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Ventura has an increase in violent crimes

As mid-year statistics are evaluated, the City of Ventura has experienced an overall increase in Part I Crime of just under 1%. Despite a slight reduction in reported property crimes through the first half of 2021, violent crime is up by 23%, with an increase in sexual assaults and robberies at 53% and 32% respectively, accounting for most of the increase.

It’s likely that the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions has had an impact on public behavior and crime rates. Last year, during the pandemic lockdowns and business closures, violent crime fell substantially. The increasing trend so far this year is indicative of the crime rates Ventura experienced in previous years.

As 2021 progresses, the Ventura Police Department looks forward to continuing to strengthen community partnerships and relationships by bringing back outreach events such as Coffee with a Cop, National Night Out, the Community Academy, in-person Neighborhood Watch Meetings, and Curbside Coffee Chats at local schools.

Community members interested in learning more about crime in their neighborhoods and in our city are encouraged to visit the Ventura Police Department’s online, interactive Community Crime Map at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CrimeMap.

Tips for caregivers and families of people with dementia

A caregiver, sometimes referred to as a caretaker, refers to anyone who provides care for another person. Millions of people living in the United States take care of a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Sometimes caregivers live with the person or nearby, other times they live far away. For many families, caring for a person with dementia isn’t just one person’s job, but the role of many people who share tasks and responsibilities. No matter what kind of caregiver you are, taking care of another person can be overwhelming at times. These tips and suggestions may help with everyday care and tasks.

Early on in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, people experience changes in thinking, remembering, and reasoning in a way that affects daily life and activities. Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks. This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing. It may be upsetting to the person to need help with such personal activities. Here are a few tips to consider early on and as the disease progresses:

Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.

Help the person write down to-do lists, appointments, and events in a notebook or calendar.

Plan activities that the person enjoys and try to do them at the same time each day.

Consider a system or reminders for helping those who must take medications regularly.

When dressing or bathing, allow the person to do as much as possible.

Buy loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-use clothing, such as clothes with elastic waistbands, fabric fasteners, or large zipper pulls instead of shoelaces, buttons, or buckles.

Use a sturdy shower chair to support a person who is unsteady and to prevent falls. You can buy shower chairs at drug stores and medical supply stores.

Be gentle and respectful. Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step while you help them bathe or get dressed.

Serve meals in a consistent, familiar place and give the person enough time to eat.

Communication can be hard for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias because they have trouble remembering things. They also can become agitated and anxious, even angry. In some forms of dementia, language abilities are affected such that people have trouble finding the right words or have difficulty speaking. You may feel frustrated or impatient, but it is important to understand that the disease is causing the change in communication skills. To help make communication easier, you can:

Reassure the person. Speak calmly. Listen to his or her concerns and frustrations. Try to show that you understand if the person is angry or fearful.

Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible.

Respect the person’s personal space.

Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.

Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.

Remind the person who you are if he or she doesn’t remember, but try not to say, “Don’t you remember?”

Encourage a two-way conversation for as long as possible.

Try distracting the person with an activity, such as a familiar book or photo album, if you are having trouble communicating with words.

New emergency alerting system outfitted on Ventura Police Cars

The Ventura Police Department’s patrol vehicles are now equipped with new Hi-Lo sirens, a different sound than traditional sirens, used to alert residents to evacuate.

The new warning system will be used when VPD has issued an evacuation order, and in all disasters where there is an immediate threat to life, including wildfires, earthquakes, and floods.

The Hi-Lo warning system is a European-style alert that rocks back and forth between two fixed pitches, one high and one low. Regular emergency sirens sound more like a repeated yip-yip-yip or wailing sound. To receive emergency notifications use VC Alert at www.vcalert.org

The Hi-Lo Warning System was made possible due to California Senate Bill 909. The urgency statute was signed by Governor Newsom on September 29, 2020 and took immediate effect.

To hear the new Hi-Lo Warning System, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/EvacuationOrders or watch the video on the City’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/cityofventura.

