Woofs, Hooves, and Whiskers 2025 Calendar Contest

Entries and voting close on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time)

Your pet could be featured in the Humane Society of Ventura County (HSVC) 2025 Calendar! Enter your pet now for a chance to win some amazing prizes, all while supporting HSVC’s vital programs and services! There are three categories to choose from: Cats, Dogs, and Other Pets. You may enter multiple pets in the same category or different categories.

When this issue of the Breeze went to print, the HSVC Calendar Contest had raised $4,797. Let’s help them reach their $10,000 goal! Each photo entry is $25 and votes are a minimum of $1 per vote. To be eligible for the photo contest, each entry needs to receive a minimum donation of $5 (5 votes) or more. Submit your pet today for a chance to be featured in the calendar. All entrants will receive a 2025 calendar by mail in the Fall of 2024.

To enter your pet, visit www.hsvc.org/woofs_hooves_whiskers

PRIZES:

Grand Prize Winner: the pet with the most votes!

Two (2) tickets to 2025 HSVC Birthday Bash Dinner *
Customized pet gift basket
All first-place prizes listed below

1^st Place in each category (Cats, Dogs, and Other Pets)

Month spread in the 2025 HSVC Calendar
Original photo entry featured on HSVC website
Special HSVC swag bag delivered to your home

2nd and 3rd Place in each category (Cats, Dogs, and Other Pets)

Month spread in the 2025 HSVC Calendar
Original photo entry featured on our website
Set of two HSVC mugs

*If winner is unable to attend the 2025 Birthday Bash Dinner, the HSVC will offer a $100 PetSmart Gift card

** Please note: all prizes are not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash

Upload your pet’s photo and ask all your friends and family to vote! Entries and voting close at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) on Friday, September 20, 2024.

If you have questions, contact [email protected] or 805-646-6505.

2024 Senior Expo of Santa Barbara – Active Aging for Seniors & Caregivers

Save the date for Santa Barbara’s premier event for seniors and caregivers! Offering a plethora of activities and resources for active aging, the 2024 Senior Expo will take place on Thursday, October 17, from 9am – 12pm at the Earl Warren Show Grounds in Santa Barbara.

For over 30 years, Santa Barbara’s Senior Expo has been a premier health fair and services exposition for older adults and caregivers. The 2024 Expo offers an exciting array of health screenings and fun activities for seniors and those who care for them. More than 1,000 seniors attended the 2023 Senior Expo, which featured health screenings, exhibits, music, food, and activities for seniors and their caregivers. Flu shots were provided by Rite-Aid, including the senior dose for those 65+. Exhibitors included financial services, residential facilities, travel clubs, health care providers, home care services, government agencies, local nonprofits, Caregiver Café, and many more.

Highlights include:

Live Music, 110+ Exhibits, Free parking, $5 admission
Free Haircuts, Photo Booth, Music…and much more!!!
Caregivers’ Café – a relaxing place to receive support and information
Blood Pressure Screening by VNA Health Loan Closet
Glaucoma Screening by Lions Sight & Hearing Center
Eye tests courtesy of SEE International
Hearing Screening by Hearing of Santa Barbara
Sansum Diabetes Testing & Counseling

For more information about the 2024 Senior Expo, email [email protected] or visit www.fsacares.org/senior-expo.

Vol. 17, No. 25 – Sept 4 – Sept 17, 2024 – Scamp Club

Meet Izzie Brown! Izzie loves two things in life: eating and sleeping. She’s never known a day of hunger in her life but she’s an obsessive food thief with no shame. She’ll literally swipe the food from your fork before it reaches your mouth—no hesitation, no remorse. Not particularly friendly or affectionate, Izzie enjoys rolling on her back, flaunting her irresistibly plump, fluffy belly to her human family – a ruthless and cunning trap that inevitably ends in tears and Band-Aids.

Join Scamp Club!

Pets of all sorts can join the Scamp Club! Email your picture and a little about yourself to [email protected]. You’ll be in the Breeze and become world famous.

