At Studio 99 @ The Bell Arts Factory
Our Solo Artists Endless Energy – Maxine Apke
Ebb & Flow – Darlene Roker
Plus new works from New Members
Exhibit Runs until December 23, 2023
A BAA member since 2013, Darlene Roker has had prior solo shows in BAA venues, showing the work from her many years in fine art photography.
Her title choice describes her painting habits, said Roker, who lives in Ventura. “My painting times follow the ebb and flow of my busy life. When I’m busy with other activities, I spend time thinking about images to paint. When life slows down, I put those images on canvas.”
The City of Port Hueneme, in collaboration with the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) and the Ventura County Library, is pleased to announce a Call for Artists and Request for Qualifications for the development of a new mural at the Ray D. Prueter Library located at 510 Park Ave in Port Hueneme.
Artists and artist teams based in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties are invited to submit qualifications to be considered for the mural project. Mural themes may include natural environment, local history, and community, and should be engaging and inclusive. The dimensions for the two walls to be considered for the artwork are approximately 19’ high x 43’ wide (facing the parking lot), and 15’ high x 19’ wide (facing Park Ave). A Technical Assistance Workshop will be held on Saturday, December 16th from 1-2:30 pm at the Ray D. Prueter Library. Applications are due by December 31, 2023. Project details and application requirements can be found at theopac.org/mural.
On Sunday, November 12, the Ventura Marina Community presented Art in the Marina. It was a huge success with over a hundred artists represented from throughout Southern California. Art from water colors, oil, ceramics, wood carvings and many more art forms were on display.
During an emergency or at the end of life, you may face questions about their medical treatment and not be able answer them. You may assume your loved ones know what you would want, but that’s not always true. In one study, people guessed nearly one out of three end-of-life decisions for their loved one incorrectly.
Research shows that you are more likely to get the care you want if you have conversations about your future medical treatment and put a plan in place. It may also help your loved ones grieve more easily and feel less burden, guilt, and depression.
What is advance care planning?
Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes. Having meaningful conversations with your loved ones is the most important part of advance care planning. Many people also choose to put their preferences in writing by completing legal documents called advance directives.
Cover of advanced care planning guide publication.
Advance Care Planning: A Conversation Guide
Want to learn more about advance care planning? NIA’s guide offers conversation tips, worksheets, and more.
What are advance directives?
Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes.
The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.
Living will: A living will is a legal document that tells doctors how you want to be treated if you cannot make your own decisions about emergency treatment. In a living will, you can say which common medical treatments or care you would want, which ones you would want to avoid, and under which conditions each of your choices applies. Learn more about preparing a living will.
Durable power of attorney for health care: A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that names your health care proxy, a person who can make health care decisions for you if you are unable to communicate these yourself. Your proxy, also known as a representative, surrogate, or agent, should be familiar with your values and wishes. A proxy can be chosen in addition to or instead of a living will. Having a health care proxy helps you plan for situations that cannot be foreseen, such as a serious car accident or stroke. Learn more about choosing a health care proxy.
Think of your advance directives as living documents that you review at least once each year and update if a major life event occurs such as retirement, moving out of state, or a significant change in your health.
Who needs an advance care plan?
Advance care planning is not just for people who are very old or ill. At any age, a medical crisis could leave you unable to communicate your own health care decisions. Planning now for your future health care can help ensure you get the medical care you want and that someone you trust will be there to make decisions for you.
5:36pm, dispatched to a fall victim in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to assist. The patient was treated then transported.
Thursday 11/9
10:33am, observed US coast guard personnel repairing the fog signal on S. Jetty.
1:03pm, the Fireboat is back in the water after a month. Officers and boatyard mechanics taking the vessel on a sea trial to ensure the boat is operating well.
Friday 11/10
1:35am, received report of 5 juveniles trespassing/fishing at the lake in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and pursued the group through the community but were unable to bring them to justice.
