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Knowledge Bowl 2016
In the upcoming “Battle of the Ages” – otherwise known as the Knowledge Bowl – four senior citizens will place their lifelong experience against a team of teen students weaned on the world-wide web.
Now in its seventh year, the Jeopardy-like contest is even at three matches apiece, so the stakes are high. The public is invited to this free popular event at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 6 at Aegis Living of Ventura, an assisted living and memory care facility at 4964 Telegraph Rd.
“We’re all here to celebrate education, and the audience has as much fun as the contestants,” promised founder Suz Montgomery, who created the Bowl as a way to foster interaction between the ages.
It is sponsored by her employer, the Ventura Adult and Continuing Education division (VACE) of the Ventura Unified School District, and will be later televised by CAPSTV Media,
The senior team is made up of former educators: Mary Ayers, Don Haskell, Clint Jacobs and Ethel Johnduff. The students – all from Buena High School – are Ali Hemmatyar, Quinn Maloney, Brenna Neri, Anna Rajala, Samantha Scampone and Brady Yarbrough.
“All four of these students are on the school’s ‘official’ Knowledge Bowl team (during inter-school competitions run by the AAUW), and all are high-performing AP students with a wide range of challenging classes on their schedules,” said Buena Librarian Joel Levin, who is also coaching the students.
Levin is also coming up with the questions in five categories: Literature, Current Events, History, Geography and Potpourri.
“The Knowledge Bowl has become one of the most anticipated events in the community, with both sides excited to show how much they know,” Montgomery said. “Is it lifelong experience or the well-educated younger students who know the most? Come and find out.”
During the past events, the audience is an active participant, often whispering answers to each other, cheering and supporting both sides. However, they are cautioned not to blurt out answers in their excitement.
Ventura wins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation!
Sanding in front of the grand prize Toyota Prius are Karen Matsuyama of Toyota, Steve Creech of the Wyland Foundation, Rhonda Glasscock of Toyota, Craig Jones of Ventura Water, Ventura Water General Manager Shana Epstein, Scott Donoho of the Toro Company, and Vivian Panou of Earth Friendly Products.
The city of Ventura and its residents have been nationally recognized for pledging to conserve water and cut pollution.
Ventura placed first in the fifth annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which ran from April 1-30. The contest asked residents to pledge online to conserve water, and Ventura had the highest percentage of pledges for cities with populations between 100,000 and 299,999. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, placed second in Ventura’s population category.
Wyland spokesman Steve Creech presented Ventura Mayor Eric Nasarenko with the first-place plaque during a noontime ceremony on the steps of Ventura City Hall on Thursday May 19.
“I don’t usually like to brag, but ‘Way to go, Ventura!” Nasarenko told an enthusiastic audience that included City Councilman Jim Monahan, Fire Chief David Endaya and many city employees.
Nasarenko congratulated the Ventura residents who pledged at www.mywaterpledge.com, saying their efforts will save over 26 million gallons of water. Venturans also pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastic bottles by 48,931, eliminate 1,172 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds, and cut the amount of waste sent to landfills by 562,475 pounds.
Overall, 4,100 cities across the U.S. participated, with residents making pledges to reduce their water use at home, around the yard, and in their lives. Residents nationwide pledged to reduce their cumulative water consumption by over 1.9 billion gallons – an amount totaling the equivalent of 2,877 Olympic-sized pools!
The Wyland Foundation, a nonprofit founded by renowned marine life artist Wyland, has helped children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education and live events. The Mayor’s Challenge also is sponsored by Toyota, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National League of Cities, The Toro Company, Earth
Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Hollywood
by Tony Rizzo
Tom Cruise wants his Mummy! Not long ago we suggested that the 53-year-old superstar should stop making action films and return to making movies like “Born on the Fourth of July” (1990), “Jerry Maguire” (1996) and “Magnolia” (1999), for which he received Oscar nominations. Now instead of the tall buildings and fast-moving vehicles, he’ll be chasing a mummy — and mummies don’t run very fast.
