All posts by admin

New location and name for 805 Gift Emporium

805 Emporium, formerly 805 Gift Emporium, is reopening with a new location and a new look. lt was a hard and sad goodbye when 805 Gift Emporium had to close its doors last year. Owner Nancy Farrar missed her customers and the store so much and has been grateful for the many who kept in touch as the months went by.

New husband, Larry Drake decided not only could they be life partners but business partners as well. A building became available that they thought might work. After redoing the interior, the shop is ready for
and they invite you to come see what’s happening.  They have great greeting cards, vintage items, antique furniture, seasonal decor and gifts. The inspiration department will be increasing in the next few months as well. Go say hello and see what’s new at the 805 Emporium, now located at 2500 Channel Drive, at the end of Howard St.  Look for the Turquoise door. The hours are 11:00 – 4:00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Phone contact is 805-340-4393 and 805-744-1948.

Peirano’s Market & Delicatessen is officially open

Peirano’s Market & Delicatessen is officially open. Co-owners Linda Jordan and Jim Rice are very happy to be ready for business in time for the holiday busy season. The market and deli, which took more than three years to open, is located at 204 E. Main St. in the Historic Peirano’s building which was built in 1877. The market and deli features California-Italian cuisine created by a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, has an outdoor patio with views of the San Buenaventura Mission and offers up both locally sourced and imported foods from Italy. www.deliventura.com

Ventura Water welcomes new Wastewater Utility Manager!

Vince is a valuable addition to Ventura Water.

Vince Ines is an Oxnard native. In 2002, he started working for the City of Oxnard as an Operator in Training and worked his way up to Operations Manager and Chief Plant Operator where he oversaw the Oxnard Wastewater Plant & Advanced Water Purification Facility. He currently holds certifications as a Grade 5 Wastewater Treatment Operator and a Water Treatment Operator Grade 2.

Vince is a valuable addition to the Ventura Water team. In his new role, he hopes to continue to educate the community about the benefits of wastewater and recycled water.

In his free time, Vince enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his kid’s sports teams.

Women Veteran Divers Assist National Park Service in Underwater Surveys

All-female NPS and NOAA dive team conduct shipwreck surveys.

Three female veterans of our Armed Services have joined the National Park Service (NPS) for a week conducting shipwreck surveys at Channel Islands National Park.

The veterans, each with distinguished careers serving the U.S. Army and Navy, are sponsored by the Wounded American Veterans Experience SCUBA (WAVES)—a program that helps veterans recover from combat and non-combat related trauma including PTSD.

The veterans are part of an all-female NPS and NOAA dive team including a marine biologist, archaeologist, boat captain, dive instructor, and submerged resources expert.

“The NPS and WAVES have been working together for several years to support injured veterans,” said Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Ethan McKinley. “We are honored to provide these veterans an opportunity to heal and to experience the spectacular kelp forests at Channel Islands National Park.”

Gina Harden, a veteran who started her U.S. Navy career as the 7th female Military Deep Sea Diver, is a support diver sponsored by the Women’s Divers Hall of Fame. At the onset of the trip Harden said, “I am lucky, blessed, and honored to be here. With my 35 years as a Navy diver I can help mentor these veterans, to listen, to be a sounding board, and to support them.”

WAVES divers Bonnie Casler and Alexandria McIntyre, each U.S. Army veterans, are novice divers who will be diving at the Channel Islands for their first time.

Casler, a retired Army Master Sergeant who served for 23 years, describes her experience diving as restorative, “It’s the calm underwater, the bubbles, the peace and quiet, that I haven’t felt in years.”

McIntyre, an Army Signal Support Systems Specialist who served just shy of three years, stated, “This is a big deal to step out of those safe zones, those comfort zones. WAVES has brought me the sense of comfort and confidence. Things get better, you just have to find the thing that gets you better. We found WAVES.”

Casler and McIntyre will also find for their first time on this venture, the camaraderie of a network of experienced female divers and the magnificent kelp forests and historic shipwrecks of the Channel Islands.

They will gain exposure to the science and preservation mission of the NPS as they document and assess the shipwrecks and other underwater historical resources in the waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park.

