On August 12, at about midnight the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a stabbing that just occurred in the 3400 Block of Preble Av. Responding officers located one male adult in an apartment suffering from a stab wound to his upper body. Additional officers located the suspect running from the scene. The Victim was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Ventura Police Department Major Crimes Detectives responded and took over the investigation. The initial investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were roommates. They were involved in a verbal altercation inside their apartment when the suspect stabbed the victim one time in the upper torso.
The suspect, Christopher Rayhogan (9-6-03), was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for 187 PC Murder.
Anyone with any additional information about this incident is asked to call Detective Tovar at 339-4462
A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.
Preventing or controlling high blood pressure, not only helps your heart, but may help your brain too. Decades of observational studies have shown that having high blood pressure in midlife — the 40s to early 60s — increases the risk of cognitive decline later in life. In addition, the Sprint-Mind study, a nationwide clinical trial, showed that intensive lowering of blood pressure (even below the previous standard target of 140 for systolic blood pressure) lowers the risk for mild cognitive impairment, which is a risk factor for dementia.
High blood pressure often does not cause signs of illness that you can see or feel. Routine visits to your doctor will help pick up changes in your blood pressure, even though you might feel fine. To control or lower high blood pressure, your doctor may suggest exercise, changes in your diet, and if needed — medications. These steps can help protect your brain and your heart.
A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes. It may also help keep your brain healthy.
In general, a healthy diet consists of fruits and vegetables; whole grains; lean meats, fish, and poultry; and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. You should also limit solid fats, sugar, and salt. Be sure to control portion sizes and drink enough water and other fluids.
Researchers are looking at whether a healthy diet can help preserve cognitive function or reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. For example, there is some evidence that people who eat a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of developing dementia.
While scientists aren’t sure yet why the Mediterranean diet might help the brain, its effect on improving cardiovascular health might in turn reduce dementia risk. In contrast, the typical Western diet often increases cardiovascular disease risk, possibly contributing to faster brain aging.
Researchers have developed and are testing another diet, called MIND, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets. According to observational studies of more than 900 dementia-free older adults, closely following the MIND diet was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and a slower rate of cognitive decline.
Learn more about diet and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Be Physically Active
Being physically active — through regular exercise, household chores, or other activities — has many benefits. It can help you:
Keep and improve your strength
Have more energy
Improve your balance
Prevent or delay heart disease, diabetes, and other concerns
Studies link ongoing physical activity with benefits for the brain and cognition as well, although a strong link between physical activity and Alzheimer’s disease prevention has not yet been documented.
In one study, exercise stimulated the human brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones that are vital to cognitive health. Other studies have shown that exercise increases the size of a brain structure important to memory and learning, resulting in better spatial memory. Aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, is thought to be more beneficial to cognitive health than nonaerobic stretching and toning exercise. One study found that the more time spent doing a moderate levels of physical activity, the greater the increase in brain glucose metabolism — or how quickly the brain turns glucose into fuel — which may reduce the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Federal guidelines recommend that all adults get at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of physical activity each week. Walking is a good start. You can also join programs that teach you to move safely and prevent falls, which can lead to brain and other injuries. Check with your health care provider if you haven’t been active and want to start a vigorous exercise program.
As a part of its quarterly “Livin’ the Dream” program, The Palms at Bonaventure Assisted Living and Memory Care selected resident Karol Greysen to live her Barbie fantasy.
Greysen (76) moved into The Palms earlier this summer. One of the first things the community learned about her was her affinity for pink, sparkles and all things Barbie. She was encouraged to apply for “Livin’ the Dream” amid the Barbie mania, and was over the moon to learn she was the
chosen recipient for the month of August.
Greysen, along with her new friend and fellow Palms resident Geary Ray, departed Ventura the morning of August 5 with two community staff members: Vibrant Life Director John White and
Marketing Director Ginny Arroyo. The crew each wore a pink shirt and sunglasses, with
Greysen’s shirt detailing a special Barbie motif.
The foursome’s first stop was The Santa Monica Place in Los Angeles to visit The World of
Barbie experience. Greysen (and her guests) walked through the iconic Barbie Dream House, “drove” the Barbie bus, got a virtual Barbie makeover – even experienced building her very own custom Barbie, which she took home as a souvenir.
Afterward, The Palms treated Greysen and Ray to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory before heading to Santa Monica’s AMC 4 to see the Barbie movie in style.
“I don’t know what to say,” Greysen said afterward. “This was the best day I’ve had in years.”
