The Center for Economics of Social Issues invites you to register now for its upcoming conference, which will be held on February 28th at California Lutheran University’s campus. We implore you to come and see what is going on around you. The conference will release a comprehensive study that sheds light on the urgent challenges of enjoying a dignified life on the central coast of California.
Trump Is Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay to Look Tough Your weekly summary from the Council. LATEST ANALYSIS Sending Migrants to Guantánamo Bay Is a Costly, Optics-Driven Shift in Immigration DetentionPresident Trump ordered the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand…
Ventura Music Festival Proudly Presents our Annual Gala Fundraiser
Bob Eubanks’ — BACKSTAGE WITH THE BEATLES
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Concert Experience and (optional) Intimate Award Dinner with Bob Eubanks & Ivor Davis
Saturday, March 22, 2025
5:00 PM Concert ? 7:30 PM Gala & Award Show
Top of the Harbor Room, Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
“Public Texts: A Californian Visual Language” at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum explores how artists use text to challenge perception, critique culture and reflect California’s evolving identity.
I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to provide important safety information regarding the upcoming storm impacting our community.
The Ventura County Sheriff Office – Emergency Services and the National Weather Service are closely monitoring a moderate storm expected to impact Ventura County from Wednesday through Friday. Rainfall is anticipated to begin Wednesday morning, peak Thursday afternoon, and taper off by Friday morning.
Storm Details:
Rainfall Projections: 1”-3” along the coast and valleys, 3”-6” in the hills and mountains.
Rainfall Rates: .10”-.33”/hr, with the remote possibility of .50”-1”/hr during thunderstorms.
Wind: Gusty Westerly winds of 20-40 MPH throughout the region.
Residents are urged to stay updated with weather forecasts and monitor their homes for any changing conditions.
“The importance of this project to our City cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety. We sincerely appreciate the continued efforts of our state legislature and agency partners, who are committed to collaborating on these important improvements in Oxnard,” said Mayor Luis Mc Arthur.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura is thrilled to announce the official groundbreaking for Marina Park’s new playground. This project represents a key milestone in the revitalization of one of Ventura’s most treasured parks, delivering a modern and thoughtfully designed play space for the Pierpont Bay community and surrounding areas.
In 2022, the original playground was removed due to structural deterioration after years of exposure to seaside conditions. Plans were immediately made to replace the equipment with a more resilient design using traditional wood materials, better suited for the coastal environment.
Stoll, who previously had his own legal practice in Camarillo, advises companies in all areas of employment disputes. He has extensive experience in labor relations, with special focus on agriculture, wage and hour litigation, collective bargaining, employment risk analysis, personnel management employment contracts, union issues, sexual harassment/workplace violence prevention and management and supervisor training. He also represents clients at trial and in arbitrations.
SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, February 7, 2025, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Bella Vista affordable housing project. The Bella Vista development is located at 200 N. La Cumbre Rd in Santa Barbara.
The 48-unit development will provide much-needed affordable housing for families with low and very low incomes. The project will feature a two and three-story building, with 48 apartments constructed on top of a podium. The development will also include a semi-subterranean garage with 58 parking spaces for the tenants and a 10 space surface parking lot for the guests accessed off Via Lucero.
“We want to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in our hands-on Farm-to-Food Lab programs. Covering transportation costs helps remove a major financial barrier,” says Caitlin Paulus-Case, SEEAG executive director. “We often hear from students that their trip to Farm Lab is their very first field trip. It leaves a lasting understanding of the connection between agriculture and the food we eat.”
On view now through March 9, 2025
Joanne Julian decided early on to be an artist. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Julian inherited a strong immigrant work ethic and sense of discipline from her first-generation Armenian American parents. From her father, Joanne also acquired a fondness for gardening; from her mother, a love of art, dancing, and music. Julian’s first art lessons at age 12 included formative exercises in line and inspired her love of draw
Daniela Soto has earned a prestigious fellowship with eight years of funding to study the evolution of human brains from a genomic perspective.
