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Students take hands-on approach to space knowledge

In the current experiment, heat transfer is being assessed.

by Shirley Lorraine

The eighth-grade science classes at Ventura Missionary School, taught by Alane Woods, are, instead of reading textbooks and theory, actively engaged in building experiments designed by Quest for Space who then shares their information with NASA. Along with other students’ works worldwide, these experiments provide valuable information to be used in research.

Ms. Woods has been utilizing Quest for Space Inspiration Station kits for six years now, with great success. Students are enthusiastic about getting to experience first-hand various elements of science, engineering, coding, and more. The day I visited the classroom, the air was literally electric with excitement.

In the current experiment, heat transfer is being assessed. Which color transmits heat faster and more effectively – white or black? How is this information used in space? Are there differences between how earth and space transmit heat? Are there differences among the planets as to how heat is transmitted? Students learn about the process, the types of heat transfer, and how heat is conducted.

First, I was treated to a “walk-through” by two of the students, Isabelle and Drayden. Their excitement about the experiment was palpable. Both extoled the virtues of working in teams and of learning the different elements that must be considered. They gave me a quick tour of a completed unit, explaining how it worked and how the information is ultimately sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to be used in space endeavors.

Split into teams, each team receives a boxed Quest kit. Each kit contains Step-by-Step instructions and all the parts needed. Each team builds the same experiment and then compares results.

The kits require the building of complex circuits, resistors and connectors to run the experiments. Progress and process are logged. Each member of each team is assigned a specific role and may fill in other roles as needed.

I stopped by each team to observe and learn where they were in the process. I was immediately struck with the focus, the enthusiasm, the willingness to share and the respect shown by the students.

When the conductor is built, computer coding enables the results to be fed to Quest for Space which then sends it on to the ISS. Students learn the results of the work their team has done. The information is then compiled with other research results.

“Students learn not only how to use science, but also why, and that their input to the scientific world is valuable” stated instructor Alane Woods.

The NASA website provides this statement:

“As an orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station (ISS) offers researchers around the world the unique opportunity to perform experiments in microgravity and under the rigors of the space environment. Scientists have used the station for everything from testing technology for future space exploration to studying human health.”

More than several students shared that their favorite part of the experiment is the teamwork and the coordination of the many components of hands-on work. One contributed that the best part for her was “doing the electrical, hooking it up and seeing the light come on. You know it worked!” Others stated, “It’s a really cool thing” and “It’s fun, it’s cool, actually being able to put it together and see how it works.”

I wish I had had this much fun in eighth grade science class. The website www.nasa.gov offers experiments that can be done at home as well. Check out the STEM engagement tab. Maybe I’ll give one a go. Or maybe I should leave it to Ms. Woods’ 8th grade science class. They are doing an excellent job already.

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – The Pet Page

∙ SPAN Thrift Store is open to the public and looking for donations of adult clothing, household items and tools if you’ve got items you no longer use. 

SPAN Thrift Store regularly provides $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.

Two upcoming clinics are: Tuesday, February 15th in the SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main), and a second clinic in the SPARC parking lot, located at 705 E. Santa Barbara St., Santa Paula, 93060, on Tuesday, February 22nd. 

Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.

∙Families with a child on the autism spectrum might consider becoming cat people instead of dog people. Research fellow Gretchen Carlisle of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a longitudinal study placing shelter cats with Columbia families whose children are on the autism spectrum.

She found that autistic children significantly improve in social skills and behavior after adopting a cat. “After the adoption of their cat, parents rated their children as having an improvement in empathy and fewer problem behaviors,” Carlisle said. “Parents also rated their children as having less separation anxiety.”

Autistic children often respond in a very sensitive way to sound or movement, and a barking dog, for instance, could quickly create sensory overload, Carlisle said. The softness and silence of cats is something children on the autism spectrum appreciate more than people usually know.

