A community-based support group focusing on sharing relevant information and education about all things Parkinson’s.
Meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday, 10-11am, AT Crosspointe Church (5415 Ralston Ave.) Next meeting: Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group gets together every month with skilled, experienced professionals who present significant breakthroughs, strategies and related issues surrounding Parkinson’s. The group’s mission is for participants to better understand and talk about how this information impacts their own lives and affects immediate family members. In addition to those diagnosed with PD, caregivers, family members and friends are all welcome to attend free of charge.
More than just a meeting, all discussions/presentations offer interactive, compassionate, relevant education on PD. Topics range from “How to get up off the floor when you’ve fallen,” to “Nutrition and Parkinson’s” to “The benefits of deep brain stimulation and assessing if you’re a good candidate for DBS.”
Jon Everhart, retired accountant, US Marine and regular group attendee said, “It’s nice comparing treatments, symptoms, and the challenges we all face living with Parkinson’s.” This caring group empowers people like Jon to be more proactive and to participate in deciding the direction of his treatment, complemented by his team of doctors’ suggestions.
This unique group gives everyone a great opportunity to learn more about current PD research, to gain more awareness about local help and resources, to share relevant experiences with others — and to have fun along the way.
The Ventura County Parkinson’s Support Group was recently resurrected (post-Covid) by Dr. Vanessa White, owner of Ventura County Neurofitness (a local fitness program designed specifically for those with Parkinson’s and other neurological degenerative diseases). The impetus for her assuming this responsibility was after her mother-in-law, Toy White, was diagnosed several years ago with PD. This important, special group was born upon her passing.
9:00am, Weather service issued Gale warning for winds gusting to 40kts later. Officers raised two warning pennants at Port District.
Wednes 2/15
6:10pm, while on patrol in Rescue B-19, observed vessel, inflatable dinghy, in violation of speed ordinance and improper navigation lights. Officers issued warnings for violations and escorted the vessel back to the launch ramp.
Thursday 2/16
9:15am, received request for assistance from a disabled fishing vessel ¼ of mile outside the harbor. Officers responded with Tow Boat US and assisted the vessel to the Ventura Harbor boatyard for haulout.
1:00pm, dispatched to fall victim on the riprap near Marina Park. Officers responded, found fisherman upside down in the rocks. Responders were able to right the patient, assess, treat minor wounds and release at the scene.
Friday 2/17
4:40pm, dispatched to traffic collision on Spinnaker Drive. Officers responded, found the accident but no injuries occurred just damage to vehicles. Patrol stood by until Ventura PD arrived to conduct accident report.
Saturday 2/18
5:30pm, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers observed large debris field of logs/sticks outside of the Harbor. They removed large logs when possible.
Sunday 2/19
1:23pm, received request to remove 250lbs of found chain. Officers removed the chain, hauled it off Rescue B-19 with hoist on the Fish-offloading pier.
5:00pm, received report of two very large logs adrift in the main channel of the harbor from Tow Boat US. Officers responded in Fireboat, towed the Hazards to the launch ramp, officers in the vehicle towed them to the roll-out dumpster.
Monday 2/20
4:10pm, while on patrol in Fireboat, observed and removed logs from the entrance of the harbor. Still, lots of debris in the water outside the Harbor.
Tuesday 2/21
2:00pm, observed NWS issued Storm Warning for winds gusting to 50 mph later today. Officers raised storm warning flag at the Port District flag pole.
Tuesday 2-21
6:56am, dispatched to a fire alarm in Portside complex. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist a 90 y/o male unable to turn off a fire alarm after burning his breakfast. Responders were able to locate and secure the alarm.
7:05pm, while locking up gates/restrooms at Harbor Cove lot, observing sand suspended in the air and sand drifts forming in the parking lot and Spinnaker Dr.
Friday 2-24
12:20pm, received report of an individual who tried to dry cannabis it the hand dryer of a restroom in the village. Officers responded, discover the strong scent and found the floor covered in the green leafy substance. The subject fled scene.
