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Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – Movie Review

by Cindy Summers

Dumbo 
3 palm trees out of 4

Dumbo is the 2019 Walt Disney Pictures version of the animated Disney classic originally released 1941. Directed by Tim Burton, Music by Danny Elfman. and Written by Ehren Kruger. Starring Danny DeVito as Max Medici, Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier and Michael Keaton as V.A. Vandevere with great performances from child actors Nicole N. Parker as Milly Farrier & Finley Hobbins as Joe Farrier.

Set in 1919, it’s a reminder of a time when the circus traveled on trains. The Medici Circus traveled across the south and was plagued with loss from the influenza epidemic and declining crowds. Holt Farrier (Collin Farrell) returns from the war having lost an arm and discovering he also has lost his wife to influenza and his prize performing horses were sold to keep the circus going. There’s an obvious distance with his children Milly (Nicole N. Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) , who had to rely on each other having been left alone at the circus by circumstance.

Max Medici (Danny DeVito) buys Jumbo the elephant in hopes that a cute baby elephant can draw big crowd, only to have his dreams crushed by Dumbo’s seemingly deformed large ears. You can’t help but fall in love in an instant peering into Dumbo’s sweet blue eyes and extremely realistic looking CGI. Milly and Joe discover quite by chance that when Dumbo sniffs up a feather, he can fly. Feeling this will help the Medici circus, Dumbo get national exposure after flying in his first show.

This got the attention of a major investor, V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) who offers to make Max a partner and give jobs to his troop in a giant permanent steampunk carnival venue, certainly a brilliant design that could only be created from the incredible imagination of Tim Burton. The music score also plays a big part in the emotion of the story, which is a testament to Burton’s continued project partnership with Danny Elfman.

Danny DeVito was perfect for his role as the crazy character running the circus, as he was hard not to love regardless of his morally questionable actions or intentions. It felt as though Keaton overacted the villain part at times but enjoyed the contrast of little Milly wanting to make scientific contributions to the world like Marie Curie. I found myself on the edge of my seat as the recently fired carnival crew set out to rescue Big Jumbo and Little Dumbo, and think the remake brings much reality and believability to this timeless Disney classic.

Dumbo is a movie for people of all ages and for those that think you remember the story line believe there’s much to see in this new release.

Rated PG – 112m

Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – The Pet Page

∙The Canine Companions For Independence Valley to Sea Chapter encompasses puppy raisers and volunteers in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

If you’re looking for deeper engagement as a Canine Companions volunteer, we encourage you to get involved with them. The Valley to Sea Chapter is an extension of the Southwest Regional Training Center. They work to raise awareness, recruit new puppy raisers and volunteers and support one another’s work on behalf of the Canine Companions’ mission.

Elizabeth and Alan Howell and Pam Williams of Canine Companions For Independence appearing on Our Ventura TV (www.ourventura.com) on CAPSTV hosted by Sandra Siepak.

They are a lively network filled with opportunities for social engagement, from puppy classes to fundraisers. Beyond the satisfaction of doing good work for Canine Companions, lifelong friendships are often formed among chapter members. If you are interested in more information go to http://www.cci.org.

Founded in 1975 the assistance dogs they breed, raise and train aren’t just the ears, hands and legs of their human partners. They’re also goodwill ambassadors and often, their best friends. They open up new opportunities and new possibilities and spread incredible joy. They unite people with dogs in a powerful program that leads to greater independence and confidence.

∙SPAN Thrift Store is providing $10 spays and neuters for low income cat and dog friends.

Two clinics in May are: Thursday, May 23rd at Sheills Park, in the parking lot, located at 649 C St., Fillmore,  and another one in the SPAN Thrift Store parking lot in Ventura at 110 N. Olive St. (behind Vons on Main) on Thursday, May 30th. Please call to schedule an appointment (805) 584-3823.

The National Police Dog Foundation (located in our backyard)is pleased to announce it will be co-hosting the 2nd Annual Police K-9 Memorial Service on May 11th to be held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. The Foundation will be hosting a luncheon following the ceremony at the nearby DC FOP Lodge.

∙The anti-vaccine movement has come for pets.

In fact, the spreading fear of side effects from pet vaccines led the British Veterinary Association to issue a statement that dogs cannot develop autism from them.

Doctor Raelynn Farnsworth with the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine echoes this for all pets.

