Category Archives: Coronavirus

Vista del Mar Hospital is serving the community

Coronavirus (COVID-19) screenings to all hospital visitors and staff.

Vista del Mar Hospital is using technology to support its Outpatient Services (OPS) programming during the stay-at-home restrictions to combat the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Since Governor Newsom mandated California residents to stay home, followed by a similar order from the County of Ventura, Vista del Mar’s OPS has made the move to provide Telehealth Services.

Psychiatrists and nurses are able to meet with patients individually, with weekly in-person check-ins scheduled to adhere to social distancing protocols. Technology and creativity allow patients and therapists to stay connected. Care packages with individualized messages and art supplies for expressive therapy has been sent to each patient.

Vista del Mar Hospital uses Zoom, a technology that unifies secure video conferencing, web meetings and group collaboration. Vista’s program curriculum has been uploaded so that patients can see their therapist and the curriculum side by side. In addition,

Vista del Mar Hospital has partnered with the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Nursing Department to provide Coronavirus (COVID-19) screenings to all hospital visitors and staff.

“We are thrilled to have student nurses helping the hospital to ensure that all individuals coming to our campus are screened following the CDC-recommended screening process,” said Jenifer Nyhuis, Vista del Mar’s CEO. Student nurses are conducting COVID-19 screenings from 7 am to 7 pm of all incoming persons to the hospital. After each student nurse is screened themselves, they then screen incoming persons. This includes reading temperatures, completing a Coronavirus questionnaire, logging anyone with a temperature of 100.4 and over, and providing instructions.

According to Dr. Lynette Landry, PhD/RN and Chair of the Nursing Department, the partnership has been a great opportunity for the university’s nursing students to take an active role in decreasing the spread of the virus. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to help VDM and our community as we navigate this crisis. Students are learning the importance of civic engagement and the ethical/moral responsibilities of a nurse to provide comfort and care to the community particularly in a time of crisis.”

Vista del Mar Hospital and CSUCI worked together to create procedures and implement them. “The speed, professionalism, and competency of the CSUCI nursing leadership has been beyond expectations. I am looking forward to future collaboration in coming months and years,” added Nyhuis.

CSUCI’s Nursing Department will be providing COVID-19 screenings at Vista del Mar through May 2020.
normally be able to, like something special in their room or a pet. We have also found a creative way to continue our expressive therapy sessions, as it can prove beneficial for patients to freely express themselves. This not only reduces anxiety and stress, but it promotes problem solving skills and leads to positive feelings such as pride and accomplishment.”

CAPS Media launches #Ventura stories

Do you have a great Story to share? Something clever, funny or inspirational of your family, friends, kids, pets, neighbors or something else? CAPS Media has a place for Venturans to share – #VenturaStories. Every week CAPS Media will air and stream locally produced videos sent in by the public. CAPS Media is looking for positive, feel-good stories that are entertaining, inspiring, enlightening and informative. Yes, everyone can post videos on YouTube, Facebook and other platforms, but CAPS Media gives you the special treat of seeing your masterpiece on television on Channel 6 and streaming online at capsmedia.org.

Everyone has a Story to share. Be Creative – #VenturaStories can be entertaining, engaging or just great fun. Make it a family project with videos of kids, pets, cooking, hobbies, sports, art, music, games, movie/book/tv reviews, exercise and more. If you have a neighbor, health care worker, service person, store clerk or someone else you want to thank, #VenturaStories is a great way to do it. Introduce us to them and tell us the story.

Ventura Artists – demonstrate your talent for music, acting, painting, singing, storytelling, dancing and other art expressions. If you are a singer, songwriter or other performer – that’s great! – record your performance and submit it. (Sorry, no karaoke, unless you have cleared the song rights from the artist). When appropriate, please include a list of all featured performers.

#VenturaStories is also a place for nonprofits and others to post videos announcing upcoming events and projects and, a forum for everyone to share safety, health and shelter-in-place tips and messages during the current crisis. Stories are best when they are short (3-5 minutes or less) and positive. Everyone wants to see feel-good, inspiring stories and not listen to rants). (Commercials and advertising are not acceptable and will be declined by CAPS Media).

#VenturaStories can be recorded on a video camera, phone, webcam, laptop, tablet or other device. If using a mobile phone, keep the phone in the horizontal/landscape mode (the same way your TV screen is), for stability use a tripod or prop-up the phone on a table or other fixed surface. When shooting handheld try to keep the camera as steady as possible. Audio – it is best to use a microphone for better sound quality and try to limit background and other distracting noise from your recordings.

