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Vol. 10, No. 26 – Sept 27 – Oct 10, 2017 – Events

Events by Ana Baker

Ventura Poinsettia Dance Club Monday nights 7:30-9:45pm. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill. Ballroom, swing, Latin and line dancing. $10 members, $12 non-members. Dance lessons 6:45-7:15- $5 for couple $3 for single. Call Rick 415-8842 for more information.

There will be a regular Ventura Discussion Group meeting at Main Street Restaurant 3159 Main St., Wednesday from 4 – 5:45 p.m. Several people usually stay for a drink and a bite to eat afterward. Bring an interesting topic to discuss if you can.

Ventura’s ACBL Duplicate Bridge Club offers games for all levels of play.  Learn the game, play with your peers, and earn master points while you are having fun.  There is a game every day of the week.  Check out their website at www.vcbridge.org   Life is Better with Bridge.

Country Western Line Dancing every Tuesday 7 – 9 p.m. Instruction every night. Located at the Moose lodge, 10269 Telephone Road. More information at countrylovers.com.

Ventura County Philatelic Society meets the first and third Mondays each month. Do you collect stamps?. 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Foothills, 6279 Foothill Rd. Admission and parking free. Contact Bill Garner 320-1601

Mended Hearts of Ventura meet the first Tuesday each month at the Community Memorial Hospital – 8th floor. We have excellent speakers – leading Cardiologists, Nutritionists, Dietitians, etc. from our area. Come share with us if you have had heart surgery or stent implant. Contact Bill Garner 320-1601

DBSA Ventura County support group for depression and bipolar disorder meets Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. A free weekly peer-led support group meeting at the Encounter Bible Fellowship Church campus, upstairs, Room 426/428, 6950 Ralston St. 633-0736 for recorded information or visit www.DBSAlliance.org.

Assistance League of Ventura County creating “A Brighter Tomorrow for Today’s Children” holds its monthly meetings on the third Thursday of each month at the Chapter House, 913 East Santa Clara St. Doors open at 9:30 A.M., meeting begins at 10:00, with guests and new members welcome.

Find more information assistanceleagueventuracounty.org or email [email protected].

Telephone Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. 643-2458

Nancy R. Brandt Auxiliary of Ventura County Assistance League® is composed of working adults who give back to the community by volunteering service and fundraising activities to its philanthropic programs. Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 at the Chapter House, 913 East Santa Clara St. For more information call Carol Hughes 509-2150.

Sept. 27: The College Area Community Council will meet on Wednesday, at 7 p.m. Guest speaker, Barbara Brown, will provide an update on the Ventura Botanical Garden. An officer from the VPD will be there. Wright Event Center at 57 Day Rd. on the Ventura College campus. Free parking is available adjacent to the Event Center. CACC represents between Mills and Victoria bordered by Foothill and Hwy. 126. Call 644-8695 for more information.

Oct. 1: The 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will be open for docent-led tours from 1 – 4 p.m. As a special treat, local celebrity author and ghost hunter Richard Senate will be on hand to lead tours and sign books. Admission is free. Corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood. For information 642-3345 or visit www.dudleyhouse.org.

Oct.1: “Old Country Grass Band” will be playing at the Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Blvd. Sunday From 2-4 p.m.

Oct.1: Ventura CROP Walk to support hunger-fighting agencies 5km and 10km walks.

Walk begins Sunday at 2 p.m. Check-in from 1-1:45 p.m. 1338 E. Santa Clara. Contact 658-7446 or [email protected]. For more details: https://www.facebook.com/VenturaCROPWalk

Oct.3: The Retired Men’s Group of Ventura meet Tuesdays on October 3rd and 17th at the Elks lodge for lunch. They’ll be served a healthy Elks meal with friends old and new, hear an interesting topical program and take part in various activities. Call Steve Carroll at 642-1359 for more information.

Oct. 4: The Ventura County Garden Club will meet on Wednesday at 12p.m. at the Olivas Adobe Historical Park, 4200 Olivas Park Dr. A walking tour of the Rose Garden and House. $5 per person fee for the guided tour. Participants will have a “scatter” lunch at restaurants in Ventura Harbor Village following the tour. Members and guests are welcome. For more information contact Jacqualine at [email protected].

