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Local Dignity Health pediatrician discusses back to school safety

As school districts consider how to reopen, Dignity Health St. John’s Hospitals want community members to stay informed of precautionary measures to minimize exposure of COVID-19. Pediatrician Imelda De Forest, MD, shares steps parents can take to help protect children, teachers, and administrators as they prepare to head back to school.

“Parents are concerned for the health and well-being of their children as they return to the school setting, and as partners in health care, we want to share best practices for minimizing risks of exposure to the children in our communities,” says Dr. De Forest. “As we enter the new school year, taking precautions against getting or spreading the virus will help flatten the curve and move toward resuming more typical schedules and school days.”

Dr. De Forest encourages gentle, age-appropriate conversations between parents and children to review hygiene practices, such as the importance of handwashing and coughing or sneezing into your elbow. Daily parental monitoring of children’s temperature and overall health and wellness is also essential, and keeping unwell children home is recommended. Ongoing conversations about how the pandemic may alter the school day will help provide awareness and understanding to children when encountering changes.

“We are proud to partner with local hospitals to educate the community about how to best protect their children during this pandemic,” says Dr. De Forest. “We want to do our part to keep local parents and children informed about how to stay safe and healthy as they return to some regular activities.”

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released guidelines for reducing the coronavirus spread and maintaining a safe and clean school building:

  • Cleaning/disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in the school and on buses at least daily.
  • Limiting the use of shared art supplies, toys, and gym equipment.
  • Keeping each child’s belongings separated from others.
  • Ventilation systems that circulate outdoor air.
  • Space seats and desks at least six feet apart. Turn desks that face each other to face the same direction or have children sit on one side of a table.
  • Create space on buses by keeping one child per row and skipping rows if possible.
  • Install barriers and sneeze guards where needed, like in offices, or tape lines on floors or sidewalks.
  • Close all communal spaces like cafeterias, dining halls and playgrounds.
  • Have children bring their own meals or serve individually plated meals in classrooms with disposable utensils.
  • Setting staggered arrival and drop-of times to limit contact between students and parents.

The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings for teachers and students to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under the age of two.

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Ventura Music Scene

PLAYING THE GAME

I’ve spoken to a number of venue owners the past couple of weeks as they tread lightly doing their best to follow the guidelines in place to operate safely in this time of COVID-19. And without naming names, I know several have had to stop the music (literally) to remind patrons that wearing masks is mandatory in their establishment unless you’re seated at your table. Social distancing is being enforced and whether you think the whole thing is a conspiracy theory or not, it’s their business, literally! They can make up whatever rules they want to secure their venue, but the bigger issue is that they’re actually enforcing what has been mandated by the governor of California. Do you want them to be closed down by code enforcement? Of course not! So, I beseech you to please wear a mask, because if you don’t you’re going to not only put their business at risk, but you could pass along the virus not even knowing you’re a carrier.

We all want to get back to normal. We all want to hang out, and give hugs and hearty handshakes to old friends while taking in our favorite bands, but we’re nowhere near that point yet. If you feel strongly enough about not wanting to wear a mask, then please stay away and listen to music at home. There are plenty of live streaming concerts still being held.

NOT BACK TO NORMAL

Reopening doors, following safety guidelines and trying to get back up to speed may not include live music at this time for a lot of venues. I understand (she says with a pitiful lower lip pushed out trembling ever so slightly). The priority is paying the rent and the staff and rebuilding a clientele. So, don’t forget to support all your favorite music venues whether they have live music or not yet. If we do this right, and we do this together supporting where we can, we will live to see another robust economy with a booming music scene.

PLAYING SAFELY

And while we’re on the submit of live music in venues, let’s take it from the perspective of the musician. Not all artists feel safe enough to get back out there to play live. Trust me, they want to, but their better judgement is keeping them away for many reasons. You have your favorite bands, and solo artists, well why not reach out via social media where most of them have accounts. Let them know you miss them, and if you can, buy their music and some merchandise if available to show your support.


DRIVE-IN CONCERTS V

In each of my past four music scene columns I’ve been able to report more details on the Concerts in Your Car events by CBF Productions (California Beer Festival). This past weekend Ventura finally saw a large-scale concert with SuperDuperKyle kicking off the series over the weekend of June 26 and 27. Kyle, a former Ventura High School graduate, was well-received as he gears up for his album release on July 17, See You When I Am Famous.

