Author: Community Contributor

Ventura County Animal Services update

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2021 • Comments Off

Welcome to our first VCAS newsletter! We will be sending this out quarterly to help you stay informed about all the great work we are doing at Ventura County Animal Services.

Although this has been very difficult year for us all, we remain 100% committed to all live-saving activities! To help illustrate these efforts, please take a moment and view our 2020 Annual Report. It contains a lot of great information about who we are and what we do each and every day to care for the thousands of homeless animals who enter in our care each year.

We hope you enjoy reading all about VCAS!

UCSB — The Current — ‘The Volcano Down the Road’ and more news

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2021 • Comments Off

Geology professor Matthew Jackson witnesses the birth of Iceland’s newest volcano.

CSUCI’s Virtual Science Carnival will bring more than 50 hands-on science activities to kids and families

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Chemistry major Sahira Lorenzo Aguilar is very excited about the soap monster activity.

“We put Ivory soap in a microwave and it expands,” said Aguilar, who helped coordinate the Virtual Science Carnival, “It vibrates and looks like a little cloud. That’s the kind of magic we want students to see.”

The magic of CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) annual Science Carnival will be virtual this year, which will allow teachers, parents and kids from pre-school age on up to the eighth grade to bring hands-on science activities into their own homes and classrooms.

Ventura County Economic Vitality — Reminder: $5,000 Business Assistance Grant deadline is Tuesday, April 6

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

The Deadline to Apply is Tuesday, April 6

Culture is Back! Oxnard Museums Set to Reopen

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

With the County of Ventura moving into the State’s Orange Tier this week, Oxnard museums are set to re-open after a long year of closures. The museums will follow health and safety guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State of California, and County of Ventura to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The Murphy Auto Museum returned Saturday, April 3 with a “soft opening” and a “full-blown reopening” Saturday, April 10. The Murphy will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm. The museum features an impressive display of beautiful vintage automobiles and Americana; it is also home to the Fireball Art Gallery and Gold Coast Modular Rail Road Club.

Village Properties Realtors ranks among top brokerage firms in nation based on sales prices

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Locally owned, independent real estate agency Village Properties has garnered recognition as one of the nation’s top brokerage companies based on average sales price for homes sold last year.

RealTrends, the country’s leading source of analysis and information on the residential real estate industry, placed Village Properties among the top three firms nationwide in the average sales price by volume category for 2020. The Santa Barbara-based brokerage ranked ahead of all but two real estate agencies across the country.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 5, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 46 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 12,276 new tests performed. There have been no additional deaths. Current doubling time is 1229.1 days. The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .76 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .81 right now.

Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Webinar Schedule

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

The Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our partner’s webinars. Space is limited. Register today!

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — South County Vaccination Appointments Available & More

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara: April 6 and April 8

WHERE: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Enter via the driveway on Calle Puerto Vallarta

WHEN: Tuesday April 6, 9:30AM – 6:30PM; Thursday April 8, 9:30 – 6:30

Second doses will be provided at the same location first doses are received. A clinic will be available in the same location three weeks from your first dose appointment.

United Way of Ventura County — United We Can End Homelessness

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

This Friday, we have a wonderful speaker for you to hear at our first annual United to End Homelessness Symposium. I will have the honor of interviewing author and Pulitzer Prize winner, Dr. Matthew Desmond. His book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, was named one of Time’s Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade. It was also hailed by Bill Gates: “Desmond has written a brilliant portrait of Americans living in poverty. He gave me a better sense of what it is like to be poor in this country than anything else I have read.”

Ventura County Arts Council — New Showcase & Interactive Treasure Hunt!

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Arts Council invites you to visit our latest socially distanced exhibition, REFLECT 2020, located at 1985 S. Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA 93003, with our downloadable treasure hunt.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) … COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

On March 18, 2021, the California Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law (CA-SPSL) was expanded and extended. Effective immediately, the law retroactively applies from January 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021.

The new law expands the scope of covered employers, as well as the covered reasons for employees to take the leave. Review the quick guide and resources below to learn more about the new changes.

Bilingual report — Community urged to prevent COVID-19 spread during Spring Break by keeping it local and following public health guidelines

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.

