Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

The Channel Cities Jazz Club moving to Ventura

Jimmy McConnell’s Super Big Band will be the opening act. Photo by Michael Gordon

The Channel Cities Jazz Club is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to supporting live jazz music performance. For over 30 years, it has presented monthly meetings which featured bands presenting their repertoire of traditional, swing, and other jazz forms, all available for dancing.

The primary purpose of Channel Cities Jazz Club (CCJC) is to promote the art and music of American Jazz. To bring together those peoples who love to listen, dance, and play American Jazz. To encourage talented musicians to perform and hone their skills before a live audience, and to bring into the public arena high school music departments and their jazz bands(Ventura High School Band has played there). To provide a forum for persons of all ages to come together to perform and enjoy jazz with an emphasis on building bonds between generations from youths through seniors.

They have been performing at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Oxnard for several years but an increase in rent has moved them to the Pierpoint Inn in Ventura. Over the years, the Channel Cities Jazz Club has performed at different locations throughout Ventura County.

The first performance will be at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. It will have an open jazz session with local musicians (jammers), a local high school band and music by headliner Jimmy McConnell’s Super Big Band.

From their website:

You May be a Jammer if —

You coulda’ been a pro musician

You think you shoulda’ been a pro musician instead.

You regret having taken that day job.

You have a melody trapped inside your body that must get out.

Shows at the Pierpont Inn will take place on the third Sunday of every month except for big holidays or large events.

Join them for an afternoon of dancing and listening to great swing and jazz music.

For further information http://www.channelcitiesjazzclub.com/

Pierpont Inn, 550 Sanjon Road, Ventura.

The teen and Foster VC Kids are sharing her story

Keanna and Jaci Johnson from Foster VC Kids love the organization.

Keanna, age 18, is sharing the story of her life-long foster experience with the hope of encouraging caring adults to welcome a youth into their home as well as inspiring other foster children. She tells prospective foster/resource parents about the positive impact they could make, “even if the stay is temporary, your relationship could last a lifetime.” Keanna is a youth Ambassador with Foster VC Kids, a program of Ventura County’s Children and Family Services, which connects teens and children with caring resource families who can provide a safe, stable environment for youth in care.

Keanna knows about foster homes; since she was born, she has lived in 36 different foster homes and two group (congregate care) homes. She says that every birthday and Christmas, she “wished for a family.” On her 36th foster placement, her wish came true. “I wanted a home and family… I finally found one.” Despite the challenges she’s endured, Keanna offers words of hope to other foster teens that “it does get better. Don’t give up on yourself.”

Foster children and teens come into care when they have been exposed to abuse or neglect that impacts their safety. Foster VC Kids works to strengthen families by providing support and resources to reunify children with their parents whenever it is safe to do so. And when reunification is not possible, Foster VC Kids ensures the youth are placed with loving resource parents (foster or relative caregivers) who have the support to provide safety, permanency and quality care.

Last June, Keanna graduated from high school with good grades and is now is transitioning to adulthood. She credits her foster mom Miranda with teaching her life skills like how to write a resume, fill out a job application, and obtain a driver’s license. At Miranda’s home, Keanna says for the first time in her life “we ate dinner together like a real family.

Now that Keanna is 18, she has elected to participate in extended foster care – legislation enacted with the California Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB12) to support older youth as they transition from foster care into adulthood and independent living.

For community members who have a desire to help youth in need, welcoming a teen is an opportunity to change a life by providing a loving, safe and nurturing environment during a critical time in a young life.

