Author: Community Contributor

Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center Celebrates 50 Years of Empowering Youth, Families

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For the past 50 years, Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center (SMVYFC) has provided vital mental health counseling and family support services to Santa Maria youth and families—often at their most critical times of need. The Center, which merged with Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County in 2017, empowers families to tackle mental health challenges, poverty, and parenting issues as they take steps toward strengthening their families and achieving wellness.

“Strong families are the cornerstone of strong communities,” said Brian Zimmerman, Director of Student and Family Services for the Santa Maria Bonita School District (SMBSD). “Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center has helped students and their families in our district for generations.”

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Grants to CSUCI will support emergency student housing, healthy nutrition and aquatic programs for kids

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CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Basic Needs program has received four grants aimed at enhancing the basic needs of students, and the Channel Islands Boating Center received a separate grant supporting the center’s summer boating lessons for kids ages 8 to 15.

Ventura County Continuum of Care (VC CoC) Alliance presented CSUCI’s Basic Needs program with three grants totaling $408,675 to support emergency housing and homelessness prevention efforts.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura celebrates National Bike Month with CycleMAYnia

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The County of Ventura Sustainability Division will celebrate National Bike Month this year by hosting CycleMAYnia Mini-Expo. CycleMAYnia Mini-Expo is a free event open to the public that aims to inspire more people to embrace cycling as a sustainable, eco-friendly, and health-enhancing mode of transportation. The community is encouraged to attend the event happening on Wednesday, May 31stfrom 10 am – 2 pm at the Ventura County Government Center Lot G. 

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Santa Barbara City College announces selection of new Superintendent/President

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SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Community College District Board of Trustees is proud to announce the selection of Dr. Erika Endrijonas as the next Superintendent/President of SBCC.

Dr. Endrijonas’ employment is subject to contract negotiations. Her contract is expected to go before the Board of Trustees at their June 15, 2023 meeting. Dr. Endrijonas is expected to officially begin her role on August 1, 2023.

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VCCCD Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Students at Lavender Graduation

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In concert with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts on our four campuses, the Ventura County Community College District hosted its inaugural Lavender Graduation, which honored graduating LGBTQIA+ students. The districtwide ceremony was held Apr. 28 and was open to all students identifying as LGBTQIA+ who attend Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura colleges and Ventura College East Campus. Family, friends, and other supporters were invited as well.

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Music, Rides, Line Dancing, Food and Fun At 67th Annual Conejo Valley Days from June 15 through 25

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The 67th Annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will feature 10 days of carnival rides, food, live entertainment and line dancing. Dates are June 15 through June 25 (dark June 19 and 20) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks.

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Port of Hueneme Receives Recognition from Oxnard Union High School District for Community Outreach Efforts

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The Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) selected businesses in the community to recognize for its 2023 Business Champions Awards. This celebration was an opportunity to thank the Port of Hueneme and other businesses for their efforts to create prosperity in communities through collaboration, college readiness efforts, and career preparation. 

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Bilingual report — County Of Ventura Receives Top 2023 Sustainability Award From The Southern California Association Of Governments

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The County of Ventura was selected to receive the 2023 Sustainability Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The award, which is the most prestigious given by SCAG, was given in recognition of the Resource Management Agency’s Agricultural Worker Housing Ordinance. The County was recognized at SCAG’s Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 4 in Palm Desert, California.

“Our Board of Supervisors has long championed the promotion of housing for those working in our agriculture industry,” said Kim Prillhart, Director of the Resource Management Agency. “I couldn’t be more pleased by the innovations in this ordinance that ensures a sustainable path forward to build quality housing for our agriculture workers in Ventura County. It is a testament to the quality of the work that we do at the County of Ventura to have those efforts recognized by SCAG’s most prestigious sustainability award.”

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free event and webinar schedule

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VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

May 11 @ 10:30 am

Social media is constantly evolving, which can make it difficult for your business to keep up. In this webinar, SCORE will break down social media marketing for businesses with best practices that you can use to improve your digital marketing strategy.