Oct.7-8: Free community weekend vocal singing workshop. The WAV, Studio 218, 175 S. Ventura Avenue, Saturday and Sunday, from 3- 5 p.m. Beginners are inspired to learn artistic vocal techniques. Sound system and microphones provided. Professional Instructor teaches vocal structure and the elements to create, collaborate, and build community “For the Fun of It”. Everyone welcome. Bring a musical instrument if you play. Workshop is free but donations are welcomed to help our needy kid artists. Registration at WAVart.org

Oct.6-7: Rummage Sale at First Methodist Church 1338 E. Santa Clara St. on Friday from 9-3 p.m. and Saturday 7th 9-12 p.m.

Oct. 7: On Saturday, from 10- 3 p.m. Ventura Friends of the Library will hold a Book Sale at the Vons at 6040 Telegraph Road. Quality used books at bargain prices. All genres, including special interest, classics and vintage, fiction, including current hardcover and paperbacks; non-fiction,dvds, books on cd and tape more.

Oct. 7: Thousands of free stamps will be combined with information about stamp collecting, games, the chance to make bookmarks with stamps and contests at the 27th annual Youth Stamp Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dudley House Museum, 197 N. Ashwood Ave. Admission is free.

The event, which is aimed at helping young stamp collectors learn more and introducing others to the hobby, is sponsored by the Ventura County Philatelic Society and the Anacapa Middle School Stamp Club. Five stations will give attendees basic information about how to collect and treat stamps.

Visitors will also get a “swag bag” that includes a color catalog of U.S. stamps, several handouts and a CD or DVD with a complete U.S. album from 1847 on, many topical pages and albums, games and more.

Oct.11: The Ventura County Camera Club will hold a meeting on Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion. An instructional workshop on the techniques of image followed by the showing of member images. A professional photographer will critique member’s prints and digital images. Only members may submit images for critique. See the club’s web site for more information or call 908-5663. WWW.VenturaCountyCameraClub.com

Oct.12: The Ventura County Professional Women’s Network (VCPWN), is hosting their monthly dinner meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Wedgewood Banquet Center 5880 Olivas Park Dr. Register for dinner online at www.vcpwn.org. The speaker, Carol Leish is a unique motivational speaker, writer, and trainer, with over fifteen years of experience teaching and working with social service agencies. Her program will offer insight into the physically, mentally, and, learning challenged world. Carol enlightens people by focusing on the strengths that people with challenges have and demonstrates that there is always a way to get around situations with accommodations. For more information www.vcpwn.org.

Oct. 14: If you want to know the basics of Web Email, come to the Ventura Beginning PC Users Group on Saturday, at 9:15 a.m. at Cypress Place, 1220 Cypress Point Lane. At 11 a.m. Jim Knapp will also present Beginning Genealogy.  Everyone is invited. Call 647-6410 for further information.

25th Annual ArtWalk Ventura October 7 & 8 – Gertrude McCarty Smith at the WAV Gallery

The work of the late Mississippi artist, writer and poet Gertrude McCarty Smith (1923 – 2007) will be on display during the 25th Annual ArtWalk Ventura October 7 & 8 at the WAV Gallery. “Worlds Beyond My Window” is the West Coast debut for Ms. Smith whose work has been shown throughout the Southern region of the United States and now at the Working Artists Ventura (WAV) Gallery. The show runs through October 22 and is a retrospective of work created by the prolific award-winning artist from over a 60-year period.

The show will kick-off with two Southern-themed receptions – invitation-only event on Thursday, October 5 followed by Ventura’s monthly First Friday “gallery crawl” the following night for the public from 6-9pm.

The show will continue at the WAV gallery on weekends only through October 22nd, 11am – 5pm or by appointment.

Most importantly, as an “Art with Heart” fundraiser, 50% of show’s net proceeds will benefit the WAV Ventura and the Gertrude McCarty Smith Foundation, supporting under-served Mississippi students, emerging artists and local communities through in-school art classes, scholarships, grants and special programs.

Vol. 10, No. 26 – Sept 27 – Oct 10, 2017 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Are you ready to get your metal on? The third annual Frost and Fire returns to Ventura over the first weekend of October beginning with a pre-party on Thursday, October 5, at the Ventura Theater with Night Demon, Tyrant Ruthless and Cage. Then Bombay Bar and Grill hosts three days of metal music starting on Friday with Raven, Savage Master, Jaguar, Walpyrgus and more. Saturday has Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Amulet and more. Sunday features a “bangover brunch” with DJs, and a handful of bands that afternoon. Friday and Saturday shows at Bombay’s are sold out, however I understand that the post and pre-parties still have tickets available.

At the other end of the musical spectrum there’s the Topa Topa Folk Fest, also on the first weekend of October at Libbey Bowl in Ojai for both Friday and Saturday nights. Friday night, October 6, has Lissie Band, Tim Curran, Jamie Drake, Bryan Titus Trio, The Brambles and more. October 6th has Grammy award winner and critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Lucinda Williams along with Country super star, Shooter Jennings on Saturday night. Also on the bill, Doug Pettibone, Brian Wright, Shane Alexander and more. This show benefits the Turning Point Foundation. You can get ticket information at TopaTopaFolkFest.com.

Stay True and Dead Center Records bring The Dad Show to the Ventura Beach Club on Saturday, September 30, with two stages of music featuring Andres, Plan your Escape, Welcome to Limerick, Dead Poet Society, Kyle Smith and more.

Congratulations to Army of Freshmen who are celebrating 20 years together. They’ll be heading over to Europe for the Get Happy Tour this February with Bowling for Soup and the Aquabats.

And it’s been fun watching the photos Jesse Siebenberg has been posting on social media as he been touring with Lukas Nelson (in case you missed it, that’s Willie Nelson’s son). Stadium shots, hanging with Sir Paul McCartney, and posting that they were playing The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 5, it’s such a dream come true! The tour swings by our way with a stop at the Fonda Theater on October 4.

Quick Notes: Guy Martin joins Crooked Eye Trio for a show at Amigos on Wednesday, September 27; Boyd Tinsley (of the Dave Matthews Band) brings his project Crystal Garden to Discovery on Friday, September 29; The Velveteen Band CD release party is at Discovery on Saturday, September 30; The final Rock on the Dock at the Ventura Harbor is Saturday September 30 with Frank Barajas & the Corsican Bros; Corey Congilio has an in-store performance at Instrumental Music on Monday, October 2; Death by Stereo has a show at The Garage on Saturday, October 7; and Pier Under the Stars with Trippin’ Wild is Saturday, October 7.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Ventura College 37th Annual Faculty Exhibition

Dr. Gwendolyn Lewis-Huddleston, Dean of Social Science & Humanities “Out of Sight Out of Mind”

Ventura College presents the 37th Annual Faculty Exhibition in its New Media Art Gallery. A variety of techniques from painting, printmaking, photography, digital art, drawing, sculpture, multi-media, and ceramics will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 5. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and parking is $2.00.

“Ventura College is an extension of the local community and we invite everyone to take advantage of these events that provide culture and entertainment for families and residents of all ages,” stated Ventura College President David Keebler.”

Running concurrently to the faculty exhibition is a student art exhibition in Gallery II. For more information about both exhibitions and the Ventura College Art Department, contact Ventura College Professor of Art and History Ann H. Bittl, Gallery Director, at 289-6264 or [email protected] or visit http://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/art-department.

‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) launches its 4-session ‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’ (‘Explore’) course in October after a successful pilot over the summer. With 26 years of experience in entrepreneurial and economic development for women, WEV adds this shorter course to its cadre of services in order to meet the needs of those considering starting a small business.

“We found that women were looking for an intensive but accessible way to test their business idea(s) and preparedness for entrepreneurship before making the leap,” says Program Manager, Leah Gonzales. “The ‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’ course provides the right environment and mix of skill-building and activities to empower participants to make a solid decision about pursuing their idea.”

Course topics include myth busting about entrepreneurship, defining target market and conducting market research, personal and business finances, and conducting a SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) analysis of the business idea and owner.

After completing Explore, participants may decide to enroll in WEV’s 14-week business planning course, or create a 2-year plan for launch, or recognize that entrepreneurship may not be a fit – all positive outcomes for the brief course.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) Launches ‘Exploring Entrepreneurship’ Course
Ventura: Thursdays; October 19th – November 16th, 2017 (excluding November 2nd), 6:00-9:00pm
Santa Barbara: Tuesdays; October 17th – November 14th, 2017 (excluding October 31st), 6:00-9:00pm
Cost: $125

Registration: Attendance of a WEV orientation is required; visit the Explore webpage:
http://www.wevonline.org/business-training/explore-course-description/

Vol. 10, No. 26 – Sept 27 – Oct 10, 2017 – Mailbox

Breeze:

Paul Petersonhas offered wonderful suggestions for perhaps a new perspective for the Ventura County Museum. To include art within its confines or to house it in the historic First National Bank building is a well-thought out idea that could propel the Museum towards its lofty goals.

The story of Ventura, both past and present, can be vividly and dynamically told to the people who live here as well as to those who visit through art. There are plenty of reasons to love Ventura. Including art in the Museum as envisioned by Mr. Peterson will go a long way towards enhancing and articulating this affection.

Charlotte O’Brien


Dear friends of Ventura:

The Building Industry Association (BIA) continues to wage war against the residents of the City of Ventura. A little over one year ago, in the mist of severe water shortages, Ventura passed its Water Net Zero ordinance which required developers to pay their fair share for the costs of new potable water supplies – supplies which are required because of new housing developments.

Because new developments generate a need for costly additional water supplies, Ventura passed the Net Zero ordinance, an ordinance giving developers the option of either: 1) creating no net new water demand (net zero) or; 2) paying an in-lieu fee.

Since the Building industry is accustomed to free-riding on the backs of taxpayers, it objected to the new ordinance and filed a lawsuit against Ventura. The lawsuit, filed in Ventura County Superior Court in August 2016 seeks to overturn Ventura’s Net Zero ordinance.

This past year, Ventura residents have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees to respond to the BIA lawsuit. Ventura’s attorneys have demurred to the lawsuit, a legal argument which suggests that BIA does not have a legal case. On August 18, 2017 Judge Glen Reiser ordered the BIA to submit a new “red lined” version of their brief to be filed before September 1, 2017. However, the lawsuit is likely to continue for years.

Current residents gain nothing from new developments. However, residents are asked to pay for the escalating costs of public services, escalating costs triggered by overpopulation, overdevelopment and overshoot.

Let’s halt all new developments in Ventura until the BIA ceases its attacks on Ventura residents.

Charles Spraggins
www.Saveourwaterventura.org


Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.
~ William S. Burroughs

Forum to raise awareness on medications and driving

Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) and the Ventura Council for Seniors (VCS) will present a panel discussion to be held on Thursday, September 28 at Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE), 5200 Valentine Road. The program starts at 9:30 am and lunch will be provided afterward, compliments of the Downtown Ventura Rotary. The Forum will discuss prescription drug and aging issues as they relate to driver safety. VCBH in partnership with VCS and the California Office of Traffic Safety is bringing experts together with the community to talk about new issues facing older drivers. Older drivers already may be inhibited by slower reflexes so adding drugs into that mix can cause even more problems like crashes. If suspected, they may be required to have drug testing Philadelphia carried out or be sent to a facility to have one done to make sure the levels of a drug in their system was the reason.

“As Ventura’s most vulnerable and largest demographic population, we need to be acutely aware of our ability to drive,” Suz Montgomery detailed. “Many seniors have medical conditions that may warrant the need for taking prescription drugs; however we need to learn about how they may impair our ability to drive.”

With panelists from The Ventura County Health Care Agency, Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, and Ventura Police Department, a number of concerns and interests will be addressed.

“A narcotic in high doses, or a wrong mixture of prescription drugs could lead to driving mishaps,” stated Thomas Duncan, Chief of Staff/Trauma Medical Director at Ventura County Medical Center. “People should ask their health care provider about the potential effects of their medications on driving habits.”

In the most recent “National Roadside Study of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers” completed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in five drivers age 65 and older tested positive for at least one or more of the 98 over-the-counter, prescription, and illegal substances in the road side survey, the largest survey of its kind in the United States.

To reduce diversions of drugs from home medicine cabinets to sewers, the Ventura Police Department will also offer a drug “take back” at the forum. Attendees are invited to bring old and unused prescription and OTC medications in order to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of them, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse and misuse of medications.

To RSVP for the forum, please contact David Tovar at 973-5376 or [email protected]. Funding for the grant is from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Livingston presents “Understanding Hospice”

Lanyard K. Dial, MD will present seminar on hospice care.

by Lori Harasta

“I wish I had known about hospice sooner.” For those who have experienced it, this is probably the most common comment expressed. Too many people wait too long to discover what hospice is and what it can do for a patient and his/her loved ones.

Discover what it’s really all about at a seminar presented by Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association on Friday, September 29th from 10:00-11:00 am at The Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St., Ventura.

In addition to gaining insight into what it is and the goals for hospice, find out about the difference between hospice and palliative care and learn how to plan for end-of-life care.

Dr. Lanyard Dial, President/CEO and Medical Director of Livingston will address these issues and answer your questions.

“Without guidance and support for patients and families approaching death, there may be unnecessary conflict, confusion, and trauma that linger long after the passing of a loved one.”

“I now urge friends and acquaintances to have conversations with their aging parents and within their families while their parents are still relatively healthy and of sound mind.”
―Lisa J. Shultz, Author: A Chance to Say Goodbye: Reflections on Losing a Parent

“We thought hospice meant death, but as we watched you take care of her, we realized it really means celebrating life” –Mike M.

For more information and to RSVP, call Debra at The Lexington at 644-6710.

Two ways to get your Medicare benefits

by Greg Dill- Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage have different benefits and costs that you should consider based on your personal needs. So grab a cool drink and I’ll go over some of the differences. Medicare open enrollment season runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and it’s a good idea to know how the two types of Medicare work before you select one. If you’re still in doubt then contact a specialist provider in your area like Jacksonville medicare to discuss the best option for your circumstances.

With Original Medicare, you can choose any doctor, hospital, or other healthcare provider you want, as long as they accept Medicare. When you receive medical services or goods, Medicare pays the provider directly. About 70 percent of all people with Medicare have Original Medicare.

The other way to get your benefits is Medicare Advantage, which is a form of managed care, like an HMO or PPO. Medicare Advantage is provided by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. If you’re in Medicare Advantage, you generally must go to doctors and other providers in the company’s network.

If you go outside the network, you may have to pay more.

On the other hand, Medicare Advantage plans may offer some services – such as dental, hearing, vision, and prescription drug coverage – that Original Medicare doesn’t. If you’d like to learn more about Medicare plans check out websites similar to boomerbenefits.com.

Most people with Original Medicare pay a monthly premium. If you’re in Medicare Advantage, you may pay an additional monthly premium to the private insurer that covers you.

With Original Medicare, you or your supplemental insurance must pay deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance.

To cover these “gaps” in Medicare, some people buy a type of supplemental insurance called Medigap. If you have a Medigap policy, Medicare pays its share of the covered costs, and then your Medigap policy pays its share. If you’re looking into this kind of supplemental insurance, be sure to stop by boomerbenefits.com online as part of your research into plans that work best for you.

Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs. If you want drug coverage, you can buy a Medicare Part D plan. Such plans are sold through private companies approved by Medicare. You have to pay an additional monthly premium for Part D.

Medicare Advantage companies must cover all of the services that Original Medicare covers. (However, Original Medicare covers hospice care, some new Medicare benefits, and some costs for clinical research studies, even if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan.) In all types of Medicare Advantage plans, you’re always covered for emergency and urgent care.

You can join a Medicare Advantage plan even if you have a pre existing condition — except for End-Stage Renal Disease. People with ESRD usually are covered through Original Medicare.

Keep in mind that Medicare Advantage plans can charge different out-of-pocket amounts and have different rules for how you get service.

For example, you may need a referral to see a specialist. And you may need to stay in the plan’s provider network, unless you’re willing to pay more to go outside the network.

There’s a good comparison of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in the “Medicare & You” handbook. “Medicare & You” is mailed to all Medicare beneficiaries every fall. You can also find it online, at https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-and-you/medicare-and-you.html.

If you have any questions, call Medicare’s toll-free number, 1-800-MEDICARE.

What is the purpose of a Parkinson’s Disease Support Group?

by Patty Jenkins

Because you are not alone and this meeting is all about you! And you just might end up helping someone, too, by sharing your own experiences battling this more-than-challenging disease. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meets every second Wednesday of the month (except December) to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease, the latest research for a cure and better treatments, and also to hopefully learn helpful ways to deal with PD, support each other and maybe even make some new friends! We alternate throughout the year with round table meetings where we get to know each other and share our common challenges and unique coping solutions, along with a variety of speakers and presenters with helpful topics of interest including Movement Disorder Specialists, medical professionals and other professionals who educate us in many aspects about the resources available to help us organize and improve the quality of our lives that are suddenly confronted and changed by Parkinson’s Disease.

Please come and join the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Wednesday, October 11 for a “Round Table” discussion from 1PM to 3PM at the Lexington Assisted, 5440 Ralston St. We welcome all of our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves in this battle with Parkinson’s Disease along with us. We have some presenters for our November meeting but you are the “presenters”!

Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted, we are able to have our meetings every second Wednesday of the. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of their building . Extra parking is graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Please check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting. For more information please call Patty at 766-6070 We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.