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Vol. 16, No. 06 – Dec 14 – Dec 27, 2022 – Mailbox

Breeze:

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ ’’ a musical review, celebrating the Music of Fats Waller, running at The Rubicon to December 18, simply should not be missed. The set alone may be the best of the best in Rubicon’s 24 years!

I had the good fortune to attend the director’s preview last evening and became an instant fan of Wren T. Brown who is a 4th generation entertainer in his family. In 2007, Brown founded Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT), the first African-American professional Equity theatre company in Los Angeles history where he serves as its producing artistic director from inception to the institution’s now-15-year anniversary

Rubicon has the good fortune to have Beverly and Kirby Ward at the Rubicon helm, with a Broadway singing and dancing history of their own, amazing contacts and youth education background and outreach!

Mike Merewether  24 year Rubicon supporter

Breeze:

Just finished reading the letters to the editor and the news that Sheldon is backing down or riding off into the sunset as the Opinion writer. What a mistake on his part and please tell him no..no.. no…!!! We all love him!!   Listen, the old saying is “if you aren’t made of leather, have a tough backbone” or don’t write an opinion column or run for a political office.  Last time I looked his approval rating was twice that of both Biden and Trump.  Sheldon and I both agree that the world and the human race is only doing one thing…Dumbing down.  No one reads a classic book, what is literature? and what is a true novel….and the Generation X<<Y<<and Z think that Shakespeare is a very expensive trout fishing reel! Sooooo sad…..Anyway, where do we go from here?

Christopher Dryden

Opinions

I was wondering how hiring two more police officers was a better way of helping the homeless in Ventura?? Make me understand why $400,000 is better spent on police officers than to perhaps pay for hotel vouchers or food , laundry or showers basic human needs that aren’t being met in the city of Ventura. I can surely benefit from such a bit of kindness or understanding that there are no beds in Ventura for a dual diagnosis. Please realize that anyone is just a paycheck or eviction away from homelessness. The answers to the provision of resources for the homeless isn’t being met by hiring two more people to arrest them..it’s a total misallocation of funds.

Dierdre Richmond

The only good reason to leave a party without thanking the host and hostess is if you weren’t invited.
~ Bix Bender

Oil paintings on wood and canvas by Marita Redondo

Marita Redondo studied Graphic Communications at San Diego State University and received her BFA from Cal State University, San Marcos with an Emphasis in Painting. She has a Master’s in Education and a California Teaching Credential in Art.

Marita’s oil paintings on wood and canvas are often characterized by bold, colorful brush strokes.

For the past 12 years Marita has taught art; currently at Hueneme High. She lives in Ventura and has exhibited at galleries in San Diego, Ventura, Napa, and Benicia.

For pricing on paintings for sale and commissions

(707) 346-1683 [email protected] https://marita-redondo.format.com/ Intagram@maritar1

Women are known to have greater levels of tau protein

Alzheimer’s disease more common in women.

From NIH Research Matters

Alzheimer’s disease, which can destroy the ability to think, learn, and remember, is more common in women than men. The reasons for this disparity between the sexes are not well understood.

Women are known to have greater levels of tau protein abnormally build up in brain cells over their lives. The structures that form, called tau tangles, are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

An NIH-funded research team led by Drs. David Kang and Jung-A “Alexa” Woo from Case Western Reserve University has been searching for molecules in the brain that may be driving tau accumulation in women. Their new study was published on Oct. 13, 2022, inCell.

Tau is needed for the normal functioning of brain cells called neurons. In healthy neurons, old, damaged, or unneeded tau molecules are tagged for recycling and removal by the brain’s waste system. Enzymes called ubiquitinases place these tags. Other enzymes called deubiquitinases can remove these tags. Together, they help regulate when molecules are disposed of.

The team screened for deubiquitinases in the brain that might be stopping tau recycling. When they blocked one such enzyme called USP11, levels of tau in cells, including the type that can tangle, dropped substantially.

Further experiments confirmed that USP11 was removing the recycling tags from tau. When this happened, other enzymes added different molecular tags called acetyl groups, which are known to trigger the tangling process. The researchers found almost 10 times as much USP11 in tissue samples taken from people with Alzheimer’s disease as in those taken from people without the condition.

The gene that encodes USP11 is found on the X chromosome. Women have two copies of this chromosome, while men only have one. While one X chromosome is usually inactive in cells, some genes, such as the one for USP11, stay active on both. The researchers found that high USP11 levels were more strongly associated with tau tangles in samples taken from female brains than from male brains.

