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Vol. 9, No. 4 – November 25 – December 8, 2015 – Ojai News & Events

On Sun., Nov. 29, the Ojai Film Society (OFS) will screen “Meru,” an exhilarating and profound documentary about three mountain climbers who attempt to scale the Himalayan peak known as Meru—the Shark’s Fin. On Sun., Dec. 6, OFS will screen the “The Second Mother,” a heartbreaking and humorous Brazilian film. The films are screened at 4:30 pm at Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo. For more information, visit www.ojaifilmsociety.org.

“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” is a delightful twist on the infamous tale of the terrible Scrooge, told from Marley’s point of view. Chock full of wit and emotion, this “superbly written” story plays at Ojai ACT from Nov. 27 to Dec. 20; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 or $15 for seniors, students and Art Center members. The show is not recommended for children 10 and under. Tickets are available by calling 640-8797 or online at: www.OjaiACT.org

“A Winter Gift” is presented by three of the premier Celtic Harpists in the world. Patrick Ball, Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter perform Celtic legends, along with Irish and English literature woven together with beloved and rare pieces of holiday music. The concert and storytelling event will take place at Ojai Valley Women’s Club at 441 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA on Thursday, December 3rd, at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $20 advance and $25 at the door. Kids under 15 are half price. For info and advanced tickets call 665-8852 or visit www.OjaiConcertSeries.com. This trio is well known for their first show “Legends of the Celtic Harp,” which tells stories and legends of the harp through time. In their new show, “A Winter Gift,” storyteller and wire-strung harpist Patrick Ball along with harpers and multi-instrumentalists Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter step into a magical world of Irish and English literature. The trio presents a heartwarming collection of tales and music from Celtic legend and traditional folk stories. They perform a  Child’s Christmas in Wales, a chapter from The Wind in the Willows, and passages from Shakespeare, William Butler Yeats, and Thomas Hardy, and mingle them with beloved and original pieces of seasonal music. Audiences will hear three Celtic Harps, Swedish Nyckelharpa, Fiddle, Bandura, Bouzouki and more.  Visit www.LegendsOfTheCelticHarp.com for more information.

“Wassail,” The Holly and the  Ivy,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and other great songs of the holidays will be brought to life by the Ojai Community Chorus as they present “Christmas:  Gifts from the Heart” Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Ojai United Methodist Church. A bake sale and boutique will also be held.The concert will be set in Vienna and will pay tribute to great Viennese waltzes plus waltzes with a Christmas theme. The chorus will be accompanied by local musicians John Boyd, James Antunez, and Ben Ginsberg.

The Ojai United Methodist Church is located at 120 Church Rd. Tickets are available at Angela’s Flowers, 226 West Ojai Ave. and from chorus members. Get your tickets early and take advantage of the presale price. Suggested donations are $20 for general admission in advance and $25 at the door. Seniors 65 and over and student tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children ages 6 through 11 are admitted for $5. Children younger than 6 are admitted free, but there are no provisions for child care during the performance. Free refreshments will be offered after the concerts. View the website at ojaicommunitychorus.com.

Vol. 9, No. 4 – November 25 – December 8, 2015 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

11-8 3:20pm, received a report of a suspicious person acting strangely near the carousel lawn.  Officers responded and contacted the individual.  The patient was incoherent and it was determined he was likely overdosing on drugs.  Officers contacted Fire and PD to assist.  The patient was treated then arrested for being under the influence of drugs.

6:00pm, While on patrol, officers contacted an individual setting up a tent on the dirt lot near NPS at the end of Spinnaker.  A warning was issued for “No camping” ordinance and the individual took down the tent and moved on.
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 5:40pm, received a distress call from a 28ft sailboat just outside the harbor in 35knots of wind in danger of going aground.  Officers responded in the fireboat, passed a tow line to the sailboat that was in the surf by this time.  The sailboat was safely towed back to the Harbor and released in their slip.
11-10 1:22pm, while on patrol near Surfers Knoll, officers observed two hang-gliders fall from the sky and land on the beach.  Contacted and requested flight plans from the pilots when they plan to fly again.
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 11:00am, received a Mayday call on VHF 16 from a disabled motor vessel near the Ventura Pier. Officers responded, located the vessel, passed a tow line and safely towed the vessel to their slip in Ventura Isle Marina in the harbor.

