by David Goldstein

The United States Flag Code is a federal law, but compliance depends on good will. In 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a criminal statue making it illegal to “mutilate, deface, defile, or burn” an American flag, so now all the provisions of the code are all phrased with words such as “should.” A sense of decency is now Old Glory’s best protection.

Nevertheless, within our country’s general population, inconsistency is common. Many people seem to take great offence when someone refuses to honor the Flag Code’s rules for standing in the presence of the flag during the playing of the National Anthem, but fewer may be familiar with the etiquette required for proper retirement of flags no longer fit for service. American flags, even cheap little plastic ones, are not disposable with trash.

Fewer still may be aware of another environmental, economic, and modern way of honoring the flag. By avoiding flimsy plastic flags and reusing a durable flag, people who care about honoring the flag can make it less likely a flag will be improperly disposed. Good flags also impose less burden on private businesses and service organization members who manage the deluge of flags requiring dignified retirement.

Jeanne Clark, General Manager of Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura reports concerns with cheap flags made for limited use. “Wind really beats those up. They don’t last,” she said. Ivy Lawn Cemetery saves retired flags and provides dignified disposal on a day designated for use of the cemetery’s crematoria. No cremations of bodies occur on that day, and extensive pollution control equipment mitigates emissions from the burning of plastic flags.

Flags draping coffins at the funerals of veterans are more easily reused. In cases where families do not want to take home the flag and the veteran is not buried with the flag tri-folded into a plastic case in the casket, staff saves flags for display on an avenue of flags on the streets of the cemetery.

A drop-box for retired flags is available in front of the Ventura County Government Center Hall of Administration, serviced by Veterans of Foreign Wars volunteers. Other service organizations providing flag service include some chapters of the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County, Elks Lodge, and Boy Scouts.

David Goldstein is an Environmental Analyst with Ventura County Public Works and can be reached at (805) 658-4312 or [email protected]

Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner ticket holders with origin and destination stations between Los Angeles and Ventura can now board either train service.

Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail service, has partnered with the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, to expand the existing codeshare program. This new expanded codeshare reciprocity will run as a pilot program currently slated to end June 30, 2024.

“As a Ventura County resident and regular train rider, I am excited that we are now offering both Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner customers more flexibility,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said. “Thank you to our LOSSAN and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner partners for building synergy between our services to deliver more convenient transit options for riders traveling between Ventura and Los Angeles. I hope we can build on this pilot program and extend similar benefits to riders traveling between Oceanside and Ventura, as we work to expand regional mobility like never before.”

Customers with valid tickets for either rail service now have a total of 30 weekday Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner train options between Los Angeles and Ventura County, making train travel even more convenient along Metrolink’s Ventura Line corridor. There are 14 total trains for rail passengers through that corridor on Saturdays and Sundays. Previously, Metrolink Ventura County Line ticket holders could only ride select Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains between Los Angeles and Ventura.

Pacific Surfliner ticket holders are also able to board 30 Metrolink Antelope Valley Line weekday trains that operate between Union Station and the Burbank-Downtown Station, and another 24 that operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

Community Memorial Continuing Care Center, located on the campus of Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai, has earned a five-star rating, the highest ranking possible, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Continuing Care Center is the only skilled nursing facility in the Ojai Valley to receive this prestigious designation.

The Five-Star award is based on short-stay and long-stay data collected between July 2022 and June 2023, and reported through September 2023.

“This five-star rating affirms our commitment to our mission of healing, comforting, and promoting health in the community of Ojai and beyond,” said Haady Lashkari, Chief Administrative Officer, Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai. “I am proud of our team for their dedication to quality and safety, and to providing our patients and residents with the exceptional care and experience Community Memorial is known for.”

The CMS Care Compare Quality Rating System was developed to help patients, caregivers, and family members easily compare skilled nursing facilities, identify areas to ask more about, and ultimately find the best fit for themselves or their loved one. The system also helps healthcare providers uncover areas for improvement and developing actions plans to support enhanced quality. Facilities with Five-Star Care Compare ratings are considered well above average, while those with one star are considered below average.

“As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, Community Memorial physicians, staff, and leaders are constantly measuring and monitoring care and seeking feedback from patients and family members,” said Mick Zdeblick, President & CEO, Community Memorial Healthcare. “The five-star designation from CMS underscores the value of this work and its impact on our patients and residents.”

The Care Compare Quality Rating System summarizes long and short stay measures in categories such as percentage of residents experiencing falls, percentage of residents whose needs for help with daily activities increases, number of hospitalization days, number of emergency department visits, re-hospitalizations after discharge, and rate of successful returns to home or community.

The Aspen Institute has again named Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura colleges among the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence spotlights exemplary community colleges in order to research highly effective student success strategies shared with the field while also driving attention to colleges achieving post-graduate success for all students. Nationwide, about 15 percent of community colleges have been invited to apply (150 of just under 1,000 public two-year colleges assessed for Prize eligibility), an honor also extended to all three Ventura County community colleges for the 2023-2025 prize.

