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Tree Town

Celebrate “Oaktober”!

On October 28, ten new oak trees will be planted along the bike path at the Ventura Community Park to shade five benches. This is the beginning of a project to add an oak grove of 50 trees to the west side of the park. There will be a fun volunteer opportunity to come help with planting and mulching, after the city crew digs the holes and places the trees.

Our fundraising goal is $10,000 to purchase the trees and have them delivered to the park. We would appreciate the community’s support to help beautify the park, and provide much-needed shade to this area.

We have other good news! The Ventura Tree Alliance has provided information and training to individuals who are interested in Ventura Water’s recycled water program, so they can help water the city’s drought-challenged young trees.

Please celebrate “Oaktober” with us by donating or volunteering, as we add to Ventura’s tree canopy!

Please visit www.venturatreealliance.com to volunteer or donate!

Credit union’s philanthropic organization offers financial support to local nonprofits

The Foundation of VCCU, a philanthropic nonprofit organization established by Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU), gave a total of $40,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofit organizations to support their efforts on behalf of the community.

“Each of these nonprofits is doing incredible work to support the Ventura County community,” said The Foundation’s board president, Alma Medina. “They are making a meaningful difference every day in so many vital causes, and we are honored to contribute to their efforts.”

Among the grant recipients were the Ventura County Family Justice Center, Students for Eco-Education & Agriculture, Housing Trust Fund Ventura County, Mercy House Living Centers, Moorpark College Foundation, Health Care Foundation for Ventura County, No Limits Theatre Group, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Turner Foundation, and Assistance League of Conejo Valley.

The Foundation honored the grant recipients at a virtual celebration held on Sept. 15. Representatives from all 10 nonprofits were in attendance.

Since its founding in 2015, The Foundation has provided a total of more than $200,000 in grants to support nonprofits serving the Ventura and Santa Barbara County communities. The Foundation’s giving focuses on the underserved, the beautification and preservation of the environment, and the health and well-being of the region.

For more information about VCCU and The Foundation, visit http://www.vccuonline.net.

Tips to help older adults learn how to reduce risk for falls

Uneven stairs can result in dangerous falls.

by Dr. Daman Jamarai, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare, Southern California

As we age, we begin to learn – sometimes firsthand – how devastating a fall can be. It isn’t quite as easy as it once was to hop back up and continue on our way.

Each year millions of older adults experience falls and fall-related injuries. California ranked 20thth in a state-to-state comparison with 25.4 percent of adults age 65+ reporting a fall in the past 12 months, according to new local data from the 2021 America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.

About one in four people in the United States over age 65 reports falling each year. Among older adults, 1 out of 5 falls causes a serious injury, including 90% of hip fractures and 51% of traumatic brain injuries.

Contributing factors for falls include poor balance, poor vision, certain medications, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, osteoporosis, physical disabilities and general frailty.

Being aware of the risk factors and following these tips can reduce your chances of serious injury, and help you maintain and improve the quality of your health and remain independent.

Medications: Any time you get a new prescription, ask your pharmacist or doctor about side effects like dizziness or drowsiness that can affect balance.

Review Your Health Benefits: As we approach the Medicare annual enrollment period in October, older adults should consider whether their current plan includes programs that can help reduce the chances of a fall. Many Medicare Advantage plans, for example, include benefits that Original Medicare does not cover that can help reduce the risk of falls like vision and hearing benefits; gym memberships; and disease management programs.

Stay Active – Do exercises that can strengthen your legs and improve balance. Many Medicare plans offers benefits to help seniors stay active like UnitedHealthcare’s fitness program RenewActive®, which includes access to balance classes.

Talk to Your Provider: A health care provider can help assess and reduce your fall risk. Medicare-eligible individuals can access care through an Annual Wellness Visit, which is free to anyone on Medicare. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members can take advantage of the HouseCalls program, which brings an annual health assessment to the convenience and privacy of home, at no additional cost.

Footwear – Make sure your shoes fit, have good traction, and are comfortable. See a doctor if you are experiencing foot pain.