I’m not going to lie; I am so relieved to hear portable bathrooms are now available as they were not when they first launched this series. Under their FAQ, the Concerts in Your Car website made it clear no restrooms on site, no getting out of your car, and you could not leave the event early. As a female, let me just say “Thank You God!” I just couldn’t wrap my bladder, I mean head around that one! Gratefully, we don’t have to worry about that now.

Back to the business at hand, joining forces with CBF Productions is the Ventura Music Festival as they present John Jorgenson’s Bluegrass Supergroup. On Thursday, July 16. I love that Concerts In Your Car is being so diverse with the genres ranging from rap to bluegrass to alternative rock to country, there literally is something for everyone! And if you are a fan of bluegrass music, then you won’t want to miss Grammy-winning guitarist, John Jorgenson (Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters) who will be joined by fellow music legends Herb Pedersen (Desert Rose Band, Laurel Canyon Ramblers), Mark Fain (seven-time Grammy-winning bassist) and Patrick Sauber (Laurie Lewis band).

I has a quick Q&A following here, but for more information on all the concerts and movies and for purchasing your ticket got to ConcertsInYourCar.com.


Q&A with JOHN JORGENSON

Pam: I’m loving the creativity of our music community; what was your initial response to doing a drive-in concert?

John: Indeed Ventura is a very creative community, and as a musician I feel quite comfortable living here.

When Nuvi Mehta, Ventura Music Festival Artistic Director] asked me to play the drive-in concert for the Ventura Music Festival I was thrilled. I have performed in so many varied venues over my 40 plus years as an entertainer so to get asked to do something new and challenging is rare, surprising and fun. In the last few months most of my contact with my band members has been to cancel or reschedule gigs, so to get to tell them about one that’s actually going to happen was great too.

Pam: What can people expect from your show?

J2B2 is an excellent ensemble both instrumentally and vocally, so people can expect world class singing and playing first of all. Our material ranges from very traditional bluegrass to newer songs from some of the best songwriters of our time. Our goal has been to bring meaningful lyrics into the mix of virtuosic picking and tight vocal harmonies. Hopefully the audience will laugh, wipe a tear or two, think a bit differently, and drive home with smiles on their faces.

Pam: Do you see more of these type concerts on the horizon?

John: Well, I sure hope so! The chance to get out and enjoy a performance from the safety of your own car while still feeling a bit of community and a shared concert experience is extremely rare if not impossible. Here is a way forward!

Pam: Musically speaking, what had you been doing during the shutdown?

John: Since the shut down I’ve been mostly using the time to go through my musical archives of older formats and transfer tapes, as well as organize memorabilia I’ve amassed over the years. I have also done a few remote recording sessions and contributed to a worldwide orchestral and choral collaboration. It’s definitely a time for all performers to rethink and retool.


SURF RODEO

I spoke to JD Drury just a few weeks ago and being the optimist that he is, he was still holding out that Surf Rodeo could in some form or another be pulled off this summer or late fall, but the word came out shortly afterwards that Surf Rodeo is officially off for 2020; JD hung in there hoping for a miracle, but alas…it wasn’t to be. The official post on social media: “It is with heavy hearts that after several conversations with the City of Ventura and State Parks, due to Covid-19, we will not be able to party on the beach this summer. We love you and we miss you! WE WILL BE BACK 2021!”

CROOKED EYE TOMMY

Tommy Marsh dropped off a copy of Crooked Eye Tommy’s sophomore CD, Hot Coffee and Pain which is scheduled for an August release. It was recorded in Ojai at Carbonite Studios with Grammy-winning audio engineer, Jason Mariani (Joe Bonamassa, Robben Ford). You know I’ll be spinning a couple tunes on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour at CAPS Media’s KPPQ-LP, and we’re working on having Tommy be a guest on the VenturaRockSpot which you can view on the Ventura Rock’s YouTube channel. If you loved their last release, Butterflies and Snakes, well you ain’t seen nothing yet! Holy smokes, they hit this one out of the park! More details coming soon.

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.

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Music Calendar

For more up-to-the-date listings go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.

Concerts in Your Car
Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Thurs 7/16: John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band
Sat 7/18: Fishbone, Ozomatli, Rey Fresco
Thurs 7/23: DSB, Journey tribute
Sat 7/25: Third Eye Blind
Thur 7/30: Noise Pollution, AC/DC experience
Fri 8/7: Sublime with Rome
Sat 8/29: Fitz and the Tantrums
RUBICON Stage Productions
7/20 – 7/22: 2 am at the Sands
8/3 – 8/5: Forever Plaid the 30th reunion concert
8/17-8/19: Jimmy Messina & Friends
9/7 – 9/9: Music of the Knights

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
6:30 – 8 pm
Ventura, CA
Sat 7/18: Iginition

William Edward Burghardt

W. E. B. Du Bois (Feb. 23, 1868 to August 27, 1963 aged 95) was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, and editor. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community.

