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Vol. 13, No. 9 – Jan 29 – Feb 11, 2020 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi: I’m Lucy an almost 11-year-old Labrador / Chow X who is an active outdoorsy type of gal who loves to hike, chase balls, ride in the car and just lounge around. I have a great smile, love being around my people getting lots of love and attention. I know basic commands and aim to please.

I was rescued from the Agoura Shelter by a volunteer there (Mary O. who is also my sponsor) because I didn’t get along so well with the other dogs in playgroups so I’ll need to be your one and only in the home. I’d make a great companion, you’ll be happy with just me! Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Ms. Meowington got her name by being quite the talker! She is very friendly and social. She does this adorable thing where she’ll run back and forth in her kennel when you’re walking in the room to try to be as close to you as possible so you’ll pay her attention all while she’s meowing away. Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive Meowington A664916

Start the New Year on the Right Foot with A Matter of Balance

by Patty Jenkins

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to invite our Members, Friends and the Public to attend our second meeting of the New Year on February 12, 2020 from 12:30PM to 2:30PM at Ventura City Hall’s Community Meeting Room (#202 ). We are pleased to have the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging join us with an overview and presentations of their program “A Matter of Balance” and also their Nutrition Program to help us improve the quality of our lives as we face the many challenges of Parkinson’s Disease including aging!

Jannette Jauregui, Public Information Officer for the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, (VCAAA) will provide us with a quick overview of the many services provided by the VCAAA that can benefit all of us.

Carol Vaughn, Fall Prevention Program Instructor of the VCAAA, will give us an overview of their “A Matter of Balance” classes which are designed for those 60 and older who may be more inactive than active and have poor balance. It is also for those who are at risk for falling, may also have experienced a fall and/or may have developed a fear of falling. The goal of this easy-to-do exercise regimen is to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and self-confidence. The VCAAA Fall Prevention Program strives to assist adults to maintain their independence at home.

Patti Jaeger is a Registered Dietitian with the VCAAA Senior Nutrition Program. She will give us information and an overview of their free nutrition counseling services and classes available to Ventura County residents as part of an effort to promote healthy living among older adults. Nutrition counseling services and classes include personalized one-on-one or group settings with a registered dietitian and a focus on healthy eating and variety of other individualized concerns.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with those who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. Hand-out resources available at every meeting. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with any other organization or group. For more information and detailed directions to our meetings, please call Patty at 805-766-6070.

Vol. 13, No. 9 – Jan 29 – Feb 11, 2020 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Transport’s “Bloomsday” captivates

Every so often Transport Theatre Company gets back on the boards. Through February 2, they are back, full force. A theater company without a permanent home, their current production of “Bloomsday” by Steven Dietz is playing a limited run on the south stage of the Elite Theater in Oxnard.

Transport, founded in 2006 by Artistic Director Linda Livingston and Producer John Procter, has continually, albeit sporadically in time, mounted superior theatrical experiences. Bloomsday is no exception.

The four-member cast is superb. Chandra Bond and Trent Trachtenberg handle the roles chronicling when and how Caithleen and Robbie first meet. John D. Reinhart and Linda Livingston embody the same characters after 35 years have passed. The ensemble is outstanding as we witness what could have been, perhaps what should have been, and how life ultimately played out for the two.

The background of the play is James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. Robbie is visiting Dublin, Ireland, when by chance he is approached by Caithleen, a tour guide who is in need of a “fourteenth” member to even out her tour attendance. The tour covers areas of Joyce’s life and adventures, many of which are reflected in his novel. Along the way Robbie and Caithleen find themselves revealing themselves to each other, creating a strong bond. The very Irish Caithleen (speaking in what to my ears is a superb Irish dialect), in the end, cannot be as spontaneous as Robbie would like, and thus they part.

The grown-up Robbie (John D. Reinhart) semi narrates what went before, to the confusion of the younger couple. Grown-up Caithleen (Linda Livingston) also enters to help her younger self understand why some things happened and how they could have played out differently had choices been made. The premise can be a bit confusing in the beginning, but clarity emerges as the play progresses.

As noted in the program, “Bloomsday celebrates the novel, its author, and the characters’ lives”. First celebrated in 1954, the commemorative event occurs in Dublin annually on June 16, the day the novel Ulysses takes place in 1904. It is named after the protagonist Leopold Bloom. Considered a literary street festival, participants frequently dress in period attire and readings from Joyce’s work are performed. Attendees also walk to pubs and locations noted in the book. It is this that the “tour” in the play mirrors.

The setting is simple. A few seating areas, a few sheer scrims behind which the actors can pass as though transcending time. The venue is intimate so the audience (well, I did, anyway) felt thoroughly involved in the tour as well as the back story.