Check Your Home – Most falls happen at home. Remove clutter, fix steps that are uneven and make sure there is adequate lighting. Install grab bars and handrails in the bathroom and on stairways. Use a cane, walker, crutches or other support if needed.

Falls can present a more significant health threat than many may realize, but by understanding risk factors and how to reduce them, older adults can empower themselves to live healthier lives.

The truth about aging and dementia

As we age, our brains change, but Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, up to 40% of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. It helps to understand what’s normal and what’s not when it comes to brain health.

Normal brain aging may mean slower processing speeds and more trouble multitasking, but routine memory, skills, and knowledge are stable and may even improve with age. It’s normal to occasionally forget recent events such as where you put your keys or the name of the person you just met.

People with dementia have symptoms of cognitive decline that interfere with daily life—including disruptions in language, memory, attention, recognition, problem solving, and decision-making.

Studies show that healthy behaviors, which can prevent some kinds of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease may also reduce your risk for cognitive decline. Although age, genetics, and family history can’t be changed, the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care suggests that addressing risk factors may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementia cases.

Here’s what you can do:

Quit smoking. Quitting smoking now may help maintain brain health and can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses. Free quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669

Maintain a healthy blood pressure level. Tens of millions of American adults have high blood pressure, and many do not have it under control. Learn the facts.

Be physically active.

Maintain a healthy weight. Healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. Instead, it’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.

Get enough sleep. A third of American adults report that they usually get less sleep than the recommended amount. How much sleep do you need? It depends on your age.

Stay engaged. There are many ways for older adults to get involved in their community.

Manage blood sugar. Learn how to manage your blood sugar especially if you have diabetes.

Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause dementia-like symptoms. If you have these symptoms, it is important to talk to your health care provider to find out if there are any underlying causes for these symptoms.

What To Do if a Loved One is Showing Symptoms
Talk with your loved one about seeing a health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia to get a brain health check up.

When the timing is right, talk about issues related to safety including driving and carrying identification. Symptoms of dementia include getting lost in familiar places, difficulty judging distance, determining color or contrast, and reading which can make driving especially difficult.
Help your loved one start gathering important documents such as their advanced health care directive or living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and financial or estate planning documents.

Schedule a family meeting. When caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a related illness, family meetings are important to ensure information is shared, to put care plans in place, and to help divide tasks among family members.

Workshops help students access funds for college

To help students overcome the challenge of paying for college, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus are holding free Cash 4 College workshops. Workshops are scheduled for Oct. 9 and Oct. 23, and will be in-person or by Zoom, depending on the campus. Students can drop in anytime during the workshops and attend any campus workshop.

Bilingual financial aid staff will assist students in completing applications for the 2022-2023 school-year FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The workshops are free and open to the community; people may attend a workshop on either date and at any campus. Advance registration is preferred.

For more information, visit vcccd.edu/cash4college

Ventura College Oct. 9 9 a.m. – noon
In-person
Learning Resource Center
4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura
All attendees must wear a face mask and follow all COVID safety protocols.
For info: Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus Financial Aid Office
Phone: (805) 289-6369
Email: [email protected]

Ventura College East Campus Oct. 23 9 a.m. – noon
In-person
Ventura College East Campus
957 Faulkner Road, Unit 106, Santa Paula
All attendees must wear a face mask and follow all COVID safety protocols.
For info: Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus Financial Aid Office
Phone: (805) 289-6369
Email: [email protected]

What are the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s?

“I know I put a reminder note some where!”

Memory problems are often one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s. Symptoms vary from person to person, and may include problems with:

  • Word-finding, or having more trouble coming up with words than other people the same age.
  • Vision and spatial issues, like awareness of the space around them.
  • Impaired reasoning or judgment, which can impact decisions.
  • Other symptoms may be changes in the person’s behavior, including:
  • Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks.
  • Repeating questions.
  • Trouble handling money and paying bills.
  • Wandering and getting lost.
  • Losing things or misplacing them in odd places.
  • Mood and personality changes.
  • Increased anxiety and/or aggression.

How Is Alzheimer’s Diagnosed and Treated?

