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Our Ventura TV announces 2024 special series on “Optimal Aging”

“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” – Andy Rooney

For 2024, Our Ventura TV will be featuring a special series of interviews highlighting Optimal Aging and exploring the art of overcoming challenges while embracing a vibrant and fulfilling life. Or in simpler terms “living a long life,” as well as “getting old.”

Engaging Interviews

Viewers can expect engaging interviews and informative segments featuring experts, community leaders, local government representatives, non-profit organizations, and individuals with insights about living a long life and aging well. Topics covered will include:

*    Health and wellness
*    Nutrition
*    Lifestyle choices
*    Community engagement
*    Caregiving
*    Financial matters
*    Personal assistance
*    Challenges and stories of resilience and achievement

Dawn Of A New Age

This special series complements the established theme of Our Ventura TV, “People doing good things in Ventura County.” Show Director, Michelle Hoover, emphasizes a goal for this Optimal Aging series: “Celebrating the dawn of a new age for older adults by overcoming challenges and embracing a vibrant life.”

Community Focus

In addition to ongoing interviews about those helping others, Our Ventura TV has produced earlier special series on topics such as homelessness, faith-based organizations, and first responders. Host Sandra Siepak adds Our Ventura TV’s commitment to showcasing the positive aspects of the community and the excitement of introducing the Optimal Aging series. “We have so much we can learn from each other.”

Since 2008, Our Ventura TV has featured:

*    Nonprofits
*    Community advocates
*    Leaders
*    Artists
*    Organizations contributing to Ventura County

Business representatives with non-commercial messages are also welcome.

Host Rev. Bonnie Rose explains, “This Optimal Aging series focuses on living life to the fullest.”

Challenges And Support

This special series allows for a robust exploration of the ideas of “living a long life,” as well as “getting old” from various individual and organizational perspectives. Host MB Hanrahan acknowledges the challenges of aging but emphasizes the community’s support network. “We are blessed with a wealth of individuals who strive to help each other.”

County Resources

Host Monique Nowlin highlights the resources available in Ventura County: “There are a multitude of resources available in Ventura County to help the elderly and this series aims to raise more awareness about how to access them.”

Share Your Story

Our Ventura TV founder and producer, George Alger, encourages participation: “This is an opportunity to share your story on local TV.”

About Our Ventura Tv

Our Ventura TV is an award-winning weekly talk-show television series broadcast on Ventura cable channel 6 TV and also published on ourventura.com as well as on social media networks.

Participate

Visit the website and click “Contact” to get scheduled as a guest.

Together, let’s explore Optimal Aging in Ventura County!

Saintly Padre once served at Mission San Buenaventura

by Richard Senate

He greeted all with the phrase “How can I help You?”

New England writer Helen Hunt Jackson visited this area in the late 19th century collecting information for her classic romance Ramona. In her travels she met a Franciscan Padre who was seen by all as a living saint for his pious ways and kindness to all. His name was Fr. Francisco de Jesus Sanchez, attached then to the Mission Santa Barbara but he had served at Mission San Buenaventura as the priest for a year. He was always willing to listen to anyone and greeted all with the phrase “How can I help You?” He gave away all he owned, even his clothing, leaving only one habit to cover him. He was known to spend whole nights in prayer, and do extra work at the orphanage helping the children in their education and vocational skills. All who met him were impressed with his dedication to his faith. When Helen Hunt Jackson was introduced to him she wrote that he was the “Most Christ-like man she ever met.”

When he took sick and collapsed in church, his fellow monks took him to his room, only to discover he had given away his bed and had been sleeping on the floor. He passed away in 1884. Jackson used the good padre as the model for the beloved character Fr. Salvierderra in her popular novel Ramona. He rests with his fellow monks at a special tomb at Mission Santa Barbara. After his death, many stories were told of his saintly nature, revealing the impact he had upon the community. One tale has all the earmarks of folklore.

