Vol. 10, No. 11 – March 1 – March 14, 2017 – City Classes

City of Ventura Barranca Vista Imagination Center classes. Check out hundreds more on web-site
Call 658-4726 or 654-7553 to register, if you already have an ACTIVENET account online, visit www.cityofventura.net Classes and events held at the Barranca Vista Center ~ 7050 Ralston Street in Ventura unless otherwise noted

Mad Science-Nasa Space Academy 5-12 years
3/7-4/18 Tu 4:30-5:30 $115+ $35 supply fee #8190
Explore our solar system and experience an astronaut’s life as you build a space station, compare the Earth’s atmosphere to other planets, follow stellar life cycles, find hidden objects with laser technology and build your own Skyblazer II Rocket to take home! No class 4/4.

Courage in the Kitchen 16 year-adult
3/7 & 3/21 Tu 6-8 pm $80+$20 monthly supply fee #8053
Get processed foods out of the pantry and learn to cook with fresh, seasonal and budget-friendly ingredients. We’ll meet to study recipes, learn new techniques and create meals that include vegan and vegetarian options. For view each month’s menus visit www.chefjudy.net. The $20 supply fee is due to instructor at first class.

COOKING WITH JUDY GILLIARD
Pottery and Ceramic Hand Building 16 years-adult
3/8-4/19 W 6-8 pm $110+$15 materials fee #7969
Pinch, coil, use slab construction, glaze and decorate to create your own ceramic masterpieces. Instructor Kim Clarke. No class 3/22.

Beginning Argentine Tango 18 years-adult
3/8-4/12 W 6:30-7:30 pm $69/person #8031
Tango in no time with our “true basics in six weeks” class. Classes held at The House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen #E.

Flamenco Dance 18 years-adult
3/8-3/29 W 7:30-8:30 pm $75 #8193
Learn Spain’s passionate gypsy dance form and its cultural significance as you build up your flexibility, grace, fitness and confidence. Instructor Wendy Castellanos. Classes held at Namba, 47 S Oak St.

Knights and Castles of the Middle Ages 6-12 years
3/13-3/27 M 4-5 pm $40 #7909
Discover the “knight life” of castles, combat, art and cathedrals as you learn how to make catapults and other crafts.

Belly Dance-4-Fitness 18 years-adult
3/13-4/10 M 6-7 pm $55 #7673
Dress comfortably to shimmy, twist and tone in this fun cardio class that includes a warmup, belly dance workout, choreography and cool down. Instructor Anja Christy.

Basic Guitar 9 years-adult
3/14-4/25 Tu 7-8:30 pm $55 #8040
Bring your own acoustic or electric guitar to learn folk and pop strums, patterns and chord progressions. No class 4/4. At Dudley House, 197 N Ashwood St. Instructor Randy Covington.

Tender Life Maternity Home Walk-A-Thon

Donors, alumni and current residents come together in a community walk.

Project Understanding of San Buenaventura is pleased to announce its annual Tender Life Maternity Walk-A-Thon. The walk will be held on Saturday, March 4 at The River Community Church located at 889 Santa Clara St. Registration begins at 9:00am, and the walk starts at 9:30am.

This two-mile walk will take participants on a route around Ventura, from Thompson Blvd. to the Ventura Beach Promenade, with a returning stroll alongside downtown Ventura’s surrounding streets. The walk will end at Tender Life Maternity Home located at 871 E. Thompson Blvd. where all walkers will be able to tour the home, meet the residents of the program, and learn more about Tender Life.

“Our annual Tender Life Maternity Walk is one of our biggest fundraisers. Donors, alumni and current residents come together in a community to walk along each other to support Tender Life. This is a great event and really brings the ‘village’ together as one,”says Karen Johnson, on-site Case Manager of Tender Life.

Proceeds of the walk-a-thon will be used to operate Tender Life Maternity Home. For over three decades, Tender Life Maternity Home has been devoted to serving abandoned pregnant women and children by providing food, shelter, and personal growth opportunities in a caring home where “courage meets compassion to build new lives.”  It currently houses up to six homeless, pregnant women, who receive good pre-natal care and life skills training to prepare them for independence.