What do i need to tell the doctor?

Share any symptoms you have

A symptom is evidence of a disease or disorder in the body. Examples of symptoms include pain, fever, a lump or bump, unexplained weight loss or gain, or having a hard time sleeping.

Be clear and concise when describing your symptoms. Your description helps the doctor identify the problem. A physical exam and medical tests provide valuable information, but your symptoms point the doctor in the right direction.

Your doctor will ask when your symptoms started, what time of day they happen, how long they last (seconds? days?), how often they occur, if they seem to be getting worse or better, and if they keep you from going out or doing your usual activities.

Take the time to make some notes about your symptoms before you call or visit the doctor. Worrying about your symptoms is not a sign of weakness. Being honest about what you are experiencing doesn’t mean that you are complaining. The doctor needs to know how you feel.

To provide the best care, your doctor must understand you as a person and know what your life is like. The doctor may ask about where you live, what you eat, how you sleep, what you do each day, what activities you enjoy, what your sex life is like, and if you smoke or drink. Be open and honest with your doctor. It will help him or her to understand your medical conditions fully and recommend the best treatment choices for you.

Your health has a big impact on other parts of your life. Your doctor may ask you how your life is going. This isn’t being impolite or nosy. Information about what’s happening in your life may be useful medically. Let the doctor know about any major changes or stresses in your life, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. You don’t have to go into detail; you may want to say something like: “It might be helpful for you to know that my sister passed away since my last visit with you,” or “I recently had to sell my home and move in with my daughter.”

The coronavirus pandemic and physical distancing requirements can also bring about feelings of loneliness and social isolation. These feelings are associated with higher risk for depression, anxiety, and heart disease. It is important to let your doctor know when these feelings occur and how often.

You may have some concerns or wishes about your care if you become seriously ill. If you have questions about what choices you have, ask your doctor. You can specify your desires through legal documents called advance directives. In general, the best time to talk with your doctor about these issues is while you are still relatively healthy. Medicare and private health insurance may cover these discussions with your doctor. One way to bring up the subject is to say: “I’m worried about what would happen in the hospital if I were very sick and not likely to get better. Can you tell me what generally happens in that case?

A Monument to a Disaster

by Richard Senate

On the night of March 12, 1928, at exactly 11:57pm, the newly constructed St. Francis Dam failed. The six-hundred-foot-long concrete structure was filled to the top with the runoff of a great rain storm. The dam had been leaking hours before it burst. No witnesses survived the dam break that sent twelve billion gallons of water roaring down the Santa Clara River Valley. It smashed into power plant number two then devastated a construction camp at Saugus. Out of the work crew only six bodies were recovered.

The wave of water then hit Santa Paula flooding some ten thousand acres of fruit orchards and farmlands under six feet of water. The terrible wave took an estimated four hundred and fifty lives that night and that is only an estimate. The great flood of 1928 would be listed as the second worst disaster to ever hit California (The first being the earthquake and fire that destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906 taking three thousand lives). After the waters receded only two hundred and seventy-three bodies were recovered. Many badly battered and nude, the surging waters made many bodies unrecognizable.  The majority were believed to have been buried in the mud of the Santa Clara or washed out to sea.  Some of the recovered dead were discovered at the mouth of the Santa Clara River in Ventura. Only a few were identified and buried at ivy Lawn Cemetery. Many were buried in an unmarked mass grave. Today no marker exists to tell the tale of this terrible night of horror.

Only one monument stands today in Santa Paula. It depicts, in statuary form, two motorcycle policemen who risked their lives to race ahead of the raging waters to warn people of the coming disaster, saving hundreds of lives.  The unmarked graves at Ivy Lawn should be marked to tell of this awful event and the lives lost that night so long ago.   Maybe a statue should be made and put up at the mouth of the Santa Clara River, or at the Ventura Harbor. It should be some inspirational form with a descriptive plaque to tell of this event for the edification of future generations. This event shouldn’t be forgotten.

