by Mira Reverente

For some, the sense of belonging and community was a draw.

Guinevere Heath just moved to Ojai from Ventura, and was looking for some furniture so she composed her first post. In a short amount of time, she received a dresser, shelves, tables and other small furnishings. “I knew I needed to give something back,” she said.

Heath started baking muffins, loaves and cakes, and would drive all over the county to drop off her goods. She loves getting ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder and the like to sustain her baking because she has zero income from her home bakery due to the pandemic.

Mary Campbell also found herself out of a job when the hair salon she was employed at closed down. Making ends meet by taking on odd jobs like DoorDash, she worried about her 67-year-old mother.

“I am in and out of the house all-day, everyday, bringing in who-knows-what-germs from my jobs,” she said. So she asked the group if anyone had a spare mini-fridge, a hot plate and a coffee maker, so she could keep her compromised mom in another section of the house. In five minutes, she was astounded to receive everything she had asked for.

Calhoun is proud of this tremendous movement, of service-oriented folks just coming together to help and take care of one another. “I worry about the homebound seniors, the immuno-compromised folks and families who are trying to survive on one or zero income,” she said. “I want them to ask for help and connect with someone.”

For Amy Lyons, the group helps soothe the feeling of isolation. A bookkeeper whose hours have been dramatically reduced, Lyons feels at home in this virtual community of selfless strangers. She said, “There’s so much negativity everywhere else, but in Ventura County, we have this.”

The barter system or the exchange of goods and services without money, is nothing new. According to various research, the history of bartering can be traced back to 6000 BC, introduced by Mesopotamian tribes and adopted by Phoenicians and Babylonians. In the US, bartering became hugely popular during the Great Depression due to the scarcity of money.

Gray has vivid memories of bartering in young adulthood, apprenticing with his dad who was a handyman. “I remember him exchanging labor and materials for food, among other things,” said Gray. “Back then, they used the honor system or notes, something you would probably call gift cards nowadays.”

The most requested and posted items are fruits, vegetables, water, baking supplies, cleaning supplies, kids’ art supplies, books, homemade masks and of course, toilet paper. Calhoun said, “I posted on there that members shouldn’t always expect an even trade. It won’t always work that way.”

Post-pandemic, Calhoun sees the group and its mission of service continuing on. She said, “Bartering is a lost art. I want the group to thrive and branch out. I want to see people be of service not only during desperate times, but also when times are good. ”

For more info or to join: www.facebook.com/groups, search for Ventura Free Barter & Trade

Kaiser Permanente announced that John D. Kim has been appointed chief operating officer for the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and West Ventura service areas. John will be responsible for day-to-day hospital operations, continuing care, capital projects, quality/regulatory services and operations support, as well as provide oversight of the West Ventura market.

Previous to this position, John served as the Area Quality Leader and Patient Safety Officer for the Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento service area, comprised of a 241-bed Level II Trauma Center and six medical office buildings. Under his leadership, the hospital was recognized by the AHA/ASA with Stroke Gold Plus Achievement award and Congestive Heart Failure Silver Plus Achievement award; achieved designation as a Primary Stroke Center; and received an A-rating by the Leapfrog Group.

“John has spent more than a decade in hospital leadership within Kaiser Permanente, said Murtaza Sanwari, senior vice president and area manager, Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and West Ventura service area. “He brings a wealth of experience in hospital leadership and has a proven track record of success, having worked in Kaiser Permanente’s Southern and Northern California regions.”

John holds both a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master’s of Healthcare Administration from the University of Southern California.

by Jake Dodge victim of burglary

One year ago I had my bike stolen at work. I know exactly who stole my bike as it’s all on video. I see the guy on a somewhat regular basis, and every time I see him, it taunts me like it was yesterday. I filed a police report, but Ventura PD wouldn’t do anything as they considered it petty theft. According to California Penal Code 484 A, petty theft is the act of stealing items valued under $950. Consequences for petty theft could be up to 6 months in jail, and up to $1,000 in fines. One day I saw him biking around the government center, which he does on a regular basis, I stopped a police car that was driving by, and told them, but they said because he wasn’t on my bike, and was now on Sheriff’s territory there was nothing they could do. The Sheriff’s department wouldn’t do anything either after I notified them that there is a bike thief who regularly bikes around the government center. I understand that the Ventura PD and Sheriff’s department have a lot on their plates and that petty theft is not highest on their priority, but when I’ve been stopped by the Ventura PD for crossing in the cross walk for not having the walking signal, or I get a $280 fine from the Sheriff Department for hiking up to the 2 trees, it really makes me question their priorities.

