“ filling up with high-quality recycled water is saving us lots of money.”
by Shana Epstein-Ventura Water General Manager
On the heels of winning the Mayor’s Challenge and being recognized as one of the most water wise cities in America, it’s clear that Ventura residents are extremely mindful of water conservation and the need for continued resiliency. As a catalyst to help reduce conservation fatigue during these extended drought conditions, Ventura Water is proud to equip residents with more water-saving tools!
Coming at the end of June we are excited to announce the grand opening of our Recycled Water mobile use hauling program, where residents can come and get training, pay a fee, and be permitted to fill up containers with high-quality recycled water to be used for landscapes – instead of having to use their potable water. Training sessions will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternating Saturdays from 9-10 a.m. at the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (VWRF), 1400 Spinnaker Drive in the Ventura Harbor. The first training session was held on June 21. Contact the VWRF to sign up at 677-4131.
And that’s not all! In July 2016, we will bring you another tool in the water conservation tool belt! Ventura Water will launch WaterWise 2.0, a new turf replacement program that offers more ways to save water. Everything from turf replacement to free sprinkler nozzles and smart irrigation timers will be offered to participants who qualify! So hold off on starting that yard project and stay tuned for more information coming in July on the launch of this exciting program!
Finally, what inspires you to make sacrifices and go above and beyond the call of duty to minimize your water footprint? Also coming in July 2016 – just for fun and as a part of our annual summer awareness campaign – Ventura Water will launch Capture Conservation, a local photo contest that offers residents who have battled to conserve during the drought an opportunity to capture what they’ve done in a photo and be entered to win some really cool prizes! Whether it’s a fancy rainwater harvesting system or simply a reusable water bottle, share how you and your friends are “capturing conservation!” It’s easy… Save water, take a photo and enter to win! Check your monthly Pipeline for more details to come in July.
Artist John Nava designed the tapestry based on the oil painting using the electronic Jacquard technology. John Nava studied art at U.C. Santa Barbara and did his graduate MFA work in Florence, Italy. His work is found in numerous private, corporate and public collections throughout the United States, Europe and Japan including the National Museum of American Art in Washington D.C. Nava has done large-scale public works including projects for the Tokyo Grain Exchange in Japan, the Seattle Symphony Benaroya Hall and Westmont College.
The Serra tapestry is an exact replica of the original tapestry that was blessed by Pope Francis in November 2015 in the sacristy of the National Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The original tapestry is on display at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel where St. Junipero Serra is interred.
A “Hail Mary” is a last-ditch attempt to score as time runs out, generally considered a miracle if it succeeds. Yet, on June 6, the Ventura City Council passed by 6-1 the Net Zero Ordinance despite strong opposition from the building industry. While some developers tried to defeat it, other pro- development forces tried to delay it. Save Our Water Ventura (SOWV) supported the ordinance and did not want a delay.
SOWV chair, Charles Spraggins said: “We did not get everything we wanted. However, the ordinance was a fair and reasonable compromise — so most of our members supported it. Net Zero is a plus for the city and for current residents. It requires new developments to be water neutral or pay a fee (known as an impact fee or an in-lieu fee). The fee will help pay for new water supplies. Until now current residents have subsidized water supplied to most new developments.”
During the contentious city council meeting, Carl Morehouse, an urban planner and a Ventura City Council member since 1999, admitted that Ventura City Councils have been negligent in properly planning for the City’s water requirements — and for the funding of those requirements.
Net Zero would not have passed without the extensive labor of the Ventura Water Commission whose members have given up their personal time, working without compensation, on behalf of our city. Last year, with the urging and support of SOWV, the Ventura City Council formed the Ventura Water Commission.
The top managers of the Ventura Water Department and an outside consulting firm worked with the Water Commission over a period of nine months to formulate the ingredients of the Net Zero Ordinance. During the lengthy process, the Commission listened to all stakeholders. Keeping water affordable is one of SOWV’s goals. The new ordinance will contribute to that end. Our thanks to the Ventura Council, Ventura Water Staff and Ventura Water Commission.
‘Mermaid and her catfish, Goldie’ 18×36 oil on canvas by Tina Obrian. The Tina Obrien Gallery has a new name and new location in the Harbor. It is now the Mermaid Gallery located at 1575 Spinnaker Dr. #107B. Ventura Harbor Village (By the Coffee Dock & Post)
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.
Once a year a charitable event generously offers a free dental clinic; however, every day there is a child in pain who requires help now!
The Children’s Resource Program (CRP) began 31 years ago with a simple concept – children should not live in pain. The CRP’s primary focus is to provide oral health and vision care services for low-income, underserved, and at-risk children who lack access to health care. At no fault of their own, many of these children are left to fend for themselves without being taught to care for their precious dental health and sight.
These children are referred to the CRP for exams, x-rays, glasses, root canals, endodontics, periodontics, extractions, crowns, fillings, cleanings, and occasionally braces, for medical reasons. These services are donated by oral health and vision care specialists from Ventura County. Cosmetic, general and restorative dentistry are all offered by Dentist Greene so be sure to book yourself in for an appointment if you’re in need of any treatments or just a checkup.