Don’t Wait! Start Planning Medicare Coverage at 64

by Gregory Wright, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, California

If you’re retiring soon or know someone who is, you’re not alone. In 2024, a record 4.1 million Americans are expected to retire, with over 11,000 turning 65 every day. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as “Peak 65” or the “Silver Tsunami” and will continue for the next several years – meaning a lot of people and their families are looking for answers about Medicare.

Companies advertising Medicare plans and Medicare enrollment opportunities may open their commercials with a person asking – “I just turned 65. What are my coverage options?” With all the coverage options and first-time enrollment deadlines, people should begin planning early – and not wait until their 65^th birthday to start thinking about their retirement health insurance needs and options.

Following are some tips to help you, a loved one, or an employee to plan for post-retirement health care and to enroll in Medicare:

Think 3-1-3 – You are eligible to apply for Medicare coverage between the three months before you turn 65 – the month you turn 65 – and the three months after turning 65. This is referred to as your Initial Enrollment Period.

Understand consequences of your choices – While you are not required to get Medicare, if you decide not to enroll at age 65 and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, there may be penalties when you do enroll – and these can be costly.

Celebrate your 64^th birthday – Thinking about retiring and what is next can be stressful so take time to enjoy your birthday, relax and then start planning.

Begin planning right after your 64^th birthday – Following are some questions to get you started.

Am I required to get Medicare coverage?
Are you planning to work past 65? Do you have coverage through your employer or spouse?
Can I get dental, vision and drug coverage in addition to medical coverage?
What if I cannot afford Medicare?
What if my birthday falls during the Annual Enrollment Period? Or just before? Do I need to enroll twice? How long am I covered under my Initial Enrollment plan?
What if I do not enroll on time?

While beginning to plan early should avoid having to contemplate the consequences of not enrolling on time, choosing the right Medicare plan may still seem confusing. Many pre-retirees may never have shopped for their own health insurance. They chose between plans offered through their employers – if in fact, they were offered options.

However, there are lots of resources that can help guide one’s decisions. One good place to start is www.Medicare.com. You can also visit www.uhc.com/medicare/medicare-education/medicare-guide.html for information on plan benefits, details on various enrollment periods, and other resources to answer your questions.

Medicare plays an important role in the lives of people as they age. Making the right decisions right from the start can have long-term financial and health consequences so plan early – and you can fully enjoy a stress-free 65^th birthday.

The Beauty of Aging

by Leslie Sokol

Aging is one of life’s greatest gifts, bringing with it a wealth of experiences, opportunities, and wisdom. As we enter our golden years, we find ourselves in a new phase filled with potential and strength. Over the years, we’ve learned resilience, patience, and determination, and we gain a deeper sense of acceptance and awareness.

Our accomplishments throughout life shape who we are, and with age comes a sense of calm and wisdom. We discover that aging opens up new choices and opportunities to live our best lives, especially when we stay active and engaged.

Being mindful about aging positively impacts our physical, mental, and emotional health. Staying connected to our inner selves fosters contentment, confidence, and happiness. Aging is a beautiful process, and there are countless reasons to embrace it with optimism and hope.

Here are just a few reasons to celebrate getting older:

We have more choices
Our relationships are richer
We receive more discounts
We’re now the grown-ups with answers
We worry less
We have more free time

No matter our age, our bodies are designed to move. It’s never too late to improve your health. Staying active and exercising are essential as we age, offering endless benefits. The best advice for healthy aging includes physical activity, eating well, and maintaining strong connections with friends and family. Your chronological age doesn’t define how old you really are. For example, I have students in their 70s, 80s, and 90s—some of whom, in their 90s, are in the best shape of all my students, proving that everyone ages differently.

Exercise can help us age gracefully. Aerobic activity improves heart health, circulation, strengthens the immune system, burns calories, and releases natural feel-good endorphins. Weight-bearing exercises strengthen muscles and joints, help prevent bone loss, and promote the creation of new tissue.

So, how do we let our inner beauty shine through as we age? We embrace self-acceptance, nurture our physical and mental well-being, commit to lifelong learning, and maintain a positive outlook despite challenges. We treat others with kindness, explore new passions, practice gratitude, and reflect on what truly matters in life.

