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Fun Ways for older adults to stay physically active

“Swimming is great exercise and can be very sociable.”

There are lots of fun and simple ways to build exercise into your daily routine. Find ideas for activities to do with your family and ways to stay active in all four seasons.

Family Activities to Help You Get Exercise
Being physically active with your family is a great way to stay healthy and make exercise fun. Whether you play team sports with the entire family or take brisk walks with your spouse, child, or grandchild, you’ll be rewarded with improved health and time spent together.

Here are a few activity ideas for you to do with your grandchildren:

Infants and Toddlers
Take them for walks in the stroller and rides on your bike. Don’t forget your helmets.
Play games that get your bodies moving—Wheels on the Bus, Pretend We’re Animals, and Hide-and-Seek.
Sign up for baby yoga or exercise classes.
Try baby-friendly swimming classes.
School-Aged Children
Walk to the park and push their swing.
Jump rope together.
Build a fort—indoors or out.
Play catch, kickball, basketball, or soccer.
Go swimming or biking together.
Play a video fitness game together and see who wins!
Teens and Young Adults
Participate in activities that interest them. Try hiking, skating, or tennis.
Go golfing or swimming. Invite them to join you in physical activities that require two people, such as tennis or ping pong.
Ask them to help you in the garden or with heavy-duty household chores.
Search for Move Your Way: Tips for Getting Active as a Family on YouTube for more tips on getting active with your family.

Be Physically Active Without Spending a Dime!
You don’t need to spend a fortune to be physically active. In fact, you can be active in many ways without spending any money. You don’t need special exercise equipment other than comfortable walking shoes. Here are a few ideas to help get you moving for free:

Make your own weights from household items such as soup cans or bottles of water.
Try out free demonstration exercises classes at your local senior center or fitness center.
Go for a hike in a park.
Participate in community-sponsored fun runs or walks.
Yard work such as raking, digging, and planting can keep you active.
Make sure to drink water or juice after exercise.
Summer
Swim laps or take a water aerobics class. These are both refreshing once the weather gets steamy.
Walking in the mall is a cool way to beat the heat.
Now that the grandchildren are out of school for the summer, ask them to teach you their favorite sport or physical activity.
Celebrate National Bowling Week the first week in August. Get friends and family together and challenge each other to a friendly tournament.

Let’s meet Kathleen Wheeler

As Kathleen reflected on her life, she knew when it was time to retire.

by Patricia Schallert

There are many seniors among us who have lived and continue to live lives that can be considered “success stories”…. Let’s meet Kathleen Wheeler and see how she sees it.

Kathleen is a 72 young retired woman, born in Baltimore, Maryland, who lived in Antigua as a youngster and then moved to Ventura where she graduated from Ventura High School in 1968. She lived in San Diego for a number of years before retiring seven years ago and moved back to Ventura where she now considers herself a “local”.

As Kathleen reflected on her retirement, she knew when it was time to retire. She enjoyed her career working in “Organization Development” as a psychologist very much and thought she would stay in her career until, she said “she dropped”. Her work was intense, with demanding bosses, paperwork and deadlines.

Upon retirement Kathleen and her husband moved to Ventura in December, 2017, the day before the Thomas Fire started. Still living out of boxes, they evacuated to a family friend’s house where they waited out the fire and prayed their house would still be standing when the evacuation orders were lifted.

She no longer had deadlines, paperwork and those challenging bosses. But Kathleen discovered through her friend’s connections that there was a passion growing inside her that she had not thought of as she waited out the fire. Her family friend was a scientist who asked her to help him write an essay on “Climate Change and Culture”.

“With the freedom that retirement provides, finding purpose and meaning and the right balance of activity vs leisure, is not always a slam dunk”, she said. She began to facilitate workshop sessions and supported others though her church to get in touch with new ways of looking at retirement. With her community members from her church, she explored the ideas of volunteering, a possible second career or a more leisurely life.

Learning to just “Be”, was difficult at first. The absence of structure, the absences of dead lines or commitments to others was challenging, and to no longer be defined by the career itself, helped her focus on how to create her own structure in her life.

But with retirement came an unlimited amount of possibilities which at times was overwhelming. “You can do many things when you retire, just not everything” was one of many lessons she learned.

Unexpected events were the hardest to accept for Kathleen. There were also difficulties with the loss that comes with working, since most people are defined by their work or career until they retire. Structure, alarm clocks and deadlines were no longer a part of her life, but independence moved to the front of the line and with that came writing classes, workshops and community involvement. A particular class about climate change became a turning point in Kathleen’s life and she has become a relentless activist on the importance of climate action, most recently by pushing for an “Electrification Ordnance” in Ventura.

