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Ojai Film Festival Features 81 Films from Around the World,

A Day in The Park from Spain to be shown

Ojai Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary introduces an award for Best Locally Produced Film, alongside 81 film contenders from around the world in competition for top prizes. This year’s World Premiere films include:

  • (t)here
  • After Parkland, Healing a Community and a Nation
  • In The Campfire Light
  • My Daughter Yoshiko
  • The Vow From Hiroshima
  • Truth in Recruiting
  • Nowhere

Screeners selected contenders from record breaking submissions of nearly 500 films.

“According to several of our festival Judges, this year’s selections are the best we ever offered,” the 20 year running film festival’s Founder and Artistic Director Steve Grumette said. “Despite economic and trade sanctions against their country, Iranian filmmakers are flourishing. We have 13 Iranian films in this year’s festival, more than from any other country except the U.S..”

The eclectic batch of films includes narrative features and shorts, animations, and feature and short documentaries. Many indie films premiere at this year’s festival. Other selections received honors at other venues.

One award winning animated film A Day in The Park from Spain, directed by the up and coming Diego Porral Soldeville depicts a grandfather who reminisces about ‘the good old days’ while his grandson zones out with his holographic visor. As the grandfather revisits old classics like Facebook and Tinder or waxes nostalgic about relics like the iPhone, he provides some much-needed perspective on our hyperconnected digital society.

In celebration of twenty years in Ojai, the festival added a new category honoring local filmmakers in the Gold Coast Series. The 14 local films in this competition include Mamma Mia: From Auditions to Opening Night, a film by Ventura High graduate Ryan King, that follows Ventura High’s production of Mamma Mia; Camarillo director Miguel Orozco’s Oxnard-Set film Mixteco Boy; and God Send, a thoughtful feature by Ojai director Levi Holiman. The Gold Coast’s full day of screening runs on Monday, November 4, from 10 am to 10 pm.

Continuing a longstanding tradition of spotlighting environmental films, the festival’s series Focus: Earth presents two screenings each of eco-conscious shorts and features throughout the festival. A full day of ecological films, seminars and special events happens on Sunday, November 10. Among the highlights, director Sylvia Rokab screens scenes and answers questions about her film Love Thy Nature. The day tops off with Living in The Future’s Past, narrated and produced by Jeff Bridges, Q&A with director Susan Kucera follows

The 20th annual Ojai Film Festival also offers Lifetime Achievement Awards for Pat Boone and Eva Marie Saint, the new Sergio Aragones Animation Award presented by Sergio Aragones, Hawk Koch Memoir Debut, Women in Film Legacy Series, Screenwriting Competition & Live Table Read, seminars and speakers, industry insiders, parties, and much more.

For complete schedule of screenings go to ojaiifilmfestival.com.

The calming effect of horses is good for children

Unlike other horse rescues, their work doesn’t just benefit horses. 

A Lotte Opportunity Foundation is a local nonprofit horse rescue, located in Santa Paula (it seems like Ventura), unlike other horse rescues, their work doesn’t just benefit horses.  Begun in 2016, with the belief that horses and children do better together, ALOF works to provide riding lessons to children who are from low income families; they have some of the cutest rescue horses, like Finn and Ole, a couple of Fjords, a small but very strong breed, who are lifelong friends, and that can’t be separated!

ALOF believes that the calming effect of horses is good for children, where they learn respect and responsibility, how to be firm while being kind, and how to take a tumble but get back up again. Horseback riding can be costly, and has been called “the rich man’s sport.” buying a horse is expensive enough, but then tack onto that all the equipment needed, maintaining an adequate living space, food and veterinarian bills, most parents can’t afford, no matter how much their kid begs for a pony.  ALOF seeks to remedy that situation by granting low income kids riding lessons.

