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The truth behind weight loss ads

“How many more pills do I need to take to lose weight.”

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could lose weight simply by taking a pill, wearing a patch, or rubbing in a cream? Unfortunately, claims that you can lose weight without changing your habits just are not true, and some of these products could even hurt your health. So, don’t be hooked by ads that woo you with wild promises – or by glowing product reviews and “news articles” that are often fake. All you’ll lose is money. Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree: the best way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more.

False promises in ads

Dishonest advertisers will say just about anything to get you to buy their weight loss products.

Here are some of the (false) promises from weight loss ads:

Lose weight without dieting or exercising. (You won’t.)

You don’t have to watch what you eat to lose weight. (You do.)

If you use this product, you’ll lose weight permanently. (Wrong.)

To lose weight, all you have to do is take this pill. (Not true.)

You can lose 30 pounds in 30 days. (Nope.)

This product works for everyone. (It doesn’t.)

Lose weight with this patch or cream. (You can’t.)

Here’s the truth:

Any promise of miraculous weight loss is simply untrue.

There’s no magic way to lose weight without a sensible diet and regular exercise.

No product will let you eat all the food you want and still lose weight.

Permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes, so don’t trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results.

FDA-approved fat-absorption blockers or appetite suppressants won’t result in weight loss on their own; those products are to be taken with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise.

Products promising lightning-fast weight loss are always a scam. Worse, they can ruin your health.

Even if a product could help some people lose weight in some situations, there’s no one-size-fits-all product guaranteed to work for everyone. Everyone’s habits and health concerns are unique.

Nothing you can wear or apply to your skin will cause you to lose weight. Period.

False stories online

Dishonest advertisers place false stories online through fake news websites, blogs, banner ads, and social media to sell bogus weight loss products. This is what they do:

Post false “news” stories. They create so-called “news” reports online about how an ingredient (like garcinia cambogia) found in a diet pill is supposedly effective for weight loss.

Use logos of legitimate news outlets. They place the stolen logos of real news organizations, or they use names and web addresses that look like those of well-known news outlets and websites.

Feature phony investigations. They say these false stories are “investigations” into the effectiveness of a product, and even add public photos of known reporters to make you think the report is real.

Pay for positive online reviews. Sometimes they write glowing online reviews themselves or pay others to do so. Sometimes they just cut and paste positive comments from other fake sites.

Use stock or altered photos. Very often they use images showing a dramatic weight loss, but these images are just stock or altered photographs.

For more information, visit FTC.gov/WeightLoss.

East Ventura Community Council meeting

Development issues are the main topics at the next ZOOM meeting of the East Ventura Community Council, on Thursday, June 18. Ashdon Development will present plans for a mixed use project at Wells and Darling Roads, to include retail establishments, residential units, community-oriented businesses and additional spaces designed for small businesses. Ashdon representatives will be available to discuss possible tenants and to answer questions.

Also on the agenda is Stephen Peck, President of U.S. Vets, part of the team developing Veterans’ housing next to the State Vets Home on Telephone Road.

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 and starts at 7:00 p.m.. To participate you will first need to download the free Zoom app on your desktop or smartphone. Go here to view: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81503509590

During the meeting you may ask questions via the chat feature on Zoom or send them ahead of the meeting to [email protected].

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

Hollywood’s Long Love Affair with Ventura County

Join the Museum of Ventura County for a Zoom Conversation with Ivor Davis.

Thursday, June 25th @ 6:30 PM

Renowned journalist Ivor Davis will discuss numerous behind the scene stories around films partially filmed on location in Ventura County.

The first 40 people to RSVP by June 19th to Denise Sindelar at [email protected] will be invited to join Ivor in a fun and enlightening film discussion.

Downtown Ventura welcomes you for 30 days of Main Street Moves!

Beginning soon Downtown Ventura welcomes you to safely shop, sip, snack, and stroll in the streets for 30 days of Main Street Moves!

For the next 30 days, four blocks of Main Street (between Palm and Fir) and one block of California Street (between Santa Clara and Poli) will be a spacious promenade, open to pedestrian and cyclist traffic only. During Main Street Moves, you’ll be able to safely take to the streets as Downtown restaurants, bars, and retail shops expand their service area onto the sidewalks, allowing more room for dining and shopping, and giving visitors a chance to support Downtown Ventura businesses while maintaining safe distances.

