Hi: I’m Sam, a handsome 6-year-old Boxer who was rescued from a shelter in Wasco where I was taken by my owner. I’m grateful C.A.R.L. is giving me a chance to find my forever home.
The shelter said I was timid with strangers, but since I’ve been at C.A.R.L. I haven’t shown any signs of being timid. I did great with the Navy volunteers and went right up to everyone without any issues.
I was great with the other dogs at the shelter. If you have a fur baby in the home, you will need to bring him/her along so we can have a meet and greet. It is unknown how I would do with children or cats.
I am good on leash, but I do pull a little at the beginning because I’m so excited to get out but once I’m on route I do good. I have a goofy personality and I love to sniff around the arena.
If you’re interested in meeting me, please fill out an online application.
Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L.CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
Buck is a 6-year-old German Shepherd mix who loves playing with squeaky toys and tennis balls and going for walks.
He rides well in the car, canwalk around other dogs without issues, and has lived successfully withchickens! Buck does well with kiddos, but needs to go to a home with older children(younger ones try to climb on him, and he doesn’t appreciate that!)
Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Two Distant Strangers – Nefflix Originals
4 out of 4 palm trees
In “Two Distant Strangers”, which won this year’s Oscar for Film Short, a young black man wakes up after an evening with a girl in her apartment to find himself stuck in a time loop, causing him to have a deadly run in with a white police officer over and over again regardless of his actions.
Carter (Joey Badass) felt he had one of the best nights in his life after waking up with Perri (Zaria) in her apartment. Wanting to get home to take care of his dog, he came out of the building and accidentally bumped into a man causing him to spill his coffee on his shirt. Carter apologized and offered to buy a new coffee, but the guy just walked away angrily, which caught the attention of Officer Merk (Andrew Howard) standing nearby. Merk approached Carter, who was very cooperative and even apologetic for the incident. Then Merk questioned Carter about his hand rolled cigarette and Carter replied with a bit of a smart-ass remark which seemed to anger Merk, who then grabbed Carter and pushed him up against the wall.
Similar to the incident with George Floyd, Merk had a control hold around Carter’s neck while two other officers attempted to restrain him. A woman who had a street stand and saw the whole thing continued to say that Carter didn’t do anything as she filmed the event with her phone. Merk continued the strong hold on Carter’s neck and though Carter said over and over he couldn’t breathe, Merk didn’t release his hold until he realized Carter was dead.
Carter immediately woke up in Perri’s bed, and initially thought it may have just been a bad dream until he started seeing and hearing the exact things that had taken place the day before. He decided when he walked out he would be careful to avoid the guy with the coffee and to also hide a large amount of cash that Merk found suspicious on their first encounter, however it didn’t work. Merk attempted to detain Carter, but he broke free and started running down the street and was shot several times and killed by Merk.
The next two times the loop repeated, Carter decided to just leave his belongings in Perri’s apartment and make a run for it, but each time Merk shot and killed him without cause. It seemed Merk pursued Carter and killed him no matter what he did, so Carter decided to just walk out the front door and approach Merk to explain what had been happening.
After having a moment to process it all, Merk told Carter that considering his past was a sign of his future it was a good idea for him to just get out of there, and Carter felt he had finally gotten out of the loop with Merk. Unfortunately, Carter walked into an alley where there was another police incident happening and as two suspects ran past him, the cops mistook Carter for being part of it and shot him.
After 100 times, Carter convinced Merk to give him a ride home and on the drive they both shared a very insightful discussion about their individual situations, and though it seemed fine, Merk mercilessly shot Carter in front of his home. When he woke, Carter told Perri what had been happening and realized that his repeating situation was the only conclusion for a young black man in America, but said that one way or another he was going to get home to his dog. The end credits start with a list of over 60 names (just a few of the many individuals including George Floyd) who had been in similar situations as Carter in real life who lost their lives in senseless lethal acts and misunderstandings with police, asking people to say their names and remember their names.
