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Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – The Pet Page

∙ From CARL:

2021 started out just as tough as 2020 ended. With the pandemic continuing into its second year, our rescue saw a continued large increase in owner surrenders and more dogs looking for their second chance at a happy life waiting in high kill shelters. We have seen such tremendous support for the dogs in our rescue thanks to our rescue village. With over 100 finding their forever homes this year, we have a few stories that have touched our hearts, that we wanted to share with you all.

April 2021: Sasha was found as a stray and ended up at the Devore Animal Shelter in San Bernardino County. She was immediately put on the euthanasia list and hidden in their quarantine section due to her behavior. She was labeled as aggressive and her future looked grim. Thankfully we were able to save her and she gained a second chance. Once she arrived we saw a very young girl who was looking for structure and training. We knew it was going to take a special person to be the one to adopt her.

Fast forward to November 2021, and Sasha is now in her forever home. Her new owner loves her just as much as we all did. She likes to spend her time drinking from the water hose and lounging at the picnic table.

What started out as a pandemic foster, turned into a forever home for CARL long term resident Mamba. It was never understood why Mamba was never adopted during her 12 years at CARL. She is a very happy gal with good spirits and a loveable smile. Maybe she had fallen victim to “Black Dog Syndrome” , maybe it was because she wasn’t the right fit for those who were interested, or maybe she was closer to her person than anyone realized.

In early 2017, Chrissy began volunteering with CARL and soon enough she became Mamba’s friend. Over the years they created a special bond and once the pandemic hit, Chrissy chose Mamba to be her work from home buddy after spending years in a kennel environment. After a year of being roommates, Chrissy knew she had to make it official. Mamba now spends her day lounging around the house, watching neighbors from the window, and seeing her other 4-legged friends around her home.

How you can help today:
Dog rescue never stops and everyday a new surprise arises. We have been fortunate to continue to save the lives of countless dogs who are looking for their forever homes. Below are a few ways to help benefit the dogs at CARL:

Donate directly to CARL through Network for Good or Paypal
Donate items from our Amazon Wishlist
Use the WoofTrax app when you go for a walk
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Canine Adoption and Rescue League
PO Box 5022
Ventura, CA 93005

∙ 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.
Three upcoming clinics are: Tuesday, February 8th at Shiells Park, in the parking lot, located at 649 C St., Fillmore, 93015, a second clinic on Tuesday, February 15th in the SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main), and a third 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.

∙ Dear Friends,

Ventura County Animal Services participated in the #BettyWhiteChallenge, a nationwide fundraising event kickstarted on Twitter and shared by well-known celebrities. The trending movement, inspired by Betty White’s long history of animal activism, called upon the community to donate $5.00 to their local animal shelters on Monday, January 17, 2022, what would have been her 100th birthday.

VCAS set a modest fundraising goal of $10,000 and quickly launched our participation in the challenge.  We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we exceeded our original fundraising goal by leaps and bounds, collecting an extraordinary $51,510! We received nationwide coverage on NBC4 and held a concurrent pet adoption event which resulted in 24 animals finding loving, forever homes. We were both surprised and honored by the massive outpour of support from our Ventura County community and we wish to thank all who participated in the Betty White Challenge!
Please consider being a part of this movement and donating today at www.vcas.us/donate.
Ventura County Animal Services

∙ An athletic Hungarian farm dog and a tiny pet of bygone Russian aristocrats are the latest breeds in the American Kennel Club’s purebred lineup.

The club announced that it’s recognizing the Russian toy and the mudi. That means they’re eligible to compete for best in show at many U.S. dog shows, including the AKC’s big annual championship and the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club show.

The mudi (whose American fans pronounce its name like “moody,” although the vowel sound in Hungarian is closer to the “u” in “pudding”) descended from long lines of Hungarian sheepdogs before a museum director took an interest in the breed and gave it a name around 1930. Fans say the medium-size, shaggy dogs are vigorous, versatile and hardworking, able to herd sheep, hunt boars, snag rats and compete in canine sports such as agility and dock diving.

