for the annual August “School Supply Gift Away Event”. Their school supply drive was such a success that the amount of supplies collected filled up two entire cars! Kids & Families Together would like to sincerely thank the students, staff and families of Ventura Charter School for their wonderful and generous support. And we hope they all have a fun and fantastic summer!

Kids & Families Together (K&FT) is a nonprofit that has been serving foster/resource, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County since 2000. K&FT works with children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT also works with caregivers who need specialized education, support, and strategies to help raise safe, healthy, nurtured children that thrive.

Master classes offered for dancers and dance teachers at NAMBA Performing Arts Space

“Modern dance is an investigation of movement from the inside out.”

On Saturday, July 10, and Tuesday, July 13, danah bella (it’s spelled this way), Director of the BFA Dance program at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University will teach master classes for both dancers and dance teachers at NAMBA Performing Arts Space.

“Modern dance is an investigation of movement from the inside out,” states bella. “This class encourages efficient use of alignment and technique while exploring full bodied movement with an emphasis on strength, breath and dynamics.” danah was named one of Baltimore Sun’s 25 Women to Watch in 2018 and just recently received the Maryland Dance Education Association’s 2021 Higher Education Dance Educator of the Year Award.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this level of dance education to our local community,” said Cathy Butter, Dance Liaison at NAMBA Performing Arts Space.

In addition, on July 18 danah will teach a master class for local dance teachers utilizing Functional Awareness® (FA); an approach to embodied anatomy through reflective practice to enhance our understanding of movement function, facilitate ease in body action, and improve movement skills.  For more information about FA: https://functionalawareness.org/

Classes will be held at NAMBA Performing Arts Space, 47 S Oak St. in Historic Downtown Ventura. Cost for individual classes is $25. To sign up visit NambaArts.com or call (805) 648-9250.

danah bella, is the artistic director of d a n a h b e l l a DanceWorks, a modern dance company focused on reclaiming evocative movement as social practice. She is an award-winning choreographer who has performed & presented her work throughout the country and abroad. danah has taught workshops and has been artist in residence in festivals and universities throughout the United States.

NAMBA Performing Arts Space is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in historic Downtown Ventura with a mission to provide an intimate venue to inspire and develop interdisciplinary art projects with a creative emphasis on dance, music, theater, writing and audio-visual arts.

Food can be unsafe

”Now I need to cook this fish to a safe minimum internal temperature.”

by National Institute of Health

Food can be unsafe for many reasons. It might be contaminated by germs—microbes such as bacteria, viruses, or molds. These microbes might have been present before the food was harvested or collected, or they could have been introduced during handling or preparation. In either case, the food might look fine but could make you very sick. Food can also be unsafe because it has “gone bad.” Sometimes, you may see mold growing on the surface.

For an older person, a food-related illness can be life threatening. As you age, you have more trouble fighting off microbes. Health problems, like diabetes or kidney disease, also make you more likely to get sick from eating foods that are unsafe. So be careful about how food is prepared and stored.

Some foods present higher risks than others. Here are some tips on selecting lower-risk food options:

Eat fish, shellfish, meat, and poultry that have been cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature, instead of eating the food raw or undercooked.

Drink pasteurized milk and juices instead of the unpasteurized versions.

Make sure pasteurized eggs or egg products are used in recipes that call for raw or undercooked eggs, such as homemade Caesar salad dressings, raw cookie dough, or eggnog.

Always wash vegetables, including all salad ingredients, before eating. Cooked vegetables also are a lower-risk option than raw vegetables.

Choose cooked sprouts instead of raw sprouts.

Choose hard or processed cheeses, cream cheese, or mozzarella, or any cheese that is clearly labeled “Made from Pasteurized Milk” instead of soft cheese made from unpasteurized (raw) milk, such as Brie, Camembert, blue-veined, or queso fresco.

Heat up hot dogs, deli meats, and luncheon meats to 165 °F (steaming hot), instead of eating the meat unheated.

Changing Taste and Smell

As you grow older, your senses of taste and smell might change. Some illnesses, like COVID-19, or health conditions can change your senses of smell and taste. Certain medicines might also make things taste different. If you can’t rely on your sense of taste or smell to tell that food is spoiled, be extra careful about how you handle your food. If something doesn’t look, smell, or taste right, throw it out—don’t take a chance with your health.

Smart Storage

Food safety starts with storing your food properly. Sometimes that’s as simple as following directions on the container. For example, if the label says “refrigerate after opening,” do that! It’s also a good idea to keep any canned and packaged items in a cool place.

When you are ready to use a packaged food, check the date on the label. That bottle of juice might have been in your cabinet so long it is now out of date. (See Reading Food Labels to understand the date on the food label.)

Try to use refrigerated leftovers within 3 or 4 days to reduce your risk of food poisoning. Throw away foods older than that or those that show moldy areas.

Senior injuries

Install grab bars in your bathrooms to prevent falls.

