S SENTRY The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper
The Tri County’s Only Multicultural Newspaper
TRI TRICOUNTY COUNTY
ENTRY
VOL. XXVII NO. 12
A rough journey to new music for Jenny Lewis n See page 12
MARCH 22, 2019
Photo by Chris Frost
Principal Planner Doug Spondello goes over the revised proposal for the new Oxnard Union High School.
OXNARD DANCE CLUB IS GREAT FUN FOR SENIORS
By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com
By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com
Oxnard-- Great music, good friends and fun was the highlight at the Oxnard Dance Club Saint Patrick’s Day Dance at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, March 14.
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TTENDEES came dressed in green and spent the evening dancing the night away. The group takes a break at halftime and enjoys a delicious buffet of snacks and cheered on the raffle where people walked away with plenty of goodies. Club President Ron Rademaker said before he became president, he taught ballroom dancing in Camarillo for two years. “Before that, I taught at the Elks Lodge in Canoga Park and I have been teaching here an hour before each dance for the last eight years,” he said. “I started ballroom dancing in college a long time ago and I found out I loved it. Two of my buddies and I started together. One of my buddies now lives in San Diego, and he not only does all the ballroom dances, but he does all the folk dances.”
OXNARD UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SEEKS COUNCIL FEEDBACK ABOUT NEW SCHOOL
He recently debuted a new teaching style, and he focuses on one to seven basic simple steps that are used for the foxtrot, waltz, mamba and rumba. “By learning these seven steps, you can dance these four different dances,” he said. “Nobody has ever taught it that way.” Ron said the health benefits for seniors are terrific. “Not only are you moving around, which is good aerobics, but you also have to use your brain so you can think about the steps, which is good for your brain. It’s been proven that ballroom dancing is one of the best things
that seniors can do.” Most people have an innate sense of wanting to do something to music, he said, and once you start dancing, people find the activity rewarding. “You’re moving to music, they’re having a great social time with people, and where else can you walk up to a strange woman, put your arms around her and for three minutes, talk, dance and hold her and it’s all legitimate. That didn’t start until they invented the waltz in 1830.” Club Secretary Charlette Regnard said she’s been part of the club for 15 years, but said the club
started in 1920. “We have instructions from 6:30 to 7:30 and live bands until 9:45 p.m.,” she said. “This is strictly for seniors ages 50 and up.” She said the group is friendly and has known everyone for years. “We socialize and dance,” she said. “I like the tango, because it is classical dancing more than the hip-hop stuff, and the tango is it.” Charlette loves the social and activity associated with the club. “It keeps you busy,” she said. “For me, to put this together, it takes time and a little bit of knowledge about how to run a n Dance Club, see page 6
Oxnard— The Oxnard City Council held a pre-application review of the East Village Development Project, March 19, located at the northeast corner of Rose Avenue and Camino Del Sol. The applicant wanted comments and feedback from the council that includes a review of the development site map and preliminary comments for the master planning of the 107-acre project site. The area will have parks, a high school, residential homes, commercial development, and a civic center act agreement. Planning Department Principal Planner Doug Spondello told the council that East Village is proposed by Parkstone Companies and the Oxnard Union High School District. He pointed out the item is not an application, but a conceptual plan for future development. “The project was presented previously to the city council on Dec. 18, and the developer has updated the proposal to align with the council, the comments that were made and now requests a follow-up review on three specific topics,” he said. He wanted feedback on the project’s density and land-use design, the public use of Oxnard Union High School Facilities, n High School, see page 2
Kimberly Chavez led a sacred life By Chris Frost chris@tricountysentry.com Oxnard-- Members of the community gathered at the Oxnard High School Performing Arts Center, March 16, to bid a tearful farewell to Kimberly (Kimmie) Chavez who died shortly after her third birthday when her biological mother, Mayra Chavez murdered her. Mayra was convicted of second-degree murder. Step Parents Karen and Kevin Rogers, along with their children, Braden, Lilah, and Sofie all said they would make sure Kimmie’s life matters. Members of the Oxnard Police Department joined the family, and members of the
Tri County Sentry (March 22, 2019) F.indd 1
Photo by Chris Frost
Kimmie’s stepmother, Karen Rogers, comforts Maritza Serrato, who couldn’t hold back the tears.
Ventura County Justice System to memorialize and honor baby Kimberly’s life. Oxnard Police Deputy Jeff Kay told the crowd about visiting his grandparent’s house as a boy
and would always see a photo album on the coffee table, and always looked and saw people he recognized. “I remember one time asking my father, who is this man in
(Courtesy photo)
Kimmie Rogers was remembered as a happy child with an infectious smile.
the photograph,” he asked. “My dad looked at the photograph, paused for a second, he closed his eyes and smiled.” Kay said he looked like he saw memories inside his head
and told him the man in the photograph was his Uncle Max, who passed away before he was born. “My dad sat me down and over the next hour, he took me
on a stroll down memory lane and told me all these wonderful stories about my Uncle Max,” Kay said. “My Uncle Max was a pretty colorful character and was a renaissance man of the Bronx.” Jeff said he was into a little bit of everything, whether it was legitimate or not. “After about an hour of this, I thought this guy was pretty cool and special,” he said. “My dad showed me the pictures and told me the story, and I felt like I knew him.” He felt the same way about Kimberly because of the photographs and stories he gathered during the investigation. “On Oct 20, 2016, I was assigned to work a case of a n Kimberly Chavez, see page 6
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