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Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates 25 Years of Award-Winning Theatre

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura County’s leading not-for-profit theatrical organization committed to entertaining, engaging and enriching the community through live performance, is thrilled to unveil its highly anticipated 25th Anniversary “Silver Season” in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District, entitled “Truly Yours.”

According to Board President Doug Halter, also a member of Ventura’s City Council, “For 25 years, Rubicon has been an integral part of Ventura’s cultural life, and now is preparing to usher in an unparalleled season, one that will both honor its legacy and reaffirm its commitment to delivering exceptional theatre experiences to the Ventura community.”

Rubicon’s milestone season kicks off in October with the West Coast Premiere of The Lifespan Of A Fact, based on the book by John D’Agata and Jim Fingal which was named “Best of the Year” by the Huffington Post. This fast-paced, thought-provoking play explores the narrow line between fact and fiction. The show had a successful run on Broadway in 2019 with Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter”). During the holidays, audiences will enjoy the Drama Desk Award-Winning musical revue The World Goes ‘Round, an exuberant celebration of the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the creators of Broadway hits like Chicago and Cabaret. In February, the season continues with Eisenhower: This Piece Of Ground starring Tony Award-Winner John Rubinstein, and directed by Richard Ellenstein. Fresh from Off-Broadway, this timely masterpiece tells the story of the “simple country boy” who became our 34th President. Rubicon’s fourth production, opening in the spring of 2024, is the World Premiere run of “A” TRAIN. Directed by Risa Brainin, “A” Train is a funny, surprising and insightful story about one mom’s journey on the autism train. The production stars Broadway veteran Annie Torsiglieri (Top Girls, Parade and Miss Saigon). The TRULY YOURS Season closes in September of 2024 with the Tony Award-Winning musical ONCE, book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Set in Ireland, the story follows a street busker who rediscovers his passion for music and his faith in love. The production includes songs from the critically acclaimed film, including the Academy Award-winning song “Falling Slowly.”

To purchase individual tickets or subscribe to Rubicon’s 2023 – 2024 Season, visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call Rubicon Guest Services at (805) 667-2900. Those who order before October 7 save 15%.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. A website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Sept. 8, 9,10: The Footlighters Theater Company presents Come Sail Away, a lip-synch musical at the Ventura Marina. The Community Performance is on Friday the 8th at 7 p.m., Saturday the 9th at 7 p.m., and Sunday the 10th at 2 p.m. matinee in the clubhouse theater. Captain Max, crew, and passengers will sail on his final cruise before retirement. Joyous, wacky, and poignant times await him on this voyage. Join crew members and passengers in songs that will give Captain Max some ideas that could make him happy in his retirement years.

Join your friends and neighbors at this special event aboard the Marina Star and Come Sail Away. Ventura Marina Community 1215 Anchors Way Drive.
Sept. 10: Olivas Adobe Sunday 10th,11-3 p.m. Rancho Day free admission.

Join us as we celebrate what life may have been like on the Rancho San Miguel.  Try roping, laundry, Chumash rock painting, quilting, gold panning, and more.  Entertainment by Youth Mariachi, Old Time Fiddlers, and Folklorico dancers ~ educational activities by Frontier Gunfighters, the Historic Dudley House, and Channel Islands Woodcarvers. This event celebrates the more than 150 years that Olivas Adobe has been a part of Ventura County’s Cultural heritage.  For more information, www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Events.

Sept. 14: You’ve heard of the famous Avenue Taco District – now get a taste and see it! Folks on the Westside of Ventura proudly announce the Second Annual Avenue Taco Week, held from September 14 – 17th. Over a dozen restaurants and taco trucks along Ventura Avenue participated in the event. You can find out about participating restaurants and their tacos at avetacoweek.blogspot.com. Businesses interested in sponsoring Avenue Taco Week can email WCDC Director Kendra Gonzalez at [email protected] or call 805-628-3869.

Sept. 16: In conjunction with Avenue Taco Week is the first Westside Fiesta at Kellogg Park from 4 – 10 p.m., featuring food trucks, vendors, a raffle, live music, and bounce houses.

WCDC also encourages participants to take the self-guided Avenue Mural Tour, a walking exploration of over twenty unique murals on and around Ventura Avenue. A map is available at: https://westsideventura.org/mural-tour/.

Sept. 16: To provide an artistic way to support disaster recovery for Maui, the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living (VCSL) will be hosting The Soundtrack to the Evolution Revolution concert and a silent auction on Saturday at 7 p.m. The show will feature singer/songwriter Ray Davis. Concert attendees will be asked to provide a donation for admission. The concert is paired with a Silent Auction fundraiser featuring fun and valuable items from local merchants and our community. The auction will extend until noon on Sunday, September 17. VCSL is located at 101 S. Laurel Street. For more information about VCSL, please call (805) 643-1933 or visit http://venturacsl.org.

