Hi there! My name is Scarlett and I’m a 9 year old chow/cattle dog mix! I’m not sure what they dressed me up as the bride of Frankenstein or a troll doll. I’m just glad it was temporary.
I’m a very low maintenance dog that all of the volunteers enjoy spending time with! I’m getting a little too old to do extensive walks or exercise, but I thoroughly enjoy brief walks! I like to romp around in the grass and hang out with my favorite people. I don’t like all dogs though, so if you have a furry friend please bring them so we can exchange some sniffs!
It would be such a privilege for me to just spend time with my foster or forever family. I don’t require much…just some love and affection mixed with some yummy treats!
I have never been tested with cats, but I’m pretty easy going so we might be able to coexist!
If I sound like the mellow, loving girl for you, please stop by to meet me! Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L.CARL Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.
This cutie, Halfstep is about 6 months old, playful, active, curious and ready for a forever home. He is currently in foster so you know he got great care. Contact his foster family to meet him [email protected].
Study finds aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living.
In a large clinical trial to determine the risks and benefits of daily low-dose aspirin in healthy older adults without previous cardiovascular events, aspirin did not prolong healthy, independent living (life free of dementia or persistent physical disability). Risk of dying from a range of causes, including cancer and heart disease, varied and will require further analysis and additional follow-up of study participants. These initial findings from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) trial, partially supported by the National Institutes of Health, were published online on September 16, 2018 in three papers in The New England Journal of Medicine.
ASPREE is an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 19,114 older people (16,703 in Australia and 2,411 in the United States). The study began in 2010 and enrolled participants aged 70 and older; 65 was the minimum age of entry for African-American and Hispanic individuals in the United States because of their higher risk for dementia and cardiovascular disease. At study enrollment, ASPREE participants could not have dementia or a physical disability and had to be free of medical conditions requiring aspirin use. They were followed for an average of 4.7 years to determine outcomes.
“Clinical guidelines note the benefits of aspirin for preventing heart attacks and strokes in persons with vascular conditions such as coronary artery disease,” said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. “The concern has been uncertainty about whether aspirin is beneficial for otherwise healthy older people without those conditions. This study shows why it is so important to conduct this type of research, so that we can gain a fuller picture of aspirin’s benefits and risks among healthy older persons.”
In the total study population, treatment with 100 mg of low-dose aspirin per day did not affect survival free of dementia or disability. Among the people randomly assigned to take aspirin, 90.3 percent remained alive at the end of the treatment without persistent physical disability or dementia, compared with 90.5 percent of those taking a placebo.
The group taking aspirin had an increased risk of death compared to the placebo group: 5.9 percent of participants taking aspirin and 5.2 percent taking placebo died during the study. This effect of aspirin has not been noted in previous studies; and caution is needed in interpreting this finding.
Significant bleeding—a known risk of regular aspirin use—was also measured. The investigators noted that aspirin was associated with a significantly increased risk of bleeding, primarily in the gastrointestinal tract and brain.
As would be expected in an older adult population, cancer was a common cause of death, and 50 % of the people who died in the trial had some type of cancer. Heart disease and stroke accounted for 19 % of the deaths and major bleeding for 5 %.
In addition, the study did not address aspirin’s effects in people younger than age 65. Also, since only 11 percent of participants had regularly taken low-dose aspirin prior to entering the study, the implications of ASPREE’s findings need further investigation to determine whether healthy older people who have been regularly using aspirin for disease prevention should continue or discontinue use.
The National Institute on Aging leads the federal government effort conducting and supporting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. For more information on research, aging, and health, go to the NIA website.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and NIH’s efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology. For more information about cancer, visit the NCI website or call NCI’s Contact Center (formerly known as the Cancer Information Service) at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit the NIH website.
First 5 , provides early childhood education, health and family support services.
First 5 Ventura County (F5VC) is pleased to announce its new strategic partnership with Interface Children & Family Services, to provide essential programs and services for Ventura County’s nearly 60,000 children prenatal – 5 and their families. Families seeking resources and more information may visit www.first5ventura.org
“Since our inception nearly 20 years ago, First 5 Ventura County Neighborhoods for Learning (NfLs) have been a cornerstone in the community, providing early childhood education, health and family support services.” said First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Petra Puls. “We are excited to partner with Interface Children & Family Services to ensure that families have the support they need to give their young children prenatal to age 5 a strong foundation for success in school and life.”
