Pierpont Racquet Club old guy (except for the one under 70) tennis players Tony Jankowski, Dick Zizic, Dick Baldewin, Harold Kennedy, Harry Finney, Jim Minas and an unidentified person in a funny shirt celebrating Zizic’s birthday at Pete’s Breakfast House.
On Wednesday, Oct.26, at 6pm the Ventura PowerPoint Toastmasters will present an Open House and Halloween celebration at Cypress Place (1220 Cypress). Featured will be learning PowePoint skills to enhance your publications. Yummy snacks and prizes and ghoulishly fun.
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit 501 (c)3 organization that promotes public speaking and reaches out to assist local members of the community to learn the technique of speaking in front of a large crowd, small board meeting, or a sole supervisor on a number of topics that could impact the success of any member in the work environment.
For more information www.venturapowerpoint.org or 433-3027
Darren Gonser is a 16 year veteran of the Arthritis foundation California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour. This is the 16th year and he has participated in all of them.
The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour is a scenic bike ride that takes place over 8 days and covers 525 miles along the coast on Highway 1 that benefits the Arthritis Foundation by raising vital funds needed to find a cure for arthritis.. The Tour starts in San Francisco and ends up in Los Angeles with a stopover in Ventura.
This ride has already raised over $1 million to benefit the 50 million adults and 300,000 suffering from arthritis!
Photos by By John Ferritto
by Elizabeth Rodeno CAPS Media
Channel Six’s schedule is brimming with election programming. From several forums to a featured program on the ballot propositions to our Video Voter program, you can get informed and meet the candidates who will serve Ventura’s community. Video Voter is our unique program that features both the candidate’s platform, shared by the candidate themselves and a question and answer program segment where they get to answer hard hitting questions about the city and the school district. It is a great way to become informed. The crew works very hard to produce these programs, bringing out the truck with director, graphics and audio crew. The camera crew works very hard to be sure you don’t miss a thing. It is a great opportunity for our interns and volunteers to get out on location and show what they can do.
We are back in gear with the VUSD’s Mayor for a Moment where we meet an exceptional student, hear their story and learn about their school. Every month during the school year we meet a new student. Business of the Month and City Stories are moving ahead. CAPS has the opportunity to share a local business’s development in the city, who they are and what makes them special. In the past we have featured Mortgage Couch, Main Street Meats, Project Understanding and Fast Signs to name a few. Let us not forget the coverage of City Council, Design Review, Historic Preservation and Planning Commission meetings we broadcast live. We also broadcast the Ventura Unified School District meetings and rebroadcast the Board of Supervisors meetings so you get full coverage of Ventura’s inner workings. In the event you missed any of them, they are rebroadcast on channel 15. Check our schedule.
Evan is hard at work building the low power FM station KPPQ-LP right here in Ventura. We have a special opportunity to share local content, bring local voices and explore Ventura via the airwaves. It will be a great compliment to our television channels. Bring your interest, knowledge and ideas to us to share with our community.
CAPS Media is a membership organization, we support our members’ creativity and share their voice through training and mentorship. Their voice and yours are part of the story covered by CAPS and all media in Ventura. Check out our social media pages including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. View it all on our frequently updated website. A yearly membership at CAPS is only $25, a best bargain for media fans, students and organizations to share your story. Go to www.capsmedia.org or call 658-0500 for more information.
Sheldon:
Once again Sheldon you got a smile out of me instead of a groan with your comment concerning your dislike of the initiative process. Involved voters causing a vote to go to the people ? An abuse of power ? Hardly.
Sometimes politicians are not able to put one foot in front of the other without tripping , because they overlook little things like….. logic for instance. The public then has to pick up the slack. Costly yes. Necessary most of the times, yes. Unnecessary sometimes , yes, but can you imagine what would happen otherwise ?
That’s one good reason to install term limits. Career politicians ( including ventura politicians) , get bad eyesight the longer they are in office. They keep tripping on logic.