Quite a bit of humor emerges through the lines, enhanced by the actors’ clear understanding of how to play their characters to the fullest. Director Tom Mueller expressed his delight at the actor’s abilities to inhabit the roles so completely. Overall, I found it to be a compelling experience.

Bloomsday runs until Feb 2 at the Elite Theater, 2731 Victoria Ave, Oxnard (Channel Islands). Tickets available at www.BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs Fri and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. All seats $22. Seating is limited so reservations are recommended.

Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams

Scammers are pretending to be government employees. Scammers will try to scare you and trick you into giving them your personal information and money. They may threaten you or your family and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action.

Don’t be fooled!
If you receive a suspicious call:
1. Hang up!

2. Do not give them money or personal information!

3. Report the scam at OIG.SSA.GOV!

The call or email says there is a problem with your Social Security Number or account.

Someone asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.

Scammers pretend they’re from Social Security or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not.

Callers threaten you with arrest or other legal action.

Social Security may call you in some situations but will never:

Threaten you
Suspend your Social Security Number
Demand immediate payment from you
Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, or wire transfer
Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash

Protect yourself, friends and family!

If you receive a questionable call, hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov
Don’t be embarrassed to report financial loss or sharing information
Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam
Share this information with others

Vol. 13, No. 9 – Jan 29 – Feb 11, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday 1-7

 8:10pm, while on patrol, officers observed a vessel with insufficient lights and illegally placed hoop nets. The vessel was contacted and escorted to the District longdock for further inspection. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the vessel lacked a all-around light, no documentation & expired fishing license. Written warnings were issued to the fishermen for the violations.

Thursday 1-9

 1:08pm, received a dispatch to an unconscious person at the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the patient.

Friday 1-10

 7:30am, while on patrol, received a request for Harbor Entrance conditions. Large waves were observed, but the entrance is open. The inquirer was advised to use caution and follow the navigation buoys when exiting and entering harbor.

Saturday 1-11

 4:30pm, received a request for a tow from the operator of a disabled sailboat. Officers responded and assisted TowBoat U.S. with the call for assistance.

6:20pm, while on patrol in RescueBoat 19, officers contacted eleven fishing vessels (including kayaks) for illegal placement of hoop nets around the breakwall and to warn of strong winds forecast.

Sunday 1-12

Monday 1-13

 11:00am, officers in the Fireboat assisting and monitoring the Greek Epiphany Ceremony at VHV D-dock. Several young and old participants recreate the swim for the cross in the water.

2:12pm, received a report of a transient in the men’s shower at the Ventura Yacht Club. Officers responded and found a male transient in the shower. The individual advised his brother was a member of the club, but upon investigation it was discovered he wasn’t. He was removed and warned of the trespassing.

11:45am, received a report of a motor vessel speeding through the harbor near the yacht club. Officers investigated and found the reported vessel. The violator admitted his violation and was released with a warning for the infraction.

3:00pm, while on patrol in the vehicle, observed severe sand erosion from Surfers Knoll Jetty to the Rivermouth. Also observed a few large rip currents.

Tuesday 1-14

 5:00pm, while on patrol, officers observed a diesel sheen near VIM E-dock. Several absorbent pads were in the water adrift. Officers searched the area and interviewed several people but were unable to locate a source or the individual who placed the absorbent pads. Investigation continues for responsible party.

Wednes 1-15

 3:45pm, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers observed a Hazard to Navigation near the North-end of the detached breakwall. The owner of the lobster trap, a commercial fisherman was contacted, he will move the hazard.

Thursday 1-16

 8:15pm, dispatched to stabbing victim at Riverhaven refuge. Officers responded, assisted AMR/VPD with the call. The patient refused medical care.

Saturday 1-18

 6:01am, received multiple reports of a water leak with a large amount of water at the entrance to Harbor Cove parking lot. Officers investigated with the assistance of Ventura FD but were unable to secure the leak. Eventually, Ventura City water arrived, secured and repaired the ruptured pipeline.

12:10pm, received report of an injured sea bird near VWM D-dock. Officers responded and found the reported bird. As officers were closing in to capture the injured bird for rescue volunteers, it flew away, apparently not injured.

Sunday 1-19

 2:10pm, received multiple reports of a vessel operating recklessly near Solimar. The reported vessel returned to the harbor and contact was made by multiple agencies near the launch ramp with the operator. Warnings were issued for the violations in the hope the operator/owner can respect the boating public with safer operation of their vessels.

6:55pm, while on patrol in Rescue Boat 19, officers contacted several vessels engaged in hoop netting near the breakwall. Officers issued warnings and had fishermen remove their hoop nets from illegal areas.

Monday 1-20

 5:15pm, dispatched to a medical, sick person at 1691 Spinnaker Drive from FCC. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the call. The patient was located and assessed for a hand injury. Patient self-transported to hospital.

