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Annual “Back-to-School” Gift~Away Event

The pirate and mermaid themed event made a big splash with the families.

Kids & Families Together (K&FT) – Heart 2 Heart Program set sail on Saturday, August 12th, with all pirates and mermaids on board for their 13th Annual Back-to-School Gift~Away Event! This year’s event was sponsored by the Port of Hueneme, and The Gene Haas Foundation. The event was graciously hosted at The Assistance League of Ventura County. Over 100 children and 60 families attended the event.

The pirate and mermaid themed back-to-school event made a big splash with the families being served by programs at K&FT. Young mermaids, pirates, and even a few princesses, arrived to pick out their own backpacks and school supplies that were gifted by generous sponsors and donors. “Our community provided for these families in a way that is most needed, with day-to-day essentials”, said Jeni Futvoye, Community Resource Manager. The event theme, coupled with the beautiful weather and dedicated volunteers, provided a gathering for the families that was filled with support and light-heartedness. Each child was welcomed by a group of “professional” pirates and a fairy. The families enjoyed using their “treasure map” throughout the event to discover art projects, cuddle Xander bunnies, clothing, household goods, and more. Carl the DJ kept the mood light and F-U-N, playing hits the children would recognize, and dance to if the mood struck! At the end of the journey, children turned in their treasure map to pick out a special gift from the treasure chest.

One of caregiver commented after the event … “First and foremost, I wanted to express my deep gratitude for the event you hosted on Saturday. The experience was truly amazing, and we really enjoyed ourselves! The kindness shown to us by everyone was heartwarming, and we felt a genuine sense of love. My kids were talking about the event the whole entire day!”

K&FT is grateful to the generous sponsors and donors who made this event possible: The Port of Hueneme, Gene Haas Foundation, Assistance League of Ventura County, CarMax – Oxnard, Lavender Life Company, Pierpont Racquet Club, Ventura Downtown Lions Club, St. Maximillian Kolbe Church, Soroptimist International of Conejo Valley, Forty Leaguers, TruckStop, Above the Bar Entertainment, Bell Arts Factory-Michele Foster, Cal Lutheran University, LBA Realty, Meathead Movers, SoCal Honda Dealers, Key Club of Oxnard, and our wonderful community of individual donors.

Thanks to the 45 volunteers who worked so hard helping to prepare for this event by organizing donations and filling backpacks, those who helped with setting up and decorating, distributing donations, at the gratitude table, and art project during our event…making the event joyful and a memorable experience for all!

“Kids & Families Together – Heart 2 Heart Program is doing what we do best… providing meaningful and positive experiences meant to last a lifetime.” – commented Carrie McAuliffe Sandoval- K&FT staff and Heart 2 Heart co-founder.

Money raised for Kids & Families Together

School supplies were also collected at the event.

On Sunday, July 16, Kids & Families Together was the beneficiary of the Pierpont Racquet Club’s Annual Car Show & Farmers Market. A fun event with some beautiful cars on display!

The event raised $775 for Kids & Families Together and the upcoming Back-to-School Gift~Away event that will be hosted by K&FT’s Heart 2 Heart Program in mid-August. Thank to all of the club members who came out.

School supplies were also collected at the event. A special thank you goes out to the Pierpont Racquet Club for their support!

Founded in 2000, Kids & Families Together (K&FT) has been serving foster, adoptive, kinship, and birth families throughout Ventura County. For over two decades K&FT has become the leader in providing critical services and support to children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, loss, and multiple placements. K&FT is unique in that we provide education, support and strategies to connect caregivers and parents to the children in their care. We wrap our arms around the entire family to help them raise healthy, nurtured children that thrive.

Ventura Police host a “Tip- a- Cop” fundraiser to support local Special Olympics athletes

Chief Darin Schindler and officer Miguel Martinez greeting all. Photos by Richard Lieberman

by Richard Lieberman

Assistant Chief David Dickey serving up lunch.

The Ventura Police Department held an annual fundraiser Tip-A-Cop on Tuesday July 25. The annual event raises funds for local Special Olympics athletes. The event was held at Finney’s Craft House located at 494 E. Main St. Ventura.

Ventura police officers joined forces with Special Olympics athletes and Finney’s staff as guest servers. The participating officers waited on tables, mixed drinks at the bar and delivered lunch to guests at the outdoor patio. The officers collected donations from dining residents utilizing a donation envelope to diners upon checkout. The enveloped allow diners to donate directly to the Special Olympics.

Sergeant Ryan Ranosa and Officer Joshua Ming serve drinks to diners.

The Ventura County Special Olympics offers services to children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities offering training and competition in year-round programs.