The Russian toy developed from small English terriers that gained the fancy of Russian elites by the early 1700s. The diminutive dogs — supposed to weigh no more than 6.5 pounds (2.7 kg) — have a leggy silhouette, perky expression and lively demeanor, breeders say.
These additions bring the number of AKC-recognized breeds to 199.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Opinion/Editorial

∙ On this issue’s cover we have an article covering the fifth anniversary of KPPQ-LP FM 104.1. I briefly had a radio show on KPPQ where I interviewed local government officials and local personalities. CAPS made it easy to learn how to do the show with easily understood classes, instructions, training and an engineer helping to produce the show. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity. You should consider having your own show. You could start by interviewing me.

∙ According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported Jan. 16 four miles from Ventura. An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes between 3.0 and 4.0 occur each year in California and nearby Nevada. Coupled with the tsunami, I think mother nature (we always blame the ladies) is trying to tell us something.

∙ Recently there were two occurrences of theft in the trailhead parking area at Harmon Canyon Preserve. Both involved windows of parked vehicles being smashed. When enjoying the outdoors (or anywhere else), please remember do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

I’m always shocked when someone says, “My car was broken into and my wallet, 5 credit cards, my laptop and my cell phone were stolen.” In this case, maybe they deserve it.

∙ Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of the supreme court’s Roe v Wade decision, the landmark ruling that guaranteed the right to an abortion. I certainly hope it is not the last anniversary before it is overturned.

During oral arguments for Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization last year, a majority of the court appeared ready to severely weaken or overturn Roe v Wade.

In my opinion (that’s what my column is-always glad to hear yours), such a reversal would be a disaster.

Many Democratic-led states will hopefully pass laws protecting abortion rights. I hope that states can enforce this. Republicans are all for state rights unless they don’t agree with what the states do.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley stated, “The threat to the right to choose is in danger as state legislatures throughout the country seek to diminish access to abortion, which exacerbate racial and economic injustices that harm women, families, and communities. Abortion coverage bans are discriminatory policies that target people of color and young people, who deserve agency over their own bodies. That is why I voted for the House Majority’s funding bill that provides increased funding for family planning and repeals the dangerous Hyde Amendment.”

∙ To help discourage wasteful water users, such as hosing off driveways, the state has imposed new water use laws. It prohibits uses such as washing cars without a shutoff nozzle, washing down driveways and watering grass within 48 hours after a rain fall (minimum .02” of rain). Water police will be out looking for those who break these laws. If necessary, they will arrest you using water pistols (individuals may also own water pistols as guaranteed by the constitution). I will be launching the NWGA.

∙ Stewart Rhodes, founder, and leader of the far-right Oath Keepers has been arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy in the Jan.6 invasion of the US Capitol.

He is charged, with more than a dozen other members and associates of Oath Keepers who went to Washington intent on stopping the certification of our newly elected president. It is the first time the Justice Department has brought such charges against people who did not enter the building but are accused of encouraging the violence (does that sound familiar?).

∙ Who wouldn’t prefer living in a nice warm house or apartment in Ventura as compared to living on a cold hard sidewalk? This is what the homeless are expected to do. It’s heartbreaking to me that people are expected to exist under awful living conditions because they are offered no other places to pitch their tents or to live in with some safety and some comfort.

Ventura does offer one such area, though twenty-five dome structures at River Haven provide housing for the homeless, but much more is needed. California will spend a record $4.8 billion over the next two years to alleviate homelessness in our communities. The package will mark the state’s largest financial commitment to assisting people without adequate and safe housing. Also, construction has started on a 19-story homeless housing project in the Skid Row area in Los Angeles. The 278-unit Weingart Tower replaces a parking lot. This is the first stage of a project that will eventually have 382 units.

I know that some people say why should we help these bums? The majority of these “bums” are mentally ill or are on drugs that they can’t quit. And many people are now a paycheck away from becoming homeless or have become homeless because of COVID.

∙ From NPR:

The bad news keeps on coming for President Biden. He ended 2021 at a low point in his presidency, hoping to turn it around in the new year.

But things have only gotten worse. His spending and voting rights plans are at congressional dead ends. Inflation remains at multi-decade highs. The omicron variant of the coronavirus continues a rapid spread. The Supreme Court ruled against his administration’s vaccine-or-test mandate. And there are rising threats from Russia and North Korea.

Presidents need to be able to do multiple things at once, but that’s a lot weighing down Biden. And his approval rating is suffering because of it. Biden’s average approval rating sits at about 42%, and a Quinnipiac poll this week had it at 33%.

