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Ventura County Mobile Library visited the Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market

A book giveaway was also available.

The Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market welcomed the Ventura County Mobile Library on Wednesday, August 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Pacific View Mall. The mobile library will be offering many of the main services offered at a small branch library.

The Ventura County Mobile Library was completely funded through grants and donated funds with a generous donation from the Ventura County Library Foundation, which included significant donations from Premier America Credit Union and the Port of Hueneme.  In addition, the Ventura County Mobile Library project was also funded through a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and awarded through the California State Library.

The Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association a non-profit farmers’ market cooperative, serves the community of Ventura with two Certified Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays at the Pacific View Mall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays in Downtown Ventura from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Thousand Oaks Farmers’ Market held Thursdays at The Oaks Shopping Center, East End Parking Lot, Wilbur Road & Oaks Mall Drive from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and in Santa Clarita at the College of the Canyons from 8:30 to 12 noon.

For more information on the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association, call 805-529-6266, or visit the website at www.vccfarmersmarkets.com.

Ocean enthusiasts are all ages

Senior Shirley does it all, even paddles.

by Shirley Lorraine

The Ventura Outrigger Canoe Club is one of several outrigger clubs that launch from Harbor Cove beach at the end of Spinnaker Drive. Their Halau (clubhouse) serves as a meeting place and storage area for their equipment. Their colorful red and yellow canoes render them easily visible, even in the early morning mist.

The club’s purpose is to enable a wide range of people and groups to enjoy recreational ocean paddling sports, ocean conservation and education. While the primary focus is on traditional 6-seat Polynesian style canoes, the club also maintains one- and two-seat canoes for member use and promotes paddling sports of all kinds. The club has been going strong since 2006 and boasts members with a wide range of ages.

Over a third of their membership is over age 70. Recently, a hardy crew of six of these adventurous seniors paddled their way up to Ventura County’s Mondos Beach and back, about 19 miles. One of the members, Debbie, celebrated her 72nd birthday on that trip!

The club meets several times a week. Sundays are invitational days for new participants. A senior myself, I eagerly signed their waiver form that indicated I could swim and would be a safe rider and listened carefully to some basic instructions including what to do in the unlikely event the canoe should huli (capsize). Good to be prepared. And yes, I paddled – to just beyond the pier and back! Surrounded by experienced and encouraging paddlers, I found it easy to quickly get into the rhythm by following their lead. I was told the proper way to stroke with the paddle and was assured that I wouldn’t be sore the next day. I was surprised when I found that to be true! Technique really does matter.

At the halfway point we took a rest break and just enjoyed the calming ambiance of the water and birds. It was easy to see the meditational appeal of outrigger canoeing.

Some members are preparing to participate in the annual Queen Lili’uokalani Race in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii featuring events August 29 through September 2 where paddlers of all ages will convene.

The non-profit club regularly participates in community events such as beach clean-up, Caregivers of Ventura County Sailathons, and the Ventura Aloha Festival. Members also volunteer with the Best Day Foundation to assist kids with special needs enjoy an outrigger excursion day at the beach.

Take a look at the club’s website – www.venturaoutriggercanoeclub.org to get more information. Give outrigger canoeing a try. You may find it’s just the right way for you to get some exercise and mental relaxation at the same time.

Sweet Jay’s Roadhouse Now Open

A View from House Seats
by Shirley Lorraine

Tucked away in an industrial area of Ventura is a Speakeasy. The Speakeasy Project: American Roadhouse, that is. Billed as an underground evening of new comedies and live music, the interactive roadhouse atmosphere is provided by the Fractured Actors Theater Company.

New name on the community theater scene? It was to me although this is their second Speakeasy Project and other productions have been mounted.

Apparently, others were already in the know however, as most of the tables in Sweet Jay’s Roadhouse were already filled when I arrived. Libations were available, both complimentary and for purchase, and the place was already jumping.

The evening featured Sumter Skaggs and the Screamin’ Armadillos, a versatile band churning out country, rock and blues classics. A standout vocalist was Stella Ruby Rose (Shelby Figueroa) who not only belted out the tunes, she also played piano and guitar accompaniment.

The evening was a mixture of original one-acts plays depicting snapshots of American Life written by FATC’s producers, Jeff Ham and Shannon McNally Ham, and boot-scootin’ music from the band.

