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Local inspirational author to speak at Senior Health Expo

Fawn Parish uses stories to illustrate simple thing that creates a huge impact in another’s life.

Have you ever asked yourself why you are on the earth? Have you ever asked why you, you very specifically, are alive? Local Ventura County author Fawn Parish has. According to Parish, your story, your past, your personality, your treasure map of life, is intended to outlive you as you embrace another generation into their destiny.

In her book, ‘How To Live A Life That Outlives You’, Parish uses stories to illustrate how everyone can do some simple thing that creates a huge impact in another’s life. And it is easier than you think according to the author.

Parish is bringing this message of hope and inspiration to the upcoming Cypress Place Health and Wealth Expo. The annual event promotes the active and engaging lifestyle of Ventura County seniors. This year’s event features 35 local vendors, as well as Parish as keynote speaker.

In addition to enjoying Parish’s uplifting presentation, attendees can get their blood pressure checked, receive glucose screenings, along with balance and hearing tests. Wealth management and veteran benefit consultants will also be on hand to answer any questions. A free healthy gourmet lunch will also be provided.

Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event, including one grand prize: a 50’’ HD flat screen TV. Free shuttle parking will also be available at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura located at 5654 Ralston Street in Ventura.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Mission Home Health, Meditech Health Services, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, Buena Vista Hospice and UCLA Health.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 805-650-8000 or visit the Cypress Place website at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com/events. The Health and Wealth Expo is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at Cypress Place Senior Living, located at 1200 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura. The event is free and open to the public.

Announcing new and exciting changes at Genesis Programs, Inc

by Genesis staff

Last year marked our silver anniversary; we are pleased to be serving families in Ventura County for over 25 years. We have been fortunate, a fantastic and dedicated staff which allows us to continue to grow in community events and additional insurance contracts to keep reaching families in need. While we continue to utilize the best recovery practices available, we also recognize that there has been a need to respond to the changes in the industry as well as our own company.

We are proud to announce that Athena Naranjo, Genesis Programs Clinical Director is now new owner and leader of Genesis Programs, Inc. She comes with years of experience and dedication and is committed to serving the company and community with excellence.

We are accelerating our efforts to gear up to reach out to our military families through our new contract with Tricare. We are in the final stages of becoming one of the only outpatient treatment providers to except Medi-Cal in Ventura County. In addition, we are in network with Noridian Medicare and working diligently to insure coverage to those eligible for our Over 60 Track. All while we continue to proudly be accredited with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Please join us April 4th from 3-4:30, at 1732 Palma Dr Ste 208 Ventura, for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! Welcoming Athena Naranjo as Genesis’s new owner and to hear more about what Genesis Programs, has planned for the future of Ventura County!

Vol. 12, No. 13 – Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2019 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

I love and respect the passion that is the Deadhead and Ventura has more than our fair share of them as The Grateful Dead performed no less than 11 shows here between 1982 and 1987. Returning to the fairgrounds for the third year is the Skull & Roses festival celebrating The Grateful Dead with bands playing all day Friday through Sunday, April 5 – 7 at Seaside Park at the Ventura Fairgrounds. Just a handful of the bands will be Cubensis, Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, Oteil & Friends, Melvin Seals & JGB and a dozen or so more bands. And while Seaside Park does not allow overnight parking, SkullandRoses.com reports camping is allowed in original Lot C by the Beach, and they go on to say, and I quote, that this is, “One of the most potent deadhead power spots on planet earth.” Who knew!

The Ventura Theater has a number of concerts over the next two weeks including All that Remains and Attila on Thursday, March 28, The Offspring performs an acoustic show on Thursday April 4 with Johnny Two Bags opening, but in between, they’ll be helping to raise money for a good cause, with Rockin’ for Autisum featuring local bands on Saturday, March 30 with Fallen Saints, Hologram Empire, The Rays and Raised on Vinyl. It’s only a $10 cover, but I’m sure they’ll accept more.

