When Jim passed away, instead of giving his clothes away, Cheri Jo Weissenbuger decided to form her own non-profit called Jim’s Closet. She travels to disasters from her home in Lompoc with her free stuff for people in need. Jim’s Closet is in the parking lot at the Museum. Email her at [email protected] to find out the exact times she will be there.

this week
the surreal and the unreal met the real
the real came out ahead
for the real is the community support and love for one another
through this
I know
the uplifting has just begun

Jossy Carbajal is a barber at Ventura Barber Company. Immediately after she heard that the fairgrounds opened up to the displaced she went there and set up free haircuts for all evacuees. She also was giving the firemen quick haircuts as they were fueling up their trucks at State Beach. She is just a giving type person!

by Sheli Ellsworth

Losing a home by fire is not only the destruction of personal possessions, heirlooms and important documents, it is the loss of comfort and safety. Suddenly, small things—once taken for granted—become time-sucking inconveniences. Tweezers, can-openers and medicines can be replaced, but it takes time, energy, lists and attention to the million thoughts fighting for dominance in a too-stressed brain.

According to the American Psychological Association, homeowners can experience shock, anger, depression and hopelessness after a fire. Eventually, acceptance and a focus on the future are followed by a return to safety and security. But how do you get through another day? And what about the one after that?

The APA has some suggestions for dealing with stress after such a devastating loss.

• Try to continue your fitness routine. Exercise, yoga, meditation and deep breathing are all proven stress reducers.
• Give yourself permission to feel bad: cry, beat a pillow, scream in a closet.
• It’s okay to laugh. Even when life sucks, things can be funny. Embrace periods of joy.
• Make small decisions when the big ones are out of your control.
• Avoid major decisions like changing jobs and getting a divorce.
• Lower expectations. You aren’t a superhero. Do what you can. The rest will wait.
• Socialize. Spending time with others is one path to recovery.
• It is okay to talk about it. Get it out.
• Take advantage of community support. It is not a sign of weakness.
• Everyday think of something you are grateful for, even the small things.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol when your decision-making skills are already taxed.
• Sleep and wake as close to your normal cycle as possible.
• Don’t skip meals. Eat regular, well-balanced meals. Food tells us we will survive.
• Find a routine. Even when nothing is routine, children especially need a certain pattern of behavior. Even simple things like going to school and visiting friends can be soothing.

The public can get incident information at https://t.co/F8csSX6ytV or call 465-6650.

Needed items for those affected by fire in Ventura can come to Community Presbyterian Church to pick up clothing, blankets, shoes etc. Requirements are you must be from Ventura or those fire areas off of the 33. We ask to only take what you need. Items will be found in our Fellowship Hall.

If there is a specific need, please call Jeri at 804-2870.

I have 1 double bed sofa bed mattress to give away and 20-25 children’s books (all new). I am also available for whatever families need to get through this difficult time–clean up, hourly childcare of infant- 9 years old, grocery shopping, food prep, etc. Kathy Lewis 701-3321.

Supplies and clothing available for any of the families displaced by the fire –

Ventura Elks Lodge – 2126 Knoll Drive

We have toiletries, cleaning supplies, kitchen item, kids items (clothing, toys, games), pet supplies.

For more information or to donate Monica Merryman 701.8150; Blake Merryman 479.3032 or Elks Lodge 639.0303.

Project Understanding is staying open extended days and times to help those in need. M-F from 9-2 and by appointment. We are taking donations of food, water, toilet tissue, paper plates, household items, we are also looking for shovels, gardening gloves and shovels to distribute to anyone in need.

Project Understanding is located at 2735 Johnson Dr. Suite E.

by Barbara Brown

On Monday around ten, my neighbor Lauren called. It was odd for her to call that late… her voice was tense. She relayed news from her husband Tom Lanski, a Ventura County Fire Captain— the fire in Wheeler Canyon was moving toward Ondulando and she should, precautionarily, pack.

Alerting our neighbors, we moved from house to house knocking and shouting as the horizon changed from amber to brilliant red. Then we heard the evacuation announcement and as quickly as possible, we left.

Driving across town to our son’s house, we watched the fire parallel us through the city. It was terrifying to see how swiftly it moved, and how high the flames were. When we curved the 33, the Avenue hillside was ablaze. Seeing that, I had a bad feeling about the botanical Gardens.

