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Sumi Fukasawa celebrates 100th birthday

Photo by Michael Gordon
Photo by Michael Gordon

Recently Sumi Fukasawa celebrated her 100th birthday at the Palms at Bonaventure. She was born in Arcadia on March 23, 1916. She was married for 60 years, raised 3 daughters and have 3 granddaughters, 1 great granddaughter and 2 great great granddaughters. She was an elementary teacher who retired from Rio school district. She enjoyed outdoor activities, fishing, and traveling.  Featured with Sumi are her granddaughters Kimberly McCaslin, Sierra Talkington, and great great granddaughter Arabella Driscoll.

She and her husband  traveled to many different areas of the world – Japan, China, Australia, several European countries, including Finland and Russia Mexico and all over the United States and Canada.

Vol. 9, No. 13 – March 30 – April 12, 2016 – A Tender Touch Senior Placement

“Are we living longer compared to 150 years ago?”
By Connie De La Rosa, Senior Care Advisor

One of the most important difference between the world today and 150 years ago is our “Lifespan”.   According to studies , 150 years ago life expectancy was between 30 to 40 years, but today close to 800 million people are 60 years old or more. During the last century, aging has been associated with decline and decay, but gradually more people are now living  a healthier lifestyle in older age groups.   The expansion in life expectancy has become a synchronism of quality of life: the average 65 year old today is much healthier, physically and mentally more fit than the average 50 year old 150 years ago!

A Healthier and  longer life contributes to community outreach and education efforts in exercise, eating, regular check-ups and social activity compared to 150 years ago.  Here are two examples of how life has changed then and now:

  • According to Pennsylvania State University, it was almost guaranteed that you would die of an infectious disease. In fact, had you been born just 150 years ago, your chances of dying of an infectious disease before you’ve reached the age of 5 would have been extremely high.
  • Hospitals flourished 150 years ago from serving as a multipurpose sheltering center to a hospital for treating patients, and medical research.

 

Real Life “Gidget” coming to Senior Health Expo

Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura has announced that Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, a.k.a the real Gidget, will be the keynote speaker at their upcoming Health & Wealth Expo.  This year’s event will take place on Wednesday April 27, from 11a.m. to 2p.m.

Come meet an American icon whose incredible true life story inspired the “Gidget” novel, movies and TV shows starring Sandra Dee and Sally Field.  Hear how this gutsy, inspiring woman refuses to let life limit her even today as a 75 year old surfing senior.

In addition to her keynote presentation, Kohner-Zuckerman will be signing copies of the “Gidget” novel immediately after her presentation.  Copies will be available for purchase as well.

Along with the keynote presentation, this year’s Health & Wealth Expo at the senior community will include over 30 vendors offering everything from free blood pressure and mini stroke screenings, free balance and hearing tests, free wealth management consultations, to veteran benefit information.  A free healthy gourmet lunch will also be provided.

Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event including one grand prize; a 50” HD flat screen TV.   Admission is free and the event is open to the public.  Free shuttle parking will also be available.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Assisted Home Care & Hospice, Coastal View Healthcare Center, Mission Home Health, Victoria Care Center, Ventura Vein Center, and Glenwood Care Center.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 650-8000.  To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.

 

Health Insurance Counseling And Advocacy Program (HICAP)

“Billy, is that really you?”
“Billy, is that really you?”

HICAP presentations are provided through-out Ventura County.

Ventura presentations, for other locations go to www.ventura.org/vcaaa/hicap.

Tuesday, April 12,- Topic: Spring Into Summer by Protecting Yourself from Maladies, Fraud and Most of all Saving Money by Protecting Yourself! – 10:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm – at VCAAA, 646 County Square Dr. April 19 at Ventura Active Adult Center, 550 North Ventura Ave. 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Tuesday, April 26- Topic: How Do Free Medicare Preventive Services Help Me? Update on Medicare Fraud. – 10:00 am to 11:30 – at VCAAA, 646 County Square Dr. Ventura.

 

Vol. 9, No. 13 – March 30 – April 12, 2016 – Ventura City Classes

City of Ventura Dance classes check out hundreds more on our web-site

Call (658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net

Classes/Events held the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted

Dancer’s Body Cardio Barre and Sculpt  18 years-Adult
4/5-5/10           Tuesday           12-12:45 pm    $60      #5528
Sculpt muscles, trim fat, tone and lift the entire body with a challenging no-impact strength and flexibility workout using the ballet barre and techniques from Pilates, Yoga Ballet and Lotte Berk. Bring towel & water. Instructor Haley-Nicole Harwood.

Polynesian Dance with Elaine Tavares  5 years-adult
4/6-5/25           Wednesday      5:30-6:15 pm   $60      #5477  5-8 years
4/6-5/25           Wednesday      6:15-7:30 pm   $55      #5478  9 years-adul
Bring a skirt and/or sarong to class and have fun learning songs and steps to Hula, Tahitian, and Poi Balls.

Beginning Tap  12 years-adult
4/6-5/25           Wednesday      7:30-8:30 pm   $80      #5532
Get great exercise and improve your balance while learning the basic steps for tap as well as combinations and routines set to upbeat rhythms and music. Classes are progressive but designed for the beginner dancer. Come to class with tap shoes and wear exercise type dancewear including loose pants and t-shirts. Instructor Elli Busch.