From me: Being president is a tough job. Because the US is equally divided between Republicans and Democrats a president can be great and still only have a 50% approval rating.

∙New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office says it needs the testimony of former President Donald Trump and two of his adult children to determine their knowledge of what investigators say they have identified as numerous “misleading statements and omissions” in tax submissions and financial statements used to obtain loans.

∙Copied from on-line NBC

The staggering spike in COVID-19 cases nationwide fueled mainly by the highly contagious omicron variant has many American’s questioning how long it will take for the pandemic to finally subside for good. While no crystal ball can provide an exact timeline, several medical experts help lay out what the future might hold.

The changeover for an infectious disease from a pandemic to an endemic occurs when the virus is found regularly in a particular area or among people. The key difference in an endemic condition is that the virus is more manageable with greater population immunity.

The common cold and flu are examples of endemic viral infections that are frequently encountered by the public. Medical Director for Infection Prevention at the Mount Sinai Health System, Dr. Bernard Camins, believes the Sars-Cov-2 virus will eventually become endemic over time.

“The definition of endemicity is that Sars-Cov-2] will come back yearly, especially when winter comes. When it becomes endemic, though, it should not affect a large portion of the population — only certain groups,” Dr. Camins said to NBC New York.

It may take a matter of years before Sars-Cov-2 stops hindering widespread travel plans, hospitalization rates, and healthcare systems, Dr. Camins added.

COVID affecting seniors

by Jim Brace-Thompson

COVID.

As I stood at the podium in a gazebo at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster, facing a masked audience, we all laughed and we all cried—and some, who didn’t care about mandates and protocol, were bold enough to hug.

David.

We were there to celebrate his memory. A man who died in a Los Angeles County hospital so overcrowded that he gasped his last breath on a gurney in a hallway after telling his wife via a computer screen moments before, “They don’t care about us old guys. They’re just treating the young ones.”

COVID.

Despite taking all precautions and cocooning himself, David got it from a granddaughter who apparently got it at the bank where she was a teller. And now, here we were. Bidding David a fond farewell.

Back home, my wife and I returned to my 90-year-old mother who suffered COVID at approximately the same time at the height of the pandemic before such things as vaccines were even on the table. What is now called a “long-hauler,” Mom had had to give up her home in Nebraska and had moved half a continent away to live with the only child who would take her in here in Ventura.

Hard words to say, but perhaps David had it better.

On our way home, Nancy and I passed the County of Ventura Government Center. An unmasked crowd had gathered with Trump flags and banners declaring “Don’t VAX my kids!” Cars honked as they passed. Me? I gave them my middle finger. At home, Mom didn’t even seem to notice we had been gone for nearly the whole day.

COVID.

“No,” said my wife, removing envelopes and junk-mail papers from the trash bin. “These go into the recycle bin, Roberta.” She had told Mom this some fifty times already. And we would do so some fifty times more. Day in, day out. COVID had stolen Mom’s ability to process short-term memory, and each day was Ground Hog Day. Over and over again.

COVID.

If you don’t think you need to get vaccinated; if you think it’s a “deep-state” hoax and Biden conspiracy; it you think you are safe: Think again. Meanwhile, just this past week, our next door neighbor’s daughter went to school on Monday and came home with COVID, variety Omicron, on Tuesday. We are not at the end. Quite frankly, I believe this has only begun.

To all deniers: Wake up! It’s here. It’s real. It’s killing people. It’s taking away their minds. It’s attacking their children. It’s making their families grieve and struggle as never before since World War II in a living hell.

COVID.

It’s real. And it’s devastating to all those it hits. And it is far from over. Listen, and be safe. If not for yourself, then for David, for Mom, and for little Gillean next door.

Editor: Is this an opinion? We couldn’t decide so up to you.

Tooth loss in older adults linked to higher risk of dementia

Tooth loss can result in problems that might lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Older adults with tooth loss have a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, with increasing risk with each missing tooth, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

Problems with oral health, such as poor oral hygiene, tooth cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss, are more common in older adults than in other age groups. Older adults are also more likely to have cognitive impairment or dementia, and recent studies have suggested a link between oral health and these conditions. To get a comprehensive picture of this association, NIA-supported researchers led by a team at New York University analyzed results from several long-term studies on the link between tooth loss and the risk of cognitive impairment.

