Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) has many wonderful volunteers but four stand out because of their long term commitments to helping at CMH. They are part of the CMH Auxiliary.

Doris Sprague (32 years) works the Gift Shop, and Ginny Basso (48 years) and Judy Miller (37 years) as Flyers and Desk Receptionists and Pat Utter (42 years) works  as a Flyer at the Reception desk.

There are numerous opportunities offered to CMH Volunteers.  Among them is the Maternity Dept… Including working with preemie babies in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, (NICU).  Also offered is Same Day Surgery, Post Anesthetic Care Unit, (PACU), Emergency Dept, Book cart, Pharmacy and the Sewing Projects.  These are just some of the departments that need volunteers.

Why do these women volunteer?  They all answered the same; it’s giving back to the community.  “There’s nothing like the feeling of helping others” said Ginny Basso.

Judy Miller Past President, CMH Auxiliary stated “Everyone in the Auxiliary is looking forward to our new hospital.  We are so excited to have all private rooms for our patients.  Will it mean more work for everyone?  The answer is yes, that’s why we are actively looking for new Volunteers.  Please join use in helping others, there’s no other feeling quite like it.”

Please contact them for further information and how to volunteer by calling 652-5043 or going online to cmhshealth.org and clicking on Volunteer.

Dear fellow musicians
by Dean Adams Director/Trombonist

Here we all are, another fall/winter season to make music. The need for quality musicians continues.
The Ventura Jazz Orchestra groups has a saxophone, trumpet and trombone chair open.

We are coming to our busy time of year with 10 events already booked. Interested musicians need to read at an advanced level. Be available for Thursday evening rehearsals.

Live in Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties.

For more information please visit our website@ http://www.theventurajazzorchestra.com/

Community
by Elizabeth Rodeno

All of us at CAPS Media love this time of year. Organizations are lining up their events, school programs are in progress and elections are on their way. This year, for the first time, local elections are happening concurrently with the national elections. This will be great for voter turnout and a challenge to get information on the candidates and issues laid out in the 222-page voter informational guide.  During the year and, in particular, in election years, CAPS Media is a go-to place for information. You can learn about the state ballot initiatives, local city and school district candidates and follow the various election forums so you can be up to speed when you cast your ballot.  Our Video Voter program lets you meet the candidates and hear what they think. We have been recording 3 full days with the candidates in the studio and are sharing a lot of information.  The shows are airing now on CAPS channel 6 and streaming on the web at CAPSMedia.org. Check the website for dates and times.

The ECTV crew got a head start on ArtWalk with an interview with MB Hanrahan and finished their first show covering Ms. Hanrahan, Digital Citizenship and high flying acrobats.  These students are fulfilling their lab work volunteering on our studio and location projects. We have a lot going on.

Curbside Coffee with the Ventura Police Department at Elmhurst was the place to be with our cameras. The celebration of Helen Yunker at the Ventura County Museum in downtown Ventura was a pleasure and we captured great stories about her and Ventura.  We celebrated the firefighter and heroes’ awards for our public safety officers and our own Suz Montgomery. Our Ventura Legacies program moves along with our Tortilla Flats episodes and there is more of William Schneider Senior and his stories.

Our member programming is rich and diverse from travel to music to drama to politics.  As CAPS Media is a membership organization, we honor our members each and every day and support their creativity and help share their voice through training and mentorship. Their voice and yours is part of the story covered by CAPS and all media in Ventura. Check out our social media pages including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. View it all on our frequently updated website. A yearly membership at CAPS is only $25, a best bargain for media fans, students and organizations to share your story.  Go to www.capsmedia.org or call 805-658-0500 for more information.

The Ventura Food Co-op celebrates the farmers that work hard to produce our food. A century ago, half of Americans were farmers, now they number only 2 percent. This night of drinks and discussion will bring to light issues that farmers struggle with in Ventura County, the future of farming, and ways that community can support our local producers.

At the MadeWest Brewing Company, local farmers, and community members will discuss farmer’s concerns on October 5 from 5:30-9:00. Farmers Phil McGrath, from McGrath Family Farm, Sarah Nolan, from Abundant Table, and Jose Alcantar, from Alcantar Organics will be the panel of farmers.

The mission of the Ventura Food Cooperative is to provide fairly priced groceries, while following cooperative principles. The Co-op’s focus is to source small-scale, local, organic goods with the intention of keeping ourselves, our community, and our environment healthy and happy.

If we want more organic food, then our community needs to train and support young beginning farmers in biological methods of growing food on a small scale.

Agriculture contributes 2 billion dollars to the Ventura County economy, but how much of that produce is consumed locally? Ventura Food Co-op wants to do better. They will buy what is currently produced here, then contract with local growers to grow locally adapted produce.