“Dogs can be very in your face and loud, whereas cats move quieter and softer, which may be easier for children with sensory issues,” she said. “We selected cats over dogs in this study specifically for that characteristic — their ability to move very quietly and calmly — and because so little research has been done on cats with children with autism.”

Families brought their children to the shelter and together decided which cat was the best fit for their family. “We wanted the families — and especially the children — to have a say over which cat they would take home with them,” Carlisle said.

The new cat owners were supplied with a starter kit, including food, litter, a cat carrier, toys and a climbing tree with a cubby hole. The families in the treatment group were also supplied with basic cat behavior information and access to a veterinary specialist, as well as the study staff at any time.

The research team not only monitored the children’s behavior through a social skills survey and their stress levels through an anxiety survey, but the cat’s stress levels as well.

The cats seemed to thoroughly enjoy their new home as well, Carlisle said. An easy way to spot sign of stress in cats is assessing weight loss due to lack of eating. In the study, the cats actually were so content that they gained weight.

Carlisle explained that previous research found that younger cats interacted more with children with autism, concluding that looking for a younger cat with a calm and social temperament is where to start the search for a new furry friend who may lend a helping paw to an autistic child.

The study was co-authored by Rebecca A. Johnson, Ze Wang, Jessica Bibbo, Nancy Cheak-Zamora, and Leslie A. Lyons.

∙Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages
by Harry Baker

They are the first non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.

If you were to move to a new country with a different language and bring along the family dog, your pet would likely have a hard time understanding commands from the locals, according to a new study looking at how dogs’ brains react to different languages.

MRI scans revealed that dogs’ brains can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar languages, making them the first-known, and so far only, non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.

The new study was conceived by lead author Laura Cuaya, a neurobiologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.

∙Preventing Doggie Dementia
by Penny & Ed Cherubino

One of the great gifts you can give your dog in the next year is taking steps, no matter what their age, to prevent dementia and improve their quality of life. In dogs, dementia is called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). Many of the same lifestyle habits known to help brain health in humans also apply to our dogs.

Researcher Sarah Yarborough at the University of Washington recently published her findings on common factors reported in dogs with CCD. Her study found, “… odds of CCD was 6.47 times higher in dogs who were not active compared to those who were very active.” In addition, she noted, “When controlling for age, breed type, activity level, and other comorbidities, dogs with a history of neurological, eye, or ear disorders had higher odds of CCD…”

These findings translate to the same steps that we can take ourselves to promote healthier aging. You protect your dog from CCD by increasing exercise, and by doing it together, you protect yourself. It’s a win-win situation. Always consult both your doctors before starting any big change in exercise routines.

We know that loss of sensory input increases the danger of dementia in humans. That’s why seniors need to have their hearing tested and use hearing aids as recommended. Scientists are working on hearing aids for dogs, and corrective eye surgery for dogs is now standard. However, we as guardians can make sure we are aware of and provide the necessary care to prevent ear and eye infections from causing deafness and blindness.

Some humans do crossword puzzles to engage their brains. You can provide your dog with brain stimulation by engaging her in play and training or retraining sessions. Old dogs can and should learn new tricks and training is a lifelong responsibility for dog families.

Prevention is a lifelong program to prevent brain degeneration. However, there are still things you can do if your older dog is showing symptoms of CCD. Don’t just blame old age if your dog is losing housetraining and soiling your home. Report this to your veterinary team because it may be a dementia symptom or something else that can be corrected.

Changes in a dog’s sleep/wake cycles are another reportable symptom, as is disorientation. You might also see increased separation anxiety, phobias, excessive vocalization, and changes in a dog’s interaction with people and other animals.

As your dog ages, note changes in these areas and ask your veterinarian to help you choose the best interventions for your particular animal. Keeping a log of what you notice is a great way to monitor how long changes have been happening and whether they are worsening or getting better.

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – Opinion/Editorial

∙ The City of Ventura has extended the temporary closure of its facilities through mid-to-late February due to rising COVID-19 cases and exposures.