This is not the first time I’ve had something stolen, but it’s the first time I know who stole from me and seeing him bike around town is infuriating. One day, he had the nerve to come into my office a few months after stealing my bike. He left the bike outside, unlocked, came into my office to use the bathroom, then left. I called the cops, but they showed up too late, and I didn’t have the courage to confront him. I’ve seen him on my walk home from work, on the bike path, and at Whole Foods. I feel like a coward every time I see him.

When I tell my story to others, it saddens me to hear that just about everyone has a story of being robbed. There’s this feeling of being violated, and if you’ve ever felt it, I empathize with you. I don’t have the perfect solution for this, and there’s no way to stop all burglary, but it would be nice if the Ventura PD and Sheriff’s Department did more when the evidence is so clear. Put the guy in jail for 6 months, give him a $1,000 fine, or make him do some form of community service. “Petty” theft is never petty.

by Paul Swanson

• There isn’t any iceberg.

• There was an iceberg but it’s in a totally different ocean.

• The iceberg is in this ocean but it will melt very soon.

• There is an iceberg but we didn’t hit it.

• We hit the iceberg but the damage will be repaired very soon.

• I knew it was an iceberg before anyone else knew it was an iceberg.

• The iceberg is a Chinese iceberg.

• We are taking on water but every passenger who wants a lifeboat can have a lifeboat and they are beautiful lifeboats.

• Look, passengers have to ask nicely for the lifeboats if they want them.

• We don’t have any lifeboats, we are not lifeboat distributers.

• Passengers should have planned for icebergs and brought their own lifeboats.

• I really don’t think we need that many lifeboats.

• We have lifeboats but they are supposed to be our lifeboats and not the passengers’ lifeboats.

• The lifeboats were left on shore by the last captain of this ship.

• Nobody could have foreseen the iceberg.

• I am the best captain ever, ask anyone.

by Richard Senate

1918 flu swept the world and with it took between 60 and 100 million souls, no one knows for sure.  It hit America hard, taking 450 Thousand Americans. It hit in three waves, each one terrible in its own right but in the first two Ventura County seemed spared with few infections and fewer death.  Ventura got cocky and elected to hold the County Fair, seeing as the death rate in Los Angeles had started to drop.

The fair was held in October that year and when it was done the full force of the pandemic hit Ventura County hard. Schools were closed into make-shift “Flu Hospitals” and volunteers came forward to treat the sick. Very young children were spared for the most part as were elderly people (they had immunity from the Russian flu that hit in the 19th Century).

The healthy, able bodied were taken out with a three-day sickness that ended for the unlucky in death. Fillmore was hit hardest in the county and some saw this as the end of the world. But, in a year the Spanish Flu, mutated into a less fatal form and it was over by 1919.

The only monuments were the many graves stones marked with the fatal date of 1918.  But there stands a building in Ventura that played an important part in that pandemic and perhaps a plaque should be placed upon it to recognize this event that took so many lives. Its a unique eight-sided building, the only one in Ventura. It stands on the south east corner of Main and Kalorama Street, its now a church as it was in 1918. The churches were closed as were all theaters and schools and the church was turned into a flu hospital.  Many who were sent there received the best care possible of that age and the death rate was about 20%.  Still it was a place of great sadness.

The Flu Hospital was staffed by Red Cross volunteers (many perished taking care of others in selfless acts of giving to friends and neighbors in need).  The building stands, just another historic oddity now but, in 1918 it was a beacon of hope and for that and the terrible time in 1918 it should be remembered and honored.