“I do hear people that come into the office and say, ‘Well, I don’t believe in vaccines or I think vaccines cause problems,'” Dr. Farnsworth said. “We do hear the autism claim in humans and so what does it do to their pets. There are studies out there that we are seeing a decline in animal visits to the veterinarians. Mostly that’s based on people’s perception that their pet doesn’t like the vet, so they don’t take them. ”

She said it’s important to vaccinate your pets for their well-being, and the well-being of all pets.

“If enough animals are vaccinated it puts animals that are at risk for medical reasons or age reasons can’t get vaccinated, they’re less likely to get sick from the diseases if the general population is vaccinated,” Dr. Farnsworth said. Not only that, but she said the risk of these diseases, and treatment for them, outweigh any potential side effects.

“Most of the diseases we vaccinate against we do so because they’re pretty detrimental to the pet,” Dr. Farnsworth said. “Like with the parvovirus, they can die if left untreated and pets did die before the vaccine was available in large numbers.”

So what vaccines does your pet need and how often should they get them?

Dr. Farnsworth said there are “core vaccines” recommended for all pets. But your vet will make recommendations based on your pet’s health and lifestyle.

In general, dogs or cats should be vaccinated after they’re 12 weeks old, which is good for one year. Some vets will do a rabies vaccine that’s good for three years. This is given to your pet when once they’re at least 15 months old.

The size of your pet doesn’t affect the vaccine dose. It’s just one dose per animal.

Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – Forever Homes Wanted

Meet our Marvelous Milo…a medium-sized, good-natured boy who would love to be your very Personal Greeter to welcome you home every day after work! Milo is friendly, affectionate, knows how to sit when asked and has good manners when offered treats. He is a handsome, wonderful guy who is very deserving of a loving home & family. Ventura County Animal Services – Simi location – 670 W. Los Angeles Ave. Milo A681467

Hi: I’m Angel a 7-year-old gentle and affectionate American Staffordshire Terrier X. I’m in need of a new home because my owner had to move and I am not able to go. I love playing and cuddling, enjoy walks, car rides, and chew toys. I like people and children, although I can jump up a little when I get excited. I’m house and crate trained, and I know basic commands. I know my breed gets a bad rap, but I hope you’ll stop by and meet me and see for yourself what a sweet girl I am. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Ventura City Council Municipal Art Acquisition Program

In May of 1999, the City Council established the Municipal Art Acquisition Program to document the history of visual art in Ventura through the annual purchase of important works of art created by area artists. The collection provides increased access to art of the highest quality and of distinctive merit through its display in the public areas of City Hall and other municipal buildings.

In the corridors of city hall is Meredith Brooks Abbott’s Oranges Against Shadows, 1999, oil on canvas.

She studied and learned from several recognized American Impressionist painters – Douglass Parshall, Richard Meryman and Clarence Hinkle. Abbott’s family-owned, fifty-acre ranch in Carpinteria is the landscape found in her plein air paintings.

Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – Opinion/Editorial

∙Okay, no kidding no more Trump comments from me. Reader’s comments are always welcome.

∙I received the following email from a reader.

Hi Sheldon –

Your last issue suggests that “Easter”. “Christian”. “church” are not part of your vocabulary.

My response to the reader was, “How? What did I say? Please explain further.”

His response: “Nothing about Easter / Passover services, Easter activities, church / temple schedules for Easter / Passover. There was an Easter sunrise service at the beach – annual event.”

First it went from Christian to include Passover, that’s okay. My response to him, and all readers is, we can only publish information that we receive regarding events. If you have an event, send to [email protected].

∙I lost a lifelong friend, Chuck Cecil, who has been part of my life for 60 years, although I just met him about 5 years ago. Any jazz fan will know Chuck whose radio show “The Swinging Years” had run for more than 50 years (see the cover story.)

A few years ago, I heard that Chuck was living in Ventura, and I managed to contact him and visit him at his house in midtown. It was a museum of jazz and the big band sound. Thousands of vinyl records and signed photos of every singer, band leader, and musician in the jazz world.

He and wife Edna were an amazing couple, always holding hands and calling each other honey and sweet heart after many-many years of marriage. A couple of love doves.

∙A teenager died when he was struck by a train in Ventura. The incident happened on the tracks near Hurst Avenue and Ocean Avenue, according to a Union Pacific official. The 17-year-old male from West Hills was struck by a southbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train. Authorities say that his death appears to be a suicide.