Reducing green house gasses by starting the Ventura Climate Coalition keeps her busy most days, sometimes “too busy.” The Ventura Climate Coalition is just one voice, but there are a growing number and the hope is that eventually, they will be heard.

But the joy is in the involvement and the support she has gained from the community and tiny baby steps in the process. Kathleen accepts failure as a part of the growth and learning and has learned to value acceptance and compassion in the process of having those difficult conversations with those who have a different point of view. For Kathleen, “Retirement is about meaning, legacy, reconciliation, forgiveness and spirituality”.

Editor: If you are a senior, or know of one, who would like to share their retirement, or job, with us let us know at [email protected].

New developments being proposed, approved or under construction in Ventura.

Pacific Wave – 1342 Thompson (corner of San Jon and Thompson). 3 story mixed use building with 8 residences. Project by long time resident replacing family owned business. Under Review July 27 at the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission – Planning Commissioners advise and recommend on the development and maintenance of general and specific plans. Advise and make recommendations on applications for zone changes, tract maps, subdivisions, variances, use permits, planned development permits, and related matters. Planning Commissioners are appointed from each of Ventura’s seven voting districts by their respective City Council members.

The following projects were reviewed by the Design Review Committee and the Planning Commission two to three times each between 2018 and 2021. All are entitled (approved). These projects utilized City planning resources and local residents’ involvement on many levels.

Laurel Courts – 1028 E Front Street. Mixed use consisting of 46 residential units and 6,552 sq ft feet of retail.

Thom-Cruz – 1926 Thompson (Thompson and Santa Cruz streets). 12-unit multifamily development.

For more information go to www.LivableVentura.com or access the city development map at www.cityofventura.ca.gov Permit Services “button” or Development Map Permit Services | Ventura, CA for projects Under Review, Scheduled for Hearing or Entitled (Approved) and Under Construction.

The Kalthom is a new 45-unit apartment building located at the corner of Kalorama and Thompson. It features huge outdoor deck areas with BBQ’s and ocean views. A clubhouse, fitness center and other amenities. The units rent from approximately $2,800 to $4,500 but there are only a few left to be rented.

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Mary Olson

Ventura County Library has announced this year’s selection for One County One Book.

One County One Book invites you to join your Ventura county community in exploring a common narrative.

This year’s title is Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America by Mayukh Sen.

Taste Makers is Sen’s debut and was published in November of 2021. In it he explores America’s modern culinary history through the lives of seven pathbreaking chefs and food writers. The W.W. Norton description of the book asks, “Who’s really behind America’s appetite for foods from around the globe? This group biography from an electric new voice in food writing honors seven extraordinary women, all immigrants, who left an indelible mark on the way Americans eat today. Taste Makers stretches from World War II to the present, with absorbing and deeply researched portraits of figures including Mexican-born Elena Zelayeta, a blind chef; Marcella Hazan, the deity of Italian cuisine; and Norma Shirley, a champion of Jamaican dishes.”

This year’s One County, One Book program is officially sponsored by the Ventura County Library Foundation. Copies of the book will be available to borrow from all Ventura County Library branches. Discussions and related events will run through the month of October.

One County, One Book culminates with a special author event with Mayukh Sen at 2 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2022 on the California State University, Channel Islands campus.

If any friends of the library were listening to the NPR program Fresh Air recently, they might have enjoyed a vicarious pat on the back. Fresh Air’s book critic, Maureen Corrigan, mentioned that, during a brief break in transit, the discovery of a wall of used books for sale near the checkout desk at a library saved her from being trapped and miserable for five plus hours on a plane.

Just a little reminder, that, even if you missed our sale on July 16 and our bookstore in E.P. Foster Library is not open, you can pick up an emergency read from such shelves of used books in E.P. Foster Library and Hill Road Library. The Friends of the Library regularly freshen up the books (for adults and children) on offer on those shelves. And, the money deposited in the box adds to our bottom line which turns into more programs and books at your local library.

California Congresswoman Brownley visits Ventura Port District to celebrate the Federal appropriation

Harbormaster John Higgins, Board Chairman Chris Stephens, California Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Sr. Business Operations Manager Todd Mitchell and Board Vice-Chairman Mike Blumenberg at the presentation.

California Congresswoman Julia Brownley, U.S. representative of California 26th District, recently visited the Ventura Port District to celebrate the federal appropriation of $5,516,000 for the maintenance dredging of Ventura Harbor. This is one of the Congresswoman’s ten Community Funded Projects which was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus and was supported by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla. The Community Project Funding supplements the funding made available for the project in the President’s Budget and ensures that the entrance to Ventura Harbor will be well cared for through the next dredging cycle in early 2023. The check was presented to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Ventura Board of Port Commissioners, Chris Stephens and Michael Blumenberg.

