Ventura offered an opportunity for residents to give back to senior’s this holiday season by becoming a “Santa to a Senior”.
City Officials set up a Christmas tree display covered in paper ornaments outside of room 226 in city hall. On each ornament is a different gift idea for a senior. Those participated chose one of the gift ideas, bought the gift and return it to City Hall.
All of the gifts received will be given to the seniors that participate in the Ventura Avenue Adult Center Senior Nutrition Program this Christmas.
∙SPAN is joining up with Simi Valley nonprofit spay and neuter clinic to offer $10 spays and neuters for cats and kittens. Ventura County residents can get their cats and kittens spayed or neutered for $10 for the month of January 2020 only. Cats must be eight weeks or older. No rescue groups or purchased cats please. They also offer free spays and neuters for neighborhood and feral cats.
Must call for availability and to schedule appointment (805)584-3823.
∙Recently a good Samaritan brought in a total of 18 dogs to the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) after finding them near an abandoned building near a local restaurant in Santa Paula. The dogs are of varying ages and condition. Some appear to have suffered some neglect and with long curling nails and are in dire need of grooming.
“A good Samaritan may have saved my life.”
“This number of intakes is huge for us, in terms of space and in terms of resources in one day. We received more dogs than we had in the entire shelter. We are still in the process of evaluating the dogs’ health and ages.” said Tammy Adkins, Administrator, “When we receive animals like this we need to clear them medically, spay or neuter, groom and vaccinate them before we send them home. Unless an owner comes forward, most of the animals will be available for adoption starting on Friday, December 13, 2019.”
Caring for this number of animals can be unexpected expensive proposition for the non-profit that has the sheltering contract with the City of Santa Paula. Donations for the animals’ care, or adoption inquires can be made on their website www.santapaulaarc.org
The Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) is a no kill 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing animal services to the City of Santa Paula. As the municipal shelter it is our mission to build a humane community by cultivating kindness and compassion for people and their pets through progressive programs and services like low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary care, proactive adoptions and lost pet
redemption, emergency boarding and medical care, a pet food bank and wellness supplies, and a robust foster care and volunteer network.
∙Following the Nov.14 recall by Go Raw, LLC for its two-pound bags of frozen Quest Beef Cat Food because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM) has issued a recall for Special Kitty wet, canned cat food due to health concerns from the quality and safety of its ingredients.
The recall affects specific lots of Special Kitty Mixed Grill Dinner Pate that is sold individually as well as in variety packs. The recalled cat food was sold in 5.5-ounce metal cans nationwide and online.
Consumers that have purchased the recalled cat food should stop feeding it to their cats and dispose of the product. Questions about the recall can be directed to the company at 1-888-569-6767, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
∙A Knoxville man is helping the nation’s war dogs when they get injured on the front line.
“My grandfather was an army officer. My uncle was an Amy officer,” said Dr. Shane Chumbler.
He followed their lead to join the army but chose a different path. “This is me still serving, but it’s just me getting additional training as a veterinarian,” explained Chumbler.
“When they need me the most I want to be able to provide the best care,” he said.
He was a part of the 463rd medical detachment.
His unit was deployed to Afghanistan where he helped take care of the military working dogs.
“During that time we did see quite a few combat-related injuries,” said Chumbler, “A lot of trauma, which in turn sparked my interest into what I’m doing now.”
“You can talk to a handler about you know how that dog has saved their life personally then you can understand better that bond that exists between that handler and that dog,” explained Chumbler.
His next goal is to train others to help dogs on the front line.
“Just to be able to take care of pets and get to do that every day it’s a great feeling for sure,” said Chumbler.
Dr. Chumbler will complete his residency in July and will continue his work overseas.
Copyright 2019 WVLT. All rights reserved.
∙Preventive Home Care
Dr. Kling says one of her goals is to prevent dental problems in her patients. She offers lots of ideas for keeping the mouths of pets healthy.
“Dogs and cats should have their teeth brushed once a day. All owners really need is an ADA-approved toothbrush and some water,” says Dr. Kling, “but the brushing needs to be consistent for it to be useful.”
