Category Archives: Coronavirus

A safe space to share updates and receive support

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the risk to the aging population and people with existing health conditions, Americans are being asked to practice sheltering at home and social distancing. Unfortunately, some individuals are taking advantage of this situation by targeting the elderly and vulnerable with scams using fear and concerns about the coronavirus.

Many of the scams targeting the elderly are being perpetuated via social media and users are advised by social media experts to be wary of promotions for health care products and treatments for the coronavirus.

Using a safe and secure social media network is a safe way to stay in touch with family and friends and to avoid social isolation without being subject to fraudulent schemes. CaringBridge helps its users to maintain social connections, feel connected within their community, coordinate care and receive encouragement around a health journey while at home. Because the nonprofit CaringBridge will never accept advertising or share its user lists with any outside parties, unlike many other social media platforms, users can be assured that using the site is safe and they will not be targeted by scams.

Here are a few things you can do to support someone who may need additional support right now:

Stay Connected. Social distancing does not equal social isolation.

Start a CaringBridge site for a family member or friend who needs support. You can choose from a variety of privacy options to keep information as secure as you prefer.

Video Chat through services like FaceTime, Google Hangout or Skype.

Pick up the phone.

Start group chats with family, friends, coworkers, or church groups through text or chat groups like Facebook Messenger.

Offer assistance with emergency errands. Helping others with meals and errands should not stop due to social distancing. Use the CaringBridge Planner to coordinate doorstep delivery of:

Grocery and household essentials.

Over the counter or prescription medications.

To-go meal orders from local restaurant.

If you’re a long-distance caregiver, find out if your loved one has access to grocery delivery services. If so, set it up for them and find out their essential needs.

“As a nonprofit organization with a mission of building bridges of care and communication around a health journey, we want to remind the public that no one should go through a health journey alone, and that strength comes from community and connection,” said Liwanag Ojala, CEO of CaringBridge.

CaringBridge offers free personal websites allowing communities to rally around people on health journeys. The platform gives patients and caregivers a free, private, and secure place with no advertising or selling of information; serving as a safe channel of communication beyond social media to update friends and family, ask for help and get support and encouragement.

About CaringBridge

CaringBridge is a nonprofit social network that helps people connect with friends and family during a health journey. CaringBridge has made it simple and safe to offer or ask for support when it’s needed most. With more than 300,000 active daily users—CaringBridge offers simple tools for patients and their caregivers to share health updates and rally their community’s support. A health journey of any kind—diagnosis, injury, medical or behavioral illness, pregnancy complications or other experiences—is difficult to endure alone. Learn more at www.CaringBridge.org.

AARP helping during the coronavirus outbreak

Find local volunteer groups to help with chores.

As the largest interest group dedicated to assist Americans 50 and older, AARP is quickly rolling out a number of initiatives to help during the coronavirus outbreak.

One initiative we would like to share from AARP Innovations Labs is helping facilitate the national “mutual aid” group movement through an online platform called AARP Community Connections (https://aarpcommunityconnections.org). It allows users to organize and find local volunteer groups to help pick up groceries, provide financial assistance or lend emotional support to neighbors, friends and loved ones.

Across the country, these mutual aid groups are helping communities stay connected at a time when people must practice social distancing to stay safe.

AARP Community Connections includes multiple resources to help those who are feeling isolated, depressed, overwhelmed or anxious. Users are able to:

Request a call from an AARP volunteer, or a trained counselor

Easily create an account with Savo, joinsavo.com, to make connecting with their families easier

Join “The Mighty,” a safe, supportive online community for people facing health challenges and their caregivers

Social isolation was a common problem even before the coronavirus pandemic: A study, published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and supported by AARP Foundation, reported 43 percent of adults age 60 or older said they had felt lonely. And, while social isolation and loneliness are serious health issues by themselves, they can also exacerbate existing health problems, such as lung disease, heart disease and diabetes. AARP Community Connections helps people reach out to volunteers in their community who are willing to help their neighbors with their unique needs.

AARP Community Connections is live and completely free to use, and AARP membership is not required.