The researchers conducted a detailed search of six major databases of biomedical science publications and identified 14 relevant studies. These studies used questionnaires, assessments, medical records, and information from death certificates to identify participants with cognitive impairment or dementia. Out of a total of 34,074 participants, 4,689 had cognitive impairment or dementia. The studies used medical examinations and self-reported records to assess tooth loss and classified participants as having more or fewer missing teeth.

The researchers found that participants with more missing teeth had, on average, a 48% higher risk of cognitive impairment and a 28% higher risk of dementia. The relationship between tooth loss and cognitive decline was “dose-dependent”: Each lost tooth was associated with a 1.4% increase in the risk of cognitive impairment and a 1.1% increase in the risk of dementia. Participants who were missing 20 or more teeth had a 31% higher risk of cognitive impairment. Participants who had lost all their teeth had a 54% higher risk of cognitive impairment and a 40% higher risk of dementia. Interestingly, participants who had missing teeth but used dentures did not have a significantly higher risk of dementia than participants without missing teeth.

The researchers note that the reason for this association between tooth loss and the risk of cognitive decline is unclear. Still, tooth loss can result in problems with chewing that might lead to nutritional deficiencies, chemical imbalances, or changes to the brain that affect brain function. Also, poor oral hygiene might lead to increased bacteria in the mouth and to gum disease, which can cause inflammation and raise the risk of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, leading to dementia. Tooth loss without the use of dentures might also be an indication of lower socioeconomic status and lower education level, both of which are independently linked to an increased risk of dementia. Alternatively, missing teeth might be an early sign of cognitive impairment: People with cognitive decline might be less likely to keep up with oral hygiene, leading to tooth loss.

The research was limited by the fact that the various publications studied used different methods of data collection and data analysis. However, the results suggest that timely interventions, such as encouraging the use of dentures and other orthodontic treatments and large-scale education programs on the importance of oral hygiene in older adults, might help prevent or slow down cognitive decline linked to tooth loss.

This research was funded in part by NIA grant R56AG067619.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Ojai Stage Fills with Layers of Life

Isn’t it frustrating when something (or someone) comes along to throw a proverbial wrench into your nice, quiet, predictable life? Suddenly your world is in chaos, and no one seems to know how to cope with the smallest things.

Such is the premise presented in Christopher Durang’s 2013 Tony-winning Best Play, Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike now playing at the Ojai Art Center Theater.

Siblings Vanya (Peter Schreiner) and adopted sister Sonia (Laurie Walters) have been living in the family home they grew up in, after both of their parents have passed on. Mom and Dad were both college professors, so they named their children after characters from the works of Anton Chekhov. Vanya and Sonia stayed on, each bemoaning the life they allowed to pass them by. Each feels unfulfilled but reluctant to leave the comfort of their routines.

The action that follows has been described as “Chekhov in a blender” by director Taylor Kasch. Vanya and Sonia’s world implodes as older sister Masha (Tracey Williams Sutton), now a successful stage and movie actor, arrives at the ancestral home to announce plans to sell the property. She brings with her Spike (James James), a young, studly actor clearly beneath her station. Together they shake up the staid existence led by Vanya and Sonia, leading to a series of emotional Strum und Drang monologues.

The two siblings’ completely relatable relationship of I-love-you, I-hate-you resonates loudly as the play rises to a crescendo. Along the way, Boomers and beyond enjoy numerous references to “the good old days” of our youth. There was a plethora of knowing nods in the audience on opening night.

In the direct center of the swirling emotional storm enters Cassandra (Cynthia Killion), the occasional maid and full-time wacko whose psychic pronouncements are a portent of things to come. Seemingly random utterings drift into realizations that become meaningful to the others as events unfold.

A sweet, naïve, girl visiting next door named Nina (newcomer Beltane Howden) becomes part of the character mix, adding to the layers of emotions the family experiences. An aspiring actress herself, Nina is enthralled by Vanya’s play writing skills, eagerly participating in a “reading” that quickly evolves into a tirade by Vanya about the public’s current lack of shared experiences.

There are many layers to this piece that seem to build from the very depths of each character’s soul. The situations are, at the core, recognizable, relatable and highly amusing. The actors are fascinating to watch as they embody not only the characters on the surface, but also the “everyman” quality of each one individually and as unit. The performances are mesmerizing.

