Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Reading materials solicited

Through the years, one of the functions of the CMHS Auxiliary has been the distribution of books and magazines to patients and their visitors. With the onset of Covid, and the safeguards that were implemented, that was discontinued. Now permission has been granted to begin this service once again. There’s just one problem–there’s a distinct lack of materials to be delivered.

We’re asking for donations of reading materials from the public in addition to those donated by our members. General interest subject matter is appreciated and may be dropped off at the front desk of the Ocean Tower of CMH. Magazines do not need to be current, but should be appropriate for general distribution.

If you would like further information about donations, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Auxiliary, please phone 805-948-4299 and leave your contact information.

Help us fill our empty bookcart!

Vol. 17, No. 01 – Oct 4 – Oct 17 2023 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The Ventura Senior Men’s Group continues to meet for a social lunch and program at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Men of all descriptions are welcome to stop to sample our shenanigans. Our speaker on

Oct. 3rd will be Earl Arnold, and he will speak about fly fishing.

On Oct. 17, our speaker will be Jessica Flanagan, a Ventura County Forensic Nurse.

Lyle Hotzler at 805-341-9820

Do you want to Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011 or Rose 805-659-9223 or [email protected]. All Welcome.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family! Supplies provided BYO water.

Oct. 4: BCNN (Beach Cities Newcomers and Neighbors) meeting is the first Wednesday of the month at Pacific Corinthian Yacht Cub 2600 Harbor Blvd Oxnard.

Our speaker in October is Debbie Gohlke. She has been a member of the Oxnard Soroptimist club for 35 years. She has held numerous positions through the years, delegate, director, VP of fundraising, president and region board member. She is chair of the annual community awareness event STOP Human Trafficking going on 17 years.

This year she won the first place sweepstakes at the Ventura County Fair in the Baked Category.

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Doors open at 9:30 AM. BCNN is a group for Women from Ventura, Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

Oct. 5: Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one; this is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program provides two free support groups, Good Grief Club (ages 6-10) and Young Teen Group (ages 11-15). These groups will run from October 5th through November 9th on Thursdays 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.

Oct. 7: The East Ventura Community Council (EVCC) is sponsoring a free family fun bicycle ride beginning at 10 a.m. at Ventura’s Community Park.  The group ride will follow easy-to-navigate bike routes through the adjacent neighborhood.  The free family fun ride reminds us to choose bikes over cars for personal health and our city’s air.  Sign-up information is available on the EVCC website at https://eastventura.org/.

The purpose of the EVCC is to encourage residents to understand East Ventura’s problems, needs, and expectations and to recommend, initiate, and participate in developing and implementing programs or solutions. The EVCC facilitates communications between the community and government or other service agencies.

Oct.10: Program by The Ventura Audubon Society 7 – 9 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion and via Zoom.   You’ll be introduced to the diverse array of local birds that grace our yards and open spaces. Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus).  For more information and the Zoom link, go to www.venturaaudubon.org/speakers.

Oct.14: Ventura Audubon Society Field Trip to Ormond Beach | Saturday 8:30am: Join us for our first field trip of October at Ormond Beach. This is one of the top birding areas in Ventura County and is visited by over 200 shorebird, raptor and migratory bird species. It’s an easy flat walk on dirt paths and the beach. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned birder you’ll not want to miss this field trip. For details and to sign-up, visit https://www.venturaaudubon.org/field-trips.

Oct. 16 & 23: Comprehensive Bereavement Training Class. This class is designed to provide information on healthy grieving and how we can best companion someone who is mourning the death of a loved one. Classes will take place on October 16th and 23rd in Camarillo from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is open to the community and requires people to register by October 13th. To register, call 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief.

Oct. 21: The Ventura County Genealogical Society’s annual Seminar is online via Zoom on Saturday from 8:30 – 4 p.m. PDT. Presenter Michael D. Lacopo, D.V.M., one of the most sought-after genealogy speakers, offers four presentations. Topics include:

• Incorporating Social History into Your Research

• Deconstructing Your Family Tree: Re-evaluating the “Evidence”

• The Genealogist’s Quadfecta

• “She Came from Nowhere…” – A Case Study Approach to a Difficult Genealogical Problem

Registration ($35 fee) is open at https://venturacogensoc.org/2023-annual-seminar.