Vol. 13, No. 14 – Apr 8 – Apr 21, 2020 – The Pet Page

∙Effective Monday, March 30, 2020 and until further notice, all nonessential services at Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) will be discontinued and some ancillary services will be reduced. The goal is to keep people in their homes and carefully limit the number of animals housed on-site. Please know that VCAS will never turn away a sick or injured animal.

The following services will be discontinued:

  • Pet adoptions and all virtual adoption counseling sessions.
  • Owner-requested euthanasia appointments.
  • The following services will be adjusted:
  • Owner-surrendered animals accepted only due to urgent/emergency situations.

Stray Animals – VCAS is strongly encouraging residents to only bring in stray cats who appear to be sick or injured. Cats who appear healthy should remain in-place as they likely have a source of food, water and shelter and may be cared for by someone in the neighborhood.

Kittens – Mating season will soon begin as the weather warms. Litters of kittens should only be brought to VCAS whose mother has not returned for them after 6-8 hours – please watch and wait from a distance. Mothers often leave kittens in order to hunt for food and they expect to return to their kittens. Please do not remove kittens if not absolutely necessary. (Ref. Dr. Kate Hurley, Program Director – Koret Shelter Medicine Program – University of Davis)

Lost pet pick-up: VCAS is encouraging those who are reclaiming their lost pet to please call ahead and bring proof of ownership when reclaiming lost pets. (805) 388-4341

Animal Control Officers will continue to respond to public safety and animal welfare calls, but less urgent calls will be deferred until further notice. All Field Officers will attempt to return found animals to their owners. Field Officers will be donning Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) during all interactions with the public.

As stated in a previous press release:

The Simi Valley Animal Shelter remains closed and the Camarillo Shelter is restricting all nonessential on-site and casual visits.

TNR/Community Cat public spay/neuter services are suspended.

All public and community outreach events are cancelled including rabies vaccination clinics.

Pet licenses can only be processed online at www.vcas.us/licensing or via U.S. mail. Payment should be sent to Ventura County Animal Services 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010

VCAS is committed to ensuring that the highest quality of care is provided to our animals. Our team of highly dedicated staff are on-site to feed, clean, and care for all animals at the shelter. Staff also provide enrichment activities as well as medical care as needed.

We have received information that there are various rumors circulating regarding the potential for euthanasia of animals during the COVID-19 situation. VCAS remains 100% committed to lifesaving activities during these times and we will continue to provide care to all healthy and treatable animals. Despite the challenges facing our shelter due to COVID-19, animals will not be euthanized due to time or space. Please help us to curtail the spread of such rumors.

We continue our commitment to saving animals’ lives and reuniting lost pets with their families. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please call (805) 388-4341, we are here for you.

∙To assist pet owners and shelters affected by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, the ASPCA ® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ®) is launching the ASPCA Relief & Recovery Initiative, a $5 million multipronged strategic relief response to the crisis. The response includes $2 million in grants to animal shelters in critical need of funds and pet food to pet owners who face challenges providing food for their animals.

“In addition to the unprecedented challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created for people, it is also putting animals at-risk by straining essential owner and shelter resources. Considering the vital role pets play in our lives – especially in times of crisis and stress – it’s extremely important to safeguard their health and welfare as much as we possibly can,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker.

Added Bershadker, “We are grateful to work with generous donors and the larger animal welfare community who are stepping up, thinking creatively and courageously, and forging new paths to meet this need. Across the world, people are turning to their pets for comfort, and with the ASPCA Relief & Recovery Initiative, we are committed to helping animals return that love and comfort back to their families by working to ensure their health and safety as we weather this crisis together.”

Emergency Relief for Shelters

The ASPCA is launching a minimum $2 million emergency relief fund for shelters that have been hit hard by this crisis. Grants will help shelters fund essential lifesaving services such as basic operations, safety net, adoptions and foster programs, and veterinary services, which are proving to be crucial animal welfare services during this crisis.

Pet Food Distribution

The ASPCA’s response also includes the creation of regional pet food distribution centers, starting first in New York City, one of the U.S. cities most severely affected by the pandemic. The centers, provided in partnership with the Petco Foundation, will give dog and cat owners free access to critical food supplies as the outbreak continues to spread.

