Mini Gray family reunion at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Terrence, mom and dad Marcia and Joseph Gray with uncle James Francis Gray
All posts by admin
Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to students
The Ventura College Foundation recently announced the addition of three new employees. Sean Donnelly has been brought on as database coordinator, Jaimee Hanna as programs and events coordinator and Susan O’Connell as administration and operations coordinator.
“We’re excited to have Sean, Jaimee and Suzie join our core staff, as they each show such enthusiasm and dedication and can provide our growing foundation with unique skills and expertise that will give us more capacity to expand our goals,” said Norbert Tan, Ventura College Foundation executive director.
Hanna received her bachelor degree in public health at Oregon State University. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as an executive assistant at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County. As programs and events coordinator, Hanna will implement programs such as the Ventura College Promise and textbook lending library, as well as manage events such as annual scholarship galas and ceremonies.
Donnelly received his bachelor degree in liberal arts at Thomas Aquinas College, and was employed in various positions there for over three years before graduating in May. As database coordinator, he will oversee the analysis of the annual fund, major and planned gifts, marketing, and fundraising. He will also help identify annual, major and planned gift donors to help support the Foundation’s funding more student scholarships and academic program needs.
O’Connell received her associate degree at Ventura College, and her bachelor degree in psychology at California State University, Channel Islands. She brings over 15 years of experience in customer service to her position as administration and operations coordinator. O’Connell serves as office manager and supports executives and staff by managing the day-to-day operations at the Foundation.
Established in 1983, the Ventura College Foundation provides financial support to the students and the programs of Ventura College to facilitate student success and grow the impact and legacy of Ventura College as a vital community asset. The Foundation also hosts the Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, an outdoor shopping experience held every weekend on the Ventura College campus east parking lot. For more information, contact Norbert Tan at 289-6160 or [email protected]. Or visit www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.
Vol. 10, No. 2 – October 26 – November 8, 2016 – Police Reports
by Cindy Summers
Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest
On October 11, at approximately 4:15pm, VPD officers responded to a report of a stabbing victim in the 3700 block of Telegraph Rd. Officers arrived and located the victim, Vincent Badilla, who had suffered several stab wounds to his leg.
The officers received information that the suspect was still in the area and he was quickly located and detained as the officers conducted their investigation.
According to statements provided by the victim and witness Badilla had entered Smooths Barbershop and became involved in a verbal argument with another patron, 43 year old Castaic resident Daniel Ortiz.
This argument continued for several minutes at which time Ortiz brandished a knife and attacked Badilla.
Badilla fled the business and was located nearby. He was then transported to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of serious but not life threatening injuries.
VPD Major Crimes Detectives responded to assist in the investigation as VPD CSI personnel also responded to process the scene and collect items of evidence including the knife that Diaz is suspected of using during the assault.
Ortiz was arrested and transported to the Ventura County Main Jail where he was booked on one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, a felony.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to call the Ventura Police Department Major Crimes at 339-4488, or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest
On October 14, at approximately 1:15am, the VPD Communications Center received several 911 calls from residents at an apartment complex in the 300 Block of Thompson Blvd regarding one of the residents, 35 year old Ventura resident Andres Ayala, on the third floor throwing items at people in the courtyard area. There had been two prior calls to VPD regarding noise complaints against Ayala who had been throwing objects onto his balcony, yelling and playing loud music. Ayala remained inside his apartment when officers responded and refused to come outside to talk to the officers.
On the third response, officers learned that Ayala had thrown an Elliptical exercise machine and microwave from his third story balcony onto the courtyard area of the complex. Several neighbors came outside to try to convince Ayala to stop making noise and throwing items onto the courtyard. Ayala challenged one of the neighbors to fight him and then threw a ceramic object from the third floor striking two victims on their legs (neither victim sustained any injuries). Ayala went back into his apartment before officers arrived.
Officers attempted to make contact with Ayala, but again he refused to come outside to talk to the officers. After a couple of hours, Ayala began to come out of his apartment onto his balcony and officers attempted to place Ayala under arrest. Ayala pulled away and retreated back into his apartment. Officers pursued Ayala and took him to custody without incident. Ayala was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked for assault with a deadly weapon.
Community Crime Alert –Rental Self-Storage Unit Burglaries
The Ventura Police Department is issuing a Community Crime Alert due to a high number of reported burglaries to rental units at self-storage facilities throughout the City of Ventura.
From January 1, 2016 to present date, the Ventura Police Department has responded to 45 reported burglaries from commercial self-storage units. Public Storage, located at 6435 Ventura Blvd. has reported the highest number of burglaries (22) during this time period. Extra Space Self Storage, located at 3700 Market Street has reported 8 burglaries during this time period. Entry into the storage units has primarily been made by cutting locks attached to the storage unit doors.
For those residents who have property stored in a self- storage facility in the City of Ventura, it is recommended that they inventory their property and contact the Ventura Police Department at 650-8010 if they believe they may have been a victim of a burglary or theft.
Recommendations for Renters:
- Choose a facility that has an access control system and video surveillance system which can prevent burglaries. Access control system requires renters to use individual codes, remotes or security cards to enter the facility. Self-storage managers can review records to see who is using the facility at all times, making it harder for thieves to enter.
- If you have high-value items that you are storing, place those valuables in the back of your unit. Placing these items in hard to reach places will make it more difficult for thieves who are quickly grabbing items.
- Choose a lock that will hold up against bolt cutters. Avoid using a lock with a long shackle (the loop that passes through or around the object that you are locking). Purchase a disc or cylinder lock, both of which are hard to cut with bolt cutters.
- Have items insured through homeowner’s insurance, or see if the facility offers insurance.
- Avoid going to your storage unit in the early morning or late evening hours or otherwise off-peak hours. Take someone with you whenever possibly, there is safety in numbers.
- Keep a complete inventory of everything you are storing. Take photos of the items inside your storage unit.
- Check items frequently, do not leave them unchecked for long periods of time. Perhaps check your unit when making your monthly payment.
- Be sure to give the manager a list of people who are allowed access to your unit.
Joe’s life was turned around by CATCH
“I’ve been homeless for 15 years. No one has been nice to me until now!” “Joe” broke down and cried when David Cates, RN for Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association gave him a sandwich, a sleeping bag, and a goodie bag filled with water, band aids, face wipes, fruit bars and applesauce.
David works with the CATCH (COPD Access To Community Health) Program, a grant-funded initiative, implemented through the Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA). Livingston is the only healthcare agency that is partnering with VCHCA. It is a free-of-charge program designed to improve health outcomes for Medicare and Medi-Cal patients diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD is a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make it difficult to breathe. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and severe asthma.
Livingston has three nurses on the CATCH Team. 70% of the patients David sees are homeless. Every Tuesday the CATCH Team meets to do a preliminary assessment and plan of care for the list of patients under the guidance of Program Director Sandra Tovar and Pulmonologist Dr. Chris Landon. The nurses are equipped with pertinent patient education materials and pulmonary function assessment tools as they go out to meet the patients. For the homeless, the meeting could be at the One Stop Center (which provides medical and behavioral assistance, housing options, employment assistance, etc.) a parking lot or along a river bed.
A lung function test is done. Smoking cessation counseling is offered. Nurses review medication and teach about proper use. They provide diet counseling and refer patients to services according to their needs. As David says, “Education is the biggest thing we do.”
Joe has diabetes. David showed him how to read the label on a can of peaches to warn him about the high sugar content. He swapped the peaches for an apple. With a little bit of education, Joe’s blood sugars have stabilized.
The goal of the CATCH program is not just to reduce emergency visits and hospitalizations, but to improve the quality of life for patients through smoking cessation classes and support, improved medication regimen, nutrition counseling and emotional support.
VCAAA to offer free memory screenings to Ventura County residents
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging will offer 15-minute memory screenings to all Ventura County residents beginning October 26. The service is free and confidential.
In conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, which initiated a National Memory Screening Program in 2015 to promote optimal care throughout the United States, the VCAAA is dedicating resources to provide assistance in early detection of dementia and/or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Individuals who should be screened include those whose family and friends have noticed changes in memory, mood, or behavior; those who believe they are at risk of Alzheimer’s Disease due to family history; those who wish to establish a ”starting point” for comparison of memory function in the future; and any individual concerned about dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
The memory screening is not used to diagnose any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a qualified physician or other healthcare professional. Screenings are by appointment only. For more information, or to make an appointment, please contact the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging at 477-7300.
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.
Clowning around for a good cause
Whoever said there aren’t any nice, friendly clowns out there any more didn’t attend “Under The Big Top” at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura. On Saturday October 8, 2016 the senior community hosted the fundraising extravaganza to benefit The Young And Brave Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to helping young people in their fight against cancer.
The family friendly event featured clowns, a strolling magician, carnival games, photo booth, an animal petting area, a Dixieland band, and wonderful food prepared by the chefs at Cypress Place. The theme for the event was ‘clowning around for a good cause’, and the residents and staff at Cypress Place worked hard to do just that.
Not only did the residents create decorations and fun and festive hats for the event, they also volunteered during the event itself, manning the carnival games and selling game tickets for the fundraiser.
“It was a fabulous day,” said Marion Doane, a Cypress Place Independent Living resident. “We loved working with the kids. It was just an amazing day for everyone,” she enthused.
Raffle prizes were generously donated by Duke’s restaurant in Malibu and The Oaks at Ojai health spa. Free shuttle parking was available at Unitarian Universalist Church in Ventura. Seventeen hundred dollars was raised during the two hour event, with one hundred percent of the event proceeds going directly to The Young And Brave Foundation.
“Making sure not one family fights cancer alone is our ultimate goal, and we can’t thank the wonderful staff and incredible residents at Cypress Place for hosting this amazing fundraiser to help us in our efforts,” said Matt Coulter, co-founder, and executive director of The Young and Brave Foundation. “We actually connected with a family at this event that we are now going to be assisting in their battle with cancer. This is exactly what it is all about,” he said.
Serious work indeed. But for a few hours, everyone had a great time clowning around and enjoying the wonderful fun, all for a very special cause.
The Young and Brave Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping today’s youth beat cancer. To learn more about the The Young and Brave Foundation, visit their web site at www.theyoungandbrave.com/.
Cypress Place Senior Living is a premiere senior community in Ventura County. To learn more about Cypress Place Senior Living of Ventura, visit their web site at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com.
Boost your income and savings
In past generations, older adults looked to retire with three sources of income: savings, pensions, and Social Security. But no longer. With the decline of company pensions and financial markets taking a hit during the economic downturn, many seniors face less income than anticipated in retirement.
Here are money management tips to boost your income and savings.
Did you know that by delaying the age you start to receive Social Security benefits, you can increase your benefit amount? While today’s retirement age is 66, if you wait until age 70 or later to take Social Security, you could see a significant increase in your monthly payment.
Even if you’ve already stopped working and started getting Social Security, a part- or full-time job can help offset extra expenses. JobSource is a tool from National Council On Aging (NCOA) that helps older adults assess their interests and skills, find training, and search for employment.
Mature workers aged 55+ with very limited or no income might also consider the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). SCSEP provides training and part-time community service work that for most people leads to full-time jobs.
Depending on your income, you might be eligible for help from public and private programs that can help pay for your health care, prescriptions, food, utilities, and more. Use NCOA’s free screening tool BenefitsCheckUp® to see if you may qualify for any of these programs.
If you own your home, you may want to consider freeing up income by tapping into your home equity. There are several ways to do this, including taking out a USAA home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a reverse mortgage.
