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Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – As I See It

Unfortunately, River Haven is closing down. This was the perfect solution to help with our city’s homeless problems. Hopefully, other living arrangements can be found for those living there so they will not become Ventura homeless (see article in this issue).

The earth has sweltered through its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever, with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Last month was not only the hottest August scientists ever recorded with modern equipment by far, it was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023.

August was about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than pre-industrial averages. That is the threshold that the world is trying not to pass, though scientists are more concerned about rises in temperatures over decades, not merely a blip over a month’s time.

The world’s oceans were the hottest ever recorded, 69.8 degrees, and have set high temperature marks for three consecutive months. Call it what you wish (and blame whomever you wish), but how can it be denied that the earth is going though severe climate change.

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison for orchestrating his far-right extremist group’s attack on the U.S. Capitol in a failed bid to stop the transfer of presidential power after Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

Tarrio’s sentence is the longest so far among more than 1,100 Capitol riot cases, topping the 18-year sentences that Oath Keeper’s founder Stewart Rhodes and one-time Proud Boy’s leader Ethan Nordean received after juries convicted them of seditious conspiracy and other charges.

“We need to make sure the consequences are abundantly clear to anyone who might be unhappy with the results of 2024, 2028, 2032 or any future election for as long as this case is remembered,” prosecutor Conor Mulroe said. “This was a calculated act of terrorism.”

Interesting was the fact that Tarrio wasn’t in Washington, D.C, when Proud Boys members joined thousands of Trump supporters, who smashed windows, beat police officers and poured into the House and Senate chambers. But prosecutors say the 39-year-old Miami resident organized and led the Proud Boys’ assault from afar.

Gets me thinking – who else wasn’t there that was a major contributor to this insurrection?

President Joe Biden is “old” and “confused,” and former President Donald Trump is “corrupt” and “dishonest.” Those are among the top terms Americans use when they’re asked to describe them. Unflattering portraits of Biden and Trump emerge in a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which asked an open-ended question about what comes to mind when people think of them.

According to the indictment filed in federal court in Delaware by a special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden case, Biden is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm in October 2018, a period when he has acknowledged he was struggling with addiction to crack cocaine.

Of course, this law is necessary but not the “federal case” Republicans are making out of it. If we put everyone in prison who lied when purchasing a gun we would need a lot more prisons. And perhaps other Biden transgressions far exceed this particular item.

I think appropriate punishment would be a hefty fine and community service. He could mow the lawn at the White House and dad could bring him lemonade when it gets hot.

Can I prevent dementia?

As you age, you may have concerns about the increased risk of dementia. You may have questions, too. Are there steps I can take to prevent it? Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk? There are currently no approaches that have been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. However, as with many other diseases, there may be steps you can take to help reduce your risk.

A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of developing a disease. Some risk factors can be controlled while others cannot. For example, a person is not able to control their age, which is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Another uncontrollable risk factor is a person’s genes. Genes are structures in our body’s cells that are passed down from a person’s birth parents. Changes in genes — even small changes — can cause diseases.

Race and gender are also factors that influence risk. Research shows that African Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of dementia, and that risk factors may differ for women and men. Researchers are investigating what’s behind these differences.

However, people do have control over their behavior and lifestyle, which can influence their risk for certain diseases. For example, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease. Lowering blood pressure with lifestyle changes or medication can help reduce a person’s risk for heart disease and heart attack.

For Alzheimer’s and related dementias, no behavior or lifestyle factors have risen to the level of researchers being able to say: This will definitely prevent these diseases. But there are promising avenues.

The number of older Americans is rising, so the number of people with dementia is predicted to increase. However, some studies have shown that incidence rates of dementia — meaning new cases in a population over a certain period of time — have decreased in some locations, including in the United States. Based on observational studies, factors such as healthy lifestyle behaviors and higher levels of education may be contributing to such a decline. But the cause and effect is uncertain, and such factors need to be tested in a clinical trial to prove whether they can prevent dementia.

