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Ventura College custodian selected as VCCCD 2021 Classified Employee of the Year

“Our classified employees often work behind the scenes”

With his trademark “Ask Me” button showcasing his helpful attitude, Ventura College’s Alwin Sauers Jr. has been named the 2021 Ventura County Community College District Classified Employee of the Year. The VCCCD bestows this honor in accordance with the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors, who will now consider Sauers for the CCC statewide award. The award recognizes classified professionals who positively influence countless lives by showing the utmost commitment to our community colleges, by upholding professional ethics and standards and by serving the community with purpose and passion. They embody the best of California’s community colleges.

Fellow VCCCD Classified Employee of the Year nominees included Thomas “Tommy” Arellano of Moorpark College, and Gabriela Rodriguez of Oxnard College.

“Our classified employees often work behind the scenes, yet they play a critical role in helping VCCCD students achieve their academic and professional goals,” said Board Chair Joshua Chancer. “All three candidates are outstanding employees who reflect the District’s focus on serving students, and we are thrilled to have Alwin represent the District at the state level.”

Arellano is the athletic equipment manager at Moorpark College. He is known for his unlimited skills and contributions to the athletic department during his 39 years with the District.

Rodriguez is the student activities specialist for Oxnard College. For the past five years, she has served students and staff with a passion that is imperative to maintaining OC’s high-quality enrichment and academic offerings.

“Gaby focuses on students with every breath she takes. In all her interactions at the college, Gaby is conscientious, strives for success and is fired up to participate. … She does all of this with her characteristic boundless energy and drive to make OC a special place to study and work for everyone,” noted Dr. Oscar Cobain, vice president of student development, in the nomination.

Sauers is a custodian at Ventura College and Ventura College East Campus, where his focus for over seven years has been on serving students. Sauers is an ever-present fixture on the campuses, making him a VC and VCEC ambassador available to help students. With his “Ask Me” button and gentle demeanor, every student feels comfortable asking him for assistance. As an essential worker, Sauers takes special care in guaranteeing the cleanliness of the campuses during the pandemic and always.

“Alwin Sauers Jr. is special. He is a mensch, a good man, who does his job and then some with a true commitment to all the students that we serve. When his name comes up in a discussion or meeting, the response from everyone is always the same: we smile and sing his praises. Alwin is truly deserving of this honor,” wrote Susan Royer, college services supervisor, in Sauers’ nomination.

Up to six recipients will be honored as California Community Colleges Classified Employee of the Year at the May 2021 Board of Governors meeting, where they will receive a $750 cash award and a plaque.

Explore the new Alzheimers.gov website today

NIA is pleased to announce Alzheimers.gov, a new website designed to educate and support people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The website serves as the federal government portal for dementia information and resources.

To develop Alzheimers.gov, we collaborated with people living with dementia, caregivers, advocates, researchers, and others to ensure an informative, easy-to-use, and empowering website. We are delighted to share it with you.

Whether you are living with dementia, a family member or friend, health care professional, researcher, or advocate, Alzheimers.gov is designed for you. Explore the website to find:

  • Information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
  • Tips and resources for caregivers and people living with dementia
  • Updates on what the federal government is doing to address Alzheimer’s and related dementias
  • Clinical trials and studies you can join to help advance ways to treat and prevent dementia
  • Resources for health care providers, community and public health workers, and researchers

Player’s Casino files for bankruptcy

The owners are looking to reopen in a nearby location.

by Richard Lieberman

Player’s Casino in Ventura has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 6th. Player’s Poker Club Inc. announced the firm has debts amounting to 3.5 million dollars, but cash on-hand and investments only total 3 million dollars according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Barbara.

The “Players Casino” sign at the front of the building has been removed. The casino was located at 6580 Auto Center Drive. The parking lot now stands empty. The casino was opened on this site and has remained on the site for the past 11 years.

Michael Kogan, attorney for the gambling center said “the owners are looking to reopen in a nearby location. Casino owners commented that they are optimistic they can re-open safely and make money once the state lifts all Covid-19 restrictions,” Kogan added.

Since the pandemic restrictions went into effect in March, 2020, the casino’s business took a major hit in revenues. The company grossed $16.4 million in revenue in 2019, before the pandemic, compared with $3.9 million last year.

Property owners of the casino site and the casino owners are locked in a stalemate over the rent before the casino filed for bankruptcy and vacated the property, leaving it in disarray reported Michael Case an attorney for the property owners. He also said, “the casino had renewed the lease last fall for another five years and he doesn’t understand why the case is in bankruptcy court. The casino has plenty of money to pay its debts as they become due” he added

Vol. 14, No. 15 – April 21 – May 4, 2021 – Mailbox

Editor,

I think that Governor Newsom has done a great job dealing with the pandemic and with the expansion of voting rights, among other things, but his latest call to re-open the state seems suspect at best.  I am hoping that he is doing this in response to the advice of scientists, though I have read nothing to indicate this.

