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Ventura Libraries May events

Avenue Library

Children & Family Events

Bilingual Early Literacy Class 5/ 7, 14, & 21 Mondays @ 6– 6:45 pm

Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft & fun!

Crafternoon 5/12 & 26 Saturdays @ 12:30– 1:30pm

Get your craft on in the afternoon!

Adult Literacy Classes

Laubach Literacy English Classes 5/ 7, 14, & 21 Mondays @11am – 12pm

Pumarosa English Classes 5/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Wednesdays @ 9–10am & @ 6-7pm

Learn English in a fun environment that combines conversation, singing, and technology.

Super Brain Yoga 5/12 Saturday @ 10am-12pm Attend this hands-on workshop to improve memory, achieve mental clarity, and gain emotional calmness.

Foster Library

Adult Programs & Special Events

Sierra Club Educational Series 5/8 Tuesday @ 5:30-7pm

Learn about great places to hike, camp, and scenic spots around Ventura County.

Adult STEAM Workshop 5/19 Saturday @2-3pm, 3rd Saturday of the month

Each month a different themed program will be presented.

Ongoing Events

Spanish Conversation Group 5/5, 12, 19, & 26 Saturdays @ 10:30am in the Rentfrow Room

Join this informal group to chat and practice your Español! Bring your own coffee!

Twisted Stitchers Fiber Arts Club 5/3 & 17 Thursday @ 10:30am

Get together with makers from all across the fiber-arts world. Meet, teach, connect, share.

Children’s Events

Early Literacy Class 5/1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30 Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 10:30am

A great way to introduce your child to early literacy and the library. Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Paws for Reading 5/5, 12, 19, & 26 Saturdays @ 12-1pm

Read aloud to a registered service dog. (sign-up required)

Hill Road

Children’s Events

Discover Science 5/8 Tuesday @ 4pm

Join Rachel Chang for this hands on workshop as she demonstrates science principles of chemistry, physics, and biology.

Early Literacy Class 5/2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 Wednesdays @ 10:30 am & 5/19 Saturday @ 10:30 am

A great way to introduce your child to early literacy and the library. Join us every week for stories, poems, music, movement, a simple craft, and fun!

Maker Lab 5/17 Thursday @ 4pm

Join us each month as we learn how to use a 3D printer, build with Legos, connect squishy circuits, or create with VEX robotics. Aimed at 10 and up.

Adult Events

Financial Wellness Series: Living Wills and Estates 5/3 Thursday @ 6-7pm

Join us for this informative presentation covering wills, living trusts, durable powers of attorney. Presented by Ventura County Credit Union

Saticoy Library

Children & Family Events

Lego Play 5/ 7, 14, & 21Mondays @ 1- 5pm

Bring your imagination and experiment with creative designs. Children of all ages welcome!

Adult Classes & Events

English Classes 5/2,7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, & 30

Monday & Wednesday @ 3- 5pm

ESL Conversation Groups hosted by Laubach Literacy of Ventura County

Vol. 11, No. 15 – Apr 25 – May 8, 2018 – Movie Review

A Quiet Place
Review: 3 Palm Trees out of 4

by Manuel Reynoso

A Quiet Place is a 2018 horror film directed by John Krasinski, written by Krasinski, Bryan Woods, and Scott Beck, based on a story by Woods and Beck. Starring John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmons, and Noah Jupe.

With the sudden appearance of blind alien predators, A family must live life in complete silence, or else risk being hunted down by these creatures.

First with Get Out and now A Quiet Place, these horror movies really won me over by taking horror genre elements and effectively incorporating strong themes to compliment the horror film. A Quiet Place is as much of a horror film as it is a film about family. Every scare and every threatening moment is compounded by the theme of family. John Krasinski’s choice to highlight this and show actual developing relationships is why A Quiet Place succeeds. While some aspects of the film may feel rehashed or illogical, overall it was a fantastic horror with genuine scares and emotional payoffs.

John Krasinski’s directorial debut was definitely a success but at times a bit safe. A Quiet Place had a strong gimmick revolving around silence, but it felt like little more than a plot device than anything more impactful. The choice to include a traditional musical score was an understandable decision to make, but it left me feeling that it sort of downplayed the importance of silence in the film. While I wouldn’t say it was the wrong decision to make, it left me wanting more. However, Krasinski more than made up for it with his strong emphasis on the family and their relationship. Interactions between every character was distinct and created a believable family unit. It wasn’t just a film about surviving, but about protection and love.

