Vol. 15, No. 03 – Nov 3 – Nov 16, 2021 – A View from House Seats
by Shirley Lorraine
Workplace Woes Erupt at the Elite
There’s nothing like live theater. Always a treat, often a surprise, frequently a challenge. The Elite Theatre Company in Oxnard is bursting forth with excitement and new works in this returning season. On stage now is Severance Play, an original work by local playwright Michael Perlmutter. The work was chosen as the Elite’s 2020 Playwright Initiative Winner, and for good reason.
Perlmutter’s works, both onstage and off, are always insightful, intelligent and instilled with layers of nuance. Severance Play, billed as a black comedy, certainly fills the bill.
Staged in the round, this play in one act is riveting, explorative and hilarious. Brian Robert Harris directed a trio of highly capable actors, Brian Kolb, Kimberly Demmary and Maddie Boyd, in this fast-paced crisis-driven peek into the workplace of a small chemical company presented with severe challenges both on and below the emotionally charged surface.
The setting is highly detailed. Theater seats have been removed to accommodate desks, filing cabinets, steno chairs and computers. The computers are used and loaded with proper company logo and information. The white board is used. Employees get coffee. You feel you are really in an office setting.
Audience members are directed to socially acceptable spaced seating both on the actual stage and the usual audience seating area. Staging in the round can be extremely awkward and challenging. This production has achieved almost optimal viewing, from my perspective. The actors take every opportunity to present to all areas of the audience, using natural transitions effortlessly.
All three actors are superb in their portrayals. Kolb ramps up his character to a fever pitch while remaining understandable. I was exhausted just watching him. Demmary remained the “cool customer” throughout, controlling the situation with well-timed reactions and inflections. Boyd too, added just the right amount of youthful naivete laced with bravado to offer a solid character.
The writing is tight. Every word adds importance to the whole. The storyline starts with an explosive revelation and reveals layer after layer of additional background throughout for each of the characters. At times all the actors are speaking at once and it still completely makes sense. (If it were a musical, they would all be singing in counterpoint)
The very last moment, in my opinion, wasn’t a solid clincher moment. However, I left with a feeling of having seen something rather remarkable. After all the actors had been through, I understood the need to end on a laugh.
Bravo to writer Perlmutter, who continues to bring thoughtful, fresh ideas to the stage, and to the Elite for staging this challenging work. The play is filled with adult language and content, so discretion is advised.
Severance Play runs through November 21 Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited due to social restrictions. (805) 483-5118, www.TheElite.org. Masks and proof of vaccination are required, per current county mandates.
Veterans’ organization and local partners keep blind woman from “falling through the cracks”
At age 94, Rose Burgess had already lost two military veteran husbands, and was legally blind. Her daughter had just died unexpectedly, and she would soon have no place to live. Police Deputy Chris Dyer was on duty when Rose walked in with nowhere else to go. He knew homelessness was dangerous enough for the young, but it could be a death sentence within weeks for Rose. He also knew just where to turn for help, and immediately sent an e-mail to GCVF, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation… “All Hands On Deck!”
The charity in Camarillo, known for rescuing the most damaged homeless veterans, jumped into action. But they quickly found that virtually all public or private agencies providing housing assistance were prohibited from helping Rose. According to government rules, she was plenty rich enough to fend for herself.
The annual income needed for someone to afford a 1 Bedroom apartment in Oxnard is over $60,000 and Rose’s fixed income was $3300 a month. Even though that‘s twenty grand short of the real-world need, it was above the government ‘low-income” assistance threshold. But Rose had also leased a Subaru so her daughter could take her on errands. She had several storage units, and was paying storage for a vintage mid-century travel trailer. These expenses put her even further away from being able to pay rent.
“We’ve helped thousands of veterans and family members, and rescued 87 from homelessness,” says GCVF’s Director Bob Harris; “but this is the first time we had to rescue a 94-year-old blind widow because 12 social service agencies refused to help her… we never saw that one coming.” He adds; “Of course the system doesn’t want to cause harm to people like Rose, but that income threshold was going to put her out on the street regardless.”
