Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

The celebration of Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. Jewish Year 5782 starts at sunset on Sept.6 (The Jewish calendar date begins at sundown of the night beforehand. Thus all holiday observances begin at sundown on the secular dates listed, with the following day being the first full day of the holiday. According to the Torah, the story of creation in Genesis says “And it was evening, and it was morning day one”, “And it was evening, and it was morning; the second day”, thus night comes before day. So, for the Jewish calendar all days begin at nightfall and end the next day at nightfall including holidays.)

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” or “first of the year.” Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American New Year.

There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one. Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making “resolutions.” Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

The shofar is a ram’s horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue.

No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in temple, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. There is a special prayer book called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.

The common greeting at this time is L’shanah tovah (“for a good year”). This is a shortening of “L’shanah tovah tikatev v’taihatem” which means “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

Yom Kippur, on Sept.15, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Some Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services.

Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora’im (“Days of Awe”) that commences with Rosh Hashanah.

Happy New Year to a few famous Jews:

Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, Harry Houdini, Marx brothers, Steven Spielberg, Sandy Koufax, Irving Berlin (Ironically, his compositions included “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade”) ,Mel Brooks, Dustin Hoffman, Peter Sellers, Al Jolson, Stan Getz, Ruth Ginsburg and Mark Zuckerberg (and Jesus Of Nazareth of course).

TREE TOWN

These striking yellow blossoms adorn Ventura every summer. The Cassia leptophylla (Gold Medallion Tree) is a broad semi-evergreen tree that grows to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide and is drought tolerant. In early to mid-summer, the clusters of 3- to 5-inch wide deep yellow flowers appear. This is the most common and reliable of the Cassias in southern California – it was first planted in the Los Angeles County Arboretum in 1958, and has been an increasingly popular and very reliable and beautiful canopy tree in Ventura County landscapes. The name Cassia is from the ancient Greek ‘Kassia’, a name for the kassian plants that provided senna leaves and pods for medicinal use.

www.venturatreeallaince.com

Announcing Melissa Baffa as Ventura Land Trust Executive Director

Baffa has held a variety of nonprofit management positions throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

The Ventura Land Trust is pleased to announce that Melissa Baffa has been selected by the Board of Trustees as its new Executive Director. Her appointment comes at a time of historic expansion for Ventura Land Trust, which in the past year has grown to hold nearly 4,000 acres of land designated for conservation and public access in Ventura County.

Baffa, a biologist, has held a variety of nonprofit management positions throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties since 2008, including her most recent role as the Development Officer for Foundation and Corporate Relations with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Her recent experience also includes serving as a Science Communication Fellow for the Ocean Exploration Trust; since 2015 she has participated in three expeditions, exploring the deep sea off the coast of California and near the Galapagos Islands as a part of this appointment. Her work associated with the fellowship resulted in well over a dozen published articles in newspapers and magazines, and public speaking engagements addressing nearly 3,000 people over the past six years.

Baffa also brings a strong background in education, having taught in the classroom for a decade before transitioning to nonprofit work, and working as an instructor with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Channel Islands since 2017. She has held board and committee positions for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including KidSTREAM Children’s Museum, the Ventura County Leadership Academy, the Ventura County Women’s Political Council, the California League of Park Associations, and the Ventura County Women’s Economic Roundtable. Baffa was a member of the cohort of leaders recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times with a 40 Under 40 award in 2013.

Baffa succeeds Derek Poultney, who has served as Executive Director of Ventura Land Trust since 2016. Baffa’s appointment adds much needed capacity to the Ventura Land Trust organization during a time of incredible growth and allows Poultney to continue his work with Ventura Land Trust as Conservation Director, leading land acquisition and stewardship.

A lifelong resident of Ventura County and an avid lover of the outdoors, Baffa understands that the protection of open spaces now is crucial to the health of our environment, and to the health of lived spaces.

“We live in a region of incredible biodiversity, and in a world of increasing impacts from climate change, pollution, and habitat fragmentation, the properties Ventura Land Trust protects will provide corridors within which nature can thrive. I can think of no greater honor than working to preserve this amazing place we call home for the people and the nature of today and tomorrow,” says Baffa.

“What Ventura Land Trust is doing is so much more than conserving land for nature’s sake. It is preserving nature for our sake as well.”