Instead, I read about the circus the GOP is putting together in a doomed effort to recall him.
I hope he knows that the clowns running this circus will never succeed and I hope that his call to re-open the state is not a knee jerk reaction to it.  I know everyone is hurting because of the pandemic but I think it is still too early to get back to normal simply because there is no “normal” anymore and we may never be able to get back to our lives as they were.  A world-wide, killer, pandemic will do that.  Especially now that we are grasping the fact that it can change and mutate into deadlier forms making our current efforts a moot point.

The old adage, “Money is the root of all evil” comes to mind when I read about states opening up while the pandemic rages on.

When politicians go ahead with re-openings anyway, another adage comes to mind, one that I hope everyone understands and appreciates before it is too late.

That adage is, “You can’t take it with you!”.

Regards,
John Darling

Breeze:

Just read your article on the flu(covid shots) you need to check your facts first , the covid shot has not been approved by the FDA , because it was considered a state of emergency that the shot needed to get out as soon as possible , You as a news paper needs to check your facts as you spread the news.

Michele Bruns

Note: This was not an article or the opinion of the Breeze. An opinion from a reader.

Sheldon:

I just wanted to thank you for your kind words and a very appreciated book review.  It was very therapeutic to write this book and I am so humbled by you and other people I respect being so supportive.  We have a lot of talented people in our community and a lot of very interesting stories. I’m thankful that you are part of my life journey Sheldon.

Thank you Doug Halter

Dear Sheldon:

Is it possible to get severe withdrawal symptoms from not getting to read The Breeze for a really long time? Well, you can.

I stopped driving several years ago, so I was incapable of picking up The Ventura Breeze. What a deadly experience. I discovered that I loved reading The Breeze, and without the car, I couldn’t pick up The Breeze at the local market. I couldn’t pick up lots of things, but the thing I miss most was your paper. The Breeze was a great fit for me for years. It was the right size, published material that I liked reading about. Was published by a man who loved dogs. The Breeze had all kinds of things I enjoyed looking at and reading about, and best of all, The Breeze was generous to me, publishing some of my articles. I enjoyed the paper for it’s contents and for the variety of information about Ventura and all the neat places that surround me.

You know what happens with withdrawal? Of course, you do. I have been suffering from Breeze withdrawal. Fortunately, I was able to pick up an edition of the Breeze recently, and discovered how much and how deep was my withdrawal. One look at The Breeze and one affectionate run through, and I realized how much trouble I was in. Without the Breeze, I was on the verge of a serious series of bad withdrawal. I have pulled through this almost deadly experience. I know I need some heavy doses of Breeze deliveries and reading the paper good and thorough. I need The Breeze reorientation and relaxation recovery cure. The current edition has me close to being cured. The rest of the treatment is now up to me to be sure I don’t suffer another major withdrawal experience. Believe me. This will not happen again.

Thanks Sheldon. Best regards and Best wishes for all of us.
Es Cole and Manny

Sheldon

I must take issue with one of your comments about Asian Hate in New York.

“Ignorant people say, “They should go back to where they came from.” We all came from somewhere else except Native Americans. So, using this approach, all of us, except Native Americans, would need to go back to where our ancestors came from. Mine from Russia and Romania.”

Ignorant people say… Not only are they ignorant, they are historically clueless. Many thousands of ethnic Asian folks were born, raised, and dies right here in America, since the 1840s. Those decedents are natural American citizens. They can’t ‘go back to where they came from. They are here!

So, using this approach, all of us, except Native Americans…
Even our “Native Americans” came from somewhere else. There is very strong genetic evidence that the original Native Americans migrated from Mongolia, up to Siberia, across the Bearing Sea Ice Bridge, into Alaska, down into America, South to Mexico, and perhaps into South America.

Your ancestors came from Russia and Romania; mine came from Scotland, Germany, and Native American (New York). North America was a grand grazing land for the Dinosaurs.

Just my few cents worth,

Michael Gordon

Michael:
So its sounds as if no one should live her.

The great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used to failing.
~ Albert Schweitzer

Vol. 14, No. 15 – April 21 – May 4, 2021 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Finding Ohana – Netflix Originals

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

In “Finding Ohana”, a young Hawaiian girl named Pili (Kea Peahu), who was a geocaching champion, becomes a real life treasure hunter after finding the journal of a fabled sailor while visiting her grandpa in Hawaii. The journal showed where the treasure was hidden from a ship named the Peruvian that was sunk off the Hawaiian coast over 200 years ago. With the help of her older brother Ioane (Alex Aiono), and new friends Casper (Owen Vaccaro) and Hana (Lindsay Watson), Pili uses her treasure hunting skills to lead them all on a great adventure exploring the beauty of Hawaii as well as learning about its sacred culture and traditions.

