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Metrolink expands Ventura County Saturday service

Metrolink has announced the expansion of Ventura County Line Saturday service, adding service to and from three additional stations: Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura-East.

Metrolink launched Saturday service on the Ventura County Line on May 29 with one roundtrip connecting Moorpark, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Northridge, Van Nuys, Burbank Airport, Burbank Downtown, Glendale and Los Angeles Union Station. The service is made possible from funding provided by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Los Angeles Metro.

The expanded Saturday service will depart the Ventura-East Station at 8:15 a.m. and will arrive at Union Station at 10:07 a.m. The return trip leaves Union Station at 4:28 p.m. and arrives at Ventura-East at 6:16 p.m. Travelers wanting to travel northwest can depart Union Station at 4:28 p.m. on Saturday and return Monday. Metrolink train times can be seen at metrolinktrains.com/schedules.

Travelers to Los Angeles arrive at historic Union Station, where they are just a short walk or Metro connection from destinations including Olvera Street, Grand Central Market, Chinatown, Angels Flight and many other attractions. Families can also stop at destinations along the way, such as the Arroyo Simi Bike Path, CSU Northridge and the Burbank Airport.

 

“When Metrolink Saturday service first launched from Moorpark in May, we received numerous requests to extend the service to Ventura,” said VCTC Executive Director Darren Kettle. “We are excited to add Saturday service to the East Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo stations. The extended service will make it easier for more Ventura County riders to explore Los Angeles by train.”

Adults can purchase a $10 Weekend Day Pass that is valid for unlimited rides on Metrolink trains on Saturday or Sunday. And with Metrolink’s Kids Ride Free on Weekends fare, as many as three children aged 17 and younger ride for free with a paying adult, so the new service will offer more affordable connections to summer fun. Paid Metrolink fare includes free transfers to the Los Angeles County Metro bus, subway and light rail system.

The air on all trains is recirculated through antimicrobial air filters that destroy 99.98% of viruses and bacteria. Masks are required on all platforms and trains, and you can ensure you have plenty of space for physical distancing by using the online tool How Full is My Train? Each train car also has two hand sanitizer stations, and cars are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day using hospital-grade products.

More information can be found at https://www.goventura.org/getting-around/metrolink-saturday-service/. 

The Museum of Ventura County Research Library digitizes early 20th Century footage

Made possible by a Schwemm Family Foundation grant, the Museum of Ventura County’s (MVC) Research Library has successfully digitized the Herman Keene film collection. It is now available for viewing in an online exhibit titled, “Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures,” venturamuseum.org/virtual-exhibits.

Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures follows Herman Balden Keene (1879-1965), a

lifelong Ventura County resident, and former student of Santa Paula High School. The early footage captures Santa Paula in ways that may still be recognizable to viewers today. An avid hunter, Keene recorded his journey from his Santa Paula ranch, through Ventura County’s steep mountain ranges by car, and into the backcountry where he set up camp. The footage includes weather challenges Keene endured along the way, and how he survived the backcountry wilderness on his quest to hunt fox, bear and mountain lions.

MVC’s Research Library Director, Deya Terrafranca shares the importance of the footage, and the impact it has on Ventura County’s rich history, “Herman Keene’s footage captures a rare moment in time in the history of Ventura County, and is the only backcountry footage we have in our collection. It captures the juncture of the early days of car exploration of the backcountry, and at the same time the use of horses and pack animals.”

The Schwemm Family Foundation’s funding allowed library staff to send the film to the University of Southern California’s film department for archival digitization and rehousing. Once digitized, the footage was cataloged and added to the Museum’s growing collection of online items.

MVC’s Research Library accepts submissions to their digital archives. Contributors can fill out a brief online form and upload digital images and/or documents by visiting, venturamuseum.org/library and clicking on, “Digital Photographs.”

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are both fully open and welcoming guests in-person. Admission to both locations is free for the duration of 2021. Masks are required for all visitors inside museum buildings, while vaccinated guests are welcomed to remove masks while enjoying the museums’ outdoor spaces. Please visit venturamuseum.org for more information, and to view Herman Keene’s and other online exhibits.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California (805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – venturamuseum.org.