ASPCA will also operate regional food distribution centers in Miami, Los Angeles, and North Carolina, where the ASPCA has operations. More information about specific locations and dates will be available in the coming weeks.

Petco Foundation President Susanne Kogut said, “At the Petco Foundation, we have been working diligently to mobilize the community to foster or adopt to prevent COVID-19 from becoming a crisis for our pets. We must all come together to support our animal shelters and our community, which is why we’re proud to also support this initiative,” said Kogut. “The health and safety of pets needs to remain a top concern because they provide vital comfort and companionship to people during this very stressful time.”

The COVID-19 relief response speaks to the ASPCA’s longstanding commitment to the animal welfare community and people and their pets. In an effort to create better access to crucial services for underserved pet owners and improve the health and welfare of dogs and cats nationwide, the ASPCA has launched programs and partnerships in New York City, Los Angeles and Miami that make veterinary care more accessible and affordable, and continues to develop initiatives to serve the more than 21 million pets living in poverty with their owners nationwide. In North Carolina, the ASPCA operates the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), a facility dedicated to rehabilitating fearful, under socialized dogs, and ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance, the nationally recognized leader in high-quality, high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter training and services.

For more information on the ASPCA’s efforts to help at-risk animals, please visit www.aspca.org.

Mutts

What are you doing while being sequestered?

When my daughter was born 16 years ago in March, I remember thinking, “Great! March is a good month to have a birthday because nothing ever happens in March.” Well, except for St. Patrick’s Day. Then the pandemic hit and an entire birthday weekend went out the window. Or down the sink along with all the hand soap.

We are only humans so after the initial disappointment of cancelling her sweet 16 bash, we adapted and started slowly keeping our distance. We also upped our handwashing rate from three times a day to 33 times now probably.

Then we dusted off the old Kitchenaid mixer and Dutch oven. And we started cooking and baking. A lot. The kitchen had been my refuge a lifetime ago before life and parenthood took over. With all this downtime, I’ve experimented with so many good recipes and renamed them. The lockdown lemon cake was picture-worthy but not lemony enough, according to my daughter. Then there’s the social distancing sourdough starter which is akin to waiting for the cable guy to arrive. And this is why people buy and not make sourdough bread. Don’t even get me started on the pandemic pork belly which my daughter refuses to eat. #toughcrowd

All baking and cooking aside, we are blessed to be together. The hurried meal times, quick car trips and the hustle and bustle of everyday life now seem to be a thing of the past, replaced by leisurely walks in the neighborhood and simpler choices (printed or plaid pjs; shower in the morning, evening or not at all).

But I’m still going to get myself some isolation ice cream when this is all over.

Mira Reverente

As one of the Staff Photographers for the Ventura Breeze my main activity was to photograph public events, and with sequestering in place there are fewer publics to photograph.  For some of us sequestering is saving some money, driving around town less means purchasing much less gasoline, Shopping for a whole week instead of when needed saves gas and shopping money, the entertainment closures is saving me money, and non-essential stores closed is saving money.  Overall, this sequestering order is saving money for some.
Michael Gordon

Mornings aren’t that different. We get up early, play with the dogs, make coffee, tidy the house etc. Okay, one little thing – we didn’t used to spray the newspaper.

Then comes the Big Question of the day: do we need to go anywhere? Usually it’s no. We are both in the Shelter in Place category due to age or health.

No bird rescue, Garden activities, trail hostings, classroom helper, event booths, all the things we enjoy and fill out days with – darn. No board meetings – okay, that’s not so bad.

So what do we do all day? He tore his car apart, fixed it, then planted a veggie patch. I have been reorganizing, finding projects, baking, picking up books and taking them to Little Free Libraries. And I read. And sit outside watching the birds, clouds, insects.

And social media has gone from entertainment to necessity. We keep up with family, friends, causes and so on. We have a ZOOM meeting tonight!

