Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria plans expansion into Ventura County, Welcomes new Director of Partnerships & Expansion

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CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is thrilled to unveil plans to bring their proven model for intentional, girl-centered programming back to Ventura County. We are pleased to welcome a new Director of Partnerships and Expansion to our administrative team to aid with the growth initiative and building partnerships throughout the region.

The expansion back into Ventura County marks a momentous leap towards Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s three-year goal to significantly expand its reach and double its impact along the central coast. Their holistic, researched-informed programming will bring mentorship, leadership development, college and career readiness, and STEM-based curriculum to Ventura County, with programs serving girls and young women ages 4-24.

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Business, Commentary, Government, Health, Local, News

Commununity Environmental Council (CEC) — SUCCESS: Santa Barbara County votes to stop new oil and gas wells

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On September 15, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve amendments to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) that prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells countywide. This marks a major milestone for public health, environmental protection, and climate action in Santa Barbara and affirms that local governments can lead when federal protections fall short. 

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Education, Events, Family, Local, News, Youth

Registration closes Oct. 18 for YMCA Adventure Guides in Simi Valley, Conejo Valley

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WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Registration closes Oct. 18 for families wanting to participate in the Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s Adventure Guides/Y-Trailblazers programs in the Simi and Conejo valleys for the 2026-27 school year.

Organized through the Simi Valley Family YMCA and the Yarrow Family YMCA branches, YMCA Adventure Guides/Y-Trailblazers programs are for parents and their children, ages 5–11. The program runs through June 2027.

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Business, Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Explore Lompoc — Fall in love with Lompoc, California’s Harvest & Halloween events

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LOMPOC — Fall looks good on Lompoc.

Cooler days, vineyard views, pumpkins, seasonal treats, and just the right amount of spooky make this an especially fun time to visit.

Whether you’re planning a weekend in wine country, a family getaway, or simply looking for a reason to hit the road, Lompoc has plenty of ways to make the most of the season.

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Business, En español, Government, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety

Bilingual report — Oxnard Fire Chief Alexander Hamilton announces retirement; Battalion Chief John Albin appointed next Fire Chief

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“Even before Alex became Oxnard’s Fire Chief, he was bringing innovation to the department, especially for increased awareness around cancer-causing conditions and prevention, and mental health and suicide prevention care for public safety personnel,” said Nguyen. “As Oxnard’s Chief, one of his highlights is advocating for the creation of Oxnard’s EMS Corps program, which will serve our community for generations to come.”

Albin brings over three decades of fire service experience to the role, including 28 years with the Oxnard Fire Department. He joined the department as a firefighter in 1998 and rose through the ranks, promoting from Firefighter to Fire Engineer in 2002, Fire Captain in 2011 and Battalion Chief in 2025, when he was selected to establish and lead the department’s newly created Support Services Division, which manages fleet, facilities, technology, logistics, purchasing, and peer support.  

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Business, Local, News, Seniors

Bilingual report — Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s (VCAAA) Advisory Council seeks Veterans’ representative

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VENTURA — The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s (VCAAA) Advisory Council has an opening for a veterans’ representative. The Advisory Council is a volunteer-based body of advocates who share a mission to create and sustain programs that positively impact the lives of older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers in Ventura County.

Applications for the veterans’ representative must be received by November 1.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Santa Paula Art Museum — ‘Gail Faulkner: A Lasting Impression; Opens Saturday

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Let’s Go Back to School!

After a career in the medical field, Ventura watercolorist Gail Faulkner (1947-2023) enrolled in art school in her 30s, proving it’s never too late to go back to school—or try something new.

Scroll down to learn about our new exhibition honoring Gail, get to know Museum Educator Janice Allen, check out our fall-themed art classes, and more.

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Business, Education, Local, News, Sports, Youth

SBCC Board of Trustees name the “Michael A. Goldberg Physical Education Building” and the “Kathleen ‘Kathy’ O’Connor Gymnasium” in their honor

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“We are beyond thrilled about the generous donation from Cheryl Goldberg and I also wanted to honor the work of Kathy O’Connor, who is the impetus for the new building,” shared Superintendent/President Dr. Erika Endrijonas. “Scheduled for completion in late spring of 2028, the new building provides state-of-the-art classrooms, event spaces, a new home for the SBCC Life Fitness Center, offices, and more in half the footprint of the existing building.”