Board President Mark Watkins believes that Ms. Baffa’s installation as Executive Director positions the organization to become a cutting-edge land conservation organization and provides the capacity needed to continue to add lands and open them to the public. “We are thrilled to welcome Melissa to our team. Her experience and leadership will move Ventura Land Trust forward. We are all fortunate to live and recreate in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Melissa’s leadership for the Ventura Land Trust will help to protect that beauty and provide a healthy environment for current and future generations.”

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.

Answer in a Breeze

Question: What is that huge building going up across from the WAV?

Viv Brown

Answer: It is the Mar Y Cel development located at 24 East Santa Clara Street (District 1).

A mixed-use development with 140 apartment units with 14 affordable units (6 low, 8 very low), 6,500 square feet of commercial space, and a parking garage on a 2.4 acre site.

The city sold the last parcel on the block to the development team in 2014. The parcel was previously owned by the city’s defunct redevelopment agency.

The Museum of Ventura County Research Library digitizes early 20th Century footage

Made possible by a Schwemm Family Foundation grant, the Museum of Ventura County’s (MVC) Research Library has successfully digitized the Herman Keene film collection. It is now available for viewing in an online exhibit titled, “Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures,” venturamuseum.org/virtual-exhibits.

Out And Back: Ventura County Backcountry Adventures follows Herman Balden Keene (1879-1965), a

lifelong Ventura County resident, and former student of Santa Paula High School. The early footage captures Santa Paula in ways that may still be recognizable to viewers today. An avid hunter, Keene recorded his journey from his Santa Paula ranch, through Ventura County’s steep mountain ranges by car, and into the backcountry where he set up camp. The footage includes weather challenges Keene endured along the way, and how he survived the backcountry wilderness on his quest to hunt fox, bear and mountain lions.

MVC’s Research Library Director, Deya Terrafranca shares the importance of the footage, and the impact it has on Ventura County’s rich history, “Herman Keene’s footage captures a rare moment in time in the history of Ventura County, and is the only backcountry footage we have in our collection. It captures the juncture of the early days of car exploration of the backcountry, and at the same time the use of horses and pack animals.”

The Schwemm Family Foundation’s funding allowed library staff to send the film to the University of Southern California’s film department for archival digitization and rehousing. Once digitized, the footage was cataloged and added to the Museum’s growing collection of online items.

MVC’s Research Library accepts submissions to their digital archives. Contributors can fill out a brief online form and upload digital images and/or documents by visiting, venturamuseum.org/library and clicking on, “Digital Photographs.”

The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula are both fully open and welcoming guests in-person. Admission to both locations is free for the duration of 2021. Masks are required for all visitors inside museum buildings, while vaccinated guests are welcomed to remove masks while enjoying the museums’ outdoor spaces. Please visit venturamuseum.org for more information, and to view Herman Keene’s and other online exhibits.

The Museum of Ventura County celebrates, preserves and interprets the art, history and culture of Ventura County, the California Channel Islands and the surrounding region through its collections, exhibitions, events, educational programs, publications and its research library, and serves as a gathering place for the community. The Museum has two locations – the main museum is located at 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California (805-653-0323). The Agriculture Museum is located at 926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula, California (805-525-3100). Both museums are open Thursdays through Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – venturamuseum.org.

Behavioral Health Services offered at Community Memorial Hospital

by Carol Leish

Maureen Hodge, LCSW, Program Manager of High-Risk Program at Community Memorial Health Systems says, “There are many outpatient programs provided by the hospital. And, we hope that the expansion of ambulatory behavioral health programs will enable our team to be able to better serve our community.”

There are three types of ambulatory services according to Hodge. “There is: 1) Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHI); 2) Caregiver Navigation Program; and, 3) Psychology.”

According to Hodge, “Recently our Center for Family Health started a Behavioral Health Integration Program which is directed towards those patients who have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or substance use disorder. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker or a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist meets individually with the patients to assess their level of stress, depression or other mental health issues and then connects them to services and resources. Also, they are called monthly to make sure that they are stable. In a short time, to this new program, our staff have helped to find psychiatrists, resources, or other programs that will help the patients to remain stable and feel that they can deal with life’s challenges.”