When you’re ready for your television premiere, submit your work of art to #VenturaStories online at capsmedia.org/venturastories where you will find simple instructions on how to upload your video as well as additional production tips and information. CAPS Media will determine which videos air and when they will air and stream, and CAPS Media reserves the right to not air or distribute any videos for any reason.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis the CAPS Media Center is closed to Members and the public until further notice. CAPS Member/Producers can submit programming via the online portal at capsmedia.org for broadcast and streaming on CAPS public access television Channel 6 and on CAPS Radio KPPQ 104.1FM. All of us at CAPS Media hope everyone is Staying Safe and Healthy during this challenging time.

How seniors can protect their health and finances during the pandemic

Social distancing and staying in place have become important.

by Chris Orestis, President of LifeCare Xchange

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health officials have been clear and consistent in their message to seniors: While anyone can fall victim to COVID-19, those who are 65 and older are in an especially high-risk group.

That’s why older Americans need to be especially careful and – in the case of the very elderly – family members may need to step in to make sure they are taking the right precautions, says Chris Orestis.

He offers a few tips on things seniors and their families can do:

Prioritize healthy practices. Follow health guidelines. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and sanitize surfaces. “Social distancing and staying in place have become important new additions to our lifestyle because avoiding contact with infected people is the surest way to prevent contracting the virus,” Orestis says. “Grocery stores and retailers have set up senior-only shopping hours, and seniors should take advantage of those. In addition, food delivery services can bring take-out meals or groceries to your home.”

Trust nursing homes. “Despite the tragic deaths that occurred at Life Care Center’s nursing home in Kirkland, Wash., the nursing home industry has been working around the clock in every community to protect their residents,” Orestis says.

Know what financial resources are available. “We’ve experienced a stock market drop, but It is important at times like this to not ‘panic sell’ and lock in your losses,” Orestis says. He points out there are still safety nets and even financial opportunities that can help seniors. For example, the passage of the CARES Act will pump $2 trillion into the economy. Social Security income, Medicare, and Medicaid payments remain unchanged. Income from annuities remains guaranteed.

For owners of permanent life insurance policies, Orestis says, there are a couple of options to get liquidity from this asset. If the owner wants to keep the policy in force, they can take out a policy loan for upwards of 90% of the cash surrender value. If the policy owner wants to stop paying premiums, they could use a life settlement to sell the policy under tax-favorable conditions to receive a percentage of their death benefit as a lump-sum today.

Vet your news sources. The coronavirus is getting round-the-clock news coverage. But mixed into the information coming from reliable sources is a flood of misinformation. “Fact-check information by reading statistics from the websites of reliable medical resources and verified news organizations,” Orestis says.

Chris Orestis, known as the “Retirement Genius,” is President of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized healthcare expert and senior advocate.

Food Share offering pop-up pantries to meet growing demand

The military is helping Food Share.

Food Share, Ventura County’s food bank, is coordinating a county-wide effort to provide pop-up pantries in the wake of multiple food pantry closures. More than 20 existing pantries in the county have been forced to close their doors as the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow.

“We are working on providing alternative locations for low-income people experiencing food insecurity to be able to access nutritious food,” says Monica White, President & CEO of Food Share. “We are immensely grateful to everyone who is working with us to provide temporary distribution sites, including the Conejo Recreation & Park District, Freedom Park in Camarillo. and the Ventura County Fairgrounds.”

Details of the new distribution sites along with pantry closures are available at www.foodshare.com/COVID19. The lists will be updated as new information unfolds. Food boxes will be available for low-income families and individuals, but will be limited to one box per household.

Food Share continues to actively recruit volunteers, donors and food. For more information on how you can help Food Share to feed those in need, please visit www.foodshare.com

Up-to-date information on temporary pantry closures, pop-up distribution sites and emergency volunteer opportunities will be posted at foodshare.com/covid19 and on Food Share’s social media channels.

For information on free Senior Food Kit distributions go to foodshare.com/seniorkits.

You can make a donation in support of Food Share at foodshare.com/give

For more information about Food Share, visit www.foodshare.com. Find us on Facebook , Instagram, and Twitter.