She warns that human toothpaste should not be used on pets because of the ingredients used. Dr. Kling also cautions that brushing teeth is an activity that needs to be introduced slowly to a pet. “It’s similar to cutting nails; take it slowly and commit to doing it for the long run so that your pet doesn’t hate having his teeth cleaned,” she said.
Owners can supplement the process with other products designed to get plaque off the surface of the teeth. A great resource for learning about teeth-cleaning products is the Veterinary Oral Health Council website. At vohc.org, all the listed products have been tested and proven helpful. Nevertheless, Dr. Kling says it is still important to maintain a tooth-brushing regimen with your pet at least three times a week to reduce the progression of periodontal disease.
Your veterinarian will work with you on a plan for preventive dental care at home and in the clinic to keep your pet’s mouth healthy and comfortable. For more information and to schedule your pet’s annual dental examination, contact your local veterinarian.
The Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act would stall future drug development and deprive Americans of lifesaving cures — all without reducing patients’ out-of-pocket costs.
The bill would alter Medicare Part D, the federal prescription drug benefit for seniors and people with disabilities. Today, 45 million Americans receive drug coverage from Part D.
Part D is a free market success story. Instead of administering the benefit directly, Uncle Sam subsidizes private insurers who sell plans to beneficiaries. Since these insurers compete for customers, they have every incentive to keep costs low. Part D cost nearly $350 billion less over its first 10 years than originally estimated.
Unfortunately, the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act would upend this tried and true structure.
The bill’s most egregious penalty might be the 20 percent tax it would impose on manufacturers for some drugs sold in Part D. The package would cost biopharmaceutical firms $55 billion over the next 10 years.
This massive tax would save the government money, but it wouldn’t do much for patients — 98 percent of Medicare beneficiaries won’t see a reduction in their pharmacy bills. Some could even face increased out-of-pocket costs.
Over time, this bill would harm patients by making it harder to fund drug research.
It takes $2.6 billion on average for researchers to bring one new treatment to market. Scientists rely on the revenue from successful drugs to fund future research projects.
The myriad taxes in the bill would impede manufacturers’ ability to earn back development costs. That would make it difficult for firms to attract the investment they need to research new treatments. Without that funding, scientists would have to abandon the roughly 4,500 drugs currently being developed for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases in the United States.
The package wouldn’t just hurt patients. The pharmaceutical sector supports close to 5 million jobs and contributes more than $1 trillion in economic output each year. Nearly half of drug firms said that reductions in R&D could lead to layoffs and facility closures.
The Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act would cripple the life sciences sector and do nothing to help patients afford their medicines. Talk about a lose-lose.
Stacy Washington is a decorated Air Force Veteran, an Emmy nominated TV personality, and the host of the nationally syndicated radio program “Stacy on the Right.”
My name is Cookie. I am a happy-go-lucky cheery kind of a fellow. A sweet guinea pig, but I am neither a pig nor am I from Guinea. I makes adorable tweeking sounds and like any good kid, I eat all of my vegetables!
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging is the recipient of two National Mature Media Awards for video production. The videos, titled Remembering Ventura County’s Veterans and Ventura County Elder Abuse Call to Action, were recognized as being among the nation’s best marketing, communications, educational materials, and programs produced for older adults.
Remembering Ventura County’s Veterans, which won a bronze award, was produced in partnership with the Ventura County Veterans Services Offices to recognize the region’s military veterans and to bring attention to the services offered to that population through the County of Ventura. Click here to view the video.
Ventura County Elder Abuse Call to Action received a merit award and was produced to draw attention to elder abuse and local resources available to victims of elder abuse. County of Ventura CEO Mike Powers, Ventura County Supervisor, John C. Zaragoza, and Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten are among those featured in the video. Click here to view the video.
“The VCAAA is honored to receive this recognition and is proud of the impact our videos have made on the community,” said Victoria Jump, Director of the VCAAA. “We believe the videos produced by the VCAAA set a new standard for how we communicate with our clients. We are dedicated to communicating our services, as well as the services of partnering agencies, and to honoring the lives of the clients we serve.”
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, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities 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.
Jan 4, 8 a.m. Ventura Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count – Organizer/Compiler: Frank DeMartino 856-906-8733 or ([email protected]) The CBC is the longest running citizen science effort in existence. Bird counts take place all over North America with a few in the Caribbean and Latin America as well. This will be the 120th Christmas Bird Count conducted by National Audubon. If you would like to participate please contact Frank through phone or email.