Interface Children & Family Services was selected through a comprehensive review process to implement F5VC’s redesigned place-based Neighborhood for Learning (NfL) initiative. The expanded partnership with Interface Children & Family Services allows F5VC to continue making a positive impact on the lives of Ventura County children and families through valuable programs, resources and community partnerships that support early childhood development.
Interface will be responsible for providing Parent and Child Together Classes and Family Support Services such as case management and Triple P Parent Education, throughout Ventura County. Interface plans to partner with the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) to address the needs of Mixtec families and New Dawn for the Triple P Positive Parenting Program. “We’re delighted to have First 5 Ventura’s confidence to implement the redesigned place-based NfL model. We’re looking forward to the partnership – we share an intense passion for improving futures for young families and their little ones. We are honored to partner with NfL’s, to learn from their trusted and successful histories in their local communities, and to do our part to bring everyone together for the critical work of strengthening young children and families,” said Interface Executive Director Erik Sternad.
First 5’s primary revenue source is from California’s Proposition 10 tobacco tax, which is distributed to county First 5 Commissions to fund early childhood programs. In light of revenues continuing to decrease annually with Californians smoking less, the F5VC Commission has carefully contemplated how to best utilize its limited funds. The redesigned Neighborhoods for Learning initiative gives F5VC the ability to implement a cost-efficient model that meets the needs of the local community and relies on sustainable investments and innovative partnerships. “We recognize that we must work differently moving forward to achieve maximum impact with limited dollars,” said Puls.
The City Council has voted to ban motorized scooters at least temporarily. The council will review it at later date when data from cities that have approved the scooters become readily available. Cities all over the state are making an effort to manage these devices. It is not just in California that people are struggling with the negative knock-on effects of using electric scooters. Scooter accidents happen all of the time in Denver. As a result, legal action has become a very common practice.
Suddenly with little or no warning these devices appear on the streets in the hundreds. Cities are scrambling to get a handle on them since they showed up about a year ago. Cities have tried outright bans, looking at options for strict regulation, letting them operate independently or implementing pilot programs with strict oversight.
In other cities that have had the experience the personal mobilization devices seem to have showed up overnight. Sometimes they are just dropped off by the companies that own them. Riders download an app on their smart phones that gives the location of a close by scooter. The rider then picks it up and rides away. The business model that the city has seen is one where there are no set parking places for the devices and a rider drops the scooter off just about anywhere in the city. There appears to not have been any attempts by the companies to get into Ventura County.
Downtown Ventura, a popular tourist attraction with its seaside promenade, would be a likely target for an e-scooter company according to a staff report which also noted that these devices would be picked up and impounded, according to the proposed ordinance.
“The city does not currently have regulations on the shared mobility devices”, City Attorney Gregory Diaz said. While the city has had informal discussions on the issue, it wasn’t until recently that a company offering the e-scooter model applied for a business permit. By banning their use, the city can effectively stop the companies from beginning to operate without first getting a regulatory license, Diaz said.
Regulatory licenses are typically required of massage parlors, pawn shops, adult businesses or other industries that may have been problematic in the past. Diaz said that city staff would need to research regulations and how the scooters would work in the city, and those are the same people working on the Thomas Fire rebuilding effort and long-delayed public works projects. “This isn’t intended to be a permanent ban. There are other priorities we have at the moment. It may make sense in the future”, Diaz said, just not now.
The e-scooter have worked well in Portland, Oregon, where a healthy system of bike lanes already existed, and the city regulated their prevalence. At least three council members expressed concern about the city’s liability when it comes to mishaps and accidents.
The staff report also mentions “While there are benefits of the shared mobility devices , there are issues associated with them that will require detailed analysis by the city to ensure they do not create immediate nuisance conditions to which the city is just not geared up to deal with at the time the business is established.”
