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Wild & Scenic Film Festival, is making its return

Ventura Land Trust’s annual flagship event, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, is making its return on Saturday, August 24th! The festival is entering its 15th year and will be held on the lawn of the Ventura County Credit Union headquarters, in Ventura. In addition to nearly two hours of inspiring environmental and activism-focused films, festival-goers can expect incredible music, food, and a selection of beer and wine from Ventura County locals. 

The evening’s festivities will feature the live music of local legends Spencer the Gardener, an onsite raffle, and an online silent auction. Beverages from Topa Topa, Castoro Cellars, Balcom Cider, Ventura Spirits, and food from a variety of local food trucks will be available for purchase.  

In the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, small bites and local favorites will be paired with a curated selection of wine, beer, and cocktails. VIP Lounge guests will also enjoy a range of comfortable seating for relaxing and catching up with friends.

This is a family-friendly event and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to take advantage of the Ventura County Credit Union lawn. Doors will open at 5 PM, with film screenings starting just before 8 PM as the sun goes down.

General admission tickets are priced at $40, with children’s tickets available for $5 and teen tickets (ages 13-17) at $10. For those seeking an elevated experience, VIP tickets are available for $125 and offer exclusive early access to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, providing additional free beverage and food options. Tickets and vendor details can be found at www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2024.

Beyond being VLT’s signature community event, the festival serves as a call to action and encourages attendees to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet. Your support through the Wild & Scenic Film Festival helps Ventura Land Trust restore habitat, build trails, plant trees, and clean up local rivers. Ventura Land Trust preserves are open daily for visitors to enjoy, and always for free.

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land totaling nearly 4,000 acres along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve. Harmon Canyon Preserve, which opened in June 2020, is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. In addition to these major holdings the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.

Explore. Lower Harmon Canyon

Encelia californica is beloved by native bees and beetles.

Now is the perfect time to hit the trails and explore. Lower Harmon Canyon is open and promises unforgettable beauty!

California brittlebush (Encelia californica) is in peak bloom! One of four sensitive plant alliances in Harmon Canyon, Encelia californica, are true Southern California locals – growing in coastal sage scrub from San Luis Obispo County to northern Baja. To spot these beauties, look for daisies with dark centers (disk flowers) and yellow “petals” (ray flowers).

Encelia californica is commonly seen on drier south and west-facing slopes and is beloved by native bees and beetles. The east side of Trail 101 is a wonderland for this special community – slow down and check out all the pollinator action!

Interesting observations are everywhere – including at your feet! In the moist early morning hours, keep your eyes peeled for the Trask shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta traskii). Considered a sensitive species in California due to habitat loss and degradation, these beautiful, long-lived animals are thriving in the vibrant shrublands of Harmon Canyon. To distinguish them from the invasive European garden snail (Cornu aspersum) look for their narrower shell with a distinctive dark-colored band that follows the whorled spiral.

Helminthoglypta traskii are active longer than usual this year, enjoying the moist conditions of our extended rainy season. They estivate (a state of dormancy like hibernating but in response to heat and dryness) during the drier months and may not be as visible soon, so enjoy these delicate detritavores while you can.

Firefighters respond to reported structure fire

On April 22, fire units were dispatched to a reported structure fire at Main and Ann St.. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a single-family residence with smoke showing. Firefighters deployed hose lines into the home and were able to locate and extinguish a fire in the kitchen within 10 minutes. One civilian was treated for smoke inhalation by firefighter/paramedics and taken to Community Memorial Hospital by AMR for further treatment. Ventura City Fire units were assisted by Ventura County Fire Department, AMR and Ventura Police Department.

Brush management deadline is June 1, 2024

Despite recent heavy rainfall, Ventura residents are urged to remain vigilant as the threat of wildfires persists. The Ventura Fire Department stresses the importance of creating defensible space by maintaining flammable grass, trees, and shrubs surrounding vulnerable structures.

Over 6,200 parcels will receive notices in mid-April as part of the Fire Hazard Reduction Program (FHRP). Property owners are required to complete 100 feet of vegetation management from structures or to the property line by June 1, 2024.

“Defensible space isn’t solely about protecting property; it’s about protecting lives,” said Ventura Fire Marshal Brett Reed. “Neglecting vegetation management can lead to hazardous conditions during wildfires. Acting promptly, residents can greatly diminish wildfire risks and help contribute to our community’s safety.”