In the early years of the Twentieth Century, a flood damaged the Mission Santa Barbara. Workmen had to access the damage to the walls of the old church. To do so they had to break into the old padre’s tomb, also flooded. The workmen found bones, fragments of coffins, but, to their amazement, they reported the body of Fr. Sanchez, floating, unchanged over the decades after his death, his hands still folded , clutching his cross and a smile on his face. This shocked the workers and they were told never to speak of it again! Incorruptibility is an accepted sign of sainthood. In the year he served at our Mission I am sure he left a lasting impact on early Ventura.

Free tutor training for adults (18 and over)

Tutoring adults who want to learn or improve their English and learn about American culture.

Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
1500 Palma Drive, Ventura.

Make a difference in one person’s life. Become a tutor.  Laubach Literacy of Ventura County provides free tutoring and tutor training to adults for English as a second language. No prior teaching experience is required. You don’t have to speak a foreign language to be a tutor. We provide all materials for free to both the tutor and the adult learners.  We will train you on cultural awareness and tutoring techniques for all levels of ability. Our adult learners want to speak, understand, read, and write English and learn American culture. Laubach Literacy has been teaching English for free for over 40 years in Ventura County. Registration is required for the training.

Price: Free

For More Information: Contact Laubach Literacy of Ventura County. Phone: (805) 385-9584, please leave a message and we will call you back. Website: [email protected].

Vol. 17, No. 08 – Jan 10 – Jan 23, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Tuesday 12/19

 10:40pm, dispatched to a choking victim in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with assessment and treatment.

Wednes 12/20

 8:40am, observed heavy debris coming down and out the barranca in the keys. Officers did not start rescue boats due to the debris in the water.

11:46am, dispatched to an Ocean Rescue at VWM for a male who fell into the water and cannot get out. The male victim was eventually pulled from the water and was treated for hypothermia by AMR medics.

Thursday 12/21

 1:55am, officers mitigating flooding from an extreme storm cell around the harbor. Navigator was flooded, and signs were placed in the low-lying area near the Holiday Inn express parking lot, water was up to vehicles windows.

Friday 12/22

 12:45pm, observed then removed a large tree limb and various other flotsam in the Pierpont Basin that came down the barranca at the entrance to the keys.

Saturday 12/23

 12:23pm, officers cleaning and drying out cabinets and equipment on the patrol vehicles that were inundated with water from the recent storms.

Sunday 12/24

 11:07pm, dispatched to a male with an injured finger at Surfers Knoll. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist with locating, assessment and treatment.

11:55pm, contacting two VPD units near VHV G-dock. They were investigating two fishermen fighting over who caught more squid that evening.

Monday 12/25

 6:43pm, dispatched to fire alarm at 4points Sheraton, cancelled en route.

Tuesday 12/26

 1:07pm, dispatched to surfer in distress off Emma Wood. Officers Responded in Fireboat to the call, found one surfer at outside reef, not in distress.

Wednes 12/27

 2:19pm, dispatched to a missing surfer at Surfers Point, a surfboard washed up on the beach. Officers responded in the Fireboat and Rescue watercraft, the missing person was found in the parking lot at C-street, no injuries.

Thursday 12/28

 6:51am, dispatched to vessels adrift near VWM H-dock. Officers responded in the Fireboat, found damaged docks and vessels lines parted from the strong surge created by the massive swell. TowBoat US assisted with towing vessels.

9:30am, issuing warnings to seek higher ground to beach patrons watching the large surf. Surges of white water are rushing up the beach and inundating the parking lots with debris and water. Beach is impassable from flooding/debris.

9:50am, dispatched to Ocean Rescue at Seward, 8 victims. Officers responded in the Fireboat and Rescue watercraft to the call. The patients were actually on the street knocked down by the surge from a rogue wave that also flooded street.

10am-1pm, dispatched to multiple Ocean Rescues at Rincon, Mondos, Ventura Pier, San Pedro, Ayala, Surfers Knoll Jetty and more. Marine Safety Officer Nick Givens on the RWC pulled multiple victims from dangerous situations.

Friday 12/29

 2:08am, received a landline from a captain of commercial fishing vessel at Santa Cruz Island wondering when they can return to the harbor. Officers advised that the United States Coast Guard “captain of the port” has ordered the harbor closed, that the entrance would be reevaluated at daybreak.