6:23am, received a dispatch to a fall victim at the Holiday Inn Express.  Officers responded and found a 81 year old female had fallen and broke her hip ten hours ago in her hotel room and was unable to summon help until the maid attempted to open her door in the morning.  The patient was treated and transported to local hospital.

10:22pm, assisted Vessel Assist with a salvaged lightboat that was aground on Santa Rosa Island for the last few weeks.  Officers assisted by pushing the vessel into the travel lift for the boat yard.
   

 

December events at Foster Library

Adult Programs/Special Events

H.O.P.E. for Warriors (12/5 @ 1pm) – A presentation by Reins of H.O.P.E., a Ventura County based organization dedicated to offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. The talk will address how sessions help veterans develop coping skills for PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, anger, depression, addiction, and grief.

Flowering Plants of the Mt. Piños Area (12/ 9 @ 7:15pm) – California Native Plant Society Channel Islands Chapter – Join us to learn more about the native plants of this mountain region located in the Los Padres National Forest on the boundary between Ventura and Kern Counties.

Ongoing Events

Library LAB Open Workshop (12/9 & 12/23 4:30-6:30pm) – Come by the library on alternating Wednesday evenings to learn more about our 3D printer and laser cutter—or to use them yourself! Ask the library staff about what you need to bring to print or engrave an item of your own, or just drop in to see what we’re up to in our library makerspace.

Poetry Open Mic Night (12/3, 10, 17 Thursday 7:30-9pm) – On these Thursday nights, come join this group of writers as they meet in the Topping Room to share their work.

Ukulele Jam Session (12/14 & 28 Mondays 7-10pm) – Locals gather to play the ukulele on the first and third Monday of the month.

Teens Teaching Tech (12/12 Saturday 12-1pm) – Need help with technology? Bring your device to the library to get help from local teens.

*Computer classes are now one-on-one sessions. Call the library for more information.

Children’s Events

Dance Party! (12/4 Friday 10:30-11:30 am) Enjoy non-stop music and movement for children ages 2-5 and their grownups in the Topping Room!

After School Reading Crew (12/9 Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm) – K-3rd grade elementary students and their families are invited to this literacy enrichment class.

Early Literacy Class (12/1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30 Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10:30am) – A great way to introduce your child to early literacy and the library. Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Homework Center (12/1, 3, 8, 10, 15, & 17 Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-5pm) – Homework Helpers will be available to help students in grades K through 12 with their homework assignments.

Paws for Reading (12/5, 12, 19, & 26 Saturdays 12-1pm) – Read aloud to a registered service dog (sign-up required).

Teen Happenings

TAG Teen Advisory Group (12/2 & 16 Wednesdays 4pm) – Active members will get credit towards School Community Services Hours. TAG meetings are in the Young Adult area on the 2nd floor.

Youth Chess Club (12/7, 14, 21, & 28 Mondays 3pm) – Learn to play chess or improve your current ability! Assisted by Class A tournament player Jack Cashman.

Special Events

Winter Crafternoon (12/16 Wednesday @ 3:30-5pm) – Get your craft on in the afternoon at E.P. Foster Library. Enjoy a special winter themed craft!

Makeshop (12/1 &15 Tuesdays 3-5pm) – Building fun at the library! Learn to build for wind. Children of all ages welcome.

Holidays in December
We will be closed:
Friday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day
Friday, January 1 in observance of New Years Day

Acts of Kindness for City anniversary

Photo by Daniel Ingram

On  Saturday, Nov. 21 on the Ventura City Hall front steps the National Family Volunteer Day was celebrated with local families performing Acts of Kindness.  As part of the City of Ventura’s 150th anniversary events, Mayor Cheryl Heitmann is asking community members to perform A Million Acts of Kindness.

city volunteer day insetVolunteer Ventura hosted Family Volunteer Day to celebrate the power of families working together, and to help teach children valuable real-life lessons about compassion and caring.

Families participated in “Kindness Stations” such as:
~  Donating canned/boxed food for FOOD Share, stuffed animals for the Ventura Police Department outreach, or a new, unwrapped toy for Ventura City Fire Department’s Spark of Love Toy Drive.
~  Decorating a pebble in our Kindness Rocks station.
~  Making a holiday letter/card for one of our deployed servicemen/women.
~  Participating in a service scavenger hunt.
~  Offering a free cup of coffee to a stranger or to a favorite downtown merchant (thanks to donations provided by Starbucks).

