It’s the new year! Let’s improve our balance together and kick off a year of wellness by enrolling in one of five free senior Tai Chi classes starting in January or February.
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is a 12-week program offered by Oxnard RSVP focusing on improved mobility and balance among older adults. Classes are free, designed for those age 50 and older, and taught by certified senior volunteers. The evidence-based program consists of a simplified eight-form routine of Yang-style Tai Chi. Intended for beginners who can walk easily with or without assistive devices, it teaches participants balance skills and good body alignment by using coordinated and flowing movements. Studies have shown the classes reduce repeated falls by 55% among those who attend at least 75% of a session.
New classes are offered at the following locations:
The Bonaventure, 10949 Telegraph Road, T/Th late mornings
Coastal Communities Cancer Center 2900 Loma Vista Road, #105, T/Th mornings
Emerging Spirits Center, 4601 Telephone Road, #113, T/Th mornings
Our Lady of the Assumption, 3175 Telegraph Road, M/W mornings
Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 N. Ventura Avenue, T/Th afternoons
New participants are accepted only until the third class of each session, and pre-registration is required. Call 805-385-8019 to learn more or to register.
For those interested in being trained to teach classes, new volunteer instructors will be held in mid- 2020. You must be 55 and older to volunteer. Training is free and new volunteers are asked to commit to teaching at least two full sessions following certification.
RSVP is a volunteer recruitment and placement program, helping people 55 and older find volunteer positions that match their interests, talent and available time. The Oxnard RSVP has almost 575 members and is sponsored by the City of Oxnard. To learn more about being an RSVP member or to discuss other volunteer opportunities, call 805-385-8023.
Paul Jenkin, Ventura Campaign Coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation, will visit the Ojai Library at 6pm on Wednesday, January 15, to present a special lecture titled “Community Resilience in the Face of a Changing Climate.” The Surfrider Foundation is an international environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.
Join Paul as he describes the ongoing efforts to restore the beach at Surfers’ Point in Ventura and remove Matilija Dam from the Ventura River. Since 1994, Paul has worked to restore the coast and watershed in Ventura, California, where he lives.
Author Rick Tuber will visit the Ojai Library at 1 pm on Saturday, January 18,to deliver a talk on Film Editing, Writing, and “Noirmedy.” Tuber will be discussing and answering questions about his three books and will also talk about his long career in film editing and what made him become a writer at the age of 60—it turns out that both professions are all about story telling!
Rick Tuber is an American author and film editor. He attended California State University, Northridge, and has been working in film since the 1980s, earning a Primetime Emmy award and an ACE (American Cinema Editors) award for best editing for a drama.
These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.
The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.
On February 8, the Lola Haag Jazz Quartet will return to the Ojai Underground Exchange. Featured in the quartet are Jimmy Calire, Danny Young, and David Hunt. They will perform “A Salute to Tony Bennett,” a combination of classic jazz standards and favorites. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 805-340-7893. The Ojai Underground Exchange is located at 1016 West Ojai Avenue.
Chamber On The Mountain will present the Grigoryan Brothers, Guitar Duo, on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 3:00 pm. Guitarists Slava and Leonard Grigoryan are regarded as Australia’s finest guitar duo. Hailed by the Adelaide Review, “The Grigoryan Brothers’ name is shorthand for a mastery of the guitar.”
The performance will take place at Logan House (at the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts) in Upper Ojai. Audience members are invited to stay and meet the artists at a reception following the performance.
Tickets are $25. For more information, visit www.ChamberOnTheMountain.com.
Poppies Art and Gifts will hold its monthly book club meeting Jan. 14 from 6-8 p.m. The first selection for 2020 will be “Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo” by Stephanie Storey.
The art history thriller focuses on the rivalry between the two artists – the established master Leonardo and emerging artist Michelangelo — in early 16th-century Florence, Italy.
All adults are welcome to the free event. Light refreshments will be served.
Poppies is at 323 E. Matilija St., Ojai, next to Java & Joe Specialty Coffee, Tea and Gifts. For more information, visit poppiesartandgifts.com.
