The American Red Cross currently has a critical need for blood donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors to make an appointment now to give and help replenish the blood supply after the holiday weeks. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood.
During the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, about 500 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs. Many groups postpone blood drives during the winter holidays when travel and holiday activities may make it challenging for many donors to give.
“Lifesaving medical treatments and emergencies never take a holiday,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Declines in donations can affect patient care. That’s why the Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to make an appointment to give now and help those sidelined by illness and trauma.”
Donors are urged to make an appointment to give now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
As a special thank-you, those who come to give blood or platelets until Jan.19, 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to experience the Super Bowl live. The Red Cross and NFL have teamed up to offer one winner two tickets to Super Bowl LIV, entry to the official NFL Tailgate, tickets to Super Bowl Experience at the Miami Beach Convention Center, round-trip airfare to Miami, three-night hotel accommodations at The Alexander® – All Suite Oceanfront Resort (Jan. 31 to Feb. 3), and a $500 gift card for expenses.* Additional details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.
“The Red Cross appreciates the NFL’s support during this crucial time of year when every donation – and every donor – matters. We hope this may inspire some to make regular blood and platelet donation one of their New Year’s resolutions,” said Sullivan.
Upcoming Ventura blood donation opportunities:
1/21/2020: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ventura County Government Center Hall of Administration Building, 800 Victoria Ave
1/21/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 36 S. Figueroa St.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
CAPS Member/Producers and staff are vying for top honors in multiple categories.
Join us on Sunday, February 9 at the CAPS Media Center for a Special Event: Oscar Party, Open House and Anniversary Celebration celebrating CAPS Radio KPPQ’s 3-Year Anniversary of delivering outstanding local radio production to Ventura.
The Open House provides an opportunity for the public to take a tour of the CAPS Media Center, meet the CAPS Crew and learn more about becoming a Member/Producer. The evening is also an Oscar party so everyone can play along and guess who the winners will be. And it’s time to share the KPPQ birthday cake celebrating three years of amazing radio programming in Ventura. The evening’s festivities begin at 4pm (Oscars start at 5p).
Speaking of awards, the finalists for the highly prized 2020 Alliance for Community Media WAVE Awards (Western Alliance Video Excellence) have been announced and CAPS Member/Producers and staff are vying for top honors in multiple categories. The awards are presented by the Alliance for Community Media, a national network of affiliate TV and Radio stations and Public Access advocates whose mission is to promote free speech and greater civic engagement through Community Media.
This year, as they have done in year’s past, the talented El Camino High School students continue to have a strong showing with three nominations for ECTV: “Why Should We Vote” in the Youth Public Service category, “Gracie & Michael” in the Youth Talk Show category and “Gayel, Shamsia & Jab” in the Youth Arts & Entertainment Performance category. Plus Member/Producer Lea Welles is up for an award with her “Travel Today with Lea – Danish Days” in the Community Events category.
CAPS staff members are finalists in the professional sector for “Central Ventura County, Firesafe Council” directed and edited by Jamie Cawelti in the Professional Community Event category, “Thomas Fire Stories – Vista Del Mar & Hawaiian Village” edited by Jorge Godinez in the Professional Community Issues category and “Thomas Fire Stories – Chiefs Quiararte, Weisenberg & Leake” also edited by Jorge Godinez is in the Professional Magazine Show category. “The Perfect Firestorm” is a finalist in the Professional Documentary category. The creation of the feature film was a team effort by CAPS staff producers Evan Carpenter, Patrick Davidson, Donald McConnell, Elizabeth Rodeno and Gary Roll and editors Aaron Cortez, Jorge Godinez and Gary Roll.
The New Year is a great time to join CAPS Media, where Member/Producers can explore any subject that interests them and CAPS will broadcast the story on television and stream it online. Who knows? Next year’s WAVE award could be yours.
CAPS Media is Ventura’s public access television and radio center that fulfills a fundamental right guaranteed by the First Amendment. As a free society, the public has the right to have personal opinions published in the newspaper and on the airwaves.
CAPS Media provides Member/Producers the vehicle to express themselves on the television, radio and online. Some people refer to CAPS Media as Ventura’s electronic soapbox.
The highly professional and extremely friendly CAPS Media staff train members how to master the use of cameras and editing equipment to produce their own story. Video production services are provided for an annual membership fee of only $40. CAPS Radio requires an additional annual fee of $50 for DJs. Go to capsmedia.org/events to learn how to register for upcoming classes and become a Member/Producer.
Ventura County Library READ Adult Literacy Program is now recruiting adult volunteer tutors who would like to help other adults in Ventura County improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. The next five-week tutor training series will be starting in February in Ventura and Simi Valley.
The READ program trains adult volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading instruction for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. Ventura County Library is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program.
