All posts by admin

Ventura County Medical Center receives national recognition

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) has recognized Ventura County Medical Center as one of 83 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals that have achieved meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care in 2017. As a participant in ACS NSQIP, Ventura County Medical Center is required to track the outcomes of inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures and collect data that assesses patient safety and can be used to direct improvement in the quality of surgical care.

The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a meritorious composite score in either an “All Cases” category or a category which includes only “High Risk” cases. Risk-adjusted data from the July 2018 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report, which presents data from the 2017 calendar year, were used to determine which hospitals demonstrated meritorious outcomes. Ventura County Medical Center has been recognized on the “All Cases” Meritorious list.

Each composite score was determined through a different weighted formula combining eight outcomes. The outcome performances related to patient management were in the following eight clinical areas: mortality, unplanned intubation, ventilator, renal failure, cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and myocardial infarction); respiratory (pneumonia); SSI (surgical site infections-superficial and deep incisional and organ-space SSIs); or urinary tract infection.

The 83 commended hospitals achieved the distinction based on their outstanding composite quality score across the eight areas listed above. Seventy-one hospitals were recognized on the “All Cases” list and 71 hospitals were recognized on the “High Risk” list; the 71 hospitals represent ten percent of the 708 ACS NSQIP participating hospitals for calendar-year 2017.

Fifty-eight hospitals were recognized on both the “All Cases” and “High Risk” lists; 12 other hospitals were on just the “All Cases” list, and 13 other hospitals were on the “High Risk” list only – yielding 83 hospitals in total.

Three common ways your social security payment can grow after retirement

by Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

You made the choice and now you are happily retired. You filed online for your Social Security benefits. They arrive each month in the correct amount exactly as expected. But, did you ever wonder if your Social Security check could increase?

Once you begin receiving benefits, there are three common ways benefit checks can increase: a cost of living adjustment (COLA); additional work; or an adjustment at full retirement age if you received reduced benefits and exceeded the earnings limit.

The COLA is the most commonly known increase for Social Security payments. We annually announce a COLA, and there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month. By law, federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). More than 66 million Americans saw a 2.0 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2018. For more information on the 2018 COLA, visit https://www.ssa.gov/cola/.

Social Security uses your highest thirty-five years of earnings to figure your benefit amount when you sign up for benefits. If you work after you begin receiving benefits, your additional earnings may increase your payment. If you had fewer than 35 years of earnings when we figured your benefit, you will replace a zero earnings year with new earnings. If you had 35 years or more, we will check to see if your new year of earnings is higher than the lowest of the 35 years (after considering indexing). We check additional earnings each year you work while receiving Social Security. If an increase is due, we send a notice and pay a one-time check for the increase and your continuing payment will be higher.

Maybe you chose to receive reduced Social Security retirement benefits while continuing to work. You made the choice to take benefits early, but at a reduced rate. If you exceeded the allowable earnings limit and had some of your benefits withheld, we will adjust your benefit once you reach full retirement age. We will refigure your payment to credit you for any months you did not receive payments.  Your monthly benefit will increase based on the crediting months you receive.

Retirement just got more interesting since you learned about potential increases to monthly payments. Social Security has been securing your today and tomorrow for more than 80 years with information and tools to help you achieve a successful retirement.

Ventura County Strong

by Vitalant

Our hearts go out to those impacted by the tragic shooting in the late hours of November 7th in Thousand Oaks. Vitalant was able to support the blood needs of patients early Thursday morning. There was a tremendous outpouring of support from the local community with potential donors lining up to give blood through the weekend and into the following week. Vitalant was able to extend donation center hours as well as add blood drives in the area to accommodate the community who wanted to donate in honor of those who lost their lives.

The staff at Vitalant remain in awe and thankful for the amazing support by each and every citizen who came out to ensure blood would be on hospitals shelves when needed. In normal circumstances our blood donors are inspiring. In this instance, with grief in their hearts and a major fire breaking out, the folks who donated remained undeterred from their mission of transforming the lives of others with their donation.

It is the blood already donated and tested waiting on hospital shelves that transforms lives. That’s why it’s crucial that donors help to constantly replenish the supply, so we remain ready for tragic situations. Vitalant saw 269 new Ventura County donors in 5 days, with a total of 684 red cell units donated from new and existing donors right here at home. There is a great need for those first-time donors to continue donating. Blood donations are declining nation-wide, with an even greater seasonal decline during the summer months and around holidays and flu season.