City of Ventura’s City Hall and facilities have opened

Has it been this long since City Hall was open?

The City of Ventura has opened City Hall and other facilities to the public on Monday, July 12, 2021. The reopening aligns with the State of California’s move to Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and the full reopening of business sectors.

“We are thrilled to reopen city facilities and welcome the community back after more than a year of being closed for in-person service,” said Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava. “Ventura, thank you for your sacrifices, commitment, and resilient spirit throughout it all. It is because of our community’s collective efforts that we are where we are today.”

Cleanings and improvements at all city facilities have been made to ensure the health and well-being of residents, businesses, visitors, and City staff when using public counters. Patrons and vendors visiting City facilities and City Hall will be required to wear masks when indoors, and physical distancing shall be practiced.

“During the last year, the important and impactful work of the City continued as we pivoted quickly to work remotely and provide virtual services,” stated Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre. “Bringing the public back is a significant step forward as we look to recover from the pandemic. We are reopening City facilities for business and looking forward to serving the community in-person again.”

City Facility Reopening

City Hall and City facilities will reopen for normal business hours. Hours of operation vary at each location. For more details, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov.

City Council, Boards, and Commission Meetings

Public meetings will continue to be hosted virtually as well as be open for limited in-person participation with social distancing and masking required. The first modified in-person City Council meeting will be hosted on July 19, 2021.

To participate virtually in public meetings, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/AgendaCenter.

Virtual City Services

As the City reopens, Ventura’s services will continue to be available online, ensuring residents and businesses have more options to take care of important matters and connect with City staff.

Electronic applications for City permits and development projects must be submitted online. Residents, developers, and business owners can visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/PermitServices to submit applications.

Parks & Recreation

Parks, beaches, golf courses, tennis and pickleball courts, the Ventura Aquatics Center, and public restrooms are open.

The Ventura Avenue Adult Center as well as other community centers and recreational buildings are open to pre-registered participants participating in scheduled activities, camps, and programs, which are available by advance registration only.

To learn more, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ParksRec.

Special Event Permit Applications

Applications for block parties, free speech events, parades, processions, athletic and sporting events, walk-a-thons, and festivals will be accepted digitally.

Before advertising or promoting your event, be sure to receive conditional approval from the City to ensure the date and event location you are requesting is available.

To learn more, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/SpecialEventPermits.

The City of Ventura is committed to maintaining the health and safety of the public and will be closely following Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS).

Even with California relaxing distancing and masking requirements, the risk of community spread still remains high, and the COVID-19 vaccination remains critical to slowing community transmission. To find a vaccine near you, visit www.venturacountyrecovers.org.

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava supported the Ventura Really Really Free Market

Mayor Sofia Rubalcava reading a story to young West Ventura resident, Cosmo, while Shannon López looks on.

City of Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava participated in the Ventura Really Really Free Market (RRFM) on the 4th of July, 9 am-1 pm at Kellogg Park in West Ventura.  Organized by the Ventura County chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSAVC), the event brought the community together to share their talents and lightly used items with one another.  Rubalcava shared her talents for Spanish translation and children’s storytelling.  Other community members offered free workshops: yoga instruction with Sarah Aspell, a Privilege Walk with Nicollete Walker of Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a Medicare For All talk with RN & activist Gina Currie.

“RRFMs are a chance to reimagine sharing in our community. Be it home goods, backyard veggies, or knowledge of gardening or knitting, we all have something to share and we all have something to gain,” said Event Organizer, Alyson Warner.

Other talents shared included a collaborative art station with John Caravello, professional chair massage from Allen Chinn, a Tea Ceremony with Taylor Buck and Julie Marie, seed plantings with Shannon & Tomás López, and more.

This event was made possible with support from the Ventura chapter of Black Lives Matters, Bike Ventura, Westside Community Development Corporation, Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Ventura Tenants Union, and the Diversity Collective.

