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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.

Visit Ventura’s Cheryl Bagby is chosen to lead the Central Coast Tourism Council

Cheryl takes the CCTC helm at a challenging time.

Visit Ventura is proud to announce that our very own Cheryl Bagby has been chosen to serve as President of the Central Coast Tourism Council. The Central Coast Tourism Council (CCTC) is a non-profit organization comprised of hospitality businesses (from Convention and Visitors Bureaus to hotels and attractions) throughout California’s Central Coast. Their task is to promote the (breathtakingly beautiful) Central Coast to the world.

Since Cheryl has a sense of fun, we will too. Winnie the Pooh once said, “Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.” As Visit Ventura’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing of six years, Cheryl has shown that kind of care and love for Ventura. She simply spread that care and love to other Central California towns when she first joined the CCTC five years ago as a member of their Marketing Committee.

Now she will turn that caring and heart — and sense of teamwork — toward promoting the Central Coast as CCTC President.

“In my time with CCTC, our mantra has always been ‘Lets do together, what we can’t do on our own,’” Cheryl said. “It’s precisely that collaboration that has seen us succeed in marketing the Central Coast in the past — and now, more than ever, it will take collaboration to succeed in our recovery efforts. It’s an honor to be elected CCTC President. But more importantly, it’s an honor to be working alongside colleagues and neighbors to build back our communities.”

Cheryl takes the CCTC helm at a challenging time. Tourism has been hard hit by COVID-19. Travel has plummeted, as have travel dollars that once funneled into communities around the world, Ventura included. Travel industry unemployment is double that of the Great Depression; hundreds of thousands of tourism and hospitality workers are now unemployed in California.

But Cheryl has always taken the optimistic tack, one of the characteristics that has seen her excel at Visit Ventura. As soon as COVID-19 hit, Cheryl and her Visit Ventura teammates threw their imaginations into the ring, creating outside-the-box ideas to encourage Venturans to support their own town in the absence of visitors.

“Tourism will be the powerhouse that drives California — and the United States — back to its feet,” said Cheryl. “And until that happens, Visit Ventura will keep working hard to keep our town’s economy and morale afloat.”

It was just this sort of creative (and unrelenting) work ethic — and upbeat attitude — that saw the Central Coast Tourism Council select Cheryl as their President.

“We are so happy to have Cheryl as CCTC President,” said Molly Cano, CCTC board member and past President. “She’s the consummate travel professional, yes, but, more than that, she possesses a happy work ethic and enthusiasm that are contagious. In my time working with Cheryl, I’ve seen what she can do. I know, with Cheryl, anything is possible.”

Marlyss Auster, Visit Ventura’s President & CEO, has watched Cheryl’s (joyful) work ethic for seven years. “Cheryl has been in the Tourism & Hospitality industry for over fifteen years, but when she comes into the office it’s as if she’s bringing her first day energy to our Visit Ventura team,” said Marlyss.

Cheryl will serve as President of the Central Coast Tourism Council for one year.

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wed. 6-24

 5:03pm, dispatched to a stingray strike at Harbor Cove beach. Officers responded with hot water to assist the patient.

Thursday 6-25

 3:30pm, received a report of a disabled fishing vessel in the main channel of the Harbor. Officers responded, took the vessel en tow to VHV Fuel dock.

Friday 6-26

 10:08pm, received report of trespassers fishing at the Ventura Marina Community lake. Officers responded, found the pair and removed them.

Saturday 6-27

 1:50pm, observed a Striper vessel on the rocks in front of the operations center inside the longdock. Officers responded with rescue lines, passed them to the skipper, hand-lined the vessel to the longdock and secured it. The same vessel was contacted earlier with a different operator speeding in the main channel.

4:45pm, while on patrol in Rescue Boat 19, officers conducted traffic control in the mid harbor area of double kayaks, Stand-Up Paddlers, peddle boats and electric boats. The traffic of these vessels has increased considerably lately.

78:33pm, received a report of fireworks in the harbor. Officers responded and searched but were unable to locate any fireworks in the harbor.

Sunday 6-28

 12:05pm, while on patrol in Rescue Boat 19, officers conducted traffic control of kayakers, Stand-Up paddlers, peddle and electric boats all throughout the harbor with verbal warnings for the rules-of-the-road violations.

4:04pm, dispatched to an assault victim at Ventura Marina Community from FCC. Officers responded and found 87-year-old male who was assaulted last night and sustained a knee injury. The patient was transported to hospital.