If you are interested in donating blood, please take time to search for a convenient blood drive at www.vitalant.org or stop by Vitalant’s donor center in Ventura at 2223 Eastman, Suite A. Walk-ins are welcome, however hours do vary, so appointments are strongly suggested. There are several area blood drives that might interest possible donors. On Tuesday, November 27th Ventura Orthopedics is hosting a blood drive from 11am until 3pm at 2221 Wankle Way in Oxnard. On Sunday, December 2nd Our Lady of the Assumption Church will serve as a donation location from 8:45am until 2:15pm at 3175 Telegraph Road in Ventura.

Vol. 12, No. 4 – Nov 21 – Dec 4, 2018 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

There will be loads of music supporting this year’s Holiday Street Fair and Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, December 1, both from the promoters and several venues downtown. The Museum of Ventura County will host The Bomb with Victor Vega, but you’ll find music on several stages throughout downtown featuring Dax, Adelaide, DJ’s and more. Once you’ve had fun dancing at the corner of Main and California under “snowfall,” be sure to stick around and venture back to the venues for more music. Oak and Main will have Brother Earl and the Cousins, Grapes and Hops have Mikey and the Kryptonites, it’s The Tossers at Winchesters, Frank Barajas and the Corsican Brothers at Vintura at the Wine Rack, and a huge fundraiser at Iron and Resin where they’ll be raising money for Help California with several bands including Noble Grizwald, The Junglecats, Bad Leaf, Alonzo Delano and more.

Hi Hat Entertainment’s final blowout show will be held on Friday, November 23, at the Hong Kong Inn with Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics, Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps, as well as Hot Roux with two-time Grammy winner, Albert Lee. Please don’t miss the opportunity to thank Jan and Jerry McWorter for bringing so many great blues artists to Ventura over the past ten years

And speaking of offering great artists, this time jazz, we are definitely feeling the void Squashed Grapes has left while they work on getting their new venue ready, and well, they could use a little help to get to the finish line. A benefit has been put together to help raise funds while giving us some jazz relief at the same time. The special concert will be held at the Hong Kong Inn on Sunday, November 25, with Rachel Flowers, Bevan Manson Quartet, mPhaka with Karl Hunter, Native Vibe, Coda and more.

Jodi Farrell’s Music Studio’s 24th Annual Holiday Concert will be held on Saturday, December 1, at Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church from 3-5 pm. Jodi has put together a special band for this year’s event including Ron Barnett, Jim Rankin, Brad Strickland, Manon Franklin and Ray Dean Mize.

Quick Notes: Friday, November 23, Guy Martin will be recording his show at Grapes and Hops as he hopes to get material for a new CD; classical guitarist, Yuri Liberzon, will perform at Namba on Saturday, November 24; The Gypsy Blues Band has moved their weekly Thursday night residency from the Hong Kong Inn to Oak and Main; Topa Mountain Winery’s annual Yuletide concert will be held Sunday, November 25 featuring Madrigali; Black Star, Bowie tribute band, play The Sewer on Friday, November 30; and finally, if you’re a Beatles fan, you won’t want to miss The Long and Winding Road Show at Ventura Center for Spiritual Living on Saturday, December 1.

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

Ventura Townehouse annual Veterans Day Ceremony

On Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, the Ventura Townehouse presented its annual Veterans Day Ceremony out doors at the front of the Townehouse. The large patriotic gathering included residents, veterans and guests. The salute to all our men and women in uniform included patriotic concert music by the Ventura British Brass and a color guard. Personal recognition was made to the many veterans living at the Townehouse many of whom spoke of their call to duty and shared their military experiences.

With bagpipe music playing a wreath was laid at the flagpole which concluded the outdoor ceremony. Inside the Townehouse information was available explaining veterans’ benefits and refreshments were served.

Ventura Police Department receives Traffic Education and Enforcement Grant

The Ventura Police Department has been awarded a $200,000.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long enforcement and public awareness program. The traffic safety program is intended to educate the public on safe roadway habits and deter people from violating traffic laws or practicing other unsafe behaviors that lead to injuries and fatalities.

“Unsafe behaviors account for 94 percent of traffic collisions,” said Traffic Sergeant Michael Brown. “This grant emphasizes education and enforcement which will help keep Ventura streets safe.”

The grant from OTS will fund various education and enforcement activities for the 2019 federal fiscal year.

DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to take suspected alcohol/drug-impaired drivers – and those unlicensed or with a revoked/suspended license – off the road.

