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The two met when they both worked for Shell Oil

Norman and Joan George with their senior 14 year old dog Nellie. Photo by Michael Gordon

by Jennifer Tipton

Norman and Joan George are a dynamic Ventura senior couple, in fact, they are my neighbors. Not a day goes by that I don’t notice their car is in the driveway, and then it’s gone, and then it’s back, and then it’s gone …

Norman is 85 years young and Joan is 83. “Norm” (as Joan calls him) can’t get around as well as he used to, he needs the assist of a power chair for any distance, but that certainly doesn’t keep him down! He volunteers at Catholic Charities to feed the homeless, and has done so for the last 24 years. Joan belongs to a women’s retiree group, and between them they have been active with many other organizations.

Married for 35 years, this is the second marriage for both. They have 6 children, 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren between them. “We put two families together with no problems”, says Norm. Together the blended family enjoyed activities such as camping and houseboating in the Delta.

The two met when they both worked for Shell Oil, Norman in the field and Joan in the office. Although they spoke on the phone often, Joan always thought he was still married and would have nothing to do with THAT! Then one day when Joan was coming out of the office, (the Shell offices were by Plaza Park at that time) and Norman was going in, Norman told a co-worker, “I’m going to ask her to join me for a cocktail”, and the co-worker responded, “take her out to dinner!”

“It’s been a great 35 years”, says Joan. They’ve lived several places such as Bakersfield and Sacramento but returned to Ventura in 1989 when Norman retired from Shell because according to Norm, “we wanted to see if the ocean was still there” and according to Joan, “I don’t think you can find a better place to live than Ventura -the weather, the beaches, the mountains – it’s just beautiful!”

When they first retired, the couple became active with the Elderhostel, a non-for-profit organization established in 1975 which offers travel and educational programs in the United States and around the world.

Joan reports their adventures included China, Italy, The Bahamas, France, London and The Panama Canal on Al Capone’s whiskey boat. Often staying in college dorms while traveling, the Elderhostel provides guides as well to accompany the senior adventure seekers. Norman tells me that one time, while in China, a Chinese guide asked him where he got his big tennis shoes, so he reached down and pulled off the tag that read, “made in China.”

Both Norman and Joan like to play games on the computer although she does more Facebook and internet stuff but he likes Solitaire and Mahjong, they even have a computer room with His and Her computers that are positioned side by side and the walls are lined with many years of family photos.

They’ve been known to play tricks on each other, he held a surprise 50th birthday party for her and she gave him a surprise 70th. Joan says, “it took me 20 years to get even!”

Norman George will be 86 on July 20.

Bronze female figures by Ventura sculptor Lynn Creighton

Lynn Creighton is a Ventura sculptor creating bronze female figures of women experiencing the full vibratory rate of their inner core. They are metaphors for women awakening to the gift of their own energy and what it is meant to do. These figures represent women learning to celebrate their own lives from a deep inner connection to the creator profoundly sensed as the creator creates through them.

Creighton’s female figures are abstractions, or, more precisely and meaningfully, essentialities. In strictly art historical terms they are related to the pioneering visions of Henry Moore, Jean Arp, or Constantin Brancusi. Her sculptures can be seen at her new sculpture garden located at 39 E. Harrison. No need to make an appointment they can be admired at any time.

Instructors needed for award-winning fall prevention course

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) and Oxnard RSVP are partnering to offer volunteer training for individuals interested in teaching courses in Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance. No experience is needed. A six-month commitment to teaching the program is requested of volunteers.

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance follows curriculum developed to improve strength, balance, increase mobility, and reduce incidents of falls among seniors 55 and older who participated in the classes. Nationally recognized research shows that one in three adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

The 12-week program consists of a core eight-form routine of Yang-style Tai Chi with built-in exercise variations. It teaches participants balance skills and proper body alignment by using coordinated and flowing movements. The classes are intended for adults age 55 and older who can walk easily with or without assistive devices.

There is currently a need for volunteers to lead classes in Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme. A two-day training with a master trainer will be followed by at least 30 hours of practice with other trained volunteers before individuals can be certified to lead a class. Attendance at quarterly in-services will also be required.

Training will be held from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 28, and Saturday, July 29, in Ventura. Attendance at both training days is required.

To volunteer as an instructor, please call Oxnard RSVP at 385-8023. To register for a Fall Prevention class, including Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, please call the VCAAA at 477-7347.

RSVP is a volunteer recruitment and placement program, helping individuals 55 and older find volunteer positions that match their interests and talent. Oxnard RSVP has nearly 600 members, and is sponsored by the City of Oxnard.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, an agency of the County of Ventura, is the principal agency in Ventura County charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting and to advocate for the needs of those 60 years of age and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

The following was sent by Watkins to city employees

Mark Watkins announces retirement as City Manager.

“ After much thought and discussion with my family I have decided to retire from my position as City Manager effective December 28, 2017. Working for Ventura has been a dream job for me. I was a 26-year old engineer when Amy and I arrived here in November of 1987, we welcomed the birth of our first daughter just a month later and have loved living here ever since. I took a 12 year hiatus to work for the City of Thousand Oaks and was thrilled to come back to Ventura in early 2013 as City Manager.”

