Category Archives: Community Events

Ventura Music Festival presents two admission-free events

Vadym Kholodenko’s Master Class event is open to the public.

A free public concert kicks off the Festival on Friday, July 15th at 6pm.  It’s the Festival Brass Quintet in a fun, lively program, playing in the mini-park at California and Santa Clara.

The second free event is on Saturday, July 16th, at 10:30am: a Master Class in the Ventura College Performing Arts Center.  By pianist Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the Gold Medal and all the special prizes at the last Cliburn International Competition.   Kholodenko will invite four outstanding young pianists selected to perform a piece they have prepared.  He will then give advice on how to improve their performance, and the student performs again in light of the master’s critique.

The Kholodenko Master Class event is open to the public. Tickets and advance reservations are not required, and attendees are asked to arrive by 10:30am for this 60 to 90-minute program.  The College PAC is located at 4700 Loma Vista Road.  Parking on campus is free on weekends.

Vadym Kholodenko’s formal Festival performance takes place at 8pm Saturday evening, also in the PAC.  Tickets are available online at venturamusicfestival.org, by phone at 648-3146, and at the box office on the night of his performance.

 

CMHS seminar and other health news

The effects of sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint disorder – TMJ – on chronic headaches will be focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, July 19.

Brigitte Lovell, D.M.D., who specializes in headache and orofacial pain, will lead the seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, 147 N. Brent St.

Dr. Lovell will discuss the warning signs, diagnosis and treatment of TMJ, which can cause pain to the head, jaw, neck and shoulders. She also will cover TMJ pain night guards, devices and injections, as well as sleep apnea/snoring custom-made alternative dental devices that are available.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006.

Interventional cardiologists at Community Memorial Hospital are the first in Ventura County to treat patients with breakthrough drug-eluting stents approved in October, 2015 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

A cardiac stent restores blood flow in diseased blood vessels. Unlike traditional drug-eluting stents, Boston Scientific’s latest Synergy stent utilizes a bio-absorbable polymer on the surface of the stent that breaks down and is cleared by the body after the drug it contains is released, leaving behind a bare platinum-chromium stent.

Acclaimed actress Kathy Bates has played a variety of roles during her distinguished 40-year film, television and stage career. Recently, however, Bates has taken on a new, more important role as the spokeswoman for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN). After surviving ovarian and breast cancer, she’s currently struggling with a chronic condition that resulted from her double mastectomy four years ago – lymphedema. Lymphedema is an abnormal swelling in an arm or leg that may occur after surgeons have removed lymph nodes during cancer treatment. Without the lymph nodes, lymph fluid does not drain properly.

While lymphedema by itself is not fatal, it can be disfiguring and debilitating and can cause long-term physical, psychological and social problems for patients.

Treatment of lymphedema is one of a number of services provided by Community Memorial Health System’s Cancer Resource Center (CRC) in Ventura in cooperation with the Rehabilitation Department of Ventura County. Complete Decongestive Therapy is provided, which includes manual lymph drainage, multilayered compression bandaging by certified fitters, therapeutic exercises, skin care and patient education in self-care.

In addition to treatment, the CRC offers a screening clinic for lymphedema and a support group for those diagnosed with the condition. Both the screening and support groups are held the third Tuesday of each month.

For more information on the Cancer Resource Center’s lymphedema treatment program, call 652-5459.

 

 

Vol. 9, No. 20 – July 6 – July 19, 2016 – Events

by Ana Baker

Free admission stage show, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. First Sunday of every month.  Old Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. For more Information call 517-1131.

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club meets every Monday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin, mixers and line dancing. Members $10, non-members $12, first time dancers are free. Call Rick at 415-8842 for more information.

July 7: Eat, Meet, greet and shop at one of Ventura’s best networking events the Ladies Luncheon. 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyndham Garden Pierpont Inn Pavilion Room 550 Sanjon Road. Doors open at 11:15 a.m. $27 register or $30 at the door. Sit-down luncheon buffet. Wear your red, white and blue! Register at [email protected].

July 8: The General George S. Patton, Jr. Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution luncheon will feature the program ” The History of the Sons of the American Revolution “, presented by Chapter member Robert Taylor.  The luncheon event will take place at 11:30 a.m., Friday, in the Garden Room, Marie Callender’s Restaurant, 1295 S. Victoria Ave.    The cost for lunch is $20 per person.  For additional information http://pattonpatriots.org.