WAVES Project is a nonprofit organization that was established to provide wounded veterans with service connected disabilities to experience the freedom and challenge of scuba diving. Their mission recognizes the unique properties of the aquatic environment that are ideal for combat wounded veterans as they rehabilitate from various injuries received in combat such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, along with a host of other injuries received in battle. Scuba diving takes the advantages of the properties of water, including weightless and limited audio input, allowing combat wounded veterans to exercise in a therapeutic environment. They provide training in specialized SCUBA equipment suited to the person based on their physical needs.

Women Divers Hall of Fame is an international non-profit professional honor society whose mission is dedicated to recognizing and honoring woman divers that have made outstanding contributions to the arts, science, medicine, media, deep sea exploration, underwater archaeology, medicine, equipment technology, diving, conservation, and more.

Water Year Summary 2019

Ventura residents continue to do an outstanding job exceeding the 20% water conservation requirement of a Stage 3 Water Shortage Event! In 2019, Ventura Water customers have conserved an average of 26% when compared to pre-drought years.

During the 2019 Water Year (October 2018 through September 2019), the City of Ventura received 20 inches of rain. Unfortunately, a single wet winter with above average rainfall does not neutralize the impacts of several consecutive years of persistent drought conditions. Before the 2019 winter rains Lake Casitas dropped as low as 30.4% (November 2018) of its capacity. Currently Casitas is at 41% capacity dwindling from this year’s high of 45%. Additionally, Ventura’s local water sources continue to be challenged by environmental, regulatory, operational, and legal constraints.

Each year following the rainy season staff evaluates the City’s water supply and demand while considering challenges, uncertainties and reliability associated with Ventura’s water sources through the annual Comprehensive Water Resources Report.

Vol. 13, No. 5 – Dec 4 – Dec 17, 2019 – Events

by Ana Baker

Free Adult Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
Every Wednesday, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free for anyone who has lost a loved one. Receive emotional and educational support.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.

Free Joint Replacement Classes
2nd Monday of the Month (December 9), held from 4– 5 p.m. Free informational class that teaches you what to expect pre and post-surgery.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.

Living with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes Classes
1st Tuesday of the Month (December 3), from 1– 2:30 p.m. Free informational class that teaches you how to manage your life with diabetes.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.

The Compassionate Friends of West Ventura County is a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a child. Parents, grandparents, and siblings (over age 14) are all welcome. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 at the Pointsettia Pavilion, Canada Larga room, 3451 Foothill Road. For more information, contact Laura Lindsay at (805) 836-9100.

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club Monday nights 7:30 – 9:45 p.m. Poinsettia Pavilion. Ballroom, swing, Latin and line dancing. $10 members, $12 non-members. Free dance lessons 6:45 – 7:15 p.m. Call Rick (805) 415-8842 for more information.

There will be a regular Ventura Discussion Group meeting at Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St., Wednesday from 4 – 5:45 p.m. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. Bring an interesting topic to discuss if you can.

Ventura’s ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club offers games for all levels of play.  Learn the game, play with your peers, and earn master points while you are having fun.  There is a game every day of the week.  Check out their website at www.vcbridge.org

Country Western Line Dancing every Tuesday 7 – 9 p.m. Instruction every night. Located at the Moose lodge, 10269 Telephone Road. More information at countrylovers.com.

Cross Town Hikers join in on Wednesday nights for a moderate-paced hike that includes views of Ventura from the cross, a walk out to the end of the pier, and a stroll along the Promenade back to the Museum. Four miles with an 800-foot elevation gain. Meet at 7 p.m. sharp at the fountain across the street from the Mission. Join Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/800215670039426/

The members of the Ventura Investment Group meet on Mondays for an informal discussion of recent economic events.  Topics cover current events that affect stocks, funds, real estate, and interest-bearing investments.  The meeting is from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Telephone Road and Main Street.  Visitors and potential members are welcomed.  There are no dues or requirements to participate, and all levels of experience are welcomed.

Brain Injury Center of Ventura County. www.BrainInjuryCenter.org
Support Groups for brain injury/ stroke survivors and their family/caregivers
Learn more about brain injury/stroke and available services. Meet others who are facing or have faced similar challenges. Meet new friends and connections, give and receive support.
Encounter Church 6950 Ralston St., Bldg. #300 (805) 482-1312
2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 4-5:30 p.m.

