by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

After closing their popular music venue Zoey’s in 2014, Steve and Polly Hoganson have found other ways of supporting indie artists mostly of the Americana genre with their Ones to Watch Productions. They sponsor shows throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and the next one will feature Tim Curran with full band, The Brambles and Max Kasch on Thursday, September 27th, in the backroom at Bombay’s Bar and Grill. The backroom allows intimate listening room style concerts; tickets will be available at the door.

The Rubicon Theatre Company will be offering the following two concerts in the next few weeks. First David Burnham (Broadway’s Wicked) and Tami Tappan for two nights, Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30; this one is a part of The Goldenson Broadway Concert Series. Then it’s “The Folk Legends” with George Grove, Rick Dougherty and Jerry Siggins (The Kingston Trio, The Limeliters) on Monday and Tuesday, October 1 and 2. Ticket information can be found at RubiconTheatre.org.

Grapes and Hops starts a new monthly show on the first Thursday of the month called The Session Reboot with Tommy Marsh and his first guest on Thursday, October 4, will be Guy Martin. I for one am very happy Tommy has new venue supporting these Blues jams.

Frost and Fire 2018 will fall over three days at the Ventura Theater. Cirith Ungol returns after reuniting a couple of years ago and will headline Thursday night’s show along with Gygax and Sloughfeg; Friday has Midnight, Warbringer and Night Demon; and Saturday’s concert features Satan, Ashbury and Visigoth. To get a complete list of all bands (just a handful mentioned here) go to VenturaTheater.net. By the way, just announced at the Ventura Theater, an evening with Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, Mazzy Star and Morrissey.

Quick notes: Tony Ybarra will be at Café Fiore Thursday, September 27; Hail the Sun has an in-store performance at Saltzer’s on Friday, September 28 at 6 pm; Rock on the Dock wraps up September shows with Decadent Decades on Saturday the 29th; Vitamin X out of Amsterdam plays a punk show at the Garage on Thursday, October 4; the Colette Lovejoy Band plays Pier Under the Stars on Saturday, October 6; and the Army of Freshmen 20th anniversary show at Discovery October 13, more on that next issue.

I continue to produce radio shows bi-monthly for CAPS Media’s KPPQ-LP at 104.1 FM in and around Ventura, and if you didn’t know, they also stream their radio station on the internet at CAPSMedia.org/Radio. The Pam Baumgardner Music Hour features mostly local artists out of the 805 and airs Tuesdays at 5 with rebroadcasts on Friday at 5 and Sundays at noon. Please help spread the word and support our local musicians!

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

I have noticed a lack of respect for our environment while attending schools in the VUSD.  What I have seen is an overabundance of single use plastics on campuses, as well as a lackadaisical recycling program.

Now I have not visited every school, but the ones that I have visited have courtyards or quads littered with single use plastics.  Now not all of them are originating from the school themselves but many of them are.

I have witnessed plastic service ware, straws, disposable containers and bottles.  In addition, a disturbing realization there is a lack of recycling containers.  Recycling containers can not be found near where the students take their nutrition breaks.  This is just one of many environmental reason I am running for VUSD area 1.  I want to see our campuses have a set of procedures that must be followed to improve sustainability.

by Jill Forman

Thirty-five years ago, Ken McAlpine came to Ventura for the surf; he stayed for life. During that time he created a home and became an author. “As a travel writer, I’ve been to some of the most beautiful places in the world, but always I can’t wait to come back to Ventura. I couldn’t have picked a better place.” He blogs weekly for the Facebook page of Visit Ventura about “the joys of travel and life”.

Settling in one place was not his experience. His father was in the Foreign Service; Ken was born in Hong Kong, and lived in the U.S., Laos and Singapore with his family. “A fun experience; I got the travel bug early, as a kid.” Always a beach-lover, he majored in Environmental Science/Coastal Zone Management, studying the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

After college, he took off for Australia and traveled up that coast, surfing and keeping a diary. “I was incredibly naive” he says; he just typed up the diary and sent if off to Surfer Magazine. “It was unpublishable,” but an editor there sent him an encouraging letter. Then he wrote a piece for them, after looking up the guidelines for submissions, on winter surfing in New Jersey, which the magazine bought. “It was so exciting!”

Back in New Jersey, he had fallen in love with Kathy, an elementary school teacher and “the woman of my dreams.” He also dreamed about California’s beaches and she, obviously wise, told him to come here and check it out or he’d always wonder. Once he saw our sunshine, surf and beaches, he was in love yet again. Kathy joined him, and our traveler was home for good. Soon a house and two boys completed the picture.