But as a rule no evening events either: talks, concerts, plays. We don’t have a TV, so aren’t tempted to sit around and watch it. We read, listen to music, and of course the Big Question: do we need to go anywhere tomorrow?

Jill Forman

You know that “time” we always wish we had to do…whatever. Well, now we have it. And are we doing those things we’ve put off? Me – not really. I’ve been doing stuff, but not really the stuff on my every-growing list. I am finding that my attention span is shorter now, which means my motivation is too.

The first three weeks of stay-at-home I was already there, recuperating from pneumonia. So that slowed everything to a crawl temporarily. I am just now starting to get back in gear.

I’ve done a good bit of reading, of course. That’s what I do most of. Netflix is my friend. I’ve even finally tackled a few bits of organization – pulling out old papers to shred, compiling some records that have been drifting about in myriad places instead of where they should be. But that’s slow going.

I enjoy cross-stitch needlework and finally started a big project that’s been on my to-do list for several years. Who knows, I may even get it finished!

In some ways, this isolation has been a good thing. A chance to regroup, rethink and establish priorities. I needed that. Just wish it hadn’t happened in this way.

Shirley Lorraine

I’ve spent the last fourteen years in virtual solitary confinement, working my trade as a graphic artist. A downturn in business required me to seek part-time employment, which came to me in the form of being a cashier at a grocery store a couple of towns over. I’ve gone from seeing maybe one or two people per month to maybe one hundred and fifty or so a day,

Alfred J. Lewis

Local businesses look to remain open with support from Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)

Just as the Thomas Fire, Montecito Debris Flow and Hill/Woolsey Fires pushed Santa Barbara and Ventura county small businesses to the brink of collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic is significantly affecting the economic vitality these businesses bring to the community. Local non-profit Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV, www.wevonline.org) primarily serves micro-businesses, defined as those with fewer than five employees and less than $1 million in annual revenues, by providing business training, coaching, and loans to more than 300 local business owners each year.

Most small businesses do not have the cash flow, reserves or insurance coverage to withstand a short-term interruption in sales, much less the indefinite impact of a national health crisis. As with the previous natural disasters, WEV’s business resources, guidance, financial training, support and Quick Response Loans are available to help local businesses adapt and survive during these challenging times. Since the virus first began to impact the region, WEV has experienced a significant influx of calls from business owners seeking both advice and emergency funding.

Many small businesses will need support now and in the coming months. WEV is assisting business owners through a Response Line (English 805-456-2342, Spanish 805.908.0096) and a Quick Response Loan program. Quick Response Loans offer financial support and assistance to businesses experiencing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. WEV loans up to $10,000 with no payments for the first three payment cycles will help business owners, like Moes, adapt in unpredictable times. For information on Quick Response Loans visit loans.wevonline.org/qrl.

WEV CEO Kathy Odell says, “Our local small business community will not survive this catastrophe without immediate, locally driven relief efforts. During the recent natural disasters, only a third of SBA Disaster Loan applications were successful, and even those who were approved had to wait weeks to receive their funds. We want small business owners to know they can reach out for help immediately and that WEV, as well as agencies like SCORE and EDC are available to help with the rigorous SBA loan application.”

Women’s Economic Ventures is a non-profit dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV provides training, consulting and loans to help entrepreneurs start, grow and thrive in business. WEV serves Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. While WEV targets its services toward women, it helps men as well. Services are provided in both English and Spanish.

Vol. 13, No. 14 – Apr 8 – Apr 21, 2020 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

As incredible as it may be, Ventura’s music scene is keeping its preverbal blood flowing. I’ve been watching so many live streaming events, where you can purchase to view and some where you can make a donation to the “tip” jar. Our artists and musicians are doing what they can to keep our scene alive. For this column, I reached out to a number of musicians and asked how they’ve been dealing with the Stay Home order.

Shawn Jones Singer/Songwriter

How is the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?

Shawn: Well, for the next half of the year all my work is gone. Everybody is in lockdown mode and all of the clubs all over the world are closed as well as outdoor events so there you have it. I had four international trips booked in Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Costa Rica, Ireland, Hawaii, Seattle, and local gigs that are all gone. It’s impacting me pretty severely.

