Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county, which include the following in Ventura:
Diabetes Class-Tuesday, May 1st from 1-2:30pm. These meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month. General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.
642-0239 for more information.
Joint Replacement Classes-Monday, May 14th for both English and Spanish speaking. English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.
For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at 642-0239 ext. 739.
Ventura Adult Bereavement Support Group: Wednesdays, May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 6:30-8:00 pm. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].
Newly Bereaved Support Group in Ventura: Thursday, May 10th from 6-7:30 pm. This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected]. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.
All at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave, Suite 109.
Start using your new Medicare card once you receive it.
by The My Medicare Matters Team
Beginning in April the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be sending new Medicare cards to beneficiaries. The new cards are being sent to decrease Medicare beneficiaries’ vulnerability to identity theft by removing the Social Security-based number from their Medicare identification cards and replacing it with a new unique Medicare Number.
Here’s what you need to know before they arrive.
Medicare cards will be sent between April 2018 and April 2019. Make sure your address is up to date because Medicare will be sending it to the location associated with your Social Security account. To update your address information contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or go online.
Start using your new Medicare card once you receive it. Destroy the old one immediately, since it contains your Social Security number. If you happen to lose or misplace your card you can get a replacement, but you can also can access your new Medicare number on a Medicare Summary Notice or through Medicare.
Keep your Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription, and/or Medigap. Continue using your health or drug plan’s card when you get health care or fill a prescription, but know you will also get the new Original Medicare card.
These are just a few quick tips to keep in mind as new Medicare cards are issued. You can find additional information on the release of Medicare’s new card on Medicare.gov.
Seems they have become the henchmen for the red county that simply does not want poor and homeless folks living here.
Case in point I had an appointment with a health practitioner in downtown Ventura. I parked on Santa Clara St. When I came back to my tiny home on wheels (a motorhome) there was a ticket in the windshield, for parking an oversize camper in the city limits. Okay, so #1 there are no signs displayed letting people know they cannot park RV’s in downtown Ventura. And #2 I cannot afford the dang fine.
I called the police dept in Ventura to challenge the ticket and even after I explained that I am a senior on a fixed income with health issues, I: e visiting a doctor in Ventura and I cannot afford the $72.00 fine, I was told well you should know the law and the ticket would stand and had to be paid. After which I spoke with a dozen city and county agencies that offered no help in this regard.
Today the citation stands and I still cannot afford a $72.00 fine. If it is illegal to park a small RV in the streets in Ventura—post it!
What’s up with Ventura?
Jay North
Jay: Oversized motorhomes are not allowed to be parked on streets anywhere in Ventura not just Downtown so posting would need to be on every street. So police are just doing their job. If you call 339-4401 you can get permission to park in the street for a limited amount of days. Sorry that this happened to you.
Dear Editor,
No one likes taxes, but we all have to pay them, even people who are working without documentation. Many workers who contribute to the economy can’t access services their tax dollars support. My neighbor Jesus was 27, undocumented, and working long hours at a bakery. His stomach bothered him for months, but he was afraid to go to a hospital, and could only afford a neighborhood cash clinic where they told him he had a virus. When the pain was too great and he went to the emergency room, he was diagnosed with advanced cancer. He died a week later. It’s wrong that we expect people to pay taxes while excluding them from routine and life-saving health programs, paid for with their own tax contributions. Our economy is driven by hard work of people like Jesus, who deserve life-saving access to health care services, no matter where they were born.
Juana Zaragoza-Oxnard
Editor:
Pre-president Trump “We should stay the hell out of Syria. The president must get congressional approval before attacking Syria- big mistake if he does not!”
The first time that I have agreed with him.
Bill Green-Ventura
On March 15th a Ventura ribbon cutting was held for Ventura Cryo, conveniently located inside The Sauna Studio at 3439 Telegraph Road, 380-3737. In our last issue we had their address and phone number wrong. They Provide a holistic body cold immersion modality called Whole Body Cryotherapy which significantly reduces inflammation in the body, eases joint pain, improves sleep, and many more health benefits.Visit their website venturacryo.com to learn more about cryotherapy and its benefits.
I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots. ~ Albert Einstein
If you can’t read to your grandkids this class is for you.
The Ventura County Library Adult Literacy READ tutoring site at the Hill Road Library is now open and accepting new students!
The READ program provides free help with reading and writing for English speaking adults. Tutors are available for free one-to-one tutoring, and new students are always welcome.