It’s always a great outing for the entire family when the Ventura County Concert Band puts on shows at the Ventura High School Auditorium. Their next one falls on Sunday, March 31 with “March Madness” beginning at 3 pm and as always, it’s absolutely free to the community.

Quick Notes: Smokey & Friends Monday night residency continues at Copa Cubana, the Jerry McWorter Trio plays Tuesdays; Drug Apts out of Sacramento play The Tavern on Wednesday, March 27, with Sweet Reaper and Gunpowder Empires; it’s rockabilly fun with Bad Luck Gamblers, The Cursed Bastards and Three on a Match at Red Cove on Friday, March 29; both Aaron Orbit and Owen Bucey will perform individual sets of original music at Oak & Main on Saturday, March 30; ramping up for Skull & Roses will be Jerry’s Middle Finger at Discovery on Sunday, March 31 (they also perform at Skull & Roses); Jen Leigh is the featured guest for the Session with Tommy Marsh on Thursday, April 4 at Grapes and Hops; recording artist Gary Swan will be Gypsy Blues Band’s special guest on Thursday, April 4 at the Blue Room in the Ventura Harbor; Yachtley Crew returns to Ventura for a date at Discovery on Saturday, April 6; and if you love the Glam Rock, don’t miss Dolls, The Midnight Devils and others at Red Cove on Saturday, April 6.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected]. For updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Halt the assault on Medicare

by Thair Phillips President of RetireSafe.

At his campaign rallies, President Trump promised to protect Medicare. But now, his administration is quietly embracing drastic changes that could choke off seniors’ access to lifesaving treatments.

Consider the administration’s new guidance for Medicare Advantage, which enables about 20 million Medicare beneficiaries to obtain subsidized health plans from private insurers. The guidance, which took effect this January, allows insurers to force beneficiaries to try older, low-cost medications before they can access more advanced, expensive drugs.

This callous practice, known as “step therapy,” was previously prohibited in Medicare Advantage because it prevents doctors from prescribing the medicines they feel will work best for each individual. During the months that patients are forced to try older, less effective treatments, their ailments can worsen, causing immense suffering and even premature death.

Administration officials have also proposed weakening key patient protections in Medicare Part D, the popular prescription drug benefit used by 44 million Americans. Right now, all Part D plans must cover all medications in six “protected classes” of therapies — anticonvulsants (epilepsy), antidepressants (mental health), antineoplastics (cancer), antipsychotics (mental health), antiretrovirals (HIV/AIDS), and immunosuppressants (transplants).

When it created the Part D program more than a decade ago, Congress specifically protected these classes to ensure that seniors who battle cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, and other serious diseases would have a full range of treatment options. It also leveled the playing field by ensuring that all the insurance companies that participated in Part D included medicines associated with expensive diseases in their formulary.

But the administration wants to allow Part D plans to stop covering some of the most critical medications in these classes. It’s no surprise, then, that many of the top medical organizations in the country, including the National Kidney Foundation, the AIDS Institute, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, have lined up against this proposal.

The administration is also pursuing misguided reforms to Medicare Part B, which covers sophisticated treatments, such as gene therapies and advanced biologics, which must be administered by medical professionals in a healthcare facility. One change could slash reimbursements for some doctors who administer these treatments.

Cutting payments to doctor’s offices and clinics could force many of them to stop treating Medicare patients. The last time authorities substantially cut Part B payments, fully half of community oncologists “reported sending their Medicare patients elsewhere for chemotherapy, primarily to more expensive hospital outpatient infusion centers,” according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

For more than half a century, Medicare has helped seniors access the care they need and deserve. Our government promised us that the Medicare taxes, which were deducted from our pay checks every payday, would be used to ensure we had acceptable health care when we retired. Up to this point, especially in Medicare Part B and Part D, that promise has been kept. RetireSafe believes the proposed changes described above break that promise our government made to each of us.

Vol. 12, No. 13 – Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2019 – The Pet Page

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

Clinic will be at the Albert H. Soliz Library – El Rio, 2820 Jourdan St., Oxnard, 93036 on Thursday, April 4th. Please call to schedule an appointment(805) 584-3823.

∙Hill’s Pet Nutrition is adding Science Diet and Prescription Diet varieties to its product recall.

They may also have toxic levels of vitamin D as other products did in a previous recall.

Hill’s says consumers should stop feeding the food to their dogs and return it for a refund.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition is expanding on its nationwide recall of canned dog food with potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. It took the action after saying it had received “a limited number of complaints of pet illnesses” related to additional products.

The expansion is the result of the same vitamin premix received from a U.S. supplier that caused its prior recall at the end of January.

“We believe that hundreds, if not thousands, of pets have died or become seriously ill as a result of eating Hill’s foods with toxic levels of vitamin D,” stated Nyran Rose Rasche, a Chicago-based attorney with Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel, which filed a class action against Hill last month.

Caitlin Gibson, a features reporter at The Washington Post, in early February tweeted that her dog had died after consuming prescription food from Hill’s and had displayed symptoms of vitamin D poisoning.

∙Jackie Rose has been selected as the new director of the county Animal Services Department. The appointment was made by County Executive Officer Mike Powers following a search which included strong internal and external candidates. Rose will be relocating from the state of Washington to assume her duties.

Rose has 12 years of executive experience in animal services. She served as the Executive Director for the Addison County Humane Society in Middlebury, Vermont; the Executive Director for the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hyde Park, New York; and for the last three and a half years, she has been the Director of Animal Services for Multnomah County Animal Service in Portland, Oregon.

Rose will oversee the County’s two animal shelters – one in Camarillo and one in Simi Valley – that care for more than 10,000 animals every year. The department also provides public education, animal cruelty investigations, immunizations and other activities for animals and their owners. Animal Services is staffed by more than 75 County employees and a large and passionate volunteer organization.

Rose, 57, is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and will start her new position at a salary of $175,681.

∙By Hanna Netisingha

A treatment approach that has been in practice in human medicine for decades is now offered for dogs at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana.

Dr. Tisha Harper, a veterinary surgeon who specializes in orthopedics and physical rehabilitation therapy, says platelet-rich plasma joins a host of treatment options—ranging from surgery to rehab to pain medications—for conditions such as osteoarthritis in dogs.

“Every care plan is tailored individually to the patient,” she says. “Just as with human patients, what might work well for one pet may not necessarily be the best thing for another pet. We explore many options when choosing the best treatment for each individual case.”

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is derived from the patient’s own blood. Veterinarians process the plasma so that it has a higher-than-usual concentration of platelets. “The plasma contains growth factors and proteins that may accelerate the healing of tendons and ligaments and may promote regeneration of cartilage or bone,” says Dr. Harper.

PRP injections can decrease pain associated with arthritis by reducing inflammation in the joints. They may also help tendon or ligament injuries heal. Patients with chronic, slow, or non-healing wounds may also benefit from PRP.

Platelet-rich plasma is prepared by drawing blood from the patient. The amount of blood is dependent on how big the dog is and how severe the injury is. Once the blood is drawn, it is either filtered in order to capture the platelets, or it is centrifuged in order to separate the plasma from the erythrocytes. Both of these processes will provide the veterinarian with plasma that contains all the necessary elements.

This treatment usually takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete. It is something that can be done at your veterinarian’s office in one day. For many patients, platelet-rich plasma is a one-time treatment; some patients, however, may need additional treatments. After a patient is treated with PRP, it may be necessary to restrict movement, but only for a couple of days. Afterward, there are no restrictions on movement or activity.

“It’s easy to think that pets naturally slow down as they get older,” says Dr. Harper. And while that may be true, she points out that the underlying problem may be osteoarthritis. “More often than not, our pets slow down due to painful arthritic joints,” she says.

Younger pets also suffer from osteoarthritis. For this reason, pet owners should be vigilant about noticing changes in their pet’s behavior and how the pet moves around. Luckily, whether the dog is young or old, treatments are available to improve the quality of life in pets with joint or lameness issues.

In addition to PRP, surgical treatment, weight loss, physical rehabilitation therapy, laser therapy, and simple pain relief medications can be effective options depending on the individual patient.

“Whatever approach is selected, pet owners need to be consistent and diligent about carrying out the recommended protocol in order for it to benefit their pet,” says Dr. Harper. The rehabilitation process depends on consistency in the treatments.

Vol. 12, No. 13 – Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2019 – Music Calendar

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Black Angus
4718 Telephone Road
Music 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Thursdays: Mark David Undercover

Blue Agave
185 E. Santa Clara
Fridays: Mariachi Band; DJ
Saturdays: DJ

The Blue Room
Ventura Harbor Village
(Next to Comedy Club)
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Monday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Mondays: Milo Sledge
Tuesdays: Jason Ho/Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Bluegrass Jam
Wed 3/27: Finnhead Dave & Friends
Fri 3/29: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 3/30: Blue Motel Room
Sun 3/31: Catterwailers

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays: DJs

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
Wed 3/27: Donna Greene
Fri 3/29: Alex Nestor
Sat 3/30: Taboo
Tues 4/2: Bernie Meisinger
Wed 4/3: Bryan McCann
Fri 4/5: Otis Hayes
Sat 4/6: Front Loaders

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Weds & Saturdays: Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music 7 pm; Sundays 4 pm
Mondays: Smokey & Friends
Tuesdays: The Jerry McWorter Trio
Fri 3/29: Brandon Ragan Project
Fri 4/5: Brandon Ragan Project
Sun 4/7: Soul Expression

Dargan’s Irish Rub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
Music at 4 pm
Sun 4/7: The Sunday Drivers

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Thurs 3/28: Sgt. Pepper
Fri 3/29: Corazon de Mana
Sat 3/30: Who’s Bad
Sun 3/31: Jerry’s Middle Finger
Thurs 4/4: The Dubbest, The Oles
Fri 4/5: Karla
Sat 4/6: Yachtley Crew

Duke’s Griddle n Grill
1124 S. Seaward
Wednesdays: Karaoke

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Music 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Fri 3/29: Inna Rude Mood
Fri 4/5: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer

Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Mondays: Karaoke
Fri 3/29: Know, Hymen Blasters, Until We Die
Sat 3/30: Hell Toupees, SRA, Agression
Sun 3/31: Dowrr, O Zorn, Easy Death (3pm)
Fri 4/5: Luicidal, IDecline, FSKD, Sick Sense

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed & Thurs 6 pm; Fri & Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm
Fri 3/29: Diane Miller Band
Sat 3/30: Hunter and the Ducks
Thurs 4/4: The Session with Tommy Marsh & Jen Leigh
Fri 4/5: Johnny and the Love Handles
Sun 4/7: The Tossers

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Wed 3/27: Marina “Frenchie” Pacowski
Sat 3/30: The Andrea Hammon Band

Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
Fri 3/29: CRV
Sat 3/30: Crosscut 805
Fri 4/5: DJ-AVG
Sat 4/6: Wax Off

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Wed 3/27: Shore Break
Sat 3/30: Leashless House Band
Tues 4/2: Acoustic open mic
Thurs 4/4: The Alpine Camp
Fri 4/5: Boom Duo

Limon y Sal
598 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ
Sundays: Instone (1-4 pm)

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 6 pm; Sat 4 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 3/28: Conner Cherland
Sat 3/30: The Mutineers
Sun 3/31: Corey Leiter & Raymond Joseph
Thurs 4/4: Matt Sayles

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Thurs 3/28: All That Remains, Attila
Sat 3/30: Fallen Saints, Hologram Empire, The Rays, Raised on Vinyl
Thurs 4/4: The Offspring, Johnny Two Bags

