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Ventura Music Festival starts soon!

by Shirley Lorraine

It’s almost here! The 26th annual Ventura Music Festival has announced it’s 2020 line-up. And, as always, it looks to be spectacular.

A free preview event was held Sunday, February 16 at the Ventura County Museum for the “unveiling.” Susan Scott, Executive Director of the Festival, noted that this year promises “a wonderful mixed genre journey to take.”

Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta skillfully guided the audience into musical heaven with a beautiful and complex Bach violin solo. He then introduced the first Festival concert which will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday March 22.

Mnozil Brass (pronounced Naw-zil), a unique group of gifted musicians from Austria, will perform in Cirque style at Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center in Camarillo. Mnozil Brass is described as” European humor meets brass septet meets Monty Python” in a “concert with character.” The troupe will bring a lively mixture of folk, jazz, pop, classical and whimsy along with “moments of sheer silliness & some of the finest brass playing imaginable.” Tickets will go fast for this unique concert.

Then, for two weeks in July into August, the Festival will be in full swing. Leading the line-up will be Tea & Trumpets on Thursday, July 23 at 3 p.m. at the Pierpont Inn.

The weekend continues with concerts at the Ventura College Performing Arts Center. Friday evening at 8 p.m. audiences will delight in the stunning talents of Aubrey Logan, a trombonist and vocalist. She can frequently be seen playing with Post Modern Jukebox as well as presenting solo.

Saturday, July 25 at 8 features Time for Three, a contemporary string trio, who will present a blend of classical melody and pop culture.

Rounding out the first weekend, on Sunday, July 26 at 3 p.m. Andrea Roberto, classical guitarist, will dazzle audiences with his finger work. An award-winning musician, Roberto started learning guitar at age 4.

This year’s free concert in Mission Park will be held Thursday, July 30 at 5 p.m. An all-female group called Adaawe (ah-dah-way) brings music from Africa, Israel, Morocco, Kenya and more for an experience transcending barriers.

The final weekend will again be presented at Ventura College Performing Arts Center starting with Django Festival Allstars on Friday, July 31 at 8 p.m. Their unparalleled brand of gypsy jazz will be a delight.

Saturday, August 1 at 8 p.m. multiple Grammy award winning saxophonist Tom Scott and the L.A. Express will take the stage.

The season will close with a performance by classical pianist Sean Chen on Sunday, August 2 at 3 p.m. Chen is a multiple major competition winner. He will be presenting works of Beethoven as part of worldwide celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday.

The season is not to be missed. Each year it features top talents in the entertainment world bringing world class music to Ventura County.

Tickets are available now at www.VenturaMusicFestival.org, (805) 648-3146, or at the Festival office at 472 E. Santa Clara St, downtown Ventura.

Ventura and other large water users continue working together on physical solution

The City of Ventura has requested a six-month extension for property owners to decide whether to file an answer in the Ventura River Watershed lawsuit. The City expects the court will make a decision on the City’s request at a court hearing on February 27, 2020 at 1:45 p.m. in Los Angeles Superior Court. To date, the City is unaware of any parties that oppose the City’s request for the extension.  The City will share the court’s decision as soon as possible after the hearing.

Stemming from a 2014 lawsuit filed by environmental nonprofit Santa Barbara Channelkeeper against the City of Ventura and the state of California, the City — who reached an interim settlement agreement with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper in 2019 – is in ongoing discussions with the large water users to develop a collaborative, local “physical solution” to protect the Steelhead population and maintain its least expensive and oldest water resource, the Ventura River. If a settlement is reached, the City’s cross-complaint, an action taken to initiate the collaborative solution, would not be litigated.

In January of this year, notices and summons were sent to 10,472 and 1,701 property owners respectively, as a result of a court order requiring the noticing in order for the court to recognize any settlement agreement. City officials acknowledged the inadequate messaging efforts prior to sending out the notices. The City has taken rapid strides in developing a new communications approach to reach those impacted and ensure the public has accurate information about the pending litigation and settlement talks, and more importantly, understands what’s next and how it impacts water users.

The City has developed a website dedicated exclusively to providing information about this topic, which includes a comprehensive FAQ section, a resources page that includes links to the recordings of the public meetings the City has held on this topic, and a news section which will be regularly updated.

In the meantime, the City is asking the court for a six-month extension for property owners to file answers, to allow those who received Notices or Summons additional time to decide if they would like to join the lawsuit. The case is not being actively litigated during the mediation process. The City is optimistic that it will make sufficient progress toward a settlement agreement during that time.

 

To learn more about the proceedings, please visit http://www.venturariver.com.