Pili’s mother Leilani (Kelly Hu) left Hawaii and moved to New York when Pili was a baby and her brother Ioane was very young due to their father passing away while serving in the military. It had been over 10 years since Leilani saw her father, who lived on the Hawaiian land their family had for generations in the house he built himself. Due to her dad having a heart attack, Leilani returned to Hawaii with Pili and Ioane to help with his recovery.

Pili and Ioane were both unhappy to be away from the big city life in New York, with all its conveniences like WiFi, which was not working at Papa’s house that was well out of cell reception range as well. This left them with a lot of frustration and time on their hands, but that was quickly solved with Pili when she found the journal in her grandpa’s old bus of a sailor named Monks that led to a long lost treasure.

Pili’s Papa (Branscombe Richmond) had a young friend named Casper, who was a bit quirky (like taking his cat everywhere a wagon) that quickly became fast friends with Pili and was able to share some other details he knew about Monks’ journal and the hidden treasure from a sunken ship called the Peruvian.

When Papa discovered Pili had taken the journal, he decided to take her on a boat trip to the island that was shown in one of Monks’ drawings, and then also showed her that the very gold coin he wore on a necklace was part of the map to the treasure of the Peruvian. Unfortunately he fell and was injured, leaving Ioane to take care of Pili while their mom was at the hospital with their grandpa.

Pili snuck out and set off with Casper to find the treasure, while Ioane went looking for them with their other new friend Hana, who he had a crush on. Together they all overcame unforeseen challenges and their own fears to find the treasure, only to discover is was in a sacred tomb guarded by the Night Watchers, which were the ghosts of Hawaiian warriors that marched at night and protected the island. After all they experienced, they chose to follow tradition and leave the treasure, just as they discovered their Papa had done years ago.

“Finding Ohana” is filled with thrills, adventure, history, majestic scenery and heartwarming family moments. It’s also amusing the way the historical reenactments are done using proper sets and costuming, but using the dialog and lip syncing of the person telling the story in the present moment, similar to the “Drunk History” series.

Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2h 3m

International Mail Art Exhibition hosted by Joe Cardella’s ARTLIFE Foundation

Ventura artist Carrie Vogi is one of the artists on display.

An International Mail Art Exhibition hosted by Joe Cardella’s ARTLIFE Foundation opened April 15, and runs through May 14, in downtown Ventura.

Entitled the “Post” Pandemic Mail Art Exhibit, it called for artists throughout the world, professional, amateur, or beginners, to mail in 6” x 9” postcard size works of art for an exhibition. The show honors artist Joe Cardella, whose ARTLIFE magazine collected mail art over twenty-five years, totaling over 10,000 pages, and reflects dependence on the “post” for sharing art then, now and after the pandemic.

Artists from 22 countries submitted over 237 pieces of art, from the USA, Greece, Japan, Romania, Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Brazil, Uruguay, Hungary, the UK, Denmark, Macedonia, Spain, Turkey, Serbia, Norway, Belgium, Sicily (Italy).

The live actual exhibit will be on display at two downtown Ventura locations, walkers can view the postcard art in the windows at 47 S. Oak St and around the corner at 365 E. Main St. near Oak St.

All works in the actual exhibit are posted virtually on line at the Foundation website:
https://artlifefoundation.org.

The Foundation dedicates itself to position Ventura as one of the world’s major Mail Art centers and strives to develop the recognition of art as an essential human need and to expand communication among artists in our area and throughout the world.

Ventura Pottery Gallery Celebrates Mother’s Day

Potter Suzanne Cline will be demonstrating at the Gallery.

The artists of Ventura Pottery Gallery in Ventura Harbor invite you to stop by May 8th or 9th from 11-6 to pick up a special token of appreciation for your favorite mother. To show our appreciation we will provide fresh flowers for the first ten purchases (each of the two days) of a hand-made vase from the gallery. While the traditional flower for Mother’s Day is a carnation, all sorts of flowers will be available. The gallery is teaming up with florist Suzan Matsukawa to fill your hand-made vase.

Gallery artist have been busy making one-of-a-kind vases for that one-of-a-kind mother. There will be a special outdoor exhibit of vases or step inside the gallery to explore other ceramic creations.

In addition, there will be demonstrations by potters Rebecca Catterall (Sat 11-2), John Grisafe (Sat 2:30 – 4) and Suzanne Cline (Sun 12-2). Watch the magic as the clay transforms from a lump to an elegant vase!

Register inside the gallery by the end of the day Friday, May 7 to win a hand-made vase by ceramic artist Ellen Wohlstatadter with a faux floral arrangement created by floral designer and artisan, Suzan Matsukawa. Winner does not need to be present to win. 

