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USCIS to Present Citizenship Certificates to 60 Young People
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) on Nov. 10 by presenting 60 local kids their citizenship certificates at Channel Islands National Park. This ceremony is representational of the partnership between USCIS and the NPS, and is a step towards our goal of holding at least 100 naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout this centennial year.
This ceremony is in recognition of children and youth who obtained citizenship through their parents. Some were adopted by U.S. citizen parents; others derived citizenship when their immigrant parents became naturalized citizens.
USCIS Supervisory Immigration Officer Mike Gorman will provide introductory remarks to youth and guests while Section Manager John Holland will deliver the keynote address and administer the Oath of Allegiance. Families and guests will also enjoy a welcome message from a NPS Ranger scuba diver from 14 miles off the coast of California. Immigration Service Officer Leon Jackson, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance along with local youths.
The 60 children hail from 23 different countries, including: Canada, Mexico, Egypt, Eritrea, Philippines, Colombia, Vietnam, Israel, Armenia, S. Korea, Iran, Guatemala, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Thailand, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, China, Romania, Yemen, Ethiopia and El Salvador.
The NPS has partnered with USCIS on promoting awareness and understanding of citizenship since 2006. Since the launch of the partnership, the NPS has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, the base of Mount Rushmore, Ellis Island, and at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
To view a complete list of naturalization ceremonies held in units of the National Park Service today, please visit uscis.gov/news.
We encourage new citizens, their families and friends to share their experiences and photos from naturalization ceremonies held at National Park Sites on social media using the hashtags #newUScitizen and #FindYourPark.
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at 10:30 a.m & 2:00 p.m.
NOTE: Please arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony begins to allow yourself enough time to check-in with the Public Affairs Officer.
The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park
1901 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura
Funny signs of the times
No parking allowed anytime except when it is allowed? Have you seen a funny sign that you would like to share? This one is from Breezy Gledhill. Send yours to [email protected].
Lynn Creighton’s new work Love, What’s It To Ya exhibit
Lynn Creighton’s new work Love, What’s It To Ya exhibited in the Ventura County’s New Work Exhibit Atrium Gallery, Hall of Administration, County Government Center
800 S. Victoria Ave.Main Plaza and 3rd Floor Levels
Vol. 10, No. 3 – November 9 – November 22, 2016 – Movie Review
Arrival / 4 Palm Trees
by Eduardo Victoria/[email protected]
Our very existence is built around the need to communicate, and more importantly, understand one another. Arrival deconstructs this idea from the ground up, exploring language as a measure of intent, an art form, and depending on how you look at it, a weapon. It’s a stunning landmark of a film, one that tackles the age-old idea of first contact with ideas and social sensitivity, rather than explosions or noisy, meaningless gunfights.
The story picks up on the day they arrive: 12 gigantic, alien ships hover strategically across the globe. The world is plunged into chaos while its leaders attempt to figure out the basic questions: Why are they here? Where did they come from? What do they want? Without any answers forthcoming, Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker) of the U.S. Army enlists the help of linguist expert, Dr. Louise Brooks (Amy Adams), and theoretical physicist, Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner). As the 12 nations involved grow progressively weary and hostile towards the visitors and each other, Brooks and Donnelly scramble to find answers which could either unite or destroy the human race.
The most noticeable thing about it is the tone – there’s a layer of unease and uncertainty, but right from the get, Villeneuve’s direction and Eric Heisserer’s script is all about wonder and exploration, rather than violence or physical threat. Like the best sci-fi, the film’s extraordinary elements (the aliens) are more a catalyst than anything else, with the true struggle occurring within the mind of its characters, as they grapple with issues of paranoia, distrust and a fear of the unknown. Without spoiling too many things, the film finds a way to completely pull the rug out from underneath us, constantly shifting whenever we think we’ve got it figured out, without ever losing sight of humanity as its focal point.
If there’s another thing to love about Villeneuve’s approach, it would have to be the level of realism that grounds his aliens and their language, both in written and verbal form. In fact, there isn’t a single aspect about the extraterrestrial visitors that doesn’t feel well thought out. From the designs of their ship to the creatures themselves, everything is simple and timeless, allowing their symbolism to speak louder than their presence. In this way, they make a huge impression, texturally weaving into the film’s themes without clouding them.