“As I reflect on my time here it is easy to think of all of the physical attributes that make Ventura such a great place to live and work. We have a wonderful downtown, beautiful beaches, a great harbor, the pier and promenade, hiking in the hillsides, and cultural amenities. However, what I will remember the most fondly is all of the outstanding city employees that bring their energy and enthusiasm to work every day to continue making this one of the best cities in America.”

“ I am providing a long notice to assure a smooth transition for the organization. I have appreciated the trust the City Council has placed in me and am extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished during my tenure. In the past 4 years we have been able to restore fiscal stability, refocus the organization on core services and infrastructure, pursue the water resources required for our future, and make headway on complicated issues such as homelessness. With Measure O funding the City is now poised to address Ventura’s highest priority needs, make critical investments in our community, and insure that Ventura remains one of the best places live, work, and recreate.”

“One of the items that I am most proud of is the employee agreements that we have reached over the past several years. We have made progress on increasing salaries and improving contributions to health benefits while balancing the other needs of the city and recognizing our increasing PERS contributions. Our employee groups and all of our employees have shown leadership and understanding in this critical area so that we can continue to have the best work force to serve our community.”

“This has been both the most challenging and rewarding positon that I have held in my 33 year career. It has been an immense pleasure to work with our outstanding department head team, city employees, and our community, and I am confident that the City organization is now well positioned for the future.”

“ I clearly remember that day in November 1987 when I walked out the front door of City Hall, looked down California Street to the ocean and historic pier, and wondered how I could be so fortunate to live and work in such a beautiful place. I still feel blessed to be in Ventura and Amy I plan to remain here and serve the community in other ways. Ventura is a 150 year old city with a rich and proud history, but I truly believe that its best years lie ahead. I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve the City and look forward to great things in the future.”

Mark Watkins-City Manager

City Council Member Matt LaVere told the Breeze “Although it has only been a short time, I have really appreciated my time on council with Mark. He has gone out of his way to work with me on issues important to Ventura. I wish him and Amy nothing but the best as they move into retirement. He leaves Ventura a better place than when he arrived, and that is the mark of a good city manager.”

Vita Art Center presents an Abstract Art Exhibit

To July 30 from 6-9 p.m.

This exhibition presents the work of four regional abstract artists. Each artist uses a visual language of shape, form, color and line to create a composition with a degree of independence from visual references in the world.

Exhibiting Artists:,Scott Gordon,Elana Kundell,Mary Neville,Linda Saccoccio

Foundation delivers adventures for kids with special needs

Seth Shinden with a volunteer buddy of the Best Day Foundation.

by Rebecca Wicks

Seth Shinden, 13, is like other Balboa Middle School students. He enjoys live music, bowling, gymnastics, and just being outside. He has always loved the beach and ocean. Seth is however, autistic and epileptic, which at times makes some activities less accessible.

His parents have worked to keep him close to the sea, making regular visits. While he frequently enjoys time in the sand with his sisters and family, some of his most memorable moments are those surfing and kayaking. Many of these adventures have been made possible by the Best Day Foundation, where volunteers tandem surf or kayak with Seth. Last month, he surfed C-Street tandem-style with one of the Best Day Foundation volunteers, as part of a day organized by the group that works to host activity events for families that have children with special needs.

“Seth loves everything about surfing,” said Katie Shinden, Seth’s mother. “He first did it when he was 5. He was a little nervous at first, but the organization’s volunteer buddies that helped out were great about carrying him into the water and getting him comfortable.”

Nancy Pedersen first started working with the organization in 2010, helping out at events. Today she serves as the co-chair of the Ventura Chapter, and sits on the organization’s national advisory board. She explained how she has been drawn further into the organization, how making memories for kids, their families as well as volunteers – all in the span of one short day – is something she thinks is “cool.”

“I just love the community aspect of each event, the fact that the likes of surfers, high school kids, and seniors come together to make it happen,” Pedersen explained. “We start each event on an empty beach and then with the help of volunteers great stuff happens.”

Seth and thousands of other special needs children have enjoyed tandem surfing, body boarding, kayaking, stand up paddling, outrigger canoeing and more through the organization’s many events around the nation. The group conducts events in Virginia, Florida, New Jersey and five communities in California including Ventura. The Foundation has already held four events this year in Ventura and has four additional upcoming events which will take place at C-Street, on September 10, and Harbor Cove, on August 5, August 26, and October 7.

The Best Day Foundation was founded to share the knowledge and experience developed by Ride a Wave, a similar organization started in Santa Cruz. Each year the group’s event count grows, also adding new locations annually. This year the Foundation will hold upward of 50 events across the country.

Pedersen likes what the organization offers to people who don’t have a way to experience these sports on their own, and has witnessed first hand, their impact. She told of a particular father who was certain his son would not get in the water, who worried he would refuse to participate as he hadn’t shown interest in either water, or water sports in the past. Pedersen wonders if it was because the son never had the opportunity.