Oct. 21: The 33rd annual Youth Stamp Fair will be held Saturday at the Dudley House Museum, 197 N Ashwood Ave. Learn about stamp identification, soaking and drying, storage and mounting, cachets, watermarks, perforations, special postmarks, and topical collecting. Free Prizes, free parking, and, for those under 18 are free, stamps galore. Sponsored by Ventura County Philatelic Society, founded in 1928. Web site venturacountyphilateliccoc.org for more information or call 805 415-9857

Are you looking forward to your senior year?

by Juliette Nasarenko

Emily Sehati – A senior at Ventura High School is looking forward to watching the senior class come together and grow into the people they want to become. Emily says, “Many of the seniors are starting to realize that this is their final year at Ventura High School” and they want to make the most of it. This is the time that students commit to colleges and pursue their passion beyond the classroom. As the ASB (Associated Student Body) President, Emily is anxious to lead the student body in new and exciting events that will uphold VHS traditions. She is excited about her Field Studies class which will allow her to explore the Ventura River once a week, get out of the classroom, and talk to professionals in the environmental science field. Another fun highlight is the opportunity to see her teacher, Mr. McEntyre swim underwater every week. Emily as the President of Model UN, also makes sure that students are educated on international issues and then trains them for conferences through public speaking and writing exercises.

Linnea Browne – Her senior year has just arrived, and she is already looking forward to her last year in high school. At Ventura High School they host several dances throughout the year but Linnea is looking forward to the Senior Ball. This is her first time attending this dance and it is one of the favorites at Ventura High School. They offer delicious food, dessert and an a night to dress up and dance. She says the Senior Ball is an “opportunity to celebrate being seniors and being together.” Linnea is also looking forward to her classes and learning to continue to grow academically. She is taking courses that will challenge her but also teach her to think “outside of the box.” As President of the National Honors Society she is looking forward to some fun volunteer opportunities locally such as beach cleanups and food drives throughout the year. Linnea has a lot of hope and excitement for a great year!

Kadyn Farmer – As a Senior at Ventura High School Kadyn has a lot of energy and aspirations. He is looking forward to his final year and the opportunity to attend Homecoming with all his friends. He is extremely passionate about neuroscience and hopes it will be his major in college. As a member of the Track and Field team he participates in the long and triple jump along with 4X400 meter relay. Kadyn hopes to make it to CIF in Prelims in all three events. As a saxophone player in the Honors Strings and Honors Wind Ensembles he will be able to compete nationally. Last year both groups traveled to Boston and received superior ratings. This year the Wind Ensemble and Strings Ensemble hope to make it to grand nationals and maintain their superior ratings. Kadyn says, “Track and music always bring out the best in people.” He feels holding this philosophy will help him grow into a better version of himself and lead to a year full of surprises, excitement, and hard work.

Historic D-Day plane visited Camarillo

The aircraft was named “That’s All, Brother” by the aircrew. Photos by Janie Tan and Kevin Jackson

The Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing Aviation and War Museum at the Camarillo Airport hosted the historic C-47A Skytrain named That’s All, Brother on Sept. 27-Oct. 1. This historical World War II aircraft led the Allies’ main airborne invasion over Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

That’s All, Brother was the C-47A troop carrier aircraft that led the airborne invasion on D-Day, June 6, 1944, carrying 101st Airborne Division paratroopers into France during the D-Day invasion. The aircraft was named “That’s All, Brother” by the aircrew, who felt it was a fitting message to Adolf Hitler. Following D-Day, That’s All, Brother” served in Operation Dragoon, Operation Market Garden, the Relief of Bastogne, and Operation Varsity. After the War, the aircraft was sold as surplus, and its contribution to history was almost forgotten. In 2015, the Commemorative Air Force rescued the aircraft from a boneyard, completed a lengthy restoration to get it flying, and returned it to its World War II configuration. In June 2019, the aircraft returned to England and France to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day (flying over Omaha Beach on June 6, 2019). The aircraft plans to return to Europe for the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in June 2024.

For more information about events and activities at the Commemorative Air Force Museum at Camarillo Airport, visit www.CAFSoCal.com.

Here’s to Gary Best. Well done, Friend!