Having a strong family unit would not have been possible without the talents of the cast. There was such great emphasis on everyone’s relationship to each other and the cast had the prowess to make it believable. The care taken in accurately representing ASL in this film wasn’t just an important step in making this family believable, but was also a tremendous step for disability representation in cinema. Millicent Simmon’s inclusion in the film was key to bringing this family to life, she brought an understanding of deafness that would have been impossible to bring to the film without her.

A Quiet Place succeeds in being a horror film by creating a world that just feels dangerous. The rules are simple, and consequences for breaking these rules are made painfully clear early in the movie. It takes this kind of set up to give the audience a strong enough suspension of disbelief. It’s when the film has small moments of internal inconsistency that it may take you out of the film. It really boils down to having a “try not to think about it too hard” mentality for some parts of the film. While admittedly not optimal, I do believe that it’s pretty minor and overall plot and premise of the film is put together well enough to enjoy.

Not being the kind of person to really enjoy horror films, I really believe a film like A Quiet Place highlights what other films have been missing. It’s not enough for me to feel scared because of what scary monster lurks in the dark, but it takes strong theming to make me feel scared for the person trapped there with it. That is what makes A Quiet Place the better horror movie. Theming is what makes even a pin drop enough of a scare to put me on the edge of my seat. Rated R 1h35m

Vol. 11, No. 15 – Apr 25 – May 8, 2018 – Police Reports

by Cindy Summers

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, Possession of Stolen Property

On April 5 at 7:30am, a Ventura Police Patrol Officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle with no license plate displayed in the area of Crescent St. and Sherwin Ave. A records check of the vehicle showed it was a reported stolen vehicle from the City of Ventura. The driver, 26 year old Ventura resident Gustavo Gonzales, was placed under arrest for driving the stolen vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, officers located potential stolen property. Street Crimes Unit Detectives conducted further investigation and located two victims whose property had been stolen earlier that morning from their vehicle in the 100 block of Eugenia St. in Ventura. Detectives additionally found medical supplies belonging to a victim of a residential burglary in the 1700 block of Potomac St. in Ventura that occurred on February 27.

Gustavo Gonzales was booked at the Ventura County Jail for driving a stolen vehicle and additionally charged for 496(a) PC- felony possession of stolen property.

Arrest for: Attempt Theft from unlocked vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Active Warrants

On April 6 at approximately 1am, a resident in the 3000 block of Foothill Rd. observed two subjects on Foothill Rd outside of his parked vehicle. Concerned about theft, the resident watched from inside his home. While observing the two, one of the subjects, later identified as the suspect 48 year old Ventura vagrant Richard Hunt, entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and began rummaging around in it. The other subject was described as a white male in his 20’s stood outside of the vehicle. The resident shouted at the subjects and the unknown white male entered into a gray 2000 Volvo parked nearby and fled the area. Hunt, left behind by his accomplice, fled on foot. The victim followed Hunt while calling the Ventura Police Department Command Center 911 emergency line.

With the description given by the caller, officers arrived on scene and saw Hunt running south on Dos Caminos Ave. When Hunt saw officers, he began to flee through yards and crossed over onto Estrella St as officers gave chase. Hunt attempted to hide in several backyards and continued to flee from officers, but was ultimately detained as he attempted to flee through an alleyway off of Dos Caminos Ave.

Hunt was positively identified as the subject who had entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle. Hunt also had 4 outstanding warrants. Hunt was transported to the Ventura County Jail and booked for an attempt theft, resisting arrest, and his warrants.

Suicidal Subject

On April 9, at approximately 8am, officers were dispatched to a call of a theft of services that just occurred at the Crowne Plaza in the 400 block of Harbor Blvd. An officer responding to the call saw the suspect, later identified to be a 28-year-old male, walking on the California St. overcrossing at Highway 101 and attempted to contact him. As the officer was approaching him, the subject climbed over the security fencing of the overpass and stood on the outside railing. He began making suicidal statements and threatening that he was going to jump. The officer, who is trained in crisis intervention, began attempts to negotiate with the subject, although he almost immediately jumped from the railing and landed on the shoulder of the freeway which was approximately 20 feet below. The subject was not hit by any passing vehicles. Upon landing, the subject sustained a severe lower leg injury and rendered immobile.