“Since first being elected to Congress, I have been tireless in my work to secure funding for the dredging and maintenance of Ventura County’s harbors. The dredging of Ventura Harbor is essential to ensuring continued operations of this critical West Coast fishing hub,” stated Congresswoman Brownley. “The annual funding is vital to ensuring that the harbor’s federally authorized channel remains open to those who rely upon the harbor, including the commercial fishing industry and supply chain businesses.

Brownley stated. “This funding will support operations at the harbor, support local businesses that rely on these waterways, and ensure the preservation of our coastline and beaches. The dredging efforts also help keep our local tourism and recreation industries thriving to provide recreational opportunities for everyone throughout the region. This is a real win-win-win!”

Ventura Port District General Manager Brian Pendleton stated, “The ongoing support of Congresswoman Brownley at the federal level has been exceptionally important to our region. Ventura Harbor has benefited from her support since her first year in office and we cannot thank her enough.

The dredging of the entrance channel is performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Congresswoman’s efforts ensure that sufficient funding is provided to the agency to complete the project. Maintaining this deep draft navigation channel ensures that the nearly 1,500 harbor vessels, including the Channel Islands National Park ferries, commercial fishing vessels, and private boaters have unrestricted access between the open ocean, Ventura Harbor, and the Ventura Keys.

In addition to keeping the entrance safe and navigable, the high-quality sand is redistributed onto adjacent beaches. This beneficial reuse of the sand renourishes the beaches after the winter season erosion, providing a secondary benefit. This in turn helps to provide an accessible and safe beach going experience for the public, while defending protected species habitat.

 

Ventura Land Trust announces 13th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Ventura Land Trust’s annual benefit, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, returns for its 13th year on Saturday, August 20th at Ventura County Credit Union headquarters. This signature event raises funds each year to support Ventura Land Trust’s mission to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Film Festival doors open at 5:00 pm, and films begin around 7:45 pm. A virtual ticket option is available for guests who prefer to enjoy the Film Festival from home.

One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet. For Ventura Land Trust, the festival fosters a deeper understanding of the connection we share with the planet and our role as stewards to keep it healthy.

Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa is looking forward to the return of the family-friendly event. “The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is a fun gathering of like-minded, community- and Earth-centered individuals. My favorite part of the event every year is getting together with friends in a beautiful outdoor setting and enjoying the creative and inspiring art presented in the form of film, music, and tasty food and drink.”

Baffa also shared that the event raises vital operating funds for the land trust. “General operating funds are the lifeblood of a nonprofit organization. Everything about this event, from corporate sponsorship to ticket and beverage sales, helps raise those important funds for Ventura Land Trust.” Ventura Land Trust owns and manages the 2,123-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve in Ventura, and recently announced the permanent conservation of Mariano Rancho Preserve, 1,645 acres of land in the hills north of Ventura.

The 2022 film festival will feature nearly two hours of films, and food from local food trucks. New to the festival this year is another feature bound to raise even more money: a silent auction in addition to the festival’s traditional raffle.

Beer from Topa Topa Brewing Company, Rincon Brewery, and Ventura Coast Brewing Company will be available for sale, as well as wine. Live music from bands Fish Fry and The Vonettes will kick off the festivities. In the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, small bites from Himalaya Cuisine, Aloha Steakhouse, and Olive Branch Provisions, and others will be complemented by wine, beer, and a cocktail by Model Citizen.

A general admission film festival ticket is $40, with $5 children’s tickets available and teen’s tickets (13-17) available for $10. VIP tickets, which include special gift items and admission to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, are $125. Visit www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2022 for tickets.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Development Director Chris Chaleunrath at [email protected] for more information.

Auto Zone or Fire Zone?

Someone doesn’t like this building. On July 17, at 7:54pm, fire units were dispatched to a commercial structure fire at Katherine Dr. and Main St. Units arrived to find a growing fire in a vacant building which had sustained a prior significant fire on May 10, 2022. The building was previously operated as an auto parts store and has been boarded up with a security fence on the perimeter since the May 10th fire, Due to the unsafe status of the building, fire crews took a defensive posture while making an aggressive exterior attack on the fire. Fire crews thankfully prevented fire spread to other nearby buildings and homes. The fire originated in the interior of the building and the cause is determined to be suspicious and is currently under investigation in coordination with the May 10th cause investigation.