?During the workshop, Hancock staff will be available to help participating students and their parents fill out a FAFSA (Free Application?for?Federal Student Aid) or a California Dream Act application. Students will also be able to apply?for?state and federal grants, including a Cal Grant, which offers?cash?for?college?and does not have to be repaid.?The application process takes about one hour to complete. Spanish-speaking staff will also be available.
Bludog Telecom provides Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP phone systems to businesses. These systems are a modern and reliable way for companies to communicate with customers while saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars compared to traditional business phone services. Additional communications tools such as text messaging, voicemail and video conferencing can be integrated into the system and presented using a single, streamlined interface. Known as Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), these integrated communications systems allow businesses to manage a variety of customer interactions all in one place.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) proudly welcomes five distinguished community leaders to its Board of Directors in 2025. The new class of directors includes Elsa Brown, Maruja Clensay, Garry Collett, Angel Garcia and Sean Morreale. These new additions bring a wealth of expertise in finance, government affairs, housing development, and real estate investment, helping to further position Housing Trust Fund VC as a leader in addressing the area’s affordable housing crisis. Their expertise and dedication will support Housing Trust Fund VC as the organization continues to drive forward its mission to increase affordable housing options throughout Ventura County. Housing Trust Fund VC extends its utmost appreciation to outgoing Board members—Marni Brook, Jennie Buckingham, Carrick DeHart, and Emilio Ramirez—for their dedicated service and unwavering commitment to advancing housing affordability. Their leadership and contributions have made a lasting impact.
SANTA BARBARA — The Cottage Obstetrics & Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) Clinic is pleased to announce the addition of two obstetrician-gynecologists, Dr. Britta Gray and Dr. Helen Matthews, along with certified nurse midwife Maribeth Claassen. This expansion of the care team furthers the clinic’s mission to enhance access to comprehensive Ob/Gyn services for women.
Joining Medical Director Dr. Lisa Lepine, the expanded team will continue caring for patients at the Cottage Ob/Gyn Clinic, located at 2416 Castillo Street, Unit A, in Santa Barbara.
The Cottage Ob/Gyn Clinic is a practice led by women specialists offering comprehensive medical services—from routine wellness examinations to diagnosis and treatment of gynecological conditions, and complete obstetric care from pre-conception to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum visits.
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) introduced AB 506 to increase transparency from online pet brokers on the original source of a pet. This bill is part of a legislative package aimed at stopping the puppy mill pipeline, including AB 519 (Berman) and SB 312 (Umberg).
California has made concerted efforts to disrupt the lucrative puppy mill industry, the operations of which have been underpinned by online brokers. These anonymous sellers leverage steep nonrefundable deposits against consumers as a paywall to withhold where they’ve acquired the animal and the conditions in which it was raised.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Ventura County Academic Decathlon, which was held over the past few weeks. The winners were revealed at a ceremony this evening in Camarillo. The three teams with the highest overall scores this year are:
1st Place: Westlake High School
2nd Place: Channel Islands High School
3rd Place: Thousand Oaks High School
Rain is on the way, and now is the time to prepare.
The National Weather Service is forecasting the potential for a major storm in Santa Barbara County, expected to arrive as soon as Tuesday night, February 11, 2025. Flooding in low-lying areas and hazardous road conditions are expected countywide. This storm also poses a potential risk for debris flows and significant flooding to residents and businesses within and surrounding the Lake Fire burn scar.
Evacuations are NOT being issued at this time. If you live in or near the Lake Fire Burn Area and are concerned that this storm may cause unsafe conditions to your local roads and home, leave the area before rain starts. Do not wait for an official evacuation notification to leave.??
Public safety officials are keeping a close eye on the incoming storm and working with the National Weather Service. Officials will continue to work together to further assess if protective actions, such as an evacuation warning, evacuation order, or shelter in place are necessary.
OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) announces that a critical agenda item concerning the future of the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center (PACC) will be presented before the Oxnard City Council on February 18, 2025. This meeting will serve as a pivotal moment for the community, stakeholders, and supporters of OPAC as the City deliberates the future management of the venue.
As of March 1, 2020 the current operator for both the Auditorium and the Community Center is Sterling Venue Ventures (SVV), more widely known as The Canyon. Their two agreements – one for each side of the complex – are set to expire or be rolled over on March 1, 2025. OPAC has formally requested – and will request again on February 18, 2025 – its own agreement with the City to operate the Community Rooms / Center, which includes two ballrooms, five classrooms and several outdoor courtyards.