 

Mega Tax Day at the Cal Lutheran University Oxnard Campus

Trained volunteers came together to help individuals and families for Mega Tax Day at the Cal Lutheran University Oxnard Campus. United Way of Ventura County prepared just over 70 tax returns for free through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for Mega Tax Day. With the new Young Child Tax Credit, eligible families can qualify to receive an extra $1,000 in their pocket. VITA assistance will go on at nine locations until May 2, 2020. Appointments are available by calling 2-1-1.

“Tri-Anything Retreat” for women business owners

The first annual “Tri-Anything Retreat” is being held on Friday, March 27th from 10:30am to 4:00pm at the picturesque Brick Barn Wine Estate in Buellton, California. Tickets are just $70 for a full day that includes lunch and wine. A post-retreat wine and cheese party is available for those attendees and their guests who are looking to extend their day and enjoy the beautiful sunset. Local discounted weekend and overnight accommodations are also available. Tickets are available now at www.tinyurl.com/trianything2020.

Hosted by four local National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) chapters – Bakersfield, California Central Coast, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County, with the support of NAWBO Los Angeles, the Tri-Anything Retreat promises to be filled with plenty of reenergizing, skills building, and making new connections. Made possible in part by Gold Sponsor Chase Bank, with additional support from Santana Wealth Management, and Thrive, Flourish and Grow, this retreat is open to all women business owners and leaders looking to connect with other successful women entrepreneurs from throughout the tri-counties and central valley. .

NAWBO Ventura County is thrilled to be taking part in this impactful, first annual event convening 100+ women business owners.

Vol. 13, No. 11 – Feb 26 – Mar 10, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday
2-4

 5:25pm, received a report of an illegally moored vessel at VHV C-dock. Officers responded and towed the vessel; the owner was not onboard.

Wednesday
2-5

 7:50am, while on patrol, officers were dispatched to a brush fire near Riverhaven. Assistance was offered with transporting personnel and resources to the fire to assist with firefighting, then mop-up. The fire was extinguished.

Thursday
2-6

 7:30am, observed the H.R. Morris, the Manson Construction Company dredge inbound to Ventura Harbor for maintenance dredging.

8:30am, received report of a large fishing seiner hit the breakwall while it was returning to Ventura Harbor. The vessel suffered significant damage and was hauled out for inspection and repairs. The incident is under investigation.

8:50pm, received a report of a homeless man who threatened a wife and husband in their vehicle at VIM. The man fled the scene, PD was unable to locate him.

Friday
2-7

 2:30pm, officers conducted Launch Ramp parking enforcement. Several vehicles were found in violation and were issued written warnings.

Saturday
2-8

 7:00am, while opening Harbor Cove beach lot, officers observed a large RV parked on Spinnaker obstructing the bike lane, oversized vehicle and camping. After a lengthy debate the individual was issued warnings for the violations.

10:30am, received a report of a domestic disturbance occurring on a vessel via a phone call. Ventura PD was contacted, and officers assisted with searching for the vessel. When it was located, the disturbing party was gone.

4:15pm, received a report of a Hazard to Navigation near the Ventura Pier, a large log. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and took the flotsam en tow.

Monday
2-10

 10:30am, received a report of a possible missing person at the Ventura Pier from Ventura PD. After an investigation it was determined that the clothing and personal belongings were thrown off the pier and that the individual was located.

Wednesday
2-12

 11:50pm, dispatched to an assault in a parking lot near 1500 Anchors Way. Officers responded, staged and assisted the victim after PD cleared the scene. The patient was transported to the fishing vessel he worked on after the incident.

Thursday
2-13

 7:45am, while on patrol, officers observed a transient asleep near the curb at 1691 Spinnaker dr. Officers contacted the individual, making sure he was ok.

Saturday
2-15

 7:08am, received a report of a transient who broke into the VWM laundry room and is refusing to leave. Officers responded and assisted Ventura PD with removing the individual who was wearing clothes being washed.

1:35pm, received a “Mayday” call on VHF 16 from a motor vessel with mechanical failure near the Mandalay powerplant. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 to assist the distressed vessel. The vessel was located near Oxnard Shores and taken en tow until TowBoat U.S. arrived and took over the tow.

11:55pm, while on patrol, officers were alerted to a large group of transients near VWM from security. Officers assisted with removing the group of 10 transients near VWM that were loitering/trespassing on private property.

Sunday
2-16

 10:10am, while manning the operations center, observed a fishing lightboat operating in violation of speed/wake ordinance in the main channel. Officers were able to contact the skipper via VHF 11 and gain compliance.

12:30pm, while on patrol, officers observed a solid Northwest swell running along all the harbor beaches. Many rip currents were observed, and the water was less than ideal “looking” from harbor maintenance dredging. But the conditions were excellent for the NSSA surfing contest at the “New Jetty.”