St. Vincent de Paul of Ventura, and individual police officer donations covered an emergency motel room for Rose, keeping her safe until GCVF could find a long-term solution. GCVF began the enormous task of condensing her storage, finding a buyer for the trailer, finding an affordable ‘senior living’ apartment for Rose, and getting her moved in before the motel funding ran out. Case manager Donna Lockwood took Rose to Kirby Subaru in Ventura, who very graciously took the car back without any of the typical ‘early termination’ penalties or fees.
Rose was finally able to have a home. Rescue team leader Rafael Stoneman personally covered several urgent expenses, and United Way of Ventura provided funds for move-in costs; GCVF was then able move her into a senior living apartment with meals. After getting everything into one storage locker, they helped sell the trailer to a man who plans to restore it with his wife into a vacation home. In a rather poignant twist, the man’s father is a Vietnam combat veteran.
“We catch the veterans that fall through the cracks” is one of GCVF’s slogans; this time they caught an elderly veteran widow before she was homeless. “We make these miracles happen every day, but we can’t do it alone,” says Harris; “United Way and St. Vincent de Paul, Deputy Chris Dyer and his fellow officers, and the fantastic people at Kirby Subaru all pulled together to rescue Rose. We need the whole community’s support to make this same miracle happen tomorrow.”
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation is the region’s leading nonprofit for veterans, providing everything to reduce and eliminate suffering & homelessness for military veterans and family caregivers. Comprehensive, integrated services are provided free of charge at a walk-in / no-appointment service center. http://www.gcvf.org (805) 482-6550
Editor note: Because Rose is living at a government facility we were not able to get her photo.
VCAAA’s HICAP team tackles Medicare Open Enrollment questions and concerns
VCAAA’s HICAP team tackles Medicare Open Enrollment questions and concerns
The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) is tackling all questions and concerns related to Medicare Open Enrollment by hosting a variety of one-stops throughout Ventura County beginning October 15th. Services will be offered virtually and in-person on a case-by-case basis through December 7th. All services are free and open to the public.
The transition to Medicare can be daunting and understanding plan options and the costs associated with each is often overwhelming. The VCAAA’s HICAP team is made up of highly trained counselors who provide free and unbiased assistance to Medicare recipients. Counseling services vary and are based on individual needs. Other services provided include a full assessment through the VCAAA’s Benefits Enrollment Center to determine eligibility for a variety of other benefits and services.
Medicare Open Enrollment One-stops are currently by appointment only. Online and telephone options are available. No walk-ins will be accepted. All COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.
Please visit www.vcaaa.org to complete the HICAP Part D/MA Comparison Form or call (805) 477-7300 ext. 5 for more information or 800-434-0222. For additional information or to make an appointment, e-mail [email protected].
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0094-02*, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
Short doc chronicles journalist’s charmed life
One critic amusingly described Ivor Davis as “a combination of Zelig and Forrest Gump.” Find out what that means at the Ojai Film Festival on Sunday, November 7 at 7 pm. A special screening of the film “I Was There – A Reporter’s Story,” chronicling Davis’ life, takes place in the Ojai Art Center courtyard.
Ivor Davis reported on various turbulent, historic, and iconic stories of the last century. During his tenure as a foreign correspondent for the London Daily Express and the Times of London he wrote a weekly column for the New York Times Syndicate. He made Rock and Roll history when he traveled with The Beatles when they invaded America in l964. He became the only newspaper reporter to witness the historic meeting of Elvis and The Beatles. Author/journalist Davis dodged sniper bullets while covering the Watts Riots. He sneaked on the University of Mississippi campus as bloody riots unfolded after James Meredith became the first black student to enroll. On the night Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Robert Kennedy Davis stood in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel. He took a front-row seat at some of the most famous trials of the 20th century. He was one of the “Boys on the Bus” when B-movie actor Ronald Reagan won the White House.