Recognized as a best practice leader statewide in the family recruitment and support component of child welfare, Foster VC Kids provides resource families with ongoing support services, trauma-informed training, and mentorship to enhance the safety, permanency and well-being of Ventura County’s youth and families. Learn how Foster VC Kids is making a difference throughout Ventura County, www.fostervckids.org

The joys and benefits of bicycle travel

The Executive Director of Adventure Cycling Association (ACA), Jim Sayer, will speak about bicycle travel and tourism; the why, what, where, and how of getting on a bike and exploring. He will share how communities coast-to-coast are attracting more bike tourists and how those bike tourists are revitalizing small town America. Jim Sayer will discuss ACA initiatives to make cycling safer and more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Sayer will highlight the importance of bicycle-friendly cities and businesses; as well as the current efforts of CIBike, Cycle California Coast, and other local organizations to increasing bicycle tourism in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

Sayer’s visit to Ventura will be the first of more than 40 cities across the United States that ACA staff will visit in 2019. Sayer joined ACA in 2004 and also serves on the board of America Bikes.

ACA is the largest bicycle-travel (touring/camping) organization in North America with more than 40 years of experience and 53,000 members. ACA, a non-profit organization, produces widely-used U.S. cycling maps, offers guided bicycle tours, promotes bike tourism, produces how-to tutorials for beginning cyclists, and supports print and online media featuring the best in bike touring gear and know-how.

All who are interested in bicycle travel, or just want to learn more about cycling, are welcome to attend.

Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. Wednesday, January 9. Doors open at 6:30pm with refreshments. The program starts at 7:00pm.

The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike), established in 1990, is Ventura County’s largest recreational cycling club. CIBike shares the benefits of bicycling for health, recreation, sport, and transportation through regularly scheduled group bike rides, events and a free public program on the second Wednesday of each month at the Museum of Ventura County.

Adventure Cycling: adventurecycling.org/

Cycle California Coast: cyclecalcoast.com

Channel Islands Bicycle Club: cibike.org

Contact: Bill Faulkner, Grants Director, [email protected].

Sustainable Body-Mind-Spirit Tips for 2019

Eating less meat is good for your health.

Sustainability Now News
by Maryann Ridini Spencer (@MaryannRidiniSpencer)

One: Go meatless at least once a week

Eating less meat, even just one day a week is good for your health according to the Mayo Clinic. Lowering meat intake can be beneficial in lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Meatless meals also benefit the environment by limiting the use of natural resources (water) and also lowering greenhouse gas emissions (burning less fossil fuel for electricity and transport). In an astonishing statistic, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that approximately 634 gallons of water are used to produce one hamburger and a recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) report details that “if every American cut meat and cheese from their diet for just one day a week, it would be equivalent to taking 7.6 million cars off the road.”

Two: Nix the chemicals

Unfortunately, many of the industrial chemicals we’ve put in our air, food, clothing, beauty supplies, cleaning supplies, yard products, etc., have been found to be quite toxic and because often they can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, there are also links to various chemicals contributing to cancer, autism, autoimmune disease, and other ailments. What can you do? Just as important as reading the labels on what you consume, beware of what you’re putting on your skin and around your environment. EWG.org is an excellent site to investigate the toxicity of all types of products.

Three: Get regular doses of Enviro-Therapy

The term “grounding” (or “earthing”) refers to direct physical contact with the abundant supply of the Earth’s electrons by walking barefoot, placing your hands on some grass or earth, or immersing yourself in a body of conductive water such as the sea or a mineral-rich lake. Research is finding that grounding in part, neutralizes free radicals, improves the immune system and blood circulation, reduces the production of stress hormones, harmonizes the body’s biological rhythms, and contributes to overall well-being.

Four: Nurture Your Relationships

“No man is an island” is a famous saying attributed to seventeenth-century English author John Donne to underscore that we all need each other to live, and better yet, to thrive. To foster sustainable relationships, be sure to make the time to enjoy special bonding time with loved ones and friends (minus the electronics) and join a group or club with like-minded individuals. Close relationships contribute to the feeling of belonging and purpose. They help us deal with eventual traumas (death of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce, and other traumatic events). They also enrich your life, ward of depression, and contribute to your health and well-being.

Five: Pay It Forward

When we do good in our life — for our family, friends, community — it grows our compassion and understanding and fosters a new appreciation of all that we do have. In “doing unto others” we not only help alleviate struggling and suffering, but we also strengthen bonds and encourage others to do the same by example.