Hospice Volunteer Training Course begins Tuesday, January 14th, for 8 consecutive weeks from 9-12p.m. at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, Ventura. Learn new communication, explore issues of grief and loss, learn to share view of spirituality, understand concepts of symptom management and end of life care. For more information, contact Maddy Hazard, Manager of Volunteer and Bereavement Services at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. (805) 642-0239 x 775 or visit lmvna.org.
Free Adult Grief & Bereavement Support Groups
Every Wednesday, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Free for anyone who has lost a loved one.
Receive emotional and educational support. Meetings held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. Contact [email protected] or call (805) 642-0239 for more information.
Free Joint Replacement Classes
2nd Monday of the Month (January 13), held from 4– 5 p.m. Free informational class that teaches you what to expect pre and post-surgery.
Living with Type 2 and Pre-Diabetes Classes
1st Tuesday of the Month (January 7), from 1– 2:30 p.m. Free informational class that teaches you how to manage your life with diabetes.
Classes held at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 1996 Eastman Ave., Ste. 109. Call (805) 642-0239 for more information.
The Compassionate Friends of West Ventura County is a support group for those who have experienced the loss of a child. Parents, grandparents, and siblings (over age 14) are all welcome. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, Canada Larga room, 3451 Foothill Road. For more information, contact Laura Lindsay at (805) 836-9100.
Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club Monday nights 7:30 – 9:45 p.m. Poinsettia Pavilion. Ballroom, swing, Latin and line dancing. $10 members, $12 non-members. Free dance lessons 6:45 – 7:15 p.m. Call Rick (805) 415-8842 for more information.
Ventura’s ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club offers games for all levels of play. Learn the game, play with your peers, and earn master points while you are having fun. There is a game every day of the week. Check out their website at www.vcbridge.org
Country Western Line Dancing every Tuesday 7 – 9 p.m. Instruction every night. Located at the Moose lodge, 10269 Telephone Road. More information at countrylovers.com.
Cross Town Hikers join in on Wednesday nights for a moderate-paced hike that includes views of Ventura from the cross, a walk out to the end of the pier, and a stroll along the Promenade back to the Museum. Four miles with an 800-foot elevation gain. Meet at 7 p.m. sharp at the fountain across the street from the Mission. Join Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/800215670039426/
The members of the Ventura Investment Group meet on Mondays for an informal discussion of recent economic events. Topics cover current events that affect stocks, funds, real estate, and interest-bearing investments. The meeting is from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Telephone Road and Main Street. Visitors and potential members are welcomed. There are no dues or requirements to participate, and all levels of experience are welcomed.
Brain Injury Center of Ventura County. www.BrainInjuryCenter.org
Support Groups for brain injury/ stroke survivors and their family/caregivers
Learn more about brain injury/stroke and available services. Meet others who are facing or have faced similar challenges. Meet new friends and connections, give and receive support.
Encounter Church 6950 Ralston St., Bldg. #300 (805) 482-1312
2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 4-5:30 p.m.
Men are you retired and routine-tired? Ventura Retired Men suggest you visit a Social Lunch Meeting on the first or third Tuesday each month at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Stop in, say hello, have a sip at the bar if you like, they will buy you lunch, and you can sample the hospitality as they go through activities and hear the speaker of the day. Bob Likins can tell you more at 805-587-1233.
Jan. 8: 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. Wayne Pickerell of SC3 Research Group – Neurosearch, will help us start the New Year with an educational overview of Parkinson’s Disease and answer questions. Hand-out resources available at every meeting. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with any other organization or group.
Parkinson’s Disease Overview with Q&A 12:30 -2:30 p.m., Ventura City Hall 501 Poli Street, Community Meeting Room #202. For more information and important detailed directions to meetings, please call Patty at 805-766-6070.
Jan.11: Jan. 11: Jazz drumming giant Joe La Barbera headlines a benefit concert for Parkinson’s Disease research on Saturday, at The Winery Ventura. Music starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 each. Cash only at the door. The winery is at 4746 Market St. All ticket sales go to Team Fox, the fundraising arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
La Barbera, of Woodland Hills, has played with a Who’s Who of jazz luminaries, including Phil Woods, Gary Burton, Chuck Mangione, Tony Bennet and Woody Herman. He’s best known as the last drummer to play with piano icon Bill Evans. La Barbera has been a mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene; toured with numerous artists in Europe, Asia and New Zealand; and taught at CalArts in Valencia for more than 25 years.