Officers immediately stopped the southbound lanes of the highway to allow Ventura City Fire personnel to respond and start rendering medical aid. The subject was treated at the scene and ultimately transported to VCMC for treatment of his injury. He will undergo a mental health evaluation when released.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle Arrest

On April 9, at approximately 12:30am, an alert citizen called the Ventura Police Department to report a suspicious occupied vehicle in the area. Officers arrived at the location and one of the officers recognized the vehicle as the same vehicle that was reported stolen and recovered at the same location on April 4, and detained two males in the vehicle.

While officers were conducting the investigation they learned that the vehicle had been taken from the owner’s residence without their permission. The suspect, 22 year old Ventura resident Jesus Alvarez, was found to be in possession of the vehicles keys and other evidence belonging to the victim and was arrested.

Alvarez was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia. The vehicle was returned to the owner.

Maintaining a Place for the Purpose of Selling a Controlled Substance, Illegal Sales of Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana for Sales

On April 12 at 11am, Ventura PD Detectives and members of the Ventura PD Traffic Unit served search and arrest warrants at an illegal marijuana dispensary business called “Canna Nuts” located at 5755 Valentine Rd in Ventura.

With the passage of Proposition 64, titled “The Adult Use of Marijuana Act”, possession and use of recreational marijuana became legal in California for people over 21-years-old beginning January of 2018. However, the commercial sale of recreational marijuana now requires both a state license through the Bureau of Cannabis Control and a city business license. The commercial sale of marijuana remains illegal within the Ventura city limits in accordance to our municipal laws.

The Ventura Police Department began the 4-month long investigation after receiving numerous citizen complaints regarding illegal sales of marijuana from the “Canna Nuts” business. Detectives learned that the sole proprietor of the business was the suspect, 54 year old Ventura resident Janice Stabile, who blatantly advertised the sale of marijuana despite not having a state or city business license. Further investigation revealed that Stabile was actively and routinely selling marijuana.

Detectives detained Stabile at her business and placed her under arrest. Search warrants were then served at Stabile’s business and residence in Ventura. Detectives seized over four pounds of marijuana, two firearms, and approximately $128,000 in cash. Stabile was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Maintaining a Place for Selling a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana for Sale, and Illegal Sale of Marijuana.

Mossy Foot and the Ventura kinship with Ethiopia

by Karen Helen Szatkowski

Podoconiosis is the common medical name of Mossy Foot which is found in the highland areas of Eastern Africa, India and Latin America. It is debilitating to the individual and the community and sadly is one of the few diseases that could potentially be eliminated in one generation. It is caused by barefoot contact with the soil. Everyone who is in the soil without foot protection has the volcanic silica in their lymphatic systems. Only about one in thirteen develop an intolerance to it and contract podoconiosis which amounts to almost a million people in Ethiopia. Those living in Wolaita in Southern Ethiopia live largely by subsistence farming, barefoot, with little ability to buy shoes and socks and almost no information on hygiene.

This is where our hero, Dr. Nathan Barlow, a Christian Medical Missionary, set up the Mossy Foot Project in 1997 to treat the disease and the attendant miseries of the sufferers. Stigmatization of people with the disease is seriously detrimental to many aspects of their community life; being excluded from school, meetings, churches and barred from marriage with unaffected individuals. The disease, over time, forms a moss-like skin and keloids( bumpy growths) and later as it ascends the skin of the feet and legs grows either soft and fluid or hard and fibrotic. The appearance is grotesque and the feet have a foul odor, causing them to be treated like lepers.

It is the result of a genetic limitation of the lymphatic system.

The Mossy Foot Project has had many successes and has moved beyond the disease itself into shoe manufacturing for the patients; education on repeated cleansing of the feet and lower extremities; assuring the community that the disease is not communicable; vocational training of the cured; providing education concerning podoconiosis at government health clinics, and, lastly, but most importantly, sending a message of hope. From a small clinic at the beginning the Project, Mossy Foot today has sixteen treatment clinics and has helped more than 90,000 patients over the years but much work remains.

Upon Dr. Barlow’s death in 2004, the donors thought that because the doctor died the Mossy Foot Project was finished. Jim Daly, the husband of Dr. Barlow’s youngest daughter Sharon, wrote to the donors informing them that the project would continue. Jim served as President until a few years ago when Sharon became President. The Dalys worked in the States raising awareness and funding for the work. They visited the Project several times a year, experiencing the victories and challenges such an endeavor is subject to. Sadly, Jim passed away in 2016.

