Vita Art Center, 432 N. Ventura Ave. Studio 30, www.vitaartcenter.com
Ventura College Faculty Exhibit thru April 29.
Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment
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Realty Watch: 2018 Budget Effects HUD
by Patricia Fasen, Berkshire Hathaway Realtor
Last month I wrote about the generous down payment assistance program offered by local and state governments. Under the new administration these grants are now in jeopardy of being dismantled.
The Trump administration has released the proposed 2018 budget, and it seeks to provide one of the largest increases in defense spending, without increasing the national debt.
Of the budget cuts proposed, 13.2 percent will come from the Housing and Urban Development.
Budget cuts across various government departments will be the source of funding for the planned increase in defense spending, so this budget doesn’t reduce overall government spending but instead shifts money to defense from other areas of the government.
The Upside:
The proposed budget would add $20 million for the mitigation of lead-based paint and other hazards in low-income homes, bringing the total budget for the program to $130 million. It would also provide more than $35 billion for HUD’s rental assistance program and support “homeownership through provision of Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance programs,” according to the document.
The Downside:
The budget would eliminate HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the largest federal block grant to state and local governments that is “designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households,” according to HUD.
J. René Ward, a broker-owner based in Texas, said she’s concerned that the cuts could disproportionately impact underserved minority communities in this country.
“These programs assist homeowners become part of the American Dream through education, down payment assistance and grants,” Ward said. “Are we perpetuating a larger population of renters? Are the ‘haves’ taking away money and financially benefiting from the ‘have nots’ by forcing them to rent?
The Audubon Society will share bird watching tips
The sixth annual Owl Festival will occur at Olivas Adobe Historical Park on Sunday, April 23, 11 – 3 p.m. This free afternoon of family-friendly fun will include kids’ arts and crafts, an owl info table, and photos of Olivia, the Adobe’s frequent visitor owl who has nested in the eucalyptus tree bordering the courtyard. The Ojai Raptor Center will be giving a 1-hour presentation at I p.m. and will be bringing various birds to learn about and view.
Local artists will display handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, paintings and plants for sale. Wildlife photographer Hal Epstein will display his owl series of photos. The Audubon Society will share bird watching tips and Leif Engeswick will be playing music on his unique “Book Organ.” Pizza Man Dan’s food truck will have snacks available for purchase. The Olivas Adobe is located at 4200 Olivas Park Drive. For more information 310-746-8021 or www.olivasadobe.org.
Do you know about our Did You Knows?
by Kevin O’Connor
O’Connor Pest Control’s main reason for creating Did You Knows, has been educational. We hope to be “community educators,” helping educate families about the hazards of disease-bearing pests and the important measures for controlling these dangers. Community education is one way of bolstering safety and security for all. It’s important to us to keep families, and especially children, healthy and safe.
Here are some examples of the kind of information that is distributed to families through the Did You Know program. These messages comment on rats, bed bugs, roaches, and spiders. We have also educated the public about gophers, field mice, mosquitoes, live-animal trapping, the Zika virus, and so forth.
Did you know that proper professional rodent control is essential. So virulent is the “rat pack,” that out of control rodent populations put Public Health at risk. Professional pest control vancouver operators are trained to select and safely apply rodenticides. CA regulations have already removed the strongest anti-coagulants (SGARs) from the hands of non-professional users.
Did you know that the common bed bug, formally called Cimex lectularius, has infected humankind for so many centuries that today it survives solely on human blood. Almost eradicated by DDT after WWII, bed bugs today withstand levels of pesticides many times greater than the lethal dose of a few decades ago.
Did you know that cockroaches will invade even the cleanest of homes. They find any way and every way possible to fit through cracks, crevices, piping, electrical outlets etc. to get inside homes. There are 4,500 different species and 30 live in human habitats. Cockroach fecal matter and decaying corpses become a fine powder and once inhaled are known to trigger allergies and asthma attacks.
Did you know that common house spiders can live for several years and tend to hide away in dormant places. Male house spiders are more prone to wander throughout a home in search for a mate. Spiders can lay 2 to 1000 eggs per sac depending on the species. It is reported that black widow venom is 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake.
Education is power for prevention, treatment, and wellbeing. Speaking of wellbeing, winter is gone and spring is here. So, Happy Spring to everyone.
Family Caregiver Resource Center Catholic Charities (OASIS)
by Connie De La Rosa
Finding resources during a loved one’s hospitalization or caring for a loved one at home, can become overwhelming when you are unsure where to begin to inquire about a service or just finding the time to make a call can be a task in itself.
The Family Caregiver Resource Center serves all of Ventura County, free of charge, for those caring for a loved one aged 60 and older who require assistance with at least two ADL’s such as dressing, transportation, medication management, etc. In addition, we can assist those caring for a loved one aged 19 – 59 who suffer from Alzheimer’s , Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, mild cognitive impairment or Traumatic Brain Injury. The center can provide you with many resources, referrals, support groups and trainings to ensure that family caregivers
are finding the right resources. Please call us if you have any questions about our trainings or support groups listed and for other locations at 420-9608
“A Happier Living For You”
Presented by the Elderly Behavioral Wellness Service Therapy Group
Lexington Assisted Living
5440 Ralston St, Ventura
April 27th 2 – 3 pm
“Living with Diabetes”
Presented by Gold Coast Health Plan
Ventura County Behavioral Health
725 E. Main St, Santa Paula- 3rd floor
April 25th 1 -2 p.m.