Men are you retired and routine-tired? Ventura Retired Men suggest you visit a Social Lunch Meeting on the first or third Tuesday each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Stop in, say hello, have a sip at the bar if you like, they will buy you lunch, and you can sample the hospitality as they go through activities and hear the speaker of the day. Bob Likins can tell you more at 805-587-1233.

Dec. 6-8 & 13-15: The 26th year of the annual fundraiser for the 1892 historic Dudley House museum continues into December on weekends from 10 – 6 p.m. with a flea market added on Sundays. Featured are quality crafts, home décor, antiques and collectibles plus a tearoom, silent auction and bargain items. Located at 197 N. Ashwood. (805) 642-3345. Free.

Dec.11: Celebrate the locally-owned, incredible small businesses that make our community unique – including many of your favorite places to shop, dine, and enjoy.  Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Celebration of Small Business is an opportunity to recognize the dynamic business owners whose vision and entrepreneurial dedication help create our vibrant local economy.  Shop, mingle and celebrate WEV client businesses at this free, public event.  The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a Celebration Ceremony, followed by the Shop Local Marketplace & Business Mixer from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 Harbor Blvd. For more information and to RSVP, visit celebrate.wevonline.org.

Dec.12: Ventura County Professional Women’s Network to Host Holiday Mix and Mingle
Thursday, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Located at The Greek at Ventura Harbor. This year VCPWN will again be hosting an evening of celebration and where attendees can enjoy delicious appetizers and a no host bar.
Join VCPWN at this event and you will be able to take advantage of a special membership discount.
This event is free and open to all professional women and men who RSVP. RSVP for this event www.VCPWN.org or via EventBrite by searching “Ventura County Professional Women’s Network”.

Dec.14: Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 54th annual holiday Parade of Lights, noon – 8 p.m. beginning with the parade at 7 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Musical Notes & Holiday Floats.” There will also be holiday arts and crafts vendors starting at 10 a.m. Join Santa Claus and holiday carolers at 6 p.m. in the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, 3900 Bluefin Cir, Oxnard, and witness the 2nd Annual “Lighting the Mast at the Maritime Museum.” For more information on the Parade of Lights visit www.channelislandsharbor.org.

Dec. 18: Meeting on Wed at 6 p.m., at Santino’s Pizza, 4231 Main St. “MOMS” Demand Action protecting our children. New branch chapter of Nationwide grassroots anti-gun nonprofit protecting children.

Scientists can beat Alzheimer’s. Will short-sighted politicians stand in their way?

by Kenneth I. Moch, President and CEO of Cognition Therapeutics

More than 120,000 Americans will lose their battle to Alzheimer’s disease this year. This debilitating condition is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.

Nationwide, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease every 65 seconds. Nearly 6 million Americans currently live with this devastating condition. By 2050, that number could skyrocket to nearly 14 million, costing the country well over $1 trillion annually.

To avoid this societal tsunami, we need to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, our leaders in Washington are considering policies that would make it nearly impossible for scientists to develop such treatments.

The path to discovering the next Alzheimer’s breakthrough is paved with peril. Innovative companies of all sizes have tried, but not one of nearly 90 programs launched over the past 15 years has succeeded. The cumulative estimated cost of developing a new Alzheimer’s drug is nearly $6 billion — twice the cost of developing the average drug.

Despite these astronomical costs and disheartening odds, many are striving to conquer this disease. For example, my team at Cognition Therapeutics, a clinical-stage neuroscience company in Pennsylvania, is working on a novel approach to protecting and restoring synapses — the brain’s electrical circuitry — in Alzheimer’s disease.

There are approximately 70 clinical-stage Alzheimer’s research programs underway. These trials seek to stop, prevent, or slow the progression of the disease. Small biotech companies like mine account for almost 80 percent of these programs.

Several government proposals threaten to stifle these advances.

The Trump administration wants to tie Medicare reimbursements for certain drugs to the reimbursement rates in other developed countries, where government officials use price controls to keep drug costs artificially low.