“The extension of the City’s temporary closure is a precautionary measure that allows critical services and operations to continue while minimizing opportunities where transmission may be possible,” said Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre

City staff remains available online or by phone during regular business hours. In addition, all public safety services will continue regular 24/7 operations.

Let’s hope the community can get the support it needs online or by phone support.

∙ The focus of two articles in this issue will bring pleasure to some Venturans. Aarmark Beer Gardens will be moving into the space in the Harbor Village that is now the arcade. The new entertainment and restaurant venue won’t be open until next year after extensive remodeling is done to the space. The arcade has struggled for some time and is in great need of updating which the current owner can’t afford to do. It is a prominent location in the Harbor, so I hope it’s a great addition.

Also, the Players Club has re-opened at the Derby Club at the Fairgrounds. If you are tired of playing cards you can go downstairs and bet on the horse racing.

∙ No president should take credit for a robust economy because it could tank in a week. They should say something like, “I’m very happy that the economy is so good. I certainly hope it can continue doing so well.”

∙ After several years of delays, Thousand Oaks’ first two cannabis dispensaries have opened. Leaf Dispensary and Legendary Organics are strictly medical cannabis dispensaries, but they would like to start selling recreational cannabis in the near future with the city’s permission.

What is the delay in Ventura’s cannabis dispensaries opening already? Just more of our tax dollars still going outside of Ventura.

∙ Even though there has been a resurgence of Monarch butterflies, the future for these wonderful insects is still in jeopardy. Ventura has a wonderful opportunity to help save them by creating habitats where milkweed could be grown. Milkweed is what Monarch’s eat and lay their eggs in.

Ventura has two (actually two-and-a-half) golf courses where butterfly habitats could be developed. Golf courses take up a huge amount of space that is only enjoyed by a very small part of our population so why not create habitats for butterflies? And, helping them it would create areas that could be enjoyed by many more people.

∙ The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution to request the California Public Utilities Commission and other state agencies take a closer look at Southern California Gas Company’s compressor site located off of the Avenue in Ventura. SoCalGas plans to replace three gas compressors on the site with four new ones with more horsepower.

The resolution requests the CPUC assess the impact on the neighborhood that the expansion at their facility at 1555 North Olive St. would create. It also requests the California Environmental Protection Agency consider the potential health of the nearby neighborhood.

This is not the first time that concern has been shown. In May, Ventura unanimously passed a resolution requesting state regulators to review the potential environmental, health and safety impacts of the expansion. The city and county resolutions come after months of community opposition to the project including the Ventura Unified School District because of its proximity to E. P. Foster Elementary School.

∙ Guns In The News

One person has died, and several others were hurt after a Butte County shooting inside a Greyhound bus.

One person was killed and four others injured in a shooting at a hookah lounge in downtown Blacksburg.

The suspect who shot and killed a woman and injured two others in a church in Aurora, Colorado, knew at least one of the victims, police said. “It wasn’t just a random shooting inside this church,” police said.

One student is dead and another is in critical condition after a shooting outside a school in Richfield. At a news conference Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne told reporters the two victims were shot on a sidewalk outside the District 287 South Education Center.

A four-year-old boy has died after he accidentally shot himself in the head with his father’s gun inside a car where his mother and another adult were smoking marijuana.

Two people were killed and two were injured in a shooting at the Park Plaza Apartments in Brown Deer. Brown Deer police said they got a call of shots fired at about 10:10 a.m. When officers arrived, they were shot at by a person in the building.

A Wisconsin man was arrested after a gun he was handling discharged and killed an 8-year-old girl in Milwaukee, an incident that prompted the city’s acting mayor to ask citizens to “put down the guns” on the heels of a record-breaking year for homicides.

A multiple-homicide investigation was underway in Milwaukee after police discovered six adults dead inside a home during a welfare check.

Police are looking for a tow truck driver who shot a 3-year-old in Port Richmond in a Jiffy Lube parking lot. Investigators say the incident at 12:15 a.m. started as a fight between two tow truck drivers. One of them pulled out a gun and began shooting; one of the bullets hit the toddler who was sitting inside the truck.