“Every year we do two events the Torch Run and the Tip- a- Cop fundraiser where we serve s servers to raise money for the Special Olympics, I have been involved in this charity event for at least the past twenty years,” said Chief of Ventura police Darin Schindler.

Council members Doug Halter and Bill McReynolds (on the right ) and their friends Ilda and Abe Abrams joined the fundraiser.

Ryan Reynosa a patrol sergeant with the Ventura Police department serving for the second time at this fundraiser said, “This is the second one I planned, and Finney’s is a great location for us giving us an opportunity to bring some vehicles and dogs to show the community and introduce them to some of the stuff we are up to,”

The event raised $5,150 in donations from diners during the four-hour duration of the event. Finney’s then kicked in with an additional 20% of proceeds for the four hours and raised the total to $6,675. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to support the Special Olympics of Ventura County and helps to support local athletes.

Cops takeover Finney’s for the Tip-a-Cop event.

City of Ventura earns national award for Public Works Project of the Year

Eric Berg, Principal, Pacific Coast Land Design; Stacey Zarazua, Parks Manager, City of Ventura; Phil Nelson, Public Works Director, City of Ventura; Buddy Jones, Construction Inspector, City of Ventura

The American Public Works Association (APWA) is proud to announce the City of Ventura has won APWA’s 2023 Public Works Project of the Year Award. Award winners publicly developed, owned, and maintained infrastructure projects that promote excellence in construction management and administration.

“Built in 1961, Arroyo Verde Park spans 129 acres of open space and features a large turf field area, playground, picnic area, hiking trails, and more. In 2017, the Arroyo Verde Park’s main play structure was destroyed in the Thomas Fire,” shared Public Works Director Phil Nelson. “Rather than simply rebuilding the former structure, our Parks Department sought to reimagine the space to make it the City’s first inclusive play area for children of all abilities.”

Primary playground features include structures offering social and play designs using movement and ability, uses topography as a natural playground, offers an open-ended sensory experience, music areas, native landscapes, and more.The American Public Works Association is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. The City of Ventura earned APWA’s 2023 Public Works Project of the Year Award in the Structures category, in the less an $5 million division. The recent July edition of the APWA Reporter, shared highlights of award winners across the nation including the Arroyo Verde Park Inclusive Playground Rebuild.

“Each year APWA receives hundreds of entries for our Project of the Year Awards. It’s always a challenging process to select the winners as so many worthy projects are submitted. The Project of the Year Awards highlights the best projects that showcase amazing collaborative efforts and vision. Congratulations to this year’s winners!” said APWA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott D. Grayson, CAE.

An awards and recognition ceremony will take place during the APWA Public Works Expo on Monday, August 28, in San Diego. APWA will recognize this year’s Project of the Year Award winners in a video posted to www.apwa.org on August 30.

Red Flag Warning For Seniors: Dehydration

“Save some for me.”

by Bob Warnagieris
[email protected]

We have all heard before – drink more water. It’s drummed into our heads by health experts, warnings in the media, and physical fitness advocates. Yet, daily, especially during the record heat days of this summer, we learn of people of all ages and stature being struck with hospitalization and death because of dehydration. However, it is seniors that are most at risk.

Older adult bodies don’t register temperature as efficiently as those of younger people. As temperatures rise our body’s primary means of reducing heat is through sweating. The heart has to work extra hard to bring our blood to the surface for this to occur. Other organs as well are seriously affected by rising heat in our bodies.

During the current heat wave, the media has been filled with stories of those who have not heeded these warnings. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel was recently hospitalized because of dehydration which occurred as a result of a tour in the desert climate of Israel. The stories seem endless. In the USA two young women died while hiking on a hot day. A whole family was lost this summer because of heat prostration. An experienced hiker, age 75, perished in the desert near Death Valley. Outdoor workers are collapsing daily because of inadequate hydration.

In my own case, I am in excellent physical condition for my age of 88. The heat has never bothered me as it does most people, and I consume daily what I thought was enough water. However, after two hours of golf in the middle of July, where I walked the course on an especially hot day, I later became dehydrated. Yes, I carried water, but clearly did not consume enough. That, added to a diuretic taken that morning compounded my risk. I did not discover this until the following morning when I had a blood test and learned that I had suffered a deficiency in my kidney function.

We get fluids from many sources. That includes beverages, fruits, vegetables, soups and the like. However, the best source is pure water. It can be made more appealing with a squeeze of lemon, strawberries or maybe cucumber, but it’s still basically water. A general rule for the amount of water we need is 1/3 of your body weight per day. Another measure for older adults is 7.1 cups per day. This is where the often-repeated recommendation of 8 glasses day comes from. We are all different in age, physical fitness and body chemistry, so confer with you doctor as to what is best for you.

Tender Life Maternity Home stands as a beacon of support

Since 1985, Tender Life Maternity Home has offered a safe place to transform lives.

by Patricia Schallert and Yana

On July 15th, Tender Life Maternity Home, had an open home tour and invited members of the community to see the property, have conversations with the residents and ask questions of the staff and board members. With a strong commitment to providing a nurturing environment, Tender Life Maternity Home stands as a beacon of support, empowering women with the tools and resources they need to navigate pregnancy and beyond. For Tender Life, this open home tour was a time for residents to tell their stories.

Information about Tender Life was provided to the guests at this well attended event and attention to detail in their preparations for the event was obvious with a BBQ, desserts, tours through the property and speakers.

Since 1985, Tender Life Maternity Home has offered a safe place to transform lives. Tender Life Maternity Home’s vision has provided comprehensive support and assistance to pregnant women (18 years and over) in need and encourages healthy alternatives for a better and productive life. The well-being and comfort of mothers and their unborn children have been top priorities.

The Tender Life Staff offers supportive services and provides an environment that can break the patterns of homelessness, addiction, and abuse. Some of Tender Life’s early babies have graduated from college, found their careers, and are living productive, fulfilling lives. With a capacity of six women at a time, Tender Life Maternity Home is a warm, nurturing refuge where the women are encouraged to focus on making their future both positive and fulfilling. They learn group and relationship dynamics, coping and life skills along with learning to avoid the self-destructive behaviors that got them to their current place in life.

Through Tender Life, the women receive therapy, take classes, develop spiritual nourishment as well as lifestyle coaching. They discover Tender Life as a safe, nurturing place from the beginning of their stay. After their baby is born, the women receive guidance for up to 12 months that includes training in parenting, child development, and life skills along with employment coaching and financial responsibility. A team of experienced and dedicated healthcare professionals are on hand to provide personalized care and guidance, ensuring that each woman’s unique needs are met. Tender Life Maternity Home in Ventura, California, offers a haven of compassionate care, guidance, and support, ensuring that every woman’s journey into motherhood is nurtured and cherished. Tender Life Maternity Home is where “courage meets compassion to build new lives”.

Tender Life Maternity Home is having an annual walk on July 29th. Please register now to help raise as much as possible for Tender Life Maternity Home to shelter unhoused pregnant women. Over the past 5.5 years, Tender Life Maternity Home has given 49 babies a chance at life. Tender Life is asking for your participation to help continue this rich 40-year legacy. http://www.pledgestar.com/TenderLife/

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” Jim Duran Executive Director

Dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s

The monthly support group for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers is free to attend.

by Carol Leish, MA

Vanessa White, Ph.D. has been dedicated to making the lives of those affected by Parkinson’s better. Dr. White earned her Ph.D. in Sports Management/ Kinesiology, from the University of Northern Colorado. She first thought that she would become an athletic director. Her studies in kinesiology led her to teaching in the Women’s Physical Education Department in East Los Angeles, Monterey Park.

Dr. White was happy that she got to play every sport, and was a collegiate athlete in her school career. She was a swimmer and water polo player. She also played volleyball and basketball. She was a high school volleyball coach and has had over 35 years of teaching experience in physical and wellness education.

After spending many years teaching in higher education, Dr. White decided to pursue a lifelong dream of owning her own gym. She and her husband, Kevin, purchased Santa Paula Fitness in the summer of 2011. That is when Neurofitness was founded.

Dr. White said, “The reason that I got into helping people with Parkinson’s was that my mother-in-law, Judge Toy White, was diagnosed with it in 2015. By seeking out programing and education that would provide my mother-in-law with the exercise she needed, which was specific to Parkinson’s, I put together a new and unique training program that worked well. This is how Neurofitness started.

“Because of Judge Toy White having had developed Parkinson’s, I resurrected the monthly support group for people with Parkinson’s that was initially led by Patty Jenkins. Things had stopped with COVID-19 in 2020. Then, after Patty lost her husband to Parkinson’s, I restarted the group.

“By getting people with Parkinson’s involved in agility training, cardio work, and strength training, I could help them out. I also do cognitive and physical drills, which involves improving memory. Vocal work is also important since people with Parkinson’s tend to get a quiet voice.”

The monthly support group for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers is free to attend. It meets the 3^rd Tuesday of each month from 10:00-11:15am at Cross Point Church in Ventura. Their address is: 5419 Ralston Ave. Ventura, CA 93003. Dr. White said, “We alternate things in the support group by having a presenter one month, and a discussion group the next month. Speakers have included neurologists and psychologists. During the discussion, there are two groups: one of those with Parkinson’s, and the other for caregivers. Anyone interested in becoming more aware of Parkinson’s and how to help those affected, or who just want to become more informed, are welcome to attend the group,” For more info., contact Dr. White at: [email protected].