Hi! I’m Reggie! My sister Rosie is in the back – everyone loves her – she’s the real cutie. The other one is our housemate, June – she’s a real grouch. Rosie and I are about 4 months old – we were SPARC foster kittens, and our foster mom couldn’t give us up. Why would she? I love food (except turkey), water, warm baths, jumping, and getting in the toilet – yum! If I become famous, maybe mom will buy me a water fountain! Maybe being in the Breeze will make me famous.
November 11: 8:30 a.m. Ormond Beach
Adele Fergusson (805) 415-4304 and Cynthia Hartley
Join us at this excellent coastal location, where we will look for a variety of waterfowl, such as Willets, Whimbrels, Black necked Stilts, Black bellied Plovers and other interesting birds. We will also look for Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Peregrine Falcon, and Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers
November 13: 7:30 a.m. Lake Sherwood
Mary Hansen (805) 390-4586 or [email protected], and Kay Regester
We will walk the lake, target species are Canyon Wren, Purple Finches, ducks of various kinds during the winter, and the California Thrasher are pretty cooperative. Coopers Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks breed here as do Common Ravens. If we are lucky we may see a Bittern. Please contact Mary no later than November 12. This walk is limited to 15 as we are walking on the road…we have no sidewalks.
November 13: Program 7:30 pm Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura
Community-Centered Solutions for Conservation of Endangered Birds By Dr. Sara Otterstrom.
This program integrates science, international collaborations, and landscape restoration in efforts to protect the endangered Southwest Willow Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and other vulnerable migratory species. It is also transforming the way people see birds in that region by teaching kids how to watch and enjoy birds, and introducing a slingshot for binoculars exchange program. These efforts highlight the ecological connectivity between California and Central America and the importance of protecting birds throughout their lifecycle.
Dr. Sarah Otterstrom is the Executive Director of Paso Pacifico. She holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from UC Davis and is a 2015 Ashoka Fellow. Sarah is a conservation scientist with over 20 years of experience in Central America.
November 17: 8:00 a.m. Krotona Institute
Jesse Grantham [email protected]
Krotona Institute is a theosophical study center, with acres of beautiful grounds, including grasslands, pines, oaks, and ornamental plants with lot of water features. Field Sparrow was seen here last winter, but hasn’t shown up this year. Also, a good place to discover raptors flying over. We might get lucky with a Black Vulture or Zone-tailed Hawk.
November 25: 8:30 a.m. Canada Larga
Kay Regester (805) 258-1025
We will walk and drive the canyon. Always a great walk! Some birds we may see are Western Bluebirds, Loggerhead Shrike, sparrows, swallows, Red-tailed Hawks & perhaps a barn owl.
“One of my main reasons for staying in shape is to keep up with my grandchildren.”
Ross Hoffman, president and CEO of Hoffman & Associates, has released his book “Back and Better, 37 Rapid Recovery Exercises I Use When Injured or Bedridden.”
The print copies are available at $29.95 on Amazon. The book is printed spiral bound to make it easier to reference during use.
“All my life I’ve been an athlete. What that means for me is that I pay special attention to my body, because it is the key to my performance,” said Hoffman, who recently suffered two accidents with resulting injuries, which required surgery in 2016 for a double meniscus tear and in 2017 for a broken shoulder socket. “I also pay special attention to my mind, because no matter how well I train my body, if my mind isn’t envisioning what I need to do, my body won’t be able to respond.”
After the 2017 surgery, lying in his hospital room, Hoffman wondered what he could do to expedite his recovery, not wanting to just lie there until he was released to go home. He was concerned that any inactivity could lead to negative results, his recovery time might take longer and his body might start to atrophy.
“I started developing a group of exercises that I could successfully perform while still in my bed lying down. These exercises helped me in my personal recovery program,” noted Hoffman. “I want to share what exercises I performed to help myself and how I benefited. This book is based solely on my experience and is not a recommendation to anyone at any time.”
Hoffman played college baseball at UCLA as their starting first-baseman and clean-up hitter. After graduating, he was drafted by the Montreal Expos, who turned him into a pitcher.
“I’ve channeled my love of sports into participating in tennis and triathlons and then later into playing golf,” concluded Hoffman. “Now I’m over 70 years of age and one of my main reasons for staying in shape is to keep up with my grandchildren.”
On Nov, 3, from 5-7 pm a Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Hate was held at Mission Park.