Ventura, we are proud to say, is the headquarters of the foundation. Sharon Daly continues her work along with Dr. Barlow’s grandson, Kevin, who is vice president. The Daly family has lived in Ventura since 1984 and other than travel for vacation and to Africa for work, Sharon and her son Kevin enjoy most days here safe and healthy, being personally acquainted with so many other people in the world that are not. If you would like to get more information about the Mossy Foot Project, please check the web site www.mossyfoot.com.

The American Red Cross raises funds for military families and veterans

The American Red Cross of Ventura County, a leading humanitarian organization with nearly 600 volunteers, announces the kickoff of its third annual Operation: Ride for the Red cycling event. The ride will take place on Saturday, May 19, and all proceeds will support the organization, which helps members of the military, veterans, and their families prepare for, cope with and respond to the challenges of military service.

There will be three rides going through Ventura County, a century (100 miles) starting at 6:30 a.m., a metric century (about 62 miles) starting at 9:30 a.m. and a half metric century (30 miles) starting at 10:00 a.m. Each registered rider will receive a rider bag with several free items. All active and retired veterans will ride for free.

In order to sustain the cyclists through the ride, there will be a free breakfast prior to the start of each ride as well as eight rest stops along the routes that will have water, energy drinks and bars, and first aid available. Lunch and live entertainment will also be provided from noon to 3 p.m.

Event participants are also encouraged to reach out to friends, family and supporters to help raise additional funds for the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program.

“Each time we participate in Operation: Ride for the Red, I’m overjoyed by how the community comes together to support such a worthy cause,” said Ken Bauer, ride event director for Operation: Ride for the Red. “It’s such a fun way to bring the community together to raise support for the military, veterans and their families. We owe a big thanks to our sponsors for allowing the Red Cross to host this ride year after year.”

The Red Cross is able to help local military families thanks to the generosity of donors who support the SAF program. This year’s Operation: Ride for Red sponsors include California Resources Corporation (CRC), Wells Fargo, Premier America Credit Union, and Capital Insurance Group (CIG), in addition to many generous in-kind donors.

Ride for the Red was created by passionate, local volunteers eager to share the story and history of the Red Cross SAF program. Since 9/11, the Red Cross has served more than one million military families, and it is the only military service organization that supports military families from the day they enlist through their time as a veteran.

Register to ride, make a donation, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities at http://www.redcross.org/local/california/central-california/ride-for-the-red.

The Rockstars of the Emma Wood Beach Pathway

“It all started as a way to protect the dunes.”

by Jill Forman

“Look at this wonderful rock pathway!” A group of us were at Emma Wood State Beach, walking towards the river mouth. We found ourselves on a cleared path with rock borders. Also rock piles, happy faces, and groupings of reddish rocks; an easy route through the dune area while staying off the dunes themselves. A group of plant lovers, we were impressed.

“Who,” we all wondered, “could have done this?”

A little later, we ran into two women with dogs and buckets and tools. They had heard us talking, and were delighted to announce, “It was us! We built the whole thing. Took us five years of coming down every day.”

Dorene and Janet, a retired teacher and nurse, live in Ventura. They loved walking along the beach to the river mouth, and hanging out there as the tide came in. They found that it was more difficult to get back to the parking area at high tide without tramping over the dunes, so they made a path. “It all started as a way to protect the dunes.”

In the summer of 2012, they put down a single line of rocks to mark the route, then they cleared the path and moved the rocks to each side. After that, they made the ocean side higher for high tides. About 3-4 years ago there was a storm surge with flooding, and they had to relocate parts of it and move it about 20 feet back. “It feels like we’ve moved a million rocks.”

Once they had the path established, they still need to come down daily for maintenance. They remove invasive ice plant, take out garbage bags full of trash.

They call the beach “our gym,” also “our gem;” they have lost weight, developed muscles, and even lowered their cholesterol. Their energy goes into helping themselves “and doing something for the earth every day.” They tell me you can see the path on Google Earth.

The garbage they pick up has been “…everything you can think of.” Especially clothing items: their most bizarre finds have been a plastic breast and a set of upper dentures. After the Montecito flood, they found many shoes on the beach “…expensive shoes, single shoes, little kids’ shoes. Made us cry.”

