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Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – Senior News Line

New Year, New You
By Matilda Charles

Did you make a list of resolutions for the New Year? How are you doing so far? They say if we can keep a resolution for 21 days, we’re likely to stick with it. Here are some ideas to make 2016 a healthier, more active year.

* If you always hear about local events after the fact, sign up for online notices for museum exhibits, special readings at the library, lectures and lunches at the senior center.

* Consider taking a class. Reducing the risk of falls and senior driving safety are both worthwhile. Check the education department course catalog for something new and fun. Classes even might be free for seniors.

* Do a puzzle a day. It doesn’t matter what kind. Crossword, scrabble, solitaire are all good brain stretchers. Go online to AARP at games.aarp.org for free games.

* Get out of the house once a day. Walk to the mailbox, set up a walking routine with a friend (even if you have to go to the local rec center) or pick a different place to visit every day.

* Eat something that’s good for you at least a few times per week, even if you don’t especially care for it. If you don’t like green vegetables, for example, scan the Internet for recipes that will make them more palatable. Do you have a smoothie blender? Many ingredients can be combined to taste better together.

* Consider upgrading your technology knowledge. If your grandchildren have smartphones, think about whether you might benefit from having that instant contact with them, rather than waiting until you open email to see the latest photos from them.

* Look up old friends. If you’re not familiar with social media, take a class, and especially learn about the safety aspects.

(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Hospice volunteer training begins in January

Join Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association’s remarkable core of volunteers–community heroes that give special gifts of time and compassion to patients and their families at the end of life.

Livingston will provide you with training that gives you the confidence to enter the homes and lives of others to support them as a part of the Livingston Hospice Team. Training begins Wednesday, January 27th from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and continues for eight consecutive weeks.

What you receive back is as priceless as what you give.

For more information, contact Maddy Hazard at 642-0239 x775 or [email protected].

Free  Fall Prevention Workshop

Having a strong sense of balance is crucial in preventing falls in older adults and their caregivers. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is offering a free educational workshop: Stop Falling! Home Safety and Preventing Falls and Injuries on Thursday, January 21 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Join workshop leader Steve Lehman, MPH, MBA, USC certified in fall prevention as he discusses the three keys to preventing falls. The SCAN Health & Wellness Center is at 6633 Telephone Road, Suite 100. For more information or to make an appointment, call 658-0365.

 

 

Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – A Tender Touch Senior Placement

“What is Palliative and Hospice Care”
By Connie De La Rosa

A Palliative care program provides patients the benefits of both  home health and hospice programs.  “It is for patients who are still pursuing aggressive treatment for their illness to promote quality of life not end of life” states Teri Helton Program Manager for Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. Through palliative care, a treatment team addresses the whole family’s emotional, spiritual, and social needs in addition to the patient’s medical treatment along  with providing the necessary resources. If a patient improves, they are then able to transition to home health and recovery. “When the patient is no longer seeking a curable treatment, the team is already in place to transition into hospice care” states Teri Helton.   It is important to keep in mind that a patient may improve their condition so they no longer need Hospice Care.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, has been an advocate of a more holistic patient-centered approach when coordinating medical care. Their main concern has always been for their patient’s wellbeing such as meeting their spiritual and emotional needs along with their medical treatment as well as support to their loved ones and caregivers.

How does Hospice work? Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. Hospice staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week  which offers, Skilled Nursing Care, Medication for pain and symptom control, Medical Social Worker, Chaplain Services, Registered Dietitian,  Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapist and Bereavement Care.

Who Pays? Medicare, Medi-Cal and other insurance cover hospice care. Livingston Hospice is a non-profit organization and actively fundraises in order to subsidize the cost of hospice care for patients with inadequate financial resources in order to serve all qualified patients of Ventura County  regardless of inability to pay.

For more information on Palliative and Hospice care you can call 642-1608 or visit their website www.lmvna.org

AARP tax aide offers free income tax assistance

AARP Tax-Aide, in conjunction with the IRS, will provide free income tax preparation assistance and e-filing for seniors and low-to-moderate income adults of any age from February 1 through April 15. AARP membership is not required.

Ventura will have three locations and appointments are not required: Area Agency on Aging, 646 County Square Drive (off Victoria and Thille), Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Ave, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m. Ventura Boys & Girls Club, 1929 Johnson Drive, Fridays 8:30-11:30 a.m.

There will be two sites in Oxnard, and appointments are not required: Wilson Senior Center, 350 North C Street, Wednesdays 9 a.m.-noon. Oxnard Library, 251 South A Street, Thursdays, 1-7 p.m.

The Ojai site is by appointment only, at the Little House of Ojai, 111 West Santa Ana St, Thursdays noon-3:15 p.m. Please call 646-5122.