8:40pm, sailboat “Wanderer” has left the harbor after repeated warnings to leave or that his vessel would be impounded. Searched harbor, unable to locate boat.
Saturday 11/11
10:45am, dispatched to a traffic accident at VWM. Officers responded and found an unconscious patient locked in a vehicle. VFD arrived and entered the car. Resuscitation efforts were attempted, but the patient was not revived.
Sunday 11/12
4:30am, monitoring USCG conversing with sailboat “Wanderer” without much success. After a few hours USCG launched a vessel, located the sailboat near Hueneme and towed to Channel Islands Harbor. Officers reiterated, “Do not bring that vessel to Ventura Harbor!” after speaking with coast guard.
Monday 11/13
1:40pm, responding to disabled sailboat “Wanderer” 2 miles from the Harbor. Searched 2 miles south, west, north. Unable to locate any vessels distressed.
Tuesday 11/14
8:00pm, while on patrol in Rescue B19, observed several vessels hoop nets placed in prohibited areas. Officers issued warnings, had nets removed.
Thursday 11/16
11:45pm, officers secured 5 of 6 twenty-four-hour restrooms at the launch ramp due to a rash of vandalism and graffiti. Unfortunately, transients and “ne’er-do-well’s” use the restrooms for nefarious actions and as abodes .
Friday 11/17
10:01am, received report of a vessel in distress near the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in the Fireboat to investigate. A “boat club” vessel was operating erratically but was not in any distress. Warning issued for improper operation.
4:15pm, dispatched to a boat fire at Portside Marina E-dock. Officers responded in the Fireboat with VFD and were able to determine smoke was coming from an electrical component overheating inside the cabin of the large motor vessel.
Saturday 11/18
2:36am, dispatched to a sick person near 1700 Spinnaker Dr. Officers responded, found an intoxicated person, escorted them to their boat nearby.
1:07pm, received request to investigate harassment of two sea lions swimming near the launch ramp. Officers responded, found two kids throwing rocks but no sea lions nearby. Issued warning to the parent, kids for destruction of property.
2:52pm, dispatched to fall victims in the Harbor Town Point timeshare. Officers responded and assisted a couple up who fell. No injuries sustained in fall.
Sunday 11/19
8:00am, after perusing weather reports of Gale Warning, officers checked conditions outside the harbor in the Fireboat. Patrol was significantly shortened by steep short interval waves with “green water” splashing over the wheelhouse at the entrance. The fireboat was rinsed thoroughly upon return to the dock.
10:01am, received complaint of a commercial fishing vessel conducting hoop netting charters at the Ventura breakwall, violating several ordinances. Officers are looking into the report and the complaint is under further investigation.
Monday 11/20
6:20am, observed National Weather Service issued a Gale Warning for Northeast winds gusting to 40kts. Officers raised warning pennants.
11:50am, received request from skipper of 29ft sailboat to secure to the long dock until the gale settles down and he can continue his trip to Oxnard harbor.
Tuesday 11/21
9:17am, received report of a transient trespassing in a business in the Harbor Village. Officers responded, investigated possible theft. Individual was eventually arrested near Surfers Knoll for unrelated charges.
Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a condition that changes the DNA of some blood cells and increases the risk for blood cancers and cardiovascular disease, may reduce a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This finding from an NIA-funded study published recently in Nature Medicine may provide new insights into the role that blood cells play in brain health.
Blood cells live short lives and must be continuously replaced. The process of producing new blood cells is called hematopoiesis and occurs in the bone marrow. As blood cells are depleted, a pool of cells in the bone marrow called hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) multiply to replenish them. Normally, tens of thousands of HSCs grow up to be exact copies of the replaced blood cells. In CHIP, however, the genes of some hematopoietic stem cells change and produce slightly different blood cells.