We’re kicking off 2025 with great momentum, and we’re excited to share January’s highlights with you! Here’s a look at what’s happening at the VC Taxpayers Association.
Advocacy in Action: Our Executive Director, Ryan Grau, joined the Pacific Coast Business Times podcast Civil Dialogues, this week for an interview with Henry Dubroff. Ryan highlighted our collective efforts in advocating for transparency over the past year in the medical industry, school boards, local city budgets, bond measures, and more. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and will continue working hard to ensure taxpayers’ voices are heard.
To watch the podcast, please visit: Spotify, Apple or Amazon.
OXNARD — Brinkman and Company, AAC, an accountancy firm focused on providing expert tax planning, preparation and other accounting services for individuals, families, professionals and businesses, has opened a new office in Oxnard.
Located at 300 E Esplanade Drive, Suite #1680, Oxnard, the office is the firms’ second location in Ventura County. Another office is located at 302 N. Montgomery Street in Ojai.
In the last 10 years, Oxnard-based Gibbs International Truck Centers has donated $1.3 million in financial and equipment to support the two-year program. Since the program began in 2015, the company has donated commercial diesel trucks, engine blocks, tools and lab space, and helped write the curriculum and hire instructors. It provides paid internships and scholarships to students in the program and has hired graduates.
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) (Feb. 5) announced the distribution of $225,000 in sponsorships to community-based and national organizations to support Ventura County and neighboring communities to provide relief to victims of the recent fires and strengthen preparedness efforts for future emergencies.
In response to the growing needs arising from the devastation of the recent fires in Camarillo and the Greater Los Angeles area, GCHP distributed $225,000 in total funding to support the following organizations:
On Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, hundreds of angry Oxnard Union High School District and Oxnard School District students sounded the tocsin of resistance to the ICE raids unleashed by President Frump. They walked out in protest from the campuses of R.J. Frank Intermediate and the high schools of Channel Islands, Del Sol, Hueneme, Oxnard, Pacifica, and others. Some lined the streets and avenues adjacent to their campuses; others marched and drove to the City of Oxnard’s ombligo, la placita, where mi raza, in alliance with other working-class gente, historically organized similar rallies demanding immigrant rights as well as the end to police violence.
Cars and pickup trucks roamed the intersection of Fifth and C Streets to affirm the students’ cause with repeated honks, blaring banda music, and the deafening revving of V8 engines. The students responded in kind with hoots while pumping their pawky placards and Mexican colors. School administrators and teachers protectively observed the youth as did boomers like me, Gen Xers, and millennials—yes millennials you are no longer young.
If we have any ambition at all, we will want to make a difference, leave our mark on the world, and know that our existence, once it’s over, meant something. But how should we approach this daunting task?
Let’s consider a few ideas about how we can go about this sacred mission.
First and foremost, we need to discover our passion, or passions. Our healthy obsessions are fundamentally unique because we are, in essence, supremely unique. Whether we pursue science, music, art, writing, creating movies or work as an acrobat in the circus, we enrich our lives according to our natural talents and interests. Likewise, we enhance the lives of others who are inspired by our dedication or who see a reflection of something profound in our passionate approach to life.
Our three-alarm opera begins very early in our house each morning. First, Lady Whiskers, our huge Coon cat, meows politely, already in front of the bedroom door telling us quite empathically that she is ready to go into the darkness of the morning and begin her early dawn hunt. Our puppy, Maximiliano (Mad Max), hearing his sister, begins crying for attention and some warm milk. Half an hour later our family alarm goes off, all the while classical music is mesmerizingly reminding us to be mindful, trucha, and cool for the battles that lay ahead. This how we had begun our morning wakeup ritual for a while, until Trump ascended to the Monarchy of the United States roughly three weeks ago, and completely highjacked, assaulted, and disrupted our world.
Recognized for his stories of farmworker families in the vast and complex Central Valley of California, Muñoz is also a past recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship.