The Vigil was held by Indivisible Ventura, one of 6,000 grassroots Indivisible groups across the country.
Music and speeches calling for understanding and peace were presented to the very enthusiastic crowd.
Those attending were inspired by Martin Luther King who said that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Join Rev. Karen S. Wylie on Sunday, November 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at The Ojai Retreat, to celebrate Thanksgiving: The Creative Power of Gratitude. The gathering will be devoted to inner reflection, quiet walks, wisdom talks, sacred songs, and expressing gratitude for all the good in our lives.
Randee Vasilakos, RScP, will assist and anchor the morning in a consciousness of prayer and healing. 160 Besant Road, Ojai. People of all faiths and traditions, or no tradition, are welcome to attend. The retreat is by donation; $20 is suggested. For more information, contact Rev. Karen at 310-968-8928, or register online at www.karenswylie.com.
Cinderella will be performed at the Ojai Art Center on weekends between November 30th and December 16th. The Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30. There will also be Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The Ojai Art Center is located at 113 S Montgomery St. Parking is available evenings at Cafe Emporium across the street.
Run of the play tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for seniors, and people 25 and under at $10
Tickets are available online at www.OjaiACT.org or at 805-640-8797.
The Ojai Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace kicks off the holiday season on November 10 and November 11, 10am to 4pm. Presented by the Ojai Festival Women’s Committee, this treasured tradition highlights the diverse neighborhoods of the Ojai Valley by featuring four distinctive Ojai homes adorned with floral inspirations by designers.
Entering its 22nd year, the tour benefits the Ojai Music Festival and its BRAVO education and community program, which offers free music workshops to the Ojai Valley public schools.
Also taking place the same weekend is the Holiday Marketplace held at Thomas Aquinas Church Hall. This companion event will feature a collection of curated lifestyle and fashion items from more than 40 vendors. Admission is free and open to the public.
Tour price is $40 per person and $45 day of the event which can be purchased at the Holiday Marketplace. Tickets are available at 805-646-2053 and OjaiFestival.org.
Ojai Herbal Symposium on “Natural Resilience” will be going on in the Krotona Hall and various downtown locations, from November 16th to the 18th. There will be respected practitioners, authors, and speakers. This program is open to the public. Other events are the Chaparral Auditorium, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. There will also be the Phytotherapeutic Phunk Dance and Elixir Bar for attendees 21 yaers of age and older which will be on Saturday night, from 8:00 p.m to 11:00 p.m. at Greater Goods in Meiners Oaks. Tickets are $255 in advance and $285 after November 9th. Information and registration are available at OjaiHerbalSymposium.org.
Grant Park, located above Downtown Ventura will remain closed from the impact of the Thomas Fire and will not reopen to the public until the area is safe. The closure is important to protect public safety and to permit the park to recover.
The Thomas Fire caused extensive damage by destroying plant material and plant roots that stabilize slopes throughout the park. Vegetation has been extremely slow to grow back, mostly due to the lack of winter rains. Until vegetation is reestablished, there is a reduction in soil strength and the stability of the slopes is hazardous to hikers and bikers. The City thanks the public for its patience while nature restores and rehabilitates itself.
“Public safety is of utmost importance,” said Nancy O’Connor, Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Director.
Signs have been installed to notify park goers that they should stay out of the closed areas. Unlawful entry into the closed areas could cause potential for accidental injuries. Individuals violating the closure put themselves in danger and may be subject to criminal prosecution including fines.
The good news is that the Ventura Botanical Gardens (VBG) re-opened its garden and trails on November 3, however all other areas of the park remain closed. See article in this issue.
Guests to the garden should enter and exit through the new welcome center above City Hall and must stay on the trails. Parking is available.
VBG is a public/private partnership with the City of Ventura, 107 of the 109 acres of parkland are leased by the nonprofit. For VBG hours visit www.venturabotanicalgardens.com.
Serra Cross Park is open by reservation only at www.serracrosspark.com.
Hi there! My name is Scarlett and I’m a 9 year old chow/cattle dog mix! I’m not sure what they dressed me up as the bride of Frankenstein or a troll doll. I’m just glad it was temporary.
This cutie, Halfstep is about 6 months old, playful, active, curious and ready for a