“While our metrics are improving and we are close to entering the Orange Tier, we are issuing this plea to remind everyone to not let our guard down, especially during Spring break and Easter. We need to continue to bring our numbers further down as we approach a significant milestone in the pandemic: almost 80,000 Ventura County residents have tested positive for COVID. The 15 new deaths reported so far this week are a reminder that COVID is still having a significant impact in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with these 15 families and the almost 1,000 families that have lost a loved one during the pandemic,” said Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 2, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.

Dr. Cesar Morales Appointed as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

Dr. Cesar Morales was appointed this week as the new Ventura County Superintendent of Schools. After conducting a nationwide search, the Ventura County Board of Education made the decision this morning by a unanimous vote. Dr. Morales will fill the vacancy created in February when Stan Mantooth retired from the post.

Dr. Morales currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent for the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE). Since Mr. Mantooth’s departure, Dr. Morales has assumed all duties of the County Superintendent of Schools on an interim basis. He will officially become Ventura County’s next Superintendent of Schools effective April 1 and will be formally sworn in on April 16.

El Concilio Family Service — Civics Classes are Back!

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

Bilingual commentary — Are We Hoarding, Collecting, or Being Prudent?

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

As I was setting up some equipment for a video I wanted to make, I realized that I had lost a small mounting screw that I needed. I started looking for it all over the house until it dawned on me that this search could take hours, if not days. I could have spent precious time wandering around hardware stores searching for a replacement. In any case, without that piece, I was “dead in the water,” not able to proceed with my project.

Guest commentary — Stardust

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

There once was born a magical and loving child, a golden boy! He was stardust that had travelled many light-years through the deepest, darkest and furthest expanses of the universe. In fact this stardust had travel for more than 15 light years or about 90 trillion miles to reach one desperately longing young woman, who wanted nothing more in her life than to be a mother. An army of doctors had told her that it would never, ever, happen, she was sterile. Impossible to become pregnant they told her, yet she never stopped praying to an unknown God that she had rejected all of her life. Why was she praying now? It was as though the closer the golden star dust travelled across the universe toward the woman the more she felt mysteriously compelled to pray.

And then one day behold the miraculous stardust had taken embryonic form, and the woman was pregnant. …

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 1, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 48 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,849 new tests performed.

There have been 3 additional deaths: 72 year old male, 74 year old male, 92 year old female

Current doubling time is 1303.2 days.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have passed away.

Pioneer Valley High School FAA Chapter joins a California FFA virtual 5K race to promote and support California agriculture during National Ag Week

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The PVHS FFA Chapter recently joined a California FFA virtual 5K race to promote and support California agriculture during National Ag Week.

The Panther FFA decided to hold a race for students at the campus, even though participants could register and compete from anywhere.

More than 30 runners, bike riders and walkers completed the route that looped around the school and then continued into the surrounding neighborhood. Student helpers held posters and cheered on the competitors.

Community Environmental Council Invites Everyone to Take Part in Earth Day — Every Day Campaign

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is kicking off the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival with the Earth Day — Every Day Campaign.

The campaign runs April 1 through April 21 and invites individuals to take meaningful, personal actions to help the environment. Together we can help our communities reduce climate impact and, at the same time, create healthy habit changes for ourselves.

Free virtual academic tutors available for Santa Maria Joint Union High School District students

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Free virtual academic tutors are now available to SMJUHSD students 24/7 and 361 days a year.

The district recently partnered with Tutor.com to help young people with homework, assignment completion, essays and papers. It’s available for most subjects and in Spanish and English for core subjects. Students can also receive written feedback on rough drafts.

“I think tutor.com is very beneficial,’’ said Carlissa Solorio, a senior at SMHS. “We don’t have to show our faces and help is there 24/7 whenever we need it. I feel excited about using Tutor.com.’’

RISE Invites all of SLO County to Pledge to Believe Survivors

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and RISE is inviting SLO County residents to show support for those who have experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse by taking a pledge to believe the survivors in their lives.

By making a donation of $25 or more, those who take the pledge will have multiple opportunities to win prizes like wine tastings, golf outings, dining experiences, and more! Beginning April 19th, through the end of the month, RISE will be going LIVE on Facebook every weekday at 2 pm, to demystify myths about Sexual Assault and to announce raffle winners. This is an easy and fun way to let survivors know that “SLO County Believes” and to support ongoing, donation-based services for local survivors.