11:11pm, received dispatch to an unconscious person at the FourPoints Sheraton. Officers responded and assisted AMR/VFD with a 64-year-old patient who fainted in the lobby. The patient was treated and released at the scene.

 

 

VCAAA and AARP partner to offer free tax preparation for Ventura County residents

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging and the AARP Foundation are partnering to offer tax preparation services to residents of Ventura County. This service is free and available to anyone of low to moderate income and may be especially suited to those 50 and older. Services are available beginning February 3.

To receive services, individuals must bring all necessary documentation, including applicable Social Security cards, a photo ID, a copy of 2018 tax returns, and 2019 documents showing income from all sources including wages, Social Security, interest, dividends, investments, self-employment and pensions.

For individuals that itemize deductions, please provide total figures for each category of deduction, including medical, charitable contributions, property tax, and mortgage interest. Any individual that received a health insurance statement (Form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C), is asked to also bring the required documentation. Volunteers are unable to prepare returns for married taxpayers who file separate returns, or for taxpayers with rental property income. Volunteers are also unable to prepare out-of-state tax returns.

AARP representatives will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. through April 15 at the VCAAA offices located at 646 County Square Drive in Ventura. No appointment is necessary, and participants are not required to be AARP members. This location is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

The AARP Foundation operates the AARP Tax-Aide program under a cooperative agreement with the IRS. To help you complete your tax forms, AARP’s trained and IRS-certified volunteers will see personal information that you give them about you and your finances. This information is strictly confidential. We will not share your information with anyone except as necessary to accurately file your tax returns or as otherwise required by law. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has more than 5,000 locations in neighborhood libraries, malls, banks, community centers and senior centers. There’s no fee and no sales pitch for other services and AARP membership is not required. 

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, people with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

 

The Museum of Ventura County making news

The Museum of Ventura County has received a grant through CRG, the California Revealed Grant, to digitize forty volumes of the Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly Journal. The Museum’s Research Library and Archives will digitize 40-years of historical writing, spanning 1955 to 1995, to be made available through the California Revealed website and on the Museum’s Research Library and Archives webpage in the Spring of 2020.

“The Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly Journal is an immensely important local history resource. The Quarterly covers topics from the creation of the county to major disasters to important historical figures and everything in between,” says Research Library and Archives Director Deya Terrafranca.

The Museum’s Library and Archives is working diligently to increase access to the collections by making its catalogs available online and digitizing historically rich collections.

The Museum’s photograph collection of 45,000 images dates from 1862 to the present. It includes photographs of visiting US Presidents McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. These diverse and consequential stories add to the story of our country’s diversity and political landscape.

The Museum announced that it has received funding to rehouse 144 Native American baskets representing tribes such as the Chumash, Pima, Navajo, and Hupa. Native baskets are highly sought after by collectors and one of MVC’s most valuable collections. A portion of the collection is currently featured in the exhibit Woven Earth, on display in the Smith Gallery. In addition, the collection is frequently requested for loans, research and exhibition so their preservation is a top priority.

Local philanthropists John and Stephanie Orr donated much of the cost of the new shelving units, with a portion of the cost being covered by funding received from the County of Ventura. The Museum received the funds after the Museum’s Collections Manager Renee Tallent completed a conservation assessment that uncovered several concerning issues with the collection’s current housing.

“The Museum could not be more grateful for John and Stephanie Orr’s contribution to help safekeep this important and irreplaceable collection. Their support is allowing the Museum to move forward its goal of protecting and caring for the County’s history and preserving our Chumash objects is at the core of that mission,” says Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director Elena Brokaw.

Currently on view at the Museum of Ventura County is Woven Earth, displaying a wide range of hand-woven baskets from the Museum’s extensive collection that focuses on California’s native communities and the traditions involved in making these baskets. Woven Earth is open through February 23, 2020.

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 .

NAWBO Ventura County hosts “How to be a Socially Conscious Business”

The Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO VC) announces an impactful panel discussion for business owners looking to be more socially aware in how they operate their business. The panelists also promise to provide tips for all of us as consumers on how we can be more socially conscious in our purchasing decisions.

Join NAWBO Ventura County for “How to be a Socially Conscious Business” on Tuesday, February 11th, 11:30am to 1:00pm at Gold Coast Transit District’s Community Room, 1901 Auto Center Drive, Oxnard. Purchase early bird tickets at www.NAWBOVC.org before February 4th for just $20 NAWBO members | $25 non-members.

Socially conscious businesses are a growing power for good. These businesses bring their values to life through intentional actions. Business owners can lead with purpose, which can provide new opportunities with a growing class of consumers looking to align their purchasing power with businesses who reflect their values.