The life and writings of Emily Dickinson, one of America’s most treasured poets, come vividly to life in a reprise of the acclaimed Rubicon, Namba Arts, and Ojai Art Center productions of The Belle of Amherst by William Luce. The production stars Ojai actor and choreographer Anna Kotula under the direction of Steve Grumette, Artistic Director of the Ojai Film Festival.
See The Belle Of Amherst presented live on-stage until May 23, at the Ojai Art Center Theater Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm.
Tickets are $22, $19 for OACT members.
Additional donations can be made and are much appreciated. For tickets to the live show, please call 805-640-8797
Stay tuned to ojaiact.org for information about the streamed version.
The Ojai Art Center is kicking off their 44th annual Art in the Park celebration Memorial weekend on May 29 and May 30, 2021. This will be the first sizable festival in Ojai since COVID started. Unlike last year’s virtual Art in the Park, 2021 brings us back to walking through downtown Ojai’s Libbey Park where artists will showcase their recent works and festival goers can enjoy a sense of normalcy.
The Art in the Park celebration attracts artists from all over the state and serves as a great opportunity for artists, locals, tourists and art lovers of all ages to meet, browse and buy.
Everyone is invited to browse, meet the artists, grab a bite and enjoy the weekend in Libbey Park. Free admission. We ask that face coverings are worn and social distancing practiced. Call 805-646-0117 for further information or visit www.ojaiartcenter.org. More artist photos, contact info and bios are available upon request.
June 12 (10 – 6) and Sunday, June 13 (10 – 5)Where: Libbey Park in Ojai.
Discover the hand-made ceramics of over 25 clay artists as they showcase their work at Libbey Park in Ojai June 13 (10-6) and June 14 (10-5). Everyone is excited to be safely back outdoors selling in downtown Ojai.
Enjoy seeing the pottery and demonstrations safely! Following COVID guidelines, masks and social distancing will be required. We want you to go home with a beautiful ceramic creation, not COVID. We are all anxious to get out and enjoy a beautiful weekend. We hope you can join us.
The Ventura County Potters’ Guild is a non-profit organization. This is a major fundraiser and supports ceramic education and venues for local artists. Work can also be seen year round at their gallery store in Ventura Harbor at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105. We also have an online store (www.venturapotteryonline.com).
More information can be found at www.venturapottersguild.org.
You know we’re heading back to normal when the Ventura Music Festival confirms live concerts. These will be 100%-vaccinated events for artists, crew, audience, staff and volunteers. The three-day line-up includes Aubrey Logan on July 23, Time for Three on the 24th and Italy’s Andrea Roberto on the 25th. Tickets and more information on the artists can be found at VenturaMusicFestival.org.
Quick Notes: RJ Mischo has a one-man show at Namba, Saturday, May 29; Cadillac Zack presents Kirk Fletcher on Monday, May 31 for a Memorial Day Blues Bash at Vaquero y Mar (call for tickets at 323-377-5291); McWorter, Berghoff & Jones are starting back up Tuesdays Blues Day at Copa Cubana; and tickets go on sale May 20 for the Gin Blossoms Concerts in Your Car date at the Ventura Fairgrounds for Saturday, June 19.
“I’m really excited to be sharing this new music from Moth to the Flame.” Photo by Mariana Schulze
In this issue of the Breeze, I have Part One of a Two Part Interview with local artist Natalie Gelman who will soon be releasing Moth to the Flame this next month.
Pam Baumgardner: Congratulations on your new music! So many questions to ask, but first share the basics.
Natalie Gelman: Thanks! I’m really excited to be sharing this new music from Moth to the Flame and can’t wait for the full album to come out on June 18th. The singles are being really well received and it’s my best music yet which I know everyone says but this album has been seven years in the making and I worked very hard to bring together amazing people to make the music I heard in my head come to life.
