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Jack Colling’s investment in CAREGIVERS is now his legacy

“I became a volunteer in the program through my membership with a local church.”

More than 35 years later, Jack Colling’s investment in CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly is now his legacy.  Next year, he will witness volunteer caregiving celebrate 40 years of demonstrated success throughout the nation, knowing that he had a small role in helping launch one of the original pilot programs in his hometown.

Here’s one volunteer who started making his imprint on CAREGIVERS from the moment he arrived on the scene. Sister Veronica of the order St. Joseph of Carondelet, who helped to establish the organization, welcomed Jack in the second year of operations when volunteers were serving 105 seniors. Within the year, Jack was leading presentations for the Interfaith Retreat Day, which was fostering participation from congregations throughout the community. He volunteered with seniors, he picked up manicotti for the volunteer recognition dinner, and eventually he was invited to serve on the board of directors serving alongside Mary Braitman, Harry Walsh and Wayne Dugan and he supported the rummage sale to help raise money for operations.

“I am 30 years old, an owner of a small business. I became a volunteer in the program through my membership with a local church. After experiencing the need in my own family, I chose to work with the elderly. I see this as a very positive means of channeling my energy,” Jack wrote in 1987 further describing the transportation, grocery shopping and errands he provided for an 86-year young woman.

In 1991, Norm Weitzel joined the CAREGIVERS’ Board, and together Norm and Jack launched the Wearin’ o’ the Green golf tournament, one of CAREGIVERS’ signature fundraising events that has since been adopted by the McGrath Family Clan—cousins Berry, Borchard, Coultas, Doud, Dunbar, Haynes, Laubacher, McCormick and Morris families—who have helped to set new heights surpassing recent years’ high gross of well more than $50,000 last month.

“From a decade of close observation, I can attest that our CAREGIVERS leadership team runs an extremely efficient organization, with a commitment to quality,” said Honorary Director Dan McGrath.  “Jack Collings has been instrumental in setting that standard.”

Jack will be the first person to tell you that he never thought the tournament would be a major force of friends and funds more than 30 years later. “We were so happy to make a profit the first year,” Jack said, adding that it was always important to both Norm and him that the tournament be open for golfers of all skill levels to play. Upon Norm’s passing, it was Jack’s suggestion to name the tournament “The Norm Weitzel Open.”

Jack’s leadership continues to set the bar higher and higher as he remains an active advisor and Honorary Director—even returning to serve on the Board of Directors once again this last year.

With his wife Wendy, Jack is among the most avid and generous supporters of volunteer caregiving in Ventura County, ensuring the advancement and ability of the organization to reach and serve seniors in every city.

Annual “Spring Fling” Gift-Away Event

Spring Fling 2023 served 125 children with 65 families.

A Beautiful Day Supporting Ventura County Foster/Resource Families, Kinship Families, Adoptive Families, and Bio-families Currently Working in Programs with Kids & Families Together

On Saturday, April 1st, Kids & Families Together’s Heart 2 Heart Program, hosted their Spring Fling Gift~Away for Ventura County foster/resource, kinship, adopted and birth families who are currently being served in K&FT programs. This annual event has always been a kick-off to Spring, a season of growth and renewal.

Spring Fling 2023 served 125 children with 65 families. This year, we saw the return of the annual “Egg Hunt” for the first time since the pandemic! Children and families were provided with such items as: gift cards, springtime themed baskets, teen bags, Summertime toys, art supplies, clothing, personal care items, along with household, and cleaning supplies.

The event featured music, free face painting, games, and pictures with the Spring Bunny! The weather was perfect for the event, hosted at a park in Oxnard, and with all the recent rain, everything was so green and lush. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces!

Kids & Families Together (K&FT) was founded in 2000 by David and Faith Friedlander. David and Faith met with Ventura County Children and Family Services to see how K&FT could fill the gaps and provide services to populations that were overlooked. Faith, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and also an adoptee herself, had a special place in her heart for and expertise on adoptive children and families. Faith began to develop programs to support foster and adoptive parents. Along with that, K&FT became the first organization in the county to provide specialized education and support services to informal kinship caregivers. Informal kinship caregivers are people who are taking care of relative children. These families are considered “informal” because they are not involved with the child welfare system which excludes them from many of the available resources.