The team saw similar results in samples taken from the brains of female and male mice. Mice engineered to lack the gene that produces the mouse version of USP11, called usp11, had substantially less tau tagged with acetyl groups for it to tangle. As seen in the human samples, this improvement was far more substantial in female mice.

Compared to female mice that could produce usp11, those engineered to lack usp11 had far better performance on tests of memory and learning as they aged. Male mice that lacked usp11 only showed a small improvement. These findings show how USP11 can affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease differently in men and women.

“In terms of implications, the good news is that USP11 is an enzyme, and enzymes can traditionally be inhibited [with drugs],” Kang says. “Our hope is to develop a medicine that works in this way, in order to protect women from the higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.”

— by Sharon Reynolds

This research was supported in part by NIA grant R01AG059721.

Vol. 16, No. 06 – Dec 14 – Dec 27, 2022 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Happy Holidays to you and yours! I love the lights, the warm jackets and colorful scarves, family and friend get togethers and especially the music that goes with it all. Don’t forget to make your plans now for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Most venues will have a special party, but some will include tickets and reservations, so do your due diligence. I’ll have more specifics next time around, but you’re welcome to go to VenturaRocks.com website, and on the calendar page, search “NYE Party” to see what’s lined up so far.

It seems Ugly Sweater Parties won’t be going away anytime soon. I’m seeing a number of them lined up leading up to Christmas. Strey Cellars has one on Friday, December 16 with Holger’s Heroes, Naughty Pine in Westlake has Lynnzee Fraye on Friday, December 23 and the Raven Tavern has the Doc Rogers band also on Friday, December 23.

Other holiday themed events include Michael Falcone Christmas songs at the Manhattan in Camarillo on Thursday, December 15, Tilford Jackson’s Christmas Sing-a-Long will be held at the Grape in Ventura on Thursday, December 22, Paulie Cerra, a Blues Christmas on Friday, December 23 at Cantera Cellars, Smitty & Julija will sing carols at Feros Ferio Winery in Ojai on Friday, December 23, and Bella Lucarelli performs a Christmas special at the Twist on Main on Christmas Eve afternoon.

Ventura High School Winter concert series runs Wednesday and Thursday, December 14 – 15 with their Wind Ensemble I, Concert Band and Jazz performing on Wednesday, and the following evening it’s their Orchestra I, String Orchestra II Honors and Full Orchestra. Across town the Bulldogs at Buena High will also have their Winter Concert which will be held on Thursday, December 14 with music from their music ensembles along with some soloist performances. Show your love to one or both of these schools by showing up and supporting our younger musicians here in town.

And speaking of supporting local high school music departments, Namba will host “Rock ‘n’ Roll High” on Sunday, December 18 with Burch Studio presenting a showcase for middle school and high school kids. Since 2004, Rock and Roll High has been southern California’s premier teen band program. Students have gone on to perform at Coachella, Jimmy Kimmel, and many successful bands in the music industry. The founder of Rock and Roll High, Aaron Burch opened Burch Studio in Ventura where he teaches the course today.

And the only live music event I’ve found, year to year on Christmas day, features Saint Pierre who had done this previously at Amigos, but now will be performing along with Rebekah Scogin at Vaquero y Mar from 4 – 7 pm.

Quick Notes: Shawn Jones performs the Deer Lodge on Friday, December 16; Looking West plays the Downtown Stage at California and Main Streets on Saturday, December 17; The House of Dance will be hopping on Sunday, December 18 with Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats performing; Ben Garcia plays Surfer’s Point Café on Sunday, December 18; there’s a special show at All Kinds in Zander Alley on Monday, December 19 with the Addalemon and Halibut Head out of Sacramento performing along with Greater View and the Derivatives; and finally Denny Seiwell, founding member of Wings, returns to Ventura for a date at the Grape on Wednesday, December 21.

And finally, my condolences go out to Namba Arts as they mourn the passing of their founder, Julia Frances Campbell Namba earlier this month, as well as to the many fans of Mark Searcy, aka Hip E. Mark.