Charlie Midnight and I produced it together. Charlie is a fantastic, Grammy-nominated songwriter and he and I wrote many of the songs on the album together as well. We recorded in Ojai at Carbonite Sound with Grammy-winning engineer Jason Mariani and featured musicians from Ojai and Los Angeles that have played for some of my favorite artists. The mastering on the CD and vinyl was done by Bernie Grundman; he’s mastered so many legendary records like Tapestry for Carole King and Thriller for Michael Jackson so it was a treat to work with him. This is my first full-length album and first release with an indie label so that’s really exciting.
Before we circle back to Moth to the Flame, get us caught up on your music history to date.
Natalie: Most recently I’ve released a series of singles, a fun song called “2020” came out this past December. It’s a look back at the crazy year we all went through and there’s a fantastic music video out for it too. Before that, I shared “The Lights Upstairs,” which is a song I wrote for my mom. She passed from Alzheimer’s a few years ago and I wrote the song when she first started showing signs of the disease. It ended up giving me a lot of hope and grace to keep the message of the song close as she progressed and eventually passed from it. There’s an artful music video for that song that captures the lightness of the message. The last single I released looking back is “Sundance In Your Eyes” which is a love song I wrote after I met my husband while busking at the Sundance Film Festival.
Before those singles, my Streetlamp Musician EP came out. That music was produced by Mark Needham as well as Charlie Midnight who was my songwriter collaborator on many of the songs too. Those songs took me around the world on tour playing for lots of folks and those are still some of my favorites. Looking further back, my debut, self-titled EP Nataile Gelman came out a long time ago but I still get requests to play songs from it and love it for the role that it played in me starting to release music more officially. I had a bunch of bootleg studio EP’s before then that I released in college and somewhere those are still floating around waiting to embarrass me I’m sure.
I’m certain there’s been several lessons learned since your first recording session, but what sage advice would you pass along to artists looking to record for their first time?
Natalie: I think the best advice I have is to not rush and to be prepared. Studio time is expensive but you don’t want to push to get too much done and then end up without anything that’s truly great or even usable. It’s better to record one amazing song then 3 that are just okay. I would also suggest to record yourself a lot at home before you go into a studio; even just into your iPhone or Garageband… really whatever you can get your hands on. Then you can listen back to your song or your band and see if there are things you don’t love about it. That’s the time to work on it and change it, not when you’re already in the studio. Unless you have a rich uncle paying for it all and money is no object then do whatever you feel like.
How well prepared are you before you step into the studio? Do you just roll out the tunes, or is there collaborating with your musicians and/or working with a producer and changing things up?
Natalie: It’s actually in the woodshedding and preparedness that you can be spontaneous and find some magic and happen upon something amazing. I had lived with some of the songs that I recorded for many years before recording them for this new album. So, there were hundreds of shows where I played them live and tried things out and I also rewrote parts of the lyric or arrangements. Then, I also was prepared with lyric and chord charts for all the musicians in the studio but found out that they would write their own too.
Each song was mostly tracked live with the core band; drums, bass, acoustic guitar, pianos/keys and me singing live over a series of 4 days. Before we would record each song, I would sing through the song with the band and we would talk about the vibe and try out some things. I sent them demos of the songs before the session so they were already familiar and they would listen and chart what the form was and make notes about what they wanted to do within the arrangement. It was amazing to see how even the guitar player playing acoustic could mimic the way I play and the kinda “singer-songwriter” percussive vibe of my strumming. They were just incredible musicians. Because of their talent and ability, it allowed for us to get the song down in 2-3 takes usually and then we would go back over it and try new things if one of us heard something.
Having it be mostly live really breathes a lot of life into the recording. We did some percussive overdubs and a half day of electric guitar overdubs too. We also overdubbed some instruments that I didn’t have on each song; banjo, cello, harmonica and violin and I also spent sessions with Jesse Siebenberg at his studio going over each song and adding a little more percussion, some guitar parts and harmonies.
There were a couple sessions of just vocal overdubs on some songs too. I noticed that I could approach my songs differently as a singer once they were built with the band. Often at my live shows it’s just me and a guitar, ukulele or piano and I have to communicate the full range of the song with just my voice and instrument. When I had the full band playing, they are dynamic as well and create the energy or mood with me. Then I can use my voice more to sit on top and share the intimacy of the stories in each song. Some songs were very different from how I approach them solo so that was very cool to unfold.