Is there an upside to this?

Shawn: There is an upside to it in regard to things slowing down, having a chance to reflect, a little bit of writing here and there, inventing new ways to create and to share your music, getting things done around the house, etc.

But the downtime is also filled with chasing down new ways to make money in the music industry and looking into COVID-19 bills that have passed and grants that are possibly available for musicians and freelance gig economy people. Before we were never counted in and now, we are because of this horrible pandemic we are finally being recognized as a working class of people that have rights as well.

You have a new record ready to release, right?

Shawn: Well I was supposed to be doing a release in Liechtenstein for the new vinyl that we did that included Sam Bolle on bass and Gerry Morgan from Ireland on drums. It’s a live album from our studio live session at Little Big Beach Studios in Liechtenstein. That will have to come out in the fall at this point if everything goes well.

Additional thoughts you’d like to add?

Shawn: My heart goes out to all of those that are suffering right now so that’s kind of more the important thing on my mind and being responsible in my actions and staying self-quarantined.
I am also doing a lot of writing and trying to cut it close to the heart as possible and get to some very thought-provoking topics and issues for the next project which will come out when I am ready and since I am independent it’s when I’m ready instead of when the record company tells me I need to release it, so all I can say is it will be sooner than later!

(Shawn Jones is the king of social media, you find him on most all platforms including his official website, ShawnJonesMusic.com)

Kelly Zirbes, singer/songwriter of Kelly’s Lot

Are you and Perry (Kelly’s Husband and Guitarist for Kelly’s Lot) still working a day job?

Kelly: Perry is still working. He is finishing up a post-production sound on the new Ghostbusters movie. He can do that from home and meets with the team on Zoom for updates.

How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?

Kelly: We have switched gears and started planning, arranging and writing a new record featuring songs from the Facebook Word Challenge that I have been doing for a couple years. Fans give me a word and I write a song in 2 hours. I miss playing with my band but a new CD is nothing to complain about. I am blessed.

Do you find an upside to this?

Kelly: No, not with all the fear, sadness and suffering. I don’t mean to be negative, but live music helps so many and creates a community that is missing right now.

What are you doing to fill the time?

Kelly: Just writing more songs and checking in with people. We feel blessed that Perry is still working so we have reached out to those who are not working now and have helped in different ways. We all need to look to the left or look to the right and see who beside us who is hurting and do something to help.

Add anything else you’d like to share.

Kelly: If you’d like to help a local musician, just think about who you loved going out to see in your local pubs and reach out to them. Maybe they are doing an online concert or selling CDs on their websites. Maybe they need to hear from their fans, maybe they need financial help. If you are working and okay, maybe help someone who is not.  I’m sure they would really appreciate it!

(Kelly’s Lot can be found on most social media platforms as well as their official website at KellysLot.com)

Dan Grimm, Singer/Songwriter & owner Carbonite Sound

Are you still working your day job?

Dan: Hell yeah I am, and I’m surprised! When I took the job at Lynda.com to start the tech support team for online learning, I didn’t think I would be there long –– I thought I would sign a new artist contract and be writing for an artist or touring within the year. Amazingly, 14 years later, my love for the technological evolution of human learning has never been stronger. I’m having some Deja vu these days because when the economic bubble burst in 08′, Lynda.com skyrocketed with people needing to learn new skills to survive.  Linkedin acquiring Lynda.com was unexpectedly awesome, and I am proud of how many people’s lives we have helped improve with the massive platform for learning.
But sadly, the music industry as a trade has been demolished over that same time frame. Streaming services have become disastrous, live venues pay 1/10th the money they used to, and while people still value music so greatly –– there isn’t the same class of fair pay for work you see in trades like plumbing, electricians, and carpentry. I’m actively working to try to change that using every platform at my disposal, and I think every musician and industry person should be too.
How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Dan: I miss my band and playing in front of a live audience so much.  At the same time, it’s good for me because I have to focus on writing and getting solo demos for license instead of taking gigs. On the bright side, there is still a growing need for music behind all that streaming content most folks are binge watching. Plus, if you can’t find material to write about in these interesting times, you shouldn’t ever complain that Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, or anyone in the 60’s had more things to address in their music. I’m hopeful songwriters are taking advantage of a powerful moment in history to channel powerful concepts into song.
Tell me how this all is affecting the studio.
Dan: It’s a mixed bag, the part of our revenue at Carbonite Sound (formerly Brotheryn) that comes from recording live bands is paused, fortunately, we have been so busy over the last 6 months with TV, movies, bands, and various sound projects that there is a lot of mixing, mastering, and cleanup work that can be done in isolation. This could go on for longer than we can guess, and we think it’s time we look at ways we can pivot with the post pandemic shifts that may occur. On that note, we think we have a few good ideas in the works and I’m really excited to see what we can do to improve the things we offer artists, industry, and audience.
(Find out more about Dan Grimm on his Facebook page and Carbonite Sound (clientele includes Kenny Loggins, Joe Bonamassa, Izzy Stradlin, Farrelly Brothers and more at CarboniteSound.com)