An argument in the checkout line of a South Florida grocery store escalated into a fatal shooting, as other shootings around the state took place in a sports bar and a banquet hall. The argument between two men started in the checkout line of a Publix. One of the men pulled a gun and shot the other man. The victim died in the store, and the shooter was in police custody.

Four people were shot at the Player’s Sports Bar and Grill in North Lauderdale. After a fight took place in the sports bar and a patron was told to leave, the patron shot at the bar, striking several people.

In Orlando, police were searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting at a banquet hall. Police were called to the event space where they found a victim in critical condition.The victim was pronounced dead at a hospital.

A community is in shock after eight people were shot in an apparent murder-suicide in Texas. A man killed four people, including a child, and critically wounded three at two different crime scenes. The suspect, Kevin Milazzo, is believed to have killed his mother, 61-year-old Connie Mimms, and stepfather, 68-year-old William Mimms, in Corsicana.

Police say Milazzo then drove to Frost, where he shot and killed his 21-year-old son, Joshua Milazzo, and a four-year-old boy, the son of his ex-girlfriend.

Police tracked the 41-year-old Milazzo through his vehicle GPS and were able to turn off the engine remotely. As members of the SWAT team approached his vehicle, they found him critically injured from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his head.

Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and Senator Monique Limon announced legislation to restrict gun sales at the Ventura County Fairground.  They were joined at the press conference by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) who announced legislation to end gun sales at all county fairgrounds across the state.  

According to a report published by UC Davis, gun shows have been identified as a source for illegally trafficked firearms.  

“Unfortunately, the United States experiences far more gun violence per person than virtually every other modern industrialized country in the world,” Said Bennett “ The United States has one of the most pervasive gun cultures in the world supported by a powerful gun lobby. Gun shows at the Fairgrounds enhance this and it is time for each of us to play a role in changing this culture.”

∙ Another journalist has been killed in Mexico. The fourth in less than a month. More than 50 journalists have been slain in Mexico since 2018. The writer wrote for a website that reported on government corruption which means this might not have been a cartel slaying.

 

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Hi-Jinx on High Street with Matilda

It is a multi-award winner. It was Best New Musical in 2012. It is high energy, high camp and filled with talent. The production is Matilda, the Musical, based on the 1988 book by Roald Dahl, perhaps best known for Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Moorpark’s High Street Arts Center has compiled an extensive cast of characters from kids to, well, not kids, all of them eager to share the eccentricities of Dahl’s imagination.

It is an extremely ambitious undertaking. Kudos to director Tami Keaton and the multitude of crew members who make the magic happen. And yes, there are some truly magical moments throughout.

Not familiar with the story? It centers around Matilda (dual cast with Noelle Gibson and Bridget Hunzeker), a young girl who is saddled with a set of n’er do well parents, a lazy brother, and no encouragement to become educated. She reads. This angers her mother and father, who clearly think reading is a waste of time.

They ship Matilda off to a boarding school led by a particularly unpleasant headmistress (played with cartoonish relish by Sean Burns) who enjoys beleaguering the young in her care. Despite efforts to add a touch of empathy to the daily rigor, teacher Miss Honey (Kristina Reyes) befriends Matilda, recognizing her special talents, and things begin to change for the better.

The action is rapid-fire, nearly frantic at times, and spiced with complicated choreography to maintain the very large cast moving so that the stage is fully utilized. Numerous cast members play several roles, switching from speaking parts to ensemble and back with ease.

Matilda’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Wormwood, are played by Megan Razor and Michael Rosenblum to the hilt. They, too, are caricatures of their characters and fascinating to watch as they are clearly approaching the very limits of hamming it up, to the audience’s delight. They are not likeable people, but the portrayals are a hoot. PC the play is not.