2:44pm, dispatched to an unknown problem at Andria’s Seafood. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist an intoxicated female transient. She was eventually transported to hospital for further evaluation for intoxication.
10:49pm, dispatched to an unconscious person near the Launch ramp restrooms. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist a 30 y/o male overdosed laying on the ground. The patient overdose, then his friend gave him 3 doses of Narcan. He eventually regained consciousness and was transported to hospital for eval.
Saturday 2-25
6:40am, observed Santa Clara Rivermouth breeched sometime last night.
9:03pm, dispatched to a fall in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to a female who fell getting out of the jacuzzi. The patient was treated and then transported to local hospital by AMR.
Sunday 2-26
8:58pm, received report of a transient stealing a package from an apartment in the Portside. Officers responded, found a large package left behind in the general area of the theft. The property was retrieved and placed in lost & found.
by Leslie Sokol
I always say to my students, “Age is just a number.” Don’t let your age hold you back! As you age, it is essential to keep your body moving and active through regular exercise. Physical activity is the cornerstone of healthy aging – it will keep you in shape, improve alertness, and increase energy. Scientific evidence suggests that people who exercise regularly not only live longer, but also live higher-quality lives with less pain and chances of disability.
A good fitness routine includes three components: stretching, strengthening and aerobics.
Stretching:The three L’s — longer, looser and limber — are what you want your muscles to be. Stretching increases your range of motion and reduces your chance of injury. You become more flexible, which allows you to move faster, easier and more freely. It also enhances good posture and body placement.
Strengthening:Strength training is crucial for building muscle mass and firms your body. Building muscles helps support your joints and prevents injury. It is also better to have more muscle than fat because muscle burns more calories, even when you’re not exercising.
Aerobics:It’s critical to care for the most important muscle in your body – your heart! Any kind of exercise that that gets your heart rate pumping (i.e., walking, dancing, swimming) is an absolute must for any fitness routine. Cardio helps strengthen your heart and lungs and increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. Aerobic exercise also burns calories, releases endorphins and gets you in great shape!
In my next article, I will provide examples of exercises for each of these components so you can achieve balanced fitness. Remember, the best exercise is always the one you enjoy the most! Our bodies were made to move – sound body, sound mind!
About the Author
Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for forty-five years. You can watch For the Young at Heart by visiting her YouTube Channel or on TVSB. She also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
For more information contact Leslie at [email protected] 805-312-8089
or visit the website: www.LeslieSokolDance.com
You’ve probably seen the Amazon warehouse off the 101 in Oxnard, but you’ve never stopped to consider the tax implications. They are substantial. The sales tax revenue generated by Amazon’s distribution warehouse in Oxnard causes a loss of revenue for other cities in Ventura County as those municipalities are not collecting the sales tax. Here’s why.
California passed a law, AB147, because of the ruling in the Wayfair case in the US Supreme Court. Called California’s new online sales tax collection law, AB 147 allows the state to collect sales tax revenue based on the city where the buyer lives. In other words, if you live in Ventura and buy something online, you pay Ventura’s sales tax rate of 7.75%.
The sales tax rate in Ventura County is 7.25%. In some cities, it’s higher because voters have approved extra sales taxes for specific purposes. For most cities, however, the basic 7.25% sales tax is divvied up this way. California’s General Fund receives 3.9375%. Ventura County Realignment receives 1.5625%. County Public Safety gets 0.5%, and the Countywide Transportation Fund receives 0.25%. That leaves 1% for each city’s General Fund, a part of the sales tax known as the Bradley-Burns portion.
Having an Amazon warehouse in Oxnard matters. Under AB 147, if Amazon ships goods from a warehouse outside the state, the 1% Bradley-Burns part of the sales tax goes to the city where the buyer lives. Yet, because Amazon has a warehouse in Oxnard, the 1% Bradley-Burns part of the sales tax goes to Oxnard rather than the city where the buyer lives. As a result, the other nine cities in Ventura County lose out.
Cities are only now realizing the exact effect of the change. For example, the Director of Finance of Ventura estimated what the city would lose. He calculated Ventura would lose between $750,000-$1,200,000 per year from online sales through Amazon. The amount in other cities will differ, but there is no doubt that each city’s General Fund will suffer.