Annually, the Fractured Actors Theater Company presents an underground evening of theater and music. Situated in a black box Theater at Liminal Church on Palma Drive, Fractured Actors brings to life Sweet Jay’s Speakeasy, located in an inauspicious warehouse in Ventura. Each year brings a new theme, a new look and a thoroughly fun evening.
This year, the Company presents The Golden Age, a Speakeasy Project, a glimpse back to the glamour of the silver screen and Tinseltown of old. As noted in the dialogue, it is a “celebration of celluloid.” The theater is subdued in black and red décor with dimmed lighting. Libations are available to add to the atmosphere.
The very talented Ham family leads the action with writing, directing, producing, staging, performing and encouraging participation. The one-acts are written just for each production to fit with the theme. All of the actors, many of them familiar faces from last summer’s presentation of a foray into the mysterious Area 51, fully immerse themselves in the folly of this year’s offering with some eye-catching costuming and creative staging.
The event’s hosts, Anthony Elias Contreras and Cassie Kelso-Bucey, lead the action with clever banter, jokes and quick pacing. Appearing throughout, their charming, easy manner keeps the action moving and the laughs coming.
Employing minimal set pieces, the stage is easily reset for each of the four short plays, all of which take a tongue-in-cheek approach to what could have been issues of the day in the film business. Actors take on multiple roles throughout, reappearing in new personas. Interspersed with the plays are sultry singers keeping the audience fully in the era. Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time and their enthusiasm easily blankets the audience.
Each of the plays addresses a different aspect of what may have or could have taken place in the Golden Era. Each features opportunities to explore what-ifs and what-could-have-beens. It’s a fun ride of possible alternative endings.
From silent movies to telephone operators to “the town’s most awkward welcoming committee” with a sweet ending to put a bow on the evening, Fractured Actors brings a unique theatrical experience every summer. So dust off your Fedora, get out the pearls and boas and enjoy an evening of song, film and immersive original one-act plays. Catch this one if you can. If you’ve never been, go, then mark your calendar to watch for next summer’s offering.
Sweet Jay’s offers a limited opportunity to catch these engaging evenings. Performances continue August 25-27 and September 1 & 2. Fridays and Saturdays curtain is 8 p.m., Sundays at 5 pm. There is one extra matinee performance at 2 p.m. on September 2. Space is limited so reservations are a must. Most suitable for adults.
Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Jury Duty – Prime Video and Freevee
4 out of 4 palm trees
“Jury Duty” is a clever comedic series from the producers of “The Office” and “Bad Trip” that explores the American judicial process as seen by the eyes of the jury, except for the fact that of the 12 jurors, 11 are actors and the twelfth juror Ronald Gladden had no idea that it’s all fake. Actor James Marsden plays himself, however a much more conceited celebrity version that ends up getting the whole jury sequestered after paparazzi showed up to the courthouse. Everyone including the judge, bailiff, attorneys and defendants are also all actors and cameras film the whole thing under the pretense that they are doing a documentary about the American justice system which include personal interviews with all of the jurors as they move through the process.
The first episode was jury selection and the first day it appeared that a number of people were let out of serving due to what seemed trivial reasons. On the second day, a couple of the actors called upon tried the same excuses, but were denied and 11 ended up on the jury with Ronald while James was assigned as the second alternate, Juror #14. Judge Alan Rosen is played by actor Alan Barinholtz who is actually a seasoned attorney of 40 years practicing law in Ohio and Illinois and extremely believable in his role as judge.
The colorful cast playing the other jurors are an eclectic cross-section of interesting personalities and most of the dialog is actually improvised by the actors. In the second episode, the juror the judge assigned as foreman became injured in the deliberation room after a cabinet fell on him, so the judge assigned Ronald and the new foreman and James Marsden moved to first alternate. Ronald had a very positive personality and was always very conscientious toward the other jurors, though had no idea what kind of wrangling he was in for now that he was foreman.
Ronald’s first challenge was to keep juror Barbara Goldstein (Susan Berger) from not going to sleep while court was in session, and Judge Rosen stopped the proceedings several times to tell Ronald to do his duty as foreman and keep Barbara awake. Ronald was actually a James Marsden fan and brought DVDs of his movies to have him sign as well as running lines with him back at the motel were they were sequestered without outside contacts or even the use of their cell phones.
Halfway through the series, the judge and jury take a field trip to the site involved in the case and of course get themselves in various sorts of trouble. Even though some of the stunts the other jurors pulled were sometimes outrageous, Ronald always kept a calm demeanor and offered help and advise whenever he could since the whole jury viewed him as their leader after being assigned as foreman. Since half the jury was at a different motel than Ronald and James Marsden, they all gathered under the supervision of bailiff Officer Nikki Wilder (Rashida “Sheedz” Olayiwola) at a Mexican restaurant to share some time together but the excursion mainly became a babysitting job for Ronald.