Opening night featured Noelle Gibson in the pivotal role of Matilda. She was on fire and delivered a solid, sterling performance. Backed up by a bevy of talented up-and-comers, Gibson easily held the leading position.

The story has numerous quite dark moments. My 10-year-old niece (my evening’s “date”) shared that she “liked most of it, but some of the parts were scary”. Indeed, they are, and unpleasant, but well managed. She did enjoy the high-camp, cartoony overall shading of the show.

High Street productions consistently deliver high quality theatrical experiences. Their commitment to bringing lesser done works to the stage and encouraging actors of all ages is laudable.

Matilda, the Musical continues its run through February 27 with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Matinees on Sundays. Seating is pre-arranged and reservations are required. Come prepared to show proof of vaccination of a negative Covid result and wear your mask. All details are available on their website www.highstreetartscenter.com. 805-529-8700.

 

 

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
As We See It – Amazon Original Series

4 out of 4 palm trees

As We See It follows the lives of three 20 something roommates on the autism spectrum, Jack, Harrison and Violet, as they work to gain the skills to lead independent lives through the assistance of their life coach Mandy. The three live in an apartment together where they have daily check-ins with Mandy to celebrate accomplishments and set goals. Each of them has a different type of autism diagnoses, and Mandy guides them with patience and empathy for the challenges they encounter trying to be “normal” like the rest of the world.

Harrison (Albert Rutecki) is socially disconnected and does not like to ever venture out of the apartment due to his fear of noises, strange people, dogs, …most things. He’s overweight, most likely due to the fact that he spends his days watching games shows on TV in the apartment and has a huge appetite for sweets. He comes from a wealthy, supportive family and has the social mentality of an adolescent, which made his 10 year old neighbor from upstairs AJ the perfect friend and playmate. AJ was young but had some good street smarts, which lead to he and Harrison getting into trouble on several occasions, Harrison being the one that just followed along.

Jack (Rick Glassman) has Asperger’s Syndrome, is a mild form of high-functioning autism more common in males than in females. While quite intelligent, he has no filter which often has him misunderstood and offending others frequently. He does not like being touched and is very detached emotionally, though he is very aware of this fact, and many of his goals revolve around connecting to people as his condition makes social interactions difficult. As an example of this dynamic, he works as a computer programmer, and and when asked at work to change some things with a program he wrote, he said it was asinine and told his boss he had inferior intelligence which got him temporarily fired. Jack is close with his dad Lou (Joe Mantegna) who had just been diagnosed with cancer and concerned he’ll die before his son finds independence.

Violet (Sue Ann Pien) is a 25 year old virgin whose sole motivation in life is to have sex, preparing for it by reading Cosmo, watching videos, learning from other sources online and from co-workers at Arby’s where she worked at the counter until she hit on a married man in front of his wife and was demoted to sandwich maker. She constantly uses profane language and regularly blurts out she just needs someone to f***, having no filter like Jack, especially when it comes to talking about sex. Her brother Van (Chris Pang) became her caretaker after their parents died, and is trying to not let his sister’s issues blowup his relationship with his girlfriend Selena, which has happened every other time in his past relationships.

Mandy (Sosie Bacon) is a life coach who educates them about the world and helps them to navigate it. Her patience and tolerance seems boundless, and is never reactionary, rather extremely calm when dealing with the variety of issues that arise coach all three in the same environment. They all trust her implicitly and generally follow her advise or instructions. Mandy wanted to work in the medical field doing autism research, but didn’t pass her MCAT entrance exam, and has a boyfriend named Joel who is trying to persuade her to join him in Berkeley for an internship at USF, but she feels torn about leaving Jack, Harrison and Violet behind.

As We See It is a very warmhearted, compassionate glimpse into the lives of those living on the autism spectrum and Mandy’s role as life coach shares some impressive coping skills that can be applied to many everyday situations with people from any walk of life.