It’s all such collaboration. I have tons of ideas always but I like to bounce them off people and often what I’ve come up with is just a stepping-stone to an even better idea the musician has. If you bring creative people together sometimes the best thing you can do is just get out of their way and let them be creative.
Be sure to pick up the next issue of the Breeze for Part Two of my interview with Natalie Gelman when we find out more about Moth to the Flame, her mentors, free music on her website and that time she opened for Bon Jovi.
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.
Somehow, the Bookmark for April 21 was left out of the Breeze; Sheldon was kind enough to print it and the current one in the May 5 issue. Unfortunately, some of the information was out of date by then. I encourage you to sign up for the emailed newsletter from the Ventura Friends of the Library, and to check the library website often to keep up with events.
Browsing now available!
Here is the most welcome news of the month. Ventura County Libraries are open for in-person browsing of the physical collections. Browsing areas are based on the capacity of each building, available staff, and social distancing guidelines. Appointments can be made by contacting individual libraries. Walk-ins may be accommodated based on capacity, but appointments are strongly suggested. All browsing visits are limited to 50 minutes and anyone entering the libraryMUST wear a mask and follow the Library’s COVID-19 Code of Conduct— see library website
Online Bookstore News
Did you know the VFOL Online Bookstore is managed and staffed completely by volunteers who donate their time, book expertise, and sometimes car trunks? Gently used books find new homes while making money for new books and services at Ventura libraries. It really is wonderful that community helping community works here in Ventura! Thank you to Sandy Greenberg, Jill Forman, Lynn Weitzel, Annie Winch, Teddy Woods, Debbie Hill, Davita Cooper, Leslie Bellmore, and all the warehouse volunteers who sort through donations daily, for helping VFOL Online Bookstore succeed.
We anticipate that the online store will remain even after the Pandemic has moved on. For now, you can purchase books at the online store and pick them upat Hill Road Library. We have limited storage so please try to pick your orders up within a week. We also accept donations of books in bags or boxes (2 per visit, please) during these times.
For updates and to keep up with the activities of the Friends of the Library, visit our website: https://venturafriendsofthelibrary.org
For Families – “Every story matters. Every child counts”
I was hanging out at my local library (something I do a lot) and saw boxes of colorful bags near the checkout station. I asked my favorite librarian what they were, and found out about “El Dia de los Ninos, El Dia de los Libros/ Children’s Day, Book Day! A celebration of children and wonderful books. Di honors the culture and language of all children.”
The bags are packets to give away system-wide, all month, as long as supplies last. There are two family activities: “Planting Spearmint” and “Make a Meal with Mint.” They are available at your local library.
Capping off the month is a virtual Zoom performance by a Grammy-nominated performer of Latin American Family Music Sonia De Los Santos, May 26 at 4:00 p.m. Meeting ID 821 7570 3315, Passcode 890783.
May 20: Ventura City Councilmember Lorrie Brown, Chairperson of the city’s General Plan revision process, will address the East Ventura Community Council, at its next virtual meeting, on Thursday, at 7:00 p.m. She will speak about issues of concern in the General Plan for East Ventura, as well as citywide. A question and answer period will follow Ms. Brown’s presentation.
In addition, Meredith Hart, Director of the City of Ventura’s Homeless Services, will present an update on efforts to house the homeless, with a focus on the City’s new FAQ educational campaign.
Area crime statistics will be shared by Commander Weeks of the Ventura Police Department.
The Council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue, and the public is encouraged to attend and participate.
The meeting will be held online at 7:00 p.m. via the Zoom application.
You will first need to download the Zoom app on your computer or smart phone. You do not need an account. If you miss the meeting, you can always view it later on the website, www.eastventura.org. For more information, contact EVCC Chairperson, Deborah Meyer-Morris at [email protected].