Monday 6-29

 11:20am, received report of a fall victim in VHV I dock. Officers responded and found a 65-year-old male who fell overboard off a large purse seiner. The victim was assisted out of the water by the crew and refused medical attention.

Wed 7-1

 8:08pm, dispatched to an assault in the Port District parking lot. Officers responded and found two fishermen who were involved in a knife fight in the lot, one was arrested, and one sustained an injury. VPD is investigating.

10:20pm, received a report of a transient sleeping on the promenade near the Holiday Inn express. Officers issued warning for blocking the walkway.

Thursday 7-2

 5:55pm, received a report of a vessel sinking at Ventura Harbor Marina. Officers responded with Tow Boat US, US Coast Guard and found a 45ft fishing vessel sunk in its slip. A boom was deployed, and salvage operation started.

Friday 7-3

 5:59am, dispatched to public assist, person stuck in an elevator at 4points Sheraton. Officers responded and assisted VFD with the call.

Saturday 7-4

 10:12am, officers enforcing the no fishing ordinance on the Port Districts Longdock. Fishing in Ventura Harbor is limited to designated areas: a vessel, beaches. No fishing allowed from rip rap or docks in Ventura Harbor.

10:21pm, received a report of burglars breaking into a fishing vessel at VHV F-dock. Officers responded and found the owner who chased the would-be intruders off and away from his vessel. A search was conducted by Officers, but they were unable to locate the suspects nearby or around the harbor.

Sunday 7-5

 10:45am, observed a sailboat anchored off the Greenock Lane Jetty. Officers contacted he skipper and advised against anchoring so close to shore.

3:15pm, officers on patrol assisted a 90-year-old fall victim who sustained lacerations to hands/face. Patient was treated, then self-transported to hospital.

7:12pm, received Mayday call from the skipper of a small whaler with 3 persons on board. Officers responded in Rescue B-19, found the vessel, & towed safely.

Vol. 13, No. 21 – July 15 – July 28, 2020 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura  Police Department and are not the opinions of  the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned  are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty  in a court of law.

Carjacking / Hit and Run Arrest

On June 30, at approximately 4:30 pm, Ventura Police Patrol officers responded to a report of a carjacking which just occurred in the 5700 block of Telephone Rd. The victim was sitting in her vehicle when the suspect approached her and pulled her out of the vehicle. The suspect threw the victim to the ground and took the keys to her vehicle. The suspect then fled the area in the victim’s vehicle, running over the victim’s foot in the process. The victim suffered minor injuries as a result of the collision.

At approximately 11:45 pm, the California Highway Patrol stopped the victim’s stolen vehicle in the city of Oxnard after a traffic pursuit that began in Los Angeles County. The driver of the stolen vehicle, 20 year old Gerd Pineda, was safely taken into custody by California Highway Patrol officers. Pineda was also identified as the carjacking suspect. Pineda was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for charges related to the traffic pursuit and he was arrested by Ventura Police for the Carjacking and Hit and Run incident. The recovered stolen vehicle was returned to the victim. Neither the suspect nor officers were injured as a result of this incident.

Attempted Robbery with arrest

On June 30, at approximately 10:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from the Victim, who was reporting a robbery just occurred in front of the business.

During the investigation, officers learned the suspects saw the victim walking in the area. Collin Potter, 24 year old Ventura resident, and 18 year old Ventura resident Christo Benitez drove by the victim and parked nearby. Potter and Benitez approached the Victim on foot and pointed a handgun at the victim demanding money and his wallet. The victim refused to give over his wallet as an unrelated vehicle entered the parking lot. Potter and Benitez saw the unrelated vehicle and fled the area in their vehicle.

Officers were quickly able to identify Potter as the suspect with the firearm. Detectives with the Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit were able to locate Potter and conduct surveillance on him in the area of Saticoy in Ventura. During the surveillance Potter was seen with Benitez, who was identified as the second suspect in the attempted robbery. Potter, Benitez and a third subject were seen entering a vehicle and driving away.

VPD Gang unit detectives along with patrol officers were able to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle and both Potter and Benitez were taken into custody without incident. The driver of the vehicle was detained for a short time and released from the scene.

Potter is currently out on bail for Assault with a deadly weapon (Firearm), Robbery, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm, and Hit and Run. He is a documented Gang member and is on active Probation with Post Release Offender Status and gang terms.

Benitez is a documented gang member.