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THE GRAY

BY TODD BLOCK FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYPLACE AFFECTED BY THE FIRE

THE GRAY THAT YOU SEE, BLANKETING OUR SKY, IS NOT OUR MORNING SEA FOG, IT’S NOT WET IT’S DRY.

ANIMALS FLEE THE FOREST, AND BIRDS FORCED TO FLY, GRAYS SOURCE NOT DISCRIMINATE, SOME MAY LIVE, SOME MAY DIE.

IT SEEPS IN YOUR SKIN, BURNS YOUR THROAT, WATERS YOUR EYE, BENEATH THE GRAY BLANKET, NORMALCY AWRY.

AS THE FIRE LEAVES, WE SMILE, HUG, WAVE IT GOODBYE. STILL AS STRONG AS EVER (VENTURA), EVEN WHEN WE CRY.

OUT OF THE ASHES, A NEW FOREST AND HOMES WILL ARISE, OUR NEW FOUND STRENGTH AND UNITY, IS REALLY OUR NEW PRIZE.

Breeze: We goofed and had this poem in our last issue with the wrong title and the wrong author. Can we blame it on the fire distracting us?

Free community education classes and events

“I think my joints just need oiling.”

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:

Social Services/Bereavement Groups

Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, January 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 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 Thursday, January 11th from 6-7:30. 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.

Diabetes Classes

Tuesday, January 2nd 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.
Call 642-0239 for more information.

Joint Replacement Classes

Thursday, January 4th from 1:00-2:00pm. 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. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month. For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at 642-0239 ext. 739.

Monday, January 8th 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.

All at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.

City begins spraying EarthGuard behind City Hall

The City has already started to spray EarthGuard in the homes where hazardous material burned and on the hills behind City Hall.

The product will not impact sifting of personal materials and will not affect the ability to seed properties. EarthGuard is a non-hazardous, non-toxic product and will not cause any issues with the watershed or the replanting or re-growing of plants. The product is mixed with fiber and is green in color in order to show where it has been applied.

Kick off the new year with a fresh start

Dump your junk and shred your old files at the first Community Cleanup & Recycling Event of the year. Most material types are accepted, except for Household Hazardous Waste (this includes any fire debris material). Also accepting holiday trees but make sure to remove all ornaments, hooks, lights, tinsel, nails and stands. The event will be held at 765 S Seaward Ave (Lot at the corner of Alessandro Dr.) on Sat. Jan.6 from 9am-12pm. For more information call 652-4525.

Workshop on renters’ rights at Ventura County Government Center Dec. 27 at 4pm

On Wednesday, December 27, the County of Ventura, in partnership with the City of Ventura, is hosting an informational workshop to help renters understand their rights. The workshop will provide information covering a wide variety of topics including: tenant rights and responsibilities; landlord rights and responsibilities; unexpected rent increases and price gouging; and affects to lease agreements if a housing unit was destroyed or is uninhabitable due to the Thomas Fire. Whether you are a new tenant or about to move house, it is important to know about your rights as a tenant. Tenants rights should be the same for different states in the US, however, if you aren’t sure, doing some research may be a good idea, so you understand what your rights are as a tenant – for more information see california renters rights.

Several reports of price gouging, sudden eviction of existing tenants, landlord refusal to clean smoke and ash in units not directly damaged by the fire, and imposing illegal restrictions on new rentals have been received. However, it is the landlords responisblity to deal with any damage and repairs to caused by the fire or any types of issues that could affect their tenants, this includes getting in touch with companies like these roofing companies austin, california and others parts of the United States has regulations put in place to protect tenants rights. This workshop will address these and other issues and provide an opportunity to ask questions from experts to help protect our residents from unscrupulous activity.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, December 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Lower Plaza Assembly Room (LPAR), located at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. The workshop is presented in partnership with the California Rural Legal Assistance, Jewish Family Services, CA– USE, the Housing Rights Center, and Many Mansions.

For questions, please contact Tracy McAulay, County of Ventura, at 805-662-6792. Additional information about fire recovery efforts can be found at www.VenturaCountyRecovers.org.

Local Assistance Center in Ventura closing Saturday, Dec. 23

After serving for two weeks as a one-stop center for fire recovery information and assistance, the Local Assistance Center that was jointly run by the County and the City of Ventura will close its doors on Saturday, Dec. 23, at 5 p.m. Residents still seeking services are encouraged to visit the Center by Saturday, or may obtain services after Saturday at existing local County and City offices.

The County of Ventura and the City of Ventura opened the Center on Dec. 13 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura to assist residents from all areas affected by the Thomas Fire. It has been staffed by a wide array of County, City, State and Federal agencies, as well as a number of non-profit organizations.

“The Local Assistance Center, which has helped 1,968 households to date, has served as a great example of how County and City government can work together to aid our residents across jurisdictions,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers.

Residents have used the Local Assistance Center to start their recovery from the fire. Information is available on debris removal, permits, housing, rental assistance, vital records, property assessments, public assistance, crisis intervention and stress management, and even services such as replacing driver’s licenses. Health care resources are available on site to provide assistance, education, and connections to other health services in the community.

 “The assistance center provided a very useful service as the County and the City and our partners responded to the substantial needs of our community and those most directly affected.   While the use of the center has decreased significantly over the last few days, the City will continue to offer a full array of direct services and assistance to folks at City Hall.  Those that still need help can contact us at City Hall or come to City Hall where we have a fire related service counter established”, said Dan Paranick, Assistant Ventura City Manager.

The Local Assistance Center will remain open on Thursday, December 21st and Friday, December 22nd 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, December 23rd, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The County has also opened Recovery Information Center trailers in Ojai and Santa Paula which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, Dec. 22.  These two locations offer debris removal and permitting information, public assistance and housing/rental assistance, and connections to Health education, resources and counseling.

“We can continue to serve people effectively and efficiently through our regular channels,” said Barry Zimmerman, Director of the County Human Services Agency, which oversees the Center.   Contact information for agencies that have been present at the Local Assistance Center is attached.

To further aid fire victims, Ventura County Recovers (venturacountyrecovers.org) continues to offer a registration feature that allows residents to register their contact information to receive information on specific topics. They can also register the address of their damaged or destroyed property so that officials can proactively provide them with information and official notices related to the rebuilding process.

CAPS Media will continue to update fire-related information throughout the holidays

Full house attentive crowd at community meeting at Buena High School.

by Elizabeth Rodeno

Our heartfelt thoughts and best wishes go out to the citizens of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties especially those who have suffered personal tragedies caused by the devastating fires. We celebrate the extraordinarily courageous efforts of thousands of fire fighters, law enforcement personnel and other first responders from our community and beyond who continue to risk their lives for all of us. We thank and admire all of the citizens of Ventura who reacted to a shattering crisis with astonishing calm and then opened their hearts and hands to help those in need. Perhaps Ventura’s greatest strengths lie within those of us who call Ventura home and who will work together to rebuild our very special community.

We invite everyone to help us remember and document our common experience by collaborating with CAPS Media and the Museum of Ventura County to create a series of exhibits, videos and stories that were Forged by Fire. The Museum and CAPS staffs, along with students in the El Camino High School ECTV program, are gathering photos, videos, artifacts and personal anecdotes from the public, officials, responders and others to create a multidimensional, multimedia series of presentations that capture the remarkable stories of the most devastating natural tragedy in county history. We welcome everyone to contribute to the archive of media and stories of heroism, sacrifice and tragedy. Go to capsmedia.org or venturamuseum.org for more details and to learn how you can contribute to this historic project.

On Saturday, December 9 and again on Saturday, December 16 CAPS Media recorded, broadcast and streamed the community meetings held at Buena High School where city, county and state officials provided information to the public, especially those who were displaced by the firestorms in the foothills. The hour-long programs aired live on CAPS Channel 6 & 15, were streamed on capsmedia.org, broadcast on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1 and on city and county websites. The informative programs are being rerun every day on channel 15 and online at 9AM, 12noon and 4PM.

CAPS Media is also producing a series of related updates for the Ventura Police Department that will provide the public with critical information. The updates are airing on CAPS Channel 6 & 15 throughout the day and are posted on Ventura city and police department websites including cityofventura.ca.gov/alertcenter and social media sites including facebook.com/venturapd. Additional vital information on recovery efforts, relocation, repopulation and more can be found at readyventuracounty.org, vcemergency.com and venturacountyrecovers.org
We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season. CAPS Media will continue to update fire-related information throughout the holidays on channel 15, capsmedia.org and KPPQ 104.1FM, however the CAPS Media Center will be closed from Friday, December 22 through Tuesday, January 2.

We look forward to 2018 as a time to start rebuilding, healing and celebrating our community and the joys that are uniquely of Ventura.

United Way Thomas Fire Fund

In response to an outpouring of support, United Way of Santa Barbara County is joining forces with United Way of Ventura County with a joint fund to directly support those individuals and families affected by the fire in both Counties—The United Way Thomas Fire Fund.

Local community partners have determined that the United Way organizations, in both counties, are uniquely positioned and qualified to manage the disaster fund, accept contributions, make distributions, promote the fund and provide a report to the community on how the funds were used. After the wildfire is contained, a committee of representatives from community- and faith-based organizations will be convened to assess needs and allocate money from the fund in Ventura. In Santa Barbara County, United Way of Santa Barbara County will coordinate with local partners such as the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SBC VOAD) to determine the most appropriate SBC VOAD member organizations and individuals to receive funding, based on the direct need of those affected. United Way of Santa Barbara County may also work to address additional support for individual victims if the wildfire emergency expands into more populated areas.

“The financial and emotional costs of the loss of homes and businesses in Ventura County, including Ojai, is immense and difficult to comprehend,” said Eric Harrison, CEO, United Way of Ventura County. “We will do all we can to ensure a solid path to recovery for our residents.”

To date, $2.25 million has been raised.

Both organizations will utilize the Ventura County systems of donating to the Fund that have already been established. One-hundred percent of the donations will support those in communities affected by the wildfires. Donations can be made by texting UWVC to 41444, online at www.unitedwaythomasfirefund.org, www.unitedwaysb.org or www.vcunitedway.org or by calling 485-6288. Checks may be sent to the United Way office at 702 County Square Drive, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93003. Please write “Thomas Fire Fund” in the memo.

Vol. 11, No. 6 – Dec 20, 2017 – Jan 2, 2018 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Healing through entertainment

In times of disaster, there is a desperate need to be entertained. During the last few weeks Ventura County has been pounded with strife, destruction and loss. The usual Christmas season preparations may take detours this year due to natural consequences beyond our control. However, county theaters are doing their best to provide healing laughter and sanctuary for our minds.

For those who may say “this is not the time to be going to the theater” – I say Bah, Humbug! This is exactly the time to take a breather (masks encouraged) to refocus and recover. And, as the old saying goes, “The show must go on”. Our county’s theaters have risen to the challenge.

Santa Paula Theatre Center has recently been lauded for continuing to stage “It’s A Wonderful Life: On The Air”. Not only the audiences, but the actors as well require a way to escape and focus on positive aspects of the season. The show continues through December 23 – go see it and have your spirits lifted.
Despite a difficult situation, the Ojai Theatre Center only cancelled one performance of its holiday offering, “Animal Crackers”. The community needs the theater as a reminder of the wonderful place they live and a welcome, if temporary, diversion from the struggles facing the valley.

Camarillo’s Skyway Playhouse presented several weekends of the lively and hilarious “Nuncrackers”, a musical that is just pure fun. Although rehearsals were somewhat compromised, according to director Dean Johnson, by the smoky atmosphere (not conducive to singing), the opening went ahead as scheduled.

Rubicon’s popular version of the classic “A Christmas Carol” continues through December 23, as does the musical “A Christmas Story” at the Simi Valley Arts Center.

Even the Ventura Improv Company is up to the challenge, planning a performance at the Ventura Harbor Comedy Club for December 23.

The Every Now And Then Theater has been delighting county radio audiences for 27 years. Two of their award-winning Christmas themed radio dramas will be broadcast commercial-free on Newstalk 1590 KVTA at various times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The all-volunteer productions, in conjunction with KVTA, annually raise funds for the Children’s Services Auxiliary of Ventura County serving foster children. This year the fire destroyed the homes of 61 foster children. Support is needed more than ever.

Most theaters will be on a short holiday hiatus as they prepare for their January offerings. Season schedules for 2018 are being announced and publicized. Patrons will want to take note of the wonderful, challenging, moving and amusing options each theater is planning.

Here’s how to find out just what’s on stage around the county:
Camarillo Skyway Playhouse www.skywayplayhouse.org, 388-5716
Conejo Players Theater www.conejoplayers.org, 495-3715
Elite Theater www.elitetheatre.org, 483-5118
Every Now And Then Theatre www.everynowandthentheatre.com
High Street Arts Center www.highstreetartscenter.org, 529-8700
Ojai Arts Center Theater www.ojaiact.org, 640-8797
Rubicon www.rubicontheatre.org, 667-2900
Santa Paula Theatre Center www.santapaulatheatercenter.org, 525-4645
Simi Arts Center www.simi-arts.org, 583-7900
Ventura Improv www.venturaimprov.com , 643-5701

Thomas Fire takes Vista Del Mar

The fire destroyed most of the hospital. Photo by Barry Harrington Photojournalist

by Jennifer Tipton

On the top of the hill at 801 Seneca Street in Ventura stood Aurora Vista Del Mar, a psychiatric hospital focusing on behavioral health and addiction issues. The 16 acres on which it stood overlooks the ocean (hence, the name “view of the sea”). This scenic location dates back to the founding of Mission San Buenaventura in 1783 when it was known as San Buenaventura Mission Rancho. In 1914, the land was purchased by the state and became the Ventura School for Girls, the first state run reformatory until it relocated to Camarillo in 1962. The area then became the jurisdiction of the City of Ventura until the state issued a certificate of need for 16 acres of land to Community Psychiatric Centers in 1979. The existing buildings were torn down and rebuilt, changing hands several times until 2001 when it became Aurora Vista Del Mar Hospital, one of the most sought-out psychiatric hospitals in the state.

Seneca Street is at the far west end of Ventura and with the Thomas Fire originating in Santa Paula Monday night, it is staggering to think the flames raced that quickly across the hillside, an estimated 15 miles in only a few hours driven by powerful Santa Ana winds.

One source shows a gas main located in a 150-year-old grove of trees just below the hospital exploding and thereby igniting the hillside. The occupants, patients and staff, had very little time to evacuate but were able to do so safely after a quick role call to ensure they all were accounted for. Vista Del Mar staff are trained with the intent that patient safety is always the priority, however, this was a challenge none expected, there was barely time for staff to grab patient’s charts and medications.

I spoke with Mary Burau, Clinic Administrator with Ventura County Behavioral Health and was told the estimated 65 patients were brought to the Thomas Fire Evacuation Shelter at the Ventura Fairgrounds Monday night and later safely transferred to other facilities, some in and some out of the county.

While other buildings in the area remained intact, the fire destroyed most of the hospital. Vista Del Mar was operated by Signature Healthcare Services, a private company.

At this time, it is unknown if they will rebuild.