Line Dance with a Twist  18 years-adult
4/6-5/9             M/W    1-2 pm                         $60      #5661
For experienced line dancers: enjoy fun exercise with a twist of salsa, ballroom and jazz. Instructor Jackie Ringhof.

Parent & Me Creative Movement  2-4 years
4/6-5/25           Wednesday      10-10:45 am     $50      #5658
Explore dance together as you move in different directions, levels, tempos and shapes using imaginative play. Wear comfortable clothes for easy movement. Instructor Jenae Kartawidjaja

Pre Ballet I & II with Cassie  3-7 years
4/11-6/6           Monday                        4-4:45 pm        $65      #5652  3-5 years Pre K
4/11-6/6           Monday                        4:45-5:30 pm   $65      #5653  5-7 years Grades K-1
Basic steps, coordination and balance are combined with playful instruction and friendly tunes. Leotard, tights and ballet shoes recommended. Parents may stay for first and last class only. No class 5/30. Instructor Cassie Lawhead.

 

Volunteers make a difference at the Ventura Botanical Garden

Ventura Botanical Garden volunteers have been doing cleanup and rock work all along the Demonstration Trail along with erosion control; seeding and transplanting; and heavy brush clean up at the top of Summit Drive.  All of this effort makes a walk in the Gardens a new and renewing experience.

Welcoming folks to the trail over the last 8 months, the Greeters have had a chance to get to know local visitors (and their dogs) and introduce visitors from afar to the Gardens. In teams of two the Greeters inform visitors about the Gardens and offer membership and volunteer information. There is a need to increase the cohort of Greeter volunteers and expand the hours of coverage as summer approaches.  If you would like to spend a couple of hours a week sharing the vision for the Gardens, please contact Rosemary McIntyre 443-1009.

Biologist David Lee will be giving guided walks focusing on wildlife and birds on April 16th and May 7th.   Geologist and founding member John Powell will lead a walk discussing the geology of the Ventura Hills on April 9th.  These are in addition to the monthly docent led “Know your Gardens” walks.

On Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 PM a child can bring a shoe or boot to create a take home plant while learning the needs of a plant to grow and thrive.    Meet at Green Thumb Nursery, 1899 S. Victoria Ave.  Please drive to the rear of the building (left side), park and enter at the gate.

Sign up early for a private guided Tour of Taft Gardens South African and Australian native plants on April 23 in Ojai.  Meet at 8:30 AM in Vons parking lot at Harbor and Seaward to carpool.  Park to the right of Subway.  Tour is admission free and limited to 30 people.  A donation to the Taft Gardens is appreciated.  Bring lunch and beverage to enjoy on the grounds after the tour.    RSVP to Teresa Zdanowich  535-0343 or [email protected] by April 13.

 

 

Kellogg Park takes a small step with groundbreaking

City dignitaries from the City Council and Recreation & Parks and other employees and well-wishers  dig Kellogg Park.

On March 12 Kellogg Park held a groundbreaking ceremony that included a Chumash Blessing for the land, music from local middle school DeAnza Academy of Technology and the Arts, Mariachi Los Halcones, brightly colored Aztec Dancers and martial arts and boxing demonstrations.

The event presented by the Westside Community Council, and sponsored by SoCalGas included a traditional groundbreaking ceremony with the flavor of the Historic Westside.

Activities included community booths with activities including a mosaic play-station with Kevin Carman, the artist designing a public art piece for Kellogg Park, seedling planting, button making, carnival games, bubbles, interactive art activities, fish bean bag river toss, walking beams, hula hoops, bracelet making, book crafts, and more.

Rancho Days Celebration held at the historic Olivas Adobe

Photo by Bernie Goldstein.

A Rancho Days Celebration was held at the historic Olivas Adobe in Ventura. The community life in the 1800s was celebrated as part of the 150th anniversary of the city of Ventura. Two visiting docents from the Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles with Mrs. Olivas played by Joanne Abing on their left and Don Raymundo Olivas played by Ernie Calvillo on their right are in this photo.

For more photos go to www.venturabreeze.com

 

Winners of the 2016 County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Photo by Michael Gordon

stuff st. pats insetTrophies were awarded to the winners at the Ventura City Council Meeting held on Monday, March 14.

The Parade theme was “Celebrating 150 Years of Ventura’s History.” The parade Grand Marshal was the descendants of Ventura’s historic families the Chumash, E.P. Foster, Olivas, Smith Hobson and Petit and Harrison Moraga families.

For a list of the winners go to www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com

 

 

Ventura Harbor Village celebrates Mermaid Madness

stuff mermaidMermaids came out of the ocean to read the Ventura Breeze during March at the Ventura Harbor Village. From nautical finds to coastal décor, fashion and artwork inspired by the sea, Ventura Harbor Village pays homage to the mermaid in all of us to celebrate seaside with Mermaid Madness!

Mermaid Farasha Millner, who came all the way from Las Vegas and Ventura little mermaid  Jade Reily greeted visitors in front of The December Store & More.