People with CHIP can live for many years but have an increased risk for blood cancer and cardiovascular disease compared to people without CHIP. The condition is common in older adults, and researchers estimate that 10% to 30% of people over 70 years old have CHIP. While most research on this condition has focused on how it affects cardiovascular health, its effect on the brain is not yet well understood. To address this gap, a research team led by Stanford University scientists is exploring how CHIP influences Alzheimer’s risk in older adults.
In this study, the scientists analyzed blood samples from 1,362 people with Alzheimer’s and 4,368 people without the disease. Then they sequenced the DNA from the blood cells to determine who had CHIP. Remarkably, the researchers found that people with CHIP had a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Next, the team sequenced the DNA from the microglia of the brains of eight people with CHIP. As the brain’s immune cells, microglia play a central role in brain function and health. In Alzheimer’s, microglia fail to perform their job, instead damaging neurons they are meant to protect. For seven of these individuals, the researchers found microglia in the brain that carried the same CHIP variant in the blood cells. While not conclusive, this suggests that some of these variant blood cells migrate to the brain and may support microglial function.
Overall, these findings suggest that CHIP may provide some protection from Alzheimer’s. Future studies will explore the differences between the brain’s immune cells that carry CHIP variants and those that do not. Understanding why CHIP is linked to reduced Alzheimer’s risk could uncover new insights into slowing the progression of the disease.
This research was supported in part by NIA grants AG053959, AG077443, AG066849, AG059727, and AG052409.
These activities relate to NIH’s AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestone 1.A, “Enable precision medicine research by supporting deep and longitudinal molecular endophenotyping of existing and new at-risk cohorts as well cohorts and/or individuals who resist disease despite high genetic risk (e.g. Down Syndrome, ApoE 4 homozygous, FAD mutation carriers).”
Reference: Bouzid H, et al. Clonal hematopoiesis is associated with protection from Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Medicine. 2023. Epub June 15. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02397-2.
• Santa Paws is returning to Ventura County Animal Services after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic! Join us at the Camarillo Animal Shelter, 600 Aviation Drive, on Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, from 10:00am to 12:00pm for a festive professional photo session with the one and only Santa Claus!
Capture the magic of the season with your furry friends at the most anticipated holiday photo event of the year! Embrace the holiday spirit and come dressed in festive attire, casual wear, or even matching pajamas – it’s all about capturing those heartwarming moments!
To ensure a paw-sitively delightful experience for everyone, please ensure pets are on-leash or safely secured in carriers, are fully vaccinated, healthy, and exhibit good behavior around people and other animals.
Photo sessions are limited to the first 50 groups! We kindly ask all participants to arrive before 12:00 pm as we cannot guarantee portraits for latecomers.
We are asking for a $25 donation to the shelter, 100% of which goes directly to supporting the animals and programs that fuel our life-saving efforts.
•Pet Science
Growing up, I watched my mom always leave the lights on for our cat and dog whenever we left them home alone. She insisted she did this for their comfort, but my dad always said it was really for hers. There’s just something about leaving your beloved animals in a dark, empty house that feels wrong, but how do they actually fare?
Carly Fox, senior veterinarian at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, reveals whether our pets actually need the lights on when left to their own devices.
Should I keep the lights on for my pet?
Contrary to your impulse, your pet doesn’t need good lighting when alone.
“You can absolutely leave the lights off,” Fox writes to Inverse in an email. She does add that you should, however, leave the blinds or curtains open for your pet to get any natural light filtering through. While they don’t need a fully lighted room, there’s no reason to go out of your way to plunge them into total darkness.
Pets are also equipped for waning light. “Just like people, dogs are diurnal,” Fox writes. “That means they get the majority of their sleep at night and are most active during the day.” They take their cues from the changing light outside. Keeping a dog in constant brightness could actually impact them negatively, according to Fox.
Cats, on the other hand, are crepuscular, which means they’re most active at dawn and dusk while sleeping throughout the day. They also tend to be somewhat active at night, so darkness isn’t foreboding to them.