Immediately, some accused the City Council because Union Pacific had removed their fences that kept people from crossing over the tracks. These fences were owned by Union Pacific and were on their property. They removed them because of the opposition to the fences by some folks living in midtown who crossed over the tracks to get to the beach.

The City Council certainly gets some things wrong, but this wasn’t one of them. Can’t blame them for everything

∙Rodeo Road, in the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw neighborhood in Los Angeles has been renamed for President Obama. Will republicans take longer routes in order to not drive on Obama Road?

∙After over 50 years as a landmark, the Arby’s sign that was at the old location on Main Street at Mills Road was cut down after Arby’s moved to a new location.

This was really sad because there were sign museums that wanted to save it.

The work was done without a required demolition permit. Hopefully someone at least gets fined.

∙Congratulations to Adam and Josh for finally getting the Planning Commissions unanimous approval for their proposed jazz club, The Grape Jazz Club, located by Community Hospital. As soon as they obtain their building permit, construction can start.

Rumor has it that the old Hong Kong Inn (where they have been set-up while obtaining approval for new location) might become the Baked Potato Jazz Club.

The Baked Potato Jazz Club has been the home venue for some of the greatest musicians since 1970. If we end up with two jazz clubs that would be wonderful and could draw even more well-known performers (and jazz fans) to Ventura.

∙ When “A Country Fair With Ocean Air” opens on July 31, the cost to park at the fairgrounds will increase from $10 to $15. Parking during other events will go from $5 to $8.

The increase comes as the board that oversees the Ventura County Fairgrounds voted at its last meeting to raise the parking as part of approving the 2019 budget. Fairgrounds Executive Director Barbara Quaid said the fair is “spending over $140,000 on buses to bring you here for free. There’s so many places you can park and take the shuttle.”

Most don’t understand that the fairgrounds is actually the 31st District Agricultural Association, otherwise known as the Ventura County Fairgrounds, a state agency overseen by an appointed board of directors and not a part of, or run by, Ventura. The board is exploring ways to increase revenue and reduce expenses.

Free admission days allow about 22,000 to attend the fair for free. Eliminating the fair parade has been one way of reducing costs.

∙A count of Orange County’s homeless population found nearly 7,000 people that are in shelters or on streets. Significantly more than the last count in 2017 is the County struggles to deal with the issue.

From the LA Times; “Jails across the nation are crowded with mentally ill inmates who are there because of a broken promise. Over the course of several decades, states closed mental hospitals and vowed to replace them with community based psychiatric treatment and housing, but the treatment and housing failed to materialize.” Many of the mentally homeless that you see are a result of these actions.

∙New cameras in some retail stores are gauging your facial expressions to determine your age, gender and even buying habits to personalize your buying needs and show the product’s you want on screens. This, of course, raises some privacy issues. So, to confuse them, look grim when you’re buying something you want and look happy when it is a product you’re not interested in, then you can have the last laugh.

Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – A View From House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Crimes of the Heart sizzles

Be prepared to laugh, to identify and to sympathize with the quirky characters in Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama, Crimes of the Heart, now onstage at Oxnard’s Elite Theatre. As their 2019 season themed “Family” continues, the production brings forward multiple areas of dysfunction while at the same time focuses on the importance and innate bonds of the family unit.

The scene is 1974, Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Three sisters with quite different viewpoints on life who are struggling through their own personal crises come together because granddaddy is in the hospital. Their troubled family history unites them at the core despite their differences.

Lenny (Genevieve Levin), a spinster of low self-esteem, is holding down the fort caring for granddaddy’s house and affairs. She is the logical one of the three. She anxiously awaits the arrival of sister Meg (Dawn Michelle), who had left the fold to seek a future as a singer. Alas, things didn’t quite work out for her. She copes by acting out, maintaining the hippie style of the 70’s with panache.

Both lament the fact that little sister Becky “Babe” (Samantha Netzen Bingham) has just blithely admitted to shooting her husband in the stomach (poor aim) because she didn’t like the sound of his voice. Now out on bail, Babe is handed legal representation by Barnette Lloyd (Patrick R. Rogers), a recent law school graduate clearly in over his head. He is smitten with Babe, which makes handling her case challenging.