For more information on Ventura RRFM, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RRFMventura.

 

VMF’s live July 25th concert presents Guitar Competition Gold Medalist Andrea Roberto

This wunderkind’s fingers have been on a guitar since age 4.

by Richard Newsham, VMF consultant

25-year-old guitar prodigy Andrea Roberto from Foggia (in Southern Italy’s Apulia)—the Gold Medalist at the fifth quadrennial Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2019—returns to California to demonstrate the musicianship that won him this coveted title for the world’s preeminent guitar competition during the 2021 Ventura Music Festival live concert on Sunday, July 25, at 3 pm, at the Pacifica High School’s Performing Arts Center at, 600 E Gonzales Rd, in Oxnard.

This wunderkind’s fingers have been on a guitar since age 4, under his father’s tutelage, followed by admission at 9 and graduation at 14 from the Conservatorio di Musica Umberto Giordano under Sandro Torlontano. Andrea then followed teacher Aniello Desiderio from Naples to the International Academy of Koblenz in Germany. The young guitarist completed his studies at the Conservatory of Maastricht (Netherlands) with the teacher Carlo Marchione.

His artistic career includes performances throughout Europe, Mexico, South America and the United States, including the 14-guitar-festival tour of the European Euro String Project, radio broadcasts and first prizes at eight international competitions. In 2017 he recorded his first CD “El Viaje de la guitarra italiana” (JSG Records).

His ambitious and wide ranging VMF program opens with 19th century Italian guitar virtuoso Mauro Giuliani’s dazzling “Grande Ouverture, Op. 61” followed by five “Suite in D” dances from German Renaissance composer Michael Praetorius’ 300 piece collection “Terpsichore”; and three virtuosic dance tunes by Renaissance composer and lutenist John Dowland: “The Frog Galliard”—inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s last official suitor for marriage, the small pox disfigured but excellent dancer Duc d’Alençon—“Sir John Smith His Almain” and “Allemande” from “Pleasures of their Company” (Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening). Sublime transcriptions of Bach’s “Chaccone”—“one of the greatest pieces of music ever written” (says violinist Joshua Bell) and chorale “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” precede intermission followed by Spanish-inspired classical guitar repertoire masterpieces by Joaquin Rodrigo “Fandango,” Isaac Albéniz “Córdoba” and “Sevilla,” Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco “Escarraman” selections and Francisco Tárrega “Variations on Paganini’s The Carnival of Venice.”

Don’t miss this rare “rapt music” performance by a young guitar genius at the Ventura Music Festival’s Sunday matinee finale!

Tickets and details for this 100% vaccinated event at www.venturamusicfestival.org.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Walk on July 24

Please join Ventura locals Staci Brown and Angelique Suddock as we do our mini fundraising walk for Mothers Against Drunk Driving to take place on July 24th at 11:00 am in front of Aloha’s Steakhouse on the Ventura promenade. We have invited the Ventura Sheriff’s offices and expect to have some guests. We will be walking to the end of the riverbed which is only 2.25 miles. We will have snacks and a silent auction.

Every year over 1000 lives are lost in California due to substance impaired driving on our roadways. Drunk Driving remains the number one cause of death on US roads. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) works to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking (All services are free).

Your walk fees, or donations raise funds to prevent substance impaired driving crashes and educates thousands throughout the state of California. Walk Like MADD is the only large-scale community-based activity that allows those impacted by drunk driving to take steps to stop drunk driving in their communities.

Please register under “Team Brown & Suddock” it is $25. If you can’t walk with us, we would love if you can donate under the same name. Help save thousands of lives by sacrificing the price of a meal (well, an expensive meal). Please let me know if you have any questions or are having difficulty with registration by calling my work line at 714-838-6199 Ext. 6649.

I hope to see you there!! Optional lunch at Winchesters Grill (632 E. Main Street) after the walk. 5% of the proceeds will go directly back to MADD.

Gratefully,
Staci Brown