Piles of rocks on the sensitive dune habitats have been demolished; “…the biggest one took us 11 days.” They have gone through 14 pairs of heavy leather gloves, and uncounted garbage bags, all of which they bought with their own money.

“People ask us: what organization are you with, who is helping you. Nobody; we have done it all ourselves.” They meet people from all over the world. “People feel safe because it is clean and open.” They took Dorene’s 94 year old mother to the beach and she was able to walk the whole path.

They have a joke that they are DJ’s: “Dj’s play rock and roll, Dorene and Janet rock and roll.” They can’t lift most of the rocks, so they roll them.

They also joke about their Art in the Park. Remembering a smiley face in the Simi hills, they added some humor with rock smiley faces, a granite monument, and funny faces and decorations on the piles of rocks at the ends of the trail.

Talking to them, what comes across most is the joy they feel at the beach, working on their path and helping their community and environment. “It doesn’t feel like work to go down there…quiet, peaceful, like meditation…we feel rejuvenated….look forward to it every day…we plan on continuing as long as we can walk.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Want to become a scout?

On Friday May 4th, 6pm-9pm at the First United Methodist Church of Ventura 1338 E. Santa Clara St. join scouting registration night.

Cub Scouts- ages 5-10, grades k-5th. Now accepting girls and boys learn to do your best in:

camping, outdoor activities, being physically fit, making new friends, and team work! parents start a new family adventure in scouts!

Boy Scouts- boys ages 11-17, grades 6-12th. Learn to be prepared for:

outdoor activities, life skills, to be a leader of men and women! parents be prepared to assist your child in a new adventure!

Venture Scouts – Co-ed young adults – Ages 14-20. Lead the adventure and experience everything from high adventure outdoorsmen ship to conservation and community service.

Come see what scouting is all about. Demonstrations, activities for the kids, the opportunity to talk to parents and scouting volunteers and find a unit close to you that meets your needs. Drop by and learn what scouting can do for your family!

Have a Question? Call Cory or Gloria Friend 643-1626 Sespe Membership District Chair of Ventura County Council.

Superheroes Seaside

A family-friendly event, on Saturday, April 28th from 1- 3pm in celebration of the National Superhero Day. Superheroes come in all shapes and forms, but the one thing they all have in common is their commitment to saving lives and improving the way we live.

Snap a photo and a Meet & Greet with fictional look-a-likes such as Captain America and Wonder Woman, and meet real life local heroes who save lives and keep the community safe. The real-life Superheroes may not always have super powers or wear capes, but are great role models

Adults, kids, teens and families, and participants – are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Superheroes and post photos in their super hero outfit on social media using #NationalSuperheroDay and #VenturaHarbor.

Ventura Harbor Village is inviting lifeguards in uniform to bring their lifeguard truck and to talk about ocean safety and take photos with children. A fire truck will be parked nearby during the event and families will have the opportunity to meet local fire fighters.

Vol. 11, No. 15 – Apr 25 – May 8, 2018 – Opinion/Editorial

 

We are all feeling the pain over the death of Anthony Mele at Aloha Steakhouse. It is a tough, tough situation. And presents an even more challenging solution.

Is the answer more police, more housing for the homeless, more mental facilities? If Ventura had the answer, we could sell it to the world. This problem is hardly unique to Ventura. Maybe we have more homeless than some cities our size, because of the great weather.

Even though this tragedy occurred on the Promenade, it could have happened anywhere in Ventura where this person, who I would assume is mentally ill, has been. Downtown, midtown, Pierpont,etc.

Folks say we need more police officers on the Promenade, or at our parks or in our river beds.

Sure we do. We want 12 police officers at each location. Maybe a police officer for each homeless person. The issue is who is going to pay for them?

Proposition O – our sales tax increase – is helping a bit(we have hired more police officers), but should all of that money be spent on law enforcement? I don’t think so and folks who voted for it wouldn’t think so either.

Many of the people who complain about us not having enough police officers also don’t want $10-$20 million executive homes in Ventura that would bring in major employers and much needed tax dollars. Unfortunately, we can’t have it both ways.

I frequently hear the question, why doesn’t the police and City Council do something about this problem? But, I think solutions (whatever they are) are going be a collaboration between the city and the community. Resources cost money.