Jan 12, 8 a.m. Hedrick Ranch Nature Area Work Day Leader: Sandy Hedrick 805-340-0478
Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. Work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves & sun protection. Contact Sandy for directions.
Jan 13, 8:30 a.m. Camino Real Park Field Trip Leader: Adele Fergusson 805-415-4304
Camino Real is a grassy park surrounded by pines and eucalyptus and is an excellent place to see birds. Target birds will include Red Shouldered Hawk, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler and Townsend’s Warbler. Contact Adele for directions.
Jan 14, 7:30 p.m. Ventura Audubon Society Monthly Program at the Poinsettia Pavilion – 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura (Free to the Public): Protecting Wildlife and Wild Places. Speaker: James Hines, Sierra Club’s California/Nevada Wildlife Team Leader
The program will cover some of the Sierra Club’s local work protecting the Los Padres National Forest, Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. He will also discuss the Sierra Club’s work on protecting mountain lions, banning wildlife killing rodenticides (rat poison) and protecting local wildlife corridors. As well as touch on some of the work he does with the Sierra Club National Public Lands Team working to protect national public lands units in the west.
Jan 18, 8:30 a.m. Ventura Settling Ponds Field Trip Leader: Linda Easter 818-519-2833
The settling ponds at the Ventura Harbor is a reliable place to find ducks, grebes, gulls and terns, as well as songbirds and raptors. We should hear Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warblers and Blue-gray gnatcatchers.
Jan 26, 8:00 a.m. Ormond Beach Field Trip Leader: Tevin Schmitt 661-904-1563
Join us at this excellent coastal location, where we will look for a variety of waterfowl, such as Willets, Whimbrels, Black necked Stilts, Black bellied plovers and other interesting birds. We will also look for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Peregrine Falcon, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers. Dress in layers, as the morning may be chilly. Please bring a scope if you have one. Meet at the end of Arnold Road.
∙ Happy holidays and new year to our wonderful readers and advertisers.
∙In our last issue, I made what I thought was a tongue-in-cheek comment about doctor’s visits, which prompted this response from an “Anonymous Family Doctor.” I understand why he/she wants to remain anonymous and I do appreciate the fact that he/she took time out of their busy schedule to send this. I certainly understand how crazy a doctor’s day can be and that they don’t know if a patient will come in with a cold or pneumonia (or if patients run late).
Dear Editor,
As a family physician in Ventura seeing up to 23 patients per day, with 20 minute appointment slots per patient regardless of the reason for their appointment, I was a bit offended by your insensitive comment “I think doctors should arrive 15 minutes early for appointments so that patients don’t need to arrive 15 minutes early (as directed) and sit for an hour.” In the Vol. 13, No. 3 – Nov 6 – Nov 19, 2019 – Opinion/Editorial.
These 20-minute appointments include the time it takes the nurse to take vital signs, make sure the patient is up to date with all necessary vaccines, preventative health measures, write down the reason for the patient visit, and make any small talk. This may allow me 10 minutes to get a history, do a physical exam, perform any necessary procedures, counsel and educate patients on necessary or unnecessary labs, vaccines, or preventative tests they may or may not need.
I hate running late and always apologize to patients when I do. No matter how late I’m running, I never rush patients, give them my full attention and provide them the care they need and deserve. I went into medicine because I truly care about people.
Out of respect to the patient in front of me, all the other patients I have to see, and myself, I make a huge effort to stay on time. Patients are technically allowed 3 concerns per visit. Patients often have more concerns and need more than the allotted time, which can make time management difficult. It is also not uncommon for patients to show up late and the policy where I work is that no matter how late a patient arrives for their appointment, I still have to see them. In the past, doctors would not only NOT see patients who arrived late, but they would fine them. There is nothing more frustrating than the first scheduled patients in the morning or afternoon to show up late, which will throw off the morning or afternoon.
We are now in a patient-centered era, focused on customer service with direct access meaning patients can e-mail me at any time and expect to hear back within 24 hours. These e-mails are usually answered in the early morning, between patients, during lunch breaks, or in the evenings. With just over 2,000 patients, this makes for a lot of e-mails and long days.