The Ventura Pottery Gallery is located at 1567 Spinnaker Drive, Suite 105 in Ventura Harbor. The Gallery is open seven days a week from 11-6. We also have an online store for those who can’t make it to the harbor. For more information visit www.venturapottersguild.org.

New mural by Ventura based artist, Andrew Rodriguez

Check out the new mural by Ventura based artist, Andrew Rodriguez on the corner of Loma Vista and St. Paul’s Drive.   Andrew has combined his love for the ocean, people, and design to bring about a unique style filled with light and positivity in his numerous murals painted locally and around the state of California. Andrew is currently working on a series of children’s books with the help of his wife and kiddos.

If you have questions about the City of Ventura’s Public Art Mural program contact Community Partnerships Supervisor, Kathryn Dippong Lawson at [email protected]

City of Ventura announces new sidewalk repair reimbursement program

The City of Ventura is pleased to announce the Safe Sidewalks Program, a reimbursement program funded by Measure O that aims to help expedite sidewalk repair needs throughout the City by covering a portion of the repair costs for individual improvements made by residents.

The Safe Sidewalks Program reimburses 50% of the repair costs, up to $2,500 per resident property frontage. Income-qualified residents (per California Alternate Rates for Energy Income Qualifications) may receive a match of 75% of repair costs, up to $3,750 per property frontage.

“Since 2016, we have improved over 40,000 square feet of sidewalks throughout the City, yet due to limited resources, there are still areas that need repair,” said Public Works Director Phil Nelson. “Along with the City Council, who approved this program in January 2020, our goal is to provide a pathway for residents to fast track their sidewalk repairs to improve accessibility and safety for everyone.”

Now accepting applications, residents must apply by March 31, 2022, and need approval before starting repair work with their selected contractor. Selected contractors must meet the following criteria:

Possess a current City-issued business license;

Possess a valid A, C-8, C-12, or C-61:D:06 contractor’s license; and

Registered with the State of California’s Department of Industrial Relations.

All project applications must have work completed by June 30, 2022, and approved by the City before receiving reimbursement. Pending budget approval, beginning July 1, 2021, the program allocates $350,000 in total funding with an anticipated annual distribution of $50,000 to each of the seven City Council districts. The Public Works Department may use any unused funds to repair sidewalks throughout the City or return them to the Measure O Fund.

To apply for the Safe Sidewalks Program or for more information and resources, visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/SafeSidewalks.

Chronic Conditions Clinical Research COVID and dementia

The study found that people with dementia were twice as likely to get COVID-19

People with dementia have a higher risk of getting COVID-19, are more likely to require hospitalization, and are more likely to have severe or fatal cases of this disease compared with people without dementia. This risk is even higher in Black patients with dementia, according to a new study funded in part by NIA and published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

A person’s age and preexisting health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are significant risk factors for serious illness from COVID-19. Interestingly, these factors are also linked to dementia. However, scientists and doctors have little information about how COVID-19 affects people who have dementia. The new study, led by researchers at Case Western Reserve University, used information from the electronic health records of about 61.9 million U.S. adults from all 50 states to explore the link between dementia and COVID-19. The data was collected as part of the IBM Watson Health Explorys database. In this dataset, more than 1 million patients had dementia, 15,770 had COVID-19, and 810 had both.

The study found that people with dementia were twice as likely to get COVID-19 compared with people without dementia, even after adjusting for age, sex, living in a nursing home, and having similar preexisting conditions. The researchers suggest that the memory problems associated with dementia might make it difficult for patients to stick to safety measures such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and social distancing.

Results showed that 73% of Black patients with dementia and 54% of White patients with dementia were hospitalized within 6 months of their COVID-19 diagnosis, compared with 25% of patients without dementia. Only 20% of Black patients with dementia but not COVID-19 and 12% of White patients with dementia but not COVID-19 were hospitalized within the same time frame. Patients of either race with dementia were almost four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than patients without dementia. The researchers also found that vascular dementia, which is caused by damage to the vessels that supply blood to the brain, led to the highest risk of COVID-19, suggesting that damaged blood vessels might make it easier for disease-causing bacteria and viruses to get from a person’s blood into the brain.

Although their findings need to be replicated using other databases and registries, the researchers note that the study lays the foundation for future research into the interactions between COVID-19 and brain diseases, including whether COVID-19’s effects on the brain increase the risk of or worsen dementia. The study demonstrates the need for innovative and effective measures to protect older adults with dementia from COVID-19 as part of controlling the pandemic and highlights the pressing need to address health disparities.

This research was supported in part by NIA grants AG057557 and AG062272.

Reference: Wang Q, et al. COVID-19 and dementia: Analyses of risk, disparity, and outcomes from electronic health records in the US. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2021, Feb 9. doi: 10.1002/alz.12296. E-published ahead of print.