At the workshop, participants will learn about financial assistance, up to $350,000 per household, to help them purchase a home in safer, lower-fire-risk areas of California. The assistance, which is forgiven after five years, is designed to help bridge the affordability gap between what applicants can afford with a First Mortgage Loan and the purchase price of an eligible property.
Across the country, deportation is often discussed as an absolute end. What seems to be missing in the conversation is that for the deported people and their families, it’s the beginning of a new set of legal obstacles that often require advocates on both sides of the border to resolve. It is also the beginning of a new and often hard life chapter.
SANTA BARBARA — Professor Tania Israel at the UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, has received the 2025 Award for Distinguished Senior Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest from the American Psychological Association (APA). Israel is in the Counseling, Clinical, & School Psychology Department at the Gevirtz School and is also the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
The APA award recognizes an individual whose single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions meet one or more of the following criteria: (a) courageous and distinctive contribution in the science or practice of psychology that significantly supports efforts toward a solution to one of the world’s intransigent social problems, (b) distinctive and innovative contribution that makes the science and/or practice of psychology more accessible to a broad and diverse population, and (c) an integration of the science and practice of psychology that serves the public interest and advances social justice and human welfare.
“In 30 years of clinical practice, I’ve seen childhood change dramatically due to screen time. With kids spending more time in online neighborhoods than offline neighborhoods, digital injuries increasingly contribute to child distress,” said Dr. Bennet. “The key to prevention is awareness, information, and a strong parent-child connection. That’s the mission behind GetKidsInternetSafe. I’m so grateful to community leaders like Ventura Charter School for supporting their families during difficult times.”
As we recover as a community from the major fires in LA, and as we remember the Thomas Fire and the Montecito Debris Flow, MCASB in partnership with Paseo Nuevo, and many organizations and individuals, will host a free intergenerational and family-friendly event on the Arts Terrace and throughout Paseo Nuevo on Sunday, February 9th from 11 am-2 pm. There will be opportunities to come together as a community around the healing power of art, art making, and learning about how we can all participate in building our future together.
Event-goers will have the opportunity to take part in many different activities, highlights include a guided painting workshop, art kit making stations, and Collecting Art to Change Lives: Art Collecting 101 – a conversation with arts industry leaders with insights and encouragement for collecting art now to support our LA arts community as it heals and rebuilds.
SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) introduced AB 367 to increase the performance of fire hydrants supplying water to Ventura County firefighters in their battles against wildfires. The legislation raises baseline standards of emergency preparedness for water districts servicing homes…
VENTURA — A new episode of the Ventura Voices podcast is now available, featuring an in-depth conversation with Deputy City Manager Brad “Brick” Conners on the latest updates to Ventura’s golf services. The episode explores ongoing recovery efforts, facility improvements, and plans to enhance the golfing experience at Buenaventura Golf Course and Olivas Links.
Closed since January 2023 due to severe flood damage, Buenaventura Golf Course has undergone extensive remediation efforts. In this episode, Conners details the progress made, the challenges faced, and the City’s commitment to rebuilding the course stronger than before. While the permanent course design is still in development, the City, in partnership with Kemper Sports Management, has identified a temporary solution that will allow golfers to return to Buenaventura in spring 2025.
OXNARD — A one-day symposium, “Dementia Beyond Drugs & Disease,” will be held March 6 in Oxnard. Healthcare professionals, administrators and family caregivers will learn the latest on person-centered and non-pharmacological care for people living with dementia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 percent of adults aged 65 and older have dementia. “It’s important for caregivers to have the tools that emphasize dignity, well-being and meaningful engagements with individuals with dementia,” said Keith Gosselin, executive director of Long Term Care Services of Ventura County, which is organizing the symposium. “Dementia care is evolving as we better understand the disease. The symposium will present the most up-to-date methods to improve quality of life.”
Contribute to the County’s Recreation Master Plan
The Recreation Master Plan sets out a roadmap for public parks, trails, and facilities to meet countywide needs. Chime in by mail and via email or join a virtual meeting on February 6th!
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College invited students taking spring classes to a fun and informative Bulldog Bow-WOW welcome event on Feb. 5 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
Students who attended the event had the opportunity to meet faculty and staff, learn about support services such as counseling and financial aid, and explore various academic and career pathways. Attendees also enjoyed free food, music, and giveaways while engaging with the college’s many student clubs and organizations.