He was the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard. His thesis was “The Suppression of the African Slave-trade to the United States of America.”

Some of what he said:

“We cannot escape the clear fact that what is going to win in this world is reason, if this ever becomes a reasonable world.”

“There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty. But with all we accomplish all, even peace.”

“There is in this world no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained.”

“Nothing in the world is easier in the United States than to accuse a black man of a crime.”

East Ventura Community Council

July 16: Ventura’s new Police Chief, Darin Schindler, and Ventura County’s new Public Information Officer, Ashley Bautista, will be featured on the agenda of the East Ventura Community Council. Each has started in their new positions in the middle of a pandemic and social upheaval, and will discuss what that has been like and what we can expect going forward, based on their general philosophies. They will also answer questions submitted prior to or during the meeting.

The agenda will include a report on crime in the area, by the Ventura Police Department, and additional items of interest from East Ventura City Councilmembers.

Other topics may be added to the agenda, so be sure to check the group’s Facebook page for updates.

The council represents those who live east of Victoria Avenue. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

The meeting will be held online via the Zoom application. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88448837277

Participants will first need to download the Zoom app on their desktops or smartphones. A paid account is not needed. Questions can be asked via the chat feature on Zoom or sent ahead of the meeting to [email protected]. Meetings can always be viewed later, on www.eastventura.org.

The meeting will start promptly at 7 p.m. Councilmembers will answer questions following the main program.

For additional information, contact Chairperson Marie Lakin at [email protected].

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

The Old Guard
Netflix

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

The Old Guard is based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka about a covert group of immortal mercenaries that have been protecting the world for centuries. Led by Andy (Charlize Theron) who, being the oldest and whom they call “Boss”, unexpectedly loses her centuries of immortality with the appearance of Nile (Kiki Layne). Due to being misled by a previously trusted client named Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the team’s special abilities are exposed to the head of Merrick Corp. who believes their DNA could be the answer to aging and illness, as well as creating great wealth for his pharmaceutical company.

After some time apart, the team of four (Andy, Joe, Nicky and Booker) met in Morocco to rescue some kidnapped students, arranged by a previous client named Copley, but were ambushed by a team hired by Copley to catch them, and were shot with hundreds of rounds. The gunmen let down their guard while bullets seemed to magically exit from the bodies of Andy’s team as they came back to life and slaughtered the gunmen. Copley had a long held theory that they were immortal and showed the video to Merrick (Harry Melling), who was developing various anti-aging and anti-disease pharmaceuticals.

After escaping the shootout, the team had a combined dream of a female soldier that was an indicator that there was someone else out there like them, which hadn’t happened for 200 years, Her name was Nile Freeman, a marine in Afghanistan that had gotten in an altercation where her throat was slit and though it seemed she died, she miraculously recovered without even a scratch, which was very disconcerting to her fellow soldiers. Andy, knowing the challenges Nile was facing, left to find the female marine and sent the rest of team after Copley for setting them up.

Andy found Nile and defended her against the soldiers that were about to have her sent away due to her strange recovery. She took her to meet the rest of the team in Paris where they explained that they knew where to find her because they dream of each of each other until they find one another. Joe and Nicky had been part of the team since the Crusades and after endlessly trying to kill each other became lovers. Andy was the oldest, and was struggling with loosing Quynh long ago, who was dropped in a steel cage in the ocean to die and come back to life for eternity.

Unfortunately, Joe and Nicky were captured by an assault team lead by Copley and taken to Merrick’s lab. Nile decided it was all too much, so Andy & Booker went to the lab to rescue Joe and Nicky. Unknown to the team, Booker was working with Copley and helped to capture Andy by shooting her, not knowing she had lost her immortality, but was captured himself by Merrick’s team to be caged and tested with the others.

Nile found Copley, who showed her every incredible thing Andy had affected throughout history with her actions, explaining he turned the team over to help stop disease because of losing his wife. Copley took Nile to the lab to rescue the team and after they escaped they decided Booker’s punishment would be to be alone for 100 years. The team then returned to Copley’s place where they saw all the research he had done to chronicle their heroic efforts throughout time, so they let him off the hook in exchange for protecting them and their anonymity so that they could continue their work.