This is just a glimpse into the life of a primary care doctor, which is why burnout is so common.
With the advances in the health care system, a solution albeit imperfect, may be to create access to a doctor’s schedule for patients see if the doctor is on time or running late with the understanding that all it takes is one patient to show up late or need a little extra TLC to delay the doctor’s schedule.
A tip for the editor and breeze readers is to schedule their doctor appointment first thing in the morning or right after lunch. Plus, studies have shown that doctors don’t perform as well later in the day, so it behooves the patient to make an earlier appointment. Also, always bring a book, magazine or smart device (or the Ventura Breeze, editor comment) so you have something to do while waiting.
I would like nothing more than to be on time for all of my patients, but with the current healthcare system, it’s a challenge.
Will retired Chief Corney follow retired Chief Tracy and become a city council member?
Anonymous Family Doctor
∙People in Ventura have noticed a helicopter flying around the community lately. No, not looking for a crook, it is Edison conducting aerial inspections. They are also doing these with drones.
∙Sales of flavored vaping products have been banned in Ventura. Tobacco-flavored vaping products – which are used by some adults to break (supposedly) their cigarette use – were exempted. The city (and county) bans affect retail outlets, and Ventura has taken the additional step of banning online sales within city limits (which of course can’t really be controlled but it sounds nice). I am all for this.
∙The number of journalists imprisoned globally for their work in 2019 remained near record highs, as China tightened its iron grip on the press and Turkey, has stamped out virtually all independent reporting. Protests in the Middle East has led to a rise in the number of journalists locked up in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This is why I never send a journalist further then Ojai. All jokes aside, this is a terrible trend.
∙The Ventura City Council unanimously passed an emergency eviction ordinance to halt “no-cause” evictions until Jan. 1, when a new statewide tenant protection law takes effect. There has been a rise in evictions ahead of the law, which will ban evictions without a “just cause” and caps annual rent increases.
City Attorney Gregory Diaz explained that the ordinance is not a criminal law. If a landlord violates the ordinance, the city attorney won’t file a criminal complaint and the city won’t file a civil complaint. The ordinance can be used as a defense for tenants who bring a landlord to court.
The council also approved a name for the new city/county year-round homeless shelter, which will be opening soon. The shelter is named The ARCH, which stands for “All Roads Connect to Housing.”
I think this name will be confused with The ARC of Ventura County, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
∙Regarding possible impeachment, what I find sad (regardless of one’s political affiliation) is that voting is completely along party lines. Not sure if this serves our country well. Lindsey Graham said it better than me; “I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here,” Graham said, adding, “What I see coming, happening today is just partisan nonsense.”
Buena High School student and recording artist, William Boyd singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Students at Buena High School have been learning the ins and outs of the music recording industry with their Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 4 project. Utilizing their on-campus recording studio, the Buena High School Choir has selected various secular, holiday, and winter-themed songs to record and release for digital download, available across the world. This past year, their previous albums (Volumes 1-3) have been heard in 42 different countries, from the Netherlands to Qatar.
“It amazes me that our songs get heard so far away,” says junior Paige Goldman.
The fantastic thing is this happening at a time in the music industry when artists continue to struggle to make a living. Due to the increased popularity of streaming music, and the minimal payout artists receive per stream, which can be less than one-tenth of a penny per stream, depending on the platform. The best way you can support your favorite artists is by actually buying and downloading their music, rather than merely streaming it for “free.” When their patrons support artists, they can continue making the art and music that their audience loves.
Choir director, Kevin Downey, states, “I am so proud that our students are getting this opportunity to release their music and learn about the recording industry when it is almost impossible to make a living beyond minimum wage as a musician, even if you get signed with a record label and experience some minor success.”
According to Tim Frantz, Buena’s Audio Engineer from Mountain Dog Musicworks “This album is excellent. This is college-level stuff.”
Do not miss a great opportunity to support the arts in our local public schools, and fill your holidays with joy by downloading the Not-So-Silent Night, Volume 4 album. Just search “The Buena High School Choir” on iTunes, Amazon, or Google Play Store. If you prefer live music, though, you can also watch the students perform live at their benefit concert on December 19, in the Buena High School Library Media Center from 6-7:30 pm, located at 5670 Telegraph Road.