It is always a joy to watch actors enjoy attacking their roles with abandon. Director Kasch has assembled a tight ensemble for our enjoyment.

VSMS runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 13. Socially distanced seating is assigned, and masks are required. Some strong language.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 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.

Possession of Illegal Narcotics for Sale

On January 12, at 4:00 am, a Ventura Police Patrol officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at Santa Clara St and Hemlock St. The officer located a loaded firearm being illegally carried in the vehicle. During the investigation, officers found 41-year-old Ventura resident Brenton Cherrie in possession of two illegal loaded handguns, a silencer, and two high-capacity magazines. Officers also located large amounts of marijuana, fentanyl, methamphetamines, LSD, and Psilocybin (Mushrooms).

Cherrie was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for possession of narcotics for sales, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of psilocybin for sales, possession of high-capacity magazines, possession of a firearm silencer, possession of narcotics and a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

Arrest for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Driving while under the influence of drugs, and evading arrest.

On January 14, at approximately 8:30 am, a Ventura Police Department Motor Officer attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for excessive speed. When the officer attempted to make the traffic stop, the vehicle’s driver failed to yield and continued driving. Approximately one minute later, the vehicle stopped in the area of Community Memorial Hospital and the three occupants of the vehicle fled on foot in an effort to evade arrest.

Multiple Ventura Police Motor Units and Patrol Units responded to that area and began a search for the occupants. Ultimately, the driver, 30 year old Oxnard resident Robert Pulido, was located by an officer hiding in the bed of a pickup truck in the parking lot of Community Memorial Hospital. Officers suspected that the vehicle may be stolen, so they contacted the registered owner. The owner indicated that the vehicle was in fact stolen out of Oxnard earlier that same date.

Unlawful Taking a Vehicle, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public

On January 17, at 8:00 am, a Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit detective received information that a car was stolen out of Thousand Oaks by 27-year-old Los Angeles resident Mantej Sunner, a wanted felon. The detective located the vehicle in the parking lot of the Victoria Motel in Ventura. Detectives took Sunner safely into custody when he left the motel.

During the arrest, Sunner had a firearm concealed on his person. Sunner was arrested for Vehicle Theft, Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Public, Possession of a Firearm with Controlled Substances, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and warrants from LA and Ventura County. Sunner was booked at the Ventura County Jail.

Fatal Hit and Run Collision
UPDATE: Attempt to locate vehicle of interest in a fatal hit and run collision

On January 7, at approximately 5:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of a subject down in the roadway on Harbor Bl., between Sanjon Rd. and Vista Del Mar Drive.

Responding officers arrived on scene and found an unresponsive male subject laying in the eastbound lane of Harbor Boulevard. Fire and paramedic personnel rendered immediate medical attention, but the victim succumbed to his injuries as a result of the collision.

The ensuing investigation revealed a vehicle had collided with the victim on Harbor Bl. and that vehicle failed to stop. At this time, we have not located the vehicle involved in this fatal collision and traffic investigators are gathering evidence.

Anyone with any information is requested to contact Traffic Investigator Kyle Halverson at 805-477-3767. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending next of kin notification by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The attached vehicle (license plate 8N58427) is a vehicle of interest in this fatal hit and run collision that occurred on January 7 at 5:00 am in the City of Ventura.

The Ventura Police Department calls for help from the public in locating this vehicle of interest. If you locate this vehicle, parked or moving, please report immediately by calling the Ventura Police Department 24/7 non-emergency line at 805-650-8010.

Person To Person

by Amy Brown 

Looking Back and Ahead in Ventura 

Lawren Agnew:
Preschool teacher/ Varsity cheer coach

What did you see in Ventura in 2021 that was encouraging?

We’re all masked up, but I find it encouraging to hope for a future of not that. It was great being outside more, seeing people’s smiles, it really gave me hope for the future. Everything we’ve been through, just seeing how positive and generous and nice people are, even in a pandemic, whether it’s just to open a door, and be encouraging to each other. I think last year we were able to be more comfortable around people—before that in the pandemic, we were nervous to even talk to a stranger. Last year we had football games, and great to be able to get together again, outside while taking other safety precautions. Spreading their joy with everyone around them really encourages me for the future. I loved getting dressed up again in 2021, it was nice not being in pajamas all the time.

 What would you like to see improve in the city in 2022?