July 9: “Social Media Sites” will be the topic for the Ventura Beginners PC Group on Saturday, in the third floor lounge of Cypress Place Independent Living, 1220 Cypress Lane. A workshop on Word will also be held. The group meets 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The public is invited.  For more information 648-1368.

July 9: The Ventura County Library System will be participating in a special event coming up at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on Saturday. The Golden Future 50+ Senior Expo will last from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., and during this time library staff will be creating library cards and giving tips and demonstrations on using the library’s electronic resources.

July 10: The Annual Ed Hunt Rehab Point Project Picnic is Sunday at Oxnard Beach Park, 1601 S Harbor Blvd. The picnic is at 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is the 24th year of the Rehab Project Picnic. Ed Hunt began the picnic 24 years when the pathway for wheelchairs was completed and benches and tables were completed down in the sand area of the ocean.  The picnic’s donations provide resources to maintain the Ed Hunt trail down to the ocean for those who are wheel chair bound.

The day will consist of kite flying, a train to give rides to children, music, dancing, games, raffles, and vendors giving out information and resources on everything from A to Z., barbequed hot dogs, hamburgers, water and watermelon.

July 12: Former Disney marketing director, Martin Cooper will speak at the Ventura County Writers Club at 7 p.m. During his career, Martin Cooper not only answered to Mr. Walt Disney himself, but also to Hugh Hefner. For ten years, Cooper was in charge of all public relations and communications for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and the Oscars. The event at Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. in Camarillo, is free and open to the public. Call Sheli Ellsworth 499-3490 with any questions.

July 14: Quality of Life Ventura is an organization of residents who are concerned about improving the community’s quality of life presently affected by unmanaged homeless vagrancy. Thursday, at 7 p.m., located at 1500 Palma Dr.  Call for more info 701-2999

July 16: The third annual Coppers & Choppers open house event will take place at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s Air Unit which is located at the Camarillo airport.  The free event is a unique opportunity for the general public to interact with a wide variety of the specialized units which support the Sheriff’s Department. The familiar yellow and blue helicopters operated by the Department will be on display.  The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.  Lunch and fun activities for the kids will be provided.

July 17: The Ventura and Santa Barbara County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) will meet Sunday, in the Campus Student Center of Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road. The regular meeting starts at noon and at 11 a.m. there will be an informal workshop where a topic on clocks or watches will be demonstrated and discussed. There will be a mart where items will be for sale followed by lunch and an informational meeting and a program.

July 18: CA Zeta Chi parliamentarians will meet at 7 p.m. and will feature a lesson by Sharon Hillbrant titled “How to Delay, More Was Than One!” Main Street Restaurant and Steakhouse, 3159 E. Main St.  Those wishing to eat should arrive at 6 p.m. Non-members are welcome.  Membership is $25 per year.  For information, contact Sharon Hillbrant 479-6738.

July 20,21: Community Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop will be having a fun sale. Masquerade   Look for all the jewelry items, accessories and eclectic items located in CMH front Lobby 147 North Brent St.  Sale will be held 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  While shopping, consider filling out an application to become a volunteer. There are many Auxiliary services looking for volunteers.  Weekdays (daytime and evening) and Saturday (daytime) opportunities have openings.

July 22: Like to play acoustic music? Songmakers.org welcomes all lovers of acoustic music, instrumentalists, singers, and singer/songwriters of all levels. Join in a free song circle at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room, 432 N. Ventura Ave. 4th Friday of each month from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.   Listeners welcome! Info: Mike Wittlin, 750-8281

July 23,24: The 2016 4th Annual Tequila & Taco Music Festival is moving to Plaza Park, 651 E. Thompson Blvd. Saturday and Sunday, for the biggest yearly event that combines two of everyone’s favorite things, Top-Shelf Tequila and Gourmet Street Tacos. The new larger venue will have more room to showcase more Craft Tequilas, more tacos, and of course, more great music.. 11a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Premiere 2-Day Passes: $60. Saturday’s ‘Tequila Experience’: $40. General Admission (both days): $10. 628-9588.

 

Beatles and me on tour book signing and music event

When Ivor Davis isn’t signing books he keeps fit at the Pierpont Racquet Club.

On Saturday, July 16, 6pm to 7pm. Gallery V will host a musical book signing event featuring author Ivor Davis and singer/composer Brooke Halpin. Gallery V is located inside Very Ventura Gift Shop at 540 E. Main Street, Downtown Ventura. The event is free.