He has sold shoes and been a lifeguard, but wanted to write so got a job at the VC Reporter writing “…anything and everything…It was a great grooming ground for a writer.” Meanwhile, he sent pieces out to magazines. His break was selling a piece on trail running in Ventura County to Sports Illustrated. “A big deal,” it looked good on his resume. He started getting assignments; “…they used me for quirky stuff, you know, one legged climbers, human interest stories.”

As a free-lancer, he wrote articles, blogs and stories that were published in Sunset, National Geographic Traveler, Auto Club, Men’s Journal, Outside and so on. In 2004, he published his first book, Off Season: Discovering American on Winter’s Shore; which was a Barnes and Noble Great New Writers selection, and led to appearances on NPR.

Islands Apart: A Year on the Edge of Civilization is set partially on the Channel Islands, as a counterpoint to our fast-paced times. Fog is very different, a dark fiction account of the Surf Lifesavers on Cape Cod in the 1880’s, “a modern day Moby Dick.”

Many readers’ favorite McAlpine book is Together We Jump, the story of an 85 year old named Pogue, who goes on a cross-country odyssey to face the ghosts of his troubled life and figure out how to live well in the time he has left.

He also has a trilogy about the ocean with an environmental subtext. And other books, “I am shopping them around.” He doesn’t hide the hard work of being a writer and the discouragement. “It can be soul-crushing”

Why does he write? “It gives me joy, and I hope in some small fashion it will give the readers joy. Life is a gift, I’d like to make them think…I don’t have any answers.” You can read about him at kenmcalpine.com.

Part 3: Cafe 126
by Jennifer Tipton

Located at 11033 Citrus Drive, Cafe 126 has been family owned and operated since 1965. Like the other “East End Eateries”, it has that small diner vibe, but several things set them apart, like having an undeniable sense of family. Surrounding photos show family members and one of Saticoy Grammar School dated 1932. The staff can tell you family member’s names and the history.

Another difference is they serve only breakfast and lunch.

Monday – Friday 6:00am to 2:00pm

Saturday 6:00am to 2:00pm & Sunday 7:00am to 2:00pm

We were there on a Sunday morning and there was a 15-minute wait to be seated. I asked our very nice server, Summer, if they were always this busy and she said, “actually this is slow!”

A large back room was added in the 1980’s and there on the back wall, hangs an old American flag. Summer tells us the flag is pre-Hawaii / pre-Alaska and was a gift to the cafe, but further history is unknown.

There’s an outside patio with several tables and a large sign reading “No Pets”. Usually it’s just a question of being dog friendly, but Summer said someone once brought their cat to lunch…

Also unique about Cafe 126, the patrons are a diverse bunch, we saw families along with motorcycle enthusiasts. Parking is plenty for vehicles with two or four wheels.

The menu lists “Comfort Breakfast Favorites”, and the selections are as diverse as the patrons with choices ranging from simple to a 14oz Ham Bone & Eggs –

“So big it’s served on 3 plates”! Prices $9.25 – $13.95

Simpler egg dishes are available, and each comes with your choice of hash browns or country potatoes, choice of toast, English muffin or biscuit. Prices $6.95 – $9.95

The “Highway Grill” offers Pancake or French Toast Combos served with homemade whipped cream, or the classic “Pigs in a Blanket” (sausage links rolled in buttermilk pancakes). Prices $5.95 – $9.95

There are nine omelets including a California omelet with avocado, fresh salsa and jack cheese, all come with the same side choices as above. $10.25 – $11.25

More sides are available like biscuits & gravy, or you can skip the biscuit and simply order a Cup of 126 Gravy $1.95.

The “Café Dinner Favorites” include a Turkey Dinner, “roasted daily and served with all the fixin’s” or Roast Beef, “right off mom’s table” and of course the classic, Country Fried Steak with “fresh USDA beef dipped in our handmade batter”. All selections come with vegetables, garlic bread, mashed potatoes and- gravy! $11.95 – $13.95

There are eight deli sandwiches, each comes with a choice of homemade potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, French fries, fresh or grilled tomatoes. $8.95 – $9.95

Burgers are made with fresh Angus beef and patrons can choose from a 1/3 lb or ½ lb burger $8.95 – $10.95, same sides but add $1.00 for sweet potato fries or onion rings.

There are twenty specialty sandwiches and dishes to choose from at $7.25 -$10.95 and a full page of soups, salads, chilies and chowders. Cafe 126 does not offer alcoholic beverages. Desserts are homemade daily.

I had the Spinach Mushroom Benedict with country potatoes, perfectly poached eggs on a crisp English muffin, with loads of spinach and mushrooms topped with a rich and creamy hollandaise and the potatoes were seasoned well. The only problem was there was way too much of it and I took enough home for breakfast the next day!