Well, of course the pavement and roads need to be improved. I hope one thing they don’t change is downtown, with the ability for folks to be eating outside.

 What did you personally learn from last year?

I’ve been a really adaptable person, but this last year especially, with all the ups and downs, not just Covid, but life in general, I learned to be more adaptive and always have a plan. I learned to be more open to other plans—instead of being stubborn with my one plan—and see what can work. Also being more appreciative of the little things, and enjoy people more, and be more outgoing.

Britney Mendoza:
Owner, Candle company

What did you see in Ventura in 2021 that was encouraging? 

It was more encouraging that the community was finally coming through outside, and not stuck inside. I’m a vendor, and got to see markets outside, people becoming a unit and taking care of each other in a big community and also in their own small community. For example, I have what are called candle cousins, I’m not the only candle maker in Ventura county—there are at least six others, and now we all get together online, and have meetings, letting each other know, ‘I’ll be at this market,’ so we aren’t in each other’s way. It’s kind of nice, since you’d think they’d just be competitive, but it’s not like that at all—I see that people are very helpful.

What would you like to see improve in the city in 2022?

I would like to see that the testing sites come back, so they’re more accessible and you don’t have to have a doctor’s appointment. I’d like to see the small mom and pop stores get more support—I’m so afraid you hear a lot of stores not making it, we have a lot of small businesses, it’s unfortunate to see them closing because they don’t have the right tools to reach their customers.

 What did you personally learn from last year?

I grew as a person to have more patience and tolerant with myself and towards other people as we all navigate through these tricky times.

I also learned patience in starting a new business, Thirty Four Charms, in July, and everything is not going not be happy go lucky the​ first few months. However, it’s going very well, we just landed a local retail spot. Starting a new business is terrifying, but extremely exciting at the same time. This is going to be a big year, I manifest it, I believe it and now I am seeing it.

Tommy O’Halloran:
Self-employed

What did you see in Ventura in 2021 that was encouraging?

Most impressive thing I saw was on Main Street, with the restaurants outside doing the best they could to keep things alive and kicking. Having that accessibility was amazing.

It seems like the city did a good job trying to keep the people that are actually homeless off the streets, either sheltered or directed to help. The city stepped up and offered services, like on the river bottom on Harbor, they went through and so many different sections of county services showed up and started helping these people with housing and clothing. It was pretty impressive.

 What would you like to see improve in the city in 2022?

I’d like to see them address all the potholes, and for sure make more available test sites.

 What did you personally learn from last year?

That wearing a mask is really no big deal. I know some people resisted. Think about somebody other than yourself, why not just take the precaution?

And of course, patience. Just give it a little more room—there’s no hurry to get to the next red light, and do what you can for others.

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Yellowjackets – Showtime Original Series

4 out of 4 palm trees

In Yellowjackets, an extremely talented high school girls soccer team is involved in a plane crash in the Ontario wilderness on their way to nationals after having won their state championship. They survived on their own for 19 months until they were rescued, and some never made it home due to the accident and incidents that happened along the way including cannibalism (I don’t consider this a spoiler as it is actually the opening scene in the first episode, though presents questions regarding who was involved and who became a meal for the team).

The crash happened in 1996, and picks up on the lives of several key players 25 years later in 2021 as they attempt to put the past behind them and try to lead normal adults lives promising to keep what happened in the woods only between them regardless of the public’s relentless pursuit to find out the truth. The story bounces back and forth between to the two timelines as viewers discover the terrible challenges they experienced to survive and how it forever changed their lives.

Teen Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) was team captain Jackie’s best friend and pregnant with Jackie’s boyfriend Jeff’s baby, which she discovered after the crash while in the woods. Shauna (Melanie Lynskey) ended up marrying Jeff after returning home and was living the life of a settled housewife, though very suspicious of her husband’s continual late nights at the office.

Teen Misty (Samantha Hanratty) was intelligent but socially awkward and a bit of an outcast with the team where she was assistant to the assistant coach. Though helpful with emergency medical knowledge to deal with the serous injuries that happened in the crash, she seemed to sabotage things to keep her new found role of importance in the group. Misty (Christina Ricci) worked in a nursing home, but had strange hobbies like being part of an online crime solving group and was repeatedly caught undermining some efforts with issues the group faced as adults.