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

Vol. 16, No. 06 – Dec 14 – Dec 27, 2022 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

All Kinds
433 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 12/16: MiniShoppingCart, Loc Dawgs, Crawdads
Mon 12/19: Greater View, Addalemon, the Derivatives, Halibut Head

Anna’s Cider
801 E. Main St., Santa Paula
Sat 12/17: Shay Moulder

Aqua Beachfront Bar
Crowne Plaza Hotel
450 E. Harbor Blvd., Ventura
Sat 12/17: OnePeople

Black Angus
4718 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Fri 12/23: Déjà vu Too

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 12/15: Theresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 12/16: Déjà vu Three
Tue 12/20: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Fri 12/23: Mack and D
Tues 12/27: Troy Edwards

Buena High School
5670 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
Wed 12/14: Winter Concert

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 12/23: Paulie Cerra: a Blues Christmas

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Thursdays: Glenn Bennet
Sun 12/18: the House Arrest Band

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 12/16: JetLemons
Sat 12/17: NDR CVR

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Fri 12/16: Shawn Jones

Downtown Ventura Stage
California and Main Streets
Sat 12/17: Looking West (5 pm)

El Rey Cantina
2302 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sun 12/18: Brandon Ragan Project

Feros Ferio Winery
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 12/23: Smitty & Julija

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Fri 12/16: Morie & the Heavy Hitters
Sat 12/17: Keyth Garcia & Universal
Fri 12/23: OnePeople

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Ave., Ventura
Fri 12/16: Silent Treatment, Forest Lawn, Easy Death, HidingInsideVictims
Sat 12/17: Tex Pistols

The Grape
2833 E. Main St., Ventura
Tuesdays Jazz Jam
Thursdays: Tom Etchart & Friends (5-7 pm)
Fridays: Fred Kaplan (5-7 pm)
Wed 12/14: Uli Geissendoerfer Trio
Thurs 12/15: Uli Geissendoerfer Trio
Fri 12/16: Jeff Lorber Fusion
Sat 12/17: B3 Organ Trio (2 pm); Burning Ghosts (8 pm)
Wed 12/21: Denny Seiwell Trio
Thurs 12/22: Tilford Jackson’s Christmas Sing-a-Long
Fri 12/23: RJ Root & Friends

Harbor Cove Café
1867 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Saturdays: The Cook Hand Ukes

House of Dance
3007 Bunsen Ave., Ventura
Sun 12/18: Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats (1-3:30)

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Sat 12/17: The Balance
Fri 12/23: Vinyl Gypsies

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Fri 12/16: How to Live with Robots
Sat 12/17: Illunis
Sun 12/18: Gianna Bella
Thurs 12/22: Mark Masson
Fri 12/23: Jacob Marques & the Good Vibes

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wed 12/14: Robert Van
Thurs 12/15: Michael Falcone
Fri 12/16: Tour Support
Sat 12/17: Jeanne Tatum Trio
Wed 12/21: Richard Weiss
Fri 12/23: Mark and Jim Duo
Sat 12/24: Jeanne Tatum Trio

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 12/16: Ardi, Narthex Structure, RAW, No Remorse
Sun 12/18: Teresa Russell

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak Street, Ventura
Sun 12/18: Rock ‘n’ Roll High
Fri 12/23: the Listening Room Redux

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant Street, Ojai
Thurs 12/15: Daniela Cardillo
Fri 12/16: The Late Nights

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Fri 12/16: Smokey & Friends
Sat 12/17: George Krikes
Fri 12/23: Vinny Berry

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Cir., Ventura
Sun 12/18: Déjà vu Too

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri 12/16: Jayden Secor
Sat 12/17: Vinyl Gypsies
Fri 12/23: Doc Rogers Band

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 12/17: No Biggie

Surfer’s Point Café
204 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sun 12/18: Ben Garcia (11 am)

Topa Topa Brewing
104 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sat 12/17: Blown Over

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Thursdays: Davey Miller Trio
Fri 12/16: Breaking Bored
Sat 12/17: Davey Miller Trio (2 pm); Dive Bar Messiahs (8pm)
Sun 12/18: JetLemons (12:30 pm); Dive Bar Steve (5 pm)
Fri 12/23: Heathers on Fire
Sat 12/24: Bella Lucarelli (2 pm)

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Conjunto Zacamandu de Tomas Herrera
Sun 12/25: Rebekah Scogin and Saint Pierre

Ventura High School
2 N. Catalina St., Ventura
Wed 12/14: Winter Concert Series
Thurs 12/15: Winter Concert Series

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Fri 12/16: Covet
Sat 12/17: Squirrel Nut Zippers w/ Christopher Wonder

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sat 12/17: Smitty and Julia and Friends

Water’s Edge
1510 Anchor’s Way, Ventura
Sat 12/17: Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 2 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 12/15: Nick & the Old Souls
Fri 12/16: Mark Masson
Sat 12/17: Heft & Wilson
Sun 12/18: Ray Jaurique Trio
Thurs 12/22: Will Breman

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B St., Oxnard
Fri 12/23: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

I’m new to caregiving. Where do I start?