The ensemble is strong as well, with great turns from Whitaker, Renner and even Stuhlbarg, but Amy Adams is the film’s guiding light. Everything is built around her character, Louise, and Adams is perfect at embodying the story’s themes conviction. The emotional ground which the story covers is pretty vast but she gives it both the grand scale and intimacy it requires, really helping to sell the film’s complexity, especially during its final act.
Though its a film that’s all too familiar with our self-destructive ways, it’s one that chooses to uphold a piercing sense of hope, depicting its characters as intelligent people who truly want to avoid violence at all cost – a rare thing indeed. The ending also happens to be one of the smartest, most rewarding conclusions of the year, a mindtrip and that appeals to both the brain and heart. Villeneuve’s latest finds the director in peak form, armed with a message that’s as important now, as it’s ever been.
PG-13. 116 minutes. Opens November 11 at Cinemark Downtown 10.
Gold Coast Transit District provides free bus rides to veterans
Gold Coast Transit District is participating in the countywide “Veteran’s Ride free on Veteran’s Day” promotion offering free bus rides to U.S. military veterans on Friday, November 11. In appreciation for the contributions of the 40,000+ men and women currently living in Ventura County who have served in our Nation’s armed forces, Gold Coast Transit District is also proud to announce that all Veterans will now be eligible to ride at a reduced fare (1/2 price) all year with valid identification.
“While many of our local veterans may already qualify for a reduced fare due to age or disability, we recognize that many veterans who are not seniors or disabled still find it difficult to meet their transportation needs,” said Steve Brown, Gold Coast Transit District General Manager. “It is our honour and frankly, our responsibility, to help our veterans where we can.” The cost of transport for veterans can also add up very quickly, which is why so many veterans are trying to claim disability benefits with the help of VA disability lawyers.
To qualify for the Veteran’s Day free bus ride and half price fare year round, veterans may simply show veterans ID upon boarding any Gold Coast Transit District fixed-route bus. Valid ID’s include those issued by the U.S. Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs, current California Drivers License with a veteran’s designation, or other official government issued veterans ID accompanied by a current photo.
The District: Gold Coast Transit District provides safe, responsive, convenient, efficient, and environmentally responsible fixed-route bus and paratransit public transportation that serves the diverse needs of the cities of Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Ventura, and in the unincorporated County areas between the cities.
Should Medicare Age be raised to 67?
by Matilda Charles
There’s a movement afoot that, if it gains traction and becomes law, could affect many of us. Researchers have once again studied the ramifications of increasing the age of Medicare eligibility to 67. The purpose, of course, would be to save the government money.
Here are a few of the things the study discovered from the records of more than 200,000 seniors:
Overall medical spending dropped by a third when seniors switched to Medicare because the government pays providers less than private insurers.
While the government will save money, actual health-care spending will go up. A previous 2011 study concluded that while the government would save $5.7 billion (in 2014), seniors age 65 and 66 would have increased costs out of pocket of $4.5 billion. The current study agrees.
A Congressional Budget Office looked at the potential government savings in 2013, and concluded that the government could save $19 billion between 2016 and 2023.
Seniors generally would stay with the same health-care providers, who will get less money for the same services, probably 30 percent less. Those providers will continue to see existing patients because they’ll be dealing with volume in the number of patients.
So what does this mean to us? Seniors would need to spend two more years on private insurance. To keep employer-provided insurance, we’d need to stay employed for two more years.