“It is important to recognize how difficult it is for a survivor to disclose what they have experienced,” says Jane Pomeroy, Executive Director of RISE, “and if they receive a negative response from the first person they turn to, they are unlikely to tell anyone else, to seek services from organizations like RISE, or to report the incident to law enforcement.”

Santa Paula Art Museum — 7 Ways To Visit (and People To Meet) in April

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

The Santa Paula Art Museum is now open to the general public! Visit the Museum Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Enjoy three excellent exhibitions: Inspiration and Influence, Santa Paula Sojourn, and Silver Linings: Journey of Light. Take a walk around our outdoor Art Park exhibit, shop in the gift shop, and more!
In accordance with public health directives, all museum guests are required to wear a face mask for the duration of their visit, to sanitize their hands upon entry, and to sign a waiver upon entry. Reservations are not required. The Museum will be CLOSED on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Friendship Center — April 2021 Newsletter – Spring Has Sprung!

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

One Year in Quarantine:
Caregivers Share Trials & Triumphs
Amazon Smile Program
Take Care Totes April 15
Friendship Center Office Humor
Virtual Connections Tech Help

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Unemployment Benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Expansions

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

There have been extensions to state and federal unemployment benefits under the American Rescue Plan. If you are struggling to understand or access unemployment benefits as employees or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) as a small business owners, self-employed individual or independent contractor here is what you need to know.

UCSB — The Current — April 3 in IV

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Aiming for another safe and quiet weekend, a host of at-home activities — and restrictions — are in place for April 2-4.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 31, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California announced Tuesday that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.

“This brings hope that we are headed in a better direction. We appreciate how our community has helped to make this happen,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “The Orange Tier allows for many of our businesses to expand operations and even allows for outdoor live events. This is exciting for our community members and our recovery efforts.”

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Microsoft Word 2

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce, or improve your personal or academic skills with new computer skills. Learn to use use Microsoft Word to create a novel, family history, dissertation, thesis, operations manual, or business and/or academic reports. This class covers layout/structure features including applying styles; table of contents; outline view; page setup; choosing fonts; controlling line, paragraph and page breaks; and many more.

Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan Condemns Hate Crimes Against the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Gold Coast Health Plan’s governing board, the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission, along with its chief executive officer and chief diversity officer, issued a resolution condemning violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and other people of color.

“The Commission is proud of the contribution from minority groups across the country and condemns any and all discriminatory actions taken against them,” the resolution reads.

Ventura College Custodian Selected as VCCCD 2021 Classified Employee of the Year

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

With his trademark “Ask Me” button showcasing his helpful attitude, Ventura College’s Alwin Sauers Jr. has been named the 2021 Ventura County Community College District Classified Employee of the Year. The VCCCD bestows this honor in accordance with the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors, who will now consider Sauers for the CCC statewide award. The award recognizes classified professionals who positively influence countless lives by showing the utmost commitment to our community colleges, by upholding professional ethics and standards and by serving the community with purpose and passion. They embody the best of California’s community colleges.

Fellow VCCCD Classified Employee of the Year nominees included Thomas “Tommy” Arellano of Moorpark College, and Gabriela Rodriguez of Oxnard College.

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Microsoft Word 3

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce, or improve your personal or academic skills with new computer skills. Microsoft Word, Level 3 covers creating, managing and formatting tables in Microsoft Word and using Microsoft Word mail merge to create letters, labels and envelopes.

Make your plans to support CLU School of Management on Cares Day

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

This has been a year like no other but the School of Management is still going strong. We persevere because we have a beautiful community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members! We kept you engaged, for example, by offering all of our events online with complimentary registration, we started several new webinar series for continued learning and kept you up-to-date through our many social channels. We also did our best to make you proud: We achieved full professional business school accreditation by ACBSP and we repurposed a generous gift by Mr. Steven Dorfman to benefit high-achieving students and our many efforts in entrepreneurship. Now we request your assistance during Cares Day to help us in continuing the good work with the next generation of students.

Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Members and Officers to the Board of Directors

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to announce a high caliber cohort of new members and officers to its Board of Directors. In a pivotal year of program expansion coupled with federal momentum, these dynamic community leaders bring a wealth of experience that will propel CEC’s bold climate action plans. As ambassadors of the organization, they will advocate, network, and promote on behalf of CEC.

Food Action Network — Tell SB County to support localized food system enterprises, economic opportunities for farmers, and agricultural land viability

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Santa Barbara is developing an ordinance amendment to allow activities and practices that will be incidental and complementary to traditional agriculture uses on land zoned AG-II. The goal is to expand economic opportunities for farmers and improve the County’s overall agricultural land viability. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote policy support for decentralized and localized food system enterprises, processing hubs, composting, etc.

Delta High School recently designated a Model Continuation High School

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Delta High School was recently designated a Model Continuation High School (MCHS) for 2021, making it one of 27 in the state.

The school retains the designation for three years and will be virtually recognized for creating various opportunities for their students to pursue academic and social success at the California Continuation Education Association (CCEA) State Conference in San Diego, April 15-18.

Ernest Righetti High School students selected as 2021 Boys and Girls State California Delegates

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Three ERHS students have been selected as the 2021 Boys and Girls State California Delegates and will participate in summer leadership and citizenship programs that focus on exploring the mechanics of American government and politics.

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Junior Marissa Cuellar (Girls). The American Legion Orcutt Post 534 sponsors Zachary Monighetti (Boys) and Neev Vinchhi (Boys).

County of Ventura poised to move to State’s Orange Tier Next Week

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California announced today that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 30, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

County of Ventura poised to move to State’s Orange Tier Next Week
Declining Cases and Hospitalizations are a Hopeful Sign;
Progress on Vaccinations Continues Despite Supply Challenges

Ventura County Economic Vitality — Abierto el plazo de solicitud de subvenciones para empresas

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

La ventana de aplicación se ha abierto del 31 de marzo al 6 de abril

SBCC — Ezekiel Contreras Forrest receives Board of Governors Student Leadership Award

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara City College student Ezekiel Contreras Forrest has been awarded one of three Board of Governors Student Leadership Awards, initiated for the first time in 2021. The awards were presented by Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley and two student members of the California Community College Board of Governors at the opening of the General Assembly for the Student Senate of the California Community Colleges on Friday March 26.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Paycheck Protection Program Extended to May 31, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Today, Tuesday, March 30th, 2021, President Biden signed into law an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that allows small businesses and eligible non-profits to apply for PPP loans through May 31, 2021.

PPP is designed to help small business, nonprofits, veteran organizations, Tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and other eligible borrowers keep their workers employed during the COVID-19 crisis.

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Innovation and Creativity

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce and learn how to create and innovate culture and techniques to promote workplace creativity.

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Construction Measuring and Estimating

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce with Construction Measuring and Estimating. A beginning course in residential construction math. Take as a stand-alone course or as part of a four-course series of construction classes. Topics include working with common, decimal, and carpenter fractions; using a standard tape measure; estimating material; and using a construction calculator.

Museum of Ventura County — Reopening Update + What’s New at MVC

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

As more businesses are allowed to open in California and Ventura County, the Museum of Ventura County plans to open gradually as we continue to offer current online services and launch new programs like our Journal Flashback and Local History Happy Hour series, which you can read more about in this newsletter.

When we do re-open, you will get to see improved gardens and galleries along with new exhibits, public art installations, and family programs at both sites.

And in recognition of your support over the last year, we are excited to announce that admission at all sites will be FREE for all of 2021!

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Sustainable Building: Repurposing and Refurbishing

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce with an introduction to repurposing and refurbishing construction materials. Topics include creative re-design, commercial and residential application, marketing and materials processing.

UCSB — The Current — In a Class of Its Own

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Click here for the entire e-newsletter March 30, 2021 Top News In a Class of Its Own The university breaks ground on its first new classroom building since 1967. Read more about the new building ? Uncertain Energy Mathematicians…

SBCC School of Extended Learning to offer Digital Cameras, Digital Photos

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

Learn the basics of photography, the features of digital cameras, how to take better digital photos, and how to correct common photo problems using photo editing software. Designed for beginners or students with some experience in digital photography. Students should bring cameras and sample pictures to class.