Mike Art
Sheldon
I read the current issue and thought you did a great job on the Susan Laby article. I hope you write as nice a one when I go.
John Ferritto
Who is this again?
Dear Sheldon:
Thanks so much for supporting A Whirl Of Merriment (FOTM fundraiser)! I’m pleased that you and Diane could join us.
Your ongoing reporting on the Brooks incident is very much appreciated. You have a nose for news and I know that your interest in covering the truth about this poorly executed plan has helped to bring the public’s attention to it. Keep up the good work!
Your ongoing support of Focus on the Masters is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Donna Granata
Founder & Executive Director
Dear Editor,
I attended the Scamp for President Rally with glee. There I found a tidy crowd consisting of Scamp’s campaign manager (in a Hawaiian shirt!), his Pawblic Relations committee, loyal sign twirlers heralding oncoming traffic to vote and “bark” their support, confounded furry companions, and the candidate himself sporting a giant red bow tie.
Missing of course was the running mate, “Savana the Cat”, or is it asleep-on-the-job mate?
Lyn Fairly
KVTA News Talk Radio 1590 AM
Sheldon
My wife Barbara is forcing me to write you again, despite my writing you already with my opinion. Now she wants me to give you her opinion . Ain’t love grand !
She has a beef with the downtown parking situation and the news racks. Priority goes to the parking situation. Years ago the city council convinced the public that all those free parking lots down town were adequate, but as we all found out , a very valuable one was fenced off and kept from the publics use under the guise of getting the lot ready to sell.
The old Top Hat lot was a very needed parking lot. It is now an eye sore that is not utilized. The property is still vacant and still badly needed. Hopefully some new council blood will help us out here with more free parking downtown.
Now second on my wife’s survival of the planet list (joke ) , is the condition of the news racks. The city forced news owners to get rid of those old eye sores. They were replaced with clean iron ones which blended with the Spanish 1920s look of the area.
One look at the racks in front of the post office on Santa Clara and some on main street , would have some people wondering what has happened to those clean racks. Many are now in need of repair. They are as shabby as the ones they replaced. items of use require maintenance. A fact of life.
My deed is done
Mike Art (Husband of Barbara Art)
Mike: I certainly hope that Barbara really asked you to write this for her so that I don’t get in trouble with her. Regarding the newspaper racks I, and the City are in complete agreement with her. Something will be done soon to correct this situation. There was no thought given as to who would maintain these. The racks are owned by the City and the inserts by the publishers.
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
~ Noel Coward
Jim’s interest in magic began at age 14.
R.I.P. Jim Spencer
by Shirley Lorraine
The seat on the aisle is now empty. James (Jim) L. Spencer passed away at the age of 74 from a swiftly-moving inoperable brain tumor on Friday, September 30 with me, his wife of 26 years, Shirley Lorraine Spencer, at his side.
Jim was well known in many circles. His solo law practice focused on estates and corporations. He taught business law courses at Ventura College for nearly 40 years. His interest in magic began at age 14 and continued to the present. His primary magic persona was that of Professor Tinker, a medicine show recreation of old west vintage. Although we often performed on the same bill, rarely did we actually perform together. Our last stage performance as a duo outside of magic was a reading of “Love Letters” at the Camarillo Playhouse.
Together we co-authored Two On the Aisle, writing more than 400 theater reviews to date for the Ventura Breeze and the Ventura County Reporter over a span of more than 20 years. Jim liked to say that he wrote the vowels and I wrote the consonants because there were more of them. His own years of performance as an actor and singer on local stages endeared him to many. Jim and I met while performing with the Firelite Dinner Theater. The first Spencer/Lorraine Entertainment collaboration was a medieval dinner event fundraiser for Ventura County Master Chorale. Since 1988 we have been privileged to perform for and arrange entertainment for many charitable organizations and private parties from Ventura to Las Vegas.
An avid theater-goer, Jim was a major force behind creating and establishing the Ventura REP awards for recognizing local talent which has evolved into an unprecedented cooperation among Ventura County theaters. This achievement was a source of great satisfaction, appealing to his relentless desire to cultivate, encourage and recognize the outstanding quality and amount of theatrical talent within Ventura County. He truly treasured the connections, acquaintances and friendships made through the theater community.