Stage crew deftly changed the minimal settings while the audience was enjoying the musical interludes. A large cast of actors assumed various roles in the one-acts, performing with enthusiasm. The Fractured Actors website decrees family friendly, but I would caution those with an aversion to cuss words (both in scripts and songs) to leave the kids at home. The one-acts, in my opinion, were placeholders for the music. Scripts were complicated and filled with what seemed to be comments on life while dancing around the subjects. Maybe it was just me, but I felt some interpretation was required. At least one act seemed unresolved to me.

A few of the actors were difficult to hear with soft, unamplified voices in stark contrast to the interim amplification of the musicians. For me, it was like when you’re watching TV and must turn the sound up but then the commercial comes on and you’re blasted with volume.

However, a few performers stood out with excellent diction, projection and confidence. Hudson Ham, the youngest of the group, shows promise. He was composed, articulate and had excellent timing.

Anthony Contreras and Benjamin Wilson each stood out in several one-acts as did the trio of Jeff Ham, Michael Lie Murphy and Karyn Noel in the second play titled Animal Behavior.

Overall though, the entire evening was different, enjoyable and lively. Although the black box theater utilizes space in the Ventura Vineyard Church on Palma Drive, the theater company is fully independent of the church, hence their hashtag #NotAChurchPlay.

The entrance is around the back, as a Speakeasy should be – through an unmarked door. However, the bouncer will check for your name on the list so be sure to reserve tickets/seats early. Seating is limited and the tables fill up fast.

This end-of-summer special engagement is a limited run ending August 31. It is a non-smoking venue, wheelchair accessible (mention the need when you make your reservation). Go and have fun.

Spending time with pets provides benefits for older adults

” The pigeons should be here shortly to join us.”

As loved ones get older, it’s important to find good senior care in Rochester, MN (or wherever you’re located) for them to live out their golden years as happily and as comfortably as possible. However, growing old can be challenging for people because they see their body getting weaker and people they know dying of old age. This can lead them to feel depressed and lonely if they don’t get the right support. Luckily, experts say seniors who interact with animals feel less depressed and isolated. Social isolation is becoming an increasingly common issue, with one in five Americans reporting they feel lonely.

This is why it is really important to make sure that if you have got an elderly member of your family (or even a friend) who is living alone, then you need to try your best to speak to them and spend time with them. This is a lot easier with things like mobile phones, however, a lot of senior members don’t want to have a phone because they don’t understand how it works, or they can’t see it. However, they can easily get a cell phone for elderly with large buttons to help them see their phone better so that phone calls can be made. You don’t want someone you know to feel lonely and sad, so you might as well give them a call if you can. Seniors are especially vulnerable to feelings of loneliness though. In fact, 43 percent say they experience loneliness regularly. A new survey[1] of adults age 65 and older by Home Instead, Inc. found regular interaction with animals can help to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“While we recognize that pet ownership isn’t for everyone, we find that interaction with pets, even on a small scale, can have a big impact on older adults,” said Joe Malagon, senior care expert and owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Thousand Oaks. “A simple act like petting a dog, holding a cat or watching a bird can bring so much joy to a senior who may be feeling lonely.”

Additional survey results found that nearly half of older pet owners cited stress relief, sense of purpose and exercise as leading advantages to owning a pet. In addition to providing positive health benefits, pets can also provide constant companionship for older adults who would prefer to age in place. In fact, 82 percent of senior animal owners surveyed said they would not consider moving to a senior living community without their pet.

These findings are not a surprise to Steve Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), a nonprofit research and education organization. “There is a strong connection between heart health and pet ownership or interaction,” Feldman said. “Pet owners are more likely to get recommended levels of exercise, have lower blood pressure and experience reduced levels of stress. Pets have even been shown to aid in recovery after a heart attack.”

While there are many benefits to owning a pet later in life, Home Instead also found that even occasional interactions with pets prove to be beneficial for older adults. Survey results indicate that older adults achieve the same positive feelings when spending time with animals in other capacities, such as visiting with pets owned by family, friends or neighbors.

“This interaction is especially important, as it also provides the opportunity to socialize with other people, further reducing feelings of loneliness,” Malagon said. “Our goal is to keep seniors safe and happy in their own homes for as long as possible and many times that includes helping them with their own pet, taking them to dog parks or visiting pet-friendly businesses to gain that animal interaction they desire.”

“Research also shows animal interaction can help perceptions of pain and discomfort, and improve motivation for treatment protocols for diseases such as cancer by helping individuals feel more focused and positive moving forward,” said Van Every. “Even interactions for half an hour a week can make a difference.”