“This is a great way to get out and let students know about what our club does and what we are about,” said Emily Limon, a Hancock student and member of the college’s Fashion and Design Club. “For new students, joining a club can break the ice and also open them up to trying new things.”
As a Ventura County resident, we are asking for your input to help shape the future of arts and culture in our community – and win tickets to our signature events and venues!
Take just 10 minutes to tell the County how you experience arts and culture, and you could win free tickets* to:
How Ventura County Medical System is Draining Taxpayer Dollars
Ensuring efficiency and accountability in government spending is often a slow and complex process. However, the Ventura County Taxpayers Association (VCTA) is dedicated to making sure taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly and transparently in our public institutions.
This newsletter aims to inform Ventura County residents and encourage action from the Board of Supervisors and other decision-makers to adopt three steps it must take to restore public trust and ensure responsible financial management at the Ventura County Medical System (VCMS).
LONG BEACH — The California State University (CSU), the largest and most diverse public four-year university in the country, announced (on Feb. 5) a first-of-its-kind public-private initiative with some of the world’s leading tech companies, including Adobe, Alphabet (Google), AWS, IBM, Instructure, Intel, LinkedIn, Microsoft, NVIDIA, OpenAI, and the Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom that will leverage the power of artificial intelligence to create an AI-powered higher education system that could surpass any existing model in both scale and impact.
The CSU’s unprecedented adoption of AI technologies will make trainings, learning, and teaching tools—including ChatGPT—available across all 23 CSU universities, ensuring that the system’s more than 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff have equitable access to cutting-edge tools that will prepare them to meet the rapidly changing education and workforce needs of California. The CSU expects to make these tools available within the next few weeks.
SANTA BARBARA — Filmmaker Nathaniel Lezra’s Roads of Fire, a poignant and timely documentary exploring the global migration crisis, will have its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The premiere is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at the SBIFF Film Center. Additional screenings will take place on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. at Auditorium #4 and Friday, Feb.14 at noon at the Riviera Theater. Gary Rubin will serve as domestic sales agent.
Roads of Fire delves into the harrowing realities of forced migration by intertwining three compelling narratives: a human smuggler navigating refugees through the treacherous Darién Gap, an asylum seeker’s journey in New York City, and the unwavering efforts of volunteers on the frontlines of this humanitarian emergency.
SANTA PAULA — The Museum of Ventura County’s newest exhibition will celebrate and highlight the pride and resilience of the Mexican Indigenous community living in the region through photographic portraits taken by internationally acclaimed photographer Diego Huerta during his month-long 2024 Artist Residency at the Museum of Ventura County. Sixteen large-format photographs are accompanied by quotes from the individuals portrayed, revealing deep emotional connections to their cultural heritage and expressing pride, hope, and a commitment to preserving their traditions as they make Ventura County their home. For almost two decades, Mr. Huerta has been photographing Pueblos Originarios—Indigenous communities—in Mexico. This is the first time he has photographed these groups outside of Mexico.
Confirmed ICE presence in Ventura County
Multiple ICE agents were confirmed to be stopping cars and knocking on doors in Ventura County last week. Farm Bureau of Ventura County reached out to Congresswoman Julia Brownley. January 29th, Congresswoman Julia Brownley sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Caleb Vitello demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County. These operations, which took place in Oxnard and Santa Paula, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics and respect for due process. Read the full letter here.
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announces over $316,000 in donations received in 2024 to support the development of additional affordable homes in Ventura County. A donation of $50,000 was made on the final day of the year by PennyMac Financial Services (PennyMac) from the PennyMac Corporate Giving Fund. Another donation of $31,875 was made by the California Foundation for Stronger Communities (CFSC). Together, both end-of-the-year donations pushed the total to the highest amount received in donations by Housing Trust Fund VC in one year since the organization began in 2011. Both donations were unsolicited, a testament to the reputation and goodwill of Housing Trust Fund VC as an affordable housing leader in the region.
