MOORPARK — The community is invited to attend a cybersecurity briefing, a career and education showcase, and to celebrate more than 160 local middle and high school students who are competing in this region’s first California Mayors Cyber Cup competition on Feb. 23, at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd, Moorpark. The community program will be from 1:30 to 3 p.m., and student awards will be given from 3 to 3:30 p.m. At 1:30, a cybersecurity briefing will be delivered by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, chair of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity, and there will be presentations from college officials on...
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THOUSAND OAKS — Sponsor and exhibitor slots are now available for the 63rd annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD), May 9 through 12 at Conejo Creek Park South (Janss Rd./23 Freeway) in Thousand Oaks. Sponsorship opportunities range from onsite banners to title sponsor. Local businesses and craftspeople can show off their products or services in booths along CVD’s Main Street. Exhibitors are required to decorate their booths in a western theme and wear western attire. “We want to keep the western history of the Conejo Valley alive at CVD,” says Frank Akrey, CVD president. “Many residents don’t realize that the...
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Workers 18 and older now eligible for Cal EITC tax refund SANTA BARBARA — Poverty amongst college students is a growing problem. Studies suggest that food insecurity affects as many as 1 in 2 college students. To address this, CalEITC4Me, the statewide outreach campaign on the California Earned Income Tax Credit (Cal EITC) is teaming up with State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, Assemblymember Monique Limón, Santa Barbara Community College Superintendent/President Anthony E. Beebe and the United Way to inform working students that they could get several hundred, even thousands, of dollars back at tax time. The Cal EITC is one of...
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CONEJO VALLEY — Las Virgenes Fire Relief (LV Fire Relief) has partnered with Mama Haven, a Conejo Valley non-profit organization, to provide long-term recovery assistance to local residents displaced by the Woolsey Fire. Immediately following the fire, LV Fire Relief gathered hundreds of volunteers to create and staff a temporary donation center in Agoura Hills. “I knew the affected residents of our community would need help right away,” said Jenn Kurtz, founder of LV Fire Relief, “so we had to take swift action.” At the center, fire-affected residents could collect new clothing, toys, and basic household items donated by...
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Residents seeking to help shape the future of Oxnard are encouraged to apply to serve on a Citizen Advisory Group for the upcoming new term, expected to begin in April.
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VENTURA — The Government Finance Officers Association has awarded the County of Ventura with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This is the first time the County has received the award. According to the GFOA, the award reflects the commitment of the County financial staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the award, the County had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The guidelines assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device. “There is a lot of complexity in a budget of more than...
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VENTURA COUNTY — Even though steady rains in Southern California today are preventing state contractors from conducting debris removal operations on properties in the Woolsey and Hill burn areas, officials with the Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) in Calabasas report that debris generated by the fires has been cleared from 32 properties in Los Angeles and Ventura counties since debris removal operations began last week. The removal of debris from properties whose owners opted into the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program follows site assessments and asbestos surveys conducted earlier on those properties in preparation for the actual debris removal....
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Livable Communities Newsletter Vol. 13, No. 49 February 2019 Quick Links – See the Current State of the Region Report – Last Quarter’s Newsletter   Join us at the Ventura County Civic Alliance! Welcome to Our Winter 2019 Livable Communities Newsletter!  In this edition of our Livable Communities Newsletter we offer three updates that share visions of livable communities with 3 levels of focus from the very high statewide level through the countywide level to the very personal level. In the first article, Vanessa Rausschenberger starts by describing the potential huge changes driven by Governor Newsom that could redefine how California builds...
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SANTA MARIA — Righetti High School Counselors recently made the future a littler clearer for incoming Guadalupe students. Counselors traveled west to Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School to meet with about 150 Bobcats, create four-year academic plans and input it into school management software, according to Warrior Assistant Principal Gene Rickman. “The plan will be their guide and revised each year,’’ Rickman added. “Eventually, we will do this with all incoming freshman at their registration nights.’’ The idea is aimed to establish a relationship with the counselor and the family. It’s also designed to encourage students and their families to look at...
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Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes • Guest contributor David Magallanes The primitive forces that govern our lives are the impetus behind our rules and etiquette for activities as disparate as eating, participating in religious services, marrying, dancing, electing government officials, holding contests that select the finest specimen of a breed of plants or animals, and presenting our daughters to society. Daughters have been celebrated and...
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SACRAMENTO –Recognizing that falls are the leading cause of fatal injury among older adults, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) introduced legislation today to assist older and disabled adults with home modifications to help reduce the risk of falling and allow more Californians to age independently in their homes as long as possible. Senate Bill 280 requires the Department of Aging to work with Area Agencies of Aging to provide fall prevention information, education, and services to adults who are at risk of falling and could not otherwise afford to make the changes on their own. Under SB 280, the Area...
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OXNARD — Entry applications are now available for the 36th Annual California Strawberry Festival‘s “Berry Blast Off Recipe Contest.” Strawberry-themed recipes that show exceptional creativity and culinary flair will be selected to compete in the contest. Submissions must be original, non-baked, sweet or savory-tasting strawberry dishes. Entries can include sauces, desserts, entrées, dips, drinks, jams, and spreads–any food or drink creation that includes plenty of strawberries and fresh ingredients. The deadline to submit a recipe is April 5. Those who have already won the contest two or more times are not eligible to enter. Submit recipes by going to...
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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Every February, red roses and heart-shaped boxes of sweets everywhere are a constant reminder that we should be showing our love for our spouse or partner – on just one day each year. With Valentine’s Week in full swing, Family Service Agency (FSA) is sharing some simple tips to help local couples and families make time for one another all year long; even with full days of work and caring for children of all ages. “It’s no surprise that after a few years into a relationship, our busy lives take over and partners have less...
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SANTA PAULA ART MUSEUM JEANETTE COLE ART CENTER & COLE CREATIVITY CENTER A guest at our most recent Valentine-themed Free Family Day. Happy Valentine’s Day to You, and Happy Birthday to the Santa Paula Art Museum! The Santa Paula Art Museum opened its doors on February 14, 2010, and turns 9-years-old today. It has been a very exciting and meaningful 9 years, and we are so grateful for everything that our supporters have helped us to accomplish. We’re sending you, our #SPAMFam, major museum love today! During the past 9 years, your support has allowed us to produce 60 original exhibitions...
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SANTA MARIA — Thirteen representatives of the Pioneer Valley FFA will move on to the Regional Speaking Finals on March 22, 2019 to compete and qualify for the State Finals competition after another dominant and successful showing at the Sectional Public Speaking Competition in Arroyo Grande. Junior Marina Cuevas was the Regional Qualifier of the Job Interview Competition.  Marina filled out an application, submitted her resume and cover letter for a mock job in the field of administrative assistance and finally interviewed with a panel of judges where she exceled and came out victorious.  Marina is an active FFA member,...
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Major funding for these programs is made possible by the City of San Buenaventura, the County of Ventura and private and community donors. There is plenty to see and experience at your Museum! This weekend marks the opening of Design in the Making: Ventura County Architectureand The Dragon Awakes: Qing Dynasty, an exhibit of George Stuart Historical Figures® spanning centuries of key personalities from Chinese history. Featuring magnificent miniature embroidery from artisans in China and Great Britain, Exhibit Designer and George Stuart Historical Figures® Curator Eric Howes contends that “These are perhaps the most important in the collection in that they...
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