Cousin Chick Boyle (Kimberly Prendergast) holds a consistently negative view of all the sisters but feels the need to be overtly involved for granddaddy’s sake. How the sisters each deal with Chick in their own way adds to the dimension of the character.

Doc Porter (Eric R. Umali, who also designed the set) reenters Meg’s life even though he is now married. Although their romance ended on a poor note years before, both harbor unresolved attraction destined to get them in trouble.

Many in the cast are new to the Elite Theatre stage, although the entire cast is certainly not new to many Ventura County theaters. Director Jolyn Johnson’s choice of this highly seasoned cast makes Crimes of the Heart sizzle with Southern flair.

The various life situations, as outrageous as they are, bear many similarities for everyone to identify with. How the sisters cope (or not) results in tears of recognition and laughter despite the underlying serious elements.

It is not unusual to dissolve into laughter as a method of coping with difficult times in our lives. One scene in the second act, when granddaddy falls into a coma, is contagiously hilarious.

The play does involve the use of herbal cigarettes so patrons who may be sensitive to that are encouraged to sit further back in the 70-seat theater. A fan and open doors at intermission help dispel the fragrance quickly. As the situations portrayed are decidedly “adult”, parental discretion is advised.

Crimes of the Heart continues through May 12 (bring mom on Mother’s Day!) with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission, $17 for students, seniors and military, $12 for under 12. www.elitetheatre.org or (805) 483-5118.

Vol. 12, No. 16 – May 8 – May 21, 2019 – Police Reports

Armed Robbery

On April 29, at 10pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from an employee of Arco AM/PM, 605 S. Mills Rd., reporting that an armed robbery had just occurred. The suspect, Hispanic Male, 20’s, wearing a Kings hat, grey sweater, black pants and a black bandanna over his face who was armed with a handgun, was last seen fleeing the business on foot in an unknown direction.

During the investigation officers learned that the suspect entered the business and approached the one employee behind the counter. The suspect brandished a gun at the employee and demanded money from the register. The employee gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash and he fled from the business.

Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The employee, and one customer that was inside the business at the time, were not injured as a result of this crime.

Armed Robbery Again

On April 30, at 9pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from an employee of Arco AM/PM, 605 S. Mills Rd., reporting that an armed robbery had just occurred. The suspect, Hispanic Male, 20-30’s, wearing a grey hoodie sweatshirt, black pants and a black bandanna over his face. who was armed with a handgun, was last seen fleeing the area eastbound on Main St. in a small, light colored compact sedan.

During the investigation officers learned that the suspect entered the business and approached the one employee behind the counter. The suspect brandished a gun at the employee and demanded money from the register. The employee gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash and he fled from the business.Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The employee was not injured as a result of this crime.

This is the second armed robbery at the same location in the last two days. At this time it is not known if both crimes are related.

Anyone with information or is a witness to this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488.

If you have any information about this crime, you can make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.Traffic

Pursuit

On May 5, at 2:13am, a Ventura Police Corporal was driving on the 101 NB freeway to assist another officer across town. While travelling on the freeway in his marked black and white police car, a motorist passed him at 120 + MPH.

The police corporal caught up and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. As the corporal approached the vehicle on foot, the driver fled from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed.

The corporal followed and engaged in a high speed pursuit on the freeway. Eventually the driver yielded on the left side of the freeway and a high risk stop was conducted. The driver, Simon Rose 33-year-old, Camarillo resident was taken into custody without incident and booked in Ventura County Jail for 2800.2 VC Evading and 23103 VC Reckless Driving.

In order to safely complete the high risk stop, northbound traffic on the freeway was stopped for a short period with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol.

Love with a Capital “L”

Stookey has played at the Rubicon many times. His new show is “In These Times”

by Amy Brown

Noel Paul Stookey has been changing the world, one song and one key social concept at a time since his world-famous band Peter, Paul and Mary burst onto the folk music scene in the 1960s. The platinum-selling trio took the music world by storm, performing at the civil rights March on Washington in 1963 and at political rallies all over the world, with influential songs like ‘Blowing in the Wind,’ and ‘If I had a Hammer.’ Today, Stookey still performs with Peter Yarrow (Mary passed away in 2009), as well as doing solo shows, and will be gracing the stage of the Ojai Rubicon with his latest on April 28 and 29th.