Did city officials in Oxnard know of the sales tax windfall to the city of locating the warehouse there? It’s uncertain. One thing is sure, though. The other nine cities in the county were unaware of how the Amazon warehouse in Oxnard would hurt them.
It’s early, and each city is learning the total sales tax revenue loss it faces. One thing is sure, though. The General Funds of the other cities in Ventura County will lose revenue because of the Oxnard Amazon warehouse.
What that revenue loss will mean for the residents of those cities is this. Cities will cut services, or there will be a scramble to replace the lost revenue through increased user fees or taxes. Unfortunately, none of these prospects is good.
This situation highlights the complexities of sales tax collection in the digital age. Yet, it’s surprising that City Councils throughout Ventura County are not more concerned about the loss of revenue.
The city of Moorpark is the one city in Ventura County that acted. In September 2021, Moorpark joined the League of California Cities to call on California’s legislators to pass legislation to create a more fair and equitable distribution of the Bradley-Burns 1% local sales tax.
At first, you may not have thought about how the Amazon warehouse in Oxnard impacts you. What appeared to be a simple real estate transaction turned into an inequitable sales tax windfall for one city at the expense of nine others. When it comes to distributing sales tax, it takes time for the impact to reach residents. Yet, in this case, the pattern is evident early. Nine cities will suffer unless voters and elected officials take steps to diminish the effect of AB147.
Enjoy a beautiful morning outdoors making a difference in Ventura. Grab your family and friends and join the Ventura Tree Alliance (in partnership with the City of Ventura) enhance our urban canopy. Volunteers are needed to help plant fifteen trees, which will someday provide shade and habitat for plants and animals, as well as carbon sequestration for our environment. Meet at Barranca Vista Park, 7050 Ralston on Friday, March 10, from 10 to noon.
The funds for purchasing the trees are provided by the Ventura Tree Alliance (VTA) and the generosity of donors who understand the value of trees in our community, on our streets and in our parks. Last year, VTA planted over a hundred trees with a multitude of partners and over 200 volunteers.
Wear your hat, sunscreen, and gloves. Bring water and a shovel (with your name on it). Wheelbarrows are also helpful.
The Ventura Tree Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit public-benefit corporation that brings community members, educators, and business professionals together to enhance the urban tree canopy in the city of Ventura.
The mission is to “plant trees to augment Ventura’s urban forest, beautifying Ventura and counteracting climate change. Our goals are to inspire, engage and support Venturans in planting and caring for trees through education, advocacy, volunteerism, and fundraising.”
To find out more, visit www.VenturaTreeAlliance.com and join us on Facebook.
Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sandra Dillard pleads guilty to murder
Dillard pleaded guilty to a 2021 murder charge. According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Sandra Dillard, 41, fatally stabbed Kelsey Dillon in September 2021; her body was discovered in Ventura two days after she was killed.
Prior to being arrested for Dillon’s murder, Dillard was detained in July of 2022 for grand theft of a firearm after stealing a shotgun from her roommate.
Two days later, Dillard attacked a female deputy at the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula and was charged with battery on a peace officer.
Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and Carrying a Concealed Weapon Arrest
On February 20, at approximately 3:30 pm , the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 9-1-1 call from a business in the 3600 block of Harbor Blvd. of a subject shooting a gun out of the window of a white sedan. The caller saw the suspect shoot the firearm in the air, towards his office as it traveled southbound on Harbor Blvd., towards the City of Oxnard. An additional witness was able to provide a partial license plate to the vehicle.
The Ventura Police Department Command Center notified the surrounding law enforcement agencies and a Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle traveling on Ventura Avenue near Fix Way. The Sheriff Deputy and Ventura Police Officers conducted a high risk stop on the vehicle and the firearm was located.
Witnesses to the shooting positively identified 33-year-old Ventura resident Travis Booth as the passenger who shot the firearm and 34-year-old Ventura resident Jessica Harmon as the driver of the vehicle. The 9mm handgun is owned by Harmon and was seized as evidence. Officers located shell casings on Harbor Blvd. and were unable to locate any impact rounds in the surrounding businesses.
