SANTA BARBARA — The United Way of Santa Barbara County is seeking volunteers for its 23rd annual Day of Caring to be held Saturday, Sept. 20, the organization reported in a media release.
Throughout the day volunteers will help more than 50 local nonprofit organizations throughout Santa Barbara County, including schools, parks and churches.
Day of Caring will start with a breakfast rally at 8 a.m. at the Page Youth Center in Goleta.
Volunteers of all ages will proceed from the breakfast to community service assignments in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta and Santa Maria for a wide range of important projects including cleaning and painting at Casa Esperanza, making adobe bricks for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation at the Presidio, orchard clean-up at Alpha Resource Center and gardening at Monroe Elementary School.
With last year’s volunteer hours estimated to be worth $375,000 in services to the community, Day of Caring continues to have a significant impact on the Santa Barbara community and is a testament to the spirit of local volunteerism, organizers reported.
Volunteers can sign up at http://www.unitedwaysb.org/Doc2014 or call 805-965-8591. For a full list of 2014 worksites, visit http://unitedwaysb.galaxydigital.com/aam/general/event/?doc_id=913
OXNARD — Santa to the Sea is seeking sponsors to help create a 300-foot-long mural to be painted by children in Nyeland Acres, the organization reported in a media release.
The City of Oxnard passed a resolution in August approving the creation of a mural on a three-foot-high concrete wall on Ventura Boulevard.
Ventura-based artist Lisa Kelly will paint the outline of the mural’s image on the wall in September. Local school children will then paint the mural in 25-foot sections. The mural will depict the lower half of runners’ bodies as they run past iconic Oxnard scenery visible on the half-marathon route. Children will help paint the mural on Saturdays beginning in late September or early October. Race organizer Mike Barber said it should only take a few weeks to complete. Final coats of base-coat paint are still being applied to the wall.
“We’ve been fortunate to have such strong community support in all of our endeavors,” Barber stated in the release. “This mural is a chance for local kids to get involved and be a part of creating something fun in their neighborhood. Dunn Edwards will be supplying most of the paint. We are looking for sponsors to help cover the costs of the artist, paint supplies and lunches for the children.”
Santa to the Sea draws more than 4,000 registrants from throughout Southern California for the half-marathon, two-person half-marathon relay, 5K run and 1K kids run. Event proceeds go toward Oxnard College scholarships and to fund the organization’s 11th annual Toy Drive & Giveaway, set for Saturday, Dec. 20 at Santa Park in Oxnard. Last year, 2,500 toys were distributed to local children for the holiday season.
All races start at 8 a.m. on Dec. 14. The half marathon begins at the giant Santa at 2801 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard, and ends at the Marine Emporium Landing in Channel Islands Harbor. The 5K run and 1K kids fun run start and finish at the Marine Emporium Landing. All participants must register before the race; there is no race-day registration. Runners can register online at www.santatothesea.com.
For more information about being a sponsor, contact Mike Barber at 805-485-7233. Visit www.santatothesea.com to learn more about the nonprofit Santa to the Sea half-marathon, two-person relay, 5K run or to register for the race.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Office of Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragoza is accepting applications from local residents who would like to serve as an alternate member on the El Rio Del Norte Municipal Advisory Council, also known informally as the El Rio MAC, Zaragoza’s office reported in a media release.
El Rio MAC members serve as unpaid volunteers. The responsibilities of the El Rio MAC are to advise the Board of Supervisors and county agencies and officials on public safety, health, welfare and parks and recreation issues in El Rio, Nyeland Acres, the Strickland neighborhood and other county unincorporated areas near El Rio.
The MAC meets on the third Thursday evening of each month (except August and December) with a prepared agenda of current issues important to the community. The community is encouraged to attend, ask questions and provide comments on items on the agenda. There is also time for local residents to ask questions or to provide their input on issues of concern not on the agenda. Occasionally, the MAC will conduct special meetings or events in cooperation with the Office of Supervisor Zaragoza.
The El Rio MAC, in existence since the 1970s, has recently been revitalized under the leadership of Zaragoza, with new MAC Chair Mike Barber providing guidance, inspiration and energy. Recent MAC meetings have included topics such as Boys and Girls Club after-school and summer youth programs, code compliance and street parking concerns, California Public Safety Realignment and a County Parks Department summer youth activities program at the El Rio Roger Jones Center.
Earlier this year, the MAC co-sponsored a successful forum on the Affordable Care Act and the California health insurance program known as Covered California. Additionally, the MAC also held a special meeting in Nyeland Acres in June, with Rio School District Superintendent John Puglisi making a presentation and answering questions about the school district-owned Nyeland Acres site. This site currently is used for youth after-school and summer programs, as well as informally functioning as a community center and recreation area for families in Nyeland Acres.
The MAC is scheduled to hear a presentation from the County Transportation Department in October on a planned sidewalk and safety improvements for Santa Clara Avenue. Zaragoza and Barber also have begun preparing a calendar of important topics for 2015.
Candidates interested in serving on the MAC must be registered voters and residents of El Rio, Nyeland Acres, the Strickland neighborhood or the Del Norte area. El Rio / Del Norte residents interested in applying to serve as an alternate member on the El Rio MAC are encouraged to contact Zaragoza’s chief of staff, Stan Hakes at 805-654-2656 or by email at stan.hakes@ventura.org.
VENTURA — An “Emergency Preparedness Fair” will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St., Ventura, Assemblymember Das Williams reported in a media release.
“With the recent Napa earthquake, it’s vital that the public get access to free information on how to better prepare for natural disasters and any kind of emergency,” Williams’ office reported. “We have partnered with several city and county agencies who will be there on Saturday providing free demonstrations and handing out valuable information.”
The fair will feature free educational materials and training programs with experts sharing information on how to prepare families, pets and workplaces in case of a natural disaster or emergency situation.
“Come discuss legislative and community issues that affect you and your family,” Williams stated. “Get free information on keeping your family safe and performing hands only CPR and learn how you can get involved in community preparedness efforts.”
Click here to RSVP online or call 805-641-3700 for more information.
OXNARD — The Sixth annual La Colonia Community Walk/Run and Health Fair will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at Cesar Chavez K-8 School, 301 N. Marquita St., Oxnard, organizers reported in a media release.
The free, open-to-the-public event, hosted by Ventura County Public Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention (CDP) and Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) programs, brings hundreds of residents, community leaders and local organizations together to celebrate their shared commitment to becoming more physically active and eating better in an effort to improve the overall health of individuals, families and entire communities.
In addition to the 5K run, there will be healthy-recipe tastings, produce and prize giveaways, a live radio remote and Zumba and line dancing demonstrations. Registration begins at 8 a.m., the 5K walk/run begins at 9 a.m. and the health fair runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact Silvia Lopez-Navarro, NEOP program manager, at 805-652-3231 or via email at silvia.lopez-navarro@ventura.org for more information.
OXNARD — The Ventura County Behavioral Health Training Institute will present a Cultural Competence Professional Development Seminar on “Adults & Older Adult LGBTQ Issues and Mental Health” from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 1911 Williams Drive, first-floor training room, Oxnard, organizers reported in a media release.
The seminar seeks to provide deeper insights on mental health concerns and other needs this community faces. Topics will address concerns regarding assisted living, caregivers, loss of privacy and isolation from a partner, fears that often drive senior LGBT into the closet at the end of life.
The seminar provides up to two hours of continuing education units. To register, send an email to vcbh.training@ventura.org. Include your name, organization, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Call 805-981-6929 for more information.