Rated TV-16+ 8 – 35min Episodes

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – Music Calendar

Music Calendar 2/9 – 2/22
For more up-to-the-date listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

A Bar Called Country
211 E. Santa Clara Street, Ventura
Music 9 pm – 12:30 am
Sat 2/12: Jayden Secor

Angry Ferret Brewing Co.
11990 Hertz Street, Moorpark
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 2/12: Melinda Gibson
Sat 2/19: Milo Sledge Trio

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; then Bluegrass Jam
Tues 2/15: CRV 3
Fri 2/18: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 2/19: Déjà vu Too

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
DJs Friday – Sunday

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street, Ventura
Wed 2/9: Edgar Thatcher
Fri 2/11: Instone
Mon 2/14: Donna Butler
Wed 2/16: Donna Butler
Fri 2/18: Urban Dread

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Fri 2/11: Teresa James
Sat 2/12: Caliente Band 805
Sat 2/19: Buena Onda

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Music 5:30 – 8:30
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Bobby Apostol
Fridays & Saturdays: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Saturdays and Sundays: Kenny DeVoe
Sat 2/12: Teresa Russell

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Music Fridays 6-8 pm; Saturday 1 – 3:30 pm
Sat 2/12: Terrell Edwards & Joe Rozum
Fri 2/18: Doc Rogers Band
Sat 2/19: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer

The Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Wednesdays: Blues Wednesday
Sundays: Soul Sunday w/ DJ Also
Sat 2/12: 805 Social Club Band
Fri 2/18: Alla & the Rahkas
Sat 2/19: Collaboration Band

GiGi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Ave., Ventura
Sundays: Kokopelli Karaoke w/ Betty Jean

The Grape
2833 E. Main Street, Ventura
Tuesdays Jazz Jam
Saturday afternoons Salsa with Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna (2 pm)
Wed 2/9: A Tribute to the Greats
Thurs 2/10: Jimmy Calire and Friends
Fri 2/11: RJ Root Guitar Night
Thurs 2/17: Tom Etchart & Friends
Sat 2/19: Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta

The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Music 4-6 pm
Wednesdays & Thursdays: Ken Devoe

Keynote Lounge
10245 E Telephone Rd, Ventura
Thursdays: KJ Carlos
Fri 2/11: DJ AVG
Sat 2/12: Jimi Nelson Band
Fri 2/18: Caliente 805
Sat 2/19: DJ Joe

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Music 6:30 – 8:30; Sundays 3-5
Thurs 2/10: Matt of Blown Over
Fri 2/11: Jacob Marquez & the Good Vibes
Sat 2/12: Irie Nature
Thurs 2/17: Vinny Berry
Fri 2/18: Keyth Garica
Sat 2/19: Illunis
Sun 2/20: Brion Shearer & the Unreliable Villians

Lookout & Grill
2800 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Wednesdays: Tommy Foytek’s Variety Show
Thursdays: Acoustic Open Mic

Lucas Sellers Wine
330 Zachary Street, Moorpark
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 2/12: Karen Eden
Sat 2/19: Bill Rotella

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street, Ventura
Sun 2/13: Gianna Bella
Sat 2/19: Lindsey Marie
Sun 2/20: RJ Mischo

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street, Ventura
Sat 2/12: Mike Scully & the Weary Travelers, Adaptive, Lira, No Idea
Sun 2/20: Circle Jerks

Manhattan Restaurant
5800 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Wednesdays: Robert Van
Fri 2/11: Pam and Hollywood
Sat 2/12: Jeanne Tatum
Mon 2/14: Andy Street
Fri 2/18: Tour Support
Sat 2/19: Jeanne Tatum

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor
Sat 2/19: CRV

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor
Music at Noon
Sat 2/13: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak Street, Ventura
Sat 2/12: The Salty Suites
Thurs 2/17: The Listening Room Redux 4
Sat 2/19: Dirty Cello Band

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl Street, Ojai
Sat 2/19: The Storytellers

Oceanview Pavilion
575 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme
Sat 2/12: DSB

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Wed 2/9: (Ventura Room) Soulfly, Short Fuse, I Greater than He, Boilerman, Slowbleed