A review of published research evaluated the evidence from clinical trials on behavior and lifestyle changes to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive decline. The review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of behavioral changes (called interventions): physical activity, blood pressure control, and cognitive training. The findings mean that interventions in these areas are promising enough that researchers should keep studying them to learn more. Researchers continue to explore these and other interventions to determine whether — and in what amounts or forms — they might prevent dementia.

Although there is no effective treatment or proven prevention for Alzheimer’s and related dementias, in general, leading a healthy lifestyle may help address risk factors that have been associated with these diseases.

Control high blood pressure.
Manage blood sugar.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Eat a healthy diet.
Keep physically active.
Stay mentally active.
Stay connected with family and friends.
Drink less alcohol. Drinking website.
Stop tobacco use.

Fall Prevention Forum set for in-person return

After being held virtually for the past three years, the annual Fall Prevention Forum – co-hosted by the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition, the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, and the City of Oxnard – will return to an in-person gathering at the end of September.

The 2023 forum – “Fall Back to the ‘70s” – will be held on Friday, September 29, at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center (800 Hobson Way). Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and the program will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free to attend.

A Spanish translation service will be made available upon request. A free lunch will be provided.

Participants will hear from Dr. Thomas Duncan, chair of the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition; keynote speaker Dr. Javier Romero, the program director for surgery at the Ventura Community Memorial Health System; and a panel of experts. They will also have the opportunity to take part in Zumba or Tai Chi demonstrations, get free immunizations and health screenings, and go through balance and gait screenings.

Participants may pre-register by visiting www.vcaaa.org/falls and filling out the registration form, or by calling the VCAAA at (805) 477-7300.

The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the County of Ventura’s Human Services Agency, is charged with the responsibility to promote the development and implementation of a comprehensive coordinated system of care that enables older individuals, children and adults with disabilities, and their caregivers to live in a community-based setting. The VCAAA advocates for the needs of those 60 years and older in the county, providing leadership and promoting citizen involvement in the planning process as well as in the delivery of services.

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Actors Explore Asian Consciousness

The Elite Theater Company, housed in Channel Islands on Victoria Avenue, presents a tale on their South Stage of complex discussions surrounding heritage, typecasting and discrimination in Yankee Dawg, You Die written by Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Jolyn Johnson. With just two actors, the play chronicles a chance meeting and ultimate long-term acquaintance between a neophyte Asian actor (Tae Ho Yoon) and one of his heroes, an accomplished seasoned and lauded Asian actor (Eric R. Umali).

Yoon’s character, Bradley Yamashita, questions how to represent the Asian community in a dignified way, while Umali’s Vincent Chang, having been around the business for years, has accepted the realities of “playing the game” to get roles. The disparity between them create the basic premise of the play.

The two verbally parry their way through two acts as they compare their differing views of the business of acting and theorize where and when the truth should be lines drawn in the sand.

The stage is not encumbered by set pieces. Physical movement is kept to a minimum as the rookie Bradley clings to his desire to “stay true” to his heritage but not be typecast. Chang also performs with an economy of movement, preferring to offer little in the way of sage advice, which Bradley clearly wants. The use of video reels on the back wall (well put together by up-and-coming cinematographer Wesley Umali) adds some much-needed insights into some of the conversation.

I feel that this play should be and could easily be condensed to a one-act play. The dialogue laboring over type-casting Asians in certain roles certainly can apply to any minority and the stereotypes with which actors are easily pigeon-holed. As Chang points out, however, an actor’s life is one of constant compromise. To ensure longevity, an actor must be flexible and willing/able to step beyond and take chances, a step that the idealist Bradley seems reluctant to embrace.

Umali is excellent as the staid Chang. Diction is clear, the voice carries well. His understated inflections are a work of art. Umali’s portrayal of the seasoned actor is quietly solid.

Yoon fared less well in the diction department, and I found it quite challenging to adapt to his accent and vocal pace. Much like his character, he will learn from his chosen master.

