Join for an immersive evening at E.P. Foster Library with master dyer and textile artist, Porfirio Gutiérrez, and learn about the rich history of the craft in its cultural context. Recently featured in The New York Times, Gutiérrez is committed to keeping his family’s traditional Zapotec practices and knowledge alive.
Gutiérrez and his family are masters of Zapotec weaving and come from a long line of weavers from Teotitlán del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico. They are among a small group of textile artisans working to preserve the use of plant and insect dyes.
This special presentation will be hosted at E.P. Foster Library on Saturday, January 5, at 6 pm. This event is free and open to the public.
Ventura County Library is honored to host this event, made possible by funding received from the California Council for the Humanities Library Innovation Lab Grant for the project entitled “Celebrate Mixteco Culture,” and partnerships with MICOP, CSUCI, El Rio NFL, and UCSB.
“Library Innovation Lab: Exploring New Ways of Engaging California’s Immigrant Communities” is a new statewide competitive grant program offered by California Humanities. The program encourages California libraries to develop creative and innovative programs that will respond to the needs and circumstances of today’s immigrants and immigrant communities and foster more inclusive communities within our state.
The Foster Library is located at 651 East Main St. Hours of service are 10am to 7pm Monday through Thursday, 10am to 5pm Friday and Saturday, and 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.
Meet Dora and Diego, the two cutest munchkins you’ll ever meet! Dora (2 years old) and Diego 6 years old) are a bonded pair who will make wonderful additions to your family! Both are well-mannered, foster tested, house trained and pee-pad trained.
Dora and Diego belong together and maybe you will be lucky enough to share their word. You can meet them by contacting foster mom at 805/218-0143.
Hi: I’m Cole a sweet older American Staffordshire Terrier mix who makes the perfect house guest when I go on sleepovers with C.A.R.L. volunteers. I’ve been with C.A.R.L. since 2011 and I’m grateful to have a safe place to stay, but what I really want is a forever home where I can hang out with my people. Everybody loves me. Although I’m ok with some dogs in the playgroups at the kennel, I need to be the only dog in the home. Stop by and meet me and I’ll greet you with a huge smile and twinkling eyes. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
Docent Mary Thompson will give you a tour of the Adobe.
The City of Ventura Holiday Candlelight Tours of the Historic Olivas Adobe will be held on Sunday, December 9. Attendees of all ages, looking to get into the holiday spirit, will enjoy this event while learning about life in the late 1800s. Located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive –the first tour begins at 5:30 pm. Tours are conducted in groups, which will be offered every twelve minutes. This popular event, with limited space available, requires reservations by calling (805) 658-4726.
Experience what life was like long ago at this expansive adobe home and courtyard built between 1847-49 by Don Raymundo Olivas. Visitors will take a step back in time at this California Historical Landmark as the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters, a non-profit volunteer group, will perform scenes in period costumes. Refreshments will be served, live musical entertainment will be provided and the Olivas Adobe Gift Shop will be open for those wishing to find unique holiday gifts.
The Olivas Adobe hosts private and public events year-round. The Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters make the history of the Olivas Adobe come to life by celebrating its Chumash, Old West, Rancho, and Latino heritage. For more information visit the Olivas Adobe website at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/olivasadobe.
• Razzle Dazzle some cat stole your photo so please send it to us again.
Therapy dogs bring joy to patients at CMH.
• Therapy dogs Lola, Herbie, Livi, Posey, Molli and Jockcurrently visit the patients and staff at CMHS twice a month. They meet at 11am in the lobby and visit patients who would like to see the dogs on the sixth floor and, if there are patients in Pediatrics on 7, they visit with them. They visit in teams of two. It brings such joy to patients, staff, families and visitors. Much more so than a human.
They represent the Dr Peter Gall Therapy Dog Program
Five new Search Teams were partnered at the National Training Center.
•On October 26, five new Search Teams were partnered at the National Training Center as the training team officially handed the Search Dogs’ leashes over to their new firefighter-handlers. With nearly 100 friends, family, SDF staff and volunteers in attendance, they welcomed the newest teams to the SDF family: Mike Devine & Sonny and Ryan Greenup & Koda (both with Los Angeles County Fire Department/California Task Force 2), Michael Bruce & Cooper, Imelda Cordova & Knox, both Orange County Fire Authority, and Wade Haller & Dallas of Long Beach Fire Department (all with California Task Force 5). Congratulations to the new teams and a big thank you to everyone who helped these dogs and handlers achieve this first major milestone in their careers together!