After completion of the five-week training, tutors will meet with their adult learners at one of the assigned tutoring sites. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners.
Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.
For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone’s life, call (805) 677-7160.
Our Ventura TV recently surpassed 1000 productions
Have a message you want to get out to the community?
Our Ventura TV is an award-winning, weekly talk-show television series broadcast on Ventura Cable channel 6 TV and also published on OurVentura.com, as well as on social media networks. For over ten years the programs have features stories from nonprofits, community advocates, leaders, artists and organizations who contribute in some way to the Ventura County community. In fact, anyone who contributes to the theme of “People doing good things in Ventura County” is welcome to be interviewed as a guest.
The show’s executive producer, George Alger stated, “In the past decade we’ve posted over 1000 segments online and broadcast programs on Ventura cable channel 6.”
The show director, Michelle Hoover, said, “We have a fantastic crew who are all about keeping things running efficiently.” The weekly cable TV series is sponsored by Nonprofit Fire, Skyworks Marketing and GWC Productions.
Additionally, the production team also creates video and TV productions for commercial messages and businesses in the community.
Our team of television hosts help guests share their stories. Our Ventura TV Host, Sandra Siepak, stated, “It’s an honor to present discussions about all kinds of people doing good things in Ventura County on our program.”
Our Ventura TV shows are broadcast on Ventura Cable channel 6 on Sundays at 2:00 pm, Tuesdays at 9:00 pm and Saturdays at noon, as well as additional floating times. Every week there is a new show and each program is broadcast 5 times per week.
For more information and to become a guest on Our Ventura TV, just visit OurVentura.com and click “Contact.”
PEAK & ASES are after-school partnerships that include the City of Ventura Department of Parks & Recreation, Ventura Unified School District and Ventura Police Activities League (PAL). PEAK was formed in 2002 to develop and implement an inclusive after-school program for elementary and middle school children serving 630 kids per year. ASES programs began in schools in the fall of 2011. To enroll, please contact your school principal for site-specific guidelines.
To provide a safe and supervised after-school education, enrichment and recreation programs for students. After-school is a partnership including the City of Ventura, the Ventura Unified School District and the Ventura Police Activities League.
Goals
Keep kids safe
Improve academic achievement
Give students choices and provide opportunities
Provide recreational, cultural and enrichment activities
Improve social development and self-esteem
Provide leadership and character development opportunities
The Annual PEAK/ASES Afterschool Program Spelling Bee program is one of many enrichment activities sponsored by the Ventura Police Community Foundation.
Students came from Montalvo, Portola, Elmhurst, Lincoln, Sheridan Way, EP Foster and Westpark.
Congratulations to Spelling Bee winners:
1st- Zoey Batten- Montalvo
2nd- Nick Feltner- Lincoln
3rd- Leah Mayoral – Sheridan Way
Judges included past Board Member Suzannah Underwood and Detective Misti Henderson. Emcee was Dave Daniels from KHAY.
For more information about either program please contact Mario Robinson, Youth Programs Supervisor, at 805-654-7807 or by email, Jamie Gill, After-School Programs Coordinator, at 805-658-4748 or by email or Anita Diaz, Westpark Coordinator at 805-648-1895 or by email.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement. A Baptist minister by training, King became a civil rights activist early in his career, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, raising public consciousness of the civil rights movement and establishing King as one of the greatest orators in American history.
In 1964, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King’s birthday, January 15.
King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
A national hero and a civil-rights figure King summoned together a number of black leaders in 1957 and laid the groundwork for the organization now known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). King was elected its president, and he soon began helping other communities organize their own protests against discrimination.
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.
Narcotics Operation and Arrests
OnJanuary2, from 9:00am – 2:00pm,VenturaPoliceDepartmentSCUNarcoticsandPTFunitsconductedanoperationin the downtown area of Ventura. The operation’s primary objective was to combat narcotics sales in the downtown areaparks.
DetectivesandPTFOfficersmonitoredtheparksforseveralhours,usingvarioussurveillancetools.Asa result, three subjects were arrested for narcotics-relatedoffenses.
Karl Muniz, 56 year old Ventura resident, was arrested and cited and released for possession of narcotics.
Jack Crosby, 36 year old Ventura resident, was arrested and cited and released for possession of narcotics.
LydiaCorona, 51 year old Ventura resident, wasarrestedandbookedintoVenturaCountyJailforpossessionofMethamphetaminefor sale.
On December 25 at 2am,theownerofGracies’Dealsdiscoveredthestorehadbeenbrokeninto,itemshad been stolen and the store had been vandalized. The owner contacted the Ventura Police Department.
Ventura Police Street Crimes Detectives began investigating and using surveillance videowere abletotentativelyidentify 25 year old MoroniPetersasthesubjectwhohadenteredthestore.Peterswasin custodyattheVenturaCountyJailonanunrelatedautotheftcaseoutofOxnard.On January 6, DetectivesspoketoPeters,whoadmittedtoenteringthestore,stealingmerchandise,startinga warmingfire,andspray-paintingthewalls.DetectivesarrestedPetersforcommercialburglaryand vandalism.
According to Peters, he came here from Orange County and is currently homeless. A review of theVenturaCountySuperiorCourtwebsiteshowsthatPetershaspriorconvictionsforprowling, petty theft, possession of a concealed knife, possession of drug paraphernalia, and previous arrests for possession of a stolen vehicle and narcotics-relatedoffenses.
Vehicle Pursuit with Arrest
On January 7, detectives with the Ventura County PROS unit were patrolling the area of the 2100 Block of East Thompson Blvd looking for wanted PROS offenders. The PROS unit is responsible for monitoring known offenders on county probation. The detectives observed a vehicleintheparkinglotofamotel,andacheckofthelicenseplaterevealedthecarwasrecently reportedstolen.Thedriverofthevehicle, 27 year old ChristopherMejia,thendroveoutofthemotelparking lot.
Detectives followed and attempted to stop the vehicle; however, Mejia fled and began driving erratically. Detectives followed and initiated a pursuit. Mejia drove at high rates of speed and attemptedtolosethedetectivesbydrivingthroughalleyways.Whiletryingtoescape,Mejiapulled into a parking lot and was trapped. Additional patrol units, Street Crimes Detectives, and a K-9 Unit assisted in taking Mejia into custody without any further danger to thepublic.
Mejia was arrested for Felony Evading, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Addict Driving a Vehicle. No one was injured during the pursuit.
AreviewoftheVenturaCountySuperiorCourtwebsiteshowsthatMejiahaspriorconvictionsfor providing false information to a police officer and a narcotics-relatedoffense.
People with better cardiovascular health at age 50 may be less likely than those with poor cardiovascular health to develop dementia later in life. The findings, published in BMJ, suggest that middle-aged adults may be able to reduce their risk of dementia by controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol and avoiding other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Because previous studies suggested a link between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive decline, researchers at INSERM in Paris and at University College London examined cardiovascular risk factors 25 years before a diagnosis of dementia in Britain’s Whitehall II study, supported in part by NIA.
At the beginning of the study, the 7,899 participants did not have cardiovascular disease or dementia. The researchers used the American Heart Association’s Life Simple 7 measures to categorize each participant’s cardiovascular health at age 50 as poor, intermediate or optimal. The measures included smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood sugar level, cholesterol and blood pressure.
By examining health records, the researchers found that 347 participants developed dementia over the 25-year study period. Individuals with optimal and intermediate cardiovascular health were less likely to develop dementia than those with poor cardiovascular health, the researchers found.
The same researchers also examined magnetic resonance images of the brain from 708 participants in the Whitehall II study. Compared with those with poor cardiovascular health at age 50, those with intermediate and optimal cardiovascular health scores had larger brain volume 20 years later. This finding suggests that those with poor cardiovascular health at midlife may be more likely to have reduced brain volume in their later years. In people with dementia, especially from Alzheimer’s, the volume of brain tissue shrinks.
These results are important because they suggest that even small improvements in cardiovascular health at midlife could not only reduce heart disease but also benefit cognitive health many years later. More research is needed to identify how heart-related risk factors before and after age 50 may increase the chance of developing dementia and what the ideal interventions would be in middle age or later life.
This research was funded in part by NIA grants R01AG056477 and R01AG034454.
“Starting tomorrow we are both cutting back on eating burgers.”
The Dietary Guidelines describes three USDA Food Patterns, each of which includes slight variations in amounts recommended from different food groups. For example, people 50 or older following the Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern choose foods every day from the following:
Vegetables—2 to 3 cups
Fruits—1½ to 2 cups
Grains—5 to 8 ounces
Dairy —3 cups (fat-free or low-fat)
Protein foods—5 to 6½ ounces
Oils—5 to 7 teaspoons
Does this mean you have to measure or weigh everything you eat? Not really. Some people find it helps to measure things carefully at first, but once you get used to your new eating plan, strict measuring probably won’t be necessary. But, what exactly is a serving? And is that different from a portion?
A “serving size” is a standard amount of a food, such as a cup or an ounce. Serving sizes can help you when choosing foods and when comparing like items while shopping, but they are not recommendations for how much of a certain food to eat.
The term “portion” means how much of a food you are served or how much you eat. A portion size can vary from meal to meal. For example, at home you may serve yourself two small pancakes in one portion, but at a restaurant, you may get a large stack of pancakes as one portion. A portion size may also be bigger than a serving size. For example, the serving size on the Nutrition Facts label for your favorite cereal may be 1 cup, but you may pour yourself 1½ cups in a bowl.
Portion size can be a problem when eating out. To keep your portion sizes under control, try ordering one or two small appetizers instead of a large entrée. Or, you could share an entrée with a friend, or eat just half and ask for a take-out container for the rest. Put the leftovers in the fridge as soon as possible. Then enjoy them the next day for lunch or dinner.
∙SPAN Thrift Store is providing $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.
Certified “Therapy” Dogs Herbie, Livi, Jock and Mickey at CMHS making patients feel wonderful.
Two upcoming clinics in January are:
Shiells Park, in the parking lot, located at 649 C St., Fillmore, 93015, on Wednesday, January 22nd and a second one on Wednesday, January 29th, at SPAN Thrift Store parking lot 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main).
Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.
∙The American Kennel Club announced two new dog breeds: the barbet and dogo Argentino
Barbet
by Leah Asmelash, CNN
This decade is off to a paws-itive start, with the recognition of two new dog breeds by the American Kennel Club.
The AKC, the world’s largest purebred dog registry, announced Tuesday that the Barbet and Dogo Argentino are joining the list of its recognized breeds.
The Barbet (pronounced “bar-BAY”) is a water dog from France and joins the “sporting” group, according to the AKC. It’s a smart and friendly dog with, most importantly, a soft, curly coat perfect for maximum petting and snuggling.
“The Barbet is loyal and loves to be near its owners,” wrote the AKC online.
Dogo Argentino
The Dogo Argentino is a slightly different vibe. A hunting dog developed in Argentina, hence its name, the dog was originally developed to hunt large animals such as boars and mountain lions, according to the AKC. It’s classified in the “working” group.
“Dogos are confident, courageous, loyal and affectionate with their family,” the AKC says of the breed.
But, the organization warns, they aren’t for the new dog owner because of their “strong guarding instincts” and territorial tendencies. Described as “powerful and athletic,” the breed is perfect for the exercise-holics among us, as they require lots of daily exercise and interaction with people.
They also require a bit of maintenance — their short, white coat needs a weekly brushing, the AKC says.
For a breed to be recognized by the AKC, there must be a minimum of 300 to 400 dogs from the breed in at least 20 states, the group writes. There must also be an established breed club, consisting of owners and breeders, behind the dog. The dog breed can then be eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous Class, where dogs typically spend upwards of three years. From there, the breed can get recognized officially, which means it’s eligible to participate in AKC events and affiliated clubs.
With the addition of the Barbet and Dogo Argentino, the AKC has 195 recognized breeds.
∙Many of the 45 presidents of the United States have been animal lovers, with pet choices far beyond the ordinary run of cats and dogs. Some were given exotic pets by foreign dignitaries, with President John Quincy Adams keeping an alligator in a bathtub.
President Martin van Buren fought Congress to keep two tiger cubs.
Other presidents have bought farmyard animals to live on the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: Woodrow Wilson had a flock of sheep, and JFK’s daughter had a pony.
Many of the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have been animal lovers, with the hallowed presidential tradition of keeping a pet in the White House stretching back to its very first occupant, John Adams.
The most popular pet by some way is a dog, owned by 30 of the 45 presidents.
Some have even gone on to be famous in their own right — Barack Obama’s dog Bo was a frequent star of White House photo ops.
But some presidents have brought somewhat more exotic pets with them to the White House, with Theodore Roosevelt and Calvin Coolidge owning a large menagerie during their times.
∙Among the thousands of firefighters battling the catastrophic Australia bushfires, there have been four-legged furry heroes employed with a job of their own.
Dogs are being employed to rescue koalas during the fires, and with the flames expected to continue on for months, they’re only just getting started. It is estimated that a billion animals have been destroyed.
Ryan Tate and his pup Taylor searched for koalas injured in the bush fires. 4-year-old Taylor, has rescued eight koalas since September, according to Tate.
Like most detector dogs, Taylor uses her snout to sniff out koala fur. In perfect conditions, she is able to locate the koalas wherever they may be because their smell drops down from trees.
On days with difficult conditions, such as high winds, Taylor searches for koala poop to identify where they have been, and human experts can then come in and scan the appropriate trees.
Koalas are vital to Australian wildlife, but are right now on their way to becoming extinct.
Our very own (even though officially in Santa Paula)The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation said in a statement that search dogs can sniff out scents most humans can’t detect, making their noses “a critical, life-saving tool to help the koala population survive.” The Foundation trains search dogs for every possible condition and disaster.
∙About 23% of Americans polled by the Consumer Technology Association said they planned to purchase pet-related technology as a holiday gift, according to an October report, and the number of pet tech products shipped during the fourth quarter of last year was expected to be 60% higher than in the fourth quarter of 2018. Products include automatic food or water dispensers, automatic pet doors, and pet monitoring systems.