What Is Vascular Dementia?

This is not the best way to remember your daily chores.

Vascular dementia is caused by conditions such as stroke that disrupt blood flow to the brain and lead to problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Vascular dementia is the second most common dementia diagnosis, after Alzheimer’s disease, and can occur alone or alongside another form of dementia.

Vascular dementia is caused by conditions that damage blood vessels in the brain and interrupt the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. In the research community, these conditions are known as vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). The brains of people with vascular dementia often show evidence of prior strokes, thickening blood vessel walls, and thinning white matter — the brain’s connecting “wires” that relay messages between regions.

Not everyone who has had a stroke will develop vascular dementia. A person’s risk for dementia after stroke depends on the size and number of strokes and the brain regions affected. Vascular dementia can also result from other conditions that impede blood flow and delivery of oxygen to the brain, such as narrowing of the arteries.

High blood pressure, problems with the heartbeat’s rhythm, diabetes, and high cholesterol can increase a person’s risk of vascular dementia. By controlling or managing risk factors, you may lower your chance of developing cognitive impairment and dementia.

Symptoms of vascular dementia can appear suddenly and may progress slowly over time. Symptoms often look similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, but memory loss is more prominent in Alzheimer’s, whereas problems with organization, attention, and problem-solving may be more obvious in vascular dementia.

People with vascular dementia may experience:

Difficulty performing tasks that used to be easy, such as paying bills

Trouble following instructions or learning new information and routines

Forgetting current or past events

Misplacing items

Getting lost on familiar routes

Problems with language, such as finding the right word or using the wrong word

Changes in sleep patterns

Difficulty reading and writing

Loss of interest in things or people

Changes in personality, behavior, and mood, such as depression, agitation, and anger

Hallucinations or delusions (believing something is real that is not)

Poor judgment and loss of ability to perceive danger

Symptoms may depend on the size, location, and number of damaged areas of the brain.

To diagnose vascular dementia, a doctor may ask about problems with daily activities, conduct memory or thinking tests, and speak with someone who knows the person well to see if symptoms of dementia are present. Medical history, lifestyle, and brain imaging tests are often used to help determine whether vascular dementia is the cause of symptoms.

No treatments are available to reverse brain damage that has been caused by a stroke. Treatment for vascular dementia focuses on preventing future strokes. Medications to prevent strokes, such as blood thinners, may help decrease the risk of further damage to the brain. Medications that help treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease might benefit people with early vascular dementia. A doctor may also recommend treating risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, through medications and lifestyle changes.

A healthy lifestyle is important to help reduce risk factors of vascular dementia. This includes eating well, limiting alcohol, not smoking, exercising, and managing stress.

If you are concerned about vascular dementia symptoms, talk with your doctor. If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed, explore the resources on this website and linked below to find out more about the disease, care, support, and research.

Behavioral Health Services offered at Community Memorial Hospital

by Carol Leish

Maureen Hodge, LCSW, Program Manager of High-Risk Program at Community Memorial Health Systems says, “There are many outpatient programs provided by the hospital. And, we hope that the expansion of ambulatory behavioral health programs will enable our team to be able to better serve our community.”

There are three types of ambulatory services according to Hodge. “There is: 1) Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHI); 2) Caregiver Navigation Program; and, 3) Psychology.”

According to Hodge, “Recently our Center for Family Health started a Behavioral Health Integration Program which is directed towards those patients who have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or substance use disorder. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist meets individually with the patients to assess their level of stress, depression or other mental health issues and then connects them to services and resources. Also, they are called monthly to make sure that they are stable. In a short time, to this new program, our staff have helped to find psychiatrists, resources, or other programs that will help the patients to remain stable and feel that they can deal with life’s challenges.”