Paddy’s Cocktails
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke

Prime Restaurant
2209 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: Danny D

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Music at 7-10 pm
Fri 2/11: The Remedies feat. Troy Edwards
Sat 2/12: Brittney Burchett
Fri 2/18: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 2/19: Tyler James (Foo Flannels)

Ric’s Restaurant
2500 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Tuesdays: Tour Support with Kurt Griffey & Bob DeLellis

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 2/11: Rocker Fellas 805
Mon 2/14: Daniela Cardillo

The Six Chow House
419 E Main Street, Ventura
Fri 2/11: I Want my 80s
Sat 2/12: Bring on the Night
Fri 2/18: Lion Heights
Sat 2/19: Sweet P
Sun 2/20: T.C. King

Taqueria Jalisco Restaurant
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Music 5-8 pm
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sun 2/20: Xenia Flores

Topa Topa Brewing
341 Ojai Ave., Ojai
Wed 2/9: Ted Lennon
Fri 2/11: Kellen van Allen
Fri 2/18: Jess Bush, Kellen van Allen, Drea van Allen

The Twist on Main
254 E. Main Street, Ventura
Wednesdays: Classic Country w/ Jesse Harris
Thursdays: LA Jazz Connection
Fri 2/11: Dave Rea and Acoustic DNA
Sat 2/12: Dianne Miller; Crosscut 805
Fri 2/18: Colette Lovejoy Band
Sat 2/19: Steve and Sally Williams; Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 2/20: Joe Delia

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thursdays: Delta by the Beach
Sundays: Mariachi Gallos de Oro

Ventura Harbor Comedy Club
Ventura Harbor Village
Fri 2/18: Fausto Cuevas III
Sat 2/19: Catina de Luna featuring Otmaro Ruiz

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sundays: Fire on the Mountain
Saturdays: Smitty and Julija and Friends
Fri 2/18: Tommy & Paddy Marsh

Waterside Restaurant
3500 S. Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Sat 2/12: Déjà vu Too
Sun 2/20: Teresa Russell

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 2/10: Brandon Ragan
Fri 2/11: The Tossers
Thurs 2/17: Warren Takahashi
Fri 2/18: Ray Jaurique Trio
Sun 2/20: Mark Masson & Phriends

Final public hearing held for redistricting map

The City of Ventura has posted the preferred draft of the Council District Map available for review at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Redistricting.

The updated district map was discussed at the fourth redistricting public hearing at the City Council meeting on Monday, February 7. Information about participating in the public hearing can be found on the redistricting website.

“The redistricting process is something that’s done every ten years and impacts how residents elect their city council members. The primary goal when developing election districts is to draw lines that respect neighborhoods, history, and geographical elements,” said Interim City Clerk Tracy Oehler. “We encourage the community to attend this final public hearing to learn more or share input about boundaries for their neighborhood.”

Every ten years, local governments use new data from the Census to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. State law requires cities and counties to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and doing public outreach, including to underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities.

The final deadline for the City Council to adopt a district map as part of the City’s ordinance is April 17, 2022. The new map will be used during the November 8 election.

For more information about the City of Ventura’s redistricting process, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/Redistricting.

Repurposed cancer treatments could be potential Alzheimer’s drugs

A data-driven analysis method aimed at speeding up testing of potential Alzheimer’s disease therapies identified two existing cancer drugs, one FDA-approved and another still experimental, as having promise for being repurposed for Alzheimer’s disease. The study also identified interesting connections between brain protein alterations in young individuals who carried the APOE4 gene and those of older study participants who had Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings by a team of NIA-supported researchers led by the NIA Intramural Research Program were published in Science Advances.

While scientists have been studying how the APOE4 gene increases risk for Alzheimer’s disease for decades, they still are unsure how the associated increased disease risk might manifest. In recent years, however, researchers have focused on related protein changes earlier in life. In the current study, researchers compared autopsy brain samples from young study participants who were APOE4 carriers (average age at death was 39 years) with samples from older participants who had Alzheimer’s disease (average age at death was 89 years). The analyses included brain samples from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the Religious Orders Study, and other NIA-funded studies.

