All posts by admin

Vol. 16, No. 18 – May 31 – June 13, 2023 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

 

Wednes 5/10

 7:01am, received request to assist VC Sheriff with creating a landing zone for their helicopter to land near Harbor Cove beach, officers prepared the area.

9:01am, dispatched to a person trapped in the restroom near 1570 Anchors Way. Officers responded with VFD, gained entry, no one in the restroom.

Thursday 5/11

 1:30pm, officers updating plotting navigation coordinates into Fireboat GPS for the Depart of Boating/Waterways weeklong Coastal piloting class at District.

6:30pm, officers assisting training students with night-time operation of Fireboat and Rescue B19 for the DBAW class being conducted at the Ventura Port Dist.

Friday 5/12

 9:25am, dispatched to a stroke in Portside apartments. Officers responded with VFD/AMR. Family was on scene, requesting a welfare check, no one in the unit.

7:55pm, received report of 32ft motor vessel out of gas, 4 miles south of the Harbor. After investigation, tow boat US took over the call and towed the boat.

Saturday 5/13

 9:00am, received report of an unsanctioned car show near 1449 Spinnaker in the village. Officers responded and contacted the group. No violations observed, group attempted to circumvent marketing special event permit.

11:00am, officers participating in a memorial for Ventura Port District employee Donna Canfield. The Fireboat monitor was utilized in the celebration of life and spreading of her ashes offshore the harbor.

Sunday 5/14

 10:00am, officers on patrol observed large crowds in the village with their mothers and families enjoying the holiday.

11:30am, officers placing the Harbor Cove swim buoys to protect swimmers from the Fireboat. Harbor Cove accommodates swimmers, PWC’s & small boats

1:25pm, investigating a petroleum spill near VYC, found sheen but not source.

Monday 5/15

 8:13pm, received report of a vessel with parted lines and colliding with vessels in VWM H-dock. Officers responded and were able to secure the vessel. Very strong surges & currents were affecting the area from unseasonably large swells.

 

Tuesday 5/16

 9:15am, dispatched to medical in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist a fall victim. AMR transported to hospital.

12:30pm, dispatched to an Ocean Rescue at Mandalay Beach. Officers responded in Rescue B19 and Rescue Watercraft. The victim made it to shore.

Wednes 5/17

 3:45am, while on patrol in vehicle, officers observed several vehicles with persons camping at the launch ramp. Warnings were issued, some moved on.

4:05pm, received complaint from local transients sitting on a bench in the Portside promenade that their security removed them for no reason.

Thursday 5/18

 3:55pm, observed children wading in water near a strong rip current near South Jetty. Officers contacting the waders and parents, advised of safer area to swim.

9:20pm, received report of an aggressive transient screaming and challenging people in the village parking lot. Officers contacted VPD to assist with the contact. He ran off screaming and diving into dumpsters, headed to the beach.

Saturday 5/20

 12:16pm, received report of small vessel in violation of speed/wake ordinance in the main channel of the harbor. Officers responded in the Fireboat, found the violators, issued warnings. Safety inspection conducted, areas to speed shown.

3:25pm, received report of a dog trapped in a vehicle in the village. Officers responded, found the vehicle and the dog not in distress, windows down.

Sunday 5/21

 8:31am, dispatched to unconscious person, Riverhaven encampment. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist, but the patient ultimately refused care..

Monday 5/22

 7:00am, officers beginning training 3 new Marine Safety Officers at The Port District office and patrol docks. The new recruits will participate in 40hr class.

7:45pm, dispatched to a capsized sailboat in the A-basin of the harbor. Officers responded in Fireboat, found the boat righted, two persons back onboard.

Tuesday 5/23

 7:03am, observed dense fog, activated signal. Officers hoping for sunnier days.

Vol. 16, No. 18 – May 31 – June 13, 2023 – Police Reports

Assault to Commit Rape Arrest

On May 24, 2023, at about 0815 hours the Ventura Police Department received a 911 call of an assault that had just occurred in the 200 block of South Dunning St.

Responding officers located a 75-year-old female who had been a victim of an attempted sexual assault. The suspect had fled the scene on foot and was apprehended by officers a few blocks away.

The ensuing investigation revealed that the victim was gardening in her front yard when the suspect, Lathanial Walker, approached her on foot. He stood for several minutes watching her as she continued to garden, he then moved in closer to her and dropped his pants. Walker grabbed the victim from behind and began to drag her toward a more secluded area. The victim yelled for help and neighbors intervened to save the victim from further trauma. Walker fled towards the mall and was apprehended by additional responding officers.

Walker was subsequently booked into Ventura County Jail for charges of aggravated kidnapping, assault with the intent to commit rape, and elder abuse.

A records check of Walker indicates he was released from custody in Ventura County on March 18th, 2023, stemming from a burglary arrest in Oxnard in August 2021. Walker has numerous arrests from Virginia Beach, VA, Jacksonville, FL, and other states including assault on a police officer, robbery, assault on a child, and stolen vehicle.