La Barbera will be joined by members of Coda, the longtime jazz group led by local drummer Charles Levin. Musicians performing include Steve Marsh, tenor saxophone; Bevan Manson, piano; Hans Ottsen and Brad Rabuchin, guitars; and Tom Etchart and Domenic Genova, bass.
Jan. 25: Ghosts of the California Missions. Richard Senate will talk on the ghosts of the Missions and the investigation of La Purisima and tour of the Mission San Buenaventura.
Saturday 7 – 9 p.m. Fee: $6/person. Bank of Books 748 E. Main St. (805) 643-3154
Happy New Year my friend! We are back to business as usual and as always already looking forward to a year filled with music which science has proven increases happiness and reduces stress as well as depression. Now the type of music that soothes the average soul is totally subjective. As for me? I love punk to jazz and “most” points in between.
That being said, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for musicals from Broadway plays to small-town theater. Here in Ventura we are so lucky to have the Rubicon which always offers stellar productions. This month and for three days only, the Rubicon will play host for a special event, “Forever Motown” with favorite hit songs from Motown Legends. The production not only features nine singers and a five-piece band, but includes special guests Glenn Leonard from the Temptations and G.C. Cameron, original lead singer of the Spinners. While the production is in town for only three days, there will be two shows on Friday, January 10 (2 and 8 pm), three shows on Saturday, January 11 (2, 5:30 and 8 pm), and two final shows on Sunday, January 12 (2 and 7 pm). Find out more at RubiconTheatre.org.
Discovery Ventura has a number of shows lined up later in the month including Dave Wakeling and the English Beat on Friday, January 17, Ozomatli’s 25th year celebration on Saturday, January 18 (Ozomatli presents Ozokids earlier that afternoon), Agent Orange on Saturday, January 25 and the Spazmatics on Friday, January 31. It’s always more affordable to get your tickets in advance at DiscoveryVentura.com.
Surf Rodeo tickets are already on sale with big news that they’ve expanded to three days! Dates run July 17, 18 and 19 with prices going up as you get nearer the event. Find out more at SurfRodeo.org.
Quick Notes: the 12th Night Masquerade Ball at 1901 Speakeasy with Teresa Russell, Stephen Geyer and Mama Pat Russell on Saturday, January 4; brand new at the Saloon, it’s DJ Cid Hernandez and the Disco Soul Club every Friday at 9 pm; Pennywise and the Adolescents play the Ventura Theater on Saturday, January 11 and the Winery of Ventura plays host for a Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research benefit on Saturday, January 11, featuring Joe La Barbera and Coda.
Along with reading my music scene article here in the Ventura Breeze, I’d like to invite you to check out a few of my other projects I either produce myself or give a platform to such as the VenturaRockSpot which highlights a band or artist every month, you can find that on my main outlet for supporting our music scene which is VenturaRocks.com and you can listen in for original music from artists out of the 805 on the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour on KPPQ out of CAPS Media at 104.1 FM.
Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected]. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.
For more events go to VenturaRocks.com
All Venues Ventura, unless otherwise noted.
Blue Agave
185 E. Santa Clara
Fridays: Mariachi Band; DJ
Saturdays: DJ
Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Thursdays: Jim Friery, Bluegrass Jam
Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays: DJs
Camarillo Barrelworks
126 Wood Road, Suite 104
Camarillo, CA
Music 6-9 pm
Sat 1/4: Kyle Swan
Sat 1/11: Vinyl Rendition
Cantina 31
Limon y Sal
598 E. Main Street
Saturdays: DJ
Sundays 1-4: Instone
Casa Bella
391 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Danny D.