The conversation never seemed to reach a high point or reach out with any pearls of wisdom. It just went on. Several other aspects of the unlikely friendship between the characters were presented as hints but not fully explored, leaving more questions than answers.
Yankee Dawg You Die is the last play in Elite’s current season.

The theater will be presenting a spooky opportunity around Halloween and then will focus on the next season opening in January. Check their website frequently for updates and happenings.

Yankee Dawg You Die continues through October 1 with performance Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with one Thursday performance on September 28. www.theelite.org.

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
A Million Miles Away – Prime Video

“A Million Miles Away” shares the true story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández (Michael Peña) on his quest from his childhood dream of being an astronaut to becoming the first migrant farm worker in space spending 13 days on the International Space Station. José‘s father shared with him at a young age that there were five key ingredients to achieving success in anything and José followed his father’s road map with unstoppable determination to eventually achieving what most would consider impossible.

According to José’s father, the first ingredient to success was to find your goal, and when José was seven years old he saw the Apollo 11 launch in 1969 on television and knew then that he wanted to be an astronaut. Around that same time, José‘s teacher Miss Young met with his parents expressing concern over their constant travel and his education knowing that he had some special gifts, even telling José he was a force of nature and to remember nothing will stop him. José‘s dad realized having his family work in the fields was not a good future, so they settled in Stockton, California where José grew up and graduated from the University of the Pacific.

The second Ingredient to success was to know how far you are from achieving your goal. In 1985 José got a job as a lab engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and began applying to the NASA program. He met his future wife Adela (Rosa Salazar) when buying a car, but she wanted to be a chef and supported José‘s goal to be an astronaut. José received a promotion at work and things were going well until Adela found a rejection letter, discovering he had applied to NASA six times without telling her. They agreed to work together to identify why he wasn’t getting in, identifying some key skills including working on building his body, learning Russian, as well as learning to fly and scuba dive.

José‘s father said the third ingredients to success was to draw a road map, which became easier now that he had identified what skills he needed to attain. He received a promotion and shortly after was assigned to go to Russia for six months where he learned Russian. He also went to flight school and got his pilot’s license as well as earning his diving credentials. After being denied 11 times, José went directly to NASA and found Commander Sturckow (Garret Dillahunt) to ask for a explanation about being rejected from the program. José shared all of his recent accomplishments and shortly after José received an acceptance letter from NASA.

The fourth ingredient for success according to José‘s father was if you don’t know how to learn how, so in 2003 José moved this family to new home in Selma just outside of the Johnson space center for NASA having been selected from tens of thousands for a rigorous training few pass. José rescued a teammate during a water training exercise which was recognized very highly by his by Struckow and also received much support from a female trainer named Kaipana Chawla (Sarayu Blue) who was a member of the next flight of the Columbia Space Shuttle which unfortunately blew up shortly after launch.

José was told ingredient number five was when you think you’ve made it you probably have to work harder. In 2008 José was chosen for the next shuttle launch as mission specialist number two on Space Shuttle Discovery piloted by Cmd Rick Struckow. Miss Young visited him before take off sharing José‘s drawing about his dream of becoming an astronaut she kept from when he was a child in her class. José’s shuttle mission STS-128 remained on board the International Space Station for 13 days, and José was the first migrant farm worker to have traveled into space.

Runtime: 2h 1m

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

Ventura Artwalk 2023 takes place over the weekend of September 23 and 24 from 11 am – 7 pm. You’ll find art from local artisans in venues throughout the city at dozens of locations, as well as live music on the downtown stage at California and Main Streets, the City Hall Atrium, WAV Courtyard stage, and Steve TV at Mission Park. Get all the details and strategize your weekend at ArtwalkVentura.org.

The end of summer Beachside Bash BBQ will be held at the San Buenaventura State Beach benefiting the Ventura Rotary Club. This one costs $10 and features live music from Nautical Thrust and The Bomb on Saturday, September 23. Along with the music, there will be a car show as well as a national ribeye steak cookoff.