6:50am, officers standing by in the Fireboat at the harbor entrance while ten commercial fishing vessels attempt returning to port. Extreme conditions exist with waves periodically closing out the entrance. Thankfully, all the vessels made it back to port with some real “white knuckler” passes into the harbor.

2-6pm, officers conducting multiple ocean rescues on the RWC along Pierpont.

8:49pm, dispatched to a traffic accident at 1567 Spinnaker dr. The call turned out to be a 59 y/o male suffering a medical condition and drove on the promenade through the Harbor Village, ending up at the fish offloading pier. The patient was treated then transported to local hospital for further evaluation.

Saturday 12/30

 9:00am, issuing warnings to beach patrons observing the huge waves at harbor beaches, advising to move to safe distances from surges that are constantly inundating the beaches and parking lots that are closed.

9:28am, dispatched to Ocean Rescue, surfer in distress at the Ventura Point. Officers responded on RWC’s to assist. The surfer was able to return to shore.

2:10pm, observed a commercial fishing vessel in violation of speed and USCG closure outbound of harbor. Officers futilely attempted to contact/stop vessel.

 

8th Annual Women’s Rally & March

Justice For All Ventura County and Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund are presenting the 8th annual Woman’s Rally & March at Plaza Park, Ventura, Saturday Jan. 20 10am-2pm.

“The state of women’s rights and reproductive rights may seem secure in California, but with national politics and politicians making decisions across the country looming, we can’t be content with the status quo. Our progressive beliefs may mean nothing without the right people in office. Please join Justice For All Ventura County to encourage activism and action towards the values we hold dear at the first large community event of 2024, getting support and a sense of community along the way”, said Shane Meserve, President of Justice for All Ventura County.

 

Local dignitaries will speak, live music and many organizations will be tabling at the event in an effort to help attendees learn more about how they can participate in ongoing efforts to help our community.

2024 will be a watershed year in the United States where voters will make decisions on critical issues such as which political party will lead us into the future, access to healthcare, social justice, restoring the strength of our democracy and healing the soul of our divided nation. Democracy is based on the active participation of its citizens to educate themselves on the issues and voting for representatives that work towards solutions for all.

For all Ventura County is a local non-profit dedicated to is to motivate, educate, connect, and mobilize people to actively engage in their government and future in support of social justice. www.JusticeForAllVC.org

Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood California Central Coast. Our mission is to expand access to quality reproductive health care for all, including safe and legal abortion, through community education, public policy initiatives, and support for candidates committed to this work. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/

Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) launches “Ventura County WORKS”

The WDBVC has rebranded its existing workforce development program to “Ventura County WORKS.” The program helps job seekers in the county upgrade their skills and receive training in a variety of career fields at no cost. By visiting VenturaCountyWORKS.net or calling 805-648-WORK, interested community members will learn more about available career services and training that can grow their skillsets for careers including (but not limited to):

Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology (IT), Healthcare, Customer Service

“We’re incredibly excited to offer this program to Ventura County community members and help all of our job seekers unleash their career potential,” said Rebecca Evans, Workforce Development Board Ventura County Executive Director. “We also can provide resume assistance, interview preparation, career exploration, and so much more, all at no cost. We are thrilled to have locations throughout the county, including Oxnard, Simi Valley, Ventura, Ojai, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru. Whether you need a fresh start or help with the next steps, WDBVC is here to help.”

Interested parties should visit VenturaCountyWORKS.net or call 805-648-WORK to learn more about locations, eligibility requirements, and how to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County administers federal funds to support America’s Job Center of California locations and other free job seekers, youth, and employer programs and services in Ventura County. The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County is a proud partner of America’s Job Center of California network. Equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you have limitations in hearing or speaking, dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). For more information, call 805-477-5306 or visit http://workforceventuracounty.org.

For Federal Funding Disclosure visit https://workforceventuracounty.org/about-us/funding/

 

 

Helping family and friends on their ACP journey

If you have an advance care plan in place, you may find yourself wondering whether your loved ones also have a plan. Knowing what matters most to them can help you honor their wishes, more easily navigate future medical decisions, and give you peace of mind.