The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Weds & Saturdays: Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: Warren Takahashi
Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music 7 pm; Sat 11 am ; Sundays 4 pm
Saturdays: & Sundays: Kenny Devoe (11 am – 1 pm)
Tuesdays: The Jerry McWorter Trio
Dargan’s Irish Pub
593 E. Main Street
Music: 4pm
Sun 1/5: The Sunday Drivers
Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Fri 1/3: Sgt. Pepper
Sat 1/4: Shaky Feelin’
Sat 1/11: Which One’s Pink
Duke’s Griddle n Grill
1124 S. Seaward
Wednesdays: Karaoke
El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays & Saturdays: DJ
Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed 6-9, Fri & Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm
Fri 1/3: The Tossers
The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor Village
Music: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Mon, Thur & Fri: Kenny Devoe
Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
La Cosecha Modern Concina
Crown Plaza Hotel
Music 11 am – 2 pm
Sun 1/12: Benjamin Buttner
Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Tues: Open Mic, The Listening Room
Sat 1/4: Jacob Marquez
Fri 1/10: Boom Duo
Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 6 pm; Sat 4 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 1/2: Lauren Hall
Sun 1/5: Peter Blackwelder
Thurs 1/9: Mark Masson
Sat 1/11: Luc Germann
Sun 1/12: Kirby Ai
Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Sat 1/4: The Purple Madness
Fri 1/10: Motionless in White, Beartooth
Sat 1/11: Pennywise, Adolescents, Slaughterhouse
Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Tuesdays: Beer Bros. Open Mic
O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke
Fri 1/10: Live Band Karaoke
Orozco’s de Ventura
839 E. Front Street
Fri & Sat 5 pm: Victor and Artis
Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs
Peirano’s Delicatessen
204 E. Main Street
Music: 6-8, Sundays Noon – 2
Sat 1/4: Doc Ventura
Sun 1/5: Brent Franklin
Sat 1/11: The Reserve Band
Sun 1/12: The Swillys
Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D.
Rubicon Theater
1006 E. Main Street
Fri 2 pm & 8 pm; Sat 2 pm, 5:30 & 8 pm
Sun 2 pm & 7 pm
Fri 1/10: Forever Motown
Sat 1/11: Forever Motown
Sun 1/12: Forever Motown
Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 1/11: Hava the Band
Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke w/ Brian Parra
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
The Shores Restaurant
1031 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Thursdays: Karaoke
The Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Thursdays: DJ Terry
The Sushi House
1127 S Seaward Avenue
Music 1 – 3:30 pm
Saturdays: Gary Ballen
The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
Thursdays: Get Right College Night w/ DJ Nick Dean
Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai
Music: 3-5 pm, unless otherwise noted
Sat 1/4: Will Breman
Sun 1/5: Brandon Ragan
Sat 1/11: Hunter & the Dirty Jacks
Sun 1/12: Conner Cherland
Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Fri 1/3: Mis Bix & the Nervous Ticks
Sat 1/4: The Tossers
Sun 1/5: Andy D. & Ray J.
Fri 1/10: Karen 805
Sat 1/11: Sean Wiggins
Sun 1/12: Crooked Eye Tommy & guest
The Winery Ventura
4756 Market Street
Thurs – Sat 7-10; Sundays 5-8
Sat 1/4: The Art Farmers
Sat 1/11: Joe La Barbera and Coda
1901
Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Tuesdays and Thursdays: Mark McKinney
Fri 1/3: Jim Seargeant
Sat 1/4: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Fri 1/10: Bobby Campbell
Sat 1/11: Luck Break
∙SPAN Thrift Store is providing $10 spays and neuters for low income households with cats and dogs.
Two upcoming clinics in January are:
Wednesday, January 15th at the Albert H. Soliz Library – El Rio, 2820 Jourdan St., Oxnard, 93036; and a second one is on Wednesday, January 22nd at Shiells Park, in the parking lot, located at 649 C St., Fillmore, 93015.
Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.
∙A University of Illinois study finds that dog foods formulated with human-grade ingredients are highly digestible. Pet owners are increasingly treating their “fur-babies” like members of the family. In response, some pet food companies are developing diets that more closely resemble human food, incorporating human-grade meat and vegetable ingredients that pass USDA quality inspections. Until now, little research had been done on these foods. A new study from the University of Illinois shows these diets are not only highly palatable, they are more digestible than originally estimated.