During the street closures, vehicles will not be permitted in the area and barricades will be in place to ensure the safety of visitors.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast announces virtual summer camp

Bringing what you know and love from camp straight to your home.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast is hosting our first ever GSCCC Virtual Summer Camp 2020! Starting Monday, June 22nd until Friday, June 26th, we’re bringing what you know and love from camp straight to your home. We hope that this virtual summer camp gives girls and their families a chance to connect with each other during these uncertain times. Even though our ever-changing environment, Girl Scouts is here to stay. This program aims to bring you some camp magic and classic traditions that you can enjoy from anywhere at your own pace. This camp is open to registered as well as non- registered girls of all ages! Invite a friend to participate along with you!

GSCCC Virtual Summer Camp will consist of a combination of written activities with descriptions and pre-recorded videos. Videos will posted daily on our YouTube channel. More to come on specific programming soon!

The price to register will be $10 per girl, which includes your activity packet, a GSCCC Virtual Camp patch, and one of our Council’s Own patches.

Girl Scouts is dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. When she’s a Girl Scout, she’s also a G.I.R.L. Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader. Through outdoor adventure, even if it is temporarily virtual, girls are allowed to take risks, become their own leaders, and learn about themselves, each other, and their world in new and exciting ways.

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast serves over 8,800 girls across six counties and is committed to making the Girl Scout Leadership Experience available to girls in ways that impact their lives both in the moment and into the future. Girls participate in troops, individual projects, council events, day camps, resident camps and more. A variety of leadership, outdoor skills, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) based programs and events provide girls with opportunities to learn and explore in fun and informative ways. To join or volunteer in Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara or Ventura County, visit: http://www.girlscoutsccc.org.

The Golden Triangle-The spooner trail

By Richard Senate

Long ago, in Ventura, before the oil wells and traffic, before paved roads and telephones a tradition existed here of the “Golden Triangle,” a triangle formed by the cities of Ventura, Ojai and Santa Paula.

Young people who were serious about their relationship would announce to the friends and family that they would “ride the triangle.” This was seen as a big step in their courting. In that time the two were always kept under observations with chaperons—in this ordeal they would be by themselves, alone. The young man would rent or borrow a buggy and horse, the young maiden would cook and make the food. Tearful mothers would see them off at sunup as they started the long ride. By buggy, on those unpaved roads, it was an all day affair.

It was demanding too, at times, when the road was steep, they had to push the buggy themselves. There were bears and snakes to menace the travelers. On the trip they could talk and settle questions they might have, as well as kiss and smooch at stops along the way. It is said that if they were still speaking to each other when they got back home—they would soon wed. I always wonder how many were still virgins after this symbolic journey.

When they pulled in, exhausted from the trip, they had concocted a story of their travels for friends and family. Most of the time it worked, and the two were married, but several times it didn’t and the couples broke up afterwards. The couples were mostly young, but several middle-aged men and women took this test as well. It forced them to work together, handle problems and see if they were compatible together. Not really a bad test for couples who lived in a very demanding age.

Ventura County Library is pleased to announce the Summer Reading Program

With the county’s public library branches still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Summer Reading Program (SRP2020) is taking place in the virtual environment. Children have the opportunity to read, participate in live streaming programs, win prizes, collect badges, and have fun!

“The benefits of library summer reading programs are clear,” states Ventura County Library Director Nancy Schram. “The amount of time children spend reading outside of school is linked to gains in reading achievement. Children who don’t read over the summer can lose up to 2 months of learning by the time they return to school in the fall. To succeed in school and life, children and teens need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. The public library is part of the solution.”