Karen Parkhouse, Singer/Songwriter of The Barrelhouse Wailers

Do you work a day job?

Karen: I don’t work a day job, but I volunteer teach choir at Balboa middle school, so that’s obviously not happening at the moment. My husband is still employed and works from home.

How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?

Karen: Covid has affected us by performances being cancelled through June resulting in income loss for the band.  Also, band cannot rehearse with remote communication only.  We are working on some new stuff though, and setting up recording stations at each of our houses.

Is there an upside?

Karen: The upside is learning to slow down; unfortunately, so many musicians rely on gig income, so it’s rough for some. Upside is also taking time to work on writing. I’ve set myself a daily music challenge to be creative and practice/ produce something every day and to document this time in life.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Karen: It’s tough for performers to not perform.  It’s like our outlet has been taken away.  Thankfully we live in a period that we can still express ourselves and reach an audience through social media where even tips can be sent remotely. The energy level has gone down, but support for each other has skyrocketed.

(The Barrelhouse Wailers have two CDs to date; look them up on Facebook and YouTube and on their official website TheBarrelhouseWailers.com)

Jeff Donovan, Guitarist from The Guitar and Whiskey Club

Do you work a day job? If so, are you still working?

Jeff: I used to spend my days working Monday through Friday from home, so now I spend 24 hours a day at home (except for the occasional store run). My heart goes out to the many people not in a good situation right now.

How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?

Jeff: I am trapped at home with the singer of my band as a roommate – how fortunate is that? On the other hand, the rest of the band members are not able to be with us right now, so we have had to develop new material – and do live streaming as the Guitar & Whiskey Club “Lite” in place of shows with the full band.

Is there any upside to it?

Jeff: Yes, there is extra time to create music, but on the downside, I have to spend some of that time sanitizing my groceries and mail, and just about everything else in sight!

(Get the low down on the hard rockers at GuitarAndWhiskeyClub.com and most social media platforms)

Robert Ramirez from Medicine Hat

I know you injured yourself and have been rehabilitating but how has this Stay Home Order been affecting you?

Robert: COVID19 and its impact on myself and Medicine Hat has been quite a journey. This has all happened while simultaneously recovering from broken clavicle surgery. With a brand-new album, corresponding release parties and a trip to play SXSW all being cancelled, we pretty much watched all the hard work and planning slip away, like a carpet being pulled out from under us.

As is for many artists, the Stay Home order has caused us to rethink how we share our music. We’d like to do some live streaming as soon as I’m able. In the meantime, we’re coming up with different ways to get the new songs out there. Medicine Hat plans to post a song a day from the new album, on our Facebook page. We’ll include lyrics, photos and interesting notes pertaining to each track, kind of a virtual Story Tellers.  We’re trying to take advantage of this time to work on promoting, submitting the record for reviews and maybe start writing the next one!

(Medicine Hat’s new release Fences is available at www.MedicineHat.net and all streaming platforms.)

Next issue I’ll be checking in with more musicians including Guy Martin, Tommy Marsh and Jon Gindick.