• By Hannah Beers
Cats and dogs may occupy similar places in people’s hearts, but when it comes to the two species’ hearts—and heart disease—there are a lot of differences. Dr. Ryan Fries, a veterinary cardiologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains some of these differences and how he is working to improve the prospects for afflicted cats.
Chronic valvular disease is the most common type of heart disease in dogs. In it, the valves degenerate and become misshapen, causing the valves to leak. Occasionally cats are born with heart valve disease, but the development of degenerative valvular disease over time, as it occurs in dogs, is not seen in cats.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, on the other hand, accounts for 80 percent of cases of heart disease in domestic cats but is rare in dogs. In this disease, one or several areas of the walls of the heart become abnormally thickened.
“Certain breeds, such as Maine Coon and Ragdoll cats, are genetically predisposed to developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but any cat can develop this disease,” says Dr. Fries.
Genetic tests are available for predisposed breeds to identify cats that carry the genetic mutation for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cats carrying this mutation should not be bred.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy are rarely seen in cats.
“Dilated cardiomyopathy was actually very common in cats before the 1980s. Then, veterinarians discovered that dilated cardiomyopathy was linked to a taurine deficiency in commercial cat food. Now that taurine is appropriately added to cat food, this problem is quite rare in cats,” explains Dr. Fries.
Not only do the types of heart disease cats and dogs acquire differ, so do the clinical manifestations of heart disease. “Dogs almost always have an audible murmur, meaning it can be detected with a stethoscope by a veterinarian. This is not true in cats,” he says.
Radiographs (X-rays) of the chest are also commonly used to diagnose heart disease in dogs but are not as useful in cats. “We need an echocardiogram to definitively diagnose heart disease in a cat,” says Dr. Fries.
Symptoms of heart disease in cats can be subtle and non-specific. Owners may notice that their feline friends are hiding more, are less interested in the food, or generally more lethargic. Cats are masters at hiding sickness, so any changes in behavior should tip off an owner that something isn’t quite right. Cats may also show signs of respiratory distress, such as labored breathing, panting, and open-mouth breathing.
Because of changes in blood flow and enlargement of the left atrium, cats with heart disease are at increased risk for blood clot formation within the heart. Pieces of these clots may break off, being swept by the bloodstream to locations distant from the heart (thromboembolism).
The most common site for thromboembolism in cats is the back legs (saddle thrombus). This leads to acute weakness/paralysis and pain in these limbs. Cats showing signs like this should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
“Bringing your cat for annual examinations and talking to your veterinarian when you notice any changes in your cat’s behavior are the best ways to catch heart disease at earlier stages,” recommends Dr. Fries.
“There are basically two stages of heart disease in cats, and each hold a different prognosis. In the first stage, the cat has confirmed heart disease and is at risk of developing clinical problems,” says Dr. Fries. “In the later stage, the cat has heart disease as well as clinical problems, such as heart failure or thromboembolism. An echocardiogram with a veterinary cardiologist can determine which stage a cat is in.”
“Heart health is just as vital to cats as it is to dogs, but heart disease is much more difficult to detect in cats. Regular visits to your veterinarian can help protect your cat’s heart and overall health,” says Dr. Fries.
Capitalizing on recent advances in neuroimaging and genetic biomarker research, scientists have been able to identify specific pathways by which tau and beta-amyloid, two proteins that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, accumulate in the brain over time. The NIA-supported researchers also found that the patterns of tau and beta-amyloid accumulation were related to specific genetic profiles, providing better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease risk and possible new avenues for diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.
Improved technology makes possible for intensive, side-by-side comparisons of how tau and beta-amyloid spread in the brain in distinctive patterns. Using this technology, researchers were able to reveal nuances into how, even in disease, the brain follows a dynamic and complex network of circuits and connections. The results were reported in the Oct. 29 issue of Nature Medicine.
The study was led by Dr. Jorge Sepulcre and Dr. Keith Johnson of The Gordon Center for Medical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Reisa Sperling, director of the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. The team used data from the Harvard Aging Brain Study and the Allen Human Brain Atlas.
In a brain with Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal deposits of tau and beta-amyloid do not randomly appear, but instead show unique spatial patterns that follow the brain’s existing connected neural networks. To better understand how tau and beta-amyloid interact with and influence each other, the researchers looked closely at 3-D brain network and gene maps and found that both tau and beta-amyloid were associated with genes devoted to lipid metabolism, and that the APOE E4 gene – a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – played a central role in the relationships of these genetic networks.
The scientists found common genetic background for the malfunction of both proteins. The findings showed that in addition to APOE, other variations in genetic pathways shared by tau and beta-amyloid could trigger their accumulation. The study also found that tau propagation was associated with an axon-related (parts of neurons that pass messages away from the cell body) genetic profile, while beta-amyloid’s spread was connected with a dendrite-related (parts of neurons that receive messages from other cells) genetic profile.
The researchers hope this new understanding of tau and beta-amyloid’s propagation patterns can be combined with a person’s genetic profile to help develop precision medicine approaches for improved diagnosis, monitoring and therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.
Reference: Sepulcre J et al. Neurogenetic contributions to amyloid beta and tau spreading in the human cortex. Nature Medicine. 2018 Oct 29 doi: 10.1038/s41591-018-0206-4.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Movie Review: 2.5 Palm Trees out of 4 Palm Trees
by Victoria Usher
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is a 2018 science fiction and fantasy film that is based on the characters created by J.K. Rowling. It was directed by David Yates. It was produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram. It was written by J.K. Rowling. The film stars Eddie Redmayne, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, and Zoe Kravitz. The cinematography was by Philippe Rousselot. It was edited by Mark Day. The casting was done by Fiona Weir. The production design was done by Stuart Craig. The costume design was done by Colleen Atwood. The set decoration was done by Anna Pinnock. The music was by James Newton Howard. It was distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures. The film was officially released in cinemas on November 16th, 2018.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second part of the Wizarding World film series that was created by J.K. Rowling. This second part of the series was filmed in a specific and unique way that shows foreshadowing as being the most pivotal part of the film. When foreshadowing is written well and filmed right it can be the perfect thing to use in a film series or in a television series, as long as it is used in moderation. However, when it becomes hard to keep track of what the actual plot is because the film starts to become so heavily filled with foreshadowing and maybe only a sprinkle of plot every now and again then the whole film can very easily become boring and cause the audience to lose interest extremely quickly. The main three things that this film has that almost make up for the excessive amount of foreshadowing are the gorgeous visual effects, the spectacular acting from the cast, and the beautiful soundtrack. These three specific all wrapped together truly help to carry this second film in a way that keeps the audience captivated and excited.
Everyone should have a will; it ensures that your loved ones will receive the assets you wish them to have in the event of your death. Ideally, it’s best to make a will face to face with a local law firm so that you can thoroughly discuss exactly what you want it to consist of; its importance shouldn’t be underestimated. To be clear, a will is a legal document that states how you want your property to be distributed and to care for any minor children. To ensure that your wishes are carried out as stated by you, a will must be written and signed by you and your witnesses.
Keep in mind; even though you have set up a will for your family; you may have several reasons to update your will, especially if your family situation has changed such as a birth in the family, an adoption, marriage or divorce. Another reason to update your will is if you have another child, or even if you’ve moved across states after your will was created. The laws in California may not be the same as the laws in Texas, and if that is a move you’ve made consider speaking to an estate lawyer austin to make sure everything is up to date.
There are other possible factors. Very importantly, if your marriage ends, your estate plan will need to be updated. For example, if you divorce your spouse, you may not want to leave any assets to your ex. This would be a time and situation that you may want to discuss with your attorney; what changes you want to make to your will. You may also want to talk with your lawyer about how to protect your assets should your will be contested. All of that will be discussed when it comes to the actual divorce. If you are thinking of getting a divorce from your partner, you might want to get in contact with these jacksonville divorce lawyers if you live in that area. If you don’t, there will be other lawyers in your local area that can oversee the divorce. When divorcing, be sure to state the assets that you don’t want to share with your partner. Lawyers will ensure this is all done legally.
Another reason to update your will and estate plan is if your relationships have changed. Relationships, over time, change due to how you feel about people in your life. When relationships change or deteriorate, you may want to modify your will to either cut them out or readjust the distribution of property and monies.
In addition, adjustments to your will may need to be made if you move to a different state. Keep in mind; each state in the U.S. has different rules and regulations; especially when it comes to estate taxes and property. It is important, once you move, to consult with a lawyer to ensure that your will is adjusted to your new state and that it is legal.
If you have had important changes made to your assets; especially if you have had an increase or decrease in the value of your estate, you need to update your will and estate plan. Examples of such changes might be, making a large investment and upping the value of your estate or a family member dies and leaves a substantial amount to you.
Or, maybe you change your mind about certain parts of your will. Perhaps there may be some in your life have emotionally turned away from you and your spouse and you want to adjust your will according to how you feel about that person or persons.
When it comes to updating a will, there are two options on how to make it happen; you can revise your will or create a new one. You can set up your own will; however, you may want to consult a lawyer if you have doubts about the content of your will, if you anticipate leaving a substantial amount of money to people not originally listed in your will or if you want to change the executor of the will.