The 10th annual Banana Festival is Saturday, September 30, from 10 am – 5 pm at the Port of Hueneme. This free event includes port tours, a kid’s zone, tasty eats (a lot having to do with the event’s namesake), a marketplace and of course live music! The electric mix of entertainment features Los Cool Arrows (Latin pop, reggae), Tribute to the Greats (music featuring artists such as Steve Wonder, Chaka Khan), Upstream (Calypso w/ steel drums), Fausto Cuevas Y La Moderna (Salsa), and Coso Live (R&B, high energy pop). One’s things for sure, wear comfortable shoes because you’ll want to dance!

Oceanview Pavilion in Port Hueneme has a Steely Dan tribute band called Doctor Wu on Saturday, September 23, and Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages play the following weekend on Saturday, September 30. Just a reminder, Krieger was an original member of The Doors.

Candlelight Concerts are being produced in over 100 cities worldwide including Oxnard at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. There’s a tribute to Taylor Swift in November, a haunted evening of Halloween classics (think Thriller, Tubular Bells, Beetlejuice theme, Psycho, etc…) running in October, and a number of dates featuring the music of Vivaldi in September and October. Ticket information can be found at Feverup.com.

Quick Notes: Ventura Blues Night returns to Bombay Bar and Grill on Wednesday nights; another installation of Rock the Collection is Wednesday, September 20 with Prince Again; there’s a special fundraiser/birthday bash in honor of Ted Neeley at the Rubicon on Wednesday, September 20; Swing Shift plays the Sportsman on Sunday, September 24; The Trivle Omdobble returns to Topa Topa Brewing on Colt Street, Sunday, September 24; Bloody Mary Morning plays Rincon Brewery on Friday, September 29; Todd Hannigan opens for David Burden at the Deer Lodge on Friday September 29; Salzer’s Records has a special in store acoustic set with Briston Maroney on Monday, October 2; and finally, Shawn Jones has a new release called In my Blood as he heads back overseas for a European tour for most of October.

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.

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

Anna’s Cider
801 E. Main St., Santa Paula
Fri 9/29: Corey Hugh Highberg

Artwalk Ventura
Downtown Stage (California & Main)
Sat 9/23: Shaky Feelin’, Brion Shearer, Twice as Clever, Maya Lumen
Sun 9/24: The Heavy Hitters, One People, Honey Owl, Tribal Me, Cantes Folcloricos

Banana Festival
105 E. Port Hueneme, CA
Sat 9/30: Los Cool Arrows, Tribute to the Greats, Upstream, Fausto Cuevas y la Moderna, Cosolive

Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts
Logan House, 8585 N. Ojai Rd., Ojai
Sun 9/24: Gregg Karukas
Fri 9/29: Gypsy Meets Choro (Olli Soikkeli & Ceasar Garabini)

Bellringer Brewing Company
472 E. Main St., Ventura
Sun 9/24: Déjà vu Too

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Music 6-9; except Sundays 4-7
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 9/22: Bill Macpherson & Friends
Sat 9/23: Two’s Company
Tues 9/26: Noah Thoresen
Fri 9/29: Mack and D
Sat 9/30: Shore Break

Bombay Bar and Grill
143 S. California St., Ventura
Wed 9/20: Blues Night w/ Pat McClure
Wed 9/27: Blues Night w/ Milo Sledge

Café Fiore
66 California St., Ventura
Tuesdays: Open Mic and Jam
Wed 9/20: Fabulous Hangovers
Fri 9/22: Heathers on Fire
Wed 9/27: Heathers on Fire
Fri 9/29: Otis Hayes

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 9/22: The Raw Honey Band
Sat 9/23: Whiskey Kick
Fri 9/29: Whiskey Business
Sat 9/30: Lil Bit of Everything

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Mondays: Glenn Bennett
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Sun 9/24: Freddie and Friends