Sept. 16, 17: | Join us for Rosh Hashanah Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach 10 – 2 p.m. At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone. 805-658-7441.
www.ChabadVentura.com/HighHolidays

Sept. 17: Join Chabad of Ventura this Rosh Hashanah Sunday at the Ventura Promenade Beach Playground for “Shofar in the Park.” Return to a simpler, more essential state with fellow community members. Hear the stirring, unadulterated blasts of the Shofar as we celebrate the New Year!

Sept. 19: Please join the Ventura Senior Men’s Group (VSMG) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road.All men 55+ are welcome. All topics except religion or politics are on the table.
Our meeting agenda is:
12:00-12:45 p.m. Lunch Food Affair by Stacy $25 but FREE to first-time visitors,
12:45-1 p.m. Business Meeting
1:00-1:30 p.m. Speaker (local organizations and information)

Bob Harris from the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation speaks on the needs and services of veterans. Need transportation? Call Lyle Hotzler 805-341-9820

Sept. 23: Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the World’s Largest Event Dedicated

to Alzheimer’s Care, Support, and Research. The Alzheimer’s Association invites Ventura County residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® at The Collection at Riverpark in Oxnard.

On Walk Day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s — their reasons to end the disease.

Sept. 24, 25: Join us for Yom Kippur Services at Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach! At Chabad of Ventura, our services are designed to make everyone feel welcome and at home. The prayers, conducted with Hebrew/English prayer books, are lively and engaging.

There is no charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations are suggested to secure your seat. Reservations can be made online or over the phone.
September 24 | 6:30 p.m.
September 25 | 10 – 2 p.m. ,5:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month and include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Ruby And Lonely

We organized the books by month.

A book by Bestselling Author Patrice Karst with pictures by Award-Winning Illustrator Kayla Harren

“Ruby And Lonely is a gentle reminder to young readers everywhere that they are not alone in their feelings of loneliness. Patrice Karst once again delivers a tender, thoughtful guide for children on how to cope and manage emotions that can often feel overwhelming

Ruby’s got a problem. At school and at home, everyone is so busy all the time, and no one seems to notice her at all. Ruby finds herself feeling kind of…lonely. It’s a big problem! But one day, while walking home alone after school, she decides to look at her problem from a new angle. She even gives it a name―Lonely―a seemingly small but significant decision that transforms her problem, and entire life, in the most surprising and extraordinary way. Join Ruby as she discovers her inner best friend in this relatable and heartwarming story.

Patrice Karst is the bestselling author of The Invisible String, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into fifteen languages, and its companion titles, The Invisible Leash, The Invisible Web, You Are Never Alone: She lives in Ventura. Learn more at www.patricekarst.com.

Kayla Harren is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books. Learn more at www.kaylaharren.com.

Two Lions, an Imprint of Amazon Publishing
On-Sale: September 12, 2023 | 9781662508042 | $17.99

The Guns of Ventura

The cannons were to defend the city.

by Richard Senate

On December 7, 1941 Ventura learned on the radio that the Japanese Empire had attacked our naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. We were in peace talks at the time with Japan and everything looked to be going smoothly. The war was raging in Europe but America was not directly involved. Many believed it was only a question of time before America would be pulled into the war, a draft was set up and the military expanded.

Still, after the horrors of World War I, no American wanted to get involved in the fighting in Europe.  When the attack came, it was a complete surprise. It caught America  flat footed.  Following Pearl Harbor, came Japanese victories in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies.  Fear gripped the West Coast and the newspapers said air attacks were impending.  Japanese submarines began to sink coastal steamers and even attacking an oil facility in Santa Barbara.  In response the 2nd Battalion of the 144st Artillery of the California National Guard set up a “masked battery” of two 105 MM on mounts at what was called “Hobo Jungle,” renamed “Camp Seaward.”

The battery had an underground bunker for shells, a small railroad track to carry the shells to the guns, barracks, a mess hall, firing range and a parade grounds.  Spotters were set up at the cross above the city and at  the Rincon Bluff connected by telephone lines. The cannons were to defend the city and her strategic oil reserves from Japanese raiders or possible Japanese suicide squads landed by submarines to blow up oil wells and facilities.   The guns were tested and rattled windows in the city, breaking a few. The war progressed, but the expected enemy never came.  As the Japanese Navy was not seen as a local threat in 1944, the base was dismantled and the gunners sent to the fighting in the Philippine Islands. Now all that is left are the two concrete round gun mounts at the beach as Seaside Park. In a disturbing note, the mounts are round, so that they could be turned on the city if it should fall to the Japanese!