 

Bus transportation offered to attend performance of Opera Santa Barbara

In a pilot program to make opera more accessible to Ventura County residents, Opera SB will be offering bus transportation through the Ventura County Parks & Recreation Department to the Sunday Matinee performance of its first opera sung in Spanish, Il Postino (The Postman) by Mexian-American composer, Daniel Catán, on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 2:30pm at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E Canon Perdido St.

As part of Opera SB’s ongoing commitment to civic practice and creating more opportunities for Santa Barbara and its surrounding communities to experience opera, removing practical barriers like financial constraints and venue transportation has been a top priority this season.

“With a dedicated opera fan base in communities like Ventura and Oxnard for the company’s ongoing series of Free Noontime Concerts, creating easier access to attend the live, mainstage productions was a natural next step for Opera SB,” noted Kostis Protopapas, Artistic and General Director of Opera SB.

Tickets for the Il Postino performance with roundtrip busing included are being offered for $95 per person. For information about this trip, please view the Spring 2020 Tour Brochure at: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19665/Travel-Brochure-SPRING-2020

The opera bus leaves from the parking lot directly behind the Ventura City Hall, 501/505 Poli St., at 12pm and returns at 6pm.

Registration for the bus and performance can be made through the Ventura Parks and Recreation Department:

1. Online: www.cityofventura.ca.gov/register
2. Over-the-Phone: 805-658-4726
3. In-Person: City Hall, 501 Poli St., Room 226

For those who do not need bus transportation, tickets can be purchased through the Lobero Theatre at lobero.org or by phone at (805) 963-0761.

The sounds of the Mediterranean come alive in Daniel Catán’s acclaimed opera sung in Spanish with English supertitles. Based on the Oscar-winning film, Il Postino (The Postman) chronicles the enduring friendship between exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and Mario, the shy postman who brings him his fan mail. Mario becomes Neruda’s student, learning the art of poetry to woo a local barmaid and to express the struggles of his fellow working-class villagers who live on a small Italian island in the 1950s.

Vista del Mar Hospital’s first medical director returns

After departing from Vista del Mar in 1985, he elected to work in underserved areas.

Dr. Richard Deamer, Vista del Mar Hospital’s (VDMH) first medical director, has returned to the same position. He was first hired in 1985 and stayed in the position for approximately 13 years. He officially begins as medical director in January 2020.

“I am looking forward to another term as medical director,” said Deamer. “I was very happy, and surprised to be offered the same position I had left about 20 years previous, and now as an older clinician who has kept up with the new developments in adult and child psychiatry, am looking forward to applying those developments in neuroscience in an inpatient setting.”

Deamer studied pre-medicine at Purdue University and graduated from medical school at Ohio State College of Medicine.  A rotating medical/surgical internship followed at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Maricopa County in Phoenix, Arizona.  He continued with his residency training in psychiatry and fellowship in child psychiatry at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, followed by two years in the Navy at Camp Pendleton. He retired from the Navy as a Lt. Commander in 1973.

After departing from Vista del Mar in 1985, he elected to work in underserved areas in Ridgecrest, Trona, Wasco and Taft, flying to these areas by taking advantage of flight training in general aviation obtained during his service in the Navy.  For the last 10 years, he has been working for Kaiser Permanente as a child psychiatrist.  He is a Distinguished Life Fellow with the American Psychiatric Association. He is board certified in both adult and child psychiatry.

He and his wife Ann and two daughters, Kelly and Julie, arrived in Ventura in 1974 when he established a private practice. Like VDMH’s devastation from the Thomas Fire, the Deamer family lost their Ventura home. After two years of rebuilding, they are happy to be back in their home.

Dr. Deamer is looking forward to making a positive impact at VDMH. “We should see dramatic improvements in adult and teen mood disorders, and significant progress in outcomes of those suffering from severe mental ailments, including addictions,” he said.

Vista del Mar Hospital, which holds The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation, offers inpatient and outpatient programs for both adolescents and adults. The hospital specializes in stabilization and dual diagnosis for patients with mental illness and chemical dependency. In addition, Vista del Mar offers comprehensive outpatient services, including the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program, Adolescent/Adult Intensive Outpatient Program and the Adolescent Vista Day Program (partial hospitalization) to treat adolescence while maintaining academic responsibilities. The hospital also serves the military community with evidence-based therapies for active-duty military, veterans and their families. Vista del Mar Hospital is located in Ventura on 16 acres with ocean views.