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 9/22: The Outlaw Mariachi
Sat 9/23: Heller Highwater
Fri 9/29: The Mixxers Band

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Fri 9/22: Weeed
Sat 9/23: The Mercer, Brother Earl
Thurs 9/28: Tommy Guerrero
Fri 9/29: David Burden, Todd Hannigan

Feros Ferio
310 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Sat 9/23: Ashford Gordon & Eric Monteith

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
(Fridays 6-8:30; Sundays 1-3:30)
Fri 9/22: Mid Life Crisis
Sun 9/24: Strummed Down
Fri 9/29: Ignition
Sun 10/1: Moxy Raven

Garage
1091 Scandia Ave., Ventura
Sat 9/23: Keyth G, Buffalo Trance
Fri 9/29: Steph’s Rockin’ Roadshow

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Wed 9/20: Why Jazz?
Thurs 9/21: David Gorospe & the Cosmic Geckos
Fri 9/22: Flamenco al Rojo Vivo!
Sat 9/23: Dr. T & the Blues Criminals (2 pm); Bassel & the Supernaturals (8 pm)
Wed 9/27: Native Vibe
Thurs 9/28: Joel Frahm & Grapham Dechter, Jordan Seigel & Alex Frank
Fri 9/29: Anthony Fung Quartet
Sat 9/30: Debbie Davis (2 pm); Barrelhouse Wailers (8 pm)

Institution Ale
3841 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo
Thurs 9/28: Delta by the Beach

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Fri 9/22: Pull the Trigger
Fri 9/29: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 9/30: The Balance

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Thurs 9/21: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
Sat 9/23: One People
Sun 9/24: Mark Masson Jam Grass
Fri 9/29: Boom Duo
Sat 9/30: Zeeceekeely
Sun 10/1: Midtown Modern

Libbey Bowl
210 S. Signal St., Ojai
Sat 9/30: Led Zepagain

Madewest Brewing
1744 Donlon St., Ventura
Sat 923: Josh Nordgren

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Wed 9/20: Pepper
Wed 9/27: Bad Religion
Thurs 9/28: Marc E. Bassy
Fri 9/29: Digitalism
Sat 9/30: Highway Starr

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wednesdays: Warren Takahashi
Thurs 9/21: Michael Falcone
Fri 9/22: Tour Support
Sat 9/23: Mark and Jim Duo
Thurs 9/28: Tom McMorran
Fri 9/29: Pam and Hollywood
Sat 9/30: Lisa Ritner Duo

Margarita Villa
1567 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Fri 9/22: Sounds like Fun
Sat 9/23: Crosscut 805
Sun 9/24: CRV
Fri 9/29: Dive Bar Messiahs
Sat 9/30: On Tap
Sun 10/1: Doc Rogers Band

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 9/23: Sunnie Daze
Sun 9/24: Teresa Russell
Sat 9/30: Goleta Sound

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Thurs 9/21: ;Music for Connection
Fri 9/22: Listening Room Redux
Sat 9/23: Leon Rosen

Oceanview Pavilion
575 E. Surfside Dr., Port Hueneme
Sat 9/23: Doctor Wu, Faultline
Sat 9/30: Robby Krieger and the Soul Savages, Kyle Rising

Ojai Valley Brewing
307 Bryant St., Ojai
Fri 9/22: Blown Over
Sat 9/23: Jazzman Suite
Sat 9/30: Irie Nature

Ojai Underground Exchange
616 Pearl St., Ojai
Sat 8/23: Twanguero
Sat 9/30: Adam Levy
Sun 10/1: Gadan

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Road, Camarillo
Fri 9/22: Vinny Berry
Sat 9/23: Leeann Skoda
Fri 9/29: Nate Latta
Sat 9/30: Smokey & Friends

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Thurs 9/21: Listeso String Quartet performing Vivaldi

Peirano’s
204 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 9/29: Three Cheers

Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Rd., Ventura
Sun 10/1: Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.