Acclaimed Ventura County director and filmmaker John Zilles produced “I Was There – A Reporter’s Story,” a short, intimate documentary about Davis’s charmed life. Following the screening the audience is invited to join an up-close personal conversation with director Zilles and Davis. They will discuss how this short film came about along with some of Davis’ extraordinary adventures as an eyewitness to history.
When asked why he made the short documentary, Zilles said, “As I move through life, I always seek people who have an interesting story to tell…Ivor is one of those people.”
John Zilles grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. After 22 years of snowy winters, he graduated from Marquette University and headed west with a head full of dreams. After stumbling into the film industry by accident, Zilles worked as a cinematographer for over 20 years. Recently he started making his own films. “I Was There” is his third effort. He operates out of his headquarters in Ventura County.
Ivor Davis, a British transplant, has lived and worked in Southern California since the 1960s. In addition to his journalism career, he authored four books, including the first book ever written on the Manson Murders, “Five to Die,” and “Manson Exposed-A Reporter’s 50 Year Journey into Madness and Murder,” released on the fiftieth anniversary of the Tate-LaBianca Murders. He released his award-winning “The Beatles and Me on Tour” on the fiftieth anniversary of The Beatles 1964 summer tour. Davis also wrote a children’s book inspired by The Beatles, “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Penguins.”
Tickets for the special presentation November 7 at 7 pm in the Ojai Art Center courtyard are $15.
Vol. 15, No. 03 – Nov 3 – Nov 16, 2021 – Opinion/Editorial
∙ The Ventura City Council has approved the first step in letting the Players Casino temporarily relocate to the Derby Club at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The casino was previously located at 6580 Auto Center Dr. It eventually closed and filed for bankruptcy.
With its closing, the city lost about $2 million in taxes. The city is estimated to receive approximately $1.3 million in taxes after the business reopens. A permanent location is being sought.
An interesting aspect of this is that the fairgrounds is located on California agricultural district property which limits the city’s revenue. Many people living in Ventura mistakenly believe that the fairgrounds is city property. There was a rumor circulating a while back that the city was going to sell the property. Ventura police officers that provide security at the fair, etc. are not paid by the city.
∙Scientists have temporarily attached a pig’s kidney two a human body and it began to work. This is a very small step to someday use animal organs for human transplants. My question is if pig parts can ever be used on humans will people who are vegetarians and some religious groups refuse to accept them?
∙The other day I was on the phone, and when I finally hung-up my wife, Diane, asked me “who are you swearing at – you were very rude?” I said “No one, I was swearing at the recording that kept telling me to press buttons that got me nowhere. Strange times when we swear at nobody.
∙At the recent Chamber Expo there were representatives of an online college. I asked them what prevents students from cheating and having others do their work and take their exams. Their answer was not very satisfactory. Now I find out that the question was very valid and cheating with online courses is very rampant. There are actually sites (for a price) that will assist in cheating and even write reports for students. This can greatly influence professions such as engineering, nursing and many more. This can also lose our faith in our educational system.
∙Funny things in the news:
A man who became lost for 24 hours while hiking on Colorado’s highest mountain ignored repeated phone calls from rescue teams because they came from an unknown number. The hiker was reported missing around 8pm after failing to return to where he was staying, Lake county search and rescue said.
This would be an important decision if lost. Is it worth being found if I need to listen to someone trying to sell me life insurance?
∙So, we need to wear a mask entering a restaurant and can remove it as soon as we sit down. Sometimes at a table with 10 people or at a bar where we are shoulder to shoulder. Then we get up to leave and need to put it back on. I think we should need to eat with it on by placing the food into the mask with our hands (kidding of course).
∙I hear Republicans trying to make a point that a member of antifa has done something wrong (like storm the capital). Antifa is a decentralized, leaderless movement composed of loose collections of groups, networks and individuals. Is not an organization. This is like saying a person is a member of pwlc (people who like cats). We can’t be a member of a philosophy, can we?
∙I applaud the California State Assembly for passing Senate Bill 380 (47-14). The bipartisan bill, co-authored by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) and Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa), would improve access to the End-of-Life Option Act.