If we were planning to retire and have Social Security as all (or at least part) of our income, we’re not likely to be able to afford the high cost of medical insurance, as it seems to go up each year as we get older.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
Vol. 10, No. 3 – November 9 – November 22, 2016 – Music Calendar
For more events go to VenturaRocks.com
Amigos Cafe & Cantina
546 E. Main St.
805-874-2232
Mondays: Open mic
Tuesdays: Musicians Night Out
Wed 11/9: Coso Live – Musicians Brew
Thurs 11/10: Smokey & Friends
Fri 11/11: Heavy Medicine
Sat 11/12: Sin Chonies
Sun 11/13: 5 pm Jade Hendrix: 9 pm Karaoke
Wed 11/16: Live Band Karaoke
Thurs 11/17: Dylan Schmitt & the Rhythm Souls
Fri 11/18: Street Lights Cadence
Sat 11/19: 6 pm Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson; 9 pm Dive Bar Messiahs
Sun 11/20: 5 pm Corsican Brothers; 9 pm Karaoke
Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Fridays: DJs – College Night
Café Fiore
66 S. California Street
(805) 653-1266
Wed 11/9: Big Adventure
Thurs 11/10: Rick Whitfield
Fri 11/11: Otis Hayes
Sat 11/12: Babylon Rockers
Tues 11/15: Fabulous Hang Overs
Wed 11/16: Donna Butler
Thurs 11/17: Whesli
Fri 11/18: Deborah Jenssen
Sat 11/19: Little Alice & the Cats
Tues 11/22: Kimberly Ford
The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
Weds & Saturdays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: 5:30 – 8:30 pm Warren Takahashi
Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: The Down Home Trio
Fri 11/11: Avery Dalton
Sat 11/12: Live Band Karaoke
Sun 11/13: 4 pm Hot Roux
Fri 11/18: On Tap
Sat 11/19: Lorenzo Martinez
Sun 11/20: 4 pm Lorenzo Martinez
Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
(805) 648-3001
Sun 11/20: 4 pm The Sunday Drivers
Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Wed 11/9: Starlight Swing Night w/ DJ Lance
Thurs 11/10: Firestick
Fri 11/11: Through the Roots
Sat 11/12: Inspector & Los Caligaris
Wed 11/16: Starlight Swing Night w/ DJ Lance
Thurs 11/17: Mike Pinto
Fri 11/18: Future Disco
Sat 11/19: Moonridge
El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: 4 pm Xoco Moraza and Friends; 9:30 DJ/Karaoke by DJ Gold Dust
Saturdays: DJ Erock
The Garage
1091 Scandie Avenue
Thurs 11/10: Harmar, Superstar and Sweet Spirit
Fri 11/11: Soft Lions
Sat 11/12: Off!, Plague Vendor
Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke
Sun 11/13: 2 pm Pull the Trigger
Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic
Gone West Cellars
5963 Olivas Park Drive
Fri 11/11: 6-8 pm Karen Eden Trio
Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wednesdays: The Swillys
Fri 11/11: The Salty Suites
Sat 11/12: Mandii Gomez
Sun 11/13: 3 pm Shawn Jones
Fri 11/18: Jade Hendrix
Sat 11/19: Mr. O
Sun 11/20: James Broz
The Greek Restaurant
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun 7:30 pm
Belly Dancing, Greek music and show
Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Mondays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band swing night
Fri 11/11: Hi Hat Entertainment presents Rob Stone & RJ Misco
Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Road
Tuesday and Wednesday: Karaoke
Thursday: Open Mic
Sunday: Karaoke
Fri 11/11: Action Down
Sat 11/12: Vital Itch
Fri 11/18: Sean Wiggins
Sat 11/19: Black Canyon Band
Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Music at 6:30
Fri 11/11: Corey Harper
Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut Street
Thurs 11/10: Belanova
Fri 11/11: Slightly Stoopid, Fortunate Youth, Perro Bravo
Sat 11/12: Tribal Theory, Dirty Rice
Fri 11/18: Pennywise, Strung Out, Unwritten Law
Sat 11/19: Suicidal Tendencies, Good Riddance
O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Tuesdays: Free Jukebox
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri 11/11: Live Band Karaoke
Sat 11/12: The Pretty Things
Pacific View Mall
3301 E Main Street
In front of Trader Joe’s
Fri 11/18: Rock Cats Rock
Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs
Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 11/13: 4:30 pm Midlife Crisis
Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
(805) 648-1143
Mon 11/14: Monday Night Dance Club with Wyatt Haupt Band Halloween Party
Mon 11/21: Monday Night Dance Club with Dick Parent Band
Prime
2209 E. Thompson Blvd
Tuesdays: Danny D
Fridays: Mike Moody
Saturdays: Jessica Ash
Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Thursdays: Music Club Open Jam Night
