Not only inside, but outside of the home there are many pieces of artwork that represent the veterans and show appreciation and importance to the community and the country. Outside on a hill, there is a memorial made out of pebbles and below there are stones representing each branch of the military. Having these stones placed there reminds visitors of the importance of the home and how much history each member staying or working at the home holds.

Pictured here is Ricardo Menendez, known and referred to as “Shadow Dancer,” a Chumash Indian who served in the Air Force. Next to Dancer is some of his artwork that he dedicates his time and energy to, it is also a direct reflection of what is currently going on through his mind at the time. Dancer explained that when he first arrived at the home, his art was very dark and emotional because he was going through such a hard time mentally and physically. But as his time has progressed staying at the home and being a part of the community, his art has transferred into very bright and colorful pieces reflecting his bubbly personality and emotions.

Located on 10900 Telephone Road Ventura, Calif., is the CalVet home for veterans, one of many across the state. The facility is a veterans home for retired veterans that need a place to live with a community and a group of people that understand their history and what their needs are. The homes are designed to entertain a community of veterans as well as help take care of their daily needs without having the veterans completely rely on the staff and volunteers. This particular home in Ventura held 60 beds with two veterans to a room, which were accompanied with a dining hall/activity room, courtyard, and an easy access garden for the members to visit.

Surrounding the recent holidays and even throughout the year the staff members at the home try their hardest to bring together the veterans and give them daily activities to do. For Christmas, all of the buildings are decorated with trees, lights and figures and special events were held that focused on the holiday. They also have activity nights occasionally ranging from casino night to live music. Alongside these, they host breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday in the dining hall/activities room with occasional sweet treats to bring the residents together to spend time and socialize.

This is James “Jim” Bailey who is a CalVet security guard as well as a retired Air Force veteran. Bailey now serves as part of the backbone for the home, making sure everything runs respectively and smoothly. In the short time of two months that has been employed at the home he has become a valuable asset to the team of staff and volunteers that devote their time to help the veterans. Bailey is a kind-hearted person who brings a sense of safety and love to the community at the home.

10900 Telephone Road Ventura, Calif., is home to one of many CalVet homes across California, acting as a haven for veterans to live and find community. Through the main entrance of the home before you enter the dining room, there is an honorary wall with displays of pictures showcasing the many residents that have served the United States of America. These pictures capture moments from when the residents were in service. These photos stretching the length of the wall shows how much respect and honor the home provides for the incredible people that risked their lives for their country.

The Brown Sugar Date Shake is one of Pincha’s newest flavors, introduced in the winter of 2024. It has rich, date drizzle lining the inside of the cup, and serves as the perfect, nutty milkshake. The traditional boba sinker adds much more depth to the toasty flavors, making it the perfect order for winter.

Pincha Boba, a locally popular tea house, released many new flavors in 2024, which have sparked the attention of many tea lovers. Flavors such as the Spiced Chai Latte, Brown Sugar Date Shake, Wintermelon Tea and the Matcha series have recently been added to the menu. Here will be a deep dive of all the updates Pincha has released as of the new year.

The Spiced Chai Latte, released in the summer of 2024, is Pincha’s spin on one of the trendiest drinks. Heavily iced and with warm boba sunk to the bottom, this beverage bursts with all the traditional chai flavors so many love.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is a public utility that provides electricity for nearly 15 million people in Southern California. Very often, it is these public utilities that shut down power for safety concerns, as SCE did from Jan. 9 through 15, 2025, all throughout Ventura.

Shown above is Wayne Powers’ room, in this moment shrouded in darkness as it had been during the on and off power outages from Jan. 13-17, 2025. The environment shows the conditions Powers, and many others, had to learn and teach in during the week of power outages.

For years, U.S. officials and lawmakers have issued warnings about the potential threat that the massively popular social media app, TikTok, could pose to national security, particularly regarding its ties to China through its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The app clashes with U.S. security interests in two ways: First, since Chinese organizations are required to comply with intelligence gathering per the country’s national security laws, the Chinese government could use it to spy on American citizens. Second, the concern was raised that by manipulating its content, the Chinese government could also subtly influence the app’s 170 million American users to further its agenda. These accusations led to a bipartisan majority in Congress moving to enact a nation-wide TikTok ban to be implemented on Jan. 19, 2025. Despite the Supreme Court ruling on Jan. 17, 2025 that the ban does not violate the first amendment rights of TikTok or its users, the subject remains a hot topic for the American public.

Surviving into the modern era from its creation in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson, the email is recognized as an important mode of communication between individuals. Although now seemingly outclassed by a variety of other platforms and methods, it still remains as a steady method of sending messages to and from each other. Serving as a background option when these classy new features fail, the email hasn’t quite died out yet. Which begs the question; will email become objective with more time, or be adapted to new needs?

Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20, 2025, sees the closure of many public facilities in Ventura, Calif. including E.P. Foster Library. The holiday honors Martin Luther King Jr., an important figure in America’s history who paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. King valued peaceful protest and was a powerful orator who inspired change across the country.

Jocelyn Morales ’28, prepares to take a free throw during a tense moment of the game. Known for her composure, Morales played a pivotal role in her team’s performance on the court.

Kiara Zava ’26 drives past her defender during a fast break, looking to create an opportunity for her team. The shooting guard displayed her quick footwork and agility, finishing contributing significantly to her team.

On the late night of Jan. 16, 2025, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) lost to St. Bonaventure (Bonnie) in their third league game of the season. Sofia Vega ’26 dribbles at the top of the key, carefully surveying the defense and looking for an opening as she orchestrates the offense. As a forward, Vega displayed her court vision and basketball IQ throughput the game, running the floor and setting up key plays.

Kiara Zava ’26 attempts to block an inbound pass, using her defensive awareness to disrupt the play. Zavala was key in pressuring the ball throughout the game which led to many steals for the Dragons.