In the summer of 1964, budding journalist Ivor Davis set off to New York on his first “Big Job:” to report on a hot, British Rock Band making their debut concert tour in America. What followed was a fever-pitched twenty-four-city tour over thirty-four days with four young musicians catapulting into forever stardom as The Beatles. Ivor Davis will share enjoyable antidotes from his book, “The Beatles and Me on Tour”.

Brooke Halpin is an accomplished broadcaster, pianist, composer, painter, and published author. He currently hosts the hit, syndicated radio show “Come Together with The Beatles,” on KBU, 97.5 in Malibu and online at www.kbu.fm.

Along with meeting Mr. Davis and Mr. Halpin, guests will be able to visit with the artists exhibiting at Gallery V. The current show Good Vibrations: A Harmony of Art & Music is a fine art collective with music and sound as motif. The Beatles will always be a part of musical history. Still to this day, albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band are still enjoyed, maybe even with the addition of Graham Slee HiFi – preamp platform, to help improve the sound from the vinyl player. Either way, The Beatles did make a large impact on the music industry and someone like Ivor was there to witness it.

Gallery V owners Angela Rosales and Michael Mendelson have a steadfast passion for Ventura and coastal living. Gerald Zwers serves as curator of the gallery. Gallery V was launched in 2016, when the couple moved the business to its current location. Ms. Rosales describes the fine-art gallery as “a natural expansion to a business that is dedicated to serving the local economy and prolific arts community.”

 

Public invited to free Civil War talk on July 6 at the Olivas Adobe

Members of the public are invited to attend the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters (OAHI) general meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 6, at the Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive in Ventura, to hear about OAHI activities, and the “Native California Cavalry and its activities and impact during and after the Civil War” by the featured speaker, Museum of Ventura County Director of Education & Outreach Megan Gately.

“Hear about local Union soldiers and their triumphs and tragedies during the mid-1800s. Learn about the California Column, the Civil War’s most Western battle and the shock waves from the East Coast felt out here in the West,” says Ms. Gately. Along with stories from the Civil War, she will present artifacts from the museum’s collections. A social hour with snacks begins at 5:30 pm with the presentation at 6 pm.

Megan Gately has a bachelor’s degree in Education and History from the University of Arizona, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Policy from Arizona State University. She has worked extensively with historians and educators at the Arizona Historical Society and the Minnesota Historical Society. She also served as the founding director of education and outreach at the Museum of the Horse Soldier in Tucson, AZ. Megan has returned to her native Southern California—she is originally from Solvang and went high school in Thousand Oaks—to continue her career in museum education at the Museum of Ventura County, which is celebrating 103 years serving the community.

“The OAHI offers weekend training programs to become a docent at the Olivas Adobe, dress in period costumes and share the multi-cultural history of this landmark site through school field trips, weekend tours and special events,” says OAHI President Rose Burtchby.

Ventura County wildlife expert to discuss how to reduce human-coyote conflicts, June 30

On Thursday, June 30, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host “Coexisting with Coyotes,” a free open-to- the-public presentation providing information about coyotes, their behaviors and how residents can reduce human-wildlife conflicts. Wildlife biologist David Lee will make a presentation and discuss the recent uptick in urban coyote activity. The presentation, which will take place from 7 – 8 p.m. in the Poinsettia Pavilion’s Canada Larga Room, 3451 Foothill Road, will be followed by a question and answer session.

Known as “song dogs,” coyote nighttime yips and howls are often heard coming from the Ventura hills. Coyotes howl to communicate to other pack members, to coordinate hunts, establish territories and simply to let other coyotes know where they are. All too often coyotes are given a ‘bad rap’ but in reality, they are one of North America’s unique wildlife species.

During California’s ongoing drought, human-coyote interactions have increased. Coyotes on the lookout for food and water are venturing into gardens, backyards, alleyways, parks and open spaces. Favorite non-wild coyote foods include garbage, fruit from landscaped trees, and even the occasional small pet.

Lee, a senior biologist with Davey Resource Group (DRG), will discuss ways homeowners can discourage coyotes from entering their properties and how to react when they encounter a coyote in their neighborhood.

To RSVP, please visit www.venturahillsides.org/events. For more information, call VHC at: 805-643- 8044.

Breaking the silence among neighbors

Dr. Joseph Attias, neurophysiologist and audiologist from the University of Haifa, will be speaking about breakthroughs in rehabilitating deafness and his work in Israel done in cooperation with the Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.