To register for the Tender Life Maternity Walk or for more information, please visit http://www.projectunderstanding.org or contact Karen Johnson  653-7474.

Happenings at the Museum

The Museum of Ventura County(MVC)  presents a Scandinavian-themed Festival for its Free First Sunday Activity on Sunday, March 5, from 11 am to 5 pm, that highlights Scandinavian culture. The Monthly Series brings families to the Museum, offering free admission, museum experiences and craft-making sessions

MVC has partnered with the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation (SACHF) at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks to create a mini-festival for children and families.

Activities for the day include:

  • Cultural performances
  • A demonstration of the nyckelharpa, a traditional, stringed Swedish instrument
  • Storytelling of fairy tales by written by famed Danish children’s author Hans Christian Andersen
  • Hands-on Crafts (1-3 pm)

“This program is about accessibility, and helping families develop a tradition of culture with their kids,” said director of education and outreach Megan Gately, “Admission is free, and from 1:00-3:00 pm, docents guide art-making sessions for children to create something to take home.”

An exhibition of artifacts and multi-media imagery chronicles the Women’s March on Washington by Ventura County women at the Museum of Ventura County from March 11 through March 25.

An exhibit that pays tribute to Ventura County participants in January’s Women’s March on Washington called “A Woman’s Place: the March on Washington.”  Comprising signs, posters, ephemera and multi-media presentations, the exhibition commemorates the efforts of women in Ventura County who took to the streets across the country to affirm their place in society.

According to curator Anna Bermudez, “It was immediately apparent to me that the women’s march was history in the making. In my role at the museum, I felt that my participation could take the form of an exhibit that pays tribute to the women who marched, and to all women.  My call for items was answered quickly and decisively.”

Executive Director Elena Brokaw said, “This is what we’re all about; telling the collective stories of our lives and times. Museums, and especially our museum, are a site where ideas converge. We are not always looking to the past; we reflect the times as they are happening.”

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 11, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, will feature women who participated in the event across the country, representing multiple generations. Admission is $10 per person; $5 per member. There will be live music and refreshments.

Soroptimist helping the community

Nursing students are grateful to receive stethoscopes from the Soroptimist Club of Ventura.

In the fall of 2015 the Soroptimist Club of Ventura (SI Ventura) decided to commit funds to donate quality stethoscopes to nursing students at Ventura College. Stethoscopes are an important, necessary and expensive part of a nurse’s arsenal of equipment.

Since that first fall semester in 2015, SI Ventura has handed out more than 30 stethoscopes, engraved with the Soroptimist logo, to Ventura College students. SI Ventura is confident that the recipients are off to a good start in their nursing education and will be able to use the stethoscopes throughout their nursing careers.

Recently a group of Soroptimist club members met the newest recipients of the stethoscopes, and were delighted to hear from the women and men themselves about what a valuable addition the donation has made to their education.

The tenth annual community awareness event by Soroptimist International of Oxnard, Camarillo, The Conejo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Simi Valley, and Fillmore clubs of Camino Real Region will take place at 5:30 p.m. March 8 at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3290 Loma Vista Rd.

A community awareness walk will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Red-clad walkers from Soroptimist clubs, abolitionists, prototypes, and community activists will carry signs for STOP Trafficking and support for human rights; the public is invited to attend.

The goal of this annual event is to bring awareness and empowerment to the community, particularly, women and girls, that human trafficking is not just a global problem, but a local one. A panel of three speakers will present information on the current cases of human trafficking in Ventura County and victim survivorship.  Speakers are will be Kristina Fitz, commercial sex trade survivor and mentor; Michael Munn, Ventura County District Attorney Investigator; and Deputy Sheriff Judith Porter, Ventura County Special Unit.