Universal Studios has long wanted to reboot its “Mummy” franchise, which started in 1932 with Boris Karloff. There were seven “Mummy” films made between 1999 and 2015, ending with the four “Scorpion King” movies. Tom Cruise gets his “Mummy” come July 2017.
Meanwhile, “Beautiful Mind” Oscar-winner Russell Crowe has signed on to play “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (for which Fredric March won an Oscar in 1931). He’s currently onscreen in the comedy “The Nice Guys,” with Ryan Gosling, Matt Bomer and Kim Basinger.
Woody Allen’s new film, “Cafe Society,” narrated by Allen and starring “The Heartbreak Kid,” Oscar-nominee Jeannie Berlin (daughter of Elaine May), Steve Carrell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively and Kristin Stewart, opens July 15. It is his is 47th film, and his first shot with a Sony CineAlta F65 digital camera. Remember when Allen said he’d only shoot in Europe because the U.S. was too expensive? Well, he must have gotten fantastic tax breaks and discounts, because this film was shot in the streets of Los Angeles and Brooklyn.
Who’d ever imagine that wrestling star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would become one of the most successful film stars of this decade? In 2014, his “Hercules” film cost $100 million and grossed $245 million, while Kellen Lutz’s “Legend of Hercules,” from the year before, cost $70 million and only grossed $61 million. “Furious 7” followed in 2015 at a cost of $190 million and grossed $1.5 billion, while “San Andreas” cost $110 million and grossed $447 million. Now he’s teamed up with Kevin Hart (“Ride Along 2” cost $40 million and grossed $122.6 million) for another kind of ride-along film, “Central Intelligence,” arriving June 17. “Fast 8” is due April 14, and then it’s back to the beach for “Baywatch,” playing the role that made David Hasselhoff famous, due May 2017. And you thought the only Rock in movies was Rock Hudson!
“Sharknado the Fourth Awakens” is hitting TV screens in July, with Ian Ziering, Tara Reid and David Hasselhoff in jeopardy again. With every “Sharknado” film, I can see my shark’s tooth and sharkskin suit going up in value!
Have moviegoers tastes changed that much? The 2016 film release schedule reveals 15 documentaries and 10 superhero movies. The documentaries range from O.J Simpson, Frank Zappa, Norman Lear and Anthony Weiner to environment and climate change, stem-cell research, animal rights and cyber warfare. On the superhero side, we’ll be barraged with “Captain America”, “X-Men,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Independence Day,” “Tarzan,” “Suicide Squad,” “Doctor Strange,” “Rogue One” and “Assassin’s Creed.”
Along those lines, Chris Hemsworth has had a rocky road as a headliner when his films weren’t superhero-oriented. In 2012, he had four films: “Cabin in the Woods,” which made $36.5 million above cost; “Avengers,” which made $1.5 billion; “Snow White and the Huntsman,” which grossed $133 million and “Red Dawn,” which lost $17 million. In 2013, he had “Rush,” which made a $59 million profit, and “Thor: The Dark World,” which brought in $475 million. In 2015, “Blackhat” lost $50 million, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” made $1.5 billion, while “In the Heart of the Sea” tanked, losing $5 million. His latest, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War,” is off to a bad start, earning only $110 million of its $115 million cost.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
Vol. 9, No. 17 – May 25 – June 7, 2016 – Opinion/Editorial
• On May 23 the Ventura City Council voted (6-0 Tracy was absent) to put a half-cent sales tax increase on the November ballot. If approved the tax would provide approximately $10.8 million annually for the next 25 years. A seven-member oversight committee would be appointed by the Council and would make recommendations on how the money would be spent. Much more on this in future issues.
• On May 23 Ventura’s Historical Preservation Committee, on a 3-2 vote decided that the building at 567 Sanjon (most recently Joes Crab Shack and previously the Chart House) “as it currently exists” is not historically significant. Several third party experts had determined that the building is “not historically significant” and I certainly agree. Just because it is old does not make it a significant building and its architecture certainly doesn’t warrant this designation. And, between termites and dry rot saving it would be extremely expensive.