Bartering is alive and well in Ventura (first of two parts)

The Calhoun girls modeling the homemade masks they’ve received through the group.

by Mira Reverente

When a friend recently added me to a new group on Facebook, I thought, “Oh no. Another group.” I couldn’t bear the thought of contributing to another toxic taxidermists’ tribe, peachy pandemic-related pack or lonely-during-lockdown singles group.

But my initial trepidation slowly turned into amusement and then delight. The Ventura Free Barter and Trade group turned out to be an inspiring and community-oriented group, more than any other group I’ve ever belonged to.

Just like most newbies, I looked, I lurked and looked some more, before writing my first post. The free avocados caught my attention but I wasn’t sure what to offer. Then I remembered I had boxes of protein bars. Thankfully, this gentleman named Scotty Gray was interested and the deal was sealed via porch pick-up. I never even saw Gray. Welcome to social distancing!

Gray, a facility operations specialist at Point Mugu, is one of the group’s four moderators and I am one of many recipients of his homegrown avocados. I was hooked. Reached by phone, one of Gray’s first questions was, “Do you need more?” I said, “Yes, but let me get through my stash first.”

That’s just how the group is – generous and genuine, without much expectation of anything in return. Since the avocado exchange, I have also been the grateful recipient of banana muffins, a tomato sapling, seedlings and a coffee grinder. In return, I have offered cases of water, wine, baking ingredients and even that partial propane tank that’s been hiding in my garage since the last camping season.

Flashback to a little over two weeks ago (a lifetime during these times) – right around when the lockdown order was implemented, Tammy Calhoun found herself in a store, increasingly bothered by the massive amount of hoarding and hysteria around her. A born leader and community organizer, Calhoun sprang into action right when she got home and founded the group on Facebook.

“I wanted to do something to help. I wanted to connect people without pride or shame getting in the way,” says Calhoun, a real estate broker. “I also wanted a simple system of give and take where it’s not necessarily dollar-to-dollar.”

The online community has grown to over 2,400 members in less than two weeks. Gray and Calhoun have added friends from work, church, social circles, their neighborhoods, their children’s schools, youth sports where they volunteer and it has dramatically snowballed.

The feel-good and genuine connection stories just keep increasing by leaps and bounds.

Next issue: Bartering Ventura-Style (second of two parts)

For more information or to join: www.facebook.com/groups, search for Ventura Free Barter & Trade

What is being done to assist the homeless in the county?

The County of Ventura, with guidance from the California Department of Public Health, has been taking steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable populations in the community. The County has secured housing options at local motels in the cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Newbury Park. County agencies are coordinating to provide transportation, medical and mental health care, nutritional needs and on-site security. Referrals are made by community homeless service providers including nonprofit organizations, county service providers, city partners and homeless liaison officers. Persons are medically evaluated before they are cleared for intake.

“We are trying to place persons in a location near their home community whenever possible and commit to helping individuals reconnect with that community when it is safe to do so,” said Tara Carruth, Program Manager with the Ventura County Continuum of Care. “Facilities of at-risk individuals are supported by the Human Services Agency as the site lead, meals are provided and there is 24/7 security on-site. Our County Health Care Agency partners including Whole Person Care and the Healthcare for the Homeless and Back Pack Medicine team are also assisting to support these efforts. We are encouraging nonprofit partners and other community partners to also support their clients if placed in these locations while practicing safe social distancing,” she added.

The Backpack Medicine team is providing rapid response in the community to encampments and other unsheltered locations for anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The Backpack Medicine team may be reached at 805-515-6940 between the hours of 8 am -5 pm, Monday – Friday.

Homeless Services are considered essential services. Persons wanting to seek connection to a service provider may call 2-1-1 for linkage to programs and services.

Ventura businesses open to serve the community

805 Bar & Grilled Cheese | (661) 312-7155
Takeout * Ask about Your Neighborhood Kitchen

Andria’s Seafood Restaurant and Market | (805) 654-0546
Takeout

Art’s Corner Cafe | (805) 653-5011
Takeout

Banzai Marina | (805) 643-5200
Delivery

Beach House Tacos | (805) 643-4783
Curbside

Blenders In The Grass Main St | (805) 683-5858
Curbside

Busy Bee Cafe | (805) 643-4864
Curbside and Delivery

Cajun Kitchen Cafe | (805) 643-7701
Curbside – Order on-line

Coastal Cone | (805) 658-2837
Take-out

Copa Cubana | (661) 312-7155
Takeout * Ask about Your Neighborhood Kitchen

Finney’s Crafthouse | (805) 628-3312
Curbside

Harbor Cove Cafe | (805) 658-1639
Takeout

Fluid State Beer Garden | (805) 628-3107
Curbside
Menu at fluidstatebeer.square.site

