Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Put your phone down. Just drive!

Drivers are using their cell phones less often while driving, 10 years after “hands-free” became the law, but distracted driving remains a serious safety challenge in California. Observing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the first week in April as California Teen Safe Driving Week, safety advocates will focus on education and enforcement efforts statewide.

The Ventura Police Department will join law enforcement throughout the state to step up enforcement along with awareness efforts by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to discourage distracted driving. Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. This is an incredibly important step as this will hopefully stop (or at least lessen), the amount of car accidents that happen from distracted drivers. If you have been involved in an accident and it wasn’t your fault, then it might be a good idea to get yourself a lawyer (such as this Rock Hill car accident attorney) to help you with your case.

The California Department of Transportation will put distracted driving messages on the changeable message signs on freeways during April.

Traffic officers have issued hundreds of thousands of citations over the past three years to those texting or calling on a hand-held cell phone. Recent legislation now makes it illegal to use your smartphone’s apps will driving.

Since 2011, OTS has conducted an observational study of handheld cell phone use every year. “This year’s study on the use of handheld cell phones and texting shows a decrease over past years; however, more work needs to be done to target those who were observed to still be breaking the law,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.

Preliminary 2017 data also shows nearly 22,000 drivers were involved in distracted driving collisions in California, a decline from the more than 33,000 drivers involved in distracted driving collisions in 2007, the last full year before the hands-free law went into effect. Drivers are being advised to buy dash cams from places like blackboxmycar to ensure that if they do have an accident, there is video evidence of what happened.

Of course, no one likes to think too much about the possibility of being involved in a car accident. However, it is important to remember that if you have been involved in a car accident and you suspect that another driver might be responsible then there is a chance that you could be entitled to file a claim for compensation. Consequently, if you are ever injured on the roads it is vital that you seek legal advice from a personal injury specialist.

Safety tips for preventing distracted driving:

  • If you receive a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location, but ‘never’ on a freeway. Once you are safely off the road, it is safe to text.
  • Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
  • Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
  • Cell phone use can be habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your final destination.

The Ventura Police is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded resources, during the month of April, in city locations with higher numbers of traffic collisions. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first time offenders. This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County annual fund-raiser golf classic

On Monday, May 7, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County presented their annual fund-raiser golf classic. The event was held at the Saticoy Country Club and featured a sit down dinner, golf, auctions and former LA Rams quarterback Vince Ferragamo as the event’s celebrated host and keynote speaker. By grossing over $250,000 it delivers the resources necessary to support 1,500 youth who are facing adversity in Ventura County.

Said Ferragamo, “The day was beautiful, the course played great. We played as if we were the only group on the course despite us having a field full of golfers; the volunteers and staff were very hospitable. It was fun, and we raised a lot of money.”

Big Brother Aaron Kirby and Little Brother Elijah were recognized as Big & Little Match of the Year, and were celebrated throughout the day. Representing the Breeze at the event were publisher Brown and Senior Account Executive Breezy Gledhill.

Ventura’s Footworks Youth Ballet delights with dance

With Ventura’s Footworks Youth Ballet, students and audiences alike get to experience the utmost in classical ballet repertoire. Students fill lead roles whenever possible in productions like The Nutcracker every December, or Cinderella, Snow White, Swan Lake, and others every spring. “Our overall goal is to share the experience of quality classical ballet through the performances for all of our dancers, at all levels, and also for our entire community,” shares Kirsten Oakley, Artistic Director of Footworks Youth Ballet.

“This spring, we are especially thrilled to present three ballets almost completely cast with our students,” she continues. “Most students dance for the joy of dance and for the positive experience of participating in the production. Others have studied seriously for many years and are headed to prestigious summer programs and, eventually, to a professional career in dance. We encourage and nurture all levels.”

On Saturday, June 2nd, Footworks brings Giselle to the stage for a matinee (2 pm) as well as an evening performance (7 pm) at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Giselle is the epitome of Romantic ballet. First performed in 1841 to the music of French composer Adolphe Adam, it is the story of love lost, remorse, and forgiveness. Not often performed, Giselle will offer Ventura County residents a special opportunity to experience a ballet that is often dubbed as moody and ethereal with a touch of the supernatural.

Footworks Youth Ballet will also feature a different production on Sunday, June 3rd (2 pm), with the matinee performance of the well-known children’s classic, Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. “In our version of Peter and The Wolf, we include original and fun variations. Of course, you will see your old favorites, including the Wolf, Peter, Grandfather, the Bird, Cat and Ducks—but we will also feature lively performances by leaping Frogs, Villagers, Squirrels and Hunters, and an additional dream sequence for the Wolf,” says Laurin Boland, Director of the Children’s Division. “Kirsten always adds wonderful twists to the story, making our audience laugh while allowing more artistry for our dancers.”