• In this issue we have an article regarding Homecomings, Inc., the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura’s (HACSB) associated non-profit. They recently completed of a comprehensive $28.8 million acquisition and rehabilitation project that fully renovated 101 existing apartment units for extremely low income seniors and disabled persons in the City of Ventura.
The work involved extensive infrastructure, energy and water efficiency improvements and upgrades and interior restoration work at the HACSB’s properties in East Ventura. At $28.8 million for 101 units that’s a cost of $285,000 per unit. Why not just buy (72) $400,000 3 bedroom homes in Ventura which could house over 400 people which would have done much more to help our economy?
• With a 3-2 vote, the Ventura Unified School District board voted against Ventura’s offer to include a joint measure on November’s ballet to raise the sales tax by a cent. VUSD will just try to get voters to approve an extension of its $59 yearly parcel tax. The district’s parcel tax was approved in 2012 for a period of four years and provides about $2.5 million to the school district.
It would sure be nice to know where all of the State lottery money goes to that was supposed to be specifically earmarked for our schools. And each building permit also has charges added for schools.
• Unimportant stuff that I like to share – that I’m sure that you would want to know about.
Caffeine in mg for different drinks:
Coffee drip 115-175
Coffee brewed 80-135
Coffee instant 65-100
Red Bull 80
Classic Coke 34
Tea 40-60
• The Food and Drug Administration has concluded that electronic cigarettes (“vaping”) and other tobacco products should be regulated as if they were traditional tobacco cigarettes. People who say that they have stopped smoking because they now “vape” have just changed brands. The State of California has passed similar bills that also raises the legal age to buy cigarettes in California from 18 to 21.
Just using age as a standard several members (and me) of the City Council would be “historically significant”.
• Why do doctor’s office’s ask patients to show up 15-minutes before our appointments and then make you sit for an hour?
• Congratulations to Donna Granata, Founder and Executive Director of Focus on the Masters (FOTM), who recently obtained a master’s degree from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism. She’s now a fellow Trojan. FOTM, Founded in 1994 by Donna, is a highly respected non-profit educational program documenting contemporary artists.
And kudos to Mary R. Galbraith, Volunteer Coordinator/Executive Assistant, Aimee French,
Learning to See Youth Outreach Program Coordinator, and many others for keeping the ship going. Especially during the last few months, when FOTM had to move their offices from one floor to another behind city hall due to Brooks Institute taking over several floors of the building.
• In this issue we have an article regarding extensive sewer construction that is being done around Main and Brent. All of the businesses in the area remain open so please maneuver through the construction and support the affected local businesses. Sewer construction might be needed if there is a blockage in a nearby sewer line. For that type of repair, you may require assistance from a service similar to FS Drainage – see more at https://fsdrainage.com/drain-unblocking-services/
• I have an idea, if Donald Trump becomes president (good grief – could that really happen?) we should build a fifteen foot high wall around California and succeed from the union. We have everything needed in California to become our own country.
• Wonder why we haven’t had our El Nino? Unusual warmer waters off of Baja California, storms in the Western Pacific Ocean and rising global temperatures blocked El Nino storms from hitting Southern California. These items certainly didn’t block the rains from hitting Northern California which saw heavy rains and snows which filled some of the state’s biggest reservoirs. But, that won’t help us because we don’t get our water from melting snow pack or from the North.
• Last year, Ventura had a record amount of drug related deaths but the solution remains a difficult one. Writing in the LA Times, Michelle Alexander (a senior fellow at the Ford Foundation) stated, “There is no evidence that enhanced sentences reduce drug availability or the number of people harmed by illicit drug use. After decades of the war on drugs, it is clear that purely punitive approaches to drug crime are counterproductive. And the death rate from drug overdose continues to rise.”
In a sense this is similar to the homeless situation. Effective solutions to both of these problems just haven’t been found so new directions and ideas must be created. Do any of you have ideas that might help? Would love to hear about them.