The Grandes Dames are the ultimate Rubicon Theatre volunteers

The Grandes Dames recently held an elegant luncheon at the Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo. The Grandes Dames host several luncheons and events, each year at different upscale locations  throughout Ventura County including country clubs, hotels and yacht clubs.

The luncheons include wonderful entertainment provided by cast members who perform at the Rubicon Theatre. Jennifer Lee Warren entertained the gathering with her amazing voice and engaging personality. She recently returned from her appearance Off-Broadway in Rubicon’s own “Lonesome Traveler”.

Several Rubicon staff and actors spoke to the theater lovers and volunteers. These included Rubicon co-founder Karyl Lynn Burns, the theatre’s Producing Artistic Director and Brian McDonald who introduced several of the cast members that will appear in the upcoming production of A Christmas Story.

About 20 years ago, five of Ventura’s movers and shakers put their heads together and came up with a great idea when they decided to create an organization of grand ladies to support the Rubicon.

They decided to call their volunteer group the Grandes Dames – Ambassadors for the Rubicon who support the theatre through volunteer activities.

Both men and women (yes, there are a few lucky men who volunteer though they are usually called Grandes Gentlemen) attend the luncheons. Guests are always welcome and many go on to become Grandes Dames.

The Grandes Dame’s quarterly luncheons and membership fees helps to supports Rubicon activities and covers the cost of the luncheons.

The Rubicon is always looking for dedicated volunteers. If you want to learn more, visit www.rubicontheatre.org, or call them at 667-2900. You can also stop by the theatre itself which is located at 1006 E. Main St.

Ventura and Gold Coast Recycling celebrate 25th anniversary

Photos by John Ferritto

Gold Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, established in 1990 to help local cities, including Ventura, and the County of Ventura meet state mandates to cut the amount of trash they send to landfills in half, held a 25th anniversary celebration on Nov. 19.

Gold Coast Recycling and business partner Harrison Industries honored the cities they serve – also including Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Ojai, Fillmore and Carpinteria – as well the County of Ventura with Certificates of Appreciation during the event at the 75,000-square-foot facility in Ventura.

stuff gold coast insetGeorge Harrison, general manager of Gold Coast Recycling, presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of the cities, chambers and communities Harrison serves for helping the communities exceed the trash diversion goals of California Assembly Bill 939, passed in 1989.

“We couldn’t have reached these state goals without the extraordinary commitment of the citizens, businesses and institutions of all of the jurisdictions, and for that we thank them also,” Harrison said.

Working in conjunction with Harrison Industries, GCR established a three-barrel curbside program for trash, recycling and green waste for residents and a white recycling bin program for businesses as well as roll-off and Construction & Demolition programs for both businesses and residents, GCR processes over 90,000 tons of recyclable materials each year.

Government officials presenting GCR with certificates of congratulations included State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann and Ventura City Councilman Jim Monahan. Representatives of the offices of Congresswoman Julia Brownley, State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblyman Das Williams also presented certificates of congratulations.

In the future Harrison Industries and GCR will be adding green and food waste recycling bins for its business customers, in compliance with California Assembly Bill 1826, which takes effect in 2016. AB 1826 is designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and create a source of green energy.

Cypress Place honors veterans, will host candlelight memorial service

On Veterans Day, November 11 Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura honored residents of the senior community who served their country, including Donald G. Wright, Captain, U.S. Army Retired.

senior cypress insetCaptain Wright turned 102 on Veterans Day, and in appreciation of his years of service to his country, Quilts of Valor honored him with a handmade quilt.  With his children looking on, Wright beamed with pride as he accepted the personalized quilt, designed to both comfort and heal veterans and service members who have been touched by war.

“We are here to honor all our veterans with this personalized quilt”, said Pat Blanchard, a Thousand Oaks resident and member of Quilts of Valor, a national organization of volunteer members who create the quilts.

Photos of Wright from his younger years were on display at the senior community as part of the celebration.  When asked about the key to his longevity, Wright quipped, “I ate a lot of shredded wheat.”   Even at his advanced age, Wright is an active member of the community, participating in many events, and engaging fellow residents, family members and friends in lively conversation.

“It was just the perfect day,” said Susan Westover, one of Wright’s daughters.  “Not only for my dad, but for the entire family.  We can’t thank Cypress Place enough.”

Next up the senior community will host their annual Candlelight Memorial Service on Wednesday December 9th, 2015. This touching event is in loving memory of those who are no longer with us but are forever present in our hearts.

