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Vol. 10, No. 4 – November 23 – December 6, 2016 – City Classes

3D printing and hanging tapestries

City of Ventura Barranca Vista Imagination Center classes check out hundreds more on web-site

Call  658-4726 or 654-7552 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net

3D Printing Level 1  8-16 years
11/23-1/18       W        3:30-5pm         $149+$25 supply fee   #7146
New age artists and designers will scan, model, morph and 3D print their projects using fun and easy Google Sketch-up and Autodesk Tinkercad. No class 12/28. Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Olvera Street  teen-adult
11/30               W        8:30 am-5 pm   $35      #7333
View the largest collection of hanging tapestries in a Catholic place of worship in the United States created by Ojai artist John Nava with lunch and a visit to historic Olvera Street (downtown LA) guided by Maryanne Irving. Park your car and meet your guide and bus in the parking lot behind City Hall, 501/505 Poli St.

Company coordinator meeting for Corporate Games

corpgames2017Learn more about the Corporate Games by attending an informational meeting scheduled on December 8, at 6:30 pm at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St., in the Community Meeting Room. Meetings will give tips on how to make your participation in the Corporate Games successful. Staff will also address the Point System, Selection of Events and tips on how to improve your performance in the Corporate Games. Go to http://www.cityofventura.net/corporategames for more information.

Ventura Police Department receives grant for special traffic enforcement

The Ventura Police Department has been awarded a $135,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcement and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries.  The Ventura Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.

“This grant award from the California Office of Traffic Safety provides valuable resources for our city to help keep our roadways and neighborhoods safe,” said Police Chief Ken Corney.

After falling to a ten year low in 2010, the number of persons killed has climbed nearly 17% across the state with 3,176 killed in 2015 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Particularly alarming is the six year rise in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies, and the emergence of drug-impaired driving as a major problem. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk driving, speeding and crashes at intersections.

“Years of research tell us that enforcement and education work best jointly to combat unsafe driving,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “This grant brings both tactics together, with the Office of Traffic Safety and the Ventura Police Department working in concert to help keep the streets and highways safe across Ventura and the state.”

Activities that the grant will fund include:

  • Educational presentations
  • DUI checkpoints
  • DUI saturation patrols
  • Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement
  • Motorcycle safety enforcement
  • Distracted driving enforcement
  • Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement
  • Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement
  • Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders
  • Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders
  • Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)
  • Court “sting” operations to cite individuals driving from DUI court after ignoring their license suspension or revocation
  • Stakeout operations to observe the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Vol. 10, No. 4 – November 23 – December 6, 2016 – Ojai News & Events

The Leslie Marcus Solo Fine Art Exhibition will be opening December 1 until December 31st. The exhibition will be held at the Ojai Roasting Company, located at 337 East Ojai Avenue.

The Ojai Community Chorus will present its winter concert, “A Christmas Party in a Pear Tree,” on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Ojai United Methodist Church, 120 Church Road.

The unfortunate partridge, Party, is stuck up in the pear tree. It takes some doing to get him down, but he is finally rescued just in time for Christmas. Along with this whimsical vignette the chorus will present holiday classics such as “Silver Bells,” “Silent Night,” and the exciting “Feliz Navidad”. Also featured will be John Rutter’s stirring “Gloria, Allegro Vivace”. A children’s ensemble will contribute a lively touch to the program.

Director Connie Woodson states, “A trademark of Community Chorus concerts is its presentation of a wide variety of music, providing something to please everybody’s tastes. This concert is no exception.”

Backing up the Chorus will be John Boyd on guitar and Ben Ginsberg on the piano, while James Antunez will provide background on drums and percussion.

A boutique and bake sale will also be held, with lots of Christmas ideas to help with shopping.

Tickets are available from Chorus members or at the St. Thomas Aquinas Thrift Shop, 334 E. Ojai Ave. Suggested donations are $20 for general admission in advance and $25 at the door. Seniors 65 and older and student tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 6 through 11 are admitted for $5. Children younger that 6 are admitted free, however, there are no provisions for child care.

For further information call 640-0468. Check out the Chorus’ website at ojaichorus.wordpress.com.

The Mira Monte Elementary School’s Ojai Food Truck Friday is held every first Friday of the month. It is a fund raising event for Mira Monte School. A portion of all of the sales from the food trucks is given to the school.

This next event is going to be holiday themed. There will be live music, family photos, free live music and lots of great food. It will be held on December 2nd, from 5-8:30pm, at Mira Monte Elementary School, 1216 Loma Drive. Mandrigali will perform a Yuletide set of music and The Grinch will be shown at 7:00pm (outdoor movie- people need to bring blankets or chairs).

Dr. Rainer Buschmann will visit the Ojai Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 to deliver a talk titled “Liquid Histories: Madeira and Port Wine.” Dr. Buschmann comes from CSU Channel Islands (CI), and is the final speaker in this year’s CI Library Lecture Series. His talk will highlight why Madeira became such prominent place to grow grapes during the early period of Iberian expansion. CSU Channel Islands hosts more than a dozen free public lectures from September through December. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, City Librarian, at  218-9146.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Chanukah

chanukahEvery year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. This year it starts on sundown on Dec.24 and ends on Jan.1,2017..

In the land of Judea there was a mean (boo) Syrian king, Antiochus. The king ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, their religion, their customs and their beliefs and to worship the Greek gods. There were some who did as they were told, but many refused. One who refused was Judah Maccabee.

Judah and his four brothers formed an army and after 3 years of fighting, the Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem.

When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N’er Tamid, which is present in every Jewish house of worship.