Soroptimist is a national and international service club for business and professional women with a focus on improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For more information about Soroptimist and the Ventura Club please visit their web site at www.soroptimistventura.org or contact Sandra Masiel at 278-3607.

The art of Hiroko Yoshimoto will be on display

Women on the Rise Women’s Exhibit
Opening Friday, March 3,  from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. exhibit dates: March 3 – 31
Gallery hours: M-F 10-4 pm Sat. & Sun. by appointment

In celebration of Women’s History Month the Vita Art Center in collaboration with Focus on the Master’s will exhibit the artwork of women artist that have been interviewed and documented by Donna Granata. FOTM has done an incredible job documenting the work and lives of extraordinary artists that have dedicated much of their lives to their craft and Vita Art Center is honored to showcase the work of these women.

Vita Art Center, 432 N. Ventura Ave. ,644-9214  www.VitaArtCenter.com

Classes put a new twist on English and writing education for kids

Writing club can provide private tutoring option for kids who need one-on-one help.

Local writer and child educational specialist launches writing clubs for kids, Kid Writers Ventura. Amanda Becker, a published writer, long time educator, journalist, and child psychology expert, puts a new twist on English and writing education for kids. She believes that children learn best and are most motivated when they enjoy the process of learning.

With this philosophy, Becker structured the writing classes as fun writing clubs where kids learn the fundamentals of the English language – such as grammar, spelling, and vocabulary – but also get to engage in fun grammar games, go on field trips, and complete fun writing projects that explore all of the key writing styles from expository to narrative and beyond, with clever, “kid-friendly” writing prompts designed to get their imaginations flowing. She will be offering extra support to the children whose first language isn’t English by spending more time with them and by also recommending a kids English learning app that will be able to help improve their communicative ability. Kids can even have their writing published on the Kid Writers Ventura website and through Becker’s self-publishing program in which she assists children in publishing their short stories and books on Kindle, Create Space, and other venues.

Becker regularly consults with local school teachers to ensure that current English and writing standards are being met. Becker’s test program, prior to launch, showed an average increase of 15%-25% in students’ language arts scores within 4-5 months of being in the program.

Becker has been published in numerous magazines, is a professional freelance journalist, has over 15 years in K-12 education, and is a child education and mental health activist. For further information contact:
Amanda Becker [email protected]
1827 Knoll Dr. 831-291-3955 www.kidwritersventura.com

Vol. 10, No. 11 – March 1 – March 14, 2017 – Ventura Music Scene

Local music and more!
by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

I’m extremely impressed with this year’s lineup for the Ventura Music Festival which includes headliner Michael Feinstein, but I’m really looking forward to catching Perla Batalla’s tribute to Leonard Cohen on Friday, July 21.  Yes, this is advance notice, but hopefully ticket sales will be brisk and I wouldn’t want you to miss out.  Full listings for all events can be found at VenturaMusicFestival.org (and article in this ussue).

Medicine Hat is off to Austin this month to play at SxSW (3/10 – 3/19).  They’ll be there five days, they’re currently scheduled to play four shows and working on more. In addition to acoustic shows, Medicine Hat will play a couple gigs with a full band, consisting of some of Austin’s finest.

Here’s a couple of one-liner notes of interest: Karen Eden continues her Margarita Mondays at 6 at Amigos; Chris Austin is heading up an open Jam/Mic night at Bombay’s on Wednesdays starting March 1, PA and backline will be provided and I’m told that the jams will be filmed; Yachtley Crew returns to Bombay’s on Saturday March 4; Four Brix Winery will offer live music on the first Friday of the month starting with JJ Frank on March 3; The Ventucky String Band plays every first Thursday of the month at Saloon BBQ including this month on the 2nd; Big Rig Dollhouse returns to Sans Souci on Friday, March 3; you can catch the Dive Bar Messiahs in a new venue for them at the Star Lounge, on Saturday March 4; the Social Distortion show at the Ventura Theater March 7 is sold out, but tickets are still available for the White Buffalo on Friday, March 10; there’s a Rockabilly and Blues fundraiser for El Camino High at the Ventura Beach Club on Friday, March 10; and finally, Plan B’s Second Sunday Supper is back on with Ray Jaurique and the Uptown Brothers on the 12th.