Doctors may ask questions about health, conduct cognitive tests, and carry out standard medical tests to determine whether to diagnose a person with Alzheimer’s disease. If a doctor thinks a person may have Alzheimer’s, they may refer the person to a specialist, such as a neurologist, for further assessment. Specialists may conduct additional tests, such as brain scans or lab tests of spinal fluid, to help make a diagnosis. These tests measure signs of the disease, such as changes in brain size or levels of certain proteins.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, though there are several medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that can help manage some symptoms of the disease along with coping strategies to manage behavioral symptoms. In 2021, FDA provided accelerated approval for a new medication, aducanumab, that targets the protein beta-amyloid, which accumulates abnormally in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. The new medication helps to reduce amyloid deposits, but has not yet been shown to affect clinical symptoms or outcomes, such as progression of cognitive decline or dementia.

Most medicines work best for people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimer’s. Researchers are exploring other drug therapies and nondrug interventions to delay or prevent the disease as well as treat its symptoms.

What Are the Stages of Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease slowly gets worse over time. People with this disease progress at different rates and in several stages. Symptoms may get worse and then improve, but until an effective treatment for the disease itself is found, the person’s ability will continue to decline over the course of the disease.

Early-stage Alzheimer’s is when a person begins to experience memory loss and other cognitive difficulties, though the symptoms appear gradual to the person and their family. Alzheimer’s disease is often diagnosed at this stage.

During middle-stage Alzheimer’s, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. People at this stage may have more confusion and trouble recognizing family and friends.

In late-stage Alzheimer’s, a person cannot communicate, is completely dependent on others for care, and may be in bed most or all the time as the body shuts down.

How long a person can live with Alzheimer’s disease varies. A person may live as few as three or four years if he or she is older than 80 when diagnosed, to as long as 10 or more years if the person is younger. Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease need to know their end-of-life care options and express their wishes to caregivers as early as possible after a diagnosis, before their thinking and speaking abilities fail.

Vol. 15, No. 01 – Oct 6 – Oct 19, 2021 – 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.

Terrorist Threats – Update with Arrest

On September 15, at 8:00 am, Ventura Police Officers responded to a report of a female suspect following and threatening a juvenile who was walking to school.

Patrol officers responded and contacted the victim. Their investigation revealed that the victim was walking to school when an unknown woman approached her from behind. As the victim continued to walk away, the woman started yelling threats at her. In fear for her life, the student ran from the suspect.

Patrol and School Resource Officers searched the area and were unable to locate the suspect. The victim, who was not injured, left with her parents.

The suspect is a white female with dark hair and dark clothing. She was last seen in the area of Thompson Blvd. and San Jon Rd. At the time of this press release, the suspect has not been identified.

The Ventura Police Department and the Ventura Unified School District continually work together to ensure our student’s safety. This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with more information about this incident or any similar crimes in the area is asked to call the Ventura Police Department at 805-650-8010.

Update:
During this investigation, the suspect was identified as 63 year old Leticia Rojas. On September 29, at approximately 1:15 pm, an officer involved in the investigation located Rojas as she drove in the area of Main St. and Cabrillo Dr. The officer conducted a traffic stop on Rojas.

As a result of the investigation, Rojas was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for felony Criminal Threats and Felony Child Abuse.

Anyone looking for more information about safety resources for students can find various safety tips and videos on the Ventura Police Department website at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/SchoolResourceOfficers.

Stabbing

On October 3, at 3:45 am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call regarding a stabbing in the 6300 Block of Bristol Road. Ventura Police Patrol Officers responded and located the victim with stab wounds to the chest and arm.

Investigating officers learned that the victim, a 33-year-old male, and the suspect got into an altercation that resulted in the suspect stabbing the victim. After stabbing the victim, the suspect fled on foot eastbound on Bristol Road. Officers searched the area, but he was not located. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 20-30, 5-04/150, and wearing a gray tank top and blue jeans.

The victim was transported to a local hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ventura Police Major Crimes Detectives, (805) 339-4444.

Happy Birthday CAPS Media

I am the Executive Director of CAPS Media, or as we are officially known: Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura. 2021 marks the 21st anniversary of CAPS Media serving the city and public throughout Ventura. In honor of this momentous occasion I thought it would be appropriate and informative to share A Brief History of CAPS Media.