Fri 11/11: Kane Gang, Crying 4 Kafka
Sat 11/12: Big Rig Dollhouse, Tattered Angels, We the Underclass
Tues 11/15: Mad Doctors
Rookees Sports Bar & Grill
419 E. Main Street
(805) 648-6862
Fri and Sat: Rotating DJs
Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 11/12: Lumnesse
Sun 11/13: Milo Sledge
Sat 11/19: Daniel Stamatelaky
Sun 11/20: Dennis Russell
Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke
Tuesdays: Twisted Tuesday w/ DJ
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 11/11: Unkle Monkey
Sat 11/12: Phantom Pomps
Fri 11/18: Awesome Sauce
Sat 11/19: Crying 4 Kafka
Squashed Grapes
2351 E. Main St.
805-643-7300
Live jazz music 7-10 pm
Wed 11/9: Coda
Thurs 11/10: Meridian Trio
Fri 11/11: Hans Ottsen Quartet
Sat 11/12: The Barrelhouse Wailers
Tues 11/15: Jazz Jam
Wed 11/16: Colin Bailey Trio
Thurs 11/17: Cougar Estrada’s Lounge Trio
Fri 11/18: L.J. and the Boyz
Sat 11/19: Mike Garson Trio
Surf Brewery
4561 Market Street
Music 6-8 pm
Sat 11/12: Southside Richie
Sat 11/19: Sugar Still Duo
The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Metal Wednesdays
Get it Right Thursday DJs
Fri 11/11: Sick Boy
Sat 11/12: Rich Sheldon
Sun 11/13: Steezy Steve
Fri 11/18: Dojo Loach
Traveler Café
1070 E Front Street
Fridays 5-7 pm: Bernie Larsen
Sundays 11-1 pm: Bernie Larsen
Ventura Beach Club
281 W. Main Street
Sat 11/12: Deb Ryder, Ray Jaurique & the Uptown Brothers, Kelly’s Lot
Sat 11/19: The Barrelhouse Wailers
The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Sat & Sun: Noon Kenny DeVoe
Fri 11/11: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe; 8 pm Frank Barajas
Fri 11/18: 4 pm Kenny DeVoe; 8 pm Shoemaker Brothers
Sat 11/19: 8 pm Jason Ho
Ventura Downtown Lions Club serves Ventura County veterans
Lions Clubs International’s motto “We Serve” was definitely exemplified by members of the Ventura Downtown Lions Club. Following a full day of deep-sea fishing sponsored by Anglers Anonymous Ventura Coast, Ventura Downtown Lions Club members Kathy Shurtleff, Ken Cozzens, Adam Casillas, Rick Robinett, Tim Brown, Mike Vaseth, Ed Rogoff, Joel Crawley, Charlie Burnham and Robin Westmiller served more than 150 veterans from every branch of military service.
Lions Bar-B-Que Chair Don Fromberg arrived early to organize the team who prepared and grilled several pounds of chicken, tri-tip and garlic bread. The Lions also served baked beans, coleslaw and pumpkin pie.
The Ventura Downtown Lions Club meets the first three Thursdays of every month for lunch at Noon at The Derby Club , Ventura County Fairgrounds. For more information, visit www.venturalions.org or phone 655-5595.
For information on Anglers Anonymous Ventura Coast, visit their website anglersanonymousvc.weebly.com.
Mike Evans selected as new Facilities and Risk Manager for Channel Islands YMCA
Channel Islands YMCA Association has announced Mike Evans as their new Facilities and Risk Manager. Evans has been certified as a YMCA Team Leader, and was recognized as the Channel Islands YMCA Rookie Director of the Year in 2013.
In 2011, he joined the Channel Islands YMCA as the Director of Facilities at the Ventura Family YMCA. Evans lives in Ventura with his wife, Denise. Evans attended Ventura College, Oxnard College and Allan Hancock College and studied Fire Science. He is California Firefighter 1 Certified.