One of Ventura’s most popular bands, Rey Fresco, has new music, three songs produced by Mario C who also worked with The Beastie Boys and Jack Johnson (he’s also won three Latin Grammy awards to date).  I’m loving their new tune “You Were Wrong” which I haven’t gotten out of my head since first playing it, but you know, in Rey Fresco’s case, that’s a good thing.

And speaking of Rey Fresco and bands who record original music, don’t miss my program “The Pam Baumgardner Mostly Local Music Hour” on KPPQ-LP 104.1 FM.  I’m spinning tunes from not only Rey Fresco, but Shawn Jones, Kelly’s Lot, Steve Williams, Bryan Titus, Hot Roux, The Barrelhouse Wailers, The NaVaNaX, Medicine Hat, Charles Law, 50 Sticks of Dynamite, Jerry Breiner, Shaky Feelin’ and more. The station is rebroadcasting the show during the week, but I’m live on Tuesdays 5-6 pm with internet access coming soon. You can also give a listen to the current week’s broadcast on VenturaRocks.com.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Or would you like to submit your music for possible inclusion on my radio show? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Women’s Economic Ventures training orientation

Do you want to start your own business, but don’t know where to begin? Are you self-employed and need help formalizing? Do you need help expanding your existing small business? Learn how to make those dreams a reality with Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV). WEV provides business training to women and who want to start or expand an existing business.

WEV is holding free, one-hour informational sessions for their English Self-Employment Training (SET) course in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Orientations will cover class details and help you determine your readiness for the next Self-Employment Training (SET) course beginning in August.

WEV’s business training classes are offered in English and Spanish throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Free orientations are held throughout the year and are required for enrollment in a training program.

Orientation locations are subject to change. For more information, and to register for an upcoming orientation, visit WEV’s Web site at http://www.wevonline.org/orientations.

Women’s Economic Ventures is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV provides training, consulting and loans to help entrepreneurs start, grow and thrive in business. WEV serves all of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties from offices in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Santa Maria. While WEV targets its services toward women, it serves men as well, and provides many services in English and Spanish.

Since 1991, WEV has provided business training and consulting to over 14,000 women and men throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and made more than $4 million in loans, assisting over 4,000 local businesses. WEV is a U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center, and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

A pioneer in the field, WEV was founded by Marsha Bailey, a nationally recognized advocate for women business owners. Marsha is the board president of the national Association of Women’s Business Centers, and sits on the National Women’s Business Council.

Vol. 10, No. 11 – March 1 – March 14, 2017 – Livingston Memorial

Free community education classes and events

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community.  As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following in Ventura and Ojai:

Social Services/Bereavement Groups

Ojai: Caregiver Support Group  Mondays,  March 6th and 20th from 10:00 am – 11:30 am at Continuous Care Center, Fireside Room, 1306 Maricopa Hwy.  Find encouragement and hope during your time as a caregiver.  Share, listen and explore thoughts and feelings about the struggles, losses and successes of caring for your loved one. For more information call 633-9056.

Ojai: Adult Bereavement Support Group March 14th and 28th (2nd & 4th Tuesdays) 10:30 am-noon at Help of Ojai, West Campus 370 Baldwin Rd. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Ventura: Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.    These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Ventura: Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, March 9th from 6-7:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office.  This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].  These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Diabetes Class Ventura: Tuesday, March 7th from 1-2:30pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association.  These meetings are held on 1st Tuesday of each month.  General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes including prediabetes, with emphasis on meal planning, medication, exercise, blood sugar monitoring, and new developments in diabetes.  Call 642-0239 for more information.

Joint Replacement Classes Ventura: Thursday, March 2nd from 1:00-2:00pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month.  For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

Ventura: Monday, March 13th for both English and Spanish speaking.  English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care.  For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at  642-0239 ext. 739.