Only a tiny jug of oil was found with only enough for a single day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. Then a miracle occurred as the tiny amount of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for 8 days

Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights, Chanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate this miracle of the oil.

The menorah candles are lit to celebrate the 8 days that the oil stayed lit.

The spellings of Chanukah has caused some confusion. Part of the reason for this confusion may be due to the fact there is no exact English translation of the Hebrew word for Chanukah. So to help clear up some of the confusion here are just a few of the different spellings one might encounter.

Chanukah, Chanukkah,  Hanuka, Hanukah , Hannukah ,Hanukkah. In the United States it is most common to use the spelling Chanukah.

Vol. 10, No. 4 – November 23 – December 6, 2016 – Forever Homes Wanted

scamp-to-adopt-vcasHi: Just so you know, I didn’t pose for this picture. Really. I am this naturally beautiful 24/7. I am a healthy sized 3.5 year old girl but don’t let my size fool you. I am very calm and polite. I like toys ok, but I think they are much more fun if you are holding the other end of them! You will get my instant and complete attention if you give me deluxe treats while teaching me new commands. Just ask the staff at the adoption center to bring me out so you can meet me and see for yourself what a sweet girl I am. Ventura County Animal Services – Simi location – 670 W. Los Angeles Ave

Myra A638655

scamp-to-adopt-carlHi: I’m Lita Ford an adorable Shepherd X puppy. I’m one of 19 puppies taken in when a family became overwhelmed when their 3 unaltered female dogs became pregnant around the same time. All of my siblings and all but 1 of the puppies from the other 2 litters and their Moms have been adopted.  Shadow and I and my Mom Oola are waiting for our forever families to come and take us home too. C.A.R.L. will make sure we are all vaccinated and spayed or neutered. Children in the home must be 6 years or older. Canine Adoption and Rescue League C.A.R.L. Adoption Center-call 644-7387 for more information.

Introducing your new Bilingual Family Caregiver Resource Center!

As of July 1, 2016, the Catholic Charities- OASIS Family Caregiver Resource Center has been open and helping bilingual family caregivers get the support they need to care for their loved one. We are funded through a grant from the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging.

The OASIS Family Caregiver Resource Center provides family caregivers with free resources, referrals, trainings, workshops and case management. They have a library and a computer station available to caregivers who would like to do some research on a certain topic or search the web for information related to their family caregiving needs.

The Center provides services for those caring for a family member (unpaid) aged 60 and older who are dependent upon two or more activities of daily living  or grandparents living with and caring for a grandchild informally due to parents being unable to care for their child.  Caregivers for families between the ages of 19 – 59 may qualify for services depending on the disability.

Catholic Charities’ OASIS (Older Adults Services and Intervention System) program was founded in 1986 to assist senior residents continue to remain safely in their own homes.  Throughout Ventura County, OASIS serves persons age sixty and above.  There are no fees or other qualifications to become a client.

OASIS offers individualized case management to seniors based on in-home assessments.  Following the in-home assessment, OASIS staff develops an appropriate care plan based on each client’s individual needs.

They also have a great volunteer program. Volunteers serve as “Friendly Visitors” or Volunteer Drivers who drive clients to their doctor appointments. They are actively recruiting for volunteers to serve throughout Ventura County.

Call  420-9608 for more information and to volunteer.

 

Vol. 10, No. 4 – November 23 – December 6, 2016 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

10-29 11:00am, received a report of a fuel spill near VHV H-dock.  Officers responded, found a significant spill and thoroughly searched the area.  A possible source was located, mitigated and the spill is under investigation.

7:15pm, received a report of an unconscious person in the restrooms at 1500 Spinnaker Drive.  Officers responded and assisted a local female transient.  She was transported to local hospital for further evaluation.       
10-30 9:15am, officers observed significant debris flowing from the baranca and inundating the patrol dock and vessels. This was due to the rain event last night               
10-31 9:56am, officers received a lost dog and determined the owner was from the yacht club.  The dog was given to a neighbor until the owner returned.

4:13pm, received a report of 2 kayakers capsized and in the water.  Officers responded and assisted the kayakers who were capsized by a wave and picked up their belongings that were mostly on the beach.  The victims were uninjured and on a paddling trip from British Columbia.                   
11-1 6:25pm, received a report of an ill person on a sailboat in need of evacuation near the Ventura Pier.  Officers responded and towed the vessel back to the harbor and released the persons and the boat at the launch ramp.

8:25pm, received a report of an unconscious person in a vehicle.  Officers responded and assisted AMR, Ventura Fire with the patient.  He was transported via AMR to local hospital for further evaluation.                    
11-3 1:15am, observed a large sailboat secure to District’s longdock.  Officers contacted the captain and ascertained they were in the wrong harbor.  He thought they were in Channel Islands Harbor.                         
11-4 9:45am, observed a 32ft motor vessel that has been anchored near the Ventura Pier for a few weeks was dragging anchor due to large waves.  Officers responded with City fire and State Lifeguards to save the vessel from going aground, but the vessel went aground before officers could attempt a rescue.

5:31pm, received a dispatch to a fall victim at 1300 block of Spinnaker Drive.  Officers responded and discovered a local female transient refusing medical attention for a fall.         
11-6 1:30pm, due to the very large surf, officers spent the afternoon contacting kayaks, PWC’s and small boats and advising of the dangerous conditions.

5:50pm, received dispatch to a fall victim at the marina mobile home park.  Officers responded, assisted a male who fell out of his chair injuring his hand.   
11-8 8:45am, received dispatch to a traffic accident on Northbound Harbor.  Officers responded and assisted victims and found only a minor injury.  The responsible party fled the scene, but was apprehended nearby by Ventura PD.