The goal of optimal aging is to achieve a higher level of function and slow the rate of decline as we age. We all strive to live longer while maintaining independence and quality of life in our later years. That’s the true beauty of aging—being healthy, happy, and thriving.

About the Author

Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for forty-five years. You can watch For the Young at Heart on her YouTube channel or on TVSB. Leslie also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

For more information, contact Leslie at [email protected], call 805-312-8089, or visit her website: www.LeslieSokolsDance.com.

Vol. 17, No. 25 – Sept 4 – Sept 17, 2024 – Police Reports

Battery and Attempted Robbery Arrest

Ventura Police Report #: 24-55202

On 8/22/23 at about 7:26 pm, the suspect, later identified as 24-year-old Gabriel Lomeli, a Santa Paula resident, approached a victim who was walking in the breezeway between the Crowne Plaza and the Harbor Parking Structure.

Lomeli asked to use the victim’s cell phone, and when the victim refused and turned to walk away, Lomeli punched him several times in the head and face before walking up to an additional victim. This victim was seated in the breezeway with his cell phone in his hand. Lomeli demanded to use his phone, but the second victim refused. Lomeli attempted to take the phone by force but could not do so. Lomeli did pull the victim to the ground, but the victim was able to fight him off, and Lomeli let go of the phone and ran away. At the same time Lomeli was struggling with the second victim, a witness called 911.

Officers arrived in under five minutes, but Lomeli had already fled. Both victims were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Based on the victims’ and witnesses’ statements, officers searched for Lomeli and located him in the area. He was identified as the suspect who had battered the first victim and attempted to rob the second. Lomeli was arrested and transported to the Ventura County Jail, where he was booked for Battery and Attempted Robbery.

If you have any information about this crime, you can make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at VenturaCountyCrimeStoppers.org. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Vol. 17, No. 25 – Sept 4 – Sept 17, 2024 – A View from House Seats

by Shirley Lorraine

Glass Menagerie Classic Endures

Some writings stand the test of time by tackling ongoing themes of life that do not seem to change significantly from era to era. Such a play is The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Now on stage at the Conejo Players Theater, the emotional strength of this classic play clearly translates to any time or situation.

Set in 1944, the character Tom (Tanner Redman) narrates this story of his recollections of circumstances within his family. His mother, Amanda Wingfield (Dana Marley-Kolb) , harbors many resentments that manifest in her emotional treatment of son Tom and daughter Laura (Timorah Brown). Tom is the family breadwinner, enduring a factory job that he dislikes. Laura lives in a world of her own, impaired by a childhood illness that left her with a limp and debilitating shyness. Instead of leaving the house, she creates her own idyll with her menagerie of glass figurines.

Tom’s dreams of striking out on his own are hampered by his guilt at wanting to leave the ladies to fend for themselves. Amanda tries desperately to encourage Laura to expand her world by bringing up her own memories of days gone by. As a unit, they are all dysfunctional, deluded and emotionally wounded.

Amanda asks Tom to find a “gentleman caller” to spark Laura. He does so, asking a co-worker Jim O’Connor (Rayve Tay) to come to dinner, not knowing that Laura pined over Jim in high school. Amanda is ecstatic at what she considers to be a matchmaking opportunity, putting all her Southern charm to work in her attempts. Despite her high hopes however, the evening is a failure, and despair once again enfolds the meager apartment.

Director Elena Mills has assembled a quite capable cast to bring this classic to life. The setting is impeccable, employing clever scrims to highlight certain memories. All four of the actors are excellent in their roles. Pacing is rapid and dialogue is crisp. The tone of frustration, anger and impatience bubbles to the surface throughout. Even the gentleman caller, who is often seen as the most empathetic character in his gentle approach to Laura’s shy demeanor, is played with an abundance of bravado that kept the anxiety level high.

The play is reportedly autobiographical of Williams’ own life, at least in many areas. The author’s emotional pain is clearly felt, with easily identifiable themes that are as pertinent today as they were decades ago. Some things don’t change – our desire to have more than we do, to be happier than we are, and to have our dreams of what we consider a better life fulfilled.