Traffic safety education presentations for youth and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving, and bicycle/pedestrian safety. Traffic safety needs to be talked about further and constantly promoted and discussed in the community so that more people are aware and know that violations need to be at a minimum so all can be safe. If you have been called into traffic court but are unable to attend, you must contact your lawyers and put in a plea by affidavit to get them to stand in your place. Missing a court date in any capacity can land you in even bigger trouble, the way to avoid this entirely is to pay attention and not violate laws in the first instance.

Patrols at intersections with increased incidents of pedestrian and bike collisions.

Checking for seat belt and child safety seat compliance.

Motorcycle safety operations in areas with high rider volume and where a higher rate of motorcycle crashes occur.

Motorcyclists often get into accidents that aren’t their fault with drivers who don’t pay attention to the road or what’s around them. There will also be a motorcycle awareness scheme put in place. If you have been injured in an accident like that then you might want to contact someone like these San Rafael Injury Attorneys GJEL.

Speeding, red light and stop sign enforcement.

Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders.

Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying repeat DUI offenders

Probation supervision for high-risk DUI offenders.

Specialized DUI and drugged driving training to identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers.

Court “stings” to cite individuals driving from DUI court after license suspension or revocation.

In 2016, 3,623 people were killed in crashes across the state, a 7 percent increase from 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Particularly alarming is the rise in pedestrian deaths, with 867 pedestrians killed on California roadways in 2016, a nearly 33 percent increase from 2012. Along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies like phones and drug-impaired driving, this grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these dangerous and illegal behaviors.

“Almost all crashes are preventable,” OTS director Rhonda Craft said. “Education and enforcement go hand in hand helping change behaviors that cause devastating crashes.”

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Ventura Police Traffic Unit is scheduling traffic safety education presentations with the support of this grant. Community Groups are invited to schedule a presentation by calling Ventura Police Community Outreach at 805-339-4317. Presentations are provided to youth and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving and bicycle/pedestrian safety.

Vol. 12, No. 4 – Nov 21 – Dec 4, 2018 – Music Calendar

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Ambrosia by Caffrodite
1987 E. Main Street
6:30-8:30 pm dinner
Fri 11/30: Kirk Mann & Andrew Bassuk

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Tuesdays: Jason Ho
Thursdays: Bluegrass Jam
11/21: Troy Edwards
Fri 11/23: Teresa Russell & Stephen
Sat 11/24: Déjà vu Too
Wed 11/28: Karen Eden & Cary
Fri 11/30: Blue Motel Room

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

Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
Wed 11/21: Donna Butler
Fri 11/23: David Prince & the Party Crashers
Sat 11/24: Alex Nestor
Tues 11/27: The 6th
Wed 11/28: Big Adventure
Thurs 11/29: Taboo
Fri 11/30: The Collectives

Casa Bella
391 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Danny D

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

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Week nights 6 pm; Weekends 7 pm; Sundays 4 pm
Sat & Suns: Al Macias (11-2 pm)
Tuesdays: Jerry McWorter Trio
Fri 11/23: Lorenzo Martinez
Sat 11/24: Lorenzo Martinez
Sun 11/25: Karen Eden
Fri 11/30: House Arrest

Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
Sun 12/2: Sunday Drivers (4 pm)

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Thurs 11/8: 40 oz to Freedom
Wed 11/21: Kyle Smith
Fri 11/23: Karla
Sat 11/24: Twisted Gypsy
Thurs 11/29: Legalizer
Fri 11/30: Herbal Rootz

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

El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: Xoco Moraza & Friends (6-8 pm), DJ
Saturdays: DJ

Downtown Ventura
Sat 12/1: Ventura Winter Wine Walk w/ Dax, Upstream, Adelaide and more.

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Music 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Fri 11/30: Teresa Russell

Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Wed 11/21: EyeHateGod, Pink Mist, Tung, Brain Vat
Sat 11/24: One Square Mile, Let Rage

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
Wed 11/21: The Swillys
Fri 11/23: Guy Martin
Sat 11/24: Shawn Jones Trio
Sun 11/25: RJ Duo
Fri 11/30: Salty Suites
Sat 12/1: Mikey and the Kryptonites
Sun 12/2: The Tossers

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Fri 11/23: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Deke Dickerson, Teresa James, Hot Roux w/ Albert Lee
Sun 11/25: Squashed Grapes Benefit show w/ Rachel Flowers, Coda, Bevan Manson Quartet, mPhaka with Karl Hunter, Native Vibe and more…
Fri 11/30: John Clifton

Iron & Resin
324 E. Main Street
Sat 12/1: Noble Grizwald, Balto, The Junglecats, Brother Earl & the Cousins, Alonzo Delano, Bad Leaf, Western Waters, The Hand Me Down Band

Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
Fri 11/23: DJ AVG
Sat 11/24: Playing Favorites
Fri 11/30: Sean Wiggins

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Tuesdays: Open mic
Thurs 11/29: Mark Masson

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
Sat 11/24: Jungle Man Sam
Sun 11/25: Midtones
Thurs 11/29: Tom & Milo
Sat 12/1: The Art of Funk
Sun 12/2: Patrolled by Radar

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Sat 11/24: Dom Kennedy
Wed 11/28: Fortunate Youth
Sat 12/1: Long Beach Dub Allstars, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Kyle Smith

Museum of Ventura County
100 E. Main Street
Sat 12/1: The Bomb with Victor Vega (4-7 pm)

Namba
47 S. Oak Street
Sat 11/24: Yuri Liberzon
Sat 12/1: Encore Saxophone Quartet

Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Thursdays: The Gypsy Blues Band
Sat 12/1: Brother Earl & the Cousins

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke

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

Plan B Wine Cellars
3520 Arundell Circle
4:30 – 7 pm
Sun 11/25: Crooked Eye Tommy

Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night
Sat 12/1: The Bar Stool Preachers

Saloon BBQ
456 E. Main Street
10 pm
Sat 11/24: Balto
Fri 11/30: LA Tooze

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 11/24: Joe Tourist
Sat 12/1: Jacob Vossler

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 11/23: Johnny & the Hellholes
Sat 11/24: Infirmities, False Freedom, CPR
Fri 11/30: Black Star

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Tuesdays: Karaoke
Wed 11/28: Toxic Holocaust, Doesn’t Matter, Slowbleed

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue
Music 3-5 pm
Sat 11/24: Dianne Miller Band
Sun 11/25: Madrigali – Yuletide Concert

Topa Topa Brewing Co.
104 E. Thompson Blvd
Thurs 11/29: Matthew R. Sayles

Ventura Beach Club
281 W Main Street
Sat 12/1: 4Kids2Kids Toy Drive with Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers, Jim Gustin and the Truth Jones, more…

Ventura Center for Spiritual Living
101 S. Laurel Street
Sat 12/1: The Long and Winding Road Show

Ventura Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church
1956 Palma Drive
3-5 pm
Sat 12/1: Jodi Farrell’s Music Studio’s 24th Annual Holiday Concert

Vintura at the Wine Rack
14 S. California Street
(805) 653-9463
Sundays music at 3 pm
Fri 11/23: Epitome of Dreams
Sat 11/24: Kevin Longden & Friends
Sun 11/25: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio
Wed 11/28: Doc Ventura
Fri 11/30: Déjà vu Too
Sat 12/1: Frank Barajas & the Corsican Brothers

Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 8:30 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm
Wed 11/21: Mark Masson
Fri 11/23: Déjà vu Too
Sat 11/24: Frank Barajas
Sun 11/25: Natalie Wattre
Fri 11/30: National Cat
Sat 12/1: The Tossers
Sun 12/2: Karen Eden

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Fridays: Troy Edwards (8-11)
Saturdays: Kenny Devoe (2-7)
Sundays: Kenny Devoe (2-6)

Dangerous cooking mistakes to avoid

by Adam Ghering
Public Affairs Specialist with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from foodborne poisoning each year. Older adults are at an increased risk of more serious infections from food poisoning due to medications, age-related weakening of the immune system, and other underlying conditions. While we’re on the topic of getting sick, if you have recently been a victim of a severe case of food poisoning which resulted in symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting, it may be worth getting in touch with a food poisoning lawyer. This way, you can speak to someone who knows what you are going through and hopefully get some advice that’ll help you move forward from this.

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), we have some great information to keep your family safe from foodborne illness year-round, and especially during the holiday season.

Do not wash your turkey and meats before cooking. Rinsing your poultry can actually spray bacteria up to three feet! Think about what you keep within three feet of your sink. And for all that mess, rinsing your turkey doesn’t actually eliminate very much bacteria.

Do not stuff your turkey the night before cooking. The cavity of a turkey actually insulates your stuffing from the cold temperatures of your fridge and causes bacteria to multiply. To save time, but also stay safe, prepare your stuffing the night before, refrigerate it in a separate container, and add it to your turkey just before popping it in the oven.

Thaw your turkey and meats in the refrigerator. Setting your turkey out on the counter to thaw is not safe. After just two hours, your turkey enters the danger zone of unsafe temperatures—40-140° F—and bacteria will begin to multiply, even if the center is still frozen. You can cook your turkey from the frozen state; it will just take 50% more time. Two other safe options are to either use cold water or a microwave to defrost.