 Channel Islands National Park receives funding to rehabilitate and improve safety on trails

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland visits Ventura. Photos by Michael Gordon

During a visit to Channel Islands National Park today, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland celebrated the Department of the Interior’s commitment of close to $100,000 in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The park’s ecosystem restoration project will rehabilitate and improve safety on trails, as well as protect archeological and natural resources on Santa Cruz Island. The project will be carried out in partnership with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are advancing partnerships between the federal government and Tribes to support access to clean air, clean water and a better environment for future generations,” said Assistant Secretary Newland. “As we make essential investments through this transformative law to conserve ecosystems, mitigate the risk of wildland fire and maintain our national parks, the support and ingenuity of local partners and Tribes who know these natural treasures best is critical.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $1.4 billion for ecosystem restoration efforts over the next five years, building on proven projects, programs and partnerships that conserve our cherished wildlife and natural resources critical to supporting local economies, creating jobs and strengthening communities.

The project funding announced today will be carried out under a Task Agreement with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, engaging their Fire Department in trail construction and their Cultural department in resources protection. The project will work to protect natural and archeological areas and enhance visitor experience and public safety by improving corridors and trail conditions on three miles of the park’s most heavily used trails as well close and restore approximately 1,000 feet of unapproved trails. The project will also protect native plant communities and areas with archaeological resources while adapting existing historic routes for accessible and safe public access.

Vol. 15, No. 22 – July 27 – Aug 9, 2022 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

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.

Stabbing Homicide

On July 23, at about 2pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a stabbing that just occurred on the bike path west of Victoria Av on the extension of Montalvo Hill Park. Responding officers located one male adult suffering from multiple stab wounds to the upper torso. The victim, Marcos Guzman Reyes 26 years of Ventura, was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Ventura Police Department Major Crimes Detectives are currently investigating the incident. The ensuing investigation revealed that one suspect approached the victim on the bike path and stabbed him numerous times. The suspect fled across Victoria Av into Montalvo Hill Park, as well as the adjacent shopping center and into the neighborhood east of the shopping center on Tanager St. The suspect continued south on Hill Rd., then into the Montalvo area. It appears that the suspect also sustained injuries during the altercation. The suspect is still outstanding and is described as an Hispanic male, 5’-8”-5’10”, 180-190 pounds.

Anyone with any information or possible video footage of anyone that matches the description of the suspect is asked to call Detective Tovar at 805-339-4462.

Shooting update

On July 6 and July 7, officers with the Ventura Police Department executed multiple search warrants in the city of Ventura related to a year and a half long Attempted Murder investigation. Detectives learned through their investigation that the victim was lured to Ocean Avenue Park where he was shot 5 times. During the execution of the search warrants officers seized multiple firearms including an AK-47 assault weapon.

The following suspects were booked at the Ventura County Jail for their involvement in the crime.

Enrique Medel, 22-year-old Ventura resident, for Attempted Murder, Possession of High compacity magazines, Possession of Assault weapon, Assault with a Firearm, Conspiracy to commit Murder, and Participation in a criminal street gang

Angelo Balbuena, 20-year-old Ventura resident for Conspiracy to commit Murder

Kuwesi Shakur, 25-year-old Ventura resident for Conspiracy to commit Murder, Possession for sales of a controlled substance, and Possession of an unregistered Firearm.

Ismael Zapata, 40-year-old Ventura resident for Conspiracy to commit Murder, and Participation in a criminal street gang

Miguel Ayala, 22-year-old Ventura resident for Conspiracy to commit Murder

Noel Cavasos, 25-year-old Ventura resident for Possession of Brass Knuckles

On January 3, 2021, at approximately 2:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call regarding several shots heard in the area of Ocean Avenue Park, 1590 Ocean Ave. As patrol officers responded to the park, the Command Center was notified that a shooting victim had been transported to a local hospital by acquaintances. The victim was shot multiple times and sustained life-threatening injuries. His status is unknown at this time.

The Ventura Police Department, Major Crimes Unit responded and is handling the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sgt. Bill Dolan at 805-339-4444.

Narcotics Sales Arrest while in possession of a firearm

On July 18th, 2022, members of the Ventura Police Department Patrol and K9 units responded to a call of possible narcotics activity in the Marriott hotel parking lot.

During the subsequent investigation, officers with the assistance of their K9 partners recovered Fentanyl, Methamphetamines, and alprazolam. They also found evidence of narcotics sales and a loaded firearm inside Lawson’s vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, Williams was arrested for possession of narcotics for sales and possession of a controlled substance while armed.

Megan Schaffer was arrested for possession of narcotics and outstanding warrants.

A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that both Lawson Williams and Megan Schaffer have prior arrests for narcotics violations.