The candlelight service will be led by Pastor Leonard DeWitt, Pastor to Senior Adults at Ventura Baptist Church.  There will be speakers, music, and attendees will be able to light a candle in honor of their loved one.

The free memorial service begins promptly at 5:00 p.m. at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura and is open to the public.    Light refreshments will be served.

Cypress Place Senior Living is located at 1200 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura.  Seating is limited so please call to reserve a seat. 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.

 

Anacapa Middle School teacher recognized

The Ventura Commerce and Education Foundation (VCEF) named Danna Lomax, language arts teacher at Anacapa Middle School in Ventura, as November’s Teacher of the Month. VCEF board member, Pattie Braga, along with elected representatives and members of the business community, presented Lomax with a plaque to commemorate the award .

Lomax was acknowledged for her commitment to creating engaging learning experiences, her high level of involvement in on-campus and district committees, and her expertise in bilingual education. Her recognition-worthy efforts include presenting at numerous county and district workshops on bilingualism as well as bringing a salsa dance instructor into her classroom to supplement a cross-curriculum course on bilingualism and biculturalism.

“Danna is extremely dedicated to Anacapa’s students, both in her classroom instruction and outside of class time,” said Anacapa’s principal, Barbara Boggio. “Her doors are always open to interested students, whether or not they are in her classes, and she is constantly seeking ways to develop new and exciting learning opportunities.”

In her 18-year teaching career, Lomax has received multiple Impact II awards, including the Ed Lyon Award for Excellence in Education in 2013. Her efforts have also earned the school several Ventura Education Partnership (VEP) grants.

Teacher of the Month nominees must be credentialed teachers and display certain qualities, such as outstanding commitment to students, service to school or district committees, involvement in projects on their own time and/or participation in youth-focused activities in the community. All principals and parent-teacher organizations from schools within the Ventura Unified School District are eligible to submit nominations. For more information about the Teacher of the Month program, please contact Pattie Braga, chair of the Teacher Appreciation Committee with the VCEF, at [email protected] or (805) 477-4052.

 

Tips for choosing and using your 2016 Medicare Health Plan

Medicare(StatePoint) It’s that time of year again: The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP)  runs through December 7. Medicare is a critical source of health care for millions of Americans, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sets this time for people to select and make changes to their plans each year.

As AEP approaches, the old adage “good health is priceless” remains true. According to a survey by Cigna, a leading health service company and Medicare insurance provider, health, well-being and financial security are strongly linked in the minds of Americans. Their research shows that many people have anxiety about their financial health that goes far beyond making health care benefit choices.

That’s why it’s crucial Medicare consumers consider their health and budget needs as they evaluate health care options for 2016.

“Choosing a plan isn’t as simple as just keeping the one you had last year or looking only at the monthly premium costs. The goal should be to choose a plan that best meets your individual needs,” says Herb Fritch, president of Cigna-HealthSpring, Cigna’s seniors business unit. “Comparing affordability alongside the plan’s benefits and services is an important balance.”

To help you choose a plan and get the most from it, consider these five tips:

  1. Make a list of your priorities and use it to compare plans. Focusing on prevention? Keeping out-of-pocket costs low? Staying active? Take time to evaluate plan options according to the health and financial goals you value most.
  1. Be sure your plan offers comprehensive preventive care benefits and use them. Many health plans offer preventive health benefits at little or no cost. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 100,000 lives could be saved each year if everyone received the recommended preventive care.
  1. Know your network. Many plans offer choices with a network of doctors. Choosing primary care doctors and specialists in network can provide better communication and care coordination, and keep your out-of-pocket costs down.
  1. Get rewarded for staying active. Keeping fit is essential to healthy aging. Original Medicare doesn’t cover gym memberships or fitness programs, but some Medicare Advantage plans offer such benefits as part of their coverage. Many are free and some reward you for staying active.
  1. Use free resources. CMS’ Plan Finder helps you compare costs, covered medications and other items. Many insurance plans offer free seminars with no obligation to sign up. You can also check health plans’ websites or call their customer service number for more information. Local and state agencies on aging also connect older adults and caregivers with community resources. Your plan may offer newsletters with helpful information about your benefits.

As you weigh the options, Fritch offers this advice: “It’s worth it to take the time to set your priorities and see how plan benefits stack up. Only then can you choose a plan that really helps you get the most from it and reach your goals.”