County CEO delivers State of the County address

County Executive Officer Mike Powers delivers the State of the County report at the Ventura County Taxpayers Association.

County Executive Officer Mike Powers presented his State of the County report to a sold out crowd of about 300 at the Ventura County Taxpayers Association summer luncheon on August 1st. The title of the presentation was “Connecting our Region to Collectively Strengthen our Community.” The event, co-sponsored by the Conejo Valley, Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo Chambers of Commerce, brought together the east, central and western areas of the County.

Powers discussed the County, city and community response and recovery efforts to the Thomas Fire, the Borderline shooting, and the Hill and Woolsey fires. He stressed the cooperative relationships between County, state, federal government, the cities of Ventura and Thousand Oaks, and community organizations and businesses that facilitated debris removal, assistance programs and permitting.

“What we have seen this year is when we focus priorities and work together collectively, great things can happen,” said Powers. “We’ve seen it in our disaster recovery efforts. We’ve seen it with our new economic and energy initiatives, and we’ve seen it with our growing response to the homeless crisis. Public, community and private partnerships work. Look what we can get done. Let’s highlight areas where we can apply this collective effort going forward.”

He also mentioned how organizations such as the Ventura County Community Foundation worked collaboratively with local government and many others to aid victims by working as a trusted clearinghouse for donations.

Economic vitality was a key focus of the presentation. Powers noted the force multiplier effect of new connections formed as a result of the County’s Economic Vitality Strategic Plan actions; citing the new strides made in housing vouchers for the disabled through connecting the housing authorities across the cities. He also shared the new business opportunities being generated through the innovation collaborative formed by the Economic Development Collaborative, Port of Hueneme, U. S. Navy and the Went brothers from Matter Labs, further emphasizing the power of public-private partnerships. Powers highlighted the startup culture in the region spotlighting the venture capital firm BioPartners who are bringing $300 million in BioTech startup funding. He reflected the importance of fostering the startup culture in the County. He highlighted the county’s 9th place ranking in a recent study of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem as a reflection of the good work of the chambers, education system, cities as well as the County and that the County is a strong supporter of the Startup Weekend program with the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. The Startup Weekend program facilitates new startup businesses in the areas of Information Technology, Health Care and Agriculture and provides funding and startup office space at the County’s Camarillo Airport.

The hour-long presentation also touched on the County’s highest possible long-term credit rating; health care; multiple efforts to improve financial operations at VCMC, libraries; public safety; social services; agriculture; pensions; and the upcoming census, adding that eight of ten cities in the County are at high risk for an under-count and that each person not counted in the census results in a loss of $2,000 annually in federal funding for things like education, roads, health care and more.

25 dancers performed the Argentinian tango

Yazmin Carrera and Panos Kontakos (that’s them in the center) perform Argentinian tango with their fellow dancers at the Tango in the Park event.

by Amy Brown

It can take more than two to tango. At least, that was the idea with the recent Tango in the Park event held recently by members of House of Dance in downtown Ventura. 25 dancers performed the Argentinian tango on a stage in the park next to Café Fiore, providing a romantic Latin American flare on a Sunday afternoon. According to Cliff Housego, one of the organizers and performers, the event was created to provide an open forum for local dancers to demonstrate the elegant dance form to the Ventura community. Housego has been teaching West Coast Swing dancing at the Borderline in Thousand Oaks since the early 90s (presently closed due to the Nov. 7, 2018 shooting tragedy), and now takes tango lessons every Wednesday at the House Of Dance in Ventura. “Tango is romantic, connected, sexy and awe inspiring,” said Housego. “One thing I found attractive was the lead and follow, which is so very important, in that it’s not my arms moving you, it’s my body moving you, my core moving your core—it’s really two people dancing as one.”

Renowned choreographer Bob Fosse famously once said “Dance like nobody’s watching,” but Argentinian tango seems made for an audience, filled with dramatic improvised moves, flourishes, and close embraces. This style of tango developed in the 1880s in Buenos Aires, and is an improvisational dance (unlike the far more structured ballroom styles) performed to a wide variety of music: slow, or with staccato beat, or very fast. Not unexpectedly, an intense and beautiful style of dance like this can lead to deeper connections—Ventura residents Yazmin Carrera and Panos Kontakos first met at a tango dance class and are now a couple on the dance floor and off. Carrera is originally from Mexico, and Kontakos from Greece, and are now active members of the flourishing tango community in the county. “The Ventura tango community is very friendly and inclusive, and that it’s not only about dancing, it’s about connecting with people. Tango is very graceful and intuitive, it’s about feeling—and I feel like it’s a heart dance,” said Carrera.