Jim was a long-time member of Hollywood’s Magic Castle (Academy of Magical Arts), Downtown Rotary, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Toastmasters International, Business Network International Network of Champions, the California Bar Association, advisory board for Ventura Improv Company, to name just a few. In addition, he participated in and supported numerous arts and charitable organizations through the years.
A public memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 30 (the day before International Day of Magic) at 2 p.m. at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. A reception may be held at a later date.
Jim would be pleased to have contributions made in his honor to a Ventura County theater of choice or to the Salvation Army, Ventura Corps. Both are deserving causes for which he worked tirelessly and with passion.
Suz Montgomery demonstrates strength and determination in a Wonder Woman T-shirt given by her grandchildren.
by Lori Harasta, Community Relations Associate for Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association
“I’m grateful for the experience of having cancer. It has given me a better quality of life by defining me and what I’m here on this earth to do.”
For the past two years, Suz Montgomery has been fighting her third recurrence of breast cancer. Treatment included a double mastectomy, extensive chemotherapy and radiation.
She had a mammogram about six months prior to finding that a lump that was growing. She insisted on having another mammogram, even though it meant paying for it out-of-pocket. The results showed a mass. She requested an ultra sound and went into high gear to assemble her cancer team. Within two weeks, she underwent surgery.
The radiation burned her skin and made her hair fall out. Rather than hide her baldness with a wig or hat, she sported it proudly (I would say beautifully!) and used it as a teaching tool for the curious. One was a young boy with his mother at the grocery store. The Pre-K kid stared at her hairless crown as they wandered the aisles. Finally, Suz crouched down and spoke softly to the boy, “This is what happens when you don’t eat your carrots.” His mother chimed in, “Or your peas!”
Her hair has since grown back, but she’s had other complications. It was the chemo that weakened her vertebrae, causing two of them to fracture. She has neuropathy and severe back pain for which she continues to receive treatment. Many people experience severe pain after having issues with their back and spinal area but there are lots of treatment options available to help ease the pain. Some may choose to smoke some cannabis (such as this black diamond strain) and others may simply take pain killers. The important thing is finding a way to ease the pain.
“Chemo was the most rigorous challenge of my life. It’s hard to get my energy back, even though I work out daily.” She says going to the gym helps mitigate some of the pain.
Suz rises at 4 am to start her day. “I’m determined to leave this earth better than I found it. I need to pack as much as I can into every day.” Her fitness and feistiness belie the fatigue and pain she feels constantly. She looks about 20 years younger than her chronological age. She’s got a strong and stubborn outlook on life and squeezes more into a day than most can imagine.
A passionate lover of life who seeks justice for the downtrodden and underserved, one of Suz’ current causes is to ensure the growing elderly population of Ventura has adequate services and resources to live their final chapters comfortably.
She is the Resource Coordinator of ENCORE at Ventura Continuing Adult Education, Chair of the Ventura Council for Seniors, Vice-Chair of the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, Ventura County District Liaison for AARP, Ventura County representative of State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson’s Senior Legislative Board and many more commissions and committees.
Even though she’s in pain 24/7, Suz says she and cancer are friends. “Because of cancer, I’m grateful for every day I’m alive, and for the love and support of wonderful friends, family and the Ventura community (which I consider my family). Because of cancer, I’m even more determined and fearless. I know I have a mission and that God is not done with me yet.”
• Wow, I have been writing for the Ventura Breeze for nine years as we complete our ninth year anniversary (cats and the Breeze have at least nine lives). I was just a kid when I started.
I want to thank my wonderful readers, Scampclub members, my remarkable publisher-editor( I had to say that to get snacks), Victoria Usher for her contributions and Savana for leaving me alone while I am working at the computer. And those of you that are voting for me as president.