Booth was arrested for Discharge of a Firearm in a Grossly Negligent Manner and Harmon was arrested Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Vehicle. Booth and Harmon were booked at the Ventura County Jail.
Possession for Sales and Maintaining a Drug House arrests
On February 23, at 5:50 pm, detectives from the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant in the 10 block of West Barnett St. with the assistance of K-9 officers and patrol. The search warrant was related to an ongoing narcotics investigation. Several subjects were located on the property. The search of the residence found a large quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and stolen property. At the conclusion of the investigation, the following arrests were made: 48-year-old Ventura resident Marcos Angulo was arrested for possession for sales of a controlled substance.
Lee Olson, 34-year-old Ventura resident, was arrested for maintaining a residence for the purposes of the use or sales of a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm with a controlled substance, and felon in possession of ammunition.
Rocky Holbert, 33-year-old Ventura resident, fled from the residence but was arrested by detectives immediately after and he was arrested for delaying a peace officer and a Post Release Offender hold.
Logan Hoyt, 19-year-old Ventura resident, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Shooting Homicide UPDATE
On February 19, at approximately 1:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject disturbing outside a residence in the 11000 block of Mimosa St. As officers were responding to the call the reporting party called back and stated there was now a shooting victim that was inside of their residence.
Officer arrived on scene and located the victim, a 25-year-old male, who suffered from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim received advanced life support from Ventura City Fire and AMR and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The ensuing investigation revealed that there was a possible altercation in the front yard of the reporting persons residence prior to the shooting. Currently the suspect is outstanding, and the investigation is continuing.
Anyone with any information about this crime is requested to contact the Ventura Police Departments nonemergency line at 805-650-8010.
UPDATE:
The Ventura Police Department has been actively investigating this crime since it occurred. During the course of the investigation information was developed that led to the service of a search warrant today, in the 700 block of West Santa Paula St in the City of Santa Paula. During the service of that search warrant 21-year-old Santa Paula resident Jose Posadas was arrested for the murder.
He was subsequently booked into Ventura County Jail without incident. Posadas has prior convictions of weapons violations, gang violations, stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information about this crime should contact Corporal Gil Pusen at 805-339-4463.
Ventura County Library is offering a series of family-friendly sustainability-themed programs. English/Spanish interpretation services and children activities will be available for all the following programs at the Piru Library, Saticoy Library, and Soliz Library branches.
Purchasing an Electric Vehicle 101
Tuesday, March 14, 5:00 -7 :00 pm at Saticoy Library
(1292 Los Angeles Avenue, Ventura) 805 671-5148
Wednesday, March 15, 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Piru Library
(3811 Center Street, Piru) 805 521-1753
Wednesday, March 22, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Soliz Library
(2820 Jourdan Street, Oxnard) 805 485-4515
Home Weatherization 101
Thursday, March 30, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Soliz Library
Thursday, April 6, 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at Piru Library
Thursday, May 4, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Saticoy Library
How to Get Green Business Certified
Thursday, April 13, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Soliz Library
Thursday, May 11, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Piru Library
Thursday, May 18, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Saticoy Library
These programs are made available through a Sustainable California Libraries Grant from the California State Library, and in collaboration with the County Executive Office’s Sustainability Division. To learn more about the Sustainable California Libraries grant, visit their website at www.library.ca.gov/services/to-libraries/sustainable/.
The Ventura County Library Foundation has announced its second Rising from the Ashes tour to take place on Saturday, April 22, 12:00 to 4:00 pm.
The Thomas Fire of 2017 caused devastation, but not defeat. The Ventura County Library Foundation invites you to witness the resilience of Ventura during a tour of some of the beautifully rebuilt homes and hear the stories of rebirth.