Practice Greenhealth honored with the Partner for Change Award

Dignity Health – St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) and St. John’s Hospital Camarillo (SJHC) were honored by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in healthcare, with the Partner for Change Award. This recognition is given to organizations that demonstrate superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities, as well as those that have made substantive progress on mercury elimination.

The Hive Collaborative in the Garden

Instructor Michele Foster has enlisted 180 art students to help thousands of tiny friends. They’ve worked for weeks on The Hive Collaborative in the Garden, making ceramic “bee cups” to provide water for the vital, threatened pollinators.

The 350 or so hydration stations they created can be viewed at the South African Garden portion of Ventura Botanical Gardens. After June 2, the students will reclaim their ceramic flowers, shallow bowls they can refill for the bees.

Three adult volunteers helped in producing the bee cups out of glazed and fired clay. Participating students are from Mesa Union School, Pierpont Elementary School, Girl Scout Troop 65004 and the Bell Arts Factory Youth Program.

Vets have been honored at The Vent on Memorial Day in Ventura

 A work out known as the “Murph.”

by Patricia Schallert

Every year on Memorial Day, athletes from around the world, gather at Crossfit affiliates, military bases, and local parks to do a work out known as the “Murph” and as they work out, they remember those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This Memorial Day tradition found many local Ventura athletes joining for their 7th year, at the Vent, located in Ventura to honor and support the Vent’s long-standing relationship with the military.

The tradition was born out of CrossFit ‘s Hero workouts, which were created in honor of men and women who have died in the line of action, or while serving their country or local community.

Perhaps the most well-known CrossFit hero work out is the “Murph workout”, named after Lieutenant Michael Murphy, who died in Afghanistan, in 2005, while serving his country. The work out is long and grueling, but you won’t hear athletes complain. Instead, the athletes show up to pay their respects and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Joe Saenz is a 72 local athlete Veteran, a grandfather and great grandfather who honors his friends lost in the Viet Nam war. He commented that “this workout on Memorial Day is his way of remembering them and keeping then in his heart.”

Shelly Hurguy believes that the “Murph” workout is like “ a wave and about the community.” When she thinks about what Memorial Day is all about, she feels “motivated and then pushes herself harder without complaining”.

The “Murph” work out specifies that athletes can “partition the pull ups, push-ups, and squats as needed“. This presents a rare element in a CrossFit workout as most athletes are required to finish all repetition of an exercise before moving onto the next one. In “Murph”, the run portions must be done as a sandwich around the reps, and athletes may break up the pull ups, push-ups, and squats, however they like.

Spending a bit of time thinking through a rep scheme, helps both the newbie athlete and veteran athlete succeed in this workout. For a beginner athlete, this workout helps them feel confident as they attempt a work out that on paper, looks intimidating, but when broken down can be quite manageable. For the veteran athlete, it can help them learn about pacing and strategy to get the best possible times.

For seven years, Ventura Community Athletes of all ages have come together on Memorial Day to the Vent, to participate in one of Michael Murphy’s favorite workouts, known as “Body Armor”. With the sole purpose to honor this focused warrior, and great American, who wanted nothing more in life that serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Bree Cochran the sole owner of the Vent comments that she “supports the older athletes who need some modifications and younger athletes who need challenges that hard workouts bring. She is committed to the workouts for all , especially on Memorial Day where the community can come together as a group and spend time honoring the men and women who have died in the line of action or while serving their county or local community.

Additional information http://www.Sugarwod.com

Ventura Botanical Gardens offers banquet for photographers

What an abundant smorgasbord of colorful blooms and resident fauna were discovered by visitors to the Ventura Botanical Gardens this spring. More than 90 photographers captured the ever-increasing variety of plants in the Mediterranean climate botanical collections found in the Gardens.

Jacqueline Counter

A panel of judges evaluated over 200 submissions and selected winning entries in five categories: Best Overall, Critters, Botanical Macro, Botanical Close-up and Garden Scenes. Winning entries were also chosen by “open voting” on the Ventura Botanical Gardens’ Facebook page.

The judges this year were Greg Montana, photographer and owner of Dexter’s Camera; Monica Furmanski, Assistant Professor of Photography at Ventura College; and Stephanie Hogue, Owner of Latitudes Gallery. Greg continues Dexter’s 70 years of excellent support to the photography community and still processes film. Monica exhibits work locally and nationally and operates the 643 Project Space, an artist run gallery on Ventura Avenue, with her husband Matthew. Stephanie’s work is well known locally for capturing the beauty of the ocean and natural elements of our area. Visitors find her work at Latitudes Gallery on Main Street in downtown Ventura.

Michelle DiGuilio

The contest is open to photos from throughout the year but spring is a favorite season. This year the rains triggered an abundance of new growth, color, birdsong, and scenes captured by our entrants. Denise Dewire, a winner in both the Judges’ and Peoples’ Choice contests, said: “I love VBG and am a charter member. It’s amazing how the Gardens have evolved and how it has come back since the Thomas fire.” Tara Pinley, a winning newcomer to Ventura, is rediscovering her interest in photography. She said: “I’m amazed by the natural beauty in the area — especially the Botanical Gardens where I enjoy gorgeous views of the ocean and gardens all at the same time. It really makes Ventura a wonderful place to live and share with nature.”  