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Lumina Alliance is honored to announce a vital $963,000 investment from Must! Charities, expanding resources for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in San Luis Obispo County. This partnership will enhance Lumina Alliance’s donor and volunteer programs, improve crisis and therapy services, and expand housing options—ensuring more survivors have access to safe, stable support as they rebuild their lives.
“This support from Must! Charities will create meaningful change for survivors in our community,” said Jennifer Adams, CEO of Lumina Alliance. “Must! Charities’ commitment allows us to expand our services, reduce wait times for therapy—especially for Spanish-speaking clients—and create a lasting impact for survivors seeking safety and healing.”
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Uplift Central Coast is proud to announce the award of $9 million in Catalyst Predevelopment Funding to 36 organizations committed to advancing economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and equitable growth across the Central Coast. These organizations, representing all six counties, span diverse industries and address critical needs in areas such as workforce development, aerospace, education and job training, childcare and community development, and climate resilience and sustainable agriculture.
A trio short films by undergraduates — “Not Just Water,” “quwa’” and “The Kelp We Breathe” — will be featured during the festival’s Santa Barbara Documentary Shorts programming.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) welcomed newly elected Trustee Joe Piechowski to the Board of Trustees during the Annual Organizational Meeting on December 17. Piechowski was installed with Trustee Stan Mantooth, who was re-elected in November.
At the meeting, Trustee Gabriela Torres, who has served on the board since 2018, was elected board chair. Trustee Lou Lichtl was elected vice chair, and Chancellor Rick MacLennan will serve as secretary.
VENTURA — The City recently launched a new geographic information system (GIS) map to showcase Ventura’s expansive public art pieces. Discover over 240 pieces of public art by more than 80 artists across town. Since 1991, the City’s Public Art Program has integrated different art forms into city landscapes, including murals, mosaics, sculptures, and more.
“There’s a story behind each piece, and this tool makes it easier than ever to connect the public to these works of art and the artists who created them,” said Recreation Supervisor Elena Waller. “It’s possible people have walked right past them and didn’t realize what was hidden in plain sight.”
SANTA BARBARA — How do seniors on fixed incomes cover the costs for life-enhancing or medical-related items that they need but can’t afford and that aren’t covered by health insurance? The simple answer is that most of them generally can’t. …
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) connected more Medi-Cal members with vital health care screenings and immunizations in 2023, surpassing regulatory health care quality metrics and ranking it as one of only four managed care plans in the state to meet required performance levels.
The state Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the agency that oversees the Medi-Cal program, requires managed care plans like GCHP to report annually on a set of health care quality performance measures known as the Managed Care Accountability Set (MCAS). Health plans are evaluated in 18 measures in four key health categories: children’s health, reproductive health and cancer prevention, chronic disease management, and behavioral health.
Edgar Jahir Trujillo is an architect, researcher, and artist based in Oaxaca, Mexico. Three of his mixed-media paintings are featured in our current exhibition Sangre de Nopal/Blood of the Nopal: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Contemporary Art on view through April 27th at MCASB. His principal medium for his paintings and sculptural artworks is cochineal. He considers his practice as coexisting with the ancient red pigment and dyestuff, and intended to excite visual pleasure, disrupt conventional reflections on nature, while celebrating an equitable global ecology.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is working to rapidly move the California Central Coast to 100% efficient, clean, and renewable electricity to power our homes, businesses, and cars.
In 2023, CEC established Electrify Your Life (EYL), a free service offering personalized support and resources in Spanish and English to help make the switch to green tech solutions like electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, solar, and home energy efficiency improvements affordable. We’ve helped more than 1,000 residents, businesses, and nonprofits stack incentives that they may not otherwise know they qualify for to save big on going electric.
CAMARILLO — Registration is now open for CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s new Master of Health Care Administration (MHA), which will be offered through its Extended University (EU). Classes begin in Fall of 2025.
The program is entirely online, which will make it convenient for working professionals interested in a career in the administrative side of a hospital or patient care facility. What sets CSUCI’s program apart from others is that students will have the opportunity to also earn a certificate in gerontology by completing additional coursework.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is celebrating new and returning students this spring semester with several Week of Welcome (WOW) activities in early February. WOW provides Hancock students with a chance to meet their peers and instructors, connect with clubs and resources, and receive free food and prizes.