This was the first time an event like this had been held by the group in Ventura, and it was very well received. “The event was a refreshing success. We had couples come up on the stage and dance and many people walking stop, watch and take pictures and videos,” said Housego. He encourages patience when learning tango—and pointed out that there is a longer, deeper learning curve to it, and that while he has been dancing tango for the last five years, he still essentially considerers himself a beginner. “It can really be a 10 to 12 year process to master, but it’s a journey in which you can really enjoy the process,” he said. “Argentinian tango is very versatile, and the style is changing. I’m enjoying my journey.”

Ventura County Homeless Veterans Stand Down

On the last day, all of the Veterans gathered in a circle.

The Ventura County Homeless Veterans Stand Down was held on July 28th.

Approximately 200 homeless Veterans were bused into the Ventura National Guard Armory. The Sea Bees from Camp Point Hueneme set up tents for them to sleep. They were not only provided three meals a day, a place to sleep, and showers but also received haircuts, dentistry care, medical attention and legal help was available. It was truly a remarkable weekend for the Veterans and all those who assisted in the event.

On the last day, all of the Veterans gathered in a circle, holding hands and arms stretched high with the flags of all the branches of service flying next to the greatest, most beautiful flag of all; the American Flag. With its beautiful red, white and blue stars and stripes gently waving in the breeze above them; as if to bless each and every Veteran for fighting for our freedom and giving so much of themselves. The Lee Greenwood song, ‘Proud To Be An American’ played loudly for all to hear.

The Elks mission, “So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them”. The Elks Lodges of Ventura County; Simi Valley #2492, Thousand Oaks #2477, Ventura #1430 and Oxnard #1433; purchased and prepared a box lunch for each Veteran to take home. The boxes were insulated to keep water, sodas, sandwiches and fruit cold. They were also presented with back packs, duffle bags, blankets and medical supplies.

And Elks don’t stop there. They take pride in hosting events in their honor. All states have different programs. They visit them in hospitals and remember them at the holidays. If you are interested in helping Veterans or being a part of your community programs, please call your local Elks Lodge.

 

Softball All Stars represent Ventura

There were formidable local foes like Moorpark, Westlake-Agoura, and Goleta.

by Tom Marshall

Realistic expectations were impossible. The Ventura Girls Fastpitch 12u All Stars had previously played a handful of the 33 teams in the USA Softball Western National tournament. There were formidable local foes like Moorpark, Westlake-Agoura, and Goleta. There were also teams from San Diego, Hawaii, Oregon, and Nevada. Every one of the 33 teams invited was going there to win. Ventura’s only option was to leave everything on the field and play to win. Only one team would emerge a winner but every team had an opportunity to display their true character.

Anxiety played a part in the lead up to the tourney. A nasty wild fire was choking southern Oregon with smoke and the specter of cancelled games (possibly the entire tournament) established residence in parents and coaches’ minds on the long drive or flight north.

The 12u squad out of Ventura got their nervous disastrous inning out of the way in the first game. They looked like an early regular season rec ball team on defense at times in that first game. Their offense wouldn’t be denied and after a very rough defensive start they defeated their first opponent. They went on a 5-0 run to start the tourney and found themselves in a battle with the physically imposing Bonita Valley squad in game 6. Ventura ended up suffering a 1-0 loss in that first game against the team from San Diego county. The girls would enter the loser’s bracket for the first time in the tournament.

Facing near triple digit temps amplified by the 100% artificial turf playing surface didn’t faze the Ventura girls. They maintained their focus and regrouped. “The girls had a championship mindset all week. We were focused on winning every pitch, every game. Very proud to see this team represent Ventura,” said manager Ruben Segovia. His assistant coaches, Jeff Staniland and Angel Chavez, worked to keep the team positive and focused on winning the next pitch.

They went on to win their next two games in the loser’s bracket 6-3 and 3-0 to set up a rematch against Bonita Valley. The winner would face All Star team from Poway in the championship game. Poway was undefeated in the tournament up to that point. They put up a valiant fight but fell 3-1 in their rematch with BV.

The Ventura Girls Fastpitch 12u All Star squad finished 3rd out of 33 teams in the USA Softball Western National tournament. They left everything on the field and never gave up. Only one team wins a tournament but our Ventura girls showed up prepared to play winning softball and proved they belong with the best in the west.