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Sun 3/31: DRB
Sat 4/6: Sin Chonies

Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Sundays: Sing Time Karoke
Tuesdays: Beers Brothers Open Mic
Wednesdays: Brian Nicolet
Sat 3/30: Aaron Orbit, Owen Bucey
Fri 4/5: Wishbone
Sat 4/6: The Brandon Ragan Project

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 3/31: Teresa Russell & Tom Buenger

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Open Jam night
Fri 3/29: Bad Luck Gamblers, The Cursed Bastards, Three on a Match
Sat 4/6: Dolls, The Midnight Devils, GlamAsF*ck, LAMF

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sun 3/31: Greg Korzen
Sat 4/6: The Hellhounds
Sun 4/7: Layers of Pink

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 3/29: Shevie Char
Sat 3/30; Astreyas, KC Mobley
Sat 4/6: The Focke Wolves, Big Dictator, Brainspoon

The Shores Restaurant
1031 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Sundays 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Fri 3/29: Shay Moulder
Sun 3/31: Karen Eden
Fri 4/5: James Broz Duo
Sat 4/6: Tommy Marsh Band
Sun 4/7: Jeff

Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 3/29: Johnny and the Love Handles

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Tuesdays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Get Right DJ
Wed 3/27: Drug Apts, Sweet Reaper, Gunpowder Empires

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai
Music 3-5 pm
Sat 3/30: Lasalle & Salinas
Sun 3/31: Dan Grimm

Traveler’s Café
1070 E. Front Street
Music 11 – 1 pm
Sun 4/7: The Swillys

Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd
Fri 4/5: Skull & Roses
Sat 4/6: Skull & Roses
Sun 4/7: Skull & Roses

Ventura High School Auditorium
2 N. Catalina Street
3 pm – Free – all ages
Sun 3/31: Ventura County Concert Band

Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Fri 3/29: James Broz
Sat 3/30: Déjà vu Too
Sun 3/31: CRV Acoustic Trio
Fri 4/5: Paige Peel
Sat 4/6: The Tossers
Sun 4/7: Jodi Farrell & Jim Rankin

1901 Speakeasy
740 South B Street, Oxnard
Fri 3/29: Danny McGaw
Sat 3/30: Rat Pack Ricky
Fri 4/5: Rich Sheldon
Sat 4/6: The Swillys

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Music at Noon
Saturdays: Kenny Devoe
Sundays: Kenny Devoe

Every 9 minutes someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

Join Sarah Osborne to learn more about what the Parkinson’s Foundation’s mission is.

“In 2018, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Every nine minutes since he was diagnosed, another person received the same devastating news. Unfortunately, each year more and more people are touched by Parkinson’s Disease. A staggering one million people live with PD today in the United States and millions of family members, caregivers, friends and colleagues are impacted as well. The Parkinson’s Foundation is determined to meet the needs of this growing PD community, with better information about care and treatments to live fuller, healthier lives.“ (Parkinson’s Foundation March 14, 2019). April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month – what can you do about it?

Join Sarah Osborne and the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group on Wednesday April 10th from 1 to 3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living (5440 Ralston St.) to learn more about what the Parkinson’s Foundation’s mission is and what you can do to help impact the future of Parkinson’s Disease. Sarah will also present a recap of some of the important points learned at the Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Exercise and the Brain: The Parkinson’s Connection” symposium held in Camarillo in February. You will learn a lot about the mechanics of how exercise impacts PD and how it can improve your quality of life. Sarah will lead a discussion about the types of exercises, challenges to exercising, and tips for getting started.

Information will also be presented about the Parkinson’s Foundation’s upcoming “Moving Day” event on April 13th at the Ventura Promenade. Find out how you can be a part of this opportunity to bring awareness to Parkinson’s Disease and help bring better treatments, quality of life and hopefully a cure some day!

Sarah Osborne is the Parkinson’s Foundation Community Program Manager for California. She came to the foundation after her younger brother was diagnosed with Young Onset PD at the age of 32. Sarah’s background is in healthcare marketing and she’s currently pursuing a Master of Education with plans to complete a Doctorate of Education soon after. She’s also been teaching Pilates, Yoga and Indoor Cycling with the YMCA since 2007 and believes in the power of movement for people with PD and for everyone!

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, they host their meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3pm. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot.

Attendees are invited to check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. Reservations are not required. For more information, call Patty at 805-766-6070. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is an independent and volunteer-organized group, not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.

Vol. 12, No. 13 – Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2019 – Events

Events by Ana Baker

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club Monday nights 7:30 – 9:45 p.m. Poinsettia Pavilion. Ballroom, swing, Latin and line dancing. $10 members, $12 non-members. Free dance lessons 6:45 – 7:15p.m. Call Rick 805- 415-8842 for more information.

There will be a regular Ventura Discussion Group meeting at Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St., Wednesday from 4 – 5:45 p.m. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. Bring an interesting topic to discuss if you can.

Ventura’s ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club offers games for all levels of play.  Learn the game, play with your peers, and earn master points while you are having fun.  There is a game every day of the week.  Check out their website at www.vcbridge.org

Country Western Line Dancing every Tuesday 7 – 9 p.m. Instruction every night. Located at the Moose lodge, 10269 Telephone Road. More information at countrylovers.com.

Cross Town Hikers join in on Wednesday nights for a moderate-paced hike that includes views of Ventura from the cross, a walk out to the end of the pier, and a stroll along the Promenade back to the Museum. Four miles with an 800-foot elevation gain. Meet at 7 p.m. at the fountain across the street from the Mission. https://www.facebook.com/groups/800215670039426/

The Ventura Investment Group meet on Mondays for an informal discussion of recent economic events.   The meeting is from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Telephone Road and Main Street.  Visitors and potential members are welcomed.  There are no dues or requirements to participate, and all levels of experience are welcomed.

Musicians’ Sober Support Meetup @ FIND (A Friend in Deed) every Monday night 7-9 p.m. Bring acoustic instrument(s) for jamming after sharing support for sobriety. Bell Arts-Studio 39-432 Ventura Ave. For further information [email protected].

The Ventura County Philatelic Society meet on the first and third Mondays each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Rd. Admission and parking are free. Contact Bill Garner (805) 320-1601 or [email protected].

Mended Hearts of Ventura. Come share if you have had heart surgery or stent implant. Group meets the first Tuesday each month at Lemon Wood Mobile Park, 850 Johnson Dr. They have excellent speakers, leading cardiologists, nutritionists, dietitians from our area. Contact Richard Hatcher at 805-644-2733.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDa) is a 12-step fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is recovery from codependence in the development and maintenance of healthy relationships. Every Friday at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 5654 Ralston (enter through side door off parking lot). Further information Deva 805-814-5650 or Maryann

The Ventura Retired Men’s group meets on the first and third Tuesday each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Elks lodge on Knoll Drive in Ventura. Drop by to introduce yourself and we’ll treat you to lunch so you can sample our activities and banter and hear our program/speaker of the day. Got a question? Call Bob Likins at 805-587-1233.

BCNN (Beach Cities Neighbors and Newcomers) is a women’s club open to ladies who reside in Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. A purely social club to provide a venue by which women in our area can meet each other. You can see a listing of some of activities at http://www.bcnnwomensclub.org/.

On the 1st Wednesday of each month from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 36 Figueroa St. Parking is on Santa Clara Avenue. dues are $30 per year. April 3rd speaker, Kurt Buckley, will present “My Comino”. He will introduce the audience to the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

March 27: The College Area Community Council will meet on Wednesday, at 7 p.m. Bruce Kuebler, from the Ventura River Water District, will discuss proposed efforts to resolve the dispute over the Ventura River. Representatives from Ventura College and the police department will attend. The Council meets in the Wright Event Center at 57 Day Rd. Free parking is available adjacent to the Event Center. Call (805) 644-8695 for more information.

April 6: Ventura County physician Dr. Megan Mescher-Cox, is inviting the public to join her on a leisurely “Walk with a Doc” to give people a chance to exercise and enjoy some free health tips. The walk is part of the international Walk with A Doc program, which gets people exercising in a fun way while learning ways to improve their health. Will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Ventura Pier boardwalk (alternatively at the Pacific View Mall in inclement weather.) It is for one hour and is free. For more information about the local walk, call 805-988-2821. Visit https://walkwithadoc.org.

April 6: City of Ventura Free Gardening Class. Integrated Pest Management and Beneficial Insects: It’s a bug-eat-bug world. Learn how to control pests with beneficial insects in your landscape. Saturday from 10 -11:30 a.m. Avenue Adult Center 550 N. Ventura Ave. RSVP at www.venturawater.net

April 7: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc. meeting on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd. Free admission, music on stage and jamming. Free parking. Open to Public. For more information call,805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA .

April 7: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 – 4 p.m. A timeline photo display of Ventura’s history beginning in 1866, featuring over 100 period photographs originally assembled for the City’s 150th anniversary in 2016 will be featured.  Admission is free.  197 N. Ashwood .  For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit www.dudleyhouse.org.

April 7: The public is invited to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura for a free presentation exploring the Mixtec language, people & culture on Sunday, from 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Presentation will be given by Mixtec Language Instructor Silvia Ventura Luna, MA, Cal State University Channel Islands – Department of Global Languages and Cultures. The Mixtec have flourished for thousands of years and regarded as among the most advanced societies in pre-Columbian America.  Admission free. Free parking available at the church at 5654 Ralston Street, with overflow parking available at the “City Center” parking lot, next door at 5700 Ralston St.

April 10: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a meeting on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion. The first part of the meeting will be an instructional workshop followed by the showing of member images. A professional photographer from the area will critique member’s prints and digital images. Anyone with an interest in photography is welcome and admission is free. For more information about the club call 805-908-5663 or WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com.

April 11: from 11:30 – 1PM Ventura Holistic Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their monthly Chapter Meeting. This month’s topic is “3 Common Mistakes When Writing Your Website and Other Marketing Materials”. At The Greek Mediterranean Restaurant in the Harbor. There is a $12 fee which includes lunch , beverage and gratuity. Please come a bit early to network and be sure to bring plenty of business cards. RSVP by contacting Julie Ridenour, Chapter President, (805) 223-1207.

April 13: 10 – 3p.m. Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Bag o’Books Book Sale at the Vons at Telegraph and Victoria (6040 Telegraph Rd.) Members of Ventura Friends of the Library can take home a bag of books for $1. Non-members the price is $3 a bag. Contact Mary Olson (805) 223-1187.

April 27:   TLC Preschool Yard Sale and Pancake Breakfast, 196 N. Ashwood Avenue.

Saturday, 8:00AM – noon. Free to attend.

$5.00 Pancake Breakfast – Pancakes, Sausages, Strawberries

Yard sale includes furnishings/household items/children’s items/clothing/outdoor items.

All proceeds benefitting Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool.

May 3-5: ACBL’s Nationally Sanctioned Sectional Duplicate Bridge Tourney returns to Ventura’s Crosspointe Church Ventura, 5415 Ralston St.  Earn Silver Master Points, 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. sessions. Lots of food and fun.  For more information contact Josh Rosenbluth, [email protected].

Audubon events

April 6, 9 a.m. Work Day Hedrick Ranch Nature Area (HRNA) Spring Clean Up
Leader: Sandy Hedrick 805-340-0478
Arrive at 8:00 for self-guided birding which usually yields some interesting birds. This will be our Spring Clean Up we will work from 9am – noon. Long pants and boots or closed shoes are required. Bring water, gloves & sun protection.