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Business, Cultural, Local, News, Women

Trusted Legal elevates Natasha Bhushan to managing attorney

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Bhushan joined Trusted Legal in 2025 as a senior attorney, bringing more than a decade of experience advising businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and private clients. Since then, she has quickly become an integral part of the firm and its work with clients navigating business formation and governance, transitions, real estate transactions, and other complex legal matters.

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Business, Commentary, News

Guest contribution — Elevated oil prices add new pressure to 2026 holiday private jet travel

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SANTA ROSA VALLEY — Private jet travelers vacationing for the holidays may face a more expensive season as elevated oil prices add additional cost pressure to an already high-demand period.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), global oil inventories have declined this year by approximately 400 million barrels, with this trend continuing through the end of 2026.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

13th Annual Banana Festival returns to the Port of Hueneme Sept. 26

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… The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is expected to attract thousands of visitors for a full day of live entertainment, food, family activities, local vendors, and opportunities to experience the working Port up close through bus and boat tours. Admission and event parking are free. Guests are encouraged to park at Hueneme Beach.

The Banana Festival was created as a way to celebrate the Port’s role as a major gateway for imported bananas and other refrigerated agricultural products. The banana trade came to Hueneme in 1993 as the Port developed the largest cold storage capacity on the West Coast. Today, the Port of Hueneme ranks 5th in the nation for both automobiles and refrigerated cargo.While it imports 5 billion bananas per year, it also brings in Peruvian blueberries, avocados, mangos, and much more.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Government, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Explore Lompoc — News From Santa Barbara County: Experience the ultimate wine tour

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LOMPOC — Everyone knows California is wine country. But have you heard about Lompoc?

This laid-back Central Coast wine destination is the perfect place to sip small-production wines, meet the makers, and explore a wine scene  that feels refreshingly unhurried.Add beautiful vineyard views, cool coastal temps, and plenty of chances to discover a new favorite, and you’ve got the makings of a seriously good wine weekend.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

SB Museum of Art — Discover the World of Mary Cassatt, more events

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Get ready to see Mary Cassatt in a new light. Cassatt & Friends opens this Sunday at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, bringing together the work of the pioneering American Impressionist and the artists who shaped her world. Celebrated for her intimate, luminous depictions of women and children, Cassatt was also a daring innovator in pastel, drawing, and printmaking. Featuring a remarkable counterproof from SBMA’s collection alongside works by Berthe Morisot, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the exhibition captures the energy, experimentation, and creative exchange of a transformative moment in art history.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Women, Youth

Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — A historic victory — and a keynote you won’t want to miss on Thursday, Sept. 17 in Ventura

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VENTURA — We hope we’ll see you in just one week at our big community celebration and fundraiser, Raising Justice! And this year, we have a historic victory to celebrate — This year’s celebration feels especially meaningful — not only because we’re marking 25 years of organizing for justice across Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, but — because we’re celebrating a historic victory that you helped make possible:

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Veterans

Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum — Special exhibit honoring 9/11 now open in San Luis Obispo

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Coast Veterans Memorial Museum invites our community to remember, reflect and help preserve the stories of a day that changed America.

Our new special exhibit, “On 9/11, I remember…”, is now open, presenting the events of September 11 and the lasting impact they had on our nation, our military and generations of veterans and their families.

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Commentary, Events, Family, Government, Local, News, Public Safety

Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) to commemorate 25th anniversary of 9/11

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THOUSAND OAKS — This year marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. To honor the lives lost and the courage of those who responded, the Ventura County Fire Department invites the community to join firefighters in remembrance ceremonies across the county.

Commemorations will take place at every VCFD fire station in the county, along with VCFD Headquarters in Thousand Oaks, and our Fire Communications Center in Camarillo.

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Commentary, Cultural, Entertainment, Family, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Opinion

Bilingual commentary — A Community Jewel: The Ojai Pops Orchestra

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Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a concert of the Ojai Pops Orchestra at the outdoor Libbey Bowl in downtown Ojai. Admission to these concerts is free, but donations are requested. Money that is contributed is used to offer music scholarships, lessons, instruments, and education to children in our community.