Ventura’s Climate Report Card presented by iMatter Youth
Tatum Becker, El Camino High School (ECHS); Joe Yahner, Environmental Services Supervisor City of Ventura; Zayan Reza, ECHS; Sophie Nguyen ECHS; Ventura City Councilmember Cheryl Heitmann; Summeya Islam,ECHS; Olivia Loorz,ECHS and Sierra Manske,ECHS.
by Karen Helen Szatkowski
Recently six young women from El Camino High School presented to the Ventura City Council what was a less than congratulatory report card on the city’s efforts to combat climate change. The report card is the result of iMatterYouth and their consultation with some of the most knowledgeable people and organizations on information that is science based and publicly available . The range of such consultation is broad and deep, from local governments for Sustainability USA to Natural Capitalism Solutions. The kid’shave been committed to covering all of the bases.
IMatter is now a national organization and the founder, Alec Loorz, is a young man raised and educated in Ventura: “I worked with a group of about 50 of my fellow middle schoolers to design and install poles along the beach and we met with the City of Ventura to get their cooperation. The poles are still up today, five years later, and have helped the City Council to include sea level rise in their planning. Now there are poles in several other cities as well, and one of the original poles can be seen at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.”
An A-F grading system evaluates Ventura’s action (or inaction) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels needed to end the climate crisis. These are their grades.
Zero Emissions: Climate Action Plan: Measures when the city’s Climate Action Plan gets to net zero human emissions D-
Renewable Energy: Measures when the percent of renewables used to generate a city’s electricity is more than the national average, and the percentage is rising. A+
Waste: Measures when the amount of waste per person is decreasing and the percent of that waste that is recycled or composted is increasing. B-
Carbon Removal: Measures when there is some kind of a program that will result in more carbon being removed from the atmosphere. F
Youth Involvement: A bonus area that rewards a half grade for having youth involved in advising on or setting climate change related policies and plans. None
Ventura’s overall grade is a C- which means a lot needs to be done to bring the city’s efforts on our carbon footprint to a more effective standpoint. The fact that the City Council made time to listen intently to the presentation shows the seriousness they assign to the efforts of the young activists. Many Councilmembers expressed their appreciation for the professional presentation and the kid’s commitment to the wellbeing of Ventura. For more information on IMatter, contact Larry Kraft, Executive Director, [email protected]
Happy seventh anniversary Ladies Luncheon!
At a recent Ladies Luncheon lucky Breeze publisher Sheldon was the first man invited to one of their luncheons.
by Carol Leish
The Ladies Luncheon is having its 7th Anniversary luncheon on June 2 at the Pierpont Inn Pavilion Room in beautiful Ventura.
The Ladies Luncheon was started by local Ventura Realtor, Laurie Ann Meyer-Ehrhardt, in June, 2009.
“A few of us met at the My Florist and Bakery in downtown Ventura. The next month, when we met at the Pierpont Inn, we had 15 women for lunch. By the third month, we had 35 women attending, I knew that it was important to continue these monthly lunches.”
Laurie started Ladies Luncheon because she saw a need for women to come together on a regular basis with a ‘no join’ obligation. “With both no limit on the number of categories represented, and no need to attend every month women are able to attend when it’s convenient for them. And, there is no limit on the number of categories represented. Thus, we are representing many local businesses and various nonprofits within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. We continue to be able to provide women with both support and encouragement.”
Ladies Luncheon is the place, “To eat, meet, greet and shop,” according to Laurie. “Our luncheons are not just for business. It is also the place to relax, shop, and, to have fun! What goes on at Ladies Luncheon stays at Ladies Luncheon! We average 45 women each month. By allowing multiple categories, we are able to support the philosophy of the importance of building relationships in order to do business. There is always enough business for everyone.”
Laurie’s mom, Pat Morris, who relocated to Ventura in 2012, started coming to Ladies Luncheon when she moved here. “Mom has always been an inspiration to me and I am so blessed and fortunate for her to be able to participate here and to be supportive of all of us. Elaine O’Malia, of Laine Designs (www.lainedesigns.com) is the web wizard and acts as my right hand helper.”