The researchers tested six commercial dog foods from JustFoodForDogs, a company that claims to exclusively use USDA-certified ingredients in its diets. Their products, similar to a handful of other niche companies and subsidiaries, are formulated using minimally processed human-edible ingredients, such as rice, carrots, broccoli, chicken, lamb, and others, in a kind of casserole. Each diet is also supplemented with human-quality vitamins and minerals to ensure they qualify as complete and balanced for pets.
The researchers determined the chemical composition of the six diets, as well as their nutrient and amino acid digestibility and energy content. In order to avoid the confounding effects of gut microbial activity, they fed each diet to surgically altered roosters lacking ceca, or microbial pouches. Ultimately, all the diets were highly digestible.
Happy Holidays from service dogs Winnie, Clementine, Livi, and Justice. We make sick people feel better.
.Traveling With Pets: Know the Rules
By Beth Mueller
“Most people consider pets as family members and often bring their pets with them when traveling,” says Dr. Adriana Roman-Muniz, a veterinary medical officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services. Recently Dr. Roman-Muniz spoke with students at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine about regulations governing pet travel.
“Pets travel with their owners by car, train, air, or sea,” notes Dr. Roman-Muniz. “These travel methods have requirements established to protect people, animals, and ecosystems from the spread of diseases, pests, and invasive or injurious animals.”
The advice offered here is also provided in more detail on a USDA pet travel website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel. The regulations vary depending on whether the pet will travel within a state, between states, or internationally. For the purposes of interstate and international travel, horses are regulated differently from pets such as cats and dogs.
When traveling between states with a pet, owners should contact the state veterinarian’s office in the state of destination to learn what documentation is needed, according to Dr. Roman-Muniz.
In most cases of interstate travel, the animal must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued by a veterinarian. This documentation requires the animal to have a full physical examination by their primary care veterinarian shortly before the trip. The animal should have no health concerns.
Certain species are not allowed in some states. For example, ferrets and hedgehogs are not allowed in California. Owners need to research state regulations before traveling to avoid legal ramifications.
Most species traditionally kept as pets in the U.S. can travel internationally when accompanied by an international health certificate. Restrictions are determined by the country of destination.
In many cases, a country-specific health certificate is required. If a country does not have its own certificate, the APHIS pet travel website provides a standard form that may be used.
To make travel documentation easier, the Veterinary Export Health Certification System allows veterinarians accredited by the USDA to issue international health certificates electronically. In some cases, the certificate can also be endorsed electronically by APHIS Veterinary Services. Using this system can potentially save the traveler time and money.
Veterinarians play a vital role in pet travel. They assist with interstate and international movement by advising owners of requirements, completing the proper certificates, and performing required examinations, tests vaccinations, and treatments.
“Veterinarians are a resource for client education and have a responsibility for making sure animals are healthy and fit to travel and meet all travel requirements,” Dr. Roman-Muniz says. APHIS Veterinary Services is here to help owners, and the organization’s pet travel website is another great resource.
If you have any questions about traveling with your pet, contact your local veterinarian.
. Ohio State’s web page on CDS cites a 2010 study suggesting that 28 percent of felines ages 11 to 14 and 50 percent of felines ages 15 and older exhibit at least one sign of cognitive dysfunction.
The disease also manifests itself in dogs in similar ways as Alzheimer’s does in humans, Herron said. Dogs and cats with CDS show signs of confusion, memory impairment and incontinence. Dogs might forget tricks, such as how to shake; stop greeting their owners; or walk to a closet door, instead of the back door, when they want to go outside.
Diagnosis of CDS often requires veterinarians to first rule out other possible diseases, said JoAnn Morrison, senior manager of veterinary relations at Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Such a process, she said, includes extensive testing — blood work and brain imaging, for instance.
With their small size, stubby faces and wide-set eyes, bulldogs, French bulldogs and Boston terriers are among the most popular of domestic dog breeds. Now researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine have found the genetic basis for these dogs’ appearance, and linked it to a rare inherited syndrome in humans.
Bulldogs, French bulldogs and Boston terriers aren’t the only dogs with short, wide heads, but they do share another feature not found in other breeds: a short, kinked tail or “screwtail.”
The researchers sequenced the whole genome — the entire DNA sequence — of 100 dogs, including 10 from screwtail breeds. Graduate students Tamer Mansour and Katherine Lucot, with C. Titus Brown, associate professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Genome Center, searched through the DNA sequences to find changes associated with screwtail breeds.