Vol. 10, No. 14 – April 12 – April 25, 2017 – Opinion/Editorial
• I have been asked why we didn’t include April fool gags in our last issue like we’ve done in past years’ issues (that has gotten me in so much trouble).
Because Scamp announced that he is very sick and won’t be with us for much longer, I didn’t want readers to think that this might be a joke, so nothing funny out of respect for him.
Regarding Scamp (read his article), he is still with us. This has been a transition time for Diane and I. He is kind of here and kind of not here. He’s not sitting next to us any longer when we eat so kind of getting used to him not being here. I said “kind of,” but it isn’t going to make it any easier.
If he would just start eating, he might get some of his strength back.
• On my new radio show on KPPQ-LP 104.1FM, I have interviewed Mayor Erik Nasarenko and Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney. The show airs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday (hopefully) at 10am. You can still hear my interview with Erik on Saturday at 10am. Try to listen and give me your feedback (good and bad) and suggestions for future guests.
• In referring to an article in the LA Times about the homeless in Pomona, our Ventura City Community Development Manager Peter Brown stated, “Which once again shows that our homeless population is not unique or even worse than other cities.”
“A couple of really interesting articles in the Times the last couple days. Pomona could be replaced with Ventura” because this article is 100% in line with what’s happening here (like it or not), because it’s all about balancing the needs of all community members.”
Pomona has taken a different approach though. Officials agreed after months of soul-searching on a comprehensive strategy that gives as much weight to enforcement as assistance. And the city is moving swiftly to remove an obstacle to that enforcement – its failure to offer people living on its streets a place to sleep or store their belongings.
Pomona has built nearly 400 steel lockers, one for every “unsheltered” homeless person in the city . Officials then approved a comprehensive plan, as well as $1.7 million to buy land for a temporary shelter with 175 beds.
To compare us to Pomona, there is one homeless per 219 residents in their city and in Ventura it is one per 275 residents, so they have us beat. And where would you rather live, here or Pomona?
There is always the concern that if our services for the homeless are more comprehensive than other local cities that we will become a magnet for the homeless. This indeed might be a reality, so it is very important that other local communities provide their share of homeless services.
Some living in Pomona argue that the city’s generosity has prompted neighboring towns to send their homeless people to services in Pomona.
Hopefully, the recently approved overlay districts that will allow homeless facilities to be created will greatly help the situation – that is, if developers can be located to provide the facilities.
• I recently attended “Live at The Fillmore” – the top Allman Brothers tribute band – at Discovery Ventura. To be honest, my music tastes are rather specific (always have been) to jazz and classics so really don’t know what the original Allman Brothers band sounded like. So, I don’t know if the band sounded like them, but they were good (I think) and had two full drummers which I had never seen before.
A great evening, and, because the food there is excellent, I ate while listening to the music. You can eat in the restaurant, the bar, while bowling or on the patio and hear the music anywhere. If you haven’t checked it out, go have a drink and take a look. And you’re not drunk if you see the bowling pins floating in the air.
• The cigarette tax rate has increased from $0.87 to $2.87 per pack of 20 cigarettes. I have never smoked, but I really oppose this. If this is a way to get folks to stop smoking then raise the cost of a pint of gin to $50 to get people to stop drinking. If it is intended that the additional money will be used for research and anti-smoking campaigns it might not happen. Additional revenue monies never seem to be used for what they were intended for. Look at the zillions of dollars being collected by lottery and building fees for our schools and yet our schools are always short of money.
• The amount of applicants who want to serve on the Measure O sales tax oversight committee have overwhelmed the city. It seems that how the new taxpayer money is spent has great interest to Venturans. About 70 applications have been received from those wanting to serve on the seven member board for either a four or three year term.
The tax is expected to generate nearly 11 million in 2017-18 and will last for 25 years.
Three members of the City Council serve on the Appointments Recommendation Committee. Neal Andrews, Christy Weir and Matt La Vere. It will be a monumental task for them to select seven from this large amount of applicants. Hopefully they will be selected in time to provide guidance for our next budget.
SYLVIA, a howlingly funny canine comedy
Rubicon Theatre Company presents a contemporary updating of the 1995 comedy SYLVIA, a howlingly funny canine comedy by Drama Desk, Obie and Lortel Award-winner A.R. Gurney (Love Letters, The Dining Room). Considered a comic masterpiece, this hilarious and heartwarming comedy follows a love triangle that forms between empty-nesters Greg and Kate (Kevin Symons and Stasha Surdyke) and an adorable mutt named Sylvia (Ashley Fox Linton).