By the way, Cafe 126 has a sister restaurant, Flight 126 located at the Santa Paula Airport.

Robin Nahin, owner of Firestick Pottery, will visit the Ojai Library on Saturday, September 29, at 1 p.m. to teach a hands-on pottery workshop. This interactive workshop will allow participants to learn the basics of working with clay to create art.

Clay is a magical material—use it to turn your fantasy into a real piece of art. You can take your project home with you or go to the Firestick Pottery Studio to have it kiln-fired.

All ages welcome to attend. There is no charge, and all materials will be included. Space is limited, and you can make your reservation by calling (805) 272-8760 or by email at [email protected].

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146.

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Ave. Hours of service are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

by Jennifer Tipton

When we think of all the great places to eat in Ventura, the east end of town rarely comes to mind because there just isn’t much out that way. There are however three independently owned and operated restaurants on the east end, each with a great reputation and as charming as a country café!

Two Trees is located at 7822 Telegraph Rd. and I’ll admit, although I’ve lived on the east end of Ventura for years, I had never visited this modest little eatery before. On our first visit, the experience was a “wow!”, the server was “Johnny on the spot”, the food was unbelievably good!

On our second visit, the server was “Missing Maria” and the jalapeno burger (when it finally arrived) was missing the jalapeno…

However, the restaurant is always busy, and patrons sometimes line up outside the door even though they can seat well over 100. The interior can be a bit noisy, family friendly with two flat screen TVs showing news and baseball, customers can sit at the counter, a booth or one of many tables and there’s an adjoining room with bistro tables and a traditional bar. There’s also a couple small outside tables, so I guess it could be considered dog friendly and being in the Kimball Shopping Center, parking is plenty.

While wine is available, Two Trees also offers 28 beers on tap with different flights for tasting. On our second visit, there was a special that offered flights of 5 for $15 and a selection of $3 tacos to accompany them. All tortillas are homemade and there is no charge for chips and salsa – also homemade.

The menu is quite eclectic. Starters range from Mini Burgers to Jumbo Wings priced $7 to $13. Specialties such as a crusted Filet Mignon topped with Mushroom Brandy Sauce or Almond Crusted Mexican Seabass topped with lemon garlic sauce each come with the choice of two sides. Specialties are priced $15 to $30. Selections from the fryer include Black Tiger Shrimp and Chips or Fried Chicken. Prices $14 to $22.

There are seven different styles of burgers $12 to $15, nine different sandwiches $10 to $13 and fresh salads that offer salmon and poached pear with chicken breast $12 to $15.

What really makes Two Trees stand out are the traditional Mexican specialties, all homemade plates like the Molcajete with Carne Asada, Citrus Marinated Chicken, Shrimp, Nopal, Chorizo, Scallions and Jalapenos with fresh Mexican Cheese and Tomatillo Sauce served with those homemade tortillas and Rice and Beans, serves 2-3 people for $37.

Other Mexican specialties include Seafood Enchiladas and Blackened Salmon Tacos amongst others. Prices $10 to $16.

All the Mexican plates come with a roasted jalapeno, I had the Sea bass Tacos and although it is a single serving plate, portions are generous, be prepared to share or take some home.

Community Memorial Health System has once again been awarded the American Heart/American Stroke Association’s “Gold Plus Achievement Award” as well as the association’s “Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Achievement Award” which highlights the health system’s dedication to the highest standards in stroke care. Both recognitions will be featured in US News & World Report.

Attending a recent awards presentation ceremony at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura were members of health system administration, the CMHS Stroke Champions, members of the CMHS Stroke Multidisciplinary Team, and American Heart/American Stroke Association Regional Director Bliss Rayo-Taranto.

“Our stroke team works hard to help patients achieve the best outcomes possible when a patient has a stroke. We truly appreciate this recognition for our excellent care and ongoing efforts,” said CMHS Stroke Coordinator Stephanie Lara-Jenkins, RN.

In addition to these recognitions from the American Heart/American Stroke Association, Community Memorial Hospital has been awarded the Primary Stroke Center designation from DNV GL Healthcare and the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency. Their certification programs incorporate elements from hospital accreditation standards as well as requirements from the Guidelines of the Brain Attack Coalition, and recommendations of the American Heart/American Stroke Association. The programs emphasize deploying a disciplined management system and using clinical best practices.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

League of Women Voters of Ventura County (LWVVC), a nonpartisan political organization, was represented by Betsy Patterson, President, Pat Butler, Membership Director, and Matty Park, Director at Large, at the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) 53rd National Convention held June 28 – July 1 in Chicago, IL. More than 1,000 League leaders from 49 states and the District of Columbia attended leadership workshops and heard from guest speakers about League priorities.