Use a food thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the turkey is 165° F.

Any temperature below 165° F means that E-coli bacteria could still be lurking, which can cause serious illness or even death when consumed. Ovens cook unevenly, so make sure to take temperature measurements from both sides of the bird. For even cooking, it’s recommended that you rotate and flip your turkey often. Don’t forget to check the stuffing separately to make sure it reaches 165° F.

The food you don’t eat should be in the fridge within two hours of cooking and use those leftovers within four days.

While sitting out, hot food, like green bean casserole, must be kept at a temperature of 140° F or greater, while chilled food, like cranberry sauce, must be kept at a temperature of 40° F or less. Any perishable food that sits out of its recommended temperature safe zone more than one hour should be tossed.

Cool hot food quickly to 40° F in order to avoid bacteria growth. Divide larger food, like your ham or pot of sweet potatoes into smaller containers to speed up the cooling process or stick them directly in the fridge.

Store leftovers in airtight packaging or containers for up to four days in the fridge or 3-4 months in the freezer.To eat leftovers, either thaw them via the fridge, cold water, or microwave, or reheat them frozen. When reheating, ensure your food reaches a temperature of 165° F or greater by using a food thermometer to test.

If you have additional food safety questions call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern on Thanksgiving Day.

Food safety is a year-round concern. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is working with senior centers across the country to host Food Safety 101, a special program taught by a USDA Food Safety Ambassador.

Encourage a senior center in your community to apply to host a class. Share this link with your center director, so they can sign up: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016FoodSafety101.

Vol. 12, No. 4 – Nov 21 – Dec 4, 2018 – Ojai News & Events

Ojai has been threatened by wildfires many times over the past century. Several were the largest wildfire in California history. The newest exhibition at the Ojai Valley Museum examines the Thomas Fire and other fires that impacted the valley.

The museum is housed in the former St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic church. The original church on the site burnt in a 1917 wildfire. It, and other fires, give historical context to the Thomas Fire which began in Upper Ojai last December.

The December one-year anniversary of the Thomas Fire will no doubt be an important touchstone for everyone who lives in the valley. The free exhibition runs through January 27, 2019.

The Ojai Valley Museum is located at 130 W. Ojai Ave. Free parking is available behind the museum, off Blanche Street.

For more information, call the museum at (805) 640-1390, ext. 201, email [email protected], or visit the museum website at OjaiValleyMuseum.org.

The holidays are on the way, which means that Santa Paws is coming to town! The Humane Society of Ventura County’s annual two-day holiday photo-shoot event will take place on Sundays, Dec. 2, at the HSVC’s shelter in Ojai, at 402 Bryant St. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

Adults, children and pets are welcome to pose in photos with or without Santa. The shelter will have festive costumes available for attendees’ pets. Pocket pets, reptiles, rabbits and birds are all welcome!

In addition, during the Dec. 2 event, the HSVC will host its annual bake sale and Firefly Ceramics will once again be on hand with its special Tiles for Tails program. For a $25 donation benefiting the HSVC, attendees can design their own tile that will be permanently displayed on-site at the nonprofit shelter.

The main event both days will be the photo sessions, which include five to 10 images and start at $30.

Santa Paws is the HSVC’s largest community event of the year, bringing in some 300 families. All proceeds go directly toward the daily operations at the shelter.

For more on the event, contact Cooper at [email protected] or 805-646-6505, ext. 112.

On Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 3pm, Chamber On The Mountain will present the Amerigo Trio, with pianist Bernadene Blaha, at Logan House in Upper Ojai (adjacent to the Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts at 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Rd.). The Amerigo Trio, made up of violinist Glenn Dicterow, violist Karen Dreyfus, and cellist Inbal Segev, Audience members are invited to stay and meet the artists at a reception following the performance. Tickets $25.00 at ChamberOnTheMountain.com.

The Holiday Vegetarian Soups with Chef Randy event will occur on Sunday, December 9, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Lavender Inn, located at 210 E Matilija Street. There’s something about these easy-to-make soups that are perfect for the holidays. Included in the $75 cost of this class is a copy of Randy’s new book, the Ojai Valley Make-Ahead Cookbook. Call 805-646-6635 for reservations.

Freelance writer, filmmaker, and animal advocate Petrine Day Mitchum will visit the Ojai Library on Sunday, December 9, at 1 p.m. for a book signing and meet and greet session for her book Snout About Town.

The Humane Society of Ventura County will be a joint host for this event, and will receive a portion of the proceeds from the day’s book sales.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. 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.