Since 2000, K&FT has developed many other programs to meet the needs of all families that are somehow involved with the child welfare system including birth parents who are trying to reunify with their children, foster families, children in foster care, adoptive families, kinship caregivers, and legal guardians. K&FT provides mental health services that focus on healing children who have experienced trauma and strengthening their attachment with their parent/caregiver.

It takes a loving village to put on events like this! K&FT is grateful to Spring Fling 2023 partners, event sponsors and our amazing volunteers that come from all over Ventura County to support K&FT families.

Thanks goes to: The Gene Haas Foundation, Yardi Systems, James Storehouse, St. Jude’s Catholic Church with Loaves & Fishes, Ventura County Forty Leaguers, Betty Belts, SoCal Helpful Honda, Meathead Movers, Lifeline Outreach Resource Center, Wings to Grow from Newbury Park High School, Oxnard Key Club,

Individual Volunteers: Dina, Kelechi, Maya, Taylor, Quetellen, Kaleigh, Stacey, Lesley, Aurora, Veronica, Roxanne, Keira, Aliayah, Isa, Melinda, the McKee and Futvoye families.

Stars of Hope

From Project Understanding is Michael Rodriguez – Pantry Manager, Olga Hamra – Case Manager, Brandy Beesley = CEO/Executive Director, Lauren Prater- Social Worker, Jann Huling – Chief Operating Officer, Carolyn Pillado – Tutoring Manager, Tom McClain – Event Coordinator and Matt Maxfield – Driver.

After a 3-year hiatus Project Understanding held their signature event the 9th Annual Hope Worth Giving Breakfast, which has emerged this year with a new name, Stars of Hope!

Local community leaders were in attendance and spoke of the partnership and difference Project Understanding has made for the community since 1977.

In attendance and speaking were Citycouncil Deputy Mayor Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, Police Commander Matt Cain and Principal Robert Ruiz, Anacapa Middle School.l

The Stars of Hope were featured and they shared their personal journeys and inspirational stories of hope and transformation, and the many ways that Project Understanding is “understanding needs and restoring hope”.

Visit www.projectunderstanding.org for more information.

Ventura schools: What’s new on the menu?

“The salad bar is currently in place.”

by Mira Reverente

Ventura students have a lot to look forward to in the coming months and school year.

In a multi-step move towards healthier eating, the food and nutrition services department at Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) has been unveiling a number of fresher choices at most school sites.

“The salad bar is currently in place,” says Kara Muniz, director of food and nutrition services, gesturing towards one which was being prepared with freshly-cut and locally-sourced produce like salad greens, orange slices, cucumber slices, whole strawberries and celery stalks. “We are also slowly moving away from packaged food which were in use during the pandemic.”

VUSD was serving about 6,600 breakfasts and 7,600 lunches to the larger Ventura community, not just students, during the pandemic. The numbers have dwindled since then to just 5,000 for breakfast and 6,500 for lunch.

Post-pandemic, Muniz said her department is always evaluating options. “We look at the data and we always want to do better,” she says. Also in the works is the creation of a student advisory committee to help evaluate food choices, assist in menu planning and just gauge the collective palate of the greater student body.

Very soon after completing staff training, new commercial-grade tilt skillets will be in use at Foothill Technology High School (FTHS), among a few high school and middle schools.

“We are very excited to use this soon, as this will help to make batch cooking more efficient at an even temperature and also improve safety,” says Lori Walker, FTHS child nutrition manager. “It will also significantly increase the kitchen’s capacity to churn out hot meals from scratch.”

On the day the local press was given a tour of the FTHS cafeteria, steaming bowls of orange chicken and brown rice were on the menu and hurriedly being dished out by the staff as lunch hour was fast approaching.

For easy reference, all recipes are available online for staff to peruse and refer to anytime. “This assures consistency across all school sites,” says Adam Herrera, operations manager.