“The Caregiver Navigation Program (CGN),” according to Hodge, “is geared specifically to caregivers of patients who are facing a chronic illness or a debilitating diagnosis and is a caregiver for their child, spouse, neighbor, or loved one. A Licensed Clinical Professional provides support, resources, and weekly check ins to the caregiver in order to help the caregiver to remain stable. Three hospitals were funded by the Ventura County Community Foundation for a 3-year pilot program. At Community Memorial Health System, the program is offered to caregivers who have loved ones that are patients of the Centers for Family Health, which are the outpatient clinics of Community Memorial Health System. We have served nearly 100 caregivers and the results so far are showing that caregivers’ depression is decreasing and their resiliency is increasing just by having someone support them through their journey of being a caregiver.”

“We also have a psychologist who takes referrals for short term or crisis counseling,” according to Hodge. “The psychologist is available to help patients of the Centers for Family Health and is a resource to doctors and nurses who are working with patients who are in crises, stress, depression, anxiety, or may have substance use or other mental health issues.”

“In terms of the ultimate expansion of Ambulatory Behavior Health programs,” according to Hodge, “We would love to see our team be able to serve our community by providing 1:1 counseling, group therapy, addiction counseling and more. We look forward to making this happen in the future. We also want to expand services to our aging population, those with disabilities, teenagers, and adults who are struggling and need more support through our behavioral health wellness programs.

“Our team is committed to being a bridge, resource and support for those who are facing mental health stressors, crises, or addiction. Depression and anxiety have increased greatly since COVID-19 started, and our community is in need of mental health service/resources more than ever. We look forward to seeing Community Memorial Health System become a resource for our patients for their mental health needs.”

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Jill Forman

Summer is ending, but the libraries are busier than ever.

Library book groups

Just a reminder – book groups are meeting in person in August and September, as of now. Here are the selections for the next meetings:

Hill Road Library – I’ll Be Gone In the Dark by MacNamara. Copies are available at the branch. August 31 at 5 p.m.

Foster Library – Hunter Moon by Caputo. September 4, 10 a.m. –noon.

Online Book Store

You can still buy gently-used books online at great prices. New offerings weekly with pickup at the Foster bookstore.

Summer Reading Program

As always, a big success: 1,061 kids and teens participated, and 237 adults. Prizes are being given out; pictures of the winners and their prizes can be seen on the library’s Facebook page.

Treasures in the bookstores

Of course, all books are treasures. But, at both the Foster and Hill Road sales sites there are amazing books up to 100+ years old. The bindings and illustrations are unusual, sometimes beautiful, and every book is like a history lesson. There are novels, travelogues, occasionally children’s books, every genre you can think of. They are in separate shelves labeled “Vintage,” and are reasonably priced.

September is library card sign-up month

So much opens up for someone who gets a library card. Books, both traditional and e-books. Laptops you can use at the branch. Access to all library services. And it’s FREE!

“A library card provides opportunity discovery and access to a rich and diverse world. It empowers you to make change and experience new stories.” Marley Dias, Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair.

State Ballot drop-off sites at libraries

In an effort to encourage participation in the election process, mailed ballots can be dropped off at many locations including the Avenue and Saticoy Libraries.

One County/One Book

In case you are not familiar with this event, here is a Wikipedia entry: “…a generic name for a community reading program that attempts to get everyone in an area to read and discuss the same book.”

The selection this year is Your House Will Pay by Cha, a gripping story of racial tensions, murder, families and revenge, based on a real 1991 event in Los Angeles.

Check Facebook for events

I can cover only a few of the programs and events offered by our libraries. The Facebook page Ventura County Library has them all. A quick glance today shows STEAM activity, Art Lessons, Storytime and Bilingual Storytime. Take a look!

Mask recommendations

Currently, the library is encouraging masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. This could change at any time; ask the library staff at your branch.