May 21-22: Ventura County high school students are invited to attend the Hackathon by the Sea, a two-day computer coding event presented by the Ventura County Office of Education with support from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Engineering & Expeditionary Warfare Center. Hacker Fund, which is a national nonprofit network of STEM mentors, is joining us again this year to deliver the event.
Participants will have the chance to “hack together” all types of creative projects which they will present as they compete for awards. This is an opportunity for students to team up with some of the brightest minds in Ventura County through a variety of workshops. This free event is open to students in grades 9-12 and will be held on Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. All experience levels are welcome.
May 26: The Ventura College Area Community Council will be holding a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, at 7pm. An invitation and link to the meeting will be sent to everyone on the CACC mailing list. Council meetings include speakers and discussion on topics of neighborhood and community interest, including public safety and economic development. At the May meeting, a representative of Ventura College will be discussing long-range plans for developing facilities at the college. Also, Christy Weir, from the Ventura Tree Alliance, will explain how residents can get involved in “urban forestry.” CACC represents citizens in Council District 3, neighborhoods between Dunning/Lemon Grove and Hill Road, north of Hwy. 126. collegeareacouncil.com/map. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ http://collegeareacouncil.com/wp/ to be added to the mailing list and to access a link to the Zoom meeting.
June 4 – June 20: Channel Islands Choral Association presents “Into the Light”; A virtual choral experience celebrating Black composers in choral music.
Performances include CSU Channel Islands University Chorus and Pleasant Valley School District Chorus. Online Video on-demand streaming event will be available from June 4 through June 20. Tickets available at www.cicachoir.org
June 6: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum has resumed the first Sunday afternoon docent-led tours with covid protocols from 1 to 4 p.m. Group size is strictly limited. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.
June 6: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.
Sunday 2 :00-4:00 pm
Moorpark Community Center, 799 Moorpark Ave.
Live Music on stage. Jamming on the Patio. Free Admission. Free parking Open to Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA
Laura Jean Jespersen was the featured artist at the al Fresco Art Exhibit held at the Olivas Adobe Historical Park held on Mother’s Day May 9. An added feature of the day was the rose garden in full bloom and the owls to be seen in the trees. Breeze staff member and Vice president of Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters Mary Thompson enjoyed the painting by Laura which was inspired by the second son of Raymundo and Teodora Olivas Jose Nicholas Olivas.
Donna Granata’s portraits of Ojai artists, who have been extensively documented for the Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library, are part of a group exhibit at the Ojai Valley Museum. The exhibit was curated by Roger Conrad who said, “Not mere picture takers, they are artists. Their chosen subjects are refined to an essence that transcends banality.”
Museum Hours:
Fridays from 1pm to 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm
Mr. Editor, I must take issue to your statement found within the Opinion/Editorial section of your recent issue (May 5) under the sub-part “Georgia’s new sweeping elections law”.
In part you wrote: “No person shall solicit votes in any manner or by any means or method, nor shall any person distribute or display any campaign material, nor shall any person give, offer to give, or participate in the giving of any money or gifts, including, but not limited to, food and drink, to an elector,”.
I have been a native resident of California since 1943; with only a short vacation of 10-years in East Texas. From all that time it has been an election violation in California to have any voting campaigning or solicitations within several hundred feet of a polling place. The offer of food or drink would come under the same law if any campaign material (buttons, badges) were worn by the person offering food or water.
From watching, reading, and listening to various news reporting organizations it appears the state of Georgia is trying very hard to get in line with California. California, which has led the way in National issues for decades.
Michael Gordon
Michael: Just to clarity I just quoted Georgia law I didn’t write it.
Are you an amateur cartoonist? Send your cartoon to [email protected].
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough ~Mae West
Hi: I’m Sam, a handsome 6-year-old Boxer who was rescued from a shelter in Wasco where I was taken by my owner. I’m grateful C.A.R.L. is giving me a chance to find my forever home.
Buck is a 6-year-old German Shepherd mix who loves playing with squeaky toys and tennis balls and going for walks. 