Knock out Parkinson’s Disease with NeuroBoxing!

Attend the support group at their new location at City Hall.

by Patty Jenkins

Everyone knows exercise in some form is essential for good overall health. With Parkinson’s Disease it is even more vital. Research has proven that exercise can augment the benefits of Parkinson’s medications and slow the progression of this challenging disease. Non-contact boxing is one of the cutting-edge exercise programs proving to be one of the most effective ways for slowing Parkinson’s progression in addition to improving motor skills and other neurological symptoms.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to welcome Jennifer Parkinson, owner and Co-Founder of the non-profit organization NeuroBoxing and Dr. Vanessa White owner of Santa Paula Fitness/VC NeuroBoxing, as our guests on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 from 12:30PM to 2:30PM at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Room 202. Come find out what makes Neuroboxing unique as we witness several demonstrations and participate in various exercises.

The NeuroBoxing program is dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and their families. They use a complete wellness centered approach to help those living with Parkinson’s stand a fighting chance. Through non-contact boxing and health and fitness coaching, they help people with PD and other neurological challenges fight back and live the best life possible.

Jennifer Parkinson and Josh Ripley founded the non-profit NeuroBoxing in September 2016. Jennifer is a registered nurse of 16 years, a Michael J Fox Foundation panelist, advocate for the Parkinson Disease Foundation’s Women in Parkinson’s Initiative, boxing coach, and loving mother of two. Jennifer is actively training new coaches in several locations to help bring NeuroBoxing’s programs to other locations throughout Southern California. Her personal experience with Parkinson’s Disease began in 2005 when she was diagnosed with early on-set PD; she has been fighting back since then to “knock out PD”!

Dr. Vanessa White is an affiliate member who recently completed this special Neuroboxing training from Jennifer. Dr. White has a Ph.D. in kinesiology and is the owner and a fitness instructor at her gym, Santa Paula Fitness. Vanessa has taught and coached a number of class formats (and sports) for the past 34 years and recently added NeuroBoxing to her list of expertise. Vanessa’s classes are fun and full of energy and her team specializes in assisting individuals with special needs.

Find out how you might benefit from NeuroBoxing exercise programs on August 14, 2019 from 12:30-2:30PM at Ventura City Hall’s Community Meeting Room # 202; 501 Poli Street. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public, our members and care-partners and new friends who find themselves navigating the challenges of PD and other neurological conditions. We are an independent and volunteer-organized group not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group. For more information and detailed directions to our meetings, please call Patty at 805-766-6070.

Housing Authority awarded almost $19 million for Phase Three

Residents recently began moving into the newly completed units.

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura (HACSB) has been awarded $18,983,730 from the California Strategic Growth Council for its Ventura Westside Housing and Active Transportation grant application. The award is granted through the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), which funds projects that promote healthier communities and protect the environment by increasing the supply of affordable places to live near jobs, stores, transit and other daily needs. This is one of 25 awards across the state and is the first non-rural AHSC award in the Central Coast and the first for the City and County of Ventura.

The Ventura Westside AHSC award will fund the third phase of Westview Village, the transformation of an existing public housing site where 73 homes will be demolished, and 105 new affordable homes will be constructed. Additionally, the AHSC award will fund significant transit and neighborhood improvements that promote connectivity and enhance bicycling and pedestrian safety. With input from community stakeholders and City staff, the scope of improvements was defined for the grant application, and ultimately included 11,000 linear feet of new sidewalk and sidewalk repair, two miles of a new context-sensitive bikeway to close key east-west gaps in the local bike network, upgrades to Ventura Avenue bus shelters, and the purchase of 40 Calvans vans to expand vanpool service in Ventura County. Residents of Westview Village phase three will be encouraged to use public transportation, receiving bus passes subsidized by the AHSC project. Westview is a short walk from Ventura Avenue, which is bustling with pedestrian and bicycling activity and where Gold Coast Transit operates some of the highest use bus routes in Ventura County.

Projects that receive AHSC funds are committed to promoting alternative forms of transportation, sustainability, housing affordability and neighborhood connectivity. The Housing Project will incorporate a solar system that will produce at least 30 percent of its energy onsite as well as urban greening such as the expansion of the Westview Village community garden, private bike closets per unit, new trees planted at a rate of 3:1 and water conservation design elements throughout the site.