Poseidon Brewing
5777 Olivas Park Dr., Ventura
Fri 9/22: Hold my Beer

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri & Sat 7 pm; Sunday 2 pm
Fri 9/22: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 9/23: Breaking Bored
Sun 9/24: Shay Moulder
Fri 9/29: Jayden Secor Band
Sat 9/30: Holgers Heros

Rincon Brewery
4100 Telegraph Rd., Ventura
Fri 9/29: Bloody Mary Morning

Rock the Collection
2751 Park View Ct., Oxnard
Wed 9/20: Prince Again

Rubicon Theatre Company
1006 E. Main St., Ventura
Wed 9/20: Ted Neeley’s Birthday Bash

Salzer’s Records
5777 Valentine Rd., Ventura
Mon 10/2: Briston Maroney

Sam’s Place
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Fri 9/22: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio

San Buenaventura State Beach
901 San Pedro St., Ventura
Sat 9/23: Beachside Bash BBQ with Nautical Thrust, The Bomb

The Shores
1031 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Fri 9/22: Jake McClelland (4 pm); Goleta Sound (8 pm)
Sat 9/23: Sin Chonies
Fri 9/29: CRV
Sat 9/30: The Riffs

The Six
419 E. Main St., Ventura
Sat 9/23: Rising Son
Sat 9/30: Top Shelf

The Sportsman
4426 Central Ave., Camarillo
Sun 9/24: Swing Shift

Strey Cellars
951 N. Rice Ave., Oxnard
Sat 9/23: NDR CVR SPR GRP
Sun 9/24: 805 Social Club
Sat 9/30: Bad Habit

Taqueria Jalisco
4275 Tierra Rejada Rd., Moorpark
Tuesdays & Fridays: Jim Friery

Topa Topa Brewing
2024 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Fri 9/22: Steve and Sally Williams

Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Sun 9/24: The Trivle Omdobble
Tues 9/26: Friendly Jam

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 9/22: Brobots
Sat 9/23: Adam Lenhard (noon); Dive Bar Steve (4 pm)
Sun 9/24: Ashley Andrade (noon); Rick and Jenny (2:30); Keyth G (5 pm)
Wed 9/27: The Pennies and A
Fri 9/29: Mark Masson and Phriends
Sat 9/30: Jack Keough (noon); Beau James Wilding (4 pm); Jazzmen Suites (8 pm)

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter, Lowered Expectations
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Conjunto Zacamandu

Ventura Harbor Village
1559 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Sat 9/23: Unkle Monkey

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Wed 9/20: James Hunter
Thurs 9/21: Iya Terra
Sat 9/23: Stephen Marley, Old Soul unplugged
Sun 9/24: Prof, Zombie Juice, Cashinova, J. Plaza, Willie Wonka
Wed 9/27: Landon McNamara, FYAH, The Wide Eyed Kids, Chukuboy
Thurs 9/28: The Steel Woods, Zach Top
Fri 9/29: Donavon Frankenreiter
Sat 9/30: Matt Maeson
Mon 10/2: The Church
Tues 10/3: Kurt Vile and the Violator

Waterside
3500 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 9/23: Unkle Monkey
Thurs 9/28: Vinny Berry
Fri 9/29: Billie Lee
Sat 9/30: Dave Blanchard

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 3 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 9/21: Vanise & Eric
Fri 9/22: Déjà vu Too w/ Bob Nichols
Sat 9/23: Tessa & Downey
Sun 9/24: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Thurs 9/28: Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson
Fri 9/29: Cats on the Bandstand
Sat 9/30: Teresa Russell
Sun 10/1: Soul Machine

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B St., Oxnard
Thursdays: D.on Darox

Vol. 16, No. 26 – Sept 20 – Oct 3, 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. For more information, https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will have a 6-week session for the Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and the Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). The group will meet every Thursday from 6:30–7:30 p.m. starting October 5 through November 9. Trained grief counselors support, educate, and plan activities regarding losing a loved one. Groups are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment. Please register by October 3 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Livingston Memorial Grief & Bereavement Program will offer a Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. The class will be on October 16th and 23rd, Mondays 5:30–7:30 pm. The training looks at the characteristics of grief and mourning and how to companion someone who has lost a loved one. Please register by October 11 by calling 805-389-6870 or email [email protected].