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Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News, Youth

CSUCI’s Napa Hall Art Gallery opens academic year with Rafael Perea de la Cabada exhibition

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CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Department of Art and Art History will open the new academic year with “Double Landing,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of acclaimed artist Rafael Perea de la Cabada.

Opening Monday, Sept. 14, at the campus’ Napa Hall Art Gallery, “Double Landing” brings together dozens of original works that showcase Perea’s distinctive creative approach and the wide range of media he employs in his practice. The exhibition presents a diverse collection shaped by experimentation, keen observation and the interplay of construction and continual revision.

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Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing — New learning center opens at Buellton Garden Apartments

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CENTRAL COAST – As students make their way back to school, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has opened a new Learning Center at Buellton Garden Apartments to support academic success. Located at 10 McMurray Road in Buellton, the Learning Center is ready to welcome twenty K-8 students this month.  

With this addition of its ninth onsite Learning Center, PSHH’s education program serves nearly 300 students per year at its properties throughout the Central Coast.

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Business, familia, Family, Government, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety, Seniors, water, Women, Youth

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Report

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VENTURA — Ocean water quality results for samples collected this week indicate ocean water quality at the following Ventura County beach sampling location failed to meet State standards for bacteria:

Promenade Park Beach – Figueroa St.   

Warning signs are currently posted and contact with ocean water should be avoided for a minimum of 50 yards on either side of each posted sign.  Warning signs will remain posted until ocean water quality meets State standards.  Any items that may have come in contact with ocean water should be avoided.  If contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.

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Business, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Bilingual guest contribution — Community Environmental Council — Speak out on Sept. 15 to stop new oil wells in Santa Barbara County

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Join us Tuesday, Sept. 15, to urge the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to approve proposed amendments to the Land Use and Development Code (LUDC) and Coastal Zoning Ordinance (CZO) that would prohibit new onshore oil and gas wells. These long-awaited protections would safeguard community health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent future expansion of oil extraction while creating a responsible pathway for winding down existing operations in Santa Barbara County.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

Over 120 teen volunteers to help at 8th annual Santa Barbara County Farm Day

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“Volunteering at Farm Day enables students to see that there is so much more to agriculture than the harvesting portion,” says Tyler A. Dickinson, an agriculture teacher at Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria. Dickinson coordinates the Farm Day volunteers. “They learn firsthand how farms operate. It broadens their perspective. They see career opportunities within the ag industry and the importance of the work that literally feeds the world.”

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Commentary, Cultural, Local, News

Blingual report — Mayor Sánchez-Palacios releases statement on antisemitic vandalism

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VENTURA — Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios has released the following statement in response to antisemitic vandalism targeting Temple Beth Torah and Juanamaria Park, including swastikas and other hateful imagery:

Dear Community Members of Ventura,

I am deeply disturbed by the antisemitic vandalism targeting Temple Beth Torah, Higher Vision Church,  and Juanamaria Park, including the spray-painting of swastikas and other hateful imagery.

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Business, Entertainment, Family, Health, Local, News, Seniors, Sports, Women, Youth

The Picklr Santa Barbara is now The Grove Pickleball

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“When we opened the facility, our goal was simple: to create an amazing, reliable place where people could play pickleball, make friends and feel part of a community,” said owner Ted Guggenheim. “Over the past few months, we’ve listened closely to our players, our staff, and the people who walk through our doors every day. In response, we are moving away from a membership model and lowering the pricing by offering a player Pass system. This allows us to focus on the occasional customer as much as our regulars.”

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Commentary, Cultural, Educación, Education, En español, familia, Family, Health, Local, Locales, News, Noticias, Public Safety, Salud, Seniors, Women, Youth

City of Santa Paula opens Cooling Center amid high temperatures

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SANTA PAULA — With temperatures expected to reach 90 degrees or higher for several consecutive days this week, the City of Santa Paula will open a cooling center at the Santa Paula Community Center to provide residents with a place to find relief from the heat.

The cooling center will be located in the front lobby of the Santa Paula Community Center, 530 W. Main St., Santa Paula, and will be open this Wednesday, September 9 through Thursday, September 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Residents using the cooling center will have access to:

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