3rd Annual Witches Paddle

Photos by Patricia Schallert.

On October 29, a group of witches (and warlocks) brewed up the 3rd annual witches paddle into Ventura Harbor to celebrate Halloween. Paddle boards and kayaks filled the water for the community organized paddle.

by Jill Forman

BOOK SALE! REAL AND IN PERSON! OUTSIDE AND INSIDE! ARTWORK TOO!

THIS WEEKEND: Saturday November 6, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

E.P. Foster Library, in front of library on Main Street and in the Topping Room. Foster bookstore also open.

Paintings and photographs for sale in foyer of Topping Room.

Bargain books: 3 books for $1.00. OR take home a paper grocery bag of books for $4.00. (Ventura Friends of the Library members get a $1.00/bag discount.)

All genres, lots of kids’ books, large selection of large print.

Warning: Books will not be sorted by category, so you get the fun of looking through all sorts of topics to find those bargain treasures.

Ventura Friends of the Library Annual Meeting

The meeting was held on Sunday October 24 at 2 p.m. in the Topping Room of Foster Library. Over 30 people attended.

President Mary Olsen welcomed the guests and introduced Betsy Blanchard Chess, who gave a presentation about her book Daughter of the Land: Growing Up in the Citrus Capital of the World: A Memoir. The book, which she calls “My COVID project,” is a history of her family and their town, Santa Paula. Chess’ great-grandfather founded the City of Santa Paula in 1873 and co-founded the Limoneira Company there in 1893. Chess was born in Santa Paula and has lived there all her life. In addition to the stories, the book has beautiful photographs of early days and people in the Santa Clara River Valley.

After a Q and A and a lot of folks lining up to buy the book, the business portion of the meeting took place.

Dolly Knight, Senior Ventura City Librarian, gave an update on the status of the libraries, their activities and offerings. For example, there are new computer kits available for checkout, online Halloween kits on the library website, and Storytimes moving to in-person outdoor library locations.

The meeting then proceeded to the Treasurer’s Report. Since the Friends have been able to have book sales, the Foster bookstore and the Hill Road sale shelves are open, and online sales have been strong, we are in a good position financially. Add to those the interest generated by investment accounts, and we will be able to make a substantial contribution to the libraries, as we do every year; the exact amount will be determined after the end of the fiscal year.

Officers for the Friends were then elected: Mary Olson, President; Annie Winch, Treasurer; Ellen Klope, Recording Secretary; Star Soto, Corresponsing Secretary. Slate of officers unanimously approved. The office of Vice President is unfilled.

The Friends of the Library needs more volunteers for many functions: warehouse, bookstore, book sales, board members, and committee members. Any member may attend a board meeting; we have just transitioned from Zoom to in-person meetings which take place monthly. Dates and times can be found on our web page: venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.

Last item was a reminder that dues should be paid by January.

Halloween at the Olivas Adobe

Photos by Patricia Schallert.

On Sunday, Oct. 24, a Victorian Halloween was held at the Olivas Adobe. Tours were given at each room of the Olivas were dead people told about the history of the Adobe and the Olivas family and their 21 kids. Several of the dead who spoke were members of the family.

by Shirley Lorraine

At a recent lunch meeting of the San Buenaventura Women’s Club, members learned from an expert how to focus on capabilities, not disabilities.

Speaker Carol Leish, Disability Advocate for the Area Agency on Aging and Founder and CEO of Call Me Capable, recounted her travels through a life faced with myriad challenges.

As a small child, Leish was involved in an automobile accident which resulted in vision, speech, and physical limitations. Her mother passed away during Leish’s teen years, creating severe depression to add to her burden. Despite these obstacles, Leish focused on staying positive, both emotionally and physically, and encouraging others to see their own capabilities rather than their disabilities.

Undaunted by her minor physical limitations, Carol exercised her brain to achieve a master’s degree in Education and Counseling. She went on to teach in San Bernardino city schools and has been heavily involved in many nonprofit and networking organizations. In addition, she is a frequent contributing writer to the Ventura Breeze on a variety of subjects.

In 2002, Leish created and co-developed the Call Me Capable Game™, a board game released internationally, designed to enlighten people of all ages to become more sensitive to those with differing needs. For example, a student using a wheelchair may ask for assistance. How can you help? Or what responses may be appropriate when being introduced to a person with limited sight or hearing? The questions raised in the game assist players in learning how to respond when faced with sensitive or uncomfortable situations.

Club Members heard how Leish frequently uses humor to ease potential awkwardness. She revealed her own challenges and how maintaining a cheerful outlook helps her get through life’s rough patches. The rapt audience clearly was touched by her honesty, humor, and stories.

She has been featured speaker for National Disability Employment Awareness Month Training as well as keynote speaker for the 11^th Annual Illinois Statewide Training Conference in Chicago, Illinois. She has presented at numerous venues in the Tri-Counties and is available to speak upon request.

Leish is a strong advocate for facing life’s challenges with a smile. She encourages all to recognize and share our similarities rather than our differences. To emphasize her resolve, she quotes Helen Keller: “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.” She is proof positive of this.

Carol can be reached at [email protected] and via her website, www.callmecapable.net