Be on the alert for utility scams

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) reminded customers to be on alert for potential scams targeting utility customers during the COVID-19 outbreak. One common scam involves telling customers they must pay their gas bill immediately or their natural gas service will be disconnected. SoCalGas does not call customers seeking payment and had suspended service disconnections for customers until further notice. SoCalGas provides tips on how to recognize and respond to these scams:

Tips include–

Spotting common scam tactics such as Caller ID spoofing, phishing emails and texts, and utility imposters.

Always ask to see SoCalGas photo ID badge before letting someone inside. All SoCalGas employees on company business are required to carry a badge.

Customers are encouraged to verify the employee’s uniform and identification. Most of our authorized employees will always be in a uniform with our company logo, carry an official employee badge, and drive a company car. Take shorter showers to reduce your natural gas use.

Visit socalgas.com/scam-alert for additional tips and information about scams.

You can also visit socalgas.com/newsroom and @SoCalGasNews on Twitter for updates.

Ventura College Foundation Marketplace closed until further notice

The Ventura College Foundation Marketplace, which operates every Saturday and Sunday on the Ventura College campus, is closed until further notice. Ventura College is following the March 19 COVID-19 “Shelter In Place” executive order from California Governor Gavin Newsom so classes and public activities are no longer being held on campus.

“We know that the prolonged closure will impact many in the community who rely on the Marketplace for their fresh produce, pre-packed food and other essential items,” says Anne Paul King, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation. “For our vendors, the Marketplace is a major source of revenue. It’s a difficult time and our hearts go out to those who are affected.”

The Marketplace draws about 2,000 visitors each weekend with 200 vendors on Saturday and 300 vendors on Sunday.

“Our Foundation Board of Directors and staff are working hard behind-the-scenes so that when we are given permission, we will be ready to reopen the Marketplace as quickly as possible,” says King.

The Ventura College Foundation Marketplace has hosted vendors and patrons for over three decades and is a link between the college and the community. The Marketplace’s weekly booth space rental income supports 50 percent of the foundation’s budget including 100 percent of the organization’s operating budget.  It is essential in ensuring the foundation’s ability to deliver philanthropic support to students and the college.

Last year because of the Marketplace, the organization was able to support more than 5,800 students last year covering all education fees through the VC Promise (1,183 first-year and 363 second-year students), textbook support (1,565 served through semester lending library and 2,843 served through the resource library) and scholarship support (240 students served and 463 scholarships awarded).

City of Ventura declares local health emergency in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Police Officers are prepared to respond as needed.

It is with careful thought and planning that the City has declared a local Health Emergency in response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The declaration allows critical services and operations to continue while reinforcing best practices identified by the CDC and County Health Officials.

This declaration does not relate to any illness within City limits, it is simply a tool to enable the City to coordinate an effective response and allow for access to state and federal funds.

Based on recent recommendations from the State and local health officials, we want to provide you with the following updates connected with City services.

Emergency Services

  • Police and Fire services continue uninterrupted. Police Officers and Fire Fighters are prepared to respond as needed.

Food Services

  • Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is providing drive-up and walk-up meal service for children ages 1-18 at six locations throughout the District. More information can be found on VUSD’s website at: www.venturausd.org.
  • Congregate and home delivered meal services offered through the Ventura Avenue Adult Center will be modified to ensure social distancing practices are followed. More information regarding these modifications will be provided early next week.
  • The City will also be engaging with our local community partners on how to address the needs of those most vulnerable in our community.

Business Interruptions

Regarding the current guidance from Governor Newsom and the CDC, Mayor Matt LaVere said, “The severity of the impacts to our everyday lives due to the coronavirus is felt by all. These measures reduce potential spreading and help protect our City’s most vulnerable residents. We will be working with all of our community partners to figure out how to best provide the services our residents depend on.”

Social distancing practices are being implemented at City facilities that remain open. Community members seeking City services are encouraged to use email, online, or telephone methods to communicate their need for services.

For the latest updates on impacts to City of Ventura services and facilities, please visit: www.cityofventura.ca.gov.

For the latest updates on the situation in Ventura County, please visit www.vcemergency.com.