Since the story ballet Peter and the Wolf is only a one-act production, Kirsten Oakley has added yet another genre of dance to the mix: Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, a George Balanchine-inspired ballet choreographed in the neoclassical style. A more sleek and modern style, it features classical ballet movements but with increased energy and speed, pared-down sets and costumes, and without any reliance on a narrative.

Footworks Youth Ballet is a nonprofit ballet company located in Ventura, California, whose purpose is to provide educational opportunities to young people and the community through the art of ballet. Each season, Footworks Youth Ballet coordinates Outreach events for school children, which occur this year on June 1st. The events are completely filled, allowing over 3,000 school children to experience the high-quality artistry of young dancers, ages 5 to 17, in a production that includes professionally created costumes, lighting and sets.

Oxnard Performing Arts Center

June 2nd: Giselle, 2 pm and 7 pm

June 3rd: Classical Symphony and Peter and the Wolf, 2 pm

Tickets: $14/$18/$22

For info/tickets: www.footworksyouthballet.org, or call 486-2424.

Families must feel safe in their neighborhoods

by City Council Member Christy Weir

The recent killing of Anthony Mele was a tragic event that has left many of us struggling to find ways to more effectively prevent acts of violence. We have heard ideas from residents by email, social media and at City Council meetings. Our community has expressed their sadness and anger through marches, radio and online, and shown support for the Mele family with fundraisers and heartfelt expressions of sympathy.

Ventura is a community that cares, and comes together to problem-solve. Our Police Department works hard every day to make our City safe and is committed to stepping up patrols and enforcement to diminish vagrancy-related crimes. Additional Police officers have been hired and more will soon be joining the force. Our downtown Ambassador program will be expanding to include other impacted areas. There are many contributing factors that we need to be examining— two methadone clinics, ineffective treatment for mental illness, inmates being released from jail in Ventura, state laws that have negatively impacted criminal sentencing, huge encampments in our river bottoms and panhandling.

The public can help us in several ways: volunteer for clean-up and other community improvement projects, report suspicious or threatening behavior and do not give money to panhandlers. A leader of a local non-profit once told us that each dollar given to a panhandler is like another nail in their coffin. That sounds dramatic, but he explained that when people are receiving cash to feed their harmful habits, they are less motivated to accept help for their addictions. That cash can also be a contributor to drug-related crimes. Please donate to service agencies that can provide lasting care that saves lives.

Families must feel safe in their neighborhoods and in our parks and beachfront areas. Crime and threatening behavior in our public spaces cannot be tolerated. I look forward to partnering with our residents, businesses, service organizations and City and County government to ensure a safe and clean Ventura.

Fox Fine Jewelry presents check to United Way

George and Debbie Fox presenting “big” check to Eric Harrison.

by Jennifer Tipton

Thursday May 3rd, George and Debbie Fox presented United Way of Ventura County a check for $60,900.

When asked how this project came about, Debbie Fox explained, “the Thomas Fires occurred on Monday and by Thursday we decided we had to do something!”.

George and Debbie Fox, owners of Fox Fine Jewelry located at 560 East Main did just that. At first, when they decided to give necklaces to the fire victims, they thought it would be about 150 and “that’s not so many”, George said. But that number quickly jumped to 400 and to date they have given away 601 necklaces! Following the original “Ventura” design, they added an “805” design and then another for Ojai, but when disaster hit Montecito it seemed somehow “inappropriate”, because of the loss of life however, “people asked for them” and they were created too.

According to Debbie, “it was never meant as a fundraiser, but then people wanted to BUY them, and we really weren’t prepared for that!”. She described how difficult the first week was and emphasized that ALL the staff at Fox were part of the project, each working hard on the necklace production and distribution but most of all Debbie said, “we were like grief counselors”, hearing so many heartbreaking stories from those whose lives were changed forever by the fires and floods.

250 necklaces had to be wrapped and ready before Christmas resulting in an assembly line for the Fox family and staff. All three of George and Debbie’s daughters: Niki, Charlotte and Karen joined in and somehow, in all the rush one of the girls confessed she thought she may have wrapped an empty box, the same brave gal offered to stay and unwrap the sea of packages until she found the empty one! It took two full nights to complete, but the operation was a success and many more necklaces followed.

Along with the very generous “gift of compassion”, as Debbie calls the diamond necklaces, the check for $60,900 was received by Eric Harrison, C.E.O. and President for the United Way of Ventura County along with Vicki Raven, the Vice President for Resource Development and Marketing.

The check presentation took place at Fox Fine Jewelry and Eric from United Way stated, “today’s a celebration”. CAPS Media filmed the event and the Fox’s provided large trays of sandwiches from Jimmy’s Slice along with cookies for their guests.

Coincidentally, May 4th was the 26th wedding anniversary for George and Debbie Fox!

Local teacher explores homelessness through poetry

Many people think they know the reasons for homelessness.

by Jill Forman

Mental illness. Drugs. Laziness. High rents. Underemployment. Many people think they know the reasons for homelessness. And others know the solutions: treatment, jail, more jobs, subsidized housing, more services, fewer services.