Meanwhile, some in Congress want to overhaul how Medicare pays for drugs. Right now, Medicare drug prices are set through negotiations between drug makers and insurance companies. These intense negotiations work extremely well in driving down costs for patients and taxpayers. It’s why the Medicare prescription drug program is so popular with seniors and has come in under budget.

However, under a proposal popular on Capitol Hill, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be empowered to directly negotiate the price for hundreds of drugs. The federal government would likely set prices well below a drug’s fair market value, and its decisions would be final and legally binding.

These policies would prove disastrous for Alzheimer’s researchers, who already struggle to attract funding for their projects. From 2008 to 2017, U.S. biotech startups that research Alzheimer’s drummed up just one-sixteenth as much venture capital funding as startups researching cancer, even though Alzheimer’s currently costs our healthcare system over twice as much as cancer.

It’s important to ensure that medicines are affordable. But there won’t be any breakthrough medicines if we adopt policies that dissuade investors from funding risky research projects.

Brilliant scientists are working tirelessly to deliver new treatments to patients in need. Painting these innovators as villains may be good politics, but it hinders their ability to save and improve lives.

We also can never lose sight of the needs of our family and friends who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease — or will in the years to come. There are millions of people who, like me, have watched as the essence of a loved one slips away.

We are on the cusp of medical breakthroughs that will benefit current and future generations — as long as our leaders don’t discourage scientists and investors from tackling the world’s most devastating and debilitating diseases.

Vol. 13, No. 5 – Dec 4 – Dec 17, 2019 – Ventura Music Scene

By Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

There is plenty going on in Ventura to get you into the spirit of the holidays starting with the social event of the year, the Ventura Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, December 7 downtown Ventura with a man-made snowfall and live music from the Adelaide Band, Upstream and Bruno and the Hooligans. If it’s not already sold out, get your tickets at www.VenturaWinterWineWalk.com.

There will be a “Winter Wonder Rock Variety Show” at the Garage on Friday, December 6, with Slanted Land, the Volt per Octaves and Hard Six, then the following night a “Hawaiian Holiday” party with How to Live with Robots, Pink Droid and Identity Crisis.

Namba will be hosting, “Doc the Halls” on Saturday, December 7, with the 805 Gospel Allstars, Doc Ventura, Marley Rae Lovelace, Tamara Sue, the Ghetto Lions and special guest RJ Mischo; tickets are $15 the day of the event.

Jodi Farrell’s music studio student 25th Annual Holiday Concert will be held at the Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church on Saturday, December 7. The guest band will feature Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Ray Dean Mize and Manon Franklin.

The 19th Annual 4 Kids 2 Kids Toy Drive concert will be held at the Ventura Beach Club this year on Sunday, December 8 from 1 – 8 pm featuring Crooked Eye Tommy, Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers, Jim Guston & Truth Jones, Johnny & the Love Handles and more. There’s a $25 cover and they’re also asking for a new unwrapped toy.

There will be an afternoon a holiday popup market at Topa Mountain Winery for their “Shop, Sip & Be Merry” event. Providing the music will be the Brambles, and the Dales on Saturday, December 14 from 1-6 pm.

Quick Notes: enjoy Brazilian Jazz with Teka & New Bossa featuring Kevin Winard, Randy Tico and Doug Webb on Thursday, December 5, at the Winery Ventura; Oak and Main has Hed PE, Bazerk and United Rage on Friday, December 6; Chopperfest returns to the Ventura Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 8, and along with all the hot rides will be live music from the Zepp Heads, Jan Michael and the Vincents, Twisted Gypsy; featuring music out of the 60s Laurel Canyon scene will be California Dreams at Plan B Wine Cellars on Sunday afternoon, December 8; We were Giants (Idaho) and Next Door to Heaven (Russia) play The Garage on Thursday, December 12; there will be a special Listening Room Holiday Jam at Leashless on Sunday, December 15 at 3 pm; the Christmas musical, “Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings” opens December 11 for a couple of weeks at the Rubicon Theater; the Ripkatz return to Sans Souci on Friday, December 13; and the Barrelhouse Wailers CD release party will be at the Winery Ventura on Friday, December 13.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected]. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Women of Jewelia: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Necklace

Lily Tomlin (wearing the Jewelia diamond necklace), Jonell McLain, Patti Channer and Jane Fonda sharing the love. Photograph provided by Patti Channer

by Maryssa Rillo

When living in a culture that defines a person by what they have and what they don’t, how do we spread and share our luxuries? Jonell McLain, Ventura resident, pondered this question often. To share her luxury, in 2004, she gathered 12 of her friends and together they purchased a 15 ½-karat diamond necklace. From there, the women set out on a journey to share their wealth and provide aid to others.