Taxpayers must bring the following documents for their tax return preparation: Social Security cards for themselves, spouses and any dependents, picture ID, copy of 2014 tax return, and all 2015 documents showing income from all sources, including wages, Social Security, interest, dividends, investments, self-employment, and pensions. If you itemize deductions, please provide total figures for each category of deduction, including medical, charitable contributions, property tax, mortgage interest, etc. If you received a health insurance statement (Form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C), bring that as well.

Please note that Tax-Aide volunteers are not able to prepare returns for married taxpayers who file separate returns, taxpayers with rental property income, or out-of-state tax returns.

Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – Movie Review

The Revenant
by Eduardo Victoria
[email protected]

Walking out at the end of Mexican director Alejandro G. Iñarritu’s latest film, I was taken by its visual grandeur, stunning cinematography, and incredible performances. Then I found myself questioning why the film needs to be two hours and thirty-six minutes in length, when it probably could have been wrapped up much sooner than that. Upon further thought, this film would have absolutely zero legs were it not for the performance of Leonardo DiCaprio as frontiersman Hugh Glass.

Taking place in 1820, Glass (DiCaprio) is on a fur trapping expedition somewhere deep within the icy tundra of the Louisiana Purchase. Tensions run high when they are attacked and badly crippled by tribes native to the area. Upon further attempts to get back to civilization and escape future attacks, Glass is mauled by a bear and has to be carried back to safety, trying
the patience of John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Growing impatient, Fitzgerald leaves Glass for dead after killing his son. Having to crawl all the way back to civilization without being able to walk and nothing but his own knowledge of the wilderness to aid him, Glass sets out to avenge his son.

A simple premise and an amazing cast can go a long way, but this time around, Iñarritu might have stretched them too long. Continuing the usage of abstract imagery the director showed audiences in his prior film, Birdman, we see glimpses of Glass’ dead wife. About a half hour too long, there are enormous stretches where nothing really happens. The savior, if that, is the amazing cinematography by two time Oscar winner Emanuel Lubezki, who will more than likely get his third Golden Statue for this film. Shot entirely with natural light, the movie is the most beautifully shot you’ll see at the cinema all year.

DiCaprio, more so than Tom Hardy, gives himself fully to the role. We feel his pain, see his torment, however when it came to playing a father, I wasn’t entirely sold. Hell bent on giving one thrilling performance, Leo lacks a sensitivity that was needed for some of the film’s more emotionally impactful scenes. The supporting cast of Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter are excellent whenever they appear on screen. Peppered throughout were also a very multi-layered score by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Carsten Nicolai. Being a film with more bite than bark, the most visceral scene in the movie will stay with you long after the credits roll.
The bear attack is the most pulse-pounding scene in the entire film that initiates the hell to come.

The Revenant is a visceral experience, but not much beyond that. What could have been a story of survival or emotional anguish gets lost in the mish-mash of what Iñarritu believes are two voices. In a year full of some very magnificent westerns (The Hateful Eight and Bone Tomahawk are must see films), The Revenant is the most ponderous in terms of its story telling and visually powerful of them all.

Rated R. 156 minutes. Now playing at Cinemark Downtown 10.

Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – Two on the Aisle

Four Star Theater Awards
by Jim Spencer and Shirley Lorraine

Luminaries from Ventura County’s theatrical community gathered for a night of recognition and entertainment at the Sixth Annual Four Star Theater Awards ceremony.

This year’s event, called “A Night of Four Thousand Stars,” was held January 10 at the iconic High Street Art Center in Moorpark.

The awards are presented by the Four Star Theater Alliance, an association of six community theaters.  The purpose of the Alliance is to promote camaraderie, cooperation and mutual respect among member theaters and their constituent participants.

Each theater group is recognized for both an outstanding production, as well as outstanding individual contributions by its performers, production and technical staff members in various shows over the course of the entire season.

During the year the productions of each theater company are evaluated by separate a panel of judges drawn from the other five theaters in the Alliance. As has been the tradition in Ventura County, award recipients are recognized for their outstanding work, rather than being competitively judged as best among the disparate forms and styles of shows, roles and productions.

This year the awards show was skillfully hosted by Jocelyn Johnson and Eric Umali.  In addition to the handing out of awards, each theater company presented memorable excerpts from one of the shows it presented during the past season.

The Ventura Breeze salutes the Four Star Theater Alliance and congratulates the recipients from each theater company.

Camarillo Skyway Playhouse: Outstanding production: Flowers for Algernon.  Individual award recipients: R. Shane Bingham, Annie Sherman , Todd Tickner, Kimberley Demmary, Bob Decker, Eric R. Umali, Angie Zamora, William Carmichael, Lorna Bowen, Erin Heulitt, Barbara Mazeika, David Watkins,  Annie Sherman, Dawn Notagiacomo, Eric R. Umali, Dean Johnson,  Ryan Kelly.

