Bill Green
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Read a book save a dog’s life
Local writer Paulette Mahurin feels very lucky. Stricken with Lyme Disease after moving to Ojai in 1997, she took to writing. Battling chronic fatigue and an array of other symptoms, there wasn’t much else she could do to occupy her time. Prior to a tick bite, she worked as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the Antelope Valley Hospital Emergency Room.
Writing, she explained, saved her from depression. She took writing classes. In one class with Deb Norton, a storyline came to her. That was the seed from which grew her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap. To the amazement of this amateur writer, the book went on to be an international best-seller on Amazon.
More books came forth. Eight to be exact. Several making their way to Amazon best-seller lists. Feeling blessed and extremely lucky from the outpouring of support from readers when her third novel, The Seven Year Dress, hit number 1 in literary fiction/historical fiction in the United Kingdom and Australia, along with ranking in the top ten in the United States, she decided that she wanted to do more to help with her ongoing dog rescue work. The decision came easy.
The profits from her books would go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters. She had donated profits from her first novel to Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, the first and only no-kill shelter in Ventura County at the time. Next, from her second book, His Name Was Ben, she had donated profits to the Canine Adoption and Rescue League. She then branched out to network with multiple rescue groups to help rescue dogs from kill shelters in Southern California. She has contributed to rescuing 2,380 dogs from kill shelters.
Yes, Mahurin feels lucky. Now with regained health and enjoying volunteer work, she continues to write and work along with her husband to help free more dogs from shelters. Featured on her blog site, http://thepersecutionofmildreddunlap.wordpress.com/ are the before and after photos of all the dogs she’s helped along with information on her eight novels.
Not only is Mahurin known for her work with dog rescue, but for the topics she addresses in her novels. Her latest novel, The Old Gilt Clock, (released December 2019) tackles Willem Arondéus’ brave fight against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. All of Mahurin’s books can be found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Paulette+Mahurin.
Vol. 13, No. 8 – Jan 15 – Jan 28, 2020 – Movie Review
Movie Review by Cindy Summers
1917
Set during the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield and Blake, are sent on a seemingly impossible mission to cross the German front and deliver a message in 24 hours to prevent 1600 troops from walking into a German trap, including Blake’s own brother. Released by Universal Pictures, Directed and Written by Sam Mendes and Starring George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Blake
In April 1917, two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are tasked to deliver a message to the 2nd Battalion to call off their planned attack on German troops. The Devonshire Regiment of 1600 soldiers, including Blake’s brother Joseph, were unknowingly walking into a trap and high command had no way to communicate with them due to the German’s cutting the phone lines upon their retreat from the front.
Schofield and Blake set off across no man’s land toward the German front and find that the Germans had retreated as reported and deserted their position as well as destroying all of their guns and weapons. They witness an aerial dog fight outside an old farmhouse and a German plane end up crashing almost on top of them. Wanting to be good Samaritans, they pull the German pilot from the plane, but the pilot turns on them, stabbing Blake in the stomach.
Unfortunately, Blake dies almost immediately from his wounds, and Schofield is left to continue the mission on his own to warn the troops. Schofield spends his day dodges sniper bullets and eventually ends up in the bombed-out area near the river that he had been told to find. Discovered by German soldiers, Schofield escapes by jumping into the raging river and eventually finds the 2nd Battalion, but not before the first wave is launched.
Schofield eventually makes it to the front line command post and delivers the message to Colonel Mackenzie, who calls off the attack. That having been accomplished, Schofield then finds Blake’s brother Joseph to share the unfortunate news of his brother’s passing. In the end, we find Schofield too had reasons to continue, finding a peaceful spot under a tree to cherish photos of his own wife and two daughters back home.
The film’s design of long shots holds the viewer in the moment and emotion of this perilous journey, though the deeper story itself seems to remain mostly hidden behind the very dramatic and realistic war situations.
R (for violence, some disturbing images, and language)
110 minutes
Vol. 13, No. 8 – Jan 15 – Jan 28, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter
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Wednes |
2:22pm, dispatched to an assault at River Haven. Officers responded and staged near the incident until Ventura PD arrived to clear the scene, no medical.
9:07pm, received a report of several downed trees on Spinnaker Drive near the Harbor Village. Officers responded and discovered debris, kayaks, lifejackets, and downed light poles and trees at VIM parking lot. After further investigation, significant damage was observed to the Dreamer Rentals docks and rental equipment. It was determined by speaking with the NWS and a witness that a tornado had torn through the area causing the damage. 11:30pm, Ventura Port District general and Maintenance managers assessing damage with the Harbormaster. Spinnaker Drive was closed with barricades so light poles, trees and other various debris could be cleared. |
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Thursday |
7:00am, officers assessing damage from last nights weather event: tornado. The entry awning to Andre’s was discovered a few hundred yards away on a fishing vessel. Many other minor damages were observed throughout the South Basin.
9:56pm, dispatched to a fall victim at Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the call. Patient transported to local hospital for further evaluation. |
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Friday |
2:08pm, received a report of a vessel sinking in VIM. Officers responded and assisted VIM maintenance with dewatering the vessel. |
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Wednes |
3:10pm, received a report of two inexperienced surfers on belly-board type surfboards paddling out at the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in the Fireboat and assisted State Parks Lifeguards with assisting the pair safely to shore.
4:30pm, while on patrol in FireBoat, officers observed several containers of Hydraulic fluid on a dock near one of the commercial vessels in VHV. The owner of the vessel was contacted and required to clean up mess and to not store dangerous materials on docks in the future. Absorbent pads were placed. |
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Thursday |
7:23am, while on patrol officers observed beach erosion from the Surfers Knoll Jetty to the Santa Clara Rivermouth. Safety contacts were made to inform beach walkers of the dangerous berms & drop-offs and the out flow from the estuary. |
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Friday |
7:15am, while on patrol in the vehicle, observed severe erosion at Surfers Knoll all the way to the Santa Clara Rivermouth. A 5-6ft berm is 50 yards for the lot. |
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Sunday |
10:05am, observed that the National Weather Service posted a Small Craft Advisory through Monday afternoon. Officers raised the SCA banner.
5:48pm, while on patrol in the vehicle, officers were contacted by an individual who lost their keys at Harbor Cove. Officers illuminated the area with spotlights and the lost keys were found near the lifeguard tower at Harbor Cove. 8:20pm, received a report of a lost or stolen kayak near VHV C-dock. 8:28pm, received a report of a found kayak near VHV C-dock. |
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Monday |
3:20am, dispatched to a fire at 1101 Spinnaker Drive. Officers responded and assisted VFD/VPD with the call. A group of transients were being interviewed about the incident. A small dumpster fire was located and extinguished.
10:15am, received a report of a suspicious RV parked at VIM. Officers investigated and found two vagrants in the vehicle. Several attempts to start the vehicle were unsuccessful and AAA refused to tow the vehicle. It was left in the Ventura Isle Marina lot until it can be repaired or towed. |
The art of the Ventura Breeze staff – Denna (Breezy) Gledhill
Denna (Breezy) Gledhill
Community invited to VUSD Information Night
The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD), under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Roger Rice, has announced that most of the VUSD schools will have Schools of Choice lottery spots available for the 2020-2021 school year. VUSD is also increasing the number of interdistrict transfer spots open to residents in surrounding communities. The public is invited to attend the VUSD Information Night on Thursday, January 16, 2020, from 5:30-8 pm at Buena High School, located at 5670 Telegraph Rd. to learn more about these opportunities, speak with representatives from all VUSD schools, and service departments.
“Since my arrival over nine months ago, we have been working as a team to identify obstacles that our families face that can be resolved with policy and procedural changes. We identified a need for our more lottery spots for Schools of Choice and have made adjustments to ensure we are offering spots at every school that does not require a placement process,” stated Superintendent Roger Rice.
The number of lottery spots for each school will be determined based on enrollment numbers. Some schools may have 5-10 spots; others may have over 100. City of Ventura residents are eligible to submit for these lottery spots from January 17-31, 2020. The application will be available online at www.venturausd.org on January 17. El Camino High School, Pacific High School, and Homestead (home school option) will not be participating in Schools of Choice as they have placement processes that must be followed.
“We realize that the Ventura Unified School District is a District of Choice for others in Ventura County. To assist our neighbors and to do everything we can to continue to provide excellent educational services during a time of declining enrollment, VUSD will be offering more spots for the 20-21 school year for interdistrict transfers,” stated Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Danielle Cortes. “We are dedicated to ensuring that all students who would like to be educated in the Ventura Unified School District have that opportunity.”
All interdistrict transfer applications will be considered once the Schools of Choice lottery is complete, and all intradistrict transfer requests have been processed. Every effort will be made in the 2020-2021 school year to make spots available to all who apply to the Ventura Unified School District.
Families are invited to attend the Ventura Unified School District Information Night to learn more about both initiatives, as well as, meet with representatives from all 26 schools, and many service departments including Transportation, Food & Nutrition, Special Education, Career and Innovation, and Technology Services. The night will begin with a session at 5:30 pm in the auditorium. This presentation will cover Schools of Choice, transferring, and enrollment. The session will repeat at 6:30 pm. School and service department representatives will be available from 6-8 pm in the gym and cafeteria to answer questions.
Island Packers Winter Whale Watching Cruises at Ventura Harbor Village
With Winter in full swing, visitors to Ventura Harbor Village can board an Island Packers whale watching vessel and travel from Ventura Harbor through the Southern California waters off Santa Barbara Channel, known for its marine mammal diversity, to see breathtaking mammals that cavort in waters off of the Channel Islands.
The 3-3.5 hour half day cruise, a sure bet to spend time with family or friends and can be awe-inspiring, with the possibility of seeing more than 28 species of marine mammals along with the migrating Gray, Fin and Humpback whales, seals, sea lions and large pods of dolphins identified within the waters of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary of Southern California.
Whale Watching Excursions, now through April 1, 2020 marks the official start of the gray whale migration. Departure times are listed daily on the Island Packers website.
For more information about the Winter Whale Watching program, visit www.islandpackers.com or email Islands Packers at [email protected].
From 6-foot dinghies to 88-foot commercial fishing seiner boats, scores of pleasure boats call Ventura Harbor home. Ventura Harbor Village marina is one of the top offloading squid harbors on the Pacific Coast and in the nation and Ventura Harbor Village marina is home to some of the largest fishery companies. Ventura Harbor has two yacht clubs and two boat yards.
For visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village at 805-477-0470, online at www.VenturaHarborVillage.com. Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura.