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2018 – A year to remember

Every month CAPS Media trained new members and mentored existing members.

2018 is a Year to Remember for everyone in Ventura including everyone at CAPS Media. The first few months of the year we dominated by reaction and recovery from the Thomas Fire. CAPS Media covered, broadcast and livestreamed numerous City, County and State events providing the public with valuable updates and recovery information.

In February, in collaboration with the Museum of Ventura County, CAPS Media launched the Thomas Fire Stories project, conducting interviews with first responders and the public chronicling the personal stories of survival and healing during and following the devastating Thomas Fire.

Every month CAPS Media trained new members and mentored existing members in the use of media equipment helping them create their own programs and projects to air on television. CAPS Media Radio – KPPQ, 104.1FM, continued to grow with new local voices and programs developed and broadcast on the airwaves.

Every week the CAPS Media crew recorded, broadcast and live streamed City Council meetings, City Planning, Design Review and other city public meetings as well as Ventura Unified School Board meetings on Channel 15. In addition, numerous faith-based and community organizations recorded and broadcast services and informative programs for the community on Channel 6.

All year long the ECTV Crew from El Camino High School produced engaging and award winning programs in the CAPS Media studio and the community. ECTV is a career pathways education program developed by CAPS Media in collaboration with VC Innovates and the Ventura Unified School district. In May and June CAPS and the ECTV crew members covered graduation ceremonies for El Camino and Foothill high schools, and Ventura College.

Every month CAPS produces a video for the city and school district’s Mayor for a Moment each month a 5th grade student is selected and interviewed. The profile is presented at a City Council meeting and a VUSD school board meeting.

Throughout the year CAPS Media continued a productive collaboration with Ventura County Fire and Public Information departments that included video annual report for the Ventura County Fire Department, as well as updates by VCFD Chief Mark Lorenzen, Ventura City Police Departments’ Ashley Bautista and officers.

Starting in September, CAPS Media started preparing for the upcoming election by working with the League of Women’s Voters to produce videos including informational videos on the district election process and independent analysis of the ballot issues and candidate forums. CAPS continued its Video Voter program featuring individual candidate statements. CAPS also worked with Bill Nash, Ventura County Public Information Officer and Mark Lunn, Ventura County Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters to produce special reports for voter information and education videos for the November elections.

In December, CAPS Media premiered The Perfect Firestorm – The Thomas Fire Story at the Museum of Ventura County. The documentary film was produced in collaboration with the Museum in cooperation with County and City agencies. The Perfect Firestorm is a tribute to our entire community of heroes who, in the face of an overwhelming crisis, responded with astonishing calm and then opened their hearts, hands and homes to rescue neighbors and strangers and together rebuild their lives. The film is broadcast and live streaming on CAPS Media Channel 6 throughout January. Go capsmedia.org/program-schedules for air times.

2018 has been a very busy and productive year at CAPS Media. The entire staff eagerly looks forward to New Year of community Engagement, Education and Entertainment in 2019.

Getting started with long-distance caregiving

Anyone, anywhere, can be a long-distance caregiver, no matter your gender, income, age, social status, or employment. If you are living an hour or more away from a person who needs your help, you’re probably a long-distance caregiver.

What can I really do from far away?

Long-distance caregivers take on different roles. You may:

  • Help with finances, money management, or bill paying
  • Arrange for in-home care—hire professional caregivers or home health or nursing aides and help get needed durable medical equipment
  • Locate care in an assisted living facility or nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility)

I’m new to long-distance caregiving—what should I do first?

  • Ask the primary caregiver, if there is one, and the care recipient how you can be most helpful
  • Talk to friends who are caregivers to see if they have suggestions about ways to help
  • Find out more about local resources that might be useful
  • Develop a good understanding of the person’s health issues and other needs

Where can I find local resources for my family member? to find local services for older adults and their families.

As a caregiver, what do I need to know about my family member’s health?

Learn as much as you can about your family member’s condition and any treatment. This can help you understand what is going on, anticipate the course of an illness, prevent crises, and assist in healthcare management.

Get written permission, as needed under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, to receive medical and financial information. To the extent possible, the family member with permission should be the one to talk with all healthcare providers.

Get tips for caregivers to make doctor’s appointments easier.

How can I be most helpful during my visit?

Talk to the care recipient ahead of time and find out what he or she would like to do during your visit. Also check with the primary caregiver, if appropriate, to learn what he or she needs, such as handling some caregiving responsibilities while you are in town. This may help you set clear-cut and realistic goals for the visit. Decide on the priorities and leave other tasks to another visit.

How can I stay connected from far away?

Try to find people who live near your loved one and can provide a realistic view of what is going on. This may be your other parent. A social worker may be able to provide updates and help with making decisions.

Don’t underestimate the value of a phone and email contact list. It is a simple way to keep everyone updated on your parents’ needs.

Where can I find local resources for my family member?

Searching online is a good way to start collecting resources. Here are a few potentially helpful places to look:

Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free)

National Institute on Aging website

Family Care Navigator

Your state government’s website

You might also check with local senior centers. Learn more about long-distance caregiving.

Author announces the publication of new online fiction magazine.

Ventura author, John Darling, is proud to announce the launch of his new quarterly online periodical, Strictly Fiction Magazine (http://strictlyfictionmagazine.com)

The site will feature fiction, science fiction, romance and mystery selections. There will also be a section for short, pet-based fiction, called Buddy’s Storybook.

While the initial installment of the magazine will not be available until April 1, 2019, Mr. Darling is inviting readers, future contributors, and potential advertisers to visit his site before then and to send him any questions they may have about the magazine.

Regarding his reason for creating the site, he had this to say:

“At one time, for over five years, I produced an environmentally themed magazine called The Earth Comes First. That magazine offered a mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, artwork, photography, and opinions. It was an exhausting endeavor but very rewarding since it celebrated the Earth we live on.

This time around, I am concentrating on fiction because I want to narrow the focus of my efforts and emphasize the quality of work over the quantity of it so each quarter I will only be publishing a limited amount of stories.

I also do not want our readers to be ambiguous about what we do here. If you want poetry, non-fiction, editorials, or any other type of reading matter, there are plenty of other fine periodicals out there who can provide it to you.

Mr. Darling can be reached at 805-824-7901 or [email protected].

Volunteers needed for annual homeless count in Ventura County

Community volunteers are needed for the annual count and survey of homeless persons in Ventura County. The 2019 Ventura County Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

The annual Homeless Count is coordinated by the Ventura County Continuum of Care and County of Ventura, in partnership with community partners and cities. The survey data will be collected through a mobile app called “Counting Us” by Simtech Solutions. This data provides a Point-In-Time “snapshot” as to what the homeless population in Ventura County looks like during a single day to help community leaders better understand who is homeless, why and for how long.

In order to conduct a full and accurate count, the Ventura County Continuum of Care is seeking 500 volunteers. Volunteers are required to attend a training session in their community and will be paired up on the morning of the count to canvass areas seeking persons to survey. Volunteers will be asked to download the free “Counting Us” app to their mobile device for data collection. Download the mobile app here: http://pointintime.info/. Interested volunteers can register online at http://www.volunteerventuracounty.org/.

For more information on volunteering, please contact Jennifer Harkey at 805-658-4342. For general inquiries on the Continuum of Care, contact Tara Carruth at 805-340-4969.

Life insurance- it is better to be prepared

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

Life insurance is one of those things that many people prefer to avoid thinking about because it often conjures up dark images.  Many people are jarred into realizing the importance of buying life insurance after a close friend or family member has passed away or even after hearing a news story about a tragic death that hit close to home. The reality is that it is better to be prepared and know that our loved ones will not be left to fend for themselves. Consider these important questions to determine your need for life insurance.

How Will Your Loved Ones Live Without Your Income?

Some households are run on a paycheck to paycheck basis. Some people may have a modest amount of savings, but it may take two incomes to pay the monthly bills. Your spouse and children may quickly run out of money without your income to support them. Life insurance benefits are most commonly used to supplement lost wages and to eliminate debts after an income-producing adult passes away. By eliminating debts with insurance proceeds, your loved ones will need less money to live off of each month. Some people will purchase enough insurance to pay off all outstanding debts including the home mortgage. The surviving spouse may even be able to support the family through his or her income alone after the debts have been eliminated. Others will purchase enough coverage so that the proceeds can be invested to generate supplemental income.

How Will Your Spouse Be Able to Retire?

While some life insurance is needed to help your loved ones to survive on a monthly basis, you also need to think about the future. Your income may currently be instrumental in your spouse’s ability to fund a retirement account. Without your income, your spouse may be forced to work for many years past the traditional retirement age, this can create an unnecessary hardship on him or her. It can be wise to purchase extra coverage to fund a retirement account.

Do Your Kids Need Financial Assistance Getting Their Adult Lives Started?

If you have kids, you may be well aware of their financial dependence on you, and this will often not simply evaporate when they turn 18. Many children need financial assistance buying their first car, paying for their wedding, paying for college and more. Some parents will purchase additional death benefits so that their kids’ lives are not financially impacted by a death.

How Much Coverage Do You Need?

This is a complicated question that often requires you to create a solid financial plan for the future. Funds can be used strategically in different ways, such as to purchase income-producing assets, to pay off debts and more. Your current lifestyle, debts and assets all must be taken into account. It is wise to work with an experienced life insurance expert to review your financial needs.

Remember, life insurance has evolved over the years and there are many benefit programs that can come to your families rescue even if you don’t pass away but are too sick to work.  Now can be a great time to review what coverage you currently have and what coverage is available to you. Some people will live well into their 90s or beyond, but others have a life that is cut short far too soon.

Vol. 12, No. 7 – Jan 3 – Jan 15, 2019 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

12-18 4:45pm, while on patrol, officers observed hazardous conditions at the South Beach, Surfers Knoll and Marina Park. High Surf, 6-10ft with numerous and powerful rip currents all throughout. NWS issued warnings for conditions.

8:40pm, dispatched to a fire near Harbor/Olivas park. Officers responded and observed the burnoff in the field South of the Santa Clara River, no fire.

12-19 5:03pm, received a report of a boat fire near Island Packers dock. Officers responded in the fireboat and found one of the older diesel commercial fishing light boats was dormant for a while and a lot of soot/smoke was expelled from the vessel’s exhaust upon it being started. No fire was observed.

9:10pm, advised of a diesel spill near VHV H-dock from the Dockmaster. Officers responded to the report, but no source for the small spill was located.

12-20 8:01pm, received request for entrance conditions from a vessel transiting the Harbor Entrance. Officers were able to assist the vessel safely into the harbor.

12-21 4:45pm, several reports of navigation buoys within the harbor are off station. Officers responded and towed the buoys back on station. The buoys were off-station due to the high surf and heavy surge from the last week.

8:10pm, received reports of various transients disturbing the peace all around the harbor. Officers responded but were unable to locate disturbing parties.

12-22 7:30am, contacted National Park Service, they advised no personnel on duty due to the government shut down.

9:07am, observed the city dock at Marina Park has broken due to the 7ft high tide. Ventura City personnel were advised and en route to turn off utilities.

12-23 2:00pm, received a request for information on the government shut-down concerning planned trips to the islands on commercial vessels. Advised caller to contact island packers to inquire.

4:56pm, while on patrol near the seaward in Boat19, officers contacted a long distance swimmer. He was escorted back towards the surfline.

12-24 12:40pm, received a report of a disabled Personal Watercraft Craft in the sandtrap. Officers responded and assisted the vessel, towed it and took the operator on board back to the dock in the Ventura Keys.

2:08pm, dispatched to a medical, lift assist in the Ventura Marina Community from FCC. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with returning the patient to his wheelchair, no medical assistance required.

Water likely to increase to $300

by Venturans for Responsible and Efficient Government (VREG)

In the next 12 months, Ventura Water will ask the City Council to increase water rates for 30 wastewater projects and 28 water projects by 2024. These costly projects will benefit some property owners. Other projects will help the community at large.

As of June 30, 2018, Ventura Water accumulated $115,000,000 to use for those projects from 2012-2018. Still, they need $449,586,000 more before 2024.

These new rate increases will come on top of the increases imposed over the last six years. In 2012, Ventura Water wanted to increase rates to replace aging pipelines and facilities, building projects to improve water quality and constructing new groundwater wells.

In 2012 the average homeowner and family of 4, received a bi-monthly bill of $145.72. That same family is paying $209.67 today. This is a 43% increase over the 2012 rates.

So how can Ventura Water impose such large fees against its citizens without the traditional right to vote on such matters? The answer lies in how Ventura implements Proposition 218. Approved by the voters in 1996, Proposition 218 allows Ventura to raise money in one of three ways. General taxes. Those taxes used for general governmental purposes, Special Taxes. A Special Tax requires a 2/3 (66.67%) majority vote or Special Assessments, Fees and Charges. Fees or charges means an assessment imposed as an incident of owning property which receives a unique benefit.

Ventura wants to use Special Assessments, Fees and Charges to impose higher water rates. This is where Ventura water turns a non-vote into a yes vote.

Ventura Water sends a water bill. Somewhere in the body of that bill, it tells you why the rate increase is necessary. To dispute the rate increase, you must download a protest form, complete and mail it or take it to City Hall by a specific date. If 51% of the ratepayers have not voted ‘NO,’ that is the end of the matter. There are 32,000 ratepayers. Sixteen thousand one must vote NO to defeat an increase.

The procedure followed by Ventura is consistent with Prop 218 language, but a California Supreme Court challenge goes further.

The California Supreme Court in Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency v. Verjil (2006)39 Cal.4th 205, at page 205, interpreted Prop 218’s language to mean a city “may raise other fees or impose new fees without prior voter approval.” The Court’s decision was specific.

However, that decision by the Supreme Court only involved the issue of water delivery through a pipeline and whether voters could use an initiative process to require prior voter approval for the costs of that delivery. It did not involve a question of whether fees imposed to deal with a $500 million projects together with environmental costs, expert studies, attorneys fees and a plethora of expenses arising out of a Consent Decree decided by a City Council in 2012, and in which the voters had no voice.

What if the costs are not exclusively operational costs? What if the expenditures benefit the entire community, not just ratepayers? Does Proposition 218 apply in those circumstances? Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency v. Verjil does not address when the costs other than operational costs.

If the City is considering rate increase of this magnitude without prior voter approval, they should be mindful of the language in Prop 218. It provides that “in any legal action contesting the validity of an assessment, the burden is on the agency (Ventura Water) to demonstrate that the …properties in question receive a special benefit over the benefits conferred on the public at large…” This needs to go before the voters for approval.

Residents and businesses will soon enjoy the advantages of clean, renewable power at competitive rates

The County of Ventura is proud to announce that the “unincorporated” (not Ventura) areas of the County will soon enjoy the advantages of clean, renewable power at competitive rates. On December 12, 2017, the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors voted to join the Clean Power Alliance. Starting in February 2019 for residential customers and May 2019 for non-residential customers, Clean Power Alliance will be the new electricity provider for unincorporated Ventura County.

Clean Power Alliance is a public agency made up of 31 local governments across Los Angeles and Ventura countiesーincluding unincorporated Ventura Countyーworking together to bring clean, renewable power choices to our communities. Clean Power Alliance purchases clean power and Southern California Edison will deliver it–nothing else changes. SCE will continue to deliver power to homes and businesses, send one bill, and be responsible for resolving any issues with electricity service.

Residents will not have to do anything to be automatically enrolled in Clean Power Alliance’s 100% Green Power rate option, which provides 100 percent renewable content and gives customers the opportunity to join the County of Ventura in our commitment to protecting the environment.

Customers will still have access to special rates or programs such as California Alternative Rates for Energy, Family Electric Rate Assistance, Medical Baseline, Level Pay and Summer Discounts. Customers currently enrolled in the CARE, FERA, and Medical Baseline assistance programs and enrolled in the unincorporated areas of the County of Ventura 100% Green Power will be charged the same rates they would have paid to SCE. Clean Power Alliance will also develop new and unique programs exclusively for local customers.

If customers decide 100% Green Power is not the right fit for them, they will be able to select one of Clean Power Alliance’s other two rate options: Lean Power, which provides 36 percent renewable content at the lowest possible cost, and Clean Power, which provides 50 percent renewable content and the opportunity to support building a cleaner future. No matter the rate option, Clean Power Alliance offers the shared benefits of local management and control, stable, competitive rates, and higher renewable content.

Customers in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County will receive a total of four notices via mail before and after the switch from SCE to Clean Power Alliance for electricity generation. Service for residential customers will begin in February 2019, and customers will receive their first notice in December 2018 which will contain additional details, including instructions on how to choose a different rate option and customer support contact information. Clean Power Alliance service for non-residential customers is scheduled to begin in May 2019.

For more information, visit: https://www.ventura.org/live-and-work/

Fitting exercise and physical activity into your day

“The problem is I keep stopping to shop.”

Don’t let a busy day stop you from exercising! There are many ways to squeeze a little physical activity into your day. To get the most out of exercise and physical activity, they need to be a regular part of your life.

Here are some ideas to help you fit physical activity into your day:

  • Make it a priority. Remember that being active is one of the most important things you can do each day to maintain and improve health.
  • Sticky note that says “exercise”
  • Make it easy. You are more likely to exercise if it’s a convenient part of your day.
  • Walk the entire mall or every aisle of the grocery store when you go shopping.
  • Try being active first thing in the morning before you get too busy.
  • Join a gym that’s close to your home and easy to get to.
  • Take one or more flights of stairs up and two down.
  • Make it social. Many people agree that an “exercise buddy” keeps them going.
  • Take a walk during lunch with coworkers.
  • Try a dance class—salsa, tango, square dancing—it’s up to you.
  • Use family gatherings as a time to play team sports or do outdoor activities.
  • Make it fun. Do activities you enjoy to make exercise more fun, if you love the outdoors, try biking or hiking, or try listening to music while you garden or wash the car.
  • Make it happen. Plan to be active in many places and many ways.
  • Be realistic based on how physically active you are now.
  • Be specific in the details.
  • Include a weekly worksheet that details your activities.

Begin the New Year with hope and insight on Parkinson’s Disease

by Patty Jenkins

Start the New Year with hope for better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s Disease! Join the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group as we kick off the New Year with Wayne Pickerell, Vice President and Clinical Research Manager of Neurosearch, Inc., at our meeting on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at The Lexington Assisted Living at 5440 Ralston St, Ventura.

Wayne has been involved in Parkinson’s Disease for over 18 years and has managed Clinical Research for Neurosearch for well over a decade. Thanks to participating clinics like Neurosearch and experts like Wayne, and also in large part to the leadership role of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, research continues to advance rapidly and there is more promising work being done to improve treatments for Parkinson’s Disease. Wayne will give us an overview of Parkinson’s Disease and the typical treatments that we currently have, update us in new treatments that are being studied and he will also discuss progress in the search for a cure to Parkinson’s disease.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group also 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. For those interested in attending the event, there is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington Assisted Living building. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot. Reservations are not required. 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. 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. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, we host our meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3PM.