“The Caregiver Navigation Program (CGN),” according to Hodge, “is geared specifically to caregivers of patients who are facing a chronic illness or a debilitating diagnosis and is a caregiver for their child, spouse, neighbor, or loved one. A Licensed Clinical Professional provides support, resources, and weekly check ins to the caregiver in order to help the caregiver to remain stable. Three hospitals were funded by the Ventura County Community Foundation for a 3-year pilot program. At Community Memorial Health System, the program is offered to caregivers who have loved ones that are patients of the Centers for Family Health, which are the outpatient clinics of Community Memorial Health System. We have served nearly 100 caregivers and the results so far are showing that caregivers’ depression is decreasing and their resiliency is increasing just by having someone support them through their journey of being a caregiver.”

“We also have a psychologist who takes referrals for short term or crisis counseling,” according to Hodge. “The psychologist is available to help patients of the Centers for Family Health and is a resource to doctors and nurses who are working with patients who are in crises, stress, depression, anxiety, or may have substance use or other mental health issues.”

“In terms of the ultimate expansion of Ambulatory Behavior Health programs,” according to Hodge, “We would love to see our team be able to serve our community by providing 1:1 counseling, group therapy, addiction counseling and more. We look forward to making this happen in the future. We also want to expand services to our aging population, those with disabilities, teenagers, and adults who are struggling and need more support through our behavioral health wellness programs.

“Our team is committed to being a bridge, resource and support for those who are facing mental health stressors, crises, or addiction. Depression and anxiety have increased greatly since COVID-19 started, and our community is in need of mental health service/resources more than ever. We look forward to seeing Community Memorial Health System become a resource for our patients for their mental health needs.”

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Jill Forman

Summer is ending, but the libraries are busier than ever.

Library book groups

Just a reminder – book groups are meeting in person in August and September, as of now. Here are the selections for the next meetings:

Hill Road Library – I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by MacNamara. Copies are available at the branch. August 31 at 5 p.m.

Foster Library – Hunter Moon by Caputo. September 4, 10 a.m. –noon.

Online Book Store

You can still buy gently-used books online at great prices. New offerings weekly with pickup at the Foster bookstore.

Summer Reading Program

As always, a big success: 1,061 kids and teens participated, and 237 adults. Prizes are being given out; pictures of the winners and their prizes can be seen on the library’s Facebook page.

Treasures in the bookstores

Of course, all books are treasures. But, at both the Foster and Hill Road sales sites there are amazing books up to 100+ years old. The bindings and illustrations are unusual, sometimes beautiful, and every book is like a history lesson. There are novels, travelogues, occasionally children’s books, every genre you can think of. They are in separate shelves labeled “Vintage,” and are reasonably priced.

September is library card sign-up month

So much opens up for someone who gets a library card. Books, both traditional and e-books. Laptops you can use at the branch. Access to all library services. And it’s FREE!

“A library card provides opportunity discovery and access to a rich and diverse world. It empowers you to make change and experience new stories.” Marley Dias, Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair.

State Ballot drop-off sites at libraries

In an effort to encourage participation in the election process, mailed ballots can be dropped off at many locations including the Avenue and Saticoy Libraries.

One County/One Book

In case you are not familiar with this event, here is a Wikipedia entry: “…a generic name for a community reading program that attempts to get everyone in an area to read and discuss the same book.”

The selection this year is Your House Will Pay by Cha, a gripping story of racial tensions, murder, families and revenge, based on a real 1991 event in Los Angeles.

Check Facebook for events

I can cover only a few of the programs and events offered by our libraries. The Facebook page Ventura County Library has them all. A quick glance today shows STEAM activity, Art Lessons, Storytime and Bilingual Storytime. Take a look!

Mask recommendations

Currently, the library is encouraging masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This could change at any time; ask the library staff at your branch.

Join the Ventura Friends of the Library

The Friends support Ventura’s libraries both financially and with volunteer hours. For over 50 years, we have been the face of the public in our care for the library system. Join us and help sustain this essential part of our community. Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Working Together to ‘Stuff the Bus’

Kayli Bates, Kylee Brown and Tiler de Long pitched in to help assemble and fill backpacks during Stuff the Bus.

by Amy Nielsen

A group of volunteers that included teens and family members from Aera Energy worked together recently with the United Way of Ventura County to assemble backpacks full of school supplies for homeless and underprivileged youth. The program, which began in 2010, is called Stuff the Bus, and received support in funding from Aera and community individuals for the purchase and donations of backpacks and supplies for K-12 students.  The volunteers worked in shifts in assembly lines to put together hundreds of backpacks filled with pens, pencils, binders and other important school supplies for the coming fall session.