To view all the winning photos go to https://venturabotanicalgardens.com/in-bloom/

Winners in the Judges’ Choice by category were:

  • Best Overall: Denise Dewire (1st and 2nd), Jacqueline Counter (3rd)
  • Critters: Matthew Bear (1st), Tara Pinley (2nd), Michelle DiGuilio (3rd)
  • Botanical Macro: Chuck Aghoian (1st), Alex Davis (2nd), Chuck Aghoian (3rd)
  • Botanical Closeup: Lina Li (1st), April Holmes (2nd), Leslie Leavens (3rd)
  • Garden Scenes: Elisabeth Revenis (1st), Gannon Hutchison (2nd), Benjamin Mati (3rd)

Winners in the Peoples’ Choice were: Denise Dewire (1st, 3rd and 4th), Scott Geist (2nd) and Elizabeth Revenis (5th)

Ventura Botanical Gardens congratulates all the winners and hopes this visual smorgasbord will fuel an appetite for more visitors to experience the Gardens.

Breeze Q&A

Large mixed-use project under construction. Photo by Joseph Seemayer

Question: What is the very large building under construction at N. Banks?
Fred Taylor

Answer:
It is a 306-unit apartment mixed use complex located at Johnson and North Bank drives.
It will have 13 buildings varying from 2 to 4 stories by developer Beverly Hills-based G.H. Palmer Associates. It will contain 19 affordable units and 5,000 square feet of commercial rental space. It is named the Willows.
The first phase of the project should be completed in early September. The project is located in councilman Jim Duran’s District 6, which includes the Montalvo area. It was approved prior to him being on the council. The City Council voted 5-2 in 2018, to approve a zone change necessary for the project to continue. At the time Christy Weir and Neal Andrews voted against the zone change.

Adult Day Health Care Centers: A critical provider of long-term care services

by Katy Krul of Oxnard Family Circle (appeared in LIVEWell)

Adult Day Health Care centers in Ventura County are critical providers of long-term care services in a congregated community-based setting for individuals with cognitive or physical impairments that are cost-effective and great alternatives to institutional care. The centers are licensed by the California Department of Public Health. There are five centers in Ventura County that serve residents over 18 years old with no age limit.

The centers provide activities, health monitoring, socialization, and assistance with daily activities, which allow participants to live in their homes, enhance their quality of life, and receive needed care in a supportive, professionally staffed, safe, and secured environment. This setting allows respite for family caregivers who often neglect their health and social needs by prioritizing the needs of their loved ones. The caregivers’ self-neglect harms their health and affects their loved ones’ well-being. The caregivers are offered resources, education, and support groups that help to navigate “aging in place” for their family members.

The regular day for a participant at an Adult Day Health Care center starts in the morning when the center’s transportation arrives at the individual’s residence for a pickup. Upon arriving at a center, participants are greeted by the staff, and the services begin. The center’s staff is there to make sure that the needs of every participant are met and are helping with all the activities of daily living, including eating, personal hygiene, and toileting. Those who require the administration of medicines, or other treatments before breakfast, are guided to the nursing room. After a hot breakfast, there are many exciting events, such as exercise groups, arts and crafts tables, games, music, and various other stimulating activities. During the same time, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, nursing treatments, social work groups, and counseling are offered per individual care plans. A hot, nutritious lunch follows. The meals are delicious, culturally appropriate, and served according to individual diets ordered by the staff dietitian. After lunch, transportation is ready to take participants home.

Every Adult Day Health Care center has a medical director on staff; however, nurses, social workers, and therapists communicate with participants’ doctors, take orders, follow up with effectiveness, and report provided treatments.

Traditionally, services at Adult Day Health Care centers are offered in the congregated setting. However, the industry keeps evolving. As a result of current public health developments, regulations allow providing remote/telehealth services and services at the doorstep in case of an emergency, including the deliveries of meals. This change in regulations would allow continuity of care when an individual cannot receive care in person in case of a crisis.

Adult Day Health Care is covered for qualified individuals by Medi-Cal/GCHP, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Veterans Affairs, long-term care insurances, and private funds. Some individuals, who do not have any of these coverages and cannot afford to pay privately, often wrongfully assume that they do not qualify for Medi-Cal. However, changes in the income threshold, asset limit, and immigration status went into effect in 2022, and the eligibility for Medi-Cal changed for the better. It is worth reaching out to the Health Insurance Counseling Advocacy Program at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging or contacting social workers at an Adult Day Health Care center near you if you have questions about your eligibility.

To find out if you or your loved one may benefit from Adult Day Health Care, please schedule a visit to two or three of your closest centers and see if the environment and atmosphere are right for you. The centers provide care that does not vary in quality because of gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, or socioeconomic status.