Proceeds will help fund important literacy programs, the Mobile Library, broader access to the internet and computers to close the digital divide, homework tutoring, STEAM initiatives, and much more.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to: https://www.vclibraryfoundation.org/events/
And Ventura Friends of the Library invite you to another
Ventura Friends of the Library Book Sale
at the Vons at Telegraph & Victoria
Saturday, March 18, 10 am to 3 pm
Pick up some quality used books at bargain prices. We also have a large selection of Cds and DVDs. Your purchases benefit the libraries of the city of Ventura.
Please stop by to shop and learn about the Friends of the Library. We are always looking for new volunteers – right now we especially need volunteers to help sort and categorize our incoming book donations. Please email [email protected] if you’d like to help.
The Persian New Year, or Iranian New Year, begins on the Spring Equinox. The celebration, known as Nowruz, rings in a season of rebirth and good luck and is celebrated worldwide including right here in Ventura County. Nowruz: Persian New Year Celebration will be hosted at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Grab a friend and immerse yourselves in an exciting display of Persian culture at this free event, made possible with a generous grant from the Charles D. and Mary A. Bauer Foundation.
Experience the sights, sounds and taste of Persian culture during the Nowruz festivities at the Museum of Ventura County. An array of items from Kazakhstan such as tea pots, rugs and a traditional instrument known as a dombra will be on display. Guests will be encouraged to try traditional Persian tea, sweets and food from Diar Kitchen in Thousand Oaks. Traditional handson crafting will include making paper hyacinths and goldfish. As per the traditions of Nowruz, a haft-sin display will feature symbolic items, most of which represent good luck for the new year. Guests can also participate in mock fire jumping, a tradition that takes place before the actual New Year’s Day, for good health. Traditional music will also be playing throughout the celebration.
“I am half-Persian, so creating this event is very special to me,” said Leila Kaseke, the Museum of Ventura County’s Interpretive Site Coordinator. “The Persian community is a melting pot of cultures and customs from across the globe, and the Museum is celebrating Nowruz to highlight the diversity of people living throughout Ventura County.” Leila organized this celebration, the first of its kind in the city of Ventura, with support from women in the community who were also looking for a way to celebrate Nowruz communitywide.
The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue,
• Recently I had my first grooming done at Bark Avenue Grooming on Loma Vista.
I was told I should get groomed every 6-months not every 11-years. I will be sure to get groomed as directed. I was shocked at the amount of fur that was removed from me.
Savana
This fur pile is 18” square and 3” deep
• SPAN Thrift Store is open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools. SPAN Thrift Store provides $10 spay and neuter clinics for low income households for cats and dogs. Upcoming clinics: Tues., March. 14th, Shiells Park parking lot, 649 C St., Fillmore, 93015, and Tues., March. 28th, SPAN Thrift Store parking lot, 110 N. Olive St., Ventura. Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823. www.spanonline.org.
• Cats are known to live life on their terms, but that doesn’t always mean cat owners know what their finicky feline is going through.
“Indoor cats are extremely common right now. Everyone seems to have cats,” Jen Gillum, a veterinarian with the Feline Wellness Center, said. “The common misconception for years and years is an indoor cat doesn’t need preventative healthcare, doesn’t need an annual exam, and that’s completely fiction.”
“Cats are notorious for masking their symptoms,” Gillum said. “If we can get them in, establish baselines, look in their mouth, listen to their heart, run lab work, give them that full spectrum physical, we can avoid a lot of problems in the future.”
Cat owners may not be able to tell if their cat has a problem. Unlike dogs, which often make it obvious when there’s an issue, cats can hide their problems.
“A cat may be more aloof, may go off and hide, may cut back on how much they’re eating or drinking or using the box,” she said. “Very subtle changes, but any change in a cat’s overall demeanor and patterns — because they’re creatures of habit — that lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, we should know about it because they mask their symptoms so well. A lot of the times they get here and they’re really sick and no one had any idea.”
“Dental disease is a huge problem,” she said. “We see a lot and we do a lot of dental work here at the clinic, and so we like to talk to people about things you can do to prevent that. There are additives that you can add to their food. There’s toothpaste. There is home dental exams, there are dental treats and chews and food. So it’s just kind of bringing awareness to simple things people can do at home to slow the progression of naturally occurring processes that happen as they age.”