But as local teacher Brian Galetto knows, it is “Not So Simple.” A multifaceted situation with multiple root causes and no easy answers calls for careful thought and a big dose of empathy.

How to accomplish this? “Everybody loves a story,” he says. Poetry is “…telling a story with rhythm.” He was teaching poetry and liked its conciseness, “…a way to get people to listen.”

His sign screamed

HUNGRY!

I had pizza for later

But later for me

Was present for him.

So he started writing “Not So Simple” in 2015, and it was published in February of this year. He has two themes: just trying to get by, and it’s never simple. “I’m trying to show what it means to be a community.”

Brian came to California with his degrees in English and a desire to make the world better as a teacher. Villanova was revamping their speech program and he had a chance to design a communications curriculum that teaches, along with grammar, writing and speaking skills, Brian’s core values: empathy, compassion, gratitude.

Living in downtown Ventura, he sees the homeless daily; “…I was curious…” and started to talk to them and find out about their lives. For a while he was giving out food and “care packages” in the parks, until the city put a stop to that. At Villanova he initiated their version of “Socktober,” collecting clothes and toiletries; he works with HELP of Ojai, local churches, and Project Understanding.

To increase his community involvement, and get other perspectives on the problems, he goes to community council meetings. He even went to the rally at City Hall even though “I was scared…it felt like a mob mentality…I understand why people are angry, but we need to channel that energy into solutions.”

His students learn about the subject starting with conversation, then seeing videos and learning stories. “It breaks down preconceived notions that they didn’t even know they had.” They go on to do service-based projects, not only on homelessness but others that expand the concepts they have learned in his class.

“Not So Simple” has been well-received so far. He has had four public readings, at libraries and bookstores in addition to his book release party at a local restaurant. It has sold 500 copies, more than he expected; he goes back to his refrain of “…at the end of the day, we all love stories.” With these stories, he hopes to “…change how others think about some things.”

The streets can do that to a man

The mentality it must take to survive,

Convince your body not to give in

To hunger

To demons

To death

How would you keep your soul alive outside?

All proceeds from sales of the book go to Project Understanding. They are available at Bookends Bookstore, Palermo Coffee Shop, and Bank of Books. Brian’s email is [email protected].

National Superhero Day

Black Panther, Wonder Woman and Captain America were at the Harbor on April 28 in celebration of the National Superhero Day. Superheroes come in all shapes and forms, but the one thing they all have in common is their commitment to saving lives and improving the way we live.

They were joined by real life local heroes who save lives and keep the community safe.

A fire truck was parked nearby during the event and families had the opportunity to meet local fire fighters.

Any former Ventura Writers Club alumnus in Ventura?

The Ventura County Writers Club is looking for former members. The club, established in 1933, will be celebrating its 85th anniversary in September 2018. VCWC Vice President Judith Mathison says, “This is a big celebration for our organization. We want to include people who have been a part of the club’s long and varied history.” The VCWC has provided resources for thousands of local authors over the years. Many of whom have gone on to become best-selling authors.

The club welcomes writers at all levels of proficiency and provides speakers, workshops and critique groups, as well as help with marketing, editing and publishing. Membership in the club includes speaking and writing opportunities along with editing and publishing ones. The VCWC is a great place for new writers to get experience and for published authors to network and showcase their work. We love writers of all genres: from poets to playwrights.

Former members and prospective members interested in the anniversary or general club information may contact Ms. Mathison at [email protected] or call Breeze contributing writer Sheli Ellsworth at 300.1365.

Do you want to write a book?

Librarian Molly Krill introduced Maryann Ridini Spencer, James Francis Gray, Sheila Lowe and Mike Kennedy at the seminar.

On Sat., April 28, four local authors presented a seminar about book writing at the new Hill St. Library. The enthusiastic crowd learned about writing techniques, editing, self-publishing and other secrets to writing and merchandising books. They also discussed their books that were on sale at the event.

The featured authors were:

Maryann Ridini Spencer
Award-Winning Screenwriter, Author, TV/Film Producer, Lifestyle Journalist, & PR/Marketing Consultant. maryannridinispencer.com.

James Francis Gray
A contributing writer for the Ventura Breeze he is a published writer with four books to date. www.jamesfgray.com.

Sheila Lowe
Like her fictional character, Claudia Rose, Sheila Lowe is a real-life forensic handwriting examiner who testifies in court cases. Visit Sheilalowe.com and Claudiaroseseries.com.

Mike Kennedy
His inspiration for the Mark Springfield series comes from many years of working with different technologies.

Valdez Alley/Eastwood Park

Walking downtown it is easy to pass by Valdez Alley/Eastwood Park and to just keep walking but you are missing a wonderful experience by not entering it. It is right next to the Albinger Museum. Valdez is beautiful as you traverse its many stairs(difficult for some). Surprises await you as you take the walk to the top. So the next time don’t just walk by it take the journey.