Harvest Cafe | (805) 667-8386
Takeout; Farm to Table Express 12-4pm pick up window only – soup, salad, pizza

Himalaya Cuisine | (805) 643-0795
Takeout

Jimmy’s Slice | (805) 648-6133
Takeout and Delivery

Kao Ramen | (805) 667-8393
Takeout and Delivery

LC Imports | (805) 641-2200
Curbside and Delivery

La Cosecha Modern Cuisine | (805) 648-2100
Takeout

Lalo’s Fast Food Thompson | (805) 628-3312
To-Go and Pickup

Leashless Brewing | (805) 628-9474
Pick-up – Order online

Limon y Sal | (805) 628-3868
Delivery

Lure Fish house
Curbside
Receive $10 gift card for every $40 spent on every take out order through March 31st. Reusable totes included with every purchase while supplies last.

Made West Brewery | (805) 947-5002 (805) 628-9255
Curbside and Local Deliveries

Main Street Restaurant | (805) 676-1213
Takeout and Delivery

Margarita Villa| (805) 654-7906
Takeout

Native Pizza | (805) 667-8991
Curbside and Delivery (All of the City of Ventura)
Hours are 4PM-8:30PM

Nature’s Grill | (805) 643-7855
Takeout
Buy one get one 50% off entrees. Or 15% off single orders. Buy one entree and get a veggie juice for 50% off or buy one veggie juice and get a free wellness shot.

Orozcos de Ventura | (805) 628-3419
Takeout

Pacific by Noru | (805) 205-9618
Takeout

Palermo | (805) 643-3070
Takeout and Delivery

Palm and Boy | (805) 667-9201
Takeout and Online Orders

Peirano’s | 805-628-9028
Takeout and Grocery Packages

Paradise Pantry | (805) 641-9440
Takeout (must be called in by 5PM) and Market open until 6PM

Pete’s Breakfast House | 805-648-1130
Takeout
Text (805) 946-9996 to order or call above

Rice by Mama | 805-641-0238
Takeout and Delivery

Rice Thai Cuisine | 805-641-3573
Delivery

Sandbox Coffeehouse | 805-641-1025
Takeout

Sea Ranger Seafood Station | 805-765-4157
Carryout

Snapper Jack’s Taco Shack | 805-648-4555
Takeout

Singing Sun Coffee |
Takeout and Delivery

Spencer Makenzie’s | 805-643-8226
Takeout

SpiceTopia | (805) 628-3267
Open Normal Hours
Mon-Thurs 11AM-6PM, Fri 11AM-8PM, Sat 9AM-8PM, Sun 8AM-6PM

Taqueria Tepatitlan
Takeout and Curbside, In-House Delivery from 4PM-8PM
Includes Michelada mix w/o beer.

The Blue Agave Restaurant & Tequilas | (805) 667-9180
Takeout and Delivery

The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood | (805) 650-5350
Takeout

The Parlor | (805) 658-2837
Takeout

Tony’s Pizzaria | (805) 643-8425
Takeout and Delivery

Top This Chocolate | (805) 535-4167
Takeout

Topa Topa Brewery | (805) 628-9255
Curbside, Next Day Door to Door Delivery, Shipping in California

Topper’s Pizza Place | (805) 385-4444
Takeout and Delivery

Traveler Cafe | (805) 667-8229
Takeout

Ventura Fresh Fish | (206) 391-9054
Takeout * Ask about Dock to Doorstep Delivery

Water’s Edge | (805) 642-1200
Takeout

Wild Local Seafood | (805) 252-3639
Takeout

Are coronavirus worries keeping you awake?

Anxiety about the spread of the coronavirus is leading to sleepless nights for some people – and that can result in even more health problems.

Studies have shown that a lack of sleep weakens the immune system, the last thing anyone needs when a potentially deadly virus is making the rounds.

The question many bleary-eyed people face is how they can remedy their insomnia without resorting to medication, anything else that they have to take orally, or a significant lifestyle change. One answer: stretches done on the bed that relax the body and mind, allowing them to drift into slumber and be better prepared for the next day – and keep that immune system humming as well, says Larry Piller (www.larrypiller.com), a Certified Massage Practitioner and author of Stretching Your Way: A Unique & Leisurely Muscle Stretching System.