This film has exquisitely timed action-packed sequences that mimic well-choreographed dance, and Charlize Theron is perfectly cast as the leader of this extraordinary team of immortals. The ending also points toward a sequel with Quynh showing up at Booker’s place six months after his exile.

Rating: R (for sequences of graphic violence, and language)
125 minutes

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Opinion/Editorial

∙ In this issue we launch a new Social Justice column. Please let me know what you think of the column? We hope readers will send in their thoughts to [email protected].

∙The statue of Father Junipero Serra in Sacramento’s Capitol Park was brought down amid a protest focusing on the rights and historical struggle of indigenous people.  As you know, Ventura is deciding what to do with our statue. See coverage in this issue.

Truthfully, as a non-native American, I don’t have a really strong feeling about this. However, since it offends people whose family members were negatively affected, we should listen to them and make it their decision. If the city decides to move it, I think putting it in the garden at the Mission would be a perfect place.

∙Florida reported 15,300 new COVID-19 cases – the most any state has reported in a single day This number blew past the previous high, 12,274, by New York on April 4.

∙If you have heard the transcripts released of body camera footage leading up to George Floyd’s death, you realize that the police officer just out and out killed him. “I’ll do anything, I’ll do anything y’all tell me to, man,” he tells officers early into the transcript. “I’m not resisting, man. I’m not!” He told officers he couldn’t breathe nearly 30 times. He was still being held down even after he died.

∙History 101: The British surrendered at Yorktown October 19, 1781. America declared its independence in 1776, but it took another five years to win freedom from the British. That day came on October 19, 1781, when the British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered his troops in Yorktown, Virginia.

∙A group of scientists at the University of Nottingham think they’ve come up with a new “cosmic evolution” based calculation that says that there are likely to be at least 36 ongoing intelligent civilizations in our Milky Way galaxy.

The Milky Way (home to our Solar System) is estimated to have 100 billion to 400 billion stars, and roughly one exoplanet per star in our galaxy.

A key assumption is that it takes around five billion years for intelligent life to form on other planets, as it does on Earth (we aren’t quite there yet).

∙Billionaire property developer Joe Farrell, a prominent Republican fundraiser, received up to $1 million in taxpayer coronavirus relief funds, according to federal data released Monday. I only requested $500,000 but haven’t received it yet.

∙The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the number of hand sanitizers it recommends U.S. residents avoid due to the potential presence of a toxic substance.

The FDA has issued warnings about 59 different hand sanitizers, many of which contain methanol, which can be dangerous when absorbed through the skin or ingested. All of the sanitizers appear to have been produced in Mexico.

The FDA recommended recalls for the products and warned that it has “seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizer products that are labeled to contain ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination.”

The following is about President Trump in case you don’t want to read it.

“On Sunday, July 5, a segment on Ghislaine Maxwell during Fox News Channel’s ‘America’s News HQ’ mistakenly eliminated President Donald Trump from a photo alongside then Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell,” a spokesperson for the network said. The Fox News spokesperson added, “We regret the error.” What they really regret is getting caught.

Dr. Anthony Fauci disagreed with President Trump’s claim that 99% of coronavirus cases are “totally harmless.” Trump said this after being told that only 1% of people infected die. Apparently he doesn’t think (or understand) that post-viral syndrome associated with Covid-19 has incapacitated some patients for prolonged periods and could affect their health for the rest of their lives. Does he consider that to be “totally harmless.”

In an interview published in The Financial Times, Dr. Fauci stated he last saw Trump in person at the White House on June 2 and has not briefed the president for at least two months.

Trump said of the virus, “I think that at some point that it’s going to sort of just disappear, I hope.” We all hope, and of course at some point it will go away but that would have been much quicker if it wasn’t for his lack of acknowledgement and guidance. “Everything is being handled,” he stated.

President Donald Trump visited the US-Mexico border Tuesday and tried to credit his new wall with stopping both undocumented immigration and the coronavirus

President Trump is once more pushing to have his border wall painted black, a design change that is projected to add at least $500 million in costs. He is insisting that the dark color will enhance its forbidding appearance and leave the steel too hot to touch during summer months.

A day after Fox News’ latest national poll showed that presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden had opened up a 12-point edge over Trump, one of many such surveys in recent weeks that has Biden widening his lead, the president called the Fox poll fraudulent and claimed it was created by “haters.”

President Donald Trump said some Americans might wear face masks not as a way to prevent the spread of coronavirus but as a way to “signal disapproval of him.” Tell that to the over 130,000 Americans who are dead. How sad.

It’s more work to put on a pair of pants or shoes than it is to put on a mask.