ALOF is more than a horse rescue, it is a much needed chance for children as well as horses, taking in horses that are unwanted, and from all walks of life. Some are off-the-track Thoroughbreds, horses that made thousands of dollars in the racing industry and tossed aside due to injuries or underperformance. Some are last chance babies, that never got the chance to have a loving home before they found themselves in the lineup headed to a slaughterhouse, others are old ponies that once raced cross country courses for the owner’s children, only to be outgrown and passed onto retirement.  ALOF welcomes all ages, breeds, sizes and lifestyles as a safe place to land, if these horses can go into the riding program, they will, carefully walking their young charges, the children, around the foothills of Santa Paula. If they are not able to be ridden, they are still teachers. Ole can’t be ridden, but spends his days teaching the kids what to do when a horse lets himself out of his house and goes for a slow speed march on the quest for food, they learn, do you run after him begging him to come back or do you offer him a bucket of something even tastier than what he’s munching?

ALOF relies heavily on volunteer help to care for the horses and their living environment, and in addition, provides paid riding lessons to members of the public at large to supplement as well as putting on fund-raising events. If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer at ALOF please contact Claudia Gilman at [email protected].  Please Visit ALOF’s website at www.alotteopportunity.org.  ALOF is seeking donations to improve the horse stalls for winter and has set up a GoFundMe account, contributions, great or small, would be greatly appreciated.

Vol. 13, No. 2 – Oct 23 – Nov 5, 2019 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wednes 10-02

 12:45pm, received a request for traffic control from the construction company building the “Port-side” docks. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 17 to assist with boating traffic control for the barge transporting the crane.

Friday 10-04

 3:25pm, received a report of a transient throwing rocks at the Holiday Inn Express. Officers responded but were unable to find the individual described.

Saturday 10-05

 5:20pm, received a report of a whale near the School House Jetty in Pierpont. Officers responded and found what appeared to be a small grey whale. A mammal rescue volunteer was contacted and would investigate.

9:03pm, contacted by a diver who was threatened by 2 fisherman hoop netting in the sandtrap area. Officers contacted the 2 and advised of the seriousness of such behavior towards the diver. The situation was resolved without incident.
Tuesday 10-08 11:55am, dispatched to a Hazardous Condition, gas leak at the Ventura Water Treatment plant. Officers responded and assisted VFD with the call. A gas leak was discovered but had not ignited.

Thursday 10-10

 8:10am, received a report of a vessel accident between two large commercial vessels. Officers responded and investigated the incident which occurred at the VHV fuel dock. Minor damage to both vessels was observed and reported.

Friday 10-11

 12:47am, dispatched to a fall victim at VWM C-dock. Officers responded and found a patient with a serious head wound. He was treated and transported to local hospital by American Medical response ambulance.

6:15am, observed a working brush fire in the river bottom near the golf course. VFD and VCFD were fighting the brush fire. East Winds gusting to 30kts.

Saturday 10-12

 3:30am, contacted an individual hoop netting in the swimming area of Harbor Cove. Officers issued warning for the violation; no hoop nets set in the harbor.

10:25pm, while on patrol in Rescue Boat 17 officers observed a flare ignited towards Ventura West Marina. After a search no vessel in distress was located.

Sunday 10-13

 4:05pm, observed a large fishing seiner outbound in the turning basin in violation of 302(b) VHO speed. Officers were able to contact the captain via VHF radio and issue warning and gain compliance.

6:03pm, throughout the day officers observed several different types of recreation throughout the harbor most likely due to the favorable weather experienced all day. Kayakers, small and large fishing vessels, standup paddlers and sailboats even though there was no wind enjoyed the boating day.

8:05pm, while on patrol officers enforced hoop netting regulations around the breakwall for several different violations, including insufficient lights, illegal placement of hoop nets and various safety violations.

Monday 10-14

 7:58am, dispatched to a medical: chest pain in the parking lot of Plimsol mart. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR. The patient was treated and transported to local hospital for further evaluation by AMR ambulance.