Join the Ventura Friends of the Library

The Friends support Ventura’s libraries both financially and with volunteer hours. For over 50 years, we have been the face of the public in our care for the library system. Join us and help sustain this essential part of our community. Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Working Together to ‘Stuff the Bus’

Kayli Bates, Kylee Brown and Tiler de Long pitched in to help assemble and fill backpacks during Stuff the Bus.

by Amy Nielsen

A group of volunteers that included teens and family members from Aera Energy worked together recently with the United Way of Ventura County to assemble backpacks full of school supplies for homeless and underprivileged youth. The program, which began in 2010, is called Stuff the Bus, and received support in funding from Aera and community individuals for the purchase and donations of backpacks and supplies for K-12 students.  The volunteers worked in shifts in assembly lines to put together hundreds of backpacks filled with pens, pencils, binders and other important school supplies for the coming fall session.

Kylee Brown, a local 18-year-old who is about to head to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for her freshman year, volunteered with her father, Kevin, and some of her friends. “Contributing to an effort that would help kids that either don’t have a home, or don’t have money for school supplies felt good. I was really shocked when I heard that there are 6,000 homeless children in Ventura County. That’s a big number, and it shocked everyone working in the room,” she said. “You don’t really think about children being homeless, you think about what you see every day, usually adults. It gave us all a better purpose of being there, and made the work even more inspirational.”

The donated items are to be distributed from the Ventura County Office of Education to local school districts. More than 1,200 students are expected to receive these backpacks and supplies. “Every day I see what I have, versus what some others do, and it makes me more inclined to give back, because I know that not everyone has it as easy as some of us,” said Brown.

Her father Kevin has been with Aera for 13 years and serves as a Process Specialist. He shared that it was especially meaningful to participate in this effort with his daughter and her friends. “The kids did a really great job, and it helped provide us all with a real sense of community, and a chance to help other people out that are less fortunate than they are. You never know if you or someone you love might be in the same situation,” said Brown. “It’s really cool, we provide a lot of support for the community, we’re not a big company like Chevron or Shell, but Aera is a huge leader in supporting the area; we’re always doing community events, like the Day of Caring, supporting schools, and homeless facilities, and food drives every year.”

“It’s always so great to have young people volunteer, and Aera’s support has been phenomenal, and really made the entire project possible.” said Susan Englund, Vice President, Community Impact for the United Way of Ventura County.

Kayli Bates is also heading off for her first year of college, to Cal State San Marcos. She had an even more personal connection to the volunteer work, as she’d been temporarily classified as a homeless youth when her family’s home burned down in the Thomas Fire. “It felt good to be helping young people who were in that same kind of category,” she said. “The community was definitely there to support our family back then, and it felt wonderful to give back and help others in the community with this, and especially with my friends.” She said it was the first time she’d volunteered for anything like that. “It felt good in my soul to do this,” said Bates.

Ventura Land Trust announces 12th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films. Photo by Dan Holmes

Ventura Land Trust is pleased to bring back a live experience for its 12th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour on Saturday, August 28th on the campus of Ventura County Credit Union headquarters from 5:00 to 10:00 pm.

This signature fundraising event raises $50,000 each year to support Ventura Land Trust’s mission to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

One of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.

For Ventura Land Trust, the festival fosters a deeper understanding of the connection we share with the planet and our role as stewards to keep it healthy.
The 2021 film festival will feature two hours of films, food from local food trucks, and a raffle. Beer from Topa Topa Brewing Company, Rincon Brewery, and Leashless Brewing will be available for sale, as well as wine from Riboli Family Wines. Live music will be played by the band Nautical Thrust. In the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, small bites from Himalaya Cuisine, Peirano’s, Aloha Steakhouse, and others will be complemented by a custom cocktail by Ventura Spirits.

A general admission film festival ticket is $35, with children’s tickets available for $5. VIP tickets, which include special gift items and admission to the Ventura Vibe VIP Lounge, are $125.

“Protecting and preserving our open spaces is more important than ever,” says Ventura Land Trust Executive Director Melissa Baffa. “We saw how important they were to our wellbeing during the past year’s pandemic shutdowns. Place like Harmon Canyon Preserve and Big Rock Preserve have become part of the fabric of Ventura, and they are part of our story of resilience. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is an opportunity to see how Ventura Land Trust fits into the work individuals and organizations around the world are doing to protect the earth.”

Visitors to Ventura Land Trust’s preserves can explore and learn on 4,000 acres of permanently conserved land in Ventura County. Preserves are open to the public daily, for free.

Visit www.venturalandtrust.org/wsff2021 for tickets. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Development Director Leslie Velez at [email protected] for more information.