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Fractured Actors Serve Laughs A La Carte

Actors gotta act. Audiences love to laugh. To meet both needs, the Fractured Actors Theater Company presented a digital production called Laughter in Place last Friday evening. Though not widely advertised, the Company has been around for several years and has produced some challenging and engaging material covering a wide range of styles and subjects. They tout “theater for a non-traditional audience”. I take that to mean anything goes. I especially love the phrase one of the actors said – “actors in isolation only get weirder.” So true. Haven’t we all changed a bit?

Noted on the Fractured Actors’ website is this statement – “Revisit your favorite characters from our past Speakeasy Projects and meet a new host of oddballs and misfits with brand new stories to tell about these strange times we’re all experiencing together. From afar. But also together.”

Now really, few things are better than being able to watch a show in your p.j.’s with your favorite beverage and snacks readily at hand. You don’t even have to comb your hair.

The one-hour YouTube premiere featured a collection of Zoom interludes, sketch comedy, original music, and a variety of talents. Host Bryan White stated, “We’re glad to not be with you this evening.” Of note are two original songs written and performed by Shelby Figueroa. The lament of Introvert’s Paradise is right on point. Her song Trash TV also has clever lyrics and is well done. She is accompanied in both by James Dorward.

A few of the sketches are re-dos of vignettes from previous performances. Some add a measure of pointed social commentary on the Covid-19 situation. A surprise visit from Dr. Fauci (Bryan White) illuminates the importance of social distancing. It is healing to laugh at how everyone is coping, or not. Grad party shows a family celebrating a middle school graduation via Zoom. Youngster Hunter Ham (the Grad) is a highlight. The inserted product advertisements are amusing and inventive. There is a little something for everyone.

Even the actor’s pets get into the act. One vignette features a bevy of cats (and one dog) voicing their feelings on owners who get in their space.

In the spirit of theatrical generosity, with tongue firmly in cheek, the Company promises a full refund of your (free) admission should you not thoroughly enjoy the evening of laughter. Totally worth twice the price. A guarantee is always appreciated.

Fractured Actors welcomes performers and backstage helpers of all types, all experiences, and all ages to be involved. Missed this one? I almost did but I am glad I got to catch the premiere showing. And, the production is available on the company’s YouTube channel to watch any time. Go to YouTube Fractured Actors to join in.

The best way to stay informed of what’s up next is to subscribe to the company’s email list via their website, www.FracturedActors.com.

Ventura College Foundation’s to provide textbook stipends to veteran students

Textbook stipends to be provided for U.S. veteran students. Photo by Michael Gordon

The Ventura College Foundation’s Jerry Arellano Veteran Resource Center Library Program received $59,000 in new funding to provide textbook stipends to U.S. veteran students attending Ventura College.

Veterans will be given up to $250 per semester for two semesters. To receive the textbook-buying stipend, recipients must donate at least one of their books purchased with the stipend to the Jerry Arellano Veteran Resource Center Library so future students can have access to textbooks at no cost. The library is named after Arellano, a Marine veteran and long-time firefighter including service at Station 32 at Edwards Air Force Base.

The new funding comes from Ventura College Foundation donors who had originally designated their gifts to Veterans Promise, the first program of its kind that enabled U.S. veterans and active duty military students not using G.I. Bill benefits to attend Ventura College tuition-free during their first year of schooling. Since tuition for these students is now covered by the state, donors agreed to transfer their contributions to pay for veterans’ schoolbooks and build the resource center’s lending library.

Full time and part time veteran students can apply for the stipend. The amount is adjusted based on the number of units taken. “We will award these stipends to as many veterans as possible until the funds are exhausted,” says Anne Paul King, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation. “High textbook costs are often a barrier to attending college. The Veteran Resource Center lending library and textbook assistance program relieve some of the financial stress. It also helps veterans reserve their G.I. Bill benefits for when they transfer to a four-year university.”

As of fall 2019, there were 384 veterans enrolled at Ventura College. The college’s Veterans Resource Center offers personalized services to veterans, active duty military and eligible dependents. Staff members assist with college admission applications and course registration, provide academic counseling, and help students access veteran’s benefits. The center includes a study area with computers, printers and scanners. The Ventura College Foundation supports veterans through scholarships and to help cover the cost of such items as parking and health fees, textbooks, transportation to and from school and general school supplies.

For more information about the textbook support program, go to https://venturacollegefoundation.org/veteran-textbooks or call 805-289-6161.

For more information, contact Julie Harvey at (805) 289-6502 or [email protected] or visit www.VenturaCollegeFoundation.org.