McLain was first challenged with this question when she was 30-years old and living in New York City. She heard Buckminster Fuller speak and he posed this idea.

“I heard him speak and he said ‘there’s enough to go around in the planet if everyone shares and some people don’t have to have so much more.”

This thought sat in McLain’s mind for years. When she returned to California, she saw a necklace at Van Gundy Jewelers in the Ventura mall. The diamond necklace had 118 diamonds, 15 ½-karats and was priced at $37,000. At the time, McLain was a single mom with two children and was raising money for coats to give to the kids on the Avenue.

“I thought really, someone paid $37,000 for a necklace that I could buy 1,000 Patagonia coats for these kids. Like really, this is what we do with our money. So, I gave it back to them,” McLain said.

A couple weeks passed, and she went back to Van Gundy with her mother. The necklace was still there but there was now a promotion going on where you could bid on jewelry. She rounded up 12 of her friends who each contributed $1,000 to purchase the diamond necklace that they could all share.

The group collaboratively came up with the name Women of Jewelia after Julia Child. In November of 2004, the ladies had their first meeting at Patti Channer’s house, who is one of the women of the group.

“The intent was to always do something for somebody. Make a difference. Nobody bought into this for the diamonds,” Channer said

The women have been sharing this necklace for 15 years and together they have made donations, provided aid to those in need and have helped many non-profits.

Their most profound accomplishment started in 2004, when the women were introduced to a homeless woman. Collaboratively, the women helped her find a place to stay, got her a cell phone, a bus pass and fixed her teeth. After a year and a half of helping her, the women were able to reunite her with her son who she gave up for adoption when she was a 13-years-old.

“I firmly believe that with every fiber in my body that if every faith-based communities, all the service organizations within Ventura County, everybody’s got an issue with homelessness. If they were to create an advocacy group around a homeless person who wants to get out of homelessness it could be done here in the city,” Channer said.

The Women of Jewelia have created such an inspirational story and have gained nationwide attention. They’ve done interviews with People Magazine, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America and many more. They even have a book written about their journey called, The Necklace, by Cheryl Jarvis.

The women are still active in their philanthropic work and are currently raising money for Kids and Families Together that provides assistance to families in foster care. You can learn more about it on their website, www.kidsandfamilies.org.

“It is possible to share luxury; it does demystify it. This is only a diamond necklace, it’s not anything else, but people attach so much meaning to wealth and all it is, is just diamonds but look what this has done,” said McLain.

City of Ventura announces $8 million settlement

Who will this money go to?

The City of Ventura announces an $8 million settlement with Southern California Edison Company to resolve wildfire claims resulting from the 2017 Thomas Fire.

The City of Ventura’s $8 million settlement is part of a larger settlement for a group of six public entities, including the 2017 Thomas Fire and 2018 Montecito Debris Flow, but it does not affect the claims of residents, individuals and businesses affected by the fire against Southern California Edison.

Mediator Judge Jay Gandhi (Ret.) presided over several days of in-person mediation sessions held in Los Angeles. Participants in the mediation process include 23 public entities with various claims from the 2017 Thomas Fire, the 2018 Montecito Debris Flows, and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. After multiple days of mediation, Judge Gandhi brokered settlements covering all three of these events.

“The Thomas Fire was devastating for our community on many levels. This settlement will help the City continue to recover so that we can provide the best quality of service and important infrastructure for our community,” said City of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere.

The City of Ventura is represented by the City Attorney’s Office and by outside counsel, Baron & Budd attorneys Scott Summy, John Fiske, Torri Sherlin and Stephen Johnston, who represent 45 public entities in wildfire settlements statewide.