For more information, contact Buena’s choir director Kevin Downey at [email protected], follow their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts @buenahschoir, or visit their website at www.bitly.com/buenahschoir.
Thursday Jan 2
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.
Tuesday Jan 7
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.
Thursday Jan 9
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.
Monday Jan 13
7:00 – 10 pm
Ukulele Jam – Join folks of all ages and experience levels to jam out on your ukulele! Beginners welcome, every 2nd and 4th Monday.
Tuesday Jan 14
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.
Thursday Jan 16
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.
Tuesday Jan 21
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.
Thursday Jan 23
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.
Monday Jan 27
7:00 – 10 pm
Ukulele Jam – Join folks of all ages and experience levels to jam out on your ukulele! Beginners welcome, every 2nd and 4th Monday.
Tuesday Jan 28
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Virtual Reality – Tuesdays @ 3:30-5:30 pm on the 2nd Floor. Explore the virtual world with these different gaming VR platforms: Gear VR, Oculus Go, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. All VR Platforms are for ages 13 and up.
Thursday Jan 30
7:30 – 9:00 pm
Open Mic Night – Free and open to the public! Open Mic night hosted by Phil Taggart. Enjoy a featured poet, then share your own work with the group. All are welcome to just sit and listen as well.
Friday Jan 31
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Opera Santa Barbara – Come enjoy a free noontime concert presented by members of Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artist Program. One of our most popular events. See you in the Topping Room!
Closures This Month January 1 New Years Day January 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Every New Year we take measure. This is a good thing. It sees us slow down, think things through, see beyond the daily blur that sometimes constitutes our days. The underlying question is both simple and grand. What do we want to do with the time we have?
This is an important question for a simple reason. The time we have is limited.
If we are very lucky, we have choices regarding how we spend the time we have. And where. If you are reading this from your home, and your home is touched by the sea, then it may be that you are so very lucky to call Ventura home. If you are lucky enough to be visiting Ventura, well, that is lucky enough.
Our town is something very special. This is not a sales pitch. It’s just the truth. We have improbable amounts of sun and warmth, and pretty rolling hills, and a glittering sea that doesn’t serve as a backdrop at all; it’s a world-class playground, and we should all play as much as possible. Right. Because the time we have is limited.
But Ventura is not just about meteorology and geography. If you are lucky enough to live here, you know this. If you are visiting, you will discover this in short order. The smiles you see are genuine, the kind that aren’t just a stretch of the face, but rise up from some deep, warm place. The kindnesses bestowed — an elaborate set of directions, a Samaritan who walks you to the restaurant and then comes in to introduce you to the owner — those kindnesses come from the same deep, warm place. The easy acceptance? You be You has been adopted as a slogan by our Visitors Bureau, but slogans, without the truth behind them, are pointless. Let’s be honest. It can be a divisive world. Not everyone is helpful, pleasant and accepting. Not even in Ventura.
But it is also true to say that, in Ventura, acceptance triumphs over the narrow-minded, and pleasantness smothers discord.
This is a very special place. Venturans walk through their days carrying this knowledge in their heads and their hearts. It hangs in the sunshine, almost as real as the salt-laden air. Venturans care. Again, not all — but most. We have seen this caring in good times, and, more telling, in bad. Ours is a town that looks out for each other. Sometimes fiercely. There is also strength in the warmth deep down inside.
Not long ago our Visit Ventura team attended the Ventura Chamber’s annual Poinsettia Awards. Every town (hopefully) has similar awards. The Poinsettia Awards are given to the givers, the people who work to make the world better. One by one, the award winners came to the stage. It was their moment in the sun. Without exception, each stood at the podium and spoke of others. Teachers who changed their lives. Mentors who provided help and example. Parents who gave everything.
The message was clear.
See the gifts we’ve been given. Then give them to others.
What to do with the time we have? The decision is yours.
And that in itself is a very lucky place to be.
Happy New Year from all of us here at Visit Ventura…
Ventura offered an opportunity for residents to give back to senior’s this holiday season by becoming a “Santa to a Senior”.