The CAPS Media saga starts in 2000 when a group of community minded citizens came together with a common goal: to create a media center for Ventura residents, to encourage civic engagement, provide access to information and a platform for expressing desires, ideas, and opinions. The collaboration evolved into the formation of a nonprofit corporation named Community Access Partners of San Buenaventura, more commonly known as CAPS Media.

The project utilized a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling that required cable operators to set aside certain stations for public, educational, or government use. As outlined in the FCC regulations, these PEG Channels, as they are called, provide citizens a vehicle for public discourse and, as such, provide First Amendment protections for those speakers.

“Public access channels are often the video equivalent of the speaker’s soap box or the electronic parallel to the printed leaflet.

They provide groups and individuals who generally have not had access to the electronic media with the opportunity to become sources of information in the electronic marketplace of ideas. PEG channels also contribute to an informed citizenry by bringing local schools into the home, and by showing the public local government at work.”

Establishing the nonprofit was only the first step. Fundamental to the effort was the goal to establish an independent broadcast homes for CAPS both in the community and on television. It took the determined founders more than five years to work out the agreements. In the end, a very innovative game plan was devised that combined resources from the City of Ventura, the Ventura County Community College District, and the two cable companies operating in Ventura: Avenue and Adelphia Cable (subsequently Charter, Time Warner, and Spectrum). The City provided partial funding, VCCCD contributed the land for the construction of a media center, and the cable companies added additional funding and most importantly, contributed two broadcast television channels on the lower band: Channel 6 and Channel 15. These low numbered channels were extremely valuable and coveted “electronic real estate” at the time.

In September 2005 the “partners” broke ground for a state-of-the-art media center at 65 Day Road on the east side of the Ventura College campus. Fifteen months later, after countless revisions, setbacks, compromises and adjustments the CAPS Media Center opened to the Ventura community on January 18, 2007.

As a membership-based organization, CAPS Media has grown dramatically since it was launched, continually responding to the ever-changing landscape of community interests, needs and technological innovations. CAPS Media Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in the city of Ventura. Membership is also available to any nonprofit within Ventura County that serves the city of Ventura, as well as anyone who is a member of a nonprofit organization in Ventura County. To find out how to become a member, go to capsmedia.org.

In the past 15 years CAPS Media has had more than 2500 active Member/Producers. During that time they have created thousands of hours of locally produced, informative and engaging programming, thereby enriching the lives of everyone in Ventura.

In 2017 CAPS Media added online streaming to the distribution vehicles in order to expand the reach of Channel 6 and Channel 15 to those who do not have cable television. In 2018 CAPS Media built an in-house, state-of-the-art, radio studio, launching KPPQ at 104.1fm. The station provides the community with another vehicle for personal and creative expression, as well as information and entertainment. In less than three years, the CAPS/KPPQ team has trained more than 100 local Member/Producer DJs and produced more than 600 hours of original music shows in the KPPQ studio.

Fundamental to CAPS Media’s service to the community is assisting the City government in reaching the community. This includes multiple services including coverage and distribution of all City Council and other departmental meetings. As an example of the extent of these services, during the past year, in the midst of the COVID-19 shutdown, CAPS Media covered more than 100 separate City meetings, totally nearly 500 hours of live broadcast and streaming. At the same time, CAPS Media crews produced more than 220 separate informational and educational videos for the City.

Providing creative production services to other government agencies in the city and county is also a priority for CAPS Media. These include multiple departments at the County of Ventura and the Ventura Unified School District. In 2020 CAPS crews produced more than 300 separate projects for the County ranging from short public service announcements (PSAs) to long-form committee meetings, press conferences, and departmental productions.

CAPS Media broadcasts and streams 24×7, 365 days a year on Channel 6 and Channel 15 and streaming on capsmedia.org. KPPQ is also continuously on the air at104.1FM and streaming at capsmedia.org and on the My Tuner app.

CAPS Media is guided and governed by a dedicated board of directors comprised of community members, including various CAPS Media Member/Producers and representatives from the City, County, Community College and VUSD. All of the board members share a strong personal interest in public, education and government programming as well as a passion for community service and freedom of speech.