Other reasons why you may want to consult with a lawyer are if you want to make arrangements for long-term care for a loved one, if you fear that someone will contest your will or if you wish to disinherit your spouse.
Re: Homeless at 81 (article in previous Breeze by Jennifer Tipton)
Edison Electric Company in Ventura offers a medical baseline discount for people like myself. Once approved the bill does go way up the first month- using my oxygen concentrator in the first month. Month 2 the bill is shockingly low, month 3 on Edison provides a very good on going discount.
Thanks, so much Mr. Brown for publishing article. Many Ventura Breeze readers made reservations and attended Gabriel’s house fund raiser. A grateful good thanks to them.
Joan Lucas
Sheldon
Why can’t Carol have her own thoughts instead of lifting it from an article of CNBC? And thank you again Sheldon for considering my feelings. I didn’t realize the Breeze was to be one sided by others. My only hope is that we can agree to disagree and get some work done. If my candidate would have lost, I would have kicked off the dust and been supportive of ideas for all of our greater good.
Let’s hope we can move forward for our Veterans and homeless. Orange County is doing a really good thing in a short amount of time with industrial space to clean up their river trail. Great idea!
Thank you again for all you do. I’m sitting here with my coffee and Breeze now!
Trudy Smith
Trudy:
Carol is, obviously not as brilliant as you, me and Trump. Hope you didn’t spill your coffee on the Breeze.
Sheldon
Editor:
Here he goes again! Our Commander in Chief who insists he be treated with respect, loudly disrespects highly decorated military heroes. Didn’t Mr. Trump learn from his debacle of criticizing Senator McCain’s military service because “I like people who didn’t get captured”!
Now he dares criticize Retired Navy Admiral William McGraven because “he didn’t capture Bin Laden sooner”! And, in the next breath, Mr. Trump boasts how he “supports” our military. What hypocrisy!
Judith A. Beay Ventura
Dear Folk,
Yippee! They got him. They got him good — by the cojones!
Cohen has confessed to lying and helping Trump work with the Russians. And the Democrats have the House, so they can Impeach, unless he has that major stroke.
He looks so sick and terrified and the mouth doesn’t stop running. Never in my life have I detested anyone in this fashion. Never knew I could take pleasure in someone else’s pain.
This guy deserves everything that’s coming his way.
Let’s all go out in the middle of street and dance……Yippee Yiippy Ya
In Wabash, Indiana, the senior center is fully engaged in the war to end local hunger. Living Well Winchester Center’s food distribution is our senior center’s largest civic engagement program led by self-directed teams of volunteers.
Together, we fight the war on five fronts.
The center’s pantry, the Community Cupboard, is part of the network of community pantries affiliated with Feeding America. It is an income based, client choice pantry for all ages providing Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Eligibility is based on income guidelines. Locally, food is procured through donations; local grants; gardeners, hunters and farmers; and contracts with national chains for donated frozen meat, fresh produce, and shelf staple food. The pantry serves an average of 400 households monthly with at least one senior in 50% of the households. We also participated in the Voices for Food project with Purdue University. We opened our pantry to university observers conducting client surveys and inventory studies over a three-year period. Through this, we participated in a local food council, labeled food categories based on My Plate, and made the pantry more user friendly.
A second team packs and distributes monthly senior supplemental boxes funded through local grants. Our benefits volunteers use NCOA’s Access to Benefits tool, BenefitsCheckUp®, to determine eligibility and to be sure seniors are using all the benefit programs available to them, taking a holistic approach to the individual’s overall needs.
A third intergenerational team of 30 volunteers helps with a monthly drive thru distribution of food in front of the senior center. The regional food bank supplies a semi-truck of food which our volunteers put into people’s cars as they come through the line. During the 2008 recession, the lines were three miles long, serving 800 households in two hours.
According to Feeding America “food insecurity measures the conditions that can lead to hunger.” To address the root causes of food insecurity, a fourth team keeps the pantry stocked with new Scholastic books for all age ranges, funded through a local donor. Anyone using the Community Cupboard, including grandparents and non-custodial parents can select a book at each visit.
Our fifth effort is outside the senior center and is an outdoor little free pantry next to a free outdoor library.
Join for an immersive evening at E.P. Foster Library with master dyer and textile artist, Porfirio Gutiérrez, and learn about the rich history of the craft in its cultural context. Recently featured in The New York Times, Gutiérrez is committed to keeping his family’s traditional Zapotec practices and knowledge alive.