Ventura Ocean Outfall Project

As part of the Ventura Ocean Outfall Project, Blois Construction will be performing pipeline work along Anchors Way between Schooner Drive and Beachmont Street. During this time, there will be closures of the street and sidewalk in the affected areas. Traffic Control Plans have been designed to ensure a smooth and safe flow of traffic during construction. Questions, comments or concern can be addressed by calling the Construction Management Team at 805-500-8103.

By P. Lawrie

Douglas Penfield School library

We organized the books by month.

by Juliette Nasarenko Ventura High School Senior

When I first came to the Douglas Penfield School to volunteer I was told that they were working to transform one of the classrooms into a library. I first walked into the classroom and I saw thousands of children’s books scattered throughout several boxes on the floor. I felt relieved that I would not have to organize these books alone.

Natalie McGranahan had just started organizing the books. I remember thinking that this was going to be a long project. Both Natalie and I are members of the National Charity League which is a Mother-Daughter Volunteer Organization that is located throughout the country.

The Douglas Penfield School is a preschool and elementary school for kids with severe disabilities and has been around since 1980 and has never had its own library. So, we decided to organize the books by month. For example, the February shelf has Valentine’s Day, Firefighters/Police books, and doctor/staying safe books. We also have an animal section, a transportation section, a fairytale section, etc.

When all the books finally were put on the shelves we were excited to finally decorate the library. Sydney Traub who is also a volunteer at the Penfield Library helped us with this endeavor. We made a Giving Tree, designed a house for the students where they could read, and decorated the walls. The employees and teachers at the Douglas Penfield School were so excited about the opening of their first library that we wanted to share this with the Ventura Community.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – The Pet Page

• Canine Adoption and Rescue League will be holding their 23rd Annual Pooch Parade and Pet Expo this year at Ventura Harbor Village on the large grass area. The Pooch Parade and Pet Expo will be on Sunday, September 24th, from 10 to 3. Dress yourself and your dog as your favorite Super Hero or sidekick. There will be booths there for all interest and a dog demonstration, Dee Jay playing your favorite tunes, dog adoptions, silent auction, contest and more. Participate in the walk itself or come and support our life-saving efforts and check out the vendors. At the heart of the Pooch Parade lies the parade itself. Witness the delightful sight of dozens of dogs and their owners strolling along the Ventura Harbor Village Promenade. Pet owners are to be a part of this memorable experience by registering to walk in the Pooch Parade with their four-legged companions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to proudly introduce your furry friend to the world while supporting dogs in need.

Visit the Ventura Breeze booth and have an opportunity to win free dog grooming by Dee-Dee’s Dog Spot.

Check out yhe website for more info on the event: www.poochparade.org.

• What’s four-legged, furry, and often serves up a quick little mood boost?

by Sally Anscombe

That’s right, a dog. It turns out even short, friendly interactions with canines can be good for our health.

I started pondering the power of dogs during one of my daily strolls around my neighborhood. Almost invariably, I’ll run into at least one person walking their dog. If I get the OK to pet the pooch, it’s a joyous moment of cooing and sloppy kisses.

I always walk away from these canine exchanges feeling just a bit more relaxed, and happy. And that got me wondering, could these short interactions with other people’s dogs actually be good for me?

“Absolutely. I think it is safe to say that animals are beneficial to our mental and physical health,” says Nancy Gee, a professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gee says evidence is accumulating that levels of the stress hormone cortisol drop in people after just 5 to 20 minutes spent interacting with dogs — even if it’s not their pet. “Also, we see increases in oxytocin, that feel-good kind of bonding hormone,” she says.

And it’s not just humans that benefit from these brief exchanges. “What I love about this research is that it’s a two-way street,” Gee says. “We see the same thing in the dogs, so the dogs’ oxytocin also increases when they interact with a human.”

Now, the therapy dogs used in research are screened for things like friendliness, good behavior and responsiveness to their handler’s cues. And of course, not everyone’s a dog person, whether because of temperament or allergies or other factors. “Pets are not a panacea,” Gee says. “They’re not necessarily going to be great for every single person. But for people who really get it, who really connect with the animals, they really can make a big difference,” Gee says.

Dog ownership has also been linked to positive health outcomes, including better heart health and increased physical activity. But Gee acknowledges that some of the evidence is mixed. She attributes that in part to differences in methodology and the fact that studies of pet ownership can’t prove cause and effect, since you can’t just randomly assign one person a dog as a pet and another a horse.