They identified differences in protein levels that intersected in different directions — higher in the young APOE4 carriers and lower in the older participants with Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings confirmed that APOE4-related protein alterations in the brain occur decades before Alzheimer’s disease symptoms become apparent.

Using cell culture models, the investigators then found that two compounds — Dasatinib, an already FDA-approved treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia and a still-experimental drug for liver cancer — affected those proteins, suggesting that they could be potential Alzheimer’s therapies. The two drugs reduced neuroinflammation and the development of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two known hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, underscoring their potential as candidates to be tested in clinical trials.

These findings add to evidence from another recent study showing the value of this kind of data-driven approach to drug repurposing research. The goal is that by using drugs that are either already FDA-approved or have been safety tested in clinical trials, the timeline for testing their efficacy against Alzheimer’s disease could be decreased. For future studies, the researchers aim to design more experiments to confirm their findings and validate other drugs in animal models over a longer period of time.

This research was supported in part by NIA grant 1ZIAAG000436-01.

Vol. 15, No. 10 – Feb 9 – Feb 22, 2022 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Tickets go on sale February 15 for the 5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival which will take place over the weekend of September 9-11. The event will be held at Oxnard Beach Park after a two-year hiatus. Artists on the roster include Althea Rene, Paula Atherton, Eric Darius, Jeannette Harris, Hiroshima, Najee and Jeffrey Osborne. In order to attend, you must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. Masks will be highly encouraged for everyone. For more information and to snap up your tickets, go to OxnardJazzFesitval.com.

Concerts for Causes date at the Ventura Theater will be on Saturday, February 12 and will feature Mike Scully & the Weary Travelers, Adaptive, Lira and No Idea. This evening’s show raises money for the Last Stop Cat Sanctuary, a pet sanctuary for aging, sick, and terminally ill pets. There will be a $12 cover. Go VenturaTheater.net for COVID protocols.

The Ventura Harbor Comedy Club will host two shows over the weekend of the 18th. First, it’s the Conga Sessions with Fausto Cuevas III on Friday evening with a $10 cover and then Bubbly Brunch & Brazil with Catina de Luna featuring Otmaro Ruiz on Sunday, February 20 with a $20 cover.

A number of acts have cancelled/postponed dates at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center but those still scheduled include Rockapella on Friday, February 11, Kenny G on Sunday, February 20, and Chicago who continues to tour with three out of seven of their original members on Tuesday, February 22.

Quick Notes: Soulfly plays the Ventura Room at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, February 9 along with Short Fuse, I Greater Than He, Boilerman and Slowbleed; Cadillac Zack presents Teresa James at Cantara Cellars on Friday, February 11, call for tickets (323) 377-5291; The Radolescents will play the Adolescents Blue Album in sequence in its entirety at Rock & Roll Pizza in Simi Valley on Friday, February 11, other bands include the Hajj, iDecline, and the Afraid; Melinda Gibson plays the Angry Ferret Brewing Co. on Saturday, February 12; Donna Butler performs jazz standards for Valentine’s day dinner at Café Fiore; Gonzalo Grau y la Clave Secreta play the Grape on Saturday, February 19; the Storyplayers perform at the Ojai Underground on Saturday, February 19; and the rescheduled Circle Jerks show is Sunday, February 20 at the Ventura Theater;

Then finally, since KPPQ is celebrating its five-year anniversary providing public access radio to the community, that means I too am celebrating five years producing my music show highlighting mostly artists out of the 805. FIVE YEARS!!! Where does the time go? If you’ve produced music sometime during your life and would like to share it with the community, just drop me a line and we’ll see about getting you some airtime on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour. I produce a show every two weeks with each show getting aired Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 pm and Sundays at noon.

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.