The play offers a stark reminder that our successes and failures are within our control, and our control alone. We bring to the table what we have, and it is up to us to reshape it into what we desire.

The Glass Menagerie continues through September 14. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, Saturday Sept. 7 and 14 offer 2 pm performances. (805) 495-3715, www.conejoplayers.org/upcoming-shows.

Vol. 17, No. 25 – Sept 4 – Sept 17, 2024 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Wednes 8/21	4:15pm, received report of an Ocean Rescue from State Parks. A pink swan peddle boat is in the South Jetty rip current with 2 POB. Officers responded in Fireboat to assist lifeguards swimming the vessel off the South Jetty. A line was passed to lifeguards who attached it to the vessel, patrol towed it back to harbor.
Thursday 8/22	10:00am, Officers checking out Ventura County Sheriff’s Office dive team conducting training on a submerged vehicle next to the Fish offloading pier. 5:15pm, dispatched to a medical at Anchors Way/Navigator Dr. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist with patient care. 7:18pm, receiving reports of the problematic motor vessel at the launch ramp is departing. Officers responded and confirmed the reports.
Friday 8/23	6:30am, observed NWS issued Small Craft Advisory for winds gusting to 25kts in the Western Portion of SB channel. Officers raised warning pennant. 9:00am, officers attending regional water training at Fifth street with multiple agencies. Rescue swimmers practicing water rescue skills. 4:20pm, received a request for a tow from an electric boat disabled in the Pierpont Basin. Officers responded in Fireboat, towed vessel to rental dock. 10:03pm, dispatched to a fire near the Marina Park promenade. Officers responded in the Fireboat, unable to locate a fire, searched area from water.
Saturday 8/24	6:30am, observed NWS issued a Small Craft Advisory, raised warning pennant. 9:12am, received a request for a radio check on VHF 12 from SUP’er “Larry.” 9:33am, while on patrol in the Fireboat, officers observed the “problem” motor vessel that has frequented the launch ramp, securing w/o permission, outbound. 11:56am, dispatched to an unconscious person on the Portside Promenade. Officers responded with multiple agencies to assist with patient treatment.
Sunday 8/25	3-4pm, received three dispatches, two medicals and a traffic accident. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to all three and assisted with treatment of patients. 4:01pm, dispatched to an Ocean Rescue, disabled 55ft motor vessel outside the harbor, near the South Jetty. Officers responded in Rescue B19 and Fireboat to assist. RB19 deployed an officer to the disabled vessel to assist with anchor retrieval. The vessel was safely towed to the longdock, TowBoat US took over.
Monday 8/26	8:00am, observed a vessel working on engine at the launch ramp. Officers offered assistance, but the skipper was going to retrieve the vessel with trailer. 10:00am, officers training new Marine Safety Officers with towing techniques. 6:10pm, received a walk-in request at Patrol Office for medical treatment. Officers assisted and contacted Fire dispatch for medics to assist the patient.
Tuesday 8/27	10:05am, dispatched to trauma patient, bike accident. Officers responded with VFD/AMR to assist the patient with treatment and transport prep. 6:55pm, received report of a suspicious person in a skiff dressed in all black, securing to a sailboat in VWM, climbing onboard. Officers responded to investigate, found the reported person, it was a commercial boat bottom cleaner.

Decades-Old Mystery Unraveled: Suspect Charged in 1970s Ventura County Murders

Warren Luther Alexander, 73, was arrested and charged with the strangulation deaths of three Southern California women from 1977, following a breakthrough DNA match by cold case detectives. Authorities suspect there may be additional victims.

The three victims, Kimberly Fritz, 18, Velvet Sanchez, 31, and Lorraine Rodriguez, 21, were all sex workers in Ventura County. Fritz was found dead in a motel room in Port Hueneme on May 29, 1977. Sanchez was discovered at the Villa Motor Court in nearby Oxnard on September 8, 1977. Rodriguez’s body was found on December 27, 1977, on a bridge in an unincorporated area. All three women were killed by “ligature strangulation,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.