A reverse mortgage is a type of home loan that allows seniors to convert the equity in their home to cash to meet a wide range of financial needs. With a reverse mortgage, the lender pays you. The homeowner makes no payments, and all interest is added to the loan. A reverse mortgage must be repaid when you move or sell the property or the last borrower does, or by your heirs upon your death.
Of course, there are other types of secured loans out there involving property too. Therefore, it is crucial that you do as much research as possible before committing to any particular financial courses of action.
To get unbiased information about reverse mortgages, read Use Your Home to Stay at Home©, the official booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If you need cash to pay for medical bills or caregiver expenses, asking your family for support might be a good way to preserve this asset. Adult children need to be careful that these extra costs do not disrupt their financial plans and their ability to save for their own retirement. It is often difficult but important for families to discuss finances and options realistically.
The government has made it less costly for families to pay medical bills or elder care if the taxpayer can claim an elderly relative as a dependent. This can make it easier to support older relatives who want to stay at home.
Interested in getting recommendations about many different options that can help increase your income? Get an EconomicCheckUp® to receive a personalized report and recommendations just for you. It’s free, confidential, and from a trusted source-NCOA. https://www.ncoa.org/.
Vol. 10, No. 2 – October 26 – November 8, 2016 – CAPS
Inform our community
by Elizabeth Rodeno
October brings in our new board of directors who support the vision of CAPS , Patrick Davidson, our executive director and the staff. The non-profit CAPS Media Center has as our mission to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media.
We are here every day working hard to support our members, organizations and community in spreading our mission and vision to bring media to everyone. That our studios, camera equipment and edit facilities are in high demand is a testament to our mission. Everyday more and more youth arrive happy to find such a cool place to hang out and produce their videos. Granted, many people young and old use phones and tablets to film and produce their videos. The products can look good. When they realize how much can be accomplished here with the training by experienced instructors and the use of pro gear, they sign up. For only $25 a year you get it all. We are here to support you every step of the way.
Speaking of community, CAPS Media enjoys our partnerships with local media and shares the vision to be the voice of Ventura. With the assortment of media outlets available, you can keep abreast of most everything happening it town. Our bulletin board system offers organizations the opportunity to post an event or provide valuable information regarding your non-profit, education facility, government agency, or spiritual group. This information is available throughout the day on channel 6 and 15, streaming on our site and available to view on the website anytime day or night.
Presently, in the forefront of our minds are the elections, from national to state to very local, there is so many issues and concerns that we, at CAPS do our best to share information about the state, county and local elections in a non-partisan way. CAPS exists to maintain freedom of speech over the airways and we continue that every day.
Watch channel 6 and check out our website to watch great coverage of Ventura City Council and VUSD forums and learn about the propositions, candidates and issues on tap for November 8. Time is running out so be sure to vote. Go to www.capsmedia.org to see what our members are creating for you and sign up to be part of the story.
Synergy watercolors and acrylics by mother daughter team Phyllis Gubins and Jen Livia at Red Brick Art
Synergy is a collaboration of watercolors and acrylics by the mother daughter team Phyllis Gubins and Jen Livia of Red Brick Art. They created a variety of new pieces with this collaboration in mind all based around the color as a way of life. Step into their gallery and see the world through the eyes of this mother and daughter who have been painting together for a decade and take a class with them for your own experience of the creative process.
Artist Reception as part of Small Business Saturday Nov 26th 12-5 – stop in for some local treats, wild colors and to meet the artists.
Red Brick Art
4601 Telephone Rd.
(corner of Telephone and Market)
643-6400
www.redbrickart.com
Free community education classes and events
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following in Ventura:
Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 6:30-8:00 pm . These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge.
Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, November 10th from 6-7:30 pm. This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected]. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.
Diabetes -Tuesday, November 1st from 1-2:30pm. These meetings are held on 1st Tuesday of each month. General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.
Joint Replacement Classes- Thursday, November 3rd from 1:00-2:00pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month. For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at 642-0239 ext. 739.
Monday, November 14th for both English and Spanish speaking. English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109
Call 642-0239 for more information.