Teen Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) turned to drugs, alcohol and sex to deal with her troubled home life and tragedies of the past. Nat was the rebel of the group, and started a romantic relationship with Travis that continued into their adult lives. Natalie (Juliette Lewis) just got out of one of her many trips to rehab and ended up connecting with Misty, who shared she had found Travis who unfortunately, apparently committed suicide right after Nat reached out to him, though Natalie was convinced he was murdered.

Teen Taissa (Jasmine Savoy Brown) was not the team captain, however was the leader of the team and was often first to try various rescue attempts, finding a lake so they would have water which also led them to an abandon cabin to use as shelter, though it had an unexplained dead body in the attic. Taissa (Tawny Cypress) went to college, then to law school and created a good life for her, her wife and son, though decided to run for state senate causing pressure on their relationship and triggering some negative things from the past related to her time in the woods.

Together they were working to solve who was blackmailing them and how did they learn about the secrets meant to be left in the woods. The teen actors are dead ringers for their adult counterparts, and each episode answers some questions while creating many others. The Season 1 finale left viewers anxious for Season 2, scheduled late fall/winter 2022, and was actually pitched for 5 seasons, which actor Melanie Lynskey (Shauna) has already signed on for, though producers didn’t commit to Season 2 until the middle of Season 1 after it gained traction.

Rated TV-MA 10 – 1hr Episodes

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Music Calendar

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; then Bluegrass Jam
Fri 2/4: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

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

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Sat 1/29: Katie Shorey
Sat 2/5: The Jukes

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

Chuy’s Simi Valley West
1397 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley
Wednesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Sat 1/29: Decadent Decades

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Saturdays and Sundays: Kenny DeVoe (11 am)
Sun 1/30: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples (3 pm)

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Music Fridays 6-8 pm; Saturday 1 – 3:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Whiskey Business
Sat 1/29: Brandon Ragan
Fri 2/4: Ignition

The Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Wednesdays: Blues Wednesday
Sundays: Soul Sunday w/ DJ Also
Sat 1/29: Mark Masson Band

GiGi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Ave., Ventura
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays: Karaoke
Sat 2/5: Teresa Russell

The Grape
2833 E. Main Street, Ventura
Tuesdays Jazz Jam
Saturday afternoons Salsa with Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna (2 pm)
Wed 1/26: Guil Juliao Trio
Thurs 1/27: Brian Charette Trio
Fri 1/28: WeBBinney
Sat 1/29: Mitchel Forman 4Tet

Judge Roy Beans
2780 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley
Fri 1/28: Fasha & the Flapjacks
Sat 1/29: Fasha & the Flapjacks

Keynote Lounge
10245 E Telephone Rd, Ventura
Thursdays: KJ Carlos
Fri 1/28: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 1/29: DJ Joe

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Music 6:30 – 8:30; Sundays 3-5
Thurs 1/27: Lacie Mae
Fri 1/28: TC King
Sat 1/29: Singular Nature
Sun 1/30: Christopher Hawley

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 1/29: Bill Rotella
Sat 2/5: Singular Nature

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street, Ventura
Sun 1/30: Gianna Bella
Sat 2/5: Jess Bush

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street, Ventura
Thurs 1/27: Subtronics
Fri 1/28: Smith/Kotzen, Raised on Vinyl, Black Dragon

Manhattan Restaurant
5800 Santa Rosa Road, Camarillo
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Pam and Hollywood
Sat 1/29: Jeanne Tatum

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Channel Islands Harbor
Music at Noon
Sat 1/29: CRV
Sun 1/30: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak Street, Ventura
Sun 1/30: Sunday Morning Praise Band (3 pm)
Sat 2/5: SideMen

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl Street, Ojai
Fri 2/4: James Lee Stanley & Dan Navarro
Sat 2/5: Molly Miller, Mark Goldenberg, Adam Levy

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
Canyon at Oxnard PACC
Fri 2/4: Sly Slick & Wicked, Aalon, Miriah Avilah
Sat 2/5: Michael Feinstein

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

Pedals & Pints
156 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks
Tuesdays: Open Mic
Sat 1/29: Kenzie Mae
Fri 2/4: Fam Bam Jam Band
Sat 2/5: Justin Honsinger

Poseidon Brewing Co.
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Fri 1/28: Vanise Terry Band