The bill now moves to the California State Senate for a final vote, which overwhelmingly passed (26-8) the original measure in May. If the Senate passes the bill and Governor Gavin Newsom signs it into law, it will become effective on January 1, 2022, making it easier for terminally ill Californians to peacefully end their suffering.
The End-of-Life Option Act gives mentally capable, terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the option to request prescription medication they can decide to take to peacefully end unbearable suffering. The bill would allow for an individual to qualify for aid-in-dying medication by making two oral requests a minimum of 48 hours apart.
We are allowed to make this decision for our pets when their lives become unbearable, because they can not make such a decision. I think people should be able to make this decision decide this when their life will be short and nothing but pain.
∙My wife and I enjoy looking at NOVA on TV especially when scientists-physicists explain the big bang and provide other explanations about how the universe was formed. We never have any idea what they are talking about and when the show is over she asks me, “Do you have any idea what they were talking about,” and I always say, “No, but the computer-generated photos were pretty.”
I have concluded that once a year all the scientists-physicists get together at a secret location and make up a bunch of facts and words that mean nothing so that we can think they are “brilliant” and smarter than us. And by doing this, they can get government grants that allow them to meet again the next year and make up more stuff.
∙Guns in The News:
Boise police responded to reports of “shots fired” at a mall on N. Milwaukee Ave., where at least two people were killed and four people – including a cop – were injured.
A shooting at a Halloween party in Texarkana, Texas, left one person dead and nine others injured. Officers responded to reports of a shooting at Octavia’s Event Center in the 2300 block of Texas Boulevard shortly before midnight and “encountered a large number of people running from the building and several inside suffering from gunshot wounds.”
I liked Halloween better when trick-or-treating meant getting some candy, not being shot.
Despite The Buzz is educational, existential, and exciting!
The novel’s cautionary tale looks at technology’s toll upon learning, relationships, safety, and wellbeing. A mix of narrative elements makes it an engaging read. This colorful human-interest story is set in a public high school, depicting demands upon educators, pre-pandemic. A motivated new teacher raises awareness about screen use inside her Reflective Writing classroom, but she doesn’t realize there’s danger lurking. Contemporary communication dramatically impacts the diverse student characters. When an intimate act is shared over social media, an inciting incident demonstrates that the potential in our pockets could be lethal.
By providing understanding to those who grew up before and after current trends, this insightful book helps to build rapport among members from different schools of thought. A variety of people will relate to feelings of digital distraction, electronic accountability, and online exposure. The story is suited for mature readers ages sixteen and up.
For further details about the adult fiction, please refer to despitethebuzz.com. The novel was artfully designed by Ojai Digital, published by Blue Jay Ink, and is distributed by Ingram Spark. The paperback can be ordered online where books are sold and found at Timbre Books in Ventura, Barnes and Noble in Ventura, Poppies Art and Gifts in Ojai, Pixie’s General Store in Ojai, and Tecolote Book Shop in Montecito.
The next book club meeting will be held outside at Love Social Cafe in Ojai on Sunday, Nov.14 at 3:30. Tamara will be selling novels at Ojai’s First Friday (Mini Makers Market) event located outside Love Social Cafe (next to Pixie’s General Store) on Nov.5 from 5:00-7:30.
Local author Tamara Miller Davis is a fire-wife, mother of two, dance enthusiast, and U.S. Coast Guard veteran from Michigan. After earning degrees from Ventura College and Cal State Channel Islands, she began working as a substitute teacher, summer-camp ESL instructor, and tutor. A lifelong writer, Tamara has published articles, participated in poetry readings, won a countywide inspirational essay contest, presented penned pieces at dance exhibits, spoken on The Confident Healer podcast, and performed on stage via The Ventura County Star and USA Today’s Storytellers Project.
College’s MESA Program supports Duran in her educational goals
Ventura College computer science major Angela Duran is one of 11 students statewide to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Chief Information Systems Officers Association (CISOA), a nonprofit organization supporting technology leadership in the California Community College System. Duran was one of the more than 150 applicants from 31 community college districts who applied for the 2021 CISOA Student Scholarship.