Among Dr. Attias’ findings is that the incidence of deafness in Jordanian children is four times greater than for Israeli children. His research also has found that children under 17 months should not have cochlear implants if the deafness is caused by malfunctioning connections between hair cells and the auditory nerve.

Dr. Attias was born in Morocco and has lived in Israel since 1962. He is a full Professor, Department of Communication Disorder, University of Haifa. He has published extensively and is a sought after speaker internationally. He is currently teaching at USC.

The presentation to be held Friday, July 1st, beginning at 6:30 pm, is being sponsored by Congregation Am HaYam, 4839 Market Street, Unit C, and the University of Haifa. Join the congregation for a light supper at 5:30 pm or for more information about Dr. Attias’ presentation, please [email protected] or 232.6442.

Economic Outlook Breakfast

Featured speaker will be Edgar Terry.
Featured speaker will be Edgar Terry.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Economic Outlook Breakfast, “Our Past, Present and Future” on Thursday, June 23, from 7:30-9:30 am at the Marriott Ventura Beach.

The event will explore the rich history of our founding industries here in Ventura, agriculture and oil, and discuss the unique opportunities that are available today. We will also look ahead to ask how do we maximize our existing resources for increased economic impact?

“As our City celebrates its sesquicentennial, we thought it only fitting to explore our rich history and examine the legacy of our agricultural and oil roots that were the catalyst in growing our community and our region,” said Stephanie Caldwell, President and CEO of the Ventura Chamber.

Featured will be speaker Edgar Terry, who is engaged in Ventura County’s agricultural community with his family company Terry Farms, Inc., which produces various vegetable and strawberry crops on 2,000 acres. He is also Senior Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University where he teaches corporate finance in the Degree for Professionals Evening Program and the Master of Business Administration Program.

Also featured is Bob Poole, who currently serves as a Vice President with the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA,) . Between 2011 and 2015 Bob served as Public and Government Affairs Manager for oil exploration and production company Santa Maria Energy.

The event is open to the public. Admission is $45 for Ventura Chamber members, $55 for non-Chamber members, and $5 more at the door. For more information, please contact the Chamber’s Events Director at [email protected] or  643-7222. Attendees may register at www.venturachamber.com/economicoutlook.

Torch Run benefits Ventura County Special Olympics

This was the twenty-seventh year the VPD has participated in the annual LETR.

On Thursday, June 9 employees from the Ventura Police Department (VPD) once again participated in the annual Southern California Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) benefiting Ventura County Special Olympics.  The Ventura Police Department participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run benefiting Ventura County Special Olympics today! Members of the VPD, SWAT team, Patrol Task Force Unit, City of Ventura employees, agents from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and Special Olympics Athletes met at the steps of City Hall and carried the Special Olympics’ Torch, also known as the Flame of Hope, through the streets of Ventura passing off to the Oxnard Police Department at the city limit.

The LETR is an international fundraising and public awareness campaign for the Special Olympics and is comprised of the Torch Run, Tip-A-Cop, and other fundraising events. For over twenty-five years, Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been raising tens of thousands of dollars annually to benefit Special Olympics of Ventura County. The money helps Ventura County Special Olympics to offer free, year round, sports training and competition to over 700 individuals with intellectual disabilities ages eight years and up, who participate in seventeen sports at forty-five training sites throughout Ventura County.

Sergio Mendes leads largest VMF concert

A Celebration of 50 years of Brazil 66.

Sergio Mendes has signed on to lead the largest concert of the 2016 Ventura Music Festival:  Sergio Mendes: A Celebration of 50 years of Brazil 66. The music legend will bring his cool factor, along with a company of musicians and singers,  for an exciting evening of the pop/jazz/bossa nova sound that’s as alluring today as when it landed him in the Grammy Hall of Fame!  Mendes opens the Festival’s 2nd weekend on Friday, July 22nd.  The venue for the Mendes concert only is the Oxnard Performing Arts Center – with food trucks and a pre-concert dance party in the PAC Courtyard from 6 to 7:30.

All other concerts of the 2016 Festival take place in the Ventura College Performing Arts Center.

The Festival leads off the first weekend on July 15th with the chart-topping Anderson & Roe Piano Duo who have captivated audiences with “outrageous and transcendental” performances and music videos viewed by millions. How good are they? “Even the most jaded of concert goers sat forward in their seats and dropped their jaws in amazement.”  A sensational start to the Festival.

Tickets to all concerts of the Ventura Music Festival are on sale now at VenturaMusicFestival.org  or 648-3146.