Conejo Players Theatre: Outstanding production: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  Individual award recipients: Ryan Driscoll, Emily Vallance, Dale Alpert, Kathleen Silverman, John Holroyd, Rick Steinberg, Dave Parmenter, Jack Allaway, Beth Glasner, Elena Mills, Nick Newkirk, Miriam Durrie-Kirsch, James Laguna, Priscilla Losey,

Elite Theatre Company:  Outstanding production: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.   Individual award recipients: Alan Waserman, Vivien Latham, Mark Fagundes, Erin Fagundes, Shawn W. Lanz, Tom Eubanks, Elena Mills, Arryck Adams, Evan Patrick Smith, Will Shupe, Austin Robert Miller.

High Street Arts Center:  Outstanding production:  Dreamgirls. Individual award recipients: R. Shane Bingham, Alison Rosenblum, Brandon McCray, Hannah Davey, John Eslick, Ken Rayzor, Patrick Duffy, Laurel Marion, John Gaston, Wendy Babb, Colin Fluxman, Kathee Boyer, Taylor Thomas.

Ojai Art Center Theater ~ Ojai ACT: Outstanding production: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Individual award recipients: Michael Perlmutter, Tracey Williams Sutton, Cecil Sutton, Kenny Dahle, Steve Grumette, Sheryl Jo Bedal, Reign Lewis, Greg Spaulding, Anna Kotula, Brian Robert Harris, Vivien Lathan, Tom Eubanks, Theresa Secor, Morgan Bozarth, Suzanne Tobin, Buddy Wilds and Jill Dolan.

Santa Paula Theatre Center: Outstanding production: The Clean House. Individual recipients: Raymond Mastrovito, Peggy Steketee, Michael Perl, Sindy McKay, Seth Kamenow Laurie Walters, Gary Richardson, Barbara Pedziwiatr, Taylor Kasch, Leslie Nichols, Javierra Torres, Carmen Saveiros.

 

Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – Ojai News & Events

The Pastel Society of the Gold Coast, a non-profit organization, is pleased to present their award-winning professional paintings at their show and sale “I Love Pastels.”  The group has a membership of approximately thirty Southern California artists who utilize the dynamic and diverse application of soft pastels to express their creativity. The PSGC’s mission is to provide public exhibitions for it’s members, to educate the community through collaboration with other non-profit organizations, and to promote the arts in general. The paintings will be on exhibition at the Ojai Art Center from February 6 to March 2.

View beautiful art, listen to live piano music, and enjoy refreshments on February 13th at the Ojai Art Center, located at 112 S. Montgomery Street, from 1-3 p.m.

AARP Tax-Aide, in conjunction with the IRS, will provide free income tax preparation assistance and e-filing for seniors and low-to-moderate income adults of any age from February 1, 2016 through April 15, 2016. AARP membership is not required.   The Ojai site is by appointment only, at the Little House of Ojai, 111 West Santa Ana St, Thursdays noon-3:15 p.m. Please call 646-5122.

Since the 1890s postcards have represented a quick, easy and economical way to share a trip with friends and family. The Ojai Valley Museum’s latest exhibition, “Wish You Were Here: Postcards that Enticed Visitors to the Ojai Valley” highlights vintage postcards. The Ojai Valley postcards are enlarged for better viewing of interesting details. Not only are the images often beautiful, what people wrote speaks to earlier eras while also pointing out how some things never change. In an adjacent space, each visitor is invited to write and send a contemporary postcard themselves.

Also on view are historic promotional items including brochures and maps. Beautifully rendered early 20th century pieces are contrasted with exuberant items from mid-century.

The opening reception for “Wish You Were Here” was on Saturday, January 16. Enjoy the exhibition and a no host wine bar for the price of regular museum admission: $5 per adult, children 6-18 $1, current museum members and children under 6 free.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. It will be on view through March 27.

The Ojai Valley Museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Ave. Free parking is available behind the museum, off Blanche Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday noon to 4 pm. Group or school tours available by appointment.

For more information, call the museum at  640-1390, ext. 201, email [email protected], or visit the museum website at OjaiValleyMuseum.org.

Efforts are underway to update the master plan for Sarzotti Park, and we need your help! Local residents are invited and encouraged to attend a public outreach meeting set for Monday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Ojai City Hall. The meeting will include public input and discussion on the development of future plans and amenities for Sarzotti Park.

The Parks & Recreation Commission is hosting the special meeting to gather additional input on the master plan update. An initial public outreach meeting was held in August, and City officials are looking forward to a large and diverse group to participate in the discussion.