Duran has been supported in her educational goals through the college’s Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program, whose mission is to help underserved and underrepresented students be successful in STEM studies and careers.
“Having MESA on campus and the support of CISOA go a long way in helping students like Angela gain access to STEM careers,” said Ventura College President Kim Hoffmans. “Through the work of these organizations, along with the encouragement of the college’s professors, students are inspired to reach higher in their academic goals.”
“The MESA program at Ventura College is filled with other ambitious students and caring staff. April Montes, MESA director, and Angelica Ramos, student services assistant, have been like second parents to me, helping me through the ups and downs of my academic journey,” said Duran. “The MESA program has helped me persevere through hardships and take risks that will springboard me to success. Without MESA’s motivational push, I likely would not have applied to as many scholarships as I have so far.”
Learning she was a CISOA scholarship recipient, Duran’s first reaction was pride that her efforts had been recognized. “Affording college has been my most difficult obstacle to tackle. With less financial burden, my stress has been relieved, allowing me to better focus my attention on my studies,” said Duran, who is also a computer science and math tutor at Ventura College.
“As a MESA member, Angela has demonstrated passion and determination to pursue her degree in computer science. She is bright, energetic, compassionate and genuinely well-rounded. Angela has taken advantage of many opportunities at Ventura College to grow academically and professionally by applying to internships and attending community events and workshops. She is a go-getter!” said Montes.
For the CISOA application, students were required to be currently enrolled in college at least part-time (6 units per term) with a 3.0 GPA or higher and have declared a major in an Information Technology-related field of study (computer networking, management information system (MIS), computer science, cyber security and electronics). Each applicant provided a personal statement outlining their educational goals and plan for using the scholarship funds.
For more information about MESA at Ventura College, contact Montes at (805) 289-6538 or [email protected] or visit About MESA | Ventura College.
Doug Trapp joins Ventura Land Trust Board
Doug Trapp has joined the Board of Trustees for the Ventura Land Trust. Trapp, a Ventura resident, is a Project Manager with Staples Construction.
Doug Trapp grew up in the West San Fernando Valley, where he often explored local hills that had no official public access. That experience fueled his desire to support responsible public access to open spaces.
“The dedication shown by VLT staff and volunteers that I have witnessed since joining the Stewardship Committee in 2019 inspired be to become more involved,” says Trapp. “Ventura is a special place that VLT is working to protect and enhance. I look forward to actively supporting our mission.”
As a member of VLT’s Stewardship Committee, Trapp was part of the development of public access infrastructure and trails at Harmon Canyon Preserve.
Ventura Land Trust Preserve Director Dan Hulst is pleased to increase the depth of technical knowledge and experience on VLT’s board. “The addition of Doug to our Board of Trustees is exciting not only because of Doug’s passion for conservation, but because of his experience of managing complex projects.”
“Doug was instrumental in the successful opening of Harmon Canyon Preserve last year, and he has made a long-lasting impact with his work on the construction of the preserve trailhead closure. Enlisting this type of talent at the board level ensures that VLT continues to grow in the right direction,” says Hulst.
Trapp has a degree in Speech Communication from Humboldt State University and has been a volunteer and paid host for public radio. He began his full-time career in construction in Seattle in 1990. In 2013, he married his long-time friend and schoolmate Mary and moved to Ventura.
When not working or volunteering, you will find Doug tinkering on the house or boat, picking on a mandolin, spending time with family and friends on the beach and on the water, or exploring the Sierras or local hills.
The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, Ventura Land Trust believes that preserving open space and providing public access enhances the economy, quality of life, and public well-being of Ventura and surrounding communities. The organization currently owns and manages land along the Ventura River and in the Ventura hillsides, including the 2,100-acre Harmon Canyon Preserve, which opened in June 2020. Harmon Canyon Preserve is Ventura’s first large-scale nature preserve and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk for free. In addition to these major holdings the Ventura Land Trust owns and stewards other smaller parcels across Ventura County. Ventura Land Trust received accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance in 2019. Learn more and become a member at www.venturalandtrust.org.