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

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Music at 7-10 pm
Fri 1/28: The Remedies
Sat 1/29: Vinyl Gypsies

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

Rock & Roll Pizza
5255 Cochran Street, Simi Valley
Tuesdays: Rockstar Karaoke
Fri 1/28: Mighty Cash Cats; Route 62
Sat 1/29: Ripkatz
Sun 1/30: Bum Roots Project
Fri 2/4: The Dirty Lowdown
Sat 2/5: Sound of the Ghosts; dosTRIOS

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 2/4: CRV

The Six Chow House
419 E Main Street, Ventura
Fri 1/28: GrooveSession
Sat 1/29: Power Syndicate
Sun 1/30: Whiskey Business
Fri 2/4: ADD
Sat 2/5: TV Broken, Katie Skene, Brion Shearer’s Reliable Villians

Sunland Vintage Winery
1321 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks
Music 6-9 pm
Thursdays: Dave & Kevin

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

Topa Topa Brewing
341 Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 1/28: Sam Kulchin

Topa Topa Brewing
104 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 1/27: Dylan Cunningham

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunters (5 pm); Karaoke (8 pm)
Thursdays: Delta by the Beach (5 pm)
Sundays: Mariachi Gallos de Oro (11 am – 2 pm)

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sundays: Fire on the Mountain (2 pm)
Saturdays: Smitty and Julija and Friends
Mon 1/31: Beckett & the Rebels

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 1/27: Milo Sledge
Fri 1/28: Steve and Sally Williams
Sun 1/30: Keyth Garcia
Thurs 2/3: Will Breman
Fri 2/4: Miss Bix & the Nervous Ticks
Sun 2/6: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples

1901 Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Music 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Fri 1/28: Teresa Russell w/ Stephen Geyer & Mama Pat
Sat 1/29: Corey Highberg

Vol. 15, No. 09 – Jan 26 – Feb 8, 2022 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Though the sign wasn’t up the last time I drove past, the construction continues on the Ventura Music Hall (where Discovery was formerly located on Thompson Blvd). More and more shows are being added to their roster, many of which are indie bands, but several are more well known such as Flogging Molly, Gary Numan, and country/bluegrass legend Marty Stuart. At press time, the first show continues to be G. Love & the Juice on March 22. Keep in the loop and bookmark their website VenturaMusicHall.com.

I had to take a double take at the new festival making the circuit with a date coming up in early spring for Ventura, it’s called the Punk in Drublic Craft Beer & Music Festival landing at the Ventura Fairgrounds on March 27. As the website states, the festival is created from the mind and livers of NOFX’s front man Fat Mike and craft beer fanatic/festival promoter Cameron Collins. Ventura’s date features NOFX, Pennywise, Face to Face, Lagwagon, Ill Repute, Dr. Know, the Last Gang and more. Get more information and purchase your tickets at PunkInDrublicFest.com.

I’m so proud of the Grape bringing such talent to Ventura. Case in point, on Thursday, January 27, it’s Brian Charette Trio; Charette was the winner of the 2014 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star: Organ” award and 2015 Hot House Magazine’s “Fan’s Decision Jazz Award for Best Organist”. Last year he placed 3rd in the 2021 Downbeat Critic’s Poll. Rounding out the trio will be Joel Taylor on drums, and Doug Webb on sax.

The Circle Jerks pulled the plug on their 2021 tour, but they’ve rescheduled dates for 2022. You can catch them at the Ventura Theater on Sunday, February 20 with all tickets previously purchased being honored. Don’t forget the Ventura Theater requires a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of the event, OR proof of vaccination for entry. Masks are also required when not actively eating or drinking; and as a gentle reminder per the Ventura Theater’s website, no moshing is allowed.

Quick Notes: Twist on Main is temporarily closed for upgrades, but reopening early February; Michael Feinstein plays the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Saturday, February 5; SuperDuperKyle returns to Ventura Theater Friday, March 18; and the Young Ones showcase features up and coming talent at the Vine on Monday evenings with Beckett & the Rebels playing January 31.

And finally, congratulations to Tommy Quayle on the release of his latest record Awakenings. It was recorded over the past two years during the pandemic. JP Hesser co-produced, mixed and recorded most of the cuts. You can hear the title single on my radio show, the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM, or listen online at CAPSMedia.org/radio. The program runs Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 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.