If for some reason orange chicken and brown rice bowls do not appeal to some students, they can also choose from an array of sandwiches, wraps, protein boxes and the salad bar, of course. Up to eight entrees are available at the high school level and two at the elementary level.

Vol. 16, No. 15 – Apr 19 – May 2, 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want a Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we

will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or

[email protected]. All Welcome.

Livingston’s Grief & Bereavement Program is offering a weekly Good Grief Club to children ages 6 – 11 who have lost a loved one. This session will focus on grief through cinematherapy. The club runs every Tuesday from 5:30 – 7pm through May 30th. Contact (805) 389-6870 or lmvna.org/grief to register and see list of all the groups provided by Livingston. All support groups are free for the community.

April 20: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) will meet virtually at 7 p.m.  Visit the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/ for the Zoom meeting link.  The agenda includes the Ventura police report, followed by guest presenters.

County District 1 Supervisor and Chair of the Board, Matt LaVere,

Kelly Brown, Director of 2-1-1 Ventura County, will inform us of a county-wide, comprehensive information and referral service available to meet health and human service needs.

April 22: The strength and resilience of Ventura will be on view as the Ventura County Library Foundation presents a tour of some of the beautifully rebuilt homes after the devastation of the Thomas Fire from Noon to 4 p.m.  The Ventura County Library Foundation offers this home tour to support the county libraries. Representatives from the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council will also be on hand to provide home gardening information.

Tickets are $50.00 and are on sale now at www.vclibraryfoundation.org.

April 26: The College Area Community Council will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Council meetings include speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interests; an invitation and link to the conference will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.”

April 29: Learn how pocket watches work by disassembling and reassembling a watch’s movement. Open to the public. Movements and all tools provided. 9 to 4 p.m. at the Dudley House Museum. They are presented by NAWCC Ventura Chapter 190. The cost is $100; the class size is limited. Contact Dave Coatsworth ([email protected]) for info or to register.

May 3: Jess Ramirez is the first Wednesday of the month Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors meeting speaker.  He is on the Board of Labor Commissions of the Oxnard Harbor District.  He served with distinction in the US Army in both Europe and Vietnam.  He has a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in Sociology.  He worked as a longshoreman for 18 years. The meeting will be at The Ventura Harbor Yacht Club, 1755 Spinnaker Drive. 9:30 -11 a.m.  Beach Cities and Neighbors and Newcomers, BCNN is a group for women from Ventura, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme.  It has dozens of small group offshoots, from sports activities, town tastings, bridge, games, book groups, and more. (www.bcnnwomensgroup.org)

May 4: Gail Ginell will visit the Hill Road Library on Thursday at 5 p.m. to deliver a presentation on Adventures in Lifelong Learning. Road Scholar is the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults, offering nearly 5,500 affordable programs annually in about 150 countries worldwide. These programs provide a chance to expand your mind while in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.

This event is free and open to the public. Service hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 – 6 p.m., Thursday, 2 – 6 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10-2 p.m. The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Road.

May 6, 14: In celebration of spring, we will have two plant and collectibles sales on the grounds at the Dudley House 8 – 2 p.m. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale along with a variety of collectibles. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805/746-4317 for details. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets, 197 N. Ashwood. Admission is free.

May 7. Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets, 197 N. Ashwood. For information, please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

May 16: The Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council will visit the Hill Road Library on Tuesday, to host a workshop for the local community entitled “Wildfire Preparedness: Protect Your Home Against The Threat Of Wildfires.” 

This workshop will deliver a brief overview of wildfire history and behavior, provide steps you can take to protect your home and families, and give resources for emergency preparedness. 

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Linda Cherry, Librarian, at (805) 677-7180.

The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Rd. Hours of service are Monday through Wednesday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 2pm to 6pm, Friday through Sunday 10am to 2pm.  

Vol. 16, No. 15 – Apr 19 – May 2, 2023 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Ruby, a sweet loving gentle soul that loves to be loved. My life has not always been easy but I’ve never given up and continue to fight hard to find my place in this world. My foster dad says the time he has spent with me has been a pleasure and ever so rewarding. As I’m a little older in age, I am at the point in my life that I enjoy the big comfy couch as much as my morning walks.