Injuries from falls and car crashes are more common as we age. These injuries can have devastating effects. But these injuries can be prevented so you can stay healthy and independent longer.

More than 1 in 4 older adults report falling each year—this results in about 36 million falls.1 Falls can cause serious injuries such as broken bones or a head or brain injury.2 But falls are not a normal part of aging—they can be prevented.

There are simple steps you can take to keep yourself from falling and to stay healthy and independent longer.

Tell your doctor if you have fallen, if you feel unsteady when standing or walking, or if you are afraid you might fall.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medicines you take. Some medicines might make you dizzy or sleepy which can increase your risk of falling.
Have an eye doctor check your eyes at least once a year and update your eyeglasses as needed.
Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear to reduce your risk of falling.
Ask your doctor about health conditions like depression, osteoporosis, or hypotension that can increase your risk for falling.

Get rid of trip hazards like throw rugs, and keep floors clutter free.
Brighten your home with extra lighting or brighter light bulbs.
Install grab bars in the bathroom(s)—next to the toilet and inside and outside of your bathtub or shower.
Install handrails on both sides of staircases.

Preventing a Motor Vehicle Crash
Driving helps older adults stay mobile and independent. But the risk of being injured in a traffic crash increases as we age.

As we age, declines in vision and cognitive function (ability to reason and remember), as well as physical changes, might affect our driving abilities.

You can take action to stay safer on the road and stay independent longer.
There are simple steps you can take to stay safe on the road.
Buckle Up Every Time!
Always wear a seat belt as a driver or a passenger. If you are in a crash, wearing a seat belt is one of the most effective ways to reduce your chance of getting injured. It can even save your life.

Drive when conditions are safest.

Drive during daylight and in good weather.
Conditions such as poor weather (like rain or snow) and driving at night increase your chance of a crash.
Never drink and drive.

Alcohol reduces coordination, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of being in a crash.
Before you drive, find the safest route with well-lit streets, intersections with left-turn signals, and easy parking.
Watch your distance.

Leave a large following distance between your car and the car in front of you. You may experience delayed reflexes or slower reaction time as you age.
Don’t drive distracted.

Avoid distractions in your car, such as listening to a loud radio, talking or texting on your phone, and eating.
Get a ride.

Consider alternatives to driving, such as riding with a friend or family member, taking a ride share service, or using public transportation if possible.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

Writer Jill Forman Friends of library volunteer helping move and set up new Foster Library bookstore. Photo by Clyde Hofflund

by Jill Forman

So much library news!

All branches are open. Hours are mainly the same as before COVID, with minor alterations. Check the website or your branch.

Staff and volunteers will continue to mask. Masking is optional for vaccinated patrons.

New library website – Vencolibrary.org  has an updated, bright look. All the features you counted on are still there and easy to access.

Foster Bookstore new location
Friends of the Library volunteers have been moving the partitions, furniture and books to the new location, a larger space on the first floor. Opening date is July 1. Come in and check it out!
Thanks to Sandy Greenberg and her (almost) tireless team of volunteers for getting the new store ready.

We need bookstore volunteers! It’s a fun way to meet other booklovers, serve your community, and help the Friends. Contact Sandy at [email protected]

Hill Road Used Book Shelves
These shelves will be stocked and ready for business as of July 1. Gently-used books at bargain prices. Fiction, non-fiction, CD’s and DVD’s, Childrens’ books at several reading levels, puzzles.

Book Sale and MORE
A real community event to celebrate summer and the loosening of pandemic precautions. July 31-August 1 at the Dudley House. Plant sale July 31, Dudley House tours August 1. Rotary will be doing a hot dog lunch.

Online Book Store
This popular service will continue, with a more select offering of books and puzzles, and with different pickup dates and times. Anyone ordering will be notified of these. Kudos to Leslie Bellmore, who got this up and running during the pandemic, and her team.

Volunteers
You may have noticed the words “Friends” and “volunteers” often mentioned in this column. The Ventura Friends of the Library runs on community members who love books and libraries and have fun helping with many activities.

And…we love members! All our membership funds, and donations, go to support Ventura’s libraries with books, supplies, and programs. To join, donate, or volunteer: [email protected], website: venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Or, you can pick up our flyers in the bookstore, at the libraries, and at book sales. There is a membership form and address if you prefer to send a check.

Parent and Child Together Class: Infants/Toddlers (from Library press release)
Ventura County Library and First 5 Ventura County are proud to partner on Parent and Child Together classes for local families starting this summer. In this free 12-week class, families with infants or toddlers are invited to learn new skills together, play fun activities, and share the love of reading.

“Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. Every child comes into this world ready to learn. It’s never too early to talk, read, and sing to your child,” says Petra Puls, Executive Director of First 5 Ventura County.

Online registration began Tuesday, May 25 for the first summer session of classes, which will be held during the months of June, July, and August. Parents must register using this link: bit.ly/VCLPact. .