The READ program is also looking for adult volunteers who would like to help other adults improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. At the conclusion of training, tutors will meet one-to-one with an English speaking adult learner for a few hours each week.
This Hill Road Library READ tutoring site had been relocated from its former location at Buena High School. The Hill Road Library is located at 1070 S. Hill Rd. For additional information, contact Nancy Schram, Ventura County Library Director at 256-8535, or Carol Chapman, READ Program Manager, 677-7160.
by Essie L. Landry Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in West Los Angeles
Keeping your address up to date with a my Social Security account helps us mail your important documents to the correct place. If you receive benefits, you can use my Social Security to update your address. If you’ve moved recently, updating your information sooner rather than later will help us deliver important documents to you, including:
Your Social Security Benefit Statement (SSA-1099);
Important notices; and
Your Medicare card when you first enroll or if you need a replacement.
Even if you get your benefits by direct deposit, Social Security must have your correct address so we can send letters and other important information to you.
Another important reason to make sure your address is up to date is because new Medicare cards are coming. Medicare is mailing new cards starting April 2018. Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that’s unique to you, instead of your Social Security number. This will help protect your identity. For more information about the new Medicare card, visit go.medicare.gov/newcard.
If you don’t have a my Social Security account already, you can open one at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. This is the easiest way for you to keep your information up to date. Within minutes you’ll have access to your personal information as well as control over important documents like your Benefit Statement (SSA-1099), which can be replaced if you lose it.
While you’re there, you can also check to see if your earnings record is correct. Social Security keeps a record of how much you’ve made so that you get the benefits you deserve. We can only pay you your correct benefit if your records are correct.
Putting you in control of your future is a key part of securing today and tomorrow, and having your correct mailing address helps us get important documents and payments to you. With my Social Security, we help you receive the information you need, when you need it. Open or access your safe and secure account today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
A Ventura County judge has recommended to the Judicial Council that Los Angeles County Superior Court serve as the venue for pretrial coordination proceedings in cases pertaining to the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslide/debris flow disasters against Southern California Edison. The order was issued on Monday, April 16 by Vincent J. O’Neill Jr., Coordination Motion Judge of the Ventura County Superior Court, and designates the Court of Appeal, Second District as the reviewing court.
The Ventura County court determined Thomas Fire and Montecito debris flow cases are complex due to the sheer number of existing complaints filed as well as the amount of witnesses and discovery evidence included with each action. As noted by Judge O’Neill in his recommendation, “exceptional judicial management will be necessary to handle the included actions to avoid placing unnecessary burden on the court, to reduce litigation costs, and to expedite the cases.” Coordination of the cases in a single courthouse before a single judge promotes efficient use of judicial resources, streamlined litigation procedures, and, importantly, eliminates the opportunity for inconsistent rulings and orders on the same legal issues.
The court weighed eight factors when ruling in favor of Los Angeles County as the site for pretrial coordination including the convenience of the location to the parties, witnesses and counsel, the parties principal place of business, the ease of travel and availability of accommodations, and the efficient use of court facilities and judicial resources. The court also noted that while attorneys for the parties have offices in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, as well as other counties in California, it was not a factor that weighed in favor of or against a particular venue.
Logan Dawson is celebrating his first birthday in a couple days!! (April 29th – the same day as Sheldon’s grandson’s 13th).
He loves to play with his toys with a smile on his face, as he dances to music while watching his favorite show. He’s also single and ready to mingle (watch out ladies)!
Kate Faulkner, President 2018 Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) was a featured speaker at the Amgen presentation at the Museum.
For the first time, the City of Ventura will host a Stage Start for the Amgen Tour of California on Monday, May 14. This is the 13th edition of the “Tour”. This bicycle race is the largest annual cycling race in the United States and the only U.S. race that is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale. The Tour attracts professional teams that race most of the year in the large, well-known European bike races such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.
The Tour begins on May 13 in Long Beach and ends on May 19 in Sacramento. Ventura is the second of seven stages in the Men’s race. The Women’s race is run on the last three days of the Tour.
The May 14 stage, Ventura to Santa Barbara, will start at the Ventura Pier at 11:15am. Spectators should arrive early in order to avoid road closures and traffic. Free bike valet parking will be on the Promenade at the base of California Street. Pre-race activities include lifestyle and sponsor booths along the Promenade. Pre-race is also an opportunity to see world-class cyclists close-up and maybe get some autographs.