Sharing a pet is a great way to be a caregiver.

First, assess your loved one’s needs. What types of help are needed? Ask family members and friends to share tasks. Look for resources in your community, such as home health care or adult day care centers. The Eldercare Locator can help you find in-home help; transportation; resources to install ramps, grab bars, or other home modifications; and other resources in your area. It can also help you learn about options for paying for care.

It can be helpful to know where your loved one’s important papers are stored so you can find them when you need them. Getting Your Affairs in Order has a list of legal, financial, and personal records you’ll want to locate and organize.

Another tip: Get formal permission from your loved one to talk with his or her lawyer, bank, and healthcare providers in advance. Many of these institutions have their own forms that must be signed with your loved one’s consent.

If you live an hour or more away from a person who needs care, you are a long-distance caregiver. There are a number of jobs you can take on even if you live far away. You can arrange and coordinate care in the person’s home or long-term care facility, help with finances, organize legal and financial paperwork, or help make the home safer. You can also research local resources and learn how to make the most of your limited time when you visit an older relative far away.

You can also hire a geriatric care manager—a specially trained professional who can help your family identify needs and make a plan to meet those needs.

Whatever kind of help your loved one needs — for example, with personal care, transportation, or meal preparation — it may be available in your community. You can get more information from your local Area Agency on Aging, local and state offices on aging or social services, tribal organization, or nearby senior center.

Sometimes, an older person you care for can no longer live safely in his or her own home. Some may move in with family or friends. People who require lots of help might move to a residential facility, such as an assisted living facility, nursing home, or continuing care retirement community. But how can you find a place that will take good care of the older person you love and meet his or her needs? If possible, it’s best to plan ahead for long-term care.

Many caregivers and older adults worry about the cost of long-term care. These expenses can use up a significant part of monthly income, even for families who thought they had saved enough. How people pay for long-term care depends on their financial situation and the kinds of services they use. Often, they rely on a variety of payment sources, including personal funds, federal and state government programs, and private financing options. Veterans may also be eligible for assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Family caregivers make a lot of sacrifices to care for older or sick relatives. Some even quit their jobs to care for a loved one full-time. Your state may offer help to certain caregivers. Programs vary, so contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out what programs are available in your neighborhood. Veterans, Medicaid recipients, and people living with certain diseases may also be eligible for financial assistance through federal, state, and private organizations.

Delegation visited Ventura Sister City, Loreto Baja Sur, Mexico

Who was able to read the Breeze first?

On October 20-27th, a delegation of 15 people from the Ventura Sister City Association (VSCA) went down to Ventura’s first and only Sister City, Loreto Baja Sur, Mexico, to participate in the 325th year of Loreto’s founding. Loreto served as the first capital of California, and it has ties to Ventura through its Mission and the headquarters for the five island Mexican National Park off of its coast in the Sea of Cortez.

The trip included a visit to San Javier, an older mission in the Gigante’ Mountain range, boat rides out to the islands, a stop at a working ranchero where goats are raised, visits with artists, the Loreto Fire Department and a foster home and a beach clean-up. Additionally, we had an orientation session with Eco-Alianza, on organization that supports and collaborates with, which is dedicated to environmental protection of the Sea of Cortez and promotion of ecotourism.

Most importantly, the delegation got to participate in the four-day celebration of Loreto’s founding, including the presentation of a proclamation from Ventura’s Mayor and City Council to their Mayor and Council. Pictures and a video of the trip can be found on the Ventura Sister City Facebook page.

This is the second year in a row that the VCSA has partnered with the Hermosa Beach Sister City Association (HBSCA), as Hermosa Beach has been a Sister City of Loreto for 55 years. Beyond the October visit, which coincides with Loreto’s founding on October 25, 1697, the VSCA is working on developing trips to enhance our purpose of building cultural exchanges in the arts, with our museum and with our schools. If you are interested in getting involved with the Ventura Sister City Association, please visit our webpage at VenturaSisterCity.org.