The online Summer Reading Program schedule. Please follow Ventura County Library on social media to find the links for these events:

June 23 – Magic with Christopher T. Magician – 4pm on Zoom

June 30 – Bilingual Music with Nathalia – 4pm on Facebook Live and YouTube Live (simultaneous)

July 7 – Science Experiments & Stories with ScienceTellers – 4pm on Zoom

July 21 – Bilingual Magic with Zany Zoe – 4pm on Facebook Live

July 31 – Harry Potter “Wizard Academy” by Christopher T. Magician – 4pm on multiple platforms

Dance with Teresa Smith – Date and details to be announced

Ojai Raptor Center – Date and details to be announced

For SRP2020: Register at http://vclreads.readsquared.com/. For every minute read, kids earn one point. After earning 500 points, participants may choose a free book to add to their home libraries. For every 100 points accumulated, participants are automatically entered into the grand prize drawing – up to 10 chances per person. The grand prize drawing is twelve Windows 10 laptops. Winners will be notified by email and must be able to pick up prizes in person at one of the open Ventura County Library branches.

Alongside our youth program we are also holding an Adult Summer Reading Challenge. Register at the same place: http://vclreads.readsquared.com/.

Participants age 18 and older log the titles of books they read throughout the summer, and each entry is a chance to win a prize. Enter titles when the book is finished, be they traditional books, audiobooks, or ebooks. Adults may log up to 100 titles throughout the duration of the challenge.

These events are free and open to the public. Find Ventura County Library on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ventura-County-Library-68759970694/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vencolibrary/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/vencolibraryvideo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vencolibrary

Ventura County Library would like to thank the Ventura County Library Foundation, Ventura Friends of the Library, Ojai Valley Library Friends & Foundation, and the Friends of the Port Hueneme Library for their continued support.

For additional information, contact Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director at (805) 256-8535.

MVC announces The 19th: Votes for Women Exhibit

Made possible by the California Humanities for All Grant from California Humanities, MVC is looking to the community for memories, artifacts, and photographs to create this exhibit.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the Museum of Ventura County has begun developing a new exhibit, The 19th: Votes for Women, featuring stories of Ventura County suffragists and the suffrage movement. The Museum has received a $5,000 California Humanities for All Grant from California Humanities to create the exhibit and will design the exhibit to travel to schools and other community spaces. The exhibit will feature a history of the suffrage movement in the United States and how the movement developed locally. The museum is currently issuing a “Call for Submissions” for items from the public to be included in the exhibit.

“Exhibits that are rooted in our community, that include community submitted items, are deeper and richer than any we could create with our collections alone,” says Research Library and Archives Director Deya Terrafranca. “We’re asking for recollections as well as photographs and photos of artifacts or posters. What is your first or most vivid memory of voting? Why do you vote? Do you think voting is important? We hope you’ll share your stories, thoughts, “I voted” stickers, or family voting recollections with the museum.”

The public can submit their photographs or stories between now and Wednesday July 15th through the Museum’s online Suffrage Movement Material Collecting form or by emailing [email protected].

The exhibit is being created in conjunction with Vision 2020 Ventura County, a local group of the national Vision 2020, a national coalition of organizations and individuals working to achieve economic, political and social equality for women. Vision 2020 is a nonpartisan convener, catalyst and rallying point for both women and men who are committed to gender equality. A local chapter of Vision 2020 is organizing events throughout Ventura County during 2020. More information can be found on their Facebook page.

The exhibit will be made possible by California Humanities and their Humanities for All Quick Grant program. Humanities for All is a grant program that supports locally-initiated public humanities projects. This program responds to the needs and interests of Californians, encourages greater public participation in humanities programming, particularly by new and/or underserved audiences. It aims to promote understanding and empathy among all our state’s peoples in order to cultivate a thriving democracy.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations. The main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 and is open Tuesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., 805-653-0323. The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, CA 93060 and is open Wednesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 805-525-3100. For more information,visit venturamuseum.org .

Food Share has expanded its operations

In response to dramatically increased levels of food insecurity, Food Share, Ventura County’s largest hunger-relief organization, has expanded its operations through a generous donation of a temporary lease of a 37,000 square foot warehouse in Oxnard.

The addition of the new space is thanks to Lawrence Joss, owner of Surfaces USA, who has provided the warehouse for free for a minimum of three months while the building is on the market to be sold. The 146th Airlift Wing of the CA Air National Guard provided key logistical support to Food Share staff during the move to help set up the new space for the packing of emergency food boxes.