Research on the health benefits of human interactions with animals – especially with dogs – has exploded in recent years, thanks to funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Waltham PetCare Science Institute. Though the field is still young, Gee says the quality of the evidence is improving all the time, including more randomized controlled trials looking at short interactions. “We’re seeing really nice effects,” she says.

For example, there’s some evidence that brief bouts of puppy love may help us think better. Gee collaborated on a randomized controlled trial of 8 and 9-year-old school children in the U.K. She and her colleagues found that kids who had twice-weekly, short exchanges with dogs in the classroom had less stress and improved executive functioning – the cognitive processes that allow us to do things like plan, stay on task and block out distractions. And she says those benefits lingered..

“Animals, and dogs in particular, live in the moment. They’re experiencing their environment with wonder and awe all the time, and they’re not bringing up what happened to them earlier in the day or what they’re thinking about in the future. They’re there right now,” says Mueller.

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Trip, a 7-month-old Shepherd X on the hunt for an active home with another pup that I can play with. I have a whimsical puppy energy that makes everyone who meets me smile. I like playing with other dogs and also love making new human friends. I enjoy a good game of fetch but I would also be content going on a run with my people. If you’re interested in meeting me, please fill out an online application. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L.

https://carldogs.org/
CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

 

 

 

Hi: I’m Zeus a 5-year-old Neutered Male Siberian Husky

I was found in Fillmore. You can see what a great addition I would be to your family.

Shelter: VCAS Camarillo Animal Shelter Animal ID: A832578

Vol. 16, No. 25 – Sept 6 – Sept 19, 2023 – As I See It

The Ventura County Fair made about $6.7 million this year. This is slightly less than last year’s $6.9 million. Ticket revenue was slightly up and parking was slightly down from last year. Carnival proceeds fell to about $3.6 million, nearly $230,000 less than last year.

The preliminary revenue numbers reported by the fair included $2.62 million in admissions; $3.55 million in carnival proceeds; $511,300 in parking; and $6.68 million in total revenue.

Inmate Number P01135809

What struck me as a little odd is Trump’s bond was set as $200,000 and he put 10% down and had a bond company guarantee the balance. This is usually done by people who can’t afford to cover their bond. Could it be that Trump doesn’t have $200,000?

Joseph Biggs, a former military service member who helped lead efforts by the Proud Boys to take over the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other crimes committed during the riot more than two years ago.

Ethan Nordean, 32, was sentenced to 18 years for a more serious seditious conspiracy charge.

Even though Bigg’s sentence is far below the 33-year sentence sought by prosecutors, I’m very happy with it. I’m a proud boy because our democracy is working so well finding and prosecuting many of the people who tried to overthrow our country.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly told Biggs that the events of the day broke a long political tradition. He said, “If we don’t have a peaceful transfer of power in this country, we don’t have anything.”

Just before jury selection was to begin in their trial, the remaining three defendants in the theft of more than half a million dollars from the Ventura County Fairgrounds on August 10th last year changed their pleas to guilty. They also admitted to 16 special allegations regarding the theft from the fair administration building. It’s still hard to believe it was so easy for them to steal almost $600,000.

Hopefully the dying of our sea dwellers is coming to an end. Algae that produce domoic acid along the Southern California coast have kept marine mammal rescue groups busy, but the blooms have diminished. Marine mammal centers treated hundreds of animals during what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said was the most severe algal bloom on record in a geographic region. It was so sad to see ocean dwellers dying.

Muslims in eastern Pakistan went on a rampage over allegations that a Christian man had desecrated the Quran, demolishing the man’s house, burning churches and damaging several other homes, police and local Christians said. Perhaps this was a bit of an overreaction.

San Francisco’s Roman Catholic archdiocese filed for bankruptcy, saying the filing is necessary to manage more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials. The Chapter 11 protection filing will stop all legal actions against the archdiocese and thus allow it to develop a settlement plan with abuse survivors.

I hope that Ventura can support the many cannabis stores that will be opening here. Cannabis stores in other communities are already suffering financially. Just don’t know if there is this much need.

Three people were killed in a racially motivated attack after a gunman targeted Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida, in one of several weekend shootings that again shocked Americans in public places.

A judge has refused to dismiss the case against a father who helped his son obtain a gun license three years before authorities say the younger man fatally shot seven people at a 2022 Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago. Illinois prosecutors charged Robert Crimo Jr. because he had alleged helped his son, Robert Crimo III, obtain a gun license even though the then 19-year-old had threatened violence. Perhaps this type action can help reduce gun deaths at least a little.