Kylee Brown, a local 18-year-old who is about to head to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for her freshman year, volunteered with her father, Kevin, and some of her friends. “Contributing to an effort that would help kids that either don’t have a home, or don’t have money for school supplies felt good. I was really shocked when I heard that there are 6,000 homeless children in Ventura County. That’s a big number, and it shocked everyone working in the room,” she said. “You don’t really think about children being homeless, you think about what you see every day, usually adults. It gave us all a better purpose of being there, and made the work even more inspirational.”

The donated items are to be distributed from the Ventura County Office of Education to local school districts. More than 1,200 students are expected to receive these backpacks and supplies. “Every day I see what I have, versus what some others do, and it makes me more inclined to give back, because I know that not everyone has it as easy as some of us,” said Brown.

Her father Kevin has been with Aera for 13 years and serves as a Process Specialist. He shared that it was especially meaningful to participate in this effort with his daughter and her friends. “The kids did a really great job, and it helped provide us all with a real sense of community, and a chance to help other people out that are less fortunate than they are. You never know if you or someone you love might be in the same situation,” said Brown. “It’s really cool, we provide a lot of support for the community, we’re not a big company like Chevron or Shell, but Aera is a huge leader in supporting the area; we’re always doing community events, like the Day of Caring, supporting schools, and homeless facilities, and food drives every year.”

“It’s always so great to have young people volunteer, and Aera’s support has been phenomenal, and really made the entire project possible.” said Susan Englund, Vice President, Community Impact for the United Way of Ventura County.

Kayli Bates is also heading off for her first year of college, to Cal State San Marcos. She had an even more personal connection to the volunteer work, as she’d been temporarily classified as a homeless youth when her family’s home burned down in the Thomas Fire. “It felt good to be helping young people who were in that same kind of category,” she said. “The community was definitely there to support our family back then, and it felt wonderful to give back and help others in the community with this, and especially with my friends.” She said it was the first time she’d volunteered for anything like that. “It felt good in my soul to do this,” said Bates.

Ventura Land Trust announces 12th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films. Photo by Dan Holmes

Ventura Land Trust is pleased to bring back a live experience for its 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour on Saturday, August 28th on the campus of Ventura County Credit Union headquarters from 5:00 to 10:00 pm.

This signature fundraising event raises $50,000 each year to support Ventura Land Trust’s mission to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.

For Ventura Land Trust, the festival fosters a deeper understanding of the connection we share with the planet and our role as stewards to keep it healthy.
The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films, food from local food trucks, and a raffle. Beer from Topa Topa Brewing Company, Rincon Brewery, and Leashless Brewing will be available for sale, as well as wine from Riboli Family Wines. Live music will be played by the band Nautical Thrust. In the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, small bites from Himalaya Cuisine, Peirano’s, Aloha Steakhouse, and others will be complemented by a custom cocktail by Ventura Spirits.

A general admission film festival ticket is $35, with children’s tickets available for $5. VIP tickets, which include special gift items and admission to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, are $125.

“Protecting and preserving our open spaces is more important than ever,” says Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “We saw how important they were to our wellbeing during the past year’s pandemic shutdowns. Place like Harmon Canyon Preserve and Big Rock Preserve have become part of the fabric of Ventura, and they are part of our story of resilience. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is an opportunity to see how Ventura Land Trust fits into the work individuals and organizations around the world are doing to protect the earth.”

Visitors to Ventura Land Trust’s preserves can explore and learn on 4,000 acres of permanently conserved land in Ventura County. Preserves are open to the public daily, for free.

Visit www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2021 for tickets. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Development Director Leslie Velez at [email protected] for more information.

Ventura Fire Department enhances community safety by increasing wildfire defensible space inspections

Fire season is here and if you have not yet completed your brush clearance do it now.

During its regular meeting on May 24, 2021, the Ventura City Council approved the City’s adopted fee schedule and authorized the Ventura Fire Department to begin billing for defensible space and other fire inspections.