Funding for CAPS Media comes from multiple sources including cable franchise fees paid to the city with a portion allocated to CAPS Media, plus membership fees, donations and revenue from non-city productions. It may be important to note that CAPS Media does not receive any funding from local City or County tax revenues.

It is a tremendous pleasure to be part of the CAPS Media staff – which is small in size but mighty in its commitment to service. The full time staff members are Elizabeth Rodeno, Donald McConnell, Evan Carpenter, Gary Roll, Jamie Cawelti and myself, with a strong crew of supporting independents: Manny Reynosa, Alex Uvari, Jorge Godinez and Phil Taggart. On average the full time staff members have each worked at CAPS Media for more than 12 years, which reflects the tremendous dedication to our Member/Producers, our community and our mission.

Year in and year out, CAPS Media continues to evolve and flourish providing thousands of hours of creative community service to Ventura. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the CAPS Media Center is closed to Member/Producers and the public until further notice. However, the CAPS Media staff and crews continue to provide vital services to the community. Despite closure, CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on television and KPPQ.

I encourage and welcome everyone in Ventura to join the CAPS Media team as a Member/Producer, volunteer or donor. Help us fulfill our Vision to Engage, Educate and Entertain and to realize our Mission to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.

Happy 21st Anniversary CAPS Media! Here’s to at least two more decades of community service in beautiful Ventura.

Patrick Davidson Executive Director CAPS Media

Choose the right car seat

The Ventura Police Department joins the California Office of Traffic Safety to raise awareness about the importance of keeping children in the correct car seat for their age and size.

During Child Passenger Safety Week, September 19-25, the Ventura Police Department will conduct child passenger safety enforcement to ensure drivers are securing children in the correct safety seat for every trip, each time.

“Motor vehicle injuries remain one of the leading causes of preventable deaths among children. Getting a car seat professionally checked and learning how to properly install it can prevent childhood injuries and protect the youngest passengers in our communities,” said Sergeant Mike Brown.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 46% of car sears are not installed correctly.

Under California law, children under two weighing less than 40 pounds and less than 40 inches tall are required to be in a rear-facing car seat. Children under the age of eight or less than 4’ 9” tall must be secured in a car or booster seat. The fine for not securing a child in the correct child safety seat is $490.

Parents and caregivers can schedule a free car seat installation or car seat check by appointment only at the local Ventura California Highway Patrol (CHP) office by visiting www.CHP.ca.gov or calling 805-662-2640.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To learn more about the Office of Traffic Safety grant and VPD’s educational efforts, visit www.OTS.ca.gov or contact Emily Graves, Community Outreach Specialist with the Ventura Police Department, at [email protected].

Ventura County Public Health extends indoor mask order

Ventura County Public Health has extended the indoor mask order, requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions. The order will continue to be in effect until October 19, 2021 or until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended by the Health Officer. “Our current case rate of 19.3 is still considered widespread community transmission by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health,” said Public Health Officer Doctor Robert Levin. “We need to see a continued decrease in the case rate and hospitalizations before safely lifting indoor masking requirements to help prevent future surges.”

The order directs that face coverings must be worn over the mouth and nose – regardless of vaccination status – in all indoor public settings, venues, gatherings, and workplaces, including but not limited to offices, retail stores, restaurants and bars, theaters, family entertainment centers, conference and event centers, and government offices serving the public.

Individuals, businesses, venue operators, hosts, and others responsible for the operation of indoor public settings must:

  • Require all patrons to wear face coverings for all indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status; and
  • Post clearly visible and easy-to-read signage at all entry points for indoor settings to communicate the masking requirements to all patrons. Signage is provided by Ventura County Public Health at www.vcrecovers.org.

This health order aims to reduce community transmission of COVID-19. Health officials are concerned by the substantial levels of increased community transmission, especially among unvaccinated people. In part, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus. Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also indicates that even fully vaccinated individuals can in some cases spread the Delta variant to others, and so indoor use of face coverings provides an important added layer of protection.

More information about COVID-19 available at: www.venturacountyrecovers.org.