Connecting with me took my foster parents only moments really and I am now eager to be at one’s side. Just the other evening my foster dad watched me spend an hour self entertaining searching and sniffing for the ever elusive groundhog that lives under my foster dad’s shed
I will make a wonderful new addition to your family for years to come. If you’re interested in meeting me, please fill out an online application to meet me.

Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. https://carldogs.org/
CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Meet 9-year-old Licorice (A819946)! Licorice is such a friendly boy who will start purring as soon as you approach. He enjoys rubbing his head on things (and people!) and also loves food and treats! Petting and yummy snacks are the way to his heart, and we know he’ll quickly find his way into yours.

If you’d like to meet Licorice, schedule an appointment at https://www.vcas.us/adopt. All cat adoptions are currently by appointment only. If you have questions, please contact (805) 388-4341 or [email protected].

 

Vol. 16, No. 15 – Apr 19 – May 2, 2023 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wednes 4-5

 6:21am, received report of two stray Pit-bulls loose in the Holiday Inn Express lobby. Advised patrol not equipped to deal with dogs, relayed animal control #.

7:34am, dispatched to traffic collision on Spinnaker dr. No injuries occurred.

5:00pm, while on patrol in Rescue B19, officers conducted a safety inspect on inflatable boat 4 POB’s. Ensured they had safety equipment, not to leave harbor

7:27pm, dispatched to a fall in Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR to lift the patient from the floor to a chair.

9:03pm, waiting for Animal Control to pick up abandoned dogs, officers observed a large group of young adults showing up at Surfers Knoll for a bon fire. Told of ordinances & chances of getting parking tickets, group dispersed.

Thursday 4-6

 9:00am, assisting Manson construction with traffic control in main channel aboard Rescue B19. Tug vessel towing the crane barge to Oceanside Harbor.

3:28pm, received report of a vessel accident at VIM, J-dock. Officers responded, investigated three vessels involved, all damage appeared minor.

8:30pm, while locking restrooms, officers observed a medical at Surfers Knoll. The patient, female transient unresponsive, seizing on floor. Contacted dispatch, VFD/AMR en route. Patient eventually became alert, refused medical attention.

Friday 4-7

 12:40pm, loaned out the beach wheelchair to a grateful family at Harbor Cove.

4:30pm, notified of a Ocean Rescue at Emma Wood. Officers responded towards Ventura Pier to assist a Standup Paddler who was “identified” in distress. Officers contacted the individual near the Ventura Pier not in distress just doing a long-distance paddle from Emma Wood to Ventura Harbor.

7:03pm, dispatched to Portside for a behavioral emergency. Female transient requesting evaluation at hospital. AMR transported the patient to hospital.

Saturday 4-8

 12:08pm, observed visibility decreased to ¼ mile due to heavy fog. Officers patrolling with radar just outside the harbor to assist small boats recreating.

3:02pm, dispatched to a person not breathing in Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded, unfortunately responders were unable to conduct resuscitation efforts because obvious signs of death were present.

Sunday 4-9

 4:45am, opening gates/restrooms at Harbor Cove for Easter service for group.

10:05am, received report of a transient loitering in the roll-out dumpster at the launch ramp. Responded to investigate and found the transient as reported. Officers were able to convince the male to exit and to stay out of the container.

10:22am, received report of a Hazard-to-Navigation, large tree adrift near the fuel dock. Officers were able to remove the hazard and deposit it at the L/R.

Monday 4-10

 9:03am, dispatched to difficulty breathing in Ventura Marina Community.

1:25pm, dispatched to back pain in Ventura Marina Community. Assisted AMR.

Tuesday 4-11

 7:25pm, received report that the fog signal on South Jetty not working with heavy fog conditions from beach patron and a large vessel inbound. Officers explaining how to turn on signal with VHF marine radio and the high probability that the vessel has limited visibility instruments to navigate safely.