Ready to take control of your financial future? Join our Financial Freedom Series and discover simple, effective tools to help you build wealth, reduce stress, and make your money work for you. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to level up, this series is designed to empower YOU. Don’t miss out — let’s make your financial dreams a reality!
You can attend one or all workshops by clicking any of the RSVP buttons.
“This mammoth migration of more than 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles continues to remain a major attraction in Southern California,” said President Cherryl Connally of Island Packers. “Located in scenic Ventura Harbor Village, we invite visitors to plan on booking this “must-see” experience soon as part of their fun for the entire family Spring Break activities. “
SANTA PAULA — On January 18 and 19, 2025, Law Enforcement Explorers from Santa Paula Police Department Post 2350 participated in the “Chandler Tactical Competition” in Chandler, Arizona. There were 12 Santa Paula Police Department Explorers who participated and competed with other explorer posts from across the Country. The young men and women from Santa Paula were successful with a 1st place and a 3rd place award. The national competition, hosted by the Chandler Police Department, included 47 explorer posts from California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Florida.
Particularly since election day last November (for some reason), I have become aware of an expanding phenomenon in this country: outrage exhaustion. What this term means is that we are, in a word (or two), “worn-out” from being angry all the time.
Outrage exhaustion means that we no longer have the capacity for escalating outrage after a long and boisterous presidential campaign that tested our limits of indignation and cyclical anger. We know for certain that we have saturated our outrage circuits when we don’t even get upset with the barista for using steamed milk instead of oat milk in our latte.
Dear City of Ventura Residents and Community Stakeholders,
In light of the recent federal immigration enforcement actions taking place across the nation, including in California, I want to address our community to provide clarity, support, and reassurance. Ventura is a community built on inclusion and mutual respect. Local organizations are available to provide assistance, legal guidance, and resources to those in need.
• Know your rights. You have constitutional protections. Review resources and
information from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
• Seek guidance from trusted organizations. Groups like the El Concilio Family Services, and the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) offer legal resources and support.
• Create a family safety plan. Have a plan in place, including childcare arrangements
and emergency contacts. If you are at risk of losing housing, the City also offers rental assistance for transitional age youth (ages 18-24) through our Homelessness Prevention Program.
• Report and document. If you or someone you know is impacted by an enforcement
action, take note of key details and reach out to local support organizations.
VENTURA — Vendor applications for the City of Ventura’s 4th of July Street Fair are now open. This annual event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the 4th of July in Ventura’s Downtown District and brings tens of thousands of participants.
Vendor applications will be accepted until Monday, March 31, 2025, before 5:00 p.m. PST. Applications must be submitted online via the City’s website. Eligible vendor groups include arts and crafts, nonprofits, and food vendors. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and listed online.
Due to the City of Santa Paula’s stalled contract negotiations, unfulfilled commitments, and lack of financial support, starting Feb. 1, 2025, SPARC will no longer serve as the City shelter for Santa Paula. The City’s commitment in 2012 to construct a custom animal shelter, funded through a promised bond issue, has not been fulfilled. When SPARC was initiated, the City had agreed to issue a bond for a dedicated shelter; however, this commitment has not appeared on any election ballots for the past 13 years. In addition, the City provides less than 8% of SPARC’s operating expenses; and SPARC has not received a raise in monthly fees since 2018, creating a financially unsustainable situation for the shelter.
SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula remains deeply committed to the welfare of animals in our community and ensuring that residents continue to have access to responsible animal care services. We recognize and appreciate the work that the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC) has done over the years, finding homes for countless animals and providing vital services such as spay/neuter programs and vaccinations. We want to clarify the City’s position regarding SPARC’s recent public statement and assure the community that we are actively working on a transition plan to continue providing essential animal services.
On the first day of his second term, President Trump issued a series of immigration-related executive orders and proclamations that will quickly re-shape the U.S. immigration system. These executive orders affect nearly every facet of a complex and demanding system. Most of the policy changes introduced through these actions are framed as directives to federal departments and agencies. However, their language also aims to stoke fear as a means of testing the boundaries of executive authority.