Greg discovers Sylvia on a visit to Central Park and brings her home without asking for Kate’s consent, causing friction in their marriage. Greg and Kate confer with friends, strangers and therapists (all played by Rubicon company member Joseph Fuqua), and ultimately Greg must make a difficult choice. Ovation Award-winning director Stephanie Coltrin has set the play in 2017 in multiple locations in New York City which will be effected by an automated turntable and projections designed by Mike Billings. SYLVIA speaks to our desire for unconditional love and our need to connect on a deeper level in an increasingly fast-paced and complicated world.
The play offers insights into the nature of love, marriage, jealousy, and, of course, dogs. SYLVIA opens on Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m., followed by a post-show party with cast, crew and local VIPs. Low-priced previews are April 19-21. The show runs Wednesdays through Sundays through May 7.
Previews
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 7 p.m. ($30)
Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 8 p.m. and Friday, April 21, 2017 at 8 p.m. ($35)
Opening Night Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 7 p.m. ($99)
Regular Performance Times and Prices
Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. ($50) (Talkbacks follow all Wednesday evening shows except the April 19 Previews.)
Thursdays at 8 p.m. ($55)
Fridays at 8 p.m. ($50)
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. ($55)
Sundays at 2 p.m. ($55)
Rubicon Theatre Company
1006 E. Main St. Ventura, CA 93001
Why you get your Social Security payment when you do
Ever wished you could get your Social Security check earlier or wondered why it comes when it does. It may not cross the minds of senior citizens who filed for benefits before May 1, 1997: they get their payment on the third day of the month, unlike more recent filers who get it on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month.
When are payment days if you filed for benefits May 1, 1997 or later?
If you file for Social Security benefits May 1, 1997, or later, you are assigned one of three new payment days based on the date of birth of the person on whose record your entitlement is established (the insured individual):
The payment day for insured individuals born on the 1st through the 10th of the month is the second Wednesday of each month;
The payment day for insured individuals born on the 11th through the 20th of the month is the third Wednesday of each month; and
The payment day for insured individuals born after the 20th of the month is the fourth Wednesday of each month.
If the scheduled Wednesday payment day is a Federal holiday, payment is made on the preceding day that is not a Federal holiday.
More about those who filed before May 1, 1997
Social Security payments are usually dated and delivered on the third day of the month following the month for which the payment is due. For example, payments for January are delivered on February 3.
If the third of the month is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday, payments are dated and delivered on the first day preceding the third of the month which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday. For example, if the third is a Saturday or Sunday, payments are delivered on the preceding Friday.
When are you paid on 3rd of month, even if you filed on or after May 1, 1997?
You will receive your Social Security payment on the third of the month if you are any of the following:
A beneficiary who also receives SSI payment;
A beneficiary whose income is deemed to an SSI recipient;
A beneficiary whose Medicare premiums are paid for by the state in which you live;
A beneficiary living in a foreign country;
A beneficiary entitled to payments on the third of the month, who later became entitled on another record, as long as there is no break in your entitlement
A recipient of garnished payments, tax levy case payments, or payments made via the critical payment system; or
A beneficiary entitled on the same record as one of the above.
If you are paid on the third of the month, you can volunteer to change your payment day as long as all beneficiaries receiving benefits on your record agree. The date-of-birth formula determines the payment cycle for beneficiaries. The decision to change to a cycled payment day is permanent.
SSI payments are usually dated and delivered on the first day of the month that they are due. However, if the first falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, they are dated and delivered on the first day preceding the first of the month that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association anniversary
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association will celebrate 70 years of providing comprehensive home healthcare, compassionate hospice and vital in-home support for Ventura County residents on May 20. The agency will also honor Tom Pecht for his enduring devotion to Livingston.
The Hawaiian themed evening will take place at Old Rancho Matilija in Ojai. Nestled by an expansive lake, guests will enjoy tropical cocktails, dinner and a program.
Livingston hopes to raise $270,000 from sponsorships and tickets to this celebration. Options to support the 70th Anniversary campaign range from the purchase of event reservations for $250 each to a number of sponsorship levels. All proceeds support Livingston Memorial’s services for patients regardless of their circumstances, as well as bereavement programs in schools and the community. For more information or to donate, simply visit lmvna.org or call 642-0239.
Established in 1947, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association recognizes the growing need to provide services in the home environment for the sick, handicapped, elderly, terminally ill, and homebound. As a community supported, non-profit organization we strive to provide professional, licensed and supportive home care services of the highest quality in the most cost-effective manner to the people of Ventura County to ensure a positive patient outcome.
“Wine on the Water”
On Sunday, April 23,1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Channel Islands Yacht Club, 4100 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard Wine on the Water features five women winemakers with food/cheese pairing/ raffle/ live blues music by Catfish Fry / wine pull/Team Sistership prenstation Cost: $50 per person.
Order tickets online at Sistership.Org (under Fundraising Events) or mail check to Sistership, 2674 E. Main Street, Ventura 93003.
A fundraising benefit for Team Sistership, a team of 4 women, over 50, competing in a grueling 750-mile Race to Alaska (R2AK) on June 8. Their motto is “Active Women, Aging Proud, Growing Bold” and they race to empower others to choose active, bold adventurous lifestyles, regardless of age or gender.
A portion of the proceeds goes to scholarships for women and girls of Ventura County to participate in active, healthy programs offered through the non-profit Ventura Community Partners Association.