“While investigators believed these crimes were connected, leads ran cold, and detectives were unable to identify who was responsible for these horrific murders,” Nasarenko said.

The Ventura County cold case unit revisited the murders last year, uploading DNA evidence into a national database. Although a 2006 search had yielded no results, this time, they found a match.

Investigative genealogy linked Alexander to the 1992 killing of 29-year-old Nona Cobb, whose body was found along Interstate 77 in North Carolina.

Alexander had lived in Oxnard during the late 1950s and 60s, attending local schools, and returned to the area in the 1970s, Nasarenko said. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, he worked as a long-haul, cross-country truck driver, leading authorities to suspect there may be more victims in other states as well.

“This investigation is ongoing, and we will continue to pursue all leads. This case is far from closed,” Nasarenko emphasized.

Alexander’s case has been assigned to the county public defender’s office, which has not yet commented on the case.

Alexander pleaded not guilty to all charges at his August 21 arraignment, a spokesperson for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said. He is being held without bail, according to county jail records. Alexander’s defense attorney, Rebekah Mathis, told CNN on August 21 she had “no comment at this time.”

The killings happened over the span of seven months in three different jurisdictions of Ventura County, according to the news release.

Prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty against Alexander due to the age of the witnesses and evidence and in an attempt to move through the trial process more quickly and efficiently.

Vol. 17, No. 25 – Sept 4 – Sept 17, 2024 – Forever Homes Wanted

Hi, I’m Anubis! I’m a beautiful 6-year-old Pit Bull mix, named after the Egyptian god. I’m great on a leash and not fazed by any people or animals I meet while hiking. I think I’d make a fantastic adventure buddy! I’m very sweet and social with people, always excited to see a friendly face and make new friends. Volunteers say I’m a great walker who doesn’t pull and loves to sniff around the walking route—though I can’t resist chasing a lizard or two! I know commands like “sit,” “paw,” and “lay down.” I’m looking for an active home where I can be your one and only. Please consider adopting me!

Hi, I’m Aries! I’m a friendly, 3-year-old Pit Bull mix in search of a new home. I was left behind at a relative’s house, and they can’t keep me. I’m a big, active boy who loves playing fetch and cooling off in the kiddie pools at the kennel. I’m a lap dog if you let me and love giving and receiving affection. I’m good with older children, but I’m not sure how I’d do with younger ones. I enjoy playing with other dogs and do well in playgroups with other active pups. I’m also good on pack walks. My experience with cats is unknown, and I don’t love being left alone for long periods. While I know some basic commands, I could use a bit of work on my leash training. Come meet me and see what a great guy I am—I’m such a good boy that the vet had to take a picture with me during my checkup! She said I was amazing!

Hi, I’m Guero! I’m a big, strong, and active Labrador-Pit Bull mix, almost 4 years old. I’m looking for a new home because my owner thinks I’d do better in a household without small children, although I did live with a 5-year-old and did just fine. I love to run, so I might make a great running buddy. I play well with other dogs and do great on pack walks with the volunteers. I haven’t been around cats, but I got along well with birds, rabbits, and a hamster in my previous home. I ride well in the car and love affection and being around my people. I don’t enjoy being left alone, so I’d need someone who rarely leaves me or can take me along. I know “sit” and “paw” and will sit nicely for treats, but I could use some leash training, as I tend to pull. Training in general would benefit me.

Hi, I’m Leche! I’m a 6-year-old mix of mostly Boxer, Siberian Husky, and German Shepherd. I was found as a stray with an injured front leg, but I’ve since had surgery, and now I’m ready for my forever home. I’d do best in a home with older children or adults and as the only dog. I need lots of physical and mental stimulation—I love car rides, running, walking, and, most of all, snuggling! If you’re looking for a sweet shadow, that’s me! I’ll follow you to the end of time.

All of these amazing pets are being cared for by the Canine Adoption and Rescue League (CARL). Could you provide a forever home for one of these wonderful animals? To read full pet bios and submit an application, visit www.CARLDogs.org or call 805-644-7387.

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