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Talking to Youth About Their Mental Health

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Conversations around mental health issues can be challenging and complicated. Using the tools of Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA), adults can help take the fear and hesitation out of starting a difficult conversation that may end up saving someone’s life. A new slate of YMHFA classes have been scheduled starting this May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.

The free training teaches adults how to spot warning signs of mental health risks and substance abuse in youth, and how to prevent a tragedy. Join the more than 1,600 Santa Barbara County parents, mental health providers, educators, and counselors have already been trained.

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Friendship Center’s Heidi Holly to Leave Organization after 38 Years One Of Santa Barbara’s Most Beloved Executive Directors is Stepping Down

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Heidi Holly, Executive Director of the Friendship Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara for over 38 years is planning to retire in July.  The adult day program provides services for aging and dependent adults and respite for their caregivers. Friendship Center brings social activities to enhance seniors’ quality of life, promote self-esteem, and increase their ability to continue living at home.  

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VCCCD Makes It Happen with Statewide Marketing Awards

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The marketing tagline “Ventura County Community Colleges Make it Happen” succinctly showcases how Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges help students obtain critical skills to transfer to a four-year university or launch their careers. The marketing campaign built around the tagline earned VCCCD’s Outreach and Marketing department three awards from the Community Colleges Public Relations Organization (CCPRO), a professional development and service organization that promotes excellence in California’s community college public relations and related professions.

VCCCD was honored with the following awards, which were announced at CCPRO’s annual conference in April:
Bronze: “Ventura County Community Colleges Make it Happen” programs flyer used for community outreach activities.
Silver: 2022 virtual yearbook websites highlighting the graduates of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges.
Gold: “Ventura County Community Colleges Make it Happen” presentation folder.

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Family Digital Literacy Day Held by Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara

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The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) hosted its inaugural Family Digital Literacy Day on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at Presidio Springs Community Room located at 721 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA. The purpose of the event, hosted in collaboration with Partners in Education, was to provide Housing Authority families and youth with free computers, assistance in accessing low-cost internet services, technical support, and online safety instruction.

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Social Justice Fund for Ventura County — A Heartfelt Thank You from SJFVC

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This past Saturday, SJFVC held an event in Nyeland Acres to highlight the work of Fellow Brenda Heredia. In her speech, Brenda noted that Nyeland Acres has been forgotten and neglected, which is why her thoughtful advocacy work has been vital for the Nyeland Acres community.

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OLLI Taste of Summer Registration-Summer

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Make your summer something to remember by exploring new ideas, staying mentally active, and making new friends at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University, Channel Islands.

The “Taste of OLLI” program offers 25 classes for people age 50+ that are both in-person and online via Zoom. Each class is two hours long, and there are no homework assignments, tests, or grades to worry about. Instead, learning is fun.

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Bilingual report — New State Insurance Regulations Affecting Property Owners in Fire Risk Areas

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CAMARILLO – Several Ventura County property owners in fire risk areas have shared concerns recently about notices from their insurance companies that indicate coverage would not be renewed unless certain steps to reduce fire risks were taken.

The insurance companies appear to be acting on new rules from California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara that went into effect in April. The regulation was not made by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors or the Ventura County Fire Department.

The state’s new rules were intended to create more transparency in the process when insurance companies determine premiums or decide whether to cancel a policy.

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Bilingual commentary — Israel and the U.S.: A Tale of Two Countries

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As I read an article this past week about the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel, I found myself wondering, for a few moments, whether I was actually reading about Israel or the United States.

Israel has been contending with a hyper-religious, ultra-Orthodox contingent in its government that is very influential regarding national policies. Since December of last year, Israel’s government has taken a hard turn to the right, guided by ultraconservative, extremist lawmakers who have strong authoritarian tendencies and who have no intention of negotiating with the Palestinians regarding their statehood. The history of the Palestinian territories has been fraught with dizzying complexity since 1916, around the time of World War I. 