10:50pm, while on patrol, officers observed a suspicious person walking with a fishing pole and tackle in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers contacted the individual and issued warning for trespassing and illegal fishing.

 

Winter Wonderland Holiday Luncheon & Holiday Raffles

Presented by Oxnard Altrusa International Club all will enjoy a scrumptious lunch and gifts that are raffled for one and all. Make this your first place to begin the holiday shopping.

There will be 15 themed decorated Christmas Trees and gifts for sale. There are trees for family’s children, men, and women.

Besides the trees there are holiday and seasonal wreaths, 20 gift baskets, 10 gift opportunities stores, and other entities.

All the proceeds go to administer scholarships funds for our Ventura County students including Ventura College.

The Winter Wonderland Holiday luncheon will be held on Saturday, November 2, at Courtyard Marriott of Oxnard, 600 Esplanade Dr. Oxnard, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Oxnard Altrusa Club has been servicing Ventura County residents for 55 years. The club is minimal time consuming yet the hearts we have are there when the help is needed.

Please email [email protected] for any questions, reservations and tickets.

Palliative care physician to speak at Ventura High

“Living the Best Mortal Life Possible” is brought to you as a local collaboration by Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC) Palliative Care Team, Ventura County Palliative Partnership & Ventura County Coalition of Compassionate Care

Ira Byock, MD is a leading palliative care physician, author and public advocate for improving care through the end-of-life.

He is Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Institute for Human Caring of Providence Health and Services based in Torrance, CA. The institute advances efforts to measure, monitor and improve person-centered care system wide and supports culturally diverse communities in expanding models of care.

Dr. Byock is Professor of Medicine and Community and Family Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. He served as Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire from 2003 to 2013

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Ventura High School, Auditorium, 2 North Catalina St.

Free and Open to the Public

Pam and Kathy join an outstanding group of dedicated volunteers on the board

Pam Baumgardner and Kathy Good join CAPS Media Board Of Directors

The CAPS Media membership has elected two creative and outstanding volunteers to join the organizations Board of Directors. Pam Baumgardner and Kathy Good join the board for four-year terms.

Pam has been an active member at CAPS Media for the past few years. She created and hosted Ventura Rocks @ CAPS a monthly studio and interview program produced at CAPS and is currently a DJ on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1 FM, hosting a weekly program featuring music artists and bands in the community. Pam is also well known in the community as the driving beat behind Ventura Rocks, the main source for what’s happening with the vibrant Ventura music culture. She is also a contributing music writer for the Ventura Breeze.

Pam’s commitment to CAPS Media is reflected in her candidate statement for the recent election: “I am a lifelong supporter of local broadcasting, TV or Radio. I understand the importance and role of having local broadcasters in a community verses big business syndicated programming. Local media breathes life into a community.”

Joining Pam is Kathy Good, a CAPS Media board of directors’ veteran. Kathy has served on the CAPS board since 2015. Her re-election allows her to continue her dedicated support and as board secretary. Kathy’s candidate statement says it all. “I am an eleven-year veteran producer/volunteer and four year Board Member, Executive Committee and Board Secretary at CAPS Media and recipient of the 2014 W.A.V.E. Leadership Award. I am inspired to work with the Board to develop stronger community ties and expand our viewership. As an educator I embrace the digital age that allows anyone to share stories that create community connection. I will work to actively recruit producers from our community. As a CAPS Radio KPPQ talk show host/producer of “In The Women’s Room,” I am committed to freedom of speech as well as providing a platform for women to discuss their issues, their concerns and their art. I am committed to our local treasure: CAPS Media!”

Pam and Kathy join an outstanding group of dedicated volunteers on the board: Cliff Rodrigues (Chairperson), Darryl Dunn (Vice Chairperson), Cathy Peterson, William Schneider, and Michael Velthoen and representatives from four partner organizations, Ashley Bautista (City of Ventura), Bill De La Espriella (County of Ventura), Tim Harrison (Ventura College) and Marieanne Quiroz (VUSD).