The current draft of the plan can be found online at www.ojairec.com. For more information, contact the Ojai Recreation Department at  646-5581, ext. 390.

The Ventura County Library’s Read Adult Literacy program is coming to the Ojai Library. An information session for new  tutors and students at the library on Monday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m. Stop by to learn about how adults can get free help with reading.

If you are interested in being a volunteer tutor, Read is now recruiting! For more information about Read Adult Literacy, please come to the meeting or call 677-7160.

The Ojai Library Ukulele Club has returned to its normal schedule following the holiday hiatus. The Ukulele Club meets in the north wing of the library every Wednesday evening from 6-7 p.m. Come join other local ukulele enthusiasts at this fun and friendly musical gathering. All levels of skill are welcome.

Vol. 9, No. 8 – January 20 – February 2, 2016 – Ventura Music Scene

music sceneThe O’Leary’s East End Blues Band every Saturday night at O’Leary’s.

Surf to country, blues to jazz…
By Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Talk about musical diversity!  Let’s start with something altogether different, how about a Disc-o-town Hoedown at Discovery on Saturday January 23 with karaoke, a western outfit contest, a mechanical bull and then live country music from Moonridge. It’s all ages with a $10 cover charge and I’m pretty sure line dancing will be involved.

We’d heard the rumblings of live music coming to Ven Tiki (701 E. Main where Bernadette’s use to be located) and it looks like it’s true because the venue received special permission from the City for a one-time chance to have the world famous Surfer Joe from Italy play downtown; there will be no reservations. We hope they pull this one off to a big win so they may be granted a more permanent entertainment permit.

And speaking of having music more often, we’re pleased that you can find more music at the Harbor as the Boatyard Café has been offering up more music including the Bluegrass Jam on Thursdays 6-9 and then there’s the Copa Cubana’s opening pending City approval; Andy who also owns 805 Bar and Grilled Cheese, expects no further delays, and we’re hoping by the time of the next Breeze issue, we’ll be reporting on their grand opening.

After taking over ownership a few months ago Bill Kracht, formerly of Player’s Casino, has brought live music to O’Leary’s with O’Leary’s East End Blues Band performing every Saturday night headed up by harmonica blues master RJ Mischo, Jerry McWorter, Franck Goldwasser,and Brent Harding; it also won’t be unusual to see guest players sit in from time to time.

It’s one of those special events at Squashed Grapes that lovers of jazz won’t want to miss; Sergio Bellotti’s Groove Experience comes to town on Wednesday, January 27. Bellotti will also hold a drum clinic earlier in the evening in conjunction with Pulse Drumming.

Hi Hat Entertainment brings James Intveld to the Ventura Beach Club on Friday, January 22, and Paul Oscher Band on the 29th.

After having sold the building last Fall, Saana at Peirano’s has decided to close the restaurant doors on January 24.  We’re not sure where the tango crew will land, but we know their Thursday night dance club will continue, and we’ll let you know where. In fact, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibilities that someone else will come along and reopen Peirano’s in the future.

And if hard rock is your game, then you’ll want to be at Bombay’s for the Gygax record release party on Friday, January 29.

Finally, our condolences go out to the family and friends of Michael DiMauro who passed away December 31. DiMauro’s most recent project was the Iron Butterfly All Star Band. Services were held at San Buenaventura Mission on January 8.

Do you have any music related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing?  Send all information short or long to  [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Back pain to be the focus of CMHS Seminar

Back pain, which affects an estimated 30 million Americans at any given time, will be the focus of a free seminar when Community Memorial Health System opens its 2016 Educational Seminars series on Tuesday, Jan 26.

Antulio B. Aroche Jr., D.O., who specializes orthopedic surgery, will lead the discussion during the seminar to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, located at 147 N. Brent St.

Nationwide, bone and joint health problems have become the leading cause of disability, and Dr. Aroche will discuss the causes and diagnosis of back pain as well as treatment and rehabilitation options available to patients.

Dr. Aroche was dual fellowship trained in orthopedic and neurosurgical spinal surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Michigan State University in East Lansing. He is a member of the North America Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and several honor societies. Dr. Aroche is on the medical staffs of Community Memorial Hospital and Ojai Valley Community Hospital.

Registration is free but reservations are required. Call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800/838-3006, or visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Future scheduled educational seminars include: Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Care & Common Therapies on Feb. 23 at CMH; Advances in Cardiovascular Care on Feb. 27 at the Soule Park Golf Course banquet room; Hyperthyroidism on March 8 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Oxnard; and Innovative Management & Treatment of Urinary and Defecatory Disorders on March 15 at CMH.