What’s most important, Fox writes, is “keeping things consistent, if possible,” so as long as you’re not throwing the odd night rave or making your home into a cave for days at a time, your pet will be fine. She adds that pets do need natural sunlight during the day, and artificial light is no substitute.
How well does my pet see in the dark?
We know that our pets outperform us when it comes to senses like smell and hearing. Even if eyesight isn’t their forte, cats and dogs “see much better in the dark than people do,” Fox writes.
Both dogs and cats have abundant rods, the photoreceptor that picks up dim light, in their retinas. While they may lose out in the cones department, leaving them numb to about a third of the visible color spectrum, their stacked rods and superior night vision make up for it. Both types of fur babies also have a tapetum, which is a reflective layer in the back of the eye off which light bounces, allowing the retina to receive more light than is available. The tapetum is also the reason your cat or dog may look possessed in certain photos you take of it because light reflects off it.
Cats also have dilating pupils that can go from slits to marbles in a matter of seconds, letting them modify how much light their sensitive eyes take in. Fox also writes that cats have a more sensitive tapetum than dogs, as well as more rods.
Fox also recognizes that leaving pets alone in the dark could encourage destructive behavior, particularly in those with separation anxiety. “Perhaps it’s not the dark that is the problem for them, but rather what the dark signals,” she writes. Even if you’re simply going to bed, your pet may perceive this as abandonment, which speaks to larger behavioral issues that may need to be addressed.
Even if you get an ominous feeling looking at the outline of your dog sitting in a darkening house as you shut the door before leaving, know that your dog is looking back at you with a much clearer image.
•The majority of first responders don’t have comprehensive training in how to handle animals, said Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, even though they may likely encounter them at the scene of an accident.
Helping an injured pet can be daunting because the animal may be in pain and aggressive.
“It is important to remember that even the most friendly, well-trained animal can potentially bite when afraid or when injured,” Dr. Mazzaferro said. “Humans should approach the animal with caution and put a blanket or towel gently over the animal’s face and head to help prevent bite injury.”
Each year at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium (IVECCS), there is an on-site first-aid class for first responders. Firefighters, K-9 officers, and others attend a day-long presentation with emergency veterinarians and criticalists as part of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society’s (VECCS) mission to promote emergency care for pets.
The residents of the Ventura Marina Mobile Home Park gathered to walk their dogs and walk off all the food they ate for Thanksgiving.
Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Stolen Vehicle and Burglary Arrest
On November 13, at approximately 11:45 am, Ventura Police Patrol Task Force Officers and Detectives from the Ventura County Auto Theft Taskforce observed a reported stolen vehicle from Santa Barbara in the 3000 block of E. Main Street in Ventura. The Officers were able to catch up to the vehicle as it was stopped for a traffic light on Telegraph Road and Mills Road. The driver of the stolen vehicle, 32-year-old Oxnard resident Jose Ramos, fled on foot from the vehicle northbound on Mills Rd. and eventually into the neighborhood west of Mills Rd. Officers were then hailed by a resident in the 50 Block of San Marino Ave. who saw Ramos enter their unlocked residential garage.
Officers immediately set up a perimeter at the residence and made verbal contact with Ramos who refused to exit the garage. Officers were negotiating with Ramos while evacuating the residence. After negotiations, Ramos walked out of the garage and he was taken into custody without further incident. During a search of Ramos officers located stolen property from the victim’s garage.
Ramos was transported to Ventura County Medical Center for a minor head injury he sustained while fleeing from the stolen vehicle. No other injuries were reported. Ramos was then booked at Ventura County Jail for unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary, and two misdemeanor warrants.
Residential Burglary Arrest
On November 14, at approximately 10:30 am, a resident from the 600 block of County Square Dr. was informed of a subject who had gained entry into their home. The resident was not home at the time. Officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter around the residence. The suspect, 30-year-old Fillmore resident Oscar Ramos, walked out but retreated back in when he saw officers. Ramos refused to exit the home while officers negotiated with him. About 20 minutes later, Ramos exited, and he was taken into custody for burglary and resisting, delaying, or obstructing police officers. He was eventually booked into the Ventura County Jail.