We are sad to report that our friend and CAPS board member William (Bill-E) Johnson recently passed away. Bill-E was a very active member/producer and supporter of CAPS Media. He will be missed by all of us.

CAPS Media is very pleased to be invited by the Ojai Film Festival to screen The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story on Sunday November 3rd at 1pm and Friday November 8th at 1pm at the Sane Living Center at 316 E Matilija St, Ojai. The film chronicles the extraordinary personal stories of survival and healing during and following the devastating Thomas Fire. The public is encouraged to attend. Details can be found at https://ojaifilmfestival.com/.

Fall is a great time to join the growing community of CAPS Media Member/Producers. If you have an interest in community television or radio production, or are just curious, drop by the CAPS Media Center on the first Thursday of the month and learn how to become a member of CAPS and join our community of enthusiastic and engaged Member/Producers. Go to CAPSMedia.org for more information.

Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association announces holiday hours

The Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market held on Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall in Ventura will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The market is reopening on January 8th, 2020 from 9am to 1pm.

The Thousand Oaks Certified Farmers’ Market, located at the Oaks Shopping Center, will close on Thursday, November 28 for the Thanksgiving holiday and will reopen for two additional holiday shopping weeks in its regular spot, December 5th and December 12th, 2019. The Market will reopen on Thursday, January 9, 2020 in its regular east end location on Wilbur Road from 12noon to 5pm.

The Downtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market will be open all Saturdays in November and December throughout the holiday season at the City Parking Lot on Santa Clara and Palm Streets from 8:30am to 12:00noon

For more information, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfm.org.

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association serves the community of Ventura with two Markets — Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall, front west parking lot on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Saturdays in Downtown Ventura on the corners of East Santa Clara and Palm Streets from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market is held Thursdays at The Oaks Shopping Center at the east end parking lot, Wilbur Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard from 1:30 to 6:00 p.m. Santa Clarita Farmers’ Market is held on Sundays at the College of the Canyons, parking lot 5 on Valencia Boulevard from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Major fire prevented by quick response

“Are you sure you see the fire?”

On Nov.6, at 4:30pm, the Ventura County Fire Communication Center received a report of a small bush on fire on the right shoulder of the N/B 101 Frwy near the E. Main St on ramp. A single fire engine from the Ventura City Fire Dept was dispatched to the area and was unable to locate the initial incident. Additional 911 calls were being received about multiple vegetation fires along the right shoulder of the N/B 101 Frwy between the E. Main St exit and the Sanjon Rd exit and included a vehicle fire. Additionally, fire resources were dispatch to those areas and upon arrival they found multiple vegetation fires and a vehicle fire which threatened two residences. Fire resources initiated a quick and aggressive fire attack which kept the fires to the areas of origin. Upon further investigation, it was determined that a malfunction in the vehicle’s fuel tank was causing fuel to spill along the freeway shoulder and causing the vegetation fires and the vehicle fire.

Traffic along the 101 Frwy was impacted for approximately one hour due to the fires. CHP provided traffic control along the N/B 101 Frwy until fire resources were able to extinguish the fires

E. P. Foster Library November events

Tuesday Nov 5

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 Nov 7

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 Nov 12

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.

Tuesday Nov 12

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Sierra Club Educational Series – Please join us as we learn about hiking, camping and natural resources in and around Ventura County. Presented by the Ventura Sierra Club. See you in the Topping Room!

Wednesday Nov 13

4:00 – 6:00 pm

Empowering Ventura County Small Businesses – Presented by Joseph “Joe” Lee Suh. Joe comes to us from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and is working with the Ventura County Library to explore how the SBA can help your business thrive. Join us for this introductory seminar and learn more about how you can start, grow, expand, or recover your business with the SBA and Ventura County Library. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/vclEmpower

Thursday Nov 14

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 Nov 19

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 Nov 21

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.

Closures This Month

November 11 Veterans Day

November 28 Thanksgiving Day