After closing arguments, the jury got sent to the deliberation room to decide on a verdict. It was Ronald’s job as the foreman to lead the jury through deliberations and arrive at a unanimous verdict; but the jurors’ petty issues and personal drama threatened to derail everything. Eventually Ronald helped guide the group into a unanimous “not guilty” verdict and when he presented the verdict back in court he finally learned that the whole thing was fake. To his surprise, Ronald Gladden received $100,000 for his participation and the series has received 4 Emmy nominations.
Autism Society Ventura County (ASVC) has been serving Ventura County since 1994. Our mission is to create connections, allowing everyone in the Autism community to live fully. Our Board of Directors are comprised of individuals on the Autism spectrum, Parents, Service Providers and Community members. 1 in 36 babies born today will be diagnosed with Autism according to the CDC. At ASVC, we work to make sure that individuals with Autism and their families have access to the best that Ventura County has to offer.
Some of our year-round programs are: Parent and Caretaker Support Groups, Young Adult Support Groups, Young Adult Social Groups at fun locations like Zander’s Game House in Camarillo, Virtual Art Classes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults, Everyone has a Story: Bookclub and Writing Workshops, Advocacy trainings and informational seminars, and so much more! You can find us at community events around the county providing support and information to individuals and families who need us, and the community at large. We have many ongoing initiatives, including a health equity program and an active advocacy committee.
We hope you will join us at our World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle Marathon at Pacific View Mall from September 15-24! Tickets are on sale now at tinyurl.com/asvcpuzzlemarathon. Complete this 60,000 piece puzzle with us over 10 days. The puzzle is split into sixty 1,000-piece puzzles, so gather your team and spend a few hours with us! This fundraiser allows us to expand our programs to meet the needs of our community in Ventura County.
Here are some of our other upcoming events that you won’t want to miss: Our 2023 Awesome in Autism Awards on 10/19 at Wood Ranch Country Club in Simi Valley. Nominations are accepted through 9/4- help us recognize the heroes in our community. In January 2024, join us for the first ever Celebrating the Autistic Mind Art Show at the Museum of Ventura County. From January 11-14, we will be showing art from our wonderfully diverse and talented community. Join us in April 2024 for our 12th Annual Aut2Run!
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our programs and events. For more information about Autism Society Ventura County, check out www.Autismventura.org, or e-mail [email protected]. For sponsorship and donor information, reach out to [email protected].
Great job Sheldon. As always, thanks for the support!
Darin Schindler Ventura Chief of Police
Mr. Editor:
Please no awards for city until they fix roads…… worse now than ever… Nice to see you are a Trojan, I am class of 56……. and your comments on Community Colleges is right on.
Robert Lombardi
Robert: Even better some community colleges are going to offer bachelor degrees.
Breeze:
I have been reading all the accolades and patting on the back that has occurred since the X Games have come and gone. Perhaps there is much to this fanfare. Perhaps there is a missing element that hasn’t been addressed. Working as a vendor (not a restaurant) in downtown I’m questioning this success. From a small store vendor stand point the Games seemed to have a very negative impact. There wasn’t a huge up tick in shoppers during the regular daytime hours in fact, numbers dropped, considerably.
What might have caused this? Perhaps because daytime hours coincided with X Game activities and no one ventured up to downtown until afer regular business hours ended?
Perhaps the woes threats and worries about traffic and parking were deterrent to those who weren’t interested in the event?
Perhaps the X Game vendor outreach was only given to restaurants and excluded the other vendor stores?
I do not purport that I speak for all vendors but the word that spreads like small town gossip was how their X Game experience wasn’t a “rousing success”.
Thought for future: if you want vendor inclusion how about do just that, afford ALL vendors a presence at the event (County Fair included). Perhaps a pop tent set up in a designated Downtown Vendor area. Info, coupons, samples on the ready.
Success should be summed up by all, not just the top tier.
George Smith
“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t win’ is you and you don’t have to listen.” ~ Jessica Ennis
I cannot believe Labor Day is almost here and with it what most call the “end of summer.” Of course, nothing could be further from the truth as summer doesn’t official end until Friday, September 22, and even then, we typically have warm gorgeous weather up until the middle of October. But I’m not a weather person and all I care about is that we have live music all year round! So, let’s get started…
Spencer Makenzie has outgrown their original location on the public street next to their restaurant and they’re now hosting their annual Throw Down Cornhole Festival at the Ventura County Fairs. Along with all the competition will be live music featuring Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Acoustic DNA, and Prince Again on Friday, August 25; then on Saturday the 26, it’s Highway Starr and Whiskey Business. This is a ticketed event.