Panel topics will include farming challenges, the future of farming in our area, what we can do for our local farmers, how to find farming and agricultural equipment such as tractors online using websites like Fastline, and insights into what farming has to offer our community. Come ask the farmer panel some of your burning questions about what it’s like to be a farmer here in our county.

MadeWest Brewing Company, 1744 Donlon St., 947-5002.

For more information venturafoodcoop.com or Facebook page (facebook.com/VenturaFoodCoop) or Ally Gialketsis 216-4621. [email protected].

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. Jewish Year 5777 this year from sunset October 2, 2016 – nightfall October 4, 2016. 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. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day.

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.

Often, gifts are given during the holiday as well. It’s not obligatory to give any gifts, but it’s a thoughtful gesture that will certainly be appreciated. You can purchase Rosh Hashanah gifts online at www.gadgetshop.co.il, for example, so that, if you are going to give a gift during this special season, you can be sure that it is perfect. Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey – a symbol of the wish for a sweet new year.

Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d’s sovereignty.

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.”

On September 24th, 250 riders will begin their 525-mile journey down the California Coast raising money for The Arthritis Foundation. The California Coast Classic Bike Tour will be coming through Ventura and you’re invited to come meet the riders, volunteers and staff as they embark on this journey of a lifetime. Events like this help to raise awareness of and funds for the prevention and cure of arthritis. There have been some new developments in pain relief for the condition, such as a cbd oil vape which can be really effective, but more research is needed when it comes to finding long term solutions.

Join the riders at San Buenaventura State Beach on September 30th from 4-6pm or for morning interviews at 7am and on October 1 Social Hour with the riders.

The 16th Annual California Coast Classic Bike Tour is one of the Arthritis Foundation’s top fundraising events, whose goal is to raise over $1.2 million this year. Funds raised support the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to conquer the disease by spreading awareness and raising money for research. Arthritis affects over 50 million adults, or one out of five, and 300,000 children nationwide.

As the nation’s largest private funder of research, public health programs and advocacy on behalf of the 50 million Americans with this painful disease, the Arthritis Foundation aims to reduce the number of people suffering from arthritis-related physical activity limitations.

The California Coast Classic benefits the Arthritis Foundation by raising vital funds needed to find a cure for arthritis. Money raised provides educational resources for adults and children, scholarships for our national Juvenile Arthritis Conference, kids’ camps and much more.

For more information on the California Coast Classic Bike Tour, visit californiacoastclassic.org.

The Assistance League of Ventura County celebrated the grand opening of its newest Bargain Box Thrift Store at 3351 Telegraph Rd. The new location offers additional space for the many vintage items and collections for sale. Kay Rich, President of the Ventura chapter led the ceremonies.

Helping Kay Rich cut the ribbon were   Suz Howell, Stephanie Caldwell, President & CEO Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Christy Weir, City Councilmember, Leann Wren, Marty Forbes, Susan Knupp, Shari Smith, Angie Hecht, and Dr. Ron Atanay.

“The mission of the Ventura Chapter is to provide funding to identify and assess the needs of children in Ventura County and to develope programs to fit those needs” said Rich. The Assistance League has six programs to address the needs of Ventura County children: Girls Club/Teen Club, Assistance League School, B.U.F.F.Y. Bear, Assault Survivor Kits, and Assisteens.

Friends of the late Steve Cummings gathered briefly on September 2 to dedicate a public art project that is a memorial to his life. Mr. Cummings died suddenly in August 2015.

The memorial is a pair of painted traffic signal utility boxes at the southwest corner of Mills and Loma Vista next to the Treacy Convalescent Home.

Local artist Shelly Gould designed the art to show the many parts of Steve’s life and his many, many volunteer contributions to Ventura. The artist’s skill is seen by including illustrations which refer to many parts of Steve’s interesting life and many accomplishments.

In addition to founding and serving as Chair and Secretary to the College Area Community Council, he was a 20+ year volunteer with the San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. at the Dudley House Historical Museum where he planted and maintained the lavender garden in authentic period style at Dudley House. Steve also was a leader on the Downtown History Trail Marker project which continues to identify and provide interpretative information on the many historic sites in Ventura’s Downtown.

Steve also restored antique clocks, watches and organs, wrote organ music for the restored organs, was longtime volunteer for UCSB’s athletic program, was an active member of the local Democratic Party, wrote several published books, compiled and published the Ventura County Statistical Abstract for many years, retired from a career in banking, rode his folding bike everywhere, and more. He was a most interesting person.

The art project was funded by donations from his friends and was coordinated by the City Public Art Department and approved by the City Public Art Commission.