The CRP receives referrals for these services from school districts, the Mexican Consulate, clinics, government agencies, hospitals and non-profit agencies. The CRP receives referrals for children whose dental and vision problems are impeding academic, social, emotional, and physical development. The CRP transports children to cities in Ventura County where services are available, connecting children to over 2,000 services a year and our donors provide over $300,000 in-kind services, annually. Since 1984, children referred to the program have received over $5 million in donated services.
On August 18, at the Lloyd Butler Estate, the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation at its 23rd Annual David Fainer, MD and Leo Tauber, MD health care event will honor exceptional health care providers who donate their time and talents to help others.
At these awards, we are honoring VCMRF’s 60th anniversary, and our founder, Dr. Leo Tauber’s 100th birthday. This year’s honorees include: Oral Health Specialist Scott Packham, DDS; Vision Care Specialist, Paul J. Dougherty, MD; Hospital Physician Gail Simpson, MD; Community Physician, John Walters, MD; Hospital Nurse, Diana Jaquez, RN; Community Nurse, Rosemary Libman, RN; Behavioral/Mental Health Professional, Deborah Thurber, MD; Allied Health Professional, Camarillo Health Care District, and the Trailblazer Award to, Assisted Home Health & Hospice – Elaine Donley.
For more information contact VCMRF at 641-9800. www.vcmrf.org
Mental Health First Aid is a public education program that can help individuals across the community to understand mental illnesses, support timely intervention and save lives. Most people, when they hear the words First Aid, automatically consider the likes of AED police or paramedics – however, mental health is now becoming a more recognised issue. The two part 8-hour course, hosted by the Ventura Police Department and Ventura County Behavioral Health, introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources.
Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addictions. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like “What can I do?” and “Where can someone find help?” Participants are introduced to local mental health resources, national organizations, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support.
Training 1: Youth Mental Health First Aid June 28 & 29, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. is designed to teach neighbors, teachers, parents, peers, and caring citizens how to help a youth or teen who is experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or is in crisis.
Training 2: Adult Mental Health First Aid July 19 & 20, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. is designed to train adults to help someone facing a mental health problem.
There is no cost for the course. Funding comes through Ventura County Behavioral Health. To register please email Mary Ellen Collins, Certified Trainer: [email protected] or call 657-4408. To learn more about Mental Health First Aid visit www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
Men’s health will be the focus of the free Health Fair from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 25 at the Ventura College Foundation’s weekend Marketplace, an outdoor shopping experience held on the Ventura College campus east parking lot at the corner of Telegraph and Day roads. Health screenings, demonstrations and health information will be available to both men and women at the event.
Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc., will conduct the health screenings, including blood pressure; height, weight and BMI; and blood glucose levels as well assist individuals in finding locations where they can schedule a prostate exam. Information will be available in English and in Spanish on Cal Fresh/Food Share of Ventura County and Medical, along with programs related to men’s and women’s health, domestic violence, senior services, mental wellness, cancer and employment. There will also be information on home health care, nonmedical care, palliative and hospice care and a CPR demonstration from American Medical Response. Walgreens will also be onsite with a pharmacist available for “”Ask the Pharmacist about your Medications”.
At the recent Felix n’Fido Bring Me Home Adoption Festival cats weren’t very cooperative in walking down the “red carpet” to be adopted.
• LostCatVentura.com and LostDogVentura.com are free resources for finding lost cats and dogs in Ventura County. And where you can post a notice for your lost pet.
• The Summerfest All Breed Dog Show, by the Ventura County Dog Fanciers Assoc. is June 30-July 3 (7am-8pm) at the Ventura Fairgrounds. And if you like horsies the Ventura County Fair Youth Horse Show is July 15-17(8am-4pm) at the Fairgrounds Morgan Equestrian Center.
• Ventura resident, John Darling has kicked off his fund raising site, Tinker’s Treat(www.tinkerstreat.com).
Mr. Darling explains his effort and why he started Tinker’s Treat. “Tinker’s is a site dedicated to raising money to pay the adoption fees of Senior Animals. My little dog, Tinker, died on April 1, 2016 after having lived with my family for 2 ½ years. She was the quietest, most well behaved, and most loving little dog I have ever had but before I adopted her, she lived at Humane Society of Ventura County for a year. Despite being very cute and very sweet, no one wanted her due to her age. She was seven years old when I took her home. In an effort to encourage others to adopt older animals and take pleasure in the pure joy I had while Tinker was with me, I want to raise funds that will pay the adoption fees for Senior Dogs because old dogs need love too.” For more information, Mr. Darling can be contacted at 824-7901. Those who have older dogs should consider getting proper nutrition for your aging pup.
• Recently a 15-month-old yellow lab died in Salt Lake City after being left in a hot car for about four hours. Officers responded about 2 p.m. to a call about an unresponsive dog in a car in a parking lot.