Soon after arriving at my son’s house, the flames breached his hillside and we had to leave. I began to call hotels; they were booked. It was hard to breathe in the smoke, it was dark and everywhere there were flames.

Finally, friends offered to let us crash in their room at the Crowne—a huge relief. We arrived smoky, disheveled and in shock.

One of our retired firefighter friends, Tom Retan, who was listening to dispatch, began texting updates. That was comforting. He was with us remotely hour by painful hour.

From our hotel window, we could only see the east side of the city and not much of it. We looked for a better vantage point and finally found a city-facing window in a stairwell. In horror, I watched the Gardens burn. My heart broke. This city jewel was torched. I didn’t sleep that night.

Finally, in the morning, I called Lauren; in tears she spoke, “we’ve lost our home”. My heart dropped, she’d gotten us out, but she’d lost everything. I cannot describe how that felt.

News was spotty on Tuesday; I focused on the Gardens. Then, I saw a text. Susan and Greg’s home had survived (our friends at the Crowne). I texted, “Could you check ours?” and heard nothing for a long, long time. As the minutes dragged on, anxiety crept in. Then the phone rang. As his own voice broke, our friend Mark explained our home was gone.

My heart actually hurt… it still does… when I think about it.

The first days after learning our home had fallen were surreal. We handled it well enough; friends and family were so supportive. The realization that we had nothing but four boxes of photos and our pajamas was bizarre, but we had each other and citywide, there were no fire casualties. That was a miracle.

Wednesday, we hiked to see our home or, what was left of it. Standing with my husband, son and daughter-in-law, viewing the ash and debris, a sense of profound and irreparable loss set in—the deep and painful realization that our lives had forever changed.
We’re still not out of it; the song “Vagabond Blues” keeps running through my head, but we’ve reconnected with our neighbors and they are alive and well.

I have to say, we are so lucky to be a part of a community that comes together in crisis. So many homes were lost. The next two years are going to be difficult, but we’re optimistic, we love this city and we’re planning to rebuild. We’re deeply grateful for the support of friends and family, the commitment of our community leaders and lastly, the first responders who worked so hard to save homes in desperately dangerous conditions, despite their own profound losses.

There is a blanketed hush of humbleness that is spreading like wild fire, soothing away the raw edges of destruction in the residents of Ventura County. It is a thankfulness that goes beyond monetary things. A united force and breath of relief are now threaded in the tapestry of our lives. From lovingly handmade signs of thank you’s for the firemen and peace officers posted throughout our community to an underlying knowing we are not alone.

A song of hope and fortitude is the storyline in the life of a survivor. A kind of common denominator, that we made it through one of the most devastating fires in California history. The flames gobbled up land and homes yet our spirit of rebuilding and lives are not burned out but alive and kicking! With strength and courage as dust rags, we are cleaning off the dust of despair.

We are rising out of the ashes like phoenixes and a new rhythm and movement is taking place! The bonds of consciousness are lifting us up in sheer determination. A new crop of co-creation is watering the seeds of human potential with love. A new lush undergrowth of humanity is germinating and Heart-full-y our existence is being activated and ignited to live life like it matters.

With clarity, we are fanning the flames of oneness and understanding that each of us has the opportunity and choice to surf and ride the energy waves back home to our authentic ourselves.

Love is our lifeline!

THE GRAY THAT YOU SEE, BLANKETING OUR SKY IS NOT OUR MORNING SEA FOG, IT’S NOT WET IT’S DRY

ANIMALS FLEE THE FOREST, AND BIRDS FORCED TO FLY GRAYS SOURCE NOT DISCRIMINATE, SOME MAY LIVE, SOME MAY DIE

IT SEEPS IN YOUR SKIN, BURNS YOUR THROAT, WATERS YOUR EYE BENEATH THE GRAY BLANKET, NORMALCY AWRY

AS THE FIRE LEAVES, WE SMILE, HUG, WAVE IT GOODBYE STILL AS STRONG AS EVER(VENTURA) EVEN WHEN WE CRY

OUT OF THE ASHES, A NEW FOREST AND HOMES WILL ARISE OUR NEW FOUND STRENGTH AND UNITY, IS REALLY OUR NEW PRIZE