CAPS/KPPQ – Spotlight on DJ of the Month – Pam Baumgardner

Pam launched VenturaRocks.com in 2009 to support Ventura’s music scene.

Pam Baumgardner is host/DJ/producer of the Pam Baumgardner Music Hour airing at 5pm on Tuesdays and Fridays and again on Sunday at noon on KPPQ 104.1 fm and streaming on myTuner. With a degree in radio and TV broadcasting from Fullerton, she began her career as Stephanie Rose at KEZY/KPZE out of Anaheim, then moved to Ventura in 1988 for a job at KZTR. She earned her Program Director stripes converting KXBS radio (The Bus) from oldies to alternative rock. She worked at KHTY in Santa Barbara as well as at KBBY in Ventura.

She launched VenturaRocks.com in 2009 to support Ventura’s music scene and running a website to support local artists and writing the Music Scene column for the Ventura Breeze. Pam produced VenturaRocks at CAPS, a half hour music TV show highlighting local artists such as Crooked Eye Tommy, Medicine Hat, Shaky Feelin’ and others. When KPPQ launched she jumped onboard enthusiastically and created The Pam Baumgardner Music Hour, one of the first locally produced shows back in January of 2017 that highlights local artists out of the 805 as well as artists who come to our county to play. The show has many faithful listeners from across the county and the nation. She joined CAPS Media’s Board of Directors and continues to be a true champion of both community radio and tv.

Pam says, “It was my favorite thing in the whole wide world listening to my favorite artists and bands on the radio growing up, and to be able to do that over the span of almost forty years has certainly been a privilege.”

Pam joined the KPPQ crew with a wealth of experience that she has generously shared with other DJs at the station. In the past six years CAPS staff members, directed by Elizabeth Rodeno, have trained more than 100 local DJs and produced hundreds of hours of original programming on KPPQ. Unlike Pam, many of her fellow DJs had very little or no prior experience in creating radio programming. All the KPPQ DJs share Pam’s enthusiasm for the CAPS Media community of voices.

July marked the reopening of CAPS Media Center to current members. In the fall CAPS Media Center will expand training and access to members of the public who become new CAPS members. As a kickoff, in the coming months, the CAPS crew is planning an Open House, where the public will be invited to drop by and take a tour of the Center including the video studio, editing stations, and KPPQ radio station. The knowledgeable CAPS staff will give brief overviews and demonstrations on the multiple CAPS gear. At the daylong event, guests will learn the benefits of becoming a CAPS member and how to utilize the full extent of the CAPS Media resources and staff expertise. More information on the Open House will be provided in the coming weeks on the CAPS website at capsmedia.org, on KPPQ, on social media, and elsewhere.

CAPS Membership will be open to anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Ventura. The annual membership fees are currently $40 for an individual or $100 for a nonprofit organization.

The Rotary Club of Ventura issues $66,000 in grants

Each non-profit grant recipient is making a significant impact.

Twenty-one local non-profits attended the weekly Rotary meeting to extend their gratitude for $66,000 in grants issued through their Julius Guis Memorial Rotary Foundation (JGMRF). About half of the funding for the grants comes from the Rotary Club of Ventura 4th of July Fireworks held annually on the grounds of Ventura College. Grant applications are solicited throughout the city of Ventura in February each year. The JGMRF committee is comprised of five past presidents of the Rotary Club of Ventura. Each non-profit grant recipient is making a significant, positive impact that aligns with Rotary International’s focus to promote peace, fight disease, save mothers and children, support education, protect local economies, and protect the environment.

The Rotary Club of Ventura meets Wednesdays at Noon at the Poinsettia Pavilion. Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – locally and globally.

Ventura’s Annual Street Fair & Parade

Bikes, scooters, strollers, and wagons were all welcome at the parade. Photos by Janie Tran and Shirley Lorraine

The City of Ventura’s 46th annual 4th of July Street Fair & Pushem-Pullem Parade was held on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Ventura’s Downtown District.

The Pushem-Pullem Parade, presented by the Rotary Club of East Ventura, began at 10:00 a.m. on Main Street in front of Cemetery Memorial Park and continue into the Street Fair in Downtown Ventura.

This year’s Street Fair featured artisan vendors, a car exhibit, food trucks, live entertainment, a kids’ activity area, and more.

A complimentary Bike Valet, courtesy of the City of Ventura Transportation Division and Bike Ventura, was located at the corner of Main St. and Chestnut St.

The Classic Car Exhibit featured over 80 beautiful vehicles. Live entertainment, included local bands and community group performances were enjoyed by the large crowd of attendees.