Sept. 23: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), a nonprofit organization that helps those living in poverty, will host a 5K Charity Walk Saturday in Carpinteria. The 5K Charity Walk/Run is free for all walkers, and each walker will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Register in advance online at www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. For more information or to donate, visit www.fopwalk.org/event/2834. Participants can also make pledges or donations to the Conference of their choice during registration at the St. Joseph Church Office, 1532 Linden Ave.

Sept. 23: Our monthly plant and collectibles sale continues on the grounds at the Dudley House. Bromeliads, orchids, and succulents will be on sale, along with various collectibles, from 8 – 2 p.m. Vendors, please call Charlie at 805/746-4317 for details. The museum is at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood). Free.

Sept.23: The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Sept. 27: The Channel Islands Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (CICEGA) will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive, Camarillo. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, [email protected] or visit our website at https://www.channelislandsega.org.

Sept. 27: The College Area Community Council in Ventura will hold a Zoom meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Includes speakers and discussion on neighborhood and community interest topics, including public safety and economic development. Everyone on the CACC mailing list will receive a link to the meeting. Visit the College Area Community Council website @ https://caccventura.com to learn more, to be added to the mailing list, or to access a link to the Zoom meeting.

Oct. 1: Open house tours of the 1892 Dudley Historic House Museum will take place on Sunday, October 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. With Halloween fast approaching, tour guides Richard Senate and Lynn Weitzel (co-authors of “Are There Ghosts at the Dudley House?”) may add a few ghost stores if asked. Admission is free. The museum is located at the corner of Loma Vista and Ashwood Streets (197 N. Ashwood) in Ventura. For information please call (805) 642-3345 or visit the website at dudleyhouse.org.

Oct. 1:Old-Time Country Bluegrass Gospel Music Assoc.2-4pm. Poinsettia Pavilion 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003 Live Music on stage. Jamming in the Canada Room. Free Admission. Free parking Open to the Public. For more information call 805-517-1131 or visit Facebook: OTCBGMA

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting.. The meeting is at a new address. Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker is Debbie She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years. She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member. She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

10am to 11:30am. Doors open at 9:30am. BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme. It has dozens of small groups, off shoots from sports activities, to wine tasting, bridge, games, book groups, movie group and more.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Webinar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30-3:30 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

Incorporating Social History into Your Research Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence” The Genealogist’s Quadfecta “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem Registration is open ($35 fee) at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct.28: Channel Islands PC User Group (CIPCUG) Online and Live at our temporary site in Ventura County Computers 2175 Goodyear Avenue, Unit 117 Ventura, (805) 289-3960 Discussion, Tutorial, and Q&A sessions centered around Computers, email, the Internet, AI, and social media brokers such as X, Facebook, and Google. Events begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. All CIPCUG events are available online. Due to limited space, live attendance is for members only.

Ventura Police and Ventura Fire Department hold community block party

Crime prevention and fire safety issues were the major themes of the event. Photos by Richard Lieberman

by Richard Lieberman

The Ventura Police Community Foundation, the Ventura Police and the Ventura Fire Departments hosted Ventura residents at a block party on Saturday, August 25th. The community event was held at police headquarters 1425 Dowell Drive in Ventura.

Crime prevention and fire safety issues were the major themes of the event. Officials welcomed a crowd of Ventura residents to get a glimpse behind the inner workings of both the Ventura Police and Fire Departments. Also included as exhibitors Ventura County Sheriff’s office, Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura Harbor Patrol, American Medical Response among several others.