Here are some ways you might start the conversation:

“I love you and wouldn’t want to do anything you didn’t agree with. It would make me feel better, though, if I knew what was important to you. Will you tell me what matters most to you if you were ever too sick to speak for yourself?”

After a movie or news story that touches on end-of-life issues: “What would you want us to do if you were in this situation?”

Remind them of an experience with someone at the end of life: “Remember when Grandma died?” Ask how they felt about it and what they would want for themselves.

Try to avoid talking about specific medical treatments or decisions, which may be scary and overwhelming. Instead, ask about concerns they have and if there is someone they trust to make decisions for them.

How to serve as a health care proxy:

  • If you have agreed to be someone’s health care proxy, consider these tips:
  • Ask about their current and future health concerns
  • Have conversations about ACP every year and as major life changes happen
  • Get a copy of their advance directive forms and other important information, like contacts for doctors and family members

Remember, you do not need to be a health care proxy to support a person as they make advance care plans. Any family-member or friend can help their loved one think through their health care decisions and advocate for their wishes. For recommendations, explore Advance Care Planning Tips for Caregivers and Families.

Focus on the Masters Arts Archive Artist Spotlight interview featuring Carmen Abelleira

Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library’s kicks off its 30th Anniversary year with an Artist Spotlight interview featuring Carmen Abelleira on Sunday, January 21, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

At Namba Performing Art Center – 47 S. Oak Street, Ventura.

Abelleira immigrated from Cuba with her family when she was nine years old. Carmen grew up in Los Angeles and after working as a bilingual teacher, moved to Ojai in 1989.

FREE to FOTM members, $20 for public; $15 for seniors.

Reservations required. To RSVP visit www.FocusOnTheMasters.com or call 805.653.2501.

AfterGlow Fundraising Event: The public is welcome to join the artist for a celebratory fundraising dinner at the home of Dennis Mitchell and Richard Sanders located in Ventura. Paid reservations are required prior to January 17. We expect this AfterGlow to sell out

AfterGLOW: $30 FOTM members, $40 Non-members.

Upcoming exhibition featuring artist Chris Gocong.

The stark contrast in genres reflects Gocong’s multifaceted identity.

Chris was an NFL football player before retiring in an effort to preserve his health from the long term effects of the CTE associated with the sport.

Christopher Gocong (1983), emerges as a captivating individual, seamlessly blending his illustrious past as an NFL linebacker with a burgeoning career as a visual artist. Renowned for his impactful contributions to the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, Gocong has embarked on a remarkable journey, gracefully transitioning from the adrenaline-fueled gridiron to the nuanced canvas of contemporary art.

While his inherent talent shines through in his adept portraiture, Gocong’s artistic repertoire stretches beyond, exploring realms from dreamy abstractions to lively pop art, showcasing a versatility that defies categorization. As an accomplished painter, his work has garnered significant recognition, earning him a place at the forefront of the contemporary art scene.

Dama Gallery is pleased to premier our first exhibition of 2024 with a solo immersion into the zenith of Chris Gocong’s multidimensional artistry. A luminary straddling the worlds of contemporary art and elite athleticism, Gocong’s artistic opus navigates the complex interplay between his illustrious career as a professional athlete and the nuanced depths of his burgeoning identity as an artist. In a symphony of mediums ranging from dramatic wearable art, evocative and familiar figurative pieces to his most recent abstract paintings that brilliantly showcase his talent for controlled chaos on canvas; Gocong elegantly unravels the dichotomies that have sculpted his remarkable journey.

This collection serves as a visual testament to his optimistic magnanimity as an artist, interwoven with the intricate tension stemming from his formidable achievements in the NFL. The stark contrast in genres and mediums reflects Gocong’s multifaceted identity – a life lived on the field intricately entwined with the profound fulfillment found within the sanctuary of the studio.

Exhibition Dates: January 27 – April 30, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 27th, Time: 6 to 8p
Location: Dama Gallery, 1793 E Main St. Ventura
Curated by Gallerist Yessíca Torres