From more than 12 million individual differences they were able to identify one mutation, in a gene called DISHEVELLED 2 or DVL2. This variant was found in 100 percent of the bulldogs and French bulldogs sampled, and was very common in Boston terriers.
This kind of whole genome comparison is relatively new, Bannasch said.
“Normally, we would have first had to identify a region DNA and work from there,” she said. “We could look at breed-specific traits, but not as well as we can now.”
My name is Motley and I’d like to join the Scamp Club please. I started out as a puppy in Taft. Then the recession hit and lots of animals were abandoned. I made my way to the Humane Society in Ojai where my mommy rescued me nine years ago. My left ear flops down- it’s one of the many things that makes me special but it doesn’t keep me from reading the Breeze.
Boots came to us when his owner lost his home. He lived with other cats and is reported to be friendly with adults, children as well as other cats. He is a social butterfly in out kitty cottage. He is always the first one to come up to greet you. Boots is doing well with the other kitties and is mellow with a playful side once he is comfortable. You can meet him in our kitty cottage along with some of our other social kitties. Ventura County Animal Services – Camarillo location – 600 Aviation Drive
Hi: I’m Momo a sweet 2-year-old Terrier X found as a stray. I’m in a foster home for the holidays and the foster thinks I may have been around cats before. Although I’m very curious, I know when to leave the cat alone. There are also two dogs in the foster home.
I’m full of puppy energy and can’t wait to be a cherished member of a loving family. Stop by and meet me! Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L.CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
∙ Per our cover article, the County of Ventura has selected Ashley Bautista as their new Public Information Officer following the retirement of Bill Nash. She will report to County Executive Officer Mike Powers. I’m happy for her, but sad at the same time. Ashley was great at keeping the media informed about news and events in Ventura – will miss her, but it’s wonderful that she has this new position.
∙ Hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and anything else that you might celebrate.
A different Happy Hanukkah came from astronaut Jessica Meir. The daughter of an Israeli doctor who moved to Sweden and later to the US, she joined the International Space Station crew in September. Two weeks later, she participated in the first all-female spacewalk.
∙ Reader Clyde questioned me calling some famous artists lefties. Even though some of the artists I mentioned (Michelangelo for instance) sometimes painted with their right hands, they were left-handed. In those days, some lefties did some things right-handed (maybe the nuns wacked their left hands with a ruler). One reason was the amount of time that it took for oil paint to dry which would be smeared when painting with just one hand. Us old lefties had this problem with ink pens.
By the way, if a person does some things right-handed and some left-handed that is not being ambidextrous. Ambidextrous means doing everything equally well with both hands and is very rare. A person who does some things with one hand and the other is called “mixed-handed” or “cross-dominant”.
A few more famous lefties: Vincent Van Gogh, Julius Caesar, Babe Ruth, Mozart, Oprah, Bonaparte, Bill Gates, Joan of Arc and Bart Simpson (maybe the most important one).
∙ Venturans for Responsible and Efficient Government (VREG) has excellent (and sometimes controversial) opinions regarding Ventura politics and city council. Always worth reading and deciding for yourself. www.vregventura.org click on “READ MORE”.
∙ Ventura County’s first permanent, year-round homeless shelter opening has been delayed and is scheduled now to open in late January instead of late December, as originally hoped. They had some construction and inspection delays.
Still only a 55-bed facility but at least some homeless will have a warm place to go to during winter (and other times). Too bad not open during this very cold and wet winter we are having so far.
Regarding the homeless, the Supreme Court has refused to consider whether state and local governments can make it a crime for homeless people to sleep outside. The justices won’t hear a case from Boise, Idaho which basically says homeless people can live on the street if they have nowhere else to live.
The question was whether the homeless can be prosecuted using laws designed to regulate public camping and sleeping. The court’s refusal to take up the issue is a setback to states and cities with a growing homeless population (about 40,000 in LA). Boise wanted a federal appeals court ruling overturned allowing them to prosecute people who sleep on streets when they claim shelter beds are unavailable.