A demonstration of K9 abilities and use in crime prevention and pursuit techniques was a crowd pleaser and attracted some of the largest crowds. K9 Handlers demonstrated the police dogs’ capabilities in rescue and crime fighting. In a closed arena the dogs demonstrated holding on to a potential subject, leaping from a police car window and demonstrating a soft and peaceful demeanor as youngsters and adults alike bravely petted and caressed the animals.

A SWAT rescue vehicle was exhibited and open for public view, police motorcycles, patrol vehicles, Ventura County Police Helicopter, CSI demonstrations, Jaws of Life Demonstration, Fire Engines, Ventura Harbor Patrol jet skis, Jaws of Life demonstrations, were among a few of the activities available at the event.

There were plenty of kid friendly events including Face Painting, Fire extinguisher game, Kids Firefighter challenge course and a coloring contest.

Almost all the exhibits were manned by working police and fire professionals. This event was a great opportunity for residents and families to engage with local law enforcement, firefighters, dispatchers and members of the Ventura Police and Fire departments.

Empowering Youth Through STEM: The Transformative Journey of the Idea Center

On Ventura Avenue, a beacon of knowledge and innovation stands tall.

by Ross Williams

Once condemned, the building that houses the Idea Center has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. What was once in a state of decay has been revitalized and has now become a symbol of hope, a place where young minds gather to explore, learn, and envision a brighter future. Jaelen Hsu and Alex Wulff’s unwavering dedication has breathed new life into this space, creating an environment that nurtures curiosity and fuels aspirations. It has become a catalyst for change, empowering the next generation of engineers, artists and creative thinkers.

The Idea Center is a groundbreaking experiment. It is a hands-on central hub and permanent location for the Stembassadors program. Created in 2017 Stembassabdors was started with a group of middle and highschoolers intent on providing opportunities to others in the fields of innovation, design, entrepreneurship and art. They wanted to get more “Maker Technology” in as many classrooms and hands as possible. Stembassadors created “Spark Carts” and gave them away to local schools and programs. These Mobile Makers included 3d printers, laser engravers, CNC machines and more. At the core of it all, the mission is a commitment to accessibility and equity. The center breaks down barriers that often hinder students from pursuing STEM education. By providing opportunities to those who may not have had them otherwise, the Idea Center is leveling the playing field and fostering a diverse community of budding creatives.

Catering to 6th graders through high school students, the center is designed to engage and challenge young minds at various stages of development. Through hands-on experiments, interactive workshops, and collaborative projects, students are encouraged to explore the realms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The center’s diverse array of equipment ensures that there’s something for every curious mind.

What sets the Idea Center apart is its unique approach to leadership and learning. Jaelen and Alex firmly believe in the power of youth agency. Here, the young participants aren’t just attendees; they are the driving force behind the center’s activities. They take charge, training newcomers, conceptualizing and executing projects, building and designing tools and stepping into roles of responsibility. This approach not only instills leadership skills but also fosters a sense of ownership and a deep pride in the center’s success.

The Idea Center is where creativity flourishes and ideas come to life. Students collaborate on projects that range from designing t shirts, to building complex CNC machinery. Through these endeavors, they not only grasp complex STEM concepts but also develop critical problem-solving skills that will serve them well in any field they choose to pursue.

As the center’s influence continues to grow, it is clear that the Idea Center isn’t just about STEM education; it’s about creating a community of empowered individuals who are poised to make a real impact on the world. The condemned building on Ventura Avenue now stands as a symbol of transformation and possibility, a testament to what can happen when passion, education, and innovation converge.

In a world that is becoming increasingly driven by technology and scientific discovery, the Idea Center stands as a beacon of hope, nurturing the potential of young minds and equipping them with the tools they need to build a brighter, more promising future. Thanks to Jaelen, Alex, and the countless young visionaries they’ve inspired, Ventura’s Idea Center is more than just a place; it’s a movement that is shaping the trajectory of generations to come.

If you’d like to learn more, check out www.stembassadors.net

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