April 9, 7:30 pm VAS Monthly Program: Feathers And Flight: A Journey To The New World Tropics
Presented by Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz at the Poinsettia Pavillion – 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura (Free to the Public)
Benny will share his dazzling photos, videos, and animated story-telling to bring a slice of the tropics to California. This media-rich journey will highlight some of the fascinating and unique birds that inhabit the new-world tropics.

April 14, 7:45 a.m. Matilija Creek
Leader: Jesse Grantham [email protected], 805-746-0975
This will be a combined walk with CVAS. Call or email for directions..

April 20, 8:00 a.m. Fillmore Fish Hatchery/Lake Piru
Leader: Tevin Schmitt 661-904-1563
At the Fillmore Fish Hatchery there are many herons/egrets and ducks outside the cages so we will be close to the birds. Then we will carpool to Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres Forest, stopping along the way as we see birds.

April 23, 8:30 a.m. Ventura Wildlife Ponds
Leader: Adele Fergusson 805-415-4304
Enjoy a morning of mostly waterfowl birding. Spotting scopes are always welcome.

Vol. 12, No. 13 – Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2019 – Ojai News & Events

BiJian Fan will visit the Ojai Library at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, to deliver a workshop titled “Words Count in Math.” Dr. Fan teaches math at CSU Channel Islands.

Why does math trouble so many children? It’s the language.

This workshop will address this linguistic hindrance and offer parents remedies to give children a leg-up in arithmetic development.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom(WILPF) will visit the Ojai Library to host a screening of the 2004 documentary Peace One Day. The screening will be accompanied by group discussion.

Activist and filmmaker Jeremy Gilley saw the benefits that just one day of global cease fire could bring, from the possibility of dialogue to the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and this documentary follows his passionate quest to bring that vision to life.

Associate Professor of English Sean Carswell will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, to deliver a presentation titled “Fresh Eyes on the Femme Fatale.” Carswell is from CSU Channel Islands (CI) as part of this season’s CI Library Lecture Series.

This talk will examine the femmes fatale of classic crime writers like Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, Chester Himes, and others as a way of seeing what these characters can teach us about gender, power, and the ever-prevalent male gaze.

CSU Channel Islands hosts dozens of free public lectures at libraries throughout Ventura County as part of this program. The lecturers are experts from numerous departments at CI, including Biology, History, English, Computer Science, Political Science, Performing Arts, and Sociology to name a few.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The Ojai Valley Green Coalition is proud to host the 2019 Ojai Earth Day at Libbey Park on April 20, 2019 from 11am-4pm. The Park offers a beautiful setting perfect for this fun, informative, family-friendly community celebration.

After a year of recovery from the Thomas Fire the local residents are – now more than ever – looking to improve their way of interfacing with the natural environment. The Ojai Earth Day Festival is an ideal way for continuing the conversation about advancing a green, sustainable, and resilient way of life. Just as last year, there will be a variety of engaging interactive activities, demonstrations, dynamic speakers, talented performers, environmentally-friendly exhibitors, and non-profits sharing information about living with a lighter, more compassionate footprint.

Composer/Songwriter Ray Powers, who created Valley of the Moon Suite to honor the Ojai Valley’s gift of incredible nature, will be opening the Stage lineup with his gentle native flute compositions, followed by an opening ceremony by Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie. Then throughout the day there will be a variety of musical performances in between a series of expert speakers.

Special Olympics Southern California have partnered with Villanova Preparatory School to provide an opportunity for Special Olympics Athletics (SOSC) and Swim teams across all of Ventura County to participate in a scrimmage event where they can experience a competition atmosphere in a practice environment. This allows SOSC to record true performance standards for each athlete before they move on to compete in official competitions over the next few months.

The scrimmage event will be at Villanova Preparatory School, located at 12096 North Ventura Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event is open to the public.