Founded in Chicago in 1920, the League of Women Voters is active in all 50 states with more than 750 chapters across the country.

“Convention was an incredible opportunity to connect with and learn from League leaders who are actively working in their communities to empower voters and defend democracy,” said Betsy Patterson.

The Convention kicked off with A Conversation on Redistricting where attendees heard from Ruth Greenwood and Nick Stephanopoulos. Greenwood served on the legal team for the plaintiffs in the United States Supreme Court case Gill v. Whitford which the Court remanded back to the lower courts.

Over the four-day Convention, delegates voted on the priorities that the national organization should focus on for the next biennium. The Campaign for Making Democracy Work® includes ensuring a free, fair, and accessible electoral system for all eligible voters by focusing on Voting Rights, Improving Elections, and advocacy for the National Popular Vote Compact, Campaign Finance/Money in Politics, and Redistricting.

The final night of Convention, attendees heard from Elaine Weiss, author of the Women’s Hour at a banquet where Leagues were recognized with awards for their work on Strengthening Democracy .

“Hearing Elaine Weiss recount the final push for women’s suffrage in this country reminded me how important the League of Women Voters is to this day,” said Pat Butler. “The number of women in elected offices does not reflect the demographic makeup of women in our communities. This is an important midterm election year and the League is committed to making sure the voters in California continue to have the resources they need to participate in November.”

About League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to men and women of all ages. With more than 93 years of experience and almost 800 local and state affiliates, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations.

Contact: Betsy Patterson Tel: 805-798-4685
Email: [email protected]

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the nation’s most acclaimed new play development programs, announces two extraordinary “Intersection” events during its annual New Works Festival, including an opening night cabaret with original works and performances by twelve OPC playwrights and a special performance event with new plays by Jon Robin Baitz and Bill Cain and new music theatre piece by Quetzal.

The Ojai Storytelling Festival will present Scott Ainslie as one of the featured tellers at the 18th annual festival, Oct. 25-28. Ainslie is a man who can speak about the Blues with the same compelling passion and authority that drives his musical performances. On stage, he brings the African and American roots, history, and soul of the music. During the Ojai Storytelling Festival, Ainslie will be featured as a solo artist, but he will also be showcased with poet Glenis Redmond in “Southern Voices: Black, White and Blues”. The two performers will weave stories, poetry and music together in a presentation of power and depth that features the works of Muddy Waters and Zora Neale Hurston; Robert Johnson and Fannie Lou Hamer.

A Cancer Prevention & Healing Class Series will be held on August 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th

from 7-8:30PM at Healing in America 107 W. Aliso Street.

Food Medicine Chef Bianca Rose will share the most powerful cancer fighting foods, spices, herbs and teas to boost the immune system and support natural abilities to heal the body. Includes talk and live cooking demo. Please visit compassionateating.com/classes or call 805-701-9858 for information and sign-up.

Pascal Baudar, author and renowned professional forager for L.A.’s top chefs, will return to Ojai as Herb Walks with Lanny Kaufer’s special guest on Saturday, August 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a workshop on brewing wild beers with local plants. He will demonstrate techniques described in his latest book, The Wildcrafting Brewer. A limited number of copies of both books will be available for sale and signing.

Baudar will get back to the basics of making beer. During this workshop, participants will learn about plants that have been used during history as brewing ingredients, how to extract wild yeast, creating sugar sources from fruits and berries and much more.

After the walk, the group will go back to a community kitchen where Pascal will show the group the process of making a simple wild beer on location. The $75 fee includes the walk and all foods and beverages to be sampled. To register, visit www.HerbWalks.com, or contact Lanny Kaufer at 805-646-6281 or [email protected].

Quin Shakra and Goda Trakumaite will visit the Ojai Library on Saturday, August 11, at 1 p.m. to deliver a free workshop titled How to Save Squash Seeds. Shakra and Trakumaite are offering this free seed saving workshop to celebrate the release of their comic Adventures in Seed Saving #1: Squash.

The workshop will cover the process of seed cleaning, extraction, pulp removal via water, seed fermentation, and winnowing and cleaning dried squash seed.

Jill Swaim will visit the Ojai Library on Saturday, August 18, at 1 p.m. to deliver a presentation entitled Road Scholar: Adventures in Lifelong Learning. Do you love to travel? Do you enjoy learning new things, exploring interesting places, and meeting people who share a love of adventure? Join us for a lively discussion of the many programs offered by Road Scholar, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire adults to learn, discover, and travel.

Road Scholar is the world’s largest—and America’s first—educational travel organization for adults, offering nearly 5,500 affordable programs each year in about 150 countries worldwide.

For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146. The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai.