Don’t miss your chance to see Obras de un acto 2026! Tickets are still available, but they’re selling fast. You can skip straight to the front of our line and secure your tickets by visiting our website.
See you soon.
“On behalf of the Oxnard community, we thank Chief Benites for his steadfast leadership of the department over the past six years and his decades of service dedicated to keeping Oxnard safe,” said Nguyen. “We’re fortunate to have strong leadership within our Police Department, and I am confident that Rocky Marquez will continue the department’s commitment to excellence and service to our community as our next Police Chief.”
• Back-to-School Distribution
• World Oceans Day — 4th Annual
• Classic Car Show
• 13th Annual Banana Festival — Sept. 26, 2026
VENTURA — Fifteen years ago, Salena Bracamontes took a leap into business ownership and opened the doors to her own State Farm agency. Today, she’s built so much more than a successful business with the Salena Bracamontes Insurance Agency, she’s built a dedicated team, lasting relationships with clients, and a reputation for showing up for the people and community she cares about.
SANTA BARBARA — For families with babies and toddlers, diapers are not optional—but for too many families across Santa Barbara County, having enough diapers each month can be a serious financial challenge. In recognition of National Diaper Need Awareness week, LEAP is calling on community members to help ensure local families have access to this basic necessity by donating diapers and wipes through its annual month-long community diaper drive.
“Every donation helps us put diapers in the hands of parents who need them most,” said Lori Goodman, CEO of LEAP. “Together, we can relieve some of the daily stress families face and make sure babies across our county have the healthy start they deserve.”
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is happy to announce that their on-campus community food pantry will be relocating and transitioning into the care of trusted community partner Carpinteria Children’s Project.
Over the coming weeks, team members from both organizations will work closely together to ensure a seamless transition that provides members of the Carpinteria community with continued access to household necessities and kitchen staples.
The decision to transfer stewardship of the food pantry is one that allows Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to focus its resources on impacting girls in the community and continuing its core mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
In partnership with the City of Camarillo, the Economic Development Collaborative has launched the City of Camarillo Business Assistance Loan Fund. This low-interest program is specifically designed to prioritize the vibrant business community in the City of Camarillo. Start-ups can get the necessary capital to launch their ventures and established businesses can secure funds to fuel their growth. With abundant opportunities for collaboration, a diverse customer base and an environment of innovation, Camarillo is a perfect place to start or grow your business.
I am writing this letter whilst attending the National Adult Day Services Association conference with our Program Director (recently promoted!), Nerely, and Lead Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator, Mary. We are thrilled to be here learning about ways to further improve and expand FC’s programs and services, but do forgive any lack of cohesion in this letter, as traveling to Providence took us more plane time than my trips to and from school in Australia. Four legs of flight, a cross-state-lines Uber, and we are here!
SANTA BARBARA — The City and County Housing Authorities are asking community members to complete a short rental market survey.
A SB County-wide request is being made to renters and rental property owners to complete a short rental market survey to help determine the true cost of rental housing.
First Thursdays Food Trucks returns to Downtown Oxnard this Thursday, Sept. 3rd! Dinner, dessert, drinks — and plenty of choices all in one place. Grab your crew and make a night of it in Downtown Oxnard!
Live music + 13 Food Trucks + Marketplace
“Predevelopment financing is often the hardest capital to secure, but it’s what allows a project like Gateway Grove to move from an idea to groundbreaking,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund Ventura County. “By stepping in early, we’re helping the Santa Paula Housing Authority, Many Mansions, and Homes & Hope turn a vacant motel into 21 homes for people who need them most, including veterans who have served our country.”
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded $2,009,312 to students across the county for the 2026 season, exceeding the nonprofit’s past scholarship grantmaking record.
“As another incredible scholarship season closes and we enter a new school year, we are proud to celebrate the hard work and promise of the students this program exists to serve,” said Kirsti Vomund, VCCF scholarship director. “This year, we awarded 610 scholarships to 441 students, making this our biggest award year ever!”
This special event would not be possible without our incredible award recipients and the meaningful work they do for our Ventura County community, as well as our presenters, sponsors, donors, performers, volunteers, vendors, and United Way staff. We are so grateful for your support and partnership in making this celebration a success!
SANTA BARBARA — The Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara (CFSB) has been awarded $507,500 from the California State Coastal Conservancy to launch the Ocean Collective, a partnership dedicated to building career pathways and shared infrastructure for the region’s Blue Economy. SCC funding comes from the voter approved Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (a.k.a. “2024 Climate Bond” or “Proposition 4”).
SANTA BARBARA — Rob Fredericks, Executive Director and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, has announced his intent to retire at the end of December 2027, following more than three decades of service to the Housing Authority and nearly twelve years as its Executive Director/CEO.
Fredericks shared his planned retirement with the Housing Authority Commission to provide ample time for a thoughtful, orderly, and successful leadership transition. The advance notice will allow the Commission to develop a recruitment and transition plan for the agency’s next Executive Director/CEO, while ensuring continued stability for the residents, participants, staff, partners, and community members who depend on the Housing Authority’s work.
SANTA ROSA VALLEY — With the holidays less than 90 days out, now is the prime time to consider booking arrangements in order to maximize savings on costs as well as time.
Typically, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year in the U.S. If you plan to travel on that day, you will definitely need to get ahead of the holiday rush. Booking ahead allows you more flexibility to adjust travel dates if necessary and can help lessen the stress of having to book everything last minute.
Additionally, as the holidays near, flight prices will increase as availability dwindles and demand escalates. By securing bookings in advance, travelers increase their likelihood to secure the best pricing for their trips.
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a robust lineup of community events throughout September 2026. From the beloved monthly Cruise Night — kicking off a festive Labor Day weekend — to a Candidates Forum ahead of the November election, a ribbon cutting celebrating new housing investment and a downtown business mixer, September promises to be one of the most active and community-centered months of the year in historic Santa Paula.
This month, Free Family Day returns! Plus, don’t miss the premiere of Gail Faulkner: A Lasting Impression, an artist talk with Ojai artists Wrona Gall and Ted Gall, more than a dozen new classes, and more.
VENTURA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) has received a $40,000 grant from AgWest Farm Credit to help prepare and develop the organization’s new Southbank Learning Farm, a 3.63-acre agricultural education and workforce development site located behind the Ventura County Juvenile Facilities in Oxnard.
The grant will support the development of a unique community resource where agriculture serves as a catalyst for education, career exploration, food security, environmental stewardship, and new opportunities for local youth.
Classicist Helen Morales discusses Parton’s radical empathy and the cultural power that let her hold contradictions — and people — together.
“We are thrilled to welcome Midpoint Organic Transplants to the Ojai food and farming community,” said Whitney Clapper, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Farmhand Foundation. “By providing organic farmers with the high-quality starts they need to keep growing healthy food, Midpoint is filling a vital role in our regional food system. Having this resource close to home strengthens our local growers, supports the continued production of fresh, thoughtfully grown food, and helps build a more resilient agricultural community for the future. Farmhand Foundation was proud to help Midpoint get off the ground through grant writing, encouragement, and plenty of cheerleading along the way, and we look forward to continuing to support their work however we can as they grow.”
For HACSB, however, the rating is not simply a measure of financial strength. It is another tool to advance the agency’s mission. HACSB measures success in human terms: more families with safe and stable homes, more seniors able to age with dignity, stronger neighborhoods, and more residents connected to opportunities and pathways to self-sufficiency.
“AB 2125 protects small farmers and individual water rights holders by ensuring they are properly notified of adjudications that impact their rights,” said Assemblymember Steve Bennett. “In Ventura County, the Las Posas adjudication affected thousands of residents, many of whom never received notice.”
“It is especially exciting to win a place for CSUCI in a fiercely competitive grant sought after by our nation’s greatest science institutions. Only 5% of applications were selected for funding,” said Feister. “This honor is a testament to the strength of the research being done at CSUCI and the expertise of our faculty. We may be a small institution, but we’re doing research that can make a meaningful contribution to some of the nation’s most ambitious scientific and technological efforts.”
Are you a homeowner age 62 or older?
You may have questions about how your home can support your financial goals during retirement.
My Way Home offers free reverse mortgage counseling to help senior homeowners understand how a reverse mortgage works and whether it may be right for their individual situation.
Exhibitions & Events
Sept 1 – 13
Sing Karaoke and
Create Your Own Art!
‘Robot Karaoke’ written in bold yellow and blue text over an image of silhouetted people singing karaoke.
Image courtesy of Jamie Brew
ROBOT KARAOKE
Thursday, September 3, 5 – 8 pm
On your 1st Thursday Art Walk, sing songs you know with never-before-sung lyrics generated from bizarre Internet datasets. Spam emails to the tune of “Sweet Caroline” OkCupid profiles in the style of “Pink Pony Club” The choice is yours! Comedian and writer Jamie Brew creates parodies for you to perform in real time using software from the utmost frontier of karaoke research. This event celebrates the final month of the special exhibition RANDOM-ACCESS MEMORY: Internet Art. FREE.
LEARN MORE
Earlier this year, the local 6th grader was attending a Girl Scout camporee when her best friend and fellow Scout suddenly began choking on a marshmallow and couldn’t breathe. Without hesitation, Gemma recognized the emergency and sprang into action. She administered back blows, successfully clearing the obstruction. She then stayed by her friend’s side, comforting and reassuring her until adults arrived.
For over 75 years, California YMCA Youth & Government has provided high school youth with a learning program modeling California’s legislature and courts. The program offers teen participants the opportunity to learn how government works, collaborate with others, make new friends and build skills such as critical thinking, persuasive public speaking, writing and research.
Help the County Plan for Disasters – Share your feedback!
What hazards concern you most in Ventura County and what should we be doing now to prepare for them?
That’s what Ventura County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is all about. Simply put, it’s a roadmap for identifying the disasters most likely to impact our communities and taking steps before they happen to reduce damage and protect the people, places and services we rely on. And we need your input!
Take our short survey by September 15th and tell us