With overwhelming need and so many options, where does a business owner start? What steps can be taken to truly be a more socially conscious business? Local socially conscious business experts will share more about this growing trend and provide specific and realistic strategies to incorporate into your business and your life.

The panelists are:

Andrea Chase, Director of Corporate Responsibility and Social Impact, Arbonne International

Catherine Von Burg, Founder, President & CEO, SimpliPhi Power

Dr. Janis Shinkawa, Medical Director, Veterinarian and Partner, Ohana Pet Hospital

Caleigh Hernandez, Founder & CEO, RoHo

​

The panel will be moderated by Fulbright Scholar, Professor Maria Ballesteros-Sola, DBA, MBA, LLB, California State University, Channel Islands. This event is supported in part by NAWBO VC Elite sponsor, Ohana Pet Hospital.

NAWBO Ventura County hosts educational meetings monthly on timely topics vital to the growth and success of women business owners, including female non-profit founders and executives. Breakfast, lunch and/or dinner meetings are typically held the second Tuesday of each month at various locations in Ventura County. Learn more at www.NAWBOVC.org.

Vol. 13, No. 9 – Jan 29 – Feb 11, 2020 – Mailbox

SENIORS SHOULD READ THIS

Dear Editor:

Just got a new twist on old scam. Now the caller asks if I know someone named, and they name one of my grandsons. I never give any info. I know all these calls are scams, especially when they call an old lady. Lucky for me, I’m old, but not dumb.

Please pass this info on to your elderly audience.

Esther Cole

Hello Sheldon,

I am just now reading the Wednesday edition and your Editors columns.

If the strange helicopters were from the “Government”, they would have been a shiny black with black tinted windows.

I think the signing of documents in cursive is dying because with the evolution of mankind and his opposable thumbs all that is needed to write a note are two thumbs.  (Who said evolution was the Devil’s work?)

I don’t think we need worry about future generations learning how to communicate in cursive, by the time handwriting becomes a dead art the Robots will do all the communicating.

Writing of Homelessness, we both attended a grand opening of a shelter down near the harbor a couple of years ago.  The shelters were made by Tuff Shed.  I have noticed for several years a large chunk of deserted land along Harbor Blvd. that looks like it was intended for family dwellings.  The land has remained unused and would be a very nice location for a county homeless shelter for hundreds of homeless.  But, only if they elected to use the shelter.
The land is about 4.3 miles South/Southeast of our Harbor, on the Eastern side of Harbor Blvd.

Michael Gordon

Note: Michael is a contributing photographer to the Ventura Breeze

Ventura Breeze

It’s my understanding that none of the Republicans will stand up to Trump because they are fearful of losing their House or Senate seat!

I have the solution! All those with gonads or kahunas’ should band together and not only convict Trump, But remove him from office! They will save their jobs as there will no longer be a Trump threat, and would also restore the Republican Party to a saner place.

My political savvy friend, Trish Parker, has the perfect winning ticket for the Dems; Biden for President and Obama for Vice- President. Can you imagine the Republicans reaction? They would all be apoplectic! Speechless! Dumbstruck!

Could someone please contact Obama and persuade him to return to DC for just 4 years?

Judith A. Beay Ventura

The Trump impeachment train is running out of stream

The manic cry’s for a vote to impeach President Donald Trump in December have morphed into the stem winding speeches of January in a mind numbing impeachment trial in the US Senate. As eloquent as the house team can reach is isn’t enough to rise to the level of so called “high crimes.” Even if all the Democrat team has alleged was true it is still without the foundation of legal fact to throw out a sitting president. Still, the trial goes on, inching towards its inevitable outcome. The President will be exonerated and the Democrats will charge a cover up. It will be a talking point for the rest of the year. The impeachment has and will fail like a steam engine lacking coal—it will slow and go no where. While the Congress is locked into this sham trial, President Trump is still acting in the best interests of the American People.

Richard Senate

Each morning I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy and I’m going to be happy today.
~ Groucho Marx

The marchers walked alongside the float titled, “Years of Hope”.

Ventura County Outwalkers at the 131st Annual Tournament of Roses Parade

Eight women from Ventura County, including two from the local National Association of Women Business Owners Ventura County (NAWBO VC) chapter, joined 100 outwalkers in the 131st Annual Tournament of Roses Parade. The marchers walked alongside the Pasadena Celebrates 2020 float titled, “Years of Hope. Years of Courage,” commemorating the 100th year celebration of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The outstanding float with the powerful message took home the coveted Theme Award for most outstanding presentation of the parade’s theme, “The Power of Hope.”

NAWBO Ventura County members, Dawn Dyer and Brenda Terzian were among the 100 (mostly women) marchers and were joined by Ventura County’s Marni Brook, Tiffany Emhoff, Barbara Bellfield, Karen Fraser, Ladeane Taylor, and Riley Wagner.