This means that our police department must allow people to sleep on city property, so don’t blame them for this situation. Obviously, if they are committing crimes the same rules apply to them but being homeless and sleeping on the sidewalk are not crimes. We are, I hope, still a country of laws and this is now one of them.
∙ Regarding wind turbines, Trump had this to say. “I’m sure it makes sense to some but not to me. But they’re manufactured tremendous — if you’re into this — tremendous fumes. Gases are spewing into the atmosphere. You know we have a world, right? So the world is tiny compared to the universe. So tremendous, tremendous amount of fumes and everything. You talk about the carbon footprint — fumes are spewing into the air. Right? Spewing. Whether it’s in China, Germany, it’s going into the air. It’s our air, their air, everything — right?”
Can’t argue with that, or understand it.
The president also claimed in April that noise from turbines causes cancer, a claim that has no scientific research behind it. Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley called Trump’s statement “idiotic.”
∙ It was a violent year in the United States. In total, there were 41 mass killings, which are defined as instances when four or more people are killed, excluding the perpetrator. More than 210 people were left dead in the mass killings, 33 of which were mass shootings, according to a database compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University.
The highest profile shootings usually involve a gunman opening fire in a crowded place, but that is not a reflection of mass killings as a whole. The majority of the killings involved people who knew each other.
For instance, a 66-year-old man living at an apartment complex in Westerly, Rhode Island shot two employees and another resident before apparently killing himself. Hardly the reason why he purchased a gun, I would assume. Babcock Village apartments is an affordable housing complex for elderly and disabled people in the beachside town.
∙At a meeting in December, the City Council agreed to extend CAPS’ contract for one month, until the end of January. I thank the council members for the extensive discussion and decision that they had and for not closing CAPS’ doors on December 31. But, obviously the future of CAPS is still in question. So please let your council members know of your support for CAPS and for any of your city concerns. They are there to represent you. A few members are still “at large” but eventually all members will represent specific districts.
Movie Review by Cindy Summers Bombshell Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.
Based on actual events, Bombshellrecounts the brave women who brought down Fox News creator and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment, a scandal that exposed the longtime offenses that happened to over 20 women working for the man that created the most powerful media empire of its time. Released by Lionsgate, Directed by Ray Roach, Written by Charles Randolph and Starring Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil, and John Lithgow as Roger Ailes.
Fox News CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) was very controlling with the operations of Fox News, he would watch the network 24/7 and had a direct line phone into the production room where he barked out orders regarding how he wanted things to operate, one such example being that he wanted the camera to be wide shots to primarily include the female anchors legs. He also commented on the female anchors attire, saying that some dresses were too long, even though they were mid thigh which is generally not appropriate for executive offices.
Behind closed doors, Ailes would counsel female anchors on how to excel at their job and seek advancement, but would do it conditionally stating that he would need something in return for assisting them in their careers. His indiscretions were not only verbal, but physical and always done under the pretense that it was what was required to create a mutually beneficial situation.
Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) was the first to take action against Ailes, seeking legal advise to determine the best course of action to win her case. It was decided that it would be difficult to go after Fox News itself, but that they could go after Ailes individually for his actions. Carlson continued her employment for approximately one year, then quit and publicly outed Ailes for sexual harassment.
This created a media frenzy, and Fox News supporters actively attacked and threatened Carlson in public, as well as sending hate mail and using social media. Carlson was hoping that going public would help more women victimized by Ailes to come forward and aid in the legal case against him. It was at this time that Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie) a new news producer at Fox who was looking to get into the anchor seat, became Ailes next interest.
Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) had been a long time anchor at Fox News and covertly began to seek out other victims, having had been harassed by Ailes herself a number of years prior. Kelly finally joined Carlson in the suit against Ailes, which uncovered over 20 more women who would finally come forward during the investigation.
This all star cast does such an excellent job at bringing the viewer into the emotion of the situation, some of which can be difficult to stomach, though feel this movie can be very insightful and supportive to those going through similar situations. Hopefully it inspires those affected to take action against harassment in the workplace however daunting, as these women were publicly attacked, shammed and threatened but they were also the first to take down such high level, well-known execs (Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly) for their disgusting behavior toward women in the workplace.
R (for sexual material and language throughout)
118 minutes