In the 2021-2023 award cycle, Oxnard College, Moorpark College, and Ventura College were named among the top 150 colleges eligible for the prize. Moorpark College advanced to the top 10 finalists, ultimately placing fourth in the nation for the 2023 Community College Excellence Prize.

Following the announcement of being named eligible for the prize, the VCCCD board and college presidents expressed their appreciation of the honor:

“The eligibility of all three of our colleges for the Aspen Prize again highlights the consistent quality of our education, the dedication of our faculty, staff, and administrators, and the achievements of our students,” said Board Chair Bernardo Perez. “We celebrate this milestone and remain committed to advancing the standards of community college education for the benefit of our community.”

“I am profoundly honored that Ventura College has been chosen to submit for the esteemed Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence for the second consecutive year. Our dedicated faculty and professional staff have exhibited an unwavering commitment to improving educational outcomes for our students, as exemplified by their relentless efforts to expand student access and support services including basic needs-food, future housing, mental health services, and more. We are eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to highlight our hard work for the prize’s consideration.” said Kim Hoffmans, President of Ventura College.

The 150 eligible colleges have been invited to submit student success data and narratives about strategies to achieve better and more equitable student outcomes as the next step in an intensive review process that culminates in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2025.

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

On Monday, Oct. 9, Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail provider, launched its Student Adventure Pass. This pilot program allows any student with valid school identification to obtain a pass at no charge and ride anywhere on the Metrolink system for free.

The Student Adventure Pass is made possible through grant funding from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).

“Thank you to Caltrans for providing this transformational grant opportunity, which will help us deliver more equitable access to public transit and increase the number of people who can use our train service,” Metrolink Board Chair Larry McCallon said. “Currently, students only account for 17% of Metrolink’s ridership, but we want to see that number grow. Beginning next Monday, because of Caltrans’ support, we can introduce a new generation of potential riders to public transit as a safe and convenient mode of transportation for school, leisure and work.”

To take advantage of the program, students can download the Metrolink mobile app, register using their school email address, and verify their account to automatically receive the Student Adventure Pass in their mobile ticket wallet. Alternatively, students can obtain a free Student Adventure Pass at any Metrolink ticket machine.

“As a parent with three kids currently attending college, I know firsthand that getting an education isn’t cheap, so this Student Adventure Pass is a game changer for many families across Southern California,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said. “The great thing about this program is that students of any age and level qualify for it as long as they have valid student identification. So, whether you are an adult student, a high schooler or a parent paying for your child’s education, you can breathe a little sigh of financial relief knowing students can ride our trains for free across our entire system.”

To take advantage of the Student Adventure Pass program, students must have valid student identification and be able to present it upon request during fare inspection.

For more information about how to obtain a free Student Adventure Pass, please visit metrolinktrains.com/students.

Outdoor dining areas have become prevalent along Main Street in downtown Ventura as portions of the street remain closed to cars. The closure of Main St. in downtown to cars is scheduled to end in June 2024. But council members, the general public and some business owners have very different ideas if it should stay closed.

The closing called Main Street Moves, goes from the San Buenaventura Mission to Fir St. and one block of California St.

Some business owners say it has really helped their business and others say it has really hurt them. The public is also very divided. Some love the outdoor seating that most restaurants now have but others say they just can’t walk through downtown and want parking back in front of the stores.

Further action will be coming from the council.

The San Buenaventura Conservancy is moving forward with a desire to add Ventura’s former Washington School to the National Register of Historic Places. Consultants have determined the century old school meets the requirements for eligibility.

The site, at 96 MacMillan Ave., was recently home to Ventura County Christian School which was closed. Conservancy chair Stephen Schafer stated that the group is increasing fundraising efforts as it formulates a formal application.

Don’t trash it, smash it! Sustainably dispose of your pumpkins and have fun with the whole family. Join this year’s Pumpkin Smash & Compost Party on Sunday, November 5, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Cornucopia Gardens, located off Telephone Road near Johnson Drive.

Dispose of your pumpkins after Halloween and other fall festivities, and embrace sustainability at our annual event. What to expect:

• Pumpkin smashing fun
• Learn about composting
• Help maintain the compost pile
• Garden tools will be provided
• All ages are welcome

Ventura will continue providing Spanish interpretation of live meetings and translation of agendas for the City Council. The City Council voted unanimously to keep the translations in place. In September, 2022, the city approved a six-month pilot program to bring interpretation to council meetings. In March, the council extended the program and added Spanish translation of City Council meeting.

There has been an increase in people accessing the Spanish language agenda, according to the city. Typically, the translation takes about 72 hours after the agenda is posted.

A large cannabis trade show could be headed to the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

The Fairgrounds has entered into a tentative agreement to lease space for a cannabis trade show in March.

Fairgrounds CEO Jen McGuire said a contract is being drawn up for the show to lease space at on March 13-14. Before the deal becomes official, it will have to be approved by the fairgrounds board of directors and also be reviewed by the state who owns the site.