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CLU Commencement ceremonies set for May 12

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California Lutheran University will hold separate 2023 commencement ceremonies for 1,217 undergraduate and graduate students on Friday, May 12, in William Rolland Stadium on the Thousand Oaks campus.

The 60th annual Undergraduate Commencement at 8:30 a.m. will honor 773 students in the Class of 2023, including 707 traditional undergraduates and 66 in the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program. Graduate Commencement at 2 p.m. will honor 444 students, including 413 earning master’s degrees and 31 receiving doctorates.

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More than 1,800 Vegetable Plants Distributed During SEEAG’s 1st Annual Plantopia Earth Day Event

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More than 1,800 vegetable plants were distributed at Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture’s (SEEAG) first annual Plantopia U Pick Transplant Fundraiser on Earth Day. The fundraiser raised over $5,000 to help with SEEAG’s agricultural education programs that teach students about the farm origins of their food, water resources, soil health, entomology and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Plantopia was held at SEEAG’s Farm Lab at Petty Ranch in Ventura and Plantel Nurseries in Santa Maria. In addition to tomatoes, zucchini, squash, basil and pepper seedlings, SEEAG provided 500 bags of potting soil donated by Agromin in Ventura County and Engel and Gray in Santa Barbara County to give plants a healthy start.

“We plan to make Plantopia an annual event,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO. “It’s a great way to kick off planting season, remind people of the importance of our farmers and celebrate Earth Day.”

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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Breaking New Ground on Emergency Improvements

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Last week, we broke ground on the new Regional Fire Communications Center and Emergency Operations Center expansion. This is an important step to creating a single dispatch center for calls for emergency medical services and fire response. This new space will serve all parts of the County, helping us get the closest fire or emergency resource to you, regardless of borders or which government that resource comes from.

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Cottage Health Honors Volunteers

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After a three-year pause during the pandemic, the Cottage Health Volunteer Awards Luncheon was back in person this past April at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

Over the past year, 450 Cottage volunteers have donated close to 95,000 hours of service at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital.

Cottage volunteers serve across nearly every department, including Emergency, Surgery, Intensive Care, Physical Therapy, Orthopedics and Wound Care.

Ron Werft, President & CEO of Cottage Health, praised the vital work of volunteers during the awards luncheon with 150 volunteers in attendance.

“As volunteers, you have chosen to generously share your gifts, and we are all better because of you,” Mr. Werft said. “Your service is seen through every area of Cottage Health, and you are truly part of the care team.”

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2022 Ventura County Animal Services Annual Report

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We are thrilled to share with you our 2022 Annual Report. We had very successful and busy year. We hope this snapshot provides a glimpse into our daily lifesaving activities during the 2022 calendar year. Thank you for your continuing support of our lifesaving mission!

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Kids Club Offers Free Summer Fun at The Collection

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The Collection at Riverpark is offering free, family-friendly fun at the Kids Club, sponsored by Sunny Smiles Dentistry for Children and Young Adults. Kids Club events are open to all children and families. Don’t give the little ones a chance to say they’re bored this summer.

Kids Club will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the grass at Collection Park and take place on the following Wednesdays: July 12, July 19, July 26, Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. 

Bring the kids and a picnic blanket to the grass at Collection Park for a fun-filled morning of entertainment, crafts and fun surprises. Each Kids Club program is unique, so families should return throughout the summer to get the most out of each experience. 

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UCSB — The Current — ‘UCSB to lead NSF-funded research institute for next-level AI-powered cybersecurity’ and more news, events

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Giovanni Vigna, with colleagues Ambuj Singh, Christopher Kruegel and João Hespanha, will head the $20-million Institute for Agent-based Cyber Threat Intelligence and OperatioN (ACTION).

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Nominations Close June 19 for 73rd Annual Oxnard Community & Business Awards

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Nominations for the 2023 Oxnard Community & Business Awards are being accepted until Monday, June 19. Now in its 73rd year, the West Ventura County Business Alliance (WVCBA) hosts the annual awards to recognize the people, businesses and organizations that make Oxnard a wonderful community in which to live, work and play.

Nominations are open to the public. You do not have to be a WVCBA member to submit nominations or win an award.

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Classified Employee Honorees Recognized at VCCCD Board Meeting

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As the tutoring and supplemental support supervisor at Moorpark College, Deborah (Deb) Brackley ensures students have the tools they need to succeed. She is also involved in the campus community and finds opportunities for programs to support equity work. For these reasons and more, Brackley was named the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) 2023 Classified Employee of the Year at the April board of trustees meeting. The annual award is a tribute to classified professionals who demonstrate professional ethics and standards and serve the community with purpose and passion.

The board also presented Board Chair Bernardo M. Perez with a resolution honoring his 12 years of service. Moorpark College President Julius Sokenu recognized Linda Resendiz, executive assistant to the president, who received the 2023 California Community College Classified Senate President Service Award. (Resendiz will be formally recognized at the June meeting after being honored by the state organization on June 8.)

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Triunfo Water & Sanitation District Lifts Stage 1 Water Shortage Conditions

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At its April 24 meeting, the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD) board of directors voted to lift Stage 1 Water Shortage conditions, which have been in place since August 2021. TWSD’s nearly 14,000 Oak Park residential and business potable water users are no longer required to limit their outdoor water use to one day per week.

“Our customers did a great job reducing their water consumption,” says Jane Nye, TWSD board chair. “Along with their efforts and the unusually wet winter, we now can confidently move out of the Stage 1 level.”

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Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) — The Bridge — May 3, 2023

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Black Grad will honor local African American graduates from TK-SBCC 

SBCC, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Unified School District, announces a special, invitation-onlyceremony honoring and celebrating the promotion, culmination, graduation and transfer of Black students in south Santa Barbara county, from transitional kindergarten through City College.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura latest news — County of Ventura launches 150th Anniversary Website

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County of Ventura launches 150th Anniversary Website
In honor of the County’s 150th anniversary, we’re excited to announce that our VC 150 Memories website has launched!

VC 150 Memories is a community-driven project that aims to celebrate and preserve the cherished memories of residents in Ventura County. The goal is to collect and archive photos that capture special moments and experiences that people have had in the county both past and present. Residents are invited to submit their favorite images, which will be featured in a public photo gallery and used to create a visual representation of the county’s rich history and diverse community.

The project is a celebration of the people, places, and events that make Ventura County such a unique and special place to live.

Visit www.venturacounty150.com and share your favorite memories and why you love Ventura County!

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SBCC’s ‘Unity in the Community’ on May 4 unites students via 2nd annual cultural heritage celebration

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The SBCC Associated Student Government (ASG), Asian Student Union and Ambassadors club, are excited to present the second annual “Unity in the Community,” Thursday, May 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on the SBCC West Campus lawn. Conceived and organized entirely by students, the festival will celebrate the diverse cultures represented throughout the SBCC campus community.

Themed “All Around the World,” the event will highlight the cultures of 15 countries by showcasing food/snacks, arts and crafts, and performances, along with addresses by SBCC Interim Superintendent/President Dr. Kindred Murillo and special guest speaker, SBCC District Board of Trustees President Jonathan Abboud.

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Museum of Ventura County — Keep Calm and Garden On with MVC and more events

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Chumash Plant Knowledge

Sunday, May 7, 2023

2:00PM—4:00PM

@ Museum of Ventura County

Free Admission, Registration Required

Dr. Jan Timbrook’s informative, illustrated talk, Chumash Ethnobotany: Life Before Costco, will provide a glimpse into the fascinating plant world of the Chumash, including the complex interrelationships between the first people of our region and the environment in which they lived. 

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Announcing Auditions for Moorpark College’s Summer Theatre Production of the Award-Winning Musical ‘Cabaret’

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Moorpark College is excited to announce auditions for its Summer Theatre Arts production of the classic musical “Cabaret.” Auditions will be May 8-10 in the Performing Arts Center on the Moorpark College campus. Dance auditions will be May 8, 3:30-6 p.m., and singing auditions will be May 9, 6-10 p.m. Final callbacks will be May 10, 6-10 p.m.

Anyone interested in auditioning should wear comfortable clothing, be prepared to sing 30 bars (1 minute) of a song from a theatrical musical, preferably by the composer/lyricist team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, and be ready to read from the script. An accompanist will be present for the audition.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura Approves Move Aligning entura County Area Agency on Aging as Division of HSA

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The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors voted last Tuesday (April 25) to approve a change in the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s administrative reporting structure, which will see the VCAAA become a division of the Ventura County Human Services Agency. The move is intended to better align the county’s older adult services.

The VCAAA will retain its current organizational structure, and there will be no change to the existing services provided by the VCAAA, or how clients access these services.

A newly formed Aging and Disability Department will oversee both the AAA functions and programs, and in a phased manner, will assume oversight of four programs currently managed by the HSA: In-Home Support Services (IHSS), IHSS-Public Authority, Adult Protective Services, and Public Administrator.

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UCSB — The Current — ‘Joining one of the world’s premier honorary societies, three professors are named to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences’ and more news, events

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Professors Tanya Atwater, Leda Cosmides and Nelson Lichtenstein have been elected to the prestigious, 243 year-old institution.

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Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation announces instrumental and vocal division winners

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The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation has awarded eleven local youth and adult musicians with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 each, following their selection at the organization’s annual competition.

Junior and young adult instrumentalists and vocalists competed for the scholarships during the foundation’s 2023 contest, held April 23 at Lehman Hall in the Marilyn Horne House at the Music Academy of the West. The event is central to the foundation’s mission to support students of the performing arts in the Santa Barbara community. Students are selected for awards by a professional panel of judges and are encouraged to use the funds to develop their musical careers, such as by paying for music lessons, music school tuition, summer music programs, or instrument improvement.

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May @ SPAM: Andrea Vargas Premieres, Free Family Day, Volunteer Mixer, and More!

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EXHIBIT PREMIERE

“Andrea Vargas: On the Ranch”

Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 4 PM to 6 PM

$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members

On Saturday, May 13, meet Santa Fe artist and California native Andrea Vargas at the premiere of her all-new, solo exhibition, “On the Ranch.” Featuring over 40 original paintings and drawings, “On the Ranch” honors the places at the heart of Vargas’ life and art: her familial homes in Ventura and Santa Paula, California. All of the artworks will be available for purchase. Beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Reservations are not required.

“Andrea Vargas: On the Ranch” will be on view from May 13, 2023, to September 10, 2023, at the Santa Paula Art Museum.

LEARN MORE >>

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Artist Kimberly Duran’s 2020 California Strawberry Festival Poster Finally Gets To Shine in 2023

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It was March 3, 2020 when the winner of the year’s California Strawberry Festival poster contest was officially announced. Sixteen days later, the festival was canceled because of the pandemic. Finally, after three years, artist Kimberly Duran’s winning poster will be the center point of the festival set for May 20 and 21 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds (10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001).

“We’ve been waiting to show off Kimberly’s design for three years,” says Dean Kato, festival chairperson. “She’s a gifted artist and her design captures the wonderful community spirit that’s always present at the festival.” Duran’s artwork was chosen from more than 60 entries.

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Wild Oaks Country Music Festival Booths For Nonprofits Available

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Wild Oaks Country Music Festival, taking place June 3, is seeking nonprofit organizations to exhibit at the festival at no charge. The festival will be held at Conejo Creek Park South in Thousand Oaks.

“We’re setting aside 10 booth spaces for nonprofit organizations at the festival,” says Mary-Catherine McBride, Wild Oaks co-chair. “The booths are 10×10 and are at no cost. It’s a great opportunity to reach festivalgoers with your organization’s message.”