Earlier this year Ventura Fire mailed 6,500 notices to city property owners reminding community members to perform fire hazard reduction clearance by May 18, 2021. Beginning August 23, 2021, defensible space inspections and associated activities will be billable according to the City’s adopted fee schedule, effective July 23, 2021.

“Fire season is here and if you have not yet completed your brush clearance to create 100 feet of defensible space, act now for the safety of your community,” said Ventura Fire Marshal Joe Morelli. “Properties with good defensible space stand a better chance of survival during a wildfire.”

Defensible space is the area around a structure, free of flammable plants and objects, that creates a zone in which firefighters can operate safely in order to help protect a home during a wildfire. This space is wide enough to prevent direct flame impingement and reduce the amount of radiant heat reaching the structure. The defensible space for each structure varies and depends on the type of vegetation and topography. Maintaining this defensible space is critical.

In 2021, Ventura Fire’s goal is to inspect 6,500 properties in very high, high, and moderate fire hazard areas of the City of Ventura. This is a 900% increase from the 580 annual inspections previously performed.

The City of Ventura has contracted with Fire Recovery USA, LLC, a third party billing service, to administer billing on behalf of the Ventura Fire Department.

First inspections are billable at $21.00 per inspection, plus associated fees totaling $38.97, per the City’s fee schedule. To avoid additional inspections and subsequent fees, residents can correct violations and email pictures showing compliance to [email protected] before re-inspection.

To find out if a parcel has been approved, please call (805) 658-4709, or send an email to [email protected]. For questions regarding a bill or the billing process, please call (888)-650-5320, or send an email to [email protected].

For additional information on the Fire Hazard Reduction Program, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/FHRP.

Ventura County Public Health issues health advisory urging vaccinations and masking indoors

Due to the current surge, Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) is urging all Ventura County residents that are eligible but have not yet been fully vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible. In alignment with state and federal health authorities, VCPH officials also continue to strongly recommend mask wearing indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status. While Ventura County continues to be aligned with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on masking, which recommends that everyone regardless of vaccination status wear masks indoors, and that requires those that are not fully vaccinated to mask indoors, officials are closely monitoring the current surge in case additional mitigation measures are needed.

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising due to the increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant. The latest local case rate has reached 15.5 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 6%. With these metrics, Ventura County would be in the purple tier in the now retired color tiered framework.

Vaccines remain the most powerful tool against COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant. Nonetheless, the Delta variant is infecting a small percentage of vaccinated people in Ventura County but such vaccinated people remain strongly protected against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. State data reported on August 4, 2021 shows that there have been 688 total cases among fully vaccinated people, a “breakthrough” or infection rate of 0.14%.

Cases in the past month have trended younger with persons 18-29 years of age making up the majority of cases. It is important for all eligible people to get vaccinated especially as school resumes in person and youth under 12 years of age are not eligible to receive the vaccines.

Mask wearing prevents transmission of the virus especially to those most at risk and people who cannot get vaccinated yet for eligibility and other health reasons. People are strongly recommended to wear masks indoors in settings like grocery or retail stores, theaters, and family entertainment centers, even if they are fully vaccinated as an added layer of protection for both themselves and unvaccinated residents. Businesses are asked to expect masking for customers entering indoor areas of their businesses to provide better protection to their employees and customers. Workplaces must comply with Cal/OSHA requirements and fully vaccinated employees are encouraged to wear masks indoors even though no longer required for fully vaccinated employees by the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards. For masks to work properly, they need to completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face and around your nose.

People with only one vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna are not fully protected. Completion of the vaccine series is necessary to provide full protection. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Public Health continues to monitor transmission rates, hospitalizations, deaths and increasing vaccination rates throughout the County and will reevaluate the recommendation as needed in the coming weeks. COVID-19 data can be monitored at www.vcrecovers.org.

COVID-19 vaccines are free for all community members 12 or older.

Vaccination locations can be found at www.vaccines.gov or by calling 800-232-0233.

Appointments can be made at MyTurn.CA.gov or by calling 833-422-4255.

Visit www.vcrecovers.org for more information.