So, for those struggling to rid themselves of their coronavirus worries, Piller offers a few examples of what he calls “superstar stretches for sleeping”:

Stretch 1. While lying on your back, extend your shoulder out as is comfortable and lift your hand up as though you are trying to stop traffic. Then turn your arm and your hand backward, letting your little finger be your guide. Let your little finger land where roughly the No. 7 would be on a clock. Just extend your shoulder out as is comfortable and bring your fingers back as is comfortable.

Stretch 2. While lying on your back on the bed, put your arm in a position as if showing your muscle to someone. Just extend your elbow out to the side as is comfortable for a tricep stretch. From that position, open your hand up all the way, extend your elbow to the side as is comfortable while bringing your thumb down toward you as is comfortable.

Stretch 3. While you lie on your back, just extend your shoulder and arm out as is comfortable, Piller says.

Stretch 4. While you lie on your back, bring your toes and the inner side of your foot inward to get a stretch on the side of the foot. These stretches for the side of your feet can be done lying on your side as well, as long as you have room to bring your foot or feet down or inward. You also can use a pillow between your legs to raise your foot so you can bring your foot or feet down, or hang your feet over the edge. “This by itself, or in combination with other stretches, has a high chance to put you to sleep like a little baby,” Piller says.

“Life can be a job in itself, especially right now with all the concerns about the coronavirus,” Piller says. “Most people do not want all the difficulties that every insomnia treatment is riddled with. They don’t want to do all kinds of lifestyle changes that don’t offer solutions or guarantees, and that have minimal results at best. These superstar stretches for sleeping are the world’s easiest and safest. For me, muscle stretching is magic. You get total relief just knowing this effortless system is waiting for you at bedtime.”

Aera Energy donates $355,000 for emergency COVID-19

by the VCCF

As COVID-19 continues to impact our community in ways we could never have imagined, we at Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) are pleased to announce local oil and gas producer Aera Energy, is stepping in with emergency funding and a challenge to the community to help us address some of the most pressing needs in our community.

Aera has given VCCF $50,000 in immediate funding to be distributed through the Ventura County Rapid Response Fund for COVID-19 recovery efforts. On top of the donation, Aera is challenging our community to contribute matching funds, in any amount, in an effort to increase support for nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of individuals and families with food and housing support, childcare, wage replacement, mental health care, and more. during this pandemic. VCCF is proud to partner with direct service providers, including:

Southeast Ventura County YMCA where individuals and families throughout Ventura County can apply for direct financial assistance.

Give An Hour is available to help support mental health and emotional wellness needs in our community as it responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Economic Development Collaborative and its Small Business Development Center will remain open throughout this crisis, providing direct business advising to help firms navigate through the economic slowdown and connecting businesses with the full range of resources available, including low cost capital.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the generosity of Aera Energy. This support is vital and will help serve as a catalyst for additional community giving. The needs are significant and we are doing all we can to rapidly respond to the wide range of crises caused by the COVID-19 situation,” said Vanessa Bechtel, President & CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation.

Aera committed a total of $255,000 to support several community COVID-19 relief funds in the communities where the company operates – including Kern, Ventura, Monterey, Fresno and Santa Barbara counties. Locally, many organizations have already seen an increase in the number of requests coming in for financial assistance. This emergency funding will enable the foundations to prioritize those requests and even in some cases, turn funding around that same day.

Additionally, Aera donated $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County to support the organization’s increased efforts to accept new members, extend programs and serve more meals to local youth.

Established in 1987, the Ventura County Community Foundation builds philanthropy in the region by stewarding legacies through careful management of charitable capital. The foundation honors donor intent by protecting endowments. The nonprofit specializes in connecting philanthropic resources with community needs for the benefit of all. The organization also serves the community through scholarships, grantmaking, and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.vccf.org.

Aera Energy accounts for about 25 percent of the state’s oil production. The oil we produce allows millions of Californians to travel to work every day, businesses to grow and thrive and California-grown food to arrive at dinner tables. We live in the communities where we work, which includes Kern, Ventura, Monterey and Fresno counties. We’re also working to redevelop a historic oil field in northern Santa Barbara County. We’re proud to support local communities through jobs, partnerships and investments to build stronger neighborhoods and cities together. For more information, visit www.aeraenergy.com.

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