Ramos had been released from the Ventura County Jail the morning of November 14 before committing the burglary. A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Ramos has prior arrests for being under the influence of a controlled substance, elder abuse, battery, vandalism, carrying a dirk or dagger, public intoxication, disturbing the peace by fighting, violation of a court order, criminal threats, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an executive officer.
Brandishing and Negligent Discharge of a Firearm Arrest
On November 14, at approximately 11:30 pm, an employee of a business in the 6500 block of Telephone Rd. called Ventura Police dispatch to report a brandishing of a firearm. The caller also reported hearing a gunshot. Multiple officers responded to the area however the suspect had fled the scene prior to the arrival of officers. There were no injuries reported during this incident.
An investigation identified the suspect as 26-year-old Oxnard resident Alonzo Alcantar and determined Alcantar had brandished a firearm to employees of the business after an altercation. Alcantar was also suspected of firing a shot in the parking lot while patrons of the business were present.
On November 15, Street Crimes Unit detectives located Alcantar and he was arrested for Brandishing a Firearm and Negligent Discharge of a Firearm. Alcantar was also found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. Alcantar was booked at the Ventura County Jail.
Longevity has become a rather lively topic these days. Most people are interested in how they can be healthy, deal with stress, offset genetic surprises and enjoy their “Golden Years”. Definitely a positive venture, taking the steps early in life to achieve longevity. It’s reported that many people remain cognitively sharp, have decent short-and-long term memories, and have sufficient energy to pursue a rather vigorous life into their 80’s and beyond.
Improving one’s longevity prospects can be benefit by pursuing 6 major factors to reach and advanced the age of 80 and beyond. The 6 factors include (1) Genetics, knowing your family medical history and your ethnic factors; (2) Nutrition, paying attention to diet, weight control, natural vs processed foods, and cultural habits; (3) Physical activity, the benefits of exercise including aerobics, flexibility, strength and balance; (4) Regular Medical Care, consisting of primary physician and specialists, drugs and supplements, and alternative medicine; (5) Psychological Factors, including stress, spiritual needs, relationships and social connection; (6) Avoidance of known high risks, examples include smoking, alcohol, substance abuse and dangerous activities.
In a recent article, the AARP Bulletin of November 2023 cites the 7 Secrets of the Super Agers, i.e., 90 to 100. The 7 secrets include (1) Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure, (2) Talking to their friends a lot, (3) Avoiding stress and prioritize mental health, (4) Prioritizing sleep, (5) Protecting their vision and hearing (we should add teeth to that), (6) Not exercising more, but pushing themselves physically, (7) Doing more puzzles and Sudoku games than normal seniors. There’s a lot more detail that could be added to these “Secrets”, but suffice to say they all generally represent something most of us can learn about and do if so motivated.
The question then becomes, “Who’s Motivated?” Often seniors say, “Oh, I wouldn’t want to live to be 100.” If one has a genetic defect, a chronic disease or life-threatening malady, it is certainly understandable that suffering into the 90’s and beyond may just not be worth the effort or the accompanying discomfort. These are all very personal factors and decisions. Yet, for those that chose to achieve longevity, the practices mentioned above can greatly improve the quality of life while they are here, however long that may be.
Here’s what one might expect upon reaching the 80th year. More medical issues to address than what you had in the previous 80 years. Plenty of surprises, deficiencies, reduction in mobility and energy, susceptibility to the latest virus, hearing and eyesight decline, teeth implants, aches and pains that just don’t go away, etc. will be in your future. The good news is that soon you will realize that your longevity and enjoyment of life can be improved with some effort. However, for most of us, the late-life years, will also be fraught with health issues, medical appointments, and more pharmaceuticals than you can imagine. Frankly, it takes a lot of work to stay alive after 80.