Rubicon co-founder retires after 25 years

Rubicon Co-Founders James O’Neil and Karyl Lynn Burns with goddaughter Lauren Patten.

Rubicon Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder Karyl Lynn Burns retired from the company on Sunday, November 13, following the acclaimed sold-out run of In the Heights. Says Burns, “It’s been a long and beautiful run and Jim [O’Neil] and I will forever be grateful to those we’ve met during our 25 years in Ventura who have taught us the meaning of community and showed us what can happen when dedicated and passionate people come together in pursuit of common goals. We are looking forward to beginning a new chapter, and to spending more time with each other and our families.”

“What we’re most excited about,” continues Burns, “is the opportunity to pass the torch to two longtime friends and collaborators, Beverly and Kirby Ward. They are multi-talented, incredibly diverse veteran performers with West End, Broadway and National Tour credits. After years of knowing them and working together at Rubicon, we have complete faith in them and trust that, with continued board and community support, they will take the company and the art to new heights.”

Burns and husband James O’Neil co-founded Rubicon in November of 1998 and have led the organization for nearly 25 years. During their tenure, the company has produced more than 160 comedies, dramas and musicals, including more than 20 world premieres. Under Karyl Lynn and Jim’s leadership, Rubicon received numerous awards, including the L.A. Drama Critics Special Award for Sustained Excellence, two New York Drama Desk Awards, Ovation Awards for Best Production of a Play, Larger Theatre (for Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Gulf View Drive by Arlene Hutton), and an NAACP Award. Rubicon has taken five shows to New York and has also toured productions across the U.S. and to Tokyo, South Korea, London and Dublin. In addition to mainstage programming, Burns and O’Neil have produced festivals, special events, a Broadway concert series and extensive educational programming for young people ages 6-23.

The Wards have a long history at Rubicon, freelancing as directors and actors at the company since 2008. They stepped into ongoing administrative/creative staff positions in 2018 and were responsible for the direction and choreography of Rubicon’s critically acclaimed, sold-out run of Big River in 2019. The couple have worked together on stage and off for nearly half-a-century. They bring with them West End, Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National and International Tour credits.

Says Board President Doug Halter, “This is an ideal succession plan for the company that we all have been quietly working on together for some time and we are pleased to share the news with the public. We as a board and community owe Karyl Lynn and Jim a great debt for their many years of service,” adds Halter, “and for giving Ventura the gift of a professional not-for-profit theatre that we know and trust will be here for generations.”

Says Burns, “Parting with people and places you love is always sweet sorrow, but we leave knowing that this is the right time to infuse new vitality and vision into the organization as Bev and Kirby move Rubicon from a founder-driven organization to a strong and sustainable institution. There’s so much more to say; we look forward to time to express our gratitude personally to those who have made this Rubicon journey possible.”

True to the company’s name and the vision of founding artistic directors Karyl Lynn Burns and James O’Neil, Rubicon has created an environment where commitment and risk are encouraged, and where artists are nurtured and respected. As a result, the company has gained a reputation for invigorating interpretations of the classics and for supporting the development of new works. Rubicon presents at least one World Premiere each season, as well as readings of works-in-progress.

Food Share Annual Can-Tree Food Drive Event

There are lots of ways to get involved.

Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, is bringing its most popular community event back for the holidays! The 11th Annual Can-tree food drive will take place in Figueroa Plaza from Thursday, December 1 when the trees will be built, through Sunday, December 4, 2022, when they will be dismantled.

The event, which brings thousands of individuals, families, and local businesses together to collect and build hundreds of canned food “trees” is Food Share’s biggest food and fund drive of the year and is a critical source of food for the thousands of people still struggling with food insecurity in Ventura County.

There are lots of ways to get involved. Participants can Collect & Build, Buy & Build, Raise & Build or Sponsor a Tree. There’s also a chance to win one of 13 coveted awards including the CAN Crusher, the People’s Choice, and the Mayor’s Choice, all of which will be featured on Food Share’s website, social media pages and newsletter.

Food Share is serving three times the number of people being served pre-pandemic. The latest figure (total for 2021) is a little over 190,000 unduplicated people based on FreshTrak data. However, this figure does not include people attending emergency drive-thru distributions, some of our programs, including Community Markets, or farmworkers receiving food at field distributions. The total number being served annually is @220,000.

For more information visit: foodshare.com/cantree or reach out to Jess Hug, at [email protected].