According to Pedersen, the son had a great time and the father relayed the following to her, “The dad said, the only limitations are the ones I put on him, and I need to stop doing that – we’re getting beach gear.”

 

Hillsides Conservancy serves up “Nature on Tap”

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) is teaming up with Topa Topa Brewing Company to host a series of environmental lectures entitled “Nature on Tap” this summer. The public is invited to join VHC staff once a month in July, August and September to learn about local environmental topics and VHC’s mission, projects and programs.

Monday, 7/24/17: Go with the Flow – The Health of the Ventura River: Listen and learn as Dash Dunkell, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s Conservation Director, highlights current projects in the Ventura River and discusses what is being done to protect this unique ecosystem.

Monday, 8/28/17: Our Wildlife Neighbors: From coyotes to crows, raccoon to rattlesnakes, opossums to osprey … Ventura has it all! Join Jessica West, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy biologist, to learn about the wildlife that lives on VHC properties, what is being done to preserve their habitat, and how the public can (and has!) become involved in studying our animal neighbors.

Thursday, 9/28/17: Preserving Ventura’s Open Space – Rivers, forest, and farmland: Dash Dunkell, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s Conservation Director, will discuss the past, present and future of open space preservation in and around Ventura.

Each free lecture will begin at 7 p.m. at Topa Topa Brewing Company, located at 104 E Thompson Blvd.

To RSVP, visit: http://www.venturahillsides.org/events and, for more information, call the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy 643-8044.

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and protecting Ventura’s hillsides, waterways and wildlife. Founded in 2003, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 500 members, local business and government partners. The land trust currently manages 80 acres of land along the Ventura River and is working toward the purchase of its first hillside property. Further information about the Conservancy is at: www.venturahillsides.org.

Memory and thinking

Many older people worry about their memory and other thinking abilities. For example, they might be concerned about taking longer than before to learn new things, or they might sometimes forget to pay a bill. These changes are usually signs of mild forgetfulness—often a normal part of aging—not serious memory problems.

Talk with your doctor to determine if memory and other thinking problems are normal or not, and what is causing them.

What’s Normal and What’s Not?

What’s the difference between normal, age-related forgetfulness and a serious memory problem? Serious memory problems make it hard to do everyday things like driving and shopping. Signs may include:

  • asking the same questions over and over again
  • getting lost in familiar places
  • not being able to follow instructions
  • becoming confused about time, people, and places
  • Mild Cognitive Impairment

Some older adults have a condition called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, in which they have more memory or other thinking problems than other people their age. People with MCI can take care of themselves and do their normal activities. MCI may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s, but not everyone with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Signs of MCI include:
  • losing things often
  • forgetting to go to important events and appointments
  • having more trouble coming up with desired words than other people of the same age

If you have MCI, visit your doctor every 6 to 12 months to see if you have any changes in memory or thinking skills over time. There may be things you can do to maintain your memory and mental skills. No medications have been approved to treat MCI.

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, learning and reasoning—and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with daily life and activities. Memory loss, though common, is not the only sign. A person may also have problems with language skills, visual perception, or paying attention. Some people have personality changes. Dementia is not a normal part of aging.

There are different forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form in people over age 65.

National Night Out

The Ventura Police Department invites the community to participate in National Night Out! The national event, now in its 33rd year, will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1 in neighborhoods throughout the community.

National Night Out is designed to:

Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness.

Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts.

Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships.

Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

National Night Out is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by the Ventura Police Department. Over 38 million neighbors across 16,000 communities around the nation participate in the annual community building campaign.

Participating neighborhoods are asked to turn on outside lights, lock their doors, and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. Neighborhoods will be hosting a variety of events. Some event ideas include, but are not limited to, ice cream socials, disaster preparedness, games, contests, discussing neighborhood issues or setting neighborhood goals, food or clothing donations, plan a clean-up day or beautify a common area. It’s up to you! Be creative, have fun and celebrate your neighborhood! For additional ideas or questions, contact VPD Civic Engagement at 339-4317.

Register your neighborhood for this year’s event today on the Ventura Police Department’s website. Registration is free and gives police and other city representatives an opportunity to attend neighborhood gatherings as time and circumstances permit. Register now and begin planning your event with your neighbors!

National Night Out is an opportunity to enhance relationships between neighbors and police officers while bringing back a true sense of community. In 2016, Ventura neighborhoods hosted chalk drawing contests, BBQs, ice cream socials, front yard chats, children’s bike parades and more. National Night Out started in 1984 and has since swept across the nation. It is an annual event in all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canada and military bases worldwide.

July 4 Street Fair Kids’ Arts T-shirt design contest

At the July 4 Street Fair Kids’ Arts held a T-shirt design contest for children to their logo for the 4th of July. The experts at Ventura Creative Services chose a winning design and it was printed live at the Street Fair for visitors to purchase. A portion of all sales, of the contest winning design and a limited edition Ventura design, will be donated to Kids’ Arts. Visitors loved watching the process of creating a screen printed T-shirt and the little girl who won the contest was thrilled to see her artwork come to life. She is Aliyah, age 8 wearing her winning shirt.