The FHRP aims to reduce fire danger by managing the density and placement of flammable vegetation. The required defensible space varies based on an area’s terrain and vegetation type. This approach is critical for slowing or stopping the spread of wildfire and shielding structures from ignition by direct flames, radiant heat, or airborne embers.

Inspections of vulnerable properties will begin in early June.

For more information on the Fire Hazard Reduction Program, visit CityofVentura.ca.gov/FHRP or call the Fire Prevention Division at 805-658-4717.

Firefighters respond to report of large explosion and power poles on fire

On April 15, fire units were dispatched to an electrical hazard with multiple callers stating there was a large explosion and power poles are on fire near Foothill Rd / N. Kimball Rd. while en-route, fire units received updates that this was a vehicle that hit a power pole. Firefighters arrived within 6 minutes of dispatch and found a vehicle that had left the roadway and hit a major transmission power pole carrying over 60,000 volts of electricity. The solo occupant of the vehicle was treated and released to Ventura PD. Southern California Edison arrived and ensured all power lines were safe and no longer energized. Ventura City Fire units were assisted by the Ventura Police Department and Southern California Edison.

Smart Senior Tech

Paul Swanson has lung issues and needs to have supplemental oxygen. For a while now he has taken short walks to the Harbor. He was always exhausted when he got back home. He came up with the idea of getting a Segway. He now has a Segway which he has customized. He can hang his oxygen generator on the optional handlebars. The Segway has a remote control so it will follow him. He walks until he gets tired and then rides home.

Tutor adults who want to learn or improve their English

Free tutor training for adults (18 and over) to tutor adults who want to learn or improve their English and learn about American culture.
When: Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Where: 1500 Palma Drive, Ventura CA 93003.

Make a difference in one person’s life. Become a tutor.  Laubach Literacy of Ventura County provides free tutoring and tutor training to adults for English as a second language. No prior teaching experience is required. You don’t have to speak a foreign language to be a tutor. We provide all materials for free to both the tutor and the adult learners.  We will train you on cultural awareness and tutoring techniques for all levels of ability. Our adult learners want to speak, understand, read, and write English and learn American culture. Laubach Literacy has been teaching English for free for over 40 years in Ventura County. Registration is required for the training.

Register for the May 4 workshop by emailing your name, city, phone, and email address to [email protected]. You will receive a return email confirming your successful registration.
Price: Free
For More Information: Contact Laubach Literacy of Ventura County. Phone: (805) 385-9584, please leave a message and we will call you back. Website: [email protected].

Different Care Settings at the End of Life

The three most common places people at the end-of-life die are at home, in a hospital, or in a care facility. While not everyone has the chance to decide where they will die, people who know the end of life is approaching may be able to plan ahead. Several factors may help with this planning, including knowing the type of care you need and want, where you can receive this level of care, advance care directives, costs, and availability of family and friends to help.

It’s important for a caregiver or family member to work closely with the health care team to decide the type of comfort care needed at home in order to make the dying person as comfortable as possible. This type of care can often be provided by nursing assistants or family and friends without medical training. However, a doctor will continue to oversee the patient’s health care plan. Hospice care is frequently used at home.

Caring for someone who is at home at the end of life can be physically, emotionally, and financially demanding for the people providing the care. Extra support from paid caregivers or home service providers, also known as respite care, can help. If the person who is dying is returning home from the hospital, sometimes a hospital discharge planner, who is often a social worker, will be able to help with the logistics. Your local Area Agency on Aging might be able to recommend other sources of help.

In a hospital setting, you will have access to medical professionals who understand the needs of a dying person. This can be very reassuring to both the person and their family.

In addition to the regular care team, some hospitals have palliative and hospice care teams that can assist with managing uncomfortable symptoms at the end of life, such as digestive issues or pain. These teams can also help with making medical decisions for patients or families.

No matter which end-of-life care setting you choose, it’s important to make plans for this care in advance. Having these documents in place helps medical staff provide the care that you wish to receive at the end of life and helps family members avoid having to make difficult decisions about your care without your input. Learn more about advance care planning.

Many people are in care facilities, such as nursing homes, at the end of life. In a nursing home, nursing staff are always present. Unlike a hospital, a doctor is not in the facility at all times but is available when needed.

Some people are discharged from a hospital to a care facility, while others may already be living in one. If you have lived in a nursing home or long-term care facility for a while, you may choose to stay and receive end-of-life care there. You and your family may already have a relationship with staff who work there, which can help make the care feel more personalized than in a hospital.

This content is provided by the NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date.