To join our wonderful group please come on June 2 at our anniversary luncheon. Go to our website www.TheLadiesLuncheon.com to pre-register or pay at the door. Like me, you’ll see the immense value of the supportive and lively group of women who do make a difference!
Our regular Ladies Luncheon’s May mixer, on May 26, from 5:30–7:30pm, will be co-ed so you men can join in the fun. It will be at Grapes & Hops at 454 E. Main St. in Downtown There will be wine tasting and a no host bar. All are welcome (Guys too!). $15 for wine tasting.
A variety of programs to be offered at Center
A happy group celebrating another addition at Westpark Community Center.
On Tuesday, May 3 parents, staff, young boxers, sponsors and city dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the completion and installation of the Westpark Community Center’s new fitness facility, flooring and equipment. Ventura Chief of Police Ken Corney was there to show the VPD’s support for the wonderful programs offered there for our youth. As was Ventura resident and business owner Sal Flores who spends many hours mentoring at-risk kids participating in the Ventura Boxing Club that he started at Westpark.
The new fitness facility will host a variety of programs such as boxing, exercise fitness, martial arts, step classes and Zumba. Westpark serves 120 youths daily, ages 6-17, and more than 1,100 children annually through free and low-fee, scheduled and drop-in programs for fitness, enrichment and homework.
“It has been a dream and an amazing journey to see all the growth, changes and improvements at Westpark,” says Youth Programs Coordinator Anita Diaz who has been center director for more than a decade and a half.
Aera Energy sponsored the facility’s new flooring. Aera Energy has actively supported the center’s youth academic and physical fitness programs for many years, especially through startup seed money for the Ventura Police Activities League (PAL) that supports programs at the Center.
Lady bowlers entertained at banquet
Elvis is alive and well in Ventura. Photo by Michael Gordon
On Thursday, May 12 The PinPoppers Ladies Bowling League celebrated their end of the bowling season with a banquet and awards ceremony held at the Wedgewood Banquet facility. The ladies were surprised by a most unexpected appearance by “Elvis” who was played by Buena Lanes Assistant Manager Roger Heap in full Elvis costume. His lovely wife Marian capably handled his sound system.
Elvis took them back to another time in their lives.
Are you a keen bowler? If so, check out this useful guide to some of the best bowling ball options out there: https://skilledbowlers.com/bowling-balls/urethane-bowling-balls/. Above all, if you want to get ahead of the competition, investing in the latest bowling equipment can make a huge difference.
It was nice of Buena Lanes to give roger time away to make the 56 women, ranging in ages from 27 to 87 a time to reminisce and have a great luncheon to end their season.
National Public Works Day held in Ventura
David Goldstein from Public Works Agency explaining composting to Elsa and Lila. Photo by John Ferritto
In what’s becoming a favorite educational experience among local students, Ventura County Public Works Agency’s National Public Works Day public event held on Tuesday, May 17 piqued students’ interests in the Public Works sector.
With over 500 students attending ranging from elementary schools to high schools, VCPWA transformed the Government Center parking lot and a number of conference rooms into interactive learning centers highlighting the many facets of our local Public Works team. The emphasis was on educating young minds on the endless internship and job opportunities a career in Public Works may offer, giving students the chance to connect with several Public Works officials at a career booth.
VCPWA employees lead tours of several display booths, including heavy equipment demonstrations that gave students a chance to get up close to the equipment that is used by VCPWA on many of the work sites around the county. Fun activities included hands-on stations where students learned about native and drought tolerant plants, surveying, rain and stream measurements, composting with worms, a chance to visit the Storm Operations Center and for the first time and the unveiling of the new Raptor Study program showcasing hawk and owl exhibits.
VCPWA Director Jeff Pratt stated “National Public Works Day is a very important opportunity for us to educate and connect with the public. The community has a chance to get an in-depth look into a vital organization that is dedicated to providing and sustaining the county’s infrastructure and environment while enhancing the safety, health and quality of life for them.”