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free event and webinar schedule

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EN ESPAÑOL: SBA: 10 PASOS PARA INICIAR SU EMPRESA

2 de mayo a las 1:00 pm

¿Estás interesado en iniciar un negocio? Si es así, únase a la Oficina del Distrito de Los Ángeles de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas (SBA) para un taller virtual para aprender sobre la Guía de 10 pasos de la SBA sobre cómo iniciar un negocio. Este taller virtual está dirigido a nuevos emprendedores. Los temas cubrieron desde la creación de un plan de negocios, la búsqueda de capital, el registro de su negocio, la obtención de los permisos y / o licencias necesarios y la obtención de una cuenta bancaria comercial. Esta es una gran oportunidad para obtener cualquier pregunta que pueda haber respondido y conocer los múltiples recursos disponibles para ayudarlo. Los programas y servicios de la SBA se extienden al público de manera no discriminatoria. Para solicitar adaptaciones razonables, envíe un correo electrónico a LADO@SBA.GOV con al menos 7 días de anticipación.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Housing Trust Fund Ventura County to receive over $2 million in Federal and County funds in support of more affordable housing

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Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) announced that the nonprofit has been awarded a $1.5M grant from the County of Ventura’s general fund for the development of affordable housing throughout the community and another $891,059 from the U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI Fund Equitable Recovery Program. This combined $2,391,059 has the ability to be matched dollar for dollar by the State of California’s Proposition 1 Local Housing Trust Fund, bringing over $4 million to Ventura County in support of developing more affordable apartments and homes.

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Bilingual commentary — The Branches on the Family Tree

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I recently decided to construct a family tree—as if I didn’t have enough to do already. At this stage of my life, I might have a subconscious desire to leave something valuable behind for my daughter, my grandsons, and their descendants. It’s also important for me, though, as I seem to have lost track of many of my first cousins (there are over 50 of them). The complex web of their children and grandchildren has become a complete fog for me. But now I want to come to terms with the myriad descendants that originated with my four grandparents, all immigrants from Mexico.

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First generation CSUCI Physics major Trent Ruiz wins two scholarships and helps write an $80K grant from NASA

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CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Applied Physics major Trent Ruiz failed to get into college more than once, often felt discouraged, and struggled with anxiety and depression.

But thanks to mentors, good therapists and sheer perseverance, Ruiz, 29, became the first in his family to attend college, is the recipient of two major scholarships, and served as the lead student for a recently awarded grant from NASA for $80K.

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Cottage Health in Santa Barbara announces 2023-25 Behavioral Health Initiative Request for Proposals

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Cottage Health is now accepting applications for the 2023-25 Behavioral Health Initiative Community Partnership Grants. The grant opportunity is open to organizations working to address behavioral health needs for children and youth and their families in south Santa Barbara County. Using evidence-based interventions, grantees in the initiative will collaborate on community-based work to increase access and use of behavioral health services and to improve the health and quality of life of adolescents and their families.

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Bilingual report — County of Ventura launches ‘VC 150 Memories’ website in honor of 150th anniversary

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The County of Ventura, in honor of the county’s 150thanniversary, has launched the “VC 150 Memories” website.

Designed to be a community-driven project, “VC 150 Memories” aims to celebrate and preserve the cherished memories of residents in Ventura County. The website provides an opportunity for residents from across the county to collectively contribute photos of special moments and experiences, both past and present, that have shaped their lives in Ventura County.

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Southeast Ventura County YMCA Reaches $200,000 Fundraising Goal During Its Annual Fundraising Campaign

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The Southeast Ventura County YMCA raised more than $200,000  to support YMCA programs during its annual fundraising campaign that ended March 22. The funds will be used to ensure local YMCA programs and memberships are available to those in financial need and to enhance YMCA youth and adult programs.

“We hold one major fundraiser a year. The Y is very grateful for those who donated,” says Ronnie Stone, president and CEO of the Y. “With rising costs on just about everything, people still were able to give.”

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