“We were bursting at the seams trying to store and distribute the additional food we’ve had to bring in to meet the current level of need,” commented Monica White, President & CEO of Food Share. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we’ve increased the amount of food we purchase a month from $50,000 to $300,000. Lawrence understood the problem that was being created at our existing warehouse facility and stepped forward without hesitation. We are beyond grateful for his support for us and our community.”

“I know as a person of privilege and resources that I need to step off of the sidelines and participate in actively sharing,” said Joss. “I know this is a minor offering but I’m hoping that people like me will be willing to get off the sidelines and out of the comfort of the systems that we disproportionately benefit from to be creative and share something for the benefit of all.”

Even in normal circumstances, 1 in 6 people in Ventura County experiences food insecurity, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will be coming from. Typically, individuals and families using food pantries do so on an occasional basis, often to cope with unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs. However, as the mass layoffs, furloughs and reduced working hours caused COVID-19 pandemic have taken hold, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has skyrocketed. Food Share has served more than 120,000 individuals in just the past two months. Many people attending the more than 50 emergency drive-thru food distributions that Food Share have held over the past two months are first-time recipients of food aid.

Up-to-date information on temporary pantry closures, pop-up distribution sites and emergency volunteer opportunities will be posted at foodshare.com/covid19/ and on Food Share’s social media channels.

For information on free Senior Food Kit distributions please go to foodshare.com/seniorkits.

VCAAA also has information and resources for seniors at vcaaa.org/covid-19/

You can make a donation in support of Food Share at foodshare.com/give

Since 1978, Food Share has been feeding the hungry in Ventura County. It all began when eight friends banded together to provide food to those in need in Ventura, CA. The early philanthropic movement started in a family garage, quickly outgrew a donated fire station in Saticoy and now operates in Oxnard, CA with two warehouses with a combined 36,000 square feet. Today, staff and volunteers distribute over 13 million pounds of food, or over 11 million meals, annually through its 190 pantry and program partners. As Ventura County’s food bank, Food Share provides food for 75,000 hungry friends and neighbors monthly. Food Share is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, as well as the California Association of Food Banks. For more information about Food Share, visit www.foodshare.com. Find us on Facebook , Instagram, and Twitter.

Ventura high schools hold graduation event at historic city hall

by Richard Lieberman

Graduation season is here, and Ventura city schools celebrated graduating seniors from local high schools, Buena High School, El Camino High School, Ventura High School, Pacific High School and Foothill Technology High School.

Graduating seniors were invited to join their principal and staff at City Hall to have their names read, receive their diploma, and have their photo taken on the steps of City Hall in their caps and gown, all while their family watched from cars below. With 1200 graduating seniors scheduled to walk officials knew the event would need to be held two days. Saturday June 13^th and Sunday June 14^th were selected.

“Much like our school year, everything changed on a dime, and our teams knew we could wait to see what happen in terms of mass gathering guidelines. We began working on alternative plans immediately in the event traditional graduation would not be possible.” Said Joe Bova, graduation committee coordinator.

Schools had been in the process of planning for pre-recorded virtual ceremonies, per restrictions put in place for large gatherings. That changed on May 27^th when a directive from Ventura Count Public Health allowed county schools to plan for a car line graduation ceremony, where students would be able to leave their vehicles for a photo opportunity and to receive their diplomas. The car line ceremonies only allow for the graduate and their families to attend.

The ceremony was filmed by CAPS Media with fixed and remote cameras and will be shared on-line by June 20^th.

Dr. Roger Rice, Superintendent of Schools said “We want to thank the many dedicated VUSD employees who have been working tirelessly to make this magical moment a reality, never giving up on our student’s dream of an in-person celebration. A big thank you to our city of Ventura Mayor Matt LaVere, city staff, and the Ventura Police Department. Due to the current mass gathering rules, making this ceremony a reality for our students has been no easy feat, and we appreciate you working with us to make this important milestone happen for our students.”

The front of Ventura City Hall was decorated with colorful shade tents, decorated arches and signs depicting the unique event.

Students exited their vehicles and walked to the steps of City Hall where they were presented with their diplomas. After receiving their diplomas students walked down the steps and were shown how to switch their tassel from right to left signifying this momentous occasion.