• East Ventura Animal Hospital, located at 10225 Telephone Rd. is having a Spooktacular Open House on Saturday, October 22nd from 12-4pm.
There will be many free activities including pet costume contests, pet photo booth (from 12:30 – 2), hospital tours, trick-or-treat stations and lite refreshments. In addition to this there will be raffles and prizes, pet adoptions and discounted microchips while you are there as well. Come join the fun and bring your pets! 647-8430
• The Tinker’s Treat Project, started by long time Ventura resident, John Darling, has created a Go Fund Me page to help raise funds to pay the adoption fees of senior dogs. Isn’t that wonderful?
The project started with enough funds to pay the adoption fees for 23 animals. Since its launch in June of this year, 18 dogs have found homes with the fund paying the adoption fees for each.
The first recipient of the fund was a 13 year old, toothless, Chihuahua named Penelope who was adopted along with her longtime partner, Jack, an 8 year old Chihuahua.
The Go Fund Me Page is https://www.gofundme.com/2r2uuv8
For more information about how you can help, visit Tinker’s web site www.tinkerstreat.com .
I have written before about the National Police Dog Foundation. They have a new website
www.nationalpolicedogfoundation.org so check it out.
The needs of law enforcement agency K-9 units is growing at a rapid pace. They get grant requests almost on a weekly basis and are committed to help these agencies meet their needs. And so as their needs grow, so must our efforts to meet their needs. This new website is part of their efforts to raise more funds to ensure the proper purchasing, training and medical needs of the K-9s, during active duty and retirement.
• by Victoria Usher
The city of Fillmore now has more than $40,000 in city funding which they intend to use to help fund a dog park. On October 11th the Fillmore City Council voted on where the location for the new dog park will be. The City Council were supposed to vote on the location for the new dog park earlier than October 11th, but they decided that they wanted to find out more information on how big or small the dog park would be.
The Fillmore Parks and Recreation Commission approved the idea of a new dog park, which now leaves the final say in the hands of the City Council. As of right now there are no dog parks in the Fillmore or Santa Paula area so all five of the council members were very much in favor of the new dog park idea. Dog owners living in Fillmore and Santa Paula must drive to Ventura or Santa Clarita if they wish to take their dogs to a dog park.
This is beloved Charlee … Sept.13, 2003 to Aug.28, 2016. a wonderful companion to Kyle for 12 years. He will be sorely missed by all.
Charlee ~ Sept.13, 2003 – Aug.28, 2016
Hi: I’m Neci, a 3 year old Labrador retriever who has been a good companion and exemplary service dog for Ventura resident Pam Williams. I came from Canine Companions for Independence in Oceanside, California. Pam and I have been together a year now and the relationship has completely changed Pam’s life.
Rubicon Theatre Company presents Return To The Forbidden Planet, a fabulously campy send up of “Forbidden Planet” and other sci-fi film and TV shows from the 1950s, loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Set on a space ship sometime in the future, the show features a galaxy of 1950’s and 1960’s rock and roll classics, including “Wipe Out,” “Good Vibrations,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “All Shook Up,” “Monster Mast,” and “We Gotta Get Out of this Place.”
Winner of the Olivier Award for Best Musical, Return To The Forbidden Planet follows the adventures of dashing spaceship Captain Tempest and his crew, who hit a meteor shower and then are mysteriously drawn off course to the mysterious planet of D’Illyria. There, they discover a mad scientist Dr. Prospero, his beautiful daughter Miranda, and the robot Ariel. As romance develops between Captain Tempest and Miranda, a monster threatens the spaceship, and a sacrifice must be made to ensure everyone’s safety.
The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through November 13. Low-priced previews are Halloween week – Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. and Friday, October 28 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Saturday, October 29, at 7 p.m. with a post-show party hosted by Skating Plus. For tickets and dates, go to www.rubicontheatre.org or call 667-2900. Regular tickets range from $35 to $64 plus a $4 service fee, depending on day of the week and time. Opening night is a benefit performance, with tickets at $95 (price includes a tax-deductible contribution).