What is important is that we don’t let this tragedy stop us from doing the activities that we usually do and enjoy. If you frequent the Promenade, and also eat at the restaurants located there, please keep doing so. We need to support Ventura. This was, for now, a rare occurrence – don’t change your lifestyle and enjoyment of our great town.

But, yes, we need solutions. What are other cities doing about it? LA County has over 60,000 homeless they would love to know how to get control of this issue. We need ideas?

This is from the LA Times. “California’s state auditor sharply criticized the state’s response to homelessness recommending more spending in the state. California should do more to address homelessness, the audit concluded.

Please understand that I’m not trying minimize this horrible tragedy in any way. Perhaps the police should have done more but they are governed by state law regarding the arresting of the mentally ill. Perhaps looking to change existing laws regarding the mentally ill needs to be re-examined. And being homeless is not illegal, and if it was where would we incarcerate these people?

The mentally ill homeless presents its own problems and solutions. The LPS Act(see the article on page by Sheli Ellsworth for an explanation of the LPS Act) makes it difficult to arrest and help the mentally ill when they need assistance. It must be revised to make it easier for law enforcement to get mental health and medical treatment for this segment of the homeless.

We need to fix our broken mental health system and provide housing for the homeless which, of course, takes a large amount of money. More information about what is being done to change some the laws can be viewed at “Keep Cal Safe”.

Marchers called for action regarding the city’s handling of the homeless situation.

On April 23, dozens of people marched from the Promenade to City Hall to attend the City Council Meeting. The attendees demanded that the Council does more on the issue of homelessness. The crowd chanted “enough is enough” as they made their way to city hall.

Even though this topic wasn’t on the agenda the City Council gave the concerned citizens one hour speak. About 30 of them did so. Most gave emotional and personal stories of how their lives been negatively impacted by the homeless/vagrant population in Ventura. Some just vented their anger and just wanted the ”bums” kicked out of Ventura. How they are sent packing and where we they are sent to was not made clear. And who decides who the bums are?

I think that it was a shining hour for our City Council. They all sincerely thanked those that were there to express their feelings and each member told how this tragedy had personally affected them. They all agreed that this issue is out of control. Mayor Neal Andrews was almost in tears telling how this tragedy has affected his Council members. Co-owner of Aloha, Charnell Smith, was also brought to tears sitting in the audience.

Interim City Manager Dan Paranick explained some of the actions that have been taken already, and many others that will be implemented in the future. This includes more police on the Promenade, expanding the Ambassador Program and other initiatives. He said he hoped all the sides could gather together to share ideas and listen to each other to ensure the “future safety and quality of life in our city.”

Ventura Chief of Police Ken Corney stated that officers should have responded to the initial call differently and “put boots on the ground.” He also stated that there is no evidence that the homeless are being sent here from other cities.

There was considerable media coverage at the City Council meeting.

The City Council meeting was covered by many TV Stations and had a lead story in the April 24 edition of the LA Times. This negative publicity could hurt our very important tourism trade, which brings in needed tax dollars. This then translates to even less money available to help solve this problem

To review the City Council meeting, go to www.cityofventura.ca.gov- videos -available archives- city council -April 23.

To help the Mele family go to http://pierpontcouncil.org/page/Donate-Anthony-Mele.aspx.

There will be the Relay For Life of Ventura and Ojai

Attendees at the survivor dinner held at the Pierpont Inn shared their experiences.

On March 15th the American Cancer Society held a survivor dinner at the Wyndham Garden Pierpont Inn. On this night they honored cancer survivors and caregivers for the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. The survivor dinner was a fun night that consisted of music, speakers, raffles, and a tasty meal.

American Cancer Society is second to the US government for funding cancer research and has funded 47 Nobel Prize winners through their grants. They have programs and services such as Look Good Feel Better, Road to Recovery, cancer.org with 24/7 live chat, and their 1-800-227-2345 number where you can speak to a cancer specialist 24/7, 365 days a year.

There will be the Relay For Life of Ventura and Ojai happening May 5th at Buena High School. This will be a 24-hour event starting at 10:00 am Saturday and ending at 10:00 am Sunday. During this event, we will celebrate those battling or who have beat cancer, remember those lost, and fight back to find a cure. Please join in at any time during those 24 hours to come and walk the track, listen to entertainment, or enjoy the activities. For more information please call 644-4237 or visit RelayForLife.org/VenturaCa.