Emergency crew respond to overturned semi tractor/trailer with one person trapped and fuel leaking

On Feb.17, units responded to a reported overturned semi tractor/trailer with one person trapped and fuel leaking at the WB126 and Wells Rd interchange. The first unit on scene arrived to find one adult male trapped in the wreckage of a semi tractor overturned onto the guard rail along the freeway on-ramp curve, fuel tanks intact. An extensive and complex extrication of the victim took approximately 45 minutes to complete, after which he was transported to a local hospital with major injuries where he later died from his injuries. He was identified as Taylor Wright.

Will robotics replace technicians?

by Kevin O’Connor

It seems lately that people everywhere are talking about robots.  The Japanese are really into making them as lifelike as possible. They look very much like people.  We have been on a robot craze for a long time in the movies, but don’t ask me what the difference is between robots and cyborgs and androids and the Terminator!  I just don’t know. So why was that Terminator always mad at everybody? I guess people kept pushing his buttons. Har,har.

Now the year 2020 just sounds special. There’s a certain ring to it.  Who would have thought that so many of us would have finally seen this auspicious year.  I wonder what 2020 will bring?  Will it bring robots everywhere?  Might it bring robots into the pest control industry?  Perhaps there will be a pest control “transformer” called The Exterminator!  By the way, what is a robot’s favorite music? Heavy metal! But I digress . . .

Do you remember that college student in your family who brought home a brand-new computer only to find out that it is superseded by new, twice-as-fast models practically by the time you unwrap it.  Information technology progresses at an exponential pace in this way because each new technology and advancement builds upon the ones that came before it.

So, much of the advancement in technology in 2020 and beyond may end up in robotics.  Getting back to my fantasy about a pest control robot named the Exterminator, who will drop rats dead at 20 paces, I do predict one very important concern.  For me and my house, robots will never replace the good “old-fashioned” but truly futuristic pest control technician.

No, for sure, in my company at least—and I bet in many others—robots cannot do away with the great personal and caring service of one of our technicians who has undergone extensive pest control training, has developed years of experience and expertise, and has a heart for the families he or she serves.

I don’t think you will find a robot who will genuinely care about the customer, who believes in his heart of hearts that this family’s safety, security, good health and general well being are as important to him as the pest control service he so expertly renders.

That’s why I value our men and women who provide the multitude of pest control services our customers enjoy year after year.  Robots may be exciting in 2020, but my hat is off to those real people who serve others, people to people, family to family, as only good human beings do.  Three cheers for the real human technicians we call family at O’Connor Pest Control.
O’Connor Pest Control.  1-800-284-7985.  oconnorpest.com

Audubon events

Mar 8, 8:00 a.m.  Hedrick Ranch Nature Area – Work Day –  Leader: Sandy Hedrick 805-340-0478.

Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. Work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves & sun protection.

Mar 10, 8:30 a.m.  Ventura Water Treatment Plant Settling Ponds –  Leader: Adele Fergusson 805-415-4304

Enjoy a morning of mostly waterfowl birding. Spotting scopes are always welcome.

Mar 10,  7:30 p.m.  Ventura Audubon Society Monthly Program at the Poinsettia Pavilion – 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura (Free to the Public):   Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and the Ventura River,  Speaker:  Ben Pitterle – Science and Policy Director

For 20 years, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper has been a watchdog and advocate for the protection, restoration and sustainable management of the Ventura River and its groundwater.  The program will cover background information about the history of Channelkeeper’s involvement in the Ventura River watershed including events that led to Channelkeeper’s litigation against the State Water Board and City of Ventura to address over-pumping.

Mar 14, 8:30 a.m.  Happy Camp Regional Park – Leader:  Cody Swanson    805-304-2505

The walk begins alongside the rustic canyon golf course, and continues into open area. We will encounter coastal sage scrub, riparian wetland, open grassland, and oak woodlands along the trail. The diverse habitat allows for many different species of birds. We can expect to see: towhees, phoebes, red-tailed hawks, goldfinches, and a variety of sparrows. Target species include: roadrunners, California quails, California thrashers, western meadowlarks, loggerhead shrikes, a variety of raptors, and the possibility of owls.

Mar 21, 8:30 a.m.  Canada Larga Road –  Leader: Linda Easter  818-519-2833

Meet near the beginning of the road off Hwy 33. We will carpool from that location as we walk and drive this long county road. Target species will include Barn Owl,  Western Bluebirds, Lark Sparrow, Roadrunner, Phainopepla and various species of swallows.

Mar 28, 8:00 a.m.  Carpinteria Salt Marsh – Leader Tevin Schmitt 661-904-1563

The Salt Marsh Reserve is an excellent birding location due to the estuary, wetlands, and upland habitats. Special birds of concern can be found here, including Belding’s Savannah Sparrow, and White-tailed Kite. Several species of heron are often seen at once.

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