In 2013, Volunteer Gary Best recorded a PSA for CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly

by Tammy I. Glenn, executive director, CAREGIVERS Volunteers of Ventura County

Gary Best recently died on February 3, 2023, leaving a huge void in our community. From his love of theatre and improvisation to Sunday nights when his Irish group would perform at Brendan’s, Gary’s voice was as distinctive as his heartfelt contributions. One of the most recent examples of Gary stepping up was when he served as the emcee at Suz Montgomery’s memorial service. Those two Guardian Angels working in concert from the Great Beyond are certain to have an impact on our advancement.

We’re going to miss Gary terribly here at CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly. It would be wrong of us to try to capture Gary’s whole story in one little epitaph. We weren’t planning this at all.

Gary’s voice will forever endure as will the eulogy that he wrote for Howard Burroughs, the CAREGIVERS’ senior Gary served for more than a decade. In his own words, you’ll catch a brief glimpse of one of our most treasured volunteers. If you knew Gary, then you know how hard it will be to replace him. If you didn’t know Gary, then maybe it’s time to take your turn in distinguishing yourself the way he did.

Now, I’ve been warned to not make this about myself but I’m an actor … so that’s obviously not going to work for me.

Howard and I began our Bromance about 10 years ago. It’s a familiar story, he had just lost his wife, I had been divorced for a while, and neither of us really looking for a serious relationship.

At first, of course, I was attracted to his quick wit, his intellect and well, let’s face it, he was mighty easy on the eyes. An easy man to develop feelings for.

But as time passed I realized that I had fallen for him before I realized what a catch he was. I won’t go into detail about his amazing life as a scientist and educator. Faithful husband for 66 years. And, of course, philanthropist.

Being with him as much as I was, I got to witness how universally loved Howard was.

Y’know, I grew up on a farm and we had an old barn that my mother always loved. It leaned a little to one side, the paint was long gone and the old wood had turned a sort of silver gray. My father wanted to tear it down but my mother wouldn’t have it. She said, “When I look at that old barn, I think of all the years it has stood against the winds of winter, summer heat, kids playing in that hayloft and growing up and leaving. That old barn has seen a lot. I think it’s more beautiful than it’s ever been.” Howard was like that old barn. There’s a certain kind of beauty that can only be acquired through years of hard work and experience.

He was kind, he was generous, a lover and poet at heart. We had lunch together nearly every week for the last 10 years and I have to say I’ve never known a better man.

And, Gary, neither have we!

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast has events coming up at Camp Arnaz

Tent-or-Treat Halloween Extravaganza!
When: October 28th from 3:00 pm – 7:00pm
Where: Camp Arnaz 155 Sulphur Mountain Road, Ventura, CA 93001
Tickets: $10 at https://www.classy.org/event/tent-or-treat-2023/e491415

Join us for a night of fun at Camp Arnaz’s Tent-or-Treat event! Tent or Treat will include plenty of activities for you and your family to enjoy! We will have lawn games, vendor booths, tractor rides, hay maze, haunted yurt, crafts, Halloween movies and of course lots of candy!! Visit our camp horses who will be dressed for the event! Food will also be available to purchase in the main lodge & the Girl Scout food truck! Saturday October 28th 2023, from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. For tickets and vendor applications visit https://www.classy.org/event/tent-or-treat-2023/e491415 #TentOrTreat #HalloweenAdventure #FamilyFun

Winter Wonderland Holiday Event!
When: Friday and Saturday Evenings in December
starting December 1st -30th from 5:00 pm – 9:00pm
Where: Camp Arnaz 155 Sulphur Mountain Road, Ventura, CA 93001
Tickets: $10 – $20 at www.GSWinterwonderland.com

Experience pure enchantment at Winter Wonderland 2023, where Camp Arnaz transforms into a captivating holiday realm. Meander through a whimsical wonderland, aglow with synchronized lights dancing to the melody of falling snowflakes. Indulge in festive foods, create lasting memories with family crafts, and greet our holiday horses. Don’t miss a cherished snapshot with Santa himself. Join us and step into a world of winter wonder! Join us, weekends in December from 5:00pm – 9:00pm. For tickets visit www.GSWinterwonderland.com

Memorial stair climb recreates climb up the Twin Towers

Stair Climb remembers September 11. Photos by Patricia Schallert

Ninety-one Ventura firefighters, police officers, and members of the community gathered to honor fallen 9/11 first responders by re-creating the 110 floor climb up the Twin Towers.

The Stair Climb is organized by the Ventura City Honor Guard and Ventura Fire Foundation. Proceeds from the event will be used to support the Ventura Fire Foundation’s mental health programming for firefighters and their families.