The lab was removed from the car by an animal control officers. Officers took the dog to the Utah Veterinary Center, where a veterinarian pronounced the dog dead.
The dog’s human told police he’d checked on the dog at 10 a.m., but hadn’t been back outside until after the officers arrived. I’m sure that he is a loving dog person but there’s a chance he could face possible felony or misdemeanor charges.
This type of incident happens far too often, people just don’t realize that the inside of a car on a hot day can reach more than 120 degrees within minutes, and dogs who are left inside can’t sweat, so our organs overheat.
A good rule of thumb is that when the temperature is 70 degrees or higher, it’s too hot to leave an animal in the car. Or just never leave us alone in your car, we get lonesome.
If a dog shows signs of distress from heat — heavy panting, glazed eyes, a deep red or purple tongue, vomiting or staggering — people should help gradually lower their body temperature by using cool water and wet towels and by taking them to a veterinarian.
• I hate fleas they make me itch. It’s practically impossible to keep fleas and ticks completely at bay but there are some steps you can take to try and minimize the opportunities for contact with your pet.
Wildlife, including opossums, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks, and even untreated cats and dogs can deposit flea eggs into a yard. It may be possible to reduce flea infestations by limiting the access these animals have around your house and yard. Your local nursery or garden professional may have some advice on what to plant or other strategies to discourage animal trespassers.
It can be helpful to alter the landscape around your homes to make it unsuitable for ticks and their hosts. For example, keep the lawn mowed, remove leaf litter accumulations and prune shrubs and trees.
Contact a professional pest specialist if you have any questions regarding environmental treatments for ticks.
Despite your efforts to reduce the fleas and ticks in your yards, we may still be exposed to these parasites, so you should take measures to help protect us. Treat all dogs and cats in the household with a flea and tick control product. One untreated pet can lead to a flea infestation in the household. Topical products can help protect your dog from unexpected flea and tick sources by killing adult fleas, eggs and larvae, and all stages of ticks.
Consistency is key. Even one missed dose of your monthly flea and tick control can set the stage for a flea infestation that takes months to resolve, or put your pet at greater risk of exposure to a tick borne disease. So be sure you treat your pet now and continue monthly applications throughout the rest of the year. You know that you hate to see us scratching all of the time.
“Al, my sweet boy. I’ll keep you in my heart forever.”
Dr. Sutton of Pacific Neuroscience discusses research on a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
by Phil Chandler, Owner of Right at Home of Ventura County, Home Care Agency
Every year, the Alzheimer’s Association holds a conference for professionals to discuss trends and future directions in caregiving and research in dementia care and medications. This year the conference was held at the Ventura Marriott and had nationally renowned speakers discussing a variety of topics.
The morning keynote was presented by Dr. Keith Fargo, Director of Scientific Programs for the Alzheimer’s Association. He presented some statistics that had everyone take notice – in 2016, an estimated 700,000 people will die from Alzheimer’s in the United States, and it is the 6th leading cause of death. There is no cure and the disease cannot be slowed.
The largest risk factor for Alzheimer ’s disease is age – 1 in 9 people over the age of 65 will get Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 3 over the age of 85 will get it. Medications that are available can temporarily improve the symptoms in some people, but no medications can stop or slow the nerve cell death in Alzheimer’s.
There have been about 15 treatments tested that slow or stop the damage caused by Alzheimer’s – in animal models. This is very good news if you are a mouse. It is also good news for humans because these results show that the research is on the right track, but there is still work to be done.
Dr. James Sutton, Medical Director of Pacific Neuroscience in Oxnard, discussed research that is being conducted right here in Ventura County. He discussed the biological mechanisms that cause Alzheimer’s disease, and how the drugs being tested attempt to slow or stop these processes. Over the last decade, there has been an acceleration of progress in the understanding of the disease due to results from the Human Genome Project, advances in brain imaging, and strong international research efforts.
A husband and wife team of neurologists, Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, from Cedars-Sinai Hospital Alzheimer’s Prevention Program discussed healthy lifestyles that are believed to reduce the risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is very complicated, and may be triggered by genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Additionally, it is different in men and women. Early diagnosis is critical so the patient and family can make plans for care, finances, and social support. They are a proponent of a program that they have called NEURO: Nutrition, Exercise, Unwind (stress relief), Restful sleep, and Optimal mental and social activity. They believe that we can improve our brain health by living healthy lifestyles.
What can you do? Even if you don’t have dementia, you can go the website www.alz.org/trialmatch, or call 1-800-272-3900. You will be asked to fill out a simple questionnaire, and your profile will be compared to a clinical study database of over 260 different drug and non-drug clinical trials. You will receive information about studies for which you might be a good fit. All of the information is confidential, and the Alzheimer’s Association will not know any personal information about you. It is up to you to contact the study if you are interested in participating towards a cure.
If you want to learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease, contact Monica Schrader at the Alzheimer’s Association at 484-5200.