“We get a lot of calls going, ‘My cat is urinating outside of the box.’ Immediately owners think, ‘Could this be behavioral?’ But I would say probably 80% of the time there’s a medical reason for that. They’re creatures of habit. They stress very easily and one of the organ systems that shows those symptoms is the urinary tract,” Gillum said.
Gillum said the most important thing a cat owner can do is get their feline in for an annual exam.
“I think the focus should be on exams, not so much vaccines. We cater that to each client, depending on their lifestyle, but get them in once a year,” she said. “Let us give a complete • •Kara Carmody, an associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, discusses tips for taking care of your pet’s dental hygiene to improve your pet’s overall wellbeing.
Q: What are some common issues with pet dental health?
Dental disease is the number one health problem diagnosed in small animal patients. By two years of age, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease. The most common issue is periodontal disease, which affects our pets just like it does people.
Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums and structures around the tooth and can become quite severe if not addressed. Fortunately, periodontal disease can often be avoided or at least minimized with regular preventive care. Routine preventive care includes annual dental prophylaxis or cleaning — this procedure includes an exam, teeth cleaning and x-rays. The exam and x-rays reveal the degree of periodontal disease, and sometimes other problems that may include fractured teeth and painful lesions.
Q: What signs might indicate a pet has dental issues?
It’s important to note that many pets show no signs of pain or discomfort in their mouth, so routine oral exams and annual dental cleaning are the best way to check on your pet’s dental health.
Q: What are ways to get started with a dental hygiene routine to prevent dental issues?
It’s never too late to start a dental hygiene routine, though we recommend consulting with your veterinarian first. The ideal dental routine would include daily brushing and annual dental cleaning, known as dental prophylaxis. Keep in mind that dental care such as brushing may actually be uncomfortable for pets with existing dental disease. We would recommend an exam first.
Q: What types of toys or food do you recommend to protect a pet’s dental health?
Some pets may benefit from Veterinary Oral Health Council-approved products such as treats or foods, and chewing on toys of appropriate density can mimic the mechanical action of food to reduce plaque build-up. Ideally, toys should be constructed of a material less dense than the enamel of the tooth to minimize the risk of tooth fracture. A good rule of thumb is that if you can indent the toy with your fingernail, it poses much less risk of causing tooth fracture.
Kara Carmody is an assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Carmody researches preventive care, with emphasis on dentistry and nutrition management.
President McKinley visited Ventura at the invitation of Senator Thomas R. Bard.
by Richard Senate
Over the decades many American Presidents have passed through Ventura. Some visited before they were in office, like Ronald Reagan as Governor of California and Herbert Hoover after he left office. Some even say that John Kennedy and his new wife passed though on their Honeymoon in Santa Barbara.
But the first sitting president to come calling had the most impact on Ventura. It was President William McKinley who came here at the invitation of Senator Thomas R. Bard on May 10th 1901. When his train came into the station it was greeted by a brass band and the whole town was decked out with welcoming signs and flowers. A decorated horse drawn open carriage was waiting to give him and his party a tour of the town.
They made there way up Front Street to Main, still an unpaved dirt roadway, to the cheers of the residents, all the way to the Old Mission San Buenaventura. Parishioners, some Chumash Tribesmen, were in the bell tower, at all the historic bells and rang them in a musical tribute to the President and first lady.
Father Grogan, the priest at the Mission and a historian in his own right, was on the steps of the Mission to give the party a tour of the ancient chapel. They were shown the Mission treasures and the Native Daughters of the Golden West Presented President McKinley with a large silver plate inscribed with the image of the Mission. After the tour, the presidential party were driven on Poli Street to view the Pacific Ocean and community before returning to the train station. Here, from the train, President McKinley gave a patriotic speech before heading north to Santa Barbara on his tour of California.
Sadly, in just a few months, he was assassinated. His successor; Teddy Roosevelt, would also visit Ventura and be given the same royal treatment. But, the visit by McKinley left the biggest impact on the young city of Ventura.