Stookey has played at the Rubicon many times, including when he chaired the 2017 Music for Changing Times Festival there, produced in conjunction with Music2Life, the not-for-profit organization Stookey started with daughter Liz Stookey Sunde to amplify the voices of contemporary activist-artists and highlight the impact that music has in social justice movements around the world. “A large part of the credit for founding the organization goes to Liz, who, since at an early age, like six or seven, travelled with the trio on tour, saw us do benefits, and realized the impact music has, and how it uniquely transcends the mosh pit,” says Stookey. “She saw the power of the lyrics, and became a real fan of the fact that music can not only be inspiring, as it does move us, whether it’s dance, folk or jazz, but she saw that it was informative as well as compelling.”

There’s a world of difference in the types and methods of social change now versus in the 1960s when his trio was changing the world with their message of social responsibility and hope, according to Stookey. He says that the concept of improving society through music, however, is still shared across other genres, from reggae, rap, and jazz, even metal—and that many of them are actively addressing inequities in our society. “There is no doubt that in the 60s, when folk music surprised the popular music world by being relevant, that musicians were focusing on causes like equality for blacks and whites, and addressing concerns about nuclear annihilation,” says Stookey. “Those plain-spoken words were never thought of as pop music. There was authentic passion, and folk music had no glossy arrangements—and it was performed by people with a stake in the cause, with real skin in the game. So much of folk music’s power was the articulation of commonly held values.”

Stookey’s Rubicon show is called “In These Times”, and he has some specific feelings about both what is now relevant, and what some of the major issues are in these times. He says that there are two major problems, and that they intersect. “One is our inability to speak to each other with compassion, because we are encouraged through many media, as well as by some of our leaders, to be disparaging of another person’s point of view. Two: the issues themselves, compounded by our inability to talk, from climate change to immigration, as there are always two sides,” he says. He references the well-known Chinese curse: May you live interesting times. “Well baby, we are there,” he laughs. “We often communicate these days about those ‘interesting times’ in an immediacy (through social media), therefore, our compassion is really being tested.”

Stookey, who has a home in Ojai where he and his wife reside part of the year, has written a new song for his upcoming Rubicon performances. It’s called ‘Love With a Capital L’ which he says, given the chaos of the modern world, is about processing all the news and the difficulties we have as a society. He believes that, given the challenge of maintaining an even perspective, people have the potential to better understand if they process everything in Love. “It’s been really been fun to write, and reminds me that one of the most thankful aspects of learning folk music, both the ethics of it and its breadth, is that it co-opts a lot of musical styles, and so I have,” says Stookey. “I’m not great at rapping, in fact, I’m very poor at it—more in the Woody Guthrie vernacular, and less of Snoop Dog.”

Stookey, who shares that there is a book in development about his life, and who has written a number of short stories, believes that ultimately, the direction we’re all being drawn to is that of overcoming the perceived differentiations of organized religion and concentrating on what is commonly shared. “What you begin to see is that we’re all so much more alike than we are different, in the heart space in particular. That’s why the big ‘L’ in Love becomes the synergistic magnet that I think is going to provide the answer. We will then be able to say ‘Namaste’ and when we can pass each other as complete strangers and smile, there is trust in the world again.”

Yolanda helped to respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire

Chief Building Official to receive prestigious recognition.

Yolanda Bundy, Chief Building Official City of Ventura has been selected by the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California as the Safer City Building Official of the Year because of her dedication to supporting a safer community and leadership within the building official community.

In selecting Bundy they stated “You have exhibited strong support for advancing structural engineering, and this is especially true during 2018 as you helped respond to the rebuilding after the Thomas Fire. Moreover, your involvement of SEOASC and structural engineers in your work has strengthened the outcomes of your efforts.”

She is head of the Ventura Building and Safety Division, the office that issues building permits for construction projects in Ventura, such as new housing developments, commercial structures, small residential remodeling projects, or the installation of solar panels on a commercial or residential structure.

She was appointed as the City’s Chief Building Official in October, 2014 and has worked at the City of Ventura since February, 2008.

She will be presented her award at the Safer Cities Gala to be held on June 5th at the Biltmore Hotel in Downtown LA along with other honorees from the public and private sector as part of their Annual Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards celebration.

The Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) is one of the oldest structural engineering association in the world and is one of four regional structural engineering associations of the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). The individual members are civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers regularly engaged in the practice of structural engineering. SEAOSC also draws membership from related fields involved in design and construction, contractors, architects, and representatives from industry and government.