The teams will ride a circuitous, 3-mile route through downtown Ventura at a much slower pace than race speed; creating excellent opportunities for seeing the racers. Harbor Boulevard, Main Street and San Jon will be particularly good viewing locations. Once the cyclists pass the official starting point for the race on Harbor Boulevard past San Jon, they will begin hammering the pedals and get up to their average race speed of close to 30 miles per hour.
The racers will travel through several Ventura County cities, including Oxnard, Camarillo, Santa Paula, and Ojai, on a very challenging route as they head to Santa Barbara County. The approximately 100-mile route has been modified slightly in Montecito due to the disastrous January mudslides. However, the stage finish is unchanged; the top of Gibraltar Road, the culmination of a relentless 8-mile climb. It is expected that the lead cyclists will reach the top shortly before 4pm.
A local recreational bicycle club, the Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike), is part of the Local Organizing Committee which is led by the City of Ventura. CIBike has been recruiting the nearly 200 volunteers who will assist the Ventura Police Department in keeping closed city streets free of pedestrians and cars when the race comes through. CIBike holds monthly public meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at the Museum of Ventura County in downtown Ventura.
The April meeting featured the Tour of California and brought out many of the race volunteers. The next meeting, May 9 at 6:30pm, will feature Derek Towers, the Bicycle Coordinator for the City of Ventura and a member of the Local Organizing Committee for the Tour.
The May 14 race stage will be an excellent opportunity to cheer for, up-close, some of the best cyclists in the world. CIBike provides ongoing opportunities for locals to bike in a social group, see Ventura County’s towns and landscapes up close, and enjoy the many benefits of cycling. For more information, visit: amgentourofcalifornia.com and CIBike.org.
Bank of Books and Abednego Book Shoppe made a commitment after the damaging fires that destroyed so many homes in Ventura and neighboring communities during California largest fire to give over 10,000 books away free to those who lost their homes.
The Community Book Support was developed at both bookstores to help with the distribution of the free books. News of our plan hit the bookstore industry and box loads of books came from Canada and Florida. Individuals also dropped off donated books.
” It has been rewarding seeing the joy in ones picking out free books, from the little kids, teenagers to adults, so many lost so much” says Clarey Rudd the bookstore owner.
The Community Book Support has been expanded to benefit others now. A major commitment has been made to benefit all teachers in Southern California.
The hope at Bank of Books and at Abednego Book Shoppe is to give away over 100,000 books the next 12 months, to show support to the community.
Free books have also been offered to all the staff at Ventura Community Hospital to say thanks for the job they are doing .
Kathleen Good and Jacqui Irwin recording “In The Women’s Room” on KPPQ-LP.
We have captured some fascinating Thomas Fire interviews from our sessions in Ojai and in Ventura as well as in some powerful in-studio sessions. We are planning several more events as the stories are plentiful, important and fascinating. The next audio recordings will take place on May 8 from 11am-3pm at the CAPS Media Center, and on May 20th from 11am-3pm at the Museum of Ventura County. Let us know if you would like to share and we can make accommodations because your story is important to us and community.
The Face of Ventura, one of KPPQ’s outstanding local radio shows featured interviews with several of the victims as did the hosts of Ojai Dream who were affected by the Thomas fire as it began in Santa Paula and Upper Ojai. We have received many photos and videos from county residents and we thank you. Keep checking our website and social media for updates.
Our video and radio producers are bringing great programming to our airwaves. Currently we are broadcasting and streaming art, travel, comedy, public affairs, talk and youth programs. These programs are all produced by our members, individuals and groups who are active and engaged in our community. We are so proud of our ECTV students and their award-winning programs. Tune in and log in and catch some great shows.
Summer is fast approaching. Graduation season begins in less than a month which means the CAPS production truck and volunteers will be out in the community. Our Summer youth programs begin in June, this year with a new twist. Members are stopping by to begin new projects and fine tune their skills. Let your family, friends and co-workers know about the great opportunities to create and share stories. Our radio station, KPPQ-LP is another venue where you can create and share your passion.
Don’t forget CAPS Media is hosting an Open House on Thursday, May 3 from 5-7pm. You will get a preview Thomas Fire Story and meet and greet the staff and members.
CAPS Media’s mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. CAPS Media manages two television channels (6 & 15) and an FM Radio channel (KPPQ 104.1FM). Membership fees are $25 per year for television and $50 per year for radio. Membership includes training and access to video and audio production and postproduction equipment. General orientation sessions are on the first Thursday of every month, cameraclas is the 2nd Thursday, editing classes are on the 3rd Thursday and radio classes are held Wednesday and Thursday of the 4th week of the month.