There’s free admission for the Hueneme Beach Fest, but do plan to spend money on parking ($10, though a free shuttle will be provided as well) and carnival rides and of course all the delicious food offered by all the food vendors. Along with all the arts and crafts vendors and chalk art exhibition, there will be plenty of live music both days with Morie and the Heavy Hitters, Joyas Prestadas (tribute to Jenni Rivera), and Led Zepagain on Saturday, August 26, then it’s Always Tina, Anything for Selena and Britain’s Finest on Sunday, the 27 of August.
The Rubicon Theatre hosts The Platters, Many Voices ONE name, for five shows over the weekend of August 25 through the 27 with two shows on Friday and Saturday. You’ll enjoy timeless classics such as “Only You,” “The Great Pretender,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” My Prayer,” and more. Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.
Oh! And don’t forget the Oxnard Jazz Festival falls over the weekend of September 9 and 10 at Oxnard State Beach. Secure tickets at OxnardJazzFestival.com.
Quick Notes: adding to the list of venues offering open mic/jam nights is Café Fiore on Tuesdays; As of press time, only the first of two nights has sold out for The Offspring at the Majestic Ventura Theater (Tuesday, October 17, and Wednesday, October 18); Rock the Collection kicks off their summer concert (while others are wrapping theirs up) with Bruno and the Hooligans on Wednesday, August 23; City of Caterpillar, the Discussion and Head Cut play Gigi’s on Saturday August 26; Music Under the Stars wraps up the summer season with Lisa Haley & the Zydekats on Saturday, August 26; Neon Blonde plays Sans Souci on Saturday, August 26; Bell Arts Factory hosts Juan D. Mendoza on Sunday, August 27; The Trivle Omdobble plays Topa Topa Brewing on Sunday, August 27; and there’s an extra night of music at Leashless on Tuesday, August 29 with Spring Loaded Band;
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.
The Ventura County Library has announced its sixth annual One County, One Book community reading program. One County, One Book aims to unite the Ventura County community around a common narrative, spreading interest in and facilitating discussions about the selected book.
This year’s One County, One Book selection is Solito, by Javier Zamora. Solito is Zamora’s memoir of his migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine. To participate in One County, One Book, pick up a copy of Solito from one of the 12 library branches or Mobile Library. In addition to regular holdings, each library branch will have an Honor Book Shelf set up with additional copies.
Throughout September, 2023, people across the county will have a chance to attend discussions and other special events related to the themes of the selection.
Cal Lutheran will present a panel of professors— Dr. Julia Fogg, Dr. Jamshid Damooei, and Dr. Jose Alfredo Torres—who will talk about border crossings, the criminalization of immigration, and the economic impact of immigrants in Ventura County. This event will take place in Cal Lutheran’s Lundring Events Center at 7 pm on Thursday, September 21. For more information about the panel, contact Michaela Reaves at [email protected] or (805) 493-3381.
Hill Road Library’s Book Club will discuss Solito at the September meeting, 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 26. For more information on this Book Club, please email [email protected].
The One County, One Book capstone event will be an author presentation by Javier Zamora that will be held as part of the Ventura County Celebration of Books and will take place on September 30 at 2 pm on the campus of CSU Channel Islands. The presentation will be in English, with Spanish translation available.
The 2023 One County, One Book program is sponsored by the Ventura County Library Foundation
The Ventura County Library Foundation is hosting an author reception prior to the author talk featuring A Taste of Central America. Attendees enjoy lunch, complimentary paperback copy of Solito, and book signing with the author. Tickets are required for the author reception and can be purchased for $75 each at www.vclibraryfoundation.org. Proceeds support the Library Foundation.
E.P. Foster’s Young Readers Book Club meets on Saturday, August 26, 1:00 to 2:00 pm to discuss The Human Kaboom by Adam Rubin & create a character sheet (DND style)
For children ages 9-12 (4th or 5th grade reading level).
Ventura Friends of the Library invite you to visit our Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 pm
We also invite you to browse anytime at our Online Bookstore for local sales.
The Topping Room in E.P. Foster will be a stop in Art Walk Ventura, September 23 & 24. Ventura Friends of the Library will be participating. In 2019, the Friends received a generous donation of original watercolors and photographs from the family of Hank and Susan Stoutz. A selection of these works will be offered for sale at the Art Walk, along with a selection of Art, Architecture and Photography books.