It was held September 9, at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach hotel.

Bagpipers lead the procession to start the climb. Firefighters and police officers, some in full gear climbed the stairs as families and guests cheered them on.

Along with dozens of individuals, teams from the following groups were represented.

Culver City Fire,District 1 County Supervisor Matt LaVere,FBI Los Angeles, Fillmore Firefighters,Flying Embers,Limitless,Oxnard Fire, Performance Wellness and Injury Prevention,Persistence Culture, San Bernardino County Fire,Santa Barbara PD SWAT,Stronghold Fitness, The Vent,Ventura City Fire,Ventura County Fire,Ventura Police Dept and Visit Ventura.

Daniel Brackett will be performing in Aladdin

From Pierpont Elementary to Broadway.

Daniel Brackett has played many leading roles in musicals growing up in Ventura: a wriggly Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland at Pierpont Elementary, a shirtless Mowgli in Jungle Book at Rubicon Theatre, a rebellious Ren in Footloose at Ventura High. But Daniel these days is performing in perhaps his biggest role, and certainly on the biggest stages, of his life as a cast member in Disney’s North American Tour production of Aladdin.

Part of a 30-member actors’ equity (the union representing professional theatre actors) cast, Daniel landed a role as ensemble and understudy for two roles – Omar and Aladdin. Daniel began rehearsals for the show in New York City last summer, and has been part of the show since its opening last October in Schenectady, New York. Since then, Daniel has criss-crossed the continent, doing 8 shows a week in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Albuquerque, Montreal, Denver, to name a few.

Linda Ottsen, a premier voice teacher in the area and retired Ventura College faculty, exclaimed: “I always knew Daniel was destined for a career in musical theatre, but to be cast in a national Disney tour immediately after graduating from college was a happy surprise!” Ms. Ottsen began teaching Daniel his freshman year of high school and continued to follow his performances and include him in her studio recitals even while Daniel was in college at Elon University in North Carolina.

Ms. Ottsen’s favorite memory is of Daniel’s senior year performance of Maria from the musical West Side Story, with Ventura High’s orchestra at their year-end concert. “We had worked on that song so much during his voice lessons – it is one of the most difficult tenor songs,” Ms. Ottsen remembers

Daniel’s longtime trombone teacher, Paul Hunt, director of music at Ventura High School, conducted that performance of Maria, and first met Daniel when he was in middle school. “Daniel was shorter than me at the time!” jokes Mr. Hunt. Daniel displayed a quick affinity for the instrument and Mr. Hunt placed him in the honors wind ensemble group as a freshman, and as principal trombonist his sophomore through senior years. But Mr. Hunt had to share his star student with the drama department – “I just knew he was going to get cast as the lead in the musical.”

And indeed, Daniel was cast by Stefoni Rossiter, director and drama teacher for Ventura High, in many productions. “Daniel has always had a serious, respectful, professional demeanor,” says Ms. Rossiter, “Even when he was just in sixth-grade playing Winthrop in The Music Man, I could tell he was dedicated, prepared, creative, and so talented – he had such a sweet voice and presence on stage!” Ms. Rossiter came to fully appreciate Daniel’s potential when she cast him as Cat in the Hat in Seussical: “He had all the singing and dancing down, but he was able to trust me and trust himself in adding a zany, silly, unscripted playfulness to his performance. . . it was a magical transformation for him and I remember thinking, Daniel Brackett is really going places!”

Brian McDonald, who directed Daniel in Rubicon Theatre Company productions spanning from 2010-2017, also thought it was “obvious that Daniel was gifted and would find his home on the professional stage.Daniel clearly loved what he was doing, but he also took great pride in the work that it took to do it well,” Mr. McDonald recalled.

Daniel Brackett will be the whole city and community of Ventura’s son coming home when he appears at the Pantages in Aladdin which runs for 3 more days. More information about the show, including the official link to purchase tickets, is available at https://aladdinthemusical.com/north-american-tour-cast/.

Ventura Art and Street Painting Festival

Photos by Patricia Schallert

On September 9 &10, the Ventura Harbor became alive with chalk as 20 chalk artists applied their skills to the concrete walkway. All as part of the